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As with the "Ron Baker anecdote" thread on the basketball board, a Hutch News columnist put out another piece on sportsmanship in high school sports today. This time the fond moment involved Carl Hall:
Gibson sent me the cover of the game program from the 1989 Kansas prep basketball tournament. On the cover was a picture that perfectly summed up what high school athletics should be.
The picture, taken the year before in the 1988 Kansas Class 5A championship game, shows Campus High's Carl Hall and Shawnee Heights' Matt Klusener kneeling near mid-court.
The first thing you notice is the short shorts - a sign of the times - as well as the hairstyles. The best way to describe the look is John Stockton meets Detlef Schrempf. Old-timers will understand that one. For those of you who are too young, Google it.
In the picture, each is looking intently at what was unfolding in front of them.
There was no time on the clock.
The game was out of their hands.
And Campus' Lance Wilson was standing at the free throw line for a pair of charities with Shawnee Heights clinging to a 70-69 lead.
You look at the picture and the drama - the tension and excitement - is captured in that moment as each of them watched Wilson attempt his free throws.
But what made the picture a keeper was the fact that the players - rivals from another team, vying for a championship only one could win - knelt together, watching as they held hands in support of each other.
It was priceless.
It was the respect of the highest echelon.
Respect for each other. Respect for their schools. Respect for their families. And - just as important - respect for the moment, not to mention the game they were playing.
The picture, taken the year before in the 1988 Kansas Class 5A championship game, shows Campus High's Carl Hall and Shawnee Heights' Matt Klusener kneeling near mid-court.
The first thing you notice is the short shorts - a sign of the times - as well as the hairstyles. The best way to describe the look is John Stockton meets Detlef Schrempf. Old-timers will understand that one. For those of you who are too young, Google it.
In the picture, each is looking intently at what was unfolding in front of them.
There was no time on the clock.
The game was out of their hands.
And Campus' Lance Wilson was standing at the free throw line for a pair of charities with Shawnee Heights clinging to a 70-69 lead.
You look at the picture and the drama - the tension and excitement - is captured in that moment as each of them watched Wilson attempt his free throws.
But what made the picture a keeper was the fact that the players - rivals from another team, vying for a championship only one could win - knelt together, watching as they held hands in support of each other.
It was priceless.
It was the respect of the highest echelon.
Respect for each other. Respect for their schools. Respect for their families. And - just as important - respect for the moment, not to mention the game they were playing.