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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (April 17, 1985)
(, Portland Observer, April 17, 1986 • SPORT TALK • SPORT by Roy L t t Jemigon Sports Editor to the body o f Hagler Marvelous had enough of that and rocked Hearns with three solid blows to the head The Champ manhandled the "Hit Man” into the ropes, and Hearns fought his way out once again Mar vin used his ring savvy Io spin the ••Motor City Cobra" back on the ropes but when the smoke cleared, and the bell rang. Marvin had been cut under his right eye. THE W AR IS OVER The setting was perfect. two glori ous gladiators approaching battle in the arena. It wasn't Ceasar’s Palace in I as Vegas. Nevada. The combatants weren't Spartacus or Ben-Hur but Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Thomas "Hit Man” Hearns. The battle was not to the death, just close. Any similarities to anything else, ever seen or done, ends here. All of the talk about pre-fight hype for the media to beef up the ante can go by the boards; these brothers came to make war on each other and neither had a place to keep prison ers. The challenger came to take it, and d c thump had an emphatic “no” waiting for him. There was no strate gy or tactics to agonize over for either fighter — there was no time. The stakes? The World Middleweight Championship and a few million in loot. The hell rang and they squared off in the center o f their stage. Hearns wasn't quite squared because his first move was to duck a vicious left to his head Hearns countered this action by trying to establish his left jab. Once the )ab was set up, Hearns quickly went to his right hand, and put hurt on the Champ's jaw. For the first 45 seconds, they tested each oth er's metal by standing in front o f each other throwing bombs. A sweet short nght hand buckled the Champ's knees so the Champ hit him right back. Not understanding how this man could still be in front of him. Hearns busted Hagler in the center of his forehead and drew blood. At the two-minute mark, referee Richard Steele broke up the first clench of he fight. À M ARVIN HAGLER sure by Hagler, forcing Hearns to fight inside. Hearns didn't care, and once again they were toe to toe throw ing bombs. The action was non-stop, fast and furious with neither man able to get a moment’s rest. The referee left them alone until the one-minute mark when he broke up the second clench of the fight. Hearns then threw two rights to the head and a mean left Hagler wanted to gel inside and force the action and put Hearns’ back against the ropes. Hearns fought his way off the ropes but Hagler ma neuvered the challenger back against the ropes and landed a hard right hand, countered by a hard right hand from Hearns. Are you getting the picture? Round 2 began with relentless pres- LB™ It has been a long and grueling sea- s under the big top of professional sketball, individual talents have en showcased coast to coast, and of the wolf tickets have been •ught or sold. Player combinations ve been ironed out or discarded by e coaches and the new season is set begin. If any player thought that he is a diamond in the rough waiting shine, his playing time during the cond season will reveal whether ;'s a gem or rhinestone. When 16 teams out of 23 qualify •r the playoffs there’s a good argu- ent as to whether the playoffs have ly meaning other than extending the venues of the league but in the case r NBA, the cream usually rises to the ip. Have you ever heard that riding iggedly beats dressed up walking? ✓ ell. that's the philosophy that’s rcvalent among the teams that bare- i made it in the door. Getting in is se key; after that's accomplished, nything can happen. If Blazer* ara to win playoff aa rtaa against tha Mavaricka. Dala Elliä muat ba contrallad. The Blazers have drawn the Mav ericks from Dallas in the first round of a best of five series. Portland must win one in Texas or they will be among those that are dressed up walk ing. The momentum is there and the team is healthy so all that remains is execution on the court. The team has proven that they can beat any team in the league, as well as be beaten by any team in the league so execution is paramount when the Blazers reach the lone star state. The so-called "smart money" has the Lakers out o f the west to do battle against the Celtics from the east. When you look at the season’s win/loss records, that matchup ap pears inevitable, but taking a bite out o f that appealing apple could send you to the same Doctor that treated Adam The l akers have run rough shod over western competition all year on their way to the Western Con ference title and they are healthy en tering the playoffs first round against an injury riddled Phoenix team. That spells trouble for the Blazers if they get by Dallas because Kareem will get plenty of rest for the next senes. If the l akers do play Portland, that means the big man will have to run his buns off. Bring on Houston, San Antonio or Denver after that and the lakers will be put to the test. The lakers are good, but they’re no cinch to clinch. If you want to talk about a cinch team, try Boston. When they finish pounding on Cleveland’s heads with big numbers, the east will be on no tice. Neither New Jersey nor Detroit will stop the Celts in the second series because neither team has enough bench. Hearns felt that he had the Champ in trouble because he came across the nng to start round three throwing two big rights to the body, and then went up side the Champ’s head with two more strong rights. When Marvin tried to retaliate, that just bought him two more rights to the head, and a now of blood under his right eye. The ref halted the clcxk and had the ringside physician check out the eye. The Doc was not going to be the one to tell this man he had to stop fight ing, so the fight resumed. Sensing that the cut might halt the fight, the Champ went into his act. Hagler closed down the space between them and now Hearns was moving back wards. Everybody knows thai you can’t fight moving backwards. Just when Hearns found that fact out for himself, it was too late. Hagler threw two rights to the head, the last one knocked Hearns out on his feet. At the count o f nine Hearns was barely on his feet but the ref did the proper thing by stopping the fight here. Hearns was in no condition to take any more punishment on this night in the desert. The fight ended at 2:01 ol the third round. The winner and still the undisputed Middleweight C ham pion of the World, Marvelous Marvin Hagler. If Philly gets by Washington they'll be so beat up inside that Milwaukie's chances would be tremendously en hanced in a series between these two teams. Chicago won’t roll over for the Bucks, especially if young Michael Jordan gels off on the geared up play off atmosphere. Unfortunately, one dimensional learns like ( hicago s, can’t make it through the eastern wars. By the lime the winner of this bracket gets Boston in their sights, the thought o f trying to stop that fast break machine from rolling over them will be just the edge that the Celts are famous for. When you start out trying to stop them rather than heat them, you're in trouble from the jump. port kind BERNARD THOMPSON recently, with an injury to Jim Pax Usually it's a massive crowd that son, has he had the opportunity to roars de-fense, de-fense. But for play more. rookie guard/forward Bernard "It's helped watching from the Thompson o f the Portland Trail sidelines. I can see how the veterans Blazers, it’s a mental conversation get by screens,” Bernard said, "learn that he’s rehearsed many times. tactics on defense, find ways to sneak As a player at Fresno State in Cali in and get offensive rebounds, and fornia, his coach, Boyd Grant, drilled know when to shoot or not to in given that message into him repeatedly. situations." The results were impressive. Bernard Bernard Thompson has not shot well Thompson and Fresno State gained as of late, though he does have a fine their national reputations through outside jumper. Blame it on inexperi defensive toughness. ence. His reputation was built on “ I worked hard to get to the pros, playing defense and when you talk to everyone here has worked hard,” said him about guarding Magic Johnson, Thompson. "When you play the who he says, “ is most difficult to equivalent of three basketball sea guard because of his passing,’’ or sons in one pro season, you always George Gervin, who's a "great shoot have to be mentally and physically er," Bernard stiffens a bit as if he’s ready." pausing to rewind and play: a mental Nobody likes to be on the bench, tape that roars de-fense, de-fense, but Bernard has spent most of the sea de-fense. son watching from the sidelines. Only Self-defense for wom en offered by Portland Police The Portland Police Bureau’s sex ual assault prevention program will offer its monthly, 9-hour "womcn- strength" self-defense classes in May at the following locations: NORTHEAST—Mondays: May 6, 13. and 20. 6:30 - 9:30 p m.. Old The classes are free and are avail able to women and girls age 13 and up. Those registering must be able to attend all three sessons of the class. Assertiveness is emphasized and sur vival level fighting skills are taught. Firehouse. 5540 NE Sandy Blvd SOUTHWEST — Tuesdays: May 7. 14, and 21.6:30 - 9:30 p.m., River dale Community School, 11733 SW Breyman Ave. trratbkizarz 3 Registration began Tuesday, April 16 and continues until classes are full Registration is done by phone. 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