As I woke up this morning and looked at the calendar the realization has hit that this week is the true start of the football season!
Clinton opens up on the road at Newberry, Laurens is at home against BHP, Whitmire has a home game, while Ware Shoals is on the road at Saluda, and Laurens Academy is at home against Patrick Henry.
Add to the mix, USC opens up the college season at home on national television Thursday against NC State; I get an up close view of Presbyterian College taking on Wofford in Spartanburg Saturday night. Clemson, in a made-for-TV money game tries to start the road to that elusive ACC title when they play Alabama in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Last time I checked, Clemson doesn’t have such fond memories of that place.
Saturday also sees SC State hit the playing field to collect a hefty paycheck from Central Florida. The list could go on and on.
This time of year the optimism of fans, true fans at least, is always high. Every team has an unblemished record. And fans are charged up for the upcoming season.
Sadly, that optimism for some erodes to cynicism and name-calling and coach bashing.
In my many years in broadcasting I have seen many games at many levels. And I am constantly amazed at how some “fans” will pay their money to come to a game only to sit on their hands and even get irritated when people around them actually get into the game and cheer their teams.
Granted, when you pay your money for a ticket, logic tells me that, within reason, you have the right to sit on your hands if you want too.
That being said, are you really a true fan? Never underestimate the power of a crowd on impressionable athletes. Whether that be high school OR college.
Coaches and old school cynics will tell you that athletes should ignore the fans. And, to a certain extent they’re right. At the same time, I have to believe and have heard it countless times from athletes that yes, indeed, they hear the fans--the good, bad, and unconscionable.
The fans have a great opportunity this year to set a great example for the athletes.
They can stand up, clap, and even actually raise their voices in CHEERING positive things. Last time I checked, it wasn’t against the rules for fans to get loud when the opponent has the ball to try to distract the opposing team.
Last time I checked it was perfectly acceptable to make some noise when your team makes a first down.
And, most important of all, it’s ok to come to a game and let loose a little. I have even seen accountants, who have the stigma as being very subdued “bean counters,” actually unbutton that top button on their shirts and let loose for three hours!
The fans have the chance to actually be a reinforcing positive influence this year. Take advantage of it! And I am not singling out any one team. I could give you examples of many high schools and college teams whose fans at times have been less than positive. I even remember getting a cell phone call while I was in Indianapolis a few years back from a certain high school game in Columbia in December where some fans where showing their true colors in the direction of the coaches wives and significant others!
Take this tongue in cheek and for what it’s meant to do. If you are a true fan you’re agreeing with me, if you’re not, and I have struck a nerve…good, maybe it was the wake-up call you needed.
See you at the games. There’s plenty to choose from!
Monday, August 25, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Is it REALLY time for school?????
I looked at my calendar and it says August 18th. Where has the summer gone? It seems like just yesterday that we were attending field days, an end of school assembly and getting those end of school year gifts for teachers.
Fast forward to an alarm going off WAY too early this morning. The Avery clan definitely enjoyed an action packed summer.
They made the most of the summer swimming, spending hours on end on the trampoline and seeing which one could stay up the longest.
As you can imagine, when we started cutting back on how late they could stay up last week the reality that summer, indeed was over set in.
The new school year presents all our children with new opportunities. Whether they attend school in Laurens 55, 56, or Greenwood 51 the great thing about a new school year is everyone has the opportunity at starting with a clean slate.
That includes the area high school football teams. I’ve had the opportunity to see quite a bit of football these last few weeks. And, while it’s easy as a “fan” to get frustrated we all should remember what the goals truly are.
Good coaches utilize scrimmages and jamborees to evaluate players, work on certain facets of their offense and defense and gear toward the start of the regular season.
Just as we never see starters in the NFL for more than a series or two in the pre-season the same is true for college and high school.
We all should remember, it doesn’t matter HOW GOOD or BAD for that matter teams look in the pre-season. It matters how they look once they tee it up on Friday nights.
So, take a deep breath, and get ready to cheer your favorite teams on Friday nights AND while I’m at it, let me remind you that we all need to be careful out and about starting today since there’ll be a lot more kids out and about with school back in session.
That’s my rant, what’s yours?
Fast forward to an alarm going off WAY too early this morning. The Avery clan definitely enjoyed an action packed summer.
They made the most of the summer swimming, spending hours on end on the trampoline and seeing which one could stay up the longest.
As you can imagine, when we started cutting back on how late they could stay up last week the reality that summer, indeed was over set in.
The new school year presents all our children with new opportunities. Whether they attend school in Laurens 55, 56, or Greenwood 51 the great thing about a new school year is everyone has the opportunity at starting with a clean slate.
That includes the area high school football teams. I’ve had the opportunity to see quite a bit of football these last few weeks. And, while it’s easy as a “fan” to get frustrated we all should remember what the goals truly are.
Good coaches utilize scrimmages and jamborees to evaluate players, work on certain facets of their offense and defense and gear toward the start of the regular season.
Just as we never see starters in the NFL for more than a series or two in the pre-season the same is true for college and high school.
We all should remember, it doesn’t matter HOW GOOD or BAD for that matter teams look in the pre-season. It matters how they look once they tee it up on Friday nights.
So, take a deep breath, and get ready to cheer your favorite teams on Friday nights AND while I’m at it, let me remind you that we all need to be careful out and about starting today since there’ll be a lot more kids out and about with school back in session.
That’s my rant, what’s yours?
Monday, August 11, 2008
Progressive Thinking
A few weeks ago my family and I took a much-needed vacation down to Hilton Head Island.
While we were there, we enjoyed the sights and sounds of people from Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Canada, and Indiana…we counted license plates from 27 different states as well as Canada of people vacationing.
We also noticed how uniform the signage still is for area businesses -- a result of zoning.
While on vacation I got an email from a friend who asked if I had heard about the latest county council meeting.
After doing some checking and reading three different versions of stories from that meeting, it seems that a member of council made a statement to the effect that his problem was that county council had gotten into economic development and forgotten what they were really there for??????
I know there are a few members of council who think I am not the brightest guy in the world, but it seems to me that it IS their job to be at the forefront of bringing as much economic development to Laurens County as possible!
This same member of council allegedly indicated he’d rather spend the money being proposed to help with the new pharmacy school PC is locating in Clinton on EMS and the sheriff’s department.
While it’s noble for this member to want to “help” those two fine departments he IS the SAME member who back in 2004, when we were being bombarded by rising gas prices, said that if those departments couldn’t stay within their budgets, maybe they needed to park some vehicles!
Laurens County is located near two interstates. You’re able to get to downtown Greenville and Spartanburg in less than 40 minutes. We, in my opinion, are right on the cusp of breaking out of the lull brought about by the closing of Timken.
What Laurens County needs are leaders who are progressive thinking. People who can think outside the box. People who are able to understand the difference between an investment and an expense.
Contributing money that brings high paying pharmacy jobs, or recreation complexes, or tax incentives for large businesses to locate in the county is an investment.
Those expenditures will continually bring residual income back into the county coffers. And, in case some members of council are unaware, when a person sends money in Clinton, that tax money actually does bring benefit to districts in the entire other end of the county!
In short, I think it’s time for we, as a whole in the county to demand that our leaders step up and be progressive as opposed to being stuck in a 1980’s mind set.
Oh, and just in case you didn’t hear, even the county attorney stated that the deal between PC, the City of Clinton, and the County is NOT a separation of Church and State violation! What’s your next argument for opposing progress????
That’s my rant, what’s yours?????
While we were there, we enjoyed the sights and sounds of people from Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Canada, and Indiana…we counted license plates from 27 different states as well as Canada of people vacationing.
We also noticed how uniform the signage still is for area businesses -- a result of zoning.
While on vacation I got an email from a friend who asked if I had heard about the latest county council meeting.
After doing some checking and reading three different versions of stories from that meeting, it seems that a member of council made a statement to the effect that his problem was that county council had gotten into economic development and forgotten what they were really there for??????
I know there are a few members of council who think I am not the brightest guy in the world, but it seems to me that it IS their job to be at the forefront of bringing as much economic development to Laurens County as possible!
This same member of council allegedly indicated he’d rather spend the money being proposed to help with the new pharmacy school PC is locating in Clinton on EMS and the sheriff’s department.
While it’s noble for this member to want to “help” those two fine departments he IS the SAME member who back in 2004, when we were being bombarded by rising gas prices, said that if those departments couldn’t stay within their budgets, maybe they needed to park some vehicles!
Laurens County is located near two interstates. You’re able to get to downtown Greenville and Spartanburg in less than 40 minutes. We, in my opinion, are right on the cusp of breaking out of the lull brought about by the closing of Timken.
What Laurens County needs are leaders who are progressive thinking. People who can think outside the box. People who are able to understand the difference between an investment and an expense.
Contributing money that brings high paying pharmacy jobs, or recreation complexes, or tax incentives for large businesses to locate in the county is an investment.
Those expenditures will continually bring residual income back into the county coffers. And, in case some members of council are unaware, when a person sends money in Clinton, that tax money actually does bring benefit to districts in the entire other end of the county!
In short, I think it’s time for we, as a whole in the county to demand that our leaders step up and be progressive as opposed to being stuck in a 1980’s mind set.
Oh, and just in case you didn’t hear, even the county attorney stated that the deal between PC, the City of Clinton, and the County is NOT a separation of Church and State violation! What’s your next argument for opposing progress????
That’s my rant, what’s yours?????
Monday, August 4, 2008
Talk About Being SPOILED!!!!
I look at my calendar and it says August 2008, and for the first time in a generation the Atlanta Braves are not knee deep in the middle of a pennant race!
That’s right, for the first time since the 1990 season the Atlanta Braves were sellers not buyers at the trade deadline, as evidenced when they traded first baseman Mark Teixeira at the deadline to the Angels for Casey Kotchman and a minor leaguer.
Now, being forty-four I am old enough to remember the days when losing was an every year occurrence for the Bravos! The days when 7000 fans was a mob at a game, and the Braves found a ton of different ways to lose!
Once the Braves accomplished their worst to first season of 1991 they reeled off a string of division titles that had Braves fans nationwide used to winning!
Although the Braves managed only one world championship (1995) in their impressive run, no one can argue that The Atlanta Braves were the blue print when it came to running an organization.
From scouting and player development to developing their fan base the Braves paid attention to every detail.
Fast forward to 2008, the Braves are two owners removed from the days of Ted Turner, and the Braves are a middle of the pack team. That being said, while I, too, am disappointed that the Braves are seemingly going to miss the post-season for the third consecutive season, I also see the potential for another run.
The Braves will have ample money to wisely pursue free agents this off-season. There’s uncertainty in the starting rotation and a dire need for a power hitting corner outfielder.
At the same time, with the expiring Mike Hampton contract, the money saved with the trade of “Tex” to the Angels, and the impending decisions of John Smoltz and Tom Glavine, the Braves will definitely have the cash to spend on re-tooling the club.
There’s definitely talent down on the farm both via position players as well as pitchers.
The Baltimore Orioles of the 90’s and the Dodgers and Yankees of this decade have shown us that throwing money around wildly doesn’t always guarantee championships.
The combination of money and quality baseball minds is the true recipe for a long-term winner.
And, with apologies to my rotund friend Big Gene, the Cubs will STILL be without a championship at seasons end. After all they ARE the loveable losers, the Chicago Cubs!
That’s my rant, what’s yours? I hope you like the blog; feel free to respond. By the way, been to any County Council meetings lately? Who needs TV when we can have our own drama right here in good ole Laurens County!
That’s right, for the first time since the 1990 season the Atlanta Braves were sellers not buyers at the trade deadline, as evidenced when they traded first baseman Mark Teixeira at the deadline to the Angels for Casey Kotchman and a minor leaguer.
Now, being forty-four I am old enough to remember the days when losing was an every year occurrence for the Bravos! The days when 7000 fans was a mob at a game, and the Braves found a ton of different ways to lose!
Once the Braves accomplished their worst to first season of 1991 they reeled off a string of division titles that had Braves fans nationwide used to winning!
Although the Braves managed only one world championship (1995) in their impressive run, no one can argue that The Atlanta Braves were the blue print when it came to running an organization.
From scouting and player development to developing their fan base the Braves paid attention to every detail.
Fast forward to 2008, the Braves are two owners removed from the days of Ted Turner, and the Braves are a middle of the pack team. That being said, while I, too, am disappointed that the Braves are seemingly going to miss the post-season for the third consecutive season, I also see the potential for another run.
The Braves will have ample money to wisely pursue free agents this off-season. There’s uncertainty in the starting rotation and a dire need for a power hitting corner outfielder.
At the same time, with the expiring Mike Hampton contract, the money saved with the trade of “Tex” to the Angels, and the impending decisions of John Smoltz and Tom Glavine, the Braves will definitely have the cash to spend on re-tooling the club.
There’s definitely talent down on the farm both via position players as well as pitchers.
The Baltimore Orioles of the 90’s and the Dodgers and Yankees of this decade have shown us that throwing money around wildly doesn’t always guarantee championships.
The combination of money and quality baseball minds is the true recipe for a long-term winner.
And, with apologies to my rotund friend Big Gene, the Cubs will STILL be without a championship at seasons end. After all they ARE the loveable losers, the Chicago Cubs!
That’s my rant, what’s yours? I hope you like the blog; feel free to respond. By the way, been to any County Council meetings lately? Who needs TV when we can have our own drama right here in good ole Laurens County!
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