Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 110

1 1 FRIDAY, JULY 4fT986 TtHEARIZOMA REPUBLIC SE9 Sports Sport's snub: by Goodwill irks archer Rick McKinney of Gilbert said he knows why archery will not be a part of the Goodwill Games, which begin Saturday in Moscow. "It's not a very large sport to a lot of people. It's not a media-hyped sport," the 1984 Olympic silver medalist said. "The Soviet Union has a 'very strong team, and so do we (United States). But we were overlooked.

It would have been fun." McKinney, the current world target champion, would be in Moscow today had archery been one of the 18 sports included in the Games. He had to bite his tongue when asked how he felt about having to stay home. "Being a former Olympian," he began, "I can honestly tell you that it is sad to see one person come in and try to destroy something that has taken 50 years to build, just for a few extra lousy bucks." McKinney, 32, was referring to Ted Turner, the multi-millionaire who owns the Atlanta's Braves and Hawks, holds majority ownership of Turner Broadcasting System Inc. and is the brainchild of the Goodwill Games. "Ted Turner isn't really doing this to win any high merit award.

He's doing it for the money," McKinney said. "Not having archery and a lot of other sports included just goes to show you that the whole thing is more of a financial endeavor than it was for AP Rick McKinney, shown in a 1983 photo from the world championships, which he won, is a master of concentration. Coach predicts brighter future for Jackrabbits By BOB McMANAMAN Arizona Republic Staff Paul Newendyke didn't hesitate when asked to talk about the dismal season his Mesa High School basketball team had last year. "We were in a little over our heads," he said matter-of-factly. Nothing else about the Jackrabbits' disappointing 4-20 season needed to be said.

Well, unless you wanted to be cruel and add the fact they lost their first 12 games. Newendyke insists he is still proud of his 1985-86 team. He admired their courage and their loyalty. It, would have been easy for a handfull of players to quit the team in embarrassment. But, they toughed it out together.

"We were in every game we played right down to the last game of the season," Newendyke said. "We only got blown out once." Central Region coaches kept jumping on the Mesa High bandwagon. "They're the best 0-and-6 team around," the coaches all cried. And they kept saying it. "The best 0-7 team around, the best 0-8 team around, the best "It was just one of those things," Newendyke said.

"There was a lack of experience, size, maturity and we seemed to be a half step behind the older kids. We just weren't quite as good as everybody else. That's what it was really all about. We knew we weren't that far away, Like the man said, in over their heads. Well, you might not recognize the Mesa Jackrabbits next season.

Here's a tip: they'll be the guys playing head and shoulders above the rest. "I'm not a great predictor, but we'll be capable of winning every game we play next year," Newendyke said in his matter-of-fact style once more. "Common sense tells us we're going to lose somewhere along the line, but people are going to have to earn it. Right now, 1 think we're capable of going right to the state tournament." Newendyke made this profound statement Thursday afternoon after watching his Mesa Recreation team up its record to 2-0 in the Basketball Congress International summer prep basketball tournament at Scotts-dale Community College. Mesa beat Paradise Valley by 22 points in Monday's opening round, and on Thursday toppled Moon Valley by 16.

"I could sit here and tell you something good about every one of these kids," Newendyke said. all super, super kids. We've got good overall size, good overall quickness, kids who can score inside, kids who can score outside, and they all have a great amount of character." There are a 11 players on the Mesa Recreation roster. Nine of them will be playing for Newendyke at Mesa High next year. Mountain View's Paul Standage and Westwood's Kevin Meyer were last-minute replacements.

Next season, Mesa High will boast a front line that will include Scott Flake (a 6-foot-6, 190-pound senior), John Allen (6-5, 230, senior), David Van Dyke (6-7, 145, junior) and Craig Byler (6-4, 175, junior). This lineup figures to be one of the tallest in the Central. But Mesa will also be strong in the back court with the return of starter Orlando McKay (5-11, 150, junior). Juniors Derrick Blake, Riachard Diaz and Mike Ellsworth and senior Keith Mundt will surround McKay at guard. "I think we're going to have some fun next year," Newendyke said.

Olympic archery medalist's attitude always on target goodwill, even though they used the An archer has to be mentally devoted when he gets on that line The only thing on your mind should be this tournament, or, just this one arrow. By BOB McMANAMAN Arizona Republic Staff When John McEnroe argues with the line judge, he throws his tennis racket. When Billy Martin squabbles with the home plate umpire, he kicks up dirt. When Bobby Knight challenges the referee, folding chairs have been known to fly across the basketball court. It's a good thing archery great Rick McKinney of Gilbert doesn't loose his patience like some infamous sports brats.

Besides, who would want their eye shot out by a speeding arrow sailing at half the speed of light? McKinney, a 32-year-old, two-time Olympian, has never lost his composure. Throughout his 23 years in the sport, he has maintained his cool, knowing he cannot afford to lose his concentration. Archers must be able to lock everything and everyone completely out of their minds when they step to the shooting line. Distractions can lead to disaster. Anger may result in errant-flying arrows.

But McKinney has kept himself on top of the archery world by putting himself into a sort of trance, a hypnotic state of complacency. "An archer has to be mentally devoted when he gels on that line," McKinney says. "You have to forget about everything the past, the present, the future. You tell yourself that the only thing on your mind should be this tournament, or, just this one "You will notice in any event on TV when the interviewer asked the athlete how they think they'll do tomorrow, most of them will say, 'I'm going to do my best and enjoy But you have a few who take a different approach. They have a different personality.

When you are in a very aggressive sport, you have to think that way. Boxers and wrestlers have to make contact and have that explosive power. "Look at archery. Can you imagine having that kind of power in a sport that requires total finesse? The slightest shaking or moving could cause you to miss the whole target at 90 meters." McKinney, who will compete in the U.S. Olympic Festival (July 26-29 in Houston) for the ninth consecutive year, does not miss the target.

After a workout or a tournament, you can bet the arrows he shot will be cramped together in the center of the bullseye. It's routine. What might seem impossible to many, comes easy to the 1984 Olympic silver medalist. "Way back when I first started, I thought to myself one day I'd reach the top and then I'd taper off," McKinney said. "But every year keeps getting better and better.

I'm even enjoying it more. It's not the success, but more the idea of enjoying the camaraderie, the sportsmanship, and the actual thrill of competition." McKinney, Extra 11 term, goodwill. While archery doesn't fill stadiums or warrant million-dollar contracts, McKinney firmly believes advertising contracts and television rights are taking precedence over the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. Money comes first. "I can't be too angry about that," McKinney said.

"You expect that sort of thing from people with big dollars. Rut it's kind of sad it had ig happen. I was surprised when I found out archery wasn't going to be a part of it all. But I guess Turner is more preoccupied about selling advertising rights to companies than he is anything else. "I'd say he's cleaning up pretty good." Actually, according to a source at the Atlanta Constitution, Turner will actually be "taking a bath" in his latest endeavor.

He stands to lose $15 million at the Goodwill Games, the source said. "Ted Turner isn't out to make more money with the Goodwill Games," the source said. "He's out for fame. He doesn't need to worry about making money." BOB McMANAMAN Rick McKinney arrow." It has taken years to improve and modify his concentration, but McKinney has always had it. It has bailed him out several times.

"I try not to think about my problems," he said. "That can really interfere. But I've run into some personal problems. I'm human. The thing is, I have been able to always work them out before the end of a tournament, and still be able to win.

"It all depends on how strong your mind is." All athletes must possess confidence to excel in their specific sports. Certain athletes, like prize fighters and wrestlers, need more "mind power" than others, McKinney said. K1EW BALANCE Pitcher gained weight and confidence with diet of peanut-butter sandwiches 6 SHOES AA 2E 4E Widths RUAMe OPEN 78DAYS! 2636 W. Baseline Rd. (1 Block East of Price Rd.) 41 5 N.

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I thought when we were 7-2 we were going to have a great year." Despite Pruitt's record, Glendale Community College baseball coach Dave Grant thought enough of him to recruit him, and Pruitt has committed to play at GCC. Pruitt is pitching in a non-pro league this summer on a team coached by Grant. He is 5-0, and until last Thursday, when he allowed four runs in four innings (he still won), he had pitched 15 consecutive scoreless innings, Pruitt said. "We knew he had a chance to help us as a sophomore," Grant said. "But he looks better now than I thought he would at this stage.

He is not afraid. He will throw his' pitches in certain situations." Pruitt first came to the attention of GCC by attending a couple of camps given by pitching coach Carl Austerman. Grant and Austerman were impressed by Pruitt's ability, but he needs to improve to be successful in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference, a league dominated by hitting, said Grant. "He is awfully rough as far as delivery and windup," Grant said. "He forces the ball up there and has a tendency to over-throw.

He needs to smooth things up and get more movement on the ball." Grant was also attracted to Pruitt by Pruitt's willingness to work and sacrifice. After all, what would Pruitt be without his dedication to eating peanut butter? "I'd probably be 150 pounds," he said. By KENT SOMERS Arizona Republic Staff If Don Pruitt ever needs to be reminded of what made him a better pitcher, all he has to do is put his tongue to the roof of his mouth and taste the remnants of peanut butter. A year ago, Pruitt was a 6-foot, 145-pound pitcher who had just completed his junior year at Thun-derbird High School. Don and his father, Dick, decided Don needed to gain weight.

So Don started eating peanut butter. He had four sandwiches for breakfast, three more for lunch plus his regular meals and. snacks. At night, he prepared a huge milkshake with eggs and protein supplement added. To keep from looking like Terry Forster, Pruitt lifted weights.

He gained 40 pounds in seven months, yet his stomach has stayed within the confines of his pants. Although Pruitt, 17, played defensive end and tight end for the Chiefs' football team, his real purpose in adding the weight was to improve his pitching. The weight did add a few miles per hour to his fastball, he thinks, but maybe more importantly, it improved his confidence. He looked more like a pitcher and felt stronger. A year later, an inch taller, 55 pounds heavier and with a baseball scholarship to Glendale Community College, Pruitt is still eating peanut butter sandwiches.

There is no joy in it. He goes through about a jar a week, and the smell of the stuff nauseates him. "I can't even watch him (eat them) anymore," said Don's mother, Denise. "We started hiding it under jelly," Don said. "(I see) peanut butter and I get nauseated." Pruitt doesn't really "eat" pea- i IUIE AND OIL SERVICE Oil change (replace with up lo 5 quarls) Oil filler change Expert chassis lubrication Oil Change Recommended every 3.000 miles or 3 months FLUID MAINTCNJkHCE (Check and lill with up to 1 pint fluid) Battery Ditlerentral Brakes Transmission Power sleering Windshield washp COUFtlESr SERVICE Wash headlights Wash outside windows Check wiper blades Inspect air filler Vacuum interior Check tire pressure IS JL BioGuard le7T Eats peanut butter like medicine nut butter, he "takes" it, as if it were a pungent medicine.

"The faster I get it down, the sooner I get away from it," Pruitt said. Pruitt stays with the diet, despite the sickening drudgery that comes with it. His mother would fix bacon, eggs and a stack of toast for breakfast. Pruitt eats it, and then stuffs down four peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The routine never varies.

"Other parents couldn't believe how big Donnie is," said Dick Pruitt. "It took a lot of self-discipline." The added weight appeared to be especially beneficial during the first half this year's prep baseball season. Pruitt won six of his first seven decisions, and Thunderbird jumped to a 7-2 record. But the Chiefs faltered. They couldn't hit or field in the clutch and lost 10 of their last 13 games.

"A couple of times we had the bases' loaded, no outs and couldn't score a mm Wake Up To The Arizona Republic Call 257-8300 to subscribe 6 Neighborhood Locations Country Club McKellips. Mesa (1960 Country Club) MUM Mesa Drive 1 University. Mesa (407 Unnmlyl 144 7104 rh Ave Alma School M. Mesa (765 Alma School) N47lit 35th Ave Northern. Phoenix (3597 Northern Ave I7 MM 51st, Bethany Home Rd i Crand, Glendale W7I47I 67th Avenue 4 Peoria, Glendale I7MU7I fxp.y67'86 Not valid with other coupons.