Lansing State Journal from Lansing, Michigan • Page 20

with MSU recruits despite fans flak By JAMES TINNEY Staff Writer College basketball now has two seasons the playing season and the recruiting season. The Michigan State Spartans weren't too successful in the first season. Coach Jud Heathcote figures his team did better in the second. "We're pleased with our recruiting. We think every one of these four kids is a potential starter," Heathcote said, after announcing his final recruit, guardTim Gore of Erie, Pa.

MSU HAD EARLIER signed 6-foot-9 center Richard Mudd of Washington D.C. and two area players Saranac's 6-8 center Ben Tower and Olivet's 6-3 guard Randy Morrison. "I feel we have enough quality people coming back that all four of them won't be starters. But they will be given a chance," Heathcote said. The MSU coach said Mudd has the best chance to start of any incoming freshman because of the Spartans' long-standing need for a center.

Mudd was lightly-regarded coming into this season, but he showed consistent improvement and played well in post-season all-star games. If Mudd can start, Jay Vincent would be moved to forward. HEATHCOTE SAID Tower, a Class all-stater, is the second most likely starter among the freshman because of the Spartans' openings at the for ward position. MSU used a three-guard offense because of a lack of consistent forward play this year, and the team's only proven forward, Ron Charles, graduates. Morrison and Gore will have to displace returning guards Mike Brkovich and Kevin Smith to win starting spots.

Gore, whose signing was announced Tuesday, picked Michigan State over St. Bonaventure, Rutgers, West Virginia and Pittsburgh. Gore's team, Erie Cathedral Prep, won the Pennsylvania Class AAA basketball title with a 33-1 record, and he was selected first team all-state by both AP and UPI. Gore was the team's leading scorer with an 18-point-a-game average, but he had plenty of help. Two other members of the team have accepted schol arships to play major college basketball CATHEDRAL PREP used a point-guard style offense with Gore playing on the wing.

He showed ability to score both inside and outside, and holds both the single-season and career scoring records at the school. He also averaged 10 rebounds and six assists a game. Heathcote said Gore played impressively in the Dapper Dan Classic, one of the most prestigious post-season high school all-star games. The Spartan staff was at the game to take a look at high school talent, especially New York City guard Vern Fleming who was heavily recruited by the Spartans. Fleming eventually chose the University of Georgia.

"The best thing you can do is never give out any names (of potential recruits)," Heathcote said. "Everybody thinks we had a bad recruiting year because we didn't get Fleming or (Gary) Springer or (Tim) McCormick. But we got some players who will help us." "IF YOU DON'T tell anyone who you are after, you can sign somebody and build him up as if he was the only one you wanted all along," Heathcote said. Michigan State was among the final schools in the running for some of the most highly-touted prep players in the United States, including guard Glenn Rivers, who picked Marquette, for ward Gary Springer, headed for Iona, center McCormick, who chose Michigan, and Fleming. The Spartans finished ninth in the Big Ten last season with a 6-12 record, 12-15 overall.

Big Ten teams generally did well in the recruiting wars, but some of the league's top players are graduating. "I HAVE TO think we (Big Ten teams) will "be as good next year, but I don't think we will be any better. The good clubs that return almost intact still lose a key player or two who will be hard to replace," Heathcote said. Six Big Ten teams went to post-season tournaments this year, with two teams reaching the final four of both the NCAA and NIT tournaments. ud pleased Section Gibson homers ri TT Attentate Yf Wednesday, April 23, 1980, Lansing, Michigan UULrU for I igers win onics 1 up; beat 108-107 Lakers, went the distance, giving up eight hits apiece.

Jenkins was trying to become the fourth pitcher in baseball history to win 100 games in both the National and American leagues. The Rangers got hits and left men stranded in five of the first six innings. Rozema gave up two singles in both the first and fifth innings and doubles in the third and fourth innings, but escaped each time without giving up a run. The Tigers had connected for five singles and a double off Jenkins scattered over six different innings when they came up with their winning rally in the eighth. And that didn't look too likely at the time.

TRAMMELL OPENED with a looper to left field that fell just in front of a charging Richie Zisk. Lou Whi-taker laid down a sacrifice that moved Trammell to second, and that brought up the rookie Gibson, who had only a .114 average and one hit in his last 28 at-bats coming into the game. A four-year starter in football, the Tigers made Gibson their No.l draft choice in June 1978 despite his having played only one year of college baseball. He hadn't done much from the batters' box lately, but he liked the curve ball Jenkins offered him. "The pitch was almost outside when it broke.

I could see it coming. I was just looking for a base hit, to try to score the run, and when I hit it I thought it was going up the alley for extra bases. When I got to about second, I saw the umpire giving the home run sign," Gibson said. By CHARLES RICHARDS AP Sports Writer ARLINGTON, Texas The Texas Rangers hammered Dave Rozema around for the first five innings, but when the smoke cleared the 23-year-old Detroit right hander had a 2-0 shutout that left him amazed. "I can't remember when I had a game like this.

I had a good change of pace and a lot of God's good luck. They hit me hard, but I scattered the hits and they got no walks and no doubles at" the right time," Rozema said after the Tuesday night Angels' slump puzzling, page C-9 CENTER FIELDER Kirk Gibson, a former football Ail-American at Michigan State, smashed a Ferguson Jenkins curve ball over the left field fence with teammate Alan Trammell aboard in the eighth inning to give Rozema, 1-1, all the runs he needed. Texas' Pat Putnam hit two balls "as hard as I could hit them" that Gibson ran down on the warning track, more than 400 feet from home plate. Al Oliver sent Steve Kemp bouncing off the left field wall on another pitch Rozema allowed to drift too high in the strike zone. "They hit him several times, but the balls they hit were up," Detroit Manager Sparky Anderson said.

"Everything he got up they hit. When he kept it down low, he was able to handle 'em." BOTH ROZEMA and Jenkins, 1-1, By KEN PETERS AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES The Seattle SuperSonics may not have a superstar like Los Angeles' Kareem Abdul-Jab-bar and their talent man-for-man may rank a notch below that of the Lakers. But the doggedly determined Sonics do possess that special something of which champions are made. The uncanny knack of finding a way to win gave the reigning National Basketball Association champion Sonics a 108-107 victory over the Lakers Tuesday night. Seattle thus carries a 1-0 edge into the Forum tonight for the nationally televised Game Two of the best-of-seven Western Conference playoffs.

Gervin's unhappy, page C-9 THE OPENING game was one the Sonics; playing on the Lakers' court with only one day's rest after a draining series with Milwaukee, were not supposed to win. But a couple of unlikely heroes, Fred Brown and Jack Sikma, emerged for the ever-surprising Sonics. Brown, gunning from long range with radar-like accuracy, scored 34 points. The reserve guard sank 15 of his 21 field goal attempts, including four of seven three-pointers. Center Sikma, overshadowed by the play of Abdul-Jabbar most of the contest, dropped in a free throw with two seconds remaining to snap a 107-107 tie.

"It was just one of those nights," said a smiling Brown, who scored eight of the Sonics' last nine points in the final three minutes. "I had the touch." SIKMA, WHO sank the winning free throw after most of the crowd of 17,505 at the Forum thought regulation play had ended in a tie, said he felt completely comfortable shooting with the game on the line. "I actually like the pressure that comes in a situation like that," said the Sonics center, who missed the second of his two free throws. "I think it makes me shoot better." Sikma, who finished with 11 points, was fouled by Norm Nixon under Los Angeles' basket after a missed shot by Los Angeles' Jamaal Wilkes. Sikma got a hand on the ball, Nixon slapped him on the wrist, then Abdul-Jabbar missed a short shot as time ran out on the scoreboard clock.

But the referee ruled that the foul occurred with two seconds left. Wilkes missed at the buzzer on the Lakers' last possession. FOLLOWING THE win at the Forum, where the Lakers have lost just two of their last 30 games, the Sonics spoke cautiously about Game Two. "We didn't play all that well and nei- Concluded on page C-3 IT A 1 nrtlnln rr ili I mi mi Earvin "Magic" Johnson flips a classy pass, one of his trademarks, in Tuesday's Los Angeles-Seattle NBA playoff game. Wpters brings back that Spartan spirit Everett bats bomb Sexton Sports on TV Analysis By DAVE MATTHEWS Staff Writer It's working.

Don't ask why, or how. Just accept the fact it really is working. All that homespun, old-fashioned stuff new Michigan State head football Coach Muddy Waters preaches is having its desired effect. It has the Spartans working, learning, hitting, even fighting on the spring TODAY (Ch. 3, 4, 5, 9C, 10) -Baseball: Detroit vs.

Texas (Ch. 3, 6, 9C, 25) NBA Basketball Playoff Game: Seattle vs. Los Angeles 12-2 (Ch. 2) NAB Basketball Playoff Game: Seattle vs. Los Angeles (tape delay) practice field.

It has the "Spartan Spirit" and "Green Pride." YOU'VE GOT to remember where this band of Spartans has come from to Concluded on page C-3 John Curry and got four runs-batted-in from Carter, who had a double and single his first two times at bat. Sexton is being coached by Gary Raff, taking over for Dick Bates who is scheduled to undergo a triple bypass heart operation today at Ingham Medical Center. East Lansing 2, Holt 1 Three consecutive walks in the bottom of the seventh inning forced home the winning run for East Lansing High as the Trojans downed Holt High 2-1 in CAC baseball Tuesday. Willy Marinez singled off Ram pitcher John Brija with one out, and scored the decisive run when Brian Bird drew a walk three batters later. Brija took the loss, striking out four and walking five.

East Lansing's first run came in the Concluded on page C-2 By BOB GROSS Staff Writer It might have been ideal baseball weather for the preps Tuesday, but Everett's Vikings rained a ton of hits on Sexton High. Banging out 24 hits, including seven for extra bases, Everett moved into a tie for first place in the Capital Area Conference with defending co-champion Hill by pounding out a 23-7 victory at Sexton. Hill and Everett meet May 2 at Municipal Park. In the other league games, Hill, which shared the title with Waverly a year ago, trimmed Waverly in eight innings, 4-3, while East Lansing nipped Holt, 2-1, and Grand Ledge scored a 4-1 victory over Eastern. CAC ACTION resumes today with Everett going to Grand Ledge, Sexton hosting East Lansing, Eastern entertaining Hill and Waverly going to Holt.

At Sexton, catcher Kirk Richmond drove in four runs, while Russ Dorian rapped a double and two singles and scored four times. Winning pitcher Jay Dudley had three singles and drove in three runs to power Coach Jake Boss team to its second conference win without a loss Everett jumped on starter and loser Steve Pakkala for four runs in the first inning, with second baseman Norm Dunham cracking a two-run homer and Mickey Lager and Richmond each driving in a run. Sexton came back with three in its half of the first, as Don Carter plated two runs with a double to left field. BUT EVERETT, 2-3 for the year, erupted for six runs in the second, scored four more in the third, two in the fourth and capped the big day with a seven-run uprising in the seventh. Sexton, 1-1 in the CAC, had a three-hit performance from second baseman Dave Matthews if .1 1 It'll be a tough road ahead i i II i 11 The coming season will be a critical one for short track auto racing in Michigan.

That's not a guess, or even a carefully considered opinion. Just a simple statement of fact. It will, for most tracks, be possibly the ultimate test of the viability of a sport that has been in slow decline for a number of years. THE TEST STARTS this weekend for at least two of the better known facilities in the state. Mid-Michigan's own Spartan Speedway opens Friday night.

Berlin Raceway west of Grand Rapids unfurls the green flag Saturday night. The problems confronting promoters like Spartan's Paul Zimmerman, Berlin's Chet Mysliwiec and Crystal Raceway's Dave Parker are not really new, just greatly magnified by the sorry economic condition of the state. Times are hard for people who race the short tracks. They are just as hard for people who watch them. It is not a sport of the elite, the fortunate folk 'who always seem to stay one step ahead of inflation and unemployment.

It is a sport of those who are affected most by a deteriorating economy. RACING HAS always been, for at least nine of every. 10 participants, a macho form of recreation, little more. People race automobiles, motorcycles or speedboats for many of the same basic reasons other people flail away at softballs, or risk fallen arches and shin splints in road runs. The major difference, outside of the questionable physical benefits of racing, is expense.

A soft-baller needs only a glove and a pair of sneakers. A road-runner requires only the sneakers. A racer needs machinery, tires, parts, tools, fuel and lubricant, protective gear, a trailer to transport the machine, a vehicle to pull the trailer. That's just for starters. And unless he's very, very lucky, he foots the bill for everything.

Each part, each tool, each tire, each drop of fuel and lubricant costs much more today than it did yesterday. So does the basic machine, be it a clunker, a Penske-, or a Kawasaki 750. Yet, if anything, the possibility of paying at least some of the freight with purse money is less today than it was yesterday MOST RACERS thus face a dilemma, a value judgment. What's worth more, a few minutes of pleasure, or food on the table, clothes on the kids and a roof over the head? More and more, in recent years, have opted for the necessities. Or at least settled for a level of racing that is difficult for promoters to sell at the prices they must charge to make a buck.

But never have racers been pressed nearly so hard as they will be in 1980. It's a "Catch 22" situation for the typical pro-' moter. He could help the racers by paying fatter purses, doling out bigger chunks of tow money, cutting pit fees. But to do so, he'd have to jack up gate receipts by boosting ticket prices that are already as high as he dares to make them, already high enough to discourage regular attendance by families caught in the crunch. THUS, ANYTHING a promoter might do to assist racers would almost certainly prove self-defeating.

Promoters aren't philanthropists. Most can't afford to be. And race tracks make lousy tax shelters. They're in the business because they like racing, and they hope to earn a few bucks interest on the many, many thousands of dollars they have invested in the sport. That was difficult enough in 1979, or '78.

And Michigan wasn't in the throes of recession then. A hopeless situation? Maybe not. Perhaps promoters, who has a group have not done a good job of living up to the name they've chosen for themselves, will really promote, give their product a hard sell. PERHAPS THEY'LL attract the attention of the substantial number of folks who'll be weekending in the area this summer, rather than running off to Uncle Pete's cottage in Charlevoix. Gas at $1.50 a gallon is a powerful inducement to stay close to home.

At least, promoters will have a restless, previously untapped audience to dangle their bait in front of. And where there's a potential audience, there's hope. Dave Matthews is a member of The State Jour nal sports staff. Staff Photo by BRUCE CORNELIUS Everett first baseman Sam Alcers stretches to make the putout on Sexton's Paul Callen in the second inning Tuesday..