Even though they performed at what seemed like a high school cafeteria at Miami’s 420 Fest fallout (mad disorganization and discomfort), ska/reggae legends the Skatalites set it off like a motherfa…(you know what I’m sayin’). Only problem was that the cops were patroling the grounds like hound dogs, so we weren’t smelling the sweet greens like we were supposed to, but the horns and riddims got us high anyway.
Bermudez’ art exhibit at the Lowe lacks emotion, but is aesthetically exciting
Spicy cigars, intoxicating coffee, balmy weather – along with this collection of distinguished Cuban exports is master painter Cundo Bermudez. An homage to Bermudez, A Life in Art, is handily on campus at the Lowe Art Museum this month and celebrates his over 60 years worth of contributions to the art world.
Now 88 years old, the Havana resident continues to find solace in his art: “I enjoy painting as Mozart used to enjoy music,” he has said on several occasions. This month’s exhibit at the Lowe presents more than 50 original works by Bermudez, dating from the 1940s to the present.
Every work echoes trademarks of Bermudez’ work: large noses, stocky figures and a captivating use of light that creates a metallic effect on ribbons of color. Unfortunately, many of the pieces seem to be lacking emotion. There’s no magic in the genre scenes. While they are intended to be simple portraits of everyday events, the faces of the characters are expressionless.
Cuba confirms itself in Bermudez’ style. He employs thick brush strokes that bring out the best of the dark, punchy colors. There is no place for pastels among zesty reds, searing blues and warm golden tones.
The unorthodox Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet” is chunky and androgynous, embracing her secret lover over a vibrant garden. “Trio” shows three shadowy, Cycladic-like figures holding musical instruments. In “El Billar,” three men enjoy a game of billiards against a tropical backdrop. “Screen,” a mirrored quadtych, is duly impressive, featuring a carved wood border framing Bermudez’ trademark bright paintings.
In “Couple,” a pair sits on opposite sides of a canvas, sporting what seem to be aqua-colored turbans. “The Flora” deviates from Bermudez’ typical genre scenes with an attractive plant motif that exudes the transparent, multi-colored quality of stained glass.
The standout here however is “Portrait of Gloria Martinez” from 1976, featuring a sultry brown-haired beauty, the golden glow of her skin enhanced by Bermudez’ warm yellow background.
Bermudez’ Picasso-like angles and geometric figures as well as his passionate use of color in the scenery all create a compelling atmosphere. It’s a shame that there is no underlying emotional tone in this collection – though perhaps it’s just a matter of personal taste.
A Life in Art runs through June 1st at the Lowe Art Museum, 1301 Stanford Drive. Call 305-284-3535 for more info.
Jessica Misener can be reached at jessm02@yahoo.com
Last Splash for Summer: Albums by Sea and Cake, Black Eyes and DJ Green Lantern
The Sea and Cake
One Bedroom
**1/2
Summer advice: sleep on the
hammock waiting for sundown
The Sea and Cake’s sixth full length is a 10-track chill out session and the perfect accompaniment to a sunny day. Hardly music to complain about, but it fails to startle the ears like drummer John McEntire’s other group, Tortoise. “Le Baron” name drops the laid back elements of summer – in fact, this LP never veers off far from the idea of keeping it simple and relaxed, pleasing the ear. However, as a sit down record this same mentality fails to keep the listener intrigued past track three – nothing more than thin indie rock and soft synth stylings from a band that is far more talented. But rest assured this is excellent background music to whatever you’ll be doing once school lets out. There’s even a cover of Bowie’s “Sound & Vision,” that exchanges the original’s rawness for modern spritz. Once the sun goes down, though, One Bedroom should be stashed away.
– MJH
Black Eyes
s/t
***1/2
Summer advice: give and take a few
Black Eyes take the Dischord sound over the top. Present are the frenetic guitars and wildly inspiring drum beats, but gone is the subtle restraint that adds so much to many of Dischord’s finest acts (Q and Not U, Fugazi). Black Eyes throw rock ‘n’ roll right in your face and defiantly challenge you to do something about it. Two vocalists volley lyrics, one sounding like the singer from the Chromatics, and the other sounding like Todd from Le Shok. Allegedly, the lyrics are political and meaningful, but you wouldn’t know it without reading the liner. Just fight already.
– JH
The Stratford 4
Love & Distortion
**
Summer advice: pawn for beer
In 2000, the Stratford 4 released an LP called The Revolt Against Tired Noises. Three years later the four-piece have released a second LP full of tired noises. Essentially, this album is 10 tracks of uninteresting space rock, not Sigur Ros meets My Bloody Valentine meets Velvet Underground as Rolling Stone would have you believe. When the disc kicks off with “Where the Ocean Meets the Eye,” there’s considerable hope, but after several minutes of the same progression and a severe lack of melody, the Stratford 4 are easy to pass off. This is yet another group of hipsters ready to fool the critics and trick some play out of college radio stations (excluding our own). Love & Distortion is well produced and the music is not drivel, but it never goes anywhere. You’re left waiting for the band to rip into something fresh; instead, they’re moping around in a pop dream of boredom.
– MJH
DJ Green Lantern
Invasion Part II: Conspiracy Theory
**
Summer advice: crash a house party
back home
DJ Green Lantern may be the most talented mixtape DJ on the scene today. But on Invasion Part II: Conspiracy Theory his skills are merely used as a marketing tool for Shady/Aftermath records. Much of the album focuses on the growing beef between Murder Inc. and Shady/Aftermath, notably Ja Rule’s laughable diss songs towards Eminem, 50 Cent and the whole Shady/Aftermath crew. This tape is the outlet for their responses that includes a horrible remake of Makaveli’s classic “Hail Mary” by Eminem, 50 Cent and Busta Rhymes. When Ja Rule is your opposition, it doesn’t require much effort, but this invasion is paltry.
– KJ
The Life & Art staff can be reached at HurricaneAccent@hotmail.com.
Last Splash for Summer: Albums by Adult., Cat Power, Cex and Scarface
Adult.
Anxiety Always
****
Summer advice: makeup/breakup with a bi-polar mate
Speeding past Communist detours and guilty pleasure accidents with peaking recklessness, Adult. have crafted an album better equipped for involuntary convulsions than dancing. This is dirty electro flossed over sexually frustrated commands courtesy of vocalist Nicola Kuperus. Her hot-yet-militant mien is reminiscent of a classier Brigitte Nielsen in Rocky IV. On nine tracks, Kuperus shakes your head, kicks you in the shin, glues your eyelids together and forgets your name. You’ll keep coming back for more – because unpredictable flings with crazy chicks in the summer have a private satisfaction all their own. Anxiety Always jump ropes over bass and showers naked in electricity – best exemplified on “Turn Your Back” and the lone instrumental “Nervous (Wreck).” Adult. is a duo you’ll want to know this summer. The attraction is fatal.
– HS
Cat Power
You are Free
***1/2
Summer advice: flirt with an art
school student
I am not a Cat Power fan. I find her music annoying and her erratic, well-magazined stage manners incorrigible. While still subject to the gross comparisons to other girl power singer/songwriters, Chan Marshall has increasingly stripped away those influences in exchange for a simpler sound of bare purity. I was surprised when I not only made it through You are Free, but also actually liked some of it. Produced by Adam Kaspar (Foo Fighters), this disc is just more listenable. It’s still whiny girl rock, sure, but this is a “bitter little pill” you won’t mind swallowing.
– JH
Cex
Being Ridden
***
Summer advice: hot box the pool
cabana
When Baltimore IDM artist Rjyan Kidwell (a.k.a. Cex) first brought his music to the stage, folks familiar with his previous vocal-less releases were in for a treat. To their surprise, Cex was a silly, young white guy with fake gold teeth in various colored sweat suits rapping about bicycles, proclaiming to be the world’s #1 entertainer. Any topic the audience threw at him was fit for freestyle incorporation, joining personal favorites like quality ’80s TV programming and the (faux) superiority of B’more over D.C. Finally, Cex has released a record that does his stage performances justice! With a mix of carefully programmed beats, acoustic guitars, and arguably the cleverest lyrical prowess in indie hip-hop, Being Ridden is the disc this saucer-eyed psycho needed to put out. With lines like “Middle finger to the indie rock singer, middle finger to the whack MC” and former Shudder to Think frontman Craig Wedren doing backup vocals, the album is unlike any other rap album released in the ’03.
– MJH
Hey Kristian – great job…not.
Scarface
Balls and My Word
**1/2
Summer advice: barbecue with
friends and 40s
On Balls and My Word Scarface attempts to revamp back his classic Geto Boys style with a 2003 twist. Since this album is being released by Rap-A-Lot, and not Def Jam South, it has very a different sound from his brilliant last album, The Fix. Nevertheless, Scarface maintains the trademark Southern style and laments on his (seemingly infinite) days as a hustler. He delves deep into personal troubles, even imagining his suicide on the track “Make Your Peace.” In an uncharacteristic move, Scarface goes after 50 Cent with the help of Bun B (of UGK) on the diss track “Snitch Nigga.” Balls and My Word is a decent album that is rather inconsistent, which is surprising, coming from Scarface, whose legacy spans a decade.
– KJ
Correction: In an edition last week, Sven reviewed a Madlib bootleg. For those who don’t know, a bootleg is not the real CD. The real CD drops later this summer. It will be S!CK. Show Stones Throw Records love at www.stonesthrow.com.
Calendar
Tonight
Summer is here playas, so shake that ass at Level, 1235 Washington Ave., South Beach, with rappers Black Moon and Cocoa Brovaz. Hosted by MTV’s Sway (the worst) and the usual unoriginal batch of DJs, the solid rap lineup might counter the Nyquil vibes (if the artists don’t show up at 3 a.m.). 305-532-1525.
Indie rock quartet The Heatseekers perform at Soho Lounge, 175-193 NE 36th St., for the Revolver party and the release of their new album, In Praise Of. Opens at 11 p.m. $7. 305-576-1988.
Zeta 94.9 is dumb. Their Salute the Troops USO Show at Bicentennial Park, 1075 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, has a wack lineup (Three Doors Down, Powerman 5000, American Hi-Fi…) and the event’s featuring a paintball shooting gallery with targets such as Saddam, bin Laden and French President Jacques Chirac – American patriotism to the X-treme. Confederate flags optional. $24.95. 305-575-5256.
Egal Art show at the Rainbow Building, 1540 Levante Ave., Coral Gables. 7:30-10 p.m.
Monday, April 28
Afrobeat 14-piece ensemble Antibalas play the Culture Room, 3045 N. Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale. $10. 954-564-1074.
Wednesday, April 30
Lots of female skin at Churchill’s (5501 NE 2nd Ave, Miami) Women’s Mud Wrestling event. You know you want some. 305-757-1807.
Thursday, May 1
Les Savy Fav and The Faint get wild at the Polish American Club (your high school ballroom), 1250 NW 22nd Ave., Miami. $15. www.epoplife.com.
Friday, May 2
Canes Film Fest showcases 50+ student short films through May 4th at the Cosford. Check out Doodie Calls at 8 p.m. on Saturday. All other films play nightly 6-10:30 p.m.
Androgynous summer daymares at the Guggenheim: Matthew Barney’s “The Cremaster Cycle”
In the contemporary quest for the definition of “post-modernism,” Matthew Barney is the American pinnacle of shape-shifting, ambiguously ambiguous metaphors that reach into the abyss of sexuality and gender by referencing the cremaster – the muscle that regulates the ascension or descention of reproductive organs in humans. In a series of five videos and site-specific installations, he takes the audience through a cyclic journey of illusion, ambition and self-realization at New York’s Guggenheim Museum.
Born in San Francisco in 1967, he later moved to Boise, ID, and spent his time playing football and doing model work for the fashion industry. He fathered a child with Bjork (Icelandic musician/artist) and has exhibited work in San Francisco, Paris and New York. From the beginning, his mythologies have referenced athletics, fetishism, transexuality and Harry Houdini – all the workings of macho fear and insecurity.
The so-called “post-sexuality” movement happening in Miami, New York and around the art world champions his Cremaster Cycle as a bible to relevant discourse on blurring the line between male and female. “Post-sexuality” itself is an oxymoron that would inevitably die off if it could ever happen because just as post-modern is a concept that can never define itself (what can be more modern than modern?), sexuality is defined by understanding difference, not all-encompassing generalizations that attempt to subjugate and label.
Do not be fooled by Barney’s metaphors of androgynous gonads as the author presents a highly genderized version of male sexuality. The Cremaster Cycle is not as layered or eloquent as Judy Chicago’s The Dinner Party, yet both work on monumental scale and address stereotypes and innate truths concerning the roles and preconditions of gender.
Barney uses the space and levels in the Guggenheim to create an interactive artwork in which the audience and the museum itself become characters within a grand narrative. As the viewer maneuvers through the sculptural obstacles up the rotunda, the five levels of The Cremaster Cycle unfold themselves with the accompanying video playing on central screens at the top of the building. Within the levels are offshoots with space to watch the entire looping narratives while surrounded by objects that reference the past action that took place either in the Cremaster videos or in the museum as Barney and crew acted out the sequences on site to set the stage.
—————– Cremaster Exhibit Summaries —————————–
Cremaster 1 (1995) is set at Bronco Stadium in Boise, ID, where the Astroturf is blue. This sometimes causes birds to dive kamikaze into the turf thinking that it is water. The film thematically represents the first six weeks of fetal development in which gender has not yet been specified. This is a time of pure potential. Goodyear blimps float through and are pulled into a shape that resembles an androgynous gonadal structure while women dance on the field in a chorus line.
Cremaster 2 (1999) is where the sexual division begins on the Bonneville Salt Flats. The looping narrative stars Barney as Gary Gilmore (who was executed in 1977) and Norman Mailer as Harry Houdini (who performed at the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893). Gilmore claimed to be Houdini’s grandson and sacrificed himself to a firing range to keep with the Mormonic tradition of being forgiven for a sin by shedding blood. He probably wasn’t as concerned with Mormon dogma as much as he wanted to achieve freedom through death and self-transformation. This film also alludes to Johnny Cash (who apparently called Gilmore to fulfill a dying wish). Dave Lombardo, from Slayer, has a drum solo to the sound of bees as the protagonist realizes that he is doomed to be a drone bee.
Cremaster 3 (2002) is set in New York and chronicles the construction of the Chrysler building by the Architect, Hiram Abiff (played by Richard Serra), and the Entered Apprentice (played by Barney). Hiram Abiff was the supposed architect of Solomon’s temple, which emulates everything hierarchal about wisdom. Symbols and references to Masonic initiation rites pervade the film and sculpture as potatoes serve to set the foundations of the bar, piano and Chrysler building ajar and off balance. This may show how poor people screw up the foundations of the lives of the upper crust.
Cremaster 4 (1994) was the first video completed and is the biological model for the entire Cremaster enterprise. It is set on the Isle of Man and depicts two motorcycle sidecar teams racing in opposite directions of ascending and descending motions. The resistance to division slows the inevitable process toward descention.
Cremaster 5 (1997) is a tragic love story that sets the Queen of Chain (Ursula Andress) and her Diva, Magician, and Giant (all played by Barney) in an opera of complete descention set in the late 19th century Budapest, where Houdini was born in 1874.
———————————————————————————-
The objects and images that scatter the Guggenheim are a testament to “post-modern” art, yet it plays out like an interesting conversation with a person who desperately seeks all of the attention. It is a struggle to read all of the layers and meanings that are formed into tapioca, petroleum jelly, wrestling mats, Astroturf, glass and photography, yet the game that Barney engages his audience into is simply part of the piece. The faces on the viewers perusing the museum are almost as entertaining as the work.
For now, America has found its multi-tasker in Matthew Barney. Like Houdini, he is an escape artist to interpretation and revels in distraction and dark magic. He may just change how America sees itself.
The Cremaster Cycle is on view Guggenheim Museum in New York City, 1071 5th Ave. (at 89th St.) through June 11. Visit www.guggenheim.org for more info.
Alex Saleeby can be reached at claysaleeby@hotmail.com
An inside look at spring practice
Spring practice, it means very different things to a number of different people.
To fans, it’s a teaser that acts as a buffer between signing day and the draft. To coaches it is a chance to evaluate the team, its future, and, especially, its parts. Players must be assessed, appraised, and plugged into niches where they can help the team.
Spring football means a variety of things to a variety of players as well. For established returning players like Kellen Winslow, Jonathan Vilma, or Roscoe Parrish, it’s a chance to polish up their skills and establish themselves as leaders of the team.
For players coming off surgeries, such as Maurice Sikes and Kyle Cobia, it’s a time to learn by watching others, and a time to rehabilitate wounded parts.
However, for the majority of other players, myself included, it is an opportunity to assert themselves as new blood, new personalities, and new starters.
Springtime, for the most part, is the most laid back and relaxing time of a college football player’s life. For a change, we enjoy many of the luxuries that normal students enjoy. Things like being able to take class later in the afternoon or at night, catching that early 5 P.M. episode of The Simpsons, and that precious commodity that seems foreign to any college athlete…spare time. .
However, once that first day of spring practice opens, all that leisure time disappears faster than Roscoe pulling away from a FAMU defensive back, at least for those fifteen days.
All at once I start attaching post-its to my daily planner for lack of room. In fact, I’ll run you through my routine day.
6 a.m.: Wake up to the sound of my cell phone alarm.
6:04: Really wake up and get out of bed when alarm number two goes sounds off.
6:30: Arrive on campus and start to change into my weight room attire. Everyone wears matching shirt and shorts.
7:00: Start the hour-long workout that might be as easy as a stretch, or as rigorous as a decathlon.
8:15 While most of the world is leaving for work, I walk into the showers to wash off the early morning sweat I just worked up. The showers will come up again later in the schedule, I promise.
9:00: Head on over to the cafeteria and grab some breakfast and a morning paper.
10:00: Sociology 271, Intro to Criminal Justice. As a journalism and criminology dual major, this class is required.
10:50: Class is finally over. This concludes my class schedule for the day, but another class awaits at night, after practice.
11:30: Lunch. Usually a taco, burger, sub or some variation thereof.
12:15: Back to the athletic center. At this point of the day I enjoy a small, constrained amount of free time.
2:00: Pre-practice meetings. These usually include some film from the previous practice and/or previous season, and coaching points for the day’s practice.
3:20: Pre-practice, in which different individual positions go over light drills with their coaches.
3:30: The “real” practice begins with light warm-ups and stretches.
4:41: At this point practice is a little more than halfway over and I’ve been bashing my head into a 340 pound shaved grizzly bear named Vince Wilfork for over an hour.
5:30: Practice is over, give or take a few minutes.
5:40: Several reporters intercept me on my way back to the locker room by about six who want to know whether I’ll be as good a sound bite as Brett Romberg.
6:04: I get to the showers and realize that even though our shower has about fifteen shower heads, only about seven work. Now, we have 85 players on scholarship; add walk-ons and that brings the count to a little over 100. Granted, some guys don’t shower, but the math is not in my favor here.
6:18: I finally get a shower but the water’s freezing cold and the soap’s a little low, Oh well.
6:26: I make my way to my locker, already late for class, and try to dry up and get dressed quickly.
6:41: I walk into CNJ 461, News Ethics Seminar and get a few weird looks.
7:40: I awake from my otherwise serene nap to find all my classmates packing up and leaving the classroom.
8:20: I arrive home after a pit stop at Subway or KFC and feast.
8:45: Over fourteen hours after I left home for workout, I finally plop down on the couch and start figuring out exactly why CNN’s war analyst thinks that today’s toppling of a Sadaam Hussein statue signals the end of the regime.
8:47: Rather than me watching the war, the war starts watching me as I slouch over into a deep slumber.
11:02: I make my way back to my bed, set the alarms, and cuddle up to my pillows as I get ready to do it all over again.
Did I mention in all of this that I am a 20-year-old college student who is supposed to go out, hang out with friends, and have a social life? Fat chance, 6 a.m. comes awfully early and the Sugar Bowl isn’t far behind.
-Joel Rodriguez is a junior looking to take over Brett Romberg’s role as UM’s starting center. Rodriguez is also a journalism major.
Cockroft serves many roles
Replacing an injured star is never an easy thing to do.
When Miami’s ace Dan Touchet went down with a shoulder injury, the ‘Canes had to find a new No. 1 pitcher. The man they turned to was J.D. Cockroft.
Cockroft, the 2002 Ron Fraser Pitcher of the Year, found himself in a new role when the injury forced him to make the transition from middle reliever to the regular Friday starter. Cockroft did not have a huge role in the team his freshman year, posting a 43.20 ERA in just five appearances. However, he got a chance to show what he could do last season and responded with a 5-0 record and a staff best 2.22 ERA in 28 relief appearances. In doing so, he became the first Hurricane pitcher since Chirs Sarmiento in 1985-86 to go from last to first in ERA in one season. This change showed that he could handle the pressure that comes with being the No.1 pitcher.
“Pitching on Friday night is the toughest spot to pitch in and we felt that J.D. was the best guy to fill that role,” head coach Jim Morris said.
As a reliever who had success last season, Cockroft opened this season as Miami’s closer when George Huguet began the season with an injury. During that time, Cockroft earned one save and pitched well in six relief appearances.
However, since becoming a starter, Cockroft has really shined. His 6-0 record with a 2.35 ERA entering this weekend leads all ‘Canes starters.
“It was always my goal to be a starter for this team,” Cockroft said. “My main goal is to set the tone for a series like Dan did. Friday is the most important day in a series and to be dominant is huge.”
His successful transition to a starting pitcher is actually a rekindling of an old role. Cockroft was a starting pitcher in high school and also started for the Topeka Capitals of the Kansas Jayhawk League in the off-season. Starting pitchers need stamina and location, and these are two of Cockroft’s biggest strengthens as a pitcher, according to one of his coaches.
“I’ve always felt that this was the role that best suited him,” pitching coach J.D. Arteaga said. “In the bullpen, you need strikeouts and J.D. is not a strikeout pitcher.”
Cockroft does not throw a fastball in the high 90s nor does he overpower hitters with his pitches. Rather, Cockroft retires hitters by being smart and using location and movement in his pitches.
“He locates his fastball great,” Arteaga said. “Pitching is location, movement, and velocity, in that order.”
Cockroft has also become one of the Miami’s leaders. As a player who was on the 2001 national championship team, Cockroft has seen what it takes to win and as a captain, he leads through actions. Morris points to Cockroft’s attributes as something that aids the team in several different areas.
“He is very committed to what he does,” Morris said. “He is our leader, our captain, and he leads by example. He takes a lot of pride in everything he does, both on and off the field.”
Off the field, Cockroft focuses on two activities, school and music. He is a computer information system major and proved to be the model student athlete when he was named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. Along with being a great pitcher and student, Cockroft has excelled on three different musical instruments. He grew up playing the violin and since then, has also learned the piano and guitar.
“I played the violin for 10 years and was in a California youth symphony,” Cockroft said. “Now I play the guitar and piano because I like to play the songs that are on the radio. I am really into alternative music and modern rock.”
As a pitcher, student and musician, Cockroft has definitely proven to be multi-talented. However, Cockroft is quick to give others credit for his success, particularly his parents who have helped shape the person that he has become.
“My parents have always been there for me and they are really the reason that I’m here right now,” Cockroft said. “Their care, hard work, love, and support have made me able to accomplish a lot of things both on and off the field.”
-Darren Grossman can be reached at DRG215@aol.com
Track and field receives national ranking
The University of Miami women’s track and field team moved up three spots to No. 22 in the latest Trackwire 25 poll released Tuesday.
The Hurricanes are coming off a dominating performance this past weekend at the Miami Gatorade Track and Field Classic in which they won nine events including the 100-meters, 200-meters, 400-meters, 800-meters, 100-meter hurdles, 400-meter hurdles, long jump, 4×100-meter relay and 4×400-meter relay.
Miami has already qualified 17 student-athletes in 11 events for the NCAA Regional Championships, May 30-31, in Fairfax, VA. Miami has qualified two sprinters in the 100-meters, three sprinters in the 200-meters, five sprinters in the 400-meters, two runners in the 800-meters, four hurdlers in the 100-meter hurdles, one in the 400-meter hurdles, the 4×100-meter relay, the 4×400-meter relay, three jumpers in the long jump, one in the triple jump and two throwers in the shot put.
Leading the way for the Hurricanes are sophomore All-American Lauryn Williams and freshman All-American Charlette Greggs.
Williams, the defending Big East champion and 2002 World Junior Champion in the 100-meters, ranks fourth in the NCAA in the 100-meters (11.23) and sixth in the 200-meters (23.25). She is also a member of the Hurricanes’ fourth-ranked 4×100-meter relay.
Greggs, who earned All-America honors as a member of the 4×400-meter relay during the indoor season, ranks fourth in the nation in the 200-meters (23.19) and second in the country in the 400-meters (52.11). She is also a member of the fourth-ranked 4×100-meter relay and fourth-ranked 4×400-meter relay.
Senior All-American Sharianne Lawson and junior All-American Kitoya Carter are also ranked in multiple events. Lawson, the defending Big East 100-meter hurdle champion, ranks eighth in nation in the 100-meter hurdles (13.27), ninth in the nation in the long jump (6.33 meters/20-09.25) and is a member of the fourth-ranked 4×100-meter relay.
Carter ranks 15th in the nation in the 400-meters (53.56), 39th in the triple jump (12.35 meters/40-06.25) and is on the fourth-ranked 4×400-meter relay.
Other Hurricanes ranked among the nation’s elite include senior All-American Jamillah Wade who is 42nd in the 100-meter hurdles (13.87) and 12th in the 400-meter hurdles (58.57), senior All-American Patricia Pearson who has recorded the six-fastest time in the nation in the 800-meters (2:06.49), freshman India Ransom who is 20th in the 100-meters (11.48), senior All-American Sashanie Simpson who is 25th in the 200-meters (23.69) and 27th in the 400-meters (54.05), senior All-American Saraque Whittaker who is 34th in the 400-meters (54.28), sophomore Wiande Moore who ranks 52nd in the 400-meters (54.83), junior Terria Madison who is 34th in the 800-meters (2:10.17), freshman All-American Dominique Darden who ranks 26th in the 100-meter hurdles (13.69), senior All-American Gina Harris who is 21st in the long jump (6.12 meters/20-01.00), sophomore Chinela Davis who is 25tt in the long jump (6.06 meters/19-10.75), junior Adrienne Moss who ranks 14th in the shot put (15.88 meters/52-01.25) and junior Jennifer Penrose who is 16th in the shot put (15.79 meters/51-09.75).
-Compiled by the Sports Information Department
Sports Briefs
Women’s Basketball
University of Miami women’s basketball standout Tamara James was named to the Honorable Mention All-America team by Kodak/WBCA and the Associated Press.
James was selected as one of the 48 finalists for the 2003 Division I Kodak/WBCA Women’s All-America Basketball Team. As a finalist, James automatically earns Honorable Mention All-America status.
James is the fourth Miami player, and the first UM freshman to garner Kodak/WBCA Honorable Mention All-America honors.
James is the UM first player to earn AP All-America honors.
She was also named to the Big East All-Rookie team, Big East Second team and the Big East All-Tournament team this season.
James led the conference in scoring all season with 21.0 points per game. She was also the highest scoring freshman in the nation at No. 10.
In addition, she was a five-time Big East Rookie of the Week pick. James started all 31 games for the Hurricanes this season, averaging 21.0 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game.
She recorded seven double-doubles and scored in double-digits in 30 games.
James’s jersey will also be placed in the Ring of Honor at the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, TN.
At the conclusion of each season the Women’s Basketball of Fame, which opened in 1999, hangs the jerseys of all high school All-Americans, collegiate All-Americans and WNBA All-Stars from the past year.
This year’s jerseys will be placed in the Ring of Honor during the first week in May.
Intramural Scores
Intramural Champions are as follows:
Co-Rec Basketball Champions: The Team
Women’s Basketball Champions: Delta Phi Epsilon
Men’s Basketball Champions: Team Cubano
Men’s Arena Champions: Pike / Fuzzy Furze
Co-Rec Arena Champions: Schizophrenic
Team Racquetball Champions: Blue Balls
Co-Rec Volleyball Champions: Da Kine
Women’s Volleyball Champions: Killing You Softly
Men’s Volleyball Champions: Horse Pen 15
Men’s Indoor Soccer Champions: Chess Club
Women’s Indoor Soccer Champions: Retirees
Team Billiards Champions: Sigma Phi Epsilon
Softball Playoffs:
No Glove No Love – 20
GBSA – 7
Couldn’t Think of 1 – 15
Next Episode – 14
2 Balls – 12
The Gentlemen – 3
Montana Realty Co. – 14
Foul Balls – 1
Hitters – 6
Manned Missiles – 5
2L Scrubs – 14
Fully Staffed – 10
No Glove No Love – 15
86’ers – 2
Couldn’t Think of 1 – 6
2 Balls – 1
Montana Realty Co. – 15
Hitters – 14
2L Scrubs – 14
We’re Arrogant – 10
No Glove No Love – 7
Couldn’t Think of 1 – 4
Montana Realty Co. – 3
2L Scrubs – 0
Sigma Phi Epsilon – 20
Zeta Beta Tau – 16
Alpha Epsilon Pi – 11
Phi Delta Theta – 6
Sigma Chi – 20
Pi Kappa Alpha – 14
Lambda Chi Alpha – 17
Sigma Alpha Mu – 1
Cunning Linguists – 18
Dirty Mounds – 5
Boiling Point – 14
Base Pairs – 6
Absolute Zero – 14
Mo Feckers – 2
Goosing BA’s -14
Hui Aloha – 3
Superfly – 15
Cunning Linguuists – 8
Boiling Point – 16
Rat Pack – 4
Men’s Basketball ‘Canes fans wait as Rice ponders future
One more year wouldn’t hurt for Darius
Rice projected as a late first round pick, still unsure about future
Perhaps no words can better describe Darius Rice’s predicament than those of punk legends, The Clash.
Should I stay or should I go now?
If I go there will be trouble
And if I stay it will be double
Rice has come to a crossroads in his life, with one path leading back to the University of Miami, his senior season, and perhaps another year of losing, and the other path leading to the NBA draft.
Unfortunately for Rice, neither choice can look very appealing from where he stands. He can either come back and lead a team that just completed its worst season since 1993-1994, losing 13 of its last 17 games, or he can head to the NBA draft on June 26 and test his luck in a fairly weak field where some team will likely take him near the end of the first round.
“I’m listening to what the GMs say, getting their evaluations, and talking over everything with my family, but right now I’m hearing that I’m ranked anywhere between 19 and 37, and I think I’m better than that,” Rice told the Miami Herald. “If I can only go late first round, I don’t think it’s the best decision. It might be better to come back and prove I can play with all those top guys.”
The question remains whether or not Rice can play with those top guys.
Over the past three years Rice has led the Hurricanes in scoring with 14.1, 14.9, and 18.7 point per game in his freshman, sophomore, and junior seasons respectively. His sophomore year, he played a huge part on the team that broke the record for the most wins in a single season at UM, and throughout his career he has hit more than his share of thrilling, game winning shots.
But for all he has accomplished at Miami, he still might not enter the NBA as a first round draft choice. Despite the fact that Rice has one of the best three-point shots in college basketball, his all-around game could use some work
Rice came to Miami as just the third McDonalds All-American to sign with the ‘Canes and fans have expected greatness from him since day one. Sure Rice has made the All-Big East second and third teams but does he have what it takes to make it in the much tougher NBA world? How many teams have the luxury of spending a first round pick on a 6-10 forward who can shoot the three but lacks post moves and dribbling skills?
The fact of the matter remains that in three years at Miami, Perry Clark and company should have taught Rice how to post-up and handle the ball. Rice has also failed to build much muscle on his lanky 6-10 frame and will get manhandled by most NBA forwards.
Rice will most likely declare for the draft and try out for NBA teams with the idea that he can always hit the emergency button and come back for his senior season if he pulls out of the draft by June 19. If teams tell him that he will not get picked in the top 18, he will probably come back to the ‘Canes and headline one of the youngest teams in college, featuring five sophomores and four freshman.
Sadly, Rice may not benefit from returning to Miami. Unless he works his tail off and gains some muscle while the coaching staff learns how to coach him better, his situation may look bleaker when he enters the draft next year and teams have had another year to realize that they don’t need a pure shooting forward on their team.
Rice should enter the draft, take the money that teams will offer him as a late first or early second round pick and work his tail off with an NBA coaching staff because the Hurricanes need Darius a lot more than he needs them.
-Nate Johnson can be reached at NPJ44@aol.com