2012 Chas. Int. Film Festival - Mayor's Reception

Mayor Joe Riley on the red carpet at the Chas. IFF

Morris Nissan Team are VIP sponsors of the IFF

5th Annual Film Festival...and growing

George Street was a happening place on 4/11

It's hard to believe that this is the 5th Annual Charleston International Film Festival (IFF) that is running from April 11 - 14. Local residents will recall that WorldFest Charleston laid some of the foundation for the Chas. IFF to build upon. The opening night of the festival was kicked off with a star-studded block party on George Street at King Street right outside the Sottile Theatre. Since Mayor Joe Riley was presiding over the red carpet, the IFF was granted permission to shut down George Street and a massive crush of film fans turned out to listen to the DJ's club music and to mingle for the photographers. A Charlie Chaplin look-a-like entertained folks, as did the girls performing with the golden hoolahoops. At 7 p.m. the sold-out crowd went inside the Sottile for a screening of the opening film 'Robot and Frank' - which is an indie film making its East Coast debut after being screened at the Sundance Film Festival. With a cast including Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, Liv Tyler, plus the humanoid robot - the audience was entertained for the 90-minute film by the robot-humor that Director Jake Schreier and Writer Christopher Ford captured on film. A second round of short films was screened at 9 p.m. and the festival will run in two locations for the remainder of the weekend - Sottile Theatre and Cinnebarre Theatre.

To view a past blog entry about the Debutante Hunters film click here.

Lowcountry hunter takes turkey in stormy conditions

Trad Dyches and his trophy tom after a stormy hunt

On April 4th Trad Dyches headed into a 250-acre parcel of land in Colleton County. He had hunted the same area two weeks prior in the afternoon, and saw two birds strutting in a field. Dyches ended up calling one tom out of the field and killed him at 6:45 pm.  This wasnt the dominant bird out of the pair, but still a very nice longbeard. So on April 4th Dyches knew right where he wanted to start. At 4:15 he started walking slowly, sneaking back towards that same field, which is just across a railroad track. Just then a train horn sounds off in the distance .....GOBBLE !!  Dyches began crawling on his hands and knees how a cautious hunter will when he knows a smart bird is near. His buddy Donnie Skinner told him he had hunted this same tom earlier. He made his first call at about 4:50 with the bird 200-yards down the field. He sat ready for an hour thinking the tom would come over, but after hearing nothing for an hour, he decided about 5:55 to make an aggressive cutt call one time and see what happened and that tom cut him off with a roaring GOBBLE !  After ten minutes the sky went from sunny and blue, changing over to pure black like it was dark, while thunder sounded off in the distance and the turkey became invigorated and gobbled and gobbled and gobbled. The wind picked up to about 40 mph and the oak trees began to sway and Dyches got into a prone position while the storm moved in, and at 6:15 it began to pour rain. The rain let up a little ten minutes later and the lighting and thunder began to pass. Dyches called softly to reassure the tom. Knowing that time was short and that the bird was hot, Dyches grabbed a hen decoy out of his vest and a gobble tube. With his hand shaking, he stuck the hen up to the left of the tree he was laying beside and let it rip on the gobble tube one time.  The gobbler that had begun drifting away into the field, turned around, looked at the hen decoy and gobbled a full-throated GOBBLE, a call of the wild that surely shook loose any spanish moss that had not been blown out of the oaks by the passing thunderstorm. Dyches' reports seeing the gobbler's head changing from baby blue to snowball white as the bird closed  to about 60-yards, shock gobbling all the way. The gobbler started running in with his snowball white head positioned down low and Dyches barely had time to set the gobble tube down when the bird was 20-yards away. Clucking with his mouth call to stop the tom at about 15 yards, the gobbler stuck his head up, allowing Dyches to harvest his trophy tom.  He immediately stood up, now soaking wet, and walked 15-steps and stood over the bird and said out loud that this was the best hunt he has ever had! The tom was a nice 3.5 or 4-year old bird and Dyches couldn't believe he had outsmarted this bird. He said to himself, OH MY GOSH, OH MY GOSH, about fifty times while standing over the boss gobbler. Then he called his buddy Donnie in the light rain and told him that he shot the smart tom and that it was such a special hunt that it left him with a deep feeling of appreciation.  Dyches shares that the lesson he learned during this hunt is that on some days, dominance is more important to gobblers than getting the hen. Congrats!
To view past blog entries about turkey hunting stories click here.

SCI Pathfinder award recipient

Gracie, Stephanie, Hunter and Sgt. Eric Edmundson

The Lowcountry Chapter of Safari Club International is known for the annual Wounded Warrior deer hunt in the ACE Basin each Fall. The local leadership noticed one particularly worthy veteran and contacted the SCI Headquarters to sponsor him for the award that recognizes hunters who overcome great adversity.

Sergeant Eric Edmundson of New Bern, N.C. is one of only two Pathfinder Award recipients in 2012, and he traveled to Las Vegas during the SCI National Convention to accept the honor and an all-expense-paid African Safari. Sgt. Edmundson then traveled to Charleston to join the Lowcountry Chapter at their annual banquet at the Charleston Yacht Club.

Sgt. Edmundson was serving our nation in Iraq when an IED caused him severe injuries, leaving him confined to a wheelchair and robbed of his ability to speak. Sgt. Edmundson has not let these disabilities deter him from joining Lowcountry SCI for several trips to the ACE Basin deer hunt. Local chapter officer Bill Snow became close with Sgt. Edmundson and enlisted others to support his idea of recognizing Sgt. Edmundson with the Pathfinder Award.

“The night Sgt. Edmundson received the award in Las Vegas our local chapter representatives felt a humbling feeling,” said Miles Crosby, SCI chapter President. “Bill Snow and his wife Karen deserve a lot of credit as do all the club members. Sgt. Edmundson is a decorated wounded warrior who does credit to the hunting heritage that sportsmen hold in high regard.”
To read my feature story in the Charleston Mercury.

To view past blog entries about Lowcountry SCI click here.

SCI's Bill Snow (on left) and leaders applaud Edmundson

Two ladies of Lowcountry SCI

2012 Family Circle Cup goes to Serena Williams

A happy Serena Williams after the Family Circle Cup

Women's tennis standout Serena Williams clinched her 40th Women's Tennis Association title at the 40th anniversary Family Circle Cup Tournament, placing her 14th of all time for total wins. (Her sister Venus Williams has already passed the 40-win mark.) Serena Williams defeated Lucie Safarova of the Czeck Republic in straight sets 6-0 and 6-1 in just 60 minutes of playing time. The one p.m. playing conditions were near perfect with sunshine, moderate temps and a steady breeze. Serena served first and won the first game at love and included an ace, ushering in the era of tennis on the newly dedicated Bille Jean King court. Safarova opened her service game with a double fault, and Serena sensed that her 40th tennis title might be within reach. Serena made a few bullet-like winners but but it a strong service game and baseline bombs that won the day. The crowd cheered Safarova when she won a single game in the second set, but  it would not be much longer until the crystal trophy would be handed to Serena Williams by the FCC officials. After the match Serena said that her practices this week did not indicate how well she would play, and that she could not recall playing two back-to-back matches at such a high level, and that she hopes she can keep it going in the future.

Serena gets ready to make a forehand return

The Easter bunny was courtside as fans made photos

Safarova was gracious in defeat

To view past blog entries from the 2012 Family Circle Cup click here.

2012 FCC presents 40 - LOVE exhibition tennis

Stubbs,  Navratilova, Evert and McEnroe at 40- LOVE

Gov. Nikki Haley salutes the Original Nine

McEnroe and Jensen debate a close call down the line

Hingis, Austin and Krickstein at 40 - LOVE

The 40th anniversary of the Family Circle Cup tennis tournament continued with what was billed as a night of empowerment, recognizing the 'original 9' of women's pro tennis. These notable nine ladies were on hand with Bille Jean King being the most high-profile name, and she was a huge fan favorite. The original nine were credited with bringing equal pay to women's tennis tourneys, and for bringing women's tennis to the threshold of popularity that it still enjoys today. S.C. Governor Nikki Haley was on stadium court for the 7 p.m. recognition service, and told FCC fans that she herself grew up playing tennis and that she was glad to help celebrate the 40th anniversary. Immediately following the 40 - LOVE program was some exhibition tennis that involved past FCC champions and a couple of men's tennis pros too! John McEnroe was back on court at the FCC for the second straight year and was joined by Aaron Krickstein. Representing the ladies were Christ Evert, Martina Navratilova, Tracy Austin, Martina Hingis and Rennae Stubbs. These great pros played tennis all 'miced up' so that everyone could enjoy their commentary about being in Charleston, or saluting a competitor's shot. Of course in the case of John McEnroe, who is still razor sharp on the tennis court, it's usually a close call down the line that brings him, the umpire and the line judge together for a bit of a 'sporting' conversation. McEnroe and others support the World Team Tennis format that will return to Daniel Island over September 14 - 16 for their 2012 Finals Weekend.

To view past blog entries from the Family Circle Cup click 2015- 2014- 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 

2012 Family Circle Cup - Semifinal Saturday

Sam Stosur at the 2012 FCC

Serena Williams at the 2012 FCC

The 1 p.m. match between past FCC Champions Sam Stosur (Australia) and Serena Williams (U.S.) was pretty one-sided. #5 seed Serena Williams bested #3 seed  Sam Stoser in straight sets 6-1, 6-1 to earn a trip to the finals of the FCC on Easter Sunday. In the second semifinal  match it was Lucie Safarova (Czech) defeating Polona Hercog (Slovakia). This sets up a one p.m. Easter Sunday finals match at the FCC between the heavily-favored Serena Williams and clay-court specialist Safarova. To view past blog entires from the 2012 FCC click here.

2012 Masters golf tournament - The 'Green' Masters

Feeling fortunate to be at The 2012 Masters

            Early spring in Augusta, Georgia brings the world-renowned Masters Tournament. This week signifies the PGA Tour’s first major championship of the year, but it also brings a glimpse of a more genteel competition. Southern hospitality is shared for one week by the Masters patrons who are invited onto the hallowed grounds of Augusta National, setting up a memorable ending on Easter Sunday.

            The Augusta National golf course is set on what used to be a garden nursery. Bobby Jones said this ground was a golf course waiting to happen, and the lay out continues to be awe-inspiring today. The hilly terrain allows for difficult shots such as elevated tee shots to sloping greens. Seeing the golf balls roll on the greens is like watching a slippery eel moving across the dock.

            The Thursday and Friday rounds are played with the entire field of invitees. After two days of competition the players will be paired down by half with those who make the cut allowed to play over the weekend. Saturday is billed as moving day, the day that a potential winner may try to seize the lead. However, most years it is evident that the Masters begins on the back nine holes on Sunday.

A depiction of Amen Corner

            The Masters is well known for having the most knowledgeable gallery in golf. The towering pines and hillsides tend to amplify the oohs and aahhs that accompany stellar golf play, and it is impressive that these loud gasps can be followed with utter silence as the next player prepares to putt.
            Remember, that seven live video channels will also be available on the Internet at www.Masters.com. “We take great pride in our efforts to grow the game’s visibility,” said Billy Payne, Chairman of Augusta National.
            The Masters has a trademark series of holes known as Amen Corner, which is just one of the accents that keep this tournament known as the best in the world. The South is fortunate to have this beacon of golfing excellence in her backyard and for that we should all say Amen.


Report from Augusta National for Friday, April 6, 2012:

Masters peanuts and 2012 guide for patrons

2012 Honorary Staters - photo courtesy The Masters

            A remarkably cool 55-degree morning greeted Masters patrons in Augusta on Friday, with blustery winds and a heavy overcast sky. The threat of rain did not materialize for Friday's round of golf, but the weather did affect the gallery - since NO sundresses were spotted! Also, the famous azalea and dogwood landscape at Augusta National was completely absent, save for a few dried up pink blossoms - as the spring green up in 2012 did not wait for the Masters tournament to arrive. Staking out a spot in the bleachers next to the 4th green, which was out of the wind, I witnessed half of the player field test themselves against this par-three hole and maybe saw two birdies in two hours! In that same time period the clouds parted, the sun came out and the earth warmed up nicely. Switching over to Hole No. 16 to watch the field play through, I found the green to be very receptive and witnessed a bundle of birdies. Things got a bit more interesting as Tiger's group approached the 16th green when Lutilda Woods sat down next to me in the side gallery area. Woods' tee shot on 16 found the front bunker - which was a miscue since the green was so receptive - and his mother never flinched. She stayed to watch Tiger put and collect a bogey at the par-three hole, and I wanted to tell her that Tiger's chip-in on No. 16 in 2005 was the single most electric moment I have witnessed at the Masters. The day finished up without any major drama, but the groundwork for the weekend of golf ahead had been layed shot by shot by the players. The patrons lucky enough to be on the grounds Saturday and Easter Sunday are in for a real treat in what I am calling 'The Green Masters' since the usual spring flowers were already wearing a 'green jacket.'


To view past blog entries about The Masters click here.