I got my start in the business exactly 40 years ago this year, as a sports writer. I guess you could say it was my first love (in journalism). I still think like a sports writer. So as a way of celebrating these 40 years, I decided to write a sports column and comment on some of the exciting (and some not so exciting) things going on in the sports world. 

New golf pro in town
I enjoyed meeting Matt Phipps a few days ago at a reception in Tansi where he took over as head golf pro, replacing the legendary Aubrey King. Matt came on board at Lake Tansi in December and has been busy getting to know the course and the community.

Matt is a native Kentuckian, growing up in London and attending college at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond. I have been to that campus many times — the Colonels were coached by the great Roy Kidd. They have a great small college football tradition.

Matt got into the golf business at age 19 and passed his PAT (Playing Ability Test) to become an apprentice then became a Class a Professional through the PGA Program.  His first job as Assistant Pro at Greenbrier Country Club in London.

City Councilman Danny Wyatt was on hand to welcome Matt to Crossville, presenting him with a framed certificate. Lake Tansi has been a partner with the City for years, hosting four of the city-sponsored golf tournaments.

“I am very glad to be here,” Matt said. “We have a great golf course and I am enjoying getting to know the people. I want to preserve the schedule of golf events we have at Tansi and take a look at reviving some of the older tournaments that are no longer held.” Matt also pledged his support for Junior Golf, which has long been a Tansi tradition and will work with Billy Loggins to help grow the Tennessee Team Championship, held annually at Lake Tansi (the former KDS).

Martindale to defend women’s title
Host and sponsor City of Crossville kicked off the advance publicity for the Golf Capital of Tennessee Women’s Open and the Sr.Men’s Open, with a luncheon at Druid Hills in Fairfield Glade on March 16. There to talk about her title was 2011 Womens Open champ Kendall Martindale, a freshman at Vanderbilt. She will be defending her title at Stonehenge in July. She shot 10-under in the three day event to take home the title. As an amateur, she did not take the prize money, which went to the low pro.

Kendall has ties to Cumberland County. Her grandparents, Gene and Agnes Garrett live at Lake Tansi. Kendall spoke about her familiarity with Cumberland County. When asked what other couses she had played here, she said, “Of course, I have played Tansi many times, Bear Trace and all the Glade Courses.” The Womens Open and the Sr. Men’s Open are played at Stonehenge. A lot of people, who know talent, say we will be watching Kendall play on the weekends when she turns pro. And just think, she got her big break in Crossville, Tennessee.

“Big Cat” Lloyd featured in Nashville paper
Earl Lloyd, the first black man to play in the NBA,  has been written about thousands of times, including a story I wrote about him that appeared recently in the Tennessee Tribune. The Tribune is Tennessee’s only Black newspaper and regularly features stories about people from not only Nashville, but all over Tennessee. My story about Earl was part of a series of stories they published in conjunction with a Black History Month. Earl recently returned from Atlanta where he was honored for breaking the NBAcolor barrier in 1950. (lots of people saw it on Sports Center).  I have been friends with Earl and Charlita for many years and take pride in having written the first story about Earl after they moved here from Detroit.

Stone Memorial impresses
Our own Stone Memorial made a run of their own at the AA State Championships, falling to eventual champion Christ Presbyterian in the semi’s. Congrats to Coach Mike Buck and players. I was certainly impressed with the play of the whole team in general, but want to specifically single out Brock Rowan (son of my Chiropractor, Andy Rowan), and center Brandon Cole. Both guys turned in sterling performances. Robert Troino also had a great game. Together, the three teammates accounted for 71 of their team’s 80 points. Together they totally dismantled Hogeye and offset a good performance by the Ramsey brothers, 6-9 Logan and 6-7 Mason. Cole had some great low-post moves and was able to get his shot off despite being undersized.

Memories of Mike Buck, the player
Just in case you are too young to remember, or if you never knew it, Coach Buck was a pretty good player himself. He played high school basketball at neighboring Clarkrange where he was renowned as a “long rifle,” who could also drive around you to score. He went on to play at MTSU and on a special evening on March 16, 1989, he came off the bench in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to help lead the Blue Raiders to a first-round upset of Florida State, 97-83. I can remember it clearly, because it was one of the few times I ever cheered for “mitsu.” He was an incredible 6-of-6 from 3-point range and was a perfect 7-of-7 on his way to scoring 26 points. It was for sure, his day in the spotlight as highlights of that game on ran on Sports Center. So listen to your coach, Panthers. He has “been to the mountain.”

Clay County state champs
First, my old high school, Celina High (now known as Clay County High School), won the Class A State Championship in girls basketball, defeating arch-nemesis Jackson County. In a show of power, the two teams met in the finals of the district, the finals of the region and the finals of the state. While this is an odd occurence, it has happened before. On at least one occasion I can remember Rickman (since consolidated in to Livingston Academy) and Pickett County playing in the finals. At that time, they were both in the same district. Clarkrange and Jackson County also played in the title game just a few years ago.

Back to Clay County taking home the gold ball. The Lady Bulldogs had been to the state on ten previous occasions, coming home with the runner-up prize (the silver ball), on four occasions. Congratulations to Clay County coach Joe Sims, who came out of retirement to lead his charges on this historic trip. He was the coach in their previous 10 trips to the final 8 in Murfreesboro, but retired from coaching in 2004. Coach Sims has a sister who lives in Fairfield Glade.

Murray State created excitement
While most sports fans in this area are dominated by the University of Tennessee and the SEC, I prefer to follow Tennessee Tech and the OVC. What makes the NCAAs fun for me is watching and pulling for underdogs. I recorded the Belmont-Georgetown game and the Murray-Marquette second round game, and watched them as if they were live. Nothing would have made me happier than to have seen the Racers advance. They made a great effort, but fell short. Being a #6 seed and handling Colorado State in the first round was awesome but advancing to the Sweet 16, with a win over Marquette, would have been sublime. They really took the fight to Marquette but had a cold spell at the wrong time — falling in the final 4 minutes.

Tech hosted the Racers in the last game of the regular season, in a wild game played in front of 9,500 at Eblen Center: an atmosphere I had not seen there since Tech hosted UT in the NIT’s back in the 80’s. It was one of those back and forth games. Tech led the entire second half, but Isiah Canan and team rallied and won by 6 to extend their winning streak, and Tech fell to 18-10 — still a good season.

This year several OVC teams knocked off their bigger competitors, Austin Peay when to Knoxville and knocked off the Vols; Murray defeated Memphis State. The OVC plays a competitive level of basketball and the winner of their conference goes the the NCAA, just like the SEC winner.

Belmont will also join the OVC next season, giving the conference another top-flight team. The Bruins have won the  Atlantic Sun Conference multiple times in recent years. That move could finally make the NCAA tournament selection committee look at putting more than one OVC school in the Big Dance.

Private schools don’t belong
I will forever be opposed to private schools competing on the same level as public. Teams like CPA have an unfair advantage. The ability to give a scholarship to any athlete they want in greater-Nashville, to attend the very expensive Christian School, is just plain and simple, “wrong.” They should be in the Division II league. Friendship Christian won the Class A game — same thing for them. If you pay attention, you will see that the private schools dominate TSSAA Sports. Can you see some of these little country high schools like Pickett County and Clarkrange, with student bodies of 240 and 10-12 total athletes per sport, competing with these millionaire academies? It’s a joke!

Publisher’s nephew now a Ram
My nephew, Billy Napier, is now assistant head coach at Colorado State in Ft. Collins, going there from Alabama, where he was coaching last season. Before that, he was the offensive coordinator at Clemson. Billy, the son of my baby brother Bill Napier, of Chattsworth, GA, is an A+ recruiter and quarterback coach. Alabama offensive coordinator Buddy McIlwane, took the head coaching job at Colorado State and took Billy with him.

I told my nephew when he was at Clemson that I could wear Clemson Orange, but not to count on me wearing any “Alabama Red.” I think their new colors are green. I wear an XL windbreaker if you want to send me some school colors, Billy!!

Been a Knick fan before Lin
Isn’t it funny how the performance of someone like Jeremy Lin can cause you to pull for a team a million miles away. I have always kept up with the Memphis Grizzlies (Not too many bears seen running around Memphis, but that’s a different story.) I love the Lin story and hope he continues to play well. Storys like this are needed by the NBA — they need more heroes. But I was a Knick fan before Lin. How does a kid, growing up in rural middle Tennessee root for the Knicks? You remember Dick Barnett? I have been a Knick fan for 40+ years, but Lin has made it a lot more fun, just like Barnett did in the 60’s.

Remembering the great Dick Barnett
I would imagine that many of my “older” readers will remember Dick Barnett, but here are some details about his career.

From Gary, Indiana, Richard “Dick” Barnett spent 14 seasons in the NBA (1959–74), but is mostly known for his nine seasons with the New York Knicks. Barnett played in the 1968 NBA All-Star Game and was a part of the famous 1970 Knicks team that won the NBA championship against the Los Angeles Lakers. He scored 15,358 regular season points in his career.

More of my favorite Knicks
I just could not close this column without writing a little more about my beloved Knicks. There were other players that kept them my favorite team after Barnett was traded. Bernard King, half of the Bernie and Ernie Show at UT, was one of the all-time great Knicks. (Ernie served as GM of the Knicks for 10 years in the 80’s and 90’s.

I remember when King scored 50 two nights in a row. He was the best jump shooter I ever saw. Then later, another Tennessee player, Alan Houston took up the slack. I liked them both, but my favorite players, in addition to Skull Barnett, were Walt Frazier and Earl “The Pearl” Monroe.