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Sports~ Worthen wants national championship in '99 by Gina Caruso Staff Writer Sophombre soccer forward Joey Worthen is looking forward to another successful year at Carolina. Before he could prepare for the 1999 season, though, Worthen decided to play for someone else for a while. Last spring, Wirthen trained and com peted with the U.S. LI-20 squad, a team known for representing the best soccer players in America under 20 years old. With that experience, he got to play with some of the top players in the country and also work with an outstanding coach ing staff. Worthen says the competition was valuable, not only on the field, but also off. “I think that I can read the game a lot better,” Worthen said. “I’ve also acquired many new skills and learned how to play with other peo B' pie. The experience was good for me.” Away from the game, Worthen, like many athletes, feels the pressures of man aging athletics with academics. Traveling with the team actually helped that aspect, he said. “Being out of school last spring helped me leam to manage my time,” he said. We [athletes] get other assistance like tu tors and study halls which are very ben eficial to me.” Through numerous international matches and an eventual trip to the World Championships, Worthen gained tremen dous experience with the national team, which should certainly pay off this sea son for the Gamecocks. Regarding his career at USC, Wbrthen’s statistics speak for themselves. As a freshman, the 6-footer from Salt Lake City, Utah, was third on the team in scoring with 18 points in 1998, putting him third on the team in that category. He also played in all 21 of Carolina’s matches, starting 19 times. After the season, he picked up an award for Co-Independent Rookie of the Year. For now, though, he’s looking ahead. Wforthen plans to push his limits this sea son in hopes of improving his statistics. That doesn’t mean as much as helping the Gamecocks achieve an NCAA tour nament berth, though. “I’ll do everything I can to help us,” Worthen said. “The national championship is what we all want more than anything else.” Even if he doesn’t get that, though, Worthen wants to continue playing soc cer elsewhere. Maybe he’ll even take his lucky wristband and Metallica music with him.“I definitely want to remain play ing for a long time,” he said. “Hopefully I’ll go pro, either here or overseas.” Besides facing arch-rival Clemsoi this season, the Gamecocks certainly hav their work cut out for them. Five of USC’ opponents are ranked among the top 2: in the country. Then again, Carolina finds 1 itself in the No. 10 slot. Worthen is not ! only optimistic about that position, he’s ’ excited. “I like the added pressure that i the tough teams bring,” he said “Wfe know they’ll have their best game ready, and that forces us to play at our highest po tential. “Wfe come into the game not only re specting our opponent, but having con fidence that we can play with them,” he said. _— - - . : :_VJ Sean Rayford photo editor Joey Worthen, a sophomore forward and 1998’s Co-Independent Rookie of the Year, tries to sneak a rare goal past goalie Henry Ring in practice Tuesday. USC opens its season against The Citadel tonight at 6. Are you working in a fun, fast-paced Atmosphere? Earning a good salary? Happy with your career progression? Managing with an industry leader? Is your bonus potential based on how well you perform? Do you feel you have the opportunity to really shine and show your talents? L If not, you need to talk with us at Applebee's. 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I don’t feel the least bit sony for these kinds of people, those who think mon ey is.the only reason to compete in professional sports. If I had my way, which, as anybody with any sense knows is absolutely, positively the only way any thing should be done, these umps would be tarred and feathered while wearing their wives’ best dresses and then forced to go around apologizing to every fan in the country. To clear up any confusion, it’s not all umpires who will get the boot. Hats off to those souls who had the indepen dence to shrug off their so-called friends, not strike, and stay in the game. You men are a tribute to the sport you promote. _ Keep up the good work. (I say that be cause maybe, just maybe, an umpire will read this someday and start cutting Tom Glavine a break on the outside comer of the strike zone.) Fans, look on the bright side. Base ball will be without the umpires who hold grudges against particular teams. And don’t tell me umpires are unbiased, be cause it’s a flat-out lie. Who can foiget the infamous Braves Marlins 1997 NLCS? The winner goes to the World Series, the loser goes home. In a pivotal game, umpire Eric Gregg is behind the plate, and there’s a pitching duel in front of him. The Braves have their ace, Greg Maddux, labeled by some as the best pitcher in the game, against Florida’s Livan Hernandez, a fresh-faced rookie from Cuba. Given these circumstances, Gregg proceeds to let Hernandez throw pitch es that Florida catcher Charles Johnson can just barely get a glove on because they are three miles outside, but are called strikes anyway. Maddux works the plate with his usual pinpoint control but, strangely, doesn’t get the same calls. Hernandez ends up with something like 13 strikeouts and a win, the last com ing on a “strike” to Fred McGriff that, honest-to-God, almost hits Gregg on the foot. So much for bad luggage. Anyway, baseball has prepared for the'mass firing by hiring some replace ment umpires who have already been proven ready by the MLB higher-ups. The fired umps will have a hard time drawing unemployment after baseball is done painting its picture. I guess some people still don’t realize that sports are supposed to be about entertainment. No one’s showing up to see a little man in a blue shirt make calls; people come to see their heroes and idols do what they do best - play ball. With all of that in mind, why would an umpire ever think people would care if he went on strike? The need for more money must have outweighed the risk; the umps are gone, but baseball is still here. Tell me, is more money really that important now? -:—:- I AN HISTORIC RESIDENCE Efficiency $420 One Bedroom $480 Two Bedroom $515 Rents include all utilities and cable TV. 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