ThomasDenton

Being too strong isn't the issue (at least not the issue I was referring to). Proper technique can find its way around strenght. Now, if that kid has technique to go with that insanely strong body, then the opposing teams better watch out!

Conferences are based on school size...not distance. They are for post season play only (basically replacing district tournaments). The districts in the regular season are based on travel and scheduling.

What sports does this kid play? I know for football (and most other sports where strength is really helpful) lifting that much weight will be beneficial, but only if he has proper technique as well. You can benchpress a small car, but if you can't move properly, it's pretty much all for naught.

I didn't really have that much of a problem with the new districts until I realized what Lance just pointed out. I don't think it's as bad having 1A schools play 2A schools (in those mixed districts, there's only one or two 2A schools, so it's not that bad) but with the points system in place, those 2A schools who have to play 3-5 1A schools are getting screwed....especially when they reach the post season. I think they should either take another look at the districts or forget about travel concerns and just use the conference setups for districts (and then not have these conference tournaments unless the district wants to have them...otherwise, just go straight into sectional play like football). I guess the whole lesson here though is that you can't have everything and the VHSL just won't make any exceptions for our area that makes sense.

http://www.tricities.com/news/local/article_e5cb0e82-9594-11e2-b1da-001a4bcf6878.html Someone broke into their equipment vehicle and stole all kinds of equipment, like bats, shoes, gloves, and helmets. Luckily, they were able to get some new equipment from a nearby sports store and Tennessee High loaned them their batting helmets.

http://www.tricities.com/news/local/article_9106d3ea-93eb-11e2-98cb-0019bb30f31a.html

Wow. Just looked at the enrollments and Battle will be the smallest school in our district. BTW, when in the world will the new districts get some names? And who chooses the names?

http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/19/17373761-assault-weapons-ban-dropped-from-senate-bill?lite Just saw this after reading the article in the OP. Looks like the assault weapons ban has been taken out of the newest senate gun bill.

http://www.tricities.com/news/local/article_0c083e06-9038-11e2-94df-001a4bcf6878.html Apparently, the Bristol, TN, school board has nothing better to do than force kids who were just having fun to take their video off YouTube. I don't see what the big deal is.

http://www.wimp.com/notpaper/

I'll luckily be out of town this weekend and I don't see myself going to a race ANYWHERE in the near future......but I might have to watch some of it on TV just to see how the new cars will do at BMS.

You always see the most "interesting" people at Walmart at night....or at 3 o'clock in the morning.

It may not be needed by most on here, but I figured I'd just remind everyone that it's race week in Bristol and if you're travelling in the area, just be careful. Whether it's locals or not, race week seems to bring out the idiots everywhere and all common sense on the roads seems to be lost. Yesterday, while my brother was driving up I81 from Bristol, TN, a car struck the side of his pickup, causing him to lose control and spin into the grass medium (thank God he didn't end up going all the way into the other lanes). He hit his head and arm, but is fine, just a bit sore and his truck has a huge dent on the side of the bed just behind the rear passenger side wheel (not sure if we can fix it, it's pretty bad). When he got his truck stopped and looked around for who hit him, he noticed the car on the other side of the interstate on the right shoulder. The car sped away as soon as there was a break in traffic and my brother couldn't get any info about the car or driver. I've had a few close calls last week and weekend, so from a first hand experience, just be careful and use common sense.

http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/msn/longest_female_legs_are_now_coaching_in_falls_church_va_where_svetlana_pankratova_has_taken_high_school_job/13118647?refmod=msn_art_top&ref_art_id=13110565

http://www.tricities.com/news/local/article_d37a813e-8abf-11e2-9826-0019bb30f31a.html

I don't know if an all out revolution would happen in NK. The people there are just so brain washed that they wouldn't dare fight against the government. I'm thinking one of two things might happen: Jong-un will slip up and actually do something that the south just won't take lying down, or there might be someone high enough in the military who would try to start a coup which would basically just confuse everything, leaving the people not sure what to do.

http://www.tricities.com/news/local/article_b1e0ce58-8a55-11e2-997b-0019bb30f31a.html I've been hearing about suspicious packages being found all over the TriCities area since yesterday. Don't know if this was one, but I saw about 4 emergency vehicles (those red ambulances...don't know if they were fire department or what) all huddled in one area of Exit 7's Walmart yesterday with their lights on. Couldn't tell what they were doing though.

http://www.tricities.com/news/local/article_9508b2ac-8a62-11e2-9b31-0019bb30f31a.html How likely do you all think we'll resume the Korean War? Seems like North Korea is getting dumber and dumber losing all their aid (which they desparately need) by making more and more threats and testing everyone's patience. Heck, even China seems to have had enough of them.

Hell no. I'd probably be a bigger race fan if I didn't live in Bristol.

http://www.tricities.com/news/local/article_4455f958-86d1-11e2-8291-0019bb30f31a.html Alpha denies report that mining jobs are returning Posted: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 9:46 pm | Updated: 9:47 am, Thu Mar 7, 2013. HARLAN, Ky. — A contracting company has been taking applications to fill more than 800 coal mining jobs in Kentucky and Virginia, but those jobs appear not to exist. A company called Professional Contracting LLC has been accepting applications for coal jobs that they said were coming back to the region with the reopening of several mines. Alpha Natural Resources had idled four mines and laid off hundreds of workers in January. But officials with Bristol, Va.-based Alpha Natural Resources told WYMT-TV that they have no plans to reopen any of the mines. Alpha spokeswoman Samantha Davison said, to her knowledge, Alpha has never been affiliated with Professional Contracting. Thousands of people have already applied for the jobs. Applicants were told they had to apply in-person at the office in Norton, Va.

Got about an inch at most here in Bristol near Exit 5/7.

I've gotta agree with BigO. If he's using his own time and money to make an unofficial visit to UT, then that shows a lot of interest to me. How many of these type of visits has he made to the other schools?

From Coach P's daughter... Last night: "We need some prayers again tonight folks. Daddy is in severe pain. Once we went through all the unnecessary hoops to get to NHC they could not give him the medicine he needed nor allow him to do chemo Friday. So we called the ambulance and we are back in the ER. They will be admitting him back into Bristol Regional only 6 hours after being discharged. Our patience is definitely being tested tonight with the medical field/insurance/hospital policies. But we are trying to focus on getting Daddy to a comfortable rest and reevaluate our options again tomorrow. Please pray for my Mama who has been up since 4 and is so dog tired and emotionally exhausted that I don't know how she is functioning. And please PLEASE pray for some comfort and energy for Daddy. He is the strongest man I know with the highest pain tolerance and if he is hurting this bad we know its serious. It's hard for us to KOTSS tonight but we know God is in control. We love you all." Today: "So last night was easily one of the hardest nights we've been through. But once again I find a sunny side today. We waited in the ER for about 6 hours last night while Mama and I had no sleep and Daddy was in so much pain. When we finialy got to our room the floor nurses (who are AWESOME) informed us that they gave us the BIG room because they know how many visitors we have and decided it'd be best. God knows what he is doing. Also they have decided to do a procedure to stop daddy from coughing so bad and we have got the pain under control. Now I'm sitting here watching them both sleep and praising God over and over for giving me such strong parents with an unbreakable, endless love to model my life by. I love them more than life and Kels and I are so beyond blessed. Also the article in the paper and the outpouring support and love from you all remind me how many people are fighting with daddy and sending up prayers! I love you all! COME VISIT DADDY! He loves the company and we even got a room big enough for you all! :) He is happiest when people are here joking around with him. Anyone out there that does not have Jesus in your heart please make a change. This life is way to scary without our AWESOME GOD. I am forever indebted to y'all and I love you and thank you forever for loving my amazing family the way you do. KOTSS."

http://www.tricities.com/sports/article_d6e428ee-8550-11e2-b7e3-001a4bcf6878.html Kevin Perrigan feeling the love as battle with cancer continues Posted on March 4, 2013 by Allen Gregory BRISTOL, Va. – It was the kind of panorama that Kevin Perrigan savors. On a sunny Monday afternoon outside John Battle High School, athletes from the tennis, baseball, soccer and track and field teams were busy preparing for their spring seasons. In his role as athletic director, Perrigan often patrols the sprawling grounds and chats with coaches from his golf cart. But Perrigan had a much different view Monday. He was in a hospital room at the National Healthcare Corporation in Bristol where he’s continuing a grueling struggle with cancer. On Friday night at the John Battle gym, an emotional prayer service was held for the homespun man known as “Coach P.†Contacted Sunday night via email, Perrigan expressed his thanks for the “tremendous†outpouring of support from friends throughout the region. “I’m not sure why the community took up my cause but it is greatly appreciated,†Perrigan said. Nearly one year ago, Perrigan was diagnosed with throat cancer. After making some progress, Perrigan discovered last week that the cancer had spread to his spine. He’s undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. Despite his medical woes, Perrigan was a familiar face at John Battle football games this fall and he joined interim Battle girls basketball coach Ike Anderson this winter on the bench during games. “I’ve coached at Battle for 11 or 12 years. Kevin has been like a brother to me and given me a lot of op-portunities,†Anderson said. According to Anderson, the emotions were flowing during Friday’s emotional service. “We learned that Kevin’s cancer had moved to his spine that morning,†Anderson said. “There were a lot of people praying at the service. It was tough. “Kevin is a tough old bird, but he’s been through a lot this past year. I just wish there was something I could do for him. We’re just hoping that Kevin can be back on the bench with us next year.†Perrigan said he has been humbled by the compassion from students, faculty and officials from other schools. “Many tears have been brought to my eyes because people from other schools have shaken my hand and offered words of encouragement,†said Perrigan, currently paralyzed from the waist down. “It’s just so re-markable that the students and community would put so much effort into one grouchy ole coach.†Battle students have organized benefits for Perrigan and his family. And storefronts throughout Washing-ton County and Bristol have been adorned with signs in support of Perrigan, with several messages carrying the timeless motto of “Keep on the Sunny Side†or simply KOTSS. “That motto of KOTSS has proven to be the one thing that bonds all the supporters into one,†Perrigan said. “When you can see the bright side of any situation you can find ways to get through the darkness. “God is a great and powerful force. I hope through a little suffering on my part his greatness in our com-munity can be fully realized.†Meghan Ricker counts herself as a charter member of the Perrigan fan club. Relying on a fierce playing style at Battle, Ricker was named the most valuable player for the West in the 2007 Virginia High School Coaches Association All-Star basketball game in Hampton. She later scored over 1,000 points while competing for the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. Ricker had an animated five-hour memory lane conversation with Perrigan Wednesday. “We had an awesome time,†Ricker said. “Kevin and I talked about all the fun times and great memories we share, and watched a little of his favorite show (Duck Dynasty).†While she also played volleyball and softball, Ricker said nothing compared to her hoops education with Perrigan. “Kevin is such an inspiration – with basketball and life,†Ricker said. “He taught me never to give up on my dreams and told me that I could do anything if I put my mind to it.†Through visits and messages, Ricker has tried her best to repay her role model during the dark hours. “I pray every day Kevin will just wake up cancer-free and go back to being that awesome basketball coach that he is,†Ricker said. Kara Beth Rutherford, who starred in softball at Battle the past four years, described Perrigan as a “true hero†for his support of Battle athletes. “Kevin came to the majority of the games, and even made it to the state championship after being in treatment that very same morning,†Rutherford said. “It didn’t matter if he was feeling good or not, Kevin was always there with a smile on his face. “I just can’t wait to see him back out there coaching and doing what he loves to do.†On and off the court, Perrigan said he’s been touched by many acts of support from basketball officials and fellow coaches over the past year. “You know God has to be working his hand in this somehow when basketball officials and coaches are supporting each other,†Perrigan said. “The staff at John Battle have made my illness pass with love and mercy by being there every step of the way. And my family has been my main foundation of this horrific event.â€