KFDM COOP

Thanks for the PICS

8) Can't wait to see.

Predictions?

Predictions?

Predictions?

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Dice-K, Okajima to get 'home' game in Japan NEW YORK -- The Boston Red Sox will open their World Series title defense in Tokyo. Following months of negotiations, the Red Sox agreed to a two-game series against the Oakland Athletics in Japan on March 25-26, and the commissioner's office announced the trip early Wednesday. With Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima, the Red Sox figure to be an attractive draw for the games at the Tokyo Dome. The Red Sox and A's also will play exhibition games on March 23-24 against Japanese teams. After the trip, the teams return to the United States and open the rest of their regular-season schedules with a two-game series at Oakland on April 1-2. That originally was to be a four-game set. Oakland will be the home team for the games in Japan. The Japan visit is one of two Asian trips Major League Baseball hopes to make next year. Talks have been under way for months to have the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres play exhibition games in Beijing, most likely on March 14-15, at the ballpark to be used for the 2008 Olympics. That would be Major League Baseball's first trip to China. If the Beijing games take place, the Dodgers likely would then travel to Arizona for most of their remaining spring training games. Next spring is their last at Vero Beach, Fla., where they first trained in 1949. They switch their training base in 2009 to Glendale, Ariz. Boston and Oakland will be the third set of teams to open the regular season at the Tokyo Dome, following the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs (2000), and the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2004). A scheduled 2003 series between Oakland and Seattle at the Tokyo Dome was canceled because of the threat of war in Iraq. "Opening our regular season in Japan for the third time is another example of Major League Baseball's commitment to continue the global growth of the game," commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement.

Mercy Rule and Texas From the Austin American Statesman GEORGE BREAZEALE: SPORTS, BY GEORGE When games get out of hand, many states show mercy Texas' mercy rule revolves around a running clock. By George Breazeale Wednesday, November 14, 2007 A virtual certainty in Texas football is that high school playoff perennials — teams such as Southlake Carroll, Smithson Valley, Westlake and Copperas Cove — will reload, not rebuild, for the 2008 season. In addition, several dozen other stable programs will swagger into next year's playoff pursuit. Other schools won't thrive, but will strive to survive. One embattled school is Reagan, with only six wins in the last four years, but once the owner of a 30-consecutive winning season tradition, including state championships in 1967, 1968 and 1970. Other Central Texas schools, such as Johnston and Smithville, were once competitive, while Akins has struggled to reach .500 since launching its program five years ago. In the last eight seasons, all four schools have been blowout victims. Three times this year and once in 2003, Reagan surrendered 70 points or more. Johnston, forced to cancel half its 2007 schedule because of player injuries and ineligibility, also yielded 70-plus in four games in the past several years. In all, 70-plus winning scores have been logged 24 times since 2000 by Central Texas teams, including 84 by Liberty Hill against Gatesville in 2006. More runaways were avoided because starters were benched and/or clocks ran continuously after halftime. Waco teams coached by Paul Tyson in the 1920s scored 100 points or more eight times, including a 124-0 state playoff victory over Houston Jeff Davis in 1927. Spur in 1930 beat Lorenzo 186-0 and crushed Estelline 142-0. In Central Texas, Mason's 119-0 win over Burnet in 1930 and Taylor's 112-0 verdict over Elgin in 1922 stand out as runaways. Contemporary high school players are larger and stronger than pro and college athletes were 40 years ago. Yet there seems to be little support in Texas for a formal mercy rule to protect depth-poor teams from blowout scores and to reduce injury risks for fatigued players. Charles Breithaupt, athletic director of the University Interscholastic League, said no 11-man coach has pushed for duplication of the 45-point mercy rule the UIL has long used for six-man competition. "We leave (holding down scoring margin) up to each state association," said Bob Colgate, assistant director of the National Federation of State High School Associations. "Officials in each state know what works best for their member schools. Texas, of course, uses NCAA football rules, not National Federation rules." Both Colgate and Breithaupt know that terminating games would affect not only players, but also bands and drill teams — and many schools' budgets. A six-man coach was fired, Breithaupt said, after his team's scoring spree ended a game at halftime. "The superintendent said the concession stand didn't do any business because everybody went home," he said. Breithaupt said bands and drill teams might lose their viewing audiences if games ended at halftime. Also, parents of football reserves "want their kids to play." The UIL's adherence to the NCAA rulebook could be a barrier to adoption of an 11-man mercy rule. The NCAA has no mercy rule, either for terminating games or for running clocks. For now, then, eliminating or reducing 11-man football blowouts is up to Texas high school coaches. Westlake's Derek Long did the right thing two weeks ago against Akins. After the Chaparrals posted a 49-0 halftime lead, Long played his reserves and agreed to let the second half clock run continuously, resulting in a 56-0 final score. Have mercy? A look at which states offer some form of a high school football mercy rule, according to the National Federation of High Schools: States that have some form of a mercy rule:Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming Most states' mercy rule is in the form of a running clock once a certain point differential is reached. In Oregon, once a team leads by 45, coaches have the option of either calling the game or using a running clock. In South Dakota, the game is called if a team leads by 50 at halftime or by 50 at any time in the second half. What Texas does Texas follows NCAA rules and guidelines, not those established by the National Federation of High Schools. In six-man football, the game is ended immediately if one team leads by 45 points or more at the end of the first half or at any time in the second half. That 45-point rule doesn't carry over to 11-man football. However, coaches can agree to use a running clock to end a lopsided game more quickly.

74-60 Brookeland.

We're starting to see a few more home and home flips each season.

Your right, one at a time.

Good luck Toby and the Ganders!

WRESTLERS TO WATCH Boys John Gioffre Sr. Cinco Ranch The heavyweight became a major hero for Cinco Ranch in Austin. He battled to a 5-4 overtime victory over Western Hills' Matt Teague to earn fifth place and help give the Cougars win the state championship . His victory was the fourth consecutive championship-round win for Cinco Ranch wrestlers in a stunning rally. He won homecoming king recently and will return to the mat after football season. James Hazzard Sr. Westside A third-place finisher in Austin last season, Hazzard posted a 50-6 record to lead the perennial power Wolves at 171 pounds. He's quick and ready to take the reins as a senior for Westside coach Ron Baker. Hazzard may push the Wolves back in the running for a regional title. Will Morris Sr. Cinco Ranch A bronze medalist in Austin at 171 pounds, Morris posted a 30-4 record last season. His only losses at the regional and state levels came to Highland Park unbeaten state champion Kyle Anderson and a 6-4 decision to Austin Bowie's Jordan Wehr. John Pacheco So. Westside A state champion at Fort Bend Baptist at 125 pounds and Most Outstanding Wrestler at the TAPPS state tournament, Pacheco will provide an immediate boost to the Wolves' lighter wrestlers. He may bump up to 135 pounds for team strength, but he will win matches. Erik Spjut Jr. The Woodlands This dynamo wears down the best opponents. He is the one in Houston, which explains why he won the 119-pound state championship as a sophomore in February, posting a 52-2 record. Expect Spjut to bump to 125 pounds and be just as dynamic. Some are calling him an automatic to win again; others look forward to a possible clash with Colleyville Heritage two-time state champion Jeremy Sandoval, a junior defending at 130 pounds. Donovan Vanderbilt Sr. Cy-Fair This Bobcat beat nearly everyone last year, except Spjut in a two-man race at 119 pounds. Vanderbilt placed a solid fourth at state and should improve on that after a busy offseason. Staying at 119 pounds, the senior is ready to reach the top three. Girls Whitney Disotelle Sr. Waller Disotelle overcame Katy senior rival Alex Bradshaw for the Region III title and finished second in state at 138 pounds. She's aggressive and driven on the mat. Disotelle holds the Bulldogs' school record with 78 pins out of 91 career victories. Alana Jimenez Jr. Katy Jimenez qualified for state as a freshman and sophomore, finishing third last February. She led the Katy girls to another Region III championship. She's the Tigers' power hitter at 165 pounds and capable of quick pins. Amanda Kelso Sr. Waller The 128-pound wrestler has 98 career wins and will reach 100 this weekend at an Austin tournament. She placed third at state last season and easily could be one of the several area state champions in February with her technical skills and mat quickness. Courtney Lindley Jr. Cinco Ranch Lindley finished second at state at 110 pounds, posting a 28-8 mark. She is after the gold this winter and may move to 119 pounds because the state finalists from Houston are likely not on the mat any longer. Lindley is quick, motivated and technically difficult to defend. Angie Murray Sr. Cy-Fair An unbeaten returning state champion is fairly rare, but Murray (32-0) ranks as one of the elite in Texas for her 119-pound title run providing she returns to the mat. She remains undecided. She dominated virtually every opponent last season, recording a single-season pin record. She pinned all four state opponents in February in Austin; no one lasted more than 1:15 against Murray. Julie Smith Jr. Cy-Fair Wrestling at 102 pounds last year, Smith and a handful of area girls became warriors out of necessity at this weight. She topped them all at state with a fourth-place finish, just ahead of district rival Jessica Nguyen of Cypress Ridge. Smith is projected at 119 pounds this season, and she and Nguyen are preseason favorites to reach the medal stand in Austin.

Did you go CATMAN?

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WS has alot of speed. WH will have to play mistake free football and not tuen it over and they'll have a chance. Good luck WH!

Smiley has always had speed but has got the discipline back this year.

He did a good job for a freshman QB on Varsity.

kogt McNeese State's Cowboy Stadium will have an artificial surface beginning with the 2008 season. Robert Noland, president of Powell Timber Co., American Sulphur & Oil Company of Louisiana, W. G. Ragley Lumber Co. and Land Management and Realty Services Co., has donated the funds to surface the playing field with a modern in-fill turf similar to the ones used at Arkansas State. At the request of Noland, the field will be named for Louis Bonnette, the university’s long time sports information director.

Ozen holds off Memorial rally for 62-59 victory By Cody Pastorella The Port Arthur News Like a great heavyweight bout, Ozen and Memorial’s basketball game on Tuesday night started slow and ended with haymakers. Ozen led 51-38 with 6:25 to play in the fourth period and seemed to be pulling away. But behind J’Covan Brown’s 15 fourth-quarter points, Memorial came back swinging with a 16-4 run to close the score to 56-55 with 2:20 to play. Brown, who had only eight points in the first half, sank a trey to narrow the deficit to one point. That was as close as the Titans would come, however, as Ozen held on for a 62-59 victory. Willie Jefferson’s slam off an alley opp broke Memorial’s momentum and gave Ozen a 58-55 lead. After Ozen went up 60-55, a Brown free throw with 1:24 cut to 60-56 and it became 60-58 when Shaquille White scored off a steal. With the win, Ozen starts its season 1-0 and now has a 5-3 lead in the series with Memorial. With the loss, Memorial falls to 0-1 to start the season. The Titans return to action Saturday when they host Westfield. The Titans led 25-24 at halftime. They took the lead for the first time with less than three minutes to go in the half when JeKore Tyler hit a 15-footer. Tyler finished the game with six points. He was joined by Tevin Turner who had six points and Shaquille White had 10 points. Brown led all players with his 32 points. It was the third straight game Brown scored more than 30 points against Ozen. Meanwhile, Ozen got rolling in the third quarter when it outscored the Titans 21-13. The Panthers trailed 29-24 early in the third quarter but went on a 16-2 run to take a 40-31 lead with less than two minutes to play in the period. Jacoby Joseph, who led the Panthers with 17 points, had eight of the 16 points during the third-quarter rally to help his team roar from behind. Ozen outrebounded the Titans 25-20, with Willie Jefferson claiming nine missed shots and Joseph collecting five. Jefferson also scored seven points. Jamarcus Jones was Memorial’s leading rebounder with six. Darius Harris had five. Quincy Johnson backed Joseph’s scoring with 13 points for the Panthers. “This was a big win for us,†said Ozen’s head coach Andre Boutte. “This is a great way to start the season. They are a very tough team and this was a very tough game. It was hot, humid and I knew they (Memorial) was going to make a run at us late. I was really proud that our boys hung in their when we could have let up and I thought we fought hard down the stretch.â€

I agree!