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Showing posts from December, 2011

Clippings Serve As a Reminder of Wooden Impact

Every time I watch a college basketball game, the image of John Wooden always seems to pop into my mind. I am not sure why. In truth, I was never much of a UCLA fan. During the Bruins’ winning years, I often rooted against the Bruins, always hoping they would fail. But, in the end, the Wooden-led teams most often prevailed and in a classy way. Coach Wooden was always kind and respectful of opponents and everyone he met or talked with; was a keen mind and brilliant strategist on the basketball court. At least from this writer’s perspective, Wooden, who died in 2010, was not only the greatest-ever college basketball coach but also a great man. Nearly every day, I am reminded about Wooden from clippings that hang in a frame on my bedroom wall. Years ago when my uncle Ed Ralston passed away, he left some old clippings, including several from the San Diego Union about Wooden’s final championship, his 10thin his 12 years. While I did not root for UCLA, I always respected the school

Baseball Waited Too Long on Santo

Sometimes I just shake my head. I wonder why honoring committees, whether it be state, university or professional, wait until a person is gone before they are recognized. Having worked with both the University of South Dakota Coyote Sports Hall of Fame and now with the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame, I can tell you first-hand that a lot of candidates have credentials that make them deserving ofn recognition. I know it is a difficult task in making  decisions on who deserves enshrinement. It takes a lot of deliberation and hard work. Still, I wonder why we don't act when we know a deserving person is in the final stages of life. I acknowledge that sometimes, it can't be helped. And, yes, decisions on Hall of Fame inductions (and other honoring events) is subjective. Still... Until it was announced earlier this fall by Baseball's Veteran's Hall of Fame Committee, Ron Santo, one of baseball's all-time greats at third base, was continually bypassed for inducti

"Good Guy" Joe Glenn Returns to Alma Mater to Take Over FB Job

A "good guy" is coming home. Joe Glenn, 62, has always extolled a positive, upbeat message, whether coaching, congregating with family or friends, addressing the public or just living his life. He always has lived the ideal of "being a good guy." That positive message was on display as Glenn was named The University of South Dakota's 29th head football coach at press announcement on Monday Dec. 6 on the Vermillion campus. Once a player and assistant coach for the Coyotes, Glenn's career has come full circle as he takes over the reins of the state's most storied football program as it begins a new era as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. From all appearances, the arrival of Glenn appears to be a perfect fit. A high-motivation guy who loves USD, he now gets to talk the Coyote talk and walk the Coyote walk in Coyote land. “Somebody come pinch me," said Glenn, who graduated from USD in 1971. "Words can’t express how I feel right now.