Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / June 22, 2006, edition 1 / Page 19
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mmmm 3C SPORTS/tr^e C^arlone Thursday, June 22, 2006 Soccer facility provides a kick for Rock Hill Continued from 1C major soccer tournaments to Rock Hill and generate an, estimated $2.4 roiUion of rev enue for the area. The ribbon-cutting ceremo ny featured Rock HiU Mayor Doug Echols, U.S. Rep. John Spratt, and state Senator Wes Hayes Jr. Approximately 2,000 people attended the celebration. Exhibition soccer matches were held, live music was provided in one of the picnic areas, door prizes were awarded, and complimentary drinks and popconr were given away For more information, visit www.rockhiLLrocks.com. PHOTO/HAROLD TYSON Joel Watson, 10, a fifth-grader at Ebenezer Avenue Elementary in Rock Hill, dribbles upfield in an exhibition at the grand opening of Manchester Meadows soccer complex June 11. The 70-acre, $12.7 million facility is expected to attract tournaments to Rock Hill in the manner Cherry Park has done for softball. Len Bias’ 1986 death provoked changes, questions, memories By David Ginsburg THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BALTIMORE - When he completed his extraordinary basketball career at Maryland, the only question smrounding Len Bias was whether he would dominate the NBA in the same fashion he ruled the Atlantic Coast Conference. Twenty years later, many stiU wonder. Bias appeared destined for greatness when the Boston Celtics selected the 6-foot-8 forward with the No. 2 pick in the 1986 NBA draft. The plan was for Bias to team with future Hall of Famer Larry Bird for a few years, then take over as leader of pro basketball’s most storied franchise. “It’s a dream within a dream,” Bias said that night. “My first dream was just to play in the NBA. Tb get drafted by the world champions is an extra one.” Two nights later, on June 19,1986, Bias died of cocaine intoxication. He was 22. “The news of his death was tragic, as he would have been an amazing professional play er after his college career,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said recently “It was a sad day for the entire sport of basketball. We lost one of the best players of that era.” Bias averaged 16.4 points per game at Marjdand and won the ACC player of the year award in 1985 and 1986. ‘1 have said many times that the two most difficult opposing players to prepare for in my time in the ACC were Michael Jordan and Len Bias,” Krzyzewski said. “Len was a gifted play er. He was special, and our league has had a lot of great players.” Bias led Marjiand to the ACC title in 1984, the only one the Tfeirapins won imder coach Lefty Driesell. “I’ve coached a lot of great players, and if Leonard wasn’t the best, he was right up there,” Driesell said in a telephone interview from his home in Virginia Beach, Va. ‘T know this much No one improved as much fiom his freshman to his senior year.” The 'Iferrapins’ cmxent coach, Maryland alum Gary Williams, was coaching at Ohio State in 1986. But he saw enough of Bias to know he would have been a star in the NBA. “By the time Bias was a senior, he was one of those players that could do anything on the court. That’s one of the sad things, that no one got the chance to see how good a pro he could have become,” Williams said. “He would have really helped the Celtics. At the time, Larry Bird, Robert Parrish and Kevin McHale were pretty old; I think Bias could have kept that dynasty going.” Bias’ death affected everyone aixnmd him, including DiieseU, who was forced to resign. It also altered the way America perceived - and policed - reaeational dn^. “The attitude in the country was that doing cocaine was exciting fun,” said John Walters, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control PoHcy “Len Bias’ death changed the nation’s attitude about drug use. People said. This is wrong, this is bad.’ It energized parents to do something about it.” The government acted, too. Congress passed the Anti-Drug Abxise Act of 1986, which pro vided leadership in estabhshing drug abuse prevention progi’ams. The legislation, intro duced by Presidoat Reagan, also created the Office for Substance Abuse Prevention. In addition, stiffer sentences were enacted for those convicted of trafficking drugs. Twenty years have passed since her son died, and Lonise Bias remains unrelenting in her quest to teach the nation about the danger of xisir^ drugs. She heads workshops and semi nars on the subject, ei^er to ensure others learn fiom her son’s fatal mistake ‘When Len first died, someone said take lemons and make lemonade. 'That disturbed me, because it was one of the most painful things that I had ever experienced. It was very difficult for me,” Lonise Bias said. ‘But 20 years later, I have lemonade. That’s been the hardest thing - sweetening this thing that was so bitter by helping other people and learning thiou^ life’s experi^ces.” Walters said drug use by teens in the United States is down 20 percent since 2001, and a portion of the credit belongs to Lonise Bias. “Bias speaks with the power of a parent who lost a child,” Walters said. “Obviously she has had to endure some pain, but she makes that sacrifice for the betterment of others.” Len Bias died after inhaling a large amoimt of cocaine during a late-night gathering with a few fiiends in a Marjdand dorm room. A year later, during a trial in which Brian Tribble was acqiaitted of charges he provided Bias with the cocaine that killed him, two Marjdand players said Bias had used the drug several times before. Driesell stiU refuses to believe it. ‘He was one of the nicest young men I ever met. He went to church ev^ Sunday and always worked hard in practice,” DrieseU said. ‘We had drug tests, and he never tested posi tive. He didn’t even drink beer. I would almost bet my life he never tried it before that night.” S.C. State extends Pough’s deal Continued from page 1C Norfolk State removed the interim tag fiom basebaU coach ClaudeU Clark and men’s track and field coach Kenneth GUes this week Clark had served as interim coach since February 2005, fashioning a 37-60 record over two seasons, including a 23-28 mark in 2006, the best since the 2000 Spartans went 23-23. Norfolk State won a school-record 11 league games this year and finished second in the reg ular season standings. GUes, NSTTs cross coimtry coach, had been interim track and field coach since 2003 when Royd Conley died. GUes led the Spartans to the MEAC indoor and outdoor championships in 2005-06, the fourth time any program man aged the sweep in league history • South Carolina State has extended the con tracts of head footbaU coach Buddy Pnugb and Athletics Director Charlene Johnson. Pough, who is in his fifth year leading the BuUdogs, earned a two-year extension that wiU go to 2011. His package is worth $200,000 a year, including a $175,000 base salary and $25,000 fixim a weekly highlights show. ‘It’s great to have a couple more years,” Pough said. “I’m reaUy grateful for the confi dence the administration has demonstrated in me. But, I’m only a smaU part of the equation and give credit to the players, the staff and overaU operations for what we have achieved the last few seasons.” MOBLEY’S PROFESSIONAL FLOORII^ - Since 1979 - Residential & Commercial Carpet Cleaning,Sales & Service Visit Our Showroom 4930 Albemarle Road Charlotte, NC 28205 New Carpet Sales • VCT • Hardwood Flooring • Ceramic & Marble Tile 99 Berbers or Plush Carpet, Pad & Labor 99 per yard Only $22.' Mohawk Shaw Southwind Beaulieu of America HOT SPECIALS!!! Hardwood, Ceramic, Vinyl & Laminate Open this Saturday Sam - 4pm “Car Wash” and “Yard Sale” Hot Dogs and Fixin’s, Don’t Miss It! “SPECIALS” Valid With This Ad Only Eddie Mobley, Sr. • Eddie Mobley, Jr. • Ph: 704-531-0155 • FAX: 704-536-4272 Sth Annual Titus l_. Ivory, Sr. Memorial Golf Tournament Auciust 4, 2006 Oolf Courso, Huntersville. NO H.l_. McCrorey Family YMCA Tournament Information • Registration: 8:00 a.m. • Shotgun Start: 9:00 a.m. • Format: Captain’s Choice • Register as an individual or as a team • Captains are responsible for registering teams and submitting fees and applications ■ Teams consist of (1) Captain and (3) other piayers • Muiligans avaiiable for $5 each Registration • 18 holes of golf • Range balls • Golf Cart rental for the team • Signature event golf shirt * • Continental breakfast • Lunch delivered to you during the tournament • Awards dinner in air conditioned Pavilion following the tournament : Contests Hole in one Longest Drive Closest to the Piii • Goodie Bag • Program Booklet ■ Door Prizes and Giveaways Location; Birkdale Golf Club 16500 Birkdale Commons Parkway Huntersville, NC 28078 www.birkdale.com In Memory of Titus L. Ivory, Sr. Titus L. Ivory, Sr. demonstrated the principles Of ctiaractffl- development promoted by the H.L. McCrbr^ Family YMCA. His Illustration of oaring, i - ^ responsibility, faith, hones^, and respect was manifested in the life he led and the legacy that remains. Titus’ commitment ' to God, family, career, comnr^nity. brothertiood and the uplifting of his fellow man, is a true testimony of tiis character. Thank you for taking the time to join us in feHo'wsWp arid rememCH-ance-erf our dear friend and staunch supporter. • Mission To put Chrishan prindplGS into practice tfwough prcigmms th^« build hoalthy spirit, mind and body for aif. Contact Information: Please mail registration form and check payable 1»: H.L McCrorey f=^miiy YMCA -3801 Beatties Ford Rirad. Chalotte. NC 28216 ■ Attn. Daniel Stafford Or contact Dai^et Stafford at: E-maiiidartel.staffOid.aymcacliarlotte.org . Phone: ?04) 716-6510 ' Fax- (704) 716-6501
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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June 22, 2006, edition 1
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