Hanes
from Page B1
crs... in a different way besides just
at wort/
One of the shortcomings of the
league is that the schedule is not set,
meaning that someone who leaves
his job on the third shift does have
time 10 rest prior lo his game. That
lack of time can translate into game
performance; most of the Gunnin'
Rebels team, which lost all six of its
regular-season games, are third-shift
workers.
But Blevins hopes to correct
that flaw in the future by having
mare teams sign up within the next
year. Blevins said an expansion
from four to six to eight teams
means the games will not be played
on one day, with the weekly sched
ule spread over the week. Since the
league consists of permanent
employees only, cutbacks on jobs
and the increase of temporary work
ers at the sponsors' plants have
restricted growth of the league.
Yet the league in its current
state has impressed its participants.
nI didn't think the league was
going to be something just put
together, but I"ve liked playing in
it," said Gunnin' Rebels member
Kenneth Williford, who heard about
the league through Mims while at
work. "I didn't the league would
even have some of the things it has,
like an Intercom system. So I was
shook up how serious the players
have taken this."
"To play in this environment,
you have to play hard, and our team
does that," Jeffries said, whose team
will be the top seed in the league's
playoffs, which started yesterday.
"My teammates and I played high
school, college ball, so we feel we
can show some of these younger
players what we can do. But it's like
a summer league, because we're not
out here just to play. We're all here
to win."
The players have extended a
sort of informal brotherhood. Teams
that play in the first game usually
hang around for the second
matchup, partly to scout their next
opponent, but also to participate as
fans. Several players have said
morale has increased among work
ers and the friendship extends
beyond the gym.
"When the second shift goes to
work, nearly everybody at the plant
knows who played and how many
points they scored, because that's all
we talk about," All-Stars guard
Leroy Williams said, "it's great *
because work goes by ^little faster
because we're working and enjoy it
a little more."
"It s great to see a group of
black men come together and not
have the situation be some sort of
violent thing," Mims said. Tm not
trying to sound racist, but I think we
need to have more of these things,
something positive among our
selves." .* - 1
Smith
from Page B1
school, just so he could learn how.
When he resigned himself to the ?
possibility he would never learn the
sport. Smith went to work full time.
"I sometimes wish I could have
started out earlier, but I think it
worked out for the best," Smith said.
"I might have burned out by now or
I might have gotten lazy with it.
Boxing is a very disciplined sport
and if you're not interested in it, it
can be boring."
Giles and Kennedy are not
fooling themselves into thinking
they have a polished boxer. Both
trainers agreed Smith has a lot of
learning ahead. As much as both
trainer has impressed with his right
hand, each has expressed a concern
with his inability to throw effective
combinations and finishing oppo
nents. Giles has been reluctant to let
him spar with others besides Riden
hour and Giles said Smith's expert
snce with left-handers is minimal?
When Smith made his amateur
debut, it was in the small town of
Sanford against a more experienced
opponent While Kennedy and Giles
were apprehensive about a novice
entering the ring against a seasoned
fighter in his first fight. Smith
stunned himself and his trainers
with a first-round knockout.
In fact, Smith didn't know how
to react.
"It was kind of unexpected. It
wasn't like a series of punches that I
set him up with or anything," Smith
said. "I just hit him with a right
hand. It wasn't^hard but it was a
quick punch and he fell in the mid
dle of the ring.'1
Among other things, Smith
found out that boxing is not the end
all for the sport. Conditioning for
bouts sometimes months in advance
is the norm. Smith reluctantly has
had to let go of some of his favorite
dishes and frie&Joods. Smith also
runs for a stretch of about five miles
four days of the week, then going to
trf^fcnter and train for two hours.
"Darran has caught on fast,"
Ridenhour said, who has been box
ing since he was six. "He has really
improved over the past few months,
especially with his hand speed Plus,
he's a fast learner."
Giles said the most impressive
thing about Smith is that he is still a
baby to the sport while eagerly
grasping the fundamentals. If any
thing, the long wait has given him
an advantage over some of his con
temporaries. At his rate of progress,
Giles said Smith could be ready for
the Golden Gloves' novice division
in a year and could turn pro "within
three years, if works on his aggres
siveness."
While realizing his dreams as a
boxer, Smith never has entertained
the thoughts being exactly like his
idol.
"1 just >v anted to learn the sport
and see how far I can go with it I
can't see myself being a professional
boxer because of my age," Smith
said. "If, for instance, I wanted to
box in Atlanta in '96, I would be
almost 25, so even if I wantc^ to do
something, it would have to be
soon."
But his trainers do not quite
believe in saying no.
"Hey, (James) Bonecrusher
Smith (the former heavyweight
champion) didn't become a boxer
until he was 27, so not everyone is
starts out at an early age," Kennedy
said."Darran just wants to have
some fun and maybe be a role
model to the people in his life that
boxing is a positive thing."
"But if Darran told me he
wanted to box professionally, I'd
believe him," Giles said. "The sky's
the limit for him."
(910) 766*2818
$300 OFF
FULL BASEMENT OR CRAWLSPACE
WATERPROOFING
_ Plus FREE Sump Pump With foilt Basement Waterproofing
fteoiAxamtiipin
j v*dw#ieiya#?r ^ PIBIMOIVT HIUI0rQim 7RR ,.1B
"37* vwrHtPftooFirie( > , ,
FREE
INSPECTION AND
WATERPROOFING CONSULTATION
Qdlbcfey
NoON|pftm
Expires 3/3 MM
BCA , from Page B1
The BCA considered other out
lets, including bpycotts of postgame
news conferences, disrupting traffic
at the Final Four and disrupting the
start of first-round NCAA Tourna
ment games.
"I think some of white coaches
are definitely expected to partici
pate," Washington said. "We don't
expect 100 percent participation, but
you don't need 100 percent partici
pation to be effective.
"At this point in time, right
now, every coach I've talked to said
we're going to do it."
The BCA is one of many
groups unhappy within the NCAA.
Small black schools are talking
about forming their own association.
Women sports are talking about
gender equity. Big football schools
are talking about forming their own
coalition.
And amidst" all this tension is
another group of significant flpera?
bers talk of a radical plan revamp
the entire NCAA structure.
People Who Know Use Valvoline I
All Weights of Valvoline
Motor Oil Available at
/lutolite
Spark P/u,
LOW PRICES
60-Month Battery
Each
Resistor Or Non-Resistor
LIMIT i6 / Reg. Price Thereafter
FREE BATTERY TESTING!
Each
Quart
* 9.43 Each Case /LIMIT 2 CASES
Reg. Price Thereafter
Prices Good Thru Sat., Jan ??nd, 1994 ? We Reserve the Right to Limit Quantities ? Complete Warranty Information Available at Alt Advance Auto Parts Stores
Mo*'?'Ca'd
CLEMMONS
Z81 inmvilEClEMHOM no
Sun I0W*
Mor S# 9pm
786-8201
MT AIRY
iij#w .mt
S*r io?m 6c?"
S?Ltan<9p*
919-7864109
MOCKSVILLE
1117 YHOCTMllf TO
ttw S? ? 9
Swi 1C 7
(704) 834-2800
N. W1LKESB0R0
17? DWira ?u no
Uoc l?
S?r ?-7
867-8901
PETERS CREEK
TIUK MART RVO
S?r ipm
l*r S*
785-3540
ELKIN
HUM MCGf
St*
Ut S* ton
(919) 526-4784
DOWNTOWN
ml UKimrjT
Sw* 't*" "pm
H* Sill f(m
725-3523
LEXINQTON
net mam
Sir iQ*m torn
ktonS*
(704) 243-2751
KERNERSVILLE
B4 II MAM ST
Sun 'pr> t<*r>
Unr S M UrVwjfx
996-1336
THOMASVILLE
mc nAMoawyr
Swv 96
(919)478-1551
MT. AIRY
wm bocikwo rr err
Vr %?n
Mnr ~*m Mrtrnft
7864311
3726 REYNOLDA RD.
Mor fn M0 9S* 19
Sun 1 ?
924-1294
VISA
RDQ SRECtAL ORDER MERCHANDISE MOT SUBJECT TO SALE RRiCES
iSjs
USED AUTOMOTIVE
Oil & BATTERIES
Parts Delivered Quick tyl
See Store for Details.