Lonzo's appreciation for football started as an early teen playing neighborhood football, where blood was honor, bruises were badges, and the victor walked away with a limp. He played 3 years of football at Marion-Franklin High School in Columbus Ohio where he garnered interest from many colleges. In 1986 he graduated from high school and attended Otterbein college. The next year, in a game on Thanksgiving, Lonzo's kneecap was broken into 8 different pieces and all of the ligaments were shredded along with his dreams of playing the game he loved.
20 years later he found himself in South Carolina working at 98.1 the Peak. His first year at the station he was asked to produce a sports show for popular local sports personality, Stan Olenik. He learned how to run a sports show, how to interview people, and how to have fun on the radio. When Lonzo moved on to WORD he started a show called the Gamecock Warmup Show. Porkchop (Lonzo), Biscuit (John Thomas), and Tiny Tim (Tim Snyder) romped through 2 hours before each football game. The co-hosts have changed over the years with Jason Farr and Stan Olenik joining the cast and then moving on.
This brings us to present day where we find the show still on the air after 9 years. Lonzo met Matt Tomlinson when he interned at the station and invited him to co-host the show. Matt has been with the 'Scoreboard' as it is called now for over 4 years. Last year we added the 'Byrnes Coaches Show'. Lonzo's favorite college teams are the South Carolina Gamecocks and The Ohio State Buckeyes and his favorite NFL teams are the Carolina Panthers and the Kansas City Chiefs.
I had a wonderful time Saturday night at the Panthers game. My wife was able to get us tickets, from someone she knew, for one of the luxury suites. It was one of those experiences that only rich people get to have on a regular basis. There was free food, like shrimp cocktail, chicken, cupcakes, and they even ordered some pizza. Yes, I know I mentioned the food first….but it is me we're talking about.
The view was great and the majority of the people in the suite were cool, except for one guy. He was your typical drunk sports fan, appologizing for his fowl language, but continuing to use it. I need to say something to this drunk guy, that I didn't say in front of my family. "You, sir, are an idiot!!!". He complained that he had bet on the Panthers to win, at least a thousand times. Hello!!! It's a pre-season game!!! Only someone stupid or desperate, would bet on a pre-season game. He left at half time….thank you God.
Upon arrival we were notified that the president and GM of the Jets was in the suite next to us. Everytime a Jets player would screw up, he would snatch up his phone, call the sideline and start screaming…..it was hillarious!!!
The game itself was a defensive struggle and there were some special teams problems, but I had fun. For those of you writing the Panthers off already, lighten up, it's just the pre-season!! I thought Eric Norwood had a good game and so did Captain. I believe the Panthers will make the playoffs this year……..we shall see…….
Lonzo's appreciation for football started as an early teen playing neighborhood football, where blood was honor, bruises were badges, and the victor walked away with a limp. He played 3 years of football at Marion-Franklin High School in Columbus Ohio where he garnered interest from many colleges. In 1986 he graduated from high school and attended Otterbein college. The next year, in a game on Thanksgiving, Lonzo's kneecap was broken into 8 different pieces and all of the ligaments were shredded along with his dreams of playing the game he loved.