|
 |   |
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE
|  |
Lasting memories
University of South Carolina baseball coach Ray Tanner served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Olympic baseball team at the Sydney Olympics. The U.S. defeated Cuba 4-0 to win the gold medal. A former National Coach of the Year, Tanner now returns to South Carolina to lead the Gamecock squad.
October 6, 2000
I arrived back in Columbia just prior to midnight last Thursday. I was back on the field at noon on Friday. I pitched an hour or so of batting practice to the Gamecock baseball team. We started fall practice for four weeks on Tuesday so there wasn't a lot of down time when I returned to Columbia. I was excited to be back, and the South Carolina players were eager to hear about the entire trip, especially the gold medal game. I talked to the guys a lot about Tommy Lasorda, the players and the competition. They all kept asking: "How great was it?" The Gamecocks understand great competition and they were familiar with the magnitude of the USA winning the gold medal. I was just delighted to be back with my team -- my baseball family. It was great to share my Olympic experience with each of them. It was a month of tremendous energy and enthusiasm with Team USA. Tommy Lasorda orchestrated that atmosphere as well as the Australian dedication to the Olympic Games. Tommy's credentials speak for themselves: a Hall of Famer, World Series champion, numerous years in the big leagues. But at 73 years of age, he lives every day to the fullest in the most positive way. He is the most positive person I have ever been around. He doesn't allow the negative to enter into his daily activities. He has such a tremendous approach to baseball and life in general. I hope in 30 years I can be half as active as Tommy. What a great role model he is to everyone in the coaching field. Australia is a beautiful country and the people are wonderful. All the mates down under were such terrific hosts. I am so grateful I had the opportunity to experience back to back Olympics. First, I was an assistant coach with the team that won a bronze medal at the 1996 Olympic Games. Now, a gold medal in 2000. I will always remember how Japan and Cuba were the prohibitive favorites in 2000. Tommy Lasorda told us in our first meeting in San Diego that not many people knew who we were but they would when the Olympics were over. He said we were going to shock the world and we did! There were so many talented players on the USA team. I look for this Olympic experience to excellerate their careers. All organizations want players that are talented, but they also want winners. This group made their mark. They are winners and now they have the gold medal to prove it. What an amazing year 2000 has been so far for me personally and professionally. The Gamecocks won the SEC title and had the National Player of the Year in Kip Bouknight. We were just a few outs from the College World Series. Then, I had a chance to be an assistant coach with Team USA. I just want to continue to do what I love to do as long as I can because for me, any baseball experience is a great one. This off-season has been outstanding because of the Olympics and because my team is excited and ready for 2001. The Gamecock clubhouse brews with enthusiasm to get the 2001 season underway. We were one game shy of the CWS in 2000 and we are working hard now to make that dream a reality. Again, my group of guys here at South Carolina are winners. They want to make the trip to Omaha to prove it. They want their chance collegiate baseball's "gold medal". -- Ray
| ||||||||||||||||||||
