February 14, 2013
GREAT START: Steve Johnson has put together and hosted 2 exceptional shows, as The Steve Johnson Show on THE CENTRAL STORY has gotten off to a rousing start. This week’s program (tonight, WPFC, 1550AM
JonFineProductions.com
Zoe’s Pizza Buffet) should be another terrific one, as guests slated to appear on the program include former Central HS Wildcats Keith Kepper and Todd Kepper (Father and Son combination), who will discuss their vision of where they’d like to see the program go… also the Central Football Senior players who signed to play at the collegiate level—Brett Courville, Thomas Eddlemon and Tyler Abadie--will also be on the show
Plus “Steve and Blake Bake”, a segment with Zoe’s owner (and area sportscaster) Blake Andrews
If you haven’t tuned in Thursdays for a while, because of, frankly, uneven performances in the past, please give us another shot. The quality of our Thursday program has improved immensely under Steve Johnson’s guise--his show preparation and on-air performance have taken our Thursday sports show to unparalleled heights. Tune in and we believe that you’ll agree.
GREAT LINE-UP
Other upcoming shows and guests on THE CENTRAL STORY include As For Me and My House, with Steve Johnson, Monday, from The Jambalaya Bistro. This week’s guest Pastor is Glen Mier, Singles Pastor from Zoar Baptist Church
Tuesday, The Central Business Report with Matt Price, from The Jambalaya Bistro has numerous quality guests scheduled to appear, including Roger Denson, Big Top Tents
Kevin Dupuy, Pat’s Home Center
Mike Gardner, Twisted Daiquiris
Forrest Scott, Forrest Scott Fencing and Janice Wood, Southern Pickers
Plus, Matt will have information of upcoming events in Central via The Leader Report
Speaking about great starts, Brockwell Bone is running neck and neck with Steve Johnson for Rookie of The Year on THE CENTRAL STORY. Brockwell’s program, Looking Forward, this Wednesday night, from Zoe’s Pizza Buffet, is slated to include a representative of Reynerson’s, discussing the topic of gun control and Republican Woman of Central President Debbie Dougherty. Plus, there’ll be weekly contributor Billy Thompson, the loquacious one, from the EBR Republican Party.
THE BLITZ
SportsRadio, 1310AM, KEZM, Lake Charles now has a new local sports program: Bayou Blitz, with Lake Charles sportswriter Ale Hickey and former McNeese State offensive lineman Miguel Gauthreaux.
BROADCASTING SCHEDULE:
MONDAY—FRIDAY: 5:30PM—6:30PM THE CENTRAL STORY JonFineProductions.com
WPFC, 1550AM, BR
JonFineProductions.com
Thursday, Feb 14: The Steve Johnson Show (from Zoe’s Pizza Buffet)
Steve Johnson
Friday, Feb 15: KandiLand (from Romero’s Food Mart—Joor & Lovett location)
Kandi Jones
Monday, Feb 18: As For Me and My House (from The Jambalaya Bistro)
Steve Johnson
Tuesday, Feb 19: The Central Business Report (from The Jambalaya Bistro) Matt Price
Wednesday, Feb 20: Looking Forward (from Zoe’s Pizza Buffet)
Brockwell Bone
SportsRadio—1310-KEZM-Lake Charles Programming of Interest
Monday, Feb 18: 3PM—5PM: Bayou Blitz with Alex Hickey and Miguel Gauthreaux
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THE WIZARDRY OF OS
By Scott Osborne,
Assistant Basketball Coach/Head Swimming Coach of Central HS
There is big news around Tiger Town as Les Miles is going to hire a new offensive coordinator and LSU opens the baseball season Friday.
The hiring of a new offensive coordinator is a year overdue. While acknowledging that hindsight is 20/20, let's look back. Two years ago, Gary Crowton was pushed out because of philosophical differences with Les Miles. Coach Miles hired Steve Kragthorpe, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's before the start of the season. Without time to replace Kragthorpe, Coach Miles promoted Greg Studrawa. LSU had a dominating season despite being below average on offense.
At this point, Miles had a choice. Recognize the program made it through the season with a stop gap measure on offense and go hire another coordinator. Or he could stick with the status quo (even though he passed over Studrawa the year before) simply because the team had a great record. Of course, he chose the status quo.
I don't know if LSU's offense will progress to compliment the defense under Cam Cameron. The reviews are mixed from the Chargers, Ravens, and other stops he has made.
The best case scenario that Tiger fans can wish for is that Coach Miles has hired someone that he trusts enough to allow the new coordinator to develop and better utilize talent within his philosophy. The fact is that LSU can drastically vary the offense without abandoning Coach Miles’ philosophy. And don’t listen to all those that say LSU lacked the talent last year. About 85 teams had better offenses than LSU last year, and most of them did not have as much talent as the Tigers.
My biggest wish, which I am sure will not happen, is that the LSU coaches take a page from the 49ers and Seahawks. Both teams were willing to open their minds to playing the best quarterback for their systems who may not have been the obvious choice. I don't know if LSU will have that option based off of the other quarterbacks, but if someone does present themselves as a viable option to benefit the offense, I hope LSU has the imagination to get them on the field.
As for LSU baseball, the time has come for LSU to return to the College World Series. That is not a prediction, but a statement. Of course, I haven’t seen one second of LSU baseball practice this year, but I think the following will have to happen for the Tigers to make it to Omaha.
First, I agree with Coach Mainieri that you have to have two aces. I have total confidence in Aaron Nola, so that means that Ryan Eades will have to be great this year.
Second, this new era of college baseball requires a great bullpen. Complete games are rare, and scoring is so low that you have to win 1-2 run games in order to win. I believe LSU in great shape with their set up men with the experience of Cotton, Bonvillain, and Bourgeois. That means Rumbelow, or someone else, has got to replace Goody as the closer. This spot would be my biggest are of concern on the team. I know Mainieri are going to start with Cotton in that role, but he is too valuable as a do anything (starting or relieving) pitcher.
The third key is one I have been writing about since last year. JaCoby Jones has got to develop into a top round draft pick. He is too talented to hit.260 and strikeout a bunch.
I have confidence in the veteran hitters. We know what they can do, but we can’t expect any more of Katz, Ross, and Rhymes. They are going to do their thing. For this team to truly be great, though, two newcomers need to be impact players. Everyone says that Bregman is going to be the next Tiger great. Consequently, LSU needs just one other newcomer to hit over.300 and either steal bases or hit a bunch of doubles. If Laird, Stevenson, or one of the other newcomers can do that, then this lineup will be able to produce runs.
It has taken LSU baseball a while to transition to the new era of college baseball. Hopefully, they are finally there.
HEY REF
Veteran Louisiana High School Referee.
This is the time of year I enjoy the most. Soon we’ll be enjoying warmer temps that’ll help rejuvenate the soul after spending so much time huddled against the cold. Then from coast to coast the two words that are like music to my ears will be heard echoing from big city to tiny and everywhere in between. Then as the seasons change from frigid winter to the cooler temps of spring you’ll hear the command of “batter up” and another chase for a World Series Title begins. I get chills just thinking about returning to the parks and waiting for that sweet crack of wood colliding with cowhide!!
Spring time brings new dreams for every baseball player and fan. We all dream that “this will be our year”. Football may be the most watched sport in this country but without any debate BASEBALL IS AMERICA’S SPORT!! If ever sports were compared to life nothing compares to baseball and the American way of life.
We’ve all dreamed of being the batter standing at the plate with two outs, two strikes and the home team behind. With just one swing we can win the game and be the hero. It’s something that never becomes old and tiring. Just as is the game of baseball, it’ll never grow old! Kids from every nation play this game and they all have the DREAM of coming to America to play it. Truth be told all across the globe kids want to make onto a big league roster to make money because to see a true love for this American game you must go to a local high school diamond or the place where this game ends and a billion dollar enterprise begins; College Baseball!
This year is no different than those in the recent past; we’re all baseball fans because here in Baton Rouge we’ve got probably the premiere program in the entire world of college sports, hands down! Once again it looks as though LSU is loaded at each position with a huge question as to whom and how do you replace half your infield and still compete. The Baseball Tigers of Coach Paul Mainieri, without a doubt, will make a run at wining another National Title.
The key to winning a title this year is the same as in all other years and that is will the pitching staff be able to get the final out no matter who is called on? And that too is something baseball fans debate year after year, which is better to have; hitting or pitching? Since this is my space I can boast that good pitching will defeat good hitting every time.
Of course many will agree with me and so too many will not. We all know what opinions are like and what they’re worth. I guess since I could never hit, I’m much more inclined to be on the thrower’s side of this issue. Baseball is as much a team sport as it is an individual one. The pitchers make everything happen on the diamond. Depending on where you’re sitting one bad pitch can put your team up or down by a single run to as many as four. Those men that stand in the middle and make it all happen are the keys to each and every title ever won. So, we may talk “team” in the waiteing rooms and gas station but the key is as it’s always been; PITCHING!
So, for me, having a guy that can thread a needle whenever needed is worth more than somebody with a big stick. And that’s a very simple baseball fact when you consider that all a coach need do when facing the opposition’s big stick is just send that big bat onto first base and hope the next guy won’t make contact. Sounds too simple, I know but baseball hasn’t really changed that much since Civil War time.
Last year the Tigers had a very young pitching staff. Given that those young arms have one year under their collective belts has to be the key in making a trip to Omaha and I believe we’ll be there. I’ve been a fan of LSU coach Mainieri since he first got here and have nothing but the utmost respect for him and the decisions he’s made. At the end of last season we had a meltdown that shouldn’t be repeated! Before anyone starts to panic rest assured we are in for a long season, after all baseball players are called “The boys of summer” and we’re yet to see the final snow melt.
If you were looking for a word or two about “March Madness” you won’t find it here. “Hey Ref” as we all know is NOT a round-ball fan, never has, never will be. The ONLY thing I use the NCAA’s version of crowning a basketball champion is it tells me that now is the time that all GREAT football officials open up and start studying their rulebooks. No it’s not too early to start going over the rules because no matter when you get on a playing field wether it be a scrimmage, practice or jamboree; every official has to be in top form. We have no time to get better. We’ve got to be in “playoff” mode from the very first play and continue to do nothing but be consistently improving.
Til next week… …
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