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I recently read in Sports Illustrated
that Commissioner Fay Vincent of
Major League Baseball strongly
supports tne National League (NL).
I also read that he is working to
eliminate the designated hitter (DH)
from the American League (AL).
Therein lies baseball's problem. It is
not that players are overpaid (well,
maybe they are), but that baseball
needs a new commissioner.
Since the inception of the DH in
1973, intense debate has continued to
increase over which league is better.
The answer, of course, is the
American League.
There seems to be a misconception
that the National League is more in
line with the traditions of baseball. For
example, the NL is often called the
'Senior Circuit' (more because they
play like senior citizens).
When one thinks of baseball, names
such as Ruth, Berra, Williams, Gehrig,
Dimaggio, and Mantle quickly come
to mind. Greats who all played in the
AL.
In addition to this, the more
traditional ballparks (with grass) are in
the AL. With the exception of Wrigley
Field and Candlestick Park, most of
the NL ballparks are modem and six
contain AstroTurf.
On the AL side, only four ballparks
have AstroTurf (all four home to the
expansion teams of 1969 and 1976),
and the older stadiums are in the AL:
Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, Tiger
Stadium, and Memorial Stadium.
American League baseball is more
exciting than National League
baseball. Why? Because of the DH
rule. Most fans like tp see high-scoring
ballgames, not 1-0 affairs. The high-
scoring ballgames occur in the AL.
Case in point: just two days ago, four
AL teams scored 10 or more runs in
their games. One game had nine
home runs hit in it.
In the case of the DH, what is more
exciting, watching a pitcher bat
(although this is funny) or watching a
regular player bat (such as Harold
Baines)? I think it's self-evident.
Another problem with the NL is the
constant double-switching of players,
and the intentional walking of the #8
hitters to pitch to the pitcher. SI
pointed out that last year Jose Lind of
the Pittsburgh Pirates (who normally
batted eighth) was intentionally
walked 19 times. This to a player
who's 5'7" and hit one home run.
For the comparison of the players in
each league, here is a list from SI on
the potential Hall of Famers in each
league. For the NL: Sandberg,
Dawson, Murray, Ozzie Smith,
Gooden, Gwynn, and Dale Murphy.
That's 7.
For the AL: Cal Ripken Jr., Puckett,
Ryan, Fisk, Brett, Parker, Winfield,
Boggs, Clemens, Trammell, Yount,
Mattingly, Eckersley, and Rickey
Henderson. That's 14.
After looking at the facts, it's plain
to see that Commissioner Vincent
needs to keep his mouth shut, or
begin working toward a political
career.
sugges-
Waterski club 'wakes up' A&M
The Texas A&M Waterski Club practices on a private lake outside College Station. Club members
use the lake to practice for fall and spring tournament competition.
Editor's Note: The following article is
part of an ongoing series examining the
various club sports that operate at Texas
A&M.
By Jay me Blaschke
Tne Battalion
While many students use summer as a
chance to relax and unwind, the Texas
A&M Waterski Club can be found hard at
play, practicing for fall competition.
Brandon Wyrick, a senior finance ma
jor from Spring, said the nature of the or
ganization makes it one of the most en
tertaining groups around.
"It's a really laid back, social group,"
Wyrick said. "Out at the lake we usually
have an average of eight to ten skiers,
plus we have a volleyball court and horse
shoes, so something's always going on.
"One person can go out on the lake
and get in a set, then come in, and some
one else'll be ready to go out," he said.
"It's a great way to meet new friends
Despite the emphasis on fun, Wyrick is
quick to point out the club takes competi
tion seriously.
The A&M waterski team is chosen
from the members of the club, and com-
E etes in the 14 member South-Central
onference, Wyrick said. The club pays
for trips to tournaments held throughout
Texas and Louisiana, and supplies mem
bers with training equipmant.
"This past year we had three people go
to the All-Stars competition in Grov-
eland, Florida, and Kevin Teichman
came in fifth in jump," he said. "The
women's team has had an outstanding
year as well.
"We go to three or four tournaments a
semester at UT, Stephen F. Austin, Loui
siana Tech as well as other places," Wy
rick said. "In the spring we host our oun
waterski tournament, the Polar Bear
Tournament. It's held in March, and the
water's usually cold, but it's still a lot of
fun."
The club, with membership ranging
from around 50 in the summer to over
100 in the fall and spring, practices on a
private lake outside of College Station
owned by Richard and Tami Ameen, said
Wyrick. The Ameens' assistance to the
club is one of the reasons behind success
ful membership drives.
"Normally the people that join are peo
ple who ski at home, or who haven't
skied in years and want to get back into
it," he said. "Many of our new members
are beginning skiers, and join the club to
learn.
Wyrick said the club's main concern
now is replacing graduation losses.
"We're training hard, but have lost a
lot of good upperclassmen," he said.
"We especially need more women to try
out. We've got plenty of women in the
club, we just need more that can com
pete.
"We still have some good under
classmen, and are looking foreward to a
strong fall," Wyrick said.
Cowboys open
training camp
in Austin
AUSTIN (AP) — Coach Jimmy John
son celebrated his 48th birthday Tuesday
doing the thing he loves best: sending his
Dallas Cowboys through two hard prac
tices in near 100-degree conditions in full
pads.
"It was a great first workout," Johnson
said. "It was hot and there was a lot of
enthusiasm. You didn't see a lot of lolly-
gagging around. Everybody worked."
Few players knew it was Johnson's
birthday as the Cowboys began their first
official fall drill at St. Edward's Univer
sity.
Offensive tackle Nate Newton shouted
at Johnson: "Happy birthday, coach.
That's all I can give you."
Johnson admitted the opening of prac
tice was the biggest birthday gift of all.
"This is the best time of year for me,"
Johnson said. "I'll celebrate tonight by
going to staff meetings. That will be my
party."
The Cowboys, who drew more than
100,000 fans to practices last year in their
first season at St. Edward's, were be
sieged by another large crowd despite
the heat index which made a rapid climb
to 100.
Hawkers sold parking places and cold
beverages nearby in a scene not unlike
the circus coming to town.
"Great receptions, just a great recep
tion," said Johnson, the NFL's 1990
coach of the year after turning the Cow
boys around from a one-victory season to
a 7-9 record.
One of the presents Johnson had for
his players was his "middle drill," which
involves a running back hurtling himself
into tacklers.
"Anybody who knows me knows my
adrenalin starts pumping when we have
a little contact," Johnson said. "It helps a
player get ready both mentally and pnys-
ically for the season.
"We have all the rookies signed here
and that makes me feel great," Johnson
said. "We're working on getting the vet
erans here but they are getting behind."
Oiler rookies
report to camp;
Carlson unsigned
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The Houston
Oilers agreed to contract terms Tuesday
with fourth round draft choices de
fensive tackle David Rocker of Auburn
and comerback Marcus Robertson of
Iowa State.
Rookies and first year players held
their first workouts on the Trinity Uni
versity campus Tuesday. Veterans will
begin drills on Friday.
The Oilers also signed four free agents:
tackle Barry Voorhees, from Barcelona of
the WLAF; guard Mike Kiselak, of the
WLAF San Antonio Riders; cornerback
John Lewis, Sul Ross and quarterback
Mike Norseth, formerly with the Cincin
nati Bengals.
Backup quarterback Cody Carlson, a
holdout last year, and starting cor
nerback Cris Dishman, linebacker
Johnny Meads and defensive end Sean
Jones and running back Lorenzo White
are among the unsigned veterans.
Wide receiver Haywood Jeffires has
agreed to contract terms but has not
signed his contract.
The three players the Oilers chose in
the second round of the 191 NFL draft,
safety Mike Dumas of Indiana, cor
nerback Darryll Lewis of Arizona and
center John Flannery of Syracuse, re
mained unsigned.
Breukink zuithdrawls;
LeMond unchallenged
ST. HERBLAIN, France (AP) — Their numbers reduced by
fever, Dutch cyclist Erik Breukink and his PDM team with
drew Tuesday from the Tour de France, leaving leader Greg
LeMond in a powerful position entering the Pyrenees Moun
tains.
Breukink pulled out before the start of the 11th stage with a
bacterial infection that dropped him from second to third and
forced five of his PDM teammates to withdraw on Monday.
"It's an infection due to the drinks in the bottles and maybe
some food," PDM director Jan Gisbers said. "But I'm relieved
to know that it's a bacterial disease, because you can cure it
easier than if it would have been a virus."
Breukink had been second overall behind LeMond on
Monday, but struggled to finish the 10th stage as he rode with
a fever of 100 degrees.
"I'm shocked about what happened to the team," said
LeMond, who kept the overall lead for the fourth straight day.
"It's going to be mentally hard for Breukink, because he was
going well."
LeMond finished 22nd in the 11th stage and his lead
shrunk to 51 seconds over Djamolidine Abdoujaparov of the
Soviet Union.
The cyclists have their only day off Wednesday, traveling
by plane to Pau before two stages in the Pyrenees. The moun
tain stretches are one of LeMond's strongest points.
In 1986, LeMond made up four minutes in the Pyrenes on
leader Bernard Hinault of France. Last year, the American
chopped nine minutes off the margin of Italian Claudio Chiap-
puci in the mountain stages.
LeMond said he'll keep an eye over his shoulder on the
Bannesto team because of its two good climbers, Indurain and
1988 winner Pedro Delgado.
"I'm not going to attack, although I'm sure that Bannesto
will attack," LeMond said. "In that case, I feel strong enough
to follow."
Palmero fights back
from gunshot wound
DALLAS (AP) — Although the exact damage of Ameri
can League umpire Steve Palermo's gunshot wound has
not been determined, a spinal cord specialist said Tuesday
the baseball official's recovery appears good.
Palermo, who was shot earlier this month while aiding
two robbery victims, underwent more tests Tuesday at the
Dallas Rehabilitation Institute, where he was transferred
Monday from Parkland Memorial Hospital.
"Although the exact extent of recovery cannot be pre
dicted, initial assessments indicated a very optimistic prog
nosis," Dr. John Milani, medical director of the institute's
Spinal Cord Unit, said in a prepared release issued Tues
day.
Milani said Palermo will need several months of rehabili
tation.
Palermo was wounded in the lower section of the spinal
cord region. Palermo would immediately begin therapy to
improve his physical functioning and mobility, the doctor
said.
A news conference at the institute is scheduled for 11:30
a.m. Wednesday. Milani will provide an update on Paler
mo's condition, though Palermo will not be present at the
meeting.
Palermo is reported in good spirits and fair condition de
spite suffering some "leg immobility," Milani said.
Palermo and former Southern Methodist University de
fensive tackle Terence Mann were shot July 7 while chasing
four robbery suspects.
The two were at a local restaurant when the suspects
tried to rob two waitresses in the eatery's parking lot.
Mann, who was shot in the neck, abdomen and arm, was
released after being hospitalized for several days. Palermo
was shot once in the back.
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