THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 6, 1995 TAG: 9501040165
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, CLIPPER SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 92 lines
WHEN WILLIAM BONNER was a baby, his mother tagged him with the kind of instantly catchy, potentially embarrassing nickname that is destined to stick.
No longer would the South Norfolk native be known as William. To family, friends, and even his teachers, he was Bu-Bew.
``From day one he was always into something, always hyper,'' said Bonner's mother, Pat. ``His attitude was `Anything you can do, I can do.' He always liked the challenge.''
Bonner hasn't changed much from those early days. He still loves a challenge, and his can-do attitude is serving him well as the starting shooting guard on the Oscar Smith boys' basketball team.
Last year, Bonner was a sometime starter for the Tigers and sixth man off the bench. This year the 5-11 senior is seventh in the area in scoring, averaging 17.2 points per game, and the only Oscar Smith player in double-figures in points in each of the Tigers' six games.
As good as things are for Bonner today, there was a time when things could have turned out much differently.
Growing up, Bonner was particularly close to his older brother, Montez, even though there's a six-year age difference between them. But four years ago Montez left home and joined the Army, leaving William Bonner without the best friend and confidant he had always depended on.
His anchor, and the person who pushed him to take up basketball, was gone for the first time.
``Montez was the only one I talked to and told my problems. When he left I felt like I didn't have anyone to turn to,'' said Bonner. ``I thought I had to keep things to myself.''
``You could see after Montez left that Bu-Bew was different. He became withdrawn,'' said Pat Bonner. ``He's always been quiet, but it was even worse. He kept everything inside, even though I told him he needed to talk about things.
``But he's older now, and I think he understands that Montez has to have his own life. He gets into his sports, and that helps.''
Basketball has been a saving grace for Bonner, but it hasn't been without a price. Literally.
With Montez now stationed in Hawaii, Bonner's post-game calls to his brother have taken a chunk out of the family's finances.
``It runs about four a month during the season,'' said Bonner, who calls his brother after every game, without fail.
That's four, as in, four hundred dollars.
``When I call, my mom says `Just tell him about the game and get off,''' Bonner said.
Because of the physical distance that separates him from his brother, Bonner turns to older cousin Dorteo Davis for support along with best friends Brian Lewis and Dwayne White, both reserve guards for Oscar Smith.
But one of the best things for Bonner has been basketball. Although the Tigers started 0-3, Bonner had solid games against Granby and Great Bridge, and scored a season-high 24 points against heavily-favored Indian River.
Oscar Smith recently notched its first wins of the season, defeating Norfolk Christian and Manteo (N.C.) to reach the finals of its own South Norfolk Holiday Classic tournament. The Tigers fell to Great Bridge in the finals, 75-63.
``He's a hard worker and he goes to the basket pretty well,'' said Oscar Smith head coach Sandy Williams. As the team's shooting guard, ``we like him to take good shots, and thus far he has.
``He's a very likable young man. He has no trouble approaching his peers or teachers.''
A testament to his popularity, the Oscar Smith student body voted Bonner homecoming king this year, an experience he likened to ``being on the Academy Awards.'' As the newly crowned Mr. Tiger, Bonner got to meet the other Mr. T when the former ``A-Team'' personality came to Oscar Smith as a motivational speaker.
He has yet to decide between baseball and track as his spring sport of choice, and for the moment Bonner's sole focus is the hard court. Prior to the season the coaching staff named him one of the team captains, along with Tyrone Williams and Lamont White. It's a responsibility Bonner takes seriously.
``It's my job to keep the team together, help our communication with one another,'' he said. ``(It means) being a role model and setting the tempo in practice and in games.''
Basketball, along with his extensive support system, has helped Bonner learn to live with the separation from his brother. According to those around him, the change is remarkable.
``He's smiling and laughing again, which is so nice,'' said Pat Bonner. ``He's back to being Bu-Bew.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
William ``Bu-Bew'' Bonner, Oscar Smith's starting shooting guard, is
seventh in the area in scoring, averaging 17.2 points per game.
by CNB