If you saw the movie 8 Mile, you would have seen B Rabbit's buddy, Cheddar Bob, shoot himself with his own gun.
And while I am not surprised Plaxico was shot, I am surprised he pulled a "Cheddar Bob."
What a dope!
Somebody should rap about this.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Seperated at Birth?
If you saw the movie 8 Mile, you would have seen B Rabbit's buddy, Cheddar Bob, shoot himself with his own gun.
And while I am not surprised Plaxico was shot, I am surprised he pulled a "Cheddar Bob."
What a dope!
Somebody should rap about this.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
What a weekend!!!!
It's not over yet, but the past few days have been quite a whirlwind.
It all started on Wednesday with the Annual Night Before Thanksgiving pilgrimage to the local establishments to reunite with some old friends and listen to the great sounds of Joe and Dino.
Joe Kuckla and Dino Domiano are both OFHS grads and could usually be found playing the tunes of our lives at Dooley's on Thanksgiving Eve; at the annual Guinness Party at the Nee residence in mid summer; and now and then at GI's Bar as they will on Dec. 19.
Of course I got to sit in with J&D for my normal two song set of Mellancamp's Pink Houses and the Violent Femmes' Blister in the Sun. Don't ask me how I sounded - I don't remember.
People tell me I was good. But hey. They could just have been being nice. It is the holiday season after all.
Joe's brother Matt even got into the act - as he usually does - with his stirring renditions of Skynyrd's Simple Man and the Animal's House of the Rising Son.
The duo kicked ass as they normally do when they have not played together for a while. And it was probably a whole year since the last TG Eve when they performed for a crowd.
Thanksgiving Eve was so good, I missed most of Thanksgiving. Not dinner of course. But I slept from when I got home - passed out is more like it - at about 3 a.m. until 1 p.m. We had dinner at 1:30 p.m. and after handing out with a record crowd of 17 at 13 Lincoln Street until like 3:30 p.m. I was back to bed until like 9 p.m.
Of course all that sleep kept me awake most of the night, but I had some company with the Godfather marathon on AMC and the Rocky marathon on versus. All that rest during the day allowed me to stay awake for some great viewing in the wee hours of the morning. It was a great day and I had a lot to be thankful for.
Friday came and I was off to work for a few hours before heading home for the Backyard Brawl. I caught the first half of the game at Coaches Korner, then headed home to watch some with Dad.
As the Panthers fell behind and Matt Cavanaugh refused to give the ball to LeSean McCoy - the greatest Pitt running back since Tony D - I decided it was time to go back to work. I was detoured on the way back to Pittston to a reliable lucky spot for me and I watched the Panthers come from behind to win the game.
So back to work for a few hours I went before heading to Peckville and Jack Henzes Stadium for Riverside's Eastern Semi against Schuykill Haven.
And what a game it was!
Friday's game was possibly the best high school game I had ever witnesses. The only other game that could rival it was the Wyoming Area-Pittston Area game for the District 2 title at Scranton Memorial Stadium in 2003 which WA won on a trick play to end the game.
Back to Valley View.
In front of about 8,000 fans - the most I have seen at a HS game since that WA-PA game (which was about 10,000) - the two teams put on an offensive display that is rarely seen on the high school level.
For three quarters the two teams traded haymakers that rivaled the Rocky Balboa-Apollo Creed rematch that I had just watched hours earlier. Then in the fourth quarter both coaches made some questionable calls that left fans scratching their heads before Haven escaped with the victory.
Riverside led 14-0 when the Haven head coach - a guy who did not wear a headset, did not have a play sheet, and was never within 15 yards of the other coaches on his staff - turned to me and a reporter from the Pottsville paper and said, "not the way we wanted to start, huh?"
He was as calm as could be - and with good reason.
He had Zak Barket, a 3,800-yard rusher in his backfield.
That's right 4,100 yards. THIS YEAR!!! The kid leads the nation in rushing and was the real deal. By the way... he also has 60 TDs on the season. He is also headed to Yale or Harvard according to one of the Haven media types as the kid has like 1400+ in his boards.
Barket rallied the Canes with a big TD run to get within 14-7. The Vikes came right back to go ahead 22-7, but the Canes rallied to tie the score at 22-22.
Riverside went ahead 30-22, and Haven answered to go tie the game at 30-30. THIS WAS ALL IN THE FIRST HALF!!!
Haven opened the second half with the ball and ran off a 15-play drive to take a 37-30 lead.
The Vikes answered with a Joe Klebon touchdown - his fourth of the game - to take a 38-37 lead after the 2-point run by the senior tailback with 1:21 left in the third. But it would be Riverside's last points of the game - and more importantly, it would be the last Klebon would play on offense as he got hurt on the ensuing onside kick that he actually recovered.
Haven would stop Riverside and drive to the Vikings 9 with second and goal in the fourth quarter. The Canes decided to pass on the next two downs, with Corey Schuster picking off a third down pass at his own four to give RV the ball back.
A few plays later though, with Klebon nursing either a hip or ankle injury - there are reports of both - RV fumbled to give the ball back to Haven. The Canes capitalized and went ahead 43-38.
The Haven coach went for two instead of making the game at least a touchdown, but the Canes were stopped, giving Riverside a chance to take the lead with just a score.
The teams went back and forth with Klebon playing some defense, but not returning on offense til late in the game.
Meanwhile, Matt Talerico carried the load for the Vikes and ran the D2 champs inside the Haven 10 with less than four minutes left in the game. The senior carried about six times for about 40 yards to set up RV in the redzone.
After being stopped on second-and-2 (some reports have reported 2-and-3 and 2-and-4, but I was standing right there), the Vikes opted to throw a pass which was knocked down in the endzone. RV then inserted Klebon in the game, and the bruising tailback sprinted right before pulling up to throw a halfback option that fell incomplete on fourth down.
Haven ran some time and was forced to punt, but Barket intercepted a pass with less than 30 seconds left to preserve the victory.
Whew!!! And it wasn't even Saturday yet.... What a weekend!!!
It all started on Wednesday with the Annual Night Before Thanksgiving pilgrimage to the local establishments to reunite with some old friends and listen to the great sounds of Joe and Dino.
Joe Kuckla and Dino Domiano are both OFHS grads and could usually be found playing the tunes of our lives at Dooley's on Thanksgiving Eve; at the annual Guinness Party at the Nee residence in mid summer; and now and then at GI's Bar as they will on Dec. 19.Of course I got to sit in with J&D for my normal two song set of Mellancamp's Pink Houses and the Violent Femmes' Blister in the Sun. Don't ask me how I sounded - I don't remember.
People tell me I was good. But hey. They could just have been being nice. It is the holiday season after all.
Joe's brother Matt even got into the act - as he usually does - with his stirring renditions of Skynyrd's Simple Man and the Animal's House of the Rising Son.
The duo kicked ass as they normally do when they have not played together for a while. And it was probably a whole year since the last TG Eve when they performed for a crowd.
Thanksgiving Eve was so good, I missed most of Thanksgiving. Not dinner of course. But I slept from when I got home - passed out is more like it - at about 3 a.m. until 1 p.m. We had dinner at 1:30 p.m. and after handing out with a record crowd of 17 at 13 Lincoln Street until like 3:30 p.m. I was back to bed until like 9 p.m.
Of course all that sleep kept me awake most of the night, but I had some company with the Godfather marathon on AMC and the Rocky marathon on versus. All that rest during the day allowed me to stay awake for some great viewing in the wee hours of the morning. It was a great day and I had a lot to be thankful for.
Friday came and I was off to work for a few hours before heading home for the Backyard Brawl. I caught the first half of the game at Coaches Korner, then headed home to watch some with Dad.As the Panthers fell behind and Matt Cavanaugh refused to give the ball to LeSean McCoy - the greatest Pitt running back since Tony D - I decided it was time to go back to work. I was detoured on the way back to Pittston to a reliable lucky spot for me and I watched the Panthers come from behind to win the game.
So back to work for a few hours I went before heading to Peckville and Jack Henzes Stadium for Riverside's Eastern Semi against Schuykill Haven.
And what a game it was!
Friday's game was possibly the best high school game I had ever witnesses. The only other game that could rival it was the Wyoming Area-Pittston Area game for the District 2 title at Scranton Memorial Stadium in 2003 which WA won on a trick play to end the game.
Back to Valley View.
In front of about 8,000 fans - the most I have seen at a HS game since that WA-PA game (which was about 10,000) - the two teams put on an offensive display that is rarely seen on the high school level.
For three quarters the two teams traded haymakers that rivaled the Rocky Balboa-Apollo Creed rematch that I had just watched hours earlier. Then in the fourth quarter both coaches made some questionable calls that left fans scratching their heads before Haven escaped with the victory.
Riverside led 14-0 when the Haven head coach - a guy who did not wear a headset, did not have a play sheet, and was never within 15 yards of the other coaches on his staff - turned to me and a reporter from the Pottsville paper and said, "not the way we wanted to start, huh?"
He was as calm as could be - and with good reason.
He had Zak Barket, a 3,800-yard rusher in his backfield.
That's right 4,100 yards. THIS YEAR!!! The kid leads the nation in rushing and was the real deal. By the way... he also has 60 TDs on the season. He is also headed to Yale or Harvard according to one of the Haven media types as the kid has like 1400+ in his boards.
Barket rallied the Canes with a big TD run to get within 14-7. The Vikes came right back to go ahead 22-7, but the Canes rallied to tie the score at 22-22.
Riverside went ahead 30-22, and Haven answered to go tie the game at 30-30. THIS WAS ALL IN THE FIRST HALF!!!
Haven opened the second half with the ball and ran off a 15-play drive to take a 37-30 lead.
The Vikes answered with a Joe Klebon touchdown - his fourth of the game - to take a 38-37 lead after the 2-point run by the senior tailback with 1:21 left in the third. But it would be Riverside's last points of the game - and more importantly, it would be the last Klebon would play on offense as he got hurt on the ensuing onside kick that he actually recovered.
Haven would stop Riverside and drive to the Vikings 9 with second and goal in the fourth quarter. The Canes decided to pass on the next two downs, with Corey Schuster picking off a third down pass at his own four to give RV the ball back.
A few plays later though, with Klebon nursing either a hip or ankle injury - there are reports of both - RV fumbled to give the ball back to Haven. The Canes capitalized and went ahead 43-38.
The Haven coach went for two instead of making the game at least a touchdown, but the Canes were stopped, giving Riverside a chance to take the lead with just a score.
The teams went back and forth with Klebon playing some defense, but not returning on offense til late in the game.
Meanwhile, Matt Talerico carried the load for the Vikes and ran the D2 champs inside the Haven 10 with less than four minutes left in the game. The senior carried about six times for about 40 yards to set up RV in the redzone.
After being stopped on second-and-2 (some reports have reported 2-and-3 and 2-and-4, but I was standing right there), the Vikes opted to throw a pass which was knocked down in the endzone. RV then inserted Klebon in the game, and the bruising tailback sprinted right before pulling up to throw a halfback option that fell incomplete on fourth down.
Haven ran some time and was forced to punt, but Barket intercepted a pass with less than 30 seconds left to preserve the victory.
Whew!!! And it wasn't even Saturday yet.... What a weekend!!!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Thankful.....
Ok. Let me start by saying Happy Thanksgiving.
Secondly, I offer apologies to the lack of OF stuff here. I was chastized early this morning by a former player of mine - one of my favorite former players - who lives out of town and keeps up to date with the Blue Devils partially through the blog.
This curly-haired legend - not Chris Jones - will remain nameless. But he is well on his way to becoming someone with some major clout in the world of sports.
So from now on, while I will still give you all the Springsteen news, I will gear more to the Blue and Gold.
Starting now....
Congrats to our Scranton Times All-Regional selection this year... Anthony Pero. If you didn't get to watch Pero play the past two years than you missed out on some of the best football play from a linebacker the Blue Devils have seen this decade.
Pero definitely rivaled his cousin Chris Donati in the middle the past two years, recording 290 tackles in his two seasons in the lineup.
He should have been All-Regional last season, but some how got screwed.
Speaking of screwed, Old Forge defensive back Dustin Slack got t
he screws put to him on the All-Regional team after interception a possible school-record eight passes this year. In his first season as a starter, the senior safety made some great picks this season.
Plus, Slack is a Steelers fan and made one of the more memorable quotes since I have been convering the Blue Devils when he told me after the Trail game that, "Even though they are a bad team, it was a great win for us. It's kind of like beating the Browns."
Right now, it is still the quote of the year.
Basketball season has begun and the Blue Devils are in the midst of starting a new. The current team will be a work in progress for the first month or so as Coach Al Semenza looks for a rotation of players to keep the Blue Devils at the level of play we have been accustomed to.
There have already been setbacks to the starting lineup as Corey Hodick suffered a knee injury in the last game of the football season. Right now it looks like Matt Rava and Anthony Koulavongsa are the only solid starters at this point. Gabe Wilson, Matt Mischello, Mike MaMa Avvisato, Tony Goodall, Mario Martinelli, and Ryan Janesko are the others in the mix for starting spots right now.
We will find out more as we go. Looks like Hodick could be back for next weekend, but I am sure things will be taken cautiously.
First basketball game is next Saturday as the Badger Tourney opens up with a game against Wyoming Area.
Stay tuned for more.....
Secondly, I offer apologies to the lack of OF stuff here. I was chastized early this morning by a former player of mine - one of my favorite former players - who lives out of town and keeps up to date with the Blue Devils partially through the blog.
This curly-haired legend - not Chris Jones - will remain nameless. But he is well on his way to becoming someone with some major clout in the world of sports.
So from now on, while I will still give you all the Springsteen news, I will gear more to the Blue and Gold.
Starting now....
Congrats to our Scranton Times All-Regional selection this year... Anthony Pero. If you didn't get to watch Pero play the past two years than you missed out on some of the best football play from a linebacker the Blue Devils have seen this decade.
Pero definitely rivaled his cousin Chris Donati in the middle the past two years, recording 290 tackles in his two seasons in the lineup.
He should have been All-Regional last season, but some how got screwed.
Speaking of screwed, Old Forge defensive back Dustin Slack got t
he screws put to him on the All-Regional team after interception a possible school-record eight passes this year. In his first season as a starter, the senior safety made some great picks this season.Plus, Slack is a Steelers fan and made one of the more memorable quotes since I have been convering the Blue Devils when he told me after the Trail game that, "Even though they are a bad team, it was a great win for us. It's kind of like beating the Browns."
Right now, it is still the quote of the year.
Basketball season has begun and the Blue Devils are in the midst of starting a new. The current team will be a work in progress for the first month or so as Coach Al Semenza looks for a rotation of players to keep the Blue Devils at the level of play we have been accustomed to.
There have already been setbacks to the starting lineup as Corey Hodick suffered a knee injury in the last game of the football season. Right now it looks like Matt Rava and Anthony Koulavongsa are the only solid starters at this point. Gabe Wilson, Matt Mischello, Mike MaMa Avvisato, Tony Goodall, Mario Martinelli, and Ryan Janesko are the others in the mix for starting spots right now.
We will find out more as we go. Looks like Hodick could be back for next weekend, but I am sure things will be taken cautiously.
First basketball game is next Saturday as the Badger Tourney opens up with a game against Wyoming Area.
Stay tuned for more.....
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Almost Christmas
Okay... So its not Christmas just yet. But here is a take on the Christmas Classic, Christmas Vacation...
Almost Christmas
Okay... So its not Christmas just yet. But here is a take on the Christmas Classic, Christmas Vacation...
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Working on a Dream...
Here is a offering of the studio version of Bruce's new song, Working on a Dream.
The Boss will release his new E-Street album a week before the Super Bowl in 2009.
The Boss will release his new E-Street album a week before the Super Bowl in 2009.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
How the Blue Devils can win the D2 title
Blogger's Note: This was my column that appeared in last week's Sunday Dispatch (www.psdispatch.com). I have received a few compliments on it (pat-pat on back), so I thought I would share it with the Blogging World. Enjoy!
I know. Just by reading the headline, you now know for sure that I am certifiably nuts.
And it might actually be so. But as a community sports writer, I need to find the positive in everything in covering Old Forge. So, here is my take on how the Blue Devils – a 42-6 loser to start the season to the arch-rival Vikes – can beat Riverside next Friday night for the District 2 Title.
DO NOT KICK TO KLEBON! If that statement isn’t obvious, I don’t know what else would be. But it wasn’t obvious to Dunmore last week. And as I stood on the sideline in disbelief, the senior stud tailback took the opening kickoff 95 yards to paydirt as the house erupted and totally deflated the previously undefeated Bucks. Squib kick, pooch kick, onside kick. It doesn’t matter where Riverside gets the ball, they can score from anywhere at anytime. Just don’t let them deflate you immediately after a score with a run back.
KEEP THE BALL AWAY FROM THE VIKES OFFENSE… I know that is easier said than done, but ball control is a must. Just like you wouldn’t kickoff to Joe Klebon, you must keep the ball out of not only his hands on offense, but also Riverside’s other playmakers: Jay Velehoski, Matt and Corey Talerico, Ryan Chisdock, Kevin Sochovka and Corey Schuster. That means hand the ball to Brian Morris, Jon Kaville, Jim Tagliaferri, Anthony Pero and whoever else, 50 to 60 times. If Old Forge must pass, throw the pigskin short and in the middle of the field. Keep the clock ticking, and don’t give Riverside’s athletes any chance to jump the routes or their pass rushers extra time to get to Corey Hodick. And you know what else? Don’t punt on fourth down. Go for it no matter where you are. Again, Riverside can score from 80 yards on one play or 20 yards on one play. Run the clock.
WHEN THE VIKES HAVE THE BALL… Pray. And make them earn every yard. So that means Old Forge is going to have to pick their poison. Either stack up against the run with 8 and 9 guys in the box or gamble with multiple DBs to try and stop the pass. Personally, I am stacking up against the run. Clogging holes. Getting as many hats on Klebon and Talerico. And pressuring Velehoski when he drops back to pass. That is going to put a lot of pressure on DBs Bob Vieira, Dustin Slack, Brian Morris and Gabe Wilson, but it needs to be done. If you zone up with them, they are going to run by you. If you are going to get beat, it might as well be man-for-man. Remember one other thing Old Forge DBs, pass interference is only a 15-yard penalty. So if you are beat deep with the ball in the air, start grabbing and tackling. No big plays! That is our mantra. Put more guys in the box and make them block 7 or 8 with five or six guys. Get to the QB faster than he could dump the ball to either Talerico or Klebon and you have a chance. Otherwise, go back to praying.
NO BIG PLAYS, NO TURNOVERS, NO PENALTIES…. You need to play the perfect game. That doesn’t mean executing every offensive or defensive snap to perfection, but it does mean no big plays, no turnovers and especially, no penalties. Riverside is extremely talented and diverse already. Do not give them any advantage by allowing a big play, or coughing up the football, or getting a personal foul penalty on a big third down play.
PLAY EVERY PLAY AS IF IT IS YOUR LAST… Because you know what Blue Devils, it is. This group of seniors have won 25 games in three years for Old Forge, and if they want to win No. 26, they have to play at a high level of intensity for the entire game. The Vikes may be more talented, but if the Blue Devils can play more inspired, more desperate, more heart-filled football, that can win you a game when the team across from you isn’t expecting it and is looking ahead – which Riverside is most definitely doing.
Well those are my five keys to beating the Vikes.
Call me crazy. Call me irrational. Call me biased. Call me stupid.
Just don’t call me late for dinner. A dinner you will owe me when the Blue Devils pull off the biggest upset in the history of this rivalry.
Old Forge 28, Riverside 27
I know. Just by reading the headline, you now know for sure that I am certifiably nuts.
And it might actually be so. But as a community sports writer, I need to find the positive in everything in covering Old Forge. So, here is my take on how the Blue Devils – a 42-6 loser to start the season to the arch-rival Vikes – can beat Riverside next Friday night for the District 2 Title.
DO NOT KICK TO KLEBON! If that statement isn’t obvious, I don’t know what else would be. But it wasn’t obvious to Dunmore last week. And as I stood on the sideline in disbelief, the senior stud tailback took the opening kickoff 95 yards to paydirt as the house erupted and totally deflated the previously undefeated Bucks. Squib kick, pooch kick, onside kick. It doesn’t matter where Riverside gets the ball, they can score from anywhere at anytime. Just don’t let them deflate you immediately after a score with a run back.
KEEP THE BALL AWAY FROM THE VIKES OFFENSE… I know that is easier said than done, but ball control is a must. Just like you wouldn’t kickoff to Joe Klebon, you must keep the ball out of not only his hands on offense, but also Riverside’s other playmakers: Jay Velehoski, Matt and Corey Talerico, Ryan Chisdock, Kevin Sochovka and Corey Schuster. That means hand the ball to Brian Morris, Jon Kaville, Jim Tagliaferri, Anthony Pero and whoever else, 50 to 60 times. If Old Forge must pass, throw the pigskin short and in the middle of the field. Keep the clock ticking, and don’t give Riverside’s athletes any chance to jump the routes or their pass rushers extra time to get to Corey Hodick. And you know what else? Don’t punt on fourth down. Go for it no matter where you are. Again, Riverside can score from 80 yards on one play or 20 yards on one play. Run the clock.
WHEN THE VIKES HAVE THE BALL… Pray. And make them earn every yard. So that means Old Forge is going to have to pick their poison. Either stack up against the run with 8 and 9 guys in the box or gamble with multiple DBs to try and stop the pass. Personally, I am stacking up against the run. Clogging holes. Getting as many hats on Klebon and Talerico. And pressuring Velehoski when he drops back to pass. That is going to put a lot of pressure on DBs Bob Vieira, Dustin Slack, Brian Morris and Gabe Wilson, but it needs to be done. If you zone up with them, they are going to run by you. If you are going to get beat, it might as well be man-for-man. Remember one other thing Old Forge DBs, pass interference is only a 15-yard penalty. So if you are beat deep with the ball in the air, start grabbing and tackling. No big plays! That is our mantra. Put more guys in the box and make them block 7 or 8 with five or six guys. Get to the QB faster than he could dump the ball to either Talerico or Klebon and you have a chance. Otherwise, go back to praying.
NO BIG PLAYS, NO TURNOVERS, NO PENALTIES…. You need to play the perfect game. That doesn’t mean executing every offensive or defensive snap to perfection, but it does mean no big plays, no turnovers and especially, no penalties. Riverside is extremely talented and diverse already. Do not give them any advantage by allowing a big play, or coughing up the football, or getting a personal foul penalty on a big third down play.
PLAY EVERY PLAY AS IF IT IS YOUR LAST… Because you know what Blue Devils, it is. This group of seniors have won 25 games in three years for Old Forge, and if they want to win No. 26, they have to play at a high level of intensity for the entire game. The Vikes may be more talented, but if the Blue Devils can play more inspired, more desperate, more heart-filled football, that can win you a game when the team across from you isn’t expecting it and is looking ahead – which Riverside is most definitely doing.
Well those are my five keys to beating the Vikes.
Call me crazy. Call me irrational. Call me biased. Call me stupid.
Just don’t call me late for dinner. A dinner you will owe me when the Blue Devils pull off the biggest upset in the history of this rivalry.
Old Forge 28, Riverside 27
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
The Great British Poets
From the movie Bye Bye Love... a very underrated movie starring Matthew Modine, this is a cover of a Beatles song by Ben Taylor, son of legendary muscians James Taylor and Carly Simon. Enjoy!
Check it out...
The Godfather of Old Forge tshirts has given us another work of art to purchase.
Check here for this year's hot Pizza TShirt... http://oldforgepizza.blogspot.com/
Check here for this year's hot Pizza TShirt... http://oldforgepizza.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
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