SHOOTOUT OFFERS A NIGHT YOU WON'T FORGET

On Saturday, the Show Me Center will host a very worthwhile and exciting event:the Second Annual Southeast Missourian Indian Alumni Shootout. This game is a benefit for the Cape Girardeau Civic Center, with a portion of the revenue going to a special Southeast Missouri State University athletic scholarship fund.

As it was last year, the Shootout promises to be a showcase for some of the most spectacular basketball talent ever to have played in Southeast Missouri. More than 30 Indian alumni are returning for this game. Between them, you'll find most of the records in the Southeast Missouri State University record book.

I would personally like to invite you to come to this game, to join in the fun and welcome back some men who have given us so much excitement over the years.

Trust me, they'll give you another night of excitement on Saturday you'll never forget!

Old Friends and Good Times

But even more than excitement, these men will remind you of some very special memories. Think back to the early years of Coach Shumate in Cape Girardeau, when he drove into town on a bandwagon, declaring he'd make Indian basketball "The Greatest Show in Town." He did, drawing thousands into the cramped confines of wonderful, stuffy Houck Field House.

Those were special days for me. I was just a kid in my early teens. But those games I'll never forget. There was Anthony Venson, with his white socks pulled up to his knees, Tony McClellon, who could hit the bomb from the outside, and who I had admired since he played at Cape Central High School. There was Terry Mead, who seemed to float through the air as he dunked the ball, and, of course, Otto Porter, whose jump shot never failed.

I went to those games with my Dad and brothers and mom. We always sat upstairs beneath the west-side clock, sharing popcorn and exchanging strategy. It was a family time - of celebration and fun.

Tony, Anthony and Terry will be back this Saturday night. So will many others, from more recent days - like Dwayne Rutherford, Thomas Thames and E.T. - and some from not-so-recent days - like Carl Ritter.

An All American

I never saw Carl Ritter play ... his days at SEMO were before I was even born. But others have told me about him. He's still a legend in their eyes, and, indeed, the records for most points in a career can still be found under his name, along with several other impressive marks.

Carl Ritter gave a lot to SEMO basketball:hard work, intense spirit, blood, sweat and tears. His final year at SEMO he hurt his knee, one of the most disappointing moments in his life. Although he played quite a bit of basketball afterwards, he never fully recovered. He was drafted by the then-St. Louis Hawks, but his knee gave out again. He coaches the sport now in Bell City.

The message he tells his youngsters is, "Never give up. Don't say you can't do it. It's difficult, but you have to strive to be good at whatever you do. Always strive for the best. Always work hard. Always work with dedication. If you do, you'll come out on top."

This seems the message of Indian basketball. Work hard, seek the best, and you'll succeed. Southeast Missouri State University's championship basketball heritage stands as proof of this.

Commitment, Dedication and Hope

If you come out to the game on Saturday, you'll see another thing. You'll see a reunion of friends - a reunion of your friends, my friends, Cape Girardeau's friends. Many of the men who will be playing Saturday night will travel hundreds of miles to be here.

That's because they want to maintain their special friendships, with their teammates and with this town. And they want to give something back.

These men are driving and flying here, paying their own way, because they realize the importance of supporting a community program like the Civic Center.

And they won't be alone in their commitment. Also traveling here on their own money - some from distant places like Atlanta, Pittsburgh and even Canada - will be over 18 Indian Alumni Cheerleaders. Remember the WHOOOOOOSH they began after free throws? Or the all-men caterpillars? These cheerleaders are coming back, too, because like the basketball players, they remember the magic of basketball in Cape Girardeau. And like the players they, too, believe in the Civic Center's purpose.

I'd like to print here a description of the Civic Center, written by the president of the Center's Board of Directors, Ed Slaughter. He has eloquently captured the spirit of the place.

"For the people who use the Civic Center, it has become much more than just a building in the eastern part of town. It has become a place where dreams can be realized and goals met. It is a safe haven for children from some of the storms of today's society, and a beacon of hope for some adults who have lost sight of their goals. It is a place to make new friendships and nourish old ones, and everyone is welcomed and appreciated.

"It is an edifice that houses hopes, dreams and aspirations.

"Built on the rock of compassionate self-reliance, its motto trumpets a call we should all strive for:'Helping our neighbors, help themselves.'

"President Johnson once wrote, 'Unfortunately, many Americans live on the outskirts of hope - some because of their poverty, some because of their color, and all too many because of both.'

"Our task - the Civic Center's task - is to help replace these people's despair with opportunity."

This is why the alumni players and cheerleaders are coming together. We hope you will join us on Saturday. For fun and excitement. For good times and good memories. For a noble cause.

So Many to Thank

Many people are owed thanks for making this event a reality. Perhaps no one more than Coach Shumate. Thanks Coach, for your dedication and hard work - and for caring about helping your players win the game of life, as well as basketball.

Thanks also to our celebrity referees, including super-fan John Oliver and former Indian assistant coaches Sam Weaver and Allen Barnett. Thanks to all the sponsors, and to Jim Rust and Eagle Snacks and Pete Poe and Drury Lodge for all their beyond-the-call-of-duty help.

Thanks also to Mary Thompson at the university and Chris Rushin, Gera Schemel and Carol Keeler at KZIM radio. Thanks to David Ross and the Show Me Center staff.

And thanks to you and to the players! I hope to see you Saturday. Game starts at 7:30 p.m.!