1985_10 The Daily Collegian October 1985

              California State
University,
Fresno
The Daily'
Collegian
Wednesday
Oct. 9,1985
Plimpton displays
Ivy League wit
Writer does it all: tells audience
about his many misadventures
CSUFs Ski Race Team:
M*n'« and women's team* gear
up for winter competition. See rtory, pate 4.
George Plimpton, a man who hat
redefined the term "participat6ryjournal-
ism," brought his Ivy League wit to the
CSUF Satellite College Union Tuesday
Plimpton reflected on his writing adven¬
tures, which have  included everything
"I've been able to play out
the daydreams of 90 per¬
cent of American males."
—Plimpton
from playing quarterback for the Detroit
Lions to photographing centerfolds for
Playboy.
A Cambridge and Harvard graduate
who became famous by authoring num¬
erous books like "Paper Lion" and
intriguing articles for "Sports Illustrated."
Plimpton told a SCU audience ofl50 that
. hegot his start i.n his unique profession by
accident.
Upon applying for the highly selective
"Harvard Lampoon" many years ago.
Plimpton was told hc^would have to enter
the Boston Marathon. The magazine's
editors "did not specify that it was a 26-
mile race," said Plimpton. "So I was
prudent enough to enter about a block-
and-a-half from the finish. All of a sudden
the guy who was leading looked over his
shoulder and there I was, fresh as a daisy."
The marathon experience aroused a
desire in Plimpton to become closer and
more involved in his coverage for "Sports-
Illustrated." He mentioned as.his mentor
a New York Times sports writer who once-
climbed into the ring with boxing great
Jack Dcmpsey. The writer made
Plimpton realize "some sense of com¬
passion for the difficulty of athletics."
Since then Plimpton has written about
his experiences as a Detroit Lions quarter¬
back, a Boston Celtics guard and playing
goalie for the Boston Bruins.
"IVe been able to play out the day¬
dreams of 90 percent of American males."
he said.
Women, said Plimpton, have a far more
reasonable and rational attitude about
sports than men. "For example, you go lo
a football game and someone gets hurt on
the field," Plimpton said, "and the first
reaction of the male is to open the
program and see who is going to take the
poor fellow's place. Whereas, the female
attitude is more subtle and humanitarian
because she is more concerned about the
player's welfare."
Though Plimpton appeared tired and
his stories had been told a thousand times,
he still managed to captivate the audience
by punctuating each personal experience
with a dry and self-depricating wit.
On stepping into the ring with ferocious
former boxing champ Archie Moore: "I
think it startled Archie to be in the ring
:.who could bleed and weep
On what it was like playing goalie for
the Boston Bruins: "The pucks came in
and bounced off my body like golfballs
tutting a, use,"      — .
Suprisingly enough, it was his role as an
honorary player with the New York
Philharmonic that proved to be Plimp¬
ton's toughest challenge. Performing with
an orchestra "is terrifyingbecause you
can't make a mistake," he said.
Photographing centerfolds for Playboy
magazine, following a request from Hugh
Hefner, wasn't as fun as Plimpton imag¬
ined. He said he had a hard time with a
difficult camera "photographing a young
woman who kept slipping off a horse."
The venture "wasn^ as lustful as I
thought," Plimpton said. "It was very
difficult."
' Following the lecture Plimpton said he
doubted he would participate in any more
athletic endeavors because "there's very
little left todo." He did mention, however,
that be would soon be flying an F-I6
fighter plane following a request by the
magazine "Popular Mechanics."
Student senate represents many interests
77ie Associated Students Senate
sists of 15 senators and thi
officers. They were elected in May, wilh
the exception of Guadalupe Tovar,
Rebekah Burger and Sean Roberts, who
were approved by the Striate last week.
What follows is the second of a three-part
series profiling the Senators and officers.
Sean Roberts, School of Arts and
Humanities; is from Fresno. He is 19, and
a freshman speech communications major,
who wants to be a lawyer or government
official. He likes to read, play racquetball,
work with computers, and bicylces in his
spare time. He applied for a senatorial
position because he wanted "to play an
active part in the policy making of CSU F
and also felt that he could better open
communications between A.S. and
department." His top goals are to "assure
A.S. Senate awareness of Arts and
Humanities wishes, opinions, needs and
problems, and to assure accessibility of
A.S. Senate to Artsand Humanities staff,
faculty and students."
Sen. Sigrid Hawkes! At Large Post 5,
and President Jeff Hansen were not
included because separate stories have
been written on them.
John Love, School of Business is from
Byron, Wyo. He is 26, and a graduate
studctn in business administration who
wants to teach at the university level. He
likes to play the guitar, sing with friends,
hike to high places and dance in his spare
time. He ran for senator after being on
Interbusiness Council. He saidSse found
that it "provided him with invaluable
speaking experience and a much better
understanding of the vital role student
government plays on our campus and in
the community." Hi* top goals are to
develop a "fundraising handbook that
clubs and organization*, cats use as a
guide to obtaining funds through CSUF
and the community and a survey designed
student awareness and pereep-
n of their
■J2J^2l2laaaaaaai
The
results will be used in our future decisions
involving students," he said. Love also
said "I feel it is vitally important that the
Child Care Center be expanded to
accommodate more working parents with
children who would not be able to take
classes without this service."    ,
Guadalupe Tovar, School of Education
is from Allenville, Wis. He is 44, and- a
junior liberal studies major, who wants to
earn a master's degree in education and be
a teacher for a year,.then an administra¬
tor. He likes to do "almost any kind of
artwork"— Indian heritage especially, in
his spare time. He wants lo incorporate
' Indian traditions into the world of fine
art. He applied for a senatorial position
because "students my age should not feel
intimidated by their age. They can do it
and be proud of the community and get
involved." His top goal is Id have the
Senate "set the example themselves as
what FSU student*should be."
Lawrence Tovar, At Large Post 4 is
from Fresno. The 20-year-old, sophomore
but likes to
come* up — watch TV or go climbing in
his spare time." He ran for senator because
of an interest in "having a voice in student
issues and concerns." His top goals are to
"find out the needs of the Campus Child¬
ren's Center and tutorial center." '
Scott Waterman, At Large Poet 3 is
from Visalia. He is a 20-year-old, sopho¬
more business major with marketing
option, who wants to be self-employed or
work in a corporate office in the market¬
ing field. He likes to "ski, meet people,
backpack, bike and go places" in his spare
time. He ran for Senate because he wanted
to Vget involved in student
govemmnentatCSUFand help facilitate
a spirit of cooperation in the A.S. Senate
so as to see more accomplished for the
students of CSUF." His top goal i* to
increase revolvement of student* in A.S.
com raittecs, seel he cam pus securttyearoort