duncan228
09-12-2009, 10:53 PM
Week in review/preview: Sacrificing talent for honor (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Week_in_reviewpreview_Sacrificing_talent_for_honor .html)
By Douglas Pils - Express-News
It was somewhat fitting that David Robinson's induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame happened on a day we remember heroes.
That's not to imply that trivial games compare to the loss of life that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001, or on the battlefields since then. Only that Robinson is one of the few to ever shine so brightly on the court or playing field who comprehends real heroism.
A former U.S. Navy officer and Annapolis graduate, Robinson studied with and served with people whose life's purpose serves something deeper than adoring fans.
“Go Navy” was one of the first things he said Friday.
With that, Robinson joined a select class of Navy grads in American sports' most prestigious halls of fame. In fact, he doubled it, and the other guy — Roger Staubach — wound up staying in Texas after his playing days were over, too.
Navy had had a smattering of pro football players. Joe Bellino, the 1960 Heisman winner, spent three years with the Patriots after his mandatory service. Napoleon McCallum and Phil McConkey lost years in the NFL while serving.
But quick, name another Navy basketball player.
Ira McKee is the only other two-time All-American, but that was 1922 and 1923.
You may remember someone more current, Greg Sprink, who got honorable mention All-America honors and first-team Patriot League recognition in 2008.
Where's he now?
His Twitter bio says his location is “on a boat.”
That's what happens. Navy grads serve and many do so until they retire.
Robinson's induction made me wonder about Navy baseball, where Staubach and Bellino were once team captains.
Instead of one in the Hall of Fame, there's been one to ever suit up. The aptly named Nemo Gaines.
Willard Roland Gaines pitched four games for the 1921 Washington Senators, covering 4 2/3 innings, allowing five hits, two walks and no runs from June 26, when he wrapped up a 9-1 loss at Yankee Stadium, to July 16, when he finished an 8-4 loss to the Indians.
This happened after graduation, and he took a special military leave to pitch, according to Harold Seymour's book “Baseball, A People's Game.”
On June 26, he faced the Yankees' Bob Meusel, Wally Pipp, Aaron Ward and Wally Schang. He was on the bench for Babe Ruth's 27th home run.
What must have been an ESPN-type highlight helped Gaines out of his last outing. The Indians' Riggs Stephenson led off the ninth with a single, and mighty Tris Speaker stepped to the plate. Speaker hit .362 that year and had a league-high 52 doubles. Stephenson thought a shot to left was another double, but Bing Miller snagged it and threw to first before Stephenson could get back.
Gaines retired Elmer Smith with the last pitch he ever threw in the big leagues.
He became an officer, retiring as a captain in 1946 after serving as U.S. naval attaché in Peru during World War II. He went back to Virginia, raised Hereford cattle and started a hardware store with his brother.
Could he have done his four years in the service like Staubach or two like Robinson and returned to strike out the likes of Ruth and Al Simmons?
Most likely, but it was a different time, when service to country meant more and there weren't millions to be made playing a silly game.
Robinson made his millions, and he's helping others with some of them. But one gets the impression he easily could have been Gaines and been just as happy.
By Douglas Pils - Express-News
It was somewhat fitting that David Robinson's induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame happened on a day we remember heroes.
That's not to imply that trivial games compare to the loss of life that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001, or on the battlefields since then. Only that Robinson is one of the few to ever shine so brightly on the court or playing field who comprehends real heroism.
A former U.S. Navy officer and Annapolis graduate, Robinson studied with and served with people whose life's purpose serves something deeper than adoring fans.
“Go Navy” was one of the first things he said Friday.
With that, Robinson joined a select class of Navy grads in American sports' most prestigious halls of fame. In fact, he doubled it, and the other guy — Roger Staubach — wound up staying in Texas after his playing days were over, too.
Navy had had a smattering of pro football players. Joe Bellino, the 1960 Heisman winner, spent three years with the Patriots after his mandatory service. Napoleon McCallum and Phil McConkey lost years in the NFL while serving.
But quick, name another Navy basketball player.
Ira McKee is the only other two-time All-American, but that was 1922 and 1923.
You may remember someone more current, Greg Sprink, who got honorable mention All-America honors and first-team Patriot League recognition in 2008.
Where's he now?
His Twitter bio says his location is “on a boat.”
That's what happens. Navy grads serve and many do so until they retire.
Robinson's induction made me wonder about Navy baseball, where Staubach and Bellino were once team captains.
Instead of one in the Hall of Fame, there's been one to ever suit up. The aptly named Nemo Gaines.
Willard Roland Gaines pitched four games for the 1921 Washington Senators, covering 4 2/3 innings, allowing five hits, two walks and no runs from June 26, when he wrapped up a 9-1 loss at Yankee Stadium, to July 16, when he finished an 8-4 loss to the Indians.
This happened after graduation, and he took a special military leave to pitch, according to Harold Seymour's book “Baseball, A People's Game.”
On June 26, he faced the Yankees' Bob Meusel, Wally Pipp, Aaron Ward and Wally Schang. He was on the bench for Babe Ruth's 27th home run.
What must have been an ESPN-type highlight helped Gaines out of his last outing. The Indians' Riggs Stephenson led off the ninth with a single, and mighty Tris Speaker stepped to the plate. Speaker hit .362 that year and had a league-high 52 doubles. Stephenson thought a shot to left was another double, but Bing Miller snagged it and threw to first before Stephenson could get back.
Gaines retired Elmer Smith with the last pitch he ever threw in the big leagues.
He became an officer, retiring as a captain in 1946 after serving as U.S. naval attaché in Peru during World War II. He went back to Virginia, raised Hereford cattle and started a hardware store with his brother.
Could he have done his four years in the service like Staubach or two like Robinson and returned to strike out the likes of Ruth and Al Simmons?
Most likely, but it was a different time, when service to country meant more and there weren't millions to be made playing a silly game.
Robinson made his millions, and he's helping others with some of them. But one gets the impression he easily could have been Gaines and been just as happy.