Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 24 October 2003 — Page 34

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GAME POINTS

Should’ve drafted the devil By ERICKA P. THOMPSON Staff Writer It hasn't horn since 1M84 that thcNBAilraft hailsonnululepth. Hakeem Olajmvon, fust pick. Michael Jordan, third pick, Charles Barkley, tilth pick and John Stockton Kith pick all went on to become one of the greatest f>() players in the history of the league. Although I wouldn't compare the 200:} draftees to the great players of'84,1 thinkthe'O.'Jdraft had just-as.much depth and the players just as much potential. I can honestly foresee LeBron James, first pick, Darko Milicic, second pick. Carmelo Anthony, third pick, Chris Bosh, fourth pick, and Dwyane Wade, fifth pick, becoming celebrated NBA players. But what ab<>ut the players w ho weren’t in the top 10? Shame on the teams who skipped over John Stockton and shame on all the teams who overlooked Dahntay bavall Jones. Jones was the 20" pick in the O.'i draft by Boston but w as traded to Memphis along with lb" 1 pick, Troy Bell. Many ofvou college basketball fanatics remember Jones as a Duke Blue Devil. If you're a diehard college basketball fan like myself , you may remember Jones from Rutgers I'niversity. He madesuch an impact for Rutgers' athletic program that fans and critics ruled the team out of ever reaching the NCAA tournament when he transferred to Duke. I le left after leading the team in scoring his sophomore year. In his first season at Duke he w as the team's primary defensive stopperand averaged 11.2 points. Du ring his senior year he got even better and was the Blue Devil s leading scorer w ith 17-7 points. Standing at (i feet, b inches. Jones is able to play the guard and forward position. Hehasfantastic leaping ability and he is a very forcibleoffcnsive reboundcr. And with his strict work ethic he has secniingh improved his perimeter game. In live preseason games with the (iri/zlies. Jones is averaging 7.2 points m lb.4 minutes and he's barely grabbed a rebound. fhe stats mav not be eye pop ping now. but it may be because he is among players like Mike Miller. Jason Williams, Shane Battier. James Posey and St romile Swift. I le has to earn his minutes and fm sure he will. I le may not make an immediate impact, but I think the impact he will make will be worth watching him grow and mature. i picked Jones as my under rated rookie because I love his potential and Move his game. 11 is stature doesn t even begin to reveal his talent. I lie 1 )■'! draft had so much talent that a lot ol plavers who went low in tbr draft should have gone highei Siiehas.lason Kapono.BI pick Irom I Cl.A to the Cav s, and anothet one ol my favorite plav ers, I,uke Walton, .42 11 pick from Arizona also went to the l.akers. So it s understood wh) Jones v.a the 20 pud but I tbllik P) team- will regret tbeydidn t draft till fie’, 11

Low draft picks still have something ‘Cook’ing By JOSHUA COHEN Staff Writer It s undeniable that a large majority of players in the NBA who were picked No. 1 in the draft (Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson, Tim Duncan, Chris Webber) are great and most likely future Hall of Famers. There have been some disappointments however - Joe Smith, Kvvame Brown. As well, there have been many surprises in the not so prestigious pick numbers such as Tracy MeGrady at No. 9, Paul Pierce at No. 10, and even Kobe Bryant at No. 13. This year, the draft was a good one. The talent was unusually deep and many teams got what they wanted and needed. However, everyone c an't go in the top 10, and there were quite a few players who got ov erlooked. Brian Cook, a forward out of Illinois University, was chosen by the LA. Lakers at No. 24.1 believe Cook will make an excellent NBA player and has time and his current situation on his side. As a backup for the newly acquired Karl Malone, Cook will not see much playing time this year, especially since he is starting out with an juryHowever, he will gain important experience watching and practicing with one of the greatest power forwards to ever play the game. I le also has the chance to be on a team that wins an NBA championship, which isinvaluableexperience, not to mention luck that very few rookies are fortunate enough to stumble upon. While at Illinois, Cook showed great potential for the ability to score and rebound in the NBA. I le also has range, as exhibited from bis capability tohit from beyond the arc. This is important in today's game where t he power forward position has changed. When Cook came to Illinois as a sophomore, the team was laden with talent. Bu t by h i s sen ior year Cook was the only major contributor left from the team that made it to the f.litc Light in the NCAA f inal four Tournament. He stepped up and led the team, averaging 20 points and 8 rebounds in bis senior year and became the Unquestioned leader. With Malone close to retirement, Cook has a bright future ahead of him as the starting power forward foi L A. Regardless of his low jiiek, Cook will add other, more significant numbers to make ah impact in the NBA. He will join players such as Morris Peterson from the Toronto Raptors, Knhhy Jackson from the Sacramento Kings and Indiana’s own Al I larrington who were all picked lovvei than No. 20 anil are definite future stars in the league.

Business • Classifieds Sports

D SECTION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2003

Retiring Dullaghan leaves awesome legacy at Ben Davis

By ERICKA P. THOMPSON Staff Writer Friday nights is what Dick Dullaghan is going to miss the most. T le’s going to miss the competitive spirit ofthe games and the motivation of his players. Since 1984 he has been the head football coach at Ben Davis High School and has coached seven state championship teams, two state run-ner-up teams and one Associated Press national championship team there. “1 didn’t even tell my wife I was retiring first,” he said. “I announced it to the team and coaches at the football banquet. I wanted to be up front with them and give them time to adjust to the news. The Lord guided me to my resignation and directed me when to tell

everyone.” Because of Dullaghan, when you think of Ben Davis football you think of good coaching and a history' of winners and this year’s team is trying to carry on that tradition. After winning the state crown last season, the team is poised at 8-1 going into sectionals. Their only loss coming from Warren Central, the players are more than ready to give their coach the ultimate retirement present. “It is real important to us that we win state this year because w e want to give coach something to go out with,” said junior linebacker Richard El. El describes Dullaghan as “old school.” “He uses the same plays he used when he first started coaching and they still work,” he said. “He knows what he’s doing and he makes us feel confident and in

turn we play harder.” Many of the Giants say that their team unity is also the cause of their many victories. “We play as a team,” said senior defensive end Mychal Byrd. “We help each other and if one of us gets frustrated, we pick each other up. I think because of that we get better every w eek. It works well for us.” Dullaghan loves the way his team w orks together and that joy is the reason he’s been coaching for 37 years. “Coaching has been very rewarding. It impacts lives and you get to see the results of your labor,” he said. “1 force the players to work on their weaknesses and enhance their skills and the joy is watching them play on Friday night and perform to their potential.” And the players have been impacted greatly by their coach.

“I don’t know anything different than coach,” said Byrd. “The biggest lesson he’s taught me is to do the little things to get ahead. He’s taught me to work hard on my technique because you never know when your opponent is getting better than you.” Though the season is not quite over and many challenges lie ahead on the way to another state championship, one thing for sure is that Ben Davis and the state of Indiana is going to miss coach Dullaghan. He’s considered a legend in Indiana because of his overall record of 302-56 and an 84 percent winning percentage at Ben Davis. And in the words of a legend, “If you don’t play football with passion, you can’t play football. You have to put your heart into it.” I’m sure his team would agree.

Baseball fans can relive Negro League AII-STar game By JOSHUA COHEN the game, leading listeners Staff Writer through 11 innings of exciting baseball. He had trouble at points The Major League Baseball calling a game that he wasn’t acWorld Series is well under way tually looking at. However, and will soon be over, with the through most ofthe CD I actually New York Yankees winning felt as though it were happening their 27"' Fall Classic, or the in real-time and the effects such Florida Marlins winning only as crowd noise added to the realtheir 2"". ism. If you’re anything like me, When the CD came on, I was the Series is as sad of a time as transported back to the time when it is exciting, because it signi- America still didn’t have enough Ties the end ofthe baseball sea- tolerance to allow Blacks to inteson. However, thanks to Kyle grate with whites, and this inMcNary, a Negro League base- eluded most sports. Discriminaball historian, you can listen to tion was so bad that nobody even baseball long after the last had the foresight to broadcast this homerun has been hit and the game, w hich is why McNary delast strike has been thrown. cided it was time somebody gave McNary, through a pas- these players the tribute they desion and love for baseball serve. and a respect for the Negro Pappenfus guides you through League players w ho excelled the entire game, pitch by pitch, at the sport long before with every hit, error and score Jackie Robinson broke into that crossed the plate, the Majors, compiled the ThisCDisdefinitelyentertainstatistics from the 1935 Ne- ing, as well as being a historical gro League East-West All- gem. It is perfect for a long car Star game. ride or a day when you’re perThe game took place on a forming work around the house sunny day in August at and want to listen to a great ball Comiskey Park in Chicago. Leg- > game. ends such as Cool Papa Bell, The CD can be purchased on JoshGibson and Martin Dihigo McNary’s site, played in this classic game www.pitchblackbaseball.com, where the West All-Stars won where he also offers books, memoin 11-8. rabilia and information associTony Pappenfus announced ated with the Negro .League.

WEEK IN REVIEW

Quincy Lewis (left) of the Minnesota Tlmberwolves tries to drive by Ron Artest as the Pacers win 96-93. Artest had a game high 30 points, seven boards and six assists. (Photo/W. Thomas)

Titus Austin, running back for the Arsenal Technical Titans, gains a first down as Robert McDaniels, also a running back for the Titans, blocks Northwest High School defender Craig Jones. Tech lost In a heartbreaker 22-21, their 30 >r consecutive loss. (Photo/J. Hurst)

What are the Indiana Fever doin

season?

Special to The Recorder I A*itfli A/.i/ Aziz played with a team sponsored by the U.S. Basketball Ac ademy that toured parts of China during late September and early October. She is developing her skills throughout the offseason by playing overseas or conditioning with Fever coaches. Corctta Knm n Brown was selected to participate with a WNBA Select Team at the FIBA World Cup in Samaras, Russia, Oct. 14-19.

The remainder of Brown’s offseason is unknown, hut it is likely she will spend timetraining in Indy. Tam ika Catch ings Cutchings is spending her offseason in Indy training for the 2004 season and the upcoming Summer Olympics. She was recently selected as one of seven core members ofthe U.S. Senior National Team. Catchings will also conduct her own basketball campsand clinics between Indianapolis and her hometown of I limcanville, Texas. ► Sec FEVER, Page D7 Catchings conducts her own basketball camps.