Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 28, 1990 TAG: 9004280073
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Bill Brill
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But when the Washington Redskins' star wide receiver began talking about helping young people, all the weariness drained out of his body.
Clark was in town for the official announcement of the Gary Clark "Why Say No" Sports Camp, which will be held June 25-30 in Roanoke.
Clark said he hopes sports camps will extend nationwide, using the popularity of star athletes to get across the message that drugs should be avoided.
This camp, sponsored by the YMCA Family Center and city of Roanoke, will be open to youngsters ages 8-18. There will be a non-contact football camp at Riveredge Sports Complex and a girls' basketball camp, conducted by Susan Dunagan of Roanoke College, at North Cross School.
While the camp life will feature athletics, it will be aimed at drug education. According to a Roanoke schools survey made in 1989, the realities are that 39 percent of youngsters used beer before they were 13, 41 percent drank wine coolers, 27 percent tried liquor between ages 12-15, that 15 percent of those 12-15 had used marijuana, and many of the three percent who used cocaine were introduced to it between the ages of 14 and 17.
Assisting Clark, a native of Pulaski County, will be football stars from the Redskins and other NFL teams. The target for the camp will be underprivileged youths, most of whom would have no other camp opportunities.
Among those Clark has lined up to work the football camp are former Redskins quarterback Doug Williams and current Redskins Mark Rypien, Ricky Sanders, Art Monk and Darrell Green. Also scheduled are star receiver Roy Green of the Phoenix Cardinals, Eric Yarber of the San Diego Chargers and Clark's former James Madison teammate, Charles Haley of the world champion San Francisco 49ers.
The breakfast meeting Friday kicked off the social outreach endeavor, in which businesses and corporations are being asked to underwrite expenses for the participation of the youngsters. Camp costs are $200 a week, or $40 daily, and the aim is to have full or partial scholarships for all who need them.
Millard Bolden, program director of the YMCA Family Center, said the goal was to have 300 youngsters involved in this initial camp.
"Substance-abuse [education] is the hub of the whole program," Bolden said.
When Clark gets involved, he brings in the whole family. His parents were at the breakfast. He was introduced by his father, Milton. He has signed up his sister, Sheila, who works on Capitol Hill, to head the substance-abuse education phase of the camp.
Clark said he wasn't a great speaker, then proved otherwise.
"We have a problem here," Clark said, "We have to take care of our own first. Youth is the most important thing we have."
Clark will 28 years old next week, but, he said, "I'm still a kid at heart."
His most important quality? "I relate to kids," he said.
He's old enough to know better, however, about drugs. He's seen what has happened to drug users and abusers, including pro football stars.
Despite his athletic success, which provides financial security, Clark considers himself a homebody. He is old-fashioned proud, aware that his upbringing has given him the ability to steer away from the drug society.
"My dad is the best role model I have," Clark said. "I look up to my daddy."
He said he knows that youngsters look up to athletes and that sports stars provide the conduit to get across the message. The camp has been deftly named, emphasizing "Why say no."
As for the athletes, "The guys who are coming here are coming because they want to," Clark said.
His own commitment found him driving across the state in the wee hours just to be host to a breakfast for YMCA officials, city employees, coaches and youngsters.
Bolden said the information on the camp will be available from coaches at Roanoke city and county schools, as well as those in Salem. "There will be workshops, seminars and entertainment," he said.
With Clark as the focal point, "We're using sports as a magnet" to attract the campers, Bolden said.
Sounds like a winner to me. Just like Gary Clark.
by CNB