Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Daily Pooch Punt: 3/28/2007
Forgive me folks. I remember not how long ago it was. Nor do I remember what year Tyler Crawford was when it happened, that’s what happens when you’re a sports editor and life turns into a flurry of names, faces and stats that seem to change and restart every four years.
What I do know is that I was fairly new to the area, maybe in my first year as sports editor here, when Crawford, now an unheralded leader for Georgetown, then a standout player for Robert E. Lee, made me stop and think. He made me almost put down my notebook and extend my hand just to say thanks.
Sorry, I don’t remember the run he sparked. I’m guessing it was a 15-2 run (or something like that) with his Leemen down to a then-tough Western Albemarle squad. I do remember it was in Staunton, surrounded by hometown fans in the gym named after his legendary coach, Paul Hatcher.
I do remember what happened. A steal by one of his teammates, Crawford turned upcourt and streaked down the far side before the guard who stole the ball (sorry, his name escapes me, lost somewhere amid all the athletes I’ve covered) tossed a picture-perfect bounce pass that found its mark in stride.
I remember Crawford taking two dribbles, picking it up just as he entered the lane from the far side, jumping and extending the palmed rock over and behind his head.
I remember the sound. A hushed cheer, starting low and quiet before erupting as Crawford served up that tomahawk dunk with all the courtesy of a French waiter. I remember the crowd going crazy. I remember Western Albemarle calling a timeout. I remember Crawford not pounding his chest or pointing to his just-getting massive forearms. I remember Crawford waiting until the timeout was called then, and only then, did he do the slightest of fist pumps.
The dunk sparked a huge run for Lee and they went on to win the game.
It all started with the dunk, so I went up to Crawford after the game. His ever present smile, his red Air Jordan shirt. His shaved head.
And I asked him to tell me about that dunk and how the rest of his teammates fed off his explosive play to help secure the win.
He looked at me like I had a cat growing out the side of my head.
“The dunk?” he asked. “What about the bounce pass?”
He then pointed to the player that fed him the ball and called him over.
“I’ll tell you all about the dunk, Jim,” he said, his arm draped around the shoulder of the guy who got the ball to him. “But here’s the real reason why that run started.”
And that was the reason Lee won that game.
You can’t help but root for Tyler Crawford.
(Leave a comment and share your own Tyler Crawford memory from his days at Robert E. Lee)
And another thing: When Georgetown coach John Thompson III says, “It’s his commitment, it’s his work ethic, it’s his belief in how we’re doing it,” about Crawford, you know the Staunton kid hasn’t changed one bit in the big city.
Didn’t see that coming: Fort Defiance handed Turner Ashby a 9-2 loss in softball Wednesday. No big deal? Sure, this is the same TA team that won 87 straight Valley District games. All I’m sayin’ is WOW!
You have to choose one: Winning your NCAA office pool or winning the new Waynesboro football coach pool. Which pays more? Oh, and Waynesboro, you’re on the clock, your week is up.
Name to watch: Stuarts Draft JV pitcher Jeremy Fitzgerald stuck out 11 in a one-hit shutout win over Buffalo Gap on Wednesday. Hmm .. someone might not be on varsity for long.
So, all the Cougars did Tuesday: Was go out and beat Fort Defiance in boys soccer 2-1 in OT. Should the rest of the Valley be scared yet?
Oh and there Yeago kid.