Just Tribbin

MCD is at Citrus trying to make a come back. Looks small and the other QB's look better!

Mark M done!

Co guy at Redlands, as middle LB

Walter Thurmond III is selected to represent U. of Oregon at the Pac 10 Media Day (this Thursday)

Here's the Pac-10 media day lineup for Thursday.

9:45 am - Paul Wulff/C Kenny Alfred - Washington State
10:00 am - Steve Sarkisian/OLB Donald Butler - Washington
10:15 am - Rick Neuheisel/MLB Reggie Carter - UCLA
10:30 am - Jim Harbaugh/RB Toby Gerhart - Stanford
10:45 am - Dennis Erickson/OLB Mike Nixon - Arizona State
11:00 am - Break
11:10 am - Mike Stoops/FS Cam Nelson - Arizona
11:25 am - Jeff Tedford/TB Jahvid Best - California
11:40 am - Mike Riley/OLB Keaton Kristick - Oregon State
11:55 am - Chip Kelly/CB Walter Thurmond III - Oregon
12:10 pm - Pete Carroll/FS Taylor Mays - USC
12:25 pm - Pac-10 Commissioner Larry Scott

Hey Fred,

Update us where these boys are!

Anyone know where the 2006 BIG SIX are today? How many of them continued their football careers. They should all be out of high school by now and juniors in college or maybe coaching at a local high school somewhere.

Inquiring minds want to know.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=adande_ja&page=stateofthenba-090721

Ok, with your infatuation and insight about the Lakers you really should consider quitting your day job and get hired working nights instead writing about the Lakers full time. My favorite "insider" is Eric Pincus a.k.a. “Emplay” who lives a utopian lifestyle working for Hoopsworld. He’s a married man and has a child too which tells me he’s obviously earning enough money to provide for his family. I’ve never asked him how much money he makes but there’s literally no better job. I’ll email him every once in a while and he’s always so sincere answering my questions and I praise his partiality. Anyways, I share your same sentiments and barring anymore scary Bynum injuries we do have the best starting five in the N.B.A. Our bench ultimately underachieved last year too in my opinion especially after the All-Star break and some of these players coming off the bench in their role need to earn their raise in salary we are paying them and the challenge to compete and contribute or when the trade deadline arrives there will be some early departures. No one though probably is willing to take on Sasha’s or Luke’s contracts although if they are playing well I see no fear in the front office of trading anyone off our bench if any other team is willing to trade with us and improve themselves at the same time. I agree with you in that we move forward going into the season with the team we already have and reevaluate if and when something necessitates a possible reshuffling of personnel but until then consistently should and will prevail over complacency and the opportunity to repeat and Ron Ron‘s motivation and inspiration in earning his first N.B.A. championship. Something else that also looms is the health of Tex Winter. Finally, please tell me you’ve read one of my favorite articles in a long time about the state of the N.B.A. by J.A. Adande. He’ll forever be one of the original Lakers “beat” writers of my generation for the L.A. Times before he “bigtimed” us for ESPN which has become to sports what MTV is to music. Stu Lantz is the most underrated underappreciated Laker loyalist on the planet!

Kurmujin, that was my point exactly. What better story to start the season, especially during the dead period, than to sit the Head Coaches down from the area and have a open discussion about their concerns, views, friendships and competitive fire. What an enlightening 3 part series that would be:

Three Part Series: High School Sports: Where Do We Go from Here?

1) Head Coaches
2) Athletic Directors
3) My turn part of the series I would focus on the challenges of teams, coaches, fans, players and administrators on historically challenged teams. I mean what do you do when you face another year at the bottom? WHat is it like to be "everyone's Homecoming Game".

Fred and the Tribune have so many stories at their disposal and yet all we read is the same old same old. Fred isn't that why newspaper people get into Journalism? I mean how many more BMOC stories do we have to read before someone asks..."Is that all there is?"

Good luck selling another great idea that will never see the light of day. Just think Fred this could be your Velcro moment ! LOL

More photos. As far as best stadiums go, there isn't anything in our Valley to compare with La Mirada. Now, there's a stadium.

Hey, El Rey, true the economics of prep sports would be interesting and possibly productive, but past suggestions along these lines have been totally ignored. Despite the very real concerns on the impact of our lousy economy and brutal budgetary realities on school spending, the toy stores appear to be open and thriving. In the face of staff and pay cuts, elimination of art and music and other intellectual pursuits, why wouldn't a serious analysis of high school sports be of value? Might even earn the writer professional recognition or a trophy or two of his very own.

Lakers respone: Nice to see you on this blog. Now, I would never compare Lamar Odom to James Worthy, Worthy is a hall of famer who's number is retired. He's right up there with the best power forwards to ever play the game. Now Fox, that's a better comparison, though I like L.O's game better than Slick Rick's. I don't think people realize what an upgrade Ron Artest is over Trevor Ariza, some have suggested Artest is getting old, but he's the same age as Kobe, they're both in their prime and can gun for championships the next five years along with Gasol and Bynum. People also fail to realize that before Bynum freakishly injured his knee PRIOR to getting Gasol, the Lakers had taken over the best record in the Western Conference. And last year, before Bynum freakishly injured his knee again, he was starting to dominate again. There is a reason Buss game him 12 mil a year, when he's healthy, he's a dominant force with three all-stars (Gasol, Artest and Bryant) surrounding him. Now, Odom would be great off the bench, but at 9 and 10 mil per year?, he's not that consistent. He's still not a very good perimeter shooter and you never know when he's going to show up. Fortunately for Odom, he finally started hitting three's in the NBA finals, the same shots he missed all season. Whether they sign him is Buss' call. If they don't get him, I still think the Lakers have a better starting five than last year, and I would like to see how Sasha, Morrison, Farmar and even Powell do with more minutes. If the Lakers need to make adjustments at the trade deadline, they can start with Morrison's expiring contract. I think it's a win-win situation for the Lakers, either way, they have good options because they still have the best starting lineup in the NBA. Having said that, I want Odom back as much as anyone. He's a great teammate and the perfect fit in L.A., so keep your fingers crossed. As far as Lakers information goes, I look where you do, Hoopshype, prosportsdaily, LA Times, Register, TheLakersnation, but also know a couple insiders who cover the team, who also have no "real" idea of what's going to happen. My gut says he going to sign, if he wanted Miami's mid-level, he would have taken it already. He will come to his sense's and realize that even the worst Lakers offer is better than the best Heat offer. As far as other acquisitions, if you don't get Odom save your money. Let's see how Morrison does with more minutes, he did average 20 in the summer league. We're the defending champs, there is no rush. There is no player that you can add that will significantly change your team without a trade. A million bucks (what the Lakers have left) isn't enough. I would rather see what players improve off the bench and take it from there.

please fred for the love of god, show the hogs some love. people are always so worried about whos throwing the ball or running it... when they dont understand all the hard work that goes down in the trenches to make it all possible

Where the hell has Joe Amat been. I have seen a couple of other call outs but no reply. Has anybody heard from Joe .

FredJ,

So I noticed you like to "moonlight" on the Lakers Blog. How ironic too that over there on that blog you’ll even receive occasional praise for your posts but almost every time here on your own blog people are always so quick to criticize you. I share the same passion for the Lakers and have also been obsessing over this entire L.O. situation for weeks now. I hate to continue to compliment you on your comments but after reading your post my perspective is much more grounded and focused now not just on the present but the future. Absolutely the organization will evaluate our team before the trade deadline this basketball season and if and when we need to make any adjustments to our roster there are plenty of egos in the front office that are shrewd business men to accomplish maybe not a repeat of the Gasol trade but definitely an upgrade to give us the opportunity to compete and go after another Laker’s dynasty and Bryant’s legacy. I’m not panicking either and truly believe L.O. ultimately realizes his rightful place is with this Lakers team so after he retires he’ll always be remembered as the James Worthy of his generation and what he meant to the entire city. If he did what’s best for him he can have both the money and the memories today and tomorrow. He could potentially one day even follow in Worthy and Fox’s life after basketball career and make money commentating on television for the Lakers.

The two questions I have for you are one where do you go for your Laker information on the internet and two do you sign anyone in the short term if L.O. mopes and sulks over to Miami? I hate when L.O. gets in his funks! He and Ron Ron are probably the only two because they are from the same neighborhood and played together for so long that understands each other. If L.O. knows Ron Ron best that is one more reason why I would like him stay because he understands Ron Ron and Ron Ron understands him. I would really like to see how they would perform together on the same basketball court given their relationship and past history together. There’s only one M.J.!

Fred here are two great ideas for the football cover. Hopefully you use them both. Before things get hot and heavy on this blog, as it always does, why not break from tradition and take a chance that would put this blog on its ear.

Over the past four years we had bloggers comment on coaching decisions, the qualifications of coaches, their love or hate of this blog and in some circumstances the love or hate between coaches. Why not have a Coaches Round Table DIscussion and put a photo of all the HC in the area in one shot. Gano, Haggerty, Bogan, Farrar, Ward, Layton, ect ect ect.

ASk them about the blog, parents, players, strenght of schedule, personal sacrifice, best players, toughest loses, and of course ask them about each other...and the respect they have for anyone crazy enough to want to lead teanagers during these hard times.

Fred I think it would be a tremendous community service to humanize these individuals and illustrate their common qualities and their different styles. I mean it's insane when you think...Gano, Bogan and Farrar have how many Championship between them? Wouldn't it be interesting to hear their take on BIshop Amat and Bishop Amat's take on trying to represent at the D1 level?

Fred if you pass on this idea you're nuts...

Here's my second idea...do a story on the Athletic Directors. Talk about a great idea!!! Just look at the issues they would cover....the economics of highs school sports and how tough it is to balance the interest of everyone involved from the students to the alumni, to the boosters to the hiring and firing of coaches ...Fred this might really be an opportunity to get an overview of the landscape of high school sports and the pressures these guys operate under...I mean how tough is it to tell a coach..'we're goin in another direction"..

But than again Fred their are ADs all around the SGV that do a great job... why not get their perspective... I mean what are the challenges faced by schools like La Puente and Bassett vs Damien and Bishop Amat vs Charter Oak and South Hills.

Well Fred there are my ideas...when it's all said and done they'll be the best ones...and that's why hey with never see the light of day.

Go figure.

August is a long month before the season kicksoff in September. Just can't wait until season begins. What about best stadiums or best mascots. The Trib's coverage of high school football is great.

Please be true! said:
IS IT TRUE said:
RUMOR MILL SAYS, SHIB LEAVING DBHS ! STORMING OUT OF DP OFFICE ? CAN THIS BE TRUE.......

Hey Fred is it true? If so great news or Diamond Bar Baseball.

July 27, 2009 8:22 AM

Show the hogs their respect!

Fred,
You guys need to fax or email one of these to each Head Coach and AD at every school you cover and then cut and paste the results here. Tell 'em they have a month to get them back. If they blow you off, say so here.

Anyone who wants to run a stealth program deserves one.

_________________________________________________

Dear Coach: Please take a moment to fill out the attached detail sheet for our pre-season roundup. We need these back no later than August 28 to ensure their inclusion in the report. Please feel free to call me with any questions.

Team:
League:
Head Coach:
08-09 Varsity Record:
League finish - Playoff wins:
08-09 JV Record:
08-09 Frosh Record:

Returning Offensive starters:
Returning Defensive starters:
Fastest Player (position):
Strongest Player (position):
Returning All-League Players (position):
Other key players (position):

Biggest reasons for optimism in the upcoming season:

Biggest areas for concern in the upcoming season:

I expect the top two Teams in our League this year, to be:

If we are to have a successful season, we need to:

Fred,

Can you confirm that Eric Shibley is leaving Diamond Bar High School and will no longer be the Head Varsity Coach? When I called the school they wouldn't confirm or deny it.