May 17, 2018
YEAR 23
Denham Springs HS Football games returns to the radio waves in 2018 as a Jon Fine Production. Year 23 for us. 2nd season for Jackets Coach Bill Conides. Details to follow in weeks to come.
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MCNEESE BROADCASTS: 3 upcoming McNeese Baseball games and Cowboys games in Southland Conference Tournament will air on KEZM—Lake Charles and online. Tune in on SPORTSRADIO-1310-KEZM-LAKE CHARLES AND ON THE INTERNET AT KEZMONLINE. COM. PLEASE READ BELOW for McNeese’s Baseball and Softball Broadcasting Schedule.
YOUR WORLD CHAMPION HOUSTON ASTROS BASEBALL BROADCASTS: Tune in on SportsRadio-1310-KEZM-Lake Charles.
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SportsCentral is taking some time off. WE HOPE TO HAVE AN UPDATE FOR YOU SOMETIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE. AS SOON AS THE STATUS OF THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN CLARIFIED TO US, WE’LL PASS IT ON TO YOU.
BATON ROUGE AREA BROADCASTING SCHEDULE:
THURSDAY: SPORTSCENTRAL: ON HIATUS 5pm—6pm: Central First Facebook Page… … Les Bueche, Sid Edwards, Frank Fresina… ON HIATUS
SPORTSRADIO-1310-KEZM-LAKE CHARLES (AND KEZMONLINE. COM) BROADCASTS
THURSDAY, MAY 17 MCNEESE BASEBALL AT LAMAR 5:50 PM
FRIDAY, MAY 18 MCNEESE BASEBALL AT LAMAR 5:50 PM
SATURDAY, MAY 19 MCNEESE BASEBALL AT LAMAR 12:50 PM
WED, MAY 23 MCNEESE BASEBALL AT SLC TOURNAMENT IN SUGARLAND TX TBD
THURS, MAY 24 MCNEESE BASEBALL AT SLC TOURNAMENT IN SUGARLAND TX TBD
HOUSTON ASTROS BASEBALL (RADIO ONLY
NOT ONLINE)
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THE WIZARDRY OF OS
Assistant Basketball Coach and Head Swimming Coach at Central High
OK, so maybe optimism isn’t the way to go with this year’s baseball team. Nick Storz is done for the year, AJ Labas clearly has not returned to full health, and it doesn’t appear Josh Smith will get healthy before postseason if at all.
All of this is most frustrating, because in my eyes this team is really close to being a really good team. Of course injuries are a part of athletics. Pardon me while I play the “what if” game for a moment?
What if the starting pitchers were Hess, Walker, and Hilliard with a healthy Labas as the fourth starter? What if the bullpen had Beck, Bain, Storz, Bush, Fontenot, and Gilbert? What if the batting order was Smith, Duplantis, Bain, Cabrera, Watson, Jordan, Feduccia, Slaughter, and Broussard?
I am sure I am not alone in waiting all season for this vision to become a reality (except for Walker as the Saturday starter). I fully believe the pitching staff and batting order above would be a College World Series team, but the one aspect of the game that will defeat even the best of teams is injuries.
Of course, if you know me or have read this article enough, you know I have not completely given up on this season. I don’t think this is a year for LSU to make a run in the SEC Tournament, though. The format does not suit this team at all. In the past, LSU has always had starters go deep into games saving the bullpen, which is necessary when you play 4-5 games in as many days. No starter has shown the ability to consistently reach the 7th and 8th innings.
Hopefully, LSU can win two games at Auburn and find two wins in the SEC Tournament. In order to accomplish either task, Hess is going to have to be the pitcher he was a month or so ago when he was on his three game streak allowing about a run per start. Also, Daniel Cabrera will need to stay hot while Zack Watson needs to get hot.
If those things happen, it doesn’t matter if LSU is a 2 or 3 seed in the NCAA tournament. The Tigers just need to get in the tournament. At that point, they can reevaluate the health of the team, and maybe get some good news for once this year. Walker was done before the year, and now Storz is done. But, maybe Labas and Smith will be back in two weeks and we will get to see what this team can do at 90% capacity.
HEY REF
The 2018 NFL season will be played without one of the greatest of all times when the subject is NFL Officials. Not the GM’s or CEO’s, no I’m referring to the retirement of one Ed Hochuli. Throughout the season and into the playoffs Mr. Hochuli was the “go to guy” the league would called upon to work just about every big game. I met and talked with Hochuli at an official’s camp at U. C. L. A. some years back. The man is a total professional and without hesitation Mr. Hochuli is way above any trivial bull-stuff. I was very fortunate to sit next to him on the bus taking us to the Bruins’ practice field one day and then the next afternoon I sat at his table for lunch.
Mr. Hochuli is my “role model” and one of the greats that every official should emulate. The impression he made on me is one that I can get behind 1,000%. This man took the time to answer all of our questions while at the camp. On the ride to the practice field one day I asked him “what is the most important thing we could learn while at this camp”? He said “two very simple things”. The most important thing he’d hoped we’d go home with; (1) that no official should feel they are above another official and (2) it isn’t how well you know the rules; it’s how well you apply those rules to the game you’re working”. Each and every time I walk out onto a football field I’ve tried my best to remember his words of wisdom and apply them to my game that night.
The NFL and the game is losing probably the best official it’s ever had in a very long time. But I understand there’s always a time to step back and walk away. He was the kind of official that had the respect of all the players and coaches. They knew when Ed Hochuli was on the field he and his crew will work just as hard as they do each and every week. I’m sad to see him retire but so thankful he took time to answer my questions. If only a tenth of today’s high school officials would try to be like Ed then there wouldn’t be all the many problems we see on Friday nights.
So let’s close the book on a great career, a true gentleman and a guy that stood for honesty and gave it his all on each snap of the ball. You’ll be missed but most important of all you’ll be the one young officials will try to emulate. Now onto getting ready for this football season it happens every year and most teams aren’t immune. In my world it’s something I look forward to every year. What I’m talking about is a losing streak that comes early in the season that enables teams to build character. It’ll test the very heart and soul not only of players and coaches but of those people that call themselves fans. With character comes confidence. After you master character and confidence you mold champions. When you add character, confidence and champions you win CHAMPIONSHIPS!!
To those that are scratching their heads and trying to figure out just what’s going on with the baseball variety of LSU Tigers. All I can think of is if we get into a regional and the bats start hitting then this Tiger team could make a great run at getting back to Omaha. Do I believe in miracles? No, but one thing that’s a sure bet, LSU won’t “just” be happy playing in Nebraska, they’ll be crushing the white ball every at bat. But in all actuality the baseball team is at least a year away from being a true Top 10 team once again. The way I see every season, every game is you can’t win ‘em all so sit tight and enjoy being the “under-dog”. I just don’t enjoy a season when we’re the top doggame after game. Being favored each week leads to over confidence and no room for improvement. If you are a true fan you’ll endure the bad times because it makes the good times just that much more enjoyable.
I don’t enjoy losing so don’t try to read anything into what I’m writing. Is there anyone you know that’s ever sat bewildered and seemed confused as to why a rollercoaster has many hills, loops, curves and fast turns? Certainly not! How enjoyable can a slow, flat ride be? The same can be said for any team sport and its fans.
Losing sucks, it humbles you, no doubt but it makes you work harder and it teaches you how to be a gracious winner. Nothing disgusts me more than a smart-(derriere) winner. They lack class. Wining without character and class is not wining. It’s like eating steak with a side order of French fries.
Till next week…
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