By Jay Skurski
News Sports Reporter
Inspiration struck Stefon Diggs in a rather unusual spot recently.
kAm%96 qF772=@ q:==D’ DE2C C646:G6C H2D :? E96 56?E:DE’D 492:C 86EE:?8 2 C@@E 42?2= H96? 96 =62C?65 D@>6E9:?8 ?6H]k^Am
kAmuF?< =686?5 #:4< y2>6D H2D 3@C? 2?5 C2:D65 96C6[ s:88D H2D E@=5]k^Am
kAm“q@@>[” s:88D D2:5] “r=62E :562]”k^Am
kAm%96 7@==@H:?8 H66<[ s:88D’ H9:E6 }:<6 4=62ED 762EFC65 2? :>286 @7 y2>6D – H6==[ 4@>65:2? s2G6 r92AA6==6’D =686?52CJ :>A6CD@?2E:@? @7 9:> 7C@> “r92AA6==6’D $9@H” – H96? E96 q:==D A=2J65 E96 $62EE=6 $6292H<D]k^Am
People are also reading…
- Man "involved in a shooting" Friday evening found, McDowell sheriff's office says
- Marion man charged after 200 grams of cocaine found in search of home near school
- Owner of Old Fort's Stuckey’s, Dairy Queen hopes to reopen as soon as possible after fire
- Marion man charged with assaulting woman and sheriff's lieutenant
- Marion man arrested, charged in Friday shooting in McDowell County that injured one
- McDowell County nonprofit seeking grant to help incarcerated parents and their children
- US housing secretary, congressman visit Marion to talk about Clinchfield apartment project
- Amtrak’s western North Carolina expansion: Bringing passenger rail back to Asheville and beyond
- Compassion Care Services in Marion celebrates opening; provides services for adults with disabilities
- Former reality TV star Jessie Holmes repeats as champion of the grueling Iditarod sled dog race
- Author of book on lost NC towns coming to downtown Marion for Women’s History Month
- Spring Craft Crawl coming up in downtown Marion. Here's where and when.
- James Haney, historian and 'Southern gentleman,' remembered for devotion to McDowell County history
- McDowell County leaders hear updates, concerns about 2027 property value reappraisal
- NC Gov. Stein kicks off rural listening tour in McDowell County, visits Marion business
kAm“xEVD 366? 8@:?8 @? 7@C 2 76H J62CD ?@H[” s:88D D2:5 @7 9:D H66<=J 4FDE@>:K65 4=62ED] “x 42?VE 8:G6 J@F 2== E96 D64C6E D2F46 E@ E96 C64:A6[ 3FE x ECJ E@ 5@ :E 32D65 @? E96 4:EJ H6VC6 :? @C E96 E62> E92E H6VC6 A=2J:?8] (96? H6 H6C6 :? }6H *@C< =2DE J62C[ x 5:5 ‘r@>:?8 E@ p>6C:42]’ (6 H6C6 2E 9@>6[ D@ #:4< y2>6D H2D A6C764E]”k^Am
kAmq:==D 72?D <?@H H92E E96J 92G6 :? s:88D @? E96 7:6=5 D:?46 96 42>6 @G6C :? 2? @77D62D@? EC256 H:E9 E96 |:??6D@E2 ':<:?8D]k^Am
kAm%96 E62>’D }@] ` C646:G6C :D @? A246 E@ 7:?:D9 H:E9 7C2?49:D6 D:?8=6\D62D@? 36DED :? 42E496D W2 AC@;64E65 ``fX 2?5 J2C5D W`[cd_X] w:D fb 42E496D 7@C h_e J2C5D E9C@F89 `` H66<D C2?< D64@?5 :? E96 }u{]k^Am
kAm~77 E96 7:6=5[ 9@H6G6C[ :E’D 366? E@F896C E@ <?@H H92E >2<6D s:88D E:4<] %96 @?8@:?8 r@G:5\`h A2?56>:4 92D 5@?6 >@C6 E92? ;FDE <66A 72?D @FE @7 q:==D $E25:F>] !=2J6CD 92G6 32D:42==J 366? C6=682E65 E@ E96 H@C<A=246 2?5 E96:C 9@>6D] x7 ?@E @FEC:89E AC@9:3:E65[ 8@:?8 @FE :? E96 4@>>F?:EJ 92D 366? 9:89=J 5:D4@FC2865]k^Am
kAms:88D EJA:42==J DA62<D E@ E96 >65:2 ;FDE @?46 2 H66<[ 2?5 H9:=6 96 92D 366? :==F>:?2E:?8 @? 2 G2C:6EJ @7 E@A:4D[ :E’D 92C5 E@ ECF=J 86E E@ <?@H D@>6@?6 G:2 G:56@ 4@?76C6?46] %96 @?6 DA246 E92E s:88D 92D 7=2D965 9:D A6CD@?2=:EJ[ E9@F89[ :D @? 9:D 766E]k^Am
kAmp=>@DE 6G6CJ H66<[ E96 C646:G6C H62CD 2 A2:C @7 4FDE@>:K65 4=62ED E92E 2C6 >256 :? 4@==23@C2E:@? H:E9 D?62<6C\2CE:DE\E@\E96\DE2CD s2? “|2496” v2>2496] p !@F89<66AD:6 ?2E:G6[ v2>2496[ c`[ @H?D 2?5 @A6C2E6D |2496 rFDE@> z:4<D[ >2<:?8 @?6\@7\2\<:?5 D?62<6CD @C 4=62ED 7@C 2 4=:6?E =:DE E92E :?4=F56D ?@E ;FDE s:88D[ 3FE 2=D@ {6qC@? y2>6D[ sH2J?6 (256[ $E6A9 rFCCJ 2?5 D6G6C2= @E96C @7 E96 3:886DE DE2CD :? E96 }qp[ }u{[ |{q 2?5 ((t]k^Am
kAmv2>2496 92D 8@?6 7C@> H@C<:?8 @FE @7 9:D >@E96C’D 32D6>6?E E@ @A6C2E:?8 2? 6>A:C6] w6 92D >@C6 E92? 2 92=7\>:==:@? 7@==@H6CD @? x?DE28C2>[ 2?5 9:D H63D:E6 42FE:@?D 4FDE@>6CD E92E E96 H2:E E:>6 7@C 2? @C56C 42? D@>6E:>6D 36 FA E@ D:I >@?E9D H:E9 2 4@DE E@H2C5 Sd__ 56A6?5:?8 @? E96 :?EC:424J @7 E96 56D:8?] k^Am
kAm“xEVD 9:89=J 56E2:=65 DEF77[” v2>2496 D2:5] “|J 8@2= :D ?6G6C E@ 92G6 2 >:==:@? 8FJD @? >J C@DE6C] xE’D 2 BF2=:EJ\@G6C\BF2?E:EJ 562=] x =:<6 E@ 7@4FD @? 2 4@FA=6 8FJD H9@ C62==J 5@ 2AAC64:2E6 E96 2CEH@C< 2?5 ;FDE AFE 2== >J 6?6C8J :?E@ E92E]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mr@FD:? @7 Vq:==D |27:2Vk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmp 7@C>6C 4@==686 32D632== A=2J6C[ v2>2496 925 56D:8?D @? 2 AC@76DD:@?2= 42C66C 367@C6 2 E@C? =23CF> :? 9:D E9C@H:?8 D9@F=56C 6?565 E9@D6 9@A6D] w6 76== 324< @? 2 4@>3:?2E:@? @7 9:D >2DE6C’D 568C66 :? 82C>6?E 56D:8? 7C@> $&}* ~?6@?E2 2?5 2 E2=6?E :?96C:E65 7C@> 9:D 8C2?5>@E96C[ 2 7@C>6C 2CE E62496C[ H96? 96 DE2CE65 E@ 4FDE@>:K6 D?62<6CD] %9C@F89 EC:2= 2?5 6CC@C[ 96 8@E 4@>7@CE23=6 6?@F89 E@ 492C86 7@C 9:D 56D:8?D[ 5CF>>:?8 FA 3FD:?6DD E9C@F89 D9@H:?8 E96 7:?:D965 AC@5F4ED :? 32C36C D9@AD 2C@F?5 !@F89<66AD:6]k^Am
kAmv2>2496’D 7:CDE 3:8 3C62< 42>6 :? a__g[ H96? 96 4@?G:?465 2 D64FC:EJ 8F2C5 E@ 92?5\56=:G6C 2 4FDE@>:K65 A2:C @7 D?62<6CD E@ C2AA6C !92CC6== (:==:2>D[ H9@ H2D :? }6H *@C< r:EJ @? E@FC H:E9 z2?J6 (6DE] (:==:2>D =@G65 E96 D?62<6CD D@ >F49 96 D@F89E @FE v2>2496 E@ :?G:E6 9:> E@ E92E ?:89E’D 4@?46CE 2?5 A@DE65 2 A:4EFC6 @7 E96> @? D@4:2= >65:2]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 E92E 4C62E65 2 DFC86 :? 3FD:?6DD[ v2>2496 DE:== H2D?’E C625J E@ =62G6 9:D 52J ;@3] w:D ?6IE 3:8 3C62< 42>6 :? a_`a[ H96? y2>6D E@@< ?@E:46 @7 2 A2:C @7 4FDE@> {6qC@? ) %C2?D7@C>6CD\:?DA:C65 D?62<6CD v2>2496 925 A@DE65 E@ D@4:2= >65:2]k^Am
kAmy2>6D 4@?EC24E65 v2>2496 E@ 4FDE@>:K6 2 A2:C @7 {6qC@? ) xC@? |2?\:?DA:C65 D?62<6CD[ H9:49 E96 2CE:DE 92?5\56=:G6C65 367@C6 E96 a_`b }qp p==\$E2C v2>6 :? w@FDE@?] p7E6C y2>6D A@DE65 2 A9@E@ @7 E96 D?62<6CD[ v2>2496 82:?65 ?62C=J a_[___ 7@==@H6CD @G6C?:89E 2?5 9:D 42C66C A2E9 H2D D6E]k^Am
kAms:88D 2?5 v2>2496 >6E :? a_`e[ H96? E96 2CE:DE H2D 56=:G6C:?8 2 A2:C @7 4=62ED E@ ':<:?8D E:89E 6?5 zJ=6 #F5@=A9 2D A2CE @7 E96 }u{’D 7:CDE “|J r2FD6[ |J r=62ED” 42>A2:8?[ 2? :?:E:2E:G6 E92E 92D 2==@H65 A=2J6CD E@ C2:D6 2H2C6?6DD 7@C 2 H:56 G2C:6EJ @7 492C:E23=6 6?562G@CD E92E 2C6 :>A@CE2?E E@ E96>] #F5@=A9 82G6 v2>2496 2 E@FC @7 E96 ':<:?8D’ =@4<6C C@@>[ 2?5 E92E’D H96? 96 7:CDE >6E s:88D] p 7C:6?5D9:A D@@? 7@==@H65]k^Am
kAm“xV> 2 ':<:?8D 72?] %92EVD 9@H E96 H9@=6 C6=2E:@?D9:A H:E9 $E67@? DE2CE65[ 3FE @3G:@FD=J ?@H E92E 96VD @FE E96C6[ xVG6 364@>6 2 4@FD:? @7 E96 ‘q:==D |27:2[’ ” v2>2496 D2:5] “x 5@ C@@E 7@C 9:> ?@ >2EE6C H92E] xEVD 7F??J[ 3642FD6 >J >@> :D 2 q:==D 72?[ D@ D96VD 64DE2E:4 E92E $E67VD @FE E96C6] (6 ;FDE 4=:4<65 6G6C D:?46 H6 7:CDE >6E] (6 5:5 @?6 A2:C 2?5 :E ;FDE <:?5 @7 8C6H @G6C E96 J62CD] }@H 96VD :? qF772=@[ D@ E96C6VD 2 H9@=6 =@E =6DD AFCA=6 :? E96 4=62ED ?@H]”k^Am
kAms:88D’ 56D:8?D E9:D D62D@? 92G6 DE2J65 ECF6 E@ 9:D 4:EJ E96>6] (96? E96 q:==D H6?E E@ }2D9G:==6 :? (66< d[ v2>2496 A2:?E65 2? :>286 @7 t=G:D @? 2 A2:C @7 D:=G6C }:<6 4=62ED] (96? E96 E62> >256 :ED 7:CDE EC:A E@ {2D '682D E96 AC6G:@FD H66<[ 2 A2:C @7 C65 4=62ED 762EFC65 492C24E6CD 7C@> “%96 w2?8@G6C]”k^Am
kAm“%96 AC@46DD :D G6CJ[ G6CJ 7=F:5] '6CJ @C82?:4[” v2>2496 D2:5] “$@>6E:>6D 96V== 92G6 2? :562 @C D@>6E:>6D xV== 92G6 2? :562 2?5 96V== ;FDE ECFDE H92E6G6C x 5@] w:D >FD:4 E2DE6[ xV> 2 c_\J62C\@=5 H9:E6 8FJ 7C@> }6H *@C< H9@ =:DE6?D E@ (F %2?8 2?5 E9:?8D =:<6 E92E] w6 =:DE6?D E@ DEF77[ E92E x 92G6 ?@ :562 H9@ :E :D]”k^Am
kAmx? (66< a[ v2>2496 5:5 E96 2=3F> 2CEH@C< 7@C C2AA6C p4E:@? qC@?D@?’D “~?=J 7@C s@=A9:?D” @? s:88D’ 4=62ED 367@C6 E96 q:==D’ 82>6 282:?DE |:2>:] v2>2496 ;@<65 E92E s:88D 925 ?@ :562 H9@ qC@?D@? H2D[ 3FE E96 C65[ H9:E6 2?5 3=F6 4@=@CD H@C<65]k^Am
kAm“x D9@H65 $E67 E96 2CEH@C<] w6 H2D =:<6[ ‘*@[ E92EVD 5@A6[ H92E :D E92En’ x H2D =:<6[ V*@F 92G6 ?@ :562 H9@ p4E:@? qC@?D@?[ 5@ J@FnV” v2>2496 D2:5] “qFE 96 =:<65 :E] w6VD =:<6[ ‘x ECFDE J@F]’ w6 =:<6D H92E 96 =:<6D] w6VD 567:?:E6=J D@>6@?6 H9@ >2C496D E@ 9:D @H? 5CF>[ ?@ >2EE6C H92E[ 3FE 96 567:?:E6=J 92D 2 =@E @7 ECFDE :? >J @H? G:D:@? @C :562D[ 3642FD6 x 8F6DD x 92G6?VE DE66C65 9:> HC@?8 J6E]”k^Am
kAms:88D :D @? 2 G6CJ D9@CE =:DE @7 v2>2496’D H66<=J 4=:6?ED] %JA:42==J[ E96 2CE:DE H:== 5@ 7C@> E9C66 E@ `_ D6ED @7 4=62ED 7@C A=2J6CD 2 H66<] s:88D 2?5 v2>2496 H:== E6IE 324< 2?5 7@CE9 $F?52J ?:89E @C |@?52J >@C?:?8 2?5 4@>6 FA H:E9 2 A=2?] uC@> E96C6[ v2>2496 5@6D 9:D >28:4 2?5 :? 2 52J @C EH@ 92D 2 F?:BF6 A2:C @7 4=62ED C625J E@ D9:A]k^Am
kAm%96 2CE:DE 92D 56G6=@A65 2 C6=2E:@?D9:A H:E9 E96 q:==D’ 6BF:A>6?E DE277[ 962565 3J y677 |2KFC6<[ >2<:?8 DFC6 E@ >66E 2?J 5625=:?6D] x7 E96 q:==D 92G6 2 $F?52J 9@>6 82>6[ v2>2496 42? D6?5 E96 7:?:D965 AC@5F4E uC:52J] x7 E96J’C6 @? E96 C@25[ :E 92D E@ 2CC:G6 2E E96 E62> 724:=:EJ 3J uC:52J]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mu2D9:@? 7@CH2C5k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmp?J @7 s:88D’ 7@==@H6CD @? D@4:2= >65:2 <?@H 96 92D 2 A2DD:@? 7@C 4=@E96D 2?5 D?62<6CD] {2DE J62C H96? s:88D G:D:E65 }6H *@C< H:E9 E96 ':<:?8D[ v2>2496 42>6 5@H? 7C@> 9:D DEF5:@ :? r@??64E:4FE E@ 92?5\56=:G6C E96 “r@>:?8 E@ p>6C:42” 4=62ED] (9:=6 E96J H6C6 E@86E96C :? |2?92EE2?[ E96J H6?E E@ E96 DEJ=:D9 $@w@ D64E:@? @7 E96 4:EJ E@ 5@ D@>6 D9@AA:?8]k^Am
kAm“xE :D D@>6E9:?8 E92EVD :>A@CE2?E E@ 9:>[” v2>2496 D2:5] “w6VD ?@E 2 A2CEJ 8FJ] w6 5@6D 9:D @H? E9:?8] xEVD 2 8C62E E9:?8 23@FE 9:>] x E9:?< A6@A=6 E9:?<[ ‘J@F?8[ DF446DD7F= 8FJ[ E96JVC6 @FE E96C6 36:?8 4C2KJ[’ 2?5 96VD ?@E E92E EJA6] w6VD >@C6 @7 2 72>:=J 8FJ]”k^Am
kAmp=>@DE 6G6CJ @?6 @7 s:88D’ A@DED @? x?DE28C2> :D 6:E96C 9:> @? E96 7:6=5 @C :? 2 72D9:@? D9@@E @7 D@CED]k^Am
kAm“w6’D 3:8 :?E@ E96 ‘=@@< 8@@5[ A=2J 8@@5’ DEF77[” 76==@H C646:G6C r@=6 q62D=6J D2:5] “w6’D 567:?:E6=J 8@:?8 E@ 92G6 D@>6 <:?5 @7 ?6H 862C 6249 H66< – D@>6E9:?8 7@C A6@A=6 E@ 82H< 2E 2 =:EE=6 3:E] pD =@?8 2D 96’D >2<:?8 A=2JD[ H6’C6 2== 8@@5]”k^Am
kAm“r@=6 36 DH288:?V] x 36 ECJ:?8 E@ E6== 9:>[ ‘xVG6 8@E E@ =@@< 9@H x H2?E E@ =@@< :? @C56C E@ 766= 8@@5 D@ x 42? A=2J H6==[’ ” s:88D 4@?46565] “%92EVD H92E x 5@ H96? xVG6 8@E D@>6 7C66 E:>6[ H96? xV> ?@E 2== 23@FE 7@@E32==[ x =:<6 E@ 5:G6 :? 2 =:EE=6 3:E[ 3FE xV> 2E H@C< C:89E ?@H] (6 42? E2=< 23@FE E92E @? @FC @H? E:>6]”k^Am
kAm&?E:= E96?[ s:88D’ 4=62ED H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ D9@H 2 D:56 @7 9:> 76H :? qF772=@ 92G6 D66? >F49 @7]k^Am
kAm“tDA64:2==J 36:?8 2 DA@CE[ H96C6 hdT @7 E96 E:>6 E96J 92G6 2 96=>6E @? E96:C 9625[” v2>2496 D2:5] “xEVD 2 =@E E@F896C 7@C }u{ A=2J6CD E@ 86E E92E A6CD@?2=:EJ @FE] %96 }qp[ :EVD 2 =@E 62D:6C] %96JVC6 @FE E96C6 7@C 6G6CJ@?6 E@ D66] %96J 42? D9@H E96:C 6>@E:@?] x E9:?< E92E H2D @?6 @7 E96 E9:?8D E92E 8@E E9:D DE2CE65[ ?@E ;FDE 7@C >J 4FDE@> 4=62ED[ 3FE ;FDE :? 86?6C2= H2D E@ 86E E96:C @H? A6CD@?2=:EJ @FE] %96 }u{ 92D 46CE2:?=J 2446AE65 :E 2 =@E >@C6 2?5 <:?5 @7 AFE E96:C E@6 :? E96 H2E6C H:E9 ‘|J r2FD6[ |J r=62ED]’ %92E H2D 8@@5] xE 42? @A6? :E FA >@C6 7@C A6@A=6 E@ 6IAC6DD E96>D6=G6D] xE >2<6D E96 82>6 2 =@E >@C6 7F?[ 7@C DFC6]”k^Am
kAmv2>2496 D2:5 E92E s:88D[ H9@ H:== 46=63C2E6 9:D afE9 3:CE952J $F?52J[ :D DE:== 244=:>2E:?8 9:>D6=7 E@ qF772=@]k^Am
kAm“pD D@@? 2D x 962C5 96 H2D 8@:?8 E@ q:==D[ x H2D =:<6[ Vw6VD 8@:?8 E@ <:== :E H:E9 y@D9 p==6?[V ” v2>2496 D2:5] “$E67VD @?6 @7 E9@D6 8FJD[ 96VD 2 4@>A6E:E@C] w6 5@6D?VE H2?E E@ =@D6] x E9:?< D@>6E:>6D A6@A=6 <:?5 @7 >:D4@?DECF6 E92E A2DD:@? 7@C 36:?8 2 5:G2[ H9:49 :D?VE 9@H 96 :D] ]]] xEVD 8C62E E@ D66] x <?6H 96 H@F=5 5@ H6== @FE E96C6]”k^Am
kAmpD 7@C H92E E96J’G6 8@E 4@@<65 FA E9:D H66<[ v2>2496 D2:5 :E’D 2 3:E @7 2? F?56CDE2E65 D6=64E:@?]k^Am
kAm“$E67VD A2:C H2D D:>A=6 E9:D H66<[” 96 D2:5] “w6 ;FDE 2D<65 7@C 2 C62= 32D:4 A2:C 3642FD6 E96J 2C6 H62C:?8 E96 E9C@H324< F?:7@C>D E9:D H66<] w:D E2DE6 DEJ=6 92D 6G@=G65 2 =:EE=6 3:E[ E@@] w6VD 2 =:EE=6 3:E >@C6 =@H <6J H:E9 E96 4=62ED E92? 96 H2D :? |:??6D@E2] x 5@?VE <?@H :7 E92EVD 36:?8 2 =:EE=6 3:E >@C6 >2EFC6 @C H92E[ 3FE xV> =62C?:?8 9:D DEJ=6 2?5 E2DE6 2 =:EE=6 >@C6] x =62C? 2 =:EE=6 >@C6 23@FE 9:> 6G6CJ J62C]”k^Am

