“Black Coach”; by Pat Jordan; 1971; The Cornwall Press, Inc.; 248 pages. Late summer was dissolving into early fall the first time I walked into Burlington Memorial Stadium to watch a high school football game involving Walter Williams High School. The year was 1985. I began working as a sports writer for the Burlington Times-News … Continue reading ‘Black Coach’ revisited: Before ‘Remember the Titans’
Month: August 2017
Throwback Thursday: ‘Don’t lie to me like I’m Montel Williams’
I wrote this column only a year ago after the U.S. swim team ran into trouble in Brazil during the Olympics. The moral of the story is, don't lie to the cops, they can usually tell and they don't like it. I'm reminded of this video from the first few episodes of the great old … Continue reading Throwback Thursday: ‘Don’t lie to me like I’m Montel Williams’
Throwback Thursday: Under those Friday Night Lights
This is an editorial I wrote for the Burlington Times-News in August of 2014 to kick off the start of high school football season. Many forget that I began my newspaper career as a sports writer -- dating back to when I was 12 years old writing for a weekly publication in my hometown. Most … Continue reading Throwback Thursday: Under those Friday Night Lights
In context: Still disconnected, by choice
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This post has been edited to reflect updated information available later on Wednesday. --- Do a Google search today for Alamance County Commissioner Tim Sutton. Make sure to add the Alamance County commissioner part in order to avoid confusion with the movie director of the same name. Here's what you find. He's famous. … Continue reading In context: Still disconnected, by choice
The disturbing disconnect of a county politician
Very little surprises me anymore. After all, I spent years upon years dealing with public officials of every kind: Small, medium and large; sober, drunk or stoned; and most frequently animal, vegetable or mineral. I spoke to hundreds, probably a few thousand, people on the phone who expressed variations of warped or circular logic. There … Continue reading The disturbing disconnect of a county politician
Riding out the eclipse
The last total (or nearly total) eclipse occurring over North Carolina that I recall with much clarity was the first one. I don't remember exactly what year and attempts to figure it out are muddled with conflicting information. Some say 1970. Others have written 1974. I've seen a few other options, too. Let's just say … Continue reading Riding out the eclipse
Dan Collins, a ‘Book of Fame’ worthy sports writer
When I was a shaggy young sports writer with a scraggly chin beard that was far more goat than tee, I cut an impressive figure in press boxes and press rows around the Atlantic Coast Conference, so outstanding almost no one noticed me at all. Typically I wore an outsized sports jacket courtesy of my … Continue reading Dan Collins, a ‘Book of Fame’ worthy sports writer
Throwback Thursday column: Son of a son of a son of a Confederate veteran
This is a newspaper column I wrote in the summer of 2014 when this issue of Southern heritage and Confederate flags and statues was raised. Yes, it comes up every so often and has for the past 120 years -- about the time the urge to put up Confederate statues began long after the Civil … Continue reading Throwback Thursday column: Son of a son of a son of a Confederate veteran
Enabling hate and racism: Another loss for human decency
Around the first of the year I heard from someone I met only casually during my newspaper days. He sent me a note online. His point of contention was the belief by vocal critics who oppose then brand new President Donald Trump that all Trump supporters are racists. I know this person a little – as … Continue reading Enabling hate and racism: Another loss for human decency
The Arts Place in Stokes County, new look for an old haunt (with photo gallery)
Nothing much changes in my hometown. With a few exceptions the Danbury, North Carolina of today doesn't look substantially different than it did 50 years ago. Some of the older houses are gone, a tragedy in terms of historic value. One is the old Taylor house, where my great-grandparents lived. My great-uncle let it run … Continue reading The Arts Place in Stokes County, new look for an old haunt (with photo gallery)
Madison's Avenue 