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yours
Lou Johnson
Editor
Y h i * column will mark the
resumption of a policy I darted
somewhere in the remote past Not
that the remote past was that long
ago. but I 've managed to put it so far
bask in my mind that I all but refuse
to remember doing such as this
previously.
Hor some of you. this will read as
an apology because there had been an
expression of appreciation for my
endeavors in this type of affair. For
the rest of you, let this serve as a
pledge a pledge to continue this
policy. Regardless to whether you
agree with me or not.
This time around, I will deal with
generalities rather than specifics,
mainly because I have so much to
say. Or. at least. I'm rather enthused
over the idea of what this may lead
to.
My staff for this quarter consists
of two others besides myself. The
staff is short for the time being due
to an unusual situation, but they are
long on enthusiasm. John Kidd,
who'll be working his final quarter
for the Cluster will undoubtedly cost
the Cluster a few dollars in a few
months. You see. I've managed to get
by without having to purchase an
encyclopedia or sports
almanac -John is a walking almanac.
If you don't believe me. next time
you see him. think of some question
concerning sports and I’m almost
willing to bet hell be able to answer
it correctly.
His speciality is baseball, and if
you ever want to know who was the
leading oatter for what team during
which World Series that was won or
lost in how many games by what
team ask John. It doesn’t matter to
John whether they played the game
last year or at the turn of the
century, in most cases hell have the
correct answer.
One of his biggest thrills is to get
involved in a quiz of his knowledge
of the game is statistics. You should
sec him rattling off Ty Cobb's batting
average, or better yet. the number of
hits some obscure player got in the
1 9 30 World Series. Babe Ruth's
homerun marks are a matter of fact
to John.
The other staff member is a
freshman, but that's not saying
anything She is lovely Barbara
Mason and rhat’s saying something.
Barbara is one of those girls that
.lispell the myths about girl athletes
being 'Tomboys.”
From what I’ve been able to learn
about her. she is a pretty good
basketball player. I've seen her play
softball and she was above par in that
sport too. I must say that Barbara
became an athlete in a ratheT unusual
way. though She had to learn to play
ihe piano in order to be able to
participate in sports. I don’t know
how well the two relate, or whether
this will guarantee, any results, but I
think it has worked out pretty good in
Bari)arm 's case
She will be writing on one aspect
of the sports scene that has been
overlooked on campus *- girls
intramurals. This will be an
opportunity for her to use not only
her knowledge of sports, but her
experience in playing the games as
well
I must cake time out here to
congratulate Jud Roberts, who was
drafted by the Dallas Chapparals of
the American Basketball Association.
It is quite an honor for the hustling
Florida native and is a complement
to his selection for All-America in
both high school and college.
Those of us who have seen Jud
play have no doubt about his
deserving the honors he’s received,
but I have had the oppormnity to
play with Jud. or ‘‘Dallas”, as we
refer to him now, and it was a
rewarding experience.
On behalf of the student body, I
offer not only congratulations, but a
big Thank You" to Jud for his
hustle and fine play for the Bears for
the past four years. The Bears sports
annals will be added assurance that
Jud will be remembered for some
time, as he has set many records for
the school during his stay here. I
don’t think there has never been a
player more deserving of the awards
that Jud recicved. Thanks, and good
luck. Jud.
And how about that winning
Bears baseball team? The fine play of
the Bruins has attracted the attention
of the selection committee for the
NCAA small college tourney that will
be held in Virgina in May If the
Bears are selected to play in the
tourney, it will be a fine tribute and a
fitting climax for Coach Claude
Smith's 25th anniversary as head
coach of the Bears baseball teams
The genial coach is very optimistic
about the Bear's chances of being
selected, but the rain last week not
only dampened his spirits, but it kept
the Bears off the diamond for a
whole week. And in a sense, it hurt in
more ways than one. The Bears were
forced to workout indoors and in the
process lost one of their fine
freshman ball players Catcher first
baseman Benny Mayo suffered a
severe sprained, or possible broken
ankle. Mayo, the biggest man on the
team, has played well for the Bears,
even though he had only a day or
two of practice before playing his
first game
The Bears golfers aren't to be
taken lightly either They have lost
only two of their matches this
season. Coach Zeb Vance summed up
the play of his chargers when he said.
We play them to win. There’s no use
playing if you don’t intend o win.”
Because of that unusual situation I
referred to earlier in this article, I
need one or two more persons who
are interested in writing, at least for
the remainder of this quarter And if
you happen to be interested or very
familiar with either golf or tennis,
that II make it better for both of us.
If you are interested, please contact
me There are no requirements, but
the least I'm asking is that you be
familiar with the game because you II
be working alone and you must be
able to report what happened with a
high degree of accuracy.
I welcome all comments --
agreeable or disagreeable to any
opinions expressed in this column or
elsewhere on the sports page My box
number it 736.
Tennis Team Meets
Big League Rivalry
By John Kidd
Staff Writer
With the season well under way, the Mercer Bear* tennis team
find themselves with a losing record. But, the record here does not
tell the story.
The Bear^ are venturing into b« time tennis* again this spring
against such foes as Columbia, Tennessee Tech, Virginia Tech, and
Emory. The Bears often wind up on the losing end at the score, but
when you examine the situation closely, you find the Bears charge
into their matches without the benefit of any scholarshiped players
against the foes that are able to field as many as eight boys on
scholarship.
The Bean hope their last few
matches against Malooc and North
Georgia are indicative of their
potential. The feeling among the
players it one of opdmiam for next
year-only one aenior it among the
top six playen. The spirited play of
the Mercer netten hat draws
enough support to wasrem a spring
trip to compete in Florida next year.
Leslie Peek of the mathematics
department is the new head coach,
and he has the talents of several
Ictttnnan to chooat from. These
include George Welch,
Bowen. Dennis Sanders, Jody
Slocum, Gene Armstrong and Bob
Collins. Pint-year playen this year
Steve Cotter; ai
who is attempting to
Mercer's first woman vanity tennis
player.
The future of tennis here at
Mercer depends largely upon
obtaining better talent via
scholarship, and presenting a more
compatible schedule so the
may compete on their own level.
Roberts Drafted by Pros
Casey at the bat, ’ Robert Belloir faces the decision of
whether to go pro or remain eligible for Mercer.
Mercer's Jud Roberts, s third team
member of UPl's Little All-America,
was drafted last week by the Dalits
Chipparralt of the American
Basketball Association
Roberts, an eight round choice of
the ABA tesm. said he was being
sought.
"I received a letter from the team
earlier asking whether or not I would
be interested in playing professional
basketball if I was drafted, and I told
them I would be interested in hearing
any offers but I had no idea they
would draft me." Roberts said.
Roberta said he hadn't really given
much thought to playing professional
ball until now. because he had
already been accepted by the
University of North Carolina Dental
School.
GIRL’S INTRAMURAL
SOFTBALL SCHEDULE
APRIL
|7-*Thurs. ADPiv. Alpha Gam
22 Toes - Mica v. Alpha Gam
24 Thun -Phi Mu v. ADPi
29 Tues Chi O V. ADPi
MAY
I- Thura. Micav. Phi Mu
6 Tues. Alpha Gam v Phi Mu
8 Thurs Chi Ov. Mica
II- Tues. ADP v. Mica
15 Thurs. - Alpha Gam v. Chi O
'game postponed due to bod weather.
He said that he hadn't heard any
more from them, and "HI just have
to unit until I do before I make any
decision about trying pro bad or
going ahead to dental school."
Coach Bob Wilder was dated over
the selection of the hustling Roberts.
Charlie Wood Inc.
SPORTING GOODS
m **eWtr* in fraternity md Nnrity |«f»v*
484 Second Street 745-5441 Macon, Georgia
Msccsr Dili sac alt f
Macon. Georgia
W00LW0RTHS
(
8 • THE MERCER CLUSTER • Tuesday, April 29, 1969