April 19, 2001
Name: Robbie Smith
Sport: Baseball
Position: Second Base
Year: Sophomore
Recent athletic accomplishr
ments: Hit the game-winning
home run Saturday against
Charleston Southern.
Favorite class: Physiology
Hardest class: Chemistry
Favorite professor: “Vick. Dr.
Vick.”
Plans after graduation: i’d like
to play baseball, but if not HI
probably be a personal trainer.”
Favorite music group: Outkast
Favorite song: B.O.B.
Favorite movie: Forrest Gump
Favorite TV show:
SportsCenter
Favorite book: The Mental
Sports*
Game of Baseball
Hobbies: “Eating ... 1 like to
dance a little bit.”
Favorite sports team: Atlanta
Braves
Dream vacation destination:
Spring Training in Florida
Most prized possession: “My
autographed Mickey Mantle
card.”
Person you’d like to meet:
Jesus
Pre-game rituals: “A quality
dance In the locker room. We
always have some good ones
before games.
Page 23
Vick is prize of NFL Draft
Photo courtesy of michaelvick.net
Michael Vick can outrun defenders or step up and throw the deep ball.
Justin Mazzola
Sports Editor
The NFL Draft takes place
this week and everyone is talking
about Michael Vick. The fleet-
footed lefty quarterback has a
powerful arm and jaw-dropping
footwork.
Tiie San Diego Chargers are
poised to snatch the Virginia Tech
legend with the first pick in the
draft. But will it matter? Do first
round quarterbacks always equal
success for the team?
Since 1990,19 quarterbacks
have been selected in the first
round. The four quarterbacks cho
sen first in their respective draft
have all had solid careers, includ
ing the Browns’ Tim Couch, who
was drafted two years ago.
Four first round quarter
backs have led their teams to the
Super Bowl and only two, Steve
McNair and Drew Bledsoe, were
with the team that originally
drafted them.
Neither of them won the big
game.
McNair’s Tennessee Titans
lost to Kurt Warner and the St.
Louis Rams. In the 1997 Super
Bowl Bledsoe’s Patriots lost to
the Green Bay. Green Bay was
quarterbacked by MVP Brett
Favre.
Neither Favre nor Warner
was a heralded prospect coming
into the league. Favre spent years
as a backup while Warner toiled
away in the Arena Football
League before getting his chance
in the NFL.
There are many other suc
cessful quarterbacks who were
passed over in the first round, but
there are also many first round
quarterbacks who have not lived
up to expectations.
Heath Shuler, Rick Mirer
and Andre Ware lead a crop of
disappointing first round quarter
backs.
Other forgettable picks in
clude Jim Druckenmiller (1997)
and Ryan Leaf (1998).
Druckenmiller is now employed
by the XFL while Leaf is being
fitted for a straight jacket.
It’s obvious Vick is the best
offensive player in this year’s
draft. Drafting the multi-talented
quarterback will bring the Charg
ers plenty of excitement and me
dia attention. Making Vick the
No. 1 selection will not, however,
guarantee San Diego a champion.
Do-It-Yourself Sports
Justin's weekly tip so you can show off for your fiiends.
Coming to net is a crucial should be upside down with
part of tennis, Pete the handle facing the sky.
Sampras, Boris Becker and With your other hand, point
John McEnroe all used their
net skills to win Grand Slam
events. But if you’re going
to come to net, you have to
know how to handle the lob.
The overhead is probably
the most fun shot in tennis,
but it's also one of the
toughest. When the lob is
above you, bend your
knees slightly and pull your
racquet back as If you're
scratching the center of
your back. Your racquet
at the ball to help your eyes
follow its flight. You can
also use your hand to
shield your eyes from the
sun. Ultraviolet rays can be
a bitch, you know. When
the bad is just above your
extended hand, swing your
right arm up while rotating
at the hips. Follow through
with your swing and yeti
menacingly. Staring down
your opponent is also an
option.
Brou^t to you by your friendly
nei^borhood sports editor -
Justin IVIbzzola