LOOKING BACK

 Well, if you are wondering how my week went since my last column, the answer is not very well.

My Cincinnati Reds did jump ahead of San Francisco by winning the first two games of the playoffs. Hopes were high for the Reds fans, but as my friend Paul Jones said, they left their bats in San Francisco. I believe it was Tony Bennett who sang the song, “I left my heart in San Francisco,” but with the Reds it was their bats, as they lost three games in a row at home.

I had no relief on Friday evening as the Corbin Redhounds were blasted by the Bell County Bobcats, 34-0.

The Kentucky Wildcats were crushed by Arkansas Saturday evening.

As I watched the game between the Redhounds and Bell County Friday night, I could not help but notice how physically large these kids were, both teams were loaded with young men who weighed in excess of 200 pounds. They also are strong and hit very hard.

The college and professional players have become aware of the danger when these young men collide at full speed. Through the years equipment makers have tried to keep the players free from injury and have to some degree been successful.

In college and professional football the powers that be have tried to legislate the way the game is played by implementing new rules and penalties that are strictly enforced. In the game of football, I don’t know where it will all end.

In the game of baseball, size is not as important as football or basketball, thus baseball had not changed nearly as much over the years.

I always enjoy returning to the past and remembering games, plays and players. Last week at the reunion of classes ’58, ’59, ’60, ’61 and ’62, I spoke with Joe Burton, only briefly, but I recall one of what I felt was the best five games ever played by a Corbin team. The stakes were high that evening when three charter buses rolled into Corbin carrying the Highlands Blue Bird team that was riding a long winning streak.

It was a defensive battle until Corbin’s Tommy Kring kicked a field goal to give the Redhounds a 3-0 lead. The ‘hounds were in possession in the fourth quarter and were trying to run out the clock by keeping the ball on the ground, when suddenly Joe Burton broke loose and scored from around 75 yards for the touchdown and a final score of Corbin 10, Highlands 0.

 West

Gary West, the author of the book about Corbin’s athletic accomplishments and the players that have spawned from their achievements, is going to include the brothers who have contributed so much.

Of course everyone is aware of the Bird brothers and the Selvy brothers, but there were many others who made large contributions.

The Chandler brothers, David and Mel; The Howard brothers, Bob and Bill; The Taylor brothers, Greg and Roy; the Smith brothers, Terry and Jerry; the Cummins brothers, Jimmy and Bosco; and the Burton brothers, Joe and David; to name just a few. I am excited about Mr. West’s book, which may be out in the spring.