Two years ago, I and so many other Kentucky basketball fans were exhilarated by the hiring of Billy Gillispie as head coach. He is a turn-around coach and we really just needed warming up. I personally believe he deserved to be divorced from the program. I thank Lee Todd, UK President, and Mitch Barnhart, UK Athletics Director for their courage in the divorcement of Billy Gillispie.
I had a strange premonition upon the beginning of Billy's tenure at Kentucky that there would be a sort of sadness to the venture before us. I didn't have an idea that the basketball-devoted single guy would not fathom the entire job of coaching Kentucky basketball. He gave all appearances of understanding but really didn't. I fully supported him in my internet comments until the first South Carolina game when he removed our scorer, Jodie Meeks, for long minutes when he was our only chance of staying in the game we eventually lost badly. The coach gave up during the battle. I hadn't seen that from any coach before.
I pray that BCG will go on to success with another, or other, programs but he isn't meant to be at Kentucky.
I also pray that the search committee find the right hire for UK. It is somewhat like my dad's, (Forest E. Kegley's) last Hudson car belore he died. He dearly loved the Hudsons, but as life presented his last one to him it was a lemon. Billy G. is no lemon, but he must learn some interpersonal skills along with his great coaching skills. I also pray that his Christianity will become apparent.
I don't hope to end my life with this past season of Kentucky basketball. It has meant more to my entertainment than Hudsons meant to my dad.
SamKat
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Pat Richards Whitehead PHS 1950
I am so sorry to hear about Bob's death, Pat. I am sure that Jack Plymale, Jim Fout, Ray Pelfrey and Doc Yeagle must have known Bob Richards, as they were of his vintage. They are all good Portsmouth boys.
Jeanie also is the only remaining fasmily member of her nuclear family. She misses each of them.
Life must go on and I know that you thank our great God for all of his blessings.
Sam
----- Original Message -----
From: Patricia Whitehead
To: Sam Kegley
Sent: Saturday, March 28, 2009 7:29 AM
Subject: Hi
Hi Sam & Jeanie,
Glad you are back from vacation and that you had a great time.
You and your brother George look like twins. I thought at first the picture of him was you.
While you were in Fla. my brother Bob died on March 12th. He had his gall bladder removed on the 9th and came through the operation fine and was ready to come home on the 10th when he had a massive stroke and was kept on life support until the 12th. He was 82 years old and graduated in 1944. He was a great brother and I will miss him so much. I am now the only one left in my immediate family.
He loved the books you sent him and enjoyed copies of the EMails I would mail to him regarding our Ptown friends. I was blessed with 3 wonderful brothers and thank my Lord and Savior every day for the great family I had.
Take care,
Pat
Jeanie also is the only remaining fasmily member of her nuclear family. She misses each of them.
Life must go on and I know that you thank our great God for all of his blessings.
Sam
----- Original Message -----
From: Patricia Whitehead
To: Sam Kegley
Sent: Saturday, March 28, 2009 7:29 AM
Subject: Hi
Hi Sam & Jeanie,
Glad you are back from vacation and that you had a great time.
You and your brother George look like twins. I thought at first the picture of him was you.
While you were in Fla. my brother Bob died on March 12th. He had his gall bladder removed on the 9th and came through the operation fine and was ready to come home on the 10th when he had a massive stroke and was kept on life support until the 12th. He was 82 years old and graduated in 1944. He was a great brother and I will miss him so much. I am now the only one left in my immediate family.
He loved the books you sent him and enjoyed copies of the EMails I would mail to him regarding our Ptown friends. I was blessed with 3 wonderful brothers and thank my Lord and Savior every day for the great family I had.
Take care,
Pat
Friday, March 20, 2009
FL vacation
Jeanie and I were in FL from the 26th of February until the 17th of March.
We stayed at my brother, George's and his wife Helen's for the first few nights. George was admitted to the Brandon Hospital the evening we arrived. After several tests through to Sunday evening, he was released with orders to diet and eat plenty of roughage. I am on a similar regimen, except for a few great meals in FL.
We moved on and had a beautiful stay at the Celebrity Resort in Orlando. Jeanie and I met Frank and Joy Hunter for dinner our first night there. Frank is an interesting Portsmouth High School 1955 graduate and an artist retired from the St, Petersburg Times. He edits the informative "1955 Trojan Alumni Prints" we subscribe to.
Our granddaughter, Tobey, plays a lot of softball with Katie Manahan- both are twelve- and are on traveling teams together. Katie's older sister, Emily, is a freshman on the Bluffton University softball team. The Manahans told us Bluffton would be playing in the Rebel games in Kissimmee while we were there. Jeanie and I enjoyed watching seven of their ten games there with Scott Manahan's parents Tom and Lou Manahan. The girls team, mainly nine freshman three seniors, two juniors and two sophomores are a very fine softball teAm with three excellent pitchers, outstanding catcher, and an outstanding infield. Emily is their excellent first baseman. Chelsie Osborn is a fine shortstop from Waverly. Meagan Price is a 'tom boy' beauty catcher who plays errorlessly in catching the three exceptional pitchers, Kellie Kenney, Brooke Babcock, Lauren Rombkowski. The Bluffton girls won eight of ten games and lost the two games only in the eighth inning by one run each. This write-up is fronm the Bluffton Atletic site:
http://www.bluffton.edu/sports/softball/2009/miller0309.html
Coach Heather Bruder and her Assistant Coach Paul Burnside have apparently done an outstanding recruiting job and have a fine softball team. The team provided us with great entertainment and sunshine to boot. Scott's parents, Tom and Lou were a pleasure to spend softball time with.
George and Helen, my sister, Sharon, Connie Erwin, their daughter, and Jim and Linda (another George's and Helen's daughter) Oiler, drove over to Orlando on Saturday, March 7 from Plant City and we had brunch to celebrate George's 72nd birthday (four and a half years younger than me).
George and Helen came back Monday morning, March 9, and we spent a couple of days in the resort in Orlando with them.
We returned to George's and Helen's on the 11th and Jeanie and i drove the half hour drive to the St. Petersburg Times Forum in Tampa for the SEC Kentucky games. UK won their first SEc game and lost their second and have been relegated to the NIT tournament, after a 20-13 season.
We spent a few more days with George and helen and Sharon and returned Tuesday, the 17th. I must say that I had three great meals of crab legs, my absolute favorite meal, the final at Linda and Jim Oiler's the sunday evening before we flew home on Tuesday.
We consider this our best and it was our longest vacation.
Sam and Jeanie
We stayed at my brother, George's and his wife Helen's for the first few nights. George was admitted to the Brandon Hospital the evening we arrived. After several tests through to Sunday evening, he was released with orders to diet and eat plenty of roughage. I am on a similar regimen, except for a few great meals in FL.
We moved on and had a beautiful stay at the Celebrity Resort in Orlando. Jeanie and I met Frank and Joy Hunter for dinner our first night there. Frank is an interesting Portsmouth High School 1955 graduate and an artist retired from the St, Petersburg Times. He edits the informative "1955 Trojan Alumni Prints" we subscribe to.
Our granddaughter, Tobey, plays a lot of softball with Katie Manahan- both are twelve- and are on traveling teams together. Katie's older sister, Emily, is a freshman on the Bluffton University softball team. The Manahans told us Bluffton would be playing in the Rebel games in Kissimmee while we were there. Jeanie and I enjoyed watching seven of their ten games there with Scott Manahan's parents Tom and Lou Manahan. The girls team, mainly nine freshman three seniors, two juniors and two sophomores are a very fine softball teAm with three excellent pitchers, outstanding catcher, and an outstanding infield. Emily is their excellent first baseman. Chelsie Osborn is a fine shortstop from Waverly. Meagan Price is a 'tom boy' beauty catcher who plays errorlessly in catching the three exceptional pitchers, Kellie Kenney, Brooke Babcock, Lauren Rombkowski. The Bluffton girls won eight of ten games and lost the two games only in the eighth inning by one run each. This write-up is fronm the Bluffton Atletic site:
http://www.bluffton.edu/sports/softball/2009/miller0309.html
Coach Heather Bruder and her Assistant Coach Paul Burnside have apparently done an outstanding recruiting job and have a fine softball team. The team provided us with great entertainment and sunshine to boot. Scott's parents, Tom and Lou were a pleasure to spend softball time with.
George and Helen, my sister, Sharon, Connie Erwin, their daughter, and Jim and Linda (another George's and Helen's daughter) Oiler, drove over to Orlando on Saturday, March 7 from Plant City and we had brunch to celebrate George's 72nd birthday (four and a half years younger than me).
George and Helen came back Monday morning, March 9, and we spent a couple of days in the resort in Orlando with them.
We returned to George's and Helen's on the 11th and Jeanie and i drove the half hour drive to the St. Petersburg Times Forum in Tampa for the SEC Kentucky games. UK won their first SEc game and lost their second and have been relegated to the NIT tournament, after a 20-13 season.
We spent a few more days with George and helen and Sharon and returned Tuesday, the 17th. I must say that I had three great meals of crab legs, my absolute favorite meal, the final at Linda and Jim Oiler's the sunday evening before we flew home on Tuesday.
We consider this our best and it was our longest vacation.
Sam and Jeanie
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Two Wolves Philosophy- Judi Cole e-mail
Most of you have probably seen this one before, but it's too good not to pass on again!
Two Wolves Philosophy
Two Wolves
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves" inside us all.
One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed
Two Wolves Philosophy
Two Wolves
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves" inside us all.
One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed
Stimulous Bill Explained-E-Mail PHS 50 classmate
STIMULUS PLAN EXPLAINED
>
>
> Shortly after class, an economics student approaches his
> economics professor
> and says, "I don't understand this stimulus bill.
> Can you explain it to me?"
>
> The professor replied, "I don't have any time to
> explain it at my office,
> but if you come over to my house on Saturday and help me
> with my weekend
> project, I'll be glad to explain it to you." The
> student agreed.
>
> At the agreed-upon time, the student showed up at the
> professor's house. The
> professor stated that the weekend project involved his
> backyard pool.
>
> They both went out back to the pool, and the professor
> handed the student a
> bucket. Demonstrating with his own bucket, the professor
> said, "First, go
> over to the deep end, and fill your bucket with as much
> water as you can."
> The student did as he was instructed.
>
> The professor then continued, "Follow me over to the
> shallow end, and then
> dump all the water from your bucket into it." The
> student was naturally
> confused, but did as he was told.
>
> The professor then explained they were going to do this
> many more times, and
> began walking back to the deep end of the pool.
>
> The confused student asked, "Excuse me, but why are we
>=2 0doing this?"
>
> The professor matter-of-factly stated that he was trying to
> make the shallow end much deeper.
>
> The student didn't think the economics professor was
> serious, but figured
> that he would find out the real story soon enough.
>
> However, after the 6th trip between the shallow end and the
> deep end, the
> student began to become worried that his economics
> professor had gone mad.
> The student finally replied, "All we're doing is
> wasting valuable time and
> effort on unproductive pursuits. Even worse, when this
> process is all over,
> everything will be at the same level it was before, so all
> you'll really
> have accomplished is the destruction of what could have
> been truly productive action!"
>
> The professor put down his bucket and replied with a smile,
> "Congratulations. You now understand the stimulus bill."
>
>
> Shortly after class, an economics student approaches his
> economics professor
> and says, "I don't understand this stimulus bill.
> Can you explain it to me?"
>
> The professor replied, "I don't have any time to
> explain it at my office,
> but if you come over to my house on Saturday and help me
> with my weekend
> project, I'll be glad to explain it to you." The
> student agreed.
>
> At the agreed-upon time, the student showed up at the
> professor's house. The
> professor stated that the weekend project involved his
> backyard pool.
>
> They both went out back to the pool, and the professor
> handed the student a
> bucket. Demonstrating with his own bucket, the professor
> said, "First, go
> over to the deep end, and fill your bucket with as much
> water as you can."
> The student did as he was instructed.
>
> The professor then continued, "Follow me over to the
> shallow end, and then
> dump all the water from your bucket into it." The
> student was naturally
> confused, but did as he was told.
>
> The professor then explained they were going to do this
> many more times, and
> began walking back to the deep end of the pool.
>
> The confused student asked, "Excuse me, but why are we
>=2 0doing this?"
>
> The professor matter-of-factly stated that he was trying to
> make the shallow end much deeper.
>
> The student didn't think the economics professor was
> serious, but figured
> that he would find out the real story soon enough.
>
> However, after the 6th trip between the shallow end and the
> deep end, the
> student began to become worried that his economics
> professor had gone mad.
> The student finally replied, "All we're doing is
> wasting valuable time and
> effort on unproductive pursuits. Even worse, when this
> process is all over,
> everything will be at the same level it was before, so all
> you'll really
> have accomplished is the destruction of what could have
> been truly productive action!"
>
> The professor put down his bucket and replied with a smile,
> "Congratulations. You now understand the stimulus bill."
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
New Pledge of Allegiance- Laura Fisher e-mail
Thanks Laura!
This is re-cycling and well it should. Americans are very exhausted by ACLU and atheist victories in the arena of our lives. Give us back to principle-based American decency with freedom of religion not from religion. It prospered this country well to have those Judeo Christian principles.
Sam
>
*Subject:* Fwd: New Pledge of Allegiance
>
>
>
> *WRITTEN BY A 15 yr. Old SCHOOL KID IN
> ARIZONA :** *
>
>
> *
> New Pledge of Allegiance (TOTALLY AWESOME) !
>
> Since the Pledge of Allegiance
> And
> The Lord's Prayer
> Are not allowed in most
> Public schools anymore
> Because the word 'God' is mentioned....
> A kid in Arizona wrote the attached*
>
> *
> NEW School prayer :*
>
> *
> Now I sit me down in school
> Where praying is against the rule
> For this great nation under God
> Finds mention of Him very odd.*
>
> *If Scripture now the class recites,
> It violates the Bill of Rights.
> And anytime my head I bow
> Becomes a Federal matter now.*
>
> *Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
> That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
> The law is specific, the law is precise.
> Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice. *
>
> *For praying in a public hall
> Might offend someone with no faith at all.
> In silence alone we must meditate,
> God's name is prohibited by the state.*
>
> *We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
> And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks..
> They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
> To quote the Good Book makes me liable.*
>
> *We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
> And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
> It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,
> We're taught that such 'judgments' do not
> belong.*
>
> *We can get our condoms and birth controls,
> Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
> But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
> No word of God must reach this crowd. *
>
> *It's scary here I must confess,
> When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
> So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
> Should I be shot; My soul please take!
> Amen*
>
> *If you aren't ashamed to do this,
> Please pass this on. **
> **Jesus said,
> 'If you are ashamed of me,
> I will be ashamed of you before my Father.'
This is re-cycling and well it should. Americans are very exhausted by ACLU and atheist victories in the arena of our lives. Give us back to principle-based American decency with freedom of religion not from religion. It prospered this country well to have those Judeo Christian principles.
Sam
>
*Subject:* Fwd: New Pledge of Allegiance
>
>
>
> *WRITTEN BY A 15 yr. Old SCHOOL KID IN
> ARIZONA :** *
>
>
> *
> New Pledge of Allegiance (TOTALLY AWESOME) !
>
> Since the Pledge of Allegiance
> And
> The Lord's Prayer
> Are not allowed in most
> Public schools anymore
> Because the word 'God' is mentioned....
> A kid in Arizona wrote the attached*
>
> *
> NEW School prayer :*
>
> *
> Now I sit me down in school
> Where praying is against the rule
> For this great nation under God
> Finds mention of Him very odd.*
>
> *If Scripture now the class recites,
> It violates the Bill of Rights.
> And anytime my head I bow
> Becomes a Federal matter now.*
>
> *Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
> That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
> The law is specific, the law is precise.
> Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice. *
>
> *For praying in a public hall
> Might offend someone with no faith at all.
> In silence alone we must meditate,
> God's name is prohibited by the state.*
>
> *We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
> And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks..
> They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
> To quote the Good Book makes me liable.*
>
> *We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
> And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
> It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,
> We're taught that such 'judgments' do not
> belong.*
>
> *We can get our condoms and birth controls,
> Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
> But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
> No word of God must reach this crowd. *
>
> *It's scary here I must confess,
> When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
> So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
> Should I be shot; My soul please take!
> Amen*
>
> *If you aren't ashamed to do this,
> Please pass this on. **
> **Jesus said,
> 'If you are ashamed of me,
> I will be ashamed of you before my Father.'
Friday, February 20, 2009
Sportsmanship- A Sea Of Blue UK Site
Rivals.com Home | Network Index | High School | Mobile | Video | Radio RSS | Subscribe | Shop
February 18, 2009
Associated Press
Talk about it in the Message Boards
The coach never considered any other option.
It didn't matter that his DeKalb, Ill., High School basketball team had ridden a bus two and a half hours to get to Milwaukee, then waited another hour past game time to play. Didn't matter that the game was close, or that this was a chance to beat a big city team.
Johntel Franklin scored 10 points in the game following the loss of his mother.
Something else was on Dave Rohlman's mind when he asked for a volunteer to shoot two free throws awarded his team on a technical foul in the second quarter. His senior captain raised his hand, ready to go to the line as he had many times before.
Only this time it was different.
"You realize you're going to miss them, don't you?" Rohlman said.
Darius McNeal nodded his head. He understood what had to be done.
It was a Saturday night in February, and the Barbs were playing a non-conference game on the road against Milwaukee Madison. It was the third meeting between the two schools, who were developing a friendly rivalry that spanned two states.
The teams planned to get together after the game and share some pizzas and soda. But the game itself almost never took place.
Hours earlier, the mother of Milwaukee Madison senior captain Johntel Franklin died at a local hospital. Carlitha Franklin had been in remission after a five-year fight with cervical cancer, but she began to hemorrhage that morning while Johntel was taking his college ACT exam.
Her son and several of his teammates were at the hospital late that afternoon when the decision was made to turn off the life-support system. Carlitha Franklin was just 39.
"She was young and they were real close," said Milwaukee coach Aaron Womack Jr., who was at the hospital. "He was very distraught and it happened so suddenly he didn't have time to grieve."
Womack was going to cancel the game, but Franklin told him he wanted the team to play. And play they did, even though the game started late and Milwaukee Madison dressed only eight players.
Early in the second quarter, Womack saw someone out of the corner of his eye. It was Franklin, who came there directly from the hospital to root his teammates on.
The Knights had possession, so Womack called a time out. His players went over and hugged their grieving teammate. Fans came out of the stands to do the same.
"We got back to playing the game and I asked if he wanted to come and sit on the bench," Womack said during a telephone interview.
"No," Franklin replied. "I want to play."
There was just one problem. Since Franklin wasn't on the pre-game roster, putting him in meant drawing a technical foul that would give DeKalb two free throws.
Though it was a tight game, Womack was willing to give up the two points. It was more important to help his senior guard and co-captain deal with his grief by playing.
Over on the other bench, though, Rohlman wasn't so willing to take them. He told the referees to forget the technical and just let Franklin play.
"I could hear them arguing for five to seven minutes, saying, `We're not taking it, we're not taking it," Womack said. "The refs told them, no, that's the rule. You have to take them."
That's when Rohlman asked for volunteers, and McNeal's hand went up.
He went alone to the free throw line, dribbled the ball a couple of times, and looked at the rim.
His first attempt went about two feet, bouncing a couple of times as it rolled toward the end line. The second barely left his hand.
It didn't take long for the Milwaukee players to figure out what was going on.
They stood and turned toward the DeKalb bench and started applauding the gesture of sportsmanship. Soon, so did everybody in the stands.
"I did it for the guy who lost his mom," McNeal told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "It was the right thing to do."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
They may not remember our record 20 years from now, but they'll remember what happened in that gym that night.
? Dave Rohlman, head coach of the opposing DeKalb team on what his players will take away from this experience.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Franklin would go on to score 10 points, and Milwaukee Madison broke open the game in the second half to win 62-47. Afterward, the teams went out for pizza, two players from each team sharing each pie.
Franklin stopped by briefly, thankful that his team was there for him.
"I got kind of emotional but it helped a lot just to play," he said. "I felt like I had a lot of support out there."
Carlitha Franklin's funeral was last Friday, and the school turned out for her and her son. Cheerleaders came in uniform, and everyone from the principal and teachers to Johntel's classmates were there.
"Even the cooks from school showed up," Womack said. "It lets you know what kind of kid he is."
Basketball is a second sport for the 18-year-old Franklin, who says he has had some scholarship nibbles and plans to play football in college. He just has a few games left for the Knights, who are 6-11 and got beat 71-36 Tuesday night by Milwaukee Hamilton.
It hasn't been the greatest season for the team, but they have stuck together through a lot of adversity.
"We maybe don't have the best basketball players in the world but they go to class and take care of business," Womack said. "We have a losing record but there's life lessons going on, good ones."
None so good, though, as the moment a team and a player decided there were more important things than winning and having good stats.
Yes, DeKalb would go home with a loss. But it was a trip they'll never forget.
"This is something our kids will hold for a lifetime," Rohlman said. "They may not remember our record 20 years from now, but they'll remember what happened in that gym that night."
February 18, 2009
Associated Press
Talk about it in the Message Boards
The coach never considered any other option.
It didn't matter that his DeKalb, Ill., High School basketball team had ridden a bus two and a half hours to get to Milwaukee, then waited another hour past game time to play. Didn't matter that the game was close, or that this was a chance to beat a big city team.
Johntel Franklin scored 10 points in the game following the loss of his mother.
Something else was on Dave Rohlman's mind when he asked for a volunteer to shoot two free throws awarded his team on a technical foul in the second quarter. His senior captain raised his hand, ready to go to the line as he had many times before.
Only this time it was different.
"You realize you're going to miss them, don't you?" Rohlman said.
Darius McNeal nodded his head. He understood what had to be done.
It was a Saturday night in February, and the Barbs were playing a non-conference game on the road against Milwaukee Madison. It was the third meeting between the two schools, who were developing a friendly rivalry that spanned two states.
The teams planned to get together after the game and share some pizzas and soda. But the game itself almost never took place.
Hours earlier, the mother of Milwaukee Madison senior captain Johntel Franklin died at a local hospital. Carlitha Franklin had been in remission after a five-year fight with cervical cancer, but she began to hemorrhage that morning while Johntel was taking his college ACT exam.
Her son and several of his teammates were at the hospital late that afternoon when the decision was made to turn off the life-support system. Carlitha Franklin was just 39.
"She was young and they were real close," said Milwaukee coach Aaron Womack Jr., who was at the hospital. "He was very distraught and it happened so suddenly he didn't have time to grieve."
Womack was going to cancel the game, but Franklin told him he wanted the team to play. And play they did, even though the game started late and Milwaukee Madison dressed only eight players.
Early in the second quarter, Womack saw someone out of the corner of his eye. It was Franklin, who came there directly from the hospital to root his teammates on.
The Knights had possession, so Womack called a time out. His players went over and hugged their grieving teammate. Fans came out of the stands to do the same.
"We got back to playing the game and I asked if he wanted to come and sit on the bench," Womack said during a telephone interview.
"No," Franklin replied. "I want to play."
There was just one problem. Since Franklin wasn't on the pre-game roster, putting him in meant drawing a technical foul that would give DeKalb two free throws.
Though it was a tight game, Womack was willing to give up the two points. It was more important to help his senior guard and co-captain deal with his grief by playing.
Over on the other bench, though, Rohlman wasn't so willing to take them. He told the referees to forget the technical and just let Franklin play.
"I could hear them arguing for five to seven minutes, saying, `We're not taking it, we're not taking it," Womack said. "The refs told them, no, that's the rule. You have to take them."
That's when Rohlman asked for volunteers, and McNeal's hand went up.
He went alone to the free throw line, dribbled the ball a couple of times, and looked at the rim.
His first attempt went about two feet, bouncing a couple of times as it rolled toward the end line. The second barely left his hand.
It didn't take long for the Milwaukee players to figure out what was going on.
They stood and turned toward the DeKalb bench and started applauding the gesture of sportsmanship. Soon, so did everybody in the stands.
"I did it for the guy who lost his mom," McNeal told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "It was the right thing to do."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
They may not remember our record 20 years from now, but they'll remember what happened in that gym that night.
? Dave Rohlman, head coach of the opposing DeKalb team on what his players will take away from this experience.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Franklin would go on to score 10 points, and Milwaukee Madison broke open the game in the second half to win 62-47. Afterward, the teams went out for pizza, two players from each team sharing each pie.
Franklin stopped by briefly, thankful that his team was there for him.
"I got kind of emotional but it helped a lot just to play," he said. "I felt like I had a lot of support out there."
Carlitha Franklin's funeral was last Friday, and the school turned out for her and her son. Cheerleaders came in uniform, and everyone from the principal and teachers to Johntel's classmates were there.
"Even the cooks from school showed up," Womack said. "It lets you know what kind of kid he is."
Basketball is a second sport for the 18-year-old Franklin, who says he has had some scholarship nibbles and plans to play football in college. He just has a few games left for the Knights, who are 6-11 and got beat 71-36 Tuesday night by Milwaukee Hamilton.
It hasn't been the greatest season for the team, but they have stuck together through a lot of adversity.
"We maybe don't have the best basketball players in the world but they go to class and take care of business," Womack said. "We have a losing record but there's life lessons going on, good ones."
None so good, though, as the moment a team and a player decided there were more important things than winning and having good stats.
Yes, DeKalb would go home with a loss. But it was a trip they'll never forget.
"This is something our kids will hold for a lifetime," Rohlman said. "They may not remember our record 20 years from now, but they'll remember what happened in that gym that night."
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