Lansing State Journal from Lansing, Michigan • Page 39

THE STATE JOLUXAL Thurv. Nov. 22. 1 979 C-7 Now, Bob Mathias trains Olympic hopefuls Beat the Winter Rush! Our low pnce includes: Oil Chang Filter Lubrication Plus we will check and fill: Differential Pawar Stacrin pump Transmission Radiator Ma tar Brafc cylinder Battery And we wtB Clean your air filter with compressed air Cleati battery terminals Spray anti-corrosive on battery terminals let iis do it in ust CO minutes Mathias said the men's and women's team handball squads are considering following the lead of the volleyballers, who plan to remain at the Center until next year's Games. The women's team has qualified for Moscow, the men's team has not.

"Our concentration is on the so-called underdeveloped sports," said Mathias. 'To get (Olympic) medals in judo, archery, luge, bob-sledding and other underdeveloped sports is going to take time. "By 1980, I don't think you'll see much improvement (in those sports) except for the women volleyballers. But by 1984 (the Winter Games are at Sarajevo, Yugoslovia, and the Summer Games at Los Angeles), I think you will see definite results." MATHIAS SAID that what the women's volleyball players are doing is not feasible for every sport. "They (the volleyball players) can't get proper training at present in college," he said, "so they are devoting their time to getting a medal in the Olympics." For most of the major Olympic sports, such as track and field, swimming and basketball, "we already have a great system in our colleges," said Mathias.

Another group that has benefitted from the Center is the weightlifters. "We have some weightlifters there now, who are about 25 or 30 years old," he explained. "They're big, old tough guys, who have given up their jobs. They don't have a coach, but they know how they have to train, and they spend four or five hours a day doing it." coaches at a time. The national governing bodies of each sport pay the travel costs for the athletes, then the U.S.

Olympic Commit-tee underwrites their expenses at the Center, at a daily cost of 58.14 per athlete. "We need corporate help," emphasized Mathias. "It is a big source of our income. We probably are the only Olympic Committee in the world that doesn't receive federal funds." The largest contributor to the Center is Burger King Restaurants, which has provided about $2 million. "We can't do anything without money," said Mathias, who estimated that corporations contribute about 45 percent of the Center's $28 million quadriennial budget.

"We handle about 15 or 16 sports, mainly summer sports," said Mathias, winner of Olympic decathlon gold medals in 1948 at London and in 1952 at Helsinki, Finland. "We can't handle many of the winter sports, such as downhill skiing and Nordic skiing. Those athletes go to Squaw Valley." The team that has reaped the biggest benefit from the Colorado Springs facility is the women's volleyball squad, which already has qualified for the 1980 Games in Moscow. "THE GIRLS have given up jobs, schooling and boy friends to live in Colorado Springs," explained Mathias. "They work out about six hours a day.

"Two years ago, they were unranked in the world. Now, they are ranked fifth, but for practicality's sake, they really are third, behind Cuba and Japan. They have gone from being unranked to a fairly certain (Olympic) medal." The nation's top amateur hockey players also have used the facility successfully. Last year, the Amateur Ice Hockey Federation, the governing body of the sport in the United States, selected 50 players from throughout the country to go to the Center. The players went through a two-week shakedown period, participating in numerous games, practice sessions and discussions.

Then the Federation chose the top 15 for a national junior team, which played together for two more weeks at the Center, before touring the Soviet Union and other European countries, facing some of the best teams in the world. Testimonials for the Center have come from several athletes. "IT PROVIDES an opportunity for us to train without distractions," said Ben Peterson, a wrestler from Watertown, Wis. "Because I'm married, I have a lot of responsibilities that a single athlete might not worry about. But here, I can concentrate on working out." Richard Sandoval, a boxer from Pomona, and a member of the 1979 Pan American team, said, "This is a great place to train.

I train twice as hard here as I train at home." "The athletes don't receive any money while they're at the Center," said Mathias. What they do get, in addition to food and lodging, is a place to work out, at their own pace or under supervision at the Center's many facilities, including a new 400-meter Olympic-size track, the only one in the United States meeting international standards. By BERT ROSENTHAL AP Sports Writer NEW YORK Bob Mathias, the only two-time Olympic decathlon champion, vividly remembers the difficult times he had as a youngster while trying to prepare for the gruelling, lOvent competition. "In my day, and in my sport, it was almost impossible for an Olympic hopeful to get training," said Mathias, now 48. "When I was in high school (Kiski Prep in Tulare, and school was in session, it was fine.

I had the coach and the facilities. But then high school ended, and I was afraid that I'd be out of both. "But my coach trained me on his own time," he continued. "Each day we'd go out and set up the hurdles, and then take them down at the end of practice. I ran, jumped and hurdled against myself.

"AT STANFORD, the situation was the same. Everything was terrific when school was 'in session. But when school closed, so did the facilities." Today's top athletes are much more fortunate, says Mathias. If they have the time, and if they wish, they can accommodate themselves of the U.S. Olympic Training Centers at Colorado Springs, and Squaw Valley, Calif.

Mathias, still appearing to be in excellent physical condition, has been director of the Colorado Springs facility since its inception in June 1977. The center provides housing, food and training facilities for as many as 550 athletes and Faster Cheaper. Cleaner than you can do it yourself. lt ti4 Miil Ckat Cat Acc-t-4 Oow Mondiy Frwlay 9 AM 7 PM SMurcUy 9 1PM 4819 West Sagina 323-2087 Lansing 31S Grand River 351 2252 East Lansing All the news from under the Capitol dome, daily in Metro Lansing joins charity football league in '80 A new football venture will make its debut next summer in Lansing in the form of a Michigan Charity Football League entry. "We have a franchise in the league," said Joe Costello, president of the Lansing team, to be known as the "Crusaders," "and we're excited by the prospects.

"This league isn't like the Midwest Football League. Our players will pay to play, and the money we receive, after expenses, will go to a charity. We've become affiliated with Aiding Lukemia-Stricken American Children (ALSAC). 'MANY OF our players will be ex-Lansing Capitals' players or Pig-Freaks team members." According to Costello players must pay a minimum fee to be eligible to play. Assisting Costello with the organization of the team are John Terres and Rick Suurmeyer.

"Club members are already busy selling raffle tickets and coordinating plans for several basketball tournaments to raise funds for ALSAC," Suurmeyer said. Costello indicated former Michigan State star Charlie Thornhill will serve as offensive coach. Terres and Suurmeyer will coach the defense. A NUMBER of former college football players have indicated interest in the team. "I've heard from Western Michigan's Ted Forrest, Alma's Mike Phillips and Chuck Abraham, Northern Michigan's Doug Blankenburg, Ferris State's Tom Pritchard and from former Pig-Freaks players Al Miller, Don Mysenburg, Rick Warner, Mark Bozzo, John Powers and Larry Shoe." -Tilts (DtnCaoSiec- Chuckle or a tear Sunday to Friday, B-1 yrThcSKaUc TV- SPORT LAWN CENTER 4607 W.

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