The Blue Banner
Above
Well, this week baseball starts to "crank" up, if crank can really be
used for the start of another year of the plodding event that is
"America’s game." (Welcome back, Wendell.)
And among the usual various stories about injuries and arbitration,
the one that has drawn the most attention has to be Jim Palmer.
Remember Palmer, the good-looking, smiling wonder pitcher? (Yes,
the one in the Jockey shorts ads.)
Palmer is trying to return to the game as a pitcher for the
Baltimore Orioles after a long absence from the game that made him
a star. If he succeeds, he will be the first member of the Hall of
Fame to actually still be playing.
Maybe Palmer will be able to pull off this "miracle" comeback.
Maybe he’ll be able to squeeze one or even two more seasons out of
his tired arm. Maybe the Orioles, just trying to find someone that can
pitch, will close their eyes and pretend that it’s the "old days" again
(when Palmer couldn’t walk, but he could throw).
I’m probably being too hard on Jim, and in all honesty I’m a sucker
for a comeback and part of me would truly like to see him pull this
off. But the thing about this whole situation that really bothers me is
that it is just part of a recurring trend. A trend of sports legends who
knew when to quit, but unfortimately didn’t know how to stay quit.
Palmer’s name is just the latest on a list that includes Lyle Alzado,
Sugar Ray Leonard, Mark Spitz, and George Foreman. What these
men all have in common is that in their prime they were the best at
what they did. But now, years later, they have faded to memory and
been replaced by new stars. The Alzado’s and the Leonards have
given way to the Derrick Thomases and the Evander Holyfields. Or
so we thought. But suddenly, our memories have come to life before
us. Throwing, running and hitting again, or at least trying to.
The reason for this surge of comebackitis is not real clear. At first
one would jump to the conclusion that it’s the bigger paychecks that
have become so common in today’s sports world, but in most cases
I don’t think so. I think it’s the glory, the chance to shine in the
spotlight again. A chance to hear the crowd roar, to feel the
adrenaline pumping, and to know that you’ve still got what it takes to
be a star.
Leonard was one of the first. He stepped back into the ring after
supposed career-ending surgery and a lengthy absence, and against
great odds defeated Marvin Hagler. Next he stepped into the ring
with Roberto (no mas) Duran and also did well. As this comeback
tour reached its peak, Leonard, awash with his success over fellow
washed-up has-beens, stepped into the ring with a new up-and-
coming star and...was almost killed. Leonard, still reeling, promptly
retired and left boxing probably forever.
But, before Mr. Reality woke Leonard up with a right between the
eyes, several other sports legends got inspired by his success and
decided they too "had what it takes" to still compete.
Among these was Lyle Alzado, who made a big show of returning
to the LA Raiders and trying out. Head Coach Art Shell, a former
Raider himself, decided that Alzado didn’t have what it took. Not to
make the contending Raiders anyway, who, without Alzado, won their
division and made it to the AFC title game before losing to Buffalo.
What Shell did took guts. Sports comebacks are the latest fad and in
Raider territory, Alzado has about the same status as Elvis does to
people in Tennessee. But Shell wanted to win, not promote legends,
and thus, he quietly pushed Alzado aside and the former star faded
to the background.
Maybe I’ve been too harsh, but this is something I feel very strongly
about. Just because someone is old does not mean that they are
finished. Moses Malone, Walter Davis, and Phil Simms are examples
of those older athletes who still have the ability to continue. But there
comes a time when the old guard should make way for a new wave,
just as the ones before them did when they were young and full of
potential.
Anyone who saw the Kareem Abdul Jabaar farewell tour in the
NBA two years ago knows that it was painful. He tried, but the magic
that had been the skyhook was gone and he was constantly taken
advantage of by younger, quicker, stronger players. Kareem had hung
on too long and it showed.
In comparison, Julius Erving’s farewell tour a few years earlier was
done with style and at the perfect time. We still got to see the Doctor
soar occasionally and knew he was going out on top. But, if Erving
tried to make a comeback, it would ruin it.
: As a final plea to our sports legends, you were the greatest but all
things end. Let us remember you when you were great, not when you
'-'were old.
; And, on a totally unrelated and probably unprofessional topic,
.'goodbye Melvin, you will be missed.
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Lady Bulldogs start tourney play
The Lady Bulldogs look to make
a strong showing in the conference
tournament this week at Radford.
They open play today with a first
round game against Coastal
Carolina.
The two teams split during the
regular season. The Lady
Chanticleers scored a 76-72 victory
on Jan. 12 in Asheville. The
Bulldogs returned the favor with a
convincing 84-69 win on Feb. 16,
in Conway.
The Lady Bulldogs have
progressed immensely during the
last two seasons under Coach
Lalon Jones. Before she came to
UNCA, the team had won only 12
conference games the past three
seasons. They have matched that
total in her first two seasons.
Tournament play has been a bit
of a problem for the Lady
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seasons. They have lost four
straight Big South Tournament
games, and seven straight in
holiday tournament play.
With improved play during the
second half of the season, this
team looks to have a great chance
of breaking the string of losses.
One reason for the team’s
improved play is the leadership of
senior Ashley Woods. She is
second on the team in scoring with
a 13.5 average, and leads the team
in assists with a 4.1 average. She
has been deadly from 3-point
range, connecting on 68 treys for
the season. Her 3-point totals lead
the conference by a large margin.
The team as a whole leads the
league with 120 3-pointers made
for the season.
If they can put together two
good halves against Coastal
Carolina, they should be able to
break their jinx in tournament
play.
Determination mom u, Dime Mmcy
Junior guard Kate Kinney takes it to the hoop against
a Liberty defender eariier this season at Justice Gym.
Tournament Pairings
First Round , Thursday . Mar. 7
#1 Campbell First Round Bye
Game One
#4 UNCA vs . #5 Coastal Carolina
4p.m.
Game Tvi/o
#3 Augusta vs . #6 Winthrop
6p.m.
Game Three
#2 Radford vs. #7 Chaa. So.
8 p.m.
Semifinals, Friday, Mar. 8
Game Four
Campbell vs. UNCA/Coastal
Carolina winner
6p.m.
Game Five
Augusta/Winthrop winner vs.
Radford/Chas . So. winner 8p.m.
Saturday, Mar. 9
Finals
Semifinal Winners , 7:30 p. m .
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