One last chance at glory? Kris shuts door

UCLA's Kris Johnson did the same thing to me two Sundays ago.

You remember Johnson, the Bruin who sank eight free throws in 37 seconds to seal UCLA's victory over Michigan in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Collegiate careers ended that day. Every free throw Johnson converted was like feeling the pain from needles - one by one - being thrust into a voodoo doll.

The Michigan seniors felt that pain, knowing it was the last time they would be playing for Michigan.

But each free throw Johnson made was just as tough for me to watch.

James Goldstein

Johnson put a sudden end to the Michigan season and in so doing, put an end to my four-year Michigan Daily career.

And for that I say to Kris: Yeah, thanks. Thanks a lot. This wasn't supposed to happen. I didn't want it to end.

For journalists covering games, the cardinal sin is to root, to be a homer, to cheer.

But as a senior graduating this May, I knew my time was almost up. While I wasn't cheering for Michigan during the game, I couldn't help but pray for Robert Traylor's last-second free throw - a planned miss for a final shot - to work to perfection.

It didn't. When the final buzzer sounded, a glazed look came over my face - similar to the one Maceo Baston had while walking off the court for the last time as Michigan men.

It didn't hit me until I walked into the press conference room and watched members of the team in misery describing how the Wolverines lost.

I'm done, too.

MARGARET MYERS/Daily Kris Johnson's eight straight free throws in the final 37 seconds of Michigan's loss to UCLA ended the careers of Michigan basketball players Travis Conlan, Maceo Baston and Jerod Ward. It also ended the Daily career of sports writer James Goldstein.

Now, the point of this column is not to sound despondent. I'm not trying to make people sympathize with me. Rather, as this is my last story as a Michigan Daily sports writer, I feel this is the time to reminisce.

I know, now you're saying - 'Oh, here we go again, another Daily writer saying how he was so lucky to do this or do that, or meet him or her, or cover that team or this coach.'

No, no - on the contrary, the story of my four years at the Michigan Daily covering Michigan teams is one about being (actually, one or two years away from being) in the right place at the right time.

As a Michigan student and fan (yes, I said it - a fan!), I couldn't ask for anything more. A hockey national championship, a football national title, a swimming crown and a Big Ten Tournament title all in my four years here. Friends of mine in other colleges salivate about just having one national-championship team, let alone a few.

But as a Daily sports writer, timing has just not been on my side.

Two years ago, the Michigan hockey team won the championship. Last year, I covered the team for the first semester before studying abroad in Italy. I missed the Wolverines playing in the national semifinals. Okay, so that's not that big of a deal - and besides, I went to Italy. I can't complain.

Three years ago, I was on the women's basketball beat in the winter and then the baseball beat during the spring. The women's basketball squad was fighting to stay out of the conference cellar. Hmmm, please remind me again ... how did they do this year? Oh yeah, they went to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in a decade.

While covering baseball, the team qualified for the Big Ten Championships, but lost in the first round. The team's results last spring? Yup, you guessed it. They won the Big Ten.

Fine, so maybe I was lucky to have covered this year's men's basketball squad for its conference title run. I was part of history because it was the inaugural event. But where was I when everyone was celebrating? Driving to the team hotel, where the Wolverines watched the announcement of the tournament field on television.

Nine beats in all. Sure, journalism is just as much about covering the teams when they are losing as when they are succeeding. I'm not saying I was around complete losers for my four years.

No, not at all. In fact, some athletes I was fortunate enough to follow are among the greatest to have played for Michigan in their sports. And if not the greatest, pretty far up there. Track star Kevin Sullivan, hockey phenom Brendan Morrison and Traylor are just a few examples.

But I had the feeling that the men's basketball beat was it. The Wolverines were going to do something special in this tournament, especially considering the way they were playing coming in.

I still thought Michigan had a good shot of beating UCLA, even in the final minute.

That is, until Johnson - the name comes up once again - nailed those stinking foul shots.

Thanks, Kris. Way to end my Daily career, man.

But serious thanks are in order for the people who contributed to the great times I've had at the Daily - especially to Jim, Dan and Mark - current sports editors. We've been through many sports beats, coaches, road trips - and computers. When I think back at my times at Michigan, the things that will stand out will be the times we've had.

So now, I'm going pro, trying to advance in this sports journalism business. I'll see where it takes me. All I know is one thing.

If I ever see Kris Johnson again - as a sports fan in some arena or one of the journalists on press row - I'm going to scream at the top of my lungs when he steps to the free throw line. It's payback time.

James Goldstein can be reached at jamesdg@umich.edu.

03-24-98