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SPORTS
The Sunday Independent, March 28, 2004
Week In Review
by Shaun Drover
Kobe Bryant: Player or played?
I
tem: Kobe Bryant’s sexual assault case continued as the alleged victim was forced to testify about her sexual history. Comment: When celebrities are involved in cases of such magnitude, it’s difficult to conclude whether they are, in fact, guilty, or being taken advantage of because of their massive bank accounts. Bryant is a huge celebrity in Los Angeles, a city full of stars. I have never been a huge fan of Bryant, but the charge against him has left me with mixed feelings. In the past, Bryant has been considered a “mama’s boy” by many of his teammates. When on the road he was known to stay in his hotel and play video games while his teammates hit the clubs. From a young age his work ethic
towards the game has been tremendous. His reputation and dedication to his profession makes it difficult to believe he is even capable of anything criminal. There can be a fine line between rape and consent and it’s perplexing to think that a player of Bryant’s status would risk his career by stepping over that line. If it wasn’t Bryant would she still have cried rape? Wilt Chamberlain admitted to sleeping with thousands of women throughout his career. For his generation, Bryant shares a similar superstar status and would normally have little difficulty finding a sexual partner. If this young girl was violated, then Bryant deserves full punishment regardless of his celebrity
Provincial athletic awards announced
T
he annual Molson awards were given out last week. A program of Sport Newfoundland and Labrador, the awards recognize the best athletic achievements in the province in 2003. The winners included Laura Murray of St. John’s who took home the Margaret Davis Memorial Award for junior female athlete of the year. Murray took the swimming community by storm, setting 12 provincial records. In addition to being named to the Atlantic allstar team, she was also the youngest competitor at the short course senior nationals. The Joe Mullins Memorial Award for junior male athlete of the year went to Ronnie Sweeney of Mount Pearl, while the Graham Snow Memorial Award for executive of the year was handed to Lise Rowe of St. John’s. Rowe is the director of competitions for Swimming Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as the meet manager for the St. John’s Legends. The John Drinkwater Memorial Award for coach of the year went to Doug Partridge of St. John’s. Partridge has been developing a top quality women’s basketball
program at Memorial University for a number of years and was named the top basketball coach in the country for 2003. The Ed Browne Memorial Award for team of the year went to the Cathy Cunningham Curling Rink. The rink came from behind at the provincials to claim the 2003 Provincial Scott Tournament. Advancing to the Canadian Scott Tournament of Hearts, the team again came from behind and took a silver medal. The Elizabeth Swan Memorial Award for senior female athlete went to St. Brides native Jenine Browne of MUN’s Sea Hawk basketball squad. Browne continued to show that she is one of the top players in Canada, by dominating in the Atlantic University Basketball League. At the Canadian level, she was the leading scorer in the country, named to the all-Canadian team. Mount Pearl swimmer George Colbert won the Fred Heyward Memorial Award for senior male athlete of the year. Colbert set three provincial records in 2003 and qualified for the 2004 Canadian Olympic trials in two events.
status. I’m sure the U.S. judicial system will uncover the truth of the matter. After all, it is a black man being tried for raping a white woman in the state of Colorado. Ya, I’m sure that will provide the stage for a fair trial. I’m in no position to decide his guilt or innocence, but I know it’s only normal to be skeptical of this woman’s claim when semen from another man was found on her underwear during a hospital exam. WILL FLATROCK FLY? Item: Does Flatrock have what it takes to mount a comeback in the Labatt Avalon East senior hockey final? Comment: It is a fair assumption to say most of us were
expecting a much closer and more exciting start to this best of seven series. Game four goes tonight at 5:30 p.m. at the Southern Shore Arena where the two teams will clash once again. It is extremely difficult to rally back after such a disappointing start to the series. The ability to focus and maintain confidence after experiencing such lopsided losses is emotionally challenging. In this sport, at this time of year, lack of confidence and momentum may be a hurdle that Flatrock may not be able to jump. It can also be a wave that Southern Shore could ride to the Herder final. Either way, the winner of this series will face another tough battle in the hunt for the Herder tro-
phy. The Corner Brook Royals rolled over the Deer Lake Red Wings in four straight games in the west coast final. Todd Gillingham was named the series MVP and looks to lead Corner Brook back for another shot at the Herder. Shaun Drover’s column appears weekly.
Sports Briefs
Maharajh high school charity game Memorial’s men’s basketball team will host the third annual Maharajh high school all-star charity game this Saturday. The game will feature the best talent of high school basketball players in the province squaring
off against the Sea Hawks. The teams hit the hardwood at 7 p.m. at the MUN gym (the old Hawks nest) in the physical education building. The teams will hoop it up in a joint charity-fundraiser effort
with the Children’s Wish Foundation receiving a $1,200 donation, as well as gate proceeds being split between the foundation and MUN men’s basketball. Admission will be $3 for adults and $2 for children.
Avondale volleyballer goes national Memorial Sea-Hawks volleyball star Tom Kelly has caught the attention of Volleyball Canada and awarded a tryout for the senior men’s national team. After a stellar season that saw the Avondale native being named an AUS 1st team all-
star, Kelly will travel to Quebec for a selection camp March 2627 to duke it out with the best the country has to offer. The former University of Calgary Dino heads into the weekend with hopes of gaining experience and tips as to where he needs to improve his game
in order to play at the highest level in Canada. Sea Hawks coach Michael Hayes feels as if “This is a great honour and recognition for a tremendous athlete, and also shows progress as well as gains positive exposure for our varsity program.”
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