Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 2B
FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS Wednesday, January 28, 2004
Local Sports
Basketball
• South Forsyth vs.
Riverwood, Friday, Jan. 30,
7 p.m.
• North Forsyth vs. North
Springs, Friday, Jan. 30,
6 p.m.
• Forsyth Central at
Chamblee, Friday, Jan. 30,
5:30 p.m.
Wrestling
• North, Central and South
at the Area 6-AAAA Team
Duals at Marist, Friday and
Saturday, Jan. 30-31, at 5
p.m. and 9:30 a.m., respec
tively.
AAU hoops
team looking
for players
The Atlanta Cagers will
continue team tryouts and
selections for boys and
girls ages 10 to 13. Go to
www.cagerhoops.net to
obtain date and location
details.
Fast-pitch team
needs serious
12-U players
A 12-U fast-pitch travel
team is looking for a few
key players.
If you are serious and
willing to work hard and
move to the next level, call
(770)205-9437.
Girls hoops
tryouts slated
There will be tryouts for
girls 15-and-under YBOA
basketball on Saturday,
Feb. 7, at 4 p.m.
Only serious and dedi
cated players are wanted.
Anyone interested
should contact either
Calvin Byrd at (678) 283-
7089 or Bruce Roydes at
(706)265-8080.
I I
I B
I i •
»RH
F?y B B jpj
f *■ V MhmK * X A *4u_> f- W
/1 * fWV \ IVH^ \jp
HRBrh
■ -’" _ _~i BWAWI OBEVRX.KTM “ 7\Rl
■ C.r ',;•!> ffir.gc ■ fIPP n "5 > v.z ■'
■ r'. .. | ■ •’" ** r ' I
•?. »s'2t'ft J * '#* ■? *«• , R b
- - •2_ —~~ - ■ ?4S 1143 ■ ■
■•■hm*WßWßi
I
■
ftkwujk- \ - ' <■ 4* S
■ •>, g
I > The ALLTEL Greater Lumpkin, Dawson, Towns &
Union Counties Directory is the perfect advertising
l*'W-‘'';»W®> I
platform to increase your customer base. With
advertising options starting as low as about sl4.
your business can stand out from the competition
without spending a great deal. The ALLTEL Greater
Lumpkin, Dawson, Towns & Union Counties
Directory is delivered to all residences and
businesses in the cities of Big Canoe, Blairsville,
Dahlonega, Dawsonville, Hiawassee, Suches, and
Young Harris. This is a customer base your business
cannot afford to ignore. Advertising sales are
currently underway for the 2004 ALLTEL Greater
Lumpkin, Dawson, Towns & Union Counties
Directory. Call your ALLTEL Publishing sales
representative today to learn about the best
■ », i M advertising program for your business!
Remembering a legendary Colt
Remember Don Shinnick?
Old number 66 played
right linebacker for the
Baltimore Colts from 1957
through 1969. He anchored
the great Colt defenses of that
era by setting an NFL record
that still stands: 37 career
interceptions. No linebacker in
pro football history has ever
picked off so many passes.
Shinnick died last Tuesday
in Modesto, Calif., at the age
of 68. For the past six years,
he had suffered from Frontal
Lobe Dementia, a form of
Alzheimer’s. Surviving are his
wife, Marsha, sons Joe, Josh,
Peter, Adam, Chris, and 11
grandchildren.
Four of his sons played
college football: Josh
(UCLA), Adam (Cal), Chris
(Hawaii), and Peter
(Colorado). Peter has been the
head coach at NAIA Azusa
Pacific since 1999.
Donald Dee Shinnick was
bom in Kansas City, Mo., but
grew up in San Pedro, Calif.
He played and later
coached at Los Angeles
Valley Junior College well
enough to be elected to the
California Community
College Hall of Fame in 1987.
That’s no small achievement.
The Hall counts Jackie
Robinson, Frank Gilford,
Hugh McElhenny, Clarence
Davis, Warren Moon, and
Lynn Cain among its mem
bers.
Shinnick played on
UCLA's 1954 National
Champions, and became the
Colts second round draft
choice in 1957. A year later, he
played in the Colts famous
sudden death championship
game victory over the Giants.
That game is generally
acknowledged as The Greatest
Game Ever, the game that
launched the NFL toward the
prosperity and popularity it
enjoys today.
A year later, the Colts
repeated as champs, as
Shinnick led the NFL in inter
ceptions, with seven.
In 1965, Shinnick played a
key role in the NFL's second
overtime game, a playoff
between the Colts and
Packers. With both quarter-
Denton v J
Ashway Xjjp
backs injured, the Colts used
halfback Tom Matte as their
“instant quarterback.” The
wristband that he wore, con
taining a list of the Colts
plays, is in the Pro Football
Hall of Fame in Canton. On
the very first play from scrim
mage, Shinnick scooped up a
fumble, and ran for a touch
down the only one of the
day for the Colts, who lost,
13-10.
And in January, 1969,
Shinnick played in another
famous game. He became the
first UCLA player to appear in
a Super Bowl, but the Jets
shocked the heavily favored
Colts, 16-7.
After his playing career
ended, Shinnick spent 26
years as a coach, with stops in
Chicago, St. Louis, Oakland,
New England, and UCLA
included.
But I remember Don
Shinnick for something else
that happened in 1965.
Atlanta had been awarded
an NFL franchise, but the
Falcons wouldn’t begin play
for another year. Hoping to
promote the NFL in virgin ter
ritory, Commissioner Pete
Rozelle scheduled two pre
season games for the brand
spanking new Atlanta
Stadium. The Colts were
home team for both games.
My parents were close
friends with Wayman Creel,
the legendary Georgia high
school football coach. And
Coach Creel knew that the
Colts were my favorite team.
So Coach Creel, who knew
everybody, arranged for a visit
to the hotel where the Colts
were staying.
You can imagine how I was
about to jump out of my 10-
year-old skin. A chance to
meet my heroes! A dream
come true! Why, this was sure
to make me the Big Cheese at
Hammond Elementary School.
We arrived at the hotel at
the appointed hour, and there
wasn’t a Colt in sight.
Eventually, I finally spied a
player making his way
through the lobby.
It was Don Shinnick.
He obliged with an auto
graph, written with very dis
tinctive flairs and swirls, with
“#66” underneath. He then
disappeared into an elevator
with a smile and a pat on my
crew-cut head, and I searched
in vain for more Colts.
It was the next move that
etched Don Shinnick into my
memory forever. After failing
to uncover any more Colts, we
ventured upstairs to Shinnick’s
hotel room, and knocked on
the door. It opened, revealing
Shinnick in boxer shorts,
brushing his teeth.
Upon hearing our plight,
Shinnick smiled and said,
“Sure, kid, I’ll round up some
of the guys.”
Within half an hour, I stoocj
in the hotel lobby surrounded
by my Colts. Jim Parker
walked up, my Dad saying,
“Son, this is the best offensive
lineman in football.” To which
I replied, “I think so, too.” To
which Jim Parker replied,
“And I think so, too!”cutting
loose with a laugh that filled
the hotel lobby.
Steve Stonebreaker
grabbed a program, so I could
get the players to autograph
their pictures. We chatted with
Tom Matte, Raymond Berry,
Jimmy On, Bobby Boyd,
Ordell Braase, Jerry Logan,
and gasp! Johnny Unitas
himself, the greatest quarter
back to ever play the game.
I can still remember that
day from 39 years ago as
vividly as if it were yester
day. Memories for a lifetime,
all flowing from the kindness
extended by an NFL star to a
little kid he didn’t even
know.
Remember Don Shinnick?
Absolutely.
When not practicing his
avocation, Denton Ashway
practices his vocation with the
law firm of Ashway and Haldi
in Cumming.
£ Men of ForsylßH
E > v
ft
Es ''m ’ ar vS'SBMRK
|W.' s
IL- \
■set fa. ' . < \ JMMM
KF * QobMRB
■ft. ' JV4 «■
■■ w«A k 'iHM
B li'lW: It .'I
-■-... BBBOlOfefe. -<k, ft <
Xfc ■,!. / ■■:'
Sunday, February 22nd
Forsyth County News
J Your "Hometown Paper" Since 1908 J
celebrates the men who make
a difference in our community.
Our special edition “Men of Forsyth” will spread
your advertising message to thousands of readers
in this unique publication.
Space is limited. Find out more by calling your
Forsyth County News Advertising Specialist
or call
770-387-3126
' s i i i<
SPLIT from IB
had fouled out with a minute
and a half remaining in regu
lation the Lady Raiders
couldn’t keep up during the
four-minute addition, getting
outscored 11-5 during the
period.
“We made a few mistakes
[in overtime],” said Osborne.
“Chamblee hit their free
throws and we didn’t.”
After scoring just five
points in the first quarter,
overtime seemed a dim possi
bility for the Lady Raiders.
North bounced back to
score 11 points during the
second quarter but still trailed
27-16 at the half.
But after the interval,
Benedict and the Raiders
caught fire, scoring 18 points
while holding Chamblee to
just eight. Benedict scored 12
of her team-high 20 points
NEAR from IB
working on getting our
toughest and most deter
mined lineup ready for the
Area Duals and State. It’s
time to find out how hard
they have been working since
last February and how
focused they stay over the
next four weeks. I think our
seven seniors realize that
DAWGS from IB
Raider advantage entering the
fourth period.
With seconds left in the
game. Central (7-13, 6-8) and
Riverwood were locked in a
49-49 tie when the Raiders’
Larry Clay hit the go-ahead
basket with :10 on the clock
for a 51-49 advantage.
“It was pretty much just
poor defense,” said Central
head coach Steve Barnes.
“We just let him 1005e...
instead of rotating on defense,
we let him lay it up instead of
at least putting him on the
free-throw line.”
The Dawgs got the ball
back and called a timeout
with :01.6 remaining, but
were unable to put anything
during the third, slashing
Chamblee’s lead to 35-34
entering the fourth quarter.
Chamblee wouldn’t let go
of their advantage easily, but
Gravitt (10 points) finally
evened the score at the
buzzer, nailing her third trey
of the game.
Chamblee’s star player
Avonte Williams played a big
role in overtime and finished
with a game-high 23 points
as Chamblee pulled away for
the win. Despite the loss,
North’s confidence continues
to grow as they prepare for
the region tournament, loom
ing in February.
“Because of the game on
Saturday, the girls know that
they can beat Chamblee,”
said Osborne. “Chamblee’s a
good team, but we played
well. Now, we just want to
win every game we play. Our
goal is to win out [the rest of
the season].”
their wrestling careers are
coming to an end and it is
now or never.”
Both South and North
Forsyth are idle until Friday
and Saturday’s scheduled
area tournament in Atlanta.
Forsyth Central was sched
uled to host North Hall and
Habersham Central on
Tuesday. Results were not
available at deadline.
together as the final buzzer
sounded.
“Defensively, except there
at the end, they did a great
job,” Barnes said.
Judd Gravitt led Bulldog
scorers with 12 points, fol
lowed by Ryan Fulwood with
11, Robert Pendino with nine
and Jonathan Wojociechowski
(7-for-7 from the free-throw
line) with seven points.
Next up for Central, the
Dawgs visit Chamblee on
Friday for a 7 p.m. contest.
“They’ve been playing
people pretty tough,” said
Barnes of a Chamblee squad
(3-14, 3-11) that Central
defeated earlier this season.
“Their record is not that
good, but they are very capa
ble of beating us. I think we
could beat them.”