For The Advocate's Top 50 Athletes package, we sent out a list of approximately 175 names over the last 60 years of the college. After we put the names together, we sent the list out to a number of former coaches, players, fans and Advocate editors asking them to rank their own 50 best, giving reasons for why they voted Nos. 1 to 5 the way they did.
This is my list of the 50 best in Contra Costa College's history. I tried to recognize the best athletes, regardless of sport or gender, but get at least one representative from each sport some where on the list.
Because my time and knowledge of the college's athletic history is limited, many of the names on the list are from the last few years or are of players who had legendary seasons on campus.
The first five athletes, however, I believe are the greatest to play at CCC, regardless of age, era or sport because of their individual accomplishments, and contributions to their teams and communities.
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Athletes
1. Eddie Hart, track and field
Hart is the only Contra Costa alumnus to be successful at a global level, winning a gold medal as part of the U.S. 400-meter relay team in the 1972 Olympics in Munich. He was a stud as a Comet and when he went on to Cal, running the 100-meter dash. And, if it wasn't for a freak scheduling mix-up, Hart could have won a second medal in Germany. Furthermore, Hart continues to give back to teh East Bay community, including speaking at a graduation ceremony at CCC in 2007.
2. Elijah "Pumpsie" Green, baseball
A member of the much celebrated Green family of El Cerrito, "Pumpsie" did the most for future athletes in West County than anyone in the history of the region, let alone the college. Green was the first African-American to play for the Boston Red Sox in the 1950s, breaking the color barrier, and gave athletes like Corey Dunlap and Jordan Kendall a chance to play in the MLB.
3. Travis Williams, football
Not only did Williams play in teh 1968 Super Bowl for the Green Bay Packers, he returned four kicks for touchdowns, including one for 104 yards, and averaged 41.1 yards per return in the 1967 season. Did I mention it was his rookie year? In his five years in the NFL, he scored 18 regular season touchdowns and two in the playoffs.
4. Joe "J.D." Banks, men's basketball
For years, students and athletes alike saw "J.D." on his bench in front of teh Men's Locker Room. Banks' connection and influence on Contra Costa College athletics is one that may never be matched. The former basketball player, coach and equipment manager was a mentor to all athletes. His larger than life personality and stature made him an all-time great at CCC.
5. Benny Barnes, football
Much like Banks, Banres was a standout for the Comets before transferring, going pro and returning to help the next breed of Comet stars. Barnes played on two Rose Bowl-winning teams at Stanford and won three NFC Championships and a Super Bowl with the Dallas Cowboys. Now, Barnes is back at CCC, coaching special teams on Saturdays. And, no matter how bad the score, you can always tell Barnes by his smile.
6. Karleen Shields, women's basketball
7. Ranvir Singh, men's soccer
8. Demetrius "Hook" Mitchell, men's basketball
9. Ed Greene, men's basketball
10. Marvin Webb, baseball
11. Cornell Green, football
12. Credell Green, football
13. Jim Landis, baseball
14. Mike Felder, baseball
15. Marcus Felder, baseball
16. Matt Felder, baseball
17. Darell Dickens, baseball
18. Jim Ulversoy, swimming
19. Jordan Kendall, baseball
20. Courtney Anderson, football
21. Cory Dunlap, baseball
22. Sam Brown, football
23. Leif Grunseth, wrestling
24. Jordan McCormick, women's basketball
25. Kenny Grace, football
26. David Dixon, track and field
27. Glen Cotton, football
28. Nat Davis, football
29. Shanice Boyette, women's basketball
30. Lionel Arnold, football
31. Orlando Arnold, football
32. Marqueta Green, women's basketball
33. Alisha Hernandez, women's basketball
34. Ciara Taylor, women's basketball
35. Ashonda WIlliams, women's basketball
36. Andre Wright, track and field
37. Marina Gonzalez, women's soccer
38. Carmen Williams, women's basketball
39. Diane Smith, women's basketball
40. Ray Strong, football
41. Nicole Bowman, women's basketball
42. Jill Masaro, softball
43. Babe Williams, baseball
44. Ed Kerber, golf
45. Vic Stallone, cross country
46. Rich Van Camp, tennis
47. Tommy Huen, tennis
48. Horacio Bucio, baseball
49. Barbara Williams, golf
50. Akim Williams, football
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Coaches
1. Gene Corr, baseball
2. Ed Greene, men's basketball
3. Paul DeBolt, women's basketball
4. Steve Greer, track and field
5. Rudy Zeller, men's soccer
6. Dottie Wendt, softball
7. Tom Kinnard, football
8. Leroy Mims, men's basketball
9. Lenny Chaplin, swimming
10. Marvin Webb, baseball
bAbel.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Grinding gears
The automotive services department at Contra Costa College can be overshadowed by the new Student Services Center and Computer Technology Center (CTC) that surround it, but this takes a look at some of the projects Peter Lock and his students are taking on.
Audio and editing by Brett Abel. Photos by Isaac Thomas.
bAbel.
Audio and editing by Brett Abel. Photos by Isaac Thomas.
bAbel.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
March in March
Unless you have a midterm exam on Monday, jump on the (or any) bus to Sacramento.
The ASU and the United Faculty are working on getting 200 students from the district to travel to the state Capitol to protest budget cuts to California community colleges, and all students need to do whatever they can to attend.
With the exception of this year, it seems the legislature cuts from higher education, specifically community colleges, to balance the annual state budget and this year’s March in March demonstration is to show the strength, unity and number of community college students – who also happen to be voters.
Community colleges are the schools everyone loves but no one wants to fund. This is an event to show the elected officials why they should.
Therefore, take a day off of school and drive, carpool, take a bus up to capital and join with students from across the state and tell everyone our education is worth funding and saving.
(Editor’s note: Thank you to all the professors who are supporting the March in March and allowing their students to attend.)
bAbel.
The ASU and the United Faculty are working on getting 200 students from the district to travel to the state Capitol to protest budget cuts to California community colleges, and all students need to do whatever they can to attend.
With the exception of this year, it seems the legislature cuts from higher education, specifically community colleges, to balance the annual state budget and this year’s March in March demonstration is to show the strength, unity and number of community college students – who also happen to be voters.
Community colleges are the schools everyone loves but no one wants to fund. This is an event to show the elected officials why they should.
Therefore, take a day off of school and drive, carpool, take a bus up to capital and join with students from across the state and tell everyone our education is worth funding and saving.
(Editor’s note: Thank you to all the professors who are supporting the March in March and allowing their students to attend.)
bAbel.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
C'mon, man.
To graduate from Contra Costa College, students must pass a test to show they understand how to find, sort and judge information.
In order to prove this, students are taking an “Information Competency” test where they use library resources - Internet databases, encyclopedias, etc. - to answer questions on various topics and site the information found.
Not all students are required to take this test, however. Students looking to solely transfer, not receive an associate’s degree or those who have obtained a certificate of completion from their English 142B class stating they are proficient at finding and evaluating this information do not have to take the ICT.
But there are students who have to take this test and have not taken 142B, not because they aren’t prepared for it, but, instead the exact opposite, because they came to the college prepared for English 1A.
Although the majority of students do not place into 1A when taking the COMPASS assessment test when they fist come to the college, there are some who do.
They have already proven their knowledge and abilities in a test they took before registering for any classes, so what is the point in requiring this competency exam?
If there is a concern for all students to understand how to find, evaluate and site information for college-level papers, 1A professors should go over these points early in the semester, not as in depth as in 142B, but enough for all students to understand what is happening.
Professors in other disciplines – history professor Carolyn Hodge and biology professor Chris Tarp, for example – make their students complete assignments that cover the information in the ICT.
If these instructors outside of the English department are making students understand MLA format and researching skills, it is important for 1A professors to do so as well.
By doing this, students, professors and librarians will all save their time when it comes to researching, writing and grading essays, not to mention when it comes time to take the ICT.
bAbel.
In order to prove this, students are taking an “Information Competency” test where they use library resources - Internet databases, encyclopedias, etc. - to answer questions on various topics and site the information found.
Not all students are required to take this test, however. Students looking to solely transfer, not receive an associate’s degree or those who have obtained a certificate of completion from their English 142B class stating they are proficient at finding and evaluating this information do not have to take the ICT.
But there are students who have to take this test and have not taken 142B, not because they aren’t prepared for it, but, instead the exact opposite, because they came to the college prepared for English 1A.
Although the majority of students do not place into 1A when taking the COMPASS assessment test when they fist come to the college, there are some who do.
They have already proven their knowledge and abilities in a test they took before registering for any classes, so what is the point in requiring this competency exam?
If there is a concern for all students to understand how to find, evaluate and site information for college-level papers, 1A professors should go over these points early in the semester, not as in depth as in 142B, but enough for all students to understand what is happening.
Professors in other disciplines – history professor Carolyn Hodge and biology professor Chris Tarp, for example – make their students complete assignments that cover the information in the ICT.
If these instructors outside of the English department are making students understand MLA format and researching skills, it is important for 1A professors to do so as well.
By doing this, students, professors and librarians will all save their time when it comes to researching, writing and grading essays, not to mention when it comes time to take the ICT.
bAbel.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
The word has changed
Barack Obama promised change during his presidential campaign. The word was everywhere – pictures, posters, and buttons.
Furthermore, everyone was into it.
Potential voters, even those who had never voted or hadn’t in years, were excited in the possible alteration in the political system they jumped on his promotional band wagon pushing for change and hope.
When Obama was elected president in November and sworn in Jan. 20, Obama said change had come to America and declared, “The world has changed.”
This slogan and campaign of and for change is fantastic, but has been over publicized and became more of a catchword than goal.
What began as clever political tool has devolved into an unwelcome cliché.
“Change” has invaded every facet of life and has become an overused annoyance.
During the NBA All-Star game on Sunday night, TNT sideline reporter Craig Sager commented twice on Obama bringing change to the NBA. Sager even took a little shot at Republican presidential candidate John McCain (R-Ariz.) if the firing of the Phoenix Sun’s coach was the kind of change Obama meant. This, however, was after he used it when talking about a pair of shoes.
The next day, the bottom scroll of ESPN showed the USC men’s basketball coach complained there was no freedom of speech in college basketball or when dealing with referees and continued by asking if Obama would be able to change that.
If the sports world was polluted at least three times in two days by the popular political platitude, it’s only a guess how often it has been used, or overused, since it has been introduced.
If real change is to be achieved, taking the word and using it when talking about games, which pale in comparison to actual struggles, needs to come to an end.
Want to change something? Stop saying it.
bAbel.
Furthermore, everyone was into it.
Potential voters, even those who had never voted or hadn’t in years, were excited in the possible alteration in the political system they jumped on his promotional band wagon pushing for change and hope.
When Obama was elected president in November and sworn in Jan. 20, Obama said change had come to America and declared, “The world has changed.”
This slogan and campaign of and for change is fantastic, but has been over publicized and became more of a catchword than goal.
What began as clever political tool has devolved into an unwelcome cliché.
“Change” has invaded every facet of life and has become an overused annoyance.
During the NBA All-Star game on Sunday night, TNT sideline reporter Craig Sager commented twice on Obama bringing change to the NBA. Sager even took a little shot at Republican presidential candidate John McCain (R-Ariz.) if the firing of the Phoenix Sun’s coach was the kind of change Obama meant. This, however, was after he used it when talking about a pair of shoes.
The next day, the bottom scroll of ESPN showed the USC men’s basketball coach complained there was no freedom of speech in college basketball or when dealing with referees and continued by asking if Obama would be able to change that.
If the sports world was polluted at least three times in two days by the popular political platitude, it’s only a guess how often it has been used, or overused, since it has been introduced.
If real change is to be achieved, taking the word and using it when talking about games, which pale in comparison to actual struggles, needs to come to an end.
Want to change something? Stop saying it.
bAbel.
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