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^ Wednesday, June 3,1998 Lady Gat J!^- >*+ l^BF^ : "". iBiUB. BRYAN JOHNSK Leanna Troesh's homerun in inning against Mississippi State lone victory in the SEC Tournanu Utah looks to bryan JOHNSTON Sports Editor I'm not a huge NBA fan, but for some reason, I really get into the playoffs. I guess I feel the players don't care about the regular-season games and play only to make the postseason. This is when they turn it on because those pretty little rings are on the line. Anyway, yes, I'm a Chicago fan, and no, Tm not a bandwagoner. I've been a fan long before they were the champs. So it's obvious that I was pretty excited about the Bulls' game seven victory over the Pacers Sunday night. Not only was it a great game as the Bulls defeated Indiana 88-83 to move to the finals, it was a great series. When the Pacers finished off the Knicks to set up the series final, I knew it would be a dogfight. That was an understatement as the two teams went back and forth. The Bulls jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but the Pacers retaliated with twn wins of their own at Market Square Arena. After a game-five shellacking by the Bulls, Indiana rallied for the game-six win to force the deciding game in Chicago. After falling behind by 13 early, Chicago roared back to a three-point halftime lead. But Indiana is a scrappy team, and I knew it would take more than a few Budweisers to calm my nerves. When Indiana took a brief lead in the second half, the grim realization hit me that this could be Michael Jordan's last game if they lost. All season, Jordan has hinted toward retirement. Fll be the first to admit M. J. has lost a step, but I'd like to find one team who, if he was available, wouldn't take him for one year. Sim necocks end USC continued from page o . After dropping into the 1< , Lady Gamecocks had to face 1 n again, a team that would eve ^ championship game. This time, the results wei ^ ing. Carolina's bats went di came ahve in the 3-0 victory. Mississippi State put tv fifth inning and one in the s x * trol of the game. Carolina c Z* - three hits and had only one position the entire game. "There's not a lot of garni ^ win when you only get three Comptonsaid. the seventh Junior Kim Pietro singl gave USC its three games, running her sch ;nt. streak to 30 games. The Pom ' dethrone M.J. ply put?to borrow a line from wrasslin's Bret Hart?he's the best there is, the best there was and the best there'll ever be. To see Superman not go out on ton wnnld hp a travpstv to thp ramp But alas, the Bulls pulled it out and now face the Utah Jazz, a team with nine days rest after sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers. These are the same two teams who played for the trophy last year .'il. iv _ Till I wnn me buiis winning m six. Now as Chicago goes for its second three-peat, the Jazz stand in their way. So as the best-of-seven series tips off tonight at 9, if s two of the ^ oldest teams in the league playing for the championship of the NBA, a league dominated by third-year kids nrV?A oVvAiil/l Kn mniovci ir* />/^l 1 nrrr\ WliU OllUUlU UC JUillUia 111 tuiicgc. Last year, Jordan added another chapter to his already historic novel by sinking the winning shot at the buzzer in game one and pouring in 38 points in game five despite having flu-like symptoms. This year, it's not going to be as easy, and if the Bulls manage to win one more, they'll definitely have earned it. As much as it pains me to say this, I think Karl Malone, John Stockton and the rest of the Jazz will finally get to hoist the trophy. They have more depth, more youth, more rest and a homecourt advantage. But don't put it past Mike; the greatest player in the game has the ability to put his team on his shoulders. Will the greatest go out on top or just short of his sixth title? Will he I go out at all? Normally I wouldn't care, but hey, it's the playoffs. And oh by the way, I'm going with the Jazz in six. Thanks, Mike, for such a great career. You'll be missed. Sports The Gamecock ' disappoints ne native is only 13 games awj NCAA record for the longes >1 i ,i n?n?i;? )ser S DraCKei, tne ^uoauu v^ai uiiiia o uai a vji ai* the Lady Bulldogs secutive games to set the re mtually reach the 1994. The hitting streak doesn't ren't to USC's lik- anything to me," Pietro said."\ ead while MSU's care [about it]. I'm just tryi make good contact." 10 runs up in the For the tournament, Cai ixth to seize con- went 13-for-73 at the plate wi ould only muster ly two runs scored. After goii runner in scoring in the tourney, Brown finish( season 24-9 with a 1.27 Eft es you're going to 93 strikeouts. For her caree hits," coach Joyce Montgomery, Ala., native we 12 with 215 strikeouts, three ed in each of the 311 ERA of 1.20. lool-record hitting Pietro was the leader at 1 ipton Plains, N.J., all season. She led the team i IS3 Ray-Ban, Bolle, Maui Jim, Bucci, OaK Costa Del Mar, Arnette, Revo, Hob Gargoyle, Stussy, Killer Loop 'Oakley available bat not discoanted Softball" Sand Volleyball Tennis nn cr\ fiUnl o J iUL/l/l/i ly from tying the (.333), runs (37), >t hitting streak, (three), homerun iano hit in 43 con- slugging percent icordin So,des] N. son, tl mean [ SEC Tourney results \ young [don't * USCv inSt0 IK J use 2 if** No. 4 MSU 0 Ken?* rolina May9 ver,Ni th on- jsjQ j Florida 1 ovese ig 1-1 No. 5 USC 0 ting oi id the the sei \ No. 4 MSU 3 tv i aiiu i . i ii ir, the I No. 5 USC 0 J todef nt 54- to saves and "All in ? year, considering ;he plate for USC year," Compton sj n batting average er of this group t """ wm*~> ^ > i a ie, m; - 1 mcr in li t Sports -'v> .??"* nf **, -^?9?vm 9* Page 11 I spasnn / UVI/FUV/* ^ hits (59), doubles (16), triples s (seven), total bases (102) and age (.576). pite the misfortunes of the seale Lady Gamecocks are very ; and will be back next j^ar. nil be returning seven starters starting pitcher. In addition, a McCutcheon, Heather Culikki Beers and Adrienne Genwill be coming back after sitlt either the entire or part of ason due to injury, lird-seeded Alabama went on iat Mississippi State in the ficlaim the championship, ill, I think we had a pretty good ; all the adversity we had this aid. Tve probably been proudMs year with all the adversimi iii ?i :x: Mmm-\ mmTCT^I! KgfSf /*? i iHp'<jB imural Ji 4s" .II?ii>?.ii?I?I<? * > : Jl? ^ 1