SLAMFEST SCHEDULED THIS WEEKEND

Southeast Missouri teams participating in the SlamFest '97 basketball tournament this weekend will be in the majority, but not by much.

Organizer Scott Porter said teams from around the country have contacted him requesting information about the double-elimination tournament taking place Saturday and Sunday in Indian Park. Already, teams from Chicago, Atlanta and Milwaukee have confirmed their participation.

"I don't know how they hear about this tournament," said Porter. "We advertise locally, but it's baffling to me how these teams from around the country hear about it and call me asking for information."

This marks the sixth year for the tournament, which is organized by the House of Prayer Church and has numerous corporate sponsors. Porter said the tournament began as a memorial event for Michael Nabors, but quickly grew into a memorial event for other young people who had died in recent years.

This year the tournament will begin to celebrate the living. "We're honoring Ricky Frazier on Sunday because of his contributions to our sports community," Porter said. "Because of him, scouts now look in this area for top-named talent."

Frazier, a native of Charleston, was a standout All-American for the University of Missouri at Columbia in the early 1980s and was drafted in the second round by the Chicago Bulls in 1982. He lives in Charleston.

Although the basketball tournament will take up the majority of activity from 7 a.m. until late evening each day, Porter said SlamFest '97 will offer more than the traditional basketball tournament. On Sunday, a choir fest will begin in the park at 3 p.m. A slam dunk contest is scheduled to begin around 4.

"We've got lots to offer this weekend," said Porter. "There'll also be vendors on hand selling food and drinks, and some other types of vendors have also contacted me."