tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31639289800752934372024-03-05T08:50:40.113-05:00Note to SelfGeorge Habelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17780323771760067912noreply@blogger.comBlogger529125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3163928980075293437.post-36373935856223009892022-09-27T15:02:00.001-04:002022-09-27T15:03:35.934-04:00Career Prologue<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4U8qLAeUQrN3Q-v0E2gPLK5hFTw8kW1QY1UcBrnIcs_6auCBBpU2y1NR-CDvR88AKzq8bCf2oKhqKNGYRII4xdBzKRPMbc_v-uA-wOPXEnc526Pd2SfrT7ohlLeqCYETGZlIephxv4BOgc42GOEHWQ4OnLkj29AKhmWSR8TdHCJsUQUSAbFCnWDHf/s2049/IMG_0836.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2049" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4U8qLAeUQrN3Q-v0E2gPLK5hFTw8kW1QY1UcBrnIcs_6auCBBpU2y1NR-CDvR88AKzq8bCf2oKhqKNGYRII4xdBzKRPMbc_v-uA-wOPXEnc526Pd2SfrT7ohlLeqCYETGZlIephxv4BOgc42GOEHWQ4OnLkj29AKhmWSR8TdHCJsUQUSAbFCnWDHf/s320/IMG_0836.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Goals have been important across my career. Always aspirational (and occasionally an anvil) from annual operating plans to <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMART_criteria" target="_blank">SMART</a> goals to the ultimate <a href="https://www.jimcollins.com/concepts/bhag.html" target="_blank">BHAG</a>. </span></p><p style="color: #dca10d; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Finally, I have arrived at a singular objective. My major life goal is full retirement next year. I chose February of 2022 for the round numbers - my 70th birthday and my 40th year with Capitol Broadcasting Co., including a twenty-five year association with the Durham Bulls.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">This month, however, is a career milestone that I almost missed until I came across an old resume several weeks ago. I landed my first radio job fifty years ago this month. It was the beginning of my media/sports journey.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">That was in September of 1972, at WTVR am/fm in Richmond. I was nineteen, beginning my second year at Virginia Commonwealth University, majoring in Mass Communications. My sister was instrumental. She babysat for the station General Manager, and he persuaded his Program Director to take me on. (Indeed, I have had the benefit of “privilege.”) It was an entry level job as a studio technician known in the biz as a “board op”…</span></p><ul>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>When the disc jockeys were on remote broadcast (typically sitting in the showroom window at a car dealership) I played their records and commercials back at the studio. </span></li>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span> And I played commercials during sports broadcasts. We aired Richmond Robbins hockey, Virginia Squires basketball and University of Richmond football. (Regarding the latter I was privileged to work with legendary Richmond broadcaster Frank Soden.)</span></li>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>On Sundays I worked a split shift, 6a-noon and 6p-midnight, playing tapes of church services ranging from Richmond’s First Baptist Church to fundamentalist Richmond Baptist Temple. I was exposed to the full spectrum of faith over those twelve hours each Sunday from Mormons to mainline Christianity to Holy Rollers. </span></li>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>Occasionally, I got to do my own DJ show on a Saturday or Sunday. Big fun!</span></li></ul><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The station format was Top 40, but soon after I started it began experimenting with county music in the evenings. That’s where my appreciation for country was kindled. Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, Charlie Pride, Tanya Tucker and Merle Haggard were at the top of Billboard’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hot_Country_Singles_number_ones_of_1973" target="_blank">country chart</a>. Eventually, WTVR went all-in as “1380 Country/Request Radio.”</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEOAFrFKbDWE2JljZgrSeEDHlHRj9syZPCSC1KL7rezOUTDE8YaN_yxAb3gIU4cgjfHFWfWZLQSlUyLSTfSuahjSFCfT4q-8t0mPAI8eOnVkngaSiAjHiwdeYvp_KLedzbaH4HkA1uhOjH5XzWC-25SoRVOtiBqQdmUMuMLeCMfZbtgemkbjdHZ7m/s1856/P1020238.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="1856" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEOAFrFKbDWE2JljZgrSeEDHlHRj9syZPCSC1KL7rezOUTDE8YaN_yxAb3gIU4cgjfHFWfWZLQSlUyLSTfSuahjSFCfT4q-8t0mPAI8eOnVkngaSiAjHiwdeYvp_KLedzbaH4HkA1uhOjH5XzWC-25SoRVOtiBqQdmUMuMLeCMfZbtgemkbjdHZ7m/s320/P1020238.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><i>Richmond transit ad, circa 1973</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I loved the job…loved radio! I eventually gave up my other better paying, union scale grocery clerk job at Safeway to work full-time as the station’s news announcer. That was aligned with my broadcast journalism track at VCU. And it was another split shift, 6-9a, 3-7p. Labor regs were pretty loose back then. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Fifty years. Wow! I have been blessed. It began with full dose of Jesus and country music - a pretty good foundation.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>George Habelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17780323771760067912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3163928980075293437.post-85775238294571453692022-07-28T23:40:00.003-04:002022-08-04T15:20:48.428-04:00The Making of a Miracle<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve done a good many </span><a href="https://twitter.com/gwh3/status/1542525370829836288?s=20&t=QnS9-loEnkzrQgxu0vRDyA" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">construction updates on Twitter</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> about the Durham Miracle League field, but I want to detail this odyssey that began way, way back in 2016.</span></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gsTJZJezV7erYaU3iJnfHjy4IEQN8UN6Dbpk_vVzDNQpdiiqowivcl7oHo6daaWGBz-jC4Dgzwx62ILni8U_wkQUEjjX3JCvrMudfZT0mYJzvWyNB0o_vI2Z7F_g_cZCu9m7ytE_wNRdGCbRc2LhYLrS_IJqAqGahzJcXOR8xuab6--ARIgIUDTi/s2048/IMG_8355.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gsTJZJezV7erYaU3iJnfHjy4IEQN8UN6Dbpk_vVzDNQpdiiqowivcl7oHo6daaWGBz-jC4Dgzwx62ILni8U_wkQUEjjX3JCvrMudfZT0mYJzvWyNB0o_vI2Z7F_g_cZCu9m7ytE_wNRdGCbRc2LhYLrS_IJqAqGahzJcXOR8xuab6--ARIgIUDTi/w400-h300/IMG_8355.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The <a href="http://www.durhambaseballnotes.com/2018/05/nbc-reports-miracle-league.html" target="_blank">Durham Bulls Miracle League Park</a> is nearing completion. It’s a worthy but very challenging project that’s been percolating for six years. From its inception, the Bulls and parent company Capitol Broadcasting have championed the ballpark for special needs kids.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Background/Double vision. </b><a href="https://www.mltriangle.com" target="_blank">Miracle League of the Triangle</a> is well established in Wake County, but their board’s vision is to serve all of RDU. That meant a field in Durham. They approached Capitol for support.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">And then came double vision! Capitol’s VP Michael Goodmon was determined that the field should be in downtown Durham - with proximity to the DBAP, American Tobacco Campus and the American Tobacco Trail - on a vacant lot at the corner of Blackwell Street and Morehead Ave. He envisioned a mini-DBAP with brick and steel flourishes, canopied bleachers, a replica Blue Monster and snorting bull.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>The need.</b> State of NC stats indicate that ten thousand children with physical or mental disabilities live within a fifteen minute drive of downtown Durham. The Miracle League field will provide a first class recreation option for participating families.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Great idea. Even greater challenges.</b> There has been delay upon delay, over ancient utilities beneath the site and a complex lease process with the federal government. Then came pandemic delays. The final body blow: our contractor unexpectedly passed away and the company shut down.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Help is on the way.</b> We did receive funding from the City of Durham for the utility work, the Durham Housing Authority threaded the needle with HUD for a lease on that vacant lot, and now a new general contractor, Bobbitt, is at the helm. Also, Miracle League of the Triangle secured a grant from the NC General Assembly, and about $2.3 million has been raised from generous corporate, foundation and individual donors.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Uphill battle.</b> Despite the progress noted above, construction costs have skyrocketed - a 44% hike. So, we still have a funding gap. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s like we are being held at third base when we could be sprinting to home plate. (If you are reading this, maybe you can help us slide into home? Let’s talk…</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">ghabel@durhambulls.com)</span></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Lessons learned. </b>Despite the setbacks, this project sits upon multiple pillars of inspiration: SERVICE to the Miracle League players and families. The VISION that started it. The GENEROSITY that followed. And PERSEVERANCE, something Miracle League families live out every day. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">In that spirit we carry on and aim for a fall opening of the Durham Bulls Miracle League Park.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPde2NEW3JG95cpDEeg1MDhBqGF7EjJtqCECjPtArd3DBJDt7-R4TsrLaTfuCpwWVxgeN_Vfn9o0BUuYmvQ2rEwcMG1A0svxQEZsWMcGpMUkddsu5AXcoyGzC6xi1rQ5RqEPc4OruSBzoACJGGAeUKwN_M1zqLblgALtR6rdVfAJyEOrFJLEaqd2V9/s2049/IMG_4693.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="2049" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPde2NEW3JG95cpDEeg1MDhBqGF7EjJtqCECjPtArd3DBJDt7-R4TsrLaTfuCpwWVxgeN_Vfn9o0BUuYmvQ2rEwcMG1A0svxQEZsWMcGpMUkddsu5AXcoyGzC6xi1rQ5RqEPc4OruSBzoACJGGAeUKwN_M1zqLblgALtR6rdVfAJyEOrFJLEaqd2V9/s320/IMG_4693.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>These guys are an inspiration! Miracle League’s leadership visits the site. Left to right: Founder Tony Withers, Board member Paul Carr, Founder Robin Rose, Executive Director Benjy Capps. It’s an honor to be in their company…dedicated to the cause…passionate about Miracle League!</i></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgxsGhuqDnmav2TnSCaHcf97-AIcFO1QwGlFDItcJoybB_eC5ITL3gLxNH-cfQueotFB19w1vBTkOL_xrBLI3BHtXZ4Y_P7tev4GDp058Hv5LNnAbr1us9VQiVFNIgXaptRDgFQxJbIbiBsJiXDeKqS9elpvQx6E0NLihIu6bbQAlSXvgNOYc_zkt/s2048/IMG_0611.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgxsGhuqDnmav2TnSCaHcf97-AIcFO1QwGlFDItcJoybB_eC5ITL3gLxNH-cfQueotFB19w1vBTkOL_xrBLI3BHtXZ4Y_P7tev4GDp058Hv5LNnAbr1us9VQiVFNIgXaptRDgFQxJbIbiBsJiXDeKqS9elpvQx6E0NLihIu6bbQAlSXvgNOYc_zkt/s320/IMG_0611.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: inherit;">Construction progress, July 29, 2022, </i></div><i><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: inherit;">drone shot from Scott Strickland</i></div></i></td></tr></tbody></table></span></p>George Habelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17780323771760067912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3163928980075293437.post-55161515111350298222022-06-20T22:19:00.015-04:002023-03-20T11:43:57.972-04:00#ChampionDurham<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdK27xNHjNm02G9gOe9mg_3KNX_W0pAj2idIT_7TKMKrvPTNNMx5nvlS5mRLNyP91r_egF7ZY-4aJVt2e08TYzJDWFjAzNbdvfqCEb_Q72hj3kqYlFkrtZYockWgHqOZzYJ3iuT0sxTFUEUF9GWdnjQVlikrLLzel4ApeyAE769H3IA9KLgtoPpvc/s2048/IMG_8368.jpeg" style="display: inline; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdK27xNHjNm02G9gOe9mg_3KNX_W0pAj2idIT_7TKMKrvPTNNMx5nvlS5mRLNyP91r_egF7ZY-4aJVt2e08TYzJDWFjAzNbdvfqCEb_Q72hj3kqYlFkrtZYockWgHqOZzYJ3iuT0sxTFUEUF9GWdnjQVlikrLLzel4ApeyAE769H3IA9KLgtoPpvc/w400-h300/IMG_8368.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">My six-year tenure on the <a href="https://www.durhamncsports.com" target="_blank">Durham Sports Commission</a> just ended. The “<a href="https://www.durhamncsports.com/about-the-dsc/board-of-directors/" target="_blank">Commissioners</a>” gathered for a Bulls game on June 15th...and I said farewell.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">While serving on the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce Board, I was <a href="http://www.durhambaseballnotes.com/2016/07/durham-sports-commission.html" target="_blank">among the founders back in 2015-16</a>. Despite the preeminence of Duke athletics, NCCU and the Bulls, we felt strongly that Durham needed to do more to attract and promote sporting events. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">They are an economic engine for our hotels, restaurants, shopping and other attractions. The Sports Commission’s job is to pump fuel into that engine. We also promote youth sports in Durham and encourage local event organizers. The Commission is a funder, marketer and cheer leader.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The pandemic was a setback, but this year the DSC is on pace to support 19 events with an economic impact of $13 million.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Of course, this is sports, so there’s competition aplenty. Raleigh/Wake County has a prepared meals tax that funds sports facilities. The Town of Cary has a parks and rec system designed to host events. To the west, Greensboro has a world class aquatics center. To the east, Rocky Mount has an impressive baseball/softball/soccer facility and an events center with 8 basketball courts and auditorium seating for 4,000. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">What could Durham build? And where? We need a facility for both community recreation and a best-in-class sports center to host national tournaments. The DSC is crafting that vision with the very capable leadership of Executive Director Marcus Manning and our new Chairwoman Ingrid Wicker McCree.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Sports-related travel and tourism is a gigantic $40 billion pie in the US. Durham wants a bigger slice of that pie!</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJd54sXW3OI-jRbEXA3KjpQgguyu8fngX4MVYiX9eOwFWYyV4hrjuHBvOcZ8Kqltyo-D7kG4rCTrTvycH6AAHJmbg4DNqy2jPUxX1GHI5Sdsqgk_YwDUM_tyXcBn6ewhJscOsOYK7CW9X08OWATh-70LhBpCxF31RP-ZXpNZo9epU6wiO__Vl99Lt/s1418/Screen%20Shot%202023-03-09%20at%2010.34.22%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="1418" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJd54sXW3OI-jRbEXA3KjpQgguyu8fngX4MVYiX9eOwFWYyV4hrjuHBvOcZ8Kqltyo-D7kG4rCTrTvycH6AAHJmbg4DNqy2jPUxX1GHI5Sdsqgk_YwDUM_tyXcBn6ewhJscOsOYK7CW9X08OWATh-70LhBpCxF31RP-ZXpNZo9epU6wiO__Vl99Lt/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-03-09%20at%2010.34.22%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>George Habelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17780323771760067912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3163928980075293437.post-59356558154250498752022-05-25T12:43:00.003-04:002022-05-25T12:45:52.440-04:00COVID Time Capsule<p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2EKMy_hgN4NS1dVGgQFIdie8_JObIpa330gfZzOQEkgH71lX-C7TbrnbmFe9phoOiX3KvI32vOfLCmeD61g88TDyZzaeGdKWdWHv7wELJiJsIIS-mj47kmLDHPYbVO55bLc-QHew5bjzCNcIaqIrvt5veeP-8Q4L0BPT8qjzYa3DLLYCwsywqO4F_/s1298/IMG_0379.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="1298" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2EKMy_hgN4NS1dVGgQFIdie8_JObIpa330gfZzOQEkgH71lX-C7TbrnbmFe9phoOiX3KvI32vOfLCmeD61g88TDyZzaeGdKWdWHv7wELJiJsIIS-mj47kmLDHPYbVO55bLc-QHew5bjzCNcIaqIrvt5veeP-8Q4L0BPT8qjzYa3DLLYCwsywqO4F_/w400-h149/IMG_0379.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><i>May 16, 2022</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Just when I think COVID is in the rear view mirror, I’m confronted by its annoying persistence - a surging variant or a jarring stat. (For comparison, heart disease claims 700K lives in the US each year. For cancer it’s 600K.) COVID’s impact on public health, child development, the economy and our national psyche is sustained and severe. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">But allow me to take this post in a more benign direction with this question:</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>What would you put in a time capsule from the pandemic? </b></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">My initial response: a mask and my vaccination card. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On second thought, there’s so much more: </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">A photo of our granddaughter Jubilee, born in January 2020, a child of the pandemic (who will hopefully have no memory of it!) A Durham Bulls 2020 schedule card - the season lost to COVID. My phone with those vital apps Instacart and zoom, Amazon prime, all my take-out apps. What could represent on-line church, badly needed hair cuts…and all of the time I’ve spent with my wife? We’ve been married for forty-three years, but our “we time” is record setting! Throw in a rapid COVID test.</span></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0n-7_rkObAToZhgQkjGuK_dpC0M4dOqMUtGl8a03L_cjUuLm3TqISp9D4iwGxKaqevpt8ungBjFZHTxnOD5gIyZsokF_cXfM22bR-kTXEH99O2By08nrxNa8Brrw5a511K9Kzc99oR2wJoQfcesp3PwUs6add0c10BCYb5Ad6fVSh20_8qXe_Hzh/s2048/IMG_7622.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0n-7_rkObAToZhgQkjGuK_dpC0M4dOqMUtGl8a03L_cjUuLm3TqISp9D4iwGxKaqevpt8ungBjFZHTxnOD5gIyZsokF_cXfM22bR-kTXEH99O2By08nrxNa8Brrw5a511K9Kzc99oR2wJoQfcesp3PwUs6add0c10BCYb5Ad6fVSh20_8qXe_Hzh/s320/IMG_7622.jpeg" width="240" /></span></a></div><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">(This time capsule exercise was from last year for an evaluation of <a href="https://www.durhamnc.gov/4329/Recovery-Renewal-Task-Force" target="_blank">Durham’s Recovery and Renewal Task Force</a>. The group met regularly during 2020-21, a worthy example of former Mayor Steve Schewel’s leadership.)</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Time capsules are usually buried, and I wish we could bury COVID! That’s elusive, but we do have vaccines and boosters (and those freakin’ masks) to protect us. The 2022 baseball season is underway…with no delays, no restrictions. <i>Play ball!</i></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcKgEy1RgsCYdAeae_5b6X1RO8QMnKT5XgfX8dbZ5xt70Gql1D_UK96URqsnO71JUe_zgt-hh5WkAanA2Q5wCWOYkqnoDkO81iIV-Fjxg9LM9YmQvfPhfpujViSrEi788Y3Qxpa1YykzngZJ6IT7YP1RQbPHVDnvsX5uAX-IxSG40Bo1F5RcHeaX_/s2048/IMG_8261.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcKgEy1RgsCYdAeae_5b6X1RO8QMnKT5XgfX8dbZ5xt70Gql1D_UK96URqsnO71JUe_zgt-hh5WkAanA2Q5wCWOYkqnoDkO81iIV-Fjxg9LM9YmQvfPhfpujViSrEi788Y3Qxpa1YykzngZJ6IT7YP1RQbPHVDnvsX5uAX-IxSG40Bo1F5RcHeaX_/s320/IMG_8261.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><i>My Granddaughter at the DBAP May 14th.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>George Habelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17780323771760067912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3163928980075293437.post-29814233580518151832022-01-30T22:18:00.003-05:002022-01-30T22:23:51.615-05:00The Five-star General (of general contractors)<p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg88xO-CH3ZfSP1kHZURI4lItBsf2myBUqm_t6pWWMgW9Q1qE88yRMWCg8T8L1jv2Mp4wcy64L0WoGxrVUQh8KL0OwqXBZ3fKJBUNXA0cDtVviFeQs2KxrJs7YIufOvBJcqFubNk_bo71vUaSoOTtmLE-nwJ0wzG91EeBhY_gIDnJH5s7QYdpvAtr8L=s650" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="650" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg88xO-CH3ZfSP1kHZURI4lItBsf2myBUqm_t6pWWMgW9Q1qE88yRMWCg8T8L1jv2Mp4wcy64L0WoGxrVUQh8KL0OwqXBZ3fKJBUNXA0cDtVviFeQs2KxrJs7YIufOvBJcqFubNk_bo71vUaSoOTtmLE-nwJ0wzG91EeBhY_gIDnJH5s7QYdpvAtr8L=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Our company lost a good and loyal friend last month.<span> </span></span><p></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><a href="https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/raleigh-nc/michael-higgins-10493634" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Mike Higgins</span></a></b></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">August 7, 1963 - December 19, 2021</span></b></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">While <b>Mike Higgins</b> wasn’t a CBC employee per se, he was definitely on the team, and it was a rare collaboration of close to thirty years. He was our general contractor for construction of the Durham Bulls Athletic Park (1995), then the American Tobacco Campus (2004), and our current project, the <a href="https://www.mltriangle.com/2021/02/12/construction-has-begun/" target="_blank">Miracle League field</a> adjacent to the DBAP.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">For twenty-nine years, Mike, aka <i>Higgins</i>, was with Lend Lease and its predecessors McDevitt Street Bovis and Bovis Lend Lease. He built the DBAP, did its 1998 expansion for Triple-A and the Diamond View I office building. Next came the American Tobacco Campus renovation which was the largest historic renovation in the nation in the early 2000s. Two more Diamond View office buildings went up, and there was a major renovation of the DBAP in 2014.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Capitol’s CEO Jim Goodmon provided the vision, VP Mike Hill led the charge and Higgins turned vision into reality. Along the way Michael Goodmon, Mike Birling and I joined the collaboration.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Higgins brought a big and positive personality to the work. He had a big brain, too, always quick with a solution, a real problem solver. And compared to many contractors, he was pretty good with deadlines. Most of our ballpark projects were accomplished in the off-season. It was always <i>down to the wire</i> but the gates always opened for Opening Day.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">He formed his own construction company in 2015 - Atlantic Corporate Contracting. A member of the family, his new offices were in the DBAP’s basement level. ACC built the new clubhouse for Duke University Baseball in right field, and his company is presently working on the Miracle League project.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Speaking of family, the Higgins were loyal Bulls fans. Janet, his wife, is an accomplished baker, and we enjoyed her confections and presence at the ballpark. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Janet and the family…and I offer a tip of the ball cap to our favorite hard hat, Michael Wayne Higgins.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtSJOWIHNxg-YwB_Iau1gxHePXbc3RivlXsCbPUA4UVrst0VE-N1DTdo51TZIhXbjVjg1o9zw5wiSt16NOZFqkEpIKyCfxAECgDb3Ei5iq5F3-m5sBUtb8_Kcxsd3f05QeY3493QiBW-kLGferwhUZX2bzHyoNpvMhBcPdWFLxpFj1SHvzaWCvPmPk=s1168" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="1168" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtSJOWIHNxg-YwB_Iau1gxHePXbc3RivlXsCbPUA4UVrst0VE-N1DTdo51TZIhXbjVjg1o9zw5wiSt16NOZFqkEpIKyCfxAECgDb3Ei5iq5F3-m5sBUtb8_Kcxsd3f05QeY3493QiBW-kLGferwhUZX2bzHyoNpvMhBcPdWFLxpFj1SHvzaWCvPmPk=w400-h189" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Higgins' canvas: American Tobacco | Diamond View I, II, III<br />Durham Bulls Athletic Park</td></tr></tbody></table>George Habelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17780323771760067912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3163928980075293437.post-74864673316191616952021-11-23T15:01:00.002-05:002022-08-04T15:26:05.432-04:00Remembering Sam Huff<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiL6LoFfJbHm-AFvuhKSIV-Lg_Na8nCcQn1Jra3h9XFgM-9SAAAHNuO3oJ9Yw8R4RaJRPLEtFD2oYscEYtJPy3OlTsSb1tCF8ilnYENJP8UHZZHYPXETsqhLMMpegz9eBJh8aN2gaR3Xvxt29GcAnnGWI8kp70GEdCFjCS8qmhDbm9GhYqFa0O5wAU=s916" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="916" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiL6LoFfJbHm-AFvuhKSIV-Lg_Na8nCcQn1Jra3h9XFgM-9SAAAHNuO3oJ9Yw8R4RaJRPLEtFD2oYscEYtJPy3OlTsSb1tCF8ilnYENJP8UHZZHYPXETsqhLMMpegz9eBJh8aN2gaR3Xvxt29GcAnnGWI8kp70GEdCFjCS8qmhDbm9GhYqFa0O5wAU=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Washington Post | <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/sam-huff-dead/2021/11/13/493c542c-2e8e-11e6-b5db-e9bc84a2c8e4_story.html" target="_blank">Obituary</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1">Another throwback post, inspired
by the passing of NFL great Sam Huff on November 13th at 87. He played -
famously - for the NY Giants and Washington Redskins in the 1950s and
60s. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 27.4px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1">Long before the Panthers, the Washington Football Team (formerly the
Washington Redskins) was this region’s favorite team, especially in the
northern tier of NC.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 27.4px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1">And rightfully so. From 1982 to 1991, under legendary head coach Joe
Gibbs, a NC native, Washington appeared in the postseason seven times, captured
four conference titles and played in four Super Bowls, wining three of
them. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 27.4px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1">The team’s renowned radio crew of “Sonny, Sam & Frank” - Sonny
Jurgensen (from Wilmington and Duke), Sam Huff and Frank Herzog called the
games.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 27.4px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1">Capitol Radio Networks had built a regional satellite network in the
1980s and we provided that service for the Redskins broadcasts in the late
80s/early 90s, working originally with DC flagship station WMAL and later with
WTEM. We grew the network to over 100 stations in the mid-Atlantic
states. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 27.4px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1">The football broadcasts connected us to Sam Huff, but we got to know
him through his avocation, horse racing and breeding. Sam and his partner Carol
Holden operated Sporting Life Stables in northern Virginia, and Capitol
assisted them with the launch of a weekly radio show called Trackside. It aired
for 28 years until 2016.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 27.4px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1">Sam’s day job was VP with Marriott. He was a celebrity rainmaker,
persuading sports teams to use their hotels. He was a great salesman -
disarmingly intense!</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 27.4px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1">I recall a dinner at the Angus Barn where I asked him to do a
commercial for an advertiser. He readily agreed…for $2500. That was major money
in the early 90’s. My jaw dropped. Sam smiled and simply tapped his Pro
Football Hall of Fame ring. Message delivered. Value established. (Like I said,
disarmingly intense.)</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 27.4px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>~ ~ ~ </b></span></o:p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 27.4px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Read about <a href="https://www.theracingbiz.com/2021/11/14/remembrance-sam-huff/">Sam’s equestrian pursuits</a> and his inspiring life that began in the WVA coal fields, a <a href="https://www.profootballhof.com/players/sam-huff/" target="_blank">football career</a> that included a Time magazine cover, and his later years that unfortunately ended with
dementia.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 27.4px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLzYsAIhVJYxVaaEopOL9PGV9zh50iUP-WxomOeE8hb5fBTTkFmkiy_ud6z80-JyXS6kNAbFG7adqnE4FhnVM3jQ_R4f_XgBngto7kOn7MSg3zMEpyVdKEkgjHsom_dYB2CvF-qLZAH9DR5VXE7OP6mtAR6LduHB5SS3Bttu14G8m2Ywkj9PPiPK7/s1411/IMG_8717.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1411" data-original-width="1032" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLzYsAIhVJYxVaaEopOL9PGV9zh50iUP-WxomOeE8hb5fBTTkFmkiy_ud6z80-JyXS6kNAbFG7adqnE4FhnVM3jQ_R4f_XgBngto7kOn7MSg3zMEpyVdKEkgjHsom_dYB2CvF-qLZAH9DR5VXE7OP6mtAR6LduHB5SS3Bttu14G8m2Ywkj9PPiPK7/w293-h400/IMG_8717.jpeg" width="293" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Before the Panthers 1995 premier,</i></div><i><div style="text-align: left;"><i>the Redskins had a huge following in NC</i></div></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p>George Habelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17780323771760067912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3163928980075293437.post-9010584649691999282021-11-06T18:39:00.002-04:002022-05-29T12:14:41.025-04:00Celebrating Our Braves Legacy<p><span style="color: #454545;"></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghDixzqNn0Lg5oRKtchFMorVa-AXxSA9DgCEVei5YCfW11N-NLImMz9PEJuBX03t5FhXMIAPUVpnwptJfMKOs-rwCTBAOtER_dLGFnhlir6YV8kxOihjThnEO5VLteQBzm5DYN1gB8Nw/s2048/IMG_0399.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="2048" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghDixzqNn0Lg5oRKtchFMorVa-AXxSA9DgCEVei5YCfW11N-NLImMz9PEJuBX03t5FhXMIAPUVpnwptJfMKOs-rwCTBAOtER_dLGFnhlir6YV8kxOihjThnEO5VLteQBzm5DYN1gB8Nw/w400-h254/IMG_0399.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="color: #454545;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">My Myrtle Beach Pelicans </p><p style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Championship rings, 1999 & 2000. </p><p style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Thank you, Brian Snitker!!!</p><p style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://twitter.com/alanblondin/status/1456647855310057472?s=21" target="_blank"><i>The Sun News</i> looks back.</a></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The Durham Bulls have been affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rays since 1998, and over two decades the Rays have won my love and loyalty. I must confess, however, to flirting with an old flame during the 2021 World Series - the Atlanta Braves. I was smitten with memories of <a href="http://www.durhambaseballnotes.com/2011/05/hank-aaron-files.html" target="_blank">Durham’s Single-A Braves’ affiliation</a> in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolina_League" target="_blank">Carolina League</a> and Atlanta’s most glorious decade that began thirty years ago.</span></span></p>
<p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Capitol Broadcasting purchased the Bulls in 1991, and the parent club played in World Series that fall (losing to the Twins.) During the 90’s the Braves, under legendary skipper Bobby Cox, played in a total of five World Series. The Fall Classic in 1995 was their singular triumph.</span></p>
<p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The Bulls and Durham had an eighteen year marriage with Atlanta. Capitol was the local operator for the last seven years, then engineered the move to Triple-A in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_League" target="_blank">International League</a> with the Rays’ affiliation.</span></p>
<p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">For Capitol the Braves connection didn’t end in 1997. With the blessing of the very gracious Braves’ GM <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Schuerholz" target="_blank">John Schuerholz</a>, we retained the Single-A franchise and moved the team to Myrtle Beach. They became the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrtle_Beach_Pelicans" target="_blank">Pelicans</a> playing in a brand new ballpark adjacent to the landmark shopping/entertainment complex Broadway at the Beach. </span></p>
<p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Forgotten tidbits…</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">While Coastal Federal Field was under construction in 1998, Danville VA hosted the Single-A team for one season. It was named the Danville 97s, commemorating a legendary train collision. Indeed, the year in Danville was somewhat of a train wreck, but we were focused on the Pelicans’ SC premiere in the spring of 1999.</span></li></ul>
<ul>
<li style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">We originally intended to name the team Myrtle Beach Braves. I have one of the promotional caps! The logo incorporated the traditional Braves script surrounded by waves. In consultation with Atlanta we decided it would be better to develop a unique, hometown brand for the team. It was the right thing to do, but some diehard Braves fans in Myrtle Beach were (temporarily) disappointed.</span></li></ul>
<ul>
<li style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Capitol sold the Pelicans in 2006. Affiliations have since changed; in 2011 to the Texas Rangers; in 2015 to the Chicago Cubs.</span></li></ul>
<p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I have buried my lede in nostalgia. The motivation for this post was to celebrate Braves’ Manager Brian Snitker. I so wanted this week’s Series win for him. It was a Hollywood ending! Brian, a lifer in the Braves organization, played for the Bulls, then managed both the Bulls and Pelicans. This <a href="https://www.wralsportsfan.com/braves-lifer-snitker-receives-reward-for-44-year-investment/19959013/" target="_blank">AP piece by Charles Odum</a> is a story well told…with some help from Twitter:</span></p><p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8DlljqlXN5CdB8k1S-g82V9Vz1QZrDaNe7924hCaPyyggA9bfAWJp3AYnxjqmrbOJVsoKppNFv2xLAzsyaW7_mpD4ruuSKISlRuCGMvxaeVFaxhxi-WcPRl1lGA8VHGk5VQBq-1jQ24/s1350/IMG_0400.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1227" data-original-width="1350" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8DlljqlXN5CdB8k1S-g82V9Vz1QZrDaNe7924hCaPyyggA9bfAWJp3AYnxjqmrbOJVsoKppNFv2xLAzsyaW7_mpD4ruuSKISlRuCGMvxaeVFaxhxi-WcPRl1lGA8VHGk5VQBq-1jQ24/w400-h364/IMG_0400.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6AhHSH_BST6urgBFERqyw0S9agQeKo5_dmLxE6e4zozSwwnTogRkW1EmNikeuTOFpL4b9tchfOBPyazR4Cdvv91oJfRSGYDGejlbqoT0XnclRZMiWsc-VED-31RVHT6ZdrOE8y8Wls4/s1304/IMG_0401.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="1304" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6AhHSH_BST6urgBFERqyw0S9agQeKo5_dmLxE6e4zozSwwnTogRkW1EmNikeuTOFpL4b9tchfOBPyazR4Cdvv91oJfRSGYDGejlbqoT0XnclRZMiWsc-VED-31RVHT6ZdrOE8y8Wls4/w400-h353/IMG_0401.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>
<p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Hearty congratulations to Brian Snitker and the Atlanta Braves!</i></b></span></p><p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p>George Habelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17780323771760067912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3163928980075293437.post-585054173445508012020-09-18T17:19:00.007-04:002020-09-29T19:18:30.667-04:00Bravo Bonfield!<p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRImsH5awAf74M0nsmWfiY8fLHEW6G8AfZmm4VreqZTkcQ-uS8520AvyVv1DSSMx5WjQ5JNmeOk2tIzvPJWGHxIZYsnKhYoOdj_8FuvI0niiP8mbHXaiyGmu9jjGkvnmhhnGcFPeK7qE/s999/IMG_0132.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ORIjxbI4hDVFlFk7hlfAIwVaLyHbfZXOjblJe2uj8Kg1tKrcq7G6hO3E2eAUOLluhJUQ1-pdPliNBK2bJlc98wZbqON6oOLmsogemtCVOjQq1WY4-KgH_WzZe-qESRsTS3iEyaylbQ4/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="239" data-original-width="320" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ORIjxbI4hDVFlFk7hlfAIwVaLyHbfZXOjblJe2uj8Kg1tKrcq7G6hO3E2eAUOLluhJUQ1-pdPliNBK2bJlc98wZbqON6oOLmsogemtCVOjQq1WY4-KgH_WzZe-qESRsTS3iEyaylbQ4/" width="320" /></a></div></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Durham City Manager <a href="https://durhamnc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/32936/City-Manager-Memo-to-City-Council" target="_blank">Tom Bonfield retires</a> at month’s end. His twelve year tenure in the Bull City caps a career that spanned forty-two years of local government service. He was surprised with a Zoom tribute this afternoon.</span><div><br />
<p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here’s what I offered:</span></p>
<p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you, Tom, for your personal support of...</span></p><p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The <a href="http://www.durhambaseballnotes.com/2018/05/nbc-reports-miracle-league.html?m=0" target="_blank">Miracle League</a> project and recreation for special needs kids. You “got it” from the very beginning, and the City did a half million dollars in utility work to get the site ready at Morehead and Blackwell. I predict, finally, an “opening day” next spring at the new Miracle League Field in downtown Durham, and you will be an honored guest.</span></p><p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Creation of the <a href="https://www.durhamncsports.com" target="_blank">Durham Sports Commission</a> five years ago. We’ve sponsored and hosted the first marathon in Durham, a national youth track meet and the ACC baseball championships...and we’re even doing eSports tournaments during the pandemic.</span></p><p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Looking back, 7-8 years ago...</span></p>
<p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You worked with the Bulls on a new <a href="https://www.wralsportsfan.com/proposed-lease-deal-will-keep-bulls-at-dbap-through-2033/12360263/" target="_blank">30 yr lease for the Durham Bulls Athletic Park</a>, and that triggered extensive <a href="https://www.wralsportsfan.com/dbap-renovation-earns-ballpark-digest-top-honor/14171326/" target="_blank">stadium renovations</a>.</span></p>
<p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In 2009 <a href="https://www.wral.com/news/local/story/5805124/" target="_blank">the historic DAP was renovated</a>, saving that facility for recreation and preserving the legacy of “Bull Durham” and baseball in Durham.</span></p>
<p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Both NC Central and Duke now play baseball in downtown Durham because of these enhanced facilities, and the <a href="https://www.wralsportsfan.com/baseball/video/11230936/" target="_blank">Long Ball program</a> for at-risk kids is based at the DAP.</span></p>
<p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Most everyone knows you played baseball (in the Yankees farm system.) It’s been great to have you as a fan, but more importantly, to work with you professionally. You are analytical, the straightest of straight shooters, steady, remarkably above politics and a solid administrator. You have been a leader worth following! </span></p>
<p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks for you many contributions to Durham, especially to the renaissance of our downtown. Godspeed in your retirement!</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;"> </span> </p><p style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwC-RadF_WL34vpkp2hc-X-ZclVzsOa3B4bWMdJsYXisrElB-6k9c2AfGfeQFcERzldU0ivqbuMfPIgFa_xwwMZqzHDp9u6tvWtGz43SyOdrKorYnm1LoloOb2TO0kovLu-SYvmHYLFkk/s1179/IMG_0133.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="1179" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwC-RadF_WL34vpkp2hc-X-ZclVzsOa3B4bWMdJsYXisrElB-6k9c2AfGfeQFcERzldU0ivqbuMfPIgFa_xwwMZqzHDp9u6tvWtGz43SyOdrKorYnm1LoloOb2TO0kovLu-SYvmHYLFkk/w400-h271/IMG_0133.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydiZX42wFfLbZ_-H3amuTSfHLIDMTmPGnObyfIJdFIErV1K2ERHoehdIlm5KobmZyxCH1pNySU9fVwlseXa2cJ8NMTm5Bp1l_dcFaszGhTQya_o-FRjKc0BRwaBA5wtPWGPxxttLG3Ng/s1280/B3CEF854-E615-4E8E-B191-02B3BDA507B3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydiZX42wFfLbZ_-H3amuTSfHLIDMTmPGnObyfIJdFIErV1K2ERHoehdIlm5KobmZyxCH1pNySU9fVwlseXa2cJ8NMTm5Bp1l_dcFaszGhTQya_o-FRjKc0BRwaBA5wtPWGPxxttLG3Ng/s320/B3CEF854-E615-4E8E-B191-02B3BDA507B3.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>George Habelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17780323771760067912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3163928980075293437.post-64474443642464695612020-07-04T10:57:00.007-04:002020-07-04T13:14:54.653-04:00The Spirit of ‘76<br /><div><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 19.73px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KKBWytXzeaZnJXizZKat5wTlDr48Syip1WlvwI6CTAxw1yRSZUq1AXSCIGszryNmTEbs_EQGUJgmxKOR_ZFgF8JA42Z2dBWCIfTBoSu00ej_HF9gnLu5qVRHh4FKlghiyjve37kOUbs/s2420/B9A3C9F2-AF43-4F4E-B618-F93BAC3B4CDF.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2114" data-original-width="2420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KKBWytXzeaZnJXizZKat5wTlDr48Syip1WlvwI6CTAxw1yRSZUq1AXSCIGszryNmTEbs_EQGUJgmxKOR_ZFgF8JA42Z2dBWCIfTBoSu00ej_HF9gnLu5qVRHh4FKlghiyjve37kOUbs/s320/B9A3C9F2-AF43-4F4E-B618-F93BAC3B4CDF.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23.5px;"><span style="font-size: 19.73px;">...been thinking about the underpinnings of my patriotism this morning - the what and why of America.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23.5px;"><span style="font-size: 19.73px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23.5px;"><span style="font-size: 19.73px;">I’m of that generation that started each school day pledging allegiance to the flag, and my first career as a journalist began as the nation readied for and celebrated the Bicentennial. I lived in Charlottesville for eight years where Thomas Jefferson’s presence was palpable! An enduring memory is covering citizenship naturalization ceremonies on the steps of Monticello.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 19.73px;"></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23.5px;"><span style="font-size: 19.73px;">While the American flag seems to have become a military symbol (almost exclusively these days) I still hear “liberty and justice for all” and I feel the Spirit of ‘76 inspired by the Declaration of Independence:</span><span class="s1" style="font-size: 19.73px;"></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 19.73px;">“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 19.73px;">For sure, our slave holding Founding Fathers were parsimonious with those unalienable rights, but their noble, compelling concept was destined to spread, foreordained for expansion.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 19.73px;">My forbears were Germans who ran afoul of a Kaiser and indentured servants from Italy and England. In rural Virginia, they staked a claim to those rights, to some measure of liberty and to their own pursuit of happiness.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 19.73px;">I celebrate that heritage today!</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 19.73px;">And I believe the opportunity my ancestors found here is owed to ALL Americans and to those who seek sanctuary in these United States. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 19.73px;">We have work yet to do...</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 19.73px;"><br /></span></p></div>George Habelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17780323771760067912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3163928980075293437.post-10198256931774671402019-10-22T16:19:00.000-04:002019-10-22T16:34:25.203-04:00Bull City Birthday | Sesquicentennial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>As Durham wraps us its <a href="https://durham150.org/" target="_blank">150th birthday observance</a>, I reprise a springtime post from <a href="http://www.thebullsofdurham.com/" target="_blank">The Bulls of Durham</a> website. <a href="http://www.thebullsofdurham.com/blog" target="_blank">Check out their blog.</a> Publisher Sheila Amir is without peer when it comes to being bullish on Durham. </i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWAqNzsEaJWuXacZgG2x-Qjo2ChbiSBmWBTeLHf-K-ql4yhyphenhyphen7J54M77UxUb4gBmymBiVhW_oZHcvoABQApDb-j05bZ8lCxSE9c7ycV3LxSXM8fckmcii-Woy_4pxx-FuaYlT4PvPDLyw/s1600/150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="600" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWAqNzsEaJWuXacZgG2x-Qjo2ChbiSBmWBTeLHf-K-ql4yhyphenhyphen7J54M77UxUb4gBmymBiVhW_oZHcvoABQApDb-j05bZ8lCxSE9c7ycV3LxSXM8fckmcii-Woy_4pxx-FuaYlT4PvPDLyw/s320/150.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">For two decades I’ve been an inveterate promoter of the Bulls baseball club and more recently the renaissance of downtown Durham. But honestly, I hadn’t given any deep thought to the Bull City’s character. I’ve been challenged by the Bulls of Durham to unpack Durham’s uniqueness. Here’s my take... </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUt0vMVMSUV2jyStMbNGny2i-qs7Q-fOzw3f8n7P5Dt9S281toqJEp7k2AITBgPYJFrwFcgG_1c-VTtMLaKe6HLRzmB6A6Vu5mDyH6x0XROpx6P10Aise1n-R5iOYxoGcVPWTAk4Jc2ps/s1600/atc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUt0vMVMSUV2jyStMbNGny2i-qs7Q-fOzw3f8n7P5Dt9S281toqJEp7k2AITBgPYJFrwFcgG_1c-VTtMLaKe6HLRzmB6A6Vu5mDyH6x0XROpx6P10Aise1n-R5iOYxoGcVPWTAk4Jc2ps/s200/atc.jpg" width="132" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Our mill town motif creates a distinct sense of place. There’s an architectural ambience owing to the brick tobacco factories and warehouses spread across town. We have a smattering of office towers, but our true urban personality sits low on the horizon. It’s framed by masonry cornices and the red-orange brick of our native clay.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of personality, Durham nurtures a blue collar attitude. We talk of “Bull City grit” and “keep it dirty Durham.” It’s the soul of this 150 year old factory town that birthed the Durham Tobacconists baseball team in 1902, playing against furniture makers and textile workers from other NC mill towns. The Lucky Strike chimney and water tower at American Tobacco are emblematic of that heritage and spirit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Attitude compliments architecture, but the contradictions are equally intriguing. The venerable warehouses are now home to academics and entrepreneurs. We are the City of Medicine, high tech and higher ed. That lunch pail mentality drives these high achievers in their discovery, disruption and innovation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A noteworthy aside: Durham’s lunch pail is truly exceptional. We are the South’s Tastiest Town, an accolade from Southern Living magazine. This working class town has world class victuals. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tdamlDuVgkGkYxwSaoPoyOG4Tjxevogw9mqp2MY_zY490F0jzu64KGu_fICxpaVJdqjPwxFDcHV74YP4i_0-TJCvM3UPkUGz_9ZDjwp5Y0w5wfKj_UxkKzFrdU-vzT6dS_6iOsuLyhg/s1600/foodies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="228" data-original-width="570" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tdamlDuVgkGkYxwSaoPoyOG4Tjxevogw9mqp2MY_zY490F0jzu64KGu_fICxpaVJdqjPwxFDcHV74YP4i_0-TJCvM3UPkUGz_9ZDjwp5Y0w5wfKj_UxkKzFrdU-vzT6dS_6iOsuLyhg/s400/foodies.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last but not least, Durham’s most distinguishing feature - at least by Triangle standards - is diversity. It’s dangerous for a 66 year old white guy to talk about race, but I’ll wade in... </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwkeCfTmfOa3eUlZ9D_Azec_O4WbWSptlsuR_rRiih_VmfhMn-FPX8wlcKI_Kv-V_lGlpLM8xKxNG6ZeQ-gvu1WHIXeSsCX0h0LnwPiSNa2_WcBy6Xcx9JDNfLcDMSLDuy4R4SFJMWFU/s1600/JJ7F0134+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwkeCfTmfOa3eUlZ9D_Azec_O4WbWSptlsuR_rRiih_VmfhMn-FPX8wlcKI_Kv-V_lGlpLM8xKxNG6ZeQ-gvu1WHIXeSsCX0h0LnwPiSNa2_WcBy6Xcx9JDNfLcDMSLDuy4R4SFJMWFU/s200/JJ7F0134+-+Copy.jpg" width="132" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">The City of Durham is close to evenly black/white with a significant Latinx component. (42% Caucasian, 41% African American, 14% Hispanic, 5% Asian American; 2010 US Census) This is bigger than the data points. There’s a civic ethic of tolerance and inclusion around race, gender and sexual orientation. There’s a notion that everyone is welcome, that all have a seat at the table. It’s also an expectation of the major employers and burgeoning millennial work force that have revived our downtown.
For most of my years in Durham the mayor was African American, ditto for the chairman of the County Commissioners, and the CEO of the Duke health system was Chinese American. A gay man led the Chamber of Commerce. This isn’t a flash in the pan; it endures.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.milb.com/durham/fans/pride-night" target="_blank">Durham Bulls Pride Night 2019</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.milb.com/durham/fans/copa" target="_blank">Durham Bulls Latino Heritage Weekend 2019</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I’m not a cockeyed optimistic. It’s not all rainbows and unicorns. Folks fight to be heard and compete for resources. We rally, protest and over-react on social media. Watch out for the sharp elbow. There’s that Durham grit! But I would like to think (and pray) there’s a “force field” protecting Durham from the current wave of tribalism, nativism and racism. Durham is better than that...far better. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It’s an honor and a privilege to be counted among the <i>Bulls of Durham.</i> Let’s toast our tobacco town heritage and grit. Let’s celebrate tech town innovation and inclusion. Happy 150th birthday to Durham NC!
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George Habelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17780323771760067912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3163928980075293437.post-70510960926028148632019-06-03T18:07:00.001-04:002019-06-03T18:11:25.084-04:00Progress Report: Bull Durham | The Musical<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Three decades after it’s theatrical release, <b>Bull Durham</b> has been reinvented as a musical, and it is Broadway bound. I attended a preview last month in New York City. The momentum seemed palpable. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The producers have been stubbornly dedicated to this project. As Bull Durham’s creator Ron Shelton says in the video clip below, <i>it’s like distilling a fine scotch. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Of course, I am a cheerleader for this makeover! Just imagine a popular Broadway musical...the cast in Bulls’ caps and jerseys...set in Durham NC...then a nationwide tour of 30-40 cities (including our DPAC.) The movie, now considered a classic, conferred a special status on Durham and its ball club thirty years ago. The Broadway version would be a marvelous revival of that phenomenon. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">WRAL’s Bryan Mims tells the story...</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="wral-embedded-player" id="18423505-iframe" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.wral.com/effort-underway-to-get-bull-durham-to-broadway/18423505/?version=embedded_v2&player_options=%257B%2522embedded_autoplay_next%2522%253Atrue%257D" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none transparent; height: 324px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: 576px;" webkitallowfullscreen=""></iframe>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We weren’t allowed to record the preview - top secret - but Bulls Production Manager Patrick Norwood talked with celebs in the audience. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>About Crash Davis:</b> Baseball Hall of Famer <a href="https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/torre-joe" target="_blank">Joe Torre</a> attended the preview. He’s certainly an authority on our National Pastime, and the story resonates with him...</span><br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XIKHFeyB0q4" width="560"></iframe>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>About Annie Savoy: </b>Director <a href="https://marcbruni.com/" target="_blank">Marc Bruni</a> enthusiastically brings the story of an empowered female to Broadway...</span><br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5H-fdRp8POU" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The movie gave us memorable characters and quotable dialog. The Broadway show raises the bar with music and dancing. You will leave the theatre singing this soundtrack so cleverly crafted by <a href="http://susanwerner.com/" target="_blank">Susan Werner</a>. It's new territory for Bull Durham's mastermind <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005421/" target="_blank">Ron Shelton</a>...</span><br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k_951gla2E8" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />George Habelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17780323771760067912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3163928980075293437.post-90426412513122345082019-05-01T11:25:00.002-04:002019-05-01T11:27:34.009-04:00Bull City Strong Day<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB80quTJAIfviwhricbuY9IKmwsrL8XQ6t5l4wlu7HZz1v7kMqvWJMHYWVUSMC3Drh-jwixpBNVeYbwRJL60aGbq3Cd5avm_jsZkuTNu1kUBH9bMG4_frbX29FhJdWxz-J8tujQgkzVaE/s1600/BCS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB80quTJAIfviwhricbuY9IKmwsrL8XQ6t5l4wlu7HZz1v7kMqvWJMHYWVUSMC3Drh-jwixpBNVeYbwRJL60aGbq3Cd5avm_jsZkuTNu1kUBH9bMG4_frbX29FhJdWxz-J8tujQgkzVaE/s400/BCS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We celebrate and honor <i>first responders</i> at the DBAP today. May 1st is <a href="https://www.milb.com/durham/news/bulls-to-host-bull-city-strong-day-may-1/c-306519038" target="_blank">Bull City Strong Day</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The <a href="https://www.wral.com/new-concerns-at-site-of-durham-explosion/18357401/" target="_blank">gas explosion in Durham</a> was a tragic event on April 10th, but it could have been 20x worse if not for our courageous Bull City firefighters. As gas was silently building up, they cleared the building that was moments later blown to smithereens. Mission accomplished; mass casualties averted. </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7PoKxayKX_i9MGCT0W8J_KyH8kAIZYhJGCC3Y4-rIeC6JlLRJ0cVDnBkzeDgQmhpZ9jRESEnH4yBjkXCF8t4pDt2xUQbrw-R3OIR3DhSe0zDCY1W9lY6D-7PdApuYk_V9ltXQg9TboU/s1600/first+pitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7PoKxayKX_i9MGCT0W8J_KyH8kAIZYhJGCC3Y4-rIeC6JlLRJ0cVDnBkzeDgQmhpZ9jRESEnH4yBjkXCF8t4pDt2xUQbrw-R3OIR3DhSe0zDCY1W9lY6D-7PdApuYk_V9ltXQg9TboU/s320/first+pitch.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A first responder/first pitch this morning from </span><span style="font-size: small;">Durham</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">firefighter, Acting Captain Phillip "Speedy" Faucette. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">His Engine One, B-Shift was first on the scene </span><span style="font-size: small;">when</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">the Duke St. building exploded April 10th.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Listening to news coverage of yesterday's <a href="https://www.wral.com/two-apex-natives-injured-in-fatal-shooting-at-unc-charlotte-suspect-charged-with-murder/18357454/" target="_blank">campus shooting at UNC Charlotte</a>, I’ve repeatedly heard the police described as “running toward the gun fire.” That’s a heavy concept - running toward gun fire...or clearing a building that could be filling with gas. We think of these people as brave and courageous, but there’s a transcendent aspect to this. They’re willing to put their lives on the line for the safety of others. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We know this intuitively about the men and women serving in our military, and first responders deserve more attention and credit for their sacrificial work. <a href="https://www.unitedwaytriangle.org/durham/" target="_blank">The Durham One Fund</a> is worthy of your support. </span><br />
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<br />
<i>Images from April 10th in downtown Durham,</i><br />
<i>on Duke Street and from the DBAP.</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiryndr5tCdRLDYAbXJfSy55Aqwm-NKj8WXRl_t3bViB7mJfkRRCK9kId4gwJZG8hdEpfKqS24yVRi6OTs1B5VupSoTPIswXPfC2AjL5sM1tbzc70LBSqghselvza3T3hqYZx55gk_6Mc/s1600/gas2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiryndr5tCdRLDYAbXJfSy55Aqwm-NKj8WXRl_t3bViB7mJfkRRCK9kId4gwJZG8hdEpfKqS24yVRi6OTs1B5VupSoTPIswXPfC2AjL5sM1tbzc70LBSqghselvza3T3hqYZx55gk_6Mc/s320/gas2.jpg" width="267" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlUKXQGGd5WboQJobTQD6DFeXylEtRG4W0ZitvaSusQgBMuG1zxAQf9eZ5QRoyIQBA9zTsJQOpgpnl7labeFrzEDa2Yz5SVgD5kBbdcQEnKaUseH8kSvOGAHHxALBSYI6djAvp9R2y4c/s1600/gas3.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlUKXQGGd5WboQJobTQD6DFeXylEtRG4W0ZitvaSusQgBMuG1zxAQf9eZ5QRoyIQBA9zTsJQOpgpnl7labeFrzEDa2Yz5SVgD5kBbdcQEnKaUseH8kSvOGAHHxALBSYI6djAvp9R2y4c/s320/gas3.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvN-3PKjbGxGnKZ7_cjRhJk2JJJdVSCLh2bT9L5ydEoxAArprDINydWr4fj248khn4wqREF2ck6b8m6roBgLt5_lK6au2ztRbpwNcVOLLmAOYvZrmn7EuPHnPFMHqBSL-1x3ipzKsGcQ/s1600/gas1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvN-3PKjbGxGnKZ7_cjRhJk2JJJdVSCLh2bT9L5ydEoxAArprDINydWr4fj248khn4wqREF2ck6b8m6roBgLt5_lK6au2ztRbpwNcVOLLmAOYvZrmn7EuPHnPFMHqBSL-1x3ipzKsGcQ/s320/gas1.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />George Habelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17780323771760067912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3163928980075293437.post-57313014743002983962019-03-26T16:35:00.001-04:002019-03-26T16:42:55.006-04:00Nashville Songwriters return to Durham<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUg3PqWy5erHz25xKngSN7hDOxbeaEsu2dZFJHVreDNjaSOIq0DRFCcJGHC83t_Yk817APBRAYCD9EGXjtaxrTzDPvGw2btTV2tzy61mIDOFyoYpfEj-QCnnR0Iji7ZQJgj7benELn-Q/s1600/NashvilleSongwriters1200x6282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUg3PqWy5erHz25xKngSN7hDOxbeaEsu2dZFJHVreDNjaSOIq0DRFCcJGHC83t_Yk817APBRAYCD9EGXjtaxrTzDPvGw2btTV2tzy61mIDOFyoYpfEj-QCnnR0Iji7ZQJgj7benELn-Q/s400/NashvilleSongwriters1200x6282.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Memorable songs - the tunes we sing in the car or shower - are associated with the superstars who recorded the music. In most cases, however, that song came from the heart and soul of a not-so-famous songwriter - a poet or wordsmith with a guitar. We will celebrate (and enjoy) that talent Friday night April 5th at DPAC as the Nashville Songwriters return to the Bull City. They have penned hits for Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, Miley Cyrus, Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean and Rascal Flatts.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-50VhE5B9w6O4tjphztJjEU373Tlufu8YNrIH2iAo_LN28SywwWf6YTwxnMY2QqBAbnxqWlYRRH7BdcoE_dqMdlZ4VLHT5Qr3HwvvmBjcWAaWpWMKnmGWPekNjYDjcaWGoUtRUXhDxmQ/s1600/NashvilleSongwriters1600x5903-df4862a96c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-50VhE5B9w6O4tjphztJjEU373Tlufu8YNrIH2iAo_LN28SywwWf6YTwxnMY2QqBAbnxqWlYRRH7BdcoE_dqMdlZ4VLHT5Qr3HwvvmBjcWAaWpWMKnmGWPekNjYDjcaWGoUtRUXhDxmQ/s400/NashvilleSongwriters1600x5903-df4862a96c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Click on image to enlarge.</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The show, a benefit concert, is organized by Durham's Jeff Outlaw and his family foundation. We signed on last year because a portion of the proceeds goes to <a href="https://www.kidznotes.org/" target="_blank">Kidznotes</a>, and some of the kidz have an opportunity to perform with the professionals in one of the country's leading theaters.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<a href="https://www.dpacnc.com/events/detail/nashville-songwriters-at-dpac" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Consider this your invitation to join us!</a><span style="font-size: large;"> And check out the videos...</span><br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/E9nChC6cKFk" width="560"></iframe>
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WsY8kyoIJjE" width="560"></iframe>
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<br />George Habelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17780323771760067912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3163928980075293437.post-73319631830175467572019-03-14T16:20:00.000-04:002019-03-14T16:20:53.774-04:00Raycom's ACC Sign Off<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I get a little misty eyed as Raycom "retires" from the ACC after 37 years. If you are a Tobacco Road hoops fan, Raycom telecasts are a family member. After this conference tourney in Charlotte the new <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/ACC_Network_(TV_channel)" target="_blank">ACC Network</a> will be birthed. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bob Holliday and Jeff Gravley at WRAL stroll down memory lane with a Raycom tribute:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0za0tmLPLHUpEsbT130cSI86WQKisYlDrlYQ67QDJixv4hKzVlO7n1L0Ts37Du0d0vdNspVPW6Uma6N8FqrMIdymxTeyBQtpTfkEGH7rk18y4a8Rv8nXPUuR_-Hy1fYmEc9-yX2FqZVA/s1600/Rayburn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0za0tmLPLHUpEsbT130cSI86WQKisYlDrlYQ67QDJixv4hKzVlO7n1L0Ts37Du0d0vdNspVPW6Uma6N8FqrMIdymxTeyBQtpTfkEGH7rk18y4a8Rv8nXPUuR_-Hy1fYmEc9-yX2FqZVA/s400/Rayburn.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.wralsportsfan.com/remembering-the-pioneers-who-put-acc-basketball-on-tv-national-stage/18247762/" target="_blank">Story & Video</a> from wralSPORTSfan.com</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My sports broadcasting and marketing career began with UVA's radio network in 1979 as the Ralph Sampson era commenced in Charlottesville. The company was acquired by Capitol Broadcasting, and I moved to Raleigh in February 1983 as the Wolfpack started its National Championship run. My Brentwood neighbors spray painted our street red and white. Soon thereafter Capitol sent me to Richmond, but I returned to NC in 1991 as Duke University took the NCAA title. It's wonderful to have these big sports stories among your life's historical markers. At Capitol I've had the incredibly good fortune to work with the trifecta of NC State, Duke and UVA on their radio networks and athletic department marketing.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPFZC0-dJEAYEIgXGJLpiC6_aRPUBvavVVlOjPUsrRqL-WWvTyCY6uD4yaYf6Jp6I2uA5h8eRvS6dGU0NPkxIT-2jixhO2HGkDSLU5otEWVm8niSuJkmtgfCPOjc3ImmGOkDwzUqVcls/s1600/CSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPFZC0-dJEAYEIgXGJLpiC6_aRPUBvavVVlOjPUsrRqL-WWvTyCY6uD4yaYf6Jp6I2uA5h8eRvS6dGU0NPkxIT-2jixhO2HGkDSLU5otEWVm8niSuJkmtgfCPOjc3ImmGOkDwzUqVcls/s400/CSN.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I was starting out four decades ago, televised games were rare, so commercial breaks were limited. (Imagine that!) In some games, we weren't able to air all of the spots we had sold! But eventually, advertising revenue won the day, and collegiate athletics was transformed into a major media enterprise. In addition to the big bucks, technology now brings us to place where a conference can have its own cable channel and practically every sport can be televised.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I do have a lament, as someone in the local broadcasting business, that all of this programming will move to cable/satellite/Internet. That's hard to swallow, and viewers will probably be surprised (or confused) when the new network premiers in August.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8VM8bGI1ntOSMJTz8SO3gR0fhKdaOj55JA6Q4eJ4Pn6LbSdmm85gM0kkuMLI4XksEaiKeVVfSq9YHVwUBsywLVAiNAJI4cnFhXemBQHeMFY5t8DyBY6SUyfLehGTiyoSJdydQUlKCEE/s1600/RayTruck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8VM8bGI1ntOSMJTz8SO3gR0fhKdaOj55JA6Q4eJ4Pn6LbSdmm85gM0kkuMLI4XksEaiKeVVfSq9YHVwUBsywLVAiNAJI4cnFhXemBQHeMFY5t8DyBY6SUyfLehGTiyoSJdydQUlKCEE/s400/RayTruck.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But we move on, and we tip our cap to Raycom. Their vision and platform transformed college sports. What's next? Further conference expansion? Games in Europe or Asia? 3D telecasts? Augmented reality? I'll be OK as long as State plays Carolina and Duke and Wake Forest, as long as the local rivalries endure...on Tobacco Road.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>George Habelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17780323771760067912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3163928980075293437.post-41563880776886118942019-02-06T14:46:00.000-05:002020-02-18T14:48:38.654-05:00Numbers to Notes, Sums to Song<br />
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Rhonda
Carlile, our sports division business manager and my colleague of 36 years, retired last week. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZ6bMKDgR1e6kSuG9FbMUZ9WRuHWKQfGnj-7ap-lTp5eYlpyvExMnAvP4eLQch79zHTSFgQ_rDOyyk_DQcBJlMmHNe0ij23Z8jxtR0QaE0oYFQm2g0fpPY5M5aIUYtJjZSo8eTJFTPNQ/s1600/Carlile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZ6bMKDgR1e6kSuG9FbMUZ9WRuHWKQfGnj-7ap-lTp5eYlpyvExMnAvP4eLQch79zHTSFgQ_rDOyyk_DQcBJlMmHNe0ij23Z8jxtR0QaE0oYFQm2g0fpPY5M5aIUYtJjZSo8eTJFTPNQ/s200/Carlile.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Some
excerpts from my tribute at her retirement luncheon:</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I came
to work at Capitol’s TN Spot Sales in 1983. I was not very buttoned up back
then. Rhonda’s been trying to bring me around to her rigorous standards ever
since. In my 1984 goals I was asked to address “the punctuality and accuracy of
required reports...” That had Rhonda’s fingerprints all over it!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But accounting
has been more than numbers and columns for Rhonda. She was eager for new
assignments and projects. CEO Jim Goodmon always had a puzzle for us to solve, a
new business to on-board. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In
1990 CBC acquired the Bulls. She was handed a box of ledger books and
associated office debris... “Here ya go Rhonda, turn this into a business.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In
that decade we had a two dozen P&Ls within Capitol Radio - business units
forgotten to history:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Carolina
Panthers Radio Network, Tenn Titans, San Francisco 49ers<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Duke
and Univ of Va Radio Networks<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Carolina
Hurricanes TV Network<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WDNC
news/talk radio<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Winston
Cup Today<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Drive-time,
the daily golf show<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Myrtle
Beach Pelicans <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rhonda
has been indispensable. INDISPENSABLE! That word captures the character of her
career at CBC, her community service above and beyond the job, and her
friendships with co-workers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rhonda
set the bar high for sound business practices, and she set a great example over
the years with her leadership of United Arts, United Way, and most recently,
with the Capitol Women’s Network. She’s the “go to” co-worker for a “crucial
conversation” and mentor to many. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s
been a privilege to work with Rhonda. I’ve benefited from her advice - from her
candor. She is uber organized, very disciplined. None of that rubbed off on me.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She’s
a person of the highest integrity and a person filled with grace. That has
rubbed off on all of us!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
offer the “accountants blessing” upon your retirement...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>May
your numbers give way to notes,<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>May
your sums give way to song!<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Here’s
to harmony in retirement!</i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div>
George Habelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17780323771760067912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3163928980075293437.post-55892274581288646672018-12-19T14:35:00.000-05:002018-12-29T18:32:56.243-05:00A Few of My Favorite Things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Three upcoming events are worthy of your attention in the New Year - baseball, eSports and country music. (My job does not lack for variety!) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tickets are on sale!!! Did someone say stocking stuffers???</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Archway Foundation Night of Champions. January 26.</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Durham Bulls alum and Clayton NC's favorite son, Chris Archer, is holding his annual <a href="https://archway.foundation/event/2019-night-of-champions/" target="_blank">Archway Foundation Gala</a> here at the DBAP in the PNC Triangle Club. The Pittsburgh Pirates ace has recruited a few of his MLB buddies to attend - Brent Honeywell, Marcus Stroman and Willy Adames.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzLh5zWs5DM_PlB2AIX0uqKQltQ17mDPT8_J1z5zdKBAIHM1swaXqAjiQoNv6lvpwaggDWM48nxdAKBXEjLOg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Chris has a particular interest
in homeless youth, and he's planning to make that a focus of his foundation’s work in our
community. The Bulls are cheering him on!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXo4hHJPJ5vUjxRw7Thi-PY0cSalx0Wu7y_xv8X0hSZCLQ06UFbCCg9OamO6gC_PMKlio7-JM9QlfBSjGFZ9A4o1RveeSt1lTE7U1GvHs4n4D7oMOMXIWRNWDSGtJ7TFozm2lYi_TbTA/s1600/ANOC+Invitation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1285" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXo4hHJPJ5vUjxRw7Thi-PY0cSalx0Wu7y_xv8X0hSZCLQ06UFbCCg9OamO6gC_PMKlio7-JM9QlfBSjGFZ9A4o1RveeSt1lTE7U1GvHs4n4D7oMOMXIWRNWDSGtJ7TFozm2lYi_TbTA/s400/ANOC+Invitation.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Triangle eSports Championship. February 10.</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am the most unlikely person in our company to be working on eSports. Is there an AARP league? But I'm a believer. eGaming is no longer a childhood pastime that young folks outgrow. It's now adult recreation, and it's booming! There are 800K gaming consoles in our TV market according to Nielsen. 77K people read a video game story on wral.com in the past 120 days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Capitol Broadcasting Company has partnered with the Kramden Institute, the Triangle Literacy Council and the Durham Sports Commission for a February tournament at the Durham Armory. <a href="http://www.triangleesportschampionship.com/" target="_blank">Check out the website for info and tickets.</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Kramden and TLC are trailblazers. These progressive nonprofits view eSports as a way to promote digital inclusion and literacy. And we are cheering them on!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx3C-wuSz4OXnKjfOBKvE2moKpTedHCd5nkc7Pp4iNpsUNNX_UdqW443uAWy9qFhTTTiFR4PdhjOrAju1AY1A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><u>Nashville Songwriters at DPAC. April 6.</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">They've written hits for Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean, Toby Keith and Carrie Underwood. Nine of Nashville's top songwriters bring their guitars and share their behind-the-scenes stories from Music Row. It's laid back and "unplugged"...a unique musical experience. <a href="https://www.dpacnc.com/events/detail/nashville-songwriters-at-dpac" target="_blank">DPAC website.</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHUlXDquv-NmqVcBhxKX0UZbr_YBzqwgJVU4E4EEIzG3XjCqYQyCPRQdOe30EeudBB1BVJRJVU7Sf6l5-VVbfSvIMWc0g6ZT5yvpYTOa-Hhvu-XeD479PMsSX3dCMwOG6A0hqgyQrd-U/s1600/NashvilleSongwriters1200x6282.jpg" imageanchor="1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHUlXDquv-NmqVcBhxKX0UZbr_YBzqwgJVU4E4EEIzG3XjCqYQyCPRQdOe30EeudBB1BVJRJVU7Sf6l5-VVbfSvIMWc0g6ZT5yvpYTOa-Hhvu-XeD479PMsSX3dCMwOG6A0hqgyQrd-U/s400/NashvilleSongwriters1200x6282.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The concert is a benefit for Kidznotes, The NC Boys Academy and Voyager Academy Friends of the Arts. Yes, we are cheering them on, too!</span></div>
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George Habelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17780323771760067912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3163928980075293437.post-17576233872957614632018-08-07T13:00:00.001-04:002018-08-09T11:46:44.350-04:00Baseball Roots<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4vN2B0rW4COQo-R-Xx7YEmkf1Kn-7VKWlzSMdj0QFTl84EGkT4-ULLwiv3xKDqJEYHZA8nnFvV-Bv2UTP_Ol8_8VBnHV_RoFz7-zc4ZphMYnXb43QLZtptxlPJHzhLaqv2XZ-zqcRx_M/s1600/info_008_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4vN2B0rW4COQo-R-Xx7YEmkf1Kn-7VKWlzSMdj0QFTl84EGkT4-ULLwiv3xKDqJEYHZA8nnFvV-Bv2UTP_Ol8_8VBnHV_RoFz7-zc4ZphMYnXb43QLZtptxlPJHzhLaqv2XZ-zqcRx_M/s320/info_008_1.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Bulls have been celebrating the 30th anniversary of Bull Durham this summer, reveling in our Hollywood birthright. On Saturday, we are seriously cranking up the time machine - 160 years retrograde - for a vintage game of "base ball" at the iconic Durham Athletic Park. 1860 rules and old-timey uniforms. No gloves, no foul balls, no strike-outs, underhanded pitching. It's a benefit for the <a href="http://www.nchistoricsites.org/duke/main.htm" target="_blank">Duke Homestead State Historic Site</a>. Adam Gold at 99.9 The Fan has organized the celebrity team. He calls it the ultimate throwback game:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">We’re
going back in time, not to the 80’s or the 70’s, but to the 60s - the
1860’s!!! Back, before there was such a thing as Tommy John surgery or
lunch angles or even the dreaded shift. We’re going back to the game’s
original rules, to the game as it was intended, with limited commercial
interruption. No mascots, no in-game human bowling, no Chicken Dance,
just the game as it was intended.</span> <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>Duke
Homestead is in for a tussle when the Fourth Estate Nine rolls into historic
Durham Athletic Park. 13 members of the local media celebrating the game
as it used to be - apart from the chewing and spitting - will turn back the
clocks almost 160 years. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The DAP gates open at 3:30, BP at 3:45, first pitch at 5:00. Five bucks will get you in. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JO1ONuxFC9JBYpUHcGEmHa2buAp_e9eWk4_9MPVX5ycq1lJ1C9RPBjqbsBillwyIbEDQQv_ma1JZ8hDk7XmGJ7Msy7ILDoOWBQnwrW0TOGV3Fh4_7A2e6kWm0OjTa9GN_DvbzgSo_k4/s1600/vintage+bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="700" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JO1ONuxFC9JBYpUHcGEmHa2buAp_e9eWk4_9MPVX5ycq1lJ1C9RPBjqbsBillwyIbEDQQv_ma1JZ8hDk7XmGJ7Msy7ILDoOWBQnwrW0TOGV3Fh4_7A2e6kWm0OjTa9GN_DvbzgSo_k4/s400/vintage+bb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here's the Duke Homestead release...<br />
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<span style="padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: 700; padding-top: 0px;">Join Duke Homestead Education & History Corporation at the Historic Durham Athletic Park on August 11 for a vintage "base ball" game that celebrates and includes all those who contributed to the game over the past century and a half!</span><br /><br />Experience the beginnings of America's pastime in Durham's historic ballpark - just a bat, a ball, and a lively match. Organized by the nonprofit <a href="http://dukehomestead.org/" target="_blank">friends of Duke Homestead</a> State Historic Site (Duke Homestead Education and History Corporation), a team of vintage ballers will take on local sports media personalities, playing by vintage rules. We'll have game-inspired crafts and activities for kids. Don't forget to bring your appetite for food trucks, Bull Durham Beer Company brews, and old fashioned concessions. Hurrah!<br /><br />This program will also recognize Durham's rich and complex baseball history, which includes decades of segregation during the Jim Crow era. We will share the story of segregation at the Durham Athletic Park and the Negro League, as well as the the early history of the game.<br /><br />Tickets cost $5 per person, kids 4 & under are free! <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vintage-base-ball-at-the-dap-tickets-47321733579" target="_blank">Get your ticket in advance online</a>, or at the door (cash only).</span></span></div>
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<span style="padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you to our sponsors, Capitol Broadcasting Company, the Durham Bulls, and Stone Brothers & Byrd Garden Center.</span></span></div>
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<span style="padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">All proceeds from the event will benefit the nonprofit friends of Duke Homestead, the Duke Homestead Education and History Corporation.</span></span></div>
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George Habelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17780323771760067912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3163928980075293437.post-88666536693177137122018-06-05T21:38:00.001-04:002018-06-05T21:55:49.357-04:00Pickin' cukes at the DBAP<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8fSby6G-RDw1MQpvYR8uAbxD7aP2jQs2oMHPFY4z7JvMmGsDB3cF-WfqSQF6kZ1O0avqtX2wxRSfHji7dMtw0U64xtj0wSY58ZkVGRXyDd14-tAPyTs68wdI6LuUMdo_6b1imjP3OTw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-06-05+at+9.49.51+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="751" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8fSby6G-RDw1MQpvYR8uAbxD7aP2jQs2oMHPFY4z7JvMmGsDB3cF-WfqSQF6kZ1O0avqtX2wxRSfHji7dMtw0U64xtj0wSY58ZkVGRXyDd14-tAPyTs68wdI6LuUMdo_6b1imjP3OTw/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-06-05+at+9.49.51+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The harvest has begun! That's Bulls Assistant GM Chip Allen pickin' cucumbers in our streetside garden yesterday. It's yet another addition to his job responsibilities as our Victory Garden bears produce. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.milb.com/durham/news/bulls-partner-with-blue-cross-nc-non-profits-on-edible-victory-garden/c-269291002" target="_blank">Here's the story on our urban garden, a joint project with the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC.</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the seven surrounding counties over 250,000 people are considered “food insecure.” <a href="https://www.foodshuttle.org/hunger-in-nc/" target="_blank">The Inter-faith Food Shuttle website has more metrics on hunger in NC.</a> The stats are troubling, and this garden is our modest effort at <i>community nourishment.</i> The veggies will be donated to local non-profits, school kids will visit to learn about nutrition and gardening, and thousands of Bulls fans will see this <i>live</i> exhibit about urban agriculture.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">...more photos of our edible landscaping. It began on a cold, wet February day as the Bulls and Bland Landscaping met to finalize plans for the garden build-out:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLPM4xMoTAsnGsSUFEgUKo3_a0Ilr2bgKE1C9pCA7EOFx7Z46sNirvXNQUHca5WI6XqhGPYYa5j1d6LWCWsiQjM9scfw8iHw_HRSKkdokxMcoZwbSTfhOh2MfJgKoGy08MgvkW_znH0U/s1600/IMG_5771-757242.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6562961531636992466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLPM4xMoTAsnGsSUFEgUKo3_a0Ilr2bgKE1C9pCA7EOFx7Z46sNirvXNQUHca5WI6XqhGPYYa5j1d6LWCWsiQjM9scfw8iHw_HRSKkdokxMcoZwbSTfhOh2MfJgKoGy08MgvkW_znH0U/s320/IMG_5771-757242.jpg" /></a>
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<span style="font-size: large;">March...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQ2Wuf3tLxDD1VvryJd64vT_Tj-HK2jHb8ke2PaQXCINT1h9-IWIslRwfwfVfUvcnyuiZ00G-QD_jxLJRw55VPyJxzHLRII31kStPspFyNVeUpLKF4hymszjdzVLWT5-D4rxuPg0sXF0/s1600/IMG_6116-758862.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6562961537882672546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQ2Wuf3tLxDD1VvryJd64vT_Tj-HK2jHb8ke2PaQXCINT1h9-IWIslRwfwfVfUvcnyuiZ00G-QD_jxLJRw55VPyJxzHLRII31kStPspFyNVeUpLKF4hymszjdzVLWT5-D4rxuPg0sXF0/s320/IMG_6116-758862.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">April...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTYx_uPJQmMM-WR0TEvH3qKt78DDw_paZ-v7gHX5tHXuvMl_pIV-ZlkjVGE_kId0vqVLsPXu0g9t03AHums0cHcdWFGjPz1MVznP25bro_DL2-34gY-flq1DrNHaznPNqn4xzHkeSEQ4/s1600/IMG_6286-760273.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6562961545814846226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTYx_uPJQmMM-WR0TEvH3qKt78DDw_paZ-v7gHX5tHXuvMl_pIV-ZlkjVGE_kId0vqVLsPXu0g9t03AHums0cHcdWFGjPz1MVznP25bro_DL2-34gY-flq1DrNHaznPNqn4xzHkeSEQ4/s320/IMG_6286-760273.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last week...</span><br />
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George Habelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17780323771760067912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3163928980075293437.post-88118082370422088552018-05-14T22:19:00.002-04:002018-05-15T12:41:56.335-04:00NBC Reports: Miracle League<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt</b> was on location in Durham for the network’s May 11th broadcast, and our Miracle League project received national attention. Thank you, NBC! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The 6:30 national news broadcast closed with an affecting story about <a href="http://miracleleagueofthetriangle.com/" target="_blank">Miracle League of the Triangle</a>. It was shot the previous Saturday at the Andy’s Foundation Miracle League field in Cary.
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<span style="caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Bulls Manager Jared Sandberg, several players and front office staffers were volunteers.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The NBC story noted that $1.5mm has been raised for Durham's Miracle League field. That's a great start, but the goal is $2.5mm. We've launched an <i>All-Star Campaign</i> to close the gap. We're reaching out for $5,000 pledges, payable over five years. 100 of those will reap an additional half million dollars. <a href="https://mailchi.mp/miracleleagueofthetriangle/all-stars-needed?e=78a9081356" target="_blank">All-Star Campaign details + pledge form.</a> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">There are 10,000 <i>special needs</i> children within a fifteen minute drive of the DBAP. Let's build a Miracle League field for those kids and their families right here in Durham!</span><br />
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George Habelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17780323771760067912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3163928980075293437.post-19136514803580584522018-04-30T12:25:00.001-04:002018-04-30T12:30:28.857-04:00Country Crescendo <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What a surprise ending!!! <a href="https://www.durhambaseballnotes.com/2018/04/music-city-bull-city.html" target="_blank">Nashville Songwriters at DPAC</a> concluded with <a href="http://www.jessialexandermusic.com/bio/" target="_blank">Jessi Alexander</a> on stage to perform her power ballad <i>The Climb</i>, a triple platinum hit for Miley Cyrus in 2009. Then, the curtain was raised to reveal her accompaniment - the Kidznotes orchestra!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.kidznotes.org/" target="_blank">Kidznotes</a> was a beneficiary of the evening's proceeds, so this was a most meaningful finale for the performers, <i>the kidz</i> and the audience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Capitol Broadcasting Company and WRAL TV were media sponsors. We were <i>accompanied</i> by 94.7 WQDR. Thanks to Don Curtis at Curtis Media and President Trip Savery for getting behind this unique event. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The benefit concert began in a high school cafeteria and has graduated to the DPAC. Another round of applause for the impresario, <a href="http://www.heraldsun.com/entertainment/article209629504.html" target="_blank">Jeff Outlaw</a>!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.huthphoto.com/" target="_blank">Ken Huth Photography</a> was there with his camera...</span><br />
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George Habelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17780323771760067912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3163928980075293437.post-38791855542470787082018-04-20T16:30:00.003-04:002018-04-20T16:36:19.310-04:00Music City + Bull City <br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We are a week away from <b>Nashville Songwriters at the DPAC</b>. Durham County resident and songwriter Jeff Outlaw has persuaded seven of his Music City friends to perform in the Bull City on April 27th. Remarkably, this group is responsible for writing 75 number one country songs! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's a unique event, sort of like <i>Behind the Music </i>meets <i>Unplugged</i>. The writers sit in a semi-circle on stage, share the story behind each song and give a solo performance...<i>with a little help from their friends.</i> It's like you've been invited into the studio. (<a href="http://www.capitolbroadcasting.com/2018/04/09/wral-tv-sponsors-nashville-songwriters-benefit-event-for-local-charities/" target="_blank">Read more about the show.</a>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Capitol Broadcasting Co. came on board because a portion of the proceeds will benefit Kidznotes, the nonprofit that engages youth with orchestra, band and choir. I really liked the idea of putting the popularity of country music to work in that space.</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/64sesn1pl7uu58w/outlaw.mp4?dl=0" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Jeff Outlaw chats with WRAL's Bill Leslie.</span></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/7bsysgulolwd4dv/Nashville_Songwriters_R1smaller.mp4?dl=0" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Watch the TV commercial.</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.dpacnc.com/events/detail/nashville-songwriters" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Reserve your seats!!!</span></a></div>
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George Habelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17780323771760067912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3163928980075293437.post-50859532489508533262018-03-23T22:01:00.000-04:002018-03-23T22:01:07.368-04:00Gardening at the DBAP<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Durham Bulls are known for our urban oasis of luxuriant turf. Up next: squash and tomatoes and blueberries!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We are creating an edible landscape along Jackie Robinson Drive - an urban garden. It’s a riff on the Victory Gardens of wartime and the symbolic battle with food insecurity and unhealthy diets. [<a href="https://www.milb.com/bulls/news/bulls-partner-with-blue-cross-nc-non-profits-on-edible-victory-garden/c-269291002" target="_blank">Bulls media release</a>]</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Ze48KOffjjZENcJVl_p6Yi-zSbIm6ruZnzafJOWO9iZgPpieBDARJ-BIR4XD3vGK3rmnlOAwBD9iHMwOPQh6DUVFyMgp2-yWeAWiMRM6170Bue8O6IPFbAObWURMZgCajjy4sEpISmQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-03-23+at+9.35.33+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="632" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Ze48KOffjjZENcJVl_p6Yi-zSbIm6ruZnzafJOWO9iZgPpieBDARJ-BIR4XD3vGK3rmnlOAwBD9iHMwOPQh6DUVFyMgp2-yWeAWiMRM6170Bue8O6IPFbAObWURMZgCajjy4sEpISmQ/s400/Screen+Shot+2018-03-23+at+9.35.33+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.foodshuttle.org/" target="_blank">Inter-faith Food Shuttle</a> came to us with this project. Mark Stanford at the American Tobacco Campus is on their board. IFS is promoting urban gardening in what are called food deserts - low income neighborhoods with limited access to fresh fruits and veggies. And it helps to alleviate food insecurity. 23% of NC’s kids live in households classified as food insecure according to the just-released 2018 NC Child Health Report Card. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Another IFS board member <a href="http://blandlandscaping.com/" target="_blank">Kurt Bland</a> has been a key player. He’s in the landscaping business, and his firm figured out how to tuck a 1600 sq’ garden between the ballpark and Jackie Robinson Dr. The street-side location will allow IFS to bring in school groups. Their bus or van can pull right up to the garden. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYA4lRtJb-g8MmpF4Cq_qeSMcPztT7ibwHJoCRATgxYPexy5ysr7z2ZbJRqdlr9AdhJ1N_lC3i0mjrC1g7_BTmGNxBBBVBhRKS1m0PC9UoPEbl0yikKqpctmXEsDaHbCX47E-usbBpKk8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-03-23+at+9.36.06+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="624" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYA4lRtJb-g8MmpF4Cq_qeSMcPztT7ibwHJoCRATgxYPexy5ysr7z2ZbJRqdlr9AdhJ1N_lC3i0mjrC1g7_BTmGNxBBBVBhRKS1m0PC9UoPEbl0yikKqpctmXEsDaHbCX47E-usbBpKk8/s400/Screen+Shot+2018-03-23+at+9.36.06+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Bulls are proficient at growing grass, but I couldn’t vouch for our ability to raise beans and ‘maters. That’s where Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC stepped up with the funding to maintain the garden. The project is aligned with their interest in promoting healthier diets. BCBSNC is particularly concerned with food insecurity, access to fresh/healthy food and childhood obesity. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>How does your garden grow? </i>Check on our progress this summer. I’m hoping the DBAP is the perfect spot for a downtown garden that will bring attention to these issues of hunger, nutrition and better health. Maybe you can grab a handful of fresh blueberries before a game.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">PS - check out <a href="http://mediacenter.bcbsnc.com/news/thrive-nc-presented-by-blue-cross-nc-celebrates-how-communities-thrive-when-they-are-healthy-and-active" target="_blank">Thrive NC</a>. It’s another way Blue Cross is bringing attention to food system and health issues...with a food festival! </span></div>
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George Habelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17780323771760067912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3163928980075293437.post-19478551286738068682018-03-06T14:15:00.002-05:002018-03-06T22:37:40.889-05:00A Clubbie's Spirit<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDUkr0OHBGp-SemO7I4ymvok2XqTEKOkGN66_YEgWac7EMsLyCWeufbYEjjR9EtMG4V1z0Tcto55hrE9Irpnz2QOoWWGB7ajUWiTd3Kg1kY1ruotcyizBwlvD_xKuCjhEmpgKWfHtLEs/s1600/colin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDUkr0OHBGp-SemO7I4ymvok2XqTEKOkGN66_YEgWac7EMsLyCWeufbYEjjR9EtMG4V1z0Tcto55hrE9Irpnz2QOoWWGB7ajUWiTd3Kg1kY1ruotcyizBwlvD_xKuCjhEmpgKWfHtLEs/s200/colin.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">One
year ago Monday our forty-two year old <a href="https://www.milb.com/milb/news/bulls-clubbie-saunders-passes-away/c-218079554" target="_blank">Clubhouse Manager Colin Saunders passed away</a>. He had been very ill, seemed to be improving, then suddenly, he was gone.
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Despite
fourteen years of greeting one another in the office and catacombs of the
ballpark, Colin and I weren’t close. I did not post about this last March.
There were no stories or insights to share. (That photo does suggest a shared bad taste in argyle vest sweaters.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">I
especially regret that disconnect because a profound sadness among my coworkers
settled over the ballpark. Colin was beloved by our staff and within the Rays
organization. Confessor to some. Motivator to others. And <i>chamberlain</i> to the
players and coaches. I use that archaic term to confer dignity on the Clubbie’s
responsibilities and work. He pretty much lived at the ballpark. Steward to the
ball players. Friend to all.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Looking
back twelve months, the 2017 season had a gloomy beginning. Yet the Bulls went
on to win the Governors’ Cup and Triple-A National Championship. We set
business and attendance records - a remarkable year. It’s not sentimental
conjecture - there's undeniable proof - Colin’s spirit was with us.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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George Habelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17780323771760067912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3163928980075293437.post-83945144786153375202018-02-11T22:45:00.001-05:002018-02-12T08:35:14.374-05:00Dedicated to Durham<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9oFh3H07Y0SxJoLArFtQJlqR-ut5R_7n-1M8R3KJ1lBbCrv_pFto4zTV5OSmwpvWXy27k4vOm6Zhlg-_c-98Bbee22sqejDcutqVlSQToc9v2yFVlLfyfhysMX2b5qlLQmvTRQvhitrm/s1600/IMG_0150-738595.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6521504287468501618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9oFh3H07Y0SxJoLArFtQJlqR-ut5R_7n-1M8R3KJ1lBbCrv_pFto4zTV5OSmwpvWXy27k4vOm6Zhlg-_c-98Bbee22sqejDcutqVlSQToc9v2yFVlLfyfhysMX2b5qlLQmvTRQvhitrm/s400/IMG_0150-738595.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><a href="http://huthphoto.com/" style="text-align: start;"><i>HuthPhoto.com</i></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"I will work for Durham until the day I die!"</span></div>
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<i>Cora Cole-McFadden, Civic Honor Award</i></div>
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<i>Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce</i></div>
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<i>Annual Meeting | February 8, 2018</i></div>
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Cora is one of my favorite folks. I called her "Durham dynamite" in a tweet. The former City Councilwoman and Mayor Pro Tem has a big spirit.</div>
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There's an Old Testament story about the prophets Elijah and Elisha where the latter asks "Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit." That's my request of Cora!</div>
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In accepting the Durham Chamber's Civic Honor Award last week, she implored the business community to provide internships and summer jobs for Durham youth - to expose them to the world of business, to the world of work.</div>
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<a href="https://www.dpsnc.net/Page/780" target="_blank">Durham Public Schools</a> and <a href="http://madeindurham.org/made/" target="_blank">Made in Durham</a> are putting a fresh emphasis on work-based learning. It begins simply with career awareness, but that first rung on the ladder is important, especially for our children living at the poverty level. They don't necessarily see beyond their circumstances or neighborhood. An engaging career fair, a summertime job shadow opportunity or part-time job could alter the trajectory of a young life.</div>
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The City has a <a href="https://durhamnc.gov/598/Durham-Youthwork-Internship-Program" target="_blank">YouthWork</a> program. The Durham Bulls and Bull City Hospitality are participating. YouthWork is currently lining up several hundred summer internships. Ideally, it would be in the thousands. </div>
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There are over ten thousand students in Durham's high schools. As the kids move from grade to grade, we need to provide a couple thousand <i>career exposures</i> each year for rising sophomores and juniors, and then for graduates.</div>
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That's ambitious, but scale is important. We need those big numbers to make a significant difference.<br />
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George Habelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17780323771760067912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3163928980075293437.post-49823706774406659362018-01-07T21:41:00.001-05:002018-01-07T22:23:51.239-05:00For Auld Lang Syne, My Friends<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm guilty of severe lollygagging when it comes to this blog. I have developed a Twitter affection, rather, a Twitter infection!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">However, a tweet is inadequate for the season of our <b>Triple-A National Championship</b> and <b>International League Governors' Cup</b>. I submit - <i>with gratitude</i> - this New Year's post as a placeholder and worthy 2017 year-in-review:
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6M_yMaY8jOJg4bxg5d-sjI7iGx-TDzP-pTc59oJ-hHHjhtTE77W3WUluVqCmHKla4_ijFYd-x6eXuYInxr2VWDwlxMKQkq-gCZNTS2QUxhZzrQWuwSdX7YxzqaX5VfwnqPu4GMN21gbN/s1600/IMG_4820-712482.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6508473243290273890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6M_yMaY8jOJg4bxg5d-sjI7iGx-TDzP-pTc59oJ-hHHjhtTE77W3WUluVqCmHKla4_ijFYd-x6eXuYInxr2VWDwlxMKQkq-gCZNTS2QUxhZzrQWuwSdX7YxzqaX5VfwnqPu4GMN21gbN/s400/IMG_4820-712482.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bulls celebrate Sept <a href="https://www.milb.com/bulls/news/bulls-capture-triple-a-national-championship/c-255136536" target="_blank">National Championship win</a> in Scranton PA</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglff2C5zuTKE5hrA98X4OANtnIFs2Kvw5BONrFhPMut14y3l3RlK7fRT-EUKDnIRwFM5F9SUnWDTQvv1ZYz2P13laV4fQtHWxNPqfNLCScCLwHweaaiGRQa1RQ9tB_EDsOTglS7mPRBcDt/s1600/IMG_4682-708954.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="213" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6508473229363988738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglff2C5zuTKE5hrA98X4OANtnIFs2Kvw5BONrFhPMut14y3l3RlK7fRT-EUKDnIRwFM5F9SUnWDTQvv1ZYz2P13laV4fQtHWxNPqfNLCScCLwHweaaiGRQa1RQ9tB_EDsOTglS7mPRBcDt/s320/IMG_4682-708954.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Durham hoists the <a href="https://www.milb.com/bulls/news/bulls-win-governors-cup-title-with-6-4-win/c-254513808" target="_blank">Governors' Cup</a> x5</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQX-OjS2wZs1hToOSX9gNUQ54fbisYRa0N571j7Irec801JX1LlZDd_yZ6ihwKn9oceZM37RcCuHolgD7zyIstC8PkiGGYpJ9mzmwxeLMMIUP3w7d2hfp_9YWoxQjLtHRRjQ5i0xysxmVU/s1600/IMG_3587-715285.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6508473257738663202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQX-OjS2wZs1hToOSX9gNUQ54fbisYRa0N571j7Irec801JX1LlZDd_yZ6ihwKn9oceZM37RcCuHolgD7zyIstC8PkiGGYpJ9mzmwxeLMMIUP3w7d2hfp_9YWoxQjLtHRRjQ5i0xysxmVU/s320/IMG_3587-715285.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">L/R: Mike Birling, Durham Mayor Bill Bell & NC Gov Roy Cooper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, a tweet is insufficient.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">...for celebrating a twenty year affiliation with the Tampa Bay Rays and over ten million tickets sold at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Other highlights for me included Hispanic Heritage Night, Bark in the Park, Durm Night, Taco Tuesdays, our first e-gaming tourney at the DBAP and the enduring national popularity of the Bulls' logo and apparel.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-xm5041NU3RAF042E1qHmyjiA8-tgwHuh538QZT8hUGeNSaICHW_z_xMMljObbDmmjA4lwdarreVNogatriiQmfoDOJrT4y48ro6BLJxEmxp4Lwuxp2sTvOpBV8ZIdVMZotlAykKcPi5/s1600/E259E796-046D-456B-9F26-B56231C5D154-738103.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6508473351206503938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-xm5041NU3RAF042E1qHmyjiA8-tgwHuh538QZT8hUGeNSaICHW_z_xMMljObbDmmjA4lwdarreVNogatriiQmfoDOJrT4y48ro6BLJxEmxp4Lwuxp2sTvOpBV8ZIdVMZotlAykKcPi5/s400/E259E796-046D-456B-9F26-B56231C5D154-738103.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">More on the Bulls <a href="https://medium.com/hit-bull-win-blog/durham-bulls-top-10-moments-of-2017-8e7270dd3b1" target="_blank">Top Ten Moments of 2017</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As 2018 begins, I'm moving into a Special Projects role at Capitol Broadcasting Co. Building the <a href="http://www.wral.com/durham-bulls-miracle-league-field-expands-baseball-league-for-children-with-disabilities-/17089431/" target="_blank">Miracle League ball field</a> in Durham is one of my top assignments. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, Bulls GM Mike Birling got the "call up." He's the new and very able VP of Baseball Operations. His cup overfloweth with the <a href="https://www.milb.com/bulls/news/acc-championship-packages-on-sale-now/c-262873446" target="_blank">ACC Baseball Championship</a> returning to Durham in May and the <a href="http://www.salamandersbaseball.com/" target="_blank">Holly Springs Salamanders</a>, Capitol's newly acquired collegiate summer league team. And in his spare time, Mike's designing jewelry...</span></div>
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George Habelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17780323771760067912noreply@blogger.com