(Guru's tongue-in-cheek note: Due the sensitive nature of the event the Guru attended on a visit to College Park Wednesday, he agreed to allow Terrapin censors examine the copy before the posting. Changes made compared to the original appear in italic type.)
By Mel Greenberg
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Guru took a quick trip down here late Wednesday afternoon at a quaint setting far from the hustle of the Maryland student social hub on Batlimore Ave. to join a small group of friends and co-workers paid homage to Terrapin sports information director Natalia Ciccone.
The primary contact for two national powerhouse women's sports -- field hockey and women's basketball, Ciccone is heading to assume the women's basketball media contact position for the Pac-10 conference, among other duties.
Although the Guru agreed not to provide quotes in this report because Ciccone still has another day on her Maryland contract according to a source familiar with her departure for the San Francisco Bay Area, he did not hear anyone refer to her as a turncoat considering one of her new teams will be Stanford, the squad that ejected the Terrapins in the elite eight last season in basketball.
Incidentally, to those atendees worried about the Guru's return home because of the presence of two elderly women walking around the setting dispensing different flavored fruit punch offerings, the Guru said Kristi Toliver's three-pointer against Duke in the 2006 NCAA title game to force overtime is still the most memorable shot associated with the program inside or outside the arena.
Ciccone made her mark in landing two national titles in her sport after arriving from Penn State, a school that has been known for its fond relations with the Terrapins over the years.
The Guru was on hand to represent the growing print industry converage of women's basketball, since he was the only one in position to say farewell to Ciccone and salute her work with Maryland while at the same time welcoming her as the media contact for the Pac-10.
At the event, besides key representatives of both field hockey and women's basketball, a total of 25 of the 27 Maryland sports were represented at the goodbye tea.
The Guru agreed not to name the two missing sports, but one has been in the news further up the coast for recently attracting a local star at Delaware who had been headed for a basketball scholarship with a team getting overwhelming preseason acclaim as the 2009 NCAA favorite.
The other sport also involves a ball but with a lot of time spent in a pool during the competition.
The Atlantic Coast Conference media office did not send their women's representative, but she is believed to be getting ready for the conference's annual media event.
The goodbye gifts consisted of different items associated with the Pacific Coast, presented in a tote bag with a peace sign adorning its side.
A ruling is still being awaited from a candidate running for vice president on the national ticket as to whether the symbolism could be an indication of Ciccone or Maryland, itself, being associated with known terrorists.
As for Ciccone's replacement. Maryland officials indicated that with several weeks away from preseason activity, they had plenty of time to properly vet candiates applying for the job.
Despite the myth of the Guru as a clearing house, all resumes should be sent directly to Maryland.
-- Mel
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