Kids emerge as victors in ‘bout’ between mayor, superintendent

By Jesse F. McClure | Published 07/24/2008

Memphis Mayor Dr.W. W. Herenton and new Memphis City School Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash met last Friday at Ridgeway High School in what was billed as an event “settling their differences on the court.”

They met before more than four hundred youngsters attending the Shelby Metro Sports and Awareness Basketball Clinic and more than one hundred spectators. The face off on the basketball court between Dr. Herenton and Dr. Cash was happening at the same time lawyers for the city and lawyers for the school system were in Chancery Court fighting over a proposed cut in the city’s funding for schools.

While the lawyers were arguing in court, Dr. Cash and Dr. Herenton engaged in a good-natured competition – first with boxing gloves and then with basketballs. Both men said the purpose was to show students and the community that they will work well together.

Ninth District U.S. Congressman Steve Cohen was an interested spectator as was City Council member Janice Fullilove.

Besides the mayor and the superintendent, the person who drew the most attention was former University of Memphis basketball star and head coach Larry Finch. Finch, who was disabled by a stroke several years ago, was greeted warmly by many of those in attendance.

Leonard Draper, one of Finch’s closest friends, said, “Sometimes Larry does not like to go out in public, but he was really excited about seeing the youngsters play ball here.”

The “competition” between Dr. Herenton and Dr. Cash was limited to each shooting a few free throws and demonstrating shooting skills.

Dr. Cash first showed some pretty good ball handling and to the delight of the boys and girls, hit several three-point shots. Not to be outdone, Dr. Herenton wowed the crowd with several strong drives to the basket and then hit several long jump shots.

The on-court session ended with the two men showing team work by demonstrating give-and-go plays for each other. Northside High School, athletic director and coach, Donald Homes, declared the competition a tie.

Both men then gave short “pep talks” to the boys and girls attending the basketball clinic.

Dr. Herenton shared familiar words of his grandmother who told him “get something in your head. Get a good education.” He reminded the youngsters that “no one can ever take your education away from you.”

Stay in school and stay away from gangs and drugs, said Dr. Herenton, who also expressed his support for Dr. Cash as the new head of the Memphis City Schools.

Dr. Cash said he is excited to be in Memphis and that he looks forward to working with Mayor Herenton. In his talk to the boys and girls, Dr. Cash stressed behavior. He urged the students to take their schoolwork seriously, but to also take their behavior seriously.

“What you do is what you are,” he said.

Fundamentals still at core of seasoned basketball program

By Jesse F. McClure | Published  06/19/2008 | Sports | Rating:

Memphis Mayor Dr. Willie.W. Herenton, a former college basketball player, told the young hoopsters what his grandmother told him: “If you get a good education, you can be somebody.”  (Photo by Wiley Henry) For hundreds of boys and girls at Northside High School last week, it must have been basketball heaven. The 475 youngsters, ages 10-19, participated in the first of four, weeklong basketball clinics as part of the Shelby Metro Sports and Awareness Program. The program is the brainchild of Donald Holmes, the athletic director and girls’ basketball coach at Northside High. The City of Memphis Summer Youth Initiative funds the program, which over the years has involved thousands of area youngsters in the skill building sessions.  The other three clinics are being held at Carver High School, Ridgeway High School and Kirby High School. Area coaches and college basketball players staff the program. Holmes says the goal is “to provide each boy and girl instruction in the fundamentals of basketball.” From 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. each day, the players worked with coaches in groups and one on one. During the final day on Friday, there were free-throw shooting contests as well as 3-on-3 games. ­­Xavier Henry, the number one high school recruit in the nation, made a brief appearance. Dozens of colleges are recruiting the 6’6” shooting guard from Putnam City High School in Oklahoma. In town for a basketball camp at the University of Memphis, he did not participate in drills, but showed off his shooting skills on a side basket in the Northside gym. Over the years, the Shelby Metro Sports and Awareness program has involved thousands of area youngsters in skill building sessions. (Photo by Wiley Henry) Several college coaches came to observe, no doubt on the lookout for future talent. A new assistant coach at the University of Memphis, Orlando Antigua was among those who stopped by. Antigua, who moved to Memphis a week or two ago, appeared to enjoy watching the youngsters go through their drills. He was the first Latino player on the Harlem Globetrotters. Also watching the action was David “Smokey” Gaines, the current LeMoyne-Owen coach and former coach for University of Detroit and San Diego State. Gaines also played for the Harlem Globetrotters. The highlight of the closing session was a rousing talk by Memphis Mayor Dr. Willie.W. Herenton. A former college basketball player, Herenton stressed the need to get a good education and stay away from gangs and drugs. “If you get a good education, you can be somebody,”  said Herenton quoting his grandmother. The mayor said education changed his life and urged the boys and girls to follow his example. Participants enjoyed a brief exhibition game between staff coaches and the Memphis Blues of the World Basketball Association (WBA), an exposure league that gives former college players an opportunity to show their talents to scouts from professional leagues, such as the NBA, NBDL, CBA, and international leagues. The session ended with an awards ceremony in which boys and girls received trophies for outstanding performances during the week. copyright tri-state defender 2008

Honors for a Legend

By Dr. Jesse F. McClure | Published 06/12/2008 | Sports | Unrated

Legendary LeMoyne-Owen College basketball coach Jerry C. Johnson said he takes the greatest pride in seeing the youngsters who played for him “grow and develop into contributing members of their communities.” (Photo by Wiley Henry) The college basketball coach with the most victories and direct ties to Memphis is on this list: Gene Bartow, John Calipari, Larry Finch, Jerry C. Johnson and Vertis Sails Jr. If you selected Johnson, the legendary coach of the LeMoyne-Owen College Magicians, you’re on your game. On June 20, the Memphis Chapter of the LeMoyne-Owen College Alumni Association will host a citywide toast of Johnson and a celebration of the coach’s 90th birthday. The special evening at the Holiday Inn Select on Democrat Road will also launch the Jerry C. Johnson Scholarship Program at the college. Johnson is one of only 10 college basketball coaches in history to win more than 800 games. During his 46-year coaching career at LeMoyne-Owen, Johnson won 821 games, a national championship, 10 conference championships, and made several N.C.A.A. tournament appearances. Three years ago, Johnson retired from coaching. Since then he has received numerous honors for his outstanding career. He was inducted into the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (S.I.A.C.) Hall of Fame, the Fayetteville State University Hall of Fame, and the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. The coach of the year award for the S.I.A.C. is now The Jerry C. Johnson Coach of the Year Award. And in 1991, LeMoyne-Owen College awarded Johnson an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. With all his victories and awards, Johnson said he takes the greatest pride in seeing the youngsters who played for him “grow and develop into contributing members of their communities.” Memphis Mayor Dr. Willie W. Herenton is among the most recognized of Johnson’s former players. “Herenton had not played much basketball before joining my team. Over time (he) became a good rebounder and valuable member of the team,” said Johnson, who chuckled as he recalled that Herenton, a champion boxer, was a real asset sometimes in the small Southern towns where a team from Memphis was not welcomed with open arms. David “Smokey” Gaines is another of Johnson’s high profile former players. After LeMoyne-Owen, Gaines played for the Harlem Globetrotters and the Kentucky Colonels of the old A.B.A. Later, Gaines was one of the pioneering African American coaches at so-called majority institutions when he became the head coach at the University of Detroit and at San Diego State. “Johnson was so successful that he almost didn’t have to recruit players because so many wanted to play at LeMoyne-Owen,” said Gaines. That observation draws a smile from Johnson. “Gaines must have a bad memory because recruiting was always one of my strengths,” he said. Several of Johnson’s former players have become outstanding basketball coaches. That list includes Vertis Sails, the legendary coach at Southwest Tennessee Community College. Robert Newman, the leading scorer on Johnson’s national championship, heads the successful girls basketball program at Melrose High School. Coach Johnson also had a hand in the development of Tony Johnson (no relation), who is considered one of the best athletes to attend LeMoyne-Owen. Tony Johnson earned All American honors in basketball and baseball, and played major league baseball for the Montreal Expos and Toronto Blue Jays. LeMoyne-Owen board chairman Robert Lipscomb did not play basketball at LeMoyne-Owen, but he was a member of the cross-country team that Johnson coached. Lipscomb now runs the Memphis Housing Authority and the Division of Housing and Community Development for the City of Memphis. Johnson said he landed in Memphis and LeMoyne-Owen almost by accident. While a student at Fayetteville State University, Johnson met John McClendon, the renowned African-American basketball coach who was then at North Carolina Central College. McClendon, who learned his basketball from Dr. James Naismith, the recognized inventor of the game, took Johnson under his wing. McClendon – the first African American to coach a professional basketball team – left North Carolina to take the head coaching position at Tennessee State University in Nashville in the late 1950’s. Johnson planned to follow McClendon to Nashville, but McClendon learned the LeMoyne-Owen coaching position was open and almost demanded that Johnson accept the job. During his early years at LeMoyne-Owen, Johnson’s teams played all comers, including several that now would be considered Division 1 schools. That prepared his teams for the smaller colleges in LeMoyne-Owen’s conference. Johnson’s 1974-75 team won a national championship, and as he recalled they “had a pretty easy time winning because we were battle tested.” With so many good teams during his 46-year tenure, Johnson said he is not sure which was the best. One of the better teams, he said, was the 1999-2000 team that won the S.I.A.C. championship and made the NCAA Tournament. That year, Johnson coached against the current University of Tennessee Coach, Bruce Pearl. Pearl was then the coach of the University of Southern Indiana. LeMoyne-Owen lost narrowly after center Wade Evans fouled out just after the second half began. Johnson had opportunities to coach elsewhere, including at a Big 10 Conference offer that he and his family vetoed because they loved Memphis. Family is a big deal to Johnson. For 53 years, he was married to the late Vaster Johnson, an elementary school teacher for over 50 years. The couple had three children, Wandra Johnson Haywood, a nurse with the Veterans Administration in Florida, Dr. Jerry Johnson Jr., a physician in Philadelphia, and Oliver Johnson, a computer professional who lives in Atlanta. Mayor Herenton will headline next week’s event in recognition of Johnson. Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, Tennessee House Speaker Pro Tempore Lois Deberry, U of M Coach John Calipari, and Southwest Tennessee Coach Vertis Sails Jr. will be among the many dignitaries paying tribute to Johnson. Many of Johnson’s National Championship team members will attend, along with dozens of former players from other years. “The celebration on June 20 will not only recognize Coach Johnson’s lifetime of achievement, but will insure that his legacy will continue forever,” said Jeffrey Higgs, the executive director of the Lemoyne-Owen College Community Development Corporation. The scholarships named for Coach Johnson will help future student athletes pursue both their athletic and educational goals. copyright Tri-State Defender 2008