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Columnist givei The sports staff at The Gamecock has a problem. No, I mean, besides the fact we're overworked, understaffed and underpaid. Here it is, 24 days into the 1990s, and we haven't even done a "best of the decade" column. Whether it's too late or not, I've decided we must have one. But instead of the usual "best plays or events of the decade," I've decided to go with "The Best Teams of the 1980s." Catchy, huh? Here they are. College Football: I know it's a despised word around here, but the University of Miami, Florida is the ?i :? f.? ?r .u, a 1_ ti uuuuuuicu cihjiuc iui icani ui uic uccauc. inrec national championships, four all-American (now professional) quarterbacks and who knows how many Hurricanes drafted into the pros. Schnellenberger, Johnson and, soon, Erickson, are names to be revered in college coaching. Pro? Ask Jimmy Johnson about that one. Professional Football: Niners. Need I say more. I grew up with the Steelers as the "Kings of the NFL," but the crown was gratefully passed to the San Francisco 49ers in the 1980s. Three Super Bowl appearances was enough, but three Super Bowl victories iced the cake for the best team in the decade award. -rv 1 11 1 i rjaseoaii s ricnest n By The Associated Press think you can feel SAN FRANCISCO ? The San ^ right now," CI Francisco Giants like the way Will He batted .333 Clark swings a bat. They're will- League West-char ing to pay him $20,000 for every 1989, with 23 hor hit he gets. REL, 104 runs ai The San Francisco first baseman w?s second in I signed a $15-million, four-year Diego's Tony G contract on Monday that makes RBIs behind te< him the highest-paid player in Mitchell and St. baseball history. Guerrero, tied Ne "When you play like a Hall of ard Johnson and Famer, you get paid like a Hall of Sandberg for the ] Famer," Giants general manager scored. Al Rosen said in announcing the deal. Clark's average Last summer, Manager Roger for any Giant sin Craig called Clark "a hitter who batted .347 in 19! comes along about once in a de- first Giant witl cade." He's also the most expen- 100-RBI season: sive one to come along since the McCovey drove i Cincinnati Red Stockings began and 1970. Throu paying its players in 1869. league seasons, C "Fifteen million dollars is an un- average with 98 h believable number, and I don't RBIs. I DURING OUR WINTER CLEARAIK all SALE! LWIES & MENSc g gin- i tOO% Cotton SKI BIBS I J A Ttirtienec Hi RESERVATIONS AVAILABLE NOW! DAYTONA BEACH ,.J129' NIGHTS SOUTH PADRE ISLAND ,ms129^ 5 OR 7 NIGHTS STEAMBOAT S101' T 2, S OR 7 NIGHTS J PORT LAUDERDALE ?J132 i J HILTON HEAD ISLAND J\2T 7 NIGHTS CORPUS CHR\SJ\ / " M MUSTAHC ISLAND ,J99 5 OR 7 NIGHTS CALL TOLL FREE TODAY 1-800-321-5911 Depending on preaft dares and /engrn of stay. r^W^n I aJlfl I GREAT DISCOUNTS V=^ ON CD's, Tapes, Albums and VHS Tapes "If it s sold in a record store \ we offer tool" \ . YOU NEVER PAY MORE THAN: \ ? $10.98 per C.D. lp 4.99 per TAPE or LP. 5.73 per V.H.S. TAPE (pie-recored) (plus S/H) INQUIRE ABOUT OUR ^ FREE SPRING BREAK VACATIONS to BAHAMAS, MEXICO and FLORIDA CALL 771-6296 (if busy, please leave name and number) ; his choices for * f. Brant Long W & % ? Pep Talk If Joe Montana to Jerry Rice isn't the best combination in NFL history, it's in the top three. On Sunday, the Niners could equal the Steelers four Super Bowl victories and become not only the team of the '80s, but the team of the half-century. College Basketball: This is a tough category. There have been many champions through the 1980s and many great teams, but the decade's best has to go to our Metro Conference rival Louisville. Metro, you scream. What about the ACC? What about them? Let me run down some Cardinal stats from the 1980s: two national championships, six Metro Conference championships, five Metro players of the year, four NCAA final four appearances and a Metro Conference winning percentage (since 1975) of 79 peraan I any better than I for the^National llffR f I npion Giants bRb W H flj runs and 111 MMwM V rid 196 hits. He WW WW WW ^ batting to San wynn, third in ammate Kevin Louis' Pedro mmmmm wYork-s H?w- > VOLUNTEERIN Chicago s Ryne B ^JL lead in runs i It'S not jllSt for SO I Engineering, graphic was the highest ? tngilSfl, pOIIIICSI SCI1 ce Willie Mays C just might surprise 58, and was the ti consecutive 5 since Willie n 126 in 1969 ' /W/t gh four major \ ? lark has a .304 Screen /& lomers and 352 ? . ? <\ \ cr Printing \\ 1 | ASK ABOUT )\V 01 rCE I GUARANTEED QUALITY 4 SERVICE A FU CUSTOM OESIGN WORK 'IN HC 75 1 517 3 8ALUDA AV OJ^ $30 worth ol FR this coupon along with studer ilina Program Union ultural Arts Committee presents mi Dinner's always ready at the USC Campus Hardee's. Buy five meals after 4 p.m. and your next one's free with Pardee's Free Meal card. Get yours the best teams < cent. Add to that, the Cards have been in either the r NCAA or NIT tournament every year except the c 1986-87 season, and you get a champion. Denny Crum has done a fabulous job at the helm, and this ; year's team looks to be a shoo-in for the conference v title. 1 NBA Basketball: This one is easy ? the Los ^ Angeles Lakers. The latter half of the decade be- v longed to them. Magic, Worthy, Scott and of course the great one, Kareem are names that are synonymous s with champions and All-Stars. ) Five NEA Championships in the 1980s. Besides the t obvious stats, the Lakers win basketball games, and in I an exciting fashion. Iheir quick, tast-paced otiense i was not only effective, but f to watch. c Two final images to leave jou with. First, picture Kareem, at any arena in the country, receiving gifts r and ovations on one of the greatest careers in NBA \ history. The second image just sticks out. NBA play- c offs against Detroit. A tight game going on at Hie Forum in Inglewood, Calif. The ball is sailing out of t bounds but Magic chases it down, throws it back in tl and dives to the floor. James Worthy takes the pass t and makes an easy dunk for two points, and the ii ^ C |U| AWESOME ^BB J |T| ALTERNATIVE IG: cial work majors anymore, j art, accounting, marketing, ence majors... (you get the idea!) Tr\ yourself! '\!^i^rji "we're the wl/wil? expression 7/^^/^y company" tuj iLsls&J ^ rect silk screen & embroidery FEATURING: ll line of textile products i v :rtising specialty items u h eo k )use design staff i n 765-1913 Long s D f silkscreens EE " y DC it ID and recieve up to 2 silkscreens Coi EE- A] rttttttttttt?ttttttttttt7tt75tttttttxtttt Wednesday, Febru; Koger Center for 8:00 PM USC Students $6 ] For more information call 777-7130 ickets on sale beginning January 23, 1989 at the Carolina Coliseum Box Office oup rates available to groups of 15 or more. These activities sponsored, in part, by Student Activities Fees. * * Get Out From Undernea Saffire Hil^k The Uppity Blues Women ^1 These ladies will move your soul and lift your spirits the way that only a 1HI Blues band can! _ . _ Wednesday, January 24 CAROLINA PROGf 8:00 p.m. in the Spur Admission is Free Sponsored by the Contemporary Sounds Committee* SPRING BREAK TRIP '90 CANCUN, MEXICO OR PANAMA CITY BEACH, FLORIDA If you have not made your spring break plans yet... sign-up for one of our two great trips ... hurry before the spaces get filled! For detailed information call 777-7130 or stop by Room 209 of the Russell House. Sponsored by the TRAVEL AND TOUR COMMITTEE* Lect ~ ^ ^ -rr-ii T .. GET REAL. "^jg^Cullu, ?/ the decade nomentum that led to an NBA title. The Celtics were :lose runners-up for this honor. Major League Baseball: I really have no idea vhere to start for this honor. Only the Dodgers have von two series titles in the '80s, but were they the earn of the decade? I would have to say so. Lasorda, /alenzuela, Hershiser; the boys in blue play the game veil. A close second are the N.Y. Mets for the miracle eason in 1986. I know it's only one year, but that 'ear truly was a sight Extra innings in the LCS and hen a slow roller going through the Red Sox's Bill luckner's legs to save a series game that eventually ed to the championship. This title is still foggy beause of the number of good teams over the decade. NHL Hockey The N.Y. Islanders and Edmonton uled in the early '80s, but only the Oilers kept up the vinning. With Gretzky, they were unbeatable. With>ut him, they're still good. Well, there you have it, ladies and gentlemen, the ; >est teams of the decade. Now that the '90s are here, he sports staff will keep our eyes open for some new earns to take over these slots and vie for the awards n the year 2000. Until then, have a nice decade. 90 5 g?jgn <mm: f it out; you 777.-6688. I rig KJ.ON^ I r-] drug stores _jj[ ?=? 945 SUMTER ST. 799-1596 (Next to Lizard's Thicket) CASHING PROBLEMS? rug Cashes Student Checks Your lentine Headquarters >N'T MISS OUT!! ne in and Register to Win Huge 4ft. Valentine Bear I ii Mill Ml 1**1**1 ary 7,1990 \ the Arts : Public $12 : ?I?IP | CAROLINA PROGRAM UNION I IM* th The Whip Escape to W Edwin Messe III "The Reagan Legacy" Thursday, January 25 ^AM UNION P'm" *n ^ Ballroom Students w/USC I.D. $1.00 General Public $3.00 Tickets available at the Coliseum Box Office and all SCAT locations. ^nnncnmH hv thp Ideas and Issues Committee* Be sure to get your copy of the astonishing Spring Movie Calendar! Sponsored by the CINEMATIC ARTS COMMITTEEOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Wednesday, January 24 9:00 p.m. Admission: $1.00 Beetlejuice Thursday - Saturday, January 25-27 9:00 p.m. Admission: $2.00 Late Show: Lethal Weapon 2 Friday - Saturday, January 26-27 11:30 p.m. Admission: $2.00 Doming Events ... t: 1964 ... As the Beatles ure: Donald Woods . o re information call 777-7130 or come by Room #209 RHUU. These programs are sponsored, in part, by Students Activities Fees.