Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 31 January 2003 — Page 16
COMMENTARY
HIGH SCHOOL HOOPS
Running for life Irish Win City in OT _ „ p ,
Celebrafing baffle wifh Knighfs
25 yearj — IVUaU
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James E. Fletcher Jr
By APRIL L. FLETCHER MARKS And CHARI L. FLETCHER CRAYTON For The Recorder As we enter the year of 2003, we wanted to honor the running accomplishments, of our father, James E. Fletcher Jr. Jan. 1 of this year marked the 25 lh anniversary of his commitment to a healthy lifestyle change. Our father began his physical metamorphosis after playing a game of “tag” around the house with us. Weighing over 275 pounds, he became winded w hile chasing us and made a decision, on the spot, to change his habits; to give up smoking, eating red meat, and to lose his excess weight so that he might live to watch us grow older. On Jan. 1,1.978, the year of the great winter blizzard, he began running, one mile a day. What initially began as a difficult task soon became a peaceful journey that he anticipated daily. Vowing to lose 100 pounds within five years, he accomplished his goal in only three. By 1,981, he was a slim, athletic, 174-pound runner, having lost a total of 104 pounds. His accomplishments did not end with his weight loss, however. Having been bitten by the “runningbug,”he rim his first race in 1979, a course of 12.5 miles. Liter that same year, he ran his first 13.1-mile mini-marathon. In 1.980, our father decided to challenge himself even more bv entering his first marathon, a grueling 2fi.2-mile race in Carmel, Ind. Experiencing tremendous muscular pain following the marathon, he adamantly declared to “never run another marathon in life." Nevertheless, he ran two more marathons that year; one in Chicago and the other in Louisville, each time improving his “personal best" time. Between the years of 19821987, our father far exceeded e%en . our greatest expectations. He was selected for the National Kunning feain, which ran and carried the torch from Pikes Peak Colorado to Chicago to promote the National Sports f estival. He qualified for and participated in the Boston Marathon, and was selected to the State Kunning Team, another torch run, jointly promoting the Pan American (iames and Kiley Hospital for Children, lie beams with pride w hen his grande hildren ask him about the many trophies and memorabilia that overflow from two four-tiered bookcases. To date, In 1 has now run and completed 18 marathons across the country including Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington. f ollow ing Ins retirement from (ienera! Motors, our father has been an active coordinator and
► See FLETCHER, Page B5
Arlington soars p Northwest 61-52.
fame 5 Indianapolis C ty Boys High School Tt Champs, Cathc friar* School. Cathedral Coach Scott Hicks smiles as he cuts down the nets aftei«3me 10 winning the 7:45 pm city title.
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Irish c ush the Eagles 7437 ‘ CHAMPIONS
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ity star, Turner was at half m aiiiarrf
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contrib itions to all and the commu ilty 25 years i ter his hiohsc loot graduation. Turner was recently named to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame's 2003 Silver Anniversary Team. Indianapolis Public School Director of Athletics Curt Ervin, presented Tu*ner*(Photos/j. Knights come from behind to Hurst) force OT but fall to Irish 77-72.
Pacers' Thomas, Walsh deserve awards
By JAMES M. KEOUGH JR. Sports Writer The Indiana Pacers are d e v eI a ping into one of the elite teams in the National Basketball Association, doing into the season, the Pacers were not projected by the National Basketball Association experts to finish any better than the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference. Despite the strong finish in the playof fs last season, extending the New Jersey Nets the distance in thehest-of five firstround match up, popular opin-
ion still positioned the Pacers in a rebuilding mode. Like the legendary mythical phoenix, the Pacers have risen from the construction of rebuilding to now reside atop the Eastern Conference. They don’t appear to shbw any signs of letting up. How can this be? After reaching the NBA Finals three years ago and eventually losing to the I,os Angeles Lakers, the Pacers lost Rik Smits to retiremerjt, I )ale I )avis via trade and Mark Jackson due to free agency. That’s right, the defending Eastern Conference Champions lost three starters. Only Reggie Miller, jalen Rose and Derrick McKey remained from what was a c hampionship nucleus.
Lots of criticism to spread around. Did a contract issue trigger a dispute between Davis and the Pacers that resulted in his eventual trade? Should the Pacers have offered Mark JacKson more years on his contract to entice* him to stay with the Pacers? I lad the other two starters remained with the team would that have encouraged Smits to delay retirement? Who knows these answers for sure? How about the hand Isiah Thomas was dealt? Huge expectations, three starters absent and one of the young- * ► SeePACERS, Pag# B5
GoodD Despit# this defenslv# play by tha Cllppar's Mark Jarlc (20), Jamaal Tlnslay (11) and the Pacers still came away with the win. Indiana beat Los Angeles 108-101. (Photo/W. Thomas)
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