I don't think too many people thought before tonight's game that with Tyler Joyner and Hobbs Johnson pitching that there would be too many runs scored, and there weren't.
Tyler Joyner needed four strikeouts to reach three hundred for his career at Northern. He had that after the first four Gryphons struck out. In all Joyner struck out 15 Gryphons and eight of the first nine batters were strike out victims.
Junior Hobbs Johnson found out early if he wanted to win this game he had to be just as good as Joyner.
Johnson gave three singles, all three never left the infield. The difference in the pitchers tonight was that Johnson while striking out 12 only hit one batter and no Base on Balls while Joyner had four free passes and one of them came home to score the first run.
Goose eggs were across the score board until Carter Varnell walked to leadoff the 6th inning. Brian Goodwin also walked to put men on first and second with no outs. A double steal attempt came up roses for the Gryphons as Tyler Clarks throw to gun down Varnell sail into left field with Varnell scoring.
Nursing a 1-0 lead Johnson Hit the leadoff batter in the bottom of the 6th Tanner Smith. Steven Moore the Knights centerfielder had attempted two bunts to try to get Smith to second but had failed to do so, he slapped a hot grounder to third baseman Collins Cuthrell who was still playing up in case of a bunt with two strikes. Cuthrell made a diving backhand grab got to his feet and made a throw to second to get Smith for the first out. If that ball gets out of the infield it was heading for the wall and a run. It was not to be as Collins made the defensive play of the game.
Hobbs Johnson knew he still needed more runs to be safe belted a Joyner pitch off the right field wall for a double. Two batters later Parker Helms knocked him in from second to give the Gryphons all they would need and more
Johnson pitch a perfect 7th inning in completing his first game as a Gryphon and goes to 4-0 on the season. Johnson line was seven inning 0 runs, three hits, one hit batter and twelve strikeouts. No knight runner got past second base.
Tyler Joyner is the hard luck loser for Northern. His line was 7 innings, three hits, two runs, one unearned fifteen strikeouts and four base on balls
Michael Whitehead, Hobbs Johnson and Parker Helms got the only three hits the Gryphons could muster.
Tonight the little things went right for the Gryphons as pitching and defense get the defending State champs off on the right foot in their quest to repeat as state champions.
Gryphons 2 Northern 0
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Time To Start Next Sport
The sporting life is a circle of never ending events. College basketball is heading down the front stretch and baseball awaits to crank up the major league season on Sunday. If you are a sports fan sports is never ending.
Hockey and pro basketball are still three months from being over.
Those of you that are convince that Tyler Hansbrough is going to be a good pro yesterday should give you warning. Hansbrough was taken to the wood shed by Blake Griffin who I don't think should turn pro yet either. Griffin needs some outside game.
Those Carolina hurricanes are really doing it right now. Any team when they are together can win when it looks as if it isn't their day. Saturday night the Canes beat Marten Broudeau and the New Jersey devils when it looked as if the puck was not going in the net for the Canes. they won in regulation. They are the hottest team in the NHL right now.
Tuesday night starts conference baseball. Rocky Mount travels to Northern Nash and I would be shocked if Tyler Joyner and Hobbs Johnson were not the starters. They may be the best two pitchers in the league. Joyner has signed with ECU and Johnson is hoping to call Chapel Hill home in two years.
You know it is a big game when Richard Sarmiento e-mails to find out if I am available on Tuesday. This will be taped for the Stretchlon Sports show.
I would also like to pass along a congratulation at Richard and Patricia Sarmeinto as Richard was telling me that Mark made the Dean's list at UNC-Wilmington. Mark is already a Junior. seems like just yesterday he was running around the Babe Ruth field and Northern Nash.
I understand the Carolina semi final game against Vilanova is the second game on Saturday. That means Connecticut and Michigan State will tip at about 4.40pm and carolina will follow.
Hockey and pro basketball are still three months from being over.
Those of you that are convince that Tyler Hansbrough is going to be a good pro yesterday should give you warning. Hansbrough was taken to the wood shed by Blake Griffin who I don't think should turn pro yet either. Griffin needs some outside game.
Those Carolina hurricanes are really doing it right now. Any team when they are together can win when it looks as if it isn't their day. Saturday night the Canes beat Marten Broudeau and the New Jersey devils when it looked as if the puck was not going in the net for the Canes. they won in regulation. They are the hottest team in the NHL right now.
Tuesday night starts conference baseball. Rocky Mount travels to Northern Nash and I would be shocked if Tyler Joyner and Hobbs Johnson were not the starters. They may be the best two pitchers in the league. Joyner has signed with ECU and Johnson is hoping to call Chapel Hill home in two years.
You know it is a big game when Richard Sarmiento e-mails to find out if I am available on Tuesday. This will be taped for the Stretchlon Sports show.
I would also like to pass along a congratulation at Richard and Patricia Sarmeinto as Richard was telling me that Mark made the Dean's list at UNC-Wilmington. Mark is already a Junior. seems like just yesterday he was running around the Babe Ruth field and Northern Nash.
I understand the Carolina semi final game against Vilanova is the second game on Saturday. That means Connecticut and Michigan State will tip at about 4.40pm and carolina will follow.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Heels Headed to Detroit City
Who would have expected Tyler Hansbrough to only attempt four shots in the game to get North Carolina the final four? Who would have expected Carolina to whip Oklahoma with ease with Hansbrough scoring only eight points.
Oklahoma may have had the best player on the court but North Carolina had the next nine best players and for the fourth time in this NCAA tournament Carolina played the second half trying to get the game over.
Only the LSU game was in doubt at the half . The Radford, Gonzaga and Oklahoma games were in Carolina's control at the half. The reason Ty Lawson. His big toe is a forgotten issue now.
Carolina draws Vilanova Saturday, while Michigan State will meet Connecticut in the other semi final.
Michigan State really upset my apple cart as going into today I already had Vilanova in the final four in my bracket Louisville and Carolina picked today. That would have given me three in the final four.
Of all the games Saturday and Sunday Louisville was my most confident pick. When you get down to the elite eight all of the lucky teams have lost and are watching on tv. Michigan State played well and Louisville didn't bring their A game and they will watch on tv next weekend.
This time of year I don't care how good you are you had better play at your best or the other team will.
Two #1 seeds made it to Detroit, a number 2 and a number 3 seed. That means that the worst team there was ranked no worst than 12th when the tournament started.
I think over the years the NCAA and their RPI and strength of schedule has it figured out on who should be ranked where.
You know coaches are not the only people where when the legend leaves the next guy has big shoes to fill. Billy Packer leaving CBS after last basketball season meant their had to be a new color man beside Jim Nantz as the #1 announce team for CBS and NCAA tournament basketball. It is my opinion that Clark Kellogg should had stayed back in New York at CBS basketball central and stayed with Gumbel between the games with his opinion.
BY far the best play by play guy CBS deploys to the games is Gus Johnson. Gus is by far the most excited while doing a game and he always seems to get the games that go down to the wire.
When the NCAA tournament is over Johnson is the radio voice of the New York Knicks
Oklahoma may have had the best player on the court but North Carolina had the next nine best players and for the fourth time in this NCAA tournament Carolina played the second half trying to get the game over.
Only the LSU game was in doubt at the half . The Radford, Gonzaga and Oklahoma games were in Carolina's control at the half. The reason Ty Lawson. His big toe is a forgotten issue now.
Carolina draws Vilanova Saturday, while Michigan State will meet Connecticut in the other semi final.
Michigan State really upset my apple cart as going into today I already had Vilanova in the final four in my bracket Louisville and Carolina picked today. That would have given me three in the final four.
Of all the games Saturday and Sunday Louisville was my most confident pick. When you get down to the elite eight all of the lucky teams have lost and are watching on tv. Michigan State played well and Louisville didn't bring their A game and they will watch on tv next weekend.
This time of year I don't care how good you are you had better play at your best or the other team will.
Two #1 seeds made it to Detroit, a number 2 and a number 3 seed. That means that the worst team there was ranked no worst than 12th when the tournament started.
I think over the years the NCAA and their RPI and strength of schedule has it figured out on who should be ranked where.
You know coaches are not the only people where when the legend leaves the next guy has big shoes to fill. Billy Packer leaving CBS after last basketball season meant their had to be a new color man beside Jim Nantz as the #1 announce team for CBS and NCAA tournament basketball. It is my opinion that Clark Kellogg should had stayed back in New York at CBS basketball central and stayed with Gumbel between the games with his opinion.
BY far the best play by play guy CBS deploys to the games is Gus Johnson. Gus is by far the most excited while doing a game and he always seems to get the games that go down to the wire.
When the NCAA tournament is over Johnson is the radio voice of the New York Knicks
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Washed Out Again
Better be glad that Hunt High school is joining the Big East 3-A conference next year or Rocky Mount may never play them in baseball.
For the second week in a row Hunt has to make up a conference game this time with Southern Wayne so the Gryphons and the Warriors will not play today either.
Last Saturday their game at Hunt was called because of a middle of the week rain out for Hunt of a conference game with Eastern Wayne.
The Saturday before that the Gryphons were washed out of a game at Riverside.
We have now reached the point in the season where you don't want any three game weeks because two of them will always be conference games.
Considering just two years ago we were in a major drought in this area high school baseball has had a tough go this spring getting on the field. Right now Rocky Mount has been washed out four times with only the Rose games on the schedule at the end of the season. There was one game scheduled for a Wednesday that got pushed back to a Thursday because of rain.
I think Ty Lawson Toe is ok. Carolina came out pushing early and Gonzaga could run with the Tarheels the first 100 yards but this was a mile race and Carolina moves on with Ease 98-77. The game really wasn't that close.
Up next OKlahoma and Jeff Capel. That's right Duke's Jeff Capel. The Capel that made the mid court shot I think in 95 to sent a Duke-Carolina game into overtime in which Carolina won.
In my brackets I was 4-4 last night and 2-4 Thursday. Of the seven games left in the NCAA Tournament I can still get six correct so for all of you ahead of me in any bracket games look out I'm in your review mirror.
Regardless of brackets here's my picks for today and tomorrow.
Vilanova and Pittsburgh. I have liked Nova for about a month now. Their play against Duke didn't make me think other wise. I also have them in my bracket in the final four.
Connecticut and Missouri. I sure would love the Tigers to win but I just can't see it. U Conn moves on. I had Memphis in my Brackets.
Louisville and Michigan State. I see Michigan State being a lot like Duke. They have played better than they really are. Louisville exposed the Spartans. I have Louisville in my Brackets.
North Carolina and Oklahoma. Oklahoma needs this to be a half court game. I don't think it will be and Carolina can win a half court game too against the Sooners. I have Carolina in my bracket.
For the second week in a row Hunt has to make up a conference game this time with Southern Wayne so the Gryphons and the Warriors will not play today either.
Last Saturday their game at Hunt was called because of a middle of the week rain out for Hunt of a conference game with Eastern Wayne.
The Saturday before that the Gryphons were washed out of a game at Riverside.
We have now reached the point in the season where you don't want any three game weeks because two of them will always be conference games.
Considering just two years ago we were in a major drought in this area high school baseball has had a tough go this spring getting on the field. Right now Rocky Mount has been washed out four times with only the Rose games on the schedule at the end of the season. There was one game scheduled for a Wednesday that got pushed back to a Thursday because of rain.
I think Ty Lawson Toe is ok. Carolina came out pushing early and Gonzaga could run with the Tarheels the first 100 yards but this was a mile race and Carolina moves on with Ease 98-77. The game really wasn't that close.
Up next OKlahoma and Jeff Capel. That's right Duke's Jeff Capel. The Capel that made the mid court shot I think in 95 to sent a Duke-Carolina game into overtime in which Carolina won.
In my brackets I was 4-4 last night and 2-4 Thursday. Of the seven games left in the NCAA Tournament I can still get six correct so for all of you ahead of me in any bracket games look out I'm in your review mirror.
Regardless of brackets here's my picks for today and tomorrow.
Vilanova and Pittsburgh. I have liked Nova for about a month now. Their play against Duke didn't make me think other wise. I also have them in my bracket in the final four.
Connecticut and Missouri. I sure would love the Tigers to win but I just can't see it. U Conn moves on. I had Memphis in my Brackets.
Louisville and Michigan State. I see Michigan State being a lot like Duke. They have played better than they really are. Louisville exposed the Spartans. I have Louisville in my Brackets.
North Carolina and Oklahoma. Oklahoma needs this to be a half court game. I don't think it will be and Carolina can win a half court game too against the Sooners. I have Carolina in my bracket.
Friday, March 27, 2009
It's Up To Carolina
Stayed up to the clock hit double zero's in the Duke game. Nova was a faster team not allowing Duke open opportunities. Duke loses by twenty which seems like all the ACC teams have done when they lost.
You have to give it up for the Big East. They can still get four teams into the final four.
The Tarheels have their hands full but I think they will advance tonight. Gonzaga when we first heard of them were giant killers but since they have become one of those giants themselves they have found it hard being the hunted or being the hunter.
Baseball at Rocky Mount high school is getting ready to get down to the serious part, conference play next week. Brian Goodwin has been getting a lot of attention for his play on the field and has already committed to Carolina and rightfully so.
I am glad to see another one of the Babe Ruth players is getting rewarded for his good play as Charles Alston sent out the e-mail that "Joesph" Ben Fish has declared to play at Campbell.
There is a story behind the "Joesph". While I was doing PA for a Rocky Mount JV football game when Ben was a freshman the program had him listed as Joesph Fish. Ben made a tackle and I announce Joesph Fish on the tackle. It didn't take long for Mama Ashley to let me know that was Ben not Joesph. Today sometimes when I see her after games I'll say Joesph did good tonight.
Ben has been the starting catcher for Rocky Mount since his sophomore year and like Brian Goodwin he is part of the Babe Ruth teams that played in the world series once in Wilson and In Quincy Massachusetts. He has play ball all over the eastern United States.
Dillion Cockrell and Gabe Brown were also on those teams and this senior class is the last of all those talented player who have represented us well making it to two Babe Ruth world series and so far one State baseball championship.
Do you realize that Pat Smith in his six years at Rocky Mount has had only two catchers. JT Tyndall and Ben Fish.
Weather permitting Hunt comes to Gryphon Stadium at 1.00pm Saturday.
By the way if anyone has information on any team that they would like for me to talk about e-mail me at tdoughtie@gsmtransportation.com and I will gladly spread the news on any Gryphon team that I have accurate reliable information on. The more information I have on say softball or tennis the less you have to hear my old stories from out of the past to fill out the space.
You have to give it up for the Big East. They can still get four teams into the final four.
The Tarheels have their hands full but I think they will advance tonight. Gonzaga when we first heard of them were giant killers but since they have become one of those giants themselves they have found it hard being the hunted or being the hunter.
Baseball at Rocky Mount high school is getting ready to get down to the serious part, conference play next week. Brian Goodwin has been getting a lot of attention for his play on the field and has already committed to Carolina and rightfully so.
I am glad to see another one of the Babe Ruth players is getting rewarded for his good play as Charles Alston sent out the e-mail that "Joesph" Ben Fish has declared to play at Campbell.
There is a story behind the "Joesph". While I was doing PA for a Rocky Mount JV football game when Ben was a freshman the program had him listed as Joesph Fish. Ben made a tackle and I announce Joesph Fish on the tackle. It didn't take long for Mama Ashley to let me know that was Ben not Joesph. Today sometimes when I see her after games I'll say Joesph did good tonight.
Ben has been the starting catcher for Rocky Mount since his sophomore year and like Brian Goodwin he is part of the Babe Ruth teams that played in the world series once in Wilson and In Quincy Massachusetts. He has play ball all over the eastern United States.
Dillion Cockrell and Gabe Brown were also on those teams and this senior class is the last of all those talented player who have represented us well making it to two Babe Ruth world series and so far one State baseball championship.
Do you realize that Pat Smith in his six years at Rocky Mount has had only two catchers. JT Tyndall and Ben Fish.
Weather permitting Hunt comes to Gryphon Stadium at 1.00pm Saturday.
By the way if anyone has information on any team that they would like for me to talk about e-mail me at tdoughtie@gsmtransportation.com and I will gladly spread the news on any Gryphon team that I have accurate reliable information on. The more information I have on say softball or tennis the less you have to hear my old stories from out of the past to fill out the space.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Nitty Griddy Time
Tonight Duke represents the ACC against a Big East. Five teams still alive the Big East still could put four teams in the final four which no league has ever done. The Big East had three teams once but no one has ever had four.
I am a N C State fan but whenever any ACC team is playing I pull for the ACC. I especially pull when ever Carolina or Duke plays and I will be pulling hard for both tonight and tomorrow.
I'm in a catch 22 in regards to my NCAA Brackets. I picked Vilanova in the brackets last week and in order for me to finish high in any pool I need this game. Heck with the brackets GO DUKE.
I don't know whether he will get any votes for coach of the year but Larry Brown is doing a great job with the Bobcats. They have ten games to play and find themselves 2.5 games out of the last playoff spot. One thing that this Bobcat team is doing is losing close. Last night they lost by two. That's a far cry from the team that averaged losing by twenty last year.
Remember Larry Brown was Allen Iverson's coach when he made his famous "but this is Practice" statement. Brown plain and simply is a good teacher of basketball and I think next year the Bobcats will make the playoffs for the first time in their brief history.
The Hurricanes have six games to play and are pushing Philadelphia for fourth spot. One problem the Canes have is everyone who trails them have seven or eight games to play so if any team behind them get hot they can get more points that what the Canes can.
I heard on ESPN that Torry Holt will be paying a visit to the Carolina Panthers in the next few days as he tries to find an NFL team to latch on to since he was released by St. Louis. Wouldn't he be a great offensive weapon for the Panthers.
I can close my eyes and see Holt returning that punt his Senior year at N C State which lead to NC State beating Florida State for the first time.
If the weather holds off Gryphon Baseball finishes their non-conference tuneups Saturday against Hunt high school at 1.00pm. If the non-conference games played by everybody so far can be used as a barometer. The top two teams in the NEW-6 will be squaring off against each other at Northern Nash.
I am a N C State fan but whenever any ACC team is playing I pull for the ACC. I especially pull when ever Carolina or Duke plays and I will be pulling hard for both tonight and tomorrow.
I'm in a catch 22 in regards to my NCAA Brackets. I picked Vilanova in the brackets last week and in order for me to finish high in any pool I need this game. Heck with the brackets GO DUKE.
I don't know whether he will get any votes for coach of the year but Larry Brown is doing a great job with the Bobcats. They have ten games to play and find themselves 2.5 games out of the last playoff spot. One thing that this Bobcat team is doing is losing close. Last night they lost by two. That's a far cry from the team that averaged losing by twenty last year.
Remember Larry Brown was Allen Iverson's coach when he made his famous "but this is Practice" statement. Brown plain and simply is a good teacher of basketball and I think next year the Bobcats will make the playoffs for the first time in their brief history.
The Hurricanes have six games to play and are pushing Philadelphia for fourth spot. One problem the Canes have is everyone who trails them have seven or eight games to play so if any team behind them get hot they can get more points that what the Canes can.
I heard on ESPN that Torry Holt will be paying a visit to the Carolina Panthers in the next few days as he tries to find an NFL team to latch on to since he was released by St. Louis. Wouldn't he be a great offensive weapon for the Panthers.
I can close my eyes and see Holt returning that punt his Senior year at N C State which lead to NC State beating Florida State for the first time.
If the weather holds off Gryphon Baseball finishes their non-conference tuneups Saturday against Hunt high school at 1.00pm. If the non-conference games played by everybody so far can be used as a barometer. The top two teams in the NEW-6 will be squaring off against each other at Northern Nash.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Career doubles Leader.
Going into tonight's baseball game at Tarboro Brian Goodwin was tied for the Rocky Mount career doubles all time lead. He needed one to take over the top spot.
To make sure just in case the record book was off Brian went 4-4 with four doubles to claim the top spot in the careers doubles at Rocky Mount High school. The four doubles is a record for any Gryphon in any Rocky Mount game.
So why not set two records in one night.
Parker Helms aided the Gryphon offense hitting his first varsity home run as the Gryphons top Tarboro 7-1 tonight in an Endowment game.
Not to be outdone by the offense Gryphon starting pitcher Hobbs Johnson struck out the first six Vikings he faced and 14 in the game as he pitches six and 1/3 innings allowing three hits and an earned run.
Nick Hahula came in in the 7th to record the last two outs of the game.
Rocky Mount has now won four straight and stand at 6-1 overall with a Saturday afternoon non-conference game slated for 1pm at Gryphon stadium against Hunt.
Congratulations to NC Wesleyan coach Charlie Long as over the weekend he won his career 300th game as coach at NCW.
How in the world does a #1 seeded Duke womens team play a #9 seed on the #9 seeds home court? It happened to Duke's women last night as they lost at Michigan State.
The ACC women are taking a beating in the NCAA tournament just like the guys. Maryland is the only ACC team to make it to the sweet 16.
The Carolina Hurricanes won their 9th home game in a row tonight and are now just a couple of points out of 4th place with six games to go.
If the season ended tonight they would start the playoffs in Philadelphia. The Canes are acting like the Stanley Cup champion team of 06.
Ever since Eric Cole was traded back to Raleigh everything has fallen into place for the canes and they are red hot.
Get ready for late night basketball as Duke play at 10pm Thursday and Carolina at 10pm Friday. Hopefully Duke will play Saturday and Carolina Sunday in the Elite eight.
To make sure just in case the record book was off Brian went 4-4 with four doubles to claim the top spot in the careers doubles at Rocky Mount High school. The four doubles is a record for any Gryphon in any Rocky Mount game.
So why not set two records in one night.
Parker Helms aided the Gryphon offense hitting his first varsity home run as the Gryphons top Tarboro 7-1 tonight in an Endowment game.
Not to be outdone by the offense Gryphon starting pitcher Hobbs Johnson struck out the first six Vikings he faced and 14 in the game as he pitches six and 1/3 innings allowing three hits and an earned run.
Nick Hahula came in in the 7th to record the last two outs of the game.
Rocky Mount has now won four straight and stand at 6-1 overall with a Saturday afternoon non-conference game slated for 1pm at Gryphon stadium against Hunt.
Congratulations to NC Wesleyan coach Charlie Long as over the weekend he won his career 300th game as coach at NCW.
How in the world does a #1 seeded Duke womens team play a #9 seed on the #9 seeds home court? It happened to Duke's women last night as they lost at Michigan State.
The ACC women are taking a beating in the NCAA tournament just like the guys. Maryland is the only ACC team to make it to the sweet 16.
The Carolina Hurricanes won their 9th home game in a row tonight and are now just a couple of points out of 4th place with six games to go.
If the season ended tonight they would start the playoffs in Philadelphia. The Canes are acting like the Stanley Cup champion team of 06.
Ever since Eric Cole was traded back to Raleigh everything has fallen into place for the canes and they are red hot.
Get ready for late night basketball as Duke play at 10pm Thursday and Carolina at 10pm Friday. Hopefully Duke will play Saturday and Carolina Sunday in the Elite eight.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Who Wins From Here?
Despite what your brackets might say, who is going to win this weekend in the Sweet 16?
The Midwest: Arizona vs. Louisville - I think Arizona is one of those teams that won a good opening game and the luck of a second round playing a team higher seeded than they were. You can't blame 'Zona for that. However, this is a low seed this weekend, The 'VILLE moves on.
The Sweet 16 is always where the matchups begin. Kansas and Michigan State is a good one. State has quietly been steady all year. They last to play one more day. Spartans advance.
The West: Purdue vs. Connecticut. Purdue moves up to the big boys. The Huskies take down the Boilermakers
If there is one game this weekend that will be a dud this is it. Memphis will handle Missouri with ease, at least by double digits.
The South: Oklahoma vs. Syracuse - This is another intriguing game. I hate the Orangemen and their zone defense and just because of that, I am taking the Sooners. North Carolina vs. Gonzaga - After seeing Lawson play the way he played in the second half Saturday, Carolina gives me every reason to feel like they will play for the title. If that is the case, the Zags go down.
The East: Pittsburgh vs. Xavier. When I watch Pittsburgh play, they look to me to be the biggest team in the country. N.C. State's next coach Sean Miller is going to pull the upset of the tournament. I like Xavier. Villanova vs. Duke - This is the game of the Sweet 16. I think you could take all the players in this game and let someone picks sides and they would still be equal. In my bracket, I picked 'Nova, but I like Coach K to win one more.
There is good news and bad news at N.C. State. Trevor Ferguson and Brandon Costner will graduate this spring and summer, respectively. The bad news is they still have eligibility left. After J.J.Hickson came in last year, Costner pretty much quit then anyway. There is a hot rumor floating that Lagand is going to transfer. If that happens, that would be seven players off this year's team not coming back.
Gryphon baseball is at Tarboro Wednesday at 7 p.m. (weather permitting) and then home Saturday at 1 p.m. Then next Tuesday, Tyler Joyner and Northern awaits.
The Midwest: Arizona vs. Louisville - I think Arizona is one of those teams that won a good opening game and the luck of a second round playing a team higher seeded than they were. You can't blame 'Zona for that. However, this is a low seed this weekend, The 'VILLE moves on.
The Sweet 16 is always where the matchups begin. Kansas and Michigan State is a good one. State has quietly been steady all year. They last to play one more day. Spartans advance.
The West: Purdue vs. Connecticut. Purdue moves up to the big boys. The Huskies take down the Boilermakers
If there is one game this weekend that will be a dud this is it. Memphis will handle Missouri with ease, at least by double digits.
The South: Oklahoma vs. Syracuse - This is another intriguing game. I hate the Orangemen and their zone defense and just because of that, I am taking the Sooners. North Carolina vs. Gonzaga - After seeing Lawson play the way he played in the second half Saturday, Carolina gives me every reason to feel like they will play for the title. If that is the case, the Zags go down.
The East: Pittsburgh vs. Xavier. When I watch Pittsburgh play, they look to me to be the biggest team in the country. N.C. State's next coach Sean Miller is going to pull the upset of the tournament. I like Xavier. Villanova vs. Duke - This is the game of the Sweet 16. I think you could take all the players in this game and let someone picks sides and they would still be equal. In my bracket, I picked 'Nova, but I like Coach K to win one more.
There is good news and bad news at N.C. State. Trevor Ferguson and Brandon Costner will graduate this spring and summer, respectively. The bad news is they still have eligibility left. After J.J.Hickson came in last year, Costner pretty much quit then anyway. There is a hot rumor floating that Lagand is going to transfer. If that happens, that would be seven players off this year's team not coming back.
Gryphon baseball is at Tarboro Wednesday at 7 p.m. (weather permitting) and then home Saturday at 1 p.m. Then next Tuesday, Tyler Joyner and Northern awaits.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Last Week Before The Storm.
This week Rocky Mount High school travels to Tarboro on Wednesday to play in an endowment game. First pitch is set for 7p.m.
Then Saturday, Wilson Hunt travels to Gryphon Stadium for a non-conference game. This was supposed to be the third Saturday of six in a row for the Gryphons. March 14 was a rainout with Riverside High School. This past Saturday was much the same as Hunt had to make up a conference game.
The Gryphons will try again on Saturday to play a Saturday game with Hunt . Game time is 1 p.m.
Boys tennis is home Tuesday to Southern Nash and at SW Edgecombe on Thursday. Girls softball is at SouthWest on Tuesday and at Tarboro on Wednesday. Both games start at 4.30 p.m.
Girls soccer is at SouthWest Wednesday at 5 p.m and they play in The Brittany in Wilson on Saturday at 5.30. Track has a meet at Northern Nash Wednesday and Saturday the teams will participate in an invitational meet at Southeast Guilford starting at 10 a.m.
Baseball begins conference play next Tuesday at 7 at Northern Nash. Mark your calendars for that one.
Lady Tar Heels fall in the women's NCAA tournament tonight.
Do you have any idea which NCAA men's game over the weekend was the most watched. Duke and Texas. Now you know why Duke always seems to play the 10 p.m. games. Duke in basketball is like Notre Dame is in football. You either love'em or hate'em, but regardless. you watch'em.
It time to start paying attention to college baseball. Just like football and basketball, the baseball race is coo-coo.
In the Atlantic division, BC with a 4-3 record is on top followed by Clemson at 5-4. They are the only teams in conference play above 500. Florida State is at 3-4, N.C. State and Maryland 3-6 and Wake is 1-8.
In the coastal division, Georgia Tech is 8-1, Miami is 7-2 followed by Virginia at 5-2. Carolina, which has lost only four games all year, is only 5-3 in conference play. UNC is followed by Duke 5-4 and Virginia Tech is 2-6.
If there was ever any questions about Billy Godwin as ECU's baseball coach, he has put that to bed this year. Beginning his fourth year at ECU, the Pirates are off to a 15-4 start. If they keep scoring the way they are now, it will be hard not for them to host a regional come June.
Does anyone remember Billy was one of Mike Fox's assistant coaches on N.C. Wesleyan's 1989 national championship team?
Then Saturday, Wilson Hunt travels to Gryphon Stadium for a non-conference game. This was supposed to be the third Saturday of six in a row for the Gryphons. March 14 was a rainout with Riverside High School. This past Saturday was much the same as Hunt had to make up a conference game.
The Gryphons will try again on Saturday to play a Saturday game with Hunt . Game time is 1 p.m.
Boys tennis is home Tuesday to Southern Nash and at SW Edgecombe on Thursday. Girls softball is at SouthWest on Tuesday and at Tarboro on Wednesday. Both games start at 4.30 p.m.
Girls soccer is at SouthWest Wednesday at 5 p.m and they play in The Brittany in Wilson on Saturday at 5.30. Track has a meet at Northern Nash Wednesday and Saturday the teams will participate in an invitational meet at Southeast Guilford starting at 10 a.m.
Baseball begins conference play next Tuesday at 7 at Northern Nash. Mark your calendars for that one.
Lady Tar Heels fall in the women's NCAA tournament tonight.
Do you have any idea which NCAA men's game over the weekend was the most watched. Duke and Texas. Now you know why Duke always seems to play the 10 p.m. games. Duke in basketball is like Notre Dame is in football. You either love'em or hate'em, but regardless. you watch'em.
It time to start paying attention to college baseball. Just like football and basketball, the baseball race is coo-coo.
In the Atlantic division, BC with a 4-3 record is on top followed by Clemson at 5-4. They are the only teams in conference play above 500. Florida State is at 3-4, N.C. State and Maryland 3-6 and Wake is 1-8.
In the coastal division, Georgia Tech is 8-1, Miami is 7-2 followed by Virginia at 5-2. Carolina, which has lost only four games all year, is only 5-3 in conference play. UNC is followed by Duke 5-4 and Virginia Tech is 2-6.
If there was ever any questions about Billy Godwin as ECU's baseball coach, he has put that to bed this year. Beginning his fourth year at ECU, the Pirates are off to a 15-4 start. If they keep scoring the way they are now, it will be hard not for them to host a regional come June.
Does anyone remember Billy was one of Mike Fox's assistant coaches on N.C. Wesleyan's 1989 national championship team?
Big East Dominating
We are down to 16 teams left with a chance to win the NCAA men's basketball championship. So far the Big East has lost only two games and those two games they had a chance to win.
Completely opposite of that the ACC has only two teams left and except for Florida State. the other four ACC losers were never in their games they lost. BC was close at the half only to lose by more than 20. Wake Forest gave up three three points in the first two minutes of their game and pretty much quit after that. Clemson played the Clemson role as they do every year. Quick start slow finish.
Maryland did make it to the second round where they said out loud what I think everyone thinks that Memphis plays in a poor league. Yes they do play in a poor league but Memphis would be in the top four of any league. Memphis shut Maryland up rather easily.
On to the sweet 16 where you had better get your sleep early in the week as Duke plays the 10.00pm game on Thursday and Carolina plays at 10.00 on Friday.
Duke will be in Boston and Carolina in Memphis. Duke plays Villanova. Back last week when filling out my brackets I picked Duke to lose this game. I am not so sure now. That game might be a nail biter to the finish.
All Carolina fans can finally breathe now that Ty Lawson played and looked like Ty Lawson on Saturday. We are to the point now where there will be no blow outs but I think Gonzaga is a good matchup for Carolina.
My brackets are not bad. I still have 11 of the top 16 alive and my final four is in tacked in one bracket. My other three brackets I have three final four teams alive. My gamble to put Florida State in the final four turns out to be my down fall.
I should start moving up in the brackets if things go my way but the biggest problem is catching up when other players have the same picks.
I have not watch five innings of the World Baseball Classic. USA was knocked out last night by Japan. Japan plays South Korea tonight for the championship.
I have in the past been a big Nascar fan. I have even hosted a Nascar show on WHIG-TV for the past three years. I am having a devil of a time getting into racing this year. The auto makers about the fold Nascar is going to have to get off their high horse and reduce ticket prices. Even Bristol yesterday the best race on the Nascar tour had empty seats.
I haven't been to a Nascar race since the last one at Rockingham in 2003 because of the high ticket prices.
Completely opposite of that the ACC has only two teams left and except for Florida State. the other four ACC losers were never in their games they lost. BC was close at the half only to lose by more than 20. Wake Forest gave up three three points in the first two minutes of their game and pretty much quit after that. Clemson played the Clemson role as they do every year. Quick start slow finish.
Maryland did make it to the second round where they said out loud what I think everyone thinks that Memphis plays in a poor league. Yes they do play in a poor league but Memphis would be in the top four of any league. Memphis shut Maryland up rather easily.
On to the sweet 16 where you had better get your sleep early in the week as Duke plays the 10.00pm game on Thursday and Carolina plays at 10.00 on Friday.
Duke will be in Boston and Carolina in Memphis. Duke plays Villanova. Back last week when filling out my brackets I picked Duke to lose this game. I am not so sure now. That game might be a nail biter to the finish.
All Carolina fans can finally breathe now that Ty Lawson played and looked like Ty Lawson on Saturday. We are to the point now where there will be no blow outs but I think Gonzaga is a good matchup for Carolina.
My brackets are not bad. I still have 11 of the top 16 alive and my final four is in tacked in one bracket. My other three brackets I have three final four teams alive. My gamble to put Florida State in the final four turns out to be my down fall.
I should start moving up in the brackets if things go my way but the biggest problem is catching up when other players have the same picks.
I have not watch five innings of the World Baseball Classic. USA was knocked out last night by Japan. Japan plays South Korea tonight for the championship.
I have in the past been a big Nascar fan. I have even hosted a Nascar show on WHIG-TV for the past three years. I am having a devil of a time getting into racing this year. The auto makers about the fold Nascar is going to have to get off their high horse and reduce ticket prices. Even Bristol yesterday the best race on the Nascar tour had empty seats.
I haven't been to a Nascar race since the last one at Rockingham in 2003 because of the high ticket prices.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Bound For The Sweet 16
Thank goodness that Ty Lawson played today for the Tarheels. It looked in the first half as if he was only going at 80%, but he picked it up in the second scored 21 point in the second stanza for the Heels as they head to Memphis to take on Gonzaga.
Duke survives a team that drove to the basket almost at will at times in the second half in Texas. Duke just can't stop anybody in the middle and yet they head to Boston to play into another weekend.
Everyone knows that I picked Carolina to win it all and after their second half today with Lawson playing like Lawson I like their chances still. Duke I had picked in the brackets to lose next week to Villanova but the more I see this new line up, they are not going down easy to anybody.
The ACC so far is 5-5 in games played. I think almost all ACC fans are disappointed in BC and Wake Forest. They both embarrassed the league in their performances. (not showing up).
Lets see if we can put a spin on the ACC so far. They started out with seven teams out of sixty four. That approximately 11% of the teams in the tournament. Next week at the sweet 16 there will be two ACC teams or 12.5%. It may not be what we wanted from the league but it's not suicide time.
Tonight's games I am now 30 and 10 in my brackets with ESPN and WRAL. In the two local pots I'm in I am 29 and 11 on one and 27-13 on one.
The bracket where I am 29-11 I still have all four of my final four alive and 13-16 in the sweet 16 alive. All of the other three brackets I have 13 of 16 in the sweet 16 and three of four still alive in the final four.
The first two days of the tournament were rather dull if you went to bed before midnight. The best two games Thursday and the best two Friday all ended between midnight and 1.00am. They were worth staying up for.
I don't know how many people pay attention to college baseball but today Virginia loss. In many years in the past you would say so what, but today Miami beat Virginia for their first loss of the season. They are 19-1 as they are the last division 1 baseball team to lose this year. Whatever happen to those last place Wahoos.
The Carolina Hurricanes won again at home. They are now tied for 6th in the playoffs. Their play right now gives me hope that they can make a deep run when Lord Stanley time comes.
Those Charlotte Bobcat have won six of their last ten and remain one game out of the playoffs with ten games to play.
Duke survives a team that drove to the basket almost at will at times in the second half in Texas. Duke just can't stop anybody in the middle and yet they head to Boston to play into another weekend.
Everyone knows that I picked Carolina to win it all and after their second half today with Lawson playing like Lawson I like their chances still. Duke I had picked in the brackets to lose next week to Villanova but the more I see this new line up, they are not going down easy to anybody.
The ACC so far is 5-5 in games played. I think almost all ACC fans are disappointed in BC and Wake Forest. They both embarrassed the league in their performances. (not showing up).
Lets see if we can put a spin on the ACC so far. They started out with seven teams out of sixty four. That approximately 11% of the teams in the tournament. Next week at the sweet 16 there will be two ACC teams or 12.5%. It may not be what we wanted from the league but it's not suicide time.
Tonight's games I am now 30 and 10 in my brackets with ESPN and WRAL. In the two local pots I'm in I am 29 and 11 on one and 27-13 on one.
The bracket where I am 29-11 I still have all four of my final four alive and 13-16 in the sweet 16 alive. All of the other three brackets I have 13 of 16 in the sweet 16 and three of four still alive in the final four.
The first two days of the tournament were rather dull if you went to bed before midnight. The best two games Thursday and the best two Friday all ended between midnight and 1.00am. They were worth staying up for.
I don't know how many people pay attention to college baseball but today Virginia loss. In many years in the past you would say so what, but today Miami beat Virginia for their first loss of the season. They are 19-1 as they are the last division 1 baseball team to lose this year. Whatever happen to those last place Wahoos.
The Carolina Hurricanes won again at home. They are now tied for 6th in the playoffs. Their play right now gives me hope that they can make a deep run when Lord Stanley time comes.
Those Charlotte Bobcat have won six of their last ten and remain one game out of the playoffs with ten games to play.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Gryphons Washed Out of Game on Saturday
As you were leaving the Thurday Gryphon baseball game you heard Wes Bradshaw tell you on the PA that Saturday's game with Hunt at Hunt was changed to 2.00pm.
Well, it has been changed again. Hunt had a conference game with C B Aycock washed out this week and they are going to make it up Saturday. Since conference games a take priority over non-conference games this one is off again.
North Carolina and the Toe Gate saga continues. Coach Roy Williams say it will be a game time decision whether Lawson plays or sits. My guess is Lawson had better give the Heels all he can give Saturday because LSU strong point is the back court. I don't think the Heels can hope to hold Ty out until next week because they might not make it other wise.
Even if he does play ten minutes is all you might get.
The ACC is doing ok up through Friday afternoon. Including the teams in the NIT the league is 5-1 so far. Wake, Florida State and Boston College carry the banner tonight.
I am in four tournament brackets. After Friday afternoons games in the ESPN bracket I am 20-4. That is good for 510,000th place out of all most five million. 90 percentile.
WRAL.com's million dollar game I am also 20-4. The leader in that bracket have got all 24 right.
I am in a local pot where I am playing two different sets of brackets. In one I am 19-5 and in the other brackets I switched up the so called tossup games and am 17-7.
To this point all of my Sweet 16 teams are still alive. If you are a player in any bracket buster game during the NCAA tournament you know that a single upset is ok as long as the team upset is not a team you had pegged for the final eight. If you lose a biggy the first weekend then you are almosted cooked.
My Final Four in three of my four brackets is Carolina, Louisville, Memphis and Florida State. I'm taking a big chance with Florida State but if they make it to the final four I would be in really good shape because all most every one else also has Carolina, Louisville and Memphis.
I heard this morning on the way to work as of last nights game of the five million people who were playing the ESPN brackets 25,000 people were perfect 16-16. There were also four people who were a perfect 0-16.
I don't even think if I tried to miss all of them I could.
North Carolina plays somewhere near 5.30pm Saturday afternoon and Duke will follow near 8.00pm.
I will blog after the Duke games Saturday.
Well, it has been changed again. Hunt had a conference game with C B Aycock washed out this week and they are going to make it up Saturday. Since conference games a take priority over non-conference games this one is off again.
North Carolina and the Toe Gate saga continues. Coach Roy Williams say it will be a game time decision whether Lawson plays or sits. My guess is Lawson had better give the Heels all he can give Saturday because LSU strong point is the back court. I don't think the Heels can hope to hold Ty out until next week because they might not make it other wise.
Even if he does play ten minutes is all you might get.
The ACC is doing ok up through Friday afternoon. Including the teams in the NIT the league is 5-1 so far. Wake, Florida State and Boston College carry the banner tonight.
I am in four tournament brackets. After Friday afternoons games in the ESPN bracket I am 20-4. That is good for 510,000th place out of all most five million. 90 percentile.
WRAL.com's million dollar game I am also 20-4. The leader in that bracket have got all 24 right.
I am in a local pot where I am playing two different sets of brackets. In one I am 19-5 and in the other brackets I switched up the so called tossup games and am 17-7.
To this point all of my Sweet 16 teams are still alive. If you are a player in any bracket buster game during the NCAA tournament you know that a single upset is ok as long as the team upset is not a team you had pegged for the final eight. If you lose a biggy the first weekend then you are almosted cooked.
My Final Four in three of my four brackets is Carolina, Louisville, Memphis and Florida State. I'm taking a big chance with Florida State but if they make it to the final four I would be in really good shape because all most every one else also has Carolina, Louisville and Memphis.
I heard this morning on the way to work as of last nights game of the five million people who were playing the ESPN brackets 25,000 people were perfect 16-16. There were also four people who were a perfect 0-16.
I don't even think if I tried to miss all of them I could.
North Carolina plays somewhere near 5.30pm Saturday afternoon and Duke will follow near 8.00pm.
I will blog after the Duke games Saturday.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Gryphons Put a Mercy On The Yellow Jackets
There is nothing more embarrassing for a ball player, I don't care what sport it is than for the game to end before it is suppose to because you are getting beat too badly.
This afternoon in front of a full house of Pro Baseball scouts twenty I was told the Rocky Mount Gryphons dispose of Roanoke Rapids 11-1 in five innings.
Nick Hahula the Gryphons starting pitcher was greeted with three hits of the first four batters. The one out was a sac bunt moving a runner to second. The fifth batter walked. Hahula found him self in hot water but allowing only one run in the first Hahula becomes the first Gryphon pitcher to go the distance and pitch a complete game. Hahula gave up one run on three hits walked two and struck out two in his five inning complete game.
Gryphon batters pounded out ten hits including three doubles. Brian Goodwin, Ben Fish and Thomas Berry had two hits each. Collins Cuthrell,Dillon Cockrell,Parker Helms and Cameron Ramsey had singles to aid the parade.
Cuthrell, Fish, and Helms each had two rbi's while Berry, Cockrell,and Ramsey each plated a teammate.
All the scouts were in the house to see Brian Goodwin and he did not disappoint anyone. He beat out am infield single in the first. A clean hit to center his second time up stole two bases. His third trip to the plate he hit to third where the fielder booted the ball and Brian quickly stole second. His final trip was a liner to left field.
In the bottom of the 4th Goodwin showed the scouts his speed in the outfield as he caught a sinking line drive which looked to be heading for an run for the Yellow Jackets but Goodwin yanked it in his glove just before it could hit the ground.
Growing up I had a teacher in school who's name was "Dutch" Overton. Gary Overton who used to be ECU's baseball coach was one of his sons. Dutch was a scout for the Cleveland Indians. Back in My day Jim Hunter was the big high school player that the scouts use to drool over. His brother Pete at the Time Jimmy was in high school was a pitcher for ECU.
Someone asked Dutch one day who was the best pitcher Pete or Jimmy. You know some times things are said that you remember for the rest of your life. "Dutch" said" When scouts go to college games they are looking at several players but when a pro scout goes to a high school game they are there for one reason. There is no doubt Jimmy is better".
I don't have Brians numbers yet on this young season but he hasn't done anything to scare the scouts away. I think you can count on scouts following the Gryphons for the rest of this season.
Gryphons play saturday at Hunt at 2.00pm
This afternoon in front of a full house of Pro Baseball scouts twenty I was told the Rocky Mount Gryphons dispose of Roanoke Rapids 11-1 in five innings.
Nick Hahula the Gryphons starting pitcher was greeted with three hits of the first four batters. The one out was a sac bunt moving a runner to second. The fifth batter walked. Hahula found him self in hot water but allowing only one run in the first Hahula becomes the first Gryphon pitcher to go the distance and pitch a complete game. Hahula gave up one run on three hits walked two and struck out two in his five inning complete game.
Gryphon batters pounded out ten hits including three doubles. Brian Goodwin, Ben Fish and Thomas Berry had two hits each. Collins Cuthrell,Dillon Cockrell,Parker Helms and Cameron Ramsey had singles to aid the parade.
Cuthrell, Fish, and Helms each had two rbi's while Berry, Cockrell,and Ramsey each plated a teammate.
All the scouts were in the house to see Brian Goodwin and he did not disappoint anyone. He beat out am infield single in the first. A clean hit to center his second time up stole two bases. His third trip to the plate he hit to third where the fielder booted the ball and Brian quickly stole second. His final trip was a liner to left field.
In the bottom of the 4th Goodwin showed the scouts his speed in the outfield as he caught a sinking line drive which looked to be heading for an run for the Yellow Jackets but Goodwin yanked it in his glove just before it could hit the ground.
Growing up I had a teacher in school who's name was "Dutch" Overton. Gary Overton who used to be ECU's baseball coach was one of his sons. Dutch was a scout for the Cleveland Indians. Back in My day Jim Hunter was the big high school player that the scouts use to drool over. His brother Pete at the Time Jimmy was in high school was a pitcher for ECU.
Someone asked Dutch one day who was the best pitcher Pete or Jimmy. You know some times things are said that you remember for the rest of your life. "Dutch" said" When scouts go to college games they are looking at several players but when a pro scout goes to a high school game they are there for one reason. There is no doubt Jimmy is better".
I don't have Brians numbers yet on this young season but he hasn't done anything to scare the scouts away. I think you can count on scouts following the Gryphons for the rest of this season.
Gryphons play saturday at Hunt at 2.00pm
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
I have No Idea
Been trying to find out over the last couple of hours the score of the baseball game today. I did the Girls soccer game at Northern Nash tonight so it was near 9.00pm before I started trying to find score.
All of (my sources) are ignoring me tonight so I have no idea if we played or not. Gryphon baseball team will be in action at 4.30 Thursday at Gryphon stadium against Roanoke Rapids.
I hope I am being ignore because the game wasn't played over getting beat and nobody wants to talk about it.
Tonight for the "Stretchlon Sports Show" I was on the scene at Northern Nash to do play by play of the Northern-Rocky Mount girls soccer game.
Lady Gryphons dominated the ball probably 60 of the 80 minutes of action on the attack but it took a Kelsey Benson one on one move with 1.21 to play for the Lady Gryphons to get the final lead and win 2-1,
Tonight was the opening of conference play so the Lady Gryphons are off to an excellent start. The overall record is now 4-1 and they have allowed only two goals all year.
Good crowd at the game. It wouldn't matter whether it was checkers if Northern and Rocky Mount play anything a crowd will show up.
The Wachovia Cup after the winter sports have been added to the fall standing and Rocky Mount falls six points behind Fike. With the excellent winter that Nash Central had they have moved past Rocky Mount into second place in the conference standings.
Carolina gets the NCAA tournament going at 2.25 pm Thursday afternoon in Greensboro. According to Roy Williams today it looks like they will try to get by the first round without Ty Lawson's big toe.
Duke plays the late game in Greensboro tomorrow night.
Good start by the ACC in the NIT. Both Virginia Tech and Miami win. Miami went to Big East country and beat Providence in their gym by ten. A really good win for the Hurricanes.
Speaking of the Hurricanes, those hockey Canes beat New Jersey tonight in Raleigh and now have a hold of eighth place in the standings by three points. The Canes have seven of their remaining games at home. It think they are going to make the playoffs this year. They Have won six in a row at home.
Bobcats are hot they win again tonight. I wish someone around here carried their games on TV. I really don't care that much for the NBA but if Tim Duncan or in Charlotte's case trying to make the playoffs I would like to see them over the next three weeks.
All of (my sources) are ignoring me tonight so I have no idea if we played or not. Gryphon baseball team will be in action at 4.30 Thursday at Gryphon stadium against Roanoke Rapids.
I hope I am being ignore because the game wasn't played over getting beat and nobody wants to talk about it.
Tonight for the "Stretchlon Sports Show" I was on the scene at Northern Nash to do play by play of the Northern-Rocky Mount girls soccer game.
Lady Gryphons dominated the ball probably 60 of the 80 minutes of action on the attack but it took a Kelsey Benson one on one move with 1.21 to play for the Lady Gryphons to get the final lead and win 2-1,
Tonight was the opening of conference play so the Lady Gryphons are off to an excellent start. The overall record is now 4-1 and they have allowed only two goals all year.
Good crowd at the game. It wouldn't matter whether it was checkers if Northern and Rocky Mount play anything a crowd will show up.
The Wachovia Cup after the winter sports have been added to the fall standing and Rocky Mount falls six points behind Fike. With the excellent winter that Nash Central had they have moved past Rocky Mount into second place in the conference standings.
Carolina gets the NCAA tournament going at 2.25 pm Thursday afternoon in Greensboro. According to Roy Williams today it looks like they will try to get by the first round without Ty Lawson's big toe.
Duke plays the late game in Greensboro tomorrow night.
Good start by the ACC in the NIT. Both Virginia Tech and Miami win. Miami went to Big East country and beat Providence in their gym by ten. A really good win for the Hurricanes.
Speaking of the Hurricanes, those hockey Canes beat New Jersey tonight in Raleigh and now have a hold of eighth place in the standings by three points. The Canes have seven of their remaining games at home. It think they are going to make the playoffs this year. They Have won six in a row at home.
Bobcats are hot they win again tonight. I wish someone around here carried their games on TV. I really don't care that much for the NBA but if Tim Duncan or in Charlotte's case trying to make the playoffs I would like to see them over the next three weeks.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
22 Days of Basketball
The NIT is underway and the first game on the schedule Davidson knocks off South Carolina to start 22 straight days of Basketball.
Yes, between now and April seventh there will either be men's or women's basketball on TV every night.
What does it say about the Southeastern conference that a ten conference win team in South Carolina is handled rather easily by Davidson at South Carolina. Curry made his points but at the last count I saw had seven turnovers and yet they handle South Carolina.
In case you haven't already heard Gryphon baseball was postponed until Wednesday at 5.00pm at South Granville, wet grounds.
This means that the Gryphons have two straight days of ball as they have a home game scheduled for Thursday against Roanoke Rapids.
It's the stretch run for the Carolina Hurricanes as they have ten games to play and are in a fight for a playoff spot. Unlike last year where they had a playoff position until the last day, this year they have been just out of the playoff picture but have played rather well lately. They hold down the last playoff spot but by only a single point over two teams.
The round ball Charlotte Bobcats are a scant one game out of the playoffs. If they pull it off it will be the first for the Bobcats. They have 14 games to play and are breathing down the neck of two teams for eighth spot while two teams are nudging at their heels.
Rumors are floating that New England wants Julius Peppers from Carolina for a second round pick. If I understand the Franchise player rule the only way they can get him from Carolina is for two 1st round draft picks.
Tonight I will leave you with a stat that you probably didn't know. Dick Vitale joined ESPN in 1980 and there is no telling how many games he has done for ESPN, but did you know he has never done an NCAA tournament game.
CBS and Billy Packer have had control of the NCAA tournament since 1978. I know a lot of you folks hated Billy Packer but I think he is the best color basketball analyst of all time.
Packer not only did the ACC games back in the 70's but he became the executive producer for CBS coverage of basketball and you can thank him for the rivalry games that are now part of college basketball.
I really miss him on the games. I really like Mike Gminski now that Packer is gone.
Yes, between now and April seventh there will either be men's or women's basketball on TV every night.
What does it say about the Southeastern conference that a ten conference win team in South Carolina is handled rather easily by Davidson at South Carolina. Curry made his points but at the last count I saw had seven turnovers and yet they handle South Carolina.
In case you haven't already heard Gryphon baseball was postponed until Wednesday at 5.00pm at South Granville, wet grounds.
This means that the Gryphons have two straight days of ball as they have a home game scheduled for Thursday against Roanoke Rapids.
It's the stretch run for the Carolina Hurricanes as they have ten games to play and are in a fight for a playoff spot. Unlike last year where they had a playoff position until the last day, this year they have been just out of the playoff picture but have played rather well lately. They hold down the last playoff spot but by only a single point over two teams.
The round ball Charlotte Bobcats are a scant one game out of the playoffs. If they pull it off it will be the first for the Bobcats. They have 14 games to play and are breathing down the neck of two teams for eighth spot while two teams are nudging at their heels.
Rumors are floating that New England wants Julius Peppers from Carolina for a second round pick. If I understand the Franchise player rule the only way they can get him from Carolina is for two 1st round draft picks.
Tonight I will leave you with a stat that you probably didn't know. Dick Vitale joined ESPN in 1980 and there is no telling how many games he has done for ESPN, but did you know he has never done an NCAA tournament game.
CBS and Billy Packer have had control of the NCAA tournament since 1978. I know a lot of you folks hated Billy Packer but I think he is the best color basketball analyst of all time.
Packer not only did the ACC games back in the 70's but he became the executive producer for CBS coverage of basketball and you can thank him for the rivalry games that are now part of college basketball.
I really miss him on the games. I really like Mike Gminski now that Packer is gone.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Bracket Time
Well let's see, so Far I'm trying to win the million on WRAL.com. After this posting I will be going on line to ESPN and before Wednesday night I will be in about ten college bracket games.
The #1 seeds the Big East gets three. Does anybody remember why the ACC was formed? The Southern Conference was so big that seven schools formed the ACC. The BiG East their top three teams did not all play each other. So then how can you tell whether the best are the best or just the luck of the scheduling?
My Final four: Carolina if Lawson stays healthy they win it all. Louisville, If you go back and look at one of my blogs in late Febuary I said then Louisville was the best in the BIG East. Memphis, I have tried not to let them make it to the final four but who can beat them. Florida State, there is something about this team I like even though I am not crazy about Leonard Hamilton. He is a Lefty Drizell. Great recruiter but somebody else needs to sit on the bench while the game is going on.
I'm taking Carolina over Louisville in the championship game 81-78.
I think the new Ryan Leif in pro football is Jay Cutler. Where in the world does he come off telling Denver what he wants. I think they are 17-20 since he has been their quarterback. Need to ship him to Detroit where we will never hear from him again.
Rumors abound that Julius Peppers is on his way to the Patriots. How do the Patriots keep coming up with all these good players?
If the rain stops the Rocky Mount Gryphons will try to play baseball at South Granville at 5.00pm Tuesday.
Tuesday night I will be at Northern Nash doing the Girls soccer game between Northern and Rocky Mount forthe Stretchlon Sports Show.
Last year after the first afternoon session of the NCAA tournament I was 8-0. There is something about going on line and when I pulled up my score on ESPN tournament bracket I was #1 through eight games. Unfortunately there was a night session. I finished in the 200,000 range out of 3.9 million last year in the ESPN bracket.
The #1 seeds the Big East gets three. Does anybody remember why the ACC was formed? The Southern Conference was so big that seven schools formed the ACC. The BiG East their top three teams did not all play each other. So then how can you tell whether the best are the best or just the luck of the scheduling?
My Final four: Carolina if Lawson stays healthy they win it all. Louisville, If you go back and look at one of my blogs in late Febuary I said then Louisville was the best in the BIG East. Memphis, I have tried not to let them make it to the final four but who can beat them. Florida State, there is something about this team I like even though I am not crazy about Leonard Hamilton. He is a Lefty Drizell. Great recruiter but somebody else needs to sit on the bench while the game is going on.
I'm taking Carolina over Louisville in the championship game 81-78.
I think the new Ryan Leif in pro football is Jay Cutler. Where in the world does he come off telling Denver what he wants. I think they are 17-20 since he has been their quarterback. Need to ship him to Detroit where we will never hear from him again.
Rumors abound that Julius Peppers is on his way to the Patriots. How do the Patriots keep coming up with all these good players?
If the rain stops the Rocky Mount Gryphons will try to play baseball at South Granville at 5.00pm Tuesday.
Tuesday night I will be at Northern Nash doing the Girls soccer game between Northern and Rocky Mount forthe Stretchlon Sports Show.
Last year after the first afternoon session of the NCAA tournament I was 8-0. There is something about going on line and when I pulled up my score on ESPN tournament bracket I was #1 through eight games. Unfortunately there was a night session. I finished in the 200,000 range out of 3.9 million last year in the ESPN bracket.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Big Four Continues Domination
Duke won it's 17th ACC basketball tournament championship tying North Carolina who also has 17. North Carolina State who hasn't won the tournament in twenty years has ten championships and Wake Forest has won four. Wake has won more than any other ACC school has outside of North Carolina.
That's 48 of 56 winners have come from the big four.
I thought Florida State would give Duke a run for their money today but Duke had too much coaching.
There is one trend in college basketball in which I do not like which will not change as long as the 3 point line remains. Coming out of time outs the passing the ball around the three point line and taking a three point shot. Maryland shot one yesterday without the ball hitting the floor following a time out.
Today FSU did make three passes out side the 3 point line before they fired up. I could understand it if the time clock was running down but right out of a time out I hope the coaches wanted something besides that or they wasted their time outs.
Carolina gets a #1 seed and will play in Greensboro. They will be joined by Duke and both will play Thursday. Games time will be announced Monday afternoon.
I bet Carolina will play the noon game and Duke the 7.00pm game.
Back in 1988 when the Dean Dome hosted the opening round for the first time I went to that weekend of games in Chapel Hill. It was a Thursday Saturday deal.
I don't remember who all eight teams were but at Thursday There was a 12.00 noon game and then the next game was Syracuse and Rhode Island and the Rhodies upset Derrick Coleman and Syracuse.
Between games we walk over to the baseball stadium where Bobby Richardson and South Carolina were playing the Heels. The game was like in the fourth inning and we stayed until the completion, then went back to the Dean Dome and saw a 7.00pm game and Duke played at 9.30
That Friday morning we went and played golf in Raleigh in the morning and then Friday afternoon went to the Doak to see N C State play Georgia Tech in baseball. I remember there was a play in that game (one of those you see something new every time you go to a game deal)
State had a left handed pitcher and Georgia Tech had a left handed batter The pitcher sails one behind the Georgia Tech batter who ducks. However he left his bat sticking up and the ball hit his bat rolled toward the area where coaches hit grounders to infielders while taking batting practice and spun back and stopped right on the 1st base line, this all the time happening while the batter is getting up off the ground in the batters box.
Saturday we were back to the Dean Dome where Duke won the second game that day on their way to the final four with Danny Ferry.
Tomorrow we will look at the brackets.
That's 48 of 56 winners have come from the big four.
I thought Florida State would give Duke a run for their money today but Duke had too much coaching.
There is one trend in college basketball in which I do not like which will not change as long as the 3 point line remains. Coming out of time outs the passing the ball around the three point line and taking a three point shot. Maryland shot one yesterday without the ball hitting the floor following a time out.
Today FSU did make three passes out side the 3 point line before they fired up. I could understand it if the time clock was running down but right out of a time out I hope the coaches wanted something besides that or they wasted their time outs.
Carolina gets a #1 seed and will play in Greensboro. They will be joined by Duke and both will play Thursday. Games time will be announced Monday afternoon.
I bet Carolina will play the noon game and Duke the 7.00pm game.
Back in 1988 when the Dean Dome hosted the opening round for the first time I went to that weekend of games in Chapel Hill. It was a Thursday Saturday deal.
I don't remember who all eight teams were but at Thursday There was a 12.00 noon game and then the next game was Syracuse and Rhode Island and the Rhodies upset Derrick Coleman and Syracuse.
Between games we walk over to the baseball stadium where Bobby Richardson and South Carolina were playing the Heels. The game was like in the fourth inning and we stayed until the completion, then went back to the Dean Dome and saw a 7.00pm game and Duke played at 9.30
That Friday morning we went and played golf in Raleigh in the morning and then Friday afternoon went to the Doak to see N C State play Georgia Tech in baseball. I remember there was a play in that game (one of those you see something new every time you go to a game deal)
State had a left handed pitcher and Georgia Tech had a left handed batter The pitcher sails one behind the Georgia Tech batter who ducks. However he left his bat sticking up and the ball hit his bat rolled toward the area where coaches hit grounders to infielders while taking batting practice and spun back and stopped right on the 1st base line, this all the time happening while the batter is getting up off the ground in the batters box.
Saturday we were back to the Dean Dome where Duke won the second game that day on their way to the final four with Danny Ferry.
Tomorrow we will look at the brackets.
Semi Final Saturday
If there was ever any doubt about whether the ACC championship was more important than the NCAA tournament, then Roy Williams gave you the answer today.
Quite frankly Carolina showed me something today that I have not seen from this team this year and if Lawson is able to play starting next week without any noticeable limp then I think Carolina can win the NCAA.
I thought today without Lawson that Florida State would win by near ten. It didn't happen.
Despite losing Carolina had two shots at the buzzer to tie.
Duke will be heading to the ACC tournament final game for the 28th time in the 56 year history of the tournament,
You have got to give coach K credit. He is the best coach in the ACC. Whenever a style of play is not working he is capable of changing to what fits his team. He did that this year when he moved Schyer to point guard.
I thought for a while today that no triangle team would be playing tomorrow but Duke came through.
I don't know how they did it but East Carolina and N C State played baseball games on Saturday. Both won.. Carolina played at Virginia Tech Friday but was washed out Saturday.
State and Carolina both play double headers Sunday since these are conference games.
I don't know why I haven't seen anything on this before now, but I see JJ Arrington has signed with the Denver Broncos. It is a two year deal. He did this last weekend.
Rocky Mount did not. Their game with Riverside was washout and I doubt it will be made up.
Cousin Lauren Doughtie improve 43 spots in the standing Saturday shooting a 70 in the second round of a womens college tournament. After a 76 Friday she jumped to 15th.
If Lauren never hits another shot for the Wolfpack women's golf team she will leave as the best ever to wear the red and white. I hope during the ACC chanmpionships to go walk with her since the championships this year is in Greensboro.
That is in mid April.
Sunday night we will have the brackrets to look at.
Quite frankly Carolina showed me something today that I have not seen from this team this year and if Lawson is able to play starting next week without any noticeable limp then I think Carolina can win the NCAA.
I thought today without Lawson that Florida State would win by near ten. It didn't happen.
Despite losing Carolina had two shots at the buzzer to tie.
Duke will be heading to the ACC tournament final game for the 28th time in the 56 year history of the tournament,
You have got to give coach K credit. He is the best coach in the ACC. Whenever a style of play is not working he is capable of changing to what fits his team. He did that this year when he moved Schyer to point guard.
I thought for a while today that no triangle team would be playing tomorrow but Duke came through.
I don't know how they did it but East Carolina and N C State played baseball games on Saturday. Both won.. Carolina played at Virginia Tech Friday but was washed out Saturday.
State and Carolina both play double headers Sunday since these are conference games.
I don't know why I haven't seen anything on this before now, but I see JJ Arrington has signed with the Denver Broncos. It is a two year deal. He did this last weekend.
Rocky Mount did not. Their game with Riverside was washout and I doubt it will be made up.
Cousin Lauren Doughtie improve 43 spots in the standing Saturday shooting a 70 in the second round of a womens college tournament. After a 76 Friday she jumped to 15th.
If Lauren never hits another shot for the Wolfpack women's golf team she will leave as the best ever to wear the red and white. I hope during the ACC chanmpionships to go walk with her since the championships this year is in Greensboro.
That is in mid April.
Sunday night we will have the brackrets to look at.
Friday, March 13, 2009
ACC Tournament
I had a very hard time getting into the ACC Tournament on Thursday with only one "big Four " team playing N C State.
As I have done all year with this Wolfpack team I just sat back and watch the game and waited. Most of the time I scream at the TV but I have learned that you can't expect too much from this team. Sure enough they lose by five.
I could care less about the Virgina Tech -Miami game. Georgia Tech is the Georgia version of N C State and Clemson has never won many games in the ACC tournament. I don't think they have won as many games as Carolina has won Championships. Then Last night Virginia and BC. Who won? cause I didn't watch.
Since Pitt, U Conn and Oklahoma all losing yesterday I think Carolina will get a Number one seed for sure now. So whether Ty Lawson plays or sits with his big toe is not much of a national problem for Carolina.
However, How much value do you put in winning the ACC Title? Remember the ACC history book shows the tournament champion as the conference champ not the regular season #1 seed.
I doubt Lawson plays today but Saturday is a different story. If this big toe thing stays an issue over the next couple of weeks this years Carolina team chances are out the window for winning the national championship.
You know every team is hit with injuries which you can look back later and say that cost us a banner but I don't remember an injury any more fatal for Carolina than in 1984 when Steve Hale was slammed into the base of the goal post by an LSU player back in Michael Jordan last year. Hale broke his wrist.
It has been so long since it happened but I do not recall the LSU player being ejected from the game. It has been so long ago I can't remember. Carolina was like 19-1 at the time and without Hale the season slipped away a slow death.
The pro career that Michael Jordon had everyone forgets his college career was not as good as his pro years were, but everyone remembers his college years now as if he was the greatest college player ever. Jordan wouldn't even make my top ten all time ACC players.
But, everyone remember his shot in 82 when they won the title his freshman year.
The top three seeds in this years ACC tournament are UNC,Wake and Duke. I suspect two will play for the title with Florida State being the possible outsider.
If you catch my drift that means I'm picking Carolina and Wake in the finals Sunday.
So it's time for the real ACC tournament to start the quarter finals. Let me find my recliner and let the games begin.
As I have done all year with this Wolfpack team I just sat back and watch the game and waited. Most of the time I scream at the TV but I have learned that you can't expect too much from this team. Sure enough they lose by five.
I could care less about the Virgina Tech -Miami game. Georgia Tech is the Georgia version of N C State and Clemson has never won many games in the ACC tournament. I don't think they have won as many games as Carolina has won Championships. Then Last night Virginia and BC. Who won? cause I didn't watch.
Since Pitt, U Conn and Oklahoma all losing yesterday I think Carolina will get a Number one seed for sure now. So whether Ty Lawson plays or sits with his big toe is not much of a national problem for Carolina.
However, How much value do you put in winning the ACC Title? Remember the ACC history book shows the tournament champion as the conference champ not the regular season #1 seed.
I doubt Lawson plays today but Saturday is a different story. If this big toe thing stays an issue over the next couple of weeks this years Carolina team chances are out the window for winning the national championship.
You know every team is hit with injuries which you can look back later and say that cost us a banner but I don't remember an injury any more fatal for Carolina than in 1984 when Steve Hale was slammed into the base of the goal post by an LSU player back in Michael Jordan last year. Hale broke his wrist.
It has been so long since it happened but I do not recall the LSU player being ejected from the game. It has been so long ago I can't remember. Carolina was like 19-1 at the time and without Hale the season slipped away a slow death.
The pro career that Michael Jordon had everyone forgets his college career was not as good as his pro years were, but everyone remembers his college years now as if he was the greatest college player ever. Jordan wouldn't even make my top ten all time ACC players.
But, everyone remember his shot in 82 when they won the title his freshman year.
The top three seeds in this years ACC tournament are UNC,Wake and Duke. I suspect two will play for the title with Florida State being the possible outsider.
If you catch my drift that means I'm picking Carolina and Wake in the finals Sunday.
So it's time for the real ACC tournament to start the quarter finals. Let me find my recliner and let the games begin.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Gryphons Back On Track
When you are the defending state champion, you can expect to see the other teams' No. 1 starter.
That was the case again Thursday as Roanoke Rapids sent UNC-Wilmington signee Tyler Deloatch to the hill in Roanoke Rapids against the Gryphons.
Deloatch is the fourth straight D-I recruit that the Gryphons have faced in their four games (South Granville's Josh Darroach - unsigned; Wesleyan Christian's Logan Self - Campbell; J.H. Rose's Tanner Merritt - ECU).
After pitching his ace on Tuesday, RM head coach Pat Smith chose to pitch his No. 3 starter in shortstop Dillon Cockrell and he rewarded Smith with four innings of one-hit baseball. Sophomore Benton Moss pitched the last three innings in relief allowing only one hit as Rocky Mount edged the Yellow Jackets 3-2.
All three Gryphon runs scored with the bases loaded, two on walks and one scored on a hit batter.
Deloatch struck out 14 of the 18 Gryphons he got out, but in between, Brian Goodwin had a double, Gabe Brown, Carter Varnell, Ben Fish and Thomas Berry all had singles mixed in with the walks and errors supplied by the Yellow Jackets.
The duo of Cockrell and Moss combined to strike out seven and allowed just two hits as the Gryphons have now started out winning three out of their first four.
Weather permitting, Rocky Mount travels to Durham Riverside Saturday to take on the No. 4-ranked 4-A team in the state.
In all three Gryphon victories this year, the starting pitching has thrown at least four inning and in each game allowed only one hit through four innings.
The Gryphons' top three starters have all won one game apiece with Hobbs Johnson, Benton Moss joining Cockrell with victories. Johnson and Moss each have a save to go along with a save provided by Nick Hahula in the season-opening win.
As reported a couple of days ago, Xavier Macklin and his N.C. A&T teammates played in Raleigh Wednesday against N.C. State in baseball. Macklin, the Nash Central grad, knocked in a run in the first inning, but it wasn't enough as the Wolfpack pounded A&T 16-3.
One day last week I predicted State and Davidson would be a first-round NIT matchup in basketball. After tonight, the Wolfpack awaits an NIT bid as any thoughts of winning the ACC Tournament are dashed by Maryland in first-round play The Wolfpack has played well in a lot of games - just well enough to lose.
That was the case again Thursday as Roanoke Rapids sent UNC-Wilmington signee Tyler Deloatch to the hill in Roanoke Rapids against the Gryphons.
Deloatch is the fourth straight D-I recruit that the Gryphons have faced in their four games (South Granville's Josh Darroach - unsigned; Wesleyan Christian's Logan Self - Campbell; J.H. Rose's Tanner Merritt - ECU).
After pitching his ace on Tuesday, RM head coach Pat Smith chose to pitch his No. 3 starter in shortstop Dillon Cockrell and he rewarded Smith with four innings of one-hit baseball. Sophomore Benton Moss pitched the last three innings in relief allowing only one hit as Rocky Mount edged the Yellow Jackets 3-2.
All three Gryphon runs scored with the bases loaded, two on walks and one scored on a hit batter.
Deloatch struck out 14 of the 18 Gryphons he got out, but in between, Brian Goodwin had a double, Gabe Brown, Carter Varnell, Ben Fish and Thomas Berry all had singles mixed in with the walks and errors supplied by the Yellow Jackets.
The duo of Cockrell and Moss combined to strike out seven and allowed just two hits as the Gryphons have now started out winning three out of their first four.
Weather permitting, Rocky Mount travels to Durham Riverside Saturday to take on the No. 4-ranked 4-A team in the state.
In all three Gryphon victories this year, the starting pitching has thrown at least four inning and in each game allowed only one hit through four innings.
The Gryphons' top three starters have all won one game apiece with Hobbs Johnson, Benton Moss joining Cockrell with victories. Johnson and Moss each have a save to go along with a save provided by Nick Hahula in the season-opening win.
As reported a couple of days ago, Xavier Macklin and his N.C. A&T teammates played in Raleigh Wednesday against N.C. State in baseball. Macklin, the Nash Central grad, knocked in a run in the first inning, but it wasn't enough as the Wolfpack pounded A&T 16-3.
One day last week I predicted State and Davidson would be a first-round NIT matchup in basketball. After tonight, the Wolfpack awaits an NIT bid as any thoughts of winning the ACC Tournament are dashed by Maryland in first-round play The Wolfpack has played well in a lot of games - just well enough to lose.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Let The Basketball Begin!
There is nothing quite like the ACC Tournament. Over the years, other conferences have bad mouth the tournament, but in the end, every major conference except one has a tournament.
Back in 1991, I was sitting home one Saturday afternoon and the phone rings. It was at halftime of the second semifinal of the day at the Charlotte Coliseum. Duke was already in and Carolina was about to join them in the finals that following Sunday.
My boss at the time was C.T. Spruill of Windsor. He was a major contributor at Carolina. He has his name on the wall at the Dean Dome for his part in helping pay off the Dean Dome before they ever played a game there. He also had eight seats about eight rows up across the floor from Dean Smith at the time.
C. T. and I had many a good argument about Carolina and State over the years and I had used those eight seats many times.
He ask me what I was doing. Please note that I am paraphrasing here. I said I hope I'm watching Carolina lose. After some more paraphrasing, he ask me if I wanted to come to the game on Sunday. Without hesitation, of course, I said yes.
He said that he been there since Tuesday night and he didn't want to watch Duke beat UNC the next day.
He said he'd leave his four tickets with the concierge at the Marriott, and for me and Pat come on up tonight and stay in his suite.
Now, this is like 5:30 on a Saturday afternoon. I was getting ready to go Hertford County's gym to call a sectional basketball finals on the radio. I tell Pat to pack our bags when I get back from the ball game, we are going to drive to Charlotte to go to the ACC finals.
Around 9.15 that night, I am back home and I throw a few bags in the car and off we go - Pat and my daughter Stephanie, who was in the back seat. By the way, Morgan was not born yet, so she was still 18 years from making the A-B Honor roll (yes, it is official. Morgan has made her first A-B honor roll at RMHS).
We slipped into Charlotte around 1.30 in the morning. After parking, I go prancing up to the checkin desk at the Marriott and ask for a package for me. Sure enough, I get a yellow envelope which looks like an envelope interoffice mail would be put in.
I open the package and there are four tickets, the room key and a pass for four people to eat breakfast with the Rams Club at 9 a.m. Sunday.
Can you believe that this Wolfpacker is going to get a free breakfast off the Rams Club?
We head up to our room, or should I say suite, and sack out until about 8 a.m. We get ready and I did wear the only blue shirt I had at the time. It was closer to Duke blue than Carolina blue, but at least I tried.
We entered this room full of UNC heavyweights. The Bill Fridays, the Skipper Bowles and the likes. I would have to say that this was the most high-class breakfast I have ever had. We got a lot of half- smiles and curious looks as nobody there knew who we were, but we didn't get kicked out.
We had four tickets to the game and only three people. The very first college-looking kid we saw with a sign "need a ticket" we stopped and I gave him one of our tickets.
Our seats are on the second row underneath one of the baskets right beside the Carolina Pep Band. Just about five minutes before the game starts, the kid who we had given the ticket to comes walking to his seat and he is in Heaven. You could just tell he had never had a seat that good in his life.
I really had a good time at the game and about halfway-pulled for Carolina, even though Duke won by 20 on its way to the national championship.
I think I'll call C.T. to see what he is doing this weekend!
Back in 1991, I was sitting home one Saturday afternoon and the phone rings. It was at halftime of the second semifinal of the day at the Charlotte Coliseum. Duke was already in and Carolina was about to join them in the finals that following Sunday.
My boss at the time was C.T. Spruill of Windsor. He was a major contributor at Carolina. He has his name on the wall at the Dean Dome for his part in helping pay off the Dean Dome before they ever played a game there. He also had eight seats about eight rows up across the floor from Dean Smith at the time.
C. T. and I had many a good argument about Carolina and State over the years and I had used those eight seats many times.
He ask me what I was doing. Please note that I am paraphrasing here. I said I hope I'm watching Carolina lose. After some more paraphrasing, he ask me if I wanted to come to the game on Sunday. Without hesitation, of course, I said yes.
He said that he been there since Tuesday night and he didn't want to watch Duke beat UNC the next day.
He said he'd leave his four tickets with the concierge at the Marriott, and for me and Pat come on up tonight and stay in his suite.
Now, this is like 5:30 on a Saturday afternoon. I was getting ready to go Hertford County's gym to call a sectional basketball finals on the radio. I tell Pat to pack our bags when I get back from the ball game, we are going to drive to Charlotte to go to the ACC finals.
Around 9.15 that night, I am back home and I throw a few bags in the car and off we go - Pat and my daughter Stephanie, who was in the back seat. By the way, Morgan was not born yet, so she was still 18 years from making the A-B Honor roll (yes, it is official. Morgan has made her first A-B honor roll at RMHS).
We slipped into Charlotte around 1.30 in the morning. After parking, I go prancing up to the checkin desk at the Marriott and ask for a package for me. Sure enough, I get a yellow envelope which looks like an envelope interoffice mail would be put in.
I open the package and there are four tickets, the room key and a pass for four people to eat breakfast with the Rams Club at 9 a.m. Sunday.
Can you believe that this Wolfpacker is going to get a free breakfast off the Rams Club?
We head up to our room, or should I say suite, and sack out until about 8 a.m. We get ready and I did wear the only blue shirt I had at the time. It was closer to Duke blue than Carolina blue, but at least I tried.
We entered this room full of UNC heavyweights. The Bill Fridays, the Skipper Bowles and the likes. I would have to say that this was the most high-class breakfast I have ever had. We got a lot of half- smiles and curious looks as nobody there knew who we were, but we didn't get kicked out.
We had four tickets to the game and only three people. The very first college-looking kid we saw with a sign "need a ticket" we stopped and I gave him one of our tickets.
Our seats are on the second row underneath one of the baskets right beside the Carolina Pep Band. Just about five minutes before the game starts, the kid who we had given the ticket to comes walking to his seat and he is in Heaven. You could just tell he had never had a seat that good in his life.
I really had a good time at the game and about halfway-pulled for Carolina, even though Duke won by 20 on its way to the national championship.
I think I'll call C.T. to see what he is doing this weekend!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
A Non-Conference Classic
What would you expect when the defending 4-A and 3-A champions get together to have an afternoon of fun in the sun?
Seven innings is not enough!
Rose scores in the top of the ninth with a runner on second on a ball that never left the infield. The Rampants beat the Gryphons 5-4.
This was a game that had timely pitching . Starter Tanner Merritt from Rose pitch six good innings and left the game expecting to win with a 4-2.
Gryphon Starter Hobbs Johnson Struck out eleven of the fifteen outs that he recorded but all three of his walks scored and he left in the fifth losing 4-2.
But with two outs and no one on in the bottom of the seventh three straight hits high lighted by Chris Pittman's two RBI single and the Gryphons lived to play extra innings.
Nick Hahula pitched the final four inning for the Gryphons and gets the hard luck loss. Hahula gave up only four hits and struck out three in relief.
On the day Johnson and Hahula combined to strike out 14 Rampants and allowed 9 hits and walked just three.
The Gryphons scattered nines hits on the day but all four of their runs occurred with two outs and no one on base.
Thomas berry had one RBI along with Dillon Cockrell who drove in a run. Chris Pittman also plated two runners.
Brian Goodwin had two hits, walked twice and stole two bases,but was left on base in the first on second base and ninth inning while standing on third.
Ben Fish and Chris Pittman also had two hits while Dillon Cockrell, Collins Cuthrell and Thomas Berry all had singles.
Regardless of the final score if you went to the game today and didn't leave feeling you had watched a terrific ball game then I don't know what it would take to please you other than a Gryphon victory.
The Gryphon's are back in action Thursday at Roanoke Rapids.
Like I predicted last night Ty Lawson is ACC player of the year. There is a load of bad news for Tarheel fans as Lawson's big toe is ailing worse now that before Sunday's game Against Duke. He may sit out the ACC Tournament which starts for Carolina on Friday.
I can see him missing Friday's game but I can't imagine him not playing Saturday and Sunday even if his toe is twice as big as his shoe.
In other local action Northern Nash whipped D H Conley 11-4 to record their first win of the season.
Seven innings is not enough!
Rose scores in the top of the ninth with a runner on second on a ball that never left the infield. The Rampants beat the Gryphons 5-4.
This was a game that had timely pitching . Starter Tanner Merritt from Rose pitch six good innings and left the game expecting to win with a 4-2.
Gryphon Starter Hobbs Johnson Struck out eleven of the fifteen outs that he recorded but all three of his walks scored and he left in the fifth losing 4-2.
But with two outs and no one on in the bottom of the seventh three straight hits high lighted by Chris Pittman's two RBI single and the Gryphons lived to play extra innings.
Nick Hahula pitched the final four inning for the Gryphons and gets the hard luck loss. Hahula gave up only four hits and struck out three in relief.
On the day Johnson and Hahula combined to strike out 14 Rampants and allowed 9 hits and walked just three.
The Gryphons scattered nines hits on the day but all four of their runs occurred with two outs and no one on base.
Thomas berry had one RBI along with Dillon Cockrell who drove in a run. Chris Pittman also plated two runners.
Brian Goodwin had two hits, walked twice and stole two bases,but was left on base in the first on second base and ninth inning while standing on third.
Ben Fish and Chris Pittman also had two hits while Dillon Cockrell, Collins Cuthrell and Thomas Berry all had singles.
Regardless of the final score if you went to the game today and didn't leave feeling you had watched a terrific ball game then I don't know what it would take to please you other than a Gryphon victory.
The Gryphon's are back in action Thursday at Roanoke Rapids.
Like I predicted last night Ty Lawson is ACC player of the year. There is a load of bad news for Tarheel fans as Lawson's big toe is ailing worse now that before Sunday's game Against Duke. He may sit out the ACC Tournament which starts for Carolina on Friday.
I can see him missing Friday's game but I can't imagine him not playing Saturday and Sunday even if his toe is twice as big as his shoe.
In other local action Northern Nash whipped D H Conley 11-4 to record their first win of the season.
Monday, March 9, 2009
MVP Of ACC?
The All-ACC men's basketball team was announced today and Tyler Hansbrough was the leading vote getter. Most of the time, that means he will be named Player of the Year.
However, Hansbrough led the All- ACC team by only two votes. Teammate Ty Lawson and Florida State's Toney Douglas are right behind him on the All-ACC squad Gerald Henderson of Duke and Jack McClinton of Miami fill out the first five.
I only have one problem with Hansbrough being the Payer of the Year. He is not the MVP of the Carolina Basketball team. Ty Lawson is.
Early in the year when Hansbrough was injured, the Heels won big. When Lawson had a bad night, Carolina lost. Midseason when Hansbrough was not the Hansbrough we know, Carolina won as long as Lawson was grooving, when he wasn't, they lost games.
If I asked you Carolina fans if they had to play the NCAA tournament with out one or the other, I think the vote would overwhelming being Hansbrough sits.
This is not a hate Hanbrough's night even though he is the best ever at leaning in and falling back and flopping. He is good enough to know how to do that and get away with it and somehow or other make the ball go in the hole at the same time.
It's time to give some love to the Charlotte Bobcats. Tonight, they stand one game out of a playoff spot in the eastern division and have a 28-35 record. Since the Bobcats have been in existence, Charlotte's best year was winning 30 games.
The Bobcats still have 18 games to go in the regular season to break their franchise best and make the playoffs. They have won four in a row.
The Hurricanes beat the Rangers tonight and are again in the playoffs. They are beginning to look like the Canes of '06 when they won the Lord Stanley's Cup.
There may not be a better baseball game played at Gryphon Stadium this year than the one tomorrow. The defending state 4-A champs come calling on the defending 3-A champs.
I think Rose will be angry at this game. The Gryphons swept the Rampants last year. They haven't done that since Whisler's mother was alive!
Nash Central fans take note. N.C. State plays host to N.C. A&T on Wednesday at Doak Field. A&T will be led by freshman Xavier Macklin of Nash Centra,l who early in the season is hitting .371 for the Aggies. He leads the team in doubles with five. Game time is 3 p.m.
However, Hansbrough led the All- ACC team by only two votes. Teammate Ty Lawson and Florida State's Toney Douglas are right behind him on the All-ACC squad Gerald Henderson of Duke and Jack McClinton of Miami fill out the first five.
I only have one problem with Hansbrough being the Payer of the Year. He is not the MVP of the Carolina Basketball team. Ty Lawson is.
Early in the year when Hansbrough was injured, the Heels won big. When Lawson had a bad night, Carolina lost. Midseason when Hansbrough was not the Hansbrough we know, Carolina won as long as Lawson was grooving, when he wasn't, they lost games.
If I asked you Carolina fans if they had to play the NCAA tournament with out one or the other, I think the vote would overwhelming being Hansbrough sits.
This is not a hate Hanbrough's night even though he is the best ever at leaning in and falling back and flopping. He is good enough to know how to do that and get away with it and somehow or other make the ball go in the hole at the same time.
It's time to give some love to the Charlotte Bobcats. Tonight, they stand one game out of a playoff spot in the eastern division and have a 28-35 record. Since the Bobcats have been in existence, Charlotte's best year was winning 30 games.
The Bobcats still have 18 games to go in the regular season to break their franchise best and make the playoffs. They have won four in a row.
The Hurricanes beat the Rangers tonight and are again in the playoffs. They are beginning to look like the Canes of '06 when they won the Lord Stanley's Cup.
There may not be a better baseball game played at Gryphon Stadium this year than the one tomorrow. The defending state 4-A champs come calling on the defending 3-A champs.
I think Rose will be angry at this game. The Gryphons swept the Rampants last year. They haven't done that since Whisler's mother was alive!
Nash Central fans take note. N.C. State plays host to N.C. A&T on Wednesday at Doak Field. A&T will be led by freshman Xavier Macklin of Nash Centra,l who early in the season is hitting .371 for the Aggies. He leads the team in doubles with five. Game time is 3 p.m.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Duke-Maryland Best game Of The Day
The women played their ACC tournament today and Maryland in overtime beat Duke to win the ACC crown.
It doesn't matter to me whether it is a midget league game, when two teams are equal , sports can be fun to watch and this game was.
Carolina beat Duke to earn the No. 1 seed in next week's ACC men's tournament. Wake finishes in the No. 2 slot, Duke will take third and Florida State gets fourth.
Boston College and Clemson are the other teams in the league that managed at least eight conference wins but by being fifth and sixth they play Thursday with all the other have nots.
Due to poor finishes by Virginia Tech, Miami and Maryland, I think they will all join N.C. State in the NIT.
Davidson lost today in the Southern Conference tournament and I can see a Davidson-N.C. State first round match up in the NIT.
Duke played just good enough to lose against Carolina. They have improved with their new lineup, but are still weak in the middle defensively.
You would think the way WRAL-TV covered the postgame speeches by the Carolina's seniors Sunday night that they had won two or three national Championships in their four years. My last count was zero.
I haven't said much about them lately, but the Carolina Hurricanes are on a roll right now. They have scored 21 points in the last three games. If the season ended today, they would be in the playoffs but just barely.
The Canes bringing Eric Cole back for the stretch run is really good. Rod Brind'mour is my favorite player and Cole is my second favorite.
Gryphon baseball is off to a good start. Starting pitching has been excellent. But we all saw in last year's playoffs that they needed to develop a third starter to go along with Hobbs Johnson and Benton Moss.
You know during economic times like we are facing today that there are things in life that die due to the lack of funding to keep them going.
Richard Sarmeinto started the Stretchlon Sports Show more than six years ago. It has been on every Sunday night bringing you sports that our youth have been playing in.
In order for the show to continue, more sponsorship is needed. If you in any way can help keep the Stretchlon Sports show alive, please contact WHIG-TV and talk with them. If you express to me a comment on this blog, we will try to get in touch with you.
It doesn't matter to me whether it is a midget league game, when two teams are equal , sports can be fun to watch and this game was.
Carolina beat Duke to earn the No. 1 seed in next week's ACC men's tournament. Wake finishes in the No. 2 slot, Duke will take third and Florida State gets fourth.
Boston College and Clemson are the other teams in the league that managed at least eight conference wins but by being fifth and sixth they play Thursday with all the other have nots.
Due to poor finishes by Virginia Tech, Miami and Maryland, I think they will all join N.C. State in the NIT.
Davidson lost today in the Southern Conference tournament and I can see a Davidson-N.C. State first round match up in the NIT.
Duke played just good enough to lose against Carolina. They have improved with their new lineup, but are still weak in the middle defensively.
You would think the way WRAL-TV covered the postgame speeches by the Carolina's seniors Sunday night that they had won two or three national Championships in their four years. My last count was zero.
I haven't said much about them lately, but the Carolina Hurricanes are on a roll right now. They have scored 21 points in the last three games. If the season ended today, they would be in the playoffs but just barely.
The Canes bringing Eric Cole back for the stretch run is really good. Rod Brind'mour is my favorite player and Cole is my second favorite.
Gryphon baseball is off to a good start. Starting pitching has been excellent. But we all saw in last year's playoffs that they needed to develop a third starter to go along with Hobbs Johnson and Benton Moss.
You know during economic times like we are facing today that there are things in life that die due to the lack of funding to keep them going.
Richard Sarmeinto started the Stretchlon Sports Show more than six years ago. It has been on every Sunday night bringing you sports that our youth have been playing in.
In order for the show to continue, more sponsorship is needed. If you in any way can help keep the Stretchlon Sports show alive, please contact WHIG-TV and talk with them. If you express to me a comment on this blog, we will try to get in touch with you.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Pitching Is sharp in IMPACT Tournament
Northern Nash and Rocky Mount both played today in the IMPACT Invitational Baseball Classic at the USA Baseball Facility in Cary.
The IMPACT tournament is an opportunity see see how you compare with other teams that are highly thought of from around the state.
Northern took on highly regarded Ragsdale from Jamestown and its pitcher David Coffey was the pitcher of the day as he sat down Northern 7-0. And in doing so, pitched a no hitter.
Coffey outdueled Tyler Joyner, who was the the losing pitcher. Northern is now 0-2 after losing to highly-ranked D.H. Conley earlier in the week.
At 4.30 p.m. this afternoon:
The Rocky Mount Gryphons took to the field to play Wesyelan Christian from High Point, the NCISAA 3-A state champions last year.
Fort the second game in a row, the Gryphons get rock solid starting pitching as Benton Moss went to the hill for the Gryphons and went into the fifth inning before he was relieved by Hobbs Johnson.
Moss allowed one earned run in four plus inning and Johnson saw one unearned run cross the plate while he was on the mound.
The big bat today belonged to Thomas Berry as he had a two-run double in the third inning to work the Gryphons out to a 3-zip lead.
Johnson now has a win and a save for the Gryphons as they won in Cary, 5-2.
Brian Goodwin, Ben Fish, Dillon Cockrell and Johnson each collected hits again today for the Gryphons as they now go to 2-0 on the season.
Rocky Mount is back at home Tuesday against their No. 1 non-conference rival Rose. The first pitch is at 4.30.
Of all people, Terrell Owens has signed with the Buffalo Bills. Owens has scored the most touchdowns in the past three years than any other receiver, but he has also dropped the most passes. In the cold weather of Buffalo, I bet he leads the league in dropped passes again this year by a wide margin.
What a beautiful day today was. I understand the pontoon boat that is hung on the dam at the RM Reservoir is a real tourist attraction. Sorry, I missed it today. I understand they will raise the water Monday to let the boat go over the side. Look for your water bill to be high again next month.
Don't forget to change your clocks tonight. Spring forward!
The IMPACT tournament is an opportunity see see how you compare with other teams that are highly thought of from around the state.
Northern took on highly regarded Ragsdale from Jamestown and its pitcher David Coffey was the pitcher of the day as he sat down Northern 7-0. And in doing so, pitched a no hitter.
Coffey outdueled Tyler Joyner, who was the the losing pitcher. Northern is now 0-2 after losing to highly-ranked D.H. Conley earlier in the week.
At 4.30 p.m. this afternoon:
The Rocky Mount Gryphons took to the field to play Wesyelan Christian from High Point, the NCISAA 3-A state champions last year.
Fort the second game in a row, the Gryphons get rock solid starting pitching as Benton Moss went to the hill for the Gryphons and went into the fifth inning before he was relieved by Hobbs Johnson.
Moss allowed one earned run in four plus inning and Johnson saw one unearned run cross the plate while he was on the mound.
The big bat today belonged to Thomas Berry as he had a two-run double in the third inning to work the Gryphons out to a 3-zip lead.
Johnson now has a win and a save for the Gryphons as they won in Cary, 5-2.
Brian Goodwin, Ben Fish, Dillon Cockrell and Johnson each collected hits again today for the Gryphons as they now go to 2-0 on the season.
Rocky Mount is back at home Tuesday against their No. 1 non-conference rival Rose. The first pitch is at 4.30.
Of all people, Terrell Owens has signed with the Buffalo Bills. Owens has scored the most touchdowns in the past three years than any other receiver, but he has also dropped the most passes. In the cold weather of Buffalo, I bet he leads the league in dropped passes again this year by a wide margin.
What a beautiful day today was. I understand the pontoon boat that is hung on the dam at the RM Reservoir is a real tourist attraction. Sorry, I missed it today. I understand they will raise the water Monday to let the boat go over the side. Look for your water bill to be high again next month.
Don't forget to change your clocks tonight. Spring forward!
Friday, March 6, 2009
Finally, Florida State Is Caught
Ever since Florida State has been in the ACC and since it leads the nation in jail time, there has always been the joke about how the Tallahassee police identify Florida State felons.
They book them by their jersey number!
The butt of my Florida State joke today is if you haven't heard is that the NCAA has put the entire sports program on four years probation. Sixty-one athletes were caught cheating( imagine that) on an online test.
It is not only football players, but several sports, but the big blow is that Bobby Bowden my have to forfeit 14 football games. Is that cheering I hear in here from Joe Paterno at Penn State?
I know you may not have heard this, but N.C. State's baseball team set two NCAA records Wednesday when it beat Akron 5-4.
The game went 18 innings and Wolfpack pitchers struck out 31 batters in the game, which is an NCAA record for most in a single game. The Wolfpack also struck out 20 times themselves and 51 from two teams is the most ever in an NCAA baseball game.
The NEW 6 has released its All-Conference teams in basketball.
The first team is:
They book them by their jersey number!
The butt of my Florida State joke today is if you haven't heard is that the NCAA has put the entire sports program on four years probation. Sixty-one athletes were caught cheating( imagine that) on an online test.
It is not only football players, but several sports, but the big blow is that Bobby Bowden my have to forfeit 14 football games. Is that cheering I hear in here from Joe Paterno at Penn State?
I know you may not have heard this, but N.C. State's baseball team set two NCAA records Wednesday when it beat Akron 5-4.
The game went 18 innings and Wolfpack pitchers struck out 31 batters in the game, which is an NCAA record for most in a single game. The Wolfpack also struck out 20 times themselves and 51 from two teams is the most ever in an NCAA baseball game.
The NEW 6 has released its All-Conference teams in basketball.
The first team is:
- Jeremy Atkinson, Fike
- Trey Sumler, Nash Central
- Tashawn Mabry, Rocky Mount
- William Young, SouthWest Edgecombe
- Fabian White, Nash Central
- Octavius Lyons, Northern Nash
Atkinson and Sumler were voted Co-Players of the Year.
Michael Speight of Nash Central, Philip Wilkins of Rocky Mount, Fike's Michael Davender and Nick Harris of Southern Nash are on the second team.
Dominque Holloway of Nash Central, Alonzo Sharpe of Rocky Mount, T.J. Walker of Northern Nash and Josh Sessoms of Southern Nash all are honorable mentions.
Mike Mosley of Nash Central was the men's coach of the year.
FOR THE LADIES
The first team .....
- Dyonna Battle, Rocky Mount
- Monique Williams, SouthWest Edgecombe
- Tramicka James, Fike
- Jasmine Sessoms, Nash Central
- Alyse Hall, Southern Nash.
SWE's Williams was voted Player of the Year.
The second team has freshman Tia Hudgins of Rocky Mount, Lakia Bynum of Rocky Mount, Ashley Hughes of Northern Nash, SW Edgecombe's NyNeka Euwell and Jameka Thompson of Fike.
Honorable mentions include Alexus Cooper of Nash Central, Danita Whitaker of Rocky Mount, Tamisha Walker of Northern Nash and Shante' Neal of Southern Nash.
Pam Gainey of Rocky Mount is coach of the year for the ladies .
Don't forget - Gryphon baseball vs. Wesleyan Christian of High Point - 4.30 p.m. Saturday at the USA Baseball Complex in Cary. The temperature may hit 80 tomorrow.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Management Decisions
I think we all in life want to be the big dog. The person in charge who controls everyone's movements.
Maybe not in today's world, where layoffs are announced every day. Who wants to control thousand of peoples lives by scratching a line on a roster and saying everyone below this line goes.
I heard today the the CEO of General Motors made $15 million last year in losing $70 billion for GM. What a waste. They could have paid me $100,000 and I guarantee I would only lose 450 billion.
Decisions. They happen every day. With its lost today, the N.C. State women's basketball team finishes a season in which is probably the most rewarding ever for the program as far as national attention. Every sports media in the USA focused on N.C. State for a week in January.
Unfortunately, all of that focus came because of the death of Kay Yow, a woman who fought cancer for everyone to watch and to give hope that they could beat cancer.
You know this ends five years of a rough road for the Lady Wolfpack after Yow was diagnosed with a recurrence of her breast cancer in 2004.
Right now, I would not want to be Lee Fowler, the Athletic Director at State. He has to make a decision on who will replace Kay Yow.
This will be the third hire for Fowler of the four major sports in Raleigh.
Basketball still has a major question mark whether he has made the right choice in Sidney Lowe. I think all Wolfpackers are very satisfied with Tom O'Brian in football.
Fowler has announced there will be a national search for Yow's replacement. There is an old saying about not wanting to be the the one to replace a legend.
Stephanie Glance has been Kay Yow's top assistant for 15 years. The last five, with Yow in and out of hospitals, she has stood tall keeping the program going.
All of us who pull for the Wolfpack nation have to be honest with ourselves. In the triangle these days Wolfpack basketball is third fiddle to Duke and Carolina - that's men and women's.
For all she has done for the program, Stephanie deserves to be given the job. But, as the top assistant the last 15 years, name a Wolfpack women's player that when you heard the name as a State, was a national-type player?
In women's basketball, you get a 6'5" player who can dominate the middle. State's players have been project players who normally have only played when they developed up through their senior seasons.
I think Stephanie deserves the job, but I don't know if she can win the way I want the program to win.
Decisions... I'm glad I am well down the totem pole where they tell me the decisions and I live with it.
Maybe not in today's world, where layoffs are announced every day. Who wants to control thousand of peoples lives by scratching a line on a roster and saying everyone below this line goes.
I heard today the the CEO of General Motors made $15 million last year in losing $70 billion for GM. What a waste. They could have paid me $100,000 and I guarantee I would only lose 450 billion.
Decisions. They happen every day. With its lost today, the N.C. State women's basketball team finishes a season in which is probably the most rewarding ever for the program as far as national attention. Every sports media in the USA focused on N.C. State for a week in January.
Unfortunately, all of that focus came because of the death of Kay Yow, a woman who fought cancer for everyone to watch and to give hope that they could beat cancer.
You know this ends five years of a rough road for the Lady Wolfpack after Yow was diagnosed with a recurrence of her breast cancer in 2004.
Right now, I would not want to be Lee Fowler, the Athletic Director at State. He has to make a decision on who will replace Kay Yow.
This will be the third hire for Fowler of the four major sports in Raleigh.
Basketball still has a major question mark whether he has made the right choice in Sidney Lowe. I think all Wolfpackers are very satisfied with Tom O'Brian in football.
Fowler has announced there will be a national search for Yow's replacement. There is an old saying about not wanting to be the the one to replace a legend.
Stephanie Glance has been Kay Yow's top assistant for 15 years. The last five, with Yow in and out of hospitals, she has stood tall keeping the program going.
All of us who pull for the Wolfpack nation have to be honest with ourselves. In the triangle these days Wolfpack basketball is third fiddle to Duke and Carolina - that's men and women's.
For all she has done for the program, Stephanie deserves to be given the job. But, as the top assistant the last 15 years, name a Wolfpack women's player that when you heard the name as a State, was a national-type player?
In women's basketball, you get a 6'5" player who can dominate the middle. State's players have been project players who normally have only played when they developed up through their senior seasons.
I think Stephanie deserves the job, but I don't know if she can win the way I want the program to win.
Decisions... I'm glad I am well down the totem pole where they tell me the decisions and I live with it.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Defending champs off And running
Hobbs Johnson, a Rocky Mount Academy transfer, opened the baseball season for the Rocky Mount Gryphons pitching four innings of shutout baseball. But he also got the hit to get a rally started in the bottom of the fourth as RMHS opened with an 8-4 win over South Granville Wednesday afternoon at Gryphon Stadium.
Senior Brian Goodwin picked up right where he left of last season by going 2-for-4 on two singles , two RBIs and three stolen bases.
Dillion Cockrell, Ben Fish and Johnson also had two hits a piece while Gabe Brown had the other Gryphon hit.
Rocky Mount's rally in the fourth produced seven runs. Parker Helms came on to pitch the fifth, but needed relief help from Nick Hahula, who just started baseball this week having just finished basketball season.
Hahula pitched the last 2 1/3 innings to get the save.
The Gryphons return to action Saturday as they play in the Impact Baseball Invitational being held at the USA Baseball Facility in Cary. Game time is 4.30 p.m.. They will be joined by Northern Nash which plays Saturday morning at 11.
The Gryphons return to Gryphon Stadium next Tuesday as they host Greenville Rose.
I would like to thank Wes Bradshaw with all the details on today's game and announce that Bella (Wes' dog) has yet to lose a game as a Gryphon fan having helped today in the press box.
Tonight ,Carolina got a big win at Virginia Tech. Coupled with Duke's win last night, Duke and Carolina play for the No. 1 seed Sunday. Carolina can win the No. 1 seed outright ,while Duke can force a tie.
North Carolina State wins at home over BC in its last home game of the year. Tonight's victory qualifies the Pack for the NIT as they now are guarenteed a winning season.
The snow hasn't quite gone away yet, but the ACC baseball season has their first ACC weekend. State plays at Miami, while Carolina opens conference play at home against Clemson.
It is hard to believe, but Rocky Mount native Billy Godwin has been at East Carolina already long enough to win 121 games. That moves him to sixth all-time in Pirate coaching wins after their win today over ODU.
Way to go, Billy!
Senior Brian Goodwin picked up right where he left of last season by going 2-for-4 on two singles , two RBIs and three stolen bases.
Dillion Cockrell, Ben Fish and Johnson also had two hits a piece while Gabe Brown had the other Gryphon hit.
Rocky Mount's rally in the fourth produced seven runs. Parker Helms came on to pitch the fifth, but needed relief help from Nick Hahula, who just started baseball this week having just finished basketball season.
Hahula pitched the last 2 1/3 innings to get the save.
The Gryphons return to action Saturday as they play in the Impact Baseball Invitational being held at the USA Baseball Facility in Cary. Game time is 4.30 p.m.. They will be joined by Northern Nash which plays Saturday morning at 11.
The Gryphons return to Gryphon Stadium next Tuesday as they host Greenville Rose.
I would like to thank Wes Bradshaw with all the details on today's game and announce that Bella (Wes' dog) has yet to lose a game as a Gryphon fan having helped today in the press box.
Tonight ,Carolina got a big win at Virginia Tech. Coupled with Duke's win last night, Duke and Carolina play for the No. 1 seed Sunday. Carolina can win the No. 1 seed outright ,while Duke can force a tie.
North Carolina State wins at home over BC in its last home game of the year. Tonight's victory qualifies the Pack for the NIT as they now are guarenteed a winning season.
The snow hasn't quite gone away yet, but the ACC baseball season has their first ACC weekend. State plays at Miami, while Carolina opens conference play at home against Clemson.
It is hard to believe, but Rocky Mount native Billy Godwin has been at East Carolina already long enough to win 121 games. That moves him to sixth all-time in Pirate coaching wins after their win today over ODU.
Way to go, Billy!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Behind the Mic
If the weather cooperates, the defending state 3-A champion Rocky Mount Gryphons will try to open the season Wednesday at 4.30 p.m. at home against South Granville. Thursday forecast looks much better.
I have been spouting out first downs and touchdowns on the radio since 1971. In that time frame, I've seen many a player pass by me in full view of the press box.
Not only have I gotten into games for free, but I have seen so many athletes perform. Most of them I had no idea while they were in high school that they would go on to bigger and better things.
On the home front while I was in the sticks of northeastern North Carolina, I saw Timmy Newsome play. Most of his high school career he had ankle problems and played defense. At Winston-Salem State, he became the all-time CIAA rusher and went one to become the starting fullback for the Dallas Cowboys.
There was one particular Monday night football game in which Howard Cosell stated that Newsome was a man among boys after he caught a screen pass at about the 50-yard line and proceeded to run over every Washington Redskin who attempted to get in his way.
The one thing that I always like about Timmy after a touchdown when others did their dances Timmy always handed the ball to the refs.
I was behind the mic for two Tarboro-Ahoskie games when Kelvin Bryant played for Tarboro.
The 1978 conference championship game was played in Ahoskie and it wasn't the yardage that Kelvin rushed for but the fumble rolling free in the Tarboro backfield in which Ahoskie was about to pounce on and put them in the lead late in the game. Bryant, who was the only Tarboro player anywhere close to the ball, as Ahoskie was about to scoop up the ball and score a touchdown Kelvin kicked the ball out of bounds, preventing a fumble. He got a penalty, but also a conference championship. Ahoskie didn't score.
In the 80's when I started covering Chowan College basketball, the best player that I saw was Nate McMillan. Nate played point guard at Chowan after graduating from Raleigh Broughton.
I never saw a better full-court passer in my life.
After getting a rebound or receiving an outlet pass, Nate could throw the ball to a teammate from halfcourt or more and hit his teammate in the air going up for a shot. I have always felt that Jim
Valvano never used Nate to his best ability while he spent his last two years at N.C. State.
In football you hear all the time he is a good deep passer, Nate McMillan was a full-court fast break passer. Today his number hangs in the rafters in Seattle or Oklahoma City. He was voted the favorite Seattle Supersonic of all time.
Coaches, players, gyms, ball fields, and stadiums. I have been in quite a few in my time. Whenever the old eyesight goes and I can no longer see the numbers on the jerseys, boy, do I have memories.
I have been spouting out first downs and touchdowns on the radio since 1971. In that time frame, I've seen many a player pass by me in full view of the press box.
Not only have I gotten into games for free, but I have seen so many athletes perform. Most of them I had no idea while they were in high school that they would go on to bigger and better things.
On the home front while I was in the sticks of northeastern North Carolina, I saw Timmy Newsome play. Most of his high school career he had ankle problems and played defense. At Winston-Salem State, he became the all-time CIAA rusher and went one to become the starting fullback for the Dallas Cowboys.
There was one particular Monday night football game in which Howard Cosell stated that Newsome was a man among boys after he caught a screen pass at about the 50-yard line and proceeded to run over every Washington Redskin who attempted to get in his way.
The one thing that I always like about Timmy after a touchdown when others did their dances Timmy always handed the ball to the refs.
I was behind the mic for two Tarboro-Ahoskie games when Kelvin Bryant played for Tarboro.
The 1978 conference championship game was played in Ahoskie and it wasn't the yardage that Kelvin rushed for but the fumble rolling free in the Tarboro backfield in which Ahoskie was about to pounce on and put them in the lead late in the game. Bryant, who was the only Tarboro player anywhere close to the ball, as Ahoskie was about to scoop up the ball and score a touchdown Kelvin kicked the ball out of bounds, preventing a fumble. He got a penalty, but also a conference championship. Ahoskie didn't score.
In the 80's when I started covering Chowan College basketball, the best player that I saw was Nate McMillan. Nate played point guard at Chowan after graduating from Raleigh Broughton.
I never saw a better full-court passer in my life.
After getting a rebound or receiving an outlet pass, Nate could throw the ball to a teammate from halfcourt or more and hit his teammate in the air going up for a shot. I have always felt that Jim
Valvano never used Nate to his best ability while he spent his last two years at N.C. State.
In football you hear all the time he is a good deep passer, Nate McMillan was a full-court fast break passer. Today his number hangs in the rafters in Seattle or Oklahoma City. He was voted the favorite Seattle Supersonic of all time.
Coaches, players, gyms, ball fields, and stadiums. I have been in quite a few in my time. Whenever the old eyesight goes and I can no longer see the numbers on the jerseys, boy, do I have memories.
Monday, March 2, 2009
All-American
Rocky Mount High's Brian Goodwin has been named to The Sporting News 2009 High School All- America Baseball Team.
This award is either way too early being named as an All-American before the season starts or way too late after the season Brian had last year. If this is based on last year's performance, Brian is most deserving.
I suspect his play in the All-Star games at Dodger Stadium, where he was the MVP of the game, and getting two hits at Wrigley Field are the catalyst for this award.
Good job Brian!
Opening day for Gryphom baseball is now Wednesday after being snowed out today. The Greenville Rose game will be made up the last week of the season. With the economy being the way it is, neither team can afford to let this game get canceled. High school sports teams need every penny they can get nowadays to stay afloat.
Two NFL players remain lost at sea as of dark tonight in the Gulf of Mexico. Even though they are in 80 degree water, hypothermia sets in and now that they have been in the water for more than 48 hours. Corey Smith, who played at N.C. State, and two others were not found near the capsized boat as one was today.
I believe in the book of life and when the good book says it's your time, it's your time. Why on earth were four people in a 21-foot boat 30 miles from shore?
We are down to the wire as this is the last week of the ACC basketball season. The regular season will come down to Duke and Carolina Sunday.
Who is having the last laugh now?
Herb Sendek was pretty much run out of town by Wolfpack fans because he could only win 59 percent on his games. So what did they get in return? A 53 percent winning coach. The last time I looked, Herb was 21-7 with the Arizona State Sun Devils this season.
If you had to pick the Final Four right now, who would you pick?
I going with Carolina, Pittsburgh, Oklahoma and Louisville. We will know in five weeks. The national championship game is five weeks from tonight!
This award is either way too early being named as an All-American before the season starts or way too late after the season Brian had last year. If this is based on last year's performance, Brian is most deserving.
I suspect his play in the All-Star games at Dodger Stadium, where he was the MVP of the game, and getting two hits at Wrigley Field are the catalyst for this award.
Good job Brian!
Opening day for Gryphom baseball is now Wednesday after being snowed out today. The Greenville Rose game will be made up the last week of the season. With the economy being the way it is, neither team can afford to let this game get canceled. High school sports teams need every penny they can get nowadays to stay afloat.
Two NFL players remain lost at sea as of dark tonight in the Gulf of Mexico. Even though they are in 80 degree water, hypothermia sets in and now that they have been in the water for more than 48 hours. Corey Smith, who played at N.C. State, and two others were not found near the capsized boat as one was today.
I believe in the book of life and when the good book says it's your time, it's your time. Why on earth were four people in a 21-foot boat 30 miles from shore?
We are down to the wire as this is the last week of the ACC basketball season. The regular season will come down to Duke and Carolina Sunday.
Who is having the last laugh now?
Herb Sendek was pretty much run out of town by Wolfpack fans because he could only win 59 percent on his games. So what did they get in return? A 53 percent winning coach. The last time I looked, Herb was 21-7 with the Arizona State Sun Devils this season.
If you had to pick the Final Four right now, who would you pick?
I going with Carolina, Pittsburgh, Oklahoma and Louisville. We will know in five weeks. The national championship game is five weeks from tonight!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Can You Say N.I.T.?
They have been showing improvement over the past several weeks, but tnight will put an end to N.C. State's chances of making the NCAA tournament other than winning four straight games in the ACC in two weeks.
I just don't understand why Tracy Smith, who was a man inside all night, never put his hands on the ball the last seven minutes of the game.
There is still a possibility than nine ACC teams will go 8-8 in league play. If that happens, all nine need to be in the NCAA Tournament.
I have told you here before that my son Brooks is a contractor for NOAA and goes on fishing boats ranging from 50-footers to 900 footers and monitors fish catches.
Tonight he is in Key Largo, Fl. where he will be making one-day trips on boats this week. We were on the phone talking Pack basketball after tonight's game and the conversation drifted over to the two NFL players who are missing off Clearwater, Fl.
One of the players is Corey Smith, who played for the Pack up until 2001. Brooks said, ''Dad, I have been out of that port near Clearwater 16 times in the last few months." You know this is really a small world we live in.
It's a shame that the weather got to college baseball this weekend. College baseball is in its second week and ECU hosted the Keith LeClair Classic. ECU did manage to whip Oklahoma State once.
All of this impending weather we may get later tonight and early Monday has already put a damper on the official opening for high school spring sports for Monday, especially if there is no school.
I need to go put our front porch light on so I can start looking out the window. Morgan has already ask me 10 times whether it has started snowing yet.
I just don't understand why Tracy Smith, who was a man inside all night, never put his hands on the ball the last seven minutes of the game.
There is still a possibility than nine ACC teams will go 8-8 in league play. If that happens, all nine need to be in the NCAA Tournament.
I have told you here before that my son Brooks is a contractor for NOAA and goes on fishing boats ranging from 50-footers to 900 footers and monitors fish catches.
Tonight he is in Key Largo, Fl. where he will be making one-day trips on boats this week. We were on the phone talking Pack basketball after tonight's game and the conversation drifted over to the two NFL players who are missing off Clearwater, Fl.
One of the players is Corey Smith, who played for the Pack up until 2001. Brooks said, ''Dad, I have been out of that port near Clearwater 16 times in the last few months." You know this is really a small world we live in.
It's a shame that the weather got to college baseball this weekend. College baseball is in its second week and ECU hosted the Keith LeClair Classic. ECU did manage to whip Oklahoma State once.
All of this impending weather we may get later tonight and early Monday has already put a damper on the official opening for high school spring sports for Monday, especially if there is no school.
I need to go put our front porch light on so I can start looking out the window. Morgan has already ask me 10 times whether it has started snowing yet.
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