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I THE CHRONICLE, Clinton, S. C., June 26, 1970—7-A m BILL CURRIE Mouth of the South Little Man, Big Heart Brian Piccolo was a little man with a big heart which stopped last week when he was 26 years old. His story is so familiar to sports lovers in North and South Carolina that it hardly needs to be repeated. Yet, Piccolo so graphically exemplified the best in athletics and young manhood that he should be a subject of discussion and an exemplar among all young people who aspire to achieve and conquer. • When Piccolo was atWakeForesteveryone said he was too small to cut the mustard as a major college running back. Yet he made Bill Tate aherothefirstyear out, and from that time until gradua tion Brian’s dynamic legs churned out more colorful yardage than Deacon fans had seen in a month of rainy Sundays. To look at Piccolo nobody could conceive of the unusual strength which he possessed, both physical and spiritual. It was this latter quality which bore him so well in his quest for success on the gridiron. Of course at the end of his collegiate playing days Piccolo was passed over by the professional scouts. Again, he was too small. They all knew it but somehow Piccolo did not. He signed on with the Chicago Bears as a free agent. This is a professional sports euphemism which means he was given little or no bonus and as small a salary as could be got by with. How he became the backup man for Gayle Sayers and later the great runner's replacement is history. How Sayers came to hold Piccolo in highesteem--evenaffection--isoneofthemoving facets of the Piccolo saga. Sayers, who is black, accepted the annual award for the most courageous professional player, but said with a choking voice that Piccolo should have had the award. Brian, of course, died of the cancer which he had fought since it was discovered last November. The relationship which grew between Sayers and Piccolo is picture of black-white relations in the nation and particularly on ball teams. Obviously, neither of the men, who were room mates on the road, paid any attention to their racial differences, but united themselves in a strong bond of friendship. Damon and Pythias were certainly no greater friends than Piccolo and Sayers. Here then, it seems to me, is the real indication of what sort of man Piccolo was. Without complaint or tears for his own mis fortune, Piccolo battled with his terminal illness, and only a couple of weeks before he died, maintamed his determination to return to professional football A lot of people, even those who kitw his titne to live was drawing short, believed he might just mike t »n the field and play again. This is an age of complaint and gripes when everybody seems to find fault with his lot and seek more for nothing. Piccolo ne- vur complained even though as a football player he was definite ly disadvantaged as to size. With determination he overcame this and dem nstrated for all who care to look that determination is the best way to over erne any disadvantage. It is sad to contemplate the passing of such a splendid young man, but as the value of a painting is in no wise determined by how long it took the artist to complete it, so the value of a life is not determined by its length. Brian Piccolo was a helluva fellow’ Tonight Friday Clinton Hosts Greenville, Greer Juniors i: The Clinton American Legion Baseball team, currently in se cond place in League IX, will play host to Greenville here tonight, Thursday, June 25. The Clinton Mill Ballpark will also be the scene of the action when Clinton plays Greer on Friday, June 26. Gametime is 7:30. There will be no action the week of the Fourth. Clinton has been victorious in its last three outings to bring their record to five wins and two losses. On Thursday, June 18, Clinton defeated Greer 4-3. This was the first loss of the season for Greer and brought Clinton within one game of the league-leading Greer team. Tommy Motes was the win ning pitcher. The lefthander struck out 13 and scattered se ven hits for the victory. Clin ton scored the winning runs in the bottom of the fith when Troy Bowen singled in Tommy Shields and Mike Bridges. On Friday, June 19, the Clin ton baseballers defeated Wade Hampton 9-6 with a seven-run rally in the bottom of the eighth inning. Troy Bowen again lead the offense with three hits for the winners. Buzz Tedards went all the way on the mound for his second win of the season. On Monday, June 22, Clinton trounced Wade Hampton 15-2 for its fifth win of the season. Tommy Motes hurled a seven hitter for his third straight victory without a defeat. Motes gave I?) two runs, walked three, and struck out 17 for the vic tory. Mike Bridges and Arnold Lietzey were the leading hitters for Clinton with Bridges going three for five and Lietzey three for six. Clinton is now all alone in second place in League IX with a 5-2 record. They trail Greer by one game. New Golf Club Opens Friday Near Cross Hill The first nine holes at the Rolling S Golf Club will open Friday, June 26 near Cross Hill. The course is located on the Harris Springs Road about five miles southwest of Cross Hill. It is about 18 miles from Clin ton. The first nine holes have been completed on the property which was formerly known as the Roll ing S Ranch. Carlton Simms, who has been associated with golf clubs since "Have you got songs of the open road on tape?" Three Teams Fight For Lead In Y Men s Softball League Three teams remain in a tie for the leadm theMen’sSoftball League after 12 games. The Jewel Box, Sanders Spur, and Rhodes Runners hold a three- game lead over the Bailey Bom bers. The three teams have a record of nine wins and three Boys' Baseball Loop Standings Announced The standings in the Small Fry, Little League, and Pony League were announced this week. In the Small Fry League, the Dodgers are leading with a 4-0 record. They are trailed by the Giants, Braves and Lions with a '2-2 record, and the Tigers and Yankees with 1-3 won and lost record. In the Little League, the Lions are leading with a 4-0 record. T^ey are trailed by the Giants w th a 3-1 record, the Tigers with a 2-2 record, and theDod- gi rs, Yankees and Braves with one win and three losses. In the Pony League, Joanna l&ds with a 3-0 record. They ^ld a one game lead over Bally a 2-1 racord Northeast Southern are tied for third with one win and two loss- Lydia completes the stand- with no wins in three is. [In action in the Small Fry last week, the Braves kted the Yankees 1-0, and Dodgers defeated the Tigers [2 on June 15. On June 17, Braves defeated the Tigers h3, and the Giants blanked the 5-0. The Yankees beat the nts 1-0, and the Dodgers itewashed the Lions 5-0. the Little League on June 15, the Braves trounced the Yan kees 13 to 4, and the Tigers defeated the Dodgers 8-4. On June 17, the Tigers defeated the Braves 6-3, and the Lions beat the Giants 3-1. The Giants romped over the Yankees on June 19 by a score of 14-2, and the Lions defeated the Dodgers 10-2. In the Pony League, Joanna defeated Lydia 13-2 on June 15. On June 16, Bailey defeated Northeast 7-3. Southern de feated Lydia 16-14 in a slug; fest on June 17, and on June 18 Joanna defeated Bailey 11- 1. losses. The Bombers have a 6-6 re cord. They are trailed by Jo anna with a 3-9 record and the Big O’s with no victories in 12 games. On June 16, Sanders defeated the Big O’s 10-4 in a game that went only seven innings. Nelson and F. Cooper had three hits for the winners. Rhodes Runners defeated Bailey’s Bombers 13-6. Watts had three hits for Rhodes to lead the of fense. In other action, the Jewel Box defeated Joanna 11-10. Bai ley went four for four to lead the Jewel Box. On June 18, Sanders defeated Baileys 17-11. Five players had three hits a- piece to lead the balanced of fense. The Jewel Box defeated the Big O’s 9-1, and Joanna de feated Rhodes Runners 12-9. Watts, Riser, and Fallaw had three hits to lead the winners. WANT A GLAMOROUS BODY AND SAVINGS, TOO? WE GIVE TOP QUALITY SERVICE AT PRICES YOU WON’T BELIEVE — SO HIGHLAND FLING THAT WORN-OUT BODY ON DOWN TO US! YOU’LL BF GLAD YOU DID! CECIL’S BODY WORKS CORNER OF EAST CAROLINA AVE AND SOUTH WOODROW ST. • BODY WORK • 40 YBARS EXPERIENCE • PAINTING 1950, is in charge of the Rolling S Golf Club. He previously was associated with the Fairgreen Country Club in Jackson, Ohio. The club features both a driv ing range and a nine-hold course. The course, which features two lake holes in the first nine holes, is 3,305 yards long and has a par of 36. Carts are available and green fees are $3 for weekdays and$4 for Saturdays, Sundays and holi days. Robbins Signed By Lees-McRae Lees-McRae College Head Football Coach Jim Osborne announced today that Everette Francis Robbins a ' , 150- pounds offense halfback has signed a grant-in-aid to play football for the Bobcats of Lees- McRae. Robbins is the son of Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Robbins of Clinton. He played his high school football for Coach W. Keith Richardson at Clinton High School. Robbins was chosen as the “Most Improved Player” atC. H.S. He was also on the track team. He was third leg on Med ley Relay and broke school re cord. Coach Jim Osborne stated, “Robbins comes to us highly recommended and we feel he will be a great asset to our program.” The Bobcats are one of the outstanding Junior College football schools in the nation. They have only lost two regu lar season games the last three years. 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