At the risk of seeping into full-fledged sports geekdom, I must admit I'm really getting into the college football recruiting scene. It certainly helps that we have so many outstanding high school seniors in our area this season.
I'm also excited about Arkansas, which is being considered by a couple highly-touted five-star caliber athletes. I have to be honest, February 1st can't get here soon enough for me.
How excited am I?
I actually spent time on the interent looking up recruiting information. I've been known to use the internet for a lot of things but reading about high school kids has never been one of them.
Anyway, it turns out the Golden Triangle has three of the most highly thought of student-athletes in the state. Only one of them, Bearden's Defonta Lowe, is going to be a Razorback.
Lowe is ranked the 76th best prospect as an athlete by ESPN.
Strong's Kenneth Dixon, who has committed to Louisiana Tech, is ranked the 64th best running back nationally.
Smackover's Jeff Savage, who has committed to Louisiana-Monroe, is ranked the 93rd best defensive tackle nationally.
All three kids are considered three-star recruits.
Before you start in on me, I understand these recruiting services don't mean a doggone thing. A five-star can flame out and a no-star can be a first-round draft pick in the NFL.
But, it's still kind of fun just the same. Like I said, I feel a little nerdy sifting giddily through this stuff. I guess it's better than some of the other stuff I've sifted through on the internet.
Now that I think about it ... I gotta go.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
What you talking about Willis?
Would've loved to have been a fly on the wall around the breakfast table yesterday in the Willis household. Norphlet drubbed Woodlawn tuesday in a pair of senior varsity games.
The Willis children - junior twins Kalisha and Jalisha and their sophomore brother Jontavis, combined to score 86 points in the wins.
Kalisha scored a career-high 34 points with sister Jalisha adding 22 in an 86-34 victory. Later, Jontavis pumped in 30 points in a 67-40 win in the boys game.
Coach Justin Welch joked that whatever the family ate for breakfast Tuesday, he hopes that turns into a daily routine.
***
On the recruiting trail, there is news out of Memphis that concerns El Dorado's Taylor Reed, who started at quarterback this year as a freshman. The Tigers have a verbal committment from a three-start tight end from Florida.
That's great news for any quarterback.
The bad news?
Texas Tech transfer QB Jacob Karam has signed a letter of intent with Memphis, according to the school's official athletic site.
Karam, who threw two career touchdowns for the Red Raiders, originally signed with Texas Tech in 2009. Karam was rated as a four-star coming out of high school and he was a top-20 QB nationally.
Welcome to college football. The competition never stops.
The Willis children - junior twins Kalisha and Jalisha and their sophomore brother Jontavis, combined to score 86 points in the wins.
Kalisha scored a career-high 34 points with sister Jalisha adding 22 in an 86-34 victory. Later, Jontavis pumped in 30 points in a 67-40 win in the boys game.
Coach Justin Welch joked that whatever the family ate for breakfast Tuesday, he hopes that turns into a daily routine.
***
On the recruiting trail, there is news out of Memphis that concerns El Dorado's Taylor Reed, who started at quarterback this year as a freshman. The Tigers have a verbal committment from a three-start tight end from Florida.
That's great news for any quarterback.
The bad news?
Texas Tech transfer QB Jacob Karam has signed a letter of intent with Memphis, according to the school's official athletic site.
Karam, who threw two career touchdowns for the Red Raiders, originally signed with Texas Tech in 2009. Karam was rated as a four-star coming out of high school and he was a top-20 QB nationally.
Welcome to college football. The competition never stops.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
'Uh, oh!'
When I heard over the summer that Strong had pursuaded Anthony Avery to coach the girls basketball team for a year, I said, "uh, oh!"
The once-proud Lady Bulldogs' program had been in a steady decline since its back-to-back state championships in 2005 and 2006. Last year was an all-time low, ending a long stretch of regional and state tournament berths.
It didn't look to be much better this year ... until ... "uh, oh!"
I wasn't sure what Avery could do with the team, which seemed to underachieve last season. One thing I knew for certain, though, he would have the players' respect. Even if he didn't field a team, Coach Avery would not sit on that sideline and be disrespected.
Well, he got his players' attention. The Lady Bulldogs are playing hard again. That was always the staple of this program. They played hard even when they didn't play smart. They always won the board battle. They always got the loose balls.
Even when they couldn't shoot, couldn't dribble, couldn't pass they made up for it by getting more shots and more possessions just because they got every loose ball.
As someone who loves "skilled" basketball, the Lady Bulldogs aren't always my favorite team to watch. Their sling-it-toward-the-rim and go get it attitude isn't aesthetically pleasing but it is very effective.
I watched Strong push a superior Norphlet team last week. When I heard the Lady Bulldogs beat Parkers Chapel last night, I wasn't stunned. No, I didn't predict they'd be sitting in second place in the league, right now. But, I knew if Avery didn't run 'em all off, the old trademarks would return and they'd be a team no one wanted to face - a team that even if you beat them, you'll walk away with scrapes and bruises and a desire never to play them again.
That's old-school Strong girls basketball. It's no fun to watch and even less fun to play against.
Coach Avery has brought it back.
"Uh, oh!"
The once-proud Lady Bulldogs' program had been in a steady decline since its back-to-back state championships in 2005 and 2006. Last year was an all-time low, ending a long stretch of regional and state tournament berths.
It didn't look to be much better this year ... until ... "uh, oh!"
I wasn't sure what Avery could do with the team, which seemed to underachieve last season. One thing I knew for certain, though, he would have the players' respect. Even if he didn't field a team, Coach Avery would not sit on that sideline and be disrespected.
Well, he got his players' attention. The Lady Bulldogs are playing hard again. That was always the staple of this program. They played hard even when they didn't play smart. They always won the board battle. They always got the loose balls.
Even when they couldn't shoot, couldn't dribble, couldn't pass they made up for it by getting more shots and more possessions just because they got every loose ball.
As someone who loves "skilled" basketball, the Lady Bulldogs aren't always my favorite team to watch. Their sling-it-toward-the-rim and go get it attitude isn't aesthetically pleasing but it is very effective.
I watched Strong push a superior Norphlet team last week. When I heard the Lady Bulldogs beat Parkers Chapel last night, I wasn't stunned. No, I didn't predict they'd be sitting in second place in the league, right now. But, I knew if Avery didn't run 'em all off, the old trademarks would return and they'd be a team no one wanted to face - a team that even if you beat them, you'll walk away with scrapes and bruises and a desire never to play them again.
That's old-school Strong girls basketball. It's no fun to watch and even less fun to play against.
Coach Avery has brought it back.
"Uh, oh!"
Sunday, January 22, 2012
RIP JoePa
When I die, I hope to be judged not solely by the mistakes I made but by the accomplishments I achieved. Life is not about being perfect. It's about trying to do the right thing, even though sometimes it comes out wrong.
Joe Paterno had a remarkable career filled with more positives than one can count. May he rest in peace. He deserves that much.
Joe Paterno had a remarkable career filled with more positives than one can count. May he rest in peace. He deserves that much.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Big numbers on court
The seal is off the basket in Union County. Two days after Smackover's Deonta Baker dropped 41 points on Harmony Grove, Strong's Stetson Billings lit up Bearden to the tune of 57 points.
Five dimes, a nickel and two pennies is a lot of change in one night. But, the UALR signee is more than capable of cashing in big on any given night.
I have to admit, boys basketball in Union County is kind of nice this season. All the teams are competitive, including Norphlet. In Billings, Strong has the best player and Parkers Chapel is the defending state runner-up.
In contrast, area girls hoops isn't what it used to be.
In might've gotten weaker Tuesday when El Dorado's Hannah Burroff injured her knee in Little Rock. Coach Stephen Harshaw told me today the doctor confirmed she tore her ACL and MCL and will miss the rest of her senior season. That's devastating news for the Lady Wildcats and even worse for the young lady, who is even better on the soccer pitch than the basketball court.
In my 20-plus years of doing this, it never ceases to amaze me how these types of injuries always seem to happen to the best kids.
Five dimes, a nickel and two pennies is a lot of change in one night. But, the UALR signee is more than capable of cashing in big on any given night.
I have to admit, boys basketball in Union County is kind of nice this season. All the teams are competitive, including Norphlet. In Billings, Strong has the best player and Parkers Chapel is the defending state runner-up.
In contrast, area girls hoops isn't what it used to be.
In might've gotten weaker Tuesday when El Dorado's Hannah Burroff injured her knee in Little Rock. Coach Stephen Harshaw told me today the doctor confirmed she tore her ACL and MCL and will miss the rest of her senior season. That's devastating news for the Lady Wildcats and even worse for the young lady, who is even better on the soccer pitch than the basketball court.
In my 20-plus years of doing this, it never ceases to amaze me how these types of injuries always seem to happen to the best kids.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Thanks ESPN
Gotta send a big thank you out to the folks at ESPN. The sports network's non-stop, round the clock coverage of Tim Tebow forced me to find my remote control and explore other options on my DirecTV.
Did you know there are two channels devoted entirely to food?
Oh! You did?
Well, it was news to me, which is probably a shocking announcement coming from a guy my size.
Anyway, thanks so much to ESPN for driving me away from sports to the food networks. I'm not a big cooker. I don't even own a stove. But, I do like food.
The past several days I've spent hours watching various shows demonstrate amazing ways to prepare tasty food dishes. I watched in awe at first until I started to think that perhaps even I could attempt some of these recipes.
Without an oven or even a hint of cooking expertise, my options were limited. But, yesterday I attempted a type of salad featuring apples and mandarin oranges. The most important part of the dish is a sauce that includes honey and orange yogurt. It only took about 10 minutes to prepare but it was well worth the time.
I'm still chowing down on it a day later.
I'm contemplating a dish with peaches, honey and chicken. That one could be tricky. We'll see how it goes. Who knows, maybe I'll eventually turn into the Iron Chef or maybe that arrogant guy from Restaurant Impossible?
To think, I have ESPN's exhaustingly gruesome coverage of everything Tebow to thank for my new interest.
Go Raiders!
Did you know there are two channels devoted entirely to food?
Oh! You did?
Well, it was news to me, which is probably a shocking announcement coming from a guy my size.
Anyway, thanks so much to ESPN for driving me away from sports to the food networks. I'm not a big cooker. I don't even own a stove. But, I do like food.
The past several days I've spent hours watching various shows demonstrate amazing ways to prepare tasty food dishes. I watched in awe at first until I started to think that perhaps even I could attempt some of these recipes.
Without an oven or even a hint of cooking expertise, my options were limited. But, yesterday I attempted a type of salad featuring apples and mandarin oranges. The most important part of the dish is a sauce that includes honey and orange yogurt. It only took about 10 minutes to prepare but it was well worth the time.
I'm still chowing down on it a day later.
I'm contemplating a dish with peaches, honey and chicken. That one could be tricky. We'll see how it goes. Who knows, maybe I'll eventually turn into the Iron Chef or maybe that arrogant guy from Restaurant Impossible?
To think, I have ESPN's exhaustingly gruesome coverage of everything Tebow to thank for my new interest.
Go Raiders!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Get it right, AAA
Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012 is a huge day when it comes to high school basketball in Arkansas. It has nothing to do with the games scheduled for this date.
The AAA Board of Directors will meet at 4 p.m. to decide the tournament site selections for 2012. The meeting will be held at the AAA office in North Little Rock.
The 2A South Region has bids put in by Foreman, Norphlet and Parkers Chapel.
Foreman hosted this region last year. Saratoga has hosted it. Mineral Springs has hosted it. Mount Ida hosted it. Caddo Hills hosted it.
Over the past few seasons, I've driven to Fouke and Prescott and Lafayette County and Centerpoint for regional games.
Tomorrow, the AAA will award the 2A South to, supposedly, one of three schools. One of those schools, Foreman, hosted the tournament last year in a gym that was woefully undersized. The four finalists drove hundreds of miles from Union County to Foreman to compete.
The other two schools, Norphlet and PC, have large gyms, are located around a city with numerous hotels and eating spots and have driven all over the state for the past several years, playing other teams on their homecourt for the right to advance to the state tournament.
If the 2A South is held outside of Union County this season, it will be one of the most biased, unfair decisions since the O.J. verdict.
I dont complain much about the AAA's decisions. If Foreman is awarded this year's regional, I will be forced to speak out.
***
On another note, El Dorado is the lone bidder for the 6A State basketball tournament. I'm assuming this means the tournament will be held at the brand new Wildcat Arena. I can't wait to see the looks on the AAA big wigs' faces when they're given a ticket and told to ask someone at the concession stand for something to drink.
The first-ever state tournament without a hospitality room will be the biggest story that comes out of Wildcat Arena. I'm looking forward to writing it.
The AAA Board of Directors will meet at 4 p.m. to decide the tournament site selections for 2012. The meeting will be held at the AAA office in North Little Rock.
The 2A South Region has bids put in by Foreman, Norphlet and Parkers Chapel.
Foreman hosted this region last year. Saratoga has hosted it. Mineral Springs has hosted it. Mount Ida hosted it. Caddo Hills hosted it.
Over the past few seasons, I've driven to Fouke and Prescott and Lafayette County and Centerpoint for regional games.
Tomorrow, the AAA will award the 2A South to, supposedly, one of three schools. One of those schools, Foreman, hosted the tournament last year in a gym that was woefully undersized. The four finalists drove hundreds of miles from Union County to Foreman to compete.
The other two schools, Norphlet and PC, have large gyms, are located around a city with numerous hotels and eating spots and have driven all over the state for the past several years, playing other teams on their homecourt for the right to advance to the state tournament.
If the 2A South is held outside of Union County this season, it will be one of the most biased, unfair decisions since the O.J. verdict.
I dont complain much about the AAA's decisions. If Foreman is awarded this year's regional, I will be forced to speak out.
***
On another note, El Dorado is the lone bidder for the 6A State basketball tournament. I'm assuming this means the tournament will be held at the brand new Wildcat Arena. I can't wait to see the looks on the AAA big wigs' faces when they're given a ticket and told to ask someone at the concession stand for something to drink.
The first-ever state tournament without a hospitality room will be the biggest story that comes out of Wildcat Arena. I'm looking forward to writing it.
Friday, January 6, 2012
What about the Cotton Bowl?
Apparently, if a football game isn't on ESPN, it doesn't exist.
The sports network has a billion talk shows devoted to college football. I've watched all week and have not heard one peep about tonight's Cotton Bowl.
Finally, I checked the TV Guide and saw the game will be broadcast on Fox.
I understand ESPN is not going to run promotional ads for a game on a rival network. But, to totally ignore the game and pretend it's not going to happen just shows how petty ESPN has gotten.
At one time, the sports network covered all the big events. That doesn't mean the big event was aired on their network. But, sports fans could still tune to ESPN to hear their analysis on the game.
That's what a sports network does. It gives highlights and analysis of all the big "sports" events.
Today's version of ESPN limits itself to Tim Tebow, LeBron James and Alex Rodriguez. That's the extent of the sports network's extensive coverage except for the events it is directly broadcasting.
ESPN will give an hour of discussion on a hot dog eating contest if it's aired on that network. But, a college football game between two highly-ranked team isn't worthy of a mention because it's on Fox.
Now, that's some brilliant sports coverage, right there.
The sports network has a billion talk shows devoted to college football. I've watched all week and have not heard one peep about tonight's Cotton Bowl.
Finally, I checked the TV Guide and saw the game will be broadcast on Fox.
I understand ESPN is not going to run promotional ads for a game on a rival network. But, to totally ignore the game and pretend it's not going to happen just shows how petty ESPN has gotten.
At one time, the sports network covered all the big events. That doesn't mean the big event was aired on their network. But, sports fans could still tune to ESPN to hear their analysis on the game.
That's what a sports network does. It gives highlights and analysis of all the big "sports" events.
Today's version of ESPN limits itself to Tim Tebow, LeBron James and Alex Rodriguez. That's the extent of the sports network's extensive coverage except for the events it is directly broadcasting.
ESPN will give an hour of discussion on a hot dog eating contest if it's aired on that network. But, a college football game between two highly-ranked team isn't worthy of a mention because it's on Fox.
Now, that's some brilliant sports coverage, right there.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Welcome to Fantasy Island
Since I didn't see this in the El Dorado News-Times (for some reason) I'd like to announce in this space that the Birds of Prey, coached by yours truly, won the championship this week in the Southside of Hell ESPN Fantasy Football League.
The week before, the Black Widows, coached by yours truly, won the championship in the Southern Comfort Fantasy Football League.
These were the only two leagues in which I participated.
I won them both.
Yes, I am THAT good.
Those who think Fantasy Football is more luck than skill, EAT IT!
Was it luck that I picked Cam Newton with the last pick in both drafts?
Was it luck when I smartly plucked Reggie Bush from the waiver wire after he was discarded by another coach?
Was it luck when I picked up C.J. Spiller off the waiver wire late in the season?
Was it luck when I benched Jermichael Finley in favor of Hernandez last week?
Okay, there was a tinge of luck in that substitution but also some gut instincts.
I certainly wasn't lucky when all of my running backs missed most of the season with injuries. There's nothing lucky about Dwayne Bowe, who might catch 7 passes for 150 yards or 1 pass for 5 yards.
Face it folks, I am the man. I've proven it not once but twice.
That ain't no Fantasy. That's REAL!
The week before, the Black Widows, coached by yours truly, won the championship in the Southern Comfort Fantasy Football League.
These were the only two leagues in which I participated.
I won them both.
Yes, I am THAT good.
Those who think Fantasy Football is more luck than skill, EAT IT!
Was it luck that I picked Cam Newton with the last pick in both drafts?
Was it luck when I smartly plucked Reggie Bush from the waiver wire after he was discarded by another coach?
Was it luck when I picked up C.J. Spiller off the waiver wire late in the season?
Was it luck when I benched Jermichael Finley in favor of Hernandez last week?
Okay, there was a tinge of luck in that substitution but also some gut instincts.
I certainly wasn't lucky when all of my running backs missed most of the season with injuries. There's nothing lucky about Dwayne Bowe, who might catch 7 passes for 150 yards or 1 pass for 5 yards.
Face it folks, I am the man. I've proven it not once but twice.
That ain't no Fantasy. That's REAL!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)