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John Fay
John Fay has been the Reds beat writer for the Enquirer since 2001. Prior to that, he served in a variety of roles for the Enquirer: backup Reds writer, UC beat writer, backup Bengals writer and as a general assignment reporter. He is a Cincinnati native and a graduate of Elder High School and the University of Dayton.

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Saturday, June 23, 2007

Shaun and Junior

Shaun Alexander was on the field tonight during Reds batting practice at Safeco Field. He and Ken Griffey Jr. know one another somehow.

Griffey took him into the Reds clubhouse after BP to chat.

You could make a strong argument that they represent a pairing of the best baseball player and the best football player the Greater Cincinnati area has produced. No question in my mind in Griffey's case. Some might argue Roger Staubach over Alexander in football.

I saw them both play in high school. I saw Alexander play against Elder in the Pit in his sophomore or junior year. If memory serves, he was not playing tailback.

I saw Griffey play at Oak Hills the day before he was drafted. He misplayed a flyball, struck out twice and got caught stealing. I remember asking a scout if the performance would hurt him in the draft. "There were 26 teams here today," he said. "All 26 would pick him first if they had the first pick."


4 Comments:

at 12:00 AM Blogger Trapper said...

there were only 26 teams in 1987. who were the other four teams?

 
at 12:12 AM Blogger John Fay said...

Not a real good math day for me. He must have said 26.

 
at 8:22 AM Blogger ChadR said...

Yes, there were only 26 teams in 1987. No Florida and Colorado (1993). No Arizona and Tampa Bay (1998). Has it been that long ago that people don't remember.

 
at 2:01 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Alexander may be the best high school football player I've ever seen. Period. The Elder-Boone County game you referred to would have been in 1993 (Elder won 27-21). In '94 (Alexander's senior year), Elder traveled to Boone County where BC handed the ball off to Alexander on all but three or four plays. And on those plays Alexander--not the Rebels' QB--threw those passes. He also intercepted a pass late in the fourth to thwart Elder's come back. That performance by Alexander was only time I can remember an opposing player coming so close to single-handedly beating the Panthers as Boone County won 14-10.

 
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