News-Journal from Mansfield, Ohio • 11

1, 1-41 41.. It 4 it V't Vegt t-fy SPORTSToday Bartolo Colon turned up the heat against the Angels. Fritz Shurmur dies 2 US. Open action 2 a High school scores 2 rt Ott '1 SPORTS TO (lay 11 0 Fritz Shurmur dies 2 Bartok) Colon 8T 0 0 turned up the heat U.S. Open action 2 against the Angels.

age 30 a High school scores 2 ,1 Spiel By Steve Doerschuk Thomson News Service Tuesday, August 31, 1999 not taking risk PACE I NEWS JOURNAL Tuesday, August 31, 1999 PACE 1 i taking 0 IL Spiel I i a i i nal talKinfir rasks BY Steve Doersehuk Thomson News Service I 11 I I 1 I Lehman Junior high to MassilIon Washington High School to Ohio State to the Detroit Lions to the Buffalo Bills and finally to a blow to the head Saturday night in Cleveland Browns Stadium. The 33-year-old middle linebacker announced his retirement Monday. Two days earlier, he wobbled off the field in the first quarter of a preseason game between the Browns and the Bears. Ile had lost all feeling in his arms and legs for 10 to IS seconds, he said, after getting blindsided by Bears' 293-pound center Casey Wieg Lehman Junior high to Massil Ion Washington High School, to tOohtihoeSBtauttef ailso ti3h Ds! reonidt Stadium. Tne 33-year-olo miaow line.

backer announced his retire- ment Monday. Two days earlier, he wobbled off the field in the first quarter of a preseason game between the Browns and the ISneharins.alrimeshannddloisetgasiflotreello- to IS seconds, he said, after getting blindsided by Bears' 293-pound center Casey Wieg- 'because Chris did not make it easy. Regardless of whet he had been told over the course of 12 hours (after Saturday's collision), he wanted to take one last shot at footballs Within those 12 hours, Browns head coach Chris Palmer advised Spielman to let go. The square-jawed, 6-foot, 247-pound veteran asked for a last chance to prove he could come back from a year-and-ahalf layoff, which included site ting out the 1998 season to help his wife Stefanie through See RISKS, page 3B because Chris did not make it easy. Regardless of what he oh fa 21) heon-utrosl dostyteerr ishastucrodaurys.ei Within those 12.

hours, Browns head road) unris Palmer advised Spielman to let go. The square4awed, 6-foot, 247-pound ieterin asked for a last chance to prove he could come back from a year-and-a. half layoff, which Included sit. ting out the 1998 season to help his wife Stefanie through See RISKS, page 3B 'Dann. This was alarming in itself in that he had not played since 1997, when he had neck sur.

gery to fuse two vertebrae and in light of periodic bouts of numbness he experienced dui ing the last month of training camp. The alarm got louder after an MR1 was conducted early Sun. day in Cleveland Clinic. Doc. tors found bruises on the spinal cord and advised Spielman to retire, This was not an easy decision," Drowns President Car.

men Policy said Monday, 'Dann. This as alarming in itself in tih9a9t7, hue, hheand hnoothapdia yneedeksisnucre numbness he experienced.dur ins the last monin or training ca-mp. The alarm got louder after an MI 11 was conducted early Sun. day in Cleveland Clinic. Dec tors found bruises on the spinal cord and advised Spielman to retire.

"This was not an easy deci- sten," BrownS President Car- men policy said Monday, I BEREA Chris Spielman Ht 1: 11 didn't retire. They threw him out Spielman, a singularly strik 1 ing manifestation Of Stark County's football psyche, decided there were other wor 0- 1 thier battles than trying to i argue his way back Into a 4 Cleveland Browns uniform. Or 6 somebody else's. Thus ended a playing career Browns linebacker Chris Spielman explains his decision to end that began 24 years ago in the his playing career as his wife, Stefanie, looks on during a news Plain Township Midget League, conference In Berea, Ohio, on Monday. (AP photo) then bounded from Canton 1 BEREA Chris Spielman I 1 Spielman, a singularly strik I in manifestation of Stark aunty's football psyche, I I I decided there were other.

wor thier battles than trying to itss argue his way back into a 4, Cleveland firowns uniform Or I else's b)V! somebody I Thus ended a playing career Browns linebacker Chris Spielman explains his decision to end that began 24 years ago in the his playing career as his wife, Stefanie, looks on during a news Plain Township Midget League, conference In Berea, Ohio, on Monday. (AP photo) then bounded from Canton Ir 1 1 1 "We wouldn't let him hit the rest of our kids during the week." Mike Patton Football coach Lehman Junior High School Unlike 1 By Lany Phillips News Journal En Henry's size and speed made hirn a superstar in early years 11 ((--gGr)-- L----A-27 ET 1' rr i 0 tiii0) 0 1, Henry's size and speed made him a superstar in early years By Laity Philips News Journal 1 1 1 vt any other 'fly I Coaches remember what makes Spielman special By Steve Doerschuk Thomson News Service ber 1 J1 itti; years of MANSFIELD FOOTBALL No01411 AO ATANSFIELD FOOTBALL 1 Was it Mel Kiper who launched the myth of Chris Spielman as an "overachiever?" Spielman had just won the Lombardi Award at Ohio State. Kiper, the draftnik uith the hair, was I not con- os vinced. Spiel-. 1 man was too kill short, too 1 slow and too r.

overrated to 1', merit a first- rotmd expen- diture in the i 1988 NFL LIA.trb,AL16144 draft, Kiper said. Twenty-eight NEL teams bought the argument. The coaches who helped Spielman grow up never did. Perhaps one never expects a teen-ager to wind up as a Pro Bowl candidate, as Spielman did during the 10-year NFL career he ended Monday by announcing his retirement. Yet, those who watched him grow up almost sound like they would have been surprised if it had happened any other way for Charles Christopher Spielman.

"He would tell us, 'Some day I'm gonna play pro said Mike Patton, who coached Spielman at Lehman Junior High in Canton. "There was no doubt. oepoosoiNv 71 1, is) z--- FTTF: ri MANSFIELD Wilbur "Pete" Henry was so powerful his signature dwarfed the NFL. On Friday, Sept. 17, 1920, Jim Thorpe conducted a meeting in a Canton Garage to oronize the American Professional Football Association.

That same weekend, the Canton Bulldogs obtained Henry's services as an offensive and defensive lineman. 1Wo huge stories in one football-mad city on the same weekend. In that Monday's edition of the Canton Repository, Henry's contract with the Bulldogs was page one news. The birth of the NFL was on page three. "(Henry) will command a fancy salary, but will be worth it in playing ability and drawing power," the Mansfield News reported.

Henry's pact was noteworthy, but not surprising to Mansfield fans who were accustomed to the exploits of their favorite son. The chubby kid with stunning speed authored an astounding career that made him one of the nation's most prestigious athletes. In high school, the Mansfield phenom was a multi-year All-Ohioan in football, basketball and track. II At Washington and Jefferson Cor lege, he became a three-time All-American lineman, a guard on the school basketball team and the leading point man in the weights for the track squad. He was a charter member of the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951 and was one of 11 immortal players invited to attend the 1946 All-Time All MANSFIELD Wilbur "Pete" henry signature dwarfed 7, 1920, Jim Thorpe Mansfield Senior is celebrating 100 years of high school football this season.

As a tribute, the News Journal today marks the second of a 10-part series exploring some of the most exciting players, coaches and teams during the century. This series will run once per week through the remainder offootball season. The News Journal sports staff invites anyone with intriguing pictures or stories regarding this topic to call 521-7238 or 521-7239. American banquet in Chicago. In 1963, 11 years after his death, Henry, Jim Thorpe and Red Grange (among others) were inducted as the first class into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Although he graduated from Mansfield in 1915, Henry's impact on local sports is felt to this day. For instance, basketball was his second-best sport, See HENRY, page 4B This mural at Mansfield High School shows Pete Henry In the early days of the school's football program. (Submit. fed photo) I 1 Mansfield Senior is celebrating 100 4 years of high school football this season. As a tribute, the News Journal today marks the second of a 10-part series exploring some of the most exciting play- ers, coaches and teams during the centu- ry.

This series will run once per week I through the remainder offootball season. The News Journal sports staff invites anyone with intriguing pictures or stories regarding this topic to call 521-7238 or 521-7239. American banquet in Chicago. I In 1963, 11 years after his death, Henry, Jim Thorpe and Red Grange (among others) were inducted as the i first class into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Although he graduated from Mans- A field in 1915, Henry's impact on local i 1 sports is felt to this day.

For instance, basketball was his second-best sport, t' 7b See HENRY, page 4B ,0 ''t 1 I -A 1 1, 4 vie i I This mural at Mansfield High School i shows Pete Henry In the early days of 0 1, the school's football program (Submit- ilk, 4' ''It 1 ,0 ted photo) See SPIELMAN page 3B le rill an By Rob McCurdy News Journal rdy A I I( ot 1 1 i i I 4 I i MADISON TOWNSHIP One made history, while another simply continued it. Ontario' senior Sherri Trent won an unprecedented third Richland CountyCoca-Cola Cross Country Meet championship Monday afternoon at Madison High School. Shelby junior Andy Reith picked up where former teammate Jason Mueller left off and won the boys race, the fourth TOWNSHIP year in a row a Whippet has won the county title. Shelby also dominated the team standings, as the boys scored 19 points to beat Madison's 55 points, Lexington's 90, Ontario's 98 and Mansfield Senior's 100. The girls won with 25 points, topping Ontario's 57, Madison's 72 and Lexington's 78.

Both Shelby programs have now won five county championships, tying them with Mansfield Senior on the boys side and Ontario on the girls side. The 19 points by the boys is the lowest point total in meet history. However, Itent becoming the first girl to win three county championships was the story of the meet. "That was definitely my main I Donnie Nickey becomes as good a safe- ty as he is a spin doctor, we may be looking at the next Jack Tatum. His positive take on Ohio State's loss to Miami in Sunday's Kickoff Classic was not only convoluted, but maybe just crazy enough for some depressed Buckeye fans to embrace.

"It is tough losing the first game, but just look at last the redshirt freshman. "We got knocked out of the national championship because we lost one of our last games instead of the first. JON SPENCER News Journal If we had lost the first game, I could be sitting here with a big ring on my finger." Silly me; I thought that meltdown in The Meadowlands was a bad thing. Nickey, to be fair, meant it's easier to climb back up the national rankings after an See F911Mo page 3B el Andy Reith of Shelby won the boy's title, the fourth year In a row a Whippet has done so. goal," she said of her history-making performance.

"I was going to go for the meet record, but a week-and-a-half ago, I Sherri Trent finished first In the Richland CountyCoca-Cola Cross Country Meet at Madison on Monday. It was her third county title. (Walt ButlerNews Journal photos) See HISTORY, page 3B a I I.