I talked to Somerset Patriots slugger Ryan Radmanovich on Monday and he told me that he plans to return for a fourth season with the club.
HOWEVER, that does not mean Radmanovich will be in spring training or on the opening day roster.
Radmanovich said he may miss the start of the season for personal reasons but that he fully expects to be in Somerset at some point.
So any Patriots fans who may have stumbled across this article on Slam Sports need not panic.
The article says that the Northern League's Edmonton Cracker Cats are interested in acquiring Radmanovich. Former Patriot and Radmanovich friend Mike Johnson recently signed with the Cracker Cats.
Northern Leaguers are paid less than Atlantic Leaguers and the Candien-born Radmanovich resides in Connecticut, so this move would make no sense for him.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Cross-Country Rivals
For two schools nearly 2,500 miles away from one another, it sure seems like Rutgers and Arizona State meet with a lot of on the line way too much to be a coincidence.
The 1978 Garden State Bowl went to the Sun Devils.
So did the 2005 Insight.com Bowl.
The Rutgers women's basketball team showed a measure of respect by not accepting a forfeit after tragedy struck the Arizona State women's program earlier this season, but evened the score for those football losses with a rout in the Elite 8 Monday.
Surely an Elite 8 victory is more impressive than a victory in a play-out-the-string mid-December bowl game. Or is it?
Football -- even during its most meaningless moment -- gets more national attention than the women's Final Four.
So who is making out on that trade, ASU or RU?
What do you think?
THREE REASONS WHY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER FOR RUTGERS TO WIN THE INSIGHT.COM BOWL
1. It's football. All those empty seats you saw in the background at the Greensboro Coliseum are the only reminder you need that women's basketball just does not carry the same impact as football or men's basketball.
2. Revenue. The payout for bowls is big. Especially the payout to the winner. With all the money poured into the football program over the past decade -- and all the criticism that decision received -- the bigger the return, the better.
3. Recruiting. Last season's record and Texas Bowl victory was a Godsend in terms of marketing the program to big-time recruits. But imagine if coach Greg Schiano could walk into homes and say he was a two-time bowl winner or that postseason success is a norm now. Plus, it would have been a nice sendoff for two very deserving seniors, quarterback Ryan Hart and wideout Tres Moses.
THREE REASONS WHY IT WAS BETTER FOR RUTGERS TO WIN THE WOMEN'S ELITE 8 GAME
1. The weight of a monkey off its back. It's ironic that the year Rutgers returned to the Final Four is the year after its premier player -- Cappie Pondexter -- graduated. Still, for a program that is constantly knocking on the door, it was nice to finally break the door down. Two Final Four appearances in nine years is nothing to turn your back on -- especially when a third trip seems like a definite possibility considering the nucleus returning next season.
2. Wake up, Geno. The trash-talking Italian ripped Rutgers fans earlier this season and now has to watch Rutgers play in the Final Four while the UConn Huskies he has coached to national prominence sit home. Rutgers fans can say they wanted another shot at the rival Huskies in the national semifinals, but isn't it sweeter to accomplish something that UConn did not this season?
3. Wouldn't it have been Classic Rutgers to suffer a letdown and lose to ASU after arguably the best victory in program history against top-seeded Duke? Can't you just picture yourself walking around campus or into your office with a bitter attitude wondering when things are going to change at your alma mater? It would have taken only a loss Monday to wash away all the good from Saturday. Now, you can soak in the good for months.
The 1978 Garden State Bowl went to the Sun Devils.
So did the 2005 Insight.com Bowl.
The Rutgers women's basketball team showed a measure of respect by not accepting a forfeit after tragedy struck the Arizona State women's program earlier this season, but evened the score for those football losses with a rout in the Elite 8 Monday.
Surely an Elite 8 victory is more impressive than a victory in a play-out-the-string mid-December bowl game. Or is it?
Football -- even during its most meaningless moment -- gets more national attention than the women's Final Four.
So who is making out on that trade, ASU or RU?
What do you think?
THREE REASONS WHY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER FOR RUTGERS TO WIN THE INSIGHT.COM BOWL
1. It's football. All those empty seats you saw in the background at the Greensboro Coliseum are the only reminder you need that women's basketball just does not carry the same impact as football or men's basketball.
2. Revenue. The payout for bowls is big. Especially the payout to the winner. With all the money poured into the football program over the past decade -- and all the criticism that decision received -- the bigger the return, the better.
3. Recruiting. Last season's record and Texas Bowl victory was a Godsend in terms of marketing the program to big-time recruits. But imagine if coach Greg Schiano could walk into homes and say he was a two-time bowl winner or that postseason success is a norm now. Plus, it would have been a nice sendoff for two very deserving seniors, quarterback Ryan Hart and wideout Tres Moses.
THREE REASONS WHY IT WAS BETTER FOR RUTGERS TO WIN THE WOMEN'S ELITE 8 GAME
1. The weight of a monkey off its back. It's ironic that the year Rutgers returned to the Final Four is the year after its premier player -- Cappie Pondexter -- graduated. Still, for a program that is constantly knocking on the door, it was nice to finally break the door down. Two Final Four appearances in nine years is nothing to turn your back on -- especially when a third trip seems like a definite possibility considering the nucleus returning next season.
2. Wake up, Geno. The trash-talking Italian ripped Rutgers fans earlier this season and now has to watch Rutgers play in the Final Four while the UConn Huskies he has coached to national prominence sit home. Rutgers fans can say they wanted another shot at the rival Huskies in the national semifinals, but isn't it sweeter to accomplish something that UConn did not this season?
3. Wouldn't it have been Classic Rutgers to suffer a letdown and lose to ASU after arguably the best victory in program history against top-seeded Duke? Can't you just picture yourself walking around campus or into your office with a bitter attitude wondering when things are going to change at your alma mater? It would have taken only a loss Monday to wash away all the good from Saturday. Now, you can soak in the good for months.
Monday, March 26, 2007
A Patriot on your fantasy baseball team?
Not yet, but maybe before the end of the season.
I recently completed both my drafts using Fantasy Sports magazine, which offers an in-depth look into pretty much every area of drafting.
In its "Winter Time Blues" section -- which details 10 guys who improved their stock by playing winter ball -- you will find the name of former Somerset Patriot and current Texas Rangers farmhand Derek Lee.
Quoting the magazine:
"Lee had several scouts scrambling for pen and paper while he pitched for Aguilas in the Dominican Republic. In 21 2/3 innings, the southpaw went 3-0 with a 0.42 ERA, allowing only 18 hits and five walks while fanning 12. Lee is not overpowering, and with the Rangers' organization stocked with promising arms, he is not a likely candidate to earn a starting job in spring training. Still, watch his progress this spring as a trade could lead to a starting job somewhere else."
The 32-year-old Lee was 4-2 with a 2.45 ERA in 66 innings for the 2004 Patriots. The Rangers signed him during that season.
More well-known names also mentioned in the magazine's list include Oakland Athletics first baseman Erubiel Durazo and shortstop Marco Scutaro and Baltimore Orioles pitcher Bruce Chen.
I didn't draft Lee on either of my teams, but you can bet I'll find a roster spot for him if he earns a midseason call-up.
I recently completed both my drafts using Fantasy Sports magazine, which offers an in-depth look into pretty much every area of drafting.
In its "Winter Time Blues" section -- which details 10 guys who improved their stock by playing winter ball -- you will find the name of former Somerset Patriot and current Texas Rangers farmhand Derek Lee.
Quoting the magazine:
"Lee had several scouts scrambling for pen and paper while he pitched for Aguilas in the Dominican Republic. In 21 2/3 innings, the southpaw went 3-0 with a 0.42 ERA, allowing only 18 hits and five walks while fanning 12. Lee is not overpowering, and with the Rangers' organization stocked with promising arms, he is not a likely candidate to earn a starting job in spring training. Still, watch his progress this spring as a trade could lead to a starting job somewhere else."
The 32-year-old Lee was 4-2 with a 2.45 ERA in 66 innings for the 2004 Patriots. The Rangers signed him during that season.
More well-known names also mentioned in the magazine's list include Oakland Athletics first baseman Erubiel Durazo and shortstop Marco Scutaro and Baltimore Orioles pitcher Bruce Chen.
I didn't draft Lee on either of my teams, but you can bet I'll find a roster spot for him if he earns a midseason call-up.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
RU Cinderella?
I used to hate walking around Rutgers campus and seeing all the lousy attempts at good marketing using the term RU. RU Hungry. RU Sad. RU Listening. You get the point.
But here I am using one myself and admitting to being enthralled by Saturday's Rutgers-Duke game.
Actually, I saw two great basketball games on Saturday and neither involved Ohio State or UCLA.
The Division II men's national championship and the Rutgers women's basketball game had exactly what the men's tournament has been missing this year: Heart-stopping, unlikely endings.
Rutgers victory over Duke was a game for the ages as far as school history goes.
I should know. I attended Rutgers from 2001-05 and saw hundreds of games in everything from field hockey to football while working as a writer for The Daily Targum.
The special thing about this game is that it is exactly the kind of game Rutgers usually loses -- in every sport. Duke was not just any No. 1 seed. The Blue Devils beat Rutgers by 40 just a few months ago. They were playing a virtual home game (at Greensboro) in the NCAA Tournament. Rutgers had a litany of excuses to fall back on if it lost. No one would have said a word except, "Congrats on another great season, ladies."
The women's basketball team has had better teams in recent years that never reached the Elite 8. The Scarlet Knights have had opportunities to win big games against big-time programs in March and they kept losing. They probably couldn't beat Tennessee if the game was played at a site as neutral as the moon.
But for one day -- and these days are becoming increasingly frequent after what the football team did last season -- Rutgers was again near the center of the sports world.
Why? Because it was Duke -- yes, untouchable, magical, blessed Duke -- which choked in a big moment.
Free throws win games. Again, I should know. My high school basketball team lost 42 straight games when I played on it, and I was a 50 percent free-throw shooter. Probably not a coincidence.
Look back at my last blog entry for a list of examples on free-throwing mistakes from just the first two rounds of the men's tournament.
Missed free throws cost teams games every day. But the person missing usually is not an All-American. A conference player of the year. A dedicated senior whose career will be tainted by a final image of her crying on the hardwood.
Lindsey Harding was at the line with 0.1 seconds left needing to make one to force overtime, two to make RU fans cry "What if?"
Harding, a senior with a storied career, bricked both shots. She shot long -- twice. It was as if Harding knew the ending before it happened and refused to be short on her free throws. As if she saw into the future and said, "If I come up short on these, people will say the pressure got to me." So, she overcompensated and the rest is history.
The win got me thinking. I know I'm a young Rutgers fan. There are plenty of grandmas and grandpas there who could spin a yarn about pain and suffering in the school's athletic history. But here is my list of the best Rutgers victories since the day I first put on a Scarlet Red T-shirt, Sept. 2, 2001.
1. Nov. 9, 2006
Football beats Louisville to move to 9-0. The sea of red-clad students on the field was an ESPN classic.
2. March 24, 2007
Women's basketball upsets top-seeded Duke to reach Elite 8. Savor this one. Where else can Rutgers beat Duke?
3. Dec. 28, 2006
Football routs Kansas State for first ever bowl game victory. A statement to the bowl committee that Rutgers deserved better.
4. March 30, 2004
Men's basketball defeats Iowa State in overtime at MSG to reach NIT. This was supposed to be the game that turned around the program. That never happened. But what a rowdy train ride home it was from the Big Apple to the Big Pizzeria (New Brunswick).
5. Jan. 5, 2005
Women's basketball defeats top-ranked LSU in overtime. The RAC was packed and the fans went home happy. Newspapers ate this story up at the time, but the victory did not have staying power. Many of the fans who said they would go to more women's games after this exciting one still have not been back.
6. Nov. 18, 2001
Women's soccer blanks rival Princeton 1-0 to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Six days later, the Knights gave perennial power North Carolina a big-time scare.
7. April 12, 2003
Men's lacrosse scores an overtime victory at Syracuse. This is the one that got that program back on the map after four straight miserable seasons. It also led to the first of two straight NCAA Tournament berths.
But here I am using one myself and admitting to being enthralled by Saturday's Rutgers-Duke game.
Actually, I saw two great basketball games on Saturday and neither involved Ohio State or UCLA.
The Division II men's national championship and the Rutgers women's basketball game had exactly what the men's tournament has been missing this year: Heart-stopping, unlikely endings.
Rutgers victory over Duke was a game for the ages as far as school history goes.
I should know. I attended Rutgers from 2001-05 and saw hundreds of games in everything from field hockey to football while working as a writer for The Daily Targum.
The special thing about this game is that it is exactly the kind of game Rutgers usually loses -- in every sport. Duke was not just any No. 1 seed. The Blue Devils beat Rutgers by 40 just a few months ago. They were playing a virtual home game (at Greensboro) in the NCAA Tournament. Rutgers had a litany of excuses to fall back on if it lost. No one would have said a word except, "Congrats on another great season, ladies."
The women's basketball team has had better teams in recent years that never reached the Elite 8. The Scarlet Knights have had opportunities to win big games against big-time programs in March and they kept losing. They probably couldn't beat Tennessee if the game was played at a site as neutral as the moon.
But for one day -- and these days are becoming increasingly frequent after what the football team did last season -- Rutgers was again near the center of the sports world.
Why? Because it was Duke -- yes, untouchable, magical, blessed Duke -- which choked in a big moment.
Free throws win games. Again, I should know. My high school basketball team lost 42 straight games when I played on it, and I was a 50 percent free-throw shooter. Probably not a coincidence.
Look back at my last blog entry for a list of examples on free-throwing mistakes from just the first two rounds of the men's tournament.
Missed free throws cost teams games every day. But the person missing usually is not an All-American. A conference player of the year. A dedicated senior whose career will be tainted by a final image of her crying on the hardwood.
Lindsey Harding was at the line with 0.1 seconds left needing to make one to force overtime, two to make RU fans cry "What if?"
Harding, a senior with a storied career, bricked both shots. She shot long -- twice. It was as if Harding knew the ending before it happened and refused to be short on her free throws. As if she saw into the future and said, "If I come up short on these, people will say the pressure got to me." So, she overcompensated and the rest is history.
The win got me thinking. I know I'm a young Rutgers fan. There are plenty of grandmas and grandpas there who could spin a yarn about pain and suffering in the school's athletic history. But here is my list of the best Rutgers victories since the day I first put on a Scarlet Red T-shirt, Sept. 2, 2001.
1. Nov. 9, 2006
Football beats Louisville to move to 9-0. The sea of red-clad students on the field was an ESPN classic.
2. March 24, 2007
Women's basketball upsets top-seeded Duke to reach Elite 8. Savor this one. Where else can Rutgers beat Duke?
3. Dec. 28, 2006
Football routs Kansas State for first ever bowl game victory. A statement to the bowl committee that Rutgers deserved better.
4. March 30, 2004
Men's basketball defeats Iowa State in overtime at MSG to reach NIT. This was supposed to be the game that turned around the program. That never happened. But what a rowdy train ride home it was from the Big Apple to the Big Pizzeria (New Brunswick).
5. Jan. 5, 2005
Women's basketball defeats top-ranked LSU in overtime. The RAC was packed and the fans went home happy. Newspapers ate this story up at the time, but the victory did not have staying power. Many of the fans who said they would go to more women's games after this exciting one still have not been back.
6. Nov. 18, 2001
Women's soccer blanks rival Princeton 1-0 to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Six days later, the Knights gave perennial power North Carolina a big-time scare.
7. April 12, 2003
Men's lacrosse scores an overtime victory at Syracuse. This is the one that got that program back on the map after four straight miserable seasons. It also led to the first of two straight NCAA Tournament berths.
All-area is out
High school girls basketball all-area is in the newspaper today.
I know the debate about who should be player and coach of the year was vicious throughout the state tournament. The winners:
Player of the Year:
Asia Jenkins, Piscataway
Coach of the Year:
Maureen Barnett, South Plainfield.
For more detailed information on the thought process involved in those selections and FOR THE NAMES OF OTHER CANDIDATES CONSIDERED please listen to our final podcast. The link is listed below:
http://www.c-n.com/specialsections/podcasts/frezza/carino0322.htm
Thanks to all for a wonderful season.
I know the debate about who should be player and coach of the year was vicious throughout the state tournament. The winners:
Player of the Year:
Asia Jenkins, Piscataway
Coach of the Year:
Maureen Barnett, South Plainfield.
For more detailed information on the thought process involved in those selections and FOR THE NAMES OF OTHER CANDIDATES CONSIDERED please listen to our final podcast. The link is listed below:
http://www.c-n.com/specialsections/podcasts/frezza/carino0322.htm
Thanks to all for a wonderful season.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
free-throw shooting
Maybe the players in the men's basketball NCAA Tournament should have read the centerpiece Jerry Carino and I did last season on the importance of free-throw shooting in big games.
Some examples:
1) Illinois missed the front end of a one-and-one when trailing Virginia Tech by two in the final minutes of regulation.
2) Duke shot free throws hideously -- including a couple key misses down the stretch by go-to players Greg Paulus and Josh McRoberts -- in a loss to VCU.
3) Louisville missed two free throws trailing by one in the final minute of regulation. Virginia Tech left the door open with two misses of its own on the other end, but Louisville could not capitalize.
4) Pittsburgh's Levance Fields threw up two ugly bricks in a tie game with 2.1 seconds to go in regulation against VCU.
5) Winthrop blew a 20-point second-half lead against Notre Dame because it could not find a stroke at the stripe. The Eagles rallied to win in spite of their choke job.
6) Memphis coach John Calipari went on a ridiculous postgame rant about free throws, emphasizing the team's 31-3 record despite struggles at the line. He continued on, saying that the Tigers no longer practice free throws. Instead, the coach has his players visualize making them. That's fine, John. But when Sunday's game is on the line against Nevada in front of a national audience, you're going to have to visualize going to the Sweet 16 while Nevada celebrates a tight win.
7) The biggest blunder. Xavier was seconds from being crowned 2007's top Cinderella. All Justin Cage, an experienced senior leader, had to do to sink Ohio State was sink two free throws. He made the first, missed the second. The rest is history. And, depending on how far Ohio State winds up going, a defining moment in March lure.
Bernards' Catherine Carr, North Hunterdon's Amanda Tewksbury (now at the University of Maine), Rutgers Prep's Jess Foran (Moravian), Westfield's Mike Venezia, Bridgewater-Raritan's James McNally and Plainfield's Anthony Nelson could probably teach these guys a thing or two.
Some examples:
1) Illinois missed the front end of a one-and-one when trailing Virginia Tech by two in the final minutes of regulation.
2) Duke shot free throws hideously -- including a couple key misses down the stretch by go-to players Greg Paulus and Josh McRoberts -- in a loss to VCU.
3) Louisville missed two free throws trailing by one in the final minute of regulation. Virginia Tech left the door open with two misses of its own on the other end, but Louisville could not capitalize.
4) Pittsburgh's Levance Fields threw up two ugly bricks in a tie game with 2.1 seconds to go in regulation against VCU.
5) Winthrop blew a 20-point second-half lead against Notre Dame because it could not find a stroke at the stripe. The Eagles rallied to win in spite of their choke job.
6) Memphis coach John Calipari went on a ridiculous postgame rant about free throws, emphasizing the team's 31-3 record despite struggles at the line. He continued on, saying that the Tigers no longer practice free throws. Instead, the coach has his players visualize making them. That's fine, John. But when Sunday's game is on the line against Nevada in front of a national audience, you're going to have to visualize going to the Sweet 16 while Nevada celebrates a tight win.
7) The biggest blunder. Xavier was seconds from being crowned 2007's top Cinderella. All Justin Cage, an experienced senior leader, had to do to sink Ohio State was sink two free throws. He made the first, missed the second. The rest is history. And, depending on how far Ohio State winds up going, a defining moment in March lure.
Bernards' Catherine Carr, North Hunterdon's Amanda Tewksbury (now at the University of Maine), Rutgers Prep's Jess Foran (Moravian), Westfield's Mike Venezia, Bridgewater-Raritan's James McNally and Plainfield's Anthony Nelson could probably teach these guys a thing or two.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Final podcast & all-area thoughts
Jerry Carino and I will be recording our final podcast today. It should be posted by tomorrow.
Look for a state tournament review and an all-area preview that includes the names of all candidates on a lengthy list considered for coach and player of the year.
The majority of people seem to think they already know who I've selected for both awards. That may or may not be true, but it is irrefutable that there were a wealth of worthy candidates.
The graduating senior class is arguably the most talented top to bottom to go through these parts in a long, long time. There was star power and depth.
Some of the seniors on honorable mention could have been All-Area Second-Team in another season.
I've only covered high school girls hoops for two years, but I've been spoiled with some real top level talent.
Since I have not posted about this yet....congrats to South Plainfield.
The Tigers run to the Group III final was a memorable one. Six seniors who never looked tired and would have played high school basketball until August if you let them.
I've had more than one coach tell me that South Plainfield was the type of athletic, intense, fearless team which could have given Shabazz problems in the section.
That's high praise.
Look for a state tournament review and an all-area preview that includes the names of all candidates on a lengthy list considered for coach and player of the year.
The majority of people seem to think they already know who I've selected for both awards. That may or may not be true, but it is irrefutable that there were a wealth of worthy candidates.
The graduating senior class is arguably the most talented top to bottom to go through these parts in a long, long time. There was star power and depth.
Some of the seniors on honorable mention could have been All-Area Second-Team in another season.
I've only covered high school girls hoops for two years, but I've been spoiled with some real top level talent.
Since I have not posted about this yet....congrats to South Plainfield.
The Tigers run to the Group III final was a memorable one. Six seniors who never looked tired and would have played high school basketball until August if you let them.
I've had more than one coach tell me that South Plainfield was the type of athletic, intense, fearless team which could have given Shabazz problems in the section.
That's high praise.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Breaking the silence
I must admit I'm a little taken aback by the rash of scathing accusations of favoritism posted in my comments section. While I appreciate you posters keeping the language clean, I have to defend myself.
I was very surprised to hear about this belief that I favor Immaculata's Lindsay Melone over other area players.
While the nature of the job forces me to see some teams more than others -- I regretfully only saw Piscataway twice this season -- I don't think this accusation is valid.
I appreciate all the talent in the area, and think I do a good job assessing it. Melone is a floor general, her team did make an improbable run to the SCT championship and sectional final. They were the favorite in neither tournament, so I'm not sure where anyone sees "editorializing."
It so happened Melone played terrific games each of the four times I saw her play this season.
In response to the poster who compared my writing on Melone and Kopecki, I don't know if you saw both games this week but they couldn't have been more different.
Watchung Hills trailed by 22 in the fourth quarter and made a great near-comeback LED IN PART by Kopecki.
Immaculata had a state power on the ropes until Melone got hurt, then lost by 21. To compare the final scores is unjust.
I have written plenty about Kopecki, Laub, Jenkins (my preseason feature last year), Kutch and Carr, all of whom I find to be very likable as kids.
People always are accusing the Courier News of Immaculata/Bridgewater-Raritan bias, and I hope this is no more than another example of that.
I covered at least one game for 30 of my 36 local teams, and tried to give as much blog/podcast/notebook coverage to them as well. That's spreading the wealth, not focusing on one player.
Hopefully all the anonymous posts are little more than a few angry parents or coaches. I again urge people to sign their names to posts, especially if you are going to rip me.
I was very surprised to hear about this belief that I favor Immaculata's Lindsay Melone over other area players.
While the nature of the job forces me to see some teams more than others -- I regretfully only saw Piscataway twice this season -- I don't think this accusation is valid.
I appreciate all the talent in the area, and think I do a good job assessing it. Melone is a floor general, her team did make an improbable run to the SCT championship and sectional final. They were the favorite in neither tournament, so I'm not sure where anyone sees "editorializing."
It so happened Melone played terrific games each of the four times I saw her play this season.
In response to the poster who compared my writing on Melone and Kopecki, I don't know if you saw both games this week but they couldn't have been more different.
Watchung Hills trailed by 22 in the fourth quarter and made a great near-comeback LED IN PART by Kopecki.
Immaculata had a state power on the ropes until Melone got hurt, then lost by 21. To compare the final scores is unjust.
I have written plenty about Kopecki, Laub, Jenkins (my preseason feature last year), Kutch and Carr, all of whom I find to be very likable as kids.
People always are accusing the Courier News of Immaculata/Bridgewater-Raritan bias, and I hope this is no more than another example of that.
I covered at least one game for 30 of my 36 local teams, and tried to give as much blog/podcast/notebook coverage to them as well. That's spreading the wealth, not focusing on one player.
Hopefully all the anonymous posts are little more than a few angry parents or coaches. I again urge people to sign their names to posts, especially if you are going to rip me.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Rocker's Roids
Former Major Leauge Baseball star reliever and one-time Long Island Ducks pitcher John Rocker has admitted taking Human Growth Hormone, according to this Associated Press story.
http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=2930016
Rocker's agent told the Daily News that the pitcher took HGH for medical reasons as prescribed by a doctor following surgery. HGH since has been added to the banned substances list by the MLB.
Rocker pitched for the Ducks in 2005 and was highly ineffective. He also caused a stir by getting involved in a well-publicized dispute with a fan in Atlantic City.
The Atlantic League conducts drug testing, but results are kept very quiet, much the way the majors kept their results until recently.
DO NOT FORGET, Jose Canseco who sounded the alarm bell on steroids, once played for the Newark Bears. One of the players he indicted, former teammate Juan Gonzalez, played for the Ducks this past season.
If one of these big name players ever tested positive for HGH or any other supplement while in the league, can you imagine the mess? Cover it up or bring so much negative attention to a league overly concerned with its image?
I think they'd get rid of the player without a reason given. Kind of a "You go away and we won't say why" deal.
Just my thought though.
Update: Here is a more recent story on the Rocker situation.
update story
http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=2930016
Rocker's agent told the Daily News that the pitcher took HGH for medical reasons as prescribed by a doctor following surgery. HGH since has been added to the banned substances list by the MLB.
Rocker pitched for the Ducks in 2005 and was highly ineffective. He also caused a stir by getting involved in a well-publicized dispute with a fan in Atlantic City.
The Atlantic League conducts drug testing, but results are kept very quiet, much the way the majors kept their results until recently.
DO NOT FORGET, Jose Canseco who sounded the alarm bell on steroids, once played for the Newark Bears. One of the players he indicted, former teammate Juan Gonzalez, played for the Ducks this past season.
If one of these big name players ever tested positive for HGH or any other supplement while in the league, can you imagine the mess? Cover it up or bring so much negative attention to a league overly concerned with its image?
I think they'd get rid of the player without a reason given. Kind of a "You go away and we won't say why" deal.
Just my thought though.
Update: Here is a more recent story on the Rocker situation.
update story
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
More apologies...
Though, this time, they are in advance.
Because of the late 8 p.m. start times for sectional finals and the Courier News' new early deadlines let me state ahead of time that I am sorry for any mistakes or incomprehensible writing in my next couple game stories.
I am going to try to raise my game, give 110% percent, make big players in a big spot or whatever other sports cliche you can think of to fit appropriately.
I don't know why the state feels it necessary to start these games at 8. The players do have school in the morning and by the time players got home from these remote sites it is probably past 11 p.m.
Does not leave much time for homework, I imagine.
At no other point in the year are HS events regularly scheduled for 8 p.m. Not even HS football games on Friday nights. I realize most sites are hosting doubleheaders, but how about the 5 and 7 o'clock hours?
Maybe I'm just bitter because of the time crunch on my end.
Because of the late 8 p.m. start times for sectional finals and the Courier News' new early deadlines let me state ahead of time that I am sorry for any mistakes or incomprehensible writing in my next couple game stories.
I am going to try to raise my game, give 110% percent, make big players in a big spot or whatever other sports cliche you can think of to fit appropriately.
I don't know why the state feels it necessary to start these games at 8. The players do have school in the morning and by the time players got home from these remote sites it is probably past 11 p.m.
Does not leave much time for homework, I imagine.
At no other point in the year are HS events regularly scheduled for 8 p.m. Not even HS football games on Friday nights. I realize most sites are hosting doubleheaders, but how about the 5 and 7 o'clock hours?
Maybe I'm just bitter because of the time crunch on my end.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
5 sectional finals
Each will have a preview box in the paper that day of the game, but here is some additional thought.
Here is a ranking of the five local teams still playing from most likely to win a sectional title to least.
1. South Plainfield
2. Dunellen
3. Watchung Hills
4. Somerville
5. Immaculata
Most of that has to do with the quality of competition each team is playing. I love the way Immaculata is playing right now -- their senior leadership is a real classic high school sports story -- but Morris Catholic is soooooo good.
Forget its sectional final, I think South Plainfield is the favorite to win Group III at this point.
Watchung Hills can beat the Perth Amboy team I saw lose to South Plainfield in the GMCT semifinals. I'm not sure if the Warriors can beat the team that routed Piscataway on Friday.
Any team can win a low scoring game, and Rumson Fair-Haven loves to play tight games in the 20s. That's a dangerous strategy, especially when a player as good as Somerville's Caity Laub is on the other side.
Dunellen is playing with house money here. That's a great way to enter a pressure environment. Highland Park plays the better competition year-round, is the better story (the Owls were 0-20 last year), and has a distinct size advantage. With nothing to lose, Dunellen may be carefree enough to win.
Here is a ranking of the five local teams still playing from most likely to win a sectional title to least.
1. South Plainfield
2. Dunellen
3. Watchung Hills
4. Somerville
5. Immaculata
Most of that has to do with the quality of competition each team is playing. I love the way Immaculata is playing right now -- their senior leadership is a real classic high school sports story -- but Morris Catholic is soooooo good.
Forget its sectional final, I think South Plainfield is the favorite to win Group III at this point.
Watchung Hills can beat the Perth Amboy team I saw lose to South Plainfield in the GMCT semifinals. I'm not sure if the Warriors can beat the team that routed Piscataway on Friday.
Any team can win a low scoring game, and Rumson Fair-Haven loves to play tight games in the 20s. That's a dangerous strategy, especially when a player as good as Somerville's Caity Laub is on the other side.
Dunellen is playing with house money here. That's a great way to enter a pressure environment. Highland Park plays the better competition year-round, is the better story (the Owls were 0-20 last year), and has a distinct size advantage. With nothing to lose, Dunellen may be carefree enough to win.
Friday, March 2, 2007
Apologies to Gill St. Bernard's
The Knights accidentally were omitted from the the list of most-improved local teams in this week's notebook.
Here is that notebook.
Here is what it SHOULD HAVE SAID about Gill.
Gill St. Benard's (+7): Following in Rutgers Prep's lead, Gill St. Bernard's has begun increasing the talent level in the basketball program from outside the local area. Freshmen Niiya Ruth and Daisha Simmons give this team two tremendous building blocks for the next three seasons. A Somerset County Tournament victory, a 20-win season and an appearance in the Prep B state final are all examples of progress made since last season. Now, the expectations have been raised.
Again, my apologies for the error.
Here is that notebook.
Here is what it SHOULD HAVE SAID about Gill.
Gill St. Benard's (+7): Following in Rutgers Prep's lead, Gill St. Bernard's has begun increasing the talent level in the basketball program from outside the local area. Freshmen Niiya Ruth and Daisha Simmons give this team two tremendous building blocks for the next three seasons. A Somerset County Tournament victory, a 20-win season and an appearance in the Prep B state final are all examples of progress made since last season. Now, the expectations have been raised.
Again, my apologies for the error.
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