About Barrow journal. (Winder, Ga.) 2008-2016 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 3, 2016)
PAGE 2B BARROW JOURNAL WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016 The Game Plan A wise decision for Megatron N ews broke this week about Calvin Johnson — otherwise known as "Megatron” — retiring from the NFL. Johnson played his entire career for the Detroit Lions and was touted as one of the top Wide Receivers in the game every one of the years. This is very similar to the story of Barry Sanders who also retired at the prime of his career. Oddly enough, he also played for the Lions and was touted as one of the best (if not the best) at his position. This is a very sad correlation for Detroit fans. Not only have the Lions been lack-luster over the last few decades, managing to have a few good seasons here and there, but now they seem to be going through Deja Vu. Detroit has had a few good seasons where they seemed to be improving, but it seemed like every good year they had was followed with another slump. It’s interesting, really, how a team with so much talent couldn't find a way to be successful in the NFL. It makes you won der if Detroit’s success had anything to do with Johnson’s decision to retire. I’m not saying that a playoff berth this season would have kept the man around, but I am curious if there have been effects from the teams lack of success over the years. Quite frankly, Johnson always deserved to be on a better team. He had a good quarterback in Matthew Stafford. Now Stafford isn’t an "elite” quarterback by any means, but there are a bunch of teams that would love to have a shot caller with that much talent. So, unless we are obliv ious to something, it wasn’t Stafford that drew Johnson to this decision. The former Georgia Tech star truly deserved to be on a team that would compete in the league. It is a shame that he never got a good chance at a deep playoff run. I suppose that at the end of the day, he just lost the will to play. And whether we like it or not, it is probably the right decision. It’s easy for us to question and criticize the guy for walking away from a profession that he could dominate in his sleep, but I think everyone on this planet can resonate with what Mega tron is going through. At the end of the day, you have to do what you love and what you are pas sionate about, and if you aren’t passionate about football then don’t play anymore, simple as that. It doesn’t mean that the guy is washed up or doesn’t love the game, he just might not have the same desire that he used to have, and that is something I totally understand. There are a lot of people who walk away from things they are good or talented at because they simply don’t have a desire to do it anymore. And even though that can seem con fusing to the outside world, that is a very important realization one can make. Kudos to Calvin for that. Tyler Rollason is a Winder-Bar row High School and Universi ty of West Georgia graduate. You can e-mail comments about this column to tyrollason@ yahoo, com. High School Track: Winder-Barrow WBHS begins season in Hoover, Ala. Branch, Allen and Pursell all excel for Bulldogg team By Chris Bridges Journal Sports Editor The calendar still read January but the Wind er-Barrow High School track teams ushered in a new season in a neighbor ing state. WBHS attended The Last Chance Invitational in Hoover, Ala. as spring sports officially arrived locally. "It was a great little pre season meet to get us off the ground and running for 2016.” said new WBHS track coach Chris Davis. Two of the top per formers for WBHS were Jay Branch and Jonathan "Tucker” Allen. Branch finished third overall in the pentathlon as he competed in the 60-meter hurdles, shot put, high jump, long jump and 1,000-meter run. Branch posted a personal best in the long jump at 21-6. Allen finished sixth overall in the pole vault posting a jump of 11 feet even. Austin Cha took eighth place in the 60-meter hur dles with a time of 9.78. Sarah Grace Weather ford had a strong showing for the Lady Bulldoggs in the 400 meters posting a time of 1:04.44, good for 18th overall. WBHS also had sever al quality performances in the distance events includ ing: 3,200-meter run •Will Pursell ran a 10:29.27 and was 12th overall with a personal reord •Jake Martinez ran a 10:45.00 in the 3,200- meter run and was 18th overall, also establishing a personal record. •Taylor Smith ran a 12:13.18 after returning from a month off due to a knee injury. 1,600-meter run Pursell ran a 4:53.62 while Martinez ran a 5:06.08. Cody Boles had a per sonal best in the 1,600- meter run in 5:05.15 while Smith ran a 5:34.71 "All of our coaches were pleased with the way our kids competed.” Davis said. Certainly it was a good starting point for us to gain some momentum headed into the season. WBHS will next com pete at Mill Creek High School on Tuesday. Youth Sports: Baseball and Softball Softball, baseball registration ongoing Registration for the 2016 Barrow County Leisure Services youth softball and baseball seasons are currently ongoing. Registration is now open for youth softball and baseball registration through Friday, Feb. 19, for girls and boys ages 4 through 16. Volunteer coaches are also needed. Registration takes place at the Leisure Services Center. 175 2nd St. in Winder, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. For softball information, contact Megan Myers by email at mmyers@barrowga.org or by calling 770-307-3024. For baseball registration information, contact Sara Call by email at scall@barrowga. org, or by calling 770-307-3024. PASS OFF Bethlehem Christian Academy’s Stella Byrd looks for an open teammate during recent region action for the Lady Knights. Photos by Jessica Brown INSIDE THE PAINT Kara Maxwell drives toward the basket for the BCA Lady Knights during a home game in late January. TOWARD THE BASKET Catherine Doolittle attempts to add to the point total for the BCA varsity girls basketball team. Lady Cats fall Tuesday The Apalachee High School girls basketball team gave visiting Gaines ville High School more of a challenge than expected but in the end the Lady Wildcats fell 39-25 Tues day night. Shania Thomas paced AHS (6-16 overall) with 14 points and five rebounds while Nakia Hooks scored six points and pulled down eight boards. Kate Thomp son had two points and two boards. The Winder-Barrow High School girls basket ball team is now one win shy of 20 victories fol lowing a 55-35 road win against Lanier High School Tuesday. WBHS (19-4) will host Gainesville Fri day while AHS hosts Dis covery. 164‘B Commerce Blvd. • Athens, GA 30606 (off Atlanta Hwy.) (formerly Little Enterprise) 4 - EKDGMn :> c . ) i. ALK- TA Community First Aid & CPR National Safety Council basic First Aid. Heartsaver adult, child and infant CPR with choking rescue and automated external defibrillator. Receive 3-year First Aid certification and 2-year CPR certification at end of course. This class is not for healthcare providers. First Aid & Heartsaver CPR Monday, February 8 9:00 am-3:30 pm - $60' *Please pre-pay for the class with credit card online or by mailing a check; Scholarships are offered Call 706.475.1029 to register or for more information. Register online at www.athenshealth.org/calendar. Athens Regional Health Matters MEDICAL CENTER ,n th,
