P age B2 J une 7, 1995 • T he P ortland O bserver DREXLER RIDES DREAM INTO FINALS by E ric N oon Clyde Drexler must he pinching him selfat times wondering ifthis run to the NBA finals is ju st a dream or true reality. The dream to play with his c o lle g e tea m m a te H akeem Olajuwon and get back to the finals is not only a reality it is one o f the more amazing accomplishments by a truly gifted Athlete this town w ill remem­ ber for years to come. Starting in the number six seek in the west The Rockets have taken it to The Utah Jazz. Phoenix Suns, and the now the in state rivals The San Antonio Spurs It seems The Rockets have had their backs to the wall and com e c u t fig h tin g e v e ry tim e . Olajuwon proved he is the best play­ er in the game in The Spurs series by dominating the league MVP David robinson on both ends o f the court. The heart o fa champion can never be underestimated it seems, as The ence side, they have shown great poise for ayoung team who has never won a play-off game before this year. This years finals looks to cap off what has been one o f the greatest play. Offs in NBA history. The par­ ody in the league brings out the little advantages it takes to get deep into the NBA Play-Offs. The Rockets, who have one o f the greatest centers in all-time histo­ ry, surround their game around the big fella. Houston shot more three pointers in the regular season than any body else and continue to survive with a constant flow o f attempts from the arch. The m atch-ups in th e se fi­ nals are as th ought p ro v o k in g as any in the past. O lajuw on a g ain st S h aq u ille O 'N e a l at c e n te r, fi­ nesse vs. heart given th is M ar­ quee m atch -u p a true b a ttle the NBA can hang th e ir m a rk etin g hat on. T he m agic have been d o ­ Rockets play with the heart and de­ sire to get them by teams with advan­ tages in talent in many areas. Home court, size, and pure tal­ ent The Rockets will be outmatched again, when the face I he Orlando Magic in the finals. Although The Magic come up short on the experi­ ing som e raining o f th e ir ow n as the three has been fallin g at a alarm ing rate if yo u 're Rocket head coach Rudy T om janovich. Dennis Scott, Nick Anderson, ‘ Penny" Hardaway and lately Brian Shaw have been dialing long range forthe magic. Not only are The Rock­ ets going to have to step it in the back-court on defense, the Drexler, Kenny Smith, Sam Cassell threesome is going to have to take the ball to the hoop against the big 300 pounder, O ’Neal and make him work harder on defense to free up Olajuwon on his patented baseling fadeaway. Al­ though the centers and the guards will have most o f the highlights and focus on offense, the play o f the forwards could be the key to this series. If Robert Horry can keep hit­ ting the three and bring horace Grant out o f the middle, The Rockets can nab more o f those defensive rebounds that Grant turns into second chance ^Jortlaitb ODbecrucr points so often. The Rockets have played well with Horry and the well traveled Chucky Brown filling in at the power forward position. On paper the magic seem to have the talent to get by anybody, and so far they have but poise and heart are two different things. The magic have great poise for ayoung talented team, the Rockets have the hearts o f cham­ pions that seem to give them the never say die attitude that drives their confidence it takes to win the games with their backs to the wall. This cou Id be one o f the more memorable NBA finals in years. If the Magic don’t get over­ whelmed by just being there they can win it in seven but w hh two dreamteamers, who came up just short o f a national championship, reunited, The Rockets will give Clyde Drexler his first NBA championship and ring he can set beside his finals MVP tro­ phy back home here in Portland. BASEBALL ALL STAR TEAM 199S Pitchers Tony Blackhurst, Jr., Marshall James Barr, Sr., Marshall Fred Johnson, Jr.. Jefferson Mike Gits, Jr., Wilson Outfield Antonio McKinney, Jr., Jefferson Chris Nickerson, Jr., Grant Jason Ferres, Sr., Roosevelt Catcher Travis Boslar, Jr., Grant First Base Joey Gerber, Jr., Grant Second Base Matt Kabza, Sr., Madison Short Stop Gabe Dyas, Sr., Franklin Third Base Mike Catt, Sr., Madison DID DENNIS RODMAN CAUSE THE SPURS TO LOSE by D anny B r i i With the unglorious demise o f San Antonio from the play-offs the question corps up. what part did Dennis Rodman play in the scenario, and why are major mass media per­ sonalities who commentate on the game address in the disparaging term o f punk. Punk is defined by W ebster II new Riverside Dictionary under two definitions 1) pertaining to wood usedforkindling.2)slang; lja y o u n g inexperience or insignificant person. 2) A young hoodlum or tough: Adj. l ) o f inferior quality 2) in poor health 3) o f relating to, or being purposeful­ ly bizarre style o f dress affected by punk rock groups. From what this writer has seen and read Rodman does not across as a punk in ¡he nominative. In interviews he appears forth­ right and candid. Albert he too ap­ pears to a lack o f emotional attach­ ment. He also gives the impression of a let the people so as they want atti­ tude. T he second is m ore a p p ro ­ p ria te und er the a d je c tiv e d e fin i­ tio n the th ird d e fin itio n gives a c lo se r d e sc rip tio n . For he indeed tak es on the affectatio n s o f a Punk R o c k e r w ith hair c o lo rin g e a r­ rin g s and ta tto o s. H ow ever the co m m en tato rs w ere talk in g about the a ffe c ta tio n s o f R odm an but th e man. If an ything R odm an is an e c c e n tric enigm a Ju liu s Irv­ ing has co m m ented that R odm an su ffe rs from atte n tio n d e fic it dis- o rd e r If th at is the case it lends insight into the psyche o f man w ho is p ro d ig io u s re b o u n d e r yet so d istra c tin g to his c o lleag u es in a team sport. It does not ju stify his p ro p e n sity to isolate h im se lf w hen benched but it do es shed light on w hy. In the final analysis it w as the co u rag e and execu tio n o f H ouston that was San A ntonio u n d o in g . In the gam e R odm an w as benched for discip lin ary re a ­ sons the S purs won. The only players to play with intensity game in and game out were Avery Johnson and Rodman David Robinson this years National Bas­ ketball A ssociation's most valuable player a defensive stalwart was just unable to contain Akeem Olajawon, who scored 40 or more points in 4 Join us in celebrating ÎÏÏIje lilo rtla n it (©bseruer’s Twenty-fifth Anniversary. games and 39 in the sixth and decid­ ing game. In the sixth game Robinson was limited to 19 points and accumu­ lated 5 fouls. T eam m ate Avery Johnson observed that San Antonio players get along with Rodman, they are aware o f his eccentricities and can live with them. So what is all the hullabaloo by the media. As far fetched as it may seem the liberal mass media assumed the position of some sort o f moral judge, pontificat­ ing about the sensibilities o f basket­ ball. Even though sports may take on the vestiges o f religion it cannot re­ deem or provide salvation. sports are just game and although human excel­ lence is admirable it should be kept in perspective. Rodman brings alot to the game that has an abundance o f bland per­ Utility Ross lines, Sr., Jefferson sonalities. He brings some pastiche to a game where most sound bites begin to sound repetitious. Like him or not he is a colorful personality that gave his all in every game. Those o f us in the media have a responsibility to remain objective. Call ing people punks when other have been known to spit on fans, and get into bar brawls, or accessions o f drug abuse seems to this writer inflamma­ tory rhetoric gaged to turn heads and raise ratings. In conclusion it is interesting the most visible critics of Rodman have never picked up a basketball . It is common knowledge that critics are often frustrated artists whodidn’thave talent for the avocation therefore they chose to become critics of the art. SHOOTOUT FO R CHR IST! Player of the Year A n to n io M cK inney, Jr., O u te rfie ld e r, Jefferso n High School Avg. HR Runs SB 439 20 3 Fid 23-25 .990 Coach of the Year Mark P. Burke R ental P roperty O wners /M anagers THINK OF IT AS A FREE ENEMY TUNEUP T H R E E -P O IN T S H O O T -O U T C O N TE S T 128 NE Russell, Saturday, June 10, 1995 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The/rejust FREE Fried Chicken & Grilled Hamburgers Speaker: Eric Knox Bible Temple Trophies and Prizes W IN a Walkman, basketball, or music cassette! O.S.U. Football Movie Come for a fun time S ages 9 - 20 plus for info, call Danny at 249-3750 all participants m ust stay for com plete program for food Sponsored by Grace Collins Memorial Community Center i'ichr. 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