The Desert Sun from Palm Springs, California • 37

Moity December 22 1 THE DESERT SUN Pain Springs Calif Johnson aims at becoming the best as Elgin Baylor and Oscar Robertson as all-around players Among active players Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has won the league's Most Valuable Player Award six times but as a center rarely called upon to dribble the ball The same is true for power forwards Point guards meanwhile steer clear of the land of the giants and do much rebounding So most experts feel the best overall player should come from among the big guards or small forwards players who can make their presence felt Inside or out Johnson fits that description Magic Johnson Larry Bird Julius Erving and Walter Davis are others who spring to mind right away And you can compare those five from all sorts of angles Erving probably is the most dominating offensively Bird and Magic are the premier passers! and Davis is the quick est But Marques far behind in any of those categories and probably the best of the five on straight-up man-toman defense In any case the Bucks are quite happy with their candidate who was named after Marques Haynes of the Harlem Globetrotter! Is the best said Coach Nelson could score 30 or 40 if that's all I asked but we need him to play defense and rebound too I even use him at guard sometimes We ask him to do more and he does Johnson proved his scoring ability when he averaged 256 points per game in 1978 and made the all-league first team But the Bucks are loaded with scorers like Winters Bob Lanier Sidney Moncrief Junior Bridgeman and Mickey Johnson so his point production is not as important as his all-around game which is at its best By The Associated Pren Jfe best all-around basketbiU player in the world It a a goal Marques Johnson strives lor It's a title many believe he deserves do a lot of things well" says the S-foot-7 forward of the Milwaukee Bucks The way be says it makes it sound like a simple statement of fact and not a boast "We have so many good players now I get the attention from opponents that I used to This allows me to play a more complete game" The fourth-year pro from UCLA is one of the main reasons the Bucks are near the top the National Basketball Midwest Division Earlier this week he was averaging 211 points per game ranking 16th in the NBA and was shooting 543 from the field He was tied for the Milwaukee club lead with 219 rebounds and ranked second on the club with 134 assists and 40 steals would be an honor to be known as the best basketball player in the world" said Johnson always had a tendency to downplay my talents But playing forward in the NBA requires wider skills than any other position You have to be able to score inside shoot from outside handle the ball rebound and play defense against players who may be bigger than you or smaller than you I think the most demanding position" And Johnson meets those demands "1 feel Marques Johnson is the best all-around forward in the game and not afraid to use him at guard either" said Bucks Coach Don Nelson can score from inside or outside He's one of our best rebounders He handles the ball weU He plays good defense He's a pleasure to coach and a pleasure to watch" a heckuva player one of the best had an opportunity to play teammate Brian Winters said of Johnson "He takes the ball to the basket as few forwards in the league can a good scorer an excellent passer and good on defense To play both ends of the court is tough in this league but that's what he does' He is a fine overall player" But the best? The different demands of the various positions make that an intriguing question Bill Russell recently was voted the greatest player in the 35-year history but that was largely because of his leadership role in the Boston championship run during the late 1950s and 1960s He was only an adequate ballhandler and was not much of an offensive throat so it would be tough to rate him above such stars of the past PICXUBB THESE Holiday Gift Ideas! Chargers 9 receiver Charlie Joiner enjoys his role WE SOI! Kodak 1RFJMIT1F1 IPRODUCTSI and Earl Campbell "I just try to go out every Sunday and do the best I can help the team says Joiner just try to be there when they need He credits offensive coordinator Joe Gibbs and receiver coach Ernie Zampese with preparing the receivers for each game helps more than anything else" he says He calls quarterback Dan best quarterback in the league right now" and has high praise for his younger receiving mates now HhnNidn Oec31 SAN DIEGO (AP) Just an old guy trying to make says San Diego Charger wide receiver Charlie Joiner At 33 Joiner appears to enjoy the role as the old man of the National Football League's leading trio of receivers with youngsters John Jefferson 24 the other wide receiver and tight end Kellen Winslow 26 Together they set an NFL record last week when Joiner Joined Jefferson and Winslow with more than 1000 receiving yards in a season the first time that has been accomplished in the league's history In a 21-14 victory over Seattle last week Joiner caught five passes for 91 yards to give him 68 receptions and 1084 yards and four touchdowns this season Jefferson and Winslow are tied for the 'NFL lead with 79 catches Jefferson amassing 1294 yards and Winslow 1119 The Chargers 10-5 can add to their totals in their final regular season game tonight in San Diego against Pittsburgh 9-6 A Charger win will give them their second AFC West title in two years and eliminate the world champion Steelers from the NFL playoffs if the outcome of games leave the Steelers any chance of a wildcard berth Thus tonight's game could be the last for Joiner who says he has thoughts of retiring though his play indicates that eventuality is still in the distance He is four catches short of his personal high set last season and he has already surpassed his personal best for most yards in a season Joiner will also be cited tonight during halftime ceremonies as the Chargers' NFL Man of the Year for 1980 He was selected in competition with teammates Louie Kelcher and Doug Wilkerson and is among five finalists for the overall NFL 1980 Man of the Year Award Miller Brewing Company is sponsoring the balloting and Joiner is assured of at least a $2000 scholarship in his name to a deserving high school student in the San Diego area Other NFL finalists include Harold Carmichael Mike Pruitt New Rich Mauti STARLIGHT LANE IN BERMUDA DUNES COUNTRYCLUB Thu choice lot in the heut of Bermuda Dunn Country Chib Eaairt nestled on the fairway it it unfounded by a magnificent panonma of mouncainf hi generoul lux can certainly accomodate a regulation tennii court Seasoned reaidents already in and the fmett neigh bon you'll went to know The famous Bob Hope Deiett Chide will play befoie your very eyes while you're related in your favorite rccliner If you are considering the Country dub Life-style then by all meant look into this opportunity For More Details Please Call 324-8278 Anytime Up to $10 back when you give a KODAK Instant Camera KODAK 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