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!