AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2008 > February > 16 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSports heroes twice honored
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
It happens once a year. And has been happening since the year Bobby Jones, Ty Cobb, Bobby Dodd and idols of sport opened the gate. Ofttimes, halls of fame create as much bickering and ill will as adulation. In fact, the very location of the physical site of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame itself has been the center of an ongoing hassle. You’ll find it in Macon, located there through the influence of state politicians who felt their part of the state needed to share in some of its attractions.
So the facility was built, at a cost of something about $8 million. An endowment is required to keep the doors open and the place operative. It’s an attractive facility, begging more advanced curator treatment, but the vision of speeding motorists from Ohio, Connecticut and points north veering off I-75 to view the historic sports figures of Georgia has never materialized.
This year there has been change. Due to the vigorous efforts of Loran Smith, Wendell Couch, D.L. Claiborne and other Georgians, the induction ceremony was moved from Macon to the Cobb Galleria. Indications were, the place would be sold out, some 1,200 patrons at last count. There were nine inductees, and out of loyalty, Macon was not shut out. The honored nine were transported to the capital of Bibb and inducted there, then serenaded at the festive hall in Cobb.
Just how this will affect future inductions is yet to be determined. For certain, not much can be done about the present location of the Hall. Too much has been invested in it — unless some insurance company is searching for new headquarters. So, the Hall busied itself with its annual mission Saturday night. You’ve read, of course, voluminous essays on two inductees, the great Southern voice of baseball, Ernie Harwell, and the booming golfer from Augusta, Jim Dent. This was just another of many inductions for Ernie, including one in his hometown, Washington, Ga., Friday. Jim has been a member of the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame for several years. Their feats have been registered.
There are the others: Herb St. John, an All-America guard at Georgia on Wally Butts’ mid-’40s teams; Earnest Byner and Richard Dent of NFL football; Tree Rollins of NBA basketball; Elmore Smith of Macon and NBA basketball; Norman Carter of high school basketball and L.C. Baker of coaching, at Booker T. Washington High School.
L.C. Baker relates to an age when “coach” referred to the person who was the whole staff, and usually every sport. His football teams won 222 games and were unbeaten for 17 of the 37 seasons he was at Washington. The major star of his tour was Donn “Big Train” Clendenon, later the Mets’ hero of the World Series in 1969. He passed away ahead of his time a few years ago.
The other Dent, Richard, came out of high school in Atlanta, then via Tennessee State, became a Chicago Bear, five times All-Pro and MVP in Super Bowl XX, when the Bears emasculated the Patriots. Known as “Sack Man,” for that was his specialty.
In Rollins, the Hall reaches new heights. Tree becomes the tallest member of the Hall, achieved the altitude of 7 feet, 1 inch growing up in Cordele. And from there, navigated his way through Clemson, to the Hawks.
That brings me around to Earnest Byner, who grew up in Milledgeville, played at East Carolina, then moved on into the NFL for 13 seasons between the Browns, Redskins and Colts. For all the 7,948 yards he gained, 56 touchdowns he scored and telling blocks he leveled, he is cruelly remembered most in Cleveland for a fumble. The Browns were on the goal line in Denver, threatening to put the game away, when Byner fumbled, the Broncos recovered and a date in the Super Bowl for the Browns was lost. It was a crushing blow for Bud Carson, the Browns coach, and he never got that close again. A few seasons later, the Browns took Byner back, and the short and sturdy ball-carrier retired in good graces. Sorry, but that was the story. Far as Georgia is concerned, all is forgiven.
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Comments
By Bulldawg Bob
February 16, 2008 11:52 PM | Link to this
Well said Furman. GREAT night tonight. As Jaworski stated, none of the new members emphasized the words “I” or “me” in their speaches. Each and every one of the honorees appreciated their families, coaches, teamates and everything around them that made them special. A true showing of class by all.
By Gene
February 17, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this
Sports were just as exciting back then as today, and most athletes actually graduated from college.
By Mark Harris
February 17, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this
“Sorry”, but that was not the story last night. Why you even felt the need to mention the fumble is beyond me. That sounded almost vindictive. What’s the story there? I know it may come as a surprise, but there is a whole lot more to Georgia than Metro Atlanta. Macon is an excellent location for the Hall. Under the right conditions, it is a quicker drive from the airport down 75 to Macon than to the Galleria. About 125 of us from little Taylor County attended the jacket ceremony in Macon, and at least 80 of us were at the Galleria last night, honoring Coach Carter. I’m sorry you found it necessary to grind your own axes rather than giving more column space to the inductees.
By Ga SportsLover
February 17, 2008 3:34 PM | Link to this
Great honor for 9 Georgia sports legends. Couple of questions…why was the event held in Atlanta when the Hall of Fame is in Macon? They have an amazing facility down there. From what I hear about the dinner last night, it was all about money and less about showcasing the inductees, the reason you have the dinner in the first place. Next question…how much influence did Smith have on you writing this article as you did?