I know some of you have probably grown a little United Way Day of Basketball-weary, but thanks to you who came out to support the event on Sunday. Thanks to you, we raised about $4,400! In today’s fine article by Christopher K. Yates, we estimated it at $4,100, but after adding up all the receipts and selling some more chances at Thurman Pate’s UNC-Duke tickets, we’re up to the $4,400 amount — the most EVER in the event’s eight-year run.
I have so many thank-you’s, although I’m going to save most of them for a special column in Wednesday’s paper. However, the big ones go to Jonathan Massey, who was my right-hand man for most of the planning and didn’t hesitate to roll up his sleeves when I needed him to work; Wynn Whittington and Dr. Terry Cline, who allow us to use the Kinston High School gym every year for free; Tommy Pharo of Minges Bottling, who has graciously donated 30 cases of awesome Pepsi products to all eight UWDOBs; Ms. Tine Perry, who has worked the scorer’s table for all but one of the UWDOBs; Thurman Pate, who donated 100 tickets for chances for his Duke-UNC tickets at Cameron Indoor Stadium; Joe Hargitt, who donated a $450 pig picking from King’s Barbecue; and those of you who sent me e-mails, Facebook messages and left phone messages in support of this event.
I also want to particularly thank the legendary Brian North from WCTI ABC-12, who has played in every single game and who had the awesome idea of putting Skip Waters on the free throw line for two shots. North and his partner-in-crime, Derek Bayne, kept the UWDOB all over last night’s news AND sports. Thanks, guys! Although I like the job the other guys do here in our market (Brian Meador of WITN NBC-7 is an unsung hero), North and Bayne do it up right for Lenoir County.
Also, big props to Meador for promoting the event (and the postponement!), the ever-lovely Heather King of WITN’s morning show for having Lenoir-Greene United Way Executive Director June Cummings and I on twice this year and Brian Bailey of WNCT CBS-9 for promoting the event on Saturday. Don’t be down on Meador and Bailey, they were originally scheduled to participate; because of the schedule change and because of the Virginia-East Carolina baseball game on Sunday, they were unable to attend.
It was certainly an eventful day, from the coaches rallying to beat the media in overtime; to Scout and Reggie Bullock playing 1-on-1; to Reggie’s win in the 3-point contest and North Lenoir’s Maurice Morgan winning the dunk contest; to the Munn Maniacs beating the Hawk Krazees in the semifinals and then the Kinston Khaos downing the Maniacs for the student section championship. In fact, here’s a picture of the champion Khaos:
Most of all, thanks to you bloggees — particularly Heelatious and his lovely wife — for supporting our friends and neighbors at the United Way. You have my appreciation.
Here’s a look at the major winners in the student competitions over the eight UWDOBs:
2010
3-point contest: Reggie Bullock, Kinston (runner-up: Zack Cutlip, Arendell Parrott Academy)
Dunk contest: Maurice Morgan, North Lenoir (runner-up: Demoran Garner, South Lenoir)
Student section: Kinston Khaos (runner-up: Munn Maniacs)
2009
3-point shootout: Josh Benoit, Kinston (runner-up: Chris McPhail, North Lenoir)
Dunk contest: Joshea Singleton, Kinston (runner-up: Victor Holloway, Kinston)
Student section: Kinston Khaos (runner-up: Munn Maniacs)
2008
3-point shootout: Reggie Bullock, Kinston (runner-up: Tyler Potter, North Lenoir)
Dunk contest: Akeem “A.K.” Sutton, Kinston (runner-up: Rashee Hawkins, North Lenoir)
Student section: Munn Maniacs (runner-up: Hawk Krazees)
2007
3-point shootout: Reggie Bullock, Kinston (runner-up: Curtis Hines, Kinston)
Dunk contest: Sherrod Croom, Kinston (runner-up: Marcus Hemby, Kinston)
Student section: Hawk Krazees (runner-up: Munn Maniacs)
2006
3-point shootout: Tyler Potter, Bethel Christian Academy (runner-up: Curtis Hines, Kinston)
Dunk contest: Charles Gamble, Greene Central (runner-up: Quinton Coples, Kinston)
Student section: Munn Maniacs (runner-up: Hawk Krazees)
2005
3-point shootout: Omar Jones, North Lenoir (runner-up: Darryl Jones, Kinston)
Dunk contest: no contest held
2004
3-point shootout: Steven Walker, Arendell Parrott Academy (runner-up: Michael Small, Kinston)
Dunk contest: Montel Jones, Kinston (runner-up: Ben Sutton, Kinston)
2003
3-point shootout: no contest held
Dunk contest: Jeremy Ingram, Kinston (runner-up: Kevin Lee, North Lenoir)
