University of South Carolina Libraries
__ Gamecock Sports_ Two national heroes prove sports are still honorable I David LCloninger Who Else? The sports world owes a debt of grat itude to Matecn Cleaves and Andres Galarraga. In an age where the repugnant, in sane actions of a few bad seeds are un dermining the integrity of popular sports, these two athletes broke through Mon day with a tremendous display of heart and showed a nation why sports is still a fairy-tale fantasy for people to believe in. Right now, sports is a bad word on the lips of several million people, who are seeing negative aspects of the game take over all positive products. The NFL has two players charged with murder. The NBA, still trying to combat its bad-boy image stemming from a lockout and legions of classless criminals in uniforms, saw yet another in a long line of brawls Sunday when Robe Bryant ;uid Chris Childs squared off in the middle of a game. The NHL, usually a champion of fair ness and sportsmanship despite the dai ly fights, is reeling from an ugly incident where Marty McSorlcy viciously slashed Donald Brashear across the face with a hockey stick. With all of the negative publicity, athletics needed a hero. Monday, it received two. One, a flashy 22-year-old point guard for a national champion contender and two, a 38-year-old warrior who battled back from cancer and helped his team claim an Opening Day victory. Cleaves, a senior at Michigan Stale, was playing for the national cham pionship against Florida Monday when he received a lesson in Life’s-a-Bitch 101. Running down court on a fast break. Cleaves was hacked on his jump by Flori da guard Teddy Dupay. As the two play ers came down, Dupay’s foot planted Cleaves’ foot onto the floor at a severe angle. Cleaves, the Spartans’ emotional leader all season, collapsed in a heap on the floor, writhing and clutching his ankle. He crawled in the direction of die MSU bench, screaming, “It’s broke! It’s broke!” The Spartans, nursing an eight-point lead, held their breath with the rest of the MSU crowd in Indianapolis as Michigan State trainers scooped Cleaves up and limped to the locker room. Then came the moment that will for ever be remembered in NCAA history, not to mention give hope and fond mem ories to scores of future Spartans. Cleaves walked purposefully hick on to the floor, drinking in the cheers but knowing he had a job to do. Still favoring his sprained ankle. Cleaves directed the Spartan offense in to a set play. Holding the ball on the left wing, Cleaves tried to fire a shot as Florida’s Udonis H;islem, till 260 pounds of him, crashed into him, knocking Cleaves to the floor. However, Cleaves’ shot was actu ally a pass to teammate A.J: Granger, who nailed a 3-pointer to ice the national title. Although lie didn’t score after he was injured. Cleaves played through the pain mid through the worrying of his future to lead his team to the No. 1 spot. He motivated his teammates to Girry on in his absence and win their just ly deserved title, one Cleaves had promised them at the beginning of the season. Earlier Monday, another hero was set to return, but this time at Atlanta’s Turner Field. Braves first baseman Andres Galar raga finally returned to the clubhouse af ter a yGir long absence. The “Big Cat” missed all of the 1999 season after doc * tors discovered a cancerous tumor in his back. Although family, teammates and friends ferued the worst, Galarniga rose to beat the cancer, returning to the field and saving the day for-thc Braves. After throwing the first pitch to a wild ovation, Galarraga stood in for his first at-bat in the second inning. He was beaned on the hand by a wild fastball from Rockies pitcher Pedro Asta cio. Although the Venezuelan-bom hit ter felt his hand could be broken imd was in pain, Galarraga played on. The Braves cleanup hitter helped his team wiggle out of a bases-loaded jim by spearing a line drive from Astacio’s bat, preventing two runs. He did it again an inning later when the Rockies threatened to score from third on a two-out hit and run play. Gidarraga leaped and caught the pos sible RBI shot to snuff the rally. Then, Galarraga blasted a solo home run to left field for the Braves’ first run, sending them to a 2-0 victory. These two athletes proved Monday that heart and real emotion still exist in the overpaid corporate world of sports. Where udenl left off, heart filled the void and won two games for two heroes. These two athletes showed that old fashioned values are still cherished by some athletes. Cleaves has been playing with' team mate Morris Peterson since his grade school days. Galarraga oiganizcd a trip to Vfcnczucla with teammates Eddie Perez and Ozzie Guillen to help with disaster relief. These two athletes provided a wel come flashback to the days when people played sports for the love of the game, not just a big paycheck. For dial, Cleaves and Galarraga should be commended and applauded. Hopefully, they will be. As for the sports world and its prob lems, there’s really only one thing to say. Take a lesson. Please. rullback bush lost tor season with ACL injury, Gawronski suspended indefinitely Football Roundup Gamecock Sports When the Gamecocks race out on to the field for the first game of the 2000 season, they will do so without the lead ership and play of fullback Jacob Bush. In fact, after his recent MRI, doc tors say that his foot- g ball career is proba-1 bly over. The 5-foot-11, | 248-pound senior’s left knee was injured at Friday’s practice and showed a tear in | ins quauiicup mua- ———— cle and in the ante- BUSH rior cruciate liga ment. Bush is scheduled for reconstruc tive surgery Wednesday. Bush, a native of Jacksonville, Fla. and First Coast High School, came to USC as the No. 2-ratcd fullback in the nation, according to SupcrPrcp m;ig azine. He has struggled with injuries throughout his career at South Caroli na and also sat out the 1998 season to attempt to improve his academics. As a freshman in 1996, Bush played in 10 games and rushed for 34 yards on three carries. He also went on to rush for 95 yards on 29 carries in 1997. Last season. Bush appeared in six giintes and rushed for 70 yards on 13 at tempts. Gawronski suspended. Head football coach Lou Holtz has announced that sophomore linebacker Daniel Gawron ski h;is been suspended indefinitely from the leant for violation of team policy. “As head football coach, there conies die responsibility to set a moral mid spir itual tone for the team,” Holtz said, “and this we have attempted to do. “Even with the most consistent spir itual leadership at the top, some play ers make bad decisions. We feel com fortable that our program was not the cause of this player’s poor decision. We have zero tolerance for inappropriate behavior and we will never ignore, cov er up or excuse bad conduct. We iire en trusted to teach and develop young peo ple to be responsible citizens. We will have no further comment on this mat ter until the legal process has run its course.” Gawronski, a 6-foot-1,240-pounder from Marshville, N.C., was a reserve linebacker who appciircd in two g;uncs in 1999. He made six total tackles, five of which were solo stops. Spring game festivities. During the week of April 14-16 USC will be hosting the following event in conjunction with the annual Spring Football Game. April 13 - Lou Holtz Scholars dinner and auction at the Stadium Center (1100 Key Road near Williams-Bricc Stadi um). An outstanding assortment of Gamecock memorabilia, prizes and oth er gift packages will be included in the auction. For more information, plc;«se contact Clyde Wrenn at the USC Foot ball Office 777-8111. —r Why is TIAA-CREF the #1 choice nationwide?' The TIAA-CREF Advantage. ^ Year in and year out, employees at education and research institutions have turned to TIAA-CREF. And for good reasons: 41 • Easy diversification among a range of expertly managed funds • Solid performance and exceptional personal service • Strong commitment to low expenses • Plus, a full range of flexible retirement income options With an excellent record of accomplishment for more than 80 years, TIAA-CREF has helped professors and staff at over 9,000 campuses across the country invest for— and enjoy—successful retirements. Choosing your retirement plan provider is simple. Go with the leader: TIAA-CREF. THE TIAA-CREF ADVANTAGE Proven Performance Low Expenses Highly Rated Quality Service Trusted Name — i a ai ■ A«iokIhki 10 DAI HAH Inc. .1 financial services rcseareh firm.In its most recent study, 199/Minedl onlnbuiionIxirilenteRotinqs, IIAA c Kl 1 was voted nuinner one in panic 1 nml satislac tion. IIAA C Rl I Individual and Institutional Services, Iik. distnlxites C Rl I certificates and interests in the IIAA Real I slate Account, leachers Personal Investors Sex vie os Inc distributes the variable c omponent of the personal annuities mutual funds and tuition savings agreements. IIAA APd IIAA CRH I ife InsuraiKeC o. issue insuranc e I and annuities IIAA C ffcl bust Company, »SB provides toist services. Investment products are not FDK insured, ma^lose value and are not bank guaranteed. I or more c omphtc information on our sex unties (woduc is.me luding < barges and expenses, c all 1 800 8M ///6,cxl. SS09. few the |>rosf mx tuses Read them c arcfully l>efore you invest or scud money.*' <>000 IIAA C Rl I 1/00. Would pu let these ttno people <-> tell pu horn to rarite? If so, come to Russell House Room 333 and maybe you can write for Gamecock Sports FOOTBALL tickets GAMES DATE COST TIME Alabama Sept. 30 $26 TBA Kentucky Oct. 7 $22 TBA Vanderbilt Oct. 21 $30 TBA Florida Nov. 11 $22 TBA Clemson will be by Lottery Procedures will be published in the Fall A limited number of away football tickets will be made available to the University of South Carolina Student Body. The tickets will be limited to one (1) per student. Orders will be taken on April 11, 2000. The price is as listed above, cash only, and all tickets must be paid for on this date. Students must come to the athletic ticket office on Rosewood Drive between 8:30a.m. and 5p.m. to purchase away game tickets. The tickets may be claimed in the fall by coming to the ticket office and presenting a current Fall 2000 full-time ID card.