European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 31, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse Wednesday. May 31,1989 the stars and stripes Page 21 sports Thomas keys pistons by bulls to tie series Chicago s Michael Jordan shoots. Against three Detroit defenders by Bill Barnard Chicago a Isiah Thomas found his scoring touch again and the Detroit pistons found safety in numbers against Michael Jordan and the Chicago bulls monday. Offensively i was a Little More Thom As said after scoring 27 Points in the pistons 86-80 Victory that tied the Eastern conference finals 2-2. I was shooting and not so much concerned with running the offence. Thomas who has 60 Points in Detroit s two Victo Ries and 14 in its two defeats hit last second baskets at the end of the second and third periods to give the pistons narrow leads. Despite the obvious correlation Between Thomas scoring and the pistons winning he said it in t mandatory for him to be the team scoring Leader. "1 have to be effective. What effective Means is that 1 Don t have to be the main focus said Thomas who also had 10 rebounds and six assists. I did t score much the other third game but we were up by 14 with seven minutes to go. It was a game we should have won. I m not necessarily the key. The key has been defense for Joe Dumars added 15 Points and helped limit Jor Dan averaging 37 Points in the playoffs to 23. Only 11 of them after the first Quarter. There was some great defense on both Jor Dan said. My shots weren t falling so i tried to spread the Ball around to the other Guys. But As a team we could t hit them when we needed the pistons Bench outscored Chicago s 36-2. Led by James Edwards with 13 Points and Dennis Rodman with 7 Points and 18 rebounds. The difference in the depth of the two teams is no mystery bulls coach Doug Collins said. Getting two Points from our Bench certainly in t a plus for us. We be got to gel some production from John Paxson and Dave co Zinc Collins said Detroit s depth also works against the bulls because their starters have to play Loo much. Not Mike Schmidt retires san Diego a Hilling Home runs was easy for Mike Schmidt. Leaving the game he loves was not. The 39-year-old slugger one of the greatest Home run hitters of All time retired monday in an emotional Farewell 10 baseball. Schmidt made the announcement at Jack Murphy stadium hours before his Philadelphia teammates lotto the padres 1-0. You May not be Able to Tell but this is a joyous time for me he said. I be had a great speaking in hushed tones and his eyes moist with tears Schmidt said it was a new beginning for his teammates. I left Dayton Ohio with two bad Knees and Adream of becoming a baseball player. I thank god it came it True he said then broke Down in tears. Schmidt Voith Many teammates and coaches watch ing needed several minutes to compose himself and Phillies president Bill Giles stepped to the podium. In my opinion you arc the greatest third baseman of All time Giles said. "1 Don t think Mike Schmidt Ever cheated us one Day in Effort. Michael worked his Tail off throughout his Giles said Schmidt would throw out the ceremonial an sports television basketball Aba playoffs. Eastern conference finals Chicago at Detroit 2 05 . Thursday. Radio baseball Toronto at Cleveland 1 30 . Thurs Day. ,. ". First Ball saturday night when the Phillies Host Mon Treal and his uniform would be retired at a later Date. Schmidt who hit 548 Home runs and won 10 Gold gloves As the National league s top third baseman has struggled with a .203 average Ami six Home runs in his 17th major league season. Over the years i be set High standards for myself As player and i always said that when i could t live up to those standards 1 would retire Schmidt said. I no longer have the skills needed to make adjustments at the plate to hit or to make some plays in the Field and run the bases. I feel like i could ask the Phillies to keep me on to add to maj statistics but my love for the game won t let me do Schmidt really does t need to add to his career slats Home run total ranks seventh on the All time list and his 10 Gold a loves at third Are second to Brooks Robinson s 16 for the Baltimore orioles. My career in baseball has been blessed with special memories Schmidt said. It s the friendships i have made that i will cherish the manager Nick Cyva said Schmidt s retirement was unrelated to the major shoulder surgery he underwent last september. He told me last night that it was t his Shoul Der or his Elbow or his Back. It is not a physical thing Cyva said. He just thinks that he can t do it Schmidt had Only iwo hits in his last 41 at bats and led the Phillies in errors with eight making costly mis cues in the club s last two games at san Francisco both of which the Phillies lost. This is something i be been mulling Over and Pray ing about for a week or so Schmidt said. I gave it see Schmidt on Page 26 Aba a layoffs Only did Jordan play 43 minutes but Horace Grant was on the court 46 minutes and Scottie i Ippun 42. Pippin scored 18 Points and Grant 12. They wore Down Scottie and Collins said. I m having to play them Loo Many minutes and it shows in All the offensive rebounds and free throws Detroit the pistons had 23 offensive rebounds to nine for Chicago and took 46 free throws to 27 for the bulls. With the Victory the pistons regained the Home court advantage they lost last week when the bulls won the series opener at Auburn Hills mich., where the pistons Are 42-5 this season. Two of the three remaining games arc scheduled for the pistons Hom court at the Palace with the Winner of the series facing the two time defending Champion los Angeles lakers in the Aba finals. The lakers arc undefeated in 11 playoff games this season. The pistons led 44-39 in the first minute of the second half before pippin scored nine Points in a Span of 2 14, keying a 16-6 run that put Chicago ahead 55-50. Edwards then scored six Points in 2 16, leading a 14-5 spurt that gave the Lead Back to Detroit. Thomas Buzzer beating jumper made it 64-60 after three quarters. The closest the bulls got in the fourth Quarter was 64-62 before Thomas started a 15-7 run with a jumper. Another jumper by Thomas made it 79-69 with 4 38 left and the bulls got no closer than five after that. Detroit missed 12 of its first 17 Field goal attempts and Jordan scored nine Points As Chicago opened a 23 16 Lead with 4 35 left in the first Quarter. But the bulls scored Only three Points in the next seven minutes. The pistons were slow to capitalize a they made Only 6 of 12 free throws in the final 3 37 of the first period then got two consecutive baskets for a 26-26 tie with 10 minutes left in the half. The pistons scored Only 10 Points and the bulls eight in the first nine minutes of the second period see pistons on Page 26 Phillies third baseman Mike Schmidt wipes away tears. At retirement news conference say of lt.,f-\ a a to. R _. " to ,
