My New Year’s resolutions for 2009

Every year, we make the usual New Year’s resolutions —  lose weight, get in shape, save money — knowing full well that there’s about a 12 percent chance of actually following through on them. 
OK, maybe 7 percent.
Still, we enter the new year with best of intentions, and we hope that in some magical, miraculous way, [...]

The PODcast will return

Eventually, we’ll be back on the air with the only sports talk radio show in Sanford.
Unfortunately, with Central Carolina Community College closed the past couple of weeks, we’ve been unable to broadcast the PODcast.
But fear not, we will return next week on Jan. 7 at 9:30 a.m. on WDCC 90.5 FM to discuss the second [...]

My Letter to Santa

Just in case I missed something around the tree and he needs to swing back by the house…
Dear Nick,
OK, let’s be clear about one thing.
I haven’t been good this year.
That whole “knows when you’ve been sleeping, knows when you’re awake” thing?
I know. I know what you’ve seen. Worse, I know what you’ve probably heard.
And it [...]

The Yankees Sign Mark Teixeira

They did it again.
The New York Yankees, standing on the periphery of the Mark Teixeira Sweepstakes for much of the time after buying two-fifths of their starting rotation, have signed the All-Star first baseman to an 8-year, $180 million contract, first reported by ESPN’s Buster Olney.
Unbelievable, right?
Well, no.
Even the most casual of baseball observers could [...]

OK, the Panthers lost, but everything is OK. Right?

All right, so the Carolina Panthers lost 34-28 in overtime to the New York Giants, thus losing their chance to have the road to the Super Bowl out of the NFC hit Interstate 77 and go through Charlotte.
But is this necessarily a bad thing?
A team that has been flying under the radar all season long [...]

T.O., Romo, the coach and the case of the good footballs

Sunday’s column from The Sanford Herald:
 

It’s another wild day at Dallas Cowboys’ football practice. Coach Wade Phillips sits in his office thinking about watching some game film of the New York Giants. But first he has to figure out if he’s going to wear the Michelin Man jacket again on Sunday night.
Head Trainer: “Coach Phillips, [...]

N.C. State Championships roundup

Sunday, 9 p.m.
4-AA Championship
Richmond County 38, Fayetteville Britt 35
Richmond County rallies to win 4-AA title

CHAPEL HILL (AP) — In a wild game of comebacks between Richmond County and Fayetteville Britt, the final one was the most improbable.
Tedarrious Wiley threw for 325 yards and four touchdowns to help Richmond County beat Fayetteville Britt 38-35 on Sunday [...]

The First Fan — Obama and the Tar Heels

Obama plays ball with Tar HeelsVideo: Obama plays hoops with Tar Heels

Nancy Armour of The Associated Press has written a story about President-Elect Barack Obama, and includes this great lead:
CHICAGO (AP) — The Rangers are out, the White Sox are in, and the mountain bikes are headed for the basement. As [...]

Ron Santo misses Hall call again

At 1 p.m. today, the Baseball Hall of Fame announced inductees of the 2009 Hall of Fame class, as voted by the Hall’s Veterans’ Committee. On the list of 10 possible inductees was my main man, Ron Santo, former Cubs third baseman and hero to all who have fought or have been touched in some way [...]

N.C. football championship pairings

For a roundup of the title games, go here.
NCHSAA football playoffs
By The Associated Press
For semifinal scores, go here.
Championship pairings for N.C. High School Athletic Association football playoffs:

CLASS 4-AA
(6) Richmond County at (1) Fayetteville Britt

CLASS 4-A
(8) Fayetteville Byrd vs (8) Fayetteville Seventy-First

CLASS 3-AA
(4) Kannapolis Brown at (2) Greensboro Dudley

CLASS 3-A
(2) West Craven at (1) West Rowan

CLASS [...]