news??

With two kids in the house it’s not uncommon for me to have The Disney Channel on at various times of the day, so I’m very much aware of who Miley Cyrus is.   And if I wasn’t, the national news organizations (and WECT) would have me covered…because apparently she wasn’t.

I cannot for the life of me believe that some photos in Vanity Fair are national news.  Have we come to this as a society?  Do we really have to turn to photos to fill time in a newscast when the Democrats can’t settle on a candidate, gas prices are at an all-time high, and there are food shortages world wide?

It’s pretty sad.

While I don’t make it my business to follow the “Hollywood” gossip news, I can’t seem to get out of the way of Miley’s photo shoot.  Honestly, I don’t see what the big deal is.  She’s a 15-year old girl who posed with a bare back.  From what I know of it her father was present for the shoot, so I don’t believe there was any coercion on the part of the photographer (who by the way is a world-renowned photographer).  She’s not in any sort of suggestive pose, and she wasn’t posing for any men’s magazines.  If anything I say good for her for becoming the cash-cow that she is.  Her fortune may end up making even the Olsen twins jealous.

I’ve seen high school girls wear less at a Friday night football game, and while I may not think it’s appropriate, I also don’t think it’s cause for national discussion.

Just my two cents.

proud pappa

If you’ve been around me you know I’m a very proud father. 

Well tonight, I’m brimming with pride.

Madison is walking.  She won’t be doing a 5k any time soon, but she’s on her way.  Tonight she broke free from Kelli and walked on her own.  Keep in mind I’m with the girls until 2:30 M-F, Kelli is able to be with them upwards of two hours if she’s lucky before they go to bed.  And she freaking walked for mommy!  I guess you can’t break some bonds.

While Madison is on her way, Kaitlyn is very content crawling everywhere.  It’s funny.  They’re identical but at the same time so different.  Madison will walk, doesn’t crawl.  Kaitlyn crawls everywhere, won’t walk.

Daddy’s in no hurry for them to grow up any more than they have.

 

who’s next???

Over the past month or so we’ve watched to former local high school athletes make the jump to the highest level. 

Laney’s Tamera Young was taken as the eighth overall pick in the WNBA draft becoming the first Buccaneer player since Michael Jordan to be drafted.  Not bad company.

Over the weekend Hoggard’s Connor Barth signed a free-agent deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.  Only time will tell how long he’ll be a part of the NFL.

Now the question is who’s next?  With all of the talen in our area there are a handful of athletes who have the talent.  But my money is on UNCW’s John Raynor.

Before the season began Raynor was listed as one of the top 30 prospects by Baseball America, and apparently the Florida Marlins agree.  The speedy outfielder was moved up from A ball to the double-A Carolina Mudcats.

Raynor was the Marlins Organizational Player of the Year in 2007, and so far this season he’s played in all 24 games batting .267 with 11 extra-base hits and is second on the team with five steals. 

I say Raynor will be wearing a Marlins uniform sooner than later.

we knew him when…

Kevin has already posted about Connor Barth but I figured I’d chime in with my two cents.

We’ve seen a lot of athletes come and go through Wilmington since Kevin and I joined the department.  Honestly it’s strange how we’re now covering kids WHO GREW UP WATCHING US.  If memory serves me right Connor’s graduating class was the first that we covered from Freshman to Senior year, so we sort of watched him grow up on the football field.

We both knew he’d be kicking in the NFL, so Sunday’s announcement came as no surprise.

Kevin saw a lot more of Connor on the practice field than I did, but Friday night’s Hoggard high school is one of my regular stops, so I was able to watch him when the kicks counted.  He was money week in and week out.  It didn’t matter the distance or the situation, he was as automatic as any athlete at any level.  I can honestly remember him missing one field goal while I was on the sidelines, and he just sort of lingered on the field and starred at the post (which he missed by inches…from 48 yards out).

He was the little kid with the big leg, then before we knew it he was the big kid with the bigger leg.  I’ve never seen a kid put on the sort of size that Connor did, especially as a kicker.  He literally went from being a stick to being, well, a football player.  Then he kicked the game winner against Miami and the rest is history.

My wife would be really upset if I didn’t include here that I became teary-eyed when he hit that game winner.  You try not to become connected to the people you cover, but with Connor it was different.  We KNEW him, still do.  We know his brother, his mother Sue and father Tom.  He spent time with us in the sports office learning about what we do, wanting to maybe do what we do if football didn’t work out.

Yeah, right.

Like I said at the top, we’ve seen a lot of athletes come and go.  It looks like we have one we’ll get to watch again.

Connor Barth: all grown up.

The picture above is when most of the world was introduced to Connor Barth.  Its taken just after he hit the game winning field goal against then-nationally ranked Miami.  He went from ordinary freshman kicker to campus hero.

But it wasn’t an introduction for me.  I already knew about Connor.

Back in 2002, we did the “Scholar Athlete Award” and one week in October it was Connor.  I met him at practice when he kicked all alone on the main field while the rest of the team worked out on the big practice field.  He was just a skinny little kid, but he could kick it a mile.  That previous week – as a junior – Connor kicked a 50 yarder.  He was certainly something special.  I asked him to kick a bunch of balls – and he did until I had all the video I needed. 

Because of that story I ended up meeting Connor’s family, helping him with his senior project at Hoggard (shockingly, a kicking instruction video), was there when he was selected for the All-American game, went to his bowl game freshman year, and then watched from afar for the rest of his UNC career.

Now – that skinny kid I did the Scholar Athlete story on is heading to the NFL.  Connor signed a free agent deal with the Chiefs tonight – just hours after the Draft.

I never had any doubts.  I always thought Connor would make it.  He’s a great kid from a great family. 

I’m not an expert on the Chiefs, but a quick look at their roster and offseason moves makes it looks like he’s got a real shot to make the team (If there are any Chief fans out there – feel free to comment). 

Hopefully he does.  I’m not really supposed to root for teams or players with this job – but its safe to say I’m rooting for Connor Barth.

    kevin

To watch that Scholar Athlete story from 2002 click on the WECT Logo

The UNC photo is from scout.com and insidecarolina

Spell Check Update.

According to my “Microsoft Office” email software, Barack Obama is spelling his name wrong.

I wonder how often they update stuff like that.  I can’t possibly be the first person who has discovered this.

   kevin

tradition cancelled.

Today is the NFL Draft.

It is – normally – one of my favorite days of the year.  This year its just another day.

For the past several years I’ve gone to Miami for the draft and watched it with Miami Dave (and the occassional cameo from James).  Miami Dave makes up a huge bowl of guacmole, we do our own mock drafts, and place small bets on who will get picked next.  Its a just a good time to see a great friend from college.

This year – for various reasons - no trip.

Safe to say – its a lot more fun to watch the draft on Dave’s couch than it is to watch it at work.  In fact, its not much fun at all here.  Its – well – work.  I spent about 15 minutes editing video of the offensive lineman the Panthers took with their second first round pick.  “Here he is blocking a guy.  Here he is blocking another guy.”

The shame in the whole thing is – this year’s draft is one I’ve been looking forward to for about five years.  The reason: its the Connor Barth draft.  Hopefully that good news will come tomorrow and I’ll be excited about the draft again.

   kevin

The bowl of guacamole is from americanfeast.com

how much?

I’m not one of those guys who complains about stuff.  In fact, I pretty much don’t get worked up over anything.  My favorite phrase in response to bad news is “whatever”. 

And because of that attitude, I’ve gotten kind of sick of people complaining about gas prices.  Yes…its expensive.  But what are you going to do?  Its not like you aren’t going to buy it and you’re going to take a bike everywhere.  Just deal with it.

But that was before today.

I filled up the lovely Honda Civic at 3.50 a gallon a today.

$3.50 a gallon??  WHAT???  WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN???

Holy macaroni that’s a lot.  But - what can you do?  Like I said – other people aren’t about to ride bikes to work, and I’m certainly not going to either.

And why does the pump now ask me for my zip code when I enter in my credit card??  Where do you think I live, Mr Pump??  Do you think I went 100 miles out of my way to get gas?? No – I live around the stupid corner – the same zip code you are.  Just let me pay for my gas!

Anyways – at the end of the day – gas prices are still “whatever” in my world.  Really…what can you do?  But it can still take your breath away – even if its just for a second. 

    kevin

the pump photo is from gmvolt.com  Its from a story called “Gas Prices Hit Record High”.  From A YEAR AGO.  Ugh.

winner winner, chicken dinner.

I don’t really have a lot clever to say about Danica Patrick’s win in Tokyo this past weekend.  So I won’t try.  I just know that – even though they are in different series - I’d rather have her win than Dale Earnhardt Jr.  I’m kinda sick of the “will Little E finally win” questions.  Answer: no.  Hendrick should have kept Kyle Busch if they wanted to win.

But anyways – I do think the picture above is really cool.  The look on her face is hilarious.  I think I’d have the same smug look if I was her.   I’ll let the picture tell the story.  Another advantage of the NEW Orange Couch…PICTURES!!

Although, I’d much rather link to her photos from the swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated, but I’m pretty sure that’s not allowed.  Something tells me bikini shots aren’t encouraged on wect.com

    kevin

The photo is from the Associated Press via thatsracin.com

Apparently I’m an adult.

I remember when I used to spend money on fun things like video games, t-shirts with stupid slogans, inflatable beer bottles, sports tickets, and of course – an Erik Estrada bobblehead.

This past week Boston Dave asked if I was coming to Boston for Monday’s Patriot’s Day Red Sox game.  After showing up for the Red Sox Victory Parade on a day’s notice in October, I guess the bar has been set for future Boston trips.  I’m actually pretty honored that he thought I would make it.

Sadly, I had to decline because apparently I’m an adult.  Basically, I couldn’t afford the trip because I just spent a boatload of money on – wait for it – a dryer.  A little part of me just died.

A dryer??  This is what I spend money on now??  Ugh.  So much for being young and having fun.  Take it from me – growing up stinks.

On another note - I like baseball as much as the next guy (more than most guys, actually) but had I been there, I would have been long gone by the time the 22nd inning rolled around for the Rockies-Padres game.  6 hours and 16 minutes?  No thanks.  I’ve got better things to do.

Like dry my clothes.

    kevin

The photo of the dryer is the one I purchased from Sears.  Bob got the same one about a month ago and said he liked it.  I know nothing about dryers, so just I bought the exact same one.