Zopf: East Hall's Bailey a leader among young men

With his hands clutching the hands of a couple teammates, and surrounded by players from Rabun County doing the same, East Hall senior Sterling Bailey bowed his head and prayed.

Holloway: Fox's team fights for wins, Richt's team feels entitled to them

His teams have blown its two chances to make a statement since landing in the Top 25 three weeks ago, sliding to fifth place in the SEC East.

Zopf: West Hall girls making positive steps

As Lynn Jarrett stepped into her office, she sat down in a chair and let out a sigh. Her Lady Spartans had just given the third-ranked team in Class AAA all it could handle, and for a program that is going through some tough times, remaining competitive with the best is almost as good as a win. "I don't think we handled them," Jarrett said following the Lady Spartans' 56-49 loss to Walnut Grove on ...

Zopf: Falcons fans hard to understand

Falcons fans never cease to amaze me. While driving home from watching Sunday's wild card games, and a day after the 7-9 Seahawks shocked everyone outside of Seattle with a 41-36 win over the defending champion New Orleans Saints, I looked at my wife and said, "I bet everyone in Atlanta is pulling for the Eagles today." I was wrong. When we arrived home, I moseyed over to my neighbor's house to watch the end ...

Spartans the best around since ugly Lanierland loss

Losing a 26-point lead to a subregion and county foe could derail a team's entire season. Or, as in the case of the West Hall Spartans, it could propel one to a state championship.

Krohn: Jobs for Richt once UGA fires him

Murphy: It's going to be a long offseason for Georgia fans

It's a hopeless feeling to be a University of Georgia football fan these days. Things are bad, and by the tone of coach Mark Richt during his end-of-season press conference, I find it hard to believe things are going to get better any time soon.

Krohn: Saints the toughest challenge in NFC

It's very likely the Atlanta Falcons' first playoff game will be their toughest of the postseason, because all signs point to it being against the New Orleans Saints.

Zopf: 2 Gainesville players made mistakes

There comes a point in every coach's career when he or she must chose between winning and doing what's right.

Zopf: Lanierland a great Christmas gift to basketball fans

Dear Santa, I know it's been more than 20 years since I last wrote you a letter, but I figured I've been a pretty decent fellow this year and could use a couple gifts this year. I'm not asking for a lot; just five things you can do for me and the rest of the basketball lovers in the area. I know you're busy, but if you could deliver on these requests there could be ...

Zopf: Trojans-Vikings the area's best hoops rivalry

Pregame hype? Check. Packed parking lot? Check. Standing room only in the stands? Check. Two great teams battling solely for pride? Check. Those are the qualifications for any great rivalry game. For those few Hall County residents not in attendance for Friday's North Hall-East Hall game, the above characteristics also define that contest between the best boys basketball rivalry in the area. Read that again. The North Hall boys against the East Hall boys is ...

Krohn: Hawks crippled by crippled Johnson

With their 116-101 win over New Jersey on Tuesday at Philips Arena, the Atlanta Hawks are now 4-1 without their most expensive player, two-time All-Star guard Joe Johnson.

Zopf: Simply playing for the love of the game

C.J. Curry and Imani Cross know their future is on the football field. Hamilton Harper is pretty sure his might be on the baseball diamond. Regardless of what they'll be doing once they leave the halls of North Hall High, the three are doing everything in their power to make sure they get the most of the high school experience. And that includes playing basketball. "They don't have to play basketball," North Hall coach Benjie ...

Holloway: NCAA needs Cam to play

I don't know how the NCAA arrived at its decision regarding Cam Newton, so I won't pretend that I do. I'm fairly certain nobody really understands it, and those who say they do are either driven by agenda or just plain making stuff up. Nothing I've seen, read or heard in the last 36 or so hours adequately explains how the decision to declare the Auburn quarterback eligible without condition makes ...

Wolfe: Careful Cleveland, booing can be dangerous

Ashway: Lyle loses a season but helps save a life

Ah, yes. Age 22. I remember that. Barely.