The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, April 12, 1999, Page Page 6, Image 6
TRACK AND FIELD ?
In the latest Trackwire poll, 1
USC's men's and women's g
track teams were both ranked a
in the top 10. The men's team p
is ranked No. 8, while the E
women moved up four spots
to No. 7. i
I
|Page 6
Folks' best
and worst
interviews
?- As the
next three
weeks will
mark my
columns
Gamecock (I
UMH know,
yOU're a][
m holding.
William Folks tears);!
Common Folklore guess now
is probably
as good a time as any to embark on a
sort of "Folklore Retrospective," a final
run of columns profiling the past two
years in which I've been privileged to
write for you, the students and faculty
here at USC.
To all of you: It's been a fun ride.
I started with The Gamecock back
in the spring of 1997 at the urging of
former Carolina assistant Jeff Lebo
(whose family used to live across the
street from me in Shandon).
I wrote a few articles here and there
on USC's basketball team that year, as
it raced to a 24-8 record and the school's
first-ever SEC championship.
My first real sports interview was
with USC guard BJ McKie, then a
sophomore, for a story that appeared
in that year's Tipoff Carolina game program.
Boy, was I ever psyched!
Armed with a pen that ended up not
working, a notepad I should have been
using for class and a little hand-held
tape recorder I bought at the Radio
Shack down in Five Points for about
$60,1 sat down and talked with BJ
for about 15 minutes in USC's team
conference room.
Trust me, I learned that day that
pretty much anybody could be a sportswriter.
It doesn't take much beyond, well,
a pen, a notepad, and $60 in venture
capital to get yourself started.
Anybody with half a brain can do
it, something I've probably proven by
now.
Looking back over that first article,
I'm still embarrassed at what a pathetic
writer I was.
Some of you will quite justifiably
insist that I haven't gotten much bet
ter m the intervening years. All the
same, it has been the mission of Common
Folklore over the past 20-odd
months or so to provide (or at least attempt
to) an original perspective on the
increasingly convoluted, exacerbatingly
effusive enigma that is Gamecock
athletics.
Some of you fellow writers out there
probably just noticed that, alongside
that goal, I've also endeavored everearnestly
to explore new and novel niches
of abominably asinine assonance and
altogether abhorrent alliteration.
Er, better make that endeavored
over-earnestly, come to think of it. And
go ahead and change "abominably asinine"
to a pair of words not starting
with the letter "a." (Mom, obviously I
wasn't kidding when I told you I
needed that Ritalin prescription).
Dispensing with the self-deprecating
humor for a moment, though (which
I'm sure only the English department
and a few pharmaceutical-heads actually
got, anyway), one of the questions
I'm often asked by my readers is
this: "Billy, what have been some of
your best and worst interviews?"
Well, since you asked; I'll tell you.
The best was without a doubt Carolina's
sophomore diving sensation,
Michelle Davison.
I did a story on Davison back in
March 1998 (after she broke the SEC
record on the 3-meter board).
I can honestly say that I've yet to
meet another USC athlete who puts as
much time and effort into her dream as
this young woman.
She does more before 8:00 in the
morning than I could do in a month.
This remarkably gifted, intense, and
dedicated young woman started training
at the age of 7, and her lifelong commitment
to the sport continues to pay
dividends for her now as she prepares
for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney,
Australia.
Just two weeks ago, Davison finished
her sophomore season at the
NCAA'Championships in Athens, Ga.,
by placing fourth and fifth in the nation
on the 1- and 3-meter boards, respectively.
Three years ago, she finished 11th
in the entire planet competing at the
FOLKS page 7
SPRING fOOTBALL
'he USC spring football
;ame is only five days
way. Kickoff will be at 1
i.mon Saturday at Williams
Irice Stadium.
Tennesi
by Jared Kelowitz & read
Todd Money offth
Senior Writers ^
The No. 9 Lady Gamecocks opened V1C^C
a four-game series Friday afternoon Lad]
with the unranked Lady Vols of Ten- ^ay1
nesee. UI"da
By Saturday's end, the Lady Vols ^
had shocked USC and everyone pre- ness
sent at Beckham Field, snatching three t? 1 ^
of four from the Carolina softballers.
Two doubleheaders were played, Mcft
one Friday, the second Saturday. krea
In Friday's first game, the Lady I
Gamecocks relied on a mostly infalli- was
ble start by Megan Matthews to Juml
overcome their offensive woes. l00^1
The freshman allowed, went the dis- ^
tance, just five hits, one run and two scon
walks while striking out 11. son '
The performance helped give USC knoc
a 2-1 victory. field
Carolina's only offensive output
came in the first inning. Joyce McMillin
led off with a single and was sent to more
second on a sacrifice by Kendra Mc- usua
Cutcheon. A wild pitch allowed tlieE
McMillin to advance to third. En
After the wild pitch, Lady Vol hurler
Jackie Beavers couldn't seem to find en^'
the plate, walking Kim Pietro. wer?
With runners on first and third, throi
coach Joyce Compton then resorted to ^
her bag of tricks to secure the first run *n ^
of the game. Ladj
Compton called for a double mnu
steal, and it was perfectly executed, ^
allowing McMillin to score, giving USC ness
a 1-0 lead. the 1
The deciding run of the game for
USU came in the third inning alter 11C1U
McMillin again reached third, this time 1
after an error by Tennessee shortstop h??>
Lisa Warren. a^er
McMillin scored the team's and her kefoi
own second run of the game when she
Football te
by Pete lacobelli
Associated Press
Lou Holtz's trash talk came full circle Sunday
with his South Carolina Gamecocks cleaning
up the area around the Williams-Brice
Stadium and the State Fairgrounds.
The team turned out in full force, ready
to pounce on litter and continue a campaign
their new boss got going with a few innocent
January comments about trash on his new
state's highways.
Since then, South Carolina has gotten a
litter czar in state Sen. David Thomas, ItGreenville,
a Litter Task Force and more trash
talk than the Gamecocks probably heard during
their 1-10 season that brought in Holtz.
"Very seldom does anybody listen to what
I have to say," Holtz said Sunday in his orange
vest. "I was very surprised. But also, it
was just a tremendous need."
Holtz was troubled on one of his first trips
along Interstate 26 with all the litter on the
roadway.
"You don't see as much pride as I thought
I would [in South Carolina]," he said Jan. 5.
Sen. Thomas helped form the Litter Task
Force and got a commitment from Holtz to
film public service announcements.
Bomberball
by Todd Money ^
Sports Copy Editor things
There might be a lot of talk in Co- urday
lumbia about plans for a new minor- Just al
league baseball stadium, but on open- mn- T
ing weekend for the Capitol City balkei
Bombers, South Assembly Street the fir
showed its normal summer side again. In
The home team didn't disappoint tured
the fans, sweeping the Asheville notche
Tourists in a two-game series. Uribe,
A strong pitching performance by to 3-2.
Jason Saenz helped the Bombers to a Th
5-3 win Saturday, and Brian Jenkins' bined 1
grand slam in the 10th inning Sunday four bj
clinched a 9-5 victory. Bombe
McKie wins con
"Tb
Community Watch pleasec
Special to The Gamecock their C
Kentucky soccer player Carrie Krame:
Kuhnell and USC basketball player hours o
Ud Mcme nave Deen namea recipi- nave m
ents of the 1998-99 Southeastern Con- ter plao
ference Community Service Post-Grad- see the
uate Scholarship, commissioner Roy and wil
Kramer announced Thursday. Mcl
The two were chosen by a com- munit
mittee of faculty athletics represen- hometo
tatives from the 12 SEC universities, hi high
Each will receive a $5,000 post- in HOP
graduate scholarship provided by the hood in
SEC. ipated i
munit]
July 19
Spoi
The Gamecock
see surp
lied home thanks to a sacrifice fly
le bat of senior center fielder Pietro.
'hat game would be USC's only
try all weekend, as it lost to the
i Vols 5-4 in the second game Friand
was beaten 8-0 and 4-1 Saty
!arah Ayres got the win for Tenee
in Game 2 Friday, moving her
L-7 on the year.
Picking up the loss for USC was
lillin, dropping her to 7-2 and
king her seven-game win streak,
n Saturday's matinee game, USC
blown off the field early. Tennessee
Ded off to a quick start and never
sd back.
n the second inning, the Lady Vols
id three runs on an Adrianna Wilijlast.
The powerful right-hander
:ked a 3-2 pitch over the centerwall,
allowing Kenyail Norris and
i Fitzgerald to score.
rennesee went on to tack on five
! runs and shut out the Gamecocks'
illy high-powered offense, putting
nercy rule (an 8-run-or-more lead)
feet after five innings of play.
lame 2 started out much differy,
as only four hits and no runs
; managed between both teams
ugh the first 41-2 innings of play. , Megan
latthews started for the third time
le series for USC, blanking the x
' Vols on two hits over the first five could mu
-,gS Cutcheon
lyres was just as effective for Ten- stranding
ee, however, until the bottom of t(
Tfth, when USC's Kim Schultze en<^ ^
ed a hard liner down the left- nesseesV
line up, Mattl
lie base hit scored Megan Dona- *!?nn-v,
who was just returning to action
breaking her left hand six weeks When
.e ter, the b
Carrie Sv
am cleans i
"It was just amazing the amount of phone
calls we got about our Adopt-a-Highway program
after coach Holtz talked about it," said
Mary Pat Baldauf, executive director of Keep
America Beautiful of the Midlands.
Anyone traveling Bluff Road or George
Rogers Boulevard would have seen scores of
Gamecocks, each holding orange trash bags
and in vests similar to Holtz's.
"You never know what to expect with coach
Holtz," joked assistant coach Jon Fabris, who
got yelled at by players when a trash bag in
his belt broke and skipped across the road.
"Who's making more trash?" safety Arturo
Freeman yelled.
Freeman, who missed last season with a
knee injury, got his teammates fired up when
he jumped on a piece of paper?the first piece
of trash ? and held it up like he would a recovered
fumble.
Freeman didn't know how to react when
he first heard Holtz's litter speak ? or that
the Gamecocks would be out on a sunny Simday
to back up their coach's views.
"We laughed about it, we said there was
no problem," Freeman said.
"It's very important that we do this, make
the state more attractive."
begins agai
e Bombers' Chase Mulvehill got ing a single n
rolling in the first inning Sat- eighth inning
with a two-out, two-run double, In Sunday
Eter Asheville had walked in a again started
hat after Capital City's Saenz runs in the se
i in a score in the top half of Aaron Cook,,
st. third on a Rol
the third, the visitors manufac- deep left,
a run when Matt Holliday The 4-0 1<
d a sacrifice fly to to score Juan wasn't enough
, trimming the Bombers' lead ina knocked
Bombers' Yor
ree Capital City relievers com- and the Tour
to hold Asheville to one run on each of the nt
ts in the last four innings. The Capital Ci
rs also got some insurance, scor- on an Earl Si
lmunity service
e Southeastern Conference is Press Conferer
I to honor Carrie and BJ for at an October
ommunity service work," B Press Confe
r said. "Through their many Erase Hepatitis
f volunteerism, Carrie and BJ sage, among otl
ade their communities a bet- organization,
e to live. Hopefully, others will McKie has
contributions they have made guest speaker a
1 follow their lead." die schools and
tie has been involved in com- the area,
y service activites in his Healsowoi
wn of Columbia since he was ed Way Kick-C
school. McKie has been active ed and deliverec
'E for Kids, a non profit child- er Gospel Missk
lmunization program, partic- in a DSS Foste
in every HOPE for Kids com- and volunteere
y rally since 1994 and the School "Rock-a
95 Governor's Immunization
SCHEDULE
Baseball vs. C
Wednesday, Sa
Softball vs. Illi
A 1 p.m. Tuesday
ts ~
rises US
v.
jJb9F
.. Iv
mbbwsbmb! ?p|^? j
B |p^:"
, . - ^
Matthews prepares to serve up a strike to tl
vas all the Lady Gamecocks Swinford, the 1
ster, however, as both Mc- er, took a Matthev
and Pietro failed at the plate, plating three run
\ Schultze at second. scored Swinford oi
Dp of the sixth spelled the the damage had t
arolina. After getting Ten- The Lady Ga
barren out on an infield pop- no more, going wii
lews gave up a liner to left the sixth and sev(
Steele and then hit Amah- Afterward, the
le with a pitch. mostly about a
Norris lofted a liner to cen- team's offense.
acoc ixroro lnorJoH fnr TTT'c "T fVnnlr ujo'vp
UOVU TT VI V XVUUVU lUi V JL KJ VXHHXX " ^ T v
/inford. bats going," Donal
up Columbi
Courtney Worsham of Team Gamecock,
the team's charity project arm, said the response
to the team cleanup has been great.
Fans have asked how they can help, she
said. "It's a great thing for the team to take
on because they're role models and they can
take their coach's idea and really run with it,"
Worsham said.
The team pulled together last August
for a charity car wash to support former teammate
Randy Wheeler, paralyzed in a car accident
outside Miami on his way to Dolphins'
training camp.
Holtz had a few raised eyebrows when the
project first came up. "I told them they
could either practice or pick up trash," he said.
"They got very excited about picking up
trash."
Baldauf thinks with Holtz's continued support,
South Carolina could soon become one
of the Southeast's cleanest states.
"He's achieved godlike status here already,"
she said.'
"PeoDle have been working in the trench
es for many, many years, but it took Lou Holtz
to come out and say something to bring attention."
n with swee
in in each of the fifth and to make it 5-2, but ?
;s. rors led to two unea
/s Game 2, the Bombers sixth, Asheville got
out fast, grabbing three the seventh, tying th
cond off Tourists starter Relief pitching fo
and then another in the down the game's scori
jert Stratton solo shot to when Capital City st
half with a walk by
jad after three innings Ramos and Bobby Hill
i, though. Asheville's Col- out, but Chavez read
a leadoff homer off the Brian Cole follow*
1 German in the fourth, hopper that Asheville
ists then scored runs in couldn't handle, lee
!xt three innings. loaded for Jenkins,
ty's Jenkins came home "It was a change-i
lyder single in the fifth afterward of his gan
award [HSfRTi
ice, was spokesperson
I basketball camps in H
r Care Mentor Lunch ?
d^aUhelr Middle RQB|NS0N
I FROM THE SIDELINES
Ipmsnn 7 n m I "The wav a team filavs as a
ige Fiye Field. whole determines its success.
You may have the greatest
inois-Chicago, bunch of individual stars in
t, Beckham the world, but if they don't
play together, the club won't be
worth a dime."
? Babe Ruth
Monday, April 12, 1999
C softball
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Sean Rayford Photo Editor
ie Lady Vols in Saturday's loss to Tennessee.
ream's senior catch- to get them in bunches, actually. We've
vs pitch to deep left, got to put them together and just
s. Fitzgerald later try to score runs early."
a a sacrifice fly, but Compton was more succinct.
>een done. "We're not going to win a whole
mecocks could do lot of ball games when we score one
thout a whimper in run, and that's the bottom line," Compjnth
innings. ton said.
USC players talked The Gamecocks go to Arkansas for
i drop-offin the another conference doubleheader on
Friday. Game time is set for 5 p.m.
just got to get the
100 said. "We've got
ia-area roads
mnnffifniiT" ' * ' i'i'1 5^|
BP^,S$iS
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. :?kl lHi
Sean Rayford Photo Editor
Lou Holtz and the USC football team took time off
from practice to clean up trash.
ip of Asheville
ifter Bomber er- "They [Asheville pitchers] had
rned runs in the struck me out on change-ups twice,
another score in an(j j was pretty much looking for a
e,ga"10:, , , change-up, and I got it," Jenkins said,
r both sides shut ? - . , ,
ng until the 10th, That was a great way to finish that
arted the bottom e1"." Bombers manager Dave Engle
Corey Erickson. said. "They battled us real tough,
then each struck "A lot of guys had a chance to win
bed with a walk, the game there and Brian [Jenkins]
id with an infield came through."
iving thePba"es With 4,1086 tw0 win8'4,16 Bombers
improve to 3-0 on the season and help,"
Jenkins said gin a four-game home set with Del Marle-ending
blast, va at 7:05 Monday night.
Alana Robinson
Wj^M Robinson, a freshman, won
the women's discus at the
South Carolina Collegiate
Track Championship on Saturday
with a toss of 165'IXT.
Robinson has now provissionally
qualified for the
NCAA Championship.