Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 4 August 1979 — Page 16

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PAGE 16

THE INDIANAPOLIS RfCOKOEtf

’SATUKDAT, AUGUST 4, 197V

Fight days over, All to remain star

ATTUCKS STATE

BANNERS SYMBOLIZE CRISPUS ATTUCKS HIGH

SCHOOL S THREE BASKETBALL TITLES AND ONE RUNNER-UP SPOT.

Ben Ehtltn is on vacation this week. His column was writ ten by Lynn Ford. Those who watched last weekend’s televirion tribute to retired World Boxing Association heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali might have drawn the same conclusion: His ring days might have ended, but AH wfll remain a humorous, inteDectual and charismatic personality. The constant jaw-jacking which earned him such titles as “The Mouth” and “The Louisville Lip” helped earn the now-37-year-old AH a gold mine as a fighter, and it promises to turn him into even more of a commercial item as time passes. He already has starred in his own bio film, “The Greatest”, a television movie, “Freedom Road,” various commercial endorsements and his own television special. Ali was worse than even the worst television variety host, but his own natural flair for showmanship made him acceptable and entertaining, simply because he was who he was. This writer can’t help but remember June 30,1977. This writer somehow ended up in Hyatt Regency Indianapolis, where it was later learned the champ was resting there halfway* through a trip from Louisville to Chicago. He was his usual self when he appeared from out of nowhere. He

A HARD LOOK... ^ /ty ...with KN DUUN, sports editor

play boxed and sneered at the men, charmed the ladies, and recited original poetry with a piercing, star quality that bowled the small, lucky gathering completely over. AH did an entire show in a little over 10 minutes. And if the surprise of AH’s hotel appearance wasn’t enough, some rumored that he walked in a popular fast food restaurant the night before, leaving each customer somewhat off-balance. That’s the kind of effect Ali has on people. That’s why he probably won’t want for anything else. He’ll always be a star.-L.F.

Tiger cage fans eye return to ‘glory days’

By BEN Dl LIN Fans and alumni of the once rich traditioned Cnspus At tucks High School basketball "glory days” have simply stated of late...“We'd like to see those days return! There are some who plan to build a forum for monitoring prospective talent which could thrust Attueks back into the winning lime light enjoyed at least 20 years ago. Alumni and gobs of fans w ho remember the 1050-00 era of supremacy the thmi all black school enjoyed in basketball competition \uw to work in a variety of communicable ways prior to the 1070 s >0 season to confirm th« notion that a lack of talent is responsible for the Tigers downfall amongst state

and even city cage power!. The idea which evoled from a few alumni, would steer comparable talent like yester year back to Tiger-land. And as many cage experts from this area realize, there is plenty of young basketball talent in this city. It’s just not at Attueks these days. Attributed to the progressive dow nfall, the school on the city s westside underwent its integration change in the early 70 s. But even before. Tiger land had been for the most part completely shut out from the savor of victory as first experienced in 1955, w hen coach Ray Crowe led his Green and Gold clad Tigers in Indianapolis' first state title after a wait of more than 40 years during previous

tournaments. The triumphant feat of the ‘55 championship extended into the next season, when a player destined for world renown stardom named Oscar Robert son, would establish records still standing, while spearhead ing a Tiger outfit to its second title in a row in 1956 as the first team in Indiana history to do so undefeated. At that point, another record was embarking on what ap peared untouched milestones for Ray Crowe’s Tigers. Head ing into the 1956 57 season, Crowe stood as a coach with a remarkable 154 14 record. His Attueks team had ended the 56 season with an incredible win streak which tapered at 45 games. And although it was halted on the Tigers’ first outing in the ‘56 57 season, Attueks would remain a feared rival among only a few city powerhouses at best, and a mass of tough northern area teams. Then under the late Bill Garrett in 1959. the Tigers were to bring Indianapolis its

third state title meaning that heading into the 60s (the era in our nation’s history most often associated with unstability), Indianapolis had yet to experience a state champ in 49 years of tournament play-other than the Flyin' Tigers. Odly enough, that’s just about when “glory” evaporated from the Tiger dynasty. Yes, there were the few Tigers of the 60s who managed to hold their ow n managed to make the Tigers seem somewhat competitive. Players like Joe Leavell, Lindell Reid, Steve Tucker, Ed (Junior) Bailey, Bob Whitley and Issac Robinson, to name a few. But their talents when coming along in the 60s were hardly enough to mesh through the ire of emerging city blockbusters like Washington (only other Indianapolis school tp ever win state titles, 1965 and 1969), Shortridge, Tech, and a few Catholic powerhouses from season to season like Cathedral and Chatard. Of the aforementiond Tigers TURN TO PAGE 17

\ ARIOl S TROPHIES and plaques take one back to the days the school was a household name in Indianapolis because of its high athletic achievements.

Suppose this newspaper were doibg the recruiting? Anyone who sees budding or quality high school basketball talent [much of which is in Marion County), which might help push Crispus Attueks back into championship caUber is urged to notify The Recorder Sports Department. Complete the recommendation blank below and mad it to the address listed bv Oct. 15. Suggestions will be handled in strict confidence. wm lpa Iwi Mgrimr — Mninimi — ■■■■ ■»«■■■■ 9 GLORY DAYS” RECOMMENDATION BLANK SCOUTED PLAYER!SI

PRESENT SCHOOL SCOUT’S NAME ADDRESS PHONE.

CITY STATE ZIP MAIL TO: Glory Days The Indianapolis Recorder c/o Sports Dept. 2901 North Tacoma Avenue Indianapolis. IN 46218

Cage, diamond tournaments at Anderson The Wilson Boys’ Club of Anderson (Ind.) has set August 17-19 as the dates for its third annual Dust Bowl basketball tournament. The tourney is single elmination and carries a $40 entry fee, due by August 10. The field will be limited to 12 teams. A “slam-dunk” contest is slated between halves. August 17-19 are also the dates for the fifth annual J.D.S. Anderson Women’s Slow-Pitch softball tourney. Entry fees are expected by August 3rd—-$75. It is a double elmination event. August 10 12, the inaugural Jr. Dust Bowl double elmination tourney will be held at the Wilson Boys’ Club. Entry fees are $65, deadline, August 8. Players must bust be 15 years of age and under during tourney dates.The fifth annual Anderson “fast pitch’’ softball tourney in June was a smashing success, directors reported. Thousands of area fans were on hand to see Midwest talent. When it was over. Stop Inn of Cincinnati and the Barons of Chicago Heights were fighting for the title. Stop Inn won in 1977 and the Barons finished runner-up last year. Because the event is growing in popularity, Anderson will host the first post season tournament. August 24-26. Entry fees for the three-day competi lion are $75. due by August 17. For information about any of the scheduled tournaments con tact Willv Turner in Anderson. 642 5888 or 649-2405.

The one thing none of us should have to live with.

YouYc looking ul litlcr in Imitanapolis. Its something we close oar eves to because Its everywhere—our road-sides, neighborhoods, downtown and in our suburbs. Too bad that we've accepted litter. Because it shows we either don't think it's ugly enough to prevent . . . or we don’t think we're worth a clean environment. ()r both. Everyone deserves to live in a clean city. Don't allow yourself or anyone else to spoil it with litter. Litter is trash. And none of us should have to live with trash. Let's clean up our act, Inilianapolis.

Indianapolis Clean Gty Committee

TRIBUTE: Participants in Sunday's DustBowl tournament at Oak Hill Park [top photo], were sharing their efforts as part of a tribute to the late John Ed Washington. In Bottom photo, poster displays occasion with Toni Jones and Charles Washington adding touchups. Tournament director Warren Fields, said proceeds from the dustbowl will help stimulate purposed John Ed

Washington Memorial Scholarship in the future. Washington was raised in the Oak Hill Park community. He was a standout at Tech High School, and a senior at the University of Evansville prior to the fatal crash in December of 1977 with team members and coaches aboard a chartered plane. [Photos by James Burresj.

‘Big 0* cites NBA for racism

SAN DIEGO— Television ratings in the National Basketball Association are suffering because of racist decisions by management and CBS, former all-pro from Indianapolis Crispus Attueks High School, Oscar Robertson told reporters while in San Diego for a youth basketball program last week. “The owners say there are too many blacks playing the game, and...(that) interest in the league is down, and they say that is the reason. “Well. I think it’s because they’ve done a bad job of promoting the league,” said Robertson. He believes the league could have done the job itself “if they had simply let the players go into the community. But they feel the black image is bad for the league. “And yet. what’s the most successful organization in sports history? I’ll tell you. The Harlem Globetrotters and they’re all black,” Robertson was quoted as saying. The former University of Cincinnati scoring great, who continued a brilliant hardwood career as a professional with the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks, said CBS has to share the blame. “First of all, CBS has not done a good job of promoting the games, and also they (the owners) don’t want blacks as broadcasters. “They’ve got (Rick) Barry, (Rod) Hundley, (Brent) Musberger, who are all white, but how many blacks are there? I was on for a while, but 1 had that lawsuit (contesting the NBA’s college draft and option clause as violating anti-trust laws) against the owners, so they said they didn't want me.” Moreover. Robertson said the NBA isn’t as good as it used to be. “and I think it’s becauser coaching at the high school

level isn't what it used to be. "When I was in high school, we spent hours on defense, and that’s where today’s players are having their troubles.” Robertson also rapped the

NBA’s recent adoption for a one-year experience of the three point play as “horrend ous another example of people who don’t play the game messing with the rules.”

Rudolph recants talk of pay-for-play amateurs

COLORADO SPRINGS. CO.Former Olympic sprinter Wilma Rudolph told the Associated Press that the reason so many top amateur track and field athletes didn't participate in the National Sports Festival is because "there is just not enough money to go around." The first woman to win three Olympic track and field gold medals, and now a member of the Department of Labor’s national sports training pro gram, Wilma indicated that the United States Olympic Com mittee was making some financial concessions. She later was said to have recanted about the USOC mak ing payments to athletes, but perhaps, significantly, she said to through a statement issued by the USOC. A number of athletes didn’t show up or perform for a variety of publicly announced reasons, but Ms. Rudolph said, those were concotions. “There is no way to pay the kids here now to participate in the Festival,” the AP quoted her. “The USOC does not have enough money to pay then all. “I can't sit here and tell you that the athletes don't get money under the table. It wouldn't be honest. It would bother my conscience if I lied to you.” An unidentified athlete said the same thing is true of the Amateur Athletic Union, which

tried to line up athletes for the Spartakiade Games in Russia. “Yes, definitely, a lot of the guys didn’t come here or go to Spartakiade because they didn’t get their money," he said. ‘‘We know there’s a lot of money to be distributed, but some people are keeping it. TURN TO PAGE 17 Matthew Saad nears first title defense Wold Boxing Council (WBC) light heavyweight champion Matthew Saad Muhammad puts his title on the line for the first time August 18 in Monte Carlo (Monaco). His opponent for the sched uled 15-rounder will be former champion John Conteh. Muhammad changed his name from Matthew Franklin shortly after winning the crown by a TKO from Marvin Johnson here in Market Square Arena past April. Johnson is tentatively slated to meet (WBA) World Boxing Association champ Victor Galindez in Argentina September 15. The bout was postponed from an original August date, reportedly because Galindez has been as much as 25 pounds over the maximum T/5 pound limit of the division. «