It was a short first day at the state track meet, but with South Carolina's best high school athletes gathering in one place, there's no shortage of blogging material.
Travailing the Spring Valley High School campus was an adventure in itself. From its pristine baseball field to the rock climbing wall to a football stadium that is probably just as big as the one at Duke University (seriously) to the various academic buildings (and that's not to mention whatever will be added once the school's renovation is complete), I'm sure it was a no-brainer in deciding where to hold the state meet.

Before I share my feelings on the Eight Belles situation, let me put a few things out there:
-I watched the Kentucky Derby this year, just as I have each of the past five years or so, but had turned off the TV before news of Eight Belles' injury had come about.
-I admit that if Eight Belles hadn't been euthanized, it probably wouldn't have crossed my mind to post this blog.
-I'm not a member of PETA or a vegetarian, but I'm also not a fan of animal cruelty.

Rumors have been swirling that Scott Rast, the former Battery Creek baseball coach and current science teacher at BC, has accepted a coaching position at Beaufort High School.
Not true.
I talked to the man in question Thursday and even he was wondering what brought about this speculation.
"I've been hearing this rumor for quite a while, but I wish somebody would tell me something," Rast said with a laugh. "I have put my name out there to get back into coaching again and have talked to some prospective schools around the area, but nothing has been offered to me or accepted by me."

Didn't get a chance to pull something together about my second day at the Verizon Heritage on Thursday (and don't worry, you didn't miss much), so let's skip to day 3.
Saturday was the first time I had the pleasure of sitting in on a Boo Weekley press conference, and I quickly realized the man is truly everything people say about him.
In a 5-minute press conference, the Florida native:
-likened chewing tobacco during his round to a jolly rancher ("I just like to spit a lot, you know. Kind of have to have something in my mouth, I reckon, like a Jolly Rancher or something").

Serena versus Sharapova.
Maria versus Williams.
No matter how you say it, the names alone generate great expectations.
And their quarterfinal match Friday certainly lived up to the billing.
I've never seen two players hit as hard and for as long as these two did in their battle.
It was one of those matches where you didn't want to get up to use the bathroom, even if you really had to go, because you were afraid that you might miss another great moment.
Two hours -- yes, two hours! -- went by before the first two sets ended, and one exchange in the first set characterized the intensity.

After taking in the pong of rackets at the Family Circle Cup on Tuesday, I switched gears Wednesday for the thwap of clubs at the ballyhooed Verizon Heritage.
First let me say, the pollen is something else at Sea Pines. I've been sniffing and sneezing at least three times a minute.
But I'd take that any day over sand gnats, plus there's some good golf to played this weekend.
Wednesday was pro-am day/practice round for the competitors. It's a little funny to watch the amateurs follow up the fluid, powerful swings of pros like Ernie Els and Jim Furyk -- not that I could do any better.

With Venus Williams and Justine Henin dropping out of the Family Circle Cup at the last minute, I know it seems like the event lost some of its star power...not so.
Competition was still fierce and faces were quite familiar in the Cup's second day of action Tuesday.
Take Anna Chavetadze, for instance.
The No. 3 seed was none too happy during and after being upset by Sorana Cirstea, the world's 86th-ranked player. And yeah, I understand, losing is never enjoyable. But Chakvetadze went a little overboard.

The questions are being thrown around already: Should Memphis have fouled? (No question) Should they have called a time out to set up a defense or even a last-second shot after that Chalmers 3? (Maybe, but who really does that?)
Of course, you've got the Vitales and the Digger Phelps of the world who are so certain about what they would have done in that situation. Mind you, there's a reason they are working for ESPN and not coaching in Monday's game...yeah, calling plays and TOs under pressure didn't work out too well for you guys, did it?

You can't help but feel for the Beaufort High School baseball team, which keeps finding itself doomed by one inning, one swing or just one bad turn of events.
Ben Sauls looked very impressive from the mound Monday, striking out eight batters in 5 1/3 innings, but without any runs to complement this effort, it ultimately was for naught in a 5-0 loss to West Ashley.
Like Beaufort coach Brook Dixon told me after the game, the Eagles need to find a way to bring all three facets (pitching, offense and defense) together if they want to make up for their 0-4 start in Region 8-AAAA play.

Ever wonder why the guys who teach the pros aren't pros themselves?
That's what kept crossing my mind as I watched Hank Haney, the golf instructor for Tiger Woods, offer putting tips to several young golfers at the International Junior Golf Tour event at the Legends at Parris Island on Saturday.