March 7, 2019
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This week’s broadcasting schedule includes:
Friday, Mar 8 SOFTBALL Incarnate Ward DH 4:45 PM
Tuesday, Mar 12 BASEBALL @Tulane 6:15 PM
Wedneaday, Mar 13 SOFTBALL Baylor 3:45 PM
LSU, SAINTS AND MUCH MORE
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THE WIZARDRY OF OS
Assistant Basketball Coach and Head Swimming Coach at Central High
I never thought I would say it, but thank goodness for the Longhorn Network. If it weren’t for this abomination of college sports, I would have watched LSU baseball self destruct this weekend at Texas. Instead, didn’t see a pitch of a series that exposed every weakness LSU baseball fans feared entering the year.
Baseball can be a frustrating sport to watch, play, and coach. Hitters have slumps, pitchers don’t have their stuff from time to time, and both of those can result in a team slump or bad weekend. For these problems to be blown off as just being a part of baseball, there has to be production to balance the slumps.
Offensively, LSU has been productive this year, so there is not reason for panic over the poort offensive numbers from this weekend. But, the defensive and pitching has not shown consistent production at any point this year.
In 9 weekend starts, LSU has yet to receive what would be considered a quality start from their starters. The control problems against Texas are not isolated to the Texas series.
Nevertheless, it is still early and this IS baseball which means the only thing that matters is what happens now. What players mature quickly and are able to handle the pressure to perform up to their ability? What decisions will Coach Mainieri make to get this team on track?
Coach Mainieri takes a great deal of unfair flack from fans who expect every LSU team to cruise through the season without any problems. Those fans are probably too young to remember national championship teams under Skip Bertman who had bad weekends too.
This year will test Coach Mainieri though as the elephant in the room is clearly Zack Hess. There are many negative effects of an underperforming Friday night starter. The bullpen gets taxed early in the weekend. The confidence of the opponent surges. The path to winning two of three narrows. Of course, Coach Mainieri knows this and more.
Many have pointed out that moving Hess to the bullpen would give LSU an imposing combination of Peterson and Hess to close games. But that formula requires LSU to have a lead heading into the 7th inning of games. Further, that move doesn’t answer the question of who would then start on Friday night. It is not as if Marceaux has three quality starts at this point. Hill has been the best pitcher to date and has arm soreness. Walker is not the pitcher he was two years ago to this point. Hilliard is coming off health issues and Gilbert has yet to throw this year
Even if those things were true, it doesn’t consider the mindset of Zack Hess whose future and heart are clearly invested in being a starting pitcher. Part of what made Hess great as a closer in the championship run two years ago was his attitude. He has put two years of work into being a starter and I wouldn’t expect to give that up. Besides, as I have already shown, putting Hess at the end of the game doesn’t fix LSU’s two biggest issues.
LSU need a Friday and a Saturday starter that will pitch into the seventh inning almost every weekend and hold the opponent to three runs or less. That is what the best SEC teams will have to throw against LSU, and that is what LSU will have to be able to show in order to fulfill the lofty goals we all have for the Tigers.
Meanwhile, LSU basketball is hopefully one game away from clinching the SEC Championship as you read this article. For much of the Alabama game, I was encouraged by what I saw. The offense down the stretch was more than just Waters. LSU pushed the ball in transition with Waters, Mays, and Smart.
In order to keep progressing, Waters needs to be aggressiveness off the ball on offense. There are times where he would have an open outside shots if he would prepare himself to receive the ball off of the penetration of others.
Coach Wade said a team like Florida would be the one to end LSU’s season. Tough, physical defensive teams have given LSU problems, and mostly because LSU does not get enough clean stops and is content to play half court offense. For as good as LSU has been as an offensive rebounding team, they Tigers really should be a better defensive rebounding team. If they can improve in this area, they can take another step forward to truly being a Final Four team.
HEY REF
A friend has asked if I could please grant him a favor by doing a “Best of” this week. Of course I said but I asked that he pick the subject and he quickly mentioned the one where I spelled out my reasons for wanting college players/athletes to be paid as employees of said institutions. So I hope my friend reads this week’s column and I’ve picked out the article he wants to see and read. This column originally ran on Jan. 20, 2011 and I hope everyone enjoys reading it again since I’ve not changed my stance on why I feel the NCAA is practicing modern day slavery by not making the players what they are; employees.
Please enjoy… … …
When I heard that LSU’s junior forward Jonny O’Bryant had decided to forgo his final year and enter the NBA draft all I could think of “this ain’t really news”. Well, maybe the only reason to consider it NEWS is because he’s a local player. I don’t consider it NEWS simply because each and every year young men in all of the three major sports bolt to live their dreams of making it in the professional ranks.
And I can’t blame them for doing so because what the NCAA has become is a billion dollar slave master. Again, I am 1,000 percent in favor of the players getting paid because in Hey Ref’s world they are EMPLOYEES. I don’t intend to debate the issue this week and instead will ask you to enjoy some of my wisdom. And without further delay, make sure your seatbelts are fastened!
And they’re off! I’m not referring to the Kentucky Derby or any other horse race. No what I’m talking about is the annual Dash for the Cash in the NFL’s rookie and free agent draft. Many delusional young men will fall victim to greed and ignorance. Call me old school but I just can’t see any reason why so many 19 – 20 year old athletes believe they’re ready to compete with the big dogs unless it’s totally money clouding their ability to reason.
All I can say to the masses is “beware; there’s sharks in the water”. Many of these kids can’t balance a checkbookmuch less have the ability to invest millions of dollars that’ll be thrown at their feet. What’s even sadder is the cold hard fact that the vast majority of them come from poor families. Almost from the first time they strap on a uniform they’re told “the only way to make it is by playing a professional sport”.
No doubt many won’t have the opportunity to do anything but play a professional sport. But these young men need and should stay in school to acquire the book-smarts that will allow them to handle multi-million dollar contracts. Today’s professional salaries and contracts require an Einstein style mentality just to figure out the language they’re written in.
I can give you two perfect examples of what I’m talking about. Back in the day a young kid coming out of Pittsburg University, Tony Dorsett, was signed by the Dallas Cowboys. He signed at the time one of the wealthiest contracts in NFL history. He had a great career; leading them to multi-playoff seasons and two Super Bowl Titles. In the final year of his contract he was so far in debt to the Cowboys (reported to be in the excess of $400,000) he had to play that year “free” since no other team would trade for him. After that final year he was traded to the Denver Broncos, injured a knee and never played another down in the league.
The other case was J. R. Richard of the Houston Astros. He was their ace pitcher in the late 70’s who led them in almost every category; wins, complete games, victories, strikeouts, etc. After his playing days he was found living under a highway overpass. He was the toast of Houston; the man who had made millions was now destitute. Unable to handle his millions he lived in homeless shelters until the story broke and Major League Baseball then took steps to help one of the finest players of all times. I’ve often wondered what’s happened to these one-time heroes.
I raise this issue because many of these very same men being courted by professional teams will also fall prey to swindlers that’ll do everything possible to cheat them out of every cent they make. I’d like to use Peyton Manning as an example of what today’s modern athlete should strive to emulate. He had fame before stepping onto a collegiate field. He didn’t want to be compared to his very famous father so he enrolled at Tennessee. He was also tempted to come out early and sign for millions of dollars. As we all know he stayed in school, got his degree and has become one of the finest players to ever don an NFL uniform. He’ll soon sign a new contract that’ll make him the highest paid player in the entire history of the league.
I’m not about to say every player that stays in school will have his success. But the odds are that those smart enough to get an education will be better prepared to invest their money wisely and be financially secure long after their playing days are well behind them. A long stay on the “Big Stage” is never a guarantee when you’re talking about a 300lb. linebacker slamming you to the ground. Even on carpet there’s nothing for sure, no matter how thick the padding!
Sadly to say I believe some agent has told Steven Ridley that his future is paved in gold. That’s hardly the case when talking about the ex-Tiger running back. Yes he does possess the ability to break one or two runs for long gains but he doesn’t have the maturity or the skills needed to be a prime-time player. It’s called “seasoning” and one more year in purple and gold will enhance the skills he’ll need to be a first stringer.
Injuries are part of the game and when he mentioned a fellow player that broke his collar bone then fell in the draft, it’s that doubt he’s got in his mind that’ll keep him on special teams. Mr. Ridley needs to be well informed that EVERY running back in the NFL has his basic skills so I doubt he’ll be setting any new rushing records for quite a while. I wonder if he remembers another fellow ball carrier named Billy Sims?
Before I signoff can I ask if anyone has seen the new dollars being paid to NFL owners from the various television networks? Everyone is well aware the CBA with the players expires in March yet the 32 emperors will be paid by ESPN an astonishing $1.1 BILLION PER YEAR for the next three years, although the actual amount will be closer to $2 BILLION a year!! DirecTV is paying $1 BILLION a year until 2014. Fox, CBS and NBC will also be anting up another $2BILLION a year.
These amounts are contained in the NEW contracts just signed by these parties. The wording has also been changed to “payments are guaranteed for the first year, 2011, even if there’s a WORK STOPPAGE”. Pay close attention to the NEW words, WORK STOPPAGE. Nothing in the contract defines STOPPAGE. Both parties agree that even a LOCKOUT will be considered a WORK STOPPAGE!! Even though every contract for the past seventeen years has a clause stating the “owners MUST negotiate (make an effort in good faith) to MAXIMIZE REVENUE FOR PLAYERS” there’s nothing in these new contracts to pay any player, ONLY THE OWNERS!!
Til next week… …
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