The Peterson Principle: 4/18/2020

By Tim Peterson
The narrative was that Kobe Bryant had a bad game in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals against Boston, that the Lakers won in spite of him. Take another look. Despite a less than stellar shooting night, he led the team in scoring with 23 points, and pulled down 15 rebounds.

That game was decided by defense and Kobe led the charge. He didn’t have the shooting touch but did everything else needed to get the win. That being said, the Ron Artest three pointer late in the game was huge. anybody else forget that Andrew Bynum was on that team?

With the quarantine still in full effect I’ve been “taking another look” quite often lately with all the old classics being shown on ESPN. I watched the USC-Texas 2006 Rose Bowl last week and I was hoping Reggie Bush would get the ball on fourth and two this time. But no, LenDale White got the handoff again and was stopped again which led to a Texas victory again. Will Pete Carroll ever learn?

Just think if Carroll would have given the ball to Reggie Bush in that game and to Marshawn Lynch in Super Bowl XLIX he would have two more championships under his belt.

Speaking of classics did you catch Ali-Frazier 1 on ESPN Saturday? Just a great fight. Two warriors going at it into the 15th round until Frazier finally knocks Ali down and gains the unanimous decision. Frazier had Ali in trouble in the 11th round but he survived. Ali hit Frazier with a good solid left in the 12th but Frazier just smiled at him. In the 15th a big left hook by Frazier sent Ali to the canvas. Ali bounced right back up but it gave Frazier enough to win on all three cards. Great stuff. None of these guys today would have lasted three rounds with either one of them.

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Lots of chatter on the boards this past week about George Hernandez’ series on Why not the View? Look I don’t mind if you think the team sucks but in this series that’s the whole point. Yes we’re aware that Mt. View hasn’t had much success in the last, oh I don’t know, 40 years or so, but that was the whole reason for the piece. Hernandez talked to former Viking coaches and players about their opinions on why the View hasn’t won and he went through several of the seasons and results. The traditionally successful teams get ink every day but this was a chance to chronicle a team that hasn’t won. If you get a chance check out Part 4. Former head football coach Victor Romero had some very interesting takes. And if you don’t like it you can always spend your time reading about the NBA Horse Challenge on ESPN. I’m sure that will have you on the edge of your seat.

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Will there be a high school football season? That’s the big question floating around these days. Some have suggested switching fall and spring sports schedules with football starting in January. But wouldn’t that just put the spring sports, like baseball and softball, at risk of being canceled for the second straight year? To me it would seem to be all or nothing. Either all sports go on as scheduled starting with the school year in September or they are canceled. If sports are suspended until January of next year then you start with the winter sports like basketball and go from there. Would it suck to lose a football season? Absolutely. But to start moving seasons around will only create more problems.

I still think former Arroyo head football coach/AD Jim Singiser had the best idea. If they are given the green light to open everything up August 1st, they could still kick off the season in mid September and get in a seven game season which would include all of the league games. Also they would be set up for CIF playoffs. But as he pointed out that will still be difficult. All of the schools would still have to order helmets, shoulder pads as well as practice jerseys and practice pants which will cause a wait. Throw in athletes needing to complete their physicals and clearance packets and all coaches still having to get cleared by the district for fingerprints and certifications, etc. there will be more delays. It is possible but it definitely won’t be easy. Stay tuned…

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Strange but there were sure a lot of people “sheltering in place” in bumper to bumper traffic on the 57 freeway Thursday afternoon.

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If there is a season, and I’m banking that there is, keep an eye on Rosemead quarterback Ivan Ostry. He had a great year last year but still flew under the radar. This kid is special.

That’s my principle.
Tim can be reached at tim.midvalleysports@gmail.com or on Twitter @tspeterson40.

11 Comments to "The Peterson Principle: 4/18/2020"

  1. Ron Vrooman, AHS stat man's Gravatar Ron Vrooman, AHS stat man
    April 23, 2020 - 12:20 pm | Permalink

    Actually, the word is “brakes.”
    I think San Gabriel has a shot at turning its program around within the next few years. The Matadors were a little more competitive this past season. The school has a head coach who’s on campus full-time, and I believe the administration took a step in the right direction there.
    Mark Keppel, on the other hand, is perilously close to going to eight-man football or playing no football at all. That program appears to be a far tougher reclamation project.
    I did say that having three competitive high school football programs in the Alhambra district would take some time. It’s OK to have aspirations, right?
    I hope we get to play football this fall; our prospects for that are pretty dicey right now.

  2. Anonymous's Gravatar Anonymous
    April 22, 2020 - 2:58 am | Permalink

    Pump those breaks old timer!!!!

  3. Ron Vrooman, AHS stat man's Gravatar Ron Vrooman, AHS stat man
    April 21, 2020 - 1:28 pm | Permalink

    The San Gabriel Matadors made the Division 11 final against an excellent Monrovia team in 2011.
    The Matadors fought tenaciously and played the Wildcats to a 14-14 tie at halftime. However, Monrovia scored 39 unanswered points in the second half to win, 53-14.
    That was eight-plus years ago, but I believe there is still hope for San Gabriel. At Mark Keppel, the big question has been whether the Aztecs will be able to field a varsity team for an entire season.
    I hope that someday, maybe in the distant future, all three Alhambra district football programs can successfully compete in the Almont League against the Montebello district teams.
    I’m a graduate of Alhambra High, and AHS has done well in football lately, but it would be nice to see the other district schools make the playoffs, too.

  4. NWO's Gravatar NWO
    April 21, 2020 - 7:44 am | Permalink

    The sad thing is most Rebel kids don’t come from Rosemead anymore.

  5. La Verdad's Gravatar La Verdad
    April 21, 2020 - 6:33 am | Permalink

    Big George,
    Are you smoking on 4/20? SG hasn’t been relevant in over a decade!!!

  6. Anonymous's Gravatar Anonymous
    April 20, 2020 - 11:39 am | Permalink

    San Gabriel needs go back to getting Rosemead rebels kids on campus all the great sg teams will built with Rosemead rebel kids

  7. GHernandez's Gravatar GHernandez
    April 19, 2020 - 7:36 pm | Permalink

    SG a Finals team less than a decade ago? Glenn back to back playoffs years with a league title. But yea, let them read it maybe it’ll get some of their athletes out there.

  8. ?'s Gravatar ?
    April 19, 2020 - 1:55 pm | Permalink

    High school athletes are some of the biggest spreaders of the virus. Up to 70% carry the virus but are asymptomatic. (Check the report of the spread on the 4800 aircraft carrier crew).They are young,fit and their immune systems are at their peak If you are a teacher or old coach mingling with sweating,spitting,heavy breathing C-19 machines lotsa luck. Be real old coaches. The season can’t happen until a proven vaccine is available unless the players are wrapped up like The Mummy. Face shields? That’s hilarious.

  9. Why Not's Gravatar Why Not
    April 19, 2020 - 1:54 pm | Permalink

    How about Keppel, San Gabriel, Pioneer, John Glenn, Cerritos and a multitude of others? Can’t they all be considered prime candidates for CIF glory real soon? Sure, if we wish upon the right star (or take the right hallucinogens).

  10. Anonymous's Gravatar Anonymous
    April 19, 2020 - 8:13 am | Permalink

    There should a right about making Schurr great again

  11. Go Stangs's Gravatar Go Stangs
    April 19, 2020 - 12:45 am | Permalink

    “He may not have felt my punches then, but he’s feeling them now.”

    – Joe Frazier

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