^Page6B
SPORTS
Janies
Cuthbertson
Post Sports Writer
Gattison Takes Aim At Hornets
Slamming And
Jamming With The
NBA Pro-Am’s Best
NBA—type games are never decided until the last quarter
and even though the Yellow squad consisting of Ray Lawson,
Dante Johnson, Chris Brown, Delaney Rudd, Andre Hawkins,
Alvls Rogers, Jimmy Brown, Larry Jordan, Tyrone Corbin
and Aaron Johnson was leading the Blue squad consisting of
Cleveland McRae, Ace Taimer, Anthony Jenkins, Charlie Hu
bert, Darmy Poole, Benjl Tate, Richard Moore, John Edwards,
Tyrone Bogues and James Shockley 101-94 with 4:50 left In
tire third quarter.
Ace Taimer hit a Phi Slamma Jamma dunk at 4:18 to pull the
Blue to within 3 at 101-98.
A steal and a Charlie Hubert dunk later and the Blue had
moved to within one at 101-100 with 3:42 left to play. NBA
type games are never decided until the fourth quarter.
Dante Johnson hit two free throws and a two pointer to put
the Gold ahead 105-102.
Coached by James Campbell, Gosnell White and Tom Soren
sen the Blue were putting on a stirring rally. The Gold were
coached by Herb White and Ed Joyner.
Nip and tuck the score went and at the end of the third quar
ter the Gold was ahead by a four-point margin.
The game was faster than greased lightning; faster even than
a speeding bullet.
Johimy Edwards hit two points to tie the score at 124 all ear
lier In the fourth quarter.
Nip and tuck the game went until Dante Johnson took con
trol at 3:10 with two points and hit again at 2:51 to put the
Gold ahead 138-130.
At 2:26, Tyrone Corbin hit to put the Gold up and 2:26 and at
1:55, 1:12 and :47 seconds Chris Brown hit three three point
ers to ^denthe gap to 155-134 and the Gold won going away.
The ftnal was 157-141.
Johnson was the Most Valuable Player of the game with 53
points.
Other top scoreres for the Gold were Ray Lawson with 28,
Brown with 14, Delaney Rudd with 26, Andre Hawkins with 8,
Alvls Rogers with 13, Jimmy Brown with 8, Aaron Johnson
with 6 and Tyrone Corbin with 16.
The Blue were led by Cleveland McRae with 6, Ace Tanner
with 28, Anthony Jenkins with 10, Charlie Hubert with 22,
Benjle Tate with 13, Darmy Poole with 6, Richard Moore with
5, Tyrone Bogues with 14, James Shockley with 10, Tim Per
son 5 and Johnny Eldwards 17.
■ NBA games are never decided until the fourth quarter and
this one was no exception. It was TRULY DELIGHTFUL BAS
KETBALL.
The leading scoreres at this Juncture of the season in the
league are Chris Brown 32.0, Dante Johnson 27.2, Johimy Ed
wards 24.0, Anthony Jenkins with 23.0, Charlie Hubert 21.3,
and Delaney Rudd 20.4.
The rebounding leaders are Ray Lawson 12.0, Brian Rowsom
9.5, Andre Hawkins 9.5, Johrmy Edwards 9.0, and Dante
Johnson 8.5.
The leading asslsters are Delaney Rudd with 7.3, Byron Din
kins 7.0, Jimmy Brown 7.0, James Shockley 6.7, Mike Jack-
son 6.0 and Charlie Hubert 5.5.
Eight hot basketball teams from throughout the Carollnas
will participate In the fifth annual Charlotte Observer TTp-
Off basketball tournament In November.
Spartanburg, Clover, Fort Mill, Bessemer City, East Gaston,
North Mecklenburg, South Point and West Mecklenburg will
play In the tournament beginning November 22 and running
November 24 and 25.
Four tournament games will be played each day at 4:30 p.m.,
6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
The Tip Off begins the season for all of the teams. The cham
pionship game will be at 9 p.m. on Saturday November 25. A
site has not been selected.
North Mecklenburg Is the top seed.
First round pairings have North Mecklenburg (1) at Clover
(8) at 4:30 p.m., Spartanburg (2) at East Gaston (7) at 6 p.m..
South Point (4) at West Mecldenburg (5) at 7:30 p.m. and Bes
semer City (6) at Fort Mill (3) at 9.
Tickets are $4 for adults and $3 for students. Tournament
passes are $10 for adults and $7 for students. They will go on
sale In November.
By HERB WHITE
Post Sports Editor
It's been two years since Ken
ny Gattison played In the NBA,
but the 6-8, 252-pound forward
wants people to know he's re
covered from a career-
threatening Injury and is ready
to land a job.
The Charlotte Hornets have
the first look at the new Gatti
son, who Is on the team’s 12-
man roster of rookies and free
agents for a series of games
against similar teams from At
lanta, Miami and Orlando.
"I'm looking to bang, be con
sistent and maybe get on with
this team. The thing right now Is
getting an NBA contract versus
going back to Italy," he said.
"What I'm doing now Is showing
them what I can do and hope
they can use me.”
Gattison, a Wilmington native
who was .drafted by the Phoenix
Suns In 1986, made the free
agent team after last week's
camp at the Grady Cole Center.
Charlotte Is expected to Invite
three to four players back for
the October training camp to
compete for a spot on the 12-
man regular season roster.
Gattison, a former Old Domin
ion player, showed promise In
his rookie season with the Suns,
averaging 5.2 points and 3.5 re
bounds per game. The next year,
a tom anterior cmclate liga
ment in his left knee put Gatti
son on the Injured list and
threatened to end his career.
To prove his recovery, Gattison
played In an Italian league last
season while hoping for a call
from the NBA. The Hornets rang
and now he's ready to make a
comeback.
"I had a good season over there
and Charlotte expressed some
Interest In me, so I figured why
not play In North Carolina since ■
I’m from there," he said.
Charlotte Hornets coach Dick Harter and as
sistant Ed Badger (right) oversee workouts dur-
Photo/Jlin Mack
ing the rookie-free agent camp last week at Gra
dy Cole Center.
Having previous experience as
a professional is an asset, but
finding a team where that ad
vantage can be best used is the
toughest part. Charlotte was
Gattlson's choice.
"I've been Involved with It for
almost four years now, so I know
I can play In the NBA," he said.
"It's just a matter of being In the
right place at the right time.
"Out of the choices I had, this
was pretty much the best situa
tion. There are a lot of spots
open, and they could use some
help."
Gattison may not have the
lofty basketball status of J.R.
Reid, Charlotte's No. 1 draft pick,
but he feels his experience can
help.
"J.R. is coming In and he's a
big, strong guy, but he hasn't
played a game In the NBA yet, so
It’ll be an adjustment for him,"
Gattison said. "While he's work
ing on the adjustment, I can be
In there holding up the back
door."
Gattison said his physical
style, which led him to Sun Belt
player of the year honors as a
senior at ODU, Is suited to tlie
Hornets’ needs. What he needs
is the chance to prove It.
"1 can bang. If I get the playing
time, they'll get the production."
Bombers Cripple Giants’ Bid For 2nd
Front-Runners Setting
The Pace In Triple County
Baseball League Action
([ TRIPLE COUNTY
STANDINGS
GAMES
TEAM
WON
LOST
%
BEHIND
Charlotte Bombers
23
2
.920
—
Rock Hill O's
18
7
.720
5
Hoskins Giants
16
9
.640
7
Charlotte Red Birds
15
9
.625
7-1/2
Queen City Rangers
16
10
.615
7-1/2
Charlotte Trojans
14
12
.538
9-1/2
Newton/Conover Twins 11
14
.440
12
Clover Hornets
6
19
.240
17-1/2
Norwood Pirates
is
2
21
.083
20
>
r TEMPLE COUNTY
^
This Week’s Schedule
Saturday, 7-29-89
Where They Play
Hoskins Giants at Q.C. Rangers
Chariotte Bombers at Clover Hornets
Norwood Pirates at Newton/Conover Twins
Charlotte Red Birds at Charlotte Trojans
Morris Field
Clover
Newton
J.T. Williams
Sunday, 7-30-89
Where They Play
Rock Hill O's at Hoskins Giants
Charlotte Red Birds at Charlotte Bombers
Hoskins
Northwest
All games begin at 3:30 p.m.
Magazine Details Sports Figures’ Addiction, Rehab
Numerous professional ath
letes, who were formerly addict
ed to drugs and/or alcohol, have
appealed to the nation's youth
to avoid drugs at all cost, warn
ing that to ^ust say no" is not
enough.
Society has to get rid of its "pill
mentality" and its reliance on
drugs, according to ftie athletes,
who participated in' an informal
survey to be published this Sun
day in PARADE magazine. They
also agreed that education con
cerning drug abuse has to begin
In kindergarten or before.
"Getting Into drugs Is a hell of a
lot easier - a way lot easier -
than getting out of them," de
clared professional basketball
star John Lucas, a former co
caine addict who now heads
Students Taking Action Not
Drugs, a national nonprofit
group, and John Lucas Fitness
Systems, a drug treatment ther
apy based on exercise.
All of the athletes, who partici
pated in the survey Including
Lucas, who was first addicted to
beer, agreed that alcohol played
a part in his or her problem and
none of them believed they
would e^r become hooked.
"The riddle is how some people
can handle It control how much
they drink, and how some peo
ple, like me, couldn't stop," de
clared Chris Mullen, 26, an alco
holic. Mullen, an all-American at
St. John's University, who was
the 1985 first-round draft choice
of the Golden State Warriors,
was mEiking $400,000 a year in
1986 when he was suspended
for one game, then placed on the
Injured list while undergoing re-
hi.
All of the athletes surveyed re
called not paying a single cent
for those first few uses of co
caine or other drugs and said It
Is unfortunate that young peo
ple don't seem to believe how
costly drugs can become, both
to the body and to the pocket-
book,
"First, It's free, but then It
costs," declared Mets pitcher
Dwight Gooden, who became ad
dicted to cocaine In 1986 when
he was making $1.5 million. 'You
go through a whole heap of
money: Looking back, you think
you're better off just ripping It up
and throwing It In the ocean.
The lesson Is that there's no free
ride. You start with drugs, and
you're going to pay and pay and
pay, and It’ll never be enough."
"Kids aren't armed with the
mechanisms to dispute what
they are told," declared Derek
"Turk" Sanderson, once the
world's highest paid athlete, "so
when someone tells them. Tty It,
you'll feel great. It can't hurt,'
they go ahead and try it. They
might not If they were told this
truth. You do feel great, but you
do get hurt—bad."
Sanderson, who made
$2,650,00 a year with the Phila
delphia Blazers hockey team,
lost his fortune after nearly
eight years of alcoholism and,
according to both Sanderson
and his medical report, an ad
diction to 11 different drugs. The
turning point for Sanderson
came, he recalled. In 1980 when
he tried to get a drink from
someone In Central Park who
refused. "Don't you know who I
am"?" he shouted. "Just another
drunk," came the reply.
By BOB JOHNSON
Post Sports Writer
The Charlotte Bombers exjjer-
ienclng phenomenal success
this season, because of the ex
cellent performances of the
players and coaches, extended
their consecutive win streak to
17 — with two victories last
weekend.
The Bombers defeated the Ho
skins Giants last Saturday (at
Hoskins) dimming the Giants'
chances of a second place finish
by a score of 8-5.
The Bombers took an early 3-1
lead, only to see Hoskins tie the
game and go ahead In the sixth
Inning, 4-3. Robert Burris' team
went ahead In the seventh, scor
ing two runs, and were not
caught again. Andre Orr, Melvin
Latta and Charles Latta led the
Bombers' offensive attack. Orr
contributed a home run and a
single. Melvin Latta - a home run
and a double, and Charles Latta
- a triple and a single. Fredrick
Witherspoon was the winning
pitcher and Lafayette Currence
got the save.
In Sunday's game, the Bom
bers knocked off the slumping
Queen City Rangers, 12-7, at
home.
The Northwest sluggers scored
three runs In the second Inning
on three hits - a triple by Pete
Barnette, and singles by Melvin
and Charles Latta. They scored
.two runs In the third, highlight
ed by Gary Morrow's double and
Pete Barnette's single. However,
at the end of four Innings, the
score was 7-5, In the Rangers'
favor. After that Inning, though.
It was all Charlotte Bombers.
They scored one run In the fifth
and six Innings, two In the sev
enth and three more In the
eighth, while shutting down the
Rangers with superb defense
and pinpoint pitching.
Pete Barnette again led the
Bombers' offensive attack with a
triple, a double and a single In
five trips to the plate. Charles
Latta had a triple and two sin
gles In four trips, and Melvin
Latta had three singles In four
trips. James Weeks added a
home run, assisting Melvin Latta
with another win.
The Charlotte Red Birds, after
pla)dng only one game In three
weeks, relied on their stingy de
fense and costly Giants' miscues
to defeat the Giants, 5-4.
The victory was the Birds'
ninth straight and their 12th In
the last 14 games. The victory
also killed the Giants' chances
of finishing In second place.
With the score 3-2, Giant Cal
vin Smith singled In his brother
Mike from third and Thomas
Massey from second to put the
Birds ahead for good. Catcher
Donovan Mitchell scored the
winning run In the seventh In
ning when he hit a line drive
shot to the right field fence and
took advantage of the right field
er's errant throw to the cut-off
man. Donovan, showing good
speed, raced home scoring just
ahead of the throw.
First baseman Mike Peake
demonstrated In the ninth In
ning why many consider him
one of the best at his position.
With one out the score 5-4, and
Giants threatening, Ted Birds'
second baseman Donald "Pooh"
Thompson grabbed a grounder
and muscled a throw to first that
fell short about four feet. Peake
stretched and somehow came
up with the ball while managing
to keep his foot on the bag, reg
istering a big out.
Rick Carelock was the winning
pitcher. He pitched seven in
nings giving up six hits. This
was his second win over Ho
skins. Calvin Smith pitched the
last two Innings, gave up one run
In the ninth, got the save.
The Charlotte Trojans bombed
the Norwood Pirates, 17-7, last
Saturday in Norwood,
The Trojans set the stage with
seven runs In the first inning
and continued with a 23-hlt bar- ~
rage, led ty Steve Young, Vernon
King, Joe Demus, Zeb (^ode and
Rodney Alexander. Steve opened
the mega-hlt episode with his
ninth home run of the season.
Joe Demus hit his sixth homer
of the season, while driving In
four runs. Rodney Alexander-
collected his third round-tripper_"
of the season, topping off two ■
doubles, a single and a triple for™
five at-bats. "
Rodney Dixon was the winning
pitcher; Danyd Mcllwaln got the - -
save, his second. “