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http://www.thecharlottepost.com 1C CIjarlottE ^osit SPORTS THURSDAY DECEMBER 4, 2003 Black College Sports/4C PHOTO/CALVIN FERGUSON Freshman guard Jerome Givens leads Johnson C. Smith in scoring, averaging more than 18 points per game JCSU looks for consistency on both ends By Herbert L. White herb.white@thecharlotteposl.com It’s not struggling that bothers Johnson C. Smith basketball coach Steve Joyner. It’s the lack of execution. The Golden Bulls, who are 2-4 after Tuesday’s 95-83 win over Wingate, aren’t expected to be a juggernaut this season because of inexperience and lack of size. But Joyner expected more consistency, which hasn’t been there but for a sweep of Wingate. “I thought our effort and our attitude regressed” after last week’s 85-82 loss to Belmont Abbey. “We didn’t play any defense, we didn’t transition very well on release men. When you get open shots like that and don’t have to go behind screens to get open, it’s an easy night.” Smith has been competitive, which bodes weU for the future. The Bulls average 80.2 points per game and have uncovered a prime scorer in fresh man point guard Jerome Givens, who averages 18.6 points per game. Sophomore forward John Fulton averages a double-double at 14.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per outing and is learning to limit mistakes. What the Bulls haven’t done is consistently close games out. Two losses were by three points or less and Smith doesn’t shoot very well, connecting on just 40.4 percent of its shots. Opponents don’t have as much difficulty shooting, hitting 44.6 percent of their field goal attempts. ‘We don’t have a consistent attitude and a con sistent effort,” Joyner said. “Somewhere dovm the hne, we’re going to have to motivate our kids to have that type of attitude but a lot of it has to come from our leadership, and that’s been my con- Joyner SPECIAL TO THE POST The Freedom Drive Broncos will play for the Pop Warner National Super Bowl next week. Charlotte Pee Wee champs playing for national title FROM STAFF REPORTS The Freedom Drive Broncos are playing for the biggest prize in Pee Wee football next week. The Broncos (13-0) will travel to Orlando, Fla. Monday for the Pop Warner National Super Bowl after winning the Mid-South regional title in Winston-Salem with a 13-7 overtime win over the Durham Fighting Eagles. The Broncos started their run to Disney World with a 6-0 win over PAL Tuckaseegee Buccaneers in the Charlotte championship game, followed by victories over the Country Day Broncos (30-0) in Winston-Salem, Coastal Cowboys (7-0) in WTlmington and Dale City Cowboys (33-7) in Raleigh. “The victories are blessings from (^d, aU of the kids are talented kids,” Broncos coach Sammy Shannon said. “Not one, but aU of the kids get the job done.” Twenty-nine players, seven coaches and eight cheerleaders will make the trip to Florida at an expense of $19,000. The Freedom Drive Athletic Association is seeking donations to defray costs through tax-deductible donations. Contributiofis can be sent to: Freedom Drive Athletic Association do Reeves Barber Shop, 2321-G West Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28208. Pairioisiryldr faiflasdc fourth PHOTO/WADE NASH Independence High receiver Bradley Davis (80) and Richmond Senior defensive back Jamar Bryant (10) battle for a pass in Independence’s 20-18 win last week in the N.C. 4AA Western final. The Patriots, riding a state-record 61-game win streak, take on New Bern Saturday at Groves Stadium in Winston-Salem. Kickoff is 4:30 p.m. PHOTOS/WADE NASH Panthers defensive tackle Brenston Buckner (99) pressures Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb during the Eagles’ 25-13 win at Ericsson Stadium last week. Carolina, which has lost two games in a row for the first time this season, play at Atlanta Sunday. Panthers wary of slipping late By C. Jemal Horton FOR THE CHARLOTTE POST Carolina Panthers coach John Fox shrugs off the notion his team is panicking as it heads into the final stages of the regu lar season. But after the team followed up its perfect 5-0 start with a 3-4 record over the last seven games, this much is certain: Things are a little tense in the biggest building on South Mint Street. As the Panthers (8-4) prepare for Sunday’s game against Atlanta, they are searching for answers about how to solve their recent red-zone struggles and untimely defensive breakdowns. And after back-to-back losses to likely playoff teams Dallas and Philadelphia, those shortcom ings are more pronounced. During his weekly press con ference, Fox seemed to get a lit tle defensive when asked if his team was where he expected it to be at this point of the season. “I’d say, at this point a year ago, we were 4-8 and, at this point this year, we’re 8-4. And I prefer this year over last year,” said Fox. While the players are not con ceding panic, either, they at least are very concerned about what, has transpired over the past few weeks. ‘We’re upset about it,” quarter- Please see PANTHERS/2C C. Jemal Horton Ailing Zo is still a man apart This was the summer of 1992. This was long before Alonzo Mourning desperate ly needed a kidney trans plant. That year. Mourning pulled into Mecklenburg County and slid on that number 33 jersey he would make popular for the Charlotte Hornets. Right away, you could tell he was different. No, I’m not talking about the way he swatted away shots when opponents ven- toed into the paint. What was truly different was Mourning’s attitude about community and phil anthropy — he considered both to be his obligation. He had basketball courts built in some of Charlotte’s most needy neighborhoods. He wasn’t just a superstar passing through town; he was visible. He was approachable. Before he ever started buy ing houses and luxury SUVs, Mourning had exemplified everything a good person - not just a rich person — was supposed to be. That’s why it’s unfair now that some cynics are accus ing Mourning of cashing in on his celebrity because many people want to give him a kidney. Mourning recently was forced to retire from the NBA’s New Jersey Nets because a kidney ailment he’s had for three years, focal glomerulosclerosis, has worsened. Mourning’s doctor said Mourning needs a kid ney transplant in the next several months or he faces dialysis. The day after his retire ment, there were calls from people who said they wanted to donate a kidney to Mourning. However, there has been a vocal minority saying it is wrong for Mourning to “take advantage” of his celebrity and receive so many wannabe donors, while oth ers in need of transplants wait years for the opportuni ty, sometimes to the point of death. Should we feel badly for those people who need trans plants but aren’t getting them? Yes. Should we try to do something to change that? Absolutely. There needs to be more awareness and definitely more action. Nonetheless, it’s pretty mean-spirited to begrudge a man for being in a position to receive offers from potential donors before he makes the national waiting list. Especially when that man is Alonzo Mourning — a celebri ty, yes, but one who has ded icated his professional career to helping those who aren’t in a position to help them selves. Already there is has been indisputable good that has come from Mourning’s unfor tunate predicament: Mourning is forcing people to talk openly about becoming organ donors. More impor tant, he is forcing Afncan- Americans to talk about becoming donors. According to the Kidney and Urology Foundation, there are 23,000 African- Americans on the organ donor waiting list. Last year, Please see AILING/2C 'OI
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