Fire can’t slow King and Rebels

The next time you hear about a game being canceled because of a spelling bee, or the fair, or a dance, or some other questionable reason, think about Warren County High School alumnus Phillip King.

If you follow the TV news, you might have caught the story this week about Phil and his Franklin County Rebel baseball team. In case you missed it, though, here’s a synopsis.

On the way to a Tuesday night non-district game at Culleoka, the Rebels’ bus ‘ with King behind the wheel ‘ blew a tire. After pulling over to inspect the flat and discuss his options, King decided to try and limp down the road to the nearest gas station.

And that’s when the bus, with all 26 players and coaches on board, caught fire.

Yes, I said FIRE.

The players and coaches quickly grabbed what they could, chucked it out the windows and evacuated, and the fire quickly spread, engulfing the bus while the passengers ‘ and their head coach/driver ‘ watched from afar.

‘You know we just had to sit there and watch it burn,’ King told the TV crew. ‘That’s the same bus I’ve taken to every game for the last two years, and there it goes in flames.’

Quite a story, isn’t it? But like most great stories, the best part is the happy ending.

Rather than turn around and head back to Winchester, the Rebels got themselves another form of transportation, continued their trip to Culleoka and pulled out a 15-11 win. No one would’ve blamed them for calling off a meaningless non-league game, but the Rebels still had a job to do, and they went and did it.

If you remember Phillip from his days in McMinnville, you know he’s a gamer. And it looks like his competitive fire rubbed off on his players.

Ouch. Bad pun. Sorry about that.

‘ Speaking of local alumni, we had the chance to catch up with one of the founding members of the ‘Front Row Bro’s’ Friday morning.

Jonathan Hutton, a graduate of both Warren County High School and Middle Tennessee State (two of my favorite institutions) is now working with Titans Radio, and was in town with the annual Caravan as it made its stop at West Elementary.

Hutton, whose interest in athletics was evident even back during his days with the rowdies in the Dalton Gym bleachers, interned with the team during his college days, and after graduation was brought on into a full-time position.

From District 7-AAA to the NFL in just a few short years. That’s definitely something to be proud of.

‘ Speaking of the Caravan, what is vague about the phrase ‘closed to the general public’?

Just before Friday’s festivities ‘ which, by the way, were thoroughly enjoyed by the students and teachers who were in attendance ‘ a group of parents began voicing their complaints and asking why they were being denied admission to the gym. Later on Friday, this very sports desk received a call from an upset mother, who for some reason felt the phrase ‘all school visits are closed to the general public’ did not apply to parents.

Let me put this as simply as I can. If it will help, read… it… slowly.

Some years, the Caravan has ‘public’ stops in McMinnville. They are open to everyone ‘ moms, dads, grannies, nephews, you name it. Last year, they had a ‘work’ stop. Two players came and worked at the Senior Center, and it was not open to the masses. And some years, like this year, they come to a school, and it is (say it with me) ‘closed to the general public.’

It’s not the school’s fault, it’s not the radio station’s fault, and it’s certainly not mine. So save your complaints, and wait until the Titans come to the mall parking lot.