2006 SUN-SENTINAL ARTICLE featuring Tamara James and Goldie's Gang!
April 16, 2006
From the first time she walked on the court, as a ninth-grader at South Broward High, coach Abby Ward knew she had something very special in Tamara James.
Two state championships and three Final Four appearances later and James capped off an impressive run that showcased her skills locally, statewide and nationally.
Last week, the Dania Beach native who took the University of Miami's basketball program by storm, was the eighth player chosen in the WNBA Draft by the Washington Mystics.
This All-ACC and All-Big East performer turned heads on the way to becoming the Hurricanes' all-time leading scorer, as Ward, Hollywood PAL Director Jerry Christiansen and offseason coach Richard Walker recall.
"I have had the pleasure of coaching hundreds of talented basketball players," Walker said. "But there was something special about Tamara. You could tell that she was going to do some great things."
By the time she entered South Broward, James had already impressed as a member of the Hollywood PAL program. The trophies and banners still fly at the Hollywood facility. AAU championship teams that Christiansen watched first hand.
Traveling all over the country, James was a key part of a team that won national titles and finished among the elite in the country. It was Walker, who coached that offseason program that first put the spotlight on James.
"From time to time, I look at those pictures of Tamara when she was 11 or 12 years old," Christiansen said. "She was a very special young lady who did very well in the classroom and was very polite."
"It's athletes like Travis [Daniels] and Tamara that keep this program alive," Christiansen said.
Daniels, also a South Broward graduate and fixture at the Hollywood PAL facility, finished playing his first year in the defensive secondary for the Dolphins.
"When the youngsters see the kind of quality athlete we produce here," Christiansen said, "they want to be a part of it, believing it could be them one day."
"Tamara was one of those players we watched grow up," said Ward, who is now building the program at Monarch High. "While most heard about her during that first year at South Broward, we had the pleasure of watching her develop her skills as a youngster, playing for the Hollywood travel team."
Duo qualifies
Training under Team Peak Performance, Veronica Macedo, 10, of Miramar and Billy Golding, 12, of West Pines won gold medals at the Taekwondo National qualifier April 1-2 in Rochester, Minn.The event was one of six qualifiers en route to nationals, which will be July 6-9 at the Georgia Dome.
Veronica won gold medals in the 78- to 102-pound Red Belt Division of forms and sparring while Billy won gold in the 100- to 112-pound Black Belt Division in forms and sparring.
"When Billy first started out, he would always just attack, attack, attack," said his father and coach Will Golding, who has six years of coaching experience. "Now he has become more experienced and uses a cat and mouse approach. He displays good fakes and is able to feel his opponent out and find their weaknesses."
Competing at the low end of her weight class at just 79 pounds, Veronica won all three of her matches.
"She's very strong for her age," Golding said. "She fought a girl that was at least a head and a half taller than her and beat her by being very aggressive. She has really come along by observing all the talent around her at Team Performance."
FOR THE KIDS
Each year, the South Florida Labor Charities and the Seminole Indians of Florida host a golf tournament fund-raiser to benefit Kids In Distress.
From trips to Cape Canaveral, the Metro Zoo, Disney World, Epcot Center and various parks in South Florida, the children are the big winners.
On May 20, after several years of hosting the event at the Hollywood Golf and Country Club, the scene shifts to the Pines Course at Palm-Aire in Pompano Beach.
"No matter where we host this event, the idea is to raise money, so we can provide trips and other things the kids enjoy," said Bo Witz, who has organized the event for the South Florida Labor Charities.
With the goal of more than $10,000 this year, there are plans being made to take the youngsters to Busch Gardens in Tampa.
With Witz and members of the Local 725 of Miami, Local 719 of Fort Lauderdale and Local 519 from Miami, the event is one that attracts many golfers as well as those who just want to donate money, goods and services for the auction that adds to the money raised.
The $85 entry fee ($340 per foursome), includes greens fees, cart fees, beverages on the course, gift bags, longest drive contest, closest to the pin, par-3 poker, lunch, award ceremony and door prizes and raffles.
The event begins with a 6:30 a.m. registration and 7:30 tee time (shotgun start).
"We would like to get as many people involved as players as we can," Witz said. "But we also welcome sponsors for each tee and green for $75."
For more information, call 954-522-2532.
HILLS RAIDERS
The Hollywood Hills Raiders 9-and-under baseball team reeled off three wins in a tournament with the Western Rattlers.
Coach Mike Mele's team used the play of Vincent Cole, Michael Mele, Vincent Colette, Shane Stockelman and Aaron Carter for a 3-1 record in the event.
In addition, Sonnie Tusa, Tom Seilkop, Max Saint Cyr, Nick Hughes and Austin Davis all played well.
GOLDIE'S GANG
WQAM's Florida Panthers broadcaster, Steve "Goldie" Goldstein, will host the Sixth Goldie's Gang Homelenders Golf Classic on June 16 at the Miccosukee Golf and Country Club.
Goldie's Gang is a non-profit charity that sends needy, underprivileged or handicapped children to sporting events and funds youth leagues/clinics.
This event begins with lunch and then a two-man scramble shotgun start, followed by a cocktail party, dinner, awards ceremony, raffle and a live auction. Participants will have the chance to get a hole-in-one and win a two-year lease on a 2006 Lexus RX350, courtesy of JM Lexus.
The cost per golfer is $90. There are also corporate foursomes available. Call 954-431-0859 or e-mail goldiesganggolf@aol.com for more information.
Larry Blustein can be reached at FloridaKids1@hotmail.com.
Copyright (c) 2006, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
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