A very good day in sports for the ‘hometown’ boys

One of The Vindicator’s late and legendary sports editors, Chuck Perazich, was fond of saying “there’s always a homestown connection” in any big sports story. The sentiment is a staple in local news coverage, but repeating that simple mantra, not just in the sports department but throughout the newsroom, has provided readers with thousands of hometown-connection stories.

Seldom, however, has there been a day when the Youngstown connection has been so evident and so dramatic as it was Saturday.

Shortly after 6 p.m., as the last strains of “My Old Kentucky Home” faded away, the 19-horse field was off at the Kentucky Derby, and two minutes and two seconds later, Animal Kingdom crossed the finish line almost three lengths ahead of the place horse, Nehro. It was a sight to see for racing fans as jockey Robby Albarado guided Animal Kingdom out of the pack, 12 horses back as they were rounding the last turn at Churchill Downs. And for those of us in the Mahoning Valley who knew about the hometown connection, it was especially exciting to hear the announcer describe Animal Kingdom’s come-from-behind sprint.

Prominent Youngstown businessman Bruce Zoldan is only one of the owners in the Team Valor consortium that owns Animal Kingdom, but that was good enough to give everyone in the Valley some of the bragging rights.

Zoldan told Vindicator sports writer Tom Williams that he was standing on a chair, supported by friends as he watched Animal Kingdom down the stretch. That word picture provides a metaphor for the good things that happen and the joy that comes out of people supporting one another.

Next up

About four hours later and 1,600 miles away, the boxing world’s focus fell on Las Vegas, where the most exciting fighter in the ring today, Manny Paquiao was to take on Sugar Shane Mosley. But before the main event, fight fans were treated to a hard-fought 0-rounder that had a decided Youngstown connection.

Kelly Pavlik, who has had his ups and downs in recent years, was back in the ring. He pounded out a split decision over previously unbeaten Alfonso Lopez of Texas. Whatever the score cards showed, at the bell, Pavlik was clearly the boxer in command.

All in all, it was a good day for Youngstown, from the sport of kings to the sweet science.

The only thing that could have made it better would have been a win in the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway by Hartford’s Dave Blaney. While Blaney finished a respectable 24th in the field of 43 cars, he can take heart that the race was won by Regan Smith. On his first trip to victory lane in a Sprint Cup race, Smith commented that his win showed that on any Sunday, any driver could win the race. Mahoning Valley sports fans can look forward to that Sunday (or Saturday night) when NASCAR provides our hometown connection.

Until then, Zoldan and Pavlik get to wear the laurel wreaths on behalf of their neighbors.