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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (April 20, 1978)
I Portland Observer Thursday, April 20, 1978 Page 5 Sports Talk Ron Sykes, S.ierts Editor A reality, Portland vs. Seattle, some are already calling it one of the fiercest rivalries in pro sportu. After eight years the Pacific Northwest can now boast of a series that may even surpass that of the old New York Yankee vs. Brooklyn Dodger rivalry of yesteryear. That one was called a “subway series"...now we have our “freeway series.” It will be interesting. ta 19 minutes ef play ta Ltovd Neal «cored 9 Tuesdays U m ta tbe Seattle Seales. Neal the fourth quarter as attempted to Books outline Blazer success Are you * Trail Blazer fan? Then you need to know more about your favorite learn. Timber Press is now releasing three new books which will give you the insider's story about the 1977 NBA Champions. Jack Ramsay, coach of the Trail Blaz ers. tells how he brought his team to victory in his book "The Coach's Art." Ramsay relates his climb up the coaching ladder from the Philadelphia *76ers and the Buffalo Braves to the championship winning Trail Blazers. Basketball fans will especially enjoy the detailed account of the team's preparation for their win ning season. Jack Ramsay has written this book for fans, as well as roaches, which gives a clear behind the scenes picture of the coaching world. Teams are not born but brought together as individuals to become one unit. This is the goal of every basketball coach and is exemplified by only the best teams. The Trail Blazers achieved this unity and became champions. In “Idol Time” Larry Alton, along with former professional basketball player Tom Mes chery, tell this story. It’s about the team's interaction with their fans, the heroes created and the people who do (and don't) worship them. It follows the Trail Blazers from the court to the locker room and the endless hotel rooms. This is an exciting story that shouldn't be missed by any sports fan. Harry Glickman's “Promoter Ain't a Dirty Word" gives a backroom look at the business of sports, the ways professional teams are organized and operated in today's world of high salaried players. Glickman has been a professional man ager of ice hockey, boxing, and basket ball. With this varied experience Glick man gives his sometimes controver sial opinions and pulls the lid off of the sports business. This is a must for all sports fans - giving a new and seldom seen angle of the sports world. M o u n t E v e re s t is e x e c tly 29,000 feet high. Surveyors worried that the public would consider this an sstimats, so th e y fa ls e ly re p o rte d the height as 29,002 fM t. So it’s no surprise that the World Champion Trail Blazers started the sea son the way they finished the last one, extending their home court winning streak, losing road games only on rare occasions and making folly of the league standings. But then along came injuries. The team became mortal when Walton, Lucas, Neal and then Gross checked out. Now it's play-off time and the Sonics to worry about. Seattle appears to be both confident and cocky after knocking off the Lakers two games to one in the first mini-series. Seattle should be cocky because they've just defeated a team composed of: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Adrian Dant- ley, Jamaal Wilkes, Charlie Scott, and Lou Hudson. On paper, LA, should never have been beaten by the Sonics. But games are still won and lost on the floor. So be it. Lenny Wilkens, ex-Blazer Coach and Director indicated that he did not have that information available as of this writing, but that he would honor a request for a copy under the freedom of information act. The Observer is making a written request for that material from both federal and regional offices. THE MATCH-UPS Johnny Johnson vs. Larry Steele Johnson, a steady eight year veteran with little play-off experience, but the possessor of a deadly jumper, when on will completely out-class Larry Steele, a seven year veteran, who played poorly in last years play-offs. Johnson is a better all-around player and should make life tough for the ¿ 5 Steele. The key at small forward will be Corky Calhoun in relief of Steele. Calhoun can do the job. The edge to Johnson by a wide margin. Jack Sikma vs. Maurice Lucas Sikma has developed into a solid NBA player but has a long, long way to go in order to play with Lucas. Give the edge to Maurice. Handily. Centers: Marvin Webster is much improved and will hit the boards hard on both ends of the court. However, a Walton at 75 percent will prove to be the equal of a Marvin Webster. The razors edge to the crippled Walton. Guards: Lionel Hollins and Johnny Davis together are the best guard combo in all of basketball. Enough said. Blazer Highlights Seattle 104 - Blazers 95 Game one to Seattle. CETA investigation (Continued from Page 1 Column 6) still not filled. “The whole Bureau will be reevaluated and reorganized, but," adds Ms. Petite, “money was not misspent. . . and we (werel not out of contract compliance. . .(although) CETA is over spent by one million dollars already this year." Admitting that there had also been some discrimination. Ms. Petite said that there were “adequate procedures in place,” to correct the problems. Asked if these reasons led to a Mayoral request for Frankels' letter of resigns tion. Ms. Petite would only indicate that “He (Frankel) was probably tired of the position. He's been in there (CETA) for five years and the Bureau is much larger now than it was then." Frankels' position is to be reviewed and filled through the normal civil service process, accord ing to Ms. Petite. But what of the civil rights that have admittedly been violated? Even if the procedure is adequate, why should the aggrieved be forced to a delay of years for compensation that often results in lost witnesses and frustration of those rights, some of the complainants ask. Is the procedure really “adequate" for everyone concerned or should the struggle be for "human rights” on an international stage next? Their rules are for their game and when we learn them, suddenly they change.” A Black state employee said. “We aren't winning anything this way.” Meanwhile, the community is asking about Frankels replacement, whether the program will continue at all, whether the Mayor will continue to manage, and whether the truth about CETA and the results of those investigative reviews will ever become public. When called by the Observer, Regional D.O.L. Head, Wehmeyer. said that he did not personally receive a call from the Mayor, but that an Assistant might have. “I did not take any action myself but because of the number of grants we administer, they (assistants) have the latitude to act without reporting to me on such matters." Asked about the results of the reviews, the D.O.L. Regional At full strength, the Blazers are vir tually a perfect, well oiled machine. They revolve around an active team oriented center, Bill Walton. They have the best and most powerful, power forward in the game, Maurice Lucas. One guard, Lionel Hollins, has size. 6-3, speed, clutch shooting, the best in the NBA, and the ability to defend all over the court. The other guard, Johnny Davis has lightening quick speed, a soft shooting touch and the ability to go inside or pop soft jumpers from far away places. The bench, when healthy is superb. Lloyd Neal is another muscleman who possesses a soft jumper from the fifteen foot range that's more deadly than the venom of two rattlesnakes. Then there's Tom Owens, the all-time opportunist, who has little ability but appears to be always in the right place at the right time. Corky Calhoun, who flopped in Phoenix, was waived in Los Angeles but has become a big success in Portland. Why? Calhoun is a very intelligent ball player, who can shoot you into a ball game, but will never shoot you out of a game. Corky will not make many mistakes and seems quite at home in the Jack Ramsay system. now on his way to becoming the NBA coach of the year spent the last day of the regular season watching a crippled Port land team have fun demolishing the Lakert. While watching Lenny took notes and apparently learned enough to work for Seattle. Another vote for the Ramsay way. Since November 30th, the day Wilkens succeeded Bob Hopkins as coach, the team's image changed from the Stupor Sonics to the Super Sonics. The Sonics won seventy percent of their games the last four months of the season, going 42-18. By comparison Portland's record during the same period was 42-21. And that is misleading due to the injury factor. Seattle has been hot, granted, but the Blazers will match up far better then the Lakers. Jerry West has repeatedly said that lack of speed in the Laker backcourt was the main reason for his teams failure. But realistically it was West himself who failed to match up with Seattle that caused his own defeat. Lenny Wilkens started the rookie Jack Sikma, 6-10 at forward, while West countered with the 6-6 Wilkes and the 6-5 Dantley. It wasn't until the fourth quarter of the final game did he decide to insert the 6-10 Dave Robisch...while Robisch was effective the move was made too late. Blame Jerry. Well, the world didn't come to an end and 800 million Chinese couldn’t care less, but what did happen was a defeat at home by the amazing Seattle Super Sonics. Portland played terribly but give the Sonics credit because Jack Sikma, 6-11 forward and Marvin Webster, a legitimate seven footer played well. Lucas, the most powerful of all power forwards should just as well have re mained at home on this night because his effort was inept to say the least. With Walton hurt, Maurice Lucas must play a major role in all departments for the Blazers to prevail. And 3-15 from the floor, one assist, and key turnovers will not do it. Two days rest must help B ill. . . or you can close the curtain on Blazer- mania and all title hopes for this year. . . Willie Anderson, #12, tries to gain control of the ball during the Timbers 2-1 defeat of the Colorado Caribous Wednesday night at Civic Stadium. Caribous fall before Timbers by Richard O’Toole all-out attack strategy that proved to be ineffective. When in the Timber penalty area the Caribous were outnumbered as The Portland Timbers jumped to a 2-0 Portland defenders clustered to help lead at the half and managed to hold on goalie Mick Poole. for a 2-1 victory over the Colorado One near miss by Colorado sent a hard Caribous Wednesday night at Civic Sta kicked ball off Poole’s chest to roll dium. threateningly in front of the goal about 7 The first half was all Portland. Crisp yards out until Portland defender Keven and well placed passes enabled the Norman kicked it safely to the midfield. Timbers to work the ball in effectively. The Caribous controlled better in the Ironically both scores came off relatively second half chalking up five of their eight long passes. At 9:07 into the game shots on goal. Their lone tally came at 15 Stewart Scullion's first of two goals came minutes into the second half. Caribou after a 20 yard pass from forward Clyde Bob Rohrbach took a cross from fellow Best. From the right side of the goal forward Brian Tinnion and sent it into the Scullion then sent the ball home to the net on the left side just out of the reach of lower left side. a diving Mick Poole. Scullion started the game at forward The Timbers played without the ser instead of his usual midfield position and vices of Archie Roboostoff who was demonstrated the striking ability that traded to the Oakland Stampers after made him the Timbers top scorer last voicing c wish to be close to his home year. Twenty-five minutes after the first town of San Jose. goal Clyde Best managed a long pass Saturday the Timbers blew leads of 1-0 from the right side that Scullion took and 2-1 as they lost to the San Diego control of and positioned 20 yards in front Sockers who are undefeated. Portland of the goal. With a quick fake he scooted failed to capitalize on several scoring around defender Dave Clements and opportunities in the first half. The loss pitched in another goal in much the same put them in the cellar of their division, the National West. The next Timber fashion as the first. At the other end of the field the game is Saturday, April 22nd at 8:00 p.m. Caribous kept the Timbers busy with an against the Rochester Lancers. Robinson first frosh MVP Cliff Robinson became the first fresh man in USC basketball history to be named the teams MVP. The 6-10 center played extremely well against Oregon Fri. April 21st BLAZER PRE GAME SHOW 8 PM BLAZERS VS. SONICS 8:30 PM \X Your ticket for the i best seats in town o I X “Ä 6 x l and Oregon State averaging 18 points and nearly 12 rebounds against the two Oregon schools.