4 • December 1998
Sports
Rams set to prove CIAA naysayers
wrong; team focuses on transition
BYRASHEEDOLUWA
Sports editor
For ihc Winsion-Salem Suite Rams
basketball team, the key theme for the
1998-99 basketball season is transition.
Last year’s squad was coached by Sam
Hanger, and it featured six seniors. A year
later, things have changed dramatically.
Hanger is no longer coach and many of the
players on that team are also gone.
The team this season has an altogether
new face. There’s a new coaching staff
headed by former Fayetteville State coach
Rick Duckett, and a roster with six fresh
men. On top of that, Duckett also has imple
mented an entirely new offensive and
defensive system for the players to learn.
With that many changes it’s easy to sec how
the Rams were picked to finish in last place
of the CIAA’s western division.
Despite the adversity, Duckett remains
very optimistic ab-)ut the teams chances this
season.
“1 don’t care what the poll has to say,”
Duckett says. “I’ve never coached a last
place team in my life. The players know
better than to accept it (the poll).”
For the Rams to prove all the naysayers
wrong, they must receive leadership and
stability from their returning core of play
ers. Among those in this group who are
expectcd to give big contributions are Larry
Patterson, a junior, and seniors Tyrone
Thomas and Windeli Owens.
“Tyrone Thomas, Windcll Owens and
Larry Patterson have all been impressive
wiih their work in practice,” Duckett says.
“They all play a part in the team’s perfor
mance this year.”
Thomas, the team’s leading scorer last
year at 14 points a game, is penciled to start
Photo courtesy of William McNeill
(From right, top) Philip Stitt, Farrah Fryar, Bradley Taylor, Kamal Oliver,
Marcus Best, Corey Thompson, Russell English, Sherman Ward, Kevin
Henry, Larry Patterson, Keith Breland, Chea Johnson, William McNeill, Rick
Duckett; (bottom) Torrian Wynn, Tyrone Thomas, Trevor Redfearn Wendell
Owens.
as point guard. Although Thomas is shoot
ing guard by trade, the coaching staff does
not expcct the move to have that big of an
impact on his game.
“Tyrone will probably get better looks
in our system than he got last year,”
explains assistant coach William McNeill.
“The way our offense is designed, there will
be more offensive balance. This will allow
Thomas not to force so many shots.”
Larry Patterson will join Thomas in the
backcourt. The coaching staff expects
Patterson to have a breakout season.
“Larry is the best outside shooter
we’ve got,” McNeill says. “We’ve been
working with him and it shouldn’t be out of
the question for him to average 18 points a
game for us.”
Owens will man the power forward
position. At 6’8”, the coaching staff
expects Owens to cause many offensive
problems for the opposition. “We expect
Windeli to take advantage of the opportuni
ties in our offensive system,” says assistant
coach Philip Stitt. “He’ll be able to take the
ball outside for the jumper or the quick
drive to the hoop.”
Aside from those three positions, the
rest of the starling line-up is still in the air.
However, the early favorites appear to be
freshmen: guard Marcus Best and forward
Corey Thompson.
SEE BASKLTBAU-. PAGE 3
Broadnax prepares to lead Lady Rams
hyrashi-:rdoluwa
Sports editor
When Kesha Broadnax first uonned a
uniform for the Lady Rams basketball
team, there was one thing you could tell
from the beginning. She is definitely a per
son who speaks her mind. Although that
trait is commended by a lot of people, ref
erees seem to have a different way ol
rewarding honesty and forthwright dia
logue. As Broadnax has found out o /er the
years, it’s called the technical foul.
.Sow in her senior year, Broadnax slill
remains opinionated. Experience has jusl
made her change the way she approaches
things.
"I'm a very aggressive and outspoken
person," Broadnax says. “But I’ve grown,
and thai (problems with officiating) isn’t
going to be a problem this year.”
^6We use last year’s
failure as motivation.
The whole team has been
working hard. This off
season is the hardest I’ve
ever trained.
- Kesha Broadnax -
Other people have noticed a change in
Broadnax as well. “ She’s growing in terms
of maturity,” says coach Terri Eanes,who is
entering her .second year as a Lady Rams
assistant coach. “When I was a coach at
Livingstone and we played against her, she
Oluwa
could get really rattled with technical fouls.
Now she does a good job of keeping her
head in the game.”
What Broadnax hopes to focus solely
on this year is basketball. Last year the
Lady Rams successfully came in first place
of the CIAA’s Western division only to get
upset in the semi-finals tournament by
Livingstone. That loss still bums in the
mind of Broadnax.
“We use la.st year’s failure as motiva
tion,” says Broadnax. “The whole team has
been working hard. This offseason is the
hardest I’ve ever trained.”
Using that same determination,
Broadnax also hopes to motivate her team
mates. In carrying out her duties, Broadnax
admits that at times she’s been misunder
stood, but her intentions are good. She
plans to lead the Rams to a victory.
Autopsy
gives final
rest to Flo Jo
Now maybe the dead can rest in
peace. Maybe a family can rest
a little easier without being
bombarded with whispers and allegations.
However, one thing is certain: The rest
of the world will go on as if nothing ever
happened.
When Florence Griffith Joyner was
pronounced dead
on Monday, Sept.
21, many people
had their own
spin on the situa
tion.
Some people
mourned the
passing of a great
African-
American role
model who will
ingly gave back to
the community.
Some people mourned over the pass
ing of a great athlete who exuded power,
grace and sensuality all at once.
And then there were the cynics.
Those who questioned the
cause of Griffith Joyner’s
death included jealous competitors and
jaded track and field observers who had
marveled at her accomplishments in the
1988 Olympics. There are those who
looked in awe at her sudden rise and sud
den decline. Those who fell prey to the ugly
side of human nature, and slung accusa
tions of steroids.
The whispers abounded: How could a
woman achieve such a perfect body with
out chemical assistance? How could a
woman her age die of a heart attack? Joyner
Griffith’s family was asked to answer ques
tions while they were picking up the pieces.
On Saturday, Oct. 24, a coroner’s
report announced the cause of death as an
epileptic seizure, and not the result of
steroids.
The story was overlooked in many
newspapers because the Yankees had won
the World Series the night before.
Although the story didn’t receive as
much press coverage as it deserved,
Griffith Joyner’s family can rest easier
now.
They can do what many people across
the nation have done move on.
Have a safe
holiday season.