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Show The Summer Chronicle - Page Seven Wednesday, August 21, 1991 Driving Mr. Daly a hit Two weekends ago, in the quiet, yuppified, conservative, unspectacular world of the Professional Golfer's Association Tour (PGA), a pro sport that is without a true American superstar and filled with look-alik- players that e address both their white - I $ i Kff every married hacker from Hartford to Honolulu would seriously consider leaving their wives for. Drives that are longer, and to some niblick nutts, lovelier than Julia Roberts' legs. Drives that hang longer than out-of-wha- ck Michael Jordan and make fans oohh and aahhh nearly as loud as His Airness does. Drives that cause the game's farthest hitters like Greg Norman, Fred Couples and Davis Love III to look down (far, far down) the fairways in amazement. Chronicle But make no mistake, Writer Sports Daly's woods aren't his only cannon clubs that seem to launch his golf balls like Bronicel mini, white bombs. When spheres media in an all mere mortal players are too similar fashion, a young hitting 3 or Daly's and the post-tourname- nt man by the name of John Daly burst upon the putting-gree- n scene perhaps like no one before. A player who, in the process, may have changed the PGA and the game of golf forever. In what was arguably golf's most storied event since Jack Nicklaus won his sixth Masters in the spring of 1986, unheard-o- f an Daly inexplicably dominated the PGA Championship, the sport's fourth and final major championship, like it was some sort of Nintendo video game come to life. Since his dramatic victory, Daly suddenly has become the hottest thing in golf since titanium square-grooves, shafts or Reebok's nifty pump made its way into golf spikes. The story of how Long John Daly went from being another winless, surviving tour rookie to the next Nicklaus is even more remarkable than are his prodigious tee shots. It is a story everyone knows, still can't believe and wants to hear again and again. A Cinderella story like Bill Murray himself imagined in the movie Caddyshack. A real life story that could be coming soon to a theater near you. Or to a bookstore, or a videocassette. Certainly to a TV commercial or two. Even his poor showing (he missed making Sunday's final reaching for a six or seven. On one hole during the PGA, he 265 yards while hit a playing into a slight breeze. On another hole, Daly overhit a green from 145 yards away with a sand wedge. Frightening. his besides But considerable strength, the characteristic that combined with that power could turn Daly into a hero, an idol and a star all in one is, well, his character. First, for how hard he hits the ball, John Daly is a respectfully soft-spoke- n person. He's polite, charming, d and innocent. He's also been refreshingly honest and open during his many interviews. good-nature- Fans, in turn, have fallen for Daly overnight. And what's not to like? Daly plays the game like a kid: He's a who goes for every pin, never lays up or lets up, always has a smile on his face and moves through his rounds so swiftly a person free-swing- er would think that either the last bit of sunlight was fading away or that his mother was about to call him home for dinner. He's a burly, bear of a man who swings his clubs like Jose" Canseco swings his bat: Both want to hit their respective sport's round objects so hard the damn things explode. Bruce Lietzke, the PGA cut) at this past weekend's thinks Daly could International tournament in runner-up- , Colorado a showing which become that one golfer who everyone including Daly dominates the sport in the himself agree was the result of future. He could also prove to be the wild, whirlwind week that followed his newfound the Mike Tyson of golf; stardom hasn't kept the someone the rest of the sports world talking about John Daly. John Daly? Before the from two PGA Memphis won the Stick Crooked at weeks ago Golf Course in Carmel, Indiana, the engraved name CHUCK DALY would have been just as safe a bet to wind up on the championship's silver trophy. But like the Detroit Pistons' basketball coach is when it comes to picking out high- Ericed ties and picking apart NBA defenses, John Daly is very, very good when it comes to two very, very important things. heavyweight-divisio- n players would come to fear tournament to tournament, year in, year out. Someone that would make any crowd hold its collective breath a everytime he stepped into could tee box. Someone who help prevent bloody foreigners with names like Ian from capturing any more majors. Then again, maybe John to be Daly is simply too good red-figur- By Matthew Coles Chronicle Sports Editor destined to Perhaps he's more than an become nothing in golf's interesting page legendary history book. .""t$3&- After two games of the 1990 football season, some people in Salt Lake City were hailing Ron d McBride as the Utes' team a his and redeemer gridiron miracle. Utah had accomplished its first shutout in over a decade with a 19-- 0 win over Utah State and - ' r.: . long-awaite- executed a breathtaking ho-hu- ' w " t 35-2- 9 upset of Minnesota where McBride seemed as giddy as anyone and jumped on top of the celebratory pile in the end zone. Of course, the season took a definite turn for the worse after that point as the Utes finished with 7 a record. But no one can argue that Utah looked good early. Was it luck or just a combination of injuries and bad luck as far as the rest of the year fill - f y , r Zg , ' 4-- m went? In any case, McBride feels the Utes, who are involved with two-a- day practices in Price, are a much better team now. "We're getting better and we're way ahead of last year. We've got better players and much more depth. Plus the players know the system now and they know what we expect of them," McBride says. What is also helpful is the way some of the newcomers have responded, especially at the running back positions. Prop. 42 casualties Keith Williams and Devo Fineanganofa are giving veterans Steve Abrams and Charlie Brown a run for their jobs in the offensive backfield. "Williams looks like a hell of a back. He's had great practices all and he'll definitely find a way to get game time this year," McBride said. "And Fineanganofo looks like he hasn't taken a day off though he's been out of football for two years. He's a great blocker and just his through 'two-a-day- s' toughness impresses me." siMfMJh iite&wti A. . .Jt TUXAMAk". y.1i-fc5,.- . fi tint i .... r, , ,,, CHROHICliWOTOAtonSme Utah defensive back Sam Rhodes, a transfer from Mississippi Delta Junior College, concentrates during drills earlier this month. The Utes, who are in Price practicing until Aug. 24, open the season Aug. 31 against Utah State. McBride has also noted Brian Anderson have solidified improvement in his area of greatest their starting roles at the tackles. "We're getting closer," said concern the offensive line. Center Mark Barton, who has missed McBride, whose Utes begin the much of the fall drills because of season at home against Utah State on August 31. "I think we have a injuries sustained in an automobile accident, has rejoined the team and chance to be a decent team and it had his first really good practice just depends on how much the players want it and how far we can Tuesday, according to McBride. Russ Dailey has been moved take them." And in the opinion of the back to the guard position and Tom other at McBride, decency is way ahead of McNitt has played well the schedule. and Mike DeHoog guard while Ute lady spikers look ahead to better days By Clifton Schmidt Chronicle Assistant Sports Editor Seven wins and 21 losses. Not very many teams or coaches would be happy with a record like that. It was however, record of the 1990 season-endin- g the Lady Ute volleyball team. And they were fairly happy with it. You see, in 1989 the team record and finished with a was in a state of disarray. The brought a new coach, Beth Launiere, to a team with no seniors and only nine players. the next season Finishing was indeed a big improvement. Now the 1991 season is rapidly approaching and things season, most of the players only took seven weeks off before returning to their volleyball state of mind. Thus bringing them into camp in great condition. "I'm really happy with the shape they came in at," said Launiere. "They kept in shape improved season. The Lady Utes ended last year playing their best volleyball of the season. With that as motivation for the upcoming during the summer playing beach volleyball and in tournaments." Not only was it a for the Lady Utes but also a marrying one as well. Senior Heather Gourley (now stay-in-sha- pe off-seas- Neilson) and junior Debbie Gibby (now Smith) each tied the off-seaso- n. Another reason Launiere is happy is that graduation came and went and she didn't lose any r--y e, improve this Lady Ute team. Especially in the tough Western Atnletic Conference where four improved team and the addition a new UTEP squad to the conference, the streak could be over soon. y The team has been having few for last the practices of knot during the :if year." Pushing is definitely needed to streak this season. With an 21 are looking good for another "Having players behind us really pushes us to get better," said senior middle blocker Linda Wilcox. "It wasn't like that last and San Diego State) are ranked in the preseason Top 20. The Lady Utes haven't won a conference match in over two years and hope to snap that off-seas-on 7-- competitive camp. of the seven conference teams (BYU, New Mexico, Wyoming 1-- 32 true. Maybe he won t oecome me next Nicklaus (the Golden Boar?) and will instead be g looked back on as a flash in the sand(trap). In Colorado, Nantz asked separate him from the if he thought he was a likable but certainly not Daly Daly The loveable players currently fluke. in his grinning drawl, southern replied residing on tour. "I know in my heart I'm for His Those two things? real." driving and his demeanor. From mine and many other Thing one: his driving. Not fans' hearts, Long John, here's cars, mind you, but his golf balls. Drives that virtually hoping your right. One thing that can be of in carding great assistancetournament-winninscores and another which may eventually thing rest of PORTS Utes far ahead of 1990 pace two-a-da- weeks and have Beth Launiere scrimmage 1. schedule preseason next weekend when they travel northward for a tournament at Boise State. Utah will open its home schedule the following weekend when it hosts the Utah Classic. The Lady Utes will be playing players. All six starters from last year's in four preseason tournaments Launiere expects her team to squad return and Launiere and do freshmen recruited four talented very well. far as conference play is As bench. to add to her lonely Launiere knows that a concerned, to have bench," "It's great to beat the top be will it "a tough Launiere said, adding, couple the Lady she but of lot a see teams, could expects kids new of the and not some to win Utes games time right away." playing last 0 like shutouts While all of last season's have any starters are returning only a season. Overall, it should be an I couple of the starting positions for this season have locks on interesting and exciting Lady them, making for a very Ute volleyball season in 1991. 3-- ( a scheduled for Friday at 2:00 p.m. in HPER-E10The Lady Utes open up their |