E-mail me at bhanks@freedomenc.com with ECU TICKETS in the subject line.

See what you get for checking out my blog on a late Friday afternoon?

UPDATE 5:40 P.M.: Congrats to PantherFan (Floyd Reardon) for winning the tickets. See you in Beulaville, dude!

Prep playoffs

Kinston 23, East Duplin 21

Pender 48, Ayden-Grifton 8

Jones Senior 24, Weldon 20

Southern Pines Pinecrest 34, Fuquay-Varina 31

Lumberton 28, Wilmington Hoggard 27

College

East Carolina 

Boston College

Penn State

Mississippi

Purdue

NFL

Detroit

Baltimore

N.Y. Giants

San Diego

Philadelphia

P.S.: I’ll be giving live updates from Beulaville at my Twitter account, located at BCHanks. Feel free to tweet me back throughout the game.

Every day, we’ll celebrate our favorite sports seasons, teams and school spirit with tasteful views of those student cheerleaders or professional cheerleaders who represent their respective teams.

Today, the nation’s leading cheerleader expert, Darren Becton, presents us with these nuggets (OK, literally one of them is a Denver Nugget, while the other picture is of the L.A. Clippers):

For a better view of the photos, click on the pictures themselves. To make a suggestion for a future COTD, leave it in the comments or send me an e-mail to bhanks@freedomenc.com. 

I’ll kick it off: I’ve seen Kinston twice (vs. Southern Wayne, 48-16 win; vs. Greene Central, 33-7 win) and East Duplin twice (vs. North Lenoir, 70-13 win; vs. South Lenoir, 49-21 win), so I have a pretty good read on both teams, though neither played a team in their caliber in any of the four contests.

Tonight’s game will be a classic speed (KHS) vs. size (ED) contest. This year’s Kinston team is as speedy as any I’ve ever seen, especially at the 2A level, since at least the 1992 Lincolnton Wolves team. And while East Duplin isn’t overly huge on its lines, they’re much bigger than Kinston’s. But ED’s O-line — under the direction of former North Lenoir head coach Wayne Jackson — is schematically as good as I’ve seen in a long, long time.

KINSTON WINS if the Vikings can stop East Duplin’s rushing attack. And yes, ED has a pretty potent attack with one of the most disciplined offensive lines and set of backs I’ve seen in a couple of years. Led by Wiley Jackson (remember him?) at quarterback, the ED offense is succinct, powerful and merciless. Those big kids will kick your butt on one play … then, kick your butt again on the next play.

EAST DUPLIN WINS if they can get to KHS QB Dory Hines. ED has a huge size advantage on its D-line over KHS’ O-line; if the Panthers’ linemen and linebackers can get to Hines, they’ll make short work of Kinston tonight. But if Hines is given any sort of time to get a pass off (when the Vikings aren’t rushing the ball), ED will be in trouble.

My official prediction: Kinston 23, East Duplin 21 — I think Kinston has a little too much speed for East Duplin.

I’d love to see your predictions. In fact, let’s have a little competition here; whoever gets the closest to the final amount of points scored will win a prize from The Free Press prize closet. You have to pick the correct winner and get closer to the final amount of points without going over.

For example: I pick Kinston and 44, because I think KHS wins and the final total of points will be 44. If you want to add your final score prediction, we’ll all laugh at it check it out.

There were 19 entrants for the tickets — thanks!

I’m trying to track down more tickets and it’s possible there might be another giveaway this afternoon. Stay tuned.

Congrats, RouseHouse!

Talk show giant Oprah Winfrey will end her show at the end of the 2011 season, her 25th on the air. She’ll be focusing her attention on starting her own cable network, which ironically will be called the OWN — Oprah Winfrey Network.

My take: Say what you want — she’s a horrible interviewer, she’s narcissistic and she’s more irritating than Carrot Top on Red Bull — but she draws the ratings and the viewers. The HB’s mom is hopelessly addicted to Oprah, and she’s one of millions in America (and around the world) with the same addiction.

She’s able to sell books for ANYONE with her book club. Additionally, she always gets the best guests; everyone who is anyone would sell their souls to be on her couch.

The downside to this announcement coming this soon is that we’re going to hear about it for the next two years. Boo.

SEX ALLEGATIONS MOUNT AGAINST MISSOURI FAMILY

In yet another disturbing story this week, a group of men from a Missouri family have been charged with a multitude of sex charges against their own sisters and daughters, including rape, bestiality and many others.

My take: If this is true, my faith in human beings just continues to drop further and further. How could you do some of the things alleged? Good grief.

Did this stuff happen 50, 75 or 100 years ago? Or have all the freaks and perverts just come out in the past decade or so?

And one of the accused looks JUST LIKE Wilford Brimley. Check out the link.

KINSTON, ED FACE OFF TONIGHT IN BEULAVILLE

It’s going down tonight in Beulaville as Kinston and East Duplin take on each other in the second round of the NCHSAA 2A football playoffs.

My take: It’s going to be a hell of a game and I wouldn’t miss it for anything in the world. As I said in my Sunday column, if you’re a prep football fan — or want to support Lenoir County — you MUST be at the game tonight.

I’ll post my prediction for the game later when I post the rest of my picks.

A quick note, though, before I’m accused of being a traitor: Chris Miller of the Jacksonville Daily News will unable to make the game (he’s covering SOCCER!!!), so I’m picking up the ED angle for the JDN tonight, since the JDN is our esteemed sister paper. So when you see me on the ED sideline, don’t yell or throw things at me.

The iPod shuffle

Without Love — Bon Jovi

Lust For Life — Iggy Pop

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band — The Beatles

In Da Club — 50 Cent

(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear — Elvis Presley

P.S.: It’s about an hour or so until I draw for the ECU-UAB ticket winners. There are 17 entrants right now, which is awesome! If you want to get in at the last minute, send me an e-mail to bhanks@freedomenc.com. I’ll announce the winners a little after 10 a.m.

• Our good friend and self-declared goat fetishist Jon Dawson has a funny YouTube link up over at his blog; check it out by clicking here. Of course, it’s a little PG-13, so if you’re going to call our bosses, whining and crying about innuendo and such, do us both a favor and don’t check it out. HOWEVER, if you want to laugh your butt off and get a new respect for Johnson outboard motors, be sure to head on over…
• Don’t forget, I’m giving away a pair of UAB-ECU football tickets tomorrow at 10 a.m. Send me an e-mail to bhanks@freedomenc.com with ECU tickets in the subject line and you’re in the running. I’ve had seven entries, but I’d love to see more folks enter. I might even have an extra pair, so get your name in the pot! Remember, you have to be able to come by The Free Press office by 5 p.m. Friday or be at the Kinston-East Duplin game Friday night to collect your tickets.
• Our good friend and my predecessor, Charlie Kraebel, has re-started his “Krabcakes and Football” blog. Although most of it deals with some Yankee town named Amsterdam, N.Y., or something like that, he still delves into interesting material, including Sarah Palin on Newsweek (yes, I’m fighting the temptation to post that cover again), the NFL and blogging about blogging. Check it out.

Every day, we’ll celebrate our favorite sports seasons, teams and school spirit with tasteful views of those student cheerleaders or professional cheerleaders who represent their respective teams.

With No. 4 North Carolina (how can they they be ranked THAT high?) taking on No. 15 Ohio State today at 9 p.m., the country’s leading cheerleading expert, Darren Becton, introduces us to representatives from each university:

For a better view of the photos, click on the pictures themselves. To make a suggestion for a future COTD, leave it in the comments or send me an e-mail to bhanks@freedomenc.com. 

In a story that seems like it comes straight out of the Old Testament, a Michigan father took his 15-year-old son to a vacant parking lot, made the teenager strip and shot him to death after the son told his mother that he had sexual contact with a 3-year-old girl.

My take: Like everyone else, my first reaction was … “wow, how could that happen?”

But there are a lot of fathers on this blog. How would you react if you heard that? I doubt you’d grab your 9-mm and blow your son away, but wouldn’t you want to beat the crap out of him?

As the linked story implies, the father’s lawyer is probably going to use an temporary insanity defense, but … wow. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a story like this.

‘TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON’ OPENS TONIGHT

It’s one of the most eagerly-anticipated movies of the year and it opens tonight at midnight: “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” hits theaters. Evidently, the movie is about vampires, teen angst and stuff.

My take: Whatever. I do know that Jon Dawson already got his tickets for the movie and said he wants to sit down in front. OK, that’s a joke, but …

The funniest Facebook status update about the movie I’ve seen comes from our very own Heelsfan (Jonathan Davis): “I’m so pumped up about the New Moon movie tonight at midnight!!!! Why you might ask? Cause I will have the house to myself from atleast 11:30pm-3:15am!!!”

Awesome.

JETS COACH SHOWS UP TO PRESSER WITH KLEENEX

N.Y. Jets coach Rex Ryan came to his Wednesday press conference with a box of Kleenex. Why? Evidently, he broke down and cried at a Monday meeting with his team.

My take: First off — as the N.Y. Post story above states — that was a funny move by the coach at Wednesday’s presser. Cryin’ Ryan seems to have a great sense of humor.

Secondly — as much as I bash Betty Fav-ruh for her constant tears — I have no problem with this. While I feel Betty turns on the tears like a spigot to make his sheep followers (yes, Lee Raynor, I’m looking at you) try to love him more, from all accounts, this was a spontaneous event … not pre-planned like that junk Fav-ruh does.

Lastly, since when did the locker room lose its sanctity? A story like that should NEVER come out. I know there are 500 newspapers in the Big Apple, but there is no way a player should go to the press about his coach crying. That’s a player that — in the old days, at least — would get his ass kicked by his teammates.

The iPod shuffle

Feelin’ Way Too Damn Good — Nickelback

America The Beautiful — Frank Sinatra

Just Don’t Give A F*** — Eminem

The First Time — U2

Legs (Remix) — ZZ Top

(Sorry, just needed an excuse to run it again.)

My take: Well, well; those contracts are binding, you know. Insert your own joke here.

Also — and I won’t link to it ’cause the bosses will become angry — but there are about 5,000 “fake” Sarah Palin photos out there on the ‘Net. Some are hilarious, like this one:

Every day, we’ll celebrate our favorite sports seasons, teams and school spirit with tasteful views of those student cheerleaders or professional cheerleaders who represent their respective teams.

With the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks facing off in a big NBA matchup tonight, our expert Cheerleaderologist, Darren Becton, has selected these two fine representatives of those franchises:

For a better view of the photos, click on the pictures themselves. To make a suggestion for a future COTD, leave it in the comments or send me an e-mail to bhanks@freedomenc.com. 

President Obama, while in Asia, told CNN he won’t be reading Sarah Palin’s new book (he doesn’t have the time) and that he is not committed to running for re-election in 2012, among other topics.

My take: I’m sure he won’t be reading Palin’s tome, but not running for re-election?

Riiiiiiiiight.

Love him or hate him, but has anyone but me noticed that his whole existence is a campaign? He mentioned that he won’t run if his poll numbers are suffering — he’ll run again, count on it. Anyone want to bet me on that one?

FAYETTEVILLE TERRY SANFORD THROWN OUT OF 4A FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS

A judge reviewed the case of Fayetteville Terry Sanford’s varsity football team yesterday, then agreed with the North Carolina High School Athletic Association in ejecting the team from the 4A playoffs.

Check the link for all the details, but basically, a player’s grades were changed, it was reported to the NCHSAA and the organization — rightfully — made all of Terry Sanford’s wins (9) a loss.

However, a Cumberland County judge issued an injunction that allowed Terry Sanford to remain in the playoffs; the Bulldogs went on to defeat Fayetteville Pine Forest 49-28 on Friday. Late Tuesday, the NCHSAA reinstated Pine Forest into the 4A playoffs, where the team will travel to Wilmington New Hanover on Friday.

My take: KUDOS to the judge for doing the right thing. The lesson here, kids? Cheaters don’t win and winners don’t cheat (or get caught). Terry Sanford got caught.

Do I feel bad for the other dozens of kids on the team who worked hard and are getting hurt by this? Of course I do. But rules are rules — and officials at Terry Sanford broke the rules to help an athletic team. Inexcusable — and that’s why I’m glad the judge did the right thing here.

I covered a similar event in Gaston County in 2002 when North Gaston was discovered to have ineligible players on its roster. Some North Gaston parents found a sympathetic judge, who went a step further than last week’s ridiculous decision; the Gaston County judge actually forced a postponement of the game, setting the 3A West playoffs back a week. Ultimately, a right-minded judge threw North Gaston out of the playoffs and order was restored to the world.

HERB SPEAR DIES AT 63

Former Kinston City Councilman Herb Spear passed away early yesterday morning at the age of 63.

My take: Spear was also a former star athlete at Grainger High School, the founder of Lenoir Community College’s athletic programs (and its first men’s basketball coach) and the owner of Spear’s Sporting Goods.

Although I didn’t know him that well, I have heard many great things about him. He also contributed a few quotes to a story I did on Kinston coach Paul Jone’s passing back in April.

Most of all, I knew Mr. Spear from his great son, Gram, who I’ve crossed paths with many times at Fairfield Recreation Center in my six years of coaching 12-and-under basketball teams out there.

Rest in peace, sir. The Spear family is in our prayers.

The iPod shuffle

St. Louie — Nelly

I Wanna Rock — Twisted Sister

Who We Be — DMX

Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go — Wham!

In Too Deep — Genesis

Kinston at East Duplin

Ayden-Grifton at Pender

Jones Senior at Weldon

Fuquay-Varina at Southern Pines Pinecrest

Lumberton at Wilmington Hoggard

College

UAB at East Carolina 

North Carolina at Boston College

Penn State at Michigan State

LSU at Mississippi

Purdue at Indiana

NFL

Cleveland at Detroit

Indianapolis at Baltimore

Atlanta at N.Y. Giants

San Diego at Denver

Philadelphia at Chicago