Can Otis Campbell pitch?

"I can't rightly tell, I wasn't wearing my glasses"

If you recognize that quote, than you're a die-hard Andy Griffith fan and know that it was said by the local town drunk, Otis Campbell, when asked by Griffith if he was drunk when Barney arrested him.

So like the local town drunk stumbling his way out of the local bar (or still), knocking over things, getting kicked and pushed around by others and ultimately falling flat on his face, the Rowan County American Legion Baseball season of 2010 has symbolized Otis Campbell at his best.

After the unforgettable ride the 2009 edition took us on, this bunch so far has left us at the train station locked in the bathroom, begging to be let out. It is indeed early as I try to remind myself continuously to numb the sting. Tonight was the very first night that Rowan has been "full strength", with the addition of the recent 3A State Champion East Rowan Mustangs. But it's going to take a little heart and want-to to get this ship (or train) heading in the right direction.

After tonight's debacling 17-7 thrashing at the hands of Lexington Post 8, it is serious gut check time for Rowan.

The biggest issue so far has been pitching, or the lack thereof. Rowan has not gotten what it needs out of it's starting pitching so far and that is going to have to change if this team wants to succeed this summer. The offense has put up some good numbers and has a lot of talent, so that shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Pitching, pitching, pitching.

It's where it all starts. Last year's team had pitching. Not overpowering pitching (with the exception of Corbin Shive), but pitching that was steady and got the job done. The pitching has got to get people out on a consistent basis.

If not, I shudder to think of the long summer that lies ahead.

Rowan County American Legion baseball will come around, and before the summer is done, I still honestly and wholeheartedly believe this is going to be a good team.

After all, it has to right?

Looking up

Finally. Things are starting to look up in my life when it comes to the J.O.B. department. I do have a job now. It isn't a full-timer, yet. And it isn't related to my field. But at least I do have a job (Rowan-Cabarrus Community College), and that's more than I could say a month ago.

Everyone keeps asking me, what are you going to be doing? And I can honestly say to them, I really don't know yet. Today (5/8) was my first day and has mainly comprised of showing me around the different buildings and learning some of the passcodes to the security.

My training actually begins next week. I mainly think I will be sitting at the front desk and answering any kind of administration type questions. My job title is Continuing Education Administrator.

I also have a position lined up with CarolinaPreps.com, a prep football website that covers North Carolina High School football. That will be in the fall when football season rolls around. I am hoping that will turn into some type of good profit and will look nice on my resume.

I am continuing to look for a job in the journalism industry. I found two positions very recently that I'm considering applying for. One is with the Greensboro Business Journal and the other is with the Mecklenburg Times. Both are reporter positions.

I met with a friend recently who used to work at the Salisbury Post. His name is Brad Thomas and he is helping me set up the church's website that I've been working on. He said he was going to speak with some colleagues of his that might be able to help me in finding a position.

Got to (or have to) love networking!

Other than the job situation, I am really looking forward to my Rowan Legion baseball season beginning! It is my favorite time of the year and I live for it.

Yes, things are definitely looking up!

Ahh yes, baseball season!

One of my most favorites times of the year is upon us. The start of baseball season. Although high school baseball has been going on for a couple weeks now, the major league baseball season opening day is today. For me that means the start of the Atlanta Braves season.

The Braves open with the Chicago Cubs this afternoon at 4:00. I couldn't think of anything else I'd rather do than tune in, besides actually being there in Atlanta. I would like to make it to a Braves game this season, seeing as how this is manager Bobby Cox's final season at the Ted, but we'll see.

Baseball season always brings with it warmer weather, hot dogs, hot summer nights at the ballpark and plenty of excitement.

Of course Rowan County American Legion baseball won't start until the end of May, but it will be here before you know it. I'm wondering if Rowan can top last season's magical run? I'm not saying we can or that we won't, but I'm looking forward to seeing what happens.

So, I've got my Braves shirt on and my toma-hawk chopping arm ready to go!

Here's to baseball season!

AAA job fairy?

It's been nearly two months since I graduated from college. Just last week I received my diploma from Appalachian in the mail. I was pretty excited to get it, even so that I cracked the glass for the frame that my diploma was to go in.

In the last two months, not to my surprise necessarily, I have struggled in finding a job. I've applied to two places recently. One was to Belk, Inc. in Charlotte as a Web Content Writer, and the other was the Inspiration Network as a Social Networking Manager. Both positions I would love to have, but I have yet to hear anything back from them other than the automated email response. I suppose they filed my resume away and will take a look at it eventually.

I plan to hopefully apply to a public relations position with Catawba College's Human Resources Department. My dad actually saw the ad in the paper and didn't know if I would be interested or not. It is PR, which I'm technically a journalism major, but my degree is in communication, and I think I could do a good job as a PR individual. I guess I'll find out.

Most of my days now are spent just passing the hours at home. It really is disheartening at times being at home feeling so isolated and having a feeling of discontent with myself. I browse job sites daily and constantly look at my resume to make sure it 'looks alright.'

I know that I am not alone in this struggle. I guess all of us who were born in the late 1980's should have known our economy was going to be in the crapper just about the time we were going to be finishing with college, but it sure is bad timing on our part.

There are in fact jobs out there. They are far and few in between, but they are there. The problem that I am having is that every job listing I am finding requires at least 2 to 3, 5 to 7 years of experience. Seven years ago I was in high school trying to figure out how to do my algebra homework, not thinking that I needed to already have a job, getting that much needed experience that was going to get me a job one day when I was ready for one.

My original plan once I graduated was to do some free lance work for The Salisbury Post until I found a steady position somewhere. Unfortunately, the Post doesn't have the stringer funds available to afford to pay me right now. I had considered working for the Post (or another newspaper) and I knew I might have a leg up since I interned there this past summer. But the problem with that is, well, newspapers aren't doing particularly well these days and they aren't hiring for the most part. Most graduates aren't looking for newspaper jobs simply because they aren't there and we've all been told not to even consider it. Of course we were also told not to get into journalism but we were all either too stupid or too smart one to listen. I'll let you know which one it is later on.

So for now, I'm just going to keep plugging away at the job hunt. Getting an interview would be a nice start. I have a few networking contacts, so I'm hoping something will come to fruition sooner than later. It's comforting of course knowing that I have a lot of people on my side praying for me and showing me plenty of support. Those individuals mean a lot to me.

I know I will eventually be blessed with a job and I pray that day comes soon, but until then, my life continues to be at this crossroads. And I'm in a broke down vehicle.

Anybody have the number for AAA?

Tar Heel Struggles

The 2009 Carolina Basketball season was one to remember for sure. After all, when you win the national championship and by the margin that they did, you have a lot to remember and be proud of as a Tar Heel fan.

This season however, with the departures of the likes of Tyler Hansbrough, Danny Green, Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington, this team has struggled to say the least. Coming into the season, the expectations were still very high considering the strong freshman class coming in coupled with returning players such as Deon Thompson, Marcus Ginyard and Larry Drew II.

Maybe a little too high if you ask me.

It's always hard to estimate how a team is going to do. I knew that Carolina would be good, but I wasn't exactly sure how good. I certainly wasn't expecting a title repeat by any stretch, but I also certainly wasn't expecting this.

Between injuries, youth, turnovers and just overall lack of discipline, the 2010 edition of Tar Heel basketball is just not cutting it. After Wednesday night's 13 point loss to Wake Forest leaving the Heels 1-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, many Tar Heel fans are scratching and shaking their heads in dissapointment while the 'haters' are reveling in the struggles of the Tar Heels. After all, how many chances do they get?

The season, all be it, looks a little more bleak than it did a month or so ago. But all is not entirely lost. It's time for this team to show a little growth, heart, will, pride and effort when they step out on that court. No one is going to feel sorry for them and send them condolence cards and flowers. They simply just have to step up their game and win some games for the name that is on the front on their jersey.

As I mentioned in a Facebook status last night, Carolina fans are not used to their team struggling but the good thing is that it never lasts for more than a year. That is not an excuse for this year's team, merely a sentiment to chew on.

I know, you know, everyone knows, that Carolina will be back, whether they decide to do it this year or next year, the University of North Carolina Tar Heel Basketball program is too proud a program not to return to dominance.

After all, isn't that the way it's supposed to be?

Looking Back

A couple of months later, the good vibe that the Rowan County American Legion baseball team created for the area is still radiating.

The team's annual banquet was held Monday night and everyone involved from the players themselves to the people who followed the team religiously were there to celebrate a historic season.

I personally followed this team to Greenville, Sumter and Fargo and it was an experience that I will not soon forget. Seeing everyone back together again brought back many memories from this past summer. Bob Lowman, who served as team manager, recounted many memorable moments from the season which started all the way back on May 19 in a game with Randolph County.

Lowman recalled Alex Litaker's one inning pitched against Las Vegas, Nev. that he called one of the most clutch pitching performance's he's ever seen a Rowan pitcher pitch. Litaker of course got out of a bases loaded, no out jam with Rowan's season seeming dwindling away. Litaker got the three outs he needed and the rest they say is history.

Lowman also recounted Jon Crucitti's miraculous catch against Alabama in the regional title game. He said it might rank third on the all-time best catches list for Rowan Legion players. Lowman also mentioned the fact that every player on this year's team made a big contribution to the success of the team and that these guys just wanted to keep on playing.

Between the reminicising, eating, hugging, picture-taking and congratulating, Rowan players receieved some jewelry that they had all been waiting on for a couple months. The rings will be a valuable memento later on in life as they recall that special summer of 2009.

Some of the same players will return next summer to create more lasting memories. So who knows, maybe next year at this time we'll be talking about a World Series trip to Spokane, Wash.

Hey, anything can happen.

This is it

This can’t be it, can it? I’m graduating from college in three weeks! I wonder how I ever made it to this point in my life? It seems like I was just entering high school as a freshman and now I’m a senior in college at Appalachian State University and soon to be an alumnus.

I remember my first day at App. I was nervous to start classes at a four-year university. I knew the course load would be heavier than what I had become accustomed to at the community college, so I wasn’t quite sure of what to expect. As soon as I got here, I got to jump right into my major (Journalism), and start classes in the communication department.

I never thought I would end up at App. My brother graduated from here in 2004, so I was familiar with the school and Boone. I had known since high school that I wanted to get into the risky career of Journalism, and I’ve had several people try and sway my decision to stay with Journalism when the job outlook looks so bleak.

But I will never regret sticking to my guns and pursuing my dream of becoming a journalist. Although it definitely hasn’t been an easy road, I truly have enjoyed every minute of my time at App and in the Comm. Department, and I can honestly say I wouldn’t have wanted to go anywhere else.

I feel that the Comm. Department prepares students very adequately for what lies ahead and that we get pushed harder than anywhere else. The professors in the Comm. Department should be commended for this, although it does become very stressful, they are professionals and they know what it takes to succeed out there in the ‘real world’. So I say to all you younger Comm. Majors, enjoy every article you write, design you create, ad club meeting you attend, interviews, public relations events, etc. Join clubs and get involved, write for the Appalachian, talk to professors, seek advice, attend job fairs, and just get out there and do as much as you possibly are able.

But seriously, enjoy your time here, because it will go by insanely fast and you will be out there trying to find a job before you know it. When you get out there, represent Appalachian State University and be proud to know you received the best education at the best school.
I want to offer some tips of some things I wish I knew when I entered the Comm. Department.

> Talk to some of your older peers, don’t be afraid to ask them questions of what classes to take, they can provide you with a lot of beneficial knowledge.
> Don’t skip class! I know most of you won’t follow that rule, and neither do I, but seriously, it really doesn’t benefit you to lay out of class just because you don’t feel like going that day.
> Don’t put off assignments. As much of a procrastinator as I am, I have learned that if you just go ahead and get something done, you will be very glad in the end and your grade will show for it.
> Don’t be afraid to speak to professors, coming to a smaller school such as App, the class sizes aren’t as large and professors genuinely care about you and they want you to succeed!
> Take the time to have fun! Get out there and make friends in the Comm. Department, ask each other questions, form study groups, and ‘communicate’!

Best of luck to all and Go Apps!
“Journalism is literature in a hurry.” -Matthew Arnold