City College Men's and Women's Basketball Report
Surging Rams win five of six games

BY BEN SCHNEIDER

The Rams' 77-44 dismantling of DeAnza last Friday improved City's Coast League record to an impressive 5-1, as well as giving first-year coach Justin Labagh his 20th overall victory this season.

The Rams have cakewalked through league play this season, crushing their opponents by an average of 18 points, until a heartbreaking 62-55-overtime loss to Ohlone Community College, ranked fifth in state. It was the Rams first league loss as well as their first home loss this season.

Although the Rams were able to beat Ohlone's feisty full-court press all night, they couldn't close the door down the stretch.

Freshman Johnnie Bryant lead the Rams with 15 points, including their only two points in overtime.

The Rams have four league games remaining this season, including a rematch with Ohlone that could determine the league championship.

"The team that gets on the best roll or the team that improves the most over the next couple of weeks should come out on top," said an optimistic Labagh.

Garcia's DUI Overyhyped
Addi-Sports--Where sports become an addiction...

BY ZURI BERRY

Once again your average sports fan is disappointed because an average sports icon has made an average man's mistake.

ROSALIND KWAN / GUARDSMAN

Let's jump five years back in time and forget that Jeff Garcia is the San Francisco 49ers quarterback or that he's making over $10 million dollars a year. Forget his status and the fact that he plays football. What is left of him? Nothing. He is a nobody. Just a normal amateur athlete trying to be a professional at what he does. Sound familiar?

Let's stop now and look at his situation in perspective. He's at the bar having a couple of drinks with a couple of ladies. As he decides to take the party somewhere else---BAM! He gets hit with a DUI.

Next thing you know he's giving a public apology and his lawyers are making written statements.

Why not just pin a tail on him and call him a donkey to save him from this embarrassment?

But did anybody stop and wonder if this is going to affect his throwing arm?

Garcia's mistake did not occur on the playing field and we didn't find out after the fact that he quarterbacked a game drunk (remember David Wells). So for the media and fans to have the audacity to focus on this little incident was almost unbearable for a die-hard fan such as myself.

Is it even our right to know? As fans we have the right to ask questions but do we have the right to know the answers? Over and over again these questions are tested but so are these athlete's nerves.

We don't know if there are problems behind the scenes that affected his judgement. For all we know being the 49ers quarterback could have drove him to drink or just being teammates with Terrell Owens. But we don't see that perspective do we.

As an addi-sport I realize that no man is perfect but when he steps on the field all that should matter is that he gives his all.

A man and woman's personal life is a man and woman's private life. Once the fans realize that then maybe we can put all athletes in the proper perspective and judge them where it counts. On the playing field and never off.

McNealy leads way for Lady Rams

BY DIEGO VALDEZ- SANCHEZ

The Lady Rams have gotten off to a hot start this season, winning four of their first five regular season matchups.

For their first conference game, the Lady Rams played host to Chabot College. The game started off tentatively, but the Lady Rams pulled together for a 25-3 run before halftime and never looked back, beating Chabot 59-40. Marie Tomasulo led the Lady Rams with 16 points, with Nia Reate-Galarza scoring 14.

In the next game the Lady Rams pulled out a close win, beating DeAnza 68-63. Sophomore forward Monique McNealy led the team with 25 points.

Head Coach Jamie Wong praised McNealy, saying, "She's very tough. She's a kid I can always count on. She'll get punched in the face... and still play hard."

The game against Mission College was a breeze for the Lady Rams as they dominated from the start with tenacious defense. City never trailed, winning 78-48 with McNealy once again leading the way with 15 points.

In their next game, the Lady Rams faced a tough opponent in Foothill College. The devastating 62-55 loss knocked the Lady Rams from the top of their conference, putting them in second behind Foothill.

The Lady Rams recovered from the loss, beating Gavilan College 67-48 in a lopsided victory. Nia Reate-Galarza led with 13 points in the win.

With their next game at home on Feb. 13 against Foothill College, the Lady Rams are looking forward to avenging their earlier loss and reclaiming their number one spot in the league.

"The big game is Foothill... the girls are really excited about that game!" said Coach Wong.

Baseball Coach has Playoff Aspirations for 2004
Freshmen and returnees bring great expectations

BY FLYNN HAGERTY

A number of exciting freshmen and talented returning sophomores has City College baseball feeling optimistic this spring after a disappointing 2003 season marked by struggle.

COLLEEN CUMMINS / GUARDSMAN Rams players take their cuts in pre-season workouts this month. Coach Vanoncini expressed optimism about the team regaining their prominence this season.

Last Spring City College limped to a 5-19 record in Coast Conference play that saw a number of blowouts by such powerhouse teams as College of San Mateo

There was also disagreement in the clubhouse that led to a number of freshmen leaving the program.

But a new crop of talented freshmen has Coach John Vanoncini excited about a possible return to prominence for the City College baseball program.

The offense looks particularly promising for City, with sluggers DJ Stacey, a preseason All-American center fielder, first baseman Zach Arthur; and David Parker, a transfer from City College of San Diego.

"Our one through nine lineup is as strong as ever, and we believe we have nine guys who can hit over .300," said Vanoncini.

A familiar Vanoncini trademark that will be seen this season is City's active running game.

"Controlled havoc" is how Vanoncini describes his philosophy on baserunning. The team's goal is to steal 120 bases this season.

"We want the opposing pitcher to be aware of our baserunners at all times," Vanoncini said. "We want to unsettle the pitcher, take his mind off the batter and deliver more fastballs for our hitters. Less concentration on the batter means more balls left over the plate. We also want to be aggressive when the ball's in play, and get to the next base if at all possible."

"With our pitching staff, our strength is being mentally tough. Our staff is one of the hardest working in the league, and we throw strikes and try to put the ball in play," said pitching coach Glenn McCormick.

The pitching staff features left-hander Orlando Aguiliera, godson of Giants legend Orlando Cepeda. Aguliera throws a heavy moving sinkerball that could give batters fits. Zach Arthur, fellow left-hander Andrew Kleinman, Marvin Rombaua and Evan Scandling will join him. A call to the bullpen will likely see closer Daniel Cadena.

In a strong league Vanoncini sees 14-15 wins being the key to reach postseason play. He's confident that City can rise again and beat out schools such as Skyline, College of San Mateo and DeAnza for a playoff berth and by doing so garner increased respect for the program.