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Show The Daily Utah Chronicle SPORT Thursday, September 3, 1998 Brandon Winn, Sports Editor: winnchronicle.utah.edu The Daily Utah Chronicle -- 17 Attention Greeks: If You Want Some Respect, Start Acting More Responsibly Chronicle Trashing Shows How Juvenile Some People Can Be Brandon Winn Chronicle Sports Editor have worked at the Chronicle for over two years and in my time have dealt with a lot of sophomoric people. Working in the sports section, I have been especially exposed to professionI athletes who refuse to speak with the media after a poor performance (Greg Ostertag has denied my requests for an interview several times after al Jazz games). I have fielded phone calls from athletes, coaches and even an athlete's parents who felt I was either being too negative on them or not giving them enough "good" publicity. I've been threatened many times, received nasty letters in the mail, been name-calle- d as I've walked to class and even physically challenged by one ath lete while I was sitting down. At times I can understand these things. I can even sometimes forgive a person who would stoop to such levels as to take his or her frustrations out on a student reporter who has no choice but to report the truth as he or she sees it But sometimes the line is crossed. Dennis Rodman kicked a cameraman in the groin. Albert Belle completely tore apart NBC's Hanna Storm in verbal tirade full of profanities. And former Indianapolis quarterback Jim Harbaugh went so far as to punch Jim Kelly after he questioned Harbaugh's manhood on NBC. It just goes to show you that media truly is the most powerful entity and it can really push some over the line. The pen is definitely mightier than the sword. So, with that in mind, I introduce the topic of my column: the poor, picked-o- n greeks. That's how a few of their members see it, anyway. If you read The Daily Utah Chronicle on Wednesday, you no doubt saw the story about Jonathan Sill, who fell from the roof of the Kappa Sigma fraternity during a party early Saturday morning. The student sustained serious injury as a result of the drop, which is unfortunate. There is also a report that alcohol was being consumed at that party, ot w v 1 1 Many issues of Wednesday's Chronicle were trashed when some students hauled them to the garbage. which makes sense: how many sober people do you know who have fallen from a fraternity roof? Upset that the Chronicle was planning to run a story about the incident, several Kappa Sigma members entered the Chronicle offices Tuesday night. Jason Ellis, the fraternity's president, was among this group and did most of the talking. He threatened one Chronicle editor and another writer whom he talked to over the phone that same evening. He even made reference to Mr. Sill's grandparents, saying that they donated a large sum of money to the University of Utah. Have you heard of the Sill Center? Apparently that was supposed to frighten the Chronicle. Well, just as a side note to you, Mr. Ellis, if your name isn't Ecclcs on campus, it doesn't mean jack. Obviously unshaken by Ellis' weak and immature threats, the Chronicle went ahead and published the story, which appeared in Wednesday's paper entitled "Kappa Sigma Member Seriously Hurt at Party." That obviously didn't sit well with some people. After learning the Chronicle pro- ceeded to run the story, even after Ellis threatened to sue the paper, several individuals went around campus and began tossing stacks of the Chronicle into the trash, as witnessed by some Chronicle employees. Ncal Gunnarson, cat your heart out While it is unconfirmed if the greeks orchestrated this childish display of emotion, I think it's quite clear who is behind it I can understand that people arc upset with the frequency of negative publicity which hovers around Frat Row like a black rain cloud. can completely understand why they didn't want this story made public. It's an embarrassment to them as a group and to the individual who I injured himself. It's very unfortunate that this inci- - scc winn, page 18 San Francisco 49ers Will Once Pack Will Smack NFC Central Again Rule Weak NFC West Roll the predictions. 1. Green Bay Packers The Packers lost to the Broncos in the Super Bowl, Head coach Mike Holmgren spent the first month of the offseason lying on his couch, refusing to talk with anyone. He couldn't even bring himself to watch the game film to sec what went wrong and wouldn't even return his own assistant's phone calls. A never seem to slow down the organization. It's like draining the Atlantic Ocean with a Hoover. Of course, back is a healthy Jerry Rice and a conscious, upright Steve Young. These two Hall of Famers will make any team a con tender for the throne. Add to it a young, 1,000 yard rusher in GaiA Erik Martinez Chronicle Asst. Sports Editor Nothing new in the NFC West this year. 4oers will run over the division, and will probably be the only NFC pVest representative in the playoffs. Inevitably, the four other teams (Falcons, panthers, Rams and Saints) will only translate nto seven or eight wins for the 4oers, padding its way once again to the best record The San Francisco pn the NFC. The worst, most flavorless division will for tify itself again as the runt of the league, with pne bully ruling the block. 1. San Francisco -- Last Year: 13-- 3 Beat Minnesota 49ers 2 in playoffs. Lost to Green Bay 0 in NFC champi onship. It's as predictable as a pitcher getting Miiplash after hanging a curve ball to Mark -- 38-2- -- 23-1- McGwire. Despite the considerable losses of Brent ones, Gary Plummer, Rod Woodson, Dana Stubblefield (NFL Defensive Player of The Year), Kevin Greene and William Floyd, the pnly concern for the Niners will be the NFC Miampionship and perhaps the Super Bowl. The perennial losses San Francisco faces rison Hearst, and the now proven receiver tandem of Terrell Owens and J.J. Stokes. San Francisco will have no trouble tearing through its division speed bags. Four teams of which none even won half their games last year. Even the front office problems of Carmen "Gotti" Policy and Eddie "The Bull" DeBardaJ lo, couldn't prevent the niners from business! as usual. Again. Prediction: 13-- 3 They will lose to Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl. 2. Atlanta Falcons Last Year: 9 One of the hottest teams toward the end of last year, the Falcons won six of its last eight games. Chris Chandler is easily the most underrated quarterback in the league. Last year, Chandler converted on 20 touchdowns 7-- while running back Jamal Anderson rushed for 1,002 yards and seven touchdowns Chandler will be the one, however, to carry y or sink the considering the for head coach second fact that the option d Steve is Reeves 44- year-olDan DeBcrg. Defensively, the Falcons feature one of the most solid, and unknown quantities in the game. Last year, the Falcons were second in the NFL in sacks; bad news for the punch ex-U- te offense-especiall- see west, page 19 Brandon Winn tragedy, huh? Chronicle Sports Editor The NFC Central is the closest thing that footy. ball has to a clone of Dolly Parton it's very top-heav- This division is easily the best in football. Last year the Packers, Bucs, Nordsman and the Lions all went to the playoffs. That's four teams from the same division of only six total NFC teams that make it to the extra season, which means some pretty darn good ball was played last season. The reason for such a dominant collection of teams is simple. Offense. The NFC could field a Pro Bowl team from this division alone. Brett Favre at quarterback, the legendary Barry Sanders at halfback, teaming with Mike Alstott, who's the prototype fullback in today's game. With Alstott clearing space and Sanders running though the gaps, it would easily shred any other combination in football. You then have Herman Moore, Cris Carter and Antonio Freeman catching passes. Who would stop this team? Not the Bears, that's for certain. If you love football, are addicts like me, this division should be intoxicating. So come Sunday, don't bother trying to reach me in the afternoon. If this division is the powerful drug that I claim, I'll be about as wasted as Robert Downey Jr. on Oscar night I can think of a few teams that would like to have his problem. Despite the improvements each team appears to have made, the title still goes through Cheese-hea- d central where the game's best fans hang out Green Bay struggled a bit in the preseason offensively, but they were playing without Dorsey Lev-en- s, who proved he could be an every down back for the Pack. Lcvcns just ended his holdout and will have his helmet strapped on Sunday, when the Packers play host to the Lions. The Packers think so highly of his ability, they let Edgar Bennett go to Chicago. Who needs a running game when you have Favre gunslinging to one of the best receiving crews in the NFL? Freeman is now one of the top five widcouts in the game, while Robert Brooks is still able to shred secondaries with his ability to get behind defenders, despite his slowly deteriorating speed. Throw in Mark Chmura over the middle from his tight end position and Favre has plenty of fire to play with. Then there is the defense. Of course, the big names are Reggie White and Gilbert Brown, but don't be surprised if neither makes it to the Pro Bowl this year. White is too busy condemning the nation to hell, Brown is too busy eating his way there. Gluttony is a sin, isn't it Reggie? Projected, record: 11- -5 see central, page 19 |
