From The Anchor Desk: Bailey's Take on Pirate Sports

From the Anchor Desk
Wednesday, December 17, 2003
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By Brian Bailey
Sports Anchor of WNCT-TV 9

AUDIO — Replay The Brian Bailey Show with guests Sammy Batten and Charles Bloom: Select clip...

It’s been a tough year in Pirate Land, so I’m hoping you can help us with some special deliveries on Christmas Eve.

I’m sure you kept up with the football team this year. No, that satellite dish in the North Pole didn’t have a bad reception. Those Pirates were just 1-11 under first year coach John Thompson.

It just didn’t seem like the new coaches and the old players ever really meshed. I guess it’s just like reindeers. You probably wouldn’t have a lot of success without your own reindeers. Randolph the Red Nose Reindeer just doesn’t have the same type of ring to it.

To Coach John Thompson, a recruiting haul that includes the best jucos and quick fixes the nation has to offer. A certain high school running back from Greenville wouldn’t be bad, either.

To Coach Bill Herrion, a road win or two in January. Santa, the Pirates have just three home games in the first month of the year, and they’ll need some help. How about a road game at North Pole University for the Pirates?

To Coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener, a bouncing baby boy that isn’t born on the road between Greenville and St. Louis. I know that she’s eating for two, but if she gets a technical while she’s carry the baby, is it two shots or four?

To Coach Randy Mazey, another NCAA berth for the Pirates, and this time a trip to Omaha would make everyone’s dream come true.

To former baseball Coach Keith LeClair, some kind of miracle, and a chance to follow the 2004 Pirates to the College Baseball World Series.

TODAY'S FRESH LINKS ON BONESVILLE.NET:
Brian Bailey: From the Anchor Desk - 12.17
— Letter to the North Pole
Denny O'Brien: Pirate Notebook No. 162 - 12.17
— Crucial season for Herrion
Bonesville: Troth gains his 'Liberty' - 12.17
Bonesville: Juco spigot flowing - 12.17
Bonesville: Updated ECU football recruiting thumbnails - 12.17
Nuggets: Notes from ECU and beyond - 12.17
Pirate Radio 1250 Audio: George Koonce Show - 12.17
— Guests Joe Horne & Ralph Vitiolo
Pirate Radio 1250 Audio: Live@5 - 12.17
— Troy D. & Ellerbe with Dennis Young & Matt Maloney
Pirate Radio 1250 Audio: Sportsline - 12.17
— Patrick Johnson with Denny O'Brien
Greg Vacek: Daily Web Headlines Roundup - 12.17

To swim coach Rick Kobe, the most underrated coach at East Carolina, more publicity and more titles in the upcoming year.

To golf coach Kevin Williams, a round of golf and a lesson to give away to his favorite sportscaster.

To East Carolina University, the national respect that you deserve as a school and some kind of access to the BCS.

To the ECU Board of Trustees, the wisdom to hire a chancellor first, and then go after an athletic director.

The Pirate fans deserve a lot better this coming year. Just one win in football nearly drove much of Greenville to jump off the Greene Street Bridge. Another year like that, and I don’t know if you’ll have many stops to make in our fine city.

Seriously, Santa, Pirate fans have overcome obstacles for years, and they’ll continue to do so. In fact, a group is selling tickets to a “Virtual Bowl” just to raise money to help the program. Maybe they’ll let you flip the coin in the pre-game ceremony and let me cover the game for WNCT-TV.

Please, though, do try to find a little extra after such a long football season…

I’ll have the cookies and milk waiting on the 24th. Scratch that, how about a can of that Pirate Purple Grape Soda from years ago. I’ve got a couple of cans left….