Remembering Rha Rha Garrett

Today's guests:

• Chris George, Legion Baseball President (2:57)
• Bill Nestor, Robert C. Byrd play-by-play (24:08)
• Greg Carey, MetroNews (1:12:49)

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
Sports fans, it's time for the Friday Free for All.
Over the next two hours, we'll bring you all the
latest from across the region in high school and college sports.
Now here are your hosts, Chris Johnson and Alex Wheederspield.

Speaker 2 (00:20):
Good morning, folks, Welcome in.

Speaker 3 (00:22):
Great to be here with you, and thanks for joining
us today here on the Friday Free for All, brought
to you by Dan Cavatoto bu at GMC. I'm Alex Weederspield,
got a great show for you today. Chris Johnson will
be joining me in studio here a little bit later,
closer to the bottom of the hour. We're gonna hear
from Chris George coming up in just a few minutes
on the other side of our first break, and to

(00:43):
talk some baseball with Chris coming up here in just
a few minutes, and hear what's going on around Legion
ball around the state with Chris. Then we are going
to spend the overwhelming majority of today's show basically from
seven thirty on today, talk a little bit about the
RCB standout raw Rod Garrett Rashad or Jamad Rashad. Raw

(01:06):
Rod Garrett, who died tragically earlier this week at the
age of thirty one. Actually it was seven days ago specifically,
and in a boating accident, and just beloved former RCB athlete,
beloved in the community. And we are, you know, obviously

(01:26):
impacted when we think about this as a high school
sports So I missed covering him.

Speaker 4 (01:30):
By a year.

Speaker 3 (01:32):
He had just graduated when I started officially on the
high school sports beat in twenty thirteen, So I missed
him by one year.

Speaker 2 (01:43):
I believe.

Speaker 3 (01:44):
But regardless, we're going to talk with Chris. Chris mentioned
one of his all time favorite athletes that he had
ever covered in his entire time, and that's saying something
Chris is spent a long time covering high school sports
in this region. Going to talk with Bill Nestor, who
of course is the play by play voice of our
CB football, And we're going to talk with Greg Carey,

(02:07):
covered raw Rock Garrett early in his career as well,
right when he started out with the xpone and Telegram
of course is with us right now with Wvmetronews dot com.

Speaker 2 (02:16):
So that's what's coming up on.

Speaker 3 (02:17):
The show today, and of course we'll also hit a
couple of other things as well. The Harrison County awards.
All county awards this week brought to you by It
was the MVB Xponent Awards. I don't think I don't
think I got the name officially right, but saw those
today Bridgeport swept or saw those the other day. I
should say Bridgeport swept through those awards. We'll talk about

(02:39):
that a little bit with Chris both Chris is as well.

Speaker 2 (02:43):
We'll get to all of that coming up.

Speaker 3 (02:46):
That said, why don't we go ahead and hit our
first break and we'll get through it quickly because we've
got a lot of content on the show today. This
is the Friday Free for All brought to you by
Dankavitzha you a GMC.

Speaker 1 (02:56):
We're back after this time for more high school sport
talk on the Dan Cavatoyota WI GMC Friday Free for All.

Speaker 3 (03:05):
Leading off the show this morning on the Friday Free
for All brought to you by Dan Cabotoo. To Buig
GMC is Chris George, who is a little bit of
everything for us this time of year. He's our legion
baseball guy, he's our Pittsburgh Pirates guy. He's our utility
player during baseball season. There's no question about that. Chris
with up man.

Speaker 4 (03:22):
This has been a crazy week for Legion Baseball and
a little bit a side to that. Of course, everyone
knows I'm the state chair, but with that comes duties
of sitting national guidelines. Had the national roster deadline on
June twenty fifth, which was back on Wednesday, and we

(03:43):
had to have every buddy submit their rosters for their
senior and junior teams. You're allowed to eighteen guys on each.
If you want a dual roster player, you can put
them on both rosters for the eligible to play for
both as long as as long as the junior legion
of courses seventeen and under senior is nineteen under. So

(04:05):
you've got a junior leaging kid that's seventeen or under,
he can play both as long as you rosh them both.
And again the senior you don't have to be nineteen.
You can be thirteen if you really want to. If
there's someone that talent, which I have seen before, it's
been a long time, but man, it was busy this
week getting all that done. I was literally up with
former Bridgeport All State product in Paulson, who is the

(04:28):
current manure for the Bridgeport Junior Leagion team and a
current West State standout as well, had a good season
down at Westernion State year baseball wise, I was on
They literally got their roster eleven forty one pm on
Wednesday night, So congratulations to eight. And he's doing such
an excellent job. I'm not surprised that he knew he

(04:52):
could do it. I mean, just a break guy. He's smart,
he's intelligent, he knows the game of baseball, and he's
really enjoying his first year coaching still playing college baseball,
so you know, he still got a little bit more
time left. Nate Paul's brother finished up this past year,
so a little bit of a report flavor giving back
He and Ryan Golf and many other giving back to

(05:13):
the Bridgeport Legion team this year, the younger team, the
junior and we got them all in and we got
all We had a couple of teams dropped earlier in
the season two to be exact, one of them Elkins
Push twenty nine. That's just a terrible loss there. I
mean that's the program that they started the year, played
one game and just didn't have enough body and then uh,

(05:34):
Cystonville Junior Legion dropped out a couple of weeks ago,
so that's it. We lost two that originally signed up,
played a couple of games, but all in all pretty good.
It's it's been a crazy week, but now we can
move on and focus towards, you know, the season on
towards the month of July when things get interesting.

Speaker 3 (05:54):
What are the biggest things outside of obviously those teams dropping,
What are the biggest things in terms of the wind
and losses for this week across the state.

Speaker 4 (06:02):
Well, we have another tournament this weekend. It's in Morgantown,
the Mountaineer Classic Invitational. Tyler Barnett, who was my assistant
chairman and also the Area two chairmen and then he
and of course he's the general manager of Morgantown Post
two running another tournament this weekend, and uh, this is

(06:24):
something he's did a year ago and it's taken off,
so gonna have several different teams are using fields in
Morgantown also Bridgeports, so of course the host team, Morgantown
Post two is in it. They were playing Parkersburg last night,
got some heavy weather up in the Morgan area last
night and they got Parkersburg was leading four in the

(06:46):
fourth thing before weather hitting ended that there are some games.
Bridgeport was able to play Union Town, Pennsylvaniaport won that
final score two to one, and Bridge Sports had a
good week as well. Bridgeport right now and having a
good year. Let me get you their record as I
scroll down here, we got everything on a game changer

(07:07):
each we got. I got my master control here of
all the team game changers that kind of follow them
throughout the years. Bridgeport is down nine and three, and
they've had a good week. If you did Clarksburg back
on Wednesday league game six to five, they were down
five nothing right to score six to back and win that.
And if he did Buckannon on Monday in a wild
one eight in Tenderton, so good week for them. They

(07:30):
split with souths back on Saturday. So Buchannon's off to
a good start there, nine and three. But we've had
some other teams really getting off the good starts as well.
You know, you take a look at overall as I'm
looking at my standing overall, Parkersburg currently fourteen and six
and a big winter Areada back on Wednesday, that's there

(07:51):
across the river, rival little there a backyard brawl so
to speak. There in Wood County of course, Marietta, it's
just right across the river, and Wheeling Post one, infending
state champions from a year ago, off to eleven and
five start. They had a sixteen to six win over
Morgantown back on Monday, and it kind of raised my
brows there. It's a Wheeling strong a gift South Charleston

(08:15):
of course, they're drawing from like nine hundred school Valley
again and they're off to an eight and two start.
They had a bit over Beckley back on Winstey in
an area matchup in Area three in the first game
of a double hair. Second game was rained out, and
that's where you find Bridge right there after those three
at currently nine and three. As I mentioned earlier, Berkeley
County fourteen, they're off to a good start at nine

(08:37):
and four, but I think dorry is North Berkeley Post
sixty to Knights. That's a team that's based out of
it's based out of they played at Hedgesville. They have
eleven players on the every team man roster from that
Hedgesville team went to the state tournament this year and
really represented the Panhandle well and five other kids from
Spring Mills High School. This is a very talented North

(09:00):
Berkeley team the nice Post sixty to keep an eye
on them. They did defeat Berkeley in a key area
matchup again back on Wednesday by the final score of
two to one. That's some of the teams right now.
To take a look the Beckley Bash. Beckley is currently
not in seven Morgantown five and six, but a whole
little Morgantown. They lost, They went down to Ashboro, North Carolina,

(09:20):
and really good competition, lost the four teams from out
of state, and lost a good, willing team on the
road back on Monday. So they've played a tremendous schedule.
It's kind of what we're looking at right now, and
I want to give credit to these teams. And we
got some more going out of state this week as
well as I was taking a look at it. Charleston
Post sixty five is up in Lancaster playing some good

(09:42):
teams this weekend. I want to credit all these teams
for taking time out of their schedule and going out
and playing people out of state. We had Berkeley go
to Myrtle Beach last weekend. We had of course Morgan
down North Carolina, Beckley in the eastern part of North
Carolina and will North Carolina, and we had North Berkeley
and Frink, Maryland, and we had Clarksburg locally. Clarksburg went

(10:06):
to a coffee Ohio to play at a tournament where
they went to and too. So these team going out
and playing people, getting these kids on out in the road,
getting exposure, get him a chance the few what college
baseball is like. And I think that's key. It's it's
why you play Legion. Baseball's tough for It's another level
above high school because you've got a lot of nineteen
year olds evolve. It's all star co petition basically, and

(10:30):
you're getting these kids a taste what college baseball's like.

Speaker 3 (10:35):
Uh, let's let's talk about the Pirates for a minute here,
let's move over to Major League Baseball. I know you're
getting ready to go up and see them again later tonight,
weather permitting, I imagined, But New York Mets coming to town,
and the Mets have been kind of reeling lately a
little bit. They got off to a really hot start
this season, haven't been playing as well lately. Hasn't really

(10:58):
mattered for the Pirates because by and large, the hitting
consistency hasn't been there. And one of the things you're
starting to notice, and certainly I'm noticing it, the ownership
is drawn some strays from across I saw national media
talking a little bit about the Pirates' ownership yesterday and
it was not particularly praised worthy.

Speaker 2 (11:20):
I can find the.

Speaker 3 (11:20):
Exact quote, I will, but Pirates have struggled lately.

Speaker 5 (11:25):
Again.

Speaker 3 (11:25):
A lot of it comes down to hitting. What are
you thinking in this series with the Mets.

Speaker 4 (11:31):
Well, I mean, you know right now, if you're Pittsburgh,
you're just trying to find a way to score some runs.
I mean, you hit the nail on the head. It's
not just been this year, It's been ever since Sherrington
and company have taken this program over twenty nineteen, even
before that, in the later stages of Neil Hydington. You know,
Neil Hyton did a good job building the Pirates into

(11:51):
three playoff wild Card appearances, but then in the back
of the end of his tenure in Pittsburgh they really
struggled and he was dismissed. After the twenty eighteen season,
Hyington was hired Earn A. Hidington ben Chais hires a
GM and it's just been an epic failed since and
I mean Pittsburgh like other small market teams and you

(12:13):
know who they are, and Cleveland locally closest to us,
excellent job of developed in their own Pittsburgh has to
do a better job developing their own personnel in the
minor leagues. Now, they've done a good job developing starting
pitching and that has really showed, but they have done
a horrible job developing position players and hitting. You look
at their lina. They've got guys that can field the ball.

(12:36):
They got good fielders, but everyone's kind of type of hitter,
you know, and they really stress exit velocity, go up
and hit the ball hard. That's that's important, don't get
me wrong. But the days of getting guys in there
hit to all fields, I mean, I get it. There's
not a lot of power out there. Plus with the
baseballs that they are being used this year, if the race scenes,

(12:58):
home runs are down except for a couple of people
in Seattle, New York, but overall, home runs are down.
But you've got to find ways to get their hitting
and better. But you've got the same guys they've had
chances and chances chances. This is O'Neill Cruz's worst season
really so far, even bad. He got pulled this week
in a game at Milwaukee for not hustlers probably should

(13:20):
have been ten times prior to that, and then he
was rewarded as starting I feel the next game, which
is neither here or there. But even Brian Reynolds is
having a down year. They just don't. They've got hitters
that can hit, maybe not consistently, but they've got guys
that can't hit to all fields. They've got to do
a better job going up there and hitting the ball

(13:42):
to all fields, manufacturing runs for you know, putting more,
putting the bases in motion more often, learning hit behind,
little things like this, fundamental stuff. But the bottom line
such the same personnel they've had here for you know,
pretty much the whole ten of this group since trying
to taken over. So you got what you got and
want to change you've tried. They pounded away at guys

(14:05):
to get them the year after year after year. Sometimes
you just are what you are. So right now, I think,
and I don't know what's gonna happen. I don't want
to I don't want to root for anyone to lose
their job at any means, but I think you know
there's there's change. Kind we saw the manager switch this year,
I think the genial manager. But ress just because you
hire a new GM doesn't have been six success the

(14:28):
next year. It's Pittsburgh's a place you've got to take
your time, and you've got to develop your own and
you've got to do it the right way, because it
has shown in Minnesota, in Tampa and Oakland, in freaking
Cleveland and other places that small market teams can develop
the room and still win. It's not hard like it

(14:51):
used to be to make playoffs. You can make it
as a wild card one, two or three. You can
finish five hundred or above and you got a chance
to make the playoffs.

Speaker 5 (15:00):
Let me read you.

Speaker 3 (15:01):
I found the quote, so it was ESPN's Jeff Bisson.
He was on ninety three to seven, The Fan in
Pittsburgh and pretty appropriate. This is in regards to Bob
Nutting's reputation around baseball as owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Speaker 5 (15:13):
Quote.

Speaker 3 (15:13):
I think he's seen as somebody who has a passionate
fan base, who has arguably the most beautiful stadium in
Major League Baseball and completely wasted it.

Speaker 5 (15:24):
Yeah end quote.

Speaker 4 (15:25):
Yeah, yeah, And Jeff Passon's right. He's been a very
he's been very critical of this team in this organization,
and rightfully so. I mean, they got one of the
best stadiums in America, they have one of the best
backgrounds in America, but one of the worst products to
go in it. It all starts with Bob Nutting I
kind of set. You can go hire a new deral manager,

(15:45):
you can hire new Scotts, new executives, you can hire
new anything. The bomb line is it comes down to
the other how much does the owner want to spend
here and how much does he want to do how
to get a winning product in Pittsburgh. I get it,
you're not going to be able to go there with
the payroll and compete against the top half of the
Major League small but you can dump your money into

(16:07):
the farm and then the executives, into the scouting and
into the general everything, and that's where you've got to
get better and then just take a shot, build them,
and then your shot and figure out who is your
ma is at Don Kelly, is it is a Bob
Smith who knows who it'll be, But figure that part out.
But you know, and you're right, Jeff passing is right.

(16:28):
A lot of people, right. I just think sometimes Bob
Nuhing sits out there, he looks and he sees PNC
Park on Friday and Saturday night packed almost every weekend,
and he's happy. He's happy. Oh theok having fun, they're
doing the wave. Oh look, they're having a fireworks show.
They got a drone and at the end of the day,
that's great entertainment for the fan. Of product on the

(16:51):
field has got to get better. I've had seven winning
seasons since nineteen ninety seven, since nineteen ninety and I
was in middle school, middle school, so you know, it's
I know Bob's not been the owner all that time,
but uh, they got to do they figure out something

(17:11):
because let's face it, the city of Pittsburgh's a proud Sportstown.
The Steelers, I know they've had to reach the struggles
winning golf games, but they get winning seasons every year
under Mike Tomlin. The Painters, I know, they've had some
struggles last couple of years, but they win. They develop
players really well. The Penguins have had great ownership, you know,
and do a good job developing their own. They man

(17:34):
several good runs. They've won some stand cups and he
got the Pirates. They go back to Barry Bonds, Andy,
Bobby Benia, No dre Beck. Yeah, great players from nineteen
ninety through nineteen ninety get it. And then right now
Andrew mccutch and stills players on the baseball team. He's
thirty eight and he goes back to the hey days
of twenty thirteen, fourteen and fifteen. We have got to

(17:56):
find a way to try some life into this organization
and develop our own and build it. Find a way
to add a piece or two when you can in
free agency, and be smart with your trades, you know,
be very smart. Ben Sherrington's trees that he has made
over the past six years has been terrible. Only Bailly
Falter has worked out that was a good trade for

(18:17):
Rodolfo Cash. All these other trades man, every one of them.
You can find tons of ink all over the place,
and I'm not going to I think we could talk
for six ers on that. Again, it's a very small
margin of error for small market teams in baseball without
a cap out a floor. It's a very small but
it can be done. It has been done, and it's

(18:39):
got to be done within your minor league system to
be able to develop your own bring them up in
ways because you know you can't keep all and that's
the only way they can do it. And they have
failed doing that and failed. I mean, they got the
guys here now that they thought it took over nineteen
they could win with and these aren't the guys. And
Neil Cruz is what he is. Only Nick go Zalez

(19:01):
has really turned out to be a decent good hit.
Henry Davis has not been nearly is what they thought.
He was a number pick in the draft in twenty
twenty one. He's betting one ninety four O'Neil Cruz is
bat in two eight leads at in chlegas strikeouts, he's
batting will under one hundred and one eighty against left
handed pitching.

Speaker 3 (19:23):
Well, well, we'll wrap on a positive note, not related
to the Pirates. There aren't many to aren't many to.

Speaker 4 (19:28):
They got, they got starting, they got they do. They
do have one of the best. They got one of
the best pictures baseball. And they got Mitch Keller, who's
a very good picture. It's one in ten below four.
Think about that one, yeah, one in ten and j
ras before below four.

Speaker 3 (19:43):
What is that, Well, what does that tell you? The
math doesn't math there. He shouldn't be one in ten,
but they don't have any run support for him. Hey,
I wanted to very quickly just get your take on
Javon Small. Got taken in the second round of the
NBA Draft last night, right around where he was kind
of project did he?

Speaker 5 (20:00):
He was writing?

Speaker 3 (20:02):
He got taken forty eighth overall, and I saw a
lot of spots with him right in those sort of
like low fifties, mid fifties areas, so pretty much where
he was expected to go.

Speaker 2 (20:11):
Heads over to Memphis.

Speaker 5 (20:13):
What do you think?

Speaker 3 (20:14):
How big of an impact can Javon Small make and
how quickly of an impact can he make?

Speaker 5 (20:17):
It?

Speaker 3 (20:18):
Is this an NBA player, because certainly Memphis is banking
on the possibility that even at least as a role player.

Speaker 4 (20:24):
He will be I think he will be in time.
He's six' three for. Awl he can hail the, basketball
his shooting from the outside and pre drastically last year
he could take it to the. Rim the only thing
he lacked that explosives type speed that you want from
that guard is in at me he's. Got he makes
up for it with strength he. Gives he does a

(20:44):
job on a step back. Jumper he's got, experience tons
tons of, experience and he's a very good. Defender he
kind of reminds me Of Javon, carter Except carter's probably
a better defender, obviously But carter had that, eyes had that,
strength and it's all as a little bit taller than
What Yvon carter, is you. Know and this is the

(21:06):
prototypical guard that NBA's teams are looking at. Guards they
are six 'y three the six six sixty seven, range
that can handle the, ball that are. Strong AND i
Think Javon, small maybe not this, YEAR i think he
has a chance to make it that he's a hard
worker and he's improved every single year he's played the.
Game and this is a guy that started Out East,
carolina went To Oklahoma state man named for, himself and

(21:29):
he took a big choice past year At West. Virginia
and this is Something West virginia is not going to
have next. Year they have done having done a great
job in the. Portal when it comes trying to find
a guy Like Javon, small they're very small at the guard.
Position it really concerns me for this, year although it
er won With Ross. Hodge come, on now here, one

(21:50):
there's no expectations. Here but it's gonna be a very,
small Undersized West. Virginia it's gonna maybe score a little,
bit but it's going to get eight alive in That big.
Twelve big physical guards all over the. Place But Javon
small is a tight guy That West virginia needs to
have going forward to play only in The big, twelve
but play. Nationally he was one of the best players

(22:11):
in the nation last year got. Drafted not surprised he
went where he. Went i'm very tickled and he got,
drafted and that's just a good thing For West, virginia.
RIGHT i, mean you look at their base. Program they're
going to have some guys taken in The Major League
Baseball draft coming up here middle Of. July they've had
some players, drafted not recently but. Time when you look

(22:31):
What Dana holgris, was there tons of players not as
manny Under Neil brown except For Zach frazier And White
Ma and then you Know Rich. Rodriguez he had done
of players drafted back his. Tenure NOW i think you're
going to see that again in the. Future so This
mountain Near Batir athletic. Program in The big, twelve guys
Like Javon small Puts West virginia on the. Map congratulations to.

(22:52):
HIM i wish he had more than one, year but
that's just the way of the.

Speaker 3 (22:55):
Portal one year and wish he had had a, postseason
but nothing we, can, nothing we.

Speaker 2 (22:59):
Can, yeah, yeah you wish he deserved.

Speaker 4 (23:04):
It, YEAH i just you, know but, man what A
i think if you look back at, it he's so
unique and how he did, it will you break? Him you?
Know in modern, TIMES i still Think Javon carter the
best scard we've seen In West, virginia and modern times
do Speak bride right there Behind, carter if not maybe
pulling the even. LEVEL i Think Javon small's in that,

(23:25):
range in that top five or. Six and modern Time
i'm talking about from let's just, say from today's, generation
the two thousands to. NOW i Think Javon small's right up.
There he's right up, there one of the top five
Players West virginia's had since. Then And i'm Tickled we've
got him AND i think he's going to do five
there at the next. Level very.

Speaker 3 (23:46):
Good, chris much appreciated. Man we will not talk with
you next week because of course it's the fourth Of.
July we'll chat with you again the following, Week july,
eleventh but we're also going to start taking a really
hard look at high school football across the. Region, chris thanks. Man, okay,
here we'll be back right after This Bill nester coming
up on The Friday free For, all brought to you

(24:06):
By Dan cavitt OF YUICK.

Speaker 1 (24:07):
Gmc time for more high school sports talk on The
dan CAVATORYO WI Gmc Friday free For.

Speaker 3 (24:14):
ALL i don't know if it did for, you, guys
but sometimes when when you're, MULTITASKING i feel like these
breaks just kind of fly. By Alex sweeterspiel here with
you back in the, studio and we Thank Chris george
for joining us first thing this morning and now for
the first time in a.

Speaker 2 (24:30):
While and this is how you.

Speaker 3 (24:31):
Know it's football, season AND i wish it were under different, circumstances,
admittedly but my co host partner in, Crime Chris, johnson
is in studio with.

Speaker 2 (24:38):
Me what's, Up, Chris good, Morning good to see you in.
Person it is really.

Speaker 5 (24:42):
Good we've been a little.

Speaker 3 (24:42):
Long it has been it has been a minute we've,
been we've been over the, phone we've been over, Zoom
we've we've done we've done every TECHNOLOGY i think you
could possibly. Do but we We're this is the old
fashioned way to do, it the best. Way, yeah sit
behind a microphone and shoot the breeze a little. Bit
and it really does feel a little bit Like. August and,
AGAIN i do wish it were under different, circumstances because it.
Is it's it's a reminder that football is coming. Up

(25:04):
it's nice to have both you here and then on
the line with us right. Now Bill, nester the play
by play voice of r C, b and you, know
to have you, On bill is always a. Pleasure it's
unfortunate for the reason uh here in in uh In.
June uh and of course that is the the passing
of really one of the best players in recent memory
to come out of r C b very tragically and

(25:27):
uh Raw Rob, garrett your Mid.

Speaker 2 (25:28):
Garrett But, bill good, morning welcome, In.

Speaker 6 (25:31):
Good, Morning. Alex thank you guys for having me. ON
i really appreciate.

Speaker 5 (25:33):
It, Yeah i'll. Admit.

Speaker 7 (25:35):
Uh you, KNOW I i reached out To alex earlier
this week AND i, said you, KNOW i don't know
what we have planned pretty sweet. Show but you considering
you know Raw ro's you, know recent, PASSING.

Speaker 5 (25:48):
I thought it might.

Speaker 7 (25:49):
Be a good idea to have like a little bit
of a tribute show to him And, Bill you're first
PERSON i.

Speaker 5 (25:54):
Thought of that THAT i knew would want to be.

Speaker 7 (25:57):
A part, of you, know just sharing some worries about
uh uh what not only the type of player Rale ra,
was but you know the type of person he, was
you know he was he was a special young.

Speaker 5 (26:11):
Man and uh, AH i it hit.

Speaker 7 (26:15):
Me Greg, harry who will be talking to, Later he
actually sent me a, text uh you know the day
when it. HAPPENED i, mean it just floored. ME i
mean it's never easy when when with any situation like,
this but when it's someone that you interacted with a,
lot AND i mean she built there was times in my.

(26:36):
LIFE i MEAN i Thought rara all the. SUPERMAN i
MEAN i, thought you, know he was in you, know you,
know nothing could take you, know this man. Out LIKE i, said,
man it just hit me like a ton of. Bricks
And i've been doing a lot of thinking just about
how how special he was on the field and off the,
field and, uh you know AGAIN I.

Speaker 5 (26:57):
I i know. You we've talked about it you throughout the.
YEARS i know you feel the same, way Man, CHRIS.

Speaker 6 (27:02):
I, do and you, know you being a part of,
it and you, know being around a lot of those,
times you share a lot of the same memories THAT
i do Of Jermaud and you, Know Rob rad was
one of those guys that he Was Lawrence, taylor. Esq
and the way he played the, game and those who

(27:24):
didn't get to see him play it don't understand what
kinds of presence he had on a football. Field and
to understand, that you'd have to understand how much the
game really meant to. Him it wasn't just a. Game
he lived the. Game he literally. Did and you, know
you go back and you, say, well a lot of
players you're fortunate enough to see have maybe a great senior,

(27:49):
year or maybe they had a great junior year and
a Senior but he came on the scene as a
sophomore at the end of his sophomore year and made
an impact in the last couple. Games you, know he
scored a touchdown in the playoff game Against, morgantown and
then his junior, year you, know just just completely dominated you,

(28:09):
KNOW i think he did the gaveraged double duty tackles
in every GAME i think back, then which was an
amazing feat in. Itself you, know scored a handful of touchdowns,
defensively and then you know he played he played the
sophomore junior years under Coach Josh grell and then had
a chance to play his senior year Under Bruce carey

(28:30):
as a. Legend and of course teammates with T, Wagner
ben The, Nunzio Trey, Hawx Isaiah, Hill Mason, compton you,
know a couple of those guys on the coaching staff here.
Recently that was, arguably when you look, back maybe the
closest in terms of the conventional sense of getting to
a state championship NON covid induced that that any team

(28:54):
has ever been IN rcv. History you, know With Winsover
Braxton county, bluefield a you of a blue field and
then finally losen To wayne just one step away from
competing for a. Title so those guys were, special and
he was the defensive. Catalyst he was just the ring.
Leader he was the emotional leader of a team that

(29:15):
was just stacked with unbelievable. Athletes but he was a
guy that everybody looked, to everybody went to because he
was just the. Guy and so, YEAH i mean it's
just you think about, tragedies then you think about losses
of people way too, soon and this is just a

(29:37):
prime example of. That it's just. Tragic and you hear
THE rcb community has been saddened and all the responses
On facebook from former teammates to just, classmates to people
that knew Ra ron that he meant so much, too
not only on the football field but off of the
football field as a great human. Being and so, yeah

(29:57):
it's definitely a, tragic devastating time and it's just hard
and my heartfelt sympathies go out to his family right
now through this difficult.

Speaker 5 (30:06):
Time you.

Speaker 3 (30:07):
Know it's it's been interesting guys, too Because I've i've
heard and you, know just looking at even like the
opit he served seven years in the in The National,
guard loved, fishing and uh just just seemed like a
real all around good. Guy AND i have heard that
from not just you guys as, well but even you,
know my significant other works with one of his former.
Classmates as it turns, Out, uh and and.

Speaker 2 (30:30):
Just, floored just, Floored uh.

Speaker 3 (30:32):
And and and that was HOW i initially heard about,
this was was passing, it passing it along the, grapevine and,
uh his his services is obviously, today AND i, figured
you guys wanted to just share some other stories about
him on the football field or off the football, field
kind of leave it to you because SO i did
do the. MATH i went back and, looked and his
senior year was my first year covering high school. Football

(30:55):
and WHILE i did Interview Bruce kerrey that, YEAR i
did not cover a SINGLE rcb game that, season SO
i never got to see him. Play SO i Figured
i'd let you guys kind of if you've got, raw
rash stories that you want to, share go for.

Speaker 1 (31:06):
It.

Speaker 7 (31:06):
YEAH i you mentioned his time spent in A national.
GUARD i remember one of the last CONVERSATIONS i had with, HIM.

Speaker 5 (31:19):
I thanked him for a.

Speaker 7 (31:20):
Service and you know it's, rare you, well it's uncommon
where you, know like someone my, AGE i get to
do that to someone THAT i covered playing high school.

Speaker 5 (31:31):
Sports and it meant.

Speaker 7 (31:34):
A lot to him because he was every TIME i
run he WOULD i, mean years after he, graduated If
i'd run into, him he would always thank me for
believing in him for writing about, him you, know just
for recognizing just how special of a player you know he.
Was and you, Know bill mentioned the impact he had

(31:54):
as as you, know toward the end of his sophomore,
year if there was one, knock you could make one his.

Speaker 5 (32:01):
Game And, BILL i think you'll probably agree with me on.

Speaker 7 (32:04):
This when he first burst on the, scene he got
by on just pure raw athleticism and emotion and was
in on a ton of. Plays, occasionally if he run
into a, Team i'll just Use bridgeport for, example he
may run past to, play, uh just you, know.

Speaker 5 (32:26):
Getting mixed up with the misdirection and. Stuff but he knew.

Speaker 7 (32:31):
That and as much as he loved playing the, game
he also loved learning about the game and seeing the
progression that he made about understanding what it means to
be a, linebacker understanding.

Speaker 5 (32:45):
Keys he was a real student of the game on.

Speaker 7 (32:48):
Top of all his other uh you, know you, know,
accolades and always really, respective for he was never satisfied
with with being. Complacent. Uh he always wanted to become
a better. Linebacker and for my, money he's he's the
best LINEBACKER i. Overcovered and seeing a lot of great

(33:11):
football players Are ROBERT. C. Byrd and the thing is
you start breaking down by. Position he's, like, well who's
the best quarterback ever At ROBERT. C? Byrd And i'm,
like there's a lot of. Options you could Go casey.
O'Brien you could Go Adam, secret you could Go Jules
marino running backs of ye even, more you know where
It's Jeremiah king Or Juan Jones. Wright you, know, linebacker

(33:33):
this Is Jamad. GARRETT i don't think there's any. Question and,
MAN I i remember his junior. Year you started seeing
stats come in like he's getting fifteen sixteen tackles a,
game and your first React And i've had coaches tell me,
This they're, like they have to be padding his stats

(33:55):
because you know that's an issue sometimes with defensive. Stats you,
know said they'll give, player you, know full, credit you
know for if it's like a you, know a gang.
Tackle it's like everyone that they can See nepole gets
credit for for a full solo. Tackle you can watch
the roll roh play in, Person you're, like, oh, NO
i get.

Speaker 5 (34:11):
It he is in on every single play.

Speaker 7 (34:14):
And, uh the intensity that he played, with you, know
you Know bill mentioned before we went onto airs like
it was hard to approach him before the game because
he was so amped up to go play the.

Speaker 5 (34:24):
Game and you, know.

Speaker 7 (34:27):
It was similar after a game if they if they,
lost is like you had to give him a minute
because he took losing. PERSONALLY i, mean he because he
had the mindset is, like WELL i could have made
one more, TACKLE i COULD i could have done this
that you, know it helped.

Speaker 5 (34:45):
He HATED i mean he was so.

Speaker 3 (34:46):
Competitive, well and what do we know About, Chris what
do we know about Ro really highly competitive athletes do
sometimes they hate losing more than they like.

Speaker 2 (34:53):
Winning, Yeah and and.

Speaker 3 (34:55):
That's another thing to do with linebackers as, well and
just listening to describe, him it's another thing with linea
as as, Well like every great linebacker has that that
like they have to go to someplace, Else like they
can't be present in the. Moment they've got to go
someplace else to get focused for the game because it's
a tough it's one of the toughest jobs in the football.

Speaker 5 (35:14):
Field, yeah and he loved.

Speaker 7 (35:16):
It And, bill you noticed this is you, know probably
even better THAN i. Do he loved playing. Football he
also loved playing Football Robert Siebert high. School Rob rob
loved being a member of The ROBERT.

Speaker 5 (35:30):
S Bird High. School you, know athletic. Programs he loved running,
track you know he.

Speaker 7 (35:35):
Did he didn't play, basketball but you, know some pretty
good basketball teams going on going on at that same,
time and there was no, ONE i promise you in
that student section cheering louder for his, brother you, Know
DeVante burch and and you Know davante's your, teammates you
know during its great. TEAMS i, Mean Jama garrett loved
being a student At ROBERT. S.

Speaker 6 (35:56):
Bird he. Did you, know that's that's the thing about
you know that school, spirit that, pride that's a throwback
to the old days of what it was, like the
school spirit that you saw years and years. Ago and
that was special for. Him it was he took a
lot of pride in. That he took a lot of
pride in everything he. Did and you, know he was

(36:19):
one of those guys in that crossover time period when
you Know Wes brown was working with he was a
big part of the program back. Then and you know
the off season workouts and the time That jermond put
in to get better and the studying that you mentioned
a moment Ago chris was pivotal for. HIM i remember,

(36:41):
him as you, mentioned you, know trying to make a
spectacular play early on in his, career would fail at
that spectacular, play but hustle right back into it to
be a part of the. Play, finally maybe five or
ten yards down the. Field but he would learn from
that and eventually late take better, angles take take less,

(37:02):
chances and make the sure. Play but then when it
was time to make the spectacular, play he was ready
to do. That when it was time to make the
big play on third down or fourth, down you knew
he was going to make that. Play but he just
wanted to do whatever he could to. Win and that's
WHERE i loved him. Most about, him so many guys

(37:23):
would get caught up in the notion of, well you,
KNOW i had ten tackles last, GAME i want twelve this,
GAME i want fifteen the next. Game he didn't care
how many tackles he had as long as at the
end of the day the scoreboard said That Robert siebert
had more points than whomever they were. Playing it's really
all he cared about and would sacrifice any personal accomplishment

(37:46):
for the, team and that really was how he. Operated
and you know the, saying don't feed the. Bears, Man
you didn't go near Raw rob before a. Game hours
before a. Game we'd get in there to do a
broadcast two and a, half three and a, half four
and a half hours before a, game and he was
In he had his game face, on no. MATTER i

(38:07):
used to try to get in there before he was
ready to, go AND i could never beat him into
a situation where he wasn't focused and. READY i never
saw a smile on his face before a, game, never
because he was ready to go from the time he
walked into that stadium until that game started and through the.
Game never ONCE i see a smile his, face even

(38:29):
and at that time you're talking about an eleven and
two record and several blowout wins his senior. YEAR i
don't ever remember seeing a smile on his face until
after a game's over, with because it was all, business
all workmanlike the entire. Time that's the way it approached.
It that's the way he did. It AND i really
appreciated that because for a player in high school to

(38:53):
have that kind of attitude and that kind of, focus
that kind of, drive really said a lot to. Me
and that was something that came from. Inside that was
something that he brought. Out that was something that he
made and he led that. Way it made a lot
of players better because of. THAT a lot of GUYS
i think on that team could have been fence riders

(39:15):
that could have gone either, way could have been really good,
players or maybe could have slacked off a little bit
and been average players because they were Raw ross. Teammates
he made them better because they saw how hard he
worked and they wanted to work just as. Hard he
forced him have worked out hard and weight room in
the off. Season he made him work harder in, practice

(39:36):
and he made him work harder and brought the best
out of him in game. Situations he was that kind of.

Speaker 7 (39:41):
Guy, yeah And bill thinking about this, too is like
when we're talking about high school football and you get
an athlete caliber of athlete That Raw raw, was you
gotta find a way to get them involved on offense
at all. Possible, now he had tremendous offense of, teammates

(40:02):
and a lot of times when it comes to high school,
football they'll have a player maybe not play as many
snaps on defense because they need him on. Offense raw
it was the complete. Opposite you, know they they needed
him that bad on defense and he was that important
to what they were doing on defense that he didn't
get you, know that many snaps on, offense you.

Speaker 6 (40:23):
Know, uh, yeah he only Had we had fourteen. CARRIES
i earned fourteen yards in A tv a senior. Year
that's that's all he was. Used, yeah Because Coach carry
Realized chris he was the main focused. Defensively he was that.
Guy and you're one hundred percent right. Now usually it's twisted,
around but not in this.

Speaker 7 (40:39):
Case, yeah if we got, TIME i GOT i.

Speaker 5 (40:42):
DO i do have.

Speaker 7 (40:43):
One kind of funny raw, rosstory go for. It after
his senior year at The Frank lauria, banquet you, know
and this happens at banquets of this nature when you
get people introducing play that you, know AND i DON'T
i don't mean to put anyone, down but they they

(41:03):
don't know who they. Are they're just up there announced
names that you, know they've never seen a football, Game
they've never been around these. Kids it came to Introduce
tramaud And lady Reading awards is and, uh, next we'd
like to Congratulate Jerry Jerry. Garrett you, know Congratulations Jerry
garrett for a tremendous season At robert. C. Burg and you,

(41:27):
KNOW i was, Like, jerry you know, WHATEVER i kind
of forgot about, it you, know because you know there
was other uh names mispronounced or after after the bank was,
OVER i ran in And raw and you tell he
looked as intense as like What bill was talking before a.
GAME i was, Like, raw what's? Wrong and he looked

(41:48):
at me, dead you, know and he, says DO i
look like my Name's?

Speaker 5 (41:51):
Jerry AND i, said, well you? Do.

Speaker 7 (41:53):
Now so the few, TIMES i, mean you, know a
couple of times After i'd run into, Him i'd be, like.

Speaker 5 (41:59):
Hey, man what's Up?

Speaker 7 (41:59):
Jerry but uh, yeah he, Oh i'll just never forget
him saying, Dude i'll look like my name Is.

Speaker 2 (42:07):
Jared, yeah that's that's A that's that's. Fantastic.

Speaker 3 (42:12):
Bill we've got a few minutes if you if you
have anything else that you want to add before we
let you, Go you're you're more than welcome to uh
but otherwise we CAN i know that you're you're running
up against the.

Speaker 5 (42:22):
Time.

Speaker 6 (42:23):
GUYS i just want to thank you for having me
on to talk about a special player and again to
look back at a career that was indeed truly. Special
and As chris, said when you talk about, linebackers you're
talking about one of the best at the county's ever.
Seen and, really if you if you had to show
a video for young players of how to prepare for

(42:46):
a game and how to play a game the right,
way it would be Uh Rob Roy, garrett no doubt about.

Speaker 5 (42:52):
It absolutely Absolutely. Bill.

Speaker 3 (42:55):
Uh go go enjoy your, weekend enjoy the fourth Of,
july AND i think we'll be talking with you again
in short order In july as we start ramping up
for some actual football. Discussion but thanks for for coming
on today and sharing some memories of raw Rog Errett bunch.

Speaker 6 (43:11):
Appreciated, Bill god thanks for having me, on and have
a great rest of the show and a great weekend
as well you as.

Speaker 3 (43:16):
Well that Is Bill, nester play by play voice of
r C B football And, basketball and uh uh obviously
you know he's been doing that for a long. Time
when he describes a player that, WAY i think you
gotta you gotta take him at face value there because
that's a that's high.

Speaker 7 (43:34):
Praise correct everything you, Said, yeah, Yeah i'll you know
the rest of my. Life I'll i'll back Everything bill
set up about.

Speaker 3 (43:45):
Ra, yeah AND i OBVIOUSLY i know you were you
were covering you were covering high school football in the
in the entire region at that point here as, well
so you were, seeing, uh you were seeing every team
essentially or as often as.

Speaker 5 (43:57):
Possible you, Know and we've talked about.

Speaker 7 (43:59):
It you, Know i'm involved in The all state, process you,
know the chairman for The All state committee for football
and girls basketball and been to a lot of meetings
and other sports as, well AND i understand that the
process doesn't always go the way you think it's going to.

Speaker 5 (44:20):
Go SO i tried not to get too.

Speaker 7 (44:23):
Upset the only Time i've ever really gotten, upset and
this was actually BEFORE i was chairman ross senior.

Speaker 5 (44:28):
Year But i'm still.

Speaker 7 (44:33):
Upset he did not Get State Defensive player of The
year his senior. YEAR i you, Know i've made a
case for. Him the majority went with somebody, else and
THAT i, mean and LIKE i, said a lot of,
times you guys, like, WELL i, mean, hey we we
went through the, process AND i CAN'T i kind of

(44:53):
took on raw in that. Meeting i'm, like this is.
WRONG i, mean he is the best defensive player in his,
state you, know As tom is going, BY i also realized,
THAT i, MEAN i thought a lot of raw AND
i just really want the bat for him for that,
award and he just came up a little bit.

Speaker 3 (45:12):
Short, yeah all, right on that, note let's go ahead
and get to break. Again those funeral services are. TODAY
i believe they are private, services.

Speaker 5 (45:22):
The Amos corvelli, Correct.

Speaker 3 (45:23):
Yes, yeah funeral will be held at eleven a.

Speaker 5 (45:28):
M all.

Speaker 3 (45:28):
Right on that, note we'll go ahead and take a.
Break we're going to get into some other football related.
Stuff we are going to circle back on this With Greg,
carrey who Covered raw as well right beside.

Speaker 7 (45:38):
ME a lot of times we were double staffing. Them So,
greg we're at The Exponents telegram.

Speaker 3 (45:44):
Together so we'll take a brief. Break we're going to
come back talk a little bit about the awards from this.
Week bridgeport's sweeping at the awards banquet this, week nine
athletes of The, Year Carter, zuliani One Male athlete of The,
year highly smell Female Molly miley smell excuse, me, uh
female athlete of The, year and, uh we'll talk a

(46:07):
little bit about that coming, up and Then greg will
join us at the bottom of the. Hour we're back
right after this on The Friday free For all brought
to you By Dan cavateo To BUICK.

Speaker 1 (46:14):
Gmc now back to The Dan cavatoyota W WICK Gmc
Friday free For all on ONE o three three W.

Speaker 3 (46:24):
Kmz welcome back in, Everybody Alex wheeterspiel here with you
And Chris johnson across from me here in the studio
today on The Friday free For all brought to you
By Dan cavateo To BUICK. Gmc always got to check
THAT i hit that, button otherwise it'll just sound like
nobody's talking to. You in the, podcast you'll never. Hear,
uh it'll never sound any, different but on on the

(46:46):
radio it will sound like a ghost is talking to.

Speaker 2 (46:50):
You so just got to make SURE i hit the
hit the. Button got to hit the. Button Uh SO i.

Speaker 3 (46:54):
DID i Did, BURY i buried the lead a little
bit at the at the very start of the, Show
chris just got back From New York city AND i
want to hear about. That but before we get into the,
AWARDS i want to hear ABOUT i want to hear
about your trip To New york.

Speaker 7 (47:08):
CITY i had a wonderful. Time you, Know i've never
really done a whole lot of stuff in the. City
obviously never stayed in the hotel basically In Toms.

Speaker 5 (47:22):
Square uh you, know me and my daughter were there
For Fanatics.

Speaker 7 (47:27):
Vest which is a huge get together for fans of all.

Speaker 2 (47:32):
Sports, YEAH i see you're wearing Your orioles hat, today that's.
APPROPRIATE i got.

Speaker 7 (47:36):
To meet Cal, ripken my all time favorite, athlete which
was emotional.

Speaker 5 (47:41):
To say the.

Speaker 7 (47:42):
Least what was he like, incredible incredibly nice and friendly and.

Speaker 5 (47:46):
Humble everyone else saw was.

Speaker 1 (47:50):
You.

Speaker 7 (47:50):
Know they also had a huge like uh you go sports,
cards you, Know pokemon and you know games. VENDORS i,
mean just.

Speaker 5 (48:00):
Huge.

Speaker 7 (48:00):
Event but we got in On friday and that's when
we kind of did more of our touristy stuff and
we walked Around Times, square and for, me it was
just it was cool to just like walk past like, like,
oh There's Madison Square, garden you, KNOW i mean to
actually see it and push it for you, know The
Hammerstein ballroom Or Manhattan center or even just like the

(48:22):
steps leading up The Penn. Station i'm, like how many
scenes some war movies HAVE i seen happen you're right,
here or you, know the parade route on thirty Fourth
street From miracle on thirty Four, streets so.

Speaker 5 (48:34):
You get and see all that. Stuff was. Cool LIKE i, said.

Speaker 7 (48:38):
You hear things About New York, city a lot of
the stereotypes That i've heard most of my. Life at
least for the three DAYS i was, there it could
not be further from the. TRUTH i thought the people were,
friendly they were, nice they were.

Speaker 5 (48:54):
Helpful wait Were, wait they were.

Speaker 3 (48:56):
Friendly, okay that's the that's the one STEREOTYPE i agree
with that They're, No i'm, Kidding i'm, Kidding i'm. KIDDING
i got to say these things that having grown up
in the shadow Of New york and and MY i don't.

Speaker 2 (49:05):
KNOW i THINK i told. You my dad is from
the is from The.

Speaker 3 (49:07):
Bronx so, yeah he eventually grew up Some, yeah and
he eventually.

Speaker 2 (49:12):
Grew up In, queens but he was born in The.
Bronx so if.

Speaker 7 (49:14):
You don't mind, walking you can walk to pretty much.
EVERYTHING i thought the public transportation. Smooth we. Took we
flew INTO. Jfk we took The Long Island railroad FROM
jfk to about a block for Two penn station you,
know about two blocks from our.

Speaker 5 (49:34):
Hotel everything was.

Speaker 7 (49:36):
Good now when we when we, left we did take
An uber, back not because we didn't want to take you,
know public transit, again we were just so hot and,
tired and we actually saved a little bit. Money ubers
are expensive In New York. CITY i will say that
Our uber driver was, fantastic, uh you, know navigating through.

Speaker 5 (49:57):
That the food.

Speaker 7 (50:00):
INCREDIBLE i got some several slices into three days Of
New york style.

Speaker 5 (50:07):
Pizza loved.

Speaker 7 (50:07):
It the first day that there after we checked in an,
hotel we just we walked like. That there was a pizza,
place so and big, slices you know how.

Speaker 5 (50:17):
Big You New york? Style they're?

Speaker 2 (50:19):
Massive, yeah two, dollars, yeah you.

Speaker 7 (50:21):
Know or my Daughter gwynn got just regular cheese and
those are a dollar, fifty, yeah you. Know and right
beside the pizza place was a bakery to sold bagels and.
Cheesecakes i'm, like, well let's go get a bunch of,
food go back to the and we. Did the bagels are.
Incredible i've heard people talk about. This the cream cheese with, Scallions,

(50:44):
yeah that's WHAT i.

Speaker 5 (50:45):
Got it was.

Speaker 3 (50:46):
Fantastic did anyone try to entice you into into locks
on your.

Speaker 2 (50:50):
Bagel that's a big locks is a.

Speaker 5 (50:51):
Big you can tell it's.

Speaker 7 (50:53):
Big BUT i was, LIKE i was, determined, like, NO
i want to try that cream cheese with the.

Speaker 3 (50:56):
Scallions it's it's let me just say it's it's an
acquired taste and cream cheese it's a it's a it's a,
weird it's A i've done. IT i actually do enjoy,
it but it's an acquired.

Speaker 7 (51:04):
Taste the cheesecake was. Fantastic you, know there's always concerned
about homeless people In New York. City yet you're going
to see homeless.

Speaker 5 (51:14):
People but the nice woman checking.

Speaker 7 (51:19):
Us in an hotel, said you know there will be
homeless people outside.

Speaker 5 (51:24):
Of this, door so they're just.

Speaker 7 (51:27):
HOMELESS i mean the you, know they're still. People some
of them are going to ask you for. Money you
don't have to get them. Money and the thing BECAUSE
i think a lot of people are always afraid of
getting like, cornered, like, hey you gotta get there's so
many people walking down the, street they're going to move
on to the next. Person AND i know it kind
of sounds, mean but just, like don't even just, like

(51:48):
don't even.

Speaker 2 (51:48):
THINK i actually don't think a lot of.

Speaker 3 (51:51):
People if you haven't been there, before you don't really
the sheer the sheer amount of people is actually.

Speaker 2 (51:55):
It's kind of.

Speaker 3 (51:55):
Staggering oh, yeah which does tie into something else that
you said to me THAT i thought was was?

Speaker 5 (51:59):
It and LIKE i, said fantastic.

Speaker 7 (52:01):
Trip little travel delays LEAVING jfk to get back To.

Speaker 5 (52:05):
Pittsburgh but that's Not New York city's.

Speaker 7 (52:08):
Fault would not hesitate to go back there for an,
event to do tourists, things felt, safe felt, comfortable would
even go back with a little knowledge, of like exactly
where to. Go it's but you could not pay me
enough money to to ever live. There it's just because

(52:28):
it never. Slept it's truly is a city that never.
Sleeps and it not only does it never, sleep it
never slows.

Speaker 5 (52:35):
DOWN i mean.

Speaker 7 (52:37):
Maybe one morning we got up and went to AND
i still don't know If i'm pronouncing the venue Or
Fanatics festus right The Jatflast, Center.

Speaker 3 (52:45):
Oh The Yavi Javit, Center, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 5 (52:49):
It was about two blocks the other.

Speaker 2 (52:51):
Direction they held a couple OF nfl drafts, there IF
i remember, correctly.

Speaker 7 (52:54):
Fantastic but you, know an event like this is like
something you got to get there, early getting you know that.
Stuff the first morning we went, back we went out
about seven and, well this isn't.

Speaker 5 (53:09):
BAD i could drive in this about.

Speaker 7 (53:12):
Seven there was ten billion cars everywhere going every, direction
And i'm, like, yeah.

Speaker 5 (53:19):
And then you start paying. Attention it's like that to
about four thirty five o'clock in the. Morning every single
Day i've.

Speaker 3 (53:26):
Driven i've driven In New york twice in my. Life
one of those times was after, midnight and after MIDNIGHT
i will say was a lot. Better that's the nice
way of putting. It BUT i was still pretty freaked
out AS i was.

Speaker 5 (53:39):
Doing the people riding the. Bicycles, man they're.

Speaker 7 (53:41):
RECKLESS i, mean they're just like darting. IT i, MEAN
i guess you have, to AND i. Guess after a,
WHILE i did ask My uber driver because someone cut him,
off and he did the emotion that always making my cars.
LIKE i don't flip anyone, off but Sometimes i'll Be
i'll do the.

Speaker 5 (53:56):
Why why did you do? That? Question he? DID i,
SAID i do. That only thing IS i do that about.

Speaker 7 (54:01):
Twice a, week you, know and you seem to do
it about ten.

Speaker 3 (54:04):
TIMES i was gonna, yeah probably probably twice a street
he's doing.

Speaker 5 (54:08):
It so he got a good chuckle out of.

Speaker 7 (54:09):
That what was the Best what was the best part
of the trip as always just spending time with my. Daughter,
yeah if you take that out of the. Equation LIKE i,
SAID i did get to meet the Cal. RIPKEN i,
MEAN i And i've been fortunate enough to Me i've
met a lot of musicians THAT i really, like a

(54:29):
lot of wrestlers really.

Speaker 5 (54:31):
Like SO i don't really get.

Speaker 7 (54:35):
NERVOUS i, Mean i'm always humble and courteous and always,
like you, know thank you for what you.

Speaker 5 (54:41):
Do you.

Speaker 7 (54:41):
KNOW i was getting closer to Me Cal, ripken AND
i was, like oh my. GOD i was, LIKE i was,
LIKE i don't know IF i can, ACTUALLY i, mean
because LIKE i, said this guy's been my favorite athlete
SINCE i was, eight you, know And i'm fifty, two
and SO i was, Like, okay NOW i experienced what
a lot of other people do when they meet a,

(55:02):
celebrity because it's really the first Time i've ever got
to the point Where i'm, LIKE i, MEAN i was like,
nervous but he.

Speaker 5 (55:10):
Could not have been. Nicer. UH I i do collect
baseball cards and stuff like that. Too H a lot
of the stuff there a little out of my price.
Range sure.

Speaker 7 (55:24):
Fours i've heard that baseball cards have made a little
bit of a.

Speaker 3 (55:29):
COMEBACK i did not BECAUSE i would love to get
love to unload.

Speaker 2 (55:32):
MINE i. DON'T i, DON'T i. DON'T i don't really
want them. Anymore BUT i.

Speaker 7 (55:35):
Mean i'm walking around the floor looking for, it like
where's the dollar? Box AND i mean and, like you,
know there's like. Collectors you, know there's like the grail,
car like A Mickey mantle sure or.

Speaker 5 (55:45):
Something it's like it was, like you, Know.

Speaker 7 (55:48):
I've maybe a scene one in my life and you
go to a place like this and there's a guy
with a hundred of, Them i'm, like you, know and
not one THAT i could, afford, right you, Know, NO
i JUST i mean just the weather was, nice the
travel is, nice the people's nice to food was.

Speaker 3 (56:05):
Great whos your daughter's favorite, part if you had to, guess.

Speaker 2 (56:13):
Probably meeting the professional Wrestler Damian.

Speaker 3 (56:16):
Priest, yeah BECAUSE i did see there WERE i did
see there were a lot of wrestlers there.

Speaker 5 (56:21):
Too, yeah and you, know so a lot of the.

Speaker 7 (56:23):
Photos you, Know I'm i'm in, them But i'm a
lot of a lot of Them i'm cropped out.

Speaker 5 (56:28):
OF i, mean.

Speaker 7 (56:30):
SO i was, LIKE i get. It it's like we
got a. System it's like we you. Know but, no
and she enjoys spending time with. ME i would hope
she would. KNOW i, mean we keep making these, trips
SO i must be an okay, Dad.

Speaker 3 (56:43):
Yes, yeah well At New York city is a great
and it's a great, trip and for, sure, YEAH i,
mean and.

Speaker 7 (56:49):
AND i mentioned it was LIKE i felt safety entire.
Time but you also it's probably not a good idea
to let your. GUARD i, mean you got to be
aware of what's going.

Speaker 5 (56:59):
On it's because.

Speaker 7 (57:01):
You're not paying, attention you're going to get run over
by pedestrian.

Speaker 3 (57:05):
Track that's that's that's such a good. Observation walking In
New York city is kind of like driving on the. Highway,
yes like you you have to be in the correct,
lane you have to be paying attention to.

Speaker 2 (57:15):
It, yeah, no it's it's absolutely absolutely.

Speaker 5 (57:18):
True moving, slow get over as far as you. Can
you'll be. Fine you.

Speaker 2 (57:23):
Know it's a it's funny to.

Speaker 3 (57:24):
Me you mentioned you mentioned Seeing Madison Square, garden And
i've never been there for a sporting. EVENT i take that.
Back i've been there for the of all, things of
the the Eight Big East.

Speaker 2 (57:32):
Tournament.

Speaker 3 (57:33):
Uh And i've been there for a fish concert that
was part of a bachelor. Party But i've never seen
The rangers Or nicks play At i've seen The rangers
play in four other.

Speaker 2 (57:43):
Places, Yeah i've seen them play In.

Speaker 3 (57:45):
Pittsburgh i've seen them play three different arenas In New
jersey or two different arenas In New, JERSEY i. Guess
BUT i have never seen an actual game In Madison Square,
garden which is on my bucket. List but, YEAH msg is,
fantastic and it is weird when you realize it's, like,
OH msg in the train station are like the same.

Speaker 7 (58:02):
Building yeah, yeah that didn't dawn on me until TIL
i saw it in, person you, know or just like
you're looking, like, oh that's The Empire State, building you,
KNOW i mean you can clearly see it from a
lot of spots and or at one, POINT i you,
know you, know kids don't try this at, home but you,
KNOW i went outside to have a cigarette and.

Speaker 5 (58:21):
Uh And i'm just like looking. Around i'm, like you,
know In West. VIRGINIA i.

Speaker 7 (58:27):
DON'T i mean there's a handful of like kind of tall,
buildings you, know like one or two maybe when someone one's,
in like you, KNOW i mean the former like lottery
building In Charleston's. Building like every direction you, look there's
fifty buildings within eyesight of right Where i'm setting right
now that are bigger than any.

Speaker 5 (58:46):
Building and what's, massive absolutely.

Speaker 7 (58:47):
Massive, yeah it's just like it could be a little
overwhelming if you let.

Speaker 5 (58:52):
IT i tried not to let.

Speaker 2 (58:54):
It AND i think that you said you flew INTO.

Speaker 3 (58:56):
Jfk, yeah, okay so so the one other thing would
have been and obviously if you flew Into, newark you
probably would have gotten a chance to see the skyline
from the perspective of The jersey, side which is a
pretty cool that's.

Speaker 5 (59:09):
A pretty cool. Shot And i've seen, that.

Speaker 2 (59:11):
Gotcha, Okay, Okay so, yeah, no that.

Speaker 5 (59:13):
Is AN i have some friends that live.

Speaker 3 (59:19):
Right where, Right, yeah, yeah, yeah because like you, Know
Jersey city is right there and which is a great
town as. Well but, ANYWAY i could talk about this all,
day AND i easily. Could i'm glad to hear you
had had a great. TRIP i Love New york.

Speaker 7 (59:33):
Obviously, yeah LIKE i, said it would not hesitate at
all to go.

Speaker 3 (59:38):
Back, Yes AND i will SAY I i will just
say to, Reinforce i've had multiple friends who have lived,
there and and it's.

Speaker 2 (59:47):
Really it's the it's the place to live in your.

Speaker 3 (59:50):
Twenties is after, that when you start wanting to raise a,
family it's it's a much tougher place to.

Speaker 2 (59:56):
Live and people do. It people do.

Speaker 3 (59:58):
It it just is a tougher place to at that
point Is, listen it's, expensive there's a there's a shortage of.

Speaker 2 (01:00:04):
Housing there's all.

Speaker 3 (01:00:05):
SORTS i mean, again you have a city of that massive, size,
right there are all sorts of.

Speaker 5 (01:00:10):
Issues but, yeah and you mentioned, it And I'M i
know rent is. EXPENSIVE i know there's some. RESTAURANTS i,
like looked at their.

Speaker 7 (01:00:18):
Menu i'm, like there's not a single thing on here
THAT i can afford if we want.

Speaker 5 (01:00:21):
To get back.

Speaker 7 (01:00:22):
Home but a lot of this, stuff like because it
hurt all you can't afford anything In New York. City i'm, like,
well there was there's also a seven eleven right by the.
Hotel we went in there to get some. DRINKS i
mean JUST i, MEAN i know this is a small,
comparison but you can go to seven eleven down here
In Quiet dell and get two Die mount and dues
two for four. Fifty, okay seven eleven In New york

(01:00:43):
there were two for five to twenty.

Speaker 3 (01:00:44):
Nine not much difference there, Now so, okay let's, uh
let's let's quickly let's use the last couple of minutes
here before we Bring greg on to to talk a
little bit about these. Awards, obviously it was a banner
year really For bridgeport, athletics a couple of state titles
to you, know nothing to sneeze that. There But Carter

(01:01:04):
zuliani named The Male athlete of The year at THE
Mvb Exponent Telegram All County Sports awards ceremony this. Week
Miley Smell Female athlete of The, year and Then smell
was one of Nine bridgeports student athletes to also Win
player of The year in their respective. Sports that included
So smell one for Volleyball player of The, Year Josh
love for, Football audrey Kirkr golfer of The, Year William

(01:01:28):
northey was the cross country runner of the, Year Jackson
koger Soccer player of The, Year Phoenix stickles wins for boys,
Basketball John knight for, Wrestling Owen guthrie for, swimming And
Genna cox.

Speaker 2 (01:01:41):
For girls track and field.

Speaker 3 (01:01:42):
Athlete extremely funny to me by the way That Carter
zuliani doesn't win for one of, Those but that makes
sense why he because of the year he had playing multiple,
sports makes total sense that he's really winning a cumulative honor.

Speaker 7 (01:01:55):
There, yeah when you look at the history of that,
banquet WHICH i was involved with for many years WHEN
i was at The Exponent telegram and a great bank
that they still put on in conjunction with A mvb.

Speaker 5 (01:02:06):
Bank sometimes that you know that, happens it's like, there.

Speaker 7 (01:02:13):
You, know not quite love to get, that you, know
player to year in that, sport but are so good
across the board in so many sports that you then
are a lot for you for the big.

Speaker 5 (01:02:22):
Award and, YEAH i mean a lot of great athletes
In Harrison. County you're not just a.

Speaker 7 (01:02:27):
Bridgeport but, UH i mean when you look at the
body of record At carzuliani put, TOGETHER i, mean, YEAH.

Speaker 5 (01:02:34):
I MEAN i think that was a slam.

Speaker 3 (01:02:35):
Dunk, yes that that Was that was probably the slam
dunk because you could probably make some cases for some
other athletes at other other schools for some of the
some of the individual.

Speaker 5 (01:02:43):
Sports even with football For bridge. SPORT i, MEAN i,
Mean Josh love totally deserves that.

Speaker 7 (01:02:49):
Award but If Wes brown would have won, THAT i
don't think anyone would have bet That Alex, moses you.
Know so, yeah there's you, know plenty of choices. There and,
uh congratulations To miley. Too, Now, MILEY i think a
lot of her Winning Female athlete The year in the
county was on the strength of her being state Volleyball

(01:03:11):
player of The.

Speaker 5 (01:03:11):
Year she also had a really good track and field,
season you.

Speaker 7 (01:03:15):
Know not quite you, know as dominant obviously as what
she did you know during the volleyball, season but you,
know fantastic h.

Speaker 5 (01:03:24):
Choice AND i always joke With molly Because i've gotten
to know her really well That and she made a
decision early in her career, too because.

Speaker 7 (01:03:33):
She played basketball as a freshman and it's a pretty good,
player but she decided to focus on. VOLLEYBALL i, mean
she would spend, obviously you, know playing travel volleyball in
some elite tournaments and stuff like, that and then then
she got into track and field just because that really, helped,
like you, know keep her conditioning and stuff you for

(01:03:55):
for her primary.

Speaker 5 (01:03:56):
Right it makes sense, always and there's no offense to
anyone who did.

Speaker 7 (01:03:59):
PLAY i, SAID i still think you're the best basketball
player in. School you're not even on the, team but
that's just how GOOD i thought she was as a basketball.

Speaker 2 (01:04:08):
Well and, yeah it.

Speaker 5 (01:04:09):
Is it.

Speaker 3 (01:04:09):
Is it is one of those interesting things that is
a debate that that has been raging for a while
now whether or not it makes more sense to kind of, let,
uh you, know let kids play a bunch of different,
sports or whether it's to focus on one or maybe.
Two And i've heard that debate for for. Decades like
that that goes. BACK i remember the very first TIME

(01:04:31):
i heard. IT i had just graduated high school AND
i WAS i was coaching at a at a sports
camp at the, time and one of my campers his
his mom was the school, nurse and she was basically
saying that they were having that debate right now about you,
know whether he really like she actually wanted him to
play everything and he was hyper focused on.

Speaker 2 (01:04:50):
Baseball he's, like this is WHAT i want to.

Speaker 3 (01:04:51):
Do he came from a family of of really good
athletes and baseball.

Speaker 2 (01:04:55):
Players it's a tough, Debate.

Speaker 7 (01:04:56):
Yeah AND i think it boils down to know what's
the am depends on the. Individual, YEAH i do think
there's more of a chance for burnout if you just
focus on the one. SPORT i you, know and you,
know obviously there's gonna be kids that navigate that you
know very very. Well BUT i think if you do

(01:05:17):
play multiple, sports that does maybe help prevent getting burnt out.

Speaker 5 (01:05:20):
On one of the.

Speaker 7 (01:05:22):
Others but but LIKE i, said it's just every individual
is wired a little differently when it comes to stuff like.

Speaker 3 (01:05:30):
That so how many what did you play growing? Up
what was what was what was YOUR i know we've
talked with this.

Speaker 5 (01:05:36):
A little bit.

Speaker 7 (01:05:37):
Before at the youth, level like up until middle, school
it was probably just strictly. BASEBALL i didn't play you
football one year when before we moved back To West
virginia From. MARYLAND uh middle, SCHOOL i played, football, basketball
and then you, know bay brief. Baseball in the spring
my freshman year of high, SCHOOL i played, football, basketball.

(01:06:01):
Baseball got hurt my football season or towards the end
of my freshman football season and decided to give up
football BECAUSE i was scared of getting. Hurt And i'm,
LIKE i, right IF i was scared of getting, HURT
i had no business being out on the football. Field.
Sure and you, know and you know SOMETIMES i regret

(01:06:21):
it BECAUSE I i enjoyed playing, football, yeah you, KNOW
i just didn't want to risk not being able to, play,
uh you know, baseball, right you. KNOW i played basketball
my sophomore and junior years and then just wasn't feeling
it my senior year and just just.

Speaker 5 (01:06:36):
Played played baseball four.

Speaker 3 (01:06:37):
Years football is the SPORT i regret not playing BECAUSE
I i, remember SO i played one year of like
of like organized like was, youth so we were playing.

Speaker 2 (01:06:48):
Flag it was two we were still too young for.

Speaker 3 (01:06:49):
Tackle BUT i played one year of that and then
the next year was going to move on to, tackle
and for whatever, REASON i didn't do, that AND i
kept coaches kept trying to get me to, play AND
i was, LIKE i don't know what it was. LIKE
i was really into soccer AND i loved watching. Football
football was my favorite, sport BUT i didn't really it
wasn't interested in. Play it was such a weird. DYNAMIC
i wasn't interested in playing, it and my mom was

(01:07:10):
really not interested in me playing, it AND i do
remember in.

Speaker 2 (01:07:14):
High school there was.

Speaker 3 (01:07:15):
It there was a time or two where one of
a couple of my friends on the team were also
trying to like convince me to, play AND i was just,
LIKE i don't, know, Man, LIKE i don't know THAT
i like as much AS i enjoy when we play
our our like our our tackle pickup, GAMES i don't know.

Speaker 7 (01:07:29):
That, LIKE i don't know that that's going to. Translate
what would you would you put the pads? On you
know WHAT i?

Speaker 2 (01:07:34):
Mean SO, i, YEAH i.

Speaker 3 (01:07:36):
WAS i was SIMILAR i but like you, THOUGH i
kind of bounced around every sport a little, bit AND
i ultimately spent the most amount of time on on,
soccer WHICH i played for for twelve. Years but, uh
we are.

Speaker 5 (01:07:47):
We close to taking a? BREAK i got a funny Soccer.

Speaker 3 (01:07:50):
Uh, Yeah i'll tell you. What why don't you tell your?
Story then we can we can get to our break
and get to.

Speaker 5 (01:07:53):
Greg SO i ended.

Speaker 7 (01:07:55):
UP i never played a second of organized. Soccer BUT
i was in third grade At Mace's Maple Elementary school In, Cambridge.
Maryland the announcement come, On it's, like, oh if you
want to try out for you, soccer you stay after.

Speaker 5 (01:08:12):
SCHOOL i was, like, YEAH i Think i'm gonna do,
It SO i stayed AT i.

Speaker 7 (01:08:17):
Guess come to find, OUT i didn't listen to all the,
announcements So i'm staying after. School and the high school
team IS i guess they shared the field of the high school,
teams and like the high school coach comes over and he's,
like are you are you just watching or its like,
NO i. Can't he's, like, well this is the high school,
team AND i was like AND i was too. EMBARRASSED

(01:08:38):
i was in Grade oh.

Speaker 2 (01:08:40):
Wow SO i was.

Speaker 7 (01:08:42):
Too embarrassed and too stubborn to find out where the
ACTUAL u soccer tryouts were.

Speaker 5 (01:08:47):
At SO i was just, LIKE i could have been
the next Pay there there's a.

Speaker 2 (01:08:51):
Story there's a. Story, there there's a there's a real
there's a real, butterfly there's a real. If here's the.

Speaker 3 (01:08:57):
Question if that, happens do you become do you you
become a sports?

Speaker 2 (01:09:00):
Writer that's THAT'S i don't. KNOW i don't know for.

Speaker 3 (01:09:04):
Sure IF i don't know for, sure but maybe your
focus gets away from football and, baseball AND i don't.
Know because soccer wasn't as popular as it's from a
coverage perspective back.

Speaker 2 (01:09:14):
Then so maybe you don't get into sports.

Speaker 7 (01:09:16):
MEDIA i don't, know you, Know, Butterfly and like you,
said when you're, third, fourth fifth, GRADE i mean you.

Speaker 5 (01:09:25):
Remember.

Speaker 7 (01:09:25):
THINGS i mean they turned out it wasn't quite the
way you remember. Them you, know you talk to other.
People BUT i remember being out. There you, Know cambridge
is on the eastern shore Of, maryland AND i remember
the sport that was big out there was.

Speaker 2 (01:09:40):
Lacrosse oh, yeah oh, yeah.

Speaker 7 (01:09:42):
Like in our neighborhood where we, live like a lot
of like the kids like oh the high school kids
were playing they played.

Speaker 5 (01:09:48):
Lacrosse they didn't play football.

Speaker 3 (01:09:50):
All, right before we go to, break let me ask,
you let me ask you, this what was the age
when you first realized you weren't good? Enough BECAUSE i
have an answer to, this that you weren't good enough.
At it doesn't have to be all, sports but just
like one sport where you, Go, Okay i'm actually not.
Good i'm not, like this is not my this is
not for. Me and what sport was. It i'm kind
of curious BECAUSE i have A i have a story for.

Speaker 7 (01:10:09):
That i'll say probably about my freshman sophomore, YEAR i
Realized i'm not that great at basketball.

Speaker 2 (01:10:17):
Now though that's a tough.

Speaker 7 (01:10:19):
ONE i THINK i became a little bit, better like
ONCE i got to college and started playing like pick
up BECAUSE i used to play pick up basketball all the,
time AND i THINK i got better uh doing.

Speaker 5 (01:10:29):
That BUT i was not a good high school basket.

Speaker 3 (01:10:33):
SURE i like to say that it builds that this
builds character because so WHEN i was in WHEN i
was in fifth grade AND i WAS i was a
pretty good soccer. PLAYER i had an opportunity to play
in some travel. Leagues we just couldn't afford. It it was really,
expensive outrageously. Expensive but use that was that was Disappoint
it was probably the one like athletic DISAPPOINTMENT i really,
had was THAT i was good enough to do something

(01:10:54):
and it's just the money was not gonna.

Speaker 2 (01:10:56):
Work single mom and three.

Speaker 7 (01:10:57):
Kids i've heard that about people in The north. Too
when it comes to Hot, yeah hockey super, hoey funny. Enough,
also my favorite sport now never PLAYED i. DID i
skated WHEN i was a, kid BUT i never played. Hockey,
uh but SO i the sport. Though that made me
realize because.

Speaker 3 (01:11:11):
LIKE i, WAS i was a pretty good soccer, player
AND i had this weird flirtation with, football where LIKE
i always seemed to play pretty, WELL i just didn't
know IF i wanted to do.

Speaker 2 (01:11:19):
It Uh and even.

Speaker 3 (01:11:20):
BASKETBALL i really enjoyed basketball BECAUSE i enjoyed LIKE i
could just be the scrappy. Dude even THOUGH i was.
SMALL i was awful of baseball AND i couldn't hit
worth a. Lick and SO i was in fifth. Grade
we're doing tryouts and it was the first TIME i
started getting lapped by kids younger than me who could
just they could hit the, ball AND i WAS i
was awful in the.

Speaker 2 (01:11:38):
Box and it was.

Speaker 3 (01:11:39):
That first realization of, like Maybe i'm not that good at.
This and that was the end Of that was the
end of my my youth baseball.

Speaker 5 (01:11:44):
CAREER i was okay. Baseball you, Know i'm just one.
Thing he helped. Me you, Know i'm left hanging a.
Pitcher you.

Speaker 2 (01:11:53):
Know, yeah not a lot of, you especially at the younger,
level place to.

Speaker 5 (01:11:58):
Play.

Speaker 3 (01:11:59):
Boy let me tell, You, chris we HAD i, remember
and we'll get to break after. THIS i remember one
of my last years of, baseball we had we had
one left handed pitcher on the, team and anytime they
would ask me to warm up with, HIM i would
like he would throw the. Ball like my hand hurt
from how hard he threw the ball at. Me LIKE
i was like protecting myself AND i want to be, like,
dude we're just warming, up like can you can you?

(01:12:20):
Relax but, yeah that kid Had that kid had AN
i don't know if he went and did anything with,
it but he. Hadn't that guy had an. Arm and
we were in like in like fourth fifth grade and
LIKE i no one else WHO i ever played with
would throw the.

Speaker 2 (01:12:33):
Ball And i'm thinking to, myself that actually.

Speaker 3 (01:12:35):
Hurt, Yeah so, anyway we'll take a. Break we're gonna
Get greg carry. On he is actually in the waiting
room right. Now we're gonna Get greg carry on the
show here in just a, moment let's.

Speaker 2 (01:12:44):
Take a quick.

Speaker 3 (01:12:45):
Break this is The Friday free For, all brought to
you By Dan cavitio to be A. Gmc we're back
in just a, moment back to.

Speaker 1 (01:12:50):
The W kmz locker room for more high school sports
on The Dan cavatoyota w AT Gmc Friday free For.

Speaker 3 (01:12:57):
All back in the, Studio Alex wheetererspiel along Side Chris.
Johnson and now on the line we HAVE i don't
know if on the line is technically, accurate but in
the in the virtual room we have we Have Greg
carry with us From West Virginia. Metro Who's, Greg good,
Morning good, morning how are. You i'm good, man AND
i want to thank you for coming on and spending

(01:13:18):
a few minutes with us. Today especially tough topic obviously
Raw Ra garrett passing. Away and we talked about this
a little bit earlier with With Bill, nester And chris
had mentioned to me he really wanted to spend a
fair bit of time on this today because it was
just it was so, shocking AND i know that you
had a chance to cover.

Speaker 2 (01:13:35):
Him So i'm going to open the floor to you,
guys especially because you guys covered him so. Much.

Speaker 3 (01:13:41):
Uh and that WAS i, know fairly early in your
career as, Well, greg right at the kind of start
of your. Career he was one of the first really
kind of star players that you.

Speaker 5 (01:13:49):
Covered, yeah he absolutely.

Speaker 4 (01:13:51):
Was.

Speaker 8 (01:13:51):
Uh you, know one of the first things that really
stuck out to me about your Maud garrett watching him play,
football and really kind of still sticks with me to
this day is how much he enjoyed.

Speaker 5 (01:14:04):
And sought out.

Speaker 8 (01:14:05):
Contact you, know you don't always see, that particularly at
the high school, level and a lot of bodies aren't
being close to you, know close to being fully developed.
Yet but he was a guy that really thrived on.
It it was almost like he went out and you, know
relished it and kind of welcomed it and accepted the.

Speaker 5 (01:14:21):
Challenge of whoever it was that was trying to stand
in his.

Speaker 8 (01:14:25):
Way AND i really think he carried that mentality with,
him you, know really just all across the football field
in his time playing AT. Rcb obviously he had a
tremendous career, there but he was kind of the you,
know so to, speak like the life beat of the
team there and the heartbeat of the. SQUAD i guess
you could say he was on top of all his,
production you, know obviously a vocal guy and someone THAT

(01:14:48):
i think a lot of his teammates and even coaches alike.
Admired AND i think that says a lot about not only,
him as you, know the quality of a player he,
was but certainly the quality of a human being he
was as.

Speaker 7 (01:14:58):
Well, Yeah, GREG i remember sitting in the office and
you you start hearing about the you, know this kid playing,
Linebacker ROBERT. C bird is like he's getting you, know
fourteen fifteen sixteen tackles a, game and you, know we were.

Speaker 5 (01:15:13):
So used to dealing, with you, know.

Speaker 7 (01:15:17):
The best way to put, it not necessarily accurate defensive.

Speaker 5 (01:15:20):
Stats we're, LIKE i.

Speaker 2 (01:15:22):
Can't, yeah they got to be padded.

Speaker 7 (01:15:25):
Somehow and then each of us had an experience where
we went and saw him play in person.

Speaker 5 (01:15:29):
And we're, like, oh, NO i get. IT i, mean
because he.

Speaker 7 (01:15:32):
Had such a motor and he was just so active
and passionate when he was out there on the field,
playing and you, know you, know we got to see him.

Speaker 5 (01:15:44):
Progress from.

Speaker 7 (01:15:46):
It's like a pure raw athlete that really got by
with playing with a lot of emotion to really learning
to position and doing whatever it takes to always find
a way to, improve you, know playing you, know at
that linebacker.

Speaker 5 (01:16:02):
POSITION a lot Of tommy.

Speaker 7 (01:16:03):
GRADUATES i MEAN i still tell people to, DAY i,
mean he's the best middle Linebacker i've ever.

Speaker 5 (01:16:08):
Covered, YEAH i think that's well.

Speaker 8 (01:16:10):
Said you, know you look at maybe kind of how
he grew from a little bit of a tactical, STANDPOINT
i think is fair to say throughout his high school,
career like you, mentioned oftentimes depending you, know particularly on the,
opponent just through his level of, aggression his, strength his,
speed and really that mentality that we spoke about, earlier
he might have been able to just kind of get

(01:16:31):
by on, that but you, know against more top tier,
competition and as he became an upper, classman you kind
of saw him grow into fitting into a defensive scheme.
More you, know not to say that he wasn't able
to kind of still freestyle and you, know do some
things that maybe other kids didn't have the leeway to
do because of his, ability but you saw him more

(01:16:53):
kind of adapting into you, know a true middle linebacker
as opposed to just a football player that was out
there running around.

Speaker 5 (01:17:01):
Making, plays which is obviously what you want him to.

Speaker 8 (01:17:03):
Do BUT i think he learned the game more and
obviously as he became more experienced and played at the varsity.

Speaker 5 (01:17:10):
Level by the time he was a junior and, senior you,
know he was.

Speaker 8 (01:17:13):
A guy that was not only letting the play speak for,
itself but probably somebody that you, know teammates could come
up to and ask questions about when they weren't maybe you,
know one hundred percent shore on where to be or
what the play call. Was so one of the fun,
parts you, know and we've seen it with a lot of,
guys but as you, Mentioned jermad is certainly one that

(01:17:33):
sticks out through the.

Speaker 5 (01:17:34):
Years AND i.

Speaker 8 (01:17:36):
Mean those tackle, Totals, yes you're, RIGHT i mean it's
always hard to believe some of the accuracy of them
in this, instance after you saw him play a couple
of times and you'd kind of look down and you,
know maybe be jotting down some tally marks and trying
to keep his tackle totals as best you. Can AND
i can remember several games where you, Know i'd kind

(01:17:56):
of be running off the. Page i'd be up to
the fifteen, seventeen can think to, myself, well he got
a whole another quarter.

Speaker 5 (01:18:02):
To, go and he's probably not coming out of this.

Speaker 8 (01:18:04):
Game certainly someone THAT i recall finally in terms of
being able to, cover and you, know one of the
more special athletes in any. Sport you know That i've
had the pleasure of do of you, know seeing in
my time doing, this and certainly one of the more
notable ones to ever come out Of Roberts.

Speaker 7 (01:18:18):
Bird, yeah and and this isn't pat me And greg
ON i, MEAN i don't mean it to come off
Like patton us on the back too, much but it's
just another example of the type of person Raw rah.
WAS i feel like me And greg kind of latched
onto him early just because we saw what he was.

(01:18:39):
Doing And, Greg i'm sure you agree with me on.
This you, know he always respected, us always thanked. Us
he was so appreciative of us taking the time to
write something about him and we lost. Him was, like, no,
dude you're the one out there doing. It but you,
know even after he gradual way to DO i run into,

(01:19:01):
him he always always thanked me for the things that
me and you wrote about, Him And I'M i think about.
It i've been thinking about a lot, that you know
the past. Week is, Like i'm so grateful that one
of the last TIMES i talked to, HIM i had
the opportunity to thank him for his service in A

(01:19:21):
National guard and you could.

Speaker 5 (01:19:23):
Tell it like it like meant something to, him and
then of course he.

Speaker 7 (01:19:27):
Followed, up, well you, know but thank you for, always you,
know looking out for me WHEN i was playing.

Speaker 5 (01:19:31):
Football so you, know it's just you.

Speaker 7 (01:19:36):
Don't always get that sort of mutual, respect you, know
with every athlete you, cover AND i feel like we
had me and you both had that with.

Speaker 5 (01:19:44):
Him, yeah AND i think that. Extended you.

Speaker 8 (01:19:48):
KNOW i didn't know him super well on a personal,
level particularly outside of you, know his high school, career
BUT i did see him in the community from time to,
time AND i think one of the things that's always
pretty telling is you, know other people's. Reactions obviously this
is a terrible, tragedy but you, know you just see
kind of the way that, adults those who had the
pleasure of teaching, him coaching, him you, know knowing him

(01:20:11):
on a personal, standpoint and then guys that are now
adults that were his high school, teammates you, know GUYS
i Saw adam secret had put out a very nice
message on social media as, long you, know as well
as many of his other past teammates AT, rcb and
just seemed like he was somebody that.

Speaker 5 (01:20:26):
Kind of galvanized everybody around.

Speaker 8 (01:20:28):
Him he garnered the, attention AND i think that was
both through being a standout player but also being a standout.
Person a guy that you, know was often leading the
weight room charge At ROBERT. C byrd and you, know
a weight program that the coaches felt like during his time,
there you, know probably made some pretty significant jumps and

(01:20:49):
he was probably a pretty big part of. That it
didn't look like from you, know his stature in, physique
it didn't look like he missed many of those.

Speaker 5 (01:20:55):
SESSIONS i think it would be fair to, say certainly.

Speaker 8 (01:20:58):
Pound for, pound you, know one of the stronger players
we've ever had the luxury to see in high school
and a guy who was very very well, built you,
know and he used that strength to his. Advantage BUT
i think what's what's really telling when you see is
just you, know he's not necessarily being remembered as an
outstanding high school football player as much as he's being

(01:21:18):
remembered as a great guy in the community and a,
husband a, father you, know somebody that obviously leaves behind
some young kids, here and you can tell his loss
has affected a number of people in The bird community
and really In Harrison county and some of the surrounding
northern counties as. Well just a guy that was immensely
popular and obviously an extreme, tragedy but you, know somebody

(01:21:41):
that we are able to remember in a fond.

Speaker 5 (01:21:43):
Light.

Speaker 7 (01:21:44):
Yeah, yeah you, KNOW I i've yet to come across
one person that doesn't have a positive experience of just
even if you just knew him for five, minutes.

Speaker 5 (01:21:56):
You, know, OBVIOUSLY i mean you our hearts go out
to his.

Speaker 3 (01:22:00):
Family YOU i can't even imagine what they're dealing with right.

Speaker 2 (01:22:03):
Now it's so completely.

Speaker 7 (01:22:06):
Unexpected but, yeah HE i, mean he was JUST i,
mean he was just he was just the. Best maybe
he was just such a such a bright personality on
top of all all the football.

Speaker 3 (01:22:17):
Stuff AND i will say so, obviously this is a
it's you, know it's tough because we're walking that fine.
Line this is a this is a sports. Show it's
it's it's a lot of. Things it's a it's a
high school sports. Show, uh and so kind of running
the balancing act, Here AND i don't want to make
it too much about his, football but at the same,
TIME i do think it's important to contextualize because there
are gonna be people who might not know him from that,

(01:22:40):
era and there are gonna be people, who you, know
one of the biggest challenges that you deal, With chris
is that in talking about, football you, know in across
the state is that everybody kind of gets in their
own silo and sees their own. Silo and the one
Thing I'M i would say is when you talk about
like as far as as far as players and and
and you, know we can just kind of limit this
to maybe the the twenty first, century And i'd love

(01:23:02):
to hear from both of you on, This but as
far as he compares to the amount of football that
the two of you have seen over the course of
these last you, know for, You chris the last twenty
five years And greg for you these last fifteen years or,
so how does he stack as far as compared to
other defensive players you've. SEEN i imagine it would be
a short list as far as impact that he had

(01:23:24):
on the.

Speaker 5 (01:23:24):
Field, yeah for, me you.

Speaker 8 (01:23:27):
Know and this is certainly no disrespect to anybody, else
BUT i would probably have him as the top player
That i've covered At ROBERT. C, BYRD i would think,
both you, know he guys Like Adam secret And Juwan, jones,
right and you're you, Know Javon Davidson's Jeremiah king, Obviously
but the one thing that was really special About, jermad
especially from a high school, standpoint is he didn't need offensive,

(01:23:49):
production you, know to let it. Be it wasn't like
there was some gouty offensive statistics when you would try
and sell the level of, player in the level of
player he is on.

Speaker 5 (01:23:58):
Somebody he could help the offense if he, did, obviously but.

Speaker 8 (01:24:00):
He was a defensive first, guy a defensive first mentality
obviously helped a lot on special teams as. Well AND
i would say he, is without, question you, know one
of the in the time That i've done, this one
of the better all around high school football players. Anywhere
AND i think it would probably be number one on my.
List From ROBERT. C, Byrd.

Speaker 7 (01:24:18):
YEAH i, Agree and you, know it's funny we touched
on that a little bit With bill about his role on.

Speaker 5 (01:24:24):
Defense is, that you, Know, greg you see this all
the time here throughout the.

Speaker 7 (01:24:27):
State there's a lot of really good football players In West,
virginia but high school football In West virginia at most,
schools you're going to have to help out on offense and.

Speaker 5 (01:24:41):
Defense, now when there comes.

Speaker 7 (01:24:43):
An occasion where you've got a little more, depth you're
going to and you got a talented, athlete they're going
to see more stabs on. Offense they're going to give
him a break on. Defense with Raw ra it was
the complete. Opposite he was more important to. DO i
mean he obviously he was athletic, enough he could have
he could have been thousand yard, rusher but they also
had guys Like Trey cox and Ben To. Nunzio he

(01:25:05):
could have helped out that, offense but he was more
important to what that team was trying to do on,
defense so he got rests on when the offense was
on the field as opposed to the.

Speaker 8 (01:25:16):
Opposite, yeah AND i MEAN i think that also kind
of tells you about just kind, of you, know his
team first mentality and. Approach we, know especially in today's.
ERA i know it's been about twelve thirteen years since
he was playing high school, football but you, know so
many guys are worried about offensive, statistics having an opportunity
to touch the ball as much as possible and, thus you,

(01:25:36):
know maybe have a better chance at scoring more. Often
and for, him it, was you, know basically WHATEVER i
could do to help the team, most and as you,
mentioned that required probably having about seventy five to eighty
five percent of his snaps you, know at if not,
more on the defensive. Side he obviously played a lot
on special teams and was instrumental and you, know kickoff

(01:25:58):
coverage and punt coverage and things of that, sort which
is not. Uncommon you, know we see that fairly often
from your high school football, standouts specifically defensive. Standouts but
the fact that he really didn't. Mind you, know he
was completely content going an entire game without touching the
ball or playing a few offensive snaps and maybe serving

(01:26:18):
as you, know somewhat of a lead blocker and a
fallback AND hvac type role because his primary goal Was
i'm not going to let you get to where you
want to be and where you need to be when
you have the. Ball and you know you mentioned the tackle,
totals the. TFLs he was a guy that you, KNOW
i WOULD i think the other DAY i was talking
to somebody and kind of described them as a backfield.

(01:26:39):
Buster you, know he was just somebody that had always
felt like no matter where he was lined up, at
whether he was coming through the middle or off the,
edge he was going to find a way into your
backfield and disrupt whatever play it was that you were
trying to run, offensively and sure that isn't going to
happen on every, snap but in the case Of Raha,
garrett it seemed to happen more often than, not and
on a fairly consistent the.

Speaker 2 (01:27:00):
Basis so on that, note, Guys greg will we'll let you.

Speaker 3 (01:27:04):
Go and obviously Ra Ro garrett more than a football,
player but more than a track. Star BUT i also
wanted to make sure we talked a little bit about
what he did on the field as part of you
know what the focus of this show. Is if anyone
wants to share stories football or, otherwise doesn't doesn't matter About.
Rao we do have an email Address Friday free For
ALL wv at gmail dot. Com you're more than welcome

(01:27:26):
to share if you if you if you want to
share a story that has nothing to do with, sports
you're welcome to do that in remembrance of Ra Roh. Garrett,
greg much appreciated, man and we will talk with you.

Speaker 5 (01:27:36):
Soon i'm sure appreciate the time guys enjoined us. Today all,
right see, You.

Speaker 3 (01:27:40):
Greg that Is GREG Kerreywv metronews dot. Com we'll go
ahead and take a real quick, break come back wrap
the show right after. This this is The Friday free
For all brought to you By Dan cavitato of you AT.

Speaker 1 (01:27:50):
Gmc time for more high school sports talk on A
dan cavatoyot w A Gmc Friday free For.

Speaker 3 (01:27:58):
All, okay we need to go ahead and uh put
a put a rap on this thing for, Today Alex
Sweeter spiel here with you on The Friday free For.
All of, course we will have the morning spiel coming
up in just a few minutes and on the show
Today tanner and you're gonna be joining the show do
a little sports grab, bag so uh sort of almost almost.

Speaker 2 (01:28:20):
An extension of The free For.

Speaker 3 (01:28:21):
All but we're gonna be focusing more on on pro
sports than some mountaineer related.

Speaker 2 (01:28:24):
Stuff some college football.

Speaker 3 (01:28:25):
Stuff, yeah it, is it, is it. Is AND I
i you, KNOW I i. DO i will say, THIS
I i, UH i get torn sometimes BECAUSE i do
get some saturdays during the fall Where i'm not like
totally tied, up so like on those saturdays WHERE i
can wake up and kind of do my old my
old college football traditions and wake up and enjoy what's going.

(01:28:49):
On BUT i BUT i will, say by and, large
for the for the most, part the fall is really
about the sports that we cover more than anything. Else
but every now and THEN i GET i get a
couple of saturdays like that WHERE i can just kind
of veg out and just turn.

Speaker 7 (01:29:02):
Off it's kind of nice to get up about in
the morning On saturday college.

Speaker 5 (01:29:07):
Football just all.

Speaker 2 (01:29:09):
Day, yeah through a bunch of. Chunk, yeah good for.

Speaker 4 (01:29:13):
You, yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:29:13):
Exactly, No And i'm excited for. That i'm really excited
to get, back uh into that. Again who knows how
many Saturdays i'll be able to do, it but Usually
i'm good, for like for like three or four at.

Speaker 2 (01:29:24):
Least.

Speaker 3 (01:29:25):
Now sometimes WHAT i WHAT i found, is you, know
Sometimes i'll be able to like watch The, mountaineers but
maybe not veg out all. Day but those those days
where you can literally just start watching at noon and
basically keep going until until The West coast games are.

Speaker 7 (01:29:37):
On, man there's yeah those days where it's, like, Oh
tulsa's Playing San Jose, State i'm.

Speaker 5 (01:29:44):
IN i am.

Speaker 2 (01:29:45):
In that's, right ten o'clock kickoff For. Santos, stay let's do.
It let's do it midnight one am In. Hawaii. Uh you,
Know i'll, Watch i'll watch the first. Half WHY i
watched the first?

Speaker 7 (01:29:55):
Quarter Uh, No i'm EXCITED i appreciate you you coming
on to do this, Obviously, uh and thanks to our,
guests To greg And Ugh's bill for.

Speaker 2 (01:30:04):
Coming on and talking About rah.

Speaker 7 (01:30:05):
Rah, YEAH i mean Raw rath's type OF i, mean
we could talk about him for five more, hours BUT
i felt it was nice for us to pay a
little a bit of a tribute to him and amzing
he's not only one of the best football players are
which is one of the best young Men i've ever
had the pleasure of meeting through my job of covering
high school athletics and, uh you, know rest in, peace ra.

Speaker 3 (01:30:29):
Ra, YEAH i IT'S i really hope that we don't
have to do this every. Year it's, becoming unfortunately a
tradition that seemingly once a year we have to do
a show like, this and it's, uh it's never. Easy
so obviously last year was Was beef McDermott and this
year Raw rad AND i hope that we're not doing
another show like this next year because these are, uh

(01:30:49):
these are obviously always always tough to. Hear Uh and,
YEAH i, again just looking at the community reaction has been.

Speaker 2 (01:30:57):
Overwhelming.

Speaker 3 (01:30:58):
Uh and again hearing from from folks who knew him
hearing from folks who went to school with him has
been really has been painted painted a really a really
interesting picture of the person he was off the field as.
Well on that, note we'll go ahead and, uh we'll
take a. Break this is it for the free for
all for a couple of. Weeks we've Got july, fourth

(01:31:19):
next week On. Friday so, fine it's already, FOURTH i,
know which means when we're back in two, weeks we
are really going to. Die it's going to be all
football except for Well Chris george will keep updating us on,
legion so we'll have a little bit of, baseball but
it's going to be eighty percent.

Speaker 2 (01:31:35):
Football next in two weeks when we come, back And.

Speaker 7 (01:31:37):
I've got that trip To texas coming up WHERE i
might have to record or.

Speaker 2 (01:31:42):
Something we can we can we can make.

Speaker 7 (01:31:44):
That after That texas, TRIP i should be. Good three.
THREE i still want to call it the super, six
but it's the, elite, epicate.

Speaker 3 (01:31:55):
Epic great and OH i like. That, yeah all, right very.

Speaker 2 (01:31:58):
Good we'll go ahead and get.

Speaker 3 (01:32:00):
Here this is, uh this is The Friday free For All.
ALL i have the wrong hold on a, second this
is this IS i have too many things going on,
Here SO i messed. Up you guys have to you
have to bear with me for a second Because i'm messed.
Up hold, on you can get The jeopardy theme music
in the.

Speaker 2 (01:32:14):
Background hold, on.

Speaker 5 (01:32:16):
Here we.

Speaker 7 (01:32:16):
Go, okay there we, go and stay out of the
heat and high water and just listen to us on.

Speaker 3 (01:32:21):
Podcast, yes, yeah catch the show in podcast form and,
yeah hopefully everybody is doing. Okay we would some rough
storms last. Night thankfully we had a flash flood warning
at one. Point we caught the better end of. Today,
yeah it's going through the, weekend so it could be
in the triple digits heat index, wise so, uh stay
cool and we'll talk to you all in two. Weeks

(01:32:42):
Morning spiel coming up, Next.

Speaker 2 (01:32:43):
Chris thanks, Man all, right, Man i'll see you all.

Speaker 3 (01:32:46):
Right, well we'll be, uh we'll be jumping out of
here for a little minute and back with the Morning
spiel coming up at the top of the.

Speaker 1 (01:32:52):
Hour you've been listening to The dan cavatoyot of you
AT Gmc friday three for. All be sure to tune

(01:33:12):
in Every friday as we review and preview local high school.
Sports this has been a special presentation OF Wvrc media
and ONE o three three wkmz