Posts from November 1, 2007

Dear Ohio State University Buckeyes,

Hello, I am Dr. Chris Ward, OSU Athletic Hall of Fame and ex-all pro tackle. I cordially invite YOU to attend the Ward international- First Annual Golf Tournament on Friday, March 28,2008 at the Chester L. Washington Golf COurse, 1930 West 120th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90047. Our theme is “Empowering Young Men in the Communities.” We would like to include YOU in the events of the day.

The registration begins at 7:00am and a “shotgun start” at 8:00am. The tournament’s foursome, 18-hole scramble and best ball play format provides golfers of all skill levels to enjoy the game. We are looking forward to having an exciting round of golf. Social time follows the golf activities with a festive Awards Luncehon around 1:00pm.

The proceeds from this tournament will go to establisghin a youth sports camp and the the following non profit, tax exampt organizations that have Youth programs.

The First Tee of South Los Angeles - provides youth with programs for character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf. The First Tee will provide a Youth Golf Clinic on the Driving Range. They will also inform youth about job opportunities and scholarships in the field of golf.

Ward International - assists at-risk youth and their families to overcome difficult life situation in the areas of PREVENTION (suicide, pregnancy, gang, drug, and truancy). Through intervention, they have been successful in affectin the lives of 60,000 children and their families.

The R.O.S.E. Ministries - provides affordable retreats that promote personal growth and spiritual development. The Ministry assists at-risk youth and their families to obtain physical, spiritual, and mental stability. Also, the Ministry has many out-reach programs.

and Inglewood Educational Foundation - generates financial support for the enrichment of educational opportunities for students in the Inglewood Unified School District. It also provides college scholarships to graduating students and financial support to educational programs and activities.

We invite you to join us as a sponsor. Your sponsorship will be a blessing! Please see the enclosed sponsorship and registration forms as well as mission statements. ward-sponsorship-form.doc
ward-mission-statement.doc

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Courtesy of Columbus Dispatch

An hour before the premiere screening of Michigan vs. Ohio State: The Rivalry on Tuesday night, former Buckeyes Dick Ellwood and Jim Stillwagon huddled near a table of hors d’oeuvres in the Wexner Center for the Arts.

The topic of discussion: Ohio State’s 50-14 win over the Wolverines in 1968, Stillwagon’s sophomore year.

“We get home, it’s about 9 o’clock, and everybody is celebrating,” explained Ellwood, a letter winner in 1949 and 1950.

“The phone rang, and it was Woody. He said, ‘Dick, what did you think of the game?’ I said: ‘50 to 14? What do you think?’ He said, ‘They should’ve never scored.’ ”

The story wouldn’t be the last Hayes tale of the evening.

A crowd of about 800 gathered in Mershon Auditorium to watch the first public showing of the HBO Sports documentary, which chronicles the history of the gridiron feud.

Guests included past players Tom Skladany and Craig Krenzel, former coach Earle Bruce, OSU President E. Gordon Gee and hordes of scarlet-and-gray-clad fans.

HBO will carry the program Nov. 13 — four days before the Buckeyes travel to Ann Arbor for the 104th meeting in the heated rivalry.

So heated, said HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg, that it was chosen over Army vs. Navy, Florida vs. Georgia and Oklahoma vs. Texas as the subject of the first college-football documentary that the network division has produced.

“We’ve been looking for years for the kind of story that transcends sports,” Greenburg said. “There is no rivalry in college football like this.”

Greenburg also has reason to be a Buckeyes fan — at least until Nov. 17.

When Michigan suffered early season losses to Appalachian State and Oregon during production of the documentary, the HBO executive worried that ratings would suffer.

“I was starting to see this game take on less national significance until Ohio State decided to run the table and stay No. 1 in the polls,” he said. “So I’m rooting hard for two more wins.”

Portions of the documentary were shot last year on the OSU campus, but viewers shouldn’t expect a rehash of the Jim Tressel era only.

The documentary goes back to legendary Michigan coach Fielding Yost at the start of the 20th century and continues through the

infamous “Snow Bowl” in 1950 — during which Ellwood was charged with the unenviable task of relaying signals — to the “10-year war” between Hayes and Michigan coach Bo Schembechler.

A host of former players and coaches appears in the documentary, including nonfootball alumni Jack Nicklaus (OSU) and Mike Wallace (Michigan).

The most poignant interview might be with Schembechler, who died a day after his comments were recorded.

“That was pretty devastating,” Greenburg said.

The one-hour documentary features footage and photographs from Michigan and OSU archives; TV broadcasts; and newspapers, including The Dispatch.

Producer George Roy said rare footage of the Snow Bowl turned up on a 16 mm reel of film found in the home of former Michigan player Chuck Ortmann.

“We’re part producers, part private detectives, really,” Roy said.

After the documentary, fans and former players were complimentary — even if the Wolverines might have lost the on-screen

time-of-possession battle.

“I thought there was a little bit more OSU than Michigan,” said Ben Sproat, 84, a University of Michigan graduate who appears in the documentary.

Sproat, who lives in Springboro, Ohio, attended 60 consecutive OSU-Michigan games from 1945 through 2004.

“I’ve lived 78 years in Ohio, so I’ve learned to live with the Ohio State people,” he said jokingly.

Stillwagon, meanwhile, picked a 1970 win over Michigan as his favorite moment but appreciated the historical scope of the project.

“There’s such a span there,” he said, “and it was good to see all the other stories or hear old stories spun another way.”

Then the former defensive lineman grinned.

“And you saw how obnoxious people from Michigan still are.”

nchordas@dispatch.com

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