12
Tuesday, May 4, 1993
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Film developing at great rates at the KU Bookstores Kansas and Burge Unions, Level Two
Kaw Valley Management
Studio 1,2 & 3 bdrm. apts.
*Red Oak
Red Oak
*Pin Oak
*Alabama Place
*Eddingham Place
*Fountain Townhomes
*West Meadows Condos
*Morning Side Duplexes
LAWRENCE BATTERY
MAINTENANCE-FREE AUTO
70 MONTH 1050 CA **59.92**
WARRANTY 875CCA
70 MONTH 925 CA **49.92**
WARRANTY 770CCA
60 MONTH 660 CA **42.92**
WARRANTY 550CCA
60 MONTH 600CA **39.92**
WARRANTY 500CCA
50 MONTH 540 CA **36.92**
WARRANTY 450CCA
CA- cranking amps at 32° CCA- cold cranking amps at 0° Warranty details at store.
INSTALLED FREE IN 10 MIN.
MOTORCYCLE/ATV BATTERIES SAVE $10 UP TO
UPTO
12 MONTH LIMITED WARRANTY
PREMIUM QUALITY CYCLE BATTERIES FOR
EVERYTHING FROM MOPEDS TO MOTO GUZZIS
842-2922    M-F7-6    SAT 8-4
903 N. 2nd Street    VISA
Bright future awaits Fleming
Story continued from, Page 1.
each region receive automatic bids to the Championships. Fleming finished the season as the fifth ranked player in the Midwest region.
Center said that Fleming's chances of receiving an at-large bid were slim because his win-loss ratio would not be good enough.
Fleming qualified for last year's NCAAas with then doubles partner Paul Garvin, but they did not get past the first round.
Fleming said that he was more prepared this time around, and the NCAA bid would give him the opportunity to fulfill his goal of becoming an All-American. To be an All-American, a tennis player must reach the third round of the championships.
Fleming is in his fifth year in the Kansas tennis program after redshirting his junior season. He has made steady progress up the Kansas ranking ladder during those five years, and now finds himself on top, the team leader.
"I told him he was the No. 1 guy." Center said "He leads by example. He shows up, works hard and does his talking on the court."
Coming to Kansas was not among Fleming's original goals. He wanted to play for Duke University in Durham, N.C., but that dream was derailed when he learned what it meant to be African American and how others perceived him.
The African-American recruiter who showed Fleming around the campus actually convinced him that Duke was not the place for him.
The recruiter told Fleming that racial tensions were high in Durham, and that the Ku Klux Klan was never very far away.
Carlos Fleming has transformed himself from the big, slow kid who struggled with tennis to a confident, powerful player who is beginner to realize that his tennis can take him places.
Fleming said that it was the discipline and professionalism of former Kansas men's tennis coach Scott Perelman and his players that impressed him and convinced him to come to Kansas.
Things were not easy for the hot shot freshman. Perelman constantly rode Fleming, who showed up to practices wearing thongs, a tank-top and sunglasses.
"He told me I was a Cadillac in the garage with no gasoline," Fleming said.
Now he is more like a sports car running on high octane fuel, roving up the hills.
Ortiz said that he thought Fleming could make it to the pros if he dedicated himself.
"I think the sky is the limit for Carlos Fleming." Ortiz said. "I really think he has the best first serve in NCAA tennis."
Nowadays Fleming wears a baseball cap that reads "110%" to practice everyday.
"I like the hat because it has been my theme," Fleening says. "Some will say that 110 percent is not possible, but you can accomplish things you never imagined if you put your mind and body to it."
His mother, Patricia Dent, agrees with her son's thinking.
"Many people don't even have a dream," Dent said. "I want to see him try and play to the best of his ability."
Young Carlos had a love for planes and wanted to a pilot. Flying around the nation with his mother to and from amateur tennis tournaments that she competed in, Fleming thought playing tennis was his ticket to a pilot's license.
It was his mother, in fact, that
she said she was born in tennis
when he was 19 years old.
He could have played baseball, basketball or football, and in fact he may have been better at those sports. But it was the challenge of tennis that inspired Fleming to take up the game.
"He has a mother who really likes sports." Dent said. "He was my baby, he had to go with his mother."
"Tennis was one sport I couldn't get a grasp for." Fleming said. "I would get frustrated because I couldn't hit
the ball over the net."
He still remembers his first loss and the lesson that he learned from it.
"I cried. I was so frustrated because I thought I could be better," Fleming said. "I was learning that you don't get your way all the time."
Fleming has always been sure that he could go places.
Raised by his mother after his parents divorced when he was 4. Fleming grew up in a middle-class African-American neighborhood surrounded by successful members of Cleveland's African-American community. Fleming says those role models led him to believe that success was always attainable.
His parents always stressed the importance of getting an education, and Fleming had to look no further than to his father's experiences for inspiration.
After his father, Charles Fleming, dug a hole for himself that forced a choice between jail or the Army, he chose to make something of his life by returning to high school to receive his GED and continuing on to Kent State University, where he earned a law degree.
Today, Fleming's father is the presiding and administrative judge for a case.
His father's experience rubbed off on Fleming, and even today has convinced him that there is no better avenue to take than getting an education.
"My father set an example that you can accomplish anything," Fleming said. "For my dad to accomplish what he did makes me feel an obligation to succeed."
Although he respects his son's tennis aspirations, Charles Fleming still stresses that his son's top priority should be earning his degree.
"Education is the key to success," his father said. "When tennis is over
you need to have something to support your family."
Fleming, who has a 2.96 GPA in political science, will finish his degree next fall and participate in graduation ceremonies in May 1994.
"Having a degree legitimizes you to the world," Fleming said. "I see a lot of student athletes that never get their degree. What is left for them to do?"
Dent said that when her son left for Kansas, she told him that his education and his tennis would go hand in hand.
"I told him to, first of all, play good tennis, but that I expected him to get good grades," Dent said. "And if he did not have good grades, he wouldn't be playing tennis."
His parents' influence in his life is widespread, and it is easy to see how he is a combination of both of their strengths.
Fleming credits his discipline to his mother. His respect for her ability to take care of things as a single parent is immense.
"She is a strong woman, and she found a way to take care of everything," Fleming said. "She made sure I was stuuying."
Like his father, Fleming has taken the initiative in his own life and become a campus leader.
Fleming has been a member in Black Men of Today, a student senator and a member of the African American Student Affairs Task Force. He was also the first student-athlete to sit on the Kansas University Athletic Corporation board.
"When I saw these things happen I felt obligated to get involved," Fleming said.
Frustration with an administration that he says does not accept change, and a feeling of obligation to stand up for his friend. Darren Fulcher motivated Fleming to become active in student politics. Fulcher was impeached by Student Senate in the spring of 1992 when it became public that he had abused his girlfriend.
Fleming attempted to defend Fulcher against what he called a
"bynching by Senate. Fleming said he never condoned what Fulcher did, but also said that the issue was never meant to be a racial one.
"People were quick to accuse us of making it racial issue." "Flemings said "Darren was wrong, but I was appalled by the way Senate handled it."
Samuel Adams, professor of journalism and Fleming's professor in the class Minorities and the Media, said that he could see Fleming's leadership ability in the classroom.
"He was very active and outspoken," Adams said. "He has leadership qualities and enthusiasm for leadership."
That leadership and outspokenness has Fleming thinking about attending law school sometime in the future.
He said that he would like to attend a law school close to his home or somewhere on the East Coast, focusing on sports and entertainment law.
Although law school is high on Fleming's agenda, it is still the thought of serves, forehands, and volunteers in the pros that is forlorn in his mind.
Fleming said he would give himself a few years on the tour and if it did not work out, law school would always be waiting.
"I enjoy playing tennis, and if I can make a career playing tennis I will do it." Fleming said.
But before he can think about the pro tour or about trying cases in a court of law, he knows he must hurdle one last obstacle in his college career. to graduate next May.
"Walking down the Hill is bitter sweet because it is the end," Fleming said. "I'll be proud, excited, and I'll be sad."
As for the NCAAs, Fleming can only hope that he receives a chance become an All-American.
"I've been training hard, and I am hungry," Fleming said. "Anything can happen."
And armed with his lightning fast serve, his "110%" hat and his focus on the future. Fleming has never had any problem making things happen.
Wed. 25$ Draws $1.00 Margaritas
This Summer Party On Our Patio!
Karaoke- $25 gift certificate for best and
worst singers.
Thurs. $1.25 Longnecks 75¢ Margaritas
841-7286 815 New Hampshire