Winners and Losers: All losers this week
LOSER: Mike Shanahan
OK, so Rex Grossman isn’t the solution. Don’t get too excited about his four TDs in Washington’s 33-30 loss at Dallas Sunday. He also had two interceptions and a sack fumble, and didn’t exactly look adept in his second run at a late-game two-minute drill.
Coach Mike Shanahan is back to square one with QBs heading into next year. (Pining the days of Jason Campbell, we are, aren’t we?)
So much for the offensive genius who was finally going to get things turned around in Redskin Park. Read more
Marshall dumps cold-shooting VMI
The Marshall Thundering Herd placed five players in double figures, led by double-doubles from Nigel Spikes and DeAndre Kane, en route to a 98-70 win over the VMI Keydets in non-conference men’s basketball action Sunday afternoon in Huntington, W. Va.
Marshall captured its fifth straight win and moved to 8-2 while the Keydets fell to 7-5.
VMI forward Stan Okoye’s 24-point,15 rebound outing was his seventh double-double of the year and fifteenth of his still young collegiate career. The sophomore has also registered a double-double in three consecutive games. Read more
JMU men upset Big East's South Florida
James Madison turned a five-point deficit into a five-point victory with a 15-5 run in the final seven minutes to take down South Florida 66-61 in a non-conference men’s basketball game Saturday night at the USF Sun Dome.
JMU improved to 8-3 for the season and wrapped up a five-game road swing with a 3-2 record. USF fell to 6-6 for the season after dropping the first meeting between the schools.
South Florida led for most of the second half, including a 10-point advantage at 47-37 with 14 minutes to go. JMU cut the advantage to one at 49-48 with 9:11 to go before USF pulled back ahead 56-51 on a pair of threes by Jawanza Poland and Anthony Crater with 7:01 remaining. Read more
VCU grinds out win over Tulane
There’s a saying out there that goes “what doesn’t kill you makes you tougher.” That’s the mantra that the Virginia Commonwealth University men’s basketball is taking after grinding out another nail-biting win, this time over Tulane, 70-67, for the program’s 15th straight victory at the Verizon Wireless Arena at the Stuart C. Siegel Center.
“I was pleased with the way we started the game. We have been talking all week about coming out aggressive and really attacking them on both ends and I thought we did that,” Head Coach Shaka Smart said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t keep that sense of urgency and mindset for the full 40 minutes and allowed Tulane to make a game of it.” Read more
‘Hoos, without Scott, knock off Oregon
Five minutes before tipoff, members of the Virginia media staff were handing out typed press releases announcing that Mike Scott, the ‘Hoos leading scorer and rebounder, would miss Friday’s game with Oregon after having arthroscopic ankle surgery on Thursday.
The first 10 minutes of the televised game in the John Paul Jones Arena went according to the new script. Oregon jumped out to a 15-6 lead, and Virginia had seven turnovers against the Ducks’ press.
Senior Mustapha Farrakhan was unfazed. “He came in when we were a little rattled and said, We’re going to be OK, we’re going to be OK,” coach Tony Bennett said of Farrakhan, who ignited a first-half flurry that got UVa. back into the game with a transition three, and later ignited the crowd in the second half in a sequence with Virginia up 35-31, blocking a shot and hitting another three on the wing on the ensuing fast break.
Oregon would get no closer than five points the rest of the way in what turned out to be a 63-48 Virginia win.
“Coach told us to stay in the moment and be thankful of the opportunity to play. We rallied behind each other and played together,” said Farrakhan, one of three Cavs in double figures with 17 points.
Freshman KT Harrell, starting in place of Scott, scored a game-high 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field, on a dizzying array of midrange jumpers off screens in Bennett’s motion offense.
“I’m relaxed and playing my game, trying to be aggressive offensively,” Harrel said.
Sammy Zeglinski scored 12 for Virginia (7-3) in his second game back from October knee surgery.
Virginia shot 50 percent from the field despite getting just one field goal in four attempts from the nominal post players in Bennett’s rotation. Bennett went with a four-guard lineup in Scott’s absence out of necessity more than anything else.
“I’d look sometimes and there’s four freshmen and a sophomore, and I thought, Just hang on, what’s going to happen here. But fortunately from a matchup standpoint, we sizewise could match up with them with four guards,” Bennett said.
“I told the guys yesterday, I said, It’s going to be hard. You’re going to go through some rough patches. We’re without Mike, we’re without Will (Sherrill). I said, Embrace this challenge. That was my message to them on the day when I knew Mike was going to have surgery. I said, Just embrace this. Let’s take this challenge. I know it’s going to be tough,” Bennett said.
Bennett didn’t give any kind of definitive timetable for Scott’s return following the surgery. The coach said the injury occurred in practice last week and flared up again this week when Scott tried to play through pain in his ankle.
“It’s all about how quickly the swelling gets out and how functional he can be. I’m hoping it’s not too long,” Bennett said.
Story by Chris Graham. Chris can be reached at freepress2@ntelos.net.
'Hoos, without Scott, knock off Oregon
Five minutes before tipoff, members of the Virginia media staff were handing out typed press releases announcing that Mike Scott, the ‘Hoos leading scorer and rebounder, would miss Friday’s game with Oregon after having arthroscopic ankle surgery on Thursday.
The first 10 minutes of the televised game in the John Paul Jones Arena went according to the new script. Oregon jumped out to a 15-6 lead, and Virginia had seven turnovers against the Ducks’ press. Read more
Live Blog: Oregon vs. Virginia
Editor Chris Graham will be live at the John Paul Jones Arena for tonight’s Oregon-Virginia men’s basketball game.
Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the Virginia Sports Radio Network and televised by Comcast SportsNet.
Follow along for score updates and in-game commentary and analysis.
David Reynolds: A Story for Christmas
This is a true story. It happened within the past year. Therefore it is not the Christmas Story. But it is about the spirit of Christmas. You may have heard it before. Nonetheless, it is worth a second look during this season of goodwill to all.
The story is from a commercial airline pilot. Our edited version, hopefully, does not distract from its simple message: People are good and when presented with a difficult situation they act accordingly. Here is the story:
A flight attendant came to the pilot and said, “We have HR on board.” (HR stands for Human Remains.) The pilot asked the flight attendant to have the escort board early. He wished to see him.
A young army sergeant entered the flight deck. The pilot asked about his soldier. “My soldier is on his way back to Virginia,” he said. (Military escorts speak of their fallen as if they are still alive.)
The pilot asked if there was anything he could do. The sarge politely said, “No.” They shook hands. The escort went to the back of the plane.
After takeoff, the pilot was told by a flight attendant, “I just found out that the family of the soldier we are carrying is on board. The father, mother, wife and two-year old daughter are escorting their son, husband and father home. And they are upset because they were not able to see the container before leaving.”
The flight was a connecting flight with a four hour lay over. The father asked if it was possible to view his son before his last leg home. The family wanted to witness the body being taken off the plane.
The pilot said he would try. He decided to bypass normal communications. He contacted his flight dispatcher directly. He forwarded the father’s request. The dispatcher said that he would get back to the pilot.
Two hours went by. No word from the ground. The pilot then asked for an update. The reply read: “Captain, sorry it has taken so long to get back to you . . . Upon arrival a dedicated escort team will meet the aircraft. The team will escort the family to the ramp and plane side. A van will be used to load the remains, with a secondary van for the family. The family will be taken to a private area inside the terminal where the remains can be seen from a ramp. When the connecting flight arrives the family will again be escorted to the ramp to watch the remains being loaded. Captain, most of us here in flight control are veterans. Please pass our condolences on to the family.”
The pilot thanked the ground crew. The message was printed out and given to the father.
After landing at the busy airport, the pilot was told by the ramp controller that all traffic was being held for his plane. Then the pilot realized that once the seat belt sign was turned off all passengers, as usual, would stand at once in their effort to disembark ASAP and thus delay the family.
So the pilot made arrangements to stop short of the gate. He made this announcement, ” Ladies and gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking. We have a passenger on board who deserves your honor and respect. His name in Private ___, a soldier who recently lost his life. Private ___ is under your feet in the cargo hold. Escorting him today is Sergeant ___. Also on board are his father, mother, wife and daughter. Your flight crew is requesting all passengers remain in their seats to allow the family to exit the aircraft first. Thank you.”
The plane slowly taxied to the gate and shutdown. The pilot noticed the flight attendants crying. Every passenger was seated. All waited for the family to exit. When the family got up to leave, a single passenger slowly started to clap. Then two. Moments later, more clapping. Then the entire plane. “God bless you . . . I’m sorry . . . Thank you,” and other kind words were quietly spoken to the family as they made their way down the aisle.
Later when the passengers left, they thanked the pilot. Tears were in many an eye.
That is our story for Christmas. Were you surprised at everyone’s reactions? Do you think that this was an unusual, an exceptional plane load of people? Or that it represents the norm, that any pilot, any flight dispatcher, any ramp controller, any airline passenger would have reacted in the same way?
I believe the latter. It was just another fanfare for the common man. Within each of us there is something deep inside that is good and kind. Most of the time it is well hidden. Let’s stop playing hide and seek. There is no need to confine your thoughts and your feelings. Let them out. All of them. Show the world, not just your doctor, that you have a pulse.
Column by David Reynolds
Jim Bishop: Ho-Ho-No! I’m Getting Santa-Mental Over You . . .
Do you hear what I hear . . .?
* “Feliz Navidad,” “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire),” “White Christmas,” “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas” and umpteen different artists butchering “Oh Holy Night” on the 24/7 all-Christmas music radio stations over and over again;
* No sooner settling into the comfy recliner in the living room when the phone rings with another plea to donate to one more cause I know little about (I have no problem with the Salvation Army kettles, numerous special requests from my church and the increasing need for non-perishable goods donated to local food pantries);
* Horns blowing and brakes screeching as persons keep pulling out in front of me as I try to sneak out to the shopping center under cover of darkness (a mall and the night visitor), who apparently don’t see my miniature Miata motorcar. I’m finally beginning to work on the family wish lists, only to discover the items I’m seeking are “temporarily out of stock” (my quandary: I don’t like shopping on-line);
* The gas pump clicking away while I watch, helplessly, as the price per gallon slowly escalates to the three dollar mark for regular just in time for the holidays.
So what’s the best antidote to this merry madness as the Big Day looms? I reach for a glass – no, not THAT kind of holiday spirits – and take another healthy(?) chug-a-lug of pundemoanium punch, just what the (crack) doctor ordered to make the yuletide appetizing. I alternate this elixir with another chaw of my gift fruitcake, the only holiday comestible that, as Bill Engvall rightly observes, “looks the same coming up as it did going down.”
Warning: The same response might be forthcoming if you keep reading this irksome blend of seasonal inanities. Is that a gag reflex …?
Ah, Christmas – What other time of the year do you sit in front of a dead tree and eat candy out of your socks?
Santa’s sleigh always comes in first because he starts in the Pole position. It must have long-distance runners (oh, deer!).
He gave her a fork for Christmas because there is no tine like the present.
There’s a song in the air . . . but it doesn’t sound like the Hallelujah Chorus. But of chorus, it returns like the ghost of Christmas past each year this time to unsettle your stomach, like stale fruitcake. Join Jim (Santa’s Little Yelper) Britt and Jim (The Grinning Grinch) Bishop as they roast some musical chestnuts on a hot CD player on a “Warped Records Christmas Show,” 10 a.m.-noon Thursday, Dec. 23, on newsradio-ho-ho-no 550, WSVA; http://www.wsvaonline.com/
Before I tried selling any Christmas trees, I got myself spruced up (begging your fir-bearance).
I also tried wrapping Christmas presents, but I didn’t have the gift.
If I take some from the rich to give to the poor, would that makes me Ribbon Hood? (Questions like this should be outlawed, as should these quixotic queries):
Q: What would a reindeer do if it lost its tail?
A. It would go to a re-tail shop for a new one!
Q. Which of Santa’s reindeer has bad manners?
A. Rude-olph!
Q: Did you hear that one of Santa’s reindeer now works for Proctor and
Gamble?
A: Its true . . . Comet cleans sinks!
Q. Why did Santa’s helper see a therapist?
A. Because he had low elf esteem!
Q. How do elves greet each other?
A. “Small world, isn’t it?”
Vowing revenge on his English teacher for making him memorize Clement
Clarke Moore’s “T’was the night before Christmas,” Warren decided to pour sugar in her gas tank, but he inadvertently grabbed a sugar substitute so it was actually Splenda in the gas.
James Fenimore Cooper wrote about the life of Santa Claus. Naturally he titled it “The Deer Sleigher.”
I installed a skylight in my apartment and decorated it with flashing lights . . . the people who live above me are furious.
I remember how hard it was for me as a young child the night before Christmas when Mom would say, “Jimmy, time to go to sleep.” I would reply, “But I don’t know how.” She replied, “It’s easy. Just go down to the end of tired and turn left.” So I went down to the end of tired, and just out of curiosity I hung a right. My mother was there, and she said, “I thought I told you to go to sleep.”
Hello, you still there, or has all this mind-numbing nonsense caused you to nod off (take dese and doze)?
Even after this latest avalanche of awful anecdotes, Jim (Subordinate Claus) Bishop is still public information officer at Eastern Mennonite University (snow joke). Offer him some yuletide sneers, er, cheers, at bishopj@emu.edu.
McDonnell sells budget amendments to legislators
Gov. Bob McDonnell prepares to address state legislators on Friday.
Gov. Bob McDonnell talked up his proposed amendments to the 2010-2012 state budget to state legislators on Friday.
The focus in his speech to members of the Senate Finance Committee and House Appropriations and Finance committees was on job growth. Earlier in the week, McDonnell had unveiled a $54 million program of job-creation and economic-development proposals aimed at growth in the technology sector and in economically-distressed regions in the Commonwealth.
“Our budgetary outlook hinges largely upon the ability of the private sector to create good jobs,” McDonnell said. “Government can make it simpler for entrepreneurs and job creators to invest and expand, or more complicated. We choose the former. I am pleased to say that in our first 11 months together we have made it clear that we are wide open for business, and that Virginia’s state government is a friend of the free market, small business owners, entrepreneurs, and job creators.”
Highlights from the McDonnell proposals:
$150 million to jumpstart the Virginia Transportation Infrastructure Bank. The money will be coupled with $250 million from the Virginia Department of Transportation audit to put $400 million into the Bank at start, with funding to rise to $1 billion by end of administration. This is part of the governor’s plan to inject $4 billion into transportation over the next three years. Other components include the issuance of $1.1 billion in federal GARVEE Bonds which do not add to state debt capacity and the issuance of up to $1.8 billion in already approved transportation bonds.
$50 Million for higher education geared toward increasing college access and affordability and meeting the goal of awarding 100,000 degrees over the next 15 years in the Commonwealth
$191 million in cuts, savings and reappropriations recommended by the Governor’s Commission on Government Reform and Restructuring, providing more state funding for core functions of government focused on job creation and economic development
Reform of Virginia’s Retirement System requiring all state employees to contribute 5 percent to their retirement plans. The reforms will put over $300 million in additional funds into the VRS system in FY 2012 alone and will add $4.2 billion over the next 10 years. The employee contributions will be matched with a 3 percent pay raise.
Story by Chris Graham. Chris can be reached at freepress2@ntelos.net.
Lock this clown up, and throw away the key
A convicted killer gets two years for molesting a 10-year-old girl. Justice is served, oh, yeah.
You might have missed the headlines. There are so many of these types of cases involving adults taking indecent liberties with children that they can become part of the background noise of life. This one means something to me, because I know the family, and had been waiting for a resolution to this case for some time.
It surprised me to read in the paper this week that the prosecutor told the court that the crime committed by Franklin Riley, 31, hadn’t been reported until earlier this year. I know that to be untrue – I was there when it was reported to sheriff’s office investigators by her family. The report was done as Riley was being investigated for his role in the 2006 murder of J.W. Sword, whose throat was slit and head was nearly severed before being left for dead on a county backroad.
According to the account on NewsLeader.com, Riley was playing on a bed with the girl when he disrobed and molested her. A plea deal was necessary, according to the prosecutor in the case, because of the lack of physical evidence and the victim’s reluctance to testify. The reason for that reluctance: “He threatened to kill her,” the prosecutor said.
More columns by Chris Graham at TheWorldAccordingToChrisGraham.com.
So injustice wins again. A murderer gets two years for taking a little girl’s innocence because she fears taking the stand will eventually cost her her life. Wonderful. This guy gets out of jail in nine years. I’m sure the victim and her family feel good about their decision to proceed with reporting what had happened knowing that.
The system did the girl and her family wrong. And it did us wrong, because this loser is going to be back out on the streets before you know it, and he’s already murdered a guy and raped a little girl. How many more people have to suffer before we lock this clown up and throw away the key?
Column by Chris Graham. Chris can be reached at freepress2@ntelos.net.
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Blast from the past
Posted on December 20, 2010 · Leave a Comment
The resulting eight-part series never ran. It was to have debuted in the Saturday paper – back then the NV didn’t have a Sunday edition, so this was the big paper of the week, with all the sales papers in it and everything. The publisher, on an out-of-town trip, called in late Friday night and ordered the story off the front page. The reason: He’d been getting phone calls all day about the teaser that we’d run in the paper promoting the series.
Apparently, our effort to shed some light on how Waynesboro was embracing a new immigrant community didn’t sit well with the people who had the publisher’s ear. I resigned in protest, returning to the paper a year later after the publisher had been sacked, and in 1998 led a staff effort to chronicle the local Latino community that won the paper an award from the Virginia Press Association for in-depth and investigative reporting.
That feels like a hundred years ago now. Waynesboro has matured a bit since the old days. Which isn’t to say that we still don’t have some growing up to do.
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