Five years ago today: Williston-Elko 19, Barnwell 9
Topic: Sports
WILLISTON -- It was five years ago today when a determined Williston-Elko squad entered their season debut with a 33-year losing streak against their Class AA rival Barnwell.

The Blue Devils were cramping, their then-team leader had a trip to Barnwell County Hospital, and Barnwell was looking for more blood.

But that night, August 28 of the year 2003, belonged to the Blue Devils.

That night, Rafael Bush ran for 202 yards and Orry Kennedy recorded two interceptions as the Blue Devils snapped a 33-year losing streak to the War Horses, then the longest in the state, by a final count of 19-9.

Their coach that day, Justin Gentry, did something that Charlie Combs, Dean Boyd, and even the great James Hewitt couldn't do: beat Barnwell.

"This takes a load off our back," Gentry said. "It's been a long time coming."

"I've never felt this good in my life."

After the game ended, fans stormed the field, with the players, cheerleaders and fans all jumping up and down at midfield in celebration.

Mr. Bush put the Devils up 12-0 after a 52-yard scamper into the end zone when he took the handoff from Tony White, then the backup quarterback to Randy Robinson. Mr. Bush also added a late score.

The War Horses was trying to mount a comeback in an attempt to silence the Blue Devil crowd. But, War Horses quarterback Ryan Grubbs threw two interceptions to Mr. Kennedy to seal the fate.

And to also end one of the longest losing streaks against a particular team in South Carolina history.

This Friday, W-E will be traveling to W.W. Carter Field to take on the War Horses, a venue where the Blue Devils haven't won in since 1970 (the 2003 victory was in the Devils Den, Williston-Elko's home stadium). Let's hope that they can finally win in Barnwell's place.

(NOTE: For those who don't know, I am a 2002 graduate of Williston-Elko High School.)

Bonds get bond
Topic: Sports

SAN FRANCISCO -- Barry Bonds had his day in court today.  And not surprisingly, he pled innocent to all five charges against him.

Oakland, by the way, now have interest in Mr. Bonds. And he doesn't have to show up on February 7, 2008 either.

Bonds is charged with four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice.  Bond for him was set at one-half million dollars.

If convicted, Bonds could face three decades in prison.

16-0 far more likely than 0-16.
Topic: Sports

Over the weekend, there was great debate about whether there would be a 16-0 team or and 0-16 team.

Let me set it straight for all of those Aiken Standard pundits.

There will be no 0-16 team this year.

Why?

Because Miami will win against either Cincinnati or an NFC team before the season is out.  Saint Louis will also win.  So, therefore, we can immediately rule out any possibility of an 0-16 team.

So, that means 16-0 looks far more likely to happen.  The New England Patriots have cleared the hurdle that was the Indianapolis Colts.  The best chance the Patriots have at losing is against Pittsburgh.  If the Steelers don't beat the Pats, then expect New England to go all the way undefeated.  The Giants and Philadelphia Eagles are not even close to being in the Pats' league.

Breathe easy 1976 Tampa Bucs.  Your winless record is very likely to stand for another year.

I've made my choice for November 3
Topic: Sports

On this past Saturday, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders asked this simple question: "What would you rather watch, football or us?"

Don't worry ladies -- I'll watch you perform.

The second season finale of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team starts at 8 p.m., with all of the previous shows leading up to the finale of the season.

The No Fun League gets heavy-handed, goes after innocent cheerleaders
Topic: Sports

Last year, the American people got rid of a do-nothing Congress.

If you really want to see a do-nothing group, look no further than New York City -- home of the National Football League.

Appearantly, Roger Goodell has way too much time on his hands after he suspended Pacman Jones, Tank Johnson, and Mike Vick.  Now the tyrannical head of the NFL is going after the most well-behaved group of people, the very people who built the NFL into the powerhouse that it is today -- the cheerleaders.  Goodell says the cheerleaders' pregame warmups are "very distracting" and that the women are "influencing" the outcome of games by doing "lascivious" dances on the away team's sidelines.  Goodell's claim is nothing more than a strawman argument.  Anyone who watches the cheerleaders knows that the cheerleaders are there to get the home team involved in the game, not to distract the opposition as Goodell falsely claims.  And if anyone has ever been to a cold weather game, they know that the cheerleaders are covered from head to toe.  I know the true intentions of the 26 cheer squads, Goodell doesn't.  Unlike Kelli Finglass and the other 25 heads of cheerleading, Goodell's intentions are evil, cruel and are comparable to the Islamic extremist countries in the Middle East.  If Goodell could, he would ban cheerleaders from the NFL.  If he does that, expect the backlash the NFL would receive to be severe -- so much so -- that NASCAR would easily take away potentional NFL fans and the stock car league would also hammer the NFL in attendance and in TV ratings.

In the best interest of the fans, it would be wise if Goodell would just stick to keeping the players in line.  If distracting cheerleaders is what Goodell is worried about, then he should resign as the commish of the NFL immediately.