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
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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 .
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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
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