It will always be Uniroyal to me

By Joe McAdory

Word came Monday that BFGoodrich-Opelika tire manufacturing plant was going to close its doors Oct. 31. That’s sad because an estimated 1,000 local men and women will soon be unemployed.

Over the years, this community has seen its share of plant closures or employment reductions. My grandfather worked at the Pepperell Mill, a textile manufacturer that was used in the movie Norma Rae. We’ve seen similar mills in Valley, Lanett, and Tallassee shut their doors. Science and technology have replaced sweat.

The tire plant in south Opelika may have recently been renamed BFGoodrich, but since its opening in 1963 it was Uniroyal and that’s the way I will always remember it.

A big question now is ... what’s going to happen to the plant and the land it occupies?

Final thoughts from the Masters ...

By Joe McAdory

* Though Seve Ballesteros, teeing off above on No. 1 during 2007 Masters practice, didn’t compete at Augusta this year, it’s good to see the Spaniard recovering from recent surgery to remove a brain tumor.
* I can’t believe Angel Cabrera can hit two trees on a playoff hole and still win the biggest tournament of them all. His approach shot on the first playoff hole (No. 18) saved the day for the Argentinian.
* DirecTV offered excellent coverage with three channels, one from CBS’ network coverage, one exclusively of Amen Corner, and another exclusively of the 15th and 16th holes. Good stuff.
* How fitting, a person named Angel wins on Easter.
* After watching Arnold Palmer’s performance in Wednesday’s Par 3 Contest, I’m beginning to think the King might want to consider retiring from competition completely. Yes, this tournament is just for fun and it’s great to see him out there with Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, but Arnie was really bad.
* Too bad Kenny Perry didn’t pull this thing off. I was pulling for the 48-year-old.
* Tiger and Phil made quite a show with their Sunday charge. Mickelson surprised me by out-driving Woods, but he also surprised me by missing what were very makeable putts on Nos. 15 and 17.
* Masters playoff holes should not be Nos. 18 and 10. When I think of Augusta National, I think of Nos. 12 and 13. They are the holes that define the joint. Make the players settle the issue between the azaleas and dogwoods, and perhaps Rae’s Creek can factor into the outcome.

Triple bogey afternoon

By Joe McAdory

After one of the worst-played nine holes of golf I’ve endured since Columbus discovered the Bahamas, I spent the rest of Saturday afternoon stewing and watching the Masters.

The course conditions at Indian Pines in Auburn didn’t help as I lumbered to a disgusting 53. It was wet and muddy. Rain will do that. But my burdened mind didn’t do me any favors either. If you can’t hit it straight on wet grass, you probably won’t hit it straight when it’s dry. I let things go to my head too much. Sometimes I just run out of talent.

At least columnist Jennifer Foster didn’t beat me this time. We played quarter-a-hole and came out even. I don’t believe she played up to her potential either. She smacked two trees on the ninth hole, but rallied to match me with a 6. My approach shot on No. 7 might have maimed a squirrel. Sorry, PETA folks, it’s not like I’m talented enough to actually hit a desired target.

Indian Pines isn’t the most luxurious course in the neighborhood, but it is inexpensive and offers interesting and challenging holes. No. 2 (pictured from behind the green last spring) creates a tough decision for your third shot unless you hit a monster drive off the tee. A pond before the green forces the decision to either lay up or go for the gusto. I laid up, then put my easier, shorter shot in the drink. But it did make a pretty splash. Can you say ... triple bogey?

Storms took bizarre path

By Joe McAdory

Friday night brought yet another severe weather vigil into my living room/computer room. Yes, I’m a weather geek. When severe storms are in the area, I routinely track them via the National Weather Service’s Web site (http://www.noaa.gov) and further monitor their progress with local television reports.

Tonight’s supercell thunderstorms were bizarre to me because of the direction they took. Instead of going due east, or even northeast, like many storms do, this pair reached Lake Martin in Tallapoosa County then took a right turn southeast—making a beeline for Lee County. It’s odd to see storms change direction like this, much less two of them within an hour of one another.

Thoughts of leaving the house and driving to safer parts of the county entered my mind, like the March 1 Salem tornado which hit only a mile from the house, but I chose to sit tight this time. There really wasn’t a safe place to drive to since bad thunderstorms were all over the place and I didn’t want to subject my car to hail. So, I remained inside and monitored the situation.

It appears that areas of west Auburn took the brunt of the first storm, possibly along the Alabama Highway 14 corridor. I heard reports of damage and trees down, but at this late hour, that’s pretty much all I heard. Doesn’t appear to be anything widespread.

Both storms, which prompted tornado warnings for about two hours, cruised south of the Auburn-Opelika area toward Phenix City and points beyond. For now, the thunder and lightning has pretty much ceased. Yawn. Now what am I supposed to do? I’m out of storms to chase.

Give me a window with a view

By Joe McAdory

The sweet taste of peanut butter pie.
A window with a view.
The Sundial.
Brumby Hall.
On top of Mount Cheaha.
Moonlight over the Alabama Gulf.
Sunset over the Chattahoochee.
The 12th hole at Augusta.
Hardwood floors, soft piano music and fine dining.
Antiques with history.
A small town with a square.
Helen, Unicoi and the beauty that surrounds it.
The sound of laughter.
These are a few of my favorite things.