Tuesday morning when NFL football teams release the list of players that they have cut the name of Terrell Hudgins will appear on the Dallas List. I was on the Dallas Site tonight and his name is no longer listed on the roster.
We all knew that going to Dallas a team full of high priced wide receivers was a gamble. Even if he showed the Boys coaches that he was better than most they could not afford to cut a player that they would still have to pay if they cut him. Terrell as a free agent had no such deal. Officially as of Tuesday he will be looking for any one who needs a wide receiver or will he?
There is speculation by those official bloggers listed on the Dallas website that Terrell has made an impression with Dallas for next year when two of their high priced receivers are gone. Knowing they can't keep him this year with all the high priced receivers they have, they have hidden him the last two weeks so other team won't notice him and grab him starting Tuesday.
If Terrell Signs to be on the taxi squad he will be one of the players that practices with the team during the week running the plays of next weeks opponent. According to the 2010 collective bargaining agreement as a taxi squad player he would make $5,200 a week. If someone got injured he could be moved to the roster to replace that player while he is injured. Here is the real kicker of being on any teams taxi squad. Any NFL team can sign you and take you away from the team that you are on the taxi squad. If they do that they have to put you on their active roster making the NFL minimum salary $430,000.
Any NFL team is in a pickle if they have a player they like but don't have room for him this year. If you cut him any team can go after him and even if you put him on the taxi squad they can steal him. Bottom line as of Tuesday Dallas will cut Terrell Hudgins.
I think this is rather interesting. What is the taxi squad and how did it come about? It all started back in the 40's when Paul Brown was coach of the Cleveland Browns. When ever he had a player that he liked but could not keep him on the roster he would go to the owner of the Browns who at that time was Art McBride. He owned a taxi cab service in Cleveland. He would tell MCBride that he had a player that he didn't want George Halas of the Chicago Bears to get so McBride would hire that player to drive a cab at the same price he would have gotten if he was on the Brown's team. When ever a player got injured Brown would would call McBride and say send me a player from the taxi squad.
You know Terrell and his agent are calling any and everybody looking a job. By weeks end Terrell could be out of work, hooked on with another team or on any body's taxi squad.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Cross Country Competes
Saturday the cross country team traveled to Wendell to take part in the Wendell Invitational where 15 teams (13) 4-A schools ran in this event. Rocky Mount and Nash Central were the only 3-A teams in the event. Rocky Mount's boys finished 6th in the boys race while the girls finished 7th.
Sophomore James Bond lead the Gryphon boys finishing 12th with a time 17:23. Just behind him in 14th position was another sophomore Mason Holt with a 17.30 time. Both of these sophomores are right now running times that by conference championship time could get them all conference honors if they can make the top ten at the conference championships. The mid 17 minute mark most years will get you all conference. Keep it up guys. Junior Daniel Hannon with a time of 18:57 finished in 22nd position.
The girls were lead by freshman Kaitlyn Jacob who finished 16th at 21:56. Sophomore Nefertiti Thigpen came home 20th in a time of 22:25 and Senior ZiKeena Parker was 22nd running the 3.1 miles in 22.31.
August 31st is the first cut day in the NFL. All teams have to be down to 75 players Tuesday and to 53 by Saturday night. Saw the second half of the Dallas game Saturday night after coming home from the football game and never saw Terrell Hudgins on the field.
Preseason football is no indication at all of how the season will go but Dallas's first team looks awful. Brett Farve looks old for Minnesota.
College football kicks off this weekend and for Carolina fans what seemed like a season of hope of and outside chance to get into a BCS bowl game has turned to a question of who will be on the field against LSU. Six defensive starters have been relegated to the scout squad pending the outcome of their eligibility. If the NCAA proceeds like they normally do then there will be no decision on their status this week which it looks like Carolina will sit the players in question until a verdict.
There has been no decision handed down in the ECU scandal that I have heard of that happened last spring , so why should Carolina fans think the NCAA will do something for them this week?
Sophomore James Bond lead the Gryphon boys finishing 12th with a time 17:23. Just behind him in 14th position was another sophomore Mason Holt with a 17.30 time. Both of these sophomores are right now running times that by conference championship time could get them all conference honors if they can make the top ten at the conference championships. The mid 17 minute mark most years will get you all conference. Keep it up guys. Junior Daniel Hannon with a time of 18:57 finished in 22nd position.
The girls were lead by freshman Kaitlyn Jacob who finished 16th at 21:56. Sophomore Nefertiti Thigpen came home 20th in a time of 22:25 and Senior ZiKeena Parker was 22nd running the 3.1 miles in 22.31.
August 31st is the first cut day in the NFL. All teams have to be down to 75 players Tuesday and to 53 by Saturday night. Saw the second half of the Dallas game Saturday night after coming home from the football game and never saw Terrell Hudgins on the field.
Preseason football is no indication at all of how the season will go but Dallas's first team looks awful. Brett Farve looks old for Minnesota.
College football kicks off this weekend and for Carolina fans what seemed like a season of hope of and outside chance to get into a BCS bowl game has turned to a question of who will be on the field against LSU. Six defensive starters have been relegated to the scout squad pending the outcome of their eligibility. If the NCAA proceeds like they normally do then there will be no decision on their status this week which it looks like Carolina will sit the players in question until a verdict.
There has been no decision handed down in the ECU scandal that I have heard of that happened last spring , so why should Carolina fans think the NCAA will do something for them this week?
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Middle Of The Pack
Did any body remember the interview Tiger Woods did at least ten years ago after I think he had won the Master that he said on that day he didn't play well and he only had his "C" game. He probably shot 69 and I'm thinking that was his "C" game. MAN!
Today Tiger has an "A" game once in a while. In fact he looked like the old Tiger Thursday in shooting his best round of the year a 65. He has followed that up with a 73 and 72. Tiger can no longer count on an average day shooting 68. He has always hit it long and far and some of that time into a lot of trouble where he could one putt and save a hole. He no longer can do that.
The Rocky Mount Gryphon football team went through a period when they could blow people out with their "C" game. That no longer is the case. Sitting in the stands last night and not being behind the mic I can watch the whole field instead of having to follow the ball every second. What I saw early last night was Northern Durham was the team full of athletes. They were bigger, and stronger and just as fast as we were. Just those three areas alone they were winners in two categories and tied in the other.
What I see for Tiger Woods is also what I see in the Gryphons. Tiger is playing ok golf but there are thirty people out there playing better than he is. We are use to seeing him dominate so there must be something wrong with him. It is there are others now better than him.
Gryphon fans are use to the Gryphons dominating so what's wrong. There is just other teams out there that are just as good or better. The Gryphons are average in talent and that means they will have games when they look like they can beat the world and the next can't get out of their own way.
Northern Nash got their own dose of the real world as they were humbled by Cary. The last couple of years even when Northern could not score their defense kept them in games. They don't have the defense that they have had. The offense is improving but like Rocky Mount will look great one game and ugly the next.
Nash Central made a nice recovery from last weeks lost to Tarboro which a week later doesn't look that bad now. Nash Central may have the best athletes in the city. Like the Knights and the Gryphons the Bulldogs have to play well all the time. When ever any of them stumble there will be someone to run past them.
Average means you are in the middle. I see all three of our area high schools as average in football which will give us some very good football games when they meet.
Average simply means this they are are going to be in the middle of the pack.
Today Tiger has an "A" game once in a while. In fact he looked like the old Tiger Thursday in shooting his best round of the year a 65. He has followed that up with a 73 and 72. Tiger can no longer count on an average day shooting 68. He has always hit it long and far and some of that time into a lot of trouble where he could one putt and save a hole. He no longer can do that.
The Rocky Mount Gryphon football team went through a period when they could blow people out with their "C" game. That no longer is the case. Sitting in the stands last night and not being behind the mic I can watch the whole field instead of having to follow the ball every second. What I saw early last night was Northern Durham was the team full of athletes. They were bigger, and stronger and just as fast as we were. Just those three areas alone they were winners in two categories and tied in the other.
What I see for Tiger Woods is also what I see in the Gryphons. Tiger is playing ok golf but there are thirty people out there playing better than he is. We are use to seeing him dominate so there must be something wrong with him. It is there are others now better than him.
Gryphon fans are use to the Gryphons dominating so what's wrong. There is just other teams out there that are just as good or better. The Gryphons are average in talent and that means they will have games when they look like they can beat the world and the next can't get out of their own way.
Northern Nash got their own dose of the real world as they were humbled by Cary. The last couple of years even when Northern could not score their defense kept them in games. They don't have the defense that they have had. The offense is improving but like Rocky Mount will look great one game and ugly the next.
Nash Central made a nice recovery from last weeks lost to Tarboro which a week later doesn't look that bad now. Nash Central may have the best athletes in the city. Like the Knights and the Gryphons the Bulldogs have to play well all the time. When ever any of them stumble there will be someone to run past them.
Average means you are in the middle. I see all three of our area high schools as average in football which will give us some very good football games when they meet.
Average simply means this they are are going to be in the middle of the pack.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Northern Durham Clobbers Gryphons
A once proud football program who has not won in over a year on a football field will ride back to Durham tonight no longer a losing program. Northern Durham dominates Rocky Mount 39-14.
The Gryphons took the opening kickoff and were sailing down the field until a helmet tackle on the ball caused a Gryphon fumble and Northern preceded to march down the field running and passing to take a 7-0 lead.
Rocky Mount responded with their best drive of the night to tie the game on a 22 yard pass from Tevin Taylor to Damien Srtickland. Fernando Alfaro extra point tied the score with 3.24 to play in the first quarter. That is as close as Rocky Mount would come to see the lead. Northern Scored again before the end of the quarter and added one more score in the second to lead 20-7 at the half
Like last week against Bertie the Knights dominated the first half but instead of 13-0 Rocky Mount they trailed by 13. Rocky Mount came out of the third quarter and on their first drive drove the field and it was capped off by a 14 yard td run by Rodquez Greene to make it 20-14.
In every game there is a turning point and tonight moving down field and under extreme pressure looking as if they might take the lead Rocky Mount threw away a ball when it looked as if the quarter back might be sacked but instead the ball was intercepted and returned 52 yard for a Northern touchdown.
Still twice more Rocky Mount has a first down at the Northern 21 and again a first down at the 18 but failed to score. Northern Durham smelling victory took advantage of four Gryphon interceptions two of them in the fourth quarter and Northern Durham looking like Northern Durham of the past whips the Gryphons 39-14.
The news is much better in soccer as Rocky Mount took on Jacksonville the team that knocked them out of the third round of the playoffs last year and played the Cardinals straight up and to 0-0 tie. Coach Drew Nix played a defensive game keeping more people on defense to hold down the powerful Jacksonville team and it worked shutting out the Cardinals. The sacrifice you make with more on defense is you get very few offensive chances. All in all Gryphon soccer plays one of the big boys in North Carolina High School soccer to a draw.
The Gryphons took the opening kickoff and were sailing down the field until a helmet tackle on the ball caused a Gryphon fumble and Northern preceded to march down the field running and passing to take a 7-0 lead.
Rocky Mount responded with their best drive of the night to tie the game on a 22 yard pass from Tevin Taylor to Damien Srtickland. Fernando Alfaro extra point tied the score with 3.24 to play in the first quarter. That is as close as Rocky Mount would come to see the lead. Northern Scored again before the end of the quarter and added one more score in the second to lead 20-7 at the half
Like last week against Bertie the Knights dominated the first half but instead of 13-0 Rocky Mount they trailed by 13. Rocky Mount came out of the third quarter and on their first drive drove the field and it was capped off by a 14 yard td run by Rodquez Greene to make it 20-14.
In every game there is a turning point and tonight moving down field and under extreme pressure looking as if they might take the lead Rocky Mount threw away a ball when it looked as if the quarter back might be sacked but instead the ball was intercepted and returned 52 yard for a Northern touchdown.
Still twice more Rocky Mount has a first down at the Northern 21 and again a first down at the 18 but failed to score. Northern Durham smelling victory took advantage of four Gryphon interceptions two of them in the fourth quarter and Northern Durham looking like Northern Durham of the past whips the Gryphons 39-14.
The news is much better in soccer as Rocky Mount took on Jacksonville the team that knocked them out of the third round of the playoffs last year and played the Cardinals straight up and to 0-0 tie. Coach Drew Nix played a defensive game keeping more people on defense to hold down the powerful Jacksonville team and it worked shutting out the Cardinals. The sacrifice you make with more on defense is you get very few offensive chances. All in all Gryphon soccer plays one of the big boys in North Carolina High School soccer to a draw.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Gryphon Football Moved To Saturday 6.00pm
Last year during the opening comments of the season on the radio a clap of thunder and a bolt of lightening struck Near Durham County Stadium and before our broadcast is off and running the game was moved to Saturday.
Fast forward to tonight at 5.30 the thunder and lightening starts and the game is moved even before I can get to the stadium. Are we going through with Northern Durham what we go through with SouthWest Edgecombe? We can only play ND on Saturday much like it seems we can only play SWE on Monday's. Last year the Monday streak was broken.
Remember 6.00pm Saturday night and yes this being one of only four home regular season games the Gryphons need every dollar that they can get into the gate.
Soccer has made up ground on their opening day lost that occurred to Roanoke Rapids. Earlier this week they got revenge on RR winning there 5-1 and last night they beat Knightdale 5-1. Saturday morning they take part in one of the best soccer events held in the state each year at Wilson in the Brittany. Jacksonville the team that knocked the Gryphons out of the third round of the playoffs last year will be their foe and this has the makings of an outstanding game.
Volley Ball beat RR last night 3-1 to go to 4-1 on the young season. Tennis has yet to lose in two matches and have won 16 of the 18 games played. I think it is too early to get too excited about how good tennis might be but they just might be real good. Cross Country runs Saturday morning in an event in Wendell.
The fallout that is happening at North Carolina over players having people write papers that they turn in gives me no excitement at all that Carolina will now go in the dumpster in football. I hope you don't think it doesn't go on every where and even at your school you support. In fact ECU baseball in the middle of the year last season lost several players over the same issue.
Our society is such that if there is a profit to be made then someone will, whether it's the person who sells the papers or the person who benefits from not having to spend time to write the paper.
Fast forward to tonight at 5.30 the thunder and lightening starts and the game is moved even before I can get to the stadium. Are we going through with Northern Durham what we go through with SouthWest Edgecombe? We can only play ND on Saturday much like it seems we can only play SWE on Monday's. Last year the Monday streak was broken.
Remember 6.00pm Saturday night and yes this being one of only four home regular season games the Gryphons need every dollar that they can get into the gate.
Soccer has made up ground on their opening day lost that occurred to Roanoke Rapids. Earlier this week they got revenge on RR winning there 5-1 and last night they beat Knightdale 5-1. Saturday morning they take part in one of the best soccer events held in the state each year at Wilson in the Brittany. Jacksonville the team that knocked the Gryphons out of the third round of the playoffs last year will be their foe and this has the makings of an outstanding game.
Volley Ball beat RR last night 3-1 to go to 4-1 on the young season. Tennis has yet to lose in two matches and have won 16 of the 18 games played. I think it is too early to get too excited about how good tennis might be but they just might be real good. Cross Country runs Saturday morning in an event in Wendell.
The fallout that is happening at North Carolina over players having people write papers that they turn in gives me no excitement at all that Carolina will now go in the dumpster in football. I hope you don't think it doesn't go on every where and even at your school you support. In fact ECU baseball in the middle of the year last season lost several players over the same issue.
Our society is such that if there is a profit to be made then someone will, whether it's the person who sells the papers or the person who benefits from not having to spend time to write the paper.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Day Two Of school-Week Two Of Football
Last week was Endowment games which are for varsity football only. This week the JVs can begin their seasons and tonight they will. Rocky Mount is on the road to Northern Durham, Nash Central is home to Smithfield Selma and Northern Nash is home to the IMPs of Cary High School. Southern Nash will host Bunn.
That in turn brings us to the second week of varsity football. Rocky Mount who maybe surprised people last week against Bertie will play their first home game of the season against a school that is going through a period that no team wants to do. Rebuild, win less last season and last week was not very good for Northern Durham. Four home games on tap this season Friday will be one of the few opportunities to see the Gryphons in action without travel.
Rocky Mount 34 Northern Durham 14
Northern Nash has a winning record for the first time in a long while at any time during the season. Trying to build on that record will be difficult as they travel to Cary. Scoring at least twenty points last week is very good news for the Knights and they will need another twenty point effort in this one. I don't think the Knights get it done but it will be close.
Cary 21 Northern Nash 14
Nash Central failed to score last week against Tarboro. That's not all bad. Friday they travel to Smithfield Selma where they will not only try for their first win but their first points of the season. Nash Central will score but not enough.
SSS 27 Nash Central 20
Southern Nash will hit the road for their second of three straight games on the road to start the season. They will venture to Bunn who I think during the next high school realignment will become a member of the Big East. Bunn regardless of the size of the school Bunn is a football school and those people live football. This will give the Firebirds a real vision on how good they really are.
Southern Nash 35 Bunn 20
Hunt rides into downtown Wilson Friday playing Fike in a non conference game. Fike scored the speed limit on D H Conley last week but they will probably find it hard to score this week because of the speed bump called Hunt.
Hunt 35 Fike 13
Volleyball travels to Double R (Roanoke Rapids)today in non conference action. This weekend soccer takes part in the Brittany in Wilson and cross country runs Saturday in a event in Wendell.
That in turn brings us to the second week of varsity football. Rocky Mount who maybe surprised people last week against Bertie will play their first home game of the season against a school that is going through a period that no team wants to do. Rebuild, win less last season and last week was not very good for Northern Durham. Four home games on tap this season Friday will be one of the few opportunities to see the Gryphons in action without travel.
Rocky Mount 34 Northern Durham 14
Northern Nash has a winning record for the first time in a long while at any time during the season. Trying to build on that record will be difficult as they travel to Cary. Scoring at least twenty points last week is very good news for the Knights and they will need another twenty point effort in this one. I don't think the Knights get it done but it will be close.
Cary 21 Northern Nash 14
Nash Central failed to score last week against Tarboro. That's not all bad. Friday they travel to Smithfield Selma where they will not only try for their first win but their first points of the season. Nash Central will score but not enough.
SSS 27 Nash Central 20
Southern Nash will hit the road for their second of three straight games on the road to start the season. They will venture to Bunn who I think during the next high school realignment will become a member of the Big East. Bunn regardless of the size of the school Bunn is a football school and those people live football. This will give the Firebirds a real vision on how good they really are.
Southern Nash 35 Bunn 20
Hunt rides into downtown Wilson Friday playing Fike in a non conference game. Fike scored the speed limit on D H Conley last week but they will probably find it hard to score this week because of the speed bump called Hunt.
Hunt 35 Fike 13
Volleyball travels to Double R (Roanoke Rapids)today in non conference action. This weekend soccer takes part in the Brittany in Wilson and cross country runs Saturday in a event in Wendell.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Long Ride-Worth While
Monday the Lady Gryphon Tennis team traveled to Coinjock to take on the Currituck in tennis. Those of you that remember when Northeastern use to be in the same conference as Rocky Mount that it took forever to just get to Northeastern High School which by the way is located on this side of Elizabeth City. Coinjock is all the way through Elizabeth City past Camden and then another twenty miles.
If you are going all that way to play tennis when you get there you might as well make it worth the ride and the Lady Gryphon Tennis team did scalping Currituck 9-0. That helped with the long ride home.
Today soccer travels to Roanoke Rapids.
Today is the first day of school and I see that during an NFL game this past weekend Chad Ochocinco was fined by the NFL for tweeting while the game was in progress. That makes me wonder, of the 1250 students heading to Rocky Mount High today-How many will text during class. Probably more than we all wish to know.
NFL training camps are in full swing heading to the first game of their season on September 12th. I go on the Dallas Cowboy site ever so often to see the latest news on Terrell Hudgins as he tries to make the Dallas Cowboys as a wide receiver. Yesterday on Dallas Cowboys .com there is a feature on Terrell call Getting to know Terrell Hudgins.
The article interviews Terrell laying out his problems trying to make the Cowboys. We have talked on this site of the numbers game in which Terrell is faced with at wide receiver for Dallas. My question is why in the world would they do an article on a rookie who might not be on the team two weeks from now. This gives me hope that Terrell just might make the team on special teams.
The comment section after the article where Cowboy fans give their five cents worth is running 90% in favor of the Cowboys keeping Terrell. It seems that Terrell has made an impression in Dallas(Oxnard California) Dallas's training facility on both the media and the fans. Let's just hope Jerry Jones has that same impression too.
If you are going all that way to play tennis when you get there you might as well make it worth the ride and the Lady Gryphon Tennis team did scalping Currituck 9-0. That helped with the long ride home.
Today soccer travels to Roanoke Rapids.
Today is the first day of school and I see that during an NFL game this past weekend Chad Ochocinco was fined by the NFL for tweeting while the game was in progress. That makes me wonder, of the 1250 students heading to Rocky Mount High today-How many will text during class. Probably more than we all wish to know.
NFL training camps are in full swing heading to the first game of their season on September 12th. I go on the Dallas Cowboy site ever so often to see the latest news on Terrell Hudgins as he tries to make the Dallas Cowboys as a wide receiver. Yesterday on Dallas Cowboys .com there is a feature on Terrell call Getting to know Terrell Hudgins.
The article interviews Terrell laying out his problems trying to make the Cowboys. We have talked on this site of the numbers game in which Terrell is faced with at wide receiver for Dallas. My question is why in the world would they do an article on a rookie who might not be on the team two weeks from now. This gives me hope that Terrell just might make the team on special teams.
The comment section after the article where Cowboy fans give their five cents worth is running 90% in favor of the Cowboys keeping Terrell. It seems that Terrell has made an impression in Dallas(Oxnard California) Dallas's training facility on both the media and the fans. Let's just hope Jerry Jones has that same impression too.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Cross Countty Off and running
The Gryphon cross country team traveled to Roanoke Rapids on Monday and came home winners. The girls took part in a run against Roanoke Rapid girls only and won 17-39. Freshman Kaitlyn Jacob won the race for the Gryphon Ladies.
The boys ran against not only RR but Southern Nash boys ran as well and the Gryphon boys teams came home first winning by a score of 29 for the Gryphons, 46 for Southern Nash and the home team Roanoke Rapids had 52. Gryphon sophomore Mason Holt finished second for the Gryphons.
Those of you ECU Pirate football fans, the Pirates held a scrimmage on Saturday as they prepare for the 2010 football season. Former Gryphon Jacobi Jenkins who will play this season as a redshirt sophomore intercepted a pass and returned it 31 yards.
Jenkins was on the offense last season where he caught a couple of passes and now seems destined for the defense. I think that tells you what a good athlete he is when each side of the ball wants him.
I had heard a rumor all summer that Tashawn Mabry was not going to Rhode Island to play basketball as planned but I had an opportunity to talk with his mother last week during a Volley Ball match at Rocky Mount. TaShawn has just return from Rhode Island where he attended the second semester of summer school there and is scheduled to leave this week to enter fall classes.
We will get an opportunity to see many of his games on TV as Rhode Island plays on the ESPN group of networks at least ten times this season.
Saturday night I looked at the Dallas-San Diego game on the NFL Network game tracker. Terrell Hudgin of Rocky Mount did not catch a pass in this game. Yesterday I was on the Dallas website and if you remember last week I said that Dallas had nine wide receivers on their roster and on their depth chart they listed only five. Yesterday former Carolina wide receiver Jessie Holley was listed as the third string backup giving three players at both sides of wide receiver. High priced rookie Dez Bryant which you would think would make him the Cowboy seventh receiver was not listed on the three deep chart.
Dallas still list 79 players on their roster and they must be down to 53 by September 7th. Seven players can be listed as taxi squad which means they run the plays of the other team during practice. the NFL is a numbers game and with two pre season games left the numbers don't seem to be adding up for Terrell.
Game two of the high school football season is Friday night which is the home opener for the Gryphons as they will host Northern Durham. One area of improvement needed this week is the defense getting off the field faster. The first half against Bertie the Falcons ran 33 plays to 17 for the Gryphons despite Rocky Mount leading 13-0. The second half the defense got off the field quickly causing five fumbles. The defense threw a shutout on the Falcons but the offense gave up a touchdown.
The boys ran against not only RR but Southern Nash boys ran as well and the Gryphon boys teams came home first winning by a score of 29 for the Gryphons, 46 for Southern Nash and the home team Roanoke Rapids had 52. Gryphon sophomore Mason Holt finished second for the Gryphons.
Those of you ECU Pirate football fans, the Pirates held a scrimmage on Saturday as they prepare for the 2010 football season. Former Gryphon Jacobi Jenkins who will play this season as a redshirt sophomore intercepted a pass and returned it 31 yards.
Jenkins was on the offense last season where he caught a couple of passes and now seems destined for the defense. I think that tells you what a good athlete he is when each side of the ball wants him.
I had heard a rumor all summer that Tashawn Mabry was not going to Rhode Island to play basketball as planned but I had an opportunity to talk with his mother last week during a Volley Ball match at Rocky Mount. TaShawn has just return from Rhode Island where he attended the second semester of summer school there and is scheduled to leave this week to enter fall classes.
We will get an opportunity to see many of his games on TV as Rhode Island plays on the ESPN group of networks at least ten times this season.
Saturday night I looked at the Dallas-San Diego game on the NFL Network game tracker. Terrell Hudgin of Rocky Mount did not catch a pass in this game. Yesterday I was on the Dallas website and if you remember last week I said that Dallas had nine wide receivers on their roster and on their depth chart they listed only five. Yesterday former Carolina wide receiver Jessie Holley was listed as the third string backup giving three players at both sides of wide receiver. High priced rookie Dez Bryant which you would think would make him the Cowboy seventh receiver was not listed on the three deep chart.
Dallas still list 79 players on their roster and they must be down to 53 by September 7th. Seven players can be listed as taxi squad which means they run the plays of the other team during practice. the NFL is a numbers game and with two pre season games left the numbers don't seem to be adding up for Terrell.
Game two of the high school football season is Friday night which is the home opener for the Gryphons as they will host Northern Durham. One area of improvement needed this week is the defense getting off the field faster. The first half against Bertie the Falcons ran 33 plays to 17 for the Gryphons despite Rocky Mount leading 13-0. The second half the defense got off the field quickly causing five fumbles. The defense threw a shutout on the Falcons but the offense gave up a touchdown.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Big Start For Big East Football
The opening weekend of Big East football was a good one as five of the six teams came home winners. I don't think anybody can make a judgement about their teams future after just one game because only one team played a game against a team that went deep into the playoffs last year, that was Nash Central and they lost.
Rocky Mount had better get use to the road as they were able to win at Bertie. Timing of when you play someone is a factor most people forget. Bertie playing for new coach Greg Watford will be a tough game for someone by week eight.
Northern Nash roared from the opening kickoff Friday night against Beddingifeld. The biggest obstacle for Northern this year is keeping every game in prospective. I bet many fans at Northern thought somewhere in the fourth quarter "oh no here we go again". Don't worry Knight fans your offense is better this year since in a long while. Can you count the number of games because Northern couldn't score in the second half of games that they lost in the past few years? Northern put 21 on the scoreboard but should of had a lot more.
Nash Central is the only conference team with a L by their record after the first week. No shame in being beaten by Tarboro the defending 2-A champs. The Bulldogs are better than the score that finished up on the scoreboard. It is a fact however it is hard to win when you don't score.
Southern Nash put up 55 on Franklinton which should have the coaching staff giddy. They also gave up 27 which gives the coaches something to holler about on Monday. Southern was the preseason pick to win the Big East and their play Friday night did nothing to make that pick look bad. Defense will get a lot of attention this week.
Fike opens the season putting up 50 plus points on D H Conley. Remember this is the D H Conley who didn't win a game last year. Doesn't look like they will win many this year either. Fike gets a win but will need another game under their belt to see where they are this year.
Hunt scores a 29-0 victory over Eastern Wayne giving the conference a shutout in week one. If Hunt can score points with their running game and hold on defense they will be right in the Hunt excuse the pun for the championship.
There are times in our life that sports need to take a back seat when we look at the real world. I have good news to report this morning and we hope this comes true. Lady Gryphon soccer goalie Holly Fryer under went major surgery last Tuesday at UNC Hospitals and word is she will be coming home today. Our prayers are with Holly and her family as she starts the road to recovery.
Rocky Mount had better get use to the road as they were able to win at Bertie. Timing of when you play someone is a factor most people forget. Bertie playing for new coach Greg Watford will be a tough game for someone by week eight.
Northern Nash roared from the opening kickoff Friday night against Beddingifeld. The biggest obstacle for Northern this year is keeping every game in prospective. I bet many fans at Northern thought somewhere in the fourth quarter "oh no here we go again". Don't worry Knight fans your offense is better this year since in a long while. Can you count the number of games because Northern couldn't score in the second half of games that they lost in the past few years? Northern put 21 on the scoreboard but should of had a lot more.
Nash Central is the only conference team with a L by their record after the first week. No shame in being beaten by Tarboro the defending 2-A champs. The Bulldogs are better than the score that finished up on the scoreboard. It is a fact however it is hard to win when you don't score.
Southern Nash put up 55 on Franklinton which should have the coaching staff giddy. They also gave up 27 which gives the coaches something to holler about on Monday. Southern was the preseason pick to win the Big East and their play Friday night did nothing to make that pick look bad. Defense will get a lot of attention this week.
Fike opens the season putting up 50 plus points on D H Conley. Remember this is the D H Conley who didn't win a game last year. Doesn't look like they will win many this year either. Fike gets a win but will need another game under their belt to see where they are this year.
Hunt scores a 29-0 victory over Eastern Wayne giving the conference a shutout in week one. If Hunt can score points with their running game and hold on defense they will be right in the Hunt excuse the pun for the championship.
There are times in our life that sports need to take a back seat when we look at the real world. I have good news to report this morning and we hope this comes true. Lady Gryphon soccer goalie Holly Fryer under went major surgery last Tuesday at UNC Hospitals and word is she will be coming home today. Our prayers are with Holly and her family as she starts the road to recovery.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Volley Ball Wins Nash County Tournament
Thursday night as the Lady Gryphon Volley ball team walked off the court having just lost 3-0 to South Central there was a feel that Volley ball had stood toe to toe with South Central and even though they lost there was this feeling that Lady Gryphon Volley ball could play with anybody in the east.
Today during the Nash County Volleyball Tournament the Lady Gryphons found out that nobody else cares that you think you might be good. Rocky Mount opened play Saturday morning against Southern Nash and quickly won the first game 25-10. Game two Southern had a much better game and lost to the Lady Gryphons 25-21. Disliking being down two games to none Southern scored the first eight points in game three and never looked back downing Rocky Mount 25-12. A new attitude was in the Lady Gryphon camp as Rocky Mount dispensed Southern in Game four 25-7 to move on to the championship match.
Game two Host Northern Nash and Nash Central decided to give the fans in attendance their monies worth as Nash Central won game one 25-8 but the next four games went to the wire. Northern won game two 25-21 Nash Central won game three 25-21. Just to survive Northern won game four 25-22 and set up the tie breaker in which the home standing Lady Knights won 15-11 to advance to the finals to take on the Lady Gryphons.
The third place match was won by Nash Central in four games 25-15,19-25,25-15 and the fourth game went extra time using a soccer term with Nash Central winning 28-26.
The championship game Rocky Mount roared out of the gate but by the end of game one Northern Nash had trimmed the final score to 25-18. Rocky Mount started strong again but midway through game two Northern hit a spell where they were in complete control winning game two 25-17. Northern hopped right out of the gate and had a big lead in game three before Rocky Mount steadied themselves but Northern took game three 25-19. Game four Rocky Mount lead early and held on from the rally that Northern made in game four but Rocky Mount evened the match winning 25-18.
This set up the fifth game winner take all and Rocky Mount settled in from the get go and beats Northern with a 15-9 fifth game win to take home the title.
Several players had outstanding games but for Rocky Mount in the championship match Brittany Battle had a string of serve points and she was the best player at the net.
There was no all tournament team picked but if there was my picks would be Logan Mcninch of Southern, Brittany Faulkner and Kadeisha Perry from Nash Central. Northern's reps would be Camille Branch, Kristin Ruffin and Haley Claytor. Lauren Campbell, Tia Hudgins and the MVP Brittany Battle would make it for Rocky Mount. This is not official just who I would have picked.
Today during the Nash County Volleyball Tournament the Lady Gryphons found out that nobody else cares that you think you might be good. Rocky Mount opened play Saturday morning against Southern Nash and quickly won the first game 25-10. Game two Southern had a much better game and lost to the Lady Gryphons 25-21. Disliking being down two games to none Southern scored the first eight points in game three and never looked back downing Rocky Mount 25-12. A new attitude was in the Lady Gryphon camp as Rocky Mount dispensed Southern in Game four 25-7 to move on to the championship match.
Game two Host Northern Nash and Nash Central decided to give the fans in attendance their monies worth as Nash Central won game one 25-8 but the next four games went to the wire. Northern won game two 25-21 Nash Central won game three 25-21. Just to survive Northern won game four 25-22 and set up the tie breaker in which the home standing Lady Knights won 15-11 to advance to the finals to take on the Lady Gryphons.
The third place match was won by Nash Central in four games 25-15,19-25,25-15 and the fourth game went extra time using a soccer term with Nash Central winning 28-26.
The championship game Rocky Mount roared out of the gate but by the end of game one Northern Nash had trimmed the final score to 25-18. Rocky Mount started strong again but midway through game two Northern hit a spell where they were in complete control winning game two 25-17. Northern hopped right out of the gate and had a big lead in game three before Rocky Mount steadied themselves but Northern took game three 25-19. Game four Rocky Mount lead early and held on from the rally that Northern made in game four but Rocky Mount evened the match winning 25-18.
This set up the fifth game winner take all and Rocky Mount settled in from the get go and beats Northern with a 15-9 fifth game win to take home the title.
Several players had outstanding games but for Rocky Mount in the championship match Brittany Battle had a string of serve points and she was the best player at the net.
There was no all tournament team picked but if there was my picks would be Logan Mcninch of Southern, Brittany Faulkner and Kadeisha Perry from Nash Central. Northern's reps would be Camille Branch, Kristin Ruffin and Haley Claytor. Lauren Campbell, Tia Hudgins and the MVP Brittany Battle would make it for Rocky Mount. This is not official just who I would have picked.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Good Start For Gryphons
The first play of the season was a 40 yard run by Darius Richardson which lead to a seven play 79 yard drive for a touchdown and Rocky Mount starts the season like the state championship is just around the corner. Just under three minutes into the game Rocky Mount lead 7-0 after Darius Richardson ran it in from the one. Fernando Alfaro added the extra point. Then Bertie took to the field and they preceded to run 33 of the next 43 plays in the half.
The Gryphon defense played soft in the first half and Bertie ran 31 times and produced 156 yards, but when they had to come up with the big defensive play the Gryphons did stopping Bertie on a fourth and one at the Gryphon 4 yards line. That would be as close to the goal line the Bertie offense would get.
Waldo Harris who completed 1-3 passes in the first half connected on a pass to Miguel Valdez and he scooted 68 yards and the Gryphons had their second big play of the game. Gryphons lead 13-0 at the half.
A B Whitley had the defense huddled under the goal post on the north end of Roy Bond Stadium and Dickie Shock had the offense over on the other side during the half time and when the defense started the second half had fire in their eyes and force five fumbles including a 75 yard fumble return for a touchdown by Naz Green and Rocky Mount lead 19-0 in the third quarter.
Tevin Taylor saw action in the second half at quarterback and tossed a twelve yard touchdown to Damien Strickland and the Gryphons were rolling. The Gryphons lost their shutout with 47 seconds to go in the game when Bertie picked up the only turnover of the night by Rocky Mount and raced 70 yards for their only score.
Bertie had 32 yard more of offense than Rocky Mount but after having 174 total yards at the half the Gryphon held Bertie to only 60 yards in the second and 29 of those came on one play. Rocky Mount had only 28 rushing attempts for 120 yards while they added 82 passing yards.
Gryphons win 2010 opener 26- 7 over the Bertie Falcons.
Northern Nash after five years of no non-conference wins jumps on Beddingfield 21-0 and holds on to win 21-13.
Nash Central finds out Tarboro is still good despite losing 25 seniors as the Vikings shut out the Bulldogs 20-0
Southern Nash puts up 50 on Franklinton but only wins by 23 50-27.
Southwest Edgecombe without their starting QB still hits Northeastern with 40 points winning 40-14.
Gryphon soccer wins at Bunn 7-1
I'll be at Northern Nash all day tomorrow as the "Stretchlon Sports Show" is taping all four matches in the Nash County Volley Ball tournament.
The Gryphon defense played soft in the first half and Bertie ran 31 times and produced 156 yards, but when they had to come up with the big defensive play the Gryphons did stopping Bertie on a fourth and one at the Gryphon 4 yards line. That would be as close to the goal line the Bertie offense would get.
Waldo Harris who completed 1-3 passes in the first half connected on a pass to Miguel Valdez and he scooted 68 yards and the Gryphons had their second big play of the game. Gryphons lead 13-0 at the half.
A B Whitley had the defense huddled under the goal post on the north end of Roy Bond Stadium and Dickie Shock had the offense over on the other side during the half time and when the defense started the second half had fire in their eyes and force five fumbles including a 75 yard fumble return for a touchdown by Naz Green and Rocky Mount lead 19-0 in the third quarter.
Tevin Taylor saw action in the second half at quarterback and tossed a twelve yard touchdown to Damien Strickland and the Gryphons were rolling. The Gryphons lost their shutout with 47 seconds to go in the game when Bertie picked up the only turnover of the night by Rocky Mount and raced 70 yards for their only score.
Bertie had 32 yard more of offense than Rocky Mount but after having 174 total yards at the half the Gryphon held Bertie to only 60 yards in the second and 29 of those came on one play. Rocky Mount had only 28 rushing attempts for 120 yards while they added 82 passing yards.
Gryphons win 2010 opener 26- 7 over the Bertie Falcons.
Northern Nash after five years of no non-conference wins jumps on Beddingfield 21-0 and holds on to win 21-13.
Nash Central finds out Tarboro is still good despite losing 25 seniors as the Vikings shut out the Bulldogs 20-0
Southern Nash puts up 50 on Franklinton but only wins by 23 50-27.
Southwest Edgecombe without their starting QB still hits Northeastern with 40 points winning 40-14.
Gryphon soccer wins at Bunn 7-1
I'll be at Northern Nash all day tomorrow as the "Stretchlon Sports Show" is taping all four matches in the Nash County Volley Ball tournament.
Head Knocking Begins Tonight
All four public high schools begin play on the football field tonight and in order to see any of them you will have to hit the road in order to watch any of them.
Dickie Schock's second Gryphon football team begins their 2010 season playing on highway 13 in the middle of Bertie County the home of the Bertie Falcons. Mystery revolves around both teams as the gryphons replace nearly the entire back field while at Bertie Greg Watford moves into the captains chair guiding the Falcons.
Gryphons 18 -Falcons 13
Most Northern Nash Knight fans can't remember their last non-conference win way back in 2005 but there is hope tonight that Northern not only wins a game but that this is the start of a season when Knight fans can say"We are back". I think Northern gets err done.
Northern 26 - Beddingfield 14
Nash Central has a problem that maybe that younger players are the future but how much playing time do you give the younger guys over the returning veterans. Tonight's question is Tarboro's State championship last season. Is it the end of their run or the middle of a sweet decade.
Tarboro 26 -Nash Central 20
Southern Nash's run through last season playoffs continued to show Eastern North Carolina football that the New-6 and now the Big East is a football power. Will the Firebirds lead the way for the conference this year? They begin tonight at Franklinton.
Southern Nash 34 -Franklinton 14
Gryphon soccer and Lady Gryphon tennis have their second matches of the season today.
The Nash County Volley ball Tournament is Saturday at 10.00am at Northern. Lady Gryphons start the action at ten. Yesterday even though they lost 3-0 to South Central the Lady Gryphons served notice that this years squad is better than last year. South Central dominated them last season and I don't remember that Rocky Mount got ten points in any game against the Falcons. Yesterday's scores were 25-15, 25-11 and the final game was 25-23 and the final point of the game was as exciting of a point that I have ever seen in my brief volley ball watching career. The Lady Gryphons did well despite the dominance of South Central at the net.
We head into the first Friday night of high school football and former assistant coach Chris Lee who is now in his second year at Louisburg must face what no school should have to go through, the death of a player. Earlier this week a Louisburg football player drowned in a friends pool.
Our prayers are with Chris, his team and the family of the player as they tackle this event in life.
Dickie Schock's second Gryphon football team begins their 2010 season playing on highway 13 in the middle of Bertie County the home of the Bertie Falcons. Mystery revolves around both teams as the gryphons replace nearly the entire back field while at Bertie Greg Watford moves into the captains chair guiding the Falcons.
Gryphons 18 -Falcons 13
Most Northern Nash Knight fans can't remember their last non-conference win way back in 2005 but there is hope tonight that Northern not only wins a game but that this is the start of a season when Knight fans can say"We are back". I think Northern gets err done.
Northern 26 - Beddingfield 14
Nash Central has a problem that maybe that younger players are the future but how much playing time do you give the younger guys over the returning veterans. Tonight's question is Tarboro's State championship last season. Is it the end of their run or the middle of a sweet decade.
Tarboro 26 -Nash Central 20
Southern Nash's run through last season playoffs continued to show Eastern North Carolina football that the New-6 and now the Big East is a football power. Will the Firebirds lead the way for the conference this year? They begin tonight at Franklinton.
Southern Nash 34 -Franklinton 14
Gryphon soccer and Lady Gryphon tennis have their second matches of the season today.
The Nash County Volley ball Tournament is Saturday at 10.00am at Northern. Lady Gryphons start the action at ten. Yesterday even though they lost 3-0 to South Central the Lady Gryphons served notice that this years squad is better than last year. South Central dominated them last season and I don't remember that Rocky Mount got ten points in any game against the Falcons. Yesterday's scores were 25-15, 25-11 and the final game was 25-23 and the final point of the game was as exciting of a point that I have ever seen in my brief volley ball watching career. The Lady Gryphons did well despite the dominance of South Central at the net.
We head into the first Friday night of high school football and former assistant coach Chris Lee who is now in his second year at Louisburg must face what no school should have to go through, the death of a player. Earlier this week a Louisburg football player drowned in a friends pool.
Our prayers are with Chris, his team and the family of the player as they tackle this event in life.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
No Radio For Football
There is nothing I hate more in the world knowing that something I am a part of is dying. Those of us that work in radio sports especially on the local level have seen high school sport disappear from the radio in the past few years.
Newspapers are dying; there is too much instant news ability today to wait to tomorrow to buy a paper to see what happen yesterday. The internet can be a savior for newspapers but to this point the in charge heads can’t figure out how to make money with the internet.
Two years ago Wes Bradshaw had a vision of how to keep Gryphon football on the air. It worked for two years. There are many reasons why but I have to announce today that Gryphon football will not be on the air this Friday night and for that matter this season.
Whenever the car industry comes up with a radio system that can also live stream internet there may be a comeback for local sports. The next phase of broadcasting games will be on the internet and if you could also hear it on your car radio would hurry up the process of internet coverage.
I am sure special events like a state championship basketball game you will be able to hear those games but every game is now in the past. Yes they are costly to produce when a computer can play music without anyone even being in the building.
There have not been many Friday nights in the past forty years that I have not been to a football game.
I was behind the mic when Ahoskie beat Franklin VA in 1972 stopping a twenty three game winning streak by Franklin. I was there the night Milton Shaw finished up 24 yards short of the all time state rushing record for North Edgecombe. Whatever the next big event is I might be there but whether I’m behind the mic or sitting in the stands we will see.
So as of now I’ll be on the Stretchlon Sports Show on TV but I can tell you they are hurting too. There is a great need from the community in order to keep that on the air to show financial support.
Times change but not always are the changes better.
Oklahoma had to win both games of a double header and they did as they beat Minnesota two straight games to win the American Legion World Series. Oklahoma is the team that knocked out Kernersville over the weekend.
Gryphon Volley Ball is home this afternoon to South Central. Regional volleyball, this is a real big match.
Girls tennis won their opening match of the season Tuesday beating C B Aycock 7-2. A strong start for Tennis.
Newspapers are dying; there is too much instant news ability today to wait to tomorrow to buy a paper to see what happen yesterday. The internet can be a savior for newspapers but to this point the in charge heads can’t figure out how to make money with the internet.
Two years ago Wes Bradshaw had a vision of how to keep Gryphon football on the air. It worked for two years. There are many reasons why but I have to announce today that Gryphon football will not be on the air this Friday night and for that matter this season.
Whenever the car industry comes up with a radio system that can also live stream internet there may be a comeback for local sports. The next phase of broadcasting games will be on the internet and if you could also hear it on your car radio would hurry up the process of internet coverage.
I am sure special events like a state championship basketball game you will be able to hear those games but every game is now in the past. Yes they are costly to produce when a computer can play music without anyone even being in the building.
There have not been many Friday nights in the past forty years that I have not been to a football game.
I was behind the mic when Ahoskie beat Franklin VA in 1972 stopping a twenty three game winning streak by Franklin. I was there the night Milton Shaw finished up 24 yards short of the all time state rushing record for North Edgecombe. Whatever the next big event is I might be there but whether I’m behind the mic or sitting in the stands we will see.
So as of now I’ll be on the Stretchlon Sports Show on TV but I can tell you they are hurting too. There is a great need from the community in order to keep that on the air to show financial support.
Times change but not always are the changes better.
Oklahoma had to win both games of a double header and they did as they beat Minnesota two straight games to win the American Legion World Series. Oklahoma is the team that knocked out Kernersville over the weekend.
Gryphon Volley Ball is home this afternoon to South Central. Regional volleyball, this is a real big match.
Girls tennis won their opening match of the season Tuesday beating C B Aycock 7-2. A strong start for Tennis.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Here We Go Again
Brett Farve is back. What's new?, we all knew that the only way that Farve will ever retire is the day he injures himself to the point that there will be no comeback.
I find it hard to believe that having a player like this is good for the team. Yes, three Viking players went to Mississippi to beg Farve to come back and HE's BACK. What does this do to the backup quarterbacks? What is going to happen if once in camp the Vikings find that Farve is too old for this young man's game.
Last night Gryphon volley ball started the season with a victory over Roanoke Rapids 3-0. Scores were 25-12, 25-18 and 25-11. Like all volley ball teams from the past once again there is no height up front.
The strong point of this team is serving. The first game Timisha Walker who has developed a college style serve where she takes a run to the serve line and slams a deep serve along with Evie Hunter kept Roanoke Rapids on the defensive just trying to get the ball back across the net.
Games two and three Samantha Westphal and Emily Jacob had stretches of excellent serving. In the third game Jacob had 12 straight points off her serve before the Lady Gryphons lost a point.
Kashunn Seabreeze and Tia Hudgins played well at the net and Lauren Campbell aided them with her set-ups. This team could be better than last year if the serving is good all year. Wins and losses are not always a good judge of which team is better. The 2010 version of Gryphon volleyball is quicker but last year won-lost record will be hard to top.
Thursday South Central is here and last season SC handed it to the Lady Gryphons twice. This will be one of those let's see where we are this year kind of games. It is so early in the season that two months from now these games will seem like they happened last year. This will give these girls an opportunity to tell are they getting better?
I find it hard to believe that having a player like this is good for the team. Yes, three Viking players went to Mississippi to beg Farve to come back and HE's BACK. What does this do to the backup quarterbacks? What is going to happen if once in camp the Vikings find that Farve is too old for this young man's game.
Last night Gryphon volley ball started the season with a victory over Roanoke Rapids 3-0. Scores were 25-12, 25-18 and 25-11. Like all volley ball teams from the past once again there is no height up front.
The strong point of this team is serving. The first game Timisha Walker who has developed a college style serve where she takes a run to the serve line and slams a deep serve along with Evie Hunter kept Roanoke Rapids on the defensive just trying to get the ball back across the net.
Games two and three Samantha Westphal and Emily Jacob had stretches of excellent serving. In the third game Jacob had 12 straight points off her serve before the Lady Gryphons lost a point.
Kashunn Seabreeze and Tia Hudgins played well at the net and Lauren Campbell aided them with her set-ups. This team could be better than last year if the serving is good all year. Wins and losses are not always a good judge of which team is better. The 2010 version of Gryphon volleyball is quicker but last year won-lost record will be hard to top.
Thursday South Central is here and last season SC handed it to the Lady Gryphons twice. This will be one of those let's see where we are this year kind of games. It is so early in the season that two months from now these games will seem like they happened last year. This will give these girls an opportunity to tell are they getting better?
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Sports Underway
Monday the Rocky Mount High School soccer team got the 2010-2011 athletic season underway and came up on the short end of a 3-2 match with Roanoke Rapids. Their next match is Friday at Bunn.
Girls tennis starts their season today with a home match against C B Aycock and then another home match Wednesday.
Volley ball has Roanoke Rapids at home today and a hugh match at home Thursday with South Central. Volley ball losses last season you can count on one finger and South Central was responsible for two of them. Saturday they take part in the Nash County Tournament at Northern Nash. They play Southern Nash in the first match at 10.00am.
Football cranks out the 2010 version Friday night in an Endowment game at Bertie. Bertie for so many years was in the same conference with Rocky Mount so people who follow the Gryphons who have ever been to Bertie know that it is not an easy place to play. Greg Watford is in his first year with the Falcons as head coach.
We live in a society today that when ever someone gets a tough break because of the rules everyone always blames the rules and they should be changed. I disagree!
There is a flap over the two shot penalty given to Dustin Johnson on the final hole of the PGA Championship Sunday for grounding his club in a bunker. The rule should be changed, how could he tell if he was in a bunker? All he had to do was read the memo sent out by the PGA. Johnson admitted Sunday night he looked at the memo but did not read it. Not reading it may have cost him a half million dollars.
The injury suffered last week by Chipper Jones probably has brought an end to a very good career to one of those players because of cable TV we were able to watch almost every game he played. Dale Murphy and now Chipper Jones two Atlanta players who are so close to Hall Of Fame numbers but to me just not quite enough. Regardless of whether they have the numbers or not they provided us with a quality career which we were able to watch that forty years ago we would have only been able to read about in the paper the day after it happened.
I can't imagine what they will be saying forty years from now about how this period of our lives was so simple.
Girls tennis starts their season today with a home match against C B Aycock and then another home match Wednesday.
Volley ball has Roanoke Rapids at home today and a hugh match at home Thursday with South Central. Volley ball losses last season you can count on one finger and South Central was responsible for two of them. Saturday they take part in the Nash County Tournament at Northern Nash. They play Southern Nash in the first match at 10.00am.
Football cranks out the 2010 version Friday night in an Endowment game at Bertie. Bertie for so many years was in the same conference with Rocky Mount so people who follow the Gryphons who have ever been to Bertie know that it is not an easy place to play. Greg Watford is in his first year with the Falcons as head coach.
We live in a society today that when ever someone gets a tough break because of the rules everyone always blames the rules and they should be changed. I disagree!
There is a flap over the two shot penalty given to Dustin Johnson on the final hole of the PGA Championship Sunday for grounding his club in a bunker. The rule should be changed, how could he tell if he was in a bunker? All he had to do was read the memo sent out by the PGA. Johnson admitted Sunday night he looked at the memo but did not read it. Not reading it may have cost him a half million dollars.
The injury suffered last week by Chipper Jones probably has brought an end to a very good career to one of those players because of cable TV we were able to watch almost every game he played. Dale Murphy and now Chipper Jones two Atlanta players who are so close to Hall Of Fame numbers but to me just not quite enough. Regardless of whether they have the numbers or not they provided us with a quality career which we were able to watch that forty years ago we would have only been able to read about in the paper the day after it happened.
I can't imagine what they will be saying forty years from now about how this period of our lives was so simple.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Bizarre Finish
Anyone who has ever played golf has at some point tried to hit the ball further than they know he has control of the shot. As I watched yesterday's PGA Championship the thought kept going through my mind that it is great these guys can hit it 350 yards. What is the point if you can't keep it consistently in the fairway.
Yesterday player after player with the winds howling keep hitting shots 25 yards deep into I won't call it rough but more trouble than it was worth. The end saw Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson tie for the top when Dustin Johnson was penalized two shots on the last hole for grounding his club. This is the biggest golfing flub since since the leader Roberto De Vicenzo signed has score card wrong and lost a chance to be in a playoff in the Masters in 1968.
Kaymer wins a three hole playoff with a bogie on the last hole. Despite all the balls flying around Kaymer and Watson shot under par which was amazing to me.
Cousin Lauren Doughtie shot a one over 73 yesterday which gave her a one over par score in the Futures Tournament in Richmond yesterday. This is her best tournament score since she has been on the tour but one over was only good for 36th place which is not her best finish.
I see Lauren and Tiger Woods right now in the same boat. We are so use to seeing Tiger shoot in the 60's that he was 2 under par on a tough layout in the PGA Championship. He shot in the low 70's all four rounds. That just does not cut it when you compare those scores to others. If I was shooting 73 I would be jumping up and down celebrating, for Lauren 73 and she is losing ground.
She will head to the final Futures tour event of the year Labor Day weekend 104th on the money list needing to finished 90th to guarantee being able to play all the events next year. Last year she finished beyond 90th but during the LPGA qualifying tournament in December even though she didn't qualify for the LPGA had a high enough score to make her exempt on the Futures Tour.
Kernersville State Champion American Legion team from North Carolina is heading home after losing their third game 6-1 to a team from Oklahoma. They finish fifth in the nation. Rocky Mount's ten run lost to them in the State tournament doesn't look so bad now after this run by Kernersville who won the Southeast Regional a long the way, especially since Kernersville had one inning in which they score nine runs on Rocky Mount.
Yesterday player after player with the winds howling keep hitting shots 25 yards deep into I won't call it rough but more trouble than it was worth. The end saw Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson tie for the top when Dustin Johnson was penalized two shots on the last hole for grounding his club. This is the biggest golfing flub since since the leader Roberto De Vicenzo signed has score card wrong and lost a chance to be in a playoff in the Masters in 1968.
Kaymer wins a three hole playoff with a bogie on the last hole. Despite all the balls flying around Kaymer and Watson shot under par which was amazing to me.
Cousin Lauren Doughtie shot a one over 73 yesterday which gave her a one over par score in the Futures Tournament in Richmond yesterday. This is her best tournament score since she has been on the tour but one over was only good for 36th place which is not her best finish.
I see Lauren and Tiger Woods right now in the same boat. We are so use to seeing Tiger shoot in the 60's that he was 2 under par on a tough layout in the PGA Championship. He shot in the low 70's all four rounds. That just does not cut it when you compare those scores to others. If I was shooting 73 I would be jumping up and down celebrating, for Lauren 73 and she is losing ground.
She will head to the final Futures tour event of the year Labor Day weekend 104th on the money list needing to finished 90th to guarantee being able to play all the events next year. Last year she finished beyond 90th but during the LPGA qualifying tournament in December even though she didn't qualify for the LPGA had a high enough score to make her exempt on the Futures Tour.
Kernersville State Champion American Legion team from North Carolina is heading home after losing their third game 6-1 to a team from Oklahoma. They finish fifth in the nation. Rocky Mount's ten run lost to them in the State tournament doesn't look so bad now after this run by Kernersville who won the Southeast Regional a long the way, especially since Kernersville had one inning in which they score nine runs on Rocky Mount.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Moss Gets His Inning
Benton Moss got one inning of work in the Under Armour All-American baseball game Saturday at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Moss was a member of the American All Stars and was on the winning team. The fifth inning was his inning which started out with a strikeout, then a popup before Benton walked a batter who was thrown out trying to steal second. Three batters-three outs the hard way.
Rocky Mount 's football team took on Garner in the High School OT Jamboree at Southeast Raleigh High School. Garner scored twice while not allowing the Gryphons to score.
Thursday the Gryphons traveled to Wake Forest Rolesville where WFR out scored the Gryphons by one score. It's hard to judge how good you play until after everyone gets a couple of games under their belt. These two scrimmages have been against some really good 4-A schools.
Friday night Terrell Hudgins had one catch for the Dallas Cowboys in their loss to Oakland. So far in his attempt to make the Cowboys he has three catches for 57 yards. Only one receiver has more yardage with 60 while no one has a better per catch average that has more than one catch.
Can Terrell make the Cowboys? Looking at their three deep depth chart they list three players at left wide receiver and only two at right wide receiver. Dallas has 79 players still on their roster and nine are listed as wide receivers. Not having a third listed at right wide receiver, does that mean Dallas only plans to carry five receivers or is that third spot up for grabs?
Only Cut down day will we know for sure.
Kernersville lost their opening game in the American Legion World Series Friday in Spokane Washington to Las Vegas 6-5. Saturday in the losers bracket the Southeast Regional Champion stayed alive beating Branford CT 8-6. They will play today at 5.00pm trying to move further in the losers bracket.
Cousin Lauren Doughtie is even par after two rounds of the latest Future Tour tournament going on this weekend in Richmond. She has a real chance to get a good pay check. So far in her short career on the Futures Tours during the third round when she has had a chance to make a good check she has shot 75 or worse. Today's the day Lauren. 70 or better and a top ten.
The PGA has about seven players up front who have never won a major. After his dive in the US Open I have a feeling Sunday night the PGA Champ will be Dustin Johnson.
Rocky Mount 's football team took on Garner in the High School OT Jamboree at Southeast Raleigh High School. Garner scored twice while not allowing the Gryphons to score.
Thursday the Gryphons traveled to Wake Forest Rolesville where WFR out scored the Gryphons by one score. It's hard to judge how good you play until after everyone gets a couple of games under their belt. These two scrimmages have been against some really good 4-A schools.
Friday night Terrell Hudgins had one catch for the Dallas Cowboys in their loss to Oakland. So far in his attempt to make the Cowboys he has three catches for 57 yards. Only one receiver has more yardage with 60 while no one has a better per catch average that has more than one catch.
Can Terrell make the Cowboys? Looking at their three deep depth chart they list three players at left wide receiver and only two at right wide receiver. Dallas has 79 players still on their roster and nine are listed as wide receivers. Not having a third listed at right wide receiver, does that mean Dallas only plans to carry five receivers or is that third spot up for grabs?
Only Cut down day will we know for sure.
Kernersville lost their opening game in the American Legion World Series Friday in Spokane Washington to Las Vegas 6-5. Saturday in the losers bracket the Southeast Regional Champion stayed alive beating Branford CT 8-6. They will play today at 5.00pm trying to move further in the losers bracket.
Cousin Lauren Doughtie is even par after two rounds of the latest Future Tour tournament going on this weekend in Richmond. She has a real chance to get a good pay check. So far in her short career on the Futures Tours during the third round when she has had a chance to make a good check she has shot 75 or worse. Today's the day Lauren. 70 or better and a top ten.
The PGA has about seven players up front who have never won a major. After his dive in the US Open I have a feeling Sunday night the PGA Champ will be Dustin Johnson.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Everybody's Still Undefeated
There has been a period of five years or more where Northern Nash has been at the bottom of the conference instead of near the top. Last night Northern fans who saw it are jumping for joy this morning after the Knights looked impressive in the jamboree held at North Johnston.
Northern took on North Duplin, North Johnston, Rosewood and Louisburg and at times looked dominate. This is a far cry from the past few years and Northern fans are guarded that they may be back.
In the same Jamboree Southern Nash and South Johnston went head to head in a repeat of the eastern finals last year. SJ had a slight edge in this head knocker.
Tarboro's Jamboree the SouthWest Cougar fans held their throat in the hands for a while when their starting QB went down. Understand he has a shin bruise.
Rocky Mount and Nash Central are jamboreeing today at Southeast Raleigh High School. Rocky Mount takes on Garner at 3.00pm. Nash Central plays later.
Passed by the new Rocky Mount High school Friday afternoon. The metal frame work is up for the gym and cinder blocks are forming the class rooms. WOW!
Benton Moss will play today at 1.00pm on MLB.COM at the Under Armour All- American Baseball game being played at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
I am not really in favor of going to an 18 game NFL schedule. As a fan I understand that season ticket holders should not have to pay full price to see starters play ten minutes and watch players that will not be on the team next week play.
The simple solution to me is add four more teams to the playoffs. Drop two pre season games. The first weekend of the playoffs only have eight of the playoff teams in action. The second weekend the other eight. That gives nobody a bye but three straight weekends of doubleheader playoff games on Saturday and Sunday.
Higher ratings, higher income from advertisers. That's the whole purpose get more moola and still end season by first weekend in Feburary.
Northern took on North Duplin, North Johnston, Rosewood and Louisburg and at times looked dominate. This is a far cry from the past few years and Northern fans are guarded that they may be back.
In the same Jamboree Southern Nash and South Johnston went head to head in a repeat of the eastern finals last year. SJ had a slight edge in this head knocker.
Tarboro's Jamboree the SouthWest Cougar fans held their throat in the hands for a while when their starting QB went down. Understand he has a shin bruise.
Rocky Mount and Nash Central are jamboreeing today at Southeast Raleigh High School. Rocky Mount takes on Garner at 3.00pm. Nash Central plays later.
Passed by the new Rocky Mount High school Friday afternoon. The metal frame work is up for the gym and cinder blocks are forming the class rooms. WOW!
Benton Moss will play today at 1.00pm on MLB.COM at the Under Armour All- American Baseball game being played at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
I am not really in favor of going to an 18 game NFL schedule. As a fan I understand that season ticket holders should not have to pay full price to see starters play ten minutes and watch players that will not be on the team next week play.
The simple solution to me is add four more teams to the playoffs. Drop two pre season games. The first weekend of the playoffs only have eight of the playoff teams in action. The second weekend the other eight. That gives nobody a bye but three straight weekends of doubleheader playoff games on Saturday and Sunday.
Higher ratings, higher income from advertisers. That's the whole purpose get more moola and still end season by first weekend in Feburary.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Under Armour Game Saturday For Benton Moss
Benton Moss and family are in the windy city of Chicago today as Benton prepares for the Under Armour All-American baseball game which will be played at 1.00pm Saturday at the home of the Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field.
The game will not be on any tv network but can be seen on line at MLB.com. Moss who has verbally committed to Mike Fox at North Carolina is the second Gryphon who has played in the Under Armour as he will join Brian Goodwin who played in this game two years ago. Each team has 18 players and as Benton is a pitcher he may only get one inning of work in this game.
Gryphon football scrimmaged at Wake Forest-Rolesville last night. Girls Volley ball beat Beddingfield in a scrimmage at Beddingfield.
I had the Cowboy game on NFL.com game tracker last night while I watch the Panthers lose to the Ravens 17-12. Hoping to see Terrell Hudgins make a few plays but into the third quarter he had none before I went to bed. Dallas blew a 9-0 lead in the second half and lost to Oakland 17-9.
I think the Panthers have upgraded the best position on the field in quarterback as Matt Moore just to me looks like an NFL quarterback. The way Jake Delhomme played for the Panthers last year the only QB in the league worse than him was in Oakland.
Now that Oakland has improved their quarterbck situation at least a little, you can look out. They have had one of the better defenses in the NFL the past couple of years but had no quarterback. They at least have an average QB in Jason Campbell now. It would not shock me if the Raiders make the playoffs.
If we carry Gryphon football on the radio this year and that is still up in the air as to this point we do not have enough sponsors tonight is the last free Friday for a while.
Hope everyone survives Friday the 13th.
The game will not be on any tv network but can be seen on line at MLB.com. Moss who has verbally committed to Mike Fox at North Carolina is the second Gryphon who has played in the Under Armour as he will join Brian Goodwin who played in this game two years ago. Each team has 18 players and as Benton is a pitcher he may only get one inning of work in this game.
Gryphon football scrimmaged at Wake Forest-Rolesville last night. Girls Volley ball beat Beddingfield in a scrimmage at Beddingfield.
I had the Cowboy game on NFL.com game tracker last night while I watch the Panthers lose to the Ravens 17-12. Hoping to see Terrell Hudgins make a few plays but into the third quarter he had none before I went to bed. Dallas blew a 9-0 lead in the second half and lost to Oakland 17-9.
I think the Panthers have upgraded the best position on the field in quarterback as Matt Moore just to me looks like an NFL quarterback. The way Jake Delhomme played for the Panthers last year the only QB in the league worse than him was in Oakland.
Now that Oakland has improved their quarterbck situation at least a little, you can look out. They have had one of the better defenses in the NFL the past couple of years but had no quarterback. They at least have an average QB in Jason Campbell now. It would not shock me if the Raiders make the playoffs.
If we carry Gryphon football on the radio this year and that is still up in the air as to this point we do not have enough sponsors tonight is the last free Friday for a while.
Hope everyone survives Friday the 13th.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Rail Hawks game
Had a chance to see my first professional soccer match last night as my family attended the soccer game between the Carolina Rail Hawks and Rochester New York. The reason we were there our eight year old grand daughter Madison, who is a really good soccer player in CASL league in Wake County won an award in her age group the Sportsmanship Award. CASL gave away the awards at half time of the soccer match.
These guys that play for the Rail Hawks are excellent soccer players. I saw last night first hand what I saw watching the World Cup. The higher the level of soccer the better defense they play regardless of how good a player is handling the ball. Soccer is exploding in America but for it to pass the NFL they have got to figure a way to get more scoring. Why in the world can't they stop the clock when a player is injured. The extra time without the clock is ridiculous.
The game was played at the Wake Med Soccer Field in Cary which use to be called SAS Soccer Park which is a nice facility which holds about 7,000. Last night was really CASL night and there were probably 2,000 kids there in their uniforms. If you don’t think soccer is big, CASL has 8,000 kids playing soccer in Wake County.
Yesterday the football coaches voted for who they think is going to win the Big East football title. The coaches picked Southern Nash, Hunt, Rocky Mount, Northern Nash Nash Central and Fike in that order. One vote either way and first could have been picked fourth the vote was that close.
I understand while the coaches met behind close doors transfers was one of the topics of discussions.
Rocky Mount girls Volley ball kicks off their season tonight at Beddingfield. Yesterday they handled both Faith Christian and Rocky Mount Academy in scrimmages.
The Stretchlon Sports Show will kick off the fall sports by taping the Nash County Volley ball tournament being held this year at Northern Nash. It is set for Aug 21st. We will tape all four games.
Carolina has announced that the players who are in question by the NCAA will not play until the NCAA gives them the ok to do so. They don’t want to have to give games back should they play this year and then the NCAA rules they are ineligible. Carolina is playing it safe. I think that is a wise choice in this matter.
I listen to 99.9 the fan in Raleigh a lot. They have interviewed the guy who broke the story on Carolina and he said yesterday on 99.9 that Carolina may have had an ineligible player last year. Holy Cow! When all this eligibility stuff first came up and Carolina said they were asked by the NCAA not to talk about it, now we know why if last year is in the question. Carolina may have to give up all their wins from last season. If you are a State fan and looking for anyway to get a winning season from last year, sorry, State beat Carolina so Carolina will not have to give that one back if these stories are true.
I have talked about this before but how in the world can Tiger Woods be 119th on the PGA tour money list this year and still number one in the world. They have got to look at how the rankings take the past two years.
Phil Nicholson announced earlier this week that he has arthritis which you know has to effect your golf game. That may be why he has not shot past Tiger to the #1 ranking. Steve Stricker if he should win the PGA Championship could go to #1.
If you look at the Major League baseball stats it sure looks to me like Josh Hamilton of Raleigh is a shew in as MVP of the American league. Talk about a made for movie but his life since high school is what movies are made for. Top of the world, falling into a bottomless pit and then getting back to the top. Even though they gave up a five run lead with Cliff Lee on the mound last night to the Yankees, the Texas Rangers are good. They took two of three from the Yankees this week
These guys that play for the Rail Hawks are excellent soccer players. I saw last night first hand what I saw watching the World Cup. The higher the level of soccer the better defense they play regardless of how good a player is handling the ball. Soccer is exploding in America but for it to pass the NFL they have got to figure a way to get more scoring. Why in the world can't they stop the clock when a player is injured. The extra time without the clock is ridiculous.
The game was played at the Wake Med Soccer Field in Cary which use to be called SAS Soccer Park which is a nice facility which holds about 7,000. Last night was really CASL night and there were probably 2,000 kids there in their uniforms. If you don’t think soccer is big, CASL has 8,000 kids playing soccer in Wake County.
Yesterday the football coaches voted for who they think is going to win the Big East football title. The coaches picked Southern Nash, Hunt, Rocky Mount, Northern Nash Nash Central and Fike in that order. One vote either way and first could have been picked fourth the vote was that close.
I understand while the coaches met behind close doors transfers was one of the topics of discussions.
Rocky Mount girls Volley ball kicks off their season tonight at Beddingfield. Yesterday they handled both Faith Christian and Rocky Mount Academy in scrimmages.
The Stretchlon Sports Show will kick off the fall sports by taping the Nash County Volley ball tournament being held this year at Northern Nash. It is set for Aug 21st. We will tape all four games.
Carolina has announced that the players who are in question by the NCAA will not play until the NCAA gives them the ok to do so. They don’t want to have to give games back should they play this year and then the NCAA rules they are ineligible. Carolina is playing it safe. I think that is a wise choice in this matter.
I listen to 99.9 the fan in Raleigh a lot. They have interviewed the guy who broke the story on Carolina and he said yesterday on 99.9 that Carolina may have had an ineligible player last year. Holy Cow! When all this eligibility stuff first came up and Carolina said they were asked by the NCAA not to talk about it, now we know why if last year is in the question. Carolina may have to give up all their wins from last season. If you are a State fan and looking for anyway to get a winning season from last year, sorry, State beat Carolina so Carolina will not have to give that one back if these stories are true.
I have talked about this before but how in the world can Tiger Woods be 119th on the PGA tour money list this year and still number one in the world. They have got to look at how the rankings take the past two years.
Phil Nicholson announced earlier this week that he has arthritis which you know has to effect your golf game. That may be why he has not shot past Tiger to the #1 ranking. Steve Stricker if he should win the PGA Championship could go to #1.
If you look at the Major League baseball stats it sure looks to me like Josh Hamilton of Raleigh is a shew in as MVP of the American league. Talk about a made for movie but his life since high school is what movies are made for. Top of the world, falling into a bottomless pit and then getting back to the top. Even though they gave up a five run lead with Cliff Lee on the mound last night to the Yankees, the Texas Rangers are good. They took two of three from the Yankees this week
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Getting Down To Business
Today is coaches meeting day for the Big East Conference. All coaches involved in fall sports will meet at Southern Nash and discuss issues related to their sport that needs to be hashed out among the coaches. Then at the end they will vote for who they think will win their conference.
This will go on for all sports football, volleyball, boys soccer and cross country.
Here is my guess of how football will turn out in the conference. I don't think there is a dominate team in the entire league so I think everyone will lose once.
1. Southern Nash - They have a talented squad and last years playoff run just may pump life back into the Firebirds which has been missing since the four County High schools went into the same conference. 4-1
2. Northern Nash- They hit harder on defense than any other team in the league last year and I don't see why that should change this year. A better offense and Northern will be back. 3-2
3. Wilson Hunt- You can always count on Hunt to be competitive. First they live by the run. In the past ten years Hunt has been really good when they could throw some to loosen up the defense. 3-2
4. Rocky Mount- This team is better than last year. Seven road games could become burden as season wears on. 3-2
5. Nash Central- In a league where everyone is equal there is a thin line from first to fifth. 2-3
6. Wilson Fike- Fike has floundered ever since Richie Pridgen tried to retire and coach football. Pridgen is on the staff at Northern 0-5.
This is a league without a proven quarterback. The team that gets the best play there may prove to be the best. First to fifth is just a fumble difference in any team. This should be an exciting football year. Since the league is so balanced very well could get a team to eastern finals again this year.
The Rocky Mount High girls volleyball team scrimmages Faith Christian and Rocky Mount Academy starting at 1.00pm today in the gym. jvs and varsity will see action. The varsity plays Faith at 2.00pm and RMA at 6.00pm.
I like it when the public schools get together with our local private schools. I realize not all sports are compatible but basketball,baseball, soccer and tennis could join volleyball and competing with our neighbors.
This will go on for all sports football, volleyball, boys soccer and cross country.
Here is my guess of how football will turn out in the conference. I don't think there is a dominate team in the entire league so I think everyone will lose once.
1. Southern Nash - They have a talented squad and last years playoff run just may pump life back into the Firebirds which has been missing since the four County High schools went into the same conference. 4-1
2. Northern Nash- They hit harder on defense than any other team in the league last year and I don't see why that should change this year. A better offense and Northern will be back. 3-2
3. Wilson Hunt- You can always count on Hunt to be competitive. First they live by the run. In the past ten years Hunt has been really good when they could throw some to loosen up the defense. 3-2
4. Rocky Mount- This team is better than last year. Seven road games could become burden as season wears on. 3-2
5. Nash Central- In a league where everyone is equal there is a thin line from first to fifth. 2-3
6. Wilson Fike- Fike has floundered ever since Richie Pridgen tried to retire and coach football. Pridgen is on the staff at Northern 0-5.
This is a league without a proven quarterback. The team that gets the best play there may prove to be the best. First to fifth is just a fumble difference in any team. This should be an exciting football year. Since the league is so balanced very well could get a team to eastern finals again this year.
The Rocky Mount High girls volleyball team scrimmages Faith Christian and Rocky Mount Academy starting at 1.00pm today in the gym. jvs and varsity will see action. The varsity plays Faith at 2.00pm and RMA at 6.00pm.
I like it when the public schools get together with our local private schools. I realize not all sports are compatible but basketball,baseball, soccer and tennis could join volleyball and competing with our neighbors.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Summer Is Almost Gone
Here it is the 10th of the month and I have not yet been to a football Practice. I had better start learning numbers so we can be ready for the first game on the 20th of August.
Right now every team thinks they will be great. Rocky Mount has to replace Collins Cuthrell at quarterback and the greatest Gryphon runner in history Marquavis Alston.
Nash Central will carry 55 on varsity. That's the number of varsity jerseys they have.
They have been down for the past five years but there is no more optimistic team any where than at Northern Nash. If Northern finds a decent quarterback look for them to contend for the title. Everyone tends to forget that Northern was one yard from the playoffs last year and Rocky Mount was one yard from not being in the playoffs.
My guess is Southern Nash will finish first and Fike last. Everyone else could fall anywhere in between.
Rocky Mount will get their first licks in against other people Saturday when they take part in the jamboree going on at South East Raleigh at 3.00pm. They will play Garner.
I am worried about TIGER Woods. Up until his nine iron incident last Thanksgiving in which the back on his head was in the way of his swinging wife, Tiger Woods always had the edge that he knew he was better both as a player and the mental edge. What little bit of low lights that I have seen on ESPN of this weekends play Tiger no longer has that edge.
Tiger no longer thinks he is invincible and no other player thinks it any more either. He is just one of the regular guys. After being so dominate can Tiger ever get it back? I doubt it. After being so dominate will he want to play every week just to make the cut. The only reason I see for Tiger to keep playing is to get a pay check since it looks like his wife is going to get Tiger Inc in her pocketbook.
That will be sad to see, If it happens that way.
Right now every team thinks they will be great. Rocky Mount has to replace Collins Cuthrell at quarterback and the greatest Gryphon runner in history Marquavis Alston.
Nash Central will carry 55 on varsity. That's the number of varsity jerseys they have.
They have been down for the past five years but there is no more optimistic team any where than at Northern Nash. If Northern finds a decent quarterback look for them to contend for the title. Everyone tends to forget that Northern was one yard from the playoffs last year and Rocky Mount was one yard from not being in the playoffs.
My guess is Southern Nash will finish first and Fike last. Everyone else could fall anywhere in between.
Rocky Mount will get their first licks in against other people Saturday when they take part in the jamboree going on at South East Raleigh at 3.00pm. They will play Garner.
I am worried about TIGER Woods. Up until his nine iron incident last Thanksgiving in which the back on his head was in the way of his swinging wife, Tiger Woods always had the edge that he knew he was better both as a player and the mental edge. What little bit of low lights that I have seen on ESPN of this weekends play Tiger no longer has that edge.
Tiger no longer thinks he is invincible and no other player thinks it any more either. He is just one of the regular guys. After being so dominate can Tiger ever get it back? I doubt it. After being so dominate will he want to play every week just to make the cut. The only reason I see for Tiger to keep playing is to get a pay check since it looks like his wife is going to get Tiger Inc in her pocketbook.
That will be sad to see, If it happens that way.
Monday, August 9, 2010
I'm Back
If you have never been on a cruise I have to tell you save up your pennies and go once. From the time we boarded the ship Carnival Fantasy Wednesday at Noon until 7.15 am Monday morning we were in a dream world. Friday I had no idea what day it was and really didn't care.
Highlight of the trip was snorkeling off Nassau right where Bond, James Bond had nearly fifty years ago made the movie Thunder Ball. A taxi driver told us Sean Connery still lives in Nassau. Morgan, Samantha Morgan's friend and I brought home three of the largest Star Fish that I have ever seen. Each one was bigger than my two hands put together and then some.
Let's get back to reality:
I see in his Pro debut Terrell Hudgins had two catches for Dallas in their opening preseason game for 17 yards.
Tiger Woods shot his worse four round golf score in his career. His putting has gone to pot. He no longer has the mental edge on the other golfer that he once had.
Kernersville the State Champs of North Carolina American Legion are in the SouthEast regional finals.
URGENT: Kernersville has won the Southeast American Legion Regional in Tennessee. They beat the host team Columbia Tennessee 10-2. Kernersville will now head to Spokane Washington August 13th to open the American Legion World Series against Las Vegas Nevada.
It is nice having friends in high places and sometimes low places. Like to thank Don Johnson for passing along the Legion score.
This is great news I saw on the Rocky Mount High Web site that Andrew Morales a rising senior at Rocky Mount has committed to Duke to play soccer in 2011.
Any body notice that Rocky Mount has has had a slew on players that have signed D-1 in several sports the last couple of years.
Cousin Lauren missed the cut by one shot again this weekend and only has two tournaments left to make the Futures Tour Top 90. She now stands at 116. She need a top five in one of those two.
Now that I am back from Fantasy Land need to go hard on Gryphon football by the end of week. Still don't have enough sponsors to get Gryphon football on the air yet this year.
Wes or I will see U this week!
Highlight of the trip was snorkeling off Nassau right where Bond, James Bond had nearly fifty years ago made the movie Thunder Ball. A taxi driver told us Sean Connery still lives in Nassau. Morgan, Samantha Morgan's friend and I brought home three of the largest Star Fish that I have ever seen. Each one was bigger than my two hands put together and then some.
Let's get back to reality:
I see in his Pro debut Terrell Hudgins had two catches for Dallas in their opening preseason game for 17 yards.
Tiger Woods shot his worse four round golf score in his career. His putting has gone to pot. He no longer has the mental edge on the other golfer that he once had.
Kernersville the State Champs of North Carolina American Legion are in the SouthEast regional finals.
URGENT: Kernersville has won the Southeast American Legion Regional in Tennessee. They beat the host team Columbia Tennessee 10-2. Kernersville will now head to Spokane Washington August 13th to open the American Legion World Series against Las Vegas Nevada.
It is nice having friends in high places and sometimes low places. Like to thank Don Johnson for passing along the Legion score.
This is great news I saw on the Rocky Mount High Web site that Andrew Morales a rising senior at Rocky Mount has committed to Duke to play soccer in 2011.
Any body notice that Rocky Mount has has had a slew on players that have signed D-1 in several sports the last couple of years.
Cousin Lauren missed the cut by one shot again this weekend and only has two tournaments left to make the Futures Tour Top 90. She now stands at 116. She need a top five in one of those two.
Now that I am back from Fantasy Land need to go hard on Gryphon football by the end of week. Still don't have enough sponsors to get Gryphon football on the air yet this year.
Wes or I will see U this week!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Time Flies
Sunday marked the second anniversary of this blog. Charles Alston created the Rocky Mount High website I think it was in 2004. I talked him into letting me do a weekly comment on the RMHS site which got me stirred into doing a blog of my own. It finally occurred on August one 2008.
It didn't start out to be a daily blog but within a month or two I could not save up for several days, I just had to report items when they happened. The best time for me is just before bedtime, I have just gotten home from a game. The biggest reason is I can get the computer then when others in the household have gone to bed with the chickens. There is so much going on in the world whether it is right here in Nash County in ACC country I have never had a time when I sat down in front of the computer and had nothing to write.
Last year during the Christmas Holidays my Wife won the grand prize of the door prizes that her company gave away to each employee at their Christmas party. We won a trip to the Bahamas. Unfortunately for me second prize was a 37 inch flat screen TV. Never can win anything good.
We debated all during January trying to line up a time when it worked for both our schedules. August 4th was the winning date leaving from Charleston SC.
I just told Pat Sunday night that it looked like we were going to miss any Tropical storms which happen to occur this time of year. Lo and behold last night I see a depression is out in the Atlantic and guess where it is heading. The five day forecast has it about 200 miles east of the Bahamas Saturday. We are suppose to be in Nassau Saturday.
After work today we are heading to Charleston tonight to get on the ship at noon Wednesday. I have cleaned out everything I would love to throw away in closets and utility rooms and will be leaving them in our carport hoping someone will steal them while we are gone. (Only kidding)
We leave our house in the hands of our neighbors and we have these killer deer that love the figs in our back yard and they do not like to be messed with during eating time.
Since I have been doing this blog I have only missed a couple of days. I understand there is a room on the shipped with Internet but I plan to avoid that room at all cost. I don't want to see a cell phone, computer,ESPN or anything that I normally see on a daily basis.
I will volunteer to be a storm chaser and will see whether we can get the Captain of the Carnival Fantasy to head into the eye of this depression.
Wouldn't that make a trip to talk about.
It didn't start out to be a daily blog but within a month or two I could not save up for several days, I just had to report items when they happened. The best time for me is just before bedtime, I have just gotten home from a game. The biggest reason is I can get the computer then when others in the household have gone to bed with the chickens. There is so much going on in the world whether it is right here in Nash County in ACC country I have never had a time when I sat down in front of the computer and had nothing to write.
Last year during the Christmas Holidays my Wife won the grand prize of the door prizes that her company gave away to each employee at their Christmas party. We won a trip to the Bahamas. Unfortunately for me second prize was a 37 inch flat screen TV. Never can win anything good.
We debated all during January trying to line up a time when it worked for both our schedules. August 4th was the winning date leaving from Charleston SC.
I just told Pat Sunday night that it looked like we were going to miss any Tropical storms which happen to occur this time of year. Lo and behold last night I see a depression is out in the Atlantic and guess where it is heading. The five day forecast has it about 200 miles east of the Bahamas Saturday. We are suppose to be in Nassau Saturday.
After work today we are heading to Charleston tonight to get on the ship at noon Wednesday. I have cleaned out everything I would love to throw away in closets and utility rooms and will be leaving them in our carport hoping someone will steal them while we are gone. (Only kidding)
We leave our house in the hands of our neighbors and we have these killer deer that love the figs in our back yard and they do not like to be messed with during eating time.
Since I have been doing this blog I have only missed a couple of days. I understand there is a room on the shipped with Internet but I plan to avoid that room at all cost. I don't want to see a cell phone, computer,ESPN or anything that I normally see on a daily basis.
I will volunteer to be a storm chaser and will see whether we can get the Captain of the Carnival Fantasy to head into the eye of this depression.
Wouldn't that make a trip to talk about.
Monday, August 2, 2010
One Of Those Special Moments
I hope last night you had an opportunity to watch the "Stetchlon Sports Show" as we honored the Midget 9/10 year old State Tarheel Baseball champions.
Just about every player it was there first experience being in a TV studio. If you have ever been to WHIG-TV before there is not a lot to it. Just a little room which has two cameras in it and a wall backdrop that can be change to give you different colored walls. Yes there are bright lights there to make the room bright enough to give a good picture when you are live.
If you have ever been to say WRAL or been on a Tour of CNN or any of the network studios there is not much too them either. They are bigger rooms where the cameras can be rolled from one show to the next depending on what is live or being taped. Watching on TV glorifies the picture but you never see any thing other than what the camera is looking at.
Last night felt like we were doing Jay Leno as we have a live studio audience. Mothers and fathers most sitting on the floor watching their kids being talked about on TV. Everyone there last night from the coaches, players and parents that was a very prideful moment as today they will run into somebody that will tell them I saw you on TV last night or will tell their parents "I saw Johnny on TV last night".
As for me as a broadcaster or blogger it is seeing their eyes when you can tell something special is going on in their lives. Whether it is being part of game telling everyone of a championship like for Gryphon basketball this past spring or watching kids be on TV for the first time. Those are the moments that I keep showing up doing ball games.
Then, when someone will look at you and thank you for reporting on the little league tournament when no one esle in Rocky Mount did, those are the times when you can say. Someone is listening or watching or reading. It just makes me want to find a game and try that find another special moment.
Just about every player it was there first experience being in a TV studio. If you have ever been to WHIG-TV before there is not a lot to it. Just a little room which has two cameras in it and a wall backdrop that can be change to give you different colored walls. Yes there are bright lights there to make the room bright enough to give a good picture when you are live.
If you have ever been to say WRAL or been on a Tour of CNN or any of the network studios there is not much too them either. They are bigger rooms where the cameras can be rolled from one show to the next depending on what is live or being taped. Watching on TV glorifies the picture but you never see any thing other than what the camera is looking at.
Last night felt like we were doing Jay Leno as we have a live studio audience. Mothers and fathers most sitting on the floor watching their kids being talked about on TV. Everyone there last night from the coaches, players and parents that was a very prideful moment as today they will run into somebody that will tell them I saw you on TV last night or will tell their parents "I saw Johnny on TV last night".
As for me as a broadcaster or blogger it is seeing their eyes when you can tell something special is going on in their lives. Whether it is being part of game telling everyone of a championship like for Gryphon basketball this past spring or watching kids be on TV for the first time. Those are the moments that I keep showing up doing ball games.
Then, when someone will look at you and thank you for reporting on the little league tournament when no one esle in Rocky Mount did, those are the times when you can say. Someone is listening or watching or reading. It just makes me want to find a game and try that find another special moment.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
The Economy Still
This weekend the best two teams in baseball are playing a three game series in Tampa. The Rays sold out a three game series in advance of the series starting for the first time in their history. That is the good news in major league baseball. Attendance is off 15% and sports announcers swear attendance is down because of the lack of home runs. There have been five no hitter or perfect games pitched this season. Those announcers will tell you people want to see a home run not a strike out.
I think most of those experts are the people who drive into the stadium and never dole out $20.00 to park. When they enter the gate they have a pass which they dont' pay another $20 or more to get one seat much less the rest of the family. These experts are also the people who have buffett in the press area and don't shell out $7 one one hot dog.
I understand that people want to see winners over teams that lose. During the heyday of Braves baseball on WTBS the crowds in Atlanta would wait to see Dale Murphy bat for what they thought was the last time in the game in the bottom of the eighth and then go home.
The real reason people aren't going to the games is they can't afford to go. Yes those that go one time of year still go. The guy who goes ten times a year is down to twice a year.
The Yankees still have not sold all those high price luxury boxes in the new Yankee Stadium. The Jets new football stadium is a long way from selling the PSL's.
If you talk to a Carolina fan they think they just might play in their first BCS football game this Christmas holiday season and yet they are advertising right now tickets available to football games. It effects anybody that has a product to sell and seats to fill. People just don't have the money they had five years ago.
The local level will be affected also. Rocky Mount High school has but four home games this year. Why is for another day to discuss. Seven road games puts a stress on the budget which will mean those four home games need butts in the seat to watch the games. If we go see a team play more when they win or losing Rocky Mount needs to get off to a good start this football season.
There are special days in any calendar year which need to be a holiday. First day of hunting season etc. First day of football practice is the same. Monday all high school sports start preparing for competition.
Tonight on WHIG-TV at 8.00pm "The Stretchlon Sports Show " will salute the Midget League State Champs. Jeremy Stewart and his team will be live on air tonight.
I think most of those experts are the people who drive into the stadium and never dole out $20.00 to park. When they enter the gate they have a pass which they dont' pay another $20 or more to get one seat much less the rest of the family. These experts are also the people who have buffett in the press area and don't shell out $7 one one hot dog.
I understand that people want to see winners over teams that lose. During the heyday of Braves baseball on WTBS the crowds in Atlanta would wait to see Dale Murphy bat for what they thought was the last time in the game in the bottom of the eighth and then go home.
The real reason people aren't going to the games is they can't afford to go. Yes those that go one time of year still go. The guy who goes ten times a year is down to twice a year.
The Yankees still have not sold all those high price luxury boxes in the new Yankee Stadium. The Jets new football stadium is a long way from selling the PSL's.
If you talk to a Carolina fan they think they just might play in their first BCS football game this Christmas holiday season and yet they are advertising right now tickets available to football games. It effects anybody that has a product to sell and seats to fill. People just don't have the money they had five years ago.
The local level will be affected also. Rocky Mount High school has but four home games this year. Why is for another day to discuss. Seven road games puts a stress on the budget which will mean those four home games need butts in the seat to watch the games. If we go see a team play more when they win or losing Rocky Mount needs to get off to a good start this football season.
There are special days in any calendar year which need to be a holiday. First day of hunting season etc. First day of football practice is the same. Monday all high school sports start preparing for competition.
Tonight on WHIG-TV at 8.00pm "The Stretchlon Sports Show " will salute the Midget League State Champs. Jeremy Stewart and his team will be live on air tonight.
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