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Are mir _(W AARON " SHEININ By AARON SHEININ Carolina Life Editor A new study has just been released by Northeastern University^ Center for the Study of Sport in bociey regarding minority opportunities in professional sports. The grades may not be surprising, but the inferences are infuriating. To me, anyway. Pro basketball received the highest mark of an A. The NFL earned a B-plus for improvement. Major league baseball, however, was slapped with a C. Some may brand me a racist for what I am about to write, but this is not the case. Racism, I believe is manifested by people who hold their questions and concerns inside. I will not become a victim of this. What better forum to voice Football ] By The Associated Press Quarterback Bobby Fuller and wide receiver Robert Brooks have spent much of this summer in Columbia doing school work and working out. The two seniors have tossed the football, but also are working in school-related internships, attending classes and lifting weights. Now they are ready for practice to begin Aug. 15 and for the season opener Sept. 7 against Duke. A major goal this year for the Gamecocks is a major bowl, something they missed last year because of a miserable midseason. After winning four of its first five games, South Carolina lost three straight to The Citadel, North Carolina State and Florida State. "We all wish we could have won some of the bigger games last year," Fuller said. "Going to a bowl would have been nice. But we ended up strong (beating West X 7! AA 1 A * AL? Virginia zy-iu in uie iasi game;, Greatest wrestle by money-grub By DAVID BOWDEN Editor in Chief A nation mourns. The firing of "Nature Boy" Ric Flair from World Championship Wrestling (WCW) has stunned the world. Flair, the highest paid wrestler in the WCW and seven-time world haau<Mira!>rk? ^liomninn \I7Q C Hie. iiva v j yy vsigui " uu V*1J missed earlier this month following a dispute over his contract. The WCW, which is owned by cablemogul Ted Turner, reportedly wanted to cut Flair's $780,000 salary in half. Ric Flair is widely regarded as the greatest wrestler of all time. He is the master of the Figure Four leg-lock, one of the most fearsome submission holds in the wrestling arsenal. Flair has always been known for his high-profile "stylin' and profilin'." His characteristic war-cry 0f "Wooo!" humbles all but tbe heartiest opposition. He is as suave an(j sophisticated as he is scr ~confident. And he is a master of his sport. Who can forget his colorful rivalries with Dusty Rhodes, Ricky Steamboat, Terry Funk, Lex Luger and the noxiously njce sting? He has given some of mr*?r morable speeches in wrestling history, with some hilarious catchphrases. For example, he has often proclaimed that he is a "sixtyminute man going all night long" and "custom-built from head to toe." As leader of the ruthless Four Horsemen, Flair reigned like a king, striking terror in the hearts of Editor's Note ~ Sports Editor Rich Taylor is tendin ida. He will return next week. noun lorities o: these questions, than your friendly campus newspaper? I am not judging the intentions, but I am confused on a few points. In the story by Associated Press reporter Richard Lapchick, the center's director, said, "It is very disheartening to see how little progress has been made in major < league baseball. There are very i few blacks holding those < positions." Okay, here we go. Now, was the point of this study to find out how minorities (this is the plural form) fare in sports or how blacks fare? The last lime I checked, blacks were not the only minority group out there. It is time for blacks to quit hiding behind the veil of mi norities (the plural again) if they are only going to talk about their own minority. Richard Lapchick, what about the Asian, Latin American, Jewish, Armenian and even the women minority? Did you forget to include i them in your study, or did you 1 merely study the black minority in I sport? I players pr %' - Fuller and that kind of took away the sour feeling we had during the middle of the year. "It seemed like things kind of fell apart a little, but everybody got their mind back into it by the end of the season." If the Gamecocks are to improve on their 6-5 record of a year ago and make a bowl, Fuller and Brooks will likely show the way. Last year, Fuller threw for 2,372 yards ? the third-highest total in school history ? in his first sear alive gets fired bing executives foes. Ric Flair has been challenged for supremacy, but he always : comes out on top, like I am sure he will in this fiasco. This bleach blond, sequincovered superstar has lunched with the President of the United States. He is good friends with our state's governor. In fact Governor Carroll Campbell declared September 5, 1989 "Ric Flair Day" in South Carolina. Flair is obviously a legend in his own time. By firing that legend, Ted Turner is showing the same genius in wrestling that he exhibits as owner of the Atlanta Braves (who are succeeding despite their owner). This could very well mean the end of the WCW. The World Wrestling Federation, the deplorably awful wrestling organization that is the WCW's chief rival, should dominate with the firing of Flair. In fact, it is rumored that Flair will sign with the WWF on August 2. This would vastly improve the "Hollywood wrestling" of the WWF, where Flair can run roughshod over kiddy heroes such as Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior. Flair is a consummate entertainer and performer. The Nature Boy has brought joy to millions of wrestling fans. In an era where wrestlers are judged more on their /-* n lr <11 peemidi size uian uii uicn sm?, Flair remained a bastion of "real" wrestling style. He will be missed, but to use his own words, diamonds are forever and so is Ric Flair. y* ' i ' " :?r 8 to an illness in the family in Flor?3P! -ffihOufrLm? n right t The study also said that minorities (that's right, plural) have made progress, on the field and in pay, but not in front office management. Well, call me crazy, the last time I saw, possibly the second most powerful man in baseball was black. His name is Bill White (ironic, isn't it?), and he is president of the National League, the Senior Circuit. Also, Frank Robinson, the first black manager in baseball, who was fired as skipper of the Baltimore Orioles, was named assistant general manager. Just the fact that he was fired might have done more for the cause than his hiring. By firing Robinson, the Orioles proved they did not hire him to be a token. They did prove that he was given the job because of his great knowledge of the game. In Robinson's defense, let me say that he did an outstanding job. The reason the Orioles remain perennial cellar-dwellers is due to the troni oince managemeni, or iacK thereof. This is an example of baseball's paranoia. When a team epare for Brooks son as a Gamecock after transferring from Appalachian State. Brooks caught 33 passes for 548 yards despite missing two games with a knee injury. Brooks won't be Fuller's only target, however. Seniors Eddie Miller and David Pitchko also return, giving the Gamecocks, on paper at least, a strong passing attack. That will help compensate for what will be an inexperienced running game icu uy sopnomore Rob DcBoer. Predicts By JACQUES TRAP Insane Lunatic Well, the second half of the baseb; is underway and teams are preparing I nant chase. The Blue Jays, Tigers, rates, Dodgers, Braves, Reds and all o; West will be shuffling players trying the best deal for their pennant chases. To save you baseball fans from the of trades, I decided to make a few fea dictions of my own: The Giants will trade Roger Craig Clark to the Mets for Dave Magadan, sky trade but the Mets need a manaj first-baseman. The Giants have a bett of beating God in a wrestling match ning the N.L. West. In order to shake up the team, the will hire former USC President Jame man as a towel boy. Holderman, in need of a job, will buy Darryl Straw Orel Hershiser lavender bath robes. Cecil Fielder will hit 40 home ru last 60 games of the year to break Rog IL@?C30K1@ sofisaguDaoca? gpiKgitaikgg^^^ " SS Community Service Programs has a job for YOU! Drop by the Campus Activities Center or call 777-5780. GAMECOCK 1 ADVERTISING 777-4249 VOLUNTEERS MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE! Community Service Programs Campus Activities Center, 777-5780. rack? starts doing poorly, the manager always the first to go, not the .21 hitter or the pitcher with the ER higher than his shoe size. Robi son has the chance to right tl wrong. Let's get back to the stud There is one mention of a woma and a couple of statistics that i elude Latins and Hispanics. The was not a mention, of Jim Esia the Chicago Cubs manager, wl became the first manager of Arm nian descent. Doesn't this count a minority? Or is it because he is member of a white minority? Does this make me a racist? hope not I am, however, tired sitting on questions such as this f fear of being labeled a racist. If I am totally off base hei please write me and let me know don't want this to cause continu harboring of ill-will. As I said t fore, these are questions that I' wondered about for some tim They are not direct attacks on an one. However, they are direct i tacks on the insinuations th blacks are the only minority bei prejudiced against season "That doesn't mean people a zero in on one thing," Brooks sai "We've got a lot of weapons. \ can be just as good as we want be. I have high expectations 1 myself and my teammates. \ want to excel and be great li everyone wants us to be." Fuller said the Gamecocks ca afford to depend on the passi game totally. "We're going to have to run i ball and make it work," Ful said. "We can't sit back and thri all day. The offensive line is building, and we've got a lot young players, but I think we come through." This season will be the last 1 South Carolina as an independe The Gamecocks will compete 1 the Southeastern Conferen championship in 1992, and a go performance this season will pi vide a solid send-off into what one of the toughest college footb leagues in the nation. )ns ma record. Fielder will World Series, only The Braves, in ill season trade away Tom C for a pen- Mike Marshall. Th Mets, Pi- gers, making them f the A.L. Tim Belcher. The to make finish above the Dc The Oakland A' surprises send Jose Canseco irless pre- Ken Griffey Jr. ai Henderson will lea and Will title again but lose It's a ri- The New York ger and a decide to trade av er chance Molitor of the Bre> than win- 1- -- ? uiauc any sense, ji trading. 1 Dodgers a 0zzie Smilh> wj s Holder- has a traumatic he desperate the Cardinals to c berry and Tripp Cromer to ta have outstanding ni ns in the m Qtis Nixon, let >er Maris bases, overslides th Every ye; prepar The R Thank goo UnltMVby Charlotte , ? Littles as c "A By The Associated Press hc The Charlotte Hornets on l( Tuesday announced a major 0 front-office shakeup, replacing in coach Gene Littles with team * ' vice president Allan Bristow. u rc Littles will become a team in vice president and a sp<x:ial as- 11 sistant to club President Spencer f e_ Stolpen, officials with the Na- 1 as tional Basketball Association 1 . a team said at a news conference. 1 "We're not moving people in I or moving people out," Stolpen I 0f said. "We're realigning ourselves s or to help build our franchise." c The new director of player * c personnel will be Dave Tward- 1 j zik, who was director of scouting S ecj for the team. His duties had been to part of Bristow's job. ^ ve Bristow, 41, who was an assis- J [C tant to former Denver Nuggets ' coach Doug Moe for six seasons, s ^ has no head coaching experience P in the NBA. He becomes the 11 1 third Hornets coach in the team's brief history. f "When the call came over the li last couple of days, I got real pumped up about coaching the v Hornets," he said. "I felt I was * young enough to take the chal- n lenge. There would have been a m void in my life if I didn't try it." 0 d Littles, 48, who replaced Dick c Ve Harter in during the middle of J ,10 the 1989-90 season, posted a o or 37-87 record as coach. Last year, the team won a club-high 26 h games with him on the bench. d Littles joined the team when a n 1 Charlotte won the franchise in ^ nk 1987 as director of player personnel and later joined Harter on ^ 1,10 the bench as an assistant coach. " ler Littles said he was excited to ow move to the front office. re~ "There were rumors three n months ago that I was moving & : 11 up, but that was not to a position that was favorable to me," he " or said. "This is favorable." ^ Tit ... 1 "u He said it was his decision to 11 or take the job or remain on as ce coach. e oc* "I was not pressured into do- n "?" ing this," he said. "It was my k 's choice. "Right now I don't feel ?r a11 like I want to coach." ( de on bas l go to take his team to the iting team's d to lose to the Pirates. morial Hospil a mode of cleverness, will nosed as havi ilavine and Steve Avery for however, do e trade throws off the Dod- and trade hi trade Ramon Martinez and Houston, trade works, as the Braves >dgers but lose to the Reds. Deion Sam s in a blockbuster trade will uniform one d to the Seattle Mariners for Lenny Dy ad Ken Griffey Sr. Rickey forced to woi d his team to the A.L. West from his basel to Detroit. In a surpri Yankees, in need of power, goes on an ii 'ay Don Mattingly for Paul cock sports ec vers. I did not say this trade Heath winninj ist that the Yankees did the correct. Heath ing, "I coul tiile doing a flip in mid-air, support." art attack. The event causes Desiring :all up former USC player preacher, Kev ike over. Cromer goes on to Finally, th( imbers. Raines as thei iding the league in stolen Oh well, k( ird base and lands in the vis- how many I g ir, the American es people for the they never expecl ed Cross gets help from Unite* dness the United Way gets hel l brings out the best in al replaces :oach Littles made a quick reference > the team's problems on and , ff the court last season. "It was a tough year for me ast year," he said. "We had our ps and downs." At one point, Littles and forrter first-round draft pick J.R. teid sparred in the media. Then .ittles got into hot water with iristow. Reports surfaced that ittles would be replaced. Bristow and Littles had what .ittles described as a "misunder landing" earlier thus summer ver the team's first pick in the JBA draft. Littles reportedly told wo newspapers that he preferred Syracuse forward Billy Owens >ut that the team would select levada-Las Vegas forward Larry ohnson. Johnson was eventually elected by the Hornets, who icked first in the draft He retrains unsigned. Littles said any friction beween him and Bristow was now n the past. "If there was a problem they /ould have moved me out" he aid "They wouldn't have given tie a management position." He added that media accounts f his differences with Bristow ver the team's No. I pick in une's NBA draft were "blown ut of proportion." Stolpen said Littles will assist im and owner George Shinn in ealing with the league as well s the day-to-day operation of le franchise. "George and I value Gene's nowledge and advice and know lat Gene will thrive in this new 5b," he said. Shinn, who is recovering from linor foot surgery, did not at;nd the news conference. "Gene has done a terrific job i all of his duties over the past iree seasons with the Hornets," e said in a prepared statement When he indicated he was intersted in moving into manageient, things fell into place as Alm had the same motive to beome a head coach and Dave rwarrJ7ik1 in mnvr? im " eball lugout He is taken to Grady Meal in Atlanta, where he is diagng two broken arms. The Braves, not put him on the disabled list m away for Luis Gonzalez of ders comes to work in the wrong lay. kstra is convicted of DUI and :k with MADD. This takes away ?all time, so he retires, sing turn of events, Mike Heath ncredible tear and former Gamelitor Steve Johnson's prediction of g the N.L. batting title is actually dedicates his trophy to Steve saydn't have done it without his his dream of being a Baptist in Mitchell quits baseball. J Yankees hire USC Coach June r new manager. iep your scorecard handy and see ot right! Red Cross disaster t. d Way. p from you. II of US.