Page 6 Tuesday, July 8, 1986 Daily Nebraskan Keseareli firm helps teams pick By Rob White Staff Reporter Professional sports teams put a lot more effort into deciding which ama teur players to select in the draft than just finding the athlete with the best statistics. When it comes to determining which players possess the psychological makeup to excel professionally, the National Hockey League's Minnesota North Stars and the National Basket ball Association's Cleveland Cavaliers turn to Selection Research, Inc. of Lin coln for help. Senior analyst Bill Erickson said SRl's role with the teams is "to help them be more informed about who they pick. We don't tell them who to pick, we're only a piece of the pie for them." Hurdle happy as new Cardinals utility By Jeff Apel Sports Editor St. Louis The emptiness created by the sudden departure of Jack Clark reflected the mood shown by St. Louis utility man Clint Hurdle. Hurdle said the Cardinals are still trying to find an answer why they haven't been able to put together a consistent winning streak this season. After capt uring the National League Championship crown last season, St. Husker quarterback takes break from football to be Washington intern By Mike Reilley Staff Reporter Clete Blakeman's summer plans took a strange twist when he received a letter with a Washington, D.C., postmark last spring. Blakeman, a backup quarterback with the Nebraska football team, is among six UNL students interning this summer at Nebraska Sen. Ed Zorinsky's Washington office. 1 nm V V-Wii'- Blakeman "I just sent in an application like anybody else would," said Blakeman, a junior from Norfolk. "I got a letter a few weeks later that said I was in." His duties include sorting mail and helping Zorinsky's secretary with various office jobs. Summer internships are new to Blakeman. He has stayed in Lincoln the last two years to take classes and lift weights with other football players. He expected to do the same this summer before he got the letter. Blakeman said Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne tried to persuade him not to go to Washington. Blakeman and McCathorn Clayton had shared the No. 2 quarterback slot during spring prac tice. Osborne encourages the top players Be an exchange student v SHI has done work for many national companies in an effort to show these companies how to get the best results from its employees. "We do a psychological study from the other end of the continuum," Erickson said. "Instead of looking at the problems and what's wrong with talent, we try to see what's right with talent. We find the people who are con sistently the best in their field and find out what it is t hat makes them so good at what they do." The North Stars came to SKI six years ago when general manager Lou Nanne, himself a former NHL player, sought their advice. "In the NHL they draft kids when they are 17 or 18 years old," Erickson said. potential with such indexes as speed, Louis is currently locked in fifth-place in the National League's Eastern Div ision. "We're just not playing good base ball at all right now," Hurdle said. "Everything seems to be magnifying." Hurdle said the Cardinals' already bad problems were made worse earlier this season when the slugging Clark went on the disabled list. Without Clark in the St. Louis lineup, Hurdle said most teams feel they can to remain in Lincoln for conditioning. "He (Osborne) left the final decision up to me," Blakeman said. "I wanted to do this for myself. "I wanted to get away this summer." So far, the choice has worked out well, Blakeman said. He studies business at UNL and is considering a career in politics. "I came out here to get a feel of things. . .to see if I'm really interested in politics," he said. "This is a part of life that I've never seen before." By working with Zorinsky, Blakeman better understands a senator's job. "He's great," Blakeman said of Zorinsky. "I've talked to a lot of other interns and they rarely see their sen ators. Sen. Zorinsky is running around here all the time." During his spare time, Blakeman tours the city. He has been to the U.S. Capitol, the White House and has attended Senate sessions. "I still haven't seen the President, though," he said. Blakeman also finds time for football conditioning. He lifts weights three times a week at George Washington University, where he lives in the dormitories. But a sport Blakeman hasn't found time for is golf. His father, Glen, manages a course in Papillion during the summer. In the past, Clete would drive to Papillion to shoot a few rounds after workouts in Lincoln. "Clete's a hell of a golfer," Glen said. "It's a lot of fun when he comes up here to play." Ciete will return from Washington on July 9. The rest of the interns will stay until August, but he has to come back early to prepare for fall practice. When he returns, Clete probably won't head straight to a golf course. "I'll get home and everybody will take my money when I play them," Clete said. ports. strength, coordination or quickness, and they gather that data. Unfortu nately, though, sometimes those with all the physical attributes never mate rialize while others with lesser skills become absolute stars. "We try to measure which people will use their physical capabilities to their full potential through their own motivation, heart, drive, perception, response to pressure, and tolerance of pain." SKI's research division conducted numerous confidential interviews with some of the top players in hockey to find out which qualities they possessed that enabled them to excel. From this information, SHI developed an inter view for potential North Star draft choices which was designed to uncover these same qualities. "Hopefully, the information helps neutralize the Cardinals speed because the threat of a bonafide homerun hitter doesn't exist. "It takes a lot out of us offensively," he said. Hurdle said despite the Cardinals downfalls, he is thankful for the oppor tunity the St. Louis organization has given him this season. After spending three seasons with New York, Hurdle was left unprotected by the Mets following the 1985 season. That's when Cardinal manager Whi tey Herzog, who was looking for some one to fill the void left by the departure of former utility man Steve Braun, drafted Hurdle out of the Mets AAA organization. Hurdle said he was hurt at first by the fact he was made available for the draft through being left unprotected by the Mets. But after learning he was chosen by the Cardinals, Hurdle said he put aside his feelings of anger because being with St. Louis would give him a chance ' By Bob Asmuscen -Editor . ; ' ST. 10UIS When the New York Mets last won the World Series way . back in IS3' D wight Gooden was I four years old. The current National probably more concerned with tyin his shoes and learning the alphabet than he was about blowing fastballs by confused hitters. Of the current players on the Mets roster, only George Foster was playing professional baseball in 19G9. He hit .321 at Class A Fresno before getting five at bats that season with the San Francisco Giants Comparisons between the two teams are inevitable. One man in a good position to make those com parisons is Met's coach Bud Harrel son. . . Harrelson is currently the Met's third base coach, But, In 19G9 he Harrelson Jiny con'par.:?rj beaten XU Un tcLs Justo star; ; tt tH top with the t?r,T$ ir.irl-: era. The lliUirzi-? v:,rj? " If tlie hU Gil n;s. TU III ; Il.ts - Iflfl: ........ them pick who can help them most, who they can get the most out of," Erickson said. When North Stars owners George and Gordon Gund purchased the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers, they asked for SHI's assistance again. Erickson said that the transition from college to pro basketball involves many factors, including the player's reaction to an improved level of com petition. "A certain player may be dominant based on his skills and physical attrib utes in college, and can maintain his motivation, intensity and determina tion on most nights. "When they become professionals, and face individuals that are just as talented on every night, they need to increase their motivation. For some it to prove to the Mets they had made a mistake. "I always like to do well against them," Hurdle said. "I think every baseball player likes to do well against his former teammates." Hurdle said he willingly accepts his role as utility player for the Cardinals. To prepare himself for a game, Hur dle said he tries to build himself up both mentally and physically so he will be ready if he is called. The task of preparing himself, Hur dle said, is made more difficult because he has no idea which of the five posi tions he will be called upon to play. "It makes it hard," Hurdle said. Hurdle said he sometimes looks back on his minor league career which included two stops in Omaha while he was the property of the Kansas City Royals. In 1977, Hurdle made his transition from A ball to AAA a smooth one by leading the Omaha Royals in average, hits, doubles and runs. He was named fees lit the young Um thai made the difference thU season.- - ; , "in im nobody picked us to ! win, H irrskon said. "We just wanted to finish the season. But, Gil, had confidence in us." The 1969 Mets swept the Atlanta Bi-aves to advance to their first World Series against Baltimore. After losing the first game, 4-1, the Mets took four straight from the Orioles to win the title. Harrelson said the 1969 team and the 1986 team are also similar in that both teams feature strong -pitching staffs. The 1969 starting rotation was Tom; Seave'r, Jerry Koosraan, Gary Gentry and Nolan Ryan, In 1986, the teams five-man rotation includes four pitchers with . a chance at 20-win seasons; Gooden, Sid Fernandez, Ron Darling and Bob nbtfc Ehrays tfiesrjsw Haralson i 1L - . rr.J a nix cf experience J : players stays the same, others lose that edge through intimidation. Another group and this is the fun one has their best come out and they go into over drive." In formulating interviews for each sport, SHI's research has turned up a number of interesting factors which may contribute to a player's success. For example, potential hockey draft choices often have a relationship with their father that can lead to having the desired motivational factors. "There's something about the rela tionship with a hockey player and his dad," Erickson said. "If you learned how to skate in 'Frostbite Falls, Sas katchewan,' you'd have to get up pretty early in the morning to get ice time. And it's likely that it would be dad who would take you. Hockey teams don't lose very often on 'Dad's Night.' " man the American Association's most valu able player while earning All-star and rookie of the year honors. He was also featured on the cover of Sports Illus trated as a rookie sensation. Hurdle spent the next three seasons beteen Omaha and Kansas City, until a back injury severaly limited his playing time during the 1981 season. A trade involving pitcher Scott Brown then sent him to the Cincinnatti Reds in 1982, but Hurdle was released after spending the later part of the season with the Reds AAA affiliate. After unsuccessfully trying out for the Seattle Mariners, Hurdle was signed by the Mets and optioned to their AAA farm team in Tidewater, Virginia. It was there that Hurdle spent the 1984 season learning to be a catcher, a move which he said could have saved his baseball career. "In this business you have to do what other people want," he said. "Otherwise, you are liable to be unemployed." .mi comparisons, we wouldn't have even gone to Baltimore Li 1CC3" Harrel son eM, "Shit, everyone thought we'd get killed by Baltimore, Eve ryone was wrong." Harrelson played 16 major league seasons. Harrelson was the Mets opening day shortstop from 1967-77. His best year at the plate was 1973 when he batted .258 for the National League champion Mets. He played in two All-Star games. - Harrelson said his career and his experience in two World Series will be valuable to this year's Mets. , "I'll know what it's like to play in the World Series, I'll have been there," Harrleson said. "If I'd never gone through it myself, I'd be blow ing smoke if I tried to tell anyone what it will be like." As Mets third base coach, Barrel. to the Mets nU.indgd hitters. He eiso works with the team's ai2Ib :