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Former Dear MATT: First of all, congratulations on the work you've been doing down ihpro in PnlumKio * vnvi v ? vuiumuia, AHOOlliU^ll its 1 like to see good journalism, even if it ain't up here, it's good to see something worthwhile back in the sports section of the Gamecock. I understand that you've been getting some flack about the things you say, especially concerning matters people say have no business being discussed in the college paper. WE HAD the same problem up here when probation became imminent. The result-the sports section of the Tiger became one of the most regarded in the Southeast for its integrity and parity of investigative reporting. You have the same potential at USC. However, I wouldn't dare to call the tournament in St. Louis the only meaningful tnti mo\r in f/io nnlinw ?j At the same time, I also read you've been acting in an "undignified" or so such manner at conferences., I have no idea how much of that is true, or what someone's idea of undignified is. I do know, however, that if the behavior goes beyond journalistic license, the reporter loses more than he could gain. I know journalists have to have a callous streak; if you've been in the business any amount of time (and the quality of your writing suggests you have) you know it too. i 1 1 tykdtT, BUSH RIVER MAU Hciw?Tn Ku h?H\ AtiH Kn>j?er \\>pk \itos Till !Un> . Locally owned Annua 1 ^ TIFFANY SOLITAIRES H Q4fayjSMTTlt.il * Qwm-**&* 1 aW?*wS^.'iii Tiger ed At the same time though, you can almost always get the information you want without creating permanent rifts. Try not to let it happen. Anyway, enough of moralizing. I just wanted to say congrats to y'all. 1 also wanted to put my two cents worth in about a couple of things you've written about (Reader Feedback! Ain't it grand?) There are very few sports events that compare with the excitement generated by the tournament in Greensboro. I don't know if you've ever been there (I've been blessed to have covered three) but I know of no event that turns respectable people into wailing banshees. The town becomes a circus and over 15,000 individuals become spec wtiuic), ciuwus uuu a pan 01 a mass madness. Like you, I become distressed at the lack of ACC champions to reach the championship of the NCAA (and even the final four!) However, I wouldn't dare to call the tournament in St. Louis the only meaningful tourney in the nation. In this part of the country, Greensboro reigns supreme. Conditions in the two tournaments are different (a point you brought up in your article) but some of these conditions make the ACC brawl more meaningful to Dar ticipants than the opening rounds of the NCAA. It's a sure bet Duke remembers taking the conference crown than it does winning its first round game in Providence. YOUR SOLUTION (the first one) is not unique. Dropping the ACC tournament to a final four of its own has been bantered around for several years. The argument is still just as weak as it was when Dean Smith first brought it up years ago. I c^ewe/efok v- - * * ^vDOWNTOWN t'S * " \. i. ' . \?-\l t<> I'ennrv* ! I-':' Main >;. TtvVJ.U > DhiIv Till f>0o - ^ j I and operated d April nd Sale fashiofrt f Ring*. r /-Opot* Com#o? ? Oyx ' I ^ lopat Kfylh&tHk t**ry: Ring \k Off (v itor writi First of all, reducing the number of teams will not reduce the emotional impact of the tournament. Greensboro is still Greensboro, and Duke still hates UNC. If anything, such a plan weakens the chances of the top conference team. A team with the top seed gets the first night off while the others beat each others' brains out Is this an ?Hvn*i*a?o9 Ask Maryland, totally worn out from a triple-overtime match against State. by Chick Jacob N * * . _ . .v* tGuest Columnist With every team going into the semi-finals fresh, the top team has the. disadvantage of facing another rested team. Ah, but if they are the top team, shouldn't they be able to beat them? Wouldn't they be able to just as easily beat any of the seven teams in the conference? *SECOND, WHAT HAPPENS if the conference winds up with more than one team in fourth? If one team won both conference games 1 over the other (i.e. Maryland lacing us twice this year for the cellar) the matter would be easy to settle. With home court advantages being what they are, ? that's not too likely to happen, though. So now comes the decision-who goes to Greensboro I and who sits and waits for the NIT. J Col Shrii Allyi Mm. bJrttef ? tyon miii oort.MtoaauM SWT' 1 402 * ?s to Spo They may not call at all, as Wake found out. Would such a decision rest on a coin toss? That's how the conference settles ties right now. In addition, if you follow the conference, you know that the best team in the conference doesn't always have the best record (i.e. Duke) The one point losses are as big as 30 point blowouts in ACC standings. By the time you get down to fourth place, that team (or teams) may be no better or worse than the cellar-dweller. Finally, the conference tournament was instituted for the reasons you wish it altered - to give every team an equal chance. No one in Landover in 1976 could deny Virginia was the best team at the end of the year. Yet, they would be sitting at home had the top four teams been the only ones to play. They were defeated in the first round, but they earned the right to go to tne tournament. They were , the best. THE ACC TOURNAMENT instills hope in the teams collecting barnacles in the bottom of the conference. It's part of the magic in Greensboro for a team to come out of nowhere (it really doesn't happen often, but it's always possible.) That, along with the , FREE 1 ith lliic '? \ I no V l'Up\M I Chicken Fillet Sandw ich with purchase of mod. soft drink FREEMAN'S I3f>6 Rosewood Drive <<ffer expires April 30th [ < >pen til f> 30 Mon.-Sat. rcHour-notfi bucanea &Tu?i. nights of t? ErcVjH^2S%.. ll ^6^BB3SEm^E^^I^ Don't Forge SSiSa.A?fheSp, SBSr-" Salad from ( rtalk jteams (wish y'all were there; I noticed Frank McGuire was) makes the tournament specialand every bit as important as the NCAA. I may be wrong, but that ! The NCAA more important than the ACC- HERESY!!!! statement leads me to believe you're not an ACC native. The NCAA more important than the ACC - HERESY!! As soon as y'all can decide who t listen to down there (I have a feeling you're backing McGuire over Carlen) we may change our mind on ACC expansion. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it. Keep up the good work and best of luck in the future. I,problem 'pregnancy I need help? Columbia 254-7817 . [Charleston 722-8318 we can help ! 1 jn i? r fflF jclal t!*3? ?r5pm. it, Tuesday 5-closing lahetti vou can entl! / ' our salad bar is 75* extra. u, i g umm