July 21, 2016
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SPORTSCENTRAL
Join hosts Steve Johnson and Sid Edwards tonight. See programming information just below
BATON ROUGE AREA BROADCASTING SCHEDULE:
Thursday, July 21: 5pm—6pm: SportsCentral
Radio Amour 91.9 FM, Central
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HOUSTON ASTROS BASEBALL BROADCASTS (all times PM, CST)
FRIDAY—SUNDAY: LOS ANGELES ANGELS: 7:10, 6:10, 1:10
MONDAY—WEDNESDAY: NY YANKEES: 7:10, 7:10, 7:10
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THE WIZARDRY OF OS
Assistant Basketball Coach and Head Swimming Coach at Central High
Time to open the July mailbag! Thanks in advance to all the fictitious people who mailed in.
Q: Scott, what are your thoughts on the MLB All Star Game?
A: Didn't watch… next!
Q: You haven't given us any thoughts on Kevin Durant. People are still talking about him leaving OKC.
A: I have a couple thoughts. I am sorry that OKC fans were so close and now yet so far, but some of those people need to chill out. The man was a free agent in a free country. He doesn't owe them anything. As for the Warriors, I don't know how much better they become. It seems to me that the one piece they were missing was the flexibility to go "big." We know they can go "small." In the Finals and when they were down to OKC, they had trouble protecting the rim, rebounding, and getting easy buckets. If they don't improve in those areas then they will still be susceptible in the playoffs. Having said all that, they should absolutely cruise through the regular season, and they eliminated one threat in the Western Conference.
Q: Buddy Hield sure did struggle in summer league. Did the Pelicans blow it again?
A: I don't think so. Hield's greatest strength is his work ethic and character, so you can count on him to improve. Also, summer league is completely different from the regular season, and offense completely changes when Anthony Davis is on the floor. The Pelicans are not as talented as they were the last two years, but we all know talent does not equate to wins. There is the potential for much better chemistry, health, and depth. In an 82 game NBA season, depth is more important than people realize and I like the effort and energy that will be coming off the bench.
Q: Scott, Jared Poche is coming back next year.
A: Even though that is not a question I get your point. Let me respond with a question of my own. When was the last time LSU had the same two starting pitchers at the top of the rotation for three years in a row? I have no idea the answer to that question, but I would bet a lot of money that LSU had a great season that year.
Q: Saints training camp starts next week. Are you excited? Vegas doesn't give the Saints good odds, what about you?
A: Heck yes I am excited. Who dat! As your last question, wait till next week.
HEY REF
First things first they always say. So with that in mind I’ve got to take a minute to say “Thank You” to all the police officers and other first responders for all they do in trying to protect and serve the general public. Many times these dedicated individuals are called upon to do the dirtiest of jobs imaginable. And so many times they do those jobs without blinking an eye. Many times the very same people condemning the police are the very ones that need ‘em the most. And they don’t hesitate to call then demand they do something cuz I be a citizen. Those are the very people that don’t show respect so how can they expect respect in return?
The “Men in Blue” answer every call and they are well aware they might not be going home at the end of their shift. Recently as we all know many are paying the ultimate price. They do this all in the name of keeping the peace and protecting those citizens needing such help. It’s what has to be done to continue being a civilized society. But too many times those individuals expecting their own private bodyguard don’t show the respect these public servants deserve. Nothing good can come out of these encounters and those that thrive off of civil unrest should be deported.
I’m not about to beat around the bush here since we all know their names; Al and Jessie. As we go to print neither has announced a return to Baton Rouge with the intentions of honoring those murdered members of our local police departments by attending their funerals and/or memorial services. I call ‘em “one-trick-phonies” since they’re only around when they can play the RACE-CARD.
I won’t go any further calling these two guys exactly what they truly are because if you’ve not seen through their entire one sided BULL-SHOOT, well I’ll end it there. After all we must remember this is a sports column and not a place to speak or write about morals or the complete absence of such behavior traits both Al and Jessie possess.
Now onto the business I pay much attention to it seems we might have huge problems brewing at LHSAA headquarters on Old Hammond Hwy. Rumor, let me repeat that, the rumor mills around town say the special meeting called by LHSAA President Vic Bonnaffee of Central Catholic for next Monday is to fire newly hired executive director Ed Bonine. Again the rumor has it he’s pissed off many of the principals by writing in his report to the NFHS (Nation Federation of High Schools) calling the state of athletics statewide in Louisiana is a “proverbial dumpster on fire”.
Without a doubt Mr. Bonine nailed it. Now don’t write my editor when I say athletics in this state to me resembles a Chinese Fire Drill. Don’t wet your panties ladies because each of you reading this agrees with me but your PC (political correctness) has caused liquid to build up in your delicates. Starting my journey into the sports paradise back in ’79 things were much more on the professional level.
What’s transpired in the few decades since I first walked onto a football field in Louisiana is disgusting. Too many people needing to feel important have ruined the experience every student should enjoy without having the pressures that have been put on them just in the last twenty years. Coaches too are under massive pressures from north to south, east to west and not a parish can stand up and claim their coaches aren’t on a massive diet of Pepcid.
The constant pressure to field a winning program cloud what high school sports should be about. I’m not saying winning is evil and teams should enjoy losing but to me it’s high school sports. Let me say it to where people will understand me, I’m talking HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS not Div. III, Double A, SWAC or SEC. No, we’re talking HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS and players at this age should focus on learning the game and how to succeed by playing by the rules. I was sick to my stomach when a player admitted to me that his coaches were teaching the entire team “HOW TO INJURE ANOTHER PLAYER ENOUGH TO HAVE HIM LEAVE THE GAME”. Not only was he serious but he did exactly that. He told me it was him that “F*KD UP” an opposing player that I watched being taken off the field and loaded into an ambulance. The last four years I’ve witnessed many more instances of players out of control and suffering burnout.
The kids have their parents pressuring them to win along with their respective coaches and schools. Now add on top of all that an institution like the LHSAA and we’ve got fourteen and fifteen year old athletes feeling high school sports are part of huge industries and to be on top in that world is just too much to handle.
Now, back to Mr. Bonine; the LHSAA reached out to find someone that could help smooth over a massive problem the size of a mountain. When I look at the situation in the LHSAA it looks to me like people in Kansas trying to have a picnic right in the middle if a tornado. There are way too many individuals on the payroll that have a “me-ism” problem. I’ll explain so no one has to try and figure out what I mean, I’m saying those employees are there for just one thing, ME, THEMSELVES! Caring about schools, principals, sports, coaches, athletic programs and the most important thing STUDENTS are not even on their radar.
So, I must agree with Mr. Bonine although he used a much milder way to describe the problems within the LHSAA than the way I would’ve gone about it. So, officers with the power at LHSAA headquarters to make a difference just sit back and listen and accept you’ve got major problems and it isn’t just with the select vs. non-select playoffs. All that’s needed is for someone to standup and lead. But that’s not an option on Old Hammond because everybody wants to keep their jobs so it’ll be more of the same whether they do keep Ed or “Go in another direction”.
These grumblings probably are from those that aren’t in a position to control their own destiny. Before this summer I’d decided to sit out this football season since it just wasn’t fun anymore. I agonized for weeks trying to come up with more positives to work football then negatives but just couldn’t find enough to make me want to put on my shirt and work this year. So after I did say I wasn’t coming back I got a call from an official I respect very, very much.
We share a lot of “old-school” values and morals. He provided me with the greatest opportunity to get back on the football field so I said that I’d come back to work in his crew. I have to admit I felt a little in control and happy to be in the position I was in. Then destiny called, I twisted my knee and am afraid it’ll take me going under the knife to fix it. So, I’m at the lowest I’ve been at for many years. So, yes, I’m very “down” and upset that it will take me until next year before I can even think of coming back.
But with the way athletics is now being handled in this state I’m not so sure I want to ever get involved inside of a Louisiana tornado!!!
Till next week…
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