Thursday, March 24, 1994 The Battalion Page 11 Battalion file photo Former Texas A&M Centerfielder Brian Thomas watches his home- run during an A&M-Concordia Lutheran game on Feb. 24, 1993. The Aggies won 1 7-3. Thomas Continued from Page 10 dream and I’m on the right road to the majors.” That road will not be easy, with rigorous spring training exercises that will give way to daily games for the entire season with only one day off per week, said Monty Clegg, as sistant to director of player develop ment. "A minor leaguer’s spring train ing day is long,” Clegg said. “At 9 a.m. the players get here. They spend the first hour running, stretch ing and throwing, and then the next hour is devoted to refining their skills such as throwing to the cut-off man. Next they have batting prac tice, and then a game at 1 Then the players must work in several hours of working out and training time on their own. It has not been an entirely smooth transition from college to the minor leagues. Thomas cited some major differences between the two. "At A&M the team was a lot clos er. There was more team chemistry - everyone got along,” he said. “Here in the minors it is a big busi ness, almost cutthroat, with every man for himself. “If I get hurt some other outfield er is thinking ’great-I get his spot.’ It’s all a competition for the big money. But baseball is not the only thing in life, he says. "I’m about 24 hours from getting my Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences degree,” he said. “I am real ly big into the outdoors, and I want to do something to do with the out doors and people.” For now, baseball seems to be the first order of business, however, and people in high places are counting on Thomas to be great, Johnson said. “He has the ability,” he said. “His work ethic and desire are good and he comes from a good college program. He’s had the coaching and I’d say he has a good shot at playing in the big leagues.” Johnson to coach L.A. The Associated Press INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Magic Johnson returned to the NBA today, this time as coach of the struggling Los Angeles Lakers, the team he took to five champi onships before retiring with the virus that causes AIDS. ‘“Earvin Johnson will be the Lakers’ coach for the remainder of the season,’’ general manager Jerry West said today at a news confer ence in the Forum. “Jerry Buse has always har bored the desire for Magic John son to coach this team," West said about the Lakers’ owner. “Oh, man. Well, I’m happy to be back for however long it is go ing to be,” Johnson said. “I’m just doing it for him,” Johnson said about Buse. “I don’t need any medical ad vice,’’ he said. “I’m healthy and ready to go.” Johnson, one of the most popu lar players in the history of the league, will try to revive a fran chise that likely will miss the play offs for the first time since 1975- 76. The team is just 2 7-37 and in fifth place in the Pacific Division. AGGIE RING ORDERS THE ASSOCIATION OF FORMER STUDENTS CLAYTON W. WILLIAMS, JR. ALUMNI CENTER DEADLINE: MARCH 24, 1994 Undergraduate Student Requirements: 1. You must be a degree seeking student and your degree audit must reflect a total of 95 credit hours. (A passed course, which is repeated, cannot count as credit hours.) 2. If you were enrolled at Texas A&M University (College Station, Tx.) prior to January 1, 1994 and successfully completed one semester, 33 credit hours must have been completed in residence. Qr if you did not successfully complete one semester at Texas A&M University prior to January 1, 1994, you must complete a minimum of 60 credit hours in residence. (This requirement will be waived if your degree is conferred and posted with less than 60 A&M hours.) 3. You must have a 2.00 cumulative GPR at Texas A&M University. 4. You must be in good standing with the University, including no registration or transcript blocks for past due fees, loans, parking tickets, returned checks, etc. Graduate Student Requirements: If you are a May 1994 degree candidate and have never purchased an Aggie ring from a prior degree year, you may place an order for a '94 ring after you meet the following requirements: 1. Your degree is conferred and posted on the Texas A&M University Information Management System; and 2. You are in good standing with the University, including no registration or transcript blocks for past due fees, loans, parking tickets, returned checks, etc. Procedure to order a ring: 1. If you meet the above requirements, you must visit the Ring Office no later than Thursday, March 24, 1994, to complete the application for eligibility verification, which is an overnight process. 2. If your application is approved and you wish to receive your ring in May 1994, you must return to the Ring Office and pay in full by cash, check, Visa or Mastercard no later than March 25, 1994. Men’s 10KY-$310.00 14KY - $422.00 Women’s 10KY- $174.00 14KY - $201.00 Add $8.00 for Class of '93 or before. White Gold is available at an extra charge of $10.83. The approximate date of the ring delivery is May 9, 1994. NFL owners change the game for better D uring the last couple of weeks, the nation’s sports eye has been trained toward the NGAA basketball tournament. Even here in the hoops wilderness of College Station, there is cause for excitement. The Lady Aggies have advanced into the round of 16 for the first time in school history. This is almost enough to make one for get about the 20-7 pistol-whipping our baseball team received from Texas on Sunday. While all of this was taking place, the National Football League owners and coaches were holding their annual meeting in Orlando, Florida to discuss the state of the league and to ratify any possible rule changes. There were three sig nificant changes made and they should make the 1994 NFL season an interesting one. The most visible addition for this coming season is a two-point conversion. The NFL has never had this option before (tne AFL of the 1 960s did) and this, combined with the over time period that is already in place, will make for more down-to-the-wire finish es. The ball will be spotted at the two yard line (as opposed to the three yard line for the college two- pointer), so it will be a very make- able play. How many times have you wit nessed this scenario: A team is be hind 21-13 with less than a minute remaining in the game and they score a touch- down. Last year, all they could do was kick the extra point and still lose 2 1-20. This year, that team could go for two and pos sibly tie the game up and force overtime. As it stood, an eight point deficit with less than two minutes left was almost always a no-win proposi tion. This is no longer the case. A second rule change moves back the spot of the kickoff from the 35 yard line to the 30 yard line and also lowered the kicking tee from three inches to one inch. This may not seem like a very big deal, but it will make a huge difference in the number of kickoffs that are re turned. Over the last couple of decades, placekickers have increased their leg strength and kickoff distance. More than half of the kickoffs in the NFL last season resulted in touchbacks. By moving the kickoff back five yards, only the very best kickers are going to get the ball deep enough for a touchback. This will place more of a premium on good kick returners. The final rule change worth not ing for this season is a very subtle one. After a missed field goal at tempt, the ball will be spotted from where it was kicked. Previously, the ball was spotted at the line of See Kicking/Page 12 Willie Corrington Sportswriter University PLUcS Workshops Register Now MSC Basement 845-1631 SPECIAL INTEREST Landscaping Wed. March 23 - April 27 6:30-8:30pm $20/student $25/nonstudent Backyard Gardening Dates and times to be announced Call 845-1631 for information Diamond Buying Wed. April 6, 13. 20 6:30-7:30pm $10/student $ 15/nonstudcnt Cake Decorating Sat. Feb 5, 12, 19 10am-12noon Sat. April 16, 23. 30 10am-12noon $ 15/student $20/nonstudent Backyard Wildlife Tues. March 22 - April 26 7:30-8:30pm $ 15/student $20/nonstudent Flyfishing Tues. March 29, April 5, 12,19 7-9pm $25/studcnt $30/nonstudent Bike Maintenance Tues. April 5, 12, 19, 26 7:30-9:30pm $20/student $25/nonstudent Intro To Falconry Thurs. March 24, 31, April 7, 14, 21 6-7pm $18/student $23/nonstudent Electronics Wed. March 30, April 6, 13, 20 6:30-9:30pm $22/student $27/nonstudent Drum Training Wed. March 23 - April 27 6-7:30pm $20/student $25/nonstudent Job Interviewing M/W, March 28, 30, April 4, 6 6:30-8pm $15/student $20/nonstudent Creative Writing Tues. Mar 22. 29. Apr 5, 12. 19, 26 6:30-8:30pm $30/student $35/nonstudent Magazines & Books Wed. March 23 - April 27 6- 7:30pm $30/student $35/nonstudent Social Phenomenon of Spiritualism Thurs. March 24 - April 28 7:30-9:30pm $ 18/student $23/nonstudent Wines of America Tues. March 29, April 5, 12. 19 7- 8:30pm $25/student $30/nonstudent PBQTQGRAPHV Video Camera Meth ods and Techniques Thurs. March 24, 31, April 7, 14 7- 9pm $ 15/student $20/nonstudent B&W Darkroom Thurs. April 7, 14, 21 6-9pm $25/student $30/nonstudent Studio Portraiture Sat. April 9 9am-12 & l-4pm $ 15/student $20/nonstudent Color Printing Sun. April 10 9am-12 & l-4pm $15/student $20/nonstudent LANGUAGES Spanish II T/Th, March 22 - April 28 8- 9:30pm $35/student $40/nonstudent Sign Language II T/Th, March 22 - April 21 6-8pm $35/student $40/nonstudent ESL II M/W, March 21 - April 27 6:30-8pm $35/student $40/nonstudent SELF HELP Yoga M/W. March 21 - April 27 6:30-8pm $35/student $40/nonstudent Defense Devices Tues. March 22 " 6:30- 9pm $16/student $21/nonstudent CPR M/W, March 21, 23 6-lOpm M/W, April 25. 27 6- lOpm $ 18/student $23/nonstudent First Aid M/W, March 28, 30, April 4, 6 7- 9pm $18/student $23/nonstudent ARTS & CRAFTS Matting & Framing Thurs. March 24, 31, April 7 6:30-8:30pm $25/student $30/nonstudent Calligraphy Wed. March 23 - may 4 7-9pm $28/student $33/nonstudent Stained Glass Wed. March 30, April 6, 13, 20, 27 6-9pm $30/studcnt $35/nonstudcnt Etched Glass Tues. March 22 6-9pm $12/student $ 17/nonstudent Leaded Glass Mon. March 28, April 4, 11, 18. 25 6-9pm $30/student $35/nonstudent Jewelry Casting Sat. & Sun, March 26 & March 27 10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm each day $40/student $45/nonstudent Garment Painting Wed. March 23 6-9pm $10/student $15/nonstudent Heirloom Smocking Thurs. March 28, April 4, 11, 18 6-9pm $22/student $27/nonstudent Flower Arranging Tues. March 22, 29, April 5 6-9pm $17/student $22/nonstudent Potpourri Tues. April 12 6-8pm $ 15/student $20/nonstudent PAINT 8c DRAW Painting II Thurs. March 24, 31, April 7, 14, 21 6-9pm $30/student $35/nonstudent Watercolor Wed. March 23. 30, April 6, 13, 20 6-9pm $30/student $35/nonstudent Drawing II Tues. March 22, 29, April 5, 12, 19 6-8pm $25/student $30/nonstudent DANCE Adv C & W Dance Wed. April 6. 13. 20. 27, May 4 6-7:15pm $20/student $25/nonstudent Jitterbug Wed. April 13, 20. 27. May 4 7:30-8:45pm $20/student $25/nonstudent Ballroom Dance Tues. March 22, 29, April 5, 12, 19 6- 7:15pm $ 18/student $23/nonstudent Bellydance Mon. March 21 - April 25 7- 9pm $30/student $35/nonstudent Scottish Country Dance Tues. March 22, 29, April 5, 12, 19 7:30-8:45pm $20/student $25/nonstudent WOODWORKING Woodworking I Mon. March 21. 28, April 4. 11 6-8pm $30/student $35/nonstudent Woodworking II ' Wed. April 6. 13. 20, 27 6-8pm $30/student $35/nonstudent Adv. Woodworking Sun. April 10, 17, 24, May 1 6-8pm $30/student $35/nonstudent • Indian Bow Making Tues. March 29, April 5, 12, 19, 26 6-9pm $30/student $35/nonstudent PQTTERV Beginning Pottery Tues. Mar 22, 29, Apr 5. 12, 19, 26 5:30-7:30pm Tues. Mar 22, 29. Apr 5, 12. 19. 26 7:45-9:45pm Thurs. Mar 24, 31, Apr 7, 14,21,28 7:45-9:45pm $30/student $35/nonstudent Pottery II M/W, April 4, 6. 11. 13. 18,20 5:30-7:30pm $30/student $35/nonstudent Hand Built Pottery Thurs. Mar 24, 31 Apr 7,14, 21,28 5:30-7:30pm $30/student $35/nonstudent