Black College Sports Review
Jackson State's Jackson Has Never Lost
By DERRICK MAHONE
Rod Jackson never loses.
At least that is true when the
Jackson State pitcher is on the mound.
Jackson, a senior, has never lost a
game during the regular season of his
two-year career for the Tigers.
The Rockledge, Fla. native was
7-0 this season with a 1.52 ERA. He
was voted the Southwestern Athletic
Conference’s most outstanding pitch
er by the league’s eight coaches/
As a sophomore in 1991, Jackson
played in only seven games. He start
ed and completed three of them for a
3-0 record in 30 1/2 innings. He gave
up only 11 runs on nine hits while
striking our 26 batters. He has an
ERA of 1.78 during that year.
“I’ve really been working on my
mechanics,” Jackson said. “It is sur
prising to be unbeaten. I knew I
could pitch.”
The right-hander, who considered
a major league prospect, has a 90 mph
fastball. Jackson had a conference
leading 70 strikeouts. Jackson, who
pitched 65 1/3 innings, went the dis
tance in five of his 11 starts.
“Rod has a sneaky fastball,” said JSU
coach Bob Braddy, who coached major
league pitchers Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd
and Marvin Freeman. “He has a strong
wrist. Rod wants to be on the mound when
the game is close. He doesn’t shy away
from competition.”
Rod Jackson
Academic problems kept Jackson
from playing four years at JSU. After sit
ting out his freshman season under Propo
sition 48, Jackson became eligible his
sophomore season.
He loss his eligibility as a junior, but
was able to regain it this past season. Dur
ing his career, Jackson had a 10-0 record.
Coach Mackey Has A
Developing Team
By LANGSTON WERTZ, JR.
Claudie Mackey, head basketball
coach at Elizabeth City State University in
Elizabeth City, N.C., has a developing bas
ketball team and a doctorate degree now.
But he's much happier to be alive.
In 1986, Mackey was diagnosed with
colon cancer.
In 1990, he was diagnosed with Gul-
lian Barre, a potentially fatal virus that
attacks your central nervous system and
can temporarily paralyze you.
“You know every day that I wake up,”
Mackey said, “I thank God for giving me
another day.”
Today, Mackey is a man at total peace
with himself. He says he could take his
doctorate in educational administration and
get into something other than coaching a
Division II basketball program and make
lots of money, six-figures money - think if
you could give yourself a 100% raise,
would you do it? But Mackey is staying at
Elizabeth City because he wants to.
“Right now,” he said, “I enjoy what
I'm doing. Sometimes it's not always
rewarding with championships, but I tend
Claudie Mackey
to think that it becomes regarding when
you have a kid who's really thrown in the
towel because there was no hope and you
help him take his place in society regard
less of all that. That's what kept me here. I
love to watch guys making that transition.”
OK, that's the 1993 version of Claudie
Mackey, coach, doctor and husband. He's
made it through the illnesses. “That guy
upstairs in the blessing business, he's
looked over me.” Mackey said.
Please See Page 13
“Rod has worked hard to get
his priorities straight,” Braddy said.
“He is a lot more mature. We are
proud of the fact we hung with him
during the time he W|s having
problem off the field.”
Jackson said he realizes he
made some mistakes.
“I’m disappointed in the fact I
didn’t do what I suppose to have
done,” said Jackson. “After a long
talk with coach, I realized some
things I needed to do. Not playing
me affected me emotionally. I real
ly wanted to play. 1 just did the
right things to come back.”
Coming our of his high school,
Jackson was recruited by Florida
A&M, Grambling State, Southern
and several junior colleges.
“When I visited Jackson State
I really liked the campus and the
atmospheres,” Jackson said. “I’m
pleased I chose Jackson State,
because of the relationship I’ve had
with coach Braddy. COach is like a
second father to me. He has
showed me a lot of things. If I make it, I
owe him a lot for sticking by me.
“He has helped me keep my head on
straight. I just wish I could have played all
four years. I think mu career was pretty
successful./ On the field I did what was
expected of me.”
In high school, Jackson had a 22-10
overall record and 1.65 ERA during his
three-year career.
Jackson said he is looking forward to
the upcoming major league draft.
“It has been a dream of mine to play
in the major league,” Jackson said. “I hope
I’ve done well enough to play on the next
level.”
Pro scouts were a command site at
JSU games this season. Although Jackson
has aspirations of playing professional
baseball, he admits to having to make
some improvements.“In the later innings I
have suffered to use my arm more,” Jack-
son said. “Coach has told me to drive
more with my legs. My arm could last a
lot longer if I start to do that more.”
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May 1993- Page 5