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Gamecock Sports Rooke from page B1 get the head coaching job now that Michael has come to Capitol Hill. Rumors are circulating that it will be six-year Wizards assistant coach Rod Higgins as the choice for man-at-the helm. If so, he’ll be the Wizards’ fifth head coach since 1996, following such men as Jim Lynam, Bernie Bicker staff, Jim Brovelli and Heard. Higgins’ credentials include anoth er assistant coaching job with the Gold en State Wrriors and an impressive play ing resume in which he posted up at Seattle, San Antonio, New Jersey, Cleve land, Golden State and (here’s the kick er) Chicago, he was good friend and teammate to none other than the Air Master himself. Favoritism at all? Maybe not. But it does make you wonder, doesn’t it? Heard said it best: “Michael has his own guy, and that’s the way it goes.” OK, I know what you’re thinking: This is Michael Jordan we’re talking *out here. The guy who can do no wrong and always, under any circumstance, knows what he’s doing. Well, coming from the same man who so adamantly believed that he could play baseball in the majors, I think I’ll question his validity a little more. And I’m by no means saying that he’s not one of the most sensational athletes to ever enter a sport, so don’t write your reaction letter just yet. But the guy made $33 million a sea son, has never taken a business step in his adult life (besides the occasional, un sucessful buiger joint) until now and all of a sudden he thinks that he can dunk himself into the Wizard payroll and start ! firing head coaches and replacing them with less-experienced ones? Does anyone else but me see any thing wrong with that? Last week, MJ said that when he be came a member of the Wizards’ program he was going to evaluate the team and coaching staff. He then “felt it was nec essary to make a change at this time.” A change? Replacing a head coach at a very well known franchise in the middle of a sea son with a “good friend” is a change? Sorry to break the news to you, Michael, but that’s more like a complete 180. For better or worse, we have yet to find out. But, as for the loyal folks down at the MCI Center in D.C., they’ll just have to sit back in MJ’s footsteps and see what the Miracle Man can do for them next. Just one word to the wise for Coach Higgins; make sure you don’t steal any spotlight from your man Michael because you just might be joining Heard in the Help Waited section. SEC Basketball Standings Men SEC East Conf. Ouerall 6-1 18-2 5-1 15-5 4-2 15-4 4-3 13-4 b2-5 9-10 / 1-6 9-11 SEC UJest Conf. Ouerall 17-3 16-3 11-8 10-8 11-8 1-6 13-7 I.._ ... I Women ConL 5-2 5-1 4- 1 5- 2 4-3 3-4 2-3 2-3 2-3 Ouerall 17-3 20-2 15- 3 16- 2 15-4 11-8 14-6 11-6 12-6 On Saturday at USC’s annual Winter Invitational tournament, competition began with singles match es between Auburn and Lander. Soon after, the matches between USC and Lander began with USC winning three out of five. The Lander Senators couldn’t match their dou bfessuccess from Friday with their singles success Satruday against Auburn. Auburn beat Lander in five of their six singles matches. USC took advantage of the Senators, as well, with the second, third, and fourth-seeded players -v. ■ ' beating Lander’s second, third, and fourth seeds. Marc Pichler came back from losing the first set 6 7 against Hans Nordstrom to winning the match with a final score of 6-7,6-2,6-2. Jeff Betgman and Seth Rose each won in straight sets over Erik Friberg, with a score of 6-4,6-2, and1 Emil Olssen, with a score of 6-2,6-3. Also in singles play, Lander’s Tobias Huning de feated USC’s Olof Akesson 6-3, 7-6, and Damien Claire defeated Rodrigo Pacheco 6-2,6-3. As far as the doubles matches. Lander once again showed its strength allowing USC to only come away with one of the matches. Akesson and Pacheco defeated Claire and Djeric 8-5. The tandem of Bergman and Rose had Lander’s Nordstrom and Olssen on the run but could not per severe for the win. Nordstrom/Oissen won 9-7. Carolina won eight out of their 13 matches, in cluding an exhibition match and five out of seven of its doubles matches. Lander dominated the doubles tournament, winning five out of six of its matches. USC has die upcoming weekend off from match action. They will return with a home match on Feb. 12 against N.C. State. Swimming/Diving Die Auburn vs. South Carolina swim meet sched uled for 5 p.nt. on Jan. 28 was postponed due to the prediction of inclement weather. A rescheduled time for the meet has yet to be determined. Football Wednesday is National Signing Day. The USC football team has 23 of the maximum 25 recruits ready to sign letters-of-intent Head coach Lou Holtz is expected to have one of the Top 25 recruiting classes nationally for the upcoming season, especially if he can manage to get a commitment from standout Orangeburg Wilkinson lineman Alex Barron. Barron took his last scheduled visit this week end and is expected to announce his decision on Wednesday. u 2-4 1-5 0-5 _1 Get it 3 times a week! Gamecock1 11-7 11-8 11-7 Check your mailbox the week of February 4th for information about on-line sign-up March 22-31 and your Winning Wednesdays stickers. Wear a sticker on February 9th and 16th and get caught by one of the USC Police Bicycle patrol and receive a “Real World” long-sleeve T-shirt. University Housing Presents... . I. *■»)<«.■<..< = _ On February 23rd, get caught . wearing your T-shirt and receive an invitation to the USC/LSU ■“ basketball game that night. During half-time at the game, you will have the opportunity to WIN BIG including your first choice of housing, a $200 leather jacket from Russell House Bookstore, a $250 cash card from Sodexho-Marriott, a CD Player from the Carolina Collegiate Credit Union and many more great prizes. Mr.H Wow! Everyone is a 1 | winner when they l choose to live on | j campus!