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Show 5 DAILY THE y m SPORTS JMM"MM""M'IMT " imjmmi C&00fD6Q0Q f CHRONICLE UTAH ERIC WALDEN Chronicle Sports Columnist Arc athletes more inclined to take reckless chances than the average person? Do their lavish lifestyles and physical superioria intelligence and integrity. "He was not only a athlete, but also a world-clas- s world-clas- s humanitarian," Southern University Chancellor Edward R. Jackson said. "He is the mode! of what we attempt to do with all of our students." Though he had a career scoring average of n points per game and was a for the Hornets this season, those who knew him best surmise that the basketball court was perhaps the least appropriate forum for in Phills' talents. "He could have been one of the foremost black leaders in the country," said Ben Jobe, Phills' former coach at Southern, "He had the brain power, he had the great family background. He had everything." He had everything. And he threw it all away for an impromptu drag race just outside the Charlotte Coliseum. Where was Phills' brain power in those final seconds of his life? While he was engaging in a few moments of frivolous fun, did he consider that one rniscuc would make his wife a widow and force his children to grow up without their father? It undoubtedly is unfair to suggest that Philis should have lived his life with the utmost caution; to say that he should never have taken chances because he had so much to lose. We all do things from time to see WALDEH, page It's the little things in life Steve Smith missed while spending two month; with his head immobilized. His football career and plans for the NFL were in jeopardy, going to school was even more of a j?.in than usual, and everywhere he went people stared at the brace around his neck. Even with ail that hanging over his head, the first thing Smith said about having his brace off was squeezing and choking him. "I can go out in public without worrying about people staring at me," Smith said. "Little kids would come up and look right at me and ask me what happened." Because of the injury Smith was unable to work out at all during the past two months, which means his body is far from football condition. Luckily, he has several months before he'll be asked to break off an punt return. 85-ya- rd "I haven't been able to do anything" Smith said. "I've gotten pretty good at football on PlayStation though. My team can't be beat." The NFL is on his mind now and he plans on making his future playing on Sundays after leaving the U. That may have been the hardest part about not knowing if his neck would be able to hold up on the gridiron wondering where his life would go if a football was not in his hands. "A little brace, held my future and I wasn't sure what path I would ing abilities. Last Friday, doctors removed the and deterbrace and took mined that Smith has fully recovered. They then gave Smith the green light to start working out again Feb. 1, even though they originally worried his days as a football star could have been over. The X-ra- ys brace went on the shelf and out of son and his person of impeccable character. He was honored by the league for his community service, including the establishment of a youth education foundation. He was also lauded for his diligent work ethic and praised for his Smith, of course, was able to breathe a huge sigh of relief. This time, without some plastic brace has healed properly and Smith will be able to dazzle the crowd and give defensive coordinators ulcers with his stellar receiver play and unbelievable kick return- Bobby Phills, who was killed last week in a gruesome automobile accident. Police have established that while racing Hornets teammate David Wesley, Phills accelerated up to an estimated 107 miles per hour, lost control of his Porsche Cabriolet, veered into oncoming traffic, struck another vehicle and died instantly. He left behind his wife, his daughter. By all accounts, Phills was a BRANDON WINN Chronicle Sports Editor "I finally get to shave again." The cracked vertebrae in his neck he sustained against BYU in destructive aura of them? within invincibility These are the questions that need to be asked following the tragic death of NBA player generate 1 Brace Yourselves: Smith's Neck OK Latest To Pay Price for Being Reckless Phi!!s Is ty 0000 "Q flQjg)g;&6ft Steve Smith has been cleared by doctors to return to the football field. see SMITH, page Smith's life. 14 Utes Dominate at Invitational The Utah women's tennis team has turned the U of U Invite into top seed) by retiring Weber State's Dana Delancey by a 1 score on Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, Brooke Wilkinson strengthened her case for a regular spot in Utah's singles rotation by advancing to the title match of the Diyision-II- I field. She scored an upset win over former Ute and current BYU player Kim Kelly, winning She will now take on BYU's Tara Ferguson. In Division-IV- , newcomer Anna Stechert routed the Cougars Jamie 1 score to reach Parker by a the final. Her opponent will be yet another BYU player, Lu Oswald. And while it would be hard to match Utah's success in the singles ranks, they may have managed to do so in doubles competition. Tne Divisicn-- I doubles final will head-to-hea- 7-- 5, y, first-roun- "- "- 1- aji-Mjii- it.n- -ii if-i .J11..1. ..11.. 4-- quite a literal occasion by advancing competitors into the finals of every ev it. In five of the six championship competitions, which will occur today at the Eccies Tennis Center, d the Utes will be matched up with players from the BYU team. Leading the way for the Utes is ranked No. 79 Megan Payne-Dornin the nation. On Tuesday, she defeated BYU's Jodi Richardson by a 4 margin. She will now face the Cougars' Eline Chiew, who is ranked No. 22, for the Division-- I title. In the Division-I- I final, the Utes Irini Kctoglou will square off against the Cougars' Dominique Reynolds. Kotoglou continued her improbable run to the finals (which included a upset of the division's 7-- 5, " " , 6-- 4. 6-- 6-- " 4, 6-- see TENNIS, page d . , -- a - I - 1 Sign & ' t -- ft 15 - tj1" t7 , a sr. 1 I 1 rat ' I iv 9. I s 1 W.3C?W It" LEFT: Megan . Fayne-Porn- ?.- leads the y Uteh wemen's tennis team into the final day of the Utah Invitational. 13 She'll compete for the CHRONICLE SPORTS EDITOR BRANDON WINN DiWsiori-- WINNCHRONICLE.UTAH.EDU l title, 581-704- 1 - tfC.: BELOW: BYU's Eline Chiew is ed collegiate player nation. She will be opponent today. Payne-Dorny- 's n ihe No. the in |