Alabama Journal from Montgomery, Alabama • 18

18 ALABAMA JOURNAL, Montgomery, Ala. Friday, May 12, 1972 nn li UU VI xjxj mil I A By ROY THOMAS Journal Sports Writer Meet Greggory "Poncho" Northington. Forget for a moment that he's seven feet tall, that he's a small college All-America basketball player for Alabama State University. Forget for a moment that he's a third round draft choice of the World Champion Los Angeles Lakers. Think for a moment: What makes this former Indianapolis, ghetto dweller tick? What does this giant of a man really want from life? Some claim that Gregg Northington is a radical, but really he's Just a man willing to pay the price to become one of the best pro basketball players possible.

He's a man conscious of his height. He's a man who's traveled one of the toughest roads to stardom one could find anywhere. "I'm a person just like anyone else." said Northington in an exclusive inter view. "I wish people would stop calling me Gregg Northington the seven-fcot basketball player and think aScut me as Gregg Northington the per ra. "People this year came out to see me and Lawrence Lilly the other Alabama State seven footer) so they could talk.

They acted like we were some kind of circus freaks. "In the NCAA playoff game I found out the people came out to see us lose rather than to see us win. "I enjoyed playing with the people on this team, but I don't know about playing for the school. Sure I enjoyed playing to represent the team, but not so much the school. "The students weren't behind us 100 per cent.

They just came out because they didn't have anything else to do at that particular time. They came out so tbw-y could talk about me and Lawrence." Those are just a few of the feelings the former Indiana All-Star prep eager had after his nomadic career wound up in Montgomery this season. After breaking Oscar Robertson's time Indianoplis city scoring record with a 27.9 mean, Northington, being sought by some 500 colleges, decided it best to stick with a small school, and thus his wanderings. First on the agenda was Murray State Junior College in Tishamengo, Okla. He led the team to a 17-1 record, but after a squabble with the coach about whether he could try out for the 1968 Olympic cage squad he decided his services were no longer needed.

Next came Paul Quinn University at Waco, after sitting out a year. Then came one of the most shattering blows of all in Poncho's long journey. Paul Quinn dropped its entire sports program. But all was not lost. Northington became friends with' Bernard Boozer, who was in the midst -of moving to become the new head coach at Alabama State.

The rest is history. Northington; in three years, became one of the top ten career college division scorers in the nation, led Alabama State to an overall 63-18 record and a NCAA playoff spot in 1972. "Gregg is as good an offensive player as anyone in the country when properly motivated," says Boozer. "He's even better than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. (See PONCHO, Page 19) Gregg Northington Bernard Boozer fVvSK, Vv v.

v. I mm Fans Set Willies; fite Split ITA mhm nlfllTOS Edgewood Academy will have! By HERSCHEL NIESSENSON home run, was turning back the career at Troy State. He was named to the NAIA All-Star team in 1970. new assistant football coach a Dodgers. Associated Press Sports Writer No sooner do the New York next season.

wuiie crawiord, Wat is In 1971 Ragle was selected the Bill Ragle, former Troy State i Mets get Willie Mays than Will- was already at the park and in University fullback, has been ie is the star of the show at most valuable offensive player on the squad and also won a tne process of an 0-for-4 after noon. added to the Wildcat staff, it was announced Thursday by Shea Stadium Willie Crawford, that is. spot on the All-Gulf South Con Things got batter at night. tion to winning his first game. Greg Luzinski's single with two out in the 12th enabled the Phillies to defeat the Padres and climb within one-half game of the Mets in the National League East.

Luzinski also belted a run-scoring triple in the fifth and scorsd on one of Don Money's four hits. Nate Colbert and John Jeter homered for San Diego. Jerry Reuss, traded from St. headmaster Larry Pickett. ference team.

Too, the 6-0, 210-pound power runner was named Willie Davis, that is got the uodgers started with a fourth- The Los Angeles outfielder lashed a double, triple and his fifth home run to spark the Dodgers to a 64 victory in the Ragle, a physical education major, v11 assume duties as head bZeball coach in addition TSITs permanent captain last inning homer off Jim season and was chosen as an Willie Davis outstanding College Athlete of to his football duties. McAndrew, his fifth of the year, and Crawford slammed after-dark portion of a day- Bill Ragle America. Ragle had an outstanding night doubleheader after the his fifth one out later. A native of Roanoke. Ragle Tommy John protected the was the man the Wave looked Mets took the oponer 2-1.

Elsewhere on a lighter-than- Louis to Houston on opening lead until the seventh, when the for on the tough-yardage sit day, was leading his former usual major league schedule, Dodgers pushed across four uation. He finished with 403 teammates 3-1 entering the more runs to offset a a late the Mays-less San Francisco Giants trimmed Montreal 6-2, ninth inning when the Cardinals yards for an average of 3.9 a pop his senior season. Only New York rally. erupted for three runs to pull Philadelphia edged San Diego; Tne Giants battered Steve running back Cliff Dunham had 6-5 in 12 innings, St. Louis Renko and Tom Walker for six LONNIE CY mvm fer! Sports Editor a better total with 500 yards.

out the victory. Ted Simmons and Don runs on 10 hits in the first throe itagie wound up in a three- nipped Houston 4-3, Texas downed Baltimore 3-1 and Bos way tie for second in the point innings and trounced the Expos producing department with four benmd Ron Bryant. iliiiiiiiiii 1 mmmmm wmsmmm 4 Alan Gallagher singled to touchdowns. He was available for pass-catching, too. Ragle start a three-run outburst in the Clendenon opened with singles and both runners scored when Reuss fielded Ted Sizemore's bunt and heaved the ball past first.

Sizemore wound up at third and scored the winning run on a single by ex-Astro Marty Martinez. ton whipped California 8-1. Willie Mays, that is arrived at Shea during tha first game as Tom Seaver, with ninth-inning relief from Danny Frisella and backed by Ed Kranepool's hauled in five aerials for 35 second inning and a two-run up yards and one TD. rising in the third. Bryant Ragle, wife Rosemary and stroked an RBI double in addi- son Bill Jr.

will be moving to the area immediately after; graduation exercises at TSU. li He plans to beein teaching If Willie Crawford Edgewood. LONNIE HAWES Play begins Saturday morning in the first annual Montgomery Charity Golf I SF Nosedive No Surprise Kbits and pieces: It's not really surprising the nosedive defending National League West champion San Francisco has taken. Despite their success in 71, the Giants were active in personnel changes in the off-season. Maybe too much.

They released veteran southpaw relief specialist Steve Hamilton, who's now the Chicago Cubs. Pitching Coach Larry Jansen was also-given his walking papers and the Chicubs got him, too. Then the Giants put catcher Dick Dietz on waivers, much to the surprise of everyone, includ-; ing Dietz. Los Angeles quickly claimed him. Frisco t.

also let first base coach Wes Westrum go and the viMets grabbed him. And now Willie Mays Marlin (Scooter) Dyess has succeeded Allyn McKeen as Montgomery's representative on the Mays Pleased To Be In Demand Despite Age Of 41 Tournament at Woodley Country Club. A field of 200 is expected. Entries now total 160, but tourney cnairman is confident the goal of 200 competitors will be reached by Saturday morning. It'll be a 36-hole affair with proceeds going to the retard-ed children of Montgomery.

Highlighting the two-day event will be football celebrities, with New Orleans Saint quarterback Archie Manning the special guest. He'll play a round of golf Sunday and make the awards presentation. Also on hand are Terry Beasley and Pat Sullivan of Auburn, Tommy Neville of the New England Patriots and Mickey Zofko, former Auburn running back, now with the Detroit Lions. They'll form a fivesome and tee off at 1 p.m. Sunday.

At the conclusion of the final round trick shot artist Paul Bumann of Columbus, will present his entertaining show. Pat To Get Tap Honor AUBURN Pat Sullivan, consensus All-America and 1971 NEW YORK (AP) "It 85 pleases me," said Willie Mays, Heisman Trophy winner, will receiva the Cliff Hare Award, New York Manager Yogi Ber-ra acknowledged that Mays had lost some steam out of his throwing arm, but still could as "that poople still want me." the highest campus honor an With those modest words play centerfield with the best Auburn athlete can attain, at Thursday, the baseball great began a "new career" at age because "he knows all the hit halftime ceremonies of the A- 41 with the New York Mets. ters in this league. He knows Day game on May 20, according The San Francisco wonder where to play them. -1 rr I r.

i an a to an announcement by Athletic player, acquired in a much- -iin sure ne'U help our Director Jeff Beard. publicized deal, responded with team. Maybe some of his knowledge will rub off on the Sullivan rewrote the enthusiasm at the idea of playing in New York. other 24 guys. He should make Southeastern Conference and 'I love baseball and I love a good exampla for our players Auburn record books for total this town," said the second best to 10110W." offense, passing, touchdowns home run hitter history, produced and average gain per I'm looking forward to play play during his career.

In ad ingI'm not looking forward to embarrassing myself. I'm glad dition, Auburn teams compiled a 25-5 record and plaved in the Mets didn't worry about three post-season bowl games, how old I was. Lee, Berry Clash Tonight Berry and Lee square-off at auiuvan was not only an "That tells ma something outstanding football player, but about Willie Mays. It tells me that maybe I've got something he also earned Academic All' America and All-SEC status. Paterson Field at 7:30 in the left." The Cliff Hare Award, civen first game of the best-of-three For awhile, it looked as if the in honor of Cliff Leroy Hare, is selected by the Auburn Faculty state baseball championship Mets weren't going to get the great center fielder at all.

News of the prospective deal series. i Athletic Committee from Lee, the Southern Division nominations by head coaches of broke last week, but it was re winner, made it into the various sports. portedly cooled when the ui- Alabama Sports Hall of Fame board of How rabid are automobile racing fans? Well, Martinsville, Speedway was overflowing for a i recent race and four of the spectators were viewing the action from two seats. The promoter sold two couples an $8 ticket each, with the understanding that the women would have to sit in the men's laps. Married couples, The special instructor at Mississippi's State golf T'camp this summer is Alabama Coach Conrad Open's Rough Really Rough The rough at Pebble Beach, site for next month's Open is so bad that one fellow who plunked down $2,775 to play in a special VIP tournament over the weekend commented: "When you put your ball in the rough, you could hit it and ex-'.

pect three balls to pop I Competitive basketball for girls' among schools in the South? Don't know, but Ole si Miss has something in mind. A two-week course for 'basketball on a competitive level for the opposite sex is planned on the Mississippi school campus jJune II Quieter days are coming. The Technical Commission of the FIM has taken surprising action j'against excessive noise in world motorcycle com-Kpetition. The committee, composed of 15 nations, is determined to write into the FIM International Sporting Code the provision that all machines used jn world moto-cross competition will be muffled beginning in 1973... f- A Philadelphia scribe says, "Pregnancy is one of few uncomfortable things that lasts longer than the NBA iFowl Ball At Rickwood And then there's the story of a bird, whose tour of Rickwood Field last Friday evening ended in a fatal collision with a baseball.

Bird went one way and the ball another. But centerfielder Charley Chant of Birmingham didn't lose his cool and hauled in the I ball off the bat of Columbus outfielder Steve Garner for the putout. The bird, which turned out to be a night hawk, lay dead behind Chant. It is now -mounted in the office of Joe Drake, Rickwood supervisor of personnel. That's the second time a thing has happened at Rickwood.

In 1933, a pigeon was the victim Alabama's final baseball statistics are in and Montgomery's Paul Spivey finished with a .261 bat-jting average on 28 hits in 107 plate appearances. He collected seven homers to share top honors In that (See HAWES, Page 19) championship rounds by de ants' asKed too mucn. feating Dothan, 2-1 in the last Interested in one of the Mets' game of the series. I starting pitchers, the Giants settled Thursday for minor league right-hander Charlie Berry defeated Bradshaw of Florence in the final two games Montgomery GOLF CENTER V9hH4 NIm Hob for 3 Court A ft 1 J. Williams and an undisclosed amount of cash.

The deal was quickly closed Thursday morning after Mays was personally 1 of the series, 5-3 and 5-2, to win the Northern Division and get the playoff nod. Lee brings a 24-5 record into the series while Berrv enters brought in on the tarns. "We wanted to make sure that Willie would be happy in the fray with a 25-7 mark. The second eame is schpriulori New York," said M. Donald Grant, chairman of the Mets' Op.

9 to 10 Jyoctton HHror I0W IIS for 1:30 Saturday at Paterson. If another game is necessary it will immediately follow. I board of directors. Other than the sentimental I i fr A- AAA Aft Aft reason of returning to the city where he started his playing career with the old New York Giants in 1951, Mays will be made happy in other ways i teiis setf. mm I LM.

Sportsmen Spectator Grant pointed out. As soon as Willie decides 1,1 that he doesn't want to play anymore," said Grant, "he has (ft a three-year contract from that 1 03 f.m day on with the Mets' organ ization. He'll probably be coach, but ha could do other Down here in Kentucky, we've been making our Kentucky Tavern the same slow, careful way for the better part of things." pell Bethel, a native of Min neapolis, in the new baseball a century. So it came as a pleasant surprise when our sales more than doubled, the past two years. coach at City College of New J- yore.

PRIME LENDERS FOR ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE FINANCING EQUIPMENT FINANCING CONSTRUCTION 10ANS INVENTORY FINANCING EQUIPMENT LEASING REDISCOUNTS Colti Open 4 P.M. First Roct 1:1 UECTEI5 KTTMU. mm Maybe Bourbon drinkers are hankering for a taste of the easy-going past And at a fairly easy-going price. Whatever the reason, we're happy so many folks have discovered our fine Kentucky Tavern, the great Bourbon from the land of Bourbon. Perhaps, when it comes to Bourbon, the old ideas are still the best.

uomi Tkrilllnf Rci $ptef, Mothtr! Day Spocteular Craihti Roct Program Top Namt Drivan Thit Sot. NiU. mm Walter KsHer Nnl National Southtrn Notvrt! life Ttltpherw 327-4421 lirminghom, Alabama, 1)203 Montgomery Int'l Speedway But success hasn't gone to our price OLD SELMA ROAD it's J1 WW Cltnmoro Dill. louiwillo-Owontboro, Ky. 4 Yoorj Old.

84 Proof.".