SPORTS NOTEBOOK : Walkin’ Willie Eyes Olympics

William (Walkin’ Willie) Croker, who has walked across the United States twice, is going international with his crusade for cancer awareness, despite gout-plagued feet.

He also revealed this stunner: “I want to win the gold medal in Barcelona in 1992.”

Croker said Americans have not done well in the 20-kilometer and 50-kilometer walks in the Olympics.

“Heel and toe is not much different from what I do now,” Croker said. “I will have an Englishman, Jim Spears, training me. He walked in the Olympics during the ‘60s.”

In the next couple of weeks, Croker, who stresses the importance of early cancer checkups, plans to walk across Missouri and make 150-mile walks in Tennessee and Arkansas.

In May, he intends to walk 750 miles from Kiev to Moscow.

In August he will try to walk across Death Valley, which he failed to do in 1975.

Will his feet hold out?

“I couldn’t hardly stand for three weeks in December, but I still had to walk five miles to work,” said Croker, 43, who lives in Lakewood and works at a gasoline station in Long Beach.

He said the cartilage in his feet is almost worn out from the more than 20,000 miles he has walked in the last 21 years.

Croker also plans to be in Washington soon, where he hopes to watch President Bush sign a bill making April Cancer Awareness Month. That will fulfill Croker’s longtime goal.

Coaching Clinic: Bud Carson, coach of the Cleveland Browns, and Bill Walsh, former coach of the San Francisco 49ers, will speak at the Long Beach Century Club’s football coaches clinic March 17 at the Long Beach Airport Marriott Hotel.

The clinic costs $25, and registration starts at 7 a.m. For information call 597-7494.

Coach to Be Honored: Bob Witham, wrestling coach at Paramount High School since 1963, will be honored at a party at 6 p.m. March 24 at the Lakewood Country Club.

Witham’s Pirates lost only four San Gabriel Valley League matches.

To make reservations for the party, call (714) 279-9846.