Sports Beat column - May 18, 2006

Sports Beat
May 18, 2006

Sports Beat by Bill McCaffrey

The big news in baseball has been and still is Barry Bonds. Well he has hit the Babe Ruth number but hey what about Hank Aaron who holds the career home run mark? Why, it seems, he is ignored by the media?

But you know when they talk about the best baseball ever it has to be Babe Ruth, he was a great pitcher, hitter, and as an outfielder he never threw to the wrong base.

Bonds may or may not be a steroid abuser and there have been many other abusers in baseball that the used car salesman may or may not acknowledge, which he probably won't admit.

Others who deserve consideration are guys like Rogers Hornsby; Mel Ott; Mickey Mantle; Larry Doby; Mickey Vernon; Jimmie Foxx; Josh Gibson; Frank Howard; Joe Dimaggo; Hank Greenberg; Frank Robinson; Stan Musial; Johnny "Big Cat" Mizes; Roberto Clemente; Willie Mays but the best hitter I saw was Ted Williams. He would have all the super numbers if he had not missed six seasons serving his Country in World War II and the Korean War (not a conflict because it was a war). Williams was not a "garrison soldier" but a real live hero like Senator John Astle of Annapolis.

I was at Ledos on Orndance Road in Glen Burnie and their menu had copies of the baseball cards of Ray Moore in an Orioles uniform and Jim Lemon in his Senators uniform (both are deceased now). The original Ledos is on University Blvd. near the University of Maryland and was opened in 1955.

I use to go to Ledos with Ron Menchine and on occasion Ernie Howell, Sid Hudson, Ted Williams would be in the back room also. Oh by the way some people have claimed Charlie Brotman was the last radio broadcaster of the Washington Senators, he wasn't Ron and Tony Roberts were, not Brotman who claims to fame was as a PA announcer at old Griffith Stadium.

I also have some great pizza lunches at the original Ledos back room with Jack Zane and Jack Fitzpatrick, occasionally we'd be joined by the late Ned Malone, Skip Bullen, Ned Carey and Jack's sons.

Seen at a recent Orioles game were Bob Simi, Sava Tshontikidis and Mike Marcellino (all three were standouts in the 1949-50 Roosevelt High School football team.

Attendance has been deplorable at the Orioles and Nationals games this season.

Baltimore is trying to stay ahead of Tampa Bay in their season.

This weekend it's the Orioles playing the Nationals in DC.

Harper Earns USSA Athlete of the Month Honors for April
Sophomore is the female recipient of the honor.

Maryland women's basketball player Laura Harper was recently named the United States Sports Academy's Female Athlete of the Month for April. Professional golfer Phil Michelson was the male recipient. The award is voted on by an international voting committee comprised of former athletes, media, sports organizations and governing bodies.

Wrapping up her sophomore season this spring, Harper (Elkins Park, Pa./Cheltenham) helped the Terps win their first national championship on April 4 with a 78-75 overtime win over Duke. She was voted the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player after scoring 40 points and grabbing 16 rebounds over the two games in Boston.

Harper was back on the court this season after suffering an Achilles tendon tear last year in December 2004. She started the first nine games of the season, averaging 13.2 points per game and 9.8 rebounds per game before being sidelined for the final 23 games.

Harper won the USSA's monthly award over golfer Kari Webb, who won the Kraft Nabisco Championship, to earn second place on the ballot. Two-time USSA Female Athlete of the Month winner Deena Kaster, who won the London Marathon with a U.S.-record time of 2:19:36, placed third in the USSA balloting for April.

Phil Mickleson, who won his second Masters in three years after shooting a 3-under-par 69 in the final round at Augusta in April, finished ahead of marathon runner Robert Cheruiyot of Kenya and the L.A. Laker's Kobe Bryant and swimmer Ryan Lochte on the ballot. Cheruiyot won the Boston Marathon with a record time of 2:07:14 earning him a runner-up spot in the Male Athlete of the Month voting, while Bryant hit two crucial shots to win a 99-98 NBA playoff game over the Phoenix Suns, and Lochte set world records in the 200-meter backstroke (1:49.05) and the 200-meter individual medley (1:53.31) at the FINA Short Course World Championship to tie for third in the voting.

The United States Sports Academy, "America's Sport University," is an independent, non-profit institution that offers sport-specific programs to students, teachers, and administrators around the world. For more information about the United States Sports Academy, call 251-626-3303 or visit the Academy's website www.ussa.edu

POW WOW NEWS
THIS IS A SURVEY!
PLEASE REPLY

A MULTI CLASS REUNION WILL TAKE PLACE ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 AND SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2007, AT THE COLONY SOUTH HOTEL AT SURRATS ROAD AND ROUTE 5 (BRANCH AVENUE) IN CLINTON, MARYLAND.

THE LAST MULTI CLASS REUNION WAS IN 1997. THIS MOST LIKELY WILL BE THE LAST REUNION OF THIS TYPE! THERE IS A COMMITTEE OF 14 PERSONS PLANNING THIS AFFAIR.

TICKET PRICES FOR THE TWO DAYS WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $100.00 A PERSON. A BLOCK OF ROOMS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT A SPECIAL PRICE. SHUTTLE SERVICE TO AND FROM REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT IS AVAILABLE.

KINDLY CLICK REPLY AND THEN FILL IN BELOW:

LIKELY ATTEND _________________
WOULD NOT ATTEND__________________
NAME__________________CLASS YEAR_________ ADDRESS___________________________________
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROMT REPLY,
FRED PLUMMER

WE GET LETTERS

Bill,
Will Rogers, who died in a plane crash with Wylie Post in 1935, was probably the greatest political sage this country has ever known. Enjoy the following:

1. Never slap a man who's chewing tobacco.
2. Never kick a cow chip on a hot day.
3. There are 2 theories to arguing with a woman...neither works.
4. Never miss a good chance to shut up.
5. Always drink upstream from the herd.
6. If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.
7. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it and put it back in your pocket.
8. There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves.
9. Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
10. If you're riding' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there.
11. Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier'n puttin' it back.
12. After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.

ABOUT GROWING OLDER...
First ~ Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it.
Second ~ The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.
Third ~ Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to know "why" I look this way. I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved.
Fourth ~ When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to youth, think of Algebra.
Fifth ~ You know you are getting old when everything either dries up or leaks.
Sixth ~ I don't know how I got over the hill without getting to the top.
Seventh ~ One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it is such a nice change from being young.
Eighth ~ One must wait until evening to see how splendid the day has been.
Ninth ~ Being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable.
Tenth ~ Long ago when men cursed and beat the ground with sticks, it was called witchcraft. Today it's called golf.
And finally ~ If you don't learn to laugh at trouble, you won't have anything to laugh at when you are old.

A smile is a powerful weapon, you can even break ice with it.
Carolyn K.

Dear Bill,
This is such a great play by play, written by my son-in-law Terry Gragg, that I wanted you to read it. Lane Myers is 8 years old and Garrett is 7. They are my grandsons. I only wish I had been at this game, but alas I must rely on the written word to enjoy a great moment in their lives and for their dad's Terry and Mike. Thank goodness for sports writers.

This is a football family and we are Red Skin fans to the 10th power. Hope you enjoy this. Martha Lane, Class of 52 Anacostia High This is a true story. One that fathers dream about. Mike and I witnessed it first hand Saturday morning.

As some of you might know, Lane and Garrett play for the Rookie Flag Football Giants. These two little cousins lit up the field yesterday. This game was truly remarkable to watch. One I might add that requires immediate documentation so the story never gets forgotten.

The game was very close going late into the 4th quarter. The Cowboys (yeah that's right - the Cowboys) had just scored a TD and converted on their two point conversion to take their first lead of the game. The score was 14-12. The Giants had but one last chance to snatch a victory away from the greatly hated Cowboys.

Three minutes remained in the game. The Giants started their drive from their own 5 yard line. With no opportunity for a game winning field goal since there are no field goals in flag football, a touchdown was the only way to win the game. On the first play from scrimmage, a daring, fearless quarterback, Lane Myers, dropped back into his own endzone and eluded the oncoming pass rush. Lane then mustard up all his strength and heaved the football deep and high down the middle of the field. His wide receiver of choice, his cousin Garrett Gragg, was sprinting down the middle of the field like a gazelle. [He definitely gets his quickness from his grandfather, Jackie Legs Lane.] Garrett had split the defense and had a step or two on the three Cowboy defenders. The pass from Lane was perfect. Garrett caught the ball on a full run with an over-the-shoulder grab that you only see on Sundays in the Fall. He was quickly apprehended and downed around the Cowboys 15 yard line. The clock continued to run.

The next play, Lane hit Alejah with a quick crossing pattern. Alejah was tackled (a no-no in flag football) and a penalty was called by the official. With the penalty, the Giants had the ball on the Cowboys 3 yard line. The Giants quickly used one of their two timeouts. There was 30 seconds left in the game.

The next play Lane dropped back and saw Alex streaking across the back of the endzone. Alex dropped the ball. The Giants immediately called their last timeout just in the nick of time. One second remained in the game. There was time for one last play........

Has his coach was on his hands and knees in prayer about 20 feet behind him, Lane took the snap from center and dropped back. He looked across the center of the endzone for Alejah but he was double covered by the Cowboys swarming defense. Out of the corner of his eye, Lane saw that his cousin Garrett had slipped out into the right corner of the endzone. With a perfect spiral pass, Lane hit Garrett right in the chest with the ball. Garrett firmly grasped the winning touchdown pass and he and Lane lifted the Giants to an amazing come-from-behind victory. One could not write a better flag football story. This game was some kind of special.

By the way, the one point conversion after the touchdown was good. A seven yard pass from Lane to Garrett who was all alone in the endzone.

Final score: Giants 19 Cowboys 14 Hope you all enjoyed this. As you can tell - I SURELY DID!!!!!
Terry

Dear Terry,
Great Job! You missed your calling. Bill

Bill,
What ever happened to Fred Sherman, "Little Billy" Smith and Jerry Webster?
Lucy Randle

Dear Lucy,
don't know where Sherman is I have not idea. Smith the (little one) I heard was a minister operating a marriage counseling ministry in Florida and Webster was in Delaware.
Bill

Bill,
I saw you at the dedication of the Riverdale Baptist baseball field naming it the â¤¦Terrill 21 Fieldâ¤? after coach â¤¦Tâ¤? but I didn't hear your name announced. R.B. Parent

Dear RB Parent,
It was Terry Terrill's day and was no need to announce me. It was his and his wife's Bobbie J's day. Terrill will be on our show this Friday.
Bill

DIVA NEWS
Hello Diva Nation!

The Divas need your support as they head into the stretch run for the NWFA championship. Fan support is critical! Can you imagine the Redskins traveling to Dallas with no burgundy and gold to go with them?

We hope to see you in your Divas gear on Saturday night May 27th at Mervo High School (3600 Hillen Rd. Baltimore, Md.) as the Divas take on their oldest and toughest rival at 7:00pm.

The Burn is the only team to score on the Divas this season in their hard-fought 13-6 loss in April. The Burn need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive and veteran football observers see this as a must-win and must-see for both teams and their fans.

The Divas have out scored their opponents 174-6 in their 4 wins with defensive MVP Kathryn Hemlock being the latest to join the scoring column. Her two interceptions for touchdowns totaled 103 yards in the Divas win over Connecticut. To read more about Kathryn and her Divas teammates visit www.dcdivas.com

To see Kathryn and her teammates in person at the Battle of the Beltway this Saturday in Baltimore visit google maps for directions to Mergenthaler Vocational High School.

WASHINGTON MYSTICS

The Mystics opened with one of their highest routs in team history bombing the New York Liberty 95-60.

Alvira Beard led the way with 25 points for the Mystics. The announced crowd was 20,174.

The Mystics could be better this season. Some of the top Mystics are Beard, Coco Miller, DeLisha Milton-Jones, Laurie Koehn, the newly acquired 6â¤7 Zane Teilane (no relation to Jack Zane) Charity Melvin, Nikki Blue, Crystal Robinson and Nakia Sanford.

SABR NEWS

Can't get to Seattle for the SABR convention?

Then maybe you can make it to Kansas City for some great ribs and the Jerry Malloy Negro Leagues Conference, July 6 to 9.

The SABR Negro Leagues Committee invites you to attend the 9th Annual Jerry Malloy Conference at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center on McGee Street in downtown Kansas City. Rooms are available for $79 per night.

Satchel Paige is the theme and his 100th birthday is July 7.

Full registration includes: Admission to NLBM, Conference Publications, Research Presentations, Paige Family Panel (sponsored by Roadway Express), Educational Roundtable, Legends Luncheon, Awards Banquet, Toronto vs. Kansas City ballgame and more.

Throughout the conference attendees will have the opportunity to hear from scholars and researchers from all over the country presenting on a variety of Negro League topics. Each session will include a time for Q & A following the presentation.

For all the conference details and registration info, please check the SABR Web site:

http://www.sabr.org/sabr.cfm?a=cms,c,779

It is sure to be a wonderful experience!

If you are able to make it to Seattle, the local committee and the office are working hard in getting together the details. We should have the schedule up on the web site very soon (maybe even by the time you get this) and we are looking forward to seeing over 500 members and friends at the Renaissance Hotel. Thanks to the support of the Seattle Mariners, McFarland & Company Publishers, the Louisville Slugger Museum, and R. Plapinger Baseball Books, we have a great schedule put together. We are in discussions with MLB.com to have coverage on-site, including the possibility of their filming of the Trivia Contest. Comcast Sports' show "Out of Bounds" also plans to be on-site.

Thank you for your continued support of SABR!
John Zajc
Executive Director

BAYSOX REPORT

BAYSOX DONE IN BY ALTOONA HOMERS, RALLY FALLS SHORT 11-9

Bats Awaken, Comeback Close, Curve Prevails 11-9
On a day when the Baysox offense scored more than four times their average amount of runs, Altoona did slightly better to snake out an 11-9 win over Bowie Wednesday morning.

In his third spot start of the season, RHP Matt Bruback had a rough outing, being touched up for seven runs on eight hits in just 3.0 IP. Bruback gave up a home run and struck out just two. By the time reliever Beau Hale came into the game the score was already 7-0. It looked as if the Baysox were doomed for their fifth loss in a row.

However, their bats would find some daylight off the Curve's bullpen. Altoona's starter, Chris Rojas, lasted just 3.2 IP as it was his first outing of the entire season. The Baysox attacked reliever Jonathan Albaladejo quickly for four runs on five hits in just two frames.

In the 4th, Cory Keylor, who was 4-for-5 on the day, singled in 3B Leo Daigle from second to jump on the board.

The 6th inning proved to be one of the team's best innings so far this season. Daigle strolled to the plate with one out and drove a solo shot past the fence in left to make it a 7-2 ballgame. SS Rayner Bautista delivered a two out, two RBI double into the left-center field gap to narrow the lead to 7-4. Bautista would then come around on 2B Pete Shier's RBI single making it 7-5.

But the Curve kept on the attack with one run in the bottom of the 6th due to a Daigle throwing error, and two long balls put up three more in the bottom half of the 7th for the Curve.

Despite the surmouting deficit the Baysox did not falter and added four more before the game ended. Keylor kept his hot stick active with a lead-off double to left field in the 8th and was later plated on a fielding error during Pete Shier's at-bat.

The 9th inning gave the Baysox three more runs on three hits and a passed ball. Unfortunately for the Baysox, who have struggled to score just about all year, they entered the 8th inning needing six to tie the game at 11-11 but could only manage four runs. With two on and two outs in the top of the 9th, Bautista grounded to shortstop ending the Baysox late-inning threat.

BAYSOX SWEPT BY CURVE, LOSING STREAK EXTENDED TO SIX GAMES

Curve Upend 'Sox 3-1 After Rain Delay
New Baysox member, Tim Kester, hadn't thrown in a minor league game in over eight months. His last win came on September 5, 2005. After signing with the Orioles and being assigned to Bowie, Kester was asked to quell the hot-hitting Altoona Curve's bats. The former Pawsox starter had to wait an hour and fifteen minutes for a rain delay to take the mound and now will have to wait until another start in order to pick up his first win of the 2006 campaign. Manager Don Werner imposed a pitch count on the fresh arm, restricting his outing to just 14 batters in 2.2 IP.

Kester pitched relatively well while holding the Curve to just one run on five hits. The Baysox collected one run off Curve starter Landon Jacobsen and played the majority of the contest to the tune of a 1-1 tie.

Altoona, who entered the game outscoring the Baysox 18-1 through the first three innings during this series, was held to just one run in the 3rd inning. Brandon Chaves singled off Kester and proceeded to steal both second and third base off Kester and Ryan Hubele. Brett Roneberg picked up the RBI on a ground out for the first run.

Cory Keylor continued to find little ways to help the team with his bat. The Ohio native singled in the 4th and was advanced around the bags due to a Jacobsen wild pitch and a Jeff Fiorentino grounder. Leo Daigle then singled up the middle to even the score 1-1.

Brian Forystek was solid out of the bullpen for the Baysox as he held the Curve hitters to just one hit in 2.1 IP. The southpaw also fanned three and stranded a runner at third in the 4th frame.

On a rainy day, the Baysox bats reverted to their old habits off failing to get enough runners on base to score more than the opposition. The Curve, who left 21 men on base, drew four walks while the Baysox did not draw a free pass all afternoon and reached base just six times in the tilt, all singles.

The Curve then took advantage of Baysox reliever Calvin Maduro in the 7th. With two runners on, including former Baysox 1B/OF Simon Pond, Altoona's Vic Buttler utilized his speed with a one out triple, plating both runners for the final 3-1 lead.

Jason Pearson pitched a scoreless 1.2 innings but the Baysox offense was yet again subdued by the opposition's bullpen as Brandon Knight retired the side in the 9th, handing the Baysox their season-high sixth straight loss.

The Baysox are now 22-25 and in 5th place in the Eastern League's Southern Division. The four game sweep was the third time this season that the Baysox have been swept.

TRANSACTION WIRE: RHP Matt Bruback was assigned to Aberdeen's roster to make room for Kester on the 23-man roster.

ON DECK: With the Altoona series behind them, the Baysox hit the road for their fourth series against the Akron Aeros. Sean Smith will face Brian Finch in game one on Friday night at 7:05 PM.

SPORTS NOTES

Great story on the Babe Ruth Museum in the May 14th New York Post

What ever happened to Theresa Watts, Judy Hurst, Betty Wiggleswart Hughes and Jill Quade?

Our deepest sympathy goes to the family of Charles "Chic" Leapley, he was a great person and I had lunch with him, Charlie Pratt and Jay Ferber recently, he will be missed.

Recently Don Hallock passed and our deepest sympathy goes to his family. He was a great basketball player at Wilson HS in DC and then at W&L and American Universities. He also coached basketball and baseball at Georgetown Prep. I worked with one of his wives June at the C&P Telephone Company. June was one of the areas best duckpin bowlers.

Navy took another hit when freshman back Karlos Whittaker was dismissed from the football team.

Deepest sympathy goes to the family of J. Joseph Barse who passed recently at age 81. He was a graduate of DC's Roosevelt HS and Georgetown University.

I want to thank Joan Grake Rhodes who sent me some pictures, two of them were of two gorgeous and beautiful young ladies Joan and Margot Fowler Lusby. The other pictures had me, Phil Sullivan, Don Saccardi, John Pavlides and the late Jack Funderburk. Thank you. Your and Margots pictures made my day, the other three were great.

Also our deepest sympathy goes to the family of Kay Noble, a pro ladies wrestler who passed recently at age 65.

Deepest sympathy goes to the family of Arthur Leslie Phillips, a former C&P Telephone Company of Virginia employee who passed April 27th at age 81. He graduated from Washington and Lee HS in Arlington.

Deepest sympathy goes to Arthur Byron Wells a 1935 graduate of DC's former Western HS, he was a Harvard graduate.

St. Mary's Ryken has hired veteran football coach Bob Harman to be the head coach of their first football program.

New football coach at Old Mill HS is Damian Ferragame.

Don't forget the sixth annual Golden Child Awards Charity Basketball Event coming up on June 16-18 at DC's Trinity Centre for Women and Girls in Sports on the campus of Trinity College.

Sidney Lowe is the new men's basketball coach at NC State his top assistant will be Monte Towe.

Coming up on June 17th will be the newest popular golf tournament, the 1st annual St. Gregory the Great Church Golf tournament. For more information call Charles "Counterman" Grant at 410-454-7120 (day) or 440-292-9019 (night).

You know the more I think about it I didn't spend as much time as I should have at the National Roller Rink on Kalorama Road. I went with a girl named Bette Wisecarver and I used to pick her up there every Friday, but I since learned it was a weekly site of some of the best looking women in DC. Speaking of roller skating whatever happened to that fabulous area skater Tom Black? Also what happened to Kay "The Flying Nerd" Fletcher, I think his middle name was Oliver (he really had a bad case of acne).

You and your Guests are Cordially Invited to a
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND COMEDY EXPLOSION

TUCKER'S COMEDY CAFE
9205 Marlboro Pike
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
301-599-6060

May 26-27, 2006
KEVIN ANTHONY
"From HBO'S DEF COMEDY JAM and BET'S COMIC VIEW"
SHOWTIMES: FRIDAY & SATURDAY
8:30 and 11:00

CHRIS "THE MAYOR" THOMAS
"From The Tom Joyner Sky Show and P. Diddy's Bad Boys of Comedy"
with special guest comedians
SHOWTIME:
SUNDAY 9:00

(PLEASE MAKE RESERVATION)
E-MAIL: laughpac@aol.com
Call for info: 301-599-6060

LET US ENTERTAIN YOU

In closing this week I want to send my deepest sympathy to Don Saccardi on the passing of his brother. We missed this and we apologize to Don.

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