SPECIAL REPORT
Black Athletes Forum Held
By JAMES WRIGHT
The fifth annual black athletes in
America Forum was held on April 9-10 at
the Blackburn Center on the campus of
Howard University. The forum holds pan
els on the unique challenges being a Black
athlete.
"It is time for the black athlete to
reexamine him or herself in light of
cha'nges in our society," says Charles
Fenell, co-coordinator of the forum and
president of Sports Perspective, an advo
cacy group. "The black athlete can no
longer continue to give and help others
make money without getting something;
back." :
_____The-toptcs~of the panels ranged from
the vexing question of gender equity to
parental involvement. The role of the
media was also discussed along with a
discussion on whether outside interven
tion is needed in the industry of sports.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson electrified the
luncheon with his call for all in the room
to become more active in the sports indus
try.
Rev. Jesse Jackson
"We are the gasoline of the sports
world. If we stop the machines won't run.
We have to use all the leverage we can in
order for us to get what is due us."
The former North Carolina A&T
quarterback used his own win/lose philos
ophy to make a point about speaking out.
"We have to be on the field to play
the game. You can't play the game in .the
stands, you have to be on the field."
The two-time presidential candidate
continued: "Playing means that an athlete
must have access to black lawyers,
accountants, doctors and other profession
als. We must not be on the team but on the
team.
The gender equity panel consisted of
Howard's women's basketball coach San
dra Tyler; Donna Lopiano, executive
director, Women's Sports Foundation;
_ Vivian Fuller, the first black female athlet
ic director at a predominately white insti
tution; Jfemes Whalen, president-Ithaca
College; and the moderator, Emma Best,
of the University of the District of Colum
bia.
The discussion focused on the prob
lems of the black female athlete and how
they can be solved.
Washington Post sports columnist
moderated a hot panel on the role of the
media. Glenn Harris, a Howard University
graduate, chastised the spoils communica
tion industry for its poor hiring practices
of minorities. USA Today sportswriter
Valerie Lynn Dorsey urged black female
journalists to look into sports writing.
Former Washington Redskin and
WMAL sportscaster Rick "Doc" Walker
explained to the audience the cultural
advantages of having blacks on radio
sportscasts. Frank Deford, the editor of the
defunct National Sports Daily , and the
only white on the panel, condemned
racism and promised to influence his
white brethen to mend their ways.
Maryland point guard Duane Simp
kins moderated the parental involvement
discussion. Simpkins urged all parents to
get involved in their child's sports pro
grams and know what is going on.
"I would not be standing before you
today had it not been for my father," says
Simpkins.
Elizabelh City State graduate Willie
Stewart, the football coach at Anacostia
High School, in Washington, D.C. lam
basted coaches who view their athletes as
meat.
"Parents have to be careful with
whom their child deals with," says Stew
art. "There are people out there who only
want to make money off of kids and that
is sickening."
Stewart is the winningest coach in
D.C.'s history placing a number of ath
letes in the college ranks who eventually
go on to the pros.
Other participants were A.K. Johnson
of the Alexandria, Va. school district;
David Smith, former Pittsburgh Steeler;
and Candace Johnson Hampton, a student
athlete at the National Cathedral School in
Washington, D.C.
Leroy Walker, president of the USOC
and chancellor-emeritus of North Carolina
Central University, stated in the outside
intervention forum that federal monitoring
of sports may be necessary.'
"There is a great deal of skill duggery *
that goes on in sports and perhaps Con
gress should look into the industry. While
I personally feel that the Congress is inef
fective, its attention may put the industry
on notice that they are being watched."
Leroy Walker (I) flanked by forum attendees.
Farrell followed up Walker's remarks
with a militant stand: perhaps it is time for
college athletes to boycott sports.
"Then, they (being the establishment)
will have to listen to our concerns."
NCAA Executive Director Richard
Lapchick and Donovan Gray, aide to Con
gresswoman Collins.
"We're very pleased with
turnout," says Lee McElroy, who is chair
man of Sports Perspectives International.
"However, next year we will be looking
for more participation."
- - . .* ?
Duane Simpkins ( Maryland ) drives against Duke's Bobby Hurley.