Black greats get 2d shot

SPRINGFIELD - The Basketball Hall of Fame plans to establish a committee to review the qualifications of candidates from Historical Black Colleges and Universities, president John Doleva said yesterday.

The committee will be set up by Mannie Jackson, chairman of the board of the Hall of Fame.

"We are doing a complete review," Doleva said. "[Jackson] wants to take a look at how we looked at potential enshrinees in our history and make sure we didn't miss anyone. The goal is for them to be enshrined and, if they are not worth enshrinement, perhaps giving them some recognition. We know many of these gentlemen are older. We are establishing a committee to look at it."

Doleva was responding to a request from a group led by Hall of Famer Earl Monroe and film producer Dan Klores, who collaborated on a television special entitled, "Black Magic."

"If so, that's great news," said Monroe, a star guard at Winston-Salem State who went on to average 18.8 points in 13 NBA seasons. "We've had a lot of great players and contributors from [Historical Black Colleges and Universities] over the last 50 to 60 years. The fact that none of those guys were being looked at, and if you look at the Hall of Fame inductees and there are lot from overseas and that nature - this is where it started, right here. As in any situation, charity begins at home, you have to take care of the home before you take care of every place else."

Monroe said the committee should consider John McLendon, who was inducted as a contributor but should have been named as a coach, plus coaches Cal Irvin (North Carolina A&T) and Bobby Vaughan (Elizabeth City State).

"John McLendon won three straight NAIA championships, he was the first black coach at a major white university, the first black coach in the ABL," Monroe said. "But he was still passed over as a coach. Hopefully, some others can be talked about and shown some appreciation."

Clarence "Big House" Gaines (Winston-Salem State) is the only black named to the Hall of Fame as a coach.