Food for Thought

Fear of Success

Yes, there is a phenomena of being afraid of too much success. Some people when they achieve something at a very high level actually become afraid to repeat it. Perhaps they fear that it was so difficult to reach that ultimate level that they may never be able to reproduce the activities that got them to the top. It is very difficult indeed to do anything at a high level but I really think in the end it is worth it. I know some people are actually afraid to try too hard at something because they may not be "good enough" in the end. I have found that this is just simply not the case.

This year has perhaps been the best year ever for the bands of Lexington School District 4, but I know that we have even more to achieve in the future. Hopefully this year is not just an isolated glance into how good we really can be, but a start to bright future of one of the very best band programs in the Southeast. 2nd place in the state at marching band with only 5 seniors. A superior rating in Class V at concert festival with only 4 seniors. 23 students in region band from the middle and high schools. These are the things that offer a bright future or even a chance at a dynasty. Only time will tell but be assured of one thing. Good enough will never be good enough for me!

I hope everybody can finally relax a little over spring break. Take a little bit of time to remember how good it is to reach your goals. You can bet I will.

GGGGOOOOOAAAALLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations to the Sandhills Middle School 8th grade band for receiving straight superior ratings at the South Carolina Junior Concert Festival today. Way to go!

The Lexington School District 4 band program is quickly becoming one of the premier band programs in South Carolina.

Just wait to see what we have for you this fall and next year too!

Superior!...Again!

Congratulations to the Sandhills Middle School 7th Grade band for receiving a Superior today at the South Carolina Junior Concert Festival! I knew you would do it!

Not Much Going On

There has not been much going on lately. It sure is nice to have warm weather. I fear we may not really get a spring though. That's South Carolina. Only two season's, winter and summer. I did go fishing yesterday and only caught 3. With the lake up again after being 15 feet below normal for 3 years, I think the fish are confussed or at least I am about where they are! The middle school students will attend concert festival tomorrow. I will have a report about the outcome. I sure am glad to have ours behind us. Only 16 more to go until...You have to figure that sentence out!

SUPERIOR!

2007 Swansea High School Symphonic Band

Superior Rating

Class V

P.S. This means more to me than most will ever know!

It is Here!

Concert festival is here. We play in less than 6 hours. We need something extra today.

Concert Festival in Two Days!

The band goes to festival in two days. Tomorrow will be our last shot to fix things and then hang on for the performance. It is pretty tough by having two days off right before festival. Oh well, one year the band had spring break right before festival and that band still got straight I's in Class V so it is possible. Hopefully everybody will be at school tomorrow. The true thing that must happen for a chance at success is that everybody must be focused on the goal. We shall see what happens. Sometimes I feel like I take on too much. Class V is certainly no place to hide.

Integrity and Loyalty do count!

Congratulations to Coach Gregg Marshall and the Winthrop Eagle basketball team. They advanced in the NCAA basketball tournament by defeating Notre Dame 74 -64. Coach Marshall is a true winner in many senses of the word. Be sure to cheer them on in the next round.

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -Finally, on its seventh try, Winthrop did it. Against Notre Dame, of all teams.
Craig Bradshaw , a random import from New Zealand, scored 24 points and Torrell Martin added 20 and a career-high 11 rebounds as previously hollow Winthrop beat hallowed Irish 74-64 Friday in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Winthrop, which had been 0-6 in previous tournament appearances, blew all of its 20-point lead in the second half before surging in the final two minutes to end Notre Dame's first NCAA appearance since 2003.
The 11th-seeded Eagles (29-4), the little school from Rock Hill, S.C., lost in the final seconds to Tennessee last year in the tournament. They came from that defeat - and a frenetic Irish rally in this game - to advance in the Midwest Regional.
Last June, Winthrop coach Gregg Marshall accepted the College of Charleston's offer to become its head coach - for almost twice his Winthrop salary of about $500,000. But 24 hours later, he said ''No, thanks,'' and stayed on course with his below-the-radar Eagles.
Good move. Charleston is home. Never even made it into the tournament after a 22-11 season. And Marshall is one win from the NCAA regional semifinals.
The sixth-seeded Irish, led by 14 points from Colin Falls , finished 24-8.
Down 54-34, Notre Dame stormed back to take a 63-62 lead with 2:21 left. From then on, it was all Winthrop.
Winthrop scored the first seven points of the second half and built its huge lead with 13 minutes. The trapping, scrapping Irish came all the way back, scoring the next 13 points to get to within 54-47.
Winthrop made just three free throws over eight minutes, and the Irish closed to within 57-56 on a putback by Russell Carter off an airballed 3.
Carter, an All-Big East player and Notre Dame's leading scorer, finished with 12 points on just 6-for-15 shooting.
Notre Dame took the lead on Luke Harangody 's turnaround. He was fouled on the play, but missed the ensuing free throw.
Then it was Winthrop's turn. The Eagles scored eight of the next 10 points. Bradshaw's shot inside and Chris Gaynor 's second 3-pointer in three tries put the Eagles up 67-63 with 1:30 to go.
After Irish freshman point guard Tory Jackson made one of two free throws, Michael Jenkins pushed the ball to Bradshaw on a break for a sprinting dunk that gave the Eagles a 70-64 lead with 35 seconds left. That essentially ended Notre Dame's roaring comeback and the its season.
Bradshaw, who said he sent a game tape as a New Zealand high schooler to Winthrop just because, was taller than any Irish player. So he continually took any space he wanted underneath - even though he is often a 3-point shooter. He made 10-of-16 shots, many from within eight feet of the basket, and scored 16 of his 24 points in the second half.
After ending the first half on a 13-2 run that put them up 32-28 at halftime, the Eagles kept surging after the break. They scored the first 10 points of the second half, five by Martin. After his 3-pointer that put Winthrop up 39-28 and forced a time out by Notre Dame with 18:27 left, Martin tapped both temples and flew his hands in the air.
Two minutes later, Gaynor, a 5-foot-10 guard, blocked a putback try by Notre Dame's 6-9 rebounding leader Rob Kurz . Jenkins finished the break the other way with a deft bounce pass behind his back that found Martin in stride for a dazzling layup. The arena erupted with ooohhs and cheers, and Winthrop had erupted for a 46-30 lead with 16 minutes remaining.

Seagulls: What's the Deal?

So I went fishing yesterday, and I saw some seagulls. You would expect that. When you go to the beach, what do you see? Seagulls. That's the way it should be. Here is the problem. I see them other places. Walmart in particular. What is it about a Walmart parking lot that attracts them? They are building a new Walmart down the road from my house. I looked over there today and there were seagulls. In the parking lot...That wasn't even finished yet! I think it is some sort of conspiracy that perhaps the seagulls have formed or maybe Walmart. Maybe both. I am going to closely monitor this situation. Beware of the seagulls. Something is odd with them.

Spring...Where are you?

I have had enough of winter. Hey, we didn't even get a good snow fall. I hate winter. It is time for some warm weather. I came home today and what did I find? My plants and flowers were starting to grow! I did my first good watering of the Spring. We have hundreds of daylilies. We have several roses and a lot of other stuff. People may be surprised to hear I like to garden. My dad gave me this love. Who knows why a submarine sailor would be into gardening. You have to ask him that. If you dare! Soon it will be time to plant some tomatoes and cucumbers too. The pictures are of some our great daylilies from last year. It won't be long now until I can post some of this years.

Sometimes the little guy does get credit

The Winthrop Basketball team has been nationally ranked for the first time ever. They are ranked 24th in the country. Most of you know I graduated from Winthrop and I loved just about every moment I had there. It is a small college with only about 6,600 students total. It may also be the most beautiful campus in the country too. It just looks like a university should. The basketball coach, Gregg Marshall, has been there for 9 years and the team has made the NCAA tournament for 7 of those years, but this year they have excelled even further. Their record is an amazing 28-4. Here is something else pretty incredible. Last year Coach Marshall was offered another job in which he would make much more money. He accepted it but the next day he gave it back. He had chose to say at Winthrop. Do you know what kind of a raise in his salary Winthrop gave him? Non, nothing, zip! He said he stayed because he liked being there and he knew they liked him too.

"Nine years of work has been poured into this," Winthrop coach Gregg Marshall said Monday. "The AP is the original poll, the one I grew up with. This is another stamp of approval that people are recognizing this basketball program and not just this season but a culmination of nine years. This validates what we've been doing for these many years."

"We're not No. 31 or 29 or 27 anymore. You don't put numbers on the teams in the list of other receiving votes but we do," Marshall said. "We don't worry about that now. There is a clear two-four in front of our name now and we are proud of that to be honest."

Here is another example of what kind of person he is. Sunday morning I sent Coach Marshall an email to congratulate him and wish him and the team well in the NCAA tournament. Today when I came home he had replied with a thanks. I bet regular people like me wouldn't get that kind of response at the larger school in our state or just about any where for that matter.

Check this Out!

I don't usually look at these things, but this one is good. He thinks it haunts him. What about us!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxkVQy7QLM

Blue Man Group

We went to see them last night at the Colonial Center. It was excellent. We have seen them before in Las Vegas and they are awesome. I wish the kids could have all come and watched too. The music they produce is very interesting. Not only are they incredible performers, their show is very funny too. If any of you get the chance to see them, do it!