Hokies roar back from 10 down, steal Cavs hearts, 76-71
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
Everything is right with the world. Virginia is up 10 with 3:02 to go at home against its in-state ACC rival. One stop and one basket, maybe two, and the game is over, you’re 4-1 in the ACC, and who knows what happens from there?
Here’s what happened from there: a 13-0 Virginia Tech run, a miraculous three that forced overtime, then a dominant OT period from a Hokies team that left the John Paul Jones Arena with an almost inexpicable 76-71 victory.
“Once we got some stops and out in transition – put the ball in a couple times, you get some confidence. Once you get confidence, then you try and get the ball inside a little bit. Then a great trust amongst all of them developed during the course of the game and they started defending harder,” Tech coach Seth Greenberg said by way of trying to offer explanation. Read more
Live Blog | UVa. vs. Virginia Tech
Moderated by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
ACCVIrginia.com is live at tonight’s in-state ACC clash between UVa. (12-5, 3-1 ACC) and Virginia Tech (15-3, 2-2 ACC).
Tipoff is at 7 p.m. The game is being broadcast on regional TV in the Mid-Atlantic by Comcast Sports Net.
Editor Chris Graham is courtside at the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville and will be reporting with score updates and game commentary and analysis.
NFL veteran tapped to lead UVa. offense
Staff Report
freepress2@ntelos.net
Virginia head football coach Mike London has announced that Bill Lazor has joined the Cavalier football coaching staff. He becomes the eighth member of London’s staff and will serve as the offensive coordinator. Lazor comes to Virginia after seven seasons in the NFL, most recently as the quarterbacks coach the past two years with the Seattle Seahawks.
“Bill brings a wealth of football knowledge and influence working for three NFL Hall of Fame head coaches,” said London. “Like all the other coaches on staff, he is of high character and integrity. Bill was an accomplished college quarterback as a player and has been a college coordinator and recruiter for an academic institution of high standing, which makes him a good fit with the staff who will represent the University of Virginia in a positive manner.” Read more
Carter out as Chamber of Commerce president, CEO
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
Ben Carter is out as president and chief executive officer at the Greater Augusta Chamber of Commerce, the Augusta Free Press has confirmed.
The move was made effective today, according to Chamber board member Bob Chambers.
Chambers declined to comment on the nature of the move involving Carter, citing privacy and confidentiality concerns.
The next step for the Chamber will be to begin a search for Carter’s replacement. Chambers said the search process is “down the road, not too far, but we’re not in a position to go into the details there just yet.”
“We’re going to let the dust settle a bit from this first,” Chambers said. “We have things in place for the remaining staff to run things with the assistance of members of the board.”
First slam finishes up
Column by Mike Judge
WeekendWatchdog.blogspot.com
Down under, it’s summer. So tennis goes there for the first Grand Slam.
The Australian Open crowns its women’s champion very late Friday night 3:30 a.m. , to be specific (Saturday evening in Australia) and holds the mens final late Saturday night.
Serena Williams goes for another Grand Slam title against Justine Henin. The men have one more semifinal Thursday night, with the winner facing Andy Murray in the final.
While waiting for the Colts and Saints to head to Miami for Super Bowl XLIV, the NFL has a change for you. The Pro Bowl will be played ahead of the big game this year, also in Miami. ESPN has the coverage, starting at 7:20 p.m. Sunday. Read more
Staunton City Council meeting agendas
Staff Report
News tips: freepress2@ntelos.net
Staunton City Council will meet Thursday at 5:35 p.m. for a work session and at 7:30 p.m. for a business meeting.
The meetings will be held in City Hall.
Work session agenda
5:35 p.m. Presentation by Carol Simon and Sheryl Wagner on Tourism Trends
5:50 p.m. Office on Youth Annual Report
6:00 p.m. Break Read more
State of the Union: A Virginia perspective
Edited by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
Everything you wanted to know about the State of the Union, but were afraid to ask.
We have the full texts and videos of President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address and Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s Republican response. We also have reactions from Sens. Jim Webb and Mark Warner, congressmen Tom Perriello and Bob Goodlatte and Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine.
Enjoy.
President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address
Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, Members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans:
Our Constitution declares that from time to time, the President shall give to Congress information about the state of our union. For two hundred and twenty years, our leaders have fulfilled this duty. They have done so during periods of prosperity and tranquility. And they have done so in the midst of war and depression; at moments of great strife and great struggle. Read more
Singing Cowboys are win/win for new movies
Column by Carl Larsen
Submit a review: freepress2@ntelos.net
It’s been a long time since Gene Autry and Roy Rogers tumbled their tumbleweeds across the Western skies. Dressed in their immaculate spangled cowboy outfits, they rode and sang their hearts out until the 1950’s brought TV along to end their songs.
For over 30 years they remained, ghost riders in the skies of our memories. But you can’t keep a good galoot down, and into town rode the sons of those pioneers, headed by Joaquin Phoenix Walking the Line in 2005, Robert Duval winning a Best Actor Oscar in 1983’s “Tender Mercies,” and the even more disheveled Jeff Brides, riding “Crazy Heart” and tying up at the Visulite Corral in Staunton on Feb. 5.
Robert Duval and Maggie Gyllenhaal co-star, making this a win/win movie double bill no matter how you deal your tender hearts or crazy mercies. Both films sport superlative acting performances and both have already won impressive awards, including the recent Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild. Read more
Hokies, ‘Hoos prep for hardwood battle
Rivalry game takes on added significance with teams’ hot starts
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
It’s a rivalry game for the fans, but for UVa. and Virginia Tech, their meeting on the basketball court Thursday night at the John Paul Jones Arena isn’t so much about the rivalry.
“It becomes a bigger game because it’s a league game, and both teams are having some success, and both teams are fighting to stay alive and be relevant within the league,” said Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg, whose Hokies (15-3, 2-2 ACC) are looking to steal one on the road from Virginia (12-5, 3-1 ACC).
“It’s something that our kids are aware of, but it’s not like we’re an hour away from each other, and we’re seeing each other all the time. We understand how big a game it is, because they need to win their home games, and we need to find a way to break serve on the road,” said Greenberg, who teams are 5-7 overall against their in-state rivals, but have won three of the last four. Read more
Democrats: Where do you go from here?
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
You talk to one Democrat, and the party definitely, no question, needs to restrategize toward the middle. The blowback from voters in Massachusetts is an obvious clear signal. The nation isn’t comfortable with the direction things had been headed on health care and the stimulus. Time to pull things back in for a while.
Talk to another Democrat, and that first Democrat is either an idiot or worse, a sellout. Exit polls in Massachusetts indicate that a strong majority of voters there like their state-level version of universal health care. The blowback was local, aimed at a poorly-run campaign on the part of the Democratic nominee, Martha Coakley.
Changing the course now will bring about a repeat of 1994, when Democrats threw in the towel on health-care reform and suffered at the polls in a historic GOP takeover of the House that November.
“There’s no profit in moving to the center,” said Robert Borosage, the co-director of the Washington, D.C.,-based Campaign for America’s Future, which bills itself as the “strategy center for the progressive movement.” Read more
UVa. study: Facebook, MySpace can be good influence on some youths
Staff Report
UVa. news: www.virginia.edu
Though parents often have concerns about letting their teens use social media Web sites like Facebook and MySpace, a new study by University of Virginia psychologists suggests that well-adapted youth with positive friendships will use these sites to further enhance the positive relationships they already have.
However, they warn, teens who have behavioral problems and difficulty making friends, or who are depressed, may be more inclined to use social media in negative and sometimes aggressive ways, or not to use such sites at all.
The study appears in the January issue of the journal Developmental Psychology. Read more
RMH to hold Community Health Screening Fair Feb. 5
Staff Report
News tips: freepress2@ntelos.net
Rockingham Memorial Hospital will offer a variety of free health screenings during a community health screening fair to be held 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 5, at the RMH Wellness Center, 501 Stone Spring Rd., Harrisonburg.
All screenings, except digital mammography, are free. Read more
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