From the notebook…..*Unbelievably the season is drawing to a close and has come down to one game. While last Friday night didn’t produce any overtime drama there were two competitive matchups. Big “Shout Out” to both the Brookhaven and Lamar football programs for an incredible season.
*It’s no secret that I’ve been a huge basketball junkie for most of my life. Counting down the days until football ended and basketball got underway was a ritual for me until this season. Beginning back in August on a rainy Thursday night in Hattiesburg when Presbyterian defeated Columbia to kick the season off it’s been fun every week. While I’ve piled up many miles and lots of aches and pains nothing can replace the countless number of great new friends I’ve made and the kindness and hospitality thrown my way. For the first time I can honestly say that I don’t want football season to end.
*A Friday night ritual during football season has been eating out on the way to whatever game I’d be covering that week. Great places such as Hal’s Barbecue in Brookhaven, Mike’s in Amite, Gerald’s north of Franklinton and Kane’s in Foxworth have been primarily responsible for the fifteen pounds I’ve put on during the past three months. This past Friday night on the way to Mendenhall for the Lamar/Simpson game we stopped right outside Prentiss off of highway 35 at a place called Cowboy Jim’s. They served up one of the best steaks I’ve ever eaten but the most appealing part of the meal is the customary hush-puppies and collard greens that are served prior to the main dish. I’m already looking forward to the next Simpson basketball game to cover. If you’re ever in that neck of the woods just look for the three live dogs perched on top the roof and you’ll know your there.
*I’m not trying to stir the pot any but the starting times for the single-A and AA title games need to be reconsidered. I can only imagine how difficult it is for single-A coaches and players to play 12-14 games with a kickoff time of 7:00 during the course of the season and then having to prepare for a noon kickoff. There has to be a better way.
*I’ve had the opportunity to catch a few basketball games the past two weeks and something caught my eye during the Presbyterian at Columbia boy’s game. Let me preface this statement first by saying that you couldn’t pay me enough to referee basketball games, it’s not easy, but there seems to be either too many anticipation fouls or inexperience when a big kid is on the court. Last season I saw David Hahn of Chamberlain-Hunt play a handful of times and each game he routinely grabbed the pine early in the game due to foul trouble. The 7’ center would predictably get straddled with early touch fouls that an ordinary MAIS center wouldn’t. This is what I noticed happening to Columbia’s Christian Robbins a few weeks back in the Presbyterian game. The 6’10” junior was getting lots of solid physical play from defenders but he quickly picked up fouls early in the game for the same solid physical defense he played.
*Southern Sports & Travel is approaching two marks……This Saturday marks one year online and within a week the 50,000th visitor will have viewed the site. Thanks to all for the interest.
God is great!
See ya somewhere……….
