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S I OS N J . ONION AV.
Special Spring Sale
Gospel Records
L.P.S *5” Singles
T w o -reco rd S et 8“
John Frazier. Jefferson junior. b r M k i the tap« at 200.
"Tinman" Frazier receive* cloee scrutiny from Dorothy and Scare­
crow from Jefferson H.S cert.
John Frazier: Leading a double life
Since playing the Tinm an in
Jefferson's production o f “ The
W iz ” in the fa ll, John Frazier, a
junior, has evidently discovered the
right brand o f o il. H e ’s currently
burning up the track in the 100, 200,
and a member of both relay teams.
And if you listen to what he says,
there’ s not that much difference
between performing on stage, in the
classroom, or on the track. “ You
have to listen to your coaches, work
constantly, and take criticism,” he
says.
John’s is an interesting success
story, and he’s come a long way
since last spring’s disappointment of
being disqualified in the 100 for
state competition. This year his goal
is to q u a lify fo r the state meet in
four events.
As the T in m an , Frazier wowed
audiences with his vocals and stiff-
jointed antics. Performing, whether
on stagevr on the track, is not new
to him. He sings with Jefferson’ s
vocal ja zz ensemble and concert
choir and as a ninth grader he took a
first year theatre class from Carolyn
Oratton, theatre teacher and direc­
tor for “ The W iz.”
John says he has learned a lot
from perform ing. “ 1 got to know
myself more and what I could do,”
he says in reference to his experi­
ences behind the foot lights. He also
stressed that commitment is neces­
sary in both athletics and theatre to
do w ell. “ T here’ s just one head
man, and if he asks you to do some­
thing different, you do it,” Frazier
laughs. O ratton may have helped
teach him that lesson. Frazier audi­
tioned for the L io n ’s part, but the
director felt he was better suited as
the Tinman.
In addition to a fu ll schedule of
academic classes, athletics and
music, John still finds time for out­
side activities. He is a member of the
Vancouver Avenue Baptist Church
choir. June 5 he will be a featured
soloist in the second annual Youth
Sound Concert sponsored by the
W o rld A rts Foundation at the
Jefferson Performing Arts Center.
Wednesday and Friday o f this
week at 3:43 p.m. at Madison High
School, his mind will be on athletic
performance at the city qualifying
track meet where much o f what
Frazier has worked toward since he
began training in November will be
tested. Last year he failed to make it
to state in the 100. This year may be
different.
His times o f 10.8 seconds in the
100 and 22.0 fo r the 200 rank
second and fourth on the state's best
list. He hasn't lost a race since last
year’ s district meet, and he has
outrun all the competition in front
o f him. Three weeks ago at the
Centennial invitational he beat the
state’s leaders in both events.
What’s the key to Frazier's multi­
faceted success? “ He started work­
ing in November, set some goals,
and we planned a d aily w orkout
schedule for him through m id-
February when John took first in a
state-wide field at the Indoor Invita­
tion al.** explains Coach Vic
Carlson. The enthusiastic coach
goes on to say. “ He responds favo­
rably to everything we give him .
H e’s the most fun kid I ’ve ever had
to work with.”
Mike Anderson, Jefferson's track
coach who has worked with Frazier
all three years, credits the young
speedster as being an achiever in all
that he's done. “ His performances
as a sprinter in the 100, 200 and a
member o f both relay teams
squelches the myth that if you don't
specialize you won’t be any good. I f
anything his versatility has helped.”
Frazier credits his coaches.
“ Carlson really pushes me. and I ’ve
learned from him and Mrs. Oratton
to take criticism and keep trying.”
When asked who his stiffest compe­
tition is, he smiles broadly, “ M y ­
s e lf.” T o ready himself for the
week’s qualifying meets he's been
working on his finish line form.
So when the gun goes o ff Wed­
nesday, spectators will again be en­
tertained by one o f Jefferson's
brightest stars. He’s worked hard to
get there, and this time slipping
starting blocks and striped shorts
w on't stop him. Watch outl Here
comes Jefferson’ s Tinm an who’ s
lubricated his joints and his mind
with the help o f a supporting cast
including his family, coaches, direc­
tors, choreographers, and teachers.
They'll all be there cheering him on.
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Championat (Bach row): Kan Stoffer. Ronnla
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Jordan, and Ralph Nlckereon.
(Photo: Richard J. Brown)
COTTAGE CHEESE
Lonely at top for under 6 team
Q rauroo t A/ewj,- N. IF. — When
it comes to basketball, athletic abili­
ty, muscular versatility and compe­
titiveness cannot be measured in
height. Ralph Nickerson, organizer
and manager o f six feet and under
basketball, says his team is living
proof with 11 tournament trophies
and the 1982 and *83 national
crown. “ W e’ve won something like
43 or 30 straight games.”
Nine years ago, star veterans
from P o rtla n d ’s inner city high
schools asked Nickerson to play. ” 1
thought it was a good idea for a
league w ith a height lim ita tio n .
Also, the quality o f ballplayers in­
volved made the o ffe r attractive.
Our first sponsor was Oeneva’s and
during that first year we won all our
games and went to the nationals in
Tacoma. We placed second in the
nationals.”
The idea o f a six feet and under
league originated in Tacoma, W A .
“ W hat they wanted to do was to
provide an opportunity for guys on
the shorter scale of height who had
the skills to play basketball at a high
quality level. It gives everyone a
chance and it doesn't place height as
a factor fo r ta le n t.” Nickerson
believes the idea o f the 6 feet and
under league hasn’t taken o ff like it
should. “ It is only a matter o f time.
Once we get exposed to other cities,
the potential for growth is there. We
give everyone, regardless of height,
the opportunity to excel.”
So far, Oregon, Washington and
Canada have a league established.
“ The team in Portland is the best
and our record speaks for itself.
Anytime we play you will see that
our athletes are exceptional. We can
jump and we have the speed. A lot
o f our players are pure basketball
players and because they are six feet
and under they never got the recog­
nition they deserved.”
C u ltu ra lly , Nickerson says the
Afro-American community identi­
fies with basketball. “ Right now,
basketball is the most popular sport
for blacks. In the N B A and in col­
lege ball, we are well represented.
Everyone that plays in our league is
very serious. Once the idea gets o ff
the ground, it would provide an
avenue for a lot more people to get
jobs playing professional basket­
ball. I f there was a national league
o f basketball players under six feet,
It could filter up into the National
Basketball Association. Instead of
ten players under 6 feet, there could
be a hundred.”
Players under 6 feet could add a
new dimension to the N B A . The
dynamic o f a small person with the
acts and reacts o f Iceman, Kareem
and Dr. J. creates an exciting brand
o f basketball. Portland could be
involved in creating a "megatrend.”
The disadvantages o f being a
member o f a small, but growing
team, competitively speaking, has
placed Nickerson and his teammates
between a rock and a hard place.
“ In terms of competition, we can’ t
see the light at the end of the tunnel.
We can’t find anyone of our caliber
to play. Our short-term goal is to go
to Los Angeles and introduce the
league. Also, we want to develop
some type o f communication with
the Women's U.S. Olympic basket­
ball team. They are our size and
would make a good competitor. We
hope we could play them and for
them, in return, to visit us up here in
the Northwest. This would intro­
duce and expose both teams. But
until then, it's lonely at the top.”
Aside from wanting the idea of 6
feet and under to receive the kind of
recognition it deserves, Ralph
Nickerson
says
the
A lbina
Com munity has a lot to be proud
of. “ We need to get the word out
about the talent underneath our
noses. And it doesn't have to center
around basketball. Not only are we
number one as a team — but our
community is as well.”
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