University of South Carolina Libraries
By WilieT. Smith III Gamecock Stetf Writer Cltlna fKn OHIVt UIC Id ICOl V/C1UCI V/UU1 V column a week ago on Pam Parsons and the Lady Gamecock basketball team, several things have happened. It looks as if several Lady riamA/>A.olro am (tninrf fA \jamcvvA.rvo cue 5^1115 w leave inc program. Jean Walling and Suzanne Wools ton appear to be headed to Parsons' former Old Dominion Monarch team. Rita Johnson, who has been a three-year starter for the Lady Gamecocks, also appears to be quitting the team. Although Johnson may be getting married this summer, her decision not to play her senior year seems to be much deeper. several memoers 01 me uau women's team seem to be dissatisfied with their head coach's , philosophy of the game. Parsons usually plays up to nine people per game. This is fine, if it is done the right way. The USC Lady Gamecocks are intimidated by Parsons' coaching tactics. Outside of AIl-American Sheila Foster, team members are usually taken out after only one mistake. The bad thine about this tactic is that it is very embarrassing to the player because everyone knows the reason she is coming out of the game. NOW DON'T GET me wrong. Pam Parsons is a great coach and USC is more than lucky to have her, but no one is perfect and that includes Parsons. It was always thought that one of Parson's strengths was her ability to get along with her players. The large number of transfers out of f rnn _* . a. t a. * uav. since sne iook coniroi seems to indicate that this may not be true. As one player who preferred to remain nameless said, "I only believe what she (Parsons) says when it happens." This shows a gap between the players, or some of the players, and Parsons. I hope the gap can be filled before irrevocable damage is done to the great program she has ynilBRAI PLUsfcA When you trade-in y 10K gold high schoo on a Lustrium collet America's newest fi jeweler's alloy Your rebate Trade in your woi school ring for $ Lustrium college 10K gold high schoi on all Josten's 101 / OFTKROOOOI ?jo$ , y Lower Cold F Date APr" 29 ' 3 Time 9 - 5 Placi built. Fam ^arsons may never win any popularity contests and she probably isn't trying to, but it would come as no surprise if she won the AIAW national championship. Her style of coaching places great demands on her players. To some players, these demands are unreasonable. IN THE MIDDLE of the season rumors started that freshman guard Sharon Rivers was thinking of transferring *o the College of Charleston. She was probably thinking of making the move because of her drop in playing time as the season went on. The strange thing about her lack of time on the court was that her level of play never dropped. Her lack of time didn't seem to make much sense. Near the end of the season, after a car accident to Cheryl Autry, Rivers began to play again. She did well and was a sparkplug in Lady Gamecock wins over Stephen F. Austin and Louisiana Tech. She also triggered an amazing comeback that brought USC from 16 down against Tennessee in the AIAW final and pulled them to within three even though they lost. After this season-ending performance it appears that Rivers' future is bright and that she'll be around next season. With all of the transfers from this year's team, there should be room for several new players next year. It has been rumored that a 66 prospect from Florida has been signed. So far it looks as if she is the only new player in the fold. ALTHOUGH THEY both saw only limited action this past coacnn it utnnlrt Wo a oaaiI iHoi if OVMOVII) IV nvvuu MV U gWM iV?VU tt Lady Gamecock walk-ons Cindy Rawl and Maryann Chibbaro were given scholarships. These two girls sacrificed scholarships at other schools to come to Carolina. This kind of loyalty is seldom seen today in collegiate athletics and should be rewarded. Their attitude should be an example to other high See Center Court, page 15 IUKRM6 euaniMi our men's aaa aa I ring for ..$84kOO je ring, :ne $*m $16.05 _ * men's iuiv gold nign 32.00 and buy your ring for only $37.95. >1 trade-ins also apply K gold college rings. HRU AMK. OWtY TEWS 'rices This Month 0 - 2 Days Only B use Campus oO> Bookstore Russell House ma ' "Your Partner in Education" bookstore Game of look at me or other atletes like that." Once his eligibility was up at Carolina, Ribock wanted fo stay in basketball. Although he fit right into the Carolina system, his basketball talents were not judged as being up to par with NBA , standards, so the 6-8 forward went to Europe to play. Currently he plays on the same team in J Argentina as fellow Gamecock alumnus Jackie Gilloon. Now that Ribock is a veteran of 10 seasons of foreign basketball, he has grown accustomed to the unusual environment. In fact, he said basketball overseas is quite similar to basketball here in America. "They want you to win, it's the same everywhere," he said. "The fans put pressure on you to win, 1 A. X A A- ? ? f f anu uit:y expeci you 10 win. n you don't, you don't have a job next year. But I enjoyed it, and wouldn't have done it any differently if I had the chance to do it over again. The younges* member of the starting team, fo.j Riker played his first varsity ..eason in 1969-70. His presence took a lot of pressure off Owens, who the year before had instantly been double teamed inside. At 6-10, Riker averaged 13.8 points and nine rebounds a game. With his great shooting ability, Riker had his best game that season against Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl Classic. He scored 36 points on 15-21 shooting to lead USC to an overtime win and the tournament championship. \ / % K}a*%lr A * + + f iiun v^yui(7(( | jj|l ^ ^ | BOOZIN - a : | ak I NUTRITION - r | The New cruc Games from i HIKER FINISHED his b Gamecock career and was drafted high by the New York Knicks, but f< he could never make the ad- a justment to professional ball. After s a couple of years with the Knicks, c he was released and returned to c Columbia. Currently, Riker lives in town and can often be seen C around campus. He was not able to ICELAND/UK BEG! AND LOW m s499si Koundmp from Ri New York fr< to Luxembourg to !\o restrict! Confirmed reservations* free wi no restrictions on stays to 1 yr. or i from I S. from March 10 thru M: l>iiic? xiiijcii iii inni|;c ana go' tickets in the I S. I * See your travel agent or write Dei I Icelandair P.O. Box 105, | West Hempstead, NY 11552. i Call in NYC, 757-8585; elsewh< J toll-free number in your area. I Please send me: An Icclandaii ! O Your Kuropca I Name I Address | City | State 1 | ICELANC I Still your best value t n Sale April 2 A WHOM mm: RH UN I Isc bo ?AP/T sobering look a :ohol use naking the right DON'T MISS IT ible...nothing like th? * ? oage 13 e reached for comment. Coming off the bench that year )r McGuire was Bobby Carver nd Rick Aydlett. Both ophomores, the pair made a big ontribution to the unit that was ailed the "seven starters." Carver, a 6-2 guard, aided the iamecock offense during the See Former Ptayors, page 15 TO EUROPE imn MMULT A tundtnp >m Chicago Luxembourg ons nc with dinner, cognac after* dvance purchase. Prices valid ay 14, 1980. All schedules and icrnmcnt approval. Purchase pt. #( \ ~j :re, call 800-555-1212 for the , ! r flight timetable. i in vacations brochure. | I I I Zip j '%AIRMS> | :o Europe * j [ ! j I Y 50 cents at: r/o/v S7va r/o/v | OKSTORE f OL NEWSTAND | ! it student ! choice | 3 old Crucible s