About us
Josh Kendall
Profession: Sports writer
Title: South Carolina football beat writer
Education: Bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Georgia, 1995
Favorite sports possession/memorabilia: Hank Aaron autographed baseball, not because of Aaron but because my grandfather got it for me
Favorite sports movie or book:I hope "Into Thin Air" counts as a sports book
Memorable Gamecock Moment: Watching South Carolina fans carry goalposts out of Williams-Brice Stadium after former UGA quarterback Quincy Carter threw five interceptions and Gamecocks upset No. 10 Bulldogs 21-10 in 2000
Quote: "Sometimes they write what I say and not what I mean." - Pedro Guerrero on sportswriters
E-mail Josh at jkendall@thestate.com
Phil Kornblut
Profession: Sportscaster
Title: Sports director and host of the SportsTalk Radio Network
GG.com Role: Daily USC recruiting updates
Education: B.A., University of South Carolina
Favorite sports possession/memorabilia: Larry Bird figurine - when I rub it, it has magical powers
Favorite sports movie or book: Major League
Memorable Gamecocks Moment: The 1997 basketball win at Kentucky clinching the SEC championship
Quote: In a crisis, don't hide behind anything or anybody. They are going to find you anyway." - Bear Bryant
E-mail Phil at philtalk@live.com
Gerry Melendez
Profession: Photojournalism
Title: Staff Photographer
GG.com Role: Game coverage, photos for GoGamecocks magazine, covered College World Series in Omaha
Education: B.A., Art Studio, University of California, Santa Barbara, 1993
Favorite sports possession/memorabilia: Invitation to play Augusta National (day after the Masters)
Favorite sports movie or book: “Hoosiers”
Memorable Gamecocks Moment: Whit Merrifield’s game-winning hit in Omaha
Quote: ”There is nothing in this world that does not have a decisive moment.” - Cardinal de Retx (17th Century)
E-mail him at gmelendez@thestate.com
C. Aluka Berry
Profession: Photojournalism
Title: Staff Photographer
GG.com Role: Game coverage, photos for GoGamecocks magazine
Education: Associate in Arts
Favorite Sports Memorabilia: 2009 photograph that I took of Gary Palmer on the 18th green of his final round at the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National.
Favorite Sports Movie: “Remember the Titans”
Memorable Gamecock Moment: Being on the floor when the USC men’s basketball team beat No. 1 ranked Kentucky.
Quote: “The more photos I take the better you look.”
E-mail him at caberry@thestate.com
Neil White
Name: Neil White
Profession: Journalism
Title: Sports Writer, The State
GG.com Role: Reporter, writer, covered 2010 College World Series in Omaha
Education: B.A., University of South Carolina, 1979
Favorite sports possession/memorabilia: A Metrodome homer hanky from covering the 1991 World Series between the Braves and Twins
Favorite sports movie or book: “Caddyshack” (movie) and “Ball Four” (book)
Memorable Gamecocks Moment: Covering the baseball team’s run through the NCAA tournament to win the national championship in 2010
Quote: “You see, you spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball, and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time.” - Jim Bouton, “Ball Four”
E-mail Neil at nwhite@thestate.com
Dwayne McLemore
Profession: Multimedia Journalism
Title: GoGamecocks.com editor
GG.com Role: Manages the site
Education: B.A., University of South Carolina, 1997
Favorite sports possession/memorabilia: Carolina Panthers autographed football - because my son and I teamed up for the signatures, which include former Gamecock Eric Norwood
Favorite sports movie or book: “Hoosiers”
Memorable Gamecocks Moment: Being in Omaha in 2010 to cover the baseball team’s national championship
Quote: “I've got a theory that if you give 100 percent all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end.” - Larry Bird
E-mail him at dmclemore@thestate.com
