®Ije Çortlanii ©baeruer celebrates Black History Month
February 26, 2003
Page A7
Lincoln High School Dream Team
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photo by W ynde D yer /T he P ortland O bserver
Lincoln High School players get along well with Coach Troy Berry, but also afford him a great deal
o f respect.
continued
“Lincoln has an appetite for
winning,” Berry said. "These are
really exciting times right now
and I’m glad to be here.”
Others are likewise glad to have
him. On top of revitalizing the
program in just a few years. Berry
has Division 1 college coaches
visiting to recruit his kids and
players eager to perform well on
and off the court.
from Front
took over five years ago and now
ranks 15-1 in league, he might be
celebrating his 40“ birthday this
year as his team celebrates winning
the state championship.
After high school. Berry was
drafted into minor league base
ball by the Philadelphia Philly’s,
where he played out three sea
sons before returning to basket
ball at San Francisco City Col
lege.
His two years of junior college
, basketball landed him a position
on the Oregon State lineup, along
with G ary Payton o f Seattle
• Supersonic’s fame.
A fter college Berry settled
down to start a family. He and his
wife have two sons, Troy and
Branden, who both play basket
ball and a daughter, Ashley, who
is a student at University of Or - Lincoln Freshman Coach Brett
Carson on Varsity Coach Troy B e n ^
egon.
“My boys will both be pretty
good ball players,” Berry said.
“H e’s a winner and a motiva
“But not Ashley - the makeup's tor,” said Brett Carson, Lincoln’s
too perfect, the nails are too long freshman boy’s basketball coach.
and she does too much catalog “I call him a manipulator of young
shopping to have time for basket men’s minds - and I say that in a
ball.”
very positive way. He gets the
After a stint of coaching junior kids to feel good and in return
varsity basketball at Benson, they play good. His players have
Berry got the offer to coach for a tremendous amount of respect
Lincoln. The school ’ s basketbal 1 for him.”
program hadn ’ t won a city cham
Berry ’ s players agree. They de
pionship since 1964. Berry knew scribe him as a perfectionist, some
he would be at the helm of a sink- one who always pushes them to
• ing ship, but he also knew it was be the best they can be - in
his chance to be a head coach for school, in life and on the court.
a school with high academic stan
“He’s had a profound effect on
dards and a desire to improve it's my career in basketball and on my
sports program.
life,” said senior player Neal
I call him a
manipulator o f
young men ’s
minds - and I
say that in a very
positive way.
Zumwalt. “H e’s always very nice
and approachable but he de
mands perfection.”
The high standard Berry sets
ru b b ed sop h o m o re fo rw ard
Latravis Turner the wrong way
when he was a freshman. Turner,
one of just three African Ameri
can players on the Lincoln team
who commute to school from
Portland's eastside, said when
he joined the team he had troubles
but Berry helped to put them in
perspective.
“I had an attitude problem and
because of it, 1 was having prob
lems in practice and outside of
school,” Turner said. “He told me
to be more humble and I realized
that I don’t want to end up on the
streets or in ja il.”
Turner said Berry has been a
good role model for him in a
school where he rarely sees other
black faces.
“It’s a whole different envi
ronment up here,” he said. “I’m
not used to be around all these
proper talking kids and stuff. But
coach is always there when you
need him and he’S always good
to be around.”
As far as Berry is concerned,
Lincoln was the first school to
offer him a head coaching posi
tion and he will always be grate
ful for that regardless of the
school’s location or demograph
ics.
“Other people may look at it
like, ‘W hat’s he doing coaching
on the W estside?’” Berry said.
“But this school gave me a chance
so I can't worry about what other
people think.”
«
Coach Harris Leads By Example
z ;
------------------------------------ — — ---I---------■---
Lincoln High Coach Velaida Harris directs her players at a recent game. Harris calls the playoff
bound girls one o f her most talented teams.
P hoto by D avid P lechl /T hf . P ortland O bserver
continued
from Front
and life skills, you get to watch
them grow,” she said. “You’re do
ing something that these kids love."
But when it comes down to per
formance in life and basketball the
key is the same — respect. Harris
cultivates a meaningful rapport with
the girls off the court well.
“I know the girls. They’re com
fortable talking to me about a lot of
things," she said. “They know we
wouldn't lead them in the wrong
direction."
The girls are certain not to
stray from the straight and nar
row if they follow their coach’s
I
Salutes
Black
History
for 2003
Located at:
3210 NE MARTIN LUTHER KING Jr. Blvd
&
5939 NE MARTIN LUTHER KING Jr. Blvd
■ “We have a wonderful history behind us . . 1
Carter G. Woodson,
Founder o f Black History Month
The City of Portland,
Multnomah County
and the Port of Portland
proudly honor the
accomplishments of
Black Americans and their
contributions to our economic
and social equity.
We have a wonderful future before us!
'I
f
It's not just about basketball...
It's about being a respectful
young lady
- Lincoln High School Coach Valalda Hants
handful of basic precepts on life
and respect.
“The ‘Velaida Rules' are things
I don’t let them do around me," she
said.
That means no spitting, no
cussing and no disrespect to par
ents.
“It’s not just about basketball,”
said Harris. “It's about being a re
spectful young lady.”
Apparently it’s also about being
a dam good basketball player.
Harris' players are showing no
signs at slowing down. And with
just four seniors she expects to
come out strong again next year.
"This is a good group,” she said.
“Collectively it’s my most talented
II.
team.”
MULTNOMAH COUNTY
Herman Brame: (503) 988-5111 Ext. 24266
www.co.multnomah.or.us/contracts
CITY OF PORTLAND
Bureau o f Purchases Buyline: (503) 823-6855
www.ci.portland.or.us/purchase/purchase.htm
PORT OF PORTLAND
FaxBack Line: (503) 944-7592
Rhonnda Edmiston: (503) 944-7587
www.portofportland.com
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