Annie's back in Dublin, but she found Love in Gallway----on this cement wall, that is. Be sure to visit www.rainiergirl.blogspot.com. Somebody wrote a comment on her blog yesterday, wondering if there was anything ugly in Ireland.
So far, the photo above is about as ugly as it gets, and in spite of the vandalism, you can't help but appreciate the beauty of graffiti when done well.
In a way, Annie has completed a few circles this week by returning to the homeland of our ancestors on three fronts---Loves, Browne's (note the "e" got dropped) and Shorts. So, those circles remain unbroken, and we hope to complete a few more some day as other family members visit Ireland.
I used the term "unbroken circle" on the phone yesterday afternoon while talking to my journalism mentor Bob Hamilton. Bob's the legendary local recorder of Sandpoint sports history, and that was a known fact yesterday afternoon to some sports reporters down in Southern Idaho when Sandpoint's Bulldogs (the only team in the state boys basketball tournament with a losing record) pulled off a first-round victory.
And, when they did so, they broke a string that had held on since 1966. Now, first I must tell you Willie neglected to tell me Sandpoint had already won its game when he called looking for information regarding the last time the Bulldogs even won a state tournament game. I learned that they had won yesterday's game this morning.
I'll forgive him, though, because he was on the move for facts to print in the Idaho Press Tribune, and there wasn't time for small talk with Mom. Mom knew he wanted that stuff and soon. So, I went into journalistic mode and started dialing. Willie told me there had been a call in to Bob Hamilton but as yet unsuccessful.
So, I dialed Duane Ward who took some Bulldogs to State back in the early '70s when he was coaching. (Could your dad have been on that team, Melissa?). Anyway, Duane's phone was busy. Then, I thought about another longtime Bulldog mentor who might know. Bill Adams was talking on his phone too.
So, I dialed Bob, and he answered right away. A lot of folks don't know that he's also "F.R. Hamilton" for phone purposes. I told him Willie was looking for information. To which he told me he was pretty sure it was Gary Elliot's senior year and that Gary had pulled off an individual feat in that winning game over Mountain Home.
The big, lanky player had a cast on his arm from suffering a slight fracture the week before in a district tournament game against Coeur d'Alene. Pat Kaufman was coach, and he had set up a defense to shut off a much-touted Mountain Home player. While the player was shut down, Gary Elliot went to work and scored 20 points for the Bulldogs in the winning effort. [Updated info: Bob found in his notes that Gary had scored 38 points in that game in spite of his cast. Also, I learned later today that Willie was gathering the information for sportswriters from up north].
That's how Bob remembered it anyway, but like the good mentor he had been to me, he wanted to go to his record to check for sure.
I gave him Willie's email address and commented that we had now gone full circle----the teacher, his student, the student's son and back to the teacher for the facts . . . just the facts.
I called Willie back. It was obvious it was stress time, so I just gave him Bob's number and told him to check his email. I'm still not sure that all the details are correct, but when I read both the local paper this morning and the Spokesman, I knew Willie had a few more choice historical details of his own for the Idaho Press Tribune story.
All thanks to a guy who spent years documenting that stuff because he knew it would be important to someone some day. Forty-three years after the fact, it was, and for a very good reason. Congrats to Tyler Haines and the Bulldogs.
Let's home all the chroniclers continue to record the facts, so that the next time something historic happens in the sports circles, there's history available to enhance its significance.
And, it's so nice to have the circles keep on rolling wherever they happen to be.
2 comments:
Full circle...an amazing concept.
Mr. Hamilton, my mentor. My friend. I was the editor of the school newspaper during his final year as a teacher. Although the school walls defined his title during his time at SHS, his very character continues to provide ample opportunities for learning. He is an awesome teacher--even today!
"What are the three most important rules of journalism?" I often heard this question while in the CP room. And the answer that followed was always the same. "Get the facts. Get the facts. Get the facts." These journalistic rules certainly apply to all areas of life.
One of my most cherished photos is one of Mrs. H, Mr. H, and my 9-month old son sitting together on a bench. We stopped by during a rare hometown visit. In that photo, he holds my son, but Mr. H also holds my highest honor and respect as a teacher, mentor, and a man.
Coach Ward. In high school I had the inkling to be a student athletic trainer. I sat with this man. I talked with this man. I told him of the benefits for SHS athletes if he were to allow me to pursue this endeavor. He agreed.
After returning from a summer camp at CWU, I was the unofficial student athletic trainer. Some coaches weren't keen on the idea. Some were forever grateful for my ankle-wrapping, injury assessment, rehab exercises, and other athletic training skills. Coach Ward took me on board when I was without a team to "doctor." He gave me a chance.
I went on to study and spend countless hours as a student athletic trainer at UI. The opportunities and experiences have been invaluable. I worked with everyday college athletes, I worked with world-class olympic athletes, and I even worked with an athlete from my hometown who still kept his down home, kind-spirited nature even though he was a big man on a college campus.
Back to the halls of high school, a woman taught English to high school students. She had expectations. She set the bar high. When I did something to raise an eyebrow or wrinkle her brow, I felt as if I had let her down. But when I earned a good grade, I knew it was for sure and for certain. LIke I said, she had these standards.
I drifted out of her life, a common and routine occurrence once graduates flee from their hometown. But now, our typed words cross one another's screens as we post to our blogs or send the occasional email notes. Through our keyboards we plunk-out insights, we ponder topics of the day, we make mention of friends we share, and we continue to recognize similarities in our make-up (not the stuff ya slather on your face, but the stuff like dogs, horses, country life, gardens, simple blessings, true friends...).
Mrs. L, thank you for your part in my life loops. And you know, I really need to thank Mr. Ward, after all, I married one of those boys he coached for basketball--one of those athletes I watched from the sideline as a student trainer. ;-)
Full circles. Indeed!
Darlene,
I'm sure I speak for Bob Hamilton and Duane Ward when I throw the ball back to your court: thank you for being who you are.
We were all proud to work with you along your life's journey. What a wonderful gift of your words this morning.
Marianne
Another CP'er and proud of it.
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