Joffre WashingtonWith the recent success former Yazoo City High School standout Fletcher Cox has achieved, undoubtedly many youngsters around Yazoo City will start to ask the questions, "Can I do it," or "How did he do it?"  
The answer to the first question is yes. The latter question, however, has many answers. God-given talent? Yes. A superior work ethic? You know it. Desire and dedication? Without a doubt. But perhaps the most important thing that Fletcher Cox says landed him where he is today, the 12th pick of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, is that he listened.  
Sounds like a small, miniscule thing that wouldn't seem to be the catalyst that led Cox to achieve his NFL dreams, right? But that's exactly the message Cox conveyed to the student-athletes in attendance at last week's Yazoo City High School Athletics Banquet.   Cox, the guest of honor, was on-hand at the banquet to watch as his No. 54 jersey was retired by the school. (Cox's No. 54 now joins Larry Kramer's No. 20 and Desmond Johnson's No.7 as numbers that will never again be worn by another Yazoo City High School football player).  
As he spoke to the crowd, he talked about the importance of how listening to his coaches, teachers and the adults in his life led him to where he is today.  
When YHS head football coach Tony Woolfolk first asked him to play flag football about 10 years ago, he listened. Once he entered high school and defensive line coach Kyle Wallace told him that he would have to make some sacrifices along the way to his goal, he listened. Whether is was going to be getting up at the crack of dawn to run or staying late after practice for extra time in the weight room, he listened. When his teachers told him to focus on his academics, he listened. When his older brother told him to stay away from the negativity in the streets, he listened.  
Had it not been for his willingness to listen, who knows how his story would have turned out. We've all heard of countless stories of athletes who had all the talent in the world and were headed for stardom, but never reached their goals. Why? Along the way, at some point, they probably didn't take the time to listen to some piece of advice that someone was trying to give them.  
Bug (short for bug-eye, Cox's nickname) told the kids, some who he even played with, that when a teacher, coach or adult tells you something, you should listen. They're not trying to hurt you. They're trying to help you, he said, because they've probably been down that same road before. That message applies to all students, not just athletes with NFL, NBA or MLB dreams.  
So the message is simple kids. Listen. It's the first step to success in the classroom, the field or court and in life. You have to listen. Listening got Fletcher Cox to the NFL. Where could it get you?

Seniors Bo Dickerson (top left), Joshua Gelston (top right), Ben Fouche (bottom left) and Will Bearden (bottom right) will play in next week’s MAIS All Star game in Jackson.By TAYLOR MITCHELL
Sports Editor

The playoffs and state championship finals are when the best teams are honored in baseball, but it’s the all star games that honors some of the best players, as well as give some one last game to play.
For four seniors at Manchester and Benton Academies, that opportunity has been awarded to them after successful 2012 campaigns.
Seniors Bo Dickerson and Joshua Gelston from Benton Academy and Will Bearden and Ben Fouche from Manchester Academy will participate in the MAIS All Star Games on May 25 at Smith-Wills Stadium.
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By TAYLOR MITCHELL
Sports Editor

A pair of sophomores at Yazoo County flashed signs of great things to come at Monday’s MHSAA State Track and Field meet.
Orlando Tate took home third place in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 40.43, while Ollie Tate came in fourth place in the 400-meter dash (49.87). The two finishes were good enough to place Yazoo County in 15th place overall with 11 points.
Orlando Tate’s third place finish puts him as the prime candidate to win next year’s event. The first and second place runners in the 300-meter hurdles are both seniors and he finished just over a second behind the leader.
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The Yazoo City Chiefs won the 8 and under tournament, 82 Challenge, in Greenwood this past Saturday. The Chiefs won the championship game 1-0 over Synergy (Greenwood) and finished 4-1 in the tournament. Pictured above are (from left ro right) bottom row: Hayden Tyer, Gavan Echols, John Jacks, Zachary Parks, Ty Saxton, and Daris Dew. Middle row: Tyler Johnson, Tyler Wommack, Ashton Saxton, Landon Lowery, JoJo Russell and A.J. Saxton. Coaches: John Lowery, Trey Parks, head coach Joey Saxton and Josh Wommack.