The Bradenton Herald from Bradenton, Florida • C1

BRADENTON.COM SECTION SPORTS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2014 NBA 2C NCAA HOOPS 2C NHL 3C SCOREBOARD 4C Goodell addresses key league issues, 5C SOUNDING OFF Alan Dell BRADENTON He was born before his time and died too early. Hopefully the legend of Willie Lee Jones will even- tually get its proper due. Jones was killed last Fri- day in what police called a senseless death. Dead at 65, his courage should not be forgotten. Few people know the former Lincoln High foot- ball great broke the col- or barrier at the Univer- sity of Tampa with Leon McQuay, who went on to a successful career in the NFL.

Jones shined at line- backer and defensive end at Tampa after he finished his career at Lincoln in 1968. If he had been born 20 to 30 years later, Jones been sitting in Bear office at Ala- bama or some other major college campus. But this was 1968 in the South, and things were dif- ferent. Fran Curci coached Jones at Tampa and in a lot of ways owes his career to the Lincoln great. In 1970 with Jones as his defensive stalwart, Tampa finished 10-1 and beat Mi- ami in the Orange Bowl in an upset so gigantic Curci was hired as head coach the next season.

Tampa, labeled a small- college team at the time because there were no NCAA Divisions, was 18-3 in final two years. was great against Miami. Willie could play against any competition and Curci says. reminded me of Ted Hen- dricks, the greatest Miami defensive end. You just block Jones was drafted by the Miami Dolphins after col- lege.

He come to terms with them and wound up playing in the old World Football League and Canadian Football League. Curci says he be- lieves it was a colossal mistake by the Dolphins. Unfortunately in those days, if you came from a Lincoln star Jones earned legend status DELL TO 3C New England, FF play to draw in Bradenton opener FRIENDLY-CITY OUTCOME MLS Preseason HEADLINE HERE More MLS coverage and photo galleries can be found at Bradenton.com/sports Malmo FF 1, New England Revolution 1 By ALAN DELL LAKEWOOD RANCH Lake- wood Ranch was coasting along and looking to take an eight-point lead into half- time when Ca- mille Giardina nailed a trey at the buzzer. It appeared to be noth- ing more than annoyance for the Mustangs, who had beaten Sarasota twice this season. But Giardina rode that shot to a 24-point night and led the Sailors to a 57-47 victory Sarasota rolls Ranch for title By DAVID GAULMAN BRADENTON Southeast senior DeAngela Mathis still had a bitter taste in her mouth after losing the Class 5A-Dis- trict 10 championship game two years ago to St.

Peters- burg Lakewood. The loss snapped a 12-year reign for the Seminoles. The senior scored 10 of her game-high 17 points in the second half Friday, leading Southeast to a 54-32 win over Noles reclaim district crown By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer NEW YORK Anyone look- ing for an expert to discuss the candidacies of Marvin Harrison and Tony Dungy for the Pro Football Hall of Fame need to search very far during Super Bowl week. Hey, Peyton, what do you think? Harrison had a tremendous impact on my star quarterback Pey- ton Manning said before get- ting ready to lead the Denver Broncos into the NFL title game against Seattle. very first football game in the preseason, on the third play of the game, I threw my first pass.

I threw him about a 4-yard pass, and he ran 48 yards for a touchdown. I said, this NFL is pretty easy. All you do is throw it to Mar- vin Harrison and he runs for pretty much what he did throughout the time we played Harrison did it so well Dungy, Brooks up for Hall HALL TO 5C Camille Giardina (22) pokes the ball away from Lakewood Kailyn Scully during Class 7A-District 10 final. TIMOTHY R. Herald Malmo Erik Johansson (left) and New England Diego Fagundez battle for control of the ball on opening night of MLS Preseason at IMG Stadium in Bradenton.

PAUL Herald SARASOTA TO 2C By JASON DILL BAYSHORE GARDENS Wet weather and contrasting styles pro- vided the entertainment for fans who braved the conditions to take in the 2014 Major League Soccer preseason opening match Friday at IMG stadium. The New England Revolution and FF were in preseason form, working out the kinks as the clubs trek toward the regular season grind that awaits follow- ing their stay. Both sides tallied first-half goals en route to a 1-1 draw. The New England strike came from Kelyn Rowe, who got some help from defense. was a preseason glitch, where it was a back pass that I thought he might go to the keeper, so I jumped it and happened to come right to my Rowe said.

I put it right past the goalie. It too That fifth-minute goal was one of seven shots the Revolution, who reached the MLS playoffs last sea- son, had in the match. the reigning Swedish league champions, had eight shots as both teams went end to end with their attacks. Emil Forsberg answered with a goal in the 36th minute for New England keeper Bobby Shuttleworth made a couple key saves in the first half to give his side a draw. think the back line did a pretty good job staying Shut- tleworth said.

for our first preseason game, I thought OPENER TO 3C CROWN TO 2C Former Bucaneers linebacker Derrick Brooks is one of 17 candidates up for selection into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. ASSOCIATED PRESS.