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Show inside; Olympics News Sail Creek Closure Track Softball m Snowy St George Snowmobile Safety in Backcountry Thursday, March 15, 2001 Eagle Float celebrates rivers transition to spring Chris, LouAnn and Nell packed warm and watei-proo- f clothing for the Canyonlands Field Institute's (CFI) annual Eagle Float. Its become a nice tradition," by Carrie Mossien staff writer The Burkett family was ld ready for an adventure. So, after reading a small blurb in their local paper, Dolores residents Director Karla VanderZanden, gathering a said CFI group of 24 m a circle before barking from Loma, Colo, en route to the Westwater takeout. This has become a ceremonial em- way to greet spring and to acknowledge the transition from way of humorous stories of past winter Weve never cancelled a trip due to weather, VanderZanden said Only once due to mud Early March a majorwhen is We know the birds have been talking about it." The First Eagle Float was in 1985, and probably a simpler affair. The second year of the event, CFI teamed up with Sheri Griffith River Tours to combine resources that have since evolved into a trip for up to 25 people, lunch, and a longer y stretch of river covered in a float. We dont have a Jose and we well-organiz- one-da- dont have motors, VanderZanden said, speaking of longtime guide Jose Tejada and the sparingly used motor that helps push three boats through low, still water at certain points mile trip along the CFI carries a few extra supplies for people who may not be prepared for what could be a rainy or even snowy day, and Griffith guides offer a confidence that will carry the group through low water or high, and an expertise of the canyons and their history. These are often shared by 20-plu- s- sports editor am so fast that can jump out of bed, turn the lights out and be back in bed before it's dark in the room." Muhammad Ah I I This last weeks Sports Trivia Question was a tricky one. misspelled Alts name as Casus instead of Cassius" to see if anyone would point out the mistake. It seemed only fitting that the first trivia question be about Muhammad All, formerly Cassius M. Clay In the years that have been involved in sports and journalism have had the chance to meet several sporting greats. Of all the pro coaches, players and Olympians that have met, only Alt left me muttering wow1" after the encounter Ali was once the most hated of professional athletes. He made political stands and statements that branded him a traitor to Amenca Less than ten years later he was invited to the White House to meet the President. He lost his title twice and regained it twice - bringing his total to a three-peas title holder. That was the first time ever a fighter had won the title three times in a career. With a professional record of 56 (37 by KO) and 5 over his pro career, the money won, the fame achieved and the Olympic glory shared with the world in the 1996 Summer Games ail add to the living biography of a historical figure that has done more, touched more and influenced more of the world than few other athletes have ever done. All of that notoriety aside, there was one act that All committed that left me with a lump in my throat for good. may not agree with his politics or flamboyance and greatness, but Ali will be a hero in my mind because of a break in his life back in the summer of 1996 - just prior to the lighting of the Atlanta Torch. was a student at the University of Utah and the new sports editor for the Wasatch Wave up in Heber City It was the coolest gig in the world for a guy who coached and played so many sporxs and had two boys (7 & 5) that hung around with me covering the games and events. got a call from the Homestead in Midway, Utah, that Ali was at the I I at I te I I Continued on Page B2 Naturalists Damian Fagan, Phi! Bates and John Robinson become part of water fowl u popu- lation that the Cataract 6,300 Desolation Green San Juan San Rafael Westwater 2,680 3,300 cies of duck. Rock Dove, Kingfisher, raven and more One of the highlights of this years March 3 float was the sighting of 11 Sandhill Crane watching from the shore, and their extraordinary flight as and wildlife habitat seen along the wav Fagan is well known lv for his 1,110 100 work as an ob 3,000 ecologist Numbers represent cubic feet per second water flows collected from USGS monitoring stations Tuesday morning. Wren, Red Tail and Coopers Hawk, Canadian Geese, four spe- ear's float 10 ht Ip identify, couni and tell stories about v in- cludes Peregrine Falcon, Bewicks this joined Guide ity of the eagle population along that stretch of the Colorado River begins their migration to higher ground. They winter there and 3-tea- serer and it Matheson Wet lands Preserve, and for bis s, columns and photographs haring ar-tu- li -- the magic this desett of oa- sis with Hie Moab community For the last six months Fagan Inis used his con siderable knowledge as a field ecologist for The Nature ed on Page ll3 tourney m The 2001 soccer season opened well enough for the Red Devils last week with a tournament in Moab. Both JV team Hurricane and Canyon I I floated by Mom River with by Kari Gibb nt the First group of three boats Soccer season opens Let the Games Begin! Times-Independe- river adventures the trip to play format tourand ney Friday Saturday Friday GCHS opened with a match against Canyon View from Cedar City A goal by Xan Jones, assisted by Andy Klien, put the Devils on top 0 at the starts View made a three-team Red Devil baseball geared up last week with a Saturday afternoon game against Dove Creek, Colo. Dove Creek came out hitting well loss to open the 2001 season in and handed GCHS a one-ru- n Devils The host teams in the annual Moab Tourseveral play nament this weekend. Photo by Michael Gosthn non-regio- n Hardball begins with loss to Dove Creek The Grand County Red Dev- the hardball sea- ils kicked off loss to son with a Dove Creek, Colo., last Saturday. The Devils came away with the loss and a new- - found resjiect for the batting of Dove Creek. They (Dove Creek) play all summer and are involved in the Connie Mack League, and that keeps their batting up to snuff, said Devils Head Coach Mike Steele of the effort. With work all winter their batting was solid, but that didnt make the difference in the game. We made some errors in the outfield that allowed three runs and we left a few runners stranded on base. That was the difference. non-regio- n 6-- 5 Grand had solid hitting from Colt Paige who was 2-- 2 half. from the plate with 2 doubles, a walk and was hit by a pitch for a 4 on base performance. Coy Woodard pitched all seven innings and had 86 pitches and allowed just two earned runs for GCHS in the loss. Our defense looked solid and it will get better, said Steele It was a good start for the sea- son and we learned a lot about where we are and what we need to do to improve. This weekend kicks off one of the states most jiopular baseball tournaments. The Devils will host several teams from around the state. The level of competition is always fierce and the tourney winner ends up being ranked in state polls as the season unfolds. 4-- The Red Devils JV soccer team kicked off the 2001 season with a win over Canyon View and a 3 loss to Hurricane last week. Struggles on offense marred the way to victory in the loss to Hurricane 0 At the Canyon View mark evened the which is how mark at the game ended after each 1, team season even added additional goals. John Fielden added the second goal on an assist from Pablo Santana for the tie game. Following the 2-- 2 tie with Canyon View, GCHS faced Hurricane on Saturday for game two of the weekend series. The Canes jumped out to an early lead with a goal less than five minutes into the match to take a 0 lead. With just over a half-hou- r played Klien scored on a corner kick to even the match at going into the final stretch The Santana- 1 1-- 1 0-- combo added the winfor Grand just under score ning the 70 minute murk for the win The Falcons from Canyon View ended the weekend with top honors for the tourney even though they were tied in point-wit- h Grand The goals scored -- goals allowed margin Muhammad Ali hugs two young boys just weeks before the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta. 'O' r JftmJafaz Historical Hug Kan Gibb m rag mm Mandii Hodges llKfls Track, Volleyball 3.8 eat'e fcs Moto-cros- s (motorcyci s) Snowboarding, Popciclls, Dancl, The Jackson Five, Glm WiEM'i KIuTj Drugs, Alcohol, Litti ring (gum), Disrespect toward youth by adults lifATfs 2nd in 100m hurdui s, If you have a picture you would like to submit as Photo of the Week, drop it off at Moab Photo Lab by Friday each week. 6th in 100m sprint, 5th in 200m sprint ter . Walker's , (N 'O' r wa-grea- for Canyon View giving th em the edge (irand heads to Cedar City to face the Red men on Wednesday this wee k as well as hosting Uintah on Frolov at 3 p m Maiiii Eiikzi sr |