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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (May 4, 1978)
Portland Observer Thursday, May 4. 1978 Page 7 Special delivery! by Jack Rubeck For postal clerk Mike McMahon Sun day, April 9th, started out much like any other workday, except that he was look ing forward to seeing the Blazer-Lakers game that afternoon with his son. His bosi had agreed to let him off an hour early so that he could be in at the start. Shortly before he was due to leave for the game the boss asked if he would mind delivering a package on the way. Any reluctance vanished when McMahon learned that the package contained some basketball shoes from a California factory and were addressed to Bill Walton. Apparently Walton was pretty anxious to get them as he had already called the post office several times to see if they had arrived. As McMahon and his son walked across the Broadway Bridge to the Coliseum they noticed a bearded, red-haired giant bicycling in the same direction. McHahon yelled “Bill, Bill!” several times but, understandably, the red head just tried to look smaller. But "I've got your shoes" brought the tall guy to a halt. The only problem was that Walton, with a xnap- sack on his back, had no means of carrying the somewhat bulky package. "Would you please bring it to the locker room for me?" asked Walton. McMahon and his son readily agreed. At the locker room door McMahon withstood the offers of others to take the package until Walton finally stuck his head out. McMahon asked if his son could have Bill's autograph and Walton invited them both into the locker room. McMahon’s son ended up getting not only Walton's autograph on his souvenir team picture, but that of nearly everyone else in the room as well, including coach Ramsay. The fact that the Blazers then went out and whipped the Lakers 114-99 was the perfect capper to a memorable day for Mike McMahon and his son. Tony sees the game by Tony ¡.asley tickets he wants. He even has his private parking space at the Coliseum. You should see his car. It is blue and it has a telephone in it. He goes to my church, Bethel A.M.E. It was a fun experience because I've never gone to a basketball game with a Commissioner before. (reprinted from Boise Speaks) One Tuesday I went to the Blazer game with Charles Jordan, the City Commis sioner. I sat next to him and I asked how did he get his tickets. He said he can pick which ticket he wants before the season starts and he can choose which play-off . . . UNION OR COMPANY Maurice Lucas meet» up with Jack Sikma of the Seattle SuperSonics during the Blazers 113-89 tromp of the SuperSonics. IPhoto: Roger DENTAL INSURANCE Johnny Davi* makes the move on vetonta NBA player Paul Silas of the Seattle SuperSonics. (Photo: Roger Dorband J is a valuable a sse t. . . your health Sports Talk and appearance R od Sykes, S;«orts Editor by Ron Sykes The early morning sky, dull and gray, seemed to match the overall feelings of •nost Portlanders Tuesday, because it >as the day after the mighty Trailblazers fell to the SuperSonics. While most loyal fans hoped for the best, and the Blazers did prolong the agony by winning two gumes at home, it was inevitable that Lhey would finally go down. There's no team around that can sustain three key injuries and still win a championship, “I'm extremely proud of this team, probably more so than of the Champion ship team of last year. These guys showed me a lot of character,” a solemn Jack Ramsay said. Portland's Biazers have nothing to be ushamed of, they were the best team in basketball before the injuries, winning fifty of their first sixty games. Really the senes was lost in the first game played at Memorial Coliseum. Ramsay chose to go with the lame Bill Walton, and who could blame him for going with perhaps the best center, when healthy, in the NBA. But on this occasion Walton was not healthy and did hurt the team more than help. A healthy Walton is mobile and agile, hut a crippled Walton was neither, more often than not he was the last man down court, causing his team mates to slow the offense down as they waited for him to get into position. Of course this is just so much hindsight and nothing can possibly be remedied by that. Seattle has played good basketball since ex Blazer Coach Lenny Wilkens grabbed the reins and rode the Sonics down the NBA trail to victory. But, not even the staunchest Sonic fan can believe they could have beaten a healthy Portland team. And believe me, we’re not crying in our beer, just stating a fact. And that is that, e* Augie Borgi. writer from New York, and now employed locally has been creating a few waves it seems writing bad things about Blazer heroes, or hero. Mr. Borgi composed an open letter to Blazer center Bill Walton openly criticiz ing the red head for not appearing at the arena to lend moral support, or whatever. to his team. Now it appears that whenever the “Big fella" needs support there are many to alibi for him, the latest being his good friend Jack Scott and team physician Dr. Robert Cook. Dr. Cook tells us that he ordered W alton not to attend the games. 1 just wonder though . . . since when does one need permission from a physi cian to attend a game when there's only a fracture to a bone in one's ankle. Usually they put on a cast and away you go. Dr. Cook tells us that Walton's cast is “so cumbersome that it would be extremely difficult to manuever through large crowds.” Bobby Gross . . . did you hear that? Every game the tough, little forward hobbled on crutches to take his place at the end of the Blazer bench to lend verbal support and whatever to the cause. Maybe if Walton had suffered a heart attack or a break down in the nervous system, maybe then it would be easier to understand why the consulting of a doctor before attending a basketball game would then be necessary, but not for a broken foot. Oh, well, so much for that. Anyway there'll be no dancing in the streets this year, and, for sure, we won’t boog-a-loo down Broadway this June, and the only basketball we’ll see will be via the tube. All in all it was a great season. Lionel Hollins and Maurice Lucas we salute you and for your being chosen on the NBA all defensive first team. And we in the community salute you for your outstanding contribution also Johnny Davis, Corky Calhoun, and the late arriving Willie Norwood. BLAZER HI-LITE 113-89 game by Maurice Lucas was the key to Portland's victory. Lucas was ferocious on the boards on defense and on offense he simply had his way inside with the rookie Sikma guarding him. Of course, the real key to the Blazers victory were the Blazer guards - who outplayed Seattle’s. Lionel Hollins' and Johnny Davis’ superior quickness and defensive ability was really apparent as they streaked past Sonic guards for easy lay-ups, and on the defensive end Freddie Brown, Gus Williams and Dennis Johnson were rendered ineffective. This was a night when the entire team was mentally prepared, as exemplified by Willie Norwood and Tom Owens' fine showings. The Blazers showed the courage of which Champions are made, and the entire team should be commend ed. COMPLETE COOPERATION ON ALL DENTAL INSURANCE CLAIMS WE HANDLE ALL THE DETAILS OF COMPLETING YOUR CLAIM FORMS NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED Come in at your convenience PARK FREE-Any Park n Shop Lot HOUBC' nw vK a. Dr. Jeffrey BRADY, Dentist S.W. 3RD & YAMHILL ST., PORTLAND, OREGON TAKE ELEVATOR TO 2ND FLOOR 3RD ST. ENTRANCE SEATTLE 105-94 Game five of the Trailblazer’s series with Seattle opened in the usual manner with a thunderous standing ovation from the crowd throughout the announcement of the starting lineup. But this time the thunder did not stop at the tip-off, for the Blazers picked up where the fans left off. Just as the fans never stopped cheer ing, the Blazers never let up. They displayed such tenacity on defense and execution on offense as to ultimately affect a complete breakdown in Seattle's game. Strong rebounding and a good inside What is so captivating about the home court advantage? Whatever, it worked in Seattle’s favor in game six. All those thundering ovations that Blazermania supplied in game five were equally matched in game six on the Seattle arena. Game six was simple. Seattle beat Portland just as they were beaten one day earlier. Seattle out-shot and out defensed the Blazers resulting in a victory that ended Portland's one year reign as Kings. $7.50 'n Tri—County Area $8.00 Other N n m a Address City Church Notes w ««*Tdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday 8:30a.m. to 1p.m. Hughes celebrates 33 years Hughes United Methodist Church will celebrate its 33rd anniversary on Sunday, May 7th. The Reverend Ennis Whaley will be the special guest of the day. as a part of the morning service and during the festivities of the evening, Saturday, May 6th. On Saturday at 6:00 p.m. the anniver sary will be celebrated with a Banquet which all persons in the area are cordially _____ ____ Observer Box 3137 — 97 2 0 8 invited to attend. Reverend Whaley is the founder of Hughes Church. ST. ANDREWS CATHOLIC CHURCH Notice Gardening Workshop for N.E. Portland residents May 5th, at 10:00. The location of the workshop is The Wings of Healing Church, 2030 S.E. Hawthorne. Please call 288-8345 for further information. 806 N.E. Alberta Street Reverend Bertram Griffin, Pastor 281 4429 Masses: 5:00 p.m. Vigil - Saturday 10:00 a.m. Choir - Sunday 12:00 p.m. Folk - Sunday ST. ANDREW COMMUNITY SCHOOL 4919 N.E. 9th Ave. Norita Kelly, Principal Phone: 284-1620 Grades 1 through 8 H U G H E S M E M O R IA L U N IT E D M E T H O D IS T C H U R C H REV AUSTIN V RAY MINISTER 111 N.E. FAILING You are Welcome to Worship at Dial A-Prayer 284-0684 Church School 9:45 a.m. Worship 11:00 a.m. Office 281 2332 THE ARK OF SAFETY CHURCH OF GOD PENTECOSTAL, INC. S p e c ia h u n g In In d iv id u a l • M a rria g e a n d F a m ily • 6»cup Therapy “A warm spirit of fellowship always” The Honorable Bishop U.V. Peterson, D.D. “The Holiness Preacher,” Pastor “The Church Where No Stranger Feels Strange” Sunday: Sunday School 9:15 am Morning W orship 11:15 am “Showers of Blessings Broadcast" KGAR 1550 11:30 am 12:30 pm YPBC 6:30 pm Evangelistic Worship 8:00 pm Tuesday-Friday Noon Day Prayer k Tuesday: Bible Band/Jr. Church Wednesday: Choir Rehearsal Friday: “The Pastor Speaks" 84 NE Killingsworth 281-0499 7:30 pm 7:00 pm 7:30 pm ALLEN TEMPLE CME CHURCH Corner of 8th and Skidmore Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m. Christian Youth Fellowship 6:00 p.m. (Second and Fourth Sundays) Reverend Thomas L. Strayhand, Minister N e w Hope Missionary Baptist Church REVEREND A. BERNARD DEVERS, PASTOR THE CHURCH DESIGNED TO MEET YOUR NEED Sunday School Morning Worship Evening Service 2nd, 4th and 5th Sundays Communion 1st Sunday Wed. - Family Prayer Meeting and Bible Study Friday - Brotherhood Fellowship Service T/ith Morning Star 3rd Sunday Prayer and Pastor Phone: 281-6476 Church Phone: 2814)163 3 7 2 5 N. Gantenbein Avenue, Portland, Oregon 9 7 2 2 7
