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Show Signpost Page 11 It helps to be at home . . . February 8, 1980 What's an assist? It all depends, reveals Mattos Basketball. Simple game, really. Just put the ball through the hoop and get two points. Grab a shot that doesn't go in and get a rebound. Pass the ball to a teammate who scores and get an assist. An assist? Not so fast. Although basketball is beautiful partly in its simplicity, when it comes to crediting a player with an assist, even the most knowledgeable scorekeepers are sometimes baffled. Most sports have rules that rely on judgment more than other criteria, and in basketball the assist is the part of the game that experience the widest variety of personal interpretations. Not only is a clear definition lacking in describing what an assist actually is, but a player's true ability to pass the ball to an open man is either exaggerated or by what the official score sheet may show. Best Passer The inconsistencies vary from scoretable to scoretable across the nation. At Weber State, the Wildcats own the best passing guard, at least statistically, in the history of the Big Sky Conference in Mark Mattos, the 6-1 senior guard from Santa Barbara, Calif. Mattos set a single season assist record in his freshman year, and in spite of two injuries has continued shuffling off passes like they were free soap samples. To be sure, Mattos is unap-proached as a passing guard in the conference at this point, but are his grand assist totals in error? Could he have been credited with a large number of assists that didn't necessarily lead directly to a basket, as the definition states? Questionable I remember Jeff Jonas, an all-American guard at the University of Utah a few years back. Jonas was an excellent passer and playmaker as well as an adequate shooter and defensive player. His assists totals were particularly impressive. But I remember him often passing on the wing to Ricky Burden or Jeff Judkins, who would make 20-foot jump shots. And Jonas would get credit for an assist. Many of which had to be questionable. In the NBA, Kevin Porter of the Washington Bullets became the first man to amass more than 1,000 assists in one season, and also broke a cherished record of 28 assists in one game set by Bob Cousy and Guy Rodgers. But in my opinion, Porter is neither the best passer or playmaker the game has ever seen, or at least as the statistics would indicate. , More Generous According to Mattos and David Johnson, an assist is a pass that leads directly to a basket. Even they aren't sure exactly what an assist must consist of, and readily admit that it depends on where you're playing. At home, the scorekeepers (usually the sports information director of the school) tends to be a little more generous to the home player. They are hired by the school, not the NCAA. Mattos, however, recently nailed down 14 assists in Pocatello against Idaho State. He could probably get that many in a crowded subway when he's passing good. Mattos contends that an assist can be credited even in a situation where he passes to a player who scores from the outside. "If. he doesn't hesitate, and shoots right away, that's an assist," Mattos intoned. The scorekeepers at Weber State aren't overly generous in giving out assists, Mattos says. Darnell Haney, a faculty member formerly on a Utah State team in the early 1960's, recognizes another problem. "If . Richard Smith has the ball inside, it's very 'difficult for him to get credit for an assist, even if he's covered and has to pass the ball back outside." In any case, it can be said that Big Sky record or not, Mark Mattos is an authority on giving team members the opportunity to score. And he can be counted on to shell out many more before his career at Weber State is over. . v .-r: rw v v i fostfiY in.Mi& L ,n,.r...,.u:. sr, MARK MATTOS, Weber State's dynamic senior guard, drives past an Idaho State opponent on the way to yet another assist. Mattos has started for the 'Cats for four years and keys the team's offense from the point guard position. 'Cats enter invite - Weber State's indoor track team travels to Logan, tomorrow, to compete in the Mark Haroldsen Invitational. The meet begins at 1 p.m. in the newly-remodeled George Nelson Fieldhouse. It is a non-scoring meet, with all races being in meters instead of feet. Along with the Wildcats will be host Utah State, Idaho State, Utah, a partial team from Brigham Young and various individuals from area junior colleges. One Wildcat who won't be in Logan on Saturday is middle distance runner Doug Friedli. Friedli and Coach Chick Hislop are traveling to the Kibbie-Dome at the University of Idaho for the 5th Annual Vandal Indoor Invitational. Friedli is competing in the One Mile Run in hopes of qualifying for the NCAA Indoor Nationals next month in Detroit. Friedli's best indoor time ever is 4:10, but Coach Hislop feels with a good, strong field to run against, that Friedli is capable of lowering his time. The qualifying time is 4:06. Ttas's a Ed fitan yean Help Wanted Emplover seeking college student for well -paying surcraar job; . Please call And you don't have to just rely on your local newspaper to find them. Because this spring, Ford's Insider magazine will feature an entire issue on how and where to find summer employment. There will be information on government jobs, including tips on taking the Civil Service exam. Articles on overseas jobs, too. Intern' and co-op programs in private business. Jobs workin' on the railroad and other outdoor money-makers. Jobs at resorts. Even jobs at Disneyland. And for the individualist, job profiles of a clam digger and a magician. Insider will help you find the summer job you need. And to find Insider, all you have to do is pick up a copy of your college paper and look inside. It's free from Ford. . Look for Summer job issue of insider Forcfs continuing series of college newspaper supplements FORD DIVISION |