Valley’s Best Say They Won’t Let Drugs End Their Big-Time Dream

Trevor Wilson was at a friend’s house when he was told of Len Bias’ death.

“I didn’t believe it at first,” he said. “I thought my friend was kidding. Then I saw it on the news. I was stunned.”

Like Bias, Wilson is a talented basketball player, and last November, just before the start of his senior season at Cleveland High, Wilson accepted a scholarship offer from UCLA.

As he signed the letter of intent, he was no less excited about his future than Bias could have been on the day the Boston Celtics made him the second pick in the National Basketball Assn. draft.

Bias, 22, an All-American from Maryland, died on June 19, less than 48 hours after he was drafted. He collapsed in Maryland’s athletic dormitory early in the morning after a full night of celebrating his good fortune with friends. The cause of death: cocaine intoxication.

Eight days later, Don Rogers, a standout defensive back for the Cleveland Browns and former UCLA All-American, died of a cocaine overdose. He was 23 years old and was to be married the next day.

The people who knew Bias and Rogers best described them as model citizens--persons you’d want your daughter to date or son to emulate. Perhaps, these people said, Len and Don had let temptation get the best of them just this once.

And maybe that makes the moral of these two sad stories easier to learn.

Wilson, Greg Fowble, M.J. Nelson and Barry Thomas are recent graduates from Valley-area high schools. They are the future college stars, having earned scholarships to four-year universities where they will play on big-time athletic teams next season. Fowble will play baseball for defending national champion Arizona. Nelson and Thomas will play football for Colorado and Nebraska, respectively.

With each success these athletes experience on the field or the court, there will be more pressure and temptation off it.

And how will they react to it?

They say they will remember what happened to two rising sports stars in June of 1986.

“I don’t think I would ever be tempted enough to try drugs, but if I was I know I’d think of those guys,” Nelson said. “It can’t be considered just a one-time fun thing anymore. People are dying from it now. That makes a big difference.”

All four of the athletes deny ever using drugs, but Thomas was the only one who said he hadn’t been approached about trying it.

“Drugs are everywhere--in the high schools, junior highs and even the elementary schools,” Wilson said, “and wherever you go there’s always peer pressure to try it.”

Said Fowble: “I’ve seen cocaine done right in front of my eyes. I’ve had it offered to me. It’s been at every high school party I’ve ever been to.”

Athletes, particularly successful ones, seem to be a prime target for drug users. That may be why there are more team meetings than ever before about drug usage.

Wilson said Cleveland Coach Bob Braswell often warned members of his team against being lured by drug pushers. “He’d remind us that people who offered drugs to us weren’t our friends,” Wilson said. “He’d say, ‘Be your own man and don’t follow the crowd. Just walk away.’ ”

Nelson said Simi Valley Coach Dave Murphy had at least three such meetings last season.

Dave Gillespie, recruiting coordinator for Nebraska, said Cornhusker players are advised on procedures to deal with drugs, gambling and agents.

“We bring in experts to talk to the players from time to time,” Gillespie said. “Art Schlichter was here last year to talk about the pitfalls of gambling. All of these guys know what’s right and wrong, but they need help in dealing with the situations they might be faced with.”

Said Fowble: “In my opinion, you can only be tempted if you let yourself be. Bias realized a dream when the Celtics drafted him, but I had a dream too--I had a goal to go play baseball for the University of Arizona--and when I got that I didn’t go celebrate with cocaine. There are other ways to celebrate.”

Said Thomas: “I’m into sports, not drugs, but if I ever was tempted, one thing would stick in my mind. That is, I don’t want to die. Not like that, anyway.”