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Page B2*The Chronicle, Thursday, February 2, 1
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SPORTS WE
Black College Sports
Black college all
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By BARRY COOPER
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TAMPA, Fla. -- For high school athletes who decide to
attend historically black diversities, two things are certain:
They'll get less media exposure than those who play
for bigger schools, and attending a small college will cost
them money when the time comes, if it does, to negotiate
a professional contract.
At least that's the opinion of five former black college
standouts who played in Super Bowl XVIII. Otis
Wonsley and Charlie Brown of the Washington Redskins
and Henry Lawrence, Malcolm Barnwell and Calvin
Muhammad of the Los Angeles Raiders are a few of hundreds
of players who have moved from the ranks of small
colleges to the bright lights of praTootbalL
Though they all agree that is not an easy path, each
says he would make the same decision if he had it to do
again.
"When I went to the Raiders," says Lawrence, who
played at Florida A&M, "I did so well in practice that
Coach John Madden pulled me to the side and said,
'Hey, where did you learn to block like that?' Somehow
people had the suspicion that the coaching at black
shcools was inferior to other coaching. That's totally
false."
Lawrence should know. He has survived 10 seasons in
the NFL, and shows no signs of slowing.
But what about the drawbacks of playing at a small
school, as opposed to such well-known powerhouses as
Nebraska and Oklahoma? Do they outweigh the advantages?
"Coming from a small school can cost you money
when you first sign a contract," says Wonsley, a running
back for the Redskins who attended Alcorn State. "A lot
Of the times thev save the hio mnn#?v fr?r rh#? oiiue
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came out of school with all the great exposure. But I'd go
back to^Alcorn in a minute. The struggles that I went
through there made me strong enough to survive in the
National Football League." , ..
Like a lot of other players, Wonsley said he has made it
in the NFL because of sheer desire.
"I think you pick up a lot of will to win at a small
school," Wonsley says. "A lot of guys get to the NFL
..and make it on- talent, i-have made on hard work."
While the former black college players interviewed at
yMfc yeac's Super Bowl k*vt become succeuM
NFL, they might not have if they'd been drafted by the
Vrong club.
"You have to be drafted by a club that is going to give
you a fair shake," says Muhammad, who played at Texas
Southern and is now a" wide receiver for the Raiders.
"That is one of the great things about playing for the
Raiders. They give all their players a chance."
Brown, a former star for South Carolina State and
now a sensation for the Redskins, agrees with Muhammad.
"1 think in pro football it all boils down to who wants
it most," Brown says. "When I came up to the NFL, I ,
wasn't in awe of the guys who had gone to bigger schools.
I came in with the idea that I was as good as anyone."
That kind of attitude reflects the confidence black college
players are bringing into the league. Barnwell,
Muhammad, Wonsley and Brown have each been in the
Sportsbeat
The 'Berra Era
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Yankee players
Some members of the New York Nevertheless
Yankees, many of whom groused about will take an es
the disciplinary rule of Billy Martin, have pictures. Majc
promised that they'll win for Yogi Berra as the Associa
the pennant they failed to win for Martin. International
"We have a team with so much ability cessing facilit
that we'r^ going to make Yogi look like center. The
the greatest manager who ever lived," se- Organizing O
cond baseman Willie Randolph said. "I ranging for fie
simply couldn't communicate with Billy," up film at the
said outfielder Steve Kemp. "It wasn't his to the press ce
fault, and it wasn't my fault. I just - Canon, the
couldn't talk to him. I'm starting all over Olympics," w
with Yogi." foot service ce
But other Yankees were equivocal. where accredit
"It's unfortunate, because any time a tually any m
manager is fired, you feel you had equipment ch<
something to do with it," said designated will also have
hitter Don Baylor. "In a lot of ways Billy worth of cam
was good for the club, but you can't cessories avail
please everyone."... - basis.
The stiffest competition at the Olympic \ ABC Sports
Games in Los Angeles may not be bet- Tht scene and n
ween the 10,000 athletes. It's more likely cameras to c
to be between the more than 8,000 media? hours of net
people who will cover the games. That's Olvmoic broac
the biggest press corps in the history of -All told, thi
anything. Only about 450 of those assign- event of the c<
ed to cover the games are photographers. Sugar Ray
That's because if there were more, they undoubtedly a
would be standing on top of each other to the ring. And !
get their shots. " Plef
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Neighborhood 'Basketball1
N.C. A&T's Joe Binion (25) swoops in for one of his 20 rebou
also added 24 points as the Aggies dumped the Rams 78-6C
NFL less than four years. "Make si
However, Muhammad shows much wisdom. When get an educ,
asked what he thinks should be a high school player's The educat
greatest concern when selecting a college, he replies: degree."
ecstatic
those 450 camerapersons
timated four to five million
)r news
ted Press and United Press
will build temporary proies
in the Olympic press
Los Angeles Olympic
Dmmittee will help by armotorcyciists
to
far-flung sites and deliver it I
camera the
a 4,000-plus square
nter in press headquarters,
ed photographers using vir- y jk
ake camera can get their
rcked and repaired. Canon
close to a dollars ^BIB
lenses other ac- ^Lggfl
able for the pros on a loan !V
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i will have 2,500 people on j
use more than 200 video V
over the games with 187
work time scheduled for i
leasts. ImH WW Al m H
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is is going to be the media JBHi
mtury....
Leonard's fight promoters Carver's Pavn Sawyer lets fly a lofti
re happy he is returning to |ast week. The Yellow Jackets won
Sugar Ray Leonard s finan- ball teams remain undefeated in lei
ise see page B4 Parker).
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nds on the night against WSSU. Binion
) (photo by James Parker).
ire you go someplace where you think you can
ation. Pro ball is here today, gone tomorrow,
ion, you can- keep that forever. Get the
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