Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / May 22, 1997, edition 1 / Page 15
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http://www.thepost.mindspring.com 1B tCfje Cljarlotte ^ost SPORTS THURSDAY, May 22, 1997 Racing opportunities grow PHOTO/WADE NASH Harry Turner is a General Motors engineer for NASCAR teams. By Wade Nash and Herbert L. White THE CHARLOTTE POST CONCORD - Harry Turner’s job is to get people moving — fast. Turner, a General Motors engi neer, helps keep the manufactur er’s products competitive on NASCAR’s Winston Cup circuit. He’s also one of small but grow ing number of African Americans involved in auto racing, a sport that doesn’t have many high-pro file blacks in its ranks. Turner’s job is finished before GM Motorsports’ cars roar around the track, but he likes to keep an eye on his work. “I don’t have to be every race,” 'Rimer said, “but some guys have to be at all 31 races. That takes energy from being at home as much as they’d like to. You’ve got to have it in your blood to commit like that.” 'Rimer’s been a part of the rac ing scene in one capacity or The goal standard PHOTO/PAUL WILLIAMS II Myers Park High defenseman Hubert Sowell captained the Mustangs to the Charlotte Club League lacrosse championship last week. The senior started playing the sport last year after seeing a game on television. Mustang masters new game By Herbert L. White THE CHARLOTTE POST Lacrosse is still new to Hubert Sowell, but he’s catching on quickly. Not that it didn’t take some work. The Myers Park High senior helped lead the Mustangs to a 3-2 win over Providence in the Charlotte Club League champi onship last week, a major achievement for the two-year- old program. Sowell, a defense- man and the Mustangs’ cap tain, said the game’s finer points are the most difficult to master. ‘You’ve got to get your stick skills down and get the grace of the game,” he said. “Speed and power come naturally. You’ve got to get the grace down.” “He has become an outstand ing defenseman,” Mustangs coach Scott Irvin said. “He quickly made the transition from football to lacrosse. Hubert being a natural athlete, he learned the fimdamentals and used his natural talents to keep attackers from the goal.” Lacrosse, a major sport in northern high schools, is trying to establish a foothold in Charlotte. 'Rvelve schools - five of them public - play in two leagues. Sowell, one of a hand ful of Afncan Americans play ing in Mecklenburg Coimty, dis covered the sport by accident. “I just saw it on TV and decid ed I wanted to play,” he said. Wanting to play and display ing skill are two different things though. Sowell, like most of his Myers Park teammates, are Southem-bom and had to take some lumps learning how to play lacrosse, whose origins have been traced to America’s indigenous people. How did those first attempts go? “At first, not too good,” he said, “ then I got the hang of it.” Everything came together for Myers Park at tourna ment time. The Mustangs, who finished 4-4 in league play, pulled off the season’s biggest upset over a Providence team that aver aged nine goals a game and swept Myers Park in two regular-season games. Sowell was instrumental in the championship, clearing Panthers away from the Mustangs’ goal with crunch ing checks that allowed goalkeeper Andreas Moresi to record 21 saves. See SOWELL on page 3B World-class athletes highlight June 7 event By Herbert L. White THE CHARLOTTE POST Sprinter Butch Reynolds will be among a group of Olympic and Paralympic athletes to partici pate in an outreach event in Charlotte next month. Reynolds, swimmer Janet Evans and long jumper A1 Mead will take part in All Sports Day June 7 throughout the city. More than 20 athletes will be on hand to conduct motivational talks and lead instructional clinics in five sports; swimming, cycling, tennis, climbing and running. Sessions will be held at Mecklenburg Aquatic Center (swimming), Charlotte Country Day School (running), Latta Park and Dilworth Elementary School (cycling and climbing) and Jeff Adams 'Ibrmis Center (ten nis). Reynolds is the current world record holder in the 400 meters and won a silver medal in the 400 and gold in the 1600 relay in the 1993 and 1995 World Championships. Other atheltes expected to attend include Olympic swimmers Steve Lundquist and 'Ibm Jaeger as well as Paralympic 'Richia Zom See ALL SPORTS on page 3B UNCC’s Johnson invited to USA Basketball tryouts By Herbert L. White THE CHARLOTTE POST DeMarco Johnson is trying out for a new team. The UNC Charlotte forward was one of 66 college invited to attend the USA Men’s Basketball National 'Ibam trials May 30 at Colorado Springs, Colo. 'The invitations were extended by the USA Basketball Men’s Collegiate Committeee, chaired by Virginia athletics director 'Iferry Holland. Finalists will be selected for the 12-member 22- See JOHNSON on page 3B PHOTO/PAUL WILLIAMS III DeMarco Johnson is one of 66 invitees to the tryouts. another for nine years. He is part of GM Motorsports’ engineering team, responsible for engine development, aerodynamics and chassis construction for Chevrolet and Pontiac cars. Turner, who holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineer ing and a master’s in marketing, has been with GM for 26 years, also helped in planning the Corvette and Camaro. “Most of my work is done back in the shops and (wind) tunnels,” he said. “Once we get to the track, the marketing guys take over.” • While people like 'Rimer are established racing veterans, the sport still hasn’t attracted large numbers of black fans or partici pants. Part of the reason, says NASCAR manager of communi-. cations Kevin 'IViplett, is expo sure. Another is expense, which reaches up to $10 million per See RACING on page 3B MVP Malone delivers on time for Jazz By Scott Howard-Cooper LOS ANGELES TIMES SALT LAKE CI'TY - Karl Malone had been named the NBA’s most valuable player, Commissioner David Stem was in from New York to make the formal trophy presentation and the rewed-up locals were primed for valuable members the moment, or the coronation. And Malone pretty much wanted it to go away. “It was like, I didn’t want to draw any more attention to the MVP that was not already there,” he said. Malone then got to the real business at hand on Monday, working over Charles Barkley for 21 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Utah Jazz to a 101-86 victory over the Houston Rockets at the Delta Center in the opener of the best-of-seven Western Conference final. 'This was hardly the dominating performance that had earned him the highest individual honor in the game, by the second-closest mar gin when announced the day before. Malone made only 6-of-16 shots. But a powerful presence of any kind was the last thing the tired Rockets needed to wrestle with, so his impact was significant even without glowing numbers. Barkley, meanwhile, had 12 points, on 3-of-lO shooting, and eight rebounds. Forget Malone. It was Greg Ostertag who canceled that out, the Jazz center getting 10 rebounds and eight points in only 22 minutes. Call it the hangover from Saturday’s Game 7 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics. Or the carryover. 'The Rockets, aged but at least rested at this point in the season because Barkley and Clyde Drexler had both missed at least 20 games to injuries in the regular season, were beat, as in tired, even before they were beat, as in defeated. So they could at least understand the 38 percent shooting, including 31.3 percent in the third quarter as the game became a blowout, and the 18 turnovers. They just did not like it. “They outplayed us in eveiy facet of the game,” Barkley said. “Coach See JAZZ on page 3B Wilson looks to make his own mark with Knights By Karl Petraroja FOR THE CHARLOTTE POST FORT MILL — 'The first ques tion Pookie Wilson usually hears upon introduction is about his family tree. No, the Charlotte Knights out fielder is not related to former New York Met Mookie Wilson, but they do share the same first name, William. So, how did he ever get that nickname? “My mom teUs me the story when I was two days old, my dad came over and I was laying in my baby crib and he pinched me on the cheek and said ‘My little Pookie”’ he said. “Ever since that day, the name has kind of stuck with me.” The 5-10, 185-pound Wilson was called up by Charlotte when center fielder 'Ibdd Dimwoody was promoted to the parent Florida Marlins. He was in his third season with Class AA Portland, but now welcomes the PHOTO/DIANNE V. CURTAIN Pookie Wilson is getting his first stint in Class AAA. chance to show his talents on a higher level with the Class AAA Knights. “It’s a good feeling,” Wilson said. “The name of the game is to See POOKIE on page 3B Plenty Tuitt: East sprinter among best in the country By Eric James Bozeman FOR THE CHARLOTTE POST Speed, stamina, and the ability to shift gears, has made Darrin 'Riitt one of the nation’s fastest high school sprinters. 'The East Mecklenburg 200 meter specialist has been timed at 21.3 seconds, making him the 11th fastest in the event this year. In the Southwestern 4A Conference Championships ear lier this month, 'Riitt won the 100 in a time of 10.6, and com pleted the first double for an East sprinter in 20 years by also win ning the 200 in 21.6. “Darrin has a real explosive ness about his running, he can almost shift gears, and that’s fairly unusual,” said head coach Larry McAfee. Like most sprinters, 'Riitt com petes in multiple events. McAfee See TUITT on page 3B
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