Show B2 — The Herald Journal Logan Utah Sunday July 21 2002 USU fan favorite opportunity to aee Bobb play since he left USU is not surprised by the success hisformer starting small forward has found “It’s fun to see Curtis playing well but' it’s just as fun to see him gaining maturity asa per- atm and becoming more of an adult” Morrill said “That’s always what should be part of the process You definitely see it happening with Curtis “For me personally I'm more pleased when I aee (mv former players) doing well in life And Curds is combining the two He’s learning what life’s all about he’s becoming more - finding success with pro team in Czech Republic A- j 4 By Gragg Hardy staff writer To Utah State Aggie basketball fans Curtis Bobb will likely best be remembered for bis shooting as well as bis gilt of deadly gab After graduating from USU following the season which saw the memorable 2000-0Aggies go 28-- 6 and claim their first NCAA Tournament victory in 31 years Bobb went overseas to find success after college And successful he is Bobb now plays in the Czech Republic for MIckama Kunin of the Mattoni National Basketball League where he was second in scoring last season with an average of 203 points per game Like he was in college Bobb was lethal from beyond the arc making 427 percent of his 3s to finish third in the league Tve improved not only my shooting but I’ve made my game completely more better than what it was in college” said Bobb who has been in Logan this summer before getting ready for his second pro season "When I was here (at Utah State) I played within coach (Stew) Morrill's system and just did what I had to do Now that I’m playing pro ball it’s more running up and down the court — more roaming freelancing and I can play my style of basketball stuff int v?Vr j ' X v - - v : k mV:-'A fV Mae than a year removed from what may go down as the biggest win in Utah State baskk-ball history a 8 overtime win over Ohio State in die first round of the NCAAs Morrill still looks back on that team with nostalgia and ' - ' l-- : f 77-6- - V t V Irf I — CVjlf-r- r ' J 4 1 ' 's ' 'i J nd 1 --v t Bobb said he hopes for a reunion with his friends from those teams Daniels also has had success playing after college He and former Aggie Kerin Rice helped the CBA’s Dakota izards to a championship last season “We were like a family the two years we were here” Bobb said of his days as an Aggie “Being basketball players that’s one of the greatest bonds you can have “We miss it but you know there’s more ahead of us in our friture” As for his future plans Bobb says he may go to France to play alter fids season For the most part players can make good money in Europe Bobb says he would rather stay in Europe than play in die CB A or the NBA’s developmental league which just finished its first season “I'm comfortable playingin Europe” he said “ Me personally if it’s not the NBA I don’t want to come back to foe States to play because they don't pay enough In Europe foe - back-to-ba- now That style of basketball certainly suits his personality During his senior year Bobb was known around the Big West as one of the more talkative players Not that he was one for trash ' talking Bobb just liked to chat with the crowd — either with his home fans or those on the road — during the game Bobb says he is known around the NBL as' “Curtis Bobb: good person bad boy on the fr Mitch MsscaraHorald Journal Former Utah State Aggie Curtis Bobb is now playing pro basketball in the Czech Republic court" named its MVP and also won the slam dunk competition Helping Bobb to adjust to life in Europe was a fellow American playing for Mlekama Kunin Maurice Whitfield A point guard originally from Philadelphia Whitfield played his college ball at Norfolk State in Vir' ginia “It was fun playing with him” Bobb saidr“I love him like a bother He showed me around and took me in and just told me how to adjust to things” Whitfield left Mlekama Kunin after last season and joined One of its rivals Bobb’s first pro season was not without its ' “Actually it’s got even worse now since I became professional” Bobb joked about his a interaction with the crowd “I’m constantly talking to the fans” Quite an accomplishment considering Bobb doesn't know any Czech other than a few words and catch phrases He says getting past the language barrier was the hardest part of adjusting to life in the Czech Republic His head coach doesn’t speak Eng- lish very well so the assistant — who does speak fluent English — saves as a translator During his first pro season Bobb let his game do the talking for him Not only was he selected to the NBL’s game he was All-St- In die win over Ohio State Bobb scored 11 of his 14 points near the end of regulation or in overtime He also had three steals in the game “He was a guy that was not afraid of big games and big moments” Monill said Said Bobb: “I took that Ohio State tape over there (to the Czech Republic) That’s a great memory Til always cherish It’s something I’ll never forget It’s one of those memories that you'll always cany with you “It was a great team I was playing for with a very good coach that will be probably one of die bat coaches in Utah State history when he’s done here It was a great two yean I had here” i ‘ one-on-o- ne I - 'pride 1 ar setbacks He broke his left fibula in a game and says he was unable to walk for months Even now he says he cannot get foe alf elevation to dunk a basketball But sporting his signature grin he says that will soon come With Bobb out of the lineup Mlekama Kiinin which won the regular season still managed toreach the NBL championship but 7 fell in foe title round4-- 2 to foe d-place 'team While in Logan this summer Bobb has been playing at Utah State’s HPER building with Shawn Daniels and Bernard Rock among other teammates from the ‘01 Aggie team Morrill who said he has not had much best-of-- secon- gpglpF5??! Red Sox in S' TV- - yi money’s 28-w- in ck great” Monill believes Bobb is ready fa whatever awaits him “He just keeps getting better and that could lead to a long career overseas if that’s what be wants to do” Morill said “There will come a day when foe ball stops bouncing and he can’t play anymore And I think he’ll be ready when that happens” Dodgers end skid Giants iiniBiHi By The Associated Press I I Dave Roberts hit a tiebreak’ two-ru- n in die ' ing single inning to tufa die I0S8 eighth inning Saturday as the Astros 3 Cobs 2 Lm Angeles Dodgers rallied Kirk Saarioos got his first to beat the San Francisco league viOory and Julio Giants 2 at Dodger Stadium maja homered as Houston Lugo five- to snap a season-hig- h beat Chicago at Wrigley Field game losing streak Saarioos recalled from 1ride-The Giants played without New Orioms on Riday-mwsluggre Barry Bonds who sat up one itin and foa hits m five out the game with a strained innings Saarioa(l-2- ) struck right hamstring hri sustained out seven and didn’t walk shatFriday night Bonds will probter in his fourth career start ably be sidelined at least a few Geoff Blum drove in two more days runs and Billy Wagner struck Roberts trim entered foe : out two in a perfect ninth for slump had his 18fosave game in an three hits three RBIs and a Carlos Zambrano (2-careerhii three stolen bases strode oa acareerhigh 10 but as foe Dragers won for only ft wasn’t enough as the Cubs the second time in 11 games stranded seven — inchxfinathe Paul QuantrUl (2-who tying run at third in the pitched out of a Martins 3 Expos jam in die eighfo earned the v Brad Pranyintched six rictory: EricGagne pitched innings to win for foe first the ninth fa his 34fo save time m nearly three months - Felix Rodriguez ) took and Mike Lolwell homered to die loss lead Floidapa Montreal in Braves 4 Phillies 3 Pro Player Stadium V Gaiy Sheffield and Andrew The Expos hopefal foat the Jones eofo drove in two runs recent acquisitions of pitcha and Jolin Smoltz converted Us Bartok Colon and outfielder franchise-recor- d 22nd consec- - Cliff Floyd would spark a run utive save as Atlanta heat hwvd a wiM card qmt comr knitted three errors en route to Philadelphia at Veterans Stadi"' um iheir seventh loss in 10 games H Julid Franco had two hits breaL since theAll-St" and scored twice for foe NL Fenny (44) was winless in U 1Braves who Aree starts since rejoimpg die i have won five straiit and 22 k rotation following a stim on the disabled list with an of 28 games Braves starter Jason Vfru- i injury to hUriX biceps Braden Loopa pitched the qui (7-- didn’t alloW ahit ninfo fiW his first save of die until foe fifth and set a carea V1 high for wins Hp ghra tq two liseasonrims on two hits leavinlg'afta Masato Yoshii (2-- took the ' loss 5 innings and 94 pitches Adams allowed )' Terry SeeNLonB3 v foa runs and six hits in six':’ E isssms Jss£ The Associated Press By ' Robin Ventura’s one-o- ut roller left Boston without a play and Alfonso Soriano streaked home in the 11th inning Saturday 'to gi ve the New York Yankees a 9-victory over the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium On what was looking like a lost afternoon for the Yankees — Closer Mariano Rivera walked off with tightness in his right shoulder and a late lead disappeared — - they came back to end Boston’s four--' 4-- f TbrontOi' which built an 11 lead has won four in a row and eight of nine The Devil Rays committed four errors forsecOnd straight game Steve Pams (3-won his ' third straight start Luis De Los Santos (0-- 1 V -8 & 'A A AP photo g New Ywk Yankees Robin Viantuia gets foe hit against the Boston Red Sax in the 11th inning at YfcnkM Stadkim Saturday game-whinin- fa 2) June 21 2001 in the opener ' Twins 14 Tigers 4 makinghis maja leaguedebut Bobby Kielty playing cen- allowed nine runs— eight ter field in place of suspended earned — in four-plToni Hunter went innings with a home run a triple and Royals 7 Indians 5 1st game three RBIs to lead Minnesota game winning streak 5 Royals 3 (10) Indians past Detroit at ComericaiPark After Rivera walkedoff as the David Ortiz homered twice 2nd game Red Sox rallied fafive runs Ellis Burks’ second holier rookie Michael Cuddyer had and an 6 lead in the eighth foe the game a threertun shot first career holme run and his of Yankees came back to tie it iii in die 10th inning against ' foa RBIs and Kielty scored V the bottom half Nidc Johnson ' ' (0-foa times as the Irons wot) helped BradVoyles hit an RBI douMe and scored Kimsas City's ” their fourfo straight Geveland snap with two outs when Soriano sinnine-gaMinnesota’s JoeMays (1-winning streak in an 0--2 pitch gled sharply the fecond gune of a double- came off the 60-dduriUed r Steve Karsay(5-4- ) header at Kauffman Stadium list to make his first start since v three scoreless inningspitched for foe Brandon Berger and AJ April 14 and allowedforee : win as New Yak increased its in tWorims each Hindi runs in six innings: ' droyp AL East lead to three games ' ) ' Tigers starta Adam Bonero over Boston Wayne Qompi ' (andRundmHeniahdez(l-0earned his first career win 88 (2-' gave up eight runs and V took the loss: v ' Kansas City won foe opener 5 hits in 4 innings eight Blue Jays 12 Devil Rayr 10 Orioles 4 BurkshitatwtMunhqmcrin Sox 3 (14) White Shannon Stewart hit a three-- 1 foe first j the nightcqi ' h of inning TyPadstaledofffoel4fo fifth run homer in a seven-ru-n against Shawn Sedlacek and inning with a douhle and scored inning ksTotyntosent Tkmpa ' Charles Nagy pitched six rtrong1 r' ' Bay to its 15fo loss id 16 ' innings in huJ first start off fop FoidyceoffBol?Howiy(0-2)- J games at SkyDome disabled Kjt fa Cleveland givingBahimore the vickxy The Devil Rays with the Paul Shuey (3-a over Chicago at Canxien Yards : pitched vriiret record m the majo at ' ' scoreless ninth fa me win Gaiy Matthews Jehad foa 6 havq lost a teanwecord ' Cleveland’! Jaret Wright (0- - hits for Bahimae which fated 'i 13 in a row on the road and : ' jbxtra innings with a tun in tye l)rimm8edmoretfuuia seven straight overall They with ninfo and improved to Ml shoulda a injury yea have the maja leagues’ ' seved and allowed runs five road skid since Philadelphia ’ hits in foa innings in his first t It was the fiffo time this dropped 14 straight in 1997 maja league appearance since son that Chicago lost when tak-us : 8-- 2) 2) ay ’ : 6) (1-- 2) : 7-- 1- -3 : y : 1 s I onaond-outsin&lejbyBio- ( 0) 29-6- : i t v -- K ’ iira a lead into foe ninth The White Sox are a maja league-wor- st n in games Rick Bauer (5-the seventh Baltimore pitcher worked 2 innings as the Orioles moved within a game of 500 (47-4fa the fourth time since May 14 Athletics 6 Rangers 5 Dave Burba (4-hit Olme-d- o Saenz with the bases loaded !nd two outs in foe bottom of the ninfo to score the winning run as Oakland beat Texas at Network Associates Coliseum fr was the Rangers' eighth straight loss Rafael Palmeiro homered off A's closer Billy Koch (6-in the ninfo inning to tieit ' Alex Rodriguez hit his 32od g maja Tbxas homer of the season 6 7 Marinas Angds ' Scott Spiezio’s solo homer 7 snapped a tie in foe eighth inning ana tiny Glaus hit a foreesun homer with two outs in foe sev- enfo as Anaheim beat Seattle at Edison International Held ' r Anahrim’s second consecu-- r tive victory over AL'West4ead-in-g Seattle left the Angels and: Oakland tied for second two games behind foe Mariners 5--17 one-ru- 4) 1- -3 8) 3) ’ : 1) league-leadin- fa ‘ 2) 3) bases-load- ed -- (3-6- 1 : f ’East-leadi- seven-wee- : 5j - 3) 1- -3 (4-7- V 4 I 1 1 j : I ’I ar ng ‘V l'i l I - |