Stripes Worn Well (Muskegon Chronicle)

March 1, 2012

Tim Flahive has battled diabetes for all but a few years of his life. But he's also filled half of those years with high school sports as a longtime official based in the Muskegon area.

The Muskegon Chronicle's Mark Opfermann tells the story of Flahive's final basketball game last week -- and makes us appreciate even more the significant role our officials fill to no fanfare.

A powerful excerpt:

He left the court with no fanfare, took off his whistle and shed a few tears.

But Flahive's story isn’t just about sports and an official leaving the hobby he loves. It’s about courage, getting back up and pressing on.

So, I guess it’s a lot like sports after all. But it’s a whole lot more about life.

That’s because when Flahive took the court last week, he did it with half of his left foot missing.

Click to read on.

Today in the MHSAA: 11/20/17

November 20, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media.

Today's Top 10 

1. Volleyball: Novi and Bronson won their third straight MHSAA titles in Class A and C, respectively, while Plymouth Christian Academy repeated in Class D and Pontiac Notre Dame finished an incredible run atop Class B – Second Half

2. Girls Swimming & Diving: Farmington Hills Mercy, East Grand Rapids and Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood claimed MHSAA titles, Mercy without an individual champion, EGR for the first time in Division 2 and Cranbrook led in part by a number of underclassmen – Second Half

3. Football: Central Lake won its first football championship ever, and Crystal Falls Forest Park won its first since 2007 at the 8-Player Finals – Second Half

4. Hockey: Sault Ste. Marie scored with less than a minute to play to down Highland Milford 3-2 in an Elks Showcase game – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News

5. Hockey: After seeing a 3-0 lead disappear, Hartland still held off Canton 5-4 in the Eagles’ season opener; Hartland made the Division 2 Semifinals last winter – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

6. Hockey: Division 2 No. 10 Midland Dow opened with a 2-1 win over Division 1 No. 7 Lake Orion – Midland Daily News

7. Hockey: Top-ranked and reigning Division 1 runner-up Detroit Catholic Central took a pair of defeats to undefeated power Culver Prep of Indiana, 5-2 and 4-2 – Observer & Eccentric

8. Hockey: Romeo, a quarterfinalist in Division 2 last season, opened with a 6-4 win over 2017 Division 1 quarterfinalist Lowell – Macomb Daily

9. Hockey: Grand Haven fell in overtime Friday to Byron Center, but secured a tie with Mattawan on Saturday, again in overtime – Grand Haven Tribune

10. Hockey: Manistee scored all four goals during the second period to edge Hudsonville 4-3 – Manistee News Advocate