November 2008 - Posts

not Chicago Sports But...
17 November 08 05:37 AM | SarahN | with no comments

For those of you who don’t know the Muskegon Big Reds you probably also don’t know that they are on one of the “winningest” high school football teams of all time, named to Sports Illustrated's “Best in State” and just played a game this past weekend that was touted as the #1 high school game of the week in the nation. 

I understood the tradition of Big Red football early on.  Although I didn’t attend MHS my parents did, my grandparents did as did the majority of my closest friends growing up.   By junior high I not only knew the words to On Muskegon but also Red and White and their Alma Mater.

A side note, but a vivid memory for me is the Big Red Marching Band, and THE BEST part is at the end of every home game when everyone runs into the tunnel under the home seats of the stadium.   You try your best to become part of the stadium walls because if you aren’t part of that wall you will get hit by a collection of wind instruments.  Excitement builds, then you hear it…that distinct drum line cadence.  The adrenaline pumps as it gets louder and louder and begins to echo off of the cold cement walls.  In no way does YouTube do it justice, but THIS is what I’m talking about!

I remember watching in person the as the Big Reds won the state championship in 1986 and 1989 at the Pontiac Silverdome (yes, some Michigan teams actually do win football games in Detroit.)  Marcus Longmire, Willie Wilson, Elan Banks...yeah, there was an Elan Banks who played on a state champion team and now his son is the QB for the very same team two decades later.   Coming home for Thanksgiving over the years I was happily surprised to see the Big Reds in contention for another state title in 2006 and although I wasn’t able to make the trek to Ford Field I watched them win it on TV.

Saturday, November 15, 2008, Opening Day of Deer Season in Michigan but it was also open season on the Lowell Red Devils.  The Massey Nationally Rated #2 Lowell Red Devils. "USA Today"'s #8 team in the Midwest Lowell Red Devils.

A crowd of nearly 8,500 gathered for the Michigan Division 2 Regional Final.  It’s  a day with dropping temps, a steady and constant and cold north wind (chills in the low 30s),  rain and snowish mix with the sun peaking out here and there to tease you--there was even a rainbow.  The game was played on a somewhat neutral site at Grand Haven High School--really not in the middle of the two schools, it’s much closer to Muskegon who was supposed to host the game but because of Muskegon's field being in such poor condition-- thanks to bad weather--the switch was made because Grand Haven's turf field was in much better shape. 

Many were saying that THIS game was the state championship.  It was #1 vs #2.  They just happened to be from the same region and had to meet this past weekend instead of at Ford Field on Thanksgiving Weekend.

The Big Reds scored on their first 6 possesions and ended up with 526 total yardage (429 of those yards were in 41 carries).  This game had it all, interceptions, quarterback sneak into the end zone and Jason Hannett…all I can say is WOW!   The senior running back had 193 yards and 16 carries, QB Elan Banks was 6 for 6 and threw for 97 yards, by half time the score was 34-7.  Most of the game was played with a running clock (high school mercy rule).  It was utter domination, offensively and defensively.  I'm honestly still rubbing my eyes.  It was crazy!

So it's onto East Lansing where the Big Reds will play the semi-final game at Spartan Stadium this Saturday. Go get 'em guys!!!!

(Note, I believe there are 13 high school football teams in Muskegon County...5 of them are headed to the semi-finals this weekend, not bad for a county of approx. 175,000.)

Update from Nov. 22: with a come from behind win, the Big Reds are headed to the Michigan State Championship!

So Long Swish. Dirty Thirty, We Hardly Knew Thee
15 November 08 11:47 AM | SarahN | with no comments

I feel like commenting on next season is like commenting on a meal without having eaten it and without even seeing the menu.  This time of year (between now and Spring Training and Spring Training and regular season) typically makes me nuts.  Not because I can’t see the whole picture but because others don’t realize they can’t see the whole picture and shoot their mouths off—and some shouldn’t even be allowed to comment even after seeing the whole picture.  That being said, here are my thoughts on the Swisher trade.

In a nutshell, I wish he would have produced more.

I remember never being happy when he walked up to the plate at Comiskey when he was wearing green so I was happy when I heard he was coming to the South Side.  He did a lot for the community.  I appreciate his positive energy.  He was fun to watch off the field.  He was only hitting .219.  This should probably be “enough said” but since this is not a text message I’ll elaborate.   

I’m sure he needed some adjustment time, however, baseball is a long season so I’m wondering how long a pro needs for adequate adjustment time?  I do, however, think it’s kind of unfair to judge his adjustment time since he came from a place where he was the starting first baseman (had only played for that team) in a different market.  In Chicago not only did he find himself in a new clubhouse but he was plugged in here and there and never was played in one particular spot.  That’s probably fine if you are used to being a utility guy but going from infield to outfield to platooning outfield & back-up infield…putting a ton of pressure on yourself…it doesn’t surprise me that he failed here.  I would have liked to have seen if he improved with a year under his belt but that obviously won’t happen.  I also wonder if he chocked on the Chicago stage how’s he gonna do on the biggest baseball stage on earth?

All that being said, I remember conversations stating that he was on the team because of his attitude and his OBP, which was down a little but he still did finish with .332—which was what made me wince when he was in green playing the Sox.  It wasn’t his hitting; it was his switch-hitting and patience at the plate.

To be honest, I think he would have been better for us in 2009.  Some may think I’m crazy but I wish it were Paulie leaving instead.   I’m sure the no-trade clause has snagged some opportunities there and I wonder if it’ll happen this year.  No doubt the rumor mill will be churning on that one. Regardless, it's not a surprise that this happened as there just wasn't room for Swish.

As far as what the team gets back in exchange for Swish, a contender for 2nd, 3rd or back-up and a pitcher who may be fighting for the 5th spot in the rotation—great.  I trust KW and I’m sure as much of a freak show I can be about this team I can’t hold a candle to him.  

Filed under: WhiteSox, baseball, White Sox