March 2007 Archives

Jon Joe isn't a football player playing basketball. It's the other way around.

First Team
Guard: Griffin Ramme, Damien
Guard: Troy Draves, Wilson
Forward: Jon Joe, San Dimas
Forward: Kyle Gordien, Glendora
Center: Ralph Nevarez, West Covina
Coach: Ron Rice, Northview

Have you seen Kristen McCarthy play? Have you?

All-Area First Team
Guard: Blaire Egardo, Covina
Guard: Amanda Alvarez, Bishop Amat
Forward: Kristen McCarthy, Bishop Amat
Forward: Nina Earl, Diamond Ranch
Center: Candice Brown, Bishop Amat

Yep, it was an upset. A huge win for Amat. A tough loss for LA, which won't go undefeated now.

There's a link between Walnut and good players.

Player of the Year: Nadia Link, Walnut
Coach of the Year: Scott Mocabee, South Hills
First team:
Natalie Maxey, South Hills
Renae Cuellar, Los Altos
Jessice Limon, Sierra Vista
Brittany Seaman, Walnut
Tiffany Salazar, El Monte
Shadi Moghadam, Duarte
Daelyn Paul, St. Lucy's
Briana Galbrecht, South Hills
Faith Perry, Glendora
Tiffany Mallick, St. Lucy's

Dodger Stadium: The only place on Earth where you pay more to park, than get in.

Let me get this straight, no free agent slugger, Billingsley doesn't make the rotation, Pierre bats second and now I have to pay more to park than to get in the game?

Quick Aram thought: I guess I was the last one to know about this. I found out Saturday afternoon and called everyone I knew. Dodgers parking has gone from $10 to $15. Very nice, McCourt. It used to be that baseball was the best bang for your buck in terms of pro sports entertainment. Now this!!! It would take a little bit of the sting off if the Dodgers actually signed a free-agent slugger. But no, we got Juan Pierre, who was subsequently moved to the two hole. This season is starting off real bad.

Very angrily, I called my inner circle to vent, let's go around the horn for their responses ...

Girlfriend Elizabeth: "Just park in Korea Town and take the bus. (not gonna happen)
James Shabumi: "That's why I'm not a Dodgers fan anymore. I'll root for the Angels and Arte Moreno. (not an option)
GMac (who was in Vegas, and probably didn't have all his faculties): "I don't mind it, they kept all their kids. (this is true, kemp, ethier and loney for $15 parking.)
Former columnist Keven Chavez: Inaudible after USC loss in Sweet 16, But I think he was sour, but not as much as I would've liked. I think he also pointed out that there were new routes in and out of the lot. (big deal, and he'll feel it when we go together.)

Bishop Amat's girls basketball team saw its chance at a third consecutive state championship end in overtime against Sacred Heart Cathedral at Arco Arena in Sacramento. Amat led 50-47 with seconds remaining, but the Fightin' Irish got a 3-point-play to tie it.

The game is on July 6, so don't blow your hand off two days earlier.

Game founder Jim Brownfield wants to keep it as close to the 605 Freeway, as in the middle of the Valley, as possible. Even though we all know the trophy resides in the East.

DISCLAIMER: I don't know the rosters, or the coaches. The Trib has no say in this, thank God. But if you want to discuss who you think should be there, I'm sure it would get back to those in charge.

Quick Aram thought: Real smart ... speed up the East even more by playing on carpet at Bassett's new stadium, which by the way, is now among the best in the Valley. Field turf isn't exactly the best way to level the playing field for the West to make some noise in the series.

Diana-Lynn Patterson has Los Altos in cruise control.

Don't look now, but Los Altos is 11-0.

Remaining schedule ...
Today Wilson
3/27/07 3:30 PM @Bonita
3/28/07 3:30 PM Bishop Amat
4/3/07 3:30 PM Diamond Ranch
4/5/07 3:30 PM @Diamond Ranch
4/17/07 3:30 PM Charter Oak
4/19/07 3:30 PM @Charter Oak
4/24/07 3:30 PM @Wilson
4/26/07 3:30 PM Wilson
5/1/07 3:30 PM Bonita
5/3/07 3:30 PM @Bonita
5/8/07 3:15 PM South Hills
5/10/07 3:15 PM @South Hills

You can do a lot in headlines with the word "pill."

Covina 3, Northview 2 ... interesting

It's possible Kristen McCee could fly to Sacto on her own ...

Amat wins SoCal Regional ... too quick for Santa Margarita ... headed to Arco for a third state title in a row?

Normal prep ballplayers to me and you, jedi mind tricks to San Dimas

Notable Friday results ...
Northview 3, San Dimas 1 - I've got to say it - this one surprised me.
Damien 13, Glendora 12 - Late TD wins it.

Six rounds of this?

In case you missed it, CBS anchor James Brown will call the entire tournament this year. He started by validating this terrible decision when he called Aaron Afflalo "Mr. Afflalo." OK, that's barely fine even sarcastically. But then he called UCLA bench warmer Michael Roll "Mr. Roll." We know JB doesn't know the names and we know the only college hoop he's probably seen this year was on the east coast. But please stop calling college kids "Mr."

I'm particulary upset by the pro-JB decision by CBS because it means that Gus Johnson will only call the first two rounds. In case you don't know, Gus Johnson makes the games exciting and any game he calls almost always turns into a great, tight game. I know it's just coincidence, but still. Gus Johnson adds something. JB makes me think I'm about to see Peyton Manning start warming up. No good.

Gus Johnson, good. James Brown, bad.

Here's a Gus Johnson sample for those of you who aren't sure.

For entertainment purposes only, wink wink.

Coaches
Mike LeDuc, Glendora boys hoops: Florida
Richard Wiard, Bishop Amat girls hoops: Florida
Matt Dunn, Damien hoops: North Carolina
Gordon Hamlow, Rowland boys hoops: Ohio State
Greg Gano, Los Altos football: North Carolina
Greg Gustafson, Covina girls hoops: UCLA
Rick Ronquillo, former Bassett boys hoops current Asst. Principal: Ohio State
Lou Farrar, Charter Oak football: USC
Matt Koffler, Rosemead football: Georgetown

Media
Doug Spoon: North Carolina
Art Wilson: Kansas
Aram: UCLA
Fred Robledo: UCLA
Brian Baiotto: Florida
Darren Spoon: North Carolina
Andrew Campa: Oregon

Isolated incedent or developing trend? And what was Pokey thinking about?

When it happens, not if it happens, at the prep level, will it be as frowned upon?

The shot above is that of former LSU women's basketball coach Pokey Chatman. She recently resigned because of an alleged, inappropriate sexual relationship with a former player. It also came out that LSU disallowed her to have one-on-one contact with players following a February complaint from an assistant coach. It's not known whether Chatman's actions with the former player happened when the player was actually on the team, but a source close to the team told ESPN.com "that's my understanding."

Aram thought: It's only a matter of time before a female high school sports coach gets popped for having "inappropriate relations" with a female member of her team. Yeah, I know, it will be a change of pace, compared to your typical male coach/female player fiasco. But will it be met with the same furor? Any parents have a take?

The Lancers appear headed toward another Glendora Tourney title.

From the sounds of it, Amat and G-High played a classic on Wednesday night. Coach Nieto did a little gambling and it paid off. I think G-High having a shot to win this game says the Tartans might be better than expected. Don't know what that's worth, but hey. DaSpoon, who covered the game for us, said it was a nice-sized crowd. Interesting ...

Duarte 6, Monrovia 4

Michelle Franco knows nothing but seasons that end in Sacramento.

Amat made the Division III state tournament; Diamond Ranch did not. Amat should have made it over everyone. No biggie, but you could make the case that Diamond Ranch deserved the other spot. Santa Margarita got it, however.

Nina Earl's stellar career has ended.

Bonita HS football player Kevin Normington was killed late last night in a traffic accident on Arrow Highway while driving home from his job at Warehouse Pizza near ULV. Kevin was a three-year starter on Bonita's offensive line and a team captain.

"It's a pretty sad day around here," Bonita coach Eric Podley said. "I've been here 28 years and have never seen a campus go as quiet as is it did today. He was the kind of kid you want to bring back and have coach. The kids looked up to him. He was just a really good kid."

I'm sure I speak for the entire Valley prep sports community in saying our thoughts, prayers and deepest condolences go out to the Normington family and the Bearcats family.

St. Lucy's looks to have the best combo of pitching and hitting.

FEEL FREE TO ADD YOUR THOUGHTS ... THIS SHOULD BE A VERY INTERESTING SEASON ON LOCAL DIAMONDS.

BASEBALL
1. Bishop Amat
2. Damien
3. San Dimas
4. South Hills
5. West Covina
6. Northview
7. Covina
8. Charter Oak
9. Nogales
10. Diamond Bar

SOFTBALL
1. St. Lucy's
2. Los Altos
3. Glendora
4. Diamond Bar
5. Charter Oak
6. Bishop Amat
7. San Dimas
8. South Hills
9. Walnut
10. Nogales