Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / May 18, 1989, edition 1 / Page 19
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$05t Thursday, May 18,1989 SPORTS Page 7B James Cuthbertson Post Sports Writer GREENSBORO, —This fall. America's four historically black NCAA athletic conferenc es will be featured In a weekty 30-mlnute, television program entitled This Week In lUsok College Sports. The new 26- week broadcast Is produced Focus Marketing of Greensboro, North Carolina. The show will hl^llght football and basket ball action and other sports In season covering over forty pre dominately black colleges and universities. The schools are members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, Central In tercollegiate Athletic Associa tion, Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association, Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Confer ence. The new program will air over ESPN, the nation's largest cable network, on Wednesdays at2:30 pm EST starting September 13,1989 and will continue week ly through the completion of each conference's 1989-90 bas ketball season. According to conference com missioners, ESPN's presenta tion of This Week In Black Col lege Sports wUl be the greatest weekly television exposure ever for black college sports. ESPN reaches over 56% of all US tele vision households. The program was announced at the 14th annual convention of the National Association For Equal Opportunity In Higher Education (NAPEO) held In Washington, DC ^rll 19-23, 1989. On hand for the historic announcement was Dr. Frede rick Humphries, President, Flor ida A&M University, Dr. James Frank, Commissioner of the Southwestern Athletic Confer ence, Tom Odjakjian, program manager at ESPN. "ESPN Is the network for college sports and this series will strengthen that position. We are pleased to of fer this imlque and exciting ser ies focusing on black college sports." says Odjal^ian. Driven To Be The Best Barger, Gantt Win Johnson Awards Hats off to Barry Douglas Barger and Erika Gordon Gantt! "As a person, I am very determined,” said Barger. "I know I am not a great scholar, but I try to work towards being one. A grade that’s not acceptable to me does not discourage me. It makes me work harder to the point I am satisfied. I feel I have to satisfy myself before anyone else. If you try to satisfy some one else before yourself, it can make you forget about self- improvement and satisfaction which Is very Important." Barger believes Involvement in school Is Important. "If you are not Involved In your school then you don't have any school pride," he said. "A person who Is willing to put out an extra effort for his or her school Is greatly respected. I like for people to look up to me. If you are not respected then you cannot be a leader, and being a leader Is something I value deeply. School Involvement is the base of earning respect; it should be taken very seriously." At Garinger, the Bill Johnson Award wlrmer representing the best combination of academics and athletics In the school system, has a 3.5 grade point average. He is actively Involved In Minority Achievement, DECA and the basketball team. He was Senior Class Vice President. Recently. Garinger won the North Carolina State 4A Basket ball championship. Barger was a starting forward, averaging 13 points per game. His leadership showed on the court. "I was very happy that we won the State Championship," said Barger, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gene Hayes of Ludwig Drive. Gantt, the daughter (rf Harvey and Lucinda Gantt of North Poplar Street, ranks 17th of 700 at E^st Mecklenburg High . School and recently earned a Morehead Scholarship to the University of North Carolina worth $35,000 over a four-year period. The Vice President of the NAACP was co-captaIn and num ber one on the girls' tennis team. She was a Junior Marshal and is a member of the National Honor Society. The BUI Johnson Award winner served on the Senior Board at Elast Mecklenburg. She has a 4.3 grade point average. "For the last three years, I was gratified to play number one for the East Mecklenburg girls' tennis team," said Gantt, ad ding that, "I was pleased to have been chosen as one of the cap tains of the team. My status has allowed me the prlvUege of being named MVP for three years, as well as being chosen All Conference." Hats off to the Bill Johnson Award Wlrmers combining ex cellence in academics and athletics. Finalists In the male category were also Strawn Thomas Bookman of West Mecklenburg and Cornell Caldwell of Inde pendence. Finalists In the female category were Tanya LaVonne Tucker of West Mecklenburg and Sherie E^rette Bell of East Mecklen burg. Good luck to West Charlotte football coach and friend Bruce Hardin In his new endeavors at York Comprehensive High School in York, South Carolina. Turning the Lions Into one of North Carolina's top football programs, he will take over as head coach and athletic direc tor at York In the fall. The Lions were 12-3 last year and played for the North Caro lina State title against Richmond County, losing 17-0. Two years ago, they lost In the State Championship game at Seventy First High School In FayettevUle, 3-0. Hardin has been head coach for nine years at West Charlotte and cranpUed a 76-30 record. His overall record Is 92-45. Har din Is a 1965 graduate of Appalachian State University. He has been In the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System for 23 years. His new conference will Include Clinton, Camden, A. C. Flo ra, Clover, Fort MUl and Newberry. He wUl play Rock HUl, Northwestern, North Central and Blacksburg In non conference games. Congratulations to Hardin and his wife, Brenda, and twins Justin and Blair. Bruce, you were a real credit to Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. ESPN To Showcase Black College Sports Iti Program ^ ^ ^ Photo/CALVIN FERGUSON Thee Dixon, backup driver Tlnaley Hughes and crew member Maceo Simpson fieft to right) are part of NASCAR's few black-owned By HERB WHITE Post Sports EUUtor Stock car racer Thee Dixon doesn't consider himself to be a pioneer, but every time he takes a spin around a track, new ground Is broken. Dixon Is the first black com petitor In NASCAR's new Sportsman Division, which Is running Its first races at Char lotte Motor Speedway this month. Dtxon wlU run In his first sportsman race, a 150-lap event, next Wednesday. A native of Woodsdale, N.C., Dixon owns Mansion Decorat ing, a company speaclallzlng In painting and sandblasting. He also owns Mansion Racing, which consists of four cars, a crew and three drivers. Sports man racing, Dixon hopes, will propel him to Winston Cup, NASCAR's major circuit. "I like to get things done and move qulcWy to the next task. You can't move slowly If you want to get lots of things done," he said. I'll never let any grass grow under my feet" Mort Levi, an executive at Man sion Decorating, also serves as the team's press llaslon. He says the team realizes that blacks are rare In racing, and the emphasis Is on opening doors for others by making the sport accessible. 'We're out here because we like racing. We love It," he said. "Racing has been a predomi nantly whlte-orlented sport, not because others have been rele gated to a postltlon of non participation, but because the Interest level has not manifest ed Itself to the extent that their presence Is being made." "Since I have been racing, more blacks are coming to the races," Dixon said. "I strongly believe that my behavior will have a favorable Impact on at tendance. Many people tell me that they are coming to see me make history. This motivates me to strive to do well and make a good mark to follow others." Dixon has made his presence known by sponsoring and run ning his own team. Having a corporate sponsor to foot the bills Is a necessary element In racing, but Dixon doesn't have that luxury. To compensate, he has spent over $400,000 to out fit the Interracial team. "We have the buildings, we have the tools, we have the transport system, we have the crew, we have the crew chief, we have the cars," Levi said. "No one has giv en us a prermy." As the team searches for a sponsor, Levi said he realizes compranles may be wary of sup- pxrrtlng a new team unless an In dividual Is a proven commodify. "Sponsorship comes from get ting there early or having a high recognition factor. I strongly be lieve we wUl be responsible for getting many blacks Into racing," he said. "If (Chicago Bulls star Michael) Jordan came out of basketball next year and wanted to have 10 cars In racing, the shoe companies would do so." Dixon's racing career started In Poughkeepsie, N.Y., where he raced motorcycles and watched NASCAR events. After watching others pUot cars, Dtxon decided to try his hand at autos. "When I looked at those drivers and saw what they were doing, I knew I could do It also," he said. "In fact. If these drivers can drive a race car that fast, I can drive that fast too." Dixon has been fast and com- p>etltlve In his two years as a driver. His best finish to date was fifth In a late-model stock race last month at South Bos ton, Va. Bombers, Trojans Win Makeup Tilts * By BOB JOHNSON Special To The Post TTie Triple County Baseball League took a brief pause In Its busy weekend schedule to cele brate Mother's Day. However, there were two make-up games played last Saturday. The Charlotte Bombers used hot bats, walks and errors to trounce the Clover Hornets, 21- 12. Ron Ferguson was the lead ing hitter for the Bombers. He hit a single, a double, a triple and a two-run home run. Hor nets' pitchers gave up 10 walks, while the team committed five costfy mlscues. Charles Latta (1-0) was the winning pitcher. Lany Howell (0-1) was tagg^ with the loss. During the game. Bombers Manager Robert Burris used Ron Latta at second base, Rode rick Burris In center field and Donnell Morrow behind the plate. Giving his real young players a chance for some live action. Burris’ broad smile reflects the success of his young team. With the Trojans ahead 8-6, the O's came to bat In the top of the ninth. Dennis Hemphill and Dennis Chi sholm drew walks. After James Mobley struck out, Marcus Burris reached on an error by SS 'I II. Thompson 123456789 R H E Bombers 33624021021 17 3 Hornets 110100432 12 14 5 In the other make-up game, the Charlotte Trojans edged the Rock Hill O's, 9-8, In a real dog fight. * Photo/CALVIN FERGUSON Cablevision To Show Knights Gaines Cablevision of Charlotte's TV15 and the Charlotte Knights expand live coverage of Knights baseball to 20 home games and Include other area cable systems. Because of viewer re sponse, the TV15 schedule was expanded from 10 to 20 games for this season. In addition to TV15 (Cablevision of Charlotte), the games also air on Rock HIU Cable TV, Palmetto Cable TV (Fort Mill and Tega Cay) and York Cable TV. Cablevision of Gastonia will air Knights games when the Gastonia Rangers are on the road. Lancaster Cable TV will begin carrying Knights' games later this season. "Local programming Is one of the most Important services a cable company can provide to its customers," said Jeff King, president of Cablevision, "and the excitement George Shinn and the Charlotte Knights are creating continues to establish Charlotte and the Charlotte area as one of the premier places In the country." Todd Snead. With the bases jammed, John Chisholm sin gled, scoring Hemphill and Chi sholm to tie the game. Jerome TTiompson struck out to open the Trojans' half of the ninth.. Darryl Mcllwafn singled and Michael Thompson reached on an error by 3b Andrew Chi sholm. Joseph Demus was the next batter. He had a triple and two doubles In three previous trips to the plate. Demus fin ished the day 4 for 4, with a sin gle up the middle scoring Mcll- wain with the winning run. Jay Johnson (2-1) was the winning pitcher. He relieved Ly- nalr Walker (0-2). CameU Perry was the loser. Trojans Manager Manny Thompson has mixed feelings about his team. He said, "We are playing all right but we are not getting the key hits which has left too many men on the bases." Golf Charity For CHS The Children's Home Society Of North Carolina will join with Charlotte's leading corporate and private citizens in sponsor ing the CHS challenge golf tour nament May 30 at Piper Glen. Winners of the charity event will qualify for the Crosby at Bermuda Run near Winston- Salem. For details, call CHS at 334- 2854.
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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May 18, 1989, edition 1
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