Page 7 Wednesday, June 3,1998

Kin Easter I 7,000 WARM BODIES NEEDED Sports Editor Game tickets I New editor must sell for says 'Hello' Division I-A Riverdale coach Gary Rankin's advancement old buddy is back home now in Osh J Kin Easier -I..I I Kosh, Wisconsin. Keith Cartwright is working on his internship at the The 1998 MTSU Season Football Northwesterner, so Rankin and Ticket Blitz is now underway and anyone else that fell prey to Keith's leading the charge to attract 17,000 pen can now breathe a little easier. Blue Raider fans across Middle But Keith has done a great job Tennessee to suuport Big Blue isn't covering sports for "Sidelines" the athletic director Lee Fowler, but his last two semesters and I have some soulmate, his wife. big shoes to fill, so here we go with Carol Fowler was given the reins the next 10 issues of sports and Monday as the Blitz Campaign • recreation at MTSU this summer. chairperson to push ticket sales in the Many of the Blue Raiders are four home-game stand next season home for the summer, but that may increase the attendance preparations are always being made average at Blue Raider games. for another year of athletics. So well Seventeen thousand must be the keep you up to date. average attendance for each Blue Chad Gillis/staff Since we have only one issue per Raider game in 1998, home or away, in A construction worker pours cement into a mixer on the second level of the football stadium press box. The stadium is week, we'll select the biggest order to compete in Division I-A in nearing completion of the phase 1. professional sports story that has 1999. happened the past seven days and Only 2,800 season tickets were give it to you. purchased last season, but Fowler and help." "We already recognize the value of coach Booths Donnely, not only wishes And like always, the beautiful her committee of "quarterbacks" along One quarterback and MTSU alum, MTSU into our area, but also in terms to draw a crowd through a winning Liz Rhea, will do a lot of talking to her and talented Jennie Treadway will with their "players" were confident of a substantial drive for programs in season, but also through the give her advice on how to exercise that the job gets done. old college buddies. football, and baseball in renovations of the stadium and the and eat right, because that's what all "We're counting on everyone to buy "That's who really need to help us," order to have wonderful opportunities growth of the university. athletes, even sports fans, need to tickets for friends, family, neighbors Rhea said. for people to exist in Rutherford "When they see our new stadium know. and other people they know," Fowler The Blitz Campaign will not seek County to see first-class football in a and we convince them that we're the • The NBA Eastern Conference said. "We're hoping the citizens that help from alumni only; they are also fabulous new stadium," Rutherford No. 1 university in the state, we can turning to local government officials finals was something to remember. will be reaping the enormous economic County Executive Nancy Allen said. sell tickets," Donnelly said. and corporations. . No one will forget the last second success (due to the I-A move) will Perhaps, the biggest campaigner, shots, the skirmishes, the fines and the suspension. Above all, fans won't forget the Cobb fills controversial calls that were or weren't made. Smith catches a Tiger Phil Jackson was fined on his in for the comments about the officiating early Raiders' inside game, which is her senior year, where she was in the series. The nice guy off the Auburn freshman something Smith has been searching awarded All-State. , court, , was angered for. "She will be a big asset to the BIG guys "I will go in and contribute as MTSU program," Insell said. "I think "Game six was a signs with the much as I can," said Davenport. she will come in and play Leading junior college staging for many "Whether it's getting rebounds or aggressively. She is a well-rounded graduate will take his Lady Raiders blocking shots, I'll do whatever I can player, not one-dimensional." athletic events across to win games." The Lady Raiders may sign height to Wiel's squad Her height wasn't the only another Southeastern Conference the country. History Q Kin Easier staff advantage Smith saw in Davenport, transfer in the near future, according 3 Slaff Reporls repeats itself." but her advanced skills, as well. to Smith. Coach Stephany Smith may have "Chrissy is grabbed her best college transfer yet. what you would Johnny Cobb, a 6-8, 225-pound by a lack of officiating. Auburn freshman Chrissy call a banger," center from Newsport News, Va., There were many fouls called in Davenport signed Smith said. has signed to play the remainder of the game, but there continued to be an Ohio Valley "She is good his college basketball career with some shoving and pushing. Conference defensively. the Blue Raiders. Sometimes the ref didn't see it, and financial aid She is strong Cobb is a recent graduate of sometimes he wouldn't call it. It's all agreement to move and she can Huntchinson Community College in based on judgment. to the Lady Raider hold her own. Kansas, where he averaged 12 Nine times out of 10, if the game basketball "She has a points and nine rebounds in helping is close or there is much at stake, the program. good pace the Jayhawks to a 27-8 record refs will take a lot of heat. "I'm very understanding last season. Hutchinson finished For example, in game six, the excited," of the game. fourth in the nation for the 1997-98 Bulls grew tired of piddling with the Davenport Davenport said. "I Not everyone season, losing in the semifinals for Pacers. They wanted to end this know quite a few has that." the National Junior College series with a win on Friday night. people at MTSU that I went to school Davenport Tournament. They demolished Indiana in game with, played with on a team or starred for the "Johnny made great strides five, so one more win and the Bulls against them." Lady Golden during his two years with us. He is didn't have to worry about playing a Davenport signed with Auburn Eagles of an extremely good athlete who still deciding game seven. while she was in high school but Shelbyville has his best basketball ahead of The Bulls were down by two decided to go to school close to home Central from him," said Randy Stange, his junior points with seconds remaining in the in Shelbyville. 1993 to 1997. college coach. game. It was up to Jordan to tie the "The (level of play in the SEC) In those four Cobb averaged 14 points and 10 game, but he fell. And he fell hard. conference had a lot to do with her seasons, she led rebounds per game as a senior at It cost the Bulls the game. The decision and the distance from Shelbyville to Demby High School in Newport ball went into the hands of Derrick Shelbyville to Auburn," Smith said. two state News. McKey, he nailed a foul shot and the Davenport will not be eligible to championships "We are really pleased that Pacers won 92-89. play the next season but will have under head Johnny has decided to play the final Bulls coach Phil Jackson went three years of eligibility beginning the coach Rick two years of his collegiate career at ballistic. "He got tripped - what in 1999-2000 season. Insell. Middle Tennessee," said Wiel. basketball is more evident than a In collegiate play, the Auburn "He brings us both experience guy getting tripped? He didn't fall on freshman averaged 2.9 points and 2.2 Shelbyville and ability and the possibility of his own." Photo provided rebounds in 9.8 minutes per game won the state immediate help us front, where we Jackson may be right. Jordan and carried a 61.4 championship 'I've got it!' will be trying to make up for the loss may have been tripped by McKey. percentage. Davenport's Former Shelbyville standout Chrissy Davenport goes for a of three excellent seniors from last Many people will agree with him and The height of the six-foot-two post junior year and in a high school state tournament matchup. The Murfreesboro year's squad, Aylton Tesch, Mantia this game will be one of the most will be a great addition to the Lady took runner-up native decided to return home and play for the Lady Raiders. Callender and Malachi Allen." talked about matchups in NBA playoffs history. But similar to others in all types of sports, the atmosphere was tense. The finals were one game away and the Chicago dynasty couldn't come to 'Sidelines' game of the week an end. Game six was a staging point for overcome the Pacers' determination there was a strange feeling although he missed a chance to many athletic events across the Bulls hang on in and grit. surrounding this game. convert a three-point play. country, history repeats itself. It all came down to the final five Could this really be the end of Mark Jackson threw away a The same thing happens close to minutes, and Michael Jordan and his the run, the "Last Dance" as coach pass on Indiana's next possession — home. In junior high, dixie youth or game seven to teammates displayed intensity and Phil Jackson keeps calling it? one of 13 miscues by the Pacers. The little league athletic events, parents control as they came up with all the It might have been, if not for the Bulls would miss their next two shots, or coaches will threaten to beat up make the finals clutch plays. way Chicago played at the end. running the clock inside of 30 seconds referees after the game. Much of The Bulls scored nine of the The game was tied 79-79 going as they retained possession with their anger is founded upon their CHICAGO (AP) — This was not game's final 13 points and watched the into the final five minutes, and that's another offensive . ignorance of the rules of the game. the expiration date for the Chicago Pacers fail to find ways to match them when the Bulls showed exactly how Still trailing by four, Derrick Bulls. Their dynasty has survived to as they moved on to a date with the valuable five years of championship McKey took the first open shot see another series. Please see EASTER, page 8 beginning Wednesday run experience can be. presented to the Pacers and missed a The Bulls made it back to the night. scored on a wide-open jumper. Jordan rebounded, NBA Finals on Sunday night and kept Chicago will be playing for its jumper after grabbing one of Chicago's the Pacers fouled and his alive their quest for a sixth sixth championship this decade, and 22 offensive rebounds, and Jordan with 8.9 seconds left © championship by outlasting the perhaps to somehow keep their drew a double-team and fed Luc completed the scoring. 88-83 in a riveting dynasty intact — quite an Longley for a corner jumper while the Jordan, who struggled mightily Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Pacers were committing three with his shooting accuracy at times, Please fax any information on accomplishment for a team that was finals. greeted on its home court Sunday by a turnovers and missing a shot. still finished with 28 points, nine sports and recreational In a tight, back-and-forth game A putback by activities to Sidelines at 904- mood of desperation and finality. rebounds, eight assists and two steals. that culminated two weeks of struggle made it 85-83 with 2:12 left, but Toni Kukoc contributed 21 8487 or call the Sports desk at In this city where fans have and drama, the Bulls used their ability become spoiled by the routineness of Pippen came right back with a points, including 13 in the third 898-2816. to excel in pressure situations to titles and the greatness of Jordan, running hook shot with 1:59 left — Please see BULLS, page 8 V