Saturday's in the South

The Southeast's largest newspaper, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, produces a feature entitled, Saturdays in the South, which is a collection of exclusive essays written by famous Southerners. In 2005 I was invited to have a little fun and write an essay for this feature. I have reproduced and some of the articles here since many are no longer online at the AJC.

1. A homecoming choreographed by Sheldon Lee by Jeh C. Johnson
   Jeh C. Johnson, a 1979 Morehouse College grad, is a former member of the Clinton Administration, serving as general counsel of the Department of the Air Force from 1998-2001. A former federal prosecutor, he's now a partner at one of the largest law firms in the country.
   
   
2. Ah, sweet victory by Warren St. John
   New York Times reporter Warren St. John is the author of "Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer: A Road Trip into the Heart of Fan Mania" and a Birmingham native.
   
   
3. All grown up, but... by Daniel Wallace
   Birmingham-born Daniel Wallace is the author of three novels "Big Fish," "Ray in Reverse" and "The Watermelon King."
   
   
4. DBJ: What [a] Dumb Broadcasting Joke by Nikki Giovanni
   Nikki Giovanni is a world-renowned poet, writer, commentator, activist and educator. A Knoxville native who teaches writing and literature at Virginia Tech, Giovanni is a three-time winner of the NAACP Image Award.
   
   
5. Greatest show on gridiron by Rick Bragg
   Alabama-born Rick Bragg is author of the best-selling autobiography "All Over but the Shoutin'."
   
   
6. Gridiron grace amazing by Dr. James Merritt
   Dr. James Merritt is the Pastor of Cross Pointe The Church at Gwinnett Center in Duluth and host of the television broadcast ministry Touching Lives. Dr. Merritt is the former president of the Southern Baptist Convention.
   
   
7. It's a Southern thing by James Carville
   Political consultant James Carville, who helped steer Bill Clinton to the White House in 1992, is a proud graduate of LSU.
   
   
8. Lesson learned by John Jakes
   The New York Times Book Review calls John Jakes, author of the "North and South" triology and several other books, "a master of the ancient art of storytelling." Jakes splits time between homes in South Carolina and Florida.
   
   
9. 'Let 'em look it up' by Keith Jackson
   Keith Jackson, who was born and raised in Roopville, has been calling college football since 1967.
   
   
10. Marital truce by Paul Hemphill
    Paul Hemphill, author of the Pulitzer Prize-nominated book "Leaving Birmingham," teaches writing at Emory University. He said he'd move to Ireland if the Atlanta Braves could do without him.
    
    
11. Missing games so you don't by General B.B. Bell
    General B. B. Bell is the commanding general of the U.S. Army in Europe. An Oak Ridge, Tenn., native, he was commissioned in the Army through ROTC in 1969 following graduation from the University of Chattanooga. He remains a diehard Tennessee fan and fully expects the Vols to bring the national championship to Rocky Top this year.
    
    
12. Passion play by Michelle Hiskey
    
    
13. Sweatin' to the spirit by Richard Simmons
    New Orleans-born Richard Simmons of "Sweatin' to the Oldies" fame is a fitness guru.
    
    
14. Two geeks deconstructing a fertility rite by Sharyn McCrumb
    Sharyn McCrumb, a graduate of the University of North Carolina and Virginia Tech, has written satirical and comic novels as well as short stories.
    
    
15. Unfinished business by Bryant McGill
    American poet Bryant H. McGill is a Mobile, Ala., native, the author of the award-winning "McGill English Dictionary of Rhyme," and editor of the American Review Literary Journal.
    
    
16. What a blast! by Dr. Norm Thagard
    Dr. Norm Thagard is a Florida State graduate and NASA astronaut who has logged more than 140 days in space.
    
    
17. 'What heathens these?' by George Singleton
    George Singleton is a Greenwood, S.C., native and critically acclaimed author of three short story collections including last year's "Why Dogs Chase Cars."