By Rubin E. GrantListen to the stories of any fishermen or hunter and inevitably you will hear about the one that got away.The John Carroll Catholic girls soccer team can talk about something similar.After winning three consecutive state championships, one in Class 5A in 2014 and two in Class 6A in 2015 and 2016, the Cavaliers’ streak … [Read more...]
It’s An Honor to Serve’: Vestavia Native Soaring into Tuscaloosa This Month on the Wings of the Blue Angels
STORY BY RUBIN E. GRANT | PHOTOS BY LEE WALLS JR. Dave Steppe's young son, Wyatt, doesn’t understand what his dad does for a living. But whenever 1-year-old Wyatt sees his dad in uniform, he gets excited. So do a lot of other folks who attend one of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels’ air shows. Steppe is from Vestavia Hills and is a lieutenant with the Blue Angels, having joined the … [Read more...]
Laser Focused: Hoover Goalkeeper Rudolph Relishes Pressure of Being a Hero or a Zero
By Rubin E. Grant Annoyed, peeved, angered, irritated, ruffled or vexed. Any of those adjectives is an apt description of Hoover junior soccer goalkeeper Max Rudolph’s reaction when an opponent scores a goal. “He’s pretty tenacious about not letting the ball get to the back of the net,” Hoover soccer coach Kris Keplinger said. “If it does, it bothers him. He’s a fierce … [Read more...]
Myers Making Most of His Opportunity as Homewood’s Varsity Goalkeeper
By Rubin E. Grant Although Ian Myers is a senior, he had to wait until this spring to take over as Homewood’s goalkeeper on the varsity soccer team. Myers started in goal on the Patriots’ junior varsity in 2017 and was called up to the varsity when the postseason arrived, but he didn’t get to play in a game. He knew why. “The goalkeeper we had last year, Chandler Harris, … [Read more...]
‘Hard Work and Healthy Lifestyle’: Oldest Living Auburn Football Player Nick Ardillo Turns 100
By Rubin E. Grant The oldest living Auburn University football player turned 100 on Feb. 19, and how Nick Ardillo Sr., wound up on the Loveliest Village on the Plains is quite a story. Ardillo grew up on a farm in rural Amite, Louisiana, about 70 miles north of New Orleans, as one of 13 children whose parents immigrated to the United States from Sicily. Ardillo played high … [Read more...]