Straight from the Sports Desk

Home Run Derby 101

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:39:50 -0800

So, the Humboldt Crabs are hosting a home run derby on Sunday after their game against lowly Nevada Bighorns. And naturally, I decided I should go out and show everyone that I'm even more lowly than the Bighorns by entering the Derby. I hope this isn't going to turn out as bad as I'm thinking.

Gildeas' lives being made into a movie

Sat, 03 Jul 2010 22:50:44 -0800

Ever wondered if your life was interesting enough to be made into a movie? Figuring that movie studios probably don't want to make a not-funny version of Office Space, most of us will not get that chance. For Isaac Gildea and his father Frank, however, they will.

Maualuga sticking to his story

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 19:21:26 -0800

In one of the more hotly rumored, um rumors floating around Humboldt County, Eureka High grad and current Cincinnati Bengal Rey Maualuga tweeted today that he is 132 days sober, despite rumors that he's fallen off the wagon.

I'm going to play, and beat Pebble Beach

Thu, 06 May 2010 23:16:22 -0800

I am playing Pebble Beach on Monday. And I'm hardly smiling about it.

St. Mary's/Mack tidbits

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:03:00 -0800

Just a few random tidbits regarding the CIF D-IV NorCal Basketball Championship game between McKinleyville and St. Mary's.

T-Minus 5 hours

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 11:58:11 -0800

I'm in Placerville now, hanging out with the in-laws and waiting for the CIF NorCal Basketball Championships to start at 5 p.m. I will try to update this blog with game scores/highlights as frequently as I can. I'm also taking photos as well, so updates may not be as regular. I will have a first-half summary at halftime.

Upon further review: From HSU to the 49ers and Raiders, a few quick hits

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:16:59 -0800

After three days of contemplating whether Rob Smith made the right call in Humboldt State’s 17-16 loss to Western Oregon University on Saturday, I haven’t changed my mind.

One writer's 2008 H-DNC all-league football team

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 01:06:47 -0800

Now that the NFL Super Bowl approaches — which means that the 2008-09 football season is running out of time — here is my view on a 2008 H-DNC all-league football team.
First of all, my selections reflect my own opinions and don’t pretend to represent the entire sports desk at The Times-Standard. I have chosen these players based upon the 20 prep games that I observed this season, as well as discussions with other sports writers, media and coaches.
There are three significant differences between the “official” H-DN selections previously released and my team: the number of “all-league” players, an “honorable mention” category, and Most Valuable Players.
The H-DN listed a total of 85 players — 41 players from the Big 4 (20 all-league, 21 honorable mention) and 44 players from the Little 5 (22 all-league, 22 honorable mention) — on its two all-league teams.
By contrast, the “Tarpey team,” that combines the Big 4 with the Little 5, has only 24 players.
I do not have an “honorable mention” category because I think that each kid who suits up and takes the field earns that title.
And, this is definitely a team, so I have no MVPs.
Although several of my nominations typically played both ways, I have put them at only one spot, with the exception of two players who also appear on the four-man “special teams” unit.
Finally, in retrospect I think that The Times-Standard’s three-person sports desk did a very good job in our weekly predictions of win-loss results for the 66 games involving H-DNC teams. Although our predictions were not always popular with some coaches, parents and players, we were correct 74 percent of the time.
Ray finished 46-20 (.696), Sean ended up at 49-17 (.742) and I came in at 52-14 (.787).
Without further ado, here is Tarpey’s 2008 H-DNC all-league football team:

Offense
QB Chris Pender, McKinleyville Jr. (6-2)
RB Jourdan Del Biaggio, Ferndale Sr. (6-1, 190)
RB Brad Cobb, Fortuna, Sr. (6-0, 175)
WR Cody Hoffman, Del Norte Sr. (6-3)
WR Greg Allen, Eureka Sr. (6-2, 170)
TE Jesse Slade, Ferndale Sr. (6-2, 200)
OT Dustin Walters, Ferndale Jr. (6-4, 285)
OT Isaac Ranstead, Hoopa Sr. (6-0, 270)
C Troy Pooley, Fortuna Sr. (6-4, 300)
OG Gunnar Wise, Eureka Sr. (5-10, 225)
OG Cory Hebard, South Fork Sr. (5-10, 235)

(N.B.— I opted to move Slade from WR to TE)

Defense
DE Silas Sarvinski, Ferndale Jr. (6-0, 230)
DE Brett Whitchurch, Fortuna Sr. (6-3, 200)
DT Oliver Rayl, Ferndale Sr. (5-9, 225)
DT Dallas Mohorovich, Eureka Jr. (6-2, 260)
LB Tim Couch, Arcata Sr. (6-2, 200)
LB Soma Vainuku, Eureka Jr. (6-1, 260)
LB Donald Cain, McKinleyville Sr. (N/A)
LB Austin Clary, South Fork Sr. (5-10,175)
CB Trevor Hash, Eureka Sr. (6-3, 180)
CB Jimmie Griggs, Ferndale Sr. (5-9, 165)
FS Andrew Ayers, St. Bernard’s Sr. (6-1, 170)

(N.B.— I opted to have a 4-4 with only three DBs)

Special Teams
Punter Andrew Ayers, St. Bernard’s Sr. (6-1, 170)
Kicker Kyle Matyshock, Ferndale Sr. (6-0, 175)
Returner Cody Hoffman, Del Norte Sr. (6-3)
Player Khan Johnston, South Fork Sr. (5-8, 160)

Coaches
Rookie Jeremy Waldrip, St. Bernard’s
Coach of the Year Mike Benbow, Fortuna
Emeritus Kim Jorgensen, Ferndale

No. 1 Spot Up For Grabs

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 22:26:53 -0800

When all is said and done, there probably will be a new No. 1 team in the Times-Standard H-DN prep football power rankings when they are released next week.

Oakland's Version of Dumb and Dumber

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:27:04 -0800

Just read the Oakland Tribune's Jerry McDonald's latest blog and it's really disheartening.

It's about Kiffin and the defense. And guess what?

He has no say in what the Raiders do defensively.

Surprised?

I'm not.

Just as expected, right?

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:02:07 -0800

Anyone that knows me knows I'm a Raider fan. They also know I was telling them that Oakland was about to get embarrassed on national TV. And tada! They were on Monday night.

Baby steps, right Kiffin?

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 12:54:16 -0800

For a while there, it looked like JaMarcus Russell was once again going to be held on a very short and tight leash.

Taking on the Tennessee Titans on Friday night in the second preseason game of the young season, the Raiders' quarterback threw dump offs and a simple slant route to start off the contest.

It looked like Russell was bound to another lackluster performance --- i.e. the one he had against the 49ers a week earlier.

However, head coach Lane Kiffin opened up the playbook a little bit more.

There's Just One Thing ...

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 12:45:35 -0800

... About being a sports editor and designing pages while watching the Olympics.

You usually find out who won a highly anticipated event before they appear on "live" television.

Going through the Associated Press wire looking for the daily Olympic Roundup on Friday night, the result for the men's 100-meter Butterfly was posted as urgent/breaking news.

And tada!

Michael Phelps wins again -- barely.

Simply Amazing

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:32:28 -0800

U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps is just that ... simply amazing.

Passing ... Gas

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 23:28:52 -0800

The Raiders appear ... keyword ... appear ready to take on the regular season with a running attack that should feature three running backs: Justin Fargas, Darren McFadden and Michael Bush.

But what about the air attack?

It might have been the initial foray into the 2008 year, but what Oakland showed against the 49ers last Thursday isn't going to cut it.

Legs can take you only so far. The Raiders are also going to have to rely on quarterback JaMarcus Russell's arm.