tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22493791449570436152024-03-05T23:25:52.283-05:00East Tennessee Prep SportsCovering high school sports, and a little bit of everything else...Tom Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16473253174339690894noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249379144957043615.post-11494370978749036372014-07-03T17:33:00.000-04:002014-07-03T17:33:00.712-04:00Blog RebootNew content is on the way! Stay tuned!Tom Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16473253174339690894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249379144957043615.post-1996822979465405932012-08-16T23:05:00.000-04:002012-08-16T23:05:25.863-04:002012 District 3-AAA Power Rankings - PreseasonIn less than 24 hours, the 2012 high school football season will be underway. I've finally gotten a chance to evaluate each of the teams in district 3-AAA, and here are my thoughts going into Week 0:<br />
<ol>
<li><em>Oak Ridge</em> - The Wildcats appear to be the team to beat in the district this season. A lot of talent returns on both offense and defense, with shifty athlete Rian Hall moving from the slot to the QB spot. This team should have a lot of talent in the backfield, a very balanced offense, and a solid defense. Opening game - At Farragut Friday night.</li>
<li><em>Powell</em> - The Panthers have a lot of talent to replace from last year's state runner-up team, but I expect another solid offensive season. Dustin McPhetridge is gone, but a very capable Hagen Owenby will replace him under center. The loss of Dy'shawn Mobley is huge, but look for the combo of Montario Washington and Ty'shawn Gardin to get the bulk of the carries. The big question mark on this team will be defense. An experienced secondary returns, but they are a young up the middle. Hosting Rhea County Friday night.</li>
<li><em>Anderson County</em> - The Mavericks could flip-flop positions with Powell, depending on their play early. This young team really missed Tanner Williams last season, but I expect them to be a more polished team offensively, with a lot more balance. The bigger question for the Mavs - Are they better defensively? They better be, if they want to compete with Oak Ridge and Powell. Hosting CAK Friday night.</li>
<li><em>Karns</em> - The middle tier in district 3-AAA is wide open, and the Beavers are looking to improve on their historic season last year. Toss up between Hardin Valley and Karns, but I think the Hawks have a lot more to replace in 2012. Hosting South Doyle Friday night.</li>
<li><em>Hardin Valley</em> - Dorian Eskridge is gone, and Aaron Blance is back at Webb. The Hawks weren't as good defensively as most thought they'd be last year, and they'll need to be solid early, while they find their offense. At Bearden Friday night.</li>
<li>Campbell County - The Cougars could be the most improved team in the district, depending on how they replace Tuffy Shoupe. Hosting Seymour Friday night. </li>
<li>Central - The Bobcats are still a very young team, but the combination of Josh Poplar and Xavier Johnson could be potent. This team still suffers from a lack of depth, especially on defense. At Catholic Friday night.</li>
<li><div>
Clinton - The Dragons showed improvement late in 2011, and they are looking to build on a near miss against Anderson County at the end of the season. Lots of work to do, but not quite as much to do as Halls. Hosting Dobyns-Bennett in Week 1. </div>
</li>
<li><div>
Halls - The Red Devils have a lot of rebuilding to do. Lone win could come against Clinton, like last season. At Sevier County in Week 1. </div>
</li>
</ol>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Other teams to watch out for in 5A (early title contenders):</div>
<ul>
<li>Knox West</li>
<li>Lenoir City</li>
<li>Columbia </li>
<li>Henry County</li>
</ul>
Tom Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16473253174339690894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249379144957043615.post-67191218957757646202011-10-25T16:00:00.000-04:002011-10-28T11:35:20.808-04:00District 3-AAA Power Rankings - After Week 9<ol>
<li>Powell (10-0) - For the first time in school history, the Panthers posted back-to-back undefeated regular seasons, shutting out Central 34-0 in their season finale. Powell remains #2 in the state. Dy'shawn Mobley inched closer to another school record, passing Andrew Tudor for the 2nd most rushing yards in a season. He needs 152 yards to break Derek Milligan's record (2,007 yards in 2002). The Panthers have a bye week before they host a first round playoff game. The Panthers toughest task will be playing the postseason without top DBs Jonathan Strozyk (torn ACL) and Jonathan Staggs (severe concussion).</li>
<ul>
<li>Current playoff projection: Quad 1 (5A) - #1 seed (vs. #8 Anderson County)</li>
</ul>
<li>Oak Ridge (6-3) - OR is firing on all cylinders after pounding Clinton last week. The Wildcats locked up 2nd place in the district and an automatic playoff berth.
They host Campbell County on senior night this Friday.</li>
<ul>
<li>Current playoff projection: Quad 2 (6A)</li>
</ul>
<li>Karns (6-3) - Big game against HVA this week. A win would give the Beavers 7 wins, a rivalry win, an improved playoff seed, and keep the Hawks out of the playoffs.</li>
<ul>
<li>Current playoff projection: Quad 1 (6A)</li>
</ul>
<li>Anderson County (4-5) - Crucial win against HVA. The defense really stepped up against Dorian Eskridge. Turnovers are still plaguing this team, but a win against Clinton should put the Mavericks into the playoffs.</li>
<ul>
<li>Current playoff projection: Quad 1 (5A) - #8 seed (at #1 Powell)</li>
</ul>
<li>Hardin Valley (5-4) - The wheels are starting to fall off for HVA. This team is leaning heavily on Dorian Eskridge, and it cost them against AC, who slowed them down enough to get the win. As weak as district 3-AAA is, 5 wins likely won't get HVA into the postseason. The Hawks need to beat Karns to clinch a playoff berth. </li>
<li>Central (2-7) - Completely shutdown against Powell. Cody Blanc had 8 carries for -14 yards and 3 catches for 1 yard against the Panther 1st team defense. Mobley outran him on 2 of his long TD runs. Big rivalry game against Halls this week.
</li>
<li>Campbell County (3-6) - Kudos to Tuffy Shoupe, who's had a great season, and who shredded the Halls defense last Friday night. Tough game at OR this week.
</li>
<li>Halls (1-8) - Completely embarassed by CC last week. Looking for a big win in the Battle of Black Oak Ridge against Central.</li>
<li>Clinton (0-9) - Beating AC would be like winning the super bowl for the Dragons. Clinton would love nothing more than to get that elusive win and keep AC out of the playoffs.</li>
</ol>
<em><u>5A Playoff Outlook</u></em><br />
<br />
Here are my 5A playoff projections, based on my predictions for week 10. These are definitely subject to change, depending on this week's results:<br />
<br />
<em>Quad 1 </em>(easiest quad)<br />
1 <strong>Powell</strong> (favorite)<br />
2 Morristown West<br />
3 South-Doyle<br />
4 Cherokee<br />
5 Sullivan South<br />
6 Morristown East<br />
7 Daniel Boone<br />
8 Anderson County<br />
<br />
<em>1st Round</em><br />
AC at Powell<br />
SS at Cherokee<br />
Mo East at SD<br />
DB at Mo West<br />
<br />
<em>Quad 2</em><br />
1 Columbia <br />
2 Tullahoma<br />
3 <strong>Knox West</strong> (favorite)<br />
4 Ooltewah<br />
5 Shelbyville<br />
6 Centennial<br />
7 Lenoir City <br />
8 Cleveland<br />
<br />
<em>1st Round</em><br />
Cleveland at Columbia<br />
Shelbyville at Ooltewah<br />
Centennial at West<br />
LC at Tullahoma<br />
<br />
<em>Quad 3</em><br />
1 Antioch <br />
2 <strong>Gallatin</strong> (favorite)<br />
3 Hendersonville<br />
4 Beech<br />
5 Clarksville<br />
6 Springfield<br />
7 Glencliff<br />
8 Station Camp<br />
<br />
<em>1st Round</em><br />
SC at Antioch<br />
Clarksville at Beech<br />
Springfield at Hendersonville<br />
Glencliff at Gallatin<br />
<br />
<em>Quad 4</em> (toughest quad)<br />
1 <strong>Henry County</strong> (favorite)<br />
2 Ridgeway<br />
3 Dyer County<br />
4 Memphis East<br />
5 Craigmont <br />
6 Clarksville Northeast<br />
7 Hamilton <br />
8 Munford<br />
<br />
<em>1st Round</em><br />
Munford at HC<br />
Craimont at ME<br />
Clarksville NE at DC<br />
Hamilton at RidgewayTom Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16473253174339690894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249379144957043615.post-19627000352442682172011-10-17T14:46:00.000-04:002011-10-17T14:46:05.242-04:00District 3-AAA Power Rankings - After Week 8<ol>
<li>Powell (9-0) - Moves up to #2 in the state, following the 69-13 drubbing of Campbell County. Lost in Dy'shawn Mobley's stellar season is the great year Dustin McPhetridge is having. He had his best game of the year against the Cougars, rushing for 182 yards and 4 TDs (on 7 carries), while passing for 164 yards and 3 TDs (5-for-5 passing). Clinched their 2nd consecutive district title, and travel to Central with another chance to finish the regular season 10-0.
</li>
<li>Oak Ridge (5-3) - The Wildcats have clearly positioned themselves as the #2 team in the district, following their 42-7 win over Hardin Valley. One more win and the Wildcats should be a lock for the postseason. Should have no problems against Clinton and CC. Watch out for OR in the 6A playoffs.
</li>
<li>Hardin Valley (5-3) - Struggled both offensively and defensively against OR. This team relies solely on Dorian Eskridge on offense. They'll need him to come up big the next two weeks against Anderson County and Karns. The Hawks likely need one more win to clinch a playoff berth.</li>
<li>Karns (6-3) - For the first time in 37 years, the Beavers will have a winning season, after edging AC 28-20. The win likely punched a playoff ticket for Karns. The Beavers would love to get the first playoff win in school history this November. Off this week, but a big game against HVA the following week.</li>
<li>Anderson County (3-5) - The defense played a bit better against Karns, but they weren't good enough. The Mavs have a crucial game against HVA this week. A 6th loss would likely knock AC out of the playoffs.
</li>
<li>Halls (1-7) - Winable game against CC this week, before the Battle of Black Oak Ridge next week.
</li>
<li>Central (2-6) - Big test at home against Powell this week, before the Battle of Black Oak Ridge next week.
</li>
<li>Campbell County (2-6) - An injured Tuffy Shoupe played an impressive first half, but the Cougars just don't have the horses to hang with Powell. Looking for their 3rd win of the season against Halls this week.</li>
<li>Clinton (0-8) - Could be a very ugly night for the Dragons at OR this week. Last chance for a win comes next week against AC.</li>
</ol>
Top
5 title contenders:
<br />
<ul>
<li>Powell
</li>
<li>Knox West
</li>
<li>Columbia
</li>
<li>Henry County
</li>
<li>Memphis East </li>
</ul>
Other contenders:
<br />
<ul>
<li>Tullahoma
</li>
<li>Gallatin
</li>
<li>Ridgeway </li>
</ul>Tom Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16473253174339690894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249379144957043615.post-88329013406837471342011-10-12T14:02:00.002-04:002011-10-12T14:02:32.501-04:00District 3-AAA Power Rankings - Week 7<ol>
<li>Powell (8-0) - Remains #3 in the state. Starters didn't play a down in the second half against Clinton, cruising 49-7. Powell hosts Campbell County this week. Panthers shouldn't face another tough test until the playoffs. </li>
<li>Oak Ridge (4-3) - Impressive win against Karns, 35-14. Game really wasn't as close as the score indicated, as the OR defense dominated for 3+ quarters. Zullinger appears to have a sprained shoulder, and may be out for this week's game at Hardin Valley. </li>
<li>Hardin Valley (5-2) - Dominated Halls, 37-12. Big game against OR this week, with the winner likely earning the #2 spot in district and an automatic playoff berth.</li>
<li>Karns (5-3) - Struggled to get going against OR, until the game was out of hand. Huge game against Anderson County this week. A win gets the Beavers their first winning season since 1974. </li>
<li>Anderson County (3-4) - How will the defense fair against Karns? The Mavs need to win 2 more games to make the playoffs. Should get one against Clinton, but will face 2 tough defenses (Karns and HVA) along the way. </li>
<li>Halls (1-7) - Crushed by HVA last week. The Devils have the week off, before finishing the season against CC and Central. </li>
<li>Central (2-6) - The offense came alive again, as the Bobcats cruised against CC. Central is playing their best football of the year so far. Off this week, before finishing the season against Powell and Halls.</li>
<li>Campbell County (2-5) - Thumped by Central, 34-7. The Cougars had a tough matchup with Powell this Friday. </li>
<li>Clinton (0-8) - Fortunately, the Dragons have a week off. They are a young team and will be better next season. Travels to OR next Thursday. </li>
</ol>
Top 5 title contenders:
<br />
<ul>
<li>Powell
</li>
<li>Knox West
</li>
<li>Columbia
</li>
<li>Henry County
</li>
<li>Memphis East </li>
</ul>
Other contenders:
<br />
<ul>
<li>Tullahoma
</li>
<li>Gallatin </li>
<li>Ridgeway</li>
</ul>Tom Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16473253174339690894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249379144957043615.post-35111218532125004192011-10-04T11:39:00.002-04:002011-10-04T11:39:26.028-04:00District 3-AAA Power Rankings - Week 6<ol>
<li>Powell (7-0) - Cruised against Hardin Valley, but dropped to #3 in the state. Another huge offensive performance for Mobley/McPhetridge, while the Powell defense held HVA to under 200 total yards. Powell plays at winless Clinton this week. Panthers shouldn't face another tough test until the first Friday of November.
</li>
<li>Oak Ridge (3-3) - Throttled Anderson County last week. Zullinger's return gave the Wildcats a big lift. Huge game at Karns this Friday, followed by a trip to HVA, both with playoff implications. </li>
<li>Hardin Valley (4-2) - Overmatched against Powell. Outside of a brilliant TD run by Eskridge early in the 1st quarter, the Hawks couldn't get anything going against the Panthers. Travel to Halls this week, with big games against OR and Karns looming.</li>
<li>Karns (5-2) - Found their offense against Halls, and annihilated the Devils. As good as the Karns defense has been, this team could really be dangerous, now that their offense appears to be coming around. Another win guarantees the Beavers their first winning season since 1974, and could even lock up a playoff spot. Tough game against OR this week, followed by AC and HVA.
</li>
<li>Anderson County (3-4) - Blown out by OR. This team just can't seem to play any defense.
The Mavericks have a week off before they head to Karns. The Mavs need to win at least 2 more games to have a shot at the playoffs. Should get one against Clinton, but will face 2 tough defenses (Karns and HVA) along the way.</li>
<li>Halls (1-6) - Just when it looked like this team was turning the corner, they lay an egg against Karns. Still not sure what to make of this team, especially after last week. Tough game against HVA this week.
</li>
<li>Campbell County (2-4) - The Cougars still have a couple of winable games left to play (Central and Halls).
Big game against the Bobcats this week.</li>
<li>Central (1-6) - Got just enough offense to get their first win, against a winless Clinton squad. Plays CC this week, with a chance to extend the winning streak to 2 games.
</li>
<li>Clinton (0-7) - Barring some sort of miracle, this should be a winless season for the Dragons. Host Powell this week.
</li>
</ol>
Top 5 title contenders:
<br />
<ul>
<li>Powell</li>
<li>Knox West</li>
<li>Columbia</li>
<li>Henry County</li>
<li>Memphis East</li>
</ul>
Other contenders:<br />
<ul>
<li>Morristown West</li>
<li>Tullahoma</li>
<li>Gallatin</li>
</ul>
"Overrated" teams in 5A<br />
<ul>
<li>Ridgeway</li>
<li>Dyer County</li>
</ul>
Sleeper teams in 5A<br />
<ul>
<li>Lenoir City</li>
<li>Cleveland (figured something out against Red Bank)</li>
</ul>
Tom Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16473253174339690894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249379144957043615.post-89584557604391176922011-09-26T14:57:00.001-04:002011-09-27T10:26:20.949-04:00District 3-AAA Power Rankings - Week 5<ol>
<li>Powell (6-0) - Remains ranked #2 in the state. Panthers rolled over Karns, building a 40-7 lead early in the 4th quarter. Mobley's stats (through 6 games): 87 carries, 1140 yards, 19 TDs. The Panthers last big test of the regular season is this Friday, hosting Hardin Valley with first place on the line.</li>
<li>Hardin Valley (4-1) - Held off Central last week, 24-14. Hawks have yet to hit their stride offensively. Still not sure what happened against Heritage, otherwise this team would be unbeaten. Battle the Panthers for first place in the district this week.</li>
<li>Oak Ridge (2-3) - Couldn't get anything going against Maryville, which wasn't a shock. The Wildcats need Zullinger back in a big way, but he still hasn't been cleared to play. Big game at Anderson County this week.
</li>
<li>Karns (4-2) - Came back down to earth after getting crushed by Powell. The Beaver defense still looks good, but the offense just isn't there. Intriguing game with an improving Halls team this week.
</li>
<li>Anderson County (3-3) - Won a close shootout against Halls. Still has yet to stop anyone defensively, which will likely cost them against OR this Friday.
</li>
<li>Halls (1-5) - Came up short against AC. The offensive is definitely improving, but the defense just isn't there. Tough game against Karns this week.
</li>
<li>Campbell County (2-4) - Big win against Clinton. The Cougar offense is starting to click the 2 games. Off this week.</li>
<li>Central (0-6) - Still can't seem to find any offense. The Bobcat defense continues to keep games close, but if you can't score, you can't win.
Hosts Clinton this Friday, so someone gets their first win of the season.</li>
<li>Clinton (0-6) - Edged by CC, which was their best chance for a win. Travel to Central this week, with one more chance for that elusive first win.</li>
</ol>
Other teams to watch out for in 5A (early title
contenders):
<br />
<ul>
<li>Morristown West
</li>
<li>Knox West
</li>
<li>Tullahoma
</li>
<li>Gallatin
</li>
<li>Columbia
</li>
<li>Clarksville NE
</li>
<li>Henry County
</li>
<li>Memphis East </li>
</ul>
Tom Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16473253174339690894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249379144957043615.post-34013404849899908152011-09-20T11:38:00.001-04:002011-09-20T11:38:18.961-04:00District 3-AAA Power Rankings - Week 4<ol>
<li>Powell (5-0) - Ranked #2 in the state, and still looks like a title contender. Looked very focused in their blowout win at Anderson County. Hosts Karns this week.</li>
<li>Oak Ridge (2-2) - Struggled against Halls, but scored 2 TDs late to put the game away. Look for Zullinger to return soon. Tough test against Maryville this week.</li>
<li>Hardin Valley (3-1) - Edged a bad Campbell County squad, 26-20. The Hawks have been Jekyll/Hyde so far this season, but are still a talented bunch. Should get back on track this week against Central.</li>
<li>Karns (4-1) - Big win against Central - only their second win over the Bobcats in school history. Hard to believe that
this is the same team that looked awful against South Doyle in week 0. The Beavers found a way to slow down Powell's offense last season. We'll see if they are up to the task again on Friday.</li>
<li>Anderson County (2-3) - Crushed by the Panthers. This team really lacks a defense, but as bad as the bottom half of the district is, AC should easily earn a playoff spot. Hosts Halls this week. </li>
<li>Halls (1-4) - Impressive performance against OR for 3+ quarters, but the defense just couldn't hold up. Tough test against AC this week.</li>
<li>Central (0-5) - The Bobcats still can't find any offense, recording 57 total yards of offense and scoring just 3 offensive points against Karns. Thankfully, they've played great defense this year, which keeps them out of my bottom two. Things won't get any easier at Hardin Valley this week.</li>
<li>Campbell County (1-4) - Surprising effort against Hardin Valley. Winable game at Clinton this Friday.</li>
<li>Clinton (0-5) - Blown out by Knox Central (KY). Failed to score any offensive points. Best chance for a win comes this week against CC.</li>
</ol>
Hard to believe that one of the bottom four teams will earn an automatic playoff spot.<br />
<br />
Other teams to watch
out for in 5A (early title contenders):
<br />
<ul>
<li>Morristown West
</li>
<li>Knox West
</li>
<li>Tullahoma
</li>
<li>Gallatin</li>
<li>Columbia</li>
<li>Clarksville NE
</li>
<li>Henry County</li>
<li>Memphis East</li>
</ul>
Tom Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16473253174339690894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249379144957043615.post-27885903079343184302011-09-16T15:24:00.000-04:002011-09-16T15:24:43.837-04:00District 3-AAA Power Rankings - Week 3<ol>
<li>Powell (4-0) - Ranked #2 in the state. Huge comeback win against Oak Ridge. Dy'shawn Mobley is playing like a man among boys. The Panthers are looking for payback at Anderson County this week.</li>
<li>Oak Ridge (1-2) - Tough loss for OR against Powell. The loss of Zullinger really hurt in the 2nd half. This is still a playoff team, with a solid defense. Watch out for the Wildcats, once Zullinger comes back in a couple of weeks.</li>
<li>Hardin Valley (2-1) - Started out very slow, but still shutout a bad Clinton squad (27-0). In a few weeks, I expect to see Eskridge and the Hawks to hit their stride. </li>
<li>Anderson County (2-2) - Cruised against Central last week. We know they can sling it around, but the Mavs have a suspect defense.</li>
<li>Karns (3-1) - When was the last time this team was 3-1? Hard to believe that this is the same team that looked awful against South Doyle (lost 7-0). The Beavers have the talent to beat Central. Then, the real challenge begins.</li>
<li>Central (0-4) - Cody Blanc was out with an ankle injury last week, which didn't help against AC. This team is in trouble, especially on offense (20 points through 4 games).</li>
<li>Halls (1-3) - Completely dominated by Webb last week. Tough matchups with OR and AC in the next two weeks.</li>
<li>Campbell County (1-3) - Ugly shutout loss to Karns last week. It's not going to get any easier against Hardin Valley.</li>
<li>Clinton (0-4) - Three straight shutout losses. What has happened to this team, now that Darian Stone and company are gone?</li>
</ol>
Other teams to watch out for in 5A (early title contenders):<br />
<ul>
<li>Morristown West</li>
<li>Knox West</li>
<li>Ooltewah</li>
<li>Tullahoma</li>
<li>Columbia</li>
<li>Henry County</li>
</ul>
Tom Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16473253174339690894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249379144957043615.post-36325147785303303782011-09-16T15:08:00.000-04:002011-09-16T15:08:29.194-04:00College Football - Week 2 Recap/Week 3 PreviewFirst Impressions
<br />
<ul>
<li>I'm starting to doubt what I said last week about Ohio State. Luke Fickell made some strange decisions against Toledo, which included leaving Braxton Miller on the bench for all 4 quarters. The Rockets are going to win some games this year, and may even win the MAC, but they are still Toledo. Saturday's game at Miami will be a true litmus test for the Buckeye offense. </li>
<li>Tyler
Bray is the real deal. So is Justin Hunter and Da'Rick Rogers. We knew that Cincinnati's defense wouldn't challenge the Vols, but now comes the real test. If Tyler Bray has time to throw the ball, Tennessee can/will beat Florida. The Vols still have run blocking issues to work out, and the defense still
looks questionable (Cincinnati beat themselves in short yardage situations last week), but Florida's offense isn't going to put up huge numbers. If this is a shootout, Tennessee wins.</li>
<li>The Notre Dame-Michigan game was absolutely win-win for me. Notre Dame is completely overrated and has a tough game against Michigan State this week. Michigan looks like a carbon copy of last year's team. They still can't play defense, Denard Robinson can only throw jump balls, and he's their only source of offense. Two games into the season, it looks like Brady Hoke has already abandoned his new offense, to allow Robinson to run.</li>
<li>I thought Iowa was a sleeper in the Big Ten. I was dead wrong. They have to bounce back against Pitt.</li>
<li>What is the deal with Auburn?</li>
<li>You have to admire East Carolina. Those guys will play just about anyone, anywhere. Another close loss to a BCS contender.</li>
<li>South Carolina's chances of winning the SEC East hinge on their defense, and they've been shredded through 2 games. They better not sleep on Navy (just ask Ohio State).</li>
<li>Add Texas to my list of overrated teams.</li>
<li>LSU is by far the most physical team I've seen this year.</li>
</ul>
Games to Watch<br />
<ul>
<li>Boise State-Toledo: Will the Rockets have any punch left after falling just short against OSU last week?</li>
<li>Tennessee-Florida: If the Vols win, it would be their biggest win since the 2004 season.</li>
<li>Michigan State-Notre Dame: There is a TON of pressure on ND to finally crack the win column.</li>
<li>Navy-South Carolina: Don't sleep on Navy.</li>
<li>Arizona State-Illinois: Quietly one of the better games this Saturday.</li>
<li>Ohio State-Miami: What can you say about this game that hasn't already been said?</li>
<li>Oklahoma-Florida State: FSU is overranked, but still a good team. Should still be a good game.</li>
</ul>
Tom Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16473253174339690894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249379144957043615.post-9622483258586868332011-09-06T12:27:00.002-04:002011-09-06T12:27:50.339-04:00District 3-AAA Power Rankings - Week 2After 3 weeks of football, I've finally gotten a chance to evaluate each of the teams in district 3-AAA, and here are my thoughts:<br />
<ol>
<li>Powell (3-0) - Ranked #2 in the state, and for good reason. Powerful offense that can score with 2 different QBs. Although injuries are still a concern for this team, the defense has been better than expected, and they are getting heathier each week. Big showdown with Oak Ridge on Thursday night.</li>
<li>Oak Ridge (1-1) - The Wildcats appear to be the only major threat standing between Powell and another undefeated regular season. Solid defense, with a veteran QB and an emerging young talent at RB. </li>
<li>Hardin Valley (1-1) - Destroyed Bearden and them crumbled against Heritage. Not sure what to make of the Hawks just yet, but this team has a lot of returning talent (including Eskridge at RB), and they should be in the top 3 in the district by season's end. Good shot at a wild card playoff spot, even if they finish behind OR.</li>
<li>Anderson County (1-2) - Clearly a different team without Tanner Williams, but can still score points. Very suspect on defense, but should still be a playoff team.</li>
<li>Central (0-3) - Cody Blanc has been ineffective, and their lack of depth is killing the Bobcats. They have a solid defense, which is making up for their lack of offense (just 13 offensive points all season). Should grab the 3rd 5A playoff spot out of this district.</li>
<li>Karns (2-1) - Looked horrible against South Doyle, but bounced back with a big comeback against Corbin. Looked solid against Clinton. Should be 3-1 after this week, but that's when the schedule gets challenging.</li>
<li>Halls (1-2) - Just not a lot of talent here, outside of the QB position. Should win no more than 2-3 games.</li>
<li>Campbell County (1-2) - See Halls.</li>
<li>Clinton (0-3) - This team is in trouble, and I'm not sure when/if things are going to get better this season. QB injury has hurt the Dragons, so it will be interesting to see how things change when he comes back. Best chance for a win will come against Campbell County.</li>
</ol>
Other teams to watch out for in 5A (early title contenders):<br />
<ul>
<li>Morristown West</li>
<li>Knox West</li>
<li>Knox Catholic</li>
<li>Ooltewah</li>
<li>Tullahoma</li>
<li>Columbia</li>
<li>Henry County</li>
<li>Ridgeway</li>
</ul>
Tom Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16473253174339690894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249379144957043615.post-9800145126761851742011-09-06T11:54:00.001-04:002011-09-06T11:54:45.175-04:00College Football - Week 1 RecapFirst Impressions<br />
<ul>
<li>Anyone who thought that Ohio State wouldn't contend for a Big Ten title this season better reevaluate. I said it all summer - this defense will be very good, and if the QBs can make good decisions (like they did against Akron), the Buckeyes can make a BCS bowl game. Akron isn't a very good team, but the Buckeyes looked better than I thought they would on Saturday.</li>
<li>Tennessee has some issues to work out (specifically up front), but Tyler Bray looked very good for most of the night against Montana. If UT can solve some blocking issues, this will be a very potent offense. The defense still looks young, and it will be interesting to see how they handle Cincinnati's offense next week.</li>
<li>Michigan's defense still has a LONG way to go. It will be very interesting to see what Denard Robinson's roll will be when trailing or in close games this year. Western Michigan went toe to toe with the Wolverines, and it would have been an interesting finish (would not have called the game early if closer), if not for those 2 defensive TDs by UM. </li>
<li>Notre Dame = overrated (as usual), yet they still had plenty of opportunities to beat South Florida.</li>
<li>Wisconsin looks even better than advertised on offense, but not so much on defense.</li>
<li>Kentucky, Purdue, Washington, Pittsburgh, NC State, Kansas State, and Missouri really struggled against poor competition, and still won. Indiana, Duke, and Oregon State weren't so lucky. </li>
<li>What happened to TCU and Auburn on defense??</li>
<li>Boise State was never in trouble against Georgia. Too bad their national title hopes took a huge blow, thanks to TCU.</li>
<li>Has Cincinnati regained their Brian Kelly-esque offensive form? They'll have to put up big numbers against Tennessee before I'll jump on that bandwagon.</li>
<li>It's going to be an up and down year for USC. Again.</li>
<li>Oregon has yet to beat a non-conference power that has a good defensive under Chip Kelly (Boise State, Ohio State, LSU, Auburn - struggled to score against each), and that's not a coincidence.</li>
</ul>
<br />
Tom Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16473253174339690894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249379144957043615.post-11742719127111818032011-02-17T14:08:00.010-05:002011-02-18T10:35:28.145-05:00Teachers in Wisconsin should actually be teaching!Well I guess educating students doesn't come first for many teachers in Wisconsin.<br /><br />Kudos to Governor Scott Walker for having the balls to not only stand up to the teachers' union in Wisconsin, but the entire collective bargaining process. If you've been paying any attention to the news, Wisconsin is facing a $3.6 billion budget shortfall, and one of the measures Governor Walker is taking is requiring union workers to cover more of their own health care premiums and pension contributions, while stripping them of their collective bargaining rights. The union is furious because they feel like they are being left out in the cold. <br /><br />The question still remains - How can you negotiate with a union when you have no money to negotiate with?<br /><br />I'm sorry, but this is just another example of the outdated nature of unions. The teachers' union in Knox County definitely let me know where they stand after last year's decision to cut ~30 teaching positions, rather than give up their "entitled" yearly ~1% salary increase (for up to 2 years). Aren't unions supposed to be looking out for the whole, not just for select individuals?<br /><br />I work in the private sector, and just like the LARGE majority of us in the private sector, my job/salary is primarily based on performance, NOT seniority/longevity. The NEA, in my opinion, is arguably the worst union of its kind. Shudder to think that teachers should actually be hired/promoted/fired based on job performance, rather than seniority. <br /><br />Yes, teachers are underappreciated, and yes, they are underpaid. However, just because a union loses their collective bargaining rights doesn't automatically mean that they will lose half of their paycheck. In fact, I would argue that in some cases, dissolving union dues could increase a worker's net pay. I am not in favor of the NEA's ability to determine what my wife is worth as a teacher. That should be up to the individuals who cut her check every month. The NEA enables teachers to half-ass their job, just like every other unionized position. In the private sector, unsatisfactory work is unacceptable. I don't get to simply "punch my timecard." I'm expected to perform to a certain level, and that performance is constantly evaluated. However, if I'm unhappy with my pay (or the job), I can just get up and move on to another job where I'll be properly compensated. <br /><br />Unions helped develop the backbone of this industrialized nation, and helped protect workers in an unregulated workplace. When unions were first established in this country, workers were just trying to make a living any way they could. Workplace environments were dangerous, indiviudals were overworked, and workers were not properly compensated. Unions helped establish specific workplace "standards", and many of those standards still exist (like OSHA). However, in the mid-late 20th century, unions began to promote laziness, a sense of entitlement, and a mediocre attitude (at best). Union workers are not encouraged to go above and beyond, because there is no incentive to do so; instead, mediocrity rules. <br /><br />In a unionized workplace, an employer can't fire an employee without backlash from the union (even if the employer has cause). What we are left with is a group of individuals who know they are working inside a protective bubble, and there is no incentive for them to excel. Why bother being the best when there is no reward for it? As long as they do the bare minimum, they can't be touched, and yet, the union can continue to fight and negotiate for better pay/benefits, regardless of a worker's output.<br /><br />I wish I could take credit for this quote, but this reader comment from the Knoxville News-Sentinel (regarding Tennessee Governor Bill Haslem's decision to make it more difficult for teachers to recieve tenure) says it all:<br /><br />"BOY! Anything but pay for performance! Why, that'd be just like... well, just like every other job in the private sector, how could they? The audacity!"<br /><br />My sentiments exactly.Tom Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16473253174339690894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249379144957043615.post-66906429879125094772010-08-12T12:10:00.008-04:002010-08-17T09:56:25.280-04:00Let's try not to piss off the sleeping lions, Brandon PhillipsHow many times have you been to the zoo, and you've seen some stupid kid or redneck pounding on the glass trying to get an animal's attention. Just last week, I was at the Jacksonville Zoo, and this 50-something year old bumpkin was thumping the glass, trying to get the attention of the Florida Panther that was on display.<br /><br />Here's a better way to get a big cat's attention - throw the lady in the pen with him.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504913091732836226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcltfuaumZBJehaSmEJNzml3fXBQQSOcj08IZhxloYV52yknTCjl04Ie4hQ_UUZ-ObmkB3DeSN53efIUxwAnbbAWBzvvw1kXOxhXRwQb3UQ-dRCITRmmMdttKOIMIB9iVwRekF-zYZxsC/s400/normal_poster29978705.jpg" /><br />I'm not sure why Brandon Phillips thought it would be a good idea to piss in the face of a sleeping pit bull, but that's exactly what he did on Friday night, when speaking about his hatred towards the St. Louis Cardinals.<br /><br />"I'd play against these guys with one leg. We have to beat these guys. I hate the Cardinals. All they do is bitch and moan about everything, all of them, they're little bitches, all of 'em. I really hate the Cardinals. Compared to the Cardinals, I love the Chicago Cubs. Let me make this clear: I hate the Cardinals."<br /><br />Brandon, you may be a great athlete, and you may have been fired up to take down the Cardinals, but you don't get to talk smack unless you're top dog, and the Reds aren't there yet.<br /><br />How appropriate that the Reds would go on to get swept at home by the Cardinals. To top it all off, Phillips went 2-for-14 in the series, with just 2 singles, an RBI, and a run scored. Paltry numbers for a guy who thought it was a good idea to run his mouth before a defining series. Now, the Reds find themselves on the outside looking in, once again.<br /><br />Look, I love the Reds. Sure, they won the World Series in 1990, but I was barely 8 years old, and they have only made the playoffs once since then. I've sat through losing season after losing season since I became a fan in the late 80s. However, what Brandon Phillips did with his mouth was the worst thing he could have done for this team. The Reds are in the midst of a miraculous season. They continue to sneak up on a lot of teams, especially when they quietly go about their business. However, the one thing that Cincinnati has yet to prove is how to own the Cardinals, who now lead the season series 10 games to 5.<br /><br />The Reds will get one last shot to prove that they can beat the Cardinals, on Labor Weekend in St. Louis. Both teams have relatively weak schedules between now and then, so I expect both teams to be within two games of each other once that series comes calling.<br /><br />Brandon, take Teddy Rooselvelt's advice: "Speak softly and carry a big stick."Tom Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16473253174339690894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249379144957043615.post-58092425090646663902010-07-15T11:53:00.006-04:002010-07-22T09:07:35.724-04:00July - The Worst Time to be a Sports FanThe middle of baseball season. The MLB All-Star game. The NBA free-agent market. The [British] Open Championship. The Tour de France. The middle of NASCAR season (yawn). The draining heat of the summer.<br /><br />Is football season here yet?!<br /><br />While a couple of those events do appeal to some, July has always been the most frustrating time to be a sports fan. Thankfully, the World Cup/Summer Olympics appear every other year, so that helps fill the massive sports void in the month of July.<br /><br />The MLB all-star game?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkwkbsnTwmYlQ20IQ6CbqaZ1r8_3xo4c2tYhD6CTIf2B92JPOQlbJ20cKuRbPpxSPNAfBFyR8bLq-94mroXU81q07-hyMyvysqjCN0ZeMl90-DoBrdL40VpvPL8MCIx-tasxRA1Dy7ykc/s1600/thumbs-down.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 365px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkwkbsnTwmYlQ20IQ6CbqaZ1r8_3xo4c2tYhD6CTIf2B92JPOQlbJ20cKuRbPpxSPNAfBFyR8bLq-94mroXU81q07-hyMyvysqjCN0ZeMl90-DoBrdL40VpvPL8MCIx-tasxRA1Dy7ykc/s400/thumbs-down.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496711323173934066" /></a><br />I'll pass. This game has become one of the most pointless spectacles in all of sports. Since the MLB all-star game was first televised, this year's game received the WORST ratings in its entire history. Hey commisioner, I think it's time to either change the format or do away with the all-star game!<br /><br />Thanks to commissioner Bud Selig, the MLB has tried to make the game more "meaningful," by awarding the winning side home-field advantage in the World Series (instead of awarding it to the team that has the better overall record). I'm sorry, but you can put a racing stripe on a turd, and yup, it's still a turd. Fan voting, lack of team management, it's all a crock.<br /><br />The NBA free-agent market? <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9E-NdHbkoYXDNpw5fvLsOBTaqmhXqsRWRXgScKcwwHyVzes0kvFIkfuJsjdPpxofwXyLtnC2ntrNOi8694R4MjNWqbVOn2VXR-8hugpwItb1tO4w6unoIbdWaGggTVUne7hr-p01yVOY/s1600/thumbsdown1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9E-NdHbkoYXDNpw5fvLsOBTaqmhXqsRWRXgScKcwwHyVzes0kvFIkfuJsjdPpxofwXyLtnC2ntrNOi8694R4MjNWqbVOn2VXR-8hugpwItb1tO4w6unoIbdWaGggTVUne7hr-p01yVOY/s400/thumbsdown1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496715922512037346" /></a><br />I could care less about the NBA. Thanks to the LeBron-athon, we were subjected to this massive buildup on ESPN - where will LeBron end up? Simple - wherever he can win a championship and make the most money. I'm sorry, but loyalty in professional athletics disappeared years ago, thanks to the players' unions. These athletes may love the game that they are a part of, but they play for two reasons - a paycheck and championship rings. Guess which one is more important?<br /><br />The British Open, err, Open Championship? I'll admit, I love golf, and this is my favorite major. When courses are "tweaked" with the sole purpose of challenging PGA golfers, I find that exciting. I also find it exciting when professional golfers are struggling just to make par. However, I really enjoy it when the elements get in a golfer's way, which is what the pros typically face at the Open Championship. High winds, chilly conditions, rainy, all on a links-style course. These conditions level the playing field, which makes for a very interesting tournament.<br /><br />However, Louis Oosthuizen's runaway victory made for a very boring final round. Kudos to Oosthuizen, this year's golfing cinderella story, but he led on Sunday by as many as 9 shots, and it was obvious that no one was going to challenge him.<br /><br />NASCAR? <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvJSJpv4X7-adePIkmk4KkGl5vTSL2DXRGZDhzCeNsxN_se7y9keX6YJKTWeN3B4VXLbA40lgRJ5wY4gofUVViL3UJPMBYxM0f7QPLHp7zFdMNW6_xzlq4psytzWtEpY7Vwsi_C5sHRAs/s1600/fonzie_thumbs_down.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvJSJpv4X7-adePIkmk4KkGl5vTSL2DXRGZDhzCeNsxN_se7y9keX6YJKTWeN3B4VXLbA40lgRJ5wY4gofUVViL3UJPMBYxM0f7QPLHp7zFdMNW6_xzlq4psytzWtEpY7Vwsi_C5sHRAs/s400/fonzie_thumbs_down.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496716365315526530" /></a><br />Two thumbs down from the Fonz. Yup, wake me up when it's over. <br /><br />The Tour de France? As much as I enjoy riding my road bike, watching the Tour for 3 weeks is about as exciting as watching paint dry.<br /><br />The World Cup? More like the 17-year cicada broods. Americans get worked up for a couple of weeks, just in time for the World Cup, but once it's over, we quickly forget about the sport until the next World Cup comes along.<br /><br />Yes, as cliché as this has become, I'm counting down the days until kickoff in Ohio Stadium. Just 42 more days!Tom Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16473253174339690894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249379144957043615.post-41642240849769242882010-07-07T09:26:00.001-04:002010-07-07T09:28:34.038-04:00Three Down, One to go...<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zq4kANOU5BlvniRBh7KPp3FVipvjH0Oc6lh36ov7kSZ3N4caiKipB78damRMtB1oetEGc8eOYLzID8sZFBmSWqJ4QSZnm4b1ERcHupzn5cOnKHSenXFQoEHj36Xbhapnrkv3cC5O80Pn/s1600/062810_netherlands_doomsday_604x341.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491155262446748002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zq4kANOU5BlvniRBh7KPp3FVipvjH0Oc6lh36ov7kSZ3N4caiKipB78damRMtB1oetEGc8eOYLzID8sZFBmSWqJ4QSZnm4b1ERcHupzn5cOnKHSenXFQoEHj36Xbhapnrkv3cC5O80Pn/s400/062810_netherlands_doomsday_604x341.jpg" /></a><em><span style="font-size:78%;">Hup, Holland, Hup!</span></em></div>Tom Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16473253174339690894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249379144957043615.post-34809281237377787802010-07-06T11:28:00.002-04:002010-07-06T16:56:43.555-04:00Tiger Woods - Buy or Sell?We've always been told to buy low and sell high, right. Easier said than done, especially in the case of Tiger Woods. If TW was a tradeable commodity, I think he would have a number of brokers on the fence.<br /><br />Let's face it, Tiger's stock is at an all-time low. We all know about the personal issues that he's put himself through. To top it all off, his wife will supposedly be paid $750 million (some reports have dropped that figure to $100 million) in the divorce settlement, as long as she doesn't go public with any of his "dirty laundry" (I'm still wondering if all of that infidelity was worth $750 million).<br /><br />Aside from his decent run at the Masters to open the season (shooting 4 rounds of 70 or better and finishing tied for 4th), Tiger has been abysmal, especially for his high standards. He missed the cut at the Quail Hollow Championship, withdrew during the final round of the Players Championship, tied for 19th at the Memorial, tied for 4th at the US Open (shot over par in 3 of the 4 rounds), and tied for 46th at Sunday's AT&T National. Next week, he'll be flying to Scotland to play in the British Open at St. Andrews. The way he has been putting, I don't expect Tiger to contend, even though he finished in the top 5 at both majors this year.<br /><br />Tiger Woods is, for lack of better words, a "curious" case. I have lost all respect for him as a human being, just like I lost all respect for Kobe Bryant after his extramarital incident (on a smaller scale). Woods is still an exceptional athlete, and I will continue to respect him as the greatest pure golfer of all time. That is the only admiration that he will ever get from me. Unlike athletes like Dennis Rodman, Ron Artest, and others like them, TW portrayed himself in a much different light - a very clean-cut, high-brow, gentlemanly, father of two. That's what sucks so much about Tiger's infidelity. He is the exact opposite of the image he was selling, and he is no different from any run-of-the-mill cheater. I have a good feeling that Tiger's father would be ashamed of the man he has become.<br /><br />Deep down inside, I still hope that Tiger misses the cut in every event he plays in, but I do believe that he will rebound. I don't expect him to win any events this year, but next season will be a make or break year for TW. His struggles appear to be more mental than anything else (especially since he seems to be striking the ball pretty well).<br /><br />Most of all, I hope that Tiger Woods learns from his own stupidity. We are all human, but when you have a track record like his, one can only hope that he finds a way to turn his personal life around.Tom Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16473253174339690894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249379144957043615.post-70116444096896451512010-07-02T09:15:00.004-04:002010-07-02T12:37:46.877-04:00Do Americans Really Care About Soccer?<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYhxbBYXaJFSQXgrAKZJbiYpjueCfA1yYS-jp6D38jUgO7-pK1ExCe3B-kfCLl3jbz2YewnQUUxTeiGGs_cOyFqklq8sgjq9lZ0fBjWIqVm9vHFb9mSsiRSVU_5Dr3IIsdCDBVESHr2AG/s1600/_48071255_kuyt_466_.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 223px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489343785113589378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYhxbBYXaJFSQXgrAKZJbiYpjueCfA1yYS-jp6D38jUgO7-pK1ExCe3B-kfCLl3jbz2YewnQUUxTeiGGs_cOyFqklq8sgjq9lZ0fBjWIqVm9vHFb9mSsiRSVU_5Dr3IIsdCDBVESHr2AG/s400/_48071255_kuyt_466_.jpg" /></a><em><span style="font-size:78%;">In honor of their win over Brazil, Hup, Holland, Hup!</span></em><br /><br /></div><div align="left">I have asked myself this question a lot in the past, and I usually come up with the same answer.<br /><br />No.<br /><br />Let me preface this topic with a given. I realize that soccer/football/futbol is the most popular sport in the world, therefore I'm not trying to take anything away from the sport itself or its fans. I love the World Cup. I love the Dutch. Everytime the World Cup comes around, soccer fans (and myself) get all worked up in the US, and for good reason. The World Cup is essentially the Super Bowl of soccer. But to the casual American soccer fan, the sport just doesn't matter.<br /><br />We see this same phenomenon during the Olympics every two years (alternating between winter and summer games). From figure skating and snowboarding to gymnastics and swimming, Americans aren't fans of these individual sports (generally speaking). However, their rooting interest is largely based on national pride.<br /><br />Apply this same reasoning to the World Cup. As excited as Landon Donovan's game-winning goal versus Algeria was, if he doesn't score that goal, the Americans would have headed back to the States a week early, and we would have moved on with our lives (soccer wouldn't have come back into the fold for most fans until the 2014 World Cup). On the surface, it appeared that fans were going to talk about that goal for months. I even thought that the popularity of soccer had turned a corner in the US. Then reality slapped me in the face.<br /><br />Let's turn back the clock. Before the US hosted the 1994 World Cup, soccer was on life-support here. FIFA was largely criticized internationally for choosing the US as host site, due to the US having such a weak soccer team, not to mention a lack of a professional soccer league. The US team quieted some of those critics when they traveled to Trinidad and Tobago and won 1-0 on the final day of World Cup qualifying to earn a spot in the 1990 World Cup, the first time they'd qualified since 1950 (a loss or a tie would have kept them out of the World Cup). Although they lost all three of their group matches, the US team took a huge step towards preparing for the 1994 World Cup.<br /><br />The Americans were not expected to advance past the group stage in 1994, but a stunning upset win over Columbia vaulted them into the second round. The Americans were eliminated by eventual champion Brazil, 1-0, but the US team had shown everyone that they weren't to be overlooked anymore. The 1994 World Cup also set attendance records that still stand in World Cup history.<br /><br />After the US team qualified for the round of 16 in 1994, soccer's popularity in the US was on the brink. MLS had its inaugural season in 1996 (10 teams), and has now grown to 16 teams (3 new franchises will be added next season). However, thanks to the flameout of the US team in France during the 1998 World Cup, soccer's popularity hit a brick wall. The Americans' 2002 World Cup quarterfinal run attempted to make up for their dismal 0-3 showing at the 1998 World Cup, but they bookended their miraculous 2002 showing with another winless performance during the 2006 World Cup.<br /><br />The challenge for the US soccer team is much easier said than done - If you win, they will come. The Americans have <em>never</em> advanced past the group stage in back-to-back World Cups, and they've only made it beyond the round of 16 once in the modern era. The quickest way for the sport to gain popularity in the US is to become successful, which is simply dictated by winning.<br /><br />Obviously, soccer isn't a diehard sport in the US. It is dominated by the "Big Four" - American football, baseball, basketball, and ice hockey. We don't appreciate the details of the sport, for a number of reasons. It isn't high scoring. It isn't fast-paced. There is too much acting, plus it's not "physical" enough. There is too much subjectivity from the referee (when it comes to booking a player). The MLS is a second-class soccer league, compared to the UEFA leagues in Europe. The best American soccer players don't even play in the US.<br /><br />The biggest factor contributing to the pace of soccer's growth in popularity, or lack thereof, in the US can be blamed on the competetive nature of the sport for children/teens. Until the 1980s, most high schools in the US did not offer soccer at all, and youth soccer programs were extremely rare until the 1970s. Thus, older generations of Americans living today grew up with virtually no exposure to the sport. According to some published reports, soccer is today's most popular youth sport. However, competetive soccer usually ends around high school where most kids prefer to play American football. In most areas of the US, high school soccer and American football are both played in the fall, so a student generally cannot devote time to both. The rise of sports like ice hockey and lacrosse, both similar in nature to soccer, are also drawing teenagers away.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Until star athletes like Tiger Woods and LeBron James chose to play soccer for a living, I don't think that soccer has much of a chance to supplant any of the Big Four in the US. Soccer has its niche, and that is fine with me.</div>Tom Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16473253174339690894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249379144957043615.post-9666984653916069872010-06-29T09:26:00.005-04:002010-06-29T11:03:48.430-04:00The State of Baseball and The Big Red MachineI've not been afraid to voice my frustrations with the current state of Major League Baseball. Call me simple and/or old-fashsioned, but the game has changed in a number of ways, and I'm not sure how it has kept my interest at all.<br /><br />For starters, there are too many games. I'm sorry, but 162 games (excluding the playoffs) is just too many! The season has become painstakingly long, especially when you combine spring training and the playoffs with 162 regular season games. Yes, I know this was changed almost 50 years ago, but doesn't this take away the relevance of each individual game? Not to mention, with current ticket prices, how can most cities expect to sell out games? This is no longer cheap entertainment.<br /><br />Games have also become much slower, largely due to the fact that pitchers have become more and more deliberate, especially in later innings. Don't get me wrong, I understand that there is plenty of mental strategy involved in baseball, but 20 years ago, the average game was 30+ minutes shorter.<br /><br />This slowed pace can also be blamed on GMs attempting to protect their investments (starting pitchers). Just look at the dramatic drop in complete games in the last 20-25 years. Everytime a pitcher is taken out of a game, a new reliever has to come in and warm up. This process takes at least 5 minutes, for each pitching change.<br /><br />For all of its faults, baseball still holds a place in my heart and many others. Because it's not as fast paced as football, basketball, or hockey, you can go to the ballpark, kick back with a beer, relax, and enjoy the game.<br /><br />Of the four major sports in this country, baseball is the least socialistic, which is both a good and bad thing (as long as their are enough team owners out there that are willing to spend money). My friend Jon has always told me that if an MLB team (or any professional sports team) wants to have success, their owner has to be willing to invest in the team, no matter how much it costs. Owning a team is not just a business, but it is also a hobby, and you have to be willing to spend money in order to succeed in that business/hobby. There are obvious exceptions to this rule, but for the most part, he is exactly right. Just look at the New York Yankees.<br /><br />All of this has led me to talk about the rejuvenation of the Cincinnati Reds. My dad was a fan of the Big Red Machine in the 1970s, and I became a big fan during their stunning sweep of the Oakland A's in the 1990 World Series. Since then, they've only made the playoffs once, after winning their division in 1995 (after sweeping the Dodgers in the NLDS, they were swept by the Braves in the NLCS). In the strike-shortened season of 1994, the Reds won the division, but there was no postseason. The Reds haven't finished a season with a winning record since 2000. Amazingly, they currently have a half-game lead over the Cardinals for 1st place in the NL Central division, which is the latest in a season the Reds have led the division since 1999.<br /><br /><div align="left"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 340px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488209689179721602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ681B6GqNorY5sbDQdc2Ay-kKCODwbl3IEgdoScW5n-FbOUx7eNb6uwirfpVXEOkzRDwZBKSRQaYUbo3JF_YhnnrRs3lMAGBXwkhj-rTUWpJduj1tupCSTovRn2Tl92rUk97Lq6Xx9U7n/s400/capt_2a0443e36b1644b3b0a30a35b75b0e40-2a0443e36b1644b3b0a30a35b75b0e40-0.jpg" /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:78%;">Scott Rolen, hitting his 300th career home run, in Cincinnati's 7-3 win over the Phillies.</span></em></div><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">Cincinnati leads the NL in team batting average, runs scored, hits, RBIs, and slugging percentage (they are 2nd in on-base percentage, 3rd in home runs, and 4th in stolen bases). They have a young outfield (Gomes, Stubbs, Bruce), with a veteran leadership throughout the majority of their infield (Rolen, Cabrera, Phillips, Votto*, Hernandez). Edinson Volquez is scheduled to return to the rotation immediately following the All-Star break, which will really make this rotation even more competitive (Harang, Arroyo, Cueto, Leake).<br /><br />The real shame in all of this is the fact that the city of Cincinnati has yet to realize that the Reds are a contender at this point (Tampa still has this problem, even after their great 2008 season). As of last night, the Reds are only averaging 22,600 fans per home game (Great American Ballpark seats ~42,000), which is the 3rd worst home attendance in the NL, ahead of the Marlins and Pirates.<br /><br />I visited the old Riverfront Stadium for Reds games once or twice as a kid, but I finally attended a Reds game at Great American Ballpark a few weeks ago. My plea for the city of Cincinnati - please support your hometown team!</div>Tom Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16473253174339690894noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249379144957043615.post-82550050106544744442010-06-27T23:12:00.003-04:002010-06-28T00:33:27.184-04:00Wimbledon's Marathon MatchFor most US sports fans, tennis doesn't make their list of "must see" sporting events. If it weren't for the fact that I play regularly, I doubt I would enjoy watching it. However, for the many sports fans who missed out on Wimbledon's epic 1st round match between American John Isner and Frenchman Nicolas Mahut, you missed something that I doubt we'll ever witness again.<br /><br />Isner, who is currently ranked 19th in the world, was pre-seeded 23rd at Wimbledon. For Isner's 1st match, he drew the unseeded Mahut, who is currently ranked 148th in the world, and had to progress through a qualifying pre-tournament in order to be eligible to play (since he didn't qualify automatically). Mahut was seeded 27th in the qualifying rounds. He survived three qualification rounds, beating Frank Dancevic easily in the 1st round (6–3, 6–0), Alex Bogdanovic in a 2nd round marathon (3–6, 6–3, 24–22), and Stefan Koubek in the final round in five sets (6–7, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–4), in which he came back from a 2 sets to none deficit. Thus, Mahut had already played an unusually large amount of tennis in the week before the main tournament even began.<br /><br />The Isner-Mahut match was scheduled to begin on Court 18 (a non-showcase court), on Day 2 (Tuesday) of the tournament. Three earlier matches were scheduled on Court 18 for that same day, so the Isner-Mahut match didn't begin until 6:13pm local time.<br /><br />Isner converted the only break of service in the 1st set, winning 6 games to 4. Mahut bounced back, converting the only break of service in the 2nd set, winning 6 games to 3. The two held serve throughout the 3rd set, but Mahut prevailed in a tiebreaker, winning 7 games to 6 (9-7 in the tiebreaker). The 4th set lasted over an hour, with both players holding serve and forcing another tiebreaker. Isner prevailed this time, winning 7 games to 6 (7-3 in the tiebreaker). After Isner leveled the match, at 9:07pm local time, the match was suspended due to darkness. Little did everyone know what was about to happen the next day.<br /><br />I was in the middle of quarterly meetings at my office last week, so I wasn't really paying attention to the early matches at Wimbledon. In fact, I didn't even know that these two were playing in the 1st round, so the coming news came as quite a shock to me.<br /><br />The match resumed on Court 18 at 2:05 pm local time on Day 3 (Wednesday). I got word at lunch time (~5:30pm local time) that this match was tied at 30-30 in the 5th set! Both players just kept bombing away, racking up aces, and continuing to hold serve. Every half hour or so, I was checking the score. 39-39. 45-45. 50-50. 55-55. Finally, not long before I headed home from work, the chair umpire decided to suspend the match for a 2nd day, due to darkness, with the score tied at 59-59. Neither player could break serve!<br /><br />[For those of you unfamiliar with tournament scoring rules in tennis, typically, if a set is tied at 6 games apiece, the winner of that set will be determined by a tiebreaker. The two players alternate serving every two points, and they play until someone scores 7 points. The winner must also win the tiebreaker by at least 2 points. During all rounds at Wimbledon (and a the finals of the other 3 major tournaments), a tiebreaker isn't used to determine the winner of the final set. Instead, the two players continue playing until they have achieved a two game advantage, no matter how many games it takes. ]<br /><br />On Day 4 (Thursday), the match resumed at 3:43pm local time. At this point, the match had already lasted exactly 10 hours, and it was anyone's guess as to how much longer the match would continue. With renewed energy, both players continued to bomb away, serve after serve, game after game. Finally, with Mahut serving, down 30-40 and trailing 69 games to 68, Isner ripped a backhand winner past Mahut to put an end to the match. After 11 hours and 5 minutes of play spanning 3 days, Isner was finally victorious, 6–4, 3–6, 6–7, 7–6, 70–68. The match broke a number of tennis records:<br /><ul><li>Longest match (11 hours, 5 minutes)</li><li>Longest set (5th set - 8 hours, 11 minutes)</li><li>Most games in a set (5th set - 138)</li><li>Most games in a match (183)</li><li>Most aces in a match by one player (Isner - 113<sup id="cite_ref-WimbledonWebsite_26-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isner%E2%80%93Mahut_match_at_the_2010_Wimbledon_Championships#cite_note-WimbledonWebsite-26"><span></span><span></span></a></sup>)</li><li>Total aces in a match (216 - Mahut's 103 aces were the 2nd highest number by a player in a match)<sup id="cite_ref-WimbledonWebsite_26-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isner%E2%80%93Mahut_match_at_the_2010_Wimbledon_Championships#cite_note-WimbledonWebsite-26"><span></span><span></span></a></sup></li><li>Consecutive service games held (168 - 84 for each player)</li></ul><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_B_KCi3vJAs00pIsW_Ip4nlOrtOthrdL0N-6OKnMmmx_INiAlKfNGXBGXLkHmxqR6c33mtCp1H02mZ62ZYqMByfXklCx2-7bn3yHIJv6hVErHpG27hQZoTG17OECYUGzDIO1DulwLts-M/s1600/APTOPIX_Britain_Wimbledon_Tennis.sff-b56c4a66-70ba-46f1-b221-221daaddac37.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_B_KCi3vJAs00pIsW_Ip4nlOrtOthrdL0N-6OKnMmmx_INiAlKfNGXBGXLkHmxqR6c33mtCp1H02mZ62ZYqMByfXklCx2-7bn3yHIJv6hVErHpG27hQZoTG17OECYUGzDIO1DulwLts-M/s400/APTOPIX_Britain_Wimbledon_Tennis.sff-b56c4a66-70ba-46f1-b221-221daaddac37.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487677465123082450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">John Isner collapses after converting his final break chance</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> in the 5th set.</span></span><br /></div><br />I hated to see either of these players lose, especially after battling for so long. I can't even begin to imagine the mental/physical toll this match took on both Isner and Mahut. Sadly for Isner, the next day he had to play an early morning 2nd round match against unseeded Thiemo De Bakker. Isner was downed in just 1 hour and 14 minutes, losing 6-0, 6-3, 6-2. Amazingly, Isner failed to produce a single ace in the match, and he received neck and back treatment while clearly battling fatigue. In fact, Patrick McEnroe even tweeted that Isner had "no skin left on his toes."<br /><br />I will be shocked if we ever see a tennis match this long ever again. Even Isner agrees, saying in a courtside interview, "Nothing like this will happen again, ever." It is likely that Wimbledon could change their 5th set tiebreaker rule next year, which would prevent another marathon match like this from taking place. In the meantime, tennis must enjoy this moment in the sun, because no one expected John Isner and Nicolas Mahut to steal a few moments of fame from the World Cup.Tom Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16473253174339690894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249379144957043615.post-56772605713636137722010-06-25T09:29:00.000-04:002010-06-25T09:43:32.822-04:00My Facebook HiatusIt's been quite some time, but I've decided to delve back into the blogging world, thanks in part to my hiatus from Facebook. There are a number of topics that I plan on writing about, and I think this is an excellent arena for sharing my thoughts, along with those who choose to join me. <br /><br />Most of those who know me realize that I'm a huge sports enthusiast. That is one major purpose of this blog - to celebrate sports. In addition to other choice topics, we'll discuss a number of sports/sporting events from an array of different angles - cultural, political, fanaticism, etc.<br /><br />Usually the summertime does not create a lot of opportunities to talk about miraculous events in sports. However, this month has been a huge exception with the World Cup, the Mahut-Isner match at Wimbledon, Tiger's continued golf struggles, another Celtics-Lakers finals rematch, a resurgent Cincinnati Reds baseball club, the penalty phase for USC athletics, and a host of other happenings. Stay tuned for my next post!Tom Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16473253174339690894noreply@blogger.com0