Fast Break
Baseball legend Buck O’Neil dies
Buck O’Neil, baseball’s charismatic Negro Leagues ambassador who barnstormed with Satchel Paige and fell one vote shy of the Hall of Fame, died Friday night. He was 94.
Bob Kendrick, marketing director for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, said O’Neil died at a Kansas City, Mo., hospital.
O’Neil had appeared strong until early August, when he was hospitalized for what was described as “fatigue.” He was released a few days later, but readmitted on Sept. 17. Friends said that he had lost his voice along with his strength. No cause of death was immediately given.
Always projecting warmth, wit and a sunny optimism that sometimes seemed surprising for a man who lived in a climate of racial injustice for so long, O’Neil remained remarkably vigorous well into his 90s.
He became as big a star as the Negro League greats whose stories he traveled the country to tell.
He made a stop in Spokane in February 2003, engaging an audience at Gonzaga Prep gathered for a performance of Bryan Harnetiaux’s play “National Pastime,” about Jackie Robinson and the breaking of baseball’s color line.
What’s in a name?
The next child can be ESPN2
Leann Real promised her avid sports fan husband that if they had a son he’d get to pick the name. ESPN Montana Real was born this week at Biloxi (Miss.) Regional Medical Center.
Husband Rusty chose ESPN (pronounced Espen) after the sports network and Montana after quarterback Joe Montana.
The youngster isn’t alone. Three others were cited in a 2005 Web site story about the network’s 25th anniversary: Espn Malachi McCall and Espn Curiel, both of Texas, and Espn Blondeel of Michigan.
College basketball
Shadle’s Bishop picks Portland St.
Shadle Park basketball player Lexi Bishop becomes the latest Greater Spokane League Division I addition.
Bishop has made an oral commitment and will join Mead’s Kelli Valentine at Big Sky Conference Portland State.
Bishop was fourth in GSL scoring for Shadle last year with a 17.8 average and has scored 760 career points.