The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, August 27, 2001, Image 13
WHILE YOU WERE GONE ...
Bradley takes Team USA to gold
BY PRESTON BAINES
THE GAMECOCK
Team USA struck it rich July
31 when it captured the gold
medal in men’s basketball with
an 85-75 win over Slovakia in
Riano, Italy.
But this isn’t just any old
Dream Team. In fact, this team
has a better record than the USA
Olympic team — they’ve never
lost a game. It’s made up of the
country’s best hearing-impaired
hoopsters, who were led by USC
guard Jamel Bradley in the
Deaflympics.
The 6-foot senior out of
Beckley, W.Va., came through in
the championship game with his
best performance yet by scoring
a career-high 33 points. The out
burst by Bradley put a cap on an
outstanding tournament for the
Gamecock, who averaged 20.2
points per game in five contests.
In the final, the “West Virginia
Long Rifle” continued the trend
he’s shown throughout his career
— sharpshooting from long range.
He knocked in four three-point
ers en route to the victory.
The title win retained the
United States’ gold medal for yet
another year. The Americans
have won the gold every year
they’ve competed in the
Deaflympics since first fielding a
basketball team in 1957.
David Hamilton, Kevin Smith
and Keith Westhoelter won their
fifth consecutive Deaflympic gold
medal.
“I have to thank Jamel and
Frank [Jackson] for taking over
the game, and I gotta give credit
to Slovakia,” Hamilton remarked
as he stood holding five fingers on
the medal stand,' one for each
medal he’s won with the team.
While this year’s competition
was the fifth and final for
Hamilton and Smith, it was the
first for Bradley, Jackson and
most of the team.
Jackson, along with Bradley,
got the Americans off to a hot
start, scoring all 17 first-quarter
points. The duo then led Team
USA to a 48-30 lead at intermis
sion.
Team USA coasted along the
rest of the way, leading by 18 en
tering the final period, but the
Slovaks later scored 10 straight
points to cut the margin to three.
Then the veteran Hamilton
came through in the clutch.
Hamilton knocked home a layup
and a three-pointer to put the
game out of reach at 81-73 with
1:42 remaining.
Bradley lost 80 percent of his
hearing as the result of a child
hood illness. He now wears hear
ing aides, which allow him to
hear very well.
“I see myself as a positive role
model, but I’m not on an island,”
Bradley explained. “Anyone in
my situation can work hard and
achieve what I have achieved, and
that’s what I try to get across to
others.”
Bradley added, “My message
in my time at USC and for many
years when I talk to hearing-im
paired students and groups is to
stay positive and reach for the
stars.”
Over the past two seasons,
Bradley is among conference lead
ers in three-point field goads made
and attempted. In addition to be
ing the team leader in scoring last
year with over 10 points per game,
he became the top scoring threat
two seasons ago when he was giv
en the opportunity for ample play
ing time by former USC head
coach Eddie Fogler. Bradley
helped USC compete well in the
Brown a candidate
for Jim Thorpe Award
Gamecock senior All
American Sheldon Brown is
listed on the Jim Thorpe Award
Watch List, given annually to the
best defensive back in college
football by the Oklahoma City
based Jim Thorpe Association.
A screening committee will
narrow the field to 10
semifinalists, to be announced
the first week of November. The
three finalists will be announced
the Monday before
Thanksgiving, and the award
will be announced Dec. 6 at *
ESPN's College Football Award
Show.
Brown, a 2000 first-team
AFCA All-America with the
Gamecocks, was also on the
Sporting News All-SEC first team
squad. Considered one of the top
cornerbacks in the SEC, he had
four interceptions last year.
SPORTSI
BRIEFS I
Edwards makes H
preliminary lists fori
postseason awards H
Thursday it was the Butk^H
Award Watch List, and Fridav^g
was the Lombardi Award \Uat(H|
List for USC linebacker Kaliml^B
Edwards. Eg
In conjunction with the kicH^
off of the 2001 college football seH^
son. the Executive Committee
the 2001 Rotary Lombardi AwaiH
released an updated version of iH
Lombardi Award Watch List oH
Friday, which listed 81 of the tcH
linemen and linebackers in thH
country — including Edwards. H
Edwards, a preseason AlH
America selection by P/ayftoH
magazine, was a consensus firsH
team All-SEC player in 2000 and H
third-team All-American. He waH
the third leading tackier, with
stops, seven QB sacks and 11 taclfl
les for loss. H
The Butkus Award is given tfl
the nation's top collegiate lineH
backer. Edwards made the lisl
along with 68 others. I
of individual success this sum
mer.
Both freshman West Streib and
junior Scott Feaster qualified for
the United States Amateur in
Atlanta, Ga. Streib won the USGA
qualifying tournament.
The team will have to find a re
placement for All-American Kyle
Thompson, who graduated.
The answer could come in
freshman Mark Rominger of
Switzerland, who qualified for a
major championship on the
♦ SEE ROUNDUP, PAGE 14
The Gamecocks also took a hit
from players graduating, losing
starters Tim Whittaker, Tripp
Kelly, Bryon Jeffcoat, Chris
Plummer and Brennan Dees. USC
also lost valuable pitchers Kip
Bouknight and Lee Gronkiewicz.
Head coach Ray Tanner’s an
swer to the loss of players: sign
ing a large amount of pitchers for
this season. The Gamecocks lead
the SEC in pitching the past two
seasons.
Men’s Golf
The USC men’s team had a lot
was able to help the Americans to
victory and recorded the second
fastest time this year in heat one.
Baseball
The USC baseball team lost a
lot of thunder in the batting line
up after last season’s super re
gional appearance.
Center fielder Marcus McBeth
was drafted in the fourth round
and signed before graduation.
Other players drafted and signed
after their junior year are left
handed pitcher Brett Price and
outfielder Michael Floyd.
do, you can look back at your mis
takes,” Lekote said.
Former Gamecocks Marvin
Watts and Brad Snyder also per
formed well at the World
Championships. Snyder record
ed a career-best performance by
making the finals of the shot put.
Women’s Track and Field
The Gamecock’s other suc
cessful track program had its
share of success in Edmonton.
Demetria Washington and
Miki Barber ran for the U.S. in
the 4x400-meter relay. The duo
BY PRESTON BAINES
THE GAMECOCK
Several Gamecocks past and
present competed in August’s
World Championships in
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Current Gamecock Otukile
Lekote competed individually in
the 800-meters. Much to his dis
appointment, he didn’t make the
semifinals of the event. However,
all wasn’t bad for Lekote, as he
helped Botswana set a national
record in the 4x400-meter relay.
“I guess this is pretty good ex
perience because whatever you
USC athletes take part in World Championships
plenty of experience despite los
ing one starter (Antonio Grant)
and David Ross to graduation, as
well as Calvin Clemmons and
Travis Kraft, who transferred to
other schools.
season’s second half and the SEC
Tournament.
Bradley hopes to bring the suc
cess he had With Team USA to the
Gamecocks as the Dave Odom era
begins. The team comes back with
iamel Bradley, left, USC’s starting shooting guard for
most of last season, averaged 20.2 points a game in the
Deaflympics held this summer, special to the gamecock
Student ficketQstribution
Student Tickets will be distributed at the Russell House, room 205 9am - 4pm.
2001 Student Distribution ScheduleBlock Seating Schedule
Boise State Aug. 23,24,27,28,29 r ~ \ Boise State Aug. 23,24,27,28
Bowling Green Sept. 4,5,6,10,11,12 \ I — Bowling Green & Alabama Sept. 4,5,6,10,11
Alabama Sept. 10,11,12,24,25,26 \ i nr., □ n « * .. „ „
\ = 36U B 3 Kentucky & Vanderbilt Sept. 24,25,26, Oct. 1,2
Vanderbilt Oct. 1,2,3,8,9,10 \j <><*.29,30,31, No,5
Florida Oct. 29.30,31, Nov. 5,6,7 \i Jj
Clemson See Below /jdr H
/ jj Students must have your I.D. Card with you to get
„ J p , . _ , . n M // /J into the Stadium with a Student Ticket. The Student
Monday, September 3 - Labor Day - No Classes // //
Monday, Tuesday October 15,16 - Fall Break - No Classes 1/ Section is located in the North Section of the Stadium
Date Coupon Book Sales - Aug. 23, 24, 28, 29, 30 f
Sections 21 ■ 34.
CLEMSON GAME TICKETS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED BY A LOTTERY SYSTEM.
SIGN UP FOR LOTTERY WILL BE ON OCTOBER 29, 30,31, ROOM 205, RUSSELL HOUSE.
WINNERS WILL BE POSTED ON NOVEMBER 2nd AT THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT OFFICE.
TICKETS CAN BE PICKED UP ON NOVEMBER 5, 6, 7, ROOM 205, RUSSELL HOUSE.
THERE WILL BE NO VALIDATIONS FOR THE CLEMSON GAME.
Students are not guaranteed a student ticket to each game, only , Handicapped or disabled students can get assistance by calling
the right to a ticket as long as student tickets are available. 777-6742.