This is such a strange time of year for sports. February drags by, with few important events. Then, March storms in, carrying the NCAA tournament, spring training, and the beginning of stretch runs in the NHL and NBA with it. Finally, April, a let-down after March, but baseball's opening day and the basketball and hockey playoff races at least keep it interesting.
But, sometimes, in the excitement of March, some things are easy to overlook. So, April is the perfect time to relax, take a look back, re-live the month that was, and reflect on what happened. The following is a list of my impressions of the past few weeks. It is all opinion and based on very little fact. So, read at your own risk...
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, an NBA player who refused to stand for the National Anthem before basketball games, caused quite a disturbance in the league in March. He was suspended indefinitely, a punishment which was revoked when he agreed to stand and pray, rather than sit on the bench.
What amazed me most about the entire Abdul Rauf situation was the extreme response from both the NBA and the public. Why did it mean so much to the league that Rauf stand for the anthem? They claim that it was reputation- they demanded that, for a positive league image, it was necessary for every player to stand at attention during the playing of the song. Rauf, by sitting on the bench, was not portraying the desired league image, and so he was suspended indefinitely.
Apparently, Rauf's actions were sufficiently damaging to this image to justify an indefinite suspension. But, throwing a punch, putting another player in a headlock, or even headbutting a referee cause much less image damage. A seven-game suspension for one of these infractions is considered extremely severe. Just ask Dennis Rodman. Regardless, Rauf is now standing for the anthem with his hands covering his face. I hope this doesn't ruin professional basketball.
The college basketball tournament, which dominates most of March, is often called the greatest event in sports. This year, Princeton showed why. Without a doubt, the Princeton upset of defending champion UCLA was the most exciting and memorable game of this year's tournament. Throw in the interest in the retirement of Tigers' legendary coach Pete Carril, and it is an incredible story.
More importantly, it is a story that put Princeton in the national athletic spotlight. They were on national television, the first page of many national newspapers, and the topic of discussion of sports fans across the country. Wouldn't it be nice for the same thing to happen to Yale? There is no reason it can't. Making the tournament is as simple as winning the Ivy League. College basketball provides an opportunity unlike any other sport for a smaller athletic program to capture the national stage.
Yale head coach Dick Kuchen will return as coach next season, despite a very disappointing 3-11 Ivy League record this year. Things have to improve. If they do not, a change must be made. Yale has as much athletic talent as Princeton, probably more. It is time to prove it. And for those who claim that Yale is an academic institution, not an athletic institution, check out Princeton's admissions applications next year. National publicity helps every facet of the school.
The Dallas Cowboys are not turning out to be model champions. In the latest Cowboy police blotter, star receiver Michael Irvin has been indicted for drug possession. He was caught in a hotel room with a teammate (tight end Alfredo Roberts), two alleged prostitutes, and plenty of illegal substances to go around. Irvin and Roberts are the fifth and sixth Cowboys in the past year to be either disciplined by the league for substance abuse infractions, or arrested for reasons ranging from sexual assault to driving while intoxicated. Irvin also joins the Pittsburgh Steelers' Bam Morris and the Indianapolis Colts' Quentin Coryatt as star NFL players who could face jail sentences. Irvin, in 1993, said, "If you don't get caught, you're not a criminal." Then, once he was caught on March 3, Irvin looked a policeman in the eye and said, "Can I tell you who I am?" It doesn't matter, Mike. You got caught; now you're a criminal even by your own standards. It's time for these boys to grow up.
On a more optimistic note, it looks like we might get our first full baseball season in three years. Of course, there is still no contract (sound familiar?). But Opening Day was still the most exciting in a long time. It should be a great season: I'll take the Orioles, Indians, Angels, and Yankees (WC) in the AL, and the Braves, Cardinals, Dodgers, and Astros (WC) in the NL. I'm already looking forward to the pennant races. What I'm not looking forward to is next year's interleague play system. Is anyone?
The calm before the storm is almost over. Soon, we will be in the midst of the NBA and NHL playoffs, the Master's tournament, Grand Slam tennis, the NFL draft, and the meat of the baseball season. Confusing? Probably. Exciting? Definitely. Enjoy the ride.
Copyright 1996, The Yale Herald, Inc. All rights reserved.
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