How Do We Get To Be Who We Are

If you are part of the circle which I live you have heard me tell this story before. How did I get here in my life where I am now especially when I was 12 what I wanted to do.  Back during my hey day it was the 60's and am radio was king.  The big 50,000 watt stations boomed into eastern North Carolina at night  and my two favorite DJ's were "Cousin Brucie" on WABC in New York and at the time Jackson Armstrong WKBW Buffalo New York. 

"Brucie was the #1 jock in America and he played the rock and roll hits.  I liked Armstrong because he played the hits too but he talked so fast if you didn't know the lingo you missed it with him.  My grand father Minton gave me a 6" reel to reel tape recorder  when I was 12 and I use to hold the mic up to my record player and record songs.   I would wait until WABC played a jingle.  WABC had a simple one where a group of singers would  sing   the call letters W A B C or Sing out "Cousin Brucie".. I would then splice out the jingle  and I would talk into my mic as if I was "Cousin Brucie" then play a record  like the Beach Boys Good Vibrations and hold my mic over my player and record the song.  I would then splice in the jingle and record another record and then after my 30 minute tape was completed I would lay back on my bed and listen to myself being a bedroom disc jockey.

That of course led me to go to work at WRCS radio in Ahoskie in 1970 and after graduation from high school went to work the following Monday as a full time jock in Ahoskie.  I pretty much played radio until 1976 and upcoming marriage led me to believe that being a disc jockey  in Ahoskie was not going to feed my family the way I desired so I found a sales job as a living and played sportscaster for the rest of my life.

The live ball games on radio are dwindling for me so it has been more taped TV in the past few years.  Now this brings on the story of how did I get into the blogging business?  My freshman year in High school my first period class, was English which is not a very good way to start any day in high school.  In fact it is not a very good day at all when you have to take English as a 13 year old.

My second class of the day was typing.  Like all typing classes you were timed and ever how many mistakes you made was how you were graded.  Almost every Friday our typing teacher Mrs Taylor would give us a timed test and after than was over do what ever you wanted as long as it didn't require spit balls or excessive noise disturbing other classes down the hall..

My little group of us football players who all sat in the back corner would sleep, talk about girls or in my case I would write made up sports stories about the guys around me.  The stories were as long as time allowed and for me to read my results back to the guys before class ended.  They would go something  like this.

Ahoskie High JV football team beat Edenton yesterday when Clint Steele tackled  the Ace's quarter back causing a fumble.  Jimmy Godwin   the Indians linebacker    pick up the fumble and start running the wrong way causing Bobby Harrell Ahoskie end to give chase to Godwin and tackled him before he cross the wrong goal.  The force of the tackle caused Godwin  to fumble where "Hoss" Earley lineman for the Indians scooped up the fumble where he preceded to run 90 yards the right way for an Ahoskie score.  The touchdown secured another conference championship for the Ahoskie JV's.

They were funny stories that everyone liked and every body thought I would got to school to be a newspaper sports reporter.  As I progressed into the radio sports business my becoming a newspaper man took a back seat and with the advent of the blogs it has brought  me back to writing as the live play by play gig dwindled..  The late Charles Alston rode with me to many games when we were doing Gryphon sports on the radio and we had many discussions traveling to and fro  and once he started the Gryphon Grapevine I ask him if I could write a weekly column  for the Grapevine.  It didn't take long before Charles set me up with this blog and it is almost a daily obsession for me. 

So you see, whether it is talking on the radio or writing this blog it is in my genes.  Just imagine if I had of played the drums instead of a reel to reel tape recorder where would I have been now?

Inter State Pileup

Hold on  to your hats the Big East basketball race is up for grabs as Hunt visiting Northern Nash has gone down to defeat to the Paul Cherry led Knights of Northern Nash.  Cherry had his greatest game ever for the Knights getting a double- double  10 points and 10 rebounds as the Knights Upset Hunt 65-61.  This puts Northern at 4-9 1-1 and Hunt 8-6 1-1.

We thought it would go   down to the wire game and it did as Rocky Mount hosting Nash Central tonight a two point game in Rocky Mount's favor at the half, tied at the third quarter mark and at the buzzer Rocky Mount holds of Nash Central 67-62  Both are 1-1 in the Big East and  overall Rocky Mount is 8-3 while the Bulldogs drop to 8-4.

Asaiah Alston lead RM with 22.  Got plenty of help from Amir Pittman and Broderick Caudle with 13 each.  Nash Central had a trio of double figure scores led by Aaron Spivey 20, Keshun Peoples 15 and Josh Mullins with 12.

Tonight in Bailey Fike has beaten  Southern Nash 62-61 so the Big East is in a six way tie for first everyone is 1-1.  I am sure that has happened to some conference some where in this world but this is the first time I have ever heard of all three 1-0 teams last week played teams 0-1 and all three 0-1 teams won creating mass confusion.

If this was the last game of the season I think they would have to pick the seedings out of the hat.  I doubt that any possible tie breaker goes as far as what happens when there is a six way tie.


Don't think that there is anybody that has seen the Lady Gryphons of Rocky Mount play  that they have had moments where they looked the part of a very promising basketball team.  Then they for a quarter they would play as if they were on a ship without a rudder.  Everything that they did well for three quarters would go away from the play in one.

Tonight the Lady Gryphons  keep it together for an entire game and down the Lady Bulldogs 50-38 as both even their record in conference play at 1-1. 

Keyanna Spivey 21 and Tamar Harper are proving to be and all conference type front court with Spivey getting 21 points and Harper 18.  Nash Central had three led by Kathryn Wilkes and Myia Spivey 11 each and Michaela Nelms 10.

Not quite the mess in girls basketball as Northern played Hunt and Northern was in complete control winning by 18.  Fike as expected had little trouble with Southern Nash 47-30.  Now that the smoke has cleared Northern is the only undefeated at 2-0.  Rocky Mount, Nash Central. Fike and Hunt are 1-1 and Southern trails at 0-2

Critical Week For Big East Basketball

Everyone has played once in conference play and once again only one conference game this week due to exams.  If the "old wives tales" are right next week will be under stress of weather .  I don't know about you but it thundered at work on Monday while a drizzle was falling in the fog and depending on how many days you have heard it should snow sometime between Monday and Wednesday of next week.  If it does happen no telling what the schedule might be next week.  Vital match ups high light this weeks games.

Hunt @ Northern Nash:  On the girls side this will pit two 1-0 teams  and record wise Hunt 10-3-1-0 could give Northern a tussle 12-0  1-0.  I doubt it will happen at Northern Nash.  This game does pit two of the three conference undefeated teams in this one.

The boys find Hunt 8-5 visiting Northern Nash 3-9:  Hunt showed the world against Rocky Mount that their height will be a major factor for any team wanting to take away from the defending conference and regional champs the 2015 conference championship.  This will be a tall task for Northern.

Southern Nash @ Fike:  Fike 9-3 - 0-1stumbles at Nash Central while Southern 9-1- 1-0 did their business to Northern.  This is a must game for Fike.  Nobody wants to be  0-2 but if it happens  to anyone the key to this season and any other is the ability to hold on for home court wins and steal a few on the road.  All three boys games Friday are1-0 team playing 0-1 teams.  We could have three teams 2-0 or three 0-2 or somewhere in between.

Southern girls 0-13-0-1 will not get too many opportunities to win this year.  This might be one  even though it is ever so slight.  Fike 5-6 - 0-1 will be on it's home court and this is surely not a game anyone in Big East can afford to lose.  As far as conference games go not many games on any one's schedule that they will be  out right favorites other than Northern.   Fike can't let this one get away.

Nash Central @ Rocky Mount:  Nash Central girls 9-3- 1-0 seems primed while Rocky Mount 5-5 0-1 still needs to get the water pump gushing.  Vital game for Rocky Mount having already lost at home. Here we go again looking at stealing one on the road for the traveling team and holding serve at home.   If Nash Central wins and goes  to 2-0 this could give them  the confidence to push on while if Rocky Mount drops to 0-2 it could work the other way.  Talk about a big game but this is it.

Nash Central Boys 8-3 - 1-0 Rocky Mount 7-3  0-1.  Both seem to have the same roster in size and speed.  Classic inter city Rocky Mount game.  I would suspect the gym will be over flowing by game time of the boys game.  Rocky Mount is staring at five of last eight games on the road and this is a must for them.

What's All The Hype?

It is very confusing to me to turn on a sports talk show or even the news and you hear this all the time " That's what you want so that's what we continue to give you".  I did not ask for 24 hours a day news coverage from Ferguson Missouri nor do I ask for any continued sports event .  The only reason most folks watch is that is all you put in front of the public. 

During World War Two the world was introduced to propaganda.  Both sides never wanted you to hear the bad so the good was always inflated.  It didn't stop when the war ended.  Why do we as a society go to stores where we have to have their cards to get all the good deals?   Are they really deals.  The sports media and I think more than anything else it is the New York media thinking they are the center of the universe. 

How in the world would any team want Rex Ryan as their coach?  Let's look at the facts.  Rex Ryan started out like a house on fire and went 20-12 his first two years as coach.  He made it to the AFC championship game both years.  Yes, there was every reason that he is a great coach but whoa Nellie.  His next four years he has been 26-38.  What happened to the great coach?  His over all record in six years with the Jets is 46-50. 

Now if I am a owner why would I want Rex Ryan?  His first two years you might say the first year was a carry over from the previous coach and he has gotten worse ever since.  Other than a media darling with great quotes for the media what good has he been for the Jets?  Their defense has gotten worse and they have never been anything to write home about of offense.  Buffalo was 9-7 last year.  let's see where they are five years from now.

You know all we have heard from the media all season is that Colin Kaepernick has gotten worse and digressed  this season over the great year he had last.  Has he? Let's look at the numbers  2013 he was 243-416 passing 58% completion  for 3,197 yards.  21 TDs and   8 Ints. and a 91.6 passer rating.

The NFL passer rating average in 2013 for every quarter back was 82.  2014 Kaep was 289-478 for 60% completions and 3,369 yards 19 touchdowns to 10 picks and a QB rating of 86.4.  Still the average NFL qb rating is 83.  Just maybe Kaepernick was not as great as the media made out in 2013 which just maybe he was not as bad in 2014.    Why the perception?  The 49's didn't make the playoffs this year while they did last.

This week we are down to a double header NFL championship games in each division.  The first game Sunday has Green Bay traveling to Seattle.  Who's healthy and who is not.  There is only one injury that matters.  Aaron Rodgers, it was apparent  that Rodgers didn't want to leave the pocket because of his leg.  I would suspect this is the end of the road for the Double Check man.

Seattle will bring the house if necessary and I suspect more often than not 12 will be on his back.  Despite that the game just might not be secure until late.  Seattle is a different team at home and Green Bay is so- so on the road.  They met in the first game of the season and as far as I am concerned that was last year and should have no bearing on this game.   Seahawks 30- Packers 20

Could it be that the hot team in the playoffs are the Indy Colts.  Where did that D come from against Denver and Cincy?  Mighty early  in the week but weather could play a major role in this game  since  the Colts play indoors.  I don't know if it is my dislike of the Patriots or what but I still don't see how they are as good as they are.  They have beaten every body important all year however.  I think weather is a factor and the Pats win  35-17.

Hill Almost Leads Comeback

It's near 12 noon on Tuesday and Morgan Doughtie has a class in Gore Arena on the campus of  Campbell University.  She will not have far to go when class is over as all she has to do is go around the corner and enter the basketball arena  where Campbell Women are hosting Gardner Webb.

What in the world is going on? High noon on a Tuesday and a conference basketball game and the place is nearly packed.  ESPN must be having one of those 24 hours of basketball deals working and Campbell has made it to TV.  No, it's Education Day at Campbell and elementary students from Harnett County are in the building.  Kind of reminds me during my school days when the North Carolina Symphony came to town and it was a chance to get out of school to go hear some violins.  I didn't care  what is was for  but being out of school  was the best deal you could ask for.

Gardner Webb has Former Northern  Nash all everything Alexus Hill now starting at point guard and with this being as close to Rocky Mount she will play this year the Hill family and friends are in the house regardless of the time of day.  Part of the Rocky Mount contingent is Grover battle  Northern coach who has come to see his star play.

It might have been too early in the day for the visitors but GW  finds themselves down double digits at the half  and Alexus shoots only twice scoring three points in front of a hooping crowd of youngsters for many watching their first college game.  GW finds themselves down 16  50-34 with under 15 minutes to play and the comeback began.

Hill makes two free throws cutting the lead to 70-68 and then with 1:11 to play cans a three point shot to make it 73-72. but that is as close as GW can come finally losing at Campbell 75-74.  Hill scored 15 second half points including three out of four three point shots.  Family and friends go home disappointed in the loss for GW but what they saw was as a freshman Alexus Hill  is growing nicely on the college basketball court of Division one basketball.

Many people from the area pulled for Ohio State on Monday night during the College football championship for one reason only.  Tarboro High freshman Tyquan Lewis was on the field wearing #59 and during the game he was credited with one tackle.

Many including myself wondered when Lewis announce he was heading to Columbus Ohio what in the world is he thinking.  The six three 260 pound freshman made all the doubters shut up as regardless of what ever his future delivers to him  he will always be able to show every body that rock that he will wear when ever they arrive  that ring that says 2015 College football National champion.  Good decision on Ohio State Tyquan!

Been Here Before

The date was January 12th 2013.  N C State beat then number 5 Duke 84-76 and the students rushed the floor and a national hero was born in C J Leslie when he helped save a State student in a wheel chair from injury during the mass charge to center court.  Right at that time State was on verge under second year coach Mark Gottfried to maybe becoming a team to be  a force again in college basketball.

National TV exposure by Leslie on Good Morning America and others proved to be too much for the inconsistent Leslie.  Saturday was two years ago.  Once again today State stands on the threshold of becoming a major player.  As far as I know there is no hero to talk about.  Two years ago today State was in the same spot they are in now.

It's seems as if State has all the pieces.  They have big men in the middle that can block any shot with in a few feet of the basket.  They have outside shooters that when they are on they can shoot lights out.  They have however been poor at the free throw line.  How can a team with such great outside shooting be so average when no one is guarding you  15 feet away from the bucket.

So far this season State has lost five times and all five in one way or another can be related to ball handling and foul shooting.   To be a team dominated with outside guards that can shoot they have many lapses on ball handling mistakes.  There was a point  when State lead by 19 that I was scared to death when Duke scored 11 in a row mostly  because of poor ball handling and twice they had 3 on 2 situations trying to lop dunk instead of just taking layups and points.

I never felt comfortable until is was down to about 40 seconds and a double digit lead.  Where does the Pack go from here.  There is no doubt Coach Gott can recruit.  State has had a generous helping of schedule as four of their first five conference games are home.  Carolina is on the way this week and a loss to Carolina would pretty much eliminate the Duke win.  Which way is it for the Pack? Is it the same ole same ole, or is this team taking the next step to top five in the conference?

Last week Dallas got the benefit of a major no call.  This week they got a correct call and from it a loss to Green Bay.  Dallas just maybe, think about this N C State and Dallas mirror each other over the last 20 years.  Dallas fans think they are better than what they have been while State fans wish they got the respect that is given to those down the road.

Dallas had a fine season for you Cowboy fans.  31 NFL teams will finish the season wishing they had of been better.   Dallas could very well be the team to beat in the NFL next year.

Lucky One Week Stung by Rules the Next

Can you name the NFL owner that gets at least 20 shots on TV in the owners box during every game?  Jerry Jones of Dallas of course.  Without any stats to back this statement my guess Robert Kraft of New England would be second in TV exposure during games.  After those two I doubt you can even tell me who owns any other NFL team other than Jerry Richardson of the Carolina Panthers and the only reason we know that is the Panthers are our state's team.  We had better know that.  I would suspect the next TV time guy is Denver's John Elway but he is only the GM and he probably does have some ownership in Denver.

Funny isn't it that after the no interference call that should have been called on Dallas last week  I didn't hear one Cowboy raise any fuss over no call being made.  After Sunday's game and the incomplete pass you would think the NFL cheated Dallas out of a trillion dollars the way Dallas post game comments failed to mention one time last week.

Since I was pulling for the Packers as soon as the ball hit the ground I am up in front of the TV which by the way I had been almost all afternoon as N C State was beating Duke hollering for an incomplete pass which was confirmed on replay.  You never know about the replay officials.  I thought the replay was suppose to get the play right and I was very concerned they were going to give Dallas the catch especially after not calling interference last week.

The replay booth got the call right.  Do I like the rule no?  I grew up in football that the ground could not cause a fumble.  Some where about five years or so ago the NFL decided that a receiver while going out of bounds needed to hold on the ball all the way to the ground.  Since the play in question was not out of bounds the play was called as what has been the rule for sometime now.

So the NFL was consistent in the rule but was it right? 

Have we seen the last of Peyton Manning?  You would think from his performance the last few games of the season that Father time has caught up with him.  Went 2 and 2 on the guesses in the NFL games this weekend.  4-4 so far in the playoffs.

Tonight's college national championship game I'm taking Ohio State for no reason other than that is what I think.  Regardless of who  wins the two best two teams are playing tonight.  Ohio State 38- Oregon 35