 MICK
MIXON
Panthers Television Network
By Jim Kelley
Mike Crum introduced Mick Mixon, who serves as
the Panthers play-by-play announcer on radio broadcasts.
Additionally, he is involved with the team's community and sales
efforts and Panthers Television Network programming. The North
Carolina Sportscaster of the Year in 1999 and 2004, Mixon worked 16
years as a color analyst for the Tar Heels Sports Network before
joining the Panthers in 2005. He also spent five years with WIS-AM
in Columbia, SC, hosting a nightly sports talk show and covering
sports throughout the state. Mixon began his radio career at WCGC-AM
in Belmont, NC after graduating from University of North Carolina,
Chapel Hill in 1980.
Mick made a few general comments about his work on radio and then
spent the bulk of the presentation telling funny stories about his
experiences doing play-by-play. I can only share a few of the
stories for public consumption. Basically, Mick tries to stay in the
background as his primary responsibility is to connect the sports
stars with the listeners.
Being in the background has led to some humbling experiences for
Mick. In his first public appearance, Mick was asked by a fan if he
was with the Panthers. When Mixon answered in the affirmative, the
fan asked him what position he played. Taking advantage of the fan's
naiveté and lack of knowledge, Mick said he played quarterback. The
fan responded, "I don't think the Panthers will be very good this
year with you at quarterback." At the state fair one year, a fan
walked up to Mick and asked him if he was Mick Mixon, the Chapel
Hill color analyst. When he said yes, she said with a disappointed
voice, "on radio you sounded so good looking."
Mick has also had to be careful in his use of word. He has to make
quick decisions on the air and sometimes his sense of humor can get
him in trouble Some years ago, when Mick was doing color for the
Chapel Hill-Virginia football game, Chapel Hill was getting killed
at the end of the first quarter. Virginia went 80 yards in its first
11 plays and scored a touchdown. Chapel Hill went three plays and
out. On its second possession, Virginia went 67 yards in 8 plays and
scored again. Carolina again went three plays and out. At the end of
the first quarter, Virginia had 10 first downs to none for Chapel
Hill. Virginia had possession of the ball for 11:30 minutes to
Chapel Hill's 3:30 minutes. Virginia had 14 points to none for
Chapel Hill. In exasperation, Mick announced that the Chapel Hill
players had a drug problem…they were being drug up and down the
field by the Virginia offense. The next day, Mack Brown, then the
Chapel Hill football coach, stopped in to see Mick and had a very
frank conversation with him. Mick said Brown was as mad at Mick as
any male person had ever been.
As a final thought, Mick mentioned that he loves working for the
Panthers and has to be more careful in his word choices. Now before
he says anything, he thinks of one word, - Disney. Will what he says
play well on the Disney channel.
Head Table:
Regina Patton, Ron Campbell, Herb Harriss, Mike Crum, Ed Sanz, Carol
Chavis; Invocation: Anne Bridgeman
Visitors &
Guests:
Darrel Stephens; Health & Happiness: Fred Brown; Song: Alan
Barnhardt; Piano, Thomas Moore
|
*
* * |
|
|
|
Attendance
Record |
|
11/29/05 |
11/30/04 |
| visitors &
guests |
13 |
8 |
| club
members |
203 |
204 |
| total
attendance |
216 |
212 |
|
|
New Members | Resignations |
|
|
|
|
Wedding
Anniversaries |
|
12 Ruth and Bill Loftin, Sr. |
| Birthdays and
Birthplaces |
|
Powell Majors will turn 99 years young on December
12th |
|
|
|
*
* *
|
|
Rotary Club of Charlotte
841 Baxter Street, Suite 118, Charlotte 28202
chltrot@bellsouth.net 704-375-6816 |
|
 |
|
|
þ
Several anonymous
Charlotte Rotary members were featured in the Carousel
Parade on Thanksgiving Day. The Queen Bees of Charlotte rode
on a float built by New Orleans float builder Bob Gaston and
were joined by 9 ½ foot tall Zsa-Zsa-Ga-Bee. The ladies have
issued a challenge to other business people in the community
to come up with creative float ideas for next year. Grand
Marshall Jim Woodward,
Police Chief Darrel Stephens
and Fire Chief Luther
Fincher were also on hand and waved to the crowd.
þ
From the newspapers:
Gary Scott, senior vice
president for Allen Tate Company, provided a look at his
early involvement in real estate and his current job of
handling 37 branch offices and nearly 1,450 real estate
professionals; Rex Welton
was photographed while attending the September 23 gala at
the Hyatt SouthPark for the Buddy Kemp Caring House;
Jerry Blanchard was
promoted to principal at LarsonAllen;
Kurt Waldthausen, honorary
consul of the Federal Republic of Germany to the State of
North Carolina, received the Old North State Award from
Governor Mike Easley for services rendered to the state of
North Carolina; CPCC President Tony
Zeiss is on the move, as always, and is busy
making his vision for the college a reality. Celebrating his
13th anniversary at CPCC, Tony credits his time at the
Rotary luncheons as a place to get more work done in an hour
and a half than in any other hour and a half during the
week.
þ
Pat Millen introduced
two in-District Cultural Scholars who are finishing up a
three-month hitch at the ELS Language Center at Queens
University of Charlotte. Pat would also like club members to
visit the web site of the District's current Ambassadorial
Scholar, Jamie Hess, who is in Costa Rica for a year of
study and service while pursuing a Master's degree in
International Peace Studies at the University for Peace:
http://rotaryincostarica.blogspot.com.
þ
Lee Tabor introduced
Paz, the club's exchange student from Colombia, and reminded
members to include Paz in upcoming holiday festivities
whenever possible.
þ
Leroy Mayne, Mecklenburg
County Council, Boy Scouts of America, will provide an
opportunity for club members to purchase A Good Turn
for Generations, an illustrated history of the Boy
Scouts in Mecklenburg County. Author Richard Schields will
be on hand to personally sign copies. Rotarians John Belk,
Tom Burgess and Leroy Mayne were among the committee who
conducted research for the book. Names, photos and stories
involving many Rotarians are in the book, as well as nearly
5,000 local Scouts who earned their Eagle badge in
Mecklenburg County since the council's beginning in 1915.
A Good Turn for Generations, printed by Loftin
and Company Printers, would be a great Christmas gift.
Copies will sell for $32.20. Cash, checks, Visa or
Mastercard will be accepted. The books can also be purchased
at the council service center.
þ
Salvation Army Bell Ringing
schedule is completed. Please refer to
www.charlotterotary.org for
volunteer assignments. In some instances, several people
signed up for the same date. Be sure you check the
schedule!! As information for the club's newer members, the
kettle location is on the Square at Trade and Tryon Streets.
þ
Jim Adams and
Tom Senger received an all
time quantity of articles for Crisis Assistance Ministry.
Tuesday's agenda ran a bit long so Tom and Jim will be back
next week to properly thank the membership and Carol Hughes
for another successful year. HOLD ON to the ticket you
received when you dropped off your articles and BRING IT
WITH YOU next week, in case Jim is able to work his original
plan. Though the drive is officially over, clothing will
continue to be collected next week. |
|
*
* *
|
|
NEW MEMBER
APPROVAL |
The Classification and Membership Committee recommend and
the Directors approve for consideration for all members, the
following NEW MEMBER. Should you question the eligibility of
any nominee, please call the Rotary Office by December 5th. You will be contacted by a member of the Board.
Otherwise, no reply is necessary and election will proceed
according to our bylaws.
|
Proposed Member
Company
Classification
Sponsor
Endorsed |
Guy A. Wilson
Retired (from AT&T)
Telecommunications, National
Worth Williamson
Byron Bullard, Phil Volponi |
|
*
* *
|
|
The club extends deepest sympathy to three
families as they mourn the loss of loved ones... |
Ed Wadsworth lost his Mother on November
27th. Additional details have not been provided.
Zach Thomas,
February 1, 1915 - November 25, 2006; President of Charlotte
Rotary 1967-68; 59 year member
Pete deWitt,
February 25, 2930 - November 27, 2005; President of
Charlotte Rotary 1976-77; 45 year member |
|
|
|
|
|
