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MARSHALL SPORTS
Landon: Herald-Dispatch will be leader in US Youth Soccer coverage
Landon Donovan is not my nephew or cousin or any sort of relative.
Unfortunately.
It would be way cool to have a United States soccer star in the family.
Alas, the Landon who scored a first-half goal in the United States' 3-2 loss to Brazil in the Confederations Cup final Sunday in Johannesburg, South Africa, is not related to this Landon.
Despite that twist of genealogical fate and my lack of soccer pedigree, I am still excited about the 2009 US Youth Soccer Region I Championships.
How could I not be?
It gives Huntington and the Tri-State at-large an opportunity to showcase our state and region to 21,000-some visitors.
And in a sports scenario, at that.
It simply doesn't get any better.
So, welcome to all the soccer players, coaches, families and fans. We are so very glad you are here.
So glad, in fact, The Herald-Dispatch is making sure that our newspaper will be your source for all things pertaining to the 2009 US Youth Soccer Region I Championships.
Results? You'll find them in the H-D sports section.
Feature stories? We'll have them in sports as well as in news sections.
Human interest stories? We'll have them throughout the newspaper.
Photographs? Besides the photos you will see in our daily editions, there will be photo galleries posted on-line at www.herald-dispatch.com.
Speaking of our Web site, soccer fans can find news updates simply by clicking on the title, "Looking for youth soccer tournament news and photos?"
The H-D -- along with the rest of the Huntington and Tri-State community -- plans to do its part to make certain this tournament is a memorable experience for everyone involved.
We want our coverage to be part of those pleasant memories.
So, again, welcome to all you soccer folks.
We'll do our very best to give you the coverage you deserve.
It's official.
Bob "Kayo" Marcum is no longer Marshall's athletic director. His seven-year tenure concluded when the fiscal year ended Tuesday.
Some people are happy to see him go.
Some aren't.
Marcum had his faults, that's for sure.
But so do I. And so do you.
It just means Marcum is human like the rest of us.
He could be stubborn. He could be unyielding. He could be difficult to deal with.
But Marcum also had his attributes. And one of those was the clear knowledge of what an NCAA Division I university such as Marshall needed in the way of athletic facilities.
Marcum often has been painted with a broad brush of blame regarding such controversial deficiencies as the lack of an indoor practice facility and baseball stadium.
That was unfair.
It was not Marcum's fault.
If it had been up to Marcum, if it had been his call, I am certain Marshall would have both an indoor practice facility and a baseball stadium.
Those were priorities for him.
But neither athletic facility was, is or ever will be priorities of the current MU administration.
That's a fact of Marshall life no matter who the athletic director is.
In fact, I know an alumnus who says he volunteered to raise the money for an indoor practice facility and was asked not to by the administration.
So, if you're playing the blame game on this subject, delete Marcum's name as a participant.
That is not a valid part of his legacy.
Chuck Landon is a sports columnist for The Herald-Dispatch. Call him at 526-2827. E-mail him at clandon@herald-dispatch.com.
