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Blogging with Bryan C. Hanks

Dedicated to the memory of Taylor "BlueDevil99" Humphrey

Standings after Week 2 (with update)

Posted on August 31, 2010 by Bryan Hanks

Some great weeks turned in — but none better than Horns and JDog, who were a phenomenal 14-1 last week. Horns’ only loss was Northern Durham’s victory against Rocky Mount, while JDog’s only setback was North Johnston’s win against North Lenoir.

Six of you — B, Deep Run Dynasty, PantherFan2, Heelatious, JonMassey and Smokin’ Aces (formerly Slipnslide3223) — had 13-2 weeks.

The toughest game to pick this week was Eastern Wayne’s upset of Goldsboro that Horns, TwinsFan and JDog selected.

Jacque Strapp held onto first place by himself with another strong week; B, Jagshouse and Purplehaze are tied for second. This has been, quite simply, a great start to the season by a bunch of you!

Here are the standings and again — a very special thanks to my hot and humble girlfriend for her help in putting these standings together!

Rank (LW) OA wins This week

1. (1) Jacque Strapp 25-5 (.833) 12-3 (.800)

T2. (T8) B 24-6 (.800) 13-2 (.867)

T2. (T2) Jagshouse 24-6 (.800) 12-3 (.800)

T2. (T2) Purplehaze 24-6 (.800) 12-3 (.800)

T5. (T2) Taplie Coile 23-7 (.767) 11-4 (.733)

T5. (T17) Deep Run Dynasty 23-7 (.767) 13-2 (.867)

T5. (T8) Jourbet 23-7 (.767) 12-3 (.800)

T5. (T2) Greg Melvin 23-7 (.767) 11-4 (.733)

T5. (T8) Omega_07solo 23-7 (.767) 12-3 (.800)

T5. (T17) PantherFan2 23-7 (.767) 13-2 (.867)

T5. (T8) PeteyPablo 23-7 (.767) 12-3 (.800)

T12. (T17) Eastern 22-8 (.733) 12-3 (.800)

T12. (T30) Heelatious 22-8 (.733) 13-2 (.867)

T12. (T8) Highway 24 22-8 (.733) 11-4 (.733)

T12. (43) Horns 22-8 (.733) 14-1 (.933)

T12. (T17) Jeff Howard 22-8 (.733) 12-3 (.800)

T12. (T30) JonMassey 22-8 (.733) 13-2 (.867)

T12. (T17) Lesboulez 22-8 (.733) 12-3 (.800)

T12. (T17) Kelly Rouse 22-8 (.733) 12-3 (.800)

T12. (T30) Smokin’ Aces** 22-8 (.733) 13-2 (.867)

T12. (T8) Sparetime 22-8 (.733) 11-4 (.733)

T22. (T17) Bealestbuc 21-9 (.700) 11-4 (.733)

T22. (T17) Blake H. 21-9 (.700) 11-4 (.733)

T22. (T30) Diamondheels 21-9 (.700) 12-3 (.800)

T22. (T44) JDog 21-9 (.700) 14-1 (.933)

T22. (T17) JWade 21-9 (.700) 11-4 (.733)

T22. (T17) TAH&KDH 7/6/10 21-9 (.700) 11-4 (.733)

T28. (T30) Randy Capps 20-10 (.667) 11-4 (.733)

T28. (T8) RA Jones 20-10 (.667) 9-6 (.600)

T28. (T17) John Q. Awesome 20-10 (.667) 10-5 (.667)

T28. (T8) Johnny Kennedy 20-10 (.667) 9-6 (.600)

T32. (T30) DeepRunPirate 19-11 (.633) 10-5 (.667)

T32. (T30) Hanks 19-11 (.633) 10-5 (.667)

T32. (T17) Southside53 19-11 (.633) 9-6 (.600)

T35. (T30) Canyoureadthis 18-12 (.600) 9-6 (.600)

T35. (T30) Comet65 18-12 (.600) 9-6 (.600)

T35. (T30) Ryan Herman 18-12 (.600) 9-6 (.600)

T35. (T30) The Kid 18-12 (.600) 9-6 (.600)

T35. (T44) Rousehouse 18-12 (.600) 11-4 (.733)

40. (T30) TrumpetingPenguin 16-14 (.533) 7-8 (.467)

T41. (T2) Bward 12-3 (.800) —–

T41. (–) COliver* 12-3 (.800) 12-3 (.800)

T41. (T2) Jackson 12-3 (.800) —–

T44. (T8) ECPirates11 11-4 (.733) —–

T44. (–) RJarman* 11-4 (.733) 11-4 (.733)

T44. (–) TateMooring* 11-4 (.733) 11-4 (.733)

T44. (–) TwinFan* 11-4 (.733) 11-4 (.733)

48. (T17) Shandshp 10-5 (.667) —–

T49. (T30) JDawson 9-6 (.600) —–

T49. (–) GWhitley* 9-6 (.600) 9-6 (.600)

* indicates first week of picks

** formerly Slipnslide3223

Pick these games, Week 3

Posted on August 31, 2010 by Bryan Hanks

Been crazy-busy, so I’ll try to get the standings up before this day is over. However, our good friend Jonathan Massey has already let me know that he went 13-2 this week (and he did) while my slack butt only went 10-5.

Thanks, Jonathan.

Anyhoo, pick these games. And don’t make fun of me when you do better than I!

Prep

Kinston at North Lenoir

Halifax Academy at Parrott Academy

Greene Central at C.B. Aycock

Ayden-Grifton at North Pitt

North Johnston at Jones Senior

Rocky Mount at East Duplin

Elizabeth City Northeastern at Farmville Central

College

UNC vs. LSU (in Atlanta)

Cincinnati at Fresno State

Connecticut at Michigan

Kentucky at Louisville

Northwestern at Vanderbilt

Washington at BYU

Tulsa at East Carolina (Sunday)

Boise State vs. Virginia Tech (Monday in Landover, Md.)

Morning News Report; Aug. 31, 2010

Posted on August 31, 2010 by Bryan Hanks

HURRICANE EARL IS ON ITS WAY

The first real hurricane of the season to potentially affect us (heck, the first one in a while) is tearing through the Atlantic Ocean and is expected to hit our shores by Thursday night.

(Click on the map for a better view)

My take: As much as I like to poke fun at meteorologists for over-hyping weather, this seems pretty legit. Get your hurricane kits ready, y’all — even if we don’t get hit directly, it never hurts to be prepared.

CLEMENS PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO PERJURY CHARGES

And it begins: former major league pitcher ~~and future baseball hall-of-famer~~ Roger Clemens appeared in court yesterday and pled not guilty to lying to Congress about taking performance-enhancing drugs while he was a player.

My take: Every ounce of my being tells me he is lying — and I hope this comes back to bite him in the ass. Yes, he will go to prison and no, he should NEVER be admitted into the baseball hall of fame unless he purchases a ticket.

This whole case reminds me of a great George Costanza line on “Seinfeld”: “Jerry, it’s not a lie if you believe it.”

Perfectly sums up this situation, in my opinion.

WHO’LL SUIT UP FOR CAROLINA AGAINST LSU?

Quite frankly, no one really knows yet. The only position set appears to be quarterback, where Heelatious’ favorite player, T.J. Yates, will start against LSU in Atlanta.

My take: While everyone else is freaking out and thinking LSU is going to win by 30, I think the opposite is true here. Butch Davis is going to have whoever suits up to be fired up for this game.

I’m not sayin’ Carolina is going to win in Atlanta … but it’s going to be a better game than y’all think it’s going to be.

The iPod shuffle

25 Or 6 To 4 — Chicago

Happy Jack — The Who

Mystify — INXS

The Bed’s Too Big Without You — The Police

Made You Look — NaS

Need another player for HBFL Live 2010

Posted on August 31, 2010 by Bryan Hanks

Quick hits before I start the MNR: I apologize for no posts yesterday, but alas, real work at the paper kept me too busy. We are looking for a night editor and my Jones Post guy (David Anderson) is in Tampa at a clinic, so I was literally doing three jobs yesterday.

However, I plan to post our picks standings today, the picks for this week (with college games, woo-hoo!) and hopefully, we’ll come to the end of our HBFL Online Draft, since we’re nearing the end of the 14th round. Speaking of the HBFL, we need another player to be in that league; Bobby Hatcher has had to drop out of the league. This is the league at this moment:

LIVE LEAGUE (DRAFTING WEDNESDAY AT 7 P.M. AT EAST COAST WINGS) :

1. Hanks

2. Justin Hill

3. B.J. Davis

4. Jonathan Davis

5. Keith Spence

6. Jonathan Massey

7. Charlie Casey

8. Lee Wetherington

9. Wesley Brown

10. Joel Gerber

11. Trey Kriger

Please e-mail me at bhanks@freedomenc.com or call me at 252-559-1074 if you are interested in joining the league. You must come to the draft and the cost to join is $20. Any other questions, get up with me.

Aug. 27 scores (updated 12:35 a.m.)

Posted on August 27, 2010 by Bryan Hanks

Kinston 27, South Lenoir 2

North Johnston 50, North Lenoir 0

Ayden-Grifton 21, Greene Central 12

Parrott Academy 55, Wilson Community Christian 0

James Kenan 26, Jones Senior 8

Wilson Beddingfield 17, Southern Wayne 13

Scores from around the state by the Associated Press

Albemarle 42, West Stanly 14

Alexander Central 28, West Iredell 10

Andrews 48, Thomas Jefferson 30

Apex 35, Durham Riverside 32

Apex Middle Creek 14, Southern Durham 9

Asheville 25, Waynesville Tuscola 0

Asheville Erwin 42, Black Mountain Owen 39

Asheville Roberson 21, West Henderson 14

Avery County 48, West Wilkes 16

Ayden-Grifton 21, Greene Central 12

Boonville Starmount 42, East Surry 8

Burlington Cummings 42, Burlington Williams 0

Canton Pisgah 48, Enka 0

Cape Fear 17, Fayetteville Westover 8

Carrboro 30, Orange County 0

Cary 34, Northern Nash 6

Catawba Bandys 26, Hickory St. Stephens 13

Central, S.C. 20, Anson County 7

Central Davidson 42, Randleman 36

Charlotte AFC 20, Southside, S.C. 6

Charlotte Ardrey Kell 34, North Mecklenburg 14

Charlotte Berry Tech 20, Charlotte Garinger 9

Charlotte Catholic 38, Charlotte Providence 13

Charlotte Myers Park 39, Charlotte Olympic 6

Charlotte Vance 46, East Mecklenburg 6

Cherryville 28, Vldese Draughn 20

Chesnee, S.C. 19, Forest City Chase 13

Claremont Bunker Hill 14, North Lincoln 7

Clinton Union 34, Dixon 0

Clover, S.C. 26, Gastonia Ashbrook 12

Concord 15, Lexington 13

Concord Robinson 29, Cuthbertson 26

Croatan 27, Lejeune 7

Durham Hillside 49, GW-Danville, Va. 18

East Bladen 52, Red Springs 0

East Davidson 18, Trinity 12, 2OT

East Forsyth 10, Pfafftown Reagan 0

East Gaston 29, North Gaston 0

East Wilkes 29, Surry Central 22

Eastern Alamance 20, Graham 9

Eastern Randolph 32, Southwestern Randolph 20

Eastern Wayne 23, Goldsboro 20

Fayetteville Britt 27, Hoke County 6

Fayetteville Byrd 27, Fayetteville Sanford 7

Fayetteville Seventy-First 30, Wilmington Hoggard 0

Fayetteville Smith 54, Southern Lee 13

Franklin 14, Murphy 12

Franklinton 7, Northern Vance 6

Fuquay-Varina 28, Clayton 7

Gastonia Huss 48, Bessemer City 6

Gates County 41, Pasquotank County 36

Granville Central 20, Yanceyville Yancey 6

Grayson County, Va. 36, Alleghany County 14

Greensboro Dudley 12, Jamestown Ragsdale 0

Greensboro Page 28, Davie County 13

Greensboro Smith 54, North Cross, Va. 0

Greenville Rose 46, Greenville Conley 6

Harnett Central 51, Erwin Triton 14

Harrells Christian Academy 72, Village Christian 6

Hayesville 19, Rabun County, Ga. 15

Hertford County 25, Bertie County 12

High Point Central 24, Greensboro Grimsley 7

Hillsborough Cedar Ridge 27, Chapel Hill 6

Hobbton 49, Seven Springs Spring Creek 6

Hope Mills South View 15, Hope Mills Gray’s Creek 7

Hough High School 25, Rocky River 6

Jacksonville White Oak 38, Richlands 23

Kannapolis Brown 45, South Rowan 7

Kings Mountain 40, Q Foundation 8

Kinston 27, South Lenoir 2

Lakewood (Salemburg) 33, North Duplin 6

Lenoir Hibriten 29, Wilkes Central 0

Lumberton 41, Spring Lake Overhills 7

Madison County 24, North Buncombe 14

Maiden 58, Newton Foard 14

Mallard Creek 61, Charlotte Harding 0

Manteo 48, Cape Hatteras 0

Marvin Ridge 48, Hickory Ridge 14

Mayodan McMichael 37, South Stokes 21

Mitchell County 49, McDowell County 15

Nash Central 35, Smithfield-Selma 20

New Bern 40, West Craven 0

Norcom, Va. 26, Elizabeth City Northeastern 6

North Brunswick 20, Fairmont 14

North Davidson 42, Thomasville Ledford 7

North Henderson 34, Rosman 13

North Johnston 50, North Lenoir 0

North Stanly 25, South Stanly 7

North Stokes 26, Patrick County, Va. 21

North Surry 27, Elkin 21

Northern Guilford 40, Northeast Guilford 14

Panther Creek 30, Durham Jordan 14

Pembroke Swett 33, St. Pauls 0

Pender County 26, Topsail 10

Person County 21, Oxford Webb 0

Pikeville Aycock 39, Rosewood 10

Pittsboro Northwood 23, Western Harnett 13

Providence Grove 17, Wheatmore 7

Raleigh Athens Drive 19, Raleigh Enloe 6

Raleigh Broughton 21, Garner 20

Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons 40, East Chapel Hill 28

Raleigh Leesville Road 38, Morrisville Green Hope 8

Raleigh Millbrook 31, Knightdale 0

Raleigh Ravenscroft 36, Louisburg 18

Raleigh Wake Christian 26, Cherokee 20

Raleigh Wakefield 42, Holly Springs 28

Reidsville 29, Eden Morehead 0

Richmond County 38, Lee County 21

Roanoke Rapids 42, Weldon 0

Robbinsville 29, Arden Christ School 20

Scotland County 35, New Hanover County 6

Shelby 34, Watauga County 14

Shelby Crest 42, Lawndale Burns 19

Socastee, S.C. 29, West Brunswick 28

South Brunswick 26, Wilmington Ashley 14

South Caldwell 33, West Caldwell 7

South Central Pitt 34, Farmville Central 21

South Columbus 38, East Columbus 6

South Granville 27, Southern Vance 26

South Johnston 23, West Johnston 21

South Mecklenburg 55, Charlotte Waddell 7

Southeast Guilford 25, Asheboro 7

Southeast Raleigh 35, Raleigh Sanderson 0

Southern Guilford 44, Rockingham County 8

Southern Nash 44, Bunn 15

SouthWest Edgecombe 61, Currituck County 7

Southwest Onslow 29, Jacksonville 14

Swain County 49, Sylva Smoky Mountain 0

Tarboro 54, Washington 17

Thomasville 21, Mt. Airy 14

Wake Forest-Rolesville 38, East Wake 9

Wallace-Rose Hill 56, Clinton 20

Warsaw Kenan 26, Jones County 8

West Bladen 21, South Robeson 0

West Davidson 16, South Davidson 8

West Forsyth 24, Kernersville Glenn 21

West Lincoln 47, North Wilkes 8

West Stokes 38, East Bend Forbush 5

Western Alamance 50, Southern Alamance 40

Whiteville 23, West Columbus 7

Wilmington Laney 44, Fayetteville Pine Forest 14

Wilson Beddingfield 17, Southern Wayne 13

Wilson Hunt 31, Wilson Fike 14

Winston-Salem Carver 29, North Forsyth 3

Winston-Salem Mt. Tabor 44, Winston-Salem Parkland 12

Winston-Salem Reynolds 35, Winston-Salem Atkins 6

Props to North and the boys at WCTI

Posted on August 27, 2010 by Bryan Hanks

Thanks to our good friend, WCTI ABC-12 Sports Director Brian North (who also is the news director for the Fox affiliate and a great American), for this text:

“Feel free to link to the new and improved wcti12.com which got a text from (former SW Onslow star and current UNC star Kendric) Burney saying he is still on the team contrary to a cbssportsline.com report.”

Here is North’s report.

My take: As always, North and the boys at WCTI show the hook-up and connections they’ve developed through the years. Great job, dude.

And kudos to WCTI for FINALLY upgrading its website — it was one of the worst I’ve ever seen, but the new upgrades make it arguably the best TV news site in Eastern North Carolina. Great job.

My picks, Week 2

Posted on August 27, 2010 by Bryan Hanks

Make your own picks (hurry!) by clicking here.

Kinston 21, South Lenoir 20 — but I’m not at all going to be shocked if SL pulls the upset here. I almost … almost … picked South Lenoir, but I think the talent level at KHS wins out here. But again, not going to be shocked at all if the Devils win.

North Johnston 14, North Lenoir 13

Wilson Community Christian 26, Parrott Academy 22

Greene Central 20, Ayden-Grifton 18

James Kenan 35, Jones Senior 6

Goldsboro 28, Eastern Wayne 26

Jacksonville White Oak 18, Richlands 14

New Bern 34, West Craven 28

Wilson Beddingfield 24, Southern Wayne 7

South Central 28, Farmville Central 16

Wilson Hunt 34, Wilson Fike 20

Rocky Mount 24, Northern Durham 21

North Pitt 42, Roanoke South Creek 0

SW Onslow 34, Jacksonville 14

Swansboro 26, West Carteret 24

A new look for Wynn Whittington

Posted on August 27, 2010 by Bryan Hanks

Kinston High School Principal Wynn Whittington had his head shaved today in front of his student body in the performing arts center at the school. His new look, as he posed with his lovely wife Becky:

Whittington had his noggin shaved to settle a bet he had with his students for academic achievement. If the KHS students continue their success, he’s promised to come to school in a dress, heels, panty hose and makeup.

Nice.

Seriously, though: Congrats Mr. Whittington on backing up your promises!

Morning News Report; Aug. 27, 2010

Posted on August 27, 2010 by Bryan Hanks

A note to the guys (and gal) in our HBFL Online Draft that is currently taking place: I’m going to suspend the draft at 6 p.m. today. I have been asked to do the PA at the K-Tribe game tonight, so I won’t be able to do updates after 6.

We will pick the draft back up at 9 a.m. on Monday … but if you want to get picks in this weekend, please feel free to do so; I will be checking the site periodically throughout the weekend.

MESS GETS MESSIER IN CHAPEL HILL

With rumors swirling around like a Category 5 hurricane, the investigation into improprieties in the UNC football program have now expanded into academic misconduct by players wearing the baby blue.

At a presser last night in Chapel Hill, the AD and head football coach Butch Davis didn’t get into specifics, but it was revealed that a tutor Davis once hired for his own son might be involved.

My take: Wowzer. This just keeps getting worse and worse. It’s only a week until UNC plays LSU in Atlanta and I’m beginning to wonder if the Heels are going to have any players to face the Tigers.

I don’t know if this hurts or helps former Kinston star Quinton Coples — I don’t know if he’s involved in any of this (I’m praying he’s not), but if he’s not, then he’s certainly going to be one of the players counted on this season for the Tar Heels.

Former SW Onslow star Kendric Burney’s name has been thrown around a lot in the earlier alleged discretions, too. I said it before in this forum, but I’ll say it again — this is going to get worse before it gets better.

CARTER WINS RELEASE OF AMERICAN IN NORTH KOREA

Former President Jimmy Carter went to North Korea and helped a Boston man – who had illegally crossed into the communist country — earn his freedom.

My take: Good for Carter, who was arguably the worst president in my lifetime (only slightly ahead of W). Like W, I think Carter is a genuinely good man, but just not ready to be the leader of the free world. But he makes a hell of a hostage negotiator.

And isn’t it ironic that if you cross into North Korea illegally, you get a $600,000 fine, eight years of hard labor and you need a former president to have you freed … but if you cross into the USA illegally, you are virtually treated like a citizen? Crazy, crazy world.

STRASBURG PROBABLY NEEDS TOMMY JOHN SURGERY

Washington Nationals’ flamethrower Stephen Strasburg has a torn ligament in his throwing elbow; he’s probably going to undergo Tommy John reconstructive surgery on it.

My take: Needless to say, that’s some terrible news for Nats fans — and fans of baseball in general. Good luck to the young man and I hope he comes back stronger than ever.

The iPod shuffle

Hangnail — Nickelback

Tequila — The Champs

Wild Boys — Duran Duran

Everytime — Britney Spears

With Arms Wide Open — Creed

United Way kickoff 2011

Posted on August 26, 2010 by Bryan Hanks

I hope to see many of you out at the Sand in the Streets concert finale, which will feature the legendary Band of Oz. The concert begins at 6 p.m. at Pearson Park.

The most important part of tonight, though, is the kickoff of the Lenoir-Greene United Way 2011 campaign. I will be emceeing that part of the festivities tonight; we’ll be throwing out T-shirts and giving away ACC football schedules. There will also be a special check presentation to help us kick off the campaign.

And on a sidenote: I know I pimp the United Way a lot but it’s because I truly believe in what the organization — of which I’ve been a board member for two years — stands for. The local United Way is made up of volunteers and workers who care about Lenoir and Greene counties and are doing everything they can do to improve our area. The 18 member agencies of the Lenoir-Greene United Way are carefully chosen by our board and — like the mothership itself — are good stewards of your hard-earned money.

Times ARE tough — but if you can find it in your heart to help your neighbors at the UW, please do so.

OK … enough proselytizing. Here’s a nice picture with a good message: