Mac On Sports

      By J. Thomas McNamara, Sports Editor Once the Forsyth Classic is gone, it’s gone. And the greater Decatur area will feel the economic impact of the loss in more ways than one and what many think. They won’t realize how good it was for the communities of Decatur and Forsyth until they experience the…

           There was a lot of orange-and-blue in downtown Decatur last night (Tuesday) as the Illini Caravan, featuring football head coach Lovie Smith, gymnastics coach and bronze medalist Olympian Justin Spring and assistant basketball coach, Geoff Alexander, rolled into the Knights of Columbus hall. Spring and Alexander were the first to arrive with…

    By J. Thomas McNamara      Fifty-three years ago (1966), Don Spain, an 18-year-old Eisenhower pitcher was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 41st round. His minor league baseball pitching career began that year in the Pioneer Rookie League in Ogden, Utah and ended right here at the old Fans Field in Decatur…

       Chuck Clutts is in his last spring coaching the Parkland College Cobras and offered these thoughts on the play of his freshman from Maroa-Forsyth, Kate Beckemeyer. “Kate has adapted quite well to college ball. KB keeps adding to her softball skills that she already have,” wrote Clutts about the former Trojan.       “She is…

     Armon Brummett has requested and received his transfer request from Bradley after his freshman season with the Braves.      He played in the Braves NCAA first round loss to Michigan State.      His brother, Amir, earlier received his release from playing football at Northern Illinois.      The Brummetts are heading to Danville to play basketball for Danville Community…

  Macon–At Monday night’s Meridian school board meeting, the board voted 4-3 not to rehire Jay Driscoll as the boys basketball head coach. Board member Tony Etherton made the motion that Marie Jagger Taylor seconded to rehire Coach Driscoll which failed on a 4-3 vote with Vicki Carr joining them. Those members voting against rehiring…

  Jacardia Wright is taking his game to Manhattan as in Kansas, not New York. Wright, one of the best ever running backs to play for St. Teresa and in Decatur and Macon County, will sign next Wednesday, April 24, at 2:15 to play for Kansas State. The highly-talented athlete received offers from numerous schools,…

  By J. Thomas McNamara, Sports Editor      Has anyone stopped to think that without George Halas’ vision back in 1919 there may not be either the Chicago Bears or the National Football League. That year, a century ago, Halas convinced A.E. Staley of the A.E. Staley Manfuacturing Company (now Tate & Lyle) to allow him…

  Pre-Game Fun—At last Wednesday night’s 32nd annual Heart of Illinois/Warrensburg Lions Club All-Star game, five Decatur and Macon County 1,000 point scorers were teammates on their South squad that defeated the North, 135-122. From the left are LSA’s Grant Karsten, Meridian’s Garrett Meisenhelter, Warrensburg-Latham’s Jarius Ingram, MacArthur’s Keon Jones and LSA’s Michael Fiala. (Photo…

       Aaron Ennis is the new Maroa-Forsyth basketball head coach after the school board Monday night approved the administration’s recommendation.      Ennis comes to the Trojans from Tolono Unity where he has been an assistant coach. He assisted Bill Ipsen for three years before Ipsen retired from coaching the Rockets. Ennis continued assisting there and now…