all things Haley and all things All MIddle Georgia football

So the word is out now.
I have talked about it forever and wanted to do it for the last three years but the time has come.
I am writing a book
I know I know, what could you possible write a book about ?
I have had two ideas for a book in the last six years. The first one was about a coach who lost his first 20 games as a head coach and got fired, then got another head coaching job about 10 years later. Well he lost 10 more games in a row the next year. To make matters worse his son was the starting quarterback. All I needed was one win that next year and I had a book.
He lost 10 more games and got fired with 40 straight losses as a head coach.
No story to tell because I needed one win from hos son at quarterback.
I often thought that my first attempt at a book would have to be about swimming, and maybe even the perils I put my kids through growing up. I think I have told you before that I totally sucked at being a parent until about 10 years ago. But in the big picture, who wants to read about how much I sucked. I mean my kids grew up fairly normal and one of em is even a swim coach. So he grew to love that pool.
Then she came into my life as quickly as sitting at the press table at a basketball game. She was a fairly normal looking 15 year old girl who was a pretty decent basketball player. She wasn't great, but she wasn't the focus of the game either.
I heard that first year that she had Cystic Fibrosis but I didn't know what it was. I probably didn't know what it was until three years later till I did my story on her.
A life changing story, for me at least.
So, with her consent and her parents support, Haley Gordon will become a book.
The only thing is, I had no idea how to write a book.
Enter Rick Limpert.
Rick Limpert the number one sports gadget guy in the world who gets paid to do reviews on all sorts of things. These people have him review luxury vacation spots or basketball gadgets, and everything in between. I envy the guy.
I met Rick at the professional tennis tournament in Macon a few years back and by the end of the first year we were friends. The next year, because I knew he has written books, I pitched my Haley book idea to him.
He liked it.
And now two years later, we are all in on the project.
No really, we are all in to the point that we have a title and we have taken pictures for the cover.
Stay tuned for more info.
I have to congratulate that Macon Telegraph for a stellar job on All Middle Georgia selections. I mean how difficult is it with some of the choices they had to make. Jake Fromm is a second teamer and Bradley Hunnicutt is honorable mention. But they got it right because Khari Lane had a magical season. Zach Harvey was a second teamer ? Yes this year he was because Ahmad Barron and Lynn J Dixon had to be first team guys. I studies the selections and could not find one pick that did not deserve to be where they were.
So here comes basketball folks. Have a great holiday

Macon Basketball

I saw a very interesting basketball game Friday night and it proved once again that the basketball in this town is very good.
But what is the message when over 500 people were turned away at the gate because the gym was already filled to capacity.
I knew that I would need to get to the Westside-Central game very early for several reasons. Sure this is a huge rivalry, maybe the best high school rivalry in the city. But add to the fact that a Central player left for Westside this year just added to the entire night.
So, I arrived at Westside at 6:00 pm and had to park in front of the school because the place was already packed.
As I got near the main gate, I saw probably 500 folks in line waiting to get in and none of them were happy. I don't really know what the slowness was caused by, but I am thinking it was because every one of the people had to buy a ticket, wait in line, and then go through the metal detector.
Thankfully I was able to get in with my press pass.
During the girls game their was some sort of altercation going on at the front entrance and I later learned that the fans had pushed a door off the hinges and fans were flying through the opening. That lasted for a few minutes before security and coaches were able to put a stop to it. Pepper spray seems to stop most things.
The game itself lived up to most of the hype. Khavon Moore led his team early and Westside jumped out to an early lead, and Central transfer Kentrevious Jones dominated the entire night. But Central, with no one on the court taller than maybe 6'3 just battled and battled all night and came out with the win.
Antarius McCoy has been a mainstay for the Central basketball team since the 9th grade, but he has never really got the credit he deserves. He is a prolific three shooter, but Friday night he showed so much more on the basketball court. He went inside to score, and showed the ability to get to the free throw line the entire night. But the leadership he showed during Westsides runs were what I noticed. His face never changed one time and he was a true leader on the court.
If I had to take one coach in Macon to win a game it would be Central coach Andre Taylor. That's not to say that Macon is not loaded with excellent basketball coaches, but it is quite obvious that Coach Taylor is a special man. Those kids gave him everything they had.
I know it is before Christmas and basketball games at this time of year don't really show what kind of teams everyone has, but I feel like it is a safe bet that Westside and Central will have great years, and Khavon and Big K will not be challenged as being the best two players in Macon.
One thing is for sure, no matter what it costs, the next time these two teams play needs to be at a larger venue. I think you would have about 6,000 folks coming to watch these two teams.
I have not seen anyone else play this year , but it looks like Northeast is somewhat better than they were last year, while Tattnall upset ELCA Friday night. Watch out for Jimmy Marshall, who is finally fully recovered from an ACL a few years ago.
That's if for today. More to come on high school basketball