Strength via hope

Sporting News, The, Jan 2, 1995 by Steve Harrison

The Hawkeyes' first-round tournament game against Old Dominion was moved because a Guns N' Roses concert had already been scheduled. There was an unsuccessful phone call to lead singer Axl Rose pleading for a postponement of the concert, or at the very least, an autographed picture.

The Hawkeyes defeated Old Dominion and Auburn before whipping Tennessee, 72-56, in the Mideast Regional Final, sending Vivian and the entire family to Atlanta.

Looking back at the season, Freeman says, "That does wonders for the living. It makes you feel lucky. We had to do our best everyday because anyone could die young."

November has passed. This itself is comforting, despite this season's upsets and those seven freshmen still learning bounce passes. Most likely, Stringer will spend several more winters in Iowa City, and when she does leave, she promises there will be one final show. "I've been writing things down," Stringer says with squeezed knuckles and tight eyes. "When I leave, I'm going to make a lot of people mad. You wouldn't believe the stuff that's happened to me. I have a lot I want to say.

"Sometimes I asked why, why, why do these things happen? But whenever I feel overwhelmed with my work, I think about my mother and how devastated she must have been when her husband died. It's been a mere reflection 20 years later."

Stringer has always believed music was better than Advil, so, with a season sliding, she learned to play the piano again on a cold November night. Playing with Bill was a favorite, and now, after two years of silence, it was time to play again. The same sheet music was there, just like she remembered. "Come to the End of the Road," by Boyz II Men, and "Wind Beneath My Wings," Bette Midler singing her favorite version.

She rested her fingers on the keys and smiled, surprised how nice it was, surprised she could still play. And when she stopped playing after a song or two, she went back to work, one step closer to dreaming.