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Media has blown Almonte saga way out of proportion RICK JOHNSTON GAMECOCKSPORTS9HOTMAIl.COM The kid captivated the sports world. He gave sports fans every where that warm, fUzzy feeling in side. He made everyone forget a home-run chase by a media-hat ing multi-millionaire. It just felt right to see it happen. Danny Almonte pitched a per fect game in the Little League World Series. Gosh, who wouldn’t want to see that? Such a wonder ful performance in what is ar guably the last holdout of true, pure baseball. Nonce 1 saia arguaDty. Almost as quick as Almonte’s rise to the top of the sports world was his fall. Controversy almost immediately surrounded the play er from “The Bronx Team,” as questions about his age swirled. Then evidence was found that he was, in fact, too old to be in Little League. The Bronx forfeited their wins, including their third-place finish in Williamsport, and, con sequently, Almonte’s feat was wiped from the record books. OK, fine. The problem comes with the sick fascination we seem to have in this whole saga. When the story broke that Almonte was, in fact, an illegal player, it was treated as front-page news, literally. I saw the story on the front page of several newspa pers. Why should this become a na tional saga? People, this is LITTLE LEAGUE! It’s not like there were millions of dollars or endorsement contracts or someone’s job on the line. It was a game. A game with nothing more than bragging rights and pride at stake. True, that’s a dumbed-down synopsis of the Little League World Series, but I think in this case, the situation needs to be dumbed-down in order to gain per spective. It was a World Series for the kids, by the kids. If there is a need to have blame placed somewhere, I say blame everyone involved. First off, there are Almonte’s parents. Come on, how do you NOT know how old your son is, re ally? These folks are still fighting, saying they are correct. Sorry, guys, but if there are legal, bind- • ing documents saying otherwise, then you look pretty stupid. Why fight the battle if you know you’re wrong? What did your son have to gain by playing Little League if he wasn't old enough? Then there is Little League Baseball. If Almonte was so obvi ously older than every other kid, then why wasn’t it acted upon un til Williamsport? Shouldn’t there De more stringent regulations to verify players’ ages? If Little League is so concerned about keeping the game “for the kids," then this controversy shouldn’t have come as far as it has. Then there is the opposing coach who first hinted that Almonte was an illegal player. Hindsight is, of course, 20/20, but what would have happened if he had been proved wrong? Two words: sore loser. He was so irri tated his team lost that he hinted at a preposterous notion and, lo and behold, he was right. While I feel for the guy since his team went so far and didn’t win, come on. The world doesn’t revolve around Little League, whether your kid plays or not. I’m sure his day job was waiting with open . arms to take him back. Then there is the media. Yeah, I know it’s like stabbing your broth er, but I disagree with the exten sive TV coverage of Little League. First off, it was just the title game on ABC. Okay, that I can deal with. Heck, it is an accomplish ment to win the Series. Let the kids have a little added glory by having it on TV. Then, it was all the games of the series on ESPN and ESPN2. This is where America first became entrenched in Almonte-mania as people watched the perfect game of in famy unfold. And this season, I noticed there were “Road to Williamsport” qual ifying games. While it’s enter taining to watch these games, is it really necessary to televise them? Society gripes about how “kids grow up too fast” or how “kids are forced to grow up too fast." Isn’t this an example of how the sports world fosters this early growth? For a few weeks at the end of sum mer. we make these young ladies and gentlemen into the next Randy Johnson or Ken Griffey Jr. If Almonte weren’t made into such a superstar by virtue of his perfect game, then the scandal wouldn’t be a big deal. Why can’t we let these kids be mua: ncciv, 11 a iiui imc wc iuiuw who they are. We cheer for “Bronx, N.Y.” or “Trumbull, Conn.” over “Japan” or ‘Taiwan.” And why don’t we know them? Because it’s Little League, that’s why. The game of baseball for the children. And speaking of the children, I wonder if anyone really cares about Danny Almonte’s feelings? It seems to be vengeful parents and the big corporate Little League versus Almonte’s parents. Why can’t the issue be dropped? I wonder if anyone has thought about how Danny feels when he turns on ESPN or reads the papers and sees himself being taken through the mud, being made an example of by the national media. Whether he’s 12 or 14 or however old, I’m sure that’s not a great thing to have hanging over his head. FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS The University of South Carolina Volleyball team has climbed two spots to number 21 in the AVCA poll after capturing the • Sun Devil Challenge champi onship this weekend. The Gamecocks defeated Hofstra, Santa Clara and host Arizona State. Santa Clara was ranked num ber 22 at the time of the tourna ment. Junior setter Megan Hosp was named tournament Most Valuable Player. Hosp was also named SEC play ter of the week. Game 1 - USC 3, Hofstra 0 USC defeated Hofstra 3-0 in its first volleyball match of the 2001 season at the Arizona State Tournament. USC starts the season at 1-0, while Hofstra falls to 0-1. Game scores, with the new ral ly scoring system were 30-24,30-23 and 30-20. USC plays Santa Clara tomor row morning and then takes the court against “Everyone, with the exception of Nia Mackie (sprained ankle) played today. I thought w would have to adapt a bit physically and mentally to the new format and I was pleased with our effort. We did some nice things offensively and we put a lot of pace on the ball behind the service line,” USC Head Coach Kim Christopher said. “Nadia (Sefferovich), Sam (Alban) and Bema (Dwyer) played very well offensively and Megan set an outstanding game. We have a lot of room for improve ment, but I liked our effort today against a Hofstra team that passed well and had a lot of spirit.” Sefferovich, a native of Tuscon, Ariz., playing in front of more than 20 family and friends, led the Gamecocks with 12 kills, hitting .450 with two aces, 11 digs and two block assists. Dwyer, another USC player from Tucson, also performed well in front of her own fan club, knocking down eight kills, hitting .583 with two aces, five digs and two block assists. “I was excited to play in front of my family,” SefTerovich said. “For many of them. It was the first time they have seen me play in college. We played well today. We were a bit nervous at first, but it was a good match to start the season with.” Hosp hit .625 with five kills, 36 assists and a team-high 15 digs. Four Gamecocks also saw their first collegiate action in the game. Redshirt freshman Niece Curry showed why she was a Fab 50 play er coming out of high school, knocking down seven kills and hitting .385. Redshirt freshman Amy Pratt picked up her first as sist and first kill as the backup set ter. Freshman defensive specialist Bridget White saw her first action in the garnet and black, picking up eight digs and a kill. Freshman Yajaria Cadet had three digs. Game 2 - USC3, Santa Clara 0 Led by Curry, USC defeated Santa Clara, ranked number 22 in the AVCA Volleyball poll, by scores of 30-35,30-21, and 30-25. Curry and reshirt junior Cally Plummer both nothed 14 kills in the match. Curry hit .722 and Plummer hit .324. Curry in game one alone hit .833, converting on five of six kill attempts. Plummer also notched an ace, a block assist and nine digs on the match. “Niece Curry is proving right away that she will be a force for us in the middle,” Christopher said. White also saw some playing time at defensive specialist, chip ping in 10 digs, an ace and two as sists of her own. Hosp tallied 36 assists, nine digs and three kills on the match. GAME 3 • USC 3, Arizona St 2 Starting slow, but finishing fast, the Gamecock volleyball team dumped Arizona State to win the Sun Devile Challenge. USC defeated ASU 3-2 - 20-30, 25-30,30-27,30-20 and 15-11. USC moves to 3-0 on the season, while ASU falls to 1-3. “This match was a true test on the road,” Christopher said. “I was proud of the way Mariana (Branquinho) stepped up when we neededlier to toniht. This was a good gut check for us,” Christopher said. USC was led by Sefferovich who had 19 kills, hitting .227 with 12 digs, one block solo and two block assists. Alban hit .429 with 14 kills and Curry continued to have the hot hand, hitting 11 kills at .333. “The last three games we pulled it out. We took a deep breath and realized we were play ing frustrated. I knew we could win the match after game two - we just need to play hard,” Alban said. “I didn't feel scared after we lost the first two - we came to play. This is a great start for us,” Alban said. USC lost game one 20-30, hitting -.158toASU's.l82. Game two USC kept keeping closer, but could not close as ASU won 30-25, hitting .239 to USC's .250. Game three USC took a 15-12 lead after being tied at 10 and 11. USC went up 28-26 on a kill by SefTerovich and an error by the Devils. USC won game three on a kill by SefTerovich, 30-27. USC started the fourth match strong, jumping out to a 4-1 lead got within 2 of USC's lead. The two teams tied it up seven times before USC went up 9-8 for good on an error by the Devils. hri i rtrr FOR YOUR NOTES Visit LeConte 117 for more info, or call 777-6142 Office of Disability Services - a university sponsored service ■ ■ I Mandatory Renewal & Treasurer's Workshops for all Student Organizations Tuesday, September 4,2001 3:30-5:00 RHUU 322/326 Thursday, September 6, 2001 3:30-5:00 RHUU 322/326 Monday, September 10, 2001 3:30-5:00 ODK/Mortar Board Room Wednesday, September 12,2001 3:30-5:00 RHUU 322/326 Wednesday, September 12,2001 5:00-6:00 RHUU 322/326-Sports Clubs Thursday, September 13, 2001 7:00-8:30 RHUU 322/326 An Executive Officer must attend a workshop and submit a registration form to the Office of OCh.^oot r.^ Organization, 110 RHUU, by Friday, September 21, 2001, r more information contact Ed Bianchl or Angela Dusenbury at 777 >4. 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