Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 14, 1995 TAG: 9505150053
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Former major-league player Ed Goodson passed on a different talent to son Kirk. After 11 years as Grayson County's baseball coach, the senior Goodson resigned this year just in time for his son to succeed him.
Ed Goodson retired from coaching with a 148-58 record, including five Mountain Empire District and two Region C crowns, three trips to the state tournament and one state semifinal appearance (1990). Ed Goodson said he was waiting to make a move until Kirk had an opportunity to take over. When there was a teaching opening for Kirk in the Grayson County system, the move was made.
Under the younger Goodson, Grayson County was 19-1 and unbeaten in the district heading into Saturday's action.
Kirk Goodson, 26, had a lot do with his father's success. He was Timesland's player of the year in 1987, then went on to a college career at Virginia Tech and Bluefield.
``Dad was a tough act to follow,'' Kirk said. ``I was an assistant last year. He wanted to stay long enough to give me an opportunity to step in. We talked it over. He believed I was ready.''
The younger Goodson applied for an opening as a physical education instructor at Fries Middle School after spending a year teaching emotionally disturbed children.
``I was happy when the position came open and lucky enough to get the job,'' Kirk said. ``I really wanted to get into physical education, and I'm happy I could stay in the area.''
Ed Goodson retired from coaching to devote more time to the Goodson Baseball Academy, a hitting school, but he still teaches at Grayson County High School. Kirk also helps coach at the academy.
There's another part to this story. Grayson County's star player is Chad Shaffner, a junior who is like a second son to Ed Goodson.
``Dad really helped him with his hitting,'' Kirk said. ``When I went to college, Chad would stay at the house and they'd go fishing. Chad has really come on and we've gotten closer since I moved back to the area and started helping with the baseball team.''
``Chad and I talked hitting,'' said Ed Goodson, who played for San Francisco, Atlanta and Los Angeles in the majors. ``He's the best high school hitter I've seen in a long time.''
While the Goodsons may be from the same family, they're not from the same baseball school. Ed played for the big inning, like former Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver. Kirk goes for a run or two an inning by running and bunting.
``Dad comes to games. He stays afterward. We sit around in the office, talk about the game and discuss different things,'' Kirk said. ``He seems pleased with the way I run the team and he compliments me for doing a good job. I appreciate this coming from him.''
Ed Goodson is low-key. He doesn't want to second-guess his offspring and he doesn't want to give the appearance he's still running the show.
``At the first of the year, I found myself being a little too vocal. I'd be hollering at the kids. That was the way I'd coach,'' Ed said. ``I'd look over and see Kirk looking at me as if to say, `Hey, Dad, cool it.'
``We've had a couple of talks and I do a lot better job keeping quiet. If I second-guess him, I just keep it to myself. It's normal [to second-guess]. I don't share it with anyone. I talk it [a move] over with him. He'll explain why he did it. But he must be doing something right, so I just sit back and let him do it.''
Kirk appreciates his father's honesty.
``We're open with each other about baseball. That's all we talk about during the season,'' Kirk said. ``He asks me if I thought about doing a certain thing and my reasoning. He never says that I've done something wrong. I answer him, and that's as far as it goes.''
MIDDLE SCHOOL WOES: It seems as if the City of Roanoke's school system isn't the only school one in Timesland having problems with middle school athletics. In Henry County, the middle school concept may have been as much to blame for the decline in athletics at Magna Vista, Fieldale-Collinsville, Bassett and Laurel Park as dwindling enrollment.
Martinsville, a city school, is considering going to the middle school athletic concept that encourages participation over competition. However, the Bulldogs' middle school can't play Henry County schools because they won't take on outside competition. So Martinsville must travel to Roanoke or Danville for a middle school game.
Also, Stonewall Jackson did have some students participating in this year's Cosmopolitan track meet. Last week, Jackson had been mentioned as one of the Roanoke middle schools that did not participate.
GILLESPIE AWARD: Earl Gillespie, the former executive director of the Virginia High School League, will receive the National Federation Award of Merit, the highest honor that organization can give.
Gillespie, who retired from the VHSL this past summer, is receiving the award for a number of achievements: the VHSL increased the number of participants from 20,000 to more than 100,000 boys and girls; he helped form the Virginia State Athletic Directors' Association (one of the nation's largest) and the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators' Association; led efforts for the construction of the first permanent VHSL headquarters; and expanded the VHSL's awards program to recognize student participants and administrators.
by CNB