keeping up with the local players

The ball games always seem more interesting when someone from your home town is playing in a game. Last Saturday was unique in that way because three guys with ties to Jacksonville played in games broadcast that day, one in pro baseball and two in college football.


Chipper Jones

Of course, we have been watching Chipper Jones since he graduated from the Bolles school - playing for the Braves right out of high school. Now at 32, he has more aches and pains but still knows how to hit the ball.

Tim Tebow and Coach Urban Meyer

Riley Skinner

Then after watching the Gators play with Jacksonville native Tim Tebow at quarterback, I watched a little bit of the Wake Forest game where Riley Skinner, the quarterback, is also a Bolles grad. Even though I am not living in J'ville now, I still try to keep up with these and other hometown guys.

Brian McCann

Jeff Francoeur

Mark Teixeira

I just learned recently that Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann graduated from Duluth High School in Georgia (my new home town.) Right fielder Jeff Francoeur is also a local native (Parkview High School in Lilburn, GA) and Mark Teixeira who was recently traded from the Texas Rangers (July 31), played college baseball at Georgia Tech.