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11B SPORTS/The Charlotte Post Thursday, January 25, 1995 Abdul-Rauf finds his peace Continued From 8B the worlds of modern pop sports culture and his religion. Last summer, he was the keynote speaker at an Islamic! conference of 700 worshipers in Orange County, Calif The assistance he provided California freshman star Shareef Abdur-Rahim prompt ed an NCAA review, which turned up nothing. “It’s a Muslim’s duty to help another Muslim,” Abdul-Rauf said. But he has paid a price for his otherworldly interests. His marriage to his college sweetheart fell apart and rela tionships with two pro coaches soured. Abdul-Rauf candidly admits that more than once during his tenure with the Nuggets he has wished he were elsewhere. He claims no longer to love basketball, saying his abilities are gifts from Allah and exploiting them is a celebra tion of Him. Islam came into his life at the end of his freshman year of college in 1989 when he picked up a copy of “The Autobiography of Malcolm X.” “I was searching,” Abdul- Rauf said. “I was pretending to be a Christian, but I really did n’t follow. I couldn’t really feel it. It made me so false and hypocritical. “After reading that book, I wanted to read more. I wasn’t much of a reader. That made me want to read.” He finally accepted Islam in August of 1991. 'This year, things appear to be coming together for him. He and his coach see eye to eye and his basketball is produc ing career-best numbers. In addition, he is considering an Islamic marriage vnth a Bulgarian woman who could end up being a suitable part ner. Now, when he hits a shot at McNichols Sports Arena, a tape is played that says, “Rauf, there it is,” a takeoff of a popu lar song. “When they do that, they’re giving praise to God,” he said. “Abdul means ‘servant of’ Rauf means ‘the most merci ful, most kind.’ Abdul-Rauf is me. Rauf is Him.” Giants making splash with offseason deals Continued From 8B in international play and was the ace of the Cuban team that won the gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. “This is where I’ve come to realize my dream and to repre sent all the Latin Americans in the city of San Francisco,” Fernandez said through a translator. “I’m going to make a name for a Cuban who left his country with a lot of deter mination to triumph.” In signing Fernandez, Magowan cited the Giants’ his tory of Latin American stars - including Juan Marichal, the Alou brothers and Orlando Cepeda. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Fernandez, a starting pitcher who will wear No. 46 for the Giants, got a $1.3 million sign ing bonus and a three-year contract that guarantees an additional $1.9 million. He could make $700,000 more in incentives based on appear ances. The Giants will have the option of a fourth year for $1.4 million or a $400,000 buy out. He defected last July in Millington, Tenn., during a tour by the Cuban national team. He spent this winter in the Dominican Republic, where he was 4-3 with a 2.30 ERA in 11 games for the Licey Tigers. Fernandez and fellow Cuban right-hander Livan Hernandez toured the United States last month, listening to bids from several major league clubs. Hernandez, 20, who defected in Mexico last September, signed a four-year contract with the Florida Marlins last weekend. Brian Sabean, the Giants’ vice president in charge of player personnel, watched Fernandez pitch several times in the Dominican Republic and NBA rookie’s advice to high school pal: Don’t be like me By Mario Fox THE ASSPOCIATED PRESS CHICAGO - Like every bas ketball player, Ronnie Fields wants to be like Mike. Fields, who some compare to Michael Jordan, also may end up like his buddy Kevin. 'That’s Kevin Garnett, his for mer teammate and Minnesota 'Timberwolves rookie who went straight to the NBA from high school. Fields is considering a simi lar move. But Garnett had some sage advice for his friend during a recent chat. “Kevin told me not to go the route he went. He told me, ‘You can always go to the NBA. Right now, if you can go to col lege, go to college,”’ said Fields before a practice last week. Garnett and Fields led Farragut High School to its first city championship in 1995. Faced with poor grades and low college entrance test scores, the 6-foot-11-inch Garnett went pro. He was picked fifth in the June draft - the first high school-to-the- NBA player in 20 years - and signed a three-year, $5.6 mil lion contract with the Timberwolves. Fields, 18, now finds himself in the same boat. Considered one of the five best high school players in the ■ nation, the 6-3 Fields would like to attend DePaul University only six miles from his West Side home. But he failed to qualify on his first col lege entrance test and plans to take it again next month. If the shooting guard-small forward can’t make it to col lege, he thinks he can play in the NBA now. He held his own this past summer on a league team that included Chicago Bulls players Ron Harper and Randy Brown. Garnett feels the loneliness of being a 19-year-old in the pros. “There’s nothing easy about the NBA. If I couldVe gone to college, I would have, in a heartbeat,” he said in a USA Today interview last month. Fields gets the message. “My main focus right now is to go to college, getting that test out of the way,” he said. Marty Blake, director of scouting for the NBA, has more advice for Fields. “Go to junior college if you have to, but stay in school,” Blake said in a phone inter view. Fields could go to a junior college without passing NCAA requirements for grades and test results. Blake said bluntly that Fields is not ready for the NBA. “I’ve seen him. He’s not a shooter, he’s not a great ball- handler. I’m sure he’s got 55 guys telling him he’s like Michael Jordan,” he said. “Please don’t compare a 6-11 kid (Garnett) with lots of tal ent with some 6-3 guy (Fields) who can leap. Kangaroos can leap.” Fields realizes he has some work to do on ball handling and defense. One of those comparing Fields- Farragut’s No. 23 - to the Bulls’ No. 23 is Farragut coach William Nelson. “He could be tbe top player in the country. He’s averaging 32 points a game and nobody has stopped him so far,” said Nelson. “The more I see of him the more he looks like Michael Jordan.” Fields does have an impres sive resume: • A two-time dunk champion at Nike’s All-American sum mer camp, he has a vertical leap in excess of 40 inches. • He often can be a human highlight film, driving to the basket, popping jumpers, grabbing rebounds, blocking shots and flipping no-look passes. • He has been an AP All- State selection since his sopho more year. • He electrifies crowds from Columbus, Ohio, to St. Louis. A record 4,188 saw Fields score 51 points in a game at the Proviso West Holiday Tournament at the end of last month. “I’m enjoying it. It’s fun when you go places, people know you. It kinda bugs you when you are getting all the atten tion, but I’m handling it real well,” Fields said. Fields is a friendly guy and a prankster. He showed up for a crucial game with a long face and his arm in a sling. With his Farragut teammates on the verge of panic, he burst out laughing and revealed his injury was made up. He was mobbed at an auto graph table at Danville’s 'Thanksgiving Shootout. At the St. Louis Shootout two weeks later, a record crowd of 15,379 was entertained with three spectacular Fields’ dunks. While many want to watch Fields, few want to guard him. ‘The reason nobody wants to guard Fields is because they don’t want to get ‘poster-ized,’” said Chicago Taft’s Brett Nishibayashi. “It’s the worst to be caught in a photo covering your head and your face as Ronnie comes slamming it down.” Affairs to Remember WJeddin^ jPlannin^ ^eadon ii ^Jdere! 50% Off All WEddiiNqs In January 25% Off All OrhER WEddiNqs led San Francisco’s negotiat ing team. “He’s the best amateur pitch er I’ve ever seen. His assort ment of pitches is really that of an experienced major leaguer,” said Sabean, who clocked Fernandez’s fastball at 90-92 mph. “He has velocity, he has movement, he has location. He’s the kind of kid that understands game situations.” Fernandez left his wife and daughter in Cuba when he defected last summer. He has spoken with his family on the phone since defecting, even hearing some of his 17-month- old daughter’s first words. But he realizes it may be a long time until he sees them again, or gets to watch his daughter grow up. “I have to console myself with at least the fact that I can talk to her on the phone,” he said. v ■YH f 1.1 W: m I \\ i Wedding days are one of the most prized days of our lives, and we all have images of just how perfect we want every aspect of that day to be. We plan, we shop, we compare and then make decisions that will determine Just how perfect the day will unfold. Affairs to Remember is prepared to work with you in developing the menu that is perfect for your unique wedding. Each menu that we prepare is personally designed for you. Our specialties range from splendid cheese and fruit trays, finger sandwiches and punch to intriguing seafood etoujfee, duck pate, smoked salmon with tiny bagels and champagne. So, if you ’re planning a rehearsal dinner for 30 or a reception for 1,000, let Affairs to Remember catering assist you in making your special wedding event as perfect as it can possibly be. Lifelong Memories . . . Treasured Moments . . . Priceless Impressions. , . Affairs to Rar, ember BRING THIS AD FOR ADDED DISCOUNT! 631 North Tryon Street Charlotte, North Carolina-28202 Telephone; 333-8899
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Jan. 25, 1996, edition 1
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