Gwinnett Daily Post — December 25, 2014

hristmas from th C y r r e e Post M

Gwinnett Daily Post THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014

www.gwinnettdailypost.com

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Vol. 45, No. 58

Teacher ed program feeds local institutions

By Keith Farner keith.farner@gwinnettdailypost.com

From tuition cost to student diversity, Georgia Gwinnett College has bucked several national trends in recent years.

The latest comes in its local teacher education partnership with Gwinnett County Public Schools.

GGC is dwarfing other state colleges and universities in the number of student teacher placements in GCPS. Associate Superintendent Frances Davis reported in November to the Gwinnett County Board of Education that, during the 2013-14 school year, GGC placed 569 student teachers in the school system, up from 545 in 2012-13.

Georgia State University is second See GGC, Page 10A Roger Freeman, left, and Harvey Mann spearhead the Secret Servant ministry at Hamilton Mill United Methodist Church. (Staff Photo: Kristi Reed)

SHARING JOY

Secret Servant ministry spreading Christmas cheer

By Kristi Reed

kristi.reed@gwinnettdailypost.com

Six years ago, during the height of the Great Recession, members of a Dacula area church suddenly found themselves facing an unexpected situation. Several congregants in the relatively affluent Hamilton Mill area had lost their jobs and were struggling to make ends meet.

“People that needed help had never needed help before so they really were lost,” said volunteer and former Hamilton Mill United Methodist Church (HMUMC) staff member Harvey Mann. “They didn’t know what to do or where to turn.”

The holiday season, Mann recalled, was particularly difficult.

“Everybody is not in good shape today, but they were in worse shape six or seven years ago,” she said. “Nothing was working. People were losing houses right and left, but they wanted their children to still be able to have something for Christmas.”

In an effort to address that problem, congregants created the “Secret Servant” ministry — a program designed to allow financially struggling parents to provide Christmas gifts for their children.

“The first year it started, it

Sugar Hill boy honored by memorial

By Joshua Sharpe joshua.sharpe@gwinnettdailypost.com

DULUTH — Since Jackson Jinright lost his life at the end of 2012, the memory of the 5-year-old Sugar Hill boy has remained in the minds of loved ones and the many people around Gwinnett County who came to know him.

Slowly, though, as time passes, everyone touched by the child and his struggles against peroxisomal disorder will fade, too, Jackson Jinright and one day no one living will have firsthand recollections of the smiling boy who captured all those hearts. But See BOY, Page 10A

Freeman examines a pair of shoes accompanying a homemade doll provided for the Secret Servant ministry. (Staff Photo: Kristi Reed)

wasn’t the people you’d think,” said HMUMC pastor Dave Davis. “It was land engineers, it was real estate agents, it was lending officers, it was subcontractors — it was solid, squarely middle-class people who were living on a tenth, a quarter of

what they were living on six months ago.”

Those people, Davis explained, had never needed charity. They had never had to stand in line or ask for help from anyone — a situation that proved difficult emotionally as

well as financially.

“The goal of this program was to secretly enable them to provide for their children something for Christmas,” he said.

“So in the midst of this difficult See JOY, Page 10A

Bill Russell, Jackson Jinright’s grandfather, uses an extension pole to straighten a bow on a Christmas tree near the property line of White Chapel Memorial Gardens in Duluth near the intersection of I-85 and Pleasant Hill Road on Dec. 17. The tree is dedicated to the memory of Jinright who passed away in December 2012 after battling with Peroxisomal Disorder during his life. (Staff Photo: David Welker)

Police hand out $100 bills for Christmas

By Joshua Sharpe

MORE ONLINE

joshua.sharpe @gwinnettdailypost.com

LILBURN — Something seemed off.

Pulling into the Walmart parking lot, James Goryca wondered what he possibly could’ve done wrong. The young man’s face looked blank in the side-view mirSnellville resident Kim Jaime reacts after Lilburn Police Sgt. Brian McGann gave her a $100 bill from a “secret ror as Lilburn police Sgt. Santa” during a traffic stop on Wednesday in Lilburn. Brian McGann’s blue lights flashed from behind.

(Staff Photo: David Welker)

Visit gwinnettdailypost.com for a video.

A few seconds later, the face in the mirror changed.

The officer handed him a $100 bill.

McGann told Goryca what was going on: a “secret Santa” had given officers thousands of dollars to pass out in $100s to

unsuspecting motorists for Christmas during traffic stops.

“This is definitely a first,” Goryca, a Stone Mountain resident, said.

McGann and four other officers pulled out of the police station with $1,000 in cash each just after lunch Wednesday and began shocking the 50 residents one by one. The reactions ranged from utter confusion

and incredulity to tearful joy and profuse gratefulness.

Brittany Wright fell somewhere in the latter group.

“Oh, my God!” she yelled, bursting into laughter as McGann pulled out the $100.

The mother of two, overcome with holiday expenses lately, knew exactly what

See POLICE, Page 8A

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INSIDE Classified........6B

Horoscope......4A

Nation............ 6A

Sports.............1B

Comics............9A

Local.............. 3A

Obituaries.......8A

Weather..........4A

Crossword......9A

Lottery............ 4A

Perspective.....7A

World..............6A

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2A • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014 • 3A

Public comment period on county budget ends Dec. 31 From now until Dec. 31, Though no members of residents the public showed up at may leave a Dec. 8 public hearing written on next year’s budget, comments residents still have time about Mike Boyd to provide input on the the budget $1.42-billion spending proposal measure. using an online comment

By Kristi Reed

kristi.reed @gwinnettdailypost.com

form. The form, as well as a copy of the budget resolution, are available on the county’s website, gwinnettcounty.com. A hard copy of the proposed budget resolution can be viewed during regular business hours (8 a.m. until 5 p.m.) in the Department of Financial

Services located in the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center at 75 Langley Drive.

The $1.42 billion budget proposal includes an operating budget of $1.05 billion and a capital budget of $370.6 million. Included in the proposal are $6.9 mil-

lion out of $17.8 million in new requests made by county department heads during a series of meetings in September.

New requests incorporated into the budget proposal included funding for the relocation of Fire Station 10, the opening of Fire Station 31

near Georgia Gwinnett College, and the opening of the new 67-acre Level Creek Park in Sugar Hill.

Budget reviewers also recommended approval for several new positions including a DUI court case manager, an administrative support person for the indigent defense program, two new animal control officers, a judicial calendar coordinator, an administrative assistant to the jury manager and 42 new firefighters to staff the new station.

Several new equipment requests also received a favorable review. If the budget is approved, the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Department will get a new breath alcohol testing device. The new machine — the Intoxilyzer 9000 — is necessary to satisfy a state mandate.

The Gwinnett County Police Department will receive funding to purchase equipment including 50 AEDs (automated external defibrillators), four hand-held thermal imagers for the K-9 unit and 48 tactical laser aiming systems for SWAT. Additionally, department heads asked for funding to restore some services to previous levels. A transportation department request to restore roadside mowing as well as mowing and trimming along sidewalks and medians was included in the budget proposal. Transit service enhancements, including an additional morning and evening Express Service trip at the Indian Trail park and ride and the restoration of Saturday service for local routes, were also included.

County leaders also chose to include a 4 percent step increase for public safety personnel as well as 4 percent payfor-performance increase for other county employees in the budget proposal. County employees received a 3 percent cost of living increase in 2014, but the last merit increase was in 2009.

While the budget proposal did include funding for some new positions, several other personnel requests were rejected.

Those unfunded position requests included five new animal control officers, two part-time Magistrate Court judges, a fire inspector, five positions in the motor vehicle division at the tax commissioner’s office and several positions — an evidence custodian, three treatment court positions and four additional deputies for warrant service — at the Sheriff’s Department.

Funding requests by the library for fund balance stabilization ($825,000) and an increase in library hours ($775,000) were removed and replaced with a $450,000 allocation to the library contingency fund.

Of the $10.9 million in rejected requests, the largest portion — $6.8 million — related to pay increases for police and fire personnel. Those requests were removed and instead funded as part of the countywide employee pay increase.

Commissioners are scheduled to adopt the 2015 budget on Jan. 6.

www. gwinnett dailypost.com

4A • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014 To Your Good Health

gwinnettdailypost.com HOROSCOPES

WEATHER WATCH TODAY

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Your strength and resilience will be tested this year.

Even if the odds aren’t in your favor, you have the wisdom to outsmart any opponent. If 40% 90% 80% 20% 0% 20% you’re confident and opti0% mistic, you will discover your strengths through the challenges you overcome, leading to an eventful year.

Keith CAPRICORN (Dec. Roach 22-Jan. 19) — Focus on entertainment and family togetherness, leaving any SOLUNAR TABLES professional concerns behind The solunar tables for lakes are The Gwinnett Daily Post Lake Full Yesterday Lake Full Yesterday based on studies that show fish you. Time has a way of tem(UPSP 921-980, ISSN 1086and game are more active at pering problems that develop Allatoona (840.0) .......... 824.5 Lanier (1071.0) ......... 1067.4 0096) is published Wednescertain times during the lunar due to stress. Sit back, and let day through Friday and SunBlackshear

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654.4 Walter F. George ( 190.0). . ....188.7 had a light period that lasted Weeds: Low with your helpful, cooperative 30046-0603. over a week. I have seen my Jackson (530.0) .......... 528.7 West Point (635.0) .......... 628.5 Grass: Low input.

OB/GYN, who sent me for PISCES (Feb. 20-March a pelvic ultrasound and a 20) — You’ll tend to be defenTODAY IN HISTORY transvaginal ultrasound. The LOTTERY sive or overly emotional today. only thing it showed was a Reduce your anxiety by stepTODAY’S HISTORY: In 1868, PresiJimmy Buffett (1946- ), singer-songwriter; ping back from confrontationWednesday thickening of the lining. I dent Andrew Johnson unconditionally Sissy Spacek (1949- ), actress; Karl al or awkward conversations. then had a biopsy, and the Cash 3 Midday: 2-1-0 pardoned all those who had participated Rove (1950- ), political strategist; Annie A long walk will do you good results came back showin the Southern rebellion that led to the Lennox (1954- ), singer; Rickey HenderCash 4 Midday: 9-6-1-5 and help clear your mind. ing normal cells. He seems Civil War. son (1958- ), baseball player.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Ga. 5 Midday: 8-4-7-1-4 stumped, and said that if it In 1974, 25-year-old Marshall Fields TODAY’S FACT: Americans spent — Problems will occur if you happens again, he’d sugcrashed his car through a White House $46.5 billion shopping online during the take your partner for granted. gest a D and C. But, as he gate and threatened to detonate a bomb; holiday season in 2013.

If you show appreciation, you Tuesday acknowledged, a 66-year-old he surrendered after a four-hour standoff.

TODAY’S SPORTS: In 1989, former will get the kind of response In 1990, Tim Berners-Lee launched New York Yankees player and manager woman isn’t supposed to be Cash 3 Midday: 9-0-1 you are looking for. Take care the first World Wide Web server.

Billy Martin died in an automobile achaving periods. Obviously, of financial concerns that Cash 3 Evening: 5-1-2 In 1991, Mikhail Gorbachev resigned cident. he and I both know somehave been weighing on you. as Soviet president. The Soviet Union TODAY’S QUOTE: “You must never thing isn’t right but just don’t Cash 4 Midday: 4-9-0-4 TAURUS (April 20-May 20) was officially dissolved the next day. so much think as whether you like it or — Cash will slip through your know what it might be. Any Cash 4 Evening: 6-2-5-2 TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Sir Isaac not, whether it is bearable or not; you fingers. Don’t allow your genthoughts?

Ga. 5 Midday: 9-7-3-9-5 Newton (1642-1727), scientist; Clara must never think of anything except erosity to take a toll on your — D.H. Barton (1821-1912), American Red the need, and how to meet it.” — Clara budget. Organizations will ask ANSWER: Any bleeding Ga. 5 Evening: 1-7-6-3-8 Cross founder; Humphrey Bogart (1899Barton for donations, but consider after menopause needs to be Fantasy 5: 7-8-9-21-32 1957), actor; Cab Calloway (1907-1994), TODAY’S NUMBER: $0 — amount your financial situation before evaluated, since it can reprebandleader/singer; Anwar Sadat (1918Tim Berners-Lee charges to let people you comply. sent uterine cancer about 10 Mega Millions: 4-10-31-56-66, 1981), Egyptian president; Rod Serling use his Web innovations, including GEMINI (May 21-June Mega Ball: 7 percent of the time. Fortu(1924-1975), screenwriter/producer; HTML, URLs and HTTP. 20) — Your trusting nature nately, that is very unlikely will lead to disappointment with a normal biopsy. Since if someone lets you down.

READER’S GUIDE you did have a thickened If you can no longer rely on seven days a week by call1310. To request a photo, someone, you should reendometrium, it is possible ing 770-962-7355. Ads can call the photo department at examine the relationship. that you have endomealso be faxed at 770-339770-963-9205 ext. 1327.

CANCER (June 21-July trial hyperplasia, though this 5853. Email: classified@ Administration/Finance: 22) — You will gain wisdom should have shown up on the gwinnettdailypost.com Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., by listening to an experienced biopsy. An ultrasound should Legal Notices: Hours are Mon.-Fri. Call 770-963family member. Visiting relaVice President, SCNI – Gwinnett County.

Mailed have picked up a polyp.

8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon.-Fri. The 9205.

J.K. Murphy subscriptions are $150 for fax number is 770-339-8082.

Delivery Problems: Your tives and friends or entertainIf it does happen again, Editor – Todd Cline one year, $116.22 for six Cindy Carter is the legal satisfaction is our No. 1 pri- ing people in your home will you should certainly have months and $70.73 for Main Office – 770-963-9205 notice coordinator. She can ority. If we miss delivery call spur interesting, informative further evaluation. Even three months. Subscription conversations. be reached at 770-963-9205 our circulation department though a negative biopsy prices do not include sales LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) — ext.1160. Email legals@gwincustomer service line, 770is very good evidence that tax.

Call 770-339-5845, 8 Don’t forget about an ailing The Gwinnett Daily Post nettdailypost.com 339-5845, or email the cira.m.-1 p.m., Mon.-Fri. to there isn’t a cancer, no test or elderly relative. Visit those invites your input. Here are To Report a News Item: culation department at ciris perfect. About 20 percent some guidelines to help you start your mailed or home Hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., culation @gwinnettdailypost. who cannot come to you. delivered subscription. of women with persistent communicate with us.

Mon.-Sat. Call 770-339com. between 6:30 a.m. and Including others in year-end Classified Ads: ClassiSubscription Rates: bleeding after a normal 5850. Editor Todd Cline is at 10 a.m. Tuesday through Fri- festivities will bring you happifieds can be placed at the Subscriptions are $99 for biopsy had cancer or a 770-963-9205 ext. 1300; day, and between 8 a.m. and ness and good karma. main office 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sports Editor Will Hammock 11 a.m. Saturday and SunVIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. precancerous lesion. This oc- one year, $50 for 26 weeks phone lines open 24 hours, 22) — Overindulgent people and $25 for 13 weeks within is at 770-963-9205 ext. day. casionally happens when the will compromise your position uterine cancer is in one focal or wallet. Emotions will be place, rather than present difficult to control, making it throughout the lining of the necessary to think carefully uterus. before you say something you DEAR DR. ROACH: DEAR AMY: Quite This long-ago incident Lock eyes, shake hands, hug may regret.

Ask Amy LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) My father read your recent some time ago, before we has obviously called up it out, and turn the page. column pertaining to kidney were married (but when our some deep issues for you; DEAR AMY: The letter — Sharing your thoughts and plans will be an entertaining stones. He recently passed relationship was serious), perhaps you were burned in from “Career Confused” and enjoyable way to spend a kidney stone and was my husband engaged in a your previous marriage and really hit home. When my wondering if there is a lab flirtatious weekend with your suspicion is heightoldest daughter announced time with family. Delegate chores so that that he could send his stone another woman in our social ened. But one sure way to she wanted to go into nurs- year-end no one gets upset or overto directly to be analyzed? circle. introduce a toxic element ing, my husband and I (both whelmed.

Unfortunately, he prefers He eventually admitinto your current relationphysicians) told her she was SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. not to visit an internist or ted this to me, after it had ship is to double down and “too smart to be a nurse.”

22) — You will interact with urologist. been gossiped about far and make your husband pay She is now a first-year nurse people who are demandAmy Dickinson — L.P. wide. for the accumulated sins of practitioner student and ing or overbearing. Refuse to let what others do or say ANSWER: It depends on The story was that on a another. happier than she has ever ruin your day. Consider the the state, but most laborato- weekend trip with several band. I have sought counsel You have not forgiven been. Our response was ries require a professional’s of our friends there was with people that I respect. your husband. If you had, arrogant and inappropriate. source, and don’t take hurtful or negative comments to order to perform testing. I heavy drinking. A flirtation However, I still think about you would not continue to Without good nurses, docheart. have mixed feelings about (with no physical contact) it all the time, feel angry punish yourself. tors would be dead in the SAGITTARIUS (Nov. this; however, I generally developed. when the woman’s name is I suggest you ask him water.

23-Dec. 21) — Shopping or agree, since a physician or She has told many people mentioned and immediately for a sincere apology and a — Beth (orthopedic traveling to visit relatives will other provider should that he made a genuine think about it when anyguarantee that this will never surgeon) be taxing. Include low-key enprovide individualized pass at her and she refused. thing related comes up. happen again. Then you DEAR BETH: Patients tertainment that will give you recommendations on the Everyone that was there My husband loves my should mutually agree that would also be in a world of greater control by allowing appropriate changes in diet, refutes this, but my husband children from a previous this matter is now closed. hurt. Thank you. you to set a comfortable pace.

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Investigate bleeding after menopause

medication and fluid intake, based on the stone type, medications taken, diseases or conditions present and other factors. There are services available on the Internet that will perform laboratory testing without an order (by having a medical director in a given state order the lab), but I don’t recommend it for the reasons above.

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LAKE LEVELS

Gwinnett Daily Post

Who To Call

Husband’s long-ago flirtation now haunts wife

admits he may have been so drunk that he did it and doesn’t remember.

We have addressed the drinking and disrespect, and it has caused major turmoil in our relationship, which is otherwise wonderful and perfect.

Since finding out, I have questioned everyone who was there and had countless conversations with my hus-

marriage and is everything I ever hoped for in a partner. I have truly forgiven him, but I can’t stop torturing myself.

How do I let it go?

— An (un)happy Wife DEAR (UN)HAPPY: Soliciting the version of every other person who was present and asking them to judge your husband’s (and this woman’s) behavior is not helpful.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014 • 5A

Holiday courthouse tours continue through Dec. 31 The Gwinnett Historic Courthouse is open for selfguided tours through Dec. 31.

(Staff Photo: Kristi Reed)

By Kristi Reed

kristi.reed @gwinnettdailypost.com

For nearly two decades, area residents have had the opportunity to enjoy some holiday cheer at one of Gwinnett’s most historically significant locations.

This year, Gwinnett Parks and Recreation continues its long-standing tradition of offering self-guided tours through the festively decorated Gwinnett Historic Courthouse.

Courthouse Program

Supervisor Renee Knott said the holiday display will continue through Dec. 31.

In addition to the elegantly decorated Superior Court Ballroom, visitors can also

tour the woodsy-themed Grand Jury Room and the elaborately-decorated Santa’s den featuring Santa’s chair, five Christmas trees and “a lot” of nutcrackers.

“It’s definitely got the Santa theme to it,” she said.

The courthouse also has an “elf workshop” which Knott said is designed to look like Santa’s workshop at the North Pole.

It took Knott, her fivemember staff and a small cadre of volunteers four weeks to decorate the build-

ing. That effort, Knott said, has paid off when giving tours of the building.

“I love hearing the oohs and ahhhs,” she said. “That’s one of my favorite parts.”

In total, the courthouse decorations include 77 wreaths, 165 bows, 2,000 ornaments, 13 decorated trees, 5,000 Christmas lights inside the courthouse and a whopping 35,000 lights on the courthouse grounds.

“Folks are welcome to visit the grounds as well and have their pictures taken with all

the lighted lawn ornaments,” Knott added. “Santa’s sleigh is here — it’s on loan from the North Pole — if they want to come and have their family portrait made.”

The Gwinnett Historic Courthouse is located at 185 W. Crogan St. in Lawrenceville. The courthouse, which is also home to the Gwinnett Veterans Memorial Museum, is open for self-guided tours Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 770-822-5450 for additional information.

Ga. SPCA gives tips to help pets avoid holiday hazards

By Katie Morris

katie.morris @gwinnettdailypost.com

What time is everyone getting here? Who is bringing which dish to the party?

Does everybody have a pres-

228669-1

ent to open? Oh no, there’s no ice.

There’s a lot to think about during the holidays — meaning it can be easy to forget your four-legged pal roaming around at your feet,

amazed at all the hustle and bustle. With that in mind, the Georgia SPCA has provided a few tips to help keep pets safe around holiday hazards like food, decorations and plants that are abundant this

time of year.

There are a lot of delicious holiday favorites that are actually toxic to pets, like chocolate, cooked or uncooked fat, nuts and sugarfree snacks containing xylitol. The wrapping on candy or other food items can cause choking or intestinal blockage, and cooked bones may seem like a natural treat, but they can splinter and cause lacerations in your pet’s stomach or intestines.

Many dogs love to raid the garbage can, so it’s important to make sure they don’t have access to certain items like toothpicks, foil and skewers.

Anything new around the house is likely to attract your pet’s attention, especially shiny decorations.

It’s important to keep sharp glass, paper or aluminum ornaments out of pets’ reach because they can break and cause cuts or choking if your pet swallows them. Ribbons, wrapping paper and fasteners should be quickly discarded once all the gifts are unwrapped so that curious pets won’t be tempted to chew on them. Shiny tinsel isn’t toxic but can twist and bunch in the stomach or intestines if ingested, demanding immediate medical attention.

Both cats and dogs like to chew, so all electrical cords should be secured and out

REMINDERS • Foods to Avoid — onions, garlic, spices (especially nutmeg and sage) uncooked yeast dough, raisins, grapes, caffeine, raw foods and any form of alcohol.

• Candles and Menorahs — A candle’s flame can seem like an irresistible new toy to pounce on or swat, and a wagging tail can easily knock a candle over, causing burns or a fire.

• Christmas Trees — Pets shouldn’t eat the needles from the Christmas tree because they can cause gastrointestinal irritation or even perforation. Also, trees should be secured so that a cat that likes to climb or a

of reach, and it’s best to use grounded three-prong plugs.

Many plants are toxic to pets or cause some level of gastrointestinal upset — a few commonly used around the holidays are mistletoe, poinsettia, Christmas cactus, lilies and holly, especially the berries.

Even the friendliest pets can become anxious or distressed when faced with a house full of people or disruptions in their routine, so make sure to provide a place where pets can retreat and take a break from the

large dog with a happy, wagging tail won’t bring it down.

• Guests — It is easy for pets to slip outside unnoticed, with more people coming and going.

Pets should wear collars with current tags and be micro-chipped to make it easier to recover them if they get lost. Also, remind house guests to keep any medications they take out of reach and in closed containers.

• Important Phone Numbers — Phone numbers for your veterinarian, the nearest emergency vet clinic and the Animal Poison Control Center, 1-888426-4435, should be kept in a convenient place.

festivities. Remember, accidents can still happen, so it’s important to be prepared with important phone numbers.

The Georgia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a nonprofit pet rescue organization located in Suwanee. Their mission is to reduce the number of healthy animals euthanized in the State of Georgia by implementing successful adoption programs, offering low cost spay/neuter to the public and by promoting responsible pet ownership. For more information, visit georgiaspca.org.

6A • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014

gwinnettdailypost.com

world&nation WORLD ISIS captures Jordanian pilot after warplane crashes in Syria

Officer kills armed man near Ferguson

‘Hobbit’ finale crosses $100M mark in U.S.

By Ian Simpson and Eric M. Johnson Reuters

A white policeman shot dead a black man brandishing a pistol at a suburban St. Louis gasoline station overnight, police said on Wednesday, igniting violence reminiscent of riots over the police killing of an unarmed black teenager in nearby Ferguson.

Black officials in Missouri were at pains to distinguish the death of a suspect with a gun from cases where unarmed black men were killed by police officers, incidents that led to protests across the United States and bitter debate about how American police forces treat non-white citizens.

The shooting happened late on Tuesday at a Mobil On The Run gas station in Berkeley, Mo., within walking distance of the Ferguson street on which a white police officer shot dead 18-year-old Michael Brown Japanese in August.

PM unveils new “This is not a policeman in the city of Berkeley going government out half-cocked,” Berkeley TOKYO — Japanese Mayor Theodore Hoskins Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said at a news conference. unveiled a new cabinet on “You could not even comWednesday, appointing a pare this with Ferguson.” defense chief whose desire A crowd of 200 to 300 for a stronger pre-emptive people gathered at the strike capability could rile gasoline station after the neighbor China. shooting, and bricks and Gen Nakatani, a lawmaker three fireworks were thrown, who served in the armed two of them at the roughly forces for several years, has 50 officers at the scene, St. served as defense minister before and favors Japan having the ability to hit enemy bases pre-emptively in the face of imminent attack.

He replaces Akinori Sony releases Eto, who had faced ques‘The Interview’ on tions over his use of poInternet channels litical funds. The rest of the cabinet, Abe’s third since LOS ANGELES — he returned to power late in Sony Pictures made “The 2012, was unchanged.

Interview” available online Abe stressed Nakatani’s on Wednesday, widening experience as the reason distribution of a comedy that for his appointment, while triggered a massive cyberatemphasizing the need to im- tack blamed on North Korea, prove ties with China, South after backtracking on a deciKorea and Russia. sion to cancel the movie’s release that was criticized as Death toll in Ebola self-censorship.

The film was available for outbreak rises to rental on Google Inc.’s Youtube site as of early Wednes7,588: WHO day afternoon. Microsoft GENEVA — The global Corp. and Sony itself are death toll from Ebola has also showing the comedy, risen to 7,588 out of 19,497 the studio said, a day after confirmed cases recorded in agreeing to release it at some the year-old epidemic raging 200 independent theaters. in West Africa, the World “It was essential for our Health Organization said on studio to release this movie, Wednesday. especially given the assault The virus is still spreading upon our business and our intensely in Sierra Leone, employees by those who especially in the north and wanted to stop free speech,” west, with 315 new conSony Entertainment Chief firmed cases reported in the Executive Michael Lynton former British colony in said in a statement. “We the week to Dec. 21, it said. chose the path of digital These included 115 cases in distribution first so as to the capital Freetown. reach as many people as pos“The neighboring district sible on opening day, and we of Port Loko experienced a continue to seek other partsurge in new cases, reporting ners and platforms to further 92 confirmed cases comexpand the release.” pared with 56 the previous week,” the WHO said.

Firefighters In Sierra Leone, informatargeted in tion about how to prevent and treat Ebola was provided drive-by shooting to more than 5,000 households between Dec. 10 and TAMPA, Fla. — A 17 as part of a major aware- firefighter was grazed in ness campaign, it said. the arm during a drive-by In Guinea, 156 confirmed shooting behind a north cases were recorded during Florida fire station on the same period, “the highest Tuesday evening, police weekly case incidence resaid. ported by the country in this Firefighters were outbreak,” the WHO said. refueling a ladder truck — From wire reports in back of Station 28 in AMMAN — Islamic State fighters took a Jordanian pilot prisoner after his warplane came down in northeast Syria on Wednesday, the first captive taken from the U.S.-led coalition battling the jihadi group.

Jordan’s armed forces said one of its pilots had been captured after a coalition air raid over the province of Raqqa. There were contradictory accounts as to whether his aircraft had been shot down or not.

“Jordan holds the group (IS) and its supporters responsible for the safety of the pilot and his life,” said a statement read out on state television.

It said the F-16 warplane had crashed during a Jordanian air force “military mission against the hideouts of the terrorist group.”

PEOPLE

Protesters yell at police protecting the perimeter of a scene where a teenager was fatally shot by a police officer earlier at a Mobil gas station on North Hanley Road in Berkeley, Mo., on Wednesday. An 18-year old black man was shot and killed by police late Tuesday in a St. Louis suburb near where unarmed teen Michael Brown was killed by a white officer in August, local media reports. (Reuters)

Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said.

Two officers were injured and four people were arrested for assault before calm was restored, Belmar said.

The shooting occurred three days after the worst fears of police-reform activists and the direst warnings of police leaders came to pass: on Saturday afternoon, a man summarily shot dead two officers in their patrol car in New York City, targeting them only because of the uniform they were wearing.

The Berkeley encounter unfolded after the officer, a

six-year veteran of the town’s police department who was responding to a report of a theft, got out of his car to talk to two men at the gasoline station.

One of them pointed a loaded 9mm handgun at the officer, Belmar said. Police released a somewhat indistinct, distant surveillance video from the gas station, edited to end just before the shooting. In the corner of the frame, one of the people at the station can be seen shifting into what may be a shooter’s stance near the police car.

NATION

SANTA SKIS: A water skier, dressed as Santa, and another, dressed as a Reindeer, participate in the 29th annual Christmas Eve water performance on the Potomac River in Alexandria, Va., on Wednesday. (Reuters)

Jacksonville, Fla., when a passing vehicle opened fire, according to a police report.

Two firefighters, who were working the pump, ducked as they heard multiple gunshots, and one was hit in the arm by shrapnel from a bullet, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office report. His injuries were minor, police said.

“I am outraged by cowardly attacks on our brave first responders,” said Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown in a Facebook post. “These attacks will not be tolerated.”

The firefighters could not determine the model of the vehicle from which the shots were fired, police said.

The incident follows a violent week for law enforcement officers. In New York City on Saturday, a gunman killed two police officers in their patrol car, then took his own life.

Early the next morning, a police officer in Tarpon Springs, Fla., died after being shot and then run over by a suspect who was resisting arrest.

U.S. jobless claims fall to seven-week low WASHINGTON — The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, underscoring the economy’s sustained strength.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 9,000 to a seasonally adjusted 280,000 for the week ended Dec. 20, the Labor Department said on Wednesday. It was the lowest reading since Nov. 1 and marked the fourth straight week of declines.

The report came a day after the government reported the economy expanded at its fastest pace in 11 years in the third quarter and consumer spending increased solidly in November.

Judge: Facebook must face suit over scanning of users’ messages Facebook Inc. must face a class action lawsuit accusing it of violating its users’ privacy by scanning the content of messages they send

Pulling out his own gun, the officer stepped backward, stumbled and fired three shots, Belmar said. One bullet struck the man with the gun, a second hit a police car tire, and the third cannot be accounted for, he said.

Paramedics declared the man dead at the scene.

Hoskins, Berkeley’s mayor, said he did not want to jump to conclusions while local and county officials investigated the shooting, but he also emphasized what he said were clear differences with the Brown case.

LOS ANGELES — Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” has wound up its first week in U.S. theaters by crossing the $100 million milestone.

Tuesday grosses for the finale of the New Line-MGM “Hobbit” trilogy totaled $9.8 million, lifting “Five Armies” to $107.9 million.

That’s a faster pace than last year’s “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” which took in $96 million in its first week in the U.S. on its way to a domestic total of $258 million. Though it’s not as fast 2012’s “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” which grossed $113 million in its first week and finished with $303 million in the U.S.

LA judge denies Polanski bid to close ’77 sex case

LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles judge has declined a bid from attorneys for Roman Polanski to close the 1977 child sex case against the Oscar-winning director, a court spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

The decision by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Brandlin on Tuesday is the latest defeat for the filmmaker in having the case dismissed without returning to the United States.

Polanski’s attorneys had filed court papers last week in to other users for advertising a bid to end the case, at least in part to allow Academy Awardpurposes, a U.S. judge has winning director of “The Piaruled.

U.S. District Judge Phyllis nist” to travel freely without the threat of extradition.

Hamilton in Oakland, CaliThe director’s lawyers fornia, on Tuesday dismissed have fought for years to some state-law claims have the case thrown out against the social media on claims that Polanski company but largely denied Facebook’s bid to dismiss the was a victim of judicial and prosecutorial misconduct. lawsuit.

Courts have ruled they canFacebook had argued not address the issues unless that the alleged scanning he returns to California. of its users’ messages was covered by an exception under the federal Electronic ‘Beetlejuice 2’ is Communications Privacy ‘closer than ever,’ Act for interceptions by service providers occurring says Tim Burton in the ordinary course of LOS ANGELES — The business. long-awaited “Beetlejuice” sequel may not be too far Wage hikes to off, according to director affect 1,400-plus Tim Burton.

While fans have been Walmart stores crossing their fingers for a CHICAGO — Minimum “Beetlejuice 2” since the original debuted in 1988, the wage increases across the rumor mill began churnUnited States will prompt ing in earnest back in 2013, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to adjust base salaries at 1,434 when Variety reported that Burton and star Michael Kestores, impacting about a aton were in talks to return third of its U.S. locations, to the property. according to an internal Earlier this year, Keaton memo reviewed by Reuters. confirmed that he and Burton The memo, which was had discussed the possibilsent to store managers earlier this month, offers insight ity, but that his involvement into the impact of minimum in any potential sequel was wage hikes in 21 states due dependent on Burton signing on: “I’ve emailed Tim a to come into effect on or couple of times, talked to the around Jan. 1.

These are adjustments that writer a couple of times, but Wal-Mart and other employ- all really, really preliminary stuff,” the actor said. “I always ers have to make each year, but growing attention to the said that’s the one thing I’d issue has expanded the scope like to do again, if I ever did of the change. Thirteen U.S. anything again. But it kind of required Tim to be involved states lifted the minimum wage in 2014, up from 10 in some way or another.”

Now it appears that 2013 and 8 in 2012.

Burton may be ready to Wal-Mart spokeswoman commit to the project as Brooke Buchanan said the long as Keaton is on board, company was making the telling IGN, “There’s only changes to “ensure our one Beetlejuice, and that’s stores in the 21 states comMichael.” ply with the law.”

— From wire reports — From wire reports

U.S. Postal Service eyes e-commerce to offset declining mail

By Nick Carey Reuters

CHICAGO — Facing a slump in the mail it had been delivering since the days of America’s Revolutionary War, in 2012 the U.S. Postal Service began aggressively targeting e-commerce and lapsed customers as the way to salvage its declining business.

“Really, it started almost at the level of cold-calling, talking to people who really hadn’t spoken to

on e-commerce, which consulting firm Detroit LLP has predicted should grow 14 percent this holiday us in a long time,” said Nagisa Ma- season alone. But industry experts nabe, who joined the USPS in May question whether the USPS has 2012 as chief marketing and sales enough space in its delivery vans officer from Coca-Cola Co after a and whether its unionized work career in the private sector. “And force can handle a greater proporreally trying to persuade them to tion of the e-commerce market. consider us as a very viable alterOver the past two years the native in the shipping market.”

USPS has rolled out real-time With further drops in its tradiscanning for packages, a vital tool tional bread-and-butter products for online retailers and consumers ahead, the USPS wants to capitalize alike to track their packages. It is

MUST READ

also upgrading all of its delivery workers’ handheld scanners.

The rise of the Internet has taken a heavy toll on first-class mail, the USPS’s most profitable product.

That falling business played a significant role in the USPS’s fiscal 2014 loss of $5.5 billion, its eighth consecutive year in the red.

From 2009 to 2013, the volume of first-class mail deliveries dropped more than 20 percent. In the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, USPS deliveries declined to 155.4

billion pieces from 158.2 billion.

First-class deliveries accounted for 2.2 billion pieces of that decline.

But package deliveries rose to more than 4 billion pieces from 3.7 billion, accounting for $1.1 billion of the USPS’s revenue growth of $1.9 billion. In the run-up to Christmas, the USPS has been doing Sunday deliveries for Amazon.com Inc. in a number of cities. Manabe adds that the agency will handle the online retailer’s push into same-day and nextday deliveries “in many markets.”

perspectives

J.K. Murphy, Vice President, SCNI jk.murphy@gwinnettdailypost.com

gwinnettdailypost.com

Todd Cline, Editor

todd.cline@gwinnettdailypost.com

PAGE 7 A • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014

letters to the editor

Race card is a losing hand The cold-blooded murder of two New York City policemen as they sat in their car is not only an outrage but also a wake-up call. It shows, in the most painful way, the high cost of having demagogues, politicians, mobs and the media constantly taking cheap shots at the police.

Those cheap shots are in fact very expensive shots, not only to the police themselves but to the whole society. Someone once said that civilization is a thin crust over a volcano. The police are part of that thin crust. We have seen before our own eyes, Thomas first in Ferguson, Sowell Mo., and then in other communities, what happens when there is just a small crack in that crust, and barbarism and arson burst out.

That can happen anywhere. So can what happened in New York. “Send not to know for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee.”

It is a painful irony that, on the eve of the murders of these two police officers in New York, some of the city’s police were already saying that, in the event of their deaths, they did not want Mayor Bill de Blasio to attend their funerals.

We can only hope that Mayor de Blasio has some residual decency, so that he will not defile these two officers’ memorial services with his presence. No politician in the country has done more to play the race card against the police and spread the notion that cops are the big problem in minority communities.

It so happens that the police officers killed were both members of minority groups — Officer Rafael Ramos, Hispanic, and Officer Wenjian Liu, Asian. It so happens that a substantial part of the New York City police force are members of minority groups.

But you might never know that from the story told by demagogues who depict the black community as a “colonial” society being “occupied” by white policemen who target young blacks. Mayor de Blasio joined the chorus of those saying that they have to warn their black sons how to cope with this situation.

“What can we say to our sons?” some demagogues ask. They can say, “Don’t go around punching strangers, because it is only a matter of time before you punch the wrong stranger.”

Mayor de Blasio has made anti-police comments with Al Sharpton seated at his side. This is the same Al Sharpton with a trail of slime going back more than a quarter of a century, during which he has whipped up mobs and fomented race hatred from the days of the Tawana Brawley “rape” hoax of 1987 to the Duke University “rape” hoax of 2006 and the Ferguson riots of 2014.

Make no mistake about it. There is political mileage to be made siding with demagogues like Al Sharpton who, as demagogue-in-chief, has been invited to the White House dozens of times by its commander-in-chief.

Many in the media and among the intelligentsia cherish the romantic tale of an “us” against “them” struggle of beleaguered ghetto blacks defending themselves against the aggression of white policemen. The gullible include both whites who don’t know what they are talking about and blacks who don’t know what they are talking about either, because they never grew up in a ghetto.

Among the latter are the president of the United States and his attorney general.

Such people readily buy the story that ghetto social problems today — from children being raised without a father to runaway rates of murder — are “a legacy of slavery,” even though such social problems were nowhere near as severe in the first half of the 20th century as they became in the second half.

You would be hard pressed to name just five examples from the first half of the 20th century of the kinds of ghetto riots that have raged in more than a hundred cities during the second half. Such riots are a legacy of the social degeneracy of our times.

Calling this social degeneracy “a legacy of slavery” is not just an excuse for those who engage in it, it is an excuse for the ideology of the intelligentsia behind the social policies that promoted this degeneracy.

Let those who have laid a guilt trip on people in our times, for evils done by other people in past centuries, at least face their own responsibility for the evil consequences of their own notions and policies. If they won’t do it, then the rest of us need to stop listening gullibly to what they are saying.

The race card is nothing to play with. It can ruin us all.

Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305. His website is www. tsowell.com.

Letters should be no more than 200 words and are subject to approval by the publisher.

Letters may be edited for style and space requirements.

Please sign your name and provide an address and a daytime telephone number. Address letters for publication to: Letters to the Editor, Gwinnett Daily Post, P.O. Box 603, Lawrenceville, GA 30046-0603.

The fax number is 770-339-8081.

Email us at: letters@gwinnettdailypost.com.

Labels as landmines in race matters CHICAGO — Everyone understands that words matter. Observers of my writing know that I hopscotch my way through racial and ethnic labels quite a bit, using the conventions of my source materials whenever possible so as to not tinge my point with an easily misperceived term.

But labels can be landmines.

They can be perfectly acceptable to some in a particular group and at the same time deeply insult others. As it turns out, which racial label is used in communicating neutral information can also have a wideranging effect on those who are taking in descriptive information about a group or a person.

In a recent study — “A rose by any other name?: The consequences of subtyping ‘AfricanAmericans’ from ‘Blacks’” — researchers Erika Hall, Katherine Phillips and Sarah Townsend found that these two racial labels have a disparate effect on how minority social groups are perceived by whites.

The researchers conducted four distinct studies in the realms of employment, media and criminal justice to determine the perceptions of the two labels in different contexts.

The data they collected point to whites believing that the label “black” evokes a mental representation of a person with lower socioeconomic status, education, positivity, competence and

perceived to have more advantages in life and, presumably, more personal responsibility.

Whatever your choice of terms — the researchers used “Americans of African Descent” — they can’t win for losing.

This will come as no surprise to those who already believe Esther that — to paraphrase signs at Cepeda protests for victims of harsh law enforcement by white officers warmth than the label “African- — black lives don’t matter in American.” And that whites will America. react more negatively toward But it is a wake-up call for “blacks” than toward “African- those who don’t really underAmericans.” stand the depth to which racial Even more chilling, the bias still exists in this country researchers found that use of and those who are too sunny on the label “black” in a newspaper race relations in general, and crime report is associated with I’ll include myself in this latter more negative emotional words category. than in an article featuring the That a perpetrator’s inwords “African-American.” And nocence or culpability and a whites view a criminal suspect victim’s worthiness of empathy more negatively when that or scorn can hinge on two terms person is identified as “Black” that are used interchangeably in versus “African-American.” the media — and have been asSpeaking on NPR’s “On the sumed to carry the same weight Media,” where I first learned — is frightening. And there’s no of this research, Hall also easy fix. discussed surveys her team To start, different sources of conducted in the wake of the demographic statistics refer to Trayvon Martin shooting death. groups differently. For instance, They evaluated perceptions the Pew Research Center sticks of a “black” or “African-Amer- to lower-case “black,” and ican” victim and found that upper-case “Hispanic” and respondents felt more empathy “Asian” whereas other research for “black” victims than for organizations opt for “African “African-American” victims American,” “Asian American” because of the belief in blacks’ (with or without hyphens) and disadvantage. The hypothesis “Latino.” is that “African-Americans” are And because all these terms

have differing cultural resonance and are as likely to be embraced as shunned by the members of the race, a solution to this problem of perception cannot simply be to change reporting standards.

Finally, the label dilemma will almost certainly never be solved because what people choose to call themselves — and how they’ll accept being described — is too emotional and dependent on generation, regionality and personal experience to codify to anyone’s satisfaction.

The burden here is on the humanity of both the writer and the reader.

How fair can each of us be when describing or interpreting an event that includes a human being who carries a label?

This will remain an open question. But first we must understand that no matter how post-racial any of us thinks we are, we’re all carrying around varying degrees of racial and ethnic bias.

All of us.

And the only way we’ll ever get past these biases is by understanding that they exist and must be confronted.

It’ll take strength to overcome our enlightened self-image to do so, but our nation’s racial unrest will not be healed until we try.

Esther Cepeda’s email address is estherjcepeda@ washpost.com.

Inglorious hackers and Kim Jong Un If I were a cartoonist, a phrase cartoonists are loath to hear, I’d sketch a chubby imp donned in a diaper, sporting a chia mohawk and munching the last Big Mac on Earth, while straddling a nuclear-armed missile that bears a striking resemblance to Dennis Rodman.

The imp’s pudgy hands would be caressing a palmsized computer by which he can digitally destroy the object of his wrath du jour. His target, you might have guessed, is Hollywood.

You may have surmised why I am not a cartoonist. I have no talent for drawing, but you get the point: Little Kim Jong Un, supreme leader of the Democratic (cough, cough) People’s Republic of Korea, apparently wasn’t able to tolerate what we nutty Americans call political satire.

Or at least what Hollywood calls satire. Sony, specifically, considers it “satire” to blow up the face of the person described in paragraph one. What the movie lacks in wit is apparently compensated for by the sort of antics that the mood-altered find fantastically funny. This is what earns the film the label of “stoner movie,” for those who are not exactly riveted by the zeitgeist.

Then again, there is something about that face …

Thus, the mad tyrant, whose

Kathleen Parker rapacious curiosity includes wondering how long people can survive on a diet of grass, turns his basilisk gaze to the West where lesser mortals dare to mock him. Enter a fifth horseman of the apocalypse — the hacker.

What fun to expose the vanities of all vanities — snarky intercompany emails among the rich and famous about the rich and famous — and then to contemplate the genocide of moviegoers. How droll.

This is power. This is revenge of the nerd. This is lunacy — and a foreshadowing of worse to come? Kim says the U.S. is behind the film and claims to know nothing of the hack. President Obama speaks earnestly about the value of free speech while suggesting some sort of response.

What might this be? You hack us, we’ll hack you back?

A blistering lecture by the one to The Un? Such hackery only Thackeray could love.

Meanwhile, the maternal mind wanders to the scene in “The Conversation” when a woman observing a homeless man sleeping on a bench wonders whether he once was someone’s pride and joy. This leads to the parallel question: Was Kim Jong Un once a bundle of love in his mother’s arms, a happy little toddler whose chief delight was the endless rereading of “Goodnight Moon” or its equivalent?

Or did he first pull himself up from the floor only to unsheathe his tiny sword and cleave it through a kitten’s neck? How the once-beloved child becomes the mass murderer is one of life’s abominable mysteries. It is especially so to folks whose national mandate is to try to make life as fair as possible. That we sometimes fail does not diminish the aspiration.

Though I’ve not shared the pleasure of The Un’s company, I’m sure the supreme leader has his moments of humanity.

Don’t they all? But experience also suggests that Kim is endowed with a case of “the tinies.” Most bullies suffer not only a lack of self-esteem and empathy but also, one suspects, a certain masculine incertitude.

The “tinies” manifest themselves as follows: The tiniest infraction earns an abundance of punishment; the tiniest insult

is received as a mortal affront; the tiniest bit of humor at one’s expense is absorbed as an assault on one’s honor — and dishonor must pay a price.

How to deal with North Korea will keep us busy through the holidays, but it does seem that Obama is well-suited to the task. From my own conversations with and observations of the president, it appears that Obama is intrigued by the psychological underpinnings of human motivation. Thusly attuned, he might find Kim a tantalizing object for examination.

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, Dr. Freud supposedly said. But sometimes, it’s not.

Whatever strategies are devised, we may indulge ourselves in one morsel of sweetness — and I buried the lede.

What we have been unable to do — convince Hollywood to take seriously its role in shaping culture as well as reward loyal moviegoers with quality over cheap stunts — has been temporarily accomplished by a smug and cruel little man with the tiniest sense of humor.

Even though some theaters are now saying they will screen the film after all, the killing of “The Interview” was a holiday gift for all the wrong reasons.

Kathleen Parker’s email address is kathleenparker@ washpost.com.

8A • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014

gwinnettdailypost.com

Congressman shares holiday greetings with constituents

By Kristi Reed

kristi.reed @gwinnettdailypost.com

As his constituents in the 7th Congressional District celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas, Rep. Rob Woodall took the opportunity to share his thoughts about the holidays. In a Dec. 22 email to constituents, Woodall said the two holidays are reminders of the importance of faith, family and community.

“There are very few occasions where the world celebrates these values together, but Hanukkah and Christmas are two of those holidays,” Woodall wrote. “As we remember those less fortunate than us, those who are still living under dictatorships and regimes where they don’t have the freedom to worship as they please or the privilege to live in a country where they can count on living in

POLITICAL NOTEBOOK

peace every day, I hope that the lessons of Hanukkah and Christmas can feed our souls and remind us that it’s not gifts and glowing lights, but those core values that we all share that make us a community. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!”

Senators applaud nomination of Yates as deputy attorney general U.S. Sens. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) and Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) have expressed their support of President Obama’s nomination of Sally Yates, U.S. attorney for Georgia’s Northern District, to the position of deputy attorney general. In a joint statement released Dec. 22, both senators praised Yates for her years of service.

“Sally Yates is an exceptionally skilled attorney with a strong record of public

service and a well-qualified nominee to be deputy attorney general,” Isakson and Chambliss said. “She has served with distinction as U.S. attorney for Georgia’s Northern District and throughout her career has demonstrated her abilities as a talented prosecutor in a wide array of challenging cases. Her 22 years of experience in the U.S. attorney’s office and her role as vice chair of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee make her well-suited for the responsibilities of this job, and we congratulate her on her selection for such an important position.”

Deal appoints five to boards A member of the Lake Lanier Island Resorts sales team is one of several people recently appointed to boards

by Gov. Nathan Deal. Carol “Missy” Burgess, the director of sales and sponsorships at Lake Lanier Island Resorts, was appointed to the board of directors of the Georgia Lottery Corporation. Burgess, according to a press release from Deal’s office, has served on various boards at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and is a former chairman of “Friends,” a fundraising organization for CHOA. Deal also appointed Murrayville resident Jennifer L. Herring, the market leader for the BB&T Midtown and Downtown Atlanta locations, to the board of directors of the Georgia Lottery Corporation. Herring, an alumna of the Leadership Georgia Program, has 19 years of experience in the banking industry and has served on

Christmas present, a present she might not have been able to afford she’d do with the money. otherwise.

“I’m actually going to pay a One man, though, turned it bill,” she said. “It’s the perfect down and told McGann he made amount. Oh, my gosh. I’m so alright money, and to give it to lucky. I could cry.” someone more in need.

Wright wasn’t the only person The donor, who wished to in need to end up on the right side be identified as only a “local of the donor’s goodwill. business owner,” said he and his One of the $100s ended up wife were inspired by a TV news with a mother of five young chil- report on a donor in Missouri dren. Two other recipients turned having officers pass out money in out to be homeless. Another, a the same way. young woman, said she’d take “We try to do something for the money and buy her mother a people every year,” the Lilburn

native said. “We’ve just been blessed. Hopefully, we’ll be blessed enough to do it next year.”

The man added that recent anti-police sentiment throughout the country made him want to do something to show the community that officers were a positive force in the community.

Lilburn Police Chief Bruce Hedley was thankful to have his troops on board.

“This is going to uplift the officers,” he said. “This gives them an opportunity to validate the (job) they do.”

obituaries Mildred Anne Phillips Brisson, age 95, died Wednesday, December 24, 2014. Bill Head Funeral Home and Crematory, Lilburn/Tucker Chapel. 770-564-2726.

Mary Brown Mary Magdalene Bailey (Maggie) Brown, age 93, passed away on Tuesday, December 23, 2014. Bill Head Funeral Home and Crematory, Lilburn/Tucker Chapel. 770-564-2726.

SNELLVILLE

James “Bob” Fister James Robert Fister (Bob) of Snellville, GA died December, 19, 2014 at Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville, GA. Bob was born May 15, 1933 in Danville, KY with his twin sister Betty.

After moving to Atlanta in 1936, Bob’s parents were charter members of Christ the King Catholic Cathedral in Atlanta. Bob attended Christ the King school and North Fulton High. His family moved to Columbia, SC, where he graduated from Ursuline High School. After a stint in the Army during the Korean conflict, he went on to graduate from Clemson College (now Clemson University) with a BS in Civil Engineering.

Afterwards he worked for the Georgia DOT, during which time he earned a Masters in CE from GA Tech. He held positions in Savannah, GA as Traffic Engineer & Public Works Director, in Dekalb County as Director of Roads & Bridges, in Fulton County as Assistant Director of Public Works, and went in to private practice with Hill-Fister Engineers and

Western Illinois University, a master’s degree in special education from the University of Kentucky and a doctorate degree in special education from the University of Illinois.

Deal’s fifth Dec. 19 appointment was Gainesville resident Vicki Arnold to the Board of Pharmacy. A pharmacist in the Critical Care Pharmacy at Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Arnold is a member of the Georgia Society of Health System Pharmacists and has served as president of the University of Georgia Pharmacy Alumni Association and the Lanier Pharmacy Association. Arnold holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia.

Political Notebook appears in the Thursday and Sunday editions of the Gwinnett Daily Post.

Police

•From Page 1A

Mildred Brisson

the boards of the Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Chamber of Commerce and No One Alone.

Also on Dec. 19, Gov. Deal reappointed Simeon F. Deal to the board of directors of the Georgia Lottery Corporation. Deal, a senior project manager with D+H in Atlanta, has more than 35 years of experience in the banking and financial software services industry.

The Dallas resident attended Georgia Southern University.

Macon resident Martha Venn was appointed to the Professional Standards Commission. Venn, a provost at Middle Georgia State College, served as the senior executive director for educator preparation for the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. She holds a bachelor’s degree in special education from

Fister Associates, with his daughter Anne Daniels.

Bob enjoyed visiting his beloved Kentucky, mowing on his farm in Monroe, GA, playing golf, spending time with his 10 grandchildren & 1 great grandchild, and supporting his Clemson Tigers.

He was devout Catholic, and over the years was a member of Our Lady of Assumption in Atlanta, GA, Holy Cross in Tucker, GA, St. Anna’s in Monroe, GA, St. James in Savannah, GA, St. Matthew’s in Winder, GA, and St. Lawrence in Lawrenceville, GA. Most recently he attended daily mass at the Visitation Monastery in Snellville, GA. Bob was active in the Rotary Club of St. Mountain, GA and the InterFaith Organization, which built homes for lower income families.

Bob is predeceased by his parents; Willia Slattery & Fred M Fister, brother Stanley, twin sister Betty Johnson, and special friend Gerald Healy.

Survived by: wife of 57 years May Horne Fister, 4 children; Anne(Dan) Daniels, Lawrenceville, GA; Jane (Alan) McNabb, Decatur, GA; James Robert (Tabitha) Fister Jr., Snellville, GA; Sandra (Jim) Cika, Fort Mill, SC: Brothers: Fred M Fister, Dahlonega, GA and Paul (Kay) Fister, Roswell, GA; 10 Grandchildren: Luke Daniels, Andrew Daniels, Seth Daniels, John McNabb, Daniel McNabb, David McNabb, James R Fister III, Graham Fister, James A. Cika Jr, Jaclyn Cika (Jake) Hunter, 1 great grandchild Bryce Hunter and In-laws: John H (Judy) Horne, Mark D (Becky) Horne, Jr., Danielle (John) DesAngles, Margaret (Terry) Scafidi, Maryanne Horne, Michael G (Kay) Horne, and many nieces and nephews. Special Friends: Billy Jewett, Gene Clarke, Morris & Jan Teasley, Jerry Connell, and Carole Sfekas.

Funeral Mass: Monday, December 22, 2014; 11am at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Lawrenceville, GA. Family will receive visitors one hour prior to the mass. Burial Service will follow the funeral mass at the Honey Creek Woodlands: A Natural

Burial Grounds; at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, Conyers, GA. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Visitation Monastery, 2055 Ridgedale Drive, Snellville, GA 30078 and Catholic Relief Services, PO Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21297-0303.

Brittany Wright reacts after Lilburn Police Sgt. Brian McGann gave her a $100 bill from a “secret Santa” during a traffic stop on Wednesday in Lilburn.

(Staff Photo: David Welker)

For more obituaries, visit www.gwinnettdailypost.com.

BUFORD

Bonnie Jacobs Bonnie Jacobs, age 67, Buford, GA, passed away on December 23, 2014.

Junior E. Flanigan of Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Buford, GA 770-932-1133 www. flaniganfuneralhome.com

Chapel, 1031 Lawrenceville Hwy, Lawrenceville, GA. In lieu of flowers, memorials in his memory can be made to the Salvation Army 1424 Northeast Expressway Atlanta, GA. Online condolences may be expressed at www. wagesandsons.com

DULUTH

Shirley Foster Shirley Thomas Foster, 84 of Duluth, Georgia, passed away Sunday, December 21, 2014. She was born and raised in Upstate New York and married her high school sweetheart, Gene, at the age of 21. She was an incredible wife and mother to their four children. They relocated to Alpharetta, GA in 1975 for Gene’s job with IBM. Shirley was preceded in death by her husband in 1984 after 33 happy years of marriage. She was an avid walker, logging over 2,885 official kilometers in the Volksmarchers’ record books, walking a 10K in every state in America.

As a lifelong learner, she challenged herself frequently with puzzles, books, learning new skills and traveling extensively with an ever inquisitive mind. Shirley was also generous with her time, active in her church and volunteering for countless worthy causes. She led a very happy and fulfilling life.

Shirley is survived by her four children, fifteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, December 27th at Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church at 3PM, 3700 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth, GA 30096.

LILBURN

Edwin Holgate Edwin William Holgate, age 88, of Lilburn, passed away on Tuesday, December 23, 2014. Bill Head Funeral Home and Crematory, Lilburn/Tucker Chapel. 770-564-2726.

WINDER

Charlie Morris Charlie Morris, age 82, of Winder, passed away December 23, 2014.

MONROE

John Rawlins John “Johnny” Zachary Rawlins, 76 of Monroe, passed December 23, 2014. Tim Stewart Funeral Home, Monroe Chapel. 770-267-2594

LOGANVILLE

David Smith, Jr. David Leon Smith, Jr., age 73, of Loganville, GA passed away Tuesday, December 23, 2014. David was born in Atlanta, Georgia and owner of Smith Studio of Photography in Stone Mountain since 1971. He was preceded in death by his son, Christopher K. Smith. He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Linda Howard Smith; sons, A. Troy Smith of Loganville and Jason H. Smith and his wife Samantha of Buford; mother, Vivian Robinson Jarrett of Woodstock; Grandchildren, Ashley Taylor Smith, Marion Elizabeth Smith, and Jack Andrew Smith; brothers, Richard P. Smith of Clarkeville, Donald L. Jarrett of Woodstock, Howard Jarrett of Walnut Grove, and Eddie Smith of Albany. Funeral Services will be held Saturday December 27, 2014 at 1:00 P.M. at Cross Pointe Sugarloaf with Dr. James Merritt; Dr. Charles Stanley and Rev. Ron Cansler officiating. The Family will receive friends Friday from 4:00 until 7:00 pm at Wages & Sons Gwinnett

LAWRENCEVILLE

H. Larry Watkins “Pawpaw” H. Larry Watkins aka “Pawpaw”, 70, of Loganville, GA, went home to be with Jesus on Dec. 20, 2014 from lung cancer.

Mr. Watkins was born in Atlanta, GA. He was the son of Herbert and Geraldine Watkins. He leaves his wife of 49 years, Marcia Nash Watkins of Loganville, son Eddie Watkins and his wife Terri, son Bobby Watkins and his wife Beth, and daughter Jeanna Caraway and her husband Daniel.

He also leaves behind his precious grand babies, Dillon Caraway, Bo Watkins, Drew Caraway, Cady Watkins, and Julia Watkins. Mr. Watkins was a member of Westside Baptist Church where he loved to serve. He retired from the IRS and drove a school bus for Walton County. His work ethic was impeccable. Services for Mr. Watkins will be held at Westside Baptist Church in Snellville, GA on Saturday Dec. 27th, 2014. Visitation will be at the church at 11:00 a.m. and his Celebration of Life Service to follow at 12.

Donations may be made in honor of Mr. Watkins to Westside Baptist Church Benevolence Fund. Condolences may be viewed or sent to www.wagesfuneralhome.com. Tom M. Wages Funeral Service, LLC, “A Family Company” Snellville Chapel 770-979-3200, has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.

STONE MOUNTAIN

Wallace Weldon Mr. Wallace Lee Weldon, age 81 of Stone Mountain, passed away on Tuesday, December 23, 2014. A Funeral Service will be held at 2 PM on Saturday, December 27, 2014 in the Chapel of Tim Stewart Funeral Home, Loganville.

Rev. Bobby Moore will officiate.

Burial will follow at Resthaven Cemetery in Monroe. Mr. Weldon was a United States Army Veteran and was the owner of Weldon Style Shop. He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul Russell & Tiny Kate Weldon, as well as his brothers, Jimmy Weldon & Jack Weldon. Mr. Weldon is survived by his wife, Naziha S. Weldon; Children: Wallace Lee, Jr. & Carrie Weldon, Sugar Hill; Amy & Scott Green, Eatonton; Grandchildren: Clayton Lee Weldon & Tyler James Weldon, both of Sugar Hill; Brother & Sister-in-law: Larry & Venera Weldon, Loganville. The family will receive friends from 5 - 8 PM on Friday, December 26, 2014 at the Tim Stewart Funeral Home, 670 Tom Brewer Road, Loganville, GA 30052.

770-466-1544. Please sign the online guest registry at www.stewartfh.com.

LAWRENCEVILLE

Carol Wood Carol Jean Wood, age 59, Lawrenceville, GA, passed away on December 24, 2014. Junior E. Flanigan of Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Buford, GA 770-932-1133 www. flaniganfuneralhome.com

15 photos are available with all Obituaries and Death Notices $

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10A • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014

gwinnettdailypost.com

GWINNETT GAB Girl Scouts mark holidays with the community Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta Troop 7430 has had a busy holiday season of giving. For the third consecutive year, the troop celebrated the holidays by caring and participating in various activities around the community.

The girls sang several carols at The Oaks Senior Living Center in Braselton and the Ivy Springs Manor Senior Living Center in Buford, bringing smiles to many of the residents faces. They made In-Kind Donations to the Children’s Hospital in Atlanta which included a range of items from CDs to doll sets. The troop also participated

leads the troop along with Sue Williams, Kelly Deschenes and Michaela Ryan.

Atlanta Girl Scout Troop 7430 lined up ready to carol along with cub scout pack 151. The troops sang several carols at The Oaks Senior Living Center in Braselton and the Ivy Springs Manor Senior Living Center in Buford last week. (Special Photo)

in the Christmas Stroll n Roll parade in Flowery Branch, riding decorated scooters and passing out candy canes to the crowd.

Troop 7430 consists of six junior level scouts — Tegan Deschenes, Andrea Contreras, Elena I. Gonzales, Sara Boyd, Bella Rendas and

Georgia.

The American Red Cross will host blood drives Friday through Sunday — all supporters who come out and donate will receive a Red Cross holiday long-sleeve T-Shirt. Participants will complete a simple fourstep process — registration and medical history, a mini-physical, donation and refreshments.

The American Red Cross Blood Drive will be from noon to 5 p.m.

Friday through Sunday at the upper level near Dick’s Sporting Goods in the Mall of Georgia, 3333 Buford Drive in Buford. participants wanting to schedule an appointment in advance can log on to redcrossblood.org and enter the code “moga” for Mall of Georgia.

GGC

•From Page 1A

the end of the 2015 spring semester. out of nine colleges and “The reputation of universities with 428, educator preparation at while the University Georgia Gwinnett has of Georgia placed 154 contributed to the prostudent teachers in GCPS gram’s rapid growth over last school year. Four the past four years,” said schools (Shorter UniverLois C. Richardson, intersity, Phoenix University, im provost and senior vice Georgia Perimeter and president for academic Mercer University) all and student affairs. saw a drop in placements.

Those figures are an GGC’s teacher educaaberration from figures tion program overall has released by the U.S. counted more than 300 Department of Education graduates in the last four that said enrollments in years, and another 150 are teacher education proexpected to graduate by grams dropped by about

10 percent from 2004 to 2012.

In May, GGC’s School of Education became nationally accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.

Richardson said one reason for the high numbers of students in Gwinnett schools is GGC students are placed exclusively in GCPS schools for all of their field and clinical experiences.

“Through our program, our students come to truly understand the school

district’s approach to education,” Richardson said. “Our graduates are ready for the first year of teaching, and because they have completed experiences in a variety of GCPS schools, they are comfortable teaching in any location.”

The pipeline is designed to travel both ways, as Richardson said GCPS educators and administrators helped develop the college’s teacher preparation programs.

“As a result, our students have extensive

opportunities to develop their teaching expertise in outstanding educational environments,” she said. “With rich diversity and world-class schools, Gwinnett County is a great place to learn to be a 21st century educator.”

In 2011, when GGC was given a green light to pursue national accreditation, it came at a time following a report of a Blue Ribbon Panel on Clinical Preparation and Partnerships for Improved Student Learning that called for revamping

curricula, incentives and staffing of teacher education programs.

The panel also cited the need for strengthening teacher candidate’s field placements, acknowledging the critical role of partnerships between teacher education programs and school districts. The report was commissioned by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, and expressed guiding principles used in the development of the GGC programs.

blubbered, grabbed me in a bear hug,” Freeman said. “I helped him get all the presents out to the car and tears streaming down his face, he grabbed me in a bear hug again. He just couldn’t thank us enough.”

Freeman said seeing how appreciative the parents are is overwhelming.

“I don’t have the words to explain it,” he said.

“You’d have to see it.”

According to HMUMC Communications Director Jenn Harris, the Secret Servant ministry is a very important one for the church.

“This program is what

Christmas is all about,” she said.

By helping those in need, congregants get to experience the true meaning of the holiday, she explained.

“Christmas is about the Lord coming and bringing hope and joy and love,” she added. “It’s not about presents under the tree, it’s about the presence of Jesus Christ in our lives and sharing that joy with others.”

Mann agreed.

“It’s the true meaning of Christmas,” she said. “We are not here to get, we are here to do for others. That’s what Jesus told us to do.”

Joy

•From Page 1A

lighting the silvery branches of his family’s aluminum time, they would at least be tree — a tree with nothing able to do that.” underneath, only a note Making sure children from “Santa” indicating he have presents on Christmas had run out of presents in Day is particularly important Europe and would be back to Davis given his personal next week. Davis and his experience. When he was siblings did eventually get a small child, his father a visit from Santa, but the left and his newly single experience of that Christmother was unable to afmas morning without gifts ford presents for him and is one Davis cannot forget. his three siblings.

“Your heart just sinks,” “We came down Christ- he said. mas morning and there Davis and other members were no presents. I can of the church are working remember it like it was to make sure a similar exyesterday,” Davis said. perience does not happen to Davis still recalls seeing any children in the commuthe spinning color wheel nity. With Davis’ support,

•From Page 1A

Paris Malcolm — and 12 brownie level scouts — Ava Williams, Tatum Caruthers, Julia Caron, Bennie Roberts, Kori Mitchell, Maddox Wilson, Cheyenna Lennox, Brooke Kamarad, Nylah Anderson, Grace Ryan, Eva Doyne and Amanda Hartig. Linda Gonzales

such celebrity chefs, restaurateurs, and culinary instructors such as Paula Deen, Tyler Florence, Bobby Flay, Patrick and Gina Neely, Giada LauBook signing rentis, Mario Batali and with Jennifer Chef Marvin Woods, who was the first chef tapped Hill Booker

by First Lady Michelle Renowned chef and Obama to start the Let’s cookbook author, Chef Move! Campaign.

Jennifer Hill Booker, just Chef Jennifer Hill released a new cookbook Booker will be signing entitled, “Field Peas to her new cookbook from Foie Gras: Souther Reci- noon to 4 p.m. Saturday pes with a French Accent” at Williams Sonoma

by Pelican Publishing. in The Forum, 5145 Booker reinvents Peachtree Parkway Space Southern cuisine with her No. 405 in Norcross. new cookbook, creating a unique take on contem- Red Cross Blood porary Southern cooking Drive at MOG and combining agrarian approaches and downHoliday shoppers will home style with classihave the opportunity to cal-French techniques. roll up a sleeve and help Booker has worked with save lives at the Mall of

Boy

resting place, in hopes that the child might be smiling also on that day there will down, happy to see it’s the stand a towering monument season again. to introduce generations to The new tree, though, is come to Jackson. for everyone, not just JackIt’s a 25-foot Christmas son. This year, the process tree, planted at the beginwas a bit rushed, but Russell ning of December at White plans in the future to ask Chapel Memorial Gardens in others to bring ornaments to Duluth. Jackson’s grandfahang in honor of their loved ther, Bill Russell, donated ones, too. the tree, which should grow The evergreen, sitting to be about 50 feet, to the a few hundred yards from cemetery in hopes that it I-85, went up Dec. 1, just will become a landmark and two weeks after the planning an annual holiday tradition, began. Russell approached with motorists on nearby the cemetery’s manager, Interstate 85 seeing its glow- Mark Hinson, with the idea ing lights and ornaments and and quickly got a “yes.” knowing the boy’s name.

“Bill has been an enor“We want this to be a mous friend to this cemfocal point for this commuetery,” Hinson said of nity,” Russell said. “It’ll be Russell, who runs Russell here a long time. If someLandscape Group, which thing happens, we’ll bring has regularly done work for another one in. We want it to the cemetery. “He’s done be where Gwinnettians say, so much to help people ‘Well, they got the tree up out. He’s always done it again.’” in a very selfless manner, The installation of the putting the mission first and evergreen, sitting across the never asking for gratitude cemetery from Jackson’s or anything in return. That’s spot in one of the mausowhy our relationship has leums, is the latest of the been so great over the attempts for awareness of the years.” child’s battle.

The manager also shared The Jackson Jinright Russell’s vision in honoring Foundation was also formed Jackson. in his name, with a goal of “Ultimately, long-term, educating and combating what I hope this does is peroxisomal disorder, the I hope this is a beacon for rare condition that took his Gwinnett County,” Hinson sight, speech, mobility and, said. “I want this to be the ultimately, his life. Russell, a Duluth, Gwinnett Christmas former head of the Gwinnett Tree. When people come Chamber, has spoken pubdown that interstate, from licly with the same goals.

Atlanta, coming out to visit After the boy’s death in or go to Mall of Georgia, December 2012, Russell be- whatever, we want them to gan decorating a cherry tree see this and say, ‘Wow, look for Christmas near Jackson’s at that.’”

Mann and fellow church member Roger Freeman spearhead the Secret Servant ministry effort.

“Everything’s done anonymously,” Mann explained.

“Nobody has the list except for myself and Roger.”

Items from the list of toy and clothing requests are posted on a bulletin board.

Congregants choose one or more items from the list, buy the requested gift, wrap it and return it to the church where Mann and Freeman distribute them to those in need. Through the program, church members help approximately 35 families each year.

Though the church has helped dozens of families in need, Freeman said one of the most memorable beneficiaries was a “huge” guy who needed help providing Christmas presents for his six children.

“He came in to get his gifts and they were all in front of the desk,” Freeman said.

The man looked at the large number of presents and asked which ones were for his children. When Freeman told him all of the presents were his, the man was overcome with emotion.

“He broke down and

gwinnettdailypost.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014 • 11A

12A • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014

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SECTION B • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014

Big Gwinnett group earns all-state honors

By David Friedlander david.friedlander@ gwinnettdailypost.com

Will Hammock

Hoping for Smith return One of the lesser known facts about Mike Smith — he once sold Christmas trees in the offseason for extra money when he was a college assistant at Morehead State.

The Atlanta Falcons head coach no longer has to peddle trees, or worry about what’s under his tree, thanks to a lucrative, multi-milliondollar NFL contract. When he opens presents this year, hopefully Smith will get a few things he enjoys, like maybe a new driver or some Pro V1 golf balls.

I’d like to see one more gift, too, one that can’t be bought from a store and wrapped up under a tree. I’d like to see Smitty get another year as the Falcons’ coach.

The speculation, both in private and in the media, throughout this season of struggle has centered around Smith’s job status. Some reports claim he needs to make the playoffs and go on a deep postseason run to keep his job.

He routinely answers questions about being on the hot seat the same way, that he plans to coach and try to win games until owner Arthur Blank tells him he isn’t the coach anymore.

It shouldn’t get to that point, though.

Smith has proven himself in his seven seasons here, including a claim already as the Falcons’ winningest coach with a 66-45 record. Beloved Dan Reeves, who took Atlanta to its only Super Bowl, didn’t win that many games in his seven seasons. He only took two teams to the playoffs, and Smith took his first five Atlanta teams there.

Smith, the third-fastest head coach in NFL history to 50 wins, has two NFC South titles to his credit and had the Falcons within a play of the Super Bowl in 2012. He is the first coach in franchise history to post back-to-back winning seasons and three consecutive playoff appearances.

An avalanche of injuries have hurt Atlanta in each of the past two seasons, which is where the talk about firing Smith stems from. There’s no question that 2013 was a disaster and 2014 hasn’t been pretty, either, with a few clock management issues that led to losses pinned directly on the head coach.

That said, Atlanta’s players never quit on this season.

They keep fighting week after week — with a hodgepodge offensive line, with or without Julio Jones and other injured players. They keep fighting because they’re behind their coach. In a game last Sunday that meant the playoff lives of both teams, it was the Falcons who delivered and ended the rival New Orleans Saints’ season.

And here Atlanta sits in Game 16 with an opportunity for the NFC South title and a home playoff game. All it takes is one win over the Carolina Panthers.

That, and an impressive resumé, should be enough for Smith to be back in 2015.

Will Hammock can be reached via email at will. hammock@gwinnettdailypost. com. His column appears on Thursdays. For archived columns, go to www.gwinnettdailypost.com/willhammock.

After reaching their respective classifications’ state championship games this season, it should come as little surprise that Buford, Archer and Greater Atlanta Christian were well represented when the Georgia Sports Writers Association released its 2014 All-State football team.

MORE INSIDE

Complete list of each classification’s GHSA all-state football teams, 4B

Fresh off its third straight state championship and seventh in the last eight years, Buford had the largest representation of any Gwinnett school, with nine Wolves players named to the first, second or honorable mention teams in Class AAAA.

Jess Simpson led the Buford contingent by being named the AAAA Coach of the Year after leading the Wolves (15-0) to a state title in their third different classification.

“It was a special year,” Simpson said. “We talked all (last) offseason about how (AAAA) was a new mountain to climb and a new challenge. And our pre-region schedule this year was pretty challenging. So, it’s very gratify-

ing for our team and our coaches to be challenge and to meet that challenge.”

The Wolves certainly met stiff early challenges, including beating Florida Class AAA state champion Trinity Christian and Class AAAA semifinalist McEachern.

But they were rarely challenged after that, winning their 13 remaining game by 21 points or more, including a 55-10

rout of St. Pius X in the title game.

“This group was exceptional,” Simpson said. “We really didn’t have a lull. A lot of times, you got to a point in the season where you start to think about your next game and look ahead.

This did a good job of staying focused and staying in the moment.”

Simpson also had

See ALL-STATE, Page 4B

BELK BOWL Georgia vs. Louisville • Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN) • Charlotte, N.C.

Georgia Bulldogs running back Sony Michel (1) reacts with center David Andrews (61) after scoring a touchdown against Troy on Sept.

20 in Athens. (Photo: USA Today Sports/Dale Zanine)

Front & Center

Wesleyan grad Andrews making mark as anchor of UGA line

By David Friedlander david.friedlander@ gwinnettdailypost.com

ATHENS — In a way, the center position in football isn’t very aptly named in the sense that in terms of what the average fan notices, it’s hardly at the center of attention.

On the other hand, it is at the center of the action, with no offensive play starting without the action of the player manning the position.

So to the casual observer, the fact David Andrews will be making his 39th consecutive start at the position — and the final one of his college career — when No. 13 Georgia takes on 21st-ranked Louisville in the Belk Bowl next Tuesday in Charlotte, it may not resonate that much.

But make no mistake, to anyone inside the Bulldogs’ program, particularly around

Georgia head coach Mark Richt embraces Georgia center David Andrews (61) after defeating Auburn 34-7 on Nov. 15 in Athens.

(Photo: AP/John Bazemore)

the offense, Andrews’ finale is a very big deal.

Though there are few quantitative stats to measure just what an offensive lineman means to his team, the 6-foot-2,

294-pound senior’s value goes well beyond even the durability he’s shown in all those consecutive starts, as well as playing in 49 of a possible 53 games in his career at Georgia.

Just ask the man who has coached him the most during his four years in Athens.

“David has developed into a really good football player at this level, and is a great leader for this whole team,” said Bulldogs offensive line coach Will Friend, who may also be leaving the Georgia program to join outgoing offensive coordinator Mike Bobo at Colorado State, according to published reports.

“He has gotten better and better each year, and will be a guy that will definitely be missed next year.”

If Friend’s words aren’t enough of an endorsement of Andrews, then perhaps the actions of his teammates are.

He was not only named the Bulldogs’ Most Valuable Player by his peers at the team’s awards gala Dec. 14, but was also named the team’s permanent

See ANDREWS, Page 4B

Bears hope holiday surge omen for future

By David Friedlander

themselves that early Christmas present with its performance at the Coastal Clash earlier this Having already seen his week in Charleston, S.C., team make history with finishing second of 55 its first Gwinnett County teams in what is billed Tournament championas the Southeast’s largest ship earlier this month, sanctioned high school Mountain View coach tournament.

Jim Gassman had one And with another more holiday wish for his holiday approaching, wrestlers.

Gassman has a New The Bears gave Year’s resolution for david.friedlander@ gwinnettdailypost.com

his team heading into January — to continue the momentum and make this a special season in the program’s brief history.

“One of a set of goals we had (before the season) was to win the county tournament,” Gassman said. “Another was to get to the (Class AAAAAA) state duals. Hopefully, the kids can continue to build on what we’ve (already)

built (throughout the month).”

So far, so good.

Buoyed by repeat champions Adam Flatt (138 pounds) and Justin George (126), the Bears were able to roll to the county title back on Dec. 13.

“As a team, (the county title) definitely gave us a boost,” said George, a junior who won his first

county championship at 113 pounds as sophomore last season. “We have a lot more confidence this year. The guys are more disciplined. They’re working harder in the room, and we have better chemistry.”

The duo of George and Flatt was also key in this week’s impressive

See BEARS, Page 4B

2B • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014

gwinnettdailypost.com

nfl

Punters, placekickers making role reversals work

By Barry Wilner

AP Pro Football Writer

A brutal hit while having a punt blocked sidelined San Diego’s Mike Scifres with a broken left collarbone.

In came placekicker Nick Novak, charged with one of the most important roles in special teams. He hadn’t punted since high school and barely practices it as a pro.

Yet he was more than comfortable with the challenge.

“I can do it,” Novak said after punts of 27, 33, 45, 51, 46 and 38 yards in the loss to New England on Dec. 7. “I can’t do it on Mike’s level, but I feel I can certainly get the job done. The pressure’s not there, because I’m sure the expectation is, just catch it and kick it and get it out. … If you mess up, ‘Well, he doesn’t punt.’ If he does well, it’s more of a ‘Wow’ kind of thing.

“There really was no pressure there.”

Ah, but usually there is tons of pressure on a placekicker replacing a punter in a game, and vice versa. The only similarities between the jobs are that both players make a living with their foot, and their

San Diego Chargers’s Nick Novak (9) kicks a 40-yard field goal from the hold of Mat McBriar in overtime against the San Francisco 49ers last Sunday in Santa Clara, Calif.

(Photo: AP/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

specialties are critical to field position and scoring.

Because there are so many differences in the mechanics of each job, rarely do the kickers and punters practice the other’s role.

“Punting’s very linear, and your swing is more straight up and through the ball,” explained Minnesota field goal kicker Blair Walsh. “Kicking, you’re coming around it a little bit more and you’re worried about a plant.”

Still, as a pro, Walsh has studied what the Vikings’ Jeff Locke and other NFL punters do, and believes he could handle the assignment. He even spends

some time on Fridays working on punting.

“You could use the similarities between the two, whether it’s locking your foot out or having an explosive motion through it,” he said, adding that “overdoing it” must be avoided.

“There’s definitely similarities you could carry over to each position to make you successful at both,” Walsh said. “I’ve been around it long enough where I’ve seen a lot of good punters do the right technique, so you sort of emulate it a little bit in your mind.

“But I think the biggest thing would just be getting

used to the live rush coming at you.”

Indeed, the rush to get to the punter is a sprint, entirely different and probably more dangerous than attempts to block field goals.

While NFL coaching staffs and personnel people try to account for all situations, an in-game injury or illness to a placekicker or punter often falls outside their preparation.

San Diego was extremely fortunate that Novak was so successful; the Chargers have a similar history because Scifres did the placement work in the 2011 opener when Nick Kaeding injured his knee.

That’s also how Novak wound up in San Diego.

Generally, though, it’s a desperate spot when one of those guys goes down in a game.

“I was 70 percent in college, which is plenty enough to get you cut in the NFL,” Saints punter Thomas Morstead said of his placekicking. “But I’d be a very serviceable backup, I would think, if they need me in a pinch.

“I can kick it a long ways, but whether it goes between the sticks, you know. …”

There’s the rub.

“They’re so different, but I’m going to say it’s probably more difficult filling in as a field goal kicker just because there’s not much room for error,” Jets punter Ryan Quigley said. “Punting, you’ve got the whole field to work with. It’s like, when you’re punting, you can just say, ‘OK, we’re going to punt it down the middle and hopefully it stays in bounds and you get a good 40 yards out of it.’”

Punters and placekickers find good reasons not to practice the other guy’s art. San Francisco’s Phil Dawson, now in his 16th season making field goals and extra points, works on punting occasionally. He notes “the more I do it, the worse I get.”

But he points out with a sharp jab that punter Andy Lee trying Dawson’s specialty “would be worse.”

Some teams even had other players as the backup punter or placekicker. On the Saints, it’s secondstring quarterback Luke McCown behind Morstead.

For Philadelphia, wide receiver Riley Cooper backs up placekicker Cody Parkey.

Perhaps the patron saint of replacement kickers is Craig Hentrich, who

punted for 16 NFL seasons. Hentrich was a standout at both jobs at Notre Dame, won a Super Bowl as a punter with Green Bay and played in another with Tennessee.

He went 3-for-3 on field goals of 49, 34 and 33 yards in the 2003 opener after placekicker Joe Nedney suffered a season-ending knee injury. Hentrich hadn’t made a field goal since 1995.

“I’ve seen some punters, actually, step in and have good games kicking when the kicker went down. The most noticeable I’ve ever seen is … Hentrich,” Saints placekicker Shayne Graham said. “But he was also a respected kicker at Notre Dame in college because he did both, so he had the background for it.”

Nobody does both in the NFL anymore, except in a pinch.

So if Quigley gets called on to replace Folk during Sunday’s finale, what’s his philosophy?

“Shoot, I’d tell them to back it up and put me out there from anywhere,” he said with a laugh. “Nah, that’s the way I think because I’d just crank it and use my leg strength.

But who knows where it’s going?”

Chiefs linebacker Houston setting sights on sacks record sack in five straight games. on what he sees and what “He’s a great leader, a he think is coming. He has vocal leader, but he shows a good knack of picking KANSAS CITY, Mo. in actions, too, going out that up.”

— Quarterbacks would be and laying it on the line,” Houston was on quite faring a whole lot better Chiefs defensive tackle a pace last year before he against Justin Houston this Kevin Vickerson said. dislocated his elbow in season if they avoided him “Consistency in his level November, keeping him as deftly as the Chiefs’ star of play, his preparation is out until the playoffs. He’s linebacker dodges reporters. good — he does a lot of been healthy this year and It doesn’t matter that film study, and he compiling up the sacks.

Houston is the NFL’s sack municates with the group When he brought down leader heading into the final week of the regular season.

Nor does it matter that he’s just two sacks shy of 20, which would match Hall of Famer Derrick Thomas for the singleseason franchise record.

He’d rather let others vouch for him than speak in front of a camera.

“It starts physically, a guy that’s extremely physically talented,” Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith said, “but the thing about Justin is how smart he is.

He knows situations, sees tendencies, splits, things like that. He has a good understanding of the game.”

Smith is speaking from experience having faced Houston in training camp, when coach Andy Reid unleashes the first-team defense against the No. 1 offense.

But even then, Smith usually has on the yellow jersey that is supposed to 225454-1 keep defenders from laying a lick on them.

Philip Rivers, Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger have no such luxury.

“He’s just relentless,” Smith added. “Plays such good football in all situations. That’s the thing I see. Those guys only get noticed for sacks and deservedly some of that, but certainly how he plays on first and second down, plays the run — an alldown player.”

When he was coming out of Georgia, Houston had a reputation for being Bill Jr., Nan, Jeffrey, Susan and Melba Wages. far better at getting to the quarterback than dropping into coverage or stopping the run.

These days, he’s just as adept at bringing down a ball carrier or batting down a pass as he is pummeling a quarterback.

There’s a benefit to that, too: Houston’s now on the field in virtually any down or distance, giving him Lawrenceville Stone Mountain even more opportunities to (678) 500-8007 (678) 500-8717 harass the opponent.

226653-3 He’s had at least one

By Dave Skretta AP Sports Writer

Happy Holidays from Ivy Springs Manor

Local, Family-Owned.

Roethlisberger in last Sunday’s loss to Pittsburgh, it gave him 18 on the season.

That’s a half sack more than the Texans’ J.J. Watt and a full sack more than Ravens star Elvis Dumervil, the two defenders closest to him in the league race.

Houston already has the second-most sacks in any Chiefs season, surging past the 15 1/2 that Jared Allen had in 2007. Now, only Thomas and his 20 sacks in 1990 still stand.

“We’re all pulling for him that he can finish up,” said

Reid, whose Chiefs need to beat San Diego on Sunday and get a whole lot of help to reach the playoffs.

“That’s not the most important thing — he wants to win the game — but at the same time, he sure has done a nice job.”

ondeck The Home Teams

Falcons

TODAY NEXT UPCOMING Panthers Off Sun, 4:25 p.m. Playoffs TBD

CBS/92.9 FM

Off

vs. Louisville^ Tue, 6:30 p.m.

ESPN/750-AM

Off

vs. Miss. State# Wed, 8 p.m.

ESPN/680-AM

Off.

at Greenville Fri, 7 p.m.

at Greenville Sat, 7 p.m.

Off

Milwaukee Fri, 7:30 p.m.

SS/92.9 FM

at Milwaukee Sat, 8:30 p.m.

SS/92.9 FM

UGA hoops

Off

Mercer Sat, 6 p.m.

SECN/750-AM

at Kansas State Wed, 4 p.m.

ESPNU/750-AM

Tech hoops

Off

Charlotte Tue, 7 p.m.

ESPN3/680-AM

at Notre Dame Jan. 3, 2:30 p.m.

ACCN/680-AM

UGA football

Tech football

Gladiators

Hawks

PTV = Peachtree TV, SS = SportSouth, FSS = Fox Sports South; ^Belk Bowl in Charlotte, N.C.; #Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens

On TV

Today

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

4 p.m. — Diamond Head Classic, fifth or seventh place, at Honolulu ESPNU 6:30 p.m. — Diamond Head Classic, third place, at Honolulu ESPN2 8:30 p.m. — Diamond Head Classic, championship, at Honolulu ESPN2

NBA

Noon — Washington at New York ESPN 2:30 p.m. — Oklahoma City at San Antonio ABC 5 p.m. — Cleveland at Miami ABC 8 p.m. — L.A. Lakers at Chicago TNT 10:30 p.m. — Golden State at L.A. Clippers TNT Friday

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

1 p.m. — Heart of Dallas Bowl, Illinois vs. Louisiana Tech ESPN 4:30 p.m. — Quick Lane Bowl, Rutgers vs. North Carolina, at Detroit ESPN 8 p.m. — St. Petersburg (Fla.) Bowl, NC State vs. UCF ESPN

Sports Calendar BASKETBALL

Gwinnett. Registration is at 4 p.m. and the 5K is at 6 p.m.

Jan. 2: The Suwanee Sports Academy will host the Post-race refreshments are at 6:30 p.m. and awards at Complete Skills Basketball 6:45 p.m. The cost is $35 per Clinic for girls in grades 4-7 with instruction by Wesleyan runner. Registration is available at www.active.com. For girls head coach Jan Azar. more information, email to The clinic is from 9 a.m. to act1@mindspring.com. noon. Registration is open Jan. 31: Georgia Fitness at ssasports.com/completeand the city of Suwanee will skills-holiday-clinic. host the first Suwanee Gateway Half Marathon. It will CYCLING Dec. 28-30: Frazier Cycling begin at 7:30 a.m. at Town Center Park. Cost is $65 will host its Winter Holiday through Monday, then it inJunior Cycling Day Camp in creases to $75. Registration Suwanee. The camp allows is available at active.com. young competitive cyclists to For more information, go to train with the Frazier Cycling runsuwanee.com. Volunteers Juniors, one of the country’s also are needed. Potential top junior teams. Coaches volunteers can email to Ralph Frazier and Kelli Rojasongvance@gmail.com. gan have led the junior team Feb. 14: The Buford/North to 55 national medals and eight national championship. Gwinnett Rotary Club’s SuCamp is open to road cyclists wanee Sweetheart Sprint 5K and triathletes ages 9 and up. will be held to benefit a club that provides service and supCost is $75 per day (which port for a variety of community includes lunch and snacks) organizations. The race begins for juniors or $35 a day for at Town Center Park. RegistraFrazier Cycling Junior Team and Youth Program members. tion for the Peachtree Road Call 770-513-8640 to register. Race qualifier is $25 for individuals or $40 for two runners Sign-up deadline is Friday. who sign up together. Runners will receive a long-sleeved RUNNING Dec. 31: The ninth annual race shirt. Festivities also include giveaways, a Valentine’sFlashlight 5K will be held themed costume contest, at The Warehouse at First photo booth and more. For United Methodist Church more information, go to www. of Lawrenceville to benefit suwaneesweetheartsprint.com Family Promise Gwinnett, or contact Rebecca Shelton at a charity with the goal of 678-995-6860 or bngrotary@ ending homelessness for children and their families in gmail.com.

Feedback

• Will Hammock, Sports Editor: will.hammock@gwinnettdailypost.com • Christine Troyke, Staff Writer: christine.troyke@gwinnettdailypost.com • David Friedlander, Staff Writer: david.friedlander@gwinnettdailypost.com • Paul Thomas, Staff Writer: paul.thomas@gwinnettdailypost.com • Scott Smith, Senior Correspondent: scott.smith@gwinnettdailypost.com • To report scores, call 770-339-5850

gwinnettdailypost.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014 • 3B

gwinnett grads Dacula’s Walker key in Air Force’s bowl victory, turnaround season rushing yards in the bowl.

The 6-1, 260-pound junior was an honorable mention All-Mountain West Dexter Walker reverted Conference selection this to his Dacula running back season. ways for the game-changing play in last week’s FaBASKETBALL mous Idaho Potato Bowl.

With less than 10 Wiedeman reaches minutes left and Air Force career milestone leading just 23-17, the juTrent Wiedeman nior linebacker scooped a reached a pair of milefumble and raced 60 yards stones on a single play in for the decisive blow in an Georgia Southern’s viceventual 38-24 win over tory over Stetson.

Western Michigan. His The Greater Atlanta first college touchdown Christian grad grabbed sealed the Falcons’ first an offensive rebound, the bowl victory since 2010, 700th of his career, and as well as their amazing then scored while drawturnaround. ing a foul. He made the Air Force went 2-10 last ensuing free throw for his season and bounced back 1,000th career point. to 10-3 this year.

The senior, who sat out It was a year of change last season after transferfor Walker, too. The ring from the College of 6-foot, 205-pounder was Charleston, has fueled previously a defensive Georgia’s Southern’s 7-2 back starter, but he moved start, its best since 1992. to outside linebacker this He has scored in double season and finished with figures in every game, 46 tackles. He has 148 including 17 points and tackles in 36 career games seven rebounds vs. South for the academy.

Florida and 18 points and He wasn’t the only nine boards vs. TruettGwinnett grad contributMcConnell. He finished ing to Air Force’s bowl with 10 points and five win and turnaround searebounds in the Stetson son, though. win.

Mill Creek’s A.J. The 6-8, 255-pound Ruechel started every forward averages 14.7 game at right tackle, points (second on the team paving the way for 284 to Jelani Hewitt’s 23.0)

By Will Hammock will.hammock@ gwinnettdailypost.com

and 7.0 rebounds (first on the team).

Belcher off to strong start North Gwinnett’s Joshlyn Belcher has stepped right into a contributing role for the Georgia Regents University women’s basketball team.

The freshman guard averages 10 points, 4 rebounds and 2.1 assists. She leads the team in made free throws and percentage, converting 29 of 34 from the line (85.3 percent).

Hutchins stars for North Georgia After one season at Faulkner State Community College (Ala.), Mountain View’s Kelsey Hutchins moved to North Georgia, where she has become a star for a 9-2 team.

The 6-foot-1 sophomore averages 15.5 points (second on the team) and 8.5 rebounds (first), while leading the Nighthawks in both field-goal percentage (53.8) and free-throw percentage (87.8).

Hutchins had 19 points and 14 rebounds in last week’s win over Flagler in the Peach Belt Conference opener, but had an even bigger game in late No-

vember when she had 32 points and eight rebounds against Fort Valley State.

That outing, along with a 12-point, 13-rebound game vs. Brevard, earned her Peach Belt Conference player of the week honors.

VOLLEYBALL Hughes picks up more honors North Gwinnett’s MaTia Hughes, a libber for New York University, was named by the Eastern College Athletic Conference as the Division III Metro/ Upstate Defensive Player of the Year last week.

She also was named an ECAC All-Star as a first-teamer, more than a month after being named an honorable mention AllAmerican by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

Hughes led NYU in digs (606), digs per set (4.77) and sets played (127).

Gwinnett Grads is a column that runs on Thursdays spotlighting achievements of past Gwinnett standouts.

Coaches and parents are urged to send suggestions via email to will.hammock@gwinnettdailypost. com.

LeBron set for holiday homecoming The Associated Press MIAMI — LeBron James doesn’t have any apprehension for this homecoming.

There’s nothing to fear, no real worries about his safety, unlike what awaited him the last time he had one of these return games. Then again, this might not even classify as a homecoming — because, it turns out, Miami was never truly his home, just a place he called home for four years while playing with the Heat.

He came. He won. He left.

Today, James returns to face the Heat, the team that turned him from a superstar to a two-time NBA champion superstar.

And as he and the Cleveland Cavaliers prepare for what will certainly be an emotional Christmas visit, James said he’s expecting to be flooded with positive vibes.

“To say I haven’t thought about going back, I would be lying,” James said in Cleveland on Tuesday night after he and the Cavaliers beat Minnesota.

“It’s going to be great to be back in that building around those unbelievable fans and the memories will definitely come back, being a part of the organization for four years.”

For their part, the Heat insist that they’re looking forward to the reunion.

It goes without saying that some in the organization were angry when James left this past sum-

and making sacrifices to be home,” said Haslem, a Miami native who has spent his entire NBA career there despite the chance to make more elsewhere. “I’ve done it my whole career and I can’t fault him for that. We had a great four years together, we had a lot of success together and we’ll continue to be friends.”

Like James, Haslem is downplaying the Heat vs.

Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James tosses chalk in James story line. After all, the air before the start of a game against the New York they’ve already played Knicks earlier this season in Cleveland. (Photo: AP/ once — at Brazil, in the preseason.

Tony Dejak, File) “It ain’t about Bron,” mer, in large part because with Miami, the city that Haslem said. “It ain’t of how long it took him to adopted the Akron native about beating Cleveland tell Miami that he would as one of its own turned because he left to go to not be returning. But the on him. He was booed Cleveland. It’s about the building has hardly been incessantly by Cavs fans Miami Heat against the scrubbed of reminders: who felt that he had beCleveland Cavaliers, and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra trayed them despite seven we’d want to win that still has photos of James great seasons. game whether it was last in his office, and huge The Heat won that year’s Cleveland Cavaliers prints of some of his most night. And they knew who won 25 games or memorable moments still they would never face an whatever, or this year’s adorn the walls of “Cham- atmosphere that daunting Cleveland Cavaliers who pionship Alley” — the again. everyone thinks are going hallway leading from the “It was just us,” James to win it all.”

Miami locker room. said.

It’s anyone’s guess what James remains in James has spent the crowd reaction awaits. contact with some Heat past few days downplaySome will boo. Some players, and his close ing his return to South will cheer. Some will friendship with Dwyane Florida, but the four-time probably do both.

Wade continues.

MVP has found himself The Heat will honor “It hasn’t changed,” reminiscing about what he James with a video tribute Wade said. “It won’t accomplished alongside that’s planned for one of change. … We have a Wade, Udonis Haslem, the early timeouts, as they great friendship and great Chris Bosh, Mario Chalm- do with many returning respect for each other. It ers and those former Heat players, and will have won’t change.” teammates who remain in another for former Miami The homecoming drama Miami. guard James Jones. was so different four years They became a family, “I don’t really get inago. and for James, family is volved in what to expect,” When James returned everything.

James said. “My job is to to Cleveland on Dec. 2, “I’m one person who go down there and win a 2010, for the first time af- understands being home, basketball game and live ter signing as a free agent being able to stay home in the moment.”

As Golden State keeps rising, so does Curry’s stardom

By Antonio Gonzalez AP Basketball Writer

OAKLAND, Calif. — Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry was driving in a car with his wife, Ayesha, over the summer when they put on a song by a popular rapper that everybody had been telling them to play.

“Been Steph Curry with the shot,” Drake called out in the song “0 to 100.”

The stunned couple

looked at each other, smiled and broke out in laughter.

“It was pretty cool,” Curry said.

Sure, fans voted him into the All-Star Game as a starter, media selected him second-team All-NBA and a major car insurance company created a fictional twin for a popular commercial series last season.

But the shoutout from a renowned recording artist might have been the mo-

ment Curry realized he had truly made it big.

As his stardom continues to rise, Curry is still surprised by the celebrity treatment — even though nobody else is.

Coaches, players and executives have taken notice of the growth in Curry’s game by strategizing everything they do around him. Marketers in the NBA league office and sponsors across the country have, too, putting

his boyish face on national television and social media advertisements to promote their brands.

And with the Warriors (23-4) atop the NBA standings, Curry’s case for MVP is starting to echo around the league as loud as the chants do nightly at rowdy Oracle Arena.

Another chance to showcase his skills comes Thursday night, when Curry and the Warriors visit Chris Paul and the

rival Los Angeles Clippers on Christmas for what might be the best game on the biggest day of the NBA regular season.

“There’s big moments throughout the course of the season that you enjoy,” Curry said, “and you have fun showing what you can do.”

This is one of them.

Paul, the lead man in those commercials, has been considered among the best point guards for years.

Curry, long labeled “just a shooter,” has added to his repertoire — and stayed healthy — each of the past three seasons to enter the debate alongside Tony Parker, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Mike Conley and others.

While the qualifying criteria might be a matter of preference, this much is indisputable: nobody is running the show the way Curry is for the Warriors now.

4B • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014 •From Page 1B

Bears

showing in Charleston, with Flatt winning at 138 and George taking second at 126 to lead the Bears to 187 team points and a runner-up finish to Florida and national power Brandon.

It’s a leadership role George says he and Flatt knew they would have to increase this season.

“Last year, I was still an underclassman,” George said. “Now, I’m an upperclassman. I think we (George and Flatt) feel good about being leaders.

“Bumping up in weight this year has been no problem to me. I feel good. I’ve opened up my ability to score takedowns in neutral (position). I’ve done well on bottom, and I’m pretty tough on top.”

But it’s been more than just Flatt and George who have stepped up their games for Mountain View this season.

Among the team’s 11 placers were county runner-ups Sam Ezzell (120 pounds), D.J. Schrenk (152), Jacob Serelis (160) and Austin Brown (182).

“We had five returning placers and six other firsttime placers,” Gassman said of his line-up at the county meet. “So, the kids

over the last year have been able to improve. We even had one kid (junior Alonso Reyes) who didn’t place last year finish third.

And he did it wrestling up a weight (class).

“Some of those kids were (junior varsity) kids last year, so that’s really a boost.”

The Bears gave themselves an even bigger boost Monday and Tuesday of this week with their runner-up finish in Charleston.

With Brown (sixth) and Schrenk (seventh) joining George and Flatt as placers, Mountain View reached a goal Gassman set at the beginning of the tournament of reaching the top five.

And he is hopeful the showing can make the Bears an even bigger force to be reckoned with heading into the New Year towards the Area 7-AAAAAA, and perhaps the state, duals.

“We wanted to see what we could do against different schools from around the Southeast,” Gassman said. “We figured if we could finish in the top 10, that would be pretty good. If we finished in the top five, that would be really good. … It was a good week for everybody.”

gwinnettdailypost.com •From Page 1B

Andrews

His career highlights include an SEC Offensive captain for 2014.

Lineman of the Week As much as the Bullaward after posting an 88 dogs’ 39 wins so far in percent blocking grade his career mean to him, with six “dominator” the Wesleyan grad said blocks and three knockthe respect of his teamdowns in a 38-0 win over mates and coaches is even Auburn in 2012, being more important, as well as named to the preseason humbling. watch list for the Reming“I was a leader in high ton Trophy and helping the school, but I never thought Bulldogs generate at least I’d be a permanent team 23 points and 400 yards in captain here,” Andrews 12 of 13 games in 2013, said. “I just kind of led as well as being named through high school and second-team All-SEC by everywhere I’ve played. I the Associated Press this just knew I had to get my season. shot and be able to take Andrews said the strong advantage of it. My goal bond he has with his teamwas to come in here and mates has been a big factor be the best player I can be, in him performing up to and I think I did that. his maximum ability.

“I think I have the And a key factor in that respect of my teammates. bond is the fact he already That means a lot to me that had a head start in getting they thought I was their to know several Bulldogs captain. It does mean a lot, when he first came to Athbut I want to give back to ens in 2011. this university.”

Along with fellow runAndrews has given ning backs Kyle Karempeplenty to the Bulldogs over lis and Merritt Hall, whom the past four years. he blocked for throughout After seeing action in his career at Wesleyan, in10 games as a reserve as a cluding helping the Wolves freshman in 2011, he won to the 2008 Class A state the starting job the next championship, Andrews season and never let it go. also was quite familiar In the process, he’s been with Buford grads and the anchor of an offensive fellow linemen Dallas Lee line that has helped the and Kolton Houston even Bulldogs produce one of the before he stepped foot on most prolific offenses in the campus.

Southeastern Conference.

He said those familiar

faces definitely helped him stay calm as a freshman and develop his role on the team.

“Yeah, I was familiar with a lot of the guys we have here,” Andrews said.

“We started coming up here (our) junior year in high school and hanging out with the guys and spending time up here. It wasn’t’ a long drive for a lot of us. So we just started spending time up here.

“We knew this would be our home the next four years, and we’ve become close with a lot of those older guys. I guess that did help me out a little bit, but you’ve still got to earn your keep.”

Andrews did more than earn his keep at Georgia, and once the Belk Bowl is completed, he is hoping for a chance to earn his keep on the professional level.

There will be plenty of work for him to do between now and the 2015 NFL Draft from April 30-May 2, but some early projections have him tabbed as a possibility to be selected as high as the third or fourth round.

Still, he is only 10 hours away from earning his degree in agribusiness, and says he prepared to move on no matter what happens in the spring.

“I’m going to give it a

GEORGIA SPORTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION ALL-STATE FOOTBALL All-Classification Player of the Year: AJ Gray, Washington County, Sr. CLASS AAAAAA Offensive Player of the Year: Sihiem King, Colquitt County, Sr. Defensive Player of the Year: Julian Rochester, McEachern, Jr. Coach of the Year: Rush Propst, Colquitt County FIRST TEAM OFFENSE QB Bailey Hockman, McEachern, Soph., 6-3, 215 RB Sihiem King, Colquitt County, Sr., 5-8, 172 RB Tyray Devezin, Etowah, Soph., 5-9, 170 WR T.J. Rahming, McEachern, Sr., 5-9, 160 WR Preston Williams, Lovejoy, Sr., 6-3, 185 WR Kyle Davis, Archer, Jr., 6-3, 220 OL Mitch Hyatt, North Gwinnett, Sr., 6-6, 280 OL Alfred Brown, Colquitt County, Sr., 6-4, 260 OL Chuma Edoga, McEachern, Sr., 6-3, 280 OL Brad Morgan, Etowah, Sr., 6-5, 270 OL Kaleb Kim, Mill Creek, Sr., 6-4, 280 K Alex Barbir, South Forsyth, Jr., 5-9, 185 ATH Kylil Carter, South Cobb, Sr., 5-11, 210 DEFENSE DL Julian Rochester, McEachern, Jr., 6-6, 285 DL Scott Morgan, Etowah, Sr., 6-5, 277 DL D’Andre Walker, Langston Hughes, Sr., 6-3, 220 DL Justin Young, Grayson, Sr., 6-4, 265 LB Bull Barge, Colquitt County, Sr, 5-11, 215 LB Quarte Sapp, Milton, Sr., 6-2, 215 LB Adonis Thomas, Central Gwinnett, Sr., 6-4, 220 LB Montavious Atkinson, Langston Hughes, Sr., 6-1, 205 DB Dylan Singleton, Archer, Jr., 5-11, 185 DB Stuart Head, Etowah, Soph., 6-4, 185 DB Josh Norwood, Valdosta, Sr., 6-0, 165 DB Isaiah Pryor, Archer, Jr., 6-2, 190 P Ian Shannon, Marietta, Sr., 6-4, 190 RET Malik Henry, Tift County, Sr., 6-0, 175 SECOND TEAM OFFENSE QB John Urzua, North Gwinnett, Sr., 6-3, 175 RB Delvin Weems, Tucker, Sr., 5-9, 195 RB Sheldon Evans, Roswell, Soph., 5-10, 205 WR Andrew Harris, Cherokee, Sr., 6-1, 180 WR Tyler Smith, McEachern, Soph., 5-10, 170 WR Josh Imatorbhebhe, North Gwinnett, Jr., 6-2, 200 OL Max Kemper, Pope, Sr., 6-4, 300 OL Nick Wilson, Milton, Sr., 6-2, 290 OL Trey Derouen, Parkview, Sr., 6-4, 309 OL Tavares Tate, Westlake, Jr., 6-2, 280 OL Chris Barnes, Lee County, Jr., 6-4, 285 K Ethan Suda, Milton, Jr., 5-11, 175 ATH Brittain Brown, Cherokee, Jr., 6-1, 190 DEFENSE DL Nick Steinhaus, Milton, Sr., 6-0, 230 DL Jamaal Angrish, Westlake, Sr., 6-1, 215 DL Andrew Butcher, Alpharetta, Sr., 6-3, 250 DL Robbie Armstrong, Archer, Sr., 6-0, 245 LB Michael Bean, Cherokee, Sr., 6-2, 225 LB Quintin Hampton, Colquitt County, Sr., 5-11, 225 LB Mohamed Barry, Grayson, Sr., 6-2, 220 LB Quinn Miller, Archer, Soph., 6-1, 220 DB Nigel Warrior, Westlake, Jr., 6-2, 190 DB C.J. Mayes, Dacula, Sr., 5-8, 175 DB Duke Shelley, Tucker, Sr., 5-9, 160 DB Kenyan Houston, Langston Hughes, Sr., 5-9, 170 P Austin McGuigan, Grayson, Jr., 6-1, 230 RET Jeremy Johnson, Lambert, Sr., 5-10, 170 HONORABLE MENTION WR Major Bellamy, Central Gwinnett, Jr.; DB Montrell Custis, Lovejoy, Sr.; ATH Daniel David, Mill Creek, Sr.; LB Daniel Fennell, Grayson, Sr.; RB Sonny Harris, Hillgrove, Sr.; WR Daniel Imatorbhebhe, North Gwinnett, Sr.; QB Romario Johnson, Newton, Jr.; QB Austin King, Alpharetta, Sr.; RB Tyler LaFlamme, South Forsyth, Sr.; LB Tre’ Lamar, Roswell, Jr.; DL Jonathan Ledbetter, Tucker, Sr.; QB Garet Morrell, Lee County, Jr.; QB Chase Parrish, Colquitt County, Jr.; QB Tyler Queen, North Cobb, Sr.; DB Dejon Rowe, Alpharetta, Jr.; DL Anree Saint-Amour, North Gwinnett, Sr.; QB Gabe Tiller, Archer, Sr.; ATH Jamyest Williams, Archer, Soph.; DL Maurice Williams, Tucker, Sr.; QB Matthew Wilson, Hillgrove, Jr. CLASS AAAAA Offensive Player of the Year: Jake Fromm, Houston County, Soph.

Defensive Player of the Year: Natrez Patrick, Mays, Sr. Coach of the Year: Kevin Kinsler, NorthsideWarner Robins FIRST TEAM OFFENSE QB Jake Fromm, Houston County, Soph., 6-2, 215 RB Russell Halimon, Allatoona, Jr., 5-9, 185 RB Willie Jordan, Northside-Warner Robins, Sr., 6-1, 230 WR Darion Anderson, Houston County, Jr., 6-1, 170 WR Nick Singleton, Jones County, Soph., 5-10, 175 WR Chris Williamson, Gainesville, Sr., 6-1, 187 OL Brandon Sandifer, Northside-Warner Robins, Sr., 6-5, 300 OL Dallas Warmack, Mays, Sr., 6-5, 305 OL Venzell Boulware, Creekside, Sr., 6-3, 295 OL Bailey Sharp, Sprayberry, Sr., 6-5, 292 OL Cole Minshew, Coffee, Sr., 6-6, 320 K Justin Alonso, Northside-Warner Robins, Jr., 5-10, 160 ATH TaQuon Marshall, Harris County, Sr., 5-10, 167 DEFENSE DL Derrick Brown, Lanier, Jr., 6-4, 285 DL Torrez Finney, Jones County, Jr., 5-8, 205 DL Natrez Patrick, Mays, Sr., 6-2, 260 DL Chauncey Rivers, Stephenson, Sr., 6-2, 255 LB Bryson Armstrong, Kell, Jr., 5-11, 190 LB Mekhi Brown, Carver-Columbus, Sr., 6-6, 220 LB Will Kemp, Allatoona, Sr., 5-10, 180 LB J.D. Sosebee, Gainesville, Sr., 6-0, 220 DB Stefan Ball, Lanier, Sr., 5-10, 170 DB Aaron Williams, Carver-Atlanta, Sr., 6-0, 185 DB Steven Houzah, Lakeside-Evans, Sr., 5-10, 170 DB Khalil Brooks, Mays, Sr., 5-11, 185 P Rodrigo Blankenship, Sprayberry, Sr., 6-1, 190 RET Isaac Zico, Alexander, Sr., 6-2, 185 SECOND TEAM OFFENSE QB Mikey Gonzalez, Gainesville, Sr., 5-10, 185 RB Tae Crowder, Harris County, Sr., 6-3, 220 RB Marquis Terry, Drew, Sr., 5-8, 175

WR Jalen Wilkerson, Coffee, Sr., 6-4, 230 WR Jai Creamer, Rome, Jr., 6-4, 215 WR Zach Nichols, Allatoona, Sr., 6-0, 186 OL Quentin Stanford, Northside-Warner Robins, Sr., 6-2, 310 OL Trey Perkins, Jones County, Sr., 6-4, 300 OL Darius Anderson, Mundy’s Mill, Sr., 6-3, 300 OL Conor Brumfield, Allatoona, Sr., 6-4, 235 OL Benaiah Everett, Ware County, Sr., 6-0, 270 K Jordan Strevig, Houston County, Sr., 6-1, 185 ATH Jawon Pass, Carver-Columbus, Jr., 6-5, 225 DEFENSE DL Isaiah Johnson, Northside-Warner Robins, Sr., 6-5, 290 DL Charles Wiley, Stockbridge, Jr., 6-4, 237 DL Trae Philpots, Creekside, Sr., 6-2, 230 DL Jonathan Greenard, Hiram, Sr., 6-4, 220 LB Tobias Little, Mays, Jr., 6-1, 230 LB Joshua Moon, Creekside, Sr., 6-0, 185 LB Mike McCain, Kell, Jr., 5-11, 195 LB Jay Lott, Coffee, Sr., 5-10, 192 DB Sammy Burley, Ware County, Sr., 6-1, 183 DB Rayshawn McCall, Clarke Central, Jr., 5-9, 165 DB Tae Daley, Northside-Warner Robins, Soph., 5-10, 170 DB Marquez Callaway, Warner Robins, Jr., 6-3, 180 P Shawn Davis, Union Grove, Sr., 6-3, 210 RET Meco Jackson, Miller Grove, Sr., 5-9, 170 HONORABLE MENTION QB Asahnia Aderhold, Mays, Sr.; OL Nick Buchanan, Dunwoody, Sr.; WR DeParis Carter, Mays, Sr.; DL Rosheem Collins, Ware County, Sr.; DL Titus Davis, Stockbridge; RB CeCe Green, Winder- Barrow, Jr.; OL Marquel Harrell, Creekside, Sr.; QB Bradley Hunnicutt, Jones County, Sr.; QB Conner Larson, Allatoona, Sr.; RB Artemus Mitchell, Stockbridge, Sr.; QB Brian Moore, Cambridge, Sr.; ATH Joseph Newman, Drew, Jr.; DB Kameron Pena, Allatoona, Sr.; RB Tyler Pippins, Ola, Sr.; WR L.J. Pope, South Paulding, Jr.; DL Stephone Raybon, Warner Robins, Sr.; OL Steven Robinet, Houston County, Sr.; QB Cameron Rosendahl, Kell, Sr.; WR Justin Strozier, WoodlandStockbridge, Sr.; QB Peyton Veraldi, Dalton, Sr. CLASS AAAA Offensive Player of the Year: Kawon Bryant, North Oconee, Sr. Defensive Player of the Year: Trenton Thompson, Westover, Sr. Coach of the Year: Jess Simpson, Buford FIRST TEAM OFFENSE QB Trevor Lawrence, Cartersville, Fr., 6-3, 180 RB Kawon Bryant, North Oconee, Sr., 5-9, 205 RB Shannon Brooks, Pickens, Sr., 5-10, 200 WR Justin Smith, West Laurens, Sr., 6-6, 200 WR Keyston Fuller, Griffin, Sr., 5-11, 175 WR Terrius Callahan, Cartersville, Jr., 6-0, 160 OL Nick Polino, Buford, Sr., 6-4, 270 OL E.J. Hurley, Sandy Creek, Sr., 6-2, 325 OL Hunter Holland, Buford, Sr., 6-3, 280 OL Sage Hardin, Marist, Sr., 6-6, 260 OL Chad Nelson, St. Pius X, Jr., 6-3, 250 K Joey Gogol, Marist, Sr., 6-0, 180 ATH Eric Swinney, Sandy Creek, Sr., 5-10, 185 DEFENSE DL Shug Frazier, Buford, Jr., 6-3, 320 DL Kenneth Brinson, Marist, Sr., 6-3, 220 DL Trenton Thompson, Westover, Sr., 6-4, 300 DL Ben Cleveland, Stephens County, Jr., 6-6, 325 LB Joshua Thomas, Buford, Sr., 5-11, 200 LB Tyler Reed, Cartersville, Jr., 6-2, 225 LB Max Richardson, Woodward Acad., Jr., 6-0, 225 LB Austin Smith, Buford, Sr., 6-3, 230 DB Richard LeCounte, Liberty Co., Soph., 6-0, 160 DB David Curry, Buford, Sr., 6-1, 195 DB Keri Brown, Mary Persons, Sr., 5-8, 180 DB Arrington Farrar, Woodward Acad., Sr., 6-2, 200 P Cristian Ramirez, Carrollton, Sr., 6-1, 200 RET Elijah Holyfield, Woodward Academy, Jr., 5-11, 200 SECOND TEAM OFFENSE QB Anforne Stroud, Griffin, Sr., 6-0, 185 RB Kentavious Thomas, Baldwin, Sr., 5-10, 205 RB Malik Miller, Griffin, Sr., 5-10, 200 WR Antonio Gibson, Eagle’s Landing, Jr., 6-2, 200 TE/WR Isaac Nauta, Buford, Jr., 6-5, 240 WR Christian Owens, Griffin, Sr., 6-5, 215 OL Chandler Tuitt, Sandy Creek, Jr., 6-4, 275 OL Brackin Smith, North Oconee, Sr., 6-3, 262 OL Tyler Camp, Mary Persons, Sr., 6-3, 290 OL Brodarious Hamm, Spalding, Jr., 6-5, 315 OL Mitch Mathes, Troup, Sr., 6-3, 290 K Bryan Villa, Northwest Whitfield, Sr., 5-6, 150 ATH Kalin Heath, Cartersville, Sr., 6-3, 185 DEFENSE DL Brandon Berry, Griffin, Sr., 6-5, 230 DL Demarcus Davis, Mary Persons, Sr., 6-2, 225 DL Arthur Holmes, Eastside, Sr., 6-1, 225 DL Quay Picou, Buford, Sr., 6-3, 287 LB Matthew Turner, West Laurens, Sr., 5-10, 180 LB Jeremiah Littles, Wayne County, Jr., 6-2, 225 LB Ian Hayes, Ridgeland, Sr., 6-2, 220 LB Trent Sellers, Sandy Creek, Sr., 6-4, 230 DB Ernest Harris, Thomas County Central, Sr., 6-2, 180 DB Zantravious Shields, North Oconee, Sr., 5-10, 185 DB Brian O’Reilly, St. Pius X, Sr., 6-0, 180 DB Javon Jackson, Sandy Creek, Jr., 5-11, 180 P Hunter Roberson, Wayne County, Sr., 6-0, 200 RET Victor Bodison, Bainbridge, Sr., 5-8, 145 HONORABLE MENTION WR Malik Bledsoe, Mary Persons, Sr.; RB Darius Bradford, West Laurens, Soph.; QB Andre Brown, Columbia, Sr.; DL Austin Bryant, Thomas County Central, Sr.; DB Cole Coker, North Oconee, Sr.; DB Aaron Dore, Eagle’s Landing, Sr.; ATH Wesley Fields, Americus-Sumter, Sr.; TE Cameron Fannon, St. Pius X, Sr.; LB Marcus Gaines, Cairo, Sr.; ATH Xavier Gantt, Buford, Jr.; RB Jeremiah Hill, Cairo, Sr.; OL Jake Ingram, Gilmer, Sr.; RB Anfernee Jordan, Wayne County, Sr.; QB Mason Long, Stephens County, Sr.; QB Cameron Maddox, Locust Grove, Jr.; QB Garrel Quainton, Warner Robins, Sr.; QB Jes Sutherland, Woodward Academy, Sr.; DL Malik Taylor, Cairo, Jr.; RB Christian Wafford, Whitewater, Sr.; ATH Dalton Wilson, St. Pius X, Sr. CLASS AAA Offensive Player of the Year: Kaelan Riley, Calhoun, Jr. Defensive Player of the Year: Will Coneway,

Washington County, Sr. Coach of the Year: Hal Lamb, Calhoun FIRST TEAM OFFENSE QB Kaelan Riley, Calhoun, Jr., 6-4, 205 RB Labron Morris, Cedar Grove, Jr., 5-10, 185 RB Devyn Collins, Pepperell, Jr., 5-7, 180 WR Dalton Hill, Jefferson, Sr., 6-1, 175 WR Orenzo Smith, Maynard Jackson, Jr., 6-1, 175 WR T.J. Skelton, Jefferson, Sr., 6-1, 185 OL Ken Allen, Elbert County, Sr., 6-1, 280 OL Jack Defoor, Calhoun, Jr., 6-4, 260 OL Caleb Chandler, Jefferson, Soph., 6-4, 280 OL Cody McPeek, Fannin County, Sr., 6-4, 320 OL Will Bryan, Franklin County, Sr., 6-3, 280 K Bradley Hodgson, West Hall, Sr., 5-11, 170 ATH A.J. Gray, Washington County, Sr., 6-2, 220 DEFENSE DL Logan Hunt, Washington County, Sr., 6-0, 230 DL Antwaun Jackson, Cedar Grove, Jr., 6-4, 240 DL Marterious Allen, Hart County, Sr., 6-2, 250 DL Michail Carter, Jackson, Jr., 6-3, 310 LB Will Coneway, Washington County, Sr., 5-11, 200 LB Austin Bennett, Calhoun, Sr., 6-0, 185 LB Pat Jasinski, Blessed Trinity, Sr., 6-2, 200 LB Jireh Wilson, Calhoun, Jr., 6-1, 200 DB Tyrique McGhee, Peach County, Jr., 5-11, 175 DB Will Conley, Calhoun, Sr., 6-0, 190 DB Cam Young, Dodge County, Jr., 6-1, 185 DB Tradd Porter, Jefferson, Sr., 6-0, 180 P Anthony Lotti, West Hall, Jr., 6-1, 190 RET Terry Godwin, Callaway, Sr., 6-0, 170 SECOND TEAM OFFENSE QB Evan Shirreffs, Jefferson, Sr., 6-6, 197 RB Eddie Culpepper, Callaway, Sr., 5-11, 180 RB Zay Malcome, Westminster, Soph., 5-3, 150 WR Anthony Turner, Hart County, Jr., 6-3, 200 WR Jailyn Ingram, Morgan County, Jr., 6-5, 220 WR Terrell Carter, Pierce County, Sr., 5-6, 145 OL Jacoby Jackson, Lumpkin County, Sr., 6-4, 290 OL Clifford Bouza, Peach County, Sr., 5-8, 195 OL Robert Walters, Maynard Jackson, Sr., 6-4, 295 OL Tobias Hagins, Appling County, Sr., 6-3, 280 OL Emmanuel Lemon, Kendrick, Jr., 6-3, 320 K Mitchell Rostowsky, Blessed Trinity, Sr., 6-4, 165 ATH Kwon Williams, West Hall, Jr., 6-0, 180 DEFENSE DL Max Whitlock, Central-Carrollton, Jr., 5-11, 210 DL Quint Nash, Central-Macon, Sr., 6-0, 235 DL Landon Rice, Calhoun, Sr., 6-5, 255 DL James Traylor, Cook, Sr., 5-11, 300 LB Jaleel Laguins, Oconee County, Jr., 6-2, 210 LB Garrett Dupuis, Blessed Trinity, Jr., 6-0, 205 LB Charlie Trense, Westminster, Sr., 6-0, 200 LB Caleb Turner, Pierce County, Sr., 6-0, 191 DB Marquez Sanford, Westside-Macon, Sr., 5-11, 170 DB Vincente Thompkins, Laney, Jr., 6-0, 170 DB Mecole Hardman, Elbert County, Jr., 5-11, 175 DB Kendrick Robinson, Jefferson, Sr., 5-9, 155 P Blake Gillikin, Westminster, Jr., 6-2, 190 RET Torrance Marable, Towers, Jr., 5-8, 170 HONORABLE MENTION ATH Marcus Childers, Adairsville, Sr.; QB Conor Davis, Blessed Trinity, Jr.; QB Cameron Fouch, Hart County, Sr.; ATH Josh Henderson, Pierce County, Sr.; RB Sidnee Johnson, Adairsville, Jr.; ATH Thomas Lester, Sr.; QB Jacob Lewis, Jackson County, Sr.; ATH Wesley Long, Central-Carrollton, Sr.; RB Keyshawn Lowe, Peach County, Sr.; QB Hinton McConkey, North Murray, Sr.; DB Malcolm Mitchell, Banks County, Sr.; DL Zach Morris, Ringgold, Sr.; DL Jacorey Polite, Jenkins, Sr.; RB Rantious Reed, Elbert County, Sr.; RB Milton Shelton, Blessed Trinity, Jr.; DL Mitch Tanner, Dodge County, Sr.; QB Devin Watson, East Hall, Sr.; LB Tim White, Elbert County, Sr.; RB Sammy Williams, Jefferson, Sr.; DL Dontae Wilson, Jefferson, Soph.

CLASS AA Offensive Player of the Year: Brad Stewart, Benedictine Defensive Player of the Year: Roquan Smith, Macon County Coach of the Year: Danny Britt, Benedictine FIRST TEAM OFFENSE QB Stevie Powers, Benedictine, Sr., 6-1, 175 RB Micah Abernathy, Greater Atlanta Christian, Sr., 6-1, 190 RB Duranta Dunson, Heard County, Sr., 5-9, 175 WR Exavius Medlock, Brooks County, Sr., 5-11, 165 WR Darius Slayton, Greater Atlanta Christian, Sr., 6-2, 185 WR Brad Stewart, Benedictine, Sr., 6-2, 190 OL Levi Brown, Heard County, Sr., 6-4, 275 OL James Banister, Lamar County, Sr., 6-0, 250 OL Sanders Creech, Benedictine, Jr., 6-0, 230 OL Allen Robinson, Thomasville, Sr., 6-2, 248 OL Jose Yanez, Macon County, Sr., 6-2, 255 K Samuel Sloman, Pace Academy, Jr., 5-8, 175 ATH Gerald Morgan, Fitzgerald, Sr., 6-2, 190 DEFENSE DL Arden Key, Hapeville Charter, Sr., 6-6, 230 DL Josh Eason, Vidalia, Sr., 5-11, 250 DL Tremond Ferrell, Washington-Wilkes, Sr., 6-1, 270 DL Anthony Trinh, Pace Academy, Jr., 6-2, 235 LB Roquan Smith, Macon County, Sr., 6-2, 210 LB Nathan McBride, Vidalia, Soph., 6-3, 215 LB Paul Carothers, Greater Atlanta Christian, Sr., 6-1, 225 LB Dax Bishop, Model, Sr., 5-11, 220 DB Jay Bowdry, Thomasville, Sr., 5-11, 184 DB Zach Scott, Benedictine, Sr., 5-11, 185 DB Charlie Woerner, Rabun County, Jr., 6-5, 220 DB Jordan Black, Vidalia, Sr., 6-1, 185 P Adam King, Benedictine, Soph., 5-10, 170 RET Drell Greene, Bacon County, Sr., 6-0, 185 SECOND TEAM OFFENSE QB Joseph Mancuso, Union County, Jr., 6-4, 200 RB Darnell Holland, Bowdon, Sr., 5-10, 175 RB Nakyle Watkins, Model, Sr., 5-10, 212 WR Justin Phan, Greater Atlanta Christian, Sr., 5-7, 140 WR Trey Graham, Fitzgerald, Sr., 5-11, 171 WR/TE Will Geraghty, Lovett, Sr., 6-5, 230 OL Damien Kemp, Greene County, Sr., 6-6, 290 OL Kaleb Ogles, Coosa, Sr., 6-0, 300 OL Nikita Fair, Washington-Wilkes, Sr., 6-5, 290 OL Patrick Kearns, Darlington, Jr., 6-4, 260 OL Matthew Voyles, Benedictine, Sr., 5-10, 190

K Andres Aparico, Greene County, Sr., 5-9, 165 ATH Deshawn Waller, B.E.S.T. Academy, Sr., 5-11, 190 DEFENSE DL Garrison Williams, Monticello, Sr., 6-1, 240 DL Phillip Burke, Benedictine, Sr., 6-0, 225 DL Matt Brown, Heard County, Jr., 6-3, 215 DL Demone Kemp, Greene County, Sr., 6-4, 270 LB Tyler Cooksey, Greater Atlanta Christian, Sr., 6-3, 225 LB Brooks Busby, Darlington, Sr., 6-0, 220 LB Chase Barnett, Union County, Sr., 5-11, 200 LB Daylan Williams, Jefferson County, Sr., 6-0, 220 DB Chris Marshall, Coosa, Sr., 5-9, 180 DB Tron Folsom, Bacon County, Sr., 6-2, 193 DB Brian Rhodes, Screven County, Sr., 5-5, 150 DB Kemble LaGuines, Washington-Wilkes, Jr., 6-2, 170 P Taylor Goettie, Oconee County, Soph., 5-10, 170 RET Maurio Moore, Chattahoochee County, Sr., 5-11, 180 HONORABLE MENTION QB Willie Candler, Lovett, Sr.; LB Tru’Self Cooper, Benedictine, Jr.; LB Joseph Daniels, Macon County, Sr.; RB Trey Edge, Darlington, Sr.; RB Isaiah Foster, Chattooga, Soph.; ATH Jermany Hawkins, Screven County, Jr.; WR Devontae Hudson, Macon County, Sr.; ATH John Kennedy, Benedictine, Soph.; RB J.D. King, Fitzgerald, Soph.; DL Bryson Lamboy, Coosa, Sr.; QB K’hari Lane, Macon County, Soph.; QB Davis Mills, Greater Atlanta Christian, Soph.; ATH Hakeem Montgomery, Temple, Sr.; LB Jack Muller, Benedictine, Sr.; TE Robert Muschamp, Darlington, Sr.; RB Desmond Parker, Pelham, Sr.; RB Daulton Pope, Bremen, Sr.; RB Juan Tucker, Lamar County, Jr.; DL Malik Walker, Macon County, Jr.; RB Justin Ware, Coosa, Jr. CLASS A Offensive Player of the Year: Dorian Walker, Mt. Paran Christian Defensive Player of the Year: Nick Sbravati, Mt. Paran Christian Coach of the Year: Mitch Jordan, Mt. Paran Christian FIRST TEAM OFFENSE QB Aaron Winchester, Mount Pisgah, Sr., 6-1, 175 RB Ruben Garnett, Aquinas, Sr., 5-10, 170 RB Dorian Walker, Mount Paran Christian, Sr., 6-1, 182 WR Lorenzo Smothers, Marion County, Jr., 5-8, 165 WR Emoni Williams, Mount Paran Christian, Sr., 5-7, 160 WR Ben Miller, Mount Pisgah, Sr., 5-10, 170 OL Ryan Meneely, Eagle’s Landing Christian, Sr., 6-2, 300 OL Zach Boyer, Commerce, Sr., 5-11, 255 OL Stephen Bedosky, Landmark Christian, Jr., 6-3, 260 OL Rob Kraeling, Prince Avenue Christian, Jr., 6-8, 250 OL Carter Smith, Mount Paran Christian, Sr., 6-1, 235 K Colton Lichtenberg, Savannah Country Day, Sr., 5-10, 180 ATH Tra Minter, Schley County, Sr., 5-8, 190 DEFENSE DL Will Evans, Aquinas, Jr., 6-2, 260 DL Devin Adams, Hawkinsville, Sr., 5-11, 235 DL Tyrone Riley, Calvary Day, Sr., 6-6, 230 DL Royce Owens, Hawkinsville, Sr., 6-1, 195 LB Chase Burdette, Eagle’s Landing Christian, Sr., 6-0, 215 LB Taylor Hardigree, Athens Christian, Sr., 6-0, 220 LB Nick Sbravati, Mount Paran Christian, Sr., 6-0, 185 LB Jonathan Ward, Tattnall Square, Sr., 6-1, 210 DB DeAndre Bowman, Pacelli, Jr., 5-9, 170 DB Reed Massey, Mount Paran Christian, Sr., 6-0, 175 DB Davis Reynolds, Eagle’s Landing Christian, Sr., 5-11, 191 DB A.J. Keene, Calvary Day, Sr., 5-9, 165 P Ben Holt, Brookstone, Sr., 6-0, 180 RET J.J. Battle, Tattnall Square, Sr., 5-8, 175 SECOND TEAM OFFENSE QB Liam Welch, Aquinas, Jr., 6-2, 185 RB Michael Sutton, ECI, Sr., 5-11, 185 RB Robert Heyward, Calvary Day, Sr., 6-0, 190 WR Zach Jones, Strong Rock, Sr., 5-10, 178 WR Jacob Harper, Hebron Christian, Sr., 6-0, 160 WR Kordell Braxton, Brookstone, Jr., 5-8, 170 OL Napoleon Williams, Aquinas, Sr., 6-1, 260 OL Chris Rehak, Pacelli, Sr., 6-1, 325 OL Cam Morgan, Irwin County, Sr., 6-3, 275 OL Phillip Dunn, Tattnall Square, Sr., 6-0, 240 OL Chandler Reeves, Eagle’s Landing Christian, Jr., 6-6, 250 K Justin Thompson, Aquinas, Sr., 5-10, 150 ATH Jakyron Young, Irwin County, Sr., 5-11, 166 DEFENSE DL Chauncey Manac, Clinch County, Jr., 6-3, 230 DL Elester Shedrick, Calhoun County, Sr., 6-0, 245 DL Christian Rodgers, Tattnall Square, Soph., 6-0, 220 DL Derek Benoit, Commerce, Sr., 6-2, 250 LB Ben Davis, Pacelli, Jr., 6-1, 205 LB Anthony Jackson, Charlton County, Sr., 6-4, 210 LB Derrick Lawrence, Marion County, Sr., 6-3, 185 LB DJ Pollard, Irwin County, Jr., 5-5, 160 DB Mikal Marble, Pacelli, Jr., 6-4, 195 DB Cornelius Taylor, Claxton, Sr., 6-1, 185 DB Octavis Johnson, Clinch County, Sr., 6-0, 185 DB Daniel Lindsey, Aquinas, Sr., 5-9, 165 P Daniel Weaver, First Presbyterian Day, Jr., 6-3, 180 RET Quantavious Jones, Wilkinson County, Sr., 5-11, 190 HONORABLE MENTION QB Jake Allen, Mount Paran Christian, Sr.; OL Levi Cribb, Charlton County, Sr.; ATH A.J. Cummings, St. Francis, Sr.; ATH Jonah Doster, Prince Avenue Christian, Sr.; QB Dustin Eckert, Marion County, Sr.; RB Chanin Hamilton, Dooly County, Sr.; ATH Tyree Johnson, Atkinson County, Sr.; ATH Carson Leatherwood, Mount de Sales, Sr.; RB T.J. Lowe-Foston, Georgia Military College, Sr.; QB Stockton McGuire, Landmark Christian, Jr.; LB Gary McRae, RandolphClay, Sr.; LB Zach Ragle, Prince Avenue Christian, Jr.; LB Griffin Scott, Aquinas, Sr.; ATH Warren Singletary, Hawkinsville, Sr.; RB Lofton Tidwell, Landmark Christian, Soph.; RB Mathew Turner, Mt. Zion-Carroll, Sr.; ATH Jameson Vest, Our Lady of Mercy, Sr.; LB Jalen Wade, Lincoln County, Sr.; ATH O’Showen Williams, Stratford, Jr.; DL Keshun Wright, Hawkinsville. Sr.

shot,” Andrews said. “I don’t want to be 40 years old sitting on a recliner on a Saturday afternoon wishing I’d done it. So, I’m going to give it a shot.

If it works out, great. I’m going to give it all I have and work my tail off. If it doesn’t, I’ll come back and I’ll finish up with my degree and move on with life.

“My work’s out there.

If someone likes it, then I can take it and run with it. Nothing (else) I can do now. I’m not going to grow another inch. I’ve got one more (college) football game to play. There’s not much more I can do.”

Whether he makes it to the NFL or not, Andrews and his fellow seniors have made their mark on the Georgia program.

And while he enjoys being remembered for his role in the team’s success, he says an even better legacy can be built by his younger teammates staying behind.

“I’m proud of that, but I’d be even more proud to see my teammates go out next year and win a national championship or an SEC championship,” Andrews said. “My time here is almost done. Hopefully, things I’ve taught (younger) guys will carry over to their success.”

All-State

•From Page 1B

plenty of talent, including six players — offensive linemen Nick Polino and Hunter Holland, fellow seniors Joshua Thomas, Austin Smith and David Curry and junior Shug Frazier — named to the GSWA’s first-team in AAAA. Two other players, tight end Isaac Nauta and defensive end Quay Picou, made the second team, while all-purpose athlete Xavier Gantt earned honorable mention consideration.

Another school with large representation was Archer, which placed seven individuals among the three teams in Class AAAAAA after the Tigers (11-4) reached that classification’s title game for the first time in school history.

Leading the way were first-team selections Kyle Davis, Daily Post Defensive Player of the Year Dylan Singleton and Isaiah Pryor, while Robbie Armstrong and Quinn Miller were placed on the second team and Gabe Tiller and Jamyest Williams were named honorable mentions.

They weren’t the only Gwinnett school with big representation in AAAAAA, as North Gwinnett (Mitch Hyatt, John Urzua, Josh Imatorbhebhe, Daniel Imatorbhebhe and Anree Saint-Amour), Grayson (Justin Young, Mohamed Barry, Austin McGuigan and Daniel Fennell), Mill Creek (Kaleb Kim and Daniel David) and Central Gwinnett (Adonis Thomas and Major Bellamy) all had multiple players named to the team.

Meanwhile, GAC’s run to a Class AA runner-up finish was rewarded with five players — first-teamers Daily Post Offensive Player of the Year Micah Abernathy, Darius Slayton and Paul Carothers and second-teamers Tyler Cooksey and Justin Phan — being honored in that classification.

In addition, Lanier placed defensive end Derrick Brown and defensive back Stefan Ball on the first-team in Class AAAA. In all, 37 players from 11 different Gwinnett teams were represented throughout the state’s six classification.

gwinnettdailypost.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014 • 5B

The shots that defined the majors TCU’s Patterson

By Doug Ferguson AP Golf Writer

One putt gave Bubba Watson a rare sense of calm. One swing reminded Martin Kaymer he finally had all the shots. One pitch proved to Rory McIlroy he could master links golf.

These were not the defining shots from the majors this year.

But they meant something special to the winners, and they were tied to lessons from the past.

Asked to choose the signature shot of his Masters victory and a shot that was particularly pleasing to him, Watson found both on the same hole and the same day — Sunday on the par-5 13th at Augusta National.

With a two-shot lead and six holes to play, he hit driver so outrageously bold and long that it sailed down the left side of the fairway, over the trees and disappeared for a nervous moment until plopping down in the fairway.

“It could have easily hit a tree and gone the wrong way or dropped down in the creek,” Watson said.

“When you lose the ball over the trees, that’s when you get nervous because you can’t see it. When you hear the roar of the crowd, you can breathe again.”

With nothing more than a sand wedge to the green, however, Watson hit it to 20 feet and then left his eagle attempt 6 feet short. And that’s when he leaned on his experience from winning his first green jacket.

“If you go back to ’12, the same thing happened,” he said. “I hit 9-iron in there and left the putt 7 feet short and I made it. That started four (birdies) in a row. It was the same with this eagle putt. I left it way short. I just said to myself, ‘Well, last time you did this you made the putt and won.’ I knew after that tee shot if I made birdie they’d have to put on a show to beat me.

Europe’s Jamie Donaldson gestures to the crowd on the final day of the Ryder Cup golf tournament Sept. 28 at Gleneagles, Scotland. (Photo: AP/Matt Dunham)

“Making that putt was a key moment for me — for my confidence, calmness, everything.”

Picking out a signature shot for Kaymer isn’t easy in an eight-shot, wire-towire victory at Pinehurst No. 2. He quickly settled on the par-5 fifth hole Saturday, where he hit 7-iron from a sandy area to an elevated green, the ball stopping 5 feet away for eagle to restore his momentum. He had started with two bogeys in four holes, and had just made a 15-foot par putt on No. 4 to avoid double bogey.

“Within 15 minutes, to go from a little negative to super, super positive, that was a defining moment for me,” he said.

But the most satisfying moment?

Go back to the fourth hole on Friday, a shot that was insignificant to everyone but Kaymer and caddie Craig Connelly.

The German had spent two years retooling his swing to become a complete player, not just the guy

who hits a fade. He was in the fairway, stuck between clubs. Kaymer felt the shot called for a draw.

This was a major test.

“I was 100 percent convinced I would hit that high draw to 6 or 7 feet short of the pin,” Kaymer said. “A draw used to be difficult to hit. Nowadays, it’s not a big problem. But I pulled off the shot and said to Craig, ‘How good was that golf shot?’ I started it at the right edge of the green.

The rhythm was good. It was a crisp hit. The flight was good, 10 feet short of the hole. For me, it was the best shot I hit all week.”

McIlroy might have won the British Open on Saturday when he made two eagles on the last three holes to stretch his lead to six shots. The lasting image is his swing and pose with than 5-iron into the 18th at Royal Liverpool to 10 feet for eagle.

In his eyes, the claret jug wasn’t his until he drilled a driver on the par-5 16th hole Sunday to set up a two-putt birdie and take a

three-shot lead.

But it was the next hole — a par — that he found particularly pleasing.

“Not a defining moment in the tournament, yet a really important one,” he said. “My pitch over the bunker on the 17th hole on Sunday was extremely difficult and demanded a lot of feel and control. It was a true links shot I had to make — pick a spot, get the pace right and let it run out to the hole.”

It was close to perfect.

“That really felt good,” he said.

The PGA Championship was the most exciting major.

Four players had a share of the lead on the back nine.

The shot that ultimately won McIlroy a second straight major was his 9-iron out of a fairway bunker to 10 feet for birdie on No. 17 at Valhalla for a two-shot lead with one hole to play.

In his eyes, how he started the back nine Sunday was as important as how he finished.

Trailing by three shots, he hit 3-wood from 281 yards to 7 feet for eagle on the par-5 10th that got him back in the game. It wasn’t the purest shot McIlroy hit at Valhalla, but he found a small measure of redemption. Remember, McIlroy hit 3-wood over the fence and out-of-bounds in the opening round and made double bogey.

That was Thursday, with time on his side. This was Sunday, with time running out.

“I had taken a 7 at the 10th … and wasn’t sure what I could manage as I stood over my 3-wood on Sunday,” he said. “And then everything pretty much seemed to change for me after that point. My game had been a little flat, and I couldn’t find a spark.

“Over the next few holes, my confidence grew and I felt I could swing the tournament back in my favor.”

wins coach of year

By Ralph D. Russo

AP College Football Player

TCU coach Gary Patterson embraced change and joined an exclusive club.

Patterson was voted college football coach of the year by The Associated Press on Wednesday, joining Nick Saban as the only two-time winners.

The AP coach of the year has been awarded since 1998. Patterson, in his 14th season at TCU, was coach of the year in 2009. Saban was coach of the year in 2003 when he was with LSU and in 2008 at Alabama.

Patterson received 27 of 54 votes from the AP Top 25 media panel. Urban Meyer of Ohio State was the runner-up with 14 votes. Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen received six votes. Alabama’s Saban and Arizona’s Rich Rodriguez drew two votes each.

Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher, Baylor’s Art Briles and Memphis’ Justin Fuente had one.

Patterson guided the sixth-ranked Horned Frogs to an 11-1 record and a share of the Big 12 title after going 4-8 in 2013.

“The head coaches get too much attention,” Patterson said. “That means really that you had a good team. Good players and really a great coaching staff.”

After his worst season at TCU, Patterson overhauled his offense, knowing he needed more production to keep up in the high-scoring Big 12. He brought in Doug Meacham to be offensive coordinator and Sonny Cumbie to assist and coach quarterbacks. They installed an up-tempo, spread offense similar to the one used by Big

12 rivals Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and West Virginia.

What resulted was one of the biggest turnarounds of the season. TCU went from being ranked 105th in the nation in yards per play and 106th in yards per game in 2013 to ranking ninth and fourth, respectively, in those categories in 2014. The Horned Frogs increased their points per game by three touchdowns, from 25 to 46. Trevone Boykin, who seemed destined to become a full-time receiver, instead developed into one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country.

“It was a big jump for us. Thirty-two years of my 33 years (in coaching) I’ve been part of run, play action, play good defense.

Special teams. This was outside of my comfort zone,” Patterson said.

Patterson learned a good defense and an up-tempo offense could co-exist. And TCU, in just its third year in the Big 12, won a share of the conference title. Only a last-second loss at Baylor kept the Frogs from a perfect season.

TCU was in the hunt for a College Football Playoff spot and came into the final weekend of the season third in the selection committee rankings. The Frogs ended up sixth and instead of playing for the national title will meet Mississippi in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 31.

“We wanted to be in the playoff, but I’m not sure the way it all was handled that TCU didn’t gain even more from not being it in.

How we handled it,” Patterson said. “There’s a lot of positives that came out of how everything turned out.”

Central Michigan’s thrilling comeback effort falls just short The Associated Press NASSAU, Bahamas — A miracle comeback for Central Michigan on a record-setting day by quarterback Cooper Rush fell just short at the inaugural Bahamas Bowl.

Down by 35 points with 12 minutes remaining, Central Michigan scored the final five touchdowns of the game, including a three-lateral, 75-yard dazzler on the final play. But Western Kentucky escaped

Basketball NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division

W L Pct GB Toronto................. 22.... 7.... .759....... — Brooklyn................11.. 15.... .423......9.5 Boston................. 10.. 15.... .400....... 10 New York................ 5.. 25......167.....17.5 Philadelphia........... 3.. 23..... .115.....17.5 Southeast Division

W L Pct GB Atlanta................. 20.... 7......741....... — Washington.......... 19.... 7.... .731.........5 Miami................... 13.. 15.... .464.......7.5 Orlando................ 10.. 20.... .333.....11.5 Charlotte................ 9.. 19.... .321.....11.5 Central Division

W L Pct GB Chicago............... 18.... 9.... .667....... — Cleveland............. 16.. 10......615...... 1.5 Milwaukee............ 14.. 14.... .500......4.5 Indiana................... 9.. 19.... .321......9.5 Detroit.................... 5.. 23......179.... 13.5 WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division

W L Pct GB Memphis.............. 21.... 7.... .750....... — Houston............... 20.... 7......741.........5 Dallas................... 20.... 9.... .690...... 1.5 San Antonio......... 18...11.... .621......3.5 New Orleans........ 14.. 13......519......6.5 Northwest Division

W L Pct GB Portland............... 22.... 7.... .759....... — Oklahoma City..... 13.. 15.... .464......8.5 Denver................. 12.. 16.... .429......9.5 Utah....................... 9.. 20......310....... 13 Minnesota.............. 5.. 21......192.... 15.5 Pacific Division

W L Pct GB Golden State........ 23.... 3.... .885....... — L.A. Clippers........ 19.... 9.... .679.........5 Phoenix................ 15.. 14......517......9.5 Sacramento......... 12.. 16.... .429....... 12 L.A. Lakers............. 8.. 19.... .296.... 15.5 Tuesday’s Games Cleveland 125, Minnesota 104 Indiana 96, New Orleans 84 Orlando 100, Boston 95 Chicago 99, Washington 91 Atlanta 107, L.A. Clippers 104 Brooklyn 102, Denver 96 Philadelphia 91, Miami 87 Charlotte 108, Milwaukee 101 Portland 115, Oklahoma City 111, OT Phoenix 124, Dallas 115

with a 49-48 victory Wednesday when Rush’s 2-point conversion pass fell incomplete.

Rush was officially credited with seven touchdown passes, a bowl record, in the first college football postseason game played outside the U.S. or Canada since Jan. 1, 1937. The last of his TD passes came on a wild sequence in which six Chippewas touched the ball.

“It was a roller-coaster ride,” said Western Ken-

tucky quarterback Brandon Doughty, who threw for five touchdowns and increased his nation-leading total to 49 on the season.

“We were just lucky and blessed that we got the win.”

Very lucky.

The Chippewas got the ball on their own 25 with a second remaining after a punt, trailing 49-42.

Rush threw deep to Jesse Kroll, who caught the ball between three Western Kentucky defenders at

the Hilltoppers’ 29. Kroll advanced the ball slightly before lateraling to Deon Butler, who got the ball to Courtney Williams just before getting tackled.

Williams then tossed the ball to Titus Davis, who caught it at the 15 and outran three Western Kentucky players to the end zone, reaching to knock over the pylon as he fell out of bounds to complete the bizarre play.

On the conversion pass for the win, Rush tried to

find Kroll again, before the play was broken up by Western Kentucky’s Wonderful Terry.

A wonderful finish, indeed.

“I want to tell Central Michigan that’s one heck of a job by them,” Western Kentucky coach Jeff Brohm said. “They showed the heart and spirit that this game is all about.”

The ending largely overshadowed a huge day

by Doughty, who threw for 486 yards.

Doughty completed 31 of 42 passes for the Hilltoppers (8-5) and capped the sixth-highest singleseason touchdown total in major college football history.

Rush threw for 485 yards. He never had more than three touchdowns in a college game, and wound up being credited with five in the final 12 minutes for the Chippewas (7-6).

Anthony Wales and Leon Allen added touchdown runs for the Hilltoppers.

p.m. (ESPN)

Hockey

SPORTS AT A GLANCE L.A. Lakers 115, Golden State 105 Wednesday’s Games No games scheduled Today’s Games Washington at New York, Noon Oklahoma City at San Antonio, 2:30 p.m.

Cleveland at Miami, 5 p.m.

L.A. Lakers at Chicago, 8 p.m.

Golden State at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.

Football NFL AMERICAN CONFERENCE East

W L T Pct PF PA New England.12... 3... 0...800...459...296 Miami.............. 8... 7... 0...533...364...336 Buffalo............. 8... 7... 0...533...326...280 N.Y. Jets.......... 3.12... 0...200...246...377 South

W L T Pct PF PA Indianapolis.. 10... 5... 0...667...431...359 Houston.......... 8... 7... 0...533...349...290 Jacksonville.... 3.12... 0...200...232...389 Tennessee...... 2.13... 0.. .133...244... 411 North

W L T Pct PF PA Cincinnati...... 10... 4... 1...700...348...317 Pittsburgh...... 10... 5... 0...667...409...351 Baltimore........ 9... 6... 0...600...389...292 Cleveland........ 7... 8... 0...467...289...317 West

W L T Pct PF PA Denver.......... 11... 4... 0...733...435...340 San Diego....... 9... 6... 0...600...341...329 Kansas City.... 8... 7... 0...533...334...274 Oakland.......... 3.12... 0...200...239...405 NATIONAL CONFERENCE East

W L T Pct PF PA Dallas............ 11... 4... 0...733...423...335 Philadelphia.... 9... 6... 0...600...440...374 N.Y. Giants...... 6... 9... 0...400...354...366 Washington..... 4. 11... 0...267...284...394 South

W L T Pct PF PA Carolina.......... 6... 8... 1...433...305...371 Atlanta............ 6... 9... 0...400...378...383 New Orleans... 6... 9... 0...400...378...404 Tampa Bay...... 2.13... 0.. .133...257...387 North

W L T Pct PF PA Detroit........... 11... 4... 0...733... 301...252 Green Bay.... 11... 4... 0...733...456...328 Minnesota....... 6... 9... 0...400...312...334 Chicago.......... 5.10... 0...333...310...429

West

W L T Pct PF PA Seattle.......... 11... 4... 0...733... 374...248 Arizona......... 11... 4... 0...733...293...279 San Francisco.7... 8... 0...467...286...323 St. Louis.......... 6... 9... 0...400...318...334 Sunday, Dec. 28 Cleveland at Baltimore, 1 p.m.

Dallas at Washington, 1 p.m.

Indianapolis at Tennessee, 1 p.m.

Jacksonville at Houston, 1 p.m.

San Diego at Kansas City, 1 p.m.

N.Y. Jets at Miami, 1 p.m.

Chicago at Minnesota, 1 p.m.

Buffalo at New England, 1 p.m.

Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m.

New Orleans at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.

Carolina at Atlanta, 4:25 p.m.

Detroit at Green Bay, 4:25 p.m.

Oakland at Denver, 4:25 p.m.

Arizona at San Francisco, 4:25 p.m.

St. Louis at Seattle, 4:25 p.m.

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, 8:30 p.m.

NCAA Football Bowl schedule Bowl Glance Saturday, Dec. 20 New Orleans Bowl Louisiana-Lafayette 16, Nevada 3 New Mexico Bowl At Albuquerque Utah State 21, Texas El Paso 6 Las Vegas Bowl Utah 45, Colorado State 10 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl At Boise Air Force 38, Western Michigan 24 Camelia Bowl At Montgomery, Ala. Bowling Green 33, South Alabama 28 Monday, Dec. 22 Miami Beach Bowl Memphis 55, Brigham Young 48 Tuesday, Dec. 23 Boca Raton (Fla.) Bowl Marshall 52, Northern Illinois 23 Poinsettia Bowl At San Diego Navy 17, San Diego State 16 Wednesday, Dec. 24 Bahamas Bowl At Nassau Western Kentucky 49, Central Michigan 48 Hawaii Bowl At Honolulu Rice (7-5) vs. Fresno State (6-7), late Friday, Dec. 26 Heart of Dallas Bowl

Illinois (6-6) vs. Louisiana Tech (8-4), 1 p.m. (ESPN) Quick Lane Bowl At Detroit Rutgers (7-5) vs. North Carolina (6-6), 4:30 p.m. (ESPN) St. Petersburg (Fla.) Bowl UCF (9-3) vs. N.C. State (7-5), 8 p.m.

(ESPN) Saturday, Dec. 27 Military Bowl At Annapolis, Md. Virginia Tech (6-6) vs. Cincinnati (9-3), 1 p.m. (ESPN) Sun Bowl At El Paso, Texas Duke (9-3) vs. Arizona State (9-3), 2 p.m. (CBS) Independence Bowl At Shreveport, La. Miami (6-6) vs. South Carolina (6-6), 4 p.m. (ESPN2) Pinstripe Bowl At Bronx, N.Y. Boston College (7-5) vs. Penn State (6-6), 4:30 p.m. (ESPN) Holiday Bowl At San Diego Nebraska (9-3) vs. Southern Cal (8-4), 8 p.m. (ESPN) Monday, Dec. 29 Liberty Bowl At Memphis, Tenn.

West Virginia (7-5) vs. Texas A&M (7-5), 2 p.m. (ESPN) Russell Athletic Bowl At Orlando, Fla. Clemson (9-3) vs. Oklahoma (8-4), 5:30 p.m. (ESPN) Texas Bowl At Houston Texas (6-6) vs. Arkansas (6-6), 9 p.m.

(ESPN) Tuesday, Dec. 30 Music City Bowl At Nashville, Tenn.

Notre Dame (7-5) vs. LSU (8-4), 3 p.m.

(ESPN) Belk Bowl At Charlotte, N.C. Louisville (9-3) vs. Georgia (9-3), 6:30 p.m. (ESPN) Fosters Farm Bowl At Santa Clara, Calif.

Stanford (7-5) vs. Maryland (7-5), 10 p.m. (ESPN) Wednesday, Dec. 31 Peach Bowl At Atlanta Mississippi (9-3) vs. TCU (11-1), 12:30

Fiesta Bowl At Glendale, Ariz.

Boise State (11-2) vs. Arizona (10-3), 4 p.m. (ESPN) Orange Bowl At Miami Mississippi State (10-2) vs. Georgia Tech (10-3), 8 p.m. (ESPN) Thursday, Jan. 1 Outback Bowl At Tampa, Fla. Wisconsin (10-3) vs. Auburn (8-4), Noon (ESPN2) Cotton Bowl Classic At Arlington, Texas Michigan State (10-2) vs. Baylor (11-1), 12:30 p.m. (ESPN) Citrus Bowl At Orlando, Fla. Minnesota (8-4) vs. Missouri (10-3), 1 p.m. (ABC) Rose Bowl At Pasadena, Calif.

Playoff semifinal: Oregon (12-1) vs.

Florida State (13-0), 5 p.m. (ESPN) Sugar Bowl At New Orleans Playoff semifinal: Alabama (12-1) vs.

Ohio State (12-1), 8:30 p.m. (ESPN) Friday, Jan. 2 Armed Forces Bowl At Fort Worth, Texas Pittsburgh (6-6) vs. Houston (7-5), Noon (ESPN) TaxSlayer Bowl At Jacksonville, Fla. Iowa (7-5) vs. Tennessee (6-6), 3:20 p.m. (ESPN) Alamo Bowl At San Antonio UCLA (9-3) vs. Kansas State (9-3), 6:45 p.m. (ESPN) Cactus Bowl At Tempe, Ariz.

Oklahoma State (6-6) vs. Washington (8-5), 10:15 p.m. (ESPN) Saturday, Jan. 3 Birmingham (Ala.) Bowl Florida (6-5) vs. East Carolina (8-4), 1 p.m. (ESPN2) GoDaddy Bowl At Mobile, Ala. Toledo (8-4) vs. Arkansas State (7-5), 9 p.m. (ESPN) Monday, Jan. 12 College Football Championship At Arlington, Texas Sugar Bowl winner vs. Rose Bowl winner, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)

NHL EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA Montreal............. 35.. 22.. 11.....2... 46...95..84 Tampa Bay......... 36.. 21.. 11.....4... 46.117..96 Detroit................ 35.. 18....8.....9... 45.100..87 Toronto............... 35.. 20..12.....3... 43.118.102 Boston............... 35.. 18..14.....3... 39...91..91 Florida............... 32.. 15....9.....8... 38...73..82 Ottawa............... 34.. 14..14.....6... 34...90..94 Buffalo................ 35.. 13..19.....3... 29...69.115 Metropolitan Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA Pittsburgh........... 34.. 22....7.....5... 49.108..80 NY Islanders...... 34.. 23.. 11.....0... 46.105..94 NY Rangers....... 32.. 18..10.....4... 40...97..83 Washington........ 34.. 17.. 11.....6... 40...99..90 Philadelphia....... 34.. 14..14.....6... 34...97.101 Columbus.......... 33.. 14..16.....3... 31...80.107 New Jersey........ 36.. 12..17.....7... 31...78.104 Carolina............. 34.. 10..20.....4... 24...70..93 WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA Chicago............. 35.. 23..10.....2... 48.107..72 Nashville............ 33.. 22....9.....2... 46...95..70 St. Louis............. 34.. 21..10.....3... 45.100..86 Winnipeg............ 35.. 18..10.....7... 43...88..81 Minnesota.......... 32.. 16..13.....3... 35...93..89 Colorado............ 34.. 13..13.....8... 34...90.101 Dallas................. 33.. 14..14.....5... 33...95.113 Pacific Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA Anaheim............ 36.. 23....8.....5... 51.104..98 San Jose............ 35.. 19.. 11.....5... 43...99..90 Vancouver.......... 33.. 20.. 11.....2... 42...99..91 Los Angeles....... 35.. 17.. 11.....7... 41...97..88 Calgary.............. 36.. 18..15.....3... 39.104..98 Arizona.............. 34.. 12..18.....4... 28...80.112 Edmonton.......... 35.... 7..21.....7... 21...75.121

Tuesday’s Games Boston 5, Nashville 3 Carolina 2, New Jersey 1, SO Montreal 3, NY Islanders 1 NY Rangers 4, Washington 2 Philadelphia 5, Minnesota 2 Toronto 4, Dallas 0 Detroit 6, Buffalo 3 Tampa Bay 4, Pittsburgh 3 Arizona 5, Edmonton 1 Colorado 5, St. Louis 0 Winnipeg 5, Chicago 1 Wednesday’s Games No games scheduled Today’s Games No games scheduled Friday’s Games No games scheduled

8B • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014

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