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APRIL 8, 1998
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SPENCER VS. ALI : THE FIGHT
THAT NEVER HAPPENED
Bv J on R amos
It was 1967. The title o f World
I leavy weight ( hampion was up for
grabs and I had Spencer had it
within reach. I had was considered
the next Joe Louis o f Boxing, the
pride o f Portland. Our local favor­
ite challenged only the best in “a
sport for kings.”
By T had's analysis, “ I was hard
for anyone to beat. I was aggres­
sive. Sports experts say I have the
fastest hands in boxing.” Thad
Spencer was pitted against an op­
ponent who could “float like a but­
terfly and sting like a bee.”
“Muhammed Ali would have had
hell on his hands, ‘cause my hands
were quicker than ?\ Ii’s,” remarked
I had Iliad’s mountain climb to
the top required absolute excellence.
There were many tights in the ring
where he boxed purely on heart’s
desire and single-minded determina­
tion. This time would be no different.
I he contract was signed. Both men
agreed to compete in the Spring at
San Francisco, California. Whoever
wins would receive the coveted title
and $500,000. Beyond these tan­
gibles, only one man would be pro­
pelled to legendary status.
Thad trained hard in San Jacinto,
California. “It was a closed camp.
No women, no booze, no dope,” he
explained. He lived like an ascetic,
mastering his craft with disciplined
Muhammed AH
Thad Spencer
love and passion for boxing.
Nearing the day o f the event,
moral obligation.
After refusing military induction.
“Muhammed Ali would have had hell on his
hands, 'cause my hands were quicker than
Ali's, ”
Muhammed Ali had a score to settle
outside the ring. I le wanted recogni­
tion as a Muslim. In the name of
Allah, he set aside the charismatic
bravado to stand firm against the
Vietnam War and declare him self a
"conscientious objector.” It was his
Muhammed Ali was stripped o f his
boxing title and privilege to profes­
sionally compete. “They wanted to
put him injail, but the public wouldn't
stand for it,” remembers Thad.
Thad Spencer came close to a
fight that never happened. “All I
wanted to do was fight Muhammed
Ali, I knew I could beat him,” he
remarked. He didn’t blame Life’s
cruel manipulations. This lesson only
tempered him to continue as a cham ­
pion m deed and spirit.
T had ch anneled his passion for
b o x in g as a p ro m o te r o f 38 p ro ­
fe ssio n a l to u rn am en ts. He fu r­
th ered th e c a re e r o f men like
G e o rg e F orem an, Roy Jones and
o th e r g re a ts. His focus is on a
new p rogram call “ Last C hance
To G et A L ife .” T his is his hope
for tro u b le d youth to be able to
com e to g e th e r and learn how
bo x in g can be a vehicle for e n ­
h an cin g th e ir lives. It is also a
c h an ce to b rin g re sp e c ta b ility to
a s p o r t m a n y h a v e w ro n g ly
deem ed as d an g e ro u s and c o r­
rupt. ’
M any y ears ago, M uham m ed
Ali co n fro n te d T had in C a lifo r­
nia d u ring a boxing event to sa y ,”
All th ro u g h my care e r, you kept
c a llin g my m a n a g e rs. Y o u 'r e
lucky you n ev er met me. Boy!
Let me tell you som ething, if you
e v e r d re a m e d you fought m e,
y o u 'd b e tte r w ake up and a p o lo ­
g iz e .” As a co m edic com eback,
T had re sp o n d e d ,” Y o u ’re the one
w ho need s to ap o lo g iz e b ecau se
you lied to me. You told me
y o u ’re next. Y ou never show ed
u p ,b a b y ! ”
Jefferson High To Become
Three Schools
C ontinued F rom M etro
Each school is expected to con­
tain approximately 350 students, he
added. Current enrollment is approxi­
mately 900.
Interviews for the three principals
were scheduled to begin this week,
with participation by parents, teach­
ers and community representatives.
Local and statewide tests and as­
sessments show Jefferson is one o f
several schools that are not “on track”
to prepare students to meet standards
required by state mandated Certifi­
cates o f Initial Mastery, according to
the Jefferson Redesign Plan.
The study notes 85 percent o f
Jefferson’s students are at an eco­
nomic disadvantage, can ’t afford
lunch, and many skip school on a
regular basis. More than 1,300 stu­
dent disciplinary retenais were made
last year. N um erous fam ilies in
Jefferson’s neighborhood are send­
ing their children to other schools.
The plan was created by staff,
parents and administrators, Frederick
said, and has been discussed for sev­
eral years. The plan recognizes work
done by a "design advocates com­
mittee” and a “curriculum and in­
struction council.” The plan was ap­
proved last Wednesday.
The school’s site council, which
reportedly has struggled to maintain
memberships, was given the task of
analyzing much o f the data, accord­
ing to the document.
Several schoolwide faculty meet­
ings were held in the past year to
share and discuss the reorganization
issues, recommendations and con­
cerns.
Two meetings were held with tami-
lies and other community members
in the Jefferson area. And two meet­
ings were held to get student input.
The announcement o f the school
split called it the first level o f a five-
year restructuring effort. Revisions
are expected as the plan progresses.
“The funding has not yet been
w o rk ed out c o m p le te ly ,” said
Frederick.
Jefferson officials are also con­
sidering establishing a mandatory
dress code, where all students and
staff would wear uniforms.
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TURNDOWNS
Inventory of household allergy triggers can ease suffering
Al lergy sufferers can help control
allergy triggers by doing a “house­
hold inventory.”
“Your home should be a safe
place, but for sufferers o f allergies
and asthma, it can be a source for
triggers that set off a reaction,” said
Dr. Robert M oore, a pediatric
pulmonologist at Baylor College o f
Medicine and Texas Children’s Hos­
pital in Houston. “One o f the best
things you can do to control allergies
and asthma is to do a thorough inven­
tory o f household triggers."
Knowing what is most likely to
bring on an attack is crucial. This
may involve keeping an asthma “di­
ary” o f possible causes or skin test­
ing for allergies to narrow down the
suspects.
“ Finding triggers isn’t always
easy,” Moore said. “Once you have
agood idea, though, it’s important to
limit your exposure.”
air conditioner filters
’ C lothes not properly stored.
Keep clothes in closed closets and
woolens in plastic bags.
’ Bedding. Use washable synthetic
blankets and pillows and cover mat­
tress with aired-out plastic.
’ Household cleaners. Common
cleaners such as ammonia, baking
soda, and nonchlorine bleach are less
likely to trigger an attack than will
more chemically based products.
Common household allergy and
asthma triggers include:
’ Overstuffed furniture, shelves
and other dusty surfaces
’ Excessive humidity which spurs
dust mite growth
’ Rugs, another dust mite source.
Bare wood or tile floors are best.
’ Pet dander.
’ Tobacco smoke
’ Poor household ventilation
’ Infrequent changing o f heater and
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d ire c t L o tte r y p ro fits to o th e r im p o r ta n t areas th a t need c u lt iv a t io n .
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