Consistency is so nice.
Sometimes it’s too common, like just grumbling to grumble or saying nothing’s ever cool or good or done right.
Sometimes, it’s common, and it’s good, much to the chagrin of a bunch of simple-minded grumpy old white men.
Like the latest Georgia Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
You’ve read this before, for a reason: It was another year and another quality show put on by the Hall
There are those who ponder why someone raves about something so much, so often. What’re they getting? What’s the agenda?
Getting? Nothing. Some grub. And some really, really good grub, but it’s a weekend of work.
Of course, the culinary delight comes after — on a certain Friday night — talking to Ron Simmons, Chuck Shaheen, Sam Mitchell and listening to 20 minutes or so of Bill Shanks bragging about a superb collection of Georgia athletes and then looking for Suzanne Yoculan for a minute and then talking again to Simmons and Shaheen — and frankly, wanting to chest-bump both of them — and writing.
Then, after an afternoon of women’s and men’s college basketball, more quality dining precedes the poetry of masterful master of ceremonies Ernie Johnson Jr., and seven people and their friends and family have a night better than they expected.
It’s hard to capture completely the wit of Ernie Johnson Sr., the humanity of Ron Simmons, the wackiness of Larry Rakestraw, the clear humility of Ed Everett and so on.
Let’s not even discuss the hopes that the lone dark blue suit — donned in a newspaper building bathroom — still fits and no buttons pop off.
Agenda? There is no elected office here, and this certainly doesn’t come from anybody connected to the splintered Hall authority and its mixed bag of members.
If yet again trying to get the point across how good this event is, yeah, it’s an agenda. If it’s trying to point out there is quality in Macon and Middle Georgia despite the populace’s often deafening and short-sighted complaining, yes sir, it’s an agenda. If it’s hoping that people around here take advantage when quality is offered, yes ma’am, you might be looking at an agenda.
Every year, people ask about the ceremony, and every year, they get the same answer. And every year, they say they should go.
And they should. After all these years, the night at the Auditorium still never disappoints.
Amid annoying traffic lights, problems with the board of education exacerbated by parents of those to be educated, economic issues, the normal bad-as-reality-TV that can be City Council, and every other pitch to the head life throws, we had good. We had fun. We had escape.
For the procrastinators, mark down about 11 months from now: Georgia Sports Hall of Fame ceremony. And then buy a ticket or table and go.
You can thank me later.
Contact Michael A. Lough at 744-4626 or mlough@macon.com
