The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, June 03, 1998, Page 11, Image 11
^ Wednesday, June 3,1998
Lady Gat
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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
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)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]
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mean [ SEC Tourney results \ young
[don't * USCv
inSt0 IK J use 2 if**
No. 4 MSU 0 Ken?*
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ig 1-1 No. 5 USC 0 ting oi
id the the sei
\ No. 4 MSU 3 tv
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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
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Sports
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Page 11
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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
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