The Shadow

Poly clarification

2008-12-02T19:38:04Z

As noted by a reader, I mentioned Poly goes into its game Friday against Lakewood "limping" a bit. I meant that literally, not figuratively. In other words, they are not limping because they won their two playoff games by close scores. They are limping because they had a few injuries to key players who were not able to play against Esperanza. Don't know how those players are doing, and we won't know until the game starts, because coach Lara likes to keep that info close to the vest. Doesn't want his opponent to know where there might be a weakness.

Poly-Lakewood pick

2008-12-02T00:49:34Z

I've pumped up Poly all year long, but this week I'm going with the underdog. Poly has looked human the past two weeks, winning close games against Bishop Amat and Esperanza. Last Friday, Lakewood dominated a very good Mission Viejo squad. Lakewood is hot right now and Poly seems to be limping a bit now. Defenses will dominate this game. Final: Lakewood 13, Poly 10.

College football playoff system. Right here.

2008-11-11T22:11:51Z

Here's my college football playoff system:
Let's use the BCS system to rank the top 12 teams.
Teams ranked 1 through 4 get a bye week the first weekend.
The remaining eight teams play four games: No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 6 vs. No. 11; No. 7 vs. No. 10; and No. 8 vs. No. 9
For the second weekend, you take the winners of those four games and re-seed, with No. 1 facing the lowest seed, No. 2 the next lowest, etc.
For the third weekend, you have the semifinals.
Final weekend, championship game.
You might have to shorten the regular season so it ends by the first week of December. The playoffs run from early December, finishing up New Year's Day, or right around then. How exciting would that be?

McCain or Obama?

2008-11-04T22:59:49Z

Sports fans have their own views on politics. I'm wondering where the sports fanatics stand. Place your unofficial vote here.

Compton, anybody?

2008-11-04T22:53:24Z

Looking for predictions on Friday's Moore League "showdown" between Poly and Compton. I put "showdown" in quotes because every year it seems there is some school that emerges and thinks it has a chance against Poly, and then every year, it loses. Granted, there have been some relatively close games in recent years, but no victories over Poly.
Honestly, when you win 45-0, and your coach is disappointed in your performance, as Poly coach Raul Lara was after last Friday's win over Cabrillo, you know you're dealing with a powerhouse. Since I'm a gambler (legally, of course), I'm going to put a pointspread on the game and you can "place your bet." Here it is:
Compton (+8 1/2) at Poly.

Why, why, why?

2008-11-04T22:46:32Z

Does anybody have any idea why Bryshon Nellum was shot? Was it the neighborhood he was in? Does he have enemies in LA? Why would such a good kid get shot?

Dodgers, Dodgers, Dodgers ...

2008-10-14T20:56:10Z

I really thought the Dodgers were this year's version of the 2002 Angels, i.e, the team that gets on a roll at just the right time and carries it through to a World Series title. That may still be the case, but there is one major difference. In 2002, Mike Scioscia had a bullpen that was nearly flawless. In 2008, Joe Torre's bullpen is suspect, and he needs to stick with the hot hand. Scioscia was able to go from one arm to the next (Ben Weber, Brendan Donnelly, Francisco Rodriguez) and they all performed well, carrying the torch to Troy Percival in the ninth. Torre doesn't have such a luxury, so he needs more innings from his starters and has to have a keen eye as to which reliever is on his game. The other option is for the offense to explode and make the bullpen virtually meaningless, as was the case in the series victory over the Cubs.

Poly beats St. Bonaventure

2008-10-11T04:25:22Z

Poly passed yet another tough test tonight. It beat highly -regarded St. Bonaventure, 12-7. Poly broke up a pass in the end zone to hold on to victory and improve to 5-0. See pictures/buy reprints>>

Poly-Lakewood prediction

2008-10-03T05:27:00Z

Lakewood's good; Poly's potentially great. Lakewood won't have its best running back; Poly still hasn't played at the top of its game and really hasn't been as motivated as it is in the Moore League opener. Poly 27, Lakewood 6. Take it to the bank.

Any questions?

2008-09-20T20:30:35Z

Obviously, the only thing three weeks off did to Poly's football team was prevent it from putting three more W's on its record. Newport Harbor is a solid team from the OC, but Poly made them look like little surfer boys. Like I said, Poly's running game is virtually unstoppable.

Snoop in da' house

2008-09-16T22:03:11Z

Some of you may know that the sons of Wayne Gretzky and Joe Montana play football for Oaks Christian High up in Westlake Village of the San Fernando Valley. Well, we got our own celebs here in the LBC as well. Word is Snoop's son plays quarterback for Poly's freshman team, and he's got Snoop's height. Keep an eye out for this Broadus kid - I think his first name is Corde - in the next few years.

Poly dominance

2008-09-16T22:00:56Z

Poly High's football team gets back on the field after a three-week layoff on Friday against a solid Newport Harbor team. But these Jackrabbits are good. Better than your average Poly team, and that's saying something. Their running game cannot be stopped.

Up and down Bruins

2008-09-16T21:56:50Z

UCLA is a one-point underdog against Arizona Saturday, but go with the Bruins. They are a completely different team at home, and Arizona lost to New Mexico last week.

I told you so...

2008-09-15T23:35:27Z

USC was a big winner; UCLA a big loser, just as yours truly predicted last week...

Friday night's prep football scores

2008-09-13T06:53:40Z

Paramount 15, Cabrillo 12
Jordan 28, Beverly Hills 13
Lakewood 37, Peninsula 10
Millikan 45, Bellflower 27
G.G. Pacifica 23, Wilson 7
Fresno Edison 8, Dominguez 6
La Habra 40, Downey 15
Lynwood 21, Harvard-Westlake 21
Santa Fe 40, Warren 14
Fullerton 33, La Mirada 16
Norwalk 58, Los Amigos 14
S.J. Bosco 34, Damien 0
St. Paul 31, Garfield 14
Brentwood 22, St. Anthony 14
Serra 21, Carson 19
Valley Christian 35, La Quinta 13
Morningside 25, Centennial 19
Bassett 29, Firebaugh 26
Banning 33, Los Angeles 0
Gardena 31, Jefferson 8
San Pedro 48, Santee 3