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I’m getting old.

How can I tell? Because the upcoming shake up in college football has me disturbed and almost irate. Disappointed and disillusioned. Rather like I predicted in an earlier article about the future of college football.

While it’s good to know that my prognostic abilities are sound, I was really hoping I would be wrong this once. 

But I’m not here to write about the realignment of division I football just yet. I find it distasteful to know that what is happening in the world of college football –big money chasing bigger money,  with  everyone scrambling not to be left behind–is so contrary to what a great man who recently passed from this  world stood for.  My father referred to him as the Last Mohican, and there is some truth to the sentiment.

I  know I’m old because I remember John Wooden, that last Mohican he was referring to, and know of his fundamental teachings on the basketball court as well as on the court of life. My participation in sport  was heavily laced with his belief that integrity, effort,  and how one played the game truly mattered.  On the court the team came first and he expected 100 percent at all times, but how one conducted  themselves off the court was the end goal of his teachings. None of his players were a success until they left his classroom and excelled at life after basketball.

It’s said that the words winning and losing were never uttered in his pregame, halftime or postgame speeches. Instead, one of the blocks from his Pyramid of Success would be the topic. He might discuss the team’s enthusiasm or alertness, or maybe their intentness would be the theme of the halftime lecture.  The focus was not the end result, but how his team was going to get to the finish line.

After the game team spirit, poise or competitive greatness may have been the topic that coach closed the night with.

In an era where the ends justify  the means in sport, with athletes staying  only one year at the collegiate basketball level, it’s ironic that this formula gained UCLA more NCAA college basketball  championships than any other school in history. It’s highly doubtful that their winning streaks and stats will ever be broken.

Loyalty.

Was there ever another public figure who epitomized  this increasingly rare trait as strongly as John Wooden?  Whether it be to his school, his family, his players or his beloved Nell, he represented  standards of dependability, truthfulness and was the definitive example of a devoted man.  Old fashioned qualities at times in this day, but he was a rare man who lived an admirable and worthy life.

He set a standard in basketball that created a great dynasty.  Whether you revered or reviled them, UCLA and John Wooden carved their names in the history books and earned our respect.   

So I’m taking a brief break from the chaos of college football in June to remember this legend who will be sorely missed.  I wonder what he would think about this current re-structuring?

Would a man who lived simply in the same condo for years because it met his needs admire the advent of sport and winning first at the university level?

What would he say about the exorbitant  salaries that will be necessary to retain winning coaching staffs in these new super conferences, where winning will be everything?

 Would he caution against placing so much expectation and importance on winning championships at the possible expense of education;  the first and most important reason he felt a student should be attending college?

Sadly, we’ll never know.

Progress is inevitable in society, and sport is not exempt.  Whether the “progress” we’re heading into will be for the best is yet to be determined, but it certainly seems diametrically opposed to what the old coach taught.

Please join me in remembering the Wizard of Westwood;  the last great Mohican. The moniker is not intended to offend anyone, but to refer to the passing of an icon; a man who was a culture unto himself. One that I hope is not lost to us, as the Mohicans were, but that will live on as an example of how best to comport ourselves, both as sportsmen and as human beings.

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Baseball is not my favorite sport.  I liken it to watching grass grow; not terribly exciting. Playing it was fun, but as a spectator I was more enthralled with the Coney Island hot dogs and Cherry Cokes  from the concession stand.

Having said that, though, there have been some thrilling events so far in the 2010 season. Three–yes, three–perfect games in one month. Whether the most recent no-hitter gets into the record books is irrelevant; we all know it happened.

 The first one, thrown by Oakland A’s pitcher Dallas Braden was followed by his grandmother, who was in the stands, gleefully telling Alex Rodriguez to “stick it”.  Her grandson had taken exception to A-Rod returning to first base via the pitcher’s mound in an earlier game–one of those unspoken no-no’s in baseball. After Dallas let him know his feelings on the subject, A-Rod responded with some less than courteous comments.

Dallas’s grandma was just letting him know he needed to show her boy some respect. Hearing about her defiant message to the Yankee slugger, I smiled as I remembered my own grandmother. We called her Mamaw, and she was a rabid Oakland A’s fan.

I spent many  happy summer days with her, the radio tuned into every A’s game. She would sit quietly in her chair, cigarette dangling from her lips,  concentration divided fiercely between her sewing and the words of the radio commentator.  About the only comments to be heard from her during a game were a few profanities –always muttered  in her genteel lady-like manner–or words of encouragement to her favorite players. If the game ended in an A’s victory she would smile but was never over exuberant; it was only to be expected that Oakland would win.

If they lost,  she would sadly shake her head, comment on the terrible pitching, and turn the radio off.  They could redeem themselves in the next game, and we’d be listening.

Memories of our loved ones who are gone can assail us at different times. For me, summer and baseball will always remind me of this gentle lady who adored the wrong Bay Area team; the rest of the family rooted for the Giants. And just like Dallas Braden’s grandmother, she was unapologetic in her support of her chosen team. I can easily imagine Mawaw smiling and delivering a similar “stick it” to any baseball player or person, no matter how big, who disparaged her Oakland Athletics.

The second perfect game was thrown by Florida Marlins pitcher Roy Halloday. This was a nice respite from the controversy surrounding the Marlins due to their superstar Hanley Ramirez’s suspension and his following less than respectful comments about his manager.  It was a welcome contrast between what’s best in the game versus what is terribly wrong with the game, all on one team within a two week period.

Roy Halloday is an anomaly among MLB starting pitchers today, routinely throwing complete games in an era when most starting pitchers are good for five to six innings.  Obviously he throws more pitches than the average starter, but he also throws less pitches per hitter–a sign of efficiency that must be a welcome change for any manager or bull pen.  Pitching a perfect game is a great addition to his already impressive stats, and was another positive shot in the arm for the often beleaguered reputation of MLB.

Two nights ago we witnessed the third perfect game of the season, although it won’t be recorded as such.  Detroit Tiger pitcher Armando Galarraga was robbed of his perfect game due to a blown call by umpire Jim  Joyce at first base. On- line and televised outrage ensued.  Due to the beauty of 21st century technology and irrational sports fanaticism, Mr. Joyce’s father even received a call threatening his son.

I don’t want to argue the merits of instant replay in baseball, nor do I want to debate the issue of whether Bud Selig should have reversed the bad call and credited Armando with his perfect game. You can listen to this ad nauseum on ESPN or any sports radio show, as it’s currently one of the hottest topics.

I  do want to applaud what was possibly the classiest episode in professional sports  seen in a long time.  Jim Joyce went to the Tiger’s locker room after viewing a replay of the call in question. Not simply a bad call; a historical call.

He apologized to Galarraga, admitted he’d made a bad call and genuinely felt terrible.  Armando had never gotten overly upset, hadn’t thrown  a tantrum and never bad mouthed the umpire– a nice change from the reactions of other highly paid and self-important athletes  we’ve watched recently.

The following day, Tiger’s manager Jim Leyland handed Galarraga the game’s starting lineup to give to plate umpire Jim Joyce. The two were friendly, patted each other’s backs, and went about their business. It was respectful and the perfect antidote, allowing the afternoon crowd and the teams to get past the previous night’s error and get on with the business of baseball.

Kudos to Jim Leyland for diffusing what could have been a very difficult situation for the embarrassed umpire in Detroit by having Galarraga deliver the lineup.  It was a fine exhibition of sportsmanship, not to mention smart management skills.

Kudos to Mr. Galarraga for understanding that mistakes are made by everyone, and having the grace and maturity to let it go. He has the video; he knows he pitched a perfect game.

And finally, kudos to Jim Joyce. As a sports fan, a parent and a human being it can be frustrating seeing blatant mistakes or wrong-doings occur that the guilty party refuses to take accountability for. To see someone take ownership for something that had such monumental implications is almost unprecedented, especially  when dealing with the egos involved in every aspect of professional sports today.

Class, from every party involved. It was inspiring to see, and certainly a refreshing change.  

Ah, the days of summer.  I may like the hot dogs more than I do the baseball, but I always appreciate the memories,  and any examples of those involved in sports at their best.

Email questions or comments  to:  BroncoBabe@lassensportsnetwork.com

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So if you think sportsmanship is toast, this next story is an all-you-can-eat buffet to a starving man.

It happened at a junior varsity girls’ softball game in Indianapolis this spring. After an inning and a half, Roncalli was womanhandling inner-city Marshall Community. Marshall pitchers had already walked nine Roncalli batters. The game could’ve been 50-0 with no problem.

It’s no wonder. This was the first softball game in Marshall history. A middle school trying to move up to include grades 6 through 12, Marshall showed up to the game with five balls, two bats, no helmets, no sliding pads, no cleats, 16 players who’d never played before, and a coach who’d never even seen a game.

One Marshall player asked, “Which one is first base?” Another: “How do I hold this bat?” They didn’t know where to stand in the batter’s box. Their coaches had to be shown where the first- and third-base coaching boxes were.

That’s when Roncalli did something crazy. It offered to forfeit.

Yes, a team that hadn’t lost a game in 2½ years, a team that was going to win in a landslide purposely offered to declare defeat. Why? Because Roncalli wanted to spend the two hours teaching the Marshall girls how to get better, not how to get humiliated.

“The Marshall players did NOT want to quit,” wrote Roncalli JV coach Jeff Traylor, in recalling the incident. “They were willing to lose 100 to 0 if it meant they finished their first game.” But the Marshall players finally decided if Roncalli was willing to forfeit for them, they should do it for themselves. They decided that maybe — this one time — losing was actually winning.

That’s about when the weirdest scene broke out all over the field: Roncalli kids teaching Marshall kids the right batting stance, throwing them soft-toss in the outfield, teaching them how to play catch. They showed them how to put on catching gear, how to pitch, and how to run the bases. Even the umps stuck around to watch.

“One at a time the Marshall girls would come in to hit off of the [Roncalli] pitchers,” Traylor recalled. “As they hit the ball their faces LIT UP! They were high fiving and hugging the girls from Roncalli, thanking them for teaching to them the game.”

This is the kind of thing that can backfire with teenagers — the rich kids taking pity on the inner-city kids kind of thing. Traylor was afraid of it, too.

“One wrong attitude, one babying approach from our players would shut down the Marshall team, who already were down,” wrote Traylor. “But our girls made me as proud as I have ever been. … [By the end], you could tell they were having a blast. The change from the beginning of the game to the end of the practice was amazing.”

Roncalli High School’s girls’ softball team demonstrated true compassion to Marshall High.

Roncalli wasn’t done. Traylor asked all the parents of his players and anybody else he knew for more help for Marshall — used bats, gloves, helmets, money for cleats, gloves, sliders, socks and team shirts. They came up with $2,500 and worked with Marshall on the best way to help the program with that money. Roncalli also connected Marshall with former Bishop Chatard coach Kim Wright, who will advise the program.

“We probably got to some things 10 years quicker than we would have had without Roncalli,” says Marshall principal Michael Sullivan.

And that was just the appetizer. A rep from Reebok called Sullivan and said, “What do you need? We’ll get it for you.” A man who owns an indoor batting cage facility has offered free time in the winter. The Cincinnati Reds are donating good dirt for the new field Marshall will play on.

“This could’ve been a thing where our kids had too much pride,” says Sullivan. “You know, ‘I’m not going to listen to anybody.’ But our kids are really thirsty to learn.”

And they are. Marshall never won a game, but actually had leads in its last three games. In fact, it went so well, the players and their parents asked if they could extend the season, so they’re looking to play AAU summer softball.

Just a thought: Major League Baseball is pulling hamstrings trying to figure out how to bring baseball back to the inner city. Maybe it should put the Roncalli and Marshall girls in charge?

Anyway, it’s not an important story, just one that squirts apple juice right in your face. And who knows? Maybe someday, Marshall will be beating Roncalli in the final inning, realize how far it has come, and forfeit again, just as a thank you.
Click here for the original column.

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The Special Athletes and Activity Club is a group of special needs students and other campus students that will serve as mentors for the special needs population. 

The Special Athletes and Activity Club is committed to the equality of opportunity for all individuals with or without disabilities, who can benefit from physical and social activities.  The club will promote physical, emotional, and social well-being in sport, recreational or social activities at their level of choice.

THE CLUB IS HAVING THEIR FIRST FUNDRAISER ON FRIDAY MAY 21, 2010 AT ROUND TABLE PIZZA BETWEEN 4PM-9PM COME AND SUPPORT THIS GROUP BY GETTING A PIZZA! 

THE GROUP WILL ALSO BE HAVING A CAR WASH AT SUSANVILLE SUPERMARKET ON SATURDAY MAY 22, 2010 BETWEEN 10AM -2PM, SO IF YOU MISS OUT ON THE PIZZA COME GET YOUR CAR WASHED TO SUPPORT THE NEW CLUB AT LASSEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE!

Thank you for your support from President Steven Hartman!
If you would like to donate, or for further information, contact Carrie Nyman @ 249-5904 or Shannon Staiger @ 251-6329.

If you would like to become part of the Lassen Sports Network.com team, contact us at the below mentioned email, or call our home office at (530) 249-0553.

To submit your stories and pictures, or if you just have something on your mind, use our handy submission form, or email your stuff to scott@lassensportsnetwork.com

If you would like to become part of the Lassen Sports Network.com team, contact us at the below mentioned email, or call our home office at (530) 249-0553.

To submit your stories and pictures, or if you just have something on your mind, use our handy submission form, or email your stuff to scott@lassensportsnetwork.com

“We Survived.” Said Lassen head coach, Paul Moore. 

Final Score
Lassen – 5
Winters – 3
Senior, Ashley Novosad, allowed just four hits while striking out eight Winter’s batters to earn the win.
Lassen’s Taylor Waddel was 2×3 with a two RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning, that gave the Grizzlies a 5-2 lead. Kaelie Pena was 1×3 with two RBI. Lassen’s leading hitter, sophomore, Natalie Yonan (.433 batting average) was 2×3.
Lassen, (21-9, #2 seed) will next face Sutter High School, (15-5, #3) Thursday, May 20th, at the Lassen College Softball Complex. Game-time is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Sutter beat Mt. Shasta Tuesday.
Lassen defeated Sutter 3-1 in the Lindhurst Tournament (4/02) earlier this season.
Click here for updated, Division IV softball brackets.

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Story submitted by reader

Back row: Coach  Geoff  Cook, Oscar Romero, Ken Adair, Adam Miranda, Kenny Murchinson, Nathan Freeman, Everett Johnson, Coach Jon Westfall
Front row: Luke Urrutia, Chase Moore, Bill Dandois, Kyle Winn, Joey Beck, Jarrel Cunningham, Colby Chavez
Click picture to enlarge.
For the second year in a row, Coaches John Westfall and Geoff Cook have guided the Lassen High JV baseball team to the Northern Athletic League title.
The Grizzlies had a league record of 9-1, (14-4 overall).
The team had a great season, scoring 92 runs, while allowing only 25 runs in league play. Lassen had a conference best 2.55 ERA with 126 strikeouts. The pitching staff had five shutouts on the year.
The team’s overall batting average was .354, with an on-base percentage of .434.  

Congratulations to 2010 Lassen High School JV Baseball Team

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Congratulations to 2010 Lassen High School JV Baseball Team

If you would like to become part of the Lassen Sports Network.com team, contact us at the below mentioned email, or call our home office at (530) 249-0553.

To submit your stories and pictures, or if you just have something on your mind, use our handy submission form, or email your stuff to scott@lassensportsnetwork.com