April 18, 1990, Page 5
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ü-^t^SPORTS/EVENTS <1
Outstanding Students,
Merited
A Conversation With Broadcaster
Steve Jones About Style In The NBA
by Ullysses Tucker, Jr.
Steve Jones is regarded as one of the
best basketball announcers in the coun­
try. His career started in 1976 with
CBS. He is in his seventh year as an
analyst for the Portland Trail Blazers.
Jones has also been working the na­
tional games for TBS/TNT the last three
years.
A product of Franklin High School
in Portland and the University of Ore­
gon, Jones worked the Blazers champi­
onship game against the Philadelphia
76ers. Against the Houston Rockers
last month, a writer noted that Don
Chaney’s team had a great team on
paper and plenty of talent. Jones re­
sponded by saying that the Rockets
have no style or team identity.
With this in mind, Steve Jones was
asked what he meant by style.
“ Style is a combination of philoso­
phies and the way you aproach the
game. Some teams have the philoso­
phy of being a full court team in terms
of running, being aggressive, and that
sets the tone. Two teams, maybe at the
opposite ends of the spectrum would be
Minnesota and Portland.
Minnesota’s mentality is half-court.
They slow it down, use the clock, play
very physical, and put bodies all over
you. Portland, on the other hand, would
like to play you the full 94 x 50 feet as
much as they can. They also like to use
their hand-foot speed, quickness, get
steals, easy hoops, and use their bench.
So, style is the kinda game that suits the
type of players you have on your team
and the way they like to play.”
P ortland O bserver - Who sets the
tone for style and is it som ething th at
is established by the front office?
Jones - “ It’s really a philosophical
decision that kinda comes from the
front office and depends on the type of
team you want to put together. So, if
you went back to when the Lakers esta-
bished ‘Showtime’-Jerry Buss took over
the team and he wanted it to be enter­
taining. He also wanted them to run.
Then he began to assemble the people
who could do that. The key to all of that
was Magic Johnson. He picked up
James Worthy and then Bryon Scott, all
the things needed to surround Kareem.
That starts at the top.”
P ortland O bserver - W hat NBA
franchises do you like in term s of
style?
Jones - “ The teams that have been
the most appealing are in the West and
it’s very difficult to separate the. Los
Angeles has been the premier team.
Portland and Phoenix are very exciting.
For a small team, the Golden State
Warriors will always provide you with
a high scoring game as well as the
Denver Nuggets.
You’ve got to look around and see
what type of basketball you appreciate
the most. The NBA is an offensive
game and to be able to slow down a high
scoring team is a joy to watch. Then,
you come back and match them against
someone like the Pistons, who really
don’t like to run. 1 prefer a game that is
more wide open and it lets the players
be a little more expresive in the way
they try to play the game.”
P ortland O bserver - After all is
said and done in the playoff confron­
tations, who will it be playing for the
NBA Cham pionships?
Jones - “ The Lakers and the Pis­
tons. I think that they have the best
styles for winning, best qommand of
the game, and the greatest ability to
accept the challenge of the playoffs or
the pressure that comes with it. They
both have a lot of motivation. The
Pistons want to prove that they can
repeat and the Lakers want to prove that
they should have had a * ‘ threepeat’, but
the injuries hampered their chances.
It’s not going to be easy for either team.
This year, the NBA, in terms of the
playoffs, are very close to parity and
exciting as you can get. Both teams, the
Lakers and the Pistons, know what it
takes and they can not flinch. Both of
these teams are going to have to be on
top of their games to get out.”
P ortland O bserver - So, w hat you
are saying is that P ortland does not
have a p ra y er or chance to win the
NBA title this year?
Jones - “ No, they do have a shot.
The difference is that they have to go
through that experience of having been
there. With the talent and season they’ve
had, if everything broke perfect for
them, then yes, they could be the win­
ner out of the Western Conference. But
that means no injuries, your matchups
are perfect, you catch your opponents
with a little doubt in confidence or lack
of expression in their game, and that
doesn’t always happen in the playoffs.
If you use the Pistons as a yard stick
in terms of graduation to the NBA fi­
nals, it usually takes a couple of appear­
ances of the good teams to get out of the
conference and into the championship
round. The Trail Blazers have as much
talent as anyone in the league. Their
bench is better now, but they also have
to have control of their game and their
opponents in playoff situations. They
have never done th a t. . . “
Portland Observer - Thanks, Steve
Jones.
Jones - “ My pleasure.”
Steve Jones Knows Basketball Styles, But Does
He Have Style?
by Ullysses Tucker, Jr.
After the completion of the inter­
view with Steve Jones “ Styles In The
NBA,” several individuals were asked
if he had any style and after hearing the
question, others volunteered their an­
swer.
According to those who spend a con­
siderable amount of time with the Trail
Blazer broadcaster, he does have a little
style. The type of style is the issue in
question. He’s called “ swave” as
opposed to suave and “ deboner” in­
stead of debonaire, off the record of
course. There are a couple o f people
that think Jones is caught in “ The Twi­
light Zone” of fashion, trying to be
cool, and ability as a weekend athelete.
Others consider him a non-conformist,
a teacher, and frank in his observations
about the game of basketball. Jones is
well respected by his peers and the
players in the league, especially the
Portland Trail Blazers.
“ Steve Who?” asked Clyde Drex-
ler. “ Oh, wait a minute. I know him.
He can’t play tennis or golf. What’s
wrong with the guy? He’s got no style.
Seriously though, Steve is a great guy.
He has a style in broadcasting that is
very distinctive and all his own. He is
personable, easy to listen to, knowl­
edgeable, and you have to respect a guy
like th a t. . . “
Cliff Robinson - “ He has a lot of
style. He has helped me out as far as
different situations out on the court.
Things that I should do or trying to do.
He didn’t have to show me those things.”
Mark Bruyant - “ Steve has style.
He’s a good guy. He trys to be young,
but he’s an older fella and he still has to
realize that. He has a little bit of style,
the 1970’s style.”
Terry Porter - “ I think Steve has
some style, but you know he’s from the
old school. So, he has some of that old
style. The way he carries himself, his
dress a little bit, and the way he talks
sometimes. He definitely has some
style, but it’s from the old school.”
Wayne Cooper - “ Steve has a lot of
style. He’s got his own style. The way
he dresses and carries himself. I like
him because he’s consistent He’s always
the same. Most people are inconsistent
in terms of their personalities. Steve is
always the same, he’s always sour,” he
said with a laugh.
Jerome Kersey - “ Steve Jones has
style, it’s his own but he has style.
Steve is a guy who docs not conforms to
other people. He’s his own and always
will be.”
Danny Young - “ He has style. Some­
times, he can get a little heavy handed
Congratulations. . .
Portland Trail Blazers
On A Successful Season
1989-1990
with it but he’s pretty good. H e’s also
very opinionated and he lets you know
how he feels.”
Buck Williams - “ He does have a
little style. Steve is a classy guy.”
So, there you have it on the style of
Steve Jones. Be it dressing or broad­
casting, Jones sets his own standards. It
was reported last week by Kerry Eggers
that Drazen Pelrovic took the opportu­
nity to beef up his wardrobe on a road to
Philadelphia last month. With the help
of Drcxler, Cooper, and Williams, Pet­
rov ic proceeded to spend $3,000 to get
himself up to NBA standards. One
Trail Blazer, who laughed as he asked
not to be quoted on the record, won­
dered if Jones is a “ shopping spree”
candidate on the next road trip?
Dwight Jaynes, another old friend
and sportswriter for the Oregonian put
the Steve Jones style issue in its proper
perspective.
“ Steve has style. It’s somewhere
between Bobby Darren and Chuck Berry.
He’s in that time frame, somewhere.
He doesn’t seem to be real • rt:iin where
he is in that frame but Steve is there.
He’s somewhere around ‘rocking the
clock’ and the clock is set back in the
’50s.”
Back to you S te v e. . .
To Clyde Drexler
Most Valuable Player,
Portland Trail Blazers, Second Year Running
Peninsula Park Jamboree
Underway
The Peninsula Park Jamboree commenced last Saturday with teams from NE
Portland competing for The Little League Championship to be held during the sum­
mer. Ranging in ages eight-twelve years of age, the youth are encouraged to
develop discipline and a winning tradition.
Coaches Terry Tims and Chuck Washington emphasizes a positive attitude
which they attribute to 10 championships in 14 years.
The Jamboree boasts five major league teams and six minor league with one
being featured each week by the Portland Observer.
Pictured left to right are: Rocco Washington, Dyon Spencer,
Chuck Washington, Andre' Washington and Anthony
Washington
NBA/Trail Blazer Scholarship Winners
Announced
Four local high school seniors have
been awarded $1,000 scholarships by
the Portland Trail Blazers and the Na­
tional Basketball Association.
Rolanda Gaines (Gresham High
School), Oona Hathaway (Lincoln High
School), Kaia Sand (North Salem High
School) and Jeffrey Stewart (The Dal­
les High School) were the recipients of
the scholarships. Selection was based
on a letter of recommendation from a
faculty member, and essay o f500 words
or less on the subject ‘ ‘The Importance
of a College Education” , appropriate
SAT and ACT scores and high school
transcripts. Over 300 students com­
peted for the four scholarships.
The Trail Blazers and the NBA have
been involved in this special college
scholarship program for the past ten
years. Applications were reviewed by a
special selection committee that included
former players Geoff Petrie and Lloyd
Neal, professor Arleigh Dodson of Lewis
& Clark College, dr. Ernest Hartzog,
assistant superintendent of Portland
Public Schools, sports columnist George
Pasero and Blazer Vice-President of
Public Affairs, George Rickies.
Gaines, Hathaway, Sand and Ste­
wart will be recognized during the pre­
game portion of the Trail Blazer/Dallas
Maverick game on April 13.
Educator Merited by Portland Blazers
Karen McAllister, the vice-princi­
pal at Rex Putnam High School in Mil­
waukie, was announced as the recipient
of a special “ Educator of the Year”
award at the Portland Trail Blazers MVP
banquet, held last night at Memorial
Coliseum.
McAllister received a special plaque
and a check for $500 as this year’s
honoree. The award is presented annu­
ally as part of the Blazer/AVIA Scho­
lastic Improvement Concepts (BASIC)
program.
The BASIC program was created in
1984 to help teachers motivate students
and to encourage an increased recogni­
tion of the value of education amongst
today’s youth. “ Karen McAllister was
instrumental in helping establish the
BASIC program” said Bill Dragon,
chief executive officer of AVIA Ath­
letic Footwarc Company. “ She origi-
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nally approached the Trail Blazers about
sponsoring an essay competition as a
business/education partnership. The
BASIC program evolved from her idea.
Today, the program encompasses pub­
lic and private schools throughout the
state of Oregon and Southwest W ash­
ington.”
The BASIC program incudes three
distinctive segments covering reading,
writing and personal achievement. To
date, more than 245,000 students have
elected to participate in one or more
segments. Last fall, BASIC received
the official endorsement of the Oregon
Department of Education and Educa­
tion Service District 112 in the state of
Washington. Basic has also earned
national recognition from the Presi­
dent’s Private Sector Initiatives Coun­
cil, Family Circle magazine and the
International Reading Association.
Over 42,000 students from public
and private schools throughout the state
of Oregon and Southwest Washington
participated in this season’s Blazer/AVIA
Scholastic Improvement Concepts
(BASIC) program activities.
The program, which annually kicks-
off with the beginning of the school
year, was created to help curb the large
student drop-out rate. BASIC is spon­
sored by the Portland Trail Blazers and
AVIA Athletic Footwear Company and
presented by Seafirst Bank. Activities
include three separate segments focus­
ing on reading, writing and personal
improvement Trail Blazer players Clyde
Drexler and Kevin Duckworth serve as
BASIC program co-chairmen.
The “ Improvement” segment tar­
gets students in grades one through 12.
“ Our primary goal with this segment is
to help educators give students an extra
pat on the back,” says Wally Scales,
program coordinator. “ We divide the
school year into four phases and offer
teachers and counselors the opportu­
nity to nominate two students per phase
to receive special recognition. All nomi­
nated students receive special recogni­
tion certificates. Nominated students
who live within a one and one-half hour
driving radius of Pordand have their
names entered in a drawing to win two
tickets to a B lazer home game; students
who live outside this radius have the
chance to win autographed Blazer memo­
rabilia.”
Phase IV of the “ Improvement”
segment generated 3,656 nominations.
All total, over 20,000 students were
nominated to receive special recogni­
tion certificates this school year. Close
to 5,000 tickets to sold-out Blazer games
were given away as part of this effort.
The “ Reading Fitness” segment was
conducted during the month of October
and targeted students in grades four,
five and six. The objective of this
segment, according to Scales, was to
help teachers encourage an increased
interest in reading. Individual class-
rooms were challenged to compete
against each other to see who could log
the most leisure reading hours over a 30
day period.
More than 5,630 students partici­
pated, logging over 82,000 leisure read­
ing hours. “ Regional” and “ Overall”
winners were recognized for their ef­
fort. Every student received a special
recognition certificate. The top “ Re­
gional” classrooms at each grade level
earned a two volume set of the World
Book of Space Exploration.
The
“ Overall” winners each received a com­
plete set of the World Book Encyclope-
dia for their classroom or school.
Top essay writers in the BASIC pro-
gram “ Write-On” segment were re-
cently recognized at a special halftime
ceremony during a Blazer home game
at Memorial Coliseum in Portland. Over
17,000 students, grade one through 12,
prepared essay entries based on this
year’s theme: “ My Education Is Im-
portant To Me Because . . . “ Partici-
paring schools selected their best essay
entries for each grade level and passed
them on to the local Education Service
District (ESD) offices who selected the
regional winners for their area. Grand
prize winners, one per grade level, were
determined by the Portland Council In­
ternational Reading Association, who
have been instrumental in helping to
coordinate this program since it’s in­
ception.
Regional winners in the BASIC
“ W rite-On” essay competition earned
a two volume set of the World Book
Dictionary. Grand prize winners won
three tickets to a Blazer game, hotel ac­
commodations, travel expenses, and a
pre-game reception with player co-
chairmen Clyde Drexler and Kevin Duck­
worth plus an assortment of other prizes.
To date, more than 245,000 students
have participated in one or more seg­
ments of the BASIC program. Both the
Oregon Department of Education and
Education Service District 112 in the
state of Washington have endorsed the
BASIC program effort. BASIC has
also received national recognition for
excellence from the President’s Private
Sector Initiative Council, Family Circle
magazine and the International Read­
ing Association.
It is truly rare to find one>
who is interesting while talk­
ing; yet rarer still to find one
¡who is interesting while silent.
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