In 1978, Dale Earnhardt and I came to a Talladega race for the first time. Dale finished 12th. I finished a 12-pack. Earnhardt raced 44 times at Talladega, winning 10 times. (To show the capriciousness of this place, he had 11 DNFs.) This is somewhere in the high 60s or low 70s for me, either … Continue reading Dale Earnhardt was an unknown — and unnoticed — when he first came to Talladega
Author: Mark McCarter
Mark McCarter is a long-time newspaper reporter and columnist and four-time Alabama Sportswriter of the Year. He's the author of four books, including "Pandamonium," about the return of pro baseball to north Alabama, "Baseball in Huntsville," and the namesake of this site, "Never a Bad Game."
McCarter has worked for newspapers in Chattanooga, Anniston and Huntsville, and lives now in Huntsville with his wife Patricia. His work has also appeared in Sports Illustrated, Fortune, The Sporting News, Sport, USA Today, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and a variety of other publications. He is currently assistant athletic director for external operations at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
A member of sports Halls of Fame in Chattanooga and Huntsville, he was inducted into the Alabama Sports Writers Hall of Fame in 2022 and named one of the "50 Legends" of the organization. He was also honored with the Mel Allen Award for contributions to sports in the state by the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.
Mark covered the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, 10 NCAA Final Fours, 13 Daytona 500s, four BCS national championship games, five Super Bowls, three World Series, more than 20 bowl games, The Masters, the Kentucky Derby, a heavyweight championship fight and a national political convention and a space shuttle launch.
His most memorable event, though, was the annual Buff Bowl, a flag football game at a Tampa nudist camp on the day before a Super Bowl.
And, to answer your question, no, he was not.
Flashbacks to Final Fours: The event I revered more than any
It was the flashes that always stuck with me. The ball levitates from a referee’s hand at halfcourt, two tall guys jump toward the outskirts of heaven and the perpetual motion machine comes alive. And the flashes. Early days, it was thousands of Instamatic camera. Later, it was the built-in flash from thousands of cell … Continue reading Flashbacks to Final Fours: The event I revered more than any
On Howard Schenellenberger, a bowl upset and a tiresome blueprint
Hearing the news of Howard Schnellenberger’s death took me back to one of the biggest bowl upsets I ever covered. And looking back at the surroundings of that bowl game, it was a reminder of how much politics veers into sports – and how change sometimes feels imperceptible at best. Schnellenberger, who died at age … Continue reading On Howard Schenellenberger, a bowl upset and a tiresome blueprint
Mike Tyson, the persistent fighter who just won’t go away
Funny the odd things that stick out, looking back at something you covered more than 18 years ago. I remember the incongruity of a heavyweight boxing contender on stage at a press event, playing a game of chess against a seventh-grader named Carlos Harbert. This, when his opponent had most recently been in the news … Continue reading Mike Tyson, the persistent fighter who just won’t go away
What I’ll never forget from covering that fateful 2001 Daytona 500
To watch the replays even now, the crash doesn’t seem so destructive. We’ve seen dozens and dozens that look more frightening. When it happened, it didn’t even really grab my attention from my press box seat at Daytona International Speedway. I was more focused on the sprint to the start-finish line, my stomach more in … Continue reading What I’ll never forget from covering that fateful 2001 Daytona 500
Live! In-person! Venturing out to watch a UAH basketball game
There’s the expression about how much you didn’t know you missed something until it was gone. Having sat through more live sporting events than most anybody you know, I suggest we’ll soon be able to take that one step further:. I didn’t know how much I had missed until it was gone – and then … Continue reading Live! In-person! Venturing out to watch a UAH basketball game
My Super Bowl memories: Paul McCartney, as seen from row HH
Willard Scott, naked people, Paul McCartney, The Weather Channel, an obscure long-snapper, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and all-night typing. You have your Super Bowl memories. I have mine. I went to six Super Bowls, enough to have nice memories and to remind me that the circus can get old. These VI days, I’ll recall each of … Continue reading My Super Bowl memories: Paul McCartney, as seen from row HH
My Super Bowl memories: The solemn 9/11 tribute and the introduction to Tom Brady
Willard Scott, naked people, Paul McCartney, The Weather Channel, an obscure long-snapper, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and all-night typing. You have your Super Bowl memories. I have mine. I went to six Super Bowls, enough to have nice memories and to remind me that the circus can get old. These VI days, I’ll recall each of … Continue reading My Super Bowl memories: The solemn 9/11 tribute and the introduction to Tom Brady
My Super Bowl memories: It’s the naked truth
Willard Scott, naked people, Paul McCartney, The Weather Channel, an obscure long-snapper, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and all-night typing. You have your Super Bowl memories. I have mine. I went to six Super Bowls, enough to have nice memories and to remind me that the circus can get old. These VI days, I’ll recall each of … Continue reading My Super Bowl memories: It’s the naked truth
My Super Bowl memories: Bundle up, Make-a-Wish … and wishing the game ended differently
Willard Scott, naked people, Paul McCartney, The Weather Channel, an obscure long-snapper, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and all-night typing. You have your Super Bowl memories. I have mine. I went to six Super Bowls, enough to have nice memories and to remind me that the circus can get old. These VI days, I’ll recall each of … Continue reading My Super Bowl memories: Bundle up, Make-a-Wish … and wishing the game ended differently
Never a Bad Game 