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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 26, 2000)
January 26, 2000 Page B3 ÿ p d la n ù © bsm ier h hh hh bh hh hh b Thomas undergoes six-hour spinal surgery Associated Press Derrick Thomas underwent six hours o f surgery to rebuild part o f his spine, and his surgeon said it appears the NFL star will be paralyzed from the chest down. “It’s a very serious injury, a bad one,” neurosurgeon Barth G reen said Tuesday from Jackson Memorial Medical Center. “He may have some feeling in his feet, and he has some weakness in his hands.” The Kansas City Chiefs linebacker was in serious condition after the operation that ended early Tuesday, h o sp ita l sp o k esw o m an R egina Ponder said. Thomas was thrown from his car Sunday after losing control on an icy highway near Kansas City, Mo. A passenger was killed in the accident. Thomas broke his spine and neck and wound up semiconscious with no feeling in his legs. The 33-year-old player, one o f the most popular athletes in Kansas City, w as flown from L iberty (M o.) Memorial Hospital to Miami, his hometown and his mother’s home. The surgical plan was to decompress the spinal cord, stabilize the spinal column with screws, rods and hooks and im plant bone g ra fts from Thomas’ hip. The hospital is the home ofthe Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, the w orld’s largest spinal cord injury research c e n te r, and its su rg e o n s have operated on race car driver Emerson Fittipaldi and other athletes. “These type ofinjuries have a mind o f their own and a treatment pattern o f their own,” Dr. Jon Browne, the Chiefs' physician, said before the operation. “They’re all uniquely and individually different. ’ ’ Mike Tellis, one o f Thom as’ two passengers in the car, was killed and 10 other people lost their lives in the Brooks from page 1 treacherous snow storm that iced Missouri roads Sunday. Thomas was driving with two friends to Kansas City International Airport for a trip to the NFC championship game in St. Louis when his car ft ipped several times. Thomas and Tellis, 49, o f Kansas City, Kan., were not wearing seat belts and were thrown from the car, police said. Tellis was killed instantly. A third man in the car who was wearing his seat belt was treated and released. Team m ates and friends gathered Monday at the Missouri hospital to visit Thomas, a nine-time Pro Bowl player and one o f the game’s most feared pass rushers. Thomas holds the one-game record o f seven sacks and ranks ninth on the career list. His seven sacks against Seattle in 1990 came near Veterans Day. He dedicated his effort to his father, an Air Force pilot killed in Vietnam in Operation Linebacker II. Brooks says he is considering UNLV, Oklahoma, UCLA and Georgia. He says he has put the mistakes behind him. “A lot of people mistake the way I play as attitude, but it’s just the way 1 am," he says. “ I play with a lot o f tenacity.” Brooks has always been driven. He played a g a in st o ld e r guys in Northeast Portland at the Salvation Army gym or Irving Park. His talent has always drawn attention, like when he dunked for the first time at an e ig h th -g ra d e to u rn a m e n t in Beaverton. This season, he shares the spotlight. Jefferson, which plays as if it is the Democrats against the world, has six college prospects. Brooks still talks about M iles’ spectacular tip-dunk during an early win over Seattle’s Rainier Beach High School. “Everybody on our team could start for any other team in the league,” he says. Brooks says he will select a college after the season. Right now, he’s focused on a state championship and living up to the confidence placed in him by those close to him. “I am just trying to please the coaches and the people around me who have supported me.” And so he listens to the Bay Area rapper E40 before games and takes his fire to the floor. He can’t imagine doing anything else. “That’s what I do. I am basketball player,” he says. And Brandon Brooks in control ofhis 1 i fe is a basketball player who can fill any arena. Jordan trash talks his way through practice A ssociated P ress Michael Jordan put on a No. 23 W ashington Wizards jersey and gave his new team a lesson in intensity. Practicing with the Wizards for the first time, Jordan dribbled, dunked, scrimmaged and coached during Monday’s two-hour workout. Most o f all, he motivated - trash-talking a punchless team that’s been going nowhere all season. “I told them they shouldn’t have to wait for me to come out to show the energy that they had today,” Jordan said. “I just tried to keep them focused, challenge them, say whatever I have to say. If they can play hard against me, they can play hard against anybody.” Jordan, who last week became a Wizards part-owner and president o f basketball operations, was the first to arrive. He ragged on Rod Strickland for being less than punctual and let everyone know he was in charge, even ordering the media to leave when they entered the gym. "H e’s a competitive guy,” forward Juwan Howard said. “O f course, we all know he’s one o f the biggest trash talkers, so that makes it more intense. I enjoy that the most. I feed off that type o f energy, when you’re talking trash. He’s going to push you. When you’re 13-29, that’s what this team needs.” Trail Blazers stomp on the Nets 101,87 Associated Press The Portland Trail Blazers were struggling with the New Jersey Nets, one o f the N BA ’s worst road teams, until they got some inspiration. The Blazers appeared to gain some energy after the public address announcement that the Utah Jazz had beaten the Los Angeles Lakers in double overtime. “We saw that Utah beat LA, and we had a little momentum that let us push it down their throat and run them out ofth e gym,” Portland’s Bonzi Wells said afferthe Blazers’ 101-87 victory M onday night. Since falling to Houston and Dallas during its recent five-game road trip, the Blazers are on aroll. They finished the tripby winning in San Antonio and against the Lakers, and are just 1 1/2 games behind Los Angeles in the Pacific Division. “ I th in k w hat w e ’re d o in g is progressing,” said Greg Anthony, who hit three 3-pointers during a 17- 2 run that decided the game. “W e’re not playing as well as w e’re capable o f - nowhere near it - but w e’re starting to play, headed in the right d-rection.” The Blazers are 2-1 this season against the Lakers, who might be the only team that can keep Portland from the NBA Finals. The rivalry has become so in te n se , th e B lazers get fired up e v en w hen the teams are hundreds o f miles away. The Lakers- Jazz score was announced shortly before New Jersey took its last lead, at 74-73, on consecutive 3-pointers by Lucious Harris. But then Scottie Pippen gave the Blazers the lead for good with a 19-foot jumper with 10:19 to play. ( Serving the Youth SPORTS STANDINGS WINTER 1999-2000 BOYS BASKETBALL Benson Jefferson Cleveland Grant Lincoln Madison Roosevelt Wilson Franklin Marshall BOYS SWIMMING Lincoln Grant Wilson Cleveland Benson Franklin Jefferson Madison Roosevelt WRESTLING Madison Cleveland Grant Benson Roosevelt Jefferson Wilson Lincoln Franklin Marshall w 7 7 6 4 3 3 2 2 1 0 w 5 4 5 2 1 2 1 1 0 w 3 3 2 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 k 0 0 1 3 4 4 5 5 6 7 k 0 0 1 2 2 3 3 3 7 k 0 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 4 4 IO B B,LJ M.J.C.B J,G,W,C C.M.B.J.G C,B,F,L,J IS W,L L,W L,B,G W.L.F G.W.C IO M M C,G C,B B.W M,L R,B G,J,R,W J,R,F,C GIRLS BASKETBALL Wilson Grant Lincoln Benson Jefferson Franklin Marshall Madison Roosevelt Cleveland GIRLS SWIMMING Lincoln Grant Wilson Franklin Cleveland Jefferson Benson Madison Roosevelt NBA Eastern Conference W 25 25 24 19 18 17 13 GB - .5 2 6.5 8.5 9 13.5 MIDWEST Utah San Antonio Minnesota Denver Houston Dallas Vancouver W L Pet GB 27 12 .692 - 26 15 .634 1.5 22 16 .579 4 18 21 .462 9 16 24 .400 11 14 26 .350 13 10 30 .250 17.5 CENTRAL Indiana Charlotte Milwaukee Detroit Toronto Cleveland Atlanta Chicago W L Pet GB 26 15 .634 - 22 17 .564 3.5 22 19 .537 4.5 21 19 .525 5 21 19 .525 5 16 25 .390 10.5 14 25 .359 11.5 8 30 .211 16.5 PACIFIC LA Lakers Portland Sacramento Seattle Phoenix LA Clippers Golden State W L Pet GB 33 9 .786 - 31 10 .756 1.5 25 13 .658 6 27 16 .628 6.5 23 15 .605 8 10 30 .250 22 8 31 .205 23.5 4 5 3 2 1 0 0 1 k 0 0 $ 2 2 3 3 4 6 LeagueV REGISTRATION Programs SIGN-UPS Peninsula Park Community Center — ( 700 N Portland Blvd. ) Saturday - February 5, 2000 10 am - 2 pm Saturday - February 12, 2000 10 am - 2 pm (Late sien-ups) Saturday - March 4, 2000 10 am - 2 pm Saturday - February 5, 2000 10 am - 2 pm Saturday - February 12, 2000 10 am - 2 pm (Late sien-ups) Saturday - March 4, 2000 10 am - 2 pm Things to bring when you sign-up /B irth certificate /P r o o f o f address ie. Oregon Driver Licenses w 5 Pet .641 .625 .585 .475 .429 .415 .310 Boys & Girls - 5 to 18 years of age ( 3920 N Kerby St. ) L 0 1 2 3 3 5 5 6 7 8 L 14 15 17 21 24 24 29 o f Inner N orth and Northeast Portland ) Self Enhancement Incorporated (SEI) — W 8 7 6 5 5 3 2 2 1 0 Western Conference ATLANTIC Miami New York Philadelphia Boston Orlando New Jersey W ashington Peninsula L ittle M issing Trevell Overton Last Seen on 01 /14/2000 Trevell is 5 Feet Tall and Weights 95 lbs With Black Hair and Brown Eyes When he left home he was wearing Green Jogging Pants, Black Starter Jacket and Red and Black Tennis Shoes. Up Date: Someone seen Trevell by Jefferson High School on 01 /21 /2000 and said he was wearing a Black Hat, Black Pants and the same Red and Black Tennis Shoes. If you have seen Trevell or have any information please call 527-8868 or281 -5627. His Family Thanks You Marshall Haskins is Brooks coach at Jefferson High School Tee-Ball ($30) 5 & 6 years old Challenger Program ($30) (All ages with special needs) Softball Programs Minor - ages 7 - 9 years old ($30) Major - ages 10-12 years old ($40) Senior - ages 13-18 years old($40) Baseball Program Farm - ages 7 & 8 years old ($30) Minor - ages 7 - 9 years old ($30) Major - ages 10-12 years old ($40) Jr / Sr / Big - ages 13-18 years old ($40) Utility Bill /N a m e & Number o f Doctor /N a m e & Number o f Insurance carrier Family Rates $30 for I player $50 for 2 playeo $70 for 3 players $40 for I player $70 for 2 players $90 for 3 players Minor/Major Players---- $30 + $35 Minor/Minor/Major Players — $50 + $35 Minor/Major/Major Plavers $25 ♦ $70 $25 for every player after 3 players $10 late fee fo r sign-aps after February 9 * KXNDAIUES ** %»gnea« l i m a^/<ee» n i f t (503)590-0029 I »
