Around Here: Da Bulls, Weird Hair on Athletes, Stucky's, Da Beatles and Stucky's Again

SATURDAY, JANUARY 15

We had snow flurries all day, but there was no accumulation.  That's a real good thing.  We went to Stucky's and watched the Bulls game, which sadly, they lost.  They are on a losing streak right now, but before that playing very well for the first time since the fabulous 90s when they won six NBA Championships in eight years -- the Michael Jordan years.  Ever since, they have been very sad.

I wanted to show Liz the hair that Bulls player Coby White had last year compared to this.  Back then it was one of those very eye-insulting 'dos, but now just a regular cut.  I don't like long, weird hair on athletes no matter if they're Whites or Blacks.

While looking for pictures of him, I found out that he was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina, which perked my interest since that is also where I was born.  However, he played high school basketball in Wilson, N.C.  He went to UNC-Chapel Hill, but unfortunately was one of those one-and-diners.  I'm not real happy with these guys or the schools that "hire" them for that one year before they go to the NBA.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 16

Bob Stroud featured the Beatles Album "Meet the Beatles" as later this week will mark the 58th anniversary of its release.  This was the fun Beatles in my book.  And, they were the ones who got me to listening to pop music.  I never did before.  And, of course, music has had a huge impact on my life.

We went to Stucky's in Johnsburg, Illinois, and watched two NFL Wild Card Playoff games.

--RoadBeatle

North Carolina-Duke Basketball Game Saturday: The Battle of the One-And-Doners

A couple weeks ago I watched the much ballyhooed North Carolina-Duke basketball game.  And even Dick Vitale was not calling it because of the two very mundane basketball programs that were facing each other.  He called the next game. 

The announcers kept referring to the numerous mistakes the two teams were making on the floor and saying that in the past they wouldn't have been making those mistakes.  And the REASON for all the mistakes was that both teams are made of of mostly all freshman in their starting lineups.  In the past, there might have been one of what Dick Vitale called Diaper Dans (for dandies), but now in this era of one-and-doners, not so much.

Unfortunately, high school grads have to sit out a year before going to the NBA and the big name schools get their services for a year before they vault to the big bucks.

It was an exciting game, nonetheless featuring two of what used to be my favorite big-time college hoops teams.  But, not anymore.  I actually find myself pulling against both teams.  I do not like one-and-doners.

I also do not like what their respective colleges have done in regards to their Confederate heritage, particularly what UNC did to Silent Sam.  Imagine destroying college property with no repercussions. 

There is another one-and-doner school as well that I know of and it is Kentucky,  I've never been a Kentucky fan.

And how about their records right now:

Duke  8-8

UNC  12-7

Kentucky 6-13

Very mundane records for storied teams.  I don't care how talented freshman are, when they play a team of upper classmen who are talented and have been playing together for several years, they are going to beat that freshman team.

The NBA Needs to Do Something About One-and-Doners and Colleges As Well.  --RoadFedUp

STUDENT TEST ANSWERS:  England is located on the coast of Great britain not far from the sea, which makes for good fishing.

"Those Little Dogs Had Their Biggest Day": Wofford College Beats UNC!!

There has to be a lot of smiles on the campus of Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, today, as their team, the Terriers played National Champs University of North Carolina and BEAT them!!!

I went to the Spartanburg Herald Journal which, of course, had the story on the front page.

"Those little dogs had their biggest day.

"Wofford stunned the college basketball world Wednesday by knocking off fifth-ranked defending national champion North Carolina 79-75 at the Dean Smith Center."

Last night I had seen on the TV listings that UNC was playing Wofford, but chose not to watch it, figuring it would be a Tarheel blowout.  I sure wish I had, though.  When it comes to the Big Boys in college basketball, I am a big Tarheel fan.  But, I always pull for any of the Little Dogs when they play one of the Big Dogs.  And I sure would have been pulling for the Wofford Terriers.

In case you're wondering about Wofford College, it was established in 1854 and in the fall of 2016, had 1,692 undergraduate students.  Their teams are called the Terriers.

I imagine they have quite the thing to remember about their college years now.

I Am So Proud of These Guys!!  --RoadDog

What About the UNC Tarheel's Mascot?

Well, I  knew the two stories about how the Tarheel name came about, but I never was sure why their mascot is a ram.  I just figured that having someone running around dressed up like a foot's heel with black on it might look a bit peculiar.  Kind of like Alabama's use of an elephant as opposed to someone dressed like a Red Tide.

Here's the story behind the ram.

In 1924, the UNC football team had a popular player named Jack Merritt, who was called "The Battering Ram."  The head cheerleader decided it would make for a perfect mascot.

Over the years, UNC has had live rams and costumed rams.

Well, That's How Come the Ram.  --RoadDog

STUPID LAWS IN THE UNITED STATES:  In Indiana, bathing is prohibited during the winter.

What Exactly is a Tarheel?-- Part 1: And What About their Mascot

From Al.com.

Just last Monday, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Tarheels beat Villanova in a close game to win the NCAA Nation basketball Championship for 2017.  Of all the "Big Guys" in college basketball, the Tarheels are my favorite, so i was happy.

But, inquiring minds in Alabama wanted to know what a Tarheel is.  And what about that ram mascot?

Of course, I would like to know what a Crimson Tide and elephant have to do with the University of Alabama myself?

According to the UNC-Chapel Hill athletic department, there are two stories as to how the name came to be.  One dates to the American Revolution and a dastardly deed committed by Americans on the unsuspecting British soldiers.

The other explanation deals with soldiers razzing one another during the Civil War.

More On This Later.  --RoadDog

Congrats to the UNC Tarheels!!

Sure had a great time watching this whole NCAA Tournament.  As usual, they did a good job matching teams up.  Lots of good games.

And, the Championship game last night sure lived up to its hype.  We had two really good teams.  I am a UNC-Chapel Hill fan first, but was also pulling for Gonzaga.  And, it was much closer than the final score would make it look.  With just under a minute left, Carolina led by just one point and then the Zags went cold.

Makes up for last year's Championship loss to Villanova for Carolina.

I paid particular attention to the Carolina introductions.  Lots of juniors and seniors.  That is the way to build a team, not like Kentucky which usually has just freshman playing for one year before jumping to the NBA.

Great Game.  Great Tournament.  Great Time.  --RoadDog

No Joy here in Tarheeldom-- "Tarheels Outgunned at Alamo"

Carolina blue is weeping these days. The mighty, mighty Tarheels were clobbered by Coach Roy Williams' former team, Kansas.

Franklin Street, the major Carolina party spot in Chapel Hill, was considerably more subdued as students and fans left the various bars where they had watched the d trainwreck.

I regard it as a great third of a game of UNC basketball. The Tarheels over came a 28 point deficit to pull back to within 4 points with about ten minutes left, and thgings were looking good. Then the bottom fell out again and Kansas won 84-66.

Watched the game at Mom's here in Goldsboro.

The next day at church, this was the major topic of conversation. One older gent was especially given a hard time because of his big-time support of the Tarheels.

He said it the loss was inevitable because of superstitious things that had occurred beforehand Saturday. He had watched an old movie about the west and they kept referring to Jayhawks, Jayhawks, Jayhawks. Then, his son, a huge Duke fan, came over to view the game with him. Then, he got some phone calls early in the game, always a bad luck thing.

The April 6th Goldsboro News-Argus summed it up very well. "Tarheels outgunned at Alamo."

Well, Maybe It Was a Cursed Thing. --RoadDog