Two white-hot players have ties to former CHS stars

Cliff Lee and Mark Texeira, two of Major League Baseball's hottest and most prominent players, have connections that link to Faulkner County roots.

This is all you need to know about the relationship between Lee and former Conway High standout Chris Curry: Lee will receive the 2008 American League Cy Young Award in a ceremony in New York on Jan. 17. On Jan. 18, he is scheduled to speak to youngsters at Curry's Big League Skills and Drills camp at Wampus Cat Fieldhouse.

"He's always been like that; he's the same ole nice guy he was before he became probably the best pitcher in baseball and I happen to believe good things happen to good people," said Curry, who played baseball at Mississippi State and had a multi-stop minor league career before joining the Arkansas Razorback staff this year.

Lee, who played for Benton, and Curry were rivals in high school, then became teammates at Meridian Community College. Curry went on to play for Mississippi State, Lee the Razorbacks.

The bond developed on Mississippi and Arkansas highways.

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"We'd go back and forth to school together and we'd travel together to our homes over the holidays," Curry said. "We knew each other a little bit in high school. We got to know each other real well at Meridian and we've kept in touch ever since."

While still working his way up in professional baseball, Lee helped Curry in his first coaching clinic on Conway.

"We both believe in community and giving back to our communities," Curry said. "With all his success, he hasn't changed. He's a guy from a small town who hasn't forgotten where he came. I really appreciate his willingness to take some time to talk to kids in my town and pose for pictures and sign autographs and all that."

Curry considers it a nice claim to fame that he caught Lee when the two were at Meridian. Working with him at the developmental stage, he had a sense Lee was destined for stardom.

"What we always knew about Cliff was he was not afraid to challenge you with the fastball inside," Curry said. "I remember batting against him in scrimmages and most pitchers would work outside or the corners. Cliff would come right at you inside and high with the fastball of course it helped that it was a 91 or 92 mile-per-hour fastball. I think his ability and confidence to come inside with that fastball, then work in a good curve that just got better and change-up has always set him apart.

"And he's deserving of all the awards because he has so much heart. He was hampered with injuries and at times, he could have easily quit and hung it up but he didn't and fought through to get to where he is today,"

While celebrating his friend's career achievements, Curry said he's excited about the next step in his career with the Razorbacks. He played for several minor league teams, made an all-star team with Gary, Ind., in an independent league. Like several players, Curry seemed on the verge of getting his big chance several times but the big break never came. He's always enjoyed teaching the fundamentals of baseball to youngsters (which is why he started the twice-a-year clinics) and the desire to coach intensified as a part-time assistant at Hendrix then a fulltime post at Arkansas Tech. The opening to assist with the Razorbacks came earlier in the year.

"I'm really enjoying it here; so far, it's a great experience," he said recently in a phone interview from Fayetteville. "On my first day, coach (Dave) Van Horn turned the catchers over to me and I appreciate the way he has shown confidence in me to do that. I also get to help a lot with the hitters and I'm excited about coaching first base this year.

"I'm learning a lot of things about baseball at the (NCAA) Division I level and I'm looking forward to the year and competing in the SEC. We think we have a good group; we'll see."

Now, a note about Mark Teixeira, the former Ranger and Angel who has become one of baseball's richest men with his contract with his newest team, the New York Yankees. The Yankees, as usual, are trying to assemble the best team money can buy and hope it doesn't result in collective underachievement. Teixeira has a $180 million contract with the Yankees over eight years.

Teixeira is one former Conway golfer Bryce Molder's best friends. The two became buddies when Molder was an All-American golfer at Georgia Tech and Teixeira was an All-American baseball player for the Yellowjackets.

Both have homes now near Scottsdale, Ariz., and when possible, their families get together and Teixeira and Molder play an occasional round of golf.

Teixeira was in the gallery rooting his friend on when Molder recently secured his PGA Tour card for 2009 when his efforts at the Nationwide Tour Championship at McKinney, Texas.

They've mutually admired achievements in their respective sports for awhile.

Barry, Bryce's father, remembers he, Bryce and other members of the family watching Teixeira play in a baseball game the day before his son graduated from Georgia Tech.

Another game, against Clemson for the Atlantic Coast Conference title, made a lasting impression on Barry. In the game, Molder recalls Teixeira hit a home run and a double hitting from one side of the plate and later had a home run and a double from the other side.

Georgia Tech trailed by two runs in the ninth when Teixeira came up with the bases loaded with two outs. Clemson gave up a run by intentionally walking Teixeira with the bases loaded.

But the strategy worked. The next player grounded out and Clemson claimed the title.

(Sports columnist David McCollum can be reached at 505-1235 or david.mccollum@thecabin.net)