too much practice

I've got to wonder if Seaside and Pacific Grove's sluggish starts this year have more to do with practicing for six straight weeks in pads before playing a game than the opponent.
Early starts at both schools forced them to start football practice July 31.
But was it really necessary?
Most kids spent the entire summer getting ready for the season. They're already in shape. Most have been in the weight room since January. The systems are already in place.
You don't need double days anymore. And you certainly don't need six weeks.
You've got to wonder if these kids went into their first game a little burnt out and have been slow to get into some sort of rhythm.

Raiders

As predicted in this blog two weeks ago, Al Davis fired Lane Kiffin Tuesday. Well, actually the press release says he released Kiffin of his duties.
Al, you fired him. You wanted to can him before training camp began. But you didn't want to pay him. And you did not want to see him with another team.
So you let the team hang in the balance, knowing full well that their lame duck coach was going to get fired. Now look, you're 1-3 and headed for a sixth straight losing season.
Another brilliant and shrewd move, just like 20 years ago when you fired Mike Shanahan. You remember him, the Denver Broncos coach who regularly kicks your butt.
The Raiders stink. You're the laughing stock of the NFL. You're dysfunctional. Key ingredients to a 4-12 season.

Ron Rivera

Had the Rams chosen Ron Rivera as their head coach three years ago instead of Scott Linehan, they wouldn't be in the state they are in today.
Winless.
Rivera, now the San Diego Chargers linebackers coach and Seaside High graduate, interviewed for the job while a defensive coordinator for Chicago. The knock on him was he didn't have enough experience.
Hmm.
Whose Scott Linehan?
Plus the Rams wanted an offensive-minded coach.
So who did they promote to replace the fired Linehan? Defensive coordinator Jim Haslett.

Santa Cruz debate

At least two coaches in Monterey County have said they will never schedule a Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League opponent on the road again.
The reason? Officiating.
Coaches believe their teams are being unfairly flagged. While an argument can certainly be made for some teams, the overall look at county teams playing in Santa Cruz shows a balance.

Kickers

Nothing better than an animated kicker.
MPC's Chris Pinto doesn't shy from the limelight. He talks openly throughout the game to anyone willing to listen.
He's amusing.
Yet, when it's time to kick, he is — well as he likes to call himself — MONEY.
Pinto's game-winning field goal in Saturday's 22-19 overtime win over Yuba was followed by a sprint to the 50-yard line, where he was caught by his teammates.
Remember, he is a kicker.
Pinto, a Salinas High graduate, isn't a kicker that wants to stand alone before a big kick. If there's pressure, he relishes it. Perhaps that is why he hasn't missed from 40 yards and in this year.
Plus, it was his extra point that forced overtime.

Raising the bar at North Salinas

Yeah, there were a couple more unsportsmanlike penalties Friday. One even helped the opposition score the games first touchdown.
But don't call North Salinas dirty.
This is a physical football team that swarms to the ball and makes defense fun to watch.
Defense is the Vikings forte, although racking up 84 points in their last two games might suggest otherwise.
This teams potential is untapped. It's an unselfish group with unfinished business. You have to love that attitude.

Seaside football

I like the offense Seaside is implementing with sophomore quarterback Ronald Saxton. I just don't know if the schedule it gave itself in the preseason will enable the offense to get into a rhythm.
Saxton is just tapping into his potential behind center. There are flashes of what could be in store. Just not enough. And it won't get any easier with Menlo-Atherton and Palma ahead.
This offense is all about timing. And it's not there yet. But I would not abandoned it. If the receivers get on the same page, Saxton will pick a part secondaries.

Herm Edwards

Sure I'm a little biased, having worked closely with Kansas City Chiefs head football coach Herm Edwards the last six years on a weekly diary.
And I'm not oblivious to the fact that the Chiefs right now are horrible. Edwards' job is on the line. And perhaps it should be if things don't change real quick — I mean 12 straight losses dating back to last year.
But now, more than ever is the time for fans in Kansas City to back this team while it endures tremendous growing pains.
Keep the 'Fire Edwards' signs in the closest Sunday. Chiefs fans, you are better than that. This isn't Philadelphia or Cleveland. Losing sucks.
If Edwards is guilty of anything, it's that he took an aging team to the playoffs in his first season. He took the job knowing he was going to have to rebuild it.
No one could have predicted he'd lose his starting quarterback in the season opener. This is still a coach that has taken teams to the postseason four out of seven years.

prep predictions

There's no rhyme or reason. But I did go 10-3 last week.
Friday's games
North Salinas vs. Seaside at Salinas Sports Complex: The Vikings look like they're on a mission. One more statement before league: North Salinas.
Cardinal Newman vs. Palma: There's a long ways to go before talking about a state championship. No doubt this is a gauge. Palma sure looked efficient in its first two games: Palma.
Salinas vs. North County: What made the Seaside win so big two weeks ago is Salinas followed up with an impressive win over Live Oak. Momentum is dangerous: Salinas.
Monterey vs. Encinal at MPC: The Toreadores defense has carried the team while the offense has not exploded, despite all that speed in the backfield: Encinal.
Woodside vs. Alisal: Woodside has either been very good or very bad, having scored 40 or more points in two wins and given up 40 in a loss: Woodside.
Gonzales vs. Andrew Hill: The Falcons will look to make it a sweep of their MTAL tour: Andrew Hill.
Templeton vs. King City: A win surpasses King City's entire total from last year. This is a statement game. King City.
Greenfield vs Pajaro Valley at Aptos: Erupting for a single-game school record 57 points last week, the Bruins have the highest scoring offense in the county. Greenfield.
Saturday's games
Alvarez vs. Santa Cruz: I know Santa Cruz is the defending CCS Small Division champions. But it is also winless. And Alvarez is unbeaten at home. Alvarez.
Pacific Grove vs. Aptos MPC: The Breakers will be in the MTAL hunt. I'm just not convinced this is the week they get their first win. Aptos.
Stevenson vs. St. Francis Catholic: The Pirates can't stop the pass. St. Francis has thrown seven touchdown passes this year. Enough said. St. Francis.
Harbor vs. Soledad: The seniors at Soledad have to realize they're laying the ground work for the future, which isn't now. Harbor.

MLB

If I had a vote, CC Sabathia would be the National League Cy Young award winner and Manny Ramirez would be the leagues Most Valuable Player.
I don't care that Ramirez has played in only 50 games for the Dodgers. He is the sole reason they are going to the playoffs. Plus 53 RBI in 50 games is insane, not to mention 17 home runs and a .398 batting average.
Take away Sabathia, who came over in a mid-season trade with Cleveland and the Brewers are a .500 team at best. He won his first nine games and sports a 1.71 earned run average.
Plus if you look at both players overall numbers, there is no comparison.

nady's bat in Hall

Xavier Nady's bat is headed to the Hall of Fame.
Major League Baseball asked for the bat after teammate Johnny Damon hit the final home run at Yankee Stadium, which is being torn down at the end of the season.
Nady, a Salinas High graduate, set career highs this year in hits (164), homers (24), runs batted in (91), doubles (36) and batting average (.306).

volleyball change

Here's a proposed volleyball change.
Give two points to the opponent on a missed serve.
Too many players take serving lightly and slam balls into the net, or into the back of a teammate's head.
Momentum is disrupted.
If you can't jump serve, don't.
A team should be able to serve the ball over the net at least 90 percent of the time. It's a lack of focus.
I guarantee if two points went to a missed serve, we would see less of it and more points earned on the court.

Football upside down

Who would have thought that King City and Greenfield would be the only unbeaten teams left from the MTAL three weeks into the season and five-time league champion Pacific Grove would be winless?
You can't really call it surprise. Greenfield did make the playoffs last fall and is coming of an eight win season.
And this blog did say back in August that King City would win at least seven games this year.
Pacific Grove on the other hand, is a little perplexing.
Granted, losing its coach 10 days before the start of practice was a blow. Yet, it lost to a Sobrato team that was shutout by Live Oak, who was buried by Salinas.

volleyball showdown

We are about to find out how good North Salinas really is when it faces cross town rival Salinas today.
The Vikings haven't beaten Salinas in 10 years -- or 21 matches. But Round 2 of the Bill Ashen Plan is in full force.
There is no more dominating front line in the area than at North Salinas. The issue is how well the Vikings can pass.
What we know about Salinas is they are deep, athletic and talented. It can pound and dink. Oh, and the Cowboys dig up balls.
Salinas runs at a different speed and that ultimately may be the difference.

carmel football

Carmel coach Craig Johnston's decision not to play Hancock Christian - excuse me - Stallworth Academy of Stockton this Saturday was the right call.
The school has deceived Carmel - starting with its name - as well as Greenfield and Monterey about who they really are.
Johnston made the decision Monday. Greenfield may not be far behind. Monterey still plans to play Stallworth, who has scored 90 points in two games.
But Monterey coach Pete Noble called it a scam.
Stallworth probably does not know about Carmel's decision because it did not return phone calls to Johnston.
Well, it will now.
No, Stallworth didn't lie.
It just didn't divulge who it really was - a first year program that picked up seven players from SAC-Joaquin Section power Franklin High of Stockton.
This team is not your ordinary first year program.
With the start of Mission Trail Athletic League play in 13 days, this was not the final tune-up Carmel was looking for.
This had disaster written all over it.
But beyond that, it's about ethics. Don't tell people you're just trying to build a program when you've landed seven elite athletes.
Shame on you.

tony curtis

Tony Curtis made his first start for Dallas, but not at tight end.
The Seaside High graduate opened up in the backfield Sunday night as an H-Back for the Cowboys.
Curtis moved into the backfield because Dallas didn't have a healthy fullback.
Based on Marion Barber's 140-plus rushing yards, perhaps Curtis should be used more as a lead blocker.
He also caught two passes, one on a deflection.

Colts

It's not too late for Indianapolis to go back to the RCA Dome. Their new digs has - well it hasn't felt like home.
If you count the preseason, the Colts are 0-4 after Sunday's loss to Jacksonville.

football bonanza

Let's see.
Palma drops 40 on another opponent. Salinas puts up 40 plus points against a Central Coast Section Medium School finalist and Alisal jumps out to a 27-point lead before calling off the dogs.
And don't forget Gilroy's 62-point eruption a week earlier against West Catholic Athletic League member Mitty.
Yes, the Tri-County Athletic League is a power league.
Does it match up against the private schools of the WCAL?
I think it does.
Five teams should make the postseason this year. Imagine finishing fifth in a league, but having a shot at a section title.

alisal band

Not only is Alisal entertaining to watch on the football field, but check out the rock band off to the side and listen to them hammer out heavy medal classics.
Not what you might expect at a high school football game.
But these kids are talented, playing songs that were out 10 years before any of them were born.

water polo blitz

Can one player make that much of a difference?
Depends.
Nicole Burr has never played water polo in her life, let alone stand in the goalies box. But she has been a catcher in softball for the better part of her 17 years.
And she knows how to swim.
Presto.
Burr has been sensational between the posts for Stevenson. The results have them undefeated in league play.
Equally impressive is the fact that she scored two goals in one game from the goalie's box in an 11-9 win over Gilroy.

today's picks

No rhyme or reason.
Today's picks
Alisal vs. Saratoga: I like Alisal's big play potential. Alisal.
Salinas vs. Live Oak: Last weeks win means little if Salinas doesn't duplicate it this week: Salinas.
Palma vs. Sequoia: Perhaps the biggest mismatch of the night. Palma is already game-planing for Cardinal Newman: Palma.
Half Moon Bay vs. Monterey: The Toreadores have an agenda and two much speed for Half Moon Bay: Monterey.
Seaside vs. Santa Cruz: Two teams with title aspirations got off on the wrong foot last week. Seaside
King City vs. Santa Maria: Look for the Mustangs to match last seasons win total - and complete a pass: King City.
Soledad vs. St. Francis Cath.: Two teams that didn't get a win last year. St. Francis.
Greenfield vs. Harbor: The Pirates have already surpassed last years win total. Of course, both wins came against teams that were winless last fall. Greenfield.
King's Academy vs. Gonzales: If Gonzales matches last weeks 34 point outburst, it will surpass last years entire point total -- in two games. Gonzales.
Monte Vista vs. Stevenson: The Pirates did give up 286 yards threw the air last week. Stevenson.
Leland vs. Alvarez: The Eagles are no longer a glorified scrimmage for opponents. But a second win is on hold: Leland.

Football follies.

Hancock Christian who?
Apparently the Stockton-based charter school has changed its name to Stallworth Academy.
It just failed to tell Carmel, Monterey and Greenfield, three teams slated to play the tiny school over the next five weeks.
And while it's true it is a first year program, officials at Hancock — I mean Stallworth — failed to mention that its roster is comprised of players that are anything but new to the sport.
Seven players transferred from Franklin High, who saw its program shut down last year for CIF violations. This is a talented team that's fast and physical, as evident by a lopsided win over Piedmont.
Carmel never signed a contract. A decision will come Monday on whether to play them next week. The fact that the contract says Hancock could mean a breach, enabling Monterey and Greenfield to get out.
Sure all three schools were looking for game. But not against a team that could do more harm than good. It's not a cop-out, just a fact.

Tony Curtis

Tony Curtis could earn his first NFL start this Sunday for Dallas.
A separated shoulder to all-pro tight end Jason Whitten has put his status in question.
Curtis, a Seaside High graduate, caught three touchdown passes last year. He caught a pass in Dallas' Monday Night Football win over Philadelphia.

seaside football

Now is not the time to speculate.
I mean, so Seaside lost its first football game. It did the same thing last year - to the same team, almost the same way.
Accept this year the Spartans have a non-league schedule that is brutal.
Be careful what you wish for.
It's not going to get easier. Santa Cruz, Menlo-Atherton, North Salinas and Palma lie ahead -- teams that all made the playoffs last year.
An 0-5 start isn't unrealistic, although I believe the Spartans will beat Santa Cruz Friday.
What concerns me is the beating Seaside could take physically. The quarterback had an ice pack on his knee after the Salinas game.
How much will be left in the tank when the four-time defending MBL champions begin league play in one month?

Edwards on the move

Unless the Kansas City Chiefs turn it around this year, Monterey's Herm Edwards will likely be fired just in time to take a job with either the Niners or Raiders.
I know, Lane Kiffin will be given his pink slip in the next two weeks or so and James Lofton will be named the new coach.
But Lofton would be nothing more than a fill in if Edwards had any interest in the Raiders, which at this point, I'd questioned anyone's sanity that wanted to coach in Oakland under Al Davis.
Speculation that Mike Nolan will be replaced by Mark Martz at the end of the season is probably more realistic.
Then again, if the 49ers fall on their faces when they face real teams in October, both will be ousted.
Edwards is building a home in Monterey County. Maybe it's time to come home and give bay area fans at least hope.


One other note about firings. What the Milwaukee Brewers did to manager Ned Yost in canning him with 12 days left in the season speaks volumes why the franchise has not made the playoffs in 25 years.
Make that 26 because this team is in shock. You're battling for a playoff spot and your manager is fired because you've lost seven of your last 10.
Hello. Teams go through losing streaks. If you're trying to light a fire, you just put out the flame.

North Salinas football

For as talented as North Salinas is, its play on the field is being overshadowed by the yellow flag.
Not that anyone is counting, but the Vikings have been flagged for 295 yards in penalties in two games, creating a reputation it may not want. Six have been unsportsmanlike penalties.
This is a championship caliber team. What you don't want is a penalty costing you. Because at some point, the undisciplined penalties will come back to haunt you.

alvarez football

One thing Bobby Rawles has accomplished is getting his Alvarez squad to believe.
Mistakes will come from a team still learning to win. The four unsportsmanlike penalites have to be eliminated. But Alvarez is going to win another game before the year is up.

carmel football

Yes, Carmel can play defense.
Don't be mislead by the fact that the defense has given up 48 points in its first two games, as 28 have come in the fourth quarter when the games have been in hand.
Why opponents don't have a defensive back shadow Andrew Melendrez is a mystery. All he's done is catch seven touchdown passes for the MTAL pre-season favorites — in two games.
What Carmel should be concerned about is the running game. While it had its moments when it helped chew up five minutes of the clock between the third and fourth quarters, the ground game averaged just 2.9 yards on 36 touches.

Salinas reverses fortunes

If we learned anything about Salinas, it's that they are resilient.
Humbled in their first game, the Cowboys responded, correcting their mistakes and stunning a talented Seaside squad.
Salinas quarterback Ryan Gregg showed poise in just his second start under center. Sure, he completed just 6-of-18 attempts. But four of them went for first downs. Two of them were touchdown passes.
Gregg was efficient, as was the Cowboys defense, which forced five turnovers.
So what does this say about Seaside?
Hey, like Gregg said after the Cowboys opener. It is just one game.
Yet, Seaside won't have two weeks to correct its mistakes. And its next four opponents all went to the playoffs last year.

football frenzy

We're about to find out if the educational experience coach Steve Goodbody called watching film of Salinas' first game debacle to Hug High of Reno pays dividends.
Because the Cowboys will face a similar team tonight in Seaside. It wasn't just the five turnovers that buried them in their opener two weeks ago. Several missed tackles led to big plays.
Over the last five years, the Spartans have been a big play team. Seaside is also a high energy team. That energy has been bottled up for six weeks. The adrenaline will be flowing. It must be careful not to use it all up in the first quarter.

turf fields

Turf fields - the ones your kids play football and soccer on - have come under fire of late from The Central for Environmental Health (CEH).
On Sept. 3, the CEH announced that independent testing has found high levels of lead in varieties from more than a dozen turf companies.
Should we be concerned?
I would.
Granted, of the 150 samples taken, only 30 percent were found to have excessive lead in their fields.
And several of the fields that have lead are the older fields.
But with Pacific Grove set to put a turf field in and Monterey and Palma having just had turf fields installed, I'd want them tested.
CEH filed lawsuits on Sept. 2 against several turf makers.
The green plush color that makes turf look like grass is paint.
Keep in mind that physical education classes are also using these fields.
You can read more Sunday in John Devine's Just a Thought column.

Football follies

The Raiders were beyond embarrassment Monday.
They were outplayed in all areas. Their receivers were worse than the 49ers.
I almost feel bad in making this suggestion for the player. But Maurice Mann could be a perfect fit for the Raiders. The Monterey High graduate, who was released by the Redskins, would provide Oakland with a down field threat that can actually catch a pass.
The crew the Raiders have now is pathetic.

football recape

Now that Alvarez has ended a 25-game winless streak, the longest drought belongs to Soledad at 17.
Next to winning a league title in his first year as head coach at Alisal, Sunil Smith may have gotten his biggest win last Friday in a victory over San Lorenzo Valley.
Carmel had nearly 500 yards in total offense and 42 points. But it gave up 28, which has to be a mild concern.
I wouldn't write off Pacific Grove after one game. But the mistakes that were made were uncharacteristic of passed teams.
Salinas has had two weeks to gear up for Seaside, who is eerie similar to the team that bounced the Cowboys in their opener.
Has North Salinas gotten an unfair reputation? A 175 yards in penalties seems excessive.
Mike Phillips got his first win as head coach at North County — a come-from-behind win at that.

Alisal football

One game will not determine your season.
One game, though, can dictate the path you take.
Alisal pointed itself in the right direction after an impressive 22-point win over San Lorenzo Valley.
Sure big plays were the theme. But good teams create big plays.
And when your defense forces five turnovers and holds a team to minus 12 yards in the first quarter, you're doing something right.
I like how Alisal is using tailback Milton Grant. His speed is electrifying in the open field. Delayed traps are giving him space to run through.
My only concern about Alisal is can a squad of 32 withstand the punishment of playing in the Tri-County Athletic League?
Based on its effort Friday, it looked like Alisal only got stronger as the game wore on.
Nice start

tightening up games

Listen, I'm all for officials getting the call right. But you can't be stopping a volleyball match for extended periods four or five times to have discussions.
Five minutes to get a call right is a bit extreme. It takes away from the match and disrupts the tempo.
A four-game match should not last nearly three hours, as was the case Thursday when North Salinas and Carmel faced off.

Volleyball

To early to make volleyball predictions? Not here.
Starting with the Mission Trail Athletic League, Carmel is a year older and has a grasp of the offense it is running. But it doesn't have the size or experience of Santa Catalina, who will capture its sixth title in seven years.
Defending Central Coast Section Division I champion San Benito seems to always start slow and then proceed to hammer Tri-County Athletic League opponents.
The Balers aren't going away. Either is Notre Dame, whose 15-game improvement last year was not a fluke. The core is back for a title run. A sleeper, if you can call them that, is North Salinas, whose height at the net will create headaches.
As for the Monterey Bay League, it's a crap shot. Any team has hope. You can't ignore Seaside's athleticism or Monterey's tradition. So watch out for North County.

Stevenson football

It almost seems fitting that Stevenson, which sits off the 17-mile drive in Pebble Beach, would have just 17 players suiting up this year.
Accept 17 players on a football roster is a huge risk in a physical sport.
Essentially the program is two or three injuries away from either calling up players from the junior varsity that are not physically ready, forfeiting games, or possibly its season.
When one unit is on the field, there will be as many players on the sidelines as coaches. Fatigue becomes a factor.
Small numbers are nothing knew at Stevenson. But this is a dangerously low number.

locals cut in NFL

Maurice Mann may look to the CFL after being cut for the sixth time in five years, this time by the Redskins. Michael Gasperson's career could be at a crossroads after the Eagles released him for the fourth straight year.
Gasperson, a Palma grad, had spent the previous three years on the Eagles practice squad. That is not an option this fall, meaning if he's not picked up, his NFL career could be over.
Mann, a Monterey alum, was the Redskins second leading receiver in the preseason while Gasperson averaged 25 yards a catch.

salinas football

No doubt, Salinas has some — make that a lot of work to do after a less than auspicious opener last Friday in being humbled 33-6 by Hug of Reno, Nevada.
That being said, I agree with quarterback Ryan Gregg that Salinas isn't that far away.
Five turnovers will ground any team. Four of those turnovers led to Hug touchdowns. Erase that and all of a sudden it's a 6-6 game.
Nothing like seeing your energy zapped when two turnovers have you staring at a 14-0 deficit in the first quarter.
Hug was good, likely the most athletic team Salinas will see. But you won't win many games if you can't take care of the ball, regardless of the opponent.