By Joe Torosian
“And, as his strength failed him at length, he wondered upon a sportswriters shadow… “Shadow,” said he, “where it can be this land called Montebello?”—Jack McTaggart
Kick it!
Right off the Top: Road team…Top of the ninth…three-run homer…It was like living through Jack Clark all over again.
…Like getting thrown in the mud and kicked in the head with an iron boot.
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The Schurr loss to Whittier was troubling to me…I know people are going to say, “Joe, I’m telling you…Whittier, man, they’re for real…”
I’ve been hearing about Whittier for twenty years…I’ve bought before and ended up like a Shake-Weight investor…I don’t want to talk about Whittier…and I don’t really want to talk about Schurr…Except that, if a team had a chance to knock off Montebello in the Almont this season I thought it would have been the Spartans.
Instead, I believe the Oilers are going to ride that sportswriter-sized offensive line of theirs—(Steven Salgado (249), Isaac Cabral (260), Nathaniel Marshall (234), Edgar Relayo (256), Ramiro Rodriguez (291), & Albert Venegas (287).)—to a 9-1 record…Their Almont winning streak to 20…and their fourth consecutive Almont crown.
Now what the Dark Side needs is a trip to the third round.
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What happens if La Salle defeats St. Francis Friday night?…The awesome power of the Golden Knights versus the wrath of Caan…
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Do you know what’s significant about November 5, 2004? Think…Think real hard…Can’t figure it out?…Ready?…Scroll down…
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So now that the Mets have been Gillaspied out of the post-season…My Dodger friends are asking if I’m going to come home…
Hear this: All the past we leave behind with Scully…
If I couldn’t root for this team in Vin Scully’s last season…I certainly cannot root for them now…
This is not a prediction, but how I want the National League playoffs to go:
1.) San Francisco Giants: Because it will pain the Dodgers and their fans to no end to see this team win a fourth World Series in seven seasons.
2.) Chicago Cubs: It would be neat…but I think a classic meltdown would be better. I’m talking one strike away, police guarding the field, and then they get Gillaspied…
3.) Washington Nationals: Only if it means they beat the Dodgers.
4.) Los Angeles Dodgers: Nope.
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Last Add Schurr: On this night in 1977, Tong Lee scored two touchdowns on short runs, but the Spartans fell in the fourth quarter at Katella, 18-14 on a Thursday.
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I’ve been hard on the Los Angeles Rams…but give them credit…they are 30th in passing, 30th in rushing, 32nd in total offense, and have a 3-1 record.
Bright side…maybe they’re learning how to win…Maybe?
The last time the Rams played the Buffalo Bills in the Coliseum was December 15, 1974. It was Week 14 and the Rams won, 19-14 thanks to a 14-yard touchdown pass from James Harris to Rob Scribner, and 1-yard touchdown runs by Harris and backup quarterback Ron Jaworksi.
Buffalo got a late touchdown on a 55-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (not the Dodger catcher) to J.D. Hill.
It was probably the most boring game I’d ever been to…but that may have been because our seats were of the horseshoe variety…Southside, at the open end…nearly a full third of the field was blocked from us because of the Buffalo players standing on the sideline.
Rams punter, Mike Burke subbing for injured kicker David Ray missed two extra-points.
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When I was growing up in El Monte…and playing on the railroad tracks and inside the bridge that crossed over the Rio Hondo River…I was told El Monte and Arroyo had a great rivalry…
But in 48 previous meetings Arroyo holds a 40-8 advantage…That’s not a rivalry…that’s a colonoscopy…a colonoscopy with extreme prejudice.
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In regards to a Houston Astros minor leaguer (Lancaster Jet Hawks—I think?) tweeting a woman shouldn’t be announcing games for ESPN…Who cares? The guy plays in the California League…Who cares what he thinks…
I think Mendoza does a pretty good job…she doesn’t bug me the way a Bob Costas bugs me…but let’s be honest, she got the job because she’s a woman.
She does it well, though, so no problem.
ESPN, on the other hand, is a cliche factory…meaning there is nothing original about ESPN…they will do anything, say anything, become anything, to be accepted…What the Jet Hawk player should have tweeted was… “ESPN has no business broadcasting MLB games…”
It was painful to watch Buster Olney interview, Madison Bumgarner after the Mets got Gillaspied last night.
I think a question like… “What do you want your legacy to be?” …Is better suited for a Barbara Walters Special or an old Roy Firestone butt-kissing session… The only thing Olney didn’t ask Bumgarner was, “What enchants you?”
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November 5, 2004: On that evening West Covina defeated Charter Oak, 13-12…(and ended the season CIF champs with a victory over South Hills in December)..It was also the Bulldogs last victory over the Chargers.
CO has defeated The WC seven straight times.
It should be noted none of those seven victories occurred when WestCo was on back-to-back (2010 & 2011) CIF championship runs. The Bulldogs went 26-2 during that span (losses to Covina & Loyola).
So there’s the hope for Mike Maggiore & Friends…If you can avoid losing to Charter Oak…your title chances increase significantly.
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My heart’s desire for the American League playoffs, not predictions…
1.) Cleveland Indians: Because I’ve always been an Indians fan.
2.) Texas Rangers: Why?…Why not?
3.) Toronto Blue Jays: I enjoy bat flips.
4.) Boston Red Sox: Because EVERYONE is a Red Sox fan these days.
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Speaking of CO…on this date in 1995…Charter Oak defeated Temple City 21-8 at North Field. Charger quarterback, Jeff Disney threw two touchdown passes and ran for another in the victory. Disney, a sophomore, connected twice with Matt Dzama on scoring tosses of 21 and 22-yards.
Backup quarterback, Jeff Stubner engineered a late drive for the Rams that ended with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jim Mustain. Brian Betts added the deuce.
On the same night, Crescenta Valley beat Burroughs, 28-21…and Glendale defeated Burbank, 16-7. The Bulldogs had a 7-3, halftime lead…but the Nitros’ James Klintworth turned two Burbank fumbles into touchdowns for the win. Glendale improved to 2-2-1 while Bank fell to 0-5.
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Midbits (same as ‘Tidbits’)
Midbits: I haven’t even lost (yet) this week and I can tell you Fantasy Football sucks…Yahoo should allow us to import offensive players from Whittier Christian.
Midbits: “Frank Gallardo sucks yet he has his team 5-1 and he’s got probably the best player in the league. Can’t be that bad.”—MVS commenter “Vikings”
Midbits: The only thing worse than sideline reporters at a football game are dugout reporters at a baseball game.
Midbits: Why is it, win or lose, Madison Bumgarner always looks like the transmission in his car croaked on the 405 during rush hour?
Midbits: How’s Sam Bradford doing in Minnesota?
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MLB GAMES JOE T. HAS WATCHED THIS SEASON (Minimum 5-innings)
New York Mets: 122
Los Angeles Dodgers: 22
San Francisco Giants: 18
Los Angeles Angels: 8
Quick Pitch (Watney/Ryan): 91
The Dude abides…
646
Psalm 139:13
Contact Joe at joe@midvalleysports.com
Author of “Tangent Dreams: A High School Football Novel” available through amazon.com …and “The Dead Bug Tales” available this fall.
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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