Football is Just Around The Corner

The state's high school coaches are in Greensboro this week for the annual NCAA Coaching Clinic. This is where, if you looking a job in coaching, you want to be.

Tonight is the annual East-West All-Star Football game in Greensboro - the 61st edition. Those all- star games have expanded over the years from when it was just football and basketball.

Nick Hahula and Torey Lee are going to play tonight representing Rocky Mount.

Once the football coaches get back, the first day of practice is Saturday, Aug. 1. I wonder how many will wait and practice on Monday the 3rd? None I would suspect. You just can't afford to let anybody get a day of practice that you don't also get.

One of the great privileges of doing P.A. or radio or TV you run across people. This past weekend was one of those times.

When I arrive at a legion game to do P.A., I go to Matt Bryan to get of feel of what he is thinking. He will give me his lineup for the opening ceremonies. This is more for radio, but as the P.A. man I have a feel for who might not play and why. Then I will walk across the diamond to the visiting coach and he will give me his lineup.

Cary came to Northern Saturday night and pitching batting practice was Clay Council. That name may not ring a bell at all, but if you saw the 2008 MLB All-Star Baseball Home Run Derby at Yankee stadium, then you might remember it.

Council is the 71-year-old man who pitched to Josh Hamilton in that event. Council wore No. 14 for Cary. Cary is made up of players from Athens Drive where Josh Hamilton played. I had their lineup in hand and I went over to Mr. Council to say that I really enjoyed watching Josh hit those home runs off him last year.

Council, now 73, took five minutes to tell me what a thrill it was for him to be at Yankee Stadium, be in the locker room with Derek Jeter and Josh. His 15 minutes of fame turned into 45 with all the home runs that Josh hit. To top it all off, he had a ring on his finger that said "2008 MLB All-Star Game." I would say it was just like what all the players received. He sure was proud of that ring.

If Hamilton never does a thing in Major League Baseball again, I can say having Council pitch to him made one man very happy. Hamilton remembered where he came from.

Don Fish, with camera in hand, got a picture of me and Clay behind Cary's dugout. Thanks Don for having the camera there. I would have never thought of taking a picture otherwise.

The next time you go to the ball park, take a look around. You never know who you might see.