8
A date
with
dignity
ADAM LUCAS
Sports Editor
I've tried to stay away from comment
ing on Dennis Rodman, I really have.
Remember how when you used to play
hide-and-seek you'd put your hands over
your eyes, figuring that if you couldn't see
the "seeker," they couldn't see you? That's
how I felt about Dennis. Maybe, I thought,
if I just ignored him, he would go away.
Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to be
playing along with my little game. Rod
man recently enlisted the help of Jesse Jack
son to appeal his 11 -game suspension for
kicking a cameraman in either the leg or,
um, other area, depending on which version
of the story you believe.
Rodman does deserve support in one area
of his defense. If he really did kick the cam
eraman where the guy said he did, then my
version of that body part is apparently lo
cated in the wrong place.
However, Jackson ruined any chance of
credibility for himself or Rodman when he
opined that "The NBA is trying to take away
Dennis' dignity."
Listen, JJ, a little friendly advice: Den
nis doesn't need any help getting rid of his
dignity. If it wasn't taken away with the
head-butting of the official, the showing up
to book signings in a wedding dress, the
autobiography that doubled as a chronicle
of sexual exploits, the don't-view-it-on-a
full-stomach cover of the afore-mentioned
book, or the profane outburst on live televi
sion, then it's ironclad embarrassment
proof.
It's time for Rodman to take a break from
basketball and see if he can sort himself out.
The Bulls are already making it known that
they have no intention of picking up his
contract when it expires after this season,
and few other teams will be willing to ante
up for a one-dimensional player that may
explode at any time.
Even Bill "Why- Worry-About-the-Home
less-When-There -are-Important-Matters-of-
Sport-at-Hand" Clinton has chimed in, telling
the man with the hair of many hues that it's
time to clean up his act.
As always (ahem), our fearless leader is
correct. Dennis, it's time to either play bas
ketball or play RuPaul, and you have to
choose one or the other.
The sad truth is that the only winner in
this whole situation has been sports colum
nist Mike Lupica, who took an early lead in
the Quote of the Year contest when he wrote
that "Jesse Jackson believes that the only
time you use your foot on photographers is
tripping them if they try to get by you with
out taking your picture."
Well said, Mike. As for me, it's time to
retreat to my little corner. With my hands
over my eyes and my hopes high, maybe
Rodman finally will go away.
The Guilfordian
Robinson follows his faith
TIM FORBES
staff writer
Size 17 shoes are hard to fill.
Fortunately, Guilford College won't
have to worry about filling men's basket
ball player Tharon Robinson's large-sized
shoes anytime soon.
Robinson, a sophomore from
Gainesville, Florida, came to Guilford
with the intent of leaving it after a couple
of years. Originally, he wanted to use
Guilford as a springboard into Division I
athletics.
"I wanted to be a better basketball player
so I came here...but I eventually wanted to
go back and play in Gainesville, but now I
have decided to stay," Robinson said.
Robinson led the Quakers last year in
scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots.
He was also named ODAC Freshman of
the Year.
I
Kgky|flgH 9k
AD "search" is baffling
CHRIS MILLSAP
staff writer
Guilford College has long been known
for its academic excellence, but little is
ever mentioned about the athletic pro
gram. In consideration of this fact, the
question is sometimes asked, does the
athletic program here at Guilford receive
equal treatment as that of the educational
program?
During the past year, a series of events
have unfolded to make one think that this
so-called question of unequal treatment
is true.
sports
Continuing the impres
sive trend this year, the
sophomore forward leads
the team in steals, blocked
shots, and rebounds.
His basketball skills are
only partially what makes
Robinson special. When in
terviewed for this article,
men's head coach Jack
Jensen spoke glowingly
about Robinson for thirty
minutes, hardly mentioning
his skills on the court.
"He has three things that
carry him through," Jensen
said. "He has a big heart,
he has his Bible, and he has the will to study.
He will make it."
Robinson graduated from Gainesville
High School with dreams of becoming an
In early 1996, head football coach
Mike Ketchum was called to a meeting
with the Provost. During the course of
this meeting, Coach Ketchum was asked
to fill a vacancy in the Athletic Director's
postion, which had been vacated by
Gayle Currie.
Ketchum was to become acting Ath
letic Director for three to four weeks. As
this time period ran out, Coach Ketchum
was once again asked to meet with the
Provost. This time, he was asked to fill
in as Athletic Director for the remainder
of the year.
The responsibilities of a college head
February 7, 1997
engineer, but he
did not come to
Guilford with the
math background
most physics stu
dents have.
He barely
passed Algebra II
in high school, but
he has worked
hard to make sure
his dream contin
ues to develop.
"What he has
learned in the last
two years has been
amazing," physics
professor Rex
Adelberger said.
"When he came to
Guilford, I don't
think he had ever
worked on a com
puter. Now he can
write sophisticated
computer pro
grams."
• Tharon at
tributes his talents
on the basketball
court and his drive
Guilford sports information
in the classroom to God. "God has given
me the gifts to do that stuff," he said.
He is a deeply religious individual,
and to the pleasure of his coach and pro
fessor it is his faith that keeps Robinson
at Guilford.
"I don't want to leave because of my
work with New Generation Ministries,"
he said. "It is a Christian
organization...that preaches and teaches
the gospel of Jesus Christ."
It sounds like Guilford should be
thankful Robinson isn't leaving-his
shoes would be hard to fill on more than
just the basketball team.
Tharon Robinson Stats
1995-96 1996-97
PPG: 13.0 9.2
FG%: 52.0 46.7
FT%: 64.4 64.7
RPG: 7.5 6.3
'Career Double-Doubles: 9
•Career Highs
Points: 22 vs. Averett, *96
Rebounds: 15 vs. Ferrum,
'96
Blocks: 4 twice, most
recently vs. Bridgewater, '97
coach are immeasurable. With the numer
ous responsibilities of Athletic Director
piled onto that, Coach Ketchum has done
the best that he can. Even with this fine
job, though, the athletic program may still
suffer if a new Athletic Director is not
found soon, which would allow Ketchum
to give his undivided attention to coach
ing his football team.
An attempt to reach the Provost for
comment was unsuccessful. However,
Coach Ketchum said "that although I am
acting Athletic Director, I do know that
the search for a new Athletic Director is
underway."
Guilford sports information