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August 29, 1996 AUGUSTA FOCUS
Ex-Thomson roundball stars
ready for swish to next hoop phase
By Timothy Cox
AUGUSTA FOCUS Staff Writer
Vonteego Cummings and
Antrone Lee vividly recall that
night a couple years ago when
they were confronted by a group
of guys Cummings describes as
“troublemakers.”
“I'm not a troublemaker, but I
had to protect myself,” said the
former Thomson High basket
ball star currently enrolled at
the University of Pittsburgh.
Cummings’ wrinkled brow re
flects the seriousness of a topic
that nearly nipped a burgeoning
basketball career in the prover
bial bud.
Instead of falling victim towhat
he describes as jealousy, in the
form of typical hyperactivity
amoung teen-age boys,
Cummings completed high
school, stayed straight after be
ing placed on probation, and led
his Bulldogs to the state (Ga.)
regional tournament before los
ing to Augusta-based Westside
High School — then led by Ricky
Moore, currently a University of
Connecticut playmaker.
The 1995 matchup, which fea
tured two youngsters now play
ing major roles in the Big East
conference, is already considered
legendary among Augusta bas
ketball enthusiasts.
While wrapping up his first
summer home after his fresh
Did golf superstar Tiger Woods do
the right thing, turning pro?
In case you were wondering
how many millions of dollars it
takes to tame a tiger, please,
wonder no more! The lowest esti
mate per year appears to run in
the neighborhood of $25 million.
Nationally known ad execs and
sports agents expect endorse
ment deals (see Nike) to come
from every corner of the planet
because of the broad demograph
ic base that Woods’ popularity
crosses. In a nut-shell, in this
racially divisive society in which
we live, Tiger’s diverse family
ancestry and heritage (Tiger’s
father is African-American and
his mother is Asian) is going to
reel in the big bucks for some
major corporations and apparel
companies that have the finan
cial firepower to sign him up to
hawk their goods and services.
Twenty-five million dellars or
more! That’s howmuch cashU.S.
amateur golf champion Eldrick
“Tiger” Woods can expect to haul
to the bank after announcing of
ficially he is renouncing his am
ateur status. Not too bad for a
young man four months shy of
his 21st birthday.
The Cypress, Calif. native,
under the always-watchful eye
and helping hand of his father
Earl, has combined forces with
his father to devise a careful (and
extremely detailed) plan that
basically has every career move
that the younger Woods will
make mapped out. The timeta
bles have been discussed and,
presumably, everything is pro
ceeding accordingly. Or is it?
Last April during The Masters
Tournament, I spoke with Earl
and Tiger at greatlengthregard
ing the “Master plan.” Though
both were clearly reluctant to
offer specific details (both con
sider Tiger’s plansa private fam
ily matter), I sensed that Earl’s
preoccupation focused mainly on
his son’s place in golf history.
Earl clearly wants Tiger to be
recognized as one of the game’s
all-time greats (after the 20-year
Paine coach Minggia resigns
AUGUSTA
Coach Rodney Minggia has re
signed from his position as head
coach of women’s basketball and
volleyball and assistant coach of
women’s track at Paine College.
Coach Minggia has accepted a
position as assistant coach of wom
en’s basketball at Northeastern
Illinois University in Chicago, 111.
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Antrone Lee
man year, Cummings and former
teammate Antrone Lee, also a
major college basketballer, met
with the Augusta Focus toreflect
on the past year and focus on
their futures.
For Cummings, his first year
at Pitt is considered a learning
process. While he’s satisfied with
hisfirst year,abrokenright hand
kept him earning go-to status
during his first year as a Pan
ther.
“I did what was asked of me —
be aleader,” he said. Meanwhile,
a 15-13 season was disappoint
ing to Pitt head coach Ralph
Willard, the 20-year-old said.
“We lost a lot of games. We
were too separated. Hopefully,
this year, we’ll have a family
concept and play together.”
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Timeout
with Tony (!
old lays down the clubs some
time around the year 2041). Earl
can envision thelegend ofhis son
one day being as great as that of
Arnold Palmer and the “Golden
Bear” himself — Jack Nicklaus.
Earl Woods (retired U.S. Army)
also clearly recognizes the “so
cial significance” such inclusion
carries with it. The game of golf
has for years been thought of as
clearly a high-brow sport, played
by aristocrats at lavish country
and golfclubsthat for many years
excluded African Americans as
members. Earl Woods remem
bers these periods in our coun
try’s history — and has felt the
pain of racism. What better way
to promote the game to an entire
generation of the MTV crowd
than to have Tiger compete on
the PGA Tour with the likes of
Greg Norman, Fred Couples, and
Nick Faldo, just to name a few.
The impact will be significant,
notjust for advertisers who align
themselves with Woods, but for
the gameitself. For the first time
since Calvin Peete, young (and
old) African Americans will have
a (quote) “role model” to follow
and even perhaps emulate! But
with Tiger taking on such a role,
he must be prepared mentally to
take on the critical pundits that
at NCAA Division 1 School.
During his tenure at Paine Col
lege, Minggia was named the
SIAC Women’s Coach of the Year
in 1994. Prior to coming to Paine,
Minggia was a member of the
coaching staff at the University
of Alabama at Birmingham. A
search for a replacement is un
derway.
Sports Focus
- §§§
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Vonteego Cummings
At 6-4, 185 pounds, Cummings
has a lean, Jordan-like body
structure that’s more than suit
able for today’s style of play.
“I play best at point guard.
That’s my game. When I have
theball, I feel asiftwo points will
happen — either by me, or me
setting someone up,” he said.
Cummings’ favorite players?
Olympic stars Gary Payton and
Anfernee Hardaway.
The Antrone Lee story took on
a completely different twist. Af
ter a successful year at Thomson,
Lee was recruited to play at the
University of Florida.
The 6-7, 195-pound lanky
freshman was ordered to play
down low —under the boards for
the Gators. That wasn’t what
Lee expected after signing a let-
will scrutinize, question and sec
ond-guess his every move, both
on and off the golf course. Some
call it the price of fame.
Case in point: Woods conduct
ed his first official news confer
ence as a professional in Mil
waukee, site of the Greater Mil
waukee Open where Tiger com
peted for the first time as a pro.
Current NBC golf analyst
Johnny Miller, a former golf su
perstar in his own right, told a
national radio audience that he
thought Tiger was doing the
wrong thing, turning pro at age
20. Miller believes Woods should
complete his collegiate studies
at Stanford University in Cali
fornia where he is currently a
junior. Miller went on to add that
Tiger should continue playing
for the Cardinal Golf Team and
then, once his degree is firmly in
hand, hitthe PGA Tour. Is Woods
ready? Miller cited Woods’ record
in pro events as dismal, which it
has been in all honesty. Tiger
has missed the cut in nine of 17
proevents. Woods’ highest finish
as a pro has been for a tie for
22nd Place at last month’s Brit
ish Open. But it’s clear that the
mental pressure of being an am
ateur facing pros has affected
Tiger’s usually aggressive ap
proach to the game, to say noth
ing ofthe confidence factor. Now,
as an official pro competing
against other pros, Woods should
clearly hold his own.
I share in Miller’s assessment
of the danger of injury Woods
may face in the future. At 20,
Tiger has already had bouts with
a bad lower back. If you have
ever seen Woods swing a gold
club(at6-2,1701b5) and send the
ball screaming down the fairway
at distances that rival those of
John Daly, then you too have to
wonder about the stress that
much torque is placing on his
body. It’s simply amazing to see
a man that size capable of pro
ducing such a “power swing.” I
guess it’s true — technique is
President Shirley A.R. Lewis
said, “We shall miss Coach
Minggia. At the same time, we
wish him well in his new posi
tion. I know that he will do well
at Northeastern Illinois Univer
sity.”
Paine College is a church-relat
ed, four-year, residential liberal
arts college. Its mission of provid
terofintent to play in Gainesville.
“They (coaches) didn’t do me
right. I expected to play at point
guard or shooting guard.” Lee
said that never happened. Mean
while, the team put their hopes
on a stocky, senior swing-guard
named Demetrius Hill.
Lee was so disappointed, he’s
opted not to play this season. His
red-shirt status will last for the
entire ’96-97 season. His career
will continue at Long Beach State
University in California.
Both have known each other
since elementary school.
Thomson head coach Michael
Thompson said his former play
ers showed promise early on.
“I can usually tell by the time a
kid is in sixth or seventh grade:
Some, even earlier,” he said. He
especially recalls 7-year-old
Vonteego’s knack for hitting the
open man and his dribbling abil
ities. “Sometimes, you can just
tell,” he said.
Based on his projections,
Vonteego’s sophomore year in
The Burgh should be hot enough
tothaw icy walkways around Pitt
Fieldhouse on cold, January
nights.
Antrone will spend the next
year eating home-cooked, weight
gaining meals prepared in the
LBC — much like picnics depict
ed in rap videos featuring Long
Beach/Compton-area entertain
ers Dr. Dre and Ice Cube.
Photos by Danielle Robinson.
everything in golf. Even with
excellent mechanics, the threat
of Tiger’s body breaking down
under the rigors of a demanding
pro schedule is very real. So far,
luck has been in his corner as far
as injuries are concerned.
Allin all, the question whether
or not Tiger did the right thing
will linger for years to come. By
turning pro, he becomes an in
stant millionaire. His future, at
least financially, is secure. Tiger
can now provide his family with
any luxuries they may want,
which no doubt will give the very
intense and focused young man
a welcome sense of accomplish
,ment.
Tiger’s decision will be re
viewed as a success if, and only
if, he delivers in a hurry. Woods
must show the same skills, as he
did in the amateur ranks, and
play competitively, on a weekly
basis, or the cries of not being
ready will ring out from every
gallery and broadcast booth from
Asiato South America. The pres
sure to secure his first pro victo
ry will be great. But then again,
Tiger is no stranger to pressure.
It’s been a part of his life since he
first showed his athletic prowess
at age three. At this point Woods
needs to win about $150,000 in
earnings to avoid heading back
to school (PGA qualifying) later
this year. To end 96 with a top
-125 ranking on the official Mon
ey list would be a tremendous
feat, allowing Tiger a two-year
tour exemption, but a win this
season on the tour would be spec
tacular! If it happens — and I
think it will — spectators and
casual fans ofthe game shouldn’t
besurprised. Aiter all, that’s been
Tiger’s trademark for years.
Did Tiger Woods do the right
thing in turning pro? You bet he
did, and Tiger can offer you a few
million reasons why, just in case
you still have a doubt!
Tony Cornish Jr.isafree-lance
sportswriter based in Augusta.
ing an education of high quality in
a wholesome and nurturing envi
ronment has not changed since its
founding in 1882. Paine is sup
ported by The United Methodist
Church, the Christian Methodist
Episcopal Church, and the Unit
ed Negro College Fund. Dr. Shirley
A.R. Lewis is president of Paine
College.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS ... '
T :
Athletes in not-so-model roles
By Coach Michael Thomas
Special to AUGUSTA FOCUS
Charles Barkley was correct ...
“Just because I can dunk a bas
ketball shouldn’t automatically
make me a role model.” Inrecent
years, our society has endowed
every athlete and entertainer
with the awesome title and re
sponsibility of a role model. This
dubious distinction has been giv
en to them whether they were
qualified or not, and whether
they wanted it or not. Therein
lies the problem, because the fact
of the matter is that not all ath
letes and entertainers are the
types of people one would want
to pattern oneself after. Howev
er, because we have bestowed
such an honor on complete
strangers (most of the time), we
become sad, angry and extreme
ly disappginted when these “role
models” don’t measure up to our
expectations and conduct them
selves as we think they ought to.
One could argue that the sim
ple fact they are public figures
automatically makes them role
models. To a certain extent this
Gold-winning U.S. Gymnastics
Team takes on the hest
Members of the Gold Medal
winning U.S. Women’s Gymnas
tics Team will compete against a
team of the world’s best female
gymnasts in U.S.A. vs. The
World: The Ultimate Gymnas
tics Competition, a special to air
Tuesday, %ept. 3 at 8 p.m. on
FOX 54. This will be the first
time the U.S. Women’s Gymnas
tics Team will be seen in compe
tition since the Olympic Games
in Atlanta.
U.S.A. vs. The World: The Ulti
mate Gymnastics Competition
will be taped during the USAG
sanctioned competition in the
Houston Summit, a 14,000-seat
stadium, Monday, Sept. 2, for
next-day broadcast. Former Gold
Medal gymnast Mary Lou Retton
will host the two-hour special.
Members of the U.S.A. team
will include Shannon Miller,
Black golf growing
From page one
1922, the first black to win a
major professional golf tourna
ment was Charlie Sifford who
won the Long Beach Open at the
age of 351 in 1957. He became the
first black to play in a major PGA
tournament in Greensboro,
North Carolina in 1961.
Blacks were shut out of the
prestigious Masters Golf Tour
nament in the traditionally rac
ist Augusta National for4l years
until Lee Elder qualifiedin 1975.
Blacks, of course, had always
played golf when they had the
opportunity to learn. In 1926, a
black golfing organization, The
United Golf Association held its
first national tournament. Na
tional tournaments for black golf
ers have existed since the 1920 s
and a few black-owned country
clubs existed in cities such as
Westfield, New Jersey,
Kankakee, Illinois and Atlanta,
Georgia.
While golf is more popular
among blacks than it has ever
been, it still pales next to the
popularity of football, basketball,
and even soccer and baseball.
Most sports professionals agree
that exposure to the sport is a
key element affecting the num
bers of young blacks taking up
the sport. ‘
“Young black kids are not ex
posed to golf. It has traditionally
been a private exclusive activ
ity,” said Paine Cofilege Athletic
Director Ronnie Spry. “Golf is
not a sport where young minor
ity kids are recruited. In that
mannerit’s similar to swimming,
ice skating, rowing and gymnas
tics.”
Clint Bryant, ath]etic director
at Augusta State' University,
agrees but he does see some
things changing. Golf has ex
ploded as the fastest growing lei
sure sport in the country and
that has to impact an increased
is true. But don’t we all, from a
moral and ethical standpoint;
have that same responsibility to
dotherightthing? But none of us
is obligated to.
So, since no one is obligated, it
would behoove us to only grant
this precious title on people we
know well, and not just to some
onethat sings well, performs well
or hits a baseball well. I would
suggest that we only respect,
admire and appreciate the per
formers’talents and nothing else.
Then we would only see a Dennis
Rodman as the NBA’s top
rebounder, and not argue the
fact we wouldn’t want our kids
emulating his antics. We would
only view Mike Tyson as one of
the all-time great heavyweights
and not as a champion that has
let us down. We would then be
able to appreciate Michael Jack
son as the King of Pop and still
the baddest entertainer alive,
despite his personal hurdles. If
we view them any other way, we
runtherisk of being disillusioned
and perhaps modeling ourselves
after the wrong role models.
That’s the fact of the matter.
Dominique Moceanu, Amanda
Borden and Jaycie Phelps. The
World team will feature Olympic
Gold Medalists Svetlana
Khorkina of Russia and Svetlana
Boginskaya of Belarus, along
with World Champions Mo
Huilan and Liu Xuan of China
and Dina Kochetkova of Russia.
Miller, the most decorated Amer-,
ican gymnast, has won seven Olym--
picmedals, including theindividual ;
Gold Medal for the balance beam in
Atlanta. She is a two-time U.S. Na
tional Champion.
In 1995, Mocianu became the
youngest U.S. National Champi
on in history at age 13. She was
also America’s only individual
medalist in the 1995 World
Championship.
Phelps and Borden are both
three-time members ofthe World
Championship team.
number of African Americans,
Bryant said.
“Golf has outgrown tennis in
participation three to one in the
past 10 years,” Bryantsaid. “Our
young kids now are being ex
posed to golf. Tiger Woods will
influence more young African
Americans to move toward golf
than anyone could imagine. Now
you are going to have kids say
ing, ‘golf is.not so boring.” When
I'was akid, I felt golf was a sissy
sport. Tiger Woods will become
the Michael Jordan of golf. He’s
smart and he’s marketable,”
Bryant said.
Bryant has been instrumental
in bringing golf to more inner
city youth, black and white,
through his involvment with the
program at the Boys Club of
Augusta run by Conan Sanders.
Every Monday, Wednesday
and Thursday, Sanders, a former
military golfing champion, works
with the youth.
“We take kids with no back
ground in golf and introduce
them to various aspects of the
game,” Sanders said.
Besides teaching the kids the
fundamentals of the game, the
program teaches them rules and
etiquette, how to conduct oneself
on the course, and golf course
management, including caddy
ing and greens keeping.
Although the program was
originally designed for 24 kids,
Sanders has gotten some 100 kids
involved and has a steady pool of
about 36 kids participating on a
regular basis.
An important part of the pro
gram is getting out of Augusta
and going to tournaments.
“I take them to courses where
they can see other blacks play
ing,” Sanders said. He runs a
tournament at Stormy Point, in
Greenwood, South Carolina. It’s
called the Conan Invitational.
There, the kids can caddy and
make money while learning the
finer points of the game.