Kick for a Kia: The Video

A newspaper story has surfaced about the Kick for a Kia winner, along with the video his friends took of the event. I can be briefly seen on the jumbotron on the right. Mitchell was the winner. Earlier I had written that his name was Mungo: this is incorrect. Link

I Had a Dream

Saturday night I had a dream my coworkers were at work in the same office we are in now, same windows to look out. But the view was different...a great big lake. The water was calm, except sometimes smaller clouds would form out of the large clouds. These smaller clouds looks like a flock of birds, or two dolphins. These smaller clouds started forming more often. At first they would"fly" around in the air. Later they started crashing into the land across the lake. Then they started falling into the water, causing the water to become very choppy. Waves were formed, and the beach area near the warehouse went from smooth to actually having shapes of sand.

I was reporting my activities back to Bill from the ground. At first the phone and email could be used to communicate, but later those means of communication were cut off. My son Matthew was there. Other higher clouds were striped. I was pointing out the clouds to Brad. Some clouds were wide orange-white-orange repeating stripes. A separate thinner-striped section was a brown-orange-white stripes. Though the sky was mostly cloudy the sun would break through and shine pinpoints of light down to the ground. I saw this twice, and both times the sunrays shining down in an interesting manner - once like a chicken's leg, and a second time like an inverse chicken's leg.

Food was there...some people were eating it, but others weren't. Eventually Bill came down, and we had to climb aboard this sleek riverboat. We had to climb over seats to get from the bow to the stern. Then we saw a man on the boat. He was about my age. He said he was the owner of the boat. (now that I am awake and thinking about it, I might have been Darren Parks' brother David). Bill was getting in the water, but I knew I was going to have to. Bill was worried because I had been working for a long time and knew I was tired (but not too worried, because he went back to his desk). I heard a report that the water was 16 feet deep, but that didn't seem to matter to me. Eventually I was in the water swimming around. I found a place to climb out of the water back onto the boat. Someone notified Bill that I was safe.

In the office there were many weird things, like an aquarium like jar that didn't have the widest opening at the top. There were rocks and water at the bottom of the jar - not sure if there were any critters in the jar of not. The jar was near a little office basketball hoop that people were playing with. I wasn't close to the hoop, but I got the ball and took a long shot. The ball went in the hoop and then down into the jar. The ball was about the same size as the opening, so I didn't know how the ball could be retrieved.

As soon as I woke up I knew I had to write this dream down, so I fired up the computer and started typing. 

What does this dream mean? Perhaps a coming war, or the end of the world. Only time will tell. 

Memorable Grant Field Games

This year GT is celebrating the stadium’s 100th anniversary this fall. The Buzz, the magazine published by the Georgia Tech Athletic Association, recently published the following list of memorable games and performances at Grant Field. I have added a few more games from other sources.

09.27.13 Fort McPherson: GT wins 1st Grant Field game  

10.07.16 Cumberland 0, GT 222 with no passes

11.29.17 Auburn 7, GT 68 win caps national championship  

09.25.26 Oglethorpe upsets GT 7-6

12.03.27 Georgia upset by Tech

12.08.28 Georgia: win caps undefeated Rose Bowl season

11.26.49 Georgia: 1st of 8 straight GT wins over UGA

10.20.51 Auburn: Buck Martin 202 yards receiving

12.01.51 Duke: George Maloof 4 touchdowns

10.11.52 Tulane: 1st  of 3 straight GT shutouts

10.18.52 Auburn: 33-0 win on way to Natl Championship

10.25.52 Vanderbilt: 30-0 win

11.15.52 Alabama: Mouse Rudolph $125K tackle

09.30.61 Rice: Ramblin Wreck debuts

11.17.62 Alabama: GT upsets #1 Tide & Namath

11.25.67 Georgia: LB Eric Wilcox 28 tackles

11.09.68 Navy: John Sias 14 receptions

12.30.68 First Peach Bowl played at Grant Field

09.12.70 SC: Steve Harkey 14 receptions

09.30.72 Rice: Eddie McAshan 371 yards passing

09.30.72 Rice: Randy Rhino 3 interceptions

11.06.76 Notre Dame: Gary Lanier QB’s upset

11.17.79 Navy: Mike Kelley 361 yards 5 TDs

11.17.79 Navy: Kris Kentera 203 yards receiving

11.08.80 Notre Dame: TE Ken Whisenhunt QB’s 3-3 tie

09.18.82 Citadel: Ron Rice 5 field goals

11.06.82 Virginia: Robert Lavette 161 yards 4 TDs

09.29.84 Clemson’s 33 game ACC win streak broken

10.06.84 NC State: DB Cleve Pounds 19 tackles

10.19.85 Auburn: Bo Jackson 242 yards (76 yd TD)

11.30.85 Georgia: Gary Lee 95 yd KO return thru fog

10.15.88 SC upset 34-0, had been #8 in country

10.07.89 Maryland: win snaps 16 game ACC losing streak

10.07.89 Maryland: Shawn Jones 4 TD passes

12.02.89 Georgia: Jerry Mays 207 yards rushing

10.13.90 Clemson: LB Calvin Tiggle 24 tackles

11.23.95 Georgia: LB Ron Rogers 22 tackles

10.05.96 Virginia: D forces 5 TO’s/O’Leary’s 1^st big win  

10.17.98 Virginia: Dez White 243 yards receiving

09.30.99 Maryland: Joe Hamilton 477 yd tot offense

09.30.99 Maryland: Dez White 215 yards receiving

10.09.99 NC: Kelly Campbell 203 yards receiving

11.27.99 Georgia: Joe Hamilton 435 yd tot offense

11.27.99 Georgia: Sanks fumble, Manget OT FG

09.06.03 Auburn: FR Reggie Ball QB’s upset

11.15.03 NC: PJ Daniels 36 carries for 240 yards

10.04.08 Duke: Demaryius Thomas 230 yd receiving

11.01.08 FSU: 1st GT win over FSU since 1975

11.20.08 Miami: GT upsets Canes in White-Out game

10.17.09 Virginia Tech: upset over #4 VT clinches division

10.29.11 Clemson: #5 Tigers upset; T Washington 176 rush yd  

Everyday BJ?

AUGUST 13: Do we know if the mid-season eye surgery is Uggla’s decision, or did the team strongly encourage it? We may never know.

Gwinnett has had such a revolving door of players this year, the roster has constantly turned over. I’m not too impressed by Leonard. He’s tall, and a decent first and third baseman. Doesn’t strike me as a second-baseman.

Interesting Bradley column on the poor Uggla/Upton at bats with McCann on third.

Perhaps it was the wet field, but it looked like BJ could’ve caught Cole Hamels ball in left center. Tough play, but that’s why the Braves are paying him $75 million. The pitcher gets a triple off a ball in the left-centerfield gap. This is the outfield that John Schuerholz boasted that no ball would get past. Bet Jordan Schafer would’ve caught it. When Hamels scored I knew winning the game would be tough. Took all my might not to Tweet.

Stumbled across a poorly-written (but long) Yahoo Sports article on whether the Braves should keep McCann. I commented on the article, in response to one of the first few comments. Gattis may have hit a rough stretch and has surrendered a few key passed balls, but in the long run should be well worth not having to empty the bank for McCann, whose body is a ticking time bomb. The Braves would find it hard to make an offer somewhere in the range of what the Yankees can pay.   

I see Fredi wasted no time inserting Pastornicky and Schafer…surely in response to Bradley’s column.

AUGUST 14: The Sports Illustrated article about all the factors that went into playing RGIII was interesting. So many people could blame Shanahan, the doctors, and Griffin no matter what decision was made. Likewise, fans are quick to put blame on personnel decisions immediately or in hindsight. Over the years you have mentioned how unfair and unreasonable this is. Currently Braves fans continue to berate the Uggla and BJ signings, but rarely mention the success of the trades with the Angels and Diamondbacks. Same with the Schafer signing.

It was almost like the Braves remade their team overnight. You can’t say they are afraid to make a bold move in the middle of the season, even with their huge lead in the standings. Yesterday Mark Brad ley hit the nail on the head, writing about Uggla and BJ failing to drive in McCann from third with one out. The big lead gave the Braves the chance to lose Uggla for an extended period of time. After suffering through several years of anemic hitting, having eye surgery right now can only have an upside for Uggla and the Braves.  

Further remaking the lineup, BJ sat and Schafer played. Perhaps we’ll see more of this platoon the rest of the way, easing BJ’s obvious frustration. A few games ago BJ battled with two strikes, working to make contact on every pitch instead of swinging for the fences. But the next night he was back swinging away, a completely different approach. I don’t understand.

Pastornicky filled the bill at second base. I saw where Janish came in to replace him late in the game. The Braves have now won the last four times Medlen started the game. Another quality start.

This Week & Last

SEPT 11: Worked til after 5:30 yesterday. Picked up Anna’s fixed iPad on the way home. Stopped by a thrift store to look for more things to sell on eBay. Found a cute Charlotte Checkers mascot bobblehead to add to my collection. Looks like our dog Barney. Also found a Columbia fishing shirt, which the teenagers at the beach say is the latest trend. The shirt blocks the sun.

Didn’t get home until after seven. Ceil cooked hot wings for the kids and grilled chicken for me and her. Also salad and roasted potatoes. After the dishes were done I headed out to Kroger to get shipping envelopes to mail more stuff I’d sold on eBay. I’m liking the automatic postal machine, but the one in my post office wasn’t working. Drove down to Lower Roswell to get it mailed. Tuesday night there was too much frantic studying and computer work to watch the Braves, so I worked on eBay and went to bed early.

SEPT 10: The great thing about the beach there in Destin is that the sand is always soft and powdery. The only bad thing about that it is hard to go for a walk on the beach. Early in the morning at Myrtle Beach the harder sand is great to walk and run on. You gotta go early before it gets too hot or crowded.

There at Destin that Gulf Shores Road isn’t bad to walk on. A decent amount of things to look at, but there’s not much traffic (good) or shade (bad).

SEPT 5: I’m going to rest my leg for a week, but I need to get back exercising.

Last night Anna drove to her Bible Study. Ceil cooked chicken tenders, salad, onion rings, and baked potatoes. Later I pooped some corn. Watched the end of the Braves replay, then Duck Dynasty and Modern Family. Ceil was catching up on the work she does for the kids’ school.

This morning I was sleeping like a log when the alarm clock woke me up. Stopped at CFA to get a free chicken cheese egg bagel. Busy at work right now.

Good that Fredi was able to give some of the regulars two straight days off. Schafer is banged up.

SEPT 4: Not much going on with me. Worked til 5:30. On the way home from work yesterday I stopped by the library, Kroger, and the dollar store.

Ceil cooked spaghetti & meatballs and tossed salad. Matthew and I skipped the noodles. Later he had chicken noodle soup. Tuesday night is the big night to finish up schoolwork, so I did the dishes and went in the other room and played Wii golf.

Leg still hurts. Not quite as bad as yesterday, but sleeping is still hard.

Vendor from Anniston said he saw me Saturday. He emailed: ”Was that you kicking like a girl in the Dome?”

Serena: Dominant?

Serena Williams has won 17 out of 60 majors from 1999 to 2013 (28%). Of the 43 majors she did not win, Williams only came in second four times (9%).

There is a distinct all-or-nothing quality in Serena’s play. A lack of consistency and effort. Either she goes all out to dominate and win or she does not enter the tournament, or loses in an early round. How can she win 28% of the time but come in second only 9% of the time? Serena is dominant, but only when she chooses to be. Does the tennis press not report this for fear of the Williams’ response?

I am fully aware of how hard it must be to win a major championship. Injuries and many other factors stand in the way. Tiger Woods has clearly dedicated his life to being a dominant golfer and winning majors. Tiger would never give less than his all when competing, particularly in a major. Despite various setbacks, both controllable and uncontrollable, Woods has assembled a record of wins in tournaments and majors second only to one golfer. Like Serena, Tiger has fewer second-place finishes (unlike Jack Nicklaus). Golfers compete against the entire field while tennis players are matched against one-on-one.       

Champions like Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert did not have the extreme physical advantage Serena holds over her opponents, but still achieved remarkable records over an extended period of time.

I am all for an athlete pursuing other interests and having a well-rounded life. The effect of this is, as in Serena’s case, the athlete is not as consistent and dominant as they would be otherwise. There is a tradeoff. Consistency is one of the hallmarks of a champion. I cannot call Serena dominant, consistent, or the greatest of all time.

1999: US Open

2000:

2001:

2002: French, Wimbledon, US Open

2003: Australian, Wimbledon

2004:

2005: Australian

2006:

2007: Australian

2008: US Open

2009: Australian, Wimbledon

2010: Australian

2011:

2012: Wimbledon, US Open

2013: French, US Open

Australian: 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010

French: 2002 & 2013

Wimbledon: 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012 (runner-up 2004 & 2008)

US Open: 1999, 2002, 2008, 2012, 2013 (runner-up in 2001 & 2011)

"Rookie" of the Year

Gattis and Puig have now played in almost the same number of games. While the high-priced Cuban veteran has continued to fade after a media-enhanced burst onto the scene, the Braves rookie is experiencing a September resurgence. Puig’s season statistics still overshadow Gattis’, but the numbers from the last 30 games are close to equal, and the White Bear has out-hit Puig in the last seven games. While there is way too much competition for Gattis to win ROY, he does have the most home runs by a rookie…in far fewer games than most of his competition.

ytd….hr...rbi..K/BB..ab/hr

EG…19…55…2.2…15

YP…16…36…3.0…21

L30…slg…ops…ab/hr

EG…543…823…11.5

YP…474…801…19.4

L7….avg.…slg…..ops.…2B…ab/hr

EG…261…739…1.031…2….7.7

YP…217…478…0.812…0…11.5

Pre-Game Pose

Will and pal David Rajecki before the UGA/SC game.

Return to SPDL

Don Head will be interested in all the SPdL folk I saw Sunday. As usual, I arrived way too early. Matthew tagged along, wearing khaki shorts since all his long pants are too short. We parked in the shade, but soon afterward Claire and Andrew pulled up behind us. It took them several minutes to get everyone and everything out of the van, then we all moseyed over to the Children's Building. Edie was waiting for us there. After dropping off the youngest two we saw David Hall, who looks great despite his prematurely graying hair.

Next we found Reid wandering around the hallways, and M and I headed to the Sanctuary with him. Randy Scoggins was helping Edie with her microphone. Lindsey Acuff took his familiar seat several rows back. Sarah Maddux same in early. Before the service I was able to speak to Angela's mother, who told me Jim Suggs taught her Sunday School class once a month, but he rarely stayed for the service. Would've been nice to see him. Spoke with Connie and Danny Morris, John and Margaret Condra, Jerome, Marcine, and the guests of honor. Saw David Hall, Bill Dukes, Sue Stumm, and Ron Watts in the choir. Dolly Craig, Stacy Stringer, and Mary Ann Hall were in the congregation, but I didn't get to speak to them. Drew Kelly was visiting his mother in Charlotte.

Edie did a great job with the baby dedication, telling her son's life history and calling her daughter-in-law beautiful. Baby was active but not vocal.

Bill Self stood up to preach after the choir sang. He said it was great to be in a church that sang real church music, drawing a large laugh from the congregation. When Self accepted the Weiuca Road pastorate in 1964 he was taken out to lunch by SPdL pastor Monroe Swilley. Bill said he had been friends with every SPdL pastor since then. He has known Dock Hollingsworth for years, and is confident that Dock will do a fine job at SPdL. Self zinged Charles Quarles pretty good, saying that once he saw Charles with a hair on his head out of place. During the sermon Bill worked in his patented line "I said to myself, Self…" He said he had his own congregation trained to respond when he said that. When Self talked about his grandchildren being better, I leaned over to Danny Morris and said his grandson was the cutest.

After the service the reunion continued. Spoke with Janet Williams' parents. Janet is divorced and lives north of Clarkston. Youngest daughter Jennifer is a nurse in Florida. Middle son Steve recently moved to Orlando after living in London for many years. I told Skip Weisenbaker that I missed him at the Peachtree Road Race. Saw Ivy Anderson. Whitney Anderson came up and said hello. She is in the singles department and has moved back in with her mom, and getting ready to enter law school. Talked to offertory ushers Jerry Head and Barbara Brown. Jerry gave me an update on daughters Stacy and Debra. I already knew about Don, but forgot to ask about Steve. Oops.

Ceil appeared and got to see most of the people. One the way out the North Bridge I remembered the water fountain was where Jim and Kimberly Kitchens had first met, so I snapped a picture. On the way out we spoke to Bruce Ambrose at length, and he updated me on the Huberts. David is losing weight, walking long distances. Hubert had attended Saturday's UGA football game. Bruce had hoped Dock would be preaching so he could check him out. Monday Bruce and I finally got together and had lunch, but we were only able to scratch the surface on catching up.

That afternoon I ran into Anna's friend Caroline, who is Andrew's cousin. Told her she and Anna had missed the important family event.

Student Section

Could be Will in the white shirt

in the extreme middle left of the photo.

UGA 41 SC 30

The Georgia/South Carolina game could not have been more exciting. With UGA's porous defense, GA obviously needed some breaks to go their way in order to win the game. In the first half Aaron Murray hit two receivers in the hands, and the receivers dropped the ball. Then the GA punter mishandled a snap, giving SC an easy touchdown. Can you blame Mark Richt or Aaron Murray for these mistakes?

In the second half the breaks started to swing Georgia's way. SC is driving. QB Shaw runs for another first down, but fumbles and GA recovers. Later Murray converts a third and 13 to a wide open receiver, who outruns the SC DB to the end zone. SC's spread out offense cleverly let the play develop before giving away whether it was a run or pass, which continually stifled GA's defense...until the fourth & goal play.

I cannot describe how incredibly stupid GA's senior defensive lineman Garrison Smith was, first leaping on top of the SC lineman long after the whistle had blown. Both fell onto the pile, and the officials called the obvious penalty. THEN Smith stood right next to the official as he called the penalty, another dumb move. Thirdly, Smith must've though his penalty had given SC a first down, because he stayed on the field even as the GA offense came out to huddle up. Could've cost GA the game.

The Clemson game was lost on one play: the high snap on the field goal attempt. Then against SC most of the field goal/extra point snaps were still high. The hold kept having to reach up and to his right, catch the bad snap, then bring the ball all the way across his body to place the ball on the ground on the holder's left side. Perhaps the holder should've been the player of the game.

Freshman cornerback Brendan Langley, from nearby Kell High in East Cobb, had a rough game: torched for two touchdowns. Langley did break up a pass late in the game, but should've intercepted the ball.

Prediction: photos of Todd Gurley running with the ball without a helmet will be displayed over and over again, like when Knowshon Moreno jumped completely over the defensive player. Unlike last year, UGA's game plan worked well: quick passes set opened up the running game. SC couldn't stop Gurley or Marshall….or freshman Brendan Douglas, who is listed as a tight end on the UGA roster. Brad Nessler should've known to growl "He's only a freshman!"

ESPN's Colin Cowherd admitted he wrongly said Clowney would be deciding factor in the game. Sunday morning Cowherd admitted he was wrong. GA gained more yards per play when Clowney was IN the game then when he was OUT of the game. He said this is why NFL teams should draft highly rated quarterbacks like Murray than defensive ends like Clowney.

Will did not get painted up for the game, but sat right behind the guys that did. I think I spotted him in a crowd photo.

I'm sure South Carolina had their reasons for how they used their timeouts. Teams go over so many details on what to do in each scenario. Everything is so structured, with nothing left to chance. Teams keep a card about under what situations they should go for two, depending on the score and time remaining. Coaches make mistakes and sometimes use the wrong strategy, but considering all the hours they work, they have a detailed plan on how to use timeouts.

You or I may think the timeouts should've been used. Needing two scores to win, even if SC used the TO's and stopped UGA, the Dawgs could have always run out the clock after SC scored the first time. On that last drive SC was not able to stuff GA on first or second down, so there wasn't an opportunity to call a timeout.

Then after the last play the ball and play clock were set so the Dawgs didn't need to run another play, for SC to call a timeout would have only prolonged the agony. I've got to hand it to Spurrier for not calling a useless time out then.

Talking about covering all the details. The jersey patches for the Chickfila kickoff game are in the hands of the team equipment managers at least a month before the game. In late June all the game and practice gear for the players, coaches, and trainers are sorted out and gotten ready for distribution. The game clothes worn by coaches and trainers are hemmed and tailored for exact fit. Same for player jerseys and helmets.

Fade to Brian

When an AL team backs up the truck for McCann Braves fans won't remember the injuries or second half slumps. As big and strong as Gattis is, I wonder if catching every day will do the same to him. Will be interesting to see Bethancourt, even if he only plays here and there. Perhaps right now Fredi should rest Brian two or three days a week instead of just the day game after a night game.

If things don't change, what are the chances Fredi sits BJ and Uggs in the playoffs? Even though it was a tough play, when Uggla wasn't able to come up with that double play grounder up the middle yesterday my immediate reaction was to ask why he is playing if both his offense and defense weren't contributing. Friday night both Joe Simpson and his favorite Twitter-verse were taking BJ to task for backing off that ball in the gap that part-time outfielder Gattis had to track down.

Heard Joe Simpson trot out an idea: bat Uggla at the top of the lineup. Joe thought it might help Uggla to keep his mind on going to the opposite field, and keep his hands in. Perhaps Joe had just read that Chris Davis article in Sports Illustrated.

Speaking of Gattis, that was some pounding he administered to Hamels yesterday. Hopefully he can stay in the groove.

I was Hample-like that day, but there were others doing the same thing. In fact, standing in line waiting for the gates to open, both in Gwinnett and down at the Turner Field dollar ticket line I've seen the same group of "bobble-heads" waiting around with me.

Some people seem to employ elderly family members and children/teenagers to rack up large quantities of bobbleheads. Many exit the stadium after securing their valuable package. At the Gattis event on my treks through the parking lot I noticed several doing the same thing. One guy had been behind me in line, and we had chatted about the security measures at the gate.

I have daydreamed about road-tripping to Cincinnati or St. Pete for a game and often check their promotion schedules, but it usually remains a daydream. The Brewers have ten bobblehead games this year, including dolls of a couple of former players. Saw where the Dodgers had a Don Sutton bobblehead night against the Braves. Found a Kimbrel bobblehead at a thrift store and brought it in to work, and it has stayed on my desk. Leaving bobbleheads in a hot car melts the glue that holds the spring from the head to the body.

Weekend

Had fun at the SPdL service. Disappointed that Paul Johnson wasn't there.

After the service I talked to Bruce for a long time, and we actually met for lunch today at Wendy's. Bruce caught me up on David and Mary Hubert.

Sunday afternoon after SPdL Ceil and I drove back home, and stopped by Willys for lunch. We took it easy watching the Gattis Power Show, then went back for the PCC 5 pm service. I dropped Ceil off and snuck by Taco Bell for a snack before going in for the service.

Matthew ate lunch at Five Guys in Lindbergh and stayed for PCC. Anna ate lunch with Caroline Hargreaves at Panera. After PCC youth she and her friend went to the new Grace church downtown, then dinner ate at Waffle House. My kids eat better than me.

Friday I stopped off the post office on the way home to mail two eBay items: a Padres jersey and pair of Nikes. Watched the Braves. Terrible play by BJ to force Gattis to have to make the catch in the gap. Schafer is a much better centerfielder.

Saturday morning I went to Kroger and the post office to mail two more eBay items: KC Chiefs jersey and navy blue Cubs jersey. After eating leftover chicken and fries for lunch I drove M out to pick up his friend Sarah in Milton. Got to see the first half of the Clemson game and all of GA/SC. Washed the car at halftime. After the game Ceil served homemade pizza, then I took Sarah back to Milton to meet her mom. Got to see a little of the Notre Dame/Michigan game and like you, turned it to the Braves in time to watch the ninth inning.

Thanks to a terrible announcing sidekick for GT's Wes Durham at the Clemson game, sideline reporter Jenn Hillbreath tried to take the Tigers to task for a sluggish offensive first half. Dabo would have none of it. He turned and looked at the scoreboard and quipped "38-10" doesn't look too bad to me." Even though the defense scored two touchdowns, even the best teams aren't going to score on EVERY possession against weaker teams. These hot-shot announcers think something's wrong if they don't, and then fans think somethings wrong. Even GT scored at least two defensive touchdowns in their 70-0 win against Elon.

Kick For a Kia: The Call

Many years ago I started what I call a hobby: entering sweepstakes. Back when stamps were cheap I would mail in postcards to enter sweepstakes. Nothing that I depended on to provide for out family, but instead a nice little 5-10 minute diversion several days of the week.  When Al Gore invented the internet entering sweepstakes became cheaper and easier, but actually winning them became harder, since more people were entering them. Over the years I’ve been fortunate enough to win trips to Los Angeles, New York City, and a baseball fantasy camp in Arizona. I turned down trips to Curacao and San Antonio. Won a computer, football helmet, tickets, and a Braves watch.  

I go through times when I enter lots of sweepstakes, and times when I don’t enter as many. I usually focus on contests where a car is the prize, or a large sum of money or a house. There’s not enough time to enter every sweepstakes, so I stay away from most of the vacation sweepstakes (unless it’s a trip to Europe or Italy).

A recent “Kick For a Kia” sweepstakes was appealing for several reasons: The prize is a top of the line Kia Sorento SUV worth over $35,000.00, plus $100.00 and tickets to the Alabama / Virgia Tech game and FanFest. Six ticket winners were selected from all internet entries (Georgia, Alabama, & Virginia residents only), and six more are to be “randomly” selected at the FanFest the morning of the game. These twelve will kick four 15 yard field goals to cut the field in half, then kick four 25 yard field goals to narrow the field to two. At the end of the third quarter these two kick inside the filled Georgia Dome. Farthest kick wins. I’d like to think my kicking experience would give me an advantage. So I entered every day until the contest expired August 11th.

Lately I’ve been entering sweepstakes as “Dave” as opposed to “David” and use my cell number, so when an unknown call comes in asking for Dave I’ll know it might be a sweepstakes. And on Friday that’s exactly what happened.

AUG 16: Friday afternoon at 3:32 pm my cell phone rings: Unknown caller. As I answer the thought crosses my mind: wrong number, or perhaps I won something. A kind male voice asks for Dave, and my heart races. It was Neil Simon from Host Production, calling about the Kia Kick Sweepstakes. He is very careful to explain that I have yet to win the grand prize. I listen carefully, already quite familiar with the rules.

On the way home from work I check five stores for footballs, purchasing a nice Nike Tacktician high school football at Play It Again Sports. back home I change and head up to nearby Tritt Elementary for my first practice session. Shoes are of course important equipment, and I wear my pair of tight Puma Voltaic running shoes. I kick well, with needed height and accuracy. I’m not kicking the ball as far as in the old days, and I still have a level of discomfort, but overall I am pleased with the results. I don’t want to overdo it. back home I rip off 30 minutes on the elliptical machine: working out should help get my legs (and distance) back.

AUG 17: My right instep is quite sore from kicking. I don’t want to overdo it, so I take the day off from kicking. I exercise with weights and walk a mile in flip-flops while waiting for Matthew (and almost sprain my ankle!). I break the news to the fam, and the fight begins. Anna googles Sorentos. She “hates” my car. Will says he needs a car, and will give his Jeep to Anna. I decide against playing this up on social media, and remain under the radar. Might have to get advice from the CPA, though.

AUG 18: Instep feels better. Before the rain hits I lace on Will’s Reebok turf shoes and kick at Walton High School’s Astroturf stadium. The light rain feels good. At first I kick good, until my leg starts hurting. I call it a day. Back home curiosity gets to me, and I look up Kias on the internet. Could I trade the Sorento for a full size four door hybrid? Or upgrade without taking a big tax hit? I tried not to think about it, though Ceil and Anna were spending the money in their heads.

I rested the leg and stretched, but whenever I tried to kick my leg would immediately start to ache. My strategy was to rest it as much as possible, then try to kick through any pain on the big day.

Kick For a Kia

Now I can reveal the secret I’d been keeping for two weeks: On the Georgia Dome field Saturday during the Alabama/Virginia Tech I almost won a $35,000 car. Two weeks ago I was one of six internet contestants selected to compete in a “kick-off” during the pre-game FanZone in the World Congress Center, along with six picked that morning from the crowd. After pulling a muscle in my leg I could only practice sporadically.

I arrived at the FanZone early to scout out the scene. At the field goal kick area I immediately noticed kicks were taken not from a tee but off the ground, using the complex “tripod & stick” tee used by real kickers. Since I was early I had a chance practice, so I went through the line three times, making five of six kicks.

At 1 pm the ten contestants assembled (two were no-shows). We were given red Kia jerseys with dealership names on the back: mine read BULLDOG KIA. In the first round each contestant got four kicks from a mere 11 yards away. It was supposed to be from 15 yards away, but space was limited.

Young Hunter drilled all four.

Old Virginia Tech Fan missed all four.

Old Alabama Fan made one.

Guy who’d just had a knee replacement could only try once.

Short lady missed all four.

I made the first three. In pain, I missed number four.

Teri from Powder Springs missed all four.

Tall sweepstakes lady missed all four.

Young Mundy from Mobile made three of four. His first kick sailed so high that it cleared the net behind the goal post.

Round Two was supposed to be from 25 yards away, but without extra room, we kicked from 13 yards away. We all benefitted from the shorter distance.

Again Hunter drilled all four kicks.

The old Bama fan missed his first kick, and then made the next three.

I made all four, though my leg was hurting.

Mundy also made all four.

The tiebreaker was the most kicks in 60 seconds. Each kicker had to retrieve the ball after every kick. We each made three kicks. I had the ball all teed up to kick number four when time was called. Teri from Powder Springs held my phone, and took pictures of me kicking.  

Tiebreaker Round Two was most kicks in 30 seconds. Hunter missed his first kick. Mundy and I looked at each other in amazement. Then Hunter was only able to make one kick in his 30 seconds. Kicking next, I made my first kick, retrieved the ball, teed it up, made the second kick, and relaxed: I had made the final round. Mundy did the same. We posed for photos and were given instructions. At the end of the third quarter whoever could kick the ball the farthest would win a decked out Kia Sorento SUV.

At halftime Events Coordinator Noah came and escorted me on the elevator downstairs to field level. We walked out of the tunnel onto the field just as Virginia Tech kicked off to start the second half. For fun Noah took me on a complete lap around the field. You’d think the on-field security people would be relaxed and watch the game, but it was obvious they were all focused on their job. Most kept a keen eye on me as I walked by. We stopped a few times so I could snap pictures. Behind the Bama bench a TV guy hollered at me to get out of the way of the tram. I posed with the Game Trophy. After making 1-1/4 laps around the field we settled in the corner near the VT band, just after Alabama threw a touchdown pass into the other corner of the same end zone.

Two older event coordinators gave Mundy and me our instructions. We would be kicking off a one inch tee. Last year the teams hadn’t left the field between quarters, so we had to look out for that. Kicking first, I was to wait until the coordinator told me to kick. Of course the quarter went extremely fast, and it was time to go. Though we had kicked into a net in the Congress Center, I could tell some of Mundy’s kicks would travel pretty far. He was a very nice guy who usually attended one Bama game a year. His wife and another couple were in the upper deck. We tried to be good sports, but we both wanted to win. As I teed up the ball on the goal line I could see the teams had left the field. The contest was being explained over the loudspeaker, but I really couldn’t hear. On the far Jumbotron I could see me on camera. I looked old and fat.

Seemed like forever before I was given the go ahead. Even though any bounce would be included, I knew I needed to keep my regular kicking form and make the best kick possible. My kick was the worst kick I’d made all day. It got a decent bounce, but I turned away and didn’t check the yardage. Mundy’s kick wasn’t his best either, bounding from the middle of the field over to the Bama bench, where it bounced up into a trainer’s hands. He won.

Afterward I took the elevator back to the lower level of stands and left soon after that. MARTA was already packed, and it took two long hours to get home. Walked in the door just as the second half of the UGA/Clemson game started.

More About The Kick

More about Saturday: Timed my trip downtown perfectly, though it seemed to take forever. Ceil dropped me off at the North Springs MARTA station at 10:15. The parking lot was already full, and a line of cars was trying to get in…due to all that was going on downtown: Tech/Elon, Alabama/Virginia Tech, Sheryl Crow concert, Chick-fil-a FanZone, Dragon Con parade and convention, black gay pride festival, NASCAR, and Braves/Marlins. By the time it left the station the cars were full. Many were dressed up for Dragon Con, so I snapped a few photos.

Transferred at Five Points and exited at the CNN station, then walked in the shade past the Dome to the Congress Center. Got in line, and the FanZone doors opened after 15 minutes, at 11:30 am. I spaced out my practice kicks with walks around the FanZone. Usually I’m a sucker for all the free stuff at those things: photos, balls, keychains, etc, but I knew I had to travel light. The only things I gobbled up were right next to the field goal kick: samples of Coke Zero, Delta cookies, and ChickfilA mocha milkshakes. And with every milkshake sample came a coupon for a free shake.  

A dad and his son got in the field goal line after talking to the people in the Kia booth. He wanted to know the same thing I was trying to find out: how the six on-site participants would be picked. The Kia people didn’t know, and the field goal people didn’t either. The dad was a decent kicker, and I didn’t need his kind of competition. Unbeknownst to us, at the other end of the FanZone Alabama/Virginia Tech trivia questions were being asked at the main stage. The prize for correct answers was entry into the kicking competition.

Ceil and Will were clammering for information, but I only had time to send a quick text that I’d made it to the second round. After the competition I sat down with a Coke Zero and Delta cookie and texted them about the second round and first tie breaker, giving more detail in my short texts. Then I walked around some more, grabbing more Coke Zero, Delta cookies, milkshakes, and coupons. Rested more and updated Ceil and Will that I’d made the final. Watched both football teams walk through the crowd on their way into the Dome.

Wanted to make sure I was properly fueled for the event. I had eaten a big breakfast. Ceil cooked up two Egg-McMuffin type sandwiches, plus yogurt and Crystal Light. Carried another Crystal Light that I finished before entering the FanZone. After the teams walked through I bought a ChickfilA sandwich, and watched the Texas A&M/Rice game while charging my phone. All the Bama fans were rooting against him. Bought a PowerAde and grabbed more Coke Zero, Delta cookies, milkshake samples, and coupons. Finished the day with eight milkshake coupons. They weren’t for me: Matthew will be thrilled.

Made my way over to the Dome for the game. I was seated next to only two of the other on-line winners. Teri from Powder Springs said she was selling her tickets, and others must’ve done the same. A recent Alabama grad sat next to me, and she knew quite a bit about football. When Noah took me downstairs we spent a little time in a waiting area. I was thankful for the restroom: the one upstairs had a LONG line. As Mundy and I waited for the kick we each held our football and chatted with each other and the events coordinator, who looked like Seth Rogan. We talked about what the taxes would be. Mundy had not kicked for his high school team (I asked), but I was not asked the same question.

Mundy did a good job celebrating, and afterwards I gave him a hug. During the game I learned that a friend’s husband was on the field photographing the game, so I sent word for him to be on the lookout for me. Later I learned he wasn’t able to get any good shots of my kick. I hadn’t told many people on purpose, which turned out to be a good thing. Will was watching at his Clemson tailgate. At the last minute I saw that Lang was watching, so I told him to watch. Both let me know my kick wasn’t televised. Back in the tunnel I relayed that info to Mundy and the event coordinators, and quickly texted Ceil and Will the bad news.

After the kick I didn’t go back to my seat. Got off the elevator at the main lower level of stands, and started coordinating with Anna about picking me up at MARTA. Also texted Lang what had happened. My phone signal was weak or non-existent in MARTA, so it was good that I didn’t have many people to tell. MARTA was hot and the wait long. Most of my time was spent coordinating my pickup. It was too loud to call my parents, so I sent them an email. To Anna’s relief, Ceil made it back from Matthew’s concert in time to pick me up.

Back home Ceil and I ate leftover chili, and I had some Gatorade. Watched the second half of the Georgia game, and then stayed up to see the Tech highlights. I was exhausted, but had trouble sleeping due to my aching leg and hip.

Secrets & Shoes

Since we had looked at Sorentos, I knew I didn’t want an 18 mpg car that I had to pay all that income tax on. I did fall in love with the 37 mpg / $25000 Optima Hybrid, dreaming that I could possibly swing a deal with the dealership where I didn’t have to pay state tax on the Sorento and Optima, and only one document fee. I knew that was a pipe dream, and tried not to dwell on it.

Anna and Will hoped for cars, and Ceil wanted to buy Anna a car AND spend the rest fixing up the house so we could move. I didn’t tell her how impossible that would be. Had I won I’ve would’ve had to take the car, pay the $2275.00 state tax and $600.00 doc fee, and have the $11.000.00 income tax hit. Then sell the car as a used car, since it had been titled. We would’ve been able to pay off the CRV. Barely.

I didn’t want to tell many people, because I knew I might not win, and it may or may not have been on TV. Anna told her best friend, who told her parents, and it got back around to Ceil. Finally told my dad late last week, so he would know what was going on should I call him to tell him to watch. The first thing he mentioned was the taxes. Ceil never told her parents. At work I had mentioned my leg was hurting from kicking, but no one dug into why I was kicking. Then I hinted that I might have a big weekend. Saturday night I noticed you on Facebook, so I sent you the email. Had I told lots of people it would’ve been a hassle having to tell everyone what happened.      

Of course the shoes were an important component. I needed a tight shoe with a solid toe. The day I found out (August 16) I practiced on Tritt Elementary’s grass field, wearing a pair of grey Puma Voltaic running shoes. I kicked well, but afterward my feet and toes were sore. August 18 I kicked on Walton’s field turf wearing Will’s Reebok baseball “turf” pregame shoes from his season at East Cobb (I had worn these shoes when I coached Matthew’s baseball team in 2011). I kicked better, so I knew those would be the shoes I would wear. Since they were tight, I wore skinny socks.

Since I didn’t want to wear shorts on TV, I wore black warm-up/running pants. Also a black T-shirt, though I correctly assumed we’d be given Kia shirts to wear.

Another variable was the tee. Two inches would be preferable, and off the ground least preferable. My few practices were with a 2” tee. Then the competition was off the ground, and the final kick off a one inch tee. I hit the ball too high. Had it been a 2” tee the kick would’ve been better. had the ball been on the ground it might’ve rolled further…maybe.

What Else Happened

Friday evening C and M finished up some schoolwork, and went to Publix and Target. I turned on the Braves. Then C and A went to the mall. Later they came home and fixed chili. By then I had already found something to eat.

Saturday while I was downtown Ceil took Matthew to the Celebrate Freedom concert at Jim R Miller Park. Ceil got to learn about the heat and crowds I had battled the past three years. This year Switchfoot was next to last, so they got to leave a little early. Ceil got to meet Switchfoot in the autograph line, and was impressed.

Anna went to dinner with Caroline Hargreaves in downtown Woodstock. Anna was house-sitting for a neighbor, so she spent the night across the street Saturday and Sunday.

Friday Will drove to Anderson SC to see Mary-Clayton’s brother’s football game, then spent Friday and Saturday night at his cousin’s apartment in Clemson. Saturday morning Will went to ESPN College GameDay, and watched the game from a friend’s tailgate TV. He could’ve gone to the game, but there was only one ticket.

Sunday Will called me. He had decided to come home and surprise Ceil. I drove Matthew to his lunch at the Lindbergh through the terrible thunderstorm. Left my car at PCC and Ceil picked me up. C wanted to give her umbrella to a lady standing in the rain. The lady was mentally imbalanced and didn’t want the help. For a minute I thought I was about to become a widower. On the way home Ceil was hungry and not feeling upbeat. I talked her into stopping to eat at Willys, and coordinated it with Will. He walked in the door just as we were ordering. It made Ceil’s day.

Later C and W went to the grocery while I napped. I was exhausted and famished from my big Saturday. I had chili, a small Willys taco, leftover homemade ice cream, Gatorade, and popcorn. Watched the Braves and some golf. A and M came home, and Ceil grilled chicken and mixed vegetables, baked potatoes, French bread, pound cake, and fresh strawberries.

Monday Will left for Athens at 10 am. A and M did homework. I did some laundry and worked on eBay stuff. Watched the Braves and some golf. M and C went to the grocery, and we had hot dogs, baked beans, French fries, onion rings, and slaw.

Even after resting up both Sunday and Monday, my leg still hurts…bad. Saturday I kicked twenty times, making 17 of 19 field goals. That was more than I kicked in any of my practice sessions, especially after I hurt my leg.

Updates: August 18-27

AUG 18: Sunday night I couldn’t sleep. Forgot the Crystal Light that I drank around 5 pm had caffeine. Was tired Monday night, and went to bed early. Our bed is right at the end of the house overlooking the neighbor’s air conditioner. Monday night the AC was LOUDLY groaning like a prehistoric dinosaur about to die (the racket kept me up, so I had plenty of time to think up that description). Tuesday evening the AC was still groaning, and at 10 pm I walked over and complained. At least it was cool enough to open the windows. Slept very well last night.

AUG 19: Monday night Ceil cooked breaded chicken, salad, and crème cheese potatoes. I passed on the potatoes.

AUG 20: Tuesday night she cooked burritos. I went to kick, but my quadriceps were still hurting bad. Walked instead. Watched the Braves.

AUG 26 Heard Uggla went 0-4 with 2 strikeouts. At least Elliot Johnson puts the ball in play. Freddy Garcia was hit hard as well.

Monday night Ceil fixed wings, baked potatoes, and steamed broccoli. I don’t eat wings, so I had to eat the potato. I also ate a leftover sandwich and popcorn. Sunday Ceil fixed grits and bacon. Hard to lose weight when all the food in the house is fattening.

Went to kick, and my leg still hurts. Football practice at Walton High lasts until I don’t know when. 8:30 at least. Anna had the computer and Matthew was doing school, so I read a long article about how alternate jerseys in professional sports became popular, and what the guidelines are in each sport.

AUG 27: Got some figuring out to do on our Comcast. Supposed to have an internet booster and caller ID show on the TV. I do not look forward to spending an hour on the phone with them.

Tuesday night Ceil threw together an OK dish last night that the kids hated: two different kids of pasta mixed together with sausage, onions, and parmesan. She forgot to add spinach. We also had tossed salad. I caught up on some computer work, but had more to do. M and A had plenty of schoolwork due for today’s classes. All Matthew’s moaning and groaning about school made me not want to attack the to-do list I had made, so I just watched the Braves game. Not sure if I’m ready for Uggla to come back. I was going to pop corn, but didn’t want to distract M from his studies. Had yogurt instead.

Speaking of Comcast, I discovered we do not have the new aljazeera network. Last night they were airing a discussion about keeping creationism in public schoolbooks in Texas. The panel included Dr. Georgia Purdom (the Answers in Genesis research scientist that spoke at Will’s graduation) and noted evolutionist Bill Nye (who plays a scientist on TV). Later Dr. Purdom said the show went ok.

Meanwhile on MARTA

Saturday I was too busy to attend the Dragon Con parade, but I did see several convention-goers on the train.