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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 1980)
Page 12 THE BATTALION MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 1980 The last season — Steve ‘Sly’ Sylestine Mr. Hustle: a crowd pleaser By TONY GALLUCCI Sports Editor “You know, whatever happens, if coach feels I can come in and do a good job — well, I have confidence in myself — I just know I can come in and help when I’m called on to do it. I just try to get out there and play as hard as I can, play good defense, get a loose ball if there’s a loose ball to be got. ’ They’re his own words and they’re the best description of just what Steve Sylestine is. ‘Sly’ to his teammates and friends, is a dilemma of sorts. He is an Aggie crowd pleaser. He is, perhaps, what many people would like to think the ‘ideal’ college athlete is really like. Sylestine is best known tor his giving 110 percent on the court, his mad dives for loose balls, his gent lemanly behavior. In the words of assistant coach Barry Davis, “He’s just a great competitor.” And head coach Shelby Metcalf says, “He’s not an exceptionally talented athlete but he make up for it with hustle. He’s paid the price. He’s gotten where he has by giving his all, both at practice and in the game, and he lives a good, clean life. He 11 do any thing we ask him to. He can go in and score or he can go to the boards if we need it. Every team needs a Sylestine. But now, in his senior year, Syles tine sits on the bench more often than not. It is perhaps the greatest of tragedies that the good guys lose some. The Aggies with their most talented squad ever must look to those people who can perform the tasks at hand but can still only put five men on the court at once. Met calf says, “He’s a good second guard and we feel like he is most effective against the zone. Problem is David Britton is also a second guard and is also effective against the zone and has been playing well lately. Sylestine is undaunted. Being the competitor he is, he knows that the only good effort is a team effort and also knows, if only subconsciously, why he is most valuable as a sixth man. He plans to go into coaching and says, “I want my kids to always play hard. They may not be the best athletically but I’m gonna put the ones out there that try the hardest and can still get the job done.” Sylestine, 21, played high school ball at Clear Lake High under re spected coach Bill Krueger, from whom he might have picked up his enthusiasm for the game. “He stres ses the fundamentals form the early part of the program. He wants the kids to come up with a good funda mental basketball background — not relying as much on their athletic ability as the basketball skills he de velops, says Sylestine. Or perhaps it was in his blood all along as his dad is the junior varisty coacb at the same school. “I played under him (his father) for one year. Of course, he was there at every practice and every game we played. He would always give me hints or helpful criticisms,” said Steve. At Clear Lake, he was captain of his team that went to the 4A re gional tournament and ended with a 37-4 record. He was all-district, all-greater Houston and all-state and played in the Texas All-Star game. Why did Sylestine choose A&M? “I liked the background they had here for the basketball program, they had just won two consecutive conference championships, and I was impressed with the coaches and Cain Hall. I’d been hearing alot about Aggie Spirit and all that played a part in it,” Steve said. His dad, Boyd Sylestine said, “It’s a good school. I hope he came here for a good education.” And Steve agrees, “I think I definitely bene fited from the Wildlife school (he is majoring in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences) and that’s one of the major things I wanted from A&M.” With Sylestine’s contribution A&M has now worked its way into contention for the Southwest Con ference title. “If we keep playing like we have been — play good team defense, run our offense well, work for good shots and pass the ball well — if we just keep those things going we ll get to where we want. The main thing is for us to win the confer ence championship. We all want leave with those rings on our fin gers,” he says. Despite playing only a third the time he gathered all of last season, Sylestine has improved his free throw percentage, hit more free throws, has more rebounds, is av eraging fewer personal fouls, and has more assists and blocked shots than last year. And he has come up with more steals than in any of his previous three seasons. T’ve kind of played on-again, off-again. I’m not always real happy with my play and I think I can stand a lot of improve ment. I’ve gone through this type of thing before here at A&M — a slump, or whatever you want to call it — but I think I’ll come out alright before I leave. As a freshman he started in 15 games on a team depleted by gradu ation and suspension. In that first season he had his career high game of 17 points against Texas and his career high rebouding game of 11 against TCU. He is close to that form this season, hitting 14 in his best game against North Texas State and pulling down nine rebounds against Pacific. Seven seems to be a lucky number for him as he was seven-for-seven from the field against NTSU and Saturday against Rice he was seven-for-seven at the line in piling up nine points and hopefully ending his ‘slump.’ Plans for the future? “I’ve been playing basketball all my life and I’ve been around a basketball fam ily. I just couldn’t see myself leaving it? So I’m going into coaching,” he said. Metcalf says, “He’s given alot to A&M.” I asked Steve what had he given to his school? “Hopefully I tried to be more than an athlete. I tried to be just like any other student at A&M — to get into the tradition that A&M has to offer. I wanted to be a student and a sociable person. Steelers outpass Rams United Press International PASADENA, Calif. — The Pittsburgh Steelers’ locker room was joyous but not chaotic follow ing their fourth Super Bowl victory in as many appearances, and that more than anything else tells the story of their remarkable success. The Steelers, you see, expect to win. They know they have the very best of personnel in the NFL. When they win, they re a happy bunch but they keep it all in perspective. They won the Super Bowl last year and they as sume they’ll win it again next year. On Sunday, against a stubborn but outmanned Los Angeles team, the Steelers came up with the big play when it counted and and the Rams didn’t. Pittsburgh’s 31-19 triumph Over the dogged Rams in Super Bowl XIV gave the Steelers a legitimate claim to the title of the greatest team in pro football history. The Steelers, sparked by a spectacular 73-yard touchdown pass from Terry Bradshaw to John Stallworth and a key inter ception by Jack Lambert, won their fourth NFL title in the last six years when they rallied in the final period to defeat the 11- point underdog Rams. The unprecedented fourth Super Bowl victory did not come easily. The lead changed hands six times before Bradshaw finally put the heavily favored Steelers ahead to stay with 5:04 left in the game on the spectacular TD bomb to Stallworth. “Everybody’s been shooting for us for the last eight years and it the‘victory’came against the Rams — who we had never be aten, said Bradshaw, named the game’s Most Valuable Player, “It’s quite a remarkable collet tion of athletes. ” Bradshaw, 31 and a 10-year veteran, said, “I felt more pres sure than at any other time. ’ He said the pass to Stallworth was a "60 prevent slot hook and go, a play developed only a week ago “1 ran the pass eight times ia practice and I didn’t like if, butil worked today,” Bradshaw said “This is my most satisfying Super Bowl.” Victorious coach Chuck No! said, “This victory is probably the best we’ve ever had, as he accepted the Super Bowl trophv from NFL Commissioner Pete Rozeile. “But mostly, I hope I’ve given the bit _ people here a little bit of excitement during the games and maybe they’ve gotten a little bit of enjoy ment out of it. Maybe I’ll have some more to offer before it’s all over with. ” You have, we have and we hope so. You’ll be missed. BUY, SELL, RENT, ANNOUNCE Battalion Classified Pulls! PHOTOGRAPHERS WANTED! The Battalion is hiring a limited number of staff photographers for the spring 1980 semester! Experience with B/W processing, printing essential. Portfolio requested. Contact Lynn Blanco, 845-2611 Rm. 216, Reed McDonald Bldg. Bv Unit< esident C; at, has offe itering the described l danger” arter, in his isage, told < States has ‘ ^ e thi 50 Am eul nv n< SPRING RUSH Sigma Alpha Epsilon is entering its third year at Texas A&M. YJe are looking forward to this year's Spring Rush with great expectations. For those not familiar with Sigma Alpha Epsilon, commonly called SAE's or Sig Alphs, we have the nation's largest number of initiates in over 45 states. Founded in 1856, ours is the first fraternity to have a national headquarters. SAE maintains a strong policy against physical hazing based on realiz ing each individuals potential for growth in the SAE experience. For more information call: 693-5292 696-0913 Unite VASHING' comfed Coi hword that cut this ye hanistan ha n a State of Monday, ran, saying pared to he! eat if the . sed. (eyed to a rter asked C iiness to pa: package de d itself, larter did dstan, but would seel |n terms re ly’s inaugui ‘We must p; remain the s at price ha ver of our idiness to u: too eviden ‘The destru Afghani sta jkj tion by the ategic situa (V\ ■McDonald's MCDONALD’S DRIVE-THRU WINDOW INTRAMURAL HIGHLIGHTS m ^McDonald's a very omu n a relat non need V ingreconna an Ocean ai barter told lation rein ority.” DRIVE-THRU SERVICE At University Drive At Manor East Mall A. The SOA Tournament The backboards were busy at the first annual Sports Officials As sociation Basketball Tournament. This friendly Aggie competition was created by students’ sugges tions and the help of the IM Advi sory Council. The men’s contest was a double elimination tourney of 16 teams. The women’s compe tition was Round Robin. Two teams have come out victorious this year. In the men s finals the Agg Ties faced up to Magnum Force and de feated them 61-43. The Agg Ties were lead by Jeff Barrett and Jeff Toole and had a very capable group of good roundballers. In the women’s finals, the NBA with a 1-1 record squared away against the undefeated SS Ex press. The SS Express, motivated by leading players Debbie Layton, Tami Darce, and ball handler Bev Tedford held on to a 25-20 final tally. SOA wishes to thank all players and officials for making this tour nament a success. Corner corner - ? Need a Job? Then come by the Intramural Office and learn to of ficiate. We have openings for offi ciating the following sports this spring: Slow Pitch and Fast Pitch Softball, Soccer, and Inner Tube Water Polo. Flexible hours are available with games played weekday evenings and all day Sunday. Pay rate is $3.10 per game. Anyone interested should con tact Dave Kerr in the Intramural Office or call 845-7826. For The Record IP 1 This season’s basketball entries exceeded the previous record for entries of 600 teams even before all the late entries were totaled. Last semester 13 IM records were broken — four in archery, two in long driving, five in swim ming, and two in cross country. Free Throw Notice The freethrow special event will be held Sunday, January 27 from 7-10 p.m., GRW Main floor. Mark the date on your calendar and tie a string around your finger. Pool Hours To answer inquiries, yes, the winter pool hours have been set and will be in effect from now until March 1. Outdoor Pool M-F 12-1:30 p.m. Indoor Pool MWF 6-7 p.m. T-Th 6-10 p.m. S&S 1-3 p.m. Ui Their ov< loviet force: ifts to brin fghanistan g desertio ifficials say. An Ameri |n New Di loviet trans] fghan capii als. I didn’t s men ai nat said, a /ith the So 1 Touche’! Fencing entries are available for Mens’ and Womens’ Foil. u, OTTAWA bd three Sc h a case inv Sports Shorts Fencing In the style of chivalry and the Three Musketeers, IM presents the annual fencing tournament. Entries open today, January 21 for both men and women and close Tuesday, January 29. Competition will be in foil and the A&M Fencing Club will officiate. You Know It’s A Good Day When — Th< Your new shoelaces for your tennis shoes are the right size. You find one more person to round out your team roster. You find out there’s more than one star on your basketball team You find just the right partner play doubles with you. It doesn’t rain out your import* game. Table Tennis Table tennis singles open today and close Tuesday, January 29. Equipment is provided. Divisions are men’s and women’s. Games are to 21 points and a match is the best two out of three. So come on out and swing your paddles. /"'N DEC Intramural basketball play began Jan. 16. Teams interested in practice time should see the Intramural Checkout for res ervations, 845-2624. Times are set aside for Fridays and Saturdays only. Acknowledgements This ad is sponsored by your loc al McDonald Restaurant Uni versity Drive and Manor East Mall. Stories by Michelle Wol- stein, Pictures by Gary Reyes. entries closing: Freethrow Handball Doubles Entries Opening: Fencing Table Tennis Singles Special Events: Freethrow Tuesday, January® Tuesday, January® Monday, January' Monday, January ‘ Sunday, January 27, 7:00 p" 1 ^