OCR Text |
Show WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2001 THE SUMMER UTAH CHRONICLE There's No Justice For Us Bucks Fans BYU Volleyball Coach to Earn National Award PROVO, Utah One month after winning a second NCAA title, BYU men's volleyball coach Carl McGown was named coach of the year Monday by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. BYU went 23-- 4 and beat UCLA o in the championship match. It was the second national title in three years for the Cougars, and McGown was also named coach of the year after BYU's championship in 1999. The award will be presented Dec. at the AVCA's 13 in San Diego national convention, held in conjunction with the NCAA Division I women's volleyball national championship. RORY BRUNNER Chronicle Asst. Sports Editor 3-- Track & Field COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. Eighteen of the 30 Mountain West Conference athletes that competed in the NCAA Mountain West 2001 Out- door Track and Field Notebook gar honors, including champion Bryan Berry-hi- ll of Colorado State and 3,000-metsteeplechase champion Elizabeth Jackson of BYU. A total of 776 athletes (388 men, 388 women) competed at the NCAA Outdoor Track Championships in Eugene, Ore., May 30 to June 2. Berryhill, a d clocked a school- - and 3:37.05 in the 1,500 meters. Jackson, the only MWC athlete to earn honors in two events at the 2001 NCAA Outdoor Track Championships, bettered her American record with a new time of 9:49.73 in the 3,000-metsteeplechase. Jackson also placed fifth in the 5,000 meters. The Cougars led the MWC with nine followed by Colorado State and Wyoming with three each, San Diego State' with two and Air Force with one. Freshman Batt of Andrea Wyoming was a first-tim- e nered 1,500-met- 11 ca er er 10-ti- MWC-recor- ca er ca honoree. Overall, nine seniors, juniors and two sophomores rounded out the MWC six ca list. Colorado State's Liz Toman placed second in the discus with a toss of 184 feet, 5 inches, to set an MWC record. 'BYU's Jeff Hansen finished second in the pole vault (18 feet, 2.5 inches). San Diego State's Aja Frary set an MWC record with 5,751 points in the heptathlon as she placed third nationally in the event. It was turning out just as I had hoped. It seemed like things were going to work out just perfect the stars had aligned. I finally approached a possible NBA Finals with intrigue. When I walked into the office of The Daily Utah Chronicle last October, I was a devout Milwaukee Bucks fan from my cheese-eatin- g days growing up by Madison, Wis. My only NBA experience came in Milwaukee's Bradley Center, where I saw the likes of Alvin Robertson, Jay Humphries and Moses Malone tear it up. Now, it's all the same, only the names changed to Ray Allen, Glenn Robinson and Sam "the alien" Cassell. Little did I know, when I was hired by sports editor Eric "Wally" Walden at The Chronicle, I stepped into the company of a deranged, psychotic Lakers fan, one who supposedly followed the Lakers since the glory days of MagicWorthyRambis. Now, rooting for the Lakers to get to the Finals is like a cycle. What NBA player doesn't want to live and work in L.A.? It's the happening place. Shaq can make all his crappy Kazaam movies and all the players d can enjoy the pleasing, weather and cool ocean breeze. Not to mention having one of the biggest markets in the NBA. The Lakers getting to the Finals is bankable a touple times a decade. When they were in of the mid- - to early '90s, the they might have entered the Playoffs as a seven or eight seed. On the other hand, Milwaukee is a o haven for temperatures, fat, drunk people and Jeffrey Dahmer. In other words, not even throwing wads of money is any assurance of drawing decent players into Milwaukee. I've worked harder. Being a Bucks fan isn't easy. The Playoffs haven't been an uncommon occurrence in my generation, but going past the first round has. Not since the days of the big three of Bobby Dandridge, the Big O and Lew Alcindor (or was he Kareem Abdul-Jabbby then?) have the Bucks been in the hunt for a Finals run (I wasn't even alive then; I really have no idea who Bobby Dandridge is that is how long it has been). So, needless to say, I was excited for the fact that the Bucks didn't suck heading into the postseason. They on took care of Doc Rivers' d playoff George Karl's woes to handle the Magic before stopping the surprising headbanded ban five-ye- ar year-roun- off-yea- rs sub-zer- ar low-blo- early-roun- dits from Charlotte. Then came Philly and the seven-gam- e heartbreakcr which has sent my life spiraling into a personal depression, tainting my master plan of Bucks over the Lakers. I've waited too long. I demand justice. It has been just a week, but I am still reeling about the unfortunate exit of the Milwaukee Bucks from the Playoffs in the Eastern Conference Finals. I have cocooned and refuse to watch the damn Lakers run away with another title, only to see Wally retain bragging rights. Honestly, how hard is it to be a Laker fan? They are certainly a rare breed. So the NBA Finals began, without my Bucks. I lost interest, but still read the newspaper. I can't believe that when the Sixers won Game in L.A. putting an end to the ridiculous speculation of an undefeated Playoffs people actually thought the Sixers could contend in the series. I like the Bucks' chances in the Finals a lot better. Not just because I'm a cheesehead, but because of the cold, hard evidence. They were 0 against the Lakers in the regular season. If that doesn't speak volumes, consider the sheer fact of having a player with the same name as one of the greatest Lakers to play the game. That has to help, right? OK, so maybe the only "Magic" the Bucks' Ervin Johnson can perform is to cause a breakaway lay-u- p to fail to draw iron. You can't say there are many players in the NBA that can do that. Alright, so there isn't a lot of evidence, but the Bucks still should be in the Finals. I think the unfair suspension of inspirational leader Scott Williams hurt the Bucks' chances in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. I mean, come on, you can't get physical in the paint? It was a cheap shot and a flagrant foul was assessed, but Iverson is the Sixers' best player. He should get contested and pushed around without any drastic penalties. Just because he's small shouldn't matter. Shaq does some shoving of his own, but the league would never suspend him. Who am I kidding; it's not like it would have mattered. In the Bucks' best game of the season, against the Sixers in Game 6, they nearly blew lead in the fourth their quarter. The depressing truth of the matter is that Wally will be happy for years to come. His beloved Lakers barring a miracle like the return of Jordan, Barkley and Bill Walton will not lose if they keep together their nucleus. The Bucks just got good at the wrong time. Life is not fair. 1 a,. jr y iW XJ ' ' " l " ' f ? S 2-- Chris Shelton was among three U baseball players to go in the continued from page 10 MWC player, going in the fifth round (No. 157) to the Cleve- highest-selecte- d land Indians. In more Utah baseball news, third baseman Mike Wcstfall picked up some more hardware for the trophy case. After being named as the MWC's WS. j0 m Kedti utte harden ZOO Outdoor Concert june 10, 7Pm Tickets on sale NOW Subscription and priority parking. y' June 17, 7 pm Advance tickets discounted 52. T .1 RBG Members receive ' 1 an additional $1 discount juiy lb, and can purchase tickets at the Visitor Center with no pm ' Staff Women at 268-23.3- General Admission Seating All concerts rain or shine. J4. Los Lobos July 21,7 pm m service charge. Picnics are welcome. Order ahead by calling Cuisine Unlimited July 18, 7 pm An Exciting New Opportunity For Professional Development For 200 1 2002 packages and include all 7 concerts X Special Guest: Jeb Loy Nichols Asleep At The Wheel er More Information: www.redbuttegarden.org Concert Hotline -- 1 www.saff.utah. edupjjssidejitjgj or call 58 iC" ii (801)587-9939- Lucinda Williams 5. 7 Dm Aueust o ' For Details CLICK ON ! are available for $170 ca year ago. Thomas, a senior from Sacramento, Calif., led the MWC in pass breakups in both of the last two seasons and has a UNLV-recor- d 45 in his career. He also heads into the season tied for 10th at the school with seven career interceptions and boasts two career defensive touchdowns. Thomas is one .of three MWC players to appear among this year's selections. Utah offensive lineman Doug Kaufusi was tabbed for the second team and Colorado State punt returner Pete Rebstock made the third team. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS nes Bruce Hornsby Football Mid-Care- Draft. e waldenchronicle.utah.edu In B MLB Freshman of the Year, and earning a Second spot on the Wcstfall named to the also was Team, Freshman Louisville 2001 Slugger's Team. The Scottsdalc, Ariz., native started 51 of the team's 53 games at the hot corner, posting a .341 average good for third on the team and nth in the conference. BASEBALL rbrunnerchronicle.utah.edu LAS VEGAS UNLV cornerback Kevin Thomas has been named pre- season AllArnerica for the second consecutive year by a leading college sports magazine. Thomas is a member of the 2001 Athlon Sports Third Team after being a second-teaselection by the same publication a assa$t webiite corrections m from tho last Y Red Butte Garden Ml t t I OF UTAH t J WmmM:, 'MVV'V . V I V BeauSoleU avec Michael Doucet Tickets can be purchased at: The 2001 Outdoor Concert Sponsors '. -- 3 t tichotimnstor All Utah Frod Myr locationt Graywtulc C D. Exchanja, and Wharhout Muiic Stonai $5 rHCCTl.H www.ticketmaster.com |