Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 December 2005 — Page 30

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2005

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

PAGE D8

Sean May: the education of an NBA rookie

By AARON SUMMER Special to the NNPA From the Charlotte Post

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (NNPA) - As the son of storied Indiana University player Scott May and a vital cog in the reigning NCAA national champions, there should have been no questions about Sean May when he declared for the NBA draft after his junior season. After all, his fundamentals were solid and his heart was unquestioned, particularly given how well documented his workout regimen and physical transformation had been while at the University of North Carolina. Yet, in a league so prone to labeling players, questions about May, who graduated from high school in Bloomington, Ind., presented a problem. Where will he play? Is he a small forward or a power forward? How will he play? Is he a power guy or a finesse player? Is he a first-round talent? Or did the Charlotte Bobcats select him in a public relations move? Out of these questions, the pundits did eventually label May, though the designation was more derisive than distinguished. May was given the dreaded label of ‘tweener, a man caught between positions and roles. "I don’t know what a ‘tweener’ is,” said May, only half-facetiously. ‘T’m a basketball player. I come out on the floor and try to make things happen.” Tweener or not, May has let his game

do the talking. Through his first nine games with the Bobcats, May was averaging almost 10 points and five rebounds per game, fourth and sixth among rookies in those categories, respectively. ‘I’m confident in my abilities,” said May "Otherwise, I wouldn’t have left school early. I know that I can play at this level. By no means am I where I need to be - I still have a lot to learn about this game. That’s part of being a rookiegetting up every day, making mistakes, and playing through those mistakes. But I’m definitely confident in my abilities and I know I can play the game in this league.” The learning curve has been short for May, as it took him just eight games to register his first double-double, a 15 point, 10 rebound performance against

the Orlando Magic. One game earlier, May established a career high in points (18) and steals (five) against the Miami Heat. But while May enjoyed the personal achievements against the Magic and the Heat, the performances were bittersweet, both logged in losses. Thus, May appreciated his subsequent performance even more, a 15-point, 8 rebound effort in a home rout of the Indiana Pacers. May registered just two points in the first quarter but poured in 13 over the final three quarters, shooting 7-of-ll from the field amid cheers from the Charlotte faithful. "The feeling is better when you win,” said May. "The attitude and the way everybody feels is so much better when you win. But every night, especially being young in this league, I’m just going out and trying to establish myself, trying to prove that I belong on the floor and can do certain things.” While he would love to shed the tweener label, May prefers to focus on that which he can control himself: his own play. In the meantime, he turns to some past and current NBA greats for inspiration. "Charles Barkley is a ‘tweener,’” pointed out May. "Corlis Williamson has established himself in this league and he’s a tweener. Elton Brand is one of the best players in this league, and he’s no bigger than 6’8”. If you’re effective, you’re effective. As soon as you come in this league, guys want to give you a label, and that’s fine. Until I prove myself, I’ll be a ‘tweener.’”

Ohio State buddies Lawrence North point guard Mike Conley eyes the defense of Lawrence Central before making a play during the Key Bank Tip Off Classic. Lawrence North won 63-33.

Seven-foot Lawrence North center Greg Oden dunks during the game. Oden and Conley will play basketball together next year at Ohio State. (Photos/J. Hurst)

POINTS

► Continued from D7 I get very defensive when I hear people, especially women say that EVERY woman that plays basketball is gay. Not only do they sound ignorant and homophobic but also callous, cynical and stupid. I sat in the beauty shop last week and listened to women who are probably looked at as role models to young women rant and rave about gay women and basketball. I heard everything from “I wouldn’t dare do a woman’s hair if she was gay” to “I wouldn’t look a gay woman in the eye if she walked in here” to “I knew she was gay because she had on basketball shorts and coaches basketball.” After I did some ranting and raving on behalf of the women who play basketball who aren’t gay, I sat underneath a hair dryer next to a young lady who told me that she played basketball and was not gay. She was 16 years old. All I could do was apologize that she was being judged by women who didn’t know the sport and didn’t know her. I was even accused of being gay because I was so defensive. But someone needed to be. I was defending all the girls who have basketball in their hearts but are afraid to play because they’ll be looked at as gay. I was defending all the girls who have to listen to such nonsense, close-mind-ed comments from their mothers, aunts, cousins, sisters and beauticians. I was defending my daughter’s future and your daughter’s future - if they decide to play basketball - by standing up for their right to play without being judged. I’m not gay and I’m sure my boyfriend would love to defend me. I do however stand up for what’s right. And judging people based on inaccurate information and homophobic tendencies isn’t right. I’ve learned my lesson because being judgmental can be damaging.

Houston Comets forwardSheryl Swoopes opened the steel door of homosexuality in sports a little wider recently when she admitted that she was a lesbian.

Wooden Tradition Xavier's Justin Cage looks to make a play during the John R. Wooden Tradition recently held at Conseco Fieldhouse. Cage is a former Pike High School player.

Stanley Burrell, a former Ben Davis High School player shows off Xavier's trophy for winning the Tradition. Burrell scored 16 points to help Xavier beat Purdue 74-55. (Photos/J. Hurst)

FOR AS LITTLE AS $10

PACERS VS. MAVERICKS Tuesday, December 6, at 7:00pm See NBA All-Star Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks in their only visit to Conseco Fieldhouse.

PACERS VS. WIZARDS Thursday, December 8, at 8:00pm Don’t miss Gilbert Arenas and former ID standout Jared Jeffries. PACERS VS. GRIZZLIES Saturday December 10, at 8:00pm First 9,000 fans receive a Pacers Flag, courtesy of FSN Midwest.

Get Your Ticket Now! Great Seats at $10, $20 and $30 For tickets call (800) 4NBA-TIX or visit the Conseco Fieldhouse Box Office, TicketMaster locations or PACERS.com

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