The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, March 13, 2006, Image 1
The University of South Carolina Monday, March 13, 2006 Vol. 99, No. 71 • Since 1908
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No Chicken Dance
In one last heartbreaker,
USC loses to Florida
49-47 in SEC title game
Tom Benning
STAFF WRITER
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Renaldo
Balkman couldn’t find one last
magical moment in the SEC
tournament.
Down two points with 11.6
seconds left, Tre’ Kelley launched
a 3-pointer to attempt to win the
game, but the shot fell short into
Balkman’s hands. Balkman, an
All-Tournament selection whose
energy had'ignited the Gamecocks
for most of the tournament, turned
for a last second tip-in, but instead
found the hand of University of
Florida forward Joakim Noah.
“It’s all about being at the right
place at the right time,” Noah
said. “Luck plays a big role in that
because the ball could have gone
in a different direction. It just
went by so fast.”
As the ball flew through the air,
Balkman fell to floor in emotional
despair and the Gators stormed
the court, winning their second
straight SEC tournament, 49
47. The loss marked the end of
an improbable run for USC and
denied the team an opportunity to
enme • is
- John Russell / The Associated Press
USC’s Renaldo Balkman, left, battles with UF’s Joakim Noah, right, during the second half of Florida’s 49-47 victory in the championship
game at the 2006 Southeastern Conference basketball tournament on Sunday at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tenn.
Student dies
in car accident
• during break
Stephen Blayne Brown was beloved son,
fraternity member, 'captivating personality ’
Hlorgan Harris
THE GAMECOCK
Stephen Blayne Brown
Jr., a first-year sports and
entertainment student, died
March 3 in Florence after
a car accident on Interstate
20. Brown, a native of
Raleigh, N.C., was on
^piis way home for spring
break accompanied by his
roommate, Mike Flickinger,
who was unharmed.
His parents said Brown
swerved to avoid a collision
with a car that stopped
suddenly in front of him.
He lost control and the
car flipped. Brown suffered
numerous skull fractures
and massive brain injury.
He was kept on life
support at McLeod
Regional Medical Center in
Florence.
Brown was an active
PPnember of the Alpha
Tau Omfcga fraternity
and the Fellowship of
Christian Athletes. He was
a McKissick and Capstone
scholar. He participated in
Greek Impact and enjoyed
visiting Shandon and
First Baptist Church of
Columbia.
“Blayne was known for
standing up for what he
believed in. He did not
drink, and he loved to
attend Greek Impact with
me,” said Jonathan Miller, a
third-year political science
student, a member of Alpha
Tau Omega and Brown’s big
brother. “Blayne had such a
captivating personality that
he left a lasting impression
on all who met him, the
love of Christ was evident
in his life.”
Brown was a 2005
graduate of Broughton High
School in Raleigh, where
he was an International
Bacculaureate student,
Fellowship of Christian
Athletes leader, participant
in Youth in Government
DERTH • 4
John Spink / AJC Staff
Christina Freitas, from Atlanta, looks through the big
window in Ocean Voyager. The Georgia Aquarium opened
holds 8 million gallons of water and 100,000 animals
representing 500 species with 60 exhibits.
Georgia Aquarium
makes big splash
Careful planning could be crucialfor visits
Jackie Alexander
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
They might not be Nemo
or Dory, but whale sharks
Ralph and Norton enjoy
their own kind of celebrity
at the Georgia Aquarium.
One of the most popular
events to hit Atlanta since
the 1996 summer Olympics,
more than 1 million visitors
have cycled through the
aquarium’s five exhibits,
from tropical coral reefs to
the Georgia coast.
The tricky part is getting
there. The aquarium,
located in the heart of
Atlanta, takes at least 30
minutes from neighboring
suburbs.
Parking is scarce and
expensive. A four-hour stay
in the garage costs $10, but
surface parking is available
by various vendors for as
little as $5 for the day.
Getting the $22.75 tickets
for a weekend visit can be
difficult unless purchased
a month in advance. Each
visitor is given a time to be
at the aquarium and has up
to an hour after that time to
enter. Long lines spanning
hundreds of people can
cause wait times of almost
45 minutes. A weekday trip
will often have lines of at
least 20 people.
Upon going through a
RQURRIUfll • 6
In 10th season, excavation appeals to kids, collegians
IDeg Gaillard
THE GAMECOCK
The archaeological
excavation of the Johannes
Kolb site in Mechanicsville
near Darlington resumed
for its 10th season last
week.
Some students who
worked on the site during
its first year have returned,
and many have taken
vacation time to be at the
site.
“In 17 years of
archaeology I have never
seen a site with so many
^ntact features and such a
high- artifact density,” said
Tariq Ghaffar, a former
student and English
professor at Camden
Military Academy.
“Working at the Kolb
Site has helped me become
a better excavator,” said
Laura Litwer, a third-year
history student at USC.
Melissa Tucker, a
fourth-year anthropology
student, said she enjoys the
experience.
“People ask me why
I would spend spring
break digging holes, but
I really love it out here.
The site is very unique,
and I’ve learned a lot. I
enjoy coming out to the
woods, getting experience
at fieldwork and spending
time with such fun people.
We have a good time out
here, and it’s an important
educational experience for
DI6 • 6
Viewpoints
Tecla Markosky says
college isn’t a necessary
next step for high school
graduates; Alexis Arnone
advises against smothering
your significant other.
The Mix
Computer care
The CSC now offers
sessions in its iCare
program for students
who pren’t savvy around
the keyboard.
Sports
What a run
The Gamecock
Sports staff recounts
SEC Tournament
action and. USC’s k '
run to the final.
Index
Comics & Crossword.... 11
Classifieds.14
Horoscopes.11
Opinion.8
Police Report..2