Wednesday, July 1, 2009

ON STRIKE!

Well friends and neighbors, it’s the dog days of summer, and with that there are lots of things to do, people to see, and fun to have with the kids.

MY new resolution is you get what you pay for…so, have fun, behave yourselves, and the blog will be back at a date to be determined by the powers at be.

Ta ta for now.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Time Flies - Don't Blow It!

It’s seems like just yesterday, but it was actually six years ago, March 24, 2003 that the first In The Zone for Sports Show aired on WLBG.
My, how things have changed in six years. Six years ago I was doing a morning show in Columbia on ESPN Radio 1230 and then would drive the hour and a half to Laurens to work an afternoon show.
In six years the landscape of my life and sports has changed dramatically. Six years ago John Robert, aka Jon-Jon was in 8th grade. Savannah was still in kindergarten and the wins were not even two years old yet.
We fast forward to the present to find JR in his second year of college, Savannah is a 5th grader and the twins are in first grade.
I recently joined “the present” as people tell me when I created a Facebook page. I like to consider myself somewhat technology savvy but I have to tell you that when you think back 15 years who’d have thought most people would think they just couldn’t live without a cell phone.
That I would replace a big duffel bag of CD’s with an iPod that currently carries 10,000 songs on it.
Amanda joined Facebook a month ago and even she will admit she’s hooked. I also must admit that it’s been neat reconnecting with people that were a part of my life in times past. Kids that I coached in soccer, taught in Sunday School or just simply knew have grown leaps and bounds.
Some have already graduated college, gotten married and some even have their own children.
My how time flies. That being said, one thing I also believe strongly in is that age is a number. We all have one “birth date” yet year after year we count the number of birthdays. Sometimes we get so caught up in numbers that we forget we are only as young as we feel.
I know plenty of young 45 year olds. I also know plenty of old 25 year olds. Don’t get me wrong, if I had life to live over again, I’m sure there are several things I could have done differently, but I also know that I wouldn’t change much.
It seems like every week I hear about a friend who is battling an illness. Cancer has gripped several people close to me and it has served as a wakeup call.
The time we spend on this earth is precious. Just as quickly as it was given to us, God can take it away. It’s the time between that we all need to remind ourselves that each day is precious. Don’t blow it.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Time for change

I awoke this morning and looked at the calendar and was amazed to realize we’re almost through the month of February!

It’s hard to believe we’re almost through the first two months of the new year.

My children have reminded me that they’re none too happy we’ve apparently succeeded in dodging any truly measurable snowfall again!

With 2009 being upon us we also are faced with the facts that this country’s economy is still going to struggle for a while.

Locally, the choice is up to us as to how MUCH we struggle. The station ahs started running recorded promos from Randy Randall, the mayor of Clinton as well as John Carter the mayor of Gray Court along with Emil Finley, the stations president reminded folks that we, as individuals have a tremendous amount of influence as to how quickly we, locally turn the corner headed back in the right direction.

Too many times I have heard people talking about driving to Greenwood or Simpsonville to go out to eat, shop, and even buy groceries.

These same people are usually the first to complain when they hear how tight things are locally. If they stopped for a second to realize that every time they go outside the county and spend money that money stays outside the county.

The time is now for all of us to also examine our own budgets. Each school district, even with the hope of some additional revenue from the newly passed stimulus bill is also realistic that there are tough choices to make.

I think it’s time that each department of each school examine whom they spend their money with and how much.

I strongly suggest school districts as well as city and county governments put out to bid the majority of their purchases.

Now, let me point out several county and municipal entities already do that. Not only do they generally get a better price, they also shield themselves when they come under scrutiny from the general public who are looking to make sure they are being good stewards of the citizen’s money.

This year, we can all make a difference, because every dollar truly ads up. Whether it’s we as individuals, or schools or city governments, I think we all must try to not only save money, but also make every effort to spend as much of it locally as we can.

IF you start today, and make that concerted effort I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the results.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

It’s almost my favorite time of year!

Greetings from surprisingly warm Lynchburg, Virginia. We’re on the road with the Presbyterian College men’s basketball team.

Tomorrow will be the second game of a two game swing through Virginia. Last night the guys fought hard but took it on the chin against league leading Radford.

Tomorrow night, we take on a tough Liberty squad that features Seth Curry, Stephon Curry’s younger brother.

Why do I say it ALMOST my favorite time of the year? The biggest reason is because baseball season is just around the corner.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy football and certainly have enjoyed the college basketball season but for me, there’s just nothing like baseball.

I remember one of the first games my Dad ever took me too was in the summer of 1977, and I got to witness first hand Pete Rose’s 44-game hitting streak end at the hands of Larry McWilliams and Gene Garber.

The Braves back then were very consistent. Consistently BAD! At the same time, they were my Atlanta Braves.

WTBS was in its infancy; there was Georgia Championship wrestling, and…the Atlanta Braves. America’s team.

From that first game till now, for me, there’s nothing like the rush I get when I watch a really good baseball game. These days, I get the added pleasure of having the opportunity to broadcast my favorite sport on the radio.

One of the biggest compliments I have received in this business came when Mike Pitts, at a Laurens Dixie Youth game told me he liked my “old school” style of broadcasting.

One of the pieces of advice I ever received in this business came long ago from Bob Fulton, the long time voice of the South Carolina Gamecocks.

He said, a play by play man’s job was to be able, through words, have the listener be able to close their eyes, and imagine “watching” the game on a television set.

Our “job” is to “paint” the picture for the listener to be able to imagine being there.

As much as I enjoy working football and basketball, the challenge of “creating” the atmosphere, while taking my time in baseball is the ultimate experience.

I’m only 16 days away from the first baseball broadcast of the season when Elton Pollock’s Presbyterian College baseball team with visit the Georgia Bulldogs down in Athens for a two game series.

One thing you will learn quickly if you have not experienced a PC game before is when you come; you will not find a more hustling group of kids.

Just like Coach Nibert’s kids leave it all on the court in basketball, the same may be said for Coach Pollock’s baseball team.

Put that together with the character that his kids display on AND off the field and they epitomize the PC athlete.

So, I challenge everyone to make it a point to come out to watch the PC team in action because not only will you have a great time, you’ll be helping expose another generation of kids to a lost art.

The art of America’s favorite pastime. BASEBALL!!!!! See ya at the field!

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Time for a gut check!

Well, 2009 is off to an inauspicious start! It seems every time I turn on the radio or TV there’s another report of budget cuts in Education!

Now, I am fully aware that it’s not just Education that is facing budget cuts, but let’s do a refresher course for those of you who don’t recall how we got in this situation.

Two years ago, our esteemed legislature in Columbia saw fit to change the way local school districts are funded. They went away from property tax based funding to sales tax based funding.

With the down turn in the economy, people are obviously shopping and spending less resulting in less revenue coming into the states coffers.

When the change was first proposed I don’t recall a single member of the state school districts that supported the idea since they knew that they were not going to have a steady stream of funding.

Fast-forward two years; Abbeville County had to vote to close Calhoun Falls High School, which has since been reopened as a charter school.

Laurens 55 and 56 districts have had to cut, and cut, and freeze spending and hiring of new employees.

Anderson District 5, which houses Westside and T.L. Hanna High Schools, has had to go to furloughing employees.

I would also think that there is no measure of satisfaction for educators to be able to tell the state legislature and Governor Sanford “I told you so.”

At the same time that the legislature voted to go to sales tax based funding they also voted to do away with the sales tax on groceries. Say what you will, but when you cut, and cut, and cut taxes that funding HAS to come from somewhere or, well, you see how the state ends up!

This year is very crucial for our state It’s time to be innovative in our leadership.

We certainly don’t need any of the SCRG apologists doing the “locked in failing schools” rhetoric!

So, do all of us a favor, call, write, go see your local state senators and representatives and tell them it’s time to reevaluate school funding.

For those of you who want to give me the argument that it’s not your problem because all your kids are grown and out of school, let me remind you that one day, you yourself will need medical care, homes repaired, the list could go on and on. If we don’t do the job of educating our children CORRECTLY who’s going to be there to help YOU…PROPERLY?????

That’s my rant! What’s yours?

Thursday, January 15, 2009

What’s Really Important??????

I’ve spent a lot of time the last few months speaking to kids in several area middle schools.

It’s been pretty cool meeting some incredible children. At the same time, it’s definitely been a ye-opening experience.

You have to realize that I have been speaking to students for many years. I always try to relate my personal experiences along with tying it back to their always going after their dreams but at the same time having a back up plan.

Every time I speak to a class, there always seems to be a few kids who’s only plan is becoming a pro athlete. While that is ad admirable dream it also is a dream with very long odds.

Statistics show that in 2004 only 1 our of every 1200 kids who played a varsity sport in high school would ever go to college on an athletic scholarship.

OF those, statistics showed that only 1 of 662 regardless of sport would sign a professional contract.

There was new information just received from the NCAA on football players.

3,000 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision players eligible for pro football in
2004. Of those, 252 were drafted into the NFL. Of those drafted, about 60
made NFL rosters. Beyond that, only a quarter of the first-year players played3.3 seasons, the average length of an NFL career.

Let’s put that in perspective, only ½ of a percent of players at the 1A level (Clemson and South Carolina) made an NFL roster. Of those only 1 in 4 will survive to play 3.3 seasons.

Now, take the story of Myron Rolle. The Florida State safety will study at Oxford instead of entering this year's NFL draft.

Rolle won a Rhodes scholarship in November and plans to seek a one-year master's degree in medical anthropology, The New York Times reported Monday in an entry on its college football blog.

Rolle, projected to be an early round pick, said he plans to enter the 2010 NFL draft.

A native of Galloway, N.J., Rolle got his undergraduate degree in pre-med after two and a half years, and has been taking graduate courses at Florida State this year.

After his NFL career, Rolle has said he plans to attend medical school and then open a clinic for the needy in the Bahamas.

Rolle made waves this season when he risked missing one of Florida State's conference games to have his final interview for the Rhodes Scholarship. Rolle had the interview in Birmingham, Ala., then found out he got the scholarship. The safety then received a police escort and took a private plane back to the stadium for the Seminoles' game against Maryland. He entered the game in the second quarter, as Florida State rolled to a 37-3 win.

My point to every parent, grand parent, aunt and uncle as well as student is that while it is perfectly fine to aspire to be a professional athlete, just like the NCAA commercials say…just about all of them go on to the pros in something OTHER than sports!

The one thing a kid should never do is get to a point in their lives that they say, “if only I had…” and regret their choices.

It’s a brand new year, and the last thing I always tell kids is you have absolutely no control over what happened in the past but you have ABSOLUTE control over this moment forward.

Don’t let the opportunity at bettering yourself slip away.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

2009, when things REALLY CHANGE!

The New Year is only a week old, but we’re already off to some wild changes!

No, I am not talking about our soon to be president. That in itself is a huge change but the sports landscape is changing rapidly.

In the first week of January we have already seen:

1. Boston College fires their football coach for interviewing for the vacant head coaching position with the New York jets.
2. Bobby Bentley resigns at Presbyterian College to go back to Spartanburg District 5.
3. John Smoltz apparently agree to terms with the BOSTON RED SOX!

That last one has my head spinning! Smoltz, who has spent his entire 21-year career with the Braves apparently has come to terms on a one year, $5.5 million guaranteed contract that could pay him an additional $5 million in incentives.

While I am keenly aware that Smoltz is 41 and coming off a major shoulder surgery to me, there comes with 21 years of service with one organization a certain amount of loyalty to the same employee.

Smoltz on more than one occasion turned down significantly more money to resign with the Braves.

The Braves have had a less than stellar off-season so far. They failed to come to terms on a trade for Jake Peavy, the ace of the San Diego Padres. They then identified A.J. Burnett as their fall back target and lost out to the Yankees for him.

They still have not acquired that power hitting corner outfielder they publicly stated was a priority and now, will have to deal with the fall-out from no signing Smoltz.

Let’s be clear, signing Smoltz baseball wise is a risk. NOT signing Smoltz is a BUSINESS disaster! Sources say that less than $3 million was the amount that Smoltz and the Braves were apart.

Smoltz has been the face of the franchise, their best pitcher in the post season, EVER and a main stay in working in the community.

Not signing Smoltz sends the wrong message to the fans. IT is a typical example f short term gain is long term foolish.

The powers at be with the Braves evidently got caught up in saving some money now but will see the consequences for their decision for years to come.

Fans make emotional investments in their teams regardless of sports. Fans get crushed when their players leave for another franchise and more often than not blame the player.

This time, the fans can squarely level their fury in the direction of the Braves.

Smoltz gave 21 years of service to the Braves and that should have earned him the right to get a fair market offer.

This should be a good lesson for everyone that the body of a persons work should far and away mean more than one event you’re trying to work through in the present.

Again, short-term gain will be long term foolish!

There's a petition out calling for Frank Wren's firing:
http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/petition-sign.cgi?FireWren

We’re only a week into the new year, if it’s been this hectic to start, buckle up cause the rest of the year should be very, very interesting!