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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 1979)
Paga 8 Portland Otosarvan Thursday Fabruary IS. 1179 ____ Sports Talk ■ W illie Sm ith return* to the Blazer* . . Under the w a tc h fu l eye of Jack Ramsay Willie Smith joins Blazer roster by UUvsxs Tucker, Jr. “ The croud welcomed me like I was always a part o f the team ." said W illie Smith, the former Missouri star who the Blazers signed to a ten- day contract. After being announced at the San .Antonio game last week, the standing room crowd rose to th e ir feet and shouted. “ W illie , W illk , W illie !!” “ It’s great to be back with an or ganization that’ s definitely a win ner.” he said, “ there’s not a better bunch o f people in the N B A .” Smith’ s positive words came four m onths and 44 games a fte r the Blazers released him during the early season “ body squeeze.” In seven games with the Blazers. Smith played 82 minutes, averaged $.6 points per game and shot 586 from the floor, best record on the club. In his best single performance, he tallied 14 points in 25 minutes against Denver. A fte r the Blazers cut Smith last October, he departed quietly for his home in Las Vegas. Nevada. Once on his own tu rf. Smith heard about the founding o f the Western Basket ball A ssociation team based in Vegas. “ Since 1 was living in a city that sponsored a team. 1 thought that it would be a good opportunity to get my game together.” he said. In 26 games, through February 2nd. he averaged 20.1 points a game to rank eighth in the league and earn ed 127 assists to rank seventh in the WBA. Smith fired a .513 clip from the floor in 943 minutes o f action. “ I t ’ s real good competition,” he said. S m ith, 6 ’ 1” , was the firs t player drafted in the second round by the Chicago Bulls in 1976. He led Missouri to the University’s first Big Eight T itle with a 25.3 points per game, including a 43-point e ffo rt against N C A A fin a list Michigan. Smith was M VP in the N C AA Mid west regional;. Besides Chicago and Portland, Smith has also tried out at Philadelphia. A slot on the roster became avail able for Smith when veteran guard Dave Twardnk was placed on the in jured reserve list. Twardnk suffered a partially-torn calf muscle on his left leg last week against Phoenix. "Coach Ramsay told me when 1 was waived back in October, that he'd give me a chance i f they needed another player,” said Smith. “ But 1 never anticipated anyone getting hurt. I ’ m just happy to be here.” Smith, at 25 has reached an age where most NBA guards are in the prime o f their career, instead he’ s never completed a full season in the league. Technically, Smith is still a rookie trying to establish fo r the fourth time that he belongs in the game. “ W illie’ s a great guy,” said Jack Ramsay. " H e ’ s a hustler, a spark plug. and has the ability to make things happen on the court. He un derstands the situation here that we are in .” Smith was very instrumen tal in the Blazers 91-87 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday. He had two key steals, one assist, and some tough defense down the wire, playing on six minutes. What happens when the Blazers release you fo r the second time? “ W e ll, I guess i t ’ s back to the W B A ,’ ’ Smith said softly. “ But I can be satisfied with the fact that out o f all the fine guards on the market, he selected me to wear a Blazer uniform . Besides, the W BA is just like any other full-time jo b .” I f being back in the NBA is like a paid vacation from his jo b in Las Vegas, then one morning Smith will receive a phone call at the Sheraton Hotel telling him that his “ trip ” is over, and now it’s time to go back to the W BA. "O ld Soldiers Never Die. They Just Fade Away” . . . Forward Clyde Best, the Portland Timbers' leading scorer in the 1978 North American Soccer League sea son, came to terms with Portland, signing a year-round contract, an nounced general manager Kent Kramer. Best plans to make his per manent home in Portland. Best, a dominate force in the Tim bers' offense the past two seasons, scored 12 goals and added 9 assists last season It was his best produc tion in four years in the NASL. His 33 points earned him the 10th ranking in the National Conference scon ng leaders The 6'2” , 190-pound Bermudian native also was named to the NASL’ s All-Star honorable mention list in 1978 In 1978, Best was named Offensive Player o f the Game on four oc casions. Born and raised in Somerset, Ber muda, Best moved to London where he played eight seasons with West Ham o f the English First Division. In the 1971-72 season, he scored 24 goals on a team with the likes of Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Harry The 27-year-old striker came to the Timbers in 1977 after playing two seasons w ith the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Best and Stewart Scullion were purchased fro m Tampa by Portland following the 1976 season. A t Tam pa, he helped lead the Rowdies to the Soccer Bowl ‘ 75 championship, ironically over Port land that season “ He is big, strong and has a tremendous amount o f skill,” said coach Don Megson. “ He's possibly as good as any striker in the league in leading the line. He holds the ball well, can shield it and he has a record o f scoring goals.” Beginning his fifth season in the NASL. Best has played a total o f 93 regular-season NASL contests and totaled more than 8,251 minutes. He has scored 34 goals and added 24 assists m regular seasons. PCC class explores labor unions Many Am ericans have only a vague understanding o f the role and importance o f labor unions. And only a small minority o f the popula tion understands the history o f the labor movement and its role in im proving the lo t o f the average worker. P ortland C o m m u n ity College history instructor Richard Bruno will delve into the historical role o f labor unions in a class called “ Labor H is to ry ” scheduled fo r M onday evenings during Spring Term. The ZaU ouUlii anil ïâ q nui BEEF ROAST r *25C,CCCHinge SdH Odds Chart O Effective Feb 3. 1979 P«zt VAUM »1.000 130 30 10 3 1 totals M UM K« O P«2fS 71 268 «61 901 8.744 59.674 70.120 (JOOS 1 new ooos 1) TCXfTS ooos 30 n c ttu 1 »171,479 1 n 45.260 1 « 26.996 1 « 13513 1 * 1.392 1 « 204 1 <" 174 1 a. 13.191 1 » 3.482 1 ia 2.076 1 « 1.039 1 in 107 1 « 16 1 v> 13 1 ai 6.595 1 « 1.741 1 » 1.038 1 in 520 1 « 54 1 •> 8 1 a> 7 Tomato Soup 30-oz. Bread Mrs. Wright's Whit« or B m m U ss USDA dioico Boof Bottom Round FRANKS Beef or Regular Safeway Brand SUPER - ''.SAVER * / Margarine Shortening P ia d m a a it A l I- p u r p a sa 3 1 b . Co« EAPPLE Jumbo H aw aiian Approx. 5 lbs. Each Sundae Style. 8-«z. JOE’S PLACE 1801 N.E. A lb e rta WILL DRAFT Call: 2 6 3 -8 7 6 8 YO U FOR O NLY 15< Days: Sat., Sun., A M on. For more Information 88 (C ru shad W b ao t. . . 5 0 c ) 98 Plain, Pre-stirred SPORTS HOUR 12- m . gkg. 1 Fancy Goldon Ripe Fru it Tomato ©Pork & Beans ^27' ^ 2J1 ©LucemeYogurt., ©Pie Filling 2-98 ©Laundry Detergent ’££**19 A mind ts a terrible thing to wash' h BANANAS a r GIVE TO THE UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND class w ill examine labor from colonial times through the develop ment o f the labor union movement and into current times. “ The class should help people un derstand how labor unions fit into our economic system.” Bruno says. The three credit hour class will be offered on Monday evenings from 6:30-9:30 p.m at PCC’ s Sylvania Center. 12000 S.W. 49th Avenue, beginning March 26th. For more in formation. contact Portland Com munity College. SAFEWAY à aarit 18 at the Ham team Clive and acquired last year by the Celtics to shore up their backcourt has only been a shadow ol the Nate that once led the league in scoring and assists. Now Archibald comes off the bench night after night and contributes about as much to the Celtics as a hobo does to Internal Revenue. The Celtics acquiring old vets are rapidly becoming the Redskins ol professional basketball. Last year in addition to all the other woeful selections they made someone thought they should bring the aging and immobile IXin Chaney back in the fold. And as a result Chaney has con tributed about half as much as Tiny Archibald. Red Averbach, once known for his wisdom . . . is now being questioned about his sorry charges It must be said, however, that Red now has help in the presence ol owner John Y. Brown. Between the tw o o f them the C eltics shouli. manage to reach an all time low As to who got the better deal lx tween the Knicks and Celts'* Tf? Knicks, by one. A p p re c ia tio n o f th e C o n trib u tio n s o f B la c k s ! ai • » Redknapp and John Sissions. Best began his soccer career age o f seventeen w ith West United in London. He was a mate o f Tim bers' defender Charles. The old cliche goes “ a drowning man will grab a twig.” Well the Celts are surely a drowning team. They’ re currently in the A tlantic Division cellar sporting a not so brilliant 23-32 record and threatening no one but the sinking New York Knicks, whom they tra il by only one-half game. McAdoo, alone cannot help Boston resurface. The Celtics, as a team, are hurting at every position The usually reliable Dave Cowens has had more than his share o f bad games this year and at 29 is showing signs o f being on the shady side o f the mountain. The forwards . . . Curtis Rowe and second year man Cedric Maxwell aren’t the best and w ould have to be rated only adequate. The guard situation is even worse and, in fact, was so bad the Celtics in a deal last week w ith Milwaukee reacquired guard Kevin Stacom. The Celtic’s needed speed in the back court — instead they got Stacom. And that's like asking a fox to watch the chickens. Nate “ Tiny” Archibald, long one o f the premier guards in the league S afew ay Salutes BLACK HISTORY WEEK I ( a l catUt a r t i Clyde Best signs Contract The Boston Celtics, grasping for a straw, grabbed Bob McAdoo from the equally struggling New York K nickerbockers in a N a tional Basketball Association trade. M cAdoo, the three-time scoring champion, was acquired fo r three 1979 first round draft choices. McAdoo becomes the second high salaried supposedly superstar that has been traded by the Knicks in the last three months. The Knicks gave up on the oft- in ju re d and always ill Spencer Haywood months ago and finally unloaded him on the hapless and hurting New Orleans Jazz. Boston has been very active in the trading circles trying to rebuild that powerful dynasty o f yesteryear. The Celtics are hoping that the 6’ 10” , high-scoring M cAdoo can propel them to a spot in the play offs. The K nicks, apparen tly, have given up fo r this year and, seemingly , are looking to the future. For McAdoo, Boston w ill give up the No. 1 choices o f Golden State, obtained for Jo Jo White, and Seat tle. for Dennis Awtrey, and w ill also get the Celtics top pick. Larry B ird, Indiana State high scoring forward was drafted but not signed, and his status won’t be affect ed a; all by these transactions, but Boston still must sign him before this year’s draft. The question now is who got the better o f the deal. Boston is ob viously looking fo r instant help, while New York is searching for the future. McAdoo, for sure, w ill enhance the Celtic scoring punch. But will he deliver on the boards, and play the much needed defense. The answer here is no. Boston won’t be helped. by Hon Syke* Sport a Editor » Ad Pricas Goods thru Tuas.. Fab. 20 at all Portland Araa Safeway« S A FE W A Y More Inflation Fighters bi Your Daily Paper c
