tlOM r-The iirppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregoa, Thnrtdy, May 10, MM
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Sports by Mike Oths
"Who do you think they'll take?" That question hat been
heard quite a bit recently among Blazer fans, as the NBA
prepares to make its annual coin flip for rights to the first
choice in the draft of college basketball players. As most
Pertlzrd fsss kr.e by new, the SUaers (haviug acquired the
choice of the Indiana Pacers in a trade) will flip against the
Houston Rockets for the right to make the first selection.
Should the Blazers win the flip, it appears certain that they
will select Akeem Olajuwon, the seven-foot Nigerian center
from the University of Houston,
It's interesting to note that no one has this year mentioned
the fact that Olajuwon is not an American citizen. Last year,
the papers wer full of the point that since Akeem the Dream
was only in the U.S. on a student visa, that he was not legally
permitted to remain if he dropped out of school. I'm not sure
how this problem has been resolved, but it doesn't apparently
concern anyone involved. If you know the answer to this one
let me know.
It's hard to argue with the choice of Olajuwon. He is the
dominant big man available in the draft, and would appear to
be the center that Blazer fans, management and players
have claimed to need for years, (seven to be exact). An
interesting thought here: Will the Rockets draft Olajuwon if
they win the flip? If it was anyone but the Rockets, you'd be
inclined to say not. They already have Ralph Sampson on the
club, and the addition of a player of the caliber of Michael
Jordan would guarantee that Houston would own two players
who seem destined to be perennial all-stars. The problem for
Houston is that Olajuwon is such a popular player with
Houston fans. Having gone to college in the same town, he
would be an enormous draw at the gate. Regardless, if I
owned the Rockets, I'd almost be inclined to root against
winning the flip. Were the Rockets to win the flip and then not
draft Akeem, the fans would riot; were they to lose, and then
- draft Jordan, they could chalk it up to bad luck.
The bigger question for the Blazers is bow to draft if they
- lose the flip. The talk has been that Sam Bowie would be the
choice, but there are several considerations. Bowie is not the
enforcing big man that the Blazers claim to need. Olajuwon
and Ewing are, Bowie is not. Jordan, on the other hand, is one
of the finest basketball players around. He can play almost
anywhere, and has the kind of talent that virtually
guarantees that be will be premier player. Bowie is
demonstrably injury-prone; Jordan is not.
So what may make the choice? Two things. If the Blazers
become convinced that Jim Paxson is definitely leaving, then
Jordan becomes a logical man to try to fill the bole. Also
there is the little matter of Olympic basketball. Paxson will
become a free-agent at the end of the playoffs. Thereafter, he
could sign an offer sheet with another team. Once be does so,
the Blazers only have fifteen days to retain him. The
problem : If they sign Paxson before signing their draft pick,
then they can only pay the draft pick $75,000 per year. If they
sign the draft pick first, then they can match any offer for
Paxson. Why does this affect the Olympics? Because the
NBA has agieed not to sign Olympic players before the
. Games. Jordan will be on the Olympic team ; Bowie will not.
Therefore, Bowie could be signed in time to save Paxson;
maybe not true for Jordan. As far as anyone knows,
Olajuwon will not be playing for Nigeria's Olympic team.
Therefore, the best thing that could happen would be for
the Blazers to win the flip, sign Olajuwon, then match any
offer for Paxson. Sure it will cost big bucks maybe a few
more to get Akeem to sign quickly but it seems like a fair
payoff to the fans who have bought every seat in the Coliseum
for the last eight years.
Transportation Commission
receives bids
The Oregon transportation
Commission was to receive
bids Thursday, April 26 for 17
projects throughout Oregon,
states a news release from the
Oregon Department of Trans
portation. The project proposed for
Morrow County oil mat on the
Dobbs visits Heppner
Jeanne Huston Dobbs, form
er Heppner beautician, arriv
ed in Oregon last weekend
from her home in Maui,
Hawaii.
Jeanne is visiting son Bob
Dobbs in Portland, sister Jane
Rawlins and other family
members in Heppner and
daughter Shirley Gray and
family in Pendleton.
Jeanne and Shirley and
Shirley's son Treve are going
to Salem to attend Tawnie
Gray's graduation from Wil
lamette University on Sunday,
May 13.
Jeanne will be in Oregon
until June 5. She plans to
attend the Morrow County
Pioneer Reunion in Heppner
on May 27.
Aerobic Clothes -kCaps
Slippers T-shirts
it Purses it Socks
"k Shoes for work, play & dress.
HHS golfers lose to RHS
By TRAVIS HYATT
The Heppner golf team had
their first meet at Heppner
last Thursday, May 3 in a
two-team meet with River
side. The greens were in good
shape as were the fairways.
"Best condition the course has
been in all year," said Kevin
Kennison.
The boys team lost to River
side who had 323 strokes to
Heppner's 340. Dave Green
was medalist for the tourney
with an 11 over 71. Jon Mit
chell was third with a 75, Keith
Kenison 87, Ken Curtis 90 and
Kevin Hughes 113.
The JV team was led by
Kevin Kenison (89), Travis
Harrison (93), Jon Kenny
(100), and Marion McMillan
chipped in with a 132.
"1 was pleased with the
golfers performance, particul
ar both the Kenisons both
carding personal lows.
Also Apne has been turning
in consistently lower scores,"
said Coach Duane Neiffer.
"Dave Green had it not been
for a seven on one hole would
have shot in the sixties, and
hopefully will this Thursday
against Enterprise and Joseph
at Heppner."
The girls team also finished
second with a total of 221
strokes. Anne McLaughlin
was co-medalist with a 44,
followed by Dana Reid 52, Jodi
Mattison 56, and Carla Miles
69.
Bids opened for Port work
A bid opening was held Mon
day, April 30 at the Port of
Morrow offices at Boardman.
Opened were rebids for con
struction of the new Terminal 3
docking facility to be located
near Messner Bay east of the
Docken Bean Plant.
Plans call for construction of
a support system for an over
head crane and rails, roll on-roll
off ramps and rat walk sections
Morrow County Talent Night held
Music in a light hearted,
bouncy mood performed by in
dividual and group acts from
Morrow County Schools enter
tained Monday evening, April
30, at Columbia Junior High in
Irrigon.
Jim Acklev. music director
for C.J.H. and A C, Houghton
Elementary co-ordinated a pro
gram which included entries
from Heppner Elementary and
Junior High and from A.C.
Houghton and C.J.H.
Directing the Heppner group
was Kitty Coon, vocal music
instructor for grades K-12.
Students sang, danced and
played instruments to a cheer
ing audience. "We hope this
kind of program can continue
each year on a revolving school
basis," Ackley said.
.
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plus turning and berthing dol
phins. Bids ranged from $475,000 to
$555,342 with Johnson Bros.
Construction Co. of Pasco the
apparent low bidder.
According to Port Manager,
Wayne Schwandt, bids came In
lower than anticipated. Bids
earlier this year included dred
ging and an overhead Gantry
crane.
In a separate bid Monday on
concrete work for the dock, low
bid was submitted by Upper
Columbia River Construction,
also of Pasco at $42,500. Bids for
concrete work topped out at
$50,000.
Contract awards will be made
May Sand the Port is looking for
a late summer or early fall
finish date Schwandt said.
mlssloncrs' meeting May 9.
Schwandt said the tank will be
signed with Port of Morrow logo r
under a separate contract.
"The tank will be operational
at the latest, August 1, when the
processing plants resume but
we anticipate a sooner comple
tion," Schwandt said.
Schwandt who is also presi
dent of the Oregon Public Ports
Association attended an annual
meeting of some 120 statewide
ports representatives in Astoria
on April 27.
He said the meeting focused
on state land board issues and
how Ports Interact with the
board which Is comprised of the
governor, secretary of state and
state treasurer.
A panel of four candidates for
state land board positions dis
cussed land board Issues. In-
Arwithnr hiH ntwaninif wa hjI4
on Wednesday, April 25 for the c,udef on Pncl werf J'na
painting of the newly construc
ted two million gallon water
tank located in the Port Indus
trial area. The tank will serve
More Heppner students dressed
greasers sing "Bop-Shu -op."
as Fonzi "Happy Days"
Heppner sixth graders sing
dance in the background.
'Hoedown" while four members
Y
fresh water for potato proces
sing plant tenants.
In bids ranging from $47,500
to as high as $97,985., apparent
low bid was submitted by The
Thomas Co. Inc. of Spokane,
"The four bottom bids were
very close," said Schwandt. He
plans to award the contract this
week.
The tank is being built and
painted according to American
Water Workers Association
(national) standards for potable
water.
An outside color will be de
termined at the next Port com-
i J .. - I . 2 1
BUSINESS
FORMS
All kinds
Gazette-Times
CJH Swing Choir does "Alright."
tor Jim Gardner and Rep.
Donna Zajonc, both candidates
for state secretary. Also inclu
ded were Rep. Grattan Kevans
and incumbent Bill Rutherford
both running for state trea
surer's office.
Another panel including Del
Isham, Chairman of the Senate
Transportation Committee and
Jane Cease, chairman of the
House Transportation Com
mittee discussed transportation
issues, Schwandt said.
The most important issue for
Ports dealing with the State
Land Use Board is fill and
removal permits for work in
navigable waterways like the
Columbia River said Schwandt.
"People who sit on the board
have a real impact on the
ports," he said.
A significant accomplishment
of the conference Schwandt said
was a legislative program to
deal with bills directly affecting
state ports In the coming legis
lature. Also representing the Port of
Morrow at the conference were
Bob Miller, operations manager
and Port Commissioners Paul
Jones, LeKoy Gardner and
Chairman Louis Carlson.
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"Gotta Sing" says choir from CJH.
Pieper Canyon-Hep pner Sec
tion of the Heppner Highway,
between Lexington and Hep
pner. The estimated cost of
the project is in the $100,000 to
$250,000 range. The Dept. of
Transportation specifies that
the project is to be completed
by July 31, 1984.
5
'1
Glenn Carpenter, CJH, plays a piano version of "Fame."
IPre-imwemtoTp
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