Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

Prince sued for sls million Page 1 VOLUME 14 NUMBER 39 Mr. ‘Today 9 —Bryant Gumbel moving on up Los Angeles, CA.—His name is Bryant Gumbel...lf he has a nickname, it isn’t known. Bryant Gumble is the anchor on National Broadcasting Company News’ “Today” show, which is seen early mornings by multimillions of Americans. Bryant Gumbel is a former television sports commentator, sports director sportscaster, one of the best who ever did any of it. Bryant Gumbel is one of the '' \ 1 ' A / ' ' BRYANT GUMBEL highest-paid Blacks in the history of television, possibly the hightest paid of all in his category. He reportedly earns $600,000 a year. He earns it the old-fashioned way, working 12 hours every day. Bryant Gumbel is han dsome-handsome as a matinee idol, in fact. He is well-built and he possesses a modicum of athletic ability—enough, at least, to con vince him that he should play third base in one of those Hollywood Civil rights activists indicted BIRMINGHAM,AL.—FederaI Grand Jury indictments alleging mail fraud and voting conspiracy have been returned against three Alabama civil rights activists, Albert Turner, his wife Evelyn, and Spencer Hogue. Albert Turner, the best known of the three, was a former lieutenant under the command of the late Dr. Martin Luther King during the turbulent 60s while daily marches for Black voting rights were held in Perry County. Turner led most of those marches. He was also selected one of the pall-bearers for the King funeral. Prince sued by photographers Three freelance photographers last week filed a sls million lawsuit against rock superstar Prince and the bodyguards they claim assaulted them when they tried to photograph the singer as he left a Sunset Strip restaurant. In their Los Angeles Superior Court action, Vinnie Zuffante, Richard Kolnsberg and Kevin Win ter claim they were at Carlos ‘N Charlies Restaurant Jan. 29, where a reception and media event was being held to celebrate the American Music Awards presen tation to Prince Rogers Nelson and his band. The Revolution. The lawsuit alleges that while they were at the Sunset Boulevard restaurant, they were assaulted by “Big Chick” Huntsberry, Lawren ce Gibson, Wallace Safford and “Sgt. Slaughter.” The alleged assault was conducted “all at the Augusta Nms-Steutm All-Star games the Los Angeles Dodgers promote every year. Bryant Gumbel has been, if he is not now, something of a con troversial figure. He stirred up a bit of controver sy out here when he siad, “I’m not a Black sportscaster. I am a spor tscaster who happens to be Black.” He was good and he knew it, and his Gibraltar-like confidence rubbed certain people the wrong way. But, they couldn’t dent his armor with snide remarks. Ever since he became the “Today” anchor in January, 1982, some television critics have tried to tear him down on the basis of his involvement with sports. To the unfamiliar, that may seem strange, especially when they consider the previous celebrity of sportscaster/sports commentator Howard Cosell, who became a legendary figure after claiming that he told it “like” it was. In more recent history, during the Carter administration, Turner was placed on the lecture circuit by former President Jimmy Carter because of his invention of gasohol. Turner often was sum moned to Washington to testify before Senate committees on the merits of gasohol as an alternative fuel source. His unheralded inven tion took him all around the coun try speaking and teaching on the subject. Because of the nature of the in dictments and the public acclaim of those indicted, internationally known Black trial lawyer Howard "'Wi' PRINCE in a scene from Purple Rain ‘Today’ show Bryant Gumbel moving on up Page 1 Moore of Los Angeles has agreed to be a co-counsel in the case with Selma attorneys J.L. Chestnut and State Senator Hank Sanders. Moore was defense counsel for Angela Davis during her famous courtroom ordeal. Both Turners and Mr. Hogue have been arraigned before a U.S. Magistrate and both men have ben charged with 29 counts each of “alleged mail fraud and using the mails to facilitate and illegal voting scheme’’ said co-counsel Chestnut. Mrs. Turner was indicted on 12 counts. Many of the charges, ac cording to Chestnut, allege illegal Petty jealousy probably fueled that criticism, at least in part. And, also in part, racism probably had something to do with it. But, Bryant Gumbel, a great competitor, never has wavered, never has crumbled, always has triumphed. One of his most significant triumphs was logged two or three weeks ago when the “Today” show tied American Broadcasting Company’s “Good Morning, America” in the Neilsen ratings. That was proof positive that large numbers of American televiewers approve of his work and that of Jane Pauley, the coan chor; weatherman Willard Scott, John Palmer, Gene Shalit, and Company. “Bryant Gumbel and Jane Pauley are the most powerful one two punch in television,” Steve Friedman, executive producer of the “Today” show, told me recen tly. “The ‘Today’ show is strong, competitive, and moving on up,”' an NBC staffer said. Although the show has fallen behind “Good Morning, America” by a slight margin in the last week or so, the mere fact that “Today” tied “GMA” is proof of its vibrant, good health. No longer is that sports beef held against Gumbel by anyone who knows how really good he is, how knowledgeable, how ar ticulate, how deeply committed he is to excelence. “Since joining NBC News’ “Today” program as anchor, a network auditor says, “Bryant Gumbel has quickly mastered the task of setting the pace for the program’s millions of early morning viewers—directing their attention to the latest developmen ts and interviewing the people that most affect their lives.” Michael,Jackson, Lionel Richie ; 1 song for sta Ethiopeans Page 2 || February 23,1985 Gumbel seems to be equally comfortable—or at home—regar dless of whether he is interviewing a sports figure, a major politician, a foreign dignitary, an author, a famous model, or a show business celebrity. Apparently, judging by the evidence, which is his performan ce, he always does his homework. For he is rarely, if ever, caught in a tongue-tied position. He can be serious or he can be a jocular—especially when he and Willard Scott are kidding around—depending on the demand of the occasion. Briefly put, Bryant Gumbel is a superstar. An all-time great television journalist. A winner! Bryant Gumbel was born in New Orleans on September 29, 1948, and reared in Chicago in comfor table circumstahces. In 1970, he earned a Liberal Arts degree from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. It has been said that he majored in Russian studies. Prior to embarking on his career in television, Gumbel pursued a career as a writer. After submitting his first piece on a trial basis to Black Sports Magazine in 1971, he was given additional freelance assignments and was soon hired as a staff writer. Within eight months, as previously said, he was elevated to editor-in-chief. Gumbel first became familiar to “Today” audiences through his thrice-weekly sports reports, beginning in September, 1980. Prior to that time, he was known to millions as an NBC Sports host. Gumbel’s meteoric rise in broadcasting had begun in Oc tober. 1972, when he was named, See ‘Today’, Page 2 notarization of absentee ballots. “I see no difference in the Maggie Bozeman-Julia Wilder cases down in Pickens County from these cases” Chestnut said. “I tried those cases then and said they were nothing but a racist far ce.” “I know all over the country,” Chestnut continued, “Ronald Reagan’s Justice Department and the F. 8.1. are investigating voting in many areas with sizeable Black populations. They’re investigating in Atlanta, Chicago, and even Birmingham” he said, “They’re See Black Belt Three, Page 6 direction of Prince and under his control,” the suit claims. The action claims that Zuffante suffered permanent disfigurement and eye damage as a result of the alleged incident. Another plaintiff in the lawsuit, Virginia Loehle, the owner of a national commercial photography agency and news bureau called Star File, claims the bodyguards seized and destroyed camera equipment, film and photographs. Also named as defendants are the restaurant and Warner Com munications, producers of Prince and the Revolution. Both Gibson and Safford were arrested following the incident. Gibson, 26, was booked for robbery because he allegedly took Zuffante’s camera and Safford, 25, was booked for battery because •he allegedly punched Zuffante in the right eye. I Black Belt rights activists °-aud I Less than 75 percent Advertising RICHMOND COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION Employees listed by race. Fifty-two percent of the students are Black. _ TITLES WHITE BLACK * TOTAL Superintendent i 1 Associate Superintendent j j Assistant Superintendents ■Directors & Controller 14 5 19 Assistant Director 1 1 Coordinators 8 2 10 Administrators '5 1 6 I Principals 33 17 Assistant Principals 18 14 32 Lead Teachers 20 8 .28 Class Room Teachers 861 487 1,348 Guidance 14 16 30 Librarians 31 19 50 Aides 128 152 280 I Clerical 139 60 199 Custodians 4 243 247 L/M Managers & Asst. 11 Lunchroom Workers 54 54 192 Maintenance 54 31 85 Transportation 82 74 15$ Rank racism Editorial Rarely in one week has Augusta seen so many manifestations of racism. While many people woundered which Black would become associate school superintendent, it was not to be. None of them was chosen. And it seemingly matters less that 52 percent of the school propulation is Black. On Monday some 800 residents of predominan tly Black Albion Acres petitioned to be annexed into the city. But the mayor denied their request. This is the same mayo, who is setting up an Office of Annexation to work specifically to annex people into the city. But it is clear, that he is not so anxious that he is willing to see the Black voting strength in the city in crease. The sad truth of the matter is that in spite of all the talk about the possible loss of federal funds due to decreasing population is not the cat astrophe that it is cracked up to be. Certainly, it would not be as catastrophic for many of the racists now in office as seeing Blacks gain enough power to throw them out. It is a power struggle, based on one race’s effor ts to keep the other down. That’s ail that racism is. 3O€