By Dalton Walker (in Arizona) and Michael Barrett
For Red Lake Net News
Just when you thought basketball season was long over with, the Red Lake Warrior High School Basketball Team traveled to Phoenix, Arizona for the NABI Invitational which began on July 21 and runs through July 24, 2004.
This is the second year of the NABI Tournament, and in 2003 Red Lake was invited, losing their first game, but winning 2 on their way through the backdoor of the double elimination event before being eliminated.
Red Lake won their first game this year against 6-Nations of Canada by forfeit, and in their second game defeated a Navajo team from Tuba City, AZ. 68-62.
For the Warriors, Byron Ninham led the scoring with 20 points, and Robin Kelly and Preston "Buster" Graves each had 15. The team is coached by Bill Rutledge.
Red Lake's next game is Thursday, July 22, 2004 at 1:30 between the winner of Reno, Nevada and Cheyenne-Arapaho of Oklahoma.
There are 23 teams in this years tournament, and the championship game will be played in the America West Arena, which is the home of the Phoeniz Suns. There are also 24 girls basketball teams in the women's tournament. Red Lake is the only team from Minnesota.
POD Productions first event debuted on July 11- 13, 2003 at the America West Arena in Phoenix, Arizona with Nike and the Phoenix Suns as presenting sponsors. The vision of the NABI tournament was to provide a spark that ignited Native American youth to set their sights higher, make the most of their potential and reach their dreams through sports and educational opportunities. The tournament featured 24 teams from across the U.S. and Canada.
Many of Indian Country's most influential people spoke and inspired the young people participating in the tournament. "The coaches at Haskell (Indian College) and the people who I met through basketball saved my life" said Ernie Stevens, chairman National Indian Gaming Association. Tex Hall, President, National Congress of American Indians: Shared, "I came from an era where we jumped in a beat-up car and played on worthless Courts. This tournament should show you there are people willing to invest in you" (Jessie Stomski, Native Voice)
Sam McCracken became the Manager of Native American Business at Nike in the year 2000, a position he created with the support of the "powers that be" at the sports apparel giant. As McCracken explains, "My position here at Nike is to be a face of the community. It needs a real person that can make real connections. One of my goals is to heighten the awareness of Native Americans in sports, to support Native athletes." (Lise Balk King and Jessie Stomski, Native Voice)
NABI's goal of receiving national attention from colleges that can provide scholarship opportunities to the Native Americans youth who participated was reached in their inaugural year. The tournament also positioned it self as being a quality national recognized Native American tournament in which youth and tribes have a desire to be part of in years to come. With the goal of being NCAA sanctioned by 2005.
In addition, the desire of the team at POD Productions was to inspire and meet the needs of Native American youth by not only being a part of an exciting event that gives youth an opportunity to showcase their skills and provide educational opportunities but, by being part of their future and to build an on going relationship that encourages and supports their dreams.
Because of this desire, the NABI Foundation was founded. The Foundation will help with the needs of Native American athletes by establishing a college mentoring program to encourage Native American youth to further their education. POD Productions goal is to grow the NABI Foundation, governed by Native leaders, into a national Foundation within their first five years.
NABI wants to be the catalyst to catapult Native athletes into the college level of play and with the NABI Foundation, work with colleges to create mentor programs to help the students deal with the stresses of leaving the reservations with the hopes of creating life time career opportunities and Native Americans athletes having a consistent presence in the NBA and other pro sports. |
