Newspapers / The Warren Record (Warrenton, … / June 4, 1981, edition 1 / Page 8
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LEW HEGE The Real Sense Of Sports Billy Martin's latest temper tantrum has sidelined the Oakland A's manager for six games and cost him (1,000. In case you haven't seen the replay on the tube, Martin bumped an umpire and threw dirt on him in a game in Toronto last Friday night. Richie Phillips, who represents the major league umpires, doesn't think this penalty is severe enough and termed the offense "a violent act." To backtrack a bit, the A's were playing the Blue Jays and several times during the contest Martin questioned calls by plate umpire Terry Cooney. Finally, Martin rushed out of the Oakland dugout and ran right into the 200-pound Cooney, bumping him with his chest. Cooney immediately gave Martin the heave-ho, but Martin wasn't finished, he kicked dirt on Cooney and then, picked up a handful of dirt and threw it on the umpire. When compared with the fine levied on the Pirates' Bill Madlock last year, Martin's penalty looks like a soft slap on the wrist. Madlock tossed his glove at umpire Gerry Crawford in a game and was suspended for 15 days and hit with a $5,000 fine. While Martin's genius on the diamond has transformed the once hapless A's into a contender in the American League West, his behavior cannot be condoned. There is no place in sports for aggressive behavior toward the officials. A week's suspension and a measly $1,000 fine is far too light for Martin's childish display of poor sportsmanship. While there is no excuse for his behavior, I have seen high school and little league coaches do and say things worse than this incident by Martin. The topper was in a baseball game I witnessed last spring. I saw one of the coaches grab a player and use profanity toward him, loud enough for the spectators to take it all in. And the spectators included school children and young ladies. (And these were words that not even the roughest sailors use.) But that embarrassing incident was quickly overshadowed by the antics of the coach" of the other team. After one of his players was tossed out of the game for using profanity, the coach rushed on the field to argue the decision. The coach used profanity and practically threatened the umpire, who correctly, halted the game at that point. On that afternoon, there were no winners. Everybody went home a loser. Were sports invented just to give us an outlet to relieve our frustrations? Do young men spend hours upon hours practicing to have their coaches grab and slap them and cuss them out? No! Sports were invented to fill our leisure time, a time to relax and get away from the headaches of daily living. A young man's memory of high school baseball should be one of fun and competition, and not one of verbal attacks by an over-zealous coach. Most high school athletes end their careers right there, few ever play college or professional sports. For these persons, the things they need to get out of competing are building character through winning — and losing. As a matter of fact, even if a high school athlete is a "blue-chipper" and headed for future stardom, the most important things he can learn in high school are those things dealing with character and sportsmanship. Too many prep stars don't learn these valuable lessons and have trouble later in their adult lives. An athlete's talent will only take him so far, at that point, for him to be a well-rounded person, he needs those valuable attributes that are learned back in grammar and high school. The United States is one of the most competitive countries in history. To be number one is everything, to be less is nothing. When it comes to competitive spirit, no other people can hold a candle to Americans. While this spirit has made the USA a military and idustrial giant, it should be placed in proper perspective where sports are concerned. Yes, there are times when winning is everything — like in the Olympics. But we should be careful not to let our desire to win blind us to the reason why we have athletics. It's okay to win as long as the emphasis isn't totally on "winning at all costs." The old saying: "It's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game that counts;" still holds true for the purists of sport. Let's face it, the things that are really important in the world deal with military crises, natural disasters, world economy, etc. — AND NOT SPORTS! The next time you start to lose your temper watching a ball game, think about it. It really doesn't make any difference who wins a meaningless game, because it just isn't that important. So play hard, but play for fun. Then you will receive the benefits that sports were invented to give you. Sharing top honors at Noriina High School's athletic banquet were, from left to right, Tony Long, David Henderson, Angela Fleming and Morton Jones. (Staff Photo by Hege) Norlina Awards Night Turns Into 'David Henderson' Night N0RL1NA - It was •David Henderson Night" as Norlina High School held its last athletic banquet Thursday night. Henderson received awards for making the AllState, All-East, AllRegion, and All-Conference teams in basketball. He also received awards for being selected as his team's MVP, Metro Raleigh player of the year, and player of the year awards for the conference and region. The 6-5 guard received some strong accolades from two speakers present In presenting Henderson the Region Player of the Year award, Lew Hege called the Blue Wave star, "the best player I have seen in high school since A1 Wood (North Carolina's All-America.)" Principal Clint Hege, who has been officiating games for over 30 years, recalled a game he referetd at Zeb Vance years ago and a player named Cotton Clayton. Hege said he came home and told his wife Clayton was the best high school player he had ever seen. Clayton went on to star at ECU before playing AAA baseball in the Pacific Coast League. The Norlina principal said he now wanted to amend that statement: "David is the best high school player I have ever seen on any level," Hege said. Hege said a close friend of his from Shelby told him of a great prospect he had seen back in 1970. Hege recalled that his friend told him this young man "would make All-America in college - but would be wearing the same hat size when he does (referring to this man's modesty.) That man, David Thompson "was the best player I ever saw," noted Hege, who praised Henderson by saying David was cut from the same mold as Thompson, very modest. In addition to Henderson, other MVP awards went to Tony Long, football; Morton Jones, track; Angela Fleming, girls' basketball. No MVP awards were made for baseball, softball, or volleyball. Long, bound for N. C. Central, was also recognized for making the Raleigh Times All-Metro football team Making the presentations were Athletic Director Carl Spragins and Coaches Robert Ross, W. S. Fuller, Bob Lynch, Allen Reynolds, Bill Davis and Morris Ay cock. Susan Dickens presented the cheerleader awards. The featured speaker for the banquet was Raymond Rhodes, director of athletics for the State Department of Public Instruction. Rhodes, an author and former coach and athletic director, recounted many stories from his career that brought laughs from the crowd. North Warren School Has Final Banquet WISE - North Warren held its final athletic banquet last Wednesday night in the school cafeteria with Wake Forest basketball standout Mike Helms as the featured speaker. Coach Bill Shulenburger welcomed the guests and Adalynne Faulkner gave the invocation. Following a selection by the North Warren Chorus, Joel Valentine introduced Helms. Helms, a rising senior on the Demon Deacon team, told the students that the success of the team de pends on all the members and not just one individual. The Deacs' guard recounted some of the contributions of the Wake Forest players this season. Following Helms' speech, awards were presented to the cheerleaders by Mrs. Brothers, sponsor; to the girls' basketball team by Coach Shulenburger; and to the boys' football and basketball teams by Coach Billy Fuller. Closing remarks were made by W. T. Ramey, III, the principal of North Warren Middle School. Three Games Are Played In Men's Softball League Three games in the Men's Softball League were on tap Tuesday night, May 26, at Norlina. Henderson Insulation whipped the Pumas, 12-4, in the first game of the night. Chip Gums, Ben Reavis and Ricky Thompson had two hits each to lead the winners. The Pumas also had a trio of players with two hits each - Bonne 11 Talley, Bobby Branch and Roger Taylor. Warrenton Railroad held on for a 7-4 win over D&S Construction in the second game of the night. Curtis Thompson and Bob Carter went three for three to lead the attack for the winners. James Davis and Roscoe Davis had two hits each to pace the losers. The Roadrunners ripped the Aggies. 14-7, in the final game of the night. Leading the attack for the Roadrunners were Kevin Williams, Clyde Johnson and Robert Carter with three hits each. Algie Green had three hits for the losers. A BB&T hot^r r>_ pitch during Saturday morning's season opening contest with Warre'jUu lae Railroad team took a 5-2 decision as play h»g«n for > ' Junior Leaf .tains. (Staff Photo) junior Baseball Play, T-Ball Gets Underway On Saturday The Warren County Recreation Junior Boys Baseball League and TBall League got underway Saturday, May 30, at the Armory field. Three junior baseball games and two T-ball games were played. Junior baseball results saw Warrenton Railroad edge BB&T, 5-2; Warrenton Furniture Exchange nip the Jaycees, 23-22; and Tar Heel Tire turn back Hardee's 17-7 in four innings. Warrenton Railroad rode the pitching and hitting of James Howell to its season opeining win. Howell struck out 15 and allowed only three hits, while at the plate, he hit a home run and a triple. Patrick Mosely also hit a home run for the winners. Alan Ellington had two hits to pace BB&T. Alan Overby pitched a good Softball Play Begun By Women The Warren County Recreation Women's Softball League began its first season on Wednesday, May 27, with two games on tap. Perdue Chicks trounced the Tarheel Shakers, 15-3. Betty Bolton went four for four and Ellen Stegall and Emily Perkinson had three hits each to lead the winners. Rosa Robinson had three hits and Cathy Garrettson had two to lead the Shakers. In a nip-and-tuck game, the Pumarettes edged Carolina Sportswear, 10-9. The Pumarettes scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to win their season opening game. Angela Fleming and r.isn Johnson had three hits apiece for the winners. Sharon Smith, Tracy Harris and Elaine Johnson had three hits each for Carolina Sportswear. Women's Softball Schedule Monday, June 8 7:00 Perdue Chicks vs Pumarettes 8:00 Carolina Sportswear vs Tarheel Shakers Men's Softball Schedule Thursday, June 4 7:00 Henderson Insulation vs State Line Gulf 8:00 Pumas vs Roadrunners 9:00 High Dollar vs Aggies Tuesday, June 9 7:00 High Dollar vs Roadrunners 8:00 Aggies vs Henderson Insulation 9:00 State Line Gulf vs D&S Construction T-Ball Schedule 9:00 Lions vs People's Bank 10:00 Carriage House vs High DollAr Junior Baseball Schedule Thursday, June 4 6:00 Warrenton Furn. Ex vs BB&T • Friday, June I «:00 Tar Heels vs Warrenton Railroad Saturday, Jane • 11:00 Jaycees vs. Hardee's Monday,JuneS 6:00 BB&T vs Tar Heels Tuesday, June t 6:00 Warrenton Furn Ex. vs Hardee's Wednesday, Jurfr 10 6:00 Jaycees vs Warrenton Railroad game for the losers as be allowed only four hits and struck out seven. In a wild and wooly game that saw 22 hits and 26 walks, Warrenton Furniture Exchange scored the winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Warrenton Furniture Exchange used aggressive base running and timely hits to win their season opening game. Traig Neal had three hits to lead the winners. Leading the Jaycee's attack were Michael Hargrove, James Douglas and Lamar King with three hits each. The Tar Heels scored 12 runs in the third inning to break open a close game. Tony Wiggins and Timmie Bullock led the winners with two hits each, while Jason Stegall had two hits for Hardee's. In T-Ball action, People's Bank canned the Carriage House, 20-14, and High Dollar bounced the Lions, 20-15. Daniel Green, Greg Champion and Antonio Davio had three hits each to lead Peoples Bank. Leading the Carriage House attack were Harold Newell and Chris Aycock with two hits each. Kevin Jordan and Michael Ryder had three hits each to lead High Dollar, while Jason Pittman and Roy Pat Robertson, Jr., had three hits apiece to pace the Lions. MARK TWAIN REGION— This statue of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, the youthful adventurers, stands at the foot of Hannibal's Cardiff Hill. The youngsters look down Hannibal's main street, at many of the spots Mark Twain knew well while growing up in the Mississippi River town of Mis- [ souri. Graduates Marietta Williams of Warrenton was among 201 graduates of Cheyney State College in Pennsylvania. Degrees were received on May 17.
The Warren Record (Warrenton, N.C.)
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June 4, 1981, edition 1
8
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