The Rostrum

Poliball: full-court press v. zone defense

ASK basketball fans in Illinois how they'd characterize the state's high school teams, and most would say Chicago is run and gun with pressing defenses, flashy moves and big scores. Downstate, by contrast, is deliberate, patterned, more defensive with not many risks, no behind-the-back passes, no big scores. The basketball teams, in short, reflect the tempos and styles of their home areas.

But now in Illinois politics, it's working the other way as well. Life is imitating sport; and Poliball is the name of the game.

Mayor Jane Byrne is like a classic Chicago team, running and gunning, pressing all over, taking risks and losing on occasion, but sometimes putting one in your face with a move so dramatic it leaves friends and foes alike gasping (witness the recent breathtaking slam dunk at Cabrini Green). Hers is the city game.

Jane Byrne is a feisty little sparkplug, quick and daring, willing to take risks to get the ball. Her gambling defense often upsets her opponents' strategies (witness Jimmy Carter in 1979); leads to quick scores (Cabrini Green again); and generates constant movement and excitement (see the innumerable fests in the city).

However, this pressing game also has some major liabilities. First, it requires fresh personnel, and the mayor has had to make numerous substitutions in her two years in office. Second, it demands aggressive play which often leads to fouling which, of course, leads to hard feelings, bruises and a lot of pushing and shoving. Third, once the press is broken it is often difficult for the pressing team to play a more traditional game at a relaxed tempo, though in this area of the game the mayor has mightily improved her performance in the last few months.

In sum, the Queen of the Pressing Defense gives no quarter. She contests the pass, the dribble — even floor position — and when the game gets heated is not afraid to vocally taunt her opposition.

Gov. James Thompson, on the other hand, like a mid-50s team from southern Illinois, lays back in his zone, protecting his basket, content to sit safely on his statewide edge. He's downstate to the core, despite his Chicago background.

As King of the Zone Defense, Jim Thompson has mastered the art of the deliberate, preventive game. His strategy is simple: his team protects his basket by controlling the middle of the court. His players don't chase the ball, they take few risks, and they break out on offense only when the other team misses the basket (in short, he and his squad are a great rebounding team).

In playing the tight zone, the governor has been vulnerable only to sporadic outside shooting from the extreme corners. Points have been scored off him from the right side (by anti-ERA forces, for example, who deplore Thompson's nominal support of the amendment), but a daring and uncharacteristic fast break last January (when he attempted to give his party control of the state Senate) has cooled off those shooters by convincing them of his party loyalty. On the left, the little shooting that has occurred has not been damaging, and the potential scorers from that side have dwindled to a few. Thompson's zone players reflect his coaching philosophy. They look professional, have coordinated uniforms (many play with vests) and stress consistency and team play while shunning emotionalism and one-on-one moves (except for his assistant coach who recently announced his retirement).

In any basketball game the referees can influence play; and in Illinois Poliball this role is played by the media. Overall, the refs seem to have favored Thompson's zone over Byrne's press, though it's the latter that has caused some of the more sensational and controversial calls.

Some critics have argued that because it is easier to ref a zone game than a pressing game (the former requires less running, whistling and time), the media has been tougher on Byrne. Perhaps she should spend more time giving pre-game and post-game interviews and invite the refs to join her and the team on social occasions.

The transportation issue epitomizes the tactics of both players. After an uncharacteristically long warm-up, Byrne's full court press was going strong in mid-July. She and her team were everywhere, slapping at the ball,

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demanding to take over the CTA-RTA and anything else she and her squad could get their hands on. Of course, this put more strain on her fans and spectators who would eventually have to pay higher ticket price to stay with the game.

On the other hand, Thompson has remained in his zone. Part of his reluctance to come out shooting is his recruitment problem. Unlike Byrne who gets most of her players from one area — Chicago — Thompson must recruit throughout the state. This gives his team more geographical balance, but it places pressure on him to blend their various talents and backgrounds into a unified club. Jim must play it closer to his team's collective vests, and he must convince all his players that Chicago is a necessary part of the league without having them think the big city is hogging the ball.

Will Jane Byrne slow down her game, stifling the big move in favor of quietly seeking help for the RTA downstate? Will she switch into a Thompson-like zone, avoiding any flamboyant moves that might backfire before election day? And will Thompson open up his game a little, going for a steal or two that might give him a quick score and lend color to his campaign?

Finally, most Illinoisans know that in the spring almost every local high school basketball team participates in the state tournament. This entire action is called March Madness. Unless a special legislative session on transportation is held this summer, we can expect the Byrne and Thompson clubs to engage in a September Shootout or a December Debacle.

Both coaches have their contracts up for renewal fairly soon, thus we can expect some heavy action as both coaches attempt to get their teams in top condition for the main events, the elections that are the Super Bowl of Poliball.