2 MAR 08: BATTERS AND BARRIERS

It's a busy weekend at South Commons, for several reasons. The annual "Leadoff Classic" had dozens of softball games. The Cottonmouths had a pair of hockey games. And the Columbus Catfish planned for this season's games - hoping the staff members it hired won't outnumber the fans.

But my weekend jaunts around South Commons have shown me several other things, which seem noteworthy and unusual. Hockey fans may have found three of them on the sidewalk, in front of the Civic Center -- three large concrete barriers. Here's hoping surprised drunken fans didn't crash into one of them after a game....

Concrete barriers were placed in front of the Civic Center, in the wake of the September 11^th attacks. For several years, they were in the main driveway leading from Veterans Parkway. But for some reason, they're now off the driveway and on the sidewalk. Either this is something related to fire lanes, or the Columbus Lions are doing some serious weight-training.

I can see some potential advantages to having those concrete barriers on the sidewalk. For one thing, statues can be put on them to honor famous Columbus Civic Center performers. A good artist even could make it look like former Cottonmouths Coach Bruce Garber threw one of those barriers, in a fit of rage.

Another possibility is decorating the concrete barriers, to promote Civic Center events. Throw some Columbus Lions jerseys over them, and you know it's an indoor football night. Place some blood-stained robes over them, and perhaps someone will figure out the Jehovah's Witnesses convention is in town.

The other new discovery I noticed this weekend is at the northwest edge of South Commons. There's now a sign along Victory Drive, marking the future site of the city skateboard park. Considering an assistant city manager promised groundbreaking "any day" back in late January, I'd be more impressed if some earthmovers were there.

Construction equipment HAS been at South Commons, of course - only it's been around McClung Memorial Stadium, due to major sewer repairs. The work has left nice new asphalt in part of the main parking lot. But the crew forgot something - adding the still-missing "McClung" to the sign outside the ticket window.

If all goes as planned, the sewer work will end by the time March is over - and the Riverwalk will reopen east of the Civic Center. It was still fenced-off and torn-up when I approached it during a Saturday night jog. I'm not nimble enough to hurdle over four-foot-high concrete barriers, much less ten-foot-tall fences.

As for the regularly scheduled action: The NFCA "Leadoff Classic" concludes today. The college softball action started Friday afternoon -- and unlike several recent years, it still hasn't rained. Those warnings about a long-term drought may be more real than we realized.

Did you see the highlights from Auburn's Saturday game with Charlotte? Auburn won 4-0 - and three runs scored with the bases loaded, when the Charlotte pitcher hit three batters in a row. Not even Roger Clemens threw a fit on the mound like this....

Georgia Tech also has a team in the Leadoff Classic. Their shortstop is Hardaway High School graduate Aileen Morales, who was a first-round draft pick last month in pro fastpitch softball. I think this will earn Morales a signing bonus of about $500.

The Columbus Sports Council is charging a three-dollar parking fee around the South Commons softball fields, for the Leadoff Classic. So how many people tried to drive a little farther down Lumpkin Boulevard -- and discovered they could park near the Civic Center for nothing? Their cars might even get to sit on state-of-the-art asphalt....

The Cottonmouths had home games Friday and Saturday nights, while the Leadoff Classic games were underway. The hockey fans ought to give college softball a try - because when softball players crash into the outfield "wall," the fence tends to fall over and take them with it.

The Cottonmouths had a special event Friday night, claiming it was the birthday of "Boomer" the team mascot. Well, that explains it! Boomer looks like he hasn't grown up because he's a "leap year baby" - and I think that means he's now four.

West of there, the Columbus Catfish held a pre-season job fair Saturday. The baseball team hired people for all sorts of positions, such as "ticket taker." Clearly this is part-time work - as the tickets can be taken and counted in about 90 minutes every game.

Have you forgotten the Columbus Catfish are defending South Atlantic League champions? I fear many people have, because there's still nothing visible to commemorate the 2007 title at Golden Park. The only way Mayor Jim Wetherington might stop by this year is to hold a forum on his sales tax proposal.

E-MAIL UPDATE: Speaking of softball and baseball, the "hot stove league" at Pioneer Little League keeps burning....

I have been on the board of Pioneer LL for many years. Like most all the board members we do work hard to have a good league. Especially our President. We are proud of our league and we do spend the money on the league. We do have new fields, that were redone last ball season with money from our fund raisers. Maybe instead of writing to this blog, that person who talked about Northerns fields looking so good should go to Pioneer and just look around. We don't have as many kids which means that we don't raise as much money. But we DO DO A GOOD JOB RUNNING OUR LEAGUE. I have friends at other leagues and none and I repeat none of them are perfect. At another north Columbus LL the softball problem doesn't get treated the same as the baseball program. They don't have any where to practice. But you know how rumors and word of mouth go. At least at Pioneer the softball program gets treated just as good as the baseball program.

Last year because of complaints of costly uniforms for mainly A-League we SUGGESTED that the boys go to DCR and the girls go to Columbus Trohpy and Screen Printing. Not all managers did that, some even went to Team Sports. As you can see or read your writers don't tell the whole story. And the uniforms from DCR did not fall apart after two games. I have had children (girls) playing at Pioneer for 14 years, and we have uniforms problems from all the companys that sell uniforms.

Every year we do background checks on everyone whose VOLUNTEERS (NO PAY) at Pioneer LL. That mean all board members, managers and coaches. And no, nothing showed up on Ron Harris. Mr. Harris was not put on the board by Rick Chadwick. He was voted in by his peers at Pioneer. My youngest daughter played C-League with his sons and there was never, never a problem with him or his family. When some of the board members were told about the arrest Mr. Harris was called and he resigned. A person is innocent until proven guilty. Isn't that one of the things America was founded on. The bathroom buddie system had nothing to do with Mr. Harris. If the parents that use softball/baseball as a babysitter would stay for practice and games they would know what is going on.

No, Pioneer has not won a LL World Series, but for the past TWO years our 9-10 year old GIRLS SOFTBALL TEAMS HAVE BEATEN ALL THE OTHER LEAGUES (Northern, American, Peach & Harris Cty) which means we did get out to the city, TO WIN THE GEORGIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. So see there we are going strong.

I am proud to be on the board of Pioneer LL and I'm proud to VOLUNTEER with the other PROUD parents that are on our board.

Sincerely,

PROUD PARENT AND BOARD MEMBER OF PIONEER LITTLE LEAGUE

Beth Alston

We're happy to present both sides of this debate, but saddened that these sides are debating at all. We can't wait for opening day on March 15 - when all these people can come nose-to-nose, and yell in each other's faces personally.

Some Pioneer managers may have gone to Team Sports for their uniform orders last year - but isn't the argument here about THIS year? Two e-mails have claimed DCR Sports is the "required" or "forced" supplier. A third used the phrase "highly recommend" - as if other sports stores might get things confused, and give the players basketball jerseys.

Ron Harris indeed is "innocent until proven guilty." But of course, all that could change if some cable news channel finds out about this case. Fox News issued an "ALERT" Saturday night merely because an accused police officer hired a public relations agent. [True!]

We'll hold another Pioneer e-mail for Monday, and move on to another topic involving young people....

Parents at Northside High were notified by phone message that if their child missed school on Friday for safety issues it would be an unexcused absence..WHAT?????? If I keep my child out of school when I feel his safety might not be protected it is unexcused?..Also,was CSU notified last week when the 3 nearby schools were locked down?

From what I can tell, Columbus State University did NOT issue a campus alert last week because of the home burglary on Lynda Lane. I don't know if police called C.S.U. security or not - and if they're not returning my phone call about the Ron Harris case from December, my chances of an immediate answer here don't seem very good.

Northside High School supposedly had extra police security Thursday and Friday. The faculty must have decided children would have guaranteed safety. Don't the parents trust these extra officers -- or will that require the 100 more Mayor Wetherington wants to hire?

It's estimated 400 students were absent from Northside High School Friday - four times the normal number. There's a lesson here for all of us: the fear bug can spread much faster than the flu bug.

Now for other highlights from a delightful weekend:

+ Our Burkard Bulk Mail Index kept dropping - falling below 750 at one point Friday, before recovering a bit. You'd think with the economy down, the number of people desperately offering overseas lottery jackpots would go up.

+ Phenix City teacher Elizabeth Brooks was arrested in Lee County, on charges of making methamphetamine. Did officers handle "new meth" like "new math" - and require Brooks to show her work?

+ An unusual fund-raising event for a sick child was held on Broadway - with dozens of people learning to walk on fiery coals. You can do the same sort of thing for free, of course. Simply walk barefoot on the Riverwalk on a summer afternoon.

+ Eastman Kodak broke ground for an expanded plant on Woodruff Farm Road. Company officials say the growth is due to a strong demand for "digital plates." That explains why my plates with the flowery patterns aren't being stocked at Target anymore.

+ Columbus State University announced women's basketball coach Jay Sparks will become athletic director this summer. Herbert Green will move to other campus responsibilities - and it's nice to see C.S.U. didn't bring in someone Green to replace him.

+ The Kendrick High School girls and Carver boys advanced to the Georgia basketball "final four." So Carver could win state titles in both football and basketball - then wind up occupying half the billboards in town.

+ Instant Message to all the critics of Cascade Hills Church: Did you watch "Real Time" Saturday night? Pastor Bill Purvis advised the congregation to avoid jealous people and NOT respond to them - so next time you shake his hand, put on the biggest fake smile you can.

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