With Earl Austin Jr.
Earl says: Spurs in 7
His boy Tim Duncan on the big stage
A few quick thoughts on the NBA Finals between San Antonio and Detroit.
*The NBA’s best player will be on display once again for the next two weeks. That would be Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs. Duncan is the complete package of a player with championship rings and Most Valuable Player awards on his resume. He just doesn’t get the full credit he deserves for being the best because his game is not sexy, he does not play in a sexy media market and he is not a shoe company darling. His game is consistent, spectacular, yet always understated. Duncan has been a dominant performer in the playoffs despite playing on an injured ankle.
Many so-called fans will turn off their television sets because Shaq and the Heat were eliminated. That’s too bad. You will be missing one of the greatest of all time on the biggest stage.
New Captain Late
The Pistons showed great character and moxie in coming back to win Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals on Miami’s home court. Win or lose, the Pistons can indeed be considered champions and not one-hit wonders. It’s really hard to win a Game 7 on the road. Guard Chauncey Billups has turned into the new “Captain Late” of the 21st century.
Wade with heart
Despite the loss, Miami’s Dwyane Wade displayed great courage in scoring 20 points in Game 7 with his injured ribs. This display of heart will serve him well as he continues to ascend to stardom. I see a championship in this young man’s future.
Earl’s Prediction: Spurs in 7.
STL in Sacramento
The St. Louis area will be well represented with athletes at this weekend’s NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Sacramento.
University of Georgia junior Jessica Stockard (Alton High) is ranked No. 1 in the nation in the heptathlon heading into this weekend’s championships with 5,720 points. Stockard is the 2005 Southeastern Conference champion in the event. She transferred from the University of Missouri where she was a former Big XII champion and All-American heptathlete. Stockard is also a two-time NCAA Academic All-American.
There are three area athletes who qualified to the NCAA meet by winning regional championships last weekend. Amarachi Ukabam (Rockwood Marquette) of Southern Illinois won the shot put at the Mideast Regional meet in Bloomington, Ind. Ukabam won the title with a winning heave of 57 feet 53/4 inches. Ukabam also qualified in the discus by finishing seconds. Ukabam was the Missouri Valley Conference champion in both events.
Miles Smith (Riverview Gardens) of Southeast Missouri State won the 400-meter dash in a winning time of 45.15 seconds. Smith enters the national championships ranked No. 5 in the nation in the 400. He was ranked as high as No. 1 in the country earlier this season. Smith is also a member of SEMO’s 4×400-meter relay team that also qualified for the NCAA’s. He was joined on the relay team by area athletes Alonzo Nelson (East St. Louis), Chris Poindexter (McCluer North) and Chaz Brown (Parkway North). Nelson also qualified in the 400-meter hurdles. SEMO’s men won the Ohio Valley Conference championship.
The third regional champion from St. Louis is Leon Watson (Parkway West) of the University of Oregon. Watson won the long jump at the NCAA West Regional in Eugene, Ore. Watson also qualified for the national meet in the triple jump by finishing third at the regionals.
Former East St. Louis star Dawn Harper of UCLA qualified in the 100-meter high hurdles by finishing second at the West Regional. Harper helped the Bruins to a national title last year as a sophomore. Former Gateway Tech star Kathryn Coleman of Southeast Missouri State was the Ohio Valley Conference champion in the long jump as a freshman.
Former Jefferson City High star Domenik Peterson is also having quite a sophomore season at Arizona State University. Peterson was second in the 400 at the West Regional and ran the third leg on the Sun Devils’ 4×100- and 4×400-meter relay team that won regional titles. ASU’s 4×100 relay team is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation.
Lincoln U. champs
Lincoln University continued its dominance in NCAA Division II Women’s Track by winning its third consecutive national title last weekend in Abeline, Tex. The Blue Tigers scored 108 points in beating its nearest competitor by 55 points. Senior Shandria Brown finished first in the 100, 200 and anchored Lincoln’s 4×100 relay to a first-place finish.
Lindenwood University’s men and the Missouri Baptist women finished third at the recent NAIA Outdoor National Track and Field Championships in Louisville. Lindenwood won the national title in the 4×100, which included former Berkeley standout Mike Rodgers on the second leg. Rodgers also finished second in the open 100.
Missouri Baptist was led by Nickesha Anderson, who finished first in the 100, 200, 400 while anchoring the Spartans’ 4×100 relay team to a second-place finish. Missouri Baptist is coached by Vince Bingham, who has built top programs wherever he has been.