GRILLO: Documentary shows struggles of breaking NFL color barrier

February 19, 2012 - 10:10pm

As part of its Black History Month celebration, NFL Network broadcast a brilliant documentary last week titled “Third and Long: The history of African Americans in the NFL from 1946 to 1989.” It was a time of rejection and bitter disappointment, then startling success, nothing like the bleakness of the preceding 23 years, when black athletes were completely banned from the NFL.The names Fritz Pollard and Paul Robeson, who were considered the first blacks to play in the NFL, are known to many football fans.

KING: 'Tis the season for bird watching

February 18, 2012 - 10:57pm

On cold winter days, I often think about our feathered wildlife neighbors.

GRILLO: Closing a reminder to support local golf courses

February 12, 2012 - 11:31pm

I was out of town when the news broke that Hickory Meadows was closing.I spent a lot of time on the dear, wonderful course in Enfield.

KING: Family heritage extends to NWTF

February 11, 2012 - 10:48pm

Last Friday, my sister-in-law whipped into my driveway with her white Camaro. I was pruning crape myrtles, but she was so excited I had to stop.

GRILLO: Stram set mic’d up standard in Super Bowl IV

February 6, 2012 - 9:53pm

  To mic the coaches or not in the Super Bowl? That is the question.

KING: Superstitions rule the day when it comes to fishing

February 4, 2012 - 10:48pm

When it comes to fishing, my friends and I are extremely superstitious.

Football Hall of Fame has plenty of good candidates

January 29, 2012 - 9:51pm

With 26 candidates for the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame, perhaps they should simply choose by position.

KING: First shad catch comes early this year

January 28, 2012 - 10:47pm

Each time we cross the Tar River at Old Sparta, my fishing buddy wants me to slow down so he can get a good look at the water.

GRILLO: After Paterno's death, legacy at Penn State a mixed bag

By Ron Grillo | January 23, 2012 - 10:21pm

  You didn’t have to be a seer to predict the imminent death of Joe Paterno once he walked away from the sidelines of the game he loved with all his heart.

KING: Never doubt the last cast

January 21, 2012 - 10:23pm

To me, there is always something special about going fishing.

KING: January is a perfect time for rockfish

January 14, 2012 - 9:08pm

Last weekend was like a bonus weekend tacked on to the long holiday week off from work.

GRILLO: College football full of thrills in 2011-12 season

January 8, 2012 - 11:09pm

With the BCS Championship Game just hours away, it’s time to take a look back on the most recent season of the greatest game in the world, college football.

KING: A crime scene on the Pungo River

January 7, 2012 - 8:21pm

My fishing buddy and I have been launching the boat on the Pungo River at Leechville for more than three decades.

GRILLO: Remembering sports greats lost in the past year

January 1, 2012 - 10:15pm

In one of my Sports Illustrated copies at the end of the year, I noticed some obituaries and thought, ‘My, that’s a lot of golfers gone from the sports world in 2011.’As I searched for those in other sports who had passed on, I realized that I was in S.I.’s superb golf section.

GRILLO: The 17th annual Cugini Awards

By Ron Grillo | December 25, 2011 - 7:45pm

  Nothing says the end of the sports year for me like the annual Cugini Awards, which always are more anticipated and enjoyed than the McRib.

KING: Saving speckled trout will take some time

December 23, 2011 - 5:24pm

There is great debate this Christmas about a species of fish we enjoy catching.

GRILLO: Somebody has to handle the paperwork

December 18, 2011 - 7:58pm

I was inspired to write this column by something I saw concerning the Denver Broncos other quarterback, Brady Quinn.

KING: There still are fish to catch during the winter months

December 17, 2011 - 11:06pm

There are very few things I enjoy about cold weather, but catching hungry rockfish is one of them. Cold weather brings out the best in rockfish.

GRILLO: Larry Fedora should be the next "Hat"

December 11, 2011 - 8:25pm

I’m going to jump right to a conclusion and say that North Carolina found the right guy to lead its football program.

KING: Bears easing into human population

December 10, 2011 - 10:17pm

There is no doubt the black bear population in Eastern North Carolina is growing.

GRILLO: Great coaches aren't born, they evaluate

December 5, 2011 - 4:02pm

This is the second, and probably not the last time, I write about coaches this season.I’m fascinated by who is successful and who is not.

NUNERY: Craddock was given the vision, and the Vikings followed suit

December 5, 2011 - 6:07am

RALEIGH – The vision came during coach Jeff Craddock’s major crossroad as a coach at Tarboro High.

KING: Lull between holidays allows for reflection of fond memories

December 3, 2011 - 10:06pm

During this time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I do a lot of reflecting on the past.

A good book brings back the old AFL

November 27, 2011 - 8:15pm

I did not even know the book “Going Long,” by Jeff Miller, existed before coach Dave Buck loaned it to me.

KING: A day in the woods instead of the water

November 26, 2011 - 9:37pm

This past Sunday afternoon the weather was just perfect.