Saturday, November 25, 2006

R-You ready?

The winter season started yesterday. There will be a nice dormant period before previews start in all local media.

Today, we’ll be rooting for Rutgers. 12:00 today. Don’t tell me that you gave up the Rutgers hype because they lost one game? Do not be a band wagon fan.

I was watching ESPN yesterday when Miami fired their coach. Everyone knew it was time. Both the AD and the coach handled the interview with class. I had a bad, bad feeling in my stomach. Not the one I've had all week with this flu thing ... but that one you get when you know something is wrong. I am going to string agree with an article I read in the Star Ledger today - Coach Schiano needs to just tell everyone right now, "I am staying." Otherwise, you may see a dream season go south quick. BTW - Miami should not get a bowl bid. The bid vs. Boston College was a nice one and one that would secure a bid for any team, BUT NOT THIS ONE! The fight vs. Florida International should secure they will be watching TV in December and January. In case you were wondering, Fla. International is 0-10 on the season with 2 games to play ... what was their punishment?

Lee Corso, on ESPN, just said the Big-East plays no-one out of conference. He stated that the Big East has only beat one top team that is not in the Big East. Good Stats, BUT … I am just curious … who does the Big 12 teams like Ohio St., Michigan,

Most of us will be watching USC-Norte Dame. 8:00 tonight. Time to root for USC!

Here’s why:

I hate Michigan, I do! But they deserve to be #2 more than anyone else. They played punch for punch with the best team in the land.

COUNTER-POINT: USC plays the toughest out of conference schedule, but they still lost to Oregon St. Oregon ST. is 8-3 and not a top 20 team.

I am not saying Notre Dame should be there, but after last week, Michigan and Ohio St. are the two best teams in the land. Remember, Michigan pounded ND in South Bend.

Weiss is a Jersey guy. Boonton in 1979; Morristown 1980-84. Plus NY Giants in 1990-92. Nuff said!!

Thursday, November 23, 2006

Thanksgiving football - at its best!

Ok, I know this is not Morris County, but this is high school football at its best. Sure, its not state championship weekend, but it is the greatest game this weekend.

Phillipsburg-Easton. If you have the time watch the game on ESPN2 – yes – I just said ESPN 2! LIVE!!

The Star Ledger Article – Click Here - read this article all the way through – YOU WILL LOVE IT!

Easton football Web site: Click Here

The Easton HS Football page with the scores from the 99 games before.

The Express-Times article

The Morning Call Online – Article #1

The Morning Call - Article #2

The Easton-P-Berg Blog – yes – the blog!! There is so much information here – you have to read it! Especially Jack’s Facts

There’s some really cool stuff going on in this game:

This is the rivalry of all rivalries! Apparently – both teams would rather win this game than a state championship!!

They are even wearing old school jerseys!!

Easton is playing this game on Thanksgiving – THEN – their state playoff game on Saturday! Yes THIS Saturday!!

Did you know that the Whippany Park Head Coach, Jeff Bronico, played his HS ball at Phillipsburg. We'll have to interview him on Monday.

Best Dressed coach: Easton Head Coach Steve Shiffert wearing my favorite style hat! Also, the guy reminds me of Ditka

The Godfather: Phillipsburg Head Coach Bob Stem simply looks like a mafia Don coaching football. Forgive me, Godfather.

Female kicker: Emily Pizzino – became the first female to score a point in the rivalry. She is also a drum majorette in the band.

Worst Helmet: Apparently these are not their normal helmets – The P-Berg (Phillipsberg for all you none western jersey-ers) is bad .. but Easton has this I thing on it. I am just so confused.


Best (or Worst) Mascot: The Easton Red Rovers vs. The Phillipsburg State-liners. The Bulldog is a Red Rover – so the Red Rover wins!!

Tickets were being sold on E-BAY – umm – true!

Watch and Enjoy!!

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Wrestling bug?

Yes, I am getting it! (not to mention the flu bug.)

Wrestling has always been one of my favorite High School Sporting events. There is so much to be said for the sport. It's all you. How hard are you going to train? How prepared are you going to be? What are you going to do for your team? It's one on one and you have to leave it all on the mat.

Read about the Jefferson faithful supporting the Penn St. wrestler.

While doing some research, I came across a Pennsylvania blog that focuses on Penn St. wrestling. Do you remember 2 time state champion Dan Villimont from Jefferson (State Champ at 135-2004; 140-2005; MCT champion 2003, ’04, ’05 at 130, 135 & 140. respectively).

The Penn State Wrestling Blog

Cold and FluSeason

I have been dormant for a few days. A bought with the flu and the coach has been stricken to the couch. I have been reading a few magazines, surfing the net for ideas here and there and reading the copyright laws for internet sites and blogs.

A few things I have learned:

  • Hyperlinks and references are completely legal. There are a couple of cases, in which it becomes illegal, mostly “deep linking” and spreading out links to illegal material. Neither of which will ever take place at this website. Deep linking is linking to a specific sub-page to avoid that site getting credit. Basically, consder the TicketMaster site. If someone links to a specific event, thus avoiding the main page and preventing TicketMaster from getting full profit.
  • Did you know that these schools in Morris County have Bowling teams?
    1. Delbarton
    2. Madison
    3. Chatham
    4. Jefferson
    5. Morris Hills
    6. Morris Knolls
    7. Morris County School of Technology
  • You can find the schedules for the following schools at: http://www.highschoolsports.net/
    1. Boonton
    2. Butler
    3. Chatham
    4. Dover
    5. Hanover Park
    6. Jefferson
    7. Kinnelon
    8. Madison
    9. Morris Cnty Vo-Tech
    10. Morris Hills
    11. Morris Knolls
    12. Morristown
    13. Mountain Lakes
    14. Mt. Olive
    15. Parsippany
    16. Parsippany Hills
    17. Pequannock
    18. Randolph
    19. Roxbury
    20. West Morris
    21. Whippany Park
  • On the site but no sports entered: Morris Catholic
  • Schools that are not on the site – BUT SERIOUSLY NEED TO BE:
    Mendham
    Montville
    Villa Walsh
    Delbarton
    Morristown-Beard
    St. Elizabeth
  • Mendham does not seem to have anything. But, they do have a wrestling site.
  • Montville seems to have nothing.
  • Morristown-Beard offers a nice alternative:
    Morristown-Beard Athletics can be found here – THIS WEEK
    Morristown-Beard Athletics can be found here – THIS MONTH
  • St. Elizabeth offers an all-in one page.
    St. Elizabeth’s calendar
  • Villa Walsh has a nice set up:
    Click here for the main sports page. Then select the sport from the left column.
    Three winter sports offered:
    - Basketball: Team page Schedule Click on the school for directions!!
    - Swimming: Schedule
    - Winter Track: Schedule
  • Delbarton has a main sports page and you can choose a sport from a drop down menu:
    http://www.delbarton.org/
  • Morris County School of Technology (you know it Morris County Vo-Tech) now has sports. As you have read, they have Varsity Bowling.
    They will be playing Junior Varsity in the sports: Bowling, Baseball, Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Girls Softball, and Girls Volleyball.

High School Sports on TV:
I have had a satellite dish for years. I finally went back to cablevision – optimum online. I came across the “Sports Scene.” This is the show that I had previously mentioned. It was quite good and worth watching on Tuesday and/or Thursday ay 7 p.m. on Channel 78. Lou Brogno hosts the show, which airs on the Cablevision system. The show focuses on high school sports and brings highlights from Morris, Bergen and Passaic counties along with West Essex, Cedar Grove and Nutley in Essex, plus Rockland County in New York. Steve Tober does a weekly segment during the fall and just occasionally during the winter called, "The Sideline Swami" where I pick weekly football winners. You can always se Steve Tober’s excellent articles on http://www.sidelinechatter.com/ and as a part-time freelancer for the Daily Record.

Monday, November 20, 2006

A taste of the State Finals

Take a look at all seven of the Wisconsin state championship games.

Division 1
Division 2
Division 3
Division 4
Division 5
Division 6
Division 7

Just a taste of what to expect on Championship weekend in December!!

Technorati Profile

Monday News

State Finals announced:

12/1: Bogota vs. Mountain Lakes – Friday 5pm at Giants Stadium

12/2: Montville vs. West Essex – Saturday 4:30pm at Giants Stadium

12/2: Delbarton vs. Immaculata – Saturday 2pm at Rutgers University
12/2: Parsippany Hills vs. Wayne Hills – Saturday 5pm at Rutgers

The Coach will do live play-by-play for Mt. Lakes and the Rutgers Double header! I would love to see Montville-West Essex, but the schedule does not permit it. Any comments or advice on what’s you like to see on the live play-by-play –
contact me.





Whippany Park Softball Pitcher signs with Villanova.


Becky LaMarca, the Morris County Player of the Year as voted by the
Star Ledger and Daily Record for 2006, signed with Villanova. The Morris County Tournament MVP is seen here signing her letter of intent along with Coach Carchietta and Whippany Park A.D. Mike George, Whippany Park Principle John Manning, her mother, father and uncle. Over the past three seasons, LaMarca has been a steady contributor to the success of the Whippany Park Softball.

During her stellar 2006 campaign, the junior batter .542 with the team leading 45 hits and 8 doubles. As a pitcher, LaMarca lead the wildcats to 19 wins in 22 games while striking out 171 batters.

During the summer, Becky played for the Beach Girls Gold, an ASA team that travels cross country to play in the best 18-under softball tournaments. LaMarca was recruited as an outfielder with a solid bat. Ironically, she will join former nemesis from rival Verona, Conference player of the year,
Jess O’Boyle.




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Sunday, November 19, 2006

IHC Debate on NJO forum

8655. Let's throw this one out there!!!

by thatsalie, 11/19/06 11:21 ET

3 Iron Hills-Hills division teams in finals. Comparative to size of schools, Hills is better than iron.

8655.1. Congratulations IHC-HILLS division

by MoCoRooter, 11/19/06 12:25 ET
Re: Let's throw this one out there!!! by thatsalie, 11/19/06

Been saying it all year. The small schools in Morris County and the so-called "weak sisters" of the Hills Division should get more credit. And the teams of the "mighty Iron" are way overrated. Well yesterday was judgement day. Hills 3 Iron 0. Put Mt. Lakes into the mix and Montville too. Congrats to the victors. Best of luck in the finals. To the Iron teams....you guys need some work.


My responce:

Great argument. Although may would like to think that the Hills could be better than the Iron, I cannot agree.

True: 3 Iron Hills-Hills division teams in finals – remember – based on size of schools.
If you saw Clifton’s sideline yesterday vs. Randolph’s – you’d see many more players to choose from. Their class sizes provide an opportunity for more players to get on the team. So the IHC splits the schools up by size, and deservingly so. (You can always counter-point with Group 1
Mt. Lakes, but that is another conversation.)

True – IHC has been overall more successful in the state playoffs this year. True – The Hills is 1-0 over the Iron. But, after seeing every Hills teams this year and comparing them to the only 2 Iron teams I have seen this year, I definitely do not agree.

Yes, Par Hills beat Roxbury. The game was very close and a 14 point swing in a matter of 2 plays up’d the margin of victory. Par Hills was definitely the better team. But team-wise it was great match-up.

Randolph
yesterday was toe-to-toe with Clifton in a great game. If you tell me Randolph is the third best team in the IHC, then I can tell you the top 3 teams in each division are very well matched. SHP, Morristown, Randolph with Par Hills, West Essex, Weequahic. Agreed. Very close – throw in the playoff results and this is a great argument. My advantage: Iron but only because SHP

But here is where I will tell you that the scope changes: Roxbury, Livingston, West Morris are stronger than Hanover Park, Morris Hills and Mendham. Maybe not much better, but enough for me to give the edge to the Iron. My Advantage: Iron

Knolls and Mt. Olive definitely stronger than Parsippany, Chatham and Dover.
Columbia and Summit? Let’s just call it even.

I am going to go with the IHC overall produced great football this year - again!

Love to hear what you guys have to say.


Sunday Morning Round up (11-19-06)

note: http://www.morriscountyhssports.net/ will be down for a few more days.

Kinnelon wins the Group 1 state championship.

Football Playoffs Nov. 17-18, 2006

Non-Public – Group 3:

Delbarton 27 at Holy Cross 21 (Final)

North 2 – Group 2:

Hanover Park 7 at West Essex 12 (Final)

Lenape 7 at Montville 14 (Final)

West Caldwell – The West Essex Scarlet Knights held off a frantic Hanover Park late in the 4th quarter to advance to the Group 2 – Section 2 finals, their 5th in 6 years. West Essex will face Montville at Giant Stadium on the first weekend in December. The Scarlet Knights defeated the Hornets for the second time this season. In both games, both defense dominated. The stingy Hornet defense held West Essex in check. Both West Essex touchdowns were result of turnovers. A blocked punt with less than a minute until halftime set up the first score of he game, a Mark Cassera 6 yd pass to John Veniero with just second’s left before the half. Hanover blocked the E.P. A recovered fumble early in the 3rd quarter allowed W.E. to take a 12-0 lead. Hanover, who had been held to very little offense thus far, ran a fake punt. That trickery combined with a Matt Enderle 54 yd pass to Mike Cuppari. The Dave Wallinger extra point cut the lead to 12-7. Hanover was able to get the ball back deep in their own territory with under 2 minutes left. After moving the ball towards midfield, a 4th down incomplete pass put the ball back in West Essex hands and ended the Hornets 2006 season. The game radio play-by-play can be heard at http://www.njir.net/ on Sunday and there on after.
Hanover Park’s season ends at 7-4, all 4 losses to team playing a Sectional Final.

SATURDAY

North 1 – Group 4: Clifton 14 - Randolph 6

play-by-play: www.MorrisCountyVarsity.net

Photos: Click Here

Dan Rosen from the NorthJersey.com & Herald News/Bergen Record on Randolph-Clifton

North 1 – Group 1: Cedar Grove 9 - Mountain Lakes 14
North 1 – Group 3: Parsippany Hills 38
- Teaneck 20

Teaneck denied shot at title game by Art Stapleton -- NorthJersey.com & Herald News/Bergen Record
North 2 – Group 3: New Brunswick 17 - Morristown 7