In more sad news dealing with Lea County athletics, long-time Jal coach Norman Cline died Wednesday.
Cline was one of the first coaches I met when I came to work for the News-Sun over five years ago. He had a great sense of humor (like the rest of the Jal coaching staff) and always gave me grief for being a University of Oregon graduate.
It's tough to see someone who dedicated their life to making a difference in others pass away. Sure, Cline led Jal to a state boys basketball title in 2000 and was part of the coaching staff of the 1999 Jal football state championship team, but he was more than that. He tried to help teenagers, like all good coaches do, become men and women. Cline was a fiery character who wore every win and loss on his sleeve, which I respected about him. When things were going well, he praised his players, and if things weren't going well, he took the blame. Cline will be missed.
Cline's memorial service will be 2 p.m. Sunday in Jal.
