A Shoutout to My Former Squad...and the Story of the Rebirth of Raider Tennis, through my eyes...

Yesterday, I found out that my former team, the (mighty) Shaw High Raiders made the GHSA AAA State Playoffs for the fourth year in a row. Of course as a former alumni, I can't help to be proud of the guys who were Freshmen and Sophomores my Senior year have stepped up and become the leaders of this revtalization of the program.

For those of you who don't know, in 2007 (my Freshman season) our team was a joke. We lost to some of the worst teams in our region (I won't name names) and were screwed out of wins multiple times, including the Region 2-AAA Tournament, where we lost to Harris Co. and were eliminated from playoff contention. In 2008, our current coach, Laurie McInroy (but she's Coach Mac to us) took over. It was a dream season. Beat our 2 main rivals, Harris Co. and Northside. Had the Ledger-Enquirer Bi-City Player of the Year. Going into the region tournament, even I had won 8 of my last 10 going in. But of all the times to pull a chokejob, I had to pick April 15, 2008. That dream season came to a crashing and sudden halt.

Then the proverbial bottom fell out. Whether due to graduation, transferring, moving, injury or quitting, we lost every person on the roster except me. All of a sudden, I went from role player to team captain. But I have to give Coach Mac credit because when it comes to recruiting players from unlikely sources in the school, she is like John Calipari. Before I knew it, we had a team of dedicated, determined players. And that team led to the most improbable season in recent Shaw High memory.

Beating region contenders, winning tournament matches, the public started to notice who we were. But the perception of our team was far from what you would think. Street thugs. Dysfunctional. Cheaters. The best feeling about it though was that we didn't care what they thought. It was like a "us vs. the world" mentality we played with. We knew no one thought we could win, nonetheless make state.

Fast forward to April 15, 2009. One year to the day of the previous year's disaster. I'll be honest, I was nervous. I was praying that I didn't blow my shot, this team's shot at history. What history? The 13 year playoff  drought that several great players fell victim to. Going into that game vs. Troup Co., I didn't feel like I was going in it to win for me. I was playing for my teammates, last year and all the great players that had strapped up the silver, black and red and never got to experience the state playoffs.

And what made that day so gratifying, so satisfying, was that so many things changed once I hit my last shot of my match and completed the sweep of the Tigers. All the pain, the heartache, the nightmares went away and were replaced by the congrats of my teammates and friends. And strike the fact that we haven't made it into the Sweet 16. Just the fact that in my 4 years, that team went from people chanting "You Suck" in the hallways when you had your tennis gear on, to respect from state powers like LaGrange, Crisp Co. and West Laurens. That in 13 years prior, we always lost in the region tourney. We have hit it big 4 years running now. And the one thing I take away from it?

I graduated in 2010. 2 years ago. The team moved into a new region...and in 2 years, have 2 playoff appearances. That's what makes me proud to have played for the Raiders. And whenever I get a chance, whether it's the offseason or regular season, I show up to support them and as long as I'm able, will continue to do so. That's not just my legacy, that is a new tradition. A tradition that several new stars have become a part of. I'm proud to say I'm a part of.

If it wasn't a tennis team, the phenomenon known as the "Jack Attack" doesn't leave the boundaries of the University of Georgia. Well, that and I don't develop the charisma that came with it.

And that old adage rings loud and clear in my mind right now...

Once a Raider, Always a Raider.

Congrats to the Raiders and go out on Wednesday and unleash the beast on Woodward Academy!

Recapping a Major Day in Sports

Oh, where, oh, where do I begin with this insanity that was Sunday, January 30th, 2012...


I guess we start at the beginning of the day with a tennis match that looked like it may turn into a "last man standing" match...

Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal in a 5 set thriller to win the Australian Open. That match lasted 5 hours and 53 minutes, longest Grand Slam final in history. Being a former tennis player, 2 hours was my longest match in my career and I nearly passed out of fatigue. That performance was completely unreal.

                                                                                                                                                             

Back to the mainland, and for the first time this year, to the racetrack. The unofficial start to Daytona Speedweeks is the Rolex 24- a 24 hour endurance race around the famed 3.56 mile road course that encompasses parts of the traditional 2.5 mile NASCAR circuit. This year's running had so much more meaning, it was the 50th running of the race. And wouldn't you know it, we would have a owner getting an elusive first win and two drivers who get career-defining wins...

Needless to say, Mike Shank, AJ Allmendinger and Justin Wilson were extremely emotional...the great thing is that the other two drivers, Oswaldo Negri, Jr. and John Pew (two extremely accomplished road racers in their own right) were just as emotional. That's the beauty of sport, my friends.

                                                                                                                                                                

Down 1-95 from Daytona to Miami, where a battle between the Chicago Bulls and the NWO (4 LIFE!)  Miami Heat came down to the wire...

Miami would win 97-93 and LeBron sent in demo to be on the next SportsNation "Dunkface" segment, courtesy of John Lucas.

                                                                                                                                                                        

From South Beach to North of the Border, we head to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada for the 2012 NHL All-Star Game or Match des Étoiles de la LNH for our French speaking fans. But it was a New Yorker spoiling any chance that the team led by the Senators' Daniel Alfredsson of winning...

NY Ranger Marian Gaborik had a Hat Trick (2 goals was on his own teammate, Henrik Lundqvist) and was the difference, as his team, led by the Bruins' Zdeno Chara won the All-Star game 12-9. Gaborik was named MVP and won a car.

                                                                                                                                                                     

Now, from Canada, we go to way sunnier and warmer Hawai'i for the NFL Pro Bowl. And if the Bengals want another wideout for Andy Dalton, they might wanna look towards Miami...

The AFC beat the NFC 59-41 in the typical "no one actually gives a damn about this game" score. Brandon Marshall nearly had 200 yards was named MVP.

                                                                                                                                                                   

From Hawai'i to the "Gateway to the West" as the WWE stopped in St. Louis for the 25th Annual Royal Rumble as we start the Road to WrestleMania 28. In the final two in the Royal Rumble Match, it was the Living Legend vs. the Rising Star...

The "Celtic Warrior" Sheamus eliminates Chris Jericho to win his first Royal Rumble and will be heading to Miami for WrestleMania. But who will he face? Matt and I will have predictions of who that might be, a complete recap of the Rumble and a look ahead on the way to Elimination Chamber, later today on "The Slam Diary: Rewinding the 25th Annual Royal Rumble."

                                                                                                                                                                           

And closing out this phenomenal Sunday was the final day of Winter X Games from Aspen, Colorado. Needless to say, these two clips are certifiably insane...

How in god's name do you jump snowmobiles over 70 foot ramps, I'll never know. How in the hell Heath Frisby did a frontflip- I repeat- a frontflip with a 450 lb. snowmobile, I don't wanna know. But I sure like to watch!

And just when you thought that Winter X had hit the holy grail twice in the same event, they did it again later that night. And wouldn't you know, it was the "Flying Tomato" delivering the theatrics...

In a thrilling showdown for the Gold in Slopestyle, Shaun White dropped the first ever perfect run in the history of Winter X, clinching his 5th straight Gold medal in the event.

                                                                                                                                                                          

It was a hell of a sports day, top to bottom. It's why we love sports. 

Remember: Catch "The Slam Diary: Rewinding the 25th Annual Royal Rumble" later today and our 1st "Sounds of the Squared Circle" Music Countdown later this week!

Until then,

-JP