THE VILLAGER Page 8 ~ March 23, 2012 www.theaustinvillager.com Sports Bearcats End Longhorns VILLAGER SPOTLIGHT Basketball Season Negro League Baseball Has Strong Roots In Texas By: Terry Davis The start of baseball sea- son is a signal to the beginning of spring. With the beginning of spring brings hopes, but before we look to the hope that comes with By: Terry Davis spring it is important to take a look at the past. Kansas City, Mis- souri is the home of the Negro @terryd515 Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM). Nashville, TN - The Texas The President of the Longhorns showed up the sec- NLBM Bob Kendrick has a pas- ond round of the NCAA tourna- sion for the game of baseball. ment game against the Cincinnati The following is a conversation Bearcats in a daze. The Long- with Kendrick in his own words. horns scored their first offensive Yancy Gates (left) dunks over Rube Foster, Willie Wells points at the 17:52 mark of the (Austin, Texas), Louis Santop first half and did not score again it Johnathan Holmes of Texas. Photo courtesy of Donn Jones AP (Tyler, Texas) Big Berta, was 6’4" was 7:30 left in the half. 230 pounds who could hit that ball game, we’ll never take for Julien Lewis broke the 10 rebounds. In a span of a little a long way and a great backstop. granted being in this tournament. scoreless drought for the Long- more than two minutes Sheldon He could do things that we had It’s a good year to get here, but to horns with a pair of free throws McCellan scored 8 points to cut never seen anybody do before. make a great year, you got to win that made it 16-4 Bearcats. The the Bearcats lead down to 12 They say that Louis Santop could it.” Bearcats did not take advantage with 11:16 to play at 44-32. Lewis stand at home plate and throw Rube Foster J’Covan Brown, many be- of the lack of offensive execution hit a three pointer to cut the lead the ball completely over the In the pre era of black baseball When you come here you lieve played his last game in a and was not able to pull away to less than ten points 46-37. centerfield wall on the fly. he is credited to inventing the are going to meet some of the Texas uniform, said, “I just told from the Longhorns. The game was tied 52 with af- Another great Texan Willie screwball, back then it was best baseball players to ever put them keep being aggressive. You The first half scoring ended ter Johnathan Holmes made a Wells, who many believe was the called the fade away. on a uniform. By the time you could see those guys put up some on a Sean Kilpatrick three point layup over Gates. greatest shortstop to ever play the It is believed that Rube walk away from this experience, numbers for UT. The game didn’t shot with seven seconds left and Texas could never take game. Buck O’Neil said, “He taught the great major leaguer you will walk away with a found turn out how we wanted to, but pushed the Bearcats lead to 31- the lead at any point in the game. never saw anyone as good as Christy Mathewson how to appreciation for just how great I’m just going the play basketball.” 17. The Bearcats completely Gates, Dion Dixon and Cash- Willie Wells that he was Ozzie throw the screwball. Rube was this country really is. The story Brown dropped in 19 points in the dominated the game in every area. mere Wright had enough energy Smith defensively before we a great player, great manager of the Negro League could only losing effort. Bearcats head coach They out rebounded the Horns 26- in their tanks to keep the Long- knew anything about Ozzie Smith, and a great visionary. I say per- happen in America. Mick Cronin said, “First of all, I 18. They had a better shooting horns at Bay. The Bearcats but had more power complete haps the greatest baseball ex- If you are not able to visit want to congratulate Texas on percentage from the floor 40 per- defeated the Longhorns 65-59. game and a fierce competitor.” ecutive this game has ever Kansas City in person to visit the their season. What they accom- cent to 16 percent. Dixon finished the game with 12 Rube and Willie Foster seen. museum they offer a traveling plished this year with the multi- As they have shown all points and Cashmere finished from Calvert, Texas, Rube the When asked why should exhibit. The traveling exhibition tude of freshmen that they play is year the Longhorns would not quit. with 11 points, 6 rebounds and 5 architect of the Negro leagues, people visit the museum in Kan- can be arranged to appear any- impressive. They made a great In the second half the Bearcats assists. the guy who made it happened. sas City, Kendrick said: This is where in America where items comeback today.” went up by 19 points on two oc- Rick Barnes on the Long- It was Rube who led a contin- America, this is the story of and artifacts can be shown to a Texas finishes the season casions, but the Longhorns roared horns said, “I am proud of this gent of eight independent own- America at her worst and a community where people may with a 20-14 record, while Cin- back. With 18:57 left in the game group, because where we ers into Kansas City in 1920 to story of America at her triumph be able to see a sampling of the cinnati improves to 25-10 and will Yancy Gates powered home a started a year and earned the establish the Negro Leagues. He best and just so happen to be museum. For more information face the winner of the St. monstrous dunk to give the right to be here and congratula- is better known for that role, but connected to our national past on the NLBM please visit Bonaventure and Florida State Bearcats a 37-18 lead. Gates fin- tions to Cincinnati.” Barnes con- Rube was a great player himself. time. www.nlbm.com ished the game with 15 points and tinued, “I told them after the winner on Sunday March 18. Can NFL Free Agency Be Solution For Cowboys and Texans Next Season? because of how the Cowboys The free agency signings should structured some contracts in the address some of the immediate 2010 season, the team was hit a needs of the Cowboys. $10 million salary cap restriction The Houston Texans by the NFL that can be spread have been very quiet so far in free over the next two years. The agency. Gone is one of the faces Cowboys created some cap of the franchise Mario Williams space by releasing the following of the vaulted defensive unit. Wil- Arian Foster (left) evades players: tight end Martellus liams signed a lucrative contract Terrance Newman. Photo by: Bennett, kicker Dave Buehler, with the Buffalo Bills. Also re- Robert H. Levey/Getty offensive guard Kyle Kosier, leased was quarterback Matt Images North America. wide receiver Laurent Robinson, Leinart, running back Lawrence No one can win the Super and defensive back Terrance Vickers and tackle Eric Winston. Bowl in March, but moves made Newman. The Cowboys also The Texans did sign a key player, this time of year can have a di- restructured some current play- Arian Foster, to a long term deal. rect impact on how the season ers’ contracts to free up addi- The Texans’ have a good track plays out. Here are some of the tional room to sign some free record of finding gems in free transactions that could have an agents. Some of the free agents agency without over paying for impact on the Dallas Cowboys signed were guard Mackenzy players. The good side about all and the Houston Texans. Dallas Bernadeau, cornerback Bran- of the injuries that the Texans ex- Cowboys, The NFL announced don Carr, linebacker Dan perienced last year was they many Austin Urban Music Fest that the salary cap number for Conner, quarterback Kyle players gain valuable playing time each team this year is around Orton, safety Brodney Poole and the bulk of last year’s team is $126 million dollars. However and fullback Lawrence Vickers. still under contract. Austin Fire Dept..