Page 4 • I he Portland Observer--November 7, 1990
■ Portland Observer
THE LOCKER ROOM
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Trail Blazers Set For Pistons Rematch
BYULLYSSES TUCKER, JR ,
omorrow night's match-up at Me
morial Coliseum against the defend
ing W orld champions should provide an
interesting psychological battle between
tw o o f the NBA's elite teams. Detroit is
seeking its third straight title and the
Blazers, projected to win the title by
Sports Illustrated (the kiss o f death?)
w ant to "k ic k some butt” and send a
message. Outside of rookie Lance Blanks,
a 6-4 shooting guard out of Texas, noth
ing has changed in the Motor City. You
know the story, Isiah Thomas, Bill
Laim beer,Jam es Edwards, Joe Dumars,
John Salley, Mark Aguirre, Dennis
Rodm an, and the gang. Portland should
be more competitive with Danny Ainge
and rookie Alaa Adelnaby (Duke). The
T
bench, which proved fatal to the Blazers
in the Finals last year, is their biggest
strength this season. Cliff Robinson, Mark
Bryant, and Wayne Cooper have been
playing solid basketball. Look for Chuck
Daly to win the “ best dressed” coaches
battle on the court. Rick Adelman is no
slave to fashion. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m.
fter sixteen years in the National Bas
ketball Association, Moses Malone is
still one o f the most dominating centers
in the game. He is the only ABA alum
nus playing in the NBA today. At 35,
Malone averaged 18.9 points per game
and ten rebounds for the Atlanta Hawks
last season. Before the 1990-91 season
is over, Malone should increase his ca
reer totals in points, rebounds, free-throws,
and consecutive games played without
foulingout. W ith27,039points,M alone
needs only 275 points to pass Elvin
Hayes, 444 points to pass Dan Issel, and
961 points to become the fourth player
to score 28,000 points. Abdul-Jabbar,
Julius Erving, and W ilt Chamberlain are
the others. He needs only 132 points to
join Jabbar, Cham berlain, Hayes, Jerry
West, and John Havlicek as the only
players to score 25,000 points in the
NBA. When it com es to rebounds, all
Malone needs is 517 to becom e the fifth
player in NBA history to reach 15,000,
joining the elite group of Bill Russell,
Chamberlain, Jabbar, and Hayes. If
Malone plays 81 gam es without fouling
out, he will break Chamberlain's record
o f 1,045 consecutive games without being
disqualified. Chamberlain went his en
tire career without fouling out, while
Malone has fouled out five times (first
two NBA seasons) before starting his
current streak. This week, Malone broke
the NBA's all-tim e free-throws made
record of 7,694, held by Oscar Robertson.
Malone holds the NB A/ABA combined
record (8,177) also. Rum or has it that
Malone will not finish the season in
Atlanta. Persistent rumors suggest that
he will end up in M innesota with the
hy are some professional athletes
Many athletes are use to having their
so irresponsible sexually? Last
way, people pampering or patronizing
week, former San Antonio Spurs for
them, or getting special privileges. It is
ward David W ingate was formally
time for athletes, Mike Tyson included,
charged by a grand jury on charges of
to realize that they are fortunate and
sexual assault. He is charged with a June
blessed. Athletes should make use of
24th attack of a woman at his San Anto
their opportunities as professionals and
nio apartment. W ingate faces up to 20
be a credit to the community. Y oung
sters look up to athletes and model their
behavior after them. Some women should
also wise up too. There are twenty-
seven teams in the NBA. An athlete in
this league could have one in every city
if he wanted. D on’t be special or abused
for a night...
everal coaches around the league,
who would love to bid on Jerome
Kersey as a free-agent, suggested that
he play out his final tw o years with the
Trail Blazers. In the meantime, he should
take out an insurance policy with Lords
W
>•
■V
After five years of running around
Civic Stadium hitting people for the
Portland State Vikings N ick Carter is
about to hang up his helmet.
A three year starter at right com er
Carter came to PSLi in 1986. That first
year Carter red-shirted. In 1987 Carter
found him self on special teams before
becoming a full-time starter in 1988.
Since that time Carter hasn't missed a
single game. According to Carter he
w on't miss the gam e itself too much
after his final performance this Saturday
against Southern Utah.
"It’s been a fun five years but it's
tim e to move on," said Carter. "I know
it's a worn out phrase but the truth is
football isn't everything.”
U nlike other players on the Vi
kings who have dreams of furthering
their football career Carter is content
with the way his career has gone. Some
PSU players may be drafted like running
back Curtis Delgardo. O thers may get
free agent try outs like C arter’s fellow
com er Domonique Hardem an. But
despite a good career Carter's playing
days are over. For some players that
realization turns out to be devastating.
For Carter, with his intelligence and
soon to be Economics degree, it's simply
tim e to move on in life.
"Once I'm done I'm done," said
Carter. "It's time for me to enjoy some
other aspects o f life."
A graduate from Franklin High
school in Seattle W ashington, Carter
has alw ays played football wearing
G reen. From his little league team, to
high school, to the Vikings Green has
alw ays followed Carter's career. "If I
did play pro ball I'd probably have played
for the Packers or Eagles," jokes Carter.
At Franklin Carter played Q uar
terback and led the Quakers to a 6-3
season. Being the teams quarterback
C arter didn't get much playing time on
defense. Consequently he was passed
up by a lot o f bigger schools and finally
received a scholarship from PSU.
"I had some opportunities to walk
on at other schools like W ashington,"
said Carter. "But money talks."
At PSU C arter said he learned
quickly the difference between high
school and college athletics.
"In high school the best athletes
play the most," explained Carter. "But
in college you learn that it takes hard
work, dedication, discipline and con
centration to play. Talent is a big part
but if you don't have the other things
then someone else could beat you out
because it’s so competitive."
In Carters second season in 1987
he played behind senior com er Scott
Laboy. Although Carter was faster,
bigger and quicker he could never quite
crack the starting lineup because of those
other intangibles.
Nick C arter
"It was a little frustrating because
I knew I could be better than Scott but I
did understand that I had a lot to learn,"
said Carter. "The college game is very
sophisticated. There's a lot of things
going on and it takes time to grasp
everything."
Once Carter did grasp everything
he had no problem. Carter's personal
most memorable game came last season
against Division IAA Idaho. The Vi
kings beat Idaho for the first time ever
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7
William albert ’Bill’ Demby
Outstanding disabled Veteran
of the year 1990
Disabled American Veterans
O ne o f the N orthw est Largest W ig D isplays
W igs and Hairpieces For all N ationalities
E va G abor
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R enee of P aris
years in prison if he is convicted. W in
gate faces a January trial in M aryland on
charges of an alleged sexual assault of a
seventeen year old woman who lied
about her age. Regardless o f whether he
committed the acts or not, David
Wingategtn intelligent Georgetown
University graduate, should not have
put himself in such a position. In the
process, the Spurs took a m illion dollar
contract offer off the table and termi
nated their relationship with him. He
was a free-agent. Covering the NBA,
this columnist sees more than he writes
about, especially the “ groupie” type
females who get recycled by players
opposing the Blazers each home game.
W omen cam p out at the Marriott, Red
lion, and the Benson waiting to be cho
sen or blessed with tickets to the game.
The faces are always the same and in
many cases, players refer other players
to women or pass on telephone num
bers. If hotel walls could talk. Being a
professional athlete is no excuse for
abusing or using other human beings.
and Carter posted 13 tackles against the
Vandals.
"T hat w as one o f o ur finest
games," said Carter. "We beat them for
the first time in 10 years and I played
well."
On the flip side Carter can also
recall a game he would rather forget.
This years mid-season 19-18 loss to
Cal. St. Northridge. The game that has
ultimately led the Vikings to their 1990
collapse.
"We w e're w inning and they
mounted one last final drive," recalled
Carter. "They were down close to our
endzone when we called a blitz which
left our com ers in a man to man situa
tion."
Despite Carter’s good coverage
the Northridge’s quarterback's pass was
a little better. A fade to the com er of the
endzone and a one foot tippy-toecatch
gave the Vikings a heartbreaking loss
and left Carter with a bad taste in his
mouth. It was the only major touchdown
Carter had ever given up.
"It was frustrating because I had
him as good as you an have someone in
that situation," said Carter. "We didn’t
get pressure on the quarterback, the
pass was perfect, the receiver barely got
one foot down and we lost. That’s life."
For the Vikings life in 1990 has
been filled with more downs than the
team is used to. The Vikings were pre
season picks to return to the Division II
national playoffs for the fourth con
secutive time but find themselves 5-5
trying to salvage a winning season this
week against Southern Utah. Although
Carter docs feel disappointment he's
happy with hiscarccrand the success he
has experienced in previous seasons.
Healso ishiippy with what he has learned
experiencing the college life.
"Playing sports and going to
school has given me a large perspective
on the college experience," says Carter.
"Being here will help me later in life
cause I’ve experienced and learned what
it lakes to be num ber one."
pamAfc&KVER
2138 S L D iv is io n Street
l ’ ü rtla n d , O regon ‘,72112
(51)3) 232-7546
Wigland
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PSU's Carter lives for life after football
bv Aaron Fentress
O ri.xixt,
Sri-ciM .
Synthetic & Human Hair
For Braiding & Weeving
Mon - Fr. 10 a.m. - 6 p.in.
Saturday 10 - 5:30 pm
Near Lloyd Center
282-1664
o f London (against injury) for the pro
jected value o f the contract he might
sign. If he is expected to sign a deal
worth S2.5 million annually, then take
out a policy and pay the premium for
that amount. If he docs not get hurt in
the next tow years, he is a free-agent and
if he does, the policy will pay him the
projected earnings. Even if he does come
to terms with the Blazers,he still has to
wait tw o years before the contract to
kick in just like Clyde has to wait for the
&8 m illion or buck the $4 million at the
end o f their current contracts. Imagine
the Blazers taking or moving S8 million
from their account and sticking it in
some high return account for the re
mainder of C lydes’ contract. Annual
interest on eight million dollars is (at
10%) S80(),000 x the four years rem ain
ing on Drexlers contract=S3.2 million.
The Blazers definitely have more than
S8 million dollars in their various ac
counts. Point being, Drexler can be paid
by the Blazers on the interest alone from
these accounts scattered around the world.
They lose nothing. He had no real lever
age because time (four years left on his
contract) is not on his side.
e will be four years older as op
posed to Kersey being two years
older at the end of his contract. Kersey
has developed into one o f the strongest
small forwards in the NBA. Not many
playing his position averages eight re
bounds and 17.0 points per game. Not
many o f them pack 239 lbs either.
Kersey will definitely command the
“ Hot Rod” W illiam s type o f dollars.
W hat Kersey must ask him self two
simple questions, “ do I want to spend
the rest of my career in Portland, or is
it about m oney” . Time will tell...
1105
N.E. Broadway
Protect yourself
against BIG
LOSSES and
COSTLY
PE PA I PS.
Call Levi Pussell
289-3648
M y name is Levi Russell. I am an ex
perienced housing rehabilitation spe
cialist and home remodeling inspector.
I advise homeowners in making im
provements to their homes, correcting
code violations, selection and quality of
materials, selection of contractors, and
estimating cost of improvements.
I also perform house inspections for
home buyers. For more Information,
call 289-3648.
H
Speedy
Service
Friendly
Call for
Quote!!!
COALITION AGAINST
U.S. MILITARY
INTERVENTION IN THE
MIDDLE EAST
Best Cash Prices
DAD'S OIL SERVICE
Heating Oils
104 NE Russel St.
Portland, OR 97212
(503) 282-5111
On Veterans Day, Sunday, Novem
ber 11, at 5 P.M. the Coalition Against
U.S. Military Intervention in the Middle
East will hold a candlelight vigil protest
ing U.S. involvement in the middle East.
The vigil will beheld at the Tom McCall
W aterfront Park at the m ast of the Bat
tleship Oregon.
Speakers will include David Linder,
a decorated W orld War II veteran whose
son, Benjamin Linder , was killed by
contras in Nicaragua. Also speaking will
be Joyce Clark, whose son is currently
stationed in Saudi Arabia.
For more information contact: Floyd
Fow ler @ 288-0466.
STAY CLEAN INC.
presents
An Evening rr
To Remember
//
Exodus Building 1625 N. E. Alberta
Novem ber 24,1990
8:30 p.m. until 1:00 a.m.
$3.00 at door - Stay Clean
M.C. HAMMER raffle!!
YOUTH
LEISURE
HOUR
GOLF
CLUB
Proceeds are donated to youth in action against drugs
Raffle Tickets are $2.00 each
For Ticket Information call: 282-1922 or 288-1562
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