Duck's PL Hall of Fame
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    This effort comes from Jon "Duck" Gray, an FLC grad. Send your thoughts to silaryt@phillynews.com and we'll post them here.

COMMENTS AT BOTTOM . . .

"When I’m Mayor of Cheesesteak City….."

    It’s past the fourth of July and the entire Public League sports schedule is coming up in a few months. I’m bored. Check that, I’m really bored. Bill Conlin has his catch phrase that has been the hallmark of a stellar journalistic career. "When I ‘m King of the World…." I don’t want to be King of the World, but I wouldn’t mind being Mayor of Cheesesteak City. When I’m Mayor of Cheesesteak City, I will not bother myself with huge new ballparks for Professional Sports teams that make millions of dollars, I would create the PUBLIC LEAGUE SPORTS HALL OF FAME.

    I think you get the picture, a large grandiose building filled with sports memorabilia from the best ever produced by the Public League. The criteria for election to the Hall is simple - impress me. (Just Kidding) To gain admission, a panel of ten or so Public League sports journalists and/or fans would choose seven inductees each year. But to start the Hall of Fame, I would make all the great choices.

    First, schools who have been in the "Pub" the longest could have as many as five initial members into the Hall. Schools that are modern era, (joined the league after 1970) would have as many as three. However, there are no guarantees, I don’t have to pick any from your school. Then fifteen coaches would be selected and we would elect an additional coach to the Hall every year.
The arguments about who I’ve omitted can lead to fisticuffs, but guess what - I’m no punk, so we can throw down. (Joking again, I read Gandhi) And members of the Inter-Ac and the Catholic League would be green with envy. I genuinely feel sorry about that but when I get to know more about your leagues, especially the obscure stuff, I will gladly try to do the same for those fine leagues as well.

Franklin
Jerome "Pooh" Richardson ’85 (Basketball)
Randy Woods ’88 (Basketball)
Alex Wesby ’98 (Basketball)
Jermaine Smith ’01 (Football)

Franklin Learning Center
Tyrone Weeks ’93 (Basketball)
Trinity Gray ’96 (Track)
Chanel Ross ’01 (Basketball)

Footnotes:
    I admit I was highly biased towards the 1990’s and basketball. I based a lot on what older "Pub" fans told me about players from their eras. Yes, I really would build a Public League Hall of Fame. "Jon FLC for Mayor 2003." (I’m not kidding.)
   Hopefully, I will get to have this kind of column weekly in the winter. It won’t be as political but I will get my chance to spew some venom, in addition to game reports. Mostly, I’ll be spewing anger towards the new "Pub" b-ball format. Also, why did they wait until the last week of the school year to force a decision down the throats of the coaches? Conspiracy if you ask me.
PS -- If this doesn’t get Public League people talking then I give up until December and hoops season.

COMMENTS . . .

    Rico Washington(Frankford/Franklin) was a player. He was only 6-5 or 6-6 but
he was awesome.
---- Anonymous
    (Ted's note: Very true. While at Frankford, Rico outplayed Camden's Billy Thompson,
who was regarded as the country's top player.)

    If we are adding to the All Public League list, then  add Jesse Levis of Northeast HS '85.
he  was the best catcher I ever played with and the only better HS catcher I saw was when
I was coaching against Ben Davis now of the Padres.  Jesse played at North Carolina and
is still playing ball in AAA after in being in the "show" for the Indians and the Brewers.
....keep up the great work.
---- Jon Cross
    (Ted's note: Another worthy candidate.)

    This is great work, some additions that I would make though would be
E&S '98, Kelli Greer, I know it sounds funny, but she won the Chip, Lynn
didn't and was the best player on the Team and hey the obvious, she's
gorgeous!
FLC '92, Faron "Meatball" Hand, has just about the same credentials as
Weeks.
Where's U-City(Shawnetta, Khadija, Brokenborough, ect.)
Dobbins '87, Doug Overton, he has been a given in the League for the last
7-8 years.
Southern '91, "Rab" Townes, Biggest Snub, He must be on the list. Though he
isn't really a winner, he averaged 41 in the Pub, that's unheard of.
Franklin '51 and '63, John Chaney and Fred Carter for obvious reasons, these
guys are legends.
"Reds" Smith can be argued for his high school merits, Maureece Rice should
be Mansion's first entry and I'm his #1 critic and Overbrook has many more
guys to be considered.
---- Amauro "Amar" Austin
    (Ted's note: Kelli and "Amar" sittin' in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g. Someone out there
has a crush -- smile).

    Hello, Jon"Duck" FLC. I'm Jim "Todd's Dad" Chestnut Hill Academy. While I
question the amount of time one has to have to dedicate to such a ridiculous
cause, I would like to include some glaring omissions. Among these are
Rasheet "Noot" Arnold, from your own school. He was one of the country's top
players his senior year. From Overbrook you're missing Naim Crenshaw. Gratz
is missing Marvin O'Connor and Jarrett Kearse. I agree with Amar about Kelli
Greer. She can be on my list anytime-especially if my list is in my
room!(smile). To update everyone on Todd, he is having the time of his life
lifeguarding down the shore. He is such a terrorizing presence that the kids
call him Toddzilla. Get it, like Godzilla? Oh, I've never been prouder. Okay
guys.
---- Jim "Father of Eternity" Nally
    (Tedzilla's note: I have nothing to say, really. I just felt like writing "Tedzilla's note.")

    I just want to say that if Jermaine Smith and Ramon Mills are on this list
then there's no way Cameron Murphy and Brent Grimes can be left off. Both
Jermaine and Ramon are exceptionally great players and I wish them much
success up at Shippensburg. Cameron started as a sophomore and improved every
year. Rarely can you find a sophomore who can go up and win a starting tackle
job for a public league powerhoue like Northeast, Washington or Frankford. He
was our best lineman on and off the field and I wish him the best of luck at
FAMU. Brent was just amazing. His moves were just spectacular and he never
walked around with a big head on his shoulders. He didn't care about stats as
long as we won. There should be a recount or let the pub decide who deserves
to be in the PL hall of Fame. I just feel that Cameron and Brent were just as
good and viable to us as Jermaine and Ramon were to Franklin and Bok. Good
Luck Cam, B.G. Jermaine and Ramon.
---- anonymous
    (Ted's note: Don't forget, the list is supposed to honor the best athletes in a
school's history. No offense to Cam and Brent, but I doubt they should make
a Top Five list for Northeast's long, storied history.)

    I agree that Meatball should be on the list, but for Franklin, he left off 
Johnathan "Leap" Weathers(95) and Chris Cobbs(97) both are accomplished track
athletes.
Bodine- Monte Ross(88) should be in and Eric White(90) should be close
Wm. Penn- As an alumnus, There is no way that Shawn Moore(85) could be left
off
Mansion- O.T.(00) enough said, they still wouldn't have a 'Chip if it weren't
for Omar
Lamberton- Troy Daniel(84)
---- anonymous
    (Ted's note: All good points.)

    hey ted, i don't know if you think he belongs, but i've beome good friends
with Rob Patete from Roxborough.  I know you had him listed as the best
baseball player from Roxborough.  He is good enough for Hall of Fame status??
Let me know,  see ya during football season,
---- smitty roman77
    (Ted's note: Over the last 30 years, definitely. Beyond that, for such a small school,
Roxborough has had some good ones. He'd be in the mix, I'd imagine.)

Ted,
        After reviewing the all city entries for Central High. a glaring omission
was made. Calvin Dixon (79) should be on that team. I remember an article
you wrote in 1979 titled "The Battle of the Superguards" when Dobbins met
Central at Dobbins. Calvin Dixon had the sweetest handle this side of Isiah
Thomas. He definitely should be included in any metion of alltime point
guards.
---- Just a thought, Jonathan Clark
    (Ted's note: And a good thought it is. Calvin was indeed a slick point guard.)

    ted...you have to give mansion some R-E-S-P-E-C-T....we do not have one
person who could be a hall of fame representative for the school???...i'll
throw out a few for you;  first how about that marc 'big andy' starling
basketball 1983 who played for the knights' first ever division title team
and was the first player from the pl to attend beaver college, then he
returned to help the program develop its young talent and eventually won a
title...Ronald 'FLIP' Murray...enough said...kevin 'BUZZY' forney the
school's leading scorer with 1400 points in three years...last but not
least omar 'OT' thomas who scored 1000 points in two main seasons and swept
the board his senior year..pl player of the year title game
mvp..etc.etc...and one last thought...maureece rice is a living legend at
the school now and he was the first soph to ever lead the pl in
scoring...this is the same league that produced some great young players
i.e. wilt, lewis lloyd, gene banks, rasheed wallace...etc....JUST A THOUGHT 
T....smile!!!!!
---- Big Andy
   (Ted's note: My man Duck did the lists, BA, not me, but I get your drift.
Mansion does have some decent candidates, especially for a school with such
a limited sports program. BA's son, Michael Bazemore, was a star linebacker
last year at West Catholic and earned a scholarship to Michigan State.)

First of this is a great list.Good job duck.
    The next time you add players here are a few first Bruce Perry rb. Washington
perhaps the best back ever to come out of washington he is starting rb for
Maryland has two 149 yard games in colleage among leaders great school numbers running
a 4.3 in the 40.Jafar Williams the schools best wr also attends maryland
soph. among the best at his position.Maurice Bennett first 4 year starter
ever at Washigton the best linebacfker in pub for sometime the Ray Lewis of
hs football.
    Chris Deshields rb-lb Mastbaum one of the best to come out of this great
football school allcity defense as junior-soph 3 year starter four year
varsity.
    Marc Baxter qb Mastbaum signal caller on perhaps the best pl football team
ever1990 chip squad great numbers.
    Uhuru (Joby) Hamiter mastbaum wr on 1990 chip team great target for Baxter
currently backup DE for the Eagles.
(Ted back me up u kno its da truth)
---- LB Mastbaum
   (Ted's note: The only drawback for Bruce is that he spent just
one year at Washington. Chris is still adding to his accomplishments.
Marc and Joby were The Truth at The 'Baum. Joby is no longer with
the Eagles, though.)

  For the hall i think these people shoud be taken under consideration
matt johnson c/o 95 dobbins
julian grahm  c/o 95  bartram
robert alford  c/o 93 dobbins <-------probably best linebacker in dobbins history

   Ted, concerning entrance into Duck's PL Hall of Fame, I do not think that you
can leave out the former, tenacious, 3 year All-Public defensive and
offensive tackle and first team all-state defensive tackle from Bartram High
School, Bryan Anderson, who is currently having a sensational collegiate
career at the University of Pittsburgh. He also represented the Public
League, participating in the Big 33 football game during his senior year.
Heavily recruited, he opted to attend PITT in part because of the influence
of another Bartram alum, Julian Graham, who also participated in the Big 33
game, had a stellar four year career at PITT, and is currently playing
professional football in the Canadian League. He,too, should have
consideration for this acalade. I, and many of my colleagues, truly
appreciate the tremendous enthusiasm,. interest, publicity, and involvement
that you continually exhibit on behalf of all the coaches and athletes in the
city of Philadelphia.
   (Ted's note: Thank you. My only hope, always, is that people can tell
from my stories that I enjoy what I do. The other guys who work on here
are in the same category . . . I have a feeling Bryan will be playing for
pay before it's all over.)

    Dear Ted, I was looking through Duck's PL hall of fame list of different
school and there coaches,I looked at the coaches list and notices that a
great injustice was do in a sport that does not get the espect it should
get. I understand that this coach was not like to much because of the
way he came off at time. I personally did not know him but as a
crosscountry and track runner i felt he use to hate that i did not run
for a track club but,i still would bet his runners.I know coaches did
not like his way of getting runners to come to the brook.I believe that
if Hickey is on this list then coach Rosenfeld should also be there for
track.ps i did not attend Overbrook either.
   (Ted's note: Fred Rosenfeld is extremely dedicated and organized. He
deserves HOF status.)

   Calvin Dixon (Central '79) was a better player than Ricky Tucker and Rock
McCray. Plus, he was an outstanding student who went on to play at Harvard.
He has one of the best "handles" of all time in the Public League. A truly
great point guard.
---- Rob

   Hey I loved the hall of fame and all, but where are the wretslers? there
have been a couple good wretlers to come out of PL schools. Also where
are the track stars? But all-in-all you guys did a good job. One coach
you missed is Dimidio of Olney, he was the best coach ever there.
---- anonymous
  (Ted's note: We're all flying blind when it comes to wrestling. Tony Di Midio
indeed did a great job coaching FB at Olney.)

   Call me crazy, but coaching basketball at Northeast for 40 years is cause
enough to add my grandfather, Albert "Ike" Woolley, to your list.  I was
disappointed not to see him on there.  Thanks.
---- Matt Woolley
   (Ted's note: Duck is in his early 20s, so I doubt he knew about your
grandfather, Matt. Thanks for sticking up for him.)

   Ted this is regarding "Duck" column regarding Hall of Fame players. It is impossible
to not mention Rich Drayton, Central H.S.(86) he was the best receiver to come out
of the Pub, better yet the City all-time. Just asked the defenses he played against!!
---- LW
   (Ted's note: Rich is indeed a STRONG candidate. Not quite "city all-time." That
honor would have to go to Marvin Harrison, right?)

Okay Ted,
   Why isn't Albert Hill one of the Hall of Fame Coaches for the Public League? Then you don't have David Carter, Vince Trombetta, Andre Taylor, Jammie Calloway, Maurice Bibbs, Jermaine "The Hit-Man" Frasier, Teddy McLean, Charles Taylor, Chris Cobbs for track, Steve Mitchell for track, "Pop" Moss for basketball, Fard Nasir for basketball and of course Dahmine Hill for basketball. I think that all of these people should be included in the Hall of Fame from Franklin. Not only were these people the best performers for their time, but they turned heads in the "Pub" and people feared them when they put on a Franklin uniform.
---- Andre Taylor
   (Ted's note: No. 1, hello Andre! I hope you're doing well and it's nice to hear from you. No. 2, are you crazy, Andre? -- smile. How could a school have that many Hall of Famers from such a short period of time? I know you're trying to give your old school its props, but calm down, baby. At least these names will show up in a google.com search now -- smile.)

   In the same era as Brokenborough and Stewart there was a football player named Tom Walter. As a nose guard, he won several games for them.He lead his team in tackles for three seasons. He has the school record for single game tackles (17) against a tough King team in his final game. He didn't win a championship, but he certainly desirves the recognition.

   I saw your PL Hall of Fame list and I would like to nominate another
University City athlete. Tom Walter in football. This guy holds the
school's single season record as a nose gaurd. In his final game, Tom
had 17 tackles against a good King team. He definately deserves it
because he was mentioned in the same breath as Rasheed Brok. and
Shaneta Stewart.

   How bout for Dobbins Raheem Brock c/o 1996 all-state for TE-FB-LB  Temple
standout and entering the NFL draft this year.  Andre Davis c/o 1999 all-psac
two time db and pub poy in 99 with Bruce Perry.

What happened to Aquisha Cahoe, Inquirer Girls' Basketball Player of the year 2002!!
---- Beverly c/o 2002

Hey Ted. I was reading about some of the players and coaches that are in the
PL Hall of Fame and it seems to me that you are missing a few people on that
list.
1) Chris DeShields- He was a great player on both sides of the ball and
seemed to "shine" when needed. He was a game-breaker. Never got big-headed
about all the attention he recieved and was always a leader. Yes he still
has more to add but what he's done so far is a little short of amazing
2) Arlan Johnson- What can I say? HE WAS A BEAST!!!The man was a force to be
reckoned with at the DE position. He was a 3 year starter and a 3 year force
to fear. He averaged just about 3.5 sacks per game and was a great person on
and off the field. I hope to see these names in the list soon..
Holla at me Ted
---- anonymous
   (Ted's note: Two quality players for sure!!)

I played in 97 and Brock who went to Dobbins was one of the best player
in the Pub that year, but I understand that there were some great ones
that came before him that keeps him off this list but he at least
deserve to be mentioned.
A great couple of great coaches that I feel that was left of this list
is Coach Peffle who coaches baseball and soccor at FKD and coach Vivian who
coached baseball at Olney.
Another player who's name shold be on this list is Lovato Bowman who was
the best player to play FKD baseball sense Higgie who is in the Pro's
now.  Not only was he city for baseball he was all state football player
as well with a record of 12 picks in his senior season.
Another thats left off this list is Marc Baxter QB of 90 PLC Mastbaum
football team.
---- anonymous
   (Ted's note: All good names!!)

   First off let me say hello Jon. I'd like to say I dealt with the fact that my brother Javer Dillard didn't make your list last Nov. when I talked to you at the the Germantown Thanksgiving game against King, so I feel as though it's me duty to to say something. I still think that Spencer Whetts would have not made that list without my brother, or Kenny Greene. Also, I want to know how a player can make All-Decade team for the Daily News, and not be considered to be one your list. I feel as though my brother was better than a lot of players when he was in high school. Including players Chafie Fields, who he outshinned since little league football with the Oak Lane Wildcats. But it's fine, because the players you picked were still great, and I think your list is outstanding. I just feel you have one player missing from the Germantown list.

  I don't know how dated this list is... But..I'd like to add two Major omissions.
Lead off a relay with THE NATION'S NUMBER ONE SPRINTER... DR Carlton Young!!!
And Bartram..... Rod Wilson the most dominant hurdler in PL history
Just a couple  ..glad to see the Calvin Dixon nods.
---- Bruce Woods