June 18, 2015
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SPORTSCENTRAL
SportsCentral airs tonight! Schedule information is just below
Join co-hosts Steve Johnson and Sid Edwards and their guests. Scheduled to appear are CHS senior football players Anthony Averette, Josh Brown, Jamile Jones and Caleb Moore.
BATON ROUGE AREA BROADCASTING SCHEDULE:
Thursday, June 18: 5pm—6pm: SportsCentral… with Sid Edwards and Steve Johnson
WUBR, 910AM (CBS Sports Radio) Baton Rouge
PelicanSportsTV.com
App: search WUBR… from Coach’s
SportsRadio 1310 Radio, Lake Charles Programming of Interest (also heard on KEZMOnLine.com):
Saturday, June 20: 9AM—10AM: All Things Football with Scott Holtzman
Monday, June 22: 8AM—10AM: The Locker Room with John Goodman and Jim Gazzolo
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 and Head Swimming Coach at Central High
In a baseball tournament format similar to the College World Series, SEC Baseball Tournament, or NCAA Regional which game is the most important to win in order to stay in the winner's bracket? Game one or game two?
I ask the question because we all know LSU's best chance in all three tournament formats has been to stay in the winner's bracket due to the lack of a third or fourth starter and an up and down bullpen. There have been a ton of first, second, and third guessers this week based on Coach Mainieri's decision to start Poche in game one. So, once again, I ask the question. Which game is more important in order to be 2-0 after the first two games and in a position to where you only have to win three games total versus having to win four games to reach the next round?
I believe it is a trick question and the obvious answer is you have to win both. Does it matter how you go 1-1? You are in the same boat whether start win-lose or lose-win. So while I am just as frustrated as the next person by LSU's opening game performance in Omaha, Mainieri made the right decision. Let's face it, the way LSU played defensively and hit against TCU, the Tigers most likely would have wasted Lange's performance and then needed Poche to save the season in game two.
As I have stated for a while, LSU has had a great season. Yet the Tigers are a team that doesn't leave much margin for error for many reasons that have been discussed many times over. In 1993, LSU beat Long Beach State in the CWS despite 5 errors in a game. Wins like that in the CWS are extremely rare.
The fact is pitchers can't pitch runs on the scoreboard and the offense can't shut down the other team's lineup. You need to pitch, hit, and play defense to win in Omaha unless one aspect of the game is completely dominant. Most of the teams in the CWS have a deep enough pitching staff that a lineup cannot completely dominate a game.
The NBA is once again proving that the best team wins in a championship format that is multiple games. Only in football where there are one game winner take all championships does the best team lose or a singular performance carry a team. In other formats that doesn't happen.
Michael Jordan is the best basketball player of all time. He couldn't do it by himself. He needed Pippin and company. The Spurs played a gorgeous brand of basketball last year beating the Heat. This year the Warriors were too well rounded for the Cavs despite LeBron playing the best basketball of his life. Once again proving that one player cannot "carry" a team, though LeBron James came as close as one could come to accomplishing that. The rest of the team must also perform.
Back to the CWS, it doesn't matter what anyone has done to this point. It didn't matter that Florida was hitting over.350 as a team over its last ten games when they played Virginia. The Gators were two hit and lost 1-0.
Likewise, it doesn't matter that LSU is going to have to dive deep into a bullpen that has struggled at times to extend their season. Those pitchers have an opportunity to rise up, make the best pitches they can, and get outs. Alex Lange gave up three runs in the first, and LSU won. Poche got the first nine outs in order and LSU got ripped.
Tiger fans were extremely disappointed after game one because we knew LSU played its worst game of the year at the wrong time. We all hope and expect LSU to move on like they did against CSF and play their best baseball the rest of the way and we all will live with whatever happens. Geaux Tigers!
HEY REF
By Dennis Dearie
Veteran Louisiana High School Referee
I wish I could report that things are looking up for a pay raise for football officials this year but the massive negativity coming from principals have all but sealed any hopes of getting a mere five dollar raise per game. Last week I devoted the entire space as I tried to explain “WHAT” it is we do here in Louisiana in order to work ballgames on Friday nights.
One question asked of me this week had to do with “How do I consider myself and all those other officials as UNION members”. I did explain in short detail the things expected of us but failed to mention ALL FOOTBALL OFFICIALS IN LOUISIANA WORKING GAMES FOR THE LHSAA ARE FORCED TO PAY DUES TO THE LHSAA FOR THIS PRIVILAGE.
We are forced to pay dues not only to the LHSAA but also to a local association that acts exactly like a union hiring hall. If we don’t pay homage and dues to the LHSAA they will not allow us to work any sport in this state. It’s ironic that a “Right to Work” state has on its books that no workers must join and pay dues to any organization in order to get a job.
But as I mentioned last week the state allows this to happen IF the UNION calls itself an “ASSOCIATION”. If I want to work as an electrician in Louisiana I can’t be forced to join a union BUT if I want to umpire a baseball game or call a football game then I must join a union AND PAY DUES to the LHSAA in order for that privilege.
There are expenses we as officials must pay out of our own pockets yet aren’t compensated by either a local association or the LHSAA. Not only that but a few years back the principals made it mandatory that each official must attend a state sanctioned camp every other year to retain your classification. Well, that was all good except for a hidden clause that cast not only me but many other officials more than $250.00 a year.
The “camp clause” mandated our attendance at an official’s camp to keep current on rules and mechanics. No problem but in my case this is what happened; I registered in Aug. 2012 after taking 10 or so years off due to major back surgeries and a triple by-pass. I paid my dues then attended a camp in Monroe in Aug. 2013. I wasn’t given credit for the camp that should’ve covered the ’13 season because as the LHSAA stated I had to attend a camp every two years.
I’m no math genius but I was registered and attended a camp in 13 months not 24 as the 2 year clause mandated. So I couldn’t regain my certification for that year because the LHSAA now said the camp rule was for each FISCAL year and not a calendar year. So, I lost a raise back to my classification which was CERIFIED (the highest classification) and a $25.00 per game increase. Not only that but I couldn’t work but one playoff game when I usually work at least two or three each of my prior years.
So, I lost another $200.00 in game fees. But I wasn’t the only one; there were many guys in the same boat. That rule has now been amended but the attendance is still mandated on a bi-yearly cycle. The camp attendance isn’t cheap or free. Registration is $75.00 for early signup and $125.00 if you don’t make the deadline.
I’ll be attending a camp in Alexandria this year which also includes the cost of travel, room and meals. So the cost to each official comes in around $400.00 - $500.00. Another added cost this year is the new shirts that someone feels we need in Louisiana since other high schools are wearing them. That’s another $100.00 easy for two shirts.
I want the principals to look at the expenses we’ve got to “pony” up just to work your games on Friday nights. Last year only a certain type/style of shoe would be allowed and that cost was $65.00. Add the shirts ($100.00), mandatory camp attendance $500.00 and other expenses and each football official will be laying out an easy $750.00 before he sets foot on the field.
And the principals are balking at an average of $5.00 a game increase per official which makes no sense. I’ve had a couple friends tell me they aren’t coming back and will never walk out onto a football field in Louisiana. I don’t blame them and I’ve seen so many good officials hang ‘em up because there just isn’t the type of respect coming from either the principals or coaches.
I’ve seen a drastic decline in the quality of officials since I first started in 1997. Not only that but what’s standing on the sidelines representing the coaching industry is a disgrace. Today’s coaches are under so much pressure to succeed and make a playoff appearance each year that they have forgotten they are coaching Amateurs!
For those coaches (and parents) who don’t know what that means I’ll give you the definition, AMATEUR; a person who engages in a study, SPORT or other activity for pleasure rather than for financial benefit or professional reason. Too many good officials have been priced out of the market while many have become so fed up with the lack of respect for the job they’ve left the game never to return.
And what shows up on Friday nights is of the principals and coaches making. Its past time to “tear down this wall” and start understanding that working against each other instead together has produced the lowest quality of both coaches and officials.
Till next week…
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