By Chris Gibson staff reporter The TCU track and field program officially opens the new Lowden Track & Field Complex this weekend with the inaugural TCU Invitational. The meet will be the first one ever held on the TCU campus, and head coach Monte Stratton said his team is excited about the opportunity. "We are all really looking forward to the meet," Stratton said. "It is not only a great opportunity for us to showcase our program, but it also gives us a chance to be seen by our home crowd." Rice, Southern Methodist, Texas-Arlington, North Texas and Northwestern Louisiana State are scheduled to join the Frogs at this weekend's meet, which serves as a midway point in the team's outdoor season. The Horned Frogs have earned three automatic qualifying times in the 100-meter dash, one in the long jump and one in the 4x100-meter relay. They have also posted additional preliminary marks in the 100-meter and 4x400-meter relay events. Stratton said his teams' success this season emphasizes its high performance level. "It is a really good time for TCU track right now," Stratton said. "I think if you look at where we are, we are having one of the best years ever for our program. A lot of things go into that, but we are just hoping to stay healthy and run well at the (Penn Relays, Western Athletic Conference Championship and NCAA Championship) left on our schedule." The home meet this weekend also provides an opportunity for a few of the local Horned Frog athletes. Junior Darvis Patton, a Richardson native, said running at home gives many of his friends and family members an opportunity to see him perform without having to travel a long distance. "I think just about everybody in my family is coming," Patton said. "There are a lot of people who have never seen me run before, and having a meet at home like this gives them that opportunity. I think it will even help me run faster, knowing that there are people close to me watching." Junior Roy Williams said although running at home is a different situation, the team is still focused on running and performing like any other meet. "I think we just need to keep things going like they are," Williams said. "We have been training hard all season, and if we don't have any major injuries, we have a great chance at winning the NCAAs." The women will be depending on strong performances by senior Dywana Crudup and their distance core but will get some added help as sophomore Chaunte Baldwin and junior Heather Hanchak are expected to return this week from injuries. The TCU Invitational is scheduled for Saturday at the Lowden Track and Field Complex. The meet will be run according to a rolling time schedule, with field events beginning at 11 a.m. and running events at 1 p.m. "We are expecting anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 people to show up, with seating for about 1,000, so we hope everybody brings their lawn chairs and blankets," Stratton said. "Hopefully, everything will go well. We will run some good times and make this a TCU tradition."
Chris Gibson
Let Mark Chmura serve as yet another example of someone who couldn't possibly have lived up to the sparkling image he crafted for himself. Chmura, star tight end of the Green Bay Packers, was arrested last week after his 17-year-old baby sitter accused him of sexually assaulting her in the bathroom at a party that included "drinking games." Before this tawdry incident, Chmura had made quite a name for himself by being an avid supporter of several family charities, working with inner-city Boston youths during his days at Boston College and touting the values of conservative politics. Don't you see: family and values? Issues of morality? Right and wrong? It's all there. In fact, after the Packers clinched their 1997 Super Bowl victory, Chmura refused to meet with President Bill Clinton, who was then under the usual round of scrutiny about what he might have done with women who weren't his wife. Chmura proceeded to make disparaging comments about the president's moral character. Well, Chmura, who had worked himself on up to the socially redeeming professional rank of Pro Bowl tight end, had the temerity to question the moral character of arguably the world's most powerful head of state. And why not? Doesn't Chmura have the right to doubt the ethics of Clinton? With Chmura's beautiful wife and two children, charity work and professional success, hasn't he earned the right to blow a little steam about Clinton's proclivity to exercise some of his "executive authority" with women, not necessarily including naive interns? And then we see pictures of the 31-year-old Chmura being carted off by police for allegedly having forced sexual intercourse with a high school student. Before we continue, it is important to note that Chmura has been convicted of nothing. But the charges Chmura is accused of certainly taint what was a relatively clean image. We can't ignore the thought of Chmura and friend Robert Gessert holding an after-prom party for 15 to 20 people at Gessert's home, many of them juveniles. Then comes the thought of Chmura and Gessert playing "drinking games" with minors. Then comes the thought of Gessert indecently touching an 18-year-old girl in his hot tub - a girl he was eventually charged with sexually assaulting. Where was Chmura's moral character then? Most importantly, where were his wife and two children? The problem with slinging arrows at others is that they occasionally boomerang, damaging everyone's character in the process. So Chmura tossed a little dirt at Clinton, then he shoveled a little dirt on himself. Isn't life funny that way? When people like Chmura, or anyone for that matter, decide to open up their mouths to question the morality of others, they should simply insert their Nike cleats (or penny loafers) into the aforementioned mouth.
Opinion Editor Joel Anderson is a senior
news-editorial journalism major from Missouri City, Texas.
By Victor Drabicky staff reporter In 1999, Royce Huffman established a new TCU record for hits in a season with 94. In 1997, Chris Connally tied a TCU record by hitting 23 home runs in one season. But with just 13 games left this season, senior infielder Levi Groomer has already surpassed another TCU record and has set his sights on an NCAA record of his own. Groomer has been hit by a pitch 21 times this season, two times more than the previous TCU record. The NCAA record for being hit by pitches in a single season was set at 33 by Andrew Slater of Richmond in 1997. Groomer said when he learned he was approaching the record, he didn't mind taking one for the team. "Mark Silva got hit 19 times last year," Groomer said. "Once I got hit the 10th time, I started thinking about the TCU record. But when I got hit the 15th time, I started thinking about the NCAA record." Groomer has been hit 21 times in just 17 games leaving him four away from being tied for 10th nationally. "The team isn't surprised anymore when Levi gets hit by a pitch," freshman outfielder Greg Bratton said. "We all sort of shrug and say, 'Big deal, Levi got hit again.' It's getting kind of ridiculous the amount of times he is getting hit." Groomer said part of the reason he has gotten hit so much is because of his hitting strategy. "I stand right on the (batter's) box line to take away the chance of missing an outside pitch," Groomer said. "If a pitcher is not good enough to throw the inside pitch, then I'll either get hit or get a good pitch to hit." So far, Groomer's strategy is working. His on base percentage is the second best on the team at .458, and he has already raised his batting average almost 100 percentage points since last season. Last year, Groomer batted .269 with no home runs compared to three home runs and a .325 batting average this year. Groomer said his efforts have earned him the position of lead-off hitter, and getting hit by pitches is just a part of his job as the team's No. 1 hitter. "As a lead-off hitter, it is my job to get on base any way I can," Groomer said. "Whether it (is) getting a hit or getting hit, I need to get on base." Senior first baseman and pitcher Mark Hamilton said when Groomer gets on base, the entire team benefits. "Whenever Levi gets on base, the pitcher usually gets discouraged," Hamilton said. "Then the next three or four hitters get better pitches to swing at." Bratton said when Levi gets on base after being hit with a pitch, opposing pitchers tend to struggle. "No pitcher can just blow off hitting a batter," Bratton said. "When Levi gets hit by a pitch, the pressure is taken off the next few batters and put on the pitcher because he is worried that he might throw a bad pitch and hit another batter." Hamilton said Groomer's attitude plays a big role in the amount of times Groomer gets hit. "His mentality is great," Hamilton said. "He just stands up there and takes the pitches. Umpires usually give it to him because they think that if he is going to just take the pitch, he might as well get his free bag." Groomer said his mentality goes back to his days playing high school baseball. "I've always had the philosophy of just sticking in there," Groomer said. "I think it shows a pitcher that I am going to take away part of his game, and he can't do anything about it." However, Groomer admits that sometimes he doesn't do the best job of avoiding oncoming pitches. "Usually when the coach gives me the take sign, I tend to lean a little more since I know that I'm not swinging at the ball," Groomer said. Despite his dedication to winning, Groomer's unselfish actions don't come without a down side. "I've only gotten hit on a bone one time," Groomer said. "The rest of the time, I get hit in a good spot, and it only hurts for a little while. I get up, and since everyone says not to rub it, I grab a handful of dirt and rub it in real good. I'm not mocking the pitcher, everyone just thinks it's funny." Groomer said his mentality at the plate is beginning to rub off on his teammates. "Now, whenever anyone gets out of the way of a pitch, everyone rags on them," Groomer said. "The (entire) thing has sort of turned into a joke for us."
Staff reporter Danny Horne contributed to this report.
Victor Drabicky
By Chris Ray Skiff staff The TCU men's tennis team, ranked No. 14 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Polls, looks to close out the season with a win on the road as it travels to Tulsa Saturday. The Frogs will take on the No. 44-ranked Golden Hurricane in their final Western Athletic Conference matchup before opening tournament play April 27 through 30. Tulsa, following the matchup with the Frogs, hosts No. 11-ranked SMU on Sunday. TCU has a 16-4 record on the year and a 7-2 Region VI record, with both losses coming to No. 5-ranked Baylor. The Frogs are 8-1 at home and 8-3 on the road on the 1999-2000 season. "We would love to end the season with a win and end things right (and go) into the WAC tournament on a good note," said junior Esteban Carril. Carril, the No. 6-ranked player in the NCAA, brings a 24-5 record into the match after a loss to Baylor's Johann Joste. "The team is coming together well, and I look for the tournament to be tough, but this is something we have worked for, and we will be ready," Carril said. Tulsa's All-American senior Nemad Toromen is going for his 100th career win. Toromen is 11-12 on the season and 5-9 in dual-match play. Junior Trace Fielding said the Frogs have performed well all season and made a name for themselves, but all their work is for nothing without a strong performance in the WAC tournament. "You can throw out all the regular season records and achievements - it was just a warm-up," Fielding said. "What matters now is the tournament and who wins and loses; nobody remembers a loser. When it all comes down to it, it is who performs at the right moment; hopefully, we will perform and take home the crown." The Frogs take the court at 1 p.m. at the Harwell Tennis Courts on the University of Tulsa campus. TCU hosts the 2000 WAC Championships. The first match is set for 9:30 a.m. next Thursday at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center.
Chris Ray |
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