OPPONENT SPOTLIGHT: Hard work and desire make Frame a leader

At first glance, Dartmouth senior guard Gregg Frame and Philadelphia Phillies centerfielder Lenny Dykstra don't appear to have much in common. Last season, Dykstra led the Phillies from worst to first in the National League East, and to an appearance in the World Series. Currently, Frame captains a Big Green squad that has only won seven of its 20 games, and is in a three-way tie for fifth place in the Ivy League. Off the field, Dykstra has been spotted touring Paris and sipping expensive champagne. Frame can often be seen sitting quietly in classrooms in Hanover, N.H. But further reflection shows these two athletes are more similar than a cursory glance may reveal. Both men are the heart and soul of their ballclubs. Their intensity propels their teammates to higher levels. Frame and Dykstra aren't athletes who succeed based on raw talent -- hustle and hard-nosed play are their trademarks. Their efforts are not always pretty, but they get the job done night in and night out. "Lenny's a favorite down there in Philly and I think I play a lot like him," Frame said. "I'm not quick or a very good leaper, so I have to get by with strength and hard work. I'm playing hard and not looking to make any friends on the court." "He's a real competitor," Dartmouth coach Dave Faucher said. "He's tough as nails. It's just the way he plays the game. It's not always a beautiful art form. But as far as productivity and effort, he's in the top of the league." The Dartmouth captain may not look like an offensive threat, but he is one of the premier all-around players in the Ivies. He's second in the league with 14.7 points per game and leads the Big Green with 5.6 rebounds per contest. Frame can also create off the dribble and is only three assists shy of Harvard's Tarik Campbell for the league lead. "He's only 6-foot-4, but he's just tough and he's always been a good rebounder," Faucher said. "He's always around the ball on the offensive end -- either feeding or scoring -- and when the ball is on the rim, he thinks it's his." Being called upon to tackle many tasks on the court isn't new to Frame. As a sophomore, he led Dartmouth with 11.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Last season, he was second to Duke-transfer Crawford Palmer in both categories. With the center's departure, Frame was expected to again pace the Big Green. He hasn't disappointed, despite being hampered by a nagging knee problem which severely limits his ability to practice prior to games. Frame has posted solid numbers throughout his career, but this season he was asked to fill yet another role. As captain he would be looked to as a leader both on and off the court. If some of his less experienced teammates need guidance, or if Dartmouth needs a key basket, all eyes turn to Frame. He has accepted the honor and responsibility of being a captain, and the entire team reaps the benefits from his efforts. "He's done a great job of keeping the young kids together," Faucher said. "He's a real competitor and sometimes when the scoreboard doesn't look too bright for Dartmouth, he stays with it and values every possession of every game so we can all improve. That's the type of leader you want out there -- someone who is not going to panic, someone who's going to have poise and calm everybody down and lead by example." "It's quite a responsibility, but I'm used to being a leader," Frame said. "If something needs to be said, I'm the one who has to say it." What drives Gregg Frame to crash the boards on every play or to dive for a loose ball is the same force that compels Lenny Dykstra to stretch the single into a double or slide head first into home plate. Both men are athletes who feed off the thrill of competition and the will to win. Both have also accepted the numerous responsibilities of being the leaders of their teams. "He plays as hard as anybody in the country," Faucher said. "During crunch time of a game, he's going to have the ball. It's almost the closer the game, the better he plays. He just loves the competition."

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