Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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This Week in USC Sports History ■ 1987 - Senior wide receiver Sterling Sharpe was named preseason All-America by three football publications. Sharpe would go on to become Carolina’s most-decorated l receiver, even having his jersey retired. 10lC (Samecock Wednesday, July 18,2001 Bradley shooting for gold medal Staff Reports The Gamecock Jamel Bradley has already proven he’s a leader to the USC basketball team and to hearing impaired children in Columbia. lie’s now getting a chance to show the world. Bradley was selected to the USA Deaf Basketball Team to be a part of the 19th Deaflympics, beginning Thursday in Rome. “I see myself as a positive role model, but I’m not on an island,” Bradley said. “Anyone in my situation can work hard and achieve what I have achieved, and that’s what I try and get across to others with my disability.” Bradley and the rest of the squad will compete with teams from Ukraine, Israel and Greece through July 25 and advance to the championship round from July 27-31 for a shot at a gold medal. “My focus since I’ve been here is preparing my teammates and me for the Deaflympics and winning a gold medal,” Bradley said from his training camp in Washington, D.C. “I know it’s not a gold medal that most people recognize, but it’s a world Olympics like the Paralympics and Special Olympics. I’m just thrilled at having the opportunity to represent the USA.” Bradley came to USC from Beckley, W.Va., and immediately made an impact, playing in every, game his freshman year and then leading the team in scoring the past two years. Bradley’s deadly 3-point shooting has placed him in the Gamecock top three in 3-pointers made and percentage, and has helped him become a reliable shooting guard to complement point guards Aaron Lucas and Chuck Eidson. But it’s Bradley’s skills off the court that have gotten the most attention. After the first game of his USC career, Bradley spoke to a group of hearing-impaired children for more than an hour. During the rest of his Carolina tenure, Bradley has spoken with other students and athletes about the impairment he has lived with since he was 18 months old. “My message in my time at USC and for many years when I talk to hearing-impaired students and groups is to stay positive and reach for the stars,” Bradley said. “I tell them to go out and do something, that everyone has one special talent, and to find that talent and share it with others.” Bradley currently wears a pair of digital hearing aids, which were fitted when he arrived at USC and allowed him to hear sounds the rest of the world takes for granted, such as birds chirping. “I try to enjoy life to the fullest,” Bradley said. For more information on the USA Deaf Basketball Team, visit the team’s Web site at www.usadb.org. □ special 10 i ne ^amecocK Senior shooting guard Jamel Bradley is working on his skills with the USA Deaf Basketball Team at the Deaflympics in Rome. Fix? Give me a break Rick Johnston The Rick Says As Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s car pulled into victory lane ai the Pepsi 400 in Daytona, I’m certain the whispers started right there in the crowd. Likewise, at baseball’s All-Star Game in Seattle when Cal Ripken Jr. lilted a home run to left field to open up scoring in the midsummer classic, I bet someone started griping about it right then and there. What’s all the talk about? A simple three-letter word: fix. Fix? As in Earnhardt’s car needed fixing? Or, how Ripken fixed the mechanics of his swing? Nope. The notion that somewhere, someone wanted these events to happen as they took place, and used whatever means necessary to make them happen. As irt, Dale Earnhardt Sr. was killed at Daytona at the beginning of the NASCAR season, so let’s make sure his kid wins as a tribute to “The Intimidator.” Or, how about this one: Cal Ripken Jr. is one of the greatest baseball players of all time, and because he’s retiring, let’s let him hit a home run in his last All-Star Game. Give me a break. No one in their right mind needed “Little E” to win at Daytona to have a fitting tribute to his Dad. Heck, the race after Earnhardt Sr.’s death featured the victor taking a Johnston see page 9 Special to The Gamecock Senior linebacker Shannon “Bodybag” Wadley sprained his knee in practice this week. Wadley injures knee in practice Football Roundup The Gamecock USC’s linebacker corps took another hit this week when senior Shannon Wadley suffered a left knee sprain during conditioning drills. His condition will be re evaluated over the next week. Wadley is a 6-foot-1, 235 pound linebacker from Swainsboro, Ga. He started nine games in 2000 and was the team’s fifth-leading tackier with 64 total hits. Nicknamed “Bodybag,” Wadley also had 11 tackles for loss and led the squad with four forced fumbles, plus his first career interception against Alabama. Wadley’s backup last season, Jeremiah Garrison, was suspended indefinitely by head football coach Lou Holtz July 6 after being arrested for misdemeanor shoplifting. Garrison was caught trying to steal a $75 FUBU shirt from the Foot Action store at Columbia Mall, according to store manager Mike Prophet. Holtz couldn’t be reached for comment on the possibility of Garrison returning to the team.