University of South Carolina Libraries
From Ex-Gamecock 1 By Jim Corbett Jv A Mi* Lint (oortt hiitnr <r r" ? NEW YORK ? "Hey Mookie! You're a bum! You stink! screamed the fan as former USC baseball star Mookie Wilson strode to the plate for the New York Mets in early June. Wilson seemingly lived up to the fan's expectations by striking out, causing the uninhibited spectator to shout, "You're a bum Mookie, a bum!" Next time up Wilson was greeted by his heckler with "Mookie. vou bum. vou. vou belong in Tidewater (the Mets Triple A farm ^ club)!" Wilson responded by lashing a single to center field off Cinncinati starter Tom Seaver. The fan shrugged his shoulders and smiled, then yelled "That 'away Mookie, that's your hit for this month!" Two pitches later, Wilson did what he is known for ? swiping second easily ? but the loudmouth was not impressed. H4You're still a bum!" he shouted over the small group of youngsters chanting "Go! Go! riA I ' ' QC \A/i1cAn r]a nnn/4 n/wi/vMrl uv< uv) >I iwvia uanvcu Ull 3CV.UIIU. "I play baseball because I love it, b ? came to a point when I just go out ji The 25 year-old rookie didn't get a chance to steal again as he was sacraficed to third. The next batter lofted a high fly to fairly shallow center and the fans braced themca! % ?'?- ? a a * - " j otivco iui ct uiwsc piay ai me piaie. iiut Red's center fielder Ken Griffey showed the ultimate respect for the rookie's speed by conceding the run and lazily lobbing the ball to second base. Several spectators turned to eye the ^ heckler as Wilson crossed the plate, and he shouted half-heartedly, "Wait until August, you bum." August has faded into September and ~t:ii ? ? Miuuii to suii in uie uig leagues, picxing up where he left off before the 50-day baseball strike of mid-summer. From May 22, when Wilson became the regular center fielder, through August 16 Wilson hit a hefty .367. The 24-game hot * streak increased his average from .203 to W above the .300 level. Wilson started the year as the regular j right fielder, but was benched after six | games with an average barely above .200 ? ana piayed sporadically until late May, when he bumped hometown hero Lee Mazzilli out of center field. Many of New | York's media cited the return to center as | the reason for his resurgence, but Wilson 1 disagrees. P "It's just a matter of overall adjustment, Inot just center field," Wilson said. "I love playing center field, but it really doesn't make that much difference." I Drake Ti j| from page 15. H estimated to be in the hands Both coach W of less than 30 women. Such great deal M a document takes long hours players. I of work under the super- philosophy thi vision of coaches.' impossible to This year, leadership do your best, responsibilities will be we strive for shared by a former captain namely lots ol of USC's volleyball and team in 1981 ii softball teams. Star Burdell, past squads bi a West Columbia resident. swm to nr#?spi ||S adds assurance to this eager "What we la( t outfit. Star, as a veteran to experience i ^women's athletics, will comodate an pft benefit every aspect of the agility... this |J|game. An optimistic per- on being 's Mspective in stride with her Scrappy is a y years of playing experience describe a te? jpgives luster to volleyball. out 110 perceni 'Bum' To Mookie Wilson M The difference was switching back to his normal batting strategy instead of trying to be a slap hitter to take advantage of his speed. "I was trying to do something different from all the other years." said Wilson. "I was depending too much on speed." The other years include two seasons at Tidewater, Va., which may have been more than Mookie needed. "I felt I could've played up here (the majors) sooner, but the management felt that would have been pushing it." Wilson has been pushing successfully on the basepaths, stealing 15 bases in 22 attempts, but he still has a cautious approach to the celebrated offensive art "There's a lot of stuff I don't know about base stealing," he said. "I honestly don't think I was taught a lot about base stealing, so you could say I'm basically raw talent," said Wilson. "I try to pick up things on my own from watching different ballplayers." Wilson feels baseball is fun, but must be challenging. tut it's gotta be a challenge...lf it ever jst to be here (the park), I'd quit/' ? Mookie Wilson "I play baseball because 1 love it, but it's gotta be a challenge," the Ehrhardt native said. "If I go four for four every day it's still fun, but where's the challenge? "If it ever came to a point when I just go out," he said pointing to the diamond, "just to be here, I'd quit." The split season has Wilson smiling. "I think it's great for us, we need the playing time," he said. "We're trying to re-establish ourselves with our fans." Wilson takes great pride in a sometimes overlooked part of his game ? defense. "I ?obn * ? " * & miivc piiuc in my ueiense. 1 iatte inai ovt my offense," Wilson said, who has made only two errors this years. "I think my defense is very good and it's gonna get better as I learn about the rest of the hitters in the league." Former Carolina pitcher and teammate Ed Lynch is also with the Mets and spent last year at Tidewater with Wilson. Lynch is a veteran believer in Wilson's defensive prowess. "To me, I don't care if he hits .200; his defense is that good." Lynch said. "Mookie has always been the kind of player that if he gets hot, you can't stop him." Lynch has been with the Mets for most of the year and is trying to establish himself in the starting rotation. "I've got an opportunity to pitch and I'm going to make the most of it," he cited. Lynch was a walk-on at Carolina after coming to USC on a basketball scholarship. MIta Aua ?flr es demand a a ball, keeping it in play. from their Five new additions were using the made to the 1981 squad; four at "nothing is incoming freshmen with one attain, but to transfer student. Lou Ann as in anything Calls spent one year at East takes work"- Michigan Univ. before : practice. The coming to Columbia with her 3 smaller than talents. Kim Weaver from ,.t 4u.4 m a r^l 1 a m umi utK5sii i v^iearwaier, ri. ana ieamnt an obstacle. mateTelethaea Deleueaux of )k in size and Tavares, Fl. will add nq will ac- strength to the front line d surpass in attack. JKim Brown, a Jr. team will win National member comes to crappy. ' " Carolina out of Pittsburg term used to with a hitting-and-setting >m which puts background. Mary Colson , t to dig or pass another Floridian brings Base lakes Move ?)* *U?$p /J v'-lv' . .V^,v; ^v -.; >, jh?*"V/':"--I'fyi $:' i' v.'- -M. h'?: V ;:i'i.. .-" '.. 8 mgm rrrr^ti ? .?! t?rVr. ' -.r '^fc||gpgjg? vVv Sl^S ' , . f'i ,.*!-/<-"i V jpgggg: wm Mookie \ He was a low-round draft c Texas Rangers and worked hi farm system before coming "Nobody ever handed me a recalled. "I wouldn't have way." Wilson was also a pitcher di school days and his two ye tanburg Junior College (now Methodist). "The only reasc pitcher is because I'm a goo said. defensive skills as well as spiking abilities. These young athletes in conjunction with the six returnees, demonstrate tremendous potential. Setters Debbie McClure and Lindi James will return to share the "quarterback" duties in leadership to the team. Gloria Mack with Kim Evans will try to secure the two stations of center hitter/blocker. These members completely understand their coach's outlook; someone who will not settle with losing. All girls seem to hold the same perspective which Steal i In Major I Vilson is a Mets center fi< choice of the Wilson beca is way up the when he starte ? - - - - nvtWno T' traininK Of las! it any8 other hittm? ?all Wilson is ui iring his high but said he sel ars at Spar- set (for this ye Spartanburg ' wasn't goin? n I'm not a me " And wh. d hitter," he play this game That's a lot c definitely shines in their hard work. Mary Lee Ladue is trying a taste at each position as a sophomore. Every team needs a versatile athlete, which Mary Lee surely is. Another returning participant is Theresa Green .whom exemplifies efficiency in all aspects of the game. Her strong points though are i/avn-l UW UCICIIM; piUS flllting. Green feels good about the team. "We have a great bunch of girls, everyone gets along well," she said. "Coach er Leagues ' Kvj.4. ^avsHI i'i^VMT jp ?1 ; 1 :$S?: Mv^"; ; ;lder. me a more dangerous hitter d switch-hitting during spring year. "I think I'm capable of the same from both sides." sed to accepting challenges, Is few goals. "The only goal I ar) was 'If I get this position, ; to let anybody take it from at is his next goal? "I want to t ten years," he said. >f Augusts. i mm m Drake is demanding, but we feel that the season will be worthwhile due to all our hard work." The groundwork is now layed: two industrious, winning coaches and eleven women laboring extremely hard. With this combination, may only merit preceed. Power volleyball has never hefArP cn rwnrvi iK o p Thip wv?w? V ?vv?? kJV puj^fV4JIU A A HO year, crowds are expected to triple in USC's gyms to spectate volleyball action, and with leading national teams as opponents Carolina's season should be quite challenging.