Category Archives: Opinion
Your sort-of midterm analysis of area basketball
We switched over to semesters last fall at Wright State University, as did the remaining public institutions in the state that still used the quarters system.
And what was true in quarters is true in semesters — you don’t question the professor’s schedule. Over my three-and-a-half years at Wright State, I don’t know if I’ve ever had a midterm exam in the middle of term. Last semester, one class had a midterm exam in week ten — about three weeks after the true middle of the semester.
And in that vein of it’ll-be-midterm-when-I-say-it-is, it’s time for a midseason analysis of area (limited to Clark and Champaign County for most purposes of this column) high school basketball.
My own ‘Rudy’ story
If you think “Rudy” faced long odds, maybe you will like my story.
My broadcast partner and Top Billing Sports co-founder, Bryant Billing, has been encouraging me for awhile to write some pieces on my experiences in the sports world. I agreed that some people may enjoy reading about the exploits of everyday people who most can relate with. I have many stories that I could tell, as could many other folks who have been around sports their entire lives. I was not sure which one I wanted to put out there.
Then I was flipping through the channels earlier today and I stumbled across what may classify as my favorite sports movie of all-time, Rudy.
In 2013, enjoy yourself… it’s later than you think
One of the most popular resolutions that comes each January 1 is to simply be more happy, but few actually know how to accomplish that. I do — enjoy yourself, and enjoy others more.
Another January 1, and another flip of the calendar that brings in another year. It’s just another mile marker on how we westerners have kept time since Pope Gregory XIII.
For us at Top Billing Sports, the entrance into 2013 marks a departure from the year our organization was born. Since Casey Matteson and myself formed this organization last January, we’ve seen 50,000 or so unique readers pass by. We thank you all, especially our regulars, for making Top Billing Sports a stop on your daily web surfing.
We appreciate your support, and we look forward to continuing to pursue our goal of covering, communicating, and promoting the excitement and passion of local athletics in the greater Springfield and Dayton area.
Even in the cold, fans will cheer… eventually
It may have been a regular-season finale, but the Bengals and Ravens played like it was preseason. And the fans paid as much attention as a preseason game.
Two Baltimore fans sat in a drunken stupor in the first row of section 233 at Paul Brown Stadium last Sunday afternoon in the fourth quarter of a regular-season finale between the Cincinnati Bengals and Ravens. One wore a knit Ray Lewis Ravens’ jersey over a bulky hooded sweatshirt. Another wore a knit Ray Lewis jersey from Miami University over a bulky hooded sweatshirt.
When Carlos Dunlap returned an interception for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, the two headed for the exits. They made their way — slowly — up the stairs, and fielded inquiries from Bengals fans on their way up if any Baltimore player had committed homicide recently.
Just another NFL Sunday.
Pick ‘Em: Urbana’s offense can score with anyone
Urbana’s balanced attack of quarterback Nathan Mays and running back Tanner Lawrence have led Urbana to a 5-1 record.
They say statistics don’t lie. I don’t know who “they” are, but they obviously have never listened to a politician.
But as far as the Urbana Hillclimbers offense goes, the statistics do indeed not lie — they back up the fact that Urbana has one of the area’s most potent offenses.
Urbana (5-1, 1-0 CBC Kenton Trail) is second in the Central Buckeye Conference with 44.3 points per game and averages 396 yards per game. The Hillclimbers have moved the ball this season — as in past seasons – through both passing and rushing. Sophomore quarterback Nathan Mays leads Urbana’s passing attack with 205 yards per game, and Urbana averages 189 rushing yards per game.
Pick ‘Em: I’ve had enough delays for one season
Casey Matteson sprinted across the field at Trojan Stadium last Friday. “The Coach” and former Marion Pleasant football star at fullback wasn’t pretending to run over River Valley defenders again, nor was he putting on a demonstration for Mechanicsburg and Southeastern.
No, he was racing to the end zone — or a fence behind the end zone, rather — to take down a Top Billing Sports Network banner that was hanging there before rain drenched it.
He returned before the skies opened and was back in time to fight with Rob, the public address announcer, over the last cookie. It’s a good thing he got it — the banner, not the cookie — because with 6:23 left in the fourth quarter, the last snap of the night had been played in South Charleston.
Pick ‘Em: Next two games will set tone to Shawnee’s season
The Braves have to daunting opponents in back-to-back games: Troy and Urbana.
If you want to know just how good the Shawnee Braves are, you’re going to find out soon.
Shawnee hosts Troy tomorrow in a nonconference game and travels to Urbana next week in a game that will be broadcast live on our online streaming radio station on the Top Billing Sports Network.
Troy has earned two-straight playoff berths and has finished second in the GWOC North Division the last two years to Trotwood-Madison. Urbana is coming off an 8-2 season in which it earned its first playoff berth since 2006. The Hillclimbers narrowly lost to Shawnee 23-17 in overtime last season, while tomorrow will mark the first time the Trojans and Braves have faced each other on the gridiron.
Here come the games… and we’ll pick ‘em apart
High school football kicks off around Ohio tomorrow, and Top Billing Sports is kicking off the season with our first-ever pick ‘em contest between writers.
Walk outside anywhere in the greater Miami Valley, and you’ll be hit with a cool breeze, providing relief from a warm sun. It almost smells like autumn right now, even in late August. Mother Nature herself must know that it’s high school football season.
High school football kicks off around the state tomorrow. With the start of the new season, Top Billing Sports is adding a new weekly feature. Every week this season, co-founder Casey Matteson and myself will battle out in a head-to-head pick ‘em contest, joined each week by contributing writer and RTV 32 Sports Director Michael Hirn.
Tecumseh should return to top in CBC Kenton Trail
Led by third-year starting quarterback Tony Evans and running back Chuck Buchanan, look for the Arrows wing-t to roll this season.
Shawnee had just dispatched Cincinnati Taft 64-8 in a regional quarterfinal game at Dave Long Memorial Stadium last November. I approached Shawnee head coach Rick Meeks after the game for a postgame interview. I hadn’t seen Meeks for since the 2010 season, and had only met him a couple of times before that. I was unsure if he would remember me.
“Sure,” Meeks said when I re-introduced myself. “I remember you. You picked Tecumseh over us.”
Springfield looks different, wants different results
The Springfield High football program has a new look this season, and it’s not just the new jerseys.
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Wildcats took the field yesterday in full uniform, but weren’t looking at an opponent. Rather, Springfield stood facing a few men with clipboards and cameras.
The Wildcats emerged from the locker room for the first time decked out in spiffy new Under Armor jerseys. It was picture day for Springfield — a sign that the start of the upcoming season is imminent.
