January 29, 2005 | Sports Page 15 UNBC Coach Chosen

to Lead Provincial Team

By CAROLYNNE BURKIIOLDER EDITOR IN CHIEF

The UNBC Basketball players are not the only ones bringing attention to the UNBC athletic program, their coaches are also playing a role in gain- ing new publicity.

In December, Loralyn Murdoch, head coach of the UNBC Women’s Basketball team, was chosen as the Assistant Coach of, the U17 Provincial Girls Basketball Team.

Murdoch was thrilled with this appointment. This was not her first time coaching at this level, as in 2001 she was chosen as the Head Coach of the U16'BC Provincial Team.

"It was an awesome experience,” said Murdoch "There was lots of traveling and opportunities to play many different teams.”

This time around, Murdoch even more excited to coach at a provincial level.

"This coaching experience will be

PHOTOS SUPPLIED BY ROB VAN ADRICHEM Loralyn Murdoch, head coach of the womens basketball team at UNBC, poses happily for the camera during a interview.

on a much larger scale,” Murdoch said.

"The girls will be playing in the Canada Games this year, and this only happens once every four years.”

Along with the Canada Games, which will be held in Regina from August 7th until August I]th, the team will do lots of traveling and gain experience playing teams throughout the United States and Canada.

"I am so excited about this opportu- nity,” said Murdoch. "This is a great opportunity for UNBC, as well.”

The U17 teams are made up of young women who have just complet- ed their Grade 11 school year.

"These girls [chosen to play at the Canada Games] are some of the best athletes across the country,” said Murdoch. "This position both gives me the ability to recruit athletes for the UNBC basketball team and also gives UNEBC athletics exposure.”

3 SPORTS SHORTS

Let’s Reflect on Sports

ApAa HUSSEIN SPORTS COLUMNIST

School is back. I love the holidays, but maybe they were too long, I start- ed spending way too much time won- dering things like why Ja Rulc's "I'm From New York" video is filled with Yankees hats, until all of a sudden you see an Expos hat. Did they run out of Yankecs hats? Arc the Mcts so unpop- ular that even New Yorkers would rather wear an Expos hat? I don't know, but I was troubled by it. (the hat is in the background, and I may be the only person in the world who noticcd it, but this is what I do with my free time). Yes, school came back just in time.

Now, here are some holiday sports stories that you may have missed between cating Christmas dinner and fighting with relatives.

Barry Bonds took stcroids. We knew it before, and the only differ- ence now is that we actually KNOW he did it. I refuse to maintain the nickname "The Barry” that I gave Bonds. I don't know if his records should be taken away, but he definite- ly loses my nickname. Let that be a Icsson to bascball players. If this docs- n't work as a deterrent, nothing will.

The baseball free agent scason is great. Free agent Carl Pavano visited about four citics, (before signing with the Yankees) turning it into a tour.

They called it Carlpalooza. I think everyone should have something like this named after them. I know I would love to be able to think back fondly on the days of Adampalooza.

There wer more signings and trades in baseball, but I will only men- tion one more: Randy Johnson to the Yankees. My waction: Waaaaaaliooooo! But scriously, they traded Vazquez, who I am convinced will be great. This is what Vazquez had to say about tlic then rumored trade: "I still trust in my abilities, and if the Yankees trade me, they will regret it.i I think the last time some- one said something like this Babe Ruth was prominently involved, and we all know how well that worked out

Now for a ridiculous bascball story, The Red Sox World Scrics Game 4 lineup card was sold for $165 000. I am sure whoever bought it is rich, but isn't there something else they could have spent that moncy on? Anything at all? Nothing? Really? Alright, just checking.

Now, how about we talk basketball? Kobe Bryant is struggling to kcep his Lakers alive in the playoff race so far. He is a great player though. I mean, can you name anyone clse who has fought with THREE hall of fame NBA stars and gotten his way cach time? Didn't think so... I think the Christmas game ecxcmplificd Kobe this scason: 42 points, and the Lakers still lost.

In other NBA news, Vinee Carter was finally traded. This trade was a

bad idea. What incomprehensible reason caused tlic Raptors to trade him within their division? I think Jalen Rose summed up the trade best when he said; “’m a GM in fantasy basketball, and I’m a GM on Playstation, so on Playstation I proba- bly would have got a little more.”

Moving on to the NFL, Ict's all give a standing ovation for the year Peyton Manning had. Unfortunately he will not win the Super Bowl. (miere on that coming up)

I mentioned hefore how the Rams are a rollercoaster of a team to cheer for, and I definitely stand by that. They inexplicably made the playoffs, despite onc of tlicir players reperted- ly threatening their coach. They both denied the rumor, but it seems like the two of them have some kind of Scinfeld vs. Newman relationship, which is definitely a had relationship for player/coach.

Lastly, here is my favorite part of sports: playoff picks. This time it is the NFL. Since the first round fin- ished‘ before this article's deadline I am going to cheat a bit. (I was 2/4 in the first round if anyone carcs}

Divisional:

Falcons over Rams; Vikings over

Eagles; Steclers over Jcts; Patriots

over Colts

Conference Finals:

Falcons over Vikings; Steclers over

Patriots

Super Bowl:

Steclers over Falcons.

Cape Breton Argues way to Atlantic Debating Crown School’s debate team is tops in region for first time in history

Br Patrick MCNEI.

CareER TIMES (UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF CaPE BRETON)

SYDNEY, N.S. (CUP)

Aftcr 17 ycars of compctition, the University College of Cape Breton has argucd its way to the top of cast- ern Canada’s debating heap.

From Nov. 5 to 7, the Canadian University Society for Intercollegiate Debate’s Atlantic diampionships were held at Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John’s to deter- mine the top debating team in the Atlantic provinces.

The team of Marc Botte and Patrick McNcil emerged victorious, marking the first time in the. 17-ycar history of the event Cape Breton has captured the crown. Dalhousic and Memorial universitics have tradition- ally held the team title.

The 12-team tournament was

among the tightest ever contested in the Atlantic region. Botte arid McNcil finished the preliminary rounds in a five-way tic for third, and then defeat- ed a team from Dalhousic in the semi- finals.

They bested the best of Acadia University’s debaters in the final round after a narrow 4-3 decision. Tlie round discussed the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in the United States. Among other topics Botte and McNcil debated on the weekend were Star Trek, the admittance of women into strip clubs, gambling on the Québce Major Junior Hockcy Leaguc, and gender in auto insurance laws.

While winning the team champi- Onship is uncharted territory for Cape Brcton, this was not the casc for the individual debater rankings. Last ycar,

the school’s Aiden Buckland captured:

the award for top debater.

Botte defended the title for Cape Breton, emerging as the best debater in Atlantic Canada. He has an exten- sive history of strong individual fin-

eishes, including placing ninth at the national championships in 2003 and first at the Acadia at the Movies invi- tational tournament in 2002.

The remainder of the academic year promiscs to be cxtremely busy. for the UCCB Debating Society. The highlight of the winter term. will be the national debating championship at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Cape Breton also plans: once again to hold its invitational Capcr Cup tournament. Other invi- tational cvents are cxpected at Acadia, Dalhousic, the University of New Brunswick and St. Francis Xavicr University.

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