www.theaustinvillager.com THE VILLAGER Page 7 ~ December 30, 2011 PUBLIC INFORMATION ~ SPORTS VILLAGER SPOTLIGHT Toros hope to keep hot this

Daje Johnson burst onto the scene By: Terry Davis The San Antonio Spurs The Austin Toros have week are the owners of the Toros lack of productive game film been very hot in the middle and have the ability to as- from his junior year has put of winter. The Toros have sign up to three players from some doubt into most high won four of their last five their current NBA roster at profile colleges from recruit- games and currently holds a any time. Despite who is on ing Johnson. Johnson has two game winning streak. the roster the Toros always used this lack of publicity as The Toros has a 6-3 record play an up tempo game and a motivation for his senior and are looking to continu- always play hard for head year. ing their winning ways. coach Brad Jones. The preseason rankings Justin Dentmon the The Toros hosts the did not include Johnson in team’s leading scorer re- Springfield Armor at the Ce- them. Central Texas has taken turned last week to the ac- dar Park Center on Thursday notice of his accomplish- tive roster after a tryout with December 29 at 1:00 pm and ments this season. Johnson the New Orleans Hornets of aging 22 points in his first again on Friday December 30 has been named to second the NBA. Dentmon is aver- year with the Toros. at 7:30 pm. team All Texas and Central Texas Most Valuable Player. Melanie Amaro Crowned First Johnson gives his father, Clyde Johnson, all the credit for his success. Clyde played his Winner of “X-Factor” college football at Kansas State Special to the NNPA from the Houston Style Magazine and played professionally in the NFL with the Chicago Bears the news that she was the and the Kansas City Chiefs. winner of the singing compe- Athletics is not the only tition, she couldn’t help but thing that he is focused on. He to fall to her knees and thank has a three point grade point God, while fighting back average and he is looking for- tears. I was so incredibly ward to going to college to not happy to see Melanie win, only play football, but to get and felt that by her response Daje Johnson his degree. Johnson is a that she was definitely the grounded person and enjoys best woman for this job. By: Terry Davis round of the playoffs. In his hanging out with his friends To close out the show This football season was senior year his team finished when he is not on the field or last night, Melanie performed a coming out party for Daje with a 9-3 record and lost in in training. Beyonce’s “Listen” for the au- Johnson. The Hendrickson the second round of the Johnson has verbally dience one last time before tak- Hawk senior running back was playoffs. committed to Texas Christian ing her official reign as the “X- a relative unknown coming into Johnson is a very ver- University. Johnson selected Factor’s first winner”. Con- the season. Last year Johnson satile athlete. He plays run- TCU, because head coach gratulations to Melanie Amaro rushed for 701 yards in his jun- ning back, wide receiver, kick Gary Peterson is also the de- and we all can’t wait to see how you’re going to turn this ior year behind the Texas Tech returner, and linebacker. As fensive coordinator. Peterson Melanie Amaro Red Raiders’ freshman Kenny great of a runner Johnson is, will allow Johnson to play de- music industry upside down! Williams. he takes pride in playing the fense and will also allow him It’s been a long run for third place spot. After a long Melanie’s final words before This year was a differ- corner back position. He to be included in some spe- the “X-Factor USA” contes- pause of waiting, surprise exiting the stage: “Thank you ent story Johnson rushed for likes being able to take the cial packages on offense. Al- tants and it all came to an performances from Justin so much! OMG, I don’t know 2,084 yards and 23 touch- other team’s best receiver though Johnson has not end last night on the season Beiber, Ne-Yo, Pitbull, 50 what even to say… God is downs. Johnson also had 496 out of the game, as a lock signed he still plans on tak- finale. After a long couple Cent and many more, plus the good… Thank you America! receiving yards and 6 touch- down corner. ing more official visits to months of tears, dance suspense and task of tally- downs. Johnson’s best game Football is not only other schools. He has al- moves and Astro’s antics, ing up votes, it was an- of the season was against the sport Johnson is good in. ready visited the California this star studded finale nounced that Melanie was Connally Cougars. Johnson He played basketball in his Bears. showed us who was the winner of the competi- finished the game with 337 freshman year. He also Johnson is looking for- America’s next breakout tion, recipient of a $5 million rushing yards and 5 touch- played at Michael Jordon’s ward to proving all of his crit- star, and that star is 19 year recording contract, star in a downs in the 37-35 win. middle and high school in ics wrong by continuing his old Melanie Amaro. new Pepsi commercial and Despite the individual North Carolina. upward mobility and being a Melanie faced off in undoubtedly America’s fa- success he has experienced; High school recruiting great team player in college. the with Josh Krajcik after vorite. he wanted better success for is an inexact science and Johnson is a very selfless in- Chris Rene was given the When Melanie received the team. In his junior year most college coaches rely on dividual that lets his talking the team finished with a 5-6 a player’s junior year film to be done on the field and with HBCUs Plus Budget Cuts Equals record and lost in the first evaluate their talent. The his words.

It appears that with ev- Disaster! can Americans. Without the The Texas Longhorns look to put ery proposed budget cut, benefit of higher education, Congress slices just a bit m- the strength of leader-ship o-r-e from the American within the African American North Carolina loss behind them Dream of equal opportunity community is going to wane. in edu-cation. African President Obama The Texas Longhorns to run the designed offense. pressive win over Texas A&M. American students, as well speaks of our nation being men’s basketball team would Barnes wants players on the The Owls come into this as other minority groups, among the best and the like to burn the game film court that wants to play the game with an 8-4 record and will especially feel the deep brightest, but slashing the against the North Carolina Tar way they practiced for oppo- have played a game against a slash of cuts aimed at the funding needed to shape fu- Heels last week. Texas was out nents. The Longhorns are 9- common opponent of the Long- federal Pell Grant. ture African American lead- played and out hustled by the 3 and winners of seven of the horns. The Owls lost to the The Pell Grant has ership greatly undermines Tar Heels. The Tar Heels de- last eight games. Temple Owls 77-70 at home. been the means by which so that claim. We cannot sit idly feat the Longhorns 83-62. This However their next op- The Longhorns defeat Temple many African Ameri-can stu- $30,000 to $20,000. Do these by and watch as the current was the worst loss of the sea- ponent is looking to get an- 77-65 a couple of weeks ago. dents have been able to fur- Representatives – suppos- leaders of our nation make son for the Longhorns. other Big 12 victim under their Texas will host Rice at the ther their education. And – edly attuned to the needs of the wrong choices for our Rick Barnes was less than belt. The Rice Owls comes Erwin Center on Saturday De- every-body knows – educa- the American public — really young Black students. pleased with the lack of effort into the game after and im- cember 31 at 1:30. tion is the one proven route believe that those who are I am a graduate of two available for Black students barely getting by on that Historical Black Colleges and EMPLOYMENT/BIDS/PROPOSALS/ to become leaders in busi- meager $10,000 more each Universities: Florida A&M ness; to improve their lives year are going to be able to University and Clark Atlanta and the lives of others. fund a child’s education with- University. Yes, we had our PUBLIC INFORMATION/ Now, Congress – out assistance? challenges at my alma mat- charged with looking out for Students will also be ers, but I would not change FOR SALE /FOR RENT/MISC the best interest of all required to enroll in 15 credit my experience. It helped mold Americans — is targeting hours per semester instead me into the man I am today. the very means by which the of 12. Working students — As an alumnus of these majority of African American those who do not have the esteemed institutions, I un- City of Austin students are able to access luxury of focusing 100% of derstand the importance of a a college education. What their time and attention on solid education. It is the Purchasing Office was once considered a pub- their coursework — will foundation on which a per- lic good is quickly turning have to struggle that much son builds a successful into a costly private invest- more to complete their edu- life.It is unconscionable and The City of Austin Purchasing Office invites ment. Higher education will cation in a limited number of inexcusable for us to let our you to view current bid solicitations at http://- soon be unattain-able by years. This added stress can government limit access to those in low-to-moderate in- cause a student’s grades to educational opportunities www.ci.austin.tx.us/purcase/vs/p2.htm. Vendors come families, creating a suffer, which will in turn af- available to African Ameri- are encouraged to register on-line in the City’s greater divide between the fect the amount of assistance cans. Take action today! wealthy and the middle and they receive. Write your Senators and Vendor Self Service System. Once your com- lower class. Colleges and universi- Representatives and tell pany is registered, you will receive notifications In a move that puts ties that have a higher Black them not to cut this critical about new bid opportunities. For additional in- them at odds with President student population, such as funding. Obama, members of the Howard University, African Americans formation regarding current bid opportunities or House are proposing a re- Tuskegee Institute and have struggled throughout Vendor Registration, please call the Purchasing Make a duction in the yearly maxi- Texas Southern University, the years to gain equality in mum bud-geted for Pell Office at 512-974-2500. For information on the will also see major cuts, education at every level. Resolution Grants. They are attempting nearly 36 percent, in special Higher education should not City of Austin’s Minority-Owned and Women- to bring the current cap of programs and grants for stu- be a privilege that is only Owned Procurement Program and the certifica- $5,550 down by a few hun- dents. available to the wealthy. If that you dred to a few thousand dol- These cuts, which will we truly believe that educa- tion process, please contact the Small & Minor- lars. Eligibility requirements have such a huge im-pact on tion is the key to success in ity Business Resources Department at 512-974- would become stricter, as African American education, life, the opportunity should can keep! well. It has been suggested are go-ing to hinder the ad- be available to every Ameri- 7600 or visit their website at http://www.- that the annual household vancement and growth of can, regardless of their in- ci.austin.tx.us/smbr. income limit be reduced from businesses owned by Afri- come level.