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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (May 7, 2004)
Heart ofTexas GOODWILL IND. NOW ACCEPTING DONATIONS AT^flffifeLOCATION 2704 TEXAS AVENUE SUITE # 3 (near Tractor Supply) RETAIL STORE OPENING SOON! Aggieland 2005 Now Hiring If you are interested in writing stories or taking pictures for Texas A&M University's Aggieland yearbook, simply fill out an application and drop it off in 004 Reed McDonald Building • Cain publications experience • Enhance your resume • Earn extra cash • Start work this fall Openings include: Staff positions: Writer, Photographer Pick up an application from room 004 in Reed McDonald or online at aggieland.tamu.edu Continuous hiring for staff positions Questions: call 845-2681 or drop by our office. Do you UvIactvE if f^vVes? The Battalion is hiring motivated writers, photographers and graphics artists Start work this summer or fall! • Learn the ropes in a professional newsroom environment • Develop the skills you need to advance while managing a team with The Battalion’s NEW paid internships Continuous hiring for staff positions Pick up an application in 014 Reed McDonald or online at www.thebatt.com The Battalion Looking for a place for the luntnter* • • but you don’t want to deal with huge fees or long term leases? The Cam bridge is offering this summer’s hottest rates with plenty of flexible options! Optlom, Options, Options • All units are fully furnished, and include utilities, cable tv w/ HBO, telephone, and ethernet • Leases available for May-mester, Summer 1, 2, or 1&2 • Floor plans available in efficiencies, 2-bedrooms, & 4-bedrooms • Optional meal plans But wait there’s more • • • We have tons of great amenities for you to look forward to: • 60-seat surround sound Theater • 1-Acre Courtyard • Cyber Lounge • 16-station Computer Lab • Fitness Center • Game Room • Weekly Housekeeping • On A&M shuttle route Slog by today and fcahe a tour or visit us on-lino at www«cambridge-tamu.com 501 University Oaks Blvd. College Station, Tx 77840 Ph. 979-694-1500 4B Friday, May 7, 2004 THE BATTALION Texas shares best record in Major Leagues By Jaime Aron THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ARLINGTON, Texas — The surprising success of the Texas Rangers raises an intriguing question: Is their 18-10 start merely good luck or could it really be the start of something big? There has to be a good answer because what’s happening just doesn’t seem to make sense. This is a team coming off four straight last- place finishes that spent the offseason replac ing potential Hall of Famers Alex Rodriguez, Rafael Palmeiro and Juan Gonzalez with sell- described “grinders” Brian Jordan, Brad Fullmer and David Dellucci. Their rotation is headed by a 39-year-old lefty and a right-hander missing a ligament in his pitching arm. They have a reliever who’s been out of the majors since 2(XX). Yet, so far. it’s working. The Rangers went into an off-day Thursday tied with Anaheim for the best record in baseball. “They’ve got a nice club,” said Tampa Bay manager Lou Piniella, whose team lost two of three to Texas this week. “They play with a lot of energy. It’s fun watching them.” Having meaningful games in May sounds silly, but it’s progress for a franchise that’s been stuck at the bottom of the AL West for gotxl by this point in each of the last four seasons. As bad as those teams were, all had stretches in which they won at least 18 of 28 games, as this year's club has done. The dif ference is the timing. Those clubs did so after they were out of contention, so all their spurts did were avoid 100 losses. By opening this season on a roll. Texas is building confidence and winning back many of the fans alienated by the off season A-Rixl saga. "We’ll see where it takes us.” manager Buck Showalter said. The most encouraging sign is how the Rangers are winning: with quality pitching, sound defense and timely hitting. They have a 4.08 ERA. second-best in the AL. quite a feat after having a majors-worst 5.67 ERA last season. Only Oakland's vaunt ed rotation has thrown more innings than Texas’ starters, which has made the bullpen more effective. The Rangers are tied for the most saves in the AL. and they’ve lost only one game when leading after the sixth inning. Texas also has turned the most double plays in the majors and is near the bottom in emirs. That’s tremendous considering short stop Michael Young is moving from second base and second baseman Alfonso Soriano has long been considered a defensive liability. ItMftiv Washington • KRT CAMPUS Texas Ranger second baseman Alfonso Soriano is safe at second as Anaheim Angels second basemr Adam Kennedy mishandles the ball during their game at the Ballpark in Arlington on April 12. At the plate, the Rangers no longer wait same page,” Young said. "That kind of kid for A-Rod, Juando or RatTy to put a ball into the bleachers. They’ve returned to NL-style fundamentals like quality at-bats and aggressive baserunning. The result: A .308 average that’s 21 |x»ints higher than any other team in the majors with the most hits and total bases. And they’re still fifth in homers. “We knew we had to find a way to score runs better,” said Young, who leads the majors in hits (46) ami multihit games (17). If there’s a secret to the team’s success, it’s their chemistry. Showalter said teams can w in w ithout it. but he’s never seen a losing team that enjoys being around each other as much as these guys do. “We’ve got a good mix of young guys and veterans,” Jordan said. "We’re just having fun.” The new atmosphere has been noted by everyone from team executives to dugout security guards. Holdover players have told the newcomers they can’t believe the change, although they preface public com ments with phrases like. “Nothing against the guys we had last year, but ...” “Everybody gets along and is on the starts everything." Losing the nunxly superstars certain!} helped. With no leader designated by his big con- tract, all players are comfortable ram: each other and speaking up. There’s e\ena kangaroo court, something that nevtt worked under the previous social structure The new veteran core may not have big names, but they do have good track records Dellucci and Rixl Barajas won the World Series w ith Arizona in 2(X)I and Dellucci returned to the Series last year with the Yankees. Fullmer was on Anaheim’s chain pionship team in 2003 and Jordan reached the Series in ’99 w ith Atlanta All noticed similar ingredients in Texas this spring. Showalter had them explain their teammates before the opener in what may prove to be a pivotal serious moment for this group of cutups. Dellucci had the line that Show alter said “hit everyone in the face." "We can be remembered as the H Rangers or by something much stronger-the Rangers team that turned everything around Dellucci told them. They’re off to a great start. Equestrian Continued from page IB all those girls deserve to be in the ring.” Rawson said. “You have to be mentally ready for just about anything.” Ten Aggies will also be com peting for individual champi onships, which are not related to the team competitions. Senior English rider Beth von Brecht will be participating in the championships for the third time in her collegiate career. Brecht said she believes her previous rides and experiences will help her in obtaining her first cham pionship trophy. “I'm really not feeling nerv ous at all,” Brecht said. “But then again, I’m not at Tennessee yet, so I may feel just a little dif ferent when we get there.” Another rider who understands riding under pressure is senior w estern rider Ashley Shi filer. In last year’s competition. Shiffler was the last rider in the last event. She had to place at least second for A&M to come from behind and clinch the championship. Fate obviously played her way, as she earned second place. “Actually. I am a little scared after last year.” Shiffler said. "It means that I have to do equal or better than (last year) somehow.” With finals looming on the horizon, it may seem hard for the Aggies to maintain the men tal focus that Rawson said is so important. Many, however, said they are focused on winning the championship for A&M. “As bad as it sounds, I would rather have a national trophy than a 4.0.” Shiftier said. Olympics Continued from page 1 B came from an unusual source, former Olympic swimmer Mark Spitz. The winner of seven gold medals in 1972 told the BBC last week he could see circumstances that would force the United States to pull out. “I would say that about six months ago it . was highly unlikely,” Spitz, said, “but each day as it goes on with current world affairs it becomes more probable than not that ongoing conversations will take place as to how important it is to put athletes in harm’s way.” The decision by Carter in 1980 to keep the U.S. team home because the Soviet Union invad ed Afghanistan was severely crit icized in the Olympic move ment. The Soviets retaliated in 1984 by boycotting the Los Angeles Olympics. Nine-time gold medal sprinter and long juniper Carl Lewis was one of those who had to stay home. “Absent some clear and present danger, we should never take that course of action again,” Lewis said. '"Our ath letes have been training for much of their lives for this very special moment. Let’s not take that away from them.” Three-time judo Olympian Jimmy Pedro agreed. "We've lost the fight for freedom if we give in.” he said. R imi 1 publi G dent; onai wors w resta Mooi Serv A heart enou acco raves itndi inpii T ;odh mcl ■enn only diate In Dpe max tieart of he I re ntimi jrovii sive i rersir Ant his pi hasr Anr tory Reality! Now leusing for 2004! Real Living. Real Learning. Don't settle foi anything less. Full-size washer and dryei Deluxe Mattress Resort style shared living Fully furnished Individual lease Free roommate matching Big study desk Free cable TV access Free HBO & ESPN Free high-speed Internet ir Crossing Place™ New apartments for today's students. 979-680-8475 400 Southwest Parkway College Station, TX 77840 crossingplace.com tp We It. I »her are toi