End of the road for a few

COMMENTARY

When my life hit a very large pothole two years ago, I felt the world would continue to move along with a number of people still around providing that constant in the world.

Since September a lot of people began leaving and in some cases there was a physical departure. 
Since becoming a high school, athletes at Northgate came to depend on Dale Krach for the many bumps and bruises.
Two athletes in particular, softball player Charlie Lazar and basketball/tennis player Natalie Pluskota often had his name on speed dial and the man would come with bandages, braces and in Charlie's case a 9/16" screw and a portable screwdriver.
If there was an event, Krach was usually in attendance and at the ready in case of injury.
In the middle of September of 2012 that story met with a sad end as Krach was found dead in his sleep a day after the Vikings played football.
He left behind a family including daughter Amy who was a basketball star for Paula Jones at East Coweta in the 1990s and went on to play at Georgia Southern and has been an assistant at EC, Northgate, Berry College in Rome and most recently at Archer High School in Gwinnett County.
I always found him to be personable and accessible when I needed to speak with him and the fondest memory I have was told to me by former colleague Bob Fraley.
While shooting photos at a football game, Bob and his camera discovered they were no match for a huge football player with equipment and running at a high rate of speed.
Bob broke his leg and Dale Krach stayed with him until the ambulance arrived. By the way, the camera survived.
Krach's death meant the beginning of the end for three full-time school employees who carried the nickname "the Three Amigos".
The other two members of this group are Lloyd Knott (who I affectionately call uncle Lloyd) and James "Radar" Brantley who were the head athletic trainers at East Coweta and Newnan respectively until Thanksgiving when they retired.
At least the version of retirement means you don't work 150 hours a week but work only a fraction of that time because the schools can't do without you.
When I arrived here in 1999, these were the first people that I actually met when I paid visits to their respective schools during football season.
Since it has been awhile I am hopeful they didn't want to have me flogged or something since I was this oddball who had no clue what he was going to do while at practice.
Fortunately, time has allowed me to know these gentlemen better and be able to communicate with them.
In fact, Radar is also a “land baron” in the county as he owns a house next to mine so I have seen him on his riding mower cutting grass.
As for “Uncle Lloyd”, he was always the first person I sought after EC football games not to get injury updates unless I needed them, but to say hi and pick up the positive vibe he seemed to extol among the masses.
Lloyd has also been helpful during my little situation as in making suggestions and giving me an occasional ride to the vehicle in the “Lloyd-mobile”.
By the way, these guys do not know the word retirement as they are still on their campuses doing their thing but at a reduced time and I believe Radar is looking forward to a future fishing trip.
Another person in local athletics that departed is Cindy Waugh who was the secretary in the athletic office at East Coweta.
Whenever I called the office, Cindy usually answered the phone and provided me with the information I needed or would send something by email when needed.
I will have to tell you the athletic secretary runs the department not the athletic director and Cindy definitely had things under control until she retired at the same time that the trainers did.
I don’t know if she will take up fishing, but Cindy has earned the opportunity to take a rest.
A couple of basketball coaches are also looking into future endeavors after long service in Northgate’s Mack Cain and East Coweta’s Paula Jones while Kenny Morris will be turning in one of his hats at Newnan as he will no longer be the baseball coach.
All three have been successful in their fields with all three leading programs to state playoff games with Jones leading the 1998 Lady Indians to the state finals, Cain leading Jonesboro to the finals in 2003 and Morris led the Cougars to the final four only two years ago.
Whoever comes in to fill these spots may have tough shoes to fill but hopefully the support will be strong and no one suffers from the John Wooden syndrome.
Finally, the county lost the big fan when Danny “Boomer” Bishop passed away recently.
Boomer knew everything about athletics in this county before those of us who reported it did and he was a pretty good authority at Atlanta Braves baseball and knew a little something about Georgia Tech athletics.
This year has been a little surreal with him not there but I am sure he will not be forgotten.
So I guess it is the end of a road for a few but the beginning of another for others.