Recent content by John

"I am utterly alone in this world." - May this heartbreaking line be your turning point. I was living a somewhat similar life until 5 years ago. I spent most of my 30s and 40s single and not even trying. I had (and have) a very loving family and a small group of close friends, but I still spent...

I had something similar. My wife and I went out and played six holes late Saturday afternoon at the country club we belong to. Neither of us had hit a ball in about a year (we mostly play tennis), and it was a blast. I made a pair of pars and the rest bogeys, which was way better than I...

The one time I went to Ouray, in the summer of 2021, it was scorching. And it turned out my hotel didn't have AC. I was supposed to stay three nights, but I bailed after one.

They did. I was there for all of the soccer games at Sanford. The hedges were sick and needed to be replaced anyway, so the timing was actually perfect. Georgia is hosting a soccer game at the stadium in August, on the 30th anniversary of the women winning gold there, but the hedges will remain...

I'm sure I've forgotten some of the other major stadiums and arenas, and I've left out the many FCS/I-AA stadiums I went to during my years covering a SoCon school: Atlanta Fulton-County Stadium Turner Field Georgia Dome Benz Omni State Farm Arena Sanford Stadium Stegeman Coliseum (UGA) Ga Tech...

I had it twice on my honeymoon in Scotland last summer. Much better than I thought it would be, but it was also battered and fried. We also haven't sought it out since we returned home

My wife took me to Lord Huron tonight in Asheville for my birthday. The show was great, though the experience was 50% ruined by the two young women who stood up the whole time right in front of us. One danced like Elaine on Seinfeld. Of course, the young woman sitting to their left spent nearly...

Fantastic stuff. I turned 54 last week and am happier and healthier than I was 20 years ago. I've done six half-marathons since November and am training for a mountain trail 50K in October. The older I get, the more I like the grind of pushing myself physically and mentally on these long runs...

At this rate, some kid's going to ask why he has to meet a certain GPA to be eligible, or even why he has to be enrolled at all. And there will be a lawyer to sue the NCAA over it, and a local judge near Big U that will rule that the academic eligibility requirement is depriving this fine young...

I've got two CFP national championship rings with my name on them. Never saw that coming. I've actually donated them to the university archives since I'm never going to wear them. They're part of a traveling exhibit that goes around the state every summer, and I'm sure a lot of folks, when they...

The names in this old CBS airing of Kenny Rogers' Classic Weekend — it was essentially Battle of the Network Stars but mostly with athletes — are pretty impressive, especially considering this was filmed at Rogers' big spread outside of Athens, Ga.

Chris did an interview with fellow writing great Tommy Tomlinson, for Tommy's Substack. Some interesting stuff in there too: Pub Day: Chris Jones, LEGS HEARTS MINDS

I read this a few days ago. Has stuck with me since. Tough to read, but wonderfully written (of course). Hope Chris is doing well.

For the fans of REM, B-52s, Widespread and other bands from Athens, here is a fun oral history done by the great Tommy Tomlinson for Garden and Gun: The Inside Story of the Athens Music Scene

That's been my experience. My wife and I are heading up there in a couple of weeks for a long weekend. White Duck Taco Shop is always a must for me, but there is tons of excellent food in Asheville, from fancy to hole in the wall.