2C
SPORTSAEtK Cinlam $ot
Thursday, April 8, 2004
VUen nns for Olympics
Continued from page 1C
called Livingstone and came
down here and went from
there.
“Nobody really pushed me
to the goals of going to col
lege and competing on the
college level, so I had to do it
on my own and do my own
goals, which is what I’m
doing right now.”
As a sprinter, Vaden’s suc
cess has been eclipsed only
by his team-first attitude.
Although he doesn’t run in
front of thousands or with an
elite program, Vaden’s work
ethic and humble approach
makes him special.
“He’s a real treat to coach,”
Livingstone head track
coach Clifton Huff said. “He
beats you to practice He real
ly would like to compete on
the next level and he realizes
he doesn’t have a whole lot of
excuses or anything of that
nature. He takes the good
with the bad and just keeps
on working.”
Huff believes this year’s
Olympic trials should give
Vaden valuable exposure to
world-class competition, but
sees a brighter future as he
matures physically and
improves his technique.
“I think his year is going to
be 2008,” Huff said. “He’s 23
years old and most good
sprinters start running good
at 26, 27, 28. Michael
Johnson was 31, 32 when he
was breaking world records.
For some reason, these guys’
bodies totally mature when
they reach 26. I think
between the time he turns
26 to 30, hell be one of the
main sprinters.”
But it’s all relative. A six
time Division 11 all-America
and two-time CIAA champ
in the 100 and 200, Vaden’s a
known commodity to oppo
nents. The rest of the world
will have to find out in due
time, perhaps at the U.S. tri
als, or the Penn Relays in
Philadelphia later this
month.
“I guess it’s more fun being
the hunter,” he said. “Not a
whole lot of people know
about Livingstone, so right
now I’m himting. It’s a goal
I’m working toward, trying
to get some respect for the
school.”
Devils get more than due
Continued from page 1C
isn’t like Princeton, which competes in the Ivy
League, where EVERY team plays hy the
same rules - no athletic scholarships. Yet
Princeton usually makes the NCAA tourna
ment and represents itself well, all with play
ers that alumni, fans and cohunentators don’t
regard as campus deities. And, yes, there are
deities at Duke, starting with Erzyzewski
himself
Let me he clear: Duke players are NOT
dummies. My point is, schools like Stanford
and Wake Forest are prestigious, too. And
those schools remain annually competitive,
with far fewer deities on campus.
And then there’s Duke players’ reputation
for being cherubs.
They’re not.
Former player Greg Newton was suspended
after the Student Court found him guilty of
cheating, while another ex-Devil, Casey
Sanders, was accused of assaulting his girl
friend. Several current players faced serious
allegations, too. J.J. Redick (marijuana) and
Shelden Wilhams (rape) were both cleared. As
a freshman, current star Chris Duhon was
cited for underage drinking.
Plus, there’s the cockiness the Devils show.
Redick is notorious for his taunting. Then
again, he’s not as bad as former star Christian
Laettner, who once stomped a player in the
chest on national television - and stayed in
the game! And there are times Krzyzewski
needs his mouth washed out with soap.
No, none of this means Duke is a bunch of
bad guys. You cannot deny the program is one
of the best m the country. You caimot deny
Krzyzewski is a coaching genius who gets the
best from his players. You cannot deny Chris
CarraweU and Shane Battier and other ex-
Dukies are some of the best people you’ll ever
meet.
It just irks many people without a rooting
interest in Duke when the things that make
the Devils like most other programs - off-the-
court issues and on-the-court arrogance - are
overlooked to turn the team into All That’s
Right with College Basketball.
Hopefully, Krzyzewski knows his team has
benefited, not been hurt, from being so suc
cessful.
Hopefully, he knows the reason so many
people don’t want Duke to vrin is because the
program has competed with a head start for
so many years.
Columnist C. Jemal Horton can be reached at see-
jemalwrite@aol.com.
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Bonds rises on HR list
By Mark Babineck
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON - Barry Bonds
has never been closer to his
godfather Willie Mays on
baseball’s career home run
list than he is now. Bonds hit
his 659th home run Monday
night - one behind Mays for
third all time - in helping the
San Francisco Giants begin
the season with a 5-4 come
back victory over the
Houston Astros.
Bonds said he feels no pres
sure as he bears down on his
beloved godfather.
“I don’t understand the
word ‘pressure,”’ Bonds said.
“How can you have pressure
when you’re doing something
you love?”
If Bonds can perform
through the pressure of los
ing his father Bobby last year
and dealing with an offsea
son filled with questions
about steroids, catching
Mays should be a piece of
cake.
Bonds went 3-for-3 with a
homer and two doubles
against one of the NL’s top
pitchers in Roy Oswalt. His
sixth opening day homer
came in the eighth inning
with two on and the Giants
down 4-1.
Oswalt, chosen over ex-
Yankees Roger Clemens and
Andy Pettitte to start the
Astros’ first game, stayed in
after assuring manager Jimy
Williams he was fine.
One low-and-away fastball
later. Bonds was trotting and
Oswalt was leaving.
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