Marcu 22, 2005

THE CADRE ¢ I1

SPORTS

A Kick in the Shins for the Sporting World

Liam McKenna Sports Editor

Sports seem to be suffering from another black eye after a week which highlighted problems both past and present. In fact, I vaguely remember speaking to men’s Hockey captain Joel Ward on St. Patrick’s Day, who agreed with me (in total sobriety, I may add) that sports has not been in more trouble ever. Actually, I can’t confirm that. Maybe I wasn’t even speaking with him at all. Here’s the bare bones of how bad things were last week, anyway:

Umpire favorite Roberto Alomar decided to retire this week, citing back and vision problems that . would no longer enable him to catch a tough ball, swing a hard bat, or lean over to spit at an umpire. Alomar, who quoted in all seriousness “J said I would never embarrass myself on the field,” bears many distinguished statistics and retires with the cited quote referring to his deteriorating skills. Alomar made headlines throughout the sports world Se rage in 1996.

In other baseball news, Mark McGuire continues to deny alleged steroid use, refusing to comment on most questions sent his way by reporters in a fashion reminiscent of the Clinton sex scandal. Sammy Sosa also refused to criticize “Big Mac” for the allegations, despite McGuire having defeated him in the then record-setting home run race of 1998.

In hockey, another proposal

was rejected by one of the sides, commentators continually wrote articles that no one cares to read any longer, and Bob MacKenzie, fairness, appeared to have had grown yet another chin.

On the courts, the Orlando Magic’s star Steve Francis kicked a

photographer in a perfect Dennis Ridnvia 4 impression. He is

currently suspended indefinitely by the

league, and once again the NBA is faced with a very ugly incident between players and spectators in what seems to be one of the worst bad publicity years for the sports world in decades.

With steroid scandals, lockouts, a plethora of legal charges and abominable player-fan relations, one can only wait for next year, when hopefully there will be hockey, clean baseball after American legislation on steroids, and basketball one can feel free to watch without changing the channel to something less violent (“Ultimate Fighting Championships”). But then again, I’m sure we were all

_ Saying the same thing last year, after

Kobe Bryant’s rape charges, Todd Bertuzzi’s War on Moore, and Montreal's brutal beating of a helpless Boston team in the first round. It seems sports today has come to the point where it’s no longer a competition of which sport is the best, but which is the least respectable.

Hopefully, we’ll at least get hockey back before Mark Recchi has to retire.

in all |

SPORTS SHORTS

Liam McKenna Sports Editor

UPEI Honours HOF Inductees

The fifth annual UPEI Hall of Fame Induction will see five new members inducted into the ranks of the prestigious elite who already line the halls of the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre. The inductions will be accompanied by a hearty meal on April 4", and for $50 a plate (eight for $385!) you too can enjoy this event.

Inductees this year include the late Brian Chandler for rugby, hockey, and basketball; the 1983 men’s soccer. Panthers; Dave Shellington, for hockey; Libby O’Brien, for field hockey and basketball; and Mike Lyriotokis, for football.

The event will also see the naming of this year’s Rookies of the Year and Most Valuable Players. The women’s soccer team will also be in the limelight for their accomplishments this past season.

Tickets are available until March 31*.

Edwards Receives All-Star Call

Toronto native Sherone Edwards of the men’s basketball Panthers has been elevated to the status of All-Canadian this past week, only the third Men’s Basketball Panther ever to reach such a milestone, and the first since 1989. Edwards led the league in scoring and averaged 20 points per game. Edwards was also awarded the Frank Baldwin Memorial Trophy as AUS MVP.

Edwards adds his name to a list that includes Curtis Robinson (1986) and Peter Gordon (1989). The Cadre Managing Editor Ryan Gallant managed a meager 3 12 votes in the All-Star ballots, almost double what he should have received in the Student Union elections.

UPEI Hockey Ladies Cruise to Final

Despite a last minute charge, the Western Wild were overpowered by the Lady Panthers in semifinal action on March 7", allowing the women to advance to the Island-wide final against the winner of the Capitals-Ice Cats series.

The game, played in front of upwards of 200 fans, saw the Western Wild charge back from a 3-1 deficit in the third only to lose 5-3. UPEI saw five minors called against them, of only eight calls in the entire game.

The Wild will play the loser of the Summerside-Charlottetown game.

UPEI scorers included Leanne Lambe (1-1), Katrina Gaudet (1-1), Jennifer Sullivan, Genna Phalen and Kendra MacDonald. Assists went to Jennifer Conrad (2), Ainsley McNeill and Maeghan Rogers.