MidValleySports.Com

Joe T.

“And now, on with the opera. Let joy be unconfined. Let there be dancing in the streets, drinking in the saloons, and necking in the parlor.”—Otis B. Driftwood

Kick it!

I prefer the U.S. versus the Germans in Stalag 17 than in the World Cup today…In Stalag 17 we win and William Holden is the MVP…Today the only thing three hours of investment got me was a clean living room, kitchen, swept floor, and folded laundry.

“I think that at time like this when a kid transfers it really opens the door for coaches to gather the captains and tell them to rally the troops…”—MVS commenter “SGV fan”

I agree, I have come to believe that you really find the depth and quality of a coach in the moment of a painful loss or setback. I coached a girls high school team in a church league and our first match was against, what I’m sure were, Bulgarian women who all looked like they served on the Eastern Front during World War II. They beat us 53-6, and the older brother of one of my players told me I did such a great job with my post game rah-rah speech that for a second he thought we won the game.

The “us against the world” card is always available to a coach when an injustice has been done to them, but the danger is you can’t go to it all the time. There has to be some discrimination, otherwise you turn into Al Davis.

Whittier Christian’s Noah Evans, listed as a tight end, received his first offer last week. Austin Peay, in Tennessee, offered Evans (6-4,225), who caught 71 passes for 994 yards and ten touchdowns. In his first three years Evans has 149 receptions and 17 touchdowns for the Heralds.

Often, probably far too often, we use the expression; “keep an eye on…” For clarification if you can keep an eye on an individual player do so, but mostly the expression is about being conscious of a specific player as you read and follow the upcoming season. So with that said…

Keep an eye on Windward tackle Roy Hemsley. Windward is in the Alpha League, the Alpha League is in the Mid-Valley Division, meaning they are in one of Mid Valley Sports four coverage zones.

I got into Hemsley and Windward last summer after watching their film and went so far as to utter the dreaded phrase… “Oh, I think Windward could pull something in the Alpha”… Yeah, I kind of missed on that one. The good news for Hemsley is he’s 6-5, 270 and grades out as the 19th best at his position by Scout. He verbaled USC in May after receiving offers from Washington State, UCLA, Utah, San Diego State, Miami, Colorado, California, and Arizona State.

I admit, I have a soft spot for offensive linemen. When we started Mid Valley Sports I put everyone else behind the eight-ball by insisting our All MVS offensive lines were position specific. Meaning the All-Everything team wasn’t going to have three left tackles and two centers.

In the process of this it became clear only a very few understand the offensive line from smarts, to girth, to technique, to motor. Add to this that there are no measurable stats for offensive lineman and the realization is it becomes a tough job.

Defensive players have stats. Running backs, receivers, and quarterbacks have stats. Heck we even have a way of measuring kickers and punters, but offensive linemen are usually reduced to the “eye test” or purely the success of their team.

It takes a sharp eye to figure this out, so I’m always asking and trying to get a better understanding…and there’s the rub. In football you watch the snap and the flight of the ball, but to better understand the game, and especially the offensive line, you have to take note of what happens away from the ball.

Great read: “Take Your Eye Off The Ball” by Tim Kirwan. I read it two years ago and just picked it up again, outstanding book.

Regards:

In regards to Eddie Ramirez: The Mountain View Vikings football program is having a car wash this Saturday from 10:AM-2PM at New Hope Community Church in El Monte to raise money for the family of Eddie Ramirez, who was diagnosed with cancer and passed away within three days. His son Tristan is a linebacker/fullback for the football team. If you would like to help the family with funeral costs go to www.gofundme.com/al0cos# and follow instructions.

In regards to the NBA Draft: Hello World Cup!…Not that there is anything wrong with it.

In regards to Tim Lincecum: Since both of his no-hitters have come against the Padres should an asterisk be placed next to them?

In regards to the Olympic League: Don’t go to sleep on Valley Christian.

In regards to the golf tournament honoring the memory of local athletic standout Hector Urias: It will be held Friday, June 27 at the Los Serranos Country Club in Chino Hills. Cost is $115.00 per golfer. For more information contact Ken Weldon at 626-705-1893.

The Dude abides…

566

Psalms 37: 25

Contact Joe at joe@midvalleysports.com

“Joe T.’s Scoreboard” is found at www.midvalleynews.com every Wednesday & in the hard copy of the Mid Valley News, published every Wednesday

Follow Joe on Twitter @joet13b

Listen to “The Joe Show” every Wednesday (6 & 6:30 P.M.) at www.midvalleyradio.net

“The Mid Valley Sports Show” is LIVE every Tuesday (7:PM) at www.midvalleysports.com (Click on “UStream” button)