Superstition, It’s all part of the game

My column published in an August issue of The Madison County Journal. www.mainstreetnews.com

By Dallas Bordon

As a big sports fan, I many goals that I would like to accomplish. One goal has always been touching Howard’s Rock in Clemson’s Death Valley before running down the hill like the players do before each home game. Another goal involved going inside of the Atlanta Braves locker room and dugout before a game. Both of those goals were accomplished several years ago. The meaning of touching a famous rock in Clemson's Death Valley or the 1995 World Champions baseball sign in the Braves clubhouse is what the players do for luck before their games.  Superstitions, like the ones I just mentioned, are all part of sports and the athlete’s rituals used with hopes of bringing good fortune. Playing sports growing up from Little League baseball to college intramural sports, I had my weird superstitions and ways of doing things before the game. Now I sit back and wonder if the dumb things I did like drawing in the dirt before batting or chewing the same flavor of gum in each game, actually gave me some special powers or good luck. No, it’s all just part of a mind game now that I look back on it because if drawing in the dirt with my bat and chewing the same flavor of gum was all that powerful, I would have eventually received a college baseball scholarship somewhere right? There were no special powers in that dirt or gum.

On one fall day, I touched Howard’s Rock in Clemson’s Death Valley, took a deep breath, and away I went down the hill. I really didn’t feel any special powers. What I did experience, was a near bone breaking experience as I tumbled halfway down. Thank God the stadium was empty and no one was around to see my version of “stop, drop, and roll.”

I got to walk down the tunnel at Turner Field and touch the 1995 World Champion sign like the Braves do before entering the field. I felt no special powers doing that either. What I almost got was a trip to the Braves first aid training facility after nearing getting hit in the head with a batting practice foul ball while walking through the Braves dugout. Thank God for a famous voice from legendary manager Bobby Cox and his “Heads up” yell to me, otherwise I would have received a “KO.”

While neither of my entrances into these two arenas was for playing purposes of course, I still somehow missed the magical feelings that many of the players feel after going those rituals. I was excited being there, but I experienced just the opposite. So I raise the question; do those superstitious powers really help in sports? We’ve all heard of the different rituals that players go through; some disgusting and some as simple as not stepping on the foul line when running onto the field.

For me in Little League, aside from drawing in the dirt and chewing the same flavor gum each time, wearing a batting glove with two of the fingers from the glove missing was a charm. For some major leaguers like Vladimir Guerrero, having players spit on his batting helmet and then rubbing extra pine tar on top gave him extra luck. Former Boston Red Sox Nomar Garciaparra, known as the human rain delay, would step out of the batters’ box after each pitch to adjust his sweatbands and batting gloves giving him an extra feeling of comfort or power. Major League pitcher Turk Wendell had several superstitions to help his psyche during games.  Wendell would brush his teeth between innings. I don’t know about power in teeth brushing but I’m sure he has very clean teeth. He even wore a necklace that consisted of teeth from animals he killed. Players put their uniforms on the same way each time hoping that superstition would bring luck. Caron Butler of the National Basketball Association always drinks Mountain Dew from a two liter bottle before each game. And then there was my favorite former Detroit Tiger Mark Fidrych who would talk to the baseball telling it where to cross the plate. He would also build mounds of dirt on the pitcher’s mound.

Superstitions and the hope that they bring luck is all part of sports.  So next time when at Raider Field, if you see softball coach Doug Kesler rubbing the head of a redheaded kid before games or you see football coach Chris Smith chewing blades of grass while coaching, remember that superstitions are all part of the game.    

The Freeman sisters

Kayla Freeman

Courtney Freeman

Madison County’s Freeman sisters are making an impact in college basketball. Younger sister Kayla is in her second season at UT Chattanooga while Courtney is in her final season at Appalachian State in North Carolina.
As a freshman, Kayla played in 15 games including a season high 12 minutes versus Baylor. She recorded 19 rebounds and averaged 1.3 points a game. Kayla was also named to the Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll and UTC’s Dean’s List and Athletics Director’s Honor Roll both semesters.
This season Kayla has played in 9 games totaling 67 minutes. She is 10 of 19 on free throw attempts and has 9 offensive rebounds and 5 on defense and has scored a total of 14 points as of February 2.
While at Madison County, Kayla was a four-time All-Area First Team player and scored a total of 1,566 career points. She had 1,274 career rebounds averaging 11.2 a game in her senior season.
Older sister Courtney is a four-year letter winner and Athens Banner Herald Player of the Year her senior season at Madison County. She broke her 1,000 career point mark as a sophomore with the Lady Raiders and finished her high school career with a total of 2,414 points. She completed her career at Madison County with 1,043 rebounds.
Courtney’s career at Appalachian state has been outstanding. As a freshman she played in all 35 games including 16 starts in the 2009-10 season. Courtney ranked 14th in the SoCon in offensive rebounds averaging 1.9 per game. She scored her game high of 20 points her freshman year against Elon.
As a junior, Courtney was only one of two players to start in every game for Appalachian State. She finished second on the team and 10th in the Southern Conference in scoring (11.4 points per game) and earned second-team all SoCon honors. Her junior season game high of 23 points came against UNCG on January 9, 2012.
Her sophomore year consisted of 32 games played including 14 starts. Courtney ranked 15th in the conference in field goal percentage (.415) and led the team in scoring twice. She scored 10 or more points in 11 games during the season including a season high of 20 against Elon on November 29, 2010.
Courtney is now in her senior season with App State where she has started in all 18 games. She has connected on 93 of her 188 shoots. At the free throw line, Courtney is 60 of 77. She has a total of 38 offensive rebounds and 67 rebounds on the defensive side of the ball. As of February 2, she has scored a total of 247 points with her game high of 26 points coming against Gardner Webb.
Courtney has been named to the SoCon Academic Honor Roll in each of her first three years at App State.
The two former Lady Raiders are the daughters of Sonja and Stanley Freeman. Stanley is a former college basketball player logging time on the court at both Emmanuel College and North Georgia College and State University.

Former Lady Raider begins career at UGA

Former Lady Raider softball player Sam LaZear will be starting her college softball career on Friday, February 8, when the Georgia Bulldogs open their 2013 campaign in Athens. LaZear, a 2010-11 National Fast pitch Coaches Association High School All-American Scholar Athlete, earned varsity letters 10 varsity letters while at Madison County. She has lettered in softball-4 years, 4 in tennis and 2 in basketball. She was also a Wendy’s High School Heisman award winner, National Merit Scholar and was ranked at the top of her class academically.

As for Georgia Coach Lu Harris-Champer, Sam’s addition the Lady Dawgs’ squad is a very welcomed one. “Sam is the fastest player we have brought in since Nicole Barber,” said coach LuHarris-Champer. “We are thrilled to have her speed, defense and toughness joining our program this season. Sam has incredible hand-eye coordination and rarely fails to make contact at the plate. She has the ability to bunt, slap and hit for power along with being a great student-athlete. We believe Sam is the best slapper in the 2012 class not only in Georgia, but in the country, and we look forward to seeing her develop in our program.”

Sam is one of 7 highly recruited players by the Georgia softball program. “We believe this class is the top recruiting class in the country,” said Lu Harris-Champer.

While at Madison County, Sam was a two-time All-State and three-time All-Region selection and helped Coach Doug Kesler’s squad win its region championship in 2009 and 2010. She was also part of a Lady Raider team that advanced to the Elite Eight of the AAAA division in the state tournament in 2009 and 2010.

As a senior, LaZear batted .407 with 46 runs, 18 runs batted in and 30 stolen bases. She also was part of the Southern Force travel softball team that finished in the Final Four at the ASA 16U National Championships in 2010. "Playing at Georgia has been an incredible experience. I have been blessed with an amazing opportunity and have learned so much in the short time I've been here," said LaZear. "It has been so nice to be on a team where all the players and coaches support you and want you to succeed. We just play ball-simple as that."

The Tigers and Dawgs should play every year

Column published in last week's issue of The Madison County Journal

Georgia and Clemson should play each other in football every year.

What am I saying?

This is the most nerve-racking game of any season for me. I live in the land of “Red & Black” and I proudly sport my orange and purple of the Clemson Tigers despite a hard time from my friends.

For that reason, I fear the meetings between the two. If the Tigers lose, I am forced to search for that “Ocean front property in Arizona” that George Strait speaks of in his song. In other words, I have to get out of Dodge. A Saturday afternoon loss to Georgia could take place in three hours of a four-quarter contest, but the repercussions could last for years. On the other hand, a win for the Tigers would allow me to live in peace at least for a few months in this land that bleeds red and black.

The love/hate relationship between Georgia and Clemson always brings out the best between me and my barking friends. It’s all in good fun when we taunt each other and brag about our loyalties of our home state teams.

Despite my nerve racking moments thinking about this long rivalry, I think the Georgia/ Clemson game should continue on a yearly basis. Forget all the year-opening games versus Georgia Southern, Wofford, Buffalo and Furman. This rival game should kick off each season for the Dawgs and Tigers. This rivalry series started in 1897 when Georgia defeated Clemson 24-0 and it came to a halt in 2003 when Georgia won again by a 30-0 score.

In the 62 meetings, which extends seven years longer than Georgia has played Florida, the Dawgs have won the last five meetings. Prior to that, Clemson won three in a row aided by last second field goals by David Treadwell in 1986 and 1987 followed by a 1990 game that the Tigers won 34-3. Clemson won seven in a row dating back to the years between 1900 and 1907. Georgia reeled off 10 straight wins between the years of 1920 and 1954.

Oddly enough, I don’t remember any of those years of course. But it’s all in the rivalry and the years of the past that make this meeting such a great one. Now with the expansion of conferences and the cut back on non-conference games, the rivals like the border wars with Clemson and Georgia have suffered. I can well remember this rivalry series during the 80s. I remember well the days of David Treadwell’s game winning-kicks and Herschel Walker’s big-time runs, but this series stretches long before these two guys. It was a coach name Charley Pell who led Clemson to a 7-6 win in 1977 that helped push Georgia to their only losing season in 25 years under legendary coach Vince Dooley’s reign.

Georgia posted a 10-1 record against Clemson since 1964, but from 1977 to 1990, the Tigers bounced back with a 6-5-1 mark against the Dawgs.

Clemson’s only regular season losses in 1978, 1982 and 1991 came at the paws of the Bulldogs. Georgia legend Herschel Walker’s only regularseason loss in three years came in Death Valley during Danny Ford and Clemson’s 1981 national championship season.

And I can remember the day when Kevin Butler launched a 60-plus yard field goal to defeat a number 3 ranked Tiger squad in 1984 between the hedges. That one hurt!

Many of the younger Tiger and Dawg fans of today won’t even understand the significance behind this battle. Many of the younger generation may not even know that these two teams used to meet annually and have been a hot ticket each time. There have been just six meetings between the Bulldogs and Tigers in 25 seasons between 1988 and 2012. Georgia will face Clemson in Death Valley this fall and in 2014 they will play in Athens in what might be the final meeting for a long time of this old rivalry.

But for now, it’s what Brent Musburger calls the typical neighbor-hood war between Georgia and Clemson. Two high-powered offenses led by returning seniors Aaron Murray and Tajh Boyd. Clemson’s highly touted core of wide receivers and what Dawg fans call “Gurshall” the duo of running backs Keith Marshall and Todd Gurley.

It’s “game on” on August 31 in Death Valley — two more years of the hated neighborhood war. A win for the Tigers to me would mean peace in my valley of Dawg friends; a loss would mean I’m signing my lease to my “Ocean front property in Arizona” and getting out of Dodge. 

Dallas Bordon writes for The Madison County Journal.

"Where Are They Now" Laura Baird

Published in the January 12 issue of The Madison County Journal

Laura and husband Will

By Dallas Bordon

Laura Baird Class of 2005

Laura Baird, class of 2005, gave up playing Junior Varsity basketball for the Lady Raiders after two years to concentrate on tennis and softball while at Madison County High School. Her decision paid off in the long run. In her senior season, Laura was named to the All-Northeast Georgia Tennis team. Along with her doubles partner Sarah Tippins, Baird was named to the number one doubles first team. Baird and Tippins held a 19-2 record and helped the Lady Raiders capture their fourth region championship in five years and held a perfect 12-0 record in region play. Laura played under current coach Keith Strickland. Strickland, who coaches both girls and boys teams at Madison County, has his Raiders in the state playoffs with one or both teams often.

Laura Baird recalls her favorite moment in high school sports occurring during her freshman year. Baird, a 2004 All-Northeast Georgia First Team selection for class AAAA in softball, remembers her Lady Raiders (at that time in class triple “A”) placing second in the state class AAA tournament. Upon their arrival back to the high school from the state tournament in Columbus, Baird recalls seeing the lights on at Raider field and much to her surprise, people in the community had gathered there to celebrate the team’s success, complete with roses and balloons. Under the direction of Coach Doug Kesler, Laura received class AAAA All-State Honorable Mention. Baird holds the school record for most career doubles (28) and singles season doubles (18). Laura credits coach Kesler for much of her success at the plate. “Coach Kesler instilled a confidence in me that I was going to get a hit and he often let me swing away in critical times in a game,” said Baird. Kesler, who continues to coach the Lady Raiders, led his girls to a second place finish in state quad “A” this past season.

Baird graduated from Valdosta State University and was actively involved with intramural sports. She is currently living in Fitzgerald, Georgia with her husband Will and Bailey their dog. Laura teaches kindergarten at Ben Hill Primary School and hopes to one day coach softball for the Fitzgerald High School Hurricanes. 

"Where Are They Now" Michael Youngblood

Published in January 12 issue of The Madison County Journal

By Dallas Bordon

Michael Youngblood Class of 98

Michael Youngblood graduated from Madison County High School in 1998. He now serves as Head Coach of the Oconee County boys’ varsity basketball team as well as Head Coach of the girls’ golf team (2010 State Champions). Michael currently teaches social studies; American Government and U.S. History. He has been at Oconee County High School for 5 years.

While at Madison County High School, Michael was a member of the Red Raider baseball team for one year, but his passion was being part of Raider basketball - playing all four years. After graduating from Madison County, Michael continued playing basketball for two years at Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, Georgia.

Youngblood graduated for the University of Georgia in 2003 and in August of 2010 he earned his Master’s Degree in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment from Walden University.

Michael credits his parents as well as Allen McCannon, Mike Osborne, Brad Bolemon, and Benjie Wood for being positive influences in his life throughout high school. “They were positive influences that molded me into the person I am today,” said Youngblood. “Even though I’m not around MCHS much, I am very fortunate to have these men in my life and I feel as if I can reach out to these guys any time.”

Although Michael’s time at Madison County was filled with many great memories and friendships that he stills values today, he claims his junior year of playing basketball as his most exciting year. “In my junior year we won our region tournament and advanced to the state tournament. We were very talented and led by a large group of seniors. We lost in the state tournament to Rome High School,” said Youngblood.

Youngblood was also very involved with Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Other great memories for Youngblood included Black Mountain Winter Recharge, summer basketball camps, and Friday night high school football games.

Michael is happily married to Jennifer Elizabeth Queen. Michael and Jennifer were married this past summer in Jekyl Island and are expecting a baby boy in the near future. Michael also has a step daughter, five year old Alexa Ryan.

Reflecting on a sad, sickening day

Column published in last week's issue of The Madison County Journal

By Dallas Bordon

If you’re like me, you’re a bit anxious when you drop off your child at school each morning following the tragedy in Newtown Connecticut. We might wonder if it’s possible that tragedy, like the shootings in Newtown that killed 26 people (20 children), could happen in our community. The tragedy that occurred in Newtown, a quiet small town with a low crime rate, proves that it can happen in any town. “I never pictured that anything like this could happen in our town” echoed the words of one resident of Newtown.

One victim’s dad Robbie Parker, told the media “I can’t imagine this happening; this has to be some sort of mistake.” Parker’s daughter Emilie was among the innocent children killed by 20 year old Adam Lanza at Sandy Hook Elementary. In reality, tragedies like the one in Newtown Connecticut can happen anywhere at any time. It’s easy to think that there is no way our county could have such a tragedy happen such as that of Newtown or Littleton Colorado.

 Now, it has to be something that crosses our minds when we say our goodbyes each morning while dropping off our kids. It seems with the tragedies in Newtown, the one a couple of years ago at Virginia Tech, and at Columbine in Littleton Colorado in 1999, that schools have become a battle field and an easy target for some cowardly lunatic to open fire.

What drives these people to kill the innocent inside of our educational institutions? Councilors spend time trying to figure out the mindset of troubled people like Lanza or Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold--the gunmen at Columbine, and never come to a conclusion to just what they were thinking. What drives this madness of these killers to take innocent lives before killing themselves?

Blame is quickly given to different attributes like popular video games where you can get a high off blowing up and killing hundreds of people. But unlike a video game there is no reset button that you can hit when it happens in real life.  

The majority of these killers are labeled as social misfits who like Lanza, remained in a bubble voluntarily sheltered from society. Or like Harris and Klebold who enjoyed targeting the athletes in the Columbine shooting spree. These two guys were said to be victims of bullying from mainly athletes within the school. But still, the bullying or being labeled as a social misfit doesn't justify a person or persons to start a shooting spree of innocent people.

Where do we place the blame behind these senseless killings? Where does the rage come from?

Following these tragedies, many people want to see improved gun laws. According to reports, the guns used in the Sandy Hook Elementary shootings were legally purchased and licensed by the mother of Lanza.  Current gun laws do not require applicants to disclose any treatment for mental illness or if someone in the home with access to the guns suffers from mental illness. We have all heard the saying that guns don’t kill people; people kill people. There is a concern of some citizens that teachers should be equipped with guns that are locked up in their classrooms. I don’t necessarily agree with that, but I will always wonder that if the staff had access to a weapon could they have used them in defense and limited the number of casualties at Sandy Hook and Columbine. Just what is a good solution?

It was a sad and sickening day for the nation after the Columbine and Newtown shootings. Innocent teens at Columbine, kids ages 6 and 7 at Sandy Hook and many staff members gunned down for no apparent reason. There are no answers to tragedies like this.

Emilie Parker’s father Robbie, while fighting back tears, offered this plea on that tragic afternoon “let’s not let this tragedy turn into something that defines us, but something that inspires us to be better, to be more compassionate and more humble people.”

As we pause to remember those killed in Newtown, we can also pray that God will comfort the families of the victims and protect us all.

Remembering My Mom

My column published in this week's issue of The Madison County Journal.

By Dallas Bordon
dallasb32@yahoo.com

She loved her grand kids  She loved her husband, her sons and extended family. She enjoyed watching her only grandson grow up playing baseball for many years. She enjoyed watching both granddaughters taking part in so many activities over the years. She enjoyed our yearly trips to Myrtle Beach every June around my birthday. She enjoyed serving as a pastor’s wife and valued her friends, her church and beliefs.

On Thanksgiving Day of this year, this lady that loved to do many things and loved so many people passed away.  While watching my mom’s final few days as she was lying in her hospital bed, I knew that the day I have dreaded for years was near.  I wasn't prepared for the moment and the realization that her death was one day going to happen. I just couldn't picture it.

My mom suffered for the past two years with signs of dementia which began to worsen just this past year. Along with that disease, she recently developed infection in one lung and lived the majority of her final year on antibiotics. My dad became her full-time caregiver doing what any great husband would do to make sure his wife was well taken care of. On the Saturday prior to her death, she was taken to the emergency room where test results showed a fluid buildup around her heart and one lung. Surgery was required to remove the fluid; she briefly recovered, but on Thanksgiving Day my mom decided that she had enough of the illness and passed away.

The day that I dreaded for so many years had arrived. It was like a bad dream and I knew that I was soon to be wakened, but I was wrong. My mom was in no more pain as she died peacefully with my brother at her side. She was able to see us all briefly that morning one last time; just what she would have wanted.

It’s true what people say about loving your parents now and enjoying your time with them because we can’t go back and make up for lost time after they’re gone. This Thanksgiving Day gave me yet another reason to be thankful. Thankful for her life and legacy she left behind. I have two choices in the days to come; either I can sit around and grieve for days on end or I can be thankful for the 46 years that I have been blessed to be her son. I choose the latter. There will be times I will still grieve, but my memories of her fill me with so much happiness and that can never be taken away. She was everything a son could hope for in a mother; a supporter, an encourager, and had a love for even those people who crossed her from time to time.  She would worry often only because she cared so much about her family and always wanted to see each of us happy even if it meant that she had to step out of the spotlight to give way to things we were involved with.

Her love for family was evident and showed through a wide range of her collection of pictures. My mom had her own “Wall of Fame” as she called it. A room in her house dedicated to pictures that covered two walls in collage form of our different stages of life. It’s such a warm feeling each time I walk through that room on my visits and relive memories of family through those pictures. Now each time I look at this wall I will also relive the memories of my mom and will remember the love and dedication she gave us. Even though she proudly called it her Wall of Fame, she never wanted the spotlight. She would do all she could to make sure we knew her loved shined on us always. Now she has finally received her reward as she shines brightly in Heaven surrounded by family and friends that have gone before her. Thank you mom for everything; we love you and you’ll be greatly missed. Rest in peace.  

Tis' the season for football

Column published in last week's Football Preview in the Madison County Journal. www.mainstreetnews.com

As football season approaches, I have begun the process of upgrading my dish service to a package that contains ESPN. You know how that works if you use a dish for television. You must upgrade to a certain package of channels, most stations that you probably don’t care about, in order to get any of the ESPN channels. I must subscribe to a more expensive channel package if I want to see college football on the tube. So Tis’ the season to be jolly and despite having to pay extra money for a dish package, I hope I’ll be one jolly person at the end of the season.

Expectations are high anytime a new football season starts no matter if it’s on the high school, college, or professional level. As for my loyalty to my home state of South Carolina, I have high expectations for my orange and purple Tigers of Clemson. Winning the Atlantic Coast Conference championship last season has moved my usual “Just be happy for a winning season” expectation to even a higher level this year. I have to be greedy now. No longer will I settle for just a winning season and any kind of bowl appearance; I want more including another ACC title. I have placed last season’s embarrassing 70-33 Orange Bowl loss to West Virginia behind me, but now I still cringe every time I hear John Denver’s “Almost Heaven-West Virginia” song.

The Georgia Bulldogs enter the season ranked number 6 and will be without Isaiah Crowell who punched his ticket out of U.G.A. this summer. My Georgia friends will probably have every reason to enter the new season with very high expectations especially with a very favorable and easy Southeastern Conference Schedule.

For Red Raider football fans who are gearing up for the start of Madison County football; it Tis’ our season to be jolly. Right around the corner is the 2012 Red Raider football campaign that will feature some new kids on the block in region 8-AAAA. The new kids on the block in region 8-AAAA consist of Lanier, Eastside, Lumpkin County, Stephens County, Monroe Area, Walnut Grove, and Chestatee. A border war match-up with non-region foe Franklin County has been added to the calendar and this time around we don’t have to worry about our friends from Athens; Cedar Shoals and Clarke Central. It was 2007 when Madison County faced and beat Franklin County 23-6 in the final meeting of the rivalry. Dating back to 2002 when Madison County and Franklin County re-started the rivalry, the Raiders have rolled off five straight wins over the Lions.

Madison County opens the 2012 season in a non-region matchup with another old rival (8-AAA) Oconee County. The Raiders and Warriors haven’t faced each other in over 10 years.

A revamped region 8-AAAA, a new Head Coach at Madison County and a stadium that should be full of excitement when the Public Address Announcer voices that old familiar saying of “And here comes the Raiders” is plenty enough to make you jolly.

New head coach Chris Smith, a 1992 graduate of Madison County High School, led the Raiders to a 7-3 record in his senior season. Smith recalls Friday nights when Raider Stadium was packed and filled with excitement during his final season. Smith and his Raiders hope to see that same type of atmosphere this season. It’s time to be loud and proud for Red Raider football. Win or lose, the players and coaches have worked hard and deserve our respect and support.

We enter the 2012 season with high expectations and excitement and we should. It’s a brand new season starting all over again with a 0-0 record and a new group of region foes in the mix. But as we enter the new season, we should also remember the old saying that “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” High expectations should include a level of patience. Patience for Smith and his staff to get things rolling with what will be a brand new game plan on both sides of the ball. Enter the 12^th man; the fans. Winning is fun and we all hate to lose, but what makes times of losing more painful to endure for the guys on the field is when they look into the stands and see empty seats. If it’s a fast start or slow start for these boys, Raider Stadium should be packed and rocking on Friday nights.

Tis’ the season, football is here, so be jolly and supportive; win or lose. 

The Bolemon Boys and their days at MCHS

Britt with his family: Wife Brittany and children Tyler,
Carson, and Sawyer.

By Dallas Bordon

Through the years the Bolemon boys, Britt and Brad, were no different than any other brothers when it came to being competitive. Not only were they competitive with each other and against other schools during their playing days at Madison County, they claim to continue that competitiveness today as adults.

While competitiveness fades away for most brothers as they get older, the Bolemon boys tend to keep that fire burning. Today they are separated by nearly 100 miles and are working in their professions while raising kids of their own. If you were to ask either one if the competitiveness still burns on the inside you can almost guarantee both will quickly answer yes! “I still enjoy “competing” whenever I get a chance, especially with my older (but smaller!) brother Brad (Class of ’95),” said Britt Bolemon who is a 1997 honor graduate of Madison County High School.

Brad with his family: Wife Angie, children Callie and Caty Beth

The Bolemon boys are now both married and no longer live in Madison County. Britt, who resides in Greenville South Carolina, married his wife Brittany Wood of Buford in July 2002. Britt and Brittany have 3 sons; Tyler (6), Carson (5) and Sawyer (1). Britt enjoys coaching Tyler and Carson who both play on the same T-Ball team. Britt graduated from the University of Georgia in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. In 2006, the younger Bolemon graduated from the Medical School at Mercer College with a Doctor of Medicine degree. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Greenville Memorial Hospital in 2009 where he served as Chief Resident his final year. Britt completed his fellowship in Hematology and Oncology at Wake Forest in June 2012 and has recently joined the Cancer Center of the Carolinas working as a Hematologist and Oncologist in the Greenville area.

Older brother Brad married his high school sweetheart Angie Youngblood in 1999. Angie, also a graduate of Madison County High School, played softball under former Coach Jimmy Phillips at Madison County. Angie and Brad reside in Loganville Georgia and have 2 children Callie (10) and Caty Beth (6). Brad serves as the Assistant Principal at Loganville High School following a 10 year stint as Offensive Coordinator for the football team. Brad also taught at the high school in Loganville prior to moving into administration.

He is a graduate of Presbyterian College where he majored in Social Studies; minor in Secondary Education) receiving a Bachelors Degree in 1999. Brad received his Masters degree in 2004 from the University of Alabama (Health Science), Lincoln Memorial University (Educational Administration and Supervision)-Specialist in 2007; Lincoln Memorial University (Executive Leadership)-Doctorate 2012/pending.

Both Bolemon boys played sports at the college level. Brad played 5 years of college football and 4 years of college baseball. He played in the Division II All-Star Game and played in a Regional Championship as well as in Europe with Athletes in Action.

Younger brother Britt played baseball for 3 years at Emmanuel College where he received First Team NCCAA honors and First Team All Conference for 2 years.

Britt on his days at Madison County:

Britt was a member of the Red Raiders baseball and basketball teams for 4 years and played football his senior season. He received the Academic Award on several occasions and the Defensive Award for basketball. Britt played baseball for Coaches Charlie Griffeth and Ken Mogan and played basketball for former coaches Charles Wilkes and Mike Barger. In his senior season of football he played for former coach Dale Smallen. “In my years playing all sports, I am indebted to all my high school and recreation league coaches for teaching the ethics of hard work, discipline and learning to deal with adversity among other character traits,” said Britt Bolemon. “I always knew the coaches cared for me as a person and that had a tremendous effect on how I deal with other people and in my profession of how I deal with patients.”

Britt played in several baseball and basketball state playoff games while at Madison County. “I enjoyed all of those times but my most memorable moments of playing sports revolve around the personalities and friendships. I played most sports with my brothers Brad and Blake and my cousins Jake Westbrook and Chris Adams,” said Bolemon. “I also played baseball with Matthew Heaton and we both ended up in medical school together. The guys I played with for years, Joe and Josh Lord, Ricky Collins, Russ Moon and so many others shared tons of sports stories and good times,” said Britt.

Brad on his days at Madison County:

Brad, known well for his speed on the football field, mastered former Coach Scott Conner’s “Notre Dame Box” style offense for the Red Raiders. Brad received N.E. Georgia Player of the Year in football and Wendy’s Heisman Finalist among other awards. Brad began his high school football days under former coach Larry Milligan. On the diamond, Brad also played 4 years of baseball under Coach Charlie Griffeth. “I have a lot of good memories from playing for Madison County. My first touchdown catch from Chris Smith (new Raider Head Coach) at Monroe, playing with my family Britt, Jake, Chris, Barry, and Phil,” said Brad Bolemon. “Any Friday night at Red Raider Stadium still gives me chills and the songs they play during baseball games that I hear today take me back to those times. Football camp, sleeping in the gym and swatting at the bats…I could go on,” said Bolemon. Brad credits coaches Charlie Griffeth and Larry Milligan for giving him a chance early in high school to play. “I appreciate the time they vested in me. They saw enough in me to give me a chance early in high school,” said Bolemon. Brad remembers a night when Coach Mike Osborne made an extra effort to show his concern following a shoulder injury that Bolemon suffered in a game. “Coach Osborne was with me the night I separated my shoulder in football. He stopped by my house to check on me, pray for me and give me words of encouragement in a way that only a coach could,” said Bolemon.

The Bolemon boys will always be remembered for how hard they played the game and played it with a burning desire to win. The words of a former Madison County coach once said it best, “I wish every player had that burning desire in their heart, like the Bolemon boys had, to be competitive and want to win as bad as they did.”

Former Raider Westbrook wins 4th straight

Madison County's Jake Westbrook has now won four straight games on the mound for the Cardinals. Jake and the St. Louis Cardinals defeated San Francisco 8-2 on Monday night at home. Westbrook, 11-8, is one win away from matching his 2011 win total. He pitched 6 complete innings allowing 2 runs, both earned, while giving up 7 hits in Monday's win. Westbrook struck out 4 batters and didn't allow a walk in his 6 innings of work. Westbrook's earned run average is now 3.76.

A championship title they'll always remember

Column published in last week's Madison County Journal. www.mainstreetnews.com. Column titled: "Finally, these girls are State Champions"

By Dallas Bordon
dallasb32@yahoo.com

At the midpoint of the regular season, Coach Rodney Rogers made it clear to his All-Star shortstop Elizabeth Stoyle that this would finally be the year they win the state championship. Elizabeth, “E” as known by her teammates, found it hard to believe what her coach was telling her especially after hearing the same thing for 4 years. Much to her surprise, her coaches were already confident that the formula they mixed had enough potency to win a state title.  For Stoyle, along with Kayla Argo and Taylor Garrison, this was their final shot at winning a senior league state championship. Both Argo and Stoyle were taking their fifth shot at the title while teammate Taylor Garrison was making her third appearance in the state tournament. With a combined team effort and that right mixture of talent, coaches Rodney Rogers, Jeff Garrison, and Lance Wade made sure these three girls would go out with a bang this time around. “Eight girls from this year’s team played last year and were heartbroken and they have been waiting since last July for the chance to play for state again,” said Rogers. “This has been a long time coming for many of these girls as they have made 4 to 5 runs at a state championship.”

With a little more talent added to the formula in 2012, the Senior League All-Star girls have claimed the District 7 title as well as the state championship and are ready to represent Georgia in the Southeastern Regional Tournament in Ft. Myers Florida July 28. This season’s formula had a little northern flavor in the mix with the addition of Dani Lukas; the new kid on the block from New York. Lukas was the winning pitcher in all four state tournament games for Madison County. Her resume reads; seventeen innings pitched allowing just eight runs on eleven hits while tossing 14 strikeouts with just one walk allowed. Not to go unnoticed was Lukas and teammate Elizabeth Stoyle’s team high of seven hits each in the tournament. Despite her success in the tournament, Lukas would be the first to tell anyone that her performance wouldn’t have been possible without a great group of teammates wearing the red and black. Behind Lukas was an outstanding defense that made three diving catches from Anna McCarty, KC Wade, and Kayla Argo. All three highlight plays came at key moments of each game.

This same mixture of talent outscored their opponents 42-9 in the four games.

Each player played a key role from the pinch running of McCarty and Kirsten Casper to Brianna Morgan’s duties sporting the catcher’s equipment behind the plate working each game in the heat. There wasn’t one player that didn’t give an all out effort while facing the tough competition of West Point, Western of Macon, Oglethorpe County and Pioneer of Columbus.

The right formula for success reached beyond those playing inside the white lines however. Madison County’s (football turn softball) version of the 12^th man made an impact. The parents and fans that pulled the coolers of water to the stands in their red wagons each game and pitched tents for shade all represented Madison County in fine fashion. Coach Rodney Rogers expressed his appreciation to all of the parents for their part in making this All-Star run a success. “I would like to thank the parents of the girls for bringing them to each practice and for being understanding when I made some bad decisions from time to time,” said Rogers.

The road to the championship didn’t end at Criswell Park in Monroe with the state championship title. Madison County is now poised at making a run for the regional championship and then who knows maybe a slot at the World Series. The right formula might just be in the mix.

Win or lose, this will be a season to remember for these ladies. “No matter what happens in their lives they will always be the 2012 State Champions and no one can ever take that from them,” said Rogers.

Madison County girls capture state title

Dani Lukas was Madison County's winning pitcher

By Dallas Bordon 

Madison County's winning pitcher Dani Lukas said she has never been to Florida. 

That's about to change for Madison County's winning pitcher of all four games of the senior all star state tournament. Lukas moved to Madison County from New York and has only seen parts of the south. She will be packing her bags soon as the Madison County Senior League All-Stars punched their ticket to the regionals beginning July 27 in Fort Myers, Fla. 

Madison County swept this week's state tournament, winning four straight, capped off with a title championship 6-2 win Thursday over District 8 champion Pioneer of Columbus. Lukas pitched all seven innings, allowing two runs on four hits, while striking out four. Lukas contributed at the plate by delivering a key two-run double in the sixth inning pushing Madison County out in front 5-2. Elizabeth Stoyle led Madison County with three hits followed by two from Brianna Morgan and one each from Tatum Harris, Taylor Garrison, Kayla Argo, and Lukas. 

On defense, Argo flashed some leather in the top of the first inning by making a diving catch to kill a Pioneer threat. 

Madison County posted the game’s first run in the first inning. Pioneer tied the game in the fourth and added their final run in the top of the sixth. Madison County scored a run in the fourth and fifth innings before delivering the knockout punch with Lukas's double in the sixth inning. 

Madison County will now represent Georgia in the Southeast Regional Tournament July 28. Madison County will face North Carolina in the first game at 11:30 a.m. Madison County finishes the state tournament outscoring its opponents 42-9.

See the complete championship game recap in the July 26 Journal.

Madison County softball girls ready for the big dance

Dani Lukas, starting pitcher of all three games, leads the
MC hitting attack with 6 total hits.

I'm not sure how good Coach Rodney Rogers can dance but if his Madison County All-Star senior girls win tomorrow night, we might just find out. Win just one of two games on Wednesday night in Monroe and the Madison County girls will be State Champions. They enter game 4 of the tournament fresh off wins over Western of Macon, West Point, and Oglethorpe County. Madison County will face Pioneer of Columbus, who bounced Oglethorpe tonight, in Wednesday's title game.
Madison County has outscored their opponents 36-7 in the three games, two of which ended in the 5 inning run rule.
Dani Lukas, Kayla Argo, and Tatum Harris have all contributed on the mound. Lukas has collected 6 total hits followed by 4 each from Brianna Morgan, Elizabeth Stoyle, Kayla Argo, and KC Wade.
Madison County and Pioneer will square off at 6:00 tomorrow night at Criswell Park in Monroe, Georgia. Pioneer enters with one loss and will need to defeat Madison County twice to claim the championship.

Kayla Argo

Follow this week's Madison County Journal for coverage of Madison County's first 3 games. Tomorrow night's championship game recap will be in next week's issue due to Tuesday's deadline.

Chipper Jones Tribute

Another newspaper photo I took of Chipper in 1996 on
Media Day.

I took this newspaper photo of Chipper in
1996 in Fulton County Stadium.
One year after the Braves one the
World Series

Is 16 too young to drive?

Column published in last week's Madison County journal. www.mainstreetnews.com

By Dallas Bordon

dallasb32@yahoo.com

Should the age requirement for teens to obtain a driver’s license be changed from 16 to 18 years old?

This argument has been a hot topic for some time now. I find myself straddling the fence on this subject. I understand the pros and cons of both sides of the argument, but some of the stats that support a change can be alarming. More than 5,000 U.S. teens die each year in car wrecks. The rate of wrecks, fatal or nonfatal, per mile driven for 16 year old teens is almost 10 times the rate for drivers ages 30 to 59 according to the National Highway Safety Administration. However, we live in a society where driving is essential for teens as young as 16 to drive to school or work. 

As in most families, both parents hold jobs and are unable to taxi their teens to various functions like jobs and extracurricular activities. With teens being able to drive, allowing them a license to do so at 16 takes the burden off the parents.

At age 15, you are allowed to obtain a learner’s permit to drive in the company of an adult. Then at age 16 and after a few other requirements are met, you can test and receive a license to drive alone. For me at age 16, I remember the excitement of being able to drive without someone in the car, but then again, I can remember how scared I was behind the wheel. So frightened that I would sink my fingernails into the steering wheel and would sit stiff as a board from being nervous. Being too nervous was a bad thing and the fact that I drove at such a slow pace for the first few months was equally as bad; both of which could have easily caused an accident. 

My nervousness stemmed from the fact that my inexperience and maturity levels were well short of where they needed to be to operate a vehicle alone. Two years of driving with a learner’s permit only, would have better prepared me to steer the ship without supervision.

I wasn’t a teen who counted down the days until I turned 16 and was able to obtain a license; it just wasn’t a big deal for me. For my parents however, my ability to drive myself to practice, school and other functions in my stylish 1974 blue four-door Nova eliminated their services of having to chauffeur me around town. It was a blessing for them, but still the questions remain today: is 16 too young to drive? Would raising the age to 17 or 18 allow a teen much needed time to gain more experience before getting on the roads unsupervised? Does someone who is 16 possess enough maturity to understand the dangers and consequences of such a huge responsibility of driving alone?

I still ride the fence on the subject and still toss around in my mind the pros and cons of the age limits. Would changing the age requirement to 18 do anything to reduce the number of teenage car accidents? If the age requirement changed to 18, would 16 and 17 be good ages for teens to have a learner’s permit allowing them two years of supervised training behind the wheel? Receiving a learner’s permit at 15 would not be an option.

Regardless of what the law states, each parent has the responsibility of deciding if their teen is capable of driving solo at the age of 16. By law the age is set at 16 as a minimum age; however, we as parents should make the final decision if our kids are ready or if they need a longer training period. After all, driving should be viewed as a privilege not a right.

According to drivesteady.com there are two statistics that are very alarming. Teens have the highest chance of having a fatal crash within the first six months of getting their driver’s license. Also, teen drivers are more likely to be involved in a crash during their first year of driving.

So the question remains; is 16 too young to drive? As a dad, I’m still deciding.

Can't beat the memories of the old Fulton County Stadium

Column published in last week's issue of the Madison County Journal. www.mainstreetnews.com

By Dallas Bordon

Just the other day while going through some old VHS tapes, I came across an old recording from 1996 of the closing ceremonies of Atlanta Fulton County Stadium.

On the recording of that night, the Braves said farewell to their home by bringing back retired players from different years. 

As I pushed the old VHS tape in a VCR that I haven’t used in years, I sat and watched as former players like Phil Niekro, Gene Garber, Bob Horner, Dale Murphy, Earl Williams, and more entered the field from behind the left field wall while the theme song from the movie Field Of Dreams played in the background. 

For me it was a touching scene that immediately put my mind through flashbacks of the good old Braves’ days. I’m not talking about the winning days, because wins didn’t come often for the Braves back in the 70s and 80s. Instead, I flashed back to the days from games and the memories from when I was able to go to Fulton County Stadium or ones I would watch on TV. I remembered the days of watching with my grandfather, who was a big fan, at home with both of us glued to the tube. I remembered my first visit to the stadium when I was just 12 years old and how I was overwhelmed by actually being there for the first time.

Finally I was there in person and as I walked in to find my seat in the right field pavilion area, I saw familiar faces down on the field such as Murphy, Glenn Hubbard, and even Lou Brock who was playing for the visiting St. Louis Cardinals that night. The familiar voice of public address announcer Marshall Mann sounded off in the background with that old greeting, “Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen and welcome to Atlanta Fulton County Stadium.” I was like a kid in a candy store, but the store was in a shape of my field of dreams — Atlanta’s Fulton County Stadium.

For a stadium that took just under one year to build and only 30 seconds to demolish, this old cookie cutter shaped stadium held many years of memories. 

For the Braves historians reading this column you probably already know these facts about the home of the Braves. The stadium was built in 1965 and hosted its first major league game on April 12, 1966 against Pittsburgh. A sellout crowd saw the Braves lose 3-2 in 13 innings. Felipe Alou was the first Brave to bat in the old stadium, and his son Moises Alou of Montreal was the last player to bat in the final regular season game in 1996. Fulton County Stadium was known as the “Launching Pad” and was a hitter’s paradise for homeruns. 

On April 8, 1974, a crowd of 53,775 saw Hank Aaron break Babe Ruth’s home run record with homer number 715. A monument was built where the home run landed beyond the left field wall and that monument still stands today in what is now the parking lot of Turner Field. Fulton County Stadium hosted its final baseball game on October 24, 1996 and was imploded on August 2, 1997.

I can remember going to games there and seeing Chief Noc-A-Homa do his dance on the mound before sprinting off the field towards his teepee prior to the Braves taking the field. Of course my memories of Fulton County Stadium also included the World Series title and pennant runs of the 90’s when the Braves went from worst to first and started a winning tradition that will never be forgotten. That winning run in the 90s featured Cy Young winners like John Smoltz, Greg Maddux, and Tom Glavine.

We can also remember many years of Falcon football in the old stadium. The Falcons vacated the stadium for better digs in a brand new Georgia Dome in 1991.

The Braves however, moved into luxury themselves in 1997. Turner Field, former home of the 1996 Olympic Games would become the new chop shop for the Braves. With all its new state-of-the art technology and entertainment, nostalgia and atmosphere of the “old-time” ball parts that Turner field offers now, it still can’t beat the memories I have of the old Fulton County Stadium. 

Our parents' stories never get old

My column published in the Madison County Journal last week. www.mainstreetnews.com

By Dallas Bordon

dallasb32@yahoo.com

As kids we were feed stories from our parents of their experiences while growing up. Stories like how they had to walk 30 miles through the snow to school or how when they were kids they were lucky if they received a new pair of shoes once every 3 years. Of course I am stretching the truth a bit but you know where I’m coming from. Nevertheless, they were stories that were given in an attempt to get their point across. According to their experiences growing up, life was much harder being a kid back then. They worked their tails off and learned the value of a five cent allowance each week and rules were so much more strict back then. Stories we as kids got sick of hearing when we would complain about something or ask for money to do things with. We grew tired of having to relive their childhood through stories of horror when we complained about taking out the trash or having to feed the dog that we promised to feed if they agreed to give us one. As kids we thought our parents’ stories were useless and they didn’t apply to us in modern times. Our favorite thoughts would be “Well that was then and this is now.” Of course we didn’t dare voice that thought because of the consequences we’d face.

For those of us who are parents now, we can better understand the meaning behind those stories that were drilled into our heads as kids. Now we can tell our own stories to our children of how we had to endure the tough times of being a kid. What a great inheritance that was because those stories taught us lessons and kept us from being spoiled brats. I can see now as a parent myself; their speeches were for my own good. Those stories were told to me to help instill in my thick head that you take the good with the bad when going through childhood. Everything is not a walk in the park as a kid and lessons from parents were given out of love and not to be taken as cruel punishment. When they punished us and pointed out our mistakes we made we would find it hard to understand that they did it for our own good.

I value the lessons my parents taught me as a kid. My dad grew up in Cuba and came to the United States to attend Bible College. My mother was born and grew up on the mission field in South Africa so I know that any stories they told of their childhood made me realize of how good my way of life as a kid was.

I know that I have been blessed to have had both parents who loved me enough to bust my tail when I needed it. I can remember times of sporting a hand print from a good slapping on my legs after I would misbehave. Now it seems if you whip or punish a child you stand the chance of irritating the spoiled adult brats that want to yell child abuse. And those same brats wonder why people are so disrespectful today and wonder why the world is in the shape it’s in.

My parents are well into their late 70’s now and although my dad is retired from the ministry, he still maintains his love for his sign business. He’s a hard working man and knows the value of a dollar perhaps from lessons he learned from his parents when living in Cuba. I am fortunate to still be able to pick up the phone or go for a visit at most anytime because I know that as life takes its toll on them, I’ll lose that privilege one day. Until then, I still get to hear their childhood stories and the lessons they learned growing up; those same stories that still teach me today and those same stories that never get old. 

Coach remembers his playing days as a Raider

Column published in a recent issue of the Madison County Journal's feature of "Where are they now." To subscribe to the Journal visit: www.mainstreetnews.com

Raider Head Coach Chris Smith

By Dallas Bordon

dallasb32@yahoo.com

Madison County graduate Chris Smith is no stranger to the Red Raider community. Smith, a former quarterback (4 year letterman) for Madison County is now leading the Red Raiders on the gridiron as Head Football Coach. Smith was a 3 sport athlete at Madison County. He played football for under the direction of two different head coaches; 2 years for Brady Siegler and 2 years for Larry Milligan who is now the football coach at Oglethorpe County. Smith also was a 2 year letterman in basketball as a shooting guard and a 3 year letterman in baseball as a third baseman/outfielder for the Red Raiders.

After leaving Madison County, Smith continued his football career on an athletic scholarship at Presbyterian College where he graduated Cum Laude in 1997. He returned to the Madison County High school to teach and has served as an assistant football coach for the past 14 years. Smith will begin his first season as Head Coach of the Red Raiders this fall. Chris married former Lady Raider tennis and softball player Tonya (Culberson) Smith in 1999. They live in the Colbert area and have two sons; Colby age 10 and Camden age 6.

The Smiths are familiar faces around the athletic fields in Madison County. “Between my two sons and football, I am usually always at a field watching or coaching. They both love to play football, basketball, and baseball; therefore, we are involved in sports year round,” said Smith.

Despite the fact that Smith was a three sport athlete while wearing the Red and Grey, football is one he is most passionate about and the same sport that he will be teaching and leading this fall on the gridiron at Raider Stadium. “Football has been a huge part of my life. I have played the game since I was seven years old and I’m blessed to have been able to play at the youth level, high school level, and college level,” said Smith.

While at Madison County, Smith and his Red Raider football team struggled during his freshman and junior seasons. Finishing with a combined 1-19 record during his first two seasons, the Raiders bounced back to finish with a 5-5 record in his sophomore season and a 7-3 record his senior season just missing a spot in the playoffs. “We had a great group of seniors; Lee Bales, Gavin Griffith, Dale Abercrombie, Matt McElroy, Alan Simmons, Joe Alewine, Dewight Witcher, Phil Westbrook, Jeff Allen, Jonathan Cooper, and me,” said Smith. One of the highs of his senior season came during a run when the Raiders opened the year at 5-0 and ranked 10^th in the state in AAA. A loss to Winder-Barrow was the stumbling block that kept the Raiders out of post season that year. “Every one of us played a key role in the success of the team that year,” said Smith who also recalls seeing the stands pack every home game of his senior season.

Smith’s days on the baseball diamond included a senior season run that included winning the region tournament and finishing as state runners-up. Guys such as Joe Alewine, Clay Strickland, Joey Cheek, and Smith served as the only four seniors on the squad that season. “It was a special year for me. I was blessed to be a part of a great football and baseball team and I was blessed with the opportunity to play college football. Now I am blessed to with the opportunity to coach our young men in Madison County and help teach them a game that has been so good to me,” said Smith.