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Page 6 Portland Observer NOVEMBER
9, 1989
S it
F ootball « I ighlights
Viking Defeat Western Illinois University
by Dan Bell
Saturday was a battle o f two pow er­
house titans as P.S.U. strove to keep its
play-off hopes alive against division
NCAAI-AA Western Illinois University.
Although WIU has been racked by
injuries to us top 4 running backs, Port­
land State was in a siniular situation with
lost of standouts Curtis Delgardo and
Burnell Harvin.
This gam e was a defensive battle
that saw only 3 scores all evening.
W.I.U. gave P.S.U. the blues on the
ground behind the running o f Doug
Romano a red shin Freshman who gained
158 yards on 35 carries.
Befitting a defensive battle there
was no scoring until the second quarter
when W.I.U. drovbe 93 yards, pulling
off a gutsy fourth down fake punt in the
process.
In the second half P.S.U. buckled
up to meet the challenge and with some
good field position manage to com e up
with a touchdown. P.S.U. gam bled on
fourth and 10 to keep their eventual
touchdown drive alive.
Portland State forced W estern Illi­
nois to punt with 2:58 in the third quar­
ter. This eventually led to the winning
touchdown. W estern Illinos' head coach,
Bruce Craddock stated that this posses­
sion prove to be the pivotal turning point
o f the game. On first dow n from their
ow n 48 the Vikings quarter back Darren
Del Andre connected with Reynaldo
Shackleford for an 18 yd. gain. Finkbon-
ner connected on half-back pass to tight-
end Ed W eaving for the decisive touch­
down o f the game.
The excitem ent w asn’t over though
on W estern Illinois last play o f the game
quarterback Roy Reed threw a long pass
into the end-zone. P.S.U. strong safety
Dexter tipped the ball up for grabs but
was able grab it ending the game.
The Vikings next and last gam e o f
the regular season will be Saturday,
N ovem ber 18th, at Civic Stadium. It will
probably determine if they are invited to
the NCAA II Play-O ff or not.
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Imagine the best weekend o f your
life, and you will know the joy felt by
Portland Trailblazer rookie C liff Robin­
son after reflecting on his first tw o games
in the National Basketball A ssociation.
Robisnon, a second round selection
out of Connecticut in the 1989 NBA
Draft, spoke softly about the experience
after scoring 12 points (6-8 free throws)
and grabbing four rebounds in a 93-83
victory over the new est team in the NBA,
the M innesota Tim berw olves. Robinson
played thirty-one m inutes o ff the bench.
In the season opener against Sacramento,
he had 10 points and 5 rebounds (18
minutes).
"I'm real satisfied," he said, "I didn’t
shoot the ball like I w anted too and I
could have done a better job o f rebound­
ing. Hopefully, it will get better as we go
along."
W hen questioned about the adjust­
ments to play on the NBA level, rein­
forcing that he was not being critical,
Robinson explain the difference between
officials in college and in the pros.
"In college, officials took the time
to explain w hat you could and could not
get away with on the court. Things like
positioning and use o f the hands, e t c .. .
. Here (NBA), when you ask a question,
the officials think that you're being sar­
castic or smart with them. I'm just trying
to get a better understanding o f the game
on this level and be the best that I can be.
I want to learn as m uch as possible," he
said.
A native o f Buffalo, New York,
Robinson was rated among the top 100
scholastic recruits in the nation by Bas­
ketball Times and B asketball Weekly.
He played at R iverside High School.
A t Connecticut, he led his team in
scoring for three straight season and
scored double figures in 72 o f 81 games.
He has never missed a game because o f
injury or illness. Robinson ranks fourth
(1,664 points) and had a career high of
42 points against Hartford University.
He once blocked nine shots in a confer­
ence title gam e against Georgetown.
"We had some tough battles in the
Big East with C liff too," said Ramon
Ram os, an All Big East perform er at
Seton Hall. Ram os is a rookie fre-
agent who "bumped" heads with R obin­
son for all o f his college career.
"Who would have thought that Mark
(Bryant), C liff, and I would end up in
Portland. W e're m uch closer, all three o f
us, than we were in college. C liff is
going to get better and better on the
court," he said.
Bryant played against Robinson for
three years with Ram os at Seton Hall
also.
"There were some good ones," he
sm iled, referring to some o f the Seton
H a ll-C o n n e c tic u t
c o n fro n ta tio n s .
"Com pared to college, C liff has really
gotten stronger and his confidence is
great. I think that C liff is really going to
help our team."
Blazer Coach Rick A delm an, who
was a bit surprised to still see Robinson
around when the time cam e for the 36
selection in the draft, put it all in per­
spective regarding Robinson's potential.
"He is an excellent shooter. He runs
the floor well for a man his size and he is
a decent defender. I believe that he will
contribute to the success o f this team and
we are glad to have him," he said.
The 6'10", 225 lbs. Robinson be­
lieves that professional athletes have a
social responsibility when it comes to
young people and should take pride in
being considered a role model.
"I feel good about being a role model
for young kids," he said. "I think that it's
postive and I'll do w hatever I can to keep
a kid going in the right direction. They
watch our behavior, as well as look up to
us and many athletes need to be aw are of
this fact."
« « i* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
R am on R am os
O v e rtim e . . . W ayne Cooper will
be 33 on N ovem ber 16,1989 and Ramon
Ramos will turn 23 on the 20th o f N o­
vember. Look for another great year of
special events from W ally Scales, who
is considered by many NBA experts, the
best at his craft. He is the Vice President
o f Special Events. Darnell V alentine is
back in tow n. H e's a free-agent. Look for
him to have a jo b soon. V alentine, like
m any ex-Blazers, still ow ns a home in
town.
ClifT Robinson
New Location:
Portland Observer
4747 N.E. Martin Luther
King, Jr. Blvd.
Portland, Oregon 97211
21
P E N IN S U L A REALTY INC.
8040 North Lombard
Portland. Oregon 97203
Business (503) 286-5826
Fax 286-8675
Residence (503) 281-8976
by Ullysses Tucker, Jr.
ROSE MARIE DAVIS
Pacific Division
Los Angeles Lakers
Phoenix Suns
Seattle Supersonics
Golden State Warriors
Portland Trailblazers
Sacramento Kings
Los Angeles Clippers
Sales Associate
Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated
60-22
54-28
50-32
44-38
43-39
40-42
31-51
Business as usual in the West. "Magic"
Johnson & Company should not have any difficulty
secunng their ninth consecutive division title in as
many years. You know the story: Worthy, Scott,
Mychal Thompson, a richer-happier A.C. Green,
and the "Big Fella" — No, not Abdul Jabbar, Vlade
Divac, the 6’11" center-forward from (26th pick)
Yugoslavia. According to some insider, Divac can
flat out play basketball and be morethan adequate
behind Thompson. Also, look for Orlando
Woolridge to blossom as a scorer and shot blocker
. . . Phoenix is pretty much the same on paper.
Hopefully, another year of maturity will help Kevin
Johnson, Tom Chambers, and Eddie "Best Sixth
Man" Johnson, keep pace with the Lakers. Phoenix
needs improvement in the point. Tim Perry and
Armon Gilliam (6'9", 265 lbs.) need to come
through for the Suns, as do Dan Majerle, who had a
decent play-offs last year.
Midwest Division
Utah Jazz
Houston Rockets
Denver Nuggets
San Antonio Spurs
D allas M avericks
Charlotte H ornets
M innesota Tim berw olves
O FFIC IA L
PROGRAM
The results of
professional
football
games are
used to
determine the
winners’
O6COON ■
LOTTWÍ
Conference
Western
o»m Kl nUM.RXM
2
EN TRY
FORM
ENTRY F O R M
Find it in your local
neu spaper.
ON is NOT assoc ated wdh
T IC K E T
Hold on lo your ticket
to claim your prize.
authorized Ov tr
national football
leagui
50-32
48-34
47-35
44-38
42-40
38-44
20-62
After a dismal play-off scries against the
upstart Golden Slate Warriors last season, the Utah
Jazz should be playing with an attitude Mailman
Karl Malone will deliver seven days a week, John
Stockton is steady as they come at the point, and
Thurl Bailey is an NBA All-Star with any other
team. Seal off the inside with 7'4" Mark Eaton and
you got a team that will lose to the Lakers in the
conference finals. Like many of the non-elite teams
in the league, Utah lacks in the conference finals.
Like many of the non-elite teams in the league, Utah
lacks a bench and speed. Take Eaton out of the
game and they are dead in the water. Still, they will
win the division. Other NBA teams shot 43.4 per
cent against the Jazz.
As goes AkccmOlajuwon, so goes the Hous­
ton Rockets. "The Dream" had some circulation
problems in his left leg this summer and will more
than I ikely gel off to a slow start. Olajuwon f in i shed
in the top ten in four categories last season. Don
Chaney needs more than Walter Berry, Mike
Woodson and Otis Thorpe to catch the Jazz. Look
In short, the bench is suspect. Look for former
Detroit Piston Michael Williams, a draft day acqui­
sition and Kenny Battle of Illinois to get big minutes
.. . Seattle has increased its victory total in each of
the last years.31 in '85-’86, 39 in ’86-'87,44 in '87-
'88, and in '88-’89. This season should be no differ­
ent. For one thing. Dale Ellis will shoot Xavier
McDaniel will do whatever he wants on the court,
and Bernie Bickerstaff will worry. The Sonics need
leadership and Derrick McKey needs to take at least
15 shots per game. He is sitting on the edge of
stardom. Michael Cage is a powerful rebounder,
who somehow, gets lost in the offensive flow of
things. The inconsistent Olden Polynice, a third
year man out of Virginia, will start in the post
instead of Alton (traded to Golden State) Lister.
Sedale Threatt and Nate McMillan will pro­
vide steady play at guard also. Brad Sellers doesn't
score opposing players off the bench-N eilher does
Avery Johnson, or raw talent Shawn Kemp, who
never played a college game. Watch out for Dana
Barros, a rookie out of Boston College arid a excel­
lent shooter. The Sonics needs lo keep Hemie out of
the (ulcer) hospital and develop a good rotation off
the bench . . . Golden Stales looks good on paper!
Chris Mullins, Rooke of the Year f88-'89) Mitch
Richmond, Winston Garland, Temiy Teagle, and
Rod Higgins. Notice, no one stands taller than 6'7".
You can't win in the NBA without a "big man" or
someone to stop the opposing teams big man. The
verdict is still out on the 14 foot 11 inch combo of
for second year man Derrick Chievons and Buck
Johnson lo contribute more. Chaney might need a
job if the Rockets don't produce this season. Denver
will continue to win at home and lose on the road.
Wayne Cooper left a big hole at center and Eat
Lever has yet to make it through a play-offs or
through a full season the last two years. Alex Eng­
lish is the smoothest player in the league. No bench.
The "Ship," David Robinson, has finally
docked in San Antonio. After a two year hitch in the
Navy, Robinson, along with Mo Cheeks, Terry
Cummings, Caldwell Jones and Sean Elliott behind
Robinson, and Larry Brown might be "Coach of the
Year." The Spurs, depending upon how this team
blends together, could finish as high as second
behind Utah. Excitement has finally arrived in San
A ntonio-I wish I could say the same for the Dallas
Mavericks. Roy Tarplcy needs to stay out of drug
rehabs (two strikes) and Randy (sleeper) White will
finish second in the Rookie of the Year chase
behind David Robinson. Throw in veterans Adrain
Dantley, Derek Harper, and Sam Perkins, only to
finish near the bottom of the pack. Good luck to
Minnesota and Charlotte.
*
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*
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Executive of the Year
Coach o f the Year
Rookie o f the Year
MVP
C om eback Player o f the Year
Best Sixth Man Award
Best Team Turn-Around
n.
a
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î
<5 . 7 : • • t t z * * “
■V .» •
Manute Bol and Ralph Sampson.Rookie Tim
Hardaway is a power forward in a point man's body.
He should get adequate back up minutes. The
Warriors also added Alton Lister, Soviet Sarunas
Marciulioni, and unknown commodity Tellis
Frank. Coaching ,Don Nelson, will get this team
over the hump and keep them competitive.
Portland cleaned house over the summer.
Gone are a cast of CBA rejects like Clinton
Wheeler, Adrain Branch, and Brooke Steppe. In
comes Buck Williams from the Nets, Wayne Coo­
per from the Nuggets, Drazen Petrovic from the
Yugoslavian National Team, and rookies Byron
Irvin and Cliff Robinson (a second round steal).
Throw in Drexlcr, Porter, Duckworth, Kersey, and
(first full season as coach) Rick Adelm an-and you
have a good team, on paper. Making the play-offs
won't be a problem for this team, winning will be.
Portland has lost 16 times in their last 20 p lay o ff
games . . . Portland should be competitive.
Worst of the Rest: The suicide death of future
NBA star Ricky Berry will leave a dark cloud over
the heads of a young Sacramento Team. Danny
Ainge, Kenny Smith, and Wayman Tisdale should
provide some exciting moments. Somebody send a
wake-up call to Ralph Sampson, missing in action
since his early days at Virginia. Hello-o-o-o Ralph,
No comment on the Los Angeles Clipper, sorry
Benoit (Benjamin). Danny look a ferry across the
water lo Italy and Manning is still limping to the
bank . . . Never Nervous Purvis Ellison of Sacra­
ment is another "big buck" limper to the vault.
O th e r Predictions:
NBA Champions: New York Knicks
Atlantic Division
New York Knicks
Philadelphia 76crs
Boston Celtics
W ashington Bullets
New Jersey Nets
Miami Heat
53-29
50-32
45-37
42-40
40-42
25-57
Central Division
C hicago Bulls
D etroit Piston
A tlanta Hawks
Cleveland Cavs
M ilwaukee Bucks
Indiana Pacers
O rlando Majic
57-25
55-27
50-32
46-36
45-37
40-42
28-54
Jerry Krause - C hicago Bulls
Larry Brown - San Antonio Spurs
David Robinson - San Antonio Spurs
Air Jordan, AKA Michael Jordan
David Robinson - Larry Bird
Thurl Batley - Utah Jazz
San Antonio - Spurs