Blogging with Bryan C. Hanks

South Lenoir’s Logan Deaver voted

N.C. STEP “No Spit” All-Star of the Week

All nominees have pledged not to use spit tobacco or any tobacco products– on or off the field!

CANTON, NC – The North Carolina Spit Tobacco Education Program (STEP) is proud to announce that South Lenoir’s Logan Deaver is this week’s NC STEP “No Spit” All-Star of the Week.  As a condition of eligibility, Deaver has pledged not to use spit tobacco or any tobacco products – on or off the field!  As a weekly winner, Deaver is now a finalist for the N.C. STEP “No Spit” All-Star of the Year.

During the first week of the season, Deaver did not give up an earned run in 10 innings pitched this season, giving up seven hits while striking out 15.  Deaver tossed a complete-game three-hitter in a 10-1 win over North Lenoir while going 2-for-4 at the plate with three runs batted in.  In a 11-0 win over Spring Creek, Deaver tossed three scoreless innings and went 1-for-2 at the plate with a double. 

Each weekly nominee and winner has pledged not to use spit or smokeless tobacco, understanding that smokeless does not mean harmless, as spit tobacco contains more than 28 cancer-causing agents.  These cancer-causing agents are present in cigarettes, cigars, smoke, and all forms of smokeless tobacco, including spit, snuff, and chew.  The nominees have made the healthy lifestyle choice not to use spit tobacco.

In the Oral Health America 2006 Spit Tobacco Report Card, the nation received a “D” for the use of spit tobacco.  That means between 12 to 20 percent of all high school males in the country have used spit tobacco in the last 30 days.  The campaign intends to educate young people in North Carolina about the dangers of spit tobacco and reinforce the healthy, lifestyle choice not to use tobacco products, especially spit tobacco.

Coaches, parents, and fans can nominate any player for the N.C. STEP “No Spit” All-Star of the Week.  For more information about the campaign or to download a “No Spit” pledge for North Carolina, visit www.TheSportsFlash.com.  Each weekly nominee has pledged not to use smokeless tobacco, understanding that smokeless does not mean harmless, as spit tobacco contains more than 48 cancer-causing agents.  These cancer-causing agents are present in cigarettes, cigars, smoke, and all forms of smokeless tobacco, including spit, snuff, and chew.  The nominees have made the healthy lifestyle choice not to use spit tobacco

NC STEP is an effort designed to educate North Carolinians about the dangers of spit tobacco.  Each year, between 10 to 16 million Americans put their health at risk by using spit tobacco.  NC STEP’s mission is to prevent people, especially young people, from starting to use spit tobacco.  For more information about NC STEP, please contact Paul Turner at (828) 648-1211.

The North Carolina Spit Tobacco Education Program (STEP) is funded through a grant from the North Carolina Health Wellness Trust Fund (HWTF). The NC Health and Wellness Trust Fund makes North Carolina stronger, both physically and economically, by funding programs that promote preventive health. Created by the General Assembly in 2000 to allocate a portion of North Carolina’s share of the national tobacco settlement, HWTF has invested $199 million to support preventive health initiatives and $102 million to fund prescription drug assistance programs. For more information, please visit www.HealthWellNC.com.

The TSF Radio Network delivers customized, local sports reports to 184 network affiliates in 14 different states, reaching a weekly listening audience of more than 2.4 million people.  TSF has 32 network affiliates in North Carolina and will provide the day-to-day management of the campaign.  For more information about the TSF Radio Network, contact Mike Sinnott at (517) 927-4570.

My take: Congrats — Logan, South Lenoir and Lenoir County! Way to get the vote out for one of ours!

As Flagan and a couple of others have reminded me, fantasy baseball is just around the corner. I will host the Hanks Blog Baseball League for the second year in a row; if you’d like to join, send me an e-mail to bhanks@freedomenc.com or leave a comment here. I’ll compile a list of team owners here in this thread.

I don’t want to go more than 12 teams in the league, but we’ll determine that by how many SERIOUS players we have.

I’d love to do a live draft, perhaps even at the new East Coast Wings when it opens. If not, we’ll do the e-mail-style draft, but that would need to begin mid-week next week.

To this point, I know these folks want in (and I’ll add to this as you let me know):

Hanks

Massey

Flagan

Heelatious

Diamondheels

The Kid

Jourbet

BHatcher

Lee Wetherington (defending HBFL champion)

Jesterama

David Pollock (defending HBBL champion)

Trey Kiger

UPDATE 9:30 P.M. THURSDAY: OK, we have 12 teams; let’s vote on a live draft (which would take about 3 to 4 hours) or an e-mail draft. Leave your votes in the comments or e-mail me. If we start an e-mail draft, it’ll need to begin by Wednesday. If we live-draft (and yes, Kid, we could Skype it), we could do it one day later this month.

It’s up to you. My vote is for live draft, so that makes it 1-0 at this point.

KINSTON ROUTS SOUTH LENOIR

Cody Heath led Kinston on the mound, while Spencer Moye, Joshua Lovick, Landon DeBruhl and Blake Herring led the Vikings at the plate in a mercy rule-shortened six-inning 10-0 win against South Lenoir last night.

My take: I knew Kinston was improved this year … but not this much.

Yes, it was one game. Yes, in the grand scheme of things it doesn’t mean much since it was a non-conference game for both squads.

But with Kinston dropping to 2A this year, it’s possible that — like in basketball — the Vikings and Blue Devils could meet in the state playoffs. The teams have a regular season game remaining, if it can be rescheduled — although the rumblings I heard from both sides leads me to think it won’t be because of tight schedules for both teams. I will say this: I’ve watched Troy Eason-coached teams for eight years and I know they get better the second time you face them. IF Kinston and South Lenoir play again, it won’t be 10-0 … I’d bet my life on that.

I would love to see a rematch, though. I also want to see Kinston play North Lenoir this year, too, to see if last night was just a one-night occurrence or if the Vikings are for real.

I think they are, though. The Vikes have a solid senior base, along with the talented Herring in the mix, too.

Finally, big props to Kinston coach (and friend of the blog) Jason Wade. He took over a program that was in complete disarray and has built it into arguably the best team in a baseball-rich county. Congrats, Coach.

COREY HAIM DEAD AT 38

“Lost Boys” actor Corey Haim is dead after an apparent drug overdose.

My take: I was a fan of his and Corey Friedman, but he’s been in and out of trouble his entire life. RIP.

DE NIRO SET TO PLAY LOMBARDI

Robert De Niro will play former NFL football coach Vince Lombardi in an upcoming movie.

My take: Excellent match-up; should be a good movie.

The iPod shuffle

Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door — Eric Clapton

Some Days Are Better Than Others — U2

Big Me — Foo Fighters

Ring Of Fire — Johnny Cash

Diamonds From Sierra Leone — Kanye West featuring Jay-Z

Judge approves Freedom bankruptcy plan By DENA BUNISFreedom News Service

My take: This is fantastic news for me and my co-workers, who have lived and worked under this cloud for months.

What does this mean to you? It means we will continue delivering you the best news and sports in our area.

From Kinston High School Principal Wynn Whittington:

A limited number of tickets to Saturday’s NCHSAA state 2A boys’ basketball championship game between Kinston and West Caldwell are on sale at the Kinston High front office for $9. Tickets at the door of the game, which is being played at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at N.C. State’s Reynolds Coliseum, will be $10. The school is also trying to raise interest for a chartered bus to the game. To reserve a seat, adults are $10 and students are $5. Money will be refunded if there’s not enough interest. For more information call the school at 252-527-8067.

Rodney L. Coward, a sex offender convicted of two sexual crimes, has moved; back in December 2008, he was at 518C Georgetown Road in Kinston, but now he has moved to 506 E. Caswell Street.

Here are three shots of Mr. Coward, who has two sex convictions; his first conviction was of attempted rape and an attempted sex offense (1st and 2nd degree) on Oct. 19, 1993 for which he served three years and a month and a half of a 10-year sentence. Mr. Coward’s second conviction came on May 6, 1999 and was for indecent liberty with a minor, which he served 16 months.

I am firing back up the sex offender update, which I will update every day Monday through Friday. You need to know where these men and women are — and I’m going to let you know who they are.

South Lenoir pitcher Logan Deaver is up for a statewide award — the N.C. No-Spit All-Star honor — and you can help him win.

Go here to cast a vote for Logan; from what the ballot looks like, you can vote at least once a day.

Take 30 seconds, jump in there and let’s vote for one of our kids from our area. I’ll let you know if when he wins!

RUNAWAY PRIUS TAKES 20 MINUTES TO SLOW DOWN

A Toyota Prius hit speeds of 90 mph after the driver called 911 to tell officials he couldn’t slow his car down. After 20 minutes, he was able to stop the car after a California Highway Patrolman pulled up beside him and told him by PA to apply his parking brake while applying his floor brake.

My take: This would be funny if it weren’t so scary. What the hell is going on over at Toyota? I’ve always considered Toyota to be one of the top automakers — and wouldn’t even be opposed to owning one myself — but I’m not sure I would take a new Toyota if it were given to me now. These are some scary stories…

GAY MARRIAGE NOW LEGAL IN D.C.

As of this morning, homosexuals can now marry in Washington, D.C.

My take: You know my stance, as I’ve shared it here before — I have absolutely no problem with this whatsoever. Why shouldn’t gay people be as miserable as straight people?

All joking aside, this is the new civil rights issue of our generation. Remember 50 years ago when blacks were trying to have the same rights as whites? This, to me, is the same thing — just because you are gay or lesbian doesn’t mean you don’t have the same rights as straight folks like me and Jon Dawson the HB.

Speaking of Jon Dawson, I thought this would be a good time to reprise this photo of him and his true love:

Aren’t they a lovely couple?

IVERSON DRINKING, GAMBLING HIMSELF TO DEATH?

Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Stephen A. Smith is reporting that former 76ers star Allen Iverson is in deep trouble with drinking and gambling. Smith went as far as to write that Iverson’s life may be in danger because of his behavior.

Iverson has responded on Twitter, all but acknowledging Smith’s report.

My take: Say what you want about Iverson, but he was — pound-for-pound — the toughest player in the league. I am a fan of his and I hope he is able to work his way through this.

The iPod shuffle

What Kind Of Man Would I Be? — Chicago

Synchronicity 2 — The Police

Shake Your Rump — Beastie Boys

Sweet Home Alabama — Lynyrd Skynyrd

Brass Monkey — Beastie Boys

I’ve read the postings and I’ve got the e-mails from you guys (and gals) wanting a separate blog post for tomorrow’s (potentially) epic showdown between Kinston and South Lenoir in prep baseball.

Well … here you go.

Wish I knew more about both teams to make an educated posting myself, but I’ll leave that up to you guys.

I do know this: Troy Eason will always have a team ready, as will Jason Wade. I feel like this probably means a lot more to Kinston than it does to South Lenoir, since the Vikings have been on the lower portion of the totem pole in county baseball than South Lenoir and North Lenoir in recent years.

I personally know more of the Kinston players (Joshua Lovick, Landon DeBruhl, Blake Herring, C.J. Bradshaw immediately come to mind) than I do of the South Lenoir players, but that’s mostly because I personally coached them or coached against them at Fairfield Recreation Center.

Listen, I don’t have a dog in the fight. I am going to do my best to be there tomorrow although it’s in the middle of my work day because I want to see some good prep baseball played in our county. I hope it’s a good game and that there are a ton of people out there to support baseball in our county on a beautiful day.

Greetings from the Radisson RTP, where Kinston is being feted during the basketball state championship presser. I have about 20 minutes to put this together … so here goes:

ROETHLISBERGER IN TROUBLE … AGAIN

For the second time in a couple of years, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is being accused of sexual assault. He hasn’t been arrested or charged yet.

My take: He’s a Super Bowl MVP, but he’s making a career of piss-poor decisions in his personal life. Like the Tiger situation, this is going to get MUCH uglier before it gets better.

OLDEST AMERICAN DIES AT 114

The country’s oldest person died at the age of 114 in New Hampshire. She was a Boston Red Sox fan.

My take: At least she got to see the Sox win another title.

‘HURT LOCKER’ WINS BEST PICTURE OSCAR; BULLOCK TOP ACTRESS

“The Hurt Locker” won the Best Picture Academy Award, Sandra Bullock won the Best Actress for her part in “The Blind Side” and Jeff Bridges won Best Actor for “Crazy Heart” at last night’s Oscar award show.

My take: I saw Bullock in “Blind Side” and was duly impressed and I really want to see “Hurt Locker.”

The iPod shuffle

I Don’t Need You — Kenny Rogers

Disappear — INXS

FEZ Being Born — U2

Union Of The Snake — Duran Duran

Under Pressure — David Bowie & Queen