March 13, 2014
NEW LOCATION FOR CENTRAL SHOW TONIGHT
The Central Sports & Business Report airs tonight, 5:30pm—6:30pm, broadcasting live from Johnny’s Pizza, Wax Road, in Central, on WPFC, 1550AM, Baton Rouge and on the Internet at JonFineProductions.com. Host Steve Johnson will be joined by CHS Bowling coaches Scott Credeur and Phil Godly, with bowlers Bryce Delaune, Sean Murphy, Britney Robinson, Kaylee Robinson and Johnathan Ryder
BROADCASTING SCHEDULE:
Thursday, March 13: 5:30pm—6:30pm… with Steve Johnson … broadcasting live from Johnny’s Pizza in Central
WPFC, 1550AM, BR
Internet: JonFineProductions.com
SportsRadio 1310 Radio, Lake Charles Programming of Interest (also heard on KEZMOnLine.com:
Saturday, March 15: 9AM—10AM: All Things Football with Scott Holtzman
Monday, March 17: 8AM—10AM: The Locker Room with John Goodman and Jim Gazzolo
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THE WIZARDRY OF OS
Assistant Basketball Coach and Head Swimming Coach at Central High
All November and December, every mention of the Saints was the fact that they could not win on the road and especially not in the cold. Then you would watch a game or a breakdown of the Saints and the experts would talk about the greatness of Jimmy Graham.
Now it is the offseason where it is time to do something about all the talk in the fall, and suddenly (seemingly for the sake of conversation) people are questioning the Saints off season moves. Those people are well within their rights, but in my opinion the Saints are once again displaying the proactive decision making that has made them one of the top teams in the NFL for the past 7 seasons.
From Robert Meachem to Carl Nicks to Jermon Bushrod, the Saints have parted ways with players they know they can replace. On the other hand, they have held onto Drew Brees, Marques Colston, and Jahri Evans. The fact is that the Saints didn’t feel they could have replaced Darren Sproles, Pierre Thomas, and Lance Moore two years ago. But, that was two years ago.
The Saints have drafted Kenny Stills who is a younger version of Lance Moore. The Saints have done a great job of drafting players and developing those players while as backups so they are ready to play when the older players contracts call for them to be paid above their production.
Sean Payton’s offense has a significant role for pass receiving running backs such as Reggie Bush and Darren Sproles. I don’t know if the Saints are confident that Travaris Cadet is ready to fill that role or if they are confident in their ability to sign Dexter McCluster. Either way, the Saints are ready to get younger at that spot.
As for Pierre Thomas, this is a tougher pill to swallow. His production has not fallen off yet, though he has started to become more injury prone. The reason this is a tougher pill is because it means more Mark Ingram, and this is the one area I just do not see what the Saints see. That being said, if Khiry Robinson is the starter, then I see it. In my mind, though, I think the Saints would be well served to find a bigger back (a la Chris Ivory) at some point.
I have already heard some suggest that these moves are too much of a price to pay for Jimmy Graham. Those people are missing the point. The Saints offense did become stagnant and stale at times this season (and was still very good). This is the time to make a turnover in personnel and freshen things up.
The Patriots and Seahawks shutting down Jimmy Graham was as much an indictment on the offense as a whole as it was Jimmy Graham. Sean Payton’s offense should eat up teams that work so hard to take away one option, but it didn’t because the other options weren’t as good as they should have been.
Other people are suggesting these moves are a sign of the times and the Saints are adjusting to be more like Seattle and San Francisco on offense. Not so fast folks. The Saints have always WANTED to have balance and be physical on offense. But, they want to achieve this goal with the idea of keeping people off balance on defense and being able to play with a lead. That does not mean the Saints are changing their personality on offense.
So, Saints fans relax. National media chill out. Loomis and Payton know what they are doing, and the Saints are going to be just fine on offense… as long as they have #9.
HEY REF
Wheeling isn’t just the name of a town in West Virginia. For the next few weeks it’ll also be the answer to a lot of questions as to exactly what’s going on in the NFL. Yes, this is the time of year when all the numbers get crunched. This is the time of year when players and fans alike find out just who or whom their true friends are.
I shouldn’t write that simply because anyone with half a brain knows there are no friends at this time of the year in the NFL because it’s business. No, this is truly the time of year when what used to be a game is turned into big business, BILLION DOLLAR BUSINESS!!! Player’s agents will be on the phone non-stop trying to get them a new deal. But each owner and front office will hope they can restructure contracts at lower pay.
The new CBA hammered out just a couple years ago seemed to be the fix all for the league yet they somehow felt the need to raise the salary cap just like our congress and president do with the nation’s debt ceiling. In simple terms the owners just can’t live within their means. Seems odd in a way don’t you think?
I mean every one of the 32 organizations shell out millions and millions of dollars for the best number-crunchers in the country yet they just can’t get spending under control. We were told that the owners needed to rewrite a CBA with its players to curb spending on salaries and save the teams money. They cried foul and blamed the escalating salaries on players.
But now we are seeing the truth about the latest CBA. As it is written and how it’s being used the one thing that’s certain; lower wages for rookies. NOT top draft choices of course as we’ll see in the upcoming draft in April. Even proven veterans are cutting their own salaries to stay employed. Sound familiar?
But I really can’t get upset and or complain since I don’t support the league because I refuse to pay the price of super inflated tickets. This past season I looked into attending a game in New Orleans. Of course I knew I’d be shocked at the price of the ticket but cardiac arrest wasn’t anywhere in my game plan. I just can’t justify the cost for me and my wife to spend two days in New Orleans.
And that’s where this week’s column is headed; I’m just another former fan priced out of seeing live NFL games due to the unbelievable cost. I’m not alone by any means. More and more of us are being forced to make a decision as to whether keep the lights on at home or sit in a billion dollar stadium. The dollars start leaving your pockets from the get-go.
Parking rates of between $40 and $50.00 depending on how close you want to be. In Dallas it’s much worse at an astonishing $75.00 per vehicle. Think you’ll save a buck or two by taking a taxi? Not so fast grasshopper.
Those number crunchers have that taken care of. How you may ask? Just ask poor Jerry. You remember him? He’s the poor guy that said he wasn’t making any money owning the Dallas Cowboys. Well, if you do take that taxi to “Jerry’s World” you must be dropped off at certain locations and pay for the right or should I say the honor of attending his show.
Parking is just the start, you’ve got $7.00 beers (or higher), $8.00 for a hotdog (or higher, if you want chili, mustard, onions and or cheese), $15.00 programs (or higher), $20.00 for a hat and or T-Shirt (or higher)… Kinda get the picture?????
So, fans of every team, hope you’re ready for the yearly ride of players being dropped, traded or cut from the team. It’s not that I don’t like sports because I do. But I feel our society has placed games in the center of everything and so many lives now totally revolve around them.
I’d like to end this week by asking fans out there one question; will this be the year you have to make the choice of spending your time dominated by a game or keeping the lights on?
Till next week…
The Rotary Club of Livingston Parish
Rotary Bull
By Ivy Graham
“Service Above Self”
Please visit our website at www.rotaryclublp.org.
This week’s meeting:
• This week’s meeting will be held at Big Mike’s. Fellowship begins at 11:30. The meeting is from 12:00-1:00. This week’s guest speaker is Dr. Bond. This pillar of the community has a lifetime of stories to share with us. Want to know more, better be at the meeting on Friday!!!
Last week’s meeting:
• Our “Who am I” speaker, Donna Bliss, brought her girls to the meeting. We had not seen them in a while and we were all glad to visit with them again. While I personally have no memory of her Who am I (because I was absent) I am going to assume she talked about her passion for community services. That she gives of herself completely to the task that she undertakes. She loves her family, she is proud of her daughters, and she hasn’t killed her husband yet (just kidding). Donna loves Livingston parish and is happy to be a member of this particular rotary club
We are pretty special!
• Our club has a brag jar. Better bring your dollars folks!
• Supply list for animal shelter was distributed.
• Supply lists for the veteran’s house were distributed. It was asked that members follow up with their contacts to see who is willing to donate what items.
Upcoming Events/Projects:
• Mar 28-29 – District Conference
Note from the President:
• February is Literacy month. Literacy is the cornerstone to world peace. Rotary has a multitude of literacy projects. Can you name one other than our club’s literacy project?
Guest Speakers and General Membership Meeting Dates:
• Mar 21 – Who am I, Glenn Webster
• Apr 11 – Guest Speaker, Dr. Dennis
• Apr 25 – Guest Speaker, Casie McMurray
• May 9 – Guest Speaker, Randy Rogers
• May 23 – Guest Speaker, Layton Ricks
• June 13 – Guest Speaker, Bobby Fletcher
Brags:
• Our club welcomed the volunteers from the Penn State who have been devoting their week to the George Smith project. We are moving forward by leaps and bounds because of the help of volunteers like you. Deepest and Sincerest Thanks!
• Keith Stark is selling tickets for his son’s boy scout troop. Get your sausage po-boy tickets now!
• Jon Fine will be broadcasting Walker baseball games. You do not want to miss these live broadcasts, they are sure to be informative and entertaining.
Members:
• Your quarterly dues will be emailed. Keep a lookout! AND Please kindly and timely submit your payment to Lisa Casas.
• Shirts for sale only $7.00 for members. These things are selling like hotcakes!
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.