Tribskin Pick’em, your predictions and ours


Steve Ramirez and I will go head-to-head throughout the season, and I will update our records each Monday on the Tribskin Pick’em thread.

Robledo: Last season: 204-54
Ramirez: Last season: 193-65
Notes: This is the third season Steve and I have gone head-to-head. We play for a steak dinner at the end of the season, and we have split, Steve winning year one by a game, then I blew him away down the stretch last year to pull even. So, this is the rubber year. Steve made his picks last week, the man left on a Baja cruise this morning and will be back Thursday ready for action. Okay, so we agree on all games with the exception of Norwalk-South El Monte and Westview-Bonita, in which I have gone with the out-of-area teams. Norwalk was 8-5 last season and is a 44-20 favorite on Calpreps. Even though the Eagles have a new coach and there will be plenty of energy, they’re still missing a lot of weapons from last season. Bonita is playing a San Diego team that went 9-3 in Division II football down South. The Bearcats are a see-it-to-believe it team for me, and right now I don’t believe it. We both like Damien’s chances for an upset, but are realistic enough to stay with Rancho Cucamonga. We also think Muir will be too much on their new turf at home, and that Los Altos will get off to a good start with a convincing win over San Dimas. Did I just say that? I mean, Charter Oak will open with a romp. Teams that we’re very curious about are La Puente, Azusa, and Workman, the three we believe will fight it out for the Montview league title. Will Baldwin Park win easily, and how will Duarte fair when the Tip Sanders era begins? It all goes down in week one.

Thursday, Sept. 3
La Puente at Gabrielino, 7 p.m. — Robledo (La Puente), Ramirez (La Puente)
Azusa vs. Garey at Citrus College, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Azusa), Ramirez (Azusa)
Friday, Sept. 4
Damien vs. Rancho Cucamonga at Los Osos, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Rancho), Ramirez (Rancho)
San Dimas at Los Altos, 7:30 p.m. — Robledo (Los Altos); Ramirez (Los Altos)
Norwalk at South El Monte, 7: p.m — Robledo (Norwalk), Ramirez (South El Monte)
Gardena at Charter Oak, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Charter Oak), Ramirez (Charter Oak)
Diamond Ranch at Muir, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Muir), Ramirez (Muir)
Westview at Bonita, 7 p.m — Robledo (Westview), Ramirez (Bonita)
West Covina at El Rancho, 7 p.m — Robledo (West Covina), Ramirez (West Covina)
Nogales at Baldwin Park, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Baldwin Park), Ramirez (Baldwin Park)
Buena Park at Bassett, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Bassett), Ramirez (Bassett)
Mountain View vs. Workman at La Puente, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Workman), Ramirez (Workman)
Western Christian vs. Gladstone at Citrus College, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Gladstone), Ramirez (Gladstone)
Duarte at Cajon, 7:00 p.m — Robledo (Cajon), Ramirez (Cajon)

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Two-Minute Drill: Back for a fourth season with our analysis and predictions on the top games

Time Warner’s Reginald Miller, Tribune Prep Editor Fred J. Robledo and staff writer Steve Ramirez discuss this week’s top four games and give their predictions. BTW, the football preview section comes out on Wednesdsay, make sure you get a copy.

Friday’s season-opening games
Damien at Rancho Cucamonga, 7 p.m.
San Dimas at Los Altos, 7 p.m.
Diamond Ranch at Muir, 7 p.m.
Gardena at Charter Oak, 7 p.m.

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Eddie Miles memorial service tonight

The funeral service for San Dimas High school baseball and football player Eddie Miles will be held on Monday evening in San Dimas. The arrangements are below. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

Photo: Mike Mullen / Correspondent

Edwin (Eddie) Stephen Miles
Monday, August 31, 4 pm
Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church, (southeast corner of Bonita Avenue and San Dimas Canyon Road) 724 E. Bonita Avenue San Dimas, CA 91773

A scholarship fund has been set up in memory of this wonderful young man: Edwin (Eddie) Miles Scholarship Fund Stellar Business Bank. 100 N. Azusa Avenue, Covina, CA 91722, Account #01102642. Attention: Tula Lee. Reception info to be given at service.

Further, Cindy, Dean and Dennis sincerely appreciate the immense outpouring of sympathy expressed by everyone in the community. If you have any questions, please call Eagle Escrow at the number listed below.

Denise Campagna and Sharie Bowers
Eagle Escrow Co. 901 E. Route 66, Suite B
Glendora, CA 91740 Phone (626) 914-4523,Fax (626) 914-6923

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Charter Oak only SGV team in LA Times’ top 25

The L.A. Times thinks so highly of football in the San Gabriel Valley that at least Charter Oak earned a spot in its preseason rankings, slipping in at No. 25. But the SGV will get a chance to prove itself. Charter Oak gets No. 13 Rancho Cucamonga in a month, South Hills will face No. 8 Tesoro, and Bishop Amat will tackle No. 4 St. Bonaventure, No. 5 Notre Dame, No.14 Loyola, and No. 19 Crespi. Did I say the Lancers will probably go 4-6, well, now you know why.

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Weekend Conversation: It’s a wide open race for the Tribune’s football player of the year award

Everyone wants to win a championship, but one of the most prestigious honors is the Tribune’s football player of the year award. Who will that be this year? Remember, this isn’t an award based on who performs the best at the next level, or who has the most talent. It’s not about who plays in the toughest division, though tougher schedules certainly help. Look, Sierra Vista players won in back-to-back years in 1995-96. There are past winners from Bassett, Northview, Baldwin Park and Azusa. It’s for anyone. It’s for the player who combines a spectacular individual season with a great team season. Then we consider the competition, and make the best choice. It’s our High School Heisman. Names that instantly jump out are Charter Oak’s Adam Muema. West Covina’s Ricky Johnson. Bishop Amat’s Darian Johnson. Glendora’s Wallace Gonzales. Walnut’s Leonard Rhodes. Rowland’s Michael Ball. South Hills’ Geoffrey Vaughns. There could be sleepers like Arroyo sophomore quarterback Steven Rivera, or what if South Hills’ Jordan Canada becomes eligible. You never know what’s going to happen, but one thing is certain, if you make this list, you’re among the very best in Valley history.

Tribune Players of the Year (1969-present)
1969 Fred McNeil, Baldwin Park RB
1970 Pat Haden, Bishop Amat QB and John McKay Jr., Bishop Amat WR
1971 Mike Vicino, Royal Oak RB
1972 Rob Hertel, Los Altos QB and Ron Himes, Walnut QB
1973 Dennis Sproul, Los Altos QB
1974 Brian Bethke, South Hills QB
1975 Richard Nyden, Azusa QB
and John Van Vuren, South Hills RB
1976 Bob Epps, West Covina DL
1977 Don Roberts, Temple City RB
1978 Ron Stivers, West Covina RB
1979 Ray McNeill, El Monte WR
and Danny Trejo, Baldwin Park WR
1980 Bill Stone, Charter Oak RB
1981 Blake Smith, Los AltosQB
and Steve Lauter, Los Altos WR
1982 Mike Smith, Los Altos QB
1983 Randy Tanner, Bishop Amat; Paul Hewitt, Monrovia
1984 Michael Johnson, Baldwin Park QB
1985 Eric Bieniemy, Bishop AmatRB
1986 Eric Bieniemy, Bishop Amat RB
1987 Bill Gallis, Northview QB
1988 Jason Martin, Los Altos TE/DB
1989 Marshawn Thompson, Bassett RB
1990 Jason Patterson, Bishop Amat FB/DE
1991 Marc Ruiz, Baldwin ParkQB
1992 Lawrence Phillips, Baldwin Park RB-DB
1993 Miguel Meriwether, West Covina QB/DB
1994 Daylon McCutcheon, Bishop Amat RB/FS
1995 Oscar Interiano, Sierra Vista RB
1996 Oscar Arzu, Sierra Vista RB
1997 Nick Covarrubias, Covina QB/DB
1998 Steve Stevenson, Charter Oak WR/RB/DB
1999 Jason Wright, Diamond Bar, RB/DB
2000 – Felipe Aguilar, Los Altos, QB
2001 – Donnie McCleskey, Bishop Amat RB
2002 – Daniel Drayton, Randall Brown, Los Altos RBs/DBs
2003 – Brigham Harwell, Los Altos DE
2004 – William Wagner, Bishop Amat RB
2005 – Mike McDonough, Covina QB
2006 – Mike McDonough, Covina QB
2007 – Dorian Wells, South Hills, RB
2008 – Chris Allen, Charter Oak, QB

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At Fontana Miller High, a hazing incident results in the suspension of several football players

By J.P. Hoornstra
SB Sun Staff writer

An act of hazing by upperclassmen on the Miller High School football team last Thursday has resulted in the possible suspension of at least 10 varsity players by the school. The incident included “verbal and physical harassment,” according to a statement released by Fontana Unified School District Superintendent Cali Olsen-Binks. No students reported being seriously injured.

Continue reading “At Fontana Miller High, a hazing incident results in the suspension of several football players” »

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Both Canadas declared ineligible by CIF citing “athletically motivated” reasons; *Update

*FRIDAY UPDATE: CIF director of communications Thom Simmons confirmed that Gala Canada, the mother of Jordan and Jamie Canada, met with CIF-SS officials on Thursday and stated her case for her sons to be reinstated. This is not an official appeal, however. Simmons said that CIF is gathering more information and if they decide to reverse their decision, it could come early next week.

By Fred J. Robledo, Staff Writer
CIF-Southern Section officials ruled on Monday that South Hills High School football players Jordan (senior) and Jamie (sophomore) Canada are ineligible for the 2009 football season, citing an “athletically motivated” transfer from Duarte High School.
The brothers left Duarte in the spring and enrolled at South Hills. They have been practicing with the Huskies football team in preparation for the season, which begins next week.
The Canada family filed a transfer request with the CIF-SS based on “change of residence,” having moved from Duarte to the South Hills high school district. But the request was denied after Duarte officials suggested the move was “athletically motivated” in paperwork filed with the CIF-SS office.
“We based our decision on statements from the previous school that this (transfer) was athletically motivated,” said CIF-SS director of communications Thom Simmons. “Now it’s up to the parents (of Jordan and Jamie Canada) and South Hills to show that it wasn’t an athletically motivated transfer.” The news caught South Hills officials by surprise on Monday. Huskies coach Steve Bogan said they’re in the process of filing an appeal.
“We know that they (the Canadas) did everything right,” Bogan said. “We know this was not a final decision, it was a step in the process. CIF has a process they have to go through to find clarity. We’re looking into it and will work with CIF to find that clarity so they can make the right decision.” Jordan Canada is a highly regarded running back with a scholarship offer from New Mexico. He rushed for 1,956 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior for the Falcons. The Canadas and several other football players left the school and enrolled at nearby schools after Duarte fired coach Wardell Crutchfield following the 2008 season. Crutchfield is still a teacher at Duarte, but his son, Wardell Crutchfield Jr., is now a student at Baldwin Park and playing for the Braves after also transferring from Duarte. “I know the (Canada) family and know it was not athletically motivated,” Crutchfield said. “It’s a shame. They were trying to move into a better situation, a safer situation. They’re good kids, I’m shocked to be honest with you.”

Duarte athletic director Robyn Garcia hinted this could happen in an April 6 conversation. Former Duarte coach Wardell Crutchfield reacted to the news on Monday: “I know the (Canada) family and know it was not athletically motivated,” Crutchfield said. “It’s a shame. They were trying to move into a better situation, a safer situation. They’re good kids, I’m shocked to be honest with you.”

Side note: Neiko Padilla, who transferred from South El Monte to South Hills, also filed a change of residence transfer, and was given a “valid” change of address approval by CIF.

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