My Next Career?

Friday night I was checking my personal emails, which I don’t always do. Saw the email about being the guest picker. I had entered the “contest” a couple of times this fall, and this time I won. No prize except to be on the radio.

At 11:30 am I reported at the radio station’s tent, met the DJ’s Hometown Leak and Sean Nerny, who I was familiar with from  listening to them on the radio. They asked me a few questions and determined the picks would come on after the 12:15 commercials.

I put on my headset during the commercial and could hear all the chatter from the DJ’s and the producers back at the station. When they spoke to me, I’d answer back. They’d mentioned they might pick the FSU game, so I quickly did some research since I hadn’t prepared for that game. They talked about picked both college and pro games. Other than the Falcons, I wasn’t ready to make any pro picks. Then they said I could pick any four games that I wanted. The view from my seat:

Hometeam and Sean made their picks, then they looked over and asked for mine. Leak asked if I was picked the Tech game, so I picked that one first. Nice to see them nodding their heads about what I was saying. Drawing from some of their comments, I picked UGA, Oregon, and Oklahoma.

Nice that no one said “Don’t quit your day job”.

More from my Saturday down at Tech: skipped golf early Saturday and instead typed up some notes on the top college games of the day. Drove down to Tech. As I suspected, the traffic was getting heavy. Found a parking spot near the GT President’s house around 10:30 and walked across campus, past the basketball arena and the tennis complex, where the GT tennis team was practicing.

Walked past the softball field behind O’Keefe, the football practice facility, and the baseball stadium. Found a ACC NCAA baseball on the sidewalk, which I later gave to a kid before the game.

Walked past the old GT BSU, which is now a construction site.

The fraternity house across from Grant Field was flying the Israel flag, next to the US flag. I figure they’re in the minority on the Tech campus. Might be the Jewish fraternity.

Saw the new GT athletics building, built into the northeast corner of Grant Field. You'd think at some point they would bury all those telegraph lines and poles.

Tech has improved the look of the east stand gates, adding a brick façade.

Didn’t realize that Emory is the official healthcare provider for GT athletics. They were giving away bucket hats on North Avenue. I shared this info with Will.

Arrived at the corner of Techwood and North at 11 am, so I had plenty of time to look around. Walked up to the block party.

North Avenue was shut down from Techwood up the hill past the stadium. The ACC Network had their pregame show set up in the grassy area next to the Tech Tower. Grabbed a free egg & cheese biscuit. 

Had my picture taken with the Ramblin Wreck, for the first time ever. 

Got my picture taken with Buzz, for the first time ever.

The John Heisman statue has been moved from outside the north stands to the southwest gate, in the shadow of the Tech tower.

Homer Rice has a statue nearby.

The 680 guys had me stick around until the next commercial break to take pictures. Hometeam and Sean shook my hand, thanked me for listening, and gave me a t-shirt.

Then I made the mile walk back up to my car. Drove north to 14th Street, then east across the connector, then north on 75 north.

Stopped by the Braves sidewalk sale at Truist Park. Shouldn’t have, but I bought a pair of Nike Braves shorts. 

Then home for housework and the GT game on TV. Later we drove down to A&C’s to cook pizza for M’s birthday. Left there at halftime of the Georgia game. Caleb had his TV setup to watch four games, including both UGA and Clemson.

AARON JUDGE [B-R Bio] once led the Yankees in WAR for seven out his first eight full seasons, including winning the franchise’s imaginary Triple Crown in four of those years. Led in WAR from 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024 & 2025; and led the Yanks in avg, HR, & RBI in 2021, 2022, 2024 & 2025. Judge grew up in Linden, California, located near Oakland, who drafted him 935th in the 2010 MLB Amateur Draft. Instead he enrolled at nearby Cal State Fresno. As a child he was adopted, as were John Lennon, Keegan-Michael Key, and Nelson Mandela.