"Upon Further Review" by Jim Sacco

Friday, April 27, 2007

Because you demanded it …

OK, you didn’t demand it, but we’re going to give it you anyway—Week 2 of TNV Sports’ Eastside Pick’em contest.

But, before we get rolling along, let’s take a quick look at who each of us picked last week and where we stand after one week.

1. Court Wills (Dave Sibold) 25
2. Rob Sisk (Kristian Looney) 12
3. Jim Sacco (Danny Brown) 0

Ah, don’t worry. I’ll be the man before you know it. Here’s our week two picks in order who would win a double-elimination arm wrestling tournament within the sports department.

1. Court Wills: I’m going with my trusty good old “Flyin’ Hippie” Dave Sibold.

After winning the New Valley Fences Scoot for the Loot last week, I think this hippie is the real deal. Sibold has the right stuff and good driving capabilities to take win No. 2 Saturday. Look for Sibold to make a solid finish and keep up the the pace.

2. Robert Sisk: I am going with Jared Almarode. Almarode had a rough time last week, but was in someone else’s car. This week he is supposed to have his new engine ready and will be in his more familiar chassis.

3. Jim Sacco: Normally, I wouldn’t pick the same guy two weeks in a row, but Danny Brown couldn’t make it to the track last week. Hey, it wasn’t his fault (got a problem with that?!). I’m not one to bail on someone for something like that, plus he’s local, knows the track and WILL win.

And another thing: Join the fun by letting us know in the comment board. See you Tuesday. (I’m off Monday. Two words: Spa treatment.)

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Daily Pooch Punt: 4/25/2007

Here’s the breakdown of the TNV Sports’ Eastside Pick’em contest. The staffer’s name is followed by the driver they picked and points the driver gave them for the week. If you want to join the fun, make sure you e-mail me.

1. Court Wills (Dave “The Flyin’ Hippie” Sibold) 25 points
2. Robert Sisk (Kristian Looney) 12 points
3. Jim Sacco (Danny Brown) 0 points

Don’t worry, I’ll be on top before you people know it.

And another thing: After what the Indians did to them the first time, at least Fort Defiance knew the rematch wouldn’t be easy.

Speaking of Fort Defiance: What’s your mailing address. Waynesboro’s baseball team wants to send you guys some flowers.

Speaking of flowers: Isn’t Wilson Memorial blossoming into one heck of a softball team? Discuss.

Speaking of discussing (we actually mean disgusting) things: Here you go.

Don’t look now, but: She lives in Crozet. She works in Waynesboro. Someday, she may take over the video-gaming world. Her name is Katy, aka BunnyXAblaze.

Hello, Jim is the name. Oh, we met already? Well, have you met my Hell? Just askin’.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

And another thing …

The Upon Further Review home office will start running it’s Mailbag on May 1. So make sure you e-mail your comments and/or questions about local sports, national sports or anything that’s on your mind. Make sure you include you full name and hometown (for verification purposes) to me and make sure you put “Mailbag” in the subject line.

Whether or not this works is up to you guys so start sending me e-mails.

Holla.

Daily Pooch Punt: 4/24/2007

So I promised you the standings after the first week of racing at Eastside in TNV Sports’ Eastside Pick’em contest.

But we’re still waiting to tally up our scores. All we know at this point is (and it’s not much) is the guy staffer Court Wills picked “The Flying Hippie” Sibold, won the race.

We have no clue yet where Danny Brown finished (the guy I picked) and the driver Rob Sisk picked. I’ll post them as soon as Rob gets them. But, until then, here’s Rob’s story on opening night at Eastside.

And another thing: If you’re a track fan (or even if you’re not) and you happen to be in Waynesboro on Wednesday, you really need to go watch the jump pits when Waynesboro’s Will Walter goes head-to-head with Robert E. Lee’s Troy Crawford in the long and triple jump. Don’t forget about fellow Little Giant Tim Brown, who may break up the Walter-Crawford party.

Here come the Knights: It’s Turner Ashby at Fort Defiance today (Tuesday).

Fort Defiance softball, do you have your Region II boarding passes?

Am in the only one: Sick of seeing this guy on ESPN every two minutes?

And how come: We don’t see this guy as much as we should on ESPN? And how can I score a Melrose Mullet?

OK, so an unrelated note: This weekend my parents meet the the most tolerant woman alive’s (my fiance’s) parents for the first time. I’m thinking this is like that horrible blind date you and girlfriend set up in college (at her request, of course) between two mutual friends of yours that don’t know each other and two of you decide to double with them. And the whole time you’re sitting at the table over dinner, the two of you are thinking of ways for them to get along so they end up going out eventually when, in reality, it doesn’t matter if they get along or not. You know what I’m talking about? Well that’s how I feel.

So I’ve compiled a list of things to say over dinner: That while may not ease any “awkward” situations, will certainly allow to me to sit back and be entertained (and possibly single again) by watching my parents’ reaction.

So, how does everyone here feel about [fiance’s name deleted to protect the innocent] keeping her name?

Does it matter that [yes, the fiance’s game again] doesn’t like eating ravioli every Sunday?

Did I mention that [you know who] doesn’t like red wine?

So, [her again] remember when you asked me what this “olive oil” was?

[The fiance] told me that Sacco and Vanzetti were guilty and deserved to die. Remember that?

And, of course, the one thing Italian parents don’t want to hear about their future son and or daughter-in-law: Mom, dad, did I mention she’s Irish? (Rim shot)

Thanks. You’ve been great. Enjoy Talking Heads.

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Daily Pooch Punt: 4/21/2007

Sorry folks. It’s sunny out, blue skies and the temperature is hovering around the 75 mark. So I have no gumption to retype or copy and past the same Eastside picks we’ve made for two weeks now.

So, now that they’ll finally race with the nice weather, just scroll down and you’ll see our picks.

Anyway, it’s time to get back out on my deck. The sun and view calls.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Daily Pooch Punt: 4/19/2007

When it comes to Group A basketball, it might just be easier for the always innovative (sarcasm) Virginia High School League to give every school a state-title ring, and then take it away as they lose.

What? You call that watering down the championship pool?

How dare you? Because we can’t let kids go home with hurt feelings, can we? And everybody is a champ in our book, right? (Way to go, sport.)

The VHSL’s May 2007 agenda includes an item that will split Group A — in basketball only — and award four state titles for what is appearing more and more to be the Podunk division of the state’s sports. That’s right folks, they’re just going to split Group A into Division 1 (smaller schools) and Division 2 (the bigger ones) similar to football divisions (but those splits are, thankfully, across the board).

Sorry folks, but the staff of the VHSL recommended approval and, by all accounts, it will be voted in at the May 2 Executive Committee meeting. On May 2, that noise you’ll hear when this is voted through will be me dusting off the asterisk key on my computer. (Because every two years, they’ll realign this asinine idea, treating borderline schools like ping-pong balls ala Central-Woodstock.)

Why do this to Group A? Will the Shenandoah District be split? Sure, the district competition will still be fun, but how excited are you going to get when Buffalo Gap and Wilson Memorial square with the Green Hornets in Division 2 and the Bison in Division 1?
Yeah, I thought so.

And another thing: Doesn’t this make the obvious solution to all the VHSL’s problems pretty obvious? GO QUAD-A. That’s right, dump the six football titles (which is borderline ludicrous) and award four. That’s your only loss if the VHSL is worried about losing money. (Gee, wonder if they are?)
You’ll be gaining two titles the rest of the way across the board. Plus, when you win a state title in Group AA football, you’ll know for sure that you’re the best team in Group AA, not the best team in Division 3 of Group AA. (I could go on and on and on.)

So, how should they do it?: No simple answer on that one. Put the metro schools in Group AAAA (Tidewater, Richmond, Roanoke, NoVa, maybe Lynchburg), dump the smaller city schools into AAA (Harrisonburg, Staunton, Martinsville, Winchester, Waynesboro and so on) then you use AA and A to split up what used to be Group A.

Sure: But that’s going to take some major realignment. Oh, and ruining natural rivalries is absolutely nothing new to the VHSL. (See circa 2000 when Frederick County’s Sherando was Group AAA and traveling to Culpeper and Liberty-Bealton to play games.)

Oh and here’s your first asterisk - *

DPP Delay

To both of my fans. Today’s Daily Pooch Punt will be posted around 5 p.m. today.

Sorry for the delay.

Sacco

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Daily Pooch Punt: 4/17/2007

Candace Kimmett was one of those rare coaches you come across when you scour the high-school ranks.
She wasn’t in it for those precious extra dollars; she was in it because she loved the game of volleyball. Loved watching the girls develop from raw middle-school talent to honed volleyball goddess between the white lines.
Always quick to smile, Kimmett was never afraid to call a timeout when her team was struggling, then as they walked off the court; she would greet them with one of those “you-and-I-both-know-you-did-something-wrong” looks. The girls (usually) responded and Kimmett leaves with a staggering 234-62 record with one state title, two quarterfinal appearances and a Final Four team.
Athletic Director Mel Morris said it all with his quote: “I know she’s gonna be hard to replace. Anyone who takes that position will have some pretty big shoes to fill.”
We couldn’t agree more.

And another thing: OK, for the third time, the TNV crew will start its Eastside Pick’em for this week’s late-model feature race. Will Mother Nature work with us this time? We’ll soon find out.

Sorry for the smell: On Monday, we lost water in our apartment building. Monday night we were without power, today (Tuesday) we only had cold water. That’s why this sports editor hasn’t showered in two days and has his signature patchy facial hair growth. Sorry for my appearance. Here’s hoping I have hot water (and power for that matter) when I arrive home after work tonight.

Hello, my name is Jim and welcome to may Hell.

One last thing: Yes, I know what we cover — high schools.
To answer mountains of e-mails I have gotten regarding the six-column photo we ran of Waynesboro baseball on Saturday: No, we don’t pick on unpaid high school athletes who play the game because they love it.

It was a wonderful moment of disappointment for a player. A player on a team that poured its heart and soul into a 12-inning baseball game only to come out on the losing end.

Folks, there’s a reason why we’re here at The News Virginian. It’s to give you the best possible sports coverage. Whether you view it as “positive” or “negative” is strictly up to you. We just cover the games, take the photos and write the headlines.

We write the facts and don’t sugar coat the negative.

To answer some questions: According to the baseball dictionary a dropped third strike is “a pitch that is either swung at or called a strike that is not caught or passes by the catcher with first base open. At that point, the pitcher is given a strikeout, but the runner is free to attempt to make it to first base.”

I’m sure someone out there somewhere coined the phrase “Don’t Hate, Educate,” either that or some so-white-they’re-clear rapper vocalized that in his one Top 10 hit. I agree with it. When I was on “the outside looking in” I had no idea why newspaper did what they did. I do now and think everybody would benefit from knowing a little bit of the method behind our madness.

That’s the only reason why I’ve included this in today’s blog entry.

The bottom line? I do everything in my power to make sure the readers of Waynesboro, Staunton and Augusta County get the best sports section, period.
If you have any questions or criticisms, fire away. I’ll do my best to explain why we did it. (And, no Hank, that isn’t a “pissing match” as you so eloquently put it.)

Ask anybody who runs into me out and about town. They’ve stopped me in Wal-Mart to get an explanation and, with the exception of trying to keep my Chicago Little Italy mouth in check (we all have our struggles) I always make time to talk to them right then and there.
I don’t ask that anybody leave happy, I only ask that they leave understanding.

OK, I’m off my soap box.
See you tomorrow.

DPP delay

Daily Pooch Punt will be posted around 6 p.m.

Sorry for the delay.

See you then.

Sacco

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Upon Further Review: 4/15/2007

Jim Sacco’s award-winning Upon Further Review column appears every Sunday in The News Virginian.

We’ll never know what happened.
At some point during his coaching career at Waynesboro High School, Jim “The Mouth of the South” Critzer put a cork in that Tabasco dispenser he used to call a mouth.
No longer did he spin yarn (among other things) about his boys after a terrible game. He stopped calling and feeding us quote upon quote upon quote after his baseball team played like they were back in Little League (a luxury no team in the Valley District can afford).
His colorful quotes stopped. His surly attitude after losses went away.
We got ourselves a kinder, maybe slightly gentler Critzer. We figured it was something we would have to live it.
We had acid reflux and Critzer cut out the spice. But no, we weren’t happy.
He was a sports writer’s dream.
A watering hole of information and stinging quotes.
He was, at times, a sports editor’s worst nightmare (though one who always called in scores, and we can live with that).
We do know a few parents of past players called to complain; that may have forced Critzer to tone down his MLB coaching ways just at tad. He’ll never tell us that on the record, so after too many times to remember, we just stopped asking.
Back in the day, a 12-inning loss to Turner Ashby would have sent him into a quote-spewing rage. Hell, we shudder to think what he would have said if those past losses to TA featured as many blown chances to win as Friday’s loss did.
And, let’s be honest here Giantdom, the umpires had nothing to do with the Little Giants losing. Replay the sixth-inning in your mind. Don’t forget those five errors on the end of the scoreboard. And how many times did James Lucas or Jay Thompson open up a walk-off inning with a hit, only to find themselves playing with dirt at second or third? But we digress.
This isn’t about what cost Waynesboro its biggest win in a decade on the diamond. It’s about how they played. And what happened to Critzer.
And there lies the answer.
For years you’ve shook your head at some of the things he’s said. You’ve turned red in the face when he acted up, or dropped a no-no word at an umpire or opposing coach.
Now think about how red-faced he got when he watched you, the fans, force Waynesboro’s finest to escort the umpires from the KC on Friday. Oh yeah, we’re sure that wasn’t embarrassing to anybody in that dugout. You can keep telling yourselves that if you wish, but two days afterward you know better now, don’t you?
And, for years, Critzer has given you nothing but a quality program that he began building back when he was a frustrated JV coach watching his pupils rot out on a struggling varsity team. He toned it down, but thankfully the players have picked up the torch.
Maybe that Critzer’s goal all along. Play with an attitude. Play like you’re better than the other team – especially if that team is “untouchable” Turner Ashby.
Play like he used to coach.
If one of those TA players mouths off to you (and boy, did they ever on Friday), you mouth back (and boy, did they ever on Friday).
Don’t back down.
Nobody is better than you.
Don’t take no crap from nobody.
Sorry, folks. You may still treat those guys on the baseball team like boys, but Critzer has never made any bones about it – he treats them like men.
Quick to correct.
Sometimes quick to criticize.
But always the first to give him a hug when a player gives it his all.
Your sons should have beaten one of the strongest baseball programs in the state Friday. If they had made only three errors and gotten one more timely hit (or would have held on to a dropped third strike or two) visions of a Group AA berth would be dancing in your heads today.
It’s not the Little Giants who have anything to be embarrassed about.
That embarrassment belongs to you and the part-time umpires you chased off the field Friday night.
It certainly doesn’t belong to Jim Critzer, the coach you tried to shoo away for years who has your team on the cusp of something special.
And exciting.

Contact Jim Sacco at 932-3557.

Friday, April 13, 2007

Daily Pooch Punt: 4/13/2007

OK, even thought they are (once again) calling for rain this weekend (rain that, for that matter, has already postponed the Augusta County Track and Field Invitational for Saturday) we are going to give our Eastside Pick’em another try.

That’s right. Saturday the Eastside stock season starts up and we, the venerable writers her at TNV Sports, will try to guess the winners of each week’s late-model feature race.

I, for one, am at a disadvantage. I’m a Yankee, never paid any attention to auto racing until I moved to Virginia and my job made it imperative that I, at the very least, have a working knowledge of the sports. (And that means I can identify some of the top drivers and know that Jeff Gordon is treated by fans with all the
reverence of Osama bin Laden on the track.

So, what I’m saying is that this was Eastside beat writer Robert Sisk’s idea. You know, he told me one night whilst working on pages, it’s a good way to drive people to your blog. (Drive. Racing. I get it.)

And you know me, always willing to do what it takes to get the peeps involved.

So, anywho, here’s how it’s going to work:

Every Friday, right here on UponFurtherReview.com, auto racing, baseball and soccer writer Rob Sisk along with tennis and softball writer Court Wills will join your’s truly, Sports Editor Jim Sacco and choose a late-model driver at Eastside.

Not only will we give tell you who we picked, but why we picked them. Then, after they race over the weekend, we get the same number of points the driver gets in the chase for the Eastside title. (Twenty-five for first place, 24 for third and so on.)

We’re going to split it up into segments with the hopes that some of you folks want to join the fun.

So, with out further BS from me, here’s this weeks picks. Hmmm, let’s call it the Eastside Pick’em.

Robert Sisk, office NASCAR dude: I am going with Kristian Looney in the 90.
In the last three practices he showed a lot of improvement not to mention he gave some of the Super Late Models that showed up a run for their money. While many of the drivers are running Rocket Chassis, Looney has a Laser. As long as he can stay down low where his car is running the best, and keep the front turning, he should give some of the more experienced drivers a fit.
Depending on the weather, the upper groove in the turns has just started to form and I don’t think anyone is gutsy enough to try to pass on it through the corners. If Looney keeps his nose down and keeps the car clean, he should walk away with a top 3. Not to mention he finally is going to put decals on the car.

APSE winning Court Wills: David ‘The Flying Hippie of Lexington” Sibold.
Even with a tough blow at Natural Bridge Speedway last Saturday, Sibold got off to a roaring start controlling the first nine laps of the Lee Auto Repair Sportsman feature. Sibold’s machine blew the competition out of the water with the fastest qualifying lap. I expect him to calm down and get a better grip on his machine this week, allowing him to set the tone for the rest of the race.

Jim Sacco, the bossman: I got to go with Danny Brown in the No. 10. He’s new to this late-model series but there’s something about the new kid on the block who always seems to surprise. Plus, Danny is a local guy who probably knows this track, new surface or not, like the back of his hand. I look forward to strong finish by Danny this weekend.

In case your didn’t realize, all the racing stuff was just a copy and paste of last week’s attempt. So, that was the easiest first part of the Daily Pooch Punt I have ever written (or not written, for that matter). Oh, and have a good weekend, see you Monday.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Daily Pooch Punt: 4/12/2007

So Don Imus was fired today.

Um, he was still on the air and, for that matter, relevant?

Hey, Ronnie Young stepped down from coaching basketball after 27 years at Buffalo Gap.

I know. Another coaching legend in our area steps down. He’ll be missed but the legacy he leaves will never be forgotten.

Did you hear, after his “I-snorted-my-dad’s-ashes-with-some-blow” line, Disney isn’t going to let Keith Richards do promo work for the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean movie?

Yep. But what did Disney expect. You can’t ask Keith Richards how the day went without hearing about doing a line of coke, eating a five strip and rolling up some doobs. What? Did they want to hear about his afternoon tea and cheese parties?

And another thing: One week later than expected (thanks to the weather), the TNV crew will try starting out Eastside Pick’em in tomorrow’s Daily Pooch Punt. Remember local racing fans, if you want to join fun just e-mail me and you can also pick the Eastside drivers.

Did anybody else hear: Waynesboro baseball gets its toughest test of the year on Friday when powerhouse Turner Ashby comes to the KC? Sure you did.

Hmm: Walter or Henneman. Walter or Henneman. Walter or Henneman. Why choose one when you can choose both? Steve Isaacs starts things off the right way. (We think and hope.)

Anyway, short DPP, comment all you want and join the fun everyday.

HOLLA!

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Daily Pooch Punt: 4/11/2007

So, Steve Isaacs is the new football coach at Waynesboro High School.
So, what can we expect this upcoming season?
So, he said he wasn’t going to make any predictions on wins and losses.
So, he wore a purple tie to his first news conference.
So, he caught himself saying “our” when talking about his old school — Western Albemarle.
So, he plans on talking with the coaches in the Waynesboro Quarterback Club Little League football.
So, he says his version of the Little Giants will be fun to watch.
So, he says that will bring the fans back out.
So, he plans on keeping the single-wing in one form or another.
So, he says the single-wing isn’t a formation, it’s a concept.
So, he has a state title ring the size of Expoland on his right hand.
So, he says he plans on staying at Waynesboro for a while.
So, he says getting the athletes to come out for the football team will happen.
So, once again we’re waiting.
So, is he the one?

And another thing: So, you know how you can tell when your softball team is a powerhouse. If you’re Turner Ashby, it’s when Stuarts Draft coach Michelle Campbell is pleased that her team only lost 13-0, credits strong play by her defense for keeping it close and says she was happy that they held the team to a 6-0 lead heading into the sixth inning.

Don’t laugh: So, a certain sports editor nodded in agreement. That’s not bad for a young team playing a state powerhouse.

Yeah, but: So, somewhere Fort Defiance coach Max Hill is laughing. You know the Indians? The team that handed the Knights their first Valley District loss in 87 games.

It’s called revenge: “We got off to a fast start and that’s what we want to do — control each game,” says Waynesboro baseball coach Jim Critzer. Looks like it worked against Rockbridge, now hopefully it will work against the Wildcats in the Valley tournament this year.

And undefeated dynasty in the making: The Little Giants’ boys soccer team is 7-0, so is the JV team. Looks like we got ourselves a dynasty in the making. Now all they have to do is make it out of the Region II tourney to solidify that statement.

Totally not sports related: I was sitting at home thinking last night (which explains why I’m tired) that’s it’s only 114 days until this single sports guy is a married sports guy.

So, what I’m saying is: Pray for the future Mrs. Sports Editor. Let’s hope she doesn’t mind watching her husband play video games for five hours a day.

Which leads me to: Less than a week after FINALLY finishing Final Fantasy XII for the PlayStation2, I’m going try to roll through it again and go through all the side quests.

The kicker: The first time I play through it took 143 hours of play time. Can I have six days of my life back, please? (And why am I willingly giving away another week or so? Discuss.)

And finally: Let the debate continue. Since my wrestling comment yesterday, I’ve gotten several e-mails from these darn “kids” saying how much the new “DX” kicks butt. Sorry, folks, when it comes to my wrestling I like my WW with and F, not an E.  I like my Austin Stone Cold. And, most importantly, I like more than two members in DX. And if you’re not down with that, I got two words for you – See you tomorrow. (OK, that’s three. But I’m a writer, not a mathematician. That’s Steve Isaacs’s department.)

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Daily Pooch Punt: 4/10/2007

Andy Sherrill, Todd Phillips, Nick Gore, Tim Brown, Blair deCourcy, James Lucas, Keith Miller, Joel Robinson, Ander Ross and Jay Thompson fell short of giving Waynesboro its first Group AA boys basketball title in 16 years last month – making in to the Final Four in Richmond. But the Waynesboro City Council is bestowing an honor on the group of players – at tonight’s city council meeting them will declare Tuesday, April 10, 2007 “Waynesboro High School 2006-2007 Boys Basketball Team Day” in the city, which begs the question: Why do this during your night city council meeting? Should you make April 11 their special day, so they can enjoy more than just a few hours?
Hey, I’m just askin.

And another thing: With barely enough players to fill out its ladder last season, the Waynesboro girls tennis team won only two matches all of last season. This year, with a full-squad and few more waiting in the wings, the same team has won four matches in four tries. Hmmm, you see what participation gets you?

Paging Waynesboro football, Waynesboro football. Paging Waynesboro football, you might want to learn something from the girls tennis team.

Do what now? “Each year I get a new pair of pink underwear and after we do good and I get that first win, that’s what I wear,” says Riverheads pitching phenom Annie Sandridge.

Gotta beat the big boys: Just when you thought Stuarts Draft soccer was poised and ready to take control of the Valley District, some team called the Little Giants steps in and says “not just yet.”
The Cougar nation shouldn’t worry too much, however. Anything can happen in the Valley tournament (and with at their second meeting with Waynesboro, this time at home.)

From the “I-don’t-give-a-crap” file: I left work early last night and caught the last hour of what used to be my favorite Monday night pastime – pro wrestling. Of course, I haven’t watched pro wrestling in years and, thanks to Jerry “The King” Lawler, I may never watch again all because of this line: “If Shawn Michaels’ eye swells shut, that’s really going to put him at a disadvantage.” Really? Ya think so, King?

Finally: That’s it for April 10, 2007, only 115 more days of being a bachelor for this sports editor and rookie blogger.

Friday, April 06, 2007

Daily Pooch Punt: 4/6/2007

We’re going racing.

That’s right. Saturday the Eastside stock season starts up and we, the venerable writers her at TNV Sports, will try to guess the winners of each week’s late-model feature race.

I, for one, am at a disadvantage. I’m a Yankee, never paid any attention to auto racing until I moved to Virginia and my job made it imperative that I, at the very least, have a working knowledge of the sports. (And that means I can identify some of the top drivers and know that Jeff Gordon is treated by fans with all the
reverence of Osama bin Laden on the track.

So, what I’m saying is that this was Eastside beat writer Robert Sisk’s idea. You know, he told me one night whilst working on pages, it’s a good way to drive people to your blog. (Drive. Racing. I get it.)

And you know me, always willing to do what it takes to get the peeps involved.

So, anywho, here’s how it’s going to work:

Every Friday, right here on UponFurtherReview.com, auto racing, baseball and soccer writer Rob Sisk along with tennis and softball writer Court Wills will join your’s truly, Sports Editor Jim Sacco and choose a late-model driver at Eastside.

Not only will we give tell you who we picked, but why we picked them. Then, after they race over the weekend, we get the same number of points the driver gets in the chase for the Eastside title. (Twenty-five for first place, 24 for third and so on.)

We’re going to split it up into segments with the hopes that some of you folks want to join the fun.

So, with out further BS from me, here’s this weeks picks. Hmmm, let’s call it the Eastside Pick’em.

Robert Sisk, office NASCAR dude: I am going with Kristian Looney in the 90.
In the last three practices he showed a lot of improvement not to mention he gave some of the Super Late Models that showed up a run for their money. While many of the drivers are running Rocket Chassis, Looney has a Laser. As long as he can stay down low where his car is running the best, and keep the front turning, he should give some of the more experienced drivers a fit.
Depending on the weather, the upper groove in the turns has just started to form and I don’t think anyone is gutsy enough to try to pass on it through the corners. If Looney keeps his nose down and keeps the car clean, he should walk away with a top 3. Not to mention he finally is going to put decals on the car.

Court Wills, office softball gal: David ‘The Flying Hippie of Lexington” Sibold.
Even with a tough blow at Natural Bridge Speedway last Saturday, Sibold got off to a roaring start controlling the first nine laps of the Lee Auto Repair Sportsman feature. Sibold’s machine blew the competition out of the water with the fastest qualifying lap. I expect him to calm down and get a better grip on his machine this week, allowing him to set the tone for the rest of the race.

Jim Sacco, the bossman: I got to go with Danny Brown in the No. 10. He’s new to this late-model series but there’s something about the new kid on the block who always seems to surprise. Plus, Danny is a local guy who probably knows this track, new surface or not, like the back of his hand. I look forward to strong finish by Danny this weekend.

And another thing: All it took was two quick goals for Stuarts Draft to realize that they blew a golden opportunity.

They said it: ”We did not play up to our potential tonight. We have to get it through our heads that this is not the way we play.”—Stuarts Draft boys soccer coach Chris Loomis after his team’s undefeated season ended against Waynesboro on Thursday.