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Bailey's
Take on Pirate Sports
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From the Anchor Desk
Wednesday, December 10, 2003
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By Brian Bailey
Sports Anchor of WNCT-TV 9 |
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Sun peeks through on ties with
NCHSAA
©2003 Bonesville.net
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Cable 7 Audio
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Replay this week's Brian Bailey Show with guest Sharon Baldwin-Tener:
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I covered the state championships this past weekend in
football, and several officials with the N.C. High School Athletic
Association were very positive in talking about their relationship with East
Carolina University.
I agree with Pirate fans that say East Carolina should be in
the mix as far as the state finals are concerned. If we can all go to
Winston-Salem for a pair of games, I would like to think that Winston-Salem
could come to Greenville.
But, I also understand where the NCHSAA is coming from
concerning East Carolina. One official said straight up, that if the
administration hadn’t changed at ECU, then he doubted that there would be
any relationship between the NCHSAA and ECU.
That’s a shame, but that’s what the former administration
caused with its handling of the "Friday Night Fiasco" and by refusing to
work with the NCHSAA.
Hopefully, that black cloud has lifted for good and we’ll
soon see state finals in Greenville!
Seton Hall date elusive
East Carolina’s match-up with Seton Hall was wiped out
over the weekend by the weather up north. Now the Pirates and the
Pirates (Seton Hall’s nickname as well) are in search of a date for
rescheduling the game.
So far, though, the two teams have yet to find that date on
the calendar.
I know Bill Herrion was looking forward to playing at the
Meadowlands with this basketball team. The Pirates would have been been big
underdogs in the game, but still I think it was a game that Herrion and his
staff wanted to play. And they still want to get the game in.
“We’re still looking at dates, trying to squeeze it in,”
said Herrion on Tuesday. “We’ll just have to wait and see.”
As it is, the Pirates should be well rested for their game
tonight against North Carolina A&T. I know that Coach Herrion wants to get
back on the floor after the loss at George Mason.
“I thought we did a lot of good things in the Mason game,”
Herrion said. “We just didn’t finish, but we learned a lot in the game.”
Baldwin-Tener ready for unusual season
East Carolina women’s basketball coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener
is in for a season like she’s never experienced before. She and her husband
are expecting their first child on or around February 15th. That’s right in
the heart of her second season with the Lady Pirates.
The coach was a guest on my radio/cable TV show this past
week. If you haven’t met her, you’re missing out on a real treat. She is as
genuine and as nice as any coach that I have ever dealt with.
I didn't really know her all that well, but by the end of
the hour I was volunteering my services as a baby sitter. As I told her, I
sometimes feel that I’m a better fit with the young ones then with those
closer to my age.
It’s funny, but when someone you know is expecting their
first child, it brings back memories of your own experiences.
My wife and I didn’t want to know if we were having a boy or
a girl some sixteen years ago this past August. I just knew we would have a
boy, though, because there was only one girl amongst my 20 cousins.
On the morning that my first child was born, I placed a
basketball, a football and a baseball in the crib. Eighteen hours later, I
took the three balls out of the crib, and replaced them with a bear with a
pink bow.
I should have left a softball in the crib, because Kaitlyn
has proven to be an outstanding player, and has given me the chance to work
with her and several other outstanding young ladies as a coach.
Coach Baldwin-Tener is expecting a boy in February, and
he’ll be named Luke. But Luke may have to make a road trip or two before he
makes his grand entrance. The Lady Pirates play at Saint Louis and at
Memphis just before the due date.
“We’ve got a plan in place,” said Baldwin-Tener. “One of my
assistants really doesn’t like to fly, so a couple of us will just drive out
there.”
That may be one long road trip, with all of those bathroom
stops!
Best of luck to the coach and her family for what will truly
be an event that they’ll never forget.
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02/23/2007 01:25:28 AM |
