Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
9:06 pm Sunday, March 17, 2002

Can State make the Final Four?

By By Austin Bishop / EMG regional sports director
March 17, 2002
Scanning the sports scene on a Sunday while wondering if the Mississippi State men's basketball team can repeat the success of the 1996 team …
The 27-7 Bulldogs of Mississippi State University, are really a very interesting basketball team.
The talent is there.
Mario Austin is a man on the inside and very difficult for opponents to handle in the paint.
Derrick Zimmerman has proven to be a solid point guard, who can get the job both offensively and defensively.
Marckell Patterson is a true scorer who can pick up points in a variety of ways.
That accounts for the three things you just have to have to be successful in the NCAA Basketball Tournament an inside game, a good point guard and a scorer. The Bulldogs have all three.
There is also something else going MSU's way, the Bulldogs are hot. With the win over McNeese State on Friday MSU has now won nine straight games, including an impressive run through the tough Southeastern Conference Tournament.
Next up is Texas today in Dallas. That will be tough, but certainly won't be impossible.
If the Bulldogs win that game, then the next challenge will be either Wake Forest or Oregon likely Oregon in Madison, Wisc.
A win there and State will face either Kansas, Stanford, Creighton or Illinois for the right to make the Final Four in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
When the Bulldogs are playing well, they can compete with anyone. But they can't afford to have an average game against a good team.
Can MSU actually make the Final Four?
Who knows? But we will get part of that answer today.
Park makes dramatic return
Last year was one of much drama for NASCAR.
There was the death of Dale Earnhardt and Dale Jr.'s wins at Daytona and Talladega.
But there was another traumatic moment that was lost on some. Steve Park, a driver for Dale Earnhardt Inc., nearly lost his life in aBIreak accident in a Busch race at Darlington, S.C.
After surviving damage to the brain, that has blurred his vision and slurred his speech, Park is making a return to stock car racing at the very same Darlington today.
He was the fourth fastest in qualifying on Friday, a major accomplishment for a man that many thought would never race again, much less be competitive. The chances of him winning today are slim, but a top 10 or even top five finish are possible.
It was incredible to watch Dale Jr. win at Daytona, the site of his dad's death. It was unbelievable to watch the No. 8 car of Junior win at Talladega, a year after his father won his last race at the same track.
It would be beyond words if Park were to win today at Darlington. But, stranger things have happened.
We saw that last year.
Sports fans will fall for anything
It is hard for me to believe that Mike Tyson is going to be allowed to fight again, much less that states and Washington, D.C., are actually going to bid over who gets the fight.
But do you know what is even more incredible? That people will actually pay to watch it. That just blows my mind.
But they will. Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson will get huge paydays and we will be the reason. Man, what a crazy world we live in?
Fast-pitch continues to grow
The popularity of fast-pitch softball continues to grow.
There are a lot of reasons for that, including that it is fun to watch. A lot of people have put a lot of blood-and-sweat into the sport, with the girls being on the top of the list.
But I have to give guys like Clarkdale coach Rick Roberson and Newton County head man Mack Fanning some credit too.
I'm not about to get into the fight over which is better fast-pitch or slow-pitch. I'm just glad that girls with desire and talent have the opportunity to play the game they love.

Also on Franklin County Times
Thorpe to play at Blue Mountain Christian
High School Sports, News, Russellville, ...
Brannon King For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE – Brennon Thorpe made his plans official to attend Blue Mountain Christian University and play baseball for the Toppers during a recent s...
Russellville High Class of 1967 gathers, reminisces
Columnists, News, Opinion, ...
HERE AND NOW
July 16, 2025
You can’t really go back to the good old days of high school, but you can pay them a visit now and then. That’s exactly what the RHS Class of 1967 has...
Former Cypress Lakes official to lead Guntersville State Park
Lifestyles, News
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
GUNTERSVILLE — Heath Puckett had an Auburn University degree and golf course superintendent certification in his pocket when he arrived at Cypress Lak...
European travel builds bonds across cultures
Lifestyles, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- A group of Franklin County travelers spent nine days this summer walking through catacombs, exploring castles and standing in places w...
Little Free Library welcomes readers in East Franklin
Lifestyles, News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
PHIL CAMPBELL — Eleven-year-old Aiden Hall is an avid reader, but he doesn’t just want to read books. He also wants to share them, and the way he deci...
King becomes elementary curriculum director
Lifestyles, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELVILLE — Molly King says every child can learn, though not necessarily in the same way or on the same day — a belief she plans to carry into her ...
New Junior Leaders begin their training
Franklin County, News
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
FRANKLIN COUNTY — Forty-two high school students from across Franklin County are beginning 10 months of hands-on leadership training and community ser...
Fire destroys 2-story garage, guest suite
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
R U S S E L LV I L L E – Jason Gist leaned against the wall of his home with a look of disgust while dozens of firefighters worked to extinguish a fir...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Stories
July 4, 2025Augusto Simon Diaz, 42, of Russellville, passed away July 4. Visitation and funeral were held at Spry Memorial Chapel on July 12 from 2pm ...
July 16, 2025
July 8, 2025Jamie Kerby Cummings, 41, of Russellville, passed away on July 8. Visitation took place July 13, at Spry Memorial Chapel from 1 pm to 3pm....
July 16, 2025
July 11,2025Julie “JuJu” Welch Black, 63, of Russellville, passed away on July 11.Graveside service was held at 1pm on July 13, at Belgreen Cemetery w...
July 16, 2025
July 9, 2025Scott Noel Benford, age 58, of Muscle Shoals, passed away on July 9. Visitation was held at Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville on July 1...
July 16, 2025