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4B SPORTSn'he Charlotte Post Thursday, May 22, 1997 Jazz delivers in semis Continued from 1B (Rudy Tbrujanovich) said he was embarrassed, and I agree with that. It was embarrassing the way we played.” Said Utah coach Jerry Sloan: "Look at the field-goal percent age. How else do you explain it? Thirty-eight percent? That was n’t our defense.” Imagine if Hakeem Oltyuwon had fallen in line. He was the Rockets’ glare, the one Houston player of significance who pro duced. But a game-high 30 points is not worth much when the 10 oth ers combine for 56, and the 13 tebounds, which tied Malone for (op honors, was five better than the next closest teammate. Not that the Jazz was its syn chronized best either to take a lead in the conference finals for the first time in its four appear ances, not while shooting 44 per cent. Still, John Stockton had 16 points and 13 assists against only two turnovers and Jeff Homacek added 19 points and the bench played well, led by Shandon Anderson’s 11 points and five reboimds. But even with his subpar shoot ing, and even with his plan to low-key the pregame ceremonies, there was no way Malone was going to avoid the spotlight. If he had not waited a lifetime for this moment, the people of the city and the region had, finally getting national recognition after years of bemoaning how they were ignored. Malone had carried the banner of no-respect himself at times. But when the trophy was pre sented, it was as if he had a get away car rumbling outside. It was no snub, to the fans or the moment. It was, Malone said with aU sincerity, a necessity. “I wanted to eiyoy it,” he said. “But I didn’t want to get caught up in it.” 'That chance will come later, in the summer. These moments are for something else. For the games Malone hopes will become the trophy he really wants to hold. I. Pookie WUson is defensive-minded Continued from 1B progress. I was at Double-A the last two years and finally got a ^ot at 'IViple-A and Tm enjoying it so far.” lAt Portland, TOlson hit .273 in 1995 and .256 last season. Charlotte manager Carlos Tbsca, who coached him for four sea sons, called it a “privilege” to work with him. “He’s a quality guy,” 'Ibsca said. “He can contribute both when he’s playing and when he’s not playing and that’s a tremendous attribute to have. “He’s a true team player and he can do some things...play good defense, he can come off the bench and get a hit, he can steal a base when he has to. Tm tickled to death that he’s up here and I know that he’ll make a contribu tion to our team. With the $61 million-man Gary Sheffield out of the MarUns’ line up due to injury, outfielder Bill McMillon was recalled to Florida, opening a spot for Wilson in Charlotte’s lineup. Tbsca wants to keep him around for a while. “I’ll do everything within my power to try and keep him on our ball club because I know he’s a positive infliience,” Tbsca said. “He works real hard and his angles and positioning to fly balls SPORTS BRIEFS FROM STAFF REPORTS Results of Par Busters of Charlotte at the Interstate Golf Association Tournament at Crystal Sprins Golf Course: !(Team scores: Charlotte 57; Columbia 59; ^heville-Shelby 61; chester-Spartanburg 61; Greenville 66; Statesville 67. Skins game: First - Charles Lawrence $150; second - Taylor Duncan $150; seventh - Charles Lawrence $150; 15th - Harry Benton $150. : Donald Littlejohn 74; Tim Harris 74; Roger Sifford 77; James Barrett 78; Haywood Stevenson 79; Jack Richards 80; Otis Worthy 80; Louis Rorie 81; Walt Colson 82; James Scott 83. T\iitt Continued from 1B Kas entered him in the 400 meters as well as the 800 relay and 1600 relay. Jfet, if there was an area of sprinting which TViitt could improve on, it would be starts. “Tb be more successful in the 1(X) we will have to work on his start,” McAfee said. “Although he is better at the 200,1 think he is very good at the 400...we have clocked him several times at sub- 49 (seconds), but having to work on his start is fortune because that is something you can work. It will obviously pay off in his 200, too.” Tliitt isn’t sweating over starts, though. He looks at every race as a gradual progression. “Instead of false starting, I would rather get a slow start and win in the end,” Tbitt said. Tbitt adapted to the stress of running multiple events easier then most, because McAfee set a standard for all his sprinters to follow. In order to dominate, Tbitt has had to endure the pres sure of being a mqjor part of team scoring. “He had never really run the 400,” McAfee said. “We put him in the 300 indoor, and he did very well in that, and he just barely missed qualifying. We had our first meet January 10, and two weeks later he was running the 3(X) and the mile relay. He wasn’t really receptive to running the 400 because he wasn’t in shape, but one thing we work on and stress to all of our sprinters is conditioning ..we try to get all the guys in shape to handle multiple races.” “I don't like the 400 myself as much, but it helps me with my endurance in the 200,” Tbitt said. McAfee is gearing his team up for a possible state champi onship, to add to this year’s league title. Tb accomplish that, Tbitt will have to do well in the relays as well as the individual sprints. “First we have to figure out -FTJ, I PHOTO/SUE ANN JOHNSON Darrin Tuitt has one of the nation’s top sprint times this year. what events we want to try to have him qualify for. He could qualify for six, but he could only run four. We have to look at what is best for Darrin and the team,” McAfee said. Tbitt has already thought Johnson gets invitation Continued fromlB IT'S TIME Tfor TIIeT997-98 is very good. That helps him make up for some of the speed he’s lost.” The 27-year-old Wilson showed his defensive prowess in a three- game series last week against Ottawa. He snared several big catches and contributed key hits in Charlotte’s sweep. “I used to be fast before my old age hit,” Wilson said. “I think I still run pretty well, but I’m the type of guy who just gets on and tries to make something happen. Defensively, I just make the rou tine plays. I may have a few spec tacular plays here and there, but Tm mostly just a sound defensive type guy.” • The Charlotte Stars 10-under AAU basket ball team won the N.C. championship last month in Salisbury. The Stars were undefeated thoughout the season and will compete in the national AAU tournament Aug. 1-8 in Orlando, Fla. This is the first year 10-under girls have been eligible to compete in the nationals. Players on the team include: Krystal Barringer; Jihan Cleveland; Lakindra Fleming; Takisha Cranberry; La’vonna Hailey; Carol Kenley; Charmeen Mack; Jasmin Morris; Erica Nelson; Brandi Nunez; Ashley Rivens; Katie Tucker; Ivory Wallace and Morgan Mutts. Coaches are Carrie Tucker, Yolanda Massey and Billy Tucker. about what is best for East. “I would like to be the State champ in the 100 and 200, and I would like the 4x200 and 4x400 relay teams to be state champs too,” he said. under World Championships Aug. 1-10 in Melbourne, Australia, and World University Games Aug. 21-31 in TVapani, Italy. “It feels good to be invited to something as prestigious as this,” Johnson said. “It feels good to be one of only 66 players from across the country to be invited.” The 6-8, 245 Johnson was notified last week of the invitation by UNCe coach Melvin Watkins. The former North Mecklenburg High star isn’t a stranger to all-star teams. In 1994, he played in the Olympic Festival, where he held his own against established college players. This time, hell try to use that experience to his advantage. “When I went to the Olympic Festival, I played with a lot of sopho mores in college and I was just coming out of prep school,” Johnson said. “I didn’t know that much about the college game.” Johnson averaged 18.8 points and 8.5 rebounds as a junior and led UNCe to the Conference USA White Division tilte and a berth in the NCAA tournament, where the 49ers beat Georgetown in the first round of the West Regional. It was the school’s first NCAA win since UNCe made the Final Four in 1977. Johnson was named first team all-Conference USA and first team All-District. The U.S. has earned 10 gold medals, three silver and a bronze in going 95-6 in 14 World University Games and will try for its fifth strai^t gold in ‘97. See What People Across The USA are Saving About • Ebonics • Multi-Racial Census Data • Affirmative Action • Ben Chavis & The UCC • James Earl Ray & A New Trial Dial In //httpiwww.thepost.mindsprins.com Black Gttide‘ad for ‘9 T~ reply tva^. Sure,..^ was .can we 0 ' is cbiivention & ,u?...ilie was a any due . le reidt ^te| .©rafed a Jaii-ry Sttifetan- ; of business for nxe. » ‘■JJBsiftte Ojffiix U located in Midtown Sqnan I would like to be listed in the 1997-98 issue of the Black Guide. Or I am already listed and have changes to the previous information. Ztmincm H Nominate Your Favorite Teacher/Professor/Administrator! Who Qualifies: An individual who has touched your life, made an impact on the direction your career has taken, or someone who has enhanced the destiny of your life. Think of someone who has gone above and beyond the obligation of the classroom time and assisted you academically or socially. Then, simply complete the form below, and return to: Cliarlottr P.O. Box 30144, Charlotte, NC 28230 Attention: Fran Farrer or Fax (704)342-2160 By May, 30th 1997 Name of Nominee Street Address / / City State Zip / / Phone Day Evening School University Nominated by. Phone Day, .Tvening.
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