What do I think about the 14 readers I had on my last blog ?
Well I think that 14 is better than 10 and not as good as 20. I am refusing to measure the success of the blog on numbers at this time and I am fully expecting explosion when high school football season starts
What do I think is the greatest sandwich ever ?
That is a very difficult question, but I will have to go with the Bacon, Lettuce , and Tomato sandwich. In fact lets skip the lettuce and make it extra good. A good tomato with mayo and bacon cannot really be beat with a great glass of milk, although grilled cheese can be pretty good on a cold day with a bowl of chilli
My runner up at Sids Sandwich Shop.
What will be my favorite pre season football story to write?
I have four to do over the next week or so, and I like all four coaches, although every one of them is a bit different. I have Joe Dupree and the Southwest Patriots, a team looking to make a move and a coach that is coaching at his alma mater and desperately wants to turn things around. With a healthy Justin Slocum this could be the year. I have George Collins and Rutland High School who made the playoffs two years ago but forgot to play any defense last year. Collins is a straight shooter and will tell me exactly what he thinks of his football team. Then I can go to Bruce Mullen and the Northeast Raiders, who are looking to rebound from a tough season. Mullen is more of the Vince Dooley type of coach, who will say he is too small and too slow to really compete, but yet he finds ways to beat people. And then I will end with Greg Street and Crawford County who I also did last year. Coach Street won six games playing a non region schedule last year and broke a long losing streak with Tyrick Reeves leading the way at quarterback. Street was worried about what I would write last year because the program was so down, but they seemed to have taken a step in the right direction last year and I look forward to talking to him last year.
Who is the best football coach in Macon at the high school level.?
I would not touch that question. Sorry . But I will say this. Numbers don't lie, and if Barney Hester makes the playoffs with Howard, then maybe I will answer this question.
Best High School football player in the area?
I don't know as of yet, but its hard to go against the wrecking ball, Torrez Finney at Jones County. He swallows quarterbacks and he is only 5'6.
Best two sport athlete in Macon?
The most under rated player in Macon in both sports is Justin Slocum from Southwest. I believe he will have the choice of playing football or basketball at the next level and I believe he will be a breakout player on the football field this year.
O'Showen Williams- The Stratford do all player has excelled in both sports and I think he will have a breakout season on the basketball court this year. he has already broken out on the football field.
Cinderella team this year ?
Great question and I will have to take Stratford playing for the region championship. I believe Mark Farriba will get it done this year and beat Tattnall and FPD. I hear he has a nice little qb that transferred in.
My other choice would be Southwest, who I think will make the playoffs.
Best Netflix TV show
Friday Night Lights by far
Clear eyes full hearts Cant lose.
CANT WAIT FOR FOOTBALL SEASON
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Friday, July 17, 2015
Milestones
I will be the first one to admit that when I started as a free lancer for the Telegraph, I did it for all the wrong reasons.
Some seven years ago, we had two kids in a private school and the bills just were not quite adding up like we needed them to do. After all we were paying out over 20,000 dollars a year just for them to go to high school.
So without me barely knowing it, my wife Debbie went out and got a job at Kroger. Now Debbie has the more lucrative career when it comes to money, and she was obviously bringing in her fair share of the money for the family. If anyone needed to get a second job, it would have been John. But I was not quite getting the message at that time.
With Debbie working a full time job and also at Kroger for another 20 to 25 hours, it put me in an awkward position. What was I supposed to do with the kids on a Friday night if they wanted to go out and eat ? I mean I could say lets go , but hmm my wife was working a second job and I was taking the kids out to eat , which probably costs more than what she is making in her four hours of work. I really was in a no win situation here.
After a few months, I started to figure things out. Debbie would never ever come to me and tell me that I needed to get a part time job, but maybe she would hint at it. But I was probably good at ignoring the hints. There wasn't one specific things that happened to let me know it was time for me to step out, but maybe it was divine intervention.
After my wife left for work one day and screeched the car out of the driveway, I noticed that she had not even cooked dinner for the family before she left for her second job. After all it was a Friday night and we needed to eat. So after I cooked dinner, (fries and burgers) I went to sit down and read the paper, and there it was. God was telling me right there that I needed to work. It was an add in the sports section advertising for a deadline sports writer for the Telegraph. I proudly applied and let my wife know immediately that I was actually applying for another job.
I remember I had to write a story from information I was given and turn it in, and that is how I got hired. At first it was pretty much once a week for football games, and then when Daniel Shirley, the sports editor, found out I was reliable, he started giving me a little bit more. Not only did it keep peace in my house, it gave me a hobby that I actually enjoyed.
That was seven years ago. Over the years, I think Daniel had realized that I wont turn him down too often for a story, and that is my strongest gift. Am I a good writer ? I think I am decent. Am I a good grammatical writer? Hell No, and I am sure this constantly frustrates my boss. I haven't taken an English class in 35 years and I am sure that at times he wants to just tear my stuff up. But I am thankful that he doesn't and I try very hard to make my story some what error free. However, that probably never happens.
Through the years, I have interviewed Bobby Bowden, George Gervin, Russell Henley, Demaryius Thomas, Kareem Jackson, Cole Miller, Jaime Kaplan, Sharone Wright, and pretty much every high school and college coach in the area. Now how lucky am I to have a part time job like this. I love being someone that all the coaches and most of the players know and trust to a certain extent. Deadline writing can be difficult, but how lucky am I to be able to do something like this.
This week I found out that I will be getting to do something that I have wanted to do for the last seven years. The "real" Telegraph writers all do football picks in the newspaper with their little head shots above the picks and I am going to get to do that this year. I know its stupid, but its almost like a dream come true for me. I love that my picks will be right out there for everyone to see, and I hope you will follow me and see how it goes. I think I know high school and college sports, but I guess now we will see. I know its all for fun, but obviously I don't want to embarrass myself.
So in closing, my part time job that I did because my wife was too nice to complain about me sitting on my ass while she worked a second job has turned out to be a godsend for me. My wife hasn't worked at Kroger for 5 years or so, but don't worry, I wont hold that against her. As long as she had dinner cooked :)
Some seven years ago, we had two kids in a private school and the bills just were not quite adding up like we needed them to do. After all we were paying out over 20,000 dollars a year just for them to go to high school.
So without me barely knowing it, my wife Debbie went out and got a job at Kroger. Now Debbie has the more lucrative career when it comes to money, and she was obviously bringing in her fair share of the money for the family. If anyone needed to get a second job, it would have been John. But I was not quite getting the message at that time.
With Debbie working a full time job and also at Kroger for another 20 to 25 hours, it put me in an awkward position. What was I supposed to do with the kids on a Friday night if they wanted to go out and eat ? I mean I could say lets go , but hmm my wife was working a second job and I was taking the kids out to eat , which probably costs more than what she is making in her four hours of work. I really was in a no win situation here.
After a few months, I started to figure things out. Debbie would never ever come to me and tell me that I needed to get a part time job, but maybe she would hint at it. But I was probably good at ignoring the hints. There wasn't one specific things that happened to let me know it was time for me to step out, but maybe it was divine intervention.
After my wife left for work one day and screeched the car out of the driveway, I noticed that she had not even cooked dinner for the family before she left for her second job. After all it was a Friday night and we needed to eat. So after I cooked dinner, (fries and burgers) I went to sit down and read the paper, and there it was. God was telling me right there that I needed to work. It was an add in the sports section advertising for a deadline sports writer for the Telegraph. I proudly applied and let my wife know immediately that I was actually applying for another job.
I remember I had to write a story from information I was given and turn it in, and that is how I got hired. At first it was pretty much once a week for football games, and then when Daniel Shirley, the sports editor, found out I was reliable, he started giving me a little bit more. Not only did it keep peace in my house, it gave me a hobby that I actually enjoyed.
That was seven years ago. Over the years, I think Daniel had realized that I wont turn him down too often for a story, and that is my strongest gift. Am I a good writer ? I think I am decent. Am I a good grammatical writer? Hell No, and I am sure this constantly frustrates my boss. I haven't taken an English class in 35 years and I am sure that at times he wants to just tear my stuff up. But I am thankful that he doesn't and I try very hard to make my story some what error free. However, that probably never happens.
Through the years, I have interviewed Bobby Bowden, George Gervin, Russell Henley, Demaryius Thomas, Kareem Jackson, Cole Miller, Jaime Kaplan, Sharone Wright, and pretty much every high school and college coach in the area. Now how lucky am I to have a part time job like this. I love being someone that all the coaches and most of the players know and trust to a certain extent. Deadline writing can be difficult, but how lucky am I to be able to do something like this.
This week I found out that I will be getting to do something that I have wanted to do for the last seven years. The "real" Telegraph writers all do football picks in the newspaper with their little head shots above the picks and I am going to get to do that this year. I know its stupid, but its almost like a dream come true for me. I love that my picks will be right out there for everyone to see, and I hope you will follow me and see how it goes. I think I know high school and college sports, but I guess now we will see. I know its all for fun, but obviously I don't want to embarrass myself.
So in closing, my part time job that I did because my wife was too nice to complain about me sitting on my ass while she worked a second job has turned out to be a godsend for me. My wife hasn't worked at Kroger for 5 years or so, but don't worry, I wont hold that against her. As long as she had dinner cooked :)
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
high school football is on the way
I thought today I would start moving into the most important topic that can make this blog work.
Because afterall, the most important thing is to make this blog work.
I want it to be something that people gravitate to, that when I don't write, people are like, wow why didn't he write anything today.
And despite the 5500 hits I have in the last four months, I know that we are nowhere close to be where I want it to be.
However, the time has now come to where I can almost start talking about the topic that makes everyone excited, especially, the high school people.
High School Football is on the horizon
Now I cannot say much about the local teams because I have not seen any practices at all. But we all kind of know what's coming from the end of last year. I have not even looked at schedules, but from a fans standpoint and a free lancers standpoint, these are the things I most look forward to over the next five or so months. I will admit that all of them may not be about football
Anyones first game- That first weekend I will be somewhere. Last year it was Rutland against Westside, a rematch of a region championship game the year before. I love the feel before a first game. The sidelines are electric, everyone is so fired up and excited for a new year, and everyone thinks that this could be the year. Unfortunately a lot of those dreams disappear after the first week, as did Rutland's that night. I don't remember the final score, but it was pretty bad.
The feel of a sideline during a game- I watch most of my games on the field because I think I get a better feel of the game. I like to hear what Bruce Mullen or Barney Hester are feeling during a game up close, and I love to see the raw emotion of the kids on the field. Assistant coaches will come talk to me sometimes during the game, and it is very interesting to see what they are thinking. If I am sitting in the press box, its usually because it is freezing cold or stifling hot, or I am not really into the game that night. But usually I like to be on the field.
Georgia Bulldogs football- I absolutely love a Saturday watching the Dawgs. It is funny how things change over the years. It used to be the fun of watching the Dawgs with friends and drinking the entire game and then after the game. Then it came down to watching the game with a few other couples. Years later it would be Hayden and some of his friends and maybe one other adult. Now unfortunately, its usually just me. That is somewhat depressing but it is still quite enjoyable. But Dawg fans, feel free to invite me wherever you are to watch.I am a great person to watch a game with. I can usually tell you what the announcer is going to say before he says it. The only difference is, I do it off the top of my head, and they have someone in their earpiece telling them what to say.
Fantasy Football sundays- I love fantasy football. I have played it for the last 15 years or so ad I am hooked beyond belief. That is what I do on most sundays. Now once again, it is because I have no other life, so I am okay holed up in my house upstairs for 11 hours. Its not like anyone is calling me to go so something.
Good coaches and bad coaches- You can pretty much tell who is a good coach and who is a bad coach in about two quarters. Its the way they carry themselves on the sidelines, but its also the way the kids react to what they are saying. I hear coaches say all the time "Our kids never quit" and that is true alot of the time. But I have seen teams quit on a coach very quickly. I wont name names, but in all reality, Macon is very lucky to have the coaches they have.
Deadline writing- A game starts at 7:30 and it should be over at 10. I talk to coaches for 10 minutes and get in the car and get home by 10:30 and the story is in by 11. Seems simple doesn't it. It's too bad it hardly ever ends up that way. Games last so long sometimes that it becomes painful for a writer who has to figure out how he is going to make deadline with his story. It is easy to write at home, so if I am in Macon, that is always my hope. But sometimes it just doesn't work out that way. Last year I wrote stories from McDonalds, Dennys, and the Westside parking lot while in a traffic jam, just to name a few.
Players off the top of my head to watch this year.
Justin Slocum- Southwest quarterback- This kid is a special athlete who has flown under the radar for years. I expect him to have a breakout year on the football field and basketball court. If the Patriots can win enough games this year, he could make a run for player of the year in this area. I expect Joe Dupree to have the Patriots ready for a playoff run .
Derrick Evans Jr. -Central - One of the better athletes in the area,Evans has led the Chargers back to prominence on the football field and should have another great year.
Torrian Bradley-McSwain- FPD - I don't think a lot of people know about this two way stud yet, but I am guessing Greg Moore uses him early and often this year. I have heard that he is a D1 defensive back , but look for him to get his hands on the ball this year.
Will McCormick-FPD-a veteran quarterback at the wheel of an aggressive offense
O'Showen Williams- Stratford- A do all guy for the Eagles who will have a huge year on both sides of the footballfield
Quintez Cephus- rumor is after he recovers from a broken wrist, he will line up at wide receiver this year instead of quarterback , which could be very interesting. Cephus is probably the best athlete in the area and the thought of him lining up and going long should be very worrisome to coaches that have to play against him. and I have heard that the Eagles have a transfer quarterback who can play a little.
Bradley Hunnicutt- Jones County- Runs the explosive Hounds offense that lit up the scoreboard a year ago. He should put up huge numbers.
Tattnall Square as always will be good but I just don't know the go to players right now. The same can be said of Howard who I expect to have a winning season this year. Westside is always the best football school in Macon, but don't be surprised if they lose to a Macon school this year.
If I left someone out let me know and I will get on it.
Because afterall, the most important thing is to make this blog work.
I want it to be something that people gravitate to, that when I don't write, people are like, wow why didn't he write anything today.
And despite the 5500 hits I have in the last four months, I know that we are nowhere close to be where I want it to be.
However, the time has now come to where I can almost start talking about the topic that makes everyone excited, especially, the high school people.
High School Football is on the horizon
Now I cannot say much about the local teams because I have not seen any practices at all. But we all kind of know what's coming from the end of last year. I have not even looked at schedules, but from a fans standpoint and a free lancers standpoint, these are the things I most look forward to over the next five or so months. I will admit that all of them may not be about football
Anyones first game- That first weekend I will be somewhere. Last year it was Rutland against Westside, a rematch of a region championship game the year before. I love the feel before a first game. The sidelines are electric, everyone is so fired up and excited for a new year, and everyone thinks that this could be the year. Unfortunately a lot of those dreams disappear after the first week, as did Rutland's that night. I don't remember the final score, but it was pretty bad.
The feel of a sideline during a game- I watch most of my games on the field because I think I get a better feel of the game. I like to hear what Bruce Mullen or Barney Hester are feeling during a game up close, and I love to see the raw emotion of the kids on the field. Assistant coaches will come talk to me sometimes during the game, and it is very interesting to see what they are thinking. If I am sitting in the press box, its usually because it is freezing cold or stifling hot, or I am not really into the game that night. But usually I like to be on the field.
Georgia Bulldogs football- I absolutely love a Saturday watching the Dawgs. It is funny how things change over the years. It used to be the fun of watching the Dawgs with friends and drinking the entire game and then after the game. Then it came down to watching the game with a few other couples. Years later it would be Hayden and some of his friends and maybe one other adult. Now unfortunately, its usually just me. That is somewhat depressing but it is still quite enjoyable. But Dawg fans, feel free to invite me wherever you are to watch.I am a great person to watch a game with. I can usually tell you what the announcer is going to say before he says it. The only difference is, I do it off the top of my head, and they have someone in their earpiece telling them what to say.
Fantasy Football sundays- I love fantasy football. I have played it for the last 15 years or so ad I am hooked beyond belief. That is what I do on most sundays. Now once again, it is because I have no other life, so I am okay holed up in my house upstairs for 11 hours. Its not like anyone is calling me to go so something.
Good coaches and bad coaches- You can pretty much tell who is a good coach and who is a bad coach in about two quarters. Its the way they carry themselves on the sidelines, but its also the way the kids react to what they are saying. I hear coaches say all the time "Our kids never quit" and that is true alot of the time. But I have seen teams quit on a coach very quickly. I wont name names, but in all reality, Macon is very lucky to have the coaches they have.
Deadline writing- A game starts at 7:30 and it should be over at 10. I talk to coaches for 10 minutes and get in the car and get home by 10:30 and the story is in by 11. Seems simple doesn't it. It's too bad it hardly ever ends up that way. Games last so long sometimes that it becomes painful for a writer who has to figure out how he is going to make deadline with his story. It is easy to write at home, so if I am in Macon, that is always my hope. But sometimes it just doesn't work out that way. Last year I wrote stories from McDonalds, Dennys, and the Westside parking lot while in a traffic jam, just to name a few.
Players off the top of my head to watch this year.
Justin Slocum- Southwest quarterback- This kid is a special athlete who has flown under the radar for years. I expect him to have a breakout year on the football field and basketball court. If the Patriots can win enough games this year, he could make a run for player of the year in this area. I expect Joe Dupree to have the Patriots ready for a playoff run .
Derrick Evans Jr. -Central - One of the better athletes in the area,Evans has led the Chargers back to prominence on the football field and should have another great year.
Torrian Bradley-McSwain- FPD - I don't think a lot of people know about this two way stud yet, but I am guessing Greg Moore uses him early and often this year. I have heard that he is a D1 defensive back , but look for him to get his hands on the ball this year.
Will McCormick-FPD-a veteran quarterback at the wheel of an aggressive offense
O'Showen Williams- Stratford- A do all guy for the Eagles who will have a huge year on both sides of the footballfield
Quintez Cephus- rumor is after he recovers from a broken wrist, he will line up at wide receiver this year instead of quarterback , which could be very interesting. Cephus is probably the best athlete in the area and the thought of him lining up and going long should be very worrisome to coaches that have to play against him. and I have heard that the Eagles have a transfer quarterback who can play a little.
Bradley Hunnicutt- Jones County- Runs the explosive Hounds offense that lit up the scoreboard a year ago. He should put up huge numbers.
Tattnall Square as always will be good but I just don't know the go to players right now. The same can be said of Howard who I expect to have a winning season this year. Westside is always the best football school in Macon, but don't be surprised if they lose to a Macon school this year.
If I left someone out let me know and I will get on it.
Thursday, July 9, 2015
FAQ
I know that it is the summer and it is tough to get a great audience at this time of the year. I am hoping to blow this thing out of the water when football season starts and get some more readers. But I want to keep writing until then so I have to come up with things to write on. So today, I am going to write on the things that are important about me. These are not the every day questions one may ask me, because that would put you to sleep, but these are things the average person would not know about me. It is true, you may not care, but a few of you might at least smile one time when you read it.
I was born in Warner Robins in 1962. My claims to fame in that city are few. Let me see, I once scored 26 points in a basketball game when I was 12 years old. Of course I was as tall as I am right now,and with a father who stood only 5'4, there wasn't much chance that I would continue to grow. So that was pretty much the extent of my basketball career.
My best sport probably was baseball. I played on a 15 year old all star team that won state and district and lost in the regionals, and I started at first base and hit fifth. That team was loaded with talent, and included at least two players Mark Poston and Chris Pierce, that played minor league baseball. I played baseball at WRHS, but I was lazy lazy lazy. I was the token underachiever as an athlete. My biggest moment was when I was playing on that all star team and hit a grand slam in the semi-finals against a pitcher named TBONE. For that I got a quote in the paper, "It was a fastball, Kosater said. "I really wasn't trying to hit it out of the park I was just trying to make good contact." That was it, I was famous until the next ball game the next day.
I Just read the first part of what I wrote and if it bored me I am sure it has you too, so now I will just give you quick little hits and if you want me to expand what I said, feel free to make a comment.
# I am a lifetime sports fan who used to study baseball cards when he was young. I can give you stats of people you have never heard of.
#I am a part time sportswriter for the last six years. I started doing it because my wife hinted strongly to me that I needed to get s part time job, So naturally I tried to find something easy. Little did I know that I stress about my stories more than I do about my real job.
#My favorite story ever ? I think you all know that- Haley Gordon of course.As I have stated it is the only story I have ever done that hangs in my house.
#Most famous interviews ? Bobby Bowden, George Gervin, Demaryius Thomas, Kareem Jackson, Russell Henley, Jaime Kaplan, Ray Goff, just to name a few
#Worst feeling when writing- name spelled wrong is a killer that leaves me depressed for days. Or even worse, I gave a wrong name this year. Mary Persons was playing Perry, and the MP person threw a great game. However I botched the name and put a guy from the Perry roster instead. Whoops,,, it ruined my night
#favorite sports team- Queens and Brenau swimming of course. And since Hayden is working for them soon, the Star Aquatics swim team out of Greensboro NC
#Favorite food- Fried Chicken although I don't eat it very much anymore.
#Music I like.- Ok this is somewhat embarrassing- but I wont lie. Barry Manilow,the Carpenters, Neil Diamond, country music, old rock and roll. I know its weak but that's some good stuff man.
#my real job- I find mentally ill adults jobs in the community. I been doing that for 30 years and I am retired but I came back and work 32 hours a week.
#My golf game is horrible. But its not as bad as Wes Blankenships
#I like writing. It is relaxing and it helps me maintain my sanity. MY life is fairly boring except for the stuff my kids are doing, so writing gives me something to do.
# I will bore you talking about my kids, as I am very proud of the accomplishments.
#and I wont bore you anymore today. Thanks to the 10 or so readers in advance. If you want to know more just ask. I am an open book
I was born in Warner Robins in 1962. My claims to fame in that city are few. Let me see, I once scored 26 points in a basketball game when I was 12 years old. Of course I was as tall as I am right now,and with a father who stood only 5'4, there wasn't much chance that I would continue to grow. So that was pretty much the extent of my basketball career.
My best sport probably was baseball. I played on a 15 year old all star team that won state and district and lost in the regionals, and I started at first base and hit fifth. That team was loaded with talent, and included at least two players Mark Poston and Chris Pierce, that played minor league baseball. I played baseball at WRHS, but I was lazy lazy lazy. I was the token underachiever as an athlete. My biggest moment was when I was playing on that all star team and hit a grand slam in the semi-finals against a pitcher named TBONE. For that I got a quote in the paper, "It was a fastball, Kosater said. "I really wasn't trying to hit it out of the park I was just trying to make good contact." That was it, I was famous until the next ball game the next day.
I Just read the first part of what I wrote and if it bored me I am sure it has you too, so now I will just give you quick little hits and if you want me to expand what I said, feel free to make a comment.
# I am a lifetime sports fan who used to study baseball cards when he was young. I can give you stats of people you have never heard of.
#I am a part time sportswriter for the last six years. I started doing it because my wife hinted strongly to me that I needed to get s part time job, So naturally I tried to find something easy. Little did I know that I stress about my stories more than I do about my real job.
#My favorite story ever ? I think you all know that- Haley Gordon of course.As I have stated it is the only story I have ever done that hangs in my house.
#Most famous interviews ? Bobby Bowden, George Gervin, Demaryius Thomas, Kareem Jackson, Russell Henley, Jaime Kaplan, Ray Goff, just to name a few
#Worst feeling when writing- name spelled wrong is a killer that leaves me depressed for days. Or even worse, I gave a wrong name this year. Mary Persons was playing Perry, and the MP person threw a great game. However I botched the name and put a guy from the Perry roster instead. Whoops,,, it ruined my night
#favorite sports team- Queens and Brenau swimming of course. And since Hayden is working for them soon, the Star Aquatics swim team out of Greensboro NC
#Favorite food- Fried Chicken although I don't eat it very much anymore.
#Music I like.- Ok this is somewhat embarrassing- but I wont lie. Barry Manilow,the Carpenters, Neil Diamond, country music, old rock and roll. I know its weak but that's some good stuff man.
#my real job- I find mentally ill adults jobs in the community. I been doing that for 30 years and I am retired but I came back and work 32 hours a week.
#My golf game is horrible. But its not as bad as Wes Blankenships
#I like writing. It is relaxing and it helps me maintain my sanity. MY life is fairly boring except for the stuff my kids are doing, so writing gives me something to do.
# I will bore you talking about my kids, as I am very proud of the accomplishments.
#and I wont bore you anymore today. Thanks to the 10 or so readers in advance. If you want to know more just ask. I am an open book
Monday, July 6, 2015
Kaplan and Blankenship capture Blogspot.com Classic
Jaime Kaplan is a coach at heart.
And when she was given the task of making Kate Blankenship a golfer in a little over a week, she took the opportunity and ran with it.
The hard work paid off as the team of Kaplan and Blankenship shot a playoff final round of 66 to edge out two other teams for the championship.
"I knew I could play but when I got Kate at the last minute, I wasn't sure we could pull this off, said Kaplan, whose birdied 15, 16, and 17 on the touch and treacherous Golf Club of Macon Course, to put the match away. "We practiced eight hours a day at the Jaime Kaplan Tennis Center, which by the way is named after me, and we focused on the simple things. First I had to teach her not to kick the ball because she was a soccer player. Then I had to teach her not to throw the ball because she was a goalie. Once I got it into her mind that she had to hit the ball with a club, we started to make progress. It was not easy, but Kate put in the work and it paid off. "
Blankenship admits to never playing golf in her life, but was a standout college soccer player who started close to 80 games in goal for UAB. She gives her pure athletic ability credit for the quick learning of a new game. "First of all , Jaime was a great teacher, but overall I am a very athletic person and I feel like I can pick any game up in a week or so. Lets not give her too much credit. Golf is very much like soccer in that it is rather boring for spectators and ok I will admit, it was boring for me too. I mean its riding a cart to the ball , hitting the ball, hitting the ball, hitting the ball, and then hitting the ball with the putt putt stick, and then getting back in the cart and riding to the next hole. I think we had a good time and of course we wanted to win and represent Stratford, but in the long run I don't think I will be playing golf til next year,"
The team of Haley and Steven Gordon finished four shots out of the lead to finish second and fell out of contention on the par three number nine when they carded a 9. "I am pretty sure that a nine isn't very good," said Haley Gordon, who after a vacation to Bora Bora , which is a suburb of Tybee Island, was not too worried about her golf score. "We didn't practice at all when we were on vacation because who wants to play golf on vacation, and we were too busy anyways with the beach. I guess that hurt us a lot. But that 9 on that hole was just stupid. I did want everyone to know that my dad did not make the 9 I did. He hit like five balls into the water. But overall I was happy to represent Bora Bora in a positive way. "
The team of Brent Thornton and Josh Grube were no shows to the event.
And when she was given the task of making Kate Blankenship a golfer in a little over a week, she took the opportunity and ran with it.
The hard work paid off as the team of Kaplan and Blankenship shot a playoff final round of 66 to edge out two other teams for the championship.
"I knew I could play but when I got Kate at the last minute, I wasn't sure we could pull this off, said Kaplan, whose birdied 15, 16, and 17 on the touch and treacherous Golf Club of Macon Course, to put the match away. "We practiced eight hours a day at the Jaime Kaplan Tennis Center, which by the way is named after me, and we focused on the simple things. First I had to teach her not to kick the ball because she was a soccer player. Then I had to teach her not to throw the ball because she was a goalie. Once I got it into her mind that she had to hit the ball with a club, we started to make progress. It was not easy, but Kate put in the work and it paid off. "
Blankenship admits to never playing golf in her life, but was a standout college soccer player who started close to 80 games in goal for UAB. She gives her pure athletic ability credit for the quick learning of a new game. "First of all , Jaime was a great teacher, but overall I am a very athletic person and I feel like I can pick any game up in a week or so. Lets not give her too much credit. Golf is very much like soccer in that it is rather boring for spectators and ok I will admit, it was boring for me too. I mean its riding a cart to the ball , hitting the ball, hitting the ball, hitting the ball, and then hitting the ball with the putt putt stick, and then getting back in the cart and riding to the next hole. I think we had a good time and of course we wanted to win and represent Stratford, but in the long run I don't think I will be playing golf til next year,"
The team of Haley and Steven Gordon finished four shots out of the lead to finish second and fell out of contention on the par three number nine when they carded a 9. "I am pretty sure that a nine isn't very good," said Haley Gordon, who after a vacation to Bora Bora , which is a suburb of Tybee Island, was not too worried about her golf score. "We didn't practice at all when we were on vacation because who wants to play golf on vacation, and we were too busy anyways with the beach. I guess that hurt us a lot. But that 9 on that hole was just stupid. I did want everyone to know that my dad did not make the 9 I did. He hit like five balls into the water. But overall I was happy to represent Bora Bora in a positive way. "
The team of Brent Thornton and Josh Grube were no shows to the event.
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