pirate44
03-14-2007, 06:06 AM
Evander Holyfield was in town yesterday for his fight this weekend to cheer on the Islanders.
http://www.caller2.com/2007/pics/ap/0314_0400htop.jpg
http://mas.scripps.com/CCCT/2007/03/14/p-5peprallyc0314_e.jpg
Islander madness
Holyfield weighs in on their chances at NCAA tourney
By Israel Saenz Caller-Times
March 14, 2007
Oddsmakers give the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi men's basketball team a 1,000-to-one shot to win the NCAA Tournament Midwest bracket.
A four-time world heavyweight boxing champion's message to the Islanders: That's good enough.
"I started off small," Evander Holyfield told the team Tuesday during a surprise visit to a community pep rally at the Padre Staples Mall food court. "But it's not about where you start - it's where you finish."
It may have been hard to tell what drew most of the estimated 300 people who attended the pep rally, held for the Islanders basketball team giving the university its first NCAA tournament berth. While a line of fans formed for photos with the boxing legend, some said they would have shown up anyway for their hometown team.
Islanders players sat behind a table surrounded by cheerleaders and fans. The team leaves today for Chicago, where it will face the second-seeded University of Wisconsin on Friday.
Corpus Christi resident Linda Riddle said she thinks the 15th-seeded Islanders have a good shot at winning Friday's game. The Islanders beat Northwestern State University 81-78 in the Southland Conference Tournament on Sunday for a place in the NCAA Tournament. They joined the conference this year.
"We've always rooted for the team," she said as her husband snapped shots of Holyfield with his cell phone camera. Riddle's son is a freshman at the university.
Islanders forward Cedric Smith, taking time out from signing autographs, said he was overwhelmed by crowds gathered in the food court.
"This is a great environment," he said. "Seeing all these people here is great. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
A&M-Corpus Christi President Flavius Killebrew said the team's tournament berth can bring valuable attention to the school and wished the team good luck in its match-up.
"This is huge for the university and the community," he said. "I think we've got a chance to beat these guys. They're tough, but I think we have a chance."
Holyfield, in town to take on Vinny Maddalone on Saturday at the American Bank Center, gave the Islanders some parting words of inspiration.
"You got to play your A-game and not worry about what anybody says," he said.
He then left the food court, a line of handlers in tow.
The line of fans stayed behind - with their team.
Contact Israel Saenz at 886-3767 or saenzi@ caller.com
http://www.caller2.com/2007/pics/ap/0314_0400htop.jpg
http://mas.scripps.com/CCCT/2007/03/14/p-5peprallyc0314_e.jpg
Islander madness
Holyfield weighs in on their chances at NCAA tourney
By Israel Saenz Caller-Times
March 14, 2007
Oddsmakers give the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi men's basketball team a 1,000-to-one shot to win the NCAA Tournament Midwest bracket.
A four-time world heavyweight boxing champion's message to the Islanders: That's good enough.
"I started off small," Evander Holyfield told the team Tuesday during a surprise visit to a community pep rally at the Padre Staples Mall food court. "But it's not about where you start - it's where you finish."
It may have been hard to tell what drew most of the estimated 300 people who attended the pep rally, held for the Islanders basketball team giving the university its first NCAA tournament berth. While a line of fans formed for photos with the boxing legend, some said they would have shown up anyway for their hometown team.
Islanders players sat behind a table surrounded by cheerleaders and fans. The team leaves today for Chicago, where it will face the second-seeded University of Wisconsin on Friday.
Corpus Christi resident Linda Riddle said she thinks the 15th-seeded Islanders have a good shot at winning Friday's game. The Islanders beat Northwestern State University 81-78 in the Southland Conference Tournament on Sunday for a place in the NCAA Tournament. They joined the conference this year.
"We've always rooted for the team," she said as her husband snapped shots of Holyfield with his cell phone camera. Riddle's son is a freshman at the university.
Islanders forward Cedric Smith, taking time out from signing autographs, said he was overwhelmed by crowds gathered in the food court.
"This is a great environment," he said. "Seeing all these people here is great. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
A&M-Corpus Christi President Flavius Killebrew said the team's tournament berth can bring valuable attention to the school and wished the team good luck in its match-up.
"This is huge for the university and the community," he said. "I think we've got a chance to beat these guys. They're tough, but I think we have a chance."
Holyfield, in town to take on Vinny Maddalone on Saturday at the American Bank Center, gave the Islanders some parting words of inspiration.
"You got to play your A-game and not worry about what anybody says," he said.
He then left the food court, a line of handlers in tow.
The line of fans stayed behind - with their team.
Contact Israel Saenz at 886-3767 or saenzi@ caller.com