Show The final chapter f Mat Mat Mat-Baer Baer Sports Editor ITS IT'S tough for me to accept the fact that this is my final column as sports editor for the I Horizon Ive I've spent thousands of hours hours' attending games and sitting in front of a computer computer computer com com- puter monitor with the opportunity to express my views on the world of sports Im I'm truly going to miss it My only regret is that I didn't make more of the two years year's worth of opportunities which were handed to me from out of the blue But as I sit here feeling philosophical and somewhat depressed I have to smile as I reflect on what Ive I've witnessed in sports throughout my tenure and specifically what has developed on this campus within the past two years I have addressed everything from the birth of a new athletic department at to the Cinderella performances of the m mens men's ns n's basketball team at both the 1990 third place and 1991 second place conference tournaments Ive I've gained a new respect for women's sports by following the Bruin women Soni Adams and Jean the season before last led the Bruins to consecutive successful seasons But a conference tradition of only allowing the top four teams to participate in inthe inthe inthe the championship tournament snubbed the seeded fifth-seeded Bruins two straight years Id I'd like to see that format changed to allow the top eight teams as they do in the themen's themen's themen's mens men's tournament to compete for the title Id I'd hope to see twice-snubbed twice athletic department lead the charge to change things because if there is an athletic director in the conference who can influence that de decision sion it would be Norma Carr Ive I've from Craig Formans Forman's efforts as he has put together one of the finest intramural programs in the state I have learned what a priceless asset a good Sports Information Director is to the press Lynda Lee has helped bring Bruin Athletics to a new level in her first year of service as SID and I have to thank her for bailing my butt out of my sinking boat on numerous occasions There were many times I thought I knew l everything and she brought the contrary to my attention l Of the many things asso associated with being the sports editor it will be the relationships Ive I've been able to develop with the players and coaches which I will miss most It has meant m so much to me to have had the opportunity to know the players on a personal level and to share the emotions with them as they went through the motions of their seasons I was able to relate with the different situations sit coaches found themselves involved in both positive and negative negative negative-as as I 1 experienced the first year yeat ot of serious coaching myself assistant football and soccer coach at Granger HS Coaching is not an easy job and anybody who criticizes zes anyone's co coaching ching ability without having ever given it his own shot should realize he isn't qualified to tp complain As I look back the toughest issue I had to face was the resignation of mens men's head coach it Jeff at the end of the 1991 season always made me feel comfortable in a reporting on his team especially when I was wasa a a rookie myself and had little or no idea of how to play the journalistic game never tried to slip away from my questions and he always treated me like a professional His answers were often too blunt to print but that's the way he handled things Hed He'd call em like hed he'd see emIts emIts emIts em Its It's a rare privilege for a reporter to be invited to travel with a team room with the players and out hang-out in the locker room as I did last year when the Bruins went to the Southern Idaho Invitational nal Tournament And I was honored when invited me to tot t sit with the team on the bench for the final game in this years year's conference tournament I have never been so proud to be a student from f I found throughout my campaign for president that many students dont don't like the fact that their money is being spent on athletics Most athletic opponents wanted to see more money spent on computers and parking spaces instead of basketball scholarships i l And I understand the frustration of most of them But I found it interesting that some people I talked to said they had never attended a game and they were upset that the money spent on the teams wasn't going to benefit t them em in any way If you as a student of haven't taken the opportunity to witness your money which goes to athletics in action its it's your own fault There is no better entertainment value which can offer its students than the basketball games at South City Campus It If costs a student nothing to attend a game with an activity card and with ticket costs of sporting events going through the ceiling I dont don't see what more a sports fan could ask for than a free ticket Im I'm pleased to announce the signing of a couple of Bruin players and the intentions of j two more Chris Fox once referred to as the point guard of the future by has dedd decided d to stay in Utah and head south to Cedar City Fox will play with Southern Utah's Thunderbirds for the of his college days Fox sat out this past season with a knee In Injury jury 7 i Yugoslavian native Vi v h c tr T 1 IC c will have an opportunity to Ito play at the same university university university sity which gave the Utah jd Jau Cary Gary Scurry Long Island University ha has s signed Jovic and he will be on his way back east at the conclusion of this quarter Lorenzo Jarvis says he will be joining Jovic next season and plans to move a little closer to his Bowling Green Ky home very soon Jarvis was a class act for and his leadership and positive attributes will be greatly missed And finally it looks like my buddy the from wonderland will be staying close but going somewhere colder Zach Allison says he intends to play for Utah State in Logan Allison was the most exciting player to watch these past two seasons I hope to see him fine tune fine June himself and make some money in a few years doing what he loves to do on the court There are many Id I'd like to thank but I dont don't have time to do so so thank you all M My final finaI remarks have to go to Norm Parrish and Soni Adams I wish them the best of luck in their quest for success and Id I'd like you both to know I respect and admire the jobs that you do for all of us Goodbye t j. j |