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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 23, 1987)
tori McNeil: September 23. 1987, Portland Observer, Page 9 Disciplined, Accomplished,Committed by Avel Gordly Lori McNeil missed her senior prom to compete in a tennis tournament. She has no regrets. McNeil beat Chris Evert at the recent U.S. Open. She started her journey to world class excellence at age 1016 in a Houston summer tennis program. McNeil's mother greatly influenced her decision to play. Watching Arthur Ashe play Jimmy Connors in a televised match also added to her enthusiasm. It was the first complete match she had ever watched. McNeil has had the same coach, John Wilkerson, ever since those early days, and she explained with conviction, "Everyone needs a coach to see what you are doing . . . another pair of eyes while you're concentra tin g." McNeil is a strong advocate of mentoring. She encourages Black youth to "fin d someone who is a professional; whoever there is who has their best interest at heart—stick with that person. Don't listen to a lot of people. Listen to that person. When you start winning, a lot of people will come around and tell you to get rid of that person." And she said, "W e as a people, when we get to a certain point, we get rid of the person who helped us initially. We need to stick with that person.' McNeil feels that it's important to have a good support system. She relies on hers a great deal, which includes up-and-coming tennis star Zina Garrison. McNeil emphasized, for example, that she and Garrison stick together" in their travels. McNeil has traveled to Australia, Europe, Hawaii, and Canada, and she stated a desire to see Africa and Japan. Asked to explain her approach to discipline, McNeil said while there is always room for improvement, she keeps her priorities in line and is very punctual. While in school, she knew that she could not make bad grades, because it meant she would not be able to play tennis. She has learned to be well organized through preparation for tours. McNeil went to college on a tennis scholarship and saw the experience as an opportunity to learn more about herself and to make new friends. Initially, she chose a communications and marketing major but switched to sports medicine after deciding to turn professional. McNeil, who is 24, enjoys working with young people and plans to put her communications and marketing background to use by opening her own tennis training center in the future. She stressed the need for a place where "minorities, particularly Blacks" can learn and excel. She cited the exper ience of former tennis great Althea Gibson who once had a center where 1 M N* > Codi P roctor (R), 14 yrs old, gets w ords of encouragem ent from Lori M cN eil fo llo w in g a short w o rk -o u t at Chiles Center. The talented 8th grader at H.B. Lee M iddle School has been playing tennis 6 years and this year w on m ixed doubles and the W om en's Division of the Ebony Rose Ski Club's 2nd Annual Tennis Tournam ent. Photo by Richard J. Brown PCC Sets Fence-Building Class In Northeast Portland Portland Community College is offering a one-session class, Fence and Gate Building and Repair, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 6, at Gregory Heights Community School, 7334 N.E. Siskiyou St. Participants will receive instruction about tools, book resources and materials. Tuition is $4.00 Further information is available from PCC Cascade Campus Com munity Education, 244-6111, Ext. 5 2 0 5 . coupon • c o u po n l P MUFFLER NEW I l UBE, OIL* AS LOW AS I & FILTER $8.95 $19.95 MOST CARS CO M PLETE BRAKE JOB $49.95 PER AXLE MOST CARS INSTALLED MOST CARS | COUPON MUST BE PRESENTED PRIOR TO ESTIMATE I EXPIRES 9-30-87 WITH ANY OTHER SERVICE, REG. $15.95 INCLUDES 5 QTS VALVOLINE 10/40 OIL INCLUDtS NEW PADS/SHOES TURN ROTOR/DRUM PACK WHEEL BEARINGS EXPIRES 9 30 87 BARKER MUFFLER & BRAKE SERVICE 4525 N.E. UNION 281-4010 HOURS: 8-5 M onday - Saturday Tennis pro Lori M cN eil and her coach John W ilkerson take a break during practice sessions at Chiles Center. M cN eil was in to w n fo r Photo by Richard J. Brown the W orld M ixed Doubles C ham pionship. Grace Collins Memorial Center Blacks could train, but where the cost may have been prohibitive to many at the time. McNeil wants to learn from some of the things Gibson has shared with her about her (McNeil's) game and business experience. She said, in admiration of Gibson, "Her experiences by far were the best of any Black woman in the game." McNeil, who projects seriousness and committment in her conversa tion, focused on some of the problems facing Black youth. "There is a lot of pressure on youth." Some are "listening to the wrong people," she said. She is disturbed that some Black youth are "emulating white youth", such as being too involved in wearing name brands like "Calvin Klein", and following what she sees as negative images on television. McNeil said that when talking about drugs and teenage pregnancy, "Everyone says I'm different, that can't happen to me —we need to pull together and stay strong." McNeil also said, "I don't think high schools and colleges prepare us for the successes we accomplish." Coach John Wilkerson suggested there is even more pressure on Blacks involved in sports, because "eveyone wants you to excel and some times that can be pressure if you're not ready for it," and It can result in injuries . . . and excuses for losing." Wilkerson continued, "For us, it's even more extreme, because there are so few of us." Commenting on their impressions of Portland, Wilkerson said in refer ence to the scenery, "I fell in love with Portland before hitting the ground " McNeil said she was concerned that there was no Black radio station and that "I don't think I could live here, I haven't seen many brothers and sisters." McNeil and Wilkerson were in Portland to participate in the World Mixed Doubles Championship at the Chiles Center Day Care KELSEY’S Dry Cleaners & Laundromat Drapes/Blankets/Robes We Do Bedspreads/Comforters /KtteO’ Shoe Vovets ' Sellwood Community Center, 1436 SE Spokane, Thursday, October 8, to 9 p.m. The classes cover general principles of the law, focusing on a Afferent subject each week. Topics include personal liability, contracts, onsumers rights, family law, property rights, wills, estates, and probate, Children 6 wks. SHOES NOW FREE Pick-Up Delivery Service from Noon til 8 p.m. PICK-UP & DELIVERY Metropolitan Learning Center Community School, 2033 N.W. Glisan Tuesdays, beginning October 6 for 6 weeks. 7 to 9 p.m. Demystify the legal process with discussions of consumer and landlord/tenant rights buying and selling automobiles, torts, contracts, and small claims court. The fee to 11 yrs. • Breakfast • Hot Lunches •Snacks 4-year old kids at Grace C ollins M e m o ria l C enter learn h o w to make cookies. Mon-Fri 6:30 am - 6:00 pm Extra cost for pick up & delivery K E L S E Y 'S 1759 N.E DEKUM -0176 Call FREE COFFEE Every Sat. & Sun. Come and Enjoy a free cup of coffee with Kelsey’s he fee is $20. Law for the Lay Person • Pre-School 'Latch Key Program ’ SHINE YOUR SHOE SHINING Law for Laymen 1759 N.E. Oekum Kindergarten HOURS: 8 a .m .-8p.m . *7 d a y s a w e e k on laundromat Dry Cleaning 9a.m . to 6 p .m . Mon.-Fri. Sat. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m is $15.00. 281-6930 128 N.E. Russell St. 5-year old kids at Grace C ollins s tu d y hard on s c h o o l w o rk before going outside to play. Grace Collins Memorial Center Day Care 1 ■ B M • » H R S H 1."’ 1." * " * ’1