THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 23, 1995 TAG: 9503230704
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: OAKLAND LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Which way is Joe going to go?
That was the question of the day Wednesday at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, site of the West Regional semifinals beginning today. The question was two-fold: is Joe going pro after his sophomore season at Maryland? And which direction is Joe going to go, right now, when he stands up, finishes that interview with CBS or gets done talking live to a Washington television station?
Joe, of course, is Norfolk's own Joe Smith, Maryland's 6-foot-10 All-American center. Smith and the third-seeded Terps take on No. 2 Connecticut in a West semifinal game tonight at approximately 10:30. UCLA-Mississippi State, Thursday's other semi, is scheduled to tip off at 8:05 p.m.
Smith was surrounded by media and fans everywhere he went at the Coliseum Wednesday. When he rose from the podium after completing the formal press conference, about 60 people toting notebooks, cameras and microphones followed him and Keith Booth down a long corridor.
Smith ducked into a room to do an interview with CBS, leaving Booth to contend with the media.
``I don't think he knows at all,'' Booth said when asked what Smith will do after this season.
Someone asked Booth what he would do if he were Joe.
``I'd try to win a national championship,'' Booth said.
When Smith emerged, the pack followed him again to the arena's upper concourse, where a Washington TV station was preparing to go live with the players.
``I really don't know what I'm going to do right now,'' Smith said of the impending decision. ``I'm clueless.''
Smith said what the team does in this tournament could weigh into his decision, but probably will not be a primary factor.
``I feel like we've accomplished a lot since I've been here,'' Smith said. ``The main factor is going to be whether I'm physically or mentally ready. It will be basically what my mother thinks or what I think.''
For what it's worth, Letha Smith told the Washington Post this month she is wading through resumes of agents who are vying to represent her son.
Smith has had to change his phone number in College Park three times in two years because of the onslaught from agents as well as fans.
Smith hopes his decision can be postponed until after a Final Four trip to Seattle, but it could be his next pressing agenda item should the Terps lose tonight.
``I'm not going to decide right away,'' Smith said. ``I'll take a little time off, go home and relax a couple weekends and talk to my mother and then make a decision.''
Moments later, Smith was whisked off for the live TV shot, and the rest of the media members dispersed. As Smith talked, a crowd of fans congregated.
``This is amazing,'' said Maryland sports information director Chuck Walsh said as the crowd swelled to about 100. ``He's 3,000 miles from his little home in Norfolk, and look at all these people. His mother would be proud.'' ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS
``I really don't know what I'm going to do right now,'' Maryland's
Joe Smith said of his possible move to the NBA. ``I'm clueless.''
by CNB