On the top and not about to stop

For each of the ten years the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference has been in existence, a men's basketball champion has been crowned. In 1999, Gwynedd-Mercy felt the thrill of cutting down the nets. It was Alvemia in 2000 that ran down the court jumping in all their glory after being crowned the best team in the PAC. Unfortunately for the rest, those are the only two schools to withstand the incredible wrath of Cabrini's men's basketball team, the owners of an unprecedented eight PAC titles - eight out of ten isn't bad.

After winning six consecutive PAC championships from 1993 to 1998, the streak was put on hold for two years. In good measure, coach John Dzik and the men played it tough in '99 and '00 but passed the torch to avoid talk of conspiracy theory. Ten in a row would be sure to raise some eyebrows.

After defeating Alvemia for the_PAC this year, as they did last, the men's team entered the NCAA tournament as the 11 seed in the Atlantic. The Cavs upset no. 7 Kings Point and no. 4 William Patterson on their way to face Elizabethtown in the Sweet 16. Despite that loss, the men played among the top 16 teams in the nation, a thought almost UJ!fathomableconsidering we are seated atop a hill in Radnor, PA.

Flashing back to last spring sports season, however, all teams but the golf team, which is becoming more competitive each year, captured the 2000-01 PAC championship. Maybe we are supposed to be the kings·and queens of the hill after all. If Cabrini is not the best of the best, then the best doesn't exist. Good luck trying to name another college or university that boasts so many championships over such a stretch of time.

After an enduring season, the men's basketball team ranked 25 in the nation in the final polls, and the spring sports season is just underway with experienced athletes leading championship squads onto the field with heads held high.

This editorial was chosen by a vote of 12 to 3

The editorials, viewpoints, opinions and letters to the editor published in Loquitur are the views of the student editorial board and the individual writers, not the entire student body or the faculty and administration.

Tanya Mc Causland staff writer

Calling out to all my feUow caT owners! I want to warn you about the next time you take your good ol' car to the shop to get that dreaded inspection. Beware of few mechanics you may run into that want to rid you of every hard earned penny.

Over spring break I decided to finally break down and take my car to the shop because the squealing noise my breaks were making was causing me quite a few stares and I was afraid I might get pulled over for disturbing the peace. I like to call myself independent so I convinced my dad that I could take my precious '93 Geo Storm to the mechanic myself.

After dropping my car off, the nice man behind desk assmed me that he would be able to have it done that day and he would give me a call to give me an estimate after he took a look under my car. Now I'd just like to let you know that I am not totally clueless when it comes to my car. I am pTOudto say that I can change my oil, fill my windshield washer fluid and

Commentaries and letters to the editor may be submitted by the entire Cabrini campus community to Theloquitur @hotmail.com or The Loquitur 610 King of Prussia Road Radnor, Pa. 19087 put aµ-in my tires but when Glenn at Monro Brake and Muffler called me a few hours later and started talking about break shoes, ball joints and an $800 bill, my head began to spin. I got hot flashes and thought I was going to puke. All I could get out was, "OK."

•Requirements: Names will not be withheld from letters and a phone number must be provided.

That night I went with my father to pick up my car and was reminded that my inspection was due that month. After listening to the laundry list of other things that weTe wrnng with my car that needed to be fixed in order to pass inspection, my bill was going to surpass the cost of my car. Feeling angeTed, upset and desperately wanting a better car than the hunk of junk I had on my bands I drove home.

I immediately realized that my steering wheel was sideways, and even I know that it's not supposed to be like that. My father decided to take my piece of crap Geo for an inspection the next day to the mechanics that we usually go to and to have my alignment looked aL

H you've ever heard "Click and Clack" oo NPR radio you can imagine what these two mechanics are like. They have taken care of our cars for yeaJS but were unable to take my car until my father called them with our little emergency. Being the nice guys that they are they took my car in right away. The diagnosis: "YOU GOf SCREWED!" The previous mechanics hadn't done even half the work I had been charged for. I got one, instead of two break: shoes on each side and no oil change amongst otheT things here and there.

After being threatened in many different ways the manager of Monro came to the shop to look at my car and admitted that the work had not been done. We are awaiting a refund and have reported them to the Better Business Bureau.

The moral of the story is to know your car and what bas been fixed in the past and what may need to be done in the future. Go to a mechanic you can trust and will explain why certain things need to be done. If you 're a girl, realize that you may be taken advantage of because of it and make your dad or boyfriend go with you to drop off your car. Lastly, don't be afraid to get a second opinioo. It's your car and your money. If you have a weird feeJing or think. that the price is way to steep say "thanks for your time but I'm going somewhere else."

If you want to get more info oo approvedmechanicsor learn more aboutcar care go to www.aaa.com OTwww.womanrnotorist.com.