Reynolds Village

20/20: Bo Jackson (1990)

I remember exactly where I was when this came out.  I was a student at Samford, living on the upper floor in the CJ Dorm.   I watched it live, when it aired.  I was a huge Bo fan!

"Murph"

my Uber driver

Dale Murphy was one of favorite players on the Braves.  My grandmother really loved him!

Legends

That's me on the right, standing next to Auburn freshman phenom Charles Barkley.  We were next to a track waiting for Herschel Walker to run the final leg of the 4×100. When Herschel got baton, he was like a locomotive.  Many years later, i got on a flight to Dallas and Herschel was at the gate, standing there waiting.  I walked by him and just said, "Hey, Herschel."  He was still in great shape!

Munson

 

I was very young and had just started collecting baseball cards when I heard someone say Thurman Munson died.  I remember being confused by it - too young to really be concerned about death, I guess.  I was a Yankees fan.

"Ryno"

I watched him play many afternoons - not live, but on WGN.  I loved those Cubs teams and knew all the players.  "Ryno" might have been my favorite. One of the games I remember watching was the one where he hit three big homers.

Len Bias

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Died June 19, 1986

I remember driving over to the high school weight room and hearing on the radio that Len Bias had died.  When I was in the weight room, this breaking news was naturally on people's minds.  A boom box radio was on, and we were hearing all about it.

I want to think we (my dad and a sibling) saw Len Bias play in Birmingham in the NCAA tournament.  Auburn was playing North Carolina right after his game.

Friends

Monica Seles

I was watching this match when it happened.  The knife was very long.  He could have easily killed her if had stabbed lower down where her heart is.  Very tragic.  April 30, 1993.

I always enjoyed Sunday tennis on TV.  Martina, Seles, Chris Evert and Steffi were female players I enjoyed watching.  But naturally, I was more focused on the great men's matches.  I really liked McEnroe and Becker.

"Riles"

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My dad took me (and I believe my brother, Miles) to see the Lakers vs Hawks in Atlanta, on a school night.  This was in the '80s and towards the end of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's career.  I remember we arrived early enough at the Omni to see the Lakers bus pull into the arena.  I can remember seeing the team getting off the bus.  And although they were at a pretty far-off distance, I spotted Magic Johnson.  During warm-ups, Coach Pat Riley was sitting in the stands - lower level, by himself.  My dad encouraged me to go get his autograph.  And he said to say "War Eagle" to him.  I did just that!  "Riles" just looked at me.  Anyway, I didn't know it, but he had played at the University of Kentucky.  The game was exciting.  The Lakers won, but not by much.  I do remember as we were leaving, seeing Magic sink some free throws to seal it.  

I was the biggest Lakers fan in the 80s!  I read almost any Sporting News and Sports Illustrated article on them that I could.  I read biographies of Kareem and Magic, and Showtime by Pat Riley.

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Hey, Shaq!

This happened on March 13, 1992.  I was there!  I actually shook Shaq's hand the day before.  More on this later!

Becky Jackson

#34 Becky Jackson (top row, far left) was an All-American basketball player at Auburn University.  One year, during football season, I walked over to the coliseum.  On one of the side courts, I started shooting baskets.  In walked Becky Jackson!  She was dressed in her everyday clothing.  I remember she had on blue jeans, a jacket and  had very long fingernails.  We ended up playing a bit of one-on-one.  I was probably just twelve.  She dominated me.  I could barely get off shots.  She was nice and funny, and she really got into it!

Auburn had amazing women's basketball teams in the '80s.  I recall my dad saying we ought to go watch some of their games prior to the men's ones.

Herschel Walker

I saw Herschel play against Auburn at Jordan-Hare. Georgia was #1 in the land, or close to it.  Herschel ran down the sideline, towards the Auburn student section, for a long touchdown.

Another time, I watched Herschel run the last leg of the 4×100 in a track meet against Auburn.  And get this: My friend and I were standing alongside a freshman Charles Barkley while watching it.

I watched the Sugar Bowls he played in.  I'm pretty confident that for each game I was at my grandmother's house on Mitchell St. in Headland.  We watched it on her TV.  She always loved football.

In my 8th grade English class (teacher Charlotte Kirkland), I wrote a book report on Herschel Walker's biography.  My brother, who was a big Dawgs fan, had the book.  I borrowed it from him.

In the early 2000s, I was on a flight to Dallas with Herschel Walker.  He was standing near the gate, and I walked right by him.  I saw him first and intentionally walked in his direction.  I didn't speak to him, though, because I didn't want to bother him.  He was still in great shape.

The Bob Hope Christmas Show

Tailgating

Jim Vann, Jack Vann, Sr. and Emily (Vann) Ezzell

Auburn University

circa '70s

Buick & Magic

My grandfather Major loved Buicks, and I loved Magic Johnson and the LA Lakers.

ASSC

Asheville Sport & Social Club

I went very early for a coffee.  I will go back when one evening when they have more customers.

Silk Pajamas

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Rest In Peace, Marvelous Marvin Hagler (1954-2021)