PUBUSHER
Ernest H. Pitt
EDITOR
Craig T. Greenlee
PRODUCTION
Yvonne H.B. Truhon
Brenda Thomas
Sonja J. Covington
STAFF WRITERS
Rolando Simmons
Roscoe Nance
Steve Zimmerman
PHOTOGRAPHERS
J.D. Schwalm
Melissa Howell
JOe Daniels
Max Dunhill
Adding white schools
to Freedom Bowl
destroys the concept
Lionel Day's efforts to resurrect the Freedom
Bowl All-Star Classic football game are to be com
mended.
Even though the game has been far from success
ful financially during its five-year history, there is a
definite need for it. Apparently, Day recognizes this.
Bad idea
Day's intention to open the game up to athletes
from other than predominantly black schools is off
base. He calls it a "twist, not a change."
What's the difference?
The idea behind the Freedom Bowl is to provide
athletes at predominantly black schools who are not
invited to the Blue-Gray, Senior B o w 1 1 E a s t - W est.
Shrine, Hula and other all-star competitions a game in
which they can strut their stuff for pro scouts.
To include athletes from predominantly white
schools goes against that concept. Day says only about
10 to 15 athletes per 50-man squad would be invited. |
But if only one is invited, that is still a contradiction
because that player will occupy one roster spot that
would ordinarily go to an athlete froma predominantly
black school.
Day's desire to open up the game obviously is
based on dollars and cents. Theoretically, athletes from
the Southwest and Big Eight Conferences playing in a
game in Houston would be drawing cards because
many are from that area.
What has to be taken into consideration is the cal
iber of athlete the game would be getting. If Day
thinks he's going to get the All -Conference performer
who is a likely first-round draft pick, he's sadly mis- j
taken. That type of athlete is likely to choose an older,
more prestigious all-star game to participate in. Or else
he'll opt not to play in any all-star games, feeling he
has nothing to prove.
By including athletes from other schools, Day ?
who sayS he's merely attempting to enhance the prod
uct ? is reinforcing the stereotype that black college
athletics are inferior.
If Day is indeed able to stage the Freedom Bowl,
he will have done a great service for black colleges
across the nation as well as the athletes who will par
ticipate. But as things now look, he will also have
done a major disservice to those black college athletes
who stand to benefit the most from this type of game.
Black College Sport** Review ? published by Black Sport* Inc. 617 N. liberty St.. Winston
Sal am, N.C. 27102. Unsotioted manuscripts and photographs wiR not be relumed Inquiries
should be addressed to Ernest H. Pitt Publisher. Black Coflege Sports Review, PO. Bo* 3154,
Winston-Salem, NX. 27102.
PHOTO CREDITS: Cover photo - TV 4 Wat* college sports ? t* J O. Schwalm; Freedom Bow*
by BCSR Stall; The NBA's Rk * Hfchom by Craig T. Qreertee; Coach Doug Porter by The Meg
nUcentEye.
BCSR Is a supplement to these newspapers: Atanta \Wce. The BUWn. Bertmcr# Afro Ameri
can, Baton Rouge Community Leader. Birmingham Time*, Carol na Peacerrwfcer, Caroina
Time*. Charleston Chronicle, tredel County New*. The Mes*engar, Msto County Courier,
MoWe Beacon. Norfofc Journal and Qulda. Philadelphia Tribune. PHfcburgh Cooler. Rkhmond
AJro-Amerlcan. Washington Afro-Amerfcen and Wnstor- Salem Chronicle.
Coming Next Month
Photo by J.D. Schwalm
Black College Sports Review presents its annual football issue in
August. We'll provide insights and predictions on who should win and
why. You'll get the latest information on teams in the SWAC SIAC
MEAC, CIAA, plus the independents. In addition, this special issue will
include a pull-out, pin-up poster that will contain the entire black college
football schedule for '89. All of this and more in next month's issue of
BCSR.