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Sports FCA uses toys to bring Christmas cheer Bt ALUNE KENT One cnild who spent Christmas in the hospital this year had a little brighter day thanks to the members of the Perry Middle School Fellowship of Christian ath letes. The FCA adopted a needy family and collected toys and games designed to make the family holiday a little nicer. The youngest member of the family has leukemia and spent Christmas at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. “Some people are not as fortunate as we are," said Mitchell Patterson, a mem ber of the FCA. “When we heard about it, we wanted to do something about it.” And do something about it they did. The group broke into groups of two and went shopping to pick out gifts for the family, using their own money. FCA members came to school early one morning to What a way to end a decade from a sports perspective The decade of the 90s is rapidly coming to a close, and the biggest news of the year in the sports world probably came in the past week. Atlanta Braves pitcher John Rocker has rocked the sports world (and the world in general) with comments attributed to him in a recent Sports Illustrated fea ture story. There's no need to go into details about what Rocker was quoted as saying. That’s been well documented. The reaction from around the country is mixed, as expected. But for the most part, the feeling is that Rocker should be disciplined seriously, ranging from the suggestion that he be fined and suspended to feelings that he should be banned from baseball. True, it was as a baseball play er that Rocker began to get into the spotlight with his running feud with New York fans, first the Mets then the Yankees. But it was as an individual that Rocker made all of the latest comments, report ed in the magazine story. So, to ban him from baseball would seem to be a little severe. The problem is, who will be will ing to accept Rocker as a team mate. He certainly wasn’t preju diced in his remarks. He didn't leave anybody out! There are rum blings on his own team, from players like Tom Glavine. who was one of a few Atlanta players con tacted following the article. The players who live in Latin Ameri can, as a rule, do not stay in the Do You Need A Car 4::a. / j AND WONDER ABOUT YOUR CREDIT? Free, no hassle credit approval for auto loans. You may qualify regardless of • Good Credit • Blemished Credit • No Credit • Bankruptcy • You may also qualify for 0 money down!!!! It’s Easy, Fast, and confidential! From your touch-tone phone call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! 1-800-975-3325 Electronically answered Another exclusive service from Our Dealership Houston Home Journal Theiname syndnyrriauß with nows ami adveriitiing excellence since Dim: 17, *Our goal is Just to strengthen young peo ple in their commitment to Christ. ' • Keith Ivey wrap their gifts. The FCA at Perry Middle is in its second year. Coach Leslie Belcher, the FCA sponsor, is assisted by two local pastors, Mark Gentry of Second Memorial Church and Keith Ivey of Rehoboth Baptist. “It is just an opportunity for the teen-agers to get their minds straight before they start their day,” said Ivey. More than 35 young people attend the weekly meetings, which include a speaker every week. “The FCA has an athletic base," Ivey said. “But it is open to all students at Perry Middle. Our goal is just to strengthen young people in their commitment to Christ.” Phil Clark Home Journal Sports states during the offseason. When they began to arrive in February for spring training, there will no doubt be further discussions. Rocker made all sorts of com ments during the interview, then in a written apology, emphasized that he is not a racist. Of course, that’s the first accusation that comes to the lips of many once a comment like this is made. Rocker’s family, in fact, took in Andruw Jones when Jones was just a 17-year-old kid away from home for the first time, in a strange country, among total strangers, without a single friend. The Rockers, Jake and Judy, treated Jones as their own while Andruw was a Macon Brave. I wonder if Jones has forgotten that, or if Atlanta officials who have been so vocal ever knew of it in the first place. Of course, attitudes change, but in John Rocker’s case, I don’t believe it’s a racial thing at all. He is a very high-strung, hyper, sometimes arrogant individual, and he doesn’t come across as someone opposing fans can like. I iappv I imes JpjSBP ’**’ iPt |gra| y .jffi ■+&&& * y .. V ‘"■%' wir Hk * thi *■ i t.** uvif u, ■Vi >£ y ; jj& «&>' « JPC "■ 'i I . \ JBr jHk ' Jr sBKKBKBBhB .-T j fejftjj r. ■>->■,& ? . -'SE jar ■» *"? ■■ TROPHY TIME Members of the West field girls basketball squad check out the trophy they received during the recent He certainly amplified that feeling with his magazine comments. Just what will happen to Rock er as a baseball player will proba bly be decided in the next few weeks. Contrary to comments about his having “all that money,” Rocker was not in the upper ech elon as far as income is con cerned. He could have cost him self a chance to ever get there. Whether any team will be willing to take a chance on him and face the ire of fans everywhere is ques tionable. The Rocker story is just one of many highlights during the final year of the decade of the 90s. The Atlanta Falcons certainly have made their contribution. A Super Bowl participant in January, the Falcons didn’t come close to mak ing the playoffs this year. The fall of the Falcons started with the holdout of Jamaal Ander son, the outstanding running back who had a year left on his contract but like so many other players, threatened to not report unless his contract was renewed before the final year of the old one. Never mind that he was under contract. Today’s prima donnas can do just about anything they want to and the teams and leagues they represent are weak kneed in their approach to their actions. When Anderson finally did report, after he saw that Atlanta was one of the few teams that wouldn't be threatened, he was injured trying to get into play ing shape, and missed the entire South Houston Church Directory Assembly of God Assembly of God Church, 281 Grovanu Road 987-5154 Baptist Elko Baptist, Oak Street, Elko 987-1621 First Baptist Church, Perry, 1105 Mam St 987-2002 Greater Union Baptist Church, 1006 Marion St 98 7 -0054 Green Grove Baptist. Ga. 26, Elko 783-3332 Hayneville First Baptist, 811 Grovania Road 987-3747 Henderson Baptist, 2813 U.S. 4 IS 987-6569 Houston Lake Baptist, 2300 Ga. 127 E 987-0277 Kathleen Baptist, 111 Bear Branch Road 987-3330 Marthann Baptist, 127 Marshallville Road 987-4647 Memorial Heights Baptist, 521 C. Hodges 987-0724 Mt. Mariah Baptist, R-l, Perry 627-3177 New Hope Baptist, 1014 W.F. Ragin Drive 987-0501 New Smyrna Baptist, U.S. 41 N 987-0034 Oak Level Baptist. 442 Lake Joy Road 987-3933 Oldfield Baptist, 1501 Houston Lake Road 987-0460 Rehoboth Baptist Church. 2238 U.S. 41 N 987-1577 Sandbed Baptist. Ga 247 Spur 987-4304 Second Memorial Baptist, Kings Chapel Road 987-4803 Shiloh Baptist, 210 Whitworth Road, Elko 987-5950 Spring Creek Baptist, Flournoy Road 987-9326 lAggfjA'sl ITALIAN Ci A KOI ■> CAM BBiD MldJuMatoorgia \ „ a Quality Inn 1-75 at U.S. 341 Perry • 987-1345 Charier “Chick” Evans Vice President and General Manager Page 3B Wed., Dec. 29, 1999 1500 Sam Nairn Blvd. Perry • 987-0404 Beside Quality Inn Closed on Sunday Serving Houston County Perry • Warner Robins Member FDIC Home Journal Photo by Phil Clark Sherwood Christian holiday tournament. The team returns to action next week. season. The Falcons, with injuiy-prone Chris Chandler at quarterback, just never got off the ground with Anderson’s absence, combined with injuries to key people along the way. The controversial fumble call in the Georgia Tech-Georgia game was certainly one of the most talked-about incidents of the year. Whether you are a Georgia fan or a Tech supporter, if you have a conscience, you would agree that the fumble really wasn’t, and that Georgia should have retained pos session of the ball. Bowl officials invited Georgia to the Outback Bowl, where they will receive $1.9 million, while Tech will play in the Gator Bowl, receiv ing $1.4 million. The NASCAR Winston Cup points battle didn’t come down to the final race at Atlanta Motor Speedway this year. Dale Jarrett clinched it earlier, the first title for the popular driver. With the title, he joins his father Ned as points champion, just the second father son tandem to accomplish the feat, joining Lee and Richard Petty. In the midst of the John Rocker shocker, there was more news out of the Atlanta Braves camp in December. After having been blown away in four straight games by the New York Yankees in the World Series, the Braves have tried to strengthen the team with the addition of speed at the top of the batting order. Tharpc Memorial Baptist, 2758 U.S. 41 N 987-1116 Cathouc St. Patrick’s Catholic, 1039 St. Patrick's Drive 987-4213 Christian First Christian Church. 2100 Macon Road 987-5428 Church of Christ Church of Christ, U. 5.41 N 987-4268 Midway B. Church of Christ, 1000 Ga. 247, Kathleen Church of God New Hope Church of God, 2290 Ga. 127 987-7893 New Covenant Church of God, 1929 Marshallville Road Church of God in Christ Word of Deliverance, 2234 U.S. 41 N 987-4796 Episcopal St. Christopher’s, 1207 Macon Road 987-2190 Free Will Baptist Shechinah Free Will Baptist, 1964 Marshallville Road Interdenominational Living Waters Assembly, 2305 U.S. 41 N 987-4155 Victory Christian Fellowship, 191 7 Marshallville Road Full Gospel Lighthouse, Gaines Street 987-3126 * " ' Quality Inn ' Houston Horn Journal CONNER’S 18 L* us r 4l N Kerry, ua. , jymx 987-1112 THE OF PBRR U.S. 341 N. Pemf 987-2411 Brannen wins in Atlanta nen of Elko, driving the 911 Clint Brannen Motor Com pany Ford Legends Coupe, captured the final race of 1999 Dec. 12 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. This was Brannen’s first ever semi-pro division win at Atlanta. A spokesman said some 80 cars participated in four divisions for this race. Over coming an early race bump ing incident, along with tne slick track conditions, Brannen waited until near the end of the race to start his push back to the front of the pack. with just five laps remaining, Brannen moved to a lower track line, and got below several cars on tne oval track. This enabled him to pull away for the win. Fans can read Brannen’s racing journal, news and view photographs at www.bran nenradng9ll .com. Panthers in action The Perry High Panthers return to basketball action Dec. 30 at the Pit when Northside comes calling. Girls action is at 6 p.m., boys is afterward. In a trade with San Diego, the Braves gave up Ryan Klesko and Brett Boone in exchange for out fielder Reggie Sanders, second baseman Quilvio Veras and first baseman Wally Joyner. Veras and Sanders figure to bat one-two in the Braves' order next. year. Klesko has basically been a disap pointment, while Boone had indi cated that he would like to play elsewhere after just one season in Atlanta. Joyner is backup insur ance at first base, though the vet eran will be 38 years old when the season starts. There was at least one surprise in the Georgia High School Asso ciation championship games. In AAAA, Lowndes County came from the number three seed in their own region, lAAAA, to win the state championship by shut ting out previously unbeaten Brunswick. Lincoln County also came from the number three seed in their region, 7A, to advance to the championship game before losing to Charlton County in the title game. Surprisingly, Lincoln County lost two region games this year. The Red Devils had won 108 consecutive region games before Athens Academy beat them early in the season to break the streak. Those were some of the big sto ries in area sports this year. At least one of the stories has not ended. We'll all keep an eye on the John Rocker situation. True Church of Deliverance, Houston Lake Road ...no phone Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 1301 Julianne St Methodist Andrew United Methodist, 2430 Ga. 127 987-7934 Crossroads United Methodist, 1600 Main St 987-3721 Elko United Methodist, Oak Street, Elko no phone Perry U. Methodist Church, 1001 Carroll St 987-1852 Methodist,Christian Episcopal Kings Chapel CME Church, 402 Arena Road 988-1503 Mount Zion CME Church, 182 Moss Oak R0ad...987-4059 Oak Grove CME Church, Sewell Road, Elko no phone St. James CME Church, 1007 W.F. Ragin Drive 987-4404 Nondenominational Living Faith Family Worship Center, 304 Lee St 987-5579 Faith Bible Fellowship, 517 MLK Blvd 987-6790 Pentecostal New Pentecostal Church of Perry, Elm Street 987-3161 Presbyterian Perry Presbyterian Church, 1100 Second St 987-1403 Primitive Baptist Beaver Creek Prim. Bapt., Sandefur Road, Kathleen 987-2241 United Pentecostal Houness New Life Worship Center, 2334 U.S. 41 South 987-5816 The Bank Of Perry """ "X Main 987*2554 • Mambar FDIC ft hi runu + siPviri PRim i, ■ *- - ■ ■- -* Brian Beanien Salesman