Are You Tired Of Bradyflate?

The Federal judge who is going to be hearing the appeal case of Tom Brady's versus the NFL or Commissioner Roger Goddell has told both parties to mediate and come to a solution without taking up the courts time.

If the penalty is four games suspension and both sides are suppose to negotiate that tells me the judge would like to see the penalty cut right down the middle.  If I had a cake and you wanted some the right down the middle split would be half.  The judge did not say Brady was innocent and drop the charges so if both sides agree somewhere in the middle or two games is right down the middle.

This is a classic case of a mole hill being made into a mountain.  There is no wife beating, DUI or murder involved in this case.  The New England Patriots have become the Oakland Raiders under Al Davis.  Whether it is spy gate, taking the snow sweeper and cleaning off the field to kick a field goal to win a game the Patriots have stretched legal past the line and other NFL owners are letting Goddell deflect all the heat while the other owners hope the NFL smashes the Patriots into little pieces.  If they didn't want this done some owner by now would have said enough is enough.

Todd Gurley is having a good football camp at St Louis.  He is doing all the drills but to this point he has not had any contact and the Rams announced today that Gurley would not play in any preseason game.  They are being really careful  in their prized running back and don't want anything to happen to him until the real games start.

The 65 games of preseason football kicks off Sunday night in the Hall of Fame game.  I don't get too excited about preseason because the starters play little and most of the games are played by players not even going to be on the team  a month from now.  I don't even know who's in the game Sunday.

The University  of North Carolina is being punished through losing all kinds of recruits as they sit under this cloud  of what is going to be the NCAA ruling on more punishment if any handed to UNC.  North Carolina State seems to be the benefactor in basketball.  Mark Gottfried pulled in a four star basketball player this week the type Carolina would normally get.  During the early 90's  when NC State had the Valvano NCAA investigation that was about 25 years ago and just now they are beginning to recover from that damage done then by an investigation.

Northern Fills baseball Post

The opening didn't occur until midsummer but Northern Nash has a new baseball coach before schools takes in for the 2015-2016 school year "Bard" Collins.  Collins had been around Northern Nash all of his life graduating there in 1992 where he played football and baseball.  Recently he has spent more time in the classroom over the baseball field but he has been of the football staff.

There is nothing official yet at Rocky Mount high about it's new baseball coach but if you are a passer byer of the school you might see someone working on the baseball field at certain times a day that might be a preview of who the new coach.

Let's have some straight talk for just a moment about what is going on in Nash County.  The Board of Education is trying to give the Edgecombe County side of the city of Rocky Mount back to Edgecombe County.  Remember the school system is called Nash  Rocky Mount and as long as the city continues to move the city limits toward Tarboro the school system has to take in the new school district.

Those schools in the city on the Edgecombe County side need either major upgrades or replaced all together.  The City has so much money they can afford to build a convention Center over on the Edgecombe  side.  Nash County Schools can't afford new buildings and leads this rant back to future coaches for any school in Nash County which will need a coach in what ever sport.

Please notice you don't see assistant coaches from Wake County or any so called rich county coming to Nash to be a head coach.  If coaches can't get enough Money  to want to come where does  that leave teachers who teach in Nash County.  We as citizens of Nash County need to clean up our mess.

We need people in authority trying to cure our problems that hold Nash County and Rocky Mount back from economic development not building buildings that there will not be any parking to go to and the threat of getting shot on that side of the tracks is real.  Why is the sports complex such a major success.  It is located in a non residential section where people feel safe.  Who's going to feel safe going to the new palace agree on by a few not by the citizens.  By the way where is the reduction in the light bill.  I keep raising my thermostat higher and sweat and my light bill is higher than ever.  Thanks for the savings!

Jimmy Tillman former teacher,coach and principal with stops in his career at Beddingfield, SouthWest Edgecombe and Wilson Fike has been named to the 29th class to be enshined into the NCHSAA Hall Of Fame.  The formal ceremony will be this fall at halftime of the Carolina-Wake football game.

Brandon Winstead a rising senior on the Fike Baseball team has named by the North Carolina Coaches Association to the All State Baseball team.  Pitching for the Fike Golden Demons this past season Brandon went 12-1 pitching record.  Fike's total win total on the year was 17.  His ERA was 1.76.  He was the only player from the Big East to make the all state team.

National's Losing Faith In Brian Goodwin

Just a little more than a year ago Brian Goodwin was ranked as the top prospect in the Washington Nationals organization.  He was in AAA baseball primed to take over centerfield in Washington in the spring of 2015.  A so so beginning in AAA was met with a shoulder injury which required season ending surgery.

The spring of 2015 the National's dropped his ranking to 14th and sent him to Harrisburg Pa to AA baseball.  This entire season has been a year to recover from his injury and surgery.  His batting average has never  been above 244.  This is not the numbers that send you back to AAA.  Just this past week the Nationals readjusted their top prospects list and Brian  has fallen all the way to 24th.

Is this a matter of healing and getting healthy or has Brian reached in baseball his highest level? It surely looks as if the Nationals think he has fallen from the  summit.  If you recall the Nationals Orgaization said 1500 at bats was the point where every minor league player needed to reach in order for them to judge any players future improvement.

If you include all fall ball and every bat Brian has had he is nearing 1500 minor league at bats.  It seems as if the Nationals are viewing that his batting average will never be high enough to get him to the Big Leagues

Brian has played 85 games and batted 320 times and today is batting 225.  He has sent 7 home runs out of the park and he leads Harrisburg in triples with 4 which still shows when he hits it he has speed to get around the bases.  He is not getting on base enough to make Washington hungry to get him to the Nationals.

Benton Moss has suffered his second loss of the season with one win so far this summer playing for Hudson Valley in the New York Penn Rookie.  He does have a very respectable 3.08 ERA which Any pitcher in baseball would want.  He has pitched in ten games starting four and a total of 26.2  innings pitched.

Collins Cuthrell batting average has slipped to 268 playing in 41 games so far in Florence Kentucky. He leads the team in home runs with seven even though several players have played more than twice the amount of games as Collins. He has driven in 29 RBI in those 41 games.

Hobbs Johnson pitching in Buloxi MS now has a record of 7-4 having started 19 times and had one complete game.  His ERA is 3.35  having pitched 94 innings.  He has struck out 78 and walked 48 which is still high.  That is right at one walk per two innings pitched and he needs to get it to one per three or more innings pitch.  3.35 is a decent ERA but imagine if less people were on base by the free pass his ERA could be below three and Milwaukee will be very interested in moving Hobbs up to AAA.

High School Football Schedules III

We end our look at all the Twin Counties high school schedules with the three football playing schools in Edgecombe County plus RM  Prep left off yesterday. We start in Leggett.

North Edgecombe

Aug 21st-@ Northwest Halifax.....A chance to open with a win
Aug 28th-@ SouthWest Edgecombe.....Rivals but not many times the Warriors win this one
Sept 11th-@ Southeast Halifax......Three straight road games to start season.
Sept 18th-Weldon......First game of the year at crossroads of 97 and highway 33
Sept 25th-Kipp-Pride......this is one of those conference games you can't afford to lose
Oct    9th-Rocky Mount Prep....As the years past this may become a gigantic rivalry game
Oct. 16th-@ Riverside-Martin......This game  has makings of playoff  fever
Oct  23rd-Northampton County.....Seems like schedule light on front end heavy on the back
Oct  30th-@South Creek......Last road game until playoffs
Nov   6th-Tarboro......This game always a tough matchup for the Warrior

Tarboro

Aug  21st-@Nash Central.... No doubt Tarboro plays one of toughest schedules in state
Aug  28th-@Washington....no letup in tough schedule
Sept.   4th-Northern Nash....This game is always a nail biter
Sept. 11th-Franklinton......This is easiest game so far
Sept  25th-@SouthWest Edgecombe....The rumble in the jungle is always gut-wrenching
Oct.    9th-South Creek....The quest for a conference title begins with the team from Robersonville
Oct   16th-@Rocky Mount Prep.... These games so far have never been close
Oct   23rd-Riverside-Martin.....This has conference title on the line
Oct   30th-Northampton County....Final home game? Until playoffs
Nov    6th-@North Edgecombe.....A conference title could be on the line

SouthWest Edgecombe

Aug   21st-John A Holmes.....Edenton a great first test for anybody
Aug   28th-North Edgecombe.... Cross County rivalry
Sept    3rd-South Central....Step up in class on Labor Day Thursday
Sept   11th-@Nash Central....always hard fought game
Sept   18th-Bertie.......This is fourth in five games at home
Sept   25th-Tarboro.....Championship of Edgecombe County on the line
Oct       9th-@North Pitt.....The Road to Coastal Plains begins
Oct.    16th-Washington..... This is a clash of Titans
Oct     23rd-@Farmville Central....Tough place to play
Oct     30th-North Johnston.....A needed win setting up showdown in last week
Nov      6th-Beddingfield......Two contrasting teams.

Rocky Mount Prep

Aug     21st-@Kipp-Pride......Good chance to get first win of season
Sept     18th-Kestrel Heights.... Nothing like taking three weeks off after first game
Sept     25th-@Word of God.... You can see Prep having trouble getting non conference games
Oct.        2nd-Southeast Halifax...This year this needs to be competitive game.
Oct.        9th-@North Edgecombe....  Prep needs to be competitive in this game
Oct.      16th-Tarboro.....The big dog is coming to town
Oct.      23rd-South Creek.....Final home game of the season
Oct.      30th-@Riverside-Martin....taking on a solid program
Nov        6th-@Northampton.....If Prep football is growing this could be a win.

High School Football Schedules II

Yesterday we looked at the football schedules of Nash Central, Northern Nash and Rocky Mount.  Today we finish off all the football in the rest of Nash County.

Southern Nash

Aug  21st- @Northwood... Don't recall Northwood on the Firebirds schedule before
Aug  28th-Beddingfield...The Bruins are always tough on any 3-A school they play
Sept   3rd-Bunn....a Common opponent for many area teams
Sept  11th-@South Johnston.... SJ always seems to be a team someone in Big East meets in playoffs
Sept  18th-@Tarboro.... Seems every team in area plays Tarboro
Sept  25th-Ayden Griffton.....One of those teams that always has a good team
Oct      9th-@Fike...This game may determine conference champion
Oct    15th-Northern Nash....Is there a breather for anybody at anytime
Oct   22nd-@Hunt....Two running teams, game will be over by 9:15pm
Oct   30th- @Rocky Mount...Don't care what sport it is this is the game for Southern
Nov.    6th-Nash Central....This year this may be as competitive as it has been in several years

Rocky Mount Academy
Aug  21st-Arendell Parrott ...starting where last year ended, Parrott may be team to beat
Aug  28th-@Lawrence Academy...ride to the  new Lost Colony is located
Sept    4th-@Grace Christian.... New kid in the league
Sept. 11th-@Cary Academy....Part of six road games for the Eagles
Sept  18th-@Hobgood Academy....fourth straight road game
Sept  25th-Community Christian....First home game in over a month
Oct    2nd-@Southampton Academy....Only 8 man team in Virginia
Oct   16th-@Northeast Academy.....Located right beside a really nice Golf Course Valley Pine
Oct.  23rd-St David's.....You know every team will be gunning for the Eagles
Oct   30th-@Halifax Academy....Trip up I 95 to finish season

Something has happened to RM Prep schedule.  When I pasted their schedule it did not transfer to today's blog.  I have them tomorrow.

How well you practice in the hot days of summer go a long way in determining how well you play in November.

It's Football Time

Today every high school football team is in full swing of practice heading for their opening games set for August 21st.  Some the schedules are lighter while others the burden on non conference games lays heavy.  Let's start with Nash Central....

Aug   21st-Tarboro ....even playing a 1-A schedule Tarboro is no softy for anyone
Aug   28th-@Smithfield Selma.....There is hope the losing streak stops here
Sept   3rd- @North Johnston .....A Labor Day weekend Thursday  night game
Sept   11th- SouthWest Edgecombe....Nothing easy with this one
Sept.  18th-@Beddingfield.... Not much travel, But not easy either
Sept   25th-Bunn....Never an easy game for anybody who plays the Wildcats
Oct.    9th-@Rocky Mount....Reunion game for Chris Lee and Kent Cox
Oct.    16th-Fike ...The Golden Demons are probably Big East preseason favorites
Oct.    23rd-Northern Nash... The game between the two schools you could walk campus to campus
Oct     30th-@Hunt.....Be ready to defend the Hunt Running game.
Nov.     6th- @Southern Nash...Last game of regular season just maybe not last game of season

Northern Nash

Aug    21st-@Corinith Holders....First of three straight games on the road
Aug    28th-@Northeastern.....Another long ride east
Sept      4th-@Tarboro....chance to win this one this year
Sept.   11th-Laney.... I wonder will Michael Jordan will be here for this one
Sept    18th-Goldsboro....   This one should be in the win column
Sept    24th-@Smithfield Selma....  This is a Thursday for some reason
Oct       9th-Hunt.... Randy Raper reunion game still looking for first victory over old team
Oct.    16th-@Southern Nash....  Tough two games to start conference play
Oct.    23rd-@Nash Central.....  By this point of season will need this one
Oct     30th-Fike.... An impact game for a chance at a top spot in conference
Nov.     6th-Rocky Mount....whether it is for first or last the place will be packed

Rocky Mount

Aug    21st-@South Granville....Gryphons only have four road games
Aug    28th-@Middle Creek.... First trip ever to this Apex high School
Sept      4th-Hertford County.... This has been a good series for both
Sept.   11th-John Holmes....This is probably first ever meeting
Sept.   18th-Rose....Another traditional game
Sept    25th-Hoke County...Second team on schedule playing for first time
Oct.      9th-Nash Central...Chris Lee returns to old stomping grounds, he coached at old stadium
Oct.     16th-Hunt.....This is 6th straight home game
Oct.     23rd-@Fike.... Gryphons hope this is a tussle for first
Oct      30th-Southern Nash-No let up, here comes the Firebirds
Nov       6th-@Northern Nash-The perfect setup if this is for title

Nash Central has trimmed the heavy weight non conference schedule. Northern has a new look schedule.  Rocky Mount has new schedule and six straight home games.  Tomorrow we will look at Southern Nash, Rocky Mount Academy and Rocky Mount Prep.

Tallahassee Scores Again

Nash County Babe Ruth 13u baseball team won the semi final match up with Sarasota Florida and took on Tallahassee Florida the team from their pool play bracket the team they lost to yesterday in a game in which Coach Willie Langley held back his best pitchers knowing they had to win a double header today.

It has turned out if you score on Nash County you win as Tallahassee wins the Southeast Regional 5-2.   If five games played during the tournament Nash County pitched three shutouts giving up zero runs.  The two games they met Tallahassee they gave up 11.

The day began at 10am in Greenville this morning with two teams from Florida taking on the two teams from NC.   The host team Greenville who was seeded second from the National took on Tallahassee the top seed from the American bracket.  Tallahassee won by a 6-0 score eliminating Greenville.

Nash County the Eastern North Carolina State Champions met Sarasota Florida the Southern State champs from Florida in the 1pm game and pitching was the order of the day with Nash County winning 1-0 to advance to the 4pm Southeast Regional Championship game.  Sarasota in their four games played during the week gave up just five runs but that was not good enough to advance to the finals.

We are all proud of these young men and their coaches in their efforts this summer in Babe Ruth Baseball.  Coach Willie Langley had stated in the Rocky Mount Telegram this week that he was somewhat disappointed that they had not hit the ball this week like they had all summer.  You know the higher up the ladder you go the steeper the steps and this week Nash County's 13u team has been playing the best teams in all the southeast United States.  They are the second best in all of Dixie.