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(01/22/03 8:36pm)
Paul (Jason Lee) is totally in love with his fiancee Karen (Selma Blair), but too many drinks at his bachelor party leave him with no memory of that night. He wakes up to Becky (Julia Stiles) in bed and assumes he's just cheated on his soon-to-be wife.\nMoviegoers are once again stuck with a romantic comedy that just doesn't make us laugh enough or even tug at the heartstrings. Romantic comedies are supposed to make viewers bust out laughing one moment and melt hearts the next. "A Guy Thing" creates a few chuckles, but it misses the warm-hearted feeling it needs.\nStiles, however, is once again creative and impressive in her role as the air-headed Becky. From a tough teenager in "Ten Things I Hate About You" to the preppy, popular girl in "O," Stiles shows her versatility in "A Guy Thing." Too bad she picked the wrong script to show it.\nWhile Paul is falling in love with Becky and out of love with Karen, it's hard to feel it. Lee doesn't come through in his role. As the lead male, it's important that viewers feel the love he feels. \nSome of the humerous parts in the movie are funny, but they've all been done before. A bathroom scene, a wedding scene and parental meetings are not novel, just scenes that viewers can watch in any movie classic.\n"A Guy Thing" is also disturbing in its portrayal of men. What is referred to as "a guy thing" is when Paul wakes up with a woman other than his fiancee. More like a jerk thing. The situations Paul puts himself through in order to lie are ridiculous. It just doesn't hit the mark. "A Guy Thing" has its moments, but not enough to be remembered. Some movies like this have worthless scripts but still bring tears to girl's eyes. This one does not.
(01/21/03 5:45am)
ANN ARBOR, Michigan -- In the women's basketball team's second trip to a Michigan school this week, this game was entirely different than the one played against Michigan State Thursday night when the Hoosiers (9-6, 2-3 Big Ten) lost 70-44. \nThe team played tougher and with better defense, but didn't pull off the last second shot to tie the game.\nThe final score was in Michigan's favor 71-68.\nThe first half of the game had Indiana in foul trouble already. While the Hoosiers were sent to the line only three times, Michigan (10-5, 1-3) made 15 of their 18 free throw attempts in the first half. Michigan coach Sue Guevara knew that foul trouble was something they could use against IU.\n"We were more aggressive out there and able to make the officials make some calls," Guevara said. "It was really physical down there."\nIU senior forward Lisa Eckart, who scored 11 points in the game, said it was as physical as any other game. \n"It just seems like we're constantly going up against bigger girls inside," Eckart said. "At least I am."\nAfter the halftime score of 38-27 in Michigan's favor, IU still could not dominate over the pressure defense Michigan brought to the floor. Michigan junior center Jennifer Smith said they had been practicing the pressure defense all week.\n"We just stayed confidant the entire game," Smith said. "That was a major factor in our win."\nThe second half of the game sent the Hoosiers to the charity stripe 14 times, and 13 of the shots were good. Meanwhile Michigan was 5-8 the second half at the free throw line.\nWith just eight seconds left in the game, the Hoosiers had come within three points of the Wolverines after being down 16 points toward the beginning of the half. Coach Kathi Bennett called a time out and put together an eight-second play she hoped would tie the game.\n"The timeout before the last one we had almost 42 seconds, and we pressed," Bennett said. "We played tough defense, but it just didn't go our way."\nBennett said the last timeout they talked about setting up a double screen for freshman guard Cyndi Valentin to shot the three. The shot missed and handed Michigan their first Big Ten win of the season.\nGuevara commented on IU's game against her Wolverines.\n"They (IU) do a nice job," Guevara said. "If you talk about Indiana basketball, they are a very hardworking basketball team but were struggling from the floor."\nWhile the trip to Michigan left the Hoosiers 2-3 in conference play, Bennett said she was pleased with how her team came back from a 16-point deficit.\n"I'm very happy with how we fought," Bennett said. "We fought extremely hard"
(01/13/03 5:21am)
Playing defense might have been a struggle for the women's basketball team going into this season, but Sunday's 54-50 victory over a ranked Ohio State team showed the Hoosier defense has already come a long way.\n"They played with great intensity and their belief in the game plan," coach Kathi Bennett said. "They never stopped playing defense the way we want them to play defense."\nBennett also said OSU is one of the better rebounding teams they've gone up against this year. Bennett's Hoosiers, however, out-rebounded the Buckeyes by five, which Bennett said was very crucial to the game. \nIU's defense in the first half helped them leave the court at halftime with a 23-18 advantage over OSU. Come the second half, it appeared as if the Hoosier defense fans cheered for in the first half had disappeared. OSU went on a 23-8 run.\n"We really had to battle back after a test, and we were down," Bennett said. "We just kept plugging away and stepped up our defense."\nWith nine minutes to go in the game, the Hoosiers were down 10 points, 31-41. This is when the IU defense stepped up to the intensity it was at in the first half.\nCoach Jim Foster of OSU said his team has a tendency to get satisfied when they are ahead.\n"You can never be satisfied before the game is over," Foster said. "Little things are very important in games like this. It was a good defensive game in some respects, and IU's defensive effort was terrific."\nSophomore guard Jenny DeMuth said the Hoosier defense is what helped them win the game. They held OSU to only shoot .378 from the field. The intensity the Hoosiers picked back up late in the second half helped seal the win.\n"We thought that if we could put together a few defensive stops, we would come out with it, and that's what we did," DeMuth said.\nSenior forward Lisa Eckart said the team's defense was so successful thanks to the help of all her teammates on the court. It was a group effort for IU's defense to really do its job. Eckart said she knows if she's going to get beat that her teammates are there for her. \n"I think we have incredible team defense," Eckart said. "I have confidence in my teammates, and I think that's why we can play such hard on one-on-one defense. Our secondary defense is right behind us and right there."\nFreshman guard Cyndi Valentin stepped up for the Hoosiers and impressed Bennett with her ability to guard OSU freshman guard Kim Wilburn. Valentin was able to play her off the dribble like the coaches wanted.\nIf the Hoosier defense continues to improve, upsetting ranked teams might be something fans will see more of. Bennett and the team said their confidence is up after this game and their successful defensive strategy.\n"It was the hustle on the defensive end that got us fired up for the offensive end," Bennett said. "We started getting some defensive stops and made some incredible hustle plays"
(12/16/02 4:55pm)
INDIANAPOLIS -- The women's basketball team was looking for the ultimate upset over 6th ranked Purdue Saturday in the RCA Dome. A repeat of last year's victory over the Boilermakers would have been the perfect way to prove they were a team worth competing with. While the final score was in Purdue's favor 51-53, it turned out to be a loss that showed IU can compete.\n"I really like where my team is at right now," coach Kathi Bennett said. "We started coming together, and it's a positive step for us."\nThe intensity and tension could be felt the moment the now 7-0 Boilermakers and 5-3 Hoosiers stepped on the hardwood. There was a lot of support from the Hoosier bench as the players who didn't see action did all they could to cheer the team on.\nThe first half was in IU's favor for the majority of the time, which was a nice change from their usual slow starts so far this season. Their largest lead was by 11 with just 5:00 to go in the first half. The half time score of 27-27 was thanks in large part to Purdue junior forward Shereka Wright.\nWright scored 26 points in the game and was an asset to Purdue's victory. Wright said that although it wasn't a pretty win, they were glad they won.\n"We know they're (IU) going to give us their best game, and they did," Wright said. "They came out and played very well, and we just had to match up with that."\nMatching up with the Hoosiers is something that took Purdue some time to do, even in the second half. The Hoosiers, who had 38 on the board with 13:25 left in the game, once again held the largest lead by eight points in the second half.\nIt was a game that came down to some crucial free throws and serious coaching decisions on Bennett's part. With just seconds to go, Wright shot two good free throws giving the Boilermakers a two-point lead. \nIt was a long 4.7 seconds for the Hoosiers, as the team went down to the wire. Sophomore guard Jenny DeMuth attempted a lay-up that rolled right off the rim as the buzzer sounded.\nPurdue coach Kristy Curry said DeMuth took a great shot.\n"That's exactly what you teach your kids to do in that type of situation," Curry said. "She made a great decision. That's great coaching on Kathi's part."\nBennett said she was also proud of DeMuth's attempt and said it was a great take that just didn't go in. DeMuth, who scored nine points in the game, did a great job of getting the ball to the rim, Bennett said.\nLeading the Hoosiers was senior forward Lisa Eckart who scored 14 points in the game and made four of the Hoosiers seven 3-point baskets. Late in the second half Eckart fouled out.\nPurdue's junior guard Beth Jones scored 12 points Saturday and said IU deserves a lot of credit for the good game they played.\n"They had a really good pressure defense, and from the get-go they were pressuring us a lot," Jones said. "It wasn't until the end of the game when we really started to put things together."\nCurry acknowledged the win was an ugly one for Purdue but said it doesn't matter what it looked like.\n"I'm really proud of our kids because they showed heart and character, as did Indiana," Curry said. "It says 7-0 for us now, not 7-0 with an ugly win, so I'll take it."\nFreshman guard Cyndi Valentin said she was amazed at the atmosphere in the RCA Dome and didn't expect the game to be as huge as it was.\n"I learned how to play with competition that was a lot more physical," Valentin said. "You have to be strong, play your game and have confidence."\nIU wasn't disappointed after the loss to Purdue. The team said the game showed they're ready for Big Ten play, and they are a team that will be competition for the Big Ten Conference.\n"I respect Purdue so much; they've been on top for awhile," Bennett said. "I think we're very competitive though. That taste of losing, hopefully that's going to stay and keep us even more hungry"
(12/13/02 5:32am)
To some sports teams, playing a rival is an exciting and fun game, a victory that feels better than any other. In Indiana however, it's even more than that. The Indiana-Purdue rivalry is one of the most heated and talked about in the Big Ten.\nSenior Kristen Bodine knows the history behind the rivalry and wants more than anything to come out on top when the teams play on Saturday, she said.\n"You just hate Purdue in general," Bodine said. "It doesn't matter what sport it is."\nIU women's basketball coach Kathi Bennett said she has always been an IU fan and always knew about the rivalry. She can't imagine anyone around here that wouldn't know about it, but she doesn't think freshman and Florida native Angela Hawkins has it in her blood yet.\n"I'm sure though that the older girls have explained it to her and told her how big of a deal it is around here," Bennett said. "But the great thing about Angie is, she'll go out and play really hard no matter what big game it is."\nThe teams will not only be competing for a win Saturday, but for points for their respective schools in the Titan Series. Indiana won the inaugural run of the series last year, claiming more wins than Purdue in the all-sport competition. Saturday's game will have no effect on the Big Ten standings.\nBut it doesn't matter what it counts for, sophomore Jenny DeMuth said. She remembers defeating Purdue last year in Indianapolis and how awesome it felt, she said.\n"It wasn't necessarily that it was the Big Ten Tournament," DeMuth said. "It was just the fact that we won against Purdue."\nFreshman Brigett Branson grew up in Indiana and said she knows a few of the girls she will be playing against. They are her former teammates from the Indiana All-Star team.\n"It's a big rivalry," Branson said. "But off the court it's a friendship."\nBranson said she is pretty sure the rest of the freshmen, even those from out of state, have grown to understand how big the rivalry is in Indiana when it comes to these two teams pairing up.\nThe rivalry not only exits between players, but coaches as well. Purdue's Coach Kristy Curry said that although they are rivals, she and Bennett have gotten over negative moments in their past and grown closer.\n"I think we try to make sure that when we aren't playing each other, we try and support each other," Curry said. "I think the more time we spend together and the more we see each other the more supportive we are."\nSupport isn't something either team will receive from each other Saturday at the RCA Dome, but the neutral location of the game is supposed to give an equal chance for each team's fans to come out and support them. \nBranson is excited to experience her first Indiana-Purdue game and hopes the Hoosiers come out on top, she said. \n"It's just there," Branson said of the rivalry. "Indiana versus Purdue. There's just tension, even when you say it"
(12/13/02 5:28am)
Saturday, Dec. 7, the women's basketball team knocked the Georgetown Hoyas down from an undefeated 5-0. Four days later, they put a stop to the 15 game home winning streak of the women's team at North Texas. It only seems right that their next victory should come against Purdue.\n"Those two wins were huge," freshman Brigett Branson said. "Winning those games was an accomplishment, and I think this would be even bigger if we could pull it off."\nPulling off a win won't be easy for the 5-2 Hoosiers who will be playing against the 6-0 Boilermakers Saturday at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. Purdue is currently off to their best start since the 1992-93 season. Coach Kathi Bennett knows the game will be a challenge, she said.\n"It will give us a taste of what to expect from the Big Ten season," Bennett said. "What we really need is everyone to play well and play well consistently. It will be a tough game for us."\nThe last time the Hoosiers and Boilermakers met was in the Big Ten Tournament, which was in Indianapolis as well. IU's 55-41 victory over Purdue sent the Hoosiers to their first Big Ten Championship game.\nSenior Allison Skapin said she remembers it well and it felt wonderful to beat a team that they had lost to so many times before.\n"To win and play that hard, it was an unbelievable feeling," Skapin said. \nIt will be rough to beat the undefeated and No. 6 Boilermakers, but IU does have a few things on their side. For starters, Bennett is 4-0 for games played in Indianapolis. Since her arrival at IU three years ago, Bennett has been victorious over two top-ten teams in the nation, three top-15 teams and five top-25 teams. \nOn the downside, senior Kristen Bodine said she's noticed that the majority of players who played a lot of minutes in their win last year are now gone. Bodine's injury last season prevented her from playing in last year's game. It will be her first game against the Boilermakers.\n"If we just play our game, we can beat Purdue," Bodine said. "We first have to believe we can beat them, then carry that attitude on the court for Saturday."\nSaturday's game will be a reunion for many 2002 Indiana All-Stars. IU's Branson and freshman Cyndi Valentin will be up against their former teammates on the All-Star team: freshmen Carol Duncan, Sharika Webb and Missy Taylor of Purdue.\nThere's a lot at stake when these two teams take the floor together in head-to-head competition. Sophomore Jenny DeMuth, who leads the Hoosiers averaging 15.3 points a game, said the intensity of the team has to improve before they can pull off the win.\n"It will take a great deal of intensity to defeat Purdue," DeMuth said. "If we come out intense from the outset, we can compete with Purdue."\nFreshman Angela Hawkins has been an asset to the team in many of their victories this season. She has already recorded two double-doubles and her 18-rebounds against North Texas was the second-highest single game total for a freshman ever at Indiana.\nTheir last few games have been rough, but the Hoosiers pulled off wins even when the odds were against them. They look to continue their winning streak this weekend against Purdue.\nSkapin said that win or lose, the team would be able to see where they measure up against another Big Ten school.\n"Last year it was towards the end of the season, and we'd had Big Ten play the entire year," Skapin said. "It was just wonderful when we won. We can't wait to try and recreate that on Saturday"
(12/12/02 5:03am)
Four times now in the last three months, you could drive by the Bluebird, see a line down the street and hear fabulous hip-hop and R&B beats blaring out the front door. It isn't 15-cent draft night, and it isn't the radio playing. The 17th Floor has made a quick impact on IU students and packs the house every time it plays.\n"We saw the line down the block last time we were here and wondered if they were giving out free beer or something," jokes Greg Thompson, the band's bass player, keyboardist and background vocalist.\nThe 17th Floor is made up of Greg, Aaron Thompson (bassist), Daren Jordan (singer), Daryl Watt (rapper), Angel Colon (guitar) and Shawn Bass (keyboards). Brothers Aaron and Greg started the group, and the rest joined in subsequent years. They all hail from suburbs of Chicago.\nThe 17th Floor has been bringing out a huge crowd to the Bluebird every time it plays. It's something different for the Bloomington music scene, covering artists like Ja Rule, Nelly, Outkast and Dr. Dre. The choreography brings students back, but few know much about the band and how it all began.\n"It all started about 17 years ago," Greg says. "Basically, it was just for the love of playing and not about money or anything else."\nThe 17th Floor's influences ranged from hip hop to pop to rock. Prince has had the biggest influence on the band. That is, Prince before Purple Rain, the musicians say, laughing.\nThe band's first major project came in 1991 when it toured with TLC. Bobby Brown's bodyguard discovered the 17th Floor and tried to set up the band on a tour with Another Bad Creation. The tour fell through, but TLC heard the group and wanted to sign the band immediately. The 17th Floor was TLC's first live band.\n"We were real cool with the girls," Greg says. "They were like sisters to us."\nUsher Raymond also had a lot of influence on the band's success. In 1996, Usher asked the assistance of the 17th Floor in rehearsing and preparing for his "My Way" tour. The band agreed and even appeared on television with Usher on Fox Network's "Keenan Ivory Wayans Show."\nTouring and television appearances left little room for the band to travel and little time in the recording studio. It wasn't until this year that the band began recording its first album. \n"We're running across a different kind of thing because we've got so many influences and different people working on the album," Greg says, sounding tired just thinking about the process of recording the album. "It's been a unique experience."\nGreg says a radio station in Columbus, Ohio, has heard the group's original music for the album and says the sound is refreshing. The band likes to think of its music as new-school funk.\nThe 17th Floor says it knows it's facing a battle with today's music industry since so many artists singing now are so young. The band hopes that talent and love of the music will prevail in the end. Greg says he hopes the 17th Floor will break the mold.\nThough the band's shows feature only a few original songs in its college town concerts, the college kids tell them they like the hip-hop and R&B covers.\n"College kids are crazy," Colon says laughing. "They're always fun."\nTalking about college concerts sparks fun memories for the band. Greg says it's never boring playing a college town.\n"It's just as fun for us to watch them as it is for them to watch us," Greg says, remembering all the times he has seen drunk college students flash and moon the band.\nWhile the 17th Floor loves the support from fans across the country, sometimes things get a little out of hand. Women will randomly show up on the bus while the band is sleeping or eating. They don't allow women on the bus, but they always seem to wander on.\nColon says it's always good to play in Bloomington, which the band does regularly now. The band members heard IU recently was named the No. 1 party school by a national publication and wanted to check it out for themselves. They've seen that IU does know how to party and say the women here are among the best.\n"We will say that on the college women meter, you guys are definitely in the top five," Aaron says with a huge smile across his face. "We compare colleges, and every town gets a rating. You guys leaped up there real quick, and we want the ladies to know that. They're beautiful here."\nBefore playing at a place like the Bluebird, the 17th Floor isn't sitting in back, taking shots and drinking beer.\n"We don't get on stage all drunk," Greg says. "We don't drink at all before the show or even during the show."\nIt's all Gatorade and water for the band on stage. That's not to say there isn't sometimes some fun after the show. Before the fun, though, the band sits down after each show, discusses constructive criticism and goes over the good points and bad points of its performance that night.\nDepending on what city they are in, the members of the 17th Floor might go out to the clubs. Most of the time, though, they just chill on their bus, watching DVDs and playing Playstation 2.\nThe good times are great, and the smiles and laughter from the band make it obvious that this group of musicians is also a group of friends. Still, spending so much time together isn't always a good thing.\n"Sometimes we're together too long," Aaron chuckles.\nBass says it's funny that they talk like that. They often end up hanging out together anyway, even when they don't have to for work.\n"The best thing about the group is everybody has a good work ethic," Greg says. "You rarely see somebody half-ass working. We know we've got a job to do."\nThe 17th Floor attributes most of its success to God. After 17 years on the road, the band has never had an accident, and the group missed its first show only last year.\nGreg and Aaron also like to attribute success to their mother.\n"She started it up," Aaron says. "She told us what we had to do and not do. And she told us to get up there and do what you got to do."\nDoing what they've got to do is exactly what the 17th Floor is doing. \n"We all love what we do," Bass says. "We love the fact that it's music-involved, and everyone can express their talents and live their dreams."\nColon agreed and said it's a beautiful thing to make a living doing what you want to do.\n"We get a lot of love from a lot of different people," he says. "If nothing else, that makes being out here worth it."\nThe 17th Floor's Web site,
(12/12/02 5:00am)
Four times now in the last three months, you could drive by the Bluebird, see a line down the street and hear fabulous hip-hop and R&B beats blaring out the front door. It isn't 15-cent draft night, and it isn't the radio playing. The 17th Floor has made a quick impact on IU students and packs the house every time it plays.\n"We saw the line down the block last time we were here and wondered if they were giving out free beer or something," jokes Greg Thompson, the band's bass player, keyboardist and background vocalist.\nThe 17th Floor is made up of Greg, Aaron Thompson (bassist), Daren Jordan (singer), Daryl Watt (rapper), Angel Colon (guitar) and Shawn Bass (keyboards). Brothers Aaron and Greg started the group, and the rest joined in subsequent years. They all hail from suburbs of Chicago.\nThe 17th Floor has been bringing out a huge crowd to the Bluebird every time it plays. It's something different for the Bloomington music scene, covering artists like Ja Rule, Nelly, Outkast and Dr. Dre. The choreography brings students back, but few know much about the band and how it all began.\n"It all started about 17 years ago," Greg says. "Basically, it was just for the love of playing and not about money or anything else."\nThe 17th Floor's influences ranged from hip hop to pop to rock. Prince has had the biggest influence on the band. That is, Prince before Purple Rain, the musicians say, laughing.\nThe band's first major project came in 1991 when it toured with TLC. Bobby Brown's bodyguard discovered the 17th Floor and tried to set up the band on a tour with Another Bad Creation. The tour fell through, but TLC heard the group and wanted to sign the band immediately. The 17th Floor was TLC's first live band.\n"We were real cool with the girls," Greg says. "They were like sisters to us."\nUsher Raymond also had a lot of influence on the band's success. In 1996, Usher asked the assistance of the 17th Floor in rehearsing and preparing for his "My Way" tour. The band agreed and even appeared on television with Usher on Fox Network's "Keenan Ivory Wayans Show."\nTouring and television appearances left little room for the band to travel and little time in the recording studio. It wasn't until this year that the band began recording its first album. \n"We're running across a different kind of thing because we've got so many influences and different people working on the album," Greg says, sounding tired just thinking about the process of recording the album. "It's been a unique experience."\nGreg says a radio station in Columbus, Ohio, has heard the group's original music for the album and says the sound is refreshing. The band likes to think of its music as new-school funk.\nThe 17th Floor says it knows it's facing a battle with today's music industry since so many artists singing now are so young. The band hopes that talent and love of the music will prevail in the end. Greg says he hopes the 17th Floor will break the mold.\nThough the band's shows feature only a few original songs in its college town concerts, the college kids tell them they like the hip-hop and R&B covers.\n"College kids are crazy," Colon says laughing. "They're always fun."\nTalking about college concerts sparks fun memories for the band. Greg says it's never boring playing a college town.\n"It's just as fun for us to watch them as it is for them to watch us," Greg says, remembering all the times he has seen drunk college students flash and moon the band.\nWhile the 17th Floor loves the support from fans across the country, sometimes things get a little out of hand. Women will randomly show up on the bus while the band is sleeping or eating. They don't allow women on the bus, but they always seem to wander on.\nColon says it's always good to play in Bloomington, which the band does regularly now. The band members heard IU recently was named the No. 1 party school by a national publication and wanted to check it out for themselves. They've seen that IU does know how to party and say the women here are among the best.\n"We will say that on the college women meter, you guys are definitely in the top five," Aaron says with a huge smile across his face. "We compare colleges, and every town gets a rating. You guys leaped up there real quick, and we want the ladies to know that. They're beautiful here."\nBefore playing at a place like the Bluebird, the 17th Floor isn't sitting in back, taking shots and drinking beer.\n"We don't get on stage all drunk," Greg says. "We don't drink at all before the show or even during the show."\nIt's all Gatorade and water for the band on stage. That's not to say there isn't sometimes some fun after the show. Before the fun, though, the band sits down after each show, discusses constructive criticism and goes over the good points and bad points of its performance that night.\nDepending on what city they are in, the members of the 17th Floor might go out to the clubs. Most of the time, though, they just chill on their bus, watching DVDs and playing Playstation 2.\nThe good times are great, and the smiles and laughter from the band make it obvious that this group of musicians is also a group of friends. Still, spending so much time together isn't always a good thing.\n"Sometimes we're together too long," Aaron chuckles.\nBass says it's funny that they talk like that. They often end up hanging out together anyway, even when they don't have to for work.\n"The best thing about the group is everybody has a good work ethic," Greg says. "You rarely see somebody half-ass working. We know we've got a job to do."\nThe 17th Floor attributes most of its success to God. After 17 years on the road, the band has never had an accident, and the group missed its first show only last year.\nGreg and Aaron also like to attribute success to their mother.\n"She started it up," Aaron says. "She told us what we had to do and not do. And she told us to get up there and do what you got to do."\nDoing what they've got to do is exactly what the 17th Floor is doing. \n"We all love what we do," Bass says. "We love the fact that it's music-involved, and everyone can express their talents and live their dreams."\nColon agreed and said it's a beautiful thing to make a living doing what you want to do.\n"We get a lot of love from a lot of different people," he says. "If nothing else, that makes being out here worth it."\nThe 17th Floor's Web site,
(12/09/02 3:30am)
It was a physical women's basketball game from the beginning. It looked as if every other play ended with someone on the ground and a foul. The Hoosiers, now 4-2, were 20-30 for free throws Saturday night with freshman Kali Kullberg making all 12 of her attempts.\nCoach Kathi Bennett said she was impressed with Kullberg's performance Saturday when the team defeated the now 5-1 Georgetown Hoyas. She said she had seen Kullberg's drive in practice and knew it would be crucial for the game against the Hoyas.\n"Kali was very steady," Bennett said. "She has shown the ability to get by and make plays in the lane."\nKullberg said she looked forward to being a spark when she came off the bench. The Minnesota native left Orono High School as its all-time highest scorer, boys and girls, with 1,727 points. Kullberg said her game-high 18 points against the Hoyas was just something she did to try and help the team out.\n"I wasn't looking for anything," Kullberg said. "Just what the team needed."\nKullberg gave the team exactly what they needed when she didn't miss any of her free throws the entire night. The Hoyas strategy may have been to foul to get the ball back, but it backfired when their star player Rebekkah Brunson fouled out with 5:02 left in the game. It also backfired anytime Kullberg stepped to the line.\n"I know Kali was 12 for 12," Bennett said. "We needed that. Especially down the stretch when they follow and they're trying to come back in the game. That was their plan, but Kali helped us stay consistent."\nKullberg said she did all she could when she came off the bench. She wasn't tired of shooting free throws, two in the first half and ten in the second, because she knew free throws were going to be huge in this game, she said. They certainly were.\nSenior Lisa Eckart was 5-7 on her free throws, and sophomore Jenny DeMuth sunk five of her six. Eckart had three important free throw attempts at the end of the first half. A foul on Bloomington native Nok Duany sent Eckart to the line to shoot three. Two of the three went in sending the Hoosiers off the court at halftime with a 36-30 lead.\nFreshman Cyndi Valentin was perfect at the free throw line as she knocked down 4-4. Valentin said she noticed the physical nature of the game.\n"I think they play real tight, and we have to take what they give us," Valentin said.\nBennett said she saw that free throws were going to play a big part in their victory. The Hoosiers' score could have been twice as high however if they made the baskets on the shots they were fouled on.\n"We missed so many easy shots," Bennett said. "If we can start finishing better around the rim, that will make life a whole lot easier."\nKullberg's performance in Saturday's game is one Bennett said she would like to see more often. Her drive and ability to sink free throws could be a huge strength for this team that is less than a month away from starting the Big Ten season.\n"She's a fighter," Bennett said. "She'll never give up, and she brings a toughness that this team needs"
(12/06/02 5:13am)
Before the women's basketball season started, coach Kathi Bennett was worried about the inexperience and youth of her team. It turns out that freshmen Angela Hawkins, April Williams, Cyndi Valentin, Kali Kullberg and Brigett Branson have been assets to the Hoosiers' scoring and defense. Their toughness and quickness on the court will be useful in Saturday's match-up against undefeated Georgetown.\n"They play fearlessly, and they play hard," Bennett said. "But we've all got to play together and play tough. I don't feel we're really tough right now."\nEarlier this week Hawkins ranked third in the Big Ten, averaging 9.8 rebounds per game. She is no stranger to the starting line-up this season, starting the last two games, and said she's excited about the Georgetown game because of what she's seen in practice since Florida.\n"Our communication and encouragement for each other has been one thing we've needed to work on," Hawkins said. "Today in practice, I finally saw that. I think it's coming together."\nCommunication and encouragement won't do it all for the Hoosiers though. Georgetown comes to meet the 3-2 Hoosiers with a 5-0 record. Hawkins said the Hoosier defense would need to play a key role in this weekend's game.\nSenior Lisa Eckart said she would also like to see five players play good defense at the same time. She added it will be important to IU's play and will set the tone of the entire game.\n"We also need to work on shooting," Eckart said. "The only thing we can do about that is keep practicing. And hopefully, things will fall into place and we'll come out of this slump."\nBennett said she thinks that starting games out better will help bring the team out of their losing streak. When games aren't going so well in the beginning, she said she'd like to see her team battle that and get more intense and passionate about the game.\nAlthough it is Hoyas' first trip to Assembly Hall, it certainly won't be for former Bloomington North standout Nok Duany. Duany plays an important role for the Hoyas as a team co-captain and is second on the team in scoring and rebounding. Bennett said she expects Duany to be fired up for the game.\n"They have some real athletic inside players," Bennett said. "They shoot their three-point shot extremely well."\nBennett said she hopes sophomore Jenny DeMuth will be back in the Hoosier line-up Saturday after suffering a concussion at the Florida State game Tuesday night. She hasn't practiced yet this week, but Bennett said she is confident that she'll be back on the court Saturday to help beat the Hoyas.\nHawkins wasn't the only team member who noticed good things happening in practice Thursday. Eckart said their main problems are the areas they each have to work on individually, and it's finally coming together in practice. She said the team's main battle right now is the one they face against themselves.\n"There are a lot of things within our team that we need to work on and improve," Eckart said.\nMore than anything, Eckart said she and her teammates are ready to get back on the court and redeem themselves.\n"I think we need to stick together as a team since we've lost two games in a row," Eckart said. "I think it's very important for us to hang together and get a win so we can turn things around"
(12/05/02 5:00am)
Snoop Dogg is back at it again with his sixth album, Paid Tha Cost to be da Bo$$. It's as successful as any album in the past, with notoriously catchy Snoop beats and background music. It's off the hizzook.\nThe Long Beach rapper is still at it with other MCs, such as Jay-Z, Redman, Nate Dogg, Warren G and Ludacris, on this album, and he also has a few solo tracks on it as well.\n"I Believe in You" shows that Snoop may actually be maturing. The duet with Latoiya Williams is a smooth R&B song, one you could even listen to with your parents around. No guns, drugs or sex in this track. Snoop keeps it real with Williams, with only the occasional "sizzay" and "dizzay." (This "language" is clearly apparent in every song.)\nIt's hard to pick just one fabulous song on the album, because there are so many. The first single is a great one. "From tha Chuuuch to da Palace" is typical Snoop, with sounds that will be stuck in your head all day. \nSounding the most "old school Snoop" is "Pimp Slapp'd," in which he takes jabs at former boss Suge Knight. "Suge Knight's a bitch and that's on my life," Snoop raps, adding that Knight screwed up the industry. He also speaks his mind on Kurupt and Xzibit on the same track.\nA comical song on the album, whether it's meant to be comical or not, is "I Miss That Bitch." Looks like Snoop is still treating his women the same. This duet with E-White speaks of missing "that bitch" who was "a pot of gold." Odd how this pot of gold is referred to as a bitch, but that's typical of Snoop.\nWhether or not you've been a Snoop Dogg fan in the past should have nothing do with the success of this album because it kicks serious izzass. It's confident and mature. Rumor has it the 30 year old has even stopped smoking weed. Good mizzove Snoop, maybe that's why this album is your best yet.
(12/04/02 5:22am)
Snoop Dogg is back at it again with his sixth album, Paid Tha Cost to be da Bo$$. It's as successful as any album in the past, with notoriously catchy Snoop beats and background music. It's off the hizzook.\nThe Long Beach rapper is still at it with other MCs, such as Jay-Z, Redman, Nate Dogg, Warren G and Ludacris, on this album, and he also has a few solo tracks on it as well.\n"I Believe in You" shows that Snoop may actually be maturing. The duet with Latoiya Williams is a smooth R&B song, one you could even listen to with your parents around. No guns, drugs or sex in this track. Snoop keeps it real with Williams, with only the occasional "sizzay" and "dizzay." (This "language" is clearly apparent in every song.)\nIt's hard to pick just one fabulous song on the album, because there are so many. The first single is a great one. "From tha Chuuuch to da Palace" is typical Snoop, with sounds that will be stuck in your head all day. \nSounding the most "old school Snoop" is "Pimp Slapp'd," in which he takes jabs at former boss Suge Knight. "Suge Knight's a bitch and that's on my life," Snoop raps, adding that Knight screwed up the industry. He also speaks his mind on Kurupt and Xzibit on the same track.\nA comical song on the album, whether it's meant to be comical or not, is "I Miss That Bitch." Looks like Snoop is still treating his women the same. This duet with E-White speaks of missing "that bitch" who was "a pot of gold." Odd how this pot of gold is referred to as a bitch, but that's typical of Snoop.\nWhether or not you've been a Snoop Dogg fan in the past should have nothing do with the success of this album because it kicks serious izzass. It's confident and mature. Rumor has it the 30 year old has even stopped smoking weed. Good mizzove Snoop, maybe that's why this album is your best yet.
(12/03/02 5:09am)
When the IU women's basketball team travels to Tallahassee for its game against Florida State, one thing will be on the players' minds: last year's game. The two teams met in Bloomington last season and the Seminoles claimed victory over the Hoosiers 62-61. It was a shot at the buzzer by Indiana native April Traylor that bumped the Seminoles up as the victors.\nSenior Jamie Gathin remembers the game and its excitement. She said it's what will help drive the team to win this year.\n"We want to go in there and win so bad," Gathing said. "Last year they got in here with the win and it wasn't good at all."\nCoach Kathi Bennett said the Seminoles are a very athletic team with a lot of potential. Florida State has the same 3-1 record as IU, with their only loss coming to Florida. Bennett said she hopes it will be a good game with two teams competing at a competitive level.\n"We've got to play really well together," Bennett said. "Our defense needs to be very special for us to beat good teams. That's got to be a consistent area."\nJunior forward Tasheika Morris has Bennett concerned with handling the Seminole's full court pressure. Bennett said Morris is dynamite, can shoot the three off the screen with no dribble and can post up very well. Bennett added she knows it will be a challenge for IU to contain her.\nThe Seminoles are coming off a 13-15 overall record last year while IU finished last season at 17-14. \nSenior forward Jill Hartman said she hopes to see the team bounce back after its disappointing 68-56 loss to Nevada in the Alaska Shoot-out last Wednesday. \n"I think we're really hungry for a win," Hartman said. "They're a good match-up for us so I think we're ready to take them on and win."\nThe women may be hungry for a win, but traveling from Bloomington to Alaska, and back to Bloomington and now on to Florida has left the team worn out mentally and physically. While the Hoosiers have been flying here and there, the Seminoles have yet to even leave their home state.\n"It's kind of hard," Gathing said. "(It's) mentally rough. On our bodies rough, but we're better than that."\nGathing said the team has to keep fighting because the more they succeed, the more they will travel. With their eyes on the Final Four like all other teams, Gathing said if they get used to the traveling now they will handle it better later. \nHartman said the long flights to and from Alaska and back-to-back hard games have them worn out, but that they are still working hard.\n"I think the main thing is we need as much rest as we can get," Hartman said. "Right now we just need to rest and work on the things we learned in Alaska."\nGathing said the Hoosiers know they need to attack more on the full court and work on their defense to give Florida State a good game. \n"I know I want to get back in there and show them that we can win," she said. "If we win it will be a big win for us"
(12/02/02 4:14am)
In the 1970's, women's basketball was an entirely different ballgame. Head coach at the time, Bea Gorton was the fastest to reach the 40-win plateau in just 46 games. This weekend women's head coach Kathi Bennett became the second fastest coach to reach the 40-win plateau and accomplished the feat in 65 games.\nBennett wasn't aware it was her 40th win Tuesday night in Alaska when the team defeated Eastern Kentucky 61-49.\nSome members on the team weren't surprised that Bennett had won 40 games so fast.\n"She just cares so much, genuinely for everyone," senior Jamie Gathing said. "She's a great coach overall."\nGathing said she knows Bennett attributes much of her success to her support staff, and if it weren't for the support staff, her job would be a lot tougher.\nSenior Jill Hartman said she noticed Bennett's approach and confidence when it comes to being a basketball coach.\n"I think she is different because of her defense focus," Hartman said. "It's different than any other team, and that's what sets her apart."\nBennett's knowledge of the game doesn't go unnoticed by her players. Hartman said Bennett is inspirational and prepares the team well before every game.\nOnce again not taking all the credit for her wins, Bennett said she thinks that good players are what help make a good coach.\n"They've got to buy into your system," Bennett said. "They've got to believe in how you're going to play; they've got to buy in and do it."\nBennett's favorite IU memory is a toss up between two games from the previous years. \n"Winning the Big Ten Tournament last year against Penn State was really special to me," Bennett said. "Actually, my very first game at IU against Washington was pretty special too."\nThe Washington game in November 2000 was the first overtime win for Bennett. A three-pointer at the buzzer helped the Hoosiers defeat the Washington Huskies 77-74. Bennett said it's a win she'll never forget.\nAlaska was full of ups and downs for the Hoosiers. While Bennett celebrated her 40th win in Alaska, she said she's most concerned about where the team is mentally for the games to come.\n"You have to work just as hard mentally as you do physically," Bennett said. "They have to learn how to do both."\nPart of Bennett's winning strategy is to hold the team accountable for their mental game. She does this with repetition until they grasp the concept. Gathing said she likes the fact that Bennett isn't even always concerned with just winning.\n"Overall she wants us as people to do well in life, not just on the court," Gathing said. " That's good because basketball isn't just about winning on the court; it's about life too"
(11/25/02 4:50am)
The women's basketball team proved this weekend at the Hampton Inn/Fazoli's Classic tournament that they are not a team to be ignored. Their 90-34 win over Wofford marked the most one-sided victory for the Hoosiers since 1991. If that wasn't enough, the Hoosiers came back to the court Saturday evening to defeat Ball State 103-95 in a double overtime game that named the 2-0 Hoosiers winners of the tournament.\nFriday night was noticeably a night full of depth for the Hoosiers when they took on the Wofford Lady Terriers. Everyone got a few minutes of playing time in the game, and freshman Cyndi Valentin was the top scorer with 16 points. It was her second game as top scorer this season. Senior Lisa Eckart and sophomore Jenny DeMuth also contributed by adding 12 points a piece. \nCoach Kathi Bennett said she noticed the depth of the team Friday and said it's one of their main strengths.\n"I feel like it's something that will help us as the season wears on," Bennett said. "The key is we just have to keep getting better."\nWofford had a tough game against the Hoosiers at half time when the score was 41-17. The second half sailed by smoothly and before they knew it, the Hoosiers were headed to the championship game of the tournament.\nFollowing the Hoosier's victory, Ball State defeated Houston 78-63.\nThe night before the tournament, Bennett said she knew playing either Ball State or Houston would be a really good game. Little did she know exactly how good and intense it would be. The Hoosiers didn't start out so well in the first half, and it looked as though it were Ball State's game.\n"We have to start playing better early," Bennett said. "I think each of our games have started out not so good, and it takes a while for us to get into things and start playing like we really can."\nAlthough it took the team awhile to get into the Ball State game, they came back to tie the game late in the first half after being down 16 points. The excitement didn't stop there.\nJust when Indiana thought they had the game wrapped up 74-71, Ball State's Johna Goff drained a three-pointer that sent the game into overtime. The first overtime was neck and neck once again, and it all came down to free throws by Valentin with one second left in the first overtime. The first bounced off the rim leaving the score in Ball State's favor 87-88. It was her second basket that sealed the trip into another overtime.\nIU was ready for the last overtime and held the lead for the remaining minutes of the game.\nSenior Kristen Bodine said she could feel the adrenaline on the court before each overtime and that the team just gave it their all each time.\n"I try and do my best out there whether it's overtime or not," Bodine said. "The coaches have confidence in me and that helps."\nValentin said the team's chemistry on the court came together this weekend. \n"It comes together the more we practice and as the season goes on," Valentin said. "We're all getting used to each other and how we cut and move around the ball."\nDeMuth finished with 24 points, 14 of which were free-throws. She didn't miss one all night making her 14 of 14 attempts a new school record. DeMuth also recorded 11 rebounds and six assists.\nAfter the nail-biting victory over Ball State, the Hoosiers claimed their trophy and celebrated as teammates DeMuth, Bodine and Eckart were all named to the tournament team. Goff of Ball State and Chandi Jones of Houston also made the team.\nClaiming the Classic MVP of the tournament was Ball State's Tamara Bowie who grabbed nine rebounds and scored a game high 26 points.\nBennett and her team are now headed to the Great Alaska Shootout where they will take on Eastern Kentucky in the opening round Tuesday at midnight (EST).\n"We're taking a lot of toughness with us to Alaska after this game," Bennett said. "We've still got things to work on, but this weekend showed our toughness and gave us confidence"
(11/21/02 5:30am)
The movie begins with a rap song by none other than Ja Rule, of course, but with all the curse words bleeped out. Now, you could handle this, but it's very strange that a movie with probably 50 inmates on New Alcatraz doesn't contain a single curse word. \nThe idea of the film isn't a bad one. Morris Chestnut takes a big step out of his usual film genre to star as the bad guy in this movie about a lot of people looking for the same gold. It's a nice change that, for once, actually manages to be pulled off well. Don't be surprised to see him in more like this one in the future.\nThen there's Seagal. He tries his best to be a thug on the streets and in the jail. Obviously, he fails horribly at the attempt but has all the help he can get from inmate Ja Rule, who actually pulls his weight in the movie with some good acting. The only strange thing is when he starts to kick some people's asses. Isn't Ja Rule, like, 5-foot-2? \nThe fighting scenes are pretty good. The coolest thing about the movie is the females who dominate each side of the problem. Nia Peeples and Claudia Christian come into the picture as serious crime-causing and crime-fighting females. These girls don't just sit back and watch the action; they're a major part of it. Move over Charlie's Angels, because these girls know how to fight.\nThe movie wasn't as bad as many critics have made it out to be. While it's no "Face/Off" or "The Rock," it's a good time to watch, although lots of references to snipers may make the film feel slightly uncomfortable to some. Anyone promoting tighter gun control in the country would definitely not enjoy this film.\nBut if you're up for an action movie with an odd combination of actors, some kick-ass females and clean language, check out "Half Past Dead." The title will actually make sense after you've seen the movie.
(11/21/02 5:04am)
Part of being a Big Ten athlete is being a star to younger generations. Many students can remember the athletes they looked up to when they were younger and chased down for autographs around Assembly Hall. Local women's basketball fans are given the chance to interact with the IU team tonight at College Mall.\nSenior Jill Hartman said they haven't done anything like this at the mall before, but she looks forward to the interaction with the kids. As an elementary education major, Hartman loves spending time with children.\n"I have to deal with learning about kids everyday," Hartman said. "I know that it's the little things we do that make a huge difference to them."\nThe evening will last from 7 to 8 p.m. and is scheduled to include activities like "Double Pop a Shot" where kids will compete to win prizes. A Playstation 2 unit will be set up for kids to play college basketball and if needed some members of the women's team will play too. Some of the prizes for the competitions will be tickets to this weekend's tournament in Assembly Hall.\nThe Hoosiers will also have a meet and greet time where they will sign autographs and hand out posters and schedules. Senior Jamie Gathing never thought someone would be asking for her autograph.\n"I used to tell my teachers in grade school to watch me on TV when I get older," Gathing said. "I never thought about signing autographs though. It's a pretty cool feeling."\nSenior Khisha Asubuhi said she was just recently talking with her mother about how she used to be the one going up to Big Ten players and getting autographs. Asubuhi thinks it's an honor to have kids approach her for an autograph.\nThe women on the team said they don't mind signing autographs and love being with the kids. Hartman said she always has fun with the kids and hopes that the time spent with them will help draw people to their games.\n"I think when they come and meet us they become friends with us," Hartman said. "Then the kids want to come and see us play. When you're a kid and you see someone you know playing, you feel kind of special watching them."\nHartman believes that more than anything, the women on the team give the kids something to reach for. Meeting the team helps give inspiring players motivation to do what they want to with their lives.\nThe women's team has worked with kids before at various basketball camps and clinics, and traveled around to various elementary schools as well. Asubuhi said the team does things for the kids all the time, and they love the kids just as much as the kids love them. While they are role models to young kids with dreams of being basketball stars, off the court is where Asubuhi feels the greatest pressure is to be a good role model.\n"If someone is scoring 20 points a game but you see them in the IDS or another newspaper for causing trouble off the court, kids aren't going to like that," Asubuhi said. "Parent's won't like it either. We have to set a good example off the court as well as on the court."\nGathing remembers growing up in a time when there weren't a lot of opportunities to continue playing basketball after high school. She said programs like the Big Ten and the WNBA give young girls something to look forward to.\n"For most of the local kids we are all they see," Gathing said. "We're their outlook into the future. So many of them want to grow up like us and play big time basketball."\nTeam members said they are excited about their first team appearance at College Mall and hope to gain some new fans through the kids.\n"It's really fun," Hartman said. "They're real cute and it's such a great thing to them"
(11/21/02 5:00am)
The movie begins with a rap song by none other than Ja Rule, of course, but with all the curse words bleeped out. Now, you could handle this, but it's very strange that a movie with probably 50 inmates on New Alcatraz doesn't contain a single curse word. \nThe idea of the film isn't a bad one. Morris Chestnut takes a big step out of his usual film genre to star as the bad guy in this movie about a lot of people looking for the same gold. It's a nice change that, for once, actually manages to be pulled off well. Don't be surprised to see him in more like this one in the future.\nThen there's Seagal. He tries his best to be a thug on the streets and in the jail. Obviously, he fails horribly at the attempt but has all the help he can get from inmate Ja Rule, who actually pulls his weight in the movie with some good acting. The only strange thing is when he starts to kick some people's asses. Isn't Ja Rule, like, 5-foot-2? \nThe fighting scenes are pretty good. The coolest thing about the movie is the females who dominate each side of the problem. Nia Peeples and Claudia Christian come into the picture as serious crime-causing and crime-fighting females. These girls don't just sit back and watch the action; they're a major part of it. Move over Charlie's Angels, because these girls know how to fight.\nThe movie wasn't as bad as many critics have made it out to be. While it's no "Face/Off" or "The Rock," it's a good time to watch, although lots of references to snipers may make the film feel slightly uncomfortable to some. Anyone promoting tighter gun control in the country would definitely not enjoy this film.\nBut if you're up for an action movie with an odd combination of actors, some kick-ass females and clean language, check out "Half Past Dead." The title will actually make sense after you've seen the movie.
(11/15/02 5:38am)
Jill Chapman and Heather Cassady were assets to last year's successful women's basketball team. Tonight both will return to the court in Assembly Hall. The only difference is, they won't be wearing IU jerseys. The two will instead be playing for the Reebok Lady Stars in against many of their former teammates tonight at 7:30 p.m.\n"I love IU and I'll always want to come back here and do what I can to help. It's different knowing that I'm here and not playing for IU," Chapman said after practicing with the team on Wednesday. \nCoach Kathi Bennett said she loves to see Chapman and Cassady on the court but not on the opposing team. She likes the idea however, of seeing how the Hoosiers can stack up against such incredible talent. It will give them something to measure up to and see what level they are at.\nSenior Allison Skapin said Chapman is a tough competitor and has served as a tall player to practice against. \nFreshman Kali Kullberg never had the opportunity to play with Chapman and Cassady but has seen the talent they represent in practice and the intensity they bring to the court.\n"You can just see what they brought to the court last year," Kullberg said. "This year it brings so much leadership to see what they can add because of where they'd been with basketball and how hard they've worked."\nPlayers and coaches said they are excited about the presence of Chapman and Cassady at practice, but not everything is running smoothly this season for the women's basketball team. Problems began to arise Saturday morning when junior LeeAnn Stephenson suffered an ACL injury. She will be sitting out for the year.\n"We lost LeeAnn so that kind of changes our combinations and who's on the floor," Bennett said. "I think it's a learning process for this team. We've got to play hard and stay together."\nSkapin hopes to do her best in the Reebok Lady Stars game and said she'll go out and play with all she's got.\n"I'll do what I can to help the team," Skapin said. "Exhibition helps us to see where we are against other competition."\nBennett said senior Kristen Bodine would return to the court on Friday night. Kullberg is excited to see what Bodine does at the game coming off of her sprained ankle. Kullberg said she feels lucky to share the point guard position with Bodine.\n"You can just feel the comfort of the team when she's back on the court," Kullberg said.\nChapman said exhibition games really give a team a chance to gel on the court and shows what players play best together.\n"They have to have fun," Chapman said. "They can't be too stressed out."\nWhat may be stressing the team out is what Bennett said the coaches are trying to teach the young players. A new kind of basketball for this team will focus on motion instead of set plays. Bennett said this could be tough to teach younger players because they are so dependent.\n"One breaks down and they all break down," Bennett said. "It's a process to build that. I think we have to be patient."\nChapman will soon see how her former teammates measure up against the Reebok Lady Stars. She knows coming into Assembly Hall and playing for the opposing team will be quite an experience.\n"The crowd that used to watch Heather and I will be cheering against us," Chapman said. "But we love to come back and help the team out. Of course we will be here the whole time watching them play and cheering them on"
(11/14/02 5:00am)
Leia Pratapas, a junior, sits at a booth with three of her best friends on her 21st birthday. On her head is a blue construction helmet, which perfectly holds two 15-cent drafts on each side, with a tube that conveniently reaches her mouth.\n"I think it's leaking," Pratapas screams as she spills beer onto the table and giggles. Her friends down their own 15-cent drafts at the Bluebird on a Wednesday night. One of her friends knocks one over on the table and doesn't seem to mind she's lost a beer.\nTo some, Wednesday night is the best night of the week for drinking, and it's all because of the 15-cent Miller Lites sold at the 'Bird. With lines that usually go down the block and a crowd busier than anywhere else in town, the 'Bird and its 15-cent drafts have become a big part of college life at IU.\nVisitors will find it's a place where you can be yourself and not have to dress up to fit in. Most people appear to go for the music, to hang out with friends and, most importantly, for the popular drink special on Wednesday nights.\nPratapas and her friends continue to consume 15-cent drafts as the night progresses. A friend asks Pratapas how many she is going to drink.\n"How ever many you buy me, I guess," Pratapas says before taking another drink out of her hat.\nAt another table, freshman Andrew Phillips sits with his friends talking before things have gotten too crazy for the bunch. \n"I love this," Phillips says. "This is my first time here for this. It's only 15 cents for the beer, so that leaves money to buy shots, which is what we'll be doing later."\nJoey Reaves, a sophomore, agrees about the shots and says he comes to the 'Bird for 15-cent drafts as much as possible. \n"I'm not big on counting beers," Reaves says, "but I could spend $8 to $9 on beers and tips alone. That doesn't even include shots."\nHelping make the night possible is bartender Brent Mortara. Mortara fills up cup after cup for the waiting customers, and does so with a smile.\n"I don't mind working on 15-cent draft nights," Mortara says as he takes an order from the next customer. "I get to make money and see lots of people have a good time."\nAnother customer, senior Brendan Riley, interrupts Mortara and orders six 15-cent drafts. Riley hands out the beers to his friends as they all take a sip of the frothy cold Miller Lite. He admits to being a fan of 15-cent draft night since he was a freshman.\n"I come here on Wednesdays about once or twice every few months," Riley says, taking another sip. His friends argue with him that it's actually a lot more often. Yet, Riley and his friends do agree that they normally consume 10 to 12 drafts each Wednesday they are there.\nFifteen beers are the most seniors Jody Agler and Leanne Fairbanks say they have consumed in one night. The two come to the 'Bird every Wednesday night because of the drink special.\n"The only thing that sucks is that you have to wait in line for half an hour to get a beer," Agler says. "It ends up costing you more time to get less beer."\nFairbanks disagrees immediately. "You can get lots at one time though. You can buy like six at a time," she says.\nAgler jumps back, asking how one should go about carrying six beers. Fairbanks says you ask your friends to help.\n"But those friends who carry your beers might drink them," Agler says as the two girls laugh and take another drink.\nThe two reached the conclusion that it is possible to carry up to four 15-cent drafts at one time. The consensus seemed to be that a dollar would buy you four beers, with the extra 40 cents going as a tip.\n"It's all about the 'Bird on Wednesday nights," Fairbanks says. "Fifteen-cent drafts"