August 8, 2013
PRESS RELEASE
THE DRU NETTLES SHOW
One DSHS Athletic Hall of Fame inductee from the class of 2011, another one from the class of 2013 and a potential Pulitzer Prize winning writer highlight this week’s The Dru Nettles Show (Thursday, 8/8, 6pm—7pm, Cox 4… with replays on Friday, 10:30am and Saturday, 12:30pm). The Dru Nettles Show is co-hosted by Denham Springs HS Athletic Director/Head Football Coach Dru Nettles and long-time Jackets pbp announcer Jon Fine. The show is a Jon Fine Production.
Legendary Jackets player, coach, athletic director and principal Butch Wax graces the program with his presence. Wax was a member of the first DSHS Hall of Fame class in 2011. He also is a member of the LHSAA Hall of Fame. Nettles was a standout defensive back for Wax in the late 80’s.
Joey Chustz, the only Denham Springs HS football player ever drafted, will be inducted into this year’s Hall of Fame Class. Chustz was a terrific Jackets offensive lineman, who played his college football at Louisiana Tech. He was a 4th round draft pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2000 draft. Chustz is presently the Jackets offensive line coach.
“What up Muff?” is sure to be uttered by Fine during Thursday night’s program to commemorate the appearance of Livingston Parish News sportswriter/columnist Sam Muffoleto. A popular and candid writer who, as legendary sports writer/sportscaster Howard Cosell once said of himself, “tells it like it is”, Muff has covered the Baton Rouge sports scene for the last 3 decades… although he claims to be 32 years old. Perhaps his best effort ever was his recent story on the second year of The Dru Nettles Show.—This story, a literary classic of epic proportions, could very readily prompt the nomination of Muff for the Pulitzer Prize.
Yellow Jackets Head Athletics Trainer/Head Softball coach David Bourque will appear on the program. Bourque has done a terrific job in both capacities with the Jackets. A graduate of USL, this will surely attract the attention of the McNeese State oriented Fine, a former Cowboys pbp announcer.
For more information on The Dru Nettles Show, please visit JonFineProducions.com (The Dru Nettles Show page) and/or Like TheDruNettlesShow on Facebook.
3 HOURS DOWN, 165 TO GO
For the month of August, The Dru Nettles Show will have a second replay on Cox 4 Television, Baton Rouge. The program (which airs Thursdays, 6pm-7pm, with a replay on Fridays, 10:30am—11:30am) will have a second replay this month on Saturdays, 12:30pm—1:30pm
That means of 168 hours in a week on Cox 4 Television, 3 of them are devoted to The Dru Nettles Show!
TASMIN IN THE HALL
Legendary Jackets Basketball great Tasmin Mitchell is certain to be inducted into a number of Halls of Fame in the upcoming years. The first one occurred this past Thursday night, as he was inducted into The Dru Nettles Show Hall of Fame, while making an appearance on the program
Mitchell joins Denham Springs 3 sport great Ben McDonald, who was inducted last year
For his induction into this coveted Hall, Mitchell was offered a burger, fries and coke at Big Mike’s in Denham Springs by Jon Fine… with one stipulation. Tasmin had to tell Big Mike’s it was on Coach Nettles' DSHS Football’s account!
Mitchell is considering playing overseas in one of 3 countries, including a return to Israel, where he played in 2011-2012. Last year, he played professionally in Russia
Upon retiring (well down the road), he says he would like to return to Denham Springs to be its basketball coach, before becoming Mayor of the city
Let it be stated first here: Tasmin For Mayor 2035!
A GREAT GUY
Our condolences go out to the family and loved ones of The Livingston Parish News (and Baton Rouge area) sportswriter Al Tircuit. Al was one of the nicest people in the history of the world. If you have a chance, check out last Sunday’s (August 4) Livingston Parish News sports section for Sam Muffoleto’s outstanding tribute. On tonight’s The Dru Nettles Show, Muff will be one of our guests and is certain to talk more about his beloved colleague.
NEW COLUMNIST
This newsletter marks the debut of Thommy Boesch’s “A View From The Sidelines”, which will appear every other week in our publication. Boesch is originally from New Orleans and has lived in Plaquemine for 18 years. He is presently a high school sportscaster for WWL Radio-New Orleans. Thommy is also retired from umpiring college baseball after 22 years
He joins Scott Osborne and Dennis Dearie as columnists in the newsletter
Please see Thommy’s first column below.
THE CENTRAL SHOW
This week’s The Central Sports & Business Report will feature co-host Steve Johnson joined by Guests: David Dykes - CHS assistant football coach
Dalton Holdman - Sr. Linebacker CHS Varsity Football… Michelle Lebouef - Head Coach CHS Volleyball and Paige Roberts- Sr. CHS Volleyball player
Me’Pa’s Diner owner Melissa Dykes is the Sponsor of The Week.
Co-host Matt Price will miss this week’s program. Matt has been under the weather recently. We look forward to his return to the program in the very near future.
Monday night on The Central Story, it’s Destined to Win, with Rocky Bezet, Pastor, The Rock Church.
The Central Story airs Monday and Thursday nights, 5:30pm—6:30pm, on WPFC, 1550AM, Baton Rouge and on the Net at JonFineProductions.com.
4 WEEKS AWAY: Denham Springs HS Football radio broadcasts
Plaquemine HS Football radio broadcasts
St. John HS Football radio broadcasts
--Announcers for DSHS Football broadcasts will be Jon Fine (pbp), Brian Abels (color) and Chris Ledoux (Sideline/Stats)
--Announcers for St. John/Plaquemine HS broadcasts will be JB Barker (pbp), Brian “Baco” Romero (color). The Sideline/Stats person has not yet been determined.
CAJUN JOKE OF THE WEEK AS HEARD ON THE 8/1 THE CENTRAL STORY
Complements of Larry Boudreaux’s website, CousinBoudreaux.com:
A man who just died waz delivered to a mortuary een Breaux Bridge wearin’ an expensive, expertly tailored black suit. Boudreaux, de mortician axed de deceased's wife how she would like de body dressed.
Boudreaux axed her dat cause he taught de man already looked very good een de black sueet he waz already wearin’.
Mrs. Hebert, de widow, replied dat she always taught her husband looked his best in blue, and dat she wanted heem in a blue suit.
Den she gave Boudreaux a blank check and said, "I don't care what eet costs, jus please have my husband een a blue sueet for de wake tonight."
Mrs. Hebert returned dat evenin’ for de wake. To her delight she saw her husband dressed in a gorgeous blue sueet weet a subtle chalk stripe.
She said to Boudreaux, “De sueet fits heem perfectly”.
Den she says to Boudreaux, "Whatever de cost waz, aham very satisfied. You did an excellent job and aham very grateful. How much did you spend?"
To her astonishment, Boudreaux returned her blank check and said,"Dere's no charge".
Mrs. Hebert waz astonished and responded, "No, really, I must pay you for de cost of dat exquisite blue suit!"
Boudreaux he den says, "I promise you, ma'am, eet didn't cost me a tin’.
You see, a deceased gentleman who waz about your husband's size waz brought in a leetle while after you left yesterday. He waz wearin’ an attractive blue suit.
I axed hees missus eef she minded heem goin’ to hees grave wearin’ a black sueet instead. She said eet made no difference as long as he looked nice."
"So, I jus’ switched de heads."
BROADCASTING SCHEDULE:
Thursday, August 8: 5:30pm—6:30pm: The Central Sports & Business Report (on The Central Story)… with Steve Johnson & Matt Price… broadcasting live from Me’Pa’s Diner—Sullivan Road, Next to Chase Bank, in Central
WPFC, 1550AM, BR
Internet: JonFineProductions.com
Thursday, August 8: 6:00pm—7:00pm: The Dru Nettles Show… with Dru Nettles & Jon Fine
Cox 4 Television, Baton Rouge (replays on Friday, August 9, 10:30am—11:30am and Saturday, August 10, 12:30pm—1:30pm)
Monday, August 11: 5:30pm—6:30pm: Destined To Win (on The Central Story)
Pastor Rocky Bezet, Pastor, The Rock Church
WPFC, 1550AM, BR
Internet: JonFineProductions.com
SportsRadio—1310-KEZM-Lake Charles Programming of Interest (also heard on KEZMOnLine.com)
Monday, August 11: 3PM—5PM: Bayou Blitz with Alex Hickey and Miguel Gauthreaux
WE THANK YOU FOR DOING YOUR UTMOST TO PATRONIZE SPONSORS OF OUR PROGRAMMING. THIS HELPS US TREMENDOUSLY IN SUSTAINING OUR WEEKLY LINE-UP AND WILL ASSIST US IN ADDING MORE PROGRAMS IN THE FUTURE. KINDLY MAKE AN EFFORT TO LET SPONSORS KNOW YOU HEARD THEIR BUSINESS MENTIONED ON OUR BROADCAST(S).
THE WIZARDRY OF OS
Assistant Basketball Coach/Head Swimming Coach at Central High School
Johnny Manziel is still the hot topic of conversation, but I am NOT writing about him again this week really. The hot topic of discussion this week is local with Jeremy Hill being reinstated to the LSU football team.
I am not the one to declare if the judge or Coach Miles has made the correct decision. They both get paid way more than I do to make those decisions. I can say that Coach Miles decision isn’t too far off from how other coaches in similar situations have handled these types of punishments. Manziel was in a bar fight last spring and went on the win the Heisman trophy in the fall… wait, I am not writing about him this week.
Back to Hill. His return to the LSU football team makes a huge difference to the season outlook. The fact is that without him the LSU coaches would have had to make one of three choices.
One, they were going to have to give one running back 15-25 carries at some point in the year. No SEC team can make it through the year without a running back getting hurt at some point, and LSU has only three without Hill.
Option two would have been to add depth by moving players. That was the big story from day one of practice. The coaches were willing to look at a few players on offense that they recruited to play defense. Something they were not willing to try with Patrick Peterson or Tyrann Mathieu, but the Cardinals are making plans for with Peterson.
Option three would have been to throw the ball more, lessening the need for three running backs. Since we all know that was NOT going to happen, I guess there were only two options.
For now, the coaches would be wise to continue planning either option one, two, or some combination of both. Four total tailbacks on the roster, for a team that has preferred to utilize four running backs in the course of every game is a precarious position to approach the season. Especially, when one is coming off of a torn ACL and the other has had off the field issues.
The odds are extremely high that LSU will be without the services of Hill, Hilliard, Magee, or Blue for either a small portion or extended portion of the year. Especially, since Miles didn’t rule out the possibility of Hill still being suspended some games (which sounds very possible, but there is no way Miles is going to let TCU know what to prepare for going into the game).
Hopefully, Hill has learned how to avoid placing himself in bad positions off the field. If so, it should allow him to be a positive example to young (and older) people who make mistakes. Finally, Jeremy Hill owes it to the judge, Coach Miles, and his teammates who are showing they are willing to give him another chance.
HEY REF
By Dennis Dearie,
Veteran Louisiana High School Referee
Some of you already know what my leadoff story is gonna be so I won’t waste anybody’s time asking you to guess. This was exceptionally tough decision for me as I go to print trying to fill in the top sports story this week. But it has to be the utter shocking antics that have led to Jeremy Hill’s escape from justice (again) that gets top billing this week. I was hoping for once the justice system did that and earned its first name; JUSTICE!!
On one hand we had a star LSU athlete that was facing the possibility of having his probation revoked and sent to jail. On the other hand we had all of us, the general public. Shouldn’t surprise anyone that the LSU athlete won over the safety of our children and the rest of humanity that happen to have the bad luck of crossing paths with a soon to be Angola resident.
I found it odd though as to the many people that aren’t aware that this wasn’t his first request for a second chance or to give him a break. No, he got his break and second chance back in 2011 when he was allowed to plead DOWN his charges from a sexual act with a 14 year old freshman when both were enrolled at Baton Rouge’s Redemptorist High School. He and Avery Tate were arrested on Jan. 12, 2011 for having a female student perform oral sex on them in the boy’s locker room.
Many in the legal community agree that a sexual crime of this nature would’ve most likely guaranteed jail time. But the powers that be at LOUISIANA’s flagship institution were successful in getting an agreement that allowed him to plead guilty to “misdemeanor carnal knowledge of a juvenile”. So he not only got one second chance with the plea deal but a second second chance when he was put on probation for a crime anyone else but a signed LSU Football Recruit would be sitting in Angola for ten to fifteen years.
So drop the garbage about giving him a second chance when the discussion turns to the “SUCKER-PUNCH” he meted out in a bar’s parking lot. He’s out on probation and he’s in/at a bar? Bang, there’s a problem here, does anyone see that or is it just me? Please inform me of any good that’s ever come from an OFFENDER on PROBATION hanging out in a bar? I believe in giving second chances for a mistake. But, 2 mistakes… the second one while you're on probation for the first? This world would be much better off if it was a mistake for those season ticket holders just biting at the bullet to get into Tiger Stadium.
I guess after you’ve expanded your stadium to nearly 100,000 seats you’ll do just about anything to fill ‘em. Even if that means recruiting and allowing SEX OFFENDERS to play at a university that puts winning above everything and everybody else to “Get ‘R Done”!! We’ve gotta beat Bama, no matter the cost even if it means throwing our morals away. I guess being the father of a daughter makes people like Hill and Avery a lot lower than that in my book!
The only winner coming out of this charade from justice is Baton Rouge defense(less) attorney Marci Blaize. With all the legal bills the LSU athletic dept. will pass off onto Louisiana taxpayers Ms. Blaize is due for a windfall. Oh boy, you got a violent SEX OFFENDER that’s good enough to play football in the SEC? Well, don’t send ‘em to Georgia because they kicked one SEX OFFENDER out of school that LSU recruited and now has lining up behind center (for the last two years now) just ask Les Miles. He’ll be sure to bring ‘em down to the Bayou State where winning is put above morality and doing the right thing.
My worry is this, just what will Miles and LSU do when the capacity at Tiger Stadium grows beyond the 100,000 seats now being put in place? Maybe even a child molester or two? If 14 isn’t a child then please tell me what age you consider an adult when we talk about crimes against them perpetrated by a future LSU TIGER! Will you be so willing to forgive them after YOUR 14 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER tells you she gave oral sex to a couple of players so they could get ready for their next game since it’ll be on TV?
Sorry A&M fans, we will get to your entrepreneur next week…
(EDITOR'S NOTE: The views expressed by Dennis are those of his own and don't necessarily reflect the views held by JonFineProductions.com Newsletter, Jon Fine Productions or Jon Fine.)
A VIEW FROM THE SIDELINES
HS Sportscaster, WWL Radio, New Orleans
PED's and Cheating
I hate to start my first foray into writing with such a controversial topic, but that is my nature. Alex Rodriguez is getting crucified by Major League Baseball and the media, just remember there were 12 other players involved in this mess. But my question is not whether they are guilty or not, but what is the motivation of MLB to aggressively address PED's?
Here is the controversial part! I don't believe PED's make an average player great! They are not going to make a.185 hitter a.350 hitter. The great players will always be great players! Now, I am not condoning the use of steroids and other enhancement drugs that have zero therapeutic value, but I do think the game is going too far.
Lets take Human Growth Hormones (HGH), which has a wealth of promise in treating many ailments, may actually have great therapeutic value in healing player injuries. They currently use products that "Enhance Performance", such as antibiotics, aspirin, and therapies, so why not HGH to heal. I have always contended that Curt Schilling having the blood drained from his ankle so he could pitch in the playoffs in Boston was a performance enhancement technique, as it had zero therapeutic value in healing the injury. But his sock is in the Hall of Fame!
I think all sports are quickly coming to a crossroad in defining performance enhancement vs. therapeutic treatments. As science learns how to exploit various treatments, sport regulations need to be adaptive. The objective is to heal players and get them back on the field, these breakthrough therapies will definitely aid that goal.
Back to my original point! Barry Bonds was a great player before all the accusations regarding steroid use, I mean, how many Gold Gloves do you need to be in the Hall of Fame, even putting aside the Home Run record. Same with Alex Rodriguez! But the media who vote will play judge and jury in ignoring the accomplishments of these players in order to punish them for "cheating"! If they removed everyone who ever cheated out of the Hall of Fame, it would be an almost empty building, with all the doctored balls used in pitching, players faking getting hit by pitchers, and bats being enhanced. Cheating is cheating, so lets not be hypocritical!
Great players are great players because they are that much better than everyone else. PED's can't make you a great player! Now, the players do have the responsibility to be good role models, embrace the rules, and lead by example, but you don't punish them for not taking these responsibilities seriously.
I think baseball's suspensions are correct, not because I think PED's are going to ruin the game, but because they are against the rules. If you let everyone use PED's the same great players would be great. That's the bottom line, play by the rules, and let the cream rise to the top!
JON IS PROUD TO WORK AS A MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE FOR SPORTSRADIO-1310-KEZM-LAKE CHARLES, IN ESTABLSHING THE “DOLLAR A HOLLER” MARKETING PROGRAM AND HELPING SELL SULPHUR HS FOOTBALL BROADCASTS AND BARBE HS BASEBALL PLAYOFF BROADCASTS.