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^ For the Week of June 19 through June 25, 2001 F*I I LOOKING Hampton U ~Photo FOR A TOP PICK: MEAC's and " black college's top player looks to go In next ^ w 1 Wednesday s NBA Draft. ? SWAC, FIRED COMMISSIONER HEADED TO COURT ON JULY 10 IN BIRMINGHAM UNDER THE BANNER WHAT S GOING ON IN AND AROUND BLACK COLLEGE SPORTS O'NEAL, THORPE GO LOW: Former Jackson State golfing standout Tim O'Neal continued his PGA.com Photo THORPE: Fourth place finish at Instinet Classic raises 2001 total win nings to $766,906. success on the BUY.COM Tour with a tie for 13th at the Greater Cleveland Open last week. O'Neal posted scores of 66-71-72-70 for a 72-hole total of nine-under par 279 and took home $6,847.23 for his efforts, the third biggest pay day in this his first year on the Tour. That take raises his total to $39,400 in ten events this year, good for 34th on the BUY.COM's 2001 Money List. O'Neal, the only African-American on the BUY.COM Tour, the professional circuit just below the PGA Tour, was featured on ESPN's "Outside the Lines" last week on a segment about African Americans and golf. He will remain in Ohio this week to ! compete in the Tour's Dayton Open, which will be held at The Golf Club at Yankee Trace, in Centerville. Ohio. The other professional golfer with black college roots, Jim Thorpe, who attended Morgan State, also had a successful week on the PGA Senior Tour. Thorpe fired successive 68s over three rounds to finish fourth in the Instinet Classic in ?4 | I j Princeton. N.J.. his sixth top ten finish in 18 events. He took j home $90,000 this weekend, thrusting him up one place to eighth on the year's Money List at $766,906. Thorpe is head j ed to Boston this week for the Fleet Boston Classic at the J Nashawtuc Country Club in Concord. HUNTER LOSES BROTHER: Tommie Hunter of Raymond, Mississippi, brother of Milwaukee Bucks and former Jackson Stale guard Lindsey Hunter, was killed June 16 in a one-ca^ accident in Bolton. Hunter, 19, was a Jackson State baskerojtll signee who head coach Andy Stoglin said was going to be a great player. Markeece McGinty of Provine, a JSU football signee and a passenger in the vehicle, was treated and released at Central Mississippi Medical Center. Tommie Hunter was the second child born to Lindsey and Armehta Owens Hunter in Jackson on December 28. 1981. He attended Murrah and Raymond High School and had just started at Jackson State. He was described by relatives as a quiet child who never bothered anybody and was always full of life. He loved the game of basketball and looked forward to playing at Jackson State next year. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. June 19 at the Raymond High School Gym with burial in Hill of Zion Church Cemetery. THE STAT CORNER WHO ARE THE BEST PERFORMERS IN BLACK COLLEGE SPORTS TIM O'NEAL'S SCORES AND FINISH IN THE BUY.COM GREATER CLEVELAND OPEN Heath Slocum Ryuji Imada Jim Benepe Jay Hobby Mike Brisky Todd Barranger Anthony Painter Danny Briggs Darron Stiles Andrew McLardy Rob McMillan Paul Claxton Keoke Cotner TIM O'NEAL Rob Bradley Ben Curtis Bob Friend Jeff Gove Rob McKelvey Jeff Sanday Sonny Skinner 1 64-66-69-68 267 $76,500.00 2 66-64-66-72 268 $45,900.00 3 66-66-68-70 270 $28,900.00 4 69-66-66-70 271 $20,400.00 5 67-67-67-72 273 $17,000.00 T6 69-69-69-68 275 $14,768.75 T6 74-67-67-67 275 $14,768.75 T8 70-68-68-70 276 $12,750.00 T8 71-67-67-71 276 $12,750.00 T10 66-70-70-71 277 $11,050.00 T10 69-69-65-74 277 $11,050.00 12 66-71-66-75 278 $9,775.00 T13 71-69-70-69 279 $6,847.23 T13 66-71-72-70 279 $6,847.23 T13 65-73-68-73 279 $6,847.22 T13 70-67-70-72 279 $6,847.22 T13 66-70-70-73 279 $6,847.22 . T13 69-69-71-70 279 $6,847.22 T13 70-67-69-73 279 $6,847.22 T13 68-68-72-71 279 $6,847.22 T13 74-67-67-71 279 $6,847.22 ?AZEEZ Communications, Inc. VOL VII. NO. 45 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 Hampton at Howard 12 noon SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 Delaware State at N. C. A&T 12 noon SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 Howard at Morgan State 12 noon SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 Florida A&M at Howard 12 noon SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6 Bethune-Cookman at Delaware State 12 noon SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13 Florida A&M at N. C. A&T 12 noon SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20 NO TV GAME SCHEDULED SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27 Florida A&M at Hampton 12 noon SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3 S. C. State at Howard or Hampton at Bethune-Cookman 12 noon SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10 Bethune-Cookman at Howard or Hampton at N. C. A&T 12 noon SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17 NO TV GAME SCHEDULED SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24 l-AA Playoff Game TBA Contract at heart of SWAC, Washington split LUT WILLIAMS BCSP Editor The battle between ousted Southwestern Athletic Conference Commissioner Rudy Washington and the conference's Council of Presidents could come down to whether a judge rules Washington's unsigned contract is valid. That could hinge on where the judge rules the contract originated and, even then, which of its provisions are binding. Washington's lawyers contend that the contract, drafted but never signed in 1998 when the conference office was in New Orleans, constitutes an oral agree ment under Louisiana law. The SWAC counters through its attorneys that, because the contract was never signed, there was not a "meeting of the minds" over the specific terms of his employment and under Alabama law Washington could be fired "at-will." Those interpretations will primarily be at issue July 10 in Jefferson County (Al.) Circuit Court when Judge Jack Carl hears the SWAC's motion to dismiss Washington's lawsuit against the confer ence. The conference filed the motion June 14 following Washington's May 17 suit asking the judge to order that he be reinstated as commissioner. If Judge Carl grants the conference's motion, Washington's suit is over. If he does not grant it, the SWAC has ten days to file an answer to the suit. The conference office relocated from New Orleans to Birmingham last year thus producing the arguments on which state has jurisdiction. Washington, after being placed on leave in late April, was notified in writing on May 4 in a let ter from Council President, Dr. Clinton Bristow. that his employment would end June 8. A memo attached to the termina tion letter listed a host of financial and management issues for his firing SWAC attorney Kenneth L. Thomas said from his office Tuesday in Birmingham, that Washington did send a contract to conference officials in May of 1998 before he began employment on July 1 of that year. That contract includ ed a salary of $135,000 for Washington. While saying he did not know why the contract was never signed, he did say it contained provisions, such as first class travel for Washington and his spouse, that were against existing conference prac tices. He also said the contract had no pro visions for termination. Thomas said the contract was never consummated and though Washington began work, he was an employee "at will," meaning the conference could fire him at any time for any cause. Thomas said it was Washington's responsibility to make sure a signed contract was in place. Washington's attorney John Falkenberry of Birmingham said he looked at the issue of which state had jurisdiction before filing the suit and he believes, according to Louisiana law, that the parties have a verbal contract. Williams looking for NBA opportunity LUT WILLIAMS BCSP Editor Hampton University's six-foot, eight-inch senior center Tarvis Williams did just about all he could do in his college career jo show he was ready to play on the next level. He led the nation in blocked shots three straight years. He improved his scoring average each year of the three he played. He capped his career this season aver aging 21 points, six rebounds and 4.6 blocked shots to lead his team to the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference title and garner regular season and tournament most valuable player awards. He then vaulted himself into the national headlines when he sank the shot heard around the country, a four footer in the last seven seconds of the game as the 15th seeded Pirates pulled off a thrilling, come-from-behind upset win over second seed Iowa State in a Midwest Regional first round tournament game in March. Though the Pirates bowed out in the next round against Georgetown - where Williams had another good game - Hampton and particularly their soft-spoken leader, made a lasting impressing on a lot of hearts and minds, including a lot of pro scouts. That was before the season ended and a record number of underclassmen and high schoolers decided they would make early entry to the NBA's June 27 Draft. Since then. Williams has played in the first pro camp, the Portsmouth (Va.) Invitational, where he didn't play particularly well, and concentrated on individual workouts. "Sure, it's affected my draft status," Williams said of the early entrants Tuesday while taking a break from a workout in Las Vegas. He is at UNLV working on his game with one of the high schoolers, Tony Key of Kentucky. They are both represented by Las Vegas based agent. Ron Delpit. w ho also represents Southern Cal guard Jeff Trepagnier. "Without them (the underclassmen and high school players). I'm sure I would have gone earlier. Now. I don't know where I'll go. I think I'll definitely go in the second round. But I think they have mostly affected the seniors, like me." Indeed, even the top-rated seniors like Duke's Shane Battier and Arizona's Loren Woods have been WILLIAMS: Sinking the winning shot in first round NCAA tournament game against Iowa State, now looking for shot in NBA. pushed back from the top of draft lists in favor of the youngsters. Williams, this year's top black college NBA prospect by a long shot, says all he's looking for is an opportunity. He changed agents recently from former Wake Forest and NBA player Delaney Rudd's Courtside Management to Delpit because he said Rudd seemed to be more focused on him playing overseas. Williams says Delpit. who has relationships with NBA teams going back to the days of Wilt Chamberlain, knows a lot of NBA general managers. !!J wanted to see what I could do over here first," said Williams who made the change about three weeks ago. "I wanted to get an opportunity and make the best of it. As long as I get an opportunity. I'll be fine." The Charlotte Hornets came to Las Vegas to work him out and he's worked out at Phoenix and Denver. He's scheduled to work out again for the Hornets in Charlotte and has sessions scheduled in Boston. Orlando and New York before next week's draft. Phoenix, who does not have a first round pick, has expressed the most interest. They reportedly told him that if he's available with the 51st selection, they'll take him. Williams says he's been working on his ball-handling and shooting skills. Though among the best at bldcking shots, he's still listed at only six-eight, 210 pounds, and may be even shorter. But he plays much bigger because of a huge wing span and quick jumping ability. "I've been told that they are looking at me as a two or three." said Williams, referring to either the shooting guard or small forward spots. "I've been working on tak ing one, two or three dribbles and then shooting pull-ups. I'd also like to get up to about 230." His college coach, Hampton's Steve Merfeld, feels he has something that's hard to come by. "What sticks out with Tarvis is his ability to block shots," Merfeld said, comparing him to former Philadelphia and current Atlanta shot blocker, Theo Ratliff. "That can't be taught. That's just his natural abili ty. There are not too many of those around and quite a few have made a living doing that. It's his riming, and his abil ity to go up two or three times in succession and bounce like he does. "His upside is he has NBA athletic ability. The downside is he didn't, out of necessity, get a chance to play on the perimeter with us. That's what he has to work on. And the fact that he doesn't have the size or body weight to bang with the NBA centers like Shaq, and even Mutombo." Merfeld was also not surprised that Williams didn't play well in Portsmouth. "He's not going to play well in those settings because to do so you've got to be selfish, and Tarvis is not selfish," said Merfeld. Unselfishness, special skills with the determination and desire to work hard have made NBA mainstays of several former black college players. Virginia Union's Ben Wallace, now a defensive and rebounding force for the Detroit Pistons, and Kayetteville State's Darrell Armstrong, a top-notch lead guard for the Orlando Magic, are two examples. Williams combines many of those same traits. Here's hoping he gets a chance to prove it. BCSP Notes ? Stitt expected to take over at Winston-Salem State The athletic department at Winston-Salem State University has called a press con ference for Wednesday, June 20 and is expected to announce Phillip Stitt as the school's interim men's head basketball coach. Stitt served as the top assistant under head coach Rick Duckett for the last three years in the Rams' program and also served under Duckett at Fayetteville State. Duckett, who left WSSU last month to take an assistant's position at South Carolina under former Wake Forest coach Dave Odom, had endorsed Stitt for the WSSU head coach's job. The WSSU program has grown to prominence in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, winning back-to-back titles in 1999 and 2000 and advancing to the NCAA Div. II regionals in all three of Duckett's seasons. Delaware State Hires New Baseball Coach Delaware State Director of Athletics Dr. Hallie Gregory has announced that Jean Paul "J.P." Blandin has agreed to a three-year contract as the university's head baseball coach. Under the contract. Blandin will guide the Hornets through the 2004 season. Blandin, 31, led the Hornets to a 37-10 overall record and a third consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Northern Division championship as interim head coach during the 2001 season. The 37 wins were a single-season record for the team. The Hornets were 17-1 in MEAC North games. STITT MARTIN BLANDIN Martin Earns Baseball All-American Status Delaware State third baseman Scott Martin (so. Middletown HS/Middletown, DE) has been selected to the 2001 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings Division I All-America Third Team, the first DSU player to earn All-America recognition. Martin, a 2001 ABCA/Rawlings All-East First Team selection, led all Division I players in runs batted in. averaging 1.75 per game. He was also 10th in the nation in batting (.432) and 15th in doubles (0.44 per game). The right-handed slugger set Delaware State single-season records with 16 home runs and 77 RBI during the 2001 season. His slugging percentage of .870 was also a DSU all-time high. Martin, who led the Hornets to an all-time best 37-10 record this past season, was also named 2001 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Player-of-the-Year. In addition, he was selected to the All-ECAC First Team and All-Mid Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) First Team.
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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June 21, 2001, edition 1
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