Cobb; March Madness; Reeves’ article
The truth about Ty Cobb
Most readers are familiar with the great Hall of Fame baseball player from Georgia. The stories about Ty Cobb have thrived over the years concerning Cobb and his great career. The stories and the descriptions went beyond the reporting of the great player’s statistics and his accomplishments.
Neither the time or space is available in this column to discuss sufficiently what should be said about Cobb nor the many false impressions assigned to the man. In the past few years there has been on this writer’s mind a gradual comprehension, based on reliable and honest reports that all the negative reports of Cobb’s attitude and conduct during his outstanding years in baseball were on a less than accurate basis. Especially coming under fire is a book by one Ken Burns and collaborator titled “Baseball” The author “traveled far” (figuratively speaking) in his actions and words to demean Cobb in his book.
A great article in Monday’s (March 27) Rome News-Tribune by Loran Smith titled,” Charles Leerhsen and getting to the truth about Ty Cobb” is a most rewarding and productive read. The article tells of a book by Leerhsen titled “A terrible Beauty.”
This book is both a repudiation of the many shady depictions of Cobb’s life and career and a revealing of great social redeeming facts about the man – his attitude, his actions and his accomplishments.
The Lord willing, I will read the book. May I encourage readers to avail themselves of the opportunity to do the same? or the area of agony. There is no escape from the fact losing involves hurt or agony. May we also acknowledge that the higher or bigger the stage to which a team climbs, greater is either emotion of thrill or agony according to the outcome of the game.
Ronnie Reeves and Article about Ann Rogers Gallman
It was with pleasure I wrote about Ann Gallman a column or so ago and her outstanding basketball career at Calhoun High School during the middle 1960s.
Ronnie Reeves, former Director of Calhoun Recreation Department, wrote and posted a great article that served as a great addition to facts already written. His article titled “Calhoun Basketball: The Lady in the Ticket Booth” was read to me by Coach Diane Smith. It was an enlightening composition and caused great memories and reflections on some great years back in those days.
It was especially rewarding to reflect upon the late Coach Bubba Faulkner and his contribution to the basketball scene of that era. During Ann Gallman’s and Coach Faulkner’s reign one of the outstanding feats in Calhoun’s history was accomplished. Coach Faulkner took his girls to the Westside Christmas Tournament and captured the title of what at that time was one of the most prestigious tournaments in North Georgia.
The night was young and the story wasn’t over. Coach Faulkner was hurriedly escorted by law enforcement from Whitfield County to Rome where his Calhoun boys team was about to play in the finals of the famed Rome Christmas tournament. Another championship was captured that night.
There are a lot of outstanding stories of teams and individuals in the history of all our teams in Gordon County. From the days of 12 or so high schools in the county through the days of Red Bud, Fairmount, Stephens, and Calhoun High, there are so many outstanding stories of teams and individuals needing to be told, written and saved for generations to come.
A personal preference
Age has caught up with this old coach. No longer am I passionate about a team and the outcome of their games. Oh, I have my preferences, but any disappointment over a loss disappears in a matter of minutes. Recently I have coined an expression which declares that love and romance is far more important than the outcome of an athletic contest.
It is a personal preference that none of the coaches lose. It doesn’t work that way. A determining factor in any preference I have is friends I have who are strongly involved in their support of a specific team.
For instance, my friend Sports Editor Alex Farrer is a devoted North Carolina fan. I like for Alex to be happy after his Tar Heels play. The late Ron Purdy, former head football coach at Calhoun, graduated from North Carolina. Hamp and Joy Alexander display with pride a North Carolina flag in front of their house.
All these and other lend support to a strong sentiment for the Tar Heels.
A good outcome is wished for any reader and their team. Only one team is going to provide the big thrill.