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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 8, 1981)
s a Paga 6 Portland Observer Janeury 8.1981 The McGee twins: Tall and talented By Ullysses Tucker. Jr. It’ s not often that a brother six- foot-six receives the opportunity to meet a sister standing tall at 6 foot 3, but can you imagine meeting two o f them? "T h e McGee tw ins,*’ Pam ana Paula, better known as "amazing, traveled to Portland recently to par ticipant in the Giusti Tournament of Champions with the University of Southern C a lifo rn ia women s basketball squad. U.S.C.’s only loss o f the season came in their first contest against Old Dom inion 73-56, but the Trojanettes bounced back to clob ber Brigham Young University 102- 79 and Portland State 108-61 to set a Giusti Tournament scoring record. U .S .C ., 8-1, also took home a fourth place trophy and the Sports- menship Award which should be "Sportswomenships.” At Northern High School in 1 lint, Michigan, "The McGee twins” led their school to two consecutive state championships, while establishing a 48-0 record. Both were named to almost every high school A ll- How would you rate the Giusti American team, and both should Tournament? receive similar honors during their " I liked it . ” said Paula. “ Our tenure at U.S.C. team picked up some valuable The loss suffered to Old Dom inion was the first one ex playing experience against Old Dominion. They showed us what it perienced by the "tw ins” in the last takes to be Number One in the two years. When questioned about their biggest adjustment to college country. It's a very prestigous tour nament.” U.S.C.. has been ranked life, both were articulate and warm as high as tenth in some coaches with their answers. "Being away from home has been polls. " I enjoyed it to o ,” said Pam. one o f my biggest adjustments, said Paula. " I t took me about three " B u t I d id n ’ t do well. I know it shouldn’ t happen, but after losing months to get use to Los Angeles to Old Dom inion it affected me which is nothing like F lint. The m entally.” Paul“ came in to the people here are a lot different than tournament averaging 25.0 points a the ones back home and I had to get use to it. As far as basketball is con contest and had games o f 13, 22, and 25 points. She also had a high cerned, the players are much bigger and stronger than in high game of 17 rebounds against Port school."Paula received a black eye land State University. Pam scored only 8, 13, and 11 in the victory over BYU also. Most o f Pam's adjustment came points but more than compensated on the boards w ith a three game in the area o f academics. " I n college, there’ s no such thing as average o f nine rebounds despite slacking o ff once you get ahead in fouling out twice. She sported a 21.0 your classes. You have to study, point scoring clip before the tour study and study because the nament. Coach Linda K. Sharp, head professors are harder on athletes. It was hard at First, but I seem to be coach fo r U.S.C. summed up the playing ability o f her two eighteen doing well in class.” Sports Talk By Hon Sykes Sports Editor Oregon Duck basketball has suf fered termendously since Dick Har ter departed for Penn State two years ago. Harter is the man generally given credit for turning the Duck program around and adding excitement never before seen at the “ Pit.” Under H arter, the Ducks en joyed six straight winning seasons, highlighted by a 1974-75 team that won 21 while losing only nine. While Harter laid the foundation, Ronnie Lee and Greg Ballard were the catalysts. These two all-tim e Oregon greats, both o f whom later became All-Americans were the men who made the Ducks go. Ronnie was the man around whom the Ducks built from scratch, the intense, hustling brand o f ball now known throughout the country as the Oregon system. Ballard was the tower of strength who led the Ducks to national contention in a season when injuries were supposed to have left Oregon at the back of the pack. Both Ronnie and Greg were first round draft choices. But both are now gone. And on the horizon looms two freshmen; Fred Cofied and John Cheatham, whom many think will eventually become a la Ronnie and Greg. C ofied, 6-3, from U psilauti, Michigan had to choose basketball over fo o tb a ll, where he was recruited as a quarterback by M ichigan State. It took a last minute trip by coach Haney to con vince the Michigan product to enroll at Eugene. Fred averaged 21 points, seven rebounds, and 6.5 assists in leading his high school to a 21-5 season last year. Big things were ex pected from Fred and he began his Duck career in high gear. As the starting point guard, Fred has shown that he will eventually be a force to reckon with in the PAC-10. John Cheatham, the other prize recruit, d id n ’ t start as fas, as Cofied, but now is starting to jell. In Oregon’ s dismal 104-64 drubbing at the hands of Southern California, Cheatham was the lone bright spot. John played 28 minutes, shot .500 from the field on 5-10 shooting, had four rebounds and 2 blocked shots. In his senior year at East High School in Phoenix, John earned recognition from one service as the bes, player in the Southwest and Mountain State region. Basketball Meekly ranked him seventh among the n a tio n ’ s " b i g " high school guards. So Oregon just may have tire stars o f the future, and hopefully they’ ll prove as good as the pair now doing so well a, Oregon Stale. " I f you value a player for being able to shoot down an opponent, hi, the boards, pass and lead the break, John has it all,” according to coach Haney. "John comes to us as an ex cellent athlete. He has good shooting ability, driving skills and is unselfish offensively. John is capable at the defensive end o f the court as well.” W hile the D uck’ s program is down this year, look fo r better things in the fu ture. Oregon is loaded with talented young people and need only to mature. The Ducks are only one year away from being a very good team. And while Cofield and Cheatham may never reach the heights that Lee and Ballard clim bed, they too, will be a tremendous boost to Duck basketball. The Seattle Mariners and the city o f Tempe, Arizona, have announ ced a three-year extension o f their agreement fo r the M ariners to utilize the Tempe stadium complex as their spring training base through 1983. The Haushin Tigers o f Japan w ill once again share the Tempe facilities this coming spring. Remember Dean " th e dream” Meminger, the ex-Marquette, and New York Knics star? Well, Dean has just been hired to coach the San Francisco Pioneers o f the Women's Basketball League. Meminger, 32, w ill replace Frank LaPorte, who was fired after his team lost five of their first six games. Meminger is known as a hard nosed coach who demands respect from his players. Fred Meyer S h o p p in g C e n te r s year old freshmen. “ Pam is an excellent defensive player and rebounder while Paula is an offensive player and rebounder. They compliment one another,” she said. The McGee tw ins were recruited by almost every college in the United States. What’ s it like playing and being together? " I t ’s fun because we know what each other can do on the basketball c o u rt," said Pam. “ O ff the court, we help each other w ith advice, feedback, and talk over the fake situations and phony people we meet in life. It’ s nice having a real person around...” Paula agreed. Paula then explained how their mother Diana stressed academics over athletics. "She made sure we knew that there was life after basketball. If we messed up in class, she would make us sit out a game or tw o,” said the industrial engineering major. "N o books, no b a ll," said Pam. "T hose were her favorite words. She was the one who made me realize that I need something up stairs (pointing to her head) to sur vive in this w orld.” Pam is majoring in physical therapy and wants to work with handicapped children af ter graduation. What about playing in the Women’ s Basketball Association? "1 don’ t want to p la y ,” said W h ich is w h ic h ? Pam and Paula M cG ee o f th e USC w o m e n s Paula. “ They do not make enough basketball team pose w ith Observer reporter Ullysses Tucker, Jr. money for me. I can make just as (Photo: Steven N. Brenner) much money w ith a degree from Do either o f you discrim inate they appear in the G iusti T o u r U.S.C., than playing in the W .B.A. against shorter men? "Y e s ,” said nament as ju n io rs. But like the I f the money situation changes by Paula quickly. " I ’ m naturally at winemakers who helped to establish the time I get there, then maybe I’ ll tracted to taller men.” Pam was less one o f the finest women tourna change my mind. But for right now, discriminating. " I don’ t,” she said. ments in America would say, "lik e a no!” " I ’ ll deal with them if they are nice fine wine, the McGee twins w ill get "M e e ith e r," said Pam. " A l l I but I prefer to have a tall man.” better with age.” want to do is get my degree, get These ladies won’t return to Port In Vino Veritas!!!” married and raise a fam ily.” land until December o f 1982 when "She comes in handy sometimes,” said Pam. "W e look out for each other.” The twins are Charta« L Kohan products o f a ta ll fa m ily -- their (503) 2874029 For Flirterai Insurance father, the late Jimmy McGee stood In fo rm ation Call 6*3; mother Diana stands 6’ 2 and C. Don Vann at ,006 N E Broadway Porttand Oregon 97732 younger sister Alayna is already 6 281-2836 foot at fourteen. 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OREGON 9 7 2 1 1 284 7997 FROM THE FRONT DOOR a a • a a a a a a a a B a B a a a a a B a Tom Boothe From the front door, there are two basic attitudes, positive attitudes, and negative attitudes, or, winning attitudes and losing attitudes. I am publishing the following as a guide example for my readers who are winners and wish to remain so in 1981. The W inner: Is always a part of the answer. The Loser: Is always a part of the problem. The W inner: Always has a program. The Loser: Always has an excuse. a B a a a a a B a B a a a a The W inner: Says I will do it now. The Loser: Says I will do it tomorrow. The W inner: Sees an answer for every problem. The Loser: Sees a problem in every answer. The W inner: Sees a green near every sand trap. The Loser: Sees two or three sand traps near every green. The W inner: Says it may be difficult but it's possible. The Loser: Says it may be possible but it's too difficult. 2 a Have a good and prosperous year during 1981 ... A w inning Year!!! 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