With the first day of football practice inching closer -- three days, for those keeping count -- now is probably a good time to examine some of the biggest questions facing Iredell County teams entering the season.
Lake Norman
Who will take charge of the offense?
With what seems to be an improved, slightly bigger offensive line, the Wildcats need a few more athletes. Do-everything Tyler McRorie is gone, as is long-time quarterback Zach Connell. McRorie was an all-county wide receiver who could catch, run the jet sweep and throw -- he played QB at times. Lake Norman may rely a bit more on Eric Manser, a solid running back who hardly ever gets negative yardage. Jaquez Vanderburg can really run and should see an increased role.
Mooresville
Is this the year?
Expectations are always sky-high at Mooresville, and this season will be no different. After a few good-not-great years, the Blue Devils return a ton of players and a special senior class. The offense will miss the big-play threat of Jamel Allison and the underrated Tequilis Knox, but Jjshaun Pinkston should run the show. The Devils have enough on defense, despite losing some really good linebackers, to improve on last year's performance. After a loss in the first round of the playoffs to a tough T.C. Roberson team, Mooresville's fans (and players) are hoping for a deep playoff run.
North Iredell
How will the Raiders adjust to a new scheme?
North Iredell has run through a variety of schemes in recent years. Former coach Lee Linville brought in an I-Formation based offense three years ago. That slowly evolved into a shotgun, spread offense over two years and was whittled back down to the I-Form late last season. New coach Shannon Ashley will implement an option-based attack, which should be led by bulked up fullback Chris Knox. Both the offense and defense return some pieces, but moving the ball on the ground will determine whether or not North has a shot at the playoffs.
South Iredell
Who will lead the offense?
It's been a while since the Vikings didn't have Anthony Thwaites' blazing speed at their disposal. With offensive star Thwaites off to Lenoir-Rhyne College, South needs to find somebody to run the ball -- and a quarterback to get the ball to the outside. T.C. Rollings really stepped in and did a nice job last season after being converted from wide receiver to quarterback. I think everyone knows Rollings was a senior last year. But not everyone knows his backup, Bert Travis, was also a senior, and that's equally important. South will look at a pair of sophomores to take over at quarterback. Markevis Dalton and Tevin Ikard will be the best pair of wide receivers in the county, and Ikard may also take some carries as a running back.
Statesville
What's next?
Pretty simple here. The Greyhounds, in the midst of a big rebuilding project, surprised most of the county and finished 9-4 last season, a mark that included a trip to the second round of the playoffs. Statesville returns plenty of guys, although there's no question some of the big-time leaders are gone -- like William Marion, Trevor Greer, Adrian Sloan, Greg Samuels and Jarris Knox. I think how the Greyhounds handle these increased expectations will dictate how successful their season is.
West Iredell
How can the Warriors replace 25 seniors?
Losing 25 seniors is a blow to any program, especially when they include guys like Bobby Morrison, Patrick Moss and Jared Thompson. Head coach Mark Weycker said last year's group was the best senior class in school history, but there's still some talent left in the cupboard. No, Morrison won't be there to bail the Warriors out like he did so many times last year, but he might not have to. Wake Forest signee Quan Rucker will move from receiver to quarterback, which I think is a great move. With the best player on the team touching the ball every play, the Warriors still have playoff hopes.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Show me the money (and world)
I was stunned when I read Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Childress, a free agent who played for the Atlanta Hawks, abruptly signed a deal to play professional hoops in Greece.
The more I really analyze this situation leads me to believe that Childress made a fantastic choice (I'm sure he finds that very comforting).
Let's start with the money. I actually think the benefits from this aren't really connected with the extra dough he'll make, but it's probably the most-discussed aspect.
Because he was a restricted free agent, the Hawks could only pay him a certain amount of dollars. On the international stage, those NBA bylaws don't apply. So when Olympiacos offered him a three-year deal worth $21 million -- after taxes -- well, that's a pretty sweet gig.
But there's so much more to this. Childress has a chance to do what so many dream about -- travel the world. I mean, he gets to live in Greece, one of the nicest, most historic places in the world. Sure beats smoggy Hot-lanta, right?
He'll get to experience other cultures, learn languages and compete in front of an entirely different fan base. The marketing and glitz of the NBA sometimes -- oftentimes, really -- gets pretty annoying. The hard-nosed European game, perhaps with better-informed fans, could be a great change of pace.
Hey, this is a tough situation for Atlanta to be in. But the pros clearly outweigh the cons here.
There are a couple of things to keep an eye on in the future. It's pretty clear that a top-flight superstar, like LeBron or Kobe, would never bolt for Europe. They just make way too much money, especially through Nike and other sponsorships. But don't be surprised if European teams start getting creative and attempt to lure over several middle-tier players. And don't be surprised if some of Europe's top pro prospects stay overseas rather than declare for the NBA draft.
The more I really analyze this situation leads me to believe that Childress made a fantastic choice (I'm sure he finds that very comforting).
Let's start with the money. I actually think the benefits from this aren't really connected with the extra dough he'll make, but it's probably the most-discussed aspect.
Because he was a restricted free agent, the Hawks could only pay him a certain amount of dollars. On the international stage, those NBA bylaws don't apply. So when Olympiacos offered him a three-year deal worth $21 million -- after taxes -- well, that's a pretty sweet gig.
But there's so much more to this. Childress has a chance to do what so many dream about -- travel the world. I mean, he gets to live in Greece, one of the nicest, most historic places in the world. Sure beats smoggy Hot-lanta, right?
He'll get to experience other cultures, learn languages and compete in front of an entirely different fan base. The marketing and glitz of the NBA sometimes -- oftentimes, really -- gets pretty annoying. The hard-nosed European game, perhaps with better-informed fans, could be a great change of pace.
Hey, this is a tough situation for Atlanta to be in. But the pros clearly outweigh the cons here.
There are a couple of things to keep an eye on in the future. It's pretty clear that a top-flight superstar, like LeBron or Kobe, would never bolt for Europe. They just make way too much money, especially through Nike and other sponsorships. But don't be surprised if European teams start getting creative and attempt to lure over several middle-tier players. And don't be surprised if some of Europe's top pro prospects stay overseas rather than declare for the NBA draft.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
The times have changed
I really, really want to rip the cyclists in the Tour de France. As I'm sure most of you know -- those who follow the Tour at least, and I suspect that number is growing smaller every day -- Riccardo Ricco failed a drug test a few weeks ago. Ricco had already won two stages and was in the top-10 overall.
This is the third year the Tour has had a major rider fail a drug test mid-race. This just adds to the absolutely crippling perception of the Tour, particularly the past few years. The number of people I personally know who follow it has dropped from somewhere in the 20's to 1. Some of that also has to do with Lance Armstrong leaving the sport, and I admit that Armstrong was the only reason I followed the Tour in recent years. But there is also a growing disgust with the cyclists and the event itself simply because of the doping, and in some cases the accusations of doping.
But how different is cycling from other sports nowadays? The perception of sports and athletes is always tied to the current situations in society.
That's why when Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa went on a home-run binge in 1998, no one questioned how quickly the duo bulked up, and locker room chatter of performance-enhancing drugs was never investigated by either the media or Major League Baseball. It was because, after a strike that canceled a World Series, baseball desperately needed that duo.
In the 2002 Super Bowl, just months after 9/11, everybody but the city of St. Louis cheered for the New England Patriots. It was the fact that they were an unheralded team, without any superstars, playing tough, hard-nosed football. Throw in the facts that they were a huge underdog, were introduced as a team instead of by individual names (the first time that was ever done at a Super Bowl -- it was a huge deal at the time) and simply because the team mascot was the "Patriots," America pulled for them to win. They did, and it was very healing to huge groups of people.
Yes, cycling has a drug problem. So does baseball. So does football. So does basketball. So does track & field. Certain athletes will always look for ways to cheat the system, to stay ahead of the testing and gain an edge.
And this mirrors other issues in our society: the incredible addictions we form, the incessent competitive edge, the need to cheat the system.
There's one more point I want to make, and that is the public perception of an athlete is changing, and will continuously change.
I actually read a blog about this yesterday that made a few great points. Joe Posnanski, a columnist for the Kansas City Star, wrote a great blog about Stan Musial. (And by the way, I think his blog might be the best on the Internet. I'd encourage all sports fans, especially baseball guys, to check it out).
One of his most salient points in his Musial blog was that, in the "good old days," people looked up to players like Stan Musial. Players who signed autographs, played through pain, stayed out of trouble and generally wanted to be a role model were regarded as heroes.
Today, the typical hero is Josh Hamilton -- a supremely talented athlete who somehow loses his way, fights off his demons (in this case major drug addictions) and makes a spectacular, engaging comeback.
Everybody has their own demons they fight off, their own set of problems and their own ways of fixing it. Rather than looking up to these "perfect" athletes like in the past, I think people want to relate to athletes now. And guys like Hamilton, or guys who have stories like Hamilton, are the new-breed of heroes.
And I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.
This is the third year the Tour has had a major rider fail a drug test mid-race. This just adds to the absolutely crippling perception of the Tour, particularly the past few years. The number of people I personally know who follow it has dropped from somewhere in the 20's to 1. Some of that also has to do with Lance Armstrong leaving the sport, and I admit that Armstrong was the only reason I followed the Tour in recent years. But there is also a growing disgust with the cyclists and the event itself simply because of the doping, and in some cases the accusations of doping.
But how different is cycling from other sports nowadays? The perception of sports and athletes is always tied to the current situations in society.
That's why when Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa went on a home-run binge in 1998, no one questioned how quickly the duo bulked up, and locker room chatter of performance-enhancing drugs was never investigated by either the media or Major League Baseball. It was because, after a strike that canceled a World Series, baseball desperately needed that duo.
In the 2002 Super Bowl, just months after 9/11, everybody but the city of St. Louis cheered for the New England Patriots. It was the fact that they were an unheralded team, without any superstars, playing tough, hard-nosed football. Throw in the facts that they were a huge underdog, were introduced as a team instead of by individual names (the first time that was ever done at a Super Bowl -- it was a huge deal at the time) and simply because the team mascot was the "Patriots," America pulled for them to win. They did, and it was very healing to huge groups of people.
Yes, cycling has a drug problem. So does baseball. So does football. So does basketball. So does track & field. Certain athletes will always look for ways to cheat the system, to stay ahead of the testing and gain an edge.
And this mirrors other issues in our society: the incredible addictions we form, the incessent competitive edge, the need to cheat the system.
There's one more point I want to make, and that is the public perception of an athlete is changing, and will continuously change.
I actually read a blog about this yesterday that made a few great points. Joe Posnanski, a columnist for the Kansas City Star, wrote a great blog about Stan Musial. (And by the way, I think his blog might be the best on the Internet. I'd encourage all sports fans, especially baseball guys, to check it out).
One of his most salient points in his Musial blog was that, in the "good old days," people looked up to players like Stan Musial. Players who signed autographs, played through pain, stayed out of trouble and generally wanted to be a role model were regarded as heroes.
Today, the typical hero is Josh Hamilton -- a supremely talented athlete who somehow loses his way, fights off his demons (in this case major drug addictions) and makes a spectacular, engaging comeback.
Everybody has their own demons they fight off, their own set of problems and their own ways of fixing it. Rather than looking up to these "perfect" athletes like in the past, I think people want to relate to athletes now. And guys like Hamilton, or guys who have stories like Hamilton, are the new-breed of heroes.
And I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Settle the debate
Here is one of the greatest questions of our generation: Who's ceremonial first pitch was the worst, Mariah Carey or Mark Mallory?
You be the judge.
Here is Carey's toss, and here is a link for Mallory, who is actually Cincinnati's mayor.
It has to be the mayor, right? I mean talk about losing votes. Plus, the look on Eric Davis' face at about the 0:19 mark is classic.
You be the judge.
Here is Carey's toss, and here is a link for Mallory, who is actually Cincinnati's mayor.
It has to be the mayor, right? I mean talk about losing votes. Plus, the look on Eric Davis' face at about the 0:19 mark is classic.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Second-half forecast
We ran an Associated Press story a few days ago that was about baseball's crazy first half. That's definitely true.
From teams coming out of nowhere — hello, Tampa Bay Rays — to Ken Griffey Jr. and Manny Ramirez hitting milestone home runs, there's been a little something for everyone so far this year. Unless you're a Seattle fan.
The next few months of baseball should have some major story lines ahead. Here's my forecast:
The Boston Red Sox will win the AL East. I thought the Rays were one year away from being a really good team. They are in a place to contend for the division title within the next several years, but Boston's experience will be too much in 2008.
The Mets will continue their surge and win the NL East. The firing of Willie Randolph really seems to have been a good decision. Jerry Manuel will mix it up with anybody, including his own pitcher. The handling of Randolph was terrible, the overall decision was good. They'll pass the Phillies.
From teams coming out of nowhere — hello, Tampa Bay Rays — to Ken Griffey Jr. and Manny Ramirez hitting milestone home runs, there's been a little something for everyone so far this year. Unless you're a Seattle fan.
The next few months of baseball should have some major story lines ahead. Here's my forecast:
The Boston Red Sox will win the AL East. I thought the Rays were one year away from being a really good team. They are in a place to contend for the division title within the next several years, but Boston's experience will be too much in 2008.
The Mets will continue their surge and win the NL East. The firing of Willie Randolph really seems to have been a good decision. Jerry Manuel will mix it up with anybody, including his own pitcher. The handling of Randolph was terrible, the overall decision was good. They'll pass the Phillies.
Which big name will get traded first? With teams now dropping out of contention, a few of the big names being tossed around are A.J. Burnett, Adrian Beltre, Adam Dunn, Mark Teixeira and Matt Holliday. The least likely to move? I find it hard to believe that the Rockies would trade their absolute best player one year removed from the World Series.
The Cubs should hold on in the NL Central. I think the trade for Rich Harden will work out well — Sean Gallagher is a good prospect, but that's really the only significant piece the Cubs gave up.
What's going on in the NL West? Several pundits believed this years San Francisco Giants teams might be one of the worst in recent memory. Their roster isn't good — but they are in third in the division, seven games behind Arizona. The division-leading Diamondbacks are 47-48 and should hold off the Dodgers.
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