Rocky Mount played host to Northern Nash in basketball Friday night and before the evening was over, Rocky Mount had posted four wins, including a doubleheader JV win for the boys and girls teams.
Three weeks ago tonight, the Lady Gryphons and Lady Knights played a two-point game at Northern and tonight would prove to be no different as the Lady Gryphons had to survive two free throws with less than five seconds to play to get the game to overtime.
Northern, trailing by one, had a two-shot foul making the first and missing the second to send the game to overtime.
Timely foul shooting by the Lady Gryphons in the extra period was all it took for the ladies to stay unbeaten in conference play at 6-0 as Rocky Mount won 61-53. The Gryphon girls are now 14-4 on the season.
Between varsity games, a packed house was witness to a ceremony as Rocky Mount High School paid tribute to the family of Dudley Whitley. His widow Sheila and her immediate family was in attendance. The former Gryphon coach, principal and Rocky Mount City School superintendent died recently leaving his foot prints embedded in our lives forever.
At least 1,000 tickets were sold at the door tonight for the game and one dollar per ticket will be donated to the American Cancer Society. Buckets were passed out where those in attendance could make more contributions to ACS and at halftime of the boys game, more than $400 more dollars had been donated to tonight's fundraiser. The money was donated to the ACS in the name of Whitley and RMHS.
The finale of the evening found two teams desperately needing to win a basketball game and for three quarters the lead swung back and forth with neither team able to get clear of the other.
The game was marred by a fight (two women) early in the fourth quarter in which the game was stopped while the disturbance was cleared.
Finally, early in the four quarter, the homestanding Gryphons pulled away for a 68-58 victory over the Knights. This gives the Gryphons a 2-4 conference record and a 9-10 overall record which they will try to even up Tuesday night at Southern Nash.
Security was tight during tonight's game as people who normally don't venture into the game but hang around the entrance as the game goes on were asked to disperse and were not allowed to congregate near the front entrance.
My day job during our economic stress that we are all facing in this county has become a four-way a week job here recently. Since I was home today, I was able to watch Kay Yow's funeral on WRAL TV5.
If you are one of the lucky people who worked today, I would like to invite to to go to WRAL.com and watch her funeral. They have it archived and I must warn you to have plenty of tissue with you. My wife Pat and I watched and I am not afraid to tell you I had plenty of tears.
The funeral lasted 90 minutes, but I can tell you it went by fast. Coach Yow had prerecorded a testimony which was played to all in the church and live on TV and I can tell you when ever Billy Graham dies, there is no way he will be able to speak for God the way she did today.
But, when you really think about it now that Kay has a new home in heaven, she is recruiting for God the way she loved N.C. State and loved life.
I miss you Kay.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Gryphon Football Awards
The football playoffs were still going on when Rocky Mount High School held their Fall sports awards night. The Christmas break came and so did the end of the semester. Tonight the football team took their turn finally and one of the greatest Gryphon teams in history received their due on their excellent season.
After dinner Wes Bradshaw awarded the pizza buffets won by players during our broadcast for being the players of the game.
Coach B W Holt acting as MC for the evening announced the all conference awards.
Offense: Marquavis Alston, Whit Barnes, Brandon Dennis, Nick Hahula, Torey Lee, Keith Strickland and Greg Williams
Defense: Josh Boulware, Jermaine Fields, Brian Goodwin, Nick Harrison and Chris Pittman.
The second teamers were Jarron battle, Josh Thigpen, Spencer Bell, Carter Varnell, Collins Cuthrell, Hiawatha Bunn, Jordan Ford and Dedrick Silver. L'Var silver won an award as honorable mentions all conference.
Two players had the unique honor of being named to the all conference team at two different positions. Brian Goodwin first as a defensive safety and then as the best kick returner in the league. Nick Hahula was first team fullback and also as the best kicker in the league.
Every member of the team received a plaque for winning the conference championship, the district champion, sectionals and as runner up East regional team.
Whit Barnes was honored for his election to the North Carolina Shrine bowl team. Torey Lee and Nick Hahula were announced as two Gryphon players who will play in the East-West all star game in July.
Special recognition was given to four Gryphons who have been named all state football players. Whit Barnes,Nick Hahula, Keith Strickland and Chris Pittman
Chris Pittman who was named the NEW-6 Defensive player of the year added to his hardware take on the evening.
The last four team awards for the evening were.
Offensive Player of the Year......Marquavis Alston
Defensive Player of the Year.....Chris Pittman
The Benny Smith Linemen of the Year went to two players Torey Lee and Whit Barnes.
and the Most Valuable player as voted by his teammates was Nick Hahula.
Coach Holt during his remarks about his coaching staff announce that Chris Lee who has been the JV head coach during the Holt era has been named the head coach at Louisburg high school. That will be a big hole to fill for next year.
One of the high lights of the evening was the Holt's All Gryphon Team. B W presented plaques of appreciation to Gryphon faithful who have served the Gryphons either through monetary donation, or service when call upon. I wish I could tell you that I had been smart enough to write each ones named down as he talked about them but I enjoyed listening to Holt speak about each one and plain forgot too. Maybe Charles Alston will list them on the Gryphon Grapevine because each and everyone that he presented an award to was most deserving for their faithful devotion to the Gryphon Nation.
The final conference award of the evening was presented by Chris Lee as he presented Coach B W Holt as coach of the year to a standing ovation.
The senior class presented coach Holt a picture of the seniors, as these seniors only lost two games in two seasons. It may be a while before another group is this good.
After dinner Wes Bradshaw awarded the pizza buffets won by players during our broadcast for being the players of the game.
Coach B W Holt acting as MC for the evening announced the all conference awards.
Offense: Marquavis Alston, Whit Barnes, Brandon Dennis, Nick Hahula, Torey Lee, Keith Strickland and Greg Williams
Defense: Josh Boulware, Jermaine Fields, Brian Goodwin, Nick Harrison and Chris Pittman.
The second teamers were Jarron battle, Josh Thigpen, Spencer Bell, Carter Varnell, Collins Cuthrell, Hiawatha Bunn, Jordan Ford and Dedrick Silver. L'Var silver won an award as honorable mentions all conference.
Two players had the unique honor of being named to the all conference team at two different positions. Brian Goodwin first as a defensive safety and then as the best kick returner in the league. Nick Hahula was first team fullback and also as the best kicker in the league.
Every member of the team received a plaque for winning the conference championship, the district champion, sectionals and as runner up East regional team.
Whit Barnes was honored for his election to the North Carolina Shrine bowl team. Torey Lee and Nick Hahula were announced as two Gryphon players who will play in the East-West all star game in July.
Special recognition was given to four Gryphons who have been named all state football players. Whit Barnes,Nick Hahula, Keith Strickland and Chris Pittman
Chris Pittman who was named the NEW-6 Defensive player of the year added to his hardware take on the evening.
The last four team awards for the evening were.
Offensive Player of the Year......Marquavis Alston
Defensive Player of the Year.....Chris Pittman
The Benny Smith Linemen of the Year went to two players Torey Lee and Whit Barnes.
and the Most Valuable player as voted by his teammates was Nick Hahula.
Coach Holt during his remarks about his coaching staff announce that Chris Lee who has been the JV head coach during the Holt era has been named the head coach at Louisburg high school. That will be a big hole to fill for next year.
One of the high lights of the evening was the Holt's All Gryphon Team. B W presented plaques of appreciation to Gryphon faithful who have served the Gryphons either through monetary donation, or service when call upon. I wish I could tell you that I had been smart enough to write each ones named down as he talked about them but I enjoyed listening to Holt speak about each one and plain forgot too. Maybe Charles Alston will list them on the Gryphon Grapevine because each and everyone that he presented an award to was most deserving for their faithful devotion to the Gryphon Nation.
The final conference award of the evening was presented by Chris Lee as he presented Coach B W Holt as coach of the year to a standing ovation.
The senior class presented coach Holt a picture of the seniors, as these seniors only lost two games in two seasons. It may be a while before another group is this good.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Northern will have announcement soon
Word is that the Northern Nash Knights have selected their man to be the new football coach. It's a matter of crossing the T's and dotting the I's. Expect the official word soon.
Thursday night is the Gryphon sports banquet for football. Hope you will be there to show your support.
The Northern Nash-Rocky Mount basketball games are Friday night at the RM Gym. There will be no advanced sales of tickets.
One dollar from each ticket sale will go to the American Cancer Society. This is in conjunction with a statewide event going on Friday with the NCHSAA and the American Cancer Society.
Thursday night is the Gryphon sports banquet for football. Hope you will be there to show your support.
The Northern Nash-Rocky Mount basketball games are Friday night at the RM Gym. There will be no advanced sales of tickets.
One dollar from each ticket sale will go to the American Cancer Society. This is in conjunction with a statewide event going on Friday with the NCHSAA and the American Cancer Society.
Sometimes thing just happen to fall your way. I got home tonight from church and turned on the b-ball game Duke and Wake.
Before tip-off, I channelled surfed and did not realize that WRAL-TV was carrying the Kay Yow Memorial service live. It didn't take long to forget basketball to watch the service.
My guess is about 5,000 people were there
I did not realize that as a coach representing the United States, Kay Yow's teams over the years were 21-1, including winning the 1988 Olympic gold medal.
Got back to the Wake game and saw the second half. Wake won on a layup at the buzzer. I can tell you right now, Duke, Wake and Carolina will make the Sweet 16 and further this year. I just have a feeling one of the three is going to be the NCAA champ. I am pulling for the Deacs to win their first NCAA title.
This year's best three ACC teams are reminiscence of 1974 when N.C. State, Maryland and Carolina only lost during the season to each other. At one point in 1974, the three teams were 1, 2 and 4 in the polls.
The Charlotte Bobcats are a team on the rise. Last night, they beat Kobe and the Lakers in L.A. The Lakers have only two teams in which they have losing record to. The Boston Celtics and the Charlotte Bobcats. In their five years of existance, the 'Cats are 5-4 against the Lakers.
Nash Central boys have won the NEW 6 Conference swim championship. The Gryphons finished third. Fike won the girls with the Lady Gryphons finishing fourth.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Gryphons miscues lead to downfall
With just under four minutes to play, the Rocky Mount Gryphon boys basketball team had managed to push out a five-point lead at 59-54 over Nash Central and had the ball in their Tuesday evening NEW 6 tilt.
But an ill-advised quick 3-pointer that missed turned into a 3-point basket for Nash Central. Then five straight turnovers and a lone free throw and the Gryphons still only trailed 61-60. The Gryphons were doomed as they had four straight turnovers before a final futile trey missed as Nash Central stayed unbeaten in conference play taking down the Gryphons 69-60.
Tashawn Mabry had 27 points to lead the Gryphons, but what they needed more of was some outside shooting to take the pressure off the inside game lead by senior Philip Wilkins. Once the ball went inside, the Bulldogs were triple-teaming the ball. Three-point shots were few made and far between.
The Gryphons now find themselves in a need to win their game Friday night when they host Northern Nash, a team that was riding high until two players failed to qualify to play second semester.
In the girls action, the Lady Gryphons find themselves riding high and all alone in first place after scorching the Lady Bulldogs. The best I remember, the score was 77-49.
The offense struggled for most of three quarters, but Pam Gainey's press defense took its toll on the Lady Bulldogs and once again the Lady Gryphons scored big numbers with defense.
Senior Dyonna Battle led the way with 21 points and freshman Tia Hudgins added 15. The Lady Gryphons (13-4) have gone through the first cycle of conference play and stand 5-0 in conference.
Admittance to Friday night's Northern Nash game at Rocky Mount will be first come, first served. There will be no advance sale of tickets. Three weeks ago at Northern, the gym was full by 6.15 and if that happens Friday night, they will start turning people away even if you have a Gryphon pass to get in the game. So you need to be there early.
Friday night, $1 from each ticket sold will go to the American Cancer Society as high schools around the state are taking part.
Did the PA tonight at the Nash Central-Rocky Mount games so I failed to see the Wolfpack's overtime win over Miami. Seems like they play better without my coaching anyway.
Do you realize that in college basketball this year they have been three teams that have been ranked No. 1 and all three are on Tobacco Road - Carolina, Wake and Duke?
UConn sits awaiting as Duke travels to Wake Wednesday night. If Wake wins. UConn will be No. 1 next week if it can win twice this week.
I think between Duke, Carolina and Wake, neither of them will have more than four losses by ACC tournament time.
Wouldn't be something if all three got No. 1 seeds at NCAA tournament time!
But an ill-advised quick 3-pointer that missed turned into a 3-point basket for Nash Central. Then five straight turnovers and a lone free throw and the Gryphons still only trailed 61-60. The Gryphons were doomed as they had four straight turnovers before a final futile trey missed as Nash Central stayed unbeaten in conference play taking down the Gryphons 69-60.
Tashawn Mabry had 27 points to lead the Gryphons, but what they needed more of was some outside shooting to take the pressure off the inside game lead by senior Philip Wilkins. Once the ball went inside, the Bulldogs were triple-teaming the ball. Three-point shots were few made and far between.
The Gryphons now find themselves in a need to win their game Friday night when they host Northern Nash, a team that was riding high until two players failed to qualify to play second semester.
In the girls action, the Lady Gryphons find themselves riding high and all alone in first place after scorching the Lady Bulldogs. The best I remember, the score was 77-49.
The offense struggled for most of three quarters, but Pam Gainey's press defense took its toll on the Lady Bulldogs and once again the Lady Gryphons scored big numbers with defense.
Senior Dyonna Battle led the way with 21 points and freshman Tia Hudgins added 15. The Lady Gryphons (13-4) have gone through the first cycle of conference play and stand 5-0 in conference.
Admittance to Friday night's Northern Nash game at Rocky Mount will be first come, first served. There will be no advance sale of tickets. Three weeks ago at Northern, the gym was full by 6.15 and if that happens Friday night, they will start turning people away even if you have a Gryphon pass to get in the game. So you need to be there early.
Friday night, $1 from each ticket sold will go to the American Cancer Society as high schools around the state are taking part.
Did the PA tonight at the Nash Central-Rocky Mount games so I failed to see the Wolfpack's overtime win over Miami. Seems like they play better without my coaching anyway.
Do you realize that in college basketball this year they have been three teams that have been ranked No. 1 and all three are on Tobacco Road - Carolina, Wake and Duke?
UConn sits awaiting as Duke travels to Wake Wednesday night. If Wake wins. UConn will be No. 1 next week if it can win twice this week.
I think between Duke, Carolina and Wake, neither of them will have more than four losses by ACC tournament time.
Wouldn't be something if all three got No. 1 seeds at NCAA tournament time!
Monday, January 26, 2009
It's Time To Pick Super Bowl
The Gryphons play host to Nash Central Tuesday in basketball. Four games are on tap so the varsity girls will begin some where near 6.30 p.m .
Everytime we play Northern Nash, it is always on a Friday night. Regardless of whether it is at Northern or Rocky Mount, it is a sellout.
The schedule makers need to arrange the schedule to where Nash Central and RM also play on a Friday night for the biggest crowds.
Next year when Hunt joins the conference, Fike needs to schedule it on a Friday for the same effect - a sellout.
Sorry, but Southern Nash just doesn't bring out the crowds that NN and NC do, so they should join Fike and Hunt for Tuesday games. There has to be a way to make that happen.
Yours truly will be in the house doing the PA Tuesday.
Time to make a decision:
Who's going to win the Super Bowl?
Best Defense: Pittsburgh! However, this game will be played in sunny Tampa, not 20 degree Pittsburgh.
Best Offense: Arizona They have scored at least 30 in every playoff game.
Strength: For Pittsburgh. pass rush against a quarterback in Kurt Warner who is not mobile at all. For Arizona, no one in the playoffs has been able to cover Larry Fitzgerald.
Who has best quarterback? It's a wash. Both are good!
Injuries: For Pittsburgh, Hines Ward is a question? For Arizona, J.J. Arrington is their question mark. Both injured their knee in the conference championship game.
What do I think will happen? Pittsburgh will get Warner to turn the ball over twice in the backfield. Fumbles. Warner can beat the blitz by throwing to Fitzgerald.
In a game that is a shootout, I don't think Pittsburgh can win that means their defense is not playing well. I do think Arizona can hold Pittsburgh into the twenties.
Arizona 31, Pittsburgh 23. I just have that feeling.
Bravo to the UNC women's basketball team wearing pink uniforms against Maryland Sunday to pay tribute to Kay Yow.
Monday night, the Sidney Lowe radio show gave way to a tribute to Kay Yow during the radio show hour.
Do your realize that Kay Yow is the third N.C. State basketball coach to die from cancer? The obvious answer is Jim Valvano, but you may forget the greatest Wolfpack coach of all time, Everett Case. People forget that Reynolds Coliseum is called the "building that Everett Case built."
Case is one of four Indiana High School coaches to win the Indiana State championship four times and 725 high school games. He started coaching at State in 1946 fresh out of WWII and proceeded to win 377 college games and record a .737 winning percentage. State won the last six Southern Conference titles and the first three ACC championships under his leadership - all in a row.
He died just after the 1966 season.
He is buried in a cemetery on a hill over looking U.S. 70 North headed to Durham. He wanted to be able to look at the team as the State bus passed on the way to a game with Duke.
Everytime we play Northern Nash, it is always on a Friday night. Regardless of whether it is at Northern or Rocky Mount, it is a sellout.
The schedule makers need to arrange the schedule to where Nash Central and RM also play on a Friday night for the biggest crowds.
Next year when Hunt joins the conference, Fike needs to schedule it on a Friday for the same effect - a sellout.
Sorry, but Southern Nash just doesn't bring out the crowds that NN and NC do, so they should join Fike and Hunt for Tuesday games. There has to be a way to make that happen.
Yours truly will be in the house doing the PA Tuesday.
Time to make a decision:
Who's going to win the Super Bowl?
Best Defense: Pittsburgh! However, this game will be played in sunny Tampa, not 20 degree Pittsburgh.
Best Offense: Arizona They have scored at least 30 in every playoff game.
Strength: For Pittsburgh. pass rush against a quarterback in Kurt Warner who is not mobile at all. For Arizona, no one in the playoffs has been able to cover Larry Fitzgerald.
Who has best quarterback? It's a wash. Both are good!
Injuries: For Pittsburgh, Hines Ward is a question? For Arizona, J.J. Arrington is their question mark. Both injured their knee in the conference championship game.
What do I think will happen? Pittsburgh will get Warner to turn the ball over twice in the backfield. Fumbles. Warner can beat the blitz by throwing to Fitzgerald.
In a game that is a shootout, I don't think Pittsburgh can win that means their defense is not playing well. I do think Arizona can hold Pittsburgh into the twenties.
Arizona 31, Pittsburgh 23. I just have that feeling.
Bravo to the UNC women's basketball team wearing pink uniforms against Maryland Sunday to pay tribute to Kay Yow.
Monday night, the Sidney Lowe radio show gave way to a tribute to Kay Yow during the radio show hour.
Do your realize that Kay Yow is the third N.C. State basketball coach to die from cancer? The obvious answer is Jim Valvano, but you may forget the greatest Wolfpack coach of all time, Everett Case. People forget that Reynolds Coliseum is called the "building that Everett Case built."
Case is one of four Indiana High School coaches to win the Indiana State championship four times and 725 high school games. He started coaching at State in 1946 fresh out of WWII and proceeded to win 377 college games and record a .737 winning percentage. State won the last six Southern Conference titles and the first three ACC championships under his leadership - all in a row.
He died just after the 1966 season.
He is buried in a cemetery on a hill over looking U.S. 70 North headed to Durham. He wanted to be able to look at the team as the State bus passed on the way to a game with Duke.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Show Up and Start Filming
Rocky Mount High school basketball teams are heading in opposite directions.
The boys have now lost 9 of 12 after losing at SouthWest Edgecombe Saturday night. The lost drops the Gryphons to 1-3 in conference play and right now are in jeopardy of not making the playoffs unless they can turn the season around.
The Lady Gryphons on the other hand have won 12 out of 16 games on the season and after whipping Southwest Edgecombe girls Saturday night have the out right lead at 3-0 in the conference standings.
Tuesday night the boys will face Nash Central who is undefeated in conference play while the girls will try to get revenge on the lady bulldogs from the loss during the championship game of the Christmas Tournament at Nash Central.
Now that the conference plays all four games at the same location JVs and Varsity, the Girls should tip off about 6.30 at home Tuesday night.
I have been doing ball games mostly on the radio, but in the last ten years TV has joined the menu.
When you follow one team as Wes Bradshaw and myself did this past football season you have a week to prepare for the up coming game.
In the case of TV games on the Stretchlon Sports shows they are some times not decided on until the day before which game we may cover.
When that is the case it is most of the time show up an hour before the game get the line ups and start filming.
This past Friday afternoon we covered the NEW-6 swim meet. There were eight teams there and twelve different events. There is no program to buy as you walk in letting you know who is swimming and what race or in some cases which leg of the race a swimmer is swimming.
I wish we could be like the Networks and show up three days before a game, let the announcers talk with the players and the technical people set up cameras at just the right place for best possible shots.
When we arrive it's me as the announcer and George on the camera. There is no tractor trailer truck parked around back with the director telling the camera men the shots he wants.
George is close enough to me he can hear what I'm saying and can get a close up on what ever I might be talking about. It is done as they say on the fly.
I wish we could tell every child's name and pronounce it correctly as we do a film session. That's what happens when you show up an hour before a meet, match, or game.
The Harrison Family Aquatic center has no press box to lay all the info that I might have out in front of me to use. In the case of Friday's swim meet it was stand in the corner and all the info you have is in your hand while holding a microphone.
I applaud Richard Sarmiento for his effort in producing the "Stretchlon Sports Show". It is a small way to high light our youth regardless of whether we call their name or not.
The boys have now lost 9 of 12 after losing at SouthWest Edgecombe Saturday night. The lost drops the Gryphons to 1-3 in conference play and right now are in jeopardy of not making the playoffs unless they can turn the season around.
The Lady Gryphons on the other hand have won 12 out of 16 games on the season and after whipping Southwest Edgecombe girls Saturday night have the out right lead at 3-0 in the conference standings.
Tuesday night the boys will face Nash Central who is undefeated in conference play while the girls will try to get revenge on the lady bulldogs from the loss during the championship game of the Christmas Tournament at Nash Central.
Now that the conference plays all four games at the same location JVs and Varsity, the Girls should tip off about 6.30 at home Tuesday night.
I have been doing ball games mostly on the radio, but in the last ten years TV has joined the menu.
When you follow one team as Wes Bradshaw and myself did this past football season you have a week to prepare for the up coming game.
In the case of TV games on the Stretchlon Sports shows they are some times not decided on until the day before which game we may cover.
When that is the case it is most of the time show up an hour before the game get the line ups and start filming.
This past Friday afternoon we covered the NEW-6 swim meet. There were eight teams there and twelve different events. There is no program to buy as you walk in letting you know who is swimming and what race or in some cases which leg of the race a swimmer is swimming.
I wish we could be like the Networks and show up three days before a game, let the announcers talk with the players and the technical people set up cameras at just the right place for best possible shots.
When we arrive it's me as the announcer and George on the camera. There is no tractor trailer truck parked around back with the director telling the camera men the shots he wants.
George is close enough to me he can hear what I'm saying and can get a close up on what ever I might be talking about. It is done as they say on the fly.
I wish we could tell every child's name and pronounce it correctly as we do a film session. That's what happens when you show up an hour before a meet, match, or game.
The Harrison Family Aquatic center has no press box to lay all the info that I might have out in front of me to use. In the case of Friday's swim meet it was stand in the corner and all the info you have is in your hand while holding a microphone.
I applaud Richard Sarmiento for his effort in producing the "Stretchlon Sports Show". It is a small way to high light our youth regardless of whether we call their name or not.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Sandra Kay Finally Falls to Cancer
Sandra Kay Yow went to be with the lord on Saturday Morning January 24th 2009. It ended a nearly twenty two year battle which Kay fought until her last breath.
I had meet Kay Yow several times at Wolfpack meetings over the years,but I never appreciated her until a June in 1993.
At the time I was working for a radio station in Fayetteville. I had just been named the radio voice of the Fayetteville Generals baseball team. There were no games being carried on the radio, but I was my job to create for the station the sponsorship to get the games on the air.
We were also a member of the Wolfpack Sports Network. There was a radio meeting at Carter-Finley Stadium for all affiliates to hear about the upcoming football and basketball seasons.
Just about five minutes before the meeting started the phone rang in Finley fieldhouse and it was Dick Sheridan saying that he would not be able to attend.
He was suppose to be the main speaker to get everyone fired up about the up coming football season. In walks Kay Yow, she is going to fill in for him.
After a few minutes of radio talk about the network Kay stood in front of our group and gave the most inspiring speech that I have ever heard. She talked Wolfpack and how great it was to be a Wolfpacker for thirty minutes.
When it was all over I was ready to play football for the pack.
As we have found out that is the way Kay was all the time. I have met her through the years several times and each time it was like she was so glad to see me, even though I knew as she was talking to me she probably had no Idea who I was. She might have recognized the face but no way she could remember my name.
By the way that day when Sheridan had called to say he wasn't going to be able to be at the meeting was the day that he resigned as football coach at State.
N C State hired Kay Yow to be the women's basketball coach before Title IX was even thought about. In the old days there was no NCAA women's basketball but North Carolina had a State Championship that just about every four year college play in.
Elon had won the Championship twice with Kay as coach. Willis Casey then Athletic director at N C State hired Kay to really start the basketball for women at N C State.
N C State dominated women's basketball in North Carolina until 1982 when the NCAA mandated by Title IX started women's basketball where all schools had to give women equal number of scholarships as men.
Kay was so well respected as a coach she was an assistant coach to Pat Summit in the 1984 Olympics and she was the head coach in 1988.
August 5th 1987 Kay was told of her breast cancer. By the time the season started in December she was on the court coaching.
Off and on for the next twenty some odd years Kay fought the fight the way she talked to us that day in June 1993. She gave it all she had.
The only women's basketball coach in N C State history has gone on to be with the lord. She leaves foot prints too big for most of us to even attempt to step in.
But, she has effected every one of us in some way.
God Bless you Kay Yow.
I had meet Kay Yow several times at Wolfpack meetings over the years,but I never appreciated her until a June in 1993.
At the time I was working for a radio station in Fayetteville. I had just been named the radio voice of the Fayetteville Generals baseball team. There were no games being carried on the radio, but I was my job to create for the station the sponsorship to get the games on the air.
We were also a member of the Wolfpack Sports Network. There was a radio meeting at Carter-Finley Stadium for all affiliates to hear about the upcoming football and basketball seasons.
Just about five minutes before the meeting started the phone rang in Finley fieldhouse and it was Dick Sheridan saying that he would not be able to attend.
He was suppose to be the main speaker to get everyone fired up about the up coming football season. In walks Kay Yow, she is going to fill in for him.
After a few minutes of radio talk about the network Kay stood in front of our group and gave the most inspiring speech that I have ever heard. She talked Wolfpack and how great it was to be a Wolfpacker for thirty minutes.
When it was all over I was ready to play football for the pack.
As we have found out that is the way Kay was all the time. I have met her through the years several times and each time it was like she was so glad to see me, even though I knew as she was talking to me she probably had no Idea who I was. She might have recognized the face but no way she could remember my name.
By the way that day when Sheridan had called to say he wasn't going to be able to be at the meeting was the day that he resigned as football coach at State.
N C State hired Kay Yow to be the women's basketball coach before Title IX was even thought about. In the old days there was no NCAA women's basketball but North Carolina had a State Championship that just about every four year college play in.
Elon had won the Championship twice with Kay as coach. Willis Casey then Athletic director at N C State hired Kay to really start the basketball for women at N C State.
N C State dominated women's basketball in North Carolina until 1982 when the NCAA mandated by Title IX started women's basketball where all schools had to give women equal number of scholarships as men.
Kay was so well respected as a coach she was an assistant coach to Pat Summit in the 1984 Olympics and she was the head coach in 1988.
August 5th 1987 Kay was told of her breast cancer. By the time the season started in December she was on the court coaching.
Off and on for the next twenty some odd years Kay fought the fight the way she talked to us that day in June 1993. She gave it all she had.
The only women's basketball coach in N C State history has gone on to be with the lord. She leaves foot prints too big for most of us to even attempt to step in.
But, she has effected every one of us in some way.
God Bless you Kay Yow.
Timing is Everything
Sometimes in life you stumble into something because you were there at the right time. The"early bird gets the worm".
There are other times when you are primed to take the top prize and the rug comes out from under you. 2008 football team would be a prime example.
This years boys basketball team has had a hard time finding itself. Last night the Gryphons without TaShawn Mabry for the 4th time this year gave a good battle but came up short at Fike by a 63-58 score. This evens the Gryphons at 8-8 and most importantly and drops them to 1-2 in conference play and they find themselves two games behind league leaders Fike and Nash Central who are three and zero.
This team has had a hard time getting any timing and practice time is limited as the season barrels toward the end.
Yesterday I was at the conference Swim regular season final meet of the year.
Though the so called football, basketball, and baseball are considered to be the glamor sports. The real athletes are however working out daily in their sports without much fanfare.
Those runners who can run in cross country, wrestlers who have to go face to face against someone else, and swimmers who even swimming fifty yards a major task are just as good of athletes as the major sports if not better.
There are other times when you are primed to take the top prize and the rug comes out from under you. 2008 football team would be a prime example.
This years boys basketball team has had a hard time finding itself. Last night the Gryphons without TaShawn Mabry for the 4th time this year gave a good battle but came up short at Fike by a 63-58 score. This evens the Gryphons at 8-8 and most importantly and drops them to 1-2 in conference play and they find themselves two games behind league leaders Fike and Nash Central who are three and zero.
This team has had a hard time getting any timing and practice time is limited as the season barrels toward the end.
Yesterday I was at the conference Swim regular season final meet of the year.
Though the so called football, basketball, and baseball are considered to be the glamor sports. The real athletes are however working out daily in their sports without much fanfare.
Those runners who can run in cross country, wrestlers who have to go face to face against someone else, and swimmers who even swimming fifty yards a major task are just as good of athletes as the major sports if not better.
Some of the best athletes in the NEW-6 were swimming at the Harrison YMCA yesterday. It is a shame for all of us who profess to be sports announcers, or reporters that the names of those are not in the head lines like the big three sports.
I guess everyone has heard by now of the girls high school game in which one team won 100-zero. The school is so embarrassed they have asked to forfeit the game.
I ask why wasn't there one person at the game willing to put a stop to this travesty. Now that it is over I don't think forfeiting is the correct answer. Suspending the coach for the rest of the season would be better as far as I am concerned.
A coach is like the captain of a ship, he is responsible for everything that happens. Having a full court press even with the end of the bench in the game and the score 98-0 is the coach fault.
The players on the team earned the victory when they made the score 2-0. Don't blame them and take away a victory because the leader of the team wanted to set some record.
FIRE THE COACH
Friday, January 23, 2009
Basketball Push Begins
The second half of the high school basketball season takes off starting tonight.
The Gryphons have two big games in the next twenty four hours.
Tonight a trip to Fike and they follow that up with a Pinetops ride Saturday Night.
We will know a lot about the direction of the conference standing by midnight Saturday Night.
The next home game is set for Tuesday when Nash Central comes calling.
Yours truly will be working the PA for the Nash Central games as Wayne Wallace has a PA night at NC Wesleyan that night. This is the only conflict the entire season of NCW and a Gryphon home basketball game.
The conference swim meet is today at 4pm at Harrison Family YMCA.
Next Thursday night is the football banquet. It is being held separate this year from the other fall sports due to the fact the fall sports awards night was the Tueday before the Eastern Final football game.
The conference has a rule that they will not vote on any sports awards like all conference until after all teams have finished their seasons. Sounds to me like a good rule maybe the NFL needs to follow. Since the Gryphon football team was still playing when the fall sports awards were scheduled the football team needed to have their awards night.
Is it just me:
Has anybody noticed that Wake Forest basketball player Al-Faroud Aminu looks like Former Greensboro basketball player and Kansas player Danny Manning. I know Deacon fans hope they he can win the Deacs a National Championship like Manning did at KU.
There is still hope for the Deacs. I heard the other night that the last six years that the last undefeated team in the NCAA had all at least made it to the National Championship game. After the Wake loss there is no undefeated college basketball teams.
The Super bowl has a lot of potential to be one of the greatest games ever or one of the most lopsided ones.
During the regular season the super bowl teams played five like opponents with Pittsburgh winning three while Arizona was 1-4.
JJ Arrington right now is a question mark whether he will be ready to play by Super Bowl Sunday. Arrington hurt his knee is Sunday's win over Philadelphia. Yesterday was the first practice for Arizona for the Super Bowl and Arrington did not practice.
North Carolina women's basketball team was suffering a hang over from their thrashing that they received Monday night from U Conn. Last night in a conference game at Georgia Tech they suffered their second straight loss.
Basketball is a sport where in college you play at least twice a week. Whenever you get on a roll and finally lose a game, the Carolina Women had won 16 straight until the U Conn loss,
sometimes you lose a couple of games before you get back on track.
Hope to see you at th YMCA at the swim meet!
The Gryphons have two big games in the next twenty four hours.
Tonight a trip to Fike and they follow that up with a Pinetops ride Saturday Night.
We will know a lot about the direction of the conference standing by midnight Saturday Night.
The next home game is set for Tuesday when Nash Central comes calling.
Yours truly will be working the PA for the Nash Central games as Wayne Wallace has a PA night at NC Wesleyan that night. This is the only conflict the entire season of NCW and a Gryphon home basketball game.
The conference swim meet is today at 4pm at Harrison Family YMCA.
Next Thursday night is the football banquet. It is being held separate this year from the other fall sports due to the fact the fall sports awards night was the Tueday before the Eastern Final football game.
The conference has a rule that they will not vote on any sports awards like all conference until after all teams have finished their seasons. Sounds to me like a good rule maybe the NFL needs to follow. Since the Gryphon football team was still playing when the fall sports awards were scheduled the football team needed to have their awards night.
Is it just me:
Has anybody noticed that Wake Forest basketball player Al-Faroud Aminu looks like Former Greensboro basketball player and Kansas player Danny Manning. I know Deacon fans hope they he can win the Deacs a National Championship like Manning did at KU.
There is still hope for the Deacs. I heard the other night that the last six years that the last undefeated team in the NCAA had all at least made it to the National Championship game. After the Wake loss there is no undefeated college basketball teams.
The Super bowl has a lot of potential to be one of the greatest games ever or one of the most lopsided ones.
During the regular season the super bowl teams played five like opponents with Pittsburgh winning three while Arizona was 1-4.
JJ Arrington right now is a question mark whether he will be ready to play by Super Bowl Sunday. Arrington hurt his knee is Sunday's win over Philadelphia. Yesterday was the first practice for Arizona for the Super Bowl and Arrington did not practice.
North Carolina women's basketball team was suffering a hang over from their thrashing that they received Monday night from U Conn. Last night in a conference game at Georgia Tech they suffered their second straight loss.
Basketball is a sport where in college you play at least twice a week. Whenever you get on a roll and finally lose a game, the Carolina Women had won 16 straight until the U Conn loss,
sometimes you lose a couple of games before you get back on track.
Hope to see you at th YMCA at the swim meet!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Wake fails to Win One As #1
The Demon Deacons of Wake Forest riding high after being named the #1 team in the country in college basketball on Monday, played the first half as if they kept waiting for Virginia Tech to fold up under the pressure of playing #1.
Wake had no offensive movement in the first half and their defense played as if they were a bull fighter with their OLE' defense. By the time they woke up the Hokies had knocked off the #1 team 78-71 despite shooting only 50% from the foul line the last three minutes.
Wake will not win any games as the #1 team this go round due to the fact they don't play again until next Wednesday and there will be a new #1 come Monday.
This game was eerily like BC's upset of Carolina just a couple of weeks ago. The underdog playing great and the home team waiting for the other to fail.
I just want to tell all Clemson fans that there is hope. New Jersey Institute of Technology who hasn't beaten any body in 51 games dating back to February of 2007 won last night. Did that streak help Clemson? Sorry no way.
Carolina did their annual plastering of Clemson in Chapel Hill last night to beat them at the Hill for the 54th straight time. A five point game at the half was never a game in the second half.
Can you imagine the pressure that Clemson's players feel every time they head to Chapel Hill? I doubt if there is as much pressure on them to win as there is on Carolina players. Who wants to be a member of the first team to let Clemson beat them?
I will get a chance to add to my repertoire of sporting events covered Friday afternoon as I will be at the Harrison Family YMCA to cover the New-6 conference swim meet. The first dip in the pool begins at 4pm.
This at some point in time the meet will appear on the Stretchlon Sports Show.
Basketball returns tomorrow night for the Gryphon basketball teams as they travel to Fike. The way the season is unfolding it looks like the Fike boys are the team to beat in conference play. Before the game Fike High school will honor their 1984 State championship team on their 25th anniversary.
The way the schedule has worked out this year taking a Christmas break and only a couple of weeks later taking a semester break for testing can't help any team that is trying to establish a flow.
Let's wait and see the results of the next couple of weeks and see who stays hot, who gets hot, or who stumbles and bumbles the rest of the way.
Due to this Christmas/Testing break the Gryphons will play Saturday night at SW Edgecombe to make up for having played only two games in the last 14 days.
Wake had no offensive movement in the first half and their defense played as if they were a bull fighter with their OLE' defense. By the time they woke up the Hokies had knocked off the #1 team 78-71 despite shooting only 50% from the foul line the last three minutes.
Wake will not win any games as the #1 team this go round due to the fact they don't play again until next Wednesday and there will be a new #1 come Monday.
This game was eerily like BC's upset of Carolina just a couple of weeks ago. The underdog playing great and the home team waiting for the other to fail.
I just want to tell all Clemson fans that there is hope. New Jersey Institute of Technology who hasn't beaten any body in 51 games dating back to February of 2007 won last night. Did that streak help Clemson? Sorry no way.
Carolina did their annual plastering of Clemson in Chapel Hill last night to beat them at the Hill for the 54th straight time. A five point game at the half was never a game in the second half.
Can you imagine the pressure that Clemson's players feel every time they head to Chapel Hill? I doubt if there is as much pressure on them to win as there is on Carolina players. Who wants to be a member of the first team to let Clemson beat them?
I will get a chance to add to my repertoire of sporting events covered Friday afternoon as I will be at the Harrison Family YMCA to cover the New-6 conference swim meet. The first dip in the pool begins at 4pm.
This at some point in time the meet will appear on the Stretchlon Sports Show.
Basketball returns tomorrow night for the Gryphon basketball teams as they travel to Fike. The way the season is unfolding it looks like the Fike boys are the team to beat in conference play. Before the game Fike High school will honor their 1984 State championship team on their 25th anniversary.
The way the schedule has worked out this year taking a Christmas break and only a couple of weeks later taking a semester break for testing can't help any team that is trying to establish a flow.
Let's wait and see the results of the next couple of weeks and see who stays hot, who gets hot, or who stumbles and bumbles the rest of the way.
Due to this Christmas/Testing break the Gryphons will play Saturday night at SW Edgecombe to make up for having played only two games in the last 14 days.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Life's Odd Turns
This morning our nation is full of hope that our new President can lead us into a good chapter in American history.
I find it very odd that during our new president's first slip up as President he is rescued by an enemy. During the oath of office, President Obama forgot the words of the oath. Chief Justice Roberts repeated the line to help the new President.
Back in 2003 during Roberts' conformation hearing and vote Senator Barack Obama voted against Roberts as Chief Justice. Yesterday was the first time in American history that the Chief Judge swore into office a man who had voted against that judge.
Barack Obama was seconds from being officially President when the first compromise of his Presidency occurred. He is off to a good start.
In Sports:
N.C. State gave Duke all it could handle for 32 minutes.
I see the basic problem for Duke is it is slow a foot in the power game. Ben McCauley for N.C. State has done very well against Duke in his career.
When McCauley touches the ball, State plays much better than when he doesn't. The Wolfpack led 50-46 with eight minutes to play in the game. McCauley goes to the bench and never returns.
State scored six points the last eight minutes while Duke scored 27. Where's McCauley?
Duke's issue to me is when it plays someone who has a power front line, it has have no defense for it. The one thing I have always liked about Coach K is he pressures the ball 30 feet from the basket. That helps hide their weaknesses inside. A halfcourt game is when the front line must shine. The NCAA tournament most of the time is a halfcourt game.
Tonight, Clemson has about as good of a chance to break the losing streak in Chapel Hill as it ever has. Clemson has lost a kzillion straight games in Chapel Hill. I think tonight's game will have the same result, but it will be close.
The Carolina Hurricanes go into the All Star break on a two game winning streak. If the playoffs started today they would miss the playoffs.
Boy, this Super Bowl game could be a dilly. I am having trouble deciding what I think is going to happen. These teams are Mutt and Jeff. Completely opposite of each other. I'm glad this game has an extra week to make my pick!
I find it very odd that during our new president's first slip up as President he is rescued by an enemy. During the oath of office, President Obama forgot the words of the oath. Chief Justice Roberts repeated the line to help the new President.
Back in 2003 during Roberts' conformation hearing and vote Senator Barack Obama voted against Roberts as Chief Justice. Yesterday was the first time in American history that the Chief Judge swore into office a man who had voted against that judge.
Barack Obama was seconds from being officially President when the first compromise of his Presidency occurred. He is off to a good start.
In Sports:
N.C. State gave Duke all it could handle for 32 minutes.
I see the basic problem for Duke is it is slow a foot in the power game. Ben McCauley for N.C. State has done very well against Duke in his career.
When McCauley touches the ball, State plays much better than when he doesn't. The Wolfpack led 50-46 with eight minutes to play in the game. McCauley goes to the bench and never returns.
State scored six points the last eight minutes while Duke scored 27. Where's McCauley?
Duke's issue to me is when it plays someone who has a power front line, it has have no defense for it. The one thing I have always liked about Coach K is he pressures the ball 30 feet from the basket. That helps hide their weaknesses inside. A halfcourt game is when the front line must shine. The NCAA tournament most of the time is a halfcourt game.
Tonight, Clemson has about as good of a chance to break the losing streak in Chapel Hill as it ever has. Clemson has lost a kzillion straight games in Chapel Hill. I think tonight's game will have the same result, but it will be close.
The Carolina Hurricanes go into the All Star break on a two game winning streak. If the playoffs started today they would miss the playoffs.
Boy, this Super Bowl game could be a dilly. I am having trouble deciding what I think is going to happen. These teams are Mutt and Jeff. Completely opposite of each other. I'm glad this game has an extra week to make my pick!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Snow's Coming Down
I realize that I can't hardly remember back that far any more, but I don't recall that while I was growing up going to school that we ever got a snow on a Saturday or Sunday, which we would have missed a school day if there had been school that day.
Nash-Rocky Mount Schools are already closed due to the semester break which runs through Thursday. I wonder how many kids will be glad it's snowing when they realize that they didn't have to go to school anyway?
Last night the No. 1 and No. 2 women's college basketball teams met in Chapel Hill and UConn showed everyone why it is ranked No. 1. Carolina never had a chance to get any rhythm going and suffered a 30-point loss at home.
In a matter on eight days N.C. State's women have played Carolina to overtime in Chapel Hill and last night took No. 4 Duke to overtime and loss to the Devils, 61-58. The Wolfpack women are playing hard for Coach Yow who continues fighting hard for her life.
The last five years the NFL playoffs has become a wide open affair when you are a lot better off being the underdog.
This year may be the the ultimate underdog year, however as the Arizona Cardinals who haven't won any type of championship in 61 years, take on one of the premier NFL franchises in the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pittsburgh has a chance to possibly steal the title of team of the decade away from New England if they can win their second title this decade. They would have won two titles since New England last won one.
The oddsmakers have made the Steelers the favorite, but I am still thinking on this one. So far in the 10 NFL games played in the playoffs, just four games have the winning team scored 30 points. The Cardinals played in three of them.
This Super Bowl will be a classic offense against defense.
The Gryphons return to the court Friday and Saturday night this week for two conference games. The Lady Gryphons find themselves tied for first, while right now after two games, the boys are in the middle of the pack.
High school basketball's regular season has seemingly just started, yet it will be over in three weeks. Seems like we are just getting started.
Nash-Rocky Mount Schools are already closed due to the semester break which runs through Thursday. I wonder how many kids will be glad it's snowing when they realize that they didn't have to go to school anyway?
Last night the No. 1 and No. 2 women's college basketball teams met in Chapel Hill and UConn showed everyone why it is ranked No. 1. Carolina never had a chance to get any rhythm going and suffered a 30-point loss at home.
In a matter on eight days N.C. State's women have played Carolina to overtime in Chapel Hill and last night took No. 4 Duke to overtime and loss to the Devils, 61-58. The Wolfpack women are playing hard for Coach Yow who continues fighting hard for her life.
The last five years the NFL playoffs has become a wide open affair when you are a lot better off being the underdog.
This year may be the the ultimate underdog year, however as the Arizona Cardinals who haven't won any type of championship in 61 years, take on one of the premier NFL franchises in the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pittsburgh has a chance to possibly steal the title of team of the decade away from New England if they can win their second title this decade. They would have won two titles since New England last won one.
The oddsmakers have made the Steelers the favorite, but I am still thinking on this one. So far in the 10 NFL games played in the playoffs, just four games have the winning team scored 30 points. The Cardinals played in three of them.
This Super Bowl will be a classic offense against defense.
The Gryphons return to the court Friday and Saturday night this week for two conference games. The Lady Gryphons find themselves tied for first, while right now after two games, the boys are in the middle of the pack.
High school basketball's regular season has seemingly just started, yet it will be over in three weeks. Seems like we are just getting started.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
XLIII Set
Super bowl forty three has two willing teams ready to do battle for the championship of pro football. One team you could have predicted six weeks ago while the other would be a good team to have place a bet on in Vegas. I'm sure you could have gotten 1000 to 1 odds.
The Pittsburgh Steelers who until the merger of the old AFL with the NFL was the laughing stock of the NFL. Since the merger in 1970 when they transferred to the AFC they will now be going to the Super Bowl for the seventh time.
The Arizona Cardinals who had never won a playoff game until two weeks ago will be sunning in Tampa over the next two weeks.
The top three defensive teams in the AFC all year have been Baltimore, Tennessee, and Pittsburgh. Of those three the one with the best offense was the Steelers and they will play one more game this year.
Ben Roethisberger had two passes that covered over forty yards each and that proved to be the difference as the Steelers out hit the Ravens 23-14.
In the last few minutes this games was marred by having to stop play as Willis McGahee had a helmet to helmet hit knocking both players out. This is becoming an all to frequent experience in the NFL and they need to do something with the helmets to stop the use of helmets for weapons. In this case neither player lead with the helmet but both collided with McGahee carted off the field
Rookie Joe Flacco had a rookie day throwing three ints but with four minutes to play his team had the ball down only 17-14 before the Steeler defense could get their third int which was run back for six.
Mean while in the Arizona Desert:
The Arizona Cardinals played a flawless first half racing out to a 24-6 lead. Kurt Warner tossed three touchdowns to Larry Fitzgerald and the Cardinals continue to play the same as they did against the Carolina Panthers.
Fortunately for the Eagles they had a chance to sit down for a minute at the half after the whirlwind first half and stormed back to take a 25-24 lead only to see Kurt Warner methodically lead the cardinals on the game winning drive and throw the winning score to Hightower to Win 32-25.
It is the first Super Bowl appearance by any team named the Cardinals. The Cardinals go all the way back to Chicago and then St Louis before retiring to the Desert of Arizona.
Kurt Warner wins his third NFC championship in three tries while Donavan McNabb playing in his fifth NFC championship in eight years loses for the fourth time.
So far in the playoffs I am 7-3 including getting both right Sunday. I favor the Steelers but I reserve the right to make my final pick next Monday the 26th.
The Pittsburgh Steelers who until the merger of the old AFL with the NFL was the laughing stock of the NFL. Since the merger in 1970 when they transferred to the AFC they will now be going to the Super Bowl for the seventh time.
The Arizona Cardinals who had never won a playoff game until two weeks ago will be sunning in Tampa over the next two weeks.
The top three defensive teams in the AFC all year have been Baltimore, Tennessee, and Pittsburgh. Of those three the one with the best offense was the Steelers and they will play one more game this year.
Ben Roethisberger had two passes that covered over forty yards each and that proved to be the difference as the Steelers out hit the Ravens 23-14.
In the last few minutes this games was marred by having to stop play as Willis McGahee had a helmet to helmet hit knocking both players out. This is becoming an all to frequent experience in the NFL and they need to do something with the helmets to stop the use of helmets for weapons. In this case neither player lead with the helmet but both collided with McGahee carted off the field
Rookie Joe Flacco had a rookie day throwing three ints but with four minutes to play his team had the ball down only 17-14 before the Steeler defense could get their third int which was run back for six.
Mean while in the Arizona Desert:
The Arizona Cardinals played a flawless first half racing out to a 24-6 lead. Kurt Warner tossed three touchdowns to Larry Fitzgerald and the Cardinals continue to play the same as they did against the Carolina Panthers.
Fortunately for the Eagles they had a chance to sit down for a minute at the half after the whirlwind first half and stormed back to take a 25-24 lead only to see Kurt Warner methodically lead the cardinals on the game winning drive and throw the winning score to Hightower to Win 32-25.
It is the first Super Bowl appearance by any team named the Cardinals. The Cardinals go all the way back to Chicago and then St Louis before retiring to the Desert of Arizona.
Kurt Warner wins his third NFC championship in three tries while Donavan McNabb playing in his fifth NFC championship in eight years loses for the fourth time.
So far in the playoffs I am 7-3 including getting both right Sunday. I favor the Steelers but I reserve the right to make my final pick next Monday the 26th.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Big Four Get Out The Brooms
Boy when was the last time that all four big four teams played a basketball game on the same day?
An even bigger question is when has all four won on the same day?
I don't have any idea the answer to either question but the new answer is today Saturday January 17th 2009.
The Wolfpack got the day off to a good start by finally finishing a game. It looks as if the guard tandem of Mays/Lagand is the only good answer for the pack. It might not be the perfect answer but it is the only one they have to have a chance in any game. Pack wins in OT 76-71 over winless Georgia Tech.
The Wolfpack stole TV time from the Blue Devils because of the overtime but when the cameras got rolling so did the Devils as they win their 68th straight non-conference game in a row in Cameron 76-67 over the Big East and Georgetown.
The ACC game of the day pitted Clemson 16-0 hosting Wake Forest 15-0. Leading most of the way Wake Forest showed the world that they are for real as Clemson made a charge at the Deacs to cut the lead to one point but Wake Forest next three trips down the court they got off shots less than a foot from the basket to quickly jump back up by seven and resume command.
If you weren't convinced before about the Demon Deacons you should be now as this is their best start in history 16-0. They should be the #1 team in the nation come Monday as Pitt fell at Louisville so Wake is the only unbeaten team left in the country.
Either Duke or Wake Forest will be one and the other #2 but it won't take long to settle any dispute as they play each other in Cameron Wednesday night.
Carolina finished off the good day for the Big Four as they handle Miami in the Dean Dome 82-65. Wayne Ellington score all 23 of his points in the second half to lead the Heels. The Tar Heels get back to level in ACC play at 2-2.
When it's contract time agents, players and teams will say anything to make their position look Strong. It is being reported that Julius Peppers wants out of Carolina to play for a team that plays a 3-4 defense. That ought to get him an extra million or two.
The coaching carousel continues in the NFL as Tampa has gotten rid Of John Gruden. He might not be the last coach to lose his job this year as KC is still thinking over a possible change.
Between retirements, firings, and just plane quitting 25% of the league will have a new coach next year.
An even bigger question is when has all four won on the same day?
I don't have any idea the answer to either question but the new answer is today Saturday January 17th 2009.
The Wolfpack got the day off to a good start by finally finishing a game. It looks as if the guard tandem of Mays/Lagand is the only good answer for the pack. It might not be the perfect answer but it is the only one they have to have a chance in any game. Pack wins in OT 76-71 over winless Georgia Tech.
The Wolfpack stole TV time from the Blue Devils because of the overtime but when the cameras got rolling so did the Devils as they win their 68th straight non-conference game in a row in Cameron 76-67 over the Big East and Georgetown.
The ACC game of the day pitted Clemson 16-0 hosting Wake Forest 15-0. Leading most of the way Wake Forest showed the world that they are for real as Clemson made a charge at the Deacs to cut the lead to one point but Wake Forest next three trips down the court they got off shots less than a foot from the basket to quickly jump back up by seven and resume command.
If you weren't convinced before about the Demon Deacons you should be now as this is their best start in history 16-0. They should be the #1 team in the nation come Monday as Pitt fell at Louisville so Wake is the only unbeaten team left in the country.
Either Duke or Wake Forest will be one and the other #2 but it won't take long to settle any dispute as they play each other in Cameron Wednesday night.
Carolina finished off the good day for the Big Four as they handle Miami in the Dean Dome 82-65. Wayne Ellington score all 23 of his points in the second half to lead the Heels. The Tar Heels get back to level in ACC play at 2-2.
When it's contract time agents, players and teams will say anything to make their position look Strong. It is being reported that Julius Peppers wants out of Carolina to play for a team that plays a 3-4 defense. That ought to get him an extra million or two.
The coaching carousel continues in the NFL as Tampa has gotten rid Of John Gruden. He might not be the last coach to lose his job this year as KC is still thinking over a possible change.
Between retirements, firings, and just plane quitting 25% of the league will have a new coach next year.
Four game Sweep For The Gryphons
Friday night the Gryphon hosted the Firebirds of Southern Nash and came away with a sweep of all four games played.
The JV boys and girls were winners.
In varsity girls action nursing a 22-15 halftime lead, the lady Gryphons held the Ladybirds to just one field goal in the 3rd quarter and ran away from Southern Nash 59-32. Dyonna Battle lead the way with 15 points.
This makes the Lady Gryphons 2-0 in league play and it is their 10 victory of the season in 14 tries.
Charles Alston let me look at the years stat sheet for both the boys and girls tonight and going into tonight's game the Lady Gryphons had 238 turnovers in 13 games. That is a whopping 18 plus per game. Just imagine how good this team could be if they could handle the ball.
In the boys game the Gryphons played without Tashawn Mabry but managed to win without him 60-47. One point in the second half the Griffs had a 21 point lead. Down the stretch the Gryphons missed 15 of 20 free throws and at one point had missed nine in a row.
Back to the stat sheet the Gryphon boys are averaging 15 turnovers a game.
Just before both teams took to the floor for warm ups Alonzo(Bobo) Sharpe was recognized for hitting the 1,000 point club last Friday at Northern.
The boys are now 1-1 and 8-7 in round ball play.
School is out until Friday as the administration squares away the kids schedule for next semester. Testing ended today and Tuesday and Wednesday teachers work on student schedules for the spring.
Because of that no basketball until a trip Friday night to Fike and then Saturday night to Southwest Edgecombe.
Gryphon basketball games are the place to be if you want to find out information. Tonight Terrell Hudgins was in the house watching little sister Tia play for the Lady Gryphons.
Of course I had to ask whether he might skip his senior year at Elon to go for the NFL draft. I already knew the answer since yesterday was the last day for under class men to commit to the NFL draft.
Terrell will be back for his senior season at Elon and if he stays healthy he will become the all time top pass receiver in football history. He already owns all of Elon's records and almost all of the Southern Conference records.
It would not surprise me if number 19 isn't retired one day at Elon Station the home of the Phoenix after Terrell breaks all of the national records.
The JV boys and girls were winners.
In varsity girls action nursing a 22-15 halftime lead, the lady Gryphons held the Ladybirds to just one field goal in the 3rd quarter and ran away from Southern Nash 59-32. Dyonna Battle lead the way with 15 points.
This makes the Lady Gryphons 2-0 in league play and it is their 10 victory of the season in 14 tries.
Charles Alston let me look at the years stat sheet for both the boys and girls tonight and going into tonight's game the Lady Gryphons had 238 turnovers in 13 games. That is a whopping 18 plus per game. Just imagine how good this team could be if they could handle the ball.
In the boys game the Gryphons played without Tashawn Mabry but managed to win without him 60-47. One point in the second half the Griffs had a 21 point lead. Down the stretch the Gryphons missed 15 of 20 free throws and at one point had missed nine in a row.
Back to the stat sheet the Gryphon boys are averaging 15 turnovers a game.
Just before both teams took to the floor for warm ups Alonzo(Bobo) Sharpe was recognized for hitting the 1,000 point club last Friday at Northern.
The boys are now 1-1 and 8-7 in round ball play.
School is out until Friday as the administration squares away the kids schedule for next semester. Testing ended today and Tuesday and Wednesday teachers work on student schedules for the spring.
Because of that no basketball until a trip Friday night to Fike and then Saturday night to Southwest Edgecombe.
Gryphon basketball games are the place to be if you want to find out information. Tonight Terrell Hudgins was in the house watching little sister Tia play for the Lady Gryphons.
Of course I had to ask whether he might skip his senior year at Elon to go for the NFL draft. I already knew the answer since yesterday was the last day for under class men to commit to the NFL draft.
Terrell will be back for his senior season at Elon and if he stays healthy he will become the all time top pass receiver in football history. He already owns all of Elon's records and almost all of the Southern Conference records.
It would not surprise me if number 19 isn't retired one day at Elon Station the home of the Phoenix after Terrell breaks all of the national records.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Second Half of Season Starts Tonight
Even though conference play is only one game into the season, tonight begins the second part of the basketball season for the Rocky Mount Gryphons.
The boys will try to get a rhythm, something they have not had since the infusion of the football players in mid December. They will try to get above even with their record tonight over all and back to even in the conference as they host Southern Nash.
The girls are tied for first after one game and have a rather good overall record at 9-4. They have had their moments of great play and then at times struggled to find the bottom of the net.
JV Girls begin at 4pm today as four games are on the docket tonight.
Carolina rebounded last night at Virginia winning by 22. Every team during a season has peaks and valleys and I think Carolina is coming out of their valley for this season. They may not go undefeated like most thought but they are still very good.
The NFL schedule for this weekend is for a double header of Sunday. There is something about those two weeks when the NFL has a double header for two weekends on Saturday and Sunday in a row that are special.
The first game on tap Sunday will feature two teams that NO one thought would be here. The Philadelphia Eagles against the Arizona Cardinals. Kick off is set for just after 3pm Sunday. This could be the only playoff game so far that has had any type of good weather.
The Eagles are flying high but you know there is something about the Cardinals that I really like. They are a better team that everyone gives them credit for. I don't know what it is but I'm taking the Cards 30-24. Maybe it's the Nash county connection with J J Arrington.
The backside of Sunday's double header will feature maybe the two hardest hitting defenses in the league. As good as Joe Flacco has been as a rookie for Baltimore I don't think he can lead the Ravens to Victory against the Steelers.
Clinton's Willie Parker is 100% now for the Steelers and Ben Roethesberger is sneaky good. I'll take the Steelers 20- Ravens 12.
Hero of the day:
CHESLEY B. SULLENBERGER the pilot of U S Air flight 1549. Last night all of the networks were praising all of the rescue teams and well they should for getting passengers out of the water as fast as possible yesterday after the crash of flight 1549.
Captain Sullenberger glided his plane over the George Washington bridge which by the way I cross four times back in April, he then avoided any boat and ship traffic and glided his plane to a perfect landing in the Hudson River near 48th street in New York.
If either of his wings had of dug into the river fuel would have spilled and more than likly a fire would have happened. Instead all passengers are safe and the worst of the bunch was one of the flight attendants broke both legs.
My hat is off for Captain Sullenberger. I'll fly with him anytime.
The boys will try to get a rhythm, something they have not had since the infusion of the football players in mid December. They will try to get above even with their record tonight over all and back to even in the conference as they host Southern Nash.
The girls are tied for first after one game and have a rather good overall record at 9-4. They have had their moments of great play and then at times struggled to find the bottom of the net.
JV Girls begin at 4pm today as four games are on the docket tonight.
Carolina rebounded last night at Virginia winning by 22. Every team during a season has peaks and valleys and I think Carolina is coming out of their valley for this season. They may not go undefeated like most thought but they are still very good.
The NFL schedule for this weekend is for a double header of Sunday. There is something about those two weeks when the NFL has a double header for two weekends on Saturday and Sunday in a row that are special.
The first game on tap Sunday will feature two teams that NO one thought would be here. The Philadelphia Eagles against the Arizona Cardinals. Kick off is set for just after 3pm Sunday. This could be the only playoff game so far that has had any type of good weather.
The Eagles are flying high but you know there is something about the Cardinals that I really like. They are a better team that everyone gives them credit for. I don't know what it is but I'm taking the Cards 30-24. Maybe it's the Nash county connection with J J Arrington.
The backside of Sunday's double header will feature maybe the two hardest hitting defenses in the league. As good as Joe Flacco has been as a rookie for Baltimore I don't think he can lead the Ravens to Victory against the Steelers.
Clinton's Willie Parker is 100% now for the Steelers and Ben Roethesberger is sneaky good. I'll take the Steelers 20- Ravens 12.
Hero of the day:
CHESLEY B. SULLENBERGER the pilot of U S Air flight 1549. Last night all of the networks were praising all of the rescue teams and well they should for getting passengers out of the water as fast as possible yesterday after the crash of flight 1549.
Captain Sullenberger glided his plane over the George Washington bridge which by the way I cross four times back in April, he then avoided any boat and ship traffic and glided his plane to a perfect landing in the Hudson River near 48th street in New York.
If either of his wings had of dug into the river fuel would have spilled and more than likly a fire would have happened. Instead all passengers are safe and the worst of the bunch was one of the flight attendants broke both legs.
My hat is off for Captain Sullenberger. I'll fly with him anytime.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Wake is playing at High Level
Two weeks from tonight at the Rocky Mount Shrine Club the 2008 football Gryphons will hold their awards night and honor a very special football team.
It begins at 6.30pm and the cost is $10. The dinner will be Chicken and hog. This is a chance for all Gryphon fans to actually see the faces of these young men that you may only know through their number on their jersey.
Just ten days ago Boston College could do no wrong in beating Carolina in Chapel Hill. Last night BC looked as if they were helpless in trying to figure out how to attack the Deacs. The Wake Forest Demon Deacons have speed at every position. If I had a vote I would vote Wake Forest the #1 team right now.
Wake travels to Clemson Saturday and one team will have a loss. That will be one more than either has right now combined.
College basketball now starts in early November and doesn't end to the first weekend in April. I don't care how good you are that is such a long period that everyone has a bad day along the way.
It is still too early to think anybody could go undefeated so Wake has a long way to go.
Duke continues to play good defense and win at Georgia Tech. Head to head against Wake Duke will be too slow to beat the Deacons.
Testing finishes today in the county so basketball cranks up again Friday night as the Gryphons host Southern Nash.
During a slow period like this for sports it gives me and opportunity to tell you of one of the most unusual events that I ever cover on the radio.
The Ahoskie Rotary club use to put on a race every Saturday after Thanksgiving which at the time was the oldest continuous race in North Carolina. They had a 10k,5k and a one mile fun run.
There was a time when radio stations covered events because it was part of the community and in a small town like Ahoskie watching the stop light change was news.
The management at the station called me on a Friday afternoon and asked if I would be interested in doing the race live from 12-2 on Saturday.
Back in the good old days as we like to remember them there were no cell phones. The ticket booth had a telephone jack where I hooked up my equipment. I had a 100 foot microphone cord in which I could walk 100 feet outside the gym and walk inside at the end of the event to hear the awards presentation.
I think this was 1984 but I am not 100% sure. High noon I come on the air and tell everyone what we are going to be doing for the next two hours? Talking. 12.10 was the start of the 10k race. 80 runners or so from all across the state were running. I had no idea who any of them were there was no line up. all I knew was #313 pinned on their chest.
The starting pistol sounds and off goes 80 runners who circle the parking lot once and disappear down highway 561. I now have about 25 minutes to describe a race that I can't see and I don't know who they are running.
I would say that there were 500 people there that day either to run or watch friends or loved ones run. Before the day was over I interviewed every one of them to fill the time.
By the way since this was a last minute deal there were no commercials to break back to the station for just describe a race that was three miles down the road from where I was. When ever I needed a drink of water I worked my way to the water fountain in the gym lobby an people got to hear me drink water live on the radio.
They say you learn more when working under pressure. I learned a lot that day.
It begins at 6.30pm and the cost is $10. The dinner will be Chicken and hog. This is a chance for all Gryphon fans to actually see the faces of these young men that you may only know through their number on their jersey.
Just ten days ago Boston College could do no wrong in beating Carolina in Chapel Hill. Last night BC looked as if they were helpless in trying to figure out how to attack the Deacs. The Wake Forest Demon Deacons have speed at every position. If I had a vote I would vote Wake Forest the #1 team right now.
Wake travels to Clemson Saturday and one team will have a loss. That will be one more than either has right now combined.
College basketball now starts in early November and doesn't end to the first weekend in April. I don't care how good you are that is such a long period that everyone has a bad day along the way.
It is still too early to think anybody could go undefeated so Wake has a long way to go.
Duke continues to play good defense and win at Georgia Tech. Head to head against Wake Duke will be too slow to beat the Deacons.
Testing finishes today in the county so basketball cranks up again Friday night as the Gryphons host Southern Nash.
During a slow period like this for sports it gives me and opportunity to tell you of one of the most unusual events that I ever cover on the radio.
The Ahoskie Rotary club use to put on a race every Saturday after Thanksgiving which at the time was the oldest continuous race in North Carolina. They had a 10k,5k and a one mile fun run.
There was a time when radio stations covered events because it was part of the community and in a small town like Ahoskie watching the stop light change was news.
The management at the station called me on a Friday afternoon and asked if I would be interested in doing the race live from 12-2 on Saturday.
Back in the good old days as we like to remember them there were no cell phones. The ticket booth had a telephone jack where I hooked up my equipment. I had a 100 foot microphone cord in which I could walk 100 feet outside the gym and walk inside at the end of the event to hear the awards presentation.
I think this was 1984 but I am not 100% sure. High noon I come on the air and tell everyone what we are going to be doing for the next two hours? Talking. 12.10 was the start of the 10k race. 80 runners or so from all across the state were running. I had no idea who any of them were there was no line up. all I knew was #313 pinned on their chest.
The starting pistol sounds and off goes 80 runners who circle the parking lot once and disappear down highway 561. I now have about 25 minutes to describe a race that I can't see and I don't know who they are running.
I would say that there were 500 people there that day either to run or watch friends or loved ones run. Before the day was over I interviewed every one of them to fill the time.
By the way since this was a last minute deal there were no commercials to break back to the station for just describe a race that was three miles down the road from where I was. When ever I needed a drink of water I worked my way to the water fountain in the gym lobby an people got to hear me drink water live on the radio.
They say you learn more when working under pressure. I learned a lot that day.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
State And Carolina Share Last Place
I am a person that when I watch sports on TV, especially if N.C. State is involved, I scream at the TV, complain about a ref's call, or question what the coach was thinking.
Not this year:
I just sit back and wait for the bottom to fall out. When I first got into doing play-by-play, I use to keep my own stats as the game went along. I did not have the luxury of Charles Alston sitting beside me feeding me the numbers.
Last night, while watching the State-Florida State game, I kept in my head as the second half unfolded a telling stat. I kept track of the trips down court and times scored. I then divided it into a second category. How many times did they shoot without the ball getting inside the foul line before a shot? If they were fouled and attempted foul shots, that counted as a made shot.
During the second half, the Wolfpack was 4-16 when the ball never got any closer than the foul line. They were 11-17 when they at least fed it inside for a shot or a passed it back outside.
With seven minutes to go the score and the Wolfpack ahead 61-57, they were 4-12 outside of the foul line and 10-11 inside. Then the wheels fell off.
I guess you are asking what do those stats tell me. Get the ball inside stupid! Unfortunately, the Wolfpack gets about five minutes of good guard play per half.
If Sidney Lowe survives to last as long as his contract, he must recruit a point guard.
It is very hard for any player to improve if they can't get the ball in a position to score where you are best suited. Because players aren't getting the ball at their best possible spots on the floor, every player looks as if they have not improved since they were freshmen.
I don't care how many 6-foot-9 All-Americans you have, if you can't get the ball at the right time, they can't showcase their talent.
Rumors:
Carolina has lost two of three and rumors abound that all the players who tested the NBA last spring and decided to come back are playing me ball instead of UNC ball. They are working to improve their 3-point shot instead of their baseline jumper.
What I see is teams are triple-teaming Hansbourgh. When he flops, like he normally does, he is not getting the calls he has gotten in the past.
Carolina's perimeter defense was awful against BC and Wake.
NFL:
Which team has the best quarterback left in the playoffs?
McNabb? Roethesberger? Flacco? No, the answer is Kurt Warner. The NFL's two-time MVP is third in the all-time quarterback ratings list at 94.3. That trails only Steve Young at 96.4 and Peyton Manning at 94.7.
Philip Rivers, my favorite player in the NFL needs 72 more pass attempts in his career and he will qualify for all career list with 1,500 attempts. Right now, he would be fourth. He has a career quarterback rating of 92.9 which ties him with Tom Brady.
Dan Marino, who I consider the best passer in the NFL since I have been watching, has a 86.6 rating. Brett Farve has a 85.3.
Exams are going on this week throughout the county. There is jubilation in our house as Morgan passed math. She can keep her job as basketball manager for another semester.
Not this year:
I just sit back and wait for the bottom to fall out. When I first got into doing play-by-play, I use to keep my own stats as the game went along. I did not have the luxury of Charles Alston sitting beside me feeding me the numbers.
Last night, while watching the State-Florida State game, I kept in my head as the second half unfolded a telling stat. I kept track of the trips down court and times scored. I then divided it into a second category. How many times did they shoot without the ball getting inside the foul line before a shot? If they were fouled and attempted foul shots, that counted as a made shot.
During the second half, the Wolfpack was 4-16 when the ball never got any closer than the foul line. They were 11-17 when they at least fed it inside for a shot or a passed it back outside.
With seven minutes to go the score and the Wolfpack ahead 61-57, they were 4-12 outside of the foul line and 10-11 inside. Then the wheels fell off.
I guess you are asking what do those stats tell me. Get the ball inside stupid! Unfortunately, the Wolfpack gets about five minutes of good guard play per half.
If Sidney Lowe survives to last as long as his contract, he must recruit a point guard.
It is very hard for any player to improve if they can't get the ball in a position to score where you are best suited. Because players aren't getting the ball at their best possible spots on the floor, every player looks as if they have not improved since they were freshmen.
I don't care how many 6-foot-9 All-Americans you have, if you can't get the ball at the right time, they can't showcase their talent.
Rumors:
Carolina has lost two of three and rumors abound that all the players who tested the NBA last spring and decided to come back are playing me ball instead of UNC ball. They are working to improve their 3-point shot instead of their baseline jumper.
What I see is teams are triple-teaming Hansbourgh. When he flops, like he normally does, he is not getting the calls he has gotten in the past.
Carolina's perimeter defense was awful against BC and Wake.
NFL:
Which team has the best quarterback left in the playoffs?
McNabb? Roethesberger? Flacco? No, the answer is Kurt Warner. The NFL's two-time MVP is third in the all-time quarterback ratings list at 94.3. That trails only Steve Young at 96.4 and Peyton Manning at 94.7.
Philip Rivers, my favorite player in the NFL needs 72 more pass attempts in his career and he will qualify for all career list with 1,500 attempts. Right now, he would be fourth. He has a career quarterback rating of 92.9 which ties him with Tom Brady.
Dan Marino, who I consider the best passer in the NFL since I have been watching, has a 86.6 rating. Brett Farve has a 85.3.
Exams are going on this week throughout the county. There is jubilation in our house as Morgan passed math. She can keep her job as basketball manager for another semester.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
For The Good Of The team
Ten weeks into the NFL season the New York Giants were already labeled Super Bowl finalist. Now with two weeks to go, they are home wondering what might have been.
There are plenty of teams in every sport that can relate to their plight and we have to look no further than right here in Rocky Mount at the football Gryphons.
Unlike the Giants, the Gryphons were as close to having every player healthy in the game as possible considering they were playing their 15th game of the season.
The Giants, however, played without their best pass receiver who thought he was above the law and paid a price for stupidity.
Discipline and how you deal with it can tear your team apart. You have to give Tom Coughlin credit he did what he had to do for the future of the New York Giants.
The short run his team suffered and lacked and outside game and was quickly eliminated from the NFL playoffs.
The future, however ,will be better. A cancer in the name of Plaxico Burress has been removed. I heard on the NFL shows that Burris had been fined 25 times last season for being late to meetings.
Burris thought he was above the team by missing meetings and above the law by carrying an unregistered gun which he shot himself with and luckily, not someone else.
I doubt that you will see Burress in the NFL next year. First of all, because he will probably be in jail. If some how he escapes and gets probation, the iron hand of the NFL will more than likely make him sit next year.
The Giants will have the off season to find a wide receiver to replace Burress. Most importantly, everyone else will see that they the Giants will not put up with undisciplined actions and the organization will be better for it.
Next year at this time: We will be able to see whether they are a better organization or another team that missed a great opportunity.
The Dallas Cowboys are the national medias darlings. They have an owner instead of sitting in his luxury box and being the owner would rather stand on the sidelines and coach the team in front of the TV cameras.
Jerry Jones is more concerned about keeping the Dallas Cowboys in the news. The worst thing to happen to Jerry Jones was he won rather quickly for a couple of years after he became owner of the Cowboys.
Jimmy Johnson who could coach left because Jerry Jones thought he had all the answers. He became the owner, head coach, and team spokesman. Since Johnson left him they have slowly deteriorated into a team that has not won a playoff game in more than a decade.
When management doesn't have discipline who is going to show the players on the field the correct way.
Next year let's watch and see if the Giants come right back to the status they were the first ten games of the season. Then let's watch and see if the Cowboys are any more than a media machine. They are always in front of the cameras and willing to sacrifice discipline for media hype.
If you don't have discipline yourself, how can you expect those that cash your checks to act any differently than you?
I think as long as Jerry Jones is the owner of the Cowboys they will always be the headline on SportsCenter.
Twenty years from now they will be the Oakland Raiders. A team that use to be.
There are plenty of teams in every sport that can relate to their plight and we have to look no further than right here in Rocky Mount at the football Gryphons.
Unlike the Giants, the Gryphons were as close to having every player healthy in the game as possible considering they were playing their 15th game of the season.
The Giants, however, played without their best pass receiver who thought he was above the law and paid a price for stupidity.
Discipline and how you deal with it can tear your team apart. You have to give Tom Coughlin credit he did what he had to do for the future of the New York Giants.
The short run his team suffered and lacked and outside game and was quickly eliminated from the NFL playoffs.
The future, however ,will be better. A cancer in the name of Plaxico Burress has been removed. I heard on the NFL shows that Burris had been fined 25 times last season for being late to meetings.
Burris thought he was above the team by missing meetings and above the law by carrying an unregistered gun which he shot himself with and luckily, not someone else.
I doubt that you will see Burress in the NFL next year. First of all, because he will probably be in jail. If some how he escapes and gets probation, the iron hand of the NFL will more than likely make him sit next year.
The Giants will have the off season to find a wide receiver to replace Burress. Most importantly, everyone else will see that they the Giants will not put up with undisciplined actions and the organization will be better for it.
Next year at this time: We will be able to see whether they are a better organization or another team that missed a great opportunity.
The Dallas Cowboys are the national medias darlings. They have an owner instead of sitting in his luxury box and being the owner would rather stand on the sidelines and coach the team in front of the TV cameras.
Jerry Jones is more concerned about keeping the Dallas Cowboys in the news. The worst thing to happen to Jerry Jones was he won rather quickly for a couple of years after he became owner of the Cowboys.
Jimmy Johnson who could coach left because Jerry Jones thought he had all the answers. He became the owner, head coach, and team spokesman. Since Johnson left him they have slowly deteriorated into a team that has not won a playoff game in more than a decade.
When management doesn't have discipline who is going to show the players on the field the correct way.
Next year let's watch and see if the Giants come right back to the status they were the first ten games of the season. Then let's watch and see if the Cowboys are any more than a media machine. They are always in front of the cameras and willing to sacrifice discipline for media hype.
If you don't have discipline yourself, how can you expect those that cash your checks to act any differently than you?
I think as long as Jerry Jones is the owner of the Cowboys they will always be the headline on SportsCenter.
Twenty years from now they will be the Oakland Raiders. A team that use to be.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
More to Life than Playing Games
Despite the final score, the North Carolina-N.C. State wome'ns basketball game was well worth watching.
The game was carried on Fox Sports Carolina which is channel 49 on the Suddenlink Cable.
The opening was a tribute to Kay Yow, who continues to fight for her life fighting breast cancer.
Both teams before the game circled the midcourt circle and Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell led both teams in prayer for Yow.
The victory in overtime was Hatchell's 800th victory. When ask after the game what it meant to win 800 games coach ,Hatchell said 'it meant nothing when you look at what coach Yow is going through. This is only a game. '
Another example was when Jim Valvano fought for his life Coach K at Duke stepped up for Coach V.
Despite being bitter rivals ,when one side is in need, rivalries stop to help the other.
I remember several years ago, it was the year that Carolina beat N.C. State 17-9 in football in Raleigh that the game went down to the wire ,so no one had left there seats until the last play. I remember as I was filing out looking back to the center of the field and about half the players from both sides had gather and the middle of the field and gave thanks to God. I remember thinking then that despite rivalries every one are friends except when the games is going.
I told you three weeks ago Jan. 11 might be Wake Forest's night against Carolina. Just finished - the Deacs beat Carolina 92-89. Jeff Teague scored 34 for the fourth-ranked Demon Deacons . I know some Carolina fans are ready to jump from the top of the Dean Smith Center, but if Wake and Carolina stay healthy, both could make the final four.
The NFL Divisional Playoffs are in the books with Pittsburgh and Philadelphia moving on.
Two facts - one an old reliable and the other one strange. In all four playoff games, this weekend the team committing the most turnovers lost.
All four teams that scored first lost. So much for a good start.
In case you didn't know, there are no sports this week for Rocky Mount High School until Friday because of exams which will run Monday-Thursday. Action resumes in basketball Friday at home versus Southern Nash.
Finally, tonighy,I think I have an answer for SSP, who last week asked whether Dudley Whitley ever coached at Fike. I have a reliable source that tells me he never did, but he did play for the Wilson Tobs back when the Tobs were afiliated with the Milwaukee Braves minor league system.
The game was carried on Fox Sports Carolina which is channel 49 on the Suddenlink Cable.
The opening was a tribute to Kay Yow, who continues to fight for her life fighting breast cancer.
Both teams before the game circled the midcourt circle and Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell led both teams in prayer for Yow.
The victory in overtime was Hatchell's 800th victory. When ask after the game what it meant to win 800 games coach ,Hatchell said 'it meant nothing when you look at what coach Yow is going through. This is only a game. '
Another example was when Jim Valvano fought for his life Coach K at Duke stepped up for Coach V.
Despite being bitter rivals ,when one side is in need, rivalries stop to help the other.
I remember several years ago, it was the year that Carolina beat N.C. State 17-9 in football in Raleigh that the game went down to the wire ,so no one had left there seats until the last play. I remember as I was filing out looking back to the center of the field and about half the players from both sides had gather and the middle of the field and gave thanks to God. I remember thinking then that despite rivalries every one are friends except when the games is going.
I told you three weeks ago Jan. 11 might be Wake Forest's night against Carolina. Just finished - the Deacs beat Carolina 92-89. Jeff Teague scored 34 for the fourth-ranked Demon Deacons . I know some Carolina fans are ready to jump from the top of the Dean Smith Center, but if Wake and Carolina stay healthy, both could make the final four.
The NFL Divisional Playoffs are in the books with Pittsburgh and Philadelphia moving on.
Two facts - one an old reliable and the other one strange. In all four playoff games, this weekend the team committing the most turnovers lost.
All four teams that scored first lost. So much for a good start.
In case you didn't know, there are no sports this week for Rocky Mount High School until Friday because of exams which will run Monday-Thursday. Action resumes in basketball Friday at home versus Southern Nash.
Finally, tonighy,I think I have an answer for SSP, who last week asked whether Dudley Whitley ever coached at Fike. I have a reliable source that tells me he never did, but he did play for the Wilson Tobs back when the Tobs were afiliated with the Milwaukee Braves minor league system.
Panthers' Quick Exit
The first five plays of the Carolina Panthers-Arizona Cardinals playoff game, the Panthers sliced through the Cardinals exactly like the experts predicted.
Sometimes quick scores can can give you the impression that it is going to be an easy game. It was an easy game for the Arizona Cardinals as they sliced up the seemingly slow Carolina defense. It seemed as though the Cardinals were decoying Jake Delhomme all night. Arizona made mincemeat of the Panthers, 33-13.
The Saturday game that proved to be the slugfest was the AFC playoff contest as Baltimore outhit Tennessee, 13-10. Tennessee fumbled twice inside the Ravens' 20, but the difference in the game was ECU's Chris Johnson suffering a sprained ankle. The rookie running back sat out the second half and without Johnson, the Titans could not find the end zone in the second half.
Both of the teams who had byes loss.
Today Philadelphia will try to continue the bye teams' losing as it plays the New York Giants in the 1 p.m. game and then the San Diego Chargers look to do the same to the Pittsburgh Steelers at 4:45.
We are down to six teams and the Western division teams who come in with the worst two records are still alive.
Oddly enough, who do you think the hottest team remaining in the playoffs is? The San Diego Chargers. They have the longest current winning streak at five games. San Diego has the worst record of any team in the playoff.
Clemson with a victory over N.C. State today has won their opening 16 games. Once again, the Wolfpack has very poor backup point guard play and they lose again because of it.
Duke won at Florida State. The beating they laid on the Seminoles was worse than the eight-point difference at the end.
I just have a feeling the winner of the Carolina-Wake game tonight will be the ACC champ.
I have failed to mention this, but my final tally in the bowl picks was 17-17. Embarrassing!
I know many of you know that Curtis Rushing has retired from the Nash-Rocky Mount school system. During the football season, he helped the Gryphons during the latter half of the season helping B.W. Holt's staff. Friday night, he was on the sidelines helping Grover Battle and the Northern Nash girls. Rushing also assisted Battle with his Nash Central Middle School football squad.
I ran into Chad Smith today at the Shell Rapid Lube. We chatted about his future plans. He told me that he attended the Hall of Fame ceremonies in Goldsboro Friday night for Holt.
I really wish he would stay in the area.
Sometimes quick scores can can give you the impression that it is going to be an easy game. It was an easy game for the Arizona Cardinals as they sliced up the seemingly slow Carolina defense. It seemed as though the Cardinals were decoying Jake Delhomme all night. Arizona made mincemeat of the Panthers, 33-13.
The Saturday game that proved to be the slugfest was the AFC playoff contest as Baltimore outhit Tennessee, 13-10. Tennessee fumbled twice inside the Ravens' 20, but the difference in the game was ECU's Chris Johnson suffering a sprained ankle. The rookie running back sat out the second half and without Johnson, the Titans could not find the end zone in the second half.
Both of the teams who had byes loss.
Today Philadelphia will try to continue the bye teams' losing as it plays the New York Giants in the 1 p.m. game and then the San Diego Chargers look to do the same to the Pittsburgh Steelers at 4:45.
We are down to six teams and the Western division teams who come in with the worst two records are still alive.
Oddly enough, who do you think the hottest team remaining in the playoffs is? The San Diego Chargers. They have the longest current winning streak at five games. San Diego has the worst record of any team in the playoff.
Clemson with a victory over N.C. State today has won their opening 16 games. Once again, the Wolfpack has very poor backup point guard play and they lose again because of it.
Duke won at Florida State. The beating they laid on the Seminoles was worse than the eight-point difference at the end.
I just have a feeling the winner of the Carolina-Wake game tonight will be the ACC champ.
I have failed to mention this, but my final tally in the bowl picks was 17-17. Embarrassing!
I know many of you know that Curtis Rushing has retired from the Nash-Rocky Mount school system. During the football season, he helped the Gryphons during the latter half of the season helping B.W. Holt's staff. Friday night, he was on the sidelines helping Grover Battle and the Northern Nash girls. Rushing also assisted Battle with his Nash Central Middle School football squad.
I ran into Chad Smith today at the Shell Rapid Lube. We chatted about his future plans. He told me that he attended the Hall of Fame ceremonies in Goldsboro Friday night for Holt.
I really wish he would stay in the area.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
At The Buzzer
I arrived at Northern Nash's gym at about 6.15 last night and the JV boys game had just started the fourth quarter.
The gym was already filled. Most of the time it takes at least halftime of the girls game to become standing room only but not last night.
What that jammed packed gym saw were two games that went right down to the last shot to determine a winner.
The girls action saw the Lady Gryphons hold on as Northern tried to tie and could not. I never found out what was the problem was, but at one point in the third quarter, there was a dispute at the scorer's table. I think each book had different information and RM's Dyonna Battle was ruled to have fouled out.
The Lady Gryphons are now 9-4 and 1-0 in conference play .
In the night cap....
The score was tied at the half 40-40. The end of the third quarter saw a 55-55 tie. Octavious Lyons put back a missed shot at the buzzer to send the Northern's gym into a sea of Knight fans as the Northern defend its home turf 64-63 over the Gryphons.
There is no telling how many people would go watch if there was a gym big enough for these two teams.
In the second quarter, Alonzo Sharpe recorded his 1,000th point. Later in the quarter, Tashawn Mabry went over 1,500 for his career. Charles Alston, who sat beside me tonight as I did TV and fed me the stats on the game, said that is only the second time in Rocky Mount history that two 1,000-point scorers have been on the same team.
The Gryphons dropped to 7-7 and 0-1 in conference play.
Tonight
Nash County will have their home boys featured on TV. The NFL playoffs are back in full focus as the Carolina Panthers will play host to the Arizona Cardinals. Former Northern Nash (Class of 2001) standout J.J. Arrington, the Cardinals' kick returner and third-down back, will try to take down the Panthers and ex-Southern Nash (Class of 1998) star Julius Peppers. The Panthers are double-digit favorites tonight in Charlotte. Fox will carry the primetime game.
Today's NFL action kicks off at 4.30 with the Baltimore Ravens and the Tennessee Titans. That game will be the CBS game. The nightcap starts at 8 p.m. from Charlotte. In their brief NFL playoff career, the Panthers have never lost a home game.
ACC basketball action starts full tilt this weekend. After Carolina's loss the other night, are we in for a basketball season where just about every team will win half its games?
The Wake-Carolina Sunday night will tell us a lot about this season.
The gym was already filled. Most of the time it takes at least halftime of the girls game to become standing room only but not last night.
What that jammed packed gym saw were two games that went right down to the last shot to determine a winner.
The girls action saw the Lady Gryphons hold on as Northern tried to tie and could not. I never found out what was the problem was, but at one point in the third quarter, there was a dispute at the scorer's table. I think each book had different information and RM's Dyonna Battle was ruled to have fouled out.
The Lady Gryphons are now 9-4 and 1-0 in conference play .
In the night cap....
The score was tied at the half 40-40. The end of the third quarter saw a 55-55 tie. Octavious Lyons put back a missed shot at the buzzer to send the Northern's gym into a sea of Knight fans as the Northern defend its home turf 64-63 over the Gryphons.
There is no telling how many people would go watch if there was a gym big enough for these two teams.
In the second quarter, Alonzo Sharpe recorded his 1,000th point. Later in the quarter, Tashawn Mabry went over 1,500 for his career. Charles Alston, who sat beside me tonight as I did TV and fed me the stats on the game, said that is only the second time in Rocky Mount history that two 1,000-point scorers have been on the same team.
The Gryphons dropped to 7-7 and 0-1 in conference play.
Tonight
Nash County will have their home boys featured on TV. The NFL playoffs are back in full focus as the Carolina Panthers will play host to the Arizona Cardinals. Former Northern Nash (Class of 2001) standout J.J. Arrington, the Cardinals' kick returner and third-down back, will try to take down the Panthers and ex-Southern Nash (Class of 1998) star Julius Peppers. The Panthers are double-digit favorites tonight in Charlotte. Fox will carry the primetime game.
Today's NFL action kicks off at 4.30 with the Baltimore Ravens and the Tennessee Titans. That game will be the CBS game. The nightcap starts at 8 p.m. from Charlotte. In their brief NFL playoff career, the Panthers have never lost a home game.
ACC basketball action starts full tilt this weekend. After Carolina's loss the other night, are we in for a basketball season where just about every team will win half its games?
The Wake-Carolina Sunday night will tell us a lot about this season.
Friday, January 9, 2009
College football ends finally
Florida has defeated Oklahoma for the BCS title, 24-14.
The biggest thing I got out of the game to me was that the Heisman Trophy has become more hype that fact. Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford, the last two winners of the trophy, were average at best.
Neither was superman as the media made both out to be.
Carolina rebounded from their lost to BC. There is never a good loss, but I think the Heels got was good shot of reality that they aren't as good as they think they are.
Carolina played Bobby Cremins' College of Charleston team Wednesday and I would like to tell you how I know Bobby.
Back in the 80's when I lived in Ahoskie, I did the Chowan Braves basketball on the radio. Then, with Bob Burke as coach, they were a power in junior college basketball.
Junior college was the outlet for the kids who could not get into D-I programs because of grades. The system has changed and it is not that way any more.
Burke was from Queens, N.Y. and played college ball at Guilford College at the same time Bobby Cremins, also from Queens, was playing in the ACC at South Carolina.
They both gravitated to coaching and by the late 80s, Burke is at Chowan recruiting all of these D-1 players who needed to graduate from a JC to play in the ACC.
I think over the years, Georgia Tech got two Chowan players and I interviewed Cremins on the radio once while on a recruiting trip to one of Chowan's games.
If you remember, Cremins quit at Georgia Tech and signed up at South Carolina. After a couple of days, he reneged and stayed at Georgia Tech.
I got a call early one evening from Burke from his home in Murfreesboro and he asked me to come over. When I arrived, Cremins was there. I spent a couple of hours listening to two Yankees and the Queens talk New York talk.
In order to get away from all the media that was hounding him over quitting South Carolina after two days, Cremins escaped to Burke's home in little Murfreesboro, N.C. He stayed several days and no big time media ever heard he was there.
Today, Cremins is coaching in Charleston, S.C. and Burke is a scout for Nate McMillan and the Portland Trailblazers. McMillan was an All-American point guard for Burke at Chowan before his N. C. State days. By the way, McMillan is the best point guard that I have ever seen, but that is another story for another day.
Going from the fast lane to a flat tire. Boston College loses to Tommy Amaker and Harvard.
Last night, I did a wrestling match at Northern and talking with Dan Richwalski, the athletic director at Northern, told me that they have interviewed nine coaches from around 60 applicants for the head football job at Northern. All nine have head coaching experience.
Tonight it is the first night on conference play in the NEW 6 basketball season. Rocky Mount hops on their bicycles for the trip to Northern. If you don't already have a ticket, don't bother going. It is a sellout.
I'll be there filming for the Stretchlon Sports Show. Because the game is sold out, we will be on the stage. So come by to see me.
The biggest thing I got out of the game to me was that the Heisman Trophy has become more hype that fact. Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford, the last two winners of the trophy, were average at best.
Neither was superman as the media made both out to be.
Carolina rebounded from their lost to BC. There is never a good loss, but I think the Heels got was good shot of reality that they aren't as good as they think they are.
Carolina played Bobby Cremins' College of Charleston team Wednesday and I would like to tell you how I know Bobby.
Back in the 80's when I lived in Ahoskie, I did the Chowan Braves basketball on the radio. Then, with Bob Burke as coach, they were a power in junior college basketball.
Junior college was the outlet for the kids who could not get into D-I programs because of grades. The system has changed and it is not that way any more.
Burke was from Queens, N.Y. and played college ball at Guilford College at the same time Bobby Cremins, also from Queens, was playing in the ACC at South Carolina.
They both gravitated to coaching and by the late 80s, Burke is at Chowan recruiting all of these D-1 players who needed to graduate from a JC to play in the ACC.
I think over the years, Georgia Tech got two Chowan players and I interviewed Cremins on the radio once while on a recruiting trip to one of Chowan's games.
If you remember, Cremins quit at Georgia Tech and signed up at South Carolina. After a couple of days, he reneged and stayed at Georgia Tech.
I got a call early one evening from Burke from his home in Murfreesboro and he asked me to come over. When I arrived, Cremins was there. I spent a couple of hours listening to two Yankees and the Queens talk New York talk.
In order to get away from all the media that was hounding him over quitting South Carolina after two days, Cremins escaped to Burke's home in little Murfreesboro, N.C. He stayed several days and no big time media ever heard he was there.
Today, Cremins is coaching in Charleston, S.C. and Burke is a scout for Nate McMillan and the Portland Trailblazers. McMillan was an All-American point guard for Burke at Chowan before his N. C. State days. By the way, McMillan is the best point guard that I have ever seen, but that is another story for another day.
Going from the fast lane to a flat tire. Boston College loses to Tommy Amaker and Harvard.
Last night, I did a wrestling match at Northern and talking with Dan Richwalski, the athletic director at Northern, told me that they have interviewed nine coaches from around 60 applicants for the head football job at Northern. All nine have head coaching experience.
Tonight it is the first night on conference play in the NEW 6 basketball season. Rocky Mount hops on their bicycles for the trip to Northern. If you don't already have a ticket, don't bother going. It is a sellout.
I'll be there filming for the Stretchlon Sports Show. Because the game is sold out, we will be on the stage. So come by to see me.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Frequent Flyer Miles
The Gryphons got back to their winning ways Wednesday night taking three games from Hertford County.
The boys played for the second straight game without Tashawn Mabry who is sitting with an injury. The final was Gryphons 66, HC 53. They get back above .500 at 7-6
The girls' game was highlighted by Dyonna Battle receiving recognition for reaching the 1,000-point club which she had done this past Saturday at Kinston. The girls won their eighth game of the year against only four losses.
I did not see it, but I was told the JV boys game was tied but the Gryphons make a mid-court shot at the buzzer to win.
I went to church Wednesday night and arrived at the boys game at what I thought would be near the end of the first quarter about 7:45 p.m. There was only one minute left in the third quarter when I arrived. The game was over by 8.15.
The refs must had had another game somewhere else at 9.00 p.m.
Snooze and you lose.
Another Gryphon athlete has been honored by the Rocky Mount Telegram as the Athlete of the Year in their sport. Corinne Fischer wins the honor for volleyball.
Retiring Gryphon volleyball coach Debbie Webb was named Coach of the Year for the Twin Counties.
I sat near Stephan Virgil last night and asked him of his prospect of trying for the NFL this season. He told me he would be returning for his senoir season next year at Virginia Tech. Stephan did tell me he is rated about the 12th best cornerback by the NFL right now, but at best that would only be third or fourth round. So he is coming back hoping to move up higher in the draft next year.
We all try to do everything we can to support our children. This past football season, Richard and Sandra Virgil were on jets following Stephan play football that covered several thousand miles.
They started the season driving to Charlotte to see the ECU game. There were three straight homes games in Blacksburg, Va. Then they made their backyard game in Chapel Hill which was the shortest trip all season to any game.
Starting on Sept. 27, they traveled to Lincoln, Ne., Boston, Mass, Tallahassee, Fl., Miami, Fl. The ACC championship game was in Tampa, Fl. which they drove to and they finished up back on a plane to see the Orange Bowl back in Miami on Jan. 1.
I guess all the flight attendants know them on a first-name basis.
Friday night conference play starts at Northern Nash.
Tonight I will be at Northern doing a wrestling match for the Stretchlon Sports Show.
Friday, there is a banquet in Goldsboro the George Whitfield Hall of Fame Banquet which B.W. Holt and the Rocky Mount 2008 baseball team will be among the honored guests. Holt will be inducted into Whitfield's Hall of Fame. This is part of an annual youth baseball clinic which has been held in Goldsboro for many years.
NCPreps.com has released its 3-A All-State state football team and the Gryphons have four players to the team. Keith Strickland, wide receiver, Nick Hahula as kicker, Whit Barnes as an offensive lineman and Chris Pittman at linebacker.
When you win, you get all the glory. On Monday, Jan. 26, the baseball team will again be honored by the Wilson Hot Stove League for its 2008 state baseball championship.
I hope the baseball team isn't getting fat off of chicken and barbecue.
The boys played for the second straight game without Tashawn Mabry who is sitting with an injury. The final was Gryphons 66, HC 53. They get back above .500 at 7-6
The girls' game was highlighted by Dyonna Battle receiving recognition for reaching the 1,000-point club which she had done this past Saturday at Kinston. The girls won their eighth game of the year against only four losses.
I did not see it, but I was told the JV boys game was tied but the Gryphons make a mid-court shot at the buzzer to win.
I went to church Wednesday night and arrived at the boys game at what I thought would be near the end of the first quarter about 7:45 p.m. There was only one minute left in the third quarter when I arrived. The game was over by 8.15.
The refs must had had another game somewhere else at 9.00 p.m.
Snooze and you lose.
Another Gryphon athlete has been honored by the Rocky Mount Telegram as the Athlete of the Year in their sport. Corinne Fischer wins the honor for volleyball.
Retiring Gryphon volleyball coach Debbie Webb was named Coach of the Year for the Twin Counties.
I sat near Stephan Virgil last night and asked him of his prospect of trying for the NFL this season. He told me he would be returning for his senoir season next year at Virginia Tech. Stephan did tell me he is rated about the 12th best cornerback by the NFL right now, but at best that would only be third or fourth round. So he is coming back hoping to move up higher in the draft next year.
We all try to do everything we can to support our children. This past football season, Richard and Sandra Virgil were on jets following Stephan play football that covered several thousand miles.
They started the season driving to Charlotte to see the ECU game. There were three straight homes games in Blacksburg, Va. Then they made their backyard game in Chapel Hill which was the shortest trip all season to any game.
Starting on Sept. 27, they traveled to Lincoln, Ne., Boston, Mass, Tallahassee, Fl., Miami, Fl. The ACC championship game was in Tampa, Fl. which they drove to and they finished up back on a plane to see the Orange Bowl back in Miami on Jan. 1.
I guess all the flight attendants know them on a first-name basis.
Friday night conference play starts at Northern Nash.
Tonight I will be at Northern doing a wrestling match for the Stretchlon Sports Show.
Friday, there is a banquet in Goldsboro the George Whitfield Hall of Fame Banquet which B.W. Holt and the Rocky Mount 2008 baseball team will be among the honored guests. Holt will be inducted into Whitfield's Hall of Fame. This is part of an annual youth baseball clinic which has been held in Goldsboro for many years.
NCPreps.com has released its 3-A All-State state football team and the Gryphons have four players to the team. Keith Strickland, wide receiver, Nick Hahula as kicker, Whit Barnes as an offensive lineman and Chris Pittman at linebacker.
When you win, you get all the glory. On Monday, Jan. 26, the baseball team will again be honored by the Wilson Hot Stove League for its 2008 state baseball championship.
I hope the baseball team isn't getting fat off of chicken and barbecue.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
NFL'S Best Part TWO
The lady Gryphons and boys were swept last night in basketball at Beddingfield.
Tonight with not much time to think about last night the Gryphons host Hertford County.
We will continue today with my ALL PRO NFL team. Yesterday were covered most of the offense. I did leave off tight ends so we will start there before we jump to the defense.
Tight Ends: There is no doubt the best in football is Tony Gonzales of the Kansas City chiefs. Once again 88 gets over a thousand yards receiving the only tight end to do that. 70% of his catches were for first downs. Second best Jason Whitten Dallas Cowboys
The good thing about defensive players is they all have some type of stats where offensive line men have nothing. In the case of each position I set up a point system based on tackles, sacks, int etc.
Nose tackles: Shawn Rogers Cleveland Browns. had 76 tackles and 4.5 sacks. Second Vince Wilfork New England Patriots.
Defensive tackles: Kevin Williams Minnesota Vikes. 60 tackles and 8.5 sacks. next best Darnell Duckett Kansas City Chiefs
Defensive Ends: Jared Allen Minnesota Vikings... Had 14.5 sacks but added 54 other tackles. Julius Peppers Bailey North Carolina, Rebounded this season with 14.5 sacks and 51 tackles. second team. Justin Tuck New York Giants and Mario Williams Richlands NC. Easily the most talented position in football. Andre Ware with 20 sacks not in top 5.
Middle Line Backer: Barrett Rudd Tampa Bay 137 tackles, three sacks, and three Ints.
Inside Linebacker: D'qwell Jackson 154 tackles, two sacks, and 3 ints
Outside Linebackers: James Harrison Pittsburgh Steelers. 101 tackles,16 sacks,4 ints, and 7 force fumbles. No wonder he is the NFL Defensive player of the year. Patrick Willis San Francisco 49's. 141 tackles, 1 int and 1 sack.
Corner Backs: Cortland Finnegan... had 5 int lead league in batted balls 21 which means he is on his man. Chris Gamble Carolina Panthers. 5 ints and one returned for touchdown.
Strong safety: Michael Griffin 7 ints and one returned to the house.
Free safety: Ed Reed Mr Ball Hawk 9 ints and two returned to the house
Kickers: There are not many teams that don't have a good kicker. Josh Brown Hit 94% of all kicks and 6 of 8 from more than 50 yards
Punter: Mike Srifres San Diego.. Averaged 45.7 yards per punt. 19 of his 51 punts were down inside 20 yard line 37%. The real number only 2.8 yards per return the best by 2 yards.
Come back player of Year: Jake Delehomme Carolina. Only played two games last year and had total reconstruction surgery in elbow.
Worst move of year: Jerry Jones first of all letting Pacman Jones even play at all this year but after he beats up a team security guard letting him continue to play. The man is Al davis twenty years from now.
Defensive player of the year: James Harrison Pittsburgh Steelers. Stats speak for themselves. Almost the best ED Reed.
This is the NFL in a nutshell. 5 of 6 Pro Bowl quarter backs not in playoffs this weekend. My top two defenders still playing. What does that tell you? Win with defense!
As they say in golf"Drive for show putt for dough". In football sell tickets with offense win championships with defense.
Tonight with not much time to think about last night the Gryphons host Hertford County.
We will continue today with my ALL PRO NFL team. Yesterday were covered most of the offense. I did leave off tight ends so we will start there before we jump to the defense.
Tight Ends: There is no doubt the best in football is Tony Gonzales of the Kansas City chiefs. Once again 88 gets over a thousand yards receiving the only tight end to do that. 70% of his catches were for first downs. Second best Jason Whitten Dallas Cowboys
The good thing about defensive players is they all have some type of stats where offensive line men have nothing. In the case of each position I set up a point system based on tackles, sacks, int etc.
Nose tackles: Shawn Rogers Cleveland Browns. had 76 tackles and 4.5 sacks. Second Vince Wilfork New England Patriots.
Defensive tackles: Kevin Williams Minnesota Vikes. 60 tackles and 8.5 sacks. next best Darnell Duckett Kansas City Chiefs
Defensive Ends: Jared Allen Minnesota Vikings... Had 14.5 sacks but added 54 other tackles. Julius Peppers Bailey North Carolina, Rebounded this season with 14.5 sacks and 51 tackles. second team. Justin Tuck New York Giants and Mario Williams Richlands NC. Easily the most talented position in football. Andre Ware with 20 sacks not in top 5.
Middle Line Backer: Barrett Rudd Tampa Bay 137 tackles, three sacks, and three Ints.
Inside Linebacker: D'qwell Jackson 154 tackles, two sacks, and 3 ints
Outside Linebackers: James Harrison Pittsburgh Steelers. 101 tackles,16 sacks,4 ints, and 7 force fumbles. No wonder he is the NFL Defensive player of the year. Patrick Willis San Francisco 49's. 141 tackles, 1 int and 1 sack.
Corner Backs: Cortland Finnegan... had 5 int lead league in batted balls 21 which means he is on his man. Chris Gamble Carolina Panthers. 5 ints and one returned for touchdown.
Strong safety: Michael Griffin 7 ints and one returned to the house.
Free safety: Ed Reed Mr Ball Hawk 9 ints and two returned to the house
Kickers: There are not many teams that don't have a good kicker. Josh Brown Hit 94% of all kicks and 6 of 8 from more than 50 yards
Punter: Mike Srifres San Diego.. Averaged 45.7 yards per punt. 19 of his 51 punts were down inside 20 yard line 37%. The real number only 2.8 yards per return the best by 2 yards.
Come back player of Year: Jake Delehomme Carolina. Only played two games last year and had total reconstruction surgery in elbow.
Worst move of year: Jerry Jones first of all letting Pacman Jones even play at all this year but after he beats up a team security guard letting him continue to play. The man is Al davis twenty years from now.
Defensive player of the year: James Harrison Pittsburgh Steelers. Stats speak for themselves. Almost the best ED Reed.
This is the NFL in a nutshell. 5 of 6 Pro Bowl quarter backs not in playoffs this weekend. My top two defenders still playing. What does that tell you? Win with defense!
As they say in golf"Drive for show putt for dough". In football sell tickets with offense win championships with defense.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
NFL's Best
The Rocky Mount Gryphons tonight travel to Beddingfield to begin the new year. This is a busy week of basketball as Wednesday they host Hertford County and finish off the week with the Knights of Northern Nash at Northern.
The NFL playoffs are in high gear and shortly they will be naming the All PRO Team. Here is some of my thinking for the offense.
Quarterback: Peyton Manning Indianapolis Colts. He didn't throw for the most yards but the Colts are just average without him. Second Best Philip Rivers San Diego Chargers. It is no longer LT's Chargers
Running Back: Adrian Peterson Minnesota Vikings. What needs to be said, this dude is good. Second best Michael Turner Atlanta Falcons. The Falcon turn a round was because Turner kept the heat off Ryan.
Wide Receivers: Andre Johnson Houston Texans. The Texans didn't get to play a home game during the first month of season because of a Hurricane. Their bad start cost Johnson a possible MVP of the league if they could have made playoffs. Second best Steve Smith Carolina Panthers and Wes Welker New England Partiots
Linemen: In a world of instance stats you would think the NFL could come up with some type of stats for linemen. Knock down blocks, sacks allowed, etc. You make your own picks on linemen.
Offensive player of the Year: Drew Brees New Orleans Saints. Is the best pure passer in football. Remember I said passer not best quarterback.
Kick returner:Darren Sproles San Diego Chargers. Probably the most exciting player in the league
Most Surprising Team:Miami Dolphins Look last year they won ONE game
Most Disappointing: New York Jets. In week eleven they were talking a superbowl between the Giants and Jets. Now Brett Farve's teammates have thrown him under the bus. Jets didn't even make playoffs or finish first or second in their division. Runner Up Denver Bronco's.
Best Move of year: Hiring Mike Singletary as coach of the 49's. Look out next year after they have a full off season with Singletary in charge. Second best Charger hiring Ron Rivera as Defensive Coordinator mid season. That move may win super bowl
Tomorrow we will look at the defense.
The NFL playoffs are in high gear and shortly they will be naming the All PRO Team. Here is some of my thinking for the offense.
Quarterback: Peyton Manning Indianapolis Colts. He didn't throw for the most yards but the Colts are just average without him. Second Best Philip Rivers San Diego Chargers. It is no longer LT's Chargers
Running Back: Adrian Peterson Minnesota Vikings. What needs to be said, this dude is good. Second best Michael Turner Atlanta Falcons. The Falcon turn a round was because Turner kept the heat off Ryan.
Wide Receivers: Andre Johnson Houston Texans. The Texans didn't get to play a home game during the first month of season because of a Hurricane. Their bad start cost Johnson a possible MVP of the league if they could have made playoffs. Second best Steve Smith Carolina Panthers and Wes Welker New England Partiots
Linemen: In a world of instance stats you would think the NFL could come up with some type of stats for linemen. Knock down blocks, sacks allowed, etc. You make your own picks on linemen.
Offensive player of the Year: Drew Brees New Orleans Saints. Is the best pure passer in football. Remember I said passer not best quarterback.
Kick returner:Darren Sproles San Diego Chargers. Probably the most exciting player in the league
Most Surprising Team:Miami Dolphins Look last year they won ONE game
Most Disappointing: New York Jets. In week eleven they were talking a superbowl between the Giants and Jets. Now Brett Farve's teammates have thrown him under the bus. Jets didn't even make playoffs or finish first or second in their division. Runner Up Denver Bronco's.
Best Move of year: Hiring Mike Singletary as coach of the 49's. Look out next year after they have a full off season with Singletary in charge. Second best Charger hiring Ron Rivera as Defensive Coordinator mid season. That move may win super bowl
Tomorrow we will look at the defense.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Wide Open Basketball
Back from the Holidays the Gryphon Basketball team has three games this week. Hertford County and Beddingfield and the cap off the week starting conference play with Northern Nash.
Caroline Gray was named the 'Rocky Mount Telegram" girls tennis player of the year and coach Barry Nettercutt was named Coach of the year.
I watched bits and pieces of the Carolina basketball game. It doesn't matter who you are but when you look for that next gear to go to in a game sometimes you just don't have it or the other team can stay with your extra gear. Last night Boston college had every answer for Carolina.
Now that the question of whether they will go undefeated is gone they can concentrate on winning the ACC which is now not a gimme for the Tar Heels.
Duke takes care of Virginia Tech but I just don't see the Devils winning the conference. They are to me too slow and the Belmonts of the world will give them trouble throughout the season.
Next possible trouble for Duke is Wednesday night against Stephan Curry and Davidson. I think Curry is getting a lot of attention this year but Davidson is not as good as they were last season.
The NFL playoffs are set for next weekend. I got three out of four this past weekend.
It starts at 4.45pm Saturday with the Baltimore Ravens at the Tennessee Titans. This one could be a slug fest and I will take Baltimore.
The prime time Saturday night game with feature the Carolina Panthers who will host the Arizona Cardinals. I think the Panthers will host the NFC championship game the following week.
The reason they will host is Philadelphia is going to take out the New York Giants on Sunday at 1.00pm.
If that happens it will setup a rematch between the Eagles and Panthers. Remember the Panthers unset Philly and went to the Superbowl in 2003.
The final game of the weekend will send the San Diego Chargers to Pittsburgh. I pick the Charger to Host the AFC Championship game since I am picking Baltimore to knock out Tennessee.
If I go four for four this weekend that will set up Philadelphia the #6 seed taking on the Panther the #2 seed in the NFC. The #6 seed Ravens will travel to the #4 seed San Diego Chargers for the AFC Crown.
If this were to happen it can only show all Gryphon fans the best team doesn't all ways win in the playoffs. Just ask the football team.
Caroline Gray was named the 'Rocky Mount Telegram" girls tennis player of the year and coach Barry Nettercutt was named Coach of the year.
I watched bits and pieces of the Carolina basketball game. It doesn't matter who you are but when you look for that next gear to go to in a game sometimes you just don't have it or the other team can stay with your extra gear. Last night Boston college had every answer for Carolina.
Now that the question of whether they will go undefeated is gone they can concentrate on winning the ACC which is now not a gimme for the Tar Heels.
Duke takes care of Virginia Tech but I just don't see the Devils winning the conference. They are to me too slow and the Belmonts of the world will give them trouble throughout the season.
Next possible trouble for Duke is Wednesday night against Stephan Curry and Davidson. I think Curry is getting a lot of attention this year but Davidson is not as good as they were last season.
The NFL playoffs are set for next weekend. I got three out of four this past weekend.
It starts at 4.45pm Saturday with the Baltimore Ravens at the Tennessee Titans. This one could be a slug fest and I will take Baltimore.
The prime time Saturday night game with feature the Carolina Panthers who will host the Arizona Cardinals. I think the Panthers will host the NFC championship game the following week.
The reason they will host is Philadelphia is going to take out the New York Giants on Sunday at 1.00pm.
If that happens it will setup a rematch between the Eagles and Panthers. Remember the Panthers unset Philly and went to the Superbowl in 2003.
The final game of the weekend will send the San Diego Chargers to Pittsburgh. I pick the Charger to Host the AFC Championship game since I am picking Baltimore to knock out Tennessee.
If I go four for four this weekend that will set up Philadelphia the #6 seed taking on the Panther the #2 seed in the NFC. The #6 seed Ravens will travel to the #4 seed San Diego Chargers for the AFC Crown.
If this were to happen it can only show all Gryphon fans the best team doesn't all ways win in the playoffs. Just ask the football team.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Gryphons mourn Dudley Whitley
There is sad news today in the Gryphon Nation of the passing of Dudley Whitley.
The former Blackbird won a baseball scholarship to N.C. State where he was All-ACC his final two years. After finishing his professional baseball career, Whitley returned to Rocky Mount High where he served in just about every capacity possible within the then Rocky Mount City School System from baseball coach to eventually becoming superintendent.
A memorial service will be held at 4 pm. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church of Rocky Mount.
There are those in life that leave an impression on our lives long after they have served their time and Dudley Whitley is one of those.
There is more sad news to pass along today, but this is on a personal note. I told you yesterday that we went to the beach Friday afternoon on a spur of the moment deal. We went out to eat in Nags Head and the Norfolk TV station was on a screen where I could see the news and I could only see the screen not hear it.
There was a headline where a woman was crushed by a falling tree. Come to find out that a Gates County High School coach's wife was killed when their family was returning from a holiday visit with family in Maryland.
The day was so windy that a hugh branch from an overhanging pine tree broke loose and fell as their car passed it along the highway.
Linda Edwards was killed while her husband Dave only receive cuts from the branches.
Dave was the longtime JV coach at Hertford County under both Daryl Allen and the late Carl Brock.
While we lived in Ahoskie, Daryl Allen invited his coaches and anyone who worked to help with the football program to his home after home games to watch the high school scores. It expanded where Pat and I took our turn being a host once a year.
Dave and Linda had visited our home many times as well as his.
The NFL playoffs for next week are set.
Saturday's 4.30 p.m. game will feature the Ravens at Tennessee. Then, the Saturday night headliner will have the Carolina Panthers hosting the Arizona Cardinals.
Sunday's games start at 1 p.m. with the New York Giants hosting the Philadelphia Eagles.
The 4:30 game next Sunday will be the Chargers at Pittsburgh in a rematch of an 11-10 Pittsburgh victory six weeks ago when Pittsburgh did not score a touchdown.
The BCS Bowls crank up again tomorrow night with the Fiesta Bowl. Ohio State faces Texas.
You know so far this has been a rather dull bowl year.
I can't believe what I just saw, but Carolina goes down in basketball at home to Boston College.
More on this tomorrow.
The former Blackbird won a baseball scholarship to N.C. State where he was All-ACC his final two years. After finishing his professional baseball career, Whitley returned to Rocky Mount High where he served in just about every capacity possible within the then Rocky Mount City School System from baseball coach to eventually becoming superintendent.
A memorial service will be held at 4 pm. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church of Rocky Mount.
There are those in life that leave an impression on our lives long after they have served their time and Dudley Whitley is one of those.
There is more sad news to pass along today, but this is on a personal note. I told you yesterday that we went to the beach Friday afternoon on a spur of the moment deal. We went out to eat in Nags Head and the Norfolk TV station was on a screen where I could see the news and I could only see the screen not hear it.
There was a headline where a woman was crushed by a falling tree. Come to find out that a Gates County High School coach's wife was killed when their family was returning from a holiday visit with family in Maryland.
The day was so windy that a hugh branch from an overhanging pine tree broke loose and fell as their car passed it along the highway.
Linda Edwards was killed while her husband Dave only receive cuts from the branches.
Dave was the longtime JV coach at Hertford County under both Daryl Allen and the late Carl Brock.
While we lived in Ahoskie, Daryl Allen invited his coaches and anyone who worked to help with the football program to his home after home games to watch the high school scores. It expanded where Pat and I took our turn being a host once a year.
Dave and Linda had visited our home many times as well as his.
The NFL playoffs for next week are set.
Saturday's 4.30 p.m. game will feature the Ravens at Tennessee. Then, the Saturday night headliner will have the Carolina Panthers hosting the Arizona Cardinals.
Sunday's games start at 1 p.m. with the New York Giants hosting the Philadelphia Eagles.
The 4:30 game next Sunday will be the Chargers at Pittsburgh in a rematch of an 11-10 Pittsburgh victory six weeks ago when Pittsburgh did not score a touchdown.
The BCS Bowls crank up again tomorrow night with the Fiesta Bowl. Ohio State faces Texas.
You know so far this has been a rather dull bowl year.
I can't believe what I just saw, but Carolina goes down in basketball at home to Boston College.
More on this tomorrow.
A Point Guard Away
North Carolina State is a point guard away from having a really good team. Today, traveling to Florida, the Wolfpack had every chance in the world to win except late in the game there was no one to get the ball to the people who need it to score.
State will be lucky to win six conference games with the point guard play they are getting and will get during the rest of the season. They will get blown out a couple of times, but I think for the most part they will be in every game to the end.
Hey Carolina fans, you had better pay attention to the Demon Deacs of Wake Forest. Tonight they won at BYU who had a 53-game home winning streak going which was the longest in the nation. Wake wins at Provo.
The spiral continues for the Rocky Mount Gryphons as they are scalped at Kinston Saturday night to drop to 6-5. The Gryphons have lost five of six.
Saturday, in the NFL playoffs, the home teams won both games.
Arizona won its first playoff game ever, but the Cardinals franchise, it was the first win in 61 years.
Saturday night you saw why the Colts-Chargers were the prime time game as the Charger win in overtime .
The two best players on the field for the Chargers were the two smallest in the game. Darren Sproles, who have the third most total yards in a playoff game in history 322 and two touchdowns.
The other best player was Mike Scifres, the Charger punter who had a 65-yard punt which was the longest punt in the playoffs in 35 years. Four times on his punts Peyton Manning and the Colts started inside their own 10-yard line because of Scifres including his last one with less than three minutes to play that roll out of bounds at the one.
The three Pro Bowl quarterbacks for the AFC have all been eliminated from the playoffs after Manning lost Saturday night. Farve and Cutler failed to make the playoffs and the one quarterback who didn't Phillip Rivers plays on.
San Diego becomes the first NFL team which did not have a winning record to win a playoff game.
As of right now, I am 15-16 in my bowl picks and in the fantasy bowl league I am in the upper 25 percent which tells me nobody has done that well picking the bowl games.
Boy did the Pirates lose a heartbreaker or what.
My wife Pat decides at 11 a.m. Friday that we needed to go to Nags Head Friday night. I saw the ECU Pirates were ahead 16-3 at the half and the next time I cut the tube on they had lost.
Carolina, State, and ECU lose their bowl games with only Wake Forest winning.
State will be lucky to win six conference games with the point guard play they are getting and will get during the rest of the season. They will get blown out a couple of times, but I think for the most part they will be in every game to the end.
Hey Carolina fans, you had better pay attention to the Demon Deacs of Wake Forest. Tonight they won at BYU who had a 53-game home winning streak going which was the longest in the nation. Wake wins at Provo.
The spiral continues for the Rocky Mount Gryphons as they are scalped at Kinston Saturday night to drop to 6-5. The Gryphons have lost five of six.
Saturday, in the NFL playoffs, the home teams won both games.
Arizona won its first playoff game ever, but the Cardinals franchise, it was the first win in 61 years.
Saturday night you saw why the Colts-Chargers were the prime time game as the Charger win in overtime .
The two best players on the field for the Chargers were the two smallest in the game. Darren Sproles, who have the third most total yards in a playoff game in history 322 and two touchdowns.
The other best player was Mike Scifres, the Charger punter who had a 65-yard punt which was the longest punt in the playoffs in 35 years. Four times on his punts Peyton Manning and the Colts started inside their own 10-yard line because of Scifres including his last one with less than three minutes to play that roll out of bounds at the one.
The three Pro Bowl quarterbacks for the AFC have all been eliminated from the playoffs after Manning lost Saturday night. Farve and Cutler failed to make the playoffs and the one quarterback who didn't Phillip Rivers plays on.
San Diego becomes the first NFL team which did not have a winning record to win a playoff game.
As of right now, I am 15-16 in my bowl picks and in the fantasy bowl league I am in the upper 25 percent which tells me nobody has done that well picking the bowl games.
Boy did the Pirates lose a heartbreaker or what.
My wife Pat decides at 11 a.m. Friday that we needed to go to Nags Head Friday night. I saw the ECU Pirates were ahead 16-3 at the half and the next time I cut the tube on they had lost.
Carolina, State, and ECU lose their bowl games with only Wake Forest winning.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Virgil leads Gobblers to Orange Bowl victory
Former Rocky Mount Gryphon Stephan Virgil intercepted a pass in the end zone with just under three minutes to play in the first half of Virginia Tech's Orange Bowl game with Cincinnati. The interception prevented the Bearcats from taking the lead and spurred the Hokies to get a field goal on the last play of first half.
Virgil had three tackles, one being a tackle behind the line of scrimmage. His effort won the "Allstate Insurance Good Hands Play of the Game" for his interception.
Finally, the ACC gets a game as the Hokies dominated it after Cincinnati's opening drive. Final: Virginia Tech 20, Cincinnati 7
The ACC finishes its bowl games with a 4-6 worksheet.
The ECU Pirates get into action today at 5 p.m. in the Liberty Bowl in Memphis.
Through January's first bowl games, I am now 14-13 in my picks.
Does any body know why commentator Paul McGuire rides on the sidelines with the camera man? It makes no sense to me. He must be afraid of elevators. He was on the air New Year's Eve in one of the games. Which one I don't remember. There are so many.
The NFL will name the MVP today and I think it will be Peyton Manning.
Can anybody tell me why Chad Pennington won the Comeback Player of the year? Where did he go to have to come back?
Much better choices would be Jake Delhomme of Carolina who only played two games last year before his "Tommy John surgery."
Two other good candidates would be Kurt Warner and Kerry Collins. Both are quarterbacks long over their starting quarterback careers, but both have found new life this year with high price quarterbacks ahead of them in turmoil.
Rocky Mount's varsity basketball teams will play endowment games Saturday night in Kinston. The boys need to find a groove which has been lacking since the football players joined the team.
Virgil had three tackles, one being a tackle behind the line of scrimmage. His effort won the "Allstate Insurance Good Hands Play of the Game" for his interception.
Finally, the ACC gets a game as the Hokies dominated it after Cincinnati's opening drive. Final: Virginia Tech 20, Cincinnati 7
The ACC finishes its bowl games with a 4-6 worksheet.
The ECU Pirates get into action today at 5 p.m. in the Liberty Bowl in Memphis.
Through January's first bowl games, I am now 14-13 in my picks.
Does any body know why commentator Paul McGuire rides on the sidelines with the camera man? It makes no sense to me. He must be afraid of elevators. He was on the air New Year's Eve in one of the games. Which one I don't remember. There are so many.
The NFL will name the MVP today and I think it will be Peyton Manning.
Can anybody tell me why Chad Pennington won the Comeback Player of the year? Where did he go to have to come back?
Much better choices would be Jake Delhomme of Carolina who only played two games last year before his "Tommy John surgery."
Two other good candidates would be Kurt Warner and Kerry Collins. Both are quarterbacks long over their starting quarterback careers, but both have found new life this year with high price quarterbacks ahead of them in turmoil.
Rocky Mount's varsity basketball teams will play endowment games Saturday night in Kinston. The boys need to find a groove which has been lacking since the football players joined the team.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year
The Gryphon boys basketball team will not wait long to get back to the hardwood after a sixth place finish in the GlaxoSmithKline tournament early in the week.
They will travel to Kinston Saturday (6:30 p.m. tip) to play in an endowment game. After starting out 5-0, the Gryphons have fallen to 6-4 and have another toughie Saturday.
I have just watched Carolina take care of Nevada just past the stroke of midnight. If the Heels play every game like they played tonight, they will be hard to beat.
Duke beat Loyola of Maryland 91-52. The same Loyola team that took State to the wire Monday. State took care of Towson State by 20.
Nolan Smith who has won the point guard position at Duke hurt his knee in today's game. The Duke Nation holds their breath waiting to hear the verdict on the severity of the injury.
I would have to say today's bowl games as a group were about as bad as they can get.
Pittsburgh and Oregon State combined to play a hockey match with State winning 3-0. Apparently the offenses stayed home for the holidays.
Boston College lost to Vanderbilt - that's right, Vanderbilt. The same team Duke beat in Nashville. Maybe Duke should have played and BC stayed home.
Maybe they forgot, but Georgia Tech was playing in front of the home folks and were down by 32 at the half. Thanks for making the ACC look good, Yellow Jackets.
The ACC is 3-5 so far in the bowl games.
The Carolina Hurricanes won last night and of course I had a seat in my living room to watch. I will say one thing for HD TV. It is easier following the puck in HD over regular TV.
Stephan Virgil and the Virginia Tech Hokies are front and center in the Orange bowl Thursday night.
J.J. Arrington and the Arizona Cardinals begin play in the NFL playoffs Saturday afternoon. Julius Peppers and the Carolina Panthers do not play until Saturday, Jan. 10.
I wonder why that the NFL will have a Saturday night prime time game on each of the next two weeks but not on Sunday night? The Sunday games both weekends start at 1 and 4.30 p.m. Strange.
Seems as successful the Sunday Night games have become and how much the NFL wants to make money seems like Sunday night prime time would be more advertising money.
I saw this on a blog, so I don't know how true it is, but for all you Dallas Cowboy fans who want to get season tickets next year in the new Billion dollar stadium, the cheapest seat in the place is $247 a ticket. Well Jerry Jones has to pay for the place some how. Can you imagine what parking will cost?
A round trip flight from Raleigh-Durham will be cheaper than the game. All you Dallas fans show how much you really like the Cowboys by buying season tickets today. Hurry they are selling fast. Eight regular season games and two preseason games will only cost you $2,470 for the nose bleed section. I really was hoping for a 50-yard line seats. The way the economy is right now, II doubt if I can float a loan for one 50-yard line seat for just one game.
Through tonight's college bowl games, I have fallen to 10-12 in my picks.
They will travel to Kinston Saturday (6:30 p.m. tip) to play in an endowment game. After starting out 5-0, the Gryphons have fallen to 6-4 and have another toughie Saturday.
I have just watched Carolina take care of Nevada just past the stroke of midnight. If the Heels play every game like they played tonight, they will be hard to beat.
Duke beat Loyola of Maryland 91-52. The same Loyola team that took State to the wire Monday. State took care of Towson State by 20.
Nolan Smith who has won the point guard position at Duke hurt his knee in today's game. The Duke Nation holds their breath waiting to hear the verdict on the severity of the injury.
I would have to say today's bowl games as a group were about as bad as they can get.
Pittsburgh and Oregon State combined to play a hockey match with State winning 3-0. Apparently the offenses stayed home for the holidays.
Boston College lost to Vanderbilt - that's right, Vanderbilt. The same team Duke beat in Nashville. Maybe Duke should have played and BC stayed home.
Maybe they forgot, but Georgia Tech was playing in front of the home folks and were down by 32 at the half. Thanks for making the ACC look good, Yellow Jackets.
The ACC is 3-5 so far in the bowl games.
The Carolina Hurricanes won last night and of course I had a seat in my living room to watch. I will say one thing for HD TV. It is easier following the puck in HD over regular TV.
Stephan Virgil and the Virginia Tech Hokies are front and center in the Orange bowl Thursday night.
J.J. Arrington and the Arizona Cardinals begin play in the NFL playoffs Saturday afternoon. Julius Peppers and the Carolina Panthers do not play until Saturday, Jan. 10.
I wonder why that the NFL will have a Saturday night prime time game on each of the next two weeks but not on Sunday night? The Sunday games both weekends start at 1 and 4.30 p.m. Strange.
Seems as successful the Sunday Night games have become and how much the NFL wants to make money seems like Sunday night prime time would be more advertising money.
I saw this on a blog, so I don't know how true it is, but for all you Dallas Cowboy fans who want to get season tickets next year in the new Billion dollar stadium, the cheapest seat in the place is $247 a ticket. Well Jerry Jones has to pay for the place some how. Can you imagine what parking will cost?
A round trip flight from Raleigh-Durham will be cheaper than the game. All you Dallas fans show how much you really like the Cowboys by buying season tickets today. Hurry they are selling fast. Eight regular season games and two preseason games will only cost you $2,470 for the nose bleed section. I really was hoping for a 50-yard line seats. The way the economy is right now, II doubt if I can float a loan for one 50-yard line seat for just one game.
Through tonight's college bowl games, I have fallen to 10-12 in my picks.
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