It’s the year 2000. I’m at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh. Philip Rivers is the quarterback of the Wolfpack and there is no shortage of hype around him.
In the press box high above the stadium in a nationally televised game on ESPN, I’m putting together a running game story and just praying I get a phone line connected to my laptop in time to send before deadline that night.

I give the FHSAA credit for getting it right with the baseball postseason this year.
Going to the best-of-three format for the regional tournament was a great idea.

Nearly 365 days ago, the Jay baseball team was on a field on a muggy night in Fort Myers celebrating its first state championship in more than a half century.
Last Tuesday night in Bonifay, nearly two hours from home, the season came to end as the Royals lost Game 2 to top-ranked Holmes County by a 3-1 score.

It’s time to take a step back in the sports world and restore some sanity to it.
Because when you have someone make a threat to shoot an umpire, that’s a problem. A big problem.

It’s easy to focus on the athletic talent of an athlete. But don’t ignore what they do in the classroom either.
There are a ton of athletes who get the job done on and off the court, not only locally at the high school level, but when they go off to college as well.

With all the talent Florida produces from an athletic standpoint, you’d think coaches here were some of the highest paid in the nation.
Think again. Florida coaches are underpaid, a lot of times underappreciated, and in most instances, overworked. Coaches in surrounding states tend to make more.

When I originally wrote this column last week, there were openings for the boys basketball head coaching positions at two schools in Santa Rosa County.
But I had to make a few changes as Milton has since filled its void. Navarre’s job is still open but will be filled at some point later this spring.

Baseball and softball in this area seems to be in a great place.
Most of the teams are highly ranked in the region and state and the competitiveness that has been evident is no joke.

Nine weeks is all that remains in the school athletic season if you count the softball state championship week. For most teams, the year will be over long before that.

I’ve never been one to complain about athletes transferring. I don’t care if coaches jump from one job to another.
Sure, you hate to see it, but it’s part of sports in 2025. The days of staying in one place are long gone in college athletics.