trublue

[ QUOTE ] That is cool MMA is the sport and UFC is one of the leagues, This week he's probably in Vegas for Forrest Griffin and Rampage Jackson i'm pretty sure... [/ QUOTE ] Sorry, James I wasn't very clear....it was couple months ago, I was talking to him about his latest freelancing job and he was telling me where he had been and where he was going for the next couple of weeks. Again, "not my cup of tea".

[ QUOTE ] Not to take away anything from Abingdon but does it not seem like Richlands got the short end of the deal this year when it came to parings? [/ QUOTE ] You play the "hand you were dealt"....... We should ALL be pulling for Abingdon to bring home the State Championship to the SWD....and I believe we are. VA has this "one and done" system....here in GA it's double elimination in the playoffs. I went to the state semis and saw Brookwood (5A)(Gwinnett Co.team) play earlier this week.(They were ranked #1 in the nation by USA Today earlier in the month but fell to #3.) They played Walton (last yr. champion) yesterday and Brookwood took it in 2 backtoback games. However, on their path to the championship, they had to play a third game(always played the next day) against an opponent and Walton did too. The 4A and 1A state finals were going to a game 3 today due to a split yesterday to decide those championships. I would like someday to see this same system in VA. Good luck Abingdon bring home the STATE Championship.

[ QUOTE ] I haven't seen a post about anything MMA whats everyone think about it on here cool or stupid? who's your favorite fighter? anyone watch 84 this past weekend? just whatever.. [/ QUOTE ] I didn't even know what you were talking about until I saw the other posters talking about fighting/boxing/whatever. I started thinking is that what a relative's work involves......he does media "freelancing" work. I googled it (UFC) to to see if it was the same and..... it is. Met him for lunch one day and he had just gotten back from England, I believe.... was on his way to Vegas on Monday ...and the next week back to Europe. When he was telling us about his latest job,.... I asked him if it was cage fighting.....he said yelp....and my next question..... is it real or like the "pro" wrestling stuff? He assured me it is REAL. NOT my cup of tea, however. He's in his mid 20's and travels doing (behind the scenes) media work as a freelancer.... works on other sportings events as well in the states.

Storyline in BHC on Falcons win....Congrats Abingdon.... http://www.tricities.com/tri/sports/high...iv_title/10191/

...game over Abingdon 11 B-burg 2 (HR in 6th.) Justin Malone pitcher goes distance for Falcons

...end of 5 Abingdon 11 B-burg 1 (no mercy rule) 4th. pitcher for B-burg

....at end of 4 Abingdon 8 Blacksburg 1 3rd. pitcher for B-burg

end of 2..... Abingdon 7 Blacksburg 1

[ QUOTE ] Beavertail, I do not know your biological age, but young man, your maturity, wisdom and knowledge is certainly refreshing to see. You are very well informed and have based your position on truth and not charisma, which this nation is so prone to do now. Thank you for your post, they are well written and make my day!! [/ QUOTE ] ....what he said.....

Lady Blues beat HV 5-0....way to go.

Richlands beats Tazewell 6-5. Abingdon game called in bottom of 2nd (rain) with Falcons having the bases loaded w/1 out.....Salem leading 1-0. Game will be played tomorrow at 6 p.m. This game will be carried on the net at http://www.wabn1230.com/ must have media player latest version.

Found this article in BDT archives....if it has been posted previously, I apologize in advance.... and guess I am in order to receive the "KA-BOOM" award. Published: January 28, 2008 11:14 pm Intelligence, intensity send Davis to big-time By LARRY HYPES Bluefield Daily Telegraph TAZEWELL, Va. — Former Tazewell All-State softball star Whitney Davis, now a starter on the defending Atlantic Coast Conference champion Virginia Tech Lady Hokies, admits she sees the world a little differently than the average girl. “When I was little, I twirled batons and did the beauty pageants, but I quit that because I just wasn’t interested,†Davis said. “My dad (Rex Davis) was a big baseball player and got me into sports. The first year I was in Little League brought bloody noses and black eyes but overall, I loved it. Ever since, I just can’t get enough of sports.†Davis excelled as a true student-athlete during her tenure at Tazewell, gaining All Virginia softball honors in 2004-05 and 2005-06, as well as three straight First Team Southwest District and Region IV spots. She was also a starting guard on the Lady Dogs basketball team that made the state playoffs and set a school record for games played with 28. One of her favorite memories is tied to the 2006 basketball season and some late-season heroics for Bill Mitchell’s squad. “I had mono and had to miss several games in the second half of the season,†she recalls. “That was worse than being sick. I got the doctor’s permission to come back and play. “My teammates kept everyone away from me as much as possible, and I made a couple of key shots to help us beat Carroll County for the first time ever. My last game was in the state semifinals and not many players can say that. We gained a lot of respect for our program and I will never forget that feeling.†Davis, who graduated summa cum laude and was seventh in her high school class, was in the junior and senior Beta Clubs. She was also class president her final three years at Tazewell. She is majoring at Virginia Tech in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, which she explains as “being almost like a biology major, with more anatomy and nutrition emphasis rather than plants.†Davis is sure to be a success, as both her key high school coaches (Tom Keene in softball, cross country) and Mitchell (basketball) believe. “Whitney is an outstanding person,†says Keene. “We were fortunate to have had her in our school and on our teams. She led by example.†Mitchell notes, “Whitney played hard, she played in pain sometimes, and she played every play like it was the last one. She meant a lot to us.†Davis’ emotional intensity and attachment to what she likes were both tested during her first year at the massive Blacksburg campus of Virginia Tech. “My first day of school there was a murderer on campus. Classes were canceled. I made it through that. It made me a stronger person,†she said. Davis, like most VT students, is still shaken by the April 16 situation, when 33 lives were lost in the greatest shooting tragedy on any American campus. “I still have nightmares now and then,†she says. “I was scared, sad, confused, and angry all at the same time. I still can’t look at ambulances and don’t like sirens. But no one can take away our school pride and I am so proud to say I am a Hokie!†The dark-haired dynamo did herself proud as a freshman who battled her way into the lineup for the sizzling softball team. She started in 44 games, had 27 hits, including six doubles and a triple, and finished with 11 runs scored and 11 runs batted in. Davis drove in the winning runs in victories against both Ohio State and Western Michigan. She recorded a pair of outfield assists and had only one error. “The first time I got to play on TV, I got a hit,†she laughs. “I will not forget that. The travel was fun. I fell in love with the Rocky Mountains when we went to Colorado. We spent a couple of weeks at a luxury condo in Florida and were treated like royalty. “Traveling on charter buses — and flying to some games — this small town girl never knew what that was like until she got to college.†Davis, who earned her spot at Tech by hitting .588 as a senior at Tazewell, with a .611 on-base percentage and .988 slugging percentage, as well as accepting 148 chances in the field without an error, has now moved to the next level. She has been asked for her autograph. Virginia Tech, ranked 16th to start the season, opens its 2008 campaign on Feb. 8 against Pittsburgh in the Florida International Invitational. “Part of the past year or so seems surreal,†she admits. “I believe God played a big part in this. I am going to a wonderful school, my parents come and see me play fairly often, and Blacksburg has an atmosphere very much like home. “It’s a great feeling. My teammates at both schools, though, have taught me there are more important things than a game.†Except, maybe, with the winning run on base and two outs in the final inning?

Congrats to the Lady Hokies. Tincher was superb in the first game...shutting down the MI bats. VT hitters came through in the second game taking alot of pressure off Tincher. Way to go Tazewell County girl (Tazewell HS) Whitney Davis....scored the first run for Tech, then a big homerun later in the game, and in the last inning a great running catch. Outstanding job by the VT Lady Hokies.

[ QUOTE ] Mike Huckabee made some comments just last week about how he would really like to run with McCain. He is without a doubt a lot of people's choice and that would drastically increase McCain's stock with the more conservative Republicans. The South would be a lock for the GOP. [/ QUOTE ] I like Huckabee too.....BUT, the comments he made concerning the "gun" will be used by the liberal media/medium unmercifully against him. He has apologized.... but will the McCain camp see it as a liability?????

[ QUOTE ] I'm still amazed to this day that out of 330 million people living in the U.S.A., the three best choices to run this country are McCain, H. Clinton, or Osama....oops I mean Obama. It sickens my stomach. [/ QUOTE ] Did you see yesterday that McCain was meeting w/3 possible VP candidates. Crist of FL...nada...no...nope. Jindal of LA... hmmmmm...I'm still thinking about that one. Romney, he'll pull the Utah vote...but not the south. I, hope, McCain makes a wise choice..keep looking.......pleeezzzzz......

I have a question....if the good folks of WV overwhelmingly voted for Hillary....why did your senior senator, Mr. Byrd endorse Obama? Is he out of touch with the WV folks? A great post BTW....

This is for all you BRAINIACS....interesting article on all of the valedictorians in Gwinnett County in GA and short bio on most. There are currently 16 high schools ....(.3/4 more being built for the overgrowth).....NEWSWEEK magazine this week named 11 of these Gwinnett high schools in the top 1300 high schools in the U.S. The five not named by NEWSWEEK were Buford (only AA school in county) but operates as an independent city school system; Mill Creek, which to me is a BIG surprise not being named, Meadow Creek, Shiloh and South Gwinnett. Also, listed in the AJC article are the private schools' valedictorians. http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/printedition/2008/05/18/vals.html?cxntlid=inform_artr

Confirming what you said above.... this is a partial of an earlier post I made this year..... the coach being quoted is from North Gwinnett High School. Camps and combines A rising high school prospect can make a name for himself in the summer, when colleges across the country hold football camps on their campuses. "The football coach is nothing more than a door opener for the kids," Sphire said. "I can't show college coaches everything they should see about a kid. That's why the kids and parents have to do their part." Aside from having a high enough GPA and a qualifying SAT or ACT, there are other things students and parents can do to help their college football recruiting. Touring a college campus, whether it's an unofficial visit or an official one, can help an athlete decide if he likes the school. Going to college summer camps and recruiting combines can also help. "Pick out four or five schools that you think you have a legitimate shot of playing at and go to their summer camp and impress them," Brookwood coach Mark Crews said. Often camps held by colleges can spark the interest of a coach and eventually lead to that team recruiting the player. Combines have also become a popular way for players to get noticed. A player can go to a combine and if he runs the 40-yard dash in an impressive time or looks agile, it can get the college scouts' attention. But maybe the biggest thing local high school coaches stress for players and parents is communication, staying in touch with the schools that the player is interested in. Colleges are recruiting hundreds of prospects, so when they don't hear back from someone, especially at the smaller schools, they may move on to another player. "It's so critical for the parents and the kids when those doors open to follow through," Sphire said.

Oh, the great memories....... Not only did we go sledding in the winter....but, in the summer, we would "slick up" box tops and ride them down the hill on "sagebrush grass" as I called it. On Friday nights in the summer, the neighborhood kids would gather and we would have "weiner/marshmallow" roasts. Going to the movies was a "treat." We would gather up and choose teams to play baseball...boys and girls in some open lot/field. We rode our bicycles (w/o helmets) to Richlands (we were in high school) from "the Valley" to a friend's house where the garage was set up as a "gathering" place to dance and listen to music....(no drinking, no swearing).Didn't ride them back however, one of the Dads' or older siblings picked us up. I remember my grandmother making/having fresh chocolate milk in the fridge when we got home from school....yuummmm. We didn't lock our doors at night and Sunday was the day the family (the ones living close-by) gathered around the table for dinner...... Thanks for the post "G".

ajc.com > Sports > Braves Chipper's switch-hitting prowess no fluke Braves slugger nearing 400th career home run By CARROLL ROGERS The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 05/09/08 The idea was born before Chipper Jones was, when the "old block" was just a chip himself. Larry Wayne Jones Sr. was a kid in Baltimore when he fell in love with the switch-hitting Yankee Mickey Mantle. He saw the power Mantle could generate left-handed from the right field bleachers at Memorial Stadium. "He hit a line drive that went over our head like a rocket," Larry Jones said. Like Mutt Mantle taught his son, Larry taught his only son Chipper to switch-hit in the backyard in Pierson, Fla. Now, 15 years into his career, Jones is in Mantle territory as one of the best switch-hitters ever. He needs four home runs to reach 400 for his career. He'll be only the third switch-hitter to get there after Mantle (536) and Eddie Murray (504). "When I started switch hitting, no way in a million years would I have ever thought that I would be hitting 400 homers in the big leagues," Chipper Jones said. "I was thinking: steal 30 bases a year, slap the ball and hit .300 from both sides." Jones, a natural right-hander, became much more than a left-handed slap hitter, one-step closer to first base. The left side is his power side, with more opposite field pop. He hits a homer every 16 at-bats left-handed, every 22 at-bats right-handed. Jones could become the only switch-hitter with more than 300 home runs to hit .300 for his career. He's hitting .309 for his career. Mantle hit .298. "For Chipper to be from one-stoplight Pierson, Fla., mentioned in the same breath as Mickey Mantle and Eddie Murray is just beyond anything," said Larry Jones, who has a signed photo of Chipper and Mantle from a 1992 card show. "We're so fortunate as a family to experience what we've experienced." Larry Jones made sure batting left-handed in the backyard was fun. Chipper would imitate the Dodgers lineup and when Reggie Smith came up - or Mike Scoscia or Kenny Landreaux - he batted left-handed. "I loved working on it because it was a challenge," Jones said. He hit one over the hay barn to the family fernery for the first time left-handed at age 7 or 8. He homered left-handed in a game at 11 or 12. "Once you do it once, you're hooked," Jones said. He started switch-hitting regularly at 13, and it was his idea. His dad had one rule: he couldn't go back and hit right-handed when things got tough. Chipper made that commitment, even if his coaches didn't. In the finals of a Babe Ruth tournament, a coach asked if Chipper could hit right-handed. "I said no," Larry Jones said. "If he does it once, then in crunch time, he'll want to switch back." As a pro, the idea struck Jones once. He was a month into rookie ball, after the Braves drafted him No. 1 overall. Coming off a broken hand and struggling to adjust to wood bats, he heard about it from buddies with the Pirates and Expos, who also trained in Bradenton, Fla. Jones asked his manager if he could hit right-handed to get through the season. His manager obliged. Several days later, after Braves executives Bobby Cox and Paul Snyder came to town, that manager was out of a job. "I realized that the fact that I was a switch-hitter was what made me so attractive in the draft and to give it up a month into my pro career was really stupid," Jones said. What he's learned is to maintain it, "it's twice the work" as his father says. He has two swings, with two sets of needs, and often two different bats. Left-handed he uses a bat one ounce heavier to help generate power. "I've got a lot more moving parts in my (left-handed) swing," Jones said. "Right-handed things are a lot more simple. It's basically just see it, hit it." He's done that both ways this year. Entering the weekend, he was hitting .396 right-handed and .434 left-handed while leading the majors with a .419 average overall. At age 36, 500 homers is in range, and 3,000 hits isn't all the way out (2,169 and counting). What will make his final numbers all the more impressive is the "." next to his name, denoting switch-hitter. "When you think of Mickey you think of the home runs," Jones said. "When you think of Eddie Murray you think of the longevity, the runs produced and the 500 homers. I want to be the guy who hit a bunch of homers, drove in a lot of runs, scored a lot of runs, hit for a high average, had a high on-base percentage. I want to be the all-around switch-hitter."

....not a rick roll.... ....you're gonna miss this..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SAFk0j-f4c&feature=related

That is the "nature of the beast" for most of "these" dealerships. I purchased a Honda for the gas mileage, also, a V6 because you have to have a little kick to pull out in this crazy (ATL) traffic that has been rated by Forbes as the worst in the nation this year. Most of "these" dealerships have their service advisors on commission....so they push most of these services to supplement their salary....not sure if they are strictly commission but I know they DO operate on commission. You can sit in the waiting room and you hear alot of "stuff" being "advised" for "better" performance ESPECIALLY to women. Unfortunately, it's everywhere....you learn how to play the game....and hopefully, can stay one step ahead.

Thanks H7....it will open for me from your site but I guess I have "the touch". Thanks for going to the trouble of finding it and posting the you tube link.

......."not every kid made the team"...... http://www.cmt.com/videos/bucky-covington/133268/a-different-world.jhtml Mr. "G" if this video doesn't meet federal/state guidelines on this site (ha-ha) ....pls. remove it in your kindest manner...

Thanks for posting