As the 2004 Olympic Games wear on, it seems as if UCLA and the
United States go hand-in-hand with the success they are seeing.
With five Bruins making up the roster of the softball team, Team
USA (2-0) is steamrollering through its competition. Sunday’s
game against Australia was living testimony of that fact as former
Bruin pitcher Lisa Fernandez was an ace, allowing only one hit in
her team’s 10-0 drubbing over the two-time bronze medalist.
“These are the ones you play the game for,” said
Fernandez at the postgame press conference. “It’s
USC-UCLA, Boston-New York ““ two powers going at each other
with everything they’ve got.” With a past history that
includes garnering two gold medals since softball was introduced as
an Olympic sport in 1996, Team USA has exhibited its strength of
being able to shut out an opponent as well as score countless runs.
In fact, in the last two games, the Americans have held their
opponents scoreless. “This game is always on my calendar.
This win was a factor,” Fernandez said. “Not only
do we have the people with the power, but we also have the
speed. We can play both games ““ power and speed.”
Despite the overwhelming dominance that the team has exhibited
early on, flashes from the 2000 Summer Olympics ““ where the
team fell apart, dropping three in a row after being victorious in
its opening two games ““ come to mind. Still, the United
States’ dominance cannot be downplayed with its second game
in a row being called in the fifth inning under Olympic
run-difference rule. Team USA tallied nine hits in the victory over
the Aussies, and no hit was more evident than catcher and former
Bruin Stacey Nuveman’s three-run home run. Nuveman was most
impressed by the composure the team had during the match “It
was a great job. We got a long ride in the middle game,” said
Nuveman at the postgame press conference. “Our coach told us
not to get overemotional, not to make the same mistakes.”
Australian starter Brooke Wilkins lasted only one-third of an
inning. Relief pitcher Melanie Roche came in but sent 11 U.S.
batters up to the plate in the fourth inning. In its first game,
Team USA blanketed Italy 7-0. Former Bruin shortstop Natasha Watley
shined in the game as she single-handedly dismantled Italy with her
perfect 4-4 and two-RBI outing. “When I first got in the
dugout, it was a little bit of an emotional moment,” said
coach Mike Candrea on the victory. “Natasha got on base, and
when Natasha gets on base we all know that we are going to
win.”
Men’s water polo edges out Croatia in first
game: Stanford driver Tony Azevedo once again proved why
he will be the future of water polo, netting in the game-winning
goal over Croatia, 7-6, with just 8.6 seconds remaining in the
final period. Despite jumping out to an early 3-0 lead, the United
States frivolously squandered its lead. But former Bruin goalie
Brandon Brooks was able to keep the team in striking distance.
Brooks, who finished with seven saves, was lauded by Azevedo for
his performance at the cage. “That guy ““ I think he
could be one of the best goalies in the world,” said Azevedo.
“If not now, maybe later. He had a phenomenal game. It was
largely his fault that we won the game.”
U.S. men’s basketball flounders against Puerto
Rico: In an upset of immense proportions, Team USA
men’s basketball, led by coach Larry Brown, suffered an
embarrassing 92-73 rout to Puerto Rico. Brown, a former coach at
UCLA, has collected such honors as 2004 NBA Champions with the
Detroit Pistons, but having to deal with an Olympic team that was
once thought untouchable has become a taller task than expected.
“I’m angry because the mentality of our team was like
this from Day One,” Brown said. “I’m humiliated.
Not for the loss. I can always deal with wins and losses. I’m
humiliated because I had a job to do as a coach, and I don’t
think we did it. You can coach X’s and O’s. You
shouldn’t have to coach effort. From early on, with a lot of
these young kids, they didn’t have a clue what was in store
for us.” After getting its bell rung by 17 points in the
preliminaries against Italy, Team USA found itself yet again trying
to mount a comeback against Puerto Rico, down 49-27 at
halftime.