January 5, 2017
IF YOU LIKE THIS NEWSLETTER (WHICH IS FREE) AND/OR YOU ARE AN ATHLETIC FAN WHO LIVES IN DENHAM SPRINGS PLEASE help us spread the good word of SPORTSGUMBO-Denham Springs by liking us on Facebook at SportsGumboDenhamSprings and following us on Twitter at SportsGumboDS.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT IN LAST WEEK’S NEWSLETTER
… … … … … … … … … HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KOTTER HAS NOTHING ON DSHS!!!
Welcome Back to the students, staff and administration at Denham Springs HS!!!!!!!!! They return to their refurbished school facility today for the first time since the spring of 2016.
SPORTSGUMBO—DENHAM SPRINGS (MONDAY—FRIDAY, 7AM—8AM, (with replay MONDAY—FRIDAY, 5PM-6PM) ON FAMILY RADIO, 91.9FM, BATON ROUGE AND ON THE NET AT JonFineProductions.com. THE PROGRAM IS HOSTED AND PRODUCED BY JON FINE.
THIS MORNING (AFTERNOON REPLAY)
1958 LSU Football National Championship Team Member Dave McCarty comes on for the second part of a 2-part interview
Dave also enjoyed a distinguished lengthy coaching career at LSU—a subject that will be a major portion of today’s interview.
PLUS, SPORTSGUMBO—DENHAM SPRINGS INCLUDES GAME RESULT UPDATES FROM DSHS BOYS BASKETBALL COACH KEVIN CABALLLERO AND STAFF, + DSHS GIRLS BASKETBALL COACH SHELLY LAPRARIE AND STAFF. WE MIGHT BE ADDING DSHS BOYS AND GIRLS SOCCER UPDATES STARTING NEXT WEEK.
BASKETBALL INTERVIEWS
STARTING MON, JANUARY 9, WE WILL HAVE INTERVIEWS WITH A DSHS BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYER EACH MONDAY
STARTING WED, JANUARY 11, WE WILL HAVE INTERVIEWS WITH A DSHS GIRS BASKETBALL PLAYER EACH WEDNESDAY
WE MIGHT BE EXTENDING THESE INTERVIEWS TO BOYS & GIRLS SOCCER.
PROPAGANDA AVAILABLE
If you’d like some complimentary SPORTSGUMBO—Denham Springs bumper stickers and/or flyers and/or show business cards, please e-mail. They are all free of charge.
GET ARRESTED
ArrestedDevelopmentMediaGuides, our EBay store, sells media guides. programs and baseball cards. Please visit JonFineProductions.com and click on icon to get to the store. Check out a full array of New Orleans Saints media guides and LSU media guides and programs. Over 1,200 publications listed.
SPORTSCENTRAL
can now be heard at Central First Facebook page
BATON ROUGE AREA BROADCASTING SCHEDULE:
MONDAY—FRIDAY: 7am—8am, with replay 5pm—6pm: SPORTSGUMBO—Denham Springs, Family Radio, 91.9 FM, Baton Rouge or on the net at JonFineProductions.com
THURSDAY: 5pm—6pm: Central First Facebook Page… … Les Bueche, Sid Edwards, Frank Fresina
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
Happy New Year. There is way too much going on to just hit on one or two topics, so I am starting the year with a smorgasbord of topics (fitting after all I ate this holiday season).
Repeat after me, “There is no difference between 8-8 and 7-9 if both records don’t make the playoffs.” I really don’t understand why so many people get caught up in the Saints loss to Atlanta. As bad as the Saints were on defense in the first half, and as good as the Falcons were on offense (give them credit too), the Saints were in the game. If a catch in 2017 didn’t involve holding the ball for 20 seconds and bringing the ball to bench with you (Fleener) and if Brees doesn’t throw an interception in the end zone, then it is a 50/50 game at the end.
Before you go off on me about making excuses, just observe the rest of the league. The reason teams go from 10 wins one year to 6 the next and vice versa is the fine line between winning and losing. Just look up how many games are decided by 7 or less points. The Saints need to get better, but you can’t convince me that a huge change is needed.
In my New Year’s predictions, I said the Pels would finish out of the playoffs and have the 8th pick in the draft. Let me clarify. I was playing the odds with injuries that seem to always come with this team. That being said, I would like to paint a picture where the Pels have a successful last two thirds of the year.
Buddy Hield continues to come around and play like a lottery pick. Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holiday, and Anthony Davis stay healthy. This week’s signing of Motiejunas gives me hope that the Pels have realized their identity. There are so few true centers in the league that it is a waste of time looking for one or playing one when they move like Asik and Ajinca. Some might argue that they cannot match up with the best teams in the league playing small ball. So what. Give the rest of the teams matchup problems and play fast.
I think LSU basketball is in the same boat as the Pels. Now that Victor is gone, there is no point in pretending that there is an inside presence. Play some small lineups. As long as Robinson doesn’t play, every player on the floor will be able to knock down an open 3. That can be tough to guard and open the paint for drives. Finally, maybe LSU can defend in the full court (since they cannot in the half court).
I have one conclusion from the bowl season. Everyone has great skill players, so the only real differences are at quarterback and defensive line. Bama is one of the few dominant defensive lines. Auburn would have been a 4 win team without their defensive line.
The good news for LSU fans is that we may be back in business with the defensive line. Alexander, Lawrence, Lacoutre’s return, Gilmore inside along with Key, Divinity, Thornton, and Martin on the outside make a very good two deep. And that is before LSU signs some freshmen that could make an immediate impact.
At quarterback, I know people are hoping someone steps up and plays better than Etling. That would be nice and if it happens, LSU could be very good next year. But let’s slow down for one second and realize that Etling was as solid as LSU has had since Mettenberger and probably played better than any quarterback LSU has had since 2007 excluding Mettenberger. So l am going to take a moment to appreciate the fact that we can spend the off season knowing that at worst, LSU will have at least one quality, productive starting quarterback.
To close, here is my New Year’s resolution. When I know I am making a prediction that is sure to fail, but I am just hoping it comes true, I will admit it this year. If you are wondering what I am talking about, see my horrible prediction of Alabama losing to Ohio State.
HEY REF
“Round ‘N Round they go and where they land is anyone’s guess”. O. K. it doesn’t exactly go that way but if you are one of the ten or so NFL coaches on the ‘ole hot seat that has to be the only thing registering between your ears. Each year we see the NFL coaching carousal spin and like clockwork those teams that didn’t quite measure up will part ways with their once anointed saviors.
Let’s take a quick look at those who’ve fallen out of grace this year and who’ll probably be working in a different city come the 2017 season. First off you’d think Detroit coach Jim Caldwell job would be safe since he’s taking the Lions back to the playoffs for the second time in three years but you’d be wrong. Wednesday the team announced he’d be returning next season but there are those upset with Detroit’s season-ending three game losing streak that cost them the NFC’s North title. So, the Lions won’t host a playoff game this week since they begin the playoffs as the sixth seated team and have to go across the country to play outdoors at Seattle.
Another playoff team that could fire their head coach is the Texans. I hate to listen to, much less repeat a rumor, but the talk of the Lone Star State is if they lose their first playoff game then Head Coach Bill O’Brien is out of a job. The Texans became the team to beat once they landed Peyton Manning’s heir apparent in Denver, Brock Osweiler. But as things went Osweiler packed his bags for the promise of bigger and better paydays. He got the bigger paydays but those better days didn’t travel with him.
Next up is Baltimore’s John Harbaugh, yes the same Harbaugh that led the Ravens to a Super Bowl win in 2012. But it looks like the magic has flown the coop because Baltimore record is a sad 31–33 since winning it all. This is the second consecutive sub 500 season and I just don’t think they’ll be doing any better unless they draft a few good men that can run the football hard and often. Quarterback Joe Flacco has been carrying the team but when you’re forced to throw the ball almost exclusively since you haven’t got a ground game even Pee Wee coaches know to drop back and wait for ball to come your way.
The one coach that I feel has done nothing with something calls Cincinnati home. Marvin Lewis and the Bengals have been pathetic since they won the AFC North way back in 2015. Yes that’s just a year ago but it’s almost a lifetime in the win now; not later NFL. Coaches have about two or three years to show they can handle the job in the professional ranks. Lewis would do himself and his family good by getting all his worldly goods loaded up and moved to Los Angeles. After all if he can’t win out there then you’ve got great weather to enjoy! He’s got to be sick after spending too many years in foot deep snow.
One coach that’s headed out the door has to be Cleveland’s Hue Jackson. I mean how do you legitimize a record of 1-15? He can have a truck load of RG III’s but it won’t help. The Browns are horrible and they play outdoors in the before mentioned foot deep (and higher) snow. The temp on Jackson’s seat has to be the highest in the league and he should be the first coach sent packing. A new coach is needed ASAP since this organization has to promise a hell of a lot to have the first round pick agree to ply his trade in this wimpy thing they call an offense. I’d call being drafted by this team the main reason for getting my degree so I’d have another career other than an NFL player.
But no matter what he says about wanting to stay and honor his contract the 2016 season could be the last for Sean Payton in New Orleans. Yes under his watch the Saints did win a Super Bowl but the thing being asked by fans in the Big Easy and the state of Louisiana is “What have you done for us lately”? He came to New Orleans in 2006, got the franchise going in the right direction but the team has done absolutely nothing since bringing home a Vince Lombardi trophy. They’ve had three straight 7-9 seasons with a healthy Drew Brees but have not signed a big time replacement with Brees closing in on his retirement. We all know it’ll take a minimum of three years to bring in a new young player to run the offense. After all a Dak Prescott comes along only once every decade or so.
Yes, it’s going to be a very interesting “off season” because there will be plenty of moves. Many will be expected so just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Till next week…
Jon Fine Wreaking Havoc at:
SPORTSGUMBO—DENHAM SPRINGS ON FAMILY RADIO, 91.9 FM AND ON THE NET AT JonFineProductions.com
IS A JON FINE PRODUCTION.
DENHAM SPRINGS HS FOOTBALL RADIO BROADCASTS (on hiatus in 2016), ON FOX SPORTS RADIO, 1210AM, BATON ROUGE AND ON THE NET AT JonFineProductions.com, IS A JON FINE PRODUCTION.
OUR EBAY STORE, ArrestedDevelopmentMediaGuides, SELLS SPORTS PUBLICATIONS. YOU CAN LINK TO IT BY VISITING JonFineProductions.com.
JON IS PROUD TO WORK AS A MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE FOR SPORTSRADIO-1310-KEZM-LAKE CHARLES
AND WORKS AS A MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE FOR SPORTSCENTRAL ON RADIO AMOUR, 91.9.—BATON ROUGE.