Josh Smith does a Very Good Thing....

Say what you will about professional athletes, some are knuckleheads, some have inflated opinions of themselves and some of them are just genuinely good people who care. Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks is one of those people who care.

Smith, an Atlanta native is doing something that he (a) didn't have to and (b) did because he had met the people involved.

Last month we told you about the murder of McEachern High School (outside Atlanta) football player Rajaan Bennett. Bennett, the captain of the football team who had signed a scholorship to play football at Vanderbilt was killed in his home trying to help his family escape his mothers former boyfriend who was holding them at gunpoint.

More from Michael Cunningham's Hawks Blog on AJC.com RIGHT HERE

((Rajaan Bennett playing football//Courtesy: AJC File Photo))

Smith, who went to McEachern, still works out there in the offseason. He had met Bennett during one of those workouts and came away very impressed. After he heard what had happened, Smith stepped up and has pledged to cover the next 6 months of living expenses for the Bennett family. The Hawks will also recognize Bennett this coming Saturday before they play the Detroit Pistons.

We have interviewed Smith many times over past several years and have seen him grow from unsure teenager with freakish athletic skill to a man who has become aware of the world around him and has begun harnessing all of that skill. The OSG salutes Smith for trying to do something good and show that he and other athletes do care about what happens inside of their communities.

For those of you not familiar with Mr. Smith, here is some video of him in the 2005 NBA Slam Dunk Competiton. Thanks You Tube:

Memorial Held For Rajaan Bennett

((HT: MyFoxAtlanta.com))

McEachern High School ((GA)) held a memorial service Wednesday for running back Rajaan Bennett.

One of the state's top high school recruits at running back, Bennett was headed for Vanderbilt University when he was found dead at his family's home back on the 18th after officers responded to a 911 call. They arrived around 2:30 in the morning and heard at least four gun shots come from the inside. Powder Springs ((GA)) Major Charles Spann said 39-year-old Clifton Steger shot Bennett and then killed himself.

Steger has been identified now as Bennett's mother, Narjaketha's, ex-boyfriend. Police say that Steger held Bennett, his mother, and other relatives hostages in the house, but started shooting when his mother escaped.

Bennett's funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Trinity Church Chapel of Georgia in Powder Springs.

Here's how WAGA-TV reported the memorial
Julia Harding was at the high school...


The HQ knows people inside the McEachern Community- both inside and alums. We have talked to them and shared just how absolutely senseless this act was by a cowardly man.

They're understandably heart-broken, knowing that Bennett had his head screwed on straight and was headed to better things. His father was killed when Rajaan was 11, and he has a brother who is autistic, so Bennett had to get his priorities in place at an early age.

Head coach Kyle Hockman has let the HQ know that a fund has been set up by the high school to help defray some of the costs of taking care of all that's is going on...

Send a check to:
McEachern Endowment Fund
c/o Bennett Memorial
McEachern High School
2400 New Macland Road
Powder Springs, GA 30101

H.S. Football Star killed before he could play in College

A very sad story to report from Powder Springs, Georgia (just outside Atlanta). Rajaan Bennett a senior who was the captain of the McEachern High School football team was killed in an apparent murder suicide inside his family's home.
Bennett, who ran for 1857 yards and 28 touchdowns last season had signed to play football at Vanderbilt University this coming fall.
The story from ajc.com is RIGHT HERE
((Rajaan Bennett in action//Courtesy: Johnny Crawford/AJC.com))
The incident happened overnight when a man who was ID'd as Clifton O'Neal Steager was entered the house and apparently killed Bennett and himself and also injured another man in the house. That other individual was identified as Bennett's uncle, Taiwan Hunter. He was in serious condition Thursday afternoon.

Here is the story from Tacoma Perry of Fox 5 (WAGA-TV) in Atlanta:


Team coverage continues with FOSG Ken Rodriguez...


"Rajaan was an extraordinary young man and an ideal fit for Vanderbilt University," Vanderbilt football coach Bobby Johnson said in a statement. "Initially, our thoughts and prayers are with his mother Narjaketha and family members. I know he meant so much to them."

Absolutely senseless...