Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Sports 8 Friday, October 18, 1985 THE GAMECOCK Seven a lucky number in baseball's playoffs When the Commissioner's Office announced that this season's American and National League Championship Series would be a best-of-seven series rather than the usual best-of-five, fans screamed bloody murder. And well they should have. The change was not made for the good of the game, but for the good of pocketbooks, particularly those of television advertisers. The argument appeared to be "more is better." There are distinct differences between the League Championship Series and the World Series. So why not retain that distinction by leaving the League Championship Series a best-offive playoff? Fortunately, major league baseball was blessed by the fact that the two League Championship Series were spectacular. St. Louis' four straight wins over the Dodgers and the Royals' comeback from a 3-1 deficit to end Toronto's hope of bringing Canada its first World Series was the saving grace for the new seven-game playoff series. That's why major league baseball continues to prosper. Despite the drug problems, the public outcry over players' outrageous salaries and the questionable practices of some owners, attendance rises each year. And just when you think they've made one more injurious change in the game ? the sevengame series ? four teams go out and make their series among the more memorable played in recent years. The St. Louis-Los Angeles series was deemed a toss-up. After the Dodgers won the first two games, fan interest waned. But the League Championship Series seems to have a history of the unexpected. That two-game deficit was just what the Cardinals needed, as they swept the next four games from Los Angeles. St. Louis had to win the final two games in Los Angelesi Whjsn Smith homered in the top " of the ninth in game five, the Cards had pulled one -miracle. Then, in the top of the ninth in game six, Jack Clark hit Tom Niedenfuer's first pitch 20 rows up into the left-field seats to give the Cards a 7-5 win and a trip to the World Series. It seems that in every big series, there is one play that ensures the game will be remembered for a long time to come. In this case, Tommy Lasorda's decision to pitch to Clark with first base open will stir debate at least until next season and probably cause many sleepless nights for Lasorda during the off-season. The Toronto-Kansas City series was billed differently. Toronto was supposed to be too much for the Royals, who had edged the California Angels in the final days of the regular season. The Blue Jays had control of the Eastern Division for most of the season, but were forced to withstand a strong finish by the New York Yankees. Nearly everyone had conceded the series to the 'Jays before it began, and when they held a 3-1 edge, there were few who believed it would go beyond five games. But a gutsy performance by young Danny Jackson in game five was the turning point, according to series Most Valuable Player George Brett. Jackson struggled at times, but pitched well enough to shut out Toronto 2-0. Despite the fact that they, too, had to win the last two games on the road, Brett and his fellow Royal veterans took over in awesome fashion. In game five, Brett had four hits, two of them home runs, and three runs batted in. He followed with a home run in game six that proved to be the game-winning Kbi and tied the series at three games apiece. Toronto was so wary of him in game seven, they forgot there were other capable offensive threats on the team. Veteran Jim Sundberg's big hit, a three-run triple, and some gutsy pitching by Charlie Liebrandt sent the Royals into the World Series. On paper, the Cardinals may seem too much for the Royals, but that means little at this point in the season. The Cards may dominate, or Brett and the young Kansas City pitching staff may pull off another miracle. And if major league baseball decides someday to change the World Series to a best-of-nine or best-of-eleven series, they'll probably luck out again. Gregg Lasky is the sports editor of The Gamecock. Men's lAfnmen'c Wilson is optimistic about Lady 'Cocks By JEFF OWENS Assistant sports editor Second-year head coach Nancy Wilson has her hands full in preparing the Lady Gamecock basketball team for the 1985-86 season. But despite one of the toughest schedules a USC women's team has faced in reccnt years, and the loss of several key players, Wilson is optimistic about the upcoming season. She said she thinks she has the senior leadership for another successful year. Wilson, who coached her first USC team to an 18-10 record and Metro Conference Northern Division regular season title, will face a schedule that includes six Top 20 teams. Aside from the alwavs tr?noh Mptrr* reamc th^ Lady Gamecocks will play Nevada-Las Vegas, Clemson, N.C. State, Njrth Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia ? last year's NCAA runner-up ? and defending national champion Old Dominion. Graduating one starter and losing her top reserve and three other players during the off-season makes Wilson's job no easier. Marsi McAlistcr, who was second on the team in assists with 95, was the lone senior a year ago. Renee Najarian, the team's third leading scorer and second leading rebounder, who started 25 of 28 games she played in last year, was the fourth player to leave the team this year. She left school in September because of an illness in her family. Gwen Lynch, one of Wilson's top reserves last year, and Lori Rowe left for personal reasons. Colleen Frost elected to become an administrative assistant for the team, and Jacqui Jones, who transferred from Clemson. where she was a freshman All-American, also decided not to play. "It definitely has to hurt, depth-wise," Wilson said. "Renee was a strong rebounder, and Jacqui had the potential to be. It hurts to lose any one of them. But the way they have rallied, I'm hoping we can make up for it." The losses leave USC with only 10 players. But Wilson said the team went through an extensive training program during the summer and returned to school in its best physical condition. That and a new team attitude have the Lady Gamecocks confident they can compensate for the losses and develop another winning team. "I know I'm in the best shape I've ever been in," said starting point guard Mindy Baliou. "And I think the team is in the best shape we've been in. It's already showing after just one practice. Before some players just tried to get through practice and survive. This year, there's a 180-degree turn. They all know the drills and practice makes them better and therefore makes us better." "I'm sorry to lose them, but I think it has helped us more than hurt us," said 6-3 center Sharon Gilmore, the _ .. rt ) sV- " *' * \ < Coach Nancy Wilson it counting on All-Amefica candidate Brar NCAA recommends By ASSOCIATED PRESS Under both names, NEW ORLEANS ? The NCAA attacked by those wl Council bowed a bit to the outcry dardized tests coi from predominantly black schools cultural biases a Wednesday and recommended lower- discriminate against t ing the standardized test score needed The softening, Dav before a high school athlete can be less to the resistance c eligible for a college scholarship. ly black schools th Still not in its final form, the pro- research into standan posal will be refined and presented "I think it's a rec for a vote by the entire NCAA result of research tha membership at the annual convention students are discriinii here in January. that black students NCAA President John R. Davis of ctill nor Oregon State said he has been ap- academia ? that is t pointed by the Council to work out Davis said. the final form of the proposal with The proposal impo Division I Chairman Otis A. limit on the rollback. Singletary of the University of Ken- "We also recognu tucky and Presidents' Commission not go on forever Chairman John W. Ryan of Indiana. students who do not t Originally, the tougher academic jected to lower stanc standards for high school recruits tion in their high schi were contained in Proposal 48. Since The rough-draft then, they have been incorporated in- came oui of ilic N< to NCAA rules as section 5-1-j. three-day meeting he basketball practii demy WHsm BIN Foster Womo?'? head coach Men's head coach team's leading rebounder with 7.7 per game and second leading scorer with 11.7 points per game. "It has brought us together. We arc a tightly woven team now. We are really getting behind each other and showing some confidence. That will help us when we get tired and things get a little tight." "A team has to have talent, but you have to have a certain kind of attitude too," Wilson said. "Our team is talented and our attitude is good at this point. I hope we can see success early for the team. Our senior leadership is verv imnortant." Wilson's most talented players are the three seniors she will rely on for leadership. "These three seniors have meant a lot to this team. And they will certainly mean a lot this year." Seniors Ballou and Gilmore will return to the starting lineup. Ballou, a 5-9 point guard, led the Lady Gamecocks with 162 assists last year. She needs just 92 this year to become the all-time assist leader. She also has a smooth outside shooting touch and averaged 10.3 points a game last year. Brantley Southers enters her senior season as an AllAmerica candidate. The 6-0 forward led USC with 17.2 points a game, scoring in double figures in 26 of 28 games last year. She was an all-Metro selection and a Kodak District Three All-American. She was also selected as the state player of the year by sportswriters and broadcasters. How does she plan to top that? "I would love to win the Metro tournament right here at home (in March)," Southers said. "I want it all, Metro and then the national championship. Personally, being named Kodak All-America would be great. I feel I have a better chance this year." And like the rest of her teammates, Southers is optimistic about the team's chances of fulfilling some of those goals. "All the stuff we've been through in the past, the Pam Parsons thing and all that, the people that went through that are all out now. I'm the only one left. But all that is over with. This is a new team, a new outlook and a new coach. Our attitude is great coming in." ^ jJ\^Kl! ' iiwfwm " ' Jv^if! ?? I1 "" ?A ', . . V . Y*j* "vis. ? " 'y <-i ?L ?, >v . . . RAY GRONBERGfTto torn* itley Southars te ImmI the Lady Gamecocks this season. easing of school reqi they have been system that permits lower scores on sti 10 believe stan- the Scholastic Aptitude Test for those cc nfain hnilt-in uii?u J - ? ' - mm uiguci giauc-puuu averages in nd therefore academic subjects. cu 'lacks. Instead of having to have both a C fe is said, was due average and a 700 score on the SAT, >f predominant- for instance, the Council proposes a as lan to further minimum SAT score as low as 660, if co iized testing. the grade-point average is 2.2 or bet- re ognition of the ter, Davis said. With a 1.8 grade- sc it showed black point average in the core curriculum, ce lated against in a student would have to score 740, he who might not said. pr form well in "Anvthino i PCC ctiis-1 Art* iuaiiM tkli 1IIV JIUUVIIl TTVUIM " ' hey graduate," not be eligible," he said. p? He said there is a general feeling pa ses a three-year that the requirement for completion ru of a core curriculum of academic nc ed that should subjects is the most important part of pe ? that black the academic eligibility package. th est well are sub- "A survey showed that a students a i lards of educa- who had the core curriculum improvools," he said. ed their American College Test score tic proposal that three points," he said. "Recognizing mi ~AA Council's that there will still be some students tic re establishes a who have the core curriculum and tal ce starts Foster eager about season, % new players From staff reports With the mixture of highly touted freshmen and veterans, USC head basketball coach Bill Foster said their is a new optimism on the team and in the program. The Gamecocks lost six players from last year's roster, including seven-foot center Mike Brittain. But Foster was able to sign brothers Perry and Terry Dozier from Baltimore's Dunbar High, along with Bill Vernau from Pittsburgh and junior college transfers Darryl Martin and Steve Holland. Red-shirt freshman John Breckenridge begins his first year of eligibility. But it's the Doziers who have caused the stir. Terry, 6-9, 210, was a high school All-America last year while Perry, 6-10, 220 is a strong rebounder. ^ "We're just glad to get going. We're anxious as a coaching staff just to see how much our players have improved, what the freshman year has meant to Tony Shaw and Keith James and how our freshman players look and that's what the next three weeks are going to be all about," Foster said. "Anything can happen, you know, it's up to us, we gotta ^ make it happen and that's ? another reason we're anxious to get started." froster said he is also pleased with his new coaching staff. "I'm really pleased with Rick Duckett and Dick Stewart. They've given us some new enthusiasm and optimism, and > that's goo4?j jrostct,said. . ~ Though rerfjhwUffzier received * most of the attention among this year's recruits, Foster said his brother Perry could surprise. "Perry Is a late comer. He's only played basketball for four years. He's on the rise, and we have a couple other players on the rise, and that's another exciting thing about it." Foster is hoping USC's third year in the Metro Conference will ^ be the team's most successful. "It looks like Louisville really has a lot of talent and a good blend of experience and leaders, and Memphis State, losing Keith Lee, really has a lot of talent back. So I would say third place is up for grabs ? Virginia Tech would like to have it, and we'd like to have it," he said. "We hope that we can be predictable enoueh and win some % games on the road and do well at home and have an exciting year." Foster said he doesn't foresee the Gamecocks having the same difficulty winning on the road as they did last season. ? ? a u sa new team, a new season and we're starting all over again. It's called history. "I think we're positioning ourselves mentally and physically to start winning on the road." 0^ uirements ill will not test well, we felt that we tuld roll with that for three years. "The feeling is that after the core irriculum has been in effect for a w years, we could restore the 700." He said that although the national sociation of predominantly black lieges and universities preferred no quirement for standardized test ores at all, he believes they will ac- 01 pt the compromise. Another Council proposal to be esented at the January convention mid make athletes subject to nalties for such things as taking tyoffs, he said. There are already les on the books, he said, but the :w proposal would bring the nalties against athletes in line with e new ethics package passed here at special convention in June. The Council will also propose a na>nal drug testing policy that would ake staff members liable for sane- ^ >ns up to dismissal if they foiled to ^ ke action against drug um.