"Upon Further Review" by Jim Sacco

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Daily Pooch Punt: 2/1/2007

So how do you follow up a win over the No. 1 ranked team in the state after watching your rank jump up three slots to No. 4?

If you’re Wilson Memorial’s girls basetkball team you drop two straight and suddenly look beatable. That’s what.

Now I’m not knocking on the Green Hornets because when tournament times rolls around, I’m picking them as my meal ticket for a trip down to Richmond.

And it’s not like they went out the next two nights and dropped games to some no-name school slapped on the schedule to fill in the dates.

The Hornets’ first loss of the week came Monday when they had a rematch with an angry Stonewall Jackson squad (said No. 1 team Wilson beat last week). 

They followed up that performance by falling and always-tough (and inspired) Buffalo Gap squad that seems to always be overlooked when it comes time to start waxing poetic about the Shenandoah District race.

The two losses should probably drop Wilson to No. 6 or back to 7 in the poll. But what do the polls really mean? Nothing. And that’s why I think I’m going to Richmond to watch the Hornets play. But what do you think?

OK, here’s the snap:

Don’t care about the Super Bowl? Then let me present to you the greatest thing to ever happen to TV since the invention of the remote control. Just click on the link!!!

So my question to you is: What’s the over/under on hairballs and wet spots?

I’m going with: Six on the wet spots and one on the hairballs. Any takers?

Guess who thinks his team is an underdog? That would be Fort Defiance wrestling coach Terry Waters heading into Wednesday night’s meet with Turner Ashby and Robert E. Lee at the Reservation. Just call Waters the Lou Holtz of high school wrestling. This guy could have a roster full of state champs, but he’s always going to say someone is better.

What to look for: Fort wrestler Kory Rankin is two wins away from becoming the 16th wrestler under Waters to reach 100 wins in a career.

Which begs the question: When is Waters, a notoriously quiet man when it comes to his achievements, going to let me take a look in his personal high school and college scrapbook?

Just three more days until I, after 21 long years of waiting, get to watch a Super Bowl that I’ll actually care about.

Which can mean only two things: Pure ecstasy if the Bears win. A total mental breakdown if they lose.

But in the words of Waters’ friend, Dennis Green: CROWN THEIR A%@!

Speaking of crowns: Methinks the 4x200 and 4x400 relay teams at Stuarts Draft might bring home one or two before this year is over. Dare I also say three.

Feel good story: Have you ever met Waynesboro native Kenny Brooks? Have you ever talked to him for a few minutes? Have you ever shook his hand? Well, if you can say yes to any one of these questions then this story will make you smile. Way to go Kenny!

More kudos: While standing in line at a local grocery store many moons ago, I began talking sports to the person behind me. The man, probably in his mid-40s, said he never went to Robert E. Lee to watch his son’s high school play. I asked him why. He told me he didnt’ feel safe along with a few other off-color remarks. Well, here’s another two athletes proving that chucklehead wrong.

Is it just me: Or does anybody else hope the regular-season champ in all our local district tournaments lose in the first round? Why, you ask? Well what’s better than watching two teams in the final of a district tournament having to battle each other for the final spot in regionals. And, that’s why, we really shouldn’t call it a tournament until we get the Siegel Center.

They’re calling for snow: Did you get your bread and milk?

(Just a head up, folks. The Daily Pooch Punt will be taking Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday off. See you Tuesday and, don’t forget to leave your comments.)

More time, please

Hey guys (and gals), today’s installment of the Daily Pooch Punt will be posted about an hour late (give me until 3 or so, OK).

It’s pretty hectic in the office right now with the impending 1-3 inch Snowstorm of Doom

Plus, I’m trying to get our Super Bowl XLI wrap done for Saturday as well.

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Daily Pooch Punt: 1/31/2007

Remember when it hurt to go watch the Wilson Memorial boys basketball team? It wasn’t that long ago.

When the season started and Rodney Cullen and his Green Hornets were crawling along, the first-year coach looked frustrated and some of the players looked lost. But Cullen would always tell you after a tough loss that he had a young team and it would take a while for them to grow.

Let us never doubt coach Cullen again.

Since their morbid start, the Hornets have put together a 5-2 Shenandoah District record, including a 52-49 win over Buffalo Gap on Tuesday.

Tuesday’s win included the Hornets holding off a fierce Bison charge—pressure they wouldn’t have been able to withstand at the start of the season.

Hmmm ... the Shenandoah District is getting interesting.

Then there’s this: For the first time all season, Riverheads boys basketball team had all 12 players at practice on Monday.

“We didn’t know what to do,” laughed assistant coach Joe O’Donnell.

Having all their players back is a good thing for the 14-4, 6-1 Gladiators. It’s not a good thing for the rest of the Shenandoah.

Speaking of good things: A converstion in the office revolved around who the best boys basketball player in our area is. I went out on a limb and said Nelson County’s Thomas Brown. Haven’t heard of him? Don’t worry, he’s only a junior and you’ll know about him soon enough.

He probably won’t talk about it: But The Future Mayor of Greenville Robert Casto was named the VHSCA Coach of the Year. J.I. Burton, located in Soreloserland, plans on filing an appeal.

Waynesboro’s Nick Gore and Ander Ross, two big guys (with Gore a threat from the outside) on the court at the same time consistently. Discuss.

Does anyone remember the last time both Robert E. Lee and Martinsville weren’t in the top 10 of the Associated Press Boys Prep Poll? Didn’t think so.

Sorry, but I’m not a firm believer that just because Robert E. Lee is down this year that the whole Valley is. If I’m a fellow Region II school, an on-the-same-page Waynesboro team and Rockbridge scare me. Heck, I’ll even toss in a tough-as-nails Broadway squad. But hey, that’s just me. What the heck do I know. (And what the heck do you think?)

Just so you’re “In The Know”: Waynesboro will be hosting the long and triple jump portions of the Valley District Indoor Track Meet on Tuesday. Dress warm, because indoor track is outdoors.

I’m confused.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

OK, give me until …

So a reader in Afton e-mailed me and wondered what time each day he could look for the Daily Pooch Punt.

Folks, give me until 2 p.m. I work nights, you know, and I do need my beauty sleep. (And remember, don’t look for it on Saturdays and Sundays. On Sunday you’ll have my sports column. I’m sure you can go Saccoless for two days a week.)

Hello. Nice to meet me.

Hello there. Nice to meet me. I mean you. Whatever.

The name is Jim Sacco and I write about sports for a living. I also design pages, but that’s boring and you don’t care about that (right.)

So, they have finally given me a blog and I intend to use the way blogs are supposed to be used. It may take me a while, but hey, you’re a patient bunch, so I’m not too worried about it. (You’re also a bunch that knows how to email me and leave me voice mails, so if I don’t use it right I’m sure I’ll hear about it.)

Anyway, here’s a FAQ about Upon Further Review.com:

What the heck is Upon Further Review?

It’s the name of my weekly print column. It runs every Sunday since, in my mind, the words I write are worth the extra half a buck you have to pay for our Sunday edition. (But you do know you can read it online for free, don’t you?)

Where did you come up with the name?

I didn’t. My Old Man did. He’s a spry fellow.

What do you plan to do with this blog?

Every weekday, make sure you come and check out my Daily Pooch Punt. It’s going to be quick hit information from the world of LOCAL SPORTS. If you want national stuff, you can go here, here or here. Any time I mention anything “national” in my Daily Pooch Punt, trust me, you’ll know. (Look for the blinking “NATIONAL ALERT. NEWS YOU CAN GET ELSEWHERE FROM PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY COVER THE EVENT. NOT SOME SLACKJAWED SPORTS EDITOR IN WAYNESBORO.)

Can I leave comments?

Of course you can. Join the fun. That’s what blogging is all about. If you folks don’t blog back, then I’m just sitting here talking to myself. (And I only like doing that on Friday nights.)

Is your column photo a “Glamour Shot”?

No. Our staff photographer Rosanne Weber took it. I just enjoy resting my head on my hand. Is there something wrong with that?

How often are you going to update your blog?

Didn’t I say at least five days a week earlier?

Will you have anything else on this blog besides that Daily Punt thingy?

Of course, along with the Daily Pooch Punt (Get it right, buddy) I’ll also post my weekly Sunday column, any columns I write during the course of week (when the mood strikes me) and some free-thought stuff that pops in my mind when I sit at my computer thinking of ways to get out of working that day.

I have an idea, how can I get in touch with you?

You can e-mail me (jsacco@newsvirginian.com) or call me at 540-932-3557. E-mail is always easier, but I’ll call you back if you feel the need to make my annoying loud office phone ring.

Should I bookmark this page?

YES!!!!!

Anything else we need to know?

Not really. But thanks for asking.