Columnists, EDITORIAL -- FEATURE SPOT, Editorials, J.R. Tidwell, Opinion
 By  J.R. Tidwell Published 
6:00 am Saturday, December 8, 2012

Basketball season once again upon us

Well ladies and gentlemen, it’s that time again.

For those fans who had to wait an entire year to whet their appetite, the 2012 basketball season is here and in full swing.

It is just a few weeks into the season and already the different county teams have faced tough foes from both Franklin and the surrounding area.

This particular time of year has a special meaning for me. When I first was hired at The Franklin County Times I started off by covering basketball.

That’s right folks, I have been here and working in my current job for a whole year now.

Time flies when you’re having fun, and I cannot think of a better way to pass the time than cover the games I do in multiple sports.

I grew up playing baseball and football and watching just about everything else on ESPN, so naturally my love for sport and competition helped steer me into the career path I’m in.

It did not take me very long to pick up on the key rivalries around the county.

Belgreen, Phil Campbell, Red Bay, Tharptown and Vina are competing against each other in some way or other for most of the year, and Russellville, being such a large school, must leave the county for most of its opponents.

The Golden Tigers do not have to look far though, as the likes of Muscle Shoals and Lawrence County  are not so far away.

I’ve lived in this world as Sports Editor of the FCT for a year now, and I can’t think of a better way to make a living.

I have met so many players and coaches, principals, fans and others that I no longer feel out of place.

I am a part of the sporting world around here now, or at least I feel that way.

I may be reporting from the sidelines, but there are worse things in life I could be doing, and certainly none that I would choose.

When the 2012 season tipped off, I was immediately looking forward to covering the county’s rivalry games yet again.

There were so many good games between Belgreen and Phil Campbell, Red Bay and Phil Campbell and Russellville and its opponents last season, and I was forced to wait a year before I could watch those match-ups again.

But the wait is over, and the game is on.

Also on Franklin County Times
Educators update states of their schools
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
November 19, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — Local educators and community members gathered Thursday at Tharptown High School for the seventh annual State of the Schools program. T...
Dowdy guilty in dog mauling deaths
Main, News, Russellville, ...
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
November 19, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — A Franklin County jury found Brandy Dowdy guilty of one count of manslaughter and one count of criminally negligent homicide after more...
Youth sports policy aims at bad conduct
Main, News, Red Bay, ...
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
November 19, 2025
RED BAY — Over the course of his 14 years coaching youth league sports, Torrey Lewey has noticed a plethora of changes, one of which includes a tenden...
West sings national anthem for Special Olympics
News, Russellville, Russellville Golden Tigers
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
November 19, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — Russellville High School senior Elijah West sang the national anthem at this year’s Special Olympics, marking his second time to perfor...
Garden club learns about poppy symbolism
Columnists, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
November 19, 2025
We began our November Cultura Garden Club meeting with a hands-on rock-painting activity led by muralist Ree Shannon of aRo Art & Design Concepts. Ree...
Electricity prices are soaring, and coal is a key solution
Columnists, Opinion
November 19, 2025
Electricity bills are climbing almost everywhere, and the reasons have little to do with ideology. Three forces are driving prices higher: massive new...
PCHS opens with 3 wins
High School Sports, Phil Campbell Bobcats, Sports
Bart Moss For the FCT 
November 19, 2025
The Phil Campbell Bobcats reeled of three straight basketball wins to open the season, beating Tharptown, Winston County and Cherokee. The Bobcats ope...
Young Lady Tigers still in building stage
High School Sports, Red Bay Tigers, Sports
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
November 19, 2025
While most coaches have their hands full managing one team, John Torisky once again returns to coach the Lady Tigers as well — giving him twice the am...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *