The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, April 23, 1999, Page Page 7, Image 7

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Friday, April 23, 1999 'Colorado J? A TOTY?PQ Ax to take b by Dan Wood Knight-Ridder Newspapers DENVER - No'one involved with iU? O.? OU?_U? i-1? J? tuc OOJJL CJ Uov UlUUAJd UA WAC VUlUittUU Avalanche really wanted to play hockey Wednesday night. They didn't In conjunction with the NHL, the teams postponed the first two games of their opening-round Stanley Cup playoff series because of the tragic events a day earlier at Columbine High School in suburban Littleton, Colo. Using a cache of guns and pipe bombs, two male students allegedly murdered 13 people and injured more than 20 others before apparently killing themselves. "Let's face it. Right now, hockey isn't a priority," said Avalanche winger Jeff Odgers, a former San Jose captain. Instead of playing the first two games of their Western Conference quarterfinal series Wednesday and tonight in Denver, the Avalanche and Sharks will face off Saturday night and Monday night at San Jose Arena. The series will shift to McNiehols Arena for Game three Wednesday, with the fourth game to be played there April 30. A fifth game, if necessary, also would take place May 1 in Denver, with a potential sixth game May 3 in fian .Tnan riamn ontrnn if nAPPCCflrv WUil VV?3Vi VUJUUIV OVfV**) ** MVWWW J y hasn't been scheduled yet, with May 4 at McNichols the likely possibility. "In due respect to the situation, this is our way to show the community our respect," Avalanche General Manager Pierre Lacroix said. He made the official announcement after his club's morning skate, with the Sharks on the ice. "It's not going to be easy for anyone in this community or anyone on this hockey club, but we have to move on, and this is how we're going to do it" Lacroix lives in Littleton, about a half mile from Columbine. Several Colorado players live in towns, near the highschooL Odgers is one of at least four Avalanche players, as well as Coach Bob Hartley, whose sons participate in the Littleton Minor Hockey Association. One of Colorado right wing Claude Lemieux's baby sitters attends Columbine. "We all live close to there," Lemieux said. "I'm just about 20 minutes southeast of there. Joe Sakic lives probably five or 10 minutes from the school. Everyone is just terrified. "I went to pick up my car, and fiowiMi mnnOKTor of flin cfnrn ran HXVi UV WV OWi V *VU4 out. His daughter was in the school. 'Denver is a big city, but it's a small town. Everybody knows everybody. Everybody is connected. The more [news footage] they showed on TV, the more faces I recognized, whether it was from kids coming to hockey games or seeing them at the practice rink? just feces." After speaking to Avalanche Chairman Charlie Lyons, Lacroix knew the series couldn't go on as scheduled. "Charlie's reaction was that we're close to this community. We have to act like all these kids are our kids," Lacroix said. Lacroix went out of his Til take 'Kno for $1,000, k SINGLETON continued from page 6 "Bobby Bowden should be indicted for fraud after sending USC this poor excuse for a coach." (Rapid fire buzzing) I think Ladenheim was first. "Who is Brad Scott?" Correct for $1000. "He was a really nice man, Mr. Serv On." But he sucked as a coach, so pick a category. "HI take Monica Says, TJ Suck,' for * $200." It's the Singleton Surprise. You can either double your $2,000 or try for the brand-new BMW Z-3. If you try to double your money, you won't lose anything for an incorrect answer. However, if you choose the car and give an incorrect answer, you will " be subjected to public humiliation by i me. Choose now. "I will definitely double my money." r, (Crowd boos) Here is the clue. "Monica would have been proud of this team for not making the Stanley Cup playoffs in 1999 after winning the Campbell trophy in 1998." "I have no clue." Me neither. Just kidding. The correct question is "Who are the v Washington Capitals?" v- . i tragedy alanche ack seat way to thank the Sharks tor their co operation. "As a father of teen-agers, I've sat here for two days and watched this coverage," San Jose Team President Greg Jamison said. "There's no doubt in my mind this is a good move. Our hearts and prayers go out to the people who have tost thenchildren. We really believe this supersedes anything that is going on right now in the sporting world." Even before learning of the postponement, Odgers discussed the difficulty of trying to concentrate on hockey. "We have a lot of fathers in this room," Odgers said. "Our wives are all mothers. "You send your kid off to school, and it's supposed to be the best years of your life, especially high school Nobody should ever have to go through what those kids went through." Sharks winger Tony Granato, who has four children, arrived Wednesday morning at McNichols thinking there would be no game, but trying to prepare just in case. "When I went to bed [Tuesday night] trying to focus on getting ready for a hockey game, it was pretty tough not to be thinking about the families and what happened," Granato said. "It just exemplifies that we play a game, and that's it. "There are many, many things in life much more important than a game. "It's the Stanley Cup playoffs, and I know it's why we play, but for the respect of life, to think about a game [now] would be ludicrous." Center Mike Ricci felt the impact of the tragedy perhaps as much as anyQo-n L\r>lrqv ivi/vm vnc ixjl tut uau vvav lva^tvwi x uv/ui Until being traded to the Sharks last season, Ricci played for Colorado. He lived in Aurora, about 10 minutes from Littleton. "The game doesn't mean much today," Ricci said. "We have to pay our respect for the families and just hope for the best. "Hopefully, the kids get the help they need, and the families just try to get over this as much as they can. It's hard to believe that many kids had to die." San Jose Coach Darryl Sutter, too, had his mind elsewhere. "It's hard to even talk about it," said Sutter, a father of three. "You can't even begin to feel what those parents are feeling. I guess it just puts everything in perspective. "It tells you the importance of talking to [children] every day about what?s out there. Sharks winger Ron Stern thought back to a personal tragedy of his own. While he was playing junior hockey in Quebec, Stern's father, David, died in a car bombing in 1987 in Montreal. 'You pick up the pieces and go on, font th#?r#? is obviouslv a mournine De riod," Stern said. "No one can tell you as an individual when to stop mourning or when to deal with it. I don't think you ever get over it You just learn to accept it and try to understand something out of the whole situation," he said. "There's no sensible understanding, but you try to make sense of it to help console yourself." w your Role' Ir. Sew On.' Select again, Sara. We have i minute left in the match. "I'll take 'Know Your Role' fo $1,000." "Dwayne Johnson is the real nam' of this professional wrestler, if you smel what he's cooking." (Rapid fire buzzing) Cloninger, tak it. "Who is 'The Rock?" Select a category before I kick you rooty-poo candy butt. ' IT1 take "Monica Says, TJ Suck,' fo $1,000." You've found the second surprise You can tie Sara by doubling your mor ey, or win the game now by going fo the car. Which will it be? "I like to win, Serv." Here is the clue. "Calvin Coolidg was president the last time the city c Washington, D.C., won a World Series It took place in this year." (Buzz) Time. Sorry, Dave, but bt fore I make you parade around Cc lumbia in Clemson gear, the answe was 1924. Your third-place prize is tic! ets to see the Braves play my Mets Jt ly 4 at Shea Stadium. Ed, your second-pplace prize i an all-expenses paid trip to Amster dam. As for you Sara, you get $25,00 and the Z-3. Tune in next time, as I will try t find something to talk about in the worl CAROLINA Men's Tenn I Special to j( ? The Gamecock ^ of the 1999 SEC tr JOURDQN tournament in Gainesville, Fla. ^ II Br 2 Bedro T TNI YE RPffilH Fffli APART 800 Alexz Cayce, S fully furnished^ 2 & 4 bedroom Private bedrooms Individual leases Computer lab Alarm systems Reserved parking Fully equipped kii Washer & dryer Fitness center/ R< Swimming Pool j h in I T r e II e Getting a year' to cram 10 poi crammed enoi r Call Ryder ant ; r-HESSE | Cc ff I m i jK>%= Discount j 1 | One-Way Moves s I Ryt q I Note to Dei 3. Attach to i d SPORTS is victorious The Gamecocks, an eighth seed in their Bi le tourney, were led in singles by 4. 3rome Jourdon, Guillaume Legat, Olof 0 M kesson and Juan Gamboa, who each feated I mtnrprl viptnripc nver +Vip ninfh-cppHLeg? 1 Bulldogs. Jourdon, ranked No. 52 nationally, j ^ ^ ^ pset the 'Dogs Marco Baron, 6-1,6- we wer Baron was ranked No. 30 in the coun- knew wi y- Head C. In doubles, the teams of Akesson- "The egat and Gamboa-Jourdon defeated ward to and I >om/ 2 Bath Furn iRSITY ME NTS ! inder Rd. * C 29033 fig i/ j 4 I I I I tchen I i__ ec room ttp://www.capstoi mm P"fli '\'A 'v V . w?9Hj| s worth of stuff into a car is like try ands into a 5-pound sack. You've igh for a while. Give vourself a breal I truck it - at the right price. upon only applicable to basic rate of ti elude taxes, fuel and optional items. One co :t to truck availability and Ryder Movi [juirements. Coupon expires December 31, upon not valid with any other offer I-800-GOler" is a registered trademark of Ryder Systen iler: 1. Enter discount on rates screen. 2. Er ental agreement and send in with weekly n Page 7 I in SEC Tournament illdog opponents by score of 8- "We are looking forward to playing PA1 i j xt nA i the No. 1 seed, Ole Miss, tomorrow : Akesson, ranked No. 79 de)avid Ruiz, 6-3, 6-3. morning because they are a very talit's and Tomasz Wawrzyniak's , ,, A, ? , , , j ented top 10 team, matches were suspended. he past, we haven't had much With the victory, USC improved he SEC tournament, but today , 1A 1A ? Jr , . , \ A to 16-10 overall and laces Ole Miss at ready to play, even though we e have a tough draw," Carolina 8 a.m. Friday morning. Earlier this seaoach KentDeMars said. 0 ., ^ i ii i i r son, South Carolina fell to Ole Miss .4; players were really looking for: today's match. 2 in Oxford, Miss. New! 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