By: Payton Towns III
How many people really picked Georgia to win the SEC Tournament and go on to get a spot in the Big Dance? That's what I thought.
For those who went to sleep early Friday and didn't wake up or watch television until late Saturday evening, you missed a lot.
First of all, there was that tornado that hit downtown Atlanta and did serious damage to the area around the Georgia Dome. It was something to see that because I've spent some time around the Dome when I've covered Dublin playing in the Final Four football playoffs the last two years.
Two years ago, when the Irish played Lovett, I remember the wind we faced as we walked down the side of the building to get to the media gate. That was a harsh wind we faced that day. I can only imagine what it was like Friday night. From what I've heard on the news, the wind was over 100 mph.
It was a good thing the Alabama/Mississippi State game went into overtime. If that game had ended on time or if it had been a blown out, people would have left early. And that would have put them outside the Dome in the middle of a twister. Many people would have died if they were outside.
But the good Lord helped out and many lives were saved because an Alabama player hit what many called an unbelievable shot to send the game into overtime.
I'm sure the video from inside the Dome will be studied by people looking at what a tornado does to buildings like that. In the video you can see where the wind was making the top of the Dome move like a small wave.
Various things fell from the ceiling and there was a big hole on the side. The catwalk above the court was swaying, causing players to run off the court. People were concerned with where their love ones were.
One hour later they finished that game and then the SEC postponed Georgia's game against Kentucky. After talking with Dome officials, it was decided that the remainder of the tournament needed to be moved. Kudos has to go to Georgia Tech, an ACC team, for stepping up and answering the call.
I'm sure it was strange for people to see the Georgia Bulldogs playing against someone other than the Yellow Jackets in Alexander Memorial Coliseum. The Bulldogs seemed to play like a team on a mission in the SEC tournament.
There's no secret that Bulldogs head coach Dennis Felton was on the hot seat. He needed his team to get into the Big Dance. For that to happen, he needed them to win the SEC title. And that's what happened.
Now Georgia has a date against Xavier. Some may say there's no way they can go far. I wouldn't.
As for NASCAR, I wasn't able to watch the second half of the race on Sunday. What I heard was Tony Stewart got wrecked by good friend Kevin Harvick. This set up a late race restart where race winner Jeff Burton was able to get around Denny Hamlin and win the race.
I've heard that Stewart and Harvick's spotters had harsh words for each other. It'll be interesting to see how these two respond to each other. Burton, who finished second in the spring race at Bristol last year, rolled into victory lane and giving Chevrolet its first victory of the year.
This means that all four manufacturers have won a race this year: Ryan Newman won the Daytona 500 in a Dodge, Carl Edwards won the race at California and Las Vegas in a Ford and Kyle Busch won in Atlanta in a Toyota.
Maybe this NASCAR season is going to be just like the SEC tournament. You have to watch because you don't know what's going to happen next.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Jason's First Blog (One last hoo-rah for hoops)
So I'm pretty new at this blog stuff.
I tried to write a couple not too long after I signed up on MySpace, but
it was such a pain to keep up with.
I mean, who in the heck is really that interested in taking time out of
their life to read about yours? I didn't think too many, so I quit
writing the things altogether.
But when the boss lady comes along and says "I think it would be a good
idea for us to have a sports blog," not only did I jump, I asked "How
high?" and "How long do you need me to stay up in the air?"
Which leads into my next little tidbit, or for those keeping count at
home, my first ever "Heart of Georgia Sports" blog.
I've got a soon-to-be three-month-old son (hyphens galore), and he has to
be the single best thing I've ever been a part of in my entire life.
So it was really cool when his Social Security card came in the mail,
validating among all things that, yes, I was somebody's father. Me and my
wife noticed the cards have been updated an awful lot since ours were
pressed 22 and 27 years ago, respectively. And heck, the thing even had a
USA mark at the bottom like a five dollar bill.
It's nice to know you're a member of something important, like our
country. And it's even nicer to know that the tax break that came with
having our little one toward the end of the year should offset his
medical bills (I told a friend the other day: When we first got our
medical bills, my son cost about as much as a bling-ed out Escalade
rolling on 26's with four seat-mounted screens, an 18" plasma and Persian
rug floor mats. Since haggling with the hospitals and doctors, he's
looking more like a 2003 Mercury Voyager program car; a little pricier
than a Ford, but not quite a Chrysler.)
At any rate being a part of something special, be it fathering your first
natural-born child or, for instance, a member of a championship caliber
team, is comparable to the destinations sitting on the other side of a
long road trip.
You drive and drive and drive. And 12 fast food stops, 18 bathroom stops
and 5 stops to ask directions later, you've reached your goal; Like
Disney World on steroids.
You can't compare the high that comes with becoming a dad for the first
time, or winning a championship, with any other thing you do in life.
Just ask now former Dublin coach Clinton Thomas.
He said "It's just a thrill to be able to do it. It's a high that you can
compare to drugs or anything else. It's the kind of high you want to
have."
Which made both Dublin and East Laurens' losses to eventual champion
Wesleyan even harder to swallow.
It's a natural high that serves as a major accomplishment and can be
listed as an even bigger achievement by everyone involved.
I know I'm proud. I sling my little boy in front of every single face
that walks by at the Wal-Mart, and my cell phone has at least 10
different pictures saved for those times when I don't have a hard copy to
show to someone when he's not there.
So the question you have to ask yourself is: Why would somebody
deliberately try to steal that moment away from someone?
I'm not necessarily talking about kidnapping babies, ala Raising Arizona,
but the Irish and Falcons have to feel a little cheated for losing to
what amounted to an AAU squad. (By the way Wesleyan fans, you can send
your hate mail to sports@courier-herald.com)
Folks down here in the Heart of Georgia have hashed and rehashed the
whole Private-Public situation with the GHSA, so I'm not going to spend
forever even trying to begin an old debate.
I just think it stinks.
I'm not calling our area innocent, because Lord knows there's a rule in
the White bible (GHSA rules book: it's white, hence the name) that is
named after a former West Laurens grad. And of course the Falcons had a
pair transfer from Dublin during East Laurens' first two trips to the
Finals.
But neither Dublin, East, nor West was getting kids from famed Oak Hill
Academy to transfer back into their system. And once more, how proud
should anyone feel for doing what you're supposed to do? (Just ask
Chris Rock)
Wesleyan was supposed to win their first title with that kind of
talent.
When the Bulls fielded an All-Star basketball team in the 1990's, they
were supposed to win championships. If Jordan didn't win two or
three rings with guys like Pippen, Bill Cartwright, Rodman and Toni
Kukoc, he would have just been a taller, skinnier and richer Charles
Barkley.
Or the Lakers of the '80s.
Or the Celtics of the '50s and '60s.
Let's see if my math holds out right:
Magic+Kareem+Worthy=Title
Frank Ramsey+Tom Heinsohn+Bill Russell+Bill Sharman+Bob Cousy=Beating
Wilt in the 63' Finals.
Doing what you're capable of doing, and doing what you're supposed
to do are two different things.
I'm supposed to be a good dad. It's what you're supposed to do.
By allowing schools, be they private or public, to abuse the system's
policies at the expense of kids like Rashard Smith, Jimmy Williams and
Ken Taylor, the GHSA has failed to let these kids do what they're capable
of: compete on a level playing field.
I can't imagine how proud I would be if either of my two boys got the
chance to be a part of something as special as winning a high school
state title.
Too bad for Jimmy Williams Sr., he'll never get the chance. And he only
has the GHSA to blame.
I tried to write a couple not too long after I signed up on MySpace, but
it was such a pain to keep up with.
I mean, who in the heck is really that interested in taking time out of
their life to read about yours? I didn't think too many, so I quit
writing the things altogether.
But when the boss lady comes along and says "I think it would be a good
idea for us to have a sports blog," not only did I jump, I asked "How
high?" and "How long do you need me to stay up in the air?"
Which leads into my next little tidbit, or for those keeping count at
home, my first ever "Heart of Georgia Sports" blog.
I've got a soon-to-be three-month-old son (hyphens galore), and he has to
be the single best thing I've ever been a part of in my entire life.
So it was really cool when his Social Security card came in the mail,
validating among all things that, yes, I was somebody's father. Me and my
wife noticed the cards have been updated an awful lot since ours were
pressed 22 and 27 years ago, respectively. And heck, the thing even had a
USA mark at the bottom like a five dollar bill.
It's nice to know you're a member of something important, like our
country. And it's even nicer to know that the tax break that came with
having our little one toward the end of the year should offset his
medical bills (I told a friend the other day: When we first got our
medical bills, my son cost about as much as a bling-ed out Escalade
rolling on 26's with four seat-mounted screens, an 18" plasma and Persian
rug floor mats. Since haggling with the hospitals and doctors, he's
looking more like a 2003 Mercury Voyager program car; a little pricier
than a Ford, but not quite a Chrysler.)
At any rate being a part of something special, be it fathering your first
natural-born child or, for instance, a member of a championship caliber
team, is comparable to the destinations sitting on the other side of a
long road trip.
You drive and drive and drive. And 12 fast food stops, 18 bathroom stops
and 5 stops to ask directions later, you've reached your goal; Like
Disney World on steroids.
You can't compare the high that comes with becoming a dad for the first
time, or winning a championship, with any other thing you do in life.
Just ask now former Dublin coach Clinton Thomas.
He said "It's just a thrill to be able to do it. It's a high that you can
compare to drugs or anything else. It's the kind of high you want to
have."
Which made both Dublin and East Laurens' losses to eventual champion
Wesleyan even harder to swallow.
It's a natural high that serves as a major accomplishment and can be
listed as an even bigger achievement by everyone involved.
I know I'm proud. I sling my little boy in front of every single face
that walks by at the Wal-Mart, and my cell phone has at least 10
different pictures saved for those times when I don't have a hard copy to
show to someone when he's not there.
So the question you have to ask yourself is: Why would somebody
deliberately try to steal that moment away from someone?
I'm not necessarily talking about kidnapping babies, ala Raising Arizona,
but the Irish and Falcons have to feel a little cheated for losing to
what amounted to an AAU squad. (By the way Wesleyan fans, you can send
your hate mail to sports@courier-herald.com)
Folks down here in the Heart of Georgia have hashed and rehashed the
whole Private-Public situation with the GHSA, so I'm not going to spend
forever even trying to begin an old debate.
I just think it stinks.
I'm not calling our area innocent, because Lord knows there's a rule in
the White bible (GHSA rules book: it's white, hence the name) that is
named after a former West Laurens grad. And of course the Falcons had a
pair transfer from Dublin during East Laurens' first two trips to the
Finals.
But neither Dublin, East, nor West was getting kids from famed Oak Hill
Academy to transfer back into their system. And once more, how proud
should anyone feel for doing what you're supposed to do? (Just ask
Chris Rock)
Wesleyan was supposed to win their first title with that kind of
talent.
When the Bulls fielded an All-Star basketball team in the 1990's, they
were supposed to win championships. If Jordan didn't win two or
three rings with guys like Pippen, Bill Cartwright, Rodman and Toni
Kukoc, he would have just been a taller, skinnier and richer Charles
Barkley.
Or the Lakers of the '80s.
Or the Celtics of the '50s and '60s.
Let's see if my math holds out right:
Magic+Kareem+Worthy=Title
Frank Ramsey+Tom Heinsohn+Bill Russell+Bill Sharman+Bob Cousy=Beating
Wilt in the 63' Finals.
Doing what you're capable of doing, and doing what you're supposed
to do are two different things.
I'm supposed to be a good dad. It's what you're supposed to do.
By allowing schools, be they private or public, to abuse the system's
policies at the expense of kids like Rashard Smith, Jimmy Williams and
Ken Taylor, the GHSA has failed to let these kids do what they're capable
of: compete on a level playing field.
I can't imagine how proud I would be if either of my two boys got the
chance to be a part of something as special as winning a high school
state title.
Too bad for Jimmy Williams Sr., he'll never get the chance. And he only
has the GHSA to blame.
Best Basketball Moments From the Season
Outside the Macon Centreplex, traffic passed by as teams from all over Georgia played for the right to be a state champion. Laurens County was fortunate to have not one but two teams make the Class AA Final Four this year (Dublin and East Laurens). Covering these teams, as well as those who didn't make it, has been fun.
There's nothing like taking a trip south to Savannah State University and watching both teams you were sent to cover win their games. Dublin's upset of Randolph-Clay was one of the best games I saw this year. I wasn't at the game when the Irish beat Wilkinson County but I'm sure the win against the undefeated Devils will be one they will remember for a long time. Coach Clinton Thomas was so excited about the win. Unfortunately, it turned out to be his last win with the Irish.
While I'm talking about Dublin, the Lady Irish also had a better season than maybe some thought they would. They had a big win against Vidalia. In fact they were the first team to beat Vidalia late in the season. I knew they would have a good season and look out for both of these teams next year because they return a lot of their starters.
East Laurens boys cruised through the regular season with only one loss coming against West Laurens. A week after that loss, the Falcons were in another Holiday Tournament in Brewton Parker. Once again they were playing the host school in Montgomery County. The game was tight through the first three quarters before the Falcons pulled away. I'll never forget the first game of the tournament. The Falcons weren't playing to good so Coach Jimmy Williams didn't stay in the locker room long. He later told me it was cold and he wanted them to get back out there and warm up. There was a game in Dodge County that went into overtime and the game against Josey, which went down to the final couple of minutes, that stick out in my mind.
The West Laurens Raiders may not have had as good of a season as some thought they would. But they did get the best of their rivals at East Laurens in the Laurens County Christmas Tournament. They also had close games against Central-Macon. Unfortunately, they didn't go the Raiders way.
I wasn't able to see any of the Trinity girls' games, well except for one. That's when Trinity hosted a girls team from Australia. The team from down under beat the Lady Crusaders who didn't have all of their players for the game. May have been a different outcome if they were there.
I don't mean to leave anybody out but I'm trying to remember the top moments. I may think of more later. It has been a great season to cover basketball in the Heart of Georgia one I'm sure you'll remember for a long time. We are currently working on the HOG team where we'll announce the girls player and coach of the year as well as the boys player and coach of the year. We'll try to let you know before that comes out.
For now, there are many sport activities going on in this area and many great teams so try to get out and watch some of the moments become memories.
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