About 10 years ago, I MC'd a banquet with Dick and I promise, off camera he's just like he is on camera -- about 50,000 volts of electricity just waiting to talk (scream) and smile about something.


Remarkable Saturday

As I walked back to grab my computer from media row, the parents of the Clemson players were waiting, smiling, laughing and ready to talk.

"Did you have to change your sportscast" after our team beat Duke?" Nope, I explained the teams we cover get to determine what goes in our daily coverage, and Saturday the Tigers forced everyone to pay attention. I explained that we were glad to sing their praises, but I admitted that I had expected Duke to pull it out late. Instead, Clemson's grit and determination won out, and the parents teased me a little bit more about the Tigers great play. A few minutes later it was my turn.

The call was unmistakable for anyone who has ever traveled for business. One of the players' moms was changing her hotel reservation. She hadn't planned on staying to see her child play in Sunday's title game. I turned and asked how she could give me a hard time, and she smiled and very politely said that after that performance the people in the Clemson family could do whatever they wanted. As usual, mom was right.

Clemson is a great team to cover for those of us who work in Charlotte. Queen City natives KC Rivers and Demontez Stitt are both engaging young guys. KC laughed out loud when I kidded him about his "failed celebration" after his clinching basket against Duke. He turned after the lay up in the final seconds, ready to raise his hand in the air and point to the faithful on orange when his feet slipped out from under him. KC hit the floor HARD. No one really noticed in the wild celebration, but I kept watching him. In the locker room afterwards I asked questions about the great win, Clemson's first over Duke in 23 tries, and then I hit him with "What happened on the celebration?" He laughed out loud and admitted he cratered. The kind of laugh that gets started when we know we've been busted was followed by an even louder and harder version once his teammates that heard the question started teasing him, too. What a great moment for everyone at Clemson. And what a great reminder that we are covering young people who aren't always perfect. Clemson was close to perfect against Duke in the closing minutes, but KC's celebration needs a little work.