European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 10, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday july 10, 1987 the stars arid stripes Page 23 commentary George was just being George when John Mclendon heard hat George Slein Brenner had brought his name up As one of the example that would demonstrate that there was no racism in his history John Mclendon was he said  the question of Sci Brenner and racism arose after the Yankees owner had used he controversial phrase Black boy in a nationally televised inter View sunday in reference to Wayne Atkinson a Black accountant for the Yankees. Steinbrunner was on the show to discuss the prob Lem of the hiring of members of minority groups in baseball. Mclendon was the first Black head coach of a professional sports team in modern tires he coached the Cleveland pipers of the american basketball league in the 1961-62 season or part of it. It s been said that Sci Brenner was responsible for hiring Mclendon. In a manner of speaking that s  said Mclendon even though 1 think he was one of the people who really did t want me. He sort of inherited me. But i think he wanted a bigger name.1 regardless Mclendon was also the first i Lack head coach of a professional spoils team in Mode times to be fired. Steinbrenner dismissed Mclendon As Bead coach a Little More than Halfway through the season. Without question the Man who fired Mcl Codon the first coach he Ever fired would become famous for firing people most of whom for the record Ore while. After All our verbal exchanges and my dealing with All those Little tricks of his i guess in a number of instances if i had t known better i might have thought they were racist said Mclendon. But knew belter. We were never bitter toward each other i knew he was a competitor and that be was extremely ambitious about winning though he might have been a Little out of control he did t have losing on his mind at any  Slein Brenner then 3was a typical fan said change some of them told the press they would t play if i was t kept  stayed. The schedule was divided into two half season and the pipers won the first but atone Point in the second half they lost seven of nine Mclendon. He d holler from the stands if he was t Happy about this play or that play. One Lime we look two vans to a game in pills Burgh and one of the vans broke Down. I Send the key players on ahead while i stayed to fix the broken Van. When i got to the game near the end of the first half our team was ahead by 14 Points. I told the team led by Jack Adams the Captain to keep doing what they were doing. Al halftime George who came on his own. Burst into the locker room he hollered who s coaching this team you or Adams i said can t you read the scoreboard what difference do in make at this Point then i asked him to leave. I had told him there were two areas of the City be does t belong in the Bench and the locker  Mclendon 72, now in the basketball Hall of Fame and Terni retired had been the coach of several successful Black College teams including Tennessee slate where he won three straight nala championships. He also coached the Piperi of the National Industrial basketball league which won both Thek Ibl and the aau championships in 1960. When the Abl the first competitor in Many years to the National basketball association was begun the Pipen joined it. The team had previously been owned by a group of 16 businessmen and a 17lo, Steinbrenner whose father owned a shipping company in Cleveland would join them. George did t know who 1 was said Mclendon and it s my understanding that he and the other owners wanted someone else. But when the players heard that there might be a Check said Mclendon. For whatever the reasons Mclendon was dismissed and Bill Sharman. The for Mer celtic was hired. I was made the director of player personnel said Mclendon ii was the Board that brought me on George was chairman of the Board but the others i think Felt that he was interfering with the team and needed someone to deflect him a  but racism was never a Factor said Mclen Don. And when i heard the word Black boy used by him 1 though he s a fast talker it just tumbled out without thinking George was the son of wealthy Man and always had everything he wanted. He never had to Leam How to Deal with people work ing for him. The expression he used Black boy snowed an insensitivity maybe an ignorance. It s an old phrase but it s still a derisive term Stilt a sore Point with a lot of people ii is with me. It comes out of my experience when i was living in the South in North Carolina and Virginia and Tennessee. In was meant to put Blacks in their place to Coad Dass them. You go to restaurant an they Lay hey boy Don t go in that door go around the other Way to a separate area boy not Man not adult was the implication. In Durham once 1 bought some furniture and the Salesman said Well boy. Sign right Here and everything will be All right 1 cancelled the  listen for the terminology to tee where peo ple Are coming from. It s a kind of reference Point. People who Leam to communicate Well avoid term thai might offend. I truly believe George was t being racist George was just being George. And that s what gels him in  seeks Crown in 4th weight division Hearns to make bid for spotlight Tho aug actin i a dream of mine by Rick Warner new York a despite winning three world boning lilies Thomas Hearns has always been overshadowed by sugar Ray Leonard and marvelous Marvin Hagler. That could change ocl 24 when hearts meets Juan Roldan in Lai vegas,nev., for the vacant world boxing Council middleweight Lille. A Victor would make Hearns the Fust fighter to win world titles in four weight divisions. It s been a dream of mine for a longtime Hearns said tuesday. I m in a position to do something that s never been done before. It s a Chance to put my name in the record  ten fighters including Leonard Roberto Duran and Alexis Arguello have won titles in three weight divisions. Arguello and Duran lost their bids for a fourth Lille. Hearns 29, knocked out Pipino Cue Vas in i9so to win the a orid boxing association welterweight  1982, he won the wac super welterweight Lille with a 1 a round decision Over Wilfred Benitez. On March 7, cams captured his third Belt by beating Dennis Andries for the wac Light heavy weight use. Despite his Success Hearns ii Proba Bly Best known for his losses to Leonard and Hagler the Only two defeats in his 46-bout professional career. They re behind me now he said at news conference also attended by Rol Dan. If Ray Leonard wants a fourth title he needs me. I Don t need  to meet the 160-Pound middleweight limit Hearns will have to lose about 14 pounds but he s not worried. I Don t think in will be a big prob Lem he said. Ill lose three or four pounds As soon As 1 Start training. Losing14 Pound won t be easy but 1 know i can do it Roldan has won 61 of 67 bout including 41 by knockout. The 30-year old argentinian was stopped by Hagler in middleweight title bout in 1984 after knocking the Champion Down for the first time in his career. Roldan has won 11 straight fights since that toss including a ninth round knockout of James Kinchen on the in de card of the Hagler Leonard fight april 6. Roldan speaking through an inter Preter said he in t worried about Hearns punching Power. Outside the ring i respect him 8 lot he said. But when he is in the ring i am going to Kilt  Heams said he plans to return to i height heavyweight division after fighting of than. I m More comfortable carry irn it heavier weight he said. At this Point in my career it s More natural for  Heams May end up Fig Huna. International boxing federation Light heavy we Ghl Champion Bobby Ciyi. Who Wib appear in the co feature on Ibe Heams Roldan card. Czyia probably pitl fight Charles Williams who u currently ranked no. I by the if. However if Williams vote la jul 14 bout against Joe Golphin t Tyz i a men the fighter who replaces William u the top ranked contender. The Chami Roldan fight it be held in a  outdoor Arena Al Lac la vegas Hilton. It ill be to now of Dowd circuit and pay per vie it Nuon n the United sum and Canada. The wac. Aba and Ihk Middle. Weight lilies Hae born �4ni Itzoe Leonard mired following in no foxy Over Hailer. Howe allowed to play minor league Ball St. Petersburg Fla. Up1 Pitcher Sieve Howe suspended from professional baseball in the United states for drug use tuesday was give permission lotion a minor league con tract and could pitch in the majors again. The National association of professional baseball leagues which oversees All minor league teams said the former Rookie of the year can pitch in the minors if he continues drug use treatment and agrees to random drug tests. After a review of his current drug treatment program the National association is satisfied that Howe can be Given the Opportunity to resume his play ing career said John Johnson the organization s president. Howe suspended by Johnson last year after testing positive for drugs requested reinstatement. Howe 29, had been pitching professionally in Mexico. If Steve Howe can demonstrate compliance with a drug treatment program Over a Renoo Abl Senoj of time Tad Don not show any jul Milan of i pm sumption of drug use the office of us com Milioner wid ilk the Pimp or tale Guaroa consider the Nai Punini of hit co incl to the major Kijuro de Duno Euc Tilic vice pm Dent of the major leagues did tuesday