Section B · Page 10
The University Daily Kansan
Monday, August 16, 1999
Hall of Fame shortstop Reese dies at his home
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES—Pee Wee Reese, the Hall of Fame shortstop and Brooklyn Dodgers captain, whose leadership and example helped ease the way for Jackie Robinson to break major league baseball's color barrier, died Saturday. He was 81.
The Los Angeles Dodgers confirmed Reese's death. He died at his home in Louisville, Ky. The cause was not immediately known.
Flags at Dodger Stadium were flown at half-staff for Saturday night's game against Atlanta.
An eight-time All-Star, Reese sparked the Dodgers to seven National League pennants. He led Brooklyn to its only World Series championship in 1955, fielding the final ball in a 2-0 victory in Game 7 at Yankee Stadium.
"He loved the Dodgers, he always respected the Dodgers and the people who owned the Dodgers," pitcher Don Newcombe, who played eight years with Reese, said Saturday night. "The Dodgers were his life."
Nicknamed "The Little Colonel," the Kentucky native batted .269 in a
career that spanned 1940-58 and included the Dodgers' first year in Los Angeles.
Reese was inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame in 1984. A regular at the induction ceremonies at Cooperstown, N.Y., until recent years, he was not at the shrine three weeks ago for the festivities.
Reese was born on July 23, 1918, on a farm in Meade County, Ky., and moved to Louisville with his family as a child. He gained his nickname, not because of his size
Reese was first signed by the Louisville Colonels of the American Association in 1937.
— he was listed at 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds — but from his prowess at marbles. One year he was the runner-up to the national champion in The Courier-Journal marble tournament.
After his baseball career, Reese worked as a broadcaster with CBS, NBC and the Cincinnati Reds. He later became director of the college and professional baseball staff at Hillerich & Bradsby, maker of Louisville Slugger bats.
Reese married Dorothy Walton on March 29, 1942. They had two children, Barbara and Mark.
Denver Broncos begin life after Elway
The Associated Press
Rookie using "hands-on" approach to success
GREEELEY, Colo. — Although he's listed behind Terrell Davis, Derek Loville, Leeland McEiroy and Curtis Alexander on the depth chart, Denver Broncos rookie running back Olandis Gary has an edge over the other four. Gary is gaining a reputation as a pass receiver.
"Olandis might have the best hands of all the running backs. That is saying a lot because Terrell has awesome hands," said Broncos running backs coach Bobby Turner. "He has super awesome hands and can definitely catch the ball."
"I like his catching ability and the fact he is a between-the-tackles runner," Turner said. "He reminded me a lot of Terrell Davis when I saw him on tape, the foot quickness, his football instincts and just toughness."
That's high praise for a first-year back known as a tough guy with natural running ability.
That kind of talk that has Gary shaking his head. Both were late draft choice.
"Olandis might have the best hands of all the running backs. That is saying a lot because Terrell has awesome hands."
Bobby Turner
Broncos running backs coach
es — Davis was a sixthround pick, Gary a fourth—and they both played at the University of Georgia. But Gary is begging for the comparisons to end.
"It is too early for me to be thinking about how I compare to Terrell Davis in the NFL," Gary said. "No. I didn't keep in contact with him when he left Georgia and I really didn't know Terrell when I was in school because I transferred to Georgia his rookie year."
Right now I am trying to learn the offense the best I can," said the 5-foot-11, 218-pounder. "I have to show the coaches that I am here and I want to play football for the Denver Broncos."
While acknowledging
having some baby soft hands, he can't trace the origin of his catching ability. During four years at Georgia, Gary caught only 26 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown.
"We didn't throw the ball to the backs that much," Gary said. "I always worked on it in the off season. I worked on catching
the ball by myself to become better in all aspects of the game because at Georgia, we had to focus on a lot of things, because we rotated running backs."
Gary, who bares a striking facial resemblance to Chicago White Sox slugger Frank Thomas, admitted getting some unsolicited help from Davis.
"Oh, yeah, he's been advising me," Gary said. "He's kind of been my counselor the first few weeks."
"I put myself in his situation and it is tough," Davis said. "You come in here learning a lot of different plays and your head is just spinning."
Neil Smith finds himself on unfamiliar ground at camp
The Associated Press
GREELEY, Colo.
Training camp is a different world for Denver Broncos defensive end Neil Smith this year.
For the first time in his 12-year NFL career, he is
a starter. And Smith — who has earned two Super Bowl rings with the Broncos after spending nine years with
the Kansas City Chiefs — played only two plays during Denver's preseason opener.
But the 33-year-old Smith, who was benched during the final two regular-season games last year, is determined to make the cut.
"Everybody thinks I'm done, everybody thinks I'm washed up," Smith said. "Not me. I would've never attended camp if I didn't think I could get it done."
NFL teams must trim
their rosters to 65 players Aug.31 and 53 players Sept. 5.
Though he is still popular with his teammates, Smith knows he is still on the list of Denver's endangered species.
In the regular season, the Broncos probably will have up to 10 defensive linemen. Maa Tanuvasa, Alfred Williams, Montae Reagor and Harald Hasselbach have four of those spots locked up. The final defensive end spot should come down to former Chicago Bear Carl Reeves or Smith.
One of Smith's biggest motivation is his 2-year-old son Neland. While his older children — Joshua, 16, and Nesha, 8. — have seen him at the height of his career, Smith said he wanted to show Neland what his daddy can do.
And if he makes it, Smith could achieve a significant milestone.
He has 98 career sacks, leaving him just two regular-season sacks shy of becoming the 17th player in NFL history with at least 100.
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