Wednesday
April 27, 2005
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Sports
I'm back... For more cash
By Mark Brockett - Sports Reporter
Welcome back to another exciting edition of Brock Solid reporting. I've come to realize a lot of things over the course of three months in regards to sports. One thing in particular is that there is news when there isn't news (thanks, Terrell Owens). It might be best for us to take a look at some of the bigger issues that have taken place in recent weeks.
Major League Baseball is still in the midst of a steroid scandal. The most shocking news was the announcement of Raphael Palmeiro testing positive for an illegal performance-enhancing drug. He was suspended for 10 games by the league. Palmeiro is a player who has put up impressive numbers (500 plus home runs and 3,000 hits) and would likely seem on paper to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. But something like this hurts his chances as much as others key factors like that he's never won a Gold Glove or an MVP of the American or National league. Also, the missing championship ring does him no favors. This revelation may have just sunk the ship that had Palmeiro going to Cooperstown and, in the eyes of many, put another damper on the game. This incident has led to several other rumors and ideas that several superstar players were going to be announced as testing positive for some kind of performance enhancing drug. Is there any truth to these rumors? For the sake of America 's pastime, let's hope not.
The NFL had its share of ups and downs this summer with the Terrell Owens saga and the Randy Moss admission to marijuana use while in Minnesota . With Owens, the folks in Bristol had a field day with the everyday events such as T. O. shooting hoops and doing sit ups in his driveway after being asked to leave camp a couple of weeks ago after an argument with Eagles head coach Andy Reid during an impromptu team meeting. Owens had reported to training camp extremely unhappy due to not receiving a restructured contract like he wanted. In the process, he also managed to alienate teammates, including All-Pro quarterback Donovan McNabb. The coverage that ESPN had on this was eerily similar to a professional wrestling storyline where interviews, altercations, and locker room ego all came into play. If only Owens could see how childish this all has been and……. Wait, he does know that. It is the best card he can play.
With Randy Moss, this just shows even more who Randy Moss is. You can argue that a player's off-field choices should not be included in judging the player on the field, but, with Moss, this adds to the laundry list of headaches that he has already caused. Much like Owens, Moss is a me-first player and while the talent is certainly amazing, it lacks the championship intangible that most fans only wish that they had as both players have never won a ring and may very well never win when their careers are over.
The final topic I'd like to bring up is the NCAA banning Native American mascots from appearing in postseason tournaments. To be more specific, they aren't allowing schools such as the University of Illinois Fighting Illini from displaying any type of depiction of a Native American mascot while participating in postseason play. While I think the NCAA means well, I do believe their heads are in the wrong place. Each year, there are fewer student athletes graduating and that ought to be their main priority. Yes, sports are a big part of our culture and to avoid controversy or offensive positions is ideal, but it is only sports and the main goal should be to encourage academic and athletic behavior in each student athlete so that they may be all that they hope for as well.
Take care and thanks for reading
UIS volleyball solid in home invitational
By Mark Brockett - Sports Reporter
Opening a season for any sport in tournament play can give you an idea of where your team is at. What may even be better is hosting that tournament on your own floor in front of your own fans. That's the luxury that the UIS women's volleyball team had this past weekend as they hosted the UIS Invitational for the second straight year.
The tournament consisted of four teams that all played against each other in round robin play over the course of two days. The teams involved besides UIS were St. Joseph College , Lindenwood University and William Woods University , a conference foe for the Prairie Stars in the American Midwest Conference.
The Stars opened up their season with the second match of the tournament against St. Joseph . In front of a raucous crowd, the Stars played sloppy, yet inspired, volleyball and were victorious 33-31, 22-30, 30-23 and 31-29 to pick up their first win of the season. The Stars had 18 kills from senior outside hitter and co-captain Danielle Crossen and 11 kills from sophomore outside hitter Lauren Sanders in the win.
Sanders also added four service aces. Senior co-captain setter Megan Leonard dished out 27 assists while junior middle hitter Audra Roach had eight kills and three solo blocks.
The win gave the team momentum heading into their early Saturday afternoon matchup with William Woods. The Stars' play improved in some aspects, but still showed some early season flaws in defeating the Owls in four games. The Stars bench proved to be the difference in that match, with junior transfer Angie Pompeo providing solid play along with the final senior co-captain starter Maria Ray. Ray, a middle hitter, had her experience shine through in the winning effort.
This win led to a showdown with the other undefeated team in the invitational, Lindenwood. While the Stars played competitively, the team didn't have the gas in the tank to finish the task and fell in four games. As a team, the Stars realize that they still have work to do and it will only be a matter of time until they start to fire on all cylinders consistently.
Campus Rec Sports Briefs
By Mark Brockett - Sports Reporter
Informal Open Recreation Hours for 2005-06 for the Rec Center ( Fitness Center and Gym) are Monday-Thursday 8am-11pm; Friday 10am-8pm; Saturday 10am-4pm; and Sunday 2-8pm. These hours are subject to change during campus vacation periods or scheduled events. Participants wishing to use the above facilities must submit a valid UIS i-card upon entering the Rec Center .
The Fall 2005 Milers' Club has begun and will conclude Sunday, December 4 . This free 15-week activity promotes cardiovascular fitness through unstructured recreational activities in which participants choose walking, jogging, biking, or other measurable distance exercises. A 150-mile goal is the minimum, but a higher goal may be set. Participants need to turn in weekly exercise slips on Mondays to the CRS Office for the progress chart. Participants must sign up for this free activity at the Campus Recreational Sports Office with a valid i-card in order to participate.
Intramural Sport team entries for Sand Volleyball and Softball are available from the CRS Office located in the Fitness Center . Team entries are due back in the office by 11pm Tuesday, September 6 for both sports. UIS students and Rec Center Members with a valid i-card play for free. Non-Rec Center Members & Non-UIS pay $10 per entry and must sign a waiver form. Participants must be at least 18 years old or a UIS student. Individuals without a team may register as a free agent in the CRS Office. CRS will try to arrange for your participation with a team.
Intramural 6x6 Sand Volleyball League p lay begins Friday, September 9 at the lighted Rec Park Outdoor Sand Volleyball Court . Teams consist of a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 12 players (no more than 3 Non-Rec Center members and no more than 1 current or last year's intercollegiate volleyball player per roster).
Intramural 9x9 Softball League p lay begins Saturday, September 10 at the Rec Park Softball Field. Teams consist of a minimum of 9 and a maximum of 18 players (no more than 4 Non-Rec Center members and no more than 1 current or last year's intercollegiate softball player per roster).
Intramural 2x2 Outdoor Basketball Tournament team entries are due Tuesday, September 13 at 11pm in the CRS Office. Play will take place under the lights at 7pm on Friday, September 23 at the Rec Park Basketball Court . Teams consist of a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 players (no more than 1 Non-Rec Center member and no more than 1 past or present intercollegiate basketball athlete per roster). UIS students and Rec Center Members with a valid i-card play for free. Non-Rec Center Members & Non-UIS pay $10 per entry and must sign a waiver form. Participants must be at least 18 years old or a UIS student.
Tennis Lessons registration is now available at the CRS Office. The deadline to sign up is this Friday, September 2 at 1pm. C lass space is limited to the first 10 participants that register! Lessons run Tuesday, September 6 through Thursday, October 13 (12 classes for 6 weeks). Lessons are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:10-5:50 pm on the UIS Tennis Courts. The tennis lessons will be taught by Assistant Coach for UIS Women's Tennis, former UIS Men's Tennis team player, and former Illini Country Club Tennis Pro, Ivan Czwan. The fee for UIS Students and Rec Center Members with valid i-card is $10 for 6 weeks. Non-Rec Center Members and Non-UIS pay $30 for the 6 weeks and must sign a waiver form. All participants must be at least 18 years old or a UIS student.
Have you ever played or wanted to learn to play Ultimate Disc or Disc Golf? The UIS Flying Disc Sports Club (Frisbee) is seeking members for a CO-ED Ultimate Disc Team. Ultimate is now played on Sundays & Thursdays at 6pm on the UIS Sports Club Rec Field (east of Kiwanis Stadium). The Club is also seeking members to play Disc Golf at area parks around players/ schedules. The Fall Organizational meeting is Thursday, September 8 at 5pm in the Student Center . E-mail interest & questions to Alan at flyingdisc@uis.edu or Campus Recreational Sports at recsports@uis.edu or call 206-6658.
Rec Center Membership for the Fall Semester will be required for participants to use the UIS campus recreational facilities. Students who are registered for the Fall Term 2005 and who are assessed the Activity Fee and the Recreational Gym Facility Fee will have valid i-cards and thus be automatic members of the Rec Center . (Degree-seeking on-line students are the exception and must purchase a membership in order to use the facilities). Faculty and staff employees will need to purchase or renew their membership. Application for fall membership runs through December 18, 2005. The fall term membership fee is $56 for an adult and $45 for youth (14-17 yrs). Additional information is available on the website or is posted in the Rec Center .
How Can I Learn About Campus Rec Sports Activities and Events?
Contact the Campus Recreational Sports Office located in the Fitness Center (SLB 118) at 206-6658; send an e-mail to RecSports@uis.edu ; or c heck out our website at www.uis.edu/recsports/ .
UIS volleyball solid in home invitational