Watch out Indy, Miner fans are headed north

On the days I work in our Brazil and Greencastle newspaper offices, I normally turn the radio to 1070 The Fan on my way home to listen to the latest sports news from around Indiana and the nation.

John Michael Vincent, better known as JMV, is the host who leads the broadcast that time of day. He's a 1988 graduate of Eastern Greene High School, and will talk about the Thunderbirds and Greene County from time to time.

He once called Linton the "armpit of Greene County" when he was talking to someone about the Miners' football state tournament run.

Just this week he said, and I'm paraphrasing here, that people better cover everything in plastic because Linton is coming to town.

That would be a reference to Linton-Stockton High School's basketball team heading to Bankers Life Fieldhouse to play for the Class 2A state championship.

JMV enjoys pitting the East vs. West in Greene County. He said earlier this week he doesn't like to cross "the river."

I don't know if everyone in the Indianapolis area should cover everything in plastic Saturday, but you can bet there will be plenty of Linton and Greene County basketball fans heading to downtown Indianapolis to cheer on the Miners.

The fan support at the Class 2A Richmond Semistate last Saturday was impressive. I mean impressive!

I love high school basketball, and it doesn't matter what local team is playing. When teams get that kind of support, it's great to see.

My wife and I watched both of Eastern Greene's regional games at Southridge last year, and Thunderbird and Greene County fans turned out in full force.

The Miners will play Bowman Academy of Gary at approximately 12:45 p.m. Coach Joey Hart's team faces a stiff test, but it surprised a lot of people by winning the regional and semistate.

And don't forget to wear blue.

And if anyone happens to have an extra blue T-shirt, bring it and give to JMV. He says he might show up at the game.

Watch, listen to Miners

If you're not able to watch the Miners in person Saturday, there are plenty of ways to watch or listen on TV, the Internet or radio.

Of course you can listen to local radio station WQTY 93.3 or you can listen to www.hcsnradio.com . There will be a link provided on the Greene County Daily World's website like last week.

Keith Myers of HCSNradio called me Monday and was thrilled with the number of listeners who tuned to their broadcast and came through our website to do so.

He said they had a total of 2,859 hits, and 891 came through the GCDW's website.

Myers said he received three emails from out-of-state fans thanking him and the newspaper for putting the game on the Internet. They came from Lakeside, Calif., New Hampshire, and Kalamazoo, Mich.

They also had 75 hits from outside the U.S. They came from the Ukraine, Croatia, St. Kitts, Nigeria, and Canada.

It really is a small world.

You can watch the game live on the GCDW's website by clicking on this link: www.IHSAAtv.org .

According to the IHSAA, the game will also be live on Evansville TV station Channel 7, though I've not been able to confirm that with the station.

It will be televised on WTTV Channel 4.

You can also follow the action on our website, as we will have stories before, during and after the game Saturday.

A Linton send-off

The Miners will leave Linton at 4 p.m. on Friday for Indianapolis.

Like last Friday, the team will leave the school and drive the Fourth of July parade route and leave town. That's south on Main St. to State Road 54 and then turn east.

Fans are being asked to line the streets to show their support.

Meet the Miners

The Linton Fire Department, in cooperation with the Linton mayor's office, is sponsoring a special "Meet the State Bound Linton Miner Basketball Team" event Thursday.

From 6 to 7 p.m., members of the basketball team will be at the fire station to meet fans, pose for photos, and sign autographs.

The mayor's office and some local businesses are donating hamburgers and hot dogs for the event.

This is an opportunity to come and show your support for the No. 10-ranked Miners.

Chris is the senior general manager and editor of the Greene County Daily World. He can be reached by email at cpruett79@gmail.com or by telephone at 847-4487.