Forum Flashbacks: Dec. 12-18
MARYVILLE DAILY FORUM, DEC. 16, 1999
25 YEARS AGO: Almost Done, Frosty -Christanna Hardee, 9, is two-thirds of the way through a snowman thanks to a fast-moving snowstorm that left Maryville with at least an inch of snow Wednesday.
25 years ago
Maryville Daily Forum, Dec. 12, 1999
The Bearcats made it interesting, being down 15 points with 3:31 left in the game. But the team proved Yogi Berra right when he said “It ain’t over ’til it’s over.”
The Bearcats came in and won their second straight national title by defeating the undefeated Carson-Newman Eagles 58-52 in quadruple overtime.
It all came down to the final quarter, when some had probably given up. But someone forgot to tell J.R. Hill this game was over.
Hill caught two huge touchdown passes in the final 3:30, including one with 10 seconds left as the Bearcats came back to tie the game.
The final touchdown of regulation was set up by a huge 4th and 2 penalty on Carson-Newman that moved the ball back five yards and made it 4th and 7. The Eagles failed to get the yardage and the Bearcats took over with 51 seconds in the game and concluded with the Hill 34-yard touchdown pass.
50 years ago
Maryville Daily Forum, Dec. 14, 1974
An evangelistic air hung over the East Ballroom of the Northwest State University Student Union yesterday as an awed crowd of students were instructed in the play of Foosball by one of the game’s high priests.
Bill Sumptions was the Foosball disciple. With his partner Tom Hansen, the Minnesotan has attained the circle of international champions in the table soccer game.
Foosball is played on a small table, crossed by a series of rods which slide back and forth and rotate a full 360 degrees. Each rod holds several hammers shaped and dressed like soccer players. The object of the game is to score goals by hitting a rubber ball with the hammers through holes in the table ends.
Foosball is a major force in Sumptions’ life. He has been playing it for nine years and is a regional director of a table soccer association.
“I’m here today to inspire people in one of the greatest games there is,” Sumptions told the gathering. “… In Foosball you don’t have to be seven-foot tall or weigh 300 pounds, but you have to have the mind of an athlete.”
Although his audience was all male, Sumptions said the game was one where women and men were on equal footing.
“Foosball can be the most discouraging thing in the world and probably the most rewarding,” Sumptions told the group as he dazzled them with his expertise in controlling and smashing the little white ball for goals.
The power with which Sumptions was able to smash the ball was amazing. And, as he warmed up, he struck harder.
It takes awhile for him to warm up. “I’ve got arthritis in my arm from shooting this blasted thing,” he said.
Sumptions psyches himself up for the game. “The most important thing to my game is adrenalin,” he said. “If I don’t get adrenalin, I’ll miss shots all day.”
Keeping up a constant stream of patter, the international champion demonstrated the various quirks of the game. The game’s vernacular flew around the air — The Costa Rican Roll shot, the Louisiana Shake and Block defense.
100 years ago
Maryville Daily Democrat-Forum, Dec. 12, 1924
ASKS AID FOR A SAFER CITY
“We believe it is wrong for the officers of the law to go about provoking motorists into infractions of minor local ordinances so they can collect fines. It is wrong to set speed traps or otherwise tempt the unwary into violations.
“The foremost duty of officers should be the prevention and not the punishment for traffic violations and any community sponsoring or tolerating such methods do so to their own detriment.”
The foregoing are the exact words of Mayor W. O. Garrett and is the attitude of the City Council taken in regard to the traffic laws and their observance in Maryville.
Mayor Garrett specifically states that speeding will not be tolerated and wishes to go on record that any motorists that are caught up for speeding will be punished to the full extent of the law.
“Every day there are minor violations of the traffic rules, which are caused by thoughtless persons and many of these infractions are unintentional on their part,” the Mayor said. It is his opinion that more careful observance of the regulations will lessen the dangers that arise from the automobile traffic and it will be for the benefit of all concerned to be on the alert.
Among the minor infractions of the traffic rules is the “jaywalking,” or the cutting of the corners by pedestrians, which action always introduces the element of danger. The city officials desire that all take it upon themselves to co-operate with the officers in eliminating this evil. Also another danger that arises is the school children playing along the streets, especially around school building. …
Special attention is called to a city ordinance which says that vehicles shall not pass others going in the same direction at street intersections. The driver of a vehicle shall give the right-of-way to the driver of a vehicle approaching from the right on an intersecting street. …
It is also requested by the city officials that boys and girls under the age of 16 years should not be allowed to drive automobiles in and upon the streets unless accompanied by their parents.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The 50- and 100-year flashbacks are courtesy of the Missouri Digital Newspaper Project from the State Historical Society of Missouri, accessible at shsmo.newspapers.com.
