That first Monday night in April when the NCAA national champion is crowned, before the winning team cuts down the nets they will be sporting national championship caps and tee shirts. That's what happens when corporation like NIKE are involved.
The high school level there are no billion dollar corporation spending the money so that when Rocky Mount cut down the nets at Rocky Mount High School in the early hours after celebrating a championship no one had on a winner tee shirt. But, of course this is high school and the shirts are here. Mike Gainey ordered tee-shirts and they arrived yesterday and are on sale at his office for $10.00. I had to unload a bill for Morgan last night so she could wear hers in school today.
Championships are special regardless of what level they are on. My career I have called three state championship football games and rooted for the winner once. Now I have been twice in high school basketball calling the winning team both times. I have been behind the TV mic for two games in the Babe Ruth World Series, once in Wilson and once In Quincy Massachusetts. I made the call when the Babe Ruth team won the state title right here in Rocky Mount in 2004.
Even last summer I was doing the PA for Nash County American Legion when they won the east title which put them in the state tournament. Back in the 80's five times I did Junior college Regional finals and twice made the calls as Chowan advance to the national tournaments in Kansas.
It doesn't mattter what level it is when you take on all comers and when it is over you are the last team standing it is special. Even the casual fan who the only time all year they saw Rocky Mount play was in Chapel Hill walked out of the Dean Dome with their buttoms about to pop off their shirts.
Announcers whether it's radio, tv or the PA man thinks he's part of the team. We get to go behind the scenes and find out more about the kids than the average fan who couldn't recognize any of them on the street.
I think back to each championship I have been part of I remember I had the same feeling at each one. That feeling of being the best. I have never once even said to myself, boy this championship would be a lot better if it was the 4-A championship.
I just don't know how a National championship can get any better than this.
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