Sports Beat column - March 24, 2006

Sports Beat
March 24, 2006

McCaffrey's World by Bill McCaffrey

Hasim â¤¦Has Beenâ Rahman had to rally in the closing rounds to gain a draw with James â¤¦Rubber Tubeâ¤? Toney in their 12 round WBC Championship fight.

The Heavyweight division is terrible and this fight did nothing to dispel that. Toney looked like he had a rubber tire innertube around his belly and where this fight was not the snore type fights that the Rahman vs. Ruiz fights were it was close.

Also how can one judge give it to Rahman 117-111 while the other two called it 114-114 and those two had Toney ahead by one point going into the last round. Rahman has dumped Don King in favor of Bob Arum. Donâ¤t forget Bob Magruderâ¤s Golden Glove fights at the Greater Waldorf Jaycees on March 24 and 31st.

Also Dee Lees promotions on March 31st at the Lancaster Host Resort and Conference Center with the main event pitting Albert Savtiago and Clarence â¤¦Sonny Bonoâ¤? Taylor. Other bouts on the card: Israel Cresop vs. Travis Kauffman, Doel Carraquil take on Edward Dalez. Parvel â¤¦The Raging Bullâ¤? Wolak battling Chuck Orson, William Gill vs. Aneuil Santos and Kevin Hood trading punches with Wayne Hampton. For information call 856-692-1206.

Bernard Hopkins says he will call it a career after his June 10th fight at Atlantic Cityâ¤s Boardwalk Hall for the IBO light heavyweight championship on HBO pay for view.

Regular readers know my favorite mystery writer is George Pelecanos but I have a new one thatâ¤s coming close and thatâ¤s A.T. Nicholas from the Annapolis area.

Nicholas has a great one out now â¤¦The Reflection of EVILâ¤?. Itâ¤s a red hot one and a smash hit. Also Nicholas wrote â¤¦The Fist of Godâ¤? which also has been a top one. You can get a copy by calling Xlibris Corporation at 1-888-795-4274 or on the web at www.xlibris.com.

Remember the name A.T. Nicholas as his is on the road to fame!

Frese Finalist for Naismith Women's Coach of the Year Award
Fourth-year Terrapin mentor among four finalists for prestigious award.

Maryland head coach Brenda Frese is among four finalists named for the Naismith Award Women's Coach of the Year, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today. Frese, who is in her fourth season at the Terrapin helm, has guided the third-ranked and second-seeded Terps to its first Sweet 16 appearance since 1992.

Also named a finalists along with Frese are LSU's Pokey Chatman, Ohio State's Jim Foster and North Carolina's Sylvia Hatchell, making up the final ballot. The Naismith Award is the most prestigious national award presented annually to the men's and women's college basketball coaches of the year.

Finalists were chosen through a vote by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, who narrowed the mid-season list of 20 candidates down to the final four. The Board, which is comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country, based its criteria on coaching performances this season. The Women's College Coach of the Year Award winner will be named at the Naismith Awards banquet April 7 in Atlanta.

Frese has accomplished something no other coach has done this season, handing North Carolina its only loss, a 98-95 overtime triumph at Chapel Hill, N.C. The third-ranked Terrapins, who went 12-2 in the competitive Atlantic Coast Conference, also defeated then-No. 2 Duke in the semifinals of the ACC tournament and picked up its school-record 30th win of the season with an NCAA Tournament second-round victory over St. John's, 81-74, on Sunday. The Terps are making their third-consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament under Frese, the first time Maryland has done that since 1991-93. Maryland's No. 2 seed is the program's highest since 1992 and a considerable improvement from their No. 7 seed in 2005.

For more information, visit www.naismithawards.com.

ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB

The Atlanta Tipoff Club, an Atlanta Sports Council property, is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club has presented the Naismith Trophy since UCLA's Lew Alcindor first won the award in 1969. In 1987, Indiana's Bob Knight became the first men's college coach to win the Award. The Naismith Awards program has become an emblem of excellence for the game, recognizing the men's and women's college players, coaches and officials of the year, and the male and female high school players of the year.

Maryland Cruises Past Sacred Heart 95-54
Terps post biggest NCAA Tournament win in school history.

Maryland led Sacred Heart from the opening tip, dominated the paint and had too much talent for the Pioneers.

Just what you'd expect from a No. 2 seed in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

The Terrapins, bypassed for a top seed when the tournament matchups were announced last week despite a No. 3 national ranking, pulled away in the second half of a 95-54 rout of 15th-seeded Sacred Heart on Sunday.

"Yeah, they're a national contender. I mean, there's not many weaknesses on there," Sacred Heart coach Ed Swanson said. "They play like a hungry team."

Jade Perry led Maryland with 20 points and 10 rebounds and Laura Harper added 16 points and 13 boards. The Terps outrebounded the Pioneers 57-26, and outscored Sacred Heart in the paint 56-14.

"We wanted to come out and bring some energy on the defensive end by coming out in the press," Maryland coach Brenda Frese said. "We were able to get some turnovers early. We also had the size advantage inside."

Maryland was so dominant that even seldom-used reserves like Angel Ross, who had seen action in just 12 games coming into the contest, played eight minutes.

"Obviously to get that kind of quality rest is huge, especially with the turnaround," Frese said.

The Terps will face St. John's, seeded seventh in the Albuquerque Region, in the second round on Tuesday.

Maryland has had an impressive run already this year, defeating top-ranked North Carolina and No. 4 Duke. But the Terps had to settle for a No. 2 seed for the tourney, something that Frese expressed some displeasure about after the brackets were announced last week. The Terps have stuck with a "happy-to-be-here" attitude while in State College. On Sunday, they let their play do the talking.

"It definitely gets us in the flow," guard Kristi Toliver said. "We got that first day out of the way and we are ready to keep moving on."

The loss ended Sacred Heart's 10-game winning streak. After winning the Northeast Conference to secure the school's first NCAA tournament bid, Swanson knew his team would be decided underdogs against Maryland.

Swanson will still go home a happy man anyway after his wife gave birth last week to the couple's first child - 6-pound, 1-ounce Connor John Swanson - the day after he found out that his team would be playing the Terps.

Amanda Pape, the Northeast Conference's player of the year, led Sacred Heart with 16 points but shot just 5-of-16 from the field. Pape hit a one-handed 3-pointer just before the halftime buzzer expired that got the Pioneers to within 47-33, pumping her fist and slapping a low-five with teammate as they headed to the locker room with big grins.

The pesky Pioneers had whittled down a 20-point lead to the 14-point halftime deficit, raising hopes among their vocal contingent of fans who shouted "S-H-U!" during the game.

Toliver ended any thoughts of a second-half comeback after hitting a 3-pointer to start the half. Shay Doron hit an acrobatic layup, falling down as the ball swished through the net with 14:22 left to give the Terps a 66-35 lead.

"I tell the kids all the time not to look up at the scoreboard, just to compete and play," Swanson said. "I don't think the score is indicative of how we played or how we competed."

Doron added 17 points for Maryland, while Nicole Rubino had 10 points for Sacred Heart.

Postgame Notes: Maryland 95, Sacred Heart 54
Game notes following the Terps' NCAA Tournament first-round game.

o Maryland advances to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year with its 95-54 victory over Sacred Heart. The last time the Terrapins made it to the second round for three straight years was from 1988-1990.
o Maryland's Crystal Langhorne made her 33rd start of the season, breaking a school record.
o Maryland posted its 29th win of the season, tying a school record.
o Maryland's 41-point margin of victory is the largest in the program's history in an NCAA Tournament game. Its 95 points are the team's most ever in an NCAA Tournament game.
o Maryland's Kristi Toliver recorded a career-high 12 assists in the victory.
o Laura Harper, a Terrapin forward, recorded the fifth double-double of the season and eighth of her career with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
o Maryland's Crystal Langhorne scored 15 points, her 19th straight double-digit game.
o Shay Doron led the Terrapins with 17 points, including three 3-pointers. o Northeast Conference Player of the Year Amanda Pape led Sacred Heart with 16 points for her 23rd straight double-digit game.
o Sacred Heart gave up 95 points to Maryland, the most the Pioneers have allowed all season. In their second game the Lady Terps had a great battle with St. Johns before prevailing 81-74 to move to the â¤¦Sweet Sixteenâ¤?. Crystal Langhorne hit for 30 points for the winners, Shay Doron was held to nine points by the â¤¦Red Stormâ¤?.

SABR

The Connie Mack Chapter of SABR, centered in Philadelphia, is holding its annual regional meeting on May 6 and has extended an invitation of the members of the Bob Davids chapter.

When: Saturday, May 6, 2006 Registration: 9-10 AM Meeting: 10-4:30 PM Lunch: 12:30 PM

Where: Citizens Bank Park

Who: Player guests to be announced How much: $22 per SABR member or member's guest (covers continental breakfast; luncheon, incidentals, and pro-rata share of luncheons for special guests such as ex-players).

How: Make checks or money orders payable to SABR BASEBALL REUNION and send to Joe McGillen, 2838 Woodbridge Road, Philadelphia, PA 19114. Receipt deadline is April 28, but PLEASE, help us meet our advance guarantees and payment deadline by reserving SOONER than later! PLEASE! RIGHT NOW, IF POSSIBLE!

What else: Phillies vs. San Francisco Giants at 7:05 PM on the 75th birthday of Willie Mays. Tickets can be purchased by adding $18 per person to registration

Research Presentations: If you wish to make a 10-minute talk, notify Joe McGillen of your topic. If more requests are received than time permits, the committee reserves the right to determine which will be given. A digital projector and screen will be available but bring your presentation on a CD or flash drive. If you wish to distribute handouts, we suggest you bring a quantity of at least 100.

Further Information:
Contact Joe Dittmar 610-584-5988, dittmarj@comcast.net
or Joe McGillen 215-698-0476, JMcG2838@aol.com

Response Coupon is below. If you plan to attend, please complete and mail PROMPTLY, enclosing appropriate check or money order to Joe McGillen (address above).

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(print this and return with your remittance)

NAME ______________________________________________
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Coffee, tea, juice & Danish will be served in the morning; then later a ballpark lunch including burgers, hot dogs, pasta salad, soft pretzels, soda and ice cream novelties. I also wish to make a 10-minute talk.
My topic will be: _________________________________________
$______ I will attend ($22) & bring _____ (number) guests (x $22). *
$______ I'd also like ____ (number) game tickets at $18/each.
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Signed _________________________________________________
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Please identify guests for nametags

WE GET LETTERS
Hello D.C. Divas Friends & Fans,

There is nothing quite like the moment you first step outside in March. We've had our first day of hitting â¤³ a session that was brief though productive. As the 4 final weeks of preseason wind down, these sessions will intensify and elongate. Bruises will go deeper, grass stains will grow darker, and slowly the rookies will learn that football is all about contact. To be successful you must have an earnest desire to make contact first, often, and be in proper position. Our staff takes extra precautions to ensure the safety of our players and opponents.

When teaching contact, we emphasize speed, drive, finish and safety. In my view you can never take enough time to teach technique properly. At this point in the season we will be talking about it every day and getting high repetition in order for the movements, and the act of tackling/blocking, to become second nature.

We are growing in depth on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. The coaching staff is very impressed with some of our recent acquisitions. On defense we have made some position changes, hoping to increase speed and agility there. On offense we have made similar changes with an emphasis on speed and overall quickness. On offense, rookie wide-outs Courtney Robinson and Stephanie Hill are looking to gain serious playing time in April. Lauren Pruitt has also become a welcome addition to our fullback core. On defense, rookie defensive back and Gallaudet University student Katie Romano has impressed since tryouts. Also look for Nikkita Hubbard, rookie on the defensive line, to be jockeying for a starting position.

We also have been fortunate to add veterans from other teams around the country. Among them Doria Thomas, Monica Hockay, Trigger McNair, and Rachelle Pecovsky have increased our athleticism and all are fighting for starting positions in the upcoming weeks. Rachelle Pecovsky I remember fondly from epic battles with the Philadelphia Phoenix over the years. She is a fierce competitor, exceptional athlete, tremendous teammate, and hard worker in practice. Everything that defines a DC Diva is there. We are expecting some exciting play from her this year.

Quarterback Allyson Hamlin is working on the timing with her largely inexperienced receiver squad and it looks like it is paying off. Veteran Wide-outs Nikki Williams and Tara Kallal have been instrumental in bringing that core along. On defense, Ivy Tillman is leading her squad and with veteran backup from Raynette Savoy, Vickie Lucas, Allison Fischer, and Tessa Nelson. I am expecting to see great improvement soon.

Practice attendance is still high (higher now since we are outside), and morale is good. The players are certainly more focused now. Each practice we talk about how much time until the first game and what that game means to the organization, the coaches, the players, and the fans. There aren't many words to say to the veterans, as they get excited whenever they see Baltimore on the schedule. But for the rookies it's going to be hard having Baltimore as their very first game. Because the rivalry runs so deep, the game takes on a life of its own. You have to be ready to bring it! Every thing you have - physically and emotionally. I can guarantee you that Coach Mobley is going to have his team prepared to do so. I am counting on our coaching staff and veteran leadership to do the same. Ezra Cooper, Head Coach Washington DC Divas

Coach,
Good report! Go Divas Go!
Bill

Hi Bobby, yes, our Bill is a young thing, ha, and cannot leave his mother. (remember the kids song - "oh where have you been, Billy boy, Billy boy, oh where have you been charming Billy") I remember the Times Herald, we got it in the morning and the Star in the evening, hence the Evening Star. I remember your dad worked for the paper and my mother worked in the stock ticker room in the late 40 or early 50s, and I worked in that room when I was 14 on Saturdays to help pay for my dance lessons. Our distant cousin Randolph (Randy) Routt was a photographer for the Star and my picture was in the paper as one of the "Office Pinups" of the week, and still have that photo. Will bring it up next visit. Do you remember Cecile and Carol Brie who lived next door to me?

Cecile and I took dance lessons together, your sister Barbara and I did Camp Fire Girls and our First Holy Communion and Confirmations together at Nativity Church. Remember Father Norris? Cecile and I did our stint as "newspaper girls" for the Daily News for a time around our neighborhood. Did not get rich, but we were conscientious and took our responsibility seriously. Wish I could have been up there for the luncheon, sure do miss all of my friends there. Hey, Bobby, would you please tell our Bill either to reveal the name of the "Mystery One" he mentions in his column or give up that ship please.

Love the March madness. We are rooting for the UConn women, of course, because my daughter played basketball in high school and is going to Yale in the fall so will be living in New Haven, Connecticut. Hope our Maryland women will go to the championship, that would be so awesome. Love to both of my guys, Dale Bill Dale and I talk all the time, we just don't let you in on everything. Uncle Billy's- North Beach, that's to easy for us old people Washington Times-Hearld You must be young, my Father wrote for the Washington Times a morning paper before it was combined with the Washington Hearld the afternoon paper. The Times-Hearld was publislhed both in the morning and afternoon. I only know this because I'm OLDER than you.

Hey! Thanks for the invite to the last luncheon, that was a great time. Really enjoyed Chuck Hinton and his wife, what nice people. Just saw some great basketball at the ACC tournament. BOB

Dale/Bob, You folks keep everything from me but hey Bob do not tell Dale who â¤¦Mystery Oneâ¤? is, you are one of the few that know. Bill Bill, Thanks for the column, my hometown connection. Lady Terps looking great, hope they go to the championship.

Donnie Neuenberger definitely started off his 2006 season in Daytona for the Busch series race by showing some drivers how to just drive your car with your God given talent, stick to the rules, mind your own business and finish 17 positions ahead of your starting one. That's showing your class Donnie!!! And mom Joann Atkins should be very, very proud! Think John Linthicum (EHS class of 53), all high star athlete, should have been designated an honorary Rooseveltite a long time ago, but it is not too late for that. How about it Rough Riders? God bless you and yours, Dale P.S. has anyone collected the reward yet for locating the ever evasive Jack Pitt? Dale, John is now a made Rooseveltite. Bill

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MARYLAND ATATE HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS
Boys                                                    Girls
4A        Walt Whitman                         4A        Eleanor Roosevelt
3A        Long Reach                             3A        River Hill
2A        Randallstown                           2A        Middletown
1A        Dunbar                                    1A        Catocin

Steve Correll is the new head volleyball coach at Leonardtown.

Our deepest sympathy goes to the family of Jim Bernard (AHS 52) who passed away on March 15th at the age of 71.

Also our sympathy goes to the family of Walter Neitzy who passed away at age 90 on March 17th. He worked for the C&P Telephone company for 32 years and was active in the Civil Air Patrol and the Telephone Pioneers of America.

Will Lawrence (CH Flowers) will play his college football at Boise State.

For information on the Washington National Fan Club contact Colin Mills, President of the Natâ¤s Fan Club at natsfans@yahoo.com.

Hey, in case I forget you can catch us on www.mccaffreysworld.com

Bob Huggins is the new menâ¤s basketball coach at Kansas State.

High Pointâ¤s Clay Norse will play his college football at Illinois and his teammate Howard Abegesah at VMI.

Ann Calvello known as Roller Derbyâ¤s â¤¦Demon of the Derbyâ¤? passed away at age 71 on March 14th. Our deepest sympathy is extended to her family.

I hear Roller Derby could be headed to the Baltimore/Washington area.

My favorite artist Jeremiah Stemmer has a viewing of his paintings at the Arts Program Galley at the University of Maryland University College. For information call 301-985-7037. Go by and see some of the great works by Jeremiah Stemmer, youâ¤ll be impressed.

Former Oriole Sidney Ponson has made the St. Louis Cardinals starting rotation.

Our deepest sympathy goes to the family of Dudley â¤¦Sonnyâ¤? Vaughan who passed away at age 80. He retired from Bell Atlantic in 1985. He started as a cable splicer with C&P and ended his career in management.

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