By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

          Baldwin girls basketball legend Tasha Butts will be among those honored Saturday at the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony for living up to that status only for life to be cut short.

          The Hall has for the past few years inducted deceased athletes, coaches, and contributors who died before perhaps getting the chance to further enhance their resume for potential induction down the line.

          This year’s class: Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Eric Berry, Cris Carpenter, Thomas Davis Sr., Claude Felton, Paul Johnson, Brian McCann, and Wendy White.

          The ceremony is Saturday at the Macon City Auditorium, following the afternoon’s Fan Fest at the Hall.

          Butts was the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year in 2000, and remained the girls’ team’s all-time leading scorer, her No. 23 retired. She played under Tennessee legend Pat Summit and was a key part of two national title-game appearances, following a short WNBA career with the start of her coaching career, at Tennessee. She coached at LSU for eight seasons and then Georgia Tech for three. It was while in Atlanta she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

          Butts was named head coach at Georgetown in April of 2023, but the cancer returned, and shortly after taking leave from the team, she died on Oct. 22, 2023, two weeks before the season opener.

          Baldwin is again among the top teams in Georgia this year in any classification, and Georgetown is 17-10, all but assured of its first winning season since 2018-19, while still employing the “Tasha Tough” motto.

          Other Legends this year:

          Williams “Billy” Johnson debuted at third base for the New York Yankees in 1943 and hit .280 with 94 RBI as a rookie, earning Rookie of the Year honors and finishing fourth in MVP voting. The New Jersey native and member of the South Atlantic League Hall of Fame was part of four World Series teams and one All-Star team before being traded St. Louis and then retiring to his hometown of Augusta, where he was involved in the community until his death on June 20, 2006 at age 87.

          Bill Lucas started his pro career with the Milwaukee system and reached Triple A in 1963, finishing his minor-league career with a .273 average. He began work in the Braves’ front office in 1963, moving up from sales and promotions to player development. Lucas was general manager of the farm system starting in 1972, and given the duties of overall general manager – but not title, thus becoming the first unofficial African-American GM in the majors – by Ted Turner in 1976, going on to serve the organization for 23 years until his unexpected death in 1979 from a brain hemorrhage.

          Dr. Nathaniel Thornton won his first tennis title at age 17 in 1901, and racked up nearly 40 titles in the next 26 years throughout the south. He won titles in Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, an Virginia, taking the Southern Championship in singles three times and doubles five times. He died on January 8, 1975. The Atlanta Athletic Club is home to many of his trophies.

          The Fan Fest runs from 1-2:30 p.m. on Saturday at Hall. Admission is free. Fans may only bring two items to be signed.

          In addition to this year’s class, Hall of Famers tentatively expected to attend the Fan Fest:

          Bobby Bryant, Tony Barnhart, Hugh Durham, Steve Holman, Jim Hughes, Brian Jordan, roger Kaiser, George Patton, Adrian Peterson, Ron Reed, Randy Rhino, Jimmy Robinson, Phil Schaefer, and Brenda Cliette Thomas.