Aquinas THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2007 Sports 11 Lakers could use Shaq right now In defense of the Yankees By Kevin Ding been a consistent inside scorer, playing well before injuries struck, The Orange County Register which has prevented the Lakers Odom remains on trial when it By Colin Gibson The Yankees’ starting pitching from controlling the tempo and comes to the Lakers’ case. The Shaquille O’Neal might be just Columnist is holding on by a thread right the Big Dustball right now—the getting back safely on defense. So anchor of the O’Neal trade, Odom now, with Carl Pavano and Mike Miami Heat having become the the Suns don’t just lead the NBA still has never been an All-Star, and With the second-worst record Mussina still working their way first defending NBA champion to playoffs in fewest fouls, they lead this was the season , in the American League next to back from injuries. get swept in the first round since in most points, most assists and whom the Lakers got with Odom the Kansas City Royals, and the Phil Hughes pitched a no-hit- 1957. Still, the Lakers are only best field-goal percentage. but traded for Brown, ascended to third-worst record in the Majors ter into the seventh inning on missing him more and more. Jackson was able to contrive that level in Washington. —only better than the Washing- Tuesday, leaving only because of The Lakers haven’t won a play- some interior scoring in the sev- Odom gradually has worked less ton Nationals—Yankees fans ev- injury. When the starting rota- off series since trading O’Neal in en-game playoff last year against and less as a facilitator in the tri- erywhere are squirming. tion solidifies, the bullpen will 2004, and with a loss to the Phoe- Phoenix—remember the “Inside angle offense—which Tex Winter Rumors are swirling that struggle less as they will have nix Suns in Game 5 on Wednesday Man” film clips?—with Brown, suspected from the start was too manager Joe Torre’s job could fewer innings to pitch. night, the Lakers will bow out of Odom and Walton. This series, much for the 6-foot-10 Odom—so possibly be in jeopardy, and the Mariano Rivera, on the other the first round again despite hav- though, Bryant has made 28 free his greatest effect on offense has Yankees’ top pitching prospect, hand, needs to pitch more in- ing Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson throws—and no teammate has to be inside, even though he’s not Phil Hughes, had a less-than-de- nings to stay fresh. If he can reunited for the past two seasons. made more than six. necessarily a power player. sirable start last week against pitch in every other game, he will At the crux of the Lakers’ fail- Lacking a good base because Odom perked up some in the the Toronto Blue Jays, earning be fine by the middle of May. ures against Phoenix is a lack of of a sore right ankle, Walton has second half of Game 4, but Jack- himself an 8.31 ERA. And let’s not forget the record- interior force, obviously O’Neal’s been mishandling the ball. son saw mostly more powerless- Starting pitchers have been setting month Alex Rodriguez specialty. The Lakers rank last Odom’s left-shoulder and left- ness from his team. struggling to make it out of the had for April, tying the record among 16 teams in fouls drawn elbow injuries have left the Suns “Our big guys didn’t play physi- fifth or sixth innings, and when for most home runs in a month. this postseason, a glaring demon- sinking in and playing him for a cal,” Jackson said. “They let them they do manage to escape with a Derek Jeter has also been on stration of just how soft the Lak- drive to his left, as inevitable as bounce us around. Little things lead in the late innings, the bull- fire since the end of last season, ers have been on offense despite a the hands on a clock going left. like that were irritating for us as a pen has been blowing it. Even with 32 hits in the first 22 games basic plan to get the ball inside. Brown wasn’t counted on for coaching staff. We were soft.” Mariano Rivera, who only gave this year. The rest of the Yankees “That’s been a problem for us much offense this series because That was hardly the case during up 15 earned runs all season last offense has to start clicking on all series,” Bryant said. “It wasn’t of a sore left ankle, but backup O’Neal’s time, but the only appear- year, has already surrendered all cylinders in order to produce something that just kind of start- also hasn’t ance he made at Staples Center on nine and has two blown saves. more wins, and the pitching has ed (in Game 4). It’s been challeng- produced in his Jackson-assigned Sunday was when a few clips of With all of these factors work- to be more consistent. When ing for us to get the ball inside, role of bench scorer. Miami’s loss were played on the ing against the Yankees, the team that happens, the rest of the Ma- so we’re going to try to do some The Lakers have wound up des- overhead monitor specifically to is nowhere near finished for the jors better look out because the things off transition, some things perately dependent on Bryant for celebrate O’Neal’s elimination. season. Yankees are going to the World off the screen-roll and just moving dribble penetration, but Phoenix’s Without having traded O’Neal, It seems that no one remem- Series to earn their first title the ball. Try to get it in there, try defense is fully prepared for that. the Lakers wouldn’t have Odom, bers how the Yankees started since the 2000 Subway Series. to draw some fouls.” Jackson tried to get the Lakers Brown and Jordan Farmar (and their season two years ago, So although the future for the The only game the Lakers had to work meticulously on offensive perhaps not even Bryant, who when they were 8-19 before they Yankees right now looks dim, more points in the paint was Game execution in practice Tuesday. re-signed after O’Neal was trad- were able to turn it around and have hope, Yankees’ fans—there 3, when center Kwame Brown was Odom was able to practice with- ed). Still, if the team loses again eventually make the playoffs. are better times on the way. powering inside for 19 points as a out the brace on his hyperextend- Wednesday night, Lakers fans will As for Torre’s job, have no perfect complement to Bryant’s ed left elbow and said afterward: only grow more wistful for the fear. George Steinbrenner real- Colin Gibson is a sophomore 45- perimeter attack. The “We just want to take it posses- good ol’ days. izes that Torre is a valuable as- English major from Sugarloaf. Lakers won. sion by possession and take our “This is the third year we’ve set for the Yankees and will not But Brown has been a one-hit time. ... If we don’t do it (Wednes- kind of been struggling a little fire him over an extended losing wonder this series. Neither he, La- day), it’ll be our last game.” bit,” Bryant said. “And it’s very streak. mar Odom nor Luke Walton has Although he started this season frustrating.” Pletcher plans platoon of five at Kentucky Derby By Neil Milbert times. Their combined earnings add up to sistant for six years) and Nick Zito in 2005. Pletcher, the national champion trainer for Chicago Tribune $3,186,974. Lukas hit the jackpot when Grindstone won three consecutive years. Last year he outdid Pletcher believes he has them at their and Prince of Thieves ran third, but Zito got himself by winning 100 stakes races, 57 of Like all thoroughbred trainers, Todd best for the biggest race of their lives, and zilch. The best his horses could do was a which were graded, to break records held by Pletcher dreams of winning the Kentucky he seems undaunted by the pressure to seventh by Bellamy Road. Lukas. And his horses earned $26,820,243, Derby. produce his first Derby winner after failing “I don’t know if there’s an advantage to besting by almost $6 million the record he What makes Pletcher’s Derby dreams with 14 starters in the last seven years. more horses or less horses,” said Pletcher, set in 2005. different is that they’re now in five dimen- “From a standpoint of preparing horses whose best Derby finishes were seconds “Todd is the consummate professional,” sions. to run in races, this is what we do on a daily by 55-1 long shot Invisible Ink, one of two said Satish Sanan, co-owner of Any Given He will send out five starters, a quarter basis,” he said. “Whether all five of these horses he ran in 2001, and 30-1 long shot Saturday. “I’ve had Wayne Lukas as my of the field, in quest of his first Kentucky ran in the Kentucky Derby or not, we’d still Bluegrass Cat, one of two he saddled last trainer; I’ve had Bob Baffert as my trainer. Derby victory in Saturday’s 133rd running be getting them ready to run in some race. year. “You can become so channeled on If you were to pick the best characteristics of America’s most celebrated horse race. The stakes just happen to be a lot higher in one horse you might over think it a little and qualities in a trainer, Todd has all of The members of Pletcher’s platoon are this situation.” bit. In years past, I just don’t feel like we’ve these. He’s probably the best-organized in- Circular Quay, Scat Daddy, Cowtown Cat, Only two other trainers have started as brought the best horse to the race. I’m hop- dividual there is.” Any Given Saturday and Sam P. They have many horses in the Derby, D. Wayne Lukas ing this year one of ours is.” won 18 of their 36 starts and have fin- in 1996 (the year after Pletcher left him to Running outstanding horses in high- ished out of the mutual money only seven start his own stable after working as an as- profile races has become second nature to “Golf” continued from page 12 Sports Quiz! finishing in the top 10 players ments,” he said. “And when I had Courtesy of MCT Campus at the tournament. to make my final decision, it was 1.) The Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James averaged 27.3 points, 6.7 re- Slivinski and Cortes established probably the most difficult deci- bounds and 6.0 assists during the regular season. He has averaged at themselves as leaders from the sion to make all year.” least 27 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists per game for three consecutive beginning of the season Coach Also pertinent to the golf team’s seasons. Name the only other NBA player to accomplish that feat. Karpovich said. success were a few players: soph- “They played well the whole omore Chuck Volpe and juniors year,” he said. Jerry Bednash, Rich Crowell and 2.) Name the starting five for the Portland Trail Blazers team that won Cortes, a four-year letterman, Nick Salezze. the franchise’s only NBA championship, in 1977. has played with the Royals golf There were no freshmen on the team since his freshman year. team this year. 3.) Who was the only player who primarily played defensive back se- From that first year until this year, Coach Karpovich, who has been he has grown in his abilities, and at Scranton for 23 of his 26 coach- lected as the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL ? Coach Karpovich noted that he ing years, cites the willingness couldn’t “remember many individ- and talent of his student athletes 4.) Who was Aundray Bruce? uals being starters for four years” as the reason he keeps going. consecutively. “The kids keep my enthusiasm,” 5.) Who was the last wide receiver taken No. 1 overall in the NFL draft? In addition to Slivinski and Cor- he said. “They’re a great group to tes, the Royals’ other starters in- be around. They’re always intent cluded junior Sean Moroney and on improving their game and they Photo courtesy of university athletics

*Answers upside-down on page! sophomores Tom Sohns and Chris practice very well. I’m very fortu- department

the New York Jets in 1996. in Jets York New the Mefford. nate to have the quality of student COACH ED Karpovich’s golf 5.) Keyshawn Johnson, a wide receiver from Southern California, was selected by by selected was California, Southern from receiver wide a Johnson, Keyshawn 5.) At the championship tourna- athletes on the team.” team placed second at the

th during a nondescript 11-year career. career. 11-year nondescript a during ment, Mefford placed 11 . Mo- This was the last season the golf Freedom Conference champi-

st onships April 28 and 29.

bounced around the league with the Falcons and Los Angeles-Oakland Raiders Raiders Angeles-Oakland Los and Falcons the with league the around bounced roney came in 21 and Sohns, with team would be technically par- worst overall No. 1 picks in NFL draft history, never played in a Pro Bowl as he he as Bowl Pro a in played never history, draft NFL in picks 1 No. overall worst a 258, finished in a three-way tie ticipating in the Freedom Confer- the team will play in a Landmark

rd

1988 NFL draft, taken by the Atlanta Falcons. Bruce, considered to be one of the the of one be to considered Bruce, Falcons. Atlanta the by taken draft, NFL 1988 for 23 . ence. However, in the Landmark Conference championship with

4.) Aundray Bruce, a linebacker from Auburn, was the first overall selection in the the in selection overall first the was Auburn, from linebacker a Bruce, Aundray 4.) Coach Karpovich used nine of Conference, there are few colleges schools that have golf teams and

by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1956. 1956. in Steelers Pittsburgh the by his players this season in starting and universities with golf teams. those that would like to have one.

3.) Gary Glick, a defensive back from Colorado A&M, was selected No. 1 overall overall 1 No. selected was A&M, Colorado from back defensive a Glick, Gary 3.) positions because he could pick After speaking with Susquehanna As for this past season, Coach

Hollins and Dave Twardzik. Twardzik. Dave and Hollins from such a talented group of ath- and Moravian, Coach Karpovich Karpovich looks back with great

2.) The Trail Blazers’ starters were: , Maurice Lucas, Bob Gross, Lionel Lionel Gross, Bob Lucas, Maurice Walton, Bill were: starters Blazers’ Trail The 2.) letes. has decided to keep the same satisfaction.

1960-61 to 1967-68. 1967-68. to 1960-61 “We had such a deep team that schedule next year playing with “I expected to have a successful

Robertson accomplished the milestone for eight consecutive seasons _ from from _ seasons consecutive eight for milestone the accomplished Robertson they were certainly worthy of Freedom Conference teams. Once season and it certainly turned out 1.) accomplished that feat with the Cincinnati Royals. In fact, fact, In Royals. Cincinnati the with feat that accomplished Robertson Oscar 1.) playing in matches and tourna- the end of the season comes, then that way,” he said.