PiT SpOrtS Netfr^kan
JL Thursday, June 13,1991
Eye (not hands) on the ball
Shawn Rediger, a junior pre-law major, pitches the ball off to a team
mate before being tackled, the team is headed for Okoboji this weekend
to compete in a tournament.
Campus Recreation offers
fun-in-the-sun activities
By David Moyer
Staff Reporter
The Campus Recreation department has
several fun-in-the-sun activities planned for
students stuck in Lincoln this summer.
The second of two men’s and women’s
tennis tournaments will begin July 22. It will be
an open tournament with no entry fee; players
will be responsible for setting up match limes
and playing on their own. Entries for the tour
nament will be accepted from June 26 to July
16.
The rec center also will offer several fitness
and instructional classes this summer. Students
can take low-impact, water, progressive or ex
tended aerobics along with classes for a firmer
body.
The second session for these activities runs
from June 17 to July 12, and session three goes
from July 22 to Aug. 17. Fees for these classes
range from $8 to $20 for members and from
$12 to $30 for non-members, depending on the
number of days of class taken.
Instructional classes still available include
weight training starting July 13, adult cardiolo
gists resuscitation starting June 15 and Aug.
24, and children’s swim lessons starting July
15. For the nature person, several trips arc
still open, according to Jim Fullerton, coordi
nator of outdoor recreation.
For students who would like to get away for
the Fourth of July weekend, there is still room
for a backpacking trip at Indian Cave State
Park from July 5 to 7. A bicycling trip in the
San Juan Mountains of Colorado is scheduled
for July 26 to August 3.
A canoeing trip on the Dismal River in
Nebraska is scheduled for Aug. 2-4, and a basic
rock-climbing adventure begins Aug. 14.
Mountain backpacking in the Tetons of Wyo
ming is also still open. The trip will be from
Aug. 17 to 25.
“Canoeing and rock climbing are the most
popular activities,” Fullerton said. “People really
like those western rafting trips, too.”
The only people eligible for the trips arc
current students and alumni. The alumni rate is
25 percent more than the student rate. Each
activity has a different member cost.
Because of the popularity of the trips, only
immediate family members can sign up with
the students. Friends are considered ineligible.
“We usually fill the trips up with students so
we have to limit who can go,” Fullerton said.
More information on all the activities, dead- >
lines and fees can be obtained at the Lee &
Helene Sapp Recreation Facility.
Beginning June 17, summer intramural
activities bounce into full swing with the start
of 3 on 3 basketball, sand volleyball and men’s
and women’s tennis. The entry deadline for all
three is June 11 at 5:30 P.M.
The basketball and volleyball leagues will
both be outdoors, on campus, and will consist
of round robin league play with a post-season
tournament held at the end of the session. Upon
signing up, there will be entry fees for both
events. Basketball is $10 with a SI 5 forfeit fee,
and vol ley ball is $ 15 w ith a $ 15 forfei t fee also.
The forfeit fee is charged to ensure that
teams will not forfeit games after signing up. If
a team does not forfeit a game, the S15 will be
refunded. If there is one forfeit, $7.50 will be
refunded, but with two or more forfeits, the
money is lost.
Two former Nebraska gymnasts
advance to World Championships
By David Moyer
Staff Reporter___
Two former University of Nebraska men’s
gymnasts and several current Huskers placed
m the all-around competition at the U.S.
Gymnastics Championships, held from June 6
9 in Cincinnati.
Former Husker Patrick Kirksey Finished tied
for second behind champion Chris Waller of
UCLA, 114.62 to 114.58 and former team
member Tom Schlesinger finished fourth with
a score of 114.42.
Current Huskcrs competing last weekend
included Dennis Harrison, Che Bowers and
Sumner Darling. Harrison finished 23rd and at
the top for his age. Bowers finished 33rd and
Darling finished 35th. All were freshmen last
See GYMNASTICS on 11
Magic vs. Michael contest misses the mark
Magic vs. Michael.
This year’s NBA championship
between the Los Angeles Lakers and
Chicago Bulls has given fans a show
case of two of the greatest pro basket
ball players of all time — Magic
Johnson and Michael Jordan.
There has been much debate over
the past week of just who is the best
player ever. But it’s impossible to say
a ho is the best without first looking
at the possible applicants.
Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls. In
five or six years, we may be able to
look back and say he is the best. Right
now, there arc others more qualified.
Jordan is a great scorer, passer and
defensive player, and has proven to
be solid in the fourth quarter of games.
But it isalso easy to get wrapped up in
Jordan’s acrobatics and marketing
image. It has been said there will
never be another player with his high
flying capabilities, but that is what
was said about Julius Erving, and
along came Jordan.
Bill Russell, Boston Celtics. Russell
was an incredibly imposing defen
sive force and made his teammates
better by his passing and screen set
ting. But what he did best was re
bound and block shots. When the
Celtics drafted him in 1956, they were
in desperate need of defensive re
bounding and Russell was one of the
best ever. He helped guide the Celtics
to eight straight championships, an
accomplishment that will probably
never be matched.
But hisscoring ability was suspect
throughout his career. He never was a
good shooter, and fortunately for him,
never had to score much thanks to the
players he had around him.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Ange
les Lakers. The NBA’s all-time scor
ing leader has to be considered. Jab
bar was a great scorer. His famed sky
hook shot was possibly the most inno
vative shot in the history of the game.
But Jabbar was criticized through
out his career for his lack of rebound
ing intensity. Standing I'l”, Jabbar
■ Ulf. //titutil,
could have been and shouldhave been
a better rebounder. He was decent on
the defensive boards, but definitely
needed to be more aggressive on the
offensive boards, where he was basi
cally non-existent.
Larry Bird, Boston Celtics. Bird is
probably the greatest clutch player
ever. Throughout his career, he has
helped add to the Celtic mystique by
continually hilling big shots and
making big plays when it counts.
His court sense is amazing, and he
can rebound, pass, and score as well
as anyone. But injuries during his
career, especially towards the end,
have been detrimental.
Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lak
ers. Johnson is many people’s choice
as the besf, aridhc'vcry well deserves
that title. He is the NBA’s all-time
assist leader, and has run the floor
better than anyone ever.
His ability to make his teammates
better is unmatched, something 'Jor
dan doesn’t do that well, and he is a
consummate worker. In a day and age
when many pro sports players arc just
collecting big paychecks for minimal
work, Johnson continually works hard
and practices extra.
There arc only two question marks
regarding Johnson. First, his outside
shot has always been mediocre. And
second, would he be the assist leader,
had he not had great scorers and shoot
ers like Jabbar, James Worthy, Mi
chael Cooper, and Byron Scott around
See COLUMN on 11
v ,'.n ntv