Banner Graphic, Volume 10, Number 177, Greencastle, Putnam County, 31 March 1980 — Page 8
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The Putnam County Banner Graphic, March 31,1980
Olympic legend
Owens achieved more than just track records and more than gold medals
By FRANK LITSKY c. 1980 N.Y. Times News Service NEW YORK Jesse Owens. 66, who died early Monday in Tucson, Ariz., of lung cancer, was perhaps the best-known athlete in track and field history. In 1936, a member of what the Nazis mockingly called America's “black auxiliaries.” he won four gold medals in the Berlin Olympics, a feat unmatched in track and field in this quadrennial showcase The year before, with a wrenched back so painful that he could not dress or undress without help, he broke five world records and equaled a sixth within 45 minutes. But the Jesse Owens best remembered by many Americans was a public speaker with the ringing, inspirational delivery of an evangelist He traveled 200,000 miles a year making two or three speeches a week, mostly to sales meetings and conventions and mostly to primarily white audiences His earnings exceeded SIOO,OOO a year It was not always thus. James Cleveland Owens was born Sept 12. 1913, in Danville, Ala., the son of a sharecropper. The youngster picked cotton until he and his family moved to Cleveland There, a schoolteacher asked the youth his name. "JO” he replied She thought he had said ‘Jesse,” and he had a new name. He became a nationally known sprinter at East Tech High School in Cleveland, slim and lithe at 163 pounds. He ran with fluid grace. There were no starting blocks then; sprinters merely dug holes at the starting line. The tracks were of cinder or dirt, primitive by today’s standards. After high school, he went to Ohio State University, paying his way as an elevator operator because he had no athletic scholarship. As a sophomore, in his first Big Ten championships, he achieved a record binge even greater than whis Olympic glory a year hence. A week before the Big Ten meet in Ann Arbor, Mich., Owens and a fraternity brother were wrestling playfully when they tumbled down a flight of stairs. Owens’s back hurt so much that he could not work out all wee-f k. Coach Larry Snyder and teammates had to help him in and out of the car that drove him to the track for the meet. There, in a vain attempt to lessen the back pain, he sat for a half-hour in a hot tub. He did not warm up or even stretch. He rejected suggestions that he withdraw from the meet and said he would try event by event. He tried, and the results are in the record book. On May 25, 1935, Jesse Owens successively equaled the world record for the 100-vard dash (9.4 seconds), broke the world record for the broad jump, now called the long jump, with his only attempt (26 feet 8 1 4 inches, which remained the record for 25 years), broke the world record for the 220-yard dash (20.3 seconds, which also bettered the record for 200 meters) and broke the world record for the 220-yard low hurdles (22.6 seconds, which also bettered the record for the 200-meter low hurdles).
Broad Ripple blasts from No. 7 to No. 1
By HANK LOYVENKRON AP Sports Writer INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indianapolis Broad Ripple, the lowest rated team in the Final Four, captured championship honors in the 70th edition of Hoosier Hysteria, but Coach Bill Smith was hoping his team accomplished a lot more, “I’m extremely proud of these young men,” said Smith, “and I hope that through basketball they’ve learned more about the big values of life. I hope it helps them grow into mature men who become responsible citizens and have the proper respect for authority and their country.” The Rockets, ranked No. 7 in the final Associated Press poll, defeated No. 2 New Albany 73-66 for their first state title in Saturday night’s championship game before a capacity crowd of 17,490 at Market Square Arena. Smith’s team, which finished 29-2, edged No. 4 Marion 71-69
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Los Angeles outfielder Reggie Smith reported to spring training early this season, but now it looks as though it was all for nothing. Only one player has voted to play without a contract and that sure wasn't Smith. (AP Wirephoto)
BROAD RIPPI.E (73) Adkisson 3 4-5 10. Toran 5 5-8 15, Robinson 7 5-5 19. Duke 1 7-10 9. Traeev 6 0-0 12. Snyder 4 0-0 8, Gunnell 0 04) 0. Smith 0 0-0 0. Davis 0 0-0 0. Brooks 0 0-0 0. Christopher 0 0-0 0. Totals 26 21-28 73 NEW AI.BANY (66) Stoops 0 00 0. Bennett 12 6-6 30, Benninger 4 0-0 8. Moody 2 00 4. Johnson 9 04 18. Barnett 0 0-0 0. Bohannon 1 2-3 4. Booker 0 O-l 0, Bliss 0 OO 0. Brandt 0 OO 0. Mukes 1 OO 2. Hunt 0 OO 0 Totals 29 814 66 Broad Ripple 14.19 18 22—73 New Albany 14.14 16.22—66 Fouled Out Johason Total fouls Broad Ripple 16, New Albany 20 Officials Don Snedeker and Trov Ingram A 17.490
on Stacey Toran’s desperation 60-foot shot in the afternoon. New Albany’s Bulldogs squeaked past No. 5 Andrean, 69-68 in the opening semifinal. The Bulldogs, who were trying to finish the season undefeated at the end of the 70th annual Indiana boys’ tournament, advanced when Andrean’s Mike Paulsin missed two free throws with no time showing on the clock. “I’m disappointed with the way we reacted under pres-
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Jesse Owens didn't let Germany stop him from participating in the 1936 Olympics and didn't let a back injury keep him from participating in a Big Ten track meet in 1935. Owens was finally stopped though by lung cancer.
The next year, with the Italians occupying Ethiopia, the Japanese in Manchuria, the Germans moving into the Rhineland and a civil war starting in Spain, the Olympic Games were held in Berlin. The Nazis, who had come to power in Germany, had declared that the Germans were the master race. They had stripped German Jews of citizenship and were using the Olympics as a propaganda weapon, hoping to impress the world with their organizational, political and athletic success. Despite pleas that the United States should boycott the Olympics, American officials voted to participate. The U.S. Olympic track team of 66 athletes included 10 blacks. The Nazis derided the Americans for relying on what the Nazis called an inferior race, but of the 11 individual gold medals in track won by the American men, six were won by blacks. The major hero was Owens. He won the 100-meter dash in 10.3 seconds, the 200-meter dash in 20.7 seconds and the broad jump
sure,” said New Albany Coach Jack Ford. “We knew we had to shoot our averages to win the state championship and we didn’t. It just came down to making free throws. They did and we didn’t.” Broad Ripple made 21 of 28 free throws, scoring its final 13 points on foul shots. New Albany made only eight of 14, missing the first shot of a one-and-one four times in the final nine minutes. Juniors led the scoring for both teams with Jeffery Robinson scoring 11 of his 19 points for the champions in the final period. Forward Dave Bennett had 20 points for New Albany, which finished 27-1. “I thought we did a good job of rebounding. We took advantage of their mental lapses and that really helped us,” said the 6-foot-8 Robinson, who had 12 rebounds in the title game. “Coach Smith told us that we had to play good defense and
It becomes matter of when to strike
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) Strike two or play ball? That question will almost certainly be answered in Dallas Tuesday, but a bet on at least the setting of a strike date by major league baseball players is as safe as a wager on Spectacular Bid. Representatives of the Players Association and team owners met for more than nine hours Sunday with Ken Moffett, deputy director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. And, in the word of the union’s executive director, Marvin Miller, “nothing happened.” The Players Association’s executive board will meet in Dallas Tuesday to determine when and if a strike will be called. The “if” no longer seems to apply. “This was a complete waste of time,” Miller said of Sunday’s meeting with the owners. “There isn’t the slightest basis for their calling the mediation service with no intention of negotiating or listening to our viewpoint. “This entire day was spent on the owners’ demands, nothing on the players’ proposal.” Miller was asked if he anticipated a long strike. “I certainly don’t anticipate a short one, not if they have the strike insurance I keep hearing about,” he said. “I think they (the owners) are doing everything possible to provoke a strike. It’s as clear as can be. They’re acting like 4-yearolds.” Miller said there was no doubt in his mind that the owners were trying to break the union. He said there could be no other reason that they would be willing to take such financial losses. "I think they’re successful in terms of provoking a strike,” he said “Willie Stargell would give them a star.” Moffett said there would be another meeting but he wasn’t sure when. “I’ll be in touch with both sides after Tuesday,” he said “I would have to say the meeting today was basically one where we explored the compensation issue, which seems to be the most
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contain them on the boards. The fourth quarter, I think we just got our momentum going and I started moving more and not standing.” One reason the Rockets’ center was able to move around more was that New Albany’s Richie Johnson picked up his fourth foul early in the final period and fouled out with 2:51 remaining. “I thought that when Richie fouled out down the stretch that really hurt us,” Ford said. Smith agreed, saying, “We were able to control the game after he fouled out. They were forced to foul us and we hit the free throws.” Johnson, a 6-8 guard, had 18 points and 10 rebounds before he fouled out. “We got nothing to be ashamed of. We gave it everything we had,” said Johnson. “They might have said they wanted this victory worse than we did, but I tell you nobody wanted it
at 26 feet 5M> inches, and he led off the United States’ winning 400-meter relay team in 39.8 seconds. His individual performances broke two Olympic records and equaled a third. The relay team broke the world record. His 100meter and 200-meter times would have won Olympic medals through 1964, his broad-jump performance through 1968. Adolf Hitler, the German chancellor, did not congratulate any of the American black winners, a subject to which Owens addressed himself for the rest of his life. “It was all right with me,” he said. “I didn’t go to Berlin to shake hands with him, anyway. All I know is that I’m here now and Hitler isn’t. “When I came back, after all those stories about Hitler and his snub, I came back to my native country and I couldn’t ride in the front of the bus. I had to go to the back door. I couldn’t live where I wanted. Now what’s the difference?” When Owens returned from Berlin, there were no lucrative
worse than us.” Robinson had plenty of scoring help. Toran had 15 points and King Duke, the 5-5 backcourt quarterback, added 12. “The keys were we hit the free throws and handled ourselves on the boards, even though they had a big height advantage,” said Smith. “We just hung in there when the going got tough. I thought King Duke did a heck of a job running our offensive program. He seemed to get Jeff (Adkisson) active.” Adkisson, who came off the bench to score 13 points in the afternoon game, scored 10 in the title battle. Robinson was named the most valuable player on The Associated Press all-tourna-ment team. He had 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead players on both teams in the afternoon game. Other members of the alltournament team included Toran, Johnson and Bennett. They
important issue on both sides. It’s the only issue we really went into. “We made no progress as far as coming to an agreement on this issue is concerned. A lot of suggestions were made in both private caucuses and in joint meetings. Neither side made any concessions. It’s going to take a while; there’s about a hundred issues and we only talked about one.” Moffett referred to a proposal by the owners to adjust the amount of compensation a team receives after losing a free agent. The owners proposed that a team signing a “highly sought" free agent be required to give up a player, rather than an amateur draft choice, in return The free agent’s new team could protect only 15 of its players in that selection process. The only other strike in major league history occurred in 1972. It lasted 13 days, including the first nine days of what became a shortened season. The current difficulties seem much more extreme. Four dates have been mentioned as possible strike days immediately; on April 9. the scheduled opening day of the 1980 season; Memorial Day weekend and July 10, immediately after the All-Star game. Miller met with the California Angels prior to Sunday’s meeting with the owners and mediator. It was the 26th and final team he had discussed the situation with, and the Angels voted 30-0 for authorizing a strike on or after Tuesday. That made the total vote 967-1. The lone dissenter was reportedly Jerry Terrell of the Kansas City Royals. “I don’t intend to make any recommendations, it’s up to the Players,” said Miller, referring to when a strike should be called. "The executive board will make that decision.” It has been speculated that the players wouldn’t strike immediately so that they could collect a few paychecks before going out. Players don’t collect their regular salary during
were joined by Dan Dakich, who had 32 points for Andrean, and Marion’s Jeff Todd, who also received the Arthur L. Trester award from the Indiana High School Athletic Association for mental attitude. Andrean, which finished 25-2 in reaching the Final Four for the first time, lost after overcoming a 16-point deficit to take its only lead of the game with 21 seconds to play. The 59ers trailed, 53-37, with two minutes remaining in the third quarter. Dakich and Jim Bullock, who had 19 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, sparked the comeback Bennett was high for New Albany with 20 points, while Johnson had 18 before fouling out with 1:10 remaining. Toran’s winning shot in the afternoon came after he took an out-of-bounds pass, spun around and let loose. The ball banged off the backboard and through the net with Marion’s players looking on in disbelief.
contracts for an Olympic hero. He became a playground janitor because he could not find a better job. He ended his career as an amateur runner and accepted money to race against cars, trucks, motorcycles, horses and dogs. “Sure, it bothered me,” he later said. “But at least it was an honest living. I had to eat.” In time, the four gold medals changed his life. “They have kept me alive over the years," he once said. “Time has stood still for me. That golden moment dies hard.” He became a disk jockey. Later, he operated his own public relations and marketing firms in Chicago and then Phoenix, Ariz. He became celebrated as a speaker, using about five basic speeches with interchangeable parts. Each speech praised the virtues of patriotism, clean living and fair play. His delivery was old-fashioned spellbinding, a far cry from the days when he stuttered. Even in casual conversations, he spoke in sweeping tones. When Jesse Owens spoke, people listened. “When he enters a room,” wrote Jon Hendershott in Track and Field News, “he doesn’t so much take it over as envelop it. ” His heritage may be found in his speeches. For example: —On American black athletes who question the value of their gold medals: “Any black who strives to achieve in this country should think in terms of not only himself but also how he can reach down and grab another black child and pull him to the top of the mountain where he is. This is what a gold medal does to you.” —On dignity: “Regardless of his color, a man who becomes a recognized athlete has to learn to walk 10 feet tall. But he must have his dignity off the athletic field.” —On material rewards: “Material reward is not all there is. How many meals can a man eat? How many cars can he drive? In how many beds can he sleep? All of life’s wonders are not reflected in material wealth.” —On the value of sport: “We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline and effort. These things apply to everyday life. You learn not only the sport, but things like respect of others, ethics in life, how you are going to live, how you treat your fellow man, how you live with your fellow man.” —On the moment before Olympic competition: “You think about the number of years you have worked to the point where you are able to stand on that day to represent your nation. It’s a nervous, a terrible feeling. You feel, as you stand there, as if your legs can’t carry the weight of your body. Your stomach isn’t there and your mouth is dry and your hands are wet with perspiration. And you begin to think in terms of all those years that you have worked. In my particular case, the 100 meters, as you look down the field 109 yards 2 feet away, and recognizing that after eight years of hard work that this is the point that I had reached and that all was going to be over in 10 seconds. Those are great moments in the lives of individuals.”
Todd now looking for golf crown INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Marion’s Jeff Todd, the 1980 winner of the Indiana High School Athletic Association’s Trester Award for mental attitude in basketball, is already putting basketball in the back of his mind and thinking about golf. “We wanted the state basketball championship, but now I’m thinking about the state golf title,” said the 6-foot-5 senior who was the unanimous choice for the Trester Award by the IHSAA executive committee. “I’ve got a two handicap and we’ve got three returnees on the golf squad,” said Todd, who has competed in the state finals in basketball, golf and tennis and earned 11 letters with the Giants. He led Marion with 16 points in Saturday afternoon's 71-69 disapoointing semifina. loss to eventual state champ Indianapolis Broad Ripple. “Coach Liddle prepared us for things like what happened today,” Todd said. “He teaches us to be like men and all about life. It’s a great honor to win this award." Todd said the award, “just takes a little of the sting out of not winning the state championship. We just got beat on a freak shot.” Todd, who has a 3.8 average and expects to graduate among the top 40 in the senior class at the school of 2,800 students, is president of Marion's National Honor Society. He plans to pursue a pre-med or pre-dental program in college.
spring training. They’re only given expense money. Representatives of the owners at Sunday’s meeting were Ray Grebey, the chief negotiator; Chub Feeney, president of the National League, and Lee MacPhail, the American League president. As has been their custom throughout the talks, none would discuss the situation with reporters. Miller has said repeatedly that the owners haven’t negotiated He was asked if this surprised him. “No, not really,” he said. “They telegraphed this a long time ago. About five months ago. a high baseball official who shall remain unnamed told me that he thought the negotiations would be easy. He told me the owners have to have a victory. “I don’t know how you deal with that kind of thinking We want to deal with the real problem. There’s no victory in collective bargaining.” Perhaps coincidentally, the players’ pension agreement with major league baseball, which was the basis for the 1972 strike, expires tonight. Donald M. Fehr, attorney for the union, was asked if that had any effect on a possible strike or the date which players might set as a strike deadline. “The answer is yes, but it’s not that simple," he said. “It just so happens that the pension plan expires at the approximate end of spring training. If the pension agreement was still under effect, we would still have the same situation that exists now “ Miller said that even if the executive board picks a later date on which to strike, the players may decide not to play exhibition games from April 4 on. “That is a lucrative weekend." he said. “All that does is say to the owners ‘We don’t get paid, we re not going to add dollars to your war chest.’