UWDoB 2007 wrap-up

First of all — thank you to the hundreds of folks who came out today for the United Way Day of Basketball at Kinston High School. It was so good to see the community come together for a great time and for a great cause.

Congratulations to the doggoned Coaches team again…the Media team had a 28-28 tie but ended up getting beat 80-48.

Kinston’s Sherrod “Country” Croom defeated Kinston’s Marcus Hemby in the finals of the dunk contest, while Kinston super-freshman Reggie Bullock downed Kinston’s Curtis “Nootsie” Hines in the finals of the 3-point shootout.

The Hawk Krazees redeemed themselves with an impressive win over the Munn Maniacs in their game.

Again, thanks to everyone who came out. We raised right at $3,000 for the United Way and we couldn’t have done it without you. Thanks!

Come to the UWDoB 2007! Meet JWade!

Not only will you be able to see a Media vs. Coaches game at Sunday’s fifth annual United Way Day of Basketball, the best dunkers and 3-point shooters in our area and the Hawk Krazees-Munn Maniacs game, you have another treat in store if you come to Kinston High School at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

You’ll get to meet the two-time defending champion of the Blog Pick ’ems: the infamous JWade.

That’s right, I’ll be giving the elusive and super-prognosticating JWade his valuable prize package at halftime of the Media vs. Coaches game.

And yes, it will mark the first time I’ve ever met the man, the legend. I’m looking forward to it.

Past UWDoB shooters/dunk contest winners

Thought you might want a little historical perspective on who were the winners in the previous four years…

2006

3-point shootout: Tyler Potter, Bethel Christian Academy (runner-up: Curtis Hines, Kinston)

Dunk contest: Charles Gamble, Greene Central (runner-up: Quinton Coples, Kinston)

2005

3-point shootout: Omar Jones, North Lenoir (runner-up: Darryl Jones, Kinston)

Dunk contest: no contest held

2004

3-point shootout: Steven Walker, Arendell Parrott Academy (runner-up: Michael Small, Kinston)

Dunk contest: Montel Jones, Kinston (runner-up: Ben Sutton, Kinston)

2003

3-point shootout: no contest held

Dunk contest: Jeremy Ingram, Kinston (runner-up: Kevin Lee, North Lenoir)

UWDoB 2007: the shooters and dunkers

The roster for the 2007 United Way Day of Basketball 3-point shootout and dunk contest…

3-point shooters:

• Miguel Starkey, Kinston
• Curtis Hines, Kinston
• Dusty Davis, North Lenoir
• Joe Whitfield, North Lenoir
• Quan Outlaw, South Lenoir
• Scott Brown, South Lenoir
• Courtney Killinger, Parrott Academy
• Tate Mooring, Parrott Academy
• Tyler Potter, Bethel Academy
• Aaron Wells, Bethel Academy
• Reggie Johnson, Greene Central
• Chevalier Howell, Greene Central
• Zach Burrus, Mt. Calvary
• DeAundrae Barfield, Jones Senior
• DeAundra McDaniel, Jones Senior

The dunkers:

• Quinton Coples, Kinston
• Bo Ingram, Kinston
• Akeem Sutton, Kinston
• Marcus Hemby, Kinston
• Sherrod Croom, Kinston
• Wes Coward, Kinston
• Tim Roberts, North Lenoir
• Rashee Hawkins, North Lenoir
• Albert Brown, Greene Central
• Danny Moye, Greene Central
• Josh Brown, Jones Senior
• Kamar Frost, Jones Senior

Munn Maniacs vs. Hawk Krazees (UWDoB 2007)

The rosters for the Munn Maniacs/Hawk Krazees game at the fifth annual United Way Day of Basketball are set.

The Maniacs will be coached by SL assistant principal Lee Downey and are:

• Thomas Brandner
• Dustin Burkett
• Justin Byrd
• Dennis Dudley
• David Hill
• Matthew Jarrell
• Brad Jones
• Cameron Joyner
• Zachary Sutton
• Jazmin Clark
• Courtney Lee
• Stephanie Martin
• Heather McMenamy

The Krazees will be coached by NL Principal Ian Solomon and are:

• Cameron Beaman
• Sthil Sowers
• Brandon Sutton
• Tyler Wallace
• Josh Bass
• Tyler Smith
• Dustin King
• Chris Thompson
• Taylor Ginn
• Emily Brown
• Lauren Hudson
• Rachel Cromer
• Brittany Sanders

My ugly mug on local TV

I have taped a few appearances on the different shows at TACC-9 about the upcoming United Way Day of Basketball; here is when you can see them (if you’re so inclined):

• SportsTalk with Chris Hemeyer: 6:30 a.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. on Saturday (it originally aired at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday); it also airs at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday on ENC-TV on these channels — Suddenlink Cable channel 168; Time Warner Cable channel 901; Charter Communications channel 20; Farmville TWC channel 3; Red’s TV & Cable (Bath) channel 13; and the Dish Network Satellite channel 13. I’ll also be on next week’s show so you can see it at all these times next week.
• The Reece Gardner Hour: Tonight at 8 and 11 p.m.; and at 10:30 p.m. on Sunday.

OK…side note on being on Reece Gardner’s show: He’s the MAN. I think he is a good interviewer and — let’s be honest now — is there someone more positive than he in Lenoir County?

• Down East Today with Rick Vernon and Martha Bishop: I’ll be on at 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. next Thursday, along with United Way’s June Cummings and a select Hawk Krazee and Munn Maniac

WCTI ABC-12’s Brian North is also taping a segment sometime next week (I’ll let you know when it airs) while June and I will be on the 6 (freakin’) a.m. segment on WITN NBC-7’s Sunrise Show with the lovely Heather King (grrrr!). Note that I didn’t growl at being on with Brian North. NTTAWWT.

 Heather King

 Brian North

United Way Day of Basketball 2007

I am writing my column about this for this week, but I wanted to give you bloggees the first heads-up, as usual… 

The fifth annual United Way Day of Basketball is Sunday, Jan. 28 at Kinston High School. There will be the usual Media vs. Coaches game, along with the slam dunk contest and 3-point shootout with the top players in our area.

Brian North and Derek Bayne (WCTI ABC-12), Billy Weaver and Brian Meador (WITN NBC-7), Donald Ingram (TACC-9) and myself are some of the players on the media team, which has lost four straight to the coaches.

Last year’s dunk winner, Charles Gamble of Greene Central, has graduated, but his runner-up, Quinton Coples of Kinston, returns. The top 3-point shooter, though, Bethel’s Tyler Potter, returns.

We’ll get Hawk Krazees-Munn Maniacs II, with the Krazees being coached by new principal Ian Thompson and the Maniacs being coached by assistant principal Lee Downey (the undefeated Jay P. Thomas has a conference that day). Last year, the Maniacs won — who will take the game this year?

For the first time, we’re going to have a cheerleading competition between area high school cheerleading teams. Here’s the rub, though: I know very little about cheerleading. I have a friend who is a former cheerleader who is going to be a judge, but I really need two more NON-RELATED to any area program judges. Get in touch with me if you have a suggestion.

Keep checking here for updates on rosters and details about the Day of Basketball, which will begin at 2 p.m. on Jan. 28.