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Show The Daily Utah Chronicle s SPORT Tuesday, February 23, 1999 Brandon Winn, Sports Editor: winnchronicle.utah.edu The Daily Utah Red. Rocks Gut Gators Chronicle -- 13 Open Letter to The Worst Man In the NFL Utah nearly hits lyy.ooo as it rolls past Florida Brandon Winn Chronicle Sports Editor The following is a letter to Al Davis, owner of the OaklandLos Raiders, AngelesOakland??? who announced that he will be looking to move the franchise out of Oakland before next season. Davis is still deciding on where to move the team, but he'll likely pick either Los Angeles or Houston. The NFL will be awarding one of these cities a franchise next month; Davis will likely try to move his team to the city left teamless. Dear Al Davis, I'm not a Raiders fan. In fact, I think the world would be a better place if the entire Raiders organization were to sink to the bottom of the ocean and get stuck in the sand. But I am a supporter of Raider football fans. That is why I am writing this letter. I understand that you arc thinkabout ing moving your team. ..again. You moved your team from Oakland to Los Angeles in 1982, then took the team back to its roots in 1995. Now you want to be on the move again? UHAUL has to be thrilled, but that's about it. I know you arc upset that Oakland fans haven't shown enough support, that there haven't been enough sellouts and your players don't feel that they arc respected. To that I say to you, Mr. Davis, follow your own advice. "Just win, baby." This was your catch phrase, the title of your book and your whole philosophy on not only football, but life. Instead of packing your bags and rearranging the lives of all your players, front office personnel and many of your loyal fans, how about fielding a decent 77;e We gymnasts had their best performance of the season Monday. Erik Martinez Chronicle Asst. Sports Editor Either one of two things was going to happen to the Utah gymnastics team Monday night. It would either show up weary and banged up for its second meet in four days, both against top 20 opponents. Or, it would establish some sort of J 3 h ,f groove, where the frequency of com- petitions become helpful, rather than a hindcrance. Ultimately, it was the latter that prevailed as the No. 4 Red Rocks posted their highest score of the year, beating No. 17 Florida 196.975-193.75- 0. The win over the Gators is the conclusion of a treacherous, yet successful weekend at the Huntsman (h Iff 4 $ V ; r X rf Center. Monday's team tally tied for ninth best in Utah gymnastics history, and marks the highest meet score by the team since 1997. At the time, Friday's win over No. 3 LSU set Utah's highest output (196.375) of the year, but the Red Rocks toppled that just 72 hours later as Utah pasted the score sheet with season and career highs. Theresa Kulikowski won her third of the year, setting career floor, and highs in tied her career high for bars. total of Kulikowski's e at Utah, 39.600 ranks eighth with her floor score (9.975) setting the highest score on any event by a Red Rock this year. With one judge giving Kulio a 'io' on the floor, it was the other 9 950 that prevented Utah from relishing its first '10' of the all-tim- year. hoped that I would have gotten '10' because it would have been really fun, but I can see maybe on my first pass I had a really big step," said Kulikowski. "I love being in the It's just a good challenge "I a d. team? I've known Raiders fans to be loud, obnoxious, drunken and vio- lent while attending games. In other words, they arc the perfect football fans. They paint their bodies, throw all their worries to the back of their minds for one three-hoblock on Sunday, and just watch football. They live and breathe with the Raiders. When their team loses, it hurts and is frustrating. But the loyal fans kept coming ur YJ-- I I--- "I- -'- 'Vv n x Shannon Bowles and the Utes proved way too much for the No. 17 Florida Gators Monday night at the Huntsman Center. die of her routine. Utah to a 49.250 on the event. for me. I think Friday I might have The applause wasn't for anything But it was Theresa Wolf that was been too pumped up, but tonight I she had done, however. Rather, it forced to contend with the most disfelt the right level of aggression." was a polite gesture by the crowd in Shannon Bowles was the only tractions in the meet. stubwas first disturbance Wolf's for the Utes, other recognition of a Florida gymnast who was getting up after banging the vault her on toe approach, going all four events for only the bing head her the vault bail out on and opting to second time of the season. during her floor routine. Wolf again responded to the Bowles finished second in the (her second) and reload. Wolf again took off for the vault, and stuck it for adversity, keeping focus and posting (39.275), improving on her a season-hig9.825 on beam. score by over a career-hig9.925. only other "You can't let that kind of thing Then on the beam, Wolf was hit half a point (38.775-a- t Arizona). with more distraction, as a round of bother you. As much as it might, you Bowles also put up her best score of the year on bars (9.875), helping applause broke out right in the mid- sec gymnastics page 14 h h back. They expect a team to be at the stadium to greet them. Not all fans arc this way, which is unfortunate to you, Mr. Davis. In your twisted mind, you think that everybody should support a Raiders franchise that hasn't been to the playoffs since 1993. You think that the Silver and Black should be a religion to all and that it should be followed sec winn page 15 |
