Redirds are good, Sampson is bad - IHSA is both
February 26th, 2008, 9:45 am · Post a Comment · posted by phayes
Here’s my weekly intallment of Good Sports and Bad Sports. Take a read and then let me know your picks.
GOOD SPORTS
1 & 2. Mike Waldo and Layne Bennett: These two high school basketball coaches show how to do it the right way - and with class. Edwardsville’s Waldo and Bennett of Alton have guided their teams through a dramatic season and have their teams set for Showdown III this Friday - providing they each make it that far.
3. Andy Schranck: The Marquette Catholic High School senior brought back two medals from the past weekend’s IHSA Boys State Swim Meet in Evanston. Not bad for a guy from a part of the state that doesn’t have real high school swim teams.
4. The Alton High boys basketball team: I just have to revisit this topic. Alton’s never-say-die attitude helped keep it in the game last Friday against rival Edwardsville and the Redbirds won on Ruben Cotto’s 3-pointer. If these teams meet Friday, look for another classic. It’s March Madness in February.
5. The IHSA: Even though the Illinois High School Association is often frustrating and at times mind-boggling with its decisions, it’s still light years better than the Missouri State High School Activities Association.
BAD SPORTS
1. Kelvin Sampson: This cheater finally got the axe at Indiana - and landed softly with the helped of golden parachute. Don’t feel too sorry for this guy - you probably won’t find him waiting in line for free cheese at the Salvation Army.
2. The ESPN college basketball analysts: These guys - many of them former coaches, mind you - made it sound like Sampson was somehow the victim and that he was wronged by IU. Pucker up, boys.
3. Tony La Russa: After being a Good Guy last week, ol’ Tony gets a spot on the dark side after we learned that he honestly thought Barry Bonds would be a good fit with the Cardinals. And then we find out he still doesn’t believe Mark McGwire used steroids. Is this guy KIDDING?
4. The IHSA: Our friends in Bloomington find a spot on both lists this week for their class work. All these basketball classes are confusing and diluting - and now we find out they’ll start wth three-class soccer next season. The way it is now, there aren’t even enough soccer-playing schools in the state for two classes, let alone three. Amazing - they obviousy don’t talk to coaches around the state before making these decisions.
5. Floyd Irons & the MSHSAA: Sorry, but one week on the Bad Sports list wasn’t enough for Coach Cheater. He’s close to earning a permanent spot here. The MSHSAA supposedly oversees high schools in that state. But the more we hear about the Hill brothers/Vashon case the more it’s obvious the MSHSAA cowtowed to Irons. If he had been coaching in Illinois, he would have been nailed years ago.
Those are my picks. Let’s hear from you …
