SPORTS
April 25, 2014
11
Rubin Carter
fought systemic
racism to the end
BY ROBERT PACHECO
Staff Writer
"Here comes the story of the Hurricane,
the man tihat the authorities came to blame
f9
Bob Dylan's 1975 song "Hurricane" was
never meant to be a pop hit The song was
a rallying ay against the imprisonment of
Rubin "Hurricane" Carter.
Carter died on April 20,2014, after a long
battie with prostate cancer.
Unfortunately, the man who defeated 27
opponents in the ring, a corrupt Patterson,
N.J., police department and the judidal
system of New Jersey could not overcome
his final opponent
"Carter, and his story, was my first
exposure to the inherent racism in the
ju^dal system," said Brandon Dobert,
V^cked Weed Brewery bouncer and amateur
mixed-martial arts fighter.
Dylan became aware of Carter's plight
after reading Carter's autobiography, "The
Sixteenth Roxmd."
Carter refused to accept the 1966 triple
homidde verdict by a Patterson, N.J., jury,
which was influenced local law enforcement
'T wouldn't give up," Carter said, in an
interview with PBS in 2011. "No matter
that they sentenced me to three life terms in
prison."
Carter said, he would not stop fighting
just because a jiuy of 12 misinformed people
found him guilty.
"And because I was not guilty, I refused to
act like a guilty person," added Carter.
In an interview with the New York Daily
News, Carter said, "Death may have me on
the ropes, but I will not back down.
'Tm looking death straight in the eye,"
said Carter.
The tenacity in Carter's words seep out
from a life and perspective that few men
have ever been able to live through.
Condolences immediately poured in to
the Carter family.
"God bless Rubin Carter and his tireless
fight to ensure justice for all," said Denzel
Washington in a Tweet.
Washington starred as Carter in the 1999
movie "Hurricane."
Carter and his friend John Artis each
received life sentences, before the New Jersey
Supreme Court acquitted them in 1985.
Artis was falsely convicted of driving
Carter's getaway car during the triple
homicide.
Carter spent 19 of his 75 years in prison,
and Artis served 14 years.
"He was a great boxer, but he inspires
people because of his fight against a system
that imprisoned him for a crime he didn't
commit," said Dobert.
Carter's transcendent story also appeals
to those who are not fans of combat sports.
"It's sad that he passed away," said local
hairstylist Jess Lucas. "I feel like society owed
him the 19 years that they took from him."
Many people were influenced by Carter's
courageous battle against corruption.
"He was called The Hurricane, but I
would say he was more of a catalyst," said
University of North Carolina A&T senior T.J.
Tyson.
"He was one of the first high profile
figures to go public with his unjust
imprisonment and never let up. He never
forgot his experience and was uninhibited in
advocating for others."
Others are just learning about Carter's
legacy.
"I didn't know much about (Carter) until
recently," said senior WUUiam Mcx)re. "I think
there are some things we can learn from
Carter.
"In the words of Dr. Carter, 'It makes no
difference what happens to us in life, because
it happens to everybody... what is important
is what you do with what happens to you in
life.'"
Rubin Carter left the earth on Easter
Sunday.
"Perhaps ... those dose to Hurricane
will find some solace with the coinddence
of his death occurring when people aroimd
the world celebrate another man who was
falsely .persecuted," said Jim Lang, bartender
at Bench Tavern. •'' ’" ’ ’ ’ .
Augusta dazzles golf spectators’ senses
BY KELLI URESTI
Staff Writer
If you saw television coverage of the 2014
Masters Golf Tournament, you saw how the
beauty of the course shone through. To walk
on that vibrant green grass is anotiier story.
On the morning of my arrival, the smell
of the fresh-cut grass fiOQed the Georgia air.
Walking past the concessions, one could
smell an aroma of barbeque sandwiches,
pimento cheese sandwiches and my favorite:
egg salad sandwiches.
The course was filled with patrons milling
around: women in summer dresses and men
sporting golf attire, as if they were Masters
partidpants.
Each tournament day at Augusta National
Golf Qub is magical, but the most important
day is championship Sunday.
The Masters is the Super Bowl of golf, that
all golfers aspire to win.
This is the day Bubba Watson, the victor,
was presented the prestigious Green Jacket,
representing a lifetime membership to the
Augusta National Golf Qub.
Championship Sunday started for me with
a drive down Magnolia Lane. Looking down
the path, I could see the mammoth white
dubhouse.
In front of the dubhouse is a bed of flowers
shaped in the Masters symbol. When you
first walk in the dubhouse, there is a grand
staircase that guides members upstairs to the
dining area.
Beyond the staircase is a wall with photos
of previous Masters champions.
The most recent addUition was Adam
Scott, his two arms extended over his head
celebrating his victory.
The next room is the formal room. This
is the smallest dubhouse, but it is the most
beautiful and pristine dubhouse I have ever
seen.
Once you walk out of the dubhouse you
enter the golf grounds.
In the member's area, there are outdoor
patio chairs and tables spread out in the area
adjacent to the dubhouse.
There is a bar area that serves the most
amazing drink, an Azalea. It is the beverage
of the Masters, made with vodka, lemonade
and grenadine topped with a cherry and an
orange slice as garnish.
On the outdoor tables members order
salads and shrimp cocktails. Every now and
then you will see a hardy Masters burger.
The golf course begins just beyond the
member's area.
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Bubba Watson celebrated after putting a birdie on the 14th hole on his way to win the Master’s.
Directly in front of the media/dubhouse
area is the 18th green. Hole number nine
curves aroimd on the left side of the 18th
green, while hole number one curves around
the right side.
The course is a hilly one, rising and falling
in harmony with the golf holes.
The grounds alternate between beautiful
bright green grass and light brown pine
needles.
Once you get dose to the green, it is
impossible to stand near the ropes, due to
the amoimt of chairs laid out and people
crowding around.
The most beautiful place on the course is
Amen Comer, which refers to holes 11-13.
You are able to see the putting area for
holes 11 and 12 from the stands. You can also
witness the 12th and 13th hole tee box as the
golfers head back to the dubhouse.
Rae's Creek separates the fairway and the
12th green, and the Hogan Bridge ^ows the
golfers to cross Rae's Creek to reach the green.
Hogan Bridge was dedicated to Ben
Hogan, who was a professional golfer from
1930-1971, in 1958 to acknowledge his 274-
stroke record five years before. This bridge is
one of the trademarks of Augusta National.
Behind the green are beautiful azaleas and
tall Georgia pine trees, with sandy beach
white bunkers.
The entire course is a truly beautiful sight,
and the visitors who witness it are the real
wiimers of the Masters tournament.
Turner Votipka aces it on and off the court
BY KELLI URESTI
Staff Writer
'Turner never wants to slow down," said junior tennis player Blake
Brown. "He'll go from practice, to intramural basketball, to soccer."
Junior tennis captain Turner Votipka impacts Guilford in ways no
one can imagine.
Votpika said he enjoys doing
all of diose things and wants to
continue doing fiiem, even if it's
a lot bn his plate. •
"Sometimes it gets-to be a little
stressful," said Votipka. "It is a
lot of work, but because they' are
all things that I enjoy doing it
becomes more than worth it."
Votipka spends -most of his
time working as a residerit
advisor in English Hall and as a
two-time tennis captain.
In his spare time, he's .the
president of Fellowship of
Christian Athletes and the Student
Athletic Advisory Committee | -
as well as the treasurer for the §
College Republicans. |
'The College Republicans ^ .
would be a completely different |
group without Turner," said ^ ;
sophomore Harrison Houlihan, J
rising president of the College
Republicans. "He brings humor
to the group; the meetings he attends are always filled with laughter."
Votipka's cherished values make him an ideal student-athlete at
Guilford.
'Turner is really strong in his faith, which is something that I really
look up to," said junior Amber Weaver, a resident adviser in Milner
HaU.
On the tennis court, Votipka displays sportsmanship, and on and
off the court he expresses dependability and a compassion for others.
V * *
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^'As an RA, he g^ toTi??!mFtMlToi accomplish all those things.
makes you want to work harder.
"And as a person, he's always willing to help a friend out."
Many people who work aroimd Votipka end up becoming a friend
because he is loyal and caring.
Weaver said Votipka is always lending a helping hand.
"I mentioned to him that I didn't understand an
assignment I had been assigned for one of my
classes," said Weaver. "Before I
knew it, I had an email from him
telling me what he thought the
assignment was about and said
that if I needed any help to just
ask."
Whether you need him
as a friend, a teammate or
a leader, he never lets you
down.
Houlihan said he would
not want to be heading
into next year with anyone
else as treasurer.
'Turner is responsible,"
said Houlihan. "He
keeps up to date with the
expenditures."
Even though Votipka is
* , involved in different activities,
never slacks off. He puts 110
percent into everything he does.
"From an RA standpoint, he was
always present for staff meetings and
throwing his ideas out there, as well
as helping to keep everyone in a good mood, since our staff meetings
were early in the morning" said Weaver.
Brown said Votipka strikes a good balance between having a good
time and getting the most out of his practice.
"He can give it everything ... on the court and laugh while doing it,
which is a rare quality in a person."
With to many responsibilities — pla)dng a sport, taking leadership
roles in groups and school — it's hard to imagine anyone being able to