Ernie Johnson, Suzanne Yoculan, Al Ciraldo among Hall inductees

By Larry Hartstein

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame will induct a diverse group in February.

The Hall of Fame's Honor Court on Thursday chose seven nominees from a pool of 252: Al Ciraldo, Edward Everett, Ernie Johnson, Sam Mitchell, Larry Rakestraw, Ronald Simmons and Suzanne Yoculan. The class includes two broadcasters, a golfer, a basketball player, a multi-sport athlete, a football player and a gymnastics coach.

* The late Ciraldo spent 43 years as play-by-play announcer for Georgia Tech football and basketball. "Toe meets leather" was his signature kickoff call.

* Everett is a Macon native who won a slew of amateur and pro golf tournaments, including the 1997 National PGA Senior Club Professional Championship.

* Johnson pitched for the Boston Braves, Milwaukee Braves and Baltimore Orioles before becoming an Atlanta Braves broadcaster from 1966-1999.  He was elected to the Braves Hall of Fame in 2001.

* Mitchell starred at Columbus High and Mercer University, then became the second all-time scorer and rebounder in Minnesota Timberwolves history.  He won NBA Coach of the Year in 2007 with the Toronto Raptors.

* Rakestraw, an Atlanta native, played baseball and football at UGA before an NFL career with the Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons. At UGA he was MVP of the baseball team in 1961, and he threw for 407 yards against Miami in 1963, then an NCAA record.

* Simmons was born in Perry and led Warner Robins to the state championship in 1976 as a defensive lineman. He was an All-American at Florida State who played in the USFL, then became the pro wrestler "Farooq."

* Yoculan led the UGA Gym Dogs to 16 SEC titles and 10 NCAA titles, including five straight from 2005-2009. She retired from coaching this year with a career record of 836-117-7.