SAD NEWS BEING HEARD TODAY

FROM KEITH GROLLER

Just got back from the beach late Thursday night and played golf -- well, something resembling it -- this morning at the first Patti Heffner Memorial Tournament at Blue Ridge Country Club.

I am not usually awake at 7:30 in the morning, much less playing golf, much less in Palmerton.

But somehow I got out of bed when the alarm went off at 6 a.m. and made it to Palmerton, and was glad I did. The course was gorgeous and I had good company in my foursome with Ronnie Kuntz, and the father-son combo of Jim and Tyler Tkach.

I stunk -- again -- but those guys made me laugh in between my curse words bad shot after bad shot. Kuntz's dutch accent alone had me in stitches. If he said, "My God, hit another one" once, he said it 10 times.

At the luncheon that followed, I learned of the passing of Gary Spengler, who I knew as a well-respected basketball official.

Gary was an outstanding player before my time as a reporter -- a Muhlenberg College Hall of Famer. I heard he could shoot the lights out.

But I knew him as an official and a friend to basketball and I always thought he was a class act. He was never showy, never initiating arguments. He let the players play and the coaches coach and never wanted to become the centerpiece on the floor.

When Spengler was on the crew, I always felt good about it because I knew the game would be in good hands and there was less chance of controversy.

Believe it or not, not all reporters want controversy. This one would much rather write about a well-played basketball game then have to quote coaches taking shots at officials.

With Spengler, I was pretty confident that the game would be the story, not some blown call.

I was sorry to see Gary retire from officiating but I felt at least he went out as one of the best officials and not after the game had passed him by.

I was so saddened by the passing of his son in a car accident a few years ago, a terrible tragedy.

I saw Gary a few times after that and he didn't seem to be the same. Who could blame him.

I know that the Stellar Construction committee honored his son and Gary and he was touched by the gesture, but it seemed like he was quite comfortable staying out of the limelight.

He died at age 67 after a battle with lymphoma; much, much too young.

The local basketball scene has lost a good friend, who will be missed.

And I just received more sad news. Former Parkland tennis coach Scott Bowers, a likeable guy who wanted his kids to have fun while also learning how to play top-notch tennis, died this morning. No idea how old Scott was, but we've lost another class person in the sports world.

FROM KEITH GROLLER