It has been the history of the "Stretchlon Sports Show" to pre-empt regularly schedule games when ever something of major importance occurs. Normally there is a live show like after Tarboro High won the state football title this past season.
Games recorded two or three weeks ago will be shelved for another week as the SPS will show Tashawn Mabry record breaking night this past Tuesday night when he passed Phil Ford on the all time Rocky Mount High scoring list. It will air at 8.00pm tonight on WHIG-TV.
The game with Hertford County was cancelled Saturday due to the weather. Right now if I was a betting man Tuesday night's home games against Hunt are in Jeopardy since I doubt whether the roads will be clear to go to school by Tuesday.
Hold the phone on giving up on the Carolina Hurricanes for this season just yet. Saturday night they won their fourth straight game to move them within eleven points of eighth place in the east which would put them in the playoffs. In simple terms they are 5.5 games behind eighth with 27 games to go. It is not impossible to do.
The Charlotte Bobcats are in Sacramento as I write this on early Sunday morning are trying to win their eighth game in the last eleven games. This will moved them up to sixth in the eastern division and two games over 500. I sure wished one of the Raleigh stations carry some of their games like we get the Hurricanes.
Georgetown shot 71% for the game today but only beat Duke by twelve. That's the good news for Duke. Every game they have lost this year they have been dominated inside. Another sore spot for Duke is their team speed is not very good.
When was the last time Duke and Carolina played each other in basketball that at least one wasn't in the top ten. Duke was eighth but lost Saturday and they will probably be just out of the top ten. If Carolina beats Virginia tonight they will probably return to the top twenty five.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Records Are Made To Be Broken
If you say the name Phil Ford today any where in America to a basketball fan they can tell you who he is. They may not be able to tell you what he did while at Rocky Mount High,but from Carolina to the NBA this country knows of Phil Ford.
Back in his day at Rocky Mount Gyms filled just to watch him play. Coaches swooned at the thought of Phil Ford playing at their college. It was of course Senior High back then so Ford could only wear the blue and gold for three years. To say the least the name Phil Ford carries legendary status in Rocky Mount as well as across the country.
Tuesday night Tashawn Mabry broke the Rocky Mount scoring record which was held by Phil Ford. Much like Roger Maris breaking Babe Ruth's home run record no one wanted to see it happen. Maris broke the record in a 162 game season while Babe Ruth hit his 60 homers in 154 games. Mabrey a Gryphon senior is playing his fourth year of varsity.
It took 36 years for someone to come along and break the scoring record. It had to happen sometime and now is as good as any. Despite Phil Ford's legend in Rocky Mount, he never won a state title. Rocky Mount has won two over the years but Phil Ford was not part of either. That also means that Tashawn Mabry hasn't been a part of one either.
If Mabry could lead this year's Gryphon team to a state title then he would not only up Phil Ford in scoring but in championships too.
The past three years the Gryphon basketball team has been they will go as far as Mabry leads them. When this year started there was not much talk of this team being any better than the last three. You see the past three teams have been pass the ball to Tashawn and stand and watch him.
This years team however as this year has progressed has shown that they are a talented bunch who can play basketball better than they watch. This team is about nine deep of very good basketball players. No longer is it how far will Tashawn carry us but, now it's how far will he lead us.
36 years from now the legend of Tashawn Mabry may totally depend on how far this team goes when the playoffs begin. Records are made to be broken and Tashawn Mabry now holds the scoring record at Rocky Mount High and it is still growing. His legend may only be beginning.
Back in his day at Rocky Mount Gyms filled just to watch him play. Coaches swooned at the thought of Phil Ford playing at their college. It was of course Senior High back then so Ford could only wear the blue and gold for three years. To say the least the name Phil Ford carries legendary status in Rocky Mount as well as across the country.
Tuesday night Tashawn Mabry broke the Rocky Mount scoring record which was held by Phil Ford. Much like Roger Maris breaking Babe Ruth's home run record no one wanted to see it happen. Maris broke the record in a 162 game season while Babe Ruth hit his 60 homers in 154 games. Mabrey a Gryphon senior is playing his fourth year of varsity.
It took 36 years for someone to come along and break the scoring record. It had to happen sometime and now is as good as any. Despite Phil Ford's legend in Rocky Mount, he never won a state title. Rocky Mount has won two over the years but Phil Ford was not part of either. That also means that Tashawn Mabry hasn't been a part of one either.
If Mabry could lead this year's Gryphon team to a state title then he would not only up Phil Ford in scoring but in championships too.
The past three years the Gryphon basketball team has been they will go as far as Mabry leads them. When this year started there was not much talk of this team being any better than the last three. You see the past three teams have been pass the ball to Tashawn and stand and watch him.
This years team however as this year has progressed has shown that they are a talented bunch who can play basketball better than they watch. This team is about nine deep of very good basketball players. No longer is it how far will Tashawn carry us but, now it's how far will he lead us.
36 years from now the legend of Tashawn Mabry may totally depend on how far this team goes when the playoffs begin. Records are made to be broken and Tashawn Mabry now holds the scoring record at Rocky Mount High and it is still growing. His legend may only be beginning.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Gryphons Remain Unbeaten In Conference
Despite the short notice they came out by the car load tonight as Rocky Mount hosted Nash Central in Big East conference basketball in front of a full house. I think in ten years when Nash Central starts winning on a more consistent basis against both Northern and Rocky Mount it will not matter whether you play Nash Central or Northern there will be standing room only crowds for every game. It is almost that way now.
The girls gave up more points than they have to almost all of their conference game 52 but tonight the offense plastered 68 to beat Nash Central in girls basketball.
You would almost expect this after becoming the all time scoring leader Tuesday night Tashawn Mabry and the rest of Rocky Mount had a let down of sorts but in the end held off the Bulldogs 82-71
Both teams are now 6-0 in conference play and play Hunt at Home Tuesday night in for what will be for the lead in the conference, a victory over Hunt would give both the boys and the girls a two game lead with three to play.
Rocky Mount is suppose to play at Hertford County Saturday night but if the National Weather Service is right the Ahoskie area is expected to get eight to twelve inches of snow before then. If we don't play Saturday I doubt this non conference game will be made up with only two weeks left in the regular season.
Tonight I was at Rocky Mount Prep doing TV as North Edgecombe edged Prep 54-46. In doing tonight's game I may have watched the best basketball player in the area in Montrez Harrell of North Edgecombe. Harrell stands six seven and weights about 225 scored 27 in a variety of ways from slam dunks to jump shots to being perfect from the foul line. He probably swatted ten shots away from the basket. Harrell is only a sophomore and has just started playing basketball. Look out for him!
The Park Scholarships at N C state along with the Morehead Cain Scholarships to UNC are an honor for any student to be nominated for either scholarship. Several student from our area have been nominated for both. Each scholarship is like being in the playoffs in sports.
This week the first cut was made and no one from the Twin Counties has survived the Morehead Cain scholarship to Chapel Hill. Wednesday the Park Scholarship announced that Nancy Thai and Lein Soltan of Rocky Mount High has advance to the next round. Representing Northern Nash is Emily Capps and Forest Brown of Nash Central are still alive and still having a chance to win the biggest scholarship given at N C State. March third is the next day and that's more than a month away to wait.
The girls gave up more points than they have to almost all of their conference game 52 but tonight the offense plastered 68 to beat Nash Central in girls basketball.
You would almost expect this after becoming the all time scoring leader Tuesday night Tashawn Mabry and the rest of Rocky Mount had a let down of sorts but in the end held off the Bulldogs 82-71
Both teams are now 6-0 in conference play and play Hunt at Home Tuesday night in for what will be for the lead in the conference, a victory over Hunt would give both the boys and the girls a two game lead with three to play.
Rocky Mount is suppose to play at Hertford County Saturday night but if the National Weather Service is right the Ahoskie area is expected to get eight to twelve inches of snow before then. If we don't play Saturday I doubt this non conference game will be made up with only two weeks left in the regular season.
Tonight I was at Rocky Mount Prep doing TV as North Edgecombe edged Prep 54-46. In doing tonight's game I may have watched the best basketball player in the area in Montrez Harrell of North Edgecombe. Harrell stands six seven and weights about 225 scored 27 in a variety of ways from slam dunks to jump shots to being perfect from the foul line. He probably swatted ten shots away from the basket. Harrell is only a sophomore and has just started playing basketball. Look out for him!
The Park Scholarships at N C state along with the Morehead Cain Scholarships to UNC are an honor for any student to be nominated for either scholarship. Several student from our area have been nominated for both. Each scholarship is like being in the playoffs in sports.
This week the first cut was made and no one from the Twin Counties has survived the Morehead Cain scholarship to Chapel Hill. Wednesday the Park Scholarship announced that Nancy Thai and Lein Soltan of Rocky Mount High has advance to the next round. Representing Northern Nash is Emily Capps and Forest Brown of Nash Central are still alive and still having a chance to win the biggest scholarship given at N C State. March third is the next day and that's more than a month away to wait.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Friday's Game Moved To Thursday
If you have heard the weather forecast there is a chance of a big snow storm in the area Friday night and in order to beat the weather Friday's games with Nash Central have been moved up to Thursday night.
There is one simple adjustment made at Rocky Mount home games this year. The girl JVs have played in the main gym at 4.00pm. The JV boys have started their games at 5.00pm or whenever the girl JV game has gotten over in the auxiliary gym. This has made it possible for the varsity girls game to start right at 6.00pm.
There are times when an overtime occurs or between the two JV games that it has been well past 6.00 before the varsity girls have started which means the boys are later starting. When Tuesday night games were involved this put our kids getting home late on a school night. If both varsity games run a normal time they get over about 9.15 or so.
Moving the games to Thursday night puts me at Rocky Mount Prep doing a game for the Stretchlon Sports show so I will have to rely on my sources to give me the info on the Nash Central games Thursday night.
The Carolina-State game got over in plenty of time Tuesday night to turn over to channel seven to watch the sports. If you were at the game you saw Billy Weaver of channel seven in the house recording Tashawn Mabry breaking Phil Ford's scoring record. It was such a big deal Weaver lead off with the story over the State-Carolina game when the sports came on.
Speaking of Carolina -State game. There are times when a team just plays as well as they can play and there is not a lot you can do about it. I think the Heels played their best game of the year and if State had of shot a better percentage of threes the game might have been closer.
There is one simple adjustment made at Rocky Mount home games this year. The girl JVs have played in the main gym at 4.00pm. The JV boys have started their games at 5.00pm or whenever the girl JV game has gotten over in the auxiliary gym. This has made it possible for the varsity girls game to start right at 6.00pm.
There are times when an overtime occurs or between the two JV games that it has been well past 6.00 before the varsity girls have started which means the boys are later starting. When Tuesday night games were involved this put our kids getting home late on a school night. If both varsity games run a normal time they get over about 9.15 or so.
Moving the games to Thursday night puts me at Rocky Mount Prep doing a game for the Stretchlon Sports show so I will have to rely on my sources to give me the info on the Nash Central games Thursday night.
The Carolina-State game got over in plenty of time Tuesday night to turn over to channel seven to watch the sports. If you were at the game you saw Billy Weaver of channel seven in the house recording Tashawn Mabry breaking Phil Ford's scoring record. It was such a big deal Weaver lead off with the story over the State-Carolina game when the sports came on.
Speaking of Carolina -State game. There are times when a team just plays as well as they can play and there is not a lot you can do about it. I think the Heels played their best game of the year and if State had of shot a better percentage of threes the game might have been closer.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Gryphons Sweep Knights On Mabry's Night
If you have ever watched basketball games on any TV in the United States over the past thirty some years then you know of Phil Ford. Tonight Phil Ford moved over to the passenger's seat as Tashawn Mabry became the all time leading scorer in Gryphon basketball history when a three pointer swished the nets in the third quarter.
Mabry lead an all around attack for Rocky Mount as Mabry had 31. He was followed by Detrail Jenkins with 15 and Tecoby Hines with ten. All twelve Gryphons who played scored as Rocky Mount crushes Northern 95-58.
Rocky Mount won the rebounding battle 40-25 but where the Gryphons were impressive was they committed only seven turnovers in the game. The three guard lineup with Tevin Taylor, Darius McKnight and Kenyatta Bulluck has produced good ball handling , outside shooting and excellent pressure on the ball. Either of the three can be the point guard and either can be the shooting guard. a tough match up for any team trying to play Rocky Mount.
The opening game saw the Lady Gryphons pressure Northern all over the court. Northern out rebounded the Gryphons by one at 22-21 but where Rocky Mount dominated is they forced 41 Northern Turnovers while committing 24 themsevles but those seventeen more turnovers produced a nineteen point victory.
Alexis Farmer lead the way scoring 19 points and Danita Whitaker added ten rebounds which was all most half of the Gryphon rebounding total
The first cycle through the conference both Gryphon teams are 5-0. The boys won their fourteenth with only one loss while the girls posted victory #13 with two losses on the season.
The Gryphons are home again Friday night against Nash Central
Mabry lead an all around attack for Rocky Mount as Mabry had 31. He was followed by Detrail Jenkins with 15 and Tecoby Hines with ten. All twelve Gryphons who played scored as Rocky Mount crushes Northern 95-58.
Rocky Mount won the rebounding battle 40-25 but where the Gryphons were impressive was they committed only seven turnovers in the game. The three guard lineup with Tevin Taylor, Darius McKnight and Kenyatta Bulluck has produced good ball handling , outside shooting and excellent pressure on the ball. Either of the three can be the point guard and either can be the shooting guard. a tough match up for any team trying to play Rocky Mount.
The opening game saw the Lady Gryphons pressure Northern all over the court. Northern out rebounded the Gryphons by one at 22-21 but where Rocky Mount dominated is they forced 41 Northern Turnovers while committing 24 themsevles but those seventeen more turnovers produced a nineteen point victory.
Alexis Farmer lead the way scoring 19 points and Danita Whitaker added ten rebounds which was all most half of the Gryphon rebounding total
The first cycle through the conference both Gryphon teams are 5-0. The boys won their fourteenth with only one loss while the girls posted victory #13 with two losses on the season.
The Gryphons are home again Friday night against Nash Central
The NFL Big Void
Ever since the NFL went to having two weeks between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl it has been hard for the NFL to do anything the Sunday before to hold viewer interest.
This year for the first time the NFL is bringing the Pro Bowl to the same city as the Super Bowl. This of course means that if you are playing in the Super Bowl you are out of the Pro Bowl.
The players perspective has been that if they played in the Super Bowl they didn't care about jumping on a jet the Sunday night after the Super Bowl and flying to Hawaii. The winners of the Super Bowl were on such a high from winning and the losers an all time low feeling.
The Pro Bowl is the only all Star game played at the end of the season and for some it has been a month since they have played. Due to injury factor and since it has always been when the season was over the NFL are hoping to revive the players enthusiasm to play in the Pro bowl.
Last night the Women of Carolina and State met on the hardwood in Raleigh with the trees of Carolina holding off the Wolfpack women. My only question is how good in Connecticut to have beaten UNC by forty in Chapel Hill?
Tonight Northern Nash makes a visit to Rocky Mount in Big East conference basketball. History may be in the offering if Tashawn Mabrey scores 23 points he will break Phil Fords's all time Rocky Mount scoring record. I would suspect you need to be in your seat early for this one.
This year for the first time the NFL is bringing the Pro Bowl to the same city as the Super Bowl. This of course means that if you are playing in the Super Bowl you are out of the Pro Bowl.
The players perspective has been that if they played in the Super Bowl they didn't care about jumping on a jet the Sunday night after the Super Bowl and flying to Hawaii. The winners of the Super Bowl were on such a high from winning and the losers an all time low feeling.
The Pro Bowl is the only all Star game played at the end of the season and for some it has been a month since they have played. Due to injury factor and since it has always been when the season was over the NFL are hoping to revive the players enthusiasm to play in the Pro bowl.
Last night the Women of Carolina and State met on the hardwood in Raleigh with the trees of Carolina holding off the Wolfpack women. My only question is how good in Connecticut to have beaten UNC by forty in Chapel Hill?
Tonight Northern Nash makes a visit to Rocky Mount in Big East conference basketball. History may be in the offering if Tashawn Mabrey scores 23 points he will break Phil Fords's all time Rocky Mount scoring record. I would suspect you need to be in your seat early for this one.
Monday, January 25, 2010
The Saint's Arn't Aint's Anymore
The past two seasons the NFL football world has lived with Brett Favre, will he play or not. The Minnesota Vikings sold their soul to get him for just the one moment yesterday in which all the Vikings needed was a field goal and a trip to the Super Bowl.
You can say all you want about whether coaches win or lose games but the play calling after the Vikings got within fifty yards was terrible. Two running plays as if they were satisfied to try to win the game on a fifty yarder. Then a five yard penalty because they had too many men in the huddle.
Needing at least ten yards to make a field goal attempt reasonable, Brett Favre broke a pee wee rule to never throw back across the field into the defense. The gunslinger came out of him when Minnesota needed him the most. Two questionable runs and then a coach's decision putting the wrong personnel in the game didn't help.
This all adds up to the New Orleans Saints going to the Super Bowl to meet New Orleans native Peyton Manning and the Indy Colts. There have been ten NFL playoff games to date this year, the team with the most turnovers lost each one. TV with all of the two hour analyst show before and after every game, football is very simple, the team that makes the least mistakes wins 98% of the time.
Between now and next August we will have to listen to all the sports show rants over whether Favre comes back or not. Even if he announced today he is giving up, can we believe him?
I made a comeback of sorts with my picks as I went 2-0 yesterday. Early Las Vegas odds have the Colts three and a half point favorites. I think the Colts will win and cover the spread but I still have two weeks to change my mind.
Yesterday I told you the score of the RM boys victory over SouthWest Edgecombe Saturday night. I have since found out the Lady Gryphons beat SWE 39-28. Two victories over the weekend now run the boys record to 13-1 and the girls to 12-2.
Up next Tuesday night a visit to Rocky Mount of Northern Nash. the Northern game will complete the first cycle through the conference and the second time around starts Friday.
You can say all you want about whether coaches win or lose games but the play calling after the Vikings got within fifty yards was terrible. Two running plays as if they were satisfied to try to win the game on a fifty yarder. Then a five yard penalty because they had too many men in the huddle.
Needing at least ten yards to make a field goal attempt reasonable, Brett Favre broke a pee wee rule to never throw back across the field into the defense. The gunslinger came out of him when Minnesota needed him the most. Two questionable runs and then a coach's decision putting the wrong personnel in the game didn't help.
This all adds up to the New Orleans Saints going to the Super Bowl to meet New Orleans native Peyton Manning and the Indy Colts. There have been ten NFL playoff games to date this year, the team with the most turnovers lost each one. TV with all of the two hour analyst show before and after every game, football is very simple, the team that makes the least mistakes wins 98% of the time.
Between now and next August we will have to listen to all the sports show rants over whether Favre comes back or not. Even if he announced today he is giving up, can we believe him?
I made a comeback of sorts with my picks as I went 2-0 yesterday. Early Las Vegas odds have the Colts three and a half point favorites. I think the Colts will win and cover the spread but I still have two weeks to change my mind.
Yesterday I told you the score of the RM boys victory over SouthWest Edgecombe Saturday night. I have since found out the Lady Gryphons beat SWE 39-28. Two victories over the weekend now run the boys record to 13-1 and the girls to 12-2.
Up next Tuesday night a visit to Rocky Mount of Northern Nash. the Northern game will complete the first cycle through the conference and the second time around starts Friday.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
NFL's Final Four
Indianapolis host the New York Jets today in a game of the upstarts taking on the Establishment. Isn't it ironic that the team that took out their starters and gave up on a perfect season now must beat the team they allowed to make the playoffs.
I still find it hard to see the Jets winning. Colts 24 Jets 13
I don't know why but the last couple of years of all this shedding tears to retire only to sell himself to the highest bidder makes me want to pull for the Saints over Brett Favre. Saints 38 Vikings 31.
If you are a NASCAR fan then the news this week that they are going to allow the drivers to hit each other to attract more viewers back to watching is humorous. I think NASCAR has lost the real reasons why attendance to races and tv ratings are down.
Those of you that don't know the TV ratings were down on NASCAR last year but the real losers were the vendors at races. The sell of caps and jackets was off 50% last year.
Having gone to many races in my life and I feel that I would fall into the Joe average NASCAR fan. Today in order to go to a race you can no longer get just one night in a motel but during race week it, is common to have to purchase Friday,Saturday and Sunday nights. The ticket itself has tripled. I can no longer go four to five times a year to races.
NASCAR has pushed the the average fan away for the all mighty dollars and allowing the drivers to wreck each other is ignoring the real problem. Since I don't go to races any more I very seldom watch a whole race on TV.
Like I suspected NC State was drubbed by Maryland Saturday, Duke and Wake were basketball winners.
I have been involved with a youth weekend at our church this weekend and have not been able to keep up with high school basketball as normal. I hear the Gryphons beat SouthWest Edgecombe by 29 75-46 but I did not find out about the girls. Tuesday night is Northern Nash.
There has to be a way to insure that Northern, Rocky Mount and Nash Central always play each other on Friday nights. I realize that might mean someone has to be creative with schedule making but I believe a schedule could be devised for that to happen.
I still find it hard to see the Jets winning. Colts 24 Jets 13
I don't know why but the last couple of years of all this shedding tears to retire only to sell himself to the highest bidder makes me want to pull for the Saints over Brett Favre. Saints 38 Vikings 31.
If you are a NASCAR fan then the news this week that they are going to allow the drivers to hit each other to attract more viewers back to watching is humorous. I think NASCAR has lost the real reasons why attendance to races and tv ratings are down.
Those of you that don't know the TV ratings were down on NASCAR last year but the real losers were the vendors at races. The sell of caps and jackets was off 50% last year.
Having gone to many races in my life and I feel that I would fall into the Joe average NASCAR fan. Today in order to go to a race you can no longer get just one night in a motel but during race week it, is common to have to purchase Friday,Saturday and Sunday nights. The ticket itself has tripled. I can no longer go four to five times a year to races.
NASCAR has pushed the the average fan away for the all mighty dollars and allowing the drivers to wreck each other is ignoring the real problem. Since I don't go to races any more I very seldom watch a whole race on TV.
Like I suspected NC State was drubbed by Maryland Saturday, Duke and Wake were basketball winners.
I have been involved with a youth weekend at our church this weekend and have not been able to keep up with high school basketball as normal. I hear the Gryphons beat SouthWest Edgecombe by 29 75-46 but I did not find out about the girls. Tuesday night is Northern Nash.
There has to be a way to insure that Northern, Rocky Mount and Nash Central always play each other on Friday nights. I realize that might mean someone has to be creative with schedule making but I believe a schedule could be devised for that to happen.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Only SouthWest Will Know For Sure.
Friday night Southwest Edgecombe took to the court hosting Kinston High School and UNC Bound Reggie Bullock. All most as if Kinston was toying with the Cougars, Kinston only played Bullock and the first team about half the time up to the end of the third quarter and the SWE Cougars only trailed by eight. The fourth quarter was all Reggie and Company as Kinston disposes of SWE 85-47. Bullock put on a show for the packed house in scoring 35.
SWE has a full weekend of basketball as last night hosted Kinston in a conference game, tonight they host the Gryphons. By 9.00pm Saturday night SWE may very well be able to tell you which team is better? 2-A Kinston or 3-A Rocky Mount.
Both Rocky Mount boys and girls brought a bag full of points with them in their visit to Southern Nash last night. The girls scored 80 points in romping Southern Nash 80-44. This left the boys in a position that they didn't want to be out scored by the girls so the Gryphons put more than 100 on the score board beating Southern Nash 109-75. WOW!
ECU has a new football coach in town and it is former Pirate Ruffin McNeil. McNeil is bringing with him to ECU the offensive coordinator at Texas Tech Lincoln Riley. Texas Tech during the Mike Leach era were known for offense not defense. Bringing Riley on board the Pirate ship may really be a big coup for McNeil.
One of the biggest problems average teams have in following up great performances is having a dud the next time out. A couple of weeks ago N C State beat Florida State and followed that up by being twenty behind at the half of their next game to Clemson. Let's see how they fare today in College Park against Maryland.
Carolina players as well as fans are in shock over how this years team is being dominated. I don't think any Carolina Supporter had dreams of winning back to back NCAA titles with what this team had coming back this year but I don't think any body saw that this team may not even make the NCAA tournament.
There use to be all kind of all star football games for college Seniors. The North/South,Blue/Gray but now there are only two. The rosters for the Senior bowl which is played yearly in Mobile Alabama were announced Friday and to my disappointment Terrell Hudgins did not make the roster. Former New Bern Running back Monterio Hardesty who played at Tennessee did. Hardesty was on the field in 2004 when Hudgins and the Gryphons beat New Bern for the last Big East 4-A championship.
SWE has a full weekend of basketball as last night hosted Kinston in a conference game, tonight they host the Gryphons. By 9.00pm Saturday night SWE may very well be able to tell you which team is better? 2-A Kinston or 3-A Rocky Mount.
Both Rocky Mount boys and girls brought a bag full of points with them in their visit to Southern Nash last night. The girls scored 80 points in romping Southern Nash 80-44. This left the boys in a position that they didn't want to be out scored by the girls so the Gryphons put more than 100 on the score board beating Southern Nash 109-75. WOW!
ECU has a new football coach in town and it is former Pirate Ruffin McNeil. McNeil is bringing with him to ECU the offensive coordinator at Texas Tech Lincoln Riley. Texas Tech during the Mike Leach era were known for offense not defense. Bringing Riley on board the Pirate ship may really be a big coup for McNeil.
One of the biggest problems average teams have in following up great performances is having a dud the next time out. A couple of weeks ago N C State beat Florida State and followed that up by being twenty behind at the half of their next game to Clemson. Let's see how they fare today in College Park against Maryland.
Carolina players as well as fans are in shock over how this years team is being dominated. I don't think any Carolina Supporter had dreams of winning back to back NCAA titles with what this team had coming back this year but I don't think any body saw that this team may not even make the NCAA tournament.
There use to be all kind of all star football games for college Seniors. The North/South,Blue/Gray but now there are only two. The rosters for the Senior bowl which is played yearly in Mobile Alabama were announced Friday and to my disappointment Terrell Hudgins did not make the roster. Former New Bern Running back Monterio Hardesty who played at Tennessee did. Hardesty was on the field in 2004 when Hudgins and the Gryphons beat New Bern for the last Big East 4-A championship.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Pirates Make Their Pick
ECU announced yesterday that Ruffin McNeil a former Pirate of the 70's is coming home to Captain the Pirate's football ship.
Like most coaches McNeil has coached everywhere during his rise in the ranks and certainly his last stop at Texas Tech, he has been in the news quite a bit lately. McNeil was named interim head coach of the Red Raiders after Tech dismissed Mike Leach as head coach back in December.
There was hope by ECU fans that they could attract a big name coach but in our world today of long term contracts and big buyouts existing that was impossible. You only have to look no further than Raleigh and all the trouble State had in replacing Herb Sendeck in Basketball just four years ago.
Speaking of Mike Leach, as many of you know my son Brooks works as a contractor to NOAA and he is finishing up on a trip that has put him in Key West Florida for the past three weeks. Brooks and I talk by cell phone every day unless he is off shore and out of cell range. Earlier this week he ask me to guess who he ran into down there? Mike Leach. Small world isn't it.
Today is the first day of a very important week for nine Twin county students including four from Rocky Mount High School. Today is another step in the announcement process in who from our area will advance to the next round for the Morehead-Cain Scholarship to UNC.
Three RMHS students are awaiting word, Andrew Bowers, Lein Soltan and Nancy Thai. They are joined by Ann Dunn Andracchio of Rocky Mount Academy, Emily Capps of Northern Nash and Forrest Kent Brown of Nash Central.
Next Wednesday is advance day on the Park Scholarship to N C State. Cameron Privott of RMHS along with Soltan,Thai, from RMHS are up for this scholarship too. They are joined by Capps of Northern Nash and Brown from Nash Central along with Emma Gwaltney of Southern Nash and Samantha Watson from Tarboro.
Good luck to all!
Tonight the Gryphons hope to continue as the front runner in Big East Basketball as they travel to Southern Nash.
***Editor's notes Sometimes I proof read three or four times before I hit publish and just about any time I look back i find misspellings etc. Thanks for the catch on Park scholarship. I had not caught that after several reviews.
Like most coaches McNeil has coached everywhere during his rise in the ranks and certainly his last stop at Texas Tech, he has been in the news quite a bit lately. McNeil was named interim head coach of the Red Raiders after Tech dismissed Mike Leach as head coach back in December.
There was hope by ECU fans that they could attract a big name coach but in our world today of long term contracts and big buyouts existing that was impossible. You only have to look no further than Raleigh and all the trouble State had in replacing Herb Sendeck in Basketball just four years ago.
Speaking of Mike Leach, as many of you know my son Brooks works as a contractor to NOAA and he is finishing up on a trip that has put him in Key West Florida for the past three weeks. Brooks and I talk by cell phone every day unless he is off shore and out of cell range. Earlier this week he ask me to guess who he ran into down there? Mike Leach. Small world isn't it.
Today is the first day of a very important week for nine Twin county students including four from Rocky Mount High School. Today is another step in the announcement process in who from our area will advance to the next round for the Morehead-Cain Scholarship to UNC.
Three RMHS students are awaiting word, Andrew Bowers, Lein Soltan and Nancy Thai. They are joined by Ann Dunn Andracchio of Rocky Mount Academy, Emily Capps of Northern Nash and Forrest Kent Brown of Nash Central.
Next Wednesday is advance day on the Park Scholarship to N C State. Cameron Privott of RMHS along with Soltan,Thai, from RMHS are up for this scholarship too. They are joined by Capps of Northern Nash and Brown from Nash Central along with Emma Gwaltney of Southern Nash and Samantha Watson from Tarboro.
Good luck to all!
Tonight the Gryphons hope to continue as the front runner in Big East Basketball as they travel to Southern Nash.
***Editor's notes Sometimes I proof read three or four times before I hit publish and just about any time I look back i find misspellings etc. Thanks for the catch on Park scholarship. I had not caught that after several reviews.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Bobcats Best In NBA In 2010
Last night the Charlotte Bobcats beat the Miami Heat by 30. So far in this new decade and the month of January the Bobcats are 9-1. That's right 9-1, and have the best record in the NBA so far in January winning six games in a row.
The Bobcats have traded around until Larry Brown has found a group of players that are making a good team. Larry Brown who has to hold the record for coaching more teams than anybody in history of basketball is a really good coach when you can get him to stay in one spot long enough.
Carolina fans, if you were nervous about this team then last night might tell you the tale of the 09/10 team. Wake was quicker, stronger and just plain had better players than Carolina. N C State may have better guards than Carolina.
Speaking of State, I find it hard to enjoy a game when with two minutes to go and you are ahead by ten that you are worried about still losing. When the lead over Duke got to 14 with fifty seconds to play I started thinking that we might win this one.
Duke has not won a game on the road all year. The last time I looked the NCAA tournament after the opening weekend will be considered on the road for the Devils. That's not a good sign.
The State students stormed the court last night. I think it should be the right of every student to storm the court at least once in their college career. That is the first victory over Duke in Raleigh since 2004. Next opportunity will be next Tuesday night when Carolina is in the house. Could be the battle for last place in the ACC.
Could the ACC tournament championships in Greensboro this year not have a big Four team. If there is one it could be Wake.
Yesterday the hapless Carolina Hurricanes made Eric Staal captain of the team replacing Rod Brind'Mour. Don't be surprised to hear of Roddy's retirement in the next few days. If you want a team picture of this Hurricane team you had better wait a month. I suspect the roster is getting ready to change drastically real soon.
Trades and cash payments made to contending teams is right around the corner for the Hurricanes as they have pretty much ended any hope of the playoffs this year.
The Bobcats have traded around until Larry Brown has found a group of players that are making a good team. Larry Brown who has to hold the record for coaching more teams than anybody in history of basketball is a really good coach when you can get him to stay in one spot long enough.
Carolina fans, if you were nervous about this team then last night might tell you the tale of the 09/10 team. Wake was quicker, stronger and just plain had better players than Carolina. N C State may have better guards than Carolina.
Speaking of State, I find it hard to enjoy a game when with two minutes to go and you are ahead by ten that you are worried about still losing. When the lead over Duke got to 14 with fifty seconds to play I started thinking that we might win this one.
Duke has not won a game on the road all year. The last time I looked the NCAA tournament after the opening weekend will be considered on the road for the Devils. That's not a good sign.
The State students stormed the court last night. I think it should be the right of every student to storm the court at least once in their college career. That is the first victory over Duke in Raleigh since 2004. Next opportunity will be next Tuesday night when Carolina is in the house. Could be the battle for last place in the ACC.
Could the ACC tournament championships in Greensboro this year not have a big Four team. If there is one it could be Wake.
Yesterday the hapless Carolina Hurricanes made Eric Staal captain of the team replacing Rod Brind'Mour. Don't be surprised to hear of Roddy's retirement in the next few days. If you want a team picture of this Hurricane team you had better wait a month. I suspect the roster is getting ready to change drastically real soon.
Trades and cash payments made to contending teams is right around the corner for the Hurricanes as they have pretty much ended any hope of the playoffs this year.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Alone At The Top
The Rocky Mount Gryphon teams laid the leather to Fike tonight as both the boys and girls crush the Golden Demons. The girls ran by the Lady Golden Demons 51-33 and the boys dispatched Fike boys 86-59.
You could really tell that the Lady Golden Demons were a very good fundamental basketball team but they were no match for the Lady Gryphon speed and quick hands. Even though she is not one of the Lady Gryphons with quick hands Danita Whitaker scored a double double getting 12 points and an astounding 23 rebounds. Tamisher Walker also had double digit rebounds getting 11. Kashunn Seabreeze and Tia Hudgins also hit double digit scoring with Seabreeze getting 11 and Hudgins 10.
This puts the Lady Gryphons in double digit wins with ten and only two losses. They are 3-0 in the Big East and by whipping Fike tonight they are now the only team in the conference with no losses.
The boys came into their game as the only team in the conference without a loss but if Fike could win that would put both teams into a tie for first. It was 16-16 at the end of the first quarter and during that first quarter Tashawn Mabrey scored six points and became the second Gryphon in history to hit 2,000 points joining Phil Ford in that elite company.
Whether it was the presentation of a basketball to Tashawn and his family for hitting 2,000 points but the Gryphons put a on clinic in the second period shutting out Fike for almost seven minutes in the second quarter, by the half the Gryphons lead 37-21.
Starting out the third quarter Rocky Mount scored 12 of the first 14 points of the quarter to lead by 26 midway in the third. From that point on it was show time for the Gryphons as the lead grew to 38 off of dunks, three point baskets and all round good offensive basketball.
Mabrey lead the way with 21, Tevin Taylor added 15. Ten of the twelve Gryphons that played scored in this one.
Tashawn Mabrey has been out of action for three games and during those three, players who would normally pass it to Tashawn and then start watching has picked up the slack with him out. Since his return those players are continuing to play aggressive basketball and are not spectators any more. I can see that this team if they keep getting plays from everyone like they got tonight can be dangerous in the playoffs.
The guards lead by Tevin Taylor, Darius McKnight, and Kenyatta Bullock drove to the basket and when the ball is near the hole it opens up outside shots as well as make easy points around the basket. The Gryphons played tonight like the #2 ranked team that they are rated around the state.
The Gryphons will travel to Hertford County on Jan 30th to play Hertford County in the game that got put off before Christmas. Looks like the Rose game that was missed before Chrisatmas will not be made up. Tonight's win brings the Gryphons to 11-1 on the season.
Gryphons are back in action Friday at Southern.
You could really tell that the Lady Golden Demons were a very good fundamental basketball team but they were no match for the Lady Gryphon speed and quick hands. Even though she is not one of the Lady Gryphons with quick hands Danita Whitaker scored a double double getting 12 points and an astounding 23 rebounds. Tamisher Walker also had double digit rebounds getting 11. Kashunn Seabreeze and Tia Hudgins also hit double digit scoring with Seabreeze getting 11 and Hudgins 10.
This puts the Lady Gryphons in double digit wins with ten and only two losses. They are 3-0 in the Big East and by whipping Fike tonight they are now the only team in the conference with no losses.
The boys came into their game as the only team in the conference without a loss but if Fike could win that would put both teams into a tie for first. It was 16-16 at the end of the first quarter and during that first quarter Tashawn Mabrey scored six points and became the second Gryphon in history to hit 2,000 points joining Phil Ford in that elite company.
Whether it was the presentation of a basketball to Tashawn and his family for hitting 2,000 points but the Gryphons put a on clinic in the second period shutting out Fike for almost seven minutes in the second quarter, by the half the Gryphons lead 37-21.
Starting out the third quarter Rocky Mount scored 12 of the first 14 points of the quarter to lead by 26 midway in the third. From that point on it was show time for the Gryphons as the lead grew to 38 off of dunks, three point baskets and all round good offensive basketball.
Mabrey lead the way with 21, Tevin Taylor added 15. Ten of the twelve Gryphons that played scored in this one.
Tashawn Mabrey has been out of action for three games and during those three, players who would normally pass it to Tashawn and then start watching has picked up the slack with him out. Since his return those players are continuing to play aggressive basketball and are not spectators any more. I can see that this team if they keep getting plays from everyone like they got tonight can be dangerous in the playoffs.
The guards lead by Tevin Taylor, Darius McKnight, and Kenyatta Bullock drove to the basket and when the ball is near the hole it opens up outside shots as well as make easy points around the basket. The Gryphons played tonight like the #2 ranked team that they are rated around the state.
The Gryphons will travel to Hertford County on Jan 30th to play Hertford County in the game that got put off before Christmas. Looks like the Rose game that was missed before Chrisatmas will not be made up. Tonight's win brings the Gryphons to 11-1 on the season.
Gryphons are back in action Friday at Southern.
Basketball Tonight
Got E-mail from Charles Alston over night that Tashawn Mabrey needs six points tonight to become the second Gryphon in basketball history to hit the 2,000 point plateau. Going into tonight he is 99 points short of Phil Ford's all time Rocky Mount scoring record of 2,093.
Fike is in the house tonight providing the conference competition.
The NFL final four is set. 3.00pm Sunday the Colts host the New York Jets and the late game Sunday night will be Minnesota @ New Orleans. You have Peyton Manning, Brett Favere, Drew Brees and Mark Sanchez as the final four quarterbacks. Who would have ever thought Sanchez would be in final four his rookie year a year when the Jets got better when they took the ball away from Sanchez and started running with it.
I doubt whether they will win Super Bowl but it is nice to see a team play the old fashion way with defense and four yards and a sod of grass.
Last night Connecticut women ran all over Duke's women by about 30 in Durham. That makes both Duke and Carolina that have been killed by Connecticut this year joining every team that is getting slaughtered. This U-Conn women's team might be able to beat the U-Conn men.
ACC basketball looks a lot like the football league. Duke's twenty point win over Wake was surprising. i just don't see too many teams from ACC making the Sweet 16 thisyear in NCAA basketball tournament unless someone gets hot in the next eight weeks. That right there is still eight weeks until the NCAA tournament and a lot can change between now and then.
Fike is in the house tonight providing the conference competition.
The NFL final four is set. 3.00pm Sunday the Colts host the New York Jets and the late game Sunday night will be Minnesota @ New Orleans. You have Peyton Manning, Brett Favere, Drew Brees and Mark Sanchez as the final four quarterbacks. Who would have ever thought Sanchez would be in final four his rookie year a year when the Jets got better when they took the ball away from Sanchez and started running with it.
I doubt whether they will win Super Bowl but it is nice to see a team play the old fashion way with defense and four yards and a sod of grass.
Last night Connecticut women ran all over Duke's women by about 30 in Durham. That makes both Duke and Carolina that have been killed by Connecticut this year joining every team that is getting slaughtered. This U-Conn women's team might be able to beat the U-Conn men.
ACC basketball looks a lot like the football league. Duke's twenty point win over Wake was surprising. i just don't see too many teams from ACC making the Sweet 16 thisyear in NCAA basketball tournament unless someone gets hot in the next eight weeks. That right there is still eight weeks until the NCAA tournament and a lot can change between now and then.
Monday, January 18, 2010
History This Week
Rocky Mount High School is out of school for most of the week but sports continues.
Tuesday Basketball gets their first game at home in nearly a month. It's not that being away from home has been bad since both the boys and girls are 4-0 and the Nash Holiday Tournament champions since they played home.
Fike will be in the house Tuesday and first place will be on the line against the Golden Demons. There is a possibility that Tashawn Mabrey could become the all time scoring leader Tuesday night breaking Phil Ford's record.
Friday night the Gryphons hit the road again traveling to Southern Nash.
I am coming off my worse weekend ever picking playoff football games. I was 0-4. It was very apparent to me the motivated home teams are hard to beat. Three of the four won while San Diego played as if they were the team that had rust and had not played their starters in a month.
It only proves one thing, Indy deliberately losing their chance to go undefeated to rest players worked. Dallas's win last weekend got rubbed in their face in the fourth quarter when Brett Favre threw his fourth touchdown in the last two minutes with a meaningless touchdown.
There has been a lot of talk in the NFL about adding to regular season games. I don't see that as being a good solution. Here is my NFL Proposal keeping regular season at 16 games.
1. Expand playoffs to 16 teams
2. First weekend of playoffs only eight teams play. The other eight are off.
3. Next weekend those that were off play and the first weekend winners are then off.
4. Third weekend all winners of week one and two play
5. Fourth weekend is conference championship weekend
6. Super Bowl
This eliminates byes. All teams must win four games to be champion. This adds one weekend to playoffs. Keeps regular season the same and all players salaries stay same. Playoff money comes from a playoff pot already any way. This would mean three straight playoff weeks of Saturday/Sunday doubleheaders. Actually the season is expanded one week players salaries can stay same but NFL gets another weekend of playoff money from TV and the only teams that wind up playing one more game is the two teams in Super Bowl.
Tuesday Basketball gets their first game at home in nearly a month. It's not that being away from home has been bad since both the boys and girls are 4-0 and the Nash Holiday Tournament champions since they played home.
Fike will be in the house Tuesday and first place will be on the line against the Golden Demons. There is a possibility that Tashawn Mabrey could become the all time scoring leader Tuesday night breaking Phil Ford's record.
Friday night the Gryphons hit the road again traveling to Southern Nash.
I am coming off my worse weekend ever picking playoff football games. I was 0-4. It was very apparent to me the motivated home teams are hard to beat. Three of the four won while San Diego played as if they were the team that had rust and had not played their starters in a month.
It only proves one thing, Indy deliberately losing their chance to go undefeated to rest players worked. Dallas's win last weekend got rubbed in their face in the fourth quarter when Brett Favre threw his fourth touchdown in the last two minutes with a meaningless touchdown.
There has been a lot of talk in the NFL about adding to regular season games. I don't see that as being a good solution. Here is my NFL Proposal keeping regular season at 16 games.
1. Expand playoffs to 16 teams
2. First weekend of playoffs only eight teams play. The other eight are off.
3. Next weekend those that were off play and the first weekend winners are then off.
4. Third weekend all winners of week one and two play
5. Fourth weekend is conference championship weekend
6. Super Bowl
This eliminates byes. All teams must win four games to be champion. This adds one weekend to playoffs. Keeps regular season the same and all players salaries stay same. Playoff money comes from a playoff pot already any way. This would mean three straight playoff weeks of Saturday/Sunday doubleheaders. Actually the season is expanded one week players salaries can stay same but NFL gets another weekend of playoff money from TV and the only teams that wind up playing one more game is the two teams in Super Bowl.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Virginia Leads ACC
Was it not just last week that we were talking Virginia and North Carolina State playing for last place in ACC basketball? As they say in news talk the early returns are in and Virginia is the only undefeated team in the ACC after only three games.
Saturday's NFL playoff games proved one thing. Motivated divisional champions are hard to beat at home. Arizona and Baltimore scored seventeen points between them and were never in either game. Arizona game up 90 point in their two playoff games an NFL record. Baltimore's effort shows you how far New England has fallen.
New Orleans and Indianapolis wait to see who they will host next week in the conference championship games.
I have not had anything to say so far about Mark McGuire and his admitting he used steroids while breaking Roger Maris Home run record. Not much to say other than I thought so. I find it hard to believe that St Louis will still let him be their hitting coach starting this year.
Gilbert Arenas plead guilty this week to a Felony charge on guns. I have a feeling his NBA career should be over. If you or I brought a gun to work we would be fired in a second.
The Carolina Hurricanes lost again Saturday to solidify they lead as the worst team in hockey. They have been playing better of late but are so far back the season is just about over for them.
While the Hurricanes go down the Bobcats are heading upwards. Saturday night they beat the Suns to even their record at 19-19. It is the first time in the teams Bobcat franchise history to be 500 during any season at any time.
One of the best moves that East Carolina has ever made in sports was the hiring of Terry Holland to be athletic director. I sure did enjoy listening to Holland talk about Skip Holtz and the football future of the Pirates this week. The Pirates sure do have a skipper in charge heading in the right direction in Greenville.
Saturday's NFL playoff games proved one thing. Motivated divisional champions are hard to beat at home. Arizona and Baltimore scored seventeen points between them and were never in either game. Arizona game up 90 point in their two playoff games an NFL record. Baltimore's effort shows you how far New England has fallen.
New Orleans and Indianapolis wait to see who they will host next week in the conference championship games.
I have not had anything to say so far about Mark McGuire and his admitting he used steroids while breaking Roger Maris Home run record. Not much to say other than I thought so. I find it hard to believe that St Louis will still let him be their hitting coach starting this year.
Gilbert Arenas plead guilty this week to a Felony charge on guns. I have a feeling his NBA career should be over. If you or I brought a gun to work we would be fired in a second.
The Carolina Hurricanes lost again Saturday to solidify they lead as the worst team in hockey. They have been playing better of late but are so far back the season is just about over for them.
While the Hurricanes go down the Bobcats are heading upwards. Saturday night they beat the Suns to even their record at 19-19. It is the first time in the teams Bobcat franchise history to be 500 during any season at any time.
One of the best moves that East Carolina has ever made in sports was the hiring of Terry Holland to be athletic director. I sure did enjoy listening to Holland talk about Skip Holtz and the football future of the Pirates this week. The Pirates sure do have a skipper in charge heading in the right direction in Greenville.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Gryphons Sweep Hunt
Friday night in Wilson the Rocky Mount Gryphons got the backside of the 2010 basketball schedule going with a double header victory.
The Girls didn't score many but Pam Gainey's defense did the job and held the Lady Warriors to less than the Gryphons as Rocky Mount beat Hunt 34-28. The girls are 2-0 and now 9-2 on this season.
The boys welcomed back Tashawn Mabrey who had not played since Christmas and the news is good for the boys. Rocky Mount wins 68-60. The boys also find themselves at 2-0 in conference play but hit double digits with victories as they win their tenth game in eleven tries.
Don't look now but if the NBA playoffs ended today the Charlotte Bobcats would be in the playoffs for the first time in the franchise's history. Friday night the Bobcats won their sixth straight home game beating Tim Duncan and the Spurs. The Bobcats are 18-19 on the season and seventh in the eastern conference.
The NFL is front and center on Saturday and Sunday. Last weekend I was three out of four on my picks.I was set to go four for four until Green Bay made the fumble in over time instead of going down field and scoring like they were suppose to do.
Dallas is at Minnesota today. I just don't know whether I can trust Dallas or not. Other than San Diego the Cowboys are hot but I just have a feeling that Brett Favre is due a three interception game and Dallas wins 30-27.
Tonight the Ravens travel to Indianapolis and despite not being able to pass the ball I think Baltimore wins. I just don't like Indy shutting the season down the way they did. Baltimore 17- INDY 16
Sunday is the calculator game. I think Arizona is going to out score New Orleans 38-35.
The winningest team in the NFL the last six years is the Colts. They have won 77 games. Next is New England at 73 followed by San Diego with 67 wins. Pittsburgh and the Giants are tied with 65 wins.
Four of those teams have won Super Bowls in the last five years. San Diego is the only team on that list that hasn't won. In the history of the NFL no team that made the playoffs five of six years hasn't won the title all the way back even before the Super Bowl. San Diego this year has made the playoffs five of six years. San Diego is the greatest scoring team in any five year period in NFL history. History will continue San Diego wins the Super Bowl and Sunday night beat the Jets 27-7.
The Girls didn't score many but Pam Gainey's defense did the job and held the Lady Warriors to less than the Gryphons as Rocky Mount beat Hunt 34-28. The girls are 2-0 and now 9-2 on this season.
The boys welcomed back Tashawn Mabrey who had not played since Christmas and the news is good for the boys. Rocky Mount wins 68-60. The boys also find themselves at 2-0 in conference play but hit double digits with victories as they win their tenth game in eleven tries.
Don't look now but if the NBA playoffs ended today the Charlotte Bobcats would be in the playoffs for the first time in the franchise's history. Friday night the Bobcats won their sixth straight home game beating Tim Duncan and the Spurs. The Bobcats are 18-19 on the season and seventh in the eastern conference.
The NFL is front and center on Saturday and Sunday. Last weekend I was three out of four on my picks.I was set to go four for four until Green Bay made the fumble in over time instead of going down field and scoring like they were suppose to do.
Dallas is at Minnesota today. I just don't know whether I can trust Dallas or not. Other than San Diego the Cowboys are hot but I just have a feeling that Brett Favre is due a three interception game and Dallas wins 30-27.
Tonight the Ravens travel to Indianapolis and despite not being able to pass the ball I think Baltimore wins. I just don't like Indy shutting the season down the way they did. Baltimore 17- INDY 16
Sunday is the calculator game. I think Arizona is going to out score New Orleans 38-35.
The winningest team in the NFL the last six years is the Colts. They have won 77 games. Next is New England at 73 followed by San Diego with 67 wins. Pittsburgh and the Giants are tied with 65 wins.
Four of those teams have won Super Bowls in the last five years. San Diego is the only team on that list that hasn't won. In the history of the NFL no team that made the playoffs five of six years hasn't won the title all the way back even before the Super Bowl. San Diego this year has made the playoffs five of six years. San Diego is the greatest scoring team in any five year period in NFL history. History will continue San Diego wins the Super Bowl and Sunday night beat the Jets 27-7.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Holtz Bolts Pirates
I am not one of these people that believes that the world is going to end for all the ECU football players now that Skip Holtz has moved to Tampa and South Florida after all any athlete who is getting a free education just because they run fast or catch a ball is living out a dream.
Whether it is Holtz,Kiffin, or Pete Carroll they have all live up to the requirements of their contract. If they hadn't lawsuits would be flying all over the place. I find them to be no different from me or you that if someone called and offered more money,more opportunity I'd jump too. We live in a society that people leave their jobs everyday for $10 a week more down the road.
What I feel in Skip Holtz case is to the naked eye South Florida doesn't look like a step up when in fact it is. They are in the Big East a conference that ECU would jump at in a minute if they were invited.
A major decision in athletics at ECU in the near future is non qualifying athletes. Southern Mississippi a member with ECU in Conference USA has for years tried to get other members of the conference including ECU to quit accepting players that don't meet academic standards after high school graduation.
This point is a major sticking point on why Carolina and NC State hate to play ECU in football. ECU accepts players that Carolina and State can't get in school. This is also a major reason ECU is in Conference USA and nothing better. This is why Skip Holtz is not being offered jobs like Tennessee because he hasn't proved he can win without the non-qualifiers.
Terry Holland has done a terrific job in Greenville as Athletic Director. I am sure ECU can bring in a coach who can continue the winning as Holtz has done.
Tonight high school sports cranks up again after the EOC break. The Gryphons jump in the frying pan taking on Hunt at Hunt. The Warriors and Gryphons are tied with Fike as the only undefeated team at 1-0 in conference play. A win by either side helps get a leg up in the early conference standings.
Back to college football for a minute. Rumors are flying that David Cutcliffe of Duke is on Tennessee's list as a possible coach. I know this would be bad for the Blue Devils but to me he seems perfect for Tennessee. If Tennessee says no to Cutcliffe, hey ECU Cutcliffe would look good in Purple! I doubt that Tennessee will not take him however.
Whether it is Holtz,Kiffin, or Pete Carroll they have all live up to the requirements of their contract. If they hadn't lawsuits would be flying all over the place. I find them to be no different from me or you that if someone called and offered more money,more opportunity I'd jump too. We live in a society that people leave their jobs everyday for $10 a week more down the road.
What I feel in Skip Holtz case is to the naked eye South Florida doesn't look like a step up when in fact it is. They are in the Big East a conference that ECU would jump at in a minute if they were invited.
A major decision in athletics at ECU in the near future is non qualifying athletes. Southern Mississippi a member with ECU in Conference USA has for years tried to get other members of the conference including ECU to quit accepting players that don't meet academic standards after high school graduation.
This point is a major sticking point on why Carolina and NC State hate to play ECU in football. ECU accepts players that Carolina and State can't get in school. This is also a major reason ECU is in Conference USA and nothing better. This is why Skip Holtz is not being offered jobs like Tennessee because he hasn't proved he can win without the non-qualifiers.
Terry Holland has done a terrific job in Greenville as Athletic Director. I am sure ECU can bring in a coach who can continue the winning as Holtz has done.
Tonight high school sports cranks up again after the EOC break. The Gryphons jump in the frying pan taking on Hunt at Hunt. The Warriors and Gryphons are tied with Fike as the only undefeated team at 1-0 in conference play. A win by either side helps get a leg up in the early conference standings.
Back to college football for a minute. Rumors are flying that David Cutcliffe of Duke is on Tennessee's list as a possible coach. I know this would be bad for the Blue Devils but to me he seems perfect for Tennessee. If Tennessee says no to Cutcliffe, hey ECU Cutcliffe would look good in Purple! I doubt that Tennessee will not take him however.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Must Have Been The Bus Crash
Yesterday the UNC Basketball bus on the way to their shoot around at Clemson was involved in a fender bender. Last night while playing their conference basketball game at Clemson the Tar Heels were involved in a crash which involved the entire team.
I don't believe I have ever seen Carolina out of a game from the get go like last night. They had twenty six turnovers which ties for the most in Chapel Hill during the Roy Williams era.
Luckily for Carolina their 54 game home winning streak again Clemson in Chapel Hill is not in jeopardy because Clemson doesn't come to Chapel Hill this year. The way I saw it last night there are several more conferences losses heading the Tar Heel way this year as long as their point guards are inconsistent and their big men up front play like stick men.
Is it possible Carolina will not make the NCAA tournament this year? Despite this Carolina team not being the Carolina team that we see most of the time the Clemson fans stormed the court anyway.
Duke beat Boston College last night in the fashion they beat most teams in Durham. Looks as if Duke is the best in the ACC this year but I don't see any team from the ACC making the final four.
Looking nationally the two best teams Texas and Kentucky both have Chris Paul like guards running the show for them.
Lane Kiffin had not even arrived in LA yesterday before Tennessee football fans were hollering foul. Seems Vol fans are claiming Kiffin and his coaches were on the phone with Tennessee recruits trying to get them to switch from their Tennessee commitment.
Does any body see Lane Kiffin in college football to be what John Calipari is in college basketball? Everywhere he goes he leaves the school in turmoil and NCAA trouble but comes out smelling like a rose every time.
I don't believe I have ever seen Carolina out of a game from the get go like last night. They had twenty six turnovers which ties for the most in Chapel Hill during the Roy Williams era.
Luckily for Carolina their 54 game home winning streak again Clemson in Chapel Hill is not in jeopardy because Clemson doesn't come to Chapel Hill this year. The way I saw it last night there are several more conferences losses heading the Tar Heel way this year as long as their point guards are inconsistent and their big men up front play like stick men.
Is it possible Carolina will not make the NCAA tournament this year? Despite this Carolina team not being the Carolina team that we see most of the time the Clemson fans stormed the court anyway.
Duke beat Boston College last night in the fashion they beat most teams in Durham. Looks as if Duke is the best in the ACC this year but I don't see any team from the ACC making the final four.
Looking nationally the two best teams Texas and Kentucky both have Chris Paul like guards running the show for them.
Lane Kiffin had not even arrived in LA yesterday before Tennessee football fans were hollering foul. Seems Vol fans are claiming Kiffin and his coaches were on the phone with Tennessee recruits trying to get them to switch from their Tennessee commitment.
Does any body see Lane Kiffin in college football to be what John Calipari is in college basketball? Everywhere he goes he leaves the school in turmoil and NCAA trouble but comes out smelling like a rose every time.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Exam week
This area is slow this week with high school sports because this week is exam week or to be politically correct EOC week. In my day they were called exams but we don't want to put to much pressure on our children so let's call them something that doesn't sound as hard. Our kids must make a grade point average of 81 after the EOC's or they must retake their exams or excuse me EOC's again on Friday.
There is celebration in our household as Morgan made 92 on Biology on Monday in which I had to review material that I have not had since the Ice Age. I wasn't much help in the 94 she made Tuesday in English.
Friday sports returns and the Gryphons will travel to Hunt. If we can go by non-conference portion as an indicator Hunt looks like the team that if we can sweep them Friday the Gryphons will have a leg up on everyone in basketball.
This past Saturday the Big East held the duels in wrestling. Like in tennis this is the team championship part of wrestling and Northern Nash won the conference championship whipping the Gryphons for the title. Later on the individual championships will be held.
Last night N C State found someone in the ACC worse than them as the Wolfpack won 88-81. Yesterday I talked about point guard play and I kept up last night with the number of passes made in the first half. The Wolfpack made 108 passes outside the three point line in the first half resulting in fifteen points. They made eleven passes that started outside the three point line and went across the line resulting in twelve points. The remaining eleven first half points occurred from steals and no passes or shots taken with no pass involved. Eleven times they went inside and scored twelve points. Basketball is an easier game when you get close to the basket over passing outside the three point line and never attacking the basket.
Wake beat Maryland at home in OT 89-87. Carolina has a real test tonight with a a visit to Clemson.
Looks like Skip is leaving ECU as Holtz was rumored to have interviewed yesterday for the South Florida job. Hold the phone, with Pete Carroll leaving Southern Cal and Lane Kiffin leaving Tennessee for Southern Cal the coaching carousel is in the works and if I was Holtz I would wait a week or two to see where the dominoes fall over the next week. Who knows the Notre dame job may be open again.
There is celebration in our household as Morgan made 92 on Biology on Monday in which I had to review material that I have not had since the Ice Age. I wasn't much help in the 94 she made Tuesday in English.
Friday sports returns and the Gryphons will travel to Hunt. If we can go by non-conference portion as an indicator Hunt looks like the team that if we can sweep them Friday the Gryphons will have a leg up on everyone in basketball.
This past Saturday the Big East held the duels in wrestling. Like in tennis this is the team championship part of wrestling and Northern Nash won the conference championship whipping the Gryphons for the title. Later on the individual championships will be held.
Last night N C State found someone in the ACC worse than them as the Wolfpack won 88-81. Yesterday I talked about point guard play and I kept up last night with the number of passes made in the first half. The Wolfpack made 108 passes outside the three point line in the first half resulting in fifteen points. They made eleven passes that started outside the three point line and went across the line resulting in twelve points. The remaining eleven first half points occurred from steals and no passes or shots taken with no pass involved. Eleven times they went inside and scored twelve points. Basketball is an easier game when you get close to the basket over passing outside the three point line and never attacking the basket.
Wake beat Maryland at home in OT 89-87. Carolina has a real test tonight with a a visit to Clemson.
Looks like Skip is leaving ECU as Holtz was rumored to have interviewed yesterday for the South Florida job. Hold the phone, with Pete Carroll leaving Southern Cal and Lane Kiffin leaving Tennessee for Southern Cal the coaching carousel is in the works and if I was Holtz I would wait a week or two to see where the dominoes fall over the next week. Who knows the Notre dame job may be open again.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Depressing Days in Wolfpack Country
The battle for last place in ACC basketball Virginia beat N C State in Raleigh. Now if this is suppose to be last place battle and you can't beat Virginia at home then you must assume State can't beat anybody.
If you watched the game Saturday they put a graphic on the screen which pretty much was the last straw for me with Sidney Lowe. His first three years he was 15-33 in conference play. They are now 0-2 in his fourth year.
Lowe who has won about 53% of all his games will never get past this year unless this team pulls a Herb Sendeck and almost wins the ACC Tournament. By the way, folks in Raleigh pretty much ran Sendeck out of town at a winning percentage of almost 60%.
The basketball team has not won the conference since 1987, football 1979. You must know that Wolfpack fans have to be the most loyal in the world. The football stadium is filled every game with sixty thousand and sometimes basketball will put nineteen thousand in the house. I doubt there will be a basketball sellout for the remainder of this year as long as Lowe is there. That's the way as fans you protest when things are not going well, you don't go to the games.
I find it hard to believe that Lowe and Towe two glorious point guards from past Wolfpack national champions can't find a point guard. I judge point guards from their first pass once they get into the offensive end of the court.
State doesn't have any players of All american caliber, but they have some really good ones who when they are given the ball when they are ready to score can put it in the hole. A Tyler Hansbourough for Carolina could not bring the ball down the court and score. He had to rely on a point guard to get him the ball when he was open.
Seems as if every year is look who we have coming next year. This year was next year, last year.
Carolina has a point guard problem this year and Carolina fans are pulling their hair out. Point guards are what make any basketball teams go.
Sidney Lowe to have been a great point guard on a national championship team should know what one looks like and you would think know how to teach to be a point guard.
Then there is always look what we got coming next year.
If you watched the game Saturday they put a graphic on the screen which pretty much was the last straw for me with Sidney Lowe. His first three years he was 15-33 in conference play. They are now 0-2 in his fourth year.
Lowe who has won about 53% of all his games will never get past this year unless this team pulls a Herb Sendeck and almost wins the ACC Tournament. By the way, folks in Raleigh pretty much ran Sendeck out of town at a winning percentage of almost 60%.
The basketball team has not won the conference since 1987, football 1979. You must know that Wolfpack fans have to be the most loyal in the world. The football stadium is filled every game with sixty thousand and sometimes basketball will put nineteen thousand in the house. I doubt there will be a basketball sellout for the remainder of this year as long as Lowe is there. That's the way as fans you protest when things are not going well, you don't go to the games.
I find it hard to believe that Lowe and Towe two glorious point guards from past Wolfpack national champions can't find a point guard. I judge point guards from their first pass once they get into the offensive end of the court.
State doesn't have any players of All american caliber, but they have some really good ones who when they are given the ball when they are ready to score can put it in the hole. A Tyler Hansbourough for Carolina could not bring the ball down the court and score. He had to rely on a point guard to get him the ball when he was open.
Seems as if every year is look who we have coming next year. This year was next year, last year.
Carolina has a point guard problem this year and Carolina fans are pulling their hair out. Point guards are what make any basketball teams go.
Sidney Lowe to have been a great point guard on a national championship team should know what one looks like and you would think know how to teach to be a point guard.
Then there is always look what we got coming next year.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Wild Card Games a Dud Until Last One
Saturday's wild card NFL playoff games were dominated by the team that had already won the same game in week 17 or the final week of the regular season.
Sunday's first game saw the most mighty team of the decade the New England Patriots play as it was time for a new decade and new team of the decade losing by twenty at home.
The night cap of the weekend started and seemed destined to be like all the others as the Cardinals jumped to a 17-0 lead over the frozen tundraless Green Bay Packers.
The NFL is touting itself as a passing league these days and after three games and one quarter of the fourth running had dominated the three playoff games in the books.
Finally the quarterbacks took over and the end result may have been the most entertaining playoff game in NFL history. The way the offenses moved the ball winning the coin toss for overtime was a one way ticket to victory for Green Bay. Not so fast my friend" a fumbled touchdown put a capper on the second highest scoring playoff game in history. Who would have thunk it, that the winning score would come from the Cardinal's defense.
So now we are down to eight. This Saturday opening game will send Dallas to Minnesota. You have to give Tony Romo his due. He is now the third highest rated quarterback in NFL history and he will be going head to head with the most over hyped in Brett Favre.
Saturday night's prime time game will send Baltimore to Indianapolis to take on MVP Peyton Manning and the Colts. This will be the now Colts taking on the use to be Colts. Have the Colts killed their momentum losing on purpose their last two games? Can Baltimore really beat anybody good completing only four passes like they did this past Sunday?
Sunday's first game will send Arizona to New Orleans. This might be the game next weekend that it will take fifty to win. The team that actually makes a stop in this game may be the winner.
The late Sunday headliners will be the J-E-T-S taking on the San Diego Chargers. Has anybody noticed that the top four vote getters in the MVP voting will be playing for the first time next weekend. Manning,Brees.Rivers and Favre.
If the NFL has truly changed to a passing league, we will find out next weekend.
Sunday's first game saw the most mighty team of the decade the New England Patriots play as it was time for a new decade and new team of the decade losing by twenty at home.
The night cap of the weekend started and seemed destined to be like all the others as the Cardinals jumped to a 17-0 lead over the frozen tundraless Green Bay Packers.
The NFL is touting itself as a passing league these days and after three games and one quarter of the fourth running had dominated the three playoff games in the books.
Finally the quarterbacks took over and the end result may have been the most entertaining playoff game in NFL history. The way the offenses moved the ball winning the coin toss for overtime was a one way ticket to victory for Green Bay. Not so fast my friend" a fumbled touchdown put a capper on the second highest scoring playoff game in history. Who would have thunk it, that the winning score would come from the Cardinal's defense.
So now we are down to eight. This Saturday opening game will send Dallas to Minnesota. You have to give Tony Romo his due. He is now the third highest rated quarterback in NFL history and he will be going head to head with the most over hyped in Brett Favre.
Saturday night's prime time game will send Baltimore to Indianapolis to take on MVP Peyton Manning and the Colts. This will be the now Colts taking on the use to be Colts. Have the Colts killed their momentum losing on purpose their last two games? Can Baltimore really beat anybody good completing only four passes like they did this past Sunday?
Sunday's first game will send Arizona to New Orleans. This might be the game next weekend that it will take fifty to win. The team that actually makes a stop in this game may be the winner.
The late Sunday headliners will be the J-E-T-S taking on the San Diego Chargers. Has anybody noticed that the top four vote getters in the MVP voting will be playing for the first time next weekend. Manning,Brees.Rivers and Favre.
If the NFL has truly changed to a passing league, we will find out next weekend.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
How Bout Them Cowboys
Before everyone anoints the Cowboys Super Bowl champions I would like to remind everyone that the Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans and the Arizona Cardinals have been in the Super Bowl Since Dallas last won a playoff game.
Denver has won the super bowl twice and the lowly St Louis Cardinals who won once and lost one since a Dallas playoff victory.
Dallas the last two weeks have looked like world beaters or should we say Philly beaters. Even the game before that they beat that power house New York Giants who the last two games scored only sixteen points and gave up over 80.
In the same light the New York Jets beat a team who since the death of one of their players have been a shell of themselves. Cincinnati played an emotional game at San Diego but the last two weeks of the regular season seemed to be playing out the season.
There are now five team left in the NFC. New Orleans losers of three in a row. Minnesota losers of three of their final five. Arizona drubbed last week at Green Bay and as a new Years present they will Host Green Bay today. The two teams with the momentum right now is Green Bay and Dallas.
The AFC's five teams left are the Chargers winners of eleven in a row, Indianapolis losers of their last two, New England limping into the playoffs and Baltimore.
What happened to try to play your best ball at playoff time? You know every year there seem to be one team that wins during the wild card that makes it to the super bowl. Ten teams left and it sure does look like the hottest teams are the Chargers, Cowboys and Packers and the Packers and Cowboys are in the wild card round.
Peyton Manning won the MVP award and I have no qualms with that. It was a runaway with Drew Brees, Philip Rivers and Brett Favre finishing way back. Chris Johnson of ECU didn't even get one vote for MVP after rushing for 2,000 yards. I guess it only shows you that the NFL is now a passing league and rushing the football don't mean what it use too. There use to be a day when passing teams always lost to the ball control teams. The Titans who Johnson plays for didn't even finish abouve 500 on the season.
Denver has won the super bowl twice and the lowly St Louis Cardinals who won once and lost one since a Dallas playoff victory.
Dallas the last two weeks have looked like world beaters or should we say Philly beaters. Even the game before that they beat that power house New York Giants who the last two games scored only sixteen points and gave up over 80.
In the same light the New York Jets beat a team who since the death of one of their players have been a shell of themselves. Cincinnati played an emotional game at San Diego but the last two weeks of the regular season seemed to be playing out the season.
There are now five team left in the NFC. New Orleans losers of three in a row. Minnesota losers of three of their final five. Arizona drubbed last week at Green Bay and as a new Years present they will Host Green Bay today. The two teams with the momentum right now is Green Bay and Dallas.
The AFC's five teams left are the Chargers winners of eleven in a row, Indianapolis losers of their last two, New England limping into the playoffs and Baltimore.
What happened to try to play your best ball at playoff time? You know every year there seem to be one team that wins during the wild card that makes it to the super bowl. Ten teams left and it sure does look like the hottest teams are the Chargers, Cowboys and Packers and the Packers and Cowboys are in the wild card round.
Peyton Manning won the MVP award and I have no qualms with that. It was a runaway with Drew Brees, Philip Rivers and Brett Favre finishing way back. Chris Johnson of ECU didn't even get one vote for MVP after rushing for 2,000 yards. I guess it only shows you that the NFL is now a passing league and rushing the football don't mean what it use too. There use to be a day when passing teams always lost to the ball control teams. The Titans who Johnson plays for didn't even finish abouve 500 on the season.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Gryphons Open League Play Winners
The Lady Gryphons got double figure scoring from Tamisher Walker (17) and Tia Hudgins (12)as the Lady Gryphons open Big East play with a 51-30 victory over Nash Central.
The Ladies are now 8-2 and 1-0 as they beat Nash Central for the second time in eleven days.
Marred by injuries and personnel problems the boys continue to win. Darius McKnight and Billy Young were the only Gryphons in double figures but each hit for 22. Gryphons win at Nash Central 78-67 to win their first conference game and their ninth win in ten tries.
Both Northern Nash and Southern Nash are swept by the Wilson County schools. Northern lost at Hunt and Fike took two from Southern.
Today starts the NFL playoffs and I think I have changed my mind every day this week.
The opening game has the Jets at Cincinnati and for the life of me I can't find a way to think the Jets will win. Saturday night I am sticking with Dallas but I am not all that confident in that one.
Sunday has Green Bay at Arizona and I think the healthiest team will win, Green Bay. Sunday night I think with Wes Welker being out for the Patriots that is going to make it hard for New England to score. I doubt whether Baltimore scores much either but I think they will have one more point than New England.
We pay a lot of attention to men's college basketball in this area and there is no doubt that Duke and Carolina women's basketball is of National quality. N C State sent shock waves through out the college basketball world Thursday night when the N C State women beat Maryland 73-45.
New coach Kelly Harper has the Wolfpack women at 11-5 in her first year after replacing Kay Yow. There is something about Harper that makes me think she is going to take State to a higher level that they have ever been including one trip to the final four. Seems to me Harper has Pat Summitt's replacement at Tennessee wrote all over her when and if Summitt retires
The Ladies are now 8-2 and 1-0 as they beat Nash Central for the second time in eleven days.
Marred by injuries and personnel problems the boys continue to win. Darius McKnight and Billy Young were the only Gryphons in double figures but each hit for 22. Gryphons win at Nash Central 78-67 to win their first conference game and their ninth win in ten tries.
Both Northern Nash and Southern Nash are swept by the Wilson County schools. Northern lost at Hunt and Fike took two from Southern.
Today starts the NFL playoffs and I think I have changed my mind every day this week.
The opening game has the Jets at Cincinnati and for the life of me I can't find a way to think the Jets will win. Saturday night I am sticking with Dallas but I am not all that confident in that one.
Sunday has Green Bay at Arizona and I think the healthiest team will win, Green Bay. Sunday night I think with Wes Welker being out for the Patriots that is going to make it hard for New England to score. I doubt whether Baltimore scores much either but I think they will have one more point than New England.
We pay a lot of attention to men's college basketball in this area and there is no doubt that Duke and Carolina women's basketball is of National quality. N C State sent shock waves through out the college basketball world Thursday night when the N C State women beat Maryland 73-45.
New coach Kelly Harper has the Wolfpack women at 11-5 in her first year after replacing Kay Yow. There is something about Harper that makes me think she is going to take State to a higher level that they have ever been including one trip to the final four. Seems to me Harper has Pat Summitt's replacement at Tennessee wrote all over her when and if Summitt retires
Friday, January 8, 2010
Finally College Football Is Over
I was leaving work on Thursday afternoon one of my fellow employees ask me who I thought was going to win the National championship game. My Response was Alabama 14-13. His response was "I think Colt McCoy from Texas is going to put on a show and rip Alabama".
McCoy's injury during the first series of the game changed completely what could have happened. There is a saying that the best defense is a good offense and Texas without McCoy struggled to move the ball all night keeping the Texas defense in trouble throughout the game.
I found myself last night more interested in other TV over the college football game. Playing the National championship on the 7th of January is carrying it a little to far for me. I find it hard to get up for the national championship the night after the GMAC bowl. The national championship game this year could have easily been played on Saturday night the 2nd over stretching it another five days.
One of the biggest assumptions we make in sports is what ever it is today that is the way it is going to be and it hardly ever happens that way. If I had to pick the player of the year in college basketball today Jon Schyer of Duke would be my player of the year.
Just last season Coach K moved moved Schyer to point guard and he really struggled. This season he looks as if he was made to be a point guard. Not only is he shooting well but he has command of how to get the ball to a teammate when they are ready to score. State and Carolina would love to have someone handle to the ball that well for them this year.
Conference play begins tonight in the Big East. Rocky Mount heads to Nash Central and Northern goes to Hunt. Five weeks from tonight will end the regular season in high school basketball.
McCoy's injury during the first series of the game changed completely what could have happened. There is a saying that the best defense is a good offense and Texas without McCoy struggled to move the ball all night keeping the Texas defense in trouble throughout the game.
I found myself last night more interested in other TV over the college football game. Playing the National championship on the 7th of January is carrying it a little to far for me. I find it hard to get up for the national championship the night after the GMAC bowl. The national championship game this year could have easily been played on Saturday night the 2nd over stretching it another five days.
One of the biggest assumptions we make in sports is what ever it is today that is the way it is going to be and it hardly ever happens that way. If I had to pick the player of the year in college basketball today Jon Schyer of Duke would be my player of the year.
Just last season Coach K moved moved Schyer to point guard and he really struggled. This season he looks as if he was made to be a point guard. Not only is he shooting well but he has command of how to get the ball to a teammate when they are ready to score. State and Carolina would love to have someone handle to the ball that well for them this year.
Conference play begins tonight in the Big East. Rocky Mount heads to Nash Central and Northern goes to Hunt. Five weeks from tonight will end the regular season in high school basketball.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Stern Takes Action
Yesterday NBA Commissioner Stern's took action in the Gilbert Arenas case of bringing guns into an NBA locker room. Arenas has been suspended indefinitely. I hope that means his career is over.
Arenas says that the reason he took the guns with him to work was he thought it was unsafe to have them at home. If they are unsafe at home what makes him think they will be safer at work. Guns and being stupid don't mix.
I am a believer that every citizen has a right to protect himself in his home.
If you look at our local news over the past several weeks there have been shootings involving teenagers just about every other day. I don't know whether these teenagers are still in school or not, but if they are, do you think I think when they arrive at school every day they lock the gun in the glove compartment of their car? I don't think so.
I know having a child at RMHS if there are guns in school at some point in time they will be used. I have no problem at all if the Board of Education ordered one day for all Junior high and high schools to be locked down and and a complete search be done.
I think this has happened in the past in one or two schools but never as a County wide sweep.
Our area right now has way too much teenage violence's not to think guns are not in our schools. Let's find out.
I know the civil liberties people will come out of the wood work talking about rights of individuals. That's what I'm talking about too the right to send my child to school knowing that she will not be hit by a flying bullet aimed at someone else.
If that means the metal detectors need to be set up for everyone who enters a school so be it.
Arenas says that the reason he took the guns with him to work was he thought it was unsafe to have them at home. If they are unsafe at home what makes him think they will be safer at work. Guns and being stupid don't mix.
I am a believer that every citizen has a right to protect himself in his home.
If you look at our local news over the past several weeks there have been shootings involving teenagers just about every other day. I don't know whether these teenagers are still in school or not, but if they are, do you think I think when they arrive at school every day they lock the gun in the glove compartment of their car? I don't think so.
I know having a child at RMHS if there are guns in school at some point in time they will be used. I have no problem at all if the Board of Education ordered one day for all Junior high and high schools to be locked down and and a complete search be done.
I think this has happened in the past in one or two schools but never as a County wide sweep.
Our area right now has way too much teenage violence's not to think guns are not in our schools. Let's find out.
I know the civil liberties people will come out of the wood work talking about rights of individuals. That's what I'm talking about too the right to send my child to school knowing that she will not be hit by a flying bullet aimed at someone else.
If that means the metal detectors need to be set up for everyone who enters a school so be it.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Winter Sports Start Rolling
One of the biggest obstacles for any coach that coaches a winter sport is the Christmas Holidays. You play three or four games and then school is out for a couple of weeks and everyone's routine is broken. You come back after Christmas and try to get into a new routine and then exams.
Tonight the Gryphons get back to the hard court as they travel to Ahoskie to meet the Bears of Hertford County.
The Lady Gryphons start the new year with a 7-2 record. They are relatively healthy as they begin the new year.
The boys have a couple of issues with injuries and personal reasons hindering the start tonight. they will begin the new year 8-1. Another issue that the boys face is HC had two football players who when we played them before Christmas were out with football injuries suffered in the playoffs and did not play the first time around. Tonight HC will be at full strength.
Friday night begins confernece action as the Gryphons will travel all the way to west Rocky Mount to meet Nash Central in both teams conference opener.
Still undecided is the makeup game with Rose which was postponed before Christmas when it looked as if we were going to get that snow which never happened.
The Gryphons lead the Wachovia Cup standing in the Big East after the falls sports and both basketball teams seem to this point in the early season to be the favorites to win in basketball. There are a lot of loose ends that need to be addressed as basketball get rolling in 2010 before we can say that the Gryphons are the clear choice in basketball.
Tonight the Gryphons get back to the hard court as they travel to Ahoskie to meet the Bears of Hertford County.
The Lady Gryphons start the new year with a 7-2 record. They are relatively healthy as they begin the new year.
The boys have a couple of issues with injuries and personal reasons hindering the start tonight. they will begin the new year 8-1. Another issue that the boys face is HC had two football players who when we played them before Christmas were out with football injuries suffered in the playoffs and did not play the first time around. Tonight HC will be at full strength.
Friday night begins confernece action as the Gryphons will travel all the way to west Rocky Mount to meet Nash Central in both teams conference opener.
Still undecided is the makeup game with Rose which was postponed before Christmas when it looked as if we were going to get that snow which never happened.
The Gryphons lead the Wachovia Cup standing in the Big East after the falls sports and both basketball teams seem to this point in the early season to be the favorites to win in basketball. There are a lot of loose ends that need to be addressed as basketball get rolling in 2010 before we can say that the Gryphons are the clear choice in basketball.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
The NFL Playoffs 2010
The NFL playoffs begin Saturday afternoon or did they begin last Sunday since three games played then will be repeated this weekend?
The New York Jets who won their last two regular season games with the help of two teams that decided to rest players will now face a team that is serious about playing. The Jets are the #1 Rushing team in the league and #1 in defense. I have for the past five or six weeks thought the Bengals were a one and done team in the playoffs, however the Jets really didn't earn their way to the playoffs.
I'm going with the Bengals 14-13. Regardless of which one wins they will be out next week.
There has been so much hub bub about Dallas and their December record that people have failed to see Tony Romo had a solid year at quarterback. Yes, he is a gun slinger in the Brett Favre mold but since he has been the starting qb for Dallas going on four years now he has the second best qb rating of all active quarterbacks behind Philip Rivers.
Dallas spanked Philadelphia this past Sunday and I see no reason why they will not do it again. I do see a closer game this time and Dallas will win their first playoff game in 14 years. Do you realize that in 1996 Dallas won their wild card game and lost at Carolina and have not won since? Pat Summerall was at that time doing the game for CBS when the Panthers won that day. That was a long time ago.
I'll take Dallas 23-17 over the Eagles.
Sunday's games will start out with Green Bay traveling to Arizona. Boy this is a tough one to pick. Do you realize that Green Bay has a better record than Arizona. The Packers drubbed the Cardinal's this past week in Green Bay. This is a game in which I should go with the Cardinals but I won't. Green Bay 27 Arizona 23
The final game of the wild card games will be the most up in the air game of the weekend. Now that Welker has been lost for New England how much offense is gone with him? I just don't think Baltimore has enough offense to make much noise in the playoffs but to me they are the most dangerous team in the playoffs. I'm going with the upset. Baltimore 17 New England 13.
Dick Enberg who this past Sunday did his final NFL game for CBS. Enberg now 74 has signed on to be the play by play voice of the San Diego Padres so in the fall baseball and football are played on the same day the first month of the season so that is hard to do football.
I met Enberg way back in 1984 of all places in the bathroom of Reynold's Coliseum. We arrived at the door to the bathroom at the same time so since I recognized him, held the door for him to walk in. I carried on a conversation with him the whole two minutes we were there. The one thing that struck me was his height. Those of you who know me, know I would be considered short at five feet eight. I was about three inches taller than him. That is one thing about TV, everybody looks six feet tall.
The New York Jets who won their last two regular season games with the help of two teams that decided to rest players will now face a team that is serious about playing. The Jets are the #1 Rushing team in the league and #1 in defense. I have for the past five or six weeks thought the Bengals were a one and done team in the playoffs, however the Jets really didn't earn their way to the playoffs.
I'm going with the Bengals 14-13. Regardless of which one wins they will be out next week.
There has been so much hub bub about Dallas and their December record that people have failed to see Tony Romo had a solid year at quarterback. Yes, he is a gun slinger in the Brett Favre mold but since he has been the starting qb for Dallas going on four years now he has the second best qb rating of all active quarterbacks behind Philip Rivers.
Dallas spanked Philadelphia this past Sunday and I see no reason why they will not do it again. I do see a closer game this time and Dallas will win their first playoff game in 14 years. Do you realize that in 1996 Dallas won their wild card game and lost at Carolina and have not won since? Pat Summerall was at that time doing the game for CBS when the Panthers won that day. That was a long time ago.
I'll take Dallas 23-17 over the Eagles.
Sunday's games will start out with Green Bay traveling to Arizona. Boy this is a tough one to pick. Do you realize that Green Bay has a better record than Arizona. The Packers drubbed the Cardinal's this past week in Green Bay. This is a game in which I should go with the Cardinals but I won't. Green Bay 27 Arizona 23
The final game of the wild card games will be the most up in the air game of the weekend. Now that Welker has been lost for New England how much offense is gone with him? I just don't think Baltimore has enough offense to make much noise in the playoffs but to me they are the most dangerous team in the playoffs. I'm going with the upset. Baltimore 17 New England 13.
Dick Enberg who this past Sunday did his final NFL game for CBS. Enberg now 74 has signed on to be the play by play voice of the San Diego Padres so in the fall baseball and football are played on the same day the first month of the season so that is hard to do football.
I met Enberg way back in 1984 of all places in the bathroom of Reynold's Coliseum. We arrived at the door to the bathroom at the same time so since I recognized him, held the door for him to walk in. I carried on a conversation with him the whole two minutes we were there. The one thing that struck me was his height. Those of you who know me, know I would be considered short at five feet eight. I was about three inches taller than him. That is one thing about TV, everybody looks six feet tall.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Making The Schedule
Last summer when everyone had a chance to look over the ACC football season schedule Tom O'Brien at N C State spoke up and said that he did not like playing Carolina the last game of the season.
When all they yeah "you don't want to get your butt kicked the last game of the season" talk was over O'Brien had a legitimate reason. He saw the possibility that when ever an Atlantic Division team played a Coastal division team the last game of the season there was that rare chance that they might have to turn around and play each other again the next week in the ACC championship game.
The short ACC championship game history has not had that problem yet, but if you continue scheduling games in that manner it will happen some day.
The NFL finds themselves having played three games yesterday which will in turn be played again next week in the first round of the playoffs.
Philadelphia must return next Saturday night to Dallas. Green Bay instead of hosting Arizona must now head to the desert. Finally, the New York Jets must go to Cincinnati.
Philadelphia lost at Dallas yesterday and I see no reason why they will not lose again. The first game of the NFL playoffs Saturday afternoon will be the Jets at Cincy. Flipflopping the game from New York to Cincinnati will make a big difference in the outcome next week, as well as Green Bay leaving the Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field to play in eighty degree Arizona.
The ACC needs to make sure the last game of the season is against teams from your division while the NFL needs to make sure the season ends playing opposite divisions. Then we will not have to watch such games as Philadelphia and Dallas play two straight weeks.
The rule never put the team behind on the foul line while you are ahead stood tall yesterday as N C State fouled Florida twice in the last ten seconds to keep Florida from trying to shoot a three pointer to tie. What happened was Florida scored seven points in the last ten seconds to win.
It's been thirty years since N C State won a football championship, and twenty three since a basketball title. Ever since the Jim Valvano firing, State has tried to live by the Academics over athletics which I totalaly believe in. However I don't think that means you can't find coaches who understand in order to win you must have more points than the other team.
When all they yeah "you don't want to get your butt kicked the last game of the season" talk was over O'Brien had a legitimate reason. He saw the possibility that when ever an Atlantic Division team played a Coastal division team the last game of the season there was that rare chance that they might have to turn around and play each other again the next week in the ACC championship game.
The short ACC championship game history has not had that problem yet, but if you continue scheduling games in that manner it will happen some day.
The NFL finds themselves having played three games yesterday which will in turn be played again next week in the first round of the playoffs.
Philadelphia must return next Saturday night to Dallas. Green Bay instead of hosting Arizona must now head to the desert. Finally, the New York Jets must go to Cincinnati.
Philadelphia lost at Dallas yesterday and I see no reason why they will not lose again. The first game of the NFL playoffs Saturday afternoon will be the Jets at Cincy. Flipflopping the game from New York to Cincinnati will make a big difference in the outcome next week, as well as Green Bay leaving the Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field to play in eighty degree Arizona.
The ACC needs to make sure the last game of the season is against teams from your division while the NFL needs to make sure the season ends playing opposite divisions. Then we will not have to watch such games as Philadelphia and Dallas play two straight weeks.
The rule never put the team behind on the foul line while you are ahead stood tall yesterday as N C State fouled Florida twice in the last ten seconds to keep Florida from trying to shoot a three pointer to tie. What happened was Florida scored seven points in the last ten seconds to win.
It's been thirty years since N C State won a football championship, and twenty three since a basketball title. Ever since the Jim Valvano firing, State has tried to live by the Academics over athletics which I totalaly believe in. However I don't think that means you can't find coaches who understand in order to win you must have more points than the other team.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Blindside
The Sugar Bowl on Friday night was so bad that I was channel surfing while the game was going on. Most of the time if I am watching any game I'll check the other channels out during the commercials.
I ran across ABC's 20/20 show about Michael Oher and if you didn't see if it was worth watching. Michael Oher is the black kid from the wrong side of Memphis who was taken into the home of a rich Memphis white family when he was in the eighth grade. Oher through their help qualified for College and became an All American Left tackle from Mississippi. April he was the first draft pick of the Baltimore Ravens who gave him a five year 13.5 million dollar contract.
20/20 dedicated their entire show to him Friday night. Saturday afternoon my entire family took in the movie and I highly recommend it to all.
I pulled hard for ECU tonight but I would have to say that as weird a game as you will ever see. The temperature was hovering near 25 degrees and all the kickers had a hard time kicking the ball whether it was kickoffs,punts or field goals. ECU lost when they missed three field goals, two in the last two minutes of the game and then one in overtime.
You know you think of Bowl games as rewards for good play but to have to play a game in 25 degree weather as ECU/Arkansas or in the mud like LSU/Penn State isn't much reward.
Sunday is the last day of the regular season of the NFL. WRAL.com has had a pickem contest during the NFL season for several years. Looking back I am always near 62% on picks every year. Most years that put me in the top 30% but not this year. Going into the last regular season game tomorrow I am at 63% but this year I'm in the 70% range. Where has everyone else got so smart.
I ran across ABC's 20/20 show about Michael Oher and if you didn't see if it was worth watching. Michael Oher is the black kid from the wrong side of Memphis who was taken into the home of a rich Memphis white family when he was in the eighth grade. Oher through their help qualified for College and became an All American Left tackle from Mississippi. April he was the first draft pick of the Baltimore Ravens who gave him a five year 13.5 million dollar contract.
20/20 dedicated their entire show to him Friday night. Saturday afternoon my entire family took in the movie and I highly recommend it to all.
I pulled hard for ECU tonight but I would have to say that as weird a game as you will ever see. The temperature was hovering near 25 degrees and all the kickers had a hard time kicking the ball whether it was kickoffs,punts or field goals. ECU lost when they missed three field goals, two in the last two minutes of the game and then one in overtime.
You know you think of Bowl games as rewards for good play but to have to play a game in 25 degree weather as ECU/Arkansas or in the mud like LSU/Penn State isn't much reward.
Sunday is the last day of the regular season of the NFL. WRAL.com has had a pickem contest during the NFL season for several years. Looking back I am always near 62% on picks every year. Most years that put me in the top 30% but not this year. Going into the last regular season game tomorrow I am at 63% but this year I'm in the 70% range. Where has everyone else got so smart.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Desert Anyone
Now I think I have heard of everything. Coach Skip Holtz of East Carolina has suspended two players from today's Liberty Bowl due to the fact they had a fight during the Liberty Bowl Banquet. Why were they fighting?, over desert.
Former Greenville Rose player Jonathan Williams and Leonard Paulk will miss the game. You know there are lots of reason to mess up like miss curfew, shoplift, academics, but I think fighting over a desert in front of the opposing team as well as all the dignitaries there for the banquet is about as embarrassing as you can make it for the people who let you wear the Purple and Gold.
You would never know that he was fired from his job. Bobby Bowden took about as high a road as you can take today in the news conference following Florida State victory in the Gator Bowl.
I don't know why but I just got a feeling he may coach some where else next year.
The all- state high school football team has been announced and there are not any local players at all on the team. There are only two players that Rocky Mount played this past year even on the team.
Place kicker Warren Harvey of Greenville Rose made it. His three field goals and the fifty yarder late in the game helped beat Rocky Mount 16-13 was enough for me to think they made the right choice for place kicker.
Wide receiver Dee Williams from South Johnston is another player who the Gryphons faced who after we played them I can see he is deserving to be on the team. The west dominated the all state team, besides these two players there was one from Havelock and Wilmington and all other players are from the west.
Finally today I want to leave you with maybe the best quote that I heard during football season. Mid season when B W Holt came back to Rocky Mount to watch the Gryphons play Nash Central I ran into coach after the game in the parking lot. I ask him how's retirement? Holt's answer "Great everyday is Saturday"
Former Greenville Rose player Jonathan Williams and Leonard Paulk will miss the game. You know there are lots of reason to mess up like miss curfew, shoplift, academics, but I think fighting over a desert in front of the opposing team as well as all the dignitaries there for the banquet is about as embarrassing as you can make it for the people who let you wear the Purple and Gold.
You would never know that he was fired from his job. Bobby Bowden took about as high a road as you can take today in the news conference following Florida State victory in the Gator Bowl.
I don't know why but I just got a feeling he may coach some where else next year.
The all- state high school football team has been announced and there are not any local players at all on the team. There are only two players that Rocky Mount played this past year even on the team.
Place kicker Warren Harvey of Greenville Rose made it. His three field goals and the fifty yarder late in the game helped beat Rocky Mount 16-13 was enough for me to think they made the right choice for place kicker.
Wide receiver Dee Williams from South Johnston is another player who the Gryphons faced who after we played them I can see he is deserving to be on the team. The west dominated the all state team, besides these two players there was one from Havelock and Wilmington and all other players are from the west.
Finally today I want to leave you with maybe the best quote that I heard during football season. Mid season when B W Holt came back to Rocky Mount to watch the Gryphons play Nash Central I ran into coach after the game in the parking lot. I ask him how's retirement? Holt's answer "Great everyday is Saturday"
Friday, January 1, 2010
Happy New Year 2010
We have already had discussion around my house this morning whether this year is 2,010 or are we going to call it twenty ten.
Just a follow up to yesterday's blog talking about having dinner Wednesday night with Gene Taylor. I signed the plaque that he had to give to the Cockrell family but he also had a copy of the hard back book that Elizabeth Cockrell has done concerning the 2005 Babe Ruth All-star team that played for the world title in Quincy Massachusetts.
The book is called "Keep Digging" which was the motto of that team all during their two month long road to the finals. I don't know how many pages it was twenty five to thirty. It is well done and surely every member of the team coaching staff and family members will want one. I put my name in the pot for a copy.
I got home from dinner Wednesday night just in time to turn on ESPN to watch former Rocky Mount high football player Travis Cobb return the opening kickoff back for Arizona against Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl. He had two returns on the evening for 34 yards.
Saturday is the Liberty Bowl for ECU. They will meet Arkansas 4.30pm Saturday on ESPN. Bowl games are a lot of fun for both the team and the throng of Pirates fans there for the game. Yesterday the team went to St Judes Children's Hospital in Memphis to meet and greet the children not as lucky as them who can't play football.
I would almost bet that when their trip is over, the visit to the hospital will last in their memory as long as the game itself.
Well it is time to sit back and watch parades and football. I doubt that I will watch anyone game all the way through. If I do watch one it will be the Gator Bowl and Bobby Bowden's last game.
Just a follow up to yesterday's blog talking about having dinner Wednesday night with Gene Taylor. I signed the plaque that he had to give to the Cockrell family but he also had a copy of the hard back book that Elizabeth Cockrell has done concerning the 2005 Babe Ruth All-star team that played for the world title in Quincy Massachusetts.
The book is called "Keep Digging" which was the motto of that team all during their two month long road to the finals. I don't know how many pages it was twenty five to thirty. It is well done and surely every member of the team coaching staff and family members will want one. I put my name in the pot for a copy.
I got home from dinner Wednesday night just in time to turn on ESPN to watch former Rocky Mount high football player Travis Cobb return the opening kickoff back for Arizona against Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl. He had two returns on the evening for 34 yards.
Saturday is the Liberty Bowl for ECU. They will meet Arkansas 4.30pm Saturday on ESPN. Bowl games are a lot of fun for both the team and the throng of Pirates fans there for the game. Yesterday the team went to St Judes Children's Hospital in Memphis to meet and greet the children not as lucky as them who can't play football.
I would almost bet that when their trip is over, the visit to the hospital will last in their memory as long as the game itself.
Well it is time to sit back and watch parades and football. I doubt that I will watch anyone game all the way through. If I do watch one it will be the Gator Bowl and Bobby Bowden's last game.
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