Mr. Clutch

By Kimberly Ling Assistant Athletics Media Relations Director

The great ones in sports always deliver in crunch time. How many times did we witness Michael Jordan hit the game-winning shot? Jordan always stepped up when it mattered most. You remember this one.

It was game six of the 1998 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz. With Chicago trailing by three points in the final minute, Jordan first scored on a drive. Then he stripped the ball from Karl Malone at the defensive end. Finally, he buried the game-winning shot, a 20-footer with 5.2 seconds left that gave the Bulls an 87-86 victory and their sixth championship in eight years.

Junior Catalin Gard of the men's tennis team, who lists Jordan as the athlete he most admires, has delivered many notable performances in crucial matches for the Rebels. One came last May.

Catalin Gard

Ole Miss had already defeated Auburn twice in 2003. And here the Rebels were, facing the Tigers again on their homecourt for the right to advance to the NCAA "Sweet Sixteen." The Rebels led Auburn 3-0, but were trailing in the third sets on three of the final four courts.

One of those courts where the Rebels were behind was Gard's. He lost the first set 6-3 and then rallied to win the second set 6-4. Down 3-1 in the third set and with momentum swinging Auburn's way on the other courts, Gard won five straight games to clinch the match and send the Rebels to the NCAA Championships in Athens, Ga.

"The one that showed great determination was 'Cat,' being down 3-1 in the third and then finding a way to win," said head coach Billy Chadwick about Gard's performance following the match. "It was just clutch play from him. He wanted it more than his opponent."

Gard hates to lose as much as Jordan did, and this became obvious during his freshman season (2002). The Rebels were playing Tennessee at home in a critical SEC match. The team score was knotted at 3-3 with Gard facing a tough opponent at No. 3 singles. After winning the first set 6-3 and holding a 4-1 lead in the second, Gard saw the set slip away 6-4. Just like Jordan did against Utah, Gard took control of the situation. He broke at 3-2 in the third set and then went on to win the set 6-2 and clinch the victory for the Rebels.

"I love playing for a team where everybody is doing their best to win," Gard said. "I like being in that situation where it comes down to me. I hate losing.

"When I am down, I tell myself that I am playing for a team, and they are counting on me. Everybody has given it their all and now I must finish the job."

During that season, Gard put everyone on notice that he would be one of the nation's top players. He posted an 18-4 record playing at No. 3 singles and was a huge catalyst in the Rebels' winning the SEC Western Division and advancing to the NCAA "Sweet Sixteen." What would he follow up his successful debut with?

In 2003, Gard earned All-America honors for finishing the season ranked No. 19 in the nation. The 17th All-American in the history of the program, Gard posted an impressive 30-11 record playing at the No. 2 singles spot. He was instrumental in the Rebels' winning the SEC West for the second year in a row, as well as clinching the team's berth in the NCAA Final 16.

A native of Galati, Romania, Gard has recorded 48 wins playing in the top of the lineup. Now, with two-time All-American Alex Hartman gone to graduation, it is Gard's turn to be No. 1.

Jordan always enjoyed beating the best players in the game. Gard will get the opportunity to play the other team's best player this year, and it's a challenge he looks forward to. "I love to play the best," Gard says. "It is going to be a huge challenge, so I am trying to get better mentally and physically to be ready. Everybody on the team is doing a great job so far, and hopefully I can keep improving as well."

Gard has posted several huge victories in his career here, but there is one win in his life he will never forget. In junior tennis, Gard defeated the current U.S. Open men's champion, Andy Roddick 6-2, 6-1, and he remembers it like it was yesterday.

"I remember it well," Gard said. "We were both at Nick Bolletteri's Academy in Bradenton, Fla. I was 17, and I think he was 16. We played on clay courts. He was very mad that he lost to me. Everybody kept saying he was going to be No. 1 someday and win majors. I guess they knew something."

While his accomplishments on the court are growing each year, Gard has also achieved success in the classroom. A regular on the Dean's and UMAA Honor Rolls, Gard is a member of the Rebel 3.0 Club and was a Verizon Academic All-America candidate last year. Gard says everyone has been helpful as he seeks to balance academics with the demands of being a member of one of the country's top tennis programs.

"It's tough, but all the professors have been very understanding," said Gard. "It is a huge asset for a university to be able to deal with student-athletes from other countries and help them out when we sometimes have a hard time understanding things. I really appreciate all the professors I have now and the ones I've had."

Jordan made 25 game-winning shots during his illustrious career in the NBA, lifting his team to six championships. Already in his short career, Gard has created several memorable moments for his team. He plans on making a lot more before he is done.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

Related Videos