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By Sonny Jones

Former News Reporter sports editor Dan Biser was recognized Friday at halftime of the East Bladen-South Columbus football game in Tabor City. He was presented a plaque by South Columbus principal Adam Thompson and Columbus County Schools Associate Superintendent Jonathan Williams.

Biser (pictured in middle) worked for the Whiteville-based newspaper for parts of five decades covering Columbus County sports. He retired in 2021.

It was a well deserved recognition for a man I came to know in the early 1980s when I was working at The Bladen Journal and stayed in contact with during stops at The Richmond County Daily Journal and The Fayetteville Observer. He not only was a terrific reporter, but an even better person. Always willing to help. Always willing to chat. In a profession where self-promotion and “having a take” are often the norm, Dan is quiet, unassuming and always a true professional.

• Next time we’re having a drought let’s schedule a NASCAR Cup race at the old Dublin Speedway. That should bring a monsoon. I haven’t tracked it, but it seems a lot of races have weather delays. NASCAR will try again Sunday morning to race at Daytona International Speedway.

THIS WEEK’S SPORTS SCHEDULE

MONDAY
• Boys’ soccer: North Brunswick at East Bladen, 5:30 p.m., South Columbus at West Bladen, 6 p.m.; Emereau Bladen at Cape Fear Academy, 5 p.m.
• Volleyball: East Columbus at West Bladen, 4:30/6 p.m., South Columbus at East Bladen, 4:30/6 p.m.; Elizabethtown Christian at Antioch Christian, 4 p.m.; Emereau Bladen at Cape Fear Academy, 5 p.m.
• Girls’ tennis: South Columbus at East Bladen, DH, 4 p.m.

TUESDAY
• Girls’ tennis: Whiteville vs. West Bladen at Bladen County Park, 4 p.m.; East Bladen at St. Pauls, 4 p.m.
• Volleyball: Antioch Christian at Elizabethtown Christian, 4 p.m.; Emereau Bladen at Christ the Cornerstone, 4 p.m.

WEDNESDAY
• Boys’ soccer: North Brunswick at West Bladen, 6 p.m.
• Volleyball: West Bladen at South Columbus, 4:30/6 p.m.

THURSDAY
• Volleyball: East Bladen at Midway, 4:30/6 p.m.; West Bladen at Clinton, 4:30/6 p.m.
• Girls’ tennis: West Bladen at Clinton, 4 p.m.
• JV football: South Brunswick at West Bladen, 6:30 p.m.; East Bladen at Whiteville, 6:30 p.m.

FRIDAY
• Football: Whiteville at East Bladen, 7 p.m.; West Bladen at South Brunswick, 7 p.m.

SUNDAY’S PICK TO CLICK

Rory McIlroy is four shots behind going into Sunday’s play in the Tour Championship. The leaders must finish their third round in the morning, then play the final round. McIlroy looks ready to make a run to the top of the leaderboard.

FRIDAY’S PICK: Look for Patrick Cantley to make a move in the second round of the Tour Championship after opening with an uninspiring even-par 70. The defending champ will do much better Friday. RESULTS: Cantley was better, shooting a 66, but struggled with his putting and was 7 shots behind leader Xander Schauffele after two rounds.

WHAT TO WATCH TODAY

• DP WORLD TOUR: Omega European Masters, 7 a.m., GOLF

• FORMULA ONE: Belgium Grand Prix, 8:55 a.m., ESPN2

• NASCAR CUP: Coke Zero Sugar 400, 10 a.m., CNBC

• LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL WORLD SERIES: Third-place, Nolensville, Tenn. vs. Taipei City, Chinese, 10 a.m., ESPN

• MLB: LA Dodgers at Miami, noon, PEACOCK

• NFL PRESEASON: NY Giants at NY Jets, 1 p.m., NFLN

• PGA: Tour Championship, noon, GOLF and 1:30 p.m, NBC

• LPGA: CP Women’s Open, 1:30 p.m., CBS

• LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL WORLD SERIES: Championship, Honolulu, Hawaii vs. Willemstad, Curacao, 3 p.m., ABC

• PGA CHAMPIONS: Ally Challenge, 4 p.m., GOLF

• WNBA PLAYOFFS: Seattle at Las Vegas, 4 p.m., ESPN