Sports Beat column - September 7, 2007

Sports Beat
September 7, 2007

Sports Beat by Bill McCaffrey

Maryland will go 2-0 this week with a rout of F.I.U. whichappears to be playing in slaughterhouse alley. The Terps go to 2-0 even though the quarterback guru, Ralph Friedgen is on the prowl in College Park . Speaking of Friedgen he and Keith Cavanaugh have a great book out â¤¦My Way, Football and Life Lessons with Maryland Coach Ralph Friedgenâ¤? published by Rick Snider and Terrapin State Publishing, P.O. Box 983, Bel Air, MD 21014. I will be discussing the book with Rick on my P.G.C.T.V. show this coming week and I will have a complete review of this book in an upcoming column. The Terps host the roaring West Virginia Mountaineers September 13, Towson travels to Massachuetts on September 15th and Navy plays another cream puff on the 15th hosting Ball State . James Madison hosts VMI and Virginia Tech hosts Ohio on the 15th. Most quarterbacks have some smarts but Maryland's Josh Portis cheated on a pop quiz. What kind of dummy is Maryland recruiting? Sean Schaefer threw for over 300 yards to lead Towson to a 20-10 win over Central Connecticut State . Chad Simpson ran for 142 yards to help Morgan bomb Savannah State 47-7. Charlie Weis started the wrong QB, then got smashed by Georgia Tech 33-3.

Other scores:
McDaniel                       45                     Bridgewater                            19
West Virginia                 62                     Western Michigan                  24 Wyoming                      23                     Virginia                                     3
Appalachian State          34                     Michigan                                 32
Boston College              38                     Wake Forest                           28 Maryland                       31                     Villanova                                 14 UCF                              25                     NC State                                  23
Air Force                       34                     South Carolina State                 3
Michigan State              55                     UAB                                        18
Virginia Tech                 17                     East Carolina                           7
John Hopkins                17                     Hamden-Sydney                    16 Salisbury                       42                     Albright                                   12

DEMATHA LOSES

DeMatha clashed with the big guys, nationally ranked St. Francis Xavier of Cinn and came away a 28-7 loser.

Other High School scores:
Theordore Roosevelt       8                      Carroll                           8
Ballou                             14                     Bishop McNamara        7
Bishop Ireton                   7                      O'Connell                      0
Loyola Blakefield           58                     Gonzaga                       14
Altoona (PA)                  35                     St. Johns (DC)             20
Coolidge                         34                     Parkersburg So. 24
Tech (DC)                      12                     Cardozo                        7
Curley                            21                     Riverdale Baptist            7
Good Counsel                42                     Cardinal Gibbons          0

One of the great high school basketball coaches in DC, Bob Dwyer, passed away last week at the age of 91. He coached those great John Carroll teams that won 55 straight (1958-60) and coached good teams at Priory which became St. Anselmâ¤s before and after Carroll. When I was at Bell we played one of his Priory teams that featured an outstanding player in Jerry Eckholm (later a DC fire captain).

REDSKINS, RAVENS OPEN SEASON

Both teams watched TV and saw the Indianapolis Colts destroy the myth that the Colts were sliding downhill when they completely demolished the New Orleans Saints sending an alert around the NFL warning other teams that the Colts would be trying to ride over them and that Peyton Manning is a super quarterback. I see only the New England Patriots as the only roadblock to them. This week the Redskins host an improved Miami Dolphin team. The Ravens had a dismal exhibition season but hey the Redskins once were 6-0 in those practice games then went 3-9 in regular season play. The Ravens play at Cincinnati on Monday night, oh you mean Iâ¤ll have to watch a Baltimore Block shill doing MNF announcing oh well its no wonder MNF has slipped so far down the list. Kyle Boller gets another year. When is the NFL going to make teams start charging half price tickets for those practice games are put them on the road to places like Norfolk, Louisville, Portland, San Antonio, Las Vegas, Columbus, etc. or foreign countries? Look for the Ravens to win their division and the Redskins to be the anchor team in theirs.

Terp Women's Basketball Will host USA National Team For an Exhibition
US Team kicks off college tour at Comcast Center

Maryland women's basketball fans will have one more thing to look forward to in 2007-08. In preparation for the upcoming season, the Terps will host the U.S. Women's National Team on Wednesday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. General admission tickets for the game are on sale now at the Terrapin Ticket Office located at Comcast Center . "Playing the U.S. National Team will be a real treat for all of us," said Maryland head coach Brenda Frese. "I know some of our players have looked at some of the USA Basketball players as role models while growing up. To step on the court and compete against them will be awesome. You can't ask for better a preseason preparation than going against one of the world's very best teams."

The USA tips off its 2007 College Tour in College Park , in what is the first of an eight-game schedule. The 12-member 2007 USA College Tour team will be comprised of members of the 2007-08 USA Basketball Women's Senior National Team, a 22-player player pool. The pool of players includes eight Olympic gold medalists, five World Championship gold medalists and all 12 members of the 2006 USA World Championship team. Among the possible players who will play in College Park in a red, white and blue uniform are local fan favorites Alana Beard and DeLisha Milton-Jones from the WNBA's Washington Mystics, as well as, Olympic gold medalists Sheryl Swoopes, Katie Smith, Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Tamika Catchings, Diana Taurasi and Tina Thompson. The 12-member team will be announced at a later date.

The US squad will continue its tour on Nov. 2 at Connecticut, Nov. 4 at Tennessee, Nov. 6 at Baylor, Nov. 8 at Arizona State, Nov. 11 at Texas A&M, before wrapping up in California for games against USC on Nov. 13 and Stanford on Nov. 15. The team will use the eight-game schedule to prepare for the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship, slated for Sept. 25-29 in Valdivia , Chile . The winner will receive a berth into the 2008 Olympics in Beijing , China . The other teams competing at the Americas Championship are Argentina , Brazil , Canada , Chile , Cuba , Jamaica and Mexico . To purchase tickets for the exhibition game, call the ticket office at 1-800-IM-A-TERP or go online to purchase at www.umterps.com. Maryland tips off its regular season hosting Princeton on Friday, Nov. 9 in the first round of the Preseason WNIT. Season tickets are still on sale at the Terrapin Ticket Office. Single-game tickets will go on sale on Oct. 12.

USA Field Hockey Hosts Japan in College Park
US National Team will play five-game series in College Park

The U.S. Field Hockey Women's National Team will host a five-game series against Olympic-bound Japan Oct. 7-13 at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex on the campus of the University of Maryland . It is the second time in as many years the Terps will host an international competition on campus. "These international matches bring such hockey exposure to the Baltimore/D.C. area," said Maryland head coach Missy Meharg, who is in her 20th season with the Terps. "The opportunity to combine international matches with NCAA games is critical as we strive to close the gap between the two. The matches are scheduled for Oct. 7, 8, 10, 12 and 13. The October 4 game is scheduled for 4 p.m. , with the other dates slated for 7 p.m. The Oct. 7 and 12 matches will be played as part of a doubleheader with the Terps, as Maryland takes on Boston University on Oct. 7 at 2 p.m. and Old Dominion on Oct. 12 at 5 p.m. The series marks a return of international field hockey to the Maryland campus after last year's Four Nation Tournament, which featured top international teams in Argentina , the Netherlands and Australia . The Americans made history at the Terps' home field, defeating the No. 2-ranked Argentina , 2-1, the first victory over the Argentines since 1990. The games will also mark a homecoming for USA team members Dina Rizzo, Lauren Powley, Sara Silvetti and Keli Smith, who were All-Americans as Terps.

Current Terrapin freshman Katie O'Donnell has been a veteran of the national team since she was 16. In one of international field hockey's newest and most competitive rivalries, the two teams have met 16 times since 2000, including a 1-0 Japan win n the 5th/6th place game at the 2006 World Cup and an epic USA victory in penalty strokes in the 9th/10th place game at the 2002 World Cup. Japan has already qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games, while the series will serve as a prelude to the USA 's build up for their Olympic Qualifying Tournament in April 2008. The USA will be assigned to one of three Olympic Qualifiers and will need to win the six-team tournament to earn a spot in the Olympic Games in Beijing , China . Maryland was also chosen site for the 2007 NCAA Field Hockey Championships on Nov. 16 and 18. The national semifinals are scheduled for 5 and 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 16, with the 2007 national champion being crowned on Sunday, Nov. 18 at noon . It is the first time the event has been hosted in the state of Maryland . Tickets for the NCAA Championship can be purchased through the Terrapin Ticket Office, by calling 1-800-IM-A-TERP or by visiting www.umterps.com. For more information on the USA series against Japan , visit www.usfieldhockey.com.

Katie O'Donnell Named ACC Field Hockey Player of the Week
O'Donnell leads the ACC in goals, assists and points

The top-ranked University of Maryland field hockey team earned three straight wins last week, thanks in large part, to the play of rookie forward Katie O'Donnell, who was selected the ACC's Player of the Week, the conference announced on Tuesday. O'Donnell, a freshman amassed five goals and three assists for the Terps, who went 3-0 last week. One of the five tallies included the game-winning shot to topple 12th-ranked Michigan in overtime on Sunday, Sept. 2. Earlier in the week, O'Donnell scored two goals and dished an assist in each of Maryland 's wins over Northwestern, 6-0, and No. 6 Old Dominion, 4-1. O'Donnell has now scored at least one goal in each of the Terps' first four games, accumulating seven goals, five assists and 19 points, leading the ACC in each of those categories. Maryland is the top-ranked team in the nation, according to the first regular-season poll of the season, released by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association. The Terps, who are 4-0 on the season, were ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll. All six ACC teams are ranked in the top 20. North Carolina is No. 2 and is also undefeated (4-0), followed by fifth-ranked Wake Forest (1-2), No. 8 Duke (2-2), No. 13 Boston College (3-1) and No. 14 Virginia (1-2).

Terp Field Hockey Edges No. 12 Michigan 3-2 in Overtime
O'Donnell and Muracco score for the fourth-straight game

The No. 1 Maryland field hockey team toppled Big Ten opponent and 12th-ranked Michigan , 3-2, in overtime in the Terps' first home game of the season. Maryland remained undefeated on the season, improving to 4-0, while the Wolverines fell to 1-3. Sophomore All-American Nicole Muracco scored Maryland 's first two goals in a span of less than two minutes, her fourth-straight game with at least a goal. Freshman Katie O'Donnell fed a pass to Muracco who scored with 22:37 elapsed. At 24:06, Muracco flipped a shot around Michigan goalkeeper Paige Pickett off of an assist by junior Sarah Scholl to put the Terps up 2-0. The tables turned in the second half as the Michigan defense held Maryland scoreless in the second 35 minutes. Meanwhile, Heather Wiley and Kelly Fitzpatrick knocked goals in for the Wolverines to even the score. Wiley put her team on the board 14 minutes into the second half off of a pass from Paige Laytos, followed by Fitzpatrick who tapped in an unassisted tally off her own rebounded shot with eight minutes to spare in regulation. In the overtime period, the teams battled for nearly six and a half minutes before O'Donnell scored on a penalty corner to clinch the victory for the Terps. The goal was her seventh on the season and has netted at least a goal in each of the Terps' first four games. Junior Susie Rowe earned the assist on the play. The Terps outcornered the Wolverines in the game 5-4, though neither team converted until O'Donnell's game-winning shot. The Terps also outshot their opponents by an astounding 29-13 margin. Most notably, Maryland got off seven shots to Michigan 's zero in the overtime period. In the cage for Maryland was senior Kathryn Masson who saved seven, while Michigan 's Pickett contributed 12 saves in the full-game effort.

Top-Ranked Field Hockey Routs No. 6 Old Dominion
O'Donnell and Muracco score for the third-straight game

Two-time NCAA Champion Maryland took care of business for the third-straight game. The top-ranked Terps scored twice in the first half and four in the game to easily defeat sixth-ranked Old Dominion, 4-1, in Norfolk , Va. , on Friday evening. Old Dominion (0-2) is the first team to score on the Terps, doing so in the second half in the 48th minute of the game. Other than that, however, it was all Maryland , who remained undefeated at 3-0. Maryland led 2-0 at the half. The Terps struck early for their first goal of the game. Freshman Katie O'Donnell fed the ball from the top of the circle to sophomore All-American Nicole Muracco nearly five minutes into the contest, giving Maryland a 1-0 lead. O'Donnell would score the Terps' second goal in the 22nd minute of action. Junior All-American Susie Rowe had a high pass that hit the crossbar of the ODU cage, causing the ball to drop in front of the goal. O'Donnell was positioned perfectly to tap the ball into the open net. ODU's Jo Ann van Aswegen scored the Lady Monarchs' lone goal off a penalty corner. Teammate Titia Beek received the ball from van Aswegen on the push out and passed it right back, finding the gap in the cage just over 22 minutes into the second half. The goal cut Maryland 's lead to 2-1. But the Terrapins responded, scoring twice in the game's final eight minutes. O'Donnell added her second tally of the evening, collecting a rebound off her own shot and fired off another to score a goal. Sophomore Ameliet Rischen added an insurance tally four minutes later. O'Donnell and Muracco have scored goals in Maryland 's three games, while O'Donnell has tallied two goals and collected at least one assist in each of the games, as well. Maryland outshot Old Dominion, 16-4, and outcornered ODU, 6-2. The Terps and ODU will meet again later in the season. Old Dominion will visit College Park on Friday, Oct. 12.

#1 Maryland (3-0) 2 2 - 4
#6 Old Dominion (0-2) 0 1 - 1

GOALS: MD, Nicole Muracco (O'Donnell), 4:59; Katie O'Donnell (un), 22;03; Katie O'Donnell (un), 61:20; Ameliet Rischen (un), 65:54. ODU, Jo Ann van Aswegen (Titia Beek), 47:49. SHOTS: MD 16, ODU 4. PENALTY CORNERS: MD 6, ODU 2. SAVES: MD, Kathryn Masson 2 (1 GA, 70:00); ODU, Kelly Driscoll 6 (4 GA, 70:00). ATTENDANCE: 334.

WE GET LETTERS

Bill, I seem to recall a story about Montana ballplayer Herbie Plews, while with the Washington Senators, having been charged with several errors on one ball in play. Do you have details concerning this happening? It would be most appreciated. I met Herb at the reunion of the Senators held years ago in Dundalk, Baltimore . He lives in Color ado now. I think his father worked as a letter carrier in East Helena . He is mentioned on a sign which stands in the city park, East Helena . I'd be glad to send you a picture of the sign, if you'd like. BTW, after he sold the Twins, I used to see Calvin Griffith at Kendrick Legion Field in Helena where he had a box to watch the Helena Brewers of the Pioneer League play. Interestingly, in John Kerr's biography Calvin: Baseball's Last Dinosaur, it is reported that Clark was for a time a Montana rancher. Others with a Montana connection are Austin Kearns and pitcher Bennie Daniels. Both played minor league ball in Billings with the Mustangs, also of the Pioneer League. Appreciate any light you might be able to shed regarding the play involving Plews and his several errors. Thanks. Jim Sites Billings, Montana

Bill, This is a great source of information. How did you get started and how long have you been putting this out? Gary A. Johnson, Fonder & Publisher Black Men in America.com Premier Online Magazine for Black Men (and Women)

Bill, Great stuff and all true. Did you know Itchy Prender? He caught the winning TD pass from Ralph Sita in 51 to beat St. John's 6-0 for the city championship. I knew him all my life and he was a real nut character, too funny. Anyway, he passed away last month in Vegas. He was barred in every tavern in DC and MD but ours. John

Dear John, Itchy was a Damon Runyon legend. Bill

Hey Folks; Here is our schedule for September. Hope to see you there:
Friday, Sept. 7 - 8:30 - midnight, Backroom @ the Woodfire Restaurant, Severna Park, 410-315-8100, http://www.woodfirebackroom.com/backroom.html
Saturday, Sept. 8 - 11AM-3PM, Brits by the Bay Car Show, Down Park, Anne Arundel County http://www.aacounty.org/RecParks/parks/downs_park/
Friday, Sept. 21 - 9-1, The Stil on York Road , Timonium , MD , 410-560-7900, http://thestill.net/

See you at the bar; Steve Ports, David Bell, Don Wimbrough

Guys, You are the greatest. Bill

SPORTS NOTES

AUDITIONS & CASTING CALL: I am currently looking for actors/actresses, singers and other talents, for upcoming stageplay scheduled for production on Sept 29, 2007 . We are currently looking for actors/actresses for current film project, currently in production. Casting call for: Upcoming Movie, Stageplay and Talent Showcase (8 males, 7 females) Looking For: Actors, Actresses, Models, Singers, Dancers, Rappers, Poets, Comedians. Casting for Stageplay "What are Friends For" By: Bruce Odams If interested please email me your Resume or Bio and Picture by email ASAP. Email: bruceodams@hotmail.com Bruce: 240-417-2017

Our deepest sympathy and condolences go to Lewis Riley on the death of his daughter Patti. Lew is the former Secretary of the Maryland Department of Agriculture in Annapolis . He also is a former Delegate and State Senator. Also our sympathy goes to the families of Shelley Graham â¤¦Aflyaâ¤? Green Burke (Anacostia HS grad) and Joseph Charles Drew (Dunbar HS grad and former AF Lt. Colonel) both who passed this past week.

Our sympathy also goes to the family of Jack Molesworth. When I was in the House of Delegates Jack Molesworth and the late Jack Williard had me introduce (along with Delegate Mike Sprague and then Delegate Frank Shore) legislation that eventually led to a split of Physical Ed and HS athletics in Maryland and Molesworth became the first executive director of the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association, later he was the head football coach of then Western Maryland College.

When the great D.C. athlete from Western HS Jimmy Wexler, was toiling in the minor leagues of baseball he struck out three future major leaguers, who all three would pull off one of the toughest feats to achieve in majors â¤³ hitting for the cycle they were Lou Clinton at Bluefield, Johnny Callison at Bakersfield, and Jim Hickman at Decatur. April Brooks is the new assistant special agent in charge of the FBI's Baltimore office. She has been in the Baltimore office since 2003. Look-a-Likes â¤³ Rowan Atkinson and S.T., thanks N.A.

I think the Governor should look to House Ways and Means Chairwoman Sheila Hixson on his supposed finance crisis. Sheila does a great job. Congratulations to State Senator Ed Kasermeyer on his promotion to Vice Chairman of the State Senate Budget & Tax Committee, he's a part of that outstanding Jimmy Malone â¤³ Steve Duboy and Sam Moxeley Baltimore County team.

Make sure your car headlights are on during the day of September 11, remember on 9-11 letâ¤s show our respect for our men and women of the Armed Forces everywhere.

Look-a-likes â¤³ Michael Sarbanes and the DC 15th Street ledgendary Donnie Herman. I wonder where Audrey Bauserman, Linda Gerick, Charlie Folk, Faye Dement, Tony Marchetti, Joan O'Rourke, Ann Morningstar Jones, Patsy Sharp, Sandy Baker, Judy Hurst, Billy Crabb, Terry Curtin and Mary Theresa Kearney and the â¤¦Waldorf Redheadâ¤? are today? Who remembers the â¤¦Headquartersâ¤? in Mount Pleasant? The â¤¦Crosstownâ¤? also in Mount Pleasant ? Both in NW DC. What's Candy Cage doing these days?

Look for Miguel Tejada to be traded. I don't hear anything about how good Dave Trembley is as a major league manager anymore. Just ask Jim Palmer about how the team played in this past Thursday's loss to the Red Sox. Guilford quarterback John Vogelbach threw 8 TD passes in Guilford's 70-26 win over Southern Virginia , he also totaled 417 yards passing. The 8 TD passes was a new conference record. Thanks for the information John L. Mayhe. Fridge is looking in the wrong place for QBs. Jimmy Wexler feels Jack George is the best athlete to come out of DC in the 1940-50 era. George was a great one!

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