August 8, 1990—The Portland O bserver--Page 5
• Portland Observer
THE LOCKER ROOM
Paul Brown
THE ROPES
Black Q.B., wave of future in the N.F.L.
By Aaron Fentress
The
Professional
black
quarterback.
A species o f athlete
almost non-existent through the
years and w ith no just cause. Just a
racist cause. For years blacks have
been
deterred
from
playing
quarterback from as early on as Pop
Warner league. Unless they can run.
Through high-school and college
black kids may thrive as quarterbacks
in offenses that feature them as
"running" quarterbacks, lim itin g their
development as a passer and keeping
them out o f the National Football
League. A ll this should change in
the future.
The fact that their has been
very few black "passing" quarterbacks
in the N.F.L. can be attributed to
different factors. The most obvious
being the lack o f development o f
young black passers during the early
stages o f their careers. Given the fact
that every position in football, w ith
the exception o f offensive line and
quarterback, are dominated by black
athletes there has to be a reason other
than athletic a b ility that keeps blacks
out o f the quarterback roles. For
some
coaches
it's
sim ply
a
stereotypical judgement which says
that blacks lack the mental a bility
and leadership qualities required to
perform effectively at quarterback.
It's no secret that our society does
not view blacks favorably in these
two areas. This blatant racism has
hurt blacks in many walks o f life as
w ell as in athletics, especially the
N .F.L., which sports only two
starting black quarterbacks and one
black head coach. Blatant racism is
obvious, subtle racism is less
obvious and in today's sports w orld
when black athletes have excelled so
dramaticly in football, baseball,
boxing, basketball and track, their
lies a more subtle problem which
prohibits black quarterbacks from
emerging in the N.F.L. I stress the
N.F.L. because there are quite a few
D ivision I star quarterbacks,
the
problem is why haven’t these players
surfaced in the N .F.L. as their white
counterparts have. In my opinion
the reason is due to the fact that
black quarterbacks are not trained
along the lines that would make
them successful N.F.L. quarterbacks.
Jamellc Holieway, Turner
G ill, Steve Taylor, Tony Rice,
M ajor
Harris
and
currently,
Colorado's ju n io r quarterback, Darian
Hargan, are black quarterbacks who
have received national attention for
their signal calling duties at the
college level. Yet non are in the
N.F.L. Hargan w ill most certainly
suffer the same fate.
A ll these quarterbacks w ill
not be over looked because they are
black, although many would like to
think they have been passed by due
to racism, the
fact is these
quarterbacks lack the skills to succeed
in the N.F.L.
They were not
groomed as pocket passers.
They
were
groomed
as
"running"
quarterbacks who would only pass if
they had too.
In
the
N.F.L.
these
quarterbacks have no value because
teams don't want their quarterback
exposed to unnecessary danger. They
want them nice and safe in the pocket
where they can pass and only run
when that pocket breaks down.
A th le ticly speaking all the above
named college quarterback stars are
more superior athletes than Joe
Montana, Dan M arino, Jim Everett
and Boomer Esiason, to name a few
white N.F.L. star quarterbacks. So
what do they have that a M ajor
Harris does not have. Pocket passing
experience since they were ten years
old.
Randall Cunningham, o f the
Philadelphia Eagles, and Warren
M oon, o f the Houston Oilers, are it
as far as starting quarterbacks in the
the N .F.L. go. Both refused the
opportunity to move to another
position, stayed at quarterback and
have experienced A ll-P ro status.
Cunningham, from U .N .L.V. and
Moon, from
Washington, were
pocket passers in college and it has
helped
them
in
the
N.F.L.
Cunningham is a rare example o f a
quarterback w ith both exceptional
running and passing ability. O nly
John Elway o f Denver can rival
Cunningham’s combination o f speed
and throwing ability. For this reason
Cunningham has become one o f the
N.F.L.'s most feared players. You
can't stop both aspects o f his game
because they are too explosive.
Double trouble. W hich brings us to
the future. The passer who can run
like a runningback.
The future
which could see a dramatic increase
in the number o f black N.F.L.
quarterbacks and a decrease in the
need for exclusively pocket passers.
W ith
the
current
development o f the N .F.L. game,
sluggo quarterbacks are going to
become a thing o f the past.
Defensive
players,
particularly
linebackers and defensive backs, are
becoming too fast and are bombs
waiting to explode on non-mobile
quarterbacks. To protect quarterbacks
offenses are starting to gear more
towards moving the quarterback out
o f the pocket and let him throw on
the run. The "run and shoot" offense
docs precisely that and is a concept
b u ilt around a m obile quarterback
The D etroit Lions, who possess two
black quarterbacks. Rodney Peete
and last years Heisman trophy winner
and Dctroits number one pick, Andre
Ware, introduced the offense fo r the
first time in the N.F.L. W ith Peete
and Ware, both o f whom complim ent
the run and pass very effectively
w ill cause fits fo r Lions opponents.
In 1990 the "run and shoot" w ill be
adopted by two more N.F L. teams.
Houston and Atlanta.
I f the "run and shoot" is
indeed the N .F .L.’s offense o f the
future. Than the speed quarterback is
the N.F.L.'s need o f the future.
Enter the black quarterback.
A
runningback who can throw.
Late Golfing Pioneer and Founder of Leisure Hour Golf Club
Vernon Gaskin Aided
Youthful Players
A . C alvin Peete would have never been
able to swing high and Zina Garrison wouldn't
be on the rise now in tennis. Other people,
alive and dead, have paid dues and in Port
land M r. Vernon Gaskin had such an ac
co un t
The Late V er
non Gaskin was a
pioneer in the
fie ld o f g o lf and
it was through his
efforts that young
blacks in Portland
are able to play the
game. Prior to his death
in 1986, M r. Gaskin stated that “ In 1939
there was no organized black g o lf club in
the c ity o f Portland. I thought it was neces
sary to have some type o f organization to
gain some type o f recognition. In the begin
ning it was called the Leisure Hour G o lf and
Bridge Club. In those days the men had
their club and the women had theirs. I
thought why not put them together. It lead
to more interest and having a pretty lady
present meant a lo t.’ ’
In 1939 de-facto Jim Crow was alive
and w ell in Portland. Gaskin remembered,
“ There were some courses who did not care
fo r our patronage. But we found all the
m unicipal courses open.
He called g o lf his cardinal sin. “ I say
it is one o f the greatest games that there is.
It brings you up to a mental peak and it
develops you physically and builds charac
ter. The funny thing about golfers is that
you can play w ith the President o f the
United States and call him by his first name.
You are just another g olfer.”
Gaskin stated he believed the reason
why g o lf doesn ’ t ha ve the appeal o f basket
ball or football it that it is not taught to
youngsters at the high school level. He
learned as a caddy and locker room boy for
a private g o lf club. “ In my day, the only
thing a black man could do was to caddy or
shine the rich man’ s shoes. But since we
Mr. Gaskin is shown tutoring Market Sales in 1984 on proper
golfing techniques
have progressed, we arc able to play
the game.
For the average man seeing the
growth o f his local club would have
been enough. But Mr. Vernon Gaskin
was not the average man and in 1953
Gaskin spearheaded Fhc Western Suites
G o lf Association.
“ In numbers there is strength.
When you have the clout o f 28 g o lf
clubs extending from Texas to Wash
ington it gives us power and recogni
tion. We started w ith 8 clubs and we
ju s t grew. We started w ith 400 mem
bers and now we have 2,000.”
The W SG A sponsors yearly tour
naments which start in March and end
in November. They also provide schol
arships to students along the coast. In
Oregon, Lisa Rankins won the schol
arship for 1983.
KN O W S
BY ULLYSSES TUCKER, JR.
I f there is any truth to the old
saying that adversity builds character,
then Paul Brown, President/PB Pro
ductions, Inc., has plenty o f it and a
great appreciation fo r life. Brown en
joys life because he almost lost his life.
As a form er boxer, Brown has
been knocked on his back a couple o f
times, but nothing could compare to
the month and a half he spent in the
hospital rehabilitating from a near fa
tal automobile accident. The accident
cut short a very promising boxer ca
reer. From 1969 to 1982, Brown was
one o f the best light-heavey weights on
the west coast. Brown won eight Golden
Glove titles in Oregon, six in Seattle/
Tacoma, and four in Idaho. He was
176-34 as an amateur fighter and fought
only three professional contests before
the accident. Richard “ R ichie”
Giachetti,manager fo r “ Iro n ” M ike
Tyson, was B ro w n ’s cornerman at the
time. He also managed Larry Holmes.
Currently employed as a Merchant
Seaman, Brown threw in the towel
after contemplating a comeback and
ventured into the arena o f promotions.
He entered the area because o f his con
tacts and love for the limelight. Browns
m ellow disposition won him many
friends in boxings’ elite circle. Don
King, A li, Michael Spinks, Butch Lewis,
Archie Moore, and a host o f others
hold Brown in high esteem. B ro w n ’ s
promotional resume is also impres
sive. He worked as the Events C oordi
nator for the Trevor B erbic-M ike T y
son fig ht on HBO and the Michael
Spinks-M ike Tyson contest. He has
also organized several concerts and
benefits fo r various non-profit organi
zations in Oregon/Idaho. This past June,
Brown organized a highly successful
benefit for the Police Activities League
featuring Michael Spinks, A li, Butch
Lewis, Archie Moore, and other pro
fessional athletes.” He can make things
happen on a telephone c a ll,” noted
promoter Butch Lewis. Brown is cur
rently organizing a benefit, featuring
the same group mentioned above, for
special O lym pics this w inter in Sun
Valley, Idaho. Joe Frazier, who could
not make the P.A.L. benefit, w ill jo in
them this time.
Married eleven years(Joyce),
Brown is the father o f four children
(Jamila, 12; Paul Jr., 10; L aT ashia,6;
and La Toya, 2) and he beams when he
speaks o f them. He is at peace w ith life
and him self. Brown is a happy man
who is motivated, focused, and on a
mission to be the best that he can be.
When questioned about how the car
accident changed his life. Brown, a
1978 graduate o f Madison High School,
reared back in his easy chair and re
flected back to that moment.
“ A fte r the accident, I fe lt that it
was the turning point o f my life be
cause I had to change directions, career-
wise. Being in braces and know ing the
physical/mental ability that boxing
takes, I accepted that there was no
chance to comeback. So, I started
looking fo r other ventures to get into.
It was tough. Boxers have great egos
and it is even tougher to give up the
spotlight. T hat’ s probably why I took
o ff so fast in promotions. I had to get
back into the publics’ eye (laughing).
P o rtlan d O bserver-W hat was
your biggest adjustment to life outside
o f the ring?
B ro w n -” D ealing w ith w hite
people in the business w orld. I ’ve had
white friends all o f my life, but it was
totally different in business The ones
that you thought were friends disap
pear when they sec you m oving into
something else. I ’ ve met some good
ones and bad ones. The same principle
applies to black people. W hile I was
s till w orking at a major company lo
cally, I went to this ccitain individual
w ith a promotional idea and requested
EVERYBODY WINS - Paul Brown flips to a page in his album, picturing
Muhammed Ali and himself, together as winners in the ring.
a meeting to share these concepts. Things
were fine when it came to an manager-
employee relationship, but it changed
dramatically when it focused on busi
ness. A ll o f a sudden,this person had no
time for me and we used to go to lunch
and dinner together. When you make
$25,000 a year, every thing is fine. When
you jum p up to le t’s say, $100,000 annu
a lly, people try to stop you or attempt to
stop you from getting to the top.
P ortland O bserver-H ow did Paul
Brown Productions, Inc. get its start?
B ro w n -” It started in 1981. I had a
six year contract w ith Richie Giachetti
and Larry Holmes. The agreement a l
lowed me to fig ht on the Holmes under-
card and have a percentage o f my purse
invested in properties, restaurants, and
night clubs, etc...that they established.
Richie said ‘ le t’ s make this thing w o rk ’
and even to this day, he is behind m e.”
P o rtla n d O bserver-H ow did you
get involved w ith the Police A ctivities
League?
B ro w n -” I d id n ’t know about the
P.A.L. here in Portland. 1 had dealt w ith
them in the past as an amateur in other
parts o f the country. Lee Jenkins, the
D irector o f U niversity Park (Columbia
V ilia ), came to me and asked fo r my help
on a project. He said that it w ould in
volve kids and basically told me that I
needed to do something for the youth. He
told me point blank that I needed to do
something fo r the kids in the city o f
Portland, I agreed to help,”
P ortland O bserver-How important
is the Police A ctivitie s League?
B ro w n -” I believe that the P.A.L.
program is very important, but they are
going to have to u tilize the right things
and do the right things in order to touch
our comm unity. Our kids are not always
involved in the suburban sports like ten
nis, soccer, g olf, sw im m ing, and others.
1 believe that i t ’ s going to be d iffic u lt to
reach our children who arc going through
the hard-knocks or are low income. We
arc so used to seeing our won black stars
like Magic and Jordan in basketball.
People like Spinks, A li, Joe Frazier, Ray
Leonard,etc...some kids believe that this
is their only way out o f poverty, sports.If
you go to school, do good, you can be
a boxer or a basketball player. We
have to teach this generation o f c h il
dren that they have other options aside
from the traditional outlets. Play v o l
leyball, golf, tennis, and soccer. There
are a hundred ways to get a college
scholarship and get a degree. Parents
need to reinforce to their kids that they
can do anything and go anywhere they
want. If, also you study, w ork hard,
listen to your teacher, and get good
grades-placing sports second, you can
go a long ways.”
Portland Observer-Did the P A i.
program reach the at risk youths you
just talked about?
B ro w n -” I don’ t think that they
reached them as much as they could
have. 1 think that by it being a firs t tim e
they really learned a lot. They have to
market it right next year because there
is a lot o f competition out there getting
the spotlight. Self-Enhancement, fo r
example, is getting great national rec
ognition. I ’ m going to stay busy in the
comm unity and work w ith people or
groups that want to help young people...I
think P.A.L. is doing a good jo b .”
Portland Observer-Where do you
see Paul Brown Productions, Inc. going
in the future?
B ro w n -” I ’ m a promoter. Be it
for P.A.L., Self-Enhancement, b ox
ing, concerts, a gospel festival, or
whatever. PB, Inc. is going to go on. I
w ill promote anything that is legal.
The company is going to receive more
national attention and be busier in the
future.Everything I ’ ve achieved has
come as a result o f being in the trenches
and working hard. N O thing is easy.
It ’ s not easy for me now. I f you are not
in the trenches w orking hard, you are
not going to be successful.”
Paul Brown is currently w orking
on a major project that m ig ht bring
professional boxing to Portland and
air on BET (Black Entertainment Tele
vision). Promoter Butch L ew is is as
sisting Brown w ith this effo rt. He is
also w orking on a deal that m ight
bring B ill Cosby here to the “ C ity o f
Roses.”
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