When Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema accepted the offer to host the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame’s annual golf tournament, it was like the Razorbacks’ new football coach truly understood more of the root system of Arkansas sports than expected at this early juncture.
The Hall of Fame is the single greatest sports honor an athlete can garner in the Natural State, and the list of inductees proves that.
Bielema also accepted an offer to be part of a Sunday night dinner, Talking Football With Coach Bret Bielema, which is a separate event that will be held May 19, the day before the Hall of Fame golf tournament.
He and selected members of his staff will share their philosophies and answer questions at the dinner. Both events will be at beautiful Chenal Country Club, and both are limited in numbers.
This would be the perfect time to answer the question that has been asked the most: Yes, individual tickets are available for both events. Tables and teams also are available but aren’t required.
Anyone wanting to enter the golf tournament will be paired with a foursome that will include a past inductee into the Hall of Fame. So you might be playing with Joe Kleine, Bobby Tiner, Todd Day, Lee Mayberry, Bill Bergey, Dan Hampton, Mike Conley Sr., Larry Snyder or any other great athlete who has Arkansas roots.
No, not all of those guys have confirmed that they will be there, but many have, and the day - which includes gifts and lunch - will have to be more weather-friendly than last year when the temperatures hovered around 112.
So if you want to buy a ticket or two to the dinner, or play golf, or buy a table or field an entire golf team, call the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame at (501) 663-4328.
Every penny raised from the events goes to the operation of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.
While there is always competition when people get on a golf course - or whenever more than one guy is within three feet of another guy - this has been a great experience since the great Pat Summerall, who will again be on hand, lent his name to the tournament.
Some former Hall of Fame inductees are actually entering teams, such as Nelson Catalina, and several members of the board of directors, like John Pierron and Ted Thompson, have paid for teams to play.
This is a dinner and a golf tournament to promote the Hall of Fame, which proudly stands to support the athletes, officials and others who have made the state of Arkansas proud.
There are a few sponsorships remaining, and information for those can be found at the number mentioned above.
It is a first-come, first served day of celebrating the past, present and future of Arkansas sports.
It was great news for the legions who admire him, but it was the best news for him.
Dr. Jack Vander Schilden, noted orthopedic surgeon at UAMS, team doctor for the UALR men and women’s basketball teams, and a sideline doctor for the Razorbacks football team, does not need heart surgery.
His condition can and will be treated by medication.
Vander Schilden was the on-call surgeon who took the call early one Saturday morning that former Arkansas Razorbacks running back Darren McFadden had been admitted to the hospital and his big toe was dangling by a single tendon.
Vander Schilden ordered antibiotics, pulled on his clothes and spent several long hours reattaching McFadden’s toe. Obviously, his work was beyond question. Not only did McFadden recover, he went on to become one of the best running backs in Razorbacks history and to a career in the NFL.
Vander Schilden has quietly and privately touched many lives the past few decades, and all his admirers are glad to have him around for a lot longer.
Sports, Pages 17 on 04/12/2013