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Kobe Bryant’s Achilles heel
iniury hamstrings Lakers
THIRTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD BASKETBALL
LEGEND OUT FOR NINE MONTHS
BY MICHAEL CASWELL
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Kobe drives left towards the basket. What's next, an
electrifying dunk? His unstoppable pull-up jumper? Bryant
goes down. Is this a dream?
Bryant was leading a charge to push the injury-plagued
Los Angeles Lakers into playoff contention after an incredible
individual season. This may have been the 34-year-old's best
season yet until the move.
On a simple dribble to the basket against the Golden State
Warriors, Bryant's memorable season came to an end. An MRI
showed a torn Achilles tendon. Just the night before, the Black
Mamba had scored a dominating 47 points against conference
rival, Portland Trail Blazers.
This season, the Lakers have been burdened with team
chemistry and coaching changes, yet Bryant has still managed
to make a push for the playoffs. The only playoffs Bryant will
see this year will be in front of his big screen.
Bryant is expected to be out nine months with an injury
Guilford College Head Athletic Trainer Gary Rizza called
"possibly career ending."
How could something like this happen to an elite athlete
who keeps himself physically in shape year-round?
"Fatigue may have something to do with it," said Rizza.
"Then again, it could be anything."
"The Human Highlight Film" Dominique Wilkins had the
same injury when he was 32 after years of rim rocking. Wilkins
rehabbed for 11 months after surgery and returned successfully
the next season to average a stunning 30 points per game.
Bryant knows how to work hard, so there is no question
that he will be back next season. The question is will he still be
able to perform up to Kobe standards?
"Kobe is the best player in the game with a tremendous
amount of talent," said Caleb Kimbrough, assistant
basketball coach. "I expect a full recovery and a , ,
productive season from Bryant next season."
Some aren't as optimistic about his return
Too many variables must be answered.
"I believe Kobe will be back next year,
but I do not know if he can maintain the
numbers we are use to seeing from him,"
said Terry Whisnant II, Florida State
University shooting guard. "It's a serious
injury combined with old age. It should
slow him down a good bit."
Known for his tremendous work ethic,
it's pretty much a fact that he will rehab to
be game-ready by next season. But, will he
be able to handle the number one option
duties? Bryant was in the top three for
minutes played this season, and he's not
getting any younger.
"Even if you take Kobe out of a game,
there's a lot of times where he'll just
get up and put himself back in," said
Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak
according to InsideSocal.com.
At the tender age of 34, Bryant
monitored his own minutes without
regret. Coach D'Antoni, grow a pair and
sit your best player down.
The NBA is just not the same without
number 24 on the floor. The Lakers
without Bryant is like Kool-Aid without
sugar.
Get well Mamba, get well.
Jim Caldwell finishes athletic speaker series strong, motivates new students
BY NATALIE SUTTON
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Super Bowl-winning coach Jim Caldwell concluded the
Guilford Athletics Leadership Forum for student-athletes on
Sunday, April. 14.
Caldwell is the offensive coordinator for the Baltimore
Ravens, the 2013 Super Bowl Champions. Before that
campaign, he led Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis
Colts to the Super Bowl in 2009.
Among many other accomplishments, Caldwell made
history as the first African-American head coach in the
Atlantic Coast Conference in 1993 at Wake Forest.
"Jim Caldwell encompasses everything that a great
leacier should possess," said former Wake Forest head coach
Dave Odom '65. "He's got great character. He's got great
commitment. He's highly motivated. He's caring.
"I just think he was a great finisher. He capsules it all
together and puts a nice bow on the whole thing."
The forum focused on what Caldwell called the Six Pillars
of Effective Leadership.
According to Caldwell, in order to become a good leader,
one must possess competence, humility, motivation, passion
and, above all, serve the community for the greater good.
"I thought Coach Caldwell's remarks were some of the
best that we've had in this series," said Dave Walters, sports
information director and assistant director of athletics. "He
kept the audience's attention and presented some pretty
clear principles for the students to walk away and apply in
their own situation as leaders."
As Walters predicted, many students left the presentation
feeling like they had acquired useful and relevant skills.
"It was awesome," said junior Madisen Forehand. "He
showed us great leadership qualities that we could all use
and apply in real life as student athletes on campus."
Jonathon Cooper, who played football for the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, found Caldwell's words to
be invaluable.
"Jim Caldwell encompasses everything that a great leader should possess. He's got
great character. He's got great commitment. He’is highly motivated. He's caring. I just
inink he was a great finisher (...) he capsules it all togetner and puts a nice bow on the
whole thing."
Dave Odom '65, former Wake Forest University head coach
"I thought it was very good," said Cooper. "I was just in
(Guilford athletes') places as a student athlete, and I feel like
they could really apply what he was saying on just being
a leader and the effect of the business world, and I really
appreciated it."
Although Caldwell's expertise lies within football,
he referenced subjects all across the board during the
presentation from the Kentucky Derby to NASCAR in order
to explain the importance of commitment and passion to a
sport and to life.
"Jim Caldwell was a very strong presenter and well spoken
individual," said junior Michael Robles. "He motivated a lot
of us, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to hear him."
Overcoming obstacles, he humbly reflected on the
shmggles of being one of few African-American coaches in
the big leagues.
"When I was first coming through the rings, there
weren't many African-American head football coaches,"
said Caldwell. "But, I had the chance to work for some great
people that certainly gave me some great direction, which
helped me out quite a bit."
Caldwell ended by painting a picture of a glass full
of water. He used this imagery to describe how he stays
balanced between all of the different realms of his life.
Considering a typical off-season day for Caldwell consists
of 15 hours at the Baltimore Ravens Corporate Headquarters
and Training Facility, he understands the difficulties of the
juggling act but offered advice to listeners.
"When I'm at work, I pour it all into my work," said
Caldwell. "When I'm home, I pour everything I have into
home. I don't take work home with me. When I'm at church,
I focus on worship. I pour everything I have into church."