New Pittsburgh Courier from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 10

Pajre 10 THE NEW JAN. 15, 1972 Editor's note: Muhammad Ali recently fulfilled a dream by visiting Mecca and hopes for a long career as a Black Muslim minister when his ring days are over. In dispatch, Mark Schehv baum of UPI Miami, who spent considerable time wffrj the heavy weighPejiamplon before his fight with Buster Mathis last November, reveals some of All's thought about religion and h's philosophy of life. MIAMI BEACH (UPI) Mingled with the rustle of palm leaves as a breezy dawn broke over the Atlantic was the soft, articulate and persuasive voice of Muhammad AlL.N.o loud mouth. No theatrics.

Just a man revealing his. private thoughts. The former world heavyweight champion and the pot bellied reporter had 'just finished some pre dawn roadwork. Now they were sitting on tTe steps of his Miami Beach hotel, continuing a series of conversations in the week before Ali's fight with Buster Mathis at Houston. Later, there would be those who said Ali was out of shape, that he disgraced the sport by not finishing off a wobbly Mathis.

But, the days before the bout, inside and outside the Fifth Street gym, Ali's remarks about boxing and life did not belie his post fight statement: "I didn't want to kill him." Whether discussing his "three years in exile" when his title was stripped from him or talking about his personal aspirations and "anticipations, there was a complete lack of the bravado and bragging that Ali often emits on television and radio. If one can hope to sift the showmanship from the everyday personality, the former Cassius Clay presents this dichotomy: Ale wants to regain: the world heavyweight championship and he wants si career as a Black Muslim minister. Because of the nature of his religion he cannot ajUaio the latter while seeking the former; because of the nature of the man', he cannot give up the ring without being on top onde again. "Every intelligent person comes to a stage in his life, sooner or later, when he begins to question himself as to what purpose there is in life. What's the piirpbae in my being here on earth? Why am I here? What am I to accomplish: in life? "And the moment this question comes to a person, he has taken his first step in the path of wisdom.

Btlf before he thought about his life's purpose whatever he did, and not being" conscious of the purpose he remained discontented." As Ali, himself, admits, the words were "pretty heavy stuff." He rose quickly, went up to his hotel room and returned with more heavy stuff. Worn index cards written in Ali's almost illegible scrawl. They were notes from speeches he had delivered at colleges, around the country when" no one would or could give him a fight. Ali discussed some of them, recited some of them and read parts of others. Although he contends they are not religious, the sometimes ungrammatical lines usually flow in a homespun religious style.

Three of the speeches "The Purpose of Life," "The Inner Life," and the "Intoxication of Life," particularly covered many aspects of Ali's personal philosophy. Like those who treated lightly his words that he didn't want to maim Busier Mathis last November, he appeared unbothered academicians who may have thought it a joke when they invited him to be a campus speaker. Cont. in next Friday's edition Champion shows old time skill NEW ORLEANS (UPI) World heavyweight champion Joe Frazier and young college allenger Terry Daniels ran through one hour workouts in preparation for their Jan. 15 title bout.

Frazier, exhibiting for a packed ho'ise of spectators the same and speed which he demonstrated in his victory over former champ Muhammad Ali last year, appeared in good spirits. His performance was somewhat more inspired than Daniels' whose sparser crowd laughed with every comment about the challenger's cl proclaimed superiority to Fra.icr. Daniels' seemed to lack the maturity and indurancc of Frazier, tiring after three rounds of sparring in which he took a few severe body Frazier, on the other hand, went through two snarring partners two rounds each "and seemed to get stronger as he moved on to the bags and his cal sthen tics. His manager, Yank Durham, said the champ was up to about 214 pounds, but that he hoped to have him down to 208 for the fight. Durham, questioned about Frazier's supplemental training program, said the champ ran for about 30 45 minutes a day around city park and would continue the routine throughout the next week or 10 days.

He added that Frazier "never uses the weights (we ghtliftingj. I don't believe in using the weights." Daniels said he currently weighs in at about 195 and that he does not feel it is a handicap to be below the weight of the champ. "I think only about 30 to 40 pounds difference between two fighters really matters not eight or nine pounds," he said. The ng challenger hardly worked up a sweat, during his sparring, then ran through his exercises, bags and rope with somewhat more enthusiasm than he showed in the ring. At one point in the sparring, he caught a quick blow to his left cheek.

"If Joe Frazier hits me like that, he's a dead man," Daniels quipi ed. rfo tT d1' i tfi 4. Starting The starting five for the west squad in the National Basketball Association of the Bulls; and Spencer Haywood of the Seattle Super Sonlci. The contest All Star game (from left) will be Jerry West and Gill Goodrich of the Lot Is set for Jan. 18 at Los Angeles.

(UPI) Angeles Lakers, Kareem Abdul Jabhar of the Milwaukee Bucks; Bob Love Weathersby faces big challenge ITTA BENA, Miss. (UPI) Coach David "Red akin" Weathersby could be called a super salesman with a simple football philosophy: "Hard work, togetherness and contact." "I feel if you work hard, have great togetherness and go out on the field and hit somebody you are going to win some games," he explains. But how does a coach still his winning philosophy at a small, predominantly black college whose teams have won only one game each year since 1965? "It simple," said Weathersby. "You have to do a let of selling." So Weathersby, with his winning theory and a 13 year record of 112 26 6 at Greenville Coleman High School including four black i Eight Conference crowns and six North Division titles came to Mississippi Valley State College. Weathersby also played guard at Alcorn and gave up high school coaching because it "wasn't a challenge anymore," was hired as an assistant coach at MVSC but several months later found himself in the driver's seat when bead coach William Glossom accepted a position at Texas Southern.

His 1970 team remained the floormat in the Southwest Athletic Conference (SWAC) with a 1 8 mark. He blamed the pos showing on the fact that his system was new and "frankly we just didn't have any outstanding athletes." This past season was bet ter. The Delta Devils didn't win the conference crown but ended the campaign with a 4 7 mark, the best ever in Ruth award to Clemente NEW YORK (UPI) Roberto Clemente, whose batting heroics helped the Pittsburgh Prates to the World Series championship, was named the winner of the Babe Ruth Award as the series' outstanding performer by the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. Clemente, the 37 year veteran of 16 years with the Pirates, batted .414 in leading the Pirates past the Baltimore Orioles in the series. That included batting safely in all tven games with 12 hits, two home runs and four runs batted in.

He also hit safely in all seven games of the 1960 World Series against the New York Yankees and hold a 14 game series hitting streak. Clemente, who has won four National League batting titles, finished fourth last season with a .341 average. He will be honored at the chapter's annual dinner Jan. 30 at New York's Americana Hotel. Top i SWAC game, a 37 7 blasting of Prairie View (Tex.) the dismal 1970 campaign, Weathersby began selling his philosophy across the state.

"I had to try to recruit top athletes and orient the guys to our system and to instill in them an attitude of working hard." He admitted the job wasn't easy for two reasons; he had to compete for state talent with Alcorn and Jackson State and the fact that the "program had been down so long." But Weathersby who received his bachelor's degrea from Alcorn and a master from Indiana University in physical education, tromped the state looking for recruits. "I told them our main objective was to win the SWAC championship," he said. "I told the freshmen that were (ft frM it! Caldwell named Cougar problem GREENSBORO, N. C. (UPI) The Carolina Cougars traded away three players in hopes of improving the team's dismal record, but one of the three thinks the Cougars' handling of Joe Caldwell is where much of the trouble lies.

George Lehmann, sent to the Memphis Pros along with Randy Denton and Warren Davis, said Caldwell had been responsible for unrest on the team. "If there's one thing I'm bitter about," said Lehmann, "it's Joe Caldwell. "The management made him bigger than the organization and pushed him as a superstar. coming in that before they left they would be champions. I told them, however, it was going to take a lot of hard work." The Devils, with Weathers by's first recruits, opened the 1971 campaign with an 87 loss to Alabama AMiN In a 'game the coach said "We should have won easily." The team came back the next week with a 13 0 win over Arkansas "When we won that game we told our kids that we could win them all and after a while they finally started believing it," the coach chuckled.

The Devils picked up their next win over Federal City College of Washington but then took a nose dive, losing to powerful Grambling and Texas Southern. Then came the win over Prairie View. "But he's not a superstar because he can't beat you night in and night out like someone like Rick Barry." Caldwell jumped the National Basketball Association Atlanta Hawks more than a year ago and the Cougars had to court to keep him. He has yet to reach full speed this season because of a knee injury he suffered last year. Lehmann contended that Caldwell "caused unrest on the team and hurt us as much as anything else." The Cougars are in last place in the Eastern Division of the American Basketball Association.

was impressed, too. So were such otherwise cold cucumbers cs Wi.lis Reed, Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, Oscar Robertson, and Kareem Abdul Jabbar. They all paid the highest praise one professional can pay another and all talked about the same man Walt Frazier of the New York Knicks. Walt Frazier played the kind of game Monday night kids like to dream about. Grown men, too.

What's more he picked the perfect time. With the game nationally televised and a capacity 19,588 on hand, Frazier ran off 13 straight points in the final 2:38, collaboarted with Phil Jackson in a vital heart stopping "steal" 20 seconds from the end and woumd up receiv Walt Frazier's Madison Square heroics stun sports world NEW YORK (UPI) Bill Russell has seen a couple of basketball games in his time. He isn't easily impressed. Especially by what he sees on a basketball floor. What he saw Mondav night at Madison Square Garden impressed him though.

Tremendously. Bobby Fischer, the international chess grand master who meets Russia's Boris Spassky for the world championship soon, hasn't seen as many basketball games as Bill Russell. But he's an even tougher nut to crack. He doesn't get impressed about anything. It was different Monday night.

He showed up for his first basketball game in more than five years and he try 1 few 4 Most Valuable Players of the East Vtrst contest played in San F.ancisco receive their awards. BotVi players are from the West team that won 1713. They are Gary Hammond of Southern Methodist and Willie Buchanan of San Diego (UPI) TW 1 the only team to defeat Jackson State. "That has to be the highest point of the season," said the coach. "Not only was it the first time Valley had beaten Prairie View, but it was out first ever SWAC victory.

And it was homecoming." Valley went on to lose to perennial contenders Alcorn, and Jackson State before closing with a 10 7 win over Alabama State in the Cramp ton Bowl. Weathersby's team also produced two AU SWAC players Theodore Washington who was named the most "outstanding defensive player" and cornerback William Triple A 7 Tight ends (left to right) Filey Odoms (84) of Houston; Bob Parsons of Penn State; and Jay Micbaelson of LSU will handle various duties during the 23rd an ing one of the most tumultuous ovations ever accorded any athlete at Madison Sq are Garden for leading the Knicks to a 101 99 win over the lwaukee Bucks in a movie like finish. that's the only way to describe it." said Bill Russell, on hand to do the color commentary for national TV. "The last time 1 ever saw anything like it was in 1958 when Bob Pettit scored 51 points in the final game of the playoffs aga'nst us (Boston). They (St.

Louis) beat us and he got 19 of their last 21 points." Bobby Fischer blinked his eyes when he saw the knicks gain possession 20 seconds from the end with the score tied 99 all. Earl Monroe passed off to Bill Bradley on his left. Bradley gave the ball to Frazier, who nearly lost it, but quickly regained control and began his move with eight seconds left. Frazier killed five more seconds and then with only three remaining, he hit tn a jumper and the Whole place went plumb mad. "You're used to complete quiet when you play," Dave Debusscher said to Bobby Fischer in the Knicks' dressing room afterward.

"What did you think?" Davis sees Nat'l crown HOUSTON (UPI) Colorado's sophomore running sensation Charlie Davis looked at the Astro Bluebon net Bowl victory as the beginning of a new season and not the end of the current me. 'We'll be ready to go all the way to the national championship in 1972." Davis said after Colorado defeated Houston 29 17 in the 13ih annual Astro Bluebonnet Bowl. "We're shooting for the No. 1 spot." said. Gary.

A number of other players were named honorable mention. Weathersby said he was "pleased" with the 1971 squad and was optimistic over the future. "I believe we can be more successful in the future because players have more to play here for than at other schools," he said. "We're the only school never to win a SWAC title, so that gives our players more incentive. "I feel like we have an equal chance everytime we get on the field." he added.

"Football is a game of breaks, mostly, and if we get our share, we can I this thing." uan Senior Bowl set for Mobile, Ala. Saturday. Odoms and Parsons will do the punting while Michaelson will handle the place kicking. (UPrj "What did you think of Frazier?" someone else asked the blond chess whiz. "Extraorainary." Fischer said, much more quickly this time.

"Fantastic," put DeBus schere. "He was just incredible at the end." Willis Reed, sitting on the Knicks' bench with tendonitis, called Frazier's performance believable" and Monroe remarked "It's getting so you sort of expect it from him." Oscar Rob ertson, who vainly tried to keep Frazier from getting off his game winning shot, said, "You can't take it away from him, he played a great game" and Jabbar agreed "he hit some tough shots there at the end." Tough wasn't really the word. The Bucks were out front the whole game, once by as much as 13 points, and the Knicks never led until Frazier's final shot. "I thoutht it would hit the rim" said the Knicks' beard I M. iMMi A Still or Jabbar, Wilt dominate NBA NEW YORK (UPI) Kareem Abdul Jabbar of the Milwaukee Bucks' and Wilt Chamberlain oC the Log Angeles Lakers who have paced their teams to runaway leads In their divisions, contin jH ue to dominate the key offensive and departments in the Na tional Basketball Aaso elation.

League figures showj that Abdul Jabbar a scored 1267 points in 38JT games for an average cft 33.3. Bob Dove of Chicago is second with 27.3 and Gail Goodrich of the Lakers is third with 26.5. Abdul Jabbar alsd leads in field goal shoot ing with 517 for 881 and I a .587 percentage. Chamberlain maintain 'A ed his lead in rebounds I with an average of 20.S'."4 per game followed by Abdul Jabbar with 17.8 and Wes Unseld of Baltimore with 16.8. Jack Marin of Baltimore leads in free throw shooting with 176 for 198" and an .889 percentage and Jerry West of the Lakers leads in assists with a 9.5 average.

1 taWBStsi ed back court dynamo who wound up with 31 points for the night. "I had some doubts about that ladt one because all my shots were a struggle. I was pulling' to the left or right all night." Why, because of the pressure? "It could've been," laughed Frazier. "I know the game was just another game in the standings but I was a little tight. Really, I was embarrassed the way I was playing.

I knew national televised game and my parents were watching in A lanta, Georgia. I wanted to play well but I realized I wasn't. I bad only six points at the Wait Frazier got a little better as the game went on. Enough so that he got a rise out of Bill Russell. That seldom happens.

Enough so that he also got one out of Bobby Fischer. And that simply never happened before. XL v' 1 UCLA's Larry Farmer knocks ball from Ohio State's Mark Minor as I'CLA pushes its way to a V3 53 win over Ohio State to win the 1971 Bruin Basketball Classic. The win was the 23rd consecutive victory for UCLA, reigning national champions. (UPI).