April 24, 2014
CENTRAL PRIVATE SPORTS
The Central Sports & Business Report airs tonight, 5:30pm—6:30pm, broadcasting live from Johnny’s Pizza House, Wax Road, in Central, on WPFC, 1550AM, Baton Rouge and on the Internet at JonFineProductions.com. Host Steve Johnson will be joined by the Central Private Athletic Director/Head Football coach Joey Sanchez and Head Baseball coach Jason Kinchen.
BROADCASTING SCHEDULE:
Thursday, April 24: 5:30pm—6:30pm… with Steve Johnson … broadcasting live from Johnny’s Pizza House in Central
WPFC, 1550AM, BR
Internet: JonFineProductions.com
SportsRadio 1310 Radio, Lake Charles Programming of Interest (also heard on KEZMOnLine.com:
Saturday, April 26: 9AM—10AM: All Things Football with Scott Holtzman
Monday, April 28: 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 School
Did anyone see the stats from the NFL network comparing Malcolm Jenkins to Jairus Byrd? If you haven’t, I dare you as a Saints fan to keep your jaw from dropping after you read these stats.
These stats from pro football focus are from the last 3 seasons. Byrd allowed 457 yards and 3 TDs in coverage while Jenkins allowed 1,182 yards and 12 TDs. Byrd has 12 interceptions to Jenkins’ 3. Finally, the most amazing stat is Jenkins has 45 missed tackles (the most among safeties) while Byrd has only 15. Amazing!
As we move closer to the draft, the mock drafts are flying all around like crazy. The good news for Saints fans is that the Saints have continued their formula for success before the draft. They have locked up almost all their “needs” so they can draft the best player available without reaching for a particular position.
Entering the free agent period, the question marks were in the secondary, wide receiver, offensive line, and Jimmy Graham. The secondary has been improved at safety. Corner is not 100% secure yet, but Champ Bailey brings leadership to a young group outside Keenan Lewis. The offensive line is set except at center where everyone expects Jonathan Goodwin will be resigned. Wide receiver still needs work, but Robert Meacham resigning gives the coaches a security blanket if nobody pans out. As expected, Jimmy Graham’s situation will not be resolved until the last minute. The Saints are going to get all their ducks in a row and then give Graham the best deal they possibly can. It is just a matter of time.
So as the draft nears, we can expect the Saints are feeling good about their draft positioning. What is most interesting is how those positions might be filled by players on the roster that didn’t play last year.
This time a year ago, the Saints had their deep threat in Joe Morgan. He had a terrible off season with a DUI and ACL injury. Still, the Saints thought he was their guy a year ago and he will be given the chance again.
At corner, Patrick Robinson was a number one pick who has started. He looked terrible two seasons ago, but so did everyone else on that defense. What if he recovers from his injury and excels in the Rob Ryan defense. In that scenario, the Saints have four quality corners with experience in Lewis, Bailey, White, and Robinson.
Many experts have the Saints choosing a pass rusher in round one. Saints fans are aware how much Rob Ryan likes Victor Butler who is a veteran that can rush the passer. Those three players might as well be free agent signings for this year, and their production coming off knee surgery will be huge factors in the Saints success this year.
HEY REF
Are you sure? Do you really understand what MMA stands for? Let me introduce what MMA is. While the initials stand for “Mixed Martial Arts” there’s very little art going on here. Many try to define MMA as the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). The UFC is actually the biggest professional side of mixed martial arts with the Bellator brand coming in a distant second.
I was introduced a couple years ago to this growing “sport”. Yes, I did write “sport”. It is probably the fastest growing sport in the country. “Why” you ask? Well, to tell the truth most of the fans in the seats go to watch someone get the hell beat out of them. I guess most of them have always wanted to knock the stuffing out of someone. HELL, don’t know too many who haven’t.
I’ve become very interested in the “why” not the “why not”. All of the fighters tell me they want to be a champion one day and they love the attention, the crowd and the sport. Most start off their amateur careers by 15 and work on getting better before they attempt to make the jump up to the professional rank. While there isn’t any type of JV ranks, so to speak, going pro isn’t a hard thing to do. You’ve just got to be one bad (derriere) MF to take the step up to the professional ranks.
I had been assigned to run the clock (time the rounds) for a crew out of West Monroe. We’ve had shows, the proper terminology, in Shreveport, Bossier City, Alexandria, Lafayette and New Orleans. Whatever you do, don’t make the mistake of calling the fighting area a ring! These guys take pride in fighting inside a cage.
And don’t think this is only for the boys; girls love to get in the cage too! Don’t ask me “why”, I haven’t a clue. So I decided to ask one lady fighter and she said “I’m in college and the boys won’t mess with me when they find out I’m a fighter”. This girl was gorgeous not homely like you might think. I asked “But one punch could ruin your face for life”, she just shrugged. Well, after watching her fight I can say she definitely can handle herself. Any guy thinking this lady isn’t tough let me put a few words in your ear; she’d give anybody full of testosterone a run for their money, I guarantee.
Her bout was against a girl from Austin, TX. Her opponent outweighed her by more than seven pounds. But to tell the truth; that night the girls were the complete show. No male bout came close to the fight that ensued after I rang the bell. Both girls went home with huge black eyes and busted lips.
There aren’t too many real rule differences between the ranks. An amateur’s bout is three, three minute rounds where the pros go five, five minute rounds. A huge difference in the two ranks ONLY the pros may use elbows to hurt an opponent. You can kick anywhere except the groin and once your opposition is on the mat you can dive on him, grab him from behind and choke him until he passes out or “taps out” which signals a submission.
The day before the card all fighters and managers have to weigh-in. I’m usually charged with getting the proper weight and birthdate of each fighter for the La. Boxing Commission. Yes, MMA is regulated by the L. B. C. A doctor is always present during weigh-ins and every match. Just as in boxing the doctor can halt any fight he deems needs stopping.
If you want to see some real fighting and/or excitement look for an MMA event near you. Never thought I’d say it but the whole night is like a premiere of a new movie. Well, for a lot of guys and girls this is they’re shot at the big times if only for a very short time!
Til next week… … … … …
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.