That happened in 2001. I remember talking to the WSU softball coach at the time, Sheila Nahrgang, and marveling over the grace with which she handled that incredibly difficult situation.
Then there was multi-sport standout Chris Kernich, like Cute a Fairborn High School graduate. He was beaten to death by thugs on a crowded street one night while attending Kent State University.
Another great kid with a bright future who didn’t get to live.
Stories like these are haunting, devastating. They stay with you.
And now we can only hope for a miracle as Fairmont wrestler Ahmad Doucet remains unresponsive after suffering a stroke two weeks ago during practice for an out-of-state tournament.
Columnist Tom Archdeacon guides us through this emotional story and Marc Pendleton examines injury rates in high school sports to show how truly rare Ahmad's condition is and how nobody could have seen it coming.
Five reasons to watch the World Cup final
1. It's a rematch. The U.S. plays Japan tonight (7, FOX) in Vancouver seeking its first Women's World Cup title since 1999.
2. It’s a grudge match. Japan beat the U.S. on penalty kicks in the 2011 final in Germany. Not using revenge as a motive? Yeah, right. This means nothing, but the U.S. is 24-1-6 all-time against Ichiro Suzuki’s native land.
3. What else are you going to watch, the All-Star selection show? Yet another NASCAR race? A 60 Minutes rerun?
4. This team is really good and deserves your attention. Tuesday the U.S. knocked off Germany, supposedly the best in the world, in the semifinals.
5. Defense is sexy. Goalkeeper Hope Solo and the Americans have given up one goal the entire tournament, and that was early in their opening match against Australia, an eventual 3-1 win. It’s been 513 minutes since anybody has scored against them.
Did the Browns finally catch a break?
In case you haven’t been following the NFL for the last 20 years or so, not much goes right for the Cleveland Browns.
They’ve made the playoffs once since 1999 and sport the league’s worst record since returning that year as an expansion franchise.
Sure, there are occasional triumphs worth celebrating. Word is, they will have the same coach for two years in a row!
They also learned recently they won’t be facing Hall of Fame-bound tight end Antonio Gates in Week 4 when they play the San Diego Chargers because Gates will be finishing his four-game suspension for putting banned substances into his body.
Cincinnati also will miss Gates, as will Detroit and Minnesota.
All can consider themselves fortunate. The Browns are 1-3 against the Chargers since Gates entered the league in 2003. His best game against them was on Dec. 6, 2009 when he caught eight passes for 167 yards. His only TD against Cleveland came Dec. 19, 2004 on a 72-yard jaunt through the snow at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
Not exactly warm memories. The Browns lost that day 21-0.
Now he has no choice but to stay
Dead or alive, University of Dayton basketball fans know a good coach when they see one.
Don Hauer, of Hauer Music, was a rabid UD supporter and also an usher at UD Arena. In his obituary Saturday his family noted his many accomplishments, then added, “He was delighted with the recent resurgence of the Flyers and amongst his final wishes, he urges Coach Archie Miller to remain with UD.”
No pressure, Archie.
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