Spread the love

By Sonny Jones

September 11, 2001 is our generation’s date that will live in infamy. Although 21 years have past, it still is difficult to grasp the loss of life and destruction that occured that day.

The sports world came to a halt after the attacks in New York, Washington DC and Pennsylvania. It was a stark reminder that winning or losing a sports contest isn’t really as big of a deal as we often believe.

Sports also brought us back to some sense of normalcy during that time, although what was considered normal before the attacks changed forever.

Enjoy the sports contests, strive to win and root for your team, but, on this date, never forget the horrific events that took place 21 years ago. It changed our country forever and altered lives for eternity.

NEWS & NOTES

• The Bladen County Recreation Department has extended the registration for its football and cheerleading programs until Friday. The participant’s age as of August 1 will determine their eligibility. Online registration is available by clicking here. For more information call the Parks and Registration office at 910-862-6770.

• Boost The Boro Men’s and Women’s Softball Tournament: Sept. 23-24, Wateree Park, Bladenboro. Information: Penny Walters: 910-874-3559.

• Bay Tree Lakes Volunteer Fire Department Golf Tournament: Sept. 24, Vineyard Golf at White Lake. Registration at noon, shotgun start at 1 p.m. Cost is $60 per player. Information: Bob Latham at 910-876-0717, Ben Corbett at 910-874-4019 or Jimmy Skinner at 910-991-6879.

• Agriculture Scholarship Golf Tournament: Oct. 8, Shotgun start 10 a.m., Vineyard Golf at White Lake. Four-man Captain’s Choice. Registration begins at 9 a.m. Information: 910-247-6132.

Here is this week’s Bladen County sports schedule:

MONDAY
• Boys’ soccer: East Bladen at Midway, 6 p.m.; West Bladen at Clinton, 6:30 p.m.; West Bladen JV at Clinton JV, 4:30 p.m.
• Volleyball: East Columbus at East Bladen, 4:30/6 p.m.; West Bladen at West Columbus, 4:30/6 p.m.; Mintz Christian at Elizabethtown Christian, 4 p.m.; Emereau Bladen at Riverside Christian, 4:30 p.m.
• Girls’ tennis: West Bladen at Whiteville, 4 p.m.
• Girls’ soccer: Clarkton School of Discovery at Bladenboro, 4 p.m.; Tar Heel at Elizabethtown, 4 p.m.
Volleyball

TUESDAY
• Boys’ soccer: West Bladen at Union, 6 p.m.; Emereau Bladen at Harrells Christian, 4 p.m.
• Volleyball: West Bladen at Fairmont, 4:30/6 p.m.; Elizabethtown Christian at Southeastern Academy, 4 p.m.
• Girls’ tennis: West Bladen at Fairmont, 4 p.m.

WEDNESDAY
• Boys’ soccer: Clinton at East Bladen, 6 p.m.
• Volleyball: Fairmont at East Bladen, 4:30 p.m.
• Cross country: East Bladen, West Bladen in Southeastern Athletic Conference meet at Fairmont, 4 p.m.

THURSDAY
• Volleyball: Red Springs at West Bladen, 4:30/6 p.m.; Riverside Christian at Elizabethtown Christian, 4:30 p.m.; Emereau Bladen at Grace Christian, 4 p.m.
• Girls’ tennis: Red Springs vs. West Bladen at Bladen County Park, 4 p.m.; Fairmont at East Bladen, 4 p.m.
• JV football: Midway at East Bladen, 6:30 p.m.; Clinton at West Bladen, 6:30 p.m.
• Girls’ soccer: Bladenboro at Nakina, 4 p.m.; Clarkton School of Discovery at Tabor City, 4 p.m.; Elizabethtown at West Columbus, 4 p.m.; East Columbus at Tar Heel, 4 p.m.
• Tot soccer at Bladen County Park: Everest vs. Skye, 6 p.m.; Tracker vs. Marshall, 6 p.m.; Chase vs. Zuma, 6:30 p.m.; Rubble vs. Rocky, 6:30 p.m.

FRIDAY
• Football: West Bladen at Clinton, 7 p.m.; East Bladen at Midway, 7 p.m.

SUNDAY’S PICK TO CLICK

Baker Mayfield will throw 2 touchdowns and pass for 250 yards in leading the Carolina Panthers to a season-opening win against his former team, the Cleveland Browns.

FRIDAY’S PICK: I’m on board the Frances Tiafoe train now. The 22nd-seed is the most exciting story now. A four-set win over third-seeded Carlos Alcaraz will put the American in the U.S. Open finals Sunday. RESULTS: Well, the Tiafoe trained jump the right. Carlos Alcaraz won an exciting five-set match, taking the final set 6-3. Keep an eye on Tiafoe, though.

WHAT TO WATCH TODAY

• DP WORLD TOUR: PGA Championship, 7 a.m., GOLF

• FORMULA 1: Italian Grand Prix, 8:55 a.m., ESPN2

• NFL: Cleveland at Carolina, 1 p.m., CBS

• NFL: New Orleans at Atlanta, 1 p.m., FOX

• TENNIS: U.S. Open women’s doubles championship, 1 p.m., ESPN

• LACROSSE: Waterdogs vs. Whipsnakes, 1 p.m., ABC

• MLB: Tampa Bay at NY Yankees or St. Louis at Pittsburgh, 1:30 p.m., MLBN

• LPGA: Queen City Championship, 2 p.m., GOLF•

• NASCAR CUP: Hollywood Casino 400, 3 p.m., USA

• INDYCAR: Grand Prix of Monterey, 3 p.m., NBC

• WNBA FINALS: Connecticut at Las Vegas, 3 p.m., ABC