Archive

Remembering Billy Knight

by Steve Lavin March 25, 2009 in Men’s Basketball

As basketball coaches we strive to win, but also do everything we can to help our players develop skills and habits of mind to last a lifetime.

As basketball coach at UCLA, I was fortunate to have teams that advanced to the NCAA tournament in six consecutive seasons (1997-2002). Our teams made five Sweet Sixteen appearances and one run to the Elite Eight. Naturally, it is satisfying to win games, yet these achievements simply fulfill short term goals.

True success in athletics is… Continue Reading

Four C’s or One?

by Elliot Olshansky March 17, 2009 in Hockey

The Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award is presented to a player who makes achievements in four C’s – classroom, character, community and competition – but in the end, it all comes down to just one.

Certainly, we want our student athletes to reach their potential in the classroom, excel in competition, and be active in the community. However, for the college athlete, it is strength of character that serves as a driving force behind the other three C’s.

It doesn’t always… Continue Reading

Bringing Baseball Back

by Mark Etheridge March 13, 2009 in Baseball

Baseball used to be America’s pastime.

With the right ambassadors, it can be again.

Major League Baseball has soiled what once was a good name with steroid scandals, outrageous payrolls, and a disconnection with a section of the fan base.  The “me-first” mentality has caused some fans to look elsewhere for their baseball fix.

Judging by record attendance in the college game, many fans are finding amateur play to their liking.  Many of the knocks found in… Continue Reading

Balancing the 4 C’s

by Mel Greenberg March 10, 2009 in Women’s Basketball

When the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award was created in the 2001-02 season, it was more suited for collegiate men’s basketball than women’s basketball.

Male players were leaving schools at a growing rate to pursue their NBA dream and the envisioned windfall of dollars that come with signing pro contracts.

The women, on the other hand, had no reason to depart before receiving their diplomas.  In fact, it was the diplomas themselves that were their real pro contracts despite the… Continue Reading

The “4 C’s” in College and Beyond

by Bill Plummer III March 06, 2009 in Softball

With the softball season underway, this year will be the last time many players suit up with their school colors.  The seniors want to make their senior year the best it can be with the probability of competing after college very low.

Unlike some of the other sports, the softball players aren’t going to be leaving school with the hopes of landing a big professional contract or with hopes of playing in the Super Bowl or the Baseball World Series.

Playing in the Women’s College… Continue Reading

Why We Remember the Seniors

by John Akers March 04, 2009 in Men’s Basketball

If you hang around this business of covering college basketball long enough, the case of Benjamin Button no longer seems so curious.

In a college-basketball writers’ world, we age as our collective subjects remain forever young.  While we turn gray at the temples, heavy around the middle and thin at the top, they are always 19, 20 and 21 years old, full of that certain something that makes us so interested in them.

Yet, upon closer inspection, the individuals we cover are… Continue Reading