There are those in this world who oppose any type of competitive sports saying that the winner take all mentality destroys our youth. Sports much like fishing or any other activity where you can forget the world for a moment brings to many that I can forget my problem for just a moment while watching sports activity.
2010 the Rocky Mount area was hit with economic depression. Many business in the area either closed their doors or made severe cutbacks which harmed people in the area. Along comes a basketball team who in mid January looked to be heading no where much like our economy was then. Something happened to that team and the last few weeks of the regular season and all of the playoffs every piece fitted into place and the Gryphons won a state championship.
There was a brief period of time following that team we could forget our problems and focus on that team and what they were doing for us forgetting our problems following them. Oddly enough the final victim in that championship run was South Point.
Fast forward five years to 2015. Today Rocky Mount makes headlines for drive by shootings and murders including one of the Gryphon J V players number 9 Lavontae Brown. Rocky Mount is no worse in violent crime than anyone else but the City on the Rise has cornered the market on making headlines all across the state when it does happen.
This Gryphon team gave us notice pitching a shutout opening night and taking what all the media in Raleigh called the best 4A team in the state Middle Creek to the wire in the second game of the season at Middle Creek. They followed that putting 75 on Hertford County who made it to the second round in the 2A playoffs.
They were handed a drubbing in the Greenville Rose game and had everyone asking could we stop anybody who could pass. What we did not see for the rest of the season was a six feet three division one receiver.
Friday night displayed across the bench of the Gryphons was a gold number nine worn by Lavontae Brown. Yes this team has been effected as much as anyone else from all the violence that makes all the headlines.
It started about the Hunt game and down 14 to Fike this team started making Gryphon Nation feel there was something to be proud of Rocky Mount for. As each comeback led to victory today the head line reads. Rocky Mount High School 3A state champions. Once again sports has interrupted our depression of 2010 and our sorrow for those lost by death and those lost from human dignity
who think guns make them powerful. I wonder if most of those who live by the gun had of played sports growing up would they be like they are now.
All across North Carolina people hear Rocky Mount State Champions those are the kind of headline that make it look like Rocky Mount is on the rise again.
This Thursday night in the Black Box Theater at Rocky Mount High School the One Voice, A Legacy Continues will don the stage at the Black Box. In the past it has been just the I B kids at Rocky Mount putting their talents on display and each year monies raised were given to a worthy cause.. During the battle of Holly Fryar with cancer all funds have gone to the Lineburger Cancer Center at UNC Hospital but as Holly Fryar's Legacy has grown the monies raised will go to the Holly
Project at UNC .The monies will go to the families in need while their child fights cancer. Show time is 7pm .
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2 comments:
Madd props on an outstanding article. Iam so proud of this Gryphon football program that is built on hard work and humility.
This state title was much needed. It really helps pull people together and be united as one for such a positive event. Friday night everyone put their worries, differences, etc. apart and cheered for one team! It was great seeing an estimated 5,000 fans cheer for the Gryphons. Anyone who did not attend missed a one in a lifetime experience. Over the last two days I have heard people who say they now wished they had attended versus following it on radio, TV and social media. To be there in person was priceless!
The late Charles Alston would have been one proud person!
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