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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (May 6, 1982)
Page 10 Portland Observer, M ay 6, 1982 An open letter to Billy Ray Sport Talk by Ron Sykes, Sports Editor Buy and Sell Diamonds • Gold • Jewelry ESTATE JEWELRY COMPANY H r guarantee any piece o f diamond jewelry to appraise fo r at least double by a qualified gemologist or we will refund in f u ll and pay fo r the appraisal. Dear Billy, As you may well know from Ihe many letters and cards you have re ceived in the past week, the P ort land fans and the entire state are pulling fo r you and hoping fo r a speedy recovery. We know that you are now under tremendous pressure and we have been to ld that your body has succumbed to the exhaus tion o f the 1981-82 NBA schedule. During your three years in Portland, we've seen you handle the pressures on the basketball court as well as any player in the NBA. I believe you once said when questioned by a Se attle reporter, that you fel, no pres sure because you were born to play this game. It is on that premise (hat we hope you deal with your present illness. Get well B illy, for when the up coming NBA campaign begins, we w ill be looking fo r ole number twelve to th r ill us again w ith his famous slam dunks. ROSE GANGLE Local 296. Back row: Coach George Carney, Craig Mouton, Johnny Liday, Eddie Wallace, Ray Williams, Coach Cletus Goodlow. Front row: Mark McGlothlin, Damon Jones. David Sherman, Ter race Coleman, Morris Carney, Sherwin, Phillips, Wayne Taylor. (Photo by Richard J. Brown) Cruz-ing with the Mariners by Ron Sykes A major league shortstop usually earns his paycheck running down ground balls or chasing short flies to the o u tfie ld . In between those choices he sometimes covers second base and i f time permits he does on occasion act as a relay man or hits in the alley; but not at the plate. The Seattle Mariners’ Todd Cruz, known for his defense, and in parti cular his rifle -a rm , has other thoughts on the subject. “ People think the shortstop is supposed to be an easy o u t,” Cruz stated. “ I don’ t look at it that way. I can hit the ball, and I want to hit the b a ll.” And that he has done, and done with gusto. In the Marin ers’ first homestand o f the season, the most successful one in the club’s history (7-3), Cruz batted .429 with fo u r game-winning RBIs, two o f which were home runs. Cruz was re warded fo r his e ffo rts as he was named the American League Player o f the Week for A pril 19-25. The shortstop is normally the an chor on defense and Todd Cruz is just that for the Mariners. Everyone agrees that Cruz has all the tools. “ In terms o f pure arm strength, Dee Fondy, M ariner scout, says, “ he ranks in the top five among shortstops in the major leagues. In rating the top arms we feel Todd is on the same level as Rick Burleso (California), Gary Temple ton (San Diego), Ozzie Smith (St. Louis) and Alan Trammel (Detroit). And how does Manager Rene Lachemann feel about his young shortstop? “ N othing against last year’s players,” he said, "b u t, right now, with the balls hit in that area I feel about 200 per cent more confi dent than I felt last season.” Cruz has captured the M ariner fans, they love the guy. Recently three to four hundred fans showed up at the Kingdome wearing Todd Cruz buttons. While he is basking in glory now, Cruz knows that things can turn for the worse as quickly as they got him to the top. “ I ’ ve been around long enough now to know what can happen,” he said. “ T h a t’ s why when I put on the uniform tom or row, I have to forget what I did yes terday.” Cruz is an excellent defensive shortstop, but he doesn’t want to be thought o f as a one-way player. This we can understand, but it ’s hard not to recognize or laud his de fensive skills, especially when he has that rifle attached to his shoulder. Combining hard work, the God- given gift o f a great arm, and a fast start with the bat, Cruz has estab lished him self as one o f the key members o f the 1982 Mariners. In fact, if he keeps producing runs in clutch situations fo r this exciting young team, people may start think ing of his bat in addition to that out standing arm. Together with Todd’s keystone teammate Ju lio , the Mariners hope to to some C ru zin ’ all summer long. • • • • • • • • • • * SELL-A-THON ' •T H IS OFFER IS FOR 1982 CELEB RITY, CAVALIER, CHEVETTE. OR 1981 LUV TRUCKS DEALER TO RETAIN THE FACTORY HOLO BACK • LO C A LLY ADDEO OPTIONS EXTRA • ACTUAL FACTORY INVOICE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST • N O T ALL CARS SELL FOR RETAIL PRICE The NBA is reported 70 per cent Black. Now the NFL is seemingly gaining ground. Twenty o f the first twenty-seven NFL first round draft picks were black. Blacks dominated the firs t round and a black agent had three players selected in the first round. Texas’ massive tackle, Ken neth Sims was the first player select ed in the d ra ft. The New England Patriots chose him. Harold Daniels, presently a pro fessor at Harbor College in Los An geles, and president o f Pro Stars, Inc., had three o f his players select ed in the first round. They are USC’ s C hip Banks (th ird player picked in the firs t round by the Cleveland Browns), Roy Foster (tw e n ty -fifth player tabbed in the first round by Miami) and San Jose State’ s Gerald W ill- hite, older brother o f O regon’ s Kevin, (twenty-second player grabbed in the firs t round by the Denver Broncos). Daniels is also NFL for State Rep. No. 18 Democrat Vote for Rose Gangle for State Representative, District 18, on May 18th. Have a question7 Want to help Rose Qangle's campaign? Call her at 283-6797 or 285-9633 bv Commit!«« Io elect Row O.ngle Slot* A»( k » * o „ i « | i « o , Bob Smith. Tiaoourar SBW N Albin. Pott land OR V11M Lotxx Oon.lwl Paid Itx W e Pay More Cash! FOR GOLD, SILVER and DIAMONDS OR ANYTHING OF VALUE 7710 S.E. Foster Rd. 777-1284 For M other *s Day only because you are so special. representing O regon’ s Reggie Brown. Other Blacks selected in the first round included Mississippi State’ s linebacker Johnny Cooks, B a lti more; Clemson’s defensive end Jeff B ryant, Seattle; A rizona State’ s R.B. Gerald Riggs, A tlan ta ; Bay lo r ’ s R.B. W alter Abercrom bie, Pittsburgh; Georgia’s wide receiver Linsay Scott and Richmond’s R.B. Barry Redden, Los Angeles; Ne braska’ s linebacker Jimm y W il liams, D e tro it; M ich ig a n ’ s R.B. Butch W oolfolk, New York Giant; Clemson’s wide receiver Perry Tut tle, Buffalo; North Carolina State’s wide receiver Mike Quick, and Ken tucky State’ s defensive back Rod H ill, Dallas; and Miami o f Florida’s defensive tackle Lester W illiam s, New England. O f the twenty-seven players se lected in the firs t round only one was from a black college, Kentucky State’s defensive back Rod Hill. “ FREE” MOTHER’S DAY CAR WASH N.E. 15h & Fremont Sunday May 9th 10:00 am -1:00 pm l ree refreshments, some Rifts, picture taking. Conducted by Youth o f Sharon S. D. A . Church. CAR RENTAL SIX When it’s your money £ w 1205 N.E. 82nd Ave. Portland, Oregon RENTAL •OFFER ENOS SUNDAY 5 /2 AT 5PM EXAMPLE: INVOICE TOTAL............ *6343 OVER INVOICE TOTAL YOU PAY ONLY B la c k s Q d in in 226-7127 Rose Gangle is meeting with voters by walking door to door In District 18 She is running on a platform of equal rights, a progressive tax system and full employment. She supports the Article 11-D initia tive which would develop renewable energy. Little League The Peninsula Little League com pleted the second round o f L ittle I.eague play Tuesday afternoon with Local 296 defeating AYOs 18- 7, pushing their record to 2-0. In opening round action (he unde feated union men downed Hoffman Construction 25-5. * 300 S.W. Washington St. Portland, Oregon 97204 M2* Total Soiling Prie« Cosh Or Trod« I . $6355M LYMAN SLACK Ä M C 735 I W ! I PHONE: 257-9411 Lowest Daily, Weekly & Monthly Rates D eterred Paym ent Frico *7B22**I 12 * Y * *n n u « l Porcontag« R«t« I CHiVROLIT *r» « o v lo cotorr 1635 N.I. SAMT Bl VB. 234-5421 (Specializing in dependable, low cost transportation) \