August 2009 Archives

Good coverage by reporter Robert Morales on the upcoming Moore League football season in today's P-T. It looks like Lakewood is going to be good, but did you see Kevin Anderson's quote: "I think we're going to beat Poly and go all the way and possibly win state." How much you wanna bet somebody at Poly clips that from the paper and posts it on a bulletin board in the team room? Suburban League preview is coming in Monday's paper.

Women model fashion after a mudflat football match in the mud near the northern German costal town of Brunsbuettel on August 30, 2009. The event is held on the sea bed when the tide is out leaving the muddy floor. ROLAND MAGUNIA/AFP/Getty Images

OAKLAND, CA - AUGUST 29: A fan of the Oakland Raiders looks on during a preseason game against the New Orleans Saints at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on August 29, 2009 in Oakland, California. Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - AUGUST 29: Teague Cowley of the U.S. competes in the Standing Men LW 9-1 Slalom IPC Alpine Skiing during day eight of the Winter Games NZ at Coronet Peak on August 29, 2009 in Queenstown, New Zealand. Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images

Poly opens up the 2009 football season at Vets Stadium on Thursday against Servite, and it will be a stiff test. According to maxpreps.com, the guru of prep sports, Servite is ranked No. 5 in the state; Poly is No. 10 (fyi: Lakewood is No. 3). But I got word from a source today that Servite will be without one starting lineman and one starting linebacker because of serious injuries.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 27: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs with the ball during the preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lincoln Financial Field on August 27, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

In regard to recent comments made by Poly people... This is a blog. Blogs are an opportunity for the public at large to engage in conversation/debate/dialog on current issues affecting the community, instead of simply being "told" what is happening by reading the newspaper and not having the chance to respond. The Jerry Stone matter is both a private matter for his family AND a public matter. In other words, it's also NEWS, and since we are in the NEWS business, it's important for us to spark discussion. It's important to discuss these kinds of issues because without dialog solutions to these problems will be more difficult to find than if we do what you suggest and just leave it alone. And the reason I called out Poly for discussion is because Poly is the measuring stick of the league. Poly is at the top. Poly is the program every other program aspires to be. As far as covering the players on the field, starting next week we'll have stories on the teams, their games, their players and coverage of the other sports like we always do, almost every single day, every year, until school gets out in June.

Where are all the Poly fans/parents/students/athletes? Usually the Poly faithful have plenty to say. For once, the focus isn't on you. What do the Poly folks think of all this Lakewood/Stone stuff?

Once again, to "wonder why things couldn't have turned out differently" is rhetorical. The answer that "he is young and won't realize the consequences of his actions until much later in life" is a broad, sweeping statement that could be applied to any kid that gets in trouble and gets us nowhere. And the point of asking questions like that is in the hope that more specific answers can be found, even if it may be too late for Stone. I think it benefits everybody if the focus is not to analyze these "questions," but rather on finding specific and not generic answers.

I wasn't saying that no one TRIED to get into Stone's head. It was a rhetorical question, asking why no one was ABLE to get into his head. Obviously, no one was able to. ... And learning more about the story, according to our columnist Doug Krikorian's sources, Stone and some of his family have a history of being connected to the Crips gang. Stone's dad and uncles were killed, Stone's dad when Jerry was only 5. That breaks your heart, but you still wish and wonder why things couldn't have turned out differently.

Chicago Cubs' Jeff Baker is almost hit by a pitch from Washington Nationals relief pitcher Jorge Sosa during the eighth inning of a baseball game and 9-4 win over the Washington Nationals, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009, at Wrigley Field in Chicago. AP photo.

I don't know Jerry Stone's background. I don't know if he had a tough childhood, what his family situation was, if he was abused in some way. But damn, wasn't there ANYONE out there -- a coach, a family friend, a relative -- who could have pulled him aside and got into his head? Knocked some frickin' sense into him? You're gonna risk throwing your whole life away to be a thug, a tough guy? You're about to start your senior year of high school. You are the star running back on a very good football team. You might end up earning a full-ride scholarship to a big-time college. It's the best time of your life. And you're gonna flush it down the toilet because some gang BS? Don't the gangbangers at least give the guys who have a chance to make it big as athletes a little leeway? Let them do their thing on the athletic field and not force them to participate the gang crap? This just pisses me off. What a waste. At least some of you other 'bangers out there have a chance to change things around before it's too late. Here's your choices. 1) die; 2) go to jail; 3) pull your head out of your rear end and make your momma proud.

The Dodgers/Rockies game Tuesday night came down to a Long Beach vs. Long Beach battle. With the bases loaded and the game tied in the 10th inning, ex-Poly High star James McDonald was on the mound for the Dodgers against ex-Long Beach State standout Troy Tulowitzki. Tulo won the battle, lining a single to center on the first pitch to give the Dirtbags, er, Rockies, a victory.

Lower Manhattan, New York can be seen as Greg Chalmers, of Australia, hits a second shot on the 18th fairway Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009, in Jersey City, N.J., during a practice round for The Barclays golf tournament.

Like the song goes, the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, are straight outta Compton. So why are they being quoted as saying, "We're South Florida girls," in stories about them become part-owners of the Miami Dolphins? That's pretty messed up, disowning your childhood roots. They should be proud of where they come from, wherever it is. And for the record, it's COMPTON. Own it, girls.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 20: A Colts fan watches the action on the field from the stands during the Philadelphia Eagles against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 20, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo by Scott Boehm/Getty Images

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Czech Republic's Roman Sebrle competes in the long jump qualifying event of the men's decathlon during the 2009 IAAF Athletics World Championships on August 19, 2009 in Berlin. FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images

I understand people get a little tired of ESPN going nuts over Brett Favre every time he blows his nose, but I don't have a problem with him coming back. Hey, a guy's allowed to change his mind, especially if someone is willing to pay him $10 million. I'd love to see the Eagles and Vick vs. the Vikings and Favre in the NFC Championship game. Who'd get booed more?

BERLIN - AUGUST 16: Jessica Ennis of Great Britain & Northern Ireland competes in the women's Heptathlon (Javelin Throw) Final during day two of the 12th IAAF World Athletics Championships at the Olympic Stadium on August 16, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)

What Michael Vick did was wrong, horribly wrong. But he went to prison and paid the price. Outrage at his return is understandable, but how is that worse than killing someone? Isn't Leonard Little, who killed someone while drunk driving, still playing for the Rams? Where's the outrage? Browns receiver Donte' Stallworth recently killed someone while drunk driving. He gets a year suspension from the league, and then he'll be back. Somehow, I don't foresee people picketing his return. Let's get a little perspective here people.

NEWQUAY, ENGLAND - AUGUST 05: A surfer makes his way across the rocks during the Relentless Boardmasters surfing feastival on August 5, 2009 in Newquay, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Prince Fielder needs to get over it. If Mota threw at his head, then Fielder is justified in going after Mota, but he's got to do it immediately. Mota did exactly what he is obliged to do, under "unwritten rule" 41.2e: "Keep the ball low when retaliating for your best hitter getting hit by a pitch." I would think Fielder would expect his pitchers to do the same for him if he got hit by a pitch first.