Features

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

He’s played in three World Series and been behind the microphone for three more.

He’s shared special moments on the field with legendary teammates Musial, Brock and Gibson.

And he’s shared other special moments from the booth for Cardinal greats Ozzie, Yadi and Albert.

For 63 years, he’s been part of the St. Louis organization.

But as they say, all good things must come to an end.

And this is certainly the end of an era – especially for those in Cardinal Nation.

After 13 years in uniform and 50 years behind the mic, the beloved Mike Shannon will retire following the 2021 baseball season.

“These have been special years for me,” Shannon said. “I’ve met and got to know many, many people and have a lifetime of memories that I’ll never forget.”

The 81-year-old Shannon was in Teutopolis and Effingham on April 22, promoting his new line of wine. He met with fans and signed autographs at both Wessel’s in T-Town and Top Shelf Liquors in Effingham.

The News Report had a chance to visit with Shannon and also reminisce a bit about his long career.

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

For the Effingham boys basketball team, March 5 had been circled on the calendar for quite some time.

And why not?

That was the night the Hearts were scheduled to played at Lincoln.

And, as most expected, the Apollo Conference championship was on the line.

In any normal year, there would have been a caravan of cars making that 110-mile “no good way to get there” trip to the home of the always-tough Railsplitters.

But, as everyone knows, this past year has been anything but normal.

So rather than filling their gas tank, probably going through a drive-thru to pick up a couple burgers and a soda and enduring that boring, two-hour journey, fans of the Hearts stayed in town.

Only because they had no choice.

Thanks to COVID restrictions, they weren’t allowed to attend out-of-town games.

That’s right. No students. No cheerleaders. No fans.

And that included the parents.

So on this particular Friday night, rather than sitting on wooden bleachers in Lincoln, the parents of the senior members of the EHS squad were sitting in chairs in the meeting room at ServPro.

And they allowed this old sports reporter to join them.

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

Believe it or not, we’re only a matter of hours away.

We’re going to hear tennis shoes squeaking, whistles blaring, coaches yelling and fans cheering.

Well, at least a few fans cheering.

These are sounds we’re all accustomed to hearing at a basketball game.

But we’re not accustomed to seeing players, coaches and officials wearing masks; games without cheerleaders, pep bands and concession stands; gyms with only 50 masked fans in the seats and everybody observing social distancing.

Ahh!

Welcome to the 2021 Illinois high school basketball season -- COVID style.

Yes, it’s going to be different. But the most important thing we all need to remember is that the kids will be able to enjoy a basketball season, albeit a shortened one.

Is everyone excited to get started?

“Oh yeah!” Effingham coach Obie Farmer quickly responded. “It’s been a long time coming and the kids are chomping at the bit. We’re all just looking forward to playing.”

“We’re all so darn excited about playing basketball again in our own gym,” Teutopolis coach Chet Reeder noted. “This is good for everybody’s soul.”

“I think these young men have handled all this as well as you can expect them to,” St. Anthony coach Cody Rincker added. “I’ve been pleased with their effort, energy and excitement. These kids are excited and ready to go.”

And their wait is over.

By Steve Raymond

News Report Staff

During Ron Reed’s first season as a head basketball coach, he remembers coaching two teams and three games in the same day.

“I was the only basketball coach for both the varsity and junior varsity,” he said. “One day, I coached two games in a fresh-soph tournament, then went home, changed clothes and coached the varsity team in the Midland Trail Conference championship game that night.”

That was during the 1988-89 season at North Clay High School in Louisville. Despite being just his first year, it was evident Ron had a knack for coaching, guiding the Cardinals to a 20-5 record.

It proved to be just the beginning, however. It was the start of a 29-year coaching career. He coached at four different schools and compiled an overall 488-307 record before retiring following the 2016-17 campaign.

Yes, there were many big wins, conference championships and regional titles through the years. And those accomplishments are being recognized and honored this year as Ron has been selected to enter the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Ron, now 56, was born and raised in Herrin and graduated from high school there in 1982. He was a three-sport athlete in high school, playing basketball, football and baseball. But his talents on the court earned him a basketball scholarship to the University of Tennessee-Martin, where he graduated in 1987 with a science education degree.

He initially thought he wanted to be a physical therapist.

“But when I was in my second year, I was doing some things at the local hospital and I knew that wasn’t for me,” Ron explained. “I had also thought about teaching and coaching and decided that was the route I needed to go.”

By Steve Raymond

News Report Staff

When Doug Smith was growing up, he was a big-time Teutopolis basketball fan.

But there were some games he couldn’t attend.

There simply weren’t enough tickets.

J.H. Griffin Gymnasium was sold out.

“So I’d listen to Larry Wilson on the radio,” Doug recalled. “I liked to keep score while listening. I kept track of scoring, rebounding, turnovers and personal fouls. Then after the game, I’d listen for the stats to make sure I was correct. That’s how I got interested in keeping score.”

That was back in the mid-1970s. Little did Doug know then that he was laying the groundwork for a journey to the Hall of Fame.

But that’s exactly what he was doing.

Doug eventually became the official scorekeeper for the Wooden Shoes during the 1987-88 season. Now 32 years later, it’s become a familiar sight for Shoes fans to see Doug sitting at the scorer’s table. And his reliability and expertise have not gone unrecognized.