MIRABEAU: Honor those who played the games (9.17.08)

Mirabeau B. Lamar

Mirabeau recognizes that there are many deserving members of the Chattahoochee Valley Sports Hall of Fame but it bothers Mirabeau that too many times the selection committee honors people that can sell tables of tickets to the awards banquet ahead of people that earned their spot. Mirabeau believes sports — not politics — should be the deciding factor.

Mirabeau can’t understand why Philip Schley is so insistent that the school board’s search for a new superintendent must be confidential.

Mirabeau did a double take when across the top of the front page of his newspaper Wednesday morning was a story announcing the Ledger-Enquirer’s new Auburn beat writer. Next thing you know, they’ll headline the hiring of a new carrier in Overlook.

Mirabeau marvels at the irony of politics. Mirabeau reads where someone is challenging Zeph Baker’s residency in his race for the Georgia House against Calvin Smyre. Mirabeau remembers Smyre’s first political campaign. You guessed it. Someone challenged Calvin's residency.

Mirabeau’s friends are going to miss David Laney. Every morning he hauled his legal work into Ruth Ann’s so he could get his usual two pieces of toast. Mirabeau will never forget his habit of wiping down his booth before he sat down or that private coffee mug they kept for him in the back. Tom Buck, John Shinkle, Randy Robertston, Bill Smith and all the other breakfast regulars joined just about every lawyer in town at his funeral on Monday.

Why does Mirabeau think of the Baker High building when he passes the old Claflin School site on Fifth Avenue? Oh yeah. Now Mirabeau knows. It’s because the Muscogee County School District has allowed both of them to turn into neighborhood eyesores full of rodents instead of students.

Mirabeau noticed the Americus Times-Recorder is quitting home delivery in favor of the U.S. Mail. If that were to happen in Columbus, Mirabeau would go postal.

Mirabeau discovered that Larry Campbell of Lincoln County is the winningest high school football coach in Georgia. His record is 417-71-3. Only two coaches with local connections are in the Georgia High School Football Historians Association's Top 50. Former Pacelli coach Jim Walsh is 33rd and ex-Kendrick coach Buzz Busby is 34th. Busby now coaches at Pike County.

Speaking of football, Mirabeau celebrates the naming of the football field at Glenwood School for Sammy Howard. Mirabeau ranks him high as a coach, a mayor and — more importantly — as a human being.

Mirabeau thinks Charles E. McDaniel is confident of his name recognition in his re-election campaign for Columbus Council. His yard signs say simply: RED.