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Show Section C Friday Morning February 7, 1986 Page Tor Itccnnlcil Score! Call Local 227-20- Sports 1 Sports Inforinalioii Call 227-200- 1 2. ! The Brains Behind the Star McEnroes Coach Has a Few Ideas on The Troublesome Year By Tom Wharton Tribune Sports Writer No one knows an athlete better than his coach and John McEnroe's mentor has an interesting theory as to why his star pupil has dropped to No. 2 in the world. Tony Palafox, who has been McEnroes coach and teacher since 1971, says one of the main reasons the star has fallen behind Ivan Lendl is because he has stopped playing doubles. "He hasnt played or practice that much in the last eight months," said Palafox, who gave a clinic as part of John McEnroes Tennis Over America Tour Thursday evening at the Canyon Racquet Club. Thats why he's slipping. He used to play 24 hours playing singles and 24 hours playing doubles. He was playing five hours a day. Last year, he stopped playing doubles and went down in the rank- I ? ings. Local tennis fans will have a chance to see McEnroe play against Yannick Noah Friday at 8 30 p.m. in the Salt Palace as part of the inaugural First Security Tennis Challenge. Palafox says theories that McEnh roes highly publicized layoff from tournament tennis is a prelude to his retirement are wrong. He is taking the two months off to straighten out his head and to practice and get strong physically," said the former Mexican Davis Cup play two-mont- Tribune Staff Photo by Poul Froughton Tony Palafox, John McEnroes coach, had a tip for Brett Gardner on how to hit an overhead Thursday. He says McEnroe is after No. 1 ranking by end of the year. er, who started giving McEnroe group tennis lessons in 1971 and began working with the prodigy on a basis in 1976. He is going to try to get back to No. 1 by the end of the year." Palafox started his clinic by giving lessons to some of Utah's top junior players. He told the youngsters that, when McEnroe was 17, he practiced three or four times a week and, at 12, he practiced just twice a week. He doesnt like to work," said the teaching pro from the Cove Tennis Center on Long Island. His talent can carry him. The rest of us have to work two or three hours a day. But, next week, he's going to start working. He has to work on his physical fitness and his diet. He has to be strong enough to play five sets every day for two weeks. He can win a French Open and he can be No. 1 again, but he must have the desire to work. Palafox revealed some interesting theories as he talked about such subjects as how tight McEnroe strings his racquets, why he might have trouble with Noah in the exhibition, what he thought of McEnroes chances of being great when he was still an unknown junior and what his star pupil will have to do to beat Lendl and regain his position as the top player in the world. With regards to Lendl, Palafox one-on-o- Jazz Crush Knicks, As Dantley Nets 36 By Lex Hemphill Tribune Sports Writer The Jazz rode a fast break into their break Thursday night. Cruising past the NBA's stingiest k defensive team for 50 points, the Jazz routed the New York beKnicks Thursday night, fore a sellout crowd of 12,570 at the Salt Palace. The victory salved the memory of two fourth-quartlosses earlier in the week and gave the Jazz a 7 record at the break. They were 7 at the break a year ago and then went 4 the rest of the way. The four-da- y break will not be a Adrian holiday for Jazz All-StDantley, who will travel to Dallas on the wings of a effort. Dantley, who trails Alex English by three-tenth- s of a point in the NBA scoring race at the break failed to score 20 points in either of his previous two games, but he got 20 in the third quarter alone Thursday. He made 12 of 17 shots in the game after making 12 of 31 in the previous two combined. I think they have a tough matchup All-St- fast-brea- 119-10- 1, er 25-2- 23-2- 18-1- (29.3-29.0- ), - d 81-7- C-- Players Under Fire n, By Dick Rosetta Tribune Sports Writer Several members of the BYU football team, who were involved in a nightclub activity sponsored by officials of the 1985 Citrus Bowl, are under scrutiny by the university athletic department for possible violations of school standards. A source within the university, who declined to be identified, said late Thursday night, that its really a bunch of baloney, but its a problem that head coach LaVell Edwards will address when he returns from a recruiting trip Friday. The incident allegedly involves the consumption of alcohol at a nightclub gathering. BYU standards prohibit smoking and drinking. According to Tribune sources, many of the football players from Ohio State University and the dozen or so from BYU, were seen consuming alcohol. The Citrus Bowl Committee invited all players from both teams to J.J. Whispers, a popular night sport in the Orlando, Fla., area. No coaches were invited. I really dont think there was any bad intentions on the part of the bowl committee, the Tribune was told. But it was obviously a case of the players having the drinks available and some of them took them. good. Dantley did get inside for a couple of three-poiplays that spiced an 0 run just before halftime, putting the Jazz up by 15 points. The Knicks never cut the lead below double digits after that. Thurl Bailey had season highs of 24 points and 12 rebounds for the Jazz, and he was the spark to a 10-- 0 run early in the second quarter that pushed Utah ahead for good. Bailey scored the first three baskets of that run, and it was with him on the floor See Column 1 8-- C-- Cougs Extend Win Streak With Victory Over Aztecs By Roger Graves Tribune Sports Writer SAN DIEGO, Calif. The legend of Ladell Andersen's lucky sportcoat lives. And so does Brigham Young's WAC winning streak, currently at nine games and growing. break During BYUs recent y from basketball, Cougar Coach Andersen had his salt and pepper-colorethe bit of habersport jacket dashery he has worn religiously throughout Brigham Youngs lengthy winning streak dry cleaned. But 1 the Cougars conquest of San Diego State Thursday night proved the luck wasnt washed out of Andersens favorite garment. Hey, I'm going to keep wearing this coat. Im going to wear it out, bubbled Andersen, after BYU be Noah uses a lot of topspin and the ball stays on the court, he said. Noah has a chance because he uses a See Column 1 BYU Grid with us, said Jazz Coach Frank Lay-deciting Louis Orrs chore of playing Dantley. I thought Adrian also was more active today than he was in the last two games. I thought he looked as fresh as a daisy. Dantley didnt buy the notion that he had a matchup edge on Orr, saying, Its amazing because in the past he has played me the best. I like to try to feel my man, and he steps away from me. In the past, hes always played me real well. It just so happens tonight I didnt go inside. Everything I shot from outside felt pretty nt says McEnroe tries to overpower the Czech star. Because he is more of a touch player, that strategy simply doesnt work against the No. 1 player. John makes a mistake when he tries to hit the ball too hard, he told the junior players. "He must watch the ball closely, or make a mistake. When John plays his own game, hell beat Lendl. McEnroes not a hard player, he's a touch player. Always play your own game and always use your own best weapon. You cant imitate another persons game or anyone else's style." With regards to the touch game, Palafox said McEnroe only strings his racquet with 49 pounds of pressure, compared to Bjorn Borg, who had 85 pounds of pressure, and other star players who usually have much tighter strings. By having looser strings, McEnroe can stay with the ball longer and use his opponent's power instead of his own. The harder hitters, like Lendl, want the ball to quickly bounce off the strings. Palafox said Noah could give McEnroe a difficult match at the Salt Palace Friday night, largely because the Frenchmans game may be more suited to the high altitude of Salt Lake City. Of the dozen or so BYU players, only two are starters. "The rest of them didnt even hardly play any in came the first WAC visitor to slay the Aztecs this season in the San Diego Sports Arena. I dont know for sure when I started wearing the coat. All I know is Ive worn it the last eight games and weve won them all. the game, the Tribune source said. There was no immediate indication that there would be any disciplinary action taken, but that was pending Edwards return and his study of the situation. Make that nine connot eight secutive victories for Andersens sports jacket. And BYU. I was trying to get that sportcoat off him, kidded San Diego State Coach Smokey Gaines, who saw the Aztecs' WAC record fall to 4 while BYU remained in contention for the conference championship at 2 with the important road triumph. 6-- 7-- BYUs Andersen and SDSUs Gaines could joke about Andersens lucky sport jacket. But the coat, a See Column 1 C-- Tribune Staff Photo by Tim Kelly Jazz center Mark Eaton (53) gets a piece of Pat Ewings shot in first-hal- f action at i I the Salt Palace. Eaton collected eight win over the Knicks. blocks in the 119-10- 1 This whole ordeal detracts from all the big things we have in front of us including spring ball which is just a month away, said the Tribune source. It just seems when things like this happen down here they get blown out of proportion so quickly. The Cougars played Ohio State in the Citrus Bowl Dec. 28 and fell to the Big Ten Conference Buckeyes 10-The Cougars finished the season with an record. 11-- 3 Judge Medley Gained His Niche in Life After College Basketball It is true the percentage of athletes whose main goal is a professional career instead of a good education is too high, but Tyrone Medley can speak for the student-athlete- s who used their athletic talents to gain a niche in life after basketball. Medley, you may recall, played guard on the Ute team which lost in the finals of the National Invitation Tournament to Purdue in his senior year. You may have overlooked the fact that as Judge Medley, Tyrone Medley Tyrone holds court in the fifth circuit in West I had hoped to play for one of the Big Five teams in Philadelphia. One coach did talk to me after the tournament, but I waited and waited and waited and no one came around from his school or any other school. I didnt want to play for a junior college, and eventually a talent scout who tried to get scholarships for black athletes approached me about going to Utah, where he had some contacts. I was raised by my mother and grandparents and had the reputation of being stubborn and I guess, Judge Medley laughed. e, 87-8- 1 an accident. "I was a B student in high school, which helped me get a basketball scholarship at Utah, where I made the honor roll several times. I even made the Academic team, as you can see by that plaque on the wall. But I would rather have made the team as a player. Medley still recalls his final game in Madison Square Garden. was not highly recruited from high school, he recalled the other morning before opening his court for the day. My Camden, N.J. team won the state championship, but no one came pounding on my door, offering me We had beaten Purdue, during the regular season, and had breezed through three games to the finals. We beat Rutgers, 102-8and Boston ColMemphis State, 117-9the finals. in lege, gaining Valley. He was appointed to the court in July of 1984 after receiving his law degree from the University of Utah in 1977. Tys playing for the Utes was something I scholarships. of ment record percentage of our field goals. Then in the final game we cooled off. I fouled out early in the second half, or I believe we still would have won the game which ended 87-8- 92-7- 3 For those three games we shot a tournay for Purdue, Tyrone recalled. Few Changes In the years you have spent in Utah, has the situation changed very much for the black athlete? Medley smiled, Really years isn't a very long time to change something and I sense the athletes are about the same as my era. A city like Salt Lake City is becoming more diversified and cosmopolitan, which has brought some changes. But the athletes face many of the same problems I faced in 1970 when I arrived as a freshman. I met with the basketball squad some time ago and realized the young men wen' the 15-1- 6 same essentially as my classmates were in the 1970s. Drugs? There were drugs on campus when I was a student. I think the main difference is the general acceptance of drugs as a way of life by so many people today," Tyrone explained. After his graduation in 1974 and gaining his law degree in 1977, Judge Medley served in the Nevada attorney generals office for a few months before returning to Utah and passing the bar exams. I never have been sorry I came west and decided to make this my home," he concluded. My only regret is that my mother lives so far away. "I dont play basketball even for fun anymore, so I am learning to play tennis. I have to do something because I have gained weight since my playing days," he laughed. Medley remains Exhibit A for the defense in the value of collegiate athletics in providcareer ing an education and a for those willing to pay the price. post-athlet- Body English The president of the University of Georgia has been on the witness stand in recent days, defending his university again' t a lawsuit filed by a teacher in the remedial English department, who had been fired. The suit claims Dr. Jan Kemp was fired for complaining about the special treatment given athletes. And that brings up a story by Johnny (Skeeter) Bailey, freshman football coach at Wyoming under Bowden Wyatt. At a faculty meeting in Laramie, one of the professors complained about the lack of class attendance or interest of some of the football players we had recruited and Dr. Duke Humphrey (university president) said, Young man, perhaps you dont understand how important the football program is. With your attitude perhaps you better move on down the road. Old Duke was a president who liked his winning football, Bailey laughed. Of course, those were the days before the impetus on academic standards when Wyomings football program united the entire state. Observation Ward Some of the universities penalized high admission standards seem to win shaie because of the intelligence of the letes. t by their ath- |
