Sports Stories

Made an A in typing when I took it in high school, but now I mainly use just one finger on each hand, and I stare at the keyboard, not the screen. In the 80’s I read about the student managers at NC State going to the Alaska Shootout and got in trouble for running up tabs. Then I realized that would’ve been fun, that there would’ve been benefits from being part of the team…travel, etc. By the time I finished high school, I was tired of the August to Thanksgiving grind of football, and in the off-season it was weight-lifting, and I continued to kick in the off-seasons. Johnny Smith was the varsity kicker at Tech, a freshman the same year I was. He was in a few of my classes. Played other positions in HS…QB I think. Might’ve gone to Greater Atlanta Christian. A little strong leg than mine, though in college I finally filled out (got fatter), and that added distance to my kicks. Any thoughts of walking on were dispelled by that HS burnout and wanting to concentrate on school, though I didn’t realize the benefits, including help with my classes / tutors. Besides intramurals, after college I played church basketball for a few years in the mid to early 80’s. I played softball through 94. Then a new young guy was hired at work who wanted to play basketball. I told him I thought they were still playing at church, so he signed up…and made me play with him a couple of years, with a whole new batch of younger guys. I was the oldest one on the team…just a body to fill minutes and give others a rest. Set screens, hustle, pay defense, get a rebound, make a pass…not many shots, only when there was an opening. It was fun. Career highlight…in a mid 80’s church game fast break I had the ball on a fast break, one on one with the best player on the other team. As a lefty who couldn’t use my right hand much, I naturally drove left, catching my opponent off-guard, and I made the lay-up. Coming back up court Hurt hollered from the bench ‘He’s left-handed!’ C does seem to spend a lot of time on Beth Moore, but she likes it. She never likes game nights because she says she’s not quick thinking, and has been embarrassed in the past. I like board games, but wasn’t good the time or two I played Clue type games, so I’ve shied away from those types. She dislikes charades the most, which is supposedly on the docket for Friday. She hasn’t said anything about Friday. Our group hasn’t had many game nights, just one or two, though we have had other non Bible study nights. I'm one of those who worries about sophomore jinxes, though most of these sophs aren't Furcal-types, who was the type to have the jinx. Francoeur was hot out the gate and then slumped late last year. As young as he is, I could see him having a repeat of last year, with a hot start, followed by a slump, then rebounding late in the year. I'm not too worried about Orr, Langerhans, or Johnson. Betemit started hot, then cooled, but hit .300 for the year. The young pitchers are different. I could see Boyer, McBride, or Davies having a sophomore jinx, though they could keep going strong. Devine was just out of NC State last year, so he should do better with a camp under his belt. In basketball or football a starter may come out after a while, but he usually returns to play more later in the game. It is weird that Ivey starts, comes out, and doesn't return. Kinda like baseball, which is different because of the rules. Flipped over last night to ESPN and told Ceil that the Bulls were wearing their throwback uniforms...red top, white 'belt', royal trunks. Her comment: More like 'throw-up uniforms!' I agreed with most of the points of that Fox article on jerseys…I’ve told you my beef about people wearing stuff like Braves jerseys with navy numbers, as opposed to red. Looks like the Braves are wearing black spring caps, instead of navy. Don’t know if that means there will be more changes…more black trim, like the Mets. Hope not. Interesting article on team jerseys... http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/5352350 I certainly remember Richway, but they were already few and far between by the time I hit Atlanta…in college I was pretty sheltered…didn’t do much shopping, except for food. The distinctive roof things outlasted them.