Kitsap Sun from Bremerton, Washington • 19

INSIDE COOPER CUT BY COWBOYS WONT GET TO FACE SEAHAWKS AT QWEST FIELD I C4 PLUS LINDEN ON A TEAR C2 I BASEBALL REPORT C3 I SCOREBOARD C5 I WEATHER C6 big knock helps sweep Royals I C2 THURSDAY AUGUST 18 2005 I KITSAPSUNCOM I SECTION Above Central Kitsap senior Danny Van Datta leaps during a standing long jump test during the first day of football jumped 9 feet 2 inches Below the Cougars huddle around coach Mark Keel after finishing passing drills CHKII TAYLOS I KITSAP SUN practice in Silverdale Van Datta This on the House for Tour Rookie In his first full year on the Champions Tour former beer delivery man Mark Johnson is trying to make the most of his chance By BOB BUTTITTA SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE In the span of 12 months Mark Johnson has gone from rolling a cart full of Budweiser into a convenience store to rolling 30-foot birdie putts on the Champions Tour The 51-year-old Johnson is playing his first full season on the Champions Tour after finishing first in the 2004 Champi- ons Tour Qualifying S3 Tournament 1 A Cries of II ring out around S' CjM Champions Tour -e events these days as loyal fol- aVa VV lowers pull for their JLLTbKwJ favorite delivery man Mark to make a big splash Johnson on the tour Most people might find it hard to believe a guy can be a truck driver one day and a professional golfer the next but not Johnson have a lot of confidence in myself and in my said Johnson who is in Puget Sound this week to compete in the Boeing Greater Seattle Classic started working toward this goal six years ago It's been a dream since that time to make it on this tour I always believed I had the ability to play out here I just needed the Johnson is the latest player on the Champions Tour who has virtually no experience on the PGA Tour limited exposure on the PGA Tour included a 2001 start in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am Johnson who was a regular on the Nationwide Tour in 2001 fired an opening-round 65 but eventually finished in a tie for 43rd Champions Tour gives some guys a second chance at success and for others like me it gives us our first Johnson said in my life things work out for me in golf i why I am so excited about this opportunity It's a chance to me i to do something I have always want- edtodo" One of the biggest stumbling blocks Johnson faced was mon- ey While he felt he had the skills needed to compete he have I the bankroll at least not until six I years ago I That's when a group of Investors from HR Olson the Budweiser I distributor in Barstow Calif that I Johnson was driving for offered to support him in his quest to make it on tour could not have done it with-' out their Johnson said of his SEE JOHNSON I Cl Teams Leap Into Action Newcomers and veterans welcome the first day of high school football practice By STEVE JONES SJONESfKITSAPSUNCOM SILVERDALI A string of black football helmets once again lined the grass at Central Kitsap High School Wednesday Strips of white medical tape were plastered across them bearing in black ink the names of the players wear them religiously for the next three months Some of those players the huskiest Cougar sophomores specifically sprinted laboriously past the helmets on the south sideline back and forth over and over as coach Mark Keel recorded test times for a series of conditioning drills Like all the rookies who'd come before them the CK legs and lungs were burning for sure This was their first taste of high school football a level where sports get serious and conditioning becomes crucial hard to watch because you feel what going CK senior Cody Oakes said smiling then ultimately you feel that bad because you know you had to do it too and it's the only way going to get For seniors like Oakes a top Cougar receiver and starting halfback Danny Van Datta the first day of football practice was no big deaL They have been through countless days of practice in the three years taken them to reach the status of elder statesmen at CK Moreover two of the most athletically gifted players the first day of practice you can tell who it is been sitting on the couch all summer and been said Van Datta part of CK's state championship 400-meter relay team Van Datta despite recovering from a sore knee cruised to a 45-second 40-yard dash time Wednesday The mark tied quarterback Zach Brown another experienced senior for fastest on the team Last season on the track Van Datta clocked a blazing 437 against a more reliable electrical timer Keel said think his 45 was pretty good for the first day and as far as football speed probably a lot faster than Keel said going to be a lot faster when chasing Keel along with the rest of the coaches will step it up another notch on Saturday the first day full pads are allowed at practice EE PEEPS I C4 Wallace Still Has a Lot to Prove 73 and 74 East Knights Going into Hall of Fame SEAHAWKS I Backup QB understands that he needs to do more to earn the trust of coach Mike I Iolmgren By JOHN SLEEPER FOR THE KITSAP RUN CHENEY If anyone had any question as to the importance of this pre season for Seneca Wallace Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren made it clear early In camp Keeping In mind that the backup quarterback position became a question mark when Trent Dilfer was traded to the Cleveland Browns In the off-season Holmgren has a decision to make It'S one that Involves reassurance Can Wallace who hasn't played a down In the Defense Wins Championships: Defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes is enthused about a defense that will likely feature seven new starters I C8 regular season in his two years in the league be counted on to lead the offense if starter Matt Hassclbcck goes down? Or does Holmgren plead for a deal that would bring in a veteran just so he sleeps better at night? have to feel comfortable at that Holmgren said So here is Wallace His athletic ability quickness and Imagination carry no doubts The guy is an athletic wonder His days of carrying the clipboard during games have a chance to be in the rearview mirror permanently In his first preseason SEE SCAN AWES I Both of East High's championship basketball teams will be part of the new Kitsap Sports Hall of inaugural class A KITSAP SUN STAFF BREMERTON The Kitsap County Bremerton Athletic Roundtable has decided to honor both the 1973 and 1974 East High state championship basketball teams When the KCBAR originally announced Its Inaugural class for the Kitsap Sports Hall of Fame In ductions will take place Oct 1 at 2 pm at the Bremerton Tennis and Athletic Club the 1972-73 team was selected as the first team to go In the new hall There was some confusion because some of the players Included In a story that was published In the Kitsap Sun also played for the 1973-74 championship team The KCBAR has since decided to Induct both teams including coaches players and managers from both ftoflftoniii The 1972-73 Knights who beat Foster 77-52 in the Class 3A title game to cap a 25-1 season: Richard Arena Mike Walthall Dave Fisher Cliff McKenzie Dan llegland Jon SB MALL I AMKIATII1 rri Seneca Wallace played well In the Seahawks' opening preseason game against New Orleans be looking to build on that performance In order to secure the backup Quarterback position behind Matt I 1 I I.