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PAGE 2B BARROW JOURNAL WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2008 Christmas wish list for Braves I have forfeited all of my gifts from family and friends this year in favor of the following gifts I want Santa to deliver to the Atlanta Braves. This was tough in light of the worsening economy - I could have used a new shirt, that John Deere easy-hitch implement for my tractor, and a couple of new locomotives for my electric trains. I give them all up for ... •Two additional starters in addition to Javier Vasquez. If Hudson gets back his old stuff, this should round out a nice starting rotation - Jurrjens being the fifth man. (By the way Santa, in our generous spirit, we would like you to take Jo-Jo Reyes with you and give away - free - to any team. The only condition is that he never return.) •The return of a healthy Matt Diaz and Peter Moylan. I figure that these two could account for at least one run more per game for the Braves. Diaz was a throw away from the Kansas City Royals and was tearing up the league for the Braves until his injury. Please bring him back to us, all wrapped up just like new. Moylan is a great side-armer who could send them down in order consistently. We'd really like this Aussie back. •The return of the 2007 Jeff Francoeur. Enough said. •A very sentimental wish for me is the return of John Smoltz. He deserves it. I do not want to see Smoltz end his career by injury. He deserves going out in style to exem plify the great career he has built. No, Santa, he doesn’t need to be a starter for us, the closer role would suit me just fine. This guy is such a fighter. His presence in the clubhouse is an inspiration to the rest of the team. Please Santa, bring us back John Smoltz if only for one final season. •A season record for ejec tions from the game for Bobby Cox. For the umpire who thinks the 2009 season will be even better than the last, I wish for a Bobby Cox who will drive them crazy. I am seeing worse and worse umpiring and we need a spokes man for us, and who better to keep the men in blue honest than our beloved manager, Bobby Cox. •Hall of Fame Status for Lou Burdette. I have been advocat ing this for many years. The man who nearly single- handedly won the 1957 World Series, Lou Burdette, deserves this status. This is not to take away the contributions of the other team members. Aaron (my hero in life) was great along with Eddie Mathews, Del Crandall and Wes Covington. But it was Burdette who won the series going 3-0 with two shutouts. I want to see “Bird Cage” in the Hall. •The return of high divi dends from the farm system. For about 10 years, Atlanta was blessed with farm teams (A, AA, AAA ball clubs) which were well run and nur tured. In fact, the early and mid 1990s Braves were made up of a considerable number of farm team talent. Somehow, somewhere, that system went to pieces and needs to be rebuilt post haste. •An atmosphere at The Ted which doesn’t make me feel like I’m under suspicion of creating, or about to create, a crime. I don’t go to the ballpark much anymore partly because of this. The between-innings security force stands at atten tion facing the crowd, scowl ing and just waiting for some evil-doer to come out onto the field. News for major league baseball: you need the secu rity force at the gates before things like Ml6s and 105s enter the park, not afterward. Now my list of things I want for major league baseball. •The return of the National Anthem played by the organ. I have had my fill of raw talent trying to warble our nation al tune. I wish to stand silently, in reflection, while the old Wurlitzer plays on. Please, no recordings. I want it live. •The return of the double header. Greed ended the double head er as I used to know it. Years ago - and I know this is hard to believe - one would pay the standard price for a ticket and be able to see two games. There was a 30-40 minute break between games (the first game usu ally would start at noon at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis) and the crowd would be enter tained by the Anheuser Busch Clydesdales — the brewery was a short walk from the ballpark — who would circle the field. Imagine 40,000 people ris ing to their feet, cheering as these magnificent equines entered from a gate in right field. Pulling the famous Budweiser beer wagon, com plete with a Dalmatian or two alongside the teamster, the Clydesdales made their jour ney around the park for all to see. Finally, and after a thun derous standing ovation, fans would either sit and talk about the action we just saw (game one), or, head to the conces sion stand for a shot of hot dogs and soda. Then, boom! Out would come the home team again and game two was under way. Santa, keep the turtle doves, the partridge the polka-dot ted neck ties. Please leave me some help for the Braves and major league baseball in 2009. John Rieken is an avid baseball fan and contribut ing columnist for the Barrow Journal. E-mail comments about this column to jrieken@ windstream.net. \ V..’ Lii john w. rieken ATHLETIC HONOR Winder-Barrow High School student-athletes recently received their lettermen jack ets during an in-school ceremony. Photo by Jessica Brown WBHS defeats rival, former coach ANOTHER WIN Winder-Barrow’s Trent Memeritte drives in against Monroe Area Friday night. Photo by Jessica Brown BY CHRIS BRIDGES An old rival and a former coach paid a visit to Winder- Barrow High School Friday night. Both left with a loss as the Bulldoggs defeated Monroe Area 62-45 to improve to 6-1 during the early por tion of the 2008-09 season. Shun Thurmond paced the WBHS attack with 14 points while teammate D.J. Butler finished with 12 points. “It’s always nice to beat Monroe,” said BuIIdogg coach Eli Connell, who iron ically is a Monroe Area grad uate having playing for Billy Hendrick and the Purple Hurricanes. “It means some thing to everyone. Coach (Ron) Garren does a great job. We were fortunate to get out with a win. Whenever we play Monroe we are always glad to simply win.” Garren is a former Winder- Barrow head coach who is in his third season leading the Monroe Area program. The Bulldoggs led 23-12 at the end of the first quarter, which was another quality start Connell looks for. “Monroe did a good job of getting back in the game right before halftime,” Connell said. “We then made a good run at the end of the third quarter.” The BuIIdogg coach was also pleased with his team’s defense effort, noting the fact the opponent was lim ited to only 45 points. “That in itself shows you played well defensively,” he said. Friday’s win followed a 66-60 victory against Salem last Tuesday. Jodd Maxey scored 29 points in that con test while Butler added 14. WBHS will step out of region play this Friday when it hosts Flowery Branch at 7 p.m. The Bulldoggs will then compete in a holiday tournament at Southwest DeKalb Saturday against Griffin at 2 p.m. The holiday tournament continues Monday and Tuesday. Barrow night planned at UGA basketball Barrow County Chamber of Commerce members, employees and their fami lies will be able to attend two University of Georgia basketball games at a dis counted rate. The games are desginated with tickets being $5 and $1. Tickets for the Lady Bulldogs game against Mississippi State on Feb. 1, 2009 will be available online for just $1 through Jan. 29. In addition, tickets for the as “Barrow County Night” mens’ game against LSU on jp Runners Fit Braselton, Georgia www.RunnersFit.com Extended Holiday Hours! Runners Fit will have extended hours from now until the end of 2008! New Hours: Monday - Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday 12 p.m.-5 p.m. Christmas Apparel Sale Buy one piece of apparel at regular price and receive a second piece of apparel of equal or lesser value at half off! (Offer expires 12/31/08, excludes sale items) Runners Fit 2625 Old Winder Hwy, Plaza 211 (2 miles west of Chateau Elan, next to Barberitos) 770-967-0755 The area’s only specialty running, walking, and fitness store! Feb. 4 may be purchases for $5 online through Feb. 3. Tickets may be purchased through the website www. georgiadogs.com with the promotional code barrow- dogs. WIMO to broadcast AHS, WBHS games WIMO Big Stick Radio (1300 AM) in Winder will announce several local high school bas ketball games in coming days, station general manager Scott Pinner said. WIMO is set to broadcast Friday’s Winder- Barrow home game against Flowery Branch. The station will also air the games Apalachee High School plays in the Oconee County Christmas Tournament Dec. 27, 29 and 30. In January, WIMO will return to the bas ketball scene with the WBHS-Flowery Branch rematch on Jan. 3. OPENING FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19 mar Mattres TU Smart wau To Sieep Better The Largest Selection In Winder! Simmons Sea/in ^ rPEDIC PRESSURE RELIEVING SWEDISH MATTRESSES AND PILLOWS Financing Available. No Gimmicks! Always Great Prices! 770-307-3838 64 E. May Street - Next To Captain D’s Mon. - Sat. 10-7, Sun. 1-6