Little did CAL Quarterback Joe Ayoob imagine that he would be setting a Guinness World Record - especially for throwing a paper airplane. But, that is just what he did.
Ayoob, a former Arena Football player for the Central Valley Coyotes, accomplished this feat after throwing a paper airplane 226 feet and ten inches inside an airplane hanger at McClellan Air Force Base to break the previous World Record by almost 20 feet. Ayoob said he enjoyed throwing paper airplanes as a child.
In 2005 and 2006, during his two seasons as quarterback at California, he threw 280 passes. Apparently, his talent at throwing the football and his childhood obsession with paper airplanes aided in his setting this record.
In his quest to break the record, Ayoob was permitted ten official throws. The record was set on the fourth throw. He had thrown fifty practice throws on that day and noted that he was sore. The record did not come easily. Ayoob had worked with John Collins, a television producer and paper plane aficionado, for over a year to perfect the throw and design. Collins had chased the world record for almost four years, and while he had the idea for the perfect design, he knew that he did not have the strength and ability to make the throw. That's when Ayoob stepped in for the task. Congratulations to Ayoob and Collins.
ABA Jacksonville Giants Dancers Wowed The Audience On NBA's Slam Dunk Night
By: J.E. Miller Photos by: B.L. Miller
HERE IS THE GRAND FINALE!
THE JACKSONVILLE GIANTS GEMS DANCE TEAM
While most basketball fans were at home watching the NBA's Slam Dunk Contest, the ABA Jacksonville Giants were busy "putting up the points" in a college gymnasium. Just when the Giants believed that they had played their last home game, the Fury decided to travel to Jacksonville. The Giants, now ranked 7th in the ABA Power Rankings, came out scoring on the Chicago Fury in the Arena at the University of North Florida. Within minutes, the Giants took advantage of the ABA 3-D rule and were 20 points ahead of the Fury.
JERMAINE "SLIM" BELL
HEAD COACH KEVIN WATERS GIVES BELL ADVICE
At the end of the first quarter, the Giants led the Fury, 49-14. With only four minutes remaining in the first half, the Giants dominated, 72-45. You could call it the "Bell Show." Giants tall-guy Jermaine "Slim" Bell (7'2") was hitting every shot, rebounding against the best, and assisting like no other. With a triple double, Bell racked up 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists.
For Bell, his triple double was the third this season. Additionally, Bell has achieved a double double in a variation of two of the three categories (scoring, rebounds, assists) every game this season. Hey, NBA, are you listening?
DREAMS COME TRUE T.J. POSES WITH ANTHONY JACKSON
Giants Currye Todd (who shot a buzzer beater in the first game of the Giants' Season Two) put 22 points on the board.
The half-time show was a combination of Michael Jackson and the Dunkin' Dancers Slam Dunks. Thirteen-year-old Daquan Key, a student at Jacksonville's Matthew W. Gilbert Middle School, came out with his own combination of Jackson's hits. With such moves and Jackson-style dance steps, he just may be headed to Las Vegas sooner than later. His rendition was truly entertaining.
THE GEMS - JACKSONVILLE GIANTS DANCE TEAM
THE JEWELS - GIANTS SENIOR DANCE TEAM
The Giants senior dance team (the Jewels), directed by Showtime USA's Pamela Masters, set the house on fire. One after one, the dancers, dunked, slammed, bounced, and assisted in ways that brought the fans to their feet. Even Giants' mascot MR. BIGGS got in the act.
And, just when the cameras stopped rolling, the finale was performed. Our Miller on Sports videographer said, "I thought they were done. They seemed to be putting away the equipment, but apparently they were rearranging the mats. I was catching my breath from the performance."
But, instead, the dance team was setting up for the slam dunk of the century. Dancer Shelby Mayo sprinted and, bouncing twice off the trampoline, completed a total end over end flip before successfully dunking the ball. The crowd went wild! "The video camera took so long to power up that all I videotaped was the crowd's reaction. Not being able to capture Shelby's terrific feat was very disappointing."
MILLER ON SPORTS GREEN GIANT WITH T.J. AND FRIENDS
THE DAZZLERS - FUTURE GIANTS DANCERS
Meanwhile, back home, millions were glued to their recliners watching the NBA Slam Dunk Contest on their 70" plasma screens. And, based on Yahoo's report linked below, that show was a sleeper. Guess those fans need to rethink their entertainment lineup and plan to come to the next Giants game!
One of Jacksonville's local celebrities made an observation on Facebook. "It's time to cancel the slam dunk contest because there [are] not too many more dunks you can create that haven't been done." J.T. Townsend, Facebook Post, dated February 25, 2012, Jacksonville, Florida.
With a final score of 154-109, the Giants as always happily greeted the fans and signed autographs. Mr. Biggs, who always takes a lot of credit for the win, was playful with the fans and posed for photographs. The dance teams (Jewels, Gems, Dazzlers) also enjoyed the spotlight, and the crowd complimented them on their game day dance moves.
Regarding the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, another Facebook Friend posted this link to an NBA Archive that shows what the NBA Slam Dunk Contest produced in 1986. Now, that is what I am talking about!
THIS INFORMATION WAS COMPILED BY RADIO SPORTS TALK HOST AND
JACKSONVILLE GIANTS TELEVISION PLAY BY PLAY ANNOUNCER RICHARD MILLER. AT 26, RICHARD MILLER IS THE YOUNGEST RADIO
SPORTS TALK HOST IN THE NATION. HIS
SHOW, MILLER ON SPORTS, AIRS WEEKDAYS FROM 4:00 TO 6:00 P.M. ON AM 1600 WZNZ. LISTEN TO MILLER ON SPORTS. “EVERYTHING ELSE IS JUST TALK.” All photographs and images are the property
of Miller On Sports. ALL RIGHTS
RESERVED.
THE JACKSONVILLE GIANTS SUPPORT THE JACKSONVILLE SPECIAL OLYMPICS!
CHRIST'S CHURCH ACADEMY VOLUNTEERS.
On Saturday, February 25, 2012, Miller on Sports.com
captured the Special Olympics at Englewood High School on the Southside in
Jacksonville, Florida. Special Olympics
offers children and adults with intellectual disabilities year-around training
and competition in a variety of Olympic-type summer and winter sports. Special Olympics Duval is a nonprofit
organization that is dedicated to empowering these special individuals to
become physically fit, productive and respected members of our community
through sports training and competition.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded the Special Olympics in 1968 and since
that time it has grown to become the world’s largest program of sports training
and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities
or closely related developmental disabilities.
Special Olympics Duval County was established in 1969. Special Olympics Florida, incorporated in 1972,
is headquartered in Clermont, Florida, and is divided into eleven area
programs, covering 51 counties and over 15,000 athletes. It is such a special day for these children
and adults to be given an opportunity to develop and demonstrate their physical
skills and capabilities before family, friends, and community supporters.
These photographs capture their love of competition and recognition as well
as the devotion of the volunteers and community supporters. The Jacksonville Giants basketball team offered
free basketball game tickets to the volunteers and participants in today Special
Olympics. The invitation extends to the
family members of these special participants.
The basketball game will be played at the University of North Florida this evening
at 6:00 p.m. when the Giants face the Chicago Fury. Hot dogs, popcorn, and drinks will be sold for
$1.00 each from 4:00 until 5:00 p.m.
Come join the Giants and Miller on Sports.com, so we can show the Fury
what GIANT support our community is capable of offering to these Special
Olympians and the Giants players.
For more information and an opportunity to volunteer and/or provide
sponsorship or funds, visit www.soflduval.org
or contact Michelle Jacobs McCormick, the Duval County Coordinator, at
904-307-4221.
THIS INFORMATION WAS COMPILED BY
RADIO SPORTS TALK HOST AND JACKSONVILLE GIANTS TELEVISION PLAY BY PLAY
ANNOUNCER RICHARD MILLER. AT 26, RICHARD
MILLER IS THE YOUNGEST RADIO SPORTS TALK HOST IN THE NATION. HIS SHOW, MILLER ON SPORTS, AIRS WEEKDAYS
FROM 4:00 TO 6:00 P.M. ON AM 1600 WZNZ. LISTEN TO MILLER ON SPORTS. “EVERYTHING ELSE IS JUST TALK.” All photographs and images are the property
of Miller On Sports. ALL RIGHTS
RESERVED.
Steve Kordek, the Pinball Wizard, died Sunday, February 19, 2012, at the age of 100 in Park Ridge, Illinois. Kordek is best known for adding the two-flipper design to the pinball machine in 1948. In 1947, Harry Mabs and Wayne Neyens upgraded the pinball machine (previously known as the pin game) by adding six flippers that were operated by six buttons (three on each side of the machine). The next year, Kordek enhanced the machine so it only needed two buttons to operate all six flippers. Additionally, Kordek provided more power to the flippers and selected the positioning. While seemingly simple, these design changes made the machine more attractive to its users. Thus, the pinball machine became more successful in the entertainment world. The Kordek-designed pinball machine became the standard in the industry for the next sixty years.
One may ask what sort of training or schooling Kordek needed or how he became involved in the industry. That's the enlightening part of this story. Born in 1911 and the eldest of ten children, Kordek joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and worked a few years for the Forestry Service in Idaho during the Depression when he was in his early twenties.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Kordek's daughter Kathy Petrash said, "It was hard finding work back then, so he returned to Chicago [and] he told us he'd start each day by going to church and hoping to find a job."
The New York Times reported that, on a visit to his hometown in 1937, he was walking down the street without an umbrella when a torrential rain storm forced him to step inside the lobby of a building. That building housed the Genco pin game company. Upon Kordek's entering the lobby, the receptionist asked if he was there for a job. Finding that possibility to be of interest, Kordek interviewed and accepted a job. He started out soldering on the company's production line. Later, to improve his knowledge of electronics, he studied at Coyne Electric School at night and advanced through the Genco engineering department. He designed over 100 pinball machines. While Kordek never planned that his designs would result in a life-long career, he proved two things: that being in the right place at the right time can be the answer to someone's dreams and that starting his day by going to church can result in countless blessings.
National Public Radio commented that Kordek "elevated a simple arcade game into an American obsession. He became a legend." In such an industry that has had its ups and downs, Kordek's six decades in that industry is legendary.
For the first time ever in Major League Baseball, a player
won an appeal of a suspension for a positive drug test. That player, Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun, will not
have to serve a 50-game suspension. He
failed a drug test back in October, and it was made public by ESPN in
December. The New York Daily News said
Braun’s team challenged “the chain of custody” with the urine sample. From Yahoo! Sports, the sample sat in a FedEx
shop over the weekend, which “challenged the integrity” of it. In a statement, Braun said, “It is the first
step in restoring my good name and reputation.
We were able to get through this because I am innocent.”
Jaguars
Bite of the Day – On Thursday, the Philadelphia Eagles signed
former Jaguars quarterback Trent Edwards to a one-year deal. The 28-year-old was drafted by the Buffalo
Bills in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft.
Edwards also spent time with the Jaguars and Oakland Raiders. With Jacksonville, in 2010, he started the
Jags’ last game of the season against the Houston Texans. In that loss, Edwards went 12 for 25 with 140
passing yards, one touchdown and an interception.
College
Football Nugget – The Bowl Championship Series head-honchos finished
their two days of meetings on Wednesday.
The discussions about college football’s postseason were described as
“open” and “robust” by Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott. Jim Delany, the Big Ten commissioner, stated,
“The American sports fan is conditioned.
They like more games, more wild cards, larger fields. We don’t look at the regular season as a
seeding match.” The commissioners will
meet again on March 26 in Dallas.
Broadcasting
Note – The Washington Wizards’ JaVale McGee was benched
Wednesday night after being whistled for goaltending. It was the second time this year McGee has
been benched.
Strange
Thought(s) of the Day – Miami Dolphins fans are making it known
that they’d like Peyton Manning to quarterback their team. Is former Miami signal-caller Dan Marino in
favor of this? Could you imagine Manning
winning a Super Bowl with the Dolphins?
Tweet
of the last 24 hours – @McClain_on_NFL (John McClain,
sportswriter for the Houston Chronicle) “It’s interesting, but there are close
to 500 members of the media in this room, and I keep hearing them talking about
RG3. What’s that?”
Stat(s)
of the Day – In a top-20 college basketball matchup, Duke
defeated Florida State last night, 74-66.
The Donald L. Tucker Center, the home to the Seminoles, has a capacity
of 12,100. It was a sellout. It was also FSU’s second home loss this
season.
Link
of the Day – Joe Posnanski, of Sports Illustrated,
analyzes the definition of an upset and how golf is “really hard and
unpredictable and maddening.”
Video of
the Day – A Washington Capitals player scored a goal
with his face, more specifically – his tongue, on Wednesday night. He celebrated like I expected.
Question
of the Day – With last night’s loss to the Miami Heat,
how many people are hopping on the “Jeremy Lin is overrated” bandwagon?
THIS INFORMATION WAS COMPILED BY RADIO SPORTS TALK HOST AND
JACKSONVILLE GIANTS TELEVISION PLAY BY PLAY ANNOUNCER RICHARD MILLER. AT 26, RICHARD MILLER IS THE YOUNGEST RADIO
SPORTS TALK HOST IN THE NATION. HIS
SHOW, MILLER ON SPORTS, AIRS WEEKDAYS FROM 4:00 TO 6:00 P.M. ON AM 1600 WZNZ. LISTEN TO MILLER ON SPORTS. “EVERYTHING ELSE IS JUST TALK.” All photographs and images are the property
of Miller On Sports. ALL RIGHTS
RESERVED.
The Jacksonville Giants Dancers have created a new over-the-top half-time show titled "Dunkin' Dancers."
REPEAT PERFORMANCE SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, UNF ARENA 6:00 P.M. ALL SEATS $5.00
Military with I.D. Free
Approximately 3400 Giants fans witnessed a new and exciting half-time show Sunday night. Under the leadership of Pamela Masters (their dance coach), the Dunkin' Dancers were a crowd pleaser. Rapidly running for the approach, jumping on a trampoline, and then flying up to the basket, the Dunkin' Dancers slammed dunked the basketballs into the net. Some of the dancers shocked the fans with a dunk and lady-like rim swing.
Team owner Ron Sholes stated, "Since the show was such a success at the arena, I've asked the Dunkin' Dancers for a repeat performance and add MR. BIGGS at the UNF arena this Saturday night. Everyone was mesmerized by their performance. The Dunkin' Dancers may become a regular part of our half-time show.
Pamela Masters ("Miss Pam"), the Director of Showtime USA, is a leader in dance instruction and creativity. This is her second season with the Giants. The Giants hope that she will be back for Season 3. Matthew Masters, her husband, provides all the music and background sound. Sholes commented, "They make quite a team on and off the court!"
Located in Jacksonville Beach, they are North East Florida's ONLY Trampoline & Power Tumbling facility. Acrojax is a training center for promoting and fostering the sports of trampoline, power tumbling, cheer leading tumbling, springboard diving and other acrobatic-related activities.
What sets them apart is their highly successful team program it is our ability to develop the beginner and intermediate level students, regardless or their ability. Its team program that competes in trampoline, power tumbling and something called a double mini-trampoline. They will have a Cheerleading team and Cheer Skills class to go along with very successful Cheer Tumbling classes.
Coming in March, they will add Martial and Self Defense classes.
Maybe Magic Johnson's cable channel number will be his old retired jersey number 32. He had quite a bit of success with it. Celebrity basketball legend Magic Johnson has turned what could have been an HIV life of misery, pain, self-pity and abandonment into a financial fortune and charitable giving. With a battery of pills and medications, he has kept HIV from turning into AIDS. And, to look at him, you would think he is perfectly healthy.
Now, after over twenty years of retirement from professional basketball, he is going to risk it all and gamble on a 24-hour Magic Network titled, "Aspire." He explains the Aspire Network as a channel to give hope and jobs to African Americans. Aspire's headquarters will be in Atlanta, Georgia.
What makes this all possible is an agreement that Comcast made with the Federal Government's Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Department of Justice to create at least ten new African American and Latino-backed channels by 2018. Magic Johnson's channel will be the first on the block.
Magic will not discuss the total investment into Aspire, but previous start-ups like Oprah's new OWN Network required nearly $100 million just for start-up. The immediate reach of Aspire will be 11 million households. Magic predicts that, in three to four years, that reach could improve to over 50 million households. If he still has the Magic (which I believe), you can take that to the bank.
NBA Rule Number One: Don't Throw A Ball At The Referee
By: J.Miller
Watch the video below as Rajon Rondo hits a referee.
Sure, NBA players get a little frustrated with referees, but Celtics player Rajon Rondo lost it last night. When called for a foul, Rondo quickly tossed the basketball in a rapid underhand fashion toward referee Sean Wright. The referee was struck in the chest. Rondo was still unhappy with the referee and verbally abused him.
That guaranteed Rondo's expulsion from the game and a two-game suspension without pay. I personally believe that additional sanctions are coming.
On
Sunday night, the ABA professional Jacksonville Giants basketball team, who
just two weeks ago broke their own ABA World Record by scoring 211 points in a
single game, again made history at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial
Arena. After two full seasons of
basketball, the Jacksonville Giants lost its first home game in franchise
history.
Not
surprisingly, the competition was tough.
The Giants played the No. 1 ranked ABA team in the nation – the South
Carolina Warriors. The Warriors came out
with aggressive ball handling and scoring and quickly took the lead. After that, the Giants played catch up for
most of the game. Most of the fourth
quarter, the Giants were within five or six points. The fans could not decide whether to watch
the scoreboard or the court. Expected to
be the most exciting and competitive game of the season, both teams ensured
that the game lived up to that prediction.
With
seconds left, the Giants missed a shot, which sealed the win for the Warriors.The final score was Warriors 113 – Giants 111.
Jermaine Bell led the team with an all-star
performance of 30 points. In his second game in a row, Bell scored another
double double with 30 points and 13 rebounds.
Sherod “Hot Rod” Harris impressed the crowd with his ball handling
skills, quick moves and scoring of 20 points.
Harris and Bell were the leading scorers for the Giants. Matt Fields continued his aggressive
statistical run with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
With the Giants fighting an 18-point deficit with nine minutes
remaining, they battled back to take the lead.
With just two minutes remaining, the Giants were winning with a score of
109-108.
HEAD COACH WATERS STRATEGIZES WITH TEAM
Head
Coach Kevin Waters commented, “Jermaine Bell and Matt Fields came out with an
incredible performance. We played
against a very talented and aggressive team. I am really proud of the effort
these guys put forth. As I told them,
there is much to be learned after each game, and we will take this game,
analyze each play, determine our weaknesses and strengths, and move forward
toward next season and the playoffs. As
a final note for now, I would like to express my gratitude and true appreciation
to the fans and Team Owner Ron Sholes for guiding this team to a 14-3 season. See you at the playoffs.”
WARRIORS GAINOUS (L) AND TONY WHITE HANDLING BALL
The South Carolina Warriors' leading scorers
were Tony White with 32 points and Gainous with 29 points. Gainous also led the Warriors with 11 rebounds,
while Stevens contributed with 7 rebounds.
The Warriors (ranked No. 1 in the nation) are now 19-0.
The Miller on Sports team took 246 photographs of
Sunday’s game. If you would like to view
the entire album, visit http://www.facebook.com/milleronsports
THIS INFORMATION WAS COMPILED BY RADIO SPORTS TALK HOST AND
JACKSONVILLE GIANTS TELEVISION PLAY BY PLAY ANNOUNCER RICHARD MILLER. AT 26, RICHARD MILLER IS THE YOUNGEST RADIO
SPORTS TALK HOST IN THE NATION. HIS
SHOW, MILLER ON SPORTS, AIRS WEEKDAYS FROM 4:00 TO 6:00 P.M. ON AM 1600 WZNZ. LISTEN TO MILLER ON SPORTS. “EVERYTHING ELSE IS JUST TALK.”
All photographs and images are the property
of Miller On Sports.
Congratulations to the Jacksonville Automobile Dealers Association
Hits $1 Million Dollar Milestone to Charity
The Jacksonville Automobile Dealers Association, sponsors of the Jacksonville International Car & Truck Show, uses programs like the auto show to support children in need. A large portion of the proceeds from the Car & Truck Show are used to fund children and family charities in Northeast Florida. In fact, the Association just reached (in January) a milestone of $1,000,000 in Charitable and Community Service Donations (2001-2012).
JADA will be supporting in 2012:
Angles for Allison, Angelwood, Art with a Heart in Healthcare, Challenger Division - Little League Baseball of America, Exchange Club Family Center, Exchange Club of Jacksonville, Family Promises of Jacksonville, First Coast Kids Triathlon, Gateway Community Services-Adolescent Residential Services, Girl Scouts of Gateway Council-Community Development Troops, Lea's Place, Mohawk District Boy Scouts of America-North Florida BSA, Murray Hill Ministries, Project SOS, Safe Harbor Boys Home, Seamark Ranch, Second Harvest of Northeast Florida, Team Focus, YMCA "Strong Kids", YMCA "Take Stock in Children".
THIS INFORMATION WAS COMPILED BY
RADIO SPORTS TALK HOST AND JACKSONVILLE GIANTS TELEVISION PLAY BY PLAY
ANNOUNCER RICHARD MILLER. AT 26, RICHARD
MILLER IS THE YOUNGEST RADIO SPORTS TALK HOST IN THE NATION. HIS SHOW, MILLERONSPORTS, AIRS WEEKDAYS FROM
4:00 TO 6:00 PM ON AM 1600 WZNZ. LISTEN
TO MILLERONSPORTS, LISTEN ONLINE AT
HTTP://WWW.ILOVETHETRUTH.COM “EVERYTHING
ELSE IS JUST TALK.” YOU CAN FIND HIS
VIDEOS AT YOUTUBE CHANNEL http://www.youtube.com/user/milleronsports Be sure to LIKE :
NASCAR held its 8th Annual NASCAR Media Day at the Daytona Speedway yesterday. Miller on Sports.com was up early and with camera in hand ready for a long day of interviews. Nearly 200 media members from all over the world converged on Daytona carrying everything from pencils and paper to $50,000 high-definition video cameras.
It is hard to describe, but NASCAR drivers are pleasant to interview. They must relieve their tensions on the racetrack or are just so composed driving 200 miles per hour with their car just inches away from the nearest competitor.
The drivers were paraded in front of the media in two separate groups. One group for television interviews and the other for radio and print media. After those interviews were completed all of the reporters were given the opportunity to interview each individual driver.
After lunch, we were allowed to drive through the tunnel onto the infield and visit with the pit crews and take photographs of the race cars.
Jacksonville Sharks player LaRoche Jackson (Defensive Back) joined the ABA Jacksonville Giants for several days of basketball practice this week. LaRoche will play for the Giants on Sunday, February 19th, 2012, as the Giants 13th man. The ABA rules allow for a celebrity 13th man to play in an ABA game. LaRoche (born June 21, 1984) joined the Jacksonville Sharks as a free agent for the 2011 season. It was truly a blessing for LaRoche to have joined that season. The Sharks won the Arena Football League National Championship. When asked about the championship ring, LaRoche told Host Richard Miller that if he wants to see the ring, you need to come to the Sharks' March 24th game against Georgia, which will be played at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Describing the Sharks' winning that national championship, LaRoche stated: "The experience was a blessing to bring [that championship] back to Duval."
LaRoche urges the Jacksonville community and its surrounding areas to come out this weekend to support the Jacksonville Giants. He states: "Everybody should support everybody at the professional level. Support each other. The Giants need some love to bring a championship home to Jacksonville." As part of his support of the Jacksonville Giants, LaRoche will play as the 13th man and display his basketball skills at Sunday night's game.
At basketball practice this week with the Giants, LaRoche was amazed at the talent of the Jacksonville Giants. He described the last practice as "rough." At 5'11", he is "in football shape," but "not in basketball shape." When asked if he worked harder for the Sharks in season or off season, he stated that he puts in more work during the season and "comes to practice every day like it is game day." He explained that the competition is tough and that each and everyday he has to display his talents to the coaches and the other players. His work ethic is comparable to the motto that you are only as good as your last performance.
In high school, LaRoche played basketball, and his team won three state championships. In his senior year, the team was 31-0. So, clearly, he has basketball skills that will be displayed on Sunday night with the Giants. LaRoche noted that he could have played college basketball, but chose to play football instead. Describing himself as a defensive basketball player, he can shoot free throws and "loves to pass." On Sunday night with the Giants, he plans to "penetrate and pass" and "will give it a good show." So, come out to support the Giants and LaRoche Jackson because, as LaRoche says: the Giants "need some love to bring the championship home to Jacksonville."
The Giants will play both evenings this weekend at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Saturday's game is at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday's game is at 5:00 p.m. Both games are essential to the Giants' paving that road to the national championship and bringing back that title to Jacksonville.
There are two videos in this story. The first is video is an interview with Richard Miller on Miller on Sports radio. and the second is footage of LaRoche working out with the ABA Jacksonville Giants.
This morning at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, the MilleronSports team caught up with Jacksonville Sharks DB Laroche Jackson as he worked out with the ABA Jacksonville Giants basketball team. He will be playing for the Giants on Sunday when the Giants face its toughest foe.
Laroche will walk on as the team's 13th man. This is a position reserved for celebrities to join the team for a game or two. You can see in this short clip that Laroche has basketball skills, too.
He will be interviewed on-air LIVE at 4:00 p.m. today on Miller on Sports radio (AM 1600 WZNZ) show by host Richard Miller. You can listen online at http://www.ilovethetruth.com
December 2011, J.T. Townsend and his mother Carmen attended their first Jacksonville
Giants basketball game. At that game, the Jacksonville Giants, the
dance teams, Mr. Biggs and the Miller on Sports team met the local football hero and learned what
many in the Jacksonville community had already known: that J.T. is not only a hero, but a true
inspiration. Since that meeting last
year, J.T. has been a fan of the Giants and Miller on Sports. Fullfilling his promise for an interview,
J.T. came into the studio today for an interview.
J.T. Townsend
was born in 1987 in Jacksonville, Florida, and received a scholarship to attend
Episcopal High School. While at
Episcopal, he received many awards and recognition, including the Episcopal
High School Foundation Award for Excellence of Character and the Best Athlete
of the Episcopal High School Class of 2005.
J.T. wears two rings: a 2005
state championship ring on the right hand and an Episcopal High School Senior
Class ring. J.T. is a fan of the Florida
State Seminoles. His ring tone is the
Florida State chant, and he wore a Florida State sweat shirt to the
interview. Yes, he is a very loyal
Florida State fan. During the interview,
he commented, that the team is “on the verge of another championship.”
In October
of 2004, while playing football for Episcopal against Bishop Kenny High School,
J.T. suffered a spinal cord injury. J.T.’s
mother stated, “It was not an accident, but an incident. He was chosen.” However, despite his injury, J.T. has made
incredible strides. He gives thanks to
God and his mother Carmen as well as the entire Jacksonville community for
helping him through his ordeal.
J.T. attends
physical therapy once a week. That has
become a very big part of his life since it is so important to keep his body
flexible and strong. He reported that he
now has some feeling in his toes. He and
his mother are extremely excited about the progress that has been made as a
result of that persistence.
At a special
ceremony in 2009, J.T.’s football and basketball jerseys were retired for his
contributions when he played in the positions of wide receiver on the football
team and forward on the basketball team.
While he played both football and basketball in high school, J.T. had
also played baseball as a pitcher and catcher.
Now, with his injury, J.T. enjoys watching all sports both live and on
television.
J.T., a
college student at the University of North Florida, is majoring in sports
management. While he has very much
enjoyed the college experience, with only three more classes left, J.T. is
eager to complete his collegiate studies.
He has several career opportunities that he may pursue after his
upcoming graduation.
On June 11th
and 12th, 2012, the J.T. Townsend Foundation will host a Celebrity Golf
Tournament at the TPC in Sawgrass. Professional
Golfer Fred Funk is supporting J.T. on this project.
Richard Miller creates and publishes a daily sports analysis report titled "Morning Miller." Be sure to Google Morning Miller ... "Everything Else is Just Talk."
THIS INFORMATION WAS COMPILED BY
RADIO SPORTS TALK HOST AND JACKSONVILLE GIANTS TELEVISION PLAY BY PLAY
ANNOUNCER RICHARD MILLER. AT 26, RICHARD
MILLER IS THE YOUNGEST RADIO SPORTS TALK HOST IN THE NATION. HIS SHOW, MILLERONSPORTS, AIRS WEEKDAYS FROM
4:00 TO 6:00 PM ON AM 1600 WZNZ. LISTEN
TO MILLERONSPORTS, LISTEN ONLINE AT
HTTP://WWW.ILOVETHETRUTH.COM “EVERYTHING
ELSE IS JUST TALK.” YOU CAN FIND HIS
VIDEOS AT YOUTUBE CHANNEL http://www.youtube.com/user/milleronsports Be sure to LIKE :
Early this morning at Everbank Stadium with a brisk wintry temperature of 29 degrees, Action News Jacksonville star Tracy Collins interviewed Richard Miller about the current status of the Jaguars. Richard stated, "the Jaguars have improved Jacksonville, Florida, but winning games will bring back the fans."
