Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

Wednesday, July 10, 1991 Commi ft Rich Taylor JChip Shots 1 Why does the University of South Carolina have an eight member basketball search committee? USC's search for a head basketball coach has entered its ninth week. Although I have reason to believe that George Felton's successor will be named today or Thursday, the fact remains that nearly 60 days have passed since Felton was shown the door. But even though I certainly can't recall any major college program consuming so many days in the quest to find a basketball coach, the time element is not as troubling as the prospect of eight people, rather than one; being assigned the task of finding, then agreeing on "the right man for the job." King Dixon is the Director of Athletics at USC. Dixon should have been given the sole responsibility of contacting, screening, and interviewing deserving applicants before ultimately selecting the next Gamecock basketball coach, subject to President Palms' approval. Period. Instead, Palms decreed that a Gang of Eight perform these duties collectively (and as secretly as possible). Undoubtably, each committee member is of the highest character and utmost integrity. Furthermore, each certainly lends his/her own unique perspective to what constitutes a qualified, desirable "right man for the job". The task of selecting, or luring, a basketball coach, however, should not have been assigned to eight It should have been assigned to only one. \ * 7*" * * * vv uiiiirig spirii American spo: By PAULA COBB Staff Writer Big smiles, tears, hugs, champagne going everywhere. These are the signs of winners. I don't think anyone would argue that winning is the best feeling ever. After a summer full of tournaments and races, seeing a person or team win is great. There have been a number of those priceless moments this summer. One memorable moment occurred in early June when the Chicago Bulls won the NBA title. Amidst fountains of champagne in the deliriously joyful Bulls' locker room, Bob Costas interviewed player after ecstatic player. But NOTHING could equal the sight of the wondrous Michael Jordan, tears flowing down his face, hugging the O'Brien Trophy. Forget the MVP award, Michael was at last an NBA champion. It gives me chills every time I think about it This past weekend was another time to share the moments of success with athletes. When Michael Stich won the Wimbledon title, the smile on his face was Incredible. My entire family was cheering for the underdog. It was truly a moving moment. Steffi Grafs championship in the women's division was excitin? a* Although she had won before, the look of pure satisfaction on her face was irrenlaceable. ,-?3^7sV,C ??||| " Another grand moment was in the Pepsi 400 this weekend. Bill Elliott s victory was welldeserved, though somewhat overshadowed by Darren Waltrip's spectacular crash. Elliott had that look in his eyes. The look of a champion. That look is not easy lo by. It takes special nights and the events that build up to it. Does anyone remember the look in Nolan Ryan's eyes after his first no-hitter? It was not like the looks of the players who were Ride with a sober driv JUST DO IT! ffao mmr* IL^ UVW1C One argument against my posi- P> tion is that King Dixon has other tly t duties to tend to, that he wouldn't proc have the time to handle the assign- ratic ment on his own. But what about P3*11 the seven other members involved? CQSS Do they not have other responsibil- or e ities themselves? Responsibilities hav< that are at least in some small way with being neglected when they are in, ft say, Chicago. For example, would a n< Dixon have been unable to handle Hop the task of interviewing Lee Rose, will George Karl, etc. without Associ- oneate Professor of Education Sandra ma^ Robinson, among others, along for a^l? the ride? With no disrespect in- fPve tended towards Robinson or any- ing one else who made the jaunt to the trust Windy City, I believe Dixon could to u have achieved the trip's objectives then just as effectively on his own. T' Another argument professes that desc having a committee of eight en- Felt( sures that no stone is left unturned to h: so that USC can be certain that the vesti new coach is the best possible Feltt choice. But again, is King Dixon infoi not considered competent enough Pain to singularly determine what appl- Feltt icant is most worthy of the job? 11 This is admittedly a crude compar- the c ison, but seldom do eight people I cai share the same opinion of what the give best ingredients for a pizza are, or own perhaps what constitutes a ereat Afte musical recording. In fact, all eight as to can be right, yet in only partial agreement There seems to be no logic in having an eight member search committee. As brilliant as J. Lyles Glenn, Chief Executive Assistant to the President, might be, what dimension does he provide to the committee that will make our coaching choice superior to the choice Dixon could have made on his own? The same goes for Gary Miller, Harold White, Bill Putnam and Sterling Brown. t what makes rts so special selected to be in the MLB AllStar game. It is a shame that the process \ has turned out to be such an unrewarding situation. I remember back in the days when I played Softball at Polo Road. We would all stand around the diamond, our fingers crossed in hopes of being picked. At the time, nothing was more exciting. When my name was called, you would have thought that I was a number one draft choice on my way to the .?? TT-<-?, " - *. snow . u?"unnnateiy, tius type of emotion is seldom seen at the All-Star game. I remember coach after coach telling us after a game, you played well, but not quite well enough. I remember losing for the first time, and getting in my mom's car and crying. She said that it doesn't matter if you win or lose, it's how you play the game. That may be true, an example being our football team's performance against Clemson this past November. Many fans were surprised, including me. The Gamecocks didn't win, but they played one heck of a tough game. Then I think about losing. It was heartbreaking to watch our basketball team lose games after their great start. The feeling after a loss is so much different than the joy of winning. Remember beating UNC this past basketball season? How about watching n.ilr*? ternm* th/? Mr A A basket ball champions? Nothing feels better than winning. The look in the eyes of a champion, and the feeling that nothing in the world is wrong is what truly is great about sports. Winning makes people feel great, even if they aren't closely involved. Winning makes people better, because no one likes to lose. That's when I know, winning is everything because it feels so good. ~ I SPORr iGAMECOHT 1 I mzjcu- a l resident Palms remarked recen- | hat it is a "tribute to the search 1% ess that we have not acted ir- I ^ I mally". This may be so, Dr. I ^ is, but unfortunately the pro- ^ * has also not acted efficiently ffectively. Our mission would i been better accomplished King Dixon acting alone, does appear that the hiring of N2 5w coach is finally upon us. efully, the committee's choice Eas in time prove to be a wise p. Regardless of who is ultiily selected, I believe that our <jt j ;tic director should have been Chic n sole responsibility for mak- Mor the choice. If he cannot be Phil ed, with complete confidence, indertake such an endeavor, why is he AD? r M link back to May 14. While (^jnc ribing the events leading to Atla m's dismissal, Dixon alluded San is "thorough and complete in- S. Fi gation". After concluding that Hou >n should be terminated, Dixon rmed Palms of his decision. is obviously concurred, and )n was fired. T bold strongly that Dixon made :orrect decision in May. What Batting n't fathom is why he was not on?1^! , . . RBI, Jot n the opportunity to, on his & ER^ q , hire Felton's replacement. lUlK's Cor r all, if you can fire, you sure xM better be able to hire. IS r SAVE I EV I Earn I NO I Caw ElfAlllf \/aii rvi cvciy ruu I spend Them on I US!5e I m rs L S T A R IMPED itional League t W L GB ;burgh 48 31 ? f York 46 34 2 1/2 .ouis 44 37 5 :ago 38 44 11 1/2 Ureal 35 47 14 1/2 adelphia 33 49 161/2 it W & GB H Angelas 49 31 r :innatt 44 36 5 nta Jill 39 40 9 'fl^ Diego 40 43 101/HII, rancisco 35 46 14 1/2 SIOB 34 47 15 1/2 111 Ave., T. Gwynn, San Diego .358 / uns, Johnson, NY 19 Ji??inson, NY 63 lavine, Atlanta 1.98 le, NY 113 ^mmim^_______ 5 IS YOU < ERY PI NOW YOU exrrac m with B*tionr j.lli J.T.I 1^T7? APPLY TO YOUR NEXT PURCHASE ... and SAVE an EXTRA Way! \t A Shopping Bonus From f j" i Spend, Receive 1EX1 i ANY Merchandise on OOKSSAVE Have the ii/ 601 Main Street 803/256-6666 mm ~ American League //y Boston 42 38 5 1/2 New York 38 40 8 1/2 TV\ Milwaukee 36 44 11 1/2 Baltimore 33 47 14 1/2 Geveland 26 53 21 West W L GB Texas 44 33 ? Minnesota 47 36 ? California 44 37 2 Chicago 43 37 21/2 Oakland 44 38 21/2 Seattle 40 42 61/2 Kansas City 36 44 91/2 Leaders Batting Ave., C. Ripken, Baltimore .348 Home Runs, Canseco, Oak. & Fielder, Detroit 21 RBI, Fielder, Detroit 65 ERA, Erickson, Minnesota 1.83 K's, Clemens, Boston 123 I r :a5H I jY! I :redit I nwlrl I I RA CREDIT DOLLAR I i Your Next Visit I YOU 25% I lOSt! I w EE I