Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 25 October 2002 — Page 20

Jewel Christian Academy benefit a success

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Colts rscslvsr Edgonin James, radio personality Amp Harris and Pastor Jeffrey A. Johnson, Sr. with kids and their teams Jewel Christian Academy held Its annual Benefit Basketball on Friday at Cathedral High School. The Eastern Star Church All-Stars played victoriously against the Edgerrln James Foundation All-Stars. Procseds from the game went to Jewel Christian Academy, a school for grades K-6. (Photos by Don Briggs, courtesy of Eastern Star Church) (Right) A young girt testa her basketball skills for a prize.

James enjoying the game on the sidelines with a group of fans

Rough action: Pastor Jeffrey A. Johnson, Sr. takes It to hoop and Is fouled.

Pacers work towards becoming tougher during preseason

By JAMES M. KEOUGH JR.

Sports Writer

Under the leadership of head coach Isiah Thomas, the Indiana Pacers are one of the up-and-com-ing teams in the National Basket-

ball Association.

Based on the preseason report card, they may become one of the teams to challenge for the Eastern

Conference crown.

Certainly, bold words for a young team that has struggled at

times to find itself.

However, with a young, talented

nucleus led by Jermaine O’Neal, A1 Harrington, Jonathan Bender and Jamaal Tinsley, some of the experts believe the Pacers are the

premier team in the East. However, if asked what’s been

missing in assembling a champi-

onship formula in Indiana? One former Pacer, now playing

elsewhere said, “When they lost Dale (Davis), a big part of that team’s manhood left with him.”

Being tough, both mentally and

physically, has been a missing ingredieitt for die Pacers over the last couple of yean. It has been apparent late in games, and particularly against the physically stronger teams in the league. TTiis lack of toughness has also impacted the team’s progress in the playoffs the past couple of years. It’s been par- ere. ticulariy noticeable down in the paiat, in terms ofthe team ’s ability to rebound the basketball and de-

fend strong, physical players. Prior to die trade last year that

•eat Men Rose, Travis Best and

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Pacers Canter Oliver Miller “takes it home” to the basket. possess an imposing inside player. The strength of the team was the perimeter play of Rose and Reggie Miller, O’Neal was a consistent offensive presence in the post, but very inconsistent defensively. The trade has produced two bruising starters in Brad Miller and Artest, and a tough defender and solid backup for Reggie Miller in

Mercer.

But most importantly, that trade has set the tone for the style that Thomas wants to see from the Pac-

i for Ron Artest, Brad Miller ’t

While these guys will probably never emulate the Detroit Pistons style of play that resulted in two NBA world championships. Thomas is determined to transform die Pacers into a tougher, more physi-

cally imposing team.

“1 like tough basketball. I like for guys to pfaty tough, tenacious

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Guard Fred Thomas forouu hit way past two Dunvar Nuggets ptayars during an aarilar encounter with that team. (Photoa/W.Thomas)

Center Brad Millar shoots over the head of a stunned Juwan Howard. defense. I like where we are. I’m pleased with the effort, especially defensively,” said Thomas. “When you have people who are not capable of playing a tough style of play, you are limited. “We now have tougher people on this team. We can now come out and play this way.” The Pacers have used this tougher, tenacious and more physical style of play to excel during training camp and the preseason. The Pacers jumped all over the MinnesoU Timberwolves in a recent preseason game. The Pacers played tough, hard-nosed defense for the entire game, challenged shots in the paint and they refused on back down. Timberwolves all-star forward Suu PACERS, Pag* B7

BCA announces goals addressing equity in football hiring By JOSHUA COHEN Staff Writer The Black Coaches Association (BCA) this week announced their three-year plan on addressing equity in football hiring at colleges and in the NFL. Floyd Keith, executive directorof the BCA, spoke to members of the press Tuesday about the gross inequalities that exist in football hiring policies. Out of 117 Division I-A colleges in the country, excluding historically Black colleges, there are only four Black coaches, said Keith. That is a mere 2.1 percent of all college coaches. The BCA’s goal is to increase that number to 20 percent by the year 2005. Keith feels all of the BCA’s goals are reasonable and is not worried about resistance to their plan. “We are concerned with results,” he said. “Sending out letters does not work,” said Keith. “If we don’t hold people accountable change is never made.” Other goals include developing a report card to grade programs on their hiring policies, and creating a market brand of apparel that promotes the BCA’s theme, “Don’t Play Where You Can’t Coach.” “This statement says a lot,” said Keith. Nobody has told players it is wrong to play somewhere they do not have the option to coach after finishing their college or professional careers. “There is a comfort level to hire people you are familiar with,” said Eugene Marshall, chairper-. son of the Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee (MOIC). The BCA is looking for more coaches who “look like me” said Marshall. Part of the solution to this is more Black athletic directors, said Keith. Out of 836 colleges in America, only 29 have Black athletic directors. That is less than 4 percent. The numbers are staggering, but the BCA is confident they will improve. There is a starting point toeverything. Getting more assistant coaches and lower division colleges to hire Black coaches will open opportunities to minorities to move up the ladder, said Stan Johnson of the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA). There is currently an exclusion of Blacks in these positions, he said. Keith stressed at the end of the conference how the real goal is to increase the opportunities of young Blacks. “Somewhere in the backyard there is a 12-year-old throwing a football, dreaming about being Jerry Rice or Emmitt Smith. How many of those kids are dreaming about being Tyrone Willingham (the first Black coach at Notre Dame)? “This is^bout having these kids see Black coaches and dream to do that as well!”

Floyd KaRh