Life. Sports. Whatever happen, happen.
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The Olympic athletes have been impressive for more than one reason. Today’s SBJ column -
Part of being a halfway-respectable sports writer is admitting when you were wrong. I was wrong. I gave up on the Olympics many an Olympiad ago. After spending the formative years grinding it every…
Why they let us do this I’ll never know. But lots of us sure are glad they did.
If you didn’t get a chance to be a part of it, you’d never believe it. But trust me when I tell you that the greatest summertime activity in recorded history took place right here in Shreveport dur…
I was 11 years old when my mother died and the day after she passed away, I remember being at my house as all of these grownup people kept coming over. I knew why, but the whole scene was confusing and somewhat unnerving for a sixth-grade boy.
All I wanted was some form of normalcy and that’s when an angel was sent my way. Jennie Mills, mother of one of my good friends, checked her son Doug out of school, came by the somber scene and brought me to her house. Doug and I played catch, we watched TV, we rode bikes – we did everything normal 11-year-old boys do.
A little more than a year later, the Mills family moved to New Orleans, but I have never – and will never – forget what they did for me that day. I didn’t need some people I’d never met to hug on me and tell me how sorry they were. I just needed normal. It was one of single greatest acts of kindness that has ever been bestowed on me, and it has only grown in significance as I have grown older.
A couple of years ago, those 11-year-old boys connected again on a golf trip and I told Doug how much I wanted to give his mother a hug and tell her thank you. That’s all; I would be content with just that. We tried a couple of times, but it just didn't work out.
Until Saturday.
On the way home from the annual beach trip, I made a detour to New Orleans to see Mrs. Mills – who had seen only once in the last 50 years – and let her know how much I appreciate what she did for me on that day in 1971. It ended up turning into a lunch and we all reminisced about so many things from so long ago. It was far beyond my expectations.
And when it was time to go, I hugged her one more time. Like an 11-year-old boy.
In case you missed it, today’s story on Robert Williams III, North Caddo product and 6-year NBA player:
MAKING MEMORIES: North Caddo High School product Robert Williams III, preparing for his seventh NBA season, posed for a photo with every kid at his basketball camp Monday hosted by LSUS. (Photo by…
Things haven’t always gone as planned for Peyton Stovall at Arkansas … and he’s very thankful for that. From today’s Shreveport Bossier Journal:
BACK AMONG THE BEST: After overcoming plenty of tough breaks in three years at Arkansas, Haughton’s Peyton Stovall ranks among the top MLB Draft prospects at second base as the Razorbacks open NCAA…
Jason Brotherton knew what he wanted to say to his Haughton team when he announced he was stepping down. He just wasn’t prepared for what happened next. Today’s SBJ column -
When it comes to that gut-wrenching last conversation with his team, a high school football coach can prepare, but being prepared is a whole different matter. Say this, say that. Read the room. Get…
If you didn’t know how the NFL Draft was going to go, I could have told you. Or you could just read today’s SBJ column:
I didn’t watch much of the NFL Draft Thursday night because I didn’t have to. I knew exactly what was going to happen. No, not that USC quarterback Caleb Williams was going to be take first overall…
For me, it all started with the inability to buy a soft pretzel. Little did I know that “cashlessness” would take over sports. Today’s SBJ column -
I remember exactly where I was three years ago when my financial world changed. No, I didn’t win the lottery or get a visit from the IRS. Instead, I was at the concession stand at Disch-Falk Field …
Here’s a success story about a team that hasn’t won a game all year in today’s Shreveport Bossier Journal.
STARTING OVER: Josh Jones started almost from scratch to bring back the BTW baseball program. (Journal photo by JOHN JAMES MARSHALL) By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports The season is coming to a…
It’s been an interesting road to success for Caddo Magnet. But there are still more steps to take. Today’s SBJ column:
There was one big problem Samantha Guile faced when she took over the Caddo Magnet softball program three seasons ago. You might think it was because the Mustangs’ softball facilities were in poor …
There's plenty to dislike about the way college football is going. Here's another one.
Today's column in the Shreveport Bossier Journal (subscribe if you haven't already!)
Though he was doing exactly what he is supposed to do as commissioner of the Southeastern Conference, the appearance by Greg Sankey on the set of ESPN’s College GameDay on the morning of the SEC Ch…
Not only is NIL in high school athletics a reality, but it's been around for two years in Louisiana. If LHSAA "split" proponents thought there was an unfair advantage going on, just wait until NIL does become an issue. Today's column in the Shreveport Bossier Journal (which you need to subscribe to ... for free.)
When it comes to the “split” in athletics in the Louisiana high school sports, I’m about as anti-split as you can be. I was against it when it first happened and I’ve only become more against it as…
Did you know there is a pitch clock in high school baseball. Get in line; neither did I. Today’s SBJ effort -
Apparently, there was a problem going on in high school baseball that nobody knew was a problem. Monday night – opening night of the 2024 season – something happened at Cicero Field in the Northwoo…
It’s been 37 years since a sophomore quarterback brought Texas Tech to the Independence Bowl. So you’ll have forgive Billy Joe Tolliver if some of the details are a little foggy. Today’s column in the Shreveport Bossier Journal:
It’s been 37 years since Texas Tech played in the Independence Bowl and you’ll have to forgive former Red Raiders quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver if he doesn’t remember much about it. Which isn’t…
By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL/Designated Writers For someone who had a career full of highlights, you’d think it would be easy for...
It has long been my contention that I am faster than future baseball Hall of Famer Albert Pujols. He’s now retired, but in the last couple of years of his career, I’d watch him waddle down to first…
From Fair Park to LSU to the NFL ... and now to the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame for Shreveport's Wendall Davis.
http://www.designatedwriters.com/feature/wendell-davis-was-way-ahead/
There’s about to be a big change at the Shreveport Little League Complex. It won’t be the same, for all the right reasons. Well, almost all. Today’s SBJ column:
They will be putting the shovels in the ground soon to begin the construction of the YMCA’s Youth Baseball and Softball Complex. When they do, they will also shovel away a small part of my heart. P…
You'd think that a kid who already had a scholarship offer from LSU when he was a freshman would have it made. If you do, Parkway's Trenton Lape would like a word.
About the time he was still trying to figure out where the science lab was, he had already had a scholarship offer for LSU, which he accepted.
This is not a happy story to read, and even though it was written in 1990 about an incident 10 years before that, it is a reminder of how fragile life can be. Even on a high school football field.
EDITOR’S NOTE — When Buffalo’s Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest on the field during an NFL game, it brought to...
Tough to hear about the passing of NBA legend Willis Reed. Even tougher to figure out if he belongs on the Mount Rushmore of North Louisiana basketball. A DW investigative report:
By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL/Designated Writers With the death of Willis Reed, it got us to thinking on SportsTalk about a Mount...
The boys from DW share their Super Bowl thoughts, giving y’all the opportunity to come back and laugh at them when it’s all over:
Trying to process all the Super Bowl information is difficult, so let the Designated Writers do it for you!
The boys from DW share their Super Bowl thoughts, giving y’all the opportunity to come back and laugh at them when it’s all over:
You didn't think we were going to let 2022 get away and not comment on the top local stories, did you? The Designated Podcast, brought to you by DesignatedWriters.com, has a myriad of thoughts on LSU, high school football offensive explosion, Centenary football, and other stuff ... like Jerry Lee Lewis!
http://www.designatedwriters.com/podcast/designated-podcast-so-long-2022/
How does a non-newspaper win awards in a newspaper writing contest? Designated Writers shows how!
http://www.designatedwriters.com/feature/winner-winner-chicken-dinner/
The best and the worst of the NFL were on display this weekend. A Designated Column: http://www.designatedwriters.com/column/best-worst-of-nfl-on-display/
You can’t get much better than having four playoff games all ending in last-second scoring plays. Each game seemingly was better than the one before, culminating in an all-timer between Kansas City and Buffalo. There won’t be another weekend like that in our lifetime, no matter how old you are.
There aren't too many bowls; there are too many bad commercials. The Daily Happen: http://www.designatedwriters.com/daily-happen/bowled-over-by-bad-commercials/
I love bowl games. All of them. For me, there’s no such thing as too many bowl games. And I really don’t care how meaningless they are.
The DW supply chain is open just in time for Christmas!
Days like Saturday don't come along very often for local sports fans. A John James Marshall feature: http://www.designatedwriters.com/feature/one-day-in-shreveport-and-bossier/
Plus, a Teddy Allen Sunday column: http://www.designatedwriters.com/uncategorized/may-every-lesson-in-our-lives-be-a-blessing/
By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL/Designated Writers You can say what you want about the state of sports in Shreveport-Bossier City, but days...
You think you are a local sports fan? Meet the guy who has been to EVERY Independence Bowl game: http://www.designatedwriters.com/feature/the-guy-every-independence-bowl/
By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL/Designated Writers He will walk up to the booth Saturday at Independence Stadium, buy his ticket – likely...
The latest Designated Podcast with discussions of new head coaches and a big upcoming Saturday: http://www.designatedwriters.com/podcast/designated-podcast-dec-11-2021/
LSU has a new head coach in Brian Kelly. So how come Notre Dame isn't upset about it? www.designatedwriters.com/column/what-brian-kelly-is-and-isnt/ ... See MoreSee Less
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