September 2008 Archives

I figure if I complain about the lack of prep scores being called in, I must also do the same when the situation goes the other way, which brings us to Tuesday night.

Eight games in the area, and coaches from each of the six that we weren't able to cover called in with scores and stats. That's huge, and along with being much-appreciated by Darren (who was at the office alone so I could watch the Twins flail helplessly at not-even-close pitches) and I, it's no doubt much-appreciated by our readers. A big thanks to all the coaches.

See, it's like I always say: Behold the power of whining!

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, here's the link to my Sunday column:
http://www.daily-times.com/sports/ci_10580420

The District 1-4A seasons for soccer and volleyball started tonight, and on the girls side, the results weren't quite as expected, at least not when looking at records.

Farmington was a 1-0 winner over Aztec, which came into the night sporting a 10-2 record and eight-game winning streak. Piedra Vista beat Kirtland Central 2-0, and the Lady Broncos also had a 10-2 mark entering Tuesday. Thus, expect another anything-goes district soccer slate, giving evidence to what just about every area coach says in mid-August: This is the most competitive district in the state.

Speaking of the Lady Panthers, there was some kind of scuffle involving parents at last weekend's game against Rio Grande. I couldn't get many details from PV coach Errol Baade, who understandably didn't want to discuss the matter (he wasn't at the contest). But parents from both sides had to be broken up. That's not good.

Another thing that's not good: The Twins losing 1-0 to the Chicago White Sox. Minnesota mustered all of two hits, calling to mind a line from "Major League." I'd recite the line here, but there's cuss words involved.

Instead, I'm going to ram my head into the wall for the next 20 minutes.

Before I get to my Week 4 NFL picks, I need some reverse-jinxie for the Minnesota Twins.

You see, I'm pretty sure I messed up what could have been a huge weekend by basically saying the Twins were destined for the playoffs. I mocked the USC Trojans for losing to Oregon State, calling out USC's biggest fan, Steve Bortstein, in the process. Steve, of course, told me a few weeks back that the Twins would fold down the stretch. So after they swept the White Sox, I started treating this weekend like a three-day coronation.

And here we are, with one day left in the regular season and Minnesota clinging to a slim half-game lead in the AL Central. Both the Twins, under Ron Gardenhire, who thinks it's a felony to let a starting pitcher throw more than 100 pitches, and White Sox, under schizophrenic manager Ozzie Guillen, are playing like homeless dogs.

Still, there's hope for a playoff berth today, if Chicago loses and Minnesota wins. My game plan? Go for a run and clear my head, think good thoughts and pray. Also, admit in a public forum (that would be here) that I like the USC Trojans and feel horrible about their collapse against the Beavers. That's my plan for a little reverse-jinxie: admitting I counted chickens before any hatched, touting USC, and praying.

Let's move on.

My picks for Week 4 of the NFL slate, which, given the enormity of MLB's final day, means nothing to me aside from my fantasy football team (called Team Jake Taylor). That's less a reflection of my fondness of football (love it) and more a reflection of how I feel about my team, the Vikings, who have made an art form of doing less with more.

OK, for real this time, NFL picks.

Today's Games
* Arizona at N.Y. Jets (Jets, 21-17)

Looking for any kind of positive omen today in regards to the AL Central race, this rolled off the wire bright and early.

On this date in ...

1920 -- A Chicago grand jury indicts eight members of the Chicago White Sox on charges of fixing the 1919 World Series, known as the "Black Sox Scandal." White Sox owner Charles Comiskey immediately suspends the eight players.

That's gotta mean big things for the Minnesota Twins. And small things for the Black Sox of the present day.

OK, so it's a day late, but here's this week's prep football power poll.

1. Aztec (4-0): We're running out of adjectives here. Tigers = many points.
2. Bloomfield (1-2): I asked Bobcats coach Bruce Hatch if there's a better 1-2 team in the state. It's a legitimate question, right? He wasn't sure, but did note his club's ridiculous early season schedule. What does all this mean in the world of power polls? Well, the Bobcats are ranked second, of course.
3. Piedra Vista (1-3): Defense. Defense. Defense. Defense. Defense. Defense.
4. Kirtland Central (2-2): Good, bad, up, down ... the Broncos seek consistency.
5. Shiprock (3-0): Chiefs look for 4-0 start against Chinle (Ariz.).
6. Farmington (1-3): The Scorpions get a much-needed week off.
7. Navajo Prep (0-4): Prep embarks on its district slate Friday at Navajo Pine.

Also, tonight's Socorro-Bloomfield game can be heard on FOX AM 1340. PV-Moriarty is on KOOL 104.5 FM and KNMI 88.9 FM.

There's no denying that this week's prep lineup offers a handful of intriguing contests. But it's not just the preps. In fact, I'd take it a step further and say, if you're a sports fan, this could be one of the best weekends in recent memory.

To recap: Thursday night saw the Mets, Brewers and Twins win via walk-off base hits. All three squads are fighting for their postseason lives. The same night, No. 1 USC took a tumble against the Beavers. And it will only get better this weekend, with a number of huge college football games and the MLB races plugging along right down to the wire.

Now, about the Twins (you didn't think I would fail to mention the Twinkies, did you?). Stuck at the office, I spent much of Thursday evening kneeling in front of my computer, head cupped in my hands, while tracking the Twins online. To describe this experience in a word or two: horrible, mind-numbing perhaps. In front of 44,000 frenzied fans at the Metrodome, the Twins stormed back from a 6-1 deficit, winning in the 10th on Alexi Casilla's walk-off single. My friend, Tom, simply said afterwards: "You should hear the buzz in the city right now." He said many other things, as well, many of which would get me fired if I printed them here.

Needless to say, I'll be following along this weekend as the Twins, with the 24th-highest payroll in the major leagues, shoot for their fifth AL Central crown in the past seven years.

On a side note, a month ago, Steve Bortstein told me the Twins "would fold." Steve, of course, is a die-hard USC fan (insert joke here). Now that's some poetic justice.

One final note. I was driving to the bank today (to rob it) when I passed a sign that read: "Free brake inspections and tune-ups starting at $92." Not really free, there, is it?

Check out this paragraph from a story regarding the Diamondbacks' loss in St. Louis. I find it bizarre that a player who led the league in strikeouts and errors won an MVP (but he's a former Twin, so it's understandable).

"Reynolds has 34 errors and could become the first player to lead the majors in errors and strikeouts since Minnesota Twins shortstop Zoilo Versalles (122 strikeouts, 39 errors) during his 1965 AL MVP season. He's having a nice year even with the strikeouts with 28 homers and 96 RBIs, although he's batting .240."

Also, in the wake of Wednesday's fire-ant post, here's another quagmire that discusses the potential dangers of ... hot dogs.

Hot dogs outside Philly ballpark cause bomb scare

-- The Associated Press --

PHILADELPHIA -- After a bomb scare at the Philadelphia Phillies' ballpark, authorities pointed the finger at a fuzzy green suspect -- The Phillie Phanatic.
Hours before the Phillies-Atlanta Braves' game on Wednesday night, a film crew shot a commercial of the mascot shooting heavily wrapped hot dogs from a launcher.
But someone inadvertently left three of the duct taped hot dogs outside the ballpark, sparking security fears. Stadium employees were evacuated and the bomb squad was called in.
Only after the packages were blown up did authorities realize they'd just exploded some sausages.
"We saw something that looked suspicious," said Michael Stiles, Phillies senior vice president, administration and operations. "We did the right thing. It turned out to be nothing. We could have gone over and picked it up and thrown it in the trash and been done with it. But if we had been wrong, somebody might have lost an arm."
After the detonation, the game went on as scheduled.
"I'd rather them blow up some hot dogs or some ketchup and mustard and relish than have it be a real bomb," reliever Chad Durbin said. "Better safe than sorry."

I'll get this week's prep football power poll up in the next few hours.

I got to talk to Adam Foote, Darcy Tucker and Tony Granato following tonight's game. None of them seemed overly concerned with the outcome, though all three were quick to point out the positives. One scoring correction was made following the game - Colorado's third goal was credited to Ryan Smyth, with assists from Darcy Campbell and Paul Stastny.

It is a hockey tradition to select three stars following each game. Denver radio personality Sandy Clough made the official selections tonight:

1. Teddy Purcell, L.A.

2. Anze Kopitar, L.A.

3. Ryan Smyth, Col.

If I had been the one making the selections, they would have been:

1. Anze Kopitar, L.A.

2. Peter Budaj, Col.

3. Teddy Purcell, L.A.

Granato was very complimentary of Budaj's play in his postgame comments after the Slovakian netminder made 21 saves on 22 shots - a save percentage of .955. Not bad.

Now, as for my experience - it definitely was a treat to see what goes into covering a professional sporting event. First of all, it is nice to have the stats right there in front of you at all times, which is something we don't have the benefit of when we go out and cover high school sports. I was joking with Terry Frei of The Denver Post about that convenience as we walked out of the arena this evening.

Also, I didn't have to worry about tracking down players and coaches immediately after the game, thanks to the NHL's policy of having the locker rooms open to the media 10 minutes after the contest ends. I was able to walk into the Avalanche dressing room and speak to Tucker and Foote with no problem, and then Granato held his post-game presser shortly thereafter - though we were forced to do it in a hallway rather than the interview room, which turned out to be locked (they'll get these things worked out by the time the regular season starts - it's preseason for the arena crew, too). It also was a nice reminder that while professional athletes seem larger than life to many, they're really just normal guys, and thus interviewing them isn't much different than interviewing anyone else. I just had to keep reminding myself of that, and everything was just fine.

Sorry, but I gotta try and create some drama out of a meaningless preseason game. The starting goalies are done for the evening. Jonathan Quick will be in net for the Kings, while Jason Bacashihua takes over for Colorado.

And before I can spit out that sentence, Matt Moulson has tied this one up at the 20-second mark. Bacashihua couldn't handle a rebound off a shot by Dustin Brown, so there you have it. Moulson from Brown and Anze Kopitar on the power play.

One thing I forgot to mention earlier - both these teams have new head coaches this year. Terry Murray took over for former Avs coach Marc Crawford in L.A., while Tony Granato replaces Joel Quenneville for the Avs. It's an interesting situation for Granato, who coached the Avs in 2003 and 2004 before being demoted to assistant when Quenneville was hired. Now, Tony G. is back behind the Avs bench and sports the best winning percentage of any coach in franchise history coming in.

Shots are 27-13, Los Angeles. If not for the play of Budaj earlier, the Avalanche would be getting lit up. The red light that comes on when a goal is scored would have long since burned out.

Up here in the press box, it's obvious the effects of hosting the DNC are still being felt. The NHL officials were working earlier to get the instant replay system set back up...seems they have a lot of trouble with those things these days in Denver.

The Kings just killed off another Colorado power play. The Avs are now 1-for-4 with the man advantage. On another note, Joe Sakic about took Quick's head off with a blistering high wrist shot from the slot.

The Avs have just retaken the lead. A blast from the point by defenseman Darcy Campbell appeared to be tipped on the way to the net by forward Brian Willsie, just reacquired by the Avs from the Kings as a free agent this summer. For the time being, Campbell is getting credited with the goal and Paul Stastny gets his second assist of the evening. Time of the goal is 11:36 of the third period.

Adam Foote just fired the puck over the glass, earning himself a free, all-expenses paid trip to the penalty box for delay of game. So, the Kings have an opportunity to snatch back the momentum from the Avs.

Darcy Tucker just got planted face-first into the boards, bringing the trainers out. The fans are not happy, chanting for Scott Parker to come out on the ice to make the Kings pay the price. We'll see if Granato obliges and puts the Avs' 6-foot-5, 245-pound enforcer out there. On second thought, maybe Tucker will stand up for himself - the man didn't miss a shift even after being helped off the ice.

Stastny's headed to the box for hooking, giving L.A. a power play and a chance to tie this one up with three and a half minutes to go. Will the Kings pull Quick for a sixth skater? We'll see.

Just after Colorado kills off the penalty, a great give-and-go between Brown, Moulson and Kopitar has this one tied up again with 1:33 left. This one has overtime written all over it. Maybe it's a good thing for the Avs to get that experience, since overtime is played at 4-on-4.

That's the end of the third period. The Avs and Kings are tied, despite Los Angeles winning the shots-on-goal battle 39-16. That just goes to show it's quality, not quantity.

Quick holds strong on a couple good chances by Stastny and Ryan Smyth with 1:33 left in the extra frame. Of course if nobody scores, this one's going to a shootout - something I've never seen in person. This could be good.

OK, to the shootout we go, much to the delight of the burgundy and blue-clad crowd. We'll see who each team goes with, as they get three shooters each.

The Avs lead off with Tucker. No goal. Kopitar shoots for the Kings - great glove save by Bacashihua.

Sakic has the next shot, and misses high. So, Dustin Brown has a chance to put L.A. ahead, and Bacashihua makes another save.

Smyth's turn - save by Quick. That means Ted Purcell has the chance to win it, and scores. That'll do it - L.A. 4, Colorado 3.

Now that I'm sufficiently caffeinated, we're ready for the second 20-minute period of this one. Ersberg and Budaj are still in their respective team's nets. I point this out because the goalies are likely to be treated much like NFL quarterbacks are during the preseason, so we'll see the backups at some point tonight. The Avs' power play is winding down without many chances, though L.A.'s Dustin Brown just got stopped on a shorthanded chance by Budaj.

Now, the Kings are set to go on the power play after a holding call on Adam Foote. The Kings just rang one off the crossbar behind Budaj, but didn't get it to go in the net. The Avalanche just dodged one there.

Is this seriously happening? We're in a TV timeout, and a local grocery chain is sponsoring "The Price is Right," where a lucky fan gets the chance to win a gift card for determining whether the correct price for a can of baked beans is higher or lower than the one given. Wow...

Nice heads-up play by Avs defenseman John-Michael Liles. Budaj went behind the net to play the puck, and his clearing attempt was picked off by an L.A. player along the far boards. Budaj rushed to get back to the net, but Liles was there to block the shot anyway.

This period has flown by. There's 5:03 left on the clock, and no goals. Budaj's been the key player in this period, as he's had to make some difficult saves. The Avs' offense isn't generating as many chances as it did in the first period, but they should be able to get some as the game continues. L.A. is playing its third game of the preseason, with the first two coming as a split squad. Half the team stayed home to beat the Phoenix Coyotes 6-4, while the others went to Kansas City, Mo., for a 2-1 win over the St. Louis Blues.

L.A. has broken through against Budaj. Jarret Stoll was the beneficiary when an Avalanche player tried to bank the puck off the end boards and it bounced off the side of the net. Not much Budaj could do on that one...it's 2-1, Colorado at 16:20 of the second period.

The Kings are starting to take it to Colorado a bit. That goal has given them some life, and the Avs are scrambling a bit in their own end.

Budaj just came up huge for the Avs. There was a flurry of four shots, all of them stopped by the Colorado netminder. Then, Anze Kopitar shot one off the right post, but not in. Paul Stastny was called for a cross-checking penalty, putting the Kings on the power play with 20 seconds to go in the period. Budaj made a couple more big saves as the period expired, leaving the Avs ahead 2-1 with 20 minutes left to go.

Avs just scored 30 seconds into the first power play of the contest. At 3:08 of the first period, it's Ryan Smyth from Milan Hejduk and Paul Stastny. The Kings were shorthanded because of a delay-of-game penalty - apparently they didn't get their players on the ice for a faceoff fast enough for the referees' liking.

Shots are 3-1 for Colorado nearly eight minutes into this one. The Avs are getting some serious pressure on Erik Ersberg. The Smyth-Stastny-Hejduk combination is proving tough for the L.A. defensemen to cover.

And.. another Avalanche goal. Great feed from Joe Sakic to Darcy Tucker sets off the foghorn, spotlights and Gary Glitter's "Rock & Roll Part 2" this time. That's Tucker from Sakic at 8:25.

Sakic just got robbed by Ersberg from point-blank range at 11:24 of the first period. The guy may be 39 years old, but he's showing some jump. Just chatting with some guys from Mile High Sports Radio about the Avs being picked 14th in the West by The Hockey News...hard to believe Sakic will let that happen.

Almost a fight between the Kings' Brian Boyle and the Avs' Matt Hendricks at 13:12. Hendricks got his helmet knocked off in a scrum along the boards and wasn't too pleased. No punches thrown, so we're going to see coincidental minor penalties for roughing. It'll stay 5-on-5.

Correction - it's an Avalanche power play. L.A. got an extra minor - Boyle for holding Hendricks. Smyth almost banked one in off Kings defenseman Tom Preissing in front as the power play began, but the Kings killed it off.

We'll have the first L.A. power play of the game, as Ben Guite tripped Alec Martinez at 17:59. Quite a battle between Dustin Brown and Adam Foote in front of Peter Budaj, who finds the puck through traffic and makes a save on Anze Kopitar. It's his seventh save of the period...hasn't been tested much, but he's been solid when called upon. It's a bit of a surprise that the shots are even at seven, though the Avs have had the better chances.

That's the end of the first period, with the Avs leading 2-0. Reed Doughty took a penalty late in the period for L.A., so that cut the Kings' power-play chance short. It also means that the Avs will have a power play to start the second on a fresh sheet of ice after the Zambonis clear it off during intermission.

Now, time to raid the stash of popcorn and Pepsi up here in the press box. Two of my favorite things: the Avs and Pepsi - how can I lose?

Touché.

They just announced the starters here in the press box. Obviously, beyond the starting goalies, they don't matter a whole lot considering each team's five skaters will be on the bench within the first 45 seconds or so, Avalanche general manager Francois Giguere just came through and shook hands with the assembled media, glad to see the familiar faces that cover this team game in and game out as a sign that the season's about to begin.

And, without further delay, here are the starters;

Los Angeles:

G - 31 Erik Ersberg

LW - 70 Matt Moulson

C - 11 Anze Kopitar

RW - 23 Dustin Brown

D - 2 Matt Greene

D - 3 Jack Johnson (no, not who you're thinking of)

 

Colorado:

G - 31 Peter Budaj

LW - 16 Darcy Tucker

C - 19 Joe Sakic

RW - 42 Chris Stewart

D - 52 Adam Foote

D - 56 Kevin Montgomery

 

Lights are being shut off for the Avs to be introduced. Here we go.

...and it looks like they're prepared in case some of the young Kings decide to make an impression with a big hit on one of their star players. A quick look at tonight's lineup showes that noted pugilists Ian Laperriere, Scott Parker and Darcy Tucker are all set to play for Colorado. That might be a good interview question later...we'll file that away for the postgame trip to the Avalanche dressing room.

By the way, Lou...it's Patrick Roy with the legal problems, not Ray Bourque. If it was Bourque, that's when Avalanche fans would go back to considering him a Boston Bruin.

The pregame warmup just ended, and Avs forward Ryan Smyth made sure to flip a puck over the glass to some fans in the stands as he headed for the bench. Nice souvenir. 

Funny that Darren didn't mention Ray Bourque's legal woes in his post.

Anyways, an odd item just rolled across the wire. The way the AP wire works, there's a slug for each sport. For example, major league baseball is BBO, while the American League is BBA. The NFL is FBN, and on and on it goes. Well this item that I'm about to share was simply slugged "odd." And it is, indeed, odd. See for yourself.

Calif. high school's main rivals are fire ants

-- The Associated Press --

RIALTO, Calif. -- They're a relentless force on the gridiron, with a stinging defense. But don't expect anyone to cheer for the Rialto High School fire ants.
Discovered by a groundskeeper last week, the venomous red pests have set up several mound-like colonies on the football and baseball fields. The Southern California school canceled a freshman football game, moved practices and called the state Department of Agriculture.
"They're from South America," said Syeda Jafri, spokeswoman for the Rialto Unified School District. "How they got here, we have no idea."
The school called in exterminators, and Jafri said the fields are expected to be clear of the unwanted guests by Friday, ready for next week's football game.
The infestation is not to be taken lightly, said Les Greenberg, an entomologist at the University of California, Riverside.
"A small percentage of the population is allergic to the venom, just as with bees or wasps," Greenberg said. "This could range anywhere from a nuisance to a health threat."

Here's a little bit about our two teams tonight. The Avalanche went 44-31-7 last season, good for second place in the Northwest Division and sixth place in the Western Conference. Colorado knocked off the Northwest Division champion Minnesota Wild in six games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs before falling to eventual Cup champ Detroit in a sweep. The Avs made very few additions in the offseason, picking up feisty forward Darcy Tucker and backup goaltender Andrew Raycroft through free agency (both played for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2007-08). They lost starting goalie Jose Theodore, who signed with Washington; defenseman Kurt Sauer, who went to Phoenix, and defenseman Jeff Finger, who signed a multi-million dollar deal with Toronto after playing his first full NHL season last year in Colorado.

Tonight's lineup for the Avs includes last year's leading scorer, Paul Stastny; the franchise's all-time leading scorer and its captain since 1994, Joe Sakic (whom I may or may not have an autographed picture of somewhere in my apartment, but that's not important); last year's prized free-agent acquisition, Ryan Smyth; longtime fan favorite Adam Foote and newly minted starting goalie Peter Budaj.

Los Angeles, on the other hand, is a team in a full-force rebuilding process. The Kings were 32-43-7 last year, last in the Western Conference and tied for the NHL's worst record with Tampa Bay (though L.A. finished with one more victory). L.A. is a young squad, and is led by 21-year-old forward Anze Kopitar, 23-year-old Dustin Brown and 26-year-old Alexander Frolov.

The thundering, bassy voice of Avs PA announcer Alan Roach is echoing through the rafters as the Avs are fixing to step on the ice. I also just heard Avalanche radio play-by-play man Norm Jones chatting with people here in the box, so it definitely feels like hockey season now.

It's about an hour before the Avs and the Kings are scheduled to drop the puck here at "The Can," as they affectionately refer to it here in Denver. I'm up in the press box high atop the seating bowl, positioned right on one of the goal lines.

It looks like I've missed an interesting day in sports - or at least the NFL - while I spent hours behind the slowest drivers known to man between Farmington and Denver. I see that the Lions have made the move to fire Matt Millen, only they've done it approximately three years too late. And, Plaxico Burress has been suspended.

I've been to the Pepsi Center several times - this will be my fourth Avalanche game here - but I can't help but to reflect on the history, both sports and otherwise, that has occurred in this building. Just a month ago, this place was the home of the Democratic National Convention, with Barack Obama accepting the party's nomination just on the other side of I-25 at Invesco Field. You'd never be able to tell now, as it looks completely different as a hockey rink. A quick look to the rafters shows the retired jerseys of former Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy and defenseman Ray Bourque, as well as banners for the Avs' eight division championships, two Western Conference championships and the Stanley Cups they won in 1996 and 2001.

Now, we'r'e about 20 minutes or so away from the Avalanche and Kings taking the ice for pregame warmups. I'll keep you updated on how it's going.

So Darren is covering the Avalanche in Denver tonight while I go through the daily routine. He's shadowing one of the Denver Post's beat writers for the Avalanche. Regardless, I hate him. No, no I don't.

Should be a good time, though, especially considering Darren's affinity for all things Denver. And he's promised plenty of good blogging from the press box and following the game. By the way, he may or may not have a man crush on Joe Sakic. I'm just sayin'.

Let's move on to this week's coaches polls for prep football and volleyball. On second thought, because my computer is of the 1960s variety and is trying to load one of those pesky Word documents, here's an additional thought: The Twins won last night! They're now a game and a half back of the Black .... I mean White .... Sox.

OK, here's the polls.

Coaches Association Top 10 Polls
* Last week's ranking in parentheses
Football

Class 5A
1.    Mayfield (2)
2.    Las Cruces (1)
3.    Eldorado (3)
4.    Clovis (5)
5.    La Cueva (4)
6.    Sandia (6)
7.    Manzano (8)
8.    Rio Rancho (7)
9.    Oñate (9)
10.   Cibola (10)
Others receiving votes: Hobbs 11, Rio Grande 10, Carlsbad 7, Valley 2.

Class 4A
1.    Goddard (1)
2.    Artesia (2)
3.    Aztec (3)
4.    Moriarty (4)
5.    Belen (6)
6.    Piedra Vista (9)
7.    Silver (10)
8.    St. Pius (8)
9.    Kirtland Central (7)
10.   Los Alamos (5)
Others receiving votes:  Roswell 12, Del Norte 9, Volcano Vista 8, Farmington 7, Bernalillo 6, Capital 2, Santa Teresa 2, Atrisco Heritage 1.

Class 3A
1.    Portales (1)
2.    St. Mikes (3)
3.    Lovington (1)
4.    Socorro (4)
5.    Bloomfield (7)
6.    Cobre (5)
7.    Ruidoso (6)
8.    Hatch (not ranked)
9.    Raton (9)
10.   Hot Springs (8)
Others receiving votes:  Academy 15, W. Las Vegas 7, Robertson 3, Crownpoint 1.

Class 2A
1.    Santa Rosa (1)
2.    Lordsburg  (2)
3.    Texico (4)
4.    Dexter (3)
5.    Tularosa (5)
6.    Estancia (6)
7.    Capitan (8)
8.    Cloudcroft (7)
9.    Tucumcari (10)
10.   Eunice (9)
Others receiving votes:  Laguna Acoma 12, Loving 4, Ramah 4, NMMI 2.

Volleyball
Class 5A
1.    Rio Rancho (1)
2.    La Cueva (3)
3.    Las Cruces (2)
4.    Mayfield (4)
5.    Gadsden (5)
6.    Eldorado (6)
7.    Clovis (7)
8.    Cibola (7)
9.    Sandia (7)
10.   Manzano (10)
Others receiving votes: Los Lunas 11, Hobbs 6, Alamogordo 5, Oñate 2, and Gallup 1.

Class 4A
Not enough coaches voted.  Only schools to vote were Artesia, Goddard, Roswell, Academy, Moriarty and Volcano Vista.

Class 3A
1.    Pojoaque (1)
2.    Ruidoso (3)
3.    Robertson (6)
4.    Portales (4)
5.    St. Michael's (5)
6.    Hope Christian (9)
7.    Santa Fe Indian (not ranked)
8.    Bloomfield (10)\
9.    Hatch (not ranked)
10.   Crownpoint (not ranked)
Others receiving votes:  Wingate 9, Dexter 8, W. Las Vegas 4, Socorro 4, Raton 2, Laguna-Acoma 2, Hot Springs 1, Lovington 1.

Class 2A
1.    Texico (1)
2.    Estancia (2)
3.    Mesilla Valle (3)
4.    Navajo Prep (4)
5.    Tularosa (6)
6.    Jal (5)
7.    Mora (7)
8.    Clayton (9)
9.    Santa Rosa (not ranked)
10.   Rehoboth (not ranked)
Others receiving votes:  Jemez Valley 11, Capitan 11, Penasco 9, Navajo Pine 7, Escalante 7, Santa Fe Prep 7, Eunice 7, McCurdy 6, Coronado 2, Hagerman 2, Questa 1, Lordsburg 1.

I don't know how many coaches read this blog, but it has to be said. Please call in your scores as soon as possible after your game is over, WIN OR LOSE. People are interested in how the local teams are doing, and it doesn't go over well when we can't let them know. If your team loses and you don't want to go into detail about what went wrong, that's fine, but at least give us the score. We have had problems in the first month of the school year with coaches calling in only when their team wins -- or often, not at all. 

Yeah, I don't pretend to hide it. I'm a die-hard Bronco fan...always have been, always will be. That said, if Denver keeps winning games in the fashion it has for the past two weeks, it's gonna shave about 25 years off my life. Not that I didn't get used to it over the years with John Elway's fourth-quarter magic, but still...
Not that I'm complaining or anything. 3-0 is 3-0, no matter what Louie says about the Broncos being destined for a free-fall back down to Earth sometime in the next few weeks. Even if they do, it's not like I'm not used to it. After all, I am a Denver sports fan, and that means early-season optimism often turns into postseason heartbreak (see Colorado Rockies, 2007).
As an aside, The Daily Times (and more specifically, yours truly) is branching out a little bit this week. I will be traveling to Denver on Wednesday to cover the NHL preseason opener between the Los Angeles Kings and the Colorado Avalanche. Sure, going to see the Avalanche (another of my favorite teams) in person will be enjoyable, but also, I hope to bring back some things that we can incorporate into our local game coverage here at The Daily Times, as I will be working alongside Avalanche beat writer Adrian Dater of The Denver Post in the press box at Pepsi Center. It will be my first experience covering a professional sporting event, and I definitely am looking forward to the opportunity.

Is ESPN pulling out all the stops for the Yankee Stadium farewell, or what?

Top of the first inning, and I've lost count of the number of times I've been hit with goosebumps. True story.

On a side note, Babe Ruth's daughter threw out the first pitch. It looked just like a Johnny Damon toss from the outfield.

I made some barbs earlier in the week about the constant attention the farewell was receiving. But on the day of, I think it's totally appropriate. Not to get all Tony Kornheiser here, but this is unequivocally the most significant and historic sports venue America has ever known. Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Nelson Mandela, Joe D., Mickey Mantle, the greatest NFL game every played (1958 title tilt), Derek Jeter, President Bush, the pope ... and that's just scratching the surface.

The best part about Yankee Stadium, though, at least in my opinion, is that it's so simple. A big ballpark with a lot of seats, where baseball is the featured attraction. Not wireless Internet, not goofy mascots, not water parks, but baseball. Fans, passionate fans, go and watch. Not because it's the chic thing to do, but because they want to watch the Yankees.

Say what you will about the Evil Empire, and the out-of-control spending that invades the game. But you simply can't ignore the importance of Yankee Stadium, and all the legendary figures that passed through its doors.

Next year, of course, the Yankees, moving into their billion-dollar playground, will price every-day fans out of tickets (via personal seat licenses, where fans will pay as much as $25,000, and more, just for the RIGHT to purchase a season ticket).

But that's another story for another day.

Quintana reaches 100 as PV beats FHS

The Daily Times

FARMINGTON -- Pablo Quintana scored twice to reach 100 career goals, and Piedra Vista beat Farmington 3-0 Friday evening at the PV soccer fields.
Quintana, who entered the match having scored 98 times in four-plus seasons of varsity soccer, reached the milestone against the same squad that yielded his first goal.
"My first goal was against Farmington, so I hope my 100th goal will be against Farmington, too," he said Thursday.
The senior forward is the first player in PV history to reach the century mark.
With the win, the Panthers improved to 9-2. Thursday's match was not a District 1-4A contest. Both teams needed a game on their schedule because of Kirtland Central's decision to forgo varsity soccer in 2008.

Here's the radio schedule for tonight's prep football action, with two local games on the air:

Bloomfield at Aztec: FOX AM 1340
Durango at Piedra Vista: KOOL 104.5 FM

Both games start at 7 p.m., and will follow the two-hour pregame show on FOX.

Do I dare make predictions? Yes, yes I do. So here goes.

• Aztec 44, Bloomfield 20
• Piedra Vista 40, Durango 19

And here's another bizarre AP headline: Cubs scratch Soto.

That's wrong on a number of levels.

This just came across the wire. Very bad news for Durango coach Kyle Davis. Having had the chance to talk with Davis a number of times, I won't rush to judgment. He's always been incredibly easy to work with, regardless of how his team fared. Suffice to say, though, this is not a positive development for the coach or the struggling Demons, who are scheduled to play at Piedra Vista later this evening.

Durango football coach accused of striking child

-- The Associated Press --

DURANGO -- Arrest documents show the Durango High School football coach is accused of striking a preschooler and leaving a scratch on the child's face.
Kyle Davis surrendered to the La Plata County Sheriff's office on Wednesday on suspicion of child abuse. He is free on $1,500 bond.
Davis has declined comment.
An arrest warrant affidavit says the alleged incident didn't happen on school property and didn't involve a student.
The Durango School District has placed Davis on paid administrative leave while it conducts its own investigation. Assistant coach Bill Dosher is serving as interim coach and a substitute teacher has taken over Davis' classroom duties.
A conviction of misdemeanor child abuse is punishable by six to 18 months in jail.

You know you're an underdog when a headline reads: Wow! Americans actually lead at Ryder Cup.

But that's the case in Kentucky, where the U.S. is off to a quick start, leading 3-1 after the morning foursomes.

That's good news.

While we're here, did anybody see the clip of the U.S. team attending a pep rally Thursday in Louisville? On Bill Simmons' unintentional comedy scale, that's gotta rate way up there. There's a reason golfers don't throw things into the crowd ... namely, because they're golfers and they look rather goofy throwing. But hey, it worked.

The Ryder Cup starts Friday. More misery for the U.S. squad or a triumphant effort that will end with another episode of drunken parading around a golf course in Louisville?

Here's a link to a Rick Reilly column to fuel the optimism heading into the three-day showdown:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?section=magazine&id=3591916

Is Aztec in the midst of reeling off an undefeated regular season?

The Tigers still have contests against Kirtland Central and Piedra Vista, not to mention Friday's rivalry game against the Bloomfield Bobcats, but 10-0 is a definite possibility.

Will it matter, though? Is this a case of a too-easy schedule or simply too much AHS firepower? It's a fair question if you look at the ridiculously challenging slates Artesia and Goddard -- in my opinion, the other two legit contenders in Class 4A -- are tackling.

Artesia (2-1) has Clovis, Las Cruces (maybe the top squad in the state) and Carlsbad still to play, and a season-ending matchup with Goddard. Likewise, the Rockets (3-0) have dates remaining with Rio Rancho, Carlsbad, Clovis and, of course, Artesia.

Right now, I'd think the best thing for Aztec would be a few close games. We'll call it the Bloomfield Syndrom, where a waltz through September and October doesn't necessarily bode well for late November and early December.

On to this week's San Juan County football power poll.

1. Aztec (3-0): Regardless of schedule, the Tigers have spent most of their time celebrating in the end zone.
2. Bloomfield (1-1): Just a remarkable performance for the Bobcats in last week's 30-27 victory over Kirtland.
3. Kirtland Central (1-2): Patience is the key at KC.
4. Piedra Vista (0-3): A win is a necessity Friday night against Durango.
5. Farmington (1-2): It's all about righting the ship following two disheartening setbacks.
6. Shiprock (3-0): The Chiefs are off this week, giving them time to appreciate how far they've come in a year.
7. Navajo Prep (0-3): It hasn't been a good start for the Eagles, who host Newcomb on Saturday.

Alex Rodriguez became the first player in history to smack 35 homers and drive in more than 100 runs in 12 seasons on Wednesday night as the Yankees beat up on the White Sox.

In a related story, A-Rod also became the all-time leader in most meaningless home runs. When his club is leading or trailing by at least four scores, Rodriguez is deadly. Tying run on second with two outs in the eighth inning ... he's more like that Mendoza guy.

Oh, and did you know the Yankees are playing their final home stand at Yankee Stadium? Somebody's gotta mention this at some point, right? Maybe ESPN?

By the way, what would happen if Brett Favre and Michael Phelps hung out at the Yanks' venerable ballpark for a night? Would the world simply end? Would sports writers and talking heads spontaneously combust in a rare display of unity?

As noted in a previous post, I'm bitter today. My favorite team, the Minnesota Twins, is folding easier than a worn card table. And my football team, the Vikings, just benched their starting QB in favor of a 37-year-old who is best-known for ramming his head into a wall and suffering a concussion following a touchdown.

Say it with me: GOOD TIMES!

If you had to guess where the Bloomfield Bobcats would be slotted in the latest edition of the football Coaches Poll, what would you say? Third, maybe fourth? You'd be wrong, way wrong. People would laugh at you, you'd be so wrong.

This week's poll came out this morning, and Bloomfield, fresh off a 30-27 upset of Kirtland Central, checked in at No. 7 in Class 3A. Seventh. So, after pushing defending state champ St. Mike's to the final seconds in a Week 1 20-19 loss, and trumping KC, the Bobcats are still getting little respect. That's bulletin-board material, right there. Probably not, but it's going on my bulletin board.

Socorro is ranked fourth, underscoring just how huge the Warriors' 59-8 victory over Thoreau was. Oh well, I'm bitter. You caught me. Regardless, here's how the rest of the polls shaped up. Volleyball will be posted later in the day, according to Buster Mabrey, the former AD at PV who now is the czar of the coaches association. That's not his official title, but it's close.

Let's just move on to the polls. You'll notice Aztec, which has outscored three opponents by a combined 1,119-(-6) is the No. 3 team in 4A. Piedra Vista moved up from ninth to No. 10 despite losing 42-20 last Saturday at Goddard.

New Mexico High School Coaches Association Top 10 Polls
* Last week's ranking in parentheses

Class 5A
1.    Las Cruces (1)
2.    Mayfield (2)
3.    Eldorado (5)
4.    La Cueva (3)
5.    Clovis (6)
6     Sandia (4)
7.    Rio Rancho (7)
8.    Manzano (9)
9.    Onate (10)
10.  Cibola (8)
Others receiving votes: Hobbs 11, Rio Grande 6, Carlsbad 2, and Valley 1.

Class 4A
1.    Goddard (2)
2.    Artesia (1)
3.    Aztec (3)
4.    Moriarty (4)
5.    Los Alamos (5)
6.    Belen (8)
7.    Kirtland (6)
8.    St. Pius (7)
9.    Piedra Vista (10)
10.  Silver (8)
Others receiving votes: Capital 8, Roswell, 6, Volcano 6, Santa Teresa 5, Farmington 2, Del Norte 2.

Class 3A
1.    Portales (1)
2.    Lovington (3)
3.    St. Mike's (2)
4.    Socorro (4)
5.    Cobre (7)
6.    Ruidoso (10)
7.    Bloomfield (8)
8.    Hot Springs (6)
9.    Raton (5)
10.  Academy (9)
Others receiving  votes: Hatch 14, Robertson 7, W. Las Vegas 3, Wingate 1.

Class 2A
1.    Santa Rosa (7)
2.    Lordsburg (1)
3.    Dexter (1)
4.    Texico
5.    Tularosa
6.    Estancia
7.    Cloudcroft
8.    Capitan
9.    Eunice
10.  Tucumcari
Others receiving votes:  Ramah 3, Loving 2, NMMI 1, Oakland Raiders 1 (Note: I added this myself).    

A pretty cool soccer milestone could be reached today in San Juan County. Piedra Vista's Pablo Quintana is closing in on 100 career goals. The senior forward currently sits at 95. How good is Quintana at finding the net? Well, it's not out of the realm of possibility that he could score five times during today's home match against Bloomfield, and thus reach the century mark.

100 goals.

That's remarkable, especially when you consider the game planning opposing coaches utilize to slow Quintana. He receives the most attention from defenses, always surrounded by a pack of players looking to keep him away from the ball. Simply put, he's PV's guy to stop, a task much easier said than done.

The Panthers take on the Bobcats at 4 p.m. at the PV soccer fields.

If Quintana falls short this afternoon, look for him to reach, or pass, 100 on Thursday, when the Panthers host Cortez.

There's actually been an addition since the original schedule was posted to The Daily Times' Web site. Piedra Vista and Farmington will play a non-district boys soccer match Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. at PVHS. Here's how the rest of the schedule looks, with the highlights including Aztec's first home football game of the season against a tough Bloomfield squad and the volleyball tournament at BHS that includes Shiprock and Navajo Prep in addition to the host Lady Bobcats.

Tuesday's Games

VOLLEYBALL

6 p.m. -- Bayfield at Navajo Prep

6:30 p.m. -- Bloomfield at Aztec

6:30 p.m. -- Kirtland Central at Gallup

6:30 p.m. -- Piedra Vista at Pagosa Springs

BOYS SOCCER

4 p.m. -- Bloomfield at Piedra Vista

5 p.m. -- Aztec at Gallup

GIRLS SOCCER

4 p.m. -- Gallup at Aztec

4 p.m. -- Kirtland Central at Rehoboth

Thursday's Games

VOLLEYBALL

TBA -- Farmington at Capital

BOYS SOCCER

4 p.m. -- Aztec at Rehoboth

4 p.m. -- Cortez at Piedra Vista

GIRLS SOCCER

4 p.m. -- Kirtland Central at Bloomfield

4:30 p.m. -- Piedra Vista at St. Michael's

Friday's Games

FOOTBALL

7 p.m. -- Bloomfield at Aztec

7 p.m. -- Capital at Kirtland Central

7 p.m. -- Durango at Piedra Vista

VOLLEYBALL

Piedra Vista at Santa Fe Tournament

Farmington at Santa Fe Tournament

Bloomfield Invitational

Shiprock at Bloomfield Invitational

Navajo Prep at Bloomfield Invitational

GIRLS SOCCER

4 p.m. -- Farmington at Manzano

Piedra Vista at Sundevil Invite

Saturday's Games

FOOTBALL

1 p.m. -- Newcomb at Navajo Prep

VOLLEYBALL

Piedra Vista at Santa Fe Tournament

Farmington at Santa Fe Tournament

Bloomfield Invitational

Shiprock at Bloomfield Invitational

Navajo Prep at Bloomfield Invitational

BOYS SOCCER

Noon -- Aztec at Gallup Catholic

1 p.m. -- Socorro at Bloomfield

GIRLS SOCCER

Piedra Vista at Sundevil Invite

11 a.m. -- Rehoboth at Aztec

1 p.m. -- Bloomfield at Socorro

2 p.m. -- St. Michael's at Farmington

CROSS COUNTRY

Piedra Vista at Pagosa Springs Invite

Shiprock Invitational

Bloomfield at Shiprock Invitational

Aztec at Shiprock Invitational

Kirtland Central at Shiprock Invitational

Farmington at Shiprock Invitational

Ravens-Texans game rescheduled for Nov. 9
HOUSTON (AP) -- The Baltimore Ravens-Houston Texans game was rescheduled to Nov. 9 after Reliant Stadium was severely damaged by Hurricane Ike.
The Texans' home opener was originally scheduled for Sunday, then postponed to Monday night as Ike approached the Gulf Coast. The Category 2 storm slammed into Texas on Friday night and moved into Houston early Saturday morning.
Ike tore chunks off the stadium's retractable roof and the damage couldn't be fixed in time for the game, said Shea Guinn, the president and general manager of Reliant Park.
"There are parts of the roof that are completely gone," Guinn said.
The retractable roof on the $352 million venue rolls open in nine sections. Guinn said five of the sections were missing and large pieces of debris had fallen into the stadium.
"It's hard to tell what came from where," Guinn said.

Cubs-Astros games shifted to Milwaukee
CHICAGO (AP) -- Two games between the Chicago Cubs and Astros that were postponed this weekend in Houston because of Hurricane Ike will now be played in Milwaukee.
The Cubs and Astros will play at 7:05 p.m. on Sunday and 1:05 p.m. on Monday at Miller Park, with Houston being the home team. If the third game of the series is needed, it will be Sept. 29 at Houston.
Chicago leads the NL Central and Houston is in wild-card race. The three-game set that was scheduled to begin Friday night in Houston was called off as the hurricane approached the Texas coast.

More from the AP.

Ike damages Texans' stadium, Monday's game iffy
HOUSTON (AP) -- Damage caused by Hurricane Ike will likely lead to the postponement of Monday night's NFL game at Reliant Stadium between the visiting Baltimore Ravens and the Houston Texans.
The storm tore chunks off the stadium's retractable roof and the damage can't be fixed in time to host the game, said Shea Guinn, the president and general manager of Reliant Park.
"There is no way this stadium will host a game on Monday night," Guinn said Saturday. "There are parts of the roof that are completely gone."
An official announcement was expected later Saturday, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.
"It certainly appears that the stadium is not going to be able to be used on Monday night," Aiello said.
The game, originally scheduled for Sunday, was moved to Monday earlier in the week as Ike approached the area.
The field is not scheduled to host another game until Oct. 5. If the game is postponed, it is unclear when it could be made up. The Texans' off week is Oct. 26, while Baltimore's is Nov. 6.
Three years ago, when the New Orleans Saints were displaced because of Hurricane Katrina, they played four of their scheduled home games at LSU's Tiger Stadium, three in San Antonio and one in East Rutherford, N.J., against the New York Giants.

For your reading pleasure, courtesy of the AP ... and the Texico Wolverines.

Texico shuts out Loving, 101-0
TEXICO (AP) -- It turned out to be a terrible night on the football field for Loving, but Texico ended up making a bit of history.
The Wolverines scored every time on their first eight offensive plays to set the tone of Friday's game and go on to beat Loving 101-0, earning a place in New Mexico's high school record books.
Only one other team has scored more in a single game and that was 85 years ago when Deming beat Tularosa 124-0 in Tularosa's first football game. A few years earlier, in 1916, Albuquerque beat Santa Fe 101-0, according to the New Mexico Activities Association.
Texico head coach Mike Prokop said all he could do each time his team scored was drop his head. He said he didn't know what else to do since Loving couldn't stop the Wolverines.
Texico had a 54-0 halftime lead, thanks to three touchdown passes from Brett Anderson, a 50-yard punt return from Mario Posada and a slew of other touchdowns.
The second half was no different with Edgardo Meza starting the scoring off with a 60-yard kick off return. By the end of the quarter, Texico had built an 89-0 lead.

Coaches Association Top 10 Polls
Week 3
Last Week's Rank in Parentheses

5A Football
1.    Las Cruces (1)
2.    Mayfield (2)
3.    La Cueva (4)
4.    Sandia (6)
5.    Eldorado (5)
6.    Clovis (3)
7.    Rio Rancho (7)
8.    Cibola  (8)
9.    Manzano (8)
10.    Onate (10)

4A Football
1.    Artesia (1)
2.    Goddard (2)
3.    Aztec (3)
4.    Moriarty (4)
5.    Los Alamos (5)
6.    Kirtland Central (6)
7.    St. Pius (7)
8.    Silver (8)
9.    Belen (9)
10.   Piedra Vista (10)

3A Football
1.    Portales (2)
2.    St. Mike's (1)
3.    Lovington (6)
4.    Socorro (4)
5.    Raton (3)
6.    Hot Springs (8)
7.    Cobre (5)
8.    Bloomfield (7)
9.    Academy (10)
10.   Ruidoso (no rank)

2A Football
1.    Santa Rosa
2.    Lordsburg
3.    Texico
4.    Dexter
5.    Tularosa
6.    Tucumcari
6.    Capitan
8.    Estancia
9.    Cloudcroft
9.    Eunice

5A Volleyball
1.    Rio Rancho (1)
2.    Las Cruces (2)
3.    La Cueva (3)
4.    Mayfield (4)
5.    Gadsden (7)
6.    Cibola (5)
7.    Sandia (8)
8.    Eldorado (6)
9.    Clovis (9)
10.   Manzano (10)

4A Volleyball
1.    Moriarty (1)
2.    Goddard (2)
3.    Del Norte (5)
4.    Roswell (4)
5.    St. Pius (3)
6.    Los Alamos (6)
7.    Piedra Vista (7)
8.    Academy (8)
9.    Kirtland Central (9)
10.   Espanola (9)

3A Volleyball
4 votes only

Another week gives way to Friday. In my world, at least this week, that's laundry day. I hate doing laundry.

But that's neither here nor there.

Let's break out this week's prep football power poll.

1. Aztec (2-0): The Tigers have outscored two foes by a combined 99-26. That doesn't suck.
2. Kirtland (1-1): The Broncos' passing numbers were staggering during last week's 44-30 win at Durango.
3. Bloomfield (0-1): A bye week gives the Bobcats extra time to prepare for KC.
4. Piedra Vista (0-2): What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger, right? Right?
5. Farmington (1-1): The Scorps dropped an ugly game last week at West Mesa.
6. Shiprock (2-0): Meet our feel-good story of the fall, the Shiprock Chieftains.
7. Navajo Prep (0-2): Prep, still searching for that elusive victory, welcomes Wingate on Saturday.

Three local games on tap tonight: Kirtland Central at Bloomfield; Del Norte at Farmington; and Aztec at Durango (semi-local). By the way, if you haven't had a chance to check out FOX's pregame show, do so. It's a high-quality, two-hour product that breaks down each prep football game, replete with coaching interviews, appearances by Dan Ford, the smartest guy in the history of New Mexico prep football, and game-day analysis. Definitely good listening.