I have reached the age that I no longer cheer when the first flake falls with the anticipation that there will be no school. Many of us punch a clock where we work and once we go home early the pay Check will be smaller the next time pay day arrives.
Having worked a half a day Friday like many I made a last minute run to the grocery store for the third time since Wednesday. Once home I found my recliner where I have been since. Whenever we have special weather Like a hurricane or in this case ice and snow I enjoy perched in my recliner to watch how life is all around us.
I am thankful that part of the modern world we can sit in one spot and have communications that can let me see what is happening all over the state. If it is snowing in Durham the storm is heading east then it is not stopping here anytime soon. Have you ever looked at a map and realized that even though Highway 64 heads to Raleigh, Raleigh is southeast of Rocky Mount Durham is due west of Rocky Mount.
Around eight pm Friday night we were shook when one of the big limbs from the tree in our front yard came crashing down on our stoop and a few feet of our roof. It is a rather large limb but it snapped off from the base of the tree and split which it did not break Cleanly off. We could not however go out our front door.We are thankful for neighbors who helped me drag it off the house Saturday. We will be needing a chain saw on Monday to cut the limb down and get it cut up to find out if we have roof damage still cover with ice/snow.
Thank goodness for a good supply of movies once you tire of seeing the same scene for a break. We either watched Chanel five or Say yes to the dress. I can only take so much of that. Funny thing about snow coverage. Basketball and football coverage seem to be the biggest questions when people call their favorite station. Is the Duke/State game still on?
Today we have Carolina basketball and two football games to watch and church is cancelled due to icy parking lots and sidewalks. Even though I no longer like having to get out in ice or drive on the slick roads I do enjoy the change. We get up go to work, when we get home most nights have some place to be until bedtime. I love the change of the routine. About two days is all I can stand of this sit around look out the window. Sure will be glad to get back in the routine!
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Saturday, January 23, 2016
Panthers Win The One They Needed
The Panthers were 15-1 during the regular season. The one thing they did not need to happen was for Seattle to come into the Panthers house and win a low scoring game and everyone say "see we told you they were not that good". What the Panthers did is scared the day lights out of the Cardinals, Patriots and Broncos. They played the first half of that game showing the world that they are the best team in football.
I went 2-2 for the weekend missing the Patriots and Denver. I wish I had of known before I wrote my picks last week that Brown would not play for Pittsburgh. I have been thinking for five weeks now that the Cardinals were the best team in NFC. I think both the Panthers and Cardinals are better than both of the AFC teams
If I were a coach whenever a team had to win a game with a 'Hail Mary' I would rush seven and keep four back at the goal line. The one thing any defense needs to do is keep the quarterback from having time to rare back and throw to the end zone. Make him throw out of desperation or throw short of the goal line and you have four guys there to come up to tackle short of the goal line. Who cares how close they get just keep'em out of the end zone.
How do you stop Tom Brady with his five yard passing game. I would only rush three and keep two linebackers in the slant lanes to cut off the angles. I cannot see at this point and Peyton Manning said in pregame interviews he was as healthy as he has been in three years that Manning plays next year. It's time to retire.
The Championship games on Sunday. Denver struggled to beat Pittsburgh in a game the Steelers left most of their best players out of the game with injuries. I just can not see Denver and Peyton Manning scoring enough points to stay in this game. I compare the Denver offense to the Tim Tebo teams when the defense had to hold the other team scoreless and Tebo score once in the game to win. That won't work against the Patriots. NE will score at least 27 points due to the fact the Denver offense will put the Denver D in quite a few bad spots.
I relate the Tom Brady era to John Wooten time at UCLA when the Bruins were the only team west of the Mississippi that knew what a basketball was. The AFC East has been awful for all but one year in the last 15. All the Patriots have had to do is win for the most part two playoff games to make it to the Super Bowl. It is set up for them again. They faced KC who thought they were ahead the hold game and tried to run the clock out. Now they get a Denver team that can't score. Pats 27-Bronco's 20.
I think the whole world saw for one half that the Panthers when they are focused are the best team in football. What they need is to be tied at the half so they will have to come out and stay with concentration. Unless the team is awful it is hard for any team to keep their foot on the gas petal. In fact the play calling played a big part in putting the Panthers to sleep.
The Game at hand. The Cardinals let the Packers stay close but if you remember I predicted the game would be closer than the last times they met. The Panther must pressure the quarterback. The Cards have top notch receivers. I think if the Panthers pound the football and use Cam as the lets open up the eight man front the Panthers win. Cam is at his best throwing under 25 times a games which allows the Panthers to run the football.
It is hard to believe that this will be the fourth time the Panthers have played in the NFC Championship game since they joined the NFL in 1995. This is the first time they have ever hosted the game. They cannot let home field get away with a lost. Panthers 27 Cards 24
I went 2-2 for the weekend missing the Patriots and Denver. I wish I had of known before I wrote my picks last week that Brown would not play for Pittsburgh. I have been thinking for five weeks now that the Cardinals were the best team in NFC. I think both the Panthers and Cardinals are better than both of the AFC teams
If I were a coach whenever a team had to win a game with a 'Hail Mary' I would rush seven and keep four back at the goal line. The one thing any defense needs to do is keep the quarterback from having time to rare back and throw to the end zone. Make him throw out of desperation or throw short of the goal line and you have four guys there to come up to tackle short of the goal line. Who cares how close they get just keep'em out of the end zone.
How do you stop Tom Brady with his five yard passing game. I would only rush three and keep two linebackers in the slant lanes to cut off the angles. I cannot see at this point and Peyton Manning said in pregame interviews he was as healthy as he has been in three years that Manning plays next year. It's time to retire.
The Championship games on Sunday. Denver struggled to beat Pittsburgh in a game the Steelers left most of their best players out of the game with injuries. I just can not see Denver and Peyton Manning scoring enough points to stay in this game. I compare the Denver offense to the Tim Tebo teams when the defense had to hold the other team scoreless and Tebo score once in the game to win. That won't work against the Patriots. NE will score at least 27 points due to the fact the Denver offense will put the Denver D in quite a few bad spots.
I relate the Tom Brady era to John Wooten time at UCLA when the Bruins were the only team west of the Mississippi that knew what a basketball was. The AFC East has been awful for all but one year in the last 15. All the Patriots have had to do is win for the most part two playoff games to make it to the Super Bowl. It is set up for them again. They faced KC who thought they were ahead the hold game and tried to run the clock out. Now they get a Denver team that can't score. Pats 27-Bronco's 20.
I think the whole world saw for one half that the Panthers when they are focused are the best team in football. What they need is to be tied at the half so they will have to come out and stay with concentration. Unless the team is awful it is hard for any team to keep their foot on the gas petal. In fact the play calling played a big part in putting the Panthers to sleep.
The Game at hand. The Cardinals let the Packers stay close but if you remember I predicted the game would be closer than the last times they met. The Panther must pressure the quarterback. The Cards have top notch receivers. I think if the Panthers pound the football and use Cam as the lets open up the eight man front the Panthers win. Cam is at his best throwing under 25 times a games which allows the Panthers to run the football.
It is hard to believe that this will be the fourth time the Panthers have played in the NFC Championship game since they joined the NFL in 1995. This is the first time they have ever hosted the game. They cannot let home field get away with a lost. Panthers 27 Cards 24
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Conference Winning Streak Over
Tonight for the first time since the last regular season game of 2012 Northern Nash girls have lost a conference game. Tonight playing a day early to beat the impending weather Northern girls lose their first conference game at Fike 49-45.
The Lady Knights had not lost a conference game since February 10th 2012 when they lost at home to J'Kyra Brown and the Lady Gryphons 50-43. They won all ten regular season games in 2013, 2014 and 2015. They started this season winning their first three this year. Tonight's loss drops the Lady Knights to 3-1 in the 2016 conference play. This is the first victory ever by Fike since the creation of the Big East conference seven years ago.
Fike sweeps Northern Nash as the boys game goes towards the Golden Demons 76-68. It is Fike's first win as they go to 1-2 but they are one less conference game played after the Wednesday night at Rocky Mount was postponed. Northern drops to 1-3 as they are right on schedule as to this point they have not been effected by weather.
The pain continues for Rocky Mount as their visit to Southern Nash Resulted in their 13th straight loss this season and they are 0-3 in the Big East after a 61-46 victory by the Firebirds. So far in conference plays none of the gryphon losses have been close. Southern climbs to 3-1. Rocky Mount is one game off schedule and still have a home game against Fike to make up to be even in games with all other conference members.
The Hunt at Nash Central games as far as I can tell was not played tonight and of course with classes already cancelled for Friday the games will be made up next week. I am hearing they will be played the 27th.
The Lady Knights had not lost a conference game since February 10th 2012 when they lost at home to J'Kyra Brown and the Lady Gryphons 50-43. They won all ten regular season games in 2013, 2014 and 2015. They started this season winning their first three this year. Tonight's loss drops the Lady Knights to 3-1 in the 2016 conference play. This is the first victory ever by Fike since the creation of the Big East conference seven years ago.
Fike sweeps Northern Nash as the boys game goes towards the Golden Demons 76-68. It is Fike's first win as they go to 1-2 but they are one less conference game played after the Wednesday night at Rocky Mount was postponed. Northern drops to 1-3 as they are right on schedule as to this point they have not been effected by weather.
The pain continues for Rocky Mount as their visit to Southern Nash Resulted in their 13th straight loss this season and they are 0-3 in the Big East after a 61-46 victory by the Firebirds. So far in conference plays none of the gryphon losses have been close. Southern climbs to 3-1. Rocky Mount is one game off schedule and still have a home game against Fike to make up to be even in games with all other conference members.
The Hunt at Nash Central games as far as I can tell was not played tonight and of course with classes already cancelled for Friday the games will be made up next week. I am hearing they will be played the 27th.
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Here We Go With Weather Again
By conference tournament time last year the weather was causing all kinds of havoc with schools in session and whenever school is out so goes any practice after school to games being postponed. The weather Wednesday night with the ground frozen from the previous two days every flake that fell Wednesday night stuck.
Tonight before the Fike/Rocky Mount games could start they were postponed to another date. They did get the game in at Southern Nash as Hunt was visiting. Yesterday I told you in the girls game that Even though both were 0-2 in conference I could not see Hunt losing to the Southern girls due to the lack of scoring.
Hunt averages 44 points per game while the Lady Birds only 18. So the only way Southern could beat Hunt would be keep them from scoring. The halftime score was 14-9 Hunt. So it was set up that Southern on the home court had a chance. Didn't pan out however as Hunt finished by getting their average and Southern hit theirs. 44-18 Hunt.
Hunt winners of three in a row including their first two conference wins need a win at Southern Nash in order to stay tied with the Nash Central who had won their third conference game on Tuesday night. Tonight Southern Nash drops Hunt to their first conference loss and in doing so The Firebirds tie Hunt at 2-1 in conference trailing the 3-0 Bulldogs. Southern Nash handles the Warriors. 44-30.
Depending on whether there is any school Thursday both the Rocky Mount at Southern Nash and the Northern Nash at Fike games for Friday have been moved to Thursday to beat this incoming storm schedule for Friday Morning. As I write this Wednesday night have not heard about the Hunt at Nash Central game. The weather is at it again and at this point who knows whether anybody plays Thursday or Friday. Hopefully school goes Thursday to keep the schedule from getting to far out of kilter even before they have gotten around once in conference play.
Watching the Carolina and Wake game last night I had no idea that Carolina has six players averaging in double digits. You realize how much you have to share the ball to get players scoring at least 10 points every game. Carolina looks like they will be number one come next week when the new poll comes out. Carolina manhandled The Deacs 83-68. Despite winning two national championships since returning to Chapel Hill this is Roy Williams best start 6-0 in conference play. That is another hard to believe statement.
Tonight before the Fike/Rocky Mount games could start they were postponed to another date. They did get the game in at Southern Nash as Hunt was visiting. Yesterday I told you in the girls game that Even though both were 0-2 in conference I could not see Hunt losing to the Southern girls due to the lack of scoring.
Hunt averages 44 points per game while the Lady Birds only 18. So the only way Southern could beat Hunt would be keep them from scoring. The halftime score was 14-9 Hunt. So it was set up that Southern on the home court had a chance. Didn't pan out however as Hunt finished by getting their average and Southern hit theirs. 44-18 Hunt.
Hunt winners of three in a row including their first two conference wins need a win at Southern Nash in order to stay tied with the Nash Central who had won their third conference game on Tuesday night. Tonight Southern Nash drops Hunt to their first conference loss and in doing so The Firebirds tie Hunt at 2-1 in conference trailing the 3-0 Bulldogs. Southern Nash handles the Warriors. 44-30.
Depending on whether there is any school Thursday both the Rocky Mount at Southern Nash and the Northern Nash at Fike games for Friday have been moved to Thursday to beat this incoming storm schedule for Friday Morning. As I write this Wednesday night have not heard about the Hunt at Nash Central game. The weather is at it again and at this point who knows whether anybody plays Thursday or Friday. Hopefully school goes Thursday to keep the schedule from getting to far out of kilter even before they have gotten around once in conference play.
Watching the Carolina and Wake game last night I had no idea that Carolina has six players averaging in double digits. You realize how much you have to share the ball to get players scoring at least 10 points every game. Carolina looks like they will be number one come next week when the new poll comes out. Carolina manhandled The Deacs 83-68. Despite winning two national championships since returning to Chapel Hill this is Roy Williams best start 6-0 in conference play. That is another hard to believe statement.
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Overtime At Northern
The top two girls basketball teams squared off at Northern Nash in Big East basketball as the Lady Bulldogs came calling. This one took extra time before the home standing Lady Knights were able to outlast the Lady Bulldogs 49-44. Northern takes the outright lead at 3-0 while Nash Central drops to 2-1.
The boys game turns out to be a track meet as Nash Central tied for the lead in the Big East travels to Northern Nash who was looking to move up in the standings. Once the track meet ended the visitors from Nash Central took home the victory 84-78. A huge win for Nash Central on the road.
These were the only games on the docket tonight as both the Hunt at Southern Nash double header and the Fike at Rocky Mount games will be played Wednesday night. For the time being the Nash Central boys have the conference lead over Hunt until their results Wednesday. The Lady Knights are in first regardless of what happens Wednesday.
NC State wins their first conference game at Pitt. The Pack matches up well with the Pitt big men which is the Pitt game going inside. The Pack cut that off and Pitt just doesn't shoot outside well enough. Pack 78-61.
Duke has lost their third straight game in conference. It is easy to see what their problem is. They have no one on the back line to stop dribble penetration. That is a bad problem to have when the outside players play ole' defense. Wave at the defender as they go by.
There is clearly no team in the NCAA that you can say they are the best. Carolina is just as good as anybody and if they stay healthy they should be a major contender for the final four. Can you think who else you can say that about?
The boys game turns out to be a track meet as Nash Central tied for the lead in the Big East travels to Northern Nash who was looking to move up in the standings. Once the track meet ended the visitors from Nash Central took home the victory 84-78. A huge win for Nash Central on the road.
These were the only games on the docket tonight as both the Hunt at Southern Nash double header and the Fike at Rocky Mount games will be played Wednesday night. For the time being the Nash Central boys have the conference lead over Hunt until their results Wednesday. The Lady Knights are in first regardless of what happens Wednesday.
NC State wins their first conference game at Pitt. The Pack matches up well with the Pitt big men which is the Pitt game going inside. The Pack cut that off and Pitt just doesn't shoot outside well enough. Pack 78-61.
Duke has lost their third straight game in conference. It is easy to see what their problem is. They have no one on the back line to stop dribble penetration. That is a bad problem to have when the outside players play ole' defense. Wave at the defender as they go by.
There is clearly no team in the NCAA that you can say they are the best. Carolina is just as good as anybody and if they stay healthy they should be a major contender for the final four. Can you think who else you can say that about?
Lady Dogs/Knights Battle For Top Spot
The Big East girls basketball race playing two conference games in one week for the first time find three games and all three are against teams tied with each other.
The two unbeaten teams Nash Central 13-2 2-0 travel across highway 64 to Northern Nash 12-2 2-0. The history of Nash Central this series has been dominated by Northern. This game could very well be a toss up. One of these teams will have the outright lead while the other will drop down to a tie with the winner of our next game.
Fike 13-3 1-1 @ Rocky Mount 8-4 1-1. Interesting game as Rocky Mount must have the outside shot going plus have the defense creating loose balls. The winner ties the loser of the Northern/Nash Central game while the loser falls into a tie with the winner of the last game on the schedule.
Hunt 2-12 0-2 @ Southern 0-13 0-2. Find it hard to believe the Lady Birds scoring less than 20 points per game could win against a team scoring more than forty. So you would assume that Hunt would move up in a tie with the loser of the Fike/RM game and the winner of that game will be tied with the loser of NC/NN
The boys angle:
The two unbeaten teams travels to the two teams with only one loss so there is a possibility of a four way tie at the top or any combination in between
Nash Central 8-7 2-0 @ Northern Nash 11-3 1-1. Gym should be a full house for both the boys and girls games as these two schools are for real for the first time in a long while all at the same time.
This game is a toss up.
Hunt 7-8 2-0 @ Southern Nash 8-5 1-1. Despite their overall record the Warriors could with a win could be giving everyone notice that they are again the team to beat in the Big East. The Firebirds could put a stop to all that.
Fike 5-11 0-2 @ Rocky Mount 0-12 0-2. Who would have thought at the end of last basketball season the by the third conference game these two teams would be in this position. Long season foe the loser. The winner will still have a chance.
The two unbeaten teams Nash Central 13-2 2-0 travel across highway 64 to Northern Nash 12-2 2-0. The history of Nash Central this series has been dominated by Northern. This game could very well be a toss up. One of these teams will have the outright lead while the other will drop down to a tie with the winner of our next game.
Fike 13-3 1-1 @ Rocky Mount 8-4 1-1. Interesting game as Rocky Mount must have the outside shot going plus have the defense creating loose balls. The winner ties the loser of the Northern/Nash Central game while the loser falls into a tie with the winner of the last game on the schedule.
Hunt 2-12 0-2 @ Southern 0-13 0-2. Find it hard to believe the Lady Birds scoring less than 20 points per game could win against a team scoring more than forty. So you would assume that Hunt would move up in a tie with the loser of the Fike/RM game and the winner of that game will be tied with the loser of NC/NN
The boys angle:
The two unbeaten teams travels to the two teams with only one loss so there is a possibility of a four way tie at the top or any combination in between
Nash Central 8-7 2-0 @ Northern Nash 11-3 1-1. Gym should be a full house for both the boys and girls games as these two schools are for real for the first time in a long while all at the same time.
This game is a toss up.
Hunt 7-8 2-0 @ Southern Nash 8-5 1-1. Despite their overall record the Warriors could with a win could be giving everyone notice that they are again the team to beat in the Big East. The Firebirds could put a stop to all that.
Fike 5-11 0-2 @ Rocky Mount 0-12 0-2. Who would have thought at the end of last basketball season the by the third conference game these two teams would be in this position. Long season foe the loser. The winner will still have a chance.
Monday, January 18, 2016
Heck Of A Game
I was pulling for Clemson but the ACC and any Clemson Tiger fan should not have any complaints about the way the team played. Alabama wins 45-40 and the difference in the game was a kickoff return by Bama and a surprise on side kick that lead to a touchdown. The biggest accomplishment by the on side kick was it kept the ball away from Clemson and the Crimson Tide scored to boot.
Anybody that didn't enjoy the game surely must not be a football fan. It had big plays and both teams had a hard time stopping the other. I thought the stop of the game occurred when Clemson lead 24-21 and got the ball back at the 50 yard line. The Tide held Clemson to a three and out after the punt got it on the 20 after the punt went into the end zone. The previous two or three Bama drives had started inside their own 10.
The NFL has given three teams permission to move if necessary to new cities. The Rams are back in LA where they should have never left 20 some years ago. The Chargers have been given an extra 100 million to continue to Negotiate with the City of San Diego and if that fails within the next year talk with the Rams about being a partner in LA. Oakland either sits and waits out it's chances in LA or look to move elsewhere in the interim.
At this point I would not be shocked if either the Chargers or Raiders looked to St Louis or San Antonio as possible new homes if they can get the cities to build them billion dollar stadiums with very little money from each team. There is one caveat for either to move and there is a 550 million dollar moving fee from the NFL.
We as fans look at our sports team differently than the average business in town. We are all fans of some team and if that team is in my home town then that team is mine whether I have ever been to a game or not. If you are a Carolina Panthers fan but have never even been to a game in Charlotte or bought season tickets you are not really financially tied to that team only a fan due to TV.
We can ride all over the city of Rocky Mount and see hollow shells of businesses that no longer are in business. When they closed or left town the only people who seriously cared one way or the other were the people who lost their jobs. Yes the city lost tax dollars from any business that leaves but there is nobody crying because my team business x left like they do when their sports team leaves
When UNC built the Dean Dome it cost 28 million dollars. 13 years later when N C State built what is now PNC it cost 186 million to have luxury boxes be included for the extra income. So in order to get a basketball arena The Wolfpack partnered with the Carolina Hurricanes. Football stadiums with Luxury boxes having a going rate today of between 1 billion to 2 billion depending on whether you want the score board to be the entire length of the field like in Dallas. The cost of fan convenience to lure you to sit in a seat is costly.
We as fans or city governments are held hostages by teams but we must include our own wants to the hostage list. It is nice to sit in a luxury box and during the time outs run and get a roast beef sandwich or buffet and even go to the bathroom that's in my box without having to stand in line. Cities with three major league sports have more to brag about over only having two professional team. Long gone are the days of sitting in a bleacher with no back. We can't blame anyone but ourselves for what sports have become.
Anybody that didn't enjoy the game surely must not be a football fan. It had big plays and both teams had a hard time stopping the other. I thought the stop of the game occurred when Clemson lead 24-21 and got the ball back at the 50 yard line. The Tide held Clemson to a three and out after the punt got it on the 20 after the punt went into the end zone. The previous two or three Bama drives had started inside their own 10.
The NFL has given three teams permission to move if necessary to new cities. The Rams are back in LA where they should have never left 20 some years ago. The Chargers have been given an extra 100 million to continue to Negotiate with the City of San Diego and if that fails within the next year talk with the Rams about being a partner in LA. Oakland either sits and waits out it's chances in LA or look to move elsewhere in the interim.
At this point I would not be shocked if either the Chargers or Raiders looked to St Louis or San Antonio as possible new homes if they can get the cities to build them billion dollar stadiums with very little money from each team. There is one caveat for either to move and there is a 550 million dollar moving fee from the NFL.
We as fans look at our sports team differently than the average business in town. We are all fans of some team and if that team is in my home town then that team is mine whether I have ever been to a game or not. If you are a Carolina Panthers fan but have never even been to a game in Charlotte or bought season tickets you are not really financially tied to that team only a fan due to TV.
We can ride all over the city of Rocky Mount and see hollow shells of businesses that no longer are in business. When they closed or left town the only people who seriously cared one way or the other were the people who lost their jobs. Yes the city lost tax dollars from any business that leaves but there is nobody crying because my team business x left like they do when their sports team leaves
When UNC built the Dean Dome it cost 28 million dollars. 13 years later when N C State built what is now PNC it cost 186 million to have luxury boxes be included for the extra income. So in order to get a basketball arena The Wolfpack partnered with the Carolina Hurricanes. Football stadiums with Luxury boxes having a going rate today of between 1 billion to 2 billion depending on whether you want the score board to be the entire length of the field like in Dallas. The cost of fan convenience to lure you to sit in a seat is costly.
We as fans or city governments are held hostages by teams but we must include our own wants to the hostage list. It is nice to sit in a luxury box and during the time outs run and get a roast beef sandwich or buffet and even go to the bathroom that's in my box without having to stand in line. Cities with three major league sports have more to brag about over only having two professional team. Long gone are the days of sitting in a bleacher with no back. We can't blame anyone but ourselves for what sports have become.
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