Alabama Swimmer Dies In Monday Storms

((HT: ABC3340/Birmingham))

The University of Alabama confirmed that one of the fatalities in the storms that ravaged the southeastern United States yesterday was a member of the swim team.

Junior John Servati was in a friend's basement when a retention wall gave way. He was a Dean's Lister and was on the SEC Academic Honor Roll. Servati, from Tupelo, Mississippi, set state records in high school in the 200M freestyle and 100M backstroke.

Here's the story from overnight...
ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, Sports

Alabama's head swim coach, Dennis Pursley, released a statement through the swim team's Twitter:

"During this incredibly difficult time, our thoughts & prayers go out to the Servati family & to all who knew John. John Servati was an extraordinary young man of great character and warmth who had a tremendously giving spirit. John will forever be in our hearts and a part of the Crimson Tide legacy."

UA's Director of Athletics, Bill Battle and the swim team captain, Phillip Deaton, made statements in a press release from the university's Athletics Department.

"We are all saddened to learn of the untimely death of John Servati," UA Director of Athletics Bill Battle said. "He was a model student-athlete who excelled in his sport of swimming, his pursuit of excellence in academics, and his value as a son, brother, friend and teammate to all who knew him. Our thoughts and prayers go out to John's family and friends as we grieve his passing."

"John definitely had a genuine heart," Alabama team captain Phillip Deaton said. "He was a carefree guy who always had this huge smile on his face. He was my training partner for three years and I can tell you that while he liked to goof around and have fun, when he stepped up on the block he was intensely focused - he was a competitor and an amazing teammate. As a team, we are doing the best we can right now."

Thunder Visit Moore, Oklahoma

((HT: Newsok.com))

Simply, it was the Oklahoma City Thunder's turn...

Players like Russell Westbrook and Hasheem Thabeet along with GM Sam Presti made their tour of the devastation in Moore. Since they couldn't get into the areas immediately after the tornadoes, they went to cheer up who they could in hospital.

FOSG Berry Tramel was around and caught up with Presti, who now understands about what everyone calls the Oklahoma Standard:

“We understand the Oklahoma Standard and stand ready to serve the people that have supported us,” Presti said.

“When our players run out of the tunnel wearing Oklahoma City across their chest, that doesn't end after 82 games.”

Thunder fans weren't the only people wearing Thunder gear at Ground Zero. The Thunder entourage did, too.

Presti, Brooks and the players wore leftover T-shirts from one of the playoff games. White T-shirts. With a word across the front.

“Community.”

Here's a look at some of what they saw...

In other news around Moore, the three schools in the state are combining resources to show their support on t-shrts that can be purchased on the OU online store.

The folks at restorejoplin.org are doing the same thing...

The HQ is encouraging support of everyone in Oklahoma in a way you see fit...

OSG High: Southmoore High FB Dealing With Tornado Damage

((HT: KFOR-TV/Newsok.com, Wright))

Scott Wright is a native to Oklahoma City, and has covered sports for The Oklahoman newspaper for eight years. But he has never had to cover an event like what has happened over the last few days in Oklahoma City and Moore.

There are three high schools in the Moore area, and the tornado has had a horrible impact on one of the football squads...

19 players on the Southmoore High team are now having to deal with homes lost and lives torn apart...

From Wright's piece:

Southmoore senior Jake Spradling didn't need to see the destruction Monday afternoon to know his home had been hit.

“Once I heard that it hit the Warren Theater, I knew my house was gone,” he said. “I live right across the street from the hospital that was hit.

“I haven't been able to get in there to see it yet, but my dad has. I've only seen some photos. All that's left of our house is a bathroom and a closet.”

Head coach Jeff Brickman's wife is the cheerleading coach at the school and they still have no idea about the full numbers of affected players and cheerleaders yet. But the Southmoore football booster club decided to set up the team's website, www.GoSaberCats.com, to accept financial donations.

The site can accept funds via PayPal, or people can write checks directly to the booster club by mailing it to the school.

The HQ is asking for you to find a way to help... doesn't matter how...
Just do it...

Here's some of the coverage from KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City...

Tornado Destroys Soccer Stadium

((HT: Deadspin/Petchesky))

The video below is remarkable on a few fronts...

One- That you actually see a soccer stadium takes it in the chops on a direct hit from a tornado
Two- That the guy shooting the tornado stayed in front of the window for a minute and 15 seconds before realizing he needed to move so he wouldn't die...

Here's the impending doom...


The particulars: Portugese lower-division Silves FC may be needing a new home...

Thursday, a tornado blew through Estadio Dr. Francisco Vieira... early reports have eight injured and, thankfully, no one killed from the aftermath...