The Miami News from Miami, Florida • 21

'T y)mMmajpi Dade crack down on foreign admissions i vT Tt-ii 1 fair. 41 rived at Jackson. Derek Vogt, a high-scoring guard from A.F. Ad-derley High, presented a transcript to Mrs. Campbell stating he'd only completed ninth grade.

Vogt was then assigned to 10th grade at Jackson. "But I have a transcript showing 'Jhat he has graduated from high school, so he will never play basketball at Jackson," said Florida High School Activities Association executive secretary Floyd Lay. And I would guess there's a considerable amount of this going on." There are thousands of foreign students from dozens of countries enrolled in Dade's public schools. Their grade placements, in most cases, are determined by the transcripts sent to Mrs. Campbell's office.

Their eligibility for athletics, in turn, is determined by their grade placements. A student placed improperly can therefore' participate in athletics in violation of FHSAA bylaws. 1 In Florida a high school student is allowed three consecutive years of eligibility from the time he first enters 10th grade. Jackson's Bahamian basketball players weren't the only Dade high school students to have beaten that rule, however. Kendal (Tiny) Pinder, Northwestern's All-County forward last season, apparently did.

Pinder he entered 10th grade at Hawksbill High in Free-port, Grand Bahama, in 1971. But Pinder's 10th grade records never reached Mrs. Campbell's office the records had been discontinued on 5C, Col. 1 By BILL BRUBAKER Miami Newi Reporter It has been Elizabeth (Betty) Campbell's job, as Dade County's foreign students registrar, to be suspicious, Especially since last October when she learned that three students who'd graduated from high schools in the Bahamas had been admitted to Miami Jackson High as underclassmen. All were basketball players, Mrs.

Campbell was stunned. "And want to assure you that this kind of stuff won't Happen 'in the future," she declared recently. "Believe me, since the Jackson situation, we are doing things a little differently." The Dade County public school system, sixth largest in the nation, has toughened its admissions procedure for foreign students since last October. That's when The Miami News revealed that Jackson won the 1974 Class AAAA state basketball championship using four ineligible players from the Bahamas. Two of the students All-County standouts Cecil Rose and Charles Thompson had graduated from Prince William High in Nassau, before entering Jackson.

That shouldn't happen again, Mrs. Campbell says. "Since the Jackson problem, I do not give any I-20s (U.S. Immigration student visa forms) to students unless they have their school records with them," she said. "There are no exceptions whatsoever, and I dont care how much they hound me.

"I tell them I don't want to get in hot water again." Last September a third' high school graduate from Nassau ar 4 Miami News Siaif Photo Tiny Pinder, playing for Northwestern High The strange cose of Tiny Pinder Ipatel Sports pip JOHN CRITTENDEN Sports Editor Section Tuesday, February 17, 1976 Tax deduction 'This is an unusual situation, no question about Floyd Lay A call for a meeting of The doza Group went out the other day. "Murray Gaby, president," the let ter was signed. "It's our first meeting in 18 months," said Gaby. heard from everybody. They all wanted financial statements.

They're all looking for tax deductions." The Mendoza Group was formed three years ago to se I Xfii (1 GABY "-t-nrnr- "omun'il -Tinrttt TJ til fr nin'i inmr' able to prove conclusively that Pinder was ineligible because pertinent records at Hawksbill High have disappeared. A dusty, stained admission's registry in HawksbiU's main office shows that Nathaniel Forbes Pinder used that name (his father's) while in Frecport was admitted to that school as an eighth grader on Sept. 16, 19CS. This suggests Pinder entered ninth grade (and began his athletic eligibility) in 1969 or if he failed eighth grade in 1970. In either case Pinder shouldn't have been eligible to play at Northwestern during the 1974-75 season.

Northwestern's records show that Pinder attended the ninth grade in 1971-72. A three-hour search at Hawksbill by The News and school officials produced no records of when Pinder attended the ninth and 10th grades, however. "Until recently, we never kept proper records of our students," said Gladstone Fletcher, a teacher at Hawksbill since 1967. "See, when Tiny was here, Freeport was in a boom era and there were children coming in from different parts of the world, which had different grading systems. "We were just starting our school and teachers had more pressing problems than keeping records." Hawksbill, a school of 1,500 students located about three miles from Freeport's tourist-crowded casino, has been keeping proper academic records for about two years, Fletcher said.

Miami News Staff Photo by BOB MACK Twenty-eight men showed up at Dade North yesterday to the first practice A club football league has a humble start By BILL BRUBAKER Miami Newt Reporter FREEPORT, Bahamas In all likelihood, Miami Northwestern High used an ineligible Bahamian player, Kendal (Tiny) Pinder, during the 1974-75 basketball season, a Miami News investigation here has found. Northwestern officials apparently had no knowledge that Pinder, a high-scoring All-County forward, was probably ineligible. The school allowed Pinder to play based on the records it re-c i from Grand Bahama's Hawksbill High. The records sent to Northwestern were grossly incomplete and, perhaps, inaccurate. "Yes, there's a possibility he would've been ineligible," Northwestern principal Dr.

Everett Abney admitted, in Miami. "This all seems very strange to me." The case of Kendal Pinder, nee Nathaniel Forbes, a.k.a. Tiny, is very strange indeed and it may never be solved completely. Florida High School Activities Association executive secretary Floyd Lay is investigating whether Pinder was eligible during the 1974-75 season when he led Northwest-em 25-5 record and the Greater M'('i a i Athletic Conference championship. He had a 19-point average.

"This is an unusual situation, no question about that," Lay said. Pinder's case underlines a pressing problem in Florida high school athletics namely, the eligibility of foreign students. How can their eligibility be properly determined when only incomplete records are available at some foreign schools? Pinder was probably the fifth ineligible Baha.mian student to play basketball in" Miami within two years. Jackson High, used four ineligible students from Nassau to win the 1974 Class AAAA state championship, The Milami News revealed last October. The FHSAA's board of directors will decide March 12th whether to void Jackson's championship.

Pinder, now a freshman at East Tennessee State, gave The News details of his Freeport background in a telephone conversation from Johnson City, Tcnn. Pinder said he attended 10th grade at govern ment-operatcd Hawksbill during he 1971-72 school year, but that hi 10th grade records were never sent to Northwestern. "They (Hawksbill officials) had thrown my records out," Pinder said. "They didn't keep records like they keep records at schools in Miami. So Northwestern only received a record that I'd completed the ninth grade." If Pinder was in 10th graJe in 1971-72, his eligibility at Northwestern would've expired after the 1973-74 school year.

At the lime Pinder was at Northwestern, a student became ineligible for athletics in Florida four years from the time he first entered ninth grade. Informed that he might've been ineligible at Northwestern, Pinder quickly decided: "Well, maybe everything I told you wasn't true. I don't know the exact dates when I went to school. So I don't even want to discuss- it any more." It's improbaWe Lay will ever be Nigerian troops halt Asho match The league's biggest problem, says Scott, is money. He said some money is being raised through donors, advance ticket sales and advertising in game programs.

He said the rest is coming from himself and Zuckerman. An engineer, Zuckerman said he quit his job to devote fulltime to the league. Coaches are also hard to come by. Scroggins and Miramar High assistant Don Buchinski were supposed to coach Fort Lauderdale University's club team but it folded, so he came to look at the Dade North team. Scott said the league will provide jerseys, pants and helmets to players.

"I'm also trying to make a deal with Spalding to buy up all the old World Football League footballs," 4ie said. Other equipment pads must be provided by the players. Scott suggested they go to their former high school coaches to borrow equipment. However, several Dade County coaches say they cannot lend the equipment out. Some players, like 19-year-old Willie Barficld, are still wondering if they can get equipment.

"Money's tight," said Barfield. "Just 'cause you want to get something don't mean you can." Scroggins, with his school's approval, said he will lend equipment. In addition, Scroggins will lend his time, for no salary. "The basic idea here is good," said Scroggins. "When I see boys turn up here like this, it's exciting to me as a coach and it's hard to tay no, even though it means a long trip." A few players are showing up just to play some tackle football.

Barfield and Kenny Stringer, Dade North students from Carol City High, are also teammates on the semi-pro Carol City Apaches of the Florida Football League. Mick Sanchez, a 19-year-old Dade North students from Hialeah High, is helping organize the Dade North club. "I was a wide receiver in high school," said Sanchez. "Two games before the season was over, I was in a car accident and lost a kidney. I figure I have nothing to lose except the other kidney now.

I'm out here to play ball and whatever happens, happens." By HENRY SEIDEN Miami News Reporter Jim Scroggins looked at the 28 men standing on the Miami-Dade Community College North soccer field yesterday, trying to figure out if his daily drive from Miramar was worth it. "I said I would come down and take a look," said Scroggins, Miramar High's head football coach. "I haven't made any commitment yet." Guy Scott, Florida Junior College Club Football League commissioner, was also at the Dade North field yesterday, waiting to see how many players would show up. League executive director Robert Zuckerman said 70 people attended a Dade North football club meeting last week. But yesterday was the day players had to conic up with $24, the first part of a $41 insurance premium.

"I don't know how many will be here," said Scott. "When they have to pay, that's another story." Scott admits the league is a shoestring operation but he's optimistic it will succeed. Four campuses, he says, already have students involved Miami-Dade North and South, and Broward Community College North and Central. Each campus will have a football club playing a six-game schedule from March through May. The purpose, says Scott, is to fill a void for football players after high school.

Some players don't have the desire, ability, size, maturity or grades to play for a senior college. Scott said by playing in the Florida Junior College Club League, players will have an opportunity to gain a college football scholarship. But the teams, as Miami-Dade Community College administrators vehemently point out, are in no way connected with the school. In addition, Dade South athletic director Howard Hohman and Dade North athletic director Demie Mainieri have forbidden league players although they are students to use any Miami-Dade facilities for play or practice. State law prohibits junior college football.

lect, encourage and train boxing prospects. Gaby, an ex-fighter, a boxing fan and a successful advertising designer whose firm is in South Miami, sounded the call and 10 of his friends came in with him. "At our last meeting, 18 months ago, I told them it looked like we were going- to lose some money," said Gaby. "This time I'm just putting it in the past tense. I'm going to tell them that their money is lost.

If they want a tax deduction, they've got it." The Mendoza Group was a losing proposition from the start, but executed with style and flair. The dinner party to announce the formation of the organization was held in a chandeliered hotel meeting room, with flashing mirrors and deep carpets. Things went downhill from there. Generally, The Mendoza Group has been a bust. Gaby picked the fighters, managed them and hired trainers.

There have been occasional successes, but these were rare. The operation started 10 investors. Nine are still in. "When they got my letter, all of them called right away," said Gaby. "They wanted to give me their proxies.

'Take my vote and do what you want with they all said. "Now," said Gaby, "I've got them right where I want them. I'm going to take all those proxies and vote, myself out as president." Gaby offered to give a brief rundown on the three-year roster of Mendoza Group fighters. "It reads like a Who's Who of Boxing," he said. A heavyweight started the show The Mendoza Group started with a heavyweight from the Midwest, who was undistinguished except for a set of curious scars on his face.

As he got to know him better, Gaby discovered the scars on the boxer's face were left when the prospect was kicked by a horse. That seemed like a bad omen and it was. The heavyweight is now back in the Midwest, a successful builder of apartments, and he took a healthy stash of The Mendoza Group's money with him. Next came a lightweight, who is now going to college at night and working as a typesetter by day. He's out of boxing.

"One of our successes," said Gaby. Then there was a welterweight, whose stay with the organization was also brief. "I believe he's in construction," said Gaby. A middleweight, followed. A policeman, he shot someone, allegedly by accident, and is now driving a milk truck.

Out of boxing. Then' came light heavyweight James Scott. A consistent winner, the best prospect of all the Mendoza Groupies. Became involved in a shooting, now being held in New Jersey on murder charges. Out of boxing.

Vinnie Curto was next. Curto is the only representative of the organization now active. Gaby will accompany Curto shortly on a three-fight tour which will take them to Orlando, Philadelphia and Indianapolis. "I have never been to Indianapolis." said Gaby. "That's why I got in this glamorous travel.

"Curto." said Gaby, "is the grand old man of South Florida boxing at age 20." The Mendoza Group has one Continued on 3C, Col. 1 Astociatcd Pren WASHINGTON A World Championship Tennis semifinal match was stopped last night in Lagos, Nigeria, when an unidentified group, which included some soldiers, cleared courts and terraces at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, according to a State Department spokesman. Americans Arthur Ashe and Jeff Borowiak were playing when the incident occurred, the spokesman said. At the time most of Lagos was returning to normal after Friday's attempted coup, in which the head of state, den. Murlala Mohammed, was killed.

Players and spectators were ordered out of the courts, the spokesman said. runetti brings hack a smile to Hialeah It was 3:21 in the afternoon and John Brunetti had just made his second appearance before the Hialeah shareholders. He was smiling. JEFFREY DENBERG Executive Sports Editor You must have good news, said one of the reporters waiting outside the door of the directors room. runetti said, "No, I'm smiling at the folly of this whole thing." Eleven min-u later, track president National Bank vice president David Bnllhait a liar.

Bnllhart maintained that Brunetti changed his offer last November and was rejected by the shareholders. Stone agreed with Brillhart. Brunetti yesterday said the final offer he made Nov. 17 had been submitted to the bank, in on Nov. 10.

"Nothing was changed," Brunetti said. I time the bank will he presented, not with a proposal, but with a rout i act, signed by both "Mr. i.lbieath and the other are confident that a sirred cortr, ct will ha' the i I Brunetti said. It was -ti tivti, at the time the i. is Brunetti will pay "-barehoidt rs $3.5 million.

flow is r.jiin 't! qoinj; to succeed where daibrcaih, Walter O'Conncll, Coaiinucd on 3C, Cut. I say that there will be great changes at Hialeah when it opens for business either next January or next March. Stone will remain as president of Hialeah, Brunetti said. He- refused to speculate upon other positions at the track, although he earher promised wholesale changes. Brunetti said he will invite people "who can help the race track" to sit on the board.

But be will be the sole owner. And he said his own role wourd be to "clean up ihe plant, make sure the concessions are in good order." What is there about offer that is different from the nP. tendered and refused in November Brunetti was asked. The answer very little. Yesterday, while the stockholders meeting was in its first hour, burnetii all but called Southeast first bring your book, will you?" You could hear the laughter through the boardroom door and then Horatio Luro, whose wife Frances owns 5,000 shares of Hialeah stock, walked out.

Luro was smiling. Later in the waining afternoon it would be revealed that Luro had been one of two shareholders who had rebuffed a $13.5 million offer from Gulfstream Park's James Donn. John Brunetti had been laughing at his own folley. He was about to gain the right to pay about $14 million for a race track that had gone into default on its mortgage, although its stockholders numbered among them some of the wealthiest men in the United States. Early in the day Brunelti who owns a multi-million dollar construction business, had been pessimistic: "If I put my children up BRUNETTI security, they (the banks) wouldn't go for it." Almost in the same breath, he had speculated on promotion that was outrageous by Hialeah standards: "Suppose I put on a tennis tournament in the parking lot?" Brunetti.

45, is vigorous and in his prime tennis tanned with teeth that are porcelain white. He is careful to show great respect for men who are nearly twice as old and. in some cases, twice as wealthy as he. But he is very quick to Lynn Stone, a fat cigar justing out of the left corner of his mouth, asked Brunetti to rejoin the shareholders. Then he pointed to secretary Julie Johns and said, "Julie,.