Stepping off topic........drop the "COUNTY"

Greetings once again to everyone. I hope the Fall weather is treating everyone well. In some ways, this post continues on the topic of the last posting of forward thinking. Only this time, I'm adding "conviction" to the post. You all know what that is......strictly defined, it means a strong persuasion or belief. And it is with that that I implore all of my Union High School classmates (notice, I didn't put that damn "county" in there) to show some conviction this election season. It is my understanding that some new school board members will be elected this November. Your first question to the candidates should be "If elected, how long will it take you to drop the word "county" from Union High School?" If their answer is anything but "It will be my first prioroty", then don't vote for that candidate. Seriously though, people's politics are their politics. What I believe in might not be the same thing you believe in. But, I really feel that most in Union think that the word "county" in the school's name is silly, short-sighted, and a little moronic. Of course, one could make the argument that since the school is, in fact, in Union County, then it should be named as such. If that's the case, do we call it Spartanburg Couhty High School?
In 1987, the school board voted to remove Marion Parrish as our principal. As a result, we had protests, big meetings at the Truluck Gym and USC-U. We even walked out of class as a sign of protest (thank you, Mr. Bramlett, for "kicking" us all out of the room that morning). We were displaying our conviction. Yes, the measure still went through, but when was the last time you heard of something like that happening out on Peach Orchard Road? I understand that the people of Jonesville and Lockhart will feel slighted if the word is dropped from the moniker. I understand that. To that end, I will say this: My USAF home, the 58th Fighter Squaron, Eglin AFB, FL, was de-activated a few years ago. There is no more 58th, no more 33rd Fighter Wing to speak of. Only history books will document those legacies. The 58th was deactivated because the mission changed, and we had to accept it. The mission changed in Union as well, and to add words to appease a few people seems a bit asinine. Nobody is suggesting that the history of either school that was closed be erased from the record books. In fact, I'm quite sure that Andy Youngblood and Micky Belue, two guys I know that graduated from Jonesville, still speak highly of their school. The same goes for the people of Lockhart. But, as a graduate of Union High School, it bothers me to no end that the name was changed just because of a short-sighted school board that had to back out of an earlier promise.
Maybe I'm just venting, maybe I'm on to something here. Maybe one of my classmates, with children of their own, will see this, and begin to feel the same way. Maybe the classes of the 80's and 90's will all get together and say, as one "I graduated from Union High School", and demand the rightful name be returned. Maybe Will Hickson and his "Noize Boyz" from the early 90's playoff runs will return to do their "Who ya rootin' for.....UHS" cheer once again. If you add an extra letter in there, it REALLY loses it's punch. If you do become "inspired" by this post, Union, to remove the "county" from the school's name, all I ask is one thing...........

Do it with conviction.


Till next time,



Patrick

Forward thinking.....some can do it, some can't.

Greetings once again, where we bid farewell to Braves manager Bobby Cox. It's been a great ride, and I got to celebrate a World Series title in 1995. Some will say that there should have been more championships, but I'll take the one, and be happy with it, from a fan's point of view. This comes from a fan that stayed at the park the entire time against the Mets on July 4, 1985. Some may recall it as the 19 inning game. Some may recall it as the game where they shot fireworks in downtown Atlanta at 5 in the morning. In any event, it was great. And I use that team to jump into today's topic: forward thinking. Back then, the Braves biggest draw was Dale Murphy. He was the golden boy. But, they never surrounded him with any talent to be competitive, and eventually, Murphy was traded tho Philadelphia for Jeff Parrett and Jim Vatcher. And, by the time he was dealt, his prime years were used up on a team with no direction. It wasn't till the Braves brought Cox back as the GM that some forward thinking started to creep in to the consciousness. The Tigers will probably never deal with the Braves again, since they were fleeced for John Smoltz for Doyle Alexander. But, when COx went back to the dugout, the Braves got John Schuerholz from Kansas City.....the same Kansas City that won the Series in 1985. And, if you can win there, that pretty much says it all. Schuerholz surrounded the bigger Royals players with complementary pieces to win, the same way he did in Atlanta. But, now that Schuerholz is the team president, it seems that forward thinking has taken the first MARTA bus out of town. Chipper Jones should have been traded two or three years ago, when he still had some value. But, like the Murphy deal, they are holding on to a player that they feel still has something left. I mean, even Tom Glavine and John Smoltz left town. Cox's undoing in this post-season was career minor leaguer Brooks Conrad. His hands-of-stone display in the field cost the Braves Game 3, and ultimately cost them the season. Had someone with a little forward thinking been in command, that would have never happened. Don't believe me? Look at the Yankees. Their ability to seperate emotion from production is almost cold, but it gets results. Tino Martinez? Thanks for the help, but we're going in another direction. Paul O'Neill? We appreciate all you've done, but we're bringing in someone else. They even let Bernie Williams walk, and he was a Yankee legend. But, because they have some forward thinking, they can do things like that. Sure, they have money.....but they assess their needs, and go out and address them. They don't rely on one player to keep them at the top. Their forward thinking is the model that everyone should use, but, sadly, most don't. They'll all say the same thing: "Well, the Yankees just have more money than we do." Ever thought why that is? Forward thinking.....that's what. Once Boston got rid of Dan Duquette and got someone in there that would take some chances, they won 2 championships. Once Texas got rid of their GM that treated the Rangers like a giant fantasy team, and got someone with cache, like Nolan Ryan in there, they started to turn it around. Atlanta, you can do it, too. Next season will be my 30th season as a Braves fan, and I want to see some forward thinking displayed. Don't bring Jones back. Let him go, release him, whatever. Re-tool the team if you have to, and I don't mean with re-treads like Troy Glaus and Eric Hinske. You were already set back with the Teixeira deal when you dealt Elvis Andrus. Bring the kids up, like you did in 1990, run them out there, and let them figure it out on the job. If not, be prepared for Jason Heyward to walk the first moment he can......to the Yankees or Red Sox.


Till next time.......


Patrick