It’s GAME TIME!!! Super Bowl XLI ½ is upon us. This Sunday, 4:15 in Indy on CBS. The two best teams in the National Football League throw down. And I will be front and center, in front of my tv that is. If you’re pulling for the Patriots, you will be sorely disappointed. However, if you’re pulling for Indy, break out the bubbly because the celebration will be sweet! And here’s why:

10 Reasons Why the Colts will Beat the Patriots

10) Bill BelliCHEAT vs. Tony Dungy. Cheaters NEVER prosper. And Tony Dungy’s book is way better than anything Bill would write.

9) Peyton Manning was way better on SNL than Tom Brady.

8) Most clutch player on either team: Adam Vinatieri. Let’s not forget how many Super Bowls he won for the Patriots. Now, it’s the Colts’ turn to take advantage of that. Vinatieri has missed only one field goal all season.

7) Two words: Bob Sanders. Anyone who watches football knows he needs no introduction or explanation. If you don’t know who he is, do some research.

6) Dallas Clark vs. Ben Watson. Battle of the tight ends. Clark has 388 yards for six touchdowns so far and he is invaluable to the offensive line because he blocks and sets up screens for others. Ben Watson, while from Georgia and I love him, has 233 yards for one less touchdown. And he’s injury-prone.

5) Let’s talk about who both teams have played. While the Patriots have played Dallas, who is 6-1, they also played the JETS and the DOLPHINS and they are horrendous. The Patriots’ competitor’s combined record is 24-34, TEN games UNDER .500. Meanwhile, the Colts have played MUCH tougher teams. Their competitor’s combined record is 27-24, THREE games ABOVE .500. I digress.

4) Indy’s Offensive Line is sick nasty. They’ve only allowed five sacks. New England’s allowed eight.  Bring it.

3) Indy’s RB’s are nuts. Joseph Addai and Kenton Keith have run for 936 yards and 10 TD’s. New England’s are sub-par. Sammy Morris and Laurence Maroney combined for 732 yards and just three touchdowns.

2) Indy’s division is a much tougher. New England plays the DOLPHINS, the JETS and the BILLS TWICE. Indy plays the Jags, Texans and Titans twice. We all know those three are much better than who NE plays.

1) Who are the reigning SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS? Yea, that’s what I thought. GO INDY!!!!

The sabbatical is over. After more than a month of stressful work days, I am back on. I feel as though an update of my life is in order, however. My car is back in my possession, praise God. I have been to every ECU home game and they have been amazing. Honestly, I can’t believe they are this good. What a welcome surprise! My Fantasy Football team is 4-2 right now. That’s better than I expected. Adrian Peterson, Joseph Addai and Antonio Gates are the only players who’ve kept me in the running. My UGA ‘dawgs are still in the Top 25 and Wake Forest is on the way back up the polls. Life is good. Now, onto other things.
First, how ‘bout my COLTS!!!! 5-0 so far! Yay! But, sadly, their toughest game, I think, will be Monday night against Jacksonville. Last December, they gave up more than 350 RUSHING yards to the Jags. But, this year Bob Sanders is healthy (cross your fingers) and he should help put an end to that running problem. But, every Pirate fan in America will be rooting against my team and for David Garrard. Jack Del Rio looks like a genius now for giving Byron Leftwich the boot and keeping Garrard. He is mad awesome. I seriously cannot wait for this game!
Moving on, who will replace Joe Torre? Or better yet, where does Joe Torre go now? And since Torre is out, what’s Mariano Rivera going to do. I must say, I loved watching the Yankees completely implode against the Indians. It was beautiful. I hope the Yankees pick the worst manager ever and they completely fall apart. And I hope Joe Torre goes to work for the Braves and brings Mariano Rivera with him. And then the Braves finally win another World Series. That would work if two things happen: 1) the Braves get more money and 2) the world comes to an end. But, it’s still nice to think about.
And finally, NC State comes to ECU tomorrow. I actually feel bad for the Wolfpack. Wow, I can’t believe I just said that. All those injuries they have, it does make the game really unevenly matched. I wish all their players were better so we’d be able to watch a real game, and maybe they could salvage their season. But, none the less, I am looking forward to another Pirate Victory! AARRRGGGHHH!!!

Good afternoon people!! Please pray the storm forming off the coast stays away until AFTER the ECU/UNC game Saturday night!!

I have waited for this day for oh, some 10 months now, since the last football game I was able to go to. Props to ECU by the way, for the great game they played last weekend. I feel as though I should retract my statement about them not having a chance. Their defense is sick. I can’t wait to see them knock some people out this year. And props to Patrick Pinkney for the way he played. Good job new starting QB!
Now, the last time ECU and CaroWHINA played each other, we had a name for that game. The Toilet Bowl. ECU and UNC were both having dismal years, and the Pirates came out with the Golden Plunger for the worst of the two teams after a 28-17 loss during my sophomore year at ECU. This year, it will NOT be the Toilet Bowl and ECU of course will come out on top. I’m not even worried about it this time. The Pirates are going to demolish the Tar Holes.
But, the big game is tonight. My Indianapolis COLTS and the New Orleans Saints!!! Oh, how excited I am for some FOOTBALL!!! I am torn, however, because I have both Drew Brees AND Marques Colston on my Fantasy team. And they are playing my loves. And I have Joseph Addai on my team. What a rough first game for my Fantasy team. But, in hopes of having both my teams, Fantasy AND the Colts win, I would like a high-scoring game with my Colts on top!
And finally, stay away tropical wave!!! I really don’t want this tropical thing, it doesn’t even have a name, it’s a low pressure system, to stall and fall apart so I can go to the ECU game this weekend!!! I can’t wait for tailgating and going to the game with my friends and everything I wasn’t able to do last year when I worked on the weekends. Praise God for a full-time job that is Monday-Friday!! I mean, it can rain and pour and I can be completely drenched, as long as I don’t have to come back into work and cover this thing that might be coming here. So, say your prayers guys and have a great rest of your week!

Welcome Back!

So, we had our Fantasy draft Sunday night. And I think I faired well. I have a good starting QB, a GREAT running back and a quality tight end and defense. Here are my starters:

QB- Drew Brees (if you can’t have Peyton, he’ll do)
RB- Joseph Addai (my INDY star)
RB- Adrian Peterson (sensational rookie)
RB/WR- Chris Chambers (extra umph)
WR- Marques Colston (should have been last year’s ROY)
WR- Lee Evans (money receiver)
TE- Antonio Gates (moneyyyyy)
DEF- San Diego (lights out)
K- John Kasay (my UGA alum)
HC- Bill Belichick (can’t believe I drafted a Patriot, gross)

So, anyways. I couldn’t get Peyton. He went 2nd pick and I had the 5th. Sadness. But, in an ironic twist of fate, I am matched up for Week One with the guy who has Peyton. Grrrrrr. But, should be a fun year. I’ll keep you updated with my progress.
Moving on, I am disappointed with the lack of responsibility laid on ECU starting QB Rob Kass. It is totally unacceptable that he will only miss ONE STINKIN GAME for blowing a .19 just last weekend. If he played for a number of other schools, he would be gone for the SEASON. And rightly so. Talking with friends, we decided, seriously, how hard would it be to call someone if you are trashed? I mean, I’m sure if Kass had called Skip Holtz, he would have come and picked him up himself. .19 …… he was trashed. The mug shot showed it. I just think one game is not enough. He’s the leader of the team. The QB is ALWAYS known as the leader of the team. He definitely did not set a good example. Very disappointing. And so they suspend him for the Va Tech game, one honestly, they probably won’t win anyways. Can’t wait for College Gameday to get ahold of this. Good publicity for the school. Not.
I’m done, have a fabulous week. Talk to you soon!

First, I would like to apologize for the delay in writing another blog entry. My car is very sick and I have been limited and stressed about everything I am doing.

ANYWAYS, my Fantasy Football draft is Sunday and I will be spending my weekend preparing for it. This year, I am playing with some of my good guy friends. And from what I’ve been told, this league is a runningbacks league. But, I’m just saying, if I get a Top 5 pick, Peyton Manning is mine, even though he’s a QB. If not, I think Joseph Addai is good if LT is not available. Anyways, my boyfriend left me with the ESPN magazine fantasy book …. all $8 of it, the ESPN the Magazine cheat sheet, AND the Sports Illustrated’s fantasy football preview. I will definitely be prepared, especially since I am without a vehicle and have nowhere to go, haha.
Moving on, let’s talk about Michael Vick. I am not a fan and I don’t know what the heck this plea deal is doing for him. I mean, he admits to buying the poor animals and putting them there to be trained. BUT, he says he didn’t participate or bet on the fights. Whatever. I’m just saying that if he bought them, he participated because if he hadn’t bought them, there would be no problem. I hope that the three other codefendants will just run him into the ground. And I think Roger Goodell should suspend him. No questions, he’s had so many chances and Goodell already sat down with him and warned him. When will he be held accountable? I think that killing dogs and supplying them to those who kill them is ridiculous. Take for example, Odell Thurman. Last year, he was suspended for the entire season after violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He pleaded no contest to the drunk driving charge and eventually, Goodell suspended him for the entire season this year as well. If Thurman can be held accountable for his actions, why can’t Vick? Is it because Thurman is not an all-star? Maybe so. I digress.
And finally, let’s touch on the 30 runs the Rangers scored earlier this week. That is nuts. I think the last time I ever saw even close to that number was back in coach pitch when I was like 7 or 8. But, my boyfriend, Kyle, and I were discussing this and we were asking the question why isn’t there a Major League Baseball team in North Carolina? I mean, we have a football team- the Panthers, and a hockey team- the ‘Canes, and we even have what some people call an NBA team- the Bobcats. Really, I just call them the Tar Heel transplants. So, we thought of some names, hilarious, get ready. So, Kyle thought of the “No Sox” since everyone around here wears flip-flops, haha. Then George and I started going through some state animals. We have the Squirrels, the Stingers (honeybees), the Venus Fly Traps, of my personal favorite …. the bass (because you could say lets go kick some bass, hahahaha). Okay, I’m done with the lameness.
Have a great weekend! See you back soon! 

It’s Monday all over again and it feels like the week is never gonna end……. I had a pretty busy Saturday.
You see, my boyfriend Kyle is probably one of the biggest NC State fans on the planet, seriously. So, he’s been talking up “Meet the Pack” Day for like two months. And of course, I said I would go. Part of me was just interested to see what all the hype was about. So, since he had made it this big deal, I told him we should probably get there really early (my mistake). So, we roll up in Raleigh, eat lunch and get to Carter Finley just after noon……two stinking hours early. So, anyways, needless to say we were some of the first people in line. They opened the door just after 2 p.m. and the thing was supposed to last until 4 p.m. I was really impressed; I really thought State did a great job planning the event. They had different lines set up for the QB’s, Offensive Line, Runningbacks, D-Line, etc. so that you could go to wherever you wanted to first. We made the mistake of not going to the Runningbacks line first, thus, waiting in a 45 minute line to get Andre Brown and Toney Baker’s autographs. I got sunburned, but, it was worth it. And there were SOOOO many people there I couldn’t believe it. Those wolfpack fans are loyal ones, I’ll give them that. The players weren’t quite as personable as I would have thought but it was okay. And I liked how the marketing people cut off the lines, saying to the last person basically you are getting this group’s autographs but those who come behind you will be turned away. So, at 4 p.m, they closed up shop and we were gone.
Then, against my better judgment as you will soon find out, I talked myself into going to “Meet the Pirates” at 6:30, also because Kyle and some of our other friends who were getting back into town were going. I was completely shocked with the turnout ECU had. There were TONS of people there and I don’t think whoever planned ECU’s event was thinking that many people would come. It was on the football field, which I loved, and they had all the players in one long line down one side of the field. We were again, some of the first people in line. The players couldn’t have been nicer. We had some little kids in front of us and they were so great with them. They were personable and funny and the kids just ate it up. But, at 7:30, the coaches came out and told the team they had to leave because they had a team meeting. Now, we were toward the front of the line and we ended up only getting probably 60% of the players’ autographs. I was fuming; I’m not going to lie. There were people who stood in that line for the entire time and didn’t even make it to the tables!! I feel like ECU did a great disservice to the fans that came out to support the team. They are coming off a bowl game season and just as support for the team was starting to grow again, they did that. And you could tell lots of the players didn’t want to leave because they were still sitting at the tables when the coaches were trying to get them to leave. I just think whatever meeting they “had to have” could have waited until later, especially when there were so many people there to see them. Or maybe, ECU could take a lesson from NC State and maybe could have cut off the line when they knew it was getting long so people would definitely know whether or not they were getting anything.
Whatever the reason, I was highly disappointed in how ECU handled their Meet and Greet and I can’t believe I am saying this, but I was extremely impressed with how NC State handled theirs. If ECU has a decent season this year, they should seriously reconsider how to do their Meet and Greet in the future.
So, that’s how I spent my Saturday…..and I loved it, even in the end.  Nothing like a Meet and Greet to get you excited about the college football season! 

Hi people!

I am so excited to be talking to you via “the blog”. I’m sure some of you think girls know nothing about sports, and that’s okay, I can handle that. But, I hope that through this, you may change your minds.  First, I guess I should tell you a little bit about myself. I am a Producer here at Eyewitness News Nine. I started working here last September so it’s been almost a year and it has FLOWN by! I will make the switch from the NOON to the 11pm show next week and I can’t wait.
I grew up in Winston-Salem, home of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons-my favorites, with the most fabulous family around. I have three younger siblings. My sister, Carrie, is 20. She swims at Gardner-Webb University. My other sister, Katie Grace-we call her KG, is 17. She plays golf and swims too. My baby brother, Andrew, is not really a baby anymore; he’s 15. He plays football and swims. We are a swimming family. I swam year-round when I was younger and coached year-round and summer league teams during high school and college. I also ran cross-country in high school. I graduated from East Carolina in the spring of 2006.
My dad is the former outdoor editor at the Winston-Salem Journal and he’s now the editor of the South Carolina Sportsman. My mom is a kindergarten teacher but she’s taught every grade ever I think. I tell you this because you’ll be hearing about my family quite a bit. They are amazing.
Anyways, I come from a wide-range of sports loves. My dad is a UGA grad (go DAWGS) so we are big Georgia football fans. Of course, you have to be a fan of the school you went to so, I am a big Pirate fan. But, in college, my heart belongs to Wake Forest. Everyone says the Deacs are never the favorite and never the enemy but for me, they are the fave. I am a die-hard Indianapolis Colts fan. And no, it’s not just because of Peyton Manning. I love everything about the Colts. From their coaches to their d-line to their passing game, they are by far, the best team in the league. I’m just waiting for them to repeat this year, haha. I also love the Braves. Some of my favorite memories with my dad are watching Atlanta in the Terry Pendleton days on TBS back in the early ‘90’s.
Okay, enough with the background. Ultimately, I want to work at ESPN, either as a Producer or an Analyst. I wouldn’t mind working for ESPNU and doing college sports the rest of my life. That would be heaven.
So, basically, after this intro, you’ll be reading a lot of my opinions on sports topics, games, issues, etc and also, what goes on from a Producer’s standpoint at Channel 9. I hope you’ll come back and visit! Thanks for stopping in! 