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Show Jl'llE DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE Friday, March 28, 2008 I challenge you, Leilani Mitchell I want you, Leilani Mitchell. Now, before you mistake this for some love letter, let me assure you that this is quite the opposite. I'm using this forum to call you out. I'm chal- JASON lenging PETERSON you to a not-sofriendly game of one-onone basketball. I want to see what all this hype is about: No. 4 in the nation in assists, bound for the pros and a powder keg of speed all contained within, what, 65 inches? I'm not buying it until I see it up close and in person. I'm giving you until high noon to show your face on the courts where I'll be waiting. Look for me in the knee-high socks, mid-thigh shorts and a head band. Not that I usually need to resort to fear-inducing tactics with street gear, but if you were a true bailer, you wouldn't be intimidated. Actually, in my boundless mercy, I will grant you two weeks to get yourself in shape. You might think 30-some-odd games leading the Utes to their best regular season in history and a berth in the NCAA tournament would be enough preparation, but you haven't played the Scorpion yet, have you? 'Cause baby, it stings losing to me. I'll be spending my two weeks keeping the old hook shot fresh at the YMCA with my pal, Kurt Rambis. He's helping me perfect my underhand free throws in addition to an array of pump fakes, stutter steps and some mind-blowing sleight-ofhand tricks. Pete Maravich ain't got nothing on me. I realize this might seem unfair to use my position with the newspaper to subject you to peer pressure. It's just that when someone is about to be on the receiving end of a colossal embarrassment, coverage is in order. Try to ignore the other staff writers and photographers who will be attending our little court session. We should probably lay some ground rules for your safety. First, no hand checks. Scorpions don't like to be touched. Second, I understand you're more comfortable with the standard women's basketball. Luckily for you, my talent level is equal with either men or women's sizes, so women's it is. Finally, the game will be first to 21 by ones and twos behind closed doors, to limit the already needless amount of humiliation. I ' m already d a y dreaming about it: I start with my patented shimmy followed by a semi-crossover (which is where I begin the motions of a Jerry West crossover but instead totally psych you out and don't really do it at all). You won't be able to follow my eyes behind the orangetinted goggles, and by the time you wonder, "Which way is he gonna go?" you'll barely catch my backside as I complete the sickest layup you've ever seen. I am fully aware that you are the only girl in a family of six kids. In fact, you probably eat the other men for lunch in pick-up games. However, this isn't a battle of sexes. As you'll quickly find out, I'm all insect. And within the next two weeks, someone will be squashed, Mitchell. Sports Editor's note: The first time I played basketball with Jason, he compared himself to Dr. J. Because Peterson resembles the Doc in no way shape or form, The Daily Utah Chronicle line on this game is Mitchell -12.5. The game is scheduled for next week in the Huntsman Center. Time and date are to be determined. The hand-checking rule was established for Mitchell's protection. j.peterson@ chronicle.utah.edu Softball learns its lessons Utes should look to Team USA for tips on retaining focus Jason Peterson STAFF WRITER On last week's trip to Fullerton, Calif., for the Judy Garman Classic, the U softball team got a taste of what it's trying to become. Amidst a slew of top-notch competition that featured No. 1 Arizona State and No. 14 DePaul, the Utes happened to catch the nation's best softball team in action. And it wasn't the Sun Devils. "We were able to see the USA's national team play an exhibition game against New Mexico last week," Utah head coach Amy Hogue said. "Just being around that caliber of athletes betters a group like ours." Hogue wanted her club to see firsthand how the game of softball is played at the top level. Team USA went on to destroy the Lobos, 14-0. "(We) watched them warm up, how they do things, how they carry themselves on and off the field, and it rubs off on our kids," Hogue said. However, any lessons learned in California took a little longer to catch on than Hogue had hoped. In the first game back in Utah, the Utes fell to struggling Utah State. Utah rallied back in the second half of the doubleheader in Logan, though, beating the Aggies, 9-4. The Utes are in the midst of a five-game stretch against the Aggies and Utah Valley State, which is also struggling at 5-19. They will play the Wolverines once Saturday in Orem, and the two teams will come to Salt Lake City for two more games Sunday. Asked if the Utes might play down to the level of their opponent once again when they play UVSC, Hogue said she expects her club to look no further than the national team, which plays inferior opponents on a regular basis. "I would be shocked if they do (play down to others' level)," Hogue said. "After the way we played coming off of Spring Break, playing poorly in almost every area of our game, I hope they haven't looked past (anyone) as far as their focus." To prepare for the upcoming conference schedule that kicks off next week against Colorado State, Hogue said the Utes (17-16) have to focus on themselves. "It's not about who we play," Hogue said. "It's about what we do. If we're doing our job, I mean, that's all you can control anyway, right?" j.peterson@ chronicle.utah.edu Baseball gets gimmes against Falcons "Our focus is now on our Mountain West Conference games," Utah head coach Bill Hypothetically speaking, Kinneberg said. "The goal for the U baseball team could be our team is to play better each sitting one game below .500 and every week." on Sunday. The Falcons and Utes square Coming off a 12-6 win over off at Franklin Covey Field for UVSC on Tuesday night and the first of three meetings tofacing a patsy conference night at 6 p.m. The other two opponent in Air Force three games will take place Saturtimes this weekend, Utah's day and Sunday at 1 p.m. chance to rebound from its After a paltry couple of abysmal start has never been weeks at the plate, Utah found better. its niche against the WolverTo do so, though, the Utes ines on Tuesday. Led by two will have to shore up their po- doubles from Jesse Shriner rous infield defense and con- and a home run from Corey Shimada, the Utes pounded tinue swinging at the plate. Cody Brunner ASST. SPORTS EDITOR $ 99 Furniture Outlet Pre Grand Opening Sale Come see our incredible merchandise 711 South 3rd West 1 0 - 6 Monday - Saturday out 21 hits in the contest. Despite the early season struggles, Utah still features the second-best offense in the MWC. Led by the stick of designated hitter/catcher Jesse Shriner, the Utes are hitting .322 on the season. Utah will likely improve upon that average this weekend when it faces the Falcons. As a group, Air Force pitchers have a 6.87 ERA. The U throwing corps, on the other hand, will probably not feature a pitcher-bycommittee as it did Tuesday against the Wolverines. The Utes went through seven pitchers in the game. Facing a team that "boasts" a combined .258 batting average, Kinneberg could probably throw second baseman Corey Shimada on the mound and still get the win. Instead, Brian Budrow is expected to pitch tonight. Stephen Fife and John James are also expected to make starts this weekend. After playing a three-game series with the Falcons this weekend, the Utes will step back out of conference play wwto take on the Wolverines in a four-game stint. c.brunner@ chronicle.utah.edu www.dailyuf OUR NURSES DON'T , —, JUST WORK IN HOSPITALS. THEY RUN Just what you're looking for to furnish your dorm room or new apartment!!! Editors wanted! The Chronicle is hiring senior staff members \ for the 08-09 school year. For more information or to receive an application send an email t o / dgardiner@chronicle. utah.edu. Applications are due A Combining your nursing education with Army ROTC means you'll graduate with the skills of a nurse and the respect of an Officer, a leader of the U.S. Army. Find out more about leadership, scholarships and officership at the University of Utah Army ROTC. Contact LTC Grant Stanfield at 801-581-6716 fg|j|iiij@| : or email , I \ | grant.stanfield@milscj.utah.edu r, ARMY STRONG: ARMY ROTC. START STRONG. |