October 22, 2020
RIVALRY RENEWED
Denham Springs opens up district play entertaining Central this Friday night and we have it for you on the radio and/or Internet. Josh Ward and Andy Duckworth are on the call. I’ll contribute to pre-game, half-time and post-game shows. The broadcast starts at 6pm with Sport-N-Center Jackets Warmup on Family Radio, 91.9 FM, Baton Rouge and on the net at JonFineProductions.com
A special thank you to the Denham Springs business community, who, en masse, stepped up big time, in troubled times, to sponsor our broadcasts. YOU’RE THE BEST!!!
GOD BLESS
Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone adversely effected by Hurricane Delta… and My heart goes out to my friends in the Lake Area who endured major destruction at the hands of Hurricane Laura and Hurricane Delta. My thoughts and prayers are with you. We strongly urge readers of this newsletter to donate to a worthwhile Hurricane oriented charity in the Lake Area.
TODAY’S COLUMNS:
Scott takes a look at the New Orleans Pelican’s coaching search inaction
Dennis opines on the official’s association…
Please scroll down below.
OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO ONE AND ALL AS WE TRY TO MAKE OUR WAY SAFELY THROUGH THE PANDEMIC. WE STAND WITH THOSE THAT ARE PEACEFULLY PROTESTING AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY AND RACISM.
LSU, SAINTS AND MUCH MORE
ArrestedDevelopmentMediaGuides offers 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 and publications from much of the entire sports world. Over 6,900 publications listed.
TK PODCAST
Check out "Talkin Sports with TK" hosted by Tommy Krysan. Available on all major platforms including: Anchor, Tune In, Spotify, Iheart, ApplePodcasts and many more! Email for link: tommykrysan@gmail.com Connect on Social Media: Tommy Krysan - Facebook, Instagram & Twitter!
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.
THE WIZARDRY OF OS
Is it me or do the Pelicans give the impression they don't have a plan right now?
Alvin Gentry was fired on August 15. Unless, the Pelicans hired a coach on October 21, then you are reading this on October 22, and the Pelicans have yet to name a head coach.
I am stunned and disappointed right now. When David Griffin was hired the word was that he had a vision for the Pelican franchise, asked Ms. Benson for the moon, and she gave it to him.
Griffin quickly made two hires. The trainer from the Suns who had the reputation as being one of the best in the NBA and Trajan Langdon as general manager who was one of the hottest names in front office personnel. I have no way of knowing if these reputations were warranted, but I tend to buy into decisions like these when they have clearly been planned out in advance. It gives the appearance the decisions are part of a grand plan.
One of the problems I had with the Dell Demps era is that each personnel decision didn't seem to fit an overall plan. It was more of a grab bag of trades and signings that led to nowhere.
Whether the Saints are right or wrong, we know they have a plan each off season. Fulfill urgent needs in free agency, draft the best player while being aggressive to trade up (quality over quantity), and then try to fill in last second holes.
Even though I have been wanting a Mike Bell or Chris Ivory type at running back for years, the Saints don't have that vision at running back. I can live with that because they have a system and it makes sense even if I don't completely agree.
Back to the Pelicans and where they go from here. Clearly, they didn't wake up on August 15 and think for the first time, ¨It is time to fire Alvin Gentry.¨ I believe Griffin and Langdon thought they put together a playoff roster this year. So as the Pels struggled throughout the season, they certainly had discussions whether Gentry was the right person for the job.
Along the way, the discussion could not have just been whether Gentry was the right man for the job. Before you can decide if Gentry is the right man for the job, a quality front office person must first have a vision for the qualities the right person for the job would have.
Let us assume that Griffin is a quality Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations. If that is the case, then let us assume he has a vision for what he wants in the next coach for the Pelicans (because if he does not, then he is not a quality VP). Then what is going on? Does it take two months to find the qualities you want in a person and get them on board? Does this person exist?
Griffin has been around in the league long enough to know many people. Athletics Directors, VPs of Basketball Operations, and other front office people keep lists of coaches they are interested in should a job come available. Griffin HAD to have a list. Did he get turned down by everyone he thought he was going to get?
Excellent, proven coaches have come on the market. Billy Donovan and Doc Rivers are excellent NBA head coaches. If he did not want them, then we can assume he was waiting for the season to end and bubble to burst so he could talk to coaches who were in the bubble. We are two weeks past that. Was he disappointed in what he found when he met with those coaches?
I just don't see how this delay can be spun to a positive. Let me try.
¨Today we introduce Coach X as the next head coach of the Pelicans. He was an assistant in the bubble. I knew I wanted him, so I waited. After the season, I gave him a week to get back home and settled. Then another week to meet with him and many other candidates, because I knew Coach X was my guy. I just had to meet with the other guys to get a contrast.” Nope. That doesn work.
¨Coach Y is the next head coach of the Pelicans. While he has been out of coaching this year and available the whole time, we waited two months, just to see if there was someone better we could get. But, Coach Y was the man I had in mind the whole time.¨ Strike two.
¨Coach Z. I am so glad we got him. I kept getting shot down, but after two months of soul searching and starting from scratch, Coach Z is what we need.¨ Ugh!
I know. Maybe it isn't a man the Pelicans need after all. Maybe they need a woman in charge. Becky Hammon is worth a shot.
Or maybe I have the wrong letter. What if the Pels got Coach K?
Who am I kidding? It will probably coach R, for retread and I will still be wondering what is happening.
HEY REF
Not sure how many remember that old saying “When you’ve got your health, you’ve got everything” or something close to that. I’ve been living a nightmare the past few weeks but am looking forward to better days ahead. With that said I’ve got to admit I’m very glad to see that there hasn’t been a huge increase of COVID cases involving officials and coaches. This nightmare is far from being over and we’ve got to continue fighting it.
I’d like to update everyone on my meetings with coaches and officials as we try to find ways to improve Friday nights in the fall. I’ve had to suspend meetings with coaches as they are committed to their players and schools and the ones I’ve talked with have assured me after the season is in the books then they’d like to resume these meetings. Again, I want to thank all those for their time and patience with me. I’m no expert and have never said that I am. But I feel together we can start to get things right for everyone involved with high school football statewide.
First off there is this thing called the Louisiana High School Official’s Association that’s got many of the guys I’ve talked with upset and want to see it go away. I agree with those officials that feel it’s a very useless thing. We’re trying to find reasons “WHY” it even exists. We understand why it’s there but the OFFICIALS, those guys wearing the striped shirts had nothing to do with its formation. Louisiana has enough of these under the table things and the product that’s on the field on Friday nights is a shame to say the least.
I started this column almost two months ago after having lunch with a coach I respect. I assured him I wouldn’t drop his name in my column and even though he’s been retired for a few years his identity won’t make it here. But he asked me a question that I just can’t get out of my head. I had to pull over on my way home as I couldn’t give him a solid answer. We had just finished our meal when he looked at me and without hesitation he asked “Dennis, what is it you want to get out of your meetings with the coaches and officials”?
Till that question I never understood why they call it “The Hot Seat”. As I tried to come up with the perfect answer all I could muster was a simple “return what’s been taken out of the job of officiating and provide the schools with the very best officials possible”. Yes, I admit it was a very simple answer to a complicated question but it’s what we need to make Friday night games the best officiated games possible. I explained that all this use of technology isn’t being used the right way.
Many of the officials feel they’re being singled out when they make a mistake. Their every move is being dissected along with constant criticism and it puts far too much pressure on them. At every turn they see TV cameras, video tape and fingers being pointed at them for the least little thing. A couple officials said fellow crew members make them feel as if it’s “every man for himself”. They hate all the added paperwork of writing down the penalty, time and quarter, what number and so on. They added some white hats (Referees) when they make a mistake on enforcement of penalties and an individual official tries to talk to them about it they’re met with an attitude of “who do you think you are to question me”? Many officials said they get enough pressure from their jobs and don’t need the added pressure of all the prying eyes.
And then I’m asked what has been taken out of calling high school football? Well, that’s an easy answer, a simple three letter word “F U N” has been taken out of the job. Too much pressure has ruined many officials. Next week I hope to expand on some reasons “WHY” we’re not attracting better candidates for high school games. If you’ve got some reasons or questions please send them to me and I’ll do my best to include your thoughts in a future edition of “Hey Ref”.
Till next week…
DENHAM SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL IS BACK ON THE AIR!
Our silver anniversary! The 2020 school year marks the 25th season that Jon Fine (Sports) Productions will have the privilege of producing and calling play-by-play for Denham Springs HS Football radio broadcasts. In 2020, the broadcast slate will include all 8 regular season Denham games, and every playoff game. Broadcasts will air on Family Radio-91.9 FM-Baton Rouge, starting at 6:00 pm Friday nights. All broadcasts can also be heard on the Internet at JonFineProductions.com (click Listen Live on the Denham Springs Football PBP page). The first broadcast is Friday, October 2, when the Jackets travel to St Amant HS.
Denham Springs HS grad Josh Ward will be the play-by-play announcer of the Jackets. He will be joined by Andy Duckworth as the color commentator. Jon Fine will contribute to the pre-game warmup, half-time report and post-game show.
This year’s broadcasts will be dedicated to the memory of Jackets Football player Remy Hidalgo. Ward, Duckworth and Fine will each be wearing broadcasts shirts which feature a #77. Throughout the broadcasts, there will be mentions of ways that Jackets fans can contribute to a charity in memory of Remy.
“Sport N Center Jackets Warm-Up” will feature an interview with Jackets Football Coach Brett Beard conducted by Josh Ward. Jon Fine will speak with a prominent Denham Springs community and/or sports figure. Josh Ward and Andy Duckworth will also offer a preview of that night’s game and other pertinent information.
The “North Oaks Health System Half-Time Report” will include Fine interviewing another Denham Springs personality. In addition, Ward and Duckworth will provide a recap of the first half and a look ahead at the second half of action.
During the “Ralph Sellers Chevrolet Post-Game Show”, there will be an extensive game recap, final stats and a look ahead.
When Denham Springs picks up a first down, they’ll achieve an “Ollie’s Car Wash First Down”. When the Jackets score, you’ll get the particulars on the “Big Mike’s Sports Bar & Grill Jackets Scoring Drive”.
Sport-N-Center owner Stacy Phipps (Baseball) and Big Mike O’Neal (Football) were athletes at Denham Springs HS. Ward was an assistant basketball coach with the Jackets.
Ralph Sellers Chevrolet Parts Manager Jim McChristian says he was an athlete at Denham Springs HS, but we have had a difficult time verifying this claim! LOL
Fine expressed that he is especially appreciative of the loyal commercial and name mention sponsors the broadcasts have had on Jon Fine Sports Productions’ Denham Springs HS play-by-play broadcasts throughout the years. Many have been with the broadcasts on a year-in, year-out basis. Fine expressed hope that listeners will have the opportunity to patronize these businesses and let them know they heard about them on DSHS Football radio broadcasts.
Josh Ward not only graduated from Denham Springs HS, but served as an assistant basketball coach under Coach Paul Smith. He has called Redemptorist HS and Central HS Football games for Jon Fine Productions in years’ past. He is presently the Traffic Manager at Guaranty Broadcasting. Ward is a native of Denham Springs and is single.
Andy Duckworth grew up in Mississippi, played high school football, basketball and baseball and was a 4 year baseball letterman at Belhaven. He is a former radio station manager and sports-talk host in Mississippi. In this capacity, he hosted a sports talk show and did play-by-play for Mississippi College Athletics and Madison Central HS. He presently works as a financial advisor. Duckworth is married and has 2 children.
Jon Fine co-hosted and produced daily 2 hour drive-time radio sports-talk programs in the Greater Baton Rouge area for close to 20 years. His programs (first SportsTalk, which changed its name to SportsGumbo), aired, at times, in New Orleans, Lake Charles, Monroe and Alexandria, in addition to the Baton Rouge market. His company, Jon Fine Productions, has produced numerous Denham Springs HS and area HS sports programming on television, radio and internet. In addition to his Denham Springs broadcasting chores, Fine has an EBay internet store--ArrestedDevelopmentMedia Guides, and is a marketing representative for SportsRadio-1310AM-KEZM-Lake Charles/Sulphur. Fine is a native of Valley Stream, New York and a graduate of Penn. He is single.
For more information on Denham Springs HS Sports programming and Jon Fine Productions, please visit JonFineProductions.com.
DENHAM SPRINGS HS FOOTBALL RADIO BROADCASTS ARE A JON FINE PRODUCTION ON FAMILY RADIO, 91.9 FM, BATON ROUGE and JonFineProductions.com.
JON IS THE OWNER OF AN 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-SULPHUR/LAKE CHARLES.