February 5 , 1992...The Portland Observer...Page 7
T he T exas II
R estaurant and L ounge
Terry Porter Assists On And Off The Court
BY BILL BARBER
Recently, I was talking to a good
friend of mine, who is not much of a
sports fan, about some of the finer
points of basketball. We were doing
okay until 1 said “ Terry Porter is fa­
mous on the basketball court in the
category of assists.” “ What is an
assist?” was the discussion-halting
question. “ Assists means instead of
taking a shot at the basket yourself, you
pass the ball off to a teammate that has
an even better chance to make a bas­
ket.” “ That’s sweet..He must be a
very considerate and geneious person,”
my good friend observed. Sweet?!?
Basketball fans have to admit, Porter’s
three-point shot is as “ sweet” as any­
one in the NBA. Opponents don’t think
he is sweet when he steals the ball from
them. “ Sweet” was obviously meant
in a different context. A reference to
Terry Porter’s inner man. Not the
outer man that basketball fans seem
very familiar with. During the subse­
quent interview I went in search of the
“ inner man’ ’ not everyone sees in Terry
Porter.
“ I’ve been involved with Project
Graduation for five or six years,” Por­
ter stated. “ It is important that we let
kids know that when high school stu­
dents do celebrate graduation that they
do it without the use of alcohol, be­
cause there have been so many tragic
things that have happened. So many
have celebrated with alcohol and it
caused them to lose their lives.”
Porter also has been a key fund­
raiser for a group of local business
people called * ‘The Sixth Man Founda­
tion.” “ Kermit Washington came up
with the idea,” said Porter. "Sixth
Man gives aid to a variety of people
who need it, no matter what the reason.
We have helped people who may have
lost a job and need money for surgery
Photo by Veronica Green
by putting on a summer celebrity soft-
ball game and things of that nature. We
try to get the public out to the game.”
“ I’m very excited about the Boys
and Girls Club here in Portland. Grow­
ing up I was really involved with the
Boys and Girls Club, so that really hits
home,” Porter stated with genuine pride.
“ I’ve been involved with that club for
the last four or five years and I get a lot
of energy and a lot of excitement out of
being able to go over there and being
able to visit with the kids.” Then there
is the “ Exchange Club.” That is some­
thing Terry and Jerome Kersey cooked
up with the Phoenix Suns. “ When we
play the Suns in Phoenix we take three
students from the Portland metropoli­
tan area Boys and Girls Clubs. The
three kids are selected from those who
have maintained a grade point average
of at least 2.5, have a good attendance
record, and have a recommendation for
their teacher and the principal of their
school. They are also in good standing
with the Boys and Girls Club. When
the Phoenix Suns come to Portland,
they bring three of their Boys and Girls
Club kids with them. If the game is
during the week, the kids get to go to
school in the other town, and the local
Boys Club, in addition to going to the
game. Plus they get to come into the
locker room and meet the players. These
are kids who don’t have the opportu­
nity to see the world and different cul­
tures. It really opens their eyes to what
else is out there.”
Few people know that Terry Porter
also set up a scholarship program at his
Alma Mater - University of Wisconsin
(Stevens Point). There wasn’t any big
fanfare. “ It is just something I feel very
strong abouL I had the opportunity to
1708 NE Alberta - 287-5145
go to a very good school, and they
treated me very well. It is something I
wanted to give back by helping the
minorities who may get the opportuni­
ties to get a scholarship. 1 wanted give
something back to all those who helped
me.’ ’ he finished.
You might ask Terry Porter why
he goes to all the trouble to be that
active in the community? After all,
with the kind of money he makes he
could just kick back and let life roll by.
With his wife Susie, due to have a baby
this summer, and commitments off the
court, why bother? “ It is the satisfac­
tion of giving something back” he
confided. As I was growing up I had
some of the same obstacles that these
kids have to try to get over. I want to
help them get over them and let them
know that there are a lot of things to
achieve in life. Talking to Terry Porter
gives you the feeling that this man has
some real direction to his life. Sure we
all know what he does for a living, but
he goes way beyond that. He really
seeks out a purpose for living with
Olympic zeal. When asked how he
would like to be remembered by the
people in Portland (not just the fans) he
responded, “ I hope they will say he is
very sincere about trying to help kids
realize how much life they have to live,
how important it is to set goals and try
to achieve those goals. Encouraging
them to be a good person and always try
to help someone who is in need.”
Terry lost both of his parents in
recent years. His dad Herman would
really be proud of the kind of man he
turned out to be. His mom Louise
would probably be sitting with some­
one like my good friend, who is not a
sports fan, just talking about how
“ sweet” he is. The world is full of
givers and lakers. Terry Porter is a
giver.
A Rhythm and Blues Showcase!!
EVERY SUNDAY
in a relaxed environment!!
The Downhome Blues Jam Sessions
8:00 pm to 12:00 am
no cover charge
All Musicians are Invited
Host Bands For February
Feb. 9 - Mel Solomon & The Nightlighters
Feb. 16 - Norman Sylvester Band
Feb. 23 - Sakiusa & The Bluenotes
Mar. 1 - Myrtle Brown’s Destiny
Mar. 8 - Norman Sylvester Band
Please bring your friends, and join the party!
________ A Boogie Cat Production_______ _____
The Texas II Lounge (Downstairs)
Live Music by Andrew Clay - “Sensational Original Funk
Mon thru Thur, (8:00 pm)
Conference Room Available!
for Public, Business or Social Club Meetings
Free -- Phone for Reservation
1714 NE Alberta St. 281-2136
D e li c io u s D o w n h o m e C o o k in tf________
Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner
and
Food to Go
Friendly Service
Open 7 days a week
Two Convenient Locations
Texas I - 3530 N. Vancouver Ave.
Birth Announcements
Larry Darnell Patterson Jr., was
bom January 23,1992 to Larry Darnell
Patterson and Jeanette Margret Allen
Paiterson of 526 N. Baldwin, Portland,
Oregon 97217. Darnell Jr. weighted
71b 2 1/2 oz.; his height was 20 1/2
inches. His sisters are Larika, LaMeka,
LaQueena and LaKendra Patterson. h is
grandparents are Helen and Floyd Pat­
terson and Perry and Lucious Allen, all
of Portland Oregon.
Open 7:00 am - 2:30 am
Texas II -1714 NE Alberta St.
Open 24 hrs.
Hrrlc Lcagtre JoÉjmips
BOYS AND G IR L S T EE-B A LL -----
KEEP WOODSTOVE
FIRES SMALL
AND HOT
Cub Scouts
Pack 75
Big Thunder District
Columbia Pacific Council
Blue & Gold Banquet
Help clean up our air
AMERICAN îfc LUNG ASSOCIATION*
1
February 12, 1992
6:30 PM To 8:30 PM
Vinyl Siding
Installed on Your Home
by Experts
Bethel Church
5828 NE 8th
(Off Jarrett)
Portland, Oregon
Call ABS Inc.
Guest Speaker/Judge Aaron Brown, Jr.
283-0348
If you have any questions,
contact Angela Greer,
Banquet Coordinator - 284-3996.
o f Ongon
BB#9291
Financing Available
8 y e a rs
G IRLS SOFTBALL -----
6 to
15 y e a r s
BOYS BASEBALL -----
6 to
15 y e a r s
S
Ella Jenkins, children's folk singer, is a guest on an all-new week about Imaginary Friends. On Mister Rogers'
Neighborhood, premiering in most areas February 24-28 on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). Through her
songs, Ella Jenkins invites children to imagine and pretend. “ The ability to imagine is one of the most useful
tools children need for their learning,"says Fred Rogers and focuses this week on imagination and children’s use
of imaginary friends. This segment is part of program #1650 scheduled for February 28. Contact David Newell
at 412/687-2990. Photo: Terry Clark
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