U-32/Hazen boys, the day after

For those who didn't read Tuesday's Times Argus, the Hazen boys narrowly defeated U-32 last night in East Montpelier in what was one of this week's most-anticipated basketball matchups. 

I did not go to this game, but I was curious to hear all about it because I enjoy watching both teams and was hoping to get to cover the game myself. I didn't get to, and that's more than fine, but I have two reactions to the post-game thoughts of other people. Understand, as I do, that I did not talk to these people directly - this is just my reaction to the he-said, she-said of high school sports.

1. Blaming officials for a loss.

If you read the comments under the story on the paper's Web site, www.timesargus.com, it appears as though one, albeit annonymous, fan thinks the calls were biased. Maybe they were, but that's not the point. Sure, officials make bad calls. But the officials do not put the ball in the hoop, the puck in the net, the ball over the fence, the ball into the endzone - or not do those things, as the case may sometimes be. Sometimes calls come at key points in the game, but leading up to and after that call, the officials are not the ones playing the game, are not the ones winning or losing the game. Athletics is one of the many times in life when people are able - and forced - to take immediate responsibility for their actions, often in front of large groups of people. The pressure is enormous, but what happens is squarely the responsibility of the athletes. The officials are just there to enforce rules.

2. The fine line between too much activity in multi-sport athletes.

Apparently there was another sporting event the day before Monday's basketball game, and to protect the identities of the involved parties, I won't let on what the other sport was or who was complaining, but apparently a player or two may have been tired from participating in another sporting event the day before the big game, and I had heard that it may have made them too tired to be 100% effective on game night. Are kids involved in too much? If they play more than one sport, where should their allegiance be when the sports overlap?

-Anna Grearson

Watch Will Voigt and the Jam on TV this weekend

The NBA's Development League signed a TV contract with Versus this season, which means select D-League games will be televised. This Saturday, former Vermont Frost Heaves head coach Will Voigt, the new coach of the Bakersfield Jam, will play at the Idaho Stampede, and that game will be on Versus (Channel 24 in Barre) at 11 p.m. ET.

The Jam won 1 of 2 games this past weekend but are still 5-19 and at the bottom of the NBADL standings.

-Anna Grearson

Oxbow Thinks Pink, too

Many teams around Vermont, both at the high school and college levels, have participated in the Think Pink initiative to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer. Oxbow will participate for the second straight year this upcoming week. The Olympian girls basketball teams will host a Pink Zone event next Thursday, Jan. 28 when they take on U-32. 

Here's more of the release from Oxbow AD Rich Thornton, who added more information about the event and its history.

"On Thursday, January 28, 2010, the Oxbow High School Junior Varsity and Varsity teams will participate in the WBCA's PinkZone initiative for their second consecutive year. To do their part in raising breast cancer awareness and show their support for this worthy cause, the girls will wear pink breast cancer t-shirts during warm-ups as well as pink shoelaces for their games against U-32.  According to Oxbow Athletic Director Rich Thornton, “This is a tremendous way for the girls to bring a national initiative to Oxbow. It allows our basketball community to raise awareness and contribute to the fight against breast cancer.” Last year's PinkZone day at Oxbow was very successful. Through the generous donations of all those who attended and participated, Oxbow was able to make a $700 donation to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund and it is hoped that this year, that donation amount can be met, if not raised!

 

The Women's Basketball Coaches Association PinkZone initiative started in 2007 as an effort to unite basketball programs across the country in raising breast cancer awareness on the court and in communities everywhere. The WBCA's breast cancer awareness initiative was inspired by Kay Yow, former women's basketball coach at North Carolina State for 34 years and a founding member of the WBCA. Yow past away last year on January 24, 2009 after battling breast cancer for over 20 years. “Participating in the PinkZone gives our girls the great opportunity to pay tribute to Kay Yow, a pioneer in women's basketball who helped shape what the game is today,” said Thornton. All ticket sales and donations from Saturday's game will benefit the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund which raises money for scientific research, assisting the underserved, and unifying people for a common cause.

 

The JV game starts at 6:00 and the Varsity game starts at 7:30. All fans are encouraged to wear pink to the games. Breast cancer ribbons will be available for all fans and donations will be accepted at the door. If you would like more information about this event, please contact Oxbow Athletic Director Rich Thornton at (802) 222-5214, ext. 158."

-Anna Grearson

I admit it, I am excited about a Millrat signing

I make no apologies and fully admit my love of UMass men's basketball. They are the reason I love sports - Marcus Camby and that whole crew back in the early '90s can be directly blamed for the person I am today.

Needless to say, I was really excited when Anthony Anderson originally signed with the Manchester Millrats, and then when he decided to come back this year, I was secretly super pumped. Well, Millrat GM Ian McCarthy must really know how to make my day, because he added former Minuteman Luke Bonner to the Millrat roster last week. Yes, I totally know he did this just for me. (Totally kidding, I don't even think Ian knows how much of a UMass fan I am).

Bonner is the younger brother of Matt Bonner, who plays for the NBA's San Antonio Spurs. (Anthony Anderson is the older brother of Antonio Anderson, who also plays in the NBA, I think for Orlando? Antonio was a standout at Memphis, also with Coach John Calipari, who coached UMass back when Camby was there. Of course, that didn't eventually turn out so well, but we won't go there.)

Anyway, Luke and Matt Bonner are native New Hampshire-ites, which is obviously a great addition for Manchester. The fact that Luke is 7'1" doesn't hurt, either. Luke had a hilariously insightful and entertaining blog on the UMass athletics Web site while he was there - perhaps it will make a return for his days as a Millrat??

More from the press release announcing Luke Bonner:

"Bonner, the younger brother of San Antonio Spurs forward Matt Bonner, played his high school ball at Trinity High School in Concord.  In college, he played one season at West Virginia before transferring to Massachusetts (Amherst).  

His collegiate career as a Minuteman was highlighted by a trip to the NCAA Elite Eight in 2005, and reaching the finals of the NIT Tournament in 2008.  During his senior season, Bonner posted averages of 6.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.

Bonner played overseas this season for Albacomp-UPC Szekesfehervar in the first division in Hungary.  Over 6 games, he averaged 9.8 points, 3.8 rebounds per game on 50% field goal shooting."

Vermont plays Manchester at home in Barre on Feb. 2. Hopefully Luke is still with Manchester, and hopefully Vermont gets a win between now and then. The Frost Heaves are at Oklahoma next Thursday the 28th and at Maryland on Saturday the 30th. Maryland just fired its coach - former Millrat coach Rob Spon - earlier this week after the team started the season 1-4. Vermont is currently 0-3.

-Anna Grearson

Meet the Frost Heaves at First in Fitness

The Vermont Frost Heaves official training center this season is the First in Fitness facility in Berlin, and the team will host a meet-and-greet there this Saturday afternoon.

First in Fitness' Mike Woodfield emailed the Times Argus and said the event will take place from 12-2 p.m. Saturday and is open to the public.

The team regularly works with trainer Mike Rossi on everything from strength and conditioning to aquatics and yoga, all at the Berlin facility.

The team continues to be on the road this month but will return home early in February.

-Anna Grearson

Red Sox coming to Vermont, sorta

In cleaning out some e-mail, I found a couple to pass along to you all.

"The Boston Red Sox organization will visit South Burlington's University Mall on Saturday, January 23 from 11:00am - 3:00pm during their 2010 Red Sox Roadtrip.  The group making stops on the Red Sox Road Trip will include Wally the Green Monster, the 2004 and 2007 Red Sox World Series Trophy, and Fenway Ambassadors.  The Ambassadors will give away pocket schedules, collectibles, and vouchers, distributed on a first come first served basis, valid for the guaranteed purchase of two Red Sox 2010 regular season tickets.  They will also bring with them several interactive displays for fans, such as a speed pitch or a batting cage.  Fans will also have the opportunity to sign up for Red Sox Nation, the official fan club of the Boston Red Sox.

As an added bonus, University Mall will register fans for three pairs of Red Sox tickets, including weekend getaways, to be given away at their "Men's Night" event on Friday, February 12 during their 98.9 WOKO live remote."

See, spring can't be too far off!

-Anna Grearson

Keep Thinking Pink

The U-32, Montpelier, Harwood and Spaulding girls winter teams - basketball, hockey, gymnastics, cheerleading, etc. - have all been donning pink jerseys, headbands, shoelaces, socks and specially designed pink t-shirts over the last week and into this week as part of the national Think Pink breast cancer awareness initiative. These kids should all be commended for their efforts to raise money for prevention, treatment and research for such a devastating illness. 

Of course, it also begs the question: Why just now? And why just breast cancer? The answer lies in the question - constantly think of ways to educate yourself, your friends and family, your teammates, your coaches, anyone important in your life about cancer of any kind, and support those going through it. Support the patient and their families, their caregivers. Support not only the big cancer centers and associations, but the smaller programs out there for people suffering with the disease - home health, VNA, and others. 

Yes, Think Pink. But Think Yellow, Green, Purple, Red, Blue and Orange, too. Thank you to everyone who has supported and will support this incredibly important awareness event in any way you can. It's so good to see our local athletes getting involved in something bigger than they are and really making a difference. Congratulations, and keep it up!

--Anna Grearson

Welcome back, self

Oh my, it's been almost a month since I posted something on here. My apologies to my loyal fans.

A lot has happened in the last month, and I guess my New Years resolution should be to be more active with this blog. The newest On Deck-related news is that my weekly column that appears in print on Mondays has recently made its radio debut. The last two weeks I've been talking with Tom Corbett on WSKI's The Rundown about the week ahead and the week just passed in high school sports. I think it'll be a regular thing - Mondays on 1240 AM for about 10 minutes in the 4:00 hour.

So listen in, friends!

-Anna Grearson