May h . 2005__________________________________ ^ o r t l a n ù © b s e r u e r _________ ______________________________ Page 83
Portland. OL s e r v e r
S PORTS
2Avuto R e v i e w
2005 Nissan
Murano SE FWD
photo by N icole H oopf . r /T he P ortland O bserver )
The Nissan Murano is a good
example of a crossover vehicle. Il
was designed to haul cargo like a
sport utility, but drive like a car.
With stylish exterior shapes and a
comfortable cabin that accommo­
dates five, midsize Murano is a
fun-to-drive wagon. The base price
of this vehicle is $29,450.
The futuristic look is backed by
sporty performance. The Murano
is powered by Nissan’s beefy 3.5
liter V6, the same engine found in
the 350z sports car, putting out 245
horsepower. It comes with a con­
tinuously variable transmission, a
high-tech automatic that’s smooth
and responsive while offering su­
perior gas mileage within its class.
M urano’s road-tuned suspension
offers smooth and sporty handling.
The cabin layout offers a pair
o f bolstered buckets in the front
Tested Vehicle Information: Price: $33,010; Engine: 3.5 liter
DOHC V6; Transmission: Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable
Transmission) with manual shift mode
flanking a large console with cov­ power AM/FM/CD audio system,
ered recesses to stow gear large power windows with auto up/down
items like a purse. On the second feature in front, keyless remote
row a bench is designed to seat entry, reclining rear seats, and 18-
tw o com fortably but can hold inch alloy wheels.
The M urano SE com es w ith a
three. Seatback splits and reclines
or folds down toexpand the cargo firm er sport-tuned suspension, a
m anual shift m ode, styled alloy
area.
All Murano models come with w heels and d a rk -silv e r low er
features above the class standard. bum pers. H igh-intensity xenon
Standard equipment on all three headlights, w hich have a manual
versions includes dual-zone auto­ leveling feature, are standard on
matic temperature control, a high- the SE and optional on the SL.
'Slick Cedric' shows o ff one o f his wrestling championship belts.
Wrestler Goes to Work
One of few
blacks in sport
by N icole H ooper
T he P ortland O bserver
“Slick Cedric” is a local profes­
sional wrestler who takes to the mat
everywhere from flea markets in St.
Johns to cham pionship tourna­
ments in California. He recently won
his match at the Portland North­
west Pro W restling tournament,
even if it was by disqualification.
Cedric was having a fairly easy
tim eof it versus ‘The DeeVaa’ when
D e e V a a ’s p artn er, G entlem an
George Michael, interfered by try­
ing to distract the referee and his
opponent used an illegal move
called "The Royal Flush.”
Those interesting events are
what make many people stay at
home on Monday night to watch
W orld W restling Entertainment.
Uni i ke other professional wrestlers,
Cedric didn't wrestle in high school;
he didn't have fantasies as a child
of becoming a great wrestler but six
years ago he just happened to be at
the right place at the right time.
“1 got pulled into it,” he said.
“There was a tryout for a new fed­
eration in Seattle area and a friend
took me with him to an audition. I
just happened to be there and de­
cided to try out.”
Slick Cedric does not reveal his
actual name. Under advisement of
his mentor, he will not reveal his age
either. The reason is unknown.
Maybe it’s for fear o f agediscrim i-
nation or to hoard off the many
women fans he sees cheering him
on.
Cedric who is black and German
is from Santa Rosa, Calif. He relo­
cated Portland only two months
ago but had already made a name
for himself in the Pacific Northwest.
Being one o f the few African-
exercise and weight lifting4 times a
week, but his downfall is eating too
much food.
“I like to eat, but the most impor­
tant thing is that you stay in shape,”
Cedric said.
For aspiring wrestlers, Cedric
stresses the important to physi­
cally train and to watch videos of
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Charisma is necessary. I t’s
almost as important as your
moves and technique.
- ‘Slick’ Cedric
American wrestlers in Oregon has
its perks.
“I keep real busy because wres­
tling federations want diversity in
the ring,” said Cedric. After com ­
muting to Portland many times a
month, he felt it would just be better
to move to Portland. Seattle appar­
ently has a limited wrestling scene.
Portland has had active wrestling
entertainment for over 30 years.
Cedric simply wants to be the
best wrestler he can be; at 5 feet 7
inches tall and 200 pounds he is
smaller than the average wrestler.
“Most wrestlers are over six feet
tall and over 200 pounds,” he said.
Luckily for him, there is a wres­
tling federation for people of his
size. In 2004, Cedric won an Oregon
tag team competition. A tag-team
match consists of four wrestlers
comprised of two teams.
He tries to keep fit with cardio
*/Vot good on red tag
other wrestlers to learn the craft. In
addition to the physical prepara­
tion, Cedric feels it’s important to
have charisma.
“Charisma is necessary. It’s al­
most as important as your moves
and technique,” he said
To pay the bills, Cedric is a server
at an Aloha steakhouse but has an
associate degree in computer re­
pair.
After his wrestling days are over,
he wants to work in promotions or
advertising within the wrestling
federation.
Slick Cedric is just one of the 10
wrestlers that meet at the Sandy
Barr's Flea Mart, 7220N. Burlington
Ave. in St. Johns every Tuesday at
8 p.m. On June 5, he will return for
another PNPW tournament, which
will be held at the Milwaukee Elks
Lodge. For more information, visit
www.pnpw.net.
Mourning Donates Salary to Charity
Miami H eat’s backup center and form er A ll-Star
A lonzo M ourning is getting accolades for donating his
entire season’s salary to charities.
Donating his minimum salary o f $ 1 m illion, $300,000
will go to organizations that prom ote literacy and edu­
cation for underprivileged youth in M iam i, as well as
providing food to poor kidney dialysis patients.
O ther donations will go tow ard charities that pro­
vide food to poor kidney dialysis patients. M ourning
once received a kidney transplant, interrupting this
career in D ecem ber 2003.
M ourning said his hope is to help publicize the work
being done by these organizations.
"Everything's O h ” show s
Al Green's true return lo form
Offer good tbrti 5/24/0®
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Join Us!
for the
6th Annual Cory Washington
M emorial A ll -S tar B asketball G ame
presented by
Bashor's
TEAM ATHLETICS
Saturday, May 28th, 2005
Doors open at 2pm, Games begin at 3pm
Admission: $3 Adults ~ $1 for 16 and under
Self-Enhancement Inc (SEI)
3920 N. Kirby Avenue
Portland, OR 97T17
WallyTesfa
Las Vegas
Makes
All-Star Bid
items or other offej& s
LOCATION:
Alonzo
Mourning
Las Vegas could be the home
court for the 2007 NBA All-
Star Game if a bid put out by the
Las Vegas Convention and Visi­
tors Authority goes through.
Tim Frank, spokesman for
the NBA, said the league is
looking at other cities too, but
wouldn’t tell which ones they
were.
He said for the game to come
to Las Vegas, the casinos would
have to take the game off their
sports books.
M U M C MILLEHIUA*
R e sid e n tia l a n d
C o m m e rc ia l B ro k e r
503.267.7586 cell
503.249.1903 office
503.249.6527 fax
wtesfa l@comcast.net
Multi-Million $ Service
OFF.: ( 5 0 3 )2 8 6 -1 1 0 3
STATE FARM
FAX:
Main Attraction:
Cory Cougars vs Jammin’ 95.5 Nike Big Bailers
Followed by a playoff between four 7th grade teams:
Portland Disciples, Oregon Thunder, Urban Sports, Above the Rim
for the 7th grade championship (going to the overall winner).
(5 0 3 )2 8 6 -1 1 4 6
INSURANCE COMPANIES
Proceeds benefits the amateur athletics and education program.
HOME 0FF1CES:BL00MIN0T0N.
ILLINOIS
ERNEST J. HILL, JR
Agent
For more information call Mark Washington at 503-288-0033
65 27 NE MLK, Jr. Boulevard
www. ne ws @ port landobserver.com
Suite A
Portland, OR 97217
re