SAGINAW'S YOUNG GUNS

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SAGINAW'S  YOUNG  GUNS
By Richard Curry

It must be the drinking water. This town is on the national map
with all the fine young athletes it is producing. Serena, of the world
famous Williams sisters was born here. She is rated the number one ladies
tennis player in the world today. In 2002 Serena went 56 and 5 in matches
and is up for 'Athlete of the Year'.

Charles Rogers - Saginaw High is about to become independently wealthy in
the 2003 NFL draft. He was an All American, named college receiver of the
year, has the NCAA record with TD catches in 13 straight games, and set a
MSU record with 68 catches in a season.

Charles set school records the previous year with 1,470 receiving yards and 14 TD's. He led the Big Ten two years in a row while amassing 2,821 yards and 27 TD's. It would be great if the Detroit Lions would draft him with the league's number two pick but that would be out of character, as they enjoy losing. They have to be the only organizations in the world that would keep a GM and coach that have gone 5 and 27 in two years.

Jason Richardson - AHHS Basketball All-American at MSU, 2002 Pro Rookie All Star team, and the 2002 Slam-Dunk winner. Averaged 14.4 points a game in 2002 and this year has upped it to 15.9 points.

Stuart Schweigert - This Heritage High school alum is a rare football player - a white defensive back that can play with anyone. He is lightning fast. In 2001 with Purdue, Stuart had 98 tackles and 6 interceptions. He was rated the number one defensive back at the start of the 2002-college season and is rated the number one defensive back in the 2003 NFL draft - a draft he is passing up to complete his senior year in college. Another rare feat - choosing education over the big bucks of the NFL.

Anthony Robertson - Saginaw High. First year at Florida, 2002-2003. In his senior year at Saginaw High Anthony averaged 30 points and seven rebounds a game as a 6'2", 185-pound point guard. He shot 80 percent from the floor. Anthony was a Parade All American, 3-time All-State Dream team, and a McDonald All American. The kid also played football. As a sophomore and starting quarterback, he led Saginaw High to the State Class A football title. On 1/11/2003 he hit a 28 foot 3 pointer to beat Georgia at the buzzer.

Bethany Brewster - Nouvel-3time All-American at Wisconsin in track. She
recently won the 2002 NCAA 1500-meter race.

James Reed - Saginaw High/Iowa State/New York Jets Defensive lineman.

Sam Sword - AHHS/U of M/ Indianapolis Colts Middle Linebacker.

Alfonso Boone - AHHS, 6-foot, 325-pound defensive end with the Chicago
Bears. He considers my friend, Judy Hall, his second mother. He got a
$500,000 signing bonus and a 5-year contract in 2002. I met Alfonso when he
drove over on his day off in his new black Corvette to visit Judy at work
to wish her a happy birthday. He has since added a Hummer to his car
collection. It is good to be the football man. He is a gentleman and a big
one. I shook his hand and it is the only one bigger than Bill Chasnis, that
I know, and I cannot get my hand around his either. 'Fonz' drove five hours
on his day off to let her know he appreciates her. A kind gesture like this
gives me a little more faith in mankind. Boone was the first junior college
player ever drafted into the NFL. He had 21 solo tackles in 2002. The
Detroit Lions cut Alfonso in his first year with them. What were they
thinkin'? Ah, they do not think that often.

Danielle Kamm  - Nouvel, voted Michigan's Miss Basketball in 2002. College
will be knockin' down the doors for this girl.

LaMarr Woodley - Saginaw High. Made the All USA football first team on
defense. LaMarr had 80 tackles, 10 sacks, and was named Michigan's Gatorade
Player of the Year. U of M and Southern California are strongly recruiting
him for this coming season.

Jeff & Tim Turner - This Nouvel duo are hockey stars at U. Mass. Jeff
played 4 years, led the team in scoring 1999-2000, and was team captain in
2000-2001. He has since graduated and is now playing for Graz in the
Austrian Hockey League. Tim was 6 when my son, Patrick, had the good
fortune to coach him in spring league at the Bay Side Ice Arena. Patrick
notes, "Tim was the smallest player on the team and he was the only one
scoring goals. He went 0 and 11." In three years at U-Mass Tim has totaled
32 goals, 40 assists for 72 points in 97 games. Tim has followed in his
brother's footsteps and is now this year's Minuteman Captain. U-Mass is
presently rated 15th in the nation.

Jason Paige - was once my stick boy with the Heritage Hawks and next year he will be pulling on a sweater for the Notre Dame Irish hockey team. You do not get a full ride at a Division 1 school without doing a lot of hard work and doing it well. Jason'' inspirational leader through it all has been his father, Bill. Says Jason, "Dad was always my coach early on, and he was tough on me. We would win a game eight to nothing. I would score 3 goals and he would still find things I could do better, but I know he gave me the foundation and insight to handle the competitive hockey I'm playing today."

"My mom's also been there for Jamie and I. She has made the sacrifice and went along with the expenses, which are considerable. My dad did not play in the NHL, but he understands the game as well as anyone."

I have seen Jason play. He is a talented, quick-thinking power forward at 6
foot, 192-pounds. Jason is one of the fastest skaters in the North American
Junior A Hockey League and definitely one of the toughest. In two years
Jason's been involved in a dozen fights and has won them all. I asked him
if he looks for fights and he responded, "They seem to find their way to me
and I will not stand down. In my first year in this league a guy much older
and bigger challenged me."

"Jason knocked him down cold," adds father Bill.

"I stick up for myself and when I feel that my team needs to be inspired I
play more physical," notes Jason.

Compuware and the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL share the same boxing coach.
Jason has been listening. Compuware General Manager Todd Watson added,
"Paige was the obvious choice to be Captain. He epitomizes everything a
Compuware player should be. He is very mature and knows how to lead by
example and speaks up when something needs to be said. He is the best
captain I have ever had by far."

His future coach at Notre Dame, Dave Paulin, concurs: "We have been
watching Jason for a couple years now. He is a tough, gritty center man who
brings tremendous leadership skills to his team. A solid all around player,
he has a strong presence when he is on the ice."

Jason skates both ways, wins 80 percent of his face offs and has pro stride
hitting ball speed in three strides.

Jason told me of his recent ice wars. After a punishing hit of his own, the
fallen player told him, "Jason take it easy on me. We will be playing at
Notre Dame together."

"I have no friends on the ice," responded Jason.

Another combatant came over to fight and Jason said, "Not now son. Come
back when you learn to skate."

I love this guy. Jason has a Marty Lapointe attitude and the skills of a
Kirk Maltby. Jason sees a lot of Darren McCarty  in himself.

"He plays hard and shows up for big games."

Jason still carries his Heritage hockey bag around scripted 'Stick Boy
Jason Paige.'

He does not forget his roots.

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