Bill Currier, former Glen Burnie High All-County running back/defensive back who later played nine years in the National Football League, will be inducted into the Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame on May 12 at Martin's West.
Currier, a 1973 Glen Burnie grad who played for legendary Gophers coach Joe Papetti, was a starting safety for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks from 1974-76. As defensive captain in his senior year, Currier made 108 tackles, two interceptions and caused six fumbles.
Drafted in the ninth round by the Houston Oilers in 1977, he was a starter in his first season and was named to the NFL all-rookie team. Traded to the New England Patriots in 1980 and to the New York Giants in 1981, Currier played in 115 NFL games, including four playoff games. He finished with 12 interceptions, returning one for six points.
In the 1984 NFC wild-card playoff game, Currier made 14 tackles at strong safety and made a crucial fumble recovery in the Giants' 16-13 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Currier will be inducted with another ex-NFLer, Dave Pivec, who went to Patterson in Baltimore and then Notre Dame. Other inductees will be William Morrill Jr. (lacrosse) and Wendy Weinberg (swimmer). DeMatha basketball coach Morgan Wootten will be given a lifetime achievement award. Information: 410-931-0302.
Samaras reunion
Today is a big day for the lacrosse-loving Samaras family of Annapolis.
Three Samaras sisters will compete against one another at 7 p.m. in womens lacrosse at Princeton University's Class of 1952 Stadium in New Jersey with mom and dad looking on.
Cristi and Cory Samaras play for host Princeton, and Stephy Samaras plays for the University of Virginia. Both teams are among the top five ranked teams in womens' lacrosse.
All three sisters were All-Metro in their senior seasons, Cristi on attack in 1994 and the other two as defenders, Cory in 1993 and Stephy in 1996.
Cristi was an All-American attack player in 1994 and the county Player of the Year after leading Anne Arundel in scoring for a third straight season with 78 goals and 38 assists.
Stephy, also an All-American, was a key member of the Panthers' 20-0, 1996 state title team.
Cory, a four-year starter in high school, is a senior, which makes this the last time the three Annapolis grads can play together in college lacrosse.
The girls' mother, Cathy Samaras, and their father, Dr. George Samaras, a sports medicine specialist and the quiet one in the family, will be on hand in a "can't lose" situation, as older sister Staci Samaras Turnbow pointed out. Staci, who also played at Annapolis, calls herself "the fourth sister."
Cathy Samaras is president of the U.S. Womens' Lacrosse Association and has been very active in the sport for nearly a decade with the Quick Stix organization.
Quick Stix, a club-type group, has played a prominent role in scores of county and Baltimore-area girls lacrosse players receiving college scholarships.
Brother Dean Samaras also played at Annapolis and youngest brother Drew is a freshman playing lacrosse at Severn School. Dean was captain of the 1996 Gettysburg College team.
All six Samaras siblings have been outstanding students, as well. Cory and Cristi were members of our All-County academic athletic teams in their senior years.
Sideliners
Danny Sancomb, former Meade All-County forward now at Wheeling (W. Va.) Jesuit University, was named an NCAA Division II third-team All-American. Sancomb led the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in scoring the last two season, averaging 26 points and scoring more than 1,400 points.
Old Mill alumnus Mike Ziegler, a potential junior college VTC All-American pitcher with a 7-1 record and one save for Shoals (Ala.) Community College, lost his first game Tuesday, 2-1 on an unearned run in the ninth.
Baltimore Orioles general manager Pat Gillick and his assistant, Kevin Malone, watched Severna Park resident Mark Teixeira play third base and swing the bat for Mount St. Joseph in Wednesday's game at McDonogh.
Ed Clay dies
Ed Clay, who gave 20 years of his life to the Pasadena Chargers youth football organization, died of a heart attack yesterday.
Clay served as a coach and officer with the Chargers and later was an avid fan in a wheelchair after he lost a leg to diabetes.
"Ed was a fiery kind of guy who always said what was on his mind," said Chesapeake baseball coach Jim Simms. Simms, who started as a youth coach with the Chargers, is also an assistant football coach at Chesapeake.
Two of Clay's sons, Eddie and Mike Clay, and grandsons Josh Ryan and Nick Polling all played with the Chargers and later at Chesapeake High.
Have a note for Sidelines? Call Pat O'Malley's 24-hour Sportsline at 410-647-2499.
Pub Date: 4/03/98
