Joe T…is really sick of Jay Bruce.
By Joe Torosian
“There’s nothing wrong with being shallow as long as you’re insightful about it.”—Dennis Miller
Kick it!
Right off the Top: I always tell people to take the high road…that way there’s more room for me on the low road.
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As of 7:30 this morning there were still 7,311 tickets remaining for Saturday night’s Kansas City Chiefs-Los Angeles Rams game at the Coliseum…But having experienced the Coliseum (even through some great upgrades) wouldn’t the late Jim Healy say that those remaining tickets are of the “horseshoe” variety?
“This book has been such a breath of fresh air. Reminding me why I sit on bleachers and what a community is all about. Most importantly what high school football is all about. I read the book 3 times.”
“Anyone who has a kid trying out for his High School football team needs to read this book. Torosian has taken his 20 some years of reporting on Prep sports, mixed a healthy dose of San Gabriel Valley insider references and created a very readable first effort.”
“A page turner…I’m sorry it’s over! Is a sequel in the works?”
“Torosian does for high school football what Hemingway did for the Spanish Civil War…compelling look beyond the scoreboard and into the lives of players…”
“A truly great story unfolds in the pages of Joe Torosian’s first novel. With high school football at its core, the story of Dale Andrade shows how a young man grows in all aspects of his life thanks to being a part of a team and a football community.”
“This is a great read for everyone: from those who love high school football to those who have no idea about the game.”
“This book brings you onto the field and into the locker room…”
Joe Torosian’s high school football novel is available through Amazon.com –click pic–
(Cover by Pat Cherry www.blackheartart.com)
In regards to William “Midnight Express” Hayes: The Rams defensive end can believe in mermaids, Atlantis, and global warming if he wants…as long as he gets a dozen sacks this year…S’il vous plaît!
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Question: How stupid do you have to be to get into a fight in the stands at a high school football game? Or in the parking lot? Or in line for the snack bar?
Or at any sporting event? I’m a firm believer alcohol causes it at a professional venue…but what about at a prep game? So the truth is people are capable of stupidity no matter where they go.
Myself included. I nearly got into it with a vendor at the Big A back in the day.
At Spring Training I made a connection with David “Obnoxious Giants Fan” Nordel…He sent me this account from a Minor League baseball game he attended in July. I thought it was hilarious because we always think things are going to get rowdy in places like Oakland, Detroit, or, like me, Anaheim.
Joe, just got back from Billings, Montana to watch the Giants Single-A affiliate Great Falls Voyagers play the Reds affiliate Billings Mustangs.
I know all our players very well so my cheering is almost little league variety. The players were glad to see us but not so much the Billings fans. The guy on the rail next to the visitors dugout two rows in front of me brings a radio and plays it so loud we can all hear it. Then in the third, he turns around and yells at me to stop yelling/cheering in his ear.
I said nothing, but then five rows back a very large man yells at me that he has season tickets on the visitor side just to heckle players. The lady two rows over says shut up. All the while their fans don’t even clap for good plays.
There was hope, though, the gent next to me, wearing a Red Sox hat and North Dakota Fighting Sioux shirt, says these people would never survive in Boston.
Wounded I slink up to get a beer, the beer guy says, “If you came this far this one is on me.”
What a dichotomy of events…baseball you never know!
How easy would it have been for this to turn into something else? Nordel is retired military so he had the maturity to keep his sanity but still…
I think I’m going to keep track of every incident I see this coming prep season. Where it took place (stands, parking lot, other) and any indication as to why.
One time at the end of a Santa Fe playoff game (and you know how those games usually end) we had a writer get roughed up by the coaching staff and the players.
If you see something…I don’t need to know names or have pictures but I‘d like to know what stadium you’re in and the teams playing.
***
Last Add Giants: Is there some way, I can be funny too? Batterychucks!
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Someone asked me what I would like to see this season…I’d like to see Buena Park win a title and watch heads explode…I want to be at the Downey-Warren game…I want to see Fred Ritter get more reps for West El Monte Poly…I secretly root for Mt. View…I’d love to have a season start without me saying; “Keep an eye on Duarte…” I’ve been saying keep an eye on Duarte since the days of Austin Goldsmith, but…keep an eye on Duarte…I loved the broad scope of coverage from previous years…but I also love having some distance from Pasadena Marshall…
Prediction: When the playoffs start the second week of November, Monrovia will be undefeated…Arroyo will beat Temple City…and someone on the Mid Valley Sports staff will be late with their story and claim it’s because of writer’s block, or because their cousin got put in jail, or because it was their niece’s quinceanera…
***
Note to San Dimas: The last time I was turned on to some Saints gear…SD won a title. It’s been a while…
In fact, I’m ready to re-engage Mid Valley Karma…which is not a belief in a spiritual karma, but a sports karma…you take care of us…the MVS will take care of you…
I’m still a double-x…I have broad shoulders.
***
Midbits (same as ‘Tidbits’)
Midbits: You know you’ve done a good job converting from a Los Angeles Dodgers to a New York Mets household when your wife walks through the living room, glances at the TV, and says: “Oh, Big Sexy is pitching.”
Midbits: Former San Gabriel quarterback (fall of 2003) Frankie Bernard turns 30 today.
Midbits: So if you’re a pitcher and you make it to the big leagues and strike out New York Mets outfielder Jay Bruce…does it really count? I mean isn’t that like saying you struck out former Los Angeles Dodgers prospect Billy Ashley? Isn’t that like saying you paid for lunch when out with me…considering that I never, ever, pay for lunch when I got out with someone.
Midbits: “That was really interesting.”—My eldest daughter after watching the last forty minutes of Hard Knocks on Tuesday night.
Midbits: Are the Olympics over yet?
MLB GAMES JOE T. HAS WATCHED THIS SEASON (Minimum 5-innings)
New York Mets: 91
Los Angeles Dodgers: 14
San Francisco Giants: 9
Los Angeles Angels: 8
Quick Pitch (Watney/Ryan): 71
The Dude abides…
627
Psalm 120:1
Contact Joe at joe@midvalleysports.com
Author of “Tangent Dreams: A High School Football Novel” available through Amazon.com
Follow Joe on Twitter @joet13b
“Joe T.’s Scoreboard” is found at www.midvalleynews.com every Wednesday & in the hard copy of the Mid Valley News, published every Wednesday.
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