Page B5
_________Œlu' JJo rtlan b © bseruer
December 12, 2007
S ports
Kent Gets the Most
Out of Ducks Team
U of O program floats on golden pond
Jefferson Girls Head Coach Michael Bontemps discusses the game plan with his team. Jeff slipped past
Clackamas 57 to 52 Saturday, to remain undefeated at 2-0.
photos by J ames P .H ili / T he P ortland O bserver
High School
Basketball Scores
Boys Friday Games
Girls - Friday Game
Jefferson 69, Canby 55
Benson 82, South Salem 64
Wilson 63, West Salem 26
Sunset 55, Grant 49
The Dalles 50, Marshall 42
Boys - Saturday Game
Jefferson 92, Lincoln 45
Top scorers: Lincoln - Harry Berendsen, 6; Rei Jensen, 6
Jefferson - Terrence Jones, 23; T. White, 19; Terrence Ross, 12
The Democrats are now 2-0 on the season, while Lincoln is
1-3. Jefferson Head Coach/Athletic Director Marshall Haskins
says, “We’re going to be exciting. W e’re going to have a
chance to win state, and we 'll get all oar kids to college. "
Girls - Saturday Game
Jefferson 57, Clackamas 52
Top scores: Jefferson - Nyesha Sims, 19; Janita Badon, 14;
Ariel Reynolds ,10
Jefferson Boys Coach Marshall Haskins shows his
Demos a play on his clipboard. Jefferson defeated
Lincoln 92 to 45 Saturday, improving to 2-0.
The Democrats are now 2-0 on the season. Jefferson Girls
Head Coach Michael Bontemps says, "It's going to be one
game at a time. My pre-season schedule against good teams
should prepare us fo r the season.
"When we lost to Florida last year in the
by J ames P. H ii . i .
Elite Eight, literally our assistant Kenny
S ports Coi l mnist
University of Oregon Head M en's Bas­ Payne's cell phone started ringing," Kent
ketball Coach Ernie Kent's plan of build­ said, “ Kids were saying I've changed my
ing a winning program is coming to frui­ mind I want to come to Oregon and play."
tion.
Kent’s love for Ducks bas­
ketball began back in 1974 as a
player. Over three seasons on
the court, his team went 74-77
and Kent learned how to win
Pac 10 games at Mac Court.
Fast forward 20 years and Kent
becam e the first A frican-
American head coach in the
history of the University of
Oregon Athletics when he was
named to the post April 10,
1997.
"First and foremost I'm a
Duck. This is my school, Or­
egon. I love the state, 1 love the
school, I love the community.”
Kent said.
Saturday, Kent’s Ducks de­
feated U tah 75 to 64 at the Rose
Garden in Portland during the
lOth-annual Pape Jam, improv­
ing the team 's current record
to 7-1.
At the post-gam e press
conference, Kent described
photo by J ames P. H ii . i / I ' he P ortland O bsery er
his players as quality stu­
Oregon
Head Coach Ernie Kent works the
dent-athletes. "The fact that
sidelines
Saturday in the Rose Garden as the
those kids are graduating not
16th-ranked
Ducks move up to 7-1 by beating
only on time, they’re gradu­
the
Utah
Utes,
75 to 64.
ating ahead o f schedule.
T h a t's the thing that’s prob­
Kent said Oregon basketball is a style
ably my proudest moment of being
of play.
here." Kent said.
"I think its Mac Court and that building.
Since 1997, Kent has landed several
It's our success of getting guys into the
blue-chip recruits from all across the
NBA. It's our graduation rates," he said.
nation to play in Eugene.
CANNONS
Vick Sentenced for Dog Fights, Deaths
NFL star gets
harsher sentence
(AP) — Michael
V ick w as s e n ­
tenced to prison
Monday for run­
ning a dogfighting
operation and will
stay there longer
than twoco-defen-
dants, up to 23
months, because he lied about his
involvement when he was sup­
posed to be coming clean to the
judge who would decide his fate.
The disgraced NFL star received
a harsher sentence than the others
in the federal conspiracy case be­
cause of "less than truthful" state­
ments about killing pit bulls.
Vick said he accepted responsi­
bility for his actions, but U.S. Dis­
trict Judge Henry E. Hudson said
he wasn’t so sure.
“I’m not convinced you’ve fully
accepted responsibility," Hudson
told Vick, who arrived in court wear­
ing the black-and-white striped
prison uniform he was issued when
hevoluntarily surrendered Nov. 19
to begin serving his sentence early.
Despite the early surrender, a
public apology and participation in
an animal sensitivity training course,
Vick was denied an "acceptance of
responsibility" credit that would
have reduced his sentence. Federal
prosecutors opposed awarding Vick
the credit.
Dogs that did not perform up to
expectations were killed by electro­
cution. hanging, drow ning and
other violent means by the dog­
fighting ring. Hudson said evi­
dence, including statements by the
co-defendants, showed Vick was
more directly involved than he ad­
mitted. Hudson also mentioned that
Vick had been deceptive on a poly­
graph test. Though that evidence
was not admissible in court, the
results were discussed.
“He did more than fund it," pros­
ecutor Michael Gill said, referring
to the “Bad Newz Kennels" dog­
fighting operation. “He was in this
thing up to his neck with the other
defendants.”
The judge agreed.
“You were instrumental in pro­
moting, funding and facilitating this
cruel and inhumane sporting activ­
ity,” he said.
Flanked by two defense attor­
neys, Vick spoke softly as he ac­
knowledged using "poor judgment"
and added, “I'm willing to deal with
the consequences and accept re­
sponsibility for my actions."
Vick apologized to the court
and his family m em bers, who
along with other supporters oc­
cupied most o f two row s in the
packed courtroom . Before the
hearing started, M ichael V ick’s
brother, M arcus Vick, draped his
right arm around their mother and
com forted her as she wept.
“You need to apologize to the
m illions of young people who
looked up to you," Hudson said
sternly, reminding Vick of the fans
he singled out when he pleaded
guilty in August.
“Yes, sir," Vick answered.
Although there is no parole in
the federal system, with time off for
good behavior Vick could be re­
leased in the summer o f 2009.
“This was an efficient, profes­
sional, and thorough investigation
that well exposed a seamy side of
our society,” U.S. Attorney Chuck
Rosenberg said in a statement. “I
trust Mr. Vick learned important
lessons and that his admission of
guilt will speed his rehabilitation."
Falcons owner Arthur Blank
called the sentencing another step
in V ick's “legal journey.”
“T his is a difficult day for
M ichael' s fam i ly and for a lot of us,
including many of our players and
fans who have been emotionally
invested in Michael over the years,”
Blank said. “We sincerely hope that
Michael will use this time to con­
tinue to focus his efforts on making
positive changes in his life, and we
wish him well in that regard."
Vick was suspended without pay
by the NFL and lost all his lucrative
endorsement deals. NFL commis­
sioner Roger Goodell was asked
after Monday's ruling if Vick should
play again.
“T hat’s a determ ination w e’ll
make later on," he said from a
legislative hearing in A ustin,
=RIB EXPRESS=
Texas involving the NFL Net­
work. “As I said earlier when we
suspended him indefinitely, we
would evaluate that when the le­
gal process was closed.”
lfe^
Thanks Portland
Com m unity!!!
22 Years on the Corner
Thanks Chuck Hinton
Portland Style BBQ
* Let Us Cater Your Xmas Party *
Catering & Take-Out
Our Specialty: Real Hickory Smoked Bar-B-Q
Wayne Cannon - Proprietor
Mon. Thu. 11:30 a m. 9:00 p.m. • Frl.-Sat. 11:30 a m. 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 1:00-7:00 p.m.
5410 N.E. 33rd
5 0 3 -2 8 8 -3 8 3 6
Supporters o f Michael Vick hold signs and sing as they line up
across the street from Federal Court prior to the sentencing of the
Atlanta Falcons quarterback on dogfighting charges. (AP photo)
Saturday Youth
Basketball League
Through Portland Parks and Recreations
Any 6,h -8lh Grade Boys interested in being
involved in this FREE event, please contact
David Miller, 503-933-1763, or Dashun
Montgomery 503-823-4223.
We provide sponsorship and jerseys for the kids.
League starts January 12, 2007.
Look forw ard to hearing from you!
Boss Hogg Christmas Tree Lot
Tryouts: December 11lh
X M A S TR EES
Every Doug Fir 5-7 ft. — $20.(X)
Every Nobel Fir 5-7 ft. -- $30.(X)
6:50 p.m. — 7:40 p.m.
Vernon Elementary School
2044 N.E. Killingsworth.
Sponsored by Black C itizen's Coalition of Portland Neighborhoods
I
6 5 (X )N E M L K Jr. Blvd.
On the corner o f M I.K Jr. & Rosa Park Blvd.