The best debate ever on this block came last March when it was time to talk about Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and the 15 spots on First-, Second-, Third-Team All-Area. I hope we can duplicate that this year because I think the field is just as wide open as in the past. I certainly have my frontrunners and secondary candidates but don't want to get myself in trouble for leaving anyone out.
SO YOU TELL ME...Who is the best player? Who did the best coaching job? If you get really bored and adventurous, tell me who the top 15 players are.
Just remember, I cover 34 teams. That includes all of Somerset County, all of Hunterdon County, Westfield, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Governor Livingston, Plainfield, New Providence, Union Catholic, Piscataway, South Plainfield, Middlesex, Piscataway Tech and Dunellen.
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16 comments:
Player of the Year: Zigarelli
Coach of the Year: No idea. But if Watchung wins tonight, I'd have to say Whelan would be at the top of my list. Otherwise, possibly Corby Swan from Somerville for having a tremendous season despite losing their star player and having their best offensive threat on the bench for the entire season with an injury.
First Team All-Area: Zigarelli (WH), Munick (GL), Voigt (Monty), Miller (Westfield), Simmons (Gill).
Second/Third Team All-Area (in no particular order): Helmstetter (BR), Williams (Piscataway), Ruth (Gill), Tewksbury (NH), Bruzzio (HC), Montagna (New Providence), Callander (Ville), Scott (Franklin), Mgbada (Prep), Nieves (North Plainfield).
Just a reminder to Ryan when assembling these teams: though many seem to think so, it is not and all-guard world. Give the big girls some good consideration this year.
Also, keep in mind stats don't always do a good job representing a player's ability. Some players are better/worse then their stats indicate.
Coach of the year can finally go to the Rutgers Prep Coach so we can read the long-overdue informative, interesting piece that you will write about her, Ryan.
If she is not that quotable, get her AD to give you some quotes.
As for her qualifications, her team accomplished their goals against older/more experienced, and deeper squads.
Not Carol,
Eutgers Prep coach Mary Klinger won coach of the year in either 2003 or 2004. While she is not inelgibile this year and certainly did a great job, I like to spread it around more than that.
First Team:
Zigarelli (WH), Scott (FHS), Mgbada (Prep), Myatt (Piscataway), Simmons (Gill)
Second Team
Schaeffer(WH),Griff (Prep),Ruth (Gill)
Tewksbury (NH), Nieves (North Plainfield)
Third Team
Helmstetter (BR), Williams (Piscataway),
Voigt (Monty),Lupo (WH), Miller (Westfield),
Ryan,
The POY is up for grabs. I think it is much harder to put together your 1st,2nd, and 3rd teams this year because it is not clear cut like it was last year. As far as Coach of the Year, it is hard because you have some coaches that don't have much talent and still get the job done(Swan from Somerville is a good example). When I first read that they lost Grunwald to an ACL injury, NO WAY did I think that they would win their division of the Skyland, let alone win two state playoff games this year. Then you also have coaches who have a lot of talent and get the job done. Amy Cooke from Central and Sandy Whelan come to mind. They had outstanding years but they also have talented teams. You might also want to consider the new coach from South Hunterdon. They did make the states(just barely) and he really doesn't have anything to work with. I also like the job that Dorcas Miller did at BR, although they had a losing record, I think that she is headed in the right direction with that program.
Melone, Kopecki, Jenkins, Kutch...oops, LOL
First Team:
Myatt Pway
Zigarelli WHills
Houston SPlfd
Simmons Gill
Scott Franklin
The next ten: (and good luck with where they fit)
Miller Westfield
Schaeffer WHills
Griff RP
Tewksbury NH
Imhoff HC
Williams Pway
Munick GL
Mgbada RP
Vogt Monty
Ruth Gill
With the possibilty of squeezing in Nieves,Helmstetter,Bruzzio or Cappriccio
POY: Zigarelli
COY: WHRHS, Gill, or New Prov. Leaning towards WHills.
I would also suggest if you feel RPrep is COY, give it to her, whether she's had it recently or not. You're either coach of the year or you're not...
Corby Swan is at the top of my list for COY. Ville still won the Raritan Division this year and won two state playoff games as someone said above me the year after Laub graduated while their best shooter Grunwald sat out all season with an injury. It's incredible really - he also has to deal with the Ville parents (good grief!).
I wouldn't go as far as saying he has NO talent, but the two state games in which Somerville won he had a large role in the outcome. I also heard the game with Rumson, he kept it close through the first half (and even led early-on) before Rumson pulled away. It seems like everything has been against him this year, yet he and his team have prevailed with a 17 win season.
Ryan,
Most of these responses are from parents who are biased and don't see many teams besides the ones their daughters play for and against. To make these teams they are giving you they rely on box scores and the play of a player against their daughter's team.
YOU are the writer, YOU see the area teams on a more regular basis, YOU should make these teams without our input. Use your own opinion. It is slightly less bias then the opinions of the people who have posted.
Great comment. Parents are just too biased and see things so differently. I am sure if you talk to coaches, they will tell you which player they hated playing against or to watch out for. They will also answer you honestly as to a player who deserves the recognition.
Agreed with the two previous comments, box scores do not tell the whole story,. Some teams rely on 1 or two players who'll take about 30-40 shots per game and on that basis that player will be considered better than a player on a well balanced team who is limited to the number of shots they will put up. Yes parents, myself included, are naturaly bias towards their kids and do not get to see all the teams, they will give opinions solely based on points per game. So Ryan, since you have seen many more teams than we have, and may be inclined to be less bias (I hope) than we are, your choices will be more credible. Let us know who you picked. Also include an all defensive team to give recognition to the kids, who are committed to playing tough D and win games for their team without much fanfare.
Totally agree that stats don't always represent a player's ability. Defense wins games and there are a few players who don't get the recognition. Little things they do in a game that aren't always noted. As a former coach who has attended many games in county one player comes to mind Steph Lupo WH.
Don’t believe one optimistic word from any public figure about the economy or humanity in general. They are all part of the problem. Its like a game of Monopoly. In America, the richest 1% now hold 1/2 OF ALL UNITED STATES WEALTH. Unlike ‘lesser’ estimates, this includes all stocks, bonds, cash, and material assets held by America’s richest 1%. Even that filthy pig Oprah acknowledged that it was at about 50% in 2006. Naturally, she put her own ‘humanitarian’ spin on it. Calling attention to her own ‘good will’. WHAT A DISGUSTING HYPOCRITE SLOB. THE RICHEST 1% HAVE LITERALLY MADE WORLD PROSPERITY ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE. Don’t fall for any of their ‘humanitarian’ CRAP. ITS A SHAM. THESE PEOPLE ARE CAUSING THE SAME PROBLEMS THEY PRETEND TO CARE ABOUT. Ask any professor of economics. Money does not grow on trees. The government can’t just print up more on a whim. At any given time, there is a relative limit to the wealth within ANY economy of ANY size. So when too much wealth accumulates at the top, the middle class slip further into debt and the lower class further into poverty. A similar rule applies worldwide. The world’s richest 1% now own over 40% of ALL WORLD WEALTH. This is EVEN AFTER you account for all of this ‘good will’ ‘humanitarian’ BS from celebrities and executives. ITS A SHAM. As they get richer and richer, less wealth is left circulating beneath them. This is the single greatest underlying cause for the current US recession. The middle class can no longer afford to sustain their share of the economy. Their wealth has been gradually transfered to the richest 1%. One way or another, we suffer because of their incredible greed. We are talking about TRILLIONS of dollars. Transfered FROM US TO THEM. Over a period of about 27 years. Thats Reaganomics for you. The wealth does not ‘trickle down’ as we were told it would. It just accumulates at the top. Shrinking the middle class and expanding the lower class. Causing a domino effect of socio-economic problems. But the rich will never stop. They will never settle for a reasonable share of ANYTHING. They will do whatever it takes to get even richer. Leaving even less of the pie for the other 99% of us to share. At the same time, they throw back a few tax deductable crumbs and call themselves ‘humanitarians’. Cashing in on the PR and getting even richer the following year. IT CAN’T WORK THIS WAY. Their bogus efforts to make the world a better place can not possibly succeed. Any 'humanitarian' progress made in one area will be lost in another. EVERY SINGLE TIME. IT ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT WORK THIS WAY. This is going to end just like a game of Monopoly. The current US recession will drag on for years and lead into the worst US depression of all time. The richest 1% will live like royalty while the rest of us fight over jobs, food, and gasoline. Crime, poverty, and suicide will skyrocket. So don’t fall for all of this PR CRAP from Hollywood, Pro Sports, and Wall Street PIGS. ITS A SHAM. Remember: They are filthy rich EVEN AFTER their tax deductable contributions. Greedy pigs. Now, we are headed for the worst economic and cultural crisis of all time. SEND A “THANK YOU” NOTE TO YOUR FAVORITE MILLIONAIRE. ITS THEIR FAULT. I’m not discounting other factors like China, sub-prime, or gas prices. But all of those factors combined still pale in comparison to that HUGE transfer of wealth to the rich. Anyway, those other factors are all related and further aggrivated because of GREED. If it weren’t for the OBSCENE distribution of wealth within our country, there never would have been such a market for sub-prime to begin with. Which by the way, was another trick whipped up by greedy bankers and executives. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. The credit industry has been ENDORSED by people like Oprah, Ellen, Dr Phil, and many other celebrities. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. Now, there are commercial ties between nearly every industry and every public figure. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. So don’t fall for their ‘good will’ BS. ITS A LIE. If you fall for it, then you’re a fool. If you see any real difference between the moral character of a celebrity, politician, attorney, or executive, then you’re a fool. WAKE UP PEOPLE. ITS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. The 1% club will always say or do whatever it takes to get as rich as possible. Without the slightest regard for anything or anyone but themselves. Reaganomics. Their idea. Loans from China. Their idea. NAFTA. Their idea. Outsourcing. Their idea. Sub-prime. Their idea. The commercial lobbyist. Their idea. The multi-million dollar lawsuit. Their idea. $200 cell phone bills. Their idea. $200 basketball shoes. Their idea. $30 late fees. Their idea. $30 NSF fees. Their idea. $20 DVDs. Their idea. Subliminal advertising. Their idea. Brainwash plots on TV. Their idea. Prozac, Zanex, Vioxx, and Celebrex. Their idea. The MASSIVE campaign to turn every American into a brainwashed, credit card, pharmaceutical, love-sick, couch potatoe, celebrity junkie. Their idea. All of the above shrink the middle class, concentrate the world’s wealth and resources, and wreak havok on society. All of which have been CREATED AND ENDORSED by celebrities, athletes, executives, entrepreneurs, attorneys, and politicians. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. So don’t fall for any of their ‘good will’ ‘humanitarian’ BS. ITS A SHAM. NOTHING BUT TAX DEDUCTABLE PR CRAP. Bottom line: The richest 1% will soon tank the largest economy in the world. It will be like nothing we’ve ever seen before. and thats just the beginning. Greed will eventually tank every major economy in the world. Causing millions to suffer and die. Oprah, Angelina, Brad, Bono, and Bill are not part of the solution. They are part of the problem. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE HUMANITARIAN. EXTREME WEALTH HAS MADE WORLD PROSPERITY ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE. WITHOUT WORLD PROSPERITY, THERE WILL NEVER BE WORLD PEACE OR ANYTHING EVEN CLOSE. GREED KILLS. IT WILL BE OUR DOWNFALL. Of course, the rich will throw a fit and call me a madman. Of course, their ignorant fans will do the same. You have to expect that. But I speak the truth. If you don’t believe me, then copy this entry and run it by any professor of economics or socio-economics. Then tell a friend. Call the local radio station. Re-post this entry or put it in your own words. Be one of the first to predict the worst economic and cultural crisis of all time and explain its cause. WE ARE IN BIG TROUBLE.
^^^what is that all about?
Price of tea in China? What in heavens name is this political diatribe all about?
Tolstoy's War and Peace was shorter and more fun to read. Wrong forum Buddy the Obama/Clinton/McCain debate is on CNN.COM not c-n.com.
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