December 2007 Archives

The Ravens announced today that they fired head coach Brian Billick after nine years and one Super Bowl.

What does everyone think? Was it overdue? Uncalled for? Who should take over the reins?

Texas A&M quarterback Stephen McGee talked about his love of deer hunting on Thursday during interviews for the Alamo Bowl, cracking up a room of reporters.

“I’ve been doing it since I was a real little boy. I mean, I guess that’s something that Texas boys do. I love it. I’ll go out and hunt anything that moves. I’m a big blaster, and I just let them have it, man. It’s very relaxing for me.

“Some people would say that doesn’t sound very relaxing at all, but I have a blast doing that. That may be kind of bad or sick in some way, but I enjoy it.”

Remember Darren Daulton?

Well, he wrote a book.

Wow, did he write a book.

It's called "If They Only Knew," and here are some excerpts:

1. "Talking about my Wrigley Field experience [in 1997] and metaphysics, along with countless media reports about my problems, brought a lot of attention. Over the last few years there has been much talk about what has happened to Dutch. Is he O.K.? The things he talks about are really out there. Has he lost his mind? Somebody said that he believes in aliens and that he enters other dimensions. The guy is obviously on drugs or drinking way too much of Grand Pappy's cough syrup. ... Not to worry, I haven't lost any sleep over it, but have always felt impelled to tell the world exactly what is going on and what I personally have experienced." (Pages 14-15)

In this photo provided by the San Francisco Zoo, a chimpanzee looks away from her Christmas present, a gift-wrapped box with favorite chimp treats on Thursday.

Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer will deliver the keynote address at the York Revolution's hot stove reception Feb. 6 at the Valencia Ballroom in York.

Palmer has been a visible presence with the Orioles since he burst on the national scene by outdueling Sandy Koufax in Game 2 of the 1966 World Series. Palmer defeated the defending World Series champions, shutting out the Dodgers with a four-hit complete-game victory..

Over the last couple of seasons, Joe Paterno has made it pretty easy to bash him on a daily basis with his dinosaur playbook, his cantankerous attitude and general stubbornness about all things Penn State football related.

Sometimes it seems that JoePa has lost his grip on the program that struggles to land big-time recruits, but more importantly has seen a serious growth number of off field incidents.

Yet it could be worse.

He could be Bobby Bowden, who will face Kentucky in the Music City Bowl without at least 20 of his players, because of an academic scandal that involved cheating.

If Paterno retires — which he should, although he likely won't — then Bobby Bowden had better do the same — immediately.

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So now that the Mitchell report has been made public it seems that Jose Canseco was a lot more on the money than anyone wanted to admit when he stated that the number of players juicing is staggering.

Several players “didn’t knowingly” do them, just “experimented briefly” or had a “medical reason.”

At least guys like Andy Pettitt and Brian Roberts are admitting their wrong doing — sort of.

Maybe a couple of the suspected worse offenders could learn something from them.

Are you listening Roger?

Roger?

The York Revolution can start concentrating on signing players now.

The coaching staff is set.

The team announced Wednesday that hitting coach Ryan Minor and pitching coach Tippy Martinez will return for a second season in York. The two worked under first-year skipper Chris Hoiles last season. After surviving a difficult first half, the Revolution remained in contention for the Atlantic League South Division's second-half championship until late August when injuries derailed the expansion club.

In his latest column, Jim Slinsky of the Outdoor Talk Network has a simple request: "Bring the deer back."

Slinsky's commentary follows:

It is pointless to use this precious space to discuss what a lousy deer season it was. Hunters are calling it was the worst deer season in fifty years. Yes, a few nice deer were harvested, again. However, I will be amazed if our combined buck and doe harvest was 100,000. Although, Special Regs Areas usually post some big numbers and distort the statewide harvest. We shall see how the PGC handles the harvest stats.

Hmm, did that juvenile sasquatch from the Pennsylvania woods take a trip down south?

WTVY News 4 in Dothan, Ala., reported this news last week (you'll want to follow the link to see the photo):

A California-based research team has left the Wiregrass without finding conclusive evidence of Bigfoot. Bigfoot expert Tom Biscardi believes several sightings near the Coffee/Geneva County line were credible. Over the years, there have been several encounters with a large, hairy creature that appears to be half man, half beast.

Biscardi believes there was a pod of Bigfoot heading further south for warmer conditions. At this time, the team is en route to western Pennsylvania following a credible sighting there. The researchers are expected to return to Coffee County in the near future for a follow-up visit.

Area Pittsburgh Steelers fans won’t be able to watch their team play on television this Sunday without having access to DirecTV’s NFL Sunday Ticket package.

According to WHP-TV’s Web site, Channel 21 will show the Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins game at 1 p.m. Sunday instead of the Jacksonville Jaguars at Steelers game. (Yes, the winless Miami Dolphins.)

In an online message to viewers, Jim Berman — vice president and general manager of WHP-TV, the Harrisburg-based CBS affiliate — said the station was told by the NFL it had to show the Ravens-Dolphins game.

A BCS playoff might have allowed Chase Daniel and Missouri a third shot at Oklahoma.

Looking to waste time at work?

ESPN is now featuring a cool college football playoff simulator. Seed 16 teams as you see fit, and then sit back and watch the final scores roll in ... all the way through the championship game.

But be warned, Buckeye fans -- after running about 12 different simulations, I found that heavily favored Ohio State lost its 1-16 matchup more than half the time.

Click this link for the simulator:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls07/bracket?lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos1

Editor's note: On Sept. 12, the York Daily Record published an article titled "Referee Roadblock," which was a look at what was then a dispute between the YAIAA and the Central Pennsylvania Lacrosse Officials Association over fees paid to officials working varsity and JV doubleheaders. It was a dispute that, as the story indicated, threatened to keep boys’ lacrosse off the league schedule in 2008-09. (It now appears that the prospects for varsity lacrosse starting in the next school year are better, with the formation of a new group, the Central Pennsylvania Lacrosse Association. See that story in today's York Daily Record.)

The Sept. 12 story, however, drew a number of passionate letters and responses on both sides of the issue. But none of those responses held a candle to what follows. In early December, local lacrosse coach Bill Middleton submitted his magnum opus, a letter to the editor of more than 9,000 words. What follows is an unedited and unabridged version of Middleton's response to the Sept. 12 article, "Referee Roadblock" ...

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My challenge is to provide you the plethora of information I know about the history of Lacrosse in York, the officials' organization, and the situation that has been brought about as a result of your article. Lacrosse has come so far in terms of growth, not just in York County, but all over the state. This is why the PIAA has approved it. What an exciting time for Lacrosse players all over the state, because they are going to be playing Varsity Lacrosse in 2009, all except in York, it seems.

BALTIMORE — Retired Orioles first baseman David Segui admitted Monday that he experimented with anabolic steroids, purchased shipments from former Kirk Radomski, a New York Mets clubhouse attendant and admitted drug distributor, and restated he used human growth hormone with a legal prescription from a Florida doctor, according to a published report.

But Segui told The (Baltimore) Sun that he refused to talk to former Sen. George Mitchell, whose report on performance-enhancing drugs will be released shortly, because he didn’t want to betray the trust of other ballplayers or be caught in speculation about what former teammates or opponents did or didn’t do.

Segui, 41, also didn’t want anyone wondering what information might have came from him.

Anne Romanow writes with her thoughts on this story:

To kill a mother bear and her cubs is deplorable, irresponsible and cruel. Bears (especially mothers and their cubs) should be off limits to hunting because killing the mother would render her cubs defenseless and not able to survive without her. Killing a rare bear only lessens survival of the bear and this rare color for future generations. At this time in our society, hunting can be done responsibly and I would like to see a heavy fine(s) levied against this hunter and his license taken away from him for four years with a maximum penalty for noncompliance. This whole story makes me sick.

It looks like "PorkChop" has legs.

You've probably heard by now that the Phillies' new Triple-A affiliate near Allentown -- the Lehigh Valley IronPigs -- abruptly changed the name of its mascot from "PorkChop" to "Ferrous" after some members of the Hispanic community cried foul.

The team hoped the swine's name swap would cure any politically incorrect fallout, but not before Pork Chop's tale wiggled its way to Florida, where Orlando Sentinel columnist David Whitley grilled those who put heat on the 'Pigs.

We received the following anonymous (but interesting) letter about JoePa's salary: I am not sure why everyone is talking about Paterno's salary. It is a joke to think that we are being asked to believe JoePa earns a half a million dollars! Joe Paterno and Penn State had almost six years to prepare and cover up what he really makes. They lost the case and then appealed it, just to buy time. Joe Paterno built the library and many other buildings on that campus. He has been extremely charitable and for that he should be commended. I feel Joe Paterno was a million dollar man in the late 80's and early 90's. This salary is an agreement between two parties who want to cover and hide the truth. With that said, other than him being a state employee and it needing to be public knowledge, I really don't care. I just find it comical people think this is his true salary.

Charly, an orangutan, eats his birthday cake at the zoo in Frankfurt, Germany, on Thursday. Charly, who is father of at least 18 orangutans in various zoos all over the world, was celebrating his 50th birthday.

It seems likely that Nittany Lion assistant coach Brian Norwood will be leaving to become the defensive coordinator at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

Norwood, the father of Penn State wide receiver Jordan Norwood, has coached safeties since joining the Lions' staff in 2001. He has made a name for himself as an up-and-coming position coach and standout recruiter.

He recently received a verbal comittment from D'Anton Lynn of Celina, Texas, one of the top high school safety prospects in the country.

This Sunday will be the second time that former YAIAA stars Meggan Quinn of Red Lion and Meredith Cox of Delone Catholic will face each other at the college level when Quinn's Penn State Lady Lions will host Cox and Georgetown. Game time is 3 p.m.

The pair staged some great battles during their high school careers, although team-wise Quinn got the better of the action as Red Lion won four consecutive YAIAA titles, however once the postseason got started Cox took over, leading Delone to three straight PIAA Class AA championships and an unlikely trip to the state semifinals her senior season with the Squires.

It seems the Barnstormers are trying to win over central Pennsylvania fans by beating the drum for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Last month, Lancaster named former Phillie Von Hayes its new manager. Now its inviting one of Philly's biggest fan favorites to speak at an event in January.

Former Philadelphia Phillies All-Star John Kruk will appear as the featured speaker at the Barnstormers first Hot Stove Reception Jan. 9 at the Lancaster Host and Resort Conference Center. The reception begins at 6 p.m. with a cocktail hour. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m.

That's one way to appease a fan base that struggled through a terrible 2007 season, watching the Barnstormers linger near or in the Atlantic League South basement one year after winning the league title.

Here come the Phillies, Flyers and 76ers....

Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, a channel long-desired by many York County sports fans, will make its local debut on Dec. 30, Comcast announced this morning in a newspaper advertisement.

"Comcast is pleased to announce the addition of Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia to your York Channel Lineup!" the advertisement stated.

The sports channel will be added to Expanded Basic channel 34, according to the advertisement.