Atlanta Falcon Jonathan Babineaux spent his Tuesday personally delivering various meals to Atlanta’s senior citizens. Babineaux’s effort was a part of the Senior Citizen Services’ Meals On Wheels Atlanta program, which is seeking to deliver meals and assist with home repairs before the upcoming holidays. Our nation’s current financial struggle has had a major effect on volunteerism and contributions to the group and, as a result, Babineaux is urging all those capable to pick up the slack. For more information on the Meals on Wheels Atlanta and Senior Citizen Services of Metropolitan Atlanta, visit www.scsatl.org or contact Executive Director Jeffrey Smythe at 404-351-3889 or at jsmythe@scsatl.org.
You may not know it, but this Thursday is the anniversary of one of sports’ most significant moments. That’s because it will mark 63 years to the day that MLB executive Branch Rickey signed Jackie Robinson to a contract, making the Cairo, Georgia-born star the first African-American major league baseball player of the modern era. Rickey was also known for drafting Roberto Clemente, the game’s first Hispanic superstar, as well as creating the framework for the modern minor-league farm system. Robinson would go on to become a six-time All-Star and the 1949 NL MVP with the Brooklyn Dodgers, and would later have his No. 42 retired across MLB.
The Mercer women’s soccer team had an exciting weekend after the team’s defeat of East Tennessee State University and USC Upstate helped the Bears sweep the Atlantic Sun Player of the Week honors for the first time in school history. Olivia Tucker became the first Bear to capture the conference’s Offensive Player of the Week award, while Lizzy Shaughnessy became the team’s fifth A-Sun Defensive Player of the Week winner of the 2008 season. Specifically, Tucker was awarded for efforts in both games, scoring the game-winning goal in one match and providing the game-winning assist in the other. As a result of their terrific play, the Bears became the first team to clinch a spot in their conference postseason tournament.
ANOTHER LOOK
Following the trends in the NFL and in college football, the NBA’s Board of Governors approved last Thursday the expanded use of instant replay for the 2008-09 season. As such, referees will be allowed to review video to determine if a field goal was a 2- or 3-point attempt, or to decide if a shooting foul was committed behind the arc and if it warrants two or three foul shots. Finally, owners also approved the use of replay if the game clock malfunctions in the final seconds of a quarter, helping the officials to better determine how much time should have elapsed from the clock or if the period should have ended. Inspiration for the rule came after refs were criticized for their call following a clock problem during an Orlando-Detroit playoff game last season.
Former University of Georgia star and current Miami golf pro Erik Compton had an eventful last week, as the 28-year-old passed the first in the PGA’s three-stage qualifying process. Amazingly, Compton shot a final-day, 4-under-par 68 at Crandon Golf Course only 157 days after undergoing his second heart transplant. Compton’s impressive 68 was the day’s best score. He will now receive two weeks rest before competing in the TOUR’s second stage at Callaway Gardens in Georgia. Before turning pro in 2001, Compton was a top-ranked amateur and a two-time All-American at Georgia.
It’s worth noting that First Presbyterian Day School is home to perhaps one of America’s next great Olympic stars. Grace Tinkey has dominated her county’s cross country scene all year, going undefeated on the season while setting two course records on her way to becoming our nation’s third-ranked cross country athlete with a personal best time of 18:45. What’s more impressive than all the aforementioned accomplishments is that Tinkey has done it all as an eighth grader racing against juniors and seniors.
Janovitz can be reached at sjanovitz@scoreatl.com.
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