Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 September 2005 — Page 31

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2005

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

PAGE D7

Is swimming the next great African-American sport?

Queen City Dolphins coach Rodney Sellars instructs Harvey Agurs III

during a recent practice in Charlotte.

By HERB WHITE From AOL Black Voices

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Kai Hickson’s Olympic dream begins with a splash. Three times a week, the 12-year-old trains with the Queen City Dolphins, working on technique and strategy at the Mecklenburg Aquatic Center. He’s at home in the water, a prerequisite for such

lofty goals.

“I like diving in,” he said. “I want to go to the

Olympics.”

While that’s part of competitive swimming, Kai and his teammates are growing the sport among African Americans. The Dolphins are among a growing number of predominantly Black clubs takingto the pools across the United States. Major urban areas including Philadelphia, Washington, Chicago, Atlanta and Detroit have teams, and their swimmers travel to meets across the country. The Dolphins, who have officially been a team for just six months, are young but determined. The team’s existence is due to its coaches, Rodney Sellars and Marcus Green, both former college

swimmers.

“A lot of them have excelled,” said Green, who went to Florida A&M. “They’ve gone from doing maybe one lap to 20 laps. A lot of these kids have excelled, and that’s because of consistency. The kids that have been here every practice since we started have benefited.” Few African Americans have risen to the upper echelon of swimming. The U.S. Olympic team has had only two Black swimmers in its history. Of the 140,000 members of USA Swimming nationwide who identified their race via questionnaire, only 1 percent checked African American. USA Swimming, which sanctions 2,700 clubs and the Olympic program, has 280,000 swimmers among its 300,000 members. “When you’re dealing with lower-income socio-economic groups or ethnic groups, there are fewer people who know how to swim than people from upper-class or middle-class

backgrounds,” said Pat Hogan, USA Swimming’s club development director. USA Swimming has launched initiatives to increase Af-rican-American participation by encouraging new clubs in urban areas and community-oriented water safety programs. Growth has been slow, but noticeable. “Our focus for many years has been to encourage existing programs to seek more diversity,” he said. “There are several clubs that serve disadvantaged youth in urban areas, but we probably don’t have 50 clubs in the country at this point. While we’re more diverse than we were 10 yeas ago, we’re not satisfied with where we are.” The only Blacks to make the U.S. Olympic team, however, have won medals. Anthony Ervin earned a gold in 2000 and Maritza Correia won a silver in 2004. Correia was a major attraction at the

Charlotte meet, signing autographs and offering encouragement to the swimmers. “This whole experience is incredible,” she said. “It’s one of the first meets I’ve been to with so many African Americans. It’s a different feeling, but it’s awesome.” There’s a feeling of change at the grassroots level. In May, Charlotte hosted its third annual National Black Heritage Championship Swim Meet. More than 450 minority swimmers from 10 states competed over two days. Similar heritage meets are held in other major cities, which helps expose swimming as an alternative to traditional stick-and-ball sports. “We’re giving them more options than football and basketball,” Green said. “I went to FAMU on a swimming scholarship, so back in the day I got paid to swim in college.” The Queen City Dolphins range in age from 8-14, although the coaches will take anyone of any ethnicity, up to age 18. The cost of participation is $30 per month and practices are held three nights a week. Kenya Dunn, 11, enjoys Dolphins practice, especially the social aspect of working toward team goals. “I get to swim with my friends,” she said. “I like swimming because it’s hard but it helps you grow and it’s exercise.” Why don’t more Blacks participate on swim teams? Cost has been a barrier, as well as the lack of resources in Afri-can-American communities. To Harvey Agurs II, whose son Harvey III is a Dolphin, the tallest hurdle is the perception that many Blacks harbor. Expense is an issue, but there are cultural barriers, too. Like hockey, golf and tennis, swimming is often perceived as a white sport. “I think it’s a stereotype myself,” the elder Agurs says. “I was in the Navy and I did a lot of diving. If you see these kids, they take to the water like it’s normal. It is expensive, but sometimes that sacrifice needs to be made.” As a sport outside the mainstream in the United States, swimming struggles to get the best athletes at an early age, Hogan said. Developing a deep pool of young Black talent now can only help improve the country’s world-class depth.

SPORTS BRIEFS

Pacers deal James Jones to Phoenix PHOENIX (AP) - The Phoenix Suns completed a deal to acquire restricted free agent James Jones from the Indiana Pacers last week. The Pacers will get a second-round draft pick in 2008 for the swingman. Under the sign-and-trade deal, Jones got a four-year contract with the fourth year at the player's option. He ranked 25th in the NBA in 3-point field goal percentage (.398) last season. He averaged 4.9 points and 2.3 rebounds last season. The Pacers wanted to keep Jones, but they are about $10 million over the luxury tax threshold. Teams that exceed the $61.7 million threshold must pay a dollar-for-dollar tax on the excess. "We hate to let James go, but because of the balance of our team now, it is best for both he and our

team to make this move,” Pacers CEO and president Donnie Walsh said. Jones started 24 games and played in 75 in his second season out of Miami. He scored a career-high 27 points last November against Seattle. Walsh said Jones was particularly strong when he stepped into the starting lineup. He averaged 7.1 points and 3.7 rebounds as a starter after Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O'Neal were suspended for the brawl with Detroit Pistons fans. "I think he certainly showed he could play when he got playing time,” Walsh said. IUPUI announces women’s basketball schedule The IUPUI athletics department recently released its women's basketball schedule, which includes 12 home games. The Jaguars finished last season with a 7-21 overall record and 5-11 mark in the Mid-Continent Conference. They will return nine letter winners and three starters from last year's team. It will be the second year for head coach Shann Hart. IUPUI will open the season with seven consecutive games away from home. The first home game will take place Saturday, Dec. 17 against Eastern Illinois. Golf classic event The Mental Health Association in Marion County is hosting the 2005 Golf Classic Monday, Sept. 19 at the Country Club of Indianapolis, 2801 Country Club Road. The cost of the event is $150 per player and $600 for a group of four. Proceeds will benefit the programs and services of the Mental Health Association in Marion County. For information contact Jennifer at (317)251-0005 or log onto www.mcmha. org.

WBC president urges Roy Jones to get medical approval for Oct. 1 fight

Roy Jones Jr.

HEAD: MEXICO CITY (AP) — The president of the World Boxing Council said Monday that boxer Roy Jones Jr. should undergo intensive neurological testing before his Oct. 1 fight with Antonio Tarver. The Mexico City-based boxing organization said in a news release that it was “deeply concerned” about the fight because Jones was knocked out in his last two fights. “We believe that (Jones) should have a solid economic position to live comfortably for the rest of his life, and he shouldn’t let — for any reason — his pride as a great champion push him to risk his health or his life,” WBC president Jose Sulaiman said in the statement. Sulaiman urged Jones to get

medical approval to participate in the fight “to eliminate doubts or health risks, especially in times like these when we are seeing accidents likely caused when athletes push themselves beyond what humans can tolerate.” Tarver knocked out Jones in the second round in May 2004 to keep the WBC title. Jones won their first bout in a close 12-round decision in November 2003 to win the championship. Jones was knocked out by Glen Johnson in September 2004 Tarver, 23-3 with 18 knockouts, scored a one-punch knockout of Jones in the second fight. He landed only seven punches total, but a left rocked Jones at 1:41 of the second round. The two are scheduled to fight again Oct. 1 in Tampa, Fla.

ClareN' cut made official as Broncos release 14

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Broncos released Maurice Clarett, quarterback Danny Kanell and veteran defensive linemen Luther Elliss and Raylee Johnson on Tuesday, making official moves they earlier told the players about. Also released were tight end Patrick Hape, quarterback Chad Friehauf, wide receivers B. J. Johnson and Romar Crenshaw, running back Kris Briggs, linebacker Markus Steele, guards Tim Stuber and Cameron Spikes and cornerbacks Rod Babers and

Jeff Shoate.

Defensive end Chuckie Nwokorie was placed on the injured-reserve list with a left leg injury. Clarett’s release was reported Sunday, soon after coach Mike Shanahan notified him he would be cut. The third-round draft pick goes on waivers for 24 hours and if nobody picks him up, he is free to negotiate with any team. Clarett missed about two weeks of practice with a nagging groin injury that prevented him from making the trip to Houston, where the Broncos practiced three days and played the Texans in their

preseason opener.

When the Broncos returned from the trip, Shanahan was no longer in the mood to defend the player he took a chance on, saying instead that he couldn’t evaluate Clarett if he wasn’t at practice. Last week, Shanahan said he planned on getting Clarett some playing time Friday in Denver’s preseason finale against Arizona. But when Quentin Griffin made his preseason debut last Saturday against the Colts and showed his surgically repaired knee was healthy, the Broncos knew they

Maurice Clarett

had their foursome at tailback: Griffin, Ron Dayne, Tatum Bell and Mike Anderson. Friehauf last year set Division II NCAA single-season records with yards passing with 4,646, and completions, with 384, as he led Colorado School of Mines to its first playoff appearance in the school’s 131-year history.

Join the digital age! Get the Latest news and information from the Indianapolis Rerorder's website.

www.mdiDnDpoli5rEiDrdEr.rDin

A NEWSPAPER. 2901 N.TacomaAve.*Indianapolis,In46218‘Telephone: 317.924.5143

pai-.f ±t n?

TVAM MAr.FMTA

Rl ATK