i NICLE SPOIT PORT Page Ttoelve The Daily Utah Chronicle Tuesday, January 21, 1992 mote on off start high Gymnasts Magic deserves honorary place on team Pa All-St- ar Magic Johnson's retirement from professional basketball last fall has left an enormous hole not only in the Los Angeles Lakers' organization, but also in the NBA this season. In the last decade, Johnson has given sportsfans everywhere some of the greatest basketball performances of all-tim- e, and along with Larry Bird, gave a dying league new life. There has been talk of Johnson playing in the OlympicsAll-St-in Barcelona, and also in this year's annual game in February. Johnson is second in voting among guards in the currently Western Conference, and would be a starter if the voting remains relatively consistent. Some feel this gesture by the fans is somewhat hokie, and that if ar Matt Ott Chronicle Sports Writer he Magic isn't healthy enough to play now, All-Stin the shouldn't probably participate game. He is technically eligible, because the Lakers' still include him on their roster. His only obstacle then, assuming he's still healthy enough, ar is the league office. David Stern, NBA Commissioner, hasn't officially revealed his intentions yet, but rumors have surfaced that a thirteenth spot will be added to the Western Conference roster. This would be done to avoid snubbing a player who is playing at an level, like Tim Hardaway of Golden All-St- ar State or Jeff Hornacek of Phoenix. Because Johnson is carrying the HIV virus, the question of risk has also come up. However, doctors say that the chances of Magic suffering a cut during the game are extremely minute, and if he did, the chances of another player contracting the virus through this type of incident is just short of impossible. As long as there is no protest from the players, why shouldn't Magic play? Other than being one the greatest athletes of our time, he has been involved in numerous community-oriente- d projects, not to mention the fact that he's never broken a beer mug over anyone's head, never brandished a weapon in public, never been convicted of a DUI, never violated the league's substance abuse policy, never been charged with sexual assault, and never spit on a fan. For a professional athlete to avoid all of those situations is commendable, if not incredible. The Lakers, obviously more directly affected by his departure than the rest of the league, are stuck in fourth place in the Pacific Division, and have already lost six home games this year. In L.A., "fourth place" is a phrase that was generally only used by a overly optimistic Clippers fan. But Magic's absence is also affecting the league as a whole. Scoring is down, therefore assists are in down. Without Magic averaging double-digit- s dish-offthe entire race for the assist title has become a joke, with Utah's John Stockton leading his closest competitor by about four assists per s, MONKLFHOTQUltJ Utah gymnast Missy Marlowe jumps into the air during her beam routine. Marlowe won the crown and jump-starte- d Utah to a win over Utah State, BYU and Southern Utah Monday in the sold-oHuntsman Center. all-arou- ut game. The NBA and Commissioner Stern would be doing every basketball fan in the world a disservice if they keep the greatest player of all time out of classic. It won't be one of those this year's washed-uathlete's failed attempt to return to the "glory days" (ala Jim Palmer, Mark Spitz, and All-St- ar p Sugar Ray Leonard), but rather a thank-yo- u gift from the league to the man who resurrected it. How can a true basketball fan honestly say they wouldn't like to see Magic play in one more All-Stgame to see one more perfect thread-the-needfull-coubounce pass, one more "Jr. sky k one more hook", pass on a fast break, one t, more patented one more smile. So, Mr. Stern, let us see all those things one more time, and let Magic play in the All-Stgame. He deserves to play not only because of what he's accomplished in the past, but because of something more important what he will accomplish in the future. ar le rt no-loo- set-sho- ar By v.y lADVUTES V'.- y:;'y y'":':r y 'y .:;v::; y viZP' Matt Ott Chronicle Sports Writer vault average with a 9.8, and sophomore Jenny Donaldson led the way on the beam with a 9.8, and you get a very bright outlook for the Utes this year and for years to come. For Marlowe, the season started off with another win, but she claims she thought she could have done better, particularly on her bars dismount. Her 9.9 could have been a perfect 10 if she hadn't taken an extra step while landing. "It's frustrating when you get a 9.9 with a step, and you just think. . .so close, but not quite," Marlowe said with a smile. "But by and large I think I did well." Marlowe's score contributed to the Ute's meet best of 48.75 on the bars. Juniors Kristen Kenoyer and Jenny Donaldson were close behind Marlowe with a pair of 9.8's. Kenoyer finished second overall with a mark of 38.25, but, like Marlowe, feels she has room to improve. "I missed my foot and fell (on beam). . .1 still have a lot of work to do," said the junior from Allentown, Pa. On the beam, Donaldson's 9.8 led the way, while Metz and Marlowe followed with a 9.7 and a 9.6 respectively, as the Utes compiled a total of 47.85. The Utes best single-evetotal of the night was on the vault, where newcomer Metz scored a 9.8. Kelly Wolsey, Meredeth see "gymnasts" on page thirteen all-rou- Lady Ute Gymnastics Coach Greg Marsden got more than he expected Monday in the Huntsman Center, as Utah swept every event on its way to an overall victory over rivals BYU, Utah State and Southern Utah University. The Lady Utes tallied a total score of 194.0, easily outdistancing second-plac- e BYU, who finished with a mark of 187.55. Led once again by senior Missy Marlowe, who took overall honors with a score of 39.05, the Lady Utes could do little wrong as they opened the 1992 season. With help from some less familiar names, Utah's performance was better than he foresaw for the first match of the year. "I think we're really ahead of where I thought I wanted us to coach. The Utes be at this point in the season," said the 17th-yehave made a point of increasing the difficulty in all events this year, which makes their performance that much more impressive. "I was very pleased with the performance, because we didn't hold too much back tonight, " Marsden said. Tie in the fact that freshman Suzanne Metz had the Utes' best in-sta- ar Lady Utes still undefeated in WAC 'y nd 'yiy'y t??:?-'-:- The Utah women's basketball team escaped Wyoming with a win and stay atop the WAC standings. see page 14 te nt Starting off on the right foot The Utah men's tennis team blasted Weber State opener Friday at the Eccles Center. 7-- 2 in its season see page 15