10
Portland
Thursday. February 1A 1978
Sports Talk
^ .s ^ .
Sparta Exfctor
♦
Z’
My idol and favorite columnist. Mi-
Brad I've. Jr. of the Lae Aagetaa Snaataai
recently paid tribute to one of my
favorite people - the late Senator from
MinneeoU - Mr. Hubert Humphrey. Pye
writes the following: "He was jiat as
familiar a sight ui the MinneeoU Viking *
press box or dressing room a* the
writer's covering the team or Head Coach
Bub Grant. He was at ease talking to the
Viking«. calling them by their first names
and inquiring about then- families as he
was carving out civil rights laws in the
halls of Congress."
He was a big cheerleader for the
Viking*, and anything that was Minne
sota. He was a fighter for the down
trodden, the discriminated, the neglect,
ed. in their struggle for equality.
Several weeks ago I paid tribute to the
"Happy Wamor" on my radio show and
was really elated to see that my favonte
columnist did likewise.
Remember ex-Dodger great Maury
Wills. The swift little infielder that
astonished the baseball world in the late
60s by sweeping 104 bases
Well, it’s Manager Maury Wills now.
and W ills currently has his Maxatioc club
in the Mexican League play-offs
Wills guided the Dodger entry to a
third-place finish. 3V, games away from
the top. in the regular season
The Dodger entry is playing to repre
sent the Mexican League in the Winter
World Series.
Whatever happened to Grant running
back Darryl Motley? Before the football
season he was being billed as the State's
premier running hack. Now that recruit
ment is near there's hardly s word on the
young General.
Oregon State's Craig Fertig has openly
stated that Parkroae's Jeff Smith is the
tailback in his plans
"Well have a
tailback." Fertig said, "who'll wear num
ber 32 next year."
Since O J. Simpson is not available...
and his eligibility would be s little
questionable...then your guess is as good
as mine as to whom Mr. Fertig has in
mind. One thing for sure, until Motley
suffered that bad ankle sprain early in
the year...he had definitely served notice
that he was one to be reckoned with.
However, after the second game he
played only sparingly throughout the
season
Which leads us to another year with
few Black participants in the annual
Shrine game Benson s Tim Tyler, one of
the best running backs in the State has
already opted for Oregon. Tyler failed to
reach the All-State first unit and this is
certainly a gross injustice. Nate Ri
chards. Quentin Sanders. Darryl Motley,
and Ronnie Ransoc. are all names that
should have made that team. Oh. well, so
much for small talk.
And wasn't it nice to see the Oregon
Ducks attacking the basket for a change.
In their victory Saturday night in Eugene
against the Huskies they were actually
looking for the shot...and that is good
Felton Seaiey. the good one from Massa
chusetu. was certainly impressive, and
very active. Phil Barnes is showing that
when turned loose his offense is good
BLAZER H 1 U T E S
Portlaad 113. Phoenix 1M
The Phoenix Suns are far real...and
were never awed by the wild Memorial
Coliseum crowd that stood for minutes
«■luting their Blaxer heroes. After the
noise had subaided and the main event
was on...the Suns showcasing the talent
that has led so far to the second best
record in the western conference.
Now if Walter Davis is not the best
rookie in the land...then I'm a jet pilot and
Mother Goose ain't’ no nursery rhyme.
Davis put on an awesome display of
offensive talent in a losing effort. Port
land was the better with a score of
113-100 to maintain their perfect record
against conference foes.
Johnny Davis, starting in place of the
injured Dave Twardzik. put on a dazzling
show of fantastic moves. Davis showed
amazing body control on his brilliant
moves to the hoop
Maunce Lucas...is back. Not that he
was ever gone, but Luke has played
strong, strong, basketball, as he pro
mised us he would do in the second half of
the season, and for sure is doing now.
Against Phoenix. Lucas was simply awe
some - 21 points. 16 rebounds and many
outlet passes.
Ronnie Lee. Phoenix
reserve guard, and like Johnny Davis
should be a starter, again turned in a
strong performance
My choice lor MVP on this night
against Phoenix would have to be Mau
nee Lucas.
•103.1
-•la. K.K. Battles |45] and the Demo* travel to the red bird's neat Friday
i onlv regular season capper, la ether action Adams stoved efl cellar
ickssa. losing 59-46
Renseveh’s AUee Charette | ! • ) d eliver, hafl inside is Tuesday girl's P IL haakethaB
action. The Rough Riders were mere ridden than rough, however, falling to Jefferson
46-31. la other P IL rom;ietitiao Monroe scrambled the East INvisioa’* rare with a
40-39 s;«set of Marshall.
W ith Marshall and Monroe, Wilsoo and Grant now
itle dreams. WUsoo surviving Cleveland 57-40, and Grant escaping
71-32.
1101
Sunday. February 13. 1978. was the
day it happened. After 44 consecutive
home court wins Portland fell to the
Nuggets.
Denver's all everything. David Thomp
son. was the catalyst that proved fatal to
Portland. Thompson, despite a good
defensive jab by Lionel Hollins, hit from
the top of the key for the clincher. No
excuses...Ramsey offered none and said
only that the Nuggets outplayed his team
on that day.
Oh. sure. Lucas was hurt and spent a
lot of time on the bench, but Neal played
strong, so no excuses there.
Lionel Hollins had a sub par offensive
game, but no one can place the blame on
Hollins, though some tried. Hollins was
only 6-21 from the field, but his overall
court play more than made up for his poor
shooting The rematch Friday night in
Denver should be a real thriller.
Look for Portland to revenge their
earlier lorn.
1421
Randy
Blazers win NCCJ Human Relations Award
The World Champion Trail Blazers
Basketball Team will be the recipient of
the 1978 National Conference of Chris
tians and Jews Human Relations Award
In announcing the Blazers as uhis year's
honoree, the NCCJ Executive Committee
made the following statement.
"Seldom has a community so benefited
from the example of people in public life
as has Oregon from the conduct of the
Trail Blazers.
"In an age when some sports super-
stars live dazzlingly superficial and gla
morous lives, the Portland Trail Blazers
have given us an example of team play,
generosity, and consideration that ex
tends from the basketball court to every
part of their lives.
“They have avoided status symbols,
self glorifying interviews, postures of
stardom in a genuine reflection of the
team togetherness’ concept that led
them to the top.
They generate a
concern, canng. and respect for one
another.
They live modestly in the
community, not above the crowd, but
with it. They bicycle to victory parades,
hitchhike, generate and participate in
youth activities.
"Multi racial sports teams are no no
velty these days; but the multi-racial
Trail Blazers clearly work together with
out malice, envy, or boastfulness.
“In short, what the NCCJ strives for in
its ongoing educational program - mini
mizing friction and maximizing mutuality
of interests - this the Blazers do, not in a
thousand words, but with the impact of
one living picture,
“The simple life styles they espouse;
their concern with causes of those less
fortunate: their eagerness to translate
their own good fortune into teaching and
helping others
their team demonstrs
tion in ordinary life, in this, their home
town, is a powerful statement of man s
willingness and ability to improve the
A
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t
< r .
MtW
human condition."
The citation will be presented at the
29th Annual Brotherhood Award Ban
quet. to be held at the Sheraton Portland
Hotel on March 1, 1978. For more
information, call 223 7773.
for air s;iece as
rietos with
Blind athletes form league
Organized in November of 1976. the
United States Association for Blind Ath
letes (USABA) became the first United
States non profit organization to deal
with the regulation and promotion of
competitive athletics for the blind and
visually impaired community. USABA's
goal is to develop competitive athletics
which are comparable to existing athletic
programs for the sighted.
Through
achieving this goal, self-pride and cha
racier will be developed in blind athletes
who have been given the opportunity to
maximize their talents and skills. Instead
of segregating blind from sighted ath
letes. USABA is to serve as a means for
any blind or visually impaired athlete to
integrate themselves into sighted pro
grams such as the AAU and US Olym
pics
Similar to the International Sports
Organization for the Disabled. USABA
annually conducts s national competition
program in some region of the country.
Last year in Macomb, Illinois, 203 ath
letes from all over the country competed;
nine athletes and four coaches represent
ed the Northwest Region at this event.
They participated in wrestling, swim
ming. track and field. Part of the four
day competition was covered by ABC's
Wide World of Sports program. Several
athletes and coaches from Oregon will
hopefully be in attendance with the
expected 500 to 800 other athletes at the
1978 USABA Nationals coming up thia
March 28th to April 2nd in Macomb on
the Western Illinois University campus
In 1979. the USABA Nationals will be
hosted by Seattle on the University of
Washington campus. Thia will provide a
unique opportunity for the blind and
visually impaired people in Oregon.
USABA has been gaining popularity
and support in Oregon's blind commu
nity, as well as with local service clubs
such as the Lions International. USABA
in Oregon is baaed in Salem. Oregon
USABA is presently seeking financial
support to sponsor several Oregon ath
letes and coaches to the 1978 Nationals.
Because USABA is a non profit organiza
tion, athletes and coaches need to be
sponsored by service clubs, private foun
dations and donations. It costs approxi
mfteiy 3500 to send one athlete back to
the nationals.
Since USABA in Oregon is still in it's
early stages of development, there is a
need for volunteers who would be inter
ested in being coaches and promoters.
Besides there being a need for volun
teers, there is need for donations to help
sponsor sn athlete or coach. Anyone who
would be interested in becoming a volun
toer or making a tax deductible contribu
tion should write to the Oregon USABA
Director. Bob Stai. 3030 Center Street
NE. Salem, 97301.
ARTHUR
WILSON
mavy v - iz
ST U K M T WAS .
THE FIRST BLACK I
ATHELETETO PLAY
ON A PRINCETON
VARSITY TE A M A
BASKESTBALL STAR
HE WAS THE FIRST
TO RECEIVE
A LETTER
0945-46).
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