Gryphons On Three Wheels

That team that looked like state championship material lost again last night in the Corinth Holders Tournament.  I can' t explain why but instead of a losers bracket game between the home standing Pirates the Gryphons played East Wake the team that beat Holders by nearly 32 on Friday.

Friday night the Gryphons played the fourth quarter without Immanuel King who sprained his ankle.  King attempted to go to the distance but sat out the fourth quarter with ice on his ankle against E Wake.  From all most the get go the Gryphons trailed 16-11 after the first, 26-24 at  the half. The Warriors lead 41-36 after three but with five minutes left found themselves down 50-38.

The Gryphons rallied and down the stretch had five three point shots if any one had of fallen the game would have been tied but none did.  Final East Wake 63 Rocky Mount 57.

One common denominator in all four losses.  Immanuel King didn't play at all in two of them and sat out the fourth  in both games this weekend.  All four losses have come from teams playing three guards.

Observations are this team has lost to three good  4-A schools.  They seem to being playing waiting for the other teams to wilt because they are the mighty Gryphons.  They continue to run point guards in looking for someone who wants to take control.  They lack a point guard that drives to the basket and dishes to the big men. Throughout his career Donte Battle has been a total team player never taking ill advised shots but right now this team needs him as the leader to take  over rattle the rim with some monster dunks and grab every rebound as if he is the only player on the floor.  Just remember not one conference game has been played and like many in the past you have to admit the Gryphons haven't  back down in who they have played.  Their schedule has been tough and they are not that far off from being very good.

The Lady Gryphons did get the loser from the Friday girls game and it was Corinth Holders.  I got to the gym and looked at the score board and it was 52-22. Took a deep breath until the first score by Rocky Mount made it 54.  Lady Gryphons cruise  68-25.  Like the boys they are 6-4 on the season.  Their next game is January 10th when they open conference play at Nash Central.

Another Issue with Eligibility

If you are a regular here then you know what I think all of the private schools playing in the NCHSAA.  Since many  students who attend private schools live outside the district that public  schools are restricted to.  To me it is unfair for them to compete in playoffs when many players play against the school where they would be going if they were in public schools.  I don't even want to argue the point today of private school students who go to private schools on scholarships.

More recently Prep schools and charter schools have come under the same scowl from me competing against public schools when they have athletes from all over competing on their athletic fields.  This week at the High School OT basketball tournament in Raleigh another pressure from those wanting to compete in public schools appeared.

There is a team from Texas playing in the tournament that is a team of home schoolers.  This team is from Texas and they have a player being looked at by Carolina. I have no problem with home schoolers playing athletic sports due to the fact I think all children need exercise and sports provides plenty of that.

If  there is a home school team from Texas you know North Carolina can't be far having home school teams too that want to play others within the area they are from.  I think all private schools, charter  and you can add home school teams to the list now need to start their own leagues because they have no boundaries like public schools so everyone needs to play by the same rules.  If public schools have school districts they need to play others who go by the same rules.

The Rocky Mount Gryphons played in Christmas tournament in Wendell yesterday with the girls
playing East Wake and  lost 59-30 while the boys lost toKnightdale 63-59.  The girls  are in action at 3pm Saturday afternoon and the boys at 4:30.

ECU Gets Ten Wins

The 2013 Pirates of ECU became the second team in school history to win double digits with 10 after their Beef O Grady win.  The Pirates finish the season 10-3 second only to the 1991 team that was 11-1 and beat NC State 37-34 on January 1 2012.  You true ECU fans would know this but what team beat the Pirates  in 91.   Does anyone even remember the Peach Bowl game was played on NewYears day.  I don't remember that.

A big difference in 92 over 2013.  59,000 plus were in Atlanta but Tampa only had 20,000. Watching the game on TV I don't know where the 20,000 were.  I think we all understand that the 23rd of December is  a bad day to be in Florida unless you live there.  I have not seen any games played so far that didn't have more empty seats over fannies sitting in them. Regardless of how many were there  the Pirates had a great season winning at both North Carolina and N C State.

Carolina will be in Charlotte  in the Belk Bowl Saturday afternoon The midway point in the season the Tar Heels  had a fantastic finish to get to any kind of a Bowl Game.  Carolina basketball plays tonight.  It will be on TV just don't know what channel.

Don't look now but the NC State women's basketball team is11-1so far this year.We would have to assume that the coaching change has made the difference this year in bringing new life  to a team that hasn't  had great success this century. NC State was the first North Carolina school to embrace Title IX back in the 70's and lead the way up until the 90's when Carolina got good. Then Duke got just as good as Carolina leaving State number three in the Triangle.  It will be interesting to see how the Pack fares when conference play starts.

We kind of expect both the men and women's team at Duke , State and Carolina to be good but over in Greenville both teams there are off to great starts. The ECU women have lost only once and we all saw the game the men gave NC State.

By the way the only lost for ECU in 1991 was opening day when they lost to Illinois 38-31 and then won 11 games  Ina row.

After Christmas Tournaments

The after Christmas tournament action starts Friday for several local teams.  Rocky Mount this year heads to Wendell to Corith Holders where Friday they will play Knightdale.  The past two years RM has played at Knightdale's Thankgiving Tournament having won it both years.  Win or lose there will be a game on Saturday.

The Lady Gryphons will be playing Friday afternoon when they take on East Wake. Like the boys they play Saturday the time won't be known until they find out whether it's in the championship game or the consolation game.  Both Rocky Mount teams will be playing 4-A level teams so win or lose it's one of those games that you get a good idea when it's over where you stand.

Northern Nash boys play Bunn in the Holiday Tournament Friday while Northern's girls play next week against East Wake and Wakefield so those two games will be real test for the Lady Knights.  Nash Central boys will be taking on Rolesville.

I don't know about you but I have a very hard time watching NBA basketball on Christmas Day.  I have a hard time watching games that lack team work.  Four players go stand in the corner while I will take on this guy one on one.  The lack of defense  three point shots and dunks  doesn't turn me own.

NFL teams started practice for Sunday games and the Dallas Cowboys are using the ploy that  they are up in the air about the condition of Tony Romo.  I just can't see Romo playing but if they hold out as long as possible then Philadelphia can't prepared for any one quarterback for the winner take all game Sunday.

Merry Christmas

I would like to say happy Birthday to my Lord and Savior JESUS CHRIST.  I hope that this does not offend you but I am not sorry if it does.  Yes I believe in the virgin birth.  I believe that Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world mine included and then on the third day rose.

The birth of Jesus opened up heaven for all that believe.  Up until then the Old Testament was rules and regulations for the Jewish nation but Jesus taught everyone who accepted him could have a place in Heaven.

I am by no way perfect and every day I sin and some of those sins I don't realize at the time I am doing them but if I ask for forgiveness from him he will forgive.  None of us know how long we have left on this earth but I assure you when my life on earth ends it will just be just the beginning.

No longer will I have to worry about how to pay the bills or even the score of any ball game.  I will live in a world where just to be near my Lord will be all I need.  I hope as you read this that these statements are reassurance for you.  If you scoff at them I will pray that you will find hope in Jesus for without Jesus you have no hope in your future.

If you are a person who seems to be floating aimlessly in life pick up your Bible, for I know you have one.  You may need to dust it off but start reading.  If it has been a while since you have read it start in the New Testament and read about Jesus.  Hope lives within it.  You know the world we live there has never been one word in the Bible proven wrong.  The Bible is the truth but until you find what is in it you will never find Jesus.

Thank you for giving me a reason to come to you every day and I hope you and your family have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Contenders Face Injuries

The Carolina Panthers lost Steve Smith rather early Sunday but still with a mostly  defensive effort took down the Saints and can clinch first in the South Division this Sunday if they can win at Atlanta.  Smith's knee injury is considered a knee sprain and I can tell you from experience I doubt he plays Sunday.

The Denver Broncos lost Von Miller to a year ending knee injury.  Denver is already in the we need Peyton to score 40 every week and the pressure could be that they now will need to score 45.  Since the playoffs are the best teams in the NFL the Broncs will have a hard time romping up and down the field in the playoffs.

Tony Romo is probably the most abused quarterback in the NFL.  If you really do pay attention Romo is a very good quarterback. His problem he plays for the owner who has to have his own after game news conference and just like playing for the New York Yankees tries to make Dallas to be the most important and best team in the league but we all know that is in the mind of Jerry Jones not that Dallas is any more than average.

Romo is believed to have a herniated disc in his back.  That has to be painful for any one just trying to get out of a chair much less try to play football.   Kyle Orton will probably  start Sunday and  with all of the abuse Romo gets when he has one of his flubs in front of a national audience and most of them occur right when the game seems to be at it's emotional climax.

Just suppose Orton comes in Sunday and has a Peyton Manning type day and leads Dallas to the playoffs and say they win one or two games in which Romo has never won  one.  If you recall the dropped snap on a kick was as close  as Romo has ever come to winning a playoff game.  If you were Romo could you root for Orton knowing well if Orton does well the news media will spend all spring and summer trying to talk Jerry Jones into getting a new quarterback.

Panthers Will Go Dancing

The Carolina Panthers with possibly the best defensive game in the history of the franchise had to get one drive from Cam Newton  and  and a Steve Smith less offense with 23 seconds to go to send the Panthers back to the NFL playoffs with a 17-13 victory over the New Orleans Saints.   The victory only gets the Panthers in the Playoffs they must win next Sunday or get the Saints to lost again in order to take the NFC South as champs.

Miami and Baltimore could make the AFC playoffs if one of the two would win but Miami failed to score and Baltimore had a gimpy quarterback and both lose easily.  This throws the Chargers in the mix but they must hope both Miami and Baltimore both lose again next week and the Chargers must beat Kansas City.

Detroit with maybe the best defensive personnel in the league but the worse discipline   lost at home to get knocked out of the playoffs.  Green Bay loses but some how or other they still have as shot after the Bears lost Sunday night.

The Cowboys did it again win a game in the last minute they should have rolled in to begin with. The Boys have set themselves up to get a heartbreaking loss at home to Philly next week.

Peyton Manning breaks the touchdown passing record.  Does anybody remember back when Tom Brady set the record New England was leading the Redskins by a bunch and Brady threw a one yard pass to give the Pats 54 points.  If you recalled the Patriots didn't win the Super Bowl.  Manning record breaker came when the backup should have been in the game.  I didn't like The way Brady got up to fifty and I didn't like Manning flinging it the way they did yesterday. Manning could have got hurt throwing a useless pass.

You just don't realize how hard it is to win a professional football game.  Everyone out on the field gets paid to preform and the more you win the more money you make?  If every team played their very best every time out there is  probably less than a touchdown difference in any of them.  It all comes down to how any team plays as a team on any given Sunday.