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Predictions?

He'll get better!

I know just wanted to hear some Predictions...

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Astros teammates disagree with Berkman over off-season moves Berkman's concerns not universal By Alyson Footer / MLB.com HOUSTON -- Lance Berkman may be concerned about team chemistry, but judging from the comments of select teammates on Tuesday, the first baseman's theories are not shared by the masses. During a holiday event at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday, several Astros players openly disagreed with Berkman's assessment that team chemistry may be an issue in the wake of the sweeping changes general manager Ed Wade has made to the roster. "Lance is Lance, and I can see where he's coming from, but I don't think there's going to be bad chemistry," Brandon Backe said. "I don't think there's any question if there's going to be chemistry with the team next year. I think everything's going to be OK." Backe was asked to respond to Berkman's interview in Sunday's Houston Chronicle, during which Berkman said, "I feel like I've been traded to the Astros" and that "it saddens me in a way." Berkman also said after watching so many players come through the system, everyone had grown comfortable with each other. "It's been a tough offseason for me, personally," he said. Backe, along with Chris Sampson and Woody Williams, disagreed. They like the moves Wade made and are looking forward to next season. "Lance is going out on a limb," Backe said. "Maybe he's a little upset that his buddy Chris Burke was traded. But I don't know. He said what he said, and he certainly has a right to say what he wants." "Ed Wade and Drayton McLane have been wheeling and dealing," Sampson said. "It's very exciting going into Spring Training and into '08." Williams said he "strongly" disagrees with Berkman's opinions. "Chemistry is what you make of it," the veteran starting pitcher said. "It's how you approach people, and it's how open you are with your teammates and how willing you are to get to know different people. "There's guys that have been here five or six years, and they have a good camaraderie and some good close friendships were made. And now it's time to split them apart, and it's always hard. I know a lot of that's personal for Lance. He's the face of the organization, and he's someone that everyone looks up to, so his concerns concern a lot of people." Count Williams as one who likes the moves Wade made this winter. "Anytime you can better yourself. It's hard to give up on some of the young prospects, but to me, they are prospects until they are proven Major Leaguers," he said. "You never know what they are going to turn out to do. We've added some good pieces, no doubt about it." Williams, Backe, Sampson and catcher J.R. Towles were at Minute Maid Park for the Astros' annual holiday party for Houston-area children. This year, the children were from SEARCH's House of Tiny Treasures, serving homeless children and their families, and Yellowstone Academy, serving low-income children growing up in difficult family circumstances. The focus was on the kids, but with so much news swirling around baseball these days, the players were inevitably asked to address a myriad of topics, including the recently released Mitchell Report and its allegations about former Astros Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte. Backe admitted he was surprised to hear those two names surface. "I know Roger and Andy as people," Backe said. "I don't know them as a steroid user, I don't know them as not a steroid user. I personally don't care what they do. I'm not going to comment on it -- it's all speculation right now. I know Andy's isn't [after Pettitte admitting to using HGH two times], but it's not going to change my judgment on him, or anybody else, for that matter. "I know that I'm clean, and I have nothing to worry about. I'm not going to judge anybody on it. Roger's done so much for me -- just helping me out, learning the game and learning my workout regimen -- that I don't really care, to be honest with you." "It's a shame," Williams said. "But, at the same time, who am I to cast judgment on anybody? I don't know what they were going through in their careers. You open up all of our closet doors, and there are things we're not proud of, or things we wish we could have changed the way we responded to certain situations or decisions we made." Backe agreed that the day the Mitchell Report was released was a bad day for baseball, but he's optimistic about the long-term effects the report will have on the game. "It's the process of weeding it out, getting it out of the sport," Backe said, referring to performance-enhancing drugs. "Who knows, there's always going to be a drug, a stimulant out there, that's going to sell the player into possibly taking it to enhance his performance on the field. As long as it's not detected by any drug test, there's going to be a percentage out there that's going to be willing to take it. That's what going to get them money, and that's what's going to help them out in their career or their life. "It's to each his own when it comes to that. Calling out the names [in the Mitchell Report], I think, could have been not done, but it was. I don't have anything to worry about. My name wasn't on it, it shouldn't be on it, and I'm fine and dandy with what they did. It was a sad day, but let's say that it's going to end up being a good day because it's going to help out our sport."

As openings become avaiable we'll post them. Liberty..........Jeff Stewart/Resigned

Good question! We'll see.

Game D1: 9:00 a.m. (JH) Hardin-Jefferson v. Big Sandy Game C1: 9:00 a.m. (HS) Lumberton v. Hitchcock Game B1: 10:30 a.m. (JH) Hull-Daisetta v. Jasper Game A1: 10:30 a.m. (HS) East Chambers v. Hamshire-Fannett

Hopefully they can work this out.

East Chambers-59 Buna-27

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Very true.

I believe the Orange Leader only Votes For Orange County.

Updated

Predictions?

Predictions?

Predictions?

Predictions?

CLASS 3A ALL-STATE FOOTBALL TEAM FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE Pos. Player School Class OL Tim Matherne W. Orange-Stark Sr. OL Tyler Methvin Vernon Sr. OL Daniel Samia Snyder Jr. OL Adam Thomas Celina Sr. OL Brock Wempa Royse City Jr. WR Andrew Delgado Lyford Sr. WR Houston Tuminello Gilmer Sr. QB Richard Morrison Royse City Jr. RB Jermie Calhoun Van Sr. RB Will Clay Snyder Sr. RB Chris Whaley Madisonville Jr. K Clayton Reese Tex. Pleas. Grove Sr. Offensive Player Of The Year: Jermie Calhoun, Van FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE Pos. Player School Class DL Joseph Allsup Lytle Sr. DL Troy Franklin Celina Sr. DL Alonzo Garza Rio Hondo Jr. DL Breck Holman Celina Sr. DL Luis Peraza Hidalgo Sr. LB Aaron Buckley Palacios Sr. LB Ryan Epperson Brownsboro Sr. LB Alonzo Whaley Madisonville Sr. LB Mark Farmer Pittsburg Sr. LB Corey Lee Andrews Sr. LB D'anton Lynn Celina Sr. LB Trey Rauscheck Navasota Sr. P Nick Baker Fairfield Sr. Defensive Player Of The Year: Aaron Buckley, Palacios SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE Linemen: Joe Garza, Snyder, Sr.; James Huff, Clyde, Sr.; Chase Maldonado, Vernon, Sr.; C.J. Nielson, Celina, Sr.; Josue Vasquez, Rio Hondo, Sr. Ends/Receivers: Brady Brown, Argyle, Jr.; James Kilpatrick, Bridgeport, Sr. Quarterback: Brock Fitzhenry, Giddings, Sr.; JJ Harp, Argyle, Sr. Running backs: Justin Johnson, Gilmer, Sr.; Dexter Pratt, Navasota, Jr.; Henry Solis, Palacios, Sr. Kicker: Marcos Rodriguez, Mineola SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE Linemen: Anthony Aguilar, Clint, Sr.; Jim Guinn, Graham, Sr.; Kaeron Johnson, Cuero, Sr.; Colby Smith, Clyde, Jr. Linebackers: Clay Anthony, Monahans, Sr.; Will Henry, Waco LaVega, Sr.; Clay Hirt, Snyder, Jr.; Oscar Hernandez, Royse City, Jr.; Trevor Sparks, Graham, Sr. Backs: Austen Brewer, Wills Point, Sr.; Mark Lentz, Lytle, Sr.; Justin Rogers, Royse City, Jr.; Garrett Simper, Gonzales, Sr. Punter: Clay Anthony, Monahans, Sr. HONORABLE MENTION OFFENSE Linemen: Ben Butler, Graham; Brandon Carrico, Mabank; Michael Charron, Kennedale; Danny "Junior" Frazier, Sweetwater; Tyler Hunt, Burkburnett; Brennan Johnson, Athens; Chris Ramirez, Sweetwater; Ryan Rumbelow, Bullard Ends/Receivers: Cody Burton, Gonzales; Ronnie Dennis, West Orange-Stark; Ryan Dockery, La Grange; Mark Farmer, Pittsburg; Carlos Gallegos, Royse City; Matt Handler, Argyle; Hunter Harris, Glen Rose; Mike Hicks, China Spring; Brandal Jackson, Navasota; Kaeron Johnson, Cuero; Blane Knipe, Snyder Quarterbacks: Colton Browning, Mabank; Gralyn Crawford, Palestine Westwood; Lance Day, Snyder; Dustin Eskew, China Spring; Johnny Esparza, Lyford; Darian Godfrey, Gilmer; Cameron Green, Bridgeport; Vincent McNeil, Dallas Roosevelt; Niko Salinas, Pleasanton Running backs: Doug Allman, Liberty Hill; Gavan Bass, Fairfield; Xavier Canto, Caldwell; Auston Davis, Sweetwater; DePauldrick Garrett, West Orange-Stark; Bryce Golightly, Levelland; Dustin Gonzales, Liberty Hill; Francisco Jacquez, Fort Stockton; LaMichael James, Texarkana Liberty-Eylau; Cory Jones, Mineola; Clayton Joping, Lytle; Curtis Kevil, Clyde; Jacob Martinez, Rio Hondo; D.J. Morrow, Palestine Westwood; Nolan Nuñez, Port Isabel; Moses Rodriguez, Poteet; Matthew Tucker, Tyler Chapel Hill; Charley Waldrep, Celina; Craig Whiteside, Vernon; Quincy Whittington, Cuero Kicker: Logan Barrett, Kennedale; Grant Schur, Vernon; Jacob Williams, Whitesboro HONORABLE MENTION DEFENSE Linemen: Keifer Adamez, Sweetwater; Kyle Echols, Vernon; Willie Gordon, Bullard; Winston Jones, Vernon; Marshall Lambrecht, Gonzales; Max Torres, Sweetwater Linebackers: Michael Bigelow, Waco LaVega; Zack Bracken, Bridgeport; Carlos Brown, Pittsburg; Alex Buckley, Palacios; Matt Burton, Whitesboro; Eugene Castillo, Navasota; Jagared Davis, Crockett; Steven Fields, Sweetwater; Kerry Gamble, Athens; Nic Hammett, Rockdale; Kennard Henderson, Texarkana Pleasant Grove; Adrian Jamie, Rio Hondo; Charles Jones, Texarkana Liberty-Eylau; Caleb Lavey, Celina; Wes Liles, Clyde; Rufus McCann, Sweetwater; Tanner Parker, Clyde; Steve Piazza, Lytle Backs: Brent Bollinger, Snyder; Zack Bracken, Bridgeport; C.J. Broades, Texarkana Pleasant Grove; Tracy Cooper, Crockett; Ray Daniels, Vernon; Shane Eizember, Rio Hondo; DheRyan Jackson, Athens; J.J. McCoy, Sweetwater; Kenneth Norman, Sweetwater; Kenneth Turner, Snyder; Aaron Weitner, Vernon; Quincy Whittington, Cuero; Kendall Wright, Pittsburg Punter: Lance Day, Snyder

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Kevin Everett on SI cover, plans to speak to Titans BOB WEST The Port Arthur News PORT ARTHUR — TJ ex Kevin Everett is the subject of the best, most compelling piece of writing I’ve seen in a long, long time in the current issue of Sports Illustrated. Everett, who is on the magazine’s cover, is the subject of a story titled, “Against All Odds†that chronicles his remarkable road back from a devastating spinal injury in the Buffalo Bills 2007 season opener. Author Tim Layden meticulously and skillfully details every step along the road to Kevin walking again, right down to the disagreements between attending doctors over the revolutionary treatment orthopedic surgeon Andrew Cappuccino opted for, with the understanding he was putting his career on the line. If you don’t take the magazine, find somebody who does, or look the story up on SI.com. You will be glad you did . . . Everett, by the way, is coming home to Port Arthur on Thursday, Jan. 10 to be the guest speaker at Memorial’s football banquet. Memorial offensive coordinator Kenny Harrison, who goes way back with Everett, ran the idea by his friend last week and says he didn’t hesitate about accepting the offer. “He was excited about doing it. He wants to come back here and coach,†said Harrison. What Harrison and Memorial head coach Ronnie Thompson now must decide is whether to open the banquet up to everyone who would like to hear what Everett has to say. If they go that route, and it would only be done with Everett’s approval, they will need a much larger venue than Memorial’s cafeteria. And they better brace for ESPN, The NFL Network and hordes of other national media.

Dayton-54 LC-M-29