The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, January 29, 1999, Page Page 8, Image 8
MCKIE'S MARCH TRACK A
Senior BJ McKie remains only Behind the
15 points behind Alex English pound weip
as Carolina's all-time scoring seniors Ryai
leader. Bert Sorin,
track and fi
Stay tuned for McKie's march up to No. 2
into the record books. Trackwire p
|Page 8
Singleton:
'Stupid Bpwl'
x. n -r> 1
not super Dowi
i ? "Once again, it is time
?for another diatribe
from the man whose
numbers always add up
to a perfect 10, the 3-16."
Thank you once
again, announcer boy.
After another week of
running from the feds
and taking myself out of
Shawn Singleton a wedding because of
Singleton 3:16 shifted loyalties, our
hero is back tp write this
wonderful piece of
garbage for your reading pleasure.
However, the liquor store would like to give
one shout-out.
Thank you, Maurice Stansfield, for giving me
the opportunity to let my voice and opinions be
heard on your "Sports Explosion," and I sincerely
hope to be on the show again in the future. You
said we were "kindred spirits," and I must agree.
You are on the air what I am in my columns.
Thank you and God for giving both of us the ability
and nerve to speak the truth without fear, for
it's something that's sorely needed and missed
here in the South, which is the land of sugarcoated-candy
b.s.
When I was a senior in high school, I witnessed
the execution known as Super Bowl XXVII, a
game that I skipped the second half of to lose my
virginity, thereby missing Leon Lett's boner at the
end of the erame.
During my lifetime, the Super Bowl might as
well have been called the "Stupid Bowl" because
of the countless number of games that have been
over by the final gun of the first half.
The Vince Lombardi Trophy is on the line Simday
as the Denver Broncos defend their title
against the upstart Atlanta Falcons in what looks
to be a Super Bowl that might actually be worth
watching
The Falcons, under former USC standout Dan
Reeves, arrive at this point two years after going
3-13 under that coaching legend June Jones.
With the passing of quarterback Chris Chandler,
the running of Jamal Anderson and a defense
more hard-core than a porn flick, the Dirty
Birds defeated San Francisco and Minnesota for
the NFC's Halas Trophy, leaving the broken bodies
of Garrison Hearst and half the Viking defense
in their wake.
The Broncos, however, reached this summit for
the second straight year primarily behind the
rushing of Terrell Davis, who gained more than
2,000 yards.
Nevertheless, this is Denver, and Mike Shanahan's
offense isn't the same without John Elway,
who might be playing in his final game.
Led by what's probably the most underrated
defense in the NFL, the Broncos crushed Miami
and took the Hunt Trophy by forcing the New
York Jets into six turnovers in the AFC title
game. ,
There's another story line to Super Bowl XXXIII.
Reeves still feels that Shanahan and John El- (
way are responsible for his 1992 firing as Den- ,
ver's coach even though he says he holds no i
grudges. Come on, Danny Boy, grudges are good
for the game. It gives a person, or in this case, a ,
team, something to fight for.
For the Falcons to win this game, it's very sim
pie: CONTAIN TERRELL DAVIS. (
Force Elway to beat you. Of course, this puts a
great deal of pressure on the Atlanta secondary, ^
especially rookie corner Michael Booker, who will '
most likely cover Rod Smith. i
Pro Bowler Ray Buchanan will cover Broncos
Pro Bowler Ed McCaffrey. Buchanan did an ad- t
mirable job on Minnesota's Randy Moss in the (
NFC Championship.
Falcons' Pro Bowler and team captain Eugene
Robinson will also try to "hit 'em in the mouth"
and play a key role in his third straight Super
Bowl.
On offense for Atlanta, the line must open holes
for Anderson and protect Chandler so he can get
the deep ball to Tony Martin and Terrence Mathis.
The tight end play for both teams could be the
X-factor in this game. Perennial Prn Bowler Shannon
Sharpe is another deep threat for Elway and
will be a nightmare for Falcon linebackers.
tie s part 01 a tnree-neaaea monster at tnat
position for Denver that also includes Byron
Chamberlain and Dwayne Carswell. On the other
side, Falcon tight ends O.J. Santiago and Brian
Kozlowski will be major targets for Chandler.
Kozlowski filled in at fullback for an injured
Bob Christian and played admirably.
For all the people who believe the Dirty Birds
don't stand a chance against those bucking Broncos,
Chandler is 3-for-5 lifetime against Elway in
his 11-year career, which made stops in five other
cities before coming to the city that formerly went
by such names as Terminus and Marthasville.
If you want my pick for this Super Bowl,
don't expect to get one, for I don't do picks at the
liquor store.
Instead, I want to give one more shout-out to
two people who have suffered their entire lifetimes
for this one chance at glory.
I call them the two Daves. One is a senior here
at USC, the other a bouncer at Group Therapy. ?
Both of them are the quintessence of what a true
fan should be. J
If only Rankin Smith could have been this '
smart. 3
lND field
one-two 35;ht
punch of <
n Harrison and
(JSC's men's
eld team moved
in the national i
Carolina
by Brock Vergakis
Assistant Sports Editor
Carolina won an SEC basketball game for the
time all season Wednesday night, doing so in dra
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pended player in the final minute.
USC had to battle their way back from as many
points at different times, and seemingly every time it got
to taking the lead, Ole Miss would go up by 10 again. L
the determination and youthful spirit of freshman sens
Aaron Lucas, however, the Gamecocks would not relc
their pursuit of the victory. Lucas had a career high in p
even outscoring teammate BJ McKie with 21 points.
"With [Ole Miss! defense, Aaron is the only other gi
have that can beat them off the dribble and create sometl
head coach Eddie Fogler said. Lucas might have had hi
play of the night on the defensive end.
After Williams hit his free throws with 13.9 sec
left, the Rebels wanted to hold the ball for one last shot
were playing good pressure defense and wanted to f(
bad shot," McKie said. A bad shot was indeed forced,
loose ball followed.
Lucas, who had been scrambling for loose bal
night, found his way to this one, too. With three seconc
and only a one-point lead, Lucas ran toward the sideline
dove, knocking the ball downcourt as time expired an
suring the victory.
The last seconds were part of an accumulation of e
that had all of the fans on their feet, led by the cheers of 1
man Jamel Bradley on the sidelines, who didn't play i
game. In fact, only seven players played more tha
minutes for the Gamecocks the entire game.
With less than three minutes remaining, McKie tie
game up on a running jump shot, bringing a loud ovati
the crowd. "We've got some of the best fans in the cou
They smelled victory and were behind us 100 perceni
said.
Like so many times before for USC this season, it se
as if it just wasn't meant to be, though. After a ste
Williams with 1:39 left, McKie was charged with a fou
questionable call. Fogler was so vehement in his proh
the call, he earned a technical foul.
"I was a little upset at him at first," McKie said. Wil]
said, "It kind of lit a fire. We said, 'The ref isn't goii
take the game away from us.' It was my first time seeing
do something like that. He iumned nrettv high " Thp
nical gave Ole Miss a one-point lead on a free throw and
session of the ball.
A steal by McKie with 1:03 to go gave Carolina a se
chance, however. After a series of timeouts, there wi
question McKie was going to be the go-to man for the
shot. "I told him before," Williams said. 'Everybody is {
to collapse on you. So if they do that and you don't hi
shot, just lob it up, and I'll go catch it.'"
As McKie drove down the court with 20 seconds ren
ing, he had three players on top of him and tripped. 0
the corner of his eye, he found Williams and completed a
to the forward. "He lost his footing, and I saw him fall
ran over there and yelled his name, and he found me," Will
said. Williams went up for a shot but was fouled hard,
ing him two shots at the free-throw line.
A 45 percent free-throw shooter had the game in his hi
"I have confidence in my team. No matter who steppe
to the line, I knew they were going to make it," McKie
Williams made both shots after going 2-for-5 on free th
earlier in the night. Fogler acknowledged that if not fo
tenuating circumstances, Williams might not even have pi
Wednesday night.
"I'm not sure LeRon would have gotten much time if
[Johnson] would have played tonight," Fogler said.
Johnson was serving a one-game suspension for viok
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"I was just fortunate to be playing," Williams said,
fore the game, the guys told me to let the game come t<
and not try and force things. Tonight, I just wanted to <
in and contribute."
Carolina looks to build upon the victory Saturday v
;hey take on the Commodores of Vanderbilt. "It's good to
)ne, now it's time to go onto the next one," Fogler said.
^?39s!B
Sean Rayford Photo
Jenior LeRon Williams celebrates USC's win over
l/liss Wednesday. Williams made two free throws
L3.9 seconds left to give Carolina the victory.
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tve a Senior LeRon Williams gets fouled as he makes a move
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, giv- by Michael Strickland end. That play br<
Senior Writer three and also brou
mds. iseum to its feet,
d up With senior BJ McKie the center of Even a less-tha
sa-^ attention this season for the Gamecocks, die Fogler noted a
rows freshman Aaron Lucas has had plenty a huge play."
r ex of room to grow, and never was that Said McKie of
a , growth more evident than Wednesday "Aaron did a grea'
y night against Ole Miss. shots, he penetrg
On a night when USC (6-13, 1-6) played a great allbroke
into the SEC win column for the Lucas provide
first time this season, Lucas was the hig influence the (
ltl0n main reason why. The 5-foot-ll fresh- searching for.
man from Columbia ignited both his He shot 50 perc
"Be- team and the crowd of 7,575 with his of-16), while the r
o nie manic pace of play. only 35 percent.
:ome Lucas pushed the ball up the court He also nailed
continuously, running circles around P?mt range (4-of-6
/hen Rebel guard and defensive specialist Ja- ^ hit from beyond
win son Flanigan. In addition to
Lucas also showed McKie-like Pluy> Lucas was r(
I composure, though, committing just one Much of the night, ]
turnover in 35 minutes of action. tween Flanigan, i
Wednesday was a night of career
highs for Lucas, highlighted by his gameKncf
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Lucas also set personal bests in field
goals attempted (16), turnovers (1), steals
(4) and minutes played (35). Lucas was M
all over the court both offensively and
defensively against the Rebels.
He used his speed to claim four steals
and three uncontested layups.
But the most significant part of
Lucas' performance was the poise he
played with.
Ole Miss is one of the SEC's top defensive
clubs, ranked second in the league
in turnover margin.
Overall, the Rebels had forced 398
turnovers entering the Carolina game, Q
compared with 265 turnovers forced by
Lucas handled the ball with care,
though, even while running the point
much of the game. I.- ? - - . m C' ? |
I His one turnover in the game, com- i
ing on a fast break in the second half, 8
left him well below his season average
of 2.7 per game. Lucas showed tremen- ^Hj
dous touch on passes, particularly on
his lob to LeRon Williams off an out
of-bounds play with 7:50 to go in the
game.
KdiIor Another key play by Lucas came with
just 5:40 left, immediately following an
, ? Ole Miss timeout. Freshman Aaron L
with
This time, he intercepted a rushed basket. Lucas sci
in-bounds pass and scored at the other over tbe Rebels.
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toward the basket. Williams ma
JSC to t
Dught USC to within points, and
Lght the Carolina Col- five.
In the
n-talkative coach Ed- USC's Wil
fterward, "That was ning free
Rebel Keit
his backcourt mate, bouncing
t job. He didn't force could have
ited and kicked, he at the goal
around game." hustle of L
d the steady shoot- Lucas1
Gamecocks had been shrugging
knock the
:ent from the floor (8- preserve tl
est of the team shot For the
play Wedn
. 60 percent from 3- of things t<
), the only Gamecock "He's v
the arc. incredible,
his stellar offensive With ft
>ck-solid on defense, focal point (
he split his duties be- Lucas shoi
ivho scored only six to shine ou
HHP*
ucas blows past an Ole Miss d<
ored a career-high 21 points ir
: SAYS...
ys the term "the whole 9
:ame from WWII fighter
When arming their airon
the ground, the .50-calicjjine
gun ammo belts
ed exactly 27 feet. If the
red all their ammo at a
t got "the whole 9 yards."
lay, January 29, 1999
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Sean Rayford Photo F.ditor
ide both of the free throws
/ictory
Michael White, who had just
game's final seconds, after
liams nailed the game-winthrows,
the loose ball from
h Carter's errant heave was
around on the court. What
been another Ole Miss shot
I was prevented by the pure
iucas.
dove into a pile of big men,
off the kicks to his head to
ball out of harm's way and
le victory.
} Gamecock faithful, Lucas'
esday is hopefully just a sign
) come.
ery good and his attitude is
" Fogler said.
IcKie remaining the public's
liiririflr liio r>Qroor_rv\mfci nV?or./\
1UJ. XIAO VAU JlAJHICO UlidvJC,
ild have even more chances
tside the spotlight.
^i ^1^I
Sean Rayford I'hoto Editor
efender on his way to the
i the Gamecocks' victory