Out of Bounds Modest For years, Michael Jordan wouldn't show you die ability, advertised the Nike phrase The only w'ay to truly understand “Just Do It.” His playing his greatness would have been to career best exemplified that, witness it for yourself. Hvety But with his retirement last game was a highlight reel, every week, it’s time for Michael to move was memorable, and every live by a different phrase. He championship had to bring can no longer show people emotion to any tan that realized his greatness on the court, the importance of that trophy to The argument of whether or that man. It could be said now, not he is the greatest that emotion could he brought to basketball player in history, any fan that realizes the now can only be argued importance ol that man to that through the numbers and trophy video tapes. To fans that watched him play, they know the answer. But to those that didn’t and to the future fans, there needs to be more of an argument. And what better than for M.J. himself to assure his superiority. It’s time to “Just Say It, Michael!" “I am the greatest!” We've heard Will Chamberlain say it. We’ve heard Oscar Robertson imply it, one’s going to ever know who’s the greatest basketball player. I think I’m the greatest - look at my record." It would be interesting to hear what Jordan had to say in response to that. Hopefully someday when today’s young stars begin to claim their greatness, Jordan will remind them where they came from. As Michael paid tribute to the greats before him, so will the future have to pay tribute to the man that brought so much to the game of basketball. For people that didn't witness Jordan's greatness, it is difficult to put into words the talent that he had. Numbers alone tell of his accomplishments, but the style,and competitive spirit of the man build on his legend. Just looking at his stats wouldn’t give you the whole picture. In fact, one picture STUDENT ORGANIZATION Erie Hall 6:00 p.m. Win a Pizza Party for your organization! The Behrend Classifieds Bullseye! Looking for an opportunity to SPRING BREAK 99! own your own business Cancun * Nassau * Jamaica without any of the typical Travel Fi cc and make lots of Cash! hassles? You ve hit the Top reps arc offered on-site staff jobs. bullseye! We require no All-Inclusive Deals, 32 hours FREE Drinks inventory, no delivery, no Special Discounts up to $lOO per person quotas and no experience. Lowest price Guaranteed. Call now for For more information, call details! today. www.classtravel.com 800/838-641 1 814-881-5797 814-873-0836 Students and employees of Penn State Behrend are invited to submit a free classified ad in The Beacon. Types of ads may include personal messages and items for sale. Maximum classified length is 25 words. Persons who submit ads must state their affiliation with Behrend. Classifieds are meant for idividual use. Official notices and group events should be submitted to the Calendar editor. Busi- nesses must pay regular advertising rates. The Beacon can not guarantee the publication of all classified submitted for space purposes. Classifieds should be sent to the Classified editor at The Beacon, Reed Building or dropped off at The Beacon offices, or sent to behrcoll4@aol.com. Deadline for submission for publication in that week's paper is Monday at S:OOPM. in his mind, a legend weeks away from a new era in the NBA, But there is no questa >n that the league will never he the same. With Jordan gone, there is mueh doubt that there will ever he ns mueh We are a coupk attention towards lhe league. Instead of modest role models, the league is heme destroyed bv greedy and arrogant players. The NBA eaii only' pray for "the next Miehael .lonian." “The next Miehael Jordan'.'!"’ Nothing inluriates me more than that statement. The NBA and its fans need to slop fooling themselves. You don't eome aeross a new Miehael Jordan every year, hut it seems as though there is alvv ays some player giv en that title annually before they even step onto a professional basketball eoun. The leaeue continues to make stars out of players I hut aren't. Like Kobe Bryant as the most recent example, flow can a man that doesn't even star! fora mediocre NIGHT Lady Lions vs. Washington and Jefferson team be considered the next M.J.? Jordan never came off the bench, except for the 1992 Dream Team for the simple reason that Chuck Daly wanted to rotate the line-up. That Dream Team was called the greatest team ever assembled in the world, the 1997-98 L.A. Lakers weren't even the best team in the NBA’s Western Conference. So before you begin to say ‘the next Michael Jordan,” think about what that title means. Ask yourself if that hmml \ player really has f V the talent, m _ • creativity, all - ’ around skills, role model competitiveness, 1 r and the importance lg^^to the game as Jordan did. The basketball youth of America have always uttered the phrase, “I want to be like Mike.” Who wouldn’t? To the youth, that meant playing basketball like him, but to any human being, that means to be great at something; to be at the highest level of your interest. In that case, everybody "wants to be like Mike.” That phrase by Gatorade gave people a dream and a goal to be the best that they can be. The gift of giving people that hope may even be more important than the gift of playing basketball. To change the lives of millions of people like Jortlan did can never be matched. 1 can't pul on paper his creativity or importance; but his numbers? I could share a few. When I say a few, I mean only a glimpse of his overall accomplishments. 10 scoring titles. Rookie of the Year in 1484-8.8, Defensive Player of the Year in 1987-88, most Sports JASON SNYDER in ours career playoff points, most regular season and postseason points per game (31.5, 33.4), career high 69 points in one game, 63 points in a playoff game in the Boston Garden against Larry Bird and the Celtics, 55 points against the New York Knicks after comeback, 3rd in career points in only 13 seasons, three stealing titles, three All-Star Game MVPs, two Olympic gold medals, five league MVPs (twice ripped off but went on to beat the MVP’s teams in the NBA Finals), six Finals’ MVPs with six World Championships. All that and a 100% guarantee that there will never be anyone like him again. He started as “Air,” and developed his game to be above and beyond anyone else’s; in more ways than one. Since Babe Ruth, there has never been an athlete that took over the sports’ world like Michael Jordan has. Ruth has survived the test of time, being remembered still as baseball’s greatest. When you hear Ruth, you think baseball. When you hear Jordan, you now think basketball. They both laid down a standard of excellence that future players can only dream to meet. It has been said that the early 1900 s belonged to Ruth, and the late 1900 s belong to Jordan. But as centuries pass and greatness is seen on a larger scale, I can honestly say that the 20th century was Michael Jordan. He captivated the world and is a hero to many. Jordan won’t be forgotten by us fans that had the pleasure to see him and his legend will continue to build as it is found that no one can reach his level of greatness. Jason Snyder is the sports editor for the Beacon. Out of Bounds appears weekly on this page. Housing and Food Service Athlete of the Week Position Date: Erin Phillips, a freshman forward, has been named the Housing and Food Service Athlete of the Week. Phillips helped lead the Behrend Lions to a 2-0 week in the first round of AMCC play. On Wednesday, Phillips was perfect from the floor on 7 x 7 shooting in the romp over the Storm. Phillips earned 14 points and three rebounds. Saturday night, the Behrend Lions welcomed Frostburg State to Erie Hall and Phillips played big. She had a game high 17 rebounds and added 13 points, two assists and two steals. “Erin works very hard for us,” said head coach Roz Fornari. "She is constantly improving and challenges herself to be better everyday. Erin was a key factor in both our conference wins this week.” .On the year, Phillips is averaging 11.3 ppg and 6.2 rpg. She also shoots a team-high 57% from the field while making 34 of 45 (76%) from the charity-stripe. Phillips is a graduate of McDowell High School. Erin Phillips Women’s Basketball Freshman Forward January 11 - January 18 Intramural Roundup January 21. 1999 - The Behrend College Beacon - page 9 BEHREND BRIEFS Rupp named women’s assistant soccer coach Former Penn State Behrend soccer standout Mary Ann Rupp was named as the women's soccer assistant coach this past Friday. Rupp will join head coach Dan Perritano in the Lions' quest to repeat as Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Champions. Rupp is a three-time team MVP for Behrend as she sparked the Lions to a 35-15-3 record in her three years of competing. She was a key part in beginning women's soccer at Behrend as she led the Lions’ club team to a 6-0 record in her first year. In her career at Behrend. Rupp also was well recognized for her individual accomplishments. She is the leader for saves in a career with 208 and also is the leader for shutouts in a season and a career. .She places second for most games played in a Behrend uniform with 48. Rupp laid the foundation for the women’s soccer program at Behrend as she was instrumental in the Lady Lions’ lirst ever AMCC championship and ECAC postseason appearance. Good digs up national recognition Behrend volleyball star Mary Good received national recognition for her performance on the Lions’ 1998 volleyball team. Good ranked 12th in NCAA Division 111 for digs per game with 4.82. Good also broke the school record for digs in a season with 545, previously held by her sister Amy Good who had 414 in 1995. Mary Good now has 741 career digs in her lirst two seasons as she tracks down Amy's record, 1,088 lor a caieei. Good was also named the 1997 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference "Rookie ol the Year” as a treshman and was named to the All-Conferdnce Team in 1998. Penn State Behrend Baseball Clinic The Penn State Behrend baseball team will be holding their fourth annual Boys’ Baseball Clinic on February 20, 1999. "Baseball 101: The Fundamentals” will focus on the fundamentals of baseball such as hitting, bunting, baserunning, sliding, infield and outlield, pitching, catching and the importance ol being a student-athlete. The clinic will instruct 6-1 1 year olds with the 6-8 year olds scheduled from 8:00-11:30 p.m. and the 9-11 year olds from 1:00-4:30 p.m. in Erie Hall. The participants will be instructed by Behrend baseball coach Paul Benim, assistant coaches Marc Burchanowski and Matt Pali sin and the 27 members of the Behrend baseball team. Participants will receive a clinic t-shirt along with a chance for game'jerseys, baseballs and items from minor and major league baseball teams.
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