Cats are hard to figure. They're indifferent to humans, except when they're not. They're alternately fascinating and maddening. People who like cats really love them. People who dislike cats really hate them. I was in the indifferent (that word again) category on the matter for about 40 years, until one found its way into our … Continue reading Elegy for Agate (Has it really been four years?)
Author: madisontdawg
Throwback Thursday: I almost didn’t survive my first county budget
A memory from my first year as a reporter way back in 1983, first recounted in 2015. --- I walked into Numa Baker’s office on some random day in June of 1983. By any standard it was an immaculate setting. By news reporter standards his desk was clean enough for open heart surgery to be … Continue reading Throwback Thursday: I almost didn’t survive my first county budget
Memory of hurricanes past: Fran
I'm reminded today that 21 years ago North Carolina was hunkered down for a major storm that would -- following Hurricane Bertha in July -- alter the state's coastal landscape and cause heavy damage inland -- particularly in Raleigh. Burlington and Alamance County didn't escape unscathed either. It was Hurricane Fran. It went on and … Continue reading Memory of hurricanes past: Fran
‘Black Coach’ revisited: Before ‘Remember the Titans’
“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’
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
Madison's Avenue 