REMEMBERING 2013

Geezers, gators and Gus

It was entertaining

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Photo Illustration
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Photo Illustration

It was a good year for Arkansas alligator hunters, a 38-year-old right-fielder from Pine Bluff, a craggy-faced 46-year-old jockey who took his sweet time reaching a longawaited milestone, a 58-yearold who still likes to drive in the fast lane and two accomplished golfers - ages 44 and 61 - who told all the flat-bellies to get off their yards.

It was another one-and done year for the head football coach at Arkansas State, which led to another coaching search for Red Wolves Athletic Director Terry Mohajir.

It was a good year for an Arkansas freshman running back who sports dreadlocks and a cool nickname, Budda, but not so much for his team.

It was a season first-year Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema and Razorbacks football fans would like to wipe from the record books, if only they could.

It was a good time to be a first-year Auburn football coach from Fort Smith (Gus Malzahn, national coach of the year), a former Razorbacks golfer (Stacy Lewis, Women’s British Open champion), Hall High School’s basketball team (which won its fourth consecutive state title) and Henderson State’s football team (which scored points so fast the Reddies could have been pulled over for speeding).

It was an almost invisible year for former undisputed middleweight boxing champion Jermain Taylor, who popped in for a cameo appearance early on the under card of a fight night two weeks ago in San Antonio.

Oh, and it was a good year for Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long, who gained fame and fortune without hiring or firing anybody.

We could go on and on, so we did.

It’s no fun when you lose Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema, speaking after a 52-7 homecoming loss to South Carolina: “Just unacceptable.” No power in positive thinking Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema, speaking two days before Arkansas’ 52-0 loss to No. 1 Alabama: “I say don’t be a Debbie Downer. Just because history’s happened in the past doesn’t mean it needs to repeat itself.” Best performance by a true freshman running back with dreadlocks named Budda Arkansas’ Alex Collins, who in his first SEC season rushed 190 times for 1,026 yards and caught 11 passes for 63 yards.

There goes the Gus bus First-year Auburn Coach Gus Malzahn was named college football’s national coach of the year after leading the Tigers toan upset of No. 1 Alabama and into the BCS Championship Game against Florida State.

That’s a far cry from Hughes High School, where he began his head coaching career20 years ago before moving to Shiloh Christian High School, Springdale High School, the University of Arkansas, Tulsa University, Auburn University, Arkansas State and then back to Auburn.

Best performance by college football coaches from Arkansas not named Gus Louisville’s Charlie Strong (Batesville) and Cincinnati’s Tommy Tuberville (Camden). Strong led the Cardinals to an 12-1 record while Tuberville led the Bearcats to a 9-4 mark.

Biggest headache for defensive coordinators Henderson State scored 60 points five times this season, including an 82-10 victory over Southern Nazarene.

A winning hand Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long, who parlayed the positive publicity over his handling of the Bobby Petrino firing into being named the first chairman of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee as well as $300,000 worth of bonuses and raises when his name came up as a top candidate during Texas’ search for a new athletic director.

Didn’t we just do this?

Arkansas State Athletic Director Terry Mohajir had to replace his second head football coach in two years after Bryan Harsin left to take the Boise State job.

Is there a doctor in the house? Former UCA Coach Clint Conque was calling for one Nov. 9 after his football team’s 58-31 loss to Southeastern Louisiana: “When the bleeding started, we couldn’t put a tourniquet on it.”

Best tweet High school. - Former Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Mitch Mustain after Auburn’s victory over No. 1 Alabama, which opened the door for the Tigers and Coach Gus Malzahn - Mustain’s high school coach at Springdale - to eventually advance to the BCS Championship Game against Florida State.

Best tweet you might reconsider Karma. - Jen Bielema, wife of Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema, after Wisconsin - her husband’s former team-lost 32-30 to Arizona State early in the college football season. The Badgers went on to finish the regular season 9-3 and earn an invitation to the Capital One Bowl. Arkansas finished 3-9.

Best winning streak Greenwood’s high school football team ran its winning streak to 50 games before losing to Pine Bluff in the semifinals of the Class 6A state playoffs.

Best Vince Lombardi look-alike Greenwood Coach Rick Jones, who wins football games, idolizes the Green Bay Packers’ iconic coach and even sports a space between his two front teeth.

Biggest pain Mother Nature. She played havoc with the playing schedule at the Western Amateur, pushing the final match to Monday morning when only members, media and family could attend. Five months later, she took on high school football, covering much of the state in ice and causing the playoffs to be pushed back a week. Finally, the playoffs ended Dec. 20-21 with a splash, as more than 5 inches of rain fell during the Class 4A, 3A and 2A title games.

Host with the most Warren Stephens, who opened his exclusive Alotian Club to the Western Amateur and the public for a week last summer. He was a highly visible and accessible host.

Miss America Former University of Arkansas golfer Stacy Lewis, who won the Women’s British Open, and finished the season as the top ranked American in women’s golf.

Get off my lawn Stan Lee, 61, won the ASGA Match Play championship in August, defeating 19-year-old Drew Greenwood in the final.

Things go better with … Former Henderson State golfer Ken Duke, 44, did his best NASCAR imitation, spraying Coke all over CBS cameras and himself after winning his first PGA Tournament in June at the Travelers Championship.

Uh Calvin, while we’re young Jockey Calvin Borel, who entered the Oaklawn racing season needing one victory to reach the 5,000 milestone, missed time with a broken wrist then went 0 for 20 when he did return before winning No. 5,000 on March 7, seven weeks after the season started.

It must be the crab cakes How else do you explain Oxbow, the sixth-place finisher of the Arkansas Derby and sixth-place finisher of the Kentucky Derby, winning the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

Best reason to stay out of the water Drew Baker of Little Rock killed a 13-foot, 9-inch alligator that weighed 1,135 pounds Sept. 21 on a lake in Hempstead County.

Slow down, Grandpa Sammy Swindell celebrated his 58th birthday by winning the Short Track Nationals at I-30 Speedway in Little Rock. The combined ages of the second and third-place finishers was still 15 years younger than Swindell.

An All-Star in any uniform Detroit Tigers outfielder Torii Hunter of Pine Bluff has played for three different American League teams - Minnesota, California and Detroit - and has represented each in the All-Star Game, including making his fifth All-Star appearance this year in his first season with the Tigers. Hunter hit .304 with 17 home runs and84 runs batted in to help the Tigers win their third consecutive American League Central title.

4 balls and you’re out Arkansas Travelers Manager Tim Bogar was ejected just four pitches into an Aug. 13 victory over San Antonio for arguing a call at second base.

Earning his Angel wings Travs pitcher Michael Roth bounced back and forth between the Arkansas Travs and Anaheim Angels, getting called up to the majors four times during the season before finishing the season with the Angels.

Making Crash Davis proud Catcher Cody Clark, a former Fayetteville High School standout who played at Arkansas and Wichita State before embarking on a professional baseball career, made his major-league debut with the Houston Astros in September.

Clark played 11 seasons in the minors, including a stint with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.

Best handcuffs The Arkansas Razorbacks pitching staff led the nation with a 1.89 ERA.

So why do you spell your name like that? Forrestt Allday, the former UCA right fielder who is now in the Boston Red Sox organization, had a good explanation why his name is spelled in such an unorthodox manner: “My mom told me she wanted something unique. I looked up to see how many people have the same name - two Rs, two Ts - and I believe I was the only one. I can’t complain.”

Best makeover North Little High School demolished its historic football stadium to make way for a new stadium on the existing site.

Best buzzer beater Little Rock Hall defeated Jonesboro 34-33 on a last-second three pointer by Evan James to win the Class 6A boys basketball state championship. It was James’ only points.

Dream season, nightmarish finish Des Arc’s football team made it to the Class 2A state championship game against defending champion Junction City, but it was all downhill from there as Junction City led 41-0 at halftime on its way to a 61-0 victory in the state championship game at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

Best series of sequels since Rocky Four consecutive state titles for the Little Rock Hall High School boys basketball team, with Bobby Portis in the starring role.

High 5s El Dorado finished with a 9-5 record, but beat Pine Bluff for its fourth Class 6A state championship in the last five seasons under Coach Scott Reed.

I wish this was my GPA Former Arkansas running backs Darren McFadden, Felix Jones, Peyton Hillis, Dennis Johnson and Knile Davis are all averaging between 3.5 and 3.8 yards per carry this season in the NFL.

Those are good numbers in the classroom, but not so much on the football field.

Best performance by a professional athlete in Miami named Clay, but not Cassius OK, we’re not comparing Charles Clay to Cassius Clay. But the Miami Dolphins tight end, a former Little Rock Central standout, has had a breakout year with 65 catches for 716 yards and 6 touchdowns in his third NFL season. This comes almost 50 years after Cassius Clay scored one of the greatest upsets in sports history Feb. 25, 1964, when he won the heavyweight championship over Sonny Liston, who failed to answer the bell for the seventh round at the Miami Convention Center.

Who knew he could talk so good?

Former Arkansas quarterback and NFL receiver Matt Jones has made a surprising transition to an insightful and entertaining sports radio personality after being an often reluctant interview subject during his playing days.

Almost time for AARP Oklahoma City Thunder guard Derek Fisher, 39, played in his 18th NBA season. Fisher, who grew up in Little Rock and played at Parkview and UALR, can apply for membership in AARP in 11years, even if he’s still playing.

Give me the ball Arkansas guard BJ Young scored game winning baskets in the final seconds of victories over Missouri and Georgia.

Best team you may not have noticed The Arkansas Razorbacks soccer team went 15-8-1 and made its first trip to the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the round of 16.

Welcome to the club Arkansas Coach Chris Bucknam earned his first national title since replacing the legendary John McDonnell as Arkansas’ track and field coach when the Razorbacks captured the NCAA Indoor title.Put out to pasture Shelly the mascot, who was retired by the Arkansas Travelers.

Who said I was retired?

Jermain Taylor returned to the ring after a14-month layoff in front of only a few fans in attendance at the Alamodome in San Antonio, and defeated Juan Carlos Candelo early on the undercard of a program that included four title fights headlined by the Adrien Broner-Marcos Maidana welterweight title fight.

No one did it any better Arkansas Democrat-Gazette columnist Jim Bailey retired after working more than 50 years for the Arkansas Gazette and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Sports, Pages 21 on 12/29/2013

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