The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 49

48 Sport THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 1997 hark shies away from showdown with roaring Tiger GOLF jeo off and do it with somebody else," the Shark said. I no itahly these days, vou can't have a show without Tiger, and Norman was responding to a question from the assembled gathering, which included Premier Bob CarT. who was there to anniHjr.ce a substantial financial involvement by Tourism NSW in the SI million Sydney tournament. The official announcement was the severing of the final link between Norman and his former agents, the International Management Group, who were partners in the Norman Holdcn Classic. To be played at The Australian io5f luH, the scene of Norman's fifth Australian Open triumph last November, the International has the February 5-8 date next year which, strategically, is the best on offer, with the $1.2 million Heineken Classic in Perth on one side dnd the Australian Masters in Melbourne on the other.

Norman will play his own tournament and one other and given his comments yesterday, that may well be the IMG-run Masters at Hunting-dale, which would end his two-year boycott of the event "I understand it is the 20th anniversary of the Masters and that's going to be- a swaying influence between the Masters and the Classic. I have a bit of an affinity for Huntingdale and a bit of an affinity for the Australian Masters," Norman said. Norman has won the Masters six times and, until his absence two years ago to be home in Florida to celebrate his 40th birthday, he was the only golfer to have played every round since it began in 1979. Perhaps the most significant detail in yesterday's announcement was the fact that the Norman International will be telecast by the Seven Network, whose involvement in golf has always been IMG events. It also means, although there has been no official announcement, that IMG has abandoned the Skins game, which for more than a decade has been played the weekend before the Masters.

Was it coincidental that a representative of AT a sponsor of the Skins in the past, was at yesterday's launch? No-one has yet been signed for the International, but Norman has approached a number of leading players. "We need an international flavour," he said. "I am speaking to one player right now who hasn't been to Australia in 12-15 years and he's got the charisma of Arnold Palmer, he's got the record of any of the top players in the world." Could he be Spanish with the initials SB, we asked? "You're getting pretty warm," he replied. Norman did not play in the recent Spanish Open at Seve Ballesteros's request for nothing. The Spaniard's dodgy back willing, he will return here for the first time since 1985.

Woods? "Tiger is a priority anywhere he goes. Of course he will be invited," Norman said. Invited, yes, but paid the ($650,000) appearance money which is said to be his going rate? Extremely doubtful. Next week brings the second of golfs majors for the year. The US Open is at Congressional, outside Washington, where Norman has twice won the Kemper Open, which is being played this week at the Potomac club in Maryland.

"I'm feeling exceptionally good right now," Norman said. "My game is strong and I'm looking forward to getting to Congressional. It is 7,200 yards and par 70. "It is pouring with rain in Washington and it seems the golf course will play extremely long, which will play into my wicket really." Unlike at the US Masters in April when he missed the cut, media pressure will be minimal. At Augusta, the focus was on his final-round failure a year earlier, but coming into the Open it will be Woods, Woods and more Woods, and talk of a grand slam.

"My life is better for the advent of Woods," he said. "I feel so much more at ease. Tiger now has a lot of responsibilities, but he deserves it "He's taken those responsibilities on his shoulders in a very impressive fashion. It's taken a lot of the pressure away from me. You can't believe what a difference it's made to my life." Norman might have refused a head-to-head challenge with Woods, but the Open is that anyway.

There was genuine excitement in Norman's voice as he spoke of Congressional. Dare we think he might finally win his first US major? PETER STONE Greg Norman has rejected a million dollar deal to play a bt of -three scries of IS-holc -touts, packaged fcr tclcvi- n. agaimt American Tiger W.v-!. who is fast taying claims No I work ranking. Norman was speaking via tc from I xla announce tv Greg Ncrrun Ik Men tocrrumcni.

"I ddnt thir.k it was right for I know it would have Kern great for the game of goif. I be would have loved lo have seen it. Mab WiHx! will Scott Miller, expelled from the AIS after a late-night altercation, likes the fast life and has been involved in other escapades, writes JACQUELIN MAGNAY. ZD iry T. 4-k I sJ i 'I e3 'Sis t-AJ uC? between the swimmers and coaches.

Finally it was decided that Miller, too, was too much trouble and that he had very little drive and commitment to improve his behaviour. AIS SPOKESMAN Allan Yates said Miller could return to the campus if he demonstrated a new commitment to training. But those closest to Miller, including his friends, fellow swimmers and coaching staff, believe the butterfly star is on a downward spiral. "He just keeps dropping the ball," one said. "He has a history of this kind of thing and everyone has tried to lend him a hand, but there comes a point where he has to be the one to want to help himself.

"He has to wake up to himself and decide if he wants to be a swimmer cr a brawling Miller very nearly didn't get to go to the Atlanta Games after being involved in a serious fight with an Atlanta skinhead when the Pan Pacific championships were held there in 1995. He was arrested, charged with assault and spent a night in jail, even though he claimed he was trying to protect the skinhead's girlfriend. "The night turned into a nightmare," Miller said at the time. "This guy had smashed an elbow into one of the women tvvice that's when I stepped in. "I didn't realise at first what I did cr how hard I threw the punch.

I acted on pure self-defence. I hit him once and he went down like a bag of spuds." It was only through the intervention of high-level Olympic officials that' Miller got the necessary Olympic visa to reenter the country for the Games. To understand Miller is to understand a person who gets high on life. At the Atlanta Olympics he said he swam specifically to replicate the tingling and buzzing feeling he gets just before a big race. Just now he is angry.

Whether he can convert that aggression into further pool success remains to be seen. As hi nnisG iuh ck of the car. tirc-gariou Ur kne the fat i.sc He i one i ih. f.n k'. irty animals arc I Tc rA vou! i the party iJ utragcu r.

ie thingv There jrcn't ntart girlfriend in i. is too buy for t. l.c it h. ng en the h. Bat Miller is jrs 4 Mivcr t.

ne utra-' finest rv To socccc J. he ha derr.c r-vtratrd cnt.rini a adapting the routine iris-morning ar.d Training scs.k rs. But that I -t iiappcar t-utsiJe the He ofier. r.caJ coj.h IX T.iTh okc pert a trin' v. r.ljl hut lo no He sei n.

a tfa.t hih ha worsened Mruc the (iNmpiiv t.iten find hn.i mtead at the TAB. I Miilcr. a th; raes fv a late -niht Jfii.kir.; with his nv.itcs. ff ith a prank, i far more te grind i.f lap af.cr lip cn the northern Ixavhe MT'cr. 22.

himself from aMarJ craf ith charm ar.d hen. rn-enal natural wirr.n;r ability. He i disjrmir.In aN-'ut hi escapades e.tcrdj said he was bcirp in'ed out fecause he wouiJn'i p.t up with treatmcrt at ih; AIS But this time he went too far. the AIS was fcrceJ to take the step cf ctptll.Pg him. )nl four other -thietcs h.ise sent home in diracc cfore in the 15 searst the AIS Miller" mo rivcr.t invider.t one in a It latr.kin atv Tv put the tran.greion in ccr.teit.

Australian im ti athe hase 'een banned fr. tejni csaue the i haJ a drrnks in a ht-ul h-r at ih; i'rd an overseas traiiiins: trip From fab to flab to there have been plenty of highs and lows for Scott Miller (clockwise from top left), from an Olympic silver medal in the 100m butterfly, to being out of shape at the NSW championships, to a day at the races with jockeys Glen Boss and John Marshall, to a nude encounter in black white magazine. photos by ap, craig golding, kylie melinda smith and john davis Miller 'punished enough' but trial to come Miller, 22, was expelled from the AIS because of repeated incidents at the Canberra campus, where his commitment to training was put in doubt. The incident which triggered his removal was a scuffle involving two strangers outside a Canberra takeaway food outlet last Wednesday night, where he dislocated his finger. Another swimmer, two-time Olympic representative Toby Haenen, was also sent home to Queensland from a week-long training camp because of his involvement at the scene.

AIS executive director John Boultbee said Miller had missed nine of 12 specific sports science sessions during the camp. "It was a lack of that com issue, though, is that we require a certain commitment to training." Australian swim coaches are also concerned about Miller's attitude. It is believed he has had no contact with regular coach Paul Hardman for the past week, and it will be difficult for him to find an accommodating taskmaster for his current approach. But Miller said he was ready to train on his own, not only for the Pan Pacs but also the world championship trials in October. Head coach Don Talbot said Miller could not rely on his Olympic performance to prop up his lifestyle forever.

"You are only as good as your last swim," Talbot said. "Every now and again someone comes through who is a natural sensation Perkins was one, Miller another, but he seems to be going along the same self-destructive path as that footballer, Julian O'Neill. "He has to be careful because we have a lot of depth in butterfly, with Geoff Heugill and Michael Klim swimming very fast, and if he continues this way he will find that he is not swimming fast, and lose his place on the team." Talbot will conduct fitness trials on the Australian team on July 26-28 in Brisbane before flying to the Pan Pacific championships in Japan. Miller, who only scraped into the team after finishing third at the trials last March, will be closely scrutinised. AuNiraii.m swimming teams stay if the drink, partly because mans members are under IS and h.vaue of problem in the pat.

M.Uer was at the MS C'an-hcrra campu on a four-month residential scholarship. His usual pot 1 N.irrabeen had been closed for maintenance and his coach. Paul Hardman. h.id Ken juphng sp ce at ether nears pool and the Sydney Literrtioiial Aquatic Centre. was decided la.t month to transfer M.J'cr.

who was buttling a iniury. to Canberra ur.t.l Scpierr.K-r. where he could get c.is and free access to spccia.ised spvirt doctors and physiotherapists and unlimited time in the water. At the ame time there was a week's "stroke camp" at the AIS fvr backstroke and butterfly swimmers from ill oer the cor.try Miller" manager. Graham McViee.

said: "He had gone out on Vs'ednesdas nLht when the car.ip erded. There 'as a scuffle. started it and he was i.voled in a. he coming ick in a few-week thank (iod he is going to re out if tnere. MILLIR had linke.

with another swir hs ienen. a mt Aed up dimmer. member the past twe Olympic teams as a b.ickstroker. The two had giTiC out for dinner, then waited tn l.re for a tasi. when scmehow a fuht with stranger broke cut.

Miller escaped from ihe fight with a dislocated nger anJ hurt pride. Haenen had facial cuts. Ju.t where the two went afterwards i uncertain, but AIS maintained they missed training the next morning. AIS vurces said this was not ihe first lime Miller had gone out partying until the small hours and tiis expulsion reflected that Haenen. who is not part of the Australian team to contest the Pan Pacific championships in I ukiii'ka.

Japan, next August, was expelled immediately from the camp. But Miller sta.ed on, as his home at the time was the institute, creating divisions KSaV Tim Sheens LEAGUE In a normal season, players and coaches can get into a grind. You're regularly playing the same teams and the same players and you get to become very familiar with them. Playing against virtual strangers is a new challenge and it's one Tm sure the players from both hemispheres are very keen on. While a Manly Canberra game has always been an exciting occasion in recent years, a Brisbane Wigan match will be a memorable event When the concept of Super League was first envisaged, it was things like the World Club Challenge that we sought to introduce.

It will set us apart from the field and create benefits across the board. Don't sell the British Keep brawls off the big World Club Challenge mitment that led us to decide after discussing with Scott and the coaches that he should leave," he said. But yesterday Miller hit out at AIS coaches and officials. He said he was singled out because the AIS treated him like a child and "I wouldn't put up with He claimed his lack of trauiing appearances was because of sponsorship commitments, something he had told the AIS about before he went to Canberra. Boultbee denied Miller's interpretation.

"We don't think we have a monastic existence we don't try and make them peas in a -pod at all," he said. "We accept and welcome personalities and people who have their own views. The sole ROY MASTERS COMMENT insolent ones that were part of the Belmore crowd to over-identify with players. At times they think they are in the game, feeling they have the right to affect its outcome. Fortunately, the big screen at Belmore did not pan to the fighting on the hill, because it would almost certainly have exacerbated the violence.

With most league games now played with a big screen in the background, the Belmore brawl is a timely reminder of their capacity to create mayhem. Super League use them at all games to project the adjudication by the video referee of questionable tries. The ARL employs the big screen at its main two games, presumably as an aid to nearsighted spectators and those interested in the replay of tries. JACQUELIN MAGNAY A troubled Scott Miller hasn't spoken to his coach for a week, has no pool to train in and has less than two months to get himself fit with a dislocated finger fcr the Pan Pacific championships in Japan. But swimming officials yesterday indicated they will not be imposing further disciplinary measures against the Olympic silver medallist, who was expelled from the AIS last week.

"The feeling is that he has already been punished," an official said. "The board of Australian Swimming has yet to consider it, but it is believed he will be able to swim at the Pan Pacs if he is fit enough." short same zip and enthusiasm he showed as a schoolboy. He can still make defenders look like they are nailed to the floor with his speed and he is destined to be remembered among the game's greatest players. I was impressed with Ettings-hausen's professionalism during NSW's recent tri-series campaign. On the field, he goes looking for the ball, he does plenty of work and is a cool head in a crisis.

And off it, he is a role model and a player who knows how to look after his body. The guy likes a beer like most players, but knows when to say no to one more drink. He is his own man and a superb player who has managed to maintain his athleticism long after many of his contemporaries have retired. Just to ram home the point to me last weekend, he scored two fine tries against Cowboys and led the Sharks in fine style. There are those at Cronulla who reckon he'll still be around when Sydney hosts the 2000 Olympics, and who am I to argue with that? screen repeating these thoughts to a St George player.

The word "catharsis" worried him a little but he understood the "sport as society's safety valve" angle. "Don't be stupid," the player said. "The crowd booed when they turned the big screen off." Inquiries proved him right, for the precise moment the big screen began showing an advertisement, the crowd booed. The cameras had been panning from pairs of warring players, with fans switching their eyes from the field to the screen and back again. They were delighted at the choice of being able to enjoy their own live view of the braw or the screen close-ups.

When the screen was turned off, so were they. Some among a crowd are attracted to football violence for its vicarious power. As well, there is an anti-authoritarian spirit in most sporting crowds. When a security guard ejects a spectator, who gets booed? Always the guard. When' the brawling started five minutes from the end of Monday night's game, rugby league can be grateful the big screen at Belmore concentrated on the match.

Shortly after referee Brian Grant signalled the end of Monday night's Canterbury-Penrith match at Belmore Sports Ground, two Channel 9 cameramen moved to the centre of the field and began filming the wild brawl on the Terry Lamb Family Hill. Canterbury's head of security, Michael Hingerty, asked the cameramen to stop filming, arguing that the cameras gave the brawling youths the attention they were seeking. When told that apart from news value the film would identify the troublemakers, Hingerty pointed out there were sufficient long-range cameras in the stand without the red lights of the midfield ones acting like a rag to a bull. As Canterbury's media lia-son officer, Debbie Spillane, says: "It makes the troublemakers cockier if the cameras are in the middle of the field pointing at them, instead of on the sideline directed at the players." And Canterbury players reckon they were intimidated during their warm-up outside their own home ground when youths in Penrith jumpers abused Bulldog winger Hazem EI Masri. A tendency exists for youths -particularly the rebellious and Occasionally, when the fans think the referee has erred in awarding a try, there is an angry appeal from the stands.

My first experience with the big screen and violence was during the 1984 semi-final series at the Sydney Cricket Ground when, as coach of St George, my team played Souths. A wild on-field brawl broke out after the second scrum, going on for ages, with pairs of players flailing at each other. It was near comical the way St George winger Steve "Bubba" Gearin, a speedy but gentle winger, almost grabbed the cardboard corner post to belt his opposite. However, the brawl persisted to an embarrassing extent even for a coach associated with the odd dust-up at Wests. Suddenly the excited chatter and cheer from the crowd turned to a deafening boo, and my mild embarrassment was overtaken by consuming guilt.

"That's the end of the catharsis theory," I remember thinking. "People don't come to the football to see violence acted out in order to release their own pent-up aggression. "The mob today have clearly seen enough and are sickened by the sight." After the game, I remember I'm certain the standard of the English teams and players will lift from their exposure to the Australian game and its ideas. And that can only help the game at international level, where it has clearly been struggling because of Australia's dominance over the past 25 years. The fans seem to be caught up in the excitement We're hoping for more than 20,000 against Leeds in Townsville on Saturday night, and plenty of English clubs are expecting full houses at home against Australian opponents.

The British fans have seen Kangaroo teams beat their favourite clubs every four years for too long now here is their chance to get square. In English conditions, with fanatical crowds behind them, the British teams will cause a few surprises. Cronulla centre Andrew Ettingshausen must surely be the eighth wonder of the world. Now in his 15th year in the top grade, ET is playing with the The mild if Queensland jlj.cr at or Acekly team meeting the cther Jj his convinced me that the Soild JuH kicking o(f tcrmnvw niht. will be truly special.

stager Ian Kobcrt anJ (hen Cunningham Acre caught up in the enthusijsni cf the occasion. This is something different. new and something that is scry for all intoUcd. It's a departuic from the weekly premiership ritual, and to some extent a voyage into the unknown. Well be playing against players we are unfamiliar with, even though we've seen a few videotapes of our Saturday night opponents Leeds.

Secondary corr. petitions in the past. I.ke ihe mid week scries, met with mixed success largely because clubs were thinking about the premiership matches aheaJ on the weekend and often rested star players. But by su pending the Telstra Cup for three weeks. Super League has ensured that ev cry-ones focus is Tued on the World Club Chalierge.

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