Callander recalls '92 Cup win, picks Detroit this time
Saturday, May 24, 2008Sixteen years after his name was engraved on the Stanley Cup, former Muskegon Lumberjack star Jock Callander is taking a keen interest in this year's final series.
Tonight, the Detroit Red Wings host the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals.
Callander predicts a highly competitive series, showcasing two teams with plenty of skill and speed.
"I think it will be awesome," said Callander, who was a member of the last Penguin team to hoist the Stanley Cup in 1992. "Neither team has seen the speed the other team will bring and the skill up front."
Since Callander lives in Avon Lake, Ohio, located between Pittsburgh and Detroit, he's seen both teams play on television on numerous occasions.
"Detroit hasn't seen anyone like (Sidney) Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, so I think it will be exciting," said Callander,. the all-time leading scorer in the IHL. "I'm kind of torn between who to cheer for."
One of Detroit's assistant coaches is Todd McClellan, who has coached with Callander in the past. On the other side, the Penguins are his former team.
"I think Detroit is going to win," he said. "When the playoffs got going, I thought Detroit would win for sure. But now I think it's going to be closer than I thought with the way Pittsburgh is playing and Detroit has had trouble scoring. Pittsburgh will score some goals and if Johan Franzen comes back, that will help."
Believe it or not, it was 16 years ago when Callander was informed during a pregame meal with the Muskegon Lumberjacks that he and Mike Needham had been summoned to the Penguins.
"We were getting ready for a game and Phil Russell came in and told Mike Needham and me that we were going up," said Callander, whose recalled was prompted by injuries to Mario Lemieux and Joey Mullen. The next game, Bob Errey got hurt and the Lumberjacks lost another high scorer in Dave Michayluk.
I think it will be awesome," said Callander, who was a member of the last Penguin team to hoist the Stanley Cup in 1992. "Neither team has seen the speed the other team will bring and the skill up front."
Since Callander lives in Avon Lake, Ohio, located between Pittsburgh and Detroit, he's seen both teams play on television on numerous occasions.
"Detroit hasn't seen anyone like (Sidney) Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, so I think it will be exciting," said Callander,. the all-time leading scorer in the IHL. "I'm kind of torn between who to cheer for."
One of Detroit's assistant coaches is Todd McClellan, who has coached with Callander in the past. On the other side, the Penguins are his former team.
"I think Detroit is going to win," he said. "When the playoffs got going, I thought Detroit would win for sure. But now I think it's going to be closer than I thought with the way Pittsburgh is playing and Detroit has had trouble scoring. Pittsburgh will score some goals and if Johan Franzen comes back, that will help."
Believe it or not, it was 16 years ago when Callander was informed during a pregame meal with the Muskegon Lumberjacks that he and Mike Needham had been summoned to the Penguins.
"We were getting ready for a game and Phil Russell came in and told Mike Needham and me that we were going up," said Callander, whose recalled was prompted by injuries to Mario Lemieux and Joey Mullen. The next game, Bob Errey got hurt and the Lumberjacks lost another high scorer in Dave Michayluk.
The three Lumberjacks were put on the same line, dubbed the "Muskegon line." All three scored one goal in the playoffs. Callander ended up with four points in 12 games, Michayluk had two points in seven games and Needham had one point in five games.
"In our first game together against Boston, they scored on us, but (Coach) Scotty Bowmen left us out there and we scored," Callander said.
The Penguins fell behind the Rangers 3-1 in the series before roaring back to win that series in seven games. They proceeded to sweep the Bruins in the Eastern Conference finals and the Chicago Blackhawks in the finals.
The deciding game was played at the old Chicago Stadium before a raucous crowd.
"It was a great game," said Callander. "I didn't get off the bench, but I was sweating. It was back and forth. I didn't get a shift. I thought if we'd get a couple goal lead, I'd get out there, but everytime we'd get up, they would score.
"It was unbelievable how loud it was in there," said Callander, who is the director of community relations and hockey operations for the American Hockey League's Lake Erie Monsters. "It was just an awesome feeling. I was so exhausted and I didn't even play much."
The charter flight back to Pittsburgh included players, their parents, wives and girlfriends.
"Everyone was happy and having a good time, but some of the guys were just exhausted," said Callander.
Six years ago, Callander met his former teammates on the golf course for a 10-year reunion of the championship team. He's run into several teammates since then and meets up with his good friend, Michayluk, every summer.
"We'll sit down and play cribbage, drink a couple beers and talk," said Callander.
One topic that certainly arises every year is the time three players from Muskegon helped the Penguins win their last Stanley Cup title 16 years ago.
He was one of "Okie's boys" and he could run like the wind. Everett "Sonny" Grandelius, a Muskegon Heights High School sports legend, was one of the best and now he is gone.
Grandelius, 79 when he died last Friday, played for the Tigers in the middle 1940s when the Muskegon Big Reds-Heights rivalry was at a fever pitch -- the Heights coached by Oscar "Okie" Johnson and the Reds by C. Leo "Tiny" Redmond. "Sonny's" teams went undefeated in all three years he played.
In his greatest game as a two-way starter on offense and defense, Grandelius' 1945 Tigers beat the undefeated Big Reds at Hackley Stadium in a thrilling 7-6 game rated as one of the greatest ever played here. Heights won the mythical state championship that year.
The star's career wasn't over yet by a long shot. "Sonny" became an All-American at Michigan State University, earning three football letters, numerous accolades, setting records all over the place and earning the title of "Mr. Touchdown." At school, he carried a straight "A" average in every subject but one -- "The Theory of Football."
He later served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, earning the Bronze Star, played a season for the professional New York Giants in the National Football League, went on to a coaching career in the college ranks, and also served as commentator for CBS Sports.
Through it all, Grandelius never forgot Muskegon Heights or West Michigan. He was a frequent attendee at the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame banquets. "Sonny" was a class act in every way, and a hallmark figure in local athletic history, someone who was, in the words of local football historian Ron Pesch, "the classic model of the student-athlete," who enriched our community in many ways.
Yet he saw things differently.
Standing before a huge Muskegon audience who had turned out in force to see their local hero honored during "Grandelius Day" in 1951, and with tears running down his face, he said:
"The community owes me nothing, but I owe it everything."
Gary Ford, one of the greatest players in the long history of Muskegon professional hockey, died early Thursday at home in Washago, Ontario.
Ford, 62, died of an apparent heart attack, said longtime friend Steve Habetler, who was informed of his death by Ford's wife, Sue.
Ford was inducted into the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1996 after a highly successful 10-year career with the Muskegon Mohawks.
"Gary Ford was probably the most talented hockey player I've seen personally," said Habetler. "And the smartest hockey player. I learned so much from him about the game. That was like getting a Ph.D. in hockey. He was so smart and so smooth."
Ford was born Oct. 6, 1946 in Toronto, Ontario, and began his Mohawk career in 1967.
During his rookie season, Ford had 56 goals and 59 assists for 115 points. He not only won the Leo Lamoureux Memorial Trophy as the league's top scorer, but was also won the Garry F. Longman Memorial Trophy as the league's top rookie.
He won another scoring title in 1971-72 when he amassed 109 points in 71 games and in in 1972-73 when he appeared in just 59 games, but scored 60 goals and 81 assists for 141 points.
How did Ford explain his scoring title despite missing more than a dozen games?
"A lot of payoffs," said Ford in a Chronicle story published in 1995. "I slipped the goalies five dollars. In those days it was a lot of money."
That point total remains the highest ever in Muskegon hockey history. He was a four-time all-star in the International Hockey League.
He played 10 games in the American Hockey League for the Nova Scotia Vogageurs part of the 1972-73 season and later with the Grand Rapids Blades in the USHL.
Ford retired from the Mohawks after the 1979 season having scored 353 goals and 577 assists for 930 points.
The Ford and Habetler families were neighbors for many years and remained in constant contact. They annually spent two weeks together in the summer at a cottage, talked on the phone and exchanged e-mails.
"As gruff as he appeared on the outside, he was probably one of the warmest human beings I've ever met," said Habetler, a former hockey coach at Mona Shores High School. "He loved watching kids. He just enjoyed the game with the kids ... he was a big kid himself."
Marquis Brewer and Mark Parker continue to be tough matchups for Muskegon Heights' opposition.
The dynamic Tiger duo couldn't be stopped Thursday on Day 1 of the Sixth Annual Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame Basketball Classic as the Tigers remained perfect in the history of the event.
Brewer came off the bench to score 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting and Parker totaled 14 points in Heights' 71-61 win over Fremont at Reeths-Puffer High School.
"Marquis and Mark might be the most athletic tandem in the state," said Tigers coach Keith Guy. "It's definitely nice to have a 1-2 punch like that."
In Thursday's second game,
Muskegon ran away from Mona Shores 70-55.
Both the Big Reds and the Tigers appear to have momentum heading into today's 7:30 p.m. showdown between the rivals.
Fremont and Mona Shores meet in today's first tilt at 6 p.m. Tickets go on sale at 5 p.m. at Reeths-Puffer's ticket booth.
Muskegon Heights 71, Fremont 61
Brewer and Parker's production, plus a game-high 19 points from Heights senior guard/forward Zolton Vines, secured the win against Fremont.
The Packers never threatened to win, but did hang around. They trailed by 12 points entering the fourth quarter and closed to within six with 29 seconds to play.
It wasn't until Vines went 4-for-4 from the foul line in the last 25 seconds that Heights could move on to thinking about Muskegon.
"We have a lot of guys who are still trying to figure out their roles," said Guy, whose team improved to 4-3. "We still lack that killer instinct we need to have to finish teams off, but we got the job done."
Fremont (3-3) was left wondering what could have been had it gotten off to a better start.
The Packers led 10-9 through two minutes of play, but could've scored more.
Muskegon Heights' transition defense did not match up well with the Packers four-guard offense and Fremont got loose for plenty of open 3-pointers and shots in the lane.
Fremont only shot 29 percent from the field in the opening half. Heights shot 60 percent to take a 33-26 halftime lead.
"We had a lot of close shots and open looks and we've got to put them away," said Packers coach Peter Zerfas. "I think instead of being aggressive we were pretty passive and that led to the missed shots.
"We still don't have the confidence that we can beat a team like that. I think we can."
Jeremy Gerth led Fremont with 17 points and three steals. Sean Hendon added 12 points and Dan Durham added a team-high seven rebounds and four steals.
Parker and Vines paced the Tigers with eight rebounds apiece. Heights had a 34-24 edge on the glass.
For the game, Muskegon Heights shot 29-of-50 from the field and just 1-for-3 from 3-point range. The Packers were 19-of-56 overall and 7-for-25 beyond the arc.
Muskegon 70, Mona Shores 55
The Big Reds continued their steady play early this season with the double-digit win over their former league rivals.
Muskegon built an 18-point lead behind aggressive play at both ends of the court and then turned to its long-range shooting to turn away a Sailors' rally in the second half.
The Big Reds improved to 5-1 heading into their rivalry game with the Tigers, who have beaten them each of the previous five meetings.
"I think one of the keys for us was being focused on Mona Shores," said Muskegon coach Bernard Loudermill. "The kids did a great of concentrating on what they needed to do this game. I'm sure they're glad they can turn their attention to Muskegon Heights now because they've been looking forward to it for a long time."
Shores (1-5) was led by Matt Heneveld and Tony Roof with 23 and 12 points, respectively.
The Sailors started the second half on an 11-2 run to get back in the game. Muskegon led 41-32 with 2:55 to play in the third quarter, but sank four three-pointers in the next five minutes to stem the tide.
Senior Chris Crawford drained four 3-pointers on his way to a game-high 20 points. Takarri Churchwell totaled 12 points, six assists and three steals and Corey Johnson added 11 points and seven rebounds for Muskegon.
Drew Naymick is smart enough to earn a Ph.D., but not at the expense of his basketball career.
"I'm in a position in my life and on this team that I wouldn't trade for anything," said Michigan State's 6-10, 245-pound senior center.
"I've had some success academically, but it's not why I'm here. I'm a basketball player. It's what I love to do. I'm going play as long as I can."
The former North Muskegon standout came of age last season, mastering Spartan coach Tom Izzo's intricate system.
He led the team with 55 blocked shots, the second-highest season total ever by a Spartan. He appeared in 35 games, starting the last 11. He averaged 3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in those starts.
Naymick has blocked 89 shots since his college career began in 2004 and needs just nine more to break Matt Steigenga's school record of 97 set from 1988-92.
Naymick earned his undergraduate degree in finance last spring and is currently taking master's and doctorate level courses.
Realistically, though, he says getting a Ph.D. is a long shot. Not because he couldn't, but because he hopes to have a long, successful pro hoops career.
"That's the goal of every player at a high Division I program. Of course, the air is very thin up at the top, but if the opportunity presents itself, I'd take it."
If that means playing overseas, so be it, Naymick says.
Naymick already has passed a major turning point in his life and has chosen a path which will determine his future.
Last summer, when Naymick's undergraduate classmates began building financial careers by working as interns in brokerages and investment firms on Wall Street or in Chicago, he was in the gym.
"(An internship) takes 100 percent of your time and you can't do that with basketball," he says. "But I love what I'm doing and I wouldn't trade it for anything."
Where will his choice leave him 10 years from now?
"You know what, I'd still like to be playing," he said. "But it's likely I'll have found a finance-related job somewhere."
As an undergrad, Naymick said he learned a basic knowledge of financial theory. In the graduate-level classes he's taken this year, he's learned about the real-world applications of financial theory on the corporate level.
He made the same transition from theory to practice on the basketball court.
"You can't play here unless you can defend. Defense is the cornerstone -- defense and rebounding. That comes through in everything we do and practice."
"There's definitely a learning curve. It's especially true when you're a freshman. You think you play defense in high school, but you really don't. It's not anywhere near the system we have here."
"The first couple years, I spent a lot of time learning the system and learning to function within the system," Naymick said.
After starting the first seven games of the 2005-06 season, Naymick suffered a shoulder injury and was red-shirted.
By last season, Naymick says he'd learned Izzo's system so well that shifting assignments on the fly became second nature.
By the end of this season, Naymick will earn his doctorate in Izzology.
"You can learn a lot of life-lessons from a guy like Izzo," Naymick said. "Lessons about competitiveness and desire and drive and what can separate you from the people you're competing with. Lessons that are very applicable to the business world. No one will ever outwork him or out-prepare him. That's something that not only applies in basketball, but in life as well."
"He's never satisfied -- it's one of things that makes him a good coach. Every year he pushes us further than we think we can go. Right now, of course, he's pushing me to be more of an offensive player."
Even the demanding Izzo was pleased after the Spartans handled Texas, 78-72, on Saturday, said Naymick.
The win pushed the Spartans from No. 9 up to No. 7 in the AP Top 25 poll.
The Spartans (11-1) are the only team in the poll to play four ranked teams, beating all but UCLA.
"That was a big-time win," Naymick said. "We checked their stuff and had some players step up on offense."
"I didn't put up the best numbers, but I did what I do -- played 30 minutes of solid defense."
Naymick finished with four points, one rebound and a block.
Through Saturday, Naymick's 15 blocks are second on the team only to starting center Goran Suton's 16. Naymick is averaging 3.6 rebounds and 3.5 points a game.
"Our confidence, team-wise, is at an all-time high right now," Naymick said on Monday. "As long as we take care of business against Wisconsin-Green Bay (on Saturday), then we can get back into the Big Ten season and do some damage there."
Anything less than the Big Ten title and a run deep into the NCAA tournament will be a disappointment, Naymick said.
Naymick made it back to North Muskegon for Christmas, fighting whiteouts and detouring around a pile-up on the drive from East Lansing on Sunday.
He planned a quiet break.
"I'm getting a little bug. Physically, I'm not feeling well, so I'm going to lay low and rest."
By Scott Brandenburg
Chronicle correspondent
Terrance Taylor is currently on a much-needed three-day break before he packs up and heads to Florida.
The last month for Taylor has pretty much been a blur to the University of Michigan junior defensive tackle.
Even though Taylor and the Michigan football team hasn't played a game since their gut-wrenching 14-3 home loss to rival Ohio State over a month ago, there's been plenty of activity to digest.
"It's been pretty hectic," agreed Taylor, the two-year starting nose tackle for the Maize and Blue. "I think I'm going to hang out here and relax."
All that Taylor's had to deal with is the post-OSU loss, announcement of veteran U-M head coach Lloyd Carr's retirement (effective after the bowl game), the waiting game before the Wolverines learned they're headed to the Capital One Bowl to play defending champion Florida, the naming of new head coach Rich Rodriguez, the firing of all of the Wolverine assistant coaches (also effective after the bowl game) and final exams.
It's enough to make even the most grounded and light-hearted athlete's head spin and Taylor is exactly that.
Despite all the distractions Taylor's focus is still on playing the game he loves at a high level and getting a win for his Wolverines.
The former all-stater and state champ at Muskegon has certainly got a lot to play for Jan. 1 -- an outgoing coach, outgoing senior friends and ... himself.
"I haven't won a bowl game since I've been here, so I really want to win this one," said Taylor, whose Wolverines lost to USC 32-18 in the 2007 Rose Bowl and lost 32-28 to Nebraska in his freshman season. "There are a lot of people who want to win this. Of course we'd like to make it a good game for Coach Carr in his last game here, but we just want to win, period."
Taylor feels a win on a New Year's Day Bowl against one of the hottest teams in the country will make a disappointing season measurably less so.
Besides the injuries to senior quarterback Chad Henne and senior running back Mike Hart, the Michigan defense has been under the most scrutiny.
Taylor, a 6-0, 308-pound nose tackle, has done his part to solidify the line and the 'D' and continues to look for ways to improve. He knows Florida and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow poses plenty of problems.
"We know they've got a pretty good offense," said Taylor. "We just need to take care of our responsibilities and try to disrupt their rhythm as much as possible.
Heading into the Capital One Bowl the 21-year-old Muskegon native's focus is on losing some weight so he can play lighter and quicker both in a week and in his upcoming senior season.
Taylor's always combined strength, he was the state's power lifting champion for three straight years, and quickness in his game. He's just looking for a little more.
It didn't slow Taylor down much this season as he earned second-team all-Big 10 honors according to conference coaches. He racked up 27 solo tackles and 54 overall (6th on team), 3.5 sacks (4th), 8.5 tackles for loss (4th) and the only Michigan blocked kick of the season despite drawing plenty of attention.
As of yet Taylor is unsure of how things are going to work out under Rodriguez's regime.
"I haven't really spoken to him yet," said Taylor, who was the only returning starting defensive lineman this season. "I've heard some things but I don't know for sure what all we're going to do.
"So far I've just been waiting around wondering who the assistant coaches are going to be like everyone else. I know it's going to be different but I'm still going to be in the middle of the action. It could be even more hectic in there."
No. 67 has mixed feelings about Carr's retirement.
"I'm sad to see him go," said Taylor. "I wish he would've made next year his last one so he'd coach my last year. At the same time I'm happy for him. I'm happy he can relax and get away from all the stresses of recruiting and media and everything."
A psychology major with a 3.0 grade-point-average, Taylor is looking forward to some fun in the sun starting next week in Florida.
After the month he's had, he's earned it.
Friday, December 14, 2007
By
Dave LeMieux
The Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame board got
twice as much for its money when it selected its
three 2008 inductees.
Another group of Tigers,
And Dan Brink, the first Muskegon-area wrestler to
win a state title, turned the wrestling programs at
both
The hall's 22nd group of athletes will be inducted
on Saturday, June 7 at the Muskegon Harbor Holiday
Inn.
Each year, the hall's 11-member board of directors
considers hundreds of nominees before naming a
select group to be honored. Here's a thumbnail
sketch of the "Class of 2008."
Ossie McCarty
"The Wizard of Oss" played guard on Heights'
legendary 1956 and 1957 Class A state championship
teams, then returned to coach the Tigers to the
Class B title in 1974.
Although basketball was his sport of choice, McCarty
attended
"He had to be one of the best prep athletes ever
from the
"He could have gone anywhere, but he spent 30-plus
years as a teacher, mentor, coach and administrator
with the Heights school system," Young said.
Brought up from the jayvee as a sophomore for the
1956 tournament run, McCarty earned a starting spot
in the 20-1 Tigers' lineup for their 63-53 victory
over
McCarty began the next season as a starter. The
Tigers went 20-0, beating archrival
He was named varsity basketball coach and athletic
director in 1971. He compiled a 100-33 record in
five seasons before the controversial hiring of
24-year-old former Heights' star Lee Gilbert in the
fall of 1977.
McCarty's 1972 team reached the Class B title game
before losing to River Rouge, 65-64, after leading
by seven with under a minute to play.
McCarty has always called the 1974 team's run to the
state title the highlight of his sports career. The
'74 team overcame five losses in the regular season
to win Heights' first Class B title 52-44 over Holt.
McCarty once said: "To be truthful, that team didn't
have the talent of some of my other teams, but they
just wanted it more."
Few towns have had a longer running love affair with
the hometown team than
"They really captured the imagination of that town,"
said Young. "Still, to this day, when they're seen
on the street, they're seen as heroes."
"Oh my goodness," said Mary Beckman, whose older
brothers, Fred and Stan Sanford, played on those
teams along with her husband, Bob Beckman.
"We're still talking about those teams. They had a
chemistry and such a sense of pride. We haven't seen
anything like it here since."
Few towns of any size ever have.
The
Outside of
For the folks in
Both titles truly were team efforts, Beckman said.
"Everybody on that team had a role to play," Beckman
said.
The players were inseparable. "Everybody hung out
together," Beckman said. "Not just the starting
five."
Their win over previously unbeaten Stockbridge in
the 1971 title game completed a perfect 24-0 season.
Despite three losses, including to Class B state
finalist
Members of the 1971
Member of the 1972
Dan Brink
A
state champion at Orchard View and an All-American
at both
"He turned
Brink was the first
In 1976, Brink came far closer than any other local
wrestler before him to reaching the Olympics, when
he qualified for the team. But his Olympic dream was
denied when he severely injured his neck en route to
winning his finals match.
Under Brink from 1975-1982,
The Vikings won two regional titles, three
conference championships, three district titles and
won the city meet three times.
Brink resumed his coaching career in 1987, returning
the Fruitport program to prominence. The Trojans
posted a 110-89-1 record in 10 seasons under Brink.
The Trojans' 10 state medalists included three state
champions. Brink's teams won two district titles,
two conference championships and two city meets.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
By Tom Kendra
tkendra@muskegonchronicle.com
Mark Jastrzembski knows exactly what he will do if he ever wins the lottery.
"I would put a 400-meter skating oval out at Muskegon State Park and get the whole place refrigerated," said Jastrzembski, 57, a lifelong resident of the Muskegon area.
"That would be my dream come true."
Jastrzembski's unselfish devotion to two groups -- the West Michigan Speedskating Club and the Muskegon Winter Sports Complex -- has earned him the 2007 Distinguished Service Award from the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame.
The Distinguished Service Award is presented annually to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to sports in the area, but not as an athlete -- a description which fits the high-energy Jastrzembski to a "T."
"Without Mark, it's highly unlikely that the Winter Sports Complex would still be running," said Jim Rudicil, the executive director of the Muskegon State Park facility, which features the luge, skating and cross-country skiing. "Mark is always there any time we need him and he has never asked for anything in return."
Jastrzembski will receive his award at this year's MASHF Induction Ceremony on June 2 at the Holiday Inn-Muskegon Harbor.
He will be joined by athletic inductees Karel Bailey, Jock Callander and Mark Konecny, along with a male and female high school student-athlete of the year, which will be announced in May.
Jastrzembski first got involved with the Muskegon Winter Sports Complex and the Muskegon Sports Council at the urging of complex founder Michael Knight, who knew of Jastrzembski's speedskating knowledge and wanted him to head up the council's "flat ice" activities.
That was 23 years ago, and Jastrzembski is still secretary of the Winter Sports Council board, the founder of the Michigan Winter Triathlon and was the guy cooking hamburgers and hot dogs at the facility's recent free family picnic.
While Jastrzembski is one of many individuals who have helped grow and develop the Winter Sports Complex, he has almost single-handedly run the West Michigan Speedskating Club for the past 19 years.
In 1988, Jastrzembski personally rented the ice at L.C. Walker Arena for six straight Saturdays. Six skaters showed up and the West Michigan Speedskating club was born.
The club, which has included hundreds of skaters from around the state over the past 19 years, now meets on Monday and Tuesday nights in Grand Rapids and Wednesday and Thursday nights in Muskegon. Jastrzembski never misses a practice.
The local club has produced many top skaters, including the club's first national champion, Grand Haven's Kelly Anderson, in 1990 and 1995. Her brother, Todd, was a national champ in 1992.
Other big names who got their start here include Derek Gray, Eva Rodansky, Mike Kooreman, Tom Cole and Kimberly Derrick of Caledonia, who competed in the Olympics last year in Italy.
But those that know Jastrzembski will tell you that he takes just as much pride in helping a youngster learn to skate as he does in producing an Olympian.
"Every Saturday or Sunday during our open skates, I'm able to teach at least one or two kids how to skate," said Jastrzembski, who is a retired third-shift worker from the Muskegon Correctional Facility who also did quite a bit of substitute teaching. "That is my weekly dose of personal satisfaction. To me, that is equal to an Olympian."
The West Michigan Speedskating Club really came of age in 1995, when it hosted the National Short-Track Speedskating Championships at the Walker Arena, where Apolo Ohno, Shani Davis and other future Olympians competed for local fans.
Jastrzembski has also been heavily involved in in-line skating events, founding the Michigan 400 in 1992, which was run for eight years either in the Great Lakes Downs parking lot or at the back parking lot at Muskegon Community College.
A lifelong bachelor, Jastrzembski figures teaching people skating and introducing them to the Winter Sports Complex is his way of giving back to the community he loves.
"I'm a single guy and I have some time," said Jastrzembski, 57. "I guess I see helping kids as part of my calling in life. I'm not done yet."
The local sports hall was formed in 1986 to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of Muskegon-area sports figures. The hall is located on the concourse of the L.C. Walker Arena.
The MASHF currently includes 86 members, eight teams, 16 Distinguished Service Award winners and 22 student-athlete award winners.
By
Mardi Suhs, Cadillac News
Saturday, February 3, 2007
 Courtesy photo: Dick Dolack officiated his first NFL football game on his birthday in 1966. He picked jersey No. 31 to match his age when chosen for the coveted job. |
They don’t get the fame, the glory, or the big bucks. No one knows them by name. But NFL officials suit up every weekend, run the field, and call the plays in front of millions of football fans.
Dick Dolack, whose brother Mike lives in Cadillac, always dreamed of refereeing with the “big guys” of the NFL. He pursued his goal by officiating high school and semi-pro games and sending in numerous letters of application. In addition, he officiated for the NBA from 1960 to 1966.
“I just enjoyed officiating,” Dolack confessed from his home in Muskegon. “I just kept at it.”
But when he got the call from the NFL in 1966, he became one of the youngest NFL officials in history after impressing scouts with his on-field conduct and passing a 25-page exam.
He beat out 500 other applicants and spent his career as a field judge, where he said, “I just have to watch the contact — you just have to see everything and all at the same time.”
One of his career highlights was being tapped to referee Super Bowl IX, considered an honor by the 45 officials who man the NFL games in any one season.
Dolack, who said he was “never afraid to throw the flag,” recalled what it was like to officiate in front of 80,000 fans and about 130 million viewers.
“To be honest,” he admitted, “Super Bowl IX wasn’t one of the big games that you see highlighted now. But working the Super Bowl was the epitome of everything. You had the gut feeling — what am I doing here working the Super Bowl?”
The 1975 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings, the last Super Bowl to be played in cold weather, was a match between two legendary quarterbacks — Terry Bradshaw and Fran Tarkenton. Dolack said the officials had meetings all day Thursday and Friday before the game to go over the mechanics and rule changes.
“We were supposed to open up the new Super Dome,” he remembered. “It was a big hoopla, the new indoor stadium, but it wasn’t ready. So they made the decision to go back out to Tulane stadium. It was a nasty day, with rain and sleet and snow.”
In the low-scoring game, the Steelers beat the Vikings 16 to 6.
Dolack retired in 1991 after a 25-year career with the NFL, but continued as an observer who scouts college officials, looking for the chosen few who make it to the ranks of the NFL.
Dolack observed that in his day the game was more “fun and games and not nasty — things were more relaxed. You made the call and you dreaded the Monday morning phone call from the office. The hassle you get about the call in today’s game — it seems so much more big business.”
He said calls were made not only by the rulebook, but also by “a lot of little intricacies — things discussed during meetings.”
Throughout his years with the NFL, Dolack kept his day job as a pharmacist in Norton Shores near Muskegon. In 1955 he married Patricia Smith, a cheerleader he crashed into while officiating a high school game, and together they raised three children. He’s been inducted into the Muskegon Area Hall of Fame and became the first official to join the Minor Pro Football League Hall of Fame. He is also in the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame.
Field Judge:
Dick Dolack spent 25 years as an NFL official in the position of Field Judge, the official that lines up 25 yards deep in the defensive backfield on the tight end side of the field. His duties include:
Source: www.football.about.com
Highlights of Dick Dolack’s 25 year NFL Officiating Career:
Football officials and
their duties:
Football officials are in charge
of enforcing the rules of the game. Officials are
responsible for monitoring the game clock and play
clock and recording all rule infractions.
The term referee is actually
assigned to only one of the officials during a game.
Each official has his own title and assigned
responsibilities.
There would be no need for second-half heroics for Muskegon Heights' boys basketball team to beat rival Muskegon this time.
The Tigers haven't been a first-half team this season -- and they didn't have a good first three quarters against the Big Reds last time they met-- but they clicked early and often Friday in their latest meeting.
Muskegon Heights capped off the fifth annual Hall of Fame Basketball Classic in style by racing to a 20-8 first-quarter lead and coasting to a 65-46 win over the Big Reds in front of a sold-out Reeths-Puffer Gymnasium crowd.
The tournament is sponsored by the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame and also featured Mona Shores defeating Grand Haven 49-36 in the first game of the doubleheader.
"It was very nice to see us get after it right from the start," said Tigers coach Keith Guy. "I didn't have to do much motivating at all. If you can't get up for a game in front of 3,200 fans and playing Muskegon, than there's something wrong."
The Muskegon Heights seniors took it upon themselves to make sure their team got off to a strong start.
Forward Patrick Martin scored eight of his team's first 10 points, guard Stedman Briggs poured in 13 first-half points and guard David Fox chipped in some timely buckets as Heights opened up a 17-point lead in the second quarter. The Tigers would not let the lead slip below double-digits the rest of the way.
Both Briggs and Fox were struggling before the big game, but both came up with key contributions.
"It's always good to beat Muskegon," said Fox. "We knew we needed to come out and play hard.
"Coach (Guy) told Stedman he wanted him to start and finish games better and he stepped up and scored early for us. Coach told me to just relax and not think too much and I think it helped me feel more comfortable out there."
The hot Tiger start was fueled by energy and defense.
Eight of Heights' first 12 points came off Muskegon turnovers.
The Tigers forced eight Big Red turnovers in the opening eight minutes of action. The mistakes turned into Heights points as well as helped keep Muskegon off the scoreboard.
The Big Reds were limited to eight first-quarter points on three baskets. They weren't able to score on back-to-back possessions until the middle of the third quarter thanks to the stingy Tiger defense.
"We aren't very tall, so we need to play to our strengths," said Guy. "We need to use our quickness to create turnovers and turn our defense into offense. I thank God that we were able to control the tempo of the game and play to our strengths."
Martin scored 16 points, Briggs totaled 15 points, Reuben McFadden added 12 points and Fox contributed 11 points for the Tigers, who are 10-0 in the Basketball Classic.
Despite the early deficit, Muskegon hung around.
Chris Crawford drained four first-half 3-pointers on his way to 16 points and Bobby Miller canned three 3-pointers and totaled 13 points for the Big Reds.
Muskegon had a couple of chances to trim the deficit to nine points, but missed a couple easy shots and then watched Heights go on a 12-2 run to put it away.
"I was a little surprised they stayed in it after we went up big on them early," said Fox. "They showed a lot of heart."
Heights outshot Muskegon 49-34 percent and had a 36-28 rebounding advantage.
"We played hard, but we still took too many bad shots and made too many turnovers, which of course we all know Heights takes advantage of very well," said Muskegon head coach Bernard Loudermill. "At this point' we're trying to lay some building blocks. I'm hoping that when people watch us play, they see a team that's turning it around and making improvements when they work as a unit."
Briggs paced the Tigers on the boards with nine rebounds.
Mona Shores 49, Grand Haven
36
The Sailors and Bucs did not
play inspiring basketball in
the first half, but Shores
picked it up in the final
half to get the win.
The Sailor defense had its way with Grand Haven's offense, limiting the Bucs to less than 10 points in each of the first three quarters.
The final score proved to be misleading as Shores' lead ballooned to 24 points early in the fourth quarter before the Bucs rallied against the Sailor subs.
"It was a sloppy game, but I'm glad we were able to play well enough to pull away," said Mona Shores coach Jeremy Andres. "It's good to get the win and give us some momentum heading into some key O-K Green games coming up."
Junior forward Matt Heneveld led all scorers with 14 points.
Senior guards Russ Amidon and David Farnquist each tallied eight points apiece to give the Sailors, who play Zeeland East and Holland Christian in their next two games, a boost on offense.
Riley Hall and Kent Viening scored nine points each to lead the Bucs.
"We're just not executing on offense at all," said Grand Haven coach Steve Hewitt. "We're getting decent outside shots, but we're not making any of them, and we're not getting any movement inside at all."
Viening grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Bucs and Adam Dickerson paced the Sailors on the boards with six rebounds.
Muskegon basketball players are glad it is Christmas break and it has nothing to do with a rest from schoolwork.
The Big Reds have an opportunity to completely forget about the first fifth of the season with a good showing at the fifth annual Basketball Classic sponsored by the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame.
The first phase of the operation was successful for the Big Reds, who showed flashes of putting it together with teamwork in a 56-46 win over Grand Haven Thursday at Reeths-Puffer High School.
"It's great to be coming off a win," said junior guard Bobby Miller, whose team improved to 2-3. "We feel so much better than we did last week. We played more like a team instead of playing selfish and not sharing the ball."
If the Big Reds think this win feels good, then topping Muskegon Heights, which handled Mona Shores 63-50 in Thursday's nightcap, in tonight's prime-time matchup would put them over the rainbow. Tonight's games are Mona Shores vs. Grand Haven at 6 p.m., followed by Heights vs. Muskegon. Tickets are available for both games.
The Tigers have owned Muskegon the last four years, but a Big Reds' win tonight would help erase the memory of their collapse at the hands of their rivals a year ago.
To do that, Muskegon will have to improve even more on the improvements they made on both ends of the court against Grand Haven (2-4).
"I saw some good things at times," said Muskegon coach Bernard Loudermill. "We played much better than against Zeeland East, when we just shot it up without thinking of anyone else.
"There were still times when we were undisciplined, but we were able to get into our transition offense and scored out of our halfcourt offense, something we haven't done at all."
No one would have guessed things would get better for the Big Reds after they went through an eight-minute stretch in the first half getting outscored 18-3 by the Bucs.
Trailing 18-7, the Big Reds suddenly found their patience in the halfcourt, their energy on the boards and their tenacity on defense to close the half on a 14-6 run. Muskegon trailed 24-23 at the half.
Behind Miller's 14 points and nine points apiece from Takarri Churchwell and Larry Davis, Muskegon finally took the lead in the fourth quarter. The Bucs and Big Reds went back and forth for the next few minutes before the Big Reds ended the game on a 10-0 run, the difference in the game.
"I was pleased with our overall effort," said Loudermill. "Bobby is one of those players who is very explosive offensively and defensively and Larry Davis had a solid overall performance."
Grand Haven didn't get the break-out game it was looking for.
The Bucs were given a boost by the return of sophomore guard Austin Harper, who scored a game-high 16 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Bucs' lack of attack in the second half.
"We didn't execute offensively," said Grand Haven coach Steve Hewitt. "It looked like five games of 1-on-1 out there. We've got to do a better job of running the offense and hitting the shots that are there."
Aaron Johnson and Kent Viening added 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Bucs, who lost the rebounding (37-28) and turnover (19-12) battles to the Big Reds. Viening grabbed a game-high 13 boards.
Muskegon shot 50 percent from inside the 3-point arc and just 12 percent (2-of-17) beyond it. Still Loudermill was encouraged by the Big Reds' shot selection.
"We are starting to be more patient and more selective," said Loudermill. "We're identifying who can shoot the 3-pointer and who has no business hoisting it from out there."
Muskegon Heights 63, Mona Shores 50
When Muskegon Heights' offense is on,
it's a thing of beauty.
Unfortunately for Tigers' coach Keith Guy, he's rarely seen it anywhere near the start of the game.
So far it hasn't hurt the Tigers much. It didn't Thursday against Mona Shores. Heights spotted the Sailors a 14-12 lead midway through the second quarter before turning it on for a 63-50 win in the nightcap.
The win continues Heights' dominance in the Classic and improves the Tigers' record to 3-1 this season.
"In that first half we were just one pass and let it fly," said Guy. "It wasn't pretty. When we executed our offense we were able to get the shots we wanted rather than taking shots the (Mona Shores) defense wanted."
The numbers speak for themselves.
Before halftime, the Tigers shot 39 percent. In the second half they scorched the nets at a 61 percent clip.
The hot shooting couldn't help the Tigers run away from Mona Shores (3-2), but it did help them to gradually pull away.
"I'm proud of the execution by our players," said Mona Shores coach Jeremy Andres. "Defensively, I think we did fine and the press didn't hurt us much, which is goal No. 1 when you play Muskegon Heights. They just shot great.
"When you have athletes like that and can shoot, it's tough to stop."
Five Tigers sank 3-pointers and three reached double figures in points, led by senior guard Andre Evans with 18 points. David Fox slashed his way to the basket for 12 points and Stedman Briggs added 11 points.
Muskegon Heights scored eight points in the first quarter, but averaged over 18 points the final three quarters.
The Sailors, who shot 35 percent, got big-time production from reserve David Farnquist, who sank 4-of-5 3-pointers for a team-high 14 points. Tony Roof added 11, but Shores' firepower was limited when do-everything forward Matt Heneveld was forced to sit for almost all of the second quarter with two fouls.
"Shores played great defense, they were well prepared for us," said Guy. "We knew they would come out strong. Getting Heneveld into foul trouble was huge for us. It was a big bonus."
Fox grabbed nine rebounds for Heights and Roof snagged eight boards for Shores.
Thursday, December 7, 2006
By Tom Kendra
CHRONICLE ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Wait a minute, is Muskegon a football town or a hockey town? Maybe it's both.
And in case you haven't noticed, in addition to its well-earned reputation as a football and hockey hotbed, the Muskegon area is gaining a reputation around the state as a top area and one particular girls high school sport-volleyball.
The Muskegon Area Sports Hall of fame will induct a giant in each of those sports-Karel Bailey (volleyball), Jock Callander (hockey) and Mark Konecny (football) at its 21st induction ceremony on June 2nd at the Holiday Inn-Muskegon Harbor in downtown Muskegon.
"All I can say is that when you look at a class like this, of being our 21st year, for a small town were doing very, very well," said Gene Young the president of the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame "Its a balanced class with a little bit of everything. "
Each year the Hall of Fame's 13 member board of directors considers hundreds of potential candidates, before holding a vote each November to determine the next group of inductees. Young said he is consistently amazed that the list of quality candidates never seems to diminish.
"There are still all kinds of outstanding people out there and that's one of the things that makes this job so exciting and so difficult," said Young, a retired Fruitport school administrator and local radio personality.
The three inductees will be the main event of the hall's annual June induction ceremony. The MASHF will have two more announcements leading up to the big day.
A Distinguished Service Award winner presented to an individual who made an outstanding contribution to sports in the area, but not as an athlete, will be announced in February. A male and female high-school student-athlete of the year will be named in May.
The local sports hall was formed in 1986 to recognize outstanding achievements of Muskegon-area sports figures. The hall is located on the concourse of the L. C. Walker Arena.
The MASHF currently includes 86 members, eight teams, 16 Distinguished Service Award winners and 22 student-athlete award winners.
The hall also hosts an annual holiday basketball tournament during Christmas break, which is set for December 28-29 at Reeths-Puffer High School. Participating schools this year are Grand Haven, Mona Shores, Muskegon and Muskegon Heights.
Here's a thumbnail sketch of the Class of 2006 inductees.
Karel Bailey
Karel Bailey was a
true pioneer of girls high school sports in the
Muskegon area.
Bailey, a Pontiac native and a three-sport star at Western Michigan University, began teaching and coaching at North Muskegon in 1975 and she's still doing it today.
Bailey first made her mark outdoors in track and field, leading the North Muskegon girls team for 13 years, winning five West Michigan Conference titles, two regional titles and state championships in 1977, 1979 and 1980.
She is perhaps best known locally for turning the Norse into a state volleyball powerhouse during her tenure as head coach from 1984 to 2003.
During that 19-year run, NM won 18 WMC titles, 15 district, six regionals, made it to the Final Four four times and the state finals once. Her overall varsity volleyball coaching record was 386-225-31.
Bailey's influence has been felt far outside the village of North Muskegon. She has been a mentor for many area female coaches with sought her advice for making it and a male-dominated profession. Bailey has also worked as a state volleyball official and as a major college field hockey official as well as serving on a number of volleyball committees for the Michigan High School Athletic Association.
Bailey and her husband, Tony, live in North Muskegon, where she is still an active teacher and coach in the middle school level.
Jock Callander
The name Jock
Callander still brings a smile to the face of
Muskegon area hockey fans, who remember him as a
dominant center on some of the great Muskegon
Lumberjack teams of the late to 1980's.
Callander, a native of Regina, Saskatchewan, first came to Muskegon in 1984 and helped ignite a golden era of Muskegon hockey during his eight years here, where he was a local hero along with likes of Scott Gruhl and David Michayluk.
He top the 100-point mark during his first three years in town, highlighted by the 1986 Turner Cup title. The Lumberjacks parent club, the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League, took notice of his talent and Callander split time between Muskegon over the next five years. Callander led the Lumberjacks to another Turner Cup championship trophy in 1989 and then as part of the Penguins' Stanley Cup championship team in 1992 which was coached by Scotty Bowman and included greats like Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Paul Coffey, Kevin Stevens and Rick Tocchet.
After the Lumberjacks moved to Cleveland in 1992, Callander continued to be a force for the team long after most of his contemporaries had retired.
Callander played seven years in Cleveland and 18 years of professional hockey overall. He is the all-time leading scorer in International Hockey League history with 1,402 points, second all-time with 848 assists and third in league history with 554 goals.
Callander went on to be an assistant coach for Cleveland and then Houston of the AHL. He is now retired from hockey and living in suburban Cleveland.
Mark Konecny
Mark Konecny was the
first player from the academic-rich Michigan
Intercollegiate Athletic Association to make it to
the National Football League. In doing so, the 1981
Mona Shores graduate broke through the glass ceiling
and proved that talent and desire are more important
than planning for a big-name college team.
Konecny first made his mark locally as one of the top quarterbacks in Mona Shores school history. He chose to attend Alma College where he was quickly converted to running back and wasted no time making his mark, rushing for 941 yards in the 1982 season.
In his senior year of 1984, Konecny became the first Alma rusher to top 1,000 yards in a season, finishing with a 1,058 yards, which placed him eighth in the nation in Division III.
He also led the MIAA in scoring and punt returns, earning him first-team all-conference honors an honorable mention on the Division III All-American team, the first MIAA player to receive that honor. Konecny started his pro career with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, but got his break into the NFL turning the strike season of 1987.
He joined Miami as a punt returner and averaged 7.7 yds per return. His best professional season was 1988 when, ironically, he replaced the recently-retired Bobby Morse from Muskegon Catholic as Philadelphia's punt returner. Konecny returned 17 kickoffs for 276 yards and 32 punts for 226 yards.
Konecny, who now lives in Colorado, suffered a career-ending injury in the first exhibition game of the 1989 season while playing for the New York Jets.
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Kenny Lane was asked how he liked the new Muskegon Recreational Center in the heart of the Jackson Hill area, which is the first true home for the Muskegon Area Boxing Club in more than 30 years. "Oh, it will be fine," said Lane, 74, the great southpaw who fought for the lightweight championship of the world in the 1960s and has spent the rest of his life teaching Muskegon kids his craft. "It'll keep me off the streets." It's a good thing that 'ol Kenny has a sense of humor. The Muskegon Area Boxing Club has been jerked around like a snagged salmon for the last quarter of a century, moving from one bombed-out building to another all over town as Lane and other dedicated coaches like Jack Crowell and Terry Markowski tried to teach kids how to box, how to work hard and how to listen (not necessarily in that order). Inevitably, as soon as the club got comfortable and established in one place, they would get booted for fire code violations or because the building had been sold. The past few years, the club's coaches and top fighters were forced to drive to Grand Rapids a couple of times a week to train in a facility there. Knowing the club's tough-luck history helped explain the euphoria of Thursday night, when the Muskegon Recreational Center at Smith Ryerson Playground at 550 Wood Street -- the new home of the Muskegon Area Boxing Club and several other youth organizations -- had a grand opening celebration for the public. While about 20 area kids were boxing on the north side of the building, a quick tour of the previously underutilized building showed city leaders and business owners that the new rec center is much more than a boxing gym. The main room is a meeting area for the Webster House Outreach program and other community organizations, with a separate game room and even a study room with five computers with Internet access. The facility will serve as a "drop-in center" for youths and young adults in the 14- to 24-year-old age group, according to building managers Matt Kolkema and Emilio Trejo, who are both City of Muskegon police officers.
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