.............Star-Jibber.............

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

Thanks.

It's very good, I like it. Thanks very much.

Paraclete had 2 unsp conduct against NV and at least one in the Mead game, and those were the ones that got flagged.
I did not see the Mead game, but against NV there were late hits and cheap blocks and clips galore. Come on D Rat...you have been up front across the board in your comments....and that is much appreciated.

As outstanding a team as Paraclete is, by the time the Spirits played TC, the officiating crew was well aware of the bad rep already generated.

To Goldenarm

RE: Paraclete's unsportsmanlike penalties

You stated below that you feel that the Spirits are very undisciplined. They didn't have any unspts. against Northview and they didn't get any against Rosemead. A couple of the one's against Temple City were questionable. Especially, that call that everyone claims 27 threw a cheap-shot, re-roll the footage, he was clipped and as a result, hit the kid in front of him. Kind of like a 7-10 split.

The other one's were against San Marino after the Titans kept baiting our players in an attempt to get them kicked out...thus, suspended for the next game. Yortsos can't play the first game next season because he was ejected for kicking and throwing blows at one of our guys. Paraclete's 34 - while not very smart - came to the defense his teammate (who laid helpless on the ground)tackling Steven and whacking him in the head.

If anything, I'd say Parclete's high penalty totals against Rio Hondo teams are indicative that you're team's might have a couple cheap chatty Cathy's...who also lack discipline as well.

Again, Paraclete didn't have a problem against the other two teams. Matter of fact, they just sat back and watched NV and Mead implode on their own.

Trust me, I'm for less talking and more playing. But I'm just stating the case for Paraclete because you make them sound like such hooligans when they're not. Remember that cliche, all is fair in love and war.

Miguel.
Thanks for the great coverage during championship week and the story about our game. I know you've been getting some heat about not having a picture from our game, but understand that we're cool with it and appreciate all the coverage over the course of the year. Thank you again.

Another article about Rosemead. RHP fans enjoy the Victory and accept that fact that the KARES will never get any ink.

Miguel you are right the weather was a joke1! Yesterday I was walking outside with a t-shirt on and it was not even that cold. I guess that I really never knew what freezing was till I hit the high desert. Next year I am looking foward to any SGV team to put a whipping on those posers. Rosemead had a fine season and do not let anybody take that away from you guys. Miguel do me a favor a next year cover Rio Hondo because they do deserve some credit.

Thank you Fred for that last entry you had....The Kares will be right there playing awesome football next year....You only have to attend one game to be able to appreciate the Kares..Hopefully you and Miguel will get a chance to catch a game..I will treat you guys to a Kare Burger (best burger in town!)

Esguerra & Alaniz - Dynamic Duo Brothers..Thank you for the memories..It was fun watching you guys play together...You earned those rings!!

In hindsight, we probably could have figured a way to have that game live blogged too, there are always things you could do better. Listen, I understand the frustration and have a lot of admiration for Rio Hondo Prep and their coaching staffs, absolutely one of the best in the Valley. My nephew played in the Kare youth league, and I love what that school's about. One of my best memories was that long trip to Anza when they played Hamilton for the championship. If you thought it was cold for Rosemead on Saturday, that was nothing. It was freezing that night. BTW, we had a photographer at the game :) In any case, I hear what you're saying and wish we could have done more and planned it out better, you deserved it.

The photographer thing i can understand that. But that being said why couldn't there have been a live blog update for the Rio game. You did a great job last week doing blogs on the Monrovia-Rosemead game and at the same time the Rowland-Charter Oak game I believe, I know you live blogged 2 games at once. It would have been nice if you guys could have done that for Rio this week. Anyhow I do want to say that I do appreciate the hard work overall you did all season with the scoreboard and the blogs and I hope in the future you find ways to include Rio or any other small school if this situation presents itself again.

Hey Freddy,

Nice of you to explain the situation..thanks....either way though, your buddy, "dropped the ball" and he should admit it. Miguel never once attempted to make it to one of their games. His loss!

I was a "Big School" graduate and had little interest in attending a "small school" game. I was invited to attend a RIO game....attended the game...became and have remained a fan ever since. Their coaching staff has to be considered one of the best in town! They teach not only football plays, but obviously lessons in what hard work and determinition can result in. The kids hit hard, run fast, and play great football.

You both missed a great game....both teams played their hearts out as the competition remained close all the way to the final minutes.

HEY RHP, SS CIF Champions....you will forever have this moment to cherish, (something that lack of coverage can never diminish), and you will all wear something that many wish they had the opportunity to vie for, let alone actually earn. A constant reminder of your victorious moment together,...worn on your finger.....THE RING!!!! Congratulations from one of your biggest fans! I enjoyed every moment...ONE FIGHT, ONE TEAM!

That does not mean PSN could not utilize someone's photo bank and do as so many are asking, give the kids some well deserved recognition.

Do a recap piece and post the season's schedule, with game scores, identify the turning points, key challenges and things that got RHP over the hump...and finally to the big show and championship.

It is these more in depth features where Miquel actually has shown his creativity and done his best work anyway. It is not a save face move by PSN, it is simply a straight up good thing to do for area fball.

If Miquel can pull it off, the first blogger who whines that PSN failed anyway...gets banished to Knight field to spend the night outside wearing only chonies and a bow tie.
CONGRATULATIONS RHP!!

JAB--
That comment was totally uncalled for..Freddy did not "just shut everybody up" he did what he felt was right, he gave the RHP fans and families an explanation as to how "newspapers work during a time of economic stress" OKAY! so there wasn't a picture of the KARES or a better article written..at the end of the day all that matters is that RHP won the crown..
ONE GAME AT A TIME....!!!!!!!!!!

Freddy just shut everybody up... imagine that... a little bit of logic and reason, rather than emotional rants...

Hey, I'll take the heat on the Rio Hondo Prep game. Miguel put in two football photo assignments, but we only had enough resources for one on a Saturday when we do not have many photographers available. Remember, the Tribune, Star-News and Whitter Daily all share the same staff. We needed to shoot the Mt. SAC state bowl game for the Tribune, and La Habra's football championship for Whittier. The Star-News had two championships, so we decided that Rosemead was a bigger game for our readership, regardless of where it was played, because Rosemead is also considered a Tribune school. In a perfect world we would have had photographers at both games, and I understand how RH Prep fans and supporters feels snubbed, but in these economic times our resources are spread thin, especially on the weekends, so it's a huge disappointment that we couldn't have a photographer at RHP. I know it was a special night to every kid, parent and fan who follows RHP football. I hope you understand.

Hey Miguel,

Where are the pictures of RHP'S victory?
The only championship in the San Gabriel Valley and all we get as Star news subscribers is an after-thought of a story?
Clearly you have not seen them play in person.
Smart,disciplined and full of Corazoñ! That's the story!
Nary a D-1 player to be found.
Poor judgment on your part.
Even Ben Bolch of the LA Times covered tiny RHP and you have them in your back yard and your coverage is of a Rosemead loss???
Where is your balance?
Even a B/W page 2 photo would have been acceptable but to relegate the only champion in the valley to the "B" story coverage is just poor newspaper work.

Miguel Rodriguez
Sierra Madre

Migueal,
Come on bud, please, lets not argue how your rent gets paid,that's a personal note. I do understand your point of view, though, don't know the facts. I'm sure you can cut through the fat and comprehend the point of view what these people are trying to express. There are a few very good comments,Mr Finchamp,observer (less the rent) and observer #2.
And for Mr or Mrs Anonymous, If you don't understand please don't post.
Migueal, two CIF's in four years...

New York,

There is video of the RHP/Riverside Christian game on-line.....But it's on the Press Enterprise web-site not PSN. Complete with brief interviews from the coaches.

At least Riverside Kares about local football.....J/K Miguel.

I think some of the RHP supporters should send digital game photos into Miquel so he can put them up on the website and maybe into the paper. This could have been done a few days ago. I am sure plenty of parents took pictures and maybe even video taped (digitally) the game. You could even send in a digital video and ask Miquel to post some of it for the game highlights. Heck, anybody with a blackberry, treo, whatever could have provided game updates on the blog for the rest of us. I truly enjoyed Fred's game updates from Palmdale, but I'd rather get them from somebody who knows what he's talking about...just kidding Freddy.

Miguel,
Maybe you could have started a blog for the Rio Hondo Prep fans so they could have sent their game updates.

I didn't make the drive north to cold country, so I enjoyed reading the updates about Rosemead.

Since there were only 2 games to cover, seems like the Star-News could have sent photographers to both games. I know resources are thin.

It seems only natural that if only one team wins (which was the case) then that team would probably get the big splash in the paper.

I know the Star-News covers the valley, but do Arcadia or Rosemead have local weekly papers?

Rebel:
Don't be so thrilled about Alaniz and Esquerra leaving...you got Amundson and Quintero to deal with next year!

Miguel

You said you could take it earlier this year so don't be too offended when I say it is obvious you played to your own self-interest on the coverage issue between RHP and Rosemead. Rosemead loses and since you covered Rosemead you were given first call--and you CHOSE to put a picture of the losing team you covered on the front page! That seems to be the way it is with the press these days--put the bad news on the front page and sensationalize the negative. Whatever your justification (you made the trip, it was your call, whatever) it represents poor judgement and puts the little guy on the "back page" if you will.

Thanks Andrew Campa for the story. It's true that a CIF Championship is nothing new at RHP and you'll never hear the coaching staff whine about coverage. Seems Robledo and Galetti got it but forgot to pass you the baton. The only team to bring two CIF Football Championships to the SGV in four years and they get covered by you because the rest of the teams are out of the play offs.

Is St. Margarets really playing in a State Bowl? Would Coach Welch be the first coach to win state bowls at two different schools, separated by two years? Love him or hate him, Coach Welch wins football games. He also has that amazing streak from early the 1980's at Canyon, right? Talk about longevity!

So many people seem to complain about Welch's "old school" style. What exactly does Welch do that people disagree with? I wonder how alumni of his programs view him. Some coaches are appreciated more as time goes on and the former players are mature enough to understand his methods.

Miguel is Rosemead out of the Star News reporting area as kingofcali626 suggest? If so you were wrong and yes dropped the ball, if not no harm no foul.

Can we now get some basketball threads going?

Desert Rat,

You should be proud and deserve to stick your chest out some. Like MOST of the Paraclete supporters, you show some class by giving props to Rosemead.

Your coaching staff did an excellent job preparing for teams basically well outside your normal play area. On the flip side of that however, to SGV teams you were the alien invader that we knew bits and pieces on, but did not have a full resume and background...or had it, and did not fully study it. Trust me, that will end this year.

Nobody layed down and gave it to the Spirits, your kids earned the crown.

With such talent and on-field execution, it seems odd Paraclete lacked the discipline to avoid countless unsportsmanlike conduct penalties against NV and TC. That lone smelly aspect of the Spirits resume will not be forgotten either, making future Mid-Valley playoff appearances all the more interesting - and fuel SGV teams motivation to again visit your fine desert community as soon as we possibly can.

Congratulations on taking it home.

to all of the people complaining about your teams not being covered:

why don't you list all of the wonderful things about your team and school. This would be a much better/positive approach than just complaining. While you may not like the amount of coverage you're getting, at least you have the forum/opportunity to post information, opinions, and stories about your team.

Everybody should be grateful for that...cause it might not be around forever.

The lack of respect for Rio Hondo Prep football is just sad, it's apparent that things haven't changed. I understand that their enrollment is small but their fan base is larger than many other local teams. Rosemead's loss this year got more coverage than the last 2 RHP championships combined. I know that you covered them all week, but come on dude those boys just won a championship! I hope the next time the Kares make a run at a title I don't have to break out a magnifying glass to find the article in the paper.

I want to know where I can send the crow for Melendez and Robledo....pickin Mead...silly hometown wabbits.

You two guys make me laugh. You tried to homer Mead to a win....and really thought they were going to blow Paraclete out.....who has the best defense in the whole Mid-Valley Division....and an offense that can move the ball. You guys must hate homework because you didn't do it here.

Should of learned against Northview....that they could hang with a bigger team....big isn't always better....and that SPEED KILLS!

Props to Mead...no props to those two lazy "alleged" sports writers.

He stole my name and made stupid statements... I think I'm gonna start posting under a new name...

That dude stole my name...

Well I agree to disagree. I have been reading the Star-News since i was a kid and I have been a life long follower of Prep Sports especially football even before i got into high school. I know the space allowed now is much smaller than it used to be for prep sports. I know you just started covering this area and for the most part I think you have done an excellent job. But know this as a person who really wants our area teams to do well big and small I was very disappointed that there were no updates or blog on the Rio game. We only had 2 teams make it to finals I don't understand why there couldn't be any updates on the Rio game.

One thing you should know by now is that when I drop the ball I say I dropped the ball. This was not the case buddy. And for the umpteenth time, Rosemead IS a Star-News team.

I know Rosemead has a much bigger enrollment but they are not in the Star News coverage area. Plus Rio is much closer than Lancaster. I could understand if you would just man up and say you dropped the ball on this one. You only had 2 games to choose from and I see no reason you couldn't cover both equally.

Observer,

Get over it. The way it goes is that people aren't going to buy the paper to hear that RHP won the CIF Title.

I buy the PSN because it covers the bigger schools. I wanted to hear about the Rosemead game. The Star-News is in business to make money. Why else? I'm 100% sure that their was probably 4 to 5 times the following for the Rosemead game than their was for the RHP game.

Sorry, but it's the way it is. It doesn't make it just or correct, but they need to do what they can to sell papers and that's the way it is.

Great job RHP! keeping it in the prep league. Hopefully next year when Alaniz and Esguerra leave Flintridge Prep can have another run at a league championship

Great job RHP! keeping it in the prep league. Hopefully next year when Alaniz and Esguerra leave Flintridge Prep can have another run at a league championship

Observer No. 2,

First off, thanks. And two, we had limited resources in terms of photographers and space, and at the end of the day we went with the school with the much larger school enrollment. Sometimes that's how the dices roll.

Miguel- You did a great job reporting on RHP this week..but you have to understand that the RHP boys
put their hearts in the game last night and won CIF...
and it was hard to look at this mornings paper..front
page..picture of Rosemead..than you turn to the sports
section and there again Rosemead...and below the fold of
the paper was the Kare's WIN (with no picture) But it
is what it is...Congrats to Head Coach Ken Drain and his
coaching staff and of course to the 2008 CIF Championship
Football Players...GO RIO!!!!!!!

Comment below is from "Spy"

"And to those who back Koffler:

Ask your kids how the coaching basically took the week off. Kids were upset after the game...saying how the staff didn't take Paraclete serious and didn't prepare them well enough. What do you expect with no practice on Monday, only film Tuesday, and hour and a half practices Wednesday and Thursday.

Those kids were sold short.Its a shame...especially after the year they had."

I HAVE NO IDEA IF ANY OF THE ABOVE IS TRUE...but I do know the circumstances. It is the 2nd week of December and even though we adults see this as the opportunity of a lifetime...many kids are feeling burned out on football. I know it sounds insane, yes, but this is true. Coming to practice and practicing full-tilt day after day...sometimes the right move may be a shortened practice schedule and MUCH coaching as to "what you will see" from the other team. Shorts and helmet sessions. Just how much "shortened" is up for debate or others may disagree entirely and say practice longer, who knows. It would be a good topic for area coaches to sound off on.

Anyway, this is where I believe Paraclete's 5 consec championships and mucho playoff experience...truly made a difference in their run to the title. This team was exquisitely prepared for each team it faced. The Spirits ruled the 2nd half of all contests they played.

It hurts that Rosemead did not win. It sucks that TC did not have a 2nd half like the incredible 1st half they had. However, things were learned and our SGV teams will again knock on this door - the next time with different results.

Let us not forget the Mead buried San Dimas, and was at the forefront of a WSGV uprising this year. Panthers - outstanding year and good luck in 09!

Paraclete's deffense was very good ! But at what point as Coach, do you say ! Hey, we need to get our best player the ball in the open field, because our bread and butter is being shut down ! Besides the fact that your o-line is gettin' raped !!!! I honestly believe Koffler's play book was at it's max ! They had nothing different to show Paraclete, just in case they stopped Sumler. Sad !

Ummm, let me break it down for you, Observer:

No way those schools COMBINED could afford to pay my rent.

I wrote a story about Rio Hondo Prep EVERY SINGLE DAY from Tuesday-Saturday, including a big feature on Eddie Garcia.

As usual, I'll never please everyone. I learned that eight years ago.

Here's a thought Pasadena Star News and Miguel!! Why dont you give Rio Hondo Prep a little ink considering they are the ONLY team in the SGV to win a championship this year!
It's a little bit pathetic that you've given Rosemead so much attention considering they LOST. Don't get me wrong, did they have a great season, absolutely! But come on, give the Kares a little credit.
All year you've catered to the big schools. Muir, St. Francis, and Rosemead might as well as paid of have your rent. I understand that its your first year in all and you're probably trying to get into the good favor of the big schools. But please, do your stinking job and report the AREA NEWS!