Date Posted:14:16:04 07/29/02 Mon Author: Keno Sultan Subject: Re: More 7 on 7 Results In reply to:
K-9 Dog
's message, "Re: More 7 on 7 Results" on 14:58:05 07/28/02 Sun
K-9 Dog it's a tale of two men at the height of their dominance. Dave Hoover and the Canton McKinley Bulldogs were at their peak my sophomore year and I was at the peak of mine having finished covering my best story for the school newspaper: The Bulldogs 33-10 demolishing of Cincinati St. Xavier in the 1998 Division I state title game in Massillon, Ohio. But in the end, the X factor was like this: Hoover adressed me that "the locker room would be the last thing I see" if anything got out of the locker room. One of McKinley's players missed a dunk in the JV game, and the students in the section stood out of their seats and went into a ruckus of laughter and JV Head Coach Greg Malone snapped at the McKinley student section yelling at the students in the McKinley section "WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING STANDING UP? SIT DOWN!!" I told everyone about it, and I paid for it. Although I attempted to talk Hoover into letting me back in the locker room, his repose was, "Keno, I have to be there to defend my friend when the media does something like that". I should have asked Hoover what game he was talking about, varsity or junior varsity, but I let my dominance get to my head, and Hoover took care of the rest. But it brought me closer to my main Bulldog, and my family went down to the 2000 Final Four. When he picked up a technical foul, I feared that he would have been ejected, so i ran behind the stands and quietly told Hoover to calm down, same as I did in the district championship. I would never let anyone attempt to bring down Hoover, including if it is the ever-so-sadistic McKinley locals who do not like Hoover. He was the first person at my side when the Bulldogs lost to eventual runner-up Hilliard Davidson in Columbus. I was hurt, but after what he told me about times like what I will go through and how I must accept those times, it improved my Bulldog pride and spirit. Regardless of what other locals (our fans, included) attest on Hoover, 3 Final Fours and 5 sectional-district titles is a heck of an accomplishment, including this year's basketball run, before they lost a heartbreaker to Cincinnati Winton Woods in the Division I state semifinal. It's like this: If anyone is going to remove Head Coach Dave Hoover from his basketball post, they're going to have to take my Bulldog pride to get Hoover out.....and I don't see anyone taking my Bulldog pride, heck, he even made me a better sportswritwer than what I ever was, and he introduced me to his wife as well. Him removing me from the locker room was a wake up call for me. I learned don't let success go to your head, and you know what, it hasn't. Several fans were stunned to learn about Hoover booting me from the lockerroom, because they felt that Hoover "couldn't see me or touch me" with the skills I had, including the winning state title story, #1 by Cleveland high school reporters board, BUT look who got the last word....Dave Hoover. No wonder Crable didn't go to McKinley, Hoover would not put up with his attitude or his success getting to his head, so he elected to go to Massillon (no state titles, 4 time Division I state playoff RUNNER-UPS, 79', 80', 82', and 91'). I learned a lot from Hoover and believe me, it will be Hoover time when he sees the "new" Field House....better than Massillon's gym. Here's to the coach who taught me succcess in the sportswriting business: IT'S HOOVER TIME.....GOOOOOOO BULLDOGS!!!!! 25 FINAL FOURS!!!!! 1984 STATE CHAMPIONS!!!!!
P.S. Massillon will win in the "new" Field House....BUT it will NOT be against Canton McKinley!!
Re: More 7 on 7 Results