Gryphons Defenseless

Last week Rocky Mount could not stop the passing attack of Rose high school.  Tonight the Gryphons could not stop the Cougar running game lead by Devontrelle Hyman.  All the Gryphons saw from Hyman was the dirt flying from his cleats as he  chewed up the Gryphons.  Hyman rushes near three hundred yards as SouthWest beats Rocky Mount 35-21.

After giving up only 7 points during their first three games against questionable quality teams this year The Gryphons have now given up 92 points in the last two.  The Gryphons lose their second straight  and fall to 3-2 while SWE playing their top two rivals back to back improve to 3-2.

The losing streak continues as a road trip to Beddingfield produces Nash Central's 18th straight lost as the Bruins rebound from the licking they took from Fike last week winning 30-7.

Fike continues to impress as they put more than fifty on the board beating Smithfield Selma 55-10

Out in Wilson County  Curtituck is involved in their second straight week  in a game where at least 50 points are scored.  Last week Currituck produced more than sixty, tonight they give up 54 as Hunt wins 54-14.

At this writing don't have a final score in the Northern Nash game at Southern Vance.  Looks as if it won  't matter as the clock is running with Northern ahead by more than 40.  Looks as if the Knights are beginning to put both sides of the ball together.

Cousin Lauren Doughtie is tied for 42nd in the Futures Tour "tour championship in  Daytona Beach.  Looks like she will finish in the top 50 which will keep her in the Futures Tour again  next year.

Tonight I come to you from Salisbury Maryland as we once again on the road with Campbell volleyball.  Had no idea would be here as thought we had to work on Saturday but cancelled late Thursday afternoon.  Rolled out of the driveway at 5am this morning with no hotel for the night.

Thank goodness for the internet while driving down the highway.  Wife Pat found an available room at Laquinta Inn while driving on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.  Two matches today and two Saturday.

Lot OnThe Line Saturday

The Pirates of ECU have the Tar Heels coming to town on Saurday and this just might be one of the best games ever between the two schools.  ECU seems on a roll from last year till now and the Tar Heels seem capable of rolling up points.  The problem for North Carolina is they may not be able to stop the Pirates enough to win.  ECU 42 North Carolina 35

The WolfPack take on the church of Presbyterians the week before they meet Florida St.  Pack may post 50 over the Blue Hose who are no bigger in size as NCW. Pack 56 Blue Hose  0.

The Clemson Tiger go to Florida State absent their quarterback for a half.  This is an interesting game as FSU has  not played like number one team.  I'm taking the Noles in a close one.  28-26

The battle of the Techs Georgia Tech visits Virginia Tech  and the gobblers gobble the Rambling Wreck.  26-20.

The College football game right here in Rocky Mount has Benedict College from Tennessee taking on Elizabeth City State.  ECSt 36 BC 23

Here is an interesting game as Maryland travels to Syracuse.  I hate to do it but the Terps win on the road. 31-22.

Maine at BC:  if they can handle the men of Troy no problem with Maine. BC 44 -14.

The Black Knights of Army visit Wake.  This is two teams of equal value.  USMA 23 Wake 17

Tulane at Duke:  Hard to pick against the way they are playing right now.  Duke. 48 Tulane 23.

Last week went 9-4 to run my college picks to 30-6.  Have started the week 1-0 after the Battling a Bishops lost last night at the Sports Complex 31-28

Non-Conference Almost Over

We head into the next to the last week for most of their non-conference schedule and many games this week leave us much to ponder.  went 7-2 last week to run my season record to 28-8

Rocky Mount @SouthWest Edgecombe:  Rose passed at will and the Gryphons had no answer.  This week a 180 degree  turn-a-round as the Gryphons meet up with the run happy Cougars.  If there is one good point for the Gryphons they scored more points on Rose than anyone else has done.  Gryphons 34 SWE 22

Northern Nash @ Southern Vance:  This should be another chance for the Knights to show everyone that their offense is capable against anyone.  Northern 35 Southern Vance 16

Tarboro @ Roanoke Rapids: The Vikings non conference schedule is as good as anyone around as they have taken on larger schools and have proven to be as good as anybody in the area.  Tarboro wins again  26-19

Currituck @ Hunt:  Hunt headed east last week and  came back with their heads on a platter.  This week Currituck heads west but last week they put 60 on the board.  Doubt they get any where close to that this week.  Hunt 38 Currituck 23

RMA@ Community Christian:  I think this will be a game if the Eagles want 80 they can get it.  Don't think the need for the first string to play after the half.  RMA 62 Community Christian 12

Rocky Mount Prep@ Kipp Pride:  They already have one win under their belt this year over Pride and I think the second one comes Friday  RMP 33 KP  16

Nash Central @ Beddingfield:  Beddingfield was manhandled by Fike but this is at the other end of the Big East food chain  Beddingfield 35 Nash Central 20.

Fike @ Smithfield Selma:  Over what they use to be SSS has improved but not enough to take out one of the Big Dogs of Big East.  Fike 42 SSS24

North Edgecombe @ Weldon:  If North Edgecombe is as good as they have shown thus far this season this one has to be a no doubter.  Warriors 26 Weldon 13

We will end our high school picks by moving over to the first game of the week to be played at the sports complex  tonight when NCW host Christopher Newport.  Newport is not as good as they have been lately but good enough.  CNU  34 NCW24

Can We See Any Trends After Two Weeks

Last week I got 11 of 16 games right in the NFL. Predicted  the Chargers, would win but missing on those Cowboys.  Two weeks into the season I stand at 20-12.  All the teams 2-0 or 0-2 have no idea right now where they will stand by week eight.  So let's try once again to see what's going to happen in week three.

Tampa Bay at Atlanta:  Interesting game to start the week off.  I think both teams are decent but short week I'll take the Falcons 27-17.

San Diego at Buffalo:  West coast team heading east to play at 10 am west coast time.  The last three years  Buffalo has started 2-0 and has not made playoffs yet.  I think the Chargers just might be best team since a Rivers arrived.  In order to moved up to elite status they must win these type road games.  Chargers 27 Bills 23

Titans at Cincinnati:  The Titans let me down last week so I ain't picking them this week.  Cincy 23-Titans 14.

Dallas at St Louis:  The Cowboys are the Cowboys but they just might fool everyone and win one they should, boys 30-17.

Skins at Eagles:  I think the skins will be a better team with their new qb but not this week Eagles 36 Redskins 26.

Texans at the Giants:  Hard to pick Giants until they get a new quarterback. Texans 26 Giants 13.

Vikings at Saints:  No contest Saints in a rout.  38 13

Ravens at Browns:  This is a toughie.  I don't think Ravens are that good but who knows about
Browns.  Ravens 23 Browns 17.

Packers at Lions:  This could be a game who determines the winner in NFC North.  I think the Lions are one of the most talented teams in NFL but the least disciplined so you never know how they will play.  Packers 38 Lions 28.

Colts at Jacksonville:  Colts rebound 31-16.

Oakland at New England: I don 't think the Pats are that great but Oakland is awful.  Brady 31-Oakland 10.

49er's at Cards:  I think we find out Phoenix  May be best team in NFC.  Cards 22- 16.

Denver at Seattle:  The Hawks are best home team in football.  They take care of business Sunday 26-20.  No run-a-way like Super Bowl.

KC at Miami:  Here is a game that both teams need to win this one.  Miami 26-17.

Pittsburgh at Carolina:  Steelers need this one and Carolina is home.  This is a great Sunday night game but I hate picking Steelers 17-14.

Bears at Jets:  Another one of these games where both teams need this one.  I hope the Bears 17-14

The Violent World Of The NFL

Here is a major problem in the world of Twitter,Facebook and even blogs.  Everyone has an opinion on every subject regardless of whether we know anything about the subject or not.

Back in the times of Jesus people were stoned to death when ever a mob got enough strength from the masses  to over power those they thought had committed sins.  During cowboy days mobs would over power the local sheriff and hang those they thought had killed or murdered without ever giving those in jail their chance in court.

Along comes twitter and today without ever giving anyone their day in court the mass of public rules with opinion without knowing the facts.  The NFL has DWI's, wife beating, child abuse cases, drug pocession all pending and their dilemma is what should they do with these players while litigation is pending and in some cases hasn't  even started yet.

Could somebody please tell me why Ray Rice has never been charged with any crimes in the punching out of his soon to be wife and now bride?  The NFL has pretty much thrown him out of the game losing income when he has never been charged.  I don't condone what I saw on the tape but why six months later law enforcement hasn't acted.  If they had then the NFL could suspend him indefinitely unto his case come up.

Just today the Brown's wide receiver pleaded guilty to DWI.  It is now up to the NFL to administer punishment.  I have not seen the film on the Adrian Peterson beating of his four year old.  My first thought is back when I was little I used to have to go get my own switch  and learned very early on that small switches tend to wrap around your leg and hurt a lot more that thicker sticks.  I don't condone brutality when punishing but a good whack never hurt anybody.

We are blaming the NFL for lack of action on their part but I think those in government are to blame as why hasn't any arrest been made in the Ray Rice case.  You know we have all kind of government agencies who control how regulations are administered.  What can the NFL do when Ray Rice nor Adrian Peterson have been arrested for any thing.  Once someone is convicted then let the NFL kick these people out of sports.

Even the Panthers have Greg Hardy who has been ruled guilty by a judge but the NFL has not done nothing.  The world of twitter and 24 hour news has brought our world to the point a decision has to be made immediately based on reports not evidence.  None of us know where the evidence is in every case.  I propose that we let the authorities let due process go forward  before we decide to hang the NFL.

What I Heard And Who I Ran Into

One day last week while listening to the David Glenn Show he interviewed Nascar Driver Brad Keselowski.  During Glenn's questioning he asked who he thought were the best writers who cover Nascar on a Weekly basis.  Keselowski really didn't want to throw names out but from prodding from Glenn one of the names mentioned was Jeff Gluck who is now the Nascar writer for USA Today.

I hope you recognized the Name as Gluck not that long ago was a sports reporter for the Rocky Mount Telegram.  I doesn't matter where it is a local newspaper reporter or a radio disc jockey  all of us at some point in time dreamed of making the big time.

Back in my days of spinning records I had a desire to one day make it to New York and become the new Cousin Brucie.  Those of you too young to know who Cousin Brucie is back in the 60 's in the heyday of AM radio and rock and roll he was the number one disc jockey in America on WABC radio in New York.

WABC use to boom in to my radio in Ahoskie  from New York 7-10 pm every night and I dreamed of being him.  Once I got into radio I use to listen to another 50,000 watt am giant WGAR in Cleveland.  They had this crazy DJ who would call up McDonalds and act like a National Guard General and order 1,200 hamburgers and cheeseburgers for his unit passing through Cleveland.  His name was Don Imus.

Gluck has made it to the big time in his profession and the last time I saw him was at Charles Alston's funeral.  We all regardless of the profession we are brothers doing the thing we love.  I'm glad to see anybody that reaches their dreams and especially someone who I have worked with along the way.

Friday Campbell Volleyball opened their home season with a tournament at home.  Friday night while arriving at our seat Pat says to me isn't that the TV guy from WRAL.  I turned around and about 10 seats away was Jeff Gravley of WRAL.

He was intent watching the games in progress between Elon and North Florida.  Between sets I stepped over and shook hands with him and asked what bought him to Buies Creek.  Gravley's daughter  plays on Elon.

You might know Gravley was born in Rocky Mount even though he graduated from Webb high school in Oxford.  I didn't ask him but you know Gravley is a common name in Rocky Mount.  I bet he has several family members who live here now.

Minor League Impact

The Saturday loss by the Durham Bulls has ended the minor league baseball season for all of us  in this area.  Here is a wrap up of how our locals fared  this season.  Our locals include those who somewhere along the way their family has called this area home.

Brian Goodwin:  shoulder injury ended his season in early July.  Struggled with the strikeout per at bat ratio about once every three bats.  Hit only 219 in AAA Syracuse and his injury plus his batting average will not warrant serious consideration to make Washington Nationals next Spring unless major injuries strike those on big club.

Whit Merrifield:  Father is former Gryphon Bill Merrifield who now lives near Clemmons.  Whit played at South Carolina during their run of College Baseball National Championships.  Promoted by the Kansas City Royals to AAA Omaha in Midseason. Should be given every opportunity to make a Royals  next spring after hitting 340 at Omaha since July.

Hobbs Johnson:  Finished his first full season in the Milwaukee  Brewers organization at Brevard  Florida with a 12-8 record.  Finished season with ERA of 2.93.  Started 24 of 25 pitched games he played in averaging six innings per outing.  Had a three strikeout to walk ratio which any starting pitcher in the majors would take in a heart beat.  Was second on the team in wins, innings pitched, strike outs and ERA.  Expect Hobbs to start out in AA in Spring.

John Wooten:  Dad former Gryphon who now lives near Goldsboro.  John play at Eastern Wayne and ECU.  Got moved to upper A Potomac in the Washington Nationals organization late in season and batted 269 in less than 100 bats.  Was named the MVP of the Carolina League's Mill Cup which is the championship series of the Carolina A league.  Hit 3 homers and drove in 8 RBI in series.  Expect him to start in Potomac in the spring.

Xavier Macklin:  Released  by Gate City in the Frontier a League in early August.  Hopes of continuing in baseball are dimming for the X Man.