When the 2010 football season started I, like all local high school football fans, had my thoughts on who would do well this season and who would struggle. Much like the weekly college football picks that I have been butchering lately, my thoughts on who would do well and who would struggle once again prove that I don’t need to quit my day job just yet.
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Thursday, September 30, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
“The Best”
I don’t do a lot of endorsements. Some folks who live out their lives in the public eye will slap their name or picture on anything that moves, crawls or can be eaten. Some, like fellow Times columnist Homer Hirt, use a more subliminal approach to endorsement. I’ve just never been much into endorsements. And I am sure that has nothing to do with the fact that I’ve never had anybody approach me to endorse their product.
But I am stepping out this week into the endorsement world, even though the folks that make this product have not asked me for endorsement. Nor do I suspect that they need my endorsement as they seemed to have done just fine for the past 83 years without it.
I’ve said before that there aren’t many things I miss about living in Tallahassee where I lived for 8 years. But there are three things that I do miss: my tennis league, good Buffalo Wings and Bradley’s Smoked Sausage.
Twelve miles east of Tallahassee on Centerville Road one can take a trip into the past. Bradley’s Country Store has been serving customers since 1927. The store today looks much like it did in 1927. Wooden porch, wooden rocking chairs, screen front door, hard wood floors with shelves stocked with some of the necessities of living. But what draws customers to Bradley’s is in the back of the store. That is where they sell their smoked sausage.
Their smoked sausage is made right there at the store, using the same recipe that Grandma Bradley started using back in 1927. They have the same varieties as Grandma Bradley had back then. The top sellers are regular and spicy smoked sausage, followed by fresh made baby link and ground sausage.
This past Saturday I was in Tallahassee for a Cross Country race and had a little free time after the race. A quick call to my mom and a road trip to Bradley’s was in order. It has been years since I made the lovely drive out Centerville Road and much to my pleasure, nothing has changed. Same oak tree canopy drive, same store front, same store on the inside and best of all the sausage still taste the same. We got a couple of sausage dogs to go and they were delicious.
The only thing that has changed about Bradley’s Smoked Sausage over the years is the price. It’s not cheap, but it is certainly worth every penny. They had plenty of business on Saturday, so other folks must not mind paying for good sausage either.
So if you want some mighty fine sausage, make you a road trip to Bradley’s Country Store. For me, Simply Put, it’s “The Best” I’ve ever eatin’. Want to know more about Bradley’s Country Store? Check them out on the internet at www.bradleyscountrystore.com
From the Front Porch: Uncle Bob said the average person thinks that he is better than the average person.
But I am stepping out this week into the endorsement world, even though the folks that make this product have not asked me for endorsement. Nor do I suspect that they need my endorsement as they seemed to have done just fine for the past 83 years without it.
I’ve said before that there aren’t many things I miss about living in Tallahassee where I lived for 8 years. But there are three things that I do miss: my tennis league, good Buffalo Wings and Bradley’s Smoked Sausage.
Twelve miles east of Tallahassee on Centerville Road one can take a trip into the past. Bradley’s Country Store has been serving customers since 1927. The store today looks much like it did in 1927. Wooden porch, wooden rocking chairs, screen front door, hard wood floors with shelves stocked with some of the necessities of living. But what draws customers to Bradley’s is in the back of the store. That is where they sell their smoked sausage.
Their smoked sausage is made right there at the store, using the same recipe that Grandma Bradley started using back in 1927. They have the same varieties as Grandma Bradley had back then. The top sellers are regular and spicy smoked sausage, followed by fresh made baby link and ground sausage.
This past Saturday I was in Tallahassee for a Cross Country race and had a little free time after the race. A quick call to my mom and a road trip to Bradley’s was in order. It has been years since I made the lovely drive out Centerville Road and much to my pleasure, nothing has changed. Same oak tree canopy drive, same store front, same store on the inside and best of all the sausage still taste the same. We got a couple of sausage dogs to go and they were delicious.
The only thing that has changed about Bradley’s Smoked Sausage over the years is the price. It’s not cheap, but it is certainly worth every penny. They had plenty of business on Saturday, so other folks must not mind paying for good sausage either.
So if you want some mighty fine sausage, make you a road trip to Bradley’s Country Store. For me, Simply Put, it’s “The Best” I’ve ever eatin’. Want to know more about Bradley’s Country Store? Check them out on the internet at www.bradleyscountrystore.com
From the Front Porch: Uncle Bob said the average person thinks that he is better than the average person.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
“Keep On Playing”
Ronald Reagan was President, my good buddy Russell Register had a head full of hair and I looked more like a former wide receiver than a former offense guard. The year was 1988, and that is how long it had been since Graceville beat Marianna in football. But this past Friday night the Tigers pulled off a 24-21 win over the Bulldogs.
Last year was the first time in Bulldog football history that all three county football teams (Cottondale, Graceville and Sneads) were on their schedule. It was the first year Marianna had ever played Sneads, which the Bulldogs won, during the regular season. Including this year’s game against Cottondale the Bulldogs have won all 9 of the meetings with the Hornets.
Graceville has been another story though. Counting Friday night’s game the two teams have played at least 35 times, dating back to the 1930’s. While the outcome of two of the contest is unknown to me, of the 33 times there is a recorded outcome, Marianna has won 25 times. But that means the Tigers have pulled off 8 wins over the Bulldogs. They had two wins in the 30’s, one in the fifties, four in the eighties and last Friday night’s win.
Some folks on both sides of the street say these games should not be on the schedule. The smaller schools, those folks would say, don’t need to play Marianna. They would say that most of the time you are going to get beat and wins are harder enough to get. So why make it even tougher by playing Marianna?
Some Marianna folks might ask “why play the smaller schools?” You have nothing to gain if you win because you were supposed to win. And if you lose it is a bitter pill to swallow as the largest school in the county.
Some of those in favor of these games might note that it is a good payday at the admission gate. All programs need money to run and having these inter-county games are a big boost to the pocket books. While that is certainly true, I like these games for another reason.
Inter-county games are intense rivalries. It’s not just another game and it gets folks fired up. And when one of the smaller schools knocks the “Big Dog” off the porch so to say, it creates a memory for those players and that community that won’t soon be forgotten. I know the Marianna folks would just assume not be the fodder for making another team’s year, but that is the nature of sports. You win some, and Marianna has won most, and you lose some. Graceville has pulled it off 8 times, Cottondale has been close several times and Sneads will try again late this season.
So while there are some folks that say these games should not be scheduled, I say Simply Put, let’s keep on playing them.
From the Front Porch: Coach said that all potential means is that you haven’t done anything yet.
Last year was the first time in Bulldog football history that all three county football teams (Cottondale, Graceville and Sneads) were on their schedule. It was the first year Marianna had ever played Sneads, which the Bulldogs won, during the regular season. Including this year’s game against Cottondale the Bulldogs have won all 9 of the meetings with the Hornets.
Graceville has been another story though. Counting Friday night’s game the two teams have played at least 35 times, dating back to the 1930’s. While the outcome of two of the contest is unknown to me, of the 33 times there is a recorded outcome, Marianna has won 25 times. But that means the Tigers have pulled off 8 wins over the Bulldogs. They had two wins in the 30’s, one in the fifties, four in the eighties and last Friday night’s win.
Some folks on both sides of the street say these games should not be on the schedule. The smaller schools, those folks would say, don’t need to play Marianna. They would say that most of the time you are going to get beat and wins are harder enough to get. So why make it even tougher by playing Marianna?
Some Marianna folks might ask “why play the smaller schools?” You have nothing to gain if you win because you were supposed to win. And if you lose it is a bitter pill to swallow as the largest school in the county.
Some of those in favor of these games might note that it is a good payday at the admission gate. All programs need money to run and having these inter-county games are a big boost to the pocket books. While that is certainly true, I like these games for another reason.
Inter-county games are intense rivalries. It’s not just another game and it gets folks fired up. And when one of the smaller schools knocks the “Big Dog” off the porch so to say, it creates a memory for those players and that community that won’t soon be forgotten. I know the Marianna folks would just assume not be the fodder for making another team’s year, but that is the nature of sports. You win some, and Marianna has won most, and you lose some. Graceville has pulled it off 8 times, Cottondale has been close several times and Sneads will try again late this season.
So while there are some folks that say these games should not be scheduled, I say Simply Put, let’s keep on playing them.
From the Front Porch: Coach said that all potential means is that you haven’t done anything yet.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
“Don’t Quit The Day Job Just Yet”
Every August at The Times somebody, other than me, comes up with the idea to have a football picking contest. In other words have a contest sponsored by the paper in which local folks, and myself, pick who we think will be the winners of various football games.
Each year I do my best to nix the idea. This year the forces were too overwhelming and thus The Times now has the “Pigskin Football Contest”. I did win one battle this year. The idea to include local high school games as part of the contest was thrown out at my request. My job is already tough enough, and calling up coaches for information or quotes after I picked the other team to win doesn’t make for good public relations.
I’ve generally been opposed to these kinds of contest in our paper for several reasons.
For one, I must confess that I do not follow college football as close as I used to. I know that my column last week was about my excitement over the return of college football. But after covering the local sports scene week in and week out now for over four years I get my fill of sports. I still follow my favorite teams, but I don’t watch football all day and all evening like I used to. When I get some free time these days instead of watching more sports, I tend to prefer taking my wife out for dinner and maybe a movie. And I also don’t mind finding a river to paddle or a trail to hike.
Another reason that I don’t like these contest is that I tend to select with my heart and not my head. It’s hard to pick against some of my favorite schools and I’ve always been a sucker to pick the underdog. I feel better when my favorite teams win and I get lucky every now and then with the underdogs. But picking favorites and underdogs doesn’t usually pad my winning percentage.
And the last reason is these contest are brutal on my sports ego. I know some of our readers might find it difficult to believe I have an ego. But my lovely wife of 24 years often addresses the issue of my ego, so apparently I’ve got one. I’ve been a local sports broadcaster for almost 20 years and a sports editor now for over four years. That has lead some of the general public to think I know a thing or two about sports. And I’ve done my best over these years to keep up the charade. These pick the winner contest blow my cover and reveal that no one should consult my picks on the way to see their local bookie.
In fact, when this season is said and done, Simply Put, the Pigskin Football Contest is likely to show all our readers why I don’t need to quit my day job just yet.
From the Front Porch: Coach said to remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
Each year I do my best to nix the idea. This year the forces were too overwhelming and thus The Times now has the “Pigskin Football Contest”. I did win one battle this year. The idea to include local high school games as part of the contest was thrown out at my request. My job is already tough enough, and calling up coaches for information or quotes after I picked the other team to win doesn’t make for good public relations.
I’ve generally been opposed to these kinds of contest in our paper for several reasons.
For one, I must confess that I do not follow college football as close as I used to. I know that my column last week was about my excitement over the return of college football. But after covering the local sports scene week in and week out now for over four years I get my fill of sports. I still follow my favorite teams, but I don’t watch football all day and all evening like I used to. When I get some free time these days instead of watching more sports, I tend to prefer taking my wife out for dinner and maybe a movie. And I also don’t mind finding a river to paddle or a trail to hike.
Another reason that I don’t like these contest is that I tend to select with my heart and not my head. It’s hard to pick against some of my favorite schools and I’ve always been a sucker to pick the underdog. I feel better when my favorite teams win and I get lucky every now and then with the underdogs. But picking favorites and underdogs doesn’t usually pad my winning percentage.
And the last reason is these contest are brutal on my sports ego. I know some of our readers might find it difficult to believe I have an ego. But my lovely wife of 24 years often addresses the issue of my ego, so apparently I’ve got one. I’ve been a local sports broadcaster for almost 20 years and a sports editor now for over four years. That has lead some of the general public to think I know a thing or two about sports. And I’ve done my best over these years to keep up the charade. These pick the winner contest blow my cover and reveal that no one should consult my picks on the way to see their local bookie.
In fact, when this season is said and done, Simply Put, the Pigskin Football Contest is likely to show all our readers why I don’t need to quit my day job just yet.
From the Front Porch: Coach said to remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
“Bring On The Buffet”
The last snap was more than seven months ago. That is when the Alabama Crimson Tide captured their 13th National Championship. But starting this Thursday night college football is back, and it comes back with a smorgasbord of ball games. There will be college football games on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Wives, throw away the honey do list for the weekend.
There is nothing quite like college football. I’ll confess that I am bias about the subject. Football is my favorite sport to watch, which is somewhat odd in that basketball was always my favorite sport to play. But college football ignites a spirit and enthusiasm among it’s millions of fans that is unlike any other sport. There is an entire culture that surrounds college football. Think of the millions that will fill the stadiums this season. And that pales in comparison to the millions upon millions that will watch college football. I know the other sports have their own culture and their enthusiast, but they are dwarfed when compared to college football.
This season also brings with it many questions for local college football fans. Crimson Tide fans waited for many years for the return to glory. Now they must ask themselves “Can Nick (Saban) lead us to a repeat?” While most Bama fans have master’s degrees from the Bear Bryant school of poor mouthing and will tell you all the potential shortfalls of this year’s team, I think Bama can repeat.
Florida fans, and their enemies, are wondering “Is there life after Tebow?” Gator QB Tim Tebow brought the Gators two national titles and dominated college football for the past few years. But I would remind Gator fans, and their skeptics, Florida has a long history of great quarterbacks that began long before Tebow. This new boy, John Brantley, will likely come out and sling the ball all over the field and probably set all kinds of new records.
Auburn and Miami fans are asking if their relatively new coaches (Gene Chizik and Randy Shannon) can return those programs to glory. Yes they can and they probably will this season. Georgia fans are asking for a better season and Georgia Tech fans say if they can get some defense they’ll win the games their supposed to win and then some.
And of course there is FSU. The Bobby Bowden era is over and Nole fans want to know “Can Jimbo Fisher jump start a Seminole program that has been mired in mediocrity the last few years?” “Can Jimbo Fisher be to FSU what Nick Saban has been to Alabama?”. I don’t know, but the two did coach together at LSU when the Tigers won a national title.
It all starts on Thursday and after a seven month forced starvation diet, Simply Put, bring on the buffet. College football is back and back with a furry.
From the Front Porch: Uncle Bob said his mind is somewhat like lighting. One brilliant flash and then it’s gone.
There is nothing quite like college football. I’ll confess that I am bias about the subject. Football is my favorite sport to watch, which is somewhat odd in that basketball was always my favorite sport to play. But college football ignites a spirit and enthusiasm among it’s millions of fans that is unlike any other sport. There is an entire culture that surrounds college football. Think of the millions that will fill the stadiums this season. And that pales in comparison to the millions upon millions that will watch college football. I know the other sports have their own culture and their enthusiast, but they are dwarfed when compared to college football.
This season also brings with it many questions for local college football fans. Crimson Tide fans waited for many years for the return to glory. Now they must ask themselves “Can Nick (Saban) lead us to a repeat?” While most Bama fans have master’s degrees from the Bear Bryant school of poor mouthing and will tell you all the potential shortfalls of this year’s team, I think Bama can repeat.
Florida fans, and their enemies, are wondering “Is there life after Tebow?” Gator QB Tim Tebow brought the Gators two national titles and dominated college football for the past few years. But I would remind Gator fans, and their skeptics, Florida has a long history of great quarterbacks that began long before Tebow. This new boy, John Brantley, will likely come out and sling the ball all over the field and probably set all kinds of new records.
Auburn and Miami fans are asking if their relatively new coaches (Gene Chizik and Randy Shannon) can return those programs to glory. Yes they can and they probably will this season. Georgia fans are asking for a better season and Georgia Tech fans say if they can get some defense they’ll win the games their supposed to win and then some.
And of course there is FSU. The Bobby Bowden era is over and Nole fans want to know “Can Jimbo Fisher jump start a Seminole program that has been mired in mediocrity the last few years?” “Can Jimbo Fisher be to FSU what Nick Saban has been to Alabama?”. I don’t know, but the two did coach together at LSU when the Tigers won a national title.
It all starts on Thursday and after a seven month forced starvation diet, Simply Put, bring on the buffet. College football is back and back with a furry.
From the Front Porch: Uncle Bob said his mind is somewhat like lighting. One brilliant flash and then it’s gone.
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