Sports: All eyes on Myra

Tampa subregional

All eyes on Myra

By JAMAL THALJI, Times Staff Writer

TAMPA -- Myra is in the house.

Myra Strickland, that is, 23 months old and getting cuter by the second in her baby Wake Forest cheerleader outfit.

She's such a darling she radiates a magnetic force that pulls in countless oohs and ahhs at every Demon Deacons game she attends -- and she attends them all, at home and on the road, with grandmother Lanett, 44, aunt Stacey, 21, and mom Cristi, 21. (Okay, a snowstorm kept them out of College Park for the Maryland game.)

Sunday evening at the St. Pete Times Forum the family was there to watch uncle Trent, an 18-year-old freshman on Wake's bench.

But Myra is always the star of the show.

Demon Deacon fans at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum know Myra and the Strickland family well. Myra travels up and down the stands at every home game as fans line up to hold her, hug her, catch a glimpse of her smile or just let her tiny hands play with their face.

"She's the official cheerleader of the stands," said grandfather Chris, 45, patriarch of the Strickland family, which hails from East Flat Rock, N.C. "Everyone wants to hold her and everyone wants to see her.

"She loves it."

The feeling is mutual.

Making her first NCAA Tournament appearance Sunday, she again captivated the gold-and-black crowd in Section 129 at the Times Forum. Myra made her usual rounds, with fans around the Strickland family reaching out for a hug and passing her up and down the rows.

Myra, for her part, had little to say.

"Bye," she said from Grandpa's arms before making another trip down the aisle.

TASTES GREAT, LESS FILLING: Are you down with the Southeastern Conference? Or up with the Atlantic Coast Conference? Sure, Sunday's Auburn-Wake Forest game made for an unlikely forum. But fans wanted their say.

"The ACC is definitely better," said Blake Smith, 21, a political science junior who sat in the Wake Forest section with his buddies, all clad in yellow tie-dyed T-shirts and hard hats. "We've got Duke, Maryland, Wake Forest, even N.C. State."

Said buddy Chris Bown, 21, a religion sophomore: "I'll give football to the SEC, but in the ACC basketball is better. It's storied. Every team competes every year. The SEC has crappy teams that are never good at basketball."

Perhaps, but that was before Auburn's 68-62 win. Representing the Tigers are three experts, the school's "Dunkin' Darlings," who help with recruits and alumni at games.

"I don't think there's such a thing as an ACC," said Emily Bray, 20, a communications sophomore. "It's not even really a conference. The SEC is hard-core. I support SEC teams no matter what, no matter who it is.

"If Florida's going, then I'll be a Gator fan."

Said Natalie Minns, 21, a pre-med junior: "I love SEC basketball. It's more real. I feel the fans are a better part of the game there."

Added Krisli Detamore, 20, a business junior: "The past five, six years, SEC basketball is making a name for itself."

To Gator fans Phil and Danielle Hauser, both 29 of St. Petersburg, the ACC is definitely the most annoying conference.

"I hate watching the ACC on ESPN all the time," said Phil. "They're obviously having a bad year."

Added Danielle: "Phil complains every time Duke is on ESPN."

HOW DO I KNOW THIS IS REAL?: It's 11 minutes before the Auburn-Wake Forest tipoff, and all 14-year-old Dean Simmons wants to do is get out of the rain and get inside the Times Forum.

If he can just get rid of this ticket.

Section 307, Row C, Seat 18, and it's on sale for $20. Simmons and friends Travis and Zach Brindise (yup, they're brothers of Noah, the former Florida walkon quarterback and Redskins assistant) are trying to sell the ticket on the Plaza along Channelside Drive. The competition is intense.

They are surrounded by obnoxious ticket brokers, furiously waving fingers and tickets aloft, arguing and bickering with cash-laden fans.

"You're too young to sell," one ticket broker yells at Simmons, a student at Cypress Middle School in Fort Myers.

The kids roll their eyes appropriately. They've got the attitude all right. That sales pitch needs work, though.

"It's not a very good seat," said Zach, 14. "It's like in the corner up above."

Added Travis, 18, a freshman at UF: "We'll pay you to take it."

Seriously though, Section 307? Shouldn't the Brindise brothers be able to do a little better with their Gator connection?

"Tell me about it," Travis said. "What's up with that?"

They slash the price down to $10. An elderly Florida fan stares at the section number, his eyes bulging. "I have a heart condition," he said, shaking his head and moving on.

Finally, someone grabs the ticket for $10. The friends head for the gate -- and fire a final shot at the brokers.

"We sold it for 50 bucks!" Simmons yells.