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The Daily Tar Heel Thursday, April 9, 19375 T : ; . : ; 1 ; : : - : Sports ; ' " : i ;C-: oftbalFs Powers stresses gggbaH team success over her own from pQ9 1 Dy JILL SHAW Staff Writer Aggression, flair, raw talent these ingredients compose the usual menu for superiority among athletes. But the recipe that has catapulted co-captain Maria Powers into North Carolina's softball spotlight includes only a dash of the usual. In fact, it is the rare mixture of modesty and ambition that flavors Powers athletic success. "Maria is very much a perfectionist, w confirmed second-year softball coach Donna Papa. "She's never really satisfied with herself." And while the centerfielder from Richmond, Va., has multiple reasons to be more than satisfied, no accomplishment has prodded self-praise. Her comment about being the only player on the Tar Heel squad selected to first team All-Region? "Shock! Surprise!" followed humbly by, "It felt good because North Carolina was represented." Never mind that the slugger didnt realize that her selection was based on 40 connections among 157 plate appearances. Forget that the outfielder didn't realize that a mere four errors in 48 games had all but sealed her candidacy. ("IVe never kept up with my statistics," she confessed.) More remarkable is that before her selection Powers didn't even know an All-Region team existed. Considering this 86 recognition, one would think that the four-year starter would adjust personal goals towards receiving similar honors during her final year at North Carolina. But, once again, Her Humbleness disproved logic and claimed that making an All-Region team is "in the back of my mind. "I just want to contribute in some manner to the team. If I play well it doesn't have to be recognized." After 20 games this season, a perfect fielding, percentage and a .368 batting average illustrate the magnitude with which she does contribute. "This year she's (an) all-around (player)," offered Papa. "In the outfield she's a steady defensive plaver very fast . . . and smart. She takes charge and keeps them (the outfielders) thinking. "As our lead-off batter, when she gets on we usually score. She's a lot stronger." And what is Powers' assessment of her present performance in the 87 season? "There's always room for improvement." She explained, "Although my fielding is pretty sturdy, I'm not always consistent at bat. I want to have things come out a certain way, and I'm not happy with myself if that isn't the case." As co-captain, Powers' perfectionist attitude creates intangible effects on the team. "She's a big influence very vocal," asserted assistant coach Robin Payne. "Maria wants herself and the team to be the best. She's taken seriously." But all this seriousness can take a toll. So Powers appreciates the comic relief provided by her teammates and especially Payne. "She (Payne) is a scream. She makes you laugh at things, and I'm usually not very good at laughing at myself." Several forms of art, including photography and ceramics, also ease the tension caused by a hectic softball schedule. "My friends tell me I should have been an art major," Powers said, expressing a twinge of regret. Biology, her true major, has failed to spark interest equal to that of softball and art. The senior confessed, "I'm not ready to be out at the other end of a microscope without a lot of contact with other people." In fact, after 11 years of organized softball, Powers is entertaining the prospect of a short-term future in helping the team. "1 don't know that I'm cut out for coaching," she emphasized. Reluctantly, the athlete narrows her occupational choices. "There's so much out there. I don't want to miss any of it." Fortunately, her unique qualities have given her the vantage point necessary to view all the action. Thus far, Powers' mixture of modesty and great expectations has earned her the best seat in the park. The secrets of Spiritual success Starting in the 1988-89 NBA season, North Carolina basketball fans will more than likely have a professional team in nearby Char lotte. Within a couple of hours of most of the large cities in the Triangle and Triad areas, the "Spirit" will provide competition for the Lakers, Celtics and Bulls and the rest of the NBA throng. It certainly is a credit to the state, and particularly the city of Charlotte, that the NBA administration found Charlotte so attractive. The con struction of the new 23,000-seat facility, and the relatively large basketball market in the vicinity, surely added to the appeal of the state's largest city. In the heart of ACC country, the NBA knew it could find hoop enthusiasts. -The question is: Will the Spirit make it? The Carolina Cougars failed in Charlotte back in the American Basketball Association days, as did the nearby Virginia Squires from Norfolk. But that was the ABA, a league that never really could compete with the NBA. With the amazing public appeal of such stars as Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and, of course, Michael Jordan, the NBA continues to break attendance and financial records. This potential for success was cer tainly a consideration for Charlotte businessman George Shinn, who put together the package that so impressed the NBA. Confident of area support (more than 10,000 season tickets have already been sold), Shinn pursued the idea that he felt would be financially reward ing to him and the Charlotte area. But are we going to have to suffer through eight seasons before we get a winner? The Dallas Mavericks, the last expansion team to enter the league, won but 15 games in their first year. Charlotte could very likely be a nice practice game for most of the league's elite unless the following secret automatic quick winner formula is used. We'll start by getting David Robinson in some supplemental draft. Hell be allowed to play at just about the same time we start playing, and with a 1,320 SAT score, he can be general manager as well. Local favorite J.R. Reid wouldn't hurt when he comes out in 9 (?) to fill another front line spot. Walter Davis might have retired by then, but well get him to come back and provide some experience. If Muggsy Bogues isn't drafted or playing for the Globetrotters, we've got to have him Patten McDowell In Your Face at the point. If he can't play, well get Phil Ford, and let him make his comeback in a Spirit jersey. For front line help, well get Wilt Chamberlain to give up volleyball for a while, and come back to re break the scoring record of Kareem. If Warren Martin can give up the Swiss lifestyle, he can be our desig nated intimidator. Bobby Jones will come out of retirement and play for us, or at least be defensive coach, since he lives in Charlotte. Well get Greg Kite and Larry Spriggs to be designated bench warmers, and Jeff Ruland to be our permanent member on injured reserve. Well draft Fennis Dembo because he has a great name, and John Smith because he doesn't. 1 suppose Lefty Driesell can be coach, but it would be tough to keep him away from the broadcasting booth so well let him do both. Okay, we have the makings of a good team, but we are impatient, and we want a contender! Alas! We still need a superstarstar, a catalyst. Hey Al McGuire, we need somebody ready for prime time! Well, we don't have a big guard, (rising volume), and I happen to know a good one that plays for the Bulls! You think we cant altord Jordan? No sweat. First, we tell him he can be the resident golf pro at Finley, and that well find a place on the PGA tour for him in the off-season. That ought to get his attention. Sure, the Bulls are going to try to offer a lot of money to keep him, but we have ways to deal with that, too. Each fan will be required to bring at least one aluminum can to each game to supplement Michael's salary through recycling. Plus, well ask the state legislature to put a tax on dunking at Spirit games. Fans won't mind putting that on their returns, since slams are what they come to see anyway. If none of that works, ' well just ask Hagler and Leonard to have their rematch in Charlotte and give half the earnings to Jordan. Then if that doesn't work, well just ask President Reagan . . . J, Announcing 1987 SUMMER SESSION CALENDAR UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL Preregistratbn: (Summer Session & Fall Semester) April 6- 0 (Enrolled UNC students) SUMMER SESSION CALENDAR Registration Day 1 st Day of Classes Late Registration Holidays Last Day of Classes Final Examinations CLASS SCHEDULES available and offices of advisors Term I Term II May 18 June 29 May 19 June 30 May 20 July 1 May 25 July 3 June 19 July 31 June 22-23 Aug. 3-4 in HANESHALL and deans. THERE ARE TW coming a:nu M.TH T ARM And they're both repre sented by the insignia you wear as a member of the Army Nurse Corps. The caduceus on the left means you're part of a health care system in which educational and career advancement are the rule, not the exception. The gold bar on the right means you command respect as an Army officer. If you're : r OX. T A VT " T- T- 'nnn earning a doin, write: rmy iNurse opportunities, KU. dox U, Clifton, NJ 07015. Or call toll free 1 -800-USA-ARMY. ZI1Y1Y MUESSIX C01PS. BE AllYOtJ tm 'EL i - si early shower. UNC was sparked in that rally, fittingly enough, by Freiling's RBI single and Devy Bell's run-scoring double. Freiling, who entered the game hitting .348, finished the day 4-for-5, including a double and a triple. Bell, who has yet to find his groove, was 4-for-4, with two dou bles, a triple and six RBI. Bell picked up two of those ribbies with a double in the sixth, as the Tar Heels scored five runs on just three hits, thanks primarily to two wildly errant throws by Seahawk catcher Dwayne Graham. Graham's tosses were the perfect symbol for his squad's fielding on the day, which ranged from the adequate to the fearful. At times it seemed that the Seahawk outfielders' preferred method of catching a bouncing ball involved picking it up after it had struck them solidly in the chest. Bell continued to pad his stats in the eighth. Pinch hitter Brian Chandler walked, and Freiling singled him to second. Bell then crushed a ball to the base of the wall in centerfield and lumbered into third with a triple. For the game, Bell came up five times, with eight men on base, and drove in six of them. That could be important for the future. 44 Devy 's had a lot of people on base in front of him recently, and it's been a while since he's driven some runs in," UNC coach Mike Roberts said. "Tonight, .he did get a couple of hits with runners in scoring position. Maybe that 11 loosen him up and next time hell drive them in again." Reliever Tim Straub came on to close out the last two innings,, and after struggling in the eighth, dom inated the ninth by setting the Seahawks down in order. For thp Tar Heels, it was a victory for the St. Anthony's connection, as Straup and Cornacchio both attended the same Catholic high school in Long Island. And that tiny piece of unity provided some much-needed aes thetic relief on a night which was otherwise woefully devoid of it. In a related story, senior pitchers Ken Turner and Todd Kopczynski have returned to the team. The two left practice Monday, intending to quit the squad, after learning that they would not be traveling to N.C. State, but decided to come back, after talking with Roberts. Students learn tasteest skills in Union-sponsored wine class By CORIN ORTLAM Staff Writer "Well, daaahling, I think a nice bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon would be simply maaahvelous with the lobster tails." This statement may sound like it came from a knowledgeable wine con noisseur, but it has three problems. . Students participating in the wine education course sponsored by the special features committee of the Student Union know what is wrong with the statement. First, good wine is not reserved for the elite classes. Second, Cabernet Sauvignon, though it sounds like it should cost $60, is actually only about $8 a bottle. Finally, Cabernet Sauvignon is a red wine and should never be served with any seafood. The wine education course is conducted by Quang Nguyen, member of the Academie du Vin, who has also taught several restaurant staffs which wine to serve with certain meals. Nguyen has not always been a connoiseur of wine. When he first journeyed to France in Sep tember 1973, the only thing he knew was that wine was either red or white, and it tasted bad. Nguyen's affinity for wine began in France. France is known for its "xenophobia" or fear of strangers. Being from Vietnam, Nguyen was not well received at first. "I was in the Burgundy area around 10 p.m. one night and everything was closed stores, hotels, everything," he said. "I was very cold and I knocked on the door of an auberge (inn). The man almost slammed the door in my face, but eventually 1 talked him into letting me come in." Nguyen sat and talked with the man, who became much more receptive when he discovered that Nguyen was a student at the Sorbonne. They talked until 6 a.m. and drank two bottles of wine. "It was the first really decent wine I'd ever had. I was amazed that it tasted good," says Nguyen. After that night, Nguyen deve loped a keen taste for wine. Julie Gray, coordinator of the Wine Education Course, wanted a program geared to Carolina students. Approximately 35 peo ple are participating in the pro gram and will learn about select ing wines, wine etiquette, how to read labels and some wine history and terms. They will sample about 1 5 different wines in the $7 $15 price range. The class was full of sugges tions when Nguyen asked them . to analyze the aroma of a certain wine. One student said that the ,-tyinc smelkd like glue. "Glue?!!" said Nguyen.' "I think weVe been sniffing too much wine," one student said as an explanation. x "This one smells like the barn where my grandfather keeps his lawn mower," said another stu dent about a different wine. This opinion helped illustrate the point that Nguyen especially wanted to emphasize. He said that wine tasting is a very personal thing. "Always remember your own taste is all that matters," said Nguyen. "Anyone can tell you that he loves a certain wine, but it doesn't mean that it will be good to you." Gray and the rest of the special features committee did their homework to make the class available to students. The com mittee had to go through lawyers to obtain all ABC permits. Par ticipants were asked to bring IDs each night and wear armbands. The success of the class in making wine more familiar to students has been worth the effort, however. "Many people think it (wine) is too snobby, and they are afraid to learn," said Nguyen. "Wine is actually a 'people' thing." J 3U LI U U Uv!y LD Wl MIP If fl U u U U vr! Lb LJ U al!z3 u u ULbULI L CZ ZZ 13 2 At a time when the most luxurious item on some luxury cars is the price tag, Peugeot offers the STI 2.2L Electric sun roof. Plush seats. Six-speaker sound system. And a sticker price that proves prestige need not be financially prohibitive. If you like your status simple, visit us for a test drive. n NOTHING ELSE FEELS LIKE IT. PlH EOTT;SDS (f L-yJ C2 FORD ISUZU PEUGEOT mueratro 3 "Best In Glass" WORLD RALLY I HAMPKJN STI 2.2i East-West Expressway, Duke St. Exit Across from the Radisson Inn) , 600 Carr St. P.O. Box 3576 .. Durham, NC 27702 Durham: 682-9171 Raleigh: 828-3449 Ch. Hill: 929-3115 2 r 1986. Peugeot Motors of America. Inc.
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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April 9, 1987, edition 1
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