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Thursday, August 11, 2005
Bogues makes transition to sideline with Sting
Continued from page 1C
into coaching, he undoubted
ly is also using the knowl
edge he leaned from his pre
vious profession As a point
guard for the Hornets, the
13-year NBA veteran did his
fair share of coaching on the
court.
“1 pretty much ran the
show,” said Bogues. “1 got a
feel of the game and knew
where the ball needed to go,
who needed the shot at a par
ticular time and where they
could be successfiil. When
you have that responsibility,
you feel pretty much like a
coach out there, putting play
ers at their strengths more
than their weaknesses. Some
things you just never lose.”
Thou^ Bogues wiU surely
endme some growing pains
in the transition from player
to coach, the added caveat of
coaching women hasn’t
proven to be a complicating
factor
“Basketball is basketball,”
he said. “An elbow is an
elbow, and you come off the
screen the same way.
Basically I know that they
are not above the rim, it is a
more fundamental game,
more of a team concept. I
need to understand what
that all means and put them
in the best situation where
they can be successful.”
Ex-coach and current
General Manager TVudi
Lacey concurs.
“As Muggsy said, basket
ball is basketball,” she said.
“A purist of the game wants
ball movement, sharing the
basketball, and playing hard
all the time. Those things are
consistent.”
Indirectly paving the way
for Bogues, another ex-NBA
star has enjoyed success as a
WNBA coach, helping to pop
ularize the hiring of NBA
icons. Bill Laimbeer, a “Bad
Boy” with the world champi
on Detroit Pistons of the late
1980s, led the Detroit Shock
to the WNBA title in 2003,
his first full-season of profes
sional coaching.
“It’s a proven fact: former
professional players under
stand the game .and how to
treat the players,” explained
Laimbeer. “These aren’t col
lege players, they are profes
sional players, and these
coaches have been there
before.”
Bogues has already gar
nered acclaim from another
player. Sting point guard
Helen Darling, who also
moonlights as an assistant
coach at the University of
Memphis.
“He’s a point guard, and as
a point guard, you should
know the game,” Darling
said. “Overall, his knowledge
of the game is great, and
there are other little things
that he wiQ get eventually.
But he has a great support
ing staff of assistant coaches
and I think he’ll be alright.
He’ll get these 10 games of
experience to finish this sea
son, and next year he’ll come
in with his own philosophies
and plays. He’ll be just fine.”
For now, Bogues’ goals
remain simple. His focus
rests on learning about his
team as they build to com
pete next season.
Major changes for J.C. Smith
Continued from page 1C
team and won (in) the CIAA. I don’t think he
was diinking the Kool-Aid. I fed we can do it
in three years or before then.”
That the Bulls are even talking about such
lofty goals can’t mask Smith’s 1-19 record over
the last two seasons. McNeill was hired in
December to pull the program out of the CIAA
cellar, a familiar spot under former coach ^Ihn
Haikness, The first order of business was to
recruit players who can compete for playing
time immediately
“We’re real pleased with the depth that we
have now, but we have to improve,” McNeill
said. “Each player has to improve to be better,
... Every position is wide open (so) that you’re in
a position where kids are competing more. No
one is locked into any position.”
Except Belton, an all-CIAA pick in 2003 who
led the Bulls with 38 receptions last year.
“That’s part of coach Mac’s plan,” he said “He
brought those guys in for a reason. He feels
they can come in and contribute. I guess coach
recruited a few more people who can put us in
position to win the CIAA.”
With so many new faces on campus,
McNeill’s task is to get the Bulls ready for the
Aug. 27 opener against GlenviUe (W. Va.) State.
Most of the players reported to camp in good
physical condition, but nothing will be taken
for granted.
“We’re very pleased with the turnout, but
every day is another day,” McNeill said. “You
just want to make sure you check up and make
sure nobody turns in their ke}^ at ni^t and
head home,”
Belton, for one, likes the new approach.
“We’ve got to trust each other and-be a
team,” he said. “Basically just changing our
image, that’s our main key”
Avalon makeover a stunner
WiNFRHD
B. Cross
Test
Drive
gate pattern but the lever
itself is nicely finished. I’m
not crazy about the fake
wood but carmakers are get
ting better at making such.
The finnt seats are big and
comfortable, so long as you
plan to use this as a family
sedan. The rear has ample
room for nearly every hei^t.
The rear seat on my XLS also
recfined. Neat.
The engine got a big boost
in the redesign. The 3.5-liter.
V6 makes 270 horsepower
with nearly that amount in
torque. It’s potent, pressing
back in your seat if you plant
the accelerator to the floor.
TVaction control will step in
before you get silly, but hey,
it’s a family sedan. The dual
exhausts give the engine a
very throaty sound.
Driving the Avalon is a good
thing. It’s by no means a
sports sedan. There’s a lot of
float in the sxispension and
the body leans in comers, but
it’s predictable. It hustles
along quickly on the 17-inch
tires and the ride is comfort
able.
Remember the stodgy
Tbyota Avalon, the Buick
Century of the Japanese
world? Well, Buick updated
the Century a few years ago,
so the Avalon had to follow
suit, right?
Ri^t. Wow, what a differ
ence styling makes. The new
Avalon has new creases in
new places. It actually looks
fast and sleek. There’s a hint
of BMW’s current stjding in
the rear end. It’s a knockout
considering the boxy look of
the old car.
The interior , is as stjdish.
The frumpy dash is now
modem. The climate and
audio control are backlit and
can also be hidden behind a
panel. The gauge cluster is
stylish with crisp lettering
and blue back lifting. The
gear shift is that complicated
Par-Busters open golf
at Crystal Creek
Tlie Par-Busters Golf Group wiU sponsor its open tourna
ment Aug. 20-21 at Ciystal Creek Goff Club, Pineville
Entries are limited to the first 125 players and the entry fee
is $125 by Friday, $135 afterward, A percentage of proceeds
will benefit the Sickle Cell Regional Network and Junior Goff
Program
For information, call John Love at (980) 253-1176 or the Par-
Busters Club House at (704) 334-4237.
• Matt Kilgore and Kendu Dunlap won the TH-Gounty Gloff
Tbumament at Crystal Creek Goff Club in Pineville.
The pair won the 2-Man Best Ball tournament with a com
bined score of 131, two shots ahead of Donovan Daniels and
Chris Hamilton.
• Matt Kfigore won Jacket A at Black Jacket Promotions'
tournament at Crystal Creek Jime 4.
Kilgrore shot a round of 68, one shot ahead of Josh Wilson
and Briaddy Tiddy Dick Stimart was fourth at 70. James
Bouler topped the field in Jacket B with a round of 73, two
strokes ahead of Andrew Robinson.
• Andy Wood shot a two-round total 153 to win the Elite Goff
Association tournament in Greenville, S.C, on Jime 26.
Wood fired a second-rovmd 75 at Verdae Greens Goff Course
for a 153, one shot ahead of Wanda Green and two ahead of
Greg Renfroe. Green had a first-round 75 at Millstone Goff
Village to lead the field going into the final round, but shot 79
to fall behind Wood.
• The foursome of Tbm Beatty, Jamel Aiistin, Mike Boyd and
George Cooper won the Livingstone College Celebrity tourna
ment June 18 at Rocky River Goff Club in Concord The pair
finished with a 57, two shots ahead of Curtis Watkins-, Mike
Watkins, Johnnie Legrand Chris Bennett.
• Tfeam Augusta/Greenwood/Capital Qty/Swainsboro won
the IGA match June 18 at Forest Iffls Goff Course in Augusta,
Ga., with a combined score of 65 among 16 players.
Greenville/Elite/Upstate Birdies also finished at 65 with 23
players Chester/Spartanbmg/Shelby/Charlotte finished
fourth with 69 among 14 players.
Herbert /,. Whte
The XLS stickers at
$30,800. That includes
leather seats (heated up
front), four-wheel ABS, lull
size spare with alloy wheel,
seven airbags, heated outside
mirrors with auto dimming
function, dual climate con
trols, cruise, leather
wrapped steering wheel and
shift knob, Homelink, and
rear reclining seats. Extra
equipment included voice
activated navigation,
upgraded JBL audio system
packaged with traction con
trol and heated front seats.
Add in the luxury stuff and
the price tag jumps to
$35,259. Steep? Maybe, but
it’s as good as any other car
in the price range. It’s also a
Tbyota. Is there more to be
said?
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