The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 9

Sinister BUSINESS OH 5S DAVID WTTKE, executive sports editor, 515-284-8130 Saturday, April 1,1989 rmcnjtnsEN NCAA's Final Four is far cry from the old days r. Wolverines By PERRY FARRELL 19W KntaM-RMdvTribuiw Nm Strvlc SEATTLE, WASH. Outgoing Big Ten Commissioner Wayne Duke can remember the lean years of the NCAA tournament and Final Four when there was no meat on the table and no money in the bank. For many years, the NCAA championship was played in relative obscurity, overshadowed by the National Invitation Tournament, college basketball's most prestigious event in the 1940s and '50s. "I ran the tournament for 11 years as a staff representative for the NCAA," Duke recalled this week.

"I was the first employee of the NCAA in '52 under Walter Byers the NCAA's first executive director. I did the tournament handbook and ran the press section. "In 1953, Indiana beat Kansas in Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City. We listed the crowd at 10,500, but it was actually around 9,000. "Byers sold television rights out of his hip pocket for a Class A hourly rate $500.

That blowout. Viewers often can see parts of 10 or 12 games in one weekend. Now the tournament "obviously rates right up there with the Super Bowl, Rose Bowl and World Series as the premier sports event," Duke said. And there's the human drama. Displays of gut-wrenching agony or gleeful hugging and dancing after a victory are typical of college teams.

In 1977, Al McGuire openly wept on the sideline as Marquette won the championship in his last game as coach. In 1982, Georgetown Coach John Thompson hugged a distraught Fred Brown, who moments earlier had mistakenly thrown the ball to North Carolina's James Worthy, assuring the Tar NCAA Please turn to Page 3S was considered a financial bonanza." Now the bonanza is measured in millions. Television revenue from CBS will total 1 57.8 million when Duke, Michigan, Illinois or Seton Hall celebrates the 51st national championship Monday night at Seattle. Crowds of are expected to watch at the Kingdome, with 20 million viewing on television. This year's total tournament attendance will be about 593,000.

What has made the tournament so popular? One strong attraction is its very nature a national championship drawing teams from across the country, with one-game elimination. One mistake, and favorite Georgetown could have been knocked out in the first round two weeks ago, which it almost was by Princeton. The tournament draws not only the big-name schools North Carolina, Indiana, Louisville, UCLA but also some that few people know anything about Robert Morris, Bucknell, Southern, George Mason. This is the ultimate celebration of America's love for the little guy, and the little guys often do well. Upsets have become more prevalent since the tournament field expanded to 64 in 1985.

In the first round this season, Ball State beat Pittsburgh, Evansville defeated Oregon State, Middle Tennessee State routed Florida State, Siena knocked off Stanford. Illinois was the only regional No. 1 seed to advance to the Final Four. Tournament basketball emphasizes the unpredictability of sports, especially when every game is the last for one team. And the momentum builds over three weeks, all captured by another important element television.

CBS has taken to the tournament in a big way, televising tripleheaders Saturday and Sunday during the second round and switching to more interesting games when one is a DOUG WELLSThe Resistor and their kid SEATTLE, Bob Knight, 48, called Steve Fisher, 44, a kid. That was some of the news on Final Four Eve. After accepting a coach of the year award Friday, Knight was asked for his thoughts on the Michigan scenario. The Michigan scenario, you may recall, goes like this: The day before the NCAA tournament starts, Bill Frieder decides to take the Arizona State coaching job. Bo Schembechler, the athletic director-football coach who was never much of a Frieder fanatic to begin with, gives Frieder a head start to Tempe by booting him out the door and unleashing the quote of the basketball season.

"A Michigan man," Schembechler says, "is going to coach Michigan." Forgetting for the moment that Frieder graduated from Michigan, Schembechler tosses the keys to Frieder's trusty assistant of seven Auburn gains final game for women The "The kid who's coaching the team," Knight said of Fisher, "has done a great job with what he's been given." In a lot of ways that relate to coaching, Fisher is a kid. A kid who woke up on Christmas morning and found the lOth-ranked college basketball team under his tree. All his. Won- -w:" jsr XV? fv. -VI ((When you're i dealing with Schembechler, you're not dealing with Captain Go lEasy On People.

'J Steve Fisher Michigan interim basketball coach TACOMA, WASH. (AP) Ail-American Vicki Orr had 18 points and her backup, Linda Godby, added four key baskets in the final 7 minutes Friday night as Auburn moved into the NCAA women's final with a 76-71 victory over defending champion Louisiana Tech. The Lady Tigers avenged a 56-54 loss to the Lady Techsters in last year's championship game and will play for the title on Sunday. Tennessee and Maryland met in Friday night's second semifinal. Louisiana Tech lost despite a 30-point effort by its 6-foot 4-inch center, Venus Lacy.

It was the third-highest scoring total in an NCAA women's tournament semifinal game. Godby, a 6-6 reserve, had 12 points and kept the Lady Tigers in the game while Orr sat out several minutes due to chronically sore knees. Louisiana Tech took the lead for the final time when Lacy scored for a 69-67 edge with 2:55 to go. Two free throws by Ruthie Bolton tied the score with 2:07 to go, and Orr put the Lady Tigers ahead to stay at 71-69 by hitting two more free throws with 1:24 to play. Godby scored on a lob pass with 45 seconds to go for a 73-69 Auburn lead before Lacy cut the margin back to two with 28 seconds left.

But Carolyn Jones, who finished with 15 points, scored on a layup with 20 seconds left and Orr added a free throw with 8 seconds remaining for the final margin. Iowa Cub outfielder Dwight Smith dives back Into second base to beat the Smith's speed is one of his assets, but his shaky defense is keeping him off the catcher's throw during a spring training game in Mesa, this week, parent Chicago Cubs' roster for now. He'll start the season in Des Moines. Iowa Cubs' Smith scores in defense By RANDY PETERSON Rralstar Stall WrHtr MESA, ARIZ. The sign atop his locker at Fitch Park here says "White Smith." There is no That, in a nutshell, is the reason Dwight Smith finds himself in the minor-league complex of the Chicago Cubs instead of with the big-leaguers at HoHoKam Park.

"His defense wasn't up to what I expected," Chicago Manager Don Zimmer said. "He can hit the ball. He knows how to run the bases. But his defense was something else." That's a rap Smith hopes to correct quickly as he nears his second season with the Iowa Cubs. He will be Man "Invariably when I cut someone, they'll tell me I haven't given them a decent enough shot," Zimmer said.

"When I cut Dwight Smith loose, he looked me straight in the eyes and said 'I didn't show you That's class. He knows he's got to get his act together." Zimmer said Smith would have been his starting left fielder had he shown just average defensive skills. "He was everything I was looking for," Zimmer said. "I had him slotted somewhere toward the bottom of the batting order because of his speed." field position. But he just didn't get the job done.

But I'll tell you what, if he gets his act together defensively, he'll be back. He's like a ticking bomb. He's ready to go off." The problem, Zimmer said, wasn't catching the ball. It was what he did with it. "He missed way too many cutoff men," Zimmer said.

"He'd try to throw to third, miss the guy there, and the guy who hit the ball strolled into second. We can't have that." No Bitterness Zimmer said Smith took his demotion without a hint of bitterness. ager Pete Mackanin's right fielder when the I-Cubs open Wednesday at Oklahoma City. Plans on Chicago Return. "I won't be there long," Smith said.

"I'll be back up. I'm sure there will be a shuttle between Des Moines and Chicago all season." But for Smith to be on it, he will have to improve his defense. He started spring training on Chicago's 40-man roster. He was reassigned to the minor leagues last week. "I was going on hearsay," Zimmer said, "but I wrote Dwight Smith's name in as a candidate for the left- LOUISIANA TECH (71) Stall 3-12 0-0 6, Lewis 1-8 4-5 12, Lacy 14-23 2-5 30, Wells 0-1 0-0 0, Hardlson 0 5 4-5 4, Ethridse 7-1? 1-1 17, Brown 0-2 2-2 2.

Watson 0-0 0-0 a Tolals 2D-70 13-It. AUBURN 7t) Scru9S 3- 5-6 11, McGilberry 3-t 0-0 Orr 6-9 6-10 It, Jones 6-9 3-4 15, Bolton 4-t 2-2 10, Godbv 6-10 0-0 12, aoo 1-3 0-2 2, Thompson 1-6 0-0 2, Stevenson 0-2 0-0 0, Tremitiere 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 30-42 16-24. Haiftlme Auburn 40, Louisiana Tech 39. Three-ooint goals Elhridge 2 Fouled out Lewis.

Rebounds Louisiana Tech 50 (Lacv 13), Auburn 31 (Bolton 6). Assists Louisiana Tech )t (Hardi-son 6), Auburn 12 (Bolton 4). Total fouls Louisiana Tech 19, Auburn 19. A 6,950. Flu bug to keep Hershiser from season-opening start Inkster's game heats up at Dinah Shore Classic I J.J VN 1 I ft! y.dering whether he knew what to do 19 with it you don't just wind it up and vv watch it win.

Finding out he did. Fisher knew something about bas-jf. ketball: You don't win 141 games and lose 70 as a high school coach in south Hi suburban Chicago without stumbling 'U upon a few kernels of knowledge. When Les Wothke, who hired Fish-is er at Rich East, took the Western Michigan job in he invited Fish-jo er to come along. He stayed for three years before i joining Frieder.

Fisher enjoyed Rich East. Could Chave stayed there forever, he said, a'without a single regret. Same with VWestern Michigan. Z. But today he's in Seattle one vic-; rttory from the national title game ii and Bob Knight, Dean Smith and John aren't.

Here's looking at kid. "If 'you close your eyes and That's the way Fisher described uitthe realization that, whatever hap-ijpens, he can always say he was head soxoach of a Final Four team. 17 Whether Schembechler removes jiiJthe interim part of the job description i nor notiWhether Fisher takes over the at Western Michigan, 1 lv.wheth.er he takes the job at Illinois estate, his alma mater, or not. 'Ralph Miller coached almost 40 years and never made it. Fisher has four games, and here he is.

"Whatever the profession," he said. all dream about getting to the rung. The way I got here is diffi- i.jiculj to believe. It's been a crazy period for Steve Fisher. heard from classmates I haven't Jlrtalked to in 25 years and former college roommates I haven't spoken to since 'graduation.

I've had stacks and stacks of congratulatory letters. It irnukes you feel good. And it makes oyo think should have continued some tof those friendships you let drift i waway." When Fisher opens his eyes, rfthough. none of it disappears. i jan is still playing Illinois today in a national semifinal game.

I He is still the interim head coach, i i Frieder is still on his way to Arizona r. State. 0 To think, 1 5 years ago today he was 1 an Park Forest, 111., wearing baggy ay sweats and a stocking cap, pre--f paringvhis Rich East tennis team for rune Southwest Suburban Conference -season, and the annual scuffle with mighty Homewood-Flossmoor for superiority. That's right, tennis. When he wasn't i.icoaclg basketball at Rich East, i'-Fisher was the tennis coach.

Glen Rice, Rumeal Robinson, i TTerry Mills. Forget about those guys. Msk him about Bruce Plotkin some Classic strokes. Not a bad little HANSEN Please turn to Page 3S From Register Wire Services LOS ANGELES, CALIF. Orel Hershiser found an opponent that can knock him out of the box the flu.

Hershiser, who finished the 1988 season with a record 59 consecutive scoreless innings, will watch from the dugout Monday in Cincinnati when the Dodgers and the Reds open the 1989 season. The Dodgers will begin defense of the championship Hershiser was instrumental in winning. Right-hander Tim Belcher was given the assignment in place of his Cy Young Award-winning teammate after Thursday night's exhibition game against the California Angels. Hershiser, who like many of his teammates has been slowed by the flu during the last few weeks, went the first four innings and allowed three hits and one run. He walked one and struck out one.

"It was my decision not to go with Orel on opening day," Manager Tom Lasorda said. "With the flu, it really set Orel back. He lost some strength." Lasorda said that Hershiser, the 30-year-old right-hander who won most valuable player honors in the BASEBALL Please turn to Paye 4S By The AsuclaM Press RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF. -Juli Inkster's game has been as hot as the desert temperatures. She shot a 3-under-par 69 Friday to take a four-stroke lead after two rounds of the Dinah Shore Classic golf tournament, the first of the LPGA's four major events.

Inkster, who opened with a 66, was at 9-under-par 135 after two trips around the Mission Hills Country Club. Beth Daniel, with a second-round 70, was second at 139, with Tammi Green, who had a 68, another shot behind. Dale Eggeling, Jody Rosenthal and Danielle Ammacca-pane were at 141 through 36 holes. A few of the Tour's top players seemed to wilt in the 94-degree heat. Defending champion Amy Alcott had a 78 to drop far back into the pack, and Nancy Lopez had a 75 to fall 12 shots behind the leader.

Inkster, beginning her round on the back nine, quickly went to 10-under with birdies on four of her first five holes. After making the turn with a 32, she cooled off, shooting 37 on the GOLF Please turn to Page 2S Juli Inkster "I played confident" MORNING REPORT Iowa, Thursday in Pennsylvania and Friday in Chicago. The fu TV Today Basketball WOMEN'S FINAL FOUR NBA 12:30 p.m. fESlpTennis International Players Championships, women's fi- nal: Chris Evert vs. Gabriela Sabatini.

2 p.m. Bowling Open 2:30 p.m. (CSN) Auto Racing NASCAR Grand National 200 iTape) ture schedule will be announced following finaJization of sponsorship contracts, which should occur within the next 10 days. NUNN EAGER. Middleweight boxer Michael Nunn, formerly of Davenport, is ready to fight again.

"I've given HBO and Bob Arum instructions that we're ready to fight again," said Dan Goosen, Nunn's manager. "I told Arum we'll fight any middleweight in the world, so that leaves things wide open. As soon as we find out what television! dates are available, then we'll concentrate on an opponent. All we need is a date and site and then we'll fill in the blank as long as the figures are right." Atlanta 116 New Jersey 99 Auburn 76 La. Tech 71 Boston 126 Houston 109 Tennessee vs Maryland Cleveland 109 Chicago 100 HocivCV Dallas 105 Indiana 102 Golden State 134 New York 114 NHL Philadelphia 114 Miami 93 Minnesota Detroit 1 Washington 107 Portland 105 Winnipeg at Calgary Detroit at Seattle Milwaukee at Phoenix San Antonio at A.

Clippers 3 p.m. tp Figure skating 1989 World Championshipexhibition. (Tape) 3:30 p.m. Ice Skating Figure skating, 1989 U.S. championship exhibi-tion (Tape); speed skating, men's and women's World Cup finals (Tape) 3:30 p.m.

Golf LPGA Dinah Shore, third round. 4:30 p.m. NCAA Tournament semitinal: Seton Hall vs Duke. 4:30 p.m. (jjjTl Horse Racing Jim Ream Slakes.

5:30 p.m. GjSjpSktingU.S Men's Pro Tour Championships. (Tape) 7 p.m. NCAA Tournament semifinal: Michigan vs Illinois. 7 pm.

(jSjpNCAA Hockey Championship Harvard vs Minnesota or Maine. Quote of the Day "People ask how we are going to replace Danny Cox and Greg Mathews. One guy won three games and the other guy won four Their combined record last year was 7-14. If we fiM uiu l. who can go 7-4 we're ahead of the game." St.

Lo-iis Gcm Manager Dal Maxvil on trade talks. NO PAYMENTS. Documents released by Texas University Friday of its investigation into former football coach and athletic director Jackie Sherrill's financial dealings with former player George Smith confirmed its February finding that Smith was not paid to be quiet about alleged NCAA violations. The NCAA report is expected to go before the meeting of the infractions committee in April. NO OLYMPICS.

Officials in Lake Placid, N.Y., have decided not to make. the Adirondack Mountain resort a candidate for the 1998 Olympic Winter Games. DOG TRACK OPENS. Dubuque Greyhound Park will open its fifth season today with a 14-race performance at 1 p.m. and a 13-race card at 7:45 p.m.

WRESTLING CHANGES. The National Wrestling League Friday announced it is reconstructing the early portion of its 1989 schedule to best serve the interests of oorporate sponsors. The NWL has already held season openers in Chicago, Iowa, Minnesota and Pennsylvania, and will hold meets next Wednesday in.