A Bill Bradley-Brevin Knight Ticket?
Among the basketball fans sitting behind the Cardinal bench at New York's Madison Square Garden for the finals of the National Invitational Tournament in November was an interesting duo: former U.S. Senator Bill Bradley, who just finished a one-year stint on the Farm, and Brevin Knight, '97, the Stanford star who now plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Dozens of autograph-seekers approached the pair during the game. But they were aiming for Knight -- even though Bradley played 10 years for the New York Knicks and his retired number hangs from the rafters of the Garden. Bradley, who left the Senate in 1996 and is preparing a run for the White House, took the slights with equanimity. "He's the star now," Bradley told former Stanford intern Jesse Oxfeld, '98, during the second half. And how about a Bradley-Knight Democratic ticket? "He's from New Jersey, too," Bradley responded. "Could never have two guys from New Jersey."
For Men's Water Polo, a Run at the Championship
The men's water polo team, long a national powerhouse, advanced to the NCAA title game in December for the first time since 1994. With just 98 seconds remaining in overtime, Stanford was beating top-ranked USC, 8-7. But in a dramatic ending, the Trojans nailed a two-pointer -- and the championship. Cardinal Layne Beaubien was named to the all-tournament first team, and goalkeeper Chris Aguilera shared honors for the tournament's best defensive player. Earlier in the season, Coach Dante Dettamanti passed the 500- victory mark; he finished 512-128-6 for his 22 years at Stanford.
Another Shot at Olympic Coaching
Richard Quick, coach of the women's swimming team, is heading to the Olympics -- for the fifth time. Quick has been named head coach of the U.S. Olympic Women's Swimming Team for the 2000 Games, which will take place in Sydney, Australia. In four previous Olympic appearances, Quick twice was head women's coach -- 1988, in Seoul, and 1996, in Atlanta. Quick has won seven NCAA titles at Stanford, where he has spent the last decade, and three titles at the University of Texas, where he coached from 1982 to 1989.
Band on the Run
It's a day that will live in infamy -- for members of the Stanford Band. On December 7 their beloved home, the dilapidated Band Shak, was razed. The demolition clears the way for construction of a new alumni center on Galvez Street. The band has temporary housing in a trailer across the street and hopes to move to its new home -- in Encina Gym -- by 2000. "I feel jilted," moaned a sophomore mellophonist. "I've only had a year to be part of the Shak experience."
