The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, September 05, 2001, Page 11, Image 11
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. Any questions concerning funding should be directed to llydrick
Harden « 777-3857 or Catherine Claytor at 777-3015.
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