Like everyone else in the Cumberland County sports community, I was shocked by the news earlier this week of Ron Miller's death. Although he had suffered heart problems in the past, he seemed healthy and vibrant. I know he was looking forward to coaching the Fayetteville Academy varsity team next season.
My deepest sympathies go out to his family and everyone who loves sports in this area, because in addition to being a Hall of Fame coach, Ron Miller was a genuinely good guy with a deep passion for sports -- especially basketball -- and for helping youngsters improve themselves and giving them opportunities to succeed in life. Just a few days before his death, he was in the stands supporting his local Hope Mills team at a Dixie Youth baseball tournament game.
The last time I saw him, he was coaching a team of ACC senior all-stars in an exhibition game at Terry Sanford High. Even though he didn't have to do much actual coaching, he was relaxed, happy and completely in his element. There was nothing he loved more than talking about his favorite sport. I, for one, will miss hearing him do it.
In the world of competitive athletics, we have a tendency to overuse terms like "greatness" and "legendary," but in this case, both are appropriate. The loss of Ron Miller is a big one for our local sports scene. He was truly larger than life -- and not just because a 15-foot reproduction of his face was once featured on a Robeson Street billboard.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
The Army does an about face on Caleb Campbell
One day before he was to join the Detroit Lions for the first day of preseason training camp, the Army changed its mind about Lt. Caleb Campbell and decided to send him directly into active duty, rather than allowing him the opportunity to make the NFL team's roster.
Here's the link to the AP story: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-lions-campbell&prov=ap&type=lgns
Needless to say, Campbell wasn't happy about the decision. "Oh yeah, I cried, because I wanted a shot,” Campbell, a seventh-round draft pick of the Lions, told The Oakland Press of Pontiac for a story published Thursday.
I'm sure he is upset. Wouldn't you be? I mean, there's a big difference between earning hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to play football and getting sent to Iraq or Afghanistan and having somebody shoot at you.
While I don't particularly care for the timing of the the about face, those of you who read this blog regularly know that I think it was the right thing to do -- especially in light of a ruling that denied a recent Naval Academy graduate the same chance to play pro baseball after getting drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals.
I'm not sure if the inconsistencies between the Army and Navy policies had anything to do with the reversal on Campbell, a defensive back who was drafted by the Lions in the seventh round this spring. But unless all service academy athletes are afforded the same benefit, it was the only fair thing to do.
Here's the link to the AP story: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-lions-campbell&prov=ap&type=lgns
Needless to say, Campbell wasn't happy about the decision. "Oh yeah, I cried, because I wanted a shot,” Campbell, a seventh-round draft pick of the Lions, told The Oakland Press of Pontiac for a story published Thursday.
I'm sure he is upset. Wouldn't you be? I mean, there's a big difference between earning hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to play football and getting sent to Iraq or Afghanistan and having somebody shoot at you.
While I don't particularly care for the timing of the the about face, those of you who read this blog regularly know that I think it was the right thing to do -- especially in light of a ruling that denied a recent Naval Academy graduate the same chance to play pro baseball after getting drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals.
I'm not sure if the inconsistencies between the Army and Navy policies had anything to do with the reversal on Campbell, a defensive back who was drafted by the Lions in the seventh round this spring. But unless all service academy athletes are afforded the same benefit, it was the only fair thing to do.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
What's up with these girls?
So much for women being the fairer sex -- at least, when it comes to sports.
I'm not sure what's gotten into these girls lately, but within the last week, we've seen them engage in two highly publicized physical confrontations in the heat of battle. Maybe they've finally realized that nobody out there is watching and they had to do something -- other than showing their sports bras to celebrate big victories -- to get some attention.
Whatever it is, here's the video of the WNBA brawl between the Detroit Shock and Los Angeles Sparks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE4s3C93Ex4.
And the pit road towel toss between Danica Patrick and some other women driver named Mika Duno: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXUd6n1Vti8.
At the rate things are going, it's only a matter of time before the Williams sisters go tag team to kick the daylights out of the next tennis opponents that beat them in doubles or instead of having the winner dive into the pond to celebrate victory at LPGA's Dinah Shore, Michelle Wie decides to push her in.
I'm not sure what's gotten into these girls lately, but within the last week, we've seen them engage in two highly publicized physical confrontations in the heat of battle. Maybe they've finally realized that nobody out there is watching and they had to do something -- other than showing their sports bras to celebrate big victories -- to get some attention.
Whatever it is, here's the video of the WNBA brawl between the Detroit Shock and Los Angeles Sparks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE4s3C93Ex4.
And the pit road towel toss between Danica Patrick and some other women driver named Mika Duno: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXUd6n1Vti8.
At the rate things are going, it's only a matter of time before the Williams sisters go tag team to kick the daylights out of the next tennis opponents that beat them in doubles or instead of having the winner dive into the pond to celebrate victory at LPGA's Dinah Shore, Michelle Wie decides to push her in.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Unfortunately, I think we all know how this story is probably going to end
Having recently turned 50 and facing a situation that calls for me to make a new start in life, I find myself identifying with Greg Norman tonight. And I'm rooting like crazy for the Great Gray Shark to hold it together for 18 more holes and become the oldest player ever to win one of golf's major championships.
Unfortunately, Norman's age, his lack of recent success and his career history will all be working against him in Sunday's final round of the British Open. Even in his prime, 53-year-old Australian probably wouldn't have been a good bet to take home the Claret Jug.
He is the antithesis of Tiger Woods, perhaps the worst front-runner in the history of major championship golf. His two-shot lead at Royal Birkdale marks the ninth time in his career that he has been atop the leader board after 54 holes at the Masters, U.S. and British Open or the PGA and only once, did he take advantage of the situation to win the title. So while I'm hoping the law of averages finally catches up with him and produces a victory for the ages (or should that be the aged), I'm fully expecting defending champion Padraig Harrington, Korean K.J. Choi or somebody else to break Norman's heart one last time.
Of course, if Norman does win, what a statement it will make about today's young players.
This is, after all, one of the two chances they're going to get for the foreseeable future to win a major without having Tiger to contend with. You know, the golden ticket to make a name for themselves and solidify their legacies. So what does Sergio, Adam Scott, Justin Rose, Anthony Kim and other young hotshots like them do? They sit around complaining about the dismal conditions while a guy with an AARP card comes out of moth balls to steal away the precious opportunity.
Forget about "the best player never to win a major." If one of them doesn't step forward and get the job done at the PGA next month, we might have to start talking about "the best generation of players never to win a major." No matter how Norman does on Sunday.
Unfortunately, Norman's age, his lack of recent success and his career history will all be working against him in Sunday's final round of the British Open. Even in his prime, 53-year-old Australian probably wouldn't have been a good bet to take home the Claret Jug.
He is the antithesis of Tiger Woods, perhaps the worst front-runner in the history of major championship golf. His two-shot lead at Royal Birkdale marks the ninth time in his career that he has been atop the leader board after 54 holes at the Masters, U.S. and British Open or the PGA and only once, did he take advantage of the situation to win the title. So while I'm hoping the law of averages finally catches up with him and produces a victory for the ages (or should that be the aged), I'm fully expecting defending champion Padraig Harrington, Korean K.J. Choi or somebody else to break Norman's heart one last time.
Of course, if Norman does win, what a statement it will make about today's young players.
This is, after all, one of the two chances they're going to get for the foreseeable future to win a major without having Tiger to contend with. You know, the golden ticket to make a name for themselves and solidify their legacies. So what does Sergio, Adam Scott, Justin Rose, Anthony Kim and other young hotshots like them do? They sit around complaining about the dismal conditions while a guy with an AARP card comes out of moth balls to steal away the precious opportunity.
Forget about "the best player never to win a major." If one of them doesn't step forward and get the job done at the PGA next month, we might have to start talking about "the best generation of players never to win a major." No matter how Norman does on Sunday.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Yes, he's annoying, but Billy shouldn't have been sent Pack-ing
It's been almost a week since the news came down and while I've been kind of busy the last couple of days and haven't had the chance to post, I didn't want to let Billy Packer's dismissal by CBS come and go without commenting on it.
First, let me say that I've never been a fan of Packer. He is to college basketball what Tim McCarver is to baseball -- a pompous, long-winded know-it-all who thinks he's bigger than the game and smarter than both his audience and the coaches he's constantly second-guessing. But having said that, he didn't deserve what CBS did to him on Monday. That's when the network announced it was replacing the 68-year-old Packer with Clark Kellogg as the lead analyst on its college basketball telecasts, effectively ending Packer's streak of 34 consecutive Final Four broadcasts.
The reason for his ouster?
Officially, it's because CBS officials thought the time was right for a change and that Kellogg deserved a chance to work with Jim Nantz on the lead announcing team. In reality, Packer's ouster likely came as the result of his committing the cardinal sin of broadcasting. He said something over the air that his bosses believed cost them money.
He did it by telling viewers that last April's national semifinal game between UNC and Kansas "was over" after the Jayhawks sprinted out to a 38-12 lead midway through the first half. Never mind that the game really was over, even though the Tar Heels eventually rallied back to make it interesting in the second half, or that Packer's job description was and always has been to tell it as he sees it. All the suits in New York heard was that someone on their payroll was telling people all across America to pick up their remotes and change the channel. And he paid for it with his job.
While the result of the decision is that CBS's college basketball coverage will be eminently more watchable in the future it doesn't make what the network did to Packer on Monday any less unfair.
First, let me say that I've never been a fan of Packer. He is to college basketball what Tim McCarver is to baseball -- a pompous, long-winded know-it-all who thinks he's bigger than the game and smarter than both his audience and the coaches he's constantly second-guessing. But having said that, he didn't deserve what CBS did to him on Monday. That's when the network announced it was replacing the 68-year-old Packer with Clark Kellogg as the lead analyst on its college basketball telecasts, effectively ending Packer's streak of 34 consecutive Final Four broadcasts.
The reason for his ouster?
Officially, it's because CBS officials thought the time was right for a change and that Kellogg deserved a chance to work with Jim Nantz on the lead announcing team. In reality, Packer's ouster likely came as the result of his committing the cardinal sin of broadcasting. He said something over the air that his bosses believed cost them money.
He did it by telling viewers that last April's national semifinal game between UNC and Kansas "was over" after the Jayhawks sprinted out to a 38-12 lead midway through the first half. Never mind that the game really was over, even though the Tar Heels eventually rallied back to make it interesting in the second half, or that Packer's job description was and always has been to tell it as he sees it. All the suits in New York heard was that someone on their payroll was telling people all across America to pick up their remotes and change the channel. And he paid for it with his job.
While the result of the decision is that CBS's college basketball coverage will be eminently more watchable in the future it doesn't make what the network did to Packer on Monday any less unfair.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
SwampDogs getting plenty of "Bangs" for their buck
Check out the story I did on Scotland High graduate Parker Bangs for the Fayetteville SwampDogs' website:
http://goswampdogs.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=603&Itemid=16
One other thing, my blog as the Wilmington Star-News' "ACC Insider" is up and running. You can find it at http://acc.starnewsonline.com/. My first assignment is this weekend from the ACC's football kickoff media event in Greensboro, Ga.
http://goswampdogs.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=603&Itemid=16
One other thing, my blog as the Wilmington Star-News' "ACC Insider" is up and running. You can find it at http://acc.starnewsonline.com/. My first assignment is this weekend from the ACC's football kickoff media event in Greensboro, Ga.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Home Run Derby was a hit
I tried my best not to enjoy Monday's All-Star Home Run Derby.
I complained that the best power hitters in the game weren't in it. I moaned that the biggest stars no longer cared about it (even Alex Rodriguez blew it off, despite the opportunity to perform before his home fans in a historic home stadium potentially hosting its last big event). Most of all, I whined that it had become the baseball version of the NBA's Slam Dunk Contest -- an event that was once a good idea, but had far outlived its usefulness.
Then Josh Hamilton stepped up to the plate and my perspective changed drastically.
Suddenly it didn't matter that the field included a pair of second basemen, a leadoff hitter and one of the Desperate Housewives (Don't worry, I know it was really Evan Longoria, not Mrs. Tony Parker). All I knew is that this once-troubled kid with arms like a longshoreman, an electric smile and a 71-year-old former coach for a pitcher was hitting the ball out of sight with every swing he took.
What an amazing story -- even if ESPN tried as hard as it could to spoil the moment, as it usually does, by going overboard trying to tell it. I mean, did we really need to hear about Hamilton's unwanted tattoos THREE times during the telecast?
The only real injustice is that the Texas Rangers' star didn't get to go home with the trophy he so richly deserved. But as the eventual winner -- Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins -- conceded, "it was Josh's show" and that's all people are going to remember for years to come. Even with the anticlimactic ending and ESPN's annoying coverage (lowlighted by columnist Rick Reilly's insulting comparison to the number of white guys in the competition to a "Kiwanis Club meeting") it was an entertaining show that renewed my waning enthusiasm for the Home Run Derby.
I complained that the best power hitters in the game weren't in it. I moaned that the biggest stars no longer cared about it (even Alex Rodriguez blew it off, despite the opportunity to perform before his home fans in a historic home stadium potentially hosting its last big event). Most of all, I whined that it had become the baseball version of the NBA's Slam Dunk Contest -- an event that was once a good idea, but had far outlived its usefulness.
Then Josh Hamilton stepped up to the plate and my perspective changed drastically.
Suddenly it didn't matter that the field included a pair of second basemen, a leadoff hitter and one of the Desperate Housewives (Don't worry, I know it was really Evan Longoria, not Mrs. Tony Parker). All I knew is that this once-troubled kid with arms like a longshoreman, an electric smile and a 71-year-old former coach for a pitcher was hitting the ball out of sight with every swing he took.
What an amazing story -- even if ESPN tried as hard as it could to spoil the moment, as it usually does, by going overboard trying to tell it. I mean, did we really need to hear about Hamilton's unwanted tattoos THREE times during the telecast?
The only real injustice is that the Texas Rangers' star didn't get to go home with the trophy he so richly deserved. But as the eventual winner -- Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins -- conceded, "it was Josh's show" and that's all people are going to remember for years to come. Even with the anticlimactic ending and ESPN's annoying coverage (lowlighted by columnist Rick Reilly's insulting comparison to the number of white guys in the competition to a "Kiwanis Club meeting") it was an entertaining show that renewed my waning enthusiasm for the Home Run Derby.
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