Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 January 2004 — Page 29

FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2004

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

PAGE D5

BRONCOS WAITING

Coirs end regular season as division champs

By BARATO BRITT Rccortftr Correspondent Now the fun begins. The AFC South champion Indianapolis Colts ended the regular season as they hoped to, with a division crown and a home playoff game this weekend. The only problem is that their fate was in doubt until the final second of their season finale. Trailing late Sunday against the division rival Houston Texans, the Colts capitalized on a late interception by David Carr to tie the game with a little over three minutes remaining in the game. In the end, kicker Mike Vanderjagt’s record-breaking41st consecutive field goal proved to be his most important yet, sinking a 43 yarder to end the game and give the Colts their first AFC South title. Had not for another Houston late game collapse, the Colts could have very well been heading to Baltimore to face the Ravens and standout running back Jamal Lewis, who gained 2,066 rushing yards this season, 39 yards from the single season record set by Eric Dickerson 19 years ago. Instead, the 12-4 Colts achieved their season goal, and have only to deal with a Denver Broncos team that trounced them at home

Denver Bronco strong safety Nick Ferguson (No. 25) bats the ball out the way of Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison during

the Colts 31-1/ loss two weeks ago.

Corner back Nick Harper (No. 25) tackles Bronco running back Quentin Griffin. This season, Harper has had 84 tackles and four interceptions. (Photos/W. Thomas)

the Colts still have what it takes to gain that elusive playoff victory. Each component of the Colts high-powered offensive attack looks to be clicking on all cylinders at the right time. Running back Edgerrin James is looking more and more like his old self, with a season best 171 rushing yards on 27 carries Sunday. Marvin Harrison had a sub par year by his standards, but 94 receptions and 10 touchdowns is still pro-bowl worthy, and better than most receivers in the League. Manning, one ofthe front-run-ners for MVP honors, will enter Sunday’s playoff game ready to exorcise the playoff demon that continues to be the biggest knock on the pro-bowl QB. Throughout the season. Manning displayed poise late in games, and utilized his weapons to the tune of another 4,000-yard season, highlighted by 29 touchdown strikes. The Colts’ offense, however, remains the least of their worries

this playoff season.

The defense can only be de- ’ scribed as inconsistent, showing both an ability to completely shut down foes like Michael Vick, only to get busted up by the likes of rookie Quentin Griffin. At times, the defense looks worth its new hip-hop moniker; but too many times, that defense appears to get

two weeks ago without arguably opposing offenses “crunk." But their best weapon in running there is little doubt the Colts deback, Clinton Portis. fensewillbeupforthisweekend’s The 31-17 loss showcased the battle, knowing what to expect Broncos’ athleticism and speed from a team they failed to contain on defense and deep running at- only tw r o weeks ago. tack, w’hile exposing the Colts’ With retribution on their inability to shut down the run. minds, and having seen w hat not Portis, along with quarterback to do against Denver, the Colts Jake Plummer will be rested and remain in the best position to adready for Sunday’s showdown, vance as they have been in the both having sat out against the Dungy/Manning era. They begin playoff-bound Green Bay Pack- this year’s playoffs exactly where ers Sunday. they wanted, in the RCA Dome While the week 16 debacle has with one of the league’s most to be on their minds, the Colts booming crowds, must avoid the same compla- ThiscomingSundayafternoon, cency and confusion that led to the Colts will be ill served to leave such a demoralizing defeat. Now doubt of the outcome as they did that the real season has begun, late to end the regular season. At however, the regular season’s this time of the year, doubt only mishaps and triumphs are all gives w’ay to defeat, thrown out. What matters now is Kickoff for Sunday’s playoff simply survival. And on paper, game is 4:30.

Black golfer one step away from making PGA Tour

By VAUGHN WILSON Special to the NNPA From the Capital Outlook TALLHASSEE, Fla. (NNPA) — One would imagine that if a man could hit 300-yard drives, soft middle irons and wedges into greens and putt with touch and precision, he would be a lock to get a shot at the Professional Golfers Association Tour. Unfortunately, that is not all it takes, and with a highly skilled player such as Tallahassee’s Kris Hannah still taking his shots, it becomes obvious that the PGA Tour is made up of quite a select group. Hannah has all of the accolades of an accomplished golfer. He was chosen Big Bend player of the year in 1996 and 1997 as a junior and senior at Leon High School. During that same year he won four of the five junior golf tournaments he entered. He accepted a full golf scholarship to Florida State University and competed in the Atlantic Coast Conference and against the nation’s best college players. He

traveled and participated as a freshman and lettered four years. He w'on six events as an amateur since attending FSU and won two events after tu ruing professional. Recently, Hannah participated in his first PGA Qualifying Tournament. He started offwith an8-under-par64,but stumbled at the fi nal two holes on the fourth and final day to miss the cut by one stroke. If he had gotten to the second level of Q-School he would have assured himself badly-needed attention and separated himself from the crowd. Playing without a caddie, it’s a wonder he excelled at the level he achieved at Q-School. Hannah was not always into golf. He started playing at the age of 12. ‘ My father taught me basketball and baseball when 1 was young,” he said. Born in Atlanta, Hannah was reared there until his family relocated to Tallahassee. While he was in Atlanta, his Smyrna community basketball league chose him to compete on the all-star

team which played some international teams, including some from Barcelona, Spain. "I broke my ankle while playingin that league and that’s when 1 started concentrating on less strenuous, lifetime sports,” Hannah said. That’s when he got serious about golf. ‘The man," is how Hannah describes his father and the influence on his life and success in golf. ‘Without his moral and financial support none of this wpuld he possible," he added. “’Sometimes it’s rough out there and you need that model who you can always count on to say the right thing at the right time,” he said. ‘The game now is all mental for me,” Hannah said. Plainly put, he feels he has the necessary physical skills to compete at the PGA Tour level, but it is the access and focus that are his biggest inhibitors. * ‘’People just don’t know what a financial drain it can be attempting to get on this tour,” he said. ‘Q-School costs $4,000 to enter,” he said. ‘’Once the money

is gone, it’s gone. The main reason I didn’t have a caddie was because it did not fit financially with what I had to work with.” Hannah has been getting financial help from various sources in order to pursue his tour card. ’’I have had some very good support, but in order to continue, I need at least that support again,” he said. Hannah feels it’s just a matter of time before he becomes a fulltime tour player. ‘There are plenty of opportunities for minorities to go to school on golf scholarships, but there is nothing in place to help them pursue the next level,” he said. ‘T hope that there can be a situation wh£re at some point I don’t have to raise money for my entry fees to Q-School and the tournaments as w'ell, but just concentrateon playingasdo my counterparts." Hannah plans to earn his fulltime status in the next few years. ‘Through Q-School, Monday qualify ingor sponsors exemption I will make it,” he said. ’’I want to get where all I have to concentrate on is golf"

Zina Garrison named captain of Fed Cup Team

BlackAthlete.com WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - USTA President Alan Schwartz selected Zina Garrison as captain of the 2004 United States Fed Cup team. Garrison, who has served as the squad’s coach since 1999, succeeds captain Billie Jean King, who will continue her longstanding Fed Cup involvement as U.S. Fed Cup team coach. Garrison becomes the first Af-rican-American captain in the 40year history of the women’s international team competition and the 18th U.S. Fed Cup captain. She will make her debut as cap-

tain when the United States faces Slovenia in the 2004 World Group‘First Round April 24-2. r > in Slovenia. Garrison, 40, represented the U.S. on eight Fed Cup teams from 1984 through 1994, helping the United States win three titles during that period. An active supporter of grassroots tennis and education programs for children, Garrison also serves as a volunteer consultant to the Washington Tennis and Education Foundation and the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center in the nation’s capital. A long-time activist for inner-

cityyouth, Garrison achieved a lifelong dream in 1991 with the opening of the Zina Garrison All-Court Tennis Academy in her hometown of Houston; the program continues to be one of the leading youth programs of its kind. I ler community outreach efforts have been recognized by the International Tennis Federation and the State of Texas, including induction into the Texas Women's 1 lull of Fame and the Texas Tennis I lall of Fame in 1996-97- Garrison also was the inaugural recipient ofthe Family Circle Magazine “Player Who Makes A Difference Award" in 1992.

The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. It owns and operates the US Open, the largest annually attended sporting event in the world. In addition, it owns the 96 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S., and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. A not-for-profit organization with more than 670,000 members, it invests 100 percent of its proceeds to promote and develop the growth of tennis, from the grass roots to the professional levels. For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com.

HIGH SCHOOL ACTION

During the North Central Holiday Basketball Tournament, North Central's Amber Harris (No. 42) was double-teamed by Chatard's Sarah Weber (No. 32) and Kelly Gardner (No. 12).

Harris smiles as she cut down the net after North Central beat Chatard 63-36.

During the boys game at the holiday tournament, North Central's A.J. Ratliff fails to block Chatard's Dray Mason’s shot. N.C. won 72-61 and Ratliff had a game high 26 points. (Photos/J. Hurst)

MANNING ► Continued from Page 6 “I'm pretty excited and the was like another coach. He credreeords and the recognition its them to being his two biggest feels pretty good." he said. fans. Manning has been so excited “Ces’are knows that his educaabout the playing in the Cactus tion is very important and with Bowl and the possibilities of that education hew ill always have playing among the best in the something to fall back on," said NFL that lie’s done research to Betsy. “I’m very proud of him. We find 2f> athletes from the Cac- knew he w as very good and he set tus Bowl have been drafted, two goals and has proceeded to reach from U of I. them." The senior majoring in Although as a child Manning graphic design says his mom was called "Little Randy Moss" Betsyconstantlyeheckedon his soon some little leaguer may be grades and his father George nicknamed, “Little Ces’are.”