Sports Beat column - June 27, 2008

Sports Beat

June 27, 2008

Sports Beat by Bill McCaffrey

I was saddened by seeing that Bert Shepard had passed away. He pitched for the Washington Senators in 1945. He had lost a leg in World War II. I saw him pitch twice in 1945 in a regular season game against the Boston Red Sox and a second time against Leo "The Lip" Durocher and his Brooklyn Dodgers in a War Bond exhibition game. He never pitched in the majors after 1945 but he stayed in baseball until 1955 playing and managing in the minor leagues. He was a great man, a great American hero and one gutsy gentleman.

Another great loss came last Sunday when the great George Carlin passed, he was one of the great comedians of this era and will be missed.

Our deepest sympathy goes to the families of the following:
Carol Adamson Turner (Eastern (DC) HS grad).
Patricia Ann Hammer Walton (Hyattsville HS grad).
Hilliard Moffitt McLamore (Kramer Jr. HS & Anacostia (DC) HS grad).
William "Bill" Davis (graduate of St. Johns College (DC) HS).
Dody Goodman (Comic actress "Tonight Show", "Mary Hartman Mary Hartman" TV Show, "Merv Griffin Show").
Richard A. Rau (Retired C&P Telephone employee and Central (DC) HS grad).
Jon Robert Hansen (Springbrook HS grad).
James R. Bryan (Bladensburg HS grad).
Elizabeth Nimmerrichter Walters (graduate of the old Baden HS).

CAPS PICK GUSTAFSSON

If the name sounds familiar it should as Anton Gustafsson is the son of one of the most popular Caps ever Bengt Gustafsson. The Caps traded to move up in the draft and if he is as good as his dad then the two draft picks they gave up was well worth it. The Caps also traded defenseman Steve Eminger and a draft pick to move up to the 27 th pick to pick up tough defenseman John Carlson. These two picks add to an already potent Caps team. Barry Melrose leaves ESPN to become coach of the NHL ¹s Tampa Bay Lightning. Long term are the Caps looking at Virginia to be their new home? Why doesn¹t Baltimore have an AHL or ECL team? Are the Blast going to be back in business next season?

SHORTSTOPS IN DC

Lenny Foxwell asked me what I thought about present Washington Nationals shortstop Christian Guzman and how he rated with shortstops on past Washington teams. I think Cecil Travis was probably the best fielder and best hitter to play that position and should be in the ³Hall of Fame², he had a career batting average of .327 when he entered the service at the start of World War II and that included a great 1941 when he led the American League in base hits and was second to Ted Williams in the batting race edging out Joe DiMaggio and 1941 was the year Joe D. hit in 56 straight games (still an AL record) and Teddy Ballgane became the last batter to hit .400 when he hit .406. Unfortunately Travis had his feet frozen in the ³Battle of the Bulge² which affected him, when he returned to baseball he suffered another leg injury (which by the way opened the way for Ed ³Walking Man² Yost) to crack the Nats lineup. Travis ended with a career batting average of .314. During my early years of watching the Nats other shortstops were: Mark Christman, a journeyman whose big claim to fame he was the brother of ³Passing Paul² Christman QB of the NFL Champion 1947 St. Louis Cardinals. Gilberto Torres Slick fielding at SS but a banjo hitter. Johnny Sullivan, could field a little but swung a pencil for a bat. Sam Dente, a St. Louis Brown refuge led AL shortstops in errors with 35 in 1949 when the Nats had a downtown DC parade when they won nine straight on a road trip (but the streak was snapped before the Nats returned home). Pete Runnels, decent fielder but could hit a ton. Moved to second then to first, then to Boston. Jose Valdierelso, Runnels moved to second in 1955 and Jose took over at short, he was good at checkers. Rocky Bridges, decent journeyman. Billy Consolo, little field or hit but got the big bucks when he signed with Boston as a bonus baby. In the 1960¹s there was Coot Veal, Ken Hamlin, and then came Eddie Brinkman an outstanding fielder who got a clutch hit from time to time but not often, he had a great glove from 1963 to 1970. Toby Harrah followed Brinkman. Before I was around there was Roger Peckinpaugh, George McBride and of course Joe Cronin from 1928 to 1934. Cronin hit .309, fielded flawlessly and led the Nats to the American League penant in 1933. Ossie Bluge and Buddy Myer held down the fort after Cronin left when he was traded to Boston for $325,000 and Lynn Lary (who was gone before you could blink an eye). I think Travis was the best all round shortstop the Washington franchise ever had. The best fielder may have been Brinkman. Guzman needs to have five more years like he¹s having this season and he could push past Cronin and Brinkman to second to Travis.

ORIOLES MAKE PATSIES OF NATIONAL LEAGUE

Peter Angelos ought to sue Bud Selig and baseball to let him take his Orioles to the NL, or maybe let the Nats swap leagues with the Birds. The Orioles destroyed the Pirates and Cubs. Radhames Liz looked super in beating the Cubs. The Orioles need a shortstop! Dave Trembley has done a great job in managing the team, he¹s surprised as the team has the Orioles host the Royals July 1-3 and host the Rangers July 4-6 th . Last July the Orioles went 15-11 and a repeat could spur the team for a big finish. The All-Star game is July 15 th . The Orioles PR/Media department is still the worse of any pro team or college team in the B/W area.

Now here's Tim story on the Orioles Pirates recent series:

Has it really been 29 years hence?
by Timothy Tilghman

Friday the Thirteenth was indeed lucky for the Baltimore Orioles. The birds defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in Oriole Park at Camden Yards stadium on June 13, 2008 . This was the first match-up on the ball field for the two teams since the 1979 Major League Baseball World Series.

The Baltimore Orioles and the Pittsburgh Pirates had faced off each other previously in the 1971 World Series. The Pirates defeated the Orioles to secure the 1971 World Series championship. After winning three ballgames during the 1979 series, the Orioles would go on to lose to the title to the Pirates.

Who knew the Pittsburgh Pirates were a popular draw? Street tickets were difficult to score. Nobody was selling tickets in the No Scalp Zone. Even after game time, there were still long lines of ball fans standing in the queue to purchase seats at the box office windows that reached back to the curb outside the stadium.

The Pirates had been leading 6 to 1, but the O's battled back to secure a 9 to 6 victory on their home field. The evening weather was almost perfect. Fireworks had been advertised as an after-the-ballgame bonus for families to bring their children. Whatever motivated baseball fans to turn out, Oriole Park was close to a sell out with only spotty seat patches visible in the stands.

Pre-game festivities welcomed baseball players from the 1979 Baltimore Orioles and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Tilghman Strudwick from Roland Park recalled that 1979 Orioles scored several dramatic wins during that season. The Orioles pitching roster was strong. Highlights from the 1979 season and clips from the World Series were shown on the jumbotron.

Til, now 55, had watched the birds from infamous Section 34 in Memorial Stadium where Wild Bill Hagy became noticed as a fan in that era. He remembers there was an early cold snap during the opening game of the World Series. The 1979 Orioles were honored with a Baltimore Parade even though the team lost the championship.

The late Wild Bill Hagy is being inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame on August 9, 2008 . Tee Shirt Tuesday on June 17th will celebrate the memory of Wild Bill as that Tee Shirt giveaway. Orioles fans that sat in Section 34 are holding a reunion inside Oriole Park before the ballgame that same evening.

Richard Lunn is a season ticket holder for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He and his wife drove out from Evon Valley to Baltimore for the ballgame and went on to visit Antietam the next day. He felt Oriole Park was not PNC Park by any stretch of imagination. Lunn was disappointed by the performance of his team when the Pirates blew a 5 run lead, giving up 8 unanswered runs.

Roadtrips cyber link

BIG TRAIN NEWS

Tonneson's Slam, Hiserman's Stuff Lead Big Train to Win over T-Bolts In a classic battle on Monday night in Silver Spring , the Big Train jumped out to an early lead after Dylan Tonneson's grand slam homer in the top of the first inning, and they were able to hang on for a 5-4 victory. Matt Hiserman continued his lights-out pitching with three scoreless innings in relief to earn the win. Read all about it below...

Big Train Squeeze Out an Away

Win Monday, June 23, 2008 by Bryan Oringher e-mail the Big Train writers at writers@bigtrain.org! In a game that nearly didn't begin because of your relatively typical summer hailstorm that delayed the game's start by 50 minutes, the Big Train had to fight off numerous comeback attempts from the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts at Montgomery Blair Stadium, but the T-Bolts never lead after Dylan Tonneson's (California) grand slam home run in the first inning, as the Big Train held on to win, 5-4, in a rain-shortened 7 innings game Monday night. After Zach Kim (San Francisco) led off the game with a smacked line drive that was snared by the shortstop, Drew Lee (Morehead State) worked a walk before Steven Leach (Jacksonville State) singled. With Luke Adkins (Mississippi State) at the plate, T-Bolts starter Paul Cusick threw a wild pitch that allowed the runners to advance. T-Bolts manager John Duffy decided to inte ntionally walk Adkins to set-up the potential double play with the catcher coming to the plate. Tonneson would have none of it. He promptly lifted a shot over the left-field fence for the Big Train's first grand slam of the season to give them an early 4-0 lead that the Big Train would put in harm's way often but ultimately never relinquish. The Thunderbolts didn't take long to strike back, however, as they mounted a rally of their own against Big Train starter Andrew Smith (Charlotte) in the bottom of the second. After LF Billy Barber struck out to lead off the inning, 2B Brett Connor and 1B Heath Weatherford smacked back-to-back doubles, with Weatherford's plating Connor for Silver Spring 's first run of the ballgame. SS Rich Conlon followed with a single just inside the foul line to score Weatherford and cut Tonneson's grand slam cushion in half. In the top of the third, the Big Train added another run after Michael Cipolla (Saint Mary's (CA)) raced home on a wild pitch. Once again though, the Thunderbolts were right there to match the Big Train after a Gerardo Hernandez single cut the Big Train lead back to 2.

Still leading 5-3 in the bottom of the 5th, Smith was chased from the game after two singles to start the inning in favor of relief ace Matt Hiserman (San Francisco). As usual, Hiserman was simply dominant. With runners on first and third, Hiserman promptly induced a double-play groundout off the bat of Jabari Graham, although Brandon Boykin scored on the play to cut the Big Train lead to one. After a few more scoreless innings by both teams, almost immediately after the final out of the seventh inning the rain came pouring d o wn again. After a rain delay that lasted more than half an hour, the teams were all ready to play ball again and started running out onto the field to remove the tarp. And everything went black.

The T-Bolts lights shut off automatically at 11:00 , and 11:00 it was. Despite protest from Duffy that the game should have been suspended rather than final, the league would have none of it, and awarded the hard-earned win to the Big Train. Hiserman earned the win after pitching three shut-out innings in relief, striking out three while giving up only one hit.

Game Notes:
Ryan Wilkins (Lipscomb) made his season debut for the Big Train, getting the start at first-base before Danny Stienstra (San Jose State) came in as a defensive replacement in the seventh...RF Eli Boike (Michigan State) had to leave the game after experiencing focus problems that may have stemmed from his being hit in the head in Sunday's game against the Aces. Ben Jones ( Auburn ) took his place...2B Steven Leach wowed the crowd with an incredible play in the bottom of the sixth. With none out, Brett Connor lined a chopper that Leach ran too far past to his left, nearly slipping. With no other choice, Leach stuck out his hand and somehow barehanded the scorc hing bouncer and made the throw to first to retire Connor...The lights were a problem at Montgomery Blair stadium all night, and it appears to be an issue that needs to be addressed. The outfielders had an unbelievable amount of trouble tracking routine fly balls. Leach himself was a beneficiary when a lazy pop-up to right turned into a double because the rightfielder couldn't locate the ball.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E

Big Train 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 5 5 1

T-Bolts 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 4 9 0

W: Hiserman (2-0)
L: Cusick (1-1)

2B: Big Train: Leach & Bolts: Connor, Weatherford
3B: None
HR: Big Train: Tonneson

Former Big Train Coach Featured in Orioles Program

Next time you are at Camden Yards, pick up a copy of the Orioles Magazine (Second Edition 2008). There is a two page spread on former Big Train coach Ruben Felix, now the Orioles batting practice pitcher and bullpen catcher. When asked how he enjoyed Baltimore, Ruben replied: "I coached summer ball in 2001 in Bethesda . I like it here." Also featured in the program is Youse's Orioles coach Dean Albany in a story about the Orioles' scouts.

Big Train Visit the Potomac Library

On Saturday, members of the Big Train, and, of course, everyone's favorite dog Homer, dropped by the Potomac Library to cheer up some young readers. Pictured below, from left, are Dylan Tonneson, Todd Fitzgerald, and Hugh Adams above two youngsters and Homer. Keep reading this summer!

Big Train is GREENER Than Ever!

The Big Train is partnering with Bethesda Green to bring enhanced recycling to Povich Field. Bethesda Green is a new organization that will serve as a living model to sustain Bethesda 's development by reducing the community's environmental footprint, attracting environmentally-conscious consumers, and promoting an environmental ethic. The Big Train will be adding a new, high-quality, iron recycling bin to Povich Field in the near future. Honest Beverage, the official beverage provider of the Big Train, will contribute half of the cost of the bin. We are asking that Big Train fans help us to raise the other half. The Big Train will sell raffle tickets to raise money. Each $10 ticket will entitle the purchaser to one entry in a drawing for naming rig hts to the bin. The winner will be drawn at the last Big Train home game of the season, and will have their name permanently engraved on the recycling bin.

More Information...

BIG TRAIN 2008 SEASON SPONSORS

Thanks to these organizations for their generous support of Big Train baseball for the 2008 season: Chevy Chase Bank, Grossberg CPAs, Hopkins & Porter, Ledo Pizza, Miller & Long Co., Ourisman Automotive, and Sandy Spring Builders

CAL RIPKEN, SR. COLLEGIATE BASEBALL LEAGUE

Summer 2008 is the fourth season of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League. The league consists of eight teams, the Alexandria Aces, Bethesda Big Train, College Park Maryland Bombers, Herndon Braves, Maryland Redbirds, Rockville Express, Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts, and Youse's Maryland Orioles. The teams play a 42-game regular season from early June to the end of July. T he Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League has a license agreement with the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation for the use of the name Cal Ripken, Sr. and is not affiliated with nor sponsored by the Foundation or Ripken Baseball. For information, please log onto www.ripkensrcollegebaseball.org.

CURRENT CRSL 2008 REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS

(W/L) Pct GB Bethesda Big Train 10-3 .769 --- Youse's Maryland Orioles 9-3 .750 --- College Park Bombers 5-4 .556 2.5 Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts 7-7 .500 3 Alexandria Aces 4-5 .444 3.5 Maryland Redbirds 5-7 .417 4 Herndon Braves 4-8 .333 5 Rockville Express 3-10 .231 6.5

THE MONTGOMERY CUP PRESENTED BY THE GAZETTE

Bethesda Big Train 4-0 Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts 1-3 Rockville Express 0-2 Log onto http://www.ripkensrcollegebaseball.org/ for up-to-date boxscores and standings. Sign-up for CRSL email alerts here. Cal Ripken, Sr., used to say, "Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect."

Regards, David Ireland, General Manager
Michael Groeneman, Assistant General Manager
Bryan Oringher, Public Relations Manager

Baysox Drop Sixth Straight To Curve

The Baysox managed just three hits, and never advanced a runner to second base as they fell to the Altoona Curve 5-0. Baysox starter Chorye Spoone was charged with the loss after allowing four runs on four hits and three walks in 5.0 innings. Bowie put five runners on base in the game on three singles, a walk and an error. The Baysox only got the leadoff hitter on base in the ninth inning, and only put runners on base with less than two outs three times. All three of those baserunners were erased by double plays. Altoona scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning. Shelby Ford drew a one-out walk and went to third on a single by Jason Delaney. With two outs and runners on the corners, Delaney attempted to steal second base. Baysox catcher Brian Peterson¹s throw had a chance to get the runner at second but shortstop Blake Davis dropped the ball, and Ford had taken off for home when the throw went to second base. Both runners were credited with steals on the play. The Curve would add three more runs in the third inning. Shelby Ford hit a one-out single to center and stole second base with Jonel Pacheco batting. With Pacheco still at the plate, Ford stole third and scored on a wild pitch. Pacheco would work out a walk in the at-bat and scored on a Brad Corley triple to right. Corley scored on a sacrifice fly by Jason Delaney to give the Curve a 4-0 lead. The Curve would score the final run of the game off Adam Loewen in the bottom of the sixth inning. Melvin Dorta reached on a two-out bunt single to third base and went to third on a single to right by Luis Cruz. With Jason Bowers batting, Loewen had Cruz picked off of first base. Cruz broke for second and Dorta attempted to score from third. First baseman Ryan Finan threw to second to retire Cruz, but Blake Davis couldn¹t handle the throw and both runners were safe. Davis was charged with an error on the play. The loss is the Baysox sixth in a row, and it was also the sixth time Bowie has lost to Altoona this season. The Baysox will continue their road trip with a five game series in Akron , beginning Monday night at 7:05 . The teams will play a doubleheader Tuesday, starting at 6:05.

Aeros Outlast Baysox In Wild One

The Baysox scored ten runs on fifteen hits but could not edge the Aeros in a wild extra-inning affair in Akron Monday night. The Aeros won by a final score of 11-10 on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the tenth by Brandon Pinckney. Bowie starter Chris Tillman lasted only 3.1 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, but the Baysox offense looked to bail him out before the Aeros charged back. The Baysox got things going early with four two-out runs in the top of the first inning. Lou Montanez sparked the rally with a double to left field and Jeff Nettles drew a walk. Nolan Reimold singled Montanez home and Mike Rodriguez got a base hit to score Nettles. Reimold and Rodriguez both came in to score on Brian Peterson's double before Travis Brown grounded out to end the inning.

Akron got to Tillman in the bottom of the third with three one-out singles from Jose Constanza, Trevor Crowe, and Brandon Sardinha to put two runs across. Wes Hodges got hit by a pitch to load the bases and Stephen Head singled into left field to plate Rodriguez and cut the Bowie lead to 4-3 before Tillman worked out of the jam. Bowie stormed back in the top of the fourth with consecutive singles by Mike Rodriguez, Brian Peterson, and Travis Brown to score another run. Jonathan Tucker picked up a single to load the bases with one out and Carlos Rojas and Lou Montanez each drew bases loaded walks to increase the lead to 7-3. With the bases still loaded, Jeff Nettles pushed a base hit up the middle to score Tucker and Rojas, making the lead 9-3. The Aeros refused to go down quietly, picking up a run in each of their next three turns at bat. They got an RBI single in the fourth from Trevor Crowe to cut the Bowie lead to 9-4. Wes Hodges led off the bottom of the fifth with a double and Stephen Head popped up into shallow left field, but shortstop Blake Davis never saw the ball and it dropped in for a hit, moving Hodges to third. Matt Whitney hit a rocket to second baseman Carlos Rojas who could not handle it, allowing Hodges to score and cutting the lead to 9-5. Bowie tacked on another run in the top of the sixth when Lou Montanez led off with a double down the left field line and scored on Nolan Reimold's double to center. Jose Constanza led off the bottom of the sixth with a walk and came all the way around to score from first on Brandon Sardinha's base hit to right when Nolan Reimold overthrew his cutoff man to make the Bowie lead 10-6 Akron continued fighting, mounting another comeback in the bottom of the eighth. Trevor Crowe picked up a one out single and Josh Rodriguez walked behind him. Brandon Sardinha walked to load the bases and Wes Hodges brought in Crowe and Rodriguez to cut the Baysox lead to 10-8. The Baysox called on Julio Manon to close things out and with runners on the corners and still one away, he got Stephen Head to hit a shallow sly ball to right field. Nolan Reimold came in to make the catch but his throw back in was off line and the Bowie defense left home plate uncovered in their attempt to recover. Sardinha alertly came in to score on the sacrifice fly, bringing the Aeros to within one run, 10-9. Manon came out to try to pick up the save in the bottom of the ninth. After retiring the first two batters in order, he walked Jose Constanza. Constanza was running on the pitch when Trevor Crowe lined a double into center field and he came in to score, tying the game 10-10. Manon then walked Josh Rodriguez and Bronson Sardinha to load the bases for Wes Hodges, but got Hodges on strikes to send the game to extra innings. Manon got into more trouble in the bottom of the tenth. With one out, he issued a walk to Matt Whitney and Brandon Chaves came in to pinch run. With Wyatt Toregas at the plate, Chaves stole second and third, prompting an intentional walk to Toregas. With runners on the corners and one out, Kam Mickolio came in to take over for Manon and Brandon Pinckney greeted him with a fly ball to left field deep enough to score Chaves and win the game for the Aeros. With the loss, the Baysox move to 41-34, still third place in the Southern Division. The Baysox have lost seven games in a row, their longest losing streak of the season.

Baysox Take Two In Akron

Jason Berken threw a complete game two-hit shutout in the first of two Baysox wins in Akron Tuesday night. Bowie took game one 5-0 behind Berken's dominant performance and the bats came out for game two as the Baysox took the nightcap 7-1. Rommie Lewis made his second start of the year for Bowie and went 3.2 innings, giving up a run on three hits before the bullpen came in to combine for 3.1 shutout innings to seal the deal. The Baysox got off to a quick start in the top of the first inning of game one. With two out, Lou Montanez hit a single to right and Jeff Nettles doubled him home. Nettles advanced to third on a wild pitch by Steven Wright and came in to score on a fielding error by Josh Rodriguez, giving the Baysox an early 2-0 lead. Bowie hung two more runs on the board in the third when Lou Montanez got things started again. Montanez picked up a one out single up the middle and Jeff Nettles got a base hit into right field, moving Montanez to third. Nettles managed to reach second when Brandon Sardinha made a wild throw trying to get Montanez. Nolan Reimold flied out for the second out, but Mike Rodriguez picked up his third triple of the year to score Montanez and Nettles, making the Bowie lead 4-0. Ryan Finan pushed it to 5-0 with a solo shot to right field to lead off the fourth inning and Berken took it from there. Berken walked two and struck out seven Aeros on h i s way to the seven-inning shutout. He took a no-hit bid into the bottom of the sixth inning before Jose Constanza got a single into right field. The Baysox snapped their season-long seven game losing streak with the victory and Berken improved to 5-3 on the year. Game two got started much the same way as game one with the Baysox jumping out to an early lead. Carlos Rojas drew a one-out walk in the top of the first and Lou Montanez got a base hit to left field, moving Rojas to third. Jeff Nettles brought Rojas home with a sacrifice fly and the Baysox took a 1-0 lead. Bowie got two more runs in the top of the second. Sebastien Boucher scraped out an infield hit to shortstop and stole second base with Travis Brown up. Brown lashed a base hit into right field to bring Boucher home and advanced to third on the throw home. Mike Rodriguez singled in Brown to make the lead 3-0. The Baysox broke the game open in the top of the third when Lou Montanez led off with a base hit into left and Jeff Nettles picked up an infield hit to second base. After Nolan Reimold popped out, Ryan Finan hit a single up the middle and Montanez and Nettles came in to score on a fielding error by Jose Constanza, allowing Finan to advance to second. Finan moved up to third base on a groundout by Brian Peterson and Sebastien Boucher knocked Finan home with another single, increasing the Bowie lead to 6-0. Akron scraped out a run to cut it to 6-1 in the bottom of the fourth when Lewis gave up two walks and an RBI single to Damaso Espino, but Gerardo Casadiego came in to end the threat. Bowie added one more run for good measure in the top of the sixth when Carlos Rojas picked up an infield hit and advanced to second base on an error by Wes Hodges. Lou Montanez got a base hit up the middle and Rojas moved to third base before Jeff Nettles drove him in with his second sacrifice fly of the game. After sweeping the doubleheader, the Baysox improve to 43-34 and snap their season-long seven game losing streak. Lou Montanez collected five hits over both games and Mike Rodriguez and Jeff Nettles each had three RBI on the day. The Baysox look to start a winning streak Wednesday in Akron when RHP Brad Bergesen (7-2, 2.11 ERA)

WE GET LETTERS

Bill, Just read your article. I¹m surprised that we have not had more talk about the Wiz drafting Hibbert even moving up in the draft to get him. I agree that the Wiz need a center that can improve the D if they intend to contend! Steve

Steve, Hibbert is a good one and a local. Bill

Bill, As discussed, professional boxer Eddie Van Kirk of Baltimore passed away on June 19th. He was 45 years old. Fighting mostly as a welterweight and junior middleweight, Eddie finished his professional boxing career in 1995 with a record of 27-9-2 with 13 KO's. In his career, he fought the likes of world champions Hector "Macho" Camacho, Vinny Pazienza and Vince Pettway. Best Wishes, Patrick

Patrick, Our deepest sympathy goes out to the family. Bill

SPORTS NOTES

Akron outfielder Trevor Crowe is the winner of the Bank of America Eastern League Player of the Week Award and Connecticut right-hander Joseph Martinez is the winner of the Bank of America Eastern League Pitcher of the Week Award. Nice story in the Sun¹s sports section by Milton Kent on two Northern High School football coaches Greg Horning and Jim Esposito and their European trip. My sources tell me Troy Smith looks like the Ravens number one QB with Joe Flacco number two and Kyle Boller running a distant third. Peter Franchot is making a major anti-slot push and it seems to be catching on. Franchot is gaining a lot of respect from the citizens of Maryland , don¹t be surprised if the vote on slots fail. Are the Feds looking at a lot of State contracts? I wonder where they are now: Herbie Wright, Carol Daniels, Jerry Slagle, Nancy Austin, Fay Dement, Patsy Sharp, Patricia McDuffie, Shirley Lauderdale, Bules Bogle, Carolyn Brown, Dolores Pastor, Denis Maruk, Rod Langway, and ³Downtown² Brown¹s favorite former Bullet Nick Weatherspoon. If Navy wins six football games in 2008-2009 they will play in the Congressional Bowl in DC in 2008 and the Texas Bowl in Houston in 2009. Appearing in these two bowls will make it seven straight bowl games. Great article on Billy Werber by Ray Robinson in June 20 th ¹s sports section of the New York Times. How about a dance down between Milt Grant alumni and Buddy Deane alumni? The judges will be Lou Martin and the Memories plus the Mambo King of Armistead Gardens Bill Kotis, and the Ballroom queen Marilyn Jacobs Ott. The site would be the ballroom at Glen Echo.

It¹s a disgrace when the Governor of this State makes less than some of his cabinet secretaries, an absolute disgrace!
boo hoo hoo

I see Don Imus is being blasted again and of course he¹s getting the wrath of Al Sharpless but no one can fire back when Sharpless blasts against whites Bring back the I-Man! The 55 th reunion of the 1953 Anacostia High School class is coming up on October 7 th and 8 th for information contact Leonard Eppard at 703-550-9486 or email eppard550@cox.net . You know a lot of people forget you when you are down and I am no different‹haven¹t heard from Ned Carey, John White, Sam Triandos, Dale Hilliard, Dave Rudolph and a few others and I probably won¹t hear from them again.

In golf at Old South in the Nutshell Championships the overall winners were:
Men‹Fred Schram and Al Visconte
Women Jean Chipouras and Terri Kohler

Golf at Bretton Woods the winners in stroke play were:
Men Ersin Levent 228
Women Sarah deseve 259

Michael Bozeman moves up to head women¹s basketball coach at GWU, he has been coaching the girls team at Bishop McNamara, his brother Todd Bozeman is the men¹s head basketball coach at Morgan State . It appears the ³Sun² is sinking, their sports section already trails the ³Post², ³Times², ³Examiner², and the ³Press Box². Next week we will have a profile on Maryland center Danny Edwards and his journey to College Park and his connection to Southern Maryland and PG County. Johnny Pocket and Paul Weasel better be watching their P¹s and Q¹s. Baltimore native Donte Green was drafted by Memphis of the NBA. The Wiz drafted Navada¹s 7¹0, 240 pound center JaVale McGee. Finally it looks like the Wiz have the big man they have needed.

To Monica Pense, try Ed Brown and Brian Unger.

SUPPORT SOUTHERN MARYLAND SPORTS!!