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.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Good article by Carlton Tudor in today's N&O regarding UNC men. "Soft" is a good term to use their play the last couple of games. Thompson has disappeared since Hansbrough came back and Ellington can't consistently hit from the outside to open up the inside. Lawson got outplayed by Teague and it may be time to get Davis in the starting line-up versus Thompson. Not many teams that have the size, quickness and athletic ability like Wake but them and BC gave UNC opponents a good idea what to do to beat UNC. UNC just showing up at the gym is not going to cut it. As a UNC fan, I give "Coach K" and Duke credit in that that they play hard every game.