Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 September 2005 — Page 32

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2005

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

PAGE D8

Snoop's football league sparks controversy

(AP) — Snoop Dogg’s new youth football league is drawing corporate endorsements, talented coaches - and catcalls from long-established teams that are losing players to the entertainer’s latest project. Two years ago, Snoop began coaching his son’s team in the Orange County Junior All-American Football Conference, luring children from other squads with his star power. Players watched game video inside a trickedout school bus equipped with DVD players, TV screens and a booming sound system. The rapper and sometime actor also made personal phone calls to draw in top talent, and last year his Rowland Raiders went undefeated en route to a league championship. They also went on to win the “Snooperbowl,” held a day before the Super Bowl, and took home custom-made trophies donated by Tiffany & Co. for their effort. Snoop, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, is taking things to the next

level this year, creating his own Southern California league. He lowered fees for joining a team from $175 or more to $100, which covers the cost of cleats and pads. He also loosened residency requirements. Amovie documentingthe effort, and titled “Coach Snoop,” is reported to be in the works. “It’s so easy for a kid to join a gang, to do drugs,” Snoop said. “We should make it that easy to be involved in football and academics.” Children and some coaches have flocked to the eight-chapter Snoop Youth Football League, leaving supporters of old leagues dejected and wondering whether they were used. “I’m mad at Coach Snoop,” said 10-year-old Xavier Bernal, a player for the Rowland Raiders. “He was so cool; he told me to play my heart out and to play everything I’ve got. But now I just want to ask him, why did he take all our players?” The Raiders last year fielded nine

squads of players ages 5 to 14. This year, the teams have dwindled to three squads and the cheerleading team has shrunk from 80 girls to nine. A Snoop chapter in Compton - the Vikings - has similarly trumped the long-established Compton Titans, which dipped from 12 teams to five this year. Even the team Snoop played for as a youngster, the Long Beach Poly Junior Jackrabbits, is struggling. “This has affected us in a terrible way,” said Sarah L. Morrison, the chapter president. “I don’t know if our program will exist after this season.” Sponsors of Snoop’s new league include a new cell phone company called Amp’d Mobile. A former youth football teammate of the rapper, pro linebacker Willie McGinest, has donated money and helped coach in Snoop’s Long Beach chapter. He’s sanguine about the inter-league controversy. “This is a chance for us to save our community and to get our kids back,” McGinest said.

COLTS ► Continued from D12

be a long night.” The Colts have endured a long preseason in fact. Not only was their training camp interrupted by a taxing trip to Tokyo, the team has recovered slowly from what appears to be a grueling 5game preseason schedule. The Colts have had to do things alittle differently since players reported earlier this summer, from laying off on some practice time, to the lack of adequate preparation time for their preseason foes. The combination of each may be the cause for their lack of cohesion and at times sloppy play in each of their four losses. Whatever the reason for their recent malaise, no one in the Colts camp is panicking. To trip on a record that disappears in less than a week is strictly for media or fans that are looking for any reason to jump off the team’s bandwagon. Not yet having played a meaningful game, the team’s veterans are reminding all that a lousy preseason record does not a season make. “If you just take away the little mind plays and a couple of mental blocks, we’ve easily got 30-something points on the board,” said Reggie Wayne, who committed a fumble in addition to atouchdown snag from Manning. “We capitalize on those and continue to do our thing, we’ll be fine. “We’ve still got another preseason game to get some things going, get some

momentum going. That’s how we’re looking at it,” he added. Though by their own admission the defense was clearly out of sync, the unit is equally optimistic they can correct errors once each of their full complement plays together, as has not been the case thus far. Still, Dungy maintains the defense will improve as the preseason winds down. The Colts will see their final preseason opponent Sept. 2, when they head to Cincinnati to face an up and coming Bengals team that is looking to make a serious run to the playoffs this year after two consecutive 8-8 seasons. The Colts will have ample time to prepare but their starters are not expected to see as much playing time as last week’s match-up. Additionally, the Colts will enter today’s game with a trimmed down roster, as the first round of cuts took place this week. The game outcome is far from a foregone conclusion, and though they remain winless, it may even still be irrelevant. While those that focus on their practice record sweat the panic button, the Colts instead will worry about the little things, knowing that if and when corrected, their preseason experience will be an afterthought. “Don’t worry about us, we’re going to do our thing,” reminded running back Edgerrin James. “We’ll be all right.”

Colts running back Edgerrin James encourages fans about the team's promise. "Don't worry about us,'' he says. "We'll be all right."

During Colts quarterback Peyton Manning's annual PeyBack Bowl, Colts receiver Reggie Wayne (top) signs a helmet for charity and (above) Pacer rookie Danny Granger focuses on the lane. The PeyBack Bowl raises money for the quarterback's PeyBack Foundation, which promotes the future success of disadvantaged youths. (Photos/ W. Thomas)

POINT Continued from D12 first Greyhound to an HBCU. I like what Willingham is doing. Keeping to himself and letting his players do the talking. “Coach Willingham brings new light, new blood into the program,” said center Brad Vanneman. Running back Kenny James adds, “Having coach Willingham come in is the best thing that could’ve happened. He’s the best coach for the job.” If he opens his mouth and says too

much it’ll come back and bite him in the you know what. I’m being forced to eat a big bowl of crow this week. In the beginning of the WNBA season I said that the Indiana Fever wouldn’t make the playoffs. I thought that once again Tamika Catchings would be the only passionate player that played tough every game.

I was wrong. Every player on the Fever roster brought their A game every night. Even head coach Brian Winters proved that last year was just a learning experience for him. Not only are the Fever in the playoffs for the second time in franchise history, they’re enjoying the best season to date. As a Fever fan, I’m glad I was wrong.

NORTHWEST Continued from D12

300-pound lineman named Robert Battle who every Division I football team wants a piece of. His mailing list includes Louisville, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Illinois, UCLA, Nebraska, Boston College, Ohio, Ball State, IU and Notre Dame McMitchell describes him in one word, “Tough.” “Robert, along with a lot of our guys are capable of playing at the next level,” he said. But for now, the focus at hand is Northwest football and with a favorable schedule, a push towards the 5A state title is a doable goal though they’d have to get by Warren Central and Ben Davis. Warren won the two previous 5A titles and Ben Davis won three out of four from 1999-2003. “We have to continue to practice hard,” said senior running back Keenan Hampton. “Play like a team and stay together. We have the biggest and best (offense) in the state, I think, so if we play like we did against (Ritter) we’ll go to state.”

“We have so many weapons. We can’t be stopped in any position on the field,” added senior offensive lineman Jeremy Luke. “If we can’t run the ball, we’ll pass. If we can’t pass, we’ll run. Everybody clicks. We want a state championship and this is the year we have to do it.” Practicing hard and often since the beginning of the summer, McMitchell believes that his team understands what it takes to win in the post season. “WeVebeenliftingweights and running since January, and we’ve been challenging other teams since the summer,” he said. “Our team has the goal to challenge a team for a state championship. Rebounding from the Lebanon game shows our talent. Even our backups are talented. Our depth is our strength.” And for Battle and the other 21 seniors, this is all she wrote. “After Sectionals it’s win or go home,” said Battle. “As seniors we don’t have another year.”

Northwest junior quarterback David Roberson takes the game into his own hands during the team's 59-14 victory over Ritter. (Photo/J. Hurst)

High school football schedule Sept. 2 All games played at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Home teams are listed first. Bloomington North (1-1) vs. Lawrence Central (1-1) Bloomington South (1-1) vs. Perry Meridian (0-2) Cathedral (2-0) vs. Cincinnati St. Xavier (Ohio) (1-0) Chatard (2-0) vs. Roncalli (2-0) at Broad Ripple Howe (0-2) vs. Arlington (0-2) Manual (0-2) vs. Broad Ripple (0-2) Pike (0-2) vs. Martinsville (2-0) Park Tudor (2-0) vs. Scecina (0-2) Providence (1-1) vs. Ritter (1-1) Washington (0-2) vs. Brebeuf Jesuit (2-0) Don't miss: Warren Central (2-0) vs. Ben Davis (2-0) North Central (2-0) vs. Lawrence North (2-0)

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