"Why do they [write] for their money? Why do they [work] for short pay? They ain't getting nowhere and they're losing their share. They must have gone crazy back there." — Michael Burton (paraphrased)
By MONTE DUTTON Zane McLendon has that sinking feeling. (Monte Dutton photos) Click here. A Furman release revealed that the Paladins have signed two “rising juniors.” I thought, Thank God, they aren’t falling juniors. Yes, I know, “rising” refers to someone in the next class. It’s spring, and those two promising athletes are sophomores now, …
Continue reading County Signs: A mostly bleak night on the diamonds
By MONTE DUTTON (Monte Dutton photos) Click here. Without question, a fine Laurens baseball team is the prime mover here, but as I drove to LDHS on Monday, it occurred to me that the Raiders have won every game I’ve attended to date. The biggest factor is that Laurens (21-6) has won most of its …
Continue reading County Signs: Raiders conquer Northwestern territory
By MONTE DUTTON Jack Gorman (1) congratulates Eli Lazio after a Saturday home run. (Monte Dutton photos) Click here. On Sunday night, I watched my favorite baseball team, the Boston Red Sox, play for the first time this season. Anyone who picked the Red Sox, who have won more World Series than anyone else in …
Continue reading Blue Hose Blurbs: PC still in thick of baseball hunt
By MONTE DUTTON Eli Lazio just speared a pop off his shoestrings. (Monte Dutton photos) Click here. I don’t know anything about new Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales – I only recently learned what he looks like – but I’ve noticed from his remarks on the NFL draft that he is a major-league “you-knower.” …
Continue reading Blue Hose Blurbs: Spartans even series with 5-3 win
By MONTE DUTTON (Monte Dutton photos) Click here. It’s hard to beat fun at the old ballpark. Somehow, in addition to snapping over 300 photos – deleted about 200, used 15 or so, saved the rest for future use – I managed to engage in friendly conversations with friends and foes alike. Furman assistant football …
By MONTE DUTTON (PC photo) Click here. It’s been almost 40 years since lights were installed at Wrigley Field. I can still immediately identify a night game there. Shadows cover the backs of all the players. The Friendly Confines have no light stands over the outfields. One reason I’m a good speller is that I …
Continue reading Blue Hose Blurbs: PC wins barrage of batters
By MONTE DUTTON (Monte Dutton photos) Click here. The games that begin next week mean everything, but the one played Friday night at Clinton High School was pretty darn close. The Red Devils’ 2-0 baseball victory over Union County was pretty darn close in general. By winning, Clinton (13-10, 6-2) won Region 4-3A for the …
By MONTE DUTTON (Monte Dutton photos) Click here. At this stage of my career, the best part of the annual Laurens County Sports Hall of Fame is that the audience mainly consists of people my age and older. They knew my parents. They ate at the Wrangler. They bought watermelons at my grandfather’s store. Those …
Continue reading County Signs: A night for the locally famous
By MONTE DUTTON (Monte Dutton photos) Click here. The National Basketball Association, which I discover each year at this time, is fun. My way of watching may be a bit unconventional. For great stretches of time, I pay little attention because I am writing, editing, laying out and dickering with photos. I can get lost …
Continue reading County Signs: Raiders, Blue Hose play baseball adeptly
By MONTE DUTTON It took nine innings to settle the rivalry at Ed Prescott Field (Monte Dutton photos). Click here. Many years ago, a colleague asked me to read his column and “see what you think.” I didn’t think much of it. The author expressed his view that playoffs ought to be held for the …
Nightrider's Lament 