I’m still living!!!!!

I know some of you have checked in to see the blog has gone neglected here the last few weeks!

It’s definitely been a wild and crazy last few weeks. Between trekking all over the country with the PC basketball teams, as well as working my cheerleading obligations it definitely has been an interesting few weeks!

Why, I’ve learned several things!!!!! One, whenever you walk from the check-in counter at the Atlanta airport to where you THINK you’re catching the underground tram to your fate, which is on the entirely other end of the airport and the train is out of order…..NO GOOD CAN COME FROM THAT!

A literal mile walk alter I get to the gate at 4:45AM. I then get to Charlotte, to catch my connection to Greensboro. Again, when you have to walk from one end of the Charlotte airport to the other end to catch a plane…NO GOOD CAN COME FROM THAT!

When you get to the gate…only to see a plane with PROPELLERS ON IT!!!!!!! NO GOOD CAN COME FROM THAT!

When you get on said plane, and the captain walks in AFTER you and is multi-tasking as the flight attendant…NO GOOD CAN COME FROM THAT!!!!!!

I also learned, just this past weekend that it takes over 8 hours to bus, from Detroit to Milwaukee, in the FOG!!!!! That was the part of the trip that was supposed to be the PC men’s team’s connection from Charlotte to play Marquette in Milwaukee but our flight was cancelled due to the fog.

At the same time, there’s a ton to be thankful for this holiday season. I still have all my hair (sorry Manley and Stephon!!!!) have a wonderful family and am able to work with and around some great people at PC as well as with All-Star Challenge cheerleading.

Oh, if you’re a music buff, check out Toby Mac’s Alive & Transported CD, awesome live stuff!

Anyway, that’s my rant, what’s yours??????

On the fast track!

It’s been a wild and crazy last few weeks. The Laurens Raiders completed their best season in football since the 1991 State Championship season when they completed the 2008 season 11-3.

There is a laundry list of positives that Raider Fans may take away from this season.

Greg Lawson has gotten the foundation built on what appears to be a long and prosperous resurgence of Raider football.

This season saw a Raider player selected to the Shrine Bowl, two garner North/South recognition and six players filled seven slots on the All-Region team.

Add to that, that a Raider was named the Laurens County TD Club player of the year and indeed this season was special.

Even more special are the prospects for the future. The depth that was built this season will prove to be vital in the coming seasons.

When you look on both sides of the ball there is a lot of experience coming back. The offensive line will return four players who at one time or another started this season.

The skill positions will see both starting running backs return while several key players from a JV squad that finished 9-1 will join Zak O’Bryant at wide receiver.

The defense returns a defensive line manned by three players who started multiple games.

The same is true at linebacker, anchored by Hunter Smith. While the secondary will miss the names, Cromer, Cain, and Cunningham, Coach Hawk was wise and planned for the future rotating several underclassmen in throughout the season.

Ruben Perez returns to anchor the kicking chores. The big question mark will be the quarterback position, or will it?

Don’t get me wrong, Logan Hall’s absence will surely be felt, but with Kevin Johnson and B.J. Moses along with Allen Staton hitting the weight room and having a full spring practice and a summer to battle I think the Raiders will see one of the three rise to the top to grab the job.

There are a lot of decisions to be made for sure, but one thing is certain, these Raiders are definitely moving forward in the right direction.

And a HUGE shout-out to the fans that made the Raiders run through the playoffs so special.

The noise in the stands was tremendous and the text messages and emails we received during the games were something to behold.

I hope you are as excited as I am on what the future holds for Laurens Raider football.

To the players, I issue you this challenge…work twice as hard THIS off-season as you did the last because you won’t be able to sneak up on anyone.

To take the next step, it will require sacrifice, dedication and a ton of hard work.

I look forward to watching every single play.

WHAT A WILD RIDE!!!!!

Greetings from Bitterly cold Cincinnati, Ohio where I am winding up the two-day Queen of the Nile Cheerleading Competition presented by All Star Challenge.

It’s has been a wild a crazy week. Hats off to Coach Greg Lawson and the Laurens Raiders. I had the pleasure of traveling down with the team Friday morning.

Anyone who doesn’t think they have an affect on this team is very much mistaken.

The reaction of these players when they rode through the parking lots at LDHS and then through Laurens Middle and E.B. Morse and Ford Elementary Schools was one I will remember for some time.

Even when we had a problem with a tire on the way down, the kids did not let any of the outside circumstances get to them.

Let me also give a shout out to the 800 + people who made the trip down to Conway to cheer on these kids.

On a cold, windy night you were truly that 12th man that Coach Lawson talks about being a difference maker.

They’ll be counting on you this Friday when we travel to South Pointe.

Another big thank you to Rhett Harris and Mark Freeze for doing a great job on the PC/Georgia men’s game. And while I’m at it another round of thanks to Wyatt Mattison, Jim Iacuone and Brandon our technical advisor from PRTC for helping us pull off broadcasting two games at the same time Friday night.

We didn’t want either group of fans to miss out on the chance to listen to those important games.

And another thanks to Wayne McIntosh and Bill Boroff for getting me back Friday night in one piece. It was a little easier getting on the road t the airport Saturday at 4:30 since they were driving back from Conway,

We’ll have a similar set-up this Friday when Laurens travels to South Pointe and PC makes the trip to Clemson.

Make sure you check out the new picture gallery we posted from Friday’s Laurens win at Conway and I’ll talk with you folks when I get back too much warmer (I hope) locale of Laurens County tomorrow!

LONG WEEKEND!

Greetings from Durham, NC! Site of the 2K Sports Classic to benefit Coaches versus Cancer.

After working the Laurens at Greenwood game, Jim Iacuone, Walt Gary and I piled into the van and made the trek to Charleston, SC for the PC versus Charleston Southern game.

Unfortunately, for Bobby Bentley and PC they just weren’t clicking on all cylinders and came up short of a win losing 29-18.

We rolled back into town Saturday night around 8pm. Fast forward to Sunday morning, 7:30 and I’ on a bus with Coach Nibert and the PC Men’s basketball team headed for Durham.

WE got to the hotel at 11:30am and got settled. By 3:00 p.m. it was back onto the bus for the short drive to Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Trust me when I tell you that it is EVERYTHING that people tell you it is and more. From the moment you walk into the main lobby you are smacked in the face with tradition and history with the plaques, banners, and all the trimmings.

There’s the case devoted to the 2008-09 men’s and women’s teams. Once you walk into the actual arena you can’t help but notice all the banners recognizing the ACC regular season and tournament titles. There’s the many NCAA Final Four banners, and of course the three national title banners for the men.

There are also the banners recognizing the run of ACC titles and final four appearances five years running this decade for the women.

After watching the team practice for two hours we enjoyed a great meal at Texas Roadhouse. I highly recommend it for both food and atmosphere, all the way down to the peanuts on each table.

Once back at the hotel at 9pm it was into a scouting report session with the team. Preparation would be one f the best words to describe a PC Men’s team, as they get ready to face 5th ranked Duke.

The game plan is in place. It all comes down to execution tonight at 7pm.

Duke is good, and has tremendous depth. Win, lose, or draw the exposure and experience these kids will get from playing on such a big national stage tonight will be a tremendous benefit this season and for years to come.

We’re staying in the same hotel as Georgia Southern and Houston, two of the teams in this bracket of the tournament.

Don’t forget tickets go on sale today (Monday) for the Laurens home playoff game this Friday against North Augusta. They’re $6 and are available at Valvoline Express Care and Master Dry Cleaners.

Ok, that’s it. Have a great start to the weekend and make sure you tune in tonight at 6:30 for the pre-game and tip off at 7pm for PC versus Duke.

Where's my roller skates??????

What an absolutely crazy week! With election day behind us things are starting to return to normal! As in hectic paced!

It’s hard to imagine, but basketball season is already here! That’s right, you heard me correctly. Monday, November 10th marks our first PC basketball broadcast of the season.

And what a way to start, at one of the most historic venues in all of sports, Cameron Indoor Stadium and a date with coach K and the Duke Blue Devils!

A lot will happen before we even get there. First, we head to Greenwood this afternoon to work the Laurens Raiders game against Greenwood with the hope that we’ll see LDHS win their tenth game of the season.

Tomorrow morning, Jim Iacuone, Walt Gary, Stan Reid and I will head to Charleston to work the PC/Charleston Southern football game.

After the trip back, I quickly pack and meet the PC men’s basketball team at Templeton at 7:30 to pull out for Durham.

Don’t forget that the Bobby Bentley Show will be this coming Wednesday at Springs Student Center from 7-8 and then 8-9 we super size the experience compliments of Fatz with a men’s and women’s basketball show from 8-9.

Tickets t the LDHS home playoff game next Friday go on sale Monday morning at Valvoline Express Care on Hillcrest Drive in Laurens and Master Dry Cleaners on East Main Street in Laurens.

Have a great weekend and make sure you tune in for a TON of sports this next week or so.

My how two years can change things! Or, does it?

If you think back to June 2006 there was a very hotly contested Republican primary race for House District 16 between the incumbent Adam Taylor and the challenger from Fountain Inn, Mark Willis.

The primary campaign certainly was contested and at times down right ugly. The SCRG (South Carolinians for Responsible Government), or IRRESPONSIBLE Government as I refer to them, pulled out all the stops in support of Willis. They made sure out of state contributors contributed to his campaign in the thousands of dollars.

They sent mailer after mailer attacking Taylor. You remember, right? They said he wasted over fifty thousand dollars on a balloon race. In reality, he voted for a bill on tourism money that INCLUDED a line item for $50,000.00 for Freedom Weekend Aloft held each year here in the upstate. That one weekend contributes over a million dollars to the South Carolina economy.

Then, they sent a mailer saying he voted to waste $75,000 on a fish tank. In reality, Taylor voted, again, for a tourism bill that included that amount for the SC Aquarium in Charleston. The aquarium, another big tourist attraction for the state, also hosts thousands of public school students each year. The visits are tied to state standards for science.

I could go on, but I’m sure you can see, our “friends” at the SCRG were targeting Taylor. Targeting him with deceiving mailers. Why? I, along with thousands of others statewide, believe it was because Taylor did not support vouchers. As in, vouchers that would take money out of public schools and put that money into private schools. Private schools who would not have any accountability. Not for test scores, not for taking any and ALL students who wanted to attend.

On the other side, you had Mark Willis. Willis will tell you that he had hired a consultant to raise money. Willis will tell you it was this consultant, not him, who solicited the funds from the SCRG. And Willis will tell you that he didn’t have any ties, or affiliation to the SCRG. HE sure did accept their money now didn’t he?

The SCRG has several affiliated groups. The Club for Growth among them. That same organization also contributed to Willis.

Fast forward two years later. Adam Taylor is not seeking re-election. Willis ran and won the Republican nomination for the seat.

THIS time, Willis claims he’s pro public education. This time he claims his children are in public schools. My question is, how long have they ATENDED public schools? IF they suddenly enrolled after he lost in 2006 I have a problem with his motivation.

He says his wife teaches in public school. Again, my question is, how long? He claims he’s against vouchers.

Yet, mysteriously, last week residents of Laurens County got a mail-out sent BY the SCRG in SUPPORT of Willis. The SCRG’S MAIN GOAL is to get vouchers enacted in SC.

In this mailer they claim Willis is for more technology in schools. Smaller class sizes, and more highly qualified teachers. All these things are great, in THEORY! With the legislature already CUTTING MILLIONS from public education to balance the budget my question to Mark Willis is HOW ARE YOU GOING TO FUND THESE?????

It’s EASY to SAY you want all these things. It is MUCH HARDER to make them a reality. Now, let me say, Mark Willis and I agree on two things. He’s spot on that Laurens County schools need better technology, and smaller class sizes. The challenge has been and WILL be funding.

And, mark my words, with the newly instituted way schools are funded through sales taxes and NOT property taxes public schools are in for some rocky straights.

While I am not totally impressed with what I heard from Michael Turner during their debate last Thursday I’ll say this, Mark Willis has changed his positions, and loyalties way too much in two short years for my taste.

To me, he’s saying what he thinks he NEEDS to say to get elected. What’s he going to do once he gets to Columbia? To me, he WON”T be an advocate for Laurens County, and WON’T be an advocate for public education.

That’s enough to make say, if I had a vote, I’d be voting for Michael Turner.

That’s my rant, what’s yours?

What? No Darth Vader?

The past week has been a wild one in sports.

We’ve seen the Tampa Bay Rays complete their worst to first story book season by punching their ticket to the World Series.

Just as the Atlanta Braves of 1991, these Rays have gone from laughing stocks to THE Cinderella story of the year in sports.

Alas, not everyone is happy. The suits at Fox Sports who paid millions of dollars for the rights to broadcast the fall classic were praying for a Los Angeles versus Boston match-up.

Now, to them, they’re “stuck.” Stuck with a Cinderella story, but WITHOUT Darth Vader.

Every great story has a hero and a villain. A good guy, and a bad guy. Now, I ask you, how can you NOT root for the Rays and the Phillies?

Tampa Bay is the prototypical chalk up one to the little guy. On the other side, the usually easy to hate Phillies have Charlie Manuel. The “good guy” who always is nice, smiles, is jovial. Compound those qualities with the fact he just attended his mothers funeral and you have a problem. There’s not really anyone to loath. You have two feel good stories. Good for society, BAD FOR RATINGS!

Mark it down, this will go down as one of THE least watched world series ever. It’s sad, but true. I for one, am picking the Rays to win in 6 games.

Time will tell.

On to other odds and ends. I appreciate the feed back I received over last weeks rant. It’s good to know people are reading the blog, and more importantly giving me feed back. Sadly, I have NOT heard that the powers that be in Laurens 55 and/or 56 are going to be PROACTIVE and announce that competitive cheer and/or swimming is on the horizon for the 2009-2010 school year.

I was hoping, after totally blowing their arguments out of the water that they’d admit they were wrong and would do the right thing”

Maybe they’re just getting that committee together, who’ll appoint a sub-committee, who’ll then get a focus group together, who’ll make recommendations…. You get my point.

I’m hoping, sooner rather than later that we’ll hear, officially, they’ll take a step into the 21st century and give these kids an opportunity.

It’s good to see Laurens is off to their best start since 1996. At 7-1 and 2-0 in the region, they have a crucial home game this Friday against Westside.

It’d be neat to see the home stands full and fans being FANS and cheering their heads off Friday.

That’s my rant, what’s yours?