BOYS BASKETBALL: Hofman earns top honor

Love all the opinions expressed here! How is everyone? Love how everyone expresses whatr they feel :)

I agree with your thoughts here and I really love your blog! I've bookmarked it so that I can come back & read more in the future.

Nicely said.

Love this blog.

Ok someone stop us, brand new iphone4 and a early christmas present. . . The new iPad!

I wish I would have read your post. But unfortunately the code is messed up on my end. Is it just me? I can barely see the box for leaving comments. You may want to give it a check...

Thinking at the time and effort you put into your homepage and elaborate information in the post you offer!

Lawl I just noticed, you have the same name as I do. We both think the same way. Anyway, I've been stopping over your website lately especially when I'm bored and have nothing to do .

What I said was laughable was the comments.

Oh and by the way, if you wanna talk playoffs, according to maxpreps in state... West Valley is ranked #26 and Branson is ranked #43 in addition RA beat Price who is ranked #49

Campbell Hall blew out LC so who cares, they would have blown out anyone in either division... La Jolla is ranked well below West Valley and Branson at #178

Scott, I was thinking that someone else was claiming to be you. I'm surprised it was you saying the things you were. When you say that "coaching didn't make Renaissance a success this year, superior talent did"... in addition to saying it was "laughable" when everyone says their losses were the coaches fault, to me that's pretty much saying the coach doesnt know what he's doing, or in other words ripping him.

By the way, you claim that Justin and Josh won the game against Price, but didnt Josh have a bad shooting night that night? Wasnt that last shot he made his only field goal or his second field goal? Didnt the coach call out plays to be run that put those guys in scoring position? I have seen Renaissance play a number of times now and they run a lot of different sets and not just some basic motion offense. It takes a good coach to get kids to run sets like that. The RA coach does not just throw a ball out and tell those guys to just play. Your observations are flat out wrong.

Observer (also known as curious and RA Fan), It makes no sense for me to be an imposter. The blog does have my name on it, in case you haven't noticed, and I spend a lot of time trying to make this forum work. I post under my administration name or Scott G. And I haven't ripped anybody. Not my job to rip. You mention the losses. Of the highest ranked teams RA lost two, not one of them was in the playoffs. Etiwanda was No. 13 in state while Simi Valley was No. 15. By the way, the team that La Canada lost to in the Division III-AA semifinals was No. 5 in state.

OB/T. Turn:

Your poor grammar gives you away "BIG FELLA." Since you are not a man of your word; I knew it was to good to be true when you said, "I'll leave it at that, and get over it." We know you all too well!!!!! In regards to the IP address, of course it is different since you are blogging from work. Tell me, "am I good or what!"

TheJudge

RA had not lost to a down opponent all year. Their four losses were to teams that had 4 losses or fewer. No other team in the area can say that.

Oh, by the way, is it a coincidence that Scott's posts and the "Judge's" posts are a few minutes apart? Can we see your IP addresses? I find it hard to believe that a journalist would rip a coach like Scott has on some of these "posts"... does anyone else smell an imposter?

Observer, University lost to a down La Salle team.

Rev. T. Turn:
When you say you'll, "get over it" I'll believe it when I see it! Please, for the sake of beating a dead horse, let it die. One last bit of advice, please stop bringing up Maranatha & Marshall High Schools to prove a point thats useless.
TheJudge

"Laughable"? If that were really the case (which I do not think it is), Justin Cook should have gotten MVP because he brought his team farther and had to do it with a coach that you'd probably consider a handicap... or are you saying that Tuck is just as bad or worse???

Oh and also as far as quality wins... T Turp forgot to mention LA University, they were the LA City Invitiation Section champion. In addition, Mission Prep is always one of the top teams in state for division 5 and RA took care of them pretty easily.

Oh and by the way, your comment about the Hart players potentially being top scorers in the Rio Hondo league.... how hard is that to do? That league is the weakest league in 3AA. LC was the only team to get out of the first round. University, Price, View Park and Immanuel are way better than Hart and anyone from those teams could lead the Rio Hondo in scoring.

Scott I don’t quite understand, you say Renaissance went 2 and 4 against quality opponents; I guess that would be Price and La Canada? When I brought up Marshall was 2 and 9 against quality opponents that was fine with you as you stated they won when it counted. When it counted Marshall lost to Pac Hills at home with Pac Hills best player not scoring a point but I guess when you do your new math 2 and 9 is better than 2 and 4. Renaissance beat many more than 2 quailty opponents but using your logic if RA only beat 2 quality opponents how can the Maranatha coach be considered if he does not have a quality team? That’s according to you; I believe Maranatha is a quality opponent. I guess the 2 CIF champions of their division that Renaissance beat on their why to the state championship game are not quality opponents?

You can write what you want about me, you can team up with anyone you want and post whatever, dosen't matter. Bottom line is even after you teamed up with your email buddy you still can’t articulate a logical explanation for your decision. Clearly there was no criteria and any decision absent of criteria is a decision based on agenda. I see I’ve got under your skin so I’ll leave it at that and "Get over It".

Umm, La Canada was one of those quality wins.

Scott,

In your opinion then, La Canada wasn't a quality opponent? But, there coach won coach of the year? wow...

Hart was the first game and they lost in the final minute. Hart, by the way, had two players that would've probably led the Rio Hondo League in scoring this year, so they weren't exactly a bad team. La Jolla was a good team. Alemany and Walnut, I can't answer that. But I'll ask you this, how did Keppel stay within single digits until the end with a team their own coach called a rebuilding team? Yes, I know, Josh was sick and a couple of players were missing, but this was an all-star team at a private school. RA was No. 1 the whole year and didn't win their two most important games of the year. And the games that were won, especially the games I was at, it was the players that pulled it off. Justin Cook was very close to winning the MVP award. Yet, the only complaints I hear are about the coach. That's laughable to me. The players were recognized for what they did. When it comes down to it, RA was 4-4 against quality opponents this year.

Wow, so one maybe two bad games sum a coach's entire year? So are you telling me that Hoffman didnt have a bad game all year? What about Alemany, Hart, La Jolla and Walnut? how did LC lose to them? Wouldnt you say that Hoffman got outcoached in those games too? The RA coach may have been outcoached in the championship game, but the Branson coach is no slouch. He had a game plan and their team executed, that is why they were in the state championship game. Again, it's obvious that the criteria for this award is more about who does more with less and not on achievement, that is why Hoffman won last year and this year. Oh and by the way... I didnt ask for anything :D

By the way Scott... is there any word on where the RA seniors are going next year?

Observer, you bring up state, so I'll state again. The state playoffs, especially the finals, more disqualify Sid than make a case for him. He was outcoached in the final game by a coach that had his third different batch of seniors make the finals. Same school, different players, three years in a row. And, I'm sorry, but Branson had clearly less talent. RA looked more like the team that barely beat Keppel and not the team that killed La Canada and Maranatha. Again, coaching didn't make Renaissance a success this year, superior talent did. RA beat Price, which also should've been in a higher division, because off Justin Cook and Josh Thomas, not Sid. Sorry, but you asked.

Scott, you should not simply look at the division numbers for state. Again, Price is D5, but played in La Canada's division, they were seeded higher and made the championship game. So don't tell me that just because its division 5, the competition is not as good. Branson's only losses were to upper division teams. They barely lost to Newark Memorial who are division 1 and made it to the state semis. They lost to Jesuit, who is division 1 and then ended up beating them later in the season. Branson also plays in a league with division 3 and division 4 teams. People say that Renaissance didnt beat anyone good when in fact they beat the #2 and #3 seed in 3A... in addition, who did LC beat that was good? Scott, you boil it down to who did more with less, but that's subjective, last year's LC JV team had a very great year, so I'd have to say that they didnt have that much less sure they arent as athletic, but they are all good basketball players, Baldwin and Johnson are great players. If you really want to credit coaches who do more with less, than someone like Huong Dung should get coach of the year, he never has size or and endless bench, but his teams compete every year. Who does more with less should be used to help determine who should win if two candidates achieved more.

T Turp. Your IP shows that you've posted under other names. In fact, you were basically asking and answering your own questions, which is quite funny. Either that or you're sharing your computer. That's technology talking, not me.
What's personal? I happen to like Sid. Did you complain last year when Tucker didn't get it? I don't recall.
Renaissance did go farther in state than all but two other teams. But they didn't win CIF, something they were favored to do after making the finals the year before with the same team, plus new stars.
Marshall beat Pacfic Hills (No. 1 at the time) and knocked off the No. 1 seed in the playoffs before almost beating Pacific Hills again. Thanks for making my point for me. Whatever Marshall's record was against good teams, they beat the top team when it counted, and was close against Pac Hills a second time. I brought Marshall's coach up because they went beyond expectations. And Renaissance moved down a division in state and should have rolled undefeated and didn't.
You bring up state. Marshall and Maranatha weren't invited to state so we can't compare. They all reached the CIF semifinals, while Pasadena went out in the second round. In state, La Canada was in a tougher division than Renaissance.
No, my mind wasn't already made up. Again, I talked to lots of people about this one. It was unanimous.

T. Turn:
It is quite apparent that you suffer from an “identity crisis”….. In clinical terms it is called “multiple personality disorder.” Scott called it right… (same IP address=same computer). Your cover is blown; since you have used a half a dozen different names. Please don’t accuse Scott of having an agenda, when we all know you are the one with the agenda. Lastly, get over your personal grudges and move on. Again Rev., “the best to you and your family!”
TheJudge

Get over it thanks for the insight about Maranatha and 4AA.

I stated the name I've used and been called in this community for over 40 years. I am T Turp. Again Get over it has given me the 4AA answer but what about the answers to the other questions?

Yes Get over it Marshall was in division 3 two years ago and yes they took Harvard Westlake to the limit 2 years ago in the CIF quarter final losing by 8. Alex Stephson currently of North Carolina was on the Harvard Westlake team. I guess you'll have to ask jugde what happen as to how Marshall could play at such a high level just 2 seasons ago to the point they are now.

I find it so funny a blogger asked Scott to email him. What's going on behind the scenes over there?

Maranatha has never been in division 3. Although Marshall was in Division 3 two years ago. Where they gave a good run at Harvard Westlake in the Quarters I believe. Maranatha has never been placed higher than 4AA.

T Turp:

Do you mean Rev. T. Turn???? Again, for the third time..... "Practice what you Preach!"

TheJudge

In The Name Of Justice

You all are so funny, I find this very amusing. Disgruntled, hardly. I am T Turp and don't need to go by any other name, T Turp is my name. What is it that I have stated that is not true? Did Marshall go 2 and 9 against good opponents? Were both Marshall and Maranatha division 3 just 2 years ago? Did Renaissance go further than any other team in this area in the last 24 years? Scott your response to facts and questions were weak and uniformed. Your opinions were open and very subjective your foundation for your argument came from a personal point of view. You never addressed the points "observer again" made, why? My answer to that is the points that were made you had to concede to. Again your mind was made up for whatever reason and it did not matter what any other coach achieved. Your perception is not necessarily reality.

Scott Email me and I will be more than happy to give you the answer to your question? judge are you trying to set up a date? You know “the judge” one has to be careful when dealing with you.

Scott,

Email me an I will be more than happy to give you the answer to your question!!!!!

TheJudge

Scott

“You go Big Fella.” In your post yesterday to “Anon” you wrote, “I suspect you are a coach.” Allow me to give you the low-down on this guy; he is a “disgruntled parent” who is the one with an agenda. Oh by the way, he signs with several different names on this blog. As one can see he is a very frustrated individual. We know all about this poor soul…… My advice to him is “practice what you preach!” Enough said to this meaningless argument!

TheJudge

Anon 11:10 p.m., Anon 7:48 a.m., Anon 12:23 p.m.,T Turp 1:39 p.m.

Since you appear to be the same poster using different names (same IP address=same computer), what's my agenda? Since you're going to come on here and bash me and accuse me of having an agenda, at least have some guts and credibility and tell us all who you are. You know me, so come out from hiding behind your keyboard.

Maranatha is a school of 600 students. That puts them on the small side of division 4 not 3. Also, they had two all-CIF first team players graduate from last years team. No other player on the roster was an all league first team or an all CIF selection. That being said, they should have won the Division 5AA championship. I'm positive that no one associated with the Maranatha program would argue that.

Get over it,
You make very good points. I do disagree that it's not that hard to coach an all-star team, I think it is more difficult. On a all star team everyone thinks there the man and in many cases are not willing to accept their role, the coach must have a strong personality to keep everything together as someone like Jackson does. RA did win something, they won the southern region. Might not seem much to you but they are only the second team in the history of this area who can say that. I've been looking at this blog and the war of words and Scott I have to tell you it does seem like you do have an agenda. Get over it made some very good objective points but in my opinion you never really did. RA fan, Observer and Anon presented their points but your comebacks were weak and uniformed. You invoked Marshall into the equation, do you know Marshall was 2 and 9 against good teams and 1 and 4 against Maranatha and Pacific Hills? The other 18 wins came against very bad teams. Maranatha had 4 of 5 starters come back this year and was ranked 1 or 2 in CIF. Both teams are division 3 teams playing in divison 5 so why your expectations for them is low I don't know. The way I read the blog no matter what Sid or Tuck did they were not going to be strongly considered because of your personal perception.

Get over it,
Finally someone who specifically broke down why Cooke did not win the award, I can respect your piont of view.

Facts

RA had far too much talent to not win anything. (they returned everyone and added a 6' 8" starter) Coach Cooke has to be held accountable for that. RA is a D5 school playing in D3 with D1 talent. I saw too many RA games this year. The kids never got better, they looked confused on the court, and very rarely played more than 20 minutes of a game hard. All of those things can and should be blamed on the coach. Phil Jackson is clearly the most successful coach in the NBA. 9 championships. He has only been coach of the year ONCE!. Why? Because every year he has the most talent. It's just not that hard to coach an all star team. Especially one you get to work with all year long.

Don't get your fruit of the looms in a bunch. Number one Bell sat out his junior year however he didn't get to Pasadena until late second semester and with AAU ball Tucker didn't have a lot of time to acclimate him. Tucker also put 1 player on the 2nd all area team and one on honorable mention both 10th graders, expectations? Scott what are you talking about, after losing the core of his CIF championship team I don't know anyone who thought PHS would win a championship. Scott did you know Maranatha and Marshall are D3 teams playing in D5? They should always be expected to win CIF but they don't, Marshall was 1 and 4 againist Maranatha and Pacific Hills this year an yes that's fact. Put Renaissance in the div and you know what will happen. Renaissance beat View Park, CIF Champion, Immanuel CIF Champion and Price CIF runner up. Each of these teams would beat anyone in the area with the exception of PHS. Reading these post one can clearly see an agenda.

Anon: The expectations are mine for Renaissance? The team reached the finals last year and had its entire team returning. Why were they No. 1 all year in CIF? Not just my expectations. You also say I'm reaching and "so what" on my comment about Pasadena losing on their home court to a team they beat earlier. Pasadena was also expected to contend for a title. And how would you would you make the comment about people I polled being people you know? I suspect you're a coach. What are the facts that you are talking about? Renaissance had an All-Star team and didn't win a title. Sorry, but that's a fact.

As far as Branson goes, did you realize that, even though they were in their third straight state title game, it was the third different team to win. Apparently, with the exception of a player or two, each team had completely different players, in other words, rebuilding years. And it's funny how the stuff about the size of the school is coming up now. When Renaissance was No. 1 the whole year in CIF, nobody complained about how small it was. Renaissance did have a talented team, they were my No. 1 team from the preview and never fell, even after a loss to Etiwanda. The two games you're talking about, in terms of judging, happened to be the biggest games of the season. Of course those games are going to matter considering this team was considered a lock for at least one title.

Who did Renaissance beat besides Price that would be considered a big win? They didn't reach the finals like they did the year before, and they were the top seed and expected to win. That can be described as underachieving. La Canada overachieved. And as far as Marshall goes, they did beat the No. 1 team in their division twice (Pacific Hills and Woodcrest Christian). Those are big wins, albeit in a small division. And in CIF, La Canada, Maranatha and Marshall all went as far as Renaissance. Only one of those teams was expected to win.

Wow, Scott I see you have no clue. Marshall? Have you seen their schedule they beat 2 good teams all year one just happen to be Woodcrest Christian and that's qualifies for coach of the year? Do your homework and look it up. Maranatha's whole team basically came back from last year and they went as far as they did last year, they were also expected to win CIF but lost to freshman and sophomores. The expectations are yours and just because Renaissance did not meet them there penalized? Look at your logic, PHS lost to a team they beat on their home court? So what, Scott your reaching. La Canada showed better than Price did against Campbell Hall? La Canada lost to Renaissance by 35 who plays in a division below them so what are you saying? By your logic Cooke wins the award. Who did you poll, no one I know. You continue to ignore the facts and insert your opinion so I suspect other issues are at work here but I'll keep that to myself.

Scott, just because La Canada is in a higher division in sectionals doesnt mean its necessarily better. I would say that Perris, West Valley, Cathedral City and Corona Del Mar are better than every team in La Canada's division other than Campbell Hall. You have to remember, Perris, Cathedral City and West Valley are actually division 1 schools by enrollment. There are no D1 schools in 3AA. You put LC in 3A, they dont even make it to the semis. LC won a single game in state and made it to the "semis", not a big deal, they just got a good draw. Everyone also states that the RA coach should have won with all that talent, but if you really watch them, sure they are athletic, but are they really that talented? From what I hear, none of the seniors are going to a division 1 school. Stover is getting looked at by division 1 schools, but more because of his size. If he were 5 inches shorter, he would not be getting looked at. He really does not have any good offensive post moves like the guy from West Valley or Price did. This award should be based on accomplishments and Renaissance accomplished more than any other team in the area. Your basis was more on opinion and will get scrutinized because of that, no one can argue with who guided their team further. Next year, Hoffman will still have what most are calling "less talent", so based on your selection process, he will win again because they will have a marginal preseason and roll through rio hondo again, thus getting a favorable seeding in the playoffs which will help them get to the quarters or semis again.

I disagree and didn't "want this to go to Hofman." If it didn't go to Hofman, it probably would've gone to Doug Ravasdy or Jerry DeLaurie because both Maranatha and Marshall had big wins this season as well with Marshall knocking off the No.1 seed and both teams beating Pacific Hills which was the defending champion in the division. While Pasadena was an outstanding team, it lost to a team it had already beaten, and on its home court no less. And Renaissance, with all of its team returning, didn't win what seemed to be a guaranteed CIF title. Bell had a year to be molded by sitting out last season, and he was the best player in the area. I could see an argument for Tucker over Hofman last season, but everyone I polled pointed to Hofman. And this isn't a regular season award. Hofman took his team to the semifinals in a higher division than Renaissance, while Pasadena went out in the second round. And Renaissance did drop down a division in state. And I believe, although a blowouts a blowout, but La Canada did better against Campbell Hall in a road game than Price did at Honda Center. Bottom line, Cooke was expected to win and didn't while Hofman wasn't expected to do anything. I stand by my pick.

Again that's your opinion, fact are where?

Who did Cooke recruit that you know of? Yea right nobody.

Has Hoffman won a CIF title with the kids he has developed since the 6th grade? So does that mean Hoffman is a marginal coach as well? What big game did they win this year?

Reality is this year the facts show Cooke and Tucker were better, if not explain why they weren’t without your opinion.

Tucker and Cooke are marginal coaches at best when it comes to x's and o's. Cooke has spent the last 5 years recruiting his way to the best talent. Any coach that cant win CIF or State with that team has no place in coach of the year discussions. Tucker is a better coach than Sid, but cant win with kids he has developed himself. Which is why he goes out every year to bring in a new "best player". Hoffman was the best coach this year considering the kids he had to work with.

By the comments posted it is clear Scott's logic is very flawed. Bottom line is Cooke or Tucker must clearly be above and beyond the subjection, that's just the way it is. Guys keep up the good work.

Scott using your logic about spare parts and a graduating player or players Tucker win this award going away. Pasadena lost what, 90 percent of thier scoring from a CIF championship team? They lost the 2A player of the year and 2 other players who were division 1 caliber. Tucker inserts a sophmore piont gaurd that makes all area honorable mention, another sophmore who make all area second team and to top it off his returning center was injured all year, talking about spare parts. Sure Bell was all area MVP but this his his first year at Pasadena so he had to be taught and molded in the PHS way. I'm a PHS guy and I have to say if this was a regular season award Tucker wins but since it is a season long award Cooke should have won coach of the year. After seeing who Renaissance had to beat to get to the state championship game it's a no brainer. Scott I agree with RA fan you and your committee wanted this to go to Hoffman because factually there is no justification, I've only read you state what you felt happen. Scott you missed on this one big time, Hoffman should have been a distant third.

La Canada had 9 losses including one to Alemany (Alemany?). Renaissance's only losses were to teams in the top 50 on Maxpreps.com. Everyone thinks that just because Renaissance has an atletic team they should win every game they play, well there are a lot of good atheltic teams out there that didnt go half as far as Renaissance (Sylmar, Brentwood, Arroyo Valley). To get to a state championship game, I'm sorry, you have to be able to coach. Everyone judges the RA coach based on one or two games, but look at what he's done all season. Look at the win over Price, they did that without their center most of the game. Price was just as athletic as RA, but RA executed better. Branson was the two-time defending champion and this was their fourth appearance in the state title game, shouldnt they have been given more of the edge? Hats off to the RA coach, you keep doing what you are doing and dont worry about any of this subjective noise.

Scott,Hoffman did a great job no complaints here! however RA
had 5 players missing due to injuries throughout the month of January.Thomas an all-cif guard was never the same after his knee surgery,he and DeAndre Daniels another starter did not play against playoff teams Reseda(city section),Schurr,
La Canada and Maranatha games and they handled all those playoff teams easily.
Renaissance was not the same team after all the injuries they could never get back their timing and lost to some very good teams-Renaissance has won 20 or more games for the last 7 years in a row,the talent was much below what they have now and RA still went to the CIF finals-despite some of the
negative posts RA has always had quality teams that nobody had heard of because they never played local teams until last year. Hoffman's kids have been playing Spartans youth league basketball since 6th grade,so these were not spare parts as you suggest, they run the same system as the varsity and no other team in the Rio Hondo League has such a program,this combined with an excellent coach like Hoffman is the reason for their success-I think those youth coaches in the Spartans program should be proud of their contributions.

I was at a local gym last week watching a travel team practice and Marshall's head coach ran the travel teams practice that night. Of course the travel team had a couple middle schoolers that attend Marshall and the coach wants to keep them for high school. Illegal? Probably not as he will say I ran a clinic for the night. However this is a recruiting practice that goes on all the time. Hs fan if you don’t think this goes on in LC you are fooling yourself.

Not only was Marshall and PHS at these games/tournaments a few other schools I won't mention by name were there to scout talent and talk to parents about their child coming to there school.

recruting is also local HS coaches in attendance at local junior high games/ tournaments. You think these local kids don't light up when they see PHS, Marshall, etc coaches and AD's walk in the gym?? What local kid, who only needs to enroll at PHS without moving, wouldn't want to play for the school if given the chance.

..... all you gotta do is enroll because PUSD is a school of choice district.
But, no recruiting going on there, right??

Hate to jump in on a good war of words but since RA fan says he done I have a couple of questions for Anon 9:03 and hs fan. So that I'm clear on fact and fiction, hs fan how does Sid do things that he gets not much respect? Who has he recruited and what rules have been violated? Anon what are the ify things your speaking up on?

Don't agree but understand where you're coming from. Scott you say there was nothing else going on I have a hard time believing that. What was the criteria, your expectations? Was the whole process subjective? Must have been because given the facts? However I do agree with your point of view about rumors.

hs fan wake up there are more ways of recruiting than what you consider to be recruiting. I believe LC has youth leagues that no one outside LC can participate in. If a non resident is to participate they must get approval from some upper official. How many people in LC were surprised at what these kids did this year? The town has seen these kids since elementary and I would say most people expected them to do 90 percent of what they did. With these closed leagues you don't think these youth coaches have relationships with the middle school and high school coaches? Most of the kids that are good are well known before middle school and are catered to be LC, that's considered early recruiting, but not cheating. I'm not saying anything is wrong with the closed leagues, it's not cheating but when their told by coaches the expectation and outlook on what lies ahead for them in high school to get them to stay that’s a form of recruiting. (Yes that happens) The high school coaches have targeted kids from middle school and hand picked others from outside the city and cater to them to make sure they stay in LC for high school, again that’s not cheating but it is recruiting since their not at the high school. Not recruiting is the freshman/soph coach showing up at the school not knowing who they’re going to coach and we all know that does not happen any more. Again stop with the recruiting issues. I’m done with this issue.

RA fan-you say "Please stop with the naive recruiting issues, everyone recruits." That explains why RA is acknowledged to have a talented team, but not given much respect.
Everyone does not cheat-in fact most schools do their best to play by the rules.Sid is a good recruiter, but his ability to coach is best summed up in the LATimes blog headline following the last game--"when it comes to x's and o's RA gets a F"

RA Fan, the award went to who we felt did the best job of coaching his team. The consensus was Tom Hofman by a landslide. Last year, Hofman had Adam Malik. This year, he had a bunch of returning role players and turned them into a solid team and won his league. Say what you want about who beat who, but he made his players better. Sid was in the running for sure, but let's face it, his team was the odds-on favorite to win CIF and fell short, and was a favorite to beat Branson and fell short. It's no slight on Sid, just a reflection on what Hofman did. Personally, I didn't think La Canada would come close to going undefeated in league this year. And they beat a very good Santa Clara team to reach one of the top teams in the country. This has nothing to do about any rumors. In fact, although I try to stay silent on it, any time I speak up, it's to say until somebody proves wrongdoing, nothing's wrong. This is about who did the best with the talent he was given.

I stand corrected; Pasadena Poly was the first boy’s team in this area in the modern era to play for a state championship in 1984. So that means RA is the first team in 24 years to play for the title and the 2nd in history of this area. That still sound foolish not to give Cooke the award seeing who they had to go through to get there. Unless Scott has been persuaded by the rumors? The rumors no one can substantiate or prove and are afraid to call CIF. If anyone believes their perception is reality as bballmom stated call CIF, it’s that easy. A couple of you have called in the past so why not now? It not fair to Cooke or RA to hold unfounded rumors against them but I do understand. Again this is still the Pasadena area and the Star News and they pick and choose what rumor to hold against who.

RA FAN

I think the real reason your coach didn't recieve coach of the year is all the rumors that continue to surround him. Maybe in a few years things will die down.. there are to may things that point to actions that are ify at best. When your in the spot light you need to be above board at all times. just look at what's going on in the news.. I'm not trying t stir the pot just pionting out how many in the area feel.

Alhambra’s boys team was runner-up in 1922, and Pasadena Poly was the Division III runner-up in 1984.
Marshall Fundamental’s girls team was a Division III finalist in 1983, while Muir’s girls team reached the Division II championship game in 1990.

Congratulation to coach Hoffman he is a good coach and better yet a good person.

Scott is RA fan correct in saying no boy's program in this area has ever made it to the state championship game? I saw in the state championship program that the Marshall’s Girls of 1983 with Sherry Nelson won state but I saw no mention of any boys program from this area. Has any boys program from this area ever gotten to the championship game?

Even if RA had won the state championship, Sid still wouldn't have won coach of the year. For some reason, locally, fans and the media aren't willing to give him credit for being a good coach.

No one appreciates what it takes to coach a team full of talent. Often, a lot more patience and coaching ability than a less talented team.
Congratulations to Coach Hoffman, he is a good coach. But, this honor should have been given to Sid Cooke.

I understand your argument and also believe Hoffman is a very good coach but when one makes history and dust off LC in the process I don't think there is a question. If I'm not mistaken RA went through View Park, CIF Champs of their Division, Immanuel of Redding, CIF Champs of their division and Price a southland powerhouse who lost to Campbell Hall in the 3A CIF championship. All of which would beat any team in this area with the exception of PHS. Also Scott didn’t you predict a RA loss to Price? So RA exceeded your expectations. Please stop with the naive recruiting issues, everyone recruits. Alright I won't write anything else if someone can explain to me how a school that has under a 100 students who is playing 3AA loses in the semi finals in CIF to the eventual champions which has 3348 students, is the division 5 Southern California Champions, from what I understand becoming the only boys team to ever plays in Arco Arena from this area and come in second in the whole state of California and not have the coach of the year? Not to mention a regular season record of something like 24-2? When you read it, it sounds like foolishness that Cooke is not the coach of the year doesn’t it? These are objective fact not subjective thoughts. Conspiracy no, reality yes, just the facts.

What other boy's team in this area played for a state title?

RA fan -what history was made by your team this year??
Scott wrote an article that mentioned that RA is not the only area team in history to reach a state final game.They had a good year, enjoy it.
The ability to assemble talent at a school does not make someone a great coach.
Sid does not earn much respect due to the way he does things.
He would not be mentioned by any credible person creating a list of the most knowledgeable coaches in the area.
Scott picked the correct coach as coach of the year

Coach Tim Tucker was once again robbed. last year cif champs and this year he ended up 22-6 during a rebuilding year.

Campbell Hall's CIF and State finals games were over by halftime too. By the way, this is only the second time Hofman's been ever named Star-News Coach of the Year, so your conspiracy theory is a bit off.

RA Fan. Your comments fail to recognize that RA can recruit kids whereas LCHS has to develop local talent, hopefully retain it, and continually keep the boys program competitive--as Hoffman has. All you need to do is a starting 5 player by player comparison to see that RA's 5 are individually superior to those of LCHS. Who did the most with what they had. Hoffman did yet again.

Scott, I was in attendance at the Renaissance, LC game and the Campbell Hall, LC game. LC was not going to win either game but they could have shown better, both games were over by the second quarter. Both RA and Campbell Hall employed the same defense and LC could not figure out how play out of it. The LC coaching staff actually had a hard time figuring out how to get the ball past half court in the RA game. RA had injuries all year and had to work in different players. Your right RA had more talent than Branson but Scott please give me the names of any boy’s basketball coach in this area that won the State Southern Area? Regardless of what happened in Sacramento history was made. Was Cooke out coached? Yes. However there is no shame in being out coached by the best coach in that Division in the state of California for the past 3 years. You still can’t take away the history that was made and the effort by the coach and his players. Let’s just be honest and say, you or the panel wanted to give this to Hoffman. Is Hoffman a good coach, most definitely, is he the coach of the year? No, not when history was made by another coach. I do understand this is still the Pasadena area and the Star News so it is to be expected.

RA Fan: No disrespect to Sid, but Renaissance had far superior talent to La Canada. Coaching wasn't a factor. Sid had an all-star team to work with, while Hofman had spare parts and turned them into something. Did his players get better of the course of the season? Yes. Were any of them a factor last season? No. Sid had an experienced team that was expected to win a title. No ands, ifs of buts.
Tim Tucker won a CIF championship last season and he wasn't the Coach of the Year, although he very well could have been. He also had a megga-talented team last year.
While Sid may have earned a victory over Hofman, the state final left a little to be desired. You tell me which team had more talent on the floor that day in Sacramento.
Remember, both coaches brought their respective teams to the CIF semifinals. La Canada just happened to face one of the top teams in the country.
By the way, Tucker and Doug Ravasdy were heavily in consideration as well.

Hoffman is a good coach and he has shown that for many years. He did a very good job with his team this year, however to put him as coach of the year is a stretch. When a coach takes his team further in the state championship (the championship game) than any other coach in the history of this area he should be coach of the year no questions asked. To top it off, head to head Sid Cooke out coached Hoffman as Renaissance out played La Canada. Renaissance beat La Canada by 35 and it wasn't that close. Had this situation been the other way around this area would be holding Hoffman up as some type of king. Scott, you or whoever made this decision should removed themselves from the panel, Ridiculous.