This college basketball season, there have been several tributes to the late coach Pat Summitt. The legendary women’s coach at Tennessee passed away in 2016 after a career in which she helped put her sport on the map - literally.
Without Summitt, women’s basketball would not have the television exposure it enjoys today. What made her so great was her love for the entire sport. When Geno Auriemma was starting out with a fledging program at Connecticut, it was Summitt and Stanford coach Tara Vanderveer, who took their programs to tiny Storrs so his Huskies, pre-Rebecca Lobo, could get to play on television.
I watched those games during weekday afternoons on ESPN2. You could see how excited the players at Connecticut were to be on television. They wouldn’t have been if Tennessee and Stanford had not made their way to Storrs, when they didn’t need to or have to.
But, Summitt wanted to grow the sport. It wasn’t enough to have two, three or four big programs. She wanted more schools to spend money on women’s basketball. She wanted ESPN to showcase the sport in all parts of the country, not just the Southeast or on the West Coast.
I don’t know how she felt about it but I’ll never forgive ESPN and the East Coach media for acting like Coach Auriemma and Connecticut invented the sport of women’s basketball. Today, ESPN is televising the Huskies against Tulane and after the game, they will bemoan UCONN’s dominance and talk about how much better Auriemma is than all the other coaches in the game.
If ESPN would look back into its own vault, it could find the sport existed before Rebecca Lobo ever stepped foot in Storrs. Summitt and Vanderveer and Leon Barmore and Jody Conradt and Joe Ciampi and Andy Landers and countless others had the game at a high level. And, it was competitive, too, with talent spread throughout the country. I remember when Virginia had Dawn Staley and Tennessee had Daedra Charles and NC State had Andrea Stinson and Stanford had Jennifer Azzi and Auburn had Ruthie Bolton and LA Tech had Venus Lacy and Western Kentucky had Lillie Mason and Texas had Andrea Lloyd and, of course, USC had the great Cheryl Miller.
That’s what built the sport.
I don’t watch much women’s basketball anymore. What’s to watch? All of the talent goes to Connecticut. ESPN would rather showcase the Huskies murdering Tulane than Kelsey Plum at Washington or Katelynn Flaherty at Michigan or, well, you get the picture.
The sport is all about one team, which is only fun for folks who follow that one team.
I will miss Pat Summitt, who was always nice to me when I called her for interviews. She always called me by my name and insisted I call her “Pat.” She didn’t know me and probably had forgotten she talked to me 10 minutes after she hung up the phone. But, I’ll remember each interview forever.
And, I will remember fondly the sport she built.
I miss her. And, I miss women’s basketball.
Sunday, January 22, 2017
Thursday, October 27, 2016
What a year for the Wildcats
I’ve been around a long time but I’ve never seen anything quite like this.
I’m not sure what’s shocked me more, the number of injured athletes in El Dorado’s football program or the, almost, nonchalant attitude of the coaches, who shake their head, shrug and say, “next man up.”
El Dorado has lost, at least, five players to season-ending injuries. That number could be higher depending on whether a couple who are questionable can make it back on the field in time to play.
But, Kameron Buie, Tomas Howell, Anthony Thomas, Jamerious Junior and L.J. Yarbrough are players who will definitely not be back this season. Seven players have undergone surgeries this season.
El Dorado has played four quarterbacks, including Brennan Claypoole, the senior kicker and punter who was supposed to be the “emergency” quarterback in August. Well, the Wildcats’ “emergency” quarterback has completed 24-of-52 passes for 318 yards.
Of course, Claypoole was injured last week so sophomore Wanya Frazier will likely start at quarterback Friday night against Russellville.
In addition to the four signal callers, El Dorado has used six running backs, 10 offensive linemen and seven cornerbacks this season.
“They’re at the point with the injury situation, they don’t even blink on that,” said El Dorado coach Scott Reed.
Well, that was before Thomas, the team’s senior running back, broke his leg last week. The coach admitted, he’s not sure how the team will respond to the latest broken bone.
“You don’t know about that. That guy is very well liked and an integral part of our team. He comes to work every day,” said Reed. “He’s a kid that, all of our kids would admire the way he works and handles himself. He never says anything negative to anyone. He loves to play. He competes really hard.
“Anthony is a loss for us because he’s a really good player but he’s a better person. He’s never in any trouble. He’s fun to be around.”
Reed was emotional when he knelt down on the field beside Thomas last Friday. A week later, the coach still sounds a tad shaken up.
“I just went by to see him earlier today,” Reed said on Wednesday. “I said, ‘Do you remember when the injury happened?’ He says, ‘yeah, I remember everything about it, Coach.’ Their middle linebacker ran off the field yelling, ‘get him some help.’ I said, ‘I got out there pretty quick and you still had the ball.’ He goes, ’we don’t fumble.’ I know he was proud of that.”
It’s been a difficult 4-4 season in El Dorado. The Wildcats have played back-ups at quarterback, running back, receiver, right tackle, center, left guard, left tackle, nose guard, outside linebacker, both cornerbacks, safety, kicker, punter, holder and kickoff man.
When I suggested the injuries would, at least, build depth for next season as a lot of youngsters who didn’t expect to see the field have seen significant playing time, Reed smiled before reminding me about this year’s seniors. El Dorado’s seniors don’t have next year to look toward.
Reed’s only concern at the moment is squeezing every drop of success out of the 2016 season.
“Honestly, you know it’s been tough and all but I’m real hopeful we’re still going to get some guys well eventually,” he said.
“I think we’re going to be better than expected Friday. It’s going to be tough with the losses we’ve had offensively. And, we’re playing a real good team. But, all I care about is our kids continue to compete like they have.”
Tonight is Senior Night at El Dorado. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.
I’m not sure what’s shocked me more, the number of injured athletes in El Dorado’s football program or the, almost, nonchalant attitude of the coaches, who shake their head, shrug and say, “next man up.”
El Dorado has lost, at least, five players to season-ending injuries. That number could be higher depending on whether a couple who are questionable can make it back on the field in time to play.
But, Kameron Buie, Tomas Howell, Anthony Thomas, Jamerious Junior and L.J. Yarbrough are players who will definitely not be back this season. Seven players have undergone surgeries this season.
El Dorado has played four quarterbacks, including Brennan Claypoole, the senior kicker and punter who was supposed to be the “emergency” quarterback in August. Well, the Wildcats’ “emergency” quarterback has completed 24-of-52 passes for 318 yards.
Of course, Claypoole was injured last week so sophomore Wanya Frazier will likely start at quarterback Friday night against Russellville.
In addition to the four signal callers, El Dorado has used six running backs, 10 offensive linemen and seven cornerbacks this season.
“They’re at the point with the injury situation, they don’t even blink on that,” said El Dorado coach Scott Reed.
Well, that was before Thomas, the team’s senior running back, broke his leg last week. The coach admitted, he’s not sure how the team will respond to the latest broken bone.
“You don’t know about that. That guy is very well liked and an integral part of our team. He comes to work every day,” said Reed. “He’s a kid that, all of our kids would admire the way he works and handles himself. He never says anything negative to anyone. He loves to play. He competes really hard.
“Anthony is a loss for us because he’s a really good player but he’s a better person. He’s never in any trouble. He’s fun to be around.”
Reed was emotional when he knelt down on the field beside Thomas last Friday. A week later, the coach still sounds a tad shaken up.
“I just went by to see him earlier today,” Reed said on Wednesday. “I said, ‘Do you remember when the injury happened?’ He says, ‘yeah, I remember everything about it, Coach.’ Their middle linebacker ran off the field yelling, ‘get him some help.’ I said, ‘I got out there pretty quick and you still had the ball.’ He goes, ’we don’t fumble.’ I know he was proud of that.”
It’s been a difficult 4-4 season in El Dorado. The Wildcats have played back-ups at quarterback, running back, receiver, right tackle, center, left guard, left tackle, nose guard, outside linebacker, both cornerbacks, safety, kicker, punter, holder and kickoff man.
When I suggested the injuries would, at least, build depth for next season as a lot of youngsters who didn’t expect to see the field have seen significant playing time, Reed smiled before reminding me about this year’s seniors. El Dorado’s seniors don’t have next year to look toward.
Reed’s only concern at the moment is squeezing every drop of success out of the 2016 season.
“Honestly, you know it’s been tough and all but I’m real hopeful we’re still going to get some guys well eventually,” he said.
“I think we’re going to be better than expected Friday. It’s going to be tough with the losses we’ve had offensively. And, we’re playing a real good team. But, all I care about is our kids continue to compete like they have.”
Tonight is Senior Night at El Dorado. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Big-time dreams in a small town
In the middle of the past high school swim season, I sat across from Isabella Gati, a ninth grade phenom, for our first interview. I'd heard about this young athlete, read her dominant results on paper, but it was our first meeting. It didn't take long for her to tell me her aspirations - to compete in the Olympics.
Isabella had it mapped out for a specific year and everything. She wasn't just talking. She had a plan.
I listened intently before I popped the obvious question.
"Can you get to the Olympics from El Dorado?"
Isabella, who was with her mother, glanced at her mom and then looked toward the floor, smiled at me and gave one of those shoulder shrugs. It wasn't really an answer but then again, oh yeah it was.
Isabella will be attending a boarding school in Virginia so she can compete on one of the country's premier swim clubs out of Washington D.C. She's among her peers, girls with similar hopes and dreams. She will be pushed by her coaches and competitors to reach her full potential.
It was an obvious move because, unfortunately, you cannot get to the Olympics from El Dorado. At least, not a straight shot.
I've been here 25 years. So far, El Dorado doesn't appear to be a launching spot to professional or world caliber competition.
No Wildcats in the NFL, NBA, MLB, PGA, LPGA, WTA, ATP, WNBA, MLS ... pick a letter.
Junction City's Kevin Payne made it to the NFL Chicago Bears. Junction City's James Anderson recently signed with the NBA Sacramento Kings. But, why has El Dorado been shut out?
Oh, it got close. Remember Amanda McCurdy? She's probably the best female golfer this state has ever produced. She finished second in the U.S. Amateur and made the cut in the LPGA U.S. Open as an amateur. She was close to getting on the LPGA Tour but never really got the support and backing she needed.
To me, that's the problem. If McCurdy had hailed from a community that backed her career financially, perhaps she would be on the LPGA Tour, wearing a Wildcat hat and teaching the world how to pronounce El-doh-Ray-doh. But, she didn't play football. She played golf and, specifically, she played GIRLS golf.
Football players get plenty of support in this town and I think that's great. El Dorado's Bijhon Jackson, hopefully, will soon end our unprofessional skid as he braces for a big year at Arkansas. He squatted 700 pounds the other night.
I just wish there were big companies in our area who would give that same kind of support to the other athletes. You can't get to the Olympics from El Dorado and it's getting difficult to get to a major college in sports other than football. Most of the kids from this area who earned Division I basketball scholarships - Anderson, Stetson Billings, Whitney Frazier, Savanna Langston, etc. - had to drive to Little Rock so they could play on elite AAU club teams. Courtney Lowe's dream was to playing Division I softball. She made it come true but she had to drive deep into Texas just to practice for her summer travel team. Hell, I remember years ago calling tennis hotshot Irene Jadic on the phone. She was headed to Hot Springs because she needed someone to hit with.
I think it's a shame that local kids with big dreams have to leave South Arkansas as soon as they can if they want those dreams to be realized. I'm not saying El Dorado can build a world class training facility for swimmers. If your child is a swimmer or gymnast or something so specialized as that, yeah, they're probably going to have to move from South Arkansas. But, this area is big enough to be more than it is. When I got here in the early 90s, Mellor Park Tennis Courts hosted the biggest junior tennis tournaments of the summer. Teaching professional Suzanne Phillips had built her local program to a point where the best players from around the state and region flocked to El Dorado because it's where the competition was playing.
Of course, Mellor Park is run by the city. The tennis courts started to crack and weren't repaired and, eventually, Miss Phillips quit and the local tennis scene disappeared. But, it was here and it was huge. I watched it.
There's no reason South Arkansas kids should have to drive to Little Rock to play elite level basketball. That's crap. All it takes is one large corporation to step up. Same for baseball and softball and tennis and track.
It's amazing to me that this part of the state has won all these state championships in all these sports. Yet, we've produced no world class athletes beyond the state level except for Payne and Anderson. It's not the kids' fault. They have the talent and some of them have the desire.
They just can't get out of El Dorado fast enough.
Isabella had it mapped out for a specific year and everything. She wasn't just talking. She had a plan.
I listened intently before I popped the obvious question.
"Can you get to the Olympics from El Dorado?"
Isabella, who was with her mother, glanced at her mom and then looked toward the floor, smiled at me and gave one of those shoulder shrugs. It wasn't really an answer but then again, oh yeah it was.
Isabella will be attending a boarding school in Virginia so she can compete on one of the country's premier swim clubs out of Washington D.C. She's among her peers, girls with similar hopes and dreams. She will be pushed by her coaches and competitors to reach her full potential.
It was an obvious move because, unfortunately, you cannot get to the Olympics from El Dorado. At least, not a straight shot.
I've been here 25 years. So far, El Dorado doesn't appear to be a launching spot to professional or world caliber competition.
No Wildcats in the NFL, NBA, MLB, PGA, LPGA, WTA, ATP, WNBA, MLS ... pick a letter.
Junction City's Kevin Payne made it to the NFL Chicago Bears. Junction City's James Anderson recently signed with the NBA Sacramento Kings. But, why has El Dorado been shut out?
Oh, it got close. Remember Amanda McCurdy? She's probably the best female golfer this state has ever produced. She finished second in the U.S. Amateur and made the cut in the LPGA U.S. Open as an amateur. She was close to getting on the LPGA Tour but never really got the support and backing she needed.
To me, that's the problem. If McCurdy had hailed from a community that backed her career financially, perhaps she would be on the LPGA Tour, wearing a Wildcat hat and teaching the world how to pronounce El-doh-Ray-doh. But, she didn't play football. She played golf and, specifically, she played GIRLS golf.
Football players get plenty of support in this town and I think that's great. El Dorado's Bijhon Jackson, hopefully, will soon end our unprofessional skid as he braces for a big year at Arkansas. He squatted 700 pounds the other night.
I just wish there were big companies in our area who would give that same kind of support to the other athletes. You can't get to the Olympics from El Dorado and it's getting difficult to get to a major college in sports other than football. Most of the kids from this area who earned Division I basketball scholarships - Anderson, Stetson Billings, Whitney Frazier, Savanna Langston, etc. - had to drive to Little Rock so they could play on elite AAU club teams. Courtney Lowe's dream was to playing Division I softball. She made it come true but she had to drive deep into Texas just to practice for her summer travel team. Hell, I remember years ago calling tennis hotshot Irene Jadic on the phone. She was headed to Hot Springs because she needed someone to hit with.
I think it's a shame that local kids with big dreams have to leave South Arkansas as soon as they can if they want those dreams to be realized. I'm not saying El Dorado can build a world class training facility for swimmers. If your child is a swimmer or gymnast or something so specialized as that, yeah, they're probably going to have to move from South Arkansas. But, this area is big enough to be more than it is. When I got here in the early 90s, Mellor Park Tennis Courts hosted the biggest junior tennis tournaments of the summer. Teaching professional Suzanne Phillips had built her local program to a point where the best players from around the state and region flocked to El Dorado because it's where the competition was playing.
Of course, Mellor Park is run by the city. The tennis courts started to crack and weren't repaired and, eventually, Miss Phillips quit and the local tennis scene disappeared. But, it was here and it was huge. I watched it.
There's no reason South Arkansas kids should have to drive to Little Rock to play elite level basketball. That's crap. All it takes is one large corporation to step up. Same for baseball and softball and tennis and track.
It's amazing to me that this part of the state has won all these state championships in all these sports. Yet, we've produced no world class athletes beyond the state level except for Payne and Anderson. It's not the kids' fault. They have the talent and some of them have the desire.
They just can't get out of El Dorado fast enough.
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Help me out here
I'm confused.
Okay, the quarterback at Florida State, DeAndre Johnson, was kicked off the football team for hitting a female. I get that part. Men are physically stronger and larger and are supposed to be protectors of women. Punching a woman in the face is a criminal offense.
But, but, but, but.
The video shows the woman in this case as the aggressor. She balls up her fist, which he grabs and holds. She then tries to knee him in the groin and finally swings at him with her other hand.
Then, he punched her.
I'm not saying he should've punched her. But, I understand.
My confusion isn't what he did to deserve getting kicked off the football team. I don't understand how she gets away as if she's done nothing wrong.
Two wrongs don't make a right and they damn sure don't when only one of the wrongs is punished.
There are clear-cut consequences for any man who hits a woman. Why are there no repercussions for a female who instigates a fight with a male? Hey, I believe in equal rights for women. I've covered girls sports just the same as boys sports in our local paper for more than 20 years. But, if any woman walks up to me and punches me in the face, I guess I'm going to jail.
If you've got enough testosterone in your body to swing a fist. You should have enough to duck when a fist comes swinging back at you.
To be clear, I'm not advocating violence against women. If a woman hits me and I hit her back, I'm going to jail. I understand that part. But, she should be sitting there with me. I hate to sound like a 5-year-old but, "She started it."
Okay, the quarterback at Florida State, DeAndre Johnson, was kicked off the football team for hitting a female. I get that part. Men are physically stronger and larger and are supposed to be protectors of women. Punching a woman in the face is a criminal offense.
But, but, but, but.
The video shows the woman in this case as the aggressor. She balls up her fist, which he grabs and holds. She then tries to knee him in the groin and finally swings at him with her other hand.
Then, he punched her.
I'm not saying he should've punched her. But, I understand.
My confusion isn't what he did to deserve getting kicked off the football team. I don't understand how she gets away as if she's done nothing wrong.
Two wrongs don't make a right and they damn sure don't when only one of the wrongs is punished.
There are clear-cut consequences for any man who hits a woman. Why are there no repercussions for a female who instigates a fight with a male? Hey, I believe in equal rights for women. I've covered girls sports just the same as boys sports in our local paper for more than 20 years. But, if any woman walks up to me and punches me in the face, I guess I'm going to jail.
If you've got enough testosterone in your body to swing a fist. You should have enough to duck when a fist comes swinging back at you.
To be clear, I'm not advocating violence against women. If a woman hits me and I hit her back, I'm going to jail. I understand that part. But, she should be sitting there with me. I hate to sound like a 5-year-old but, "She started it."
Monday, June 8, 2015
Why Hope Solo still has a job
Who is the No. 2 goalkeeper on the United States Women's National Soccer Team? Whoever she is, she must be feeling pretty low, right now.
Hope Solo has been the U.S. goalkeeper for the past decade. In that time, Solo has established herself, clearly, as one of the best in the world, if not, the very best in the world at her position.
Also during that time, she's established herself as this country's most polarizing female athlete. There are a lot of little girls and grown men walking around wearing Hope Solo soccer jerseys. I won't lie. I priced them online myself.
I like watching the woman play. She's the best goalkeeper I've ever seen. I'll put that into some perspective by acknowledging, I've only watched soccer since about 1999. And, I don't watch men's soccer.
Still,she's very good at her job. But, it's not just her play that keeps my attention. Certainly, her appearance doesn't turn my stomach. Her attitude, though, has always made me smile. She's a bad girl who knows she's a bad girl. She knows she's hated by a large number of people. And, she doesn't care.
I like that.
But, after awhile, the act gets old. Her latest transgression, a charge of domestic violence against her half-sister and nephew, puts her in the same category as Ray Rice and Greg Hardy. Hardy was released by Carolina and picked up by the Cowboys, where he faces a suspension this upcoming NFL season. Rice, who was caught knocking out his then-fiancee on an elevator camera, is currently unemployed after getting dumped by Baltimore.
Hope Solo still faces criminal charges but has not been convicted. Her 30-day suspension earlier in the year was for an unrelated incident involving alcohol and her husband. She is on the roster and will likely start tonight in the U.S. World Cup opener against Australia.
Talking heads on ESPN call it a double standard. They want to know why Hardy is suspended and Rice is unemployed, yet Hope Solo is still proudly wearing the red, white and blue.
I'll answer that with a question. Who is the No. 2 goalkeeper on the U.S. National Team?
I don't know who she is but she ain't Hope Solo. If the United States' roster of players included anyone with comparable skills to Solo, Solo would be So Long. If you think Hope Solo's teammates and coaches like her, you're not really listening when they answer questions about her.
They loathe her. And, they need her ... desperately.
If you think about it, that's the same reason Hardy has a job and Rice doesn't. Hardy can make a difference on the field. Rice is a run-of-the-mill running back, not worth the distractions.
People who want Hope Solo kicked off the U.S. soccer team don't give a damn about the team's success or failure. Get rid of Solo and you flush away Abby Wambach's last chance at a World Cup title.
At this point, even I realize that Hope Solo is crazy. She's nuts. She's a felony waiting to happen. She could explode at any moment. But, she can do one thing better than anybody else in this country. She can keep the ball out of the United States' net.
That's why she has a job. Until someone comes along who does it better, she'll always have a job.
Go USA!
Hope Solo has been the U.S. goalkeeper for the past decade. In that time, Solo has established herself, clearly, as one of the best in the world, if not, the very best in the world at her position.
Also during that time, she's established herself as this country's most polarizing female athlete. There are a lot of little girls and grown men walking around wearing Hope Solo soccer jerseys. I won't lie. I priced them online myself.
I like watching the woman play. She's the best goalkeeper I've ever seen. I'll put that into some perspective by acknowledging, I've only watched soccer since about 1999. And, I don't watch men's soccer.
Still,she's very good at her job. But, it's not just her play that keeps my attention. Certainly, her appearance doesn't turn my stomach. Her attitude, though, has always made me smile. She's a bad girl who knows she's a bad girl. She knows she's hated by a large number of people. And, she doesn't care.
I like that.
But, after awhile, the act gets old. Her latest transgression, a charge of domestic violence against her half-sister and nephew, puts her in the same category as Ray Rice and Greg Hardy. Hardy was released by Carolina and picked up by the Cowboys, where he faces a suspension this upcoming NFL season. Rice, who was caught knocking out his then-fiancee on an elevator camera, is currently unemployed after getting dumped by Baltimore.
Hope Solo still faces criminal charges but has not been convicted. Her 30-day suspension earlier in the year was for an unrelated incident involving alcohol and her husband. She is on the roster and will likely start tonight in the U.S. World Cup opener against Australia.
Talking heads on ESPN call it a double standard. They want to know why Hardy is suspended and Rice is unemployed, yet Hope Solo is still proudly wearing the red, white and blue.
I'll answer that with a question. Who is the No. 2 goalkeeper on the U.S. National Team?
I don't know who she is but she ain't Hope Solo. If the United States' roster of players included anyone with comparable skills to Solo, Solo would be So Long. If you think Hope Solo's teammates and coaches like her, you're not really listening when they answer questions about her.
They loathe her. And, they need her ... desperately.
If you think about it, that's the same reason Hardy has a job and Rice doesn't. Hardy can make a difference on the field. Rice is a run-of-the-mill running back, not worth the distractions.
People who want Hope Solo kicked off the U.S. soccer team don't give a damn about the team's success or failure. Get rid of Solo and you flush away Abby Wambach's last chance at a World Cup title.
At this point, even I realize that Hope Solo is crazy. She's nuts. She's a felony waiting to happen. She could explode at any moment. But, she can do one thing better than anybody else in this country. She can keep the ball out of the United States' net.
That's why she has a job. Until someone comes along who does it better, she'll always have a job.
Go USA!
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Something to live for
"Yea though I walk through the Valley of Death, I take a look at my life and realize there's nothing left."
This lyric from Coolio's hit song, "Gangster's Paradise," rings clearly in my mind from time to time. As a man who has now entered into his fifth decade, it resonates with me. I can easily imagine what it would be like to see my days on earth coming to an end and not be satisfied with how I lived them.
It's my greatest fear.
Not death.
But, dying without leaving any sort of a mark.
I have no children. It wasn't my plan to never marry or have a family of my own. It just worked out that way. I don't regret it. Other than having no one to name as my next of kin, I'm happy being a bachelor. But, obviously, that is an empty spot on my life's resume.
Early on in my career as a sports writer, I thought I might be making a difference in a few lives. Through my work, I tried to inspire, encourage and/or enlighten. And, truly, I believe I impacted some lives, even if just for a short time.
But, encouraging a girl to play high school basketball is hardly a life-altering accomplishment. I've written about hundreds of youth. But, once they become adults and venture out into their own worlds, my impact on their lives fades into just a distant blip on their screen.
Fifty years old and what have I accomplished? How did I make the world a better place while I was here?
Maybe I can still leave a mark. Perhaps I can still touch someone's life in such a way, they'll be impacted long after I'm gone.
I wake up every day thankful that I'm not yet walking through the Valley of Death. I can still look at my life and know there's still some left.
This lyric from Coolio's hit song, "Gangster's Paradise," rings clearly in my mind from time to time. As a man who has now entered into his fifth decade, it resonates with me. I can easily imagine what it would be like to see my days on earth coming to an end and not be satisfied with how I lived them.
It's my greatest fear.
Not death.
But, dying without leaving any sort of a mark.
I have no children. It wasn't my plan to never marry or have a family of my own. It just worked out that way. I don't regret it. Other than having no one to name as my next of kin, I'm happy being a bachelor. But, obviously, that is an empty spot on my life's resume.
Early on in my career as a sports writer, I thought I might be making a difference in a few lives. Through my work, I tried to inspire, encourage and/or enlighten. And, truly, I believe I impacted some lives, even if just for a short time.
But, encouraging a girl to play high school basketball is hardly a life-altering accomplishment. I've written about hundreds of youth. But, once they become adults and venture out into their own worlds, my impact on their lives fades into just a distant blip on their screen.
Fifty years old and what have I accomplished? How did I make the world a better place while I was here?
Maybe I can still leave a mark. Perhaps I can still touch someone's life in such a way, they'll be impacted long after I'm gone.
I wake up every day thankful that I'm not yet walking through the Valley of Death. I can still look at my life and know there's still some left.
Friday, March 20, 2015
Historic victory for freshman
At the 2015 Arkansas High School Swimming & Diving Championships, El Dorado's Isabella Gati won the state championship in the girls 100-yard butterfly. The freshman dominated the event in a time of 57.70. Russellville's Andrea Bond was a distant second in 1:01.37.
I wrote at the time Gati was "believed" to be El Dorado's first-ever state champion in swimming.
After some research, I feel confident she is the first and only El Dorado girl to win the title. El Dorado sports historian Randy Ross did some research and discovered the name of Bobo Sweeney, who swam for the Wildcats and won the boys state title in the 200 individual medley back in 1965.
Mr. Ross could not find records of an El Dorado girl winning. I've been here since 1991 and I'm almost positive the school hasn't won any swimming state titles in that time.
Basically, congratulations to Miss Gati for accomplishing an historic feat. I'm looking forward to seeing how much more history this young lady can make during her high school career.
I wrote at the time Gati was "believed" to be El Dorado's first-ever state champion in swimming.
After some research, I feel confident she is the first and only El Dorado girl to win the title. El Dorado sports historian Randy Ross did some research and discovered the name of Bobo Sweeney, who swam for the Wildcats and won the boys state title in the 200 individual medley back in 1965.
Mr. Ross could not find records of an El Dorado girl winning. I've been here since 1991 and I'm almost positive the school hasn't won any swimming state titles in that time.
Basically, congratulations to Miss Gati for accomplishing an historic feat. I'm looking forward to seeing how much more history this young lady can make during her high school career.
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