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SIX The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Ore., Thursday, March 17, 1977
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"Ye Champions of fair Lusk and ye of Swords,
"View well this ball, the present of your lords,
"To outward view, three folds of bullock's hide,
"With leather thongs bound fast on every side,
"A mass of finest hay concealed from sight,
"Conspire at once to make it firm and light."
Aye, 'twas the luck of the Irishmen who gave us what we
menfolk wait for every Monday night in the fall and winter.
Football. But Howard Cosell didn't figure into their thoughts
when they started.
Gaelic football 'twas called then. The Irish are of the
opinion that it was played there more than a thousand years
ago.
An offshoot of football, the
Irish mixed their style into the
English version of the contest.
The result is a game that tests
the strength of the brawniest
of men, puts acid to the thing
called courage, and makes the
Gaelic form of play something
unique and almost alone.
And if you think American
football of today is brutal, then
wait a minute. Even O.J.
would think twice about step
ping onto the Gaelic gridiron.
Ireland isn't the only place
where Gaelic football is play
ed, but the Irish seem to be the
only ones who play it twice, or
more.
Sports enthusiasts who have seen all forms of football, and
judged impartially, declare that Gaelic football is the game
of games if you are seeking swift-changing panoramas,
brilliant speed, reckless daring, wild courage and sustained
action.
Gaelic football was known to have been popular in Dublin
in 1527. The old game was different than that of today.
(Gaelic football is still popular today. There are clubs in the
east.)
The size of the team was not limited in 1527. All the
able-bodied in one town played against those of another, or
parish played against parish. The size of the teams scaled
between 25 and 100. Effort was made to keep them
numerically even, but this rarely happened, and frequently
one team had from five to 30 more players than its rival.
In some of the earlier centuries, the rules provided that a
game started at a point in dead center between two rival
parishes. To heck with the 50 yard line; the Irish played
sometimes from the five mile line.
The team which was first to advance the ball across the
boundary line of the rival parish won.
Gaelic football games in the far-flung years were very
successful. We are satisfied to see Howard talking on the
sidelines to Ken Stabler. Back then, there was a dancing
contest among colleens as a preliminary. After that, the
master of ceremonies went to midfield and addressed the
crowd. The players wore caps (not helmets) from which
fluttered ribbons of distinguishing color.
A master of ceremonies, in a game between Lusk and
Swords, in 1721, treated the spectators to something a bit
unique when he chanted the poem that leads this column. It is
one of Ireland's classics, as far as athletics are concerned.
In those days, there was no rest period. Teams played until
one or the other scored a goal, which ended the contest.
At the turn of the 18th century, the game was very popular
throughout Ireland, and the reading of a poem or song before
the battle began was still in vogue. But after the conflict
began, there was no singing and nothing poetic about it.
Because punching the ball was permitted, a great many
eyes were blackened, noses broken and mouths cut by
players who seemingly aimed their punches at the ball, but
actually drove them into enemy faces.
The real strategy of the game, as explained by an Irish
player, was to mess up the other man's face as soon as
possible, because a man with two swollen eyes couldn't
follow the ball as well as one with clear vision. Players often
started the first game of the season by getting a pair of black
eyes, and that's all the eyes they had until the season was
over just black and swollen.
A hundred years ago, Gaelic football had no official name.
It went by "free for all" from fans; "Rough and Tumble" in
one part of Ireland; "Corner to Corner" in another part. The
folks in West Kerry called it "Cad" because the ball was a
leather covered cow's bladder. The very refined persons
referred to the ball as a "liathoid coise."
In 1884, the men of Tipperary met those of Waterford 34 to
a side near Carrick-on-Suir. It was like a world war without
the mechanical warfare. The fierce struggle ended in a
scoreless deadlock when one of the contestants kicked the
ball out of the neighborhood. After the players had calmed
down, they decided that the game might be bettered if there
were some standard rules.
Dan and Maurice Davin, of Carrick, spectators at the
combat, and very important citizens of the community,
agreed that something ought to be done to save the Irish lads
for posterity. So with Michael Cusack of Clare, and some of
the players, the Davins drew up a set of standardized rules,
which softened the game slightly. They formed the Gaelic
Athletic Association at a big meeting in Hayes Hotel, in
Thurles, Ireland, Nov. 1, 1884. Since then it has been the
ruling body for the sport.
There are now 15 men to a side in Gaelic football. The
performers are not permitted to throw, but can dribble, as in
basketball, kick along the ground, punt or punch. Inasmuch
as each side is eager to advance toward the goal line, there is
bristling action every minute of play, split into two halves of
30 minutes each.
One point is scored for kicking or punching the ball over the
cross bars, while three are tallied for punching or kicking the
ball into the net. When a team is close to the enemy goal, that
action becomes hurricanic, with the advancing team using
every trick to score, with the defenders calling upon all they
have to roll back the assault, gain possession and start an
inspired drive of their own.
Beginning in 1931, and until England went to war, the
winners of the All-Ireland Championship visited the United
States and played crack Gaelic teams in the country which,
as a rule, are made up of "graduates" of the game, as such
men played in Ireland. Most of the Americans' teams are
(continued on page 7)
'tK Cjl J f 7 V ' 1 Winners at dessert Thursday, " ", - T " ' 1
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t ''J C " r . V I -t l.V-?X T J j Seitz accepts MVP from Borgen; v h , I
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iV.J-VVi 6 tV''' . ational from Borgen; Guy Kenny, 7 .
:.r.V'V&V3j jm:;V)V Inspirational, accepts from Ran- . '
A C JvA " V'HLvVVlf dall; Tom Skow accepts Hustle , ,1
X $s mfc-wW( i award f,'om Borgen: MVP tV -
jiVW vrC c p t V !N,al,reen "ealy center) and v
Zy.'f j U-. I? , ' Jackie Mollahan accept trophy.
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Dessert honors HHS athletes
Eight Heppner High School athletes packed home trophies
i; last Thursday night. Heppner coaches and fans honored
! players during the winter sports dessert at HHS.
Nine awards were presented to eight athletes, highlighting a
: somewhat dull banquet. A quiet, yet attentive crowd witnessed
j; five coaches praise their players and acknowledge aiding
persons over the season.
Rebecca Randall, girls' basketball coach, presented awards
; to Maureen Healy and Jackie Mollahan, Most Valuable Player
;: tie) ; to Darla Cooper, Most Improved; and Guy Kenny, Most
Inspirational.
Chris Borgen, head boys' coach, presented awards to Wayne
Seitz, Most Valuable Player and team captain; Mark
Huddleston, Mr. Defense and Most Inspirational; Tom Skow,
Mr. Hustle; and Brian Marlin, Most Improved Player.
Also during the almost two hour patronage, J V Coach Chuck
Lutsch, JV girls' Coach Hal Whitaker, and freshman ball
Coach Dale Mnllanrl intrnrfiirorf thoir nlauorc anri naiH fihiiA
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to them.
John Sporseen served as Master of Ceremonies at the winter
sports dessert. (See boxed article.)
Seitz, Huddleston
share hardware
That's the word Chris Borgen pointed to Thursday night
when he described his 2-18 Mustangs at the winter sports
dessert at Heppner High School.
Borgen praised the efforts of his players before presenting
six trophies to four different players. Wayne Seitz and Mark
Huddleston needed a cart between them to carry their
hardware and Tom Skow and Brian Marlin garnered in one
each for their efforts.
Seitz was nabbed as the Most Valuable Player this year.
The senior forward and pivot man was the most consistent
player on the Mustang roster. Along with his steadiness was
a continued improvement which listed among the league's
top ten rebounders at the end of the season.
Seitz also was awarded the captain award. Borgen said he
voted for the captain as the season progressed and he saw the
individual that took command on the hardwood. Seitz filled
that spot for the head coach.
Huddleston took the Mr. Defense and Most Inspirational
Player award. On defense, he rates as one of the top players
in the league this season. Huddleston's best performance
may have been when he shut down Pilot Rock super shooter,
Jeff Lavender, to two points in the first half of the contest.
An inspiration to players, Huddleston was a constant
workhorse this season. Even before the ball was over the half
court line, Huddleston was running his defender, tiring him
out. His offensive and rebound efforts, in spite of a well
hidden handicap, also served as a catalyst this year in
sparking the Mustang fire.
The Most Improved Player on the Mustang team was well
deserved, Brian Marlin. Marlin, a sophomore who will most
(continued on page 7)
Something he said?
Master of Ceremonies John Sporseen must
have pulled the wrong trick Thursday night at
the Heppner High School winter sports
dessert.
Whether it was the poor weather or the poor
record, fans turned out a bit apathetic for the
banquet. Despite stories by Sporseen, the
large cafetorium seemed to resemble a tomb
at times.
Sporseen's tale was of an award. It was the
most gentlemanly fan award. He said the
award was for the most passive, nice fan of
the year. His first line was, "I won it."
Sporseen related some of his experiences as
timer, between a scorekeeper saying "The
score's wrong, y'all" to watching a coach get
nailed with a flimsy technical foul.
Through the ordeal, Sporseen decided to
name the award and came up with "Port
manship Award." Michelle Portman, Hep
pner High School teacher and faculty
cheerleader, was the namesake for the
award.
In an effort to wake any sleepers, Sporseen
came back with yet another line, his funniest
of the evening.
Sporseen said that along with the
Portmanship Trophy, the winner, himself,
also won another prize. It was a free trip to
Ruggs to see the llamas.
(Editor's Note: We vowed to ourselves
after the dessert, that we would give
Sporseen's routine another chance. If it went
by you for a second time, you can always read
it again.)
Mollahan, Healy
share top spot
Jackie Mollahan and Maureen Healy shared the glory
Thursday night when Heppner High School girls' basketball
coach Rebecca Randall honored them with the Most
Valuable Player award. Two other players were honored
with trophies in the winter sports dessert.
Along with the sophomore MVP duo, seniors Darla Cooper
was tabbed as the Most Improved Player and Guy Kenny was
tagged Most Inspirational Player.
Both Healy and Mollahan deserved the award and justly
shared the honor Thursday with identical trophies.
Mollahan was a first stem Columbia Basin Conference
all-star and Healy was named to the second team. Mollahan
was Heppner's top scorer; Healy was Heppner's top
rebounder.
Mollahan finished with an 8.6 point average, most of them
garnered from lay-ins. Before the season was over, teams
respected Mollahan for her speed and alertness.
She also was seventh in steals in the league and sixth in the
conference in assists. Mollahan was the Mustang play-maker
simply because she made things go.
Healy was the second best rebounder in the league, both
east and west divisions. She had a 13.1 carom average this
year. She was fifth in the league in steals and 19th in scoring.
Although Healy didn't come up with the big scoring nights,
her rebounding and ball thieving made up for that. She
worked the boards convincingly and started many a fast
break with an outlet pass.
Guy Kenny started the season as a regular. She was a
constant threat from the outside from foes. She was a
play-maker with steals and assists. But an injury brought her
(continued on page 7)
Mustang evaluations list hopefuls
If pre season player evaluations hold true,
then Heppner Mustang fans could see two
Huddlestons highlighting the hardwood in the
1977-78 hoop season.
Underclassmen at HHS evaluated them
selves by vote recently. Players were rated
according to their ability and their chances of
playing varsity basketball next season.
Of the seven divisions of the evaluation,
Mark Huddleston, a junior forward, was
tabbed as the best in four of those. Younger,
but bigger, brother Howard Huddleston was
tabbed in two and Ken Grieb, an honorable
mention CBC guard, was picked in one.
Overall rating put Mark Huddleston first,
followed by Brian Marlin, Dennis Peck, Ken
Grieb, Jerry Cutsforth, Sam Myers, Bruce
Young, Howard Huddleston, Dave Piper,
Gordon Hoiinagle, Curtis Sweek, and a three
way tie for 12th man between Bob Miller,
Mark Piper and Randy Warden.
Fellow players listed Mark Huddleston as
number one in defense, offense, hustle and
best all-around player. Howard Huddleston
was listed first in rebounding and potential.
Grieb took the top play-maker vote.
Categories and top three vote getters in
each follow: Best defensive player: Mark
Huddleston, Peck, Miller; best offensive
player: Mark Huddleston, Grieb Marlin;
most hustle: Mark Huddleston, Marlin,
Miller; best rebounder: Howard Huddleston,
Myers, Mark Huddleston; most potential:
Howard Huddleston, Peck, Myers; best
play-maker: Grieb, Peck, Marlin; best
all-around player: Mark Huddleston, Grieb,
Marlin.
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