They dreamed of The Show.
Ron “Fritz” Williams. Lou Groza. Bill Mazeroski. Phil and Joe Niekro. Lance Mehl. Ashley Battle. Sean Vincent. C.J. Goodwin. Sylvia Crawley. Joe Pettini. Doug Chapman. John “Hondo” Havlicek. Willie Clay. Mike Gulan. Ben Taylor. Heath Haynes. Chuck Howley. Bill Jobko. Eddie Drummond. Tim Spencer. Leo Jenkins. Bob Jeter. Dan McGraw. Fred Bruney. Tim Moxley. Quincy Wilson. Tom Keane. Les Browne. Joe Fortunato.
Those names represent many of the reasons why The Dream is still alive here in the Upper Ohio Valley, and the monikers also explain the attention we pay, without fail, to our high school student/athletes no matter what the competition may be. Thousands have graduated from high school and have received scholarship dollars to continue their athletic and academic careers on the next level, and then there are those special specimens who survived all the filters to make it to The Show.
Those names have been enshrined in Hall of Fames, along highways, and are recalled constantly by coaches at their alma maters, and that is because of the motivation it could offer to the next one who climbs to incredible levels.
We all know, don’t we, that there will be a next one, and another after him or her.
These two LEDE stories struck a chord with thousands of readers across the country if not the world, and that is because of our memories of their success right here at home.
The Mike Young Factor
He’s been asked to fill huge shows at St. Clairsville and at Wheeling Central Catholic, and Mike Young made the footgear fit quite well at both high schools. He is now 8-0 in Super Six Class finals, including the last three championships after nearly being excused as head coach.
His players are like his family, and although that may sound conspicuously corny, it’s the truth. Ask anyone who has played for him. Although Young refuses any credit for his level of successful, he allows his student/athletes to dream that dream of the next level and beyond.
The Best of Bishop Donahue Hoops
What I recall most from playing against the Bishops in the early to mid-1980s is the tenacity with which each member of Tom Tribett’s teams played the game. They capitalized on mistakes, made their free throws, ran the ball up the court more quickly than most teams, and Bishop Donahue would have been even more successful had the three-point line been implemented during those heydays.
And their “house” in McMechen was a distinct advantage to the Bishops, too, because of their ferocious fans, the tightness of the court, and even the press box above attached to the southeast corner of the gym, and those remained the same up until the high school was closed following the 2016-17 academic year.
In this column, Joe Myers selected his all-time team according to position.
