Newspaper Page Text
1
Chris Womack
Sports Editor
(monrndtm^gmaiilJ.tcoJMi
The Atlanta Falcons have literally been rising up to
the task during the first four games of this NFL season. The
Falcons are 4-0 for the first time since 2004, and it seems like
both the offense and defense are playing equally great. While
this team is focused on winning their first playoff game in
five years, they have higher aspirations.
Since the hiring of new offensive coordinator Dirk
Koetter, the Falcons’ offense has been rolling along like a
well-oiled machine. Koetter has brought a new up-tempo
offense to the Falcons that focuses on the passing game, and
with that new focus quarterback Matt Ryan has thrived.
He has thrown for 793 yards, as well as a league-lead
ing eight touchdowns. Ryan is arguably the best quarterback
in the league this season with a 114.0 passer rating, the NFL’s
best.
Ryan looks to conquer his playoff demons and finally
get his first postseason victory, and it looks like he finally has
the weapons to do it this season. Wide receivers Julio Jones
and Roddy White are two of the best in the league and con
tinually have made big plays.
Jones, a huge target over the middle and an excel
lent red-zone target, has caught 15 passes for 189 yards and
three touchdowns. White, a possession receiver, has caught
27 passes for 413 yards and three touchdowns, and leaped
high to grab the critical 59-yard pass in Sunday’s win over
Carolina. The Falcons’ offense cannot be mentioned without
naming All-Pro tight end Tony Gonzalez, who has chipped in
26 receptions for 265 and three touchdowns.
The Falcons defense has also seen changes in the
coaching staff, as new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan has
altered many of the previous schemes. Nolan has put play
ers like safeties Thomas DeCoud and William Moore in their
comfort zone by allowing them to play in space more than
before. DeCoud and Moore have thrived from this change.
DeCoud ranks second in the league with three inter
ceptions and has one fumble recovery. Moore has intercepted
two passes and also recovered a fumble. Nolan’s change in
defensive scheme has showed in the Falcons’ wins, as oppos
ing quarterbacks are confused with the exotic packages that
the Falcons show.
The Falcons defense has forced 12 turnovers and
played especially well against the Peyton Manning-led Den
ver Broncos. The defense forced the future Hall of Famer into
three first-quarter interceptions and a forced fumble, which
Atlanta recovered.
At this time in the season, the Falcons look like the
team to beat, and they currently have a big lead in the NFC
South standings. This Falcons team is intent on not only win
ning a playoff game for the first time in five years, but also
becoming Super Bowl champions. With a 4-0 record so far, it
looks like the Dirty Birds are in a good position to fly away
with the Super Bowl trophy.
TUSKEGEE-
MOREHOUSE
Ashleigh Morgan
Amorgan7@scmail.spelman.edu
After last week’s 34-16 win against
AUC rival Clark Atlanta University, More
house will travel to Columbus, Ga, to par
ticipate in the annual Tuskegee-Morehouse
Football Classic this Saturday at 2 p.m.
Morehouse will remain more depen
dent on quarterback Donnay Ragland. With
the running game in a sticky situation be
cause of injuries to backs David Carter and
Shelton Hamilton, Ragland became the hub
of the Morehouse offense against Clark by
gaining 131 yards on 11 carries and 148
additional yards as he completed 14 of 22
passes.
Teammates hope Thomas “TJ” Wil
liams will continue to fill Carter’s big shoes
and produce in the run game and on special
teams. Against the Panthers, Williams had
the best game of his career by running for
two touchdowns and opening the second
half with a 95-yard kickoff return for a
touchdown.
Last year Morehouse defeated Tuske-
gee 17-14. The historic game, also known
as the “Grandaddy Classic,” will be held
for the 77th time on Oct. 6.
DONN CLENDEllON
Chris Womack
Sports Editor
(CviwMramdkiin^^
The excitement of the Ma
jor Baseball League playoffs are about to
grace the city of Atlanta, and a Morehouse
man once played a prominent figure in
them.
Donn Alvin Clendenon was born on
July 15,1935. Six months after his birth,
his biological father, Claude Clendenon,
died of leukemia. Donn's mother, Helen,
would marry former Negro League base
ball player Nish Williams when Donn was
6 years old.
Both his mother and Williams
demanded high academic achievement
from Clendenon. However, Williams took
it upon himself to turn his stepson into a
baseball player, and served as coach of
almost every baseball team that Clen
denon played on as a child. Clendenon
also got pointers from some great Negro
league players, including Jackie Robinson,
Satchel Paige, Roy Campanella and Don
Newcombe.
That privileged background, in baseball
t erms, contributed to Clendenon be
ing named the Most Valuable Player of the
1969 World Series won by his New York
“Miracle Mets.”
Clendenon spent his high school
years at Booker T. Washington School
in Atlanta. Upon graduation, he lettered
in nine sports and many college coaches
wanted him to bring his talents to their
school.
If it were up to him he would have at
tended UCLA, on scholarship. However,
a few coaches from Morehouse convinced
Momma Clendenon that her son’s best
option was not too far from home. More
house was a premier institution for Afri
can-American men but lacked the athletic
stature of UCLA. One can only imagine
the dismay at UCLA when they found out
that Clendenon was going to attend More
house.
A graduate of the college by the
name of Martin Luther King Jr. would
become Clenndenon’s mentor.
Clendenon became an unbelievable ath
lete at Morehouse. He lettered in football,
basketball, and baseball, earning 12 letters
overall. He even received offers to try out
for the highly acclaimed Harlem Globe
trotters and the Cleveland Browns.
While Clendenon fielded offers to
turn pro in almost every major sport, he
turned those down and became a fourth-
grade teacher to prepare for a career
after athletics. He knew that even Black
players who had a successful pro career
rarely got coaching or front-office jobs
afterward. However, he would try out for
the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1957 after being
convinced by his stepfather. The Pirates
signed Clendenon as an amateur free agent
soon after his tryout.
Clendenon played in the minor
leagues for five years before making his
major-league debut in 1961. The next year
he finished as the runner-up for Rookie of
the Year. He compiled seven home runs
and 28 RBls and had a .302 batting aver
age.
During his time in Pittsburgh, Clendenon
acquired a reputation for being a “free
swinger.” He led the league in strikeouts
in 1963 and 1968.
Following the 1968 season the
Pirates left Clendenon unprotected, and he
was selected by the expansion Montreal
Expos. The Expos attempted to trade Clen
denon to the Houston Astros in January of
1969, but he refused to report to the team.
“I didn’t like their management, 1
had very little respect for them.” Clende
non, who clashed personally with Harry
“The Hat” Walker, was quoted saying in
centerfieldmaz.com. Walker served as
Clendenon’s manager in Pittsburgh and
the two did not get along. The Expos and
Astros restructured the deal and Clende
non returned to the Expos.
The Expos again traded Clendenon
during that season. This time they sent him
to the New York Mets on June 15, 1969.
When the Mets got Clendenon they were
nine games out of first place in the newly
aligned National League East.
“He was a veteran that came in and made
us better,” Mets shortstop Bud Harrelson
told Associated Press. “When you threw
him into the mix with the rest of us, we
became a dangerous team.”
The Mets went on to win 39 of
their final 50 games. They clinched the NL
East thanks to an outstanding performance
from Clendenon. He almost singlehand-
edly defeated the St. Louis Cardinals with
four home runs.
During Clendenon’s performance
against the Cardinals, he brought his
teammate Bud Harrelson’s words to life.
“When we got him, we became a different
team,” Harrelson said. “We never had a
three-run homer type of guy.”
Clendenon made his presence
known in the World Series by leading the
Mets to a title, hitting three home runs
with four RBIs and a .357 batting average.
He was named World Series MVP, and
currently shares the record for most home
runs in a five-game playoff series with
Ryan Howard, who equaled it in the 2008
World Series.
New talent pushed Clendenon
out of the lineup and he was eventually
released by the Mets in 1971. During his
career with the Mets he set team records
for the most RBIs in a single game (7),
and most RBIs in a season (97).
The St. Louis Cardinals took a chance
on Clendenon in 1972, but he did not see
much playing time and was released in
August of that year.
It would be Clenndenon’s last sea
son as a major leaguer. He went on to earn
a law degree from Duquesne University in
1978, practiced law in several cities, and
held several corporate positions.
As Clendenon neared his 50th birthday,
he battled a drug addiction. He eventu
ally entered a drug rehabilitation center in
Ogden, Utah. During his stay at the center
he learned that like his biological father,
Claude Clendenon, he, too, had leukemia.
After learning of his illness he
moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and
became a general counsel member to the
Interstate Audit Corporation. Donn Alvin
Clendenon would die on September 17,
2005, at the age of 70 years old.
Now, can you tell me who the 1969
World Series MVP is?
WWW.THEMAROONTlGER.COM
Recycle The Maroon Tiger
OCTOBER 3- 10, 2012