Page 10, Portland Observer, January 28, 1987
End of An Era?
Part T w o of a T w o -P a rt Series
by Leon Harris
M ik e Tyson, the youngest h eavyw eigh t cham pion in history, is con
g ratu lated by trainer Kevin Rooney (LI and p ro m o te r Don King after
w in nin g the W orld Boxing Council title
Mike Tyson
B o x in g 's Y o u n g e s t S ta r
Mike Tyson. 20, the youngest World Boxing Council IW BC) heavyweight
champion in history, is being touted as the red hot prince of boxing, re
ports the February EBONY.
Tyson began his reign in professional boxing following a spectacular
knockout bout against Trevor Berbick Not since Floyd Patterson, who
won his first title at the age of 21. has there been such excitement over a
boxing champion. In fact, ABC TV has signed him to a profitable five year
contract, and HBO has scheduled him for three television fights
Tyson keeps a rigorous training schedule that doesn't allow him much
time for "Hanging out and going to parties " I used to think I was missing
out
but I did all that stuff when I was younger, and other 20 year olds
are missing what I have now
the excitement, meeting people, tieing
known all over the world, doing what you like to do and making a great deal
of money doing it," says Tyson
When he’s not in the ring or training, Tyson enjoys taking in martial arts
movies or taking care of the 60 pigeons he raises A young man very con
fident about himself and his career, Tyson says. "I am the youngest cham
pion and I’ll be the oldest."
In early 1906 in a cocktail lounge at the Los Angeles Airport, I happened
to overhear a conversation between two gentlemen seated in the booth
next to me Being from Iowa and Texas respectively, they were discussing
the state of the economy of their states, and what they had to say was ex
tremely interesting.
The gentleman from Iowa stated he was a farmer and had lost over
$660,000 in the past two years due to foreclosure action against his farm
His loss included his life savings, money loaned by family and friends, his
home and car. As a tragic note, the economic problems brought on as a
result of his plight caused a temporary separation from his family, due to
more than frequent squabbles "You know ," he remarked to his friend
from Texas. "I personally know of at least 16 farmers in the state that suf
fered the same fate as I did and many more that arc in trouble." "As a mat
ter of fact," he continued, "I really can't think of that many people that I
know personally that are doing too well these days "
The gentleman from Texas was an unemployed oil rig worker, and. after
two and a half years of unemployment, had accepted a temporary position
as an on call limousine driver "I know exactly what you mean." he stated
"Most of my friends are in the same industry and, with the oil field bust,
were forced to move on. At one time in Houston, some of the people I
know had two or three jobs Now. most of the don't have any I almost
made a crucial error by refusing to accept employment outside of my em
ployment, until one day I realized that even service type jobs were no longer
available, so I took anything to survive "
"Something is happening in this country," the Texan said "Our Presi
dent seems to be interested only in d e fe n s e -th e rich are getting richer,
the poor, poorer What this country needs most is new leadership I'm
afraid the same people who voted Reagan in are going to have to vote him
out." "Am en," stated the Iowan, as he concurred
Later, on the airplaine enroute to Portland, I took the opportunity to re
beet back on what they had said and its impact Factually, like many Ore
gonians, they were flat broke struggling to make a comeback trying to
recapture some of yesterday's prosperity
A lot of Oregon Reagan voters thought that they were voting for a candi
date who could hold the Soviets at bay. reduce taxes, make our streets
safe, cause the economy to skyrocket and hold the budget in check In
stead, we have a foreign policy so chaotic that Congress has imposed con
straints to hold us at bay taxes have been restructured but not through
Reagan's design crime on the streets is at an all time high the economy
is on a roller coaster and faced with uncertainties the budget has caused
many of us to scurry for our dictionaries and look up a seldom used work
one trillion dollars. I used to wonder how much a trillion dollars was, until
I heard a TV commentator say it was enough to give every man, woman,
and child on earth $25 00 each
Somehow something seems to have gone wrong with "Reaganomics'
As a matter of fact, it's difficult to even trace its origin, since nobody wants
to take the credit for introducing its termonology But considering its deva
stating effects, who can blame them
Here in Oregon, the elderly feel betrayed, because, in addition to "shoe
string survival, they now have to worry about the "high cost of dying"
The poor, the homeless, the hungry, and the unemployed, having little
chance before Reaganomics ", now find themselves existing in a society
equated only with the days of the "Great Depression"
Small businesses, farm owners, banks, and even some large corporations
find themselves mired in a sea of economic hysteria with no relief in sight
Blacks and other minorities, already embattered with a multitude of social
and economic woes, have found it necessary to shore up their defenses
against an administration hell trent on negating Civil Rights gams of many
years past
For all of the above, and others who have suffered, we are faced with the
reality that Reaganomics" still has two more years to run its course But
the question remains, how many banks, farms, homes, or businesses can
survive another two years/ How many people can survive? And even if
"Reaganomics is around another two years, one must remember that the
transition from one administration to another takes lime Subsequently.
Reaganomics though isting", may be around for some time
As Oregonians, we have suffered through it for five and a half years
Can we survive another three or more?
Eating For A Healthy Heart
February is National Heart Month Emanuel Hospital b Health Center
is sponsoring two classes to help you help your heart
"Eating for a Healthy Heart" emphasizes the importance of low choles
terol meals and food preparation
The classes will be held from 7 to
8 30 p m. at Emanuel in Room 1075 Course fee is $6
"Cooking for a Healthy Heart" provides the students with a meal cooked
to perfection that follows the American Heart Association' guidelines for
proper nutrition balancing high fiber with low cholesterol This class will
be held from 7 to 9 p m at Emanuel in Room 10/7 Course fee is $15
Register early for these classes by calling 280 4284
Career Conference Set
Young women from the Portland metropolitan area will have an oppor
tunity to meet with local women representing various careers at the eighth
annual Expanding Your Horizons Career Conference on Saturday. February
7, 1987 The conference will be held at Portland State University from
8 45 a m to 12:30 p m and is open to young women 7th through 12th
grade
Preregistration deadline is January 31, 1987
For further information,
please contact Barbara Berard at 248 6800, ext 499
Portland Trail Blazer Steve Johnson (33) gets his hook over Blair
Rasmussen (41) of the Denver Nuggests in the Blazer 145 141 w in
Johnson scored 32 points.
Photo By Richard J Brow n
NOTARY
BOOKKEEPING & INCOME TAX SERVICE
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• TAX PLANNING •
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JOE TAYLOR
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President Byrne
Invites
Oregon State University
M in o rity and EOP A lum ni
to visit OSU campus on
February 21.1987
for lunch at 12 noon.
If you have not already been contacted by OSU,
please call the A ffirm a tive A ction O ffice,
754 3556, by February 16, 1987
The purpose o f this visit is to
reacquaint you w ith the University
and to encourage you to take a more
active role in shaping the futu re of OSU
KELSEY’S
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Drapes Z Blankets / Robes
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A tla n ta H a w k a basketball star Spud W ebb show s off the dunking
skills that have m ade the 5 7" guard one of the "b ig g e s t” players in
th e NBA
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For more on Spud Webb's professional strides and personal life, don't
miss the February EBONY
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from Noon til 8 p m
Extra cost for pick up b delivery
Spud Webb, the 5 foot 7, 135 jtound ^uard for the Atlanta Hawks, is
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Spub Webb: The Little Big' Man
of Pro Basketball
Webb gained national attention in 1986 as the champion of the slam dunk
contest (against players much taller than him I. and as a member of the NBA
All Rookie Team
Webb's four year contract with the Atlanta Hawks is
reportedly valued at over $1 million Plus major endorsements brining him
thousands of dollars are coming in for everything from athletic shoes to
Coca Cola
While 23 year old Webb's star continues to rise, he doesn't let his cele
brity stop him from routinely going to public places such as malls "If you
go there and act naturally and not stuck up, it's not a problem," he says
When asked about his increasing popularity with the opposite sex, the
23 year old bachelor responds, "Every pro athlete has had to deal with
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on laundromat
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9a.m. lo S p.m . Mon.-Fri.
Sat. 8a.m. to 3 p .m .