Appropriately, you can’t see his nameplate, but 72 is Jerry Byrd Jr

Got a text from Teddy Allen giving me a thumbs up on my story about Ruston’s Cameron Murphy, who competed in the Region I 5A track and field meet less than two days after losing his mother and brother in the horrific tornado early Thursday morning. Growing up, Teddy was one of the Journal sports writers I idolized. It started when I was in middle school. We were the only two in the press box at Lee Hedges for a tilt between two average teams. He asked me what I was studying in my American History textbook. “Andrew Jackson”, I said. “Ol’ Hickory!,” Allen belted out as if Jackson was his best friend. For about four years after that, “Ol’ Hickory!” Would be our greeting. The only time we got crossways was over some soft tacos in a media “celebrity” eating contest in the Food Court at Pierre Bossier Mall almost 30 years ago. By that time, Teddy had moved across the hall to join the Evil Empire (also known as the Shreveport Times). The Journal trotted out their intern(me). It was a photo finish. I think we both ate 7 in 10 minutes. However, the judges—with the American Heart Association— gave me the nod because, unlike Teddy, I didn’t leave any lettuce on my tray. Because I received a hat and cup holder for my accomplishments, I lost my Amateur status as an eater that day. I was a professional. It seemed an odd combination— American Heart Association & asking people in a high-stress profession to stuff tacos down their throat as fast as they can for ten minutes, but I was young—so I didn’t ask any questions. I went on to play football at Tech and Teddy went on to become the Lewis Grizzard of North Louisiana. We all have our favorite Teddy columns. No. 1 is the one he wrote when my father passed away. He made my allergies act up with that one. No. 2 is a column about a cockroach, who pays him a visit one night. Teddy, who-if you ask me- favors Poe, made the visit from the cockroach his Raven. Quoth the cockroach, nevermore! A lover of literature, I laughed and
laughed. Now, you can still catch Teddy’s columns in The Times and hear his commentary during Tech football games (TA always bring his “A” game, but I think he gets up for Rice). Teddy also writes on the side for Designated Writers, a collaboration with fellow LA Tech journalism product—John James Marshall. About that text…it would be like Babe Ruth telling a young slugger “nice homer!” Or, Neil Armstrong complimenting an astronaut on his moon walk. George Foreman complimenting a grill designer . Getting a note from William Shakespeare with “splendid sonnet! Yours, Bill.” Or, Kobayashi sending someone a text saying “nice job in that hot dog eating contest. Teddy is  one of the all-time greats in the business—and there you have it!