The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, July 24, 1991, Page 5, Image 5
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_(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.