ALTERED STATES
JAN. 25, 2009
OK, I guess it’s finally time I get this done. A couple of weeks back it was decided that we all write blogs and people kind of got together to come up with catchy names for them. ‘Altered States’ — funny, right? About as funny as blowing up my picture on the banner to ridiculous proportions — yeaaah, good stuff.
Most of the other content managers have written a couple blogs, but the Eagles’ loss to Arizona last week sapped me of the ambition. But, that particular team leaving me disappointed at the end of the season isn’t exactly a new thing, so I’ll just be thankful the Phils got it done and move on. I’ll plan to try to get a new blog up every weekend, so here’s to hoping the Flyers have a great spring and I’ll have a lot to say.
Busy week, huh? The inauguration pretty much stopped things early in the week. Anybody go? At least one of my co-workers ventured downtown for the event. After talking about the Phillies WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP parade (which I had waited a lifetime for but had to miss because it was on a Friday and I had football to cover) with some of my friends up that way (who generally said the day was a nightmare with a couple minutes of cheering mixed in), though, I decided to watch at home.
Not that it was for the warmth and comfort of my own home — my wife is from the Midwest and thinks it’s supposed to be cold everywhere in January, and that includes inside the house. Seriously, when I wake up in the morning I go outside to warm up. But, in a nutshell, I stayed home. No matter where you were, though, it was a historic day and a great day to be an American.
Now on to SMAC stuff …
First things first, this has been a remarkably fun season to watch in terms of the basketball in the conference. Last year I was convinced that the league as a whole was as good as it’s been at any point over the past six or seven years. Stone came within an eyelash of winning the boys 4A state title, and Lackey wasn’t far off in the 3A. Even if the season doesn’t end with the same or better results, this year I think the conference may be even better.
The upper tier on the boys side goes about six or seven deep. Lackey and Stone still have to be looked upon as the teams to beat, but one really does get the sense that anyone can beat anyone else. I can’t wait to see the Lackey-Stone rematch on Feb. 6, but there are plenty of good matchups down the stretch — just makes me wish the schedule was spread out a little more so I could see more of them.
This coming Friday features the matchup of the season on the girls side, with Great Mills traveling to North Point. Since a Dec. 10 loss at Wise, Great Mills, still unbeaten in conference play, has reeled off 10 straight wins by an average of nearly 21 points a game.
North Point, also unbeaten in SMAC, has won eight in a row since an opening-round loss to Bladensburg at the Holiday Hoops tournament. In the six SMAC games the Eagles have played since the tourney, they have won by an average of 24 points a game.
These teams have been on a collision course all year. Great Mills has stood at the top of the conference for the past several years and likely will remain there with a win on Friday. North Point’s girls have yet to defeat the Hornets, so Friday night should be a good one.
Lastly, the photo was provided by Jerry Ballengee, who many of you have no doubt seen taking pictures at Lackey sporting events through the years. On the left, with the camera, is Gary Smith, the subject of the last blog on this page, photographing the Great Mills-Lackey girls game on Jan. 5.
See ya’ next week.
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