Time has likely run out on Dale Murphy’s bid for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
This is the last year Murphy, a full-time Utah resident, will appear on the Hall of Fame ballot. He needs 75 percent of ballots to include his name; last year he garnered votes from 14.5 percent of the group.
But that didn’t stop Murphy’s friends and family from making an impassioned plea for consideration. His daughter and seven sons took different approaches over the past weeks, sending letters, making contacts, etc.
Murphy continues to work with Little Leaguers and USA Baseball, and is an all-around good guy. He says he’s pleased to have raised a family that continues to believe in him and that’s honor enough.
Over the next few weeks, the headlines will likely be about the steroid-heavy group who are denied entry or might get in.
But Murphy deserves consideration, for the way he played the game of baseball, and the way he continues to play the game of life.
The final game
Fans love to boo the refs, but it is noted that an all-star crew of Big Sky Conference football officials will work today’s FCS title game in Texas.
Gregg Wilson will serve as the referee of the tilt between No. 1 seed and top-ranked North Dakota State and Sam Houston State. The rest of the crew includes umpire Chuck Butterfield, head linesman Terry White, line judge Rod Ammari, field judge David Clark, side judge Robert Holloway and back judge Jeff Rink.
“It’s an honor to have our crew here,’’ said Big Sky coordinator of football officials Doug Toole. Toole is retiring after 14 seasons running the Big Sky’s football officiating program.
The last time a Big Sky crew last worked the national championship game was in 2005. Big Sky teams played for the FCS title in 2008, 2009 and 2010, eliminating the league from consideration.
That’s Rad
The Bellator MMA Featherweight Tournament Finals will be concluded from Salt Lake City’s Maverik Center on Feb. 21 as Utah’s own Rad Martinez will battle Russian striker Shahbulat Shamhalaev for a guaranteed world title shot and a $100,000 Bellator Tournament prize live on Spike TV.
Tickets for the event start as low as $40 and can be purchased by visiting Ticketmaster.com and the Maverik Center Box Office.
Tidbits
Men’s basketball player Royce Williams has been named the Weber State student-athlete of the week. ... Former Davis High point guard Chase Flint made a trip back to Utah as his Loyola Marymount team played at BYU. His team was routed out of the Marriott Center, but the sophomore continues to earn high praise from his coach. Flint played at College of Eastern Utah last year. ...
With a fresh coat of white, Wolf Mountain Resort will “Ski Pink” on Jan. 12 to help build awareness about breast cancer and raise funds for Utah’s Susan G. Komen Foundation. For information, visit www.wolfmountainutah.com. ...
Utah State gymnastics was picked sixth in the Western Athletic Conference preseason gymnastics poll. ...
Keep an eye out for Bridger Beus, a Bear River Middle School student who won the state and regional NFL Punt, Pass and Kick competition. He’ll compete for the national title in a couple of weeks.
Chris J. Miller is sports editor for the Standard-Examiner. He can be reached at 801-625-4261 or cmiller@standard.net.
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