J U Y2-
RU Y
,�
m.
everthel , f 0 th
turning out in grea r numbe
thi on than they did 1 t eason.
e average attendance through 18
home da is 16,848, with four el­
louts. Last year through 18 gam ,
tbe ttendance averaged 16,624 ith
two ellou .
"I think to amplify thi amazing
tati tic i we haven't had a lot of the
top teams in here," longtime Lakers
broadcaster Chic Hearn aid before
Wedne day night' gam against the
Charlotte Hornets. "We've still got
Chicago, ton, New Yor , Detroi t,
and several other good teams coming
in.
"My mail indicat the fan up­
port is very, very solid. I think a lot
of it is a tribute to Magic. I think a lot
of fans are like I am, they can't
believe it yet. The hoc n't worn
off."
HEARN, WHO W every
game Johnson played with the
Lakers, added sadly, "I think
anybody would be a fool to tell you
they're getting the same thrills now
Lnat they got the last 12 years. My
job's a lot harder now."
liMy mail
indicates the
fan support is .
very, very
solid.· I think a
lot of it
is a tribute to
Maqlc."
t."
We t, the er ' gener 1
m n ger, livid nd aid the
Lake eren't getting the lcind of
veteran leader hip they needed ..
. "We ere so bad, m ybe the booin
helped ." Hearn id. "It' like a
baby who thinks he' never going to
get panked.' ,
SINCE LOSING to the Pacers,
the La eIS are 5-1. Actor 1
Nicbo on, perba the best-known
Lakell fan, 'd before Wednesday
night' 95-93 l.DS ADgeI victory
over Charlotte that he n't aban­
doning his team.
"It' tim, the game' fan tic, tt
he aid. "The fans are playi burt,
that's the real reaction. It' like wiDe,
you go by the eason. These are
professionals. I'm supporting the
baUclub.
"The NBA, man, it's a great
evening' entertainment. You've got
to have a rooting interest Winning
isn't everything. This is fun."
While admitting things aren't the
"T OUG B TT R or
worse, you tay with them "be aid.
"It' like a marriage. If you're a true
fan, it is a marriage, you stay with
them.' , Rodriguez, on ticket-
bolder who said be pI to buy
cason ticke gain year, d-
mitted omething w mi in.
"It' almost like seeing a beauti­
ful bird with it' tail cut off- you
can till e the bird," he aid." I
kne eventually thi had to happen,
but it w so abrupt. It' different.
There's still good talent, just a void.
We'll get over it. "
"I miss Magic, but life goes on,"
said Ron Cuscino, 44, a Santa
Monica resident.
DANNY COOKS
egrr··p°ndfnt
: Kalamazoo County Juvenile
. Court Third Annual Scholarship
B ketball Tournament was held at
Kalamazoo Valley Community Col­
lege on Saturd�y, January 11th from
8:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Eight
teams from throughout the st�te
played double .. elimination basket­
ball until one team remained stand­
ing,
. Open invitations were sent out to
juvenile institutions and community
agencies through Michigan. The
first eight teams to re pond were
elected to participate after paying
an entrance fee of $125.00. Food
bOoths and a $1.00 entrance fee were
other avenues of raising funds. All
proceed en ble th e now di -
charged from the Kalamazoo
Juvenile Court to obtain
- cholarships to attend KVCC. Co-
ponsors ofttle event Include KVCC
and the Kalamazoo Bar Association,
...
The takers were 33-8 at home
and 58-24 overall la t sea on.
Through 18 home dates, they were
14-4. This eason, they're 12-6 at
home and 22-14 overall.
There may be more fans, but
there are also new ounds - like
booing. When the Lakers lost to In-
which matches all fwlds recieved up
to $400.00. The event made more
than $1,000 last year. Tournament
Coordinator William Chapman, a
Kalamazoo County Juvenile Court
Of the three
kids we sent to
college last
year, all are
maintaining a
3.0 grad� point
average,"
Coordinator
.
. William
Chapman
proudly said. -
official, hopes to make over Chapman said.
$1500.00 this year.
PARTICIPANTS IN this year's
ASKED WHERE tbe tourna- contest were Wayne County
ment got its tart, Chapman said he Juvenile Court; Calhoun County
started an inter-state b ketballlOur- . Juvenile Court; Saginaw County
nament ten years ago. which lost Juvenile Court; Kalamazoo County
steam after a couple of years. "Three
years ago I ecided it would be a
good idea to reactivate the concept.
Of the three kids we ent to college
last year, all are. maintaining a 3.0
grade point average," he proudly
said.
Along with sending kids to col­
lege who otherwise would not have
had the opportunity, the program
help build up youngsters' con­
flcleDOC, livina tbem something to
100 forward to In the tuture, CIIp­
man d. Other poll of the
tournament inchlde a �hance for
juvenile official and orkers to
fraternizc, to get aWJlY trom the ten­
siom of their jobs, nd to know what
other juvenile homes are doing,
Earvin "Magic It Johnson
row
Juvenile Court; Kalamazoo Juvenile
Home; Douglass Community Cen­
ter; Kalamazoo Valley Intermediate
School District; and a local com­
munity team called Dar Horses. .
A lam dunk competition pitting
two players from each team was held
around 1:00 p.m. Ed· Patterson .
Kalamazoo O>unty Juvenile Court'
won the lam dunk contest.
Winner of the tournament for tJle, .
second year in a row was Doug!
Community Association.
:.
"
..
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.:
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Want to be a port
B long to a community, I au, chool t m th t
get no r pet?
Tilth world about your t m. unch your port
. writing car er her� In th Mlchlg n Cltlz n.
SEND A SAMPLE OF YQUR SPORTS WRITING TO:
Michigan Cltlz n
P.O. Box 03580
Highland Park, Mlchlg n 48203
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