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Story Archives: Reasons to be proud


Reasons to be proud
by Joey Martin - posted Thursday, May 21st, 2009 @ 11:06 pmE-mail Story E-mail Story | Print Story Print Story 
Almost 18 years ago I wrote a column when my wife Kathy gave birth to our son, Jacob Timothy. I wondered what his world would be like.

Well, I can answer the first part of that question.

The only thing that surprises me now is that he was not texting when he came into the world.

I talked about how when I grew up there were no metal detectors at games and the only gang involved Spanky and Alfafa.

I watched Archie Manning growing up. Jake has spent a lot of time waching Peyton and Eli.

I was a 1-year-old when LSU won its first national football championship. Jake has seen two — 2003 and 2007.

My first jersey was a Bart Starr jersey. Jake's first jersey was Kobe Bryant.

I was a big Dan Pastorini, Pete Maravich and Cesar Cedeno fan, not to mention Bert Jones and Tommy Casanova.

Jake grew up with favorites such as A-Rod, Michael Clayton, Josh Reed, Jake Delhomme, Dewayne Bowe and Chris Paul.

And, yes, it went by fast.

Jake played football for four years at Vidalia High and was fortunate to have played for one of the best around in Dee Faircloth.

Jake did not get to experience actually playing in a playoff contest. But the memories of playing for and being around one of the class acts in coaching will stay with him forever.

Jake loved working out in the weight room.

Coach Faircloth always said if he opened the weight room at two in the morning on Sunday, Jake would be there to work out.

I have to laugh about that knowing how difficult it is to get Jake up any morning.

But there's more to that story. The thing about it is, if Jake would have wanted to work out at two in the morning, Coach Faircloth would have been there to open the door and spot for him.

And I am grateful for the leadership provided at Vidalia High.

Rick Brown wants everyone to think he is this gruffy, hard-to-get-along with guy.

Sorry to blow your cover, Mr. Brown.

You show me a principal who hasn't made someone mad and I'll show you a principal who is not doing their job and doesn't care about the students.

Rick Brown puts the students first in everything he does. I guarantee you if a student is there to learn and give their best. Mr. Brown will walk to the other side of the earth for them.

Rick Brown always likes to be in the background at extracurricular activities. But he's the No. 1 fan of anything going on at Vidalia High and you will not find a better supporter of these young men and women.

Sorry, Mr. Brown. Don't worry though. You'll still have some folks out there who just don't get it.

And what a great sidekick in assistant principal Jana Lincecum. As low maintenance as Mr. Brown is, Jana is all over the place. Jana stepped in as physics teacher this year when a replacement was needed, despite an already hectic schedule.

Talk about a person always there when you need her, and always there to make people laugh, smile and work even harder. But don't let her warped sense of humor fool you. Jana is some kind of sharp.

I'm sure Jake will miss his classmates.

I'll miss those folks who made this last walk representing Vidalia High possible.

Jake is now headed for Nicholls State. There are more memories to come and more people to be thankful to in the coming years. Who knows, maybe one day he will be writing about young men and women on the athletic fields and gym floors.

One thing my mom and I are sure of, though. He won't write about his kid. He really hates that. Sorry, Jake. And congratulations.

Joey Martin is sports editor of the Concordia Sentinel in Ferriday/Vidalia. The Concordia Sentinel is a sister publication of The Franklin Sun in Winnsboro and The Ouachita Citizen in Monroe/West Monroe. Martin can be reached by e-mailing joey@concordiasentinel.com.
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