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THE CHRONICLE, ainton, S. C., Sept. 10, 1970—7-A ) BILL CURRIE >*•••••••••••••••••••%*• 1 Mouth of the South I Sports Announcers The principal objection I have to network television sports announcers is that they have the jobs and I don’t. But once I confess my burn ing jealousy over their success and money, then it seems fair that my other feedings about my well paid heroes can be taken as an objective ap praisal. In a word, the general quality of net work sportscasting is, frankly, miserable. Not only miserable, but shallow, self-seek ing, frivolous, irrelevant, super-technical and of ten incomprehensible The ceaseless switching from one man to another with the mention of names is a shameless exercise in self glorifica tion. The meaningless chatter is clearly an indi cation that the witless mumblers cannot think of anything pertinent to say. To wit: “That’s right Charlie. One of the greatest guys on the floor is Joe Schlotz. One of the truly great sportsmen in golf.” Then the echo will come in: “You’re right, Larry! He certainly is!” Listen the next time y<?u can to the telecast of a major golf tour nament and see if you don’t hear something like this a number of times. Football Is Worse Football is probably the worst. Network broadcasts are blessed with carloads of mag nificent equipment, capable as we have all seen of giving us instant replay, stop action, slow mo tion—the whole bit. The producers therefore are anxious to exercise their technical expertise, and equally anxious to make certain their announcers display not the first vestige of personality. The surest way to stifle personality is to hire some bumbling ex-jock who has none and make him an announcer. These guys, some ex-players and some ex-coaches, and some both, like to amaze everyone with detailed analysis of the past pat tern or the blocking technique, dissertations which are meaningless to everyone who has not played the game. The number of former football players in a general television audience is infini tesimal, and yet the fine point commentary is aimed solely at those who have made a lifelong ■' study of the game. If anyone doubts this, ’go on the street and ask a hundred people: “What ; does it mean when an announcer says the receiver ran a post pattern?” If two people can answer I’ll be amazed. Then there is the "look at me, I’ve done my homework” approach. This is particularly evi dent in basketball telecasts. The numb-gum on the tube is so anxious not to sound like a radio announcer that he does everything possible to keep from describing the game. Many have a whole packet of index cards on which have been typed all sorts of personal and statistical goodies about the players. Such information might be interesting, even captivating, before the game, at the half, or in a post game analysis. But during the actual play, who gives a damn whether a player is doing better than he did last year, or whether he comes from Podunk or Manhattan 7 It is impossible to look at a wide shot of a basket ball game and recognize the players on the tube. Therefore an announcer ought to identify the man with the ball. Rebounds? One of the most important facets of the game, but watch to see how often the retoounder is not identified, while ole tumble tongue reads off his little cards. There are a few baseball announcers left with a degree of flair, but they are being weeded out by old age, death and retirement, and their kind won’t be seen or heard again. Like I tell people who call me up to complain about what I do on the air: “You ain’t gotta listen." So I ain’t gotta listen either, and when I can help it. I don’t. Clinton JVs Open Tonight At Laurens Clinton High School’s junior varsity football team will open its schedule tonight at Laurens. The game is to start at 7 p.m. Clinton Coach Preston Cox says, *We haven’t looked too good in practice thus far. We have a comparatively young team and it’s going to take time for them to get adjusted to JV ball.- There currently are 27 play ers on the JV team. Clinton’s starting offensive lineup for the game will be: ends, George Bodie and Jerry Thornwell, Hickory Tavern Game Rated As Toss-Up TURNING THE CORNER — Clin ton quartertjack Donnie White (12) turns end for a gain against Wood ruff. Clinton’s No. 63 ia guard Kev in Long. Seeking First Win, CHS Visits Chester Tbornwell’s Saints, who suf fered a 24-6 loss In their sea son opener last week, will try to get in the win column Fri day night at Hickory Travern. Thornwell Coach Ben Crab tree said, -Hickory Tavern Is In about the same situation we are, they have a comparatively young team. It should be a more even match than we had last week at Ford.- Ford, featuring 18 Itfttermen, was sparked by Willie Robinson who scored three touchdowns in the Eagle’s 24-6 victory over Thornwell last Friday. Coach Crabtree said, ‘We played a lot of young boys. An eighth grader, Barry Walton, did a creditable job at defen sive end and a ninth grader, “We made two mistakes and they cost us the ball game,- Clinton High School Coach Keith Richardson said after a 6-0 loss at Woodruff last Fri day In the opening game of the season. Woodruff recovered a fum ble punt at Clinton’s 23-yard- line late in the first quarter and on the next play Wolverine Quarterback Bruce Bishop pas sed to Marvin Geter who was all alone in the end zone. It was the only time Wood ruff got inside Clinton’s 40- yard-line. Clinton dominated the statis- ties, rolling up 246 yards while Woodruff had 195 but the Red Devils couldn’t get into the end zone, although they had several scoring chances. HAMES GAINS — Clinton’s Jack Hames (44) drives for extra yardage against Woodruff. Al- ao ahown arrLawrence Jones (36) and Lewis Henderson (61).— (Photos by Eddie McGee) Punt, Pass, Kick Contest Is Scheduled Golden; tackles, Gary Corley and Johnny Knox; guards Binkie Gurley and Gene Wooten; cen ter, Robert Plaxico; quarter back, Barry Saunders; tailback, Shepard Scott; fullback, Jimmy Armstrong; wlngback, Mack Young. The starting defensive lineup will Include: Golden and Bodie at ends; Corley and Knox at tackles; Gurley at middle guard; Armstrong and Terry Heaton at linebackers; Jimmy Breck and Young at cornerbacks; Melvin Prater and Allen Petty at safeties. I. V. FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Sept. 10 Laurens There Sept. 17 York There 24 Westside Here 1 Woodruff There Oct. Oct Oct Oct. Nov- Nov. 8 ... 16 22 29 6 12 Newberry Here Palmetto ... u Here York Here Westside There Newberry There Woodruff Here Registration is now under way for the 1970 Punt, Pass and Kick competition at the Clinton YMCA. In making the announce ment, John Bingham, Executive Director of the YMCA said: “We’re looking forward to abig local PP4K competition in Clin ton on Friday, October 2, at 4:00 p.m. We hope all the boys 8-13 years of age in this area will come in to register and take part.* Mr. Bingham pointed out that PP&K - throughout its six levels of competition - is free of any charge, and that a boy need only have a parent or his guardian accompany him to the YMCA to register. “Our competition here will have 1st, 2nd and 3rd place trophies for boys in each of the six age groups, or 18 trophies in all,* said Mr. Bingham. “In creasing each boy’s chances of winning is the fact that be competes only against boys tn his own age group. “Of course there is no body contact in PP&K. It’s punting, passing and place kicking for distance and points, just as the name says. First place winners in each age group in our com petition will go on to the zone competition. And from there, top winners go on up the lad der through district, area, divi sion and national finals." -This year, the national finals will be held in Los Angeles at the pro All-Star Game, January 24. Finalists get an all-expense paid trip to Los Angeles for themselves and their parents, plus a special tour of Disney land, a Banquet of Champions celebration, and the chance to meet some of the top players ball. Naturally, we hope some of our Clinton PP&K winners will make it all the way to the finals. * Mr. Bingham further explain ed that each boy tyxn register ing receives a free PP&K Tips Book. In the 1970 edition, there are competition tips by NFL stars Dave Lee, Bill Nelsen and Fred Cox plus all-round suggestions from Coaches of the Year HankStram and Bud Grant The Tips book also includes complete PP&K rules and help ful conditioning exercises for contestants. PP&K registration will close at the YMCA on September 26. This is the 10th anniversary year for PP&K. From its In ception the youth activity has been sponsored by the Ford Dealers of America and the National Football League. Concerning this Friday night’s game at Chester, Coach Richardson said, “It looks like another tough game for us. We scrimmaged York in a practice and we came away with a lot of respect for them. Chester beat York, 13-7, last Friday so they must have a pretty good team. The game was marred by a lot of penalties so it’s kind of hard to evaluate but we be lieve they’re stronger than we thought they’d be. “John Wright who hurt us with his running last year, is back and they’re running him and throwing a lot.- In last week's game at Wood ruff, David Man gum was Clin ton’s leading rusher as he car ried the ball 16 times for 74 yards. He also graded the highest, scoring 84 per cent efficiency on his assignments. He was named the first “Play er of the Week* for the Red Devils. Lewis Henderson scored the highest of all the offensive line men. Others who scored high were Monty Crisp and Kevin Long. Clinton took the opening kick off and inarched to Woodruffs 35 before Crisp punted into the end zone. Quarterback Donnie White Shook loose for 12 yards and Jack Hames got 16 in the opening drive. The two teams exchanged punts before Woodruff recover ed a fumble punt at Clinton’s 23 and then put up the game’s only score with two seconds remaining in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Clin ton drove from its own 15 to Woodruffs 32 before losing possession on a fumble. Donnie White made a spec tacular one-handed pass inter ception to set up Clinton’s next drive. The drive took the Red Devils to Woodruffs 13 where they missed a first down by Inches. A big play in the drive was a 20-yard pass from White to Billy Young. In the third quarter, Clin ton recovered a Wolverine fumble at the Woodruff 15 but a fourth down pass fell incom plete as the threat was thwart ed. STATISTICS Loop Teams 4-3-1 Mike Eubanks, did well at guard. We had some bright spots. Full back Frank Bruyer (switched from tackle last season) gained over 65 yards in the third quart er. We stayed with them until the fourth quarter. At halftime, we were down 12-6 and I thought we should have scored again in the second quarter. In the third quarter, we had good field posi tion but couldn’t capitalize on it. Ford intercepted a pass In the fourth quarter to wrap up the game.- Ford’s Robinson scored from 25 yards cut in the first quarter and went 12 yards for another in the second quarter for a 12-0 Eagle lead. Just before half time, Thornwell’s Kanada Roach dived over from the one to cap a drive which he ignist- ed with a 45-yard end sweep. After a scoreless third quart er which Thornwell dominated, Robinson sheek loose for a 70- yard tally. Ford’s Tony Coat picked off a Thornwell pltchout at the Saints' 20 and ran it in to complete the scoring. Coach Crabtree commented, “we hope to be in better phy sical shape this week. We missed quarterback Don Lmd- kevsky who was out with an in jury. He should be ready this week so we can move Roach back to the running back posi- tion." After viewing films of the game, Coach Crabtree said, “we were outblocked and out- tackled. They were readier than we were. On defense, Dave Mc Carter showed a good effort at tackle. “We're going to have to make some changes If we’re going to win. The lettermen are going to have to provide some leader ship.- By FLETCHER W. FERGUSON Conference IH-AAA took its first steps into South Carolina scholastic sport:, histoiy this past weekend rs & launched the 1970 footbcll season . . . Though the record book will record only four wins, three losses and a tie in seven games, there were many “little stoides” be tween the lines . . . McCormick, the only member to “move up” from the prior Class A category, became the initial conference loader as its defeated Westside 11-12 on the eventual xtrengtli of a two-point conversion run by Don Reese. That encounter also marked the first loss in 31 grid con tests for Coach William Robert’s Westsidrrs . . . Belton-Honea Rath took a 9-7 conquest of Gre er as Max Hopper nailed a Gre er beck dn his own end zone to earn a safety and protect the Bear advantage against a late Greqr score . . . Woodmont was another two-point winner, actually becoming the first DI- AAA team to register a victory when it eased by Dacusville 22- 20 on Thursday . . . Laurens avenged two previous year* hunnUatior In season openers at the bands of Whstnhre by crushing the Wolverines under a 22-0 tally- Pakneto emerged from the Friday rain in * scoreless stale mate with much stronger than expected Carolina . . . Clinton battled favored Woodruff sue- essfully all night expeept for a fumble that paved the way for an aerial touchdown and a 6-0 Woodruff triumph ... Abbeville did about everything in the book but score, and got washed with Joy—Thomas of Wren, that is —by a 120 count . . . The two- point dilferenae also showed up in the points for and points against conference dubs, re spectively 79 to 71, Billy Freeman Wins Starting Spot At USC Here’s the full schedule: CHS Woodruff First Downs 10 7 Yds. Rushing 207 163 Yds. Passing 39 32 Total Ydg. 246 195 Passes Att 12 6 Passes Comp. 2 2 Passes btep. By 1 0 Punts 3-30 5-30 Fumbles Lost 2 1 Penalties 4-20 4-30 Laurens at McComnck * Abbeville at Ninety Six (0-0- 1), 20-21 BcRon-Honea Path at Wood ruff (1-0) Clinton at Chester (l-O) Palmetto at Seneca (0-1) Westside at Daniel (1-0) Woodmont at Chesnee (1-0) ♦ Conference game Other than the sole family contest, k will be noted that confererce teams will be on the short end of whatever odds the home field provides . . . There is still much to be learned about relative team strengths in view of school consolidations. After a standout performance in spring practice, junior Bill Freeman of Clinton has laid claim to the starting tight end spot for Coach Paul Dietzel’s 1970 Fighting Gamecocks. A former standout at Clin ton High School under Coach Claude Howe, Freeman caught only three passes while gaining experience as a sophomore, but continuing improvement and a good attitude, climaxed by an outstanding spring game per formance, earned him the top spot starting fall drills. The 6-3, 210 pounder doesn’t have an easy task this season, though, since the resident tight end he has moved ahead of, Dong Hamrick, is a two year starter with 30 pass catches over the last two seasons, and can be expected to fight for starting honors during his senior year. But Freeman has been ex tremely impressive in his all- around play, catching a pair of passes in the spring game far 46 yards and earning plaudits frr«m the Carolina caching staff for his blocking. The son of Mr. and Mrs. E. A. i 1 \7 Shand in Chnt r., Fr* nan is a 20- year old junior majoring in Physical Education. PLAYER OF THE WEEK — Tailback Da vid Mangum, a junior, was named Clinton High’s first Tlayer of the Week* for his ef forts in last week’s 6-0 loss to Woofruff. Man- gum, who gained 74> yards rushing, was graded the highest on his performance by coaches. As Tlayer of the Week’ Mangum will receive the CHS travel ing jacket which mem bers of the team wear on road trips. Score by quarters: Clinton 0 0 0 0—0 Woodruff—6 0 0 0—6 Thornwell JV's Host Ford Today Tbornwell’s Junior Varsity football team win open its sea son here today, Thursday, play ing host to Ford. The game wifi start at 4 p.m. The first official federal activity in Washington, D.C., dngof 40 was file placing dary stones, one mile apart, marking off the “10-ndle which was tq be- the United to be set In place 1791-12 and. ~ 40, SI are still Live Play-By-Play All Presbyterian College Foot ball Games Home And Away WLBG FM 100.5 ON YOUR DIAL 100,000 WATTS OF SPORTS POWER SPONSORED BY 1. LYNN COOPER. Inc. 2. D. E. TRIBBLE CO. 1 CANDA DRY .r • ‘ 4. bane of ciiinpH^' 5. WALTER JOBflfe6N CLUB Playay-Play BUl Hogan Color—PhU