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APRIL 24, 1997 AUGUSTA FOCUS
NBA playoffs have finally arrived!
The playoff road will be filled
‘with intrigue and injury, pitfalls
‘and bad calls, miscues and mys
tery. The test will merely be to
survive the roundball war and
physical nature of play that exist
only during NBA playofftime. No
longer will easy lay-ups and break
away slam dunks go uncontested
by opponents. Hard fouls will be
‘the rule, not the exception. Fren
zied fans will go to the extreme to
boost the home teams ego and dis
mantle the opposing teams psyche.
Arenas that were once quiet and
serene will emerge as thunder
‘domes, noton just the great plays,
but for every play that transpires.
‘That’s why teams fight, scrap and
scream about the advantages of
securing home-court advantage
'during the playoffs. For some fran
chises, playingat home, more than
on the road, can mean the differ
ence between winning an NBA
ring or being ousted during the
first round of the playoffs. If you
love inspired play, emotional out
bursts, tremendous displays oftal
ent and athleticism, make sure
you don’t miss a minute of this
special extravaganza!
Atlanta vs. Detroit
The Hawks will have a tough
struggle trying to contain “Mr.
Triple Double,” Piston All-Star for
ward Grant Hill. The Hawks have
lost to Detroit three out of four
games during the regular season,
sothey are definitely outtoprovea
point that they can win when it
counts the most. Atlanta head
coach Lenny Wilkens will have to
make sure guard Mookie Blaylock
and All-Star center Dikembe
Mutumbo are ready to battle de
fensively each and every contest.
Glenn Hills and Georgia Southern
Seven MEAC players drafted into NFL
GREENSBORO, N.C.
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Con
ference(MEAC)had seven players
selected during the 1997 National
Football League (NFL) Draft held
April 19-20. The San Diego Charg
erschose fourofthe seven players.
Mike Hamilton of North Caro
lina A & T State University was
the first league player taken,
snapped up by San Diego in the
third round as the 74th overall
selection. Hamilton, a six-foot four
inch, 245-pound linebacker from
Greenville, S.C.,wasan All-MEAC
second teamer.
In the fifth round, the Chargers
drafted three-time All-MEAC per
former Raleigh Roundtree, a six
foot five-inch 305-pound offensive
tackle from South Carolina State
University. An Augusta native,
Roundtree was the 109th selection
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product Michael Curry could play
abigrole for Detroit if he can help
neutralize Atlanta’s back court
scoring punch. Both Dikembe and
Mookie must avoid foul trouble for
the Hawks to survive this best of
five series that will be the best the
league has to offer in the first
round. Will Atlanta’s Steve Smith
show up and score consistently? If
he does, Hawks win series 3-2
(thanks to homecourt advantage).
Chicagovs. Washington
Can the Bullets contain Jordan
and Scottie? Get serious. The Bul
lets will be lucky to post one win
against the defending world cham
pions. Get the brooms ready in
Chi-Town. Bulls win series in
“sweeping fashion,” 3-0.
Miami vs. Orlando
The Heat are on a mission while
Orlando is still looking for an
swers. Magic All-Star Penny
Hardaway will score at will against
Miami’s smaller guardsin the post,
but the Heat (under the direction
of veteran playoffcoach Pat Riley),
and participated in the Senior Bowl
and the Blue-Gray Classic.
With the 138th pick in the sixth
round, San Diego grabbed running
back Kenneth Bynum, whogained
many yardsoffofßoundtree blocks.
Bynum, alsoan All-MEAC choice,
rushed for 1,648 yards and 14
touchdowns on 235 carries in ten
games. Bynum, a five-foot 11-inch
190-pounder from Gainesville, Fla.,
also returned 11 kickoffs for 255
yards.
Intheseventhround, 218th pick,
San Diego selected Toran James,
another North Carolina A & T
linebacker, although he played in
just four games because of an in
jury. James, a six-foot three-inch
275-pounder from Ahoskie, N.C.,
wasthe team’s leading tackler be
fore suffering the injury.
Billy Devaney, Chargers direc
tor of player personnel stated, “His
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Sports
should be able tocontain the rest of
the men from the land of Mickey
Mouse and Shamu. Heat takes
series 3-1. :
New York vs. Charlotte
BoththeCharlotteand New York
police departments should be on
“special alert” during this best of
five opener. The Hornets have
played well against the Knicks
duringtheregularseason with ex-
New Yorker Anthony Mason
outplaying former Charlotte All-
Star Larry Johnson (despite arash
of injury problems for Mason).
Johnson hasbeen abustso farthis
season in the Big Apple. Look for
“LJ” toreally push his effort tothe
limit in this series in an effort to
get the rabid New York media off
his back. Hornets need huge ef
forts from Glenn Rice to counter
All-Star Patrick Ewing’sinside domi
nance. Theteam that winsthebattle
of intimidation and physical play
will win the series, so give a slight
nod to the New Yorkers, 3-2.
L.A. Lakers vs. Portland
Shaq and the Lakers were try
ing to avoid facing the Blazersin
the first round in the worst way,
but things didn’t work out L.A.’s
way. The “T-Blazers” have won
three of four versus the men from
Hollywood duringthe regular sea
son. Soit’s safe tosay Kenny Ander
son, Cliff Robinson and the rest of
their teammates have no fear of
facing L.A.! Portland matches up
very well with the Lakers up front
and in the backcourt, as Laker
coach Del Harris realizes all too
well, but rest easy, L.A. fans. With
the homecourt advantage, and
O’Neil managingtoconnect on (at
least) fifty percent from the char
ity strip, the Lakers should sur
vive a real scare, 3-2.
torically we have always looked at
the MEAC with the sameregard as
every other conference and year
afteryear,the MEAC has provided
the NFL with quality players.”
The MEAC Offensive Lineman
ofthe Year, Jamie Nails of Florida
A & M University, was selected by
the Buffalo Billsin the fourth round
(120th overall). Nails, an imposing
six-foot seven-inch, 377-pound of
fensive tackle from Baxley, Ga.,
left FAMU one year early.
Antwuan Wyatt of Bethune-
Cookman College was drafted by
the Philadelphia Eagles, who had
the 190th pick in the sixth round.
Wyatt, a six-foot one-inch 195-
pound speedster from Daytona
Beach, Fla.,was an All-MEAC per
former at both wide receiver and
kick return specialist. He caught
70 passes for 985 yards and four
scores and averaged 22.7 yards on
Utah vs. Clippers
Please, if you have small chil
dren, don’t let them watch this
series. Utah’s Karl “The Mailman”
Malone is simply going to the dis
mantle the Clippers’inexperienced
front court. Jazz win series going
away, 3-0.
Houston vs. Minnesota
If the entire Rockets unit is
healthy, they canbe counted onas
oneofthebest teamsin the league.
Ifnot, they are at best a “500” team
that will rely heavily on future
Hall of Famer Akeem Olajuwan to
propel them through some tough
playoffwaters. T-Wolvesare young,
hungry, but “too” inexperienced,
this time around, to pull off a
major upset. [fHouston is healthy
(especially Charles Barkley), Rudy
T. should be able to guide the
troops past Minnesota 3-1.
Seattle vs. Phoenix
Upset special of the first round!
The lowly Suns, and their unor
thodox four guard offensive set,
will surprise the defending West
ern Conference Champs from the
great Pacific Northwest. The Sonics
are a team in trouble because of
oneman...All-Star Shawn Kemp.
Inanut-shell, The“Rainman”isn’t
happy with his contract, or with
management’srefusal tocutanew
deal ASAP. So instead of playing,
and acting like a “true pro,” Kemp
has decided to sulk. Kemp’s atti
tude affects Seattle tosuch alarge
degree, among both players and
coaches, that having him at less
than his best mentally will un
doubtedly sink Seattle’schances of
returning to the NBA Finalsfora
second straight year. It’s going to
happen! Suns shock Seattle 3-2.
Tony Cornish Jr. is a freelance
sports columnist.
kickoffreturns and 13.4 on punts.
North Carolina A & T had a
third drafted when the St. Louis
Rams selected All-MEAC choice
Cedric White in the seventh round
(215th pick). White, a six-foot two
inch, 280-pound defensive tackle
from Los Angeles, averaged 5.4
stops per game and added six sacks
on the season. St. Louis’new coach
Dick Vermeil stated the Rams had
thought about free agency for
White, but decided not to take the
chance.
The MEAC’s seven was not only
the mostinleague history, but also
led aIINCAA Division 1-AA confer
encesin players selected according
to an NFL office report. The Yan
kee was second with four, while
three each came out of Big Sky,
Gateway, Ivy and Southland. The
Ohio Valley, Southern and SWAC
had two each.
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The Doug Banks Show
Weekdays 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Augusta hosts first-class
kickboxing bouts
JM Promotions brings full con
tact karate back to the Augusta
State University Athletic Complex
on Saturday, April 26, for the 1997
Augusta Superfight. Sanctioned
by the Professional Karate Com
mission, this year’s Superfight card
includes 14 bouts with matches
featuring 11 local fighters. Nu
merous Georgia State Titles will
be on the line.
Spectators cansupport local par
ticipants on the card, including
female kickboxer Kim Lane, who
will face Atlanta’s Melissa Jack
son forthe Georgia Women’s Light
weight Title. Fort Gordon soldier
and 1996 United States Kickboxing
Champion Luis Rodriguez will see
action on the card. Local karate
instructor Tommy Seigler will chal
Augusta State soccer
signs two more prospects
i AUGUSTA
~ Augusta State University head
soccer coach Ron Keller has an
nounced the signing of Juan Hoyos
of Augusta, Georgia and Jeremy
Field of Athens, Georgia to grant
‘in-aids for the 1997 soccer season.
Juan Hoyosisa five-foot-ninede
fenderwhoplayedlocally at Westside
High School in Augusta. After com
ing to Augusta from the country of
Columbia, Juanjoined the Augusta
Arsenal Gunners club team where
he immediately became a starter.
This past season as team captain of
the Westside Patriots, Hoyos scored
25 points on nine goals and seven
assists. In 1996, he led Westside to
theregionchampionship.
Coach Ron Keller, who led his
team to a 7-8-1 record in his first
season, stated, “Juan will bring a
strong physical presence to our
defense and heiscapable of playing
any of our defensive positions. His
versatility as a player will be abig
bonus to him and our team.”
Jeremy Field is a six-foot
ASU men’s baskethall
signs first prospect
Augusta State University head
men’s basketball coach Clint
Bryant announced the signing of
Rechard Larking of Milledgeville,
Georgia to a grant-in-aid for the
1997-98 season.
Larkin comes to Augusta State
from Baldwin County High School
in Milledgeville, Ga. where he
started this past season at point
guard. Larkin averaged nine points
andsix assists pergame for Baldwin
County this past season, his first
as the full-time starter.
This past November, Larkin
played in the ASU Athletic Com-
Educational Fund begun
for son of late Coach Wiley
An educational fund has been established for the
sonofthelate coach Larry Jerome Wiley of Thomson
High School. Persons wishing to make a contribu
tion to this cause may send their donations to Sun
Trust Bank, c/o Wiley Educational Fund, P.O. Box
1200, Thomson, GA 30824. Patrons may make a
one-time donation or send several donations up
until the time of Bryant’s high school graduation.
lenge forthe Georgia Light Welter
weight Division Title.
Numerous special guests from
themartial arts world are expected
to attend, including Professional
Karate Commission president
Glenn Keeney and noted
kickboxing promoter and televi
sion commentator Joe Corley.
Doors will open at 7 p.m. with
the bouts beginning at 8 p.m.
General admissionisonly $lO with
floor seating available for $25. Cor
porate tables are also available.
Advance tickets can be purchased
atthe Augusta Martial Arts Acad
emy, Bobby Jones Ford and at
Powerhouse Aerobics and Fitness.
A portion of the proceeds will go to
the benefit of the Augusta Boxing
Club.
midfielder who comes to Augusta
State from Clarke Central High
School in Athens, Georgia. A very
talented player, Field played for
the Stone Mountain Storm, a club
team that captured the 1997 At
lanta Cup. Field also played on the
1996 Olympic Development Team
and he was a member of the under
-19 Junior Division All-Star game.
He also was voted team MVP at
Clarke Central. He is also a Hope
Scholarship recipient.
Kellersaid of Field, “Jeremy was
one of the highest recruited soccer
players in Georgia and he is an
excellent playmaker. His size and
speed mixed with experience will
prove to be a dominating force in
the center of the field for us.”
The new recruits join Adam
Hopkins of Snellville, Ga. and
Mario John of Diego Martin,
Trinidad as newcomers tothe Jag
uar soccer program. Augusta State
is expected to announce the sign
ing of two more soccer players to
scholarships next week.
plex at the 100 Black Men of Au
gusta Thanksgiving Roundball
Classic, leading his team to a win
over Laney High School, scoring
the game-winning basket.
Larkin’shigh school coach James
Lunsfordsaid, “Coach Bryant liked
what he saw [at the tournament).
It wasn’t that Rechard scored a lot
of points or he took a lot of baskets.
He handled the team well.”
Larkin said of coming to Au
gusta State, “I like Augusta be
cause it is a place where I can get
agood education and also dosome
thing I love: play basketball.”
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