MidValleySports.Com

T-Minus-124 Days until “The Mid Valley Classic”

Good Evening!

I saw just enough this morning to make me a Baldwin Park fan. Not necessarily in a rooting interest regarding scoreboard outcome (can’t do that), but enough to wish the program nothing but success.

Many know the stars who played for the Braves, but there were dozens of other guys who came back to their alma mater because they felt part of the pride and tradition.

The sort of things that make football so special.

Quick hitters before we go deep into the Alumni Bowl.

As The Temple City Turns: This came in this afternoon and in fairness I decided to run with it, because I ran a counter position earlier this week. The person has decided to remain anonymous because of TC being a small community, and small communities can at times be unforgiving. I’m running the info, and welcoming the rebuttal.

“Joe, read your column, the reason for the disaster at Temple City is because the teachers union is dictating no teaching job for a new hire, not the school board.”— In Defense of the TCUSD.

This person (In Defense of the TCUSD) went on to say the teachers in the district were asked to give up two furlough days over the next two years or teachers would have to be let go.

We checked with connections in Monrovia and Arcadia school districts who shared a similar situation. The teachers in Monrovia took days off, while the teachers in Arcadia took percentage cuts… All this in order to keep fellow teachers in employed.

In Temple City this was refused by the teachers in the district (according to In Defense of the TCUSD)… and close to 18 to 24 teachers were pinked.

“This is not all on the school board,” said In Defense of the TCUSD. “The teachers unions control a lot more than most people think. And this has a lot to do with the drama over hiring a new head coach for the football program or whether or not a teaching position is available.”

Like I said, if anyone wants to give counter, please do. This situation is rapidly getting out of control.

Last Add As The Temple City Turns: Make arguments, but I will not post names or allow anything that takes shots at individuals. Have the discussion, get angry, take a cheap, shot at me…but I won’t print anyone being singled out. Thanks.

Wrapping up our trip through the Valle Vista, Northview may find it tough sledding in new HC Marcel Perez’s first year. The goodnews is Perez was already on campus and is familiar with what the Vikings have coming back. The bad is after a 1-9 season there’s not a lot of big time talent (on paper) returning.

In the trenches Chris Auxier has nice size, and Jesse Fullen is solid at linebacker. The skill positions on offense are either undersized or need to be upgraded. Martin Arredondo is back after some struggles as a junior, but the standout on offense is Marquise Thomas who averaged nearly 8-yards a carry in 2009. Josh Orona and Raymond Hernadez are capable.

The non-league schedule includes El Rancho, La Puente, Chino, and Walnut… Chino was winless last season, but the other three are hardly give-mes… And neither is the new Valle Vista, which will make things difficult for Perez and N-View this fall. Then again its only May.

Best basketball news I’ve heard in a long time: Purdue’s E’Twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson have decided to skip the NBA Draft and return to West Lafayette for their senior seasons.

The Celtics rolled over like dogs last night.

No do. No do, Mr. Brian Cushing…

All I know is after Jamie Moyer’s two-hitter, Peterson called and asked me to go jogging with him. He’s all motivated.

The Alumni Bowl

If programs are looking for answers revenue wise, they might want to go the route of James Heggins and Baldwin Park.

The BP HC and staff hosted the first annual alumni bowl and by all appearances and lack of stretchers, EMTs, ambulances, and 911 calls, it was a success.

The Blue squad pulled out the 22-9 victory over the White, but as the announcer said over the P.A. after the game; “We’re all black an blue today.”

“It was great having all the years represented,” said Edmund Robles class of 1984. “We had some good times.”

As fragile bones remained intact, spare tires jostled, and exhaustion set in the energy managed to pick up. Old football attitudes kicked in. Some of the best comments of the day came from the sidelines at Ted K. Gorrell Stadium.

“Oh, that’s a concussion!”

“Dante stick him!”

“This is when you hope your kids aren’t watching because they’re going to say; ‘Dad you got hurt in a flag football game?’”

“How many of these guys are going to call in sick in the morning?”

“All you had to do was put a little touch on it Ramirez!”

“Dante! What the hell!”

“Hey, what? What? You think you’re playing Bassett and its 1991?”

“Did I coach you?”

“Why don’t you ask Coach Zane to put you in.”

“He didn’t put me in back then, why would he put me in now?”

Tony Zane, HC emeritus for the White squad; “I knew this had to be the team I was coaching; throwing three interceptions in the end zone.”

Todd Allen, who starred in the early 1980’s, gave this quote at halftime: “I say we call the game right now and go get some beers.”

Ty Pagone, HC emeritus for the Blue squad, stopped the game in the fourth quarter and walked onto the field complaining about a non-call. Hilarious.

Of course there were a thousand other things said, that cannot be printed, but sounded natural when old friends and teammates get together.

The cause was important. For the second consecutive year the Baldwin Park football program is on its own and is desperately trying to raise funds for the 2010 season. A lot of schools in the same boat, with a rich tradition, should consider something similar.

Stay thirsty my friends…

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