They threw out free chicken sandwiches
and cows all day long
When the goal is to not do anything, why is it called Labor Day? I fully observed our government's celebration of economic and social contributions of American workers and did nothing on Monday.
However, on Saturday I did go Atlanta for the Chick-fil-a Kickoff Game between Boise State and the University of Georgia. Ok... I did not go to the game, but I did enjoy the pregame festivities around the Georgia Dome. There was little to no postgame celebration as the Bulldogs lost, which has many demanding for a Mark Richt fire. Slow down Georgia fans.
It is always fun to go to a big game atmostphere and enjoy the hype surrounding the game. I got to see a couple of friends from Samford, but the best part was getting the chance to tailgate and go to Mid-town to watch the game at a restaurant with my sister.
At The Gainesville Times we do not get too many opportunities to do stories on Arkansas athletes so I thought I would spread the word via my personal outlets.
The strongest right arm in Arkansas
These are pictures of my cousin Michael Smith at the 2011 Arkansas Arm Wrestling State Championships. I am glad he married into the family because I am not sure I could keep this family tradition going. I like to think I am going for a "leaner" look instead of the "massive and cut" look.
He is a multiple time state champ in the Heavyweight (243 lb. & up) and Overall divisions and he continued to have success this year. His right arm is again the strongest in the state and on the other side of his body is the second strongest left arm in Arkansas. Unbelievable. I thought these pictures were pretty impressive too. I can't wait to get back to Arkansas and challenge the big guy.
Taking out the left arm is no small feat (literally)
1. "A tradition like no other..."- A perfect phrase to describe the most important weekend in golf. The Masters honors its tradition and the importance of past champions better than any other sporting event at the Champions dinner. A mutual respect is felt from rivals to those who have won at Augusta in the past while stories are shared. The locker room is filled with history of past champions, who will always have a place to store their things in the champions locker room. The trophy is full of the greatest names in golf.
2. The Back 9 on Sunday- Few sporting events last four days. Few sporting events can hold your attention like the last nine holes of The Masters did this year. Few sports have the beauty and challenge the final nine holes at Augusta National offer. The back nine holes are usually entertaining, but this year there were ten different leaders or co-leaders one the final group got to Hole 10.
3. Green Jackets- No prize is more recognizable in American sports than the meaning of the green jacket. Beginning in the late 1940s the previous year's champion gives the new champion a green jacket with the Masters emblem on the chest. A cordial interview is conducted just prior to the dressing in Butler Cabin with the previous years champion, current champion, and amateur champion and the President of Augusta National.
4. Masters Sunday- The winner claiming a green jacket has lead to many church men in the South, especially in Georgia, wearing their own versions with pride on Masters Sunday.
5. Roaring- One consistent part of The Masters experience is the noise, something not thought to go with golf too often. The eerie quiet while competitors read lines on puts and the roars that can be heard as a golfer makes a run up the leaderboard are a part of this great tradition. All the golfers and fans know when someone is making a charge because of the noise. Oh and this fan loves a Tiger roar as he drains a long eagle putt to gain the lead.
6. Redbud- 16th Hole- The course is familiar to fans and we all have a favorite hole. It is a hard choice to choose one, but if I have to the 16th hole at Augusta National is my favorite. It is a beautiful par 3 over a small pond and a tee shot to an always tough pin placement. The patrons have a good view of everything from the tee shot to the final put, which is full of pressure on the second to last hole. Who can forget this epic call from Verne Lundquist in 2005?
7. "Augusta" and Jim Nantz- Iconic sports broadcaster Jim Nantz's voice and CBS's coverage of Saturday and Sunday are synonymous with the Masters. There has been very little change, other than the addition of streaming online content, in their broadcast since I can remember watching. Continuity is the name of the game in Augusta and it is no different here. The song "Augusta" by Dave Loggins immediately takes me to lazy afternoons in the spring watching golf. The lyrics are pretty good, too.
8. Par 3 Contest- One of the most unique aspects of Masters weekend is the Par 3 contest on Wednesday afternoon. No winner of the Par 3 Contest has gone on to win the weekend's tournament, but it is still a wonderful way to begin festivities. Fans see a lighter side of the players and it is the last opportunity for the players to spend time with their families before the stress takes over. Some players allow their children to caddy and even take their chances at the holes.
9. Family Memories- Family has become an important part of the Masters tournament. Not only, as I have mentioned before that some families play along with dad on the Par 3 course, but some players actually stay with host families around the course. As for me, one of my favorite sports memories was when Easter Sunday happened to fall on the same day as the final round of the Masters. We had, as we normally do, had my dad's Shorter choir students over for lunch on Easter. After everyone had left and the dishes were clean, the four of us sat and watched the final round of the Masters.
A father and a son share a special relationship. Though I was not around for the 1986 Masters this video makes me think of my own relationship with my father and the bonds we share. On Fathers and Sons
10. It's in Georgia- Very little gets the whole state of Georgia does as the Masters does. There is a buzz around the entire state. Golf unofficially begins its seasons and the courses fill up. Old men tell memories of the time they went to Augusta in April. Young men think tell stories of how that should be them, or wish it could be. Even those that do not watch sports will know the Masters is going on. Being in Georgia means it is not too far away, and some day, maybe way on down the road, I am going to be at Augusta National during the first weekend of April and see the glory of the Masters.
Last weekend I went to Athens for Ellen's and Pops Daddy-Daughter weekend. I know it was supposed to be their weekend, and I am thankful for the envite. Since we have both moved out of the house I try to take advantage of any opprotunity I can to see the family.
Entering Foley Field
After getting kicked out of UGA's spring football practice (starting WR Tavarres King eventually came to sit by us at the game), the three of us went to my first SEC baseball game. I had seen my Samford Bulldogs take care of business against Alabama and Auburn, but had never been to an SEC baseball stadium and seen two SEC teams go at it. University of Georgia has a a great setting to watch their Bulldogs play ball. They have a couple of houses behind the right field wall reminiscent of my college days. Needless to say, they were not the heckling force the Right Field Rowdies have become at Joe Lee Griffin Stadium at Samford University. Few are and that is a whole other post. One of the my favorite parts of Foley Field and its construction is the fans are looking down on the field and literally sit on top of the dugouts. The action is under your nose and there was not a bad seat as I walked around to check it out.
UGA was once again playing Mississippi State, the same school they played when I went to a basketball game earlier this semester. The result was the same... Dawgs won, the home Dawgs that is. It was a good time for the three of us as Pops and I got to meet some of Ellen's friends, one of which got to participate in an on-field contest. He won.
Our Seats
After the game the three of us went and got steak dinners, went back to the hotel, and laughed with each other until we fell asleep. No family is more fun than the Reaves in a cheap hotel room and this time Mama was not there to moderate. It was great. I always love spending time with the family and am looking forward to Easter when the four of us will be together again.
I know it has been over a week since I have written and those close to me, particularly my father, have been wanting me to post. I started my spring break with a much needed trip to Birmingham last weekend. It is always so good to go back and see familiar faces and places. Because I have not been back in 2011 I had a lot of catching up to do and thanks to some friends getting plans rolling I was able to see everyone but one person I wanted to while I was there. The one guy had to flu and I did not want to be sick all Spring Break. So I cut my losses and headed home Sunday after church.
I mean who wants to be sick on their Spring Break, the one week nothing is due, until the end of April? Who wants to spend an entire morning in excruciating pain and an afternoon in the hospital? Who wants to still have pain coming and going for the rest of his break, even if he is on a strict regimen of pain pills? I never wanted to, but that is what my Spring Break looks like now... I got kidney "stoned" on Spring Break 2011 (This was a tweet I used when I was leaving the hospital, and I am not sure people who read it realized the pun).
The pain started just after 10:00 AM yesterday morning. It would come and go about every thirty minutes, providing me some tough bouts with my inards. The pain would bring me to my knees and to the point of vomiting. Around 12:45 PM. I finally gave up trying to convince myself the pain would pass and called Pops who came and picked me up and we went to the hospital. Luckily for me, the staff at Floyd Medical Center got me in quickly and I was hooked up to some drugs. X-Rays and CT scans were taken and the doctor said I had a kidney stone.
I am always trying to make light of any situation and these are snip-its of me trying to do that while I had a saline IV, and on a little bit of pain medicine (which if you have ever heard stories of when I got my wisdom teeth out you know could be dangerous):
-The nurses asked did I cry? I of course told them, "No, I am a man!" Luckily they laughed a little bit. All jokes aside, it really did hurt.
-Just before drawing blood a nurse wrapped a band around my biceps. I asked her if the band was going to be big enough. She didn't get the joke.... which made it even more embarrassing to tell her it was a joke about the size of my bicep.
-I tried to tell the nurse my college roommate's cell phone number as my social security, luckily the parents were there.
There are more I am sure but I was doped up so I have an excuse not to remember them all. I am home now waiting for the stone to pass, but want to say thank you to my parents. My Dad for picking me up, racing through town, only to sit in the ER with me for four hours. To my Mom, who also felt under the weather, getting my medicines in order and taking care of me as I came off of the drugs from the hospital. I am grateful for a caring church family who sent text messages, called, and emailed all of my family concerned for my health.
To quote my father, "I am ready for the stone to be rolled away and it's not even Lent yet!"
First and foremost let me wish the happiest of days to my sweet mother as we celebrate another year of her life. Thanks to all of her guidance, listening, and "Mama" meals she has given to me throughout my 23 years. You are the best mother there is around. Others may say that, but that is because they never had the opportunity to have you as their own. But really, there is not a better one and I thank you for being who you are and have been to me since 10/09/1987.
P.s. Sorry we may hold off on the Provino's dinner tonight.
One year ago today the world lost one of its finest gentlemen it ever called its own.
I got a call around 6:00 AM one year ago today from my mother and father in which they told me that Grandaddy had passed away that morning. I sat up in my bed after they hung up and tried to take in all they had told me. Grandaddy was the first person I have had a close familial relationship to to pass away, and I did not know how to take the news. I waited on my family in Birmingham as they got their things together and arrangements made so we could all head to Arkansas. I must say a word of thanks to those at Samford that let me just simply talk to them about how the loss of Grandaddy affected me. I had some of the greatest ears and comforting words come from you.
I was picked up and the four of us headed off to Arkansas. Upon arrival we met with family, shed tears and laughed remembering this wonderful man. From my own experiences I will remember trips the grandchildren took with he and Grannie. From Branson to the beaches and many a Finance games in between, I never saw him upset, except for two times: in a McDonald's parking lot after one of his beloved grandchildren slipped from the water in the parking lot and when his youngest granddaughter beat him in Finance.
I found out in the next days what a fine man my grandfather was to all he met, and that his love and kind heart was not something he shared with just his family. I could not get over how every person said something about how he was such a gentleman who enjoyed the finer things in life. He truly was that, a gentle man and role model for a young man like myself to look up to.
I know he is singing loudly with his beautiful bass voice in heaven now, waiting on everyone else to get up there with him. But in the meantime, here on this earth, I know there is not a kinder, more caring, or more gentle man than Charles Wayne Holt was to everyone he met.
