There's Plenty Left To Chew On
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Roger Grossman, Lake City Radio-
Today’s thoughts are kind of like that.
The Super Bowl finished the way I wanted, but not the way I predicted. I was quite afraid that Carolina would blow the doors off Peyton Manning in what should be his final game as a player in the National Football League. But that Denver defense was so much more ready for the task than I thought they ever could be. They were, dare I say, “1985 Bear-like!”
Manning should take his two rings, 200 wins and his place in our hearts and minds and turnover his badge for good. The only way that ending could have been any better would have been if he had led them on the game-winning drive in the final minute.
Manning needs to call Colts owner Jim Irsay about a one-day contract so No. 18 can retire here, with us.
And we can all learn a lot from Cam Newton’s season, Super Bowl and postgame reaction. When you spend your life, on the field and off, demanding that we stop to watch you dance and pose in your moments of glory it rings very hollow when you act the way he did after the game.
We all get that he was disappointed that he lost the biggest game of his life to-date, but getting up and leaving your press conference to mope because you lost shows poor judgement and a lack of self-control. If you are going to grab the spotlight and hold it on yourself in celebration, it has to stay on you when things go wrong. He was the MVP and had a magnificent season, but he has a lot to learn about real leadership. And if he works as hard at improving in that area as he did on his game he’ll get there.
Four teams stand between Warsaw and the school’s first-ever unbeaten regular season in boys basketball. Plymouth has one conference loss, and a win at the Tiger Den Friday would likely leave us with a three-way tie in the NLC this season.
This game doesn’t have the month of anticipation that the NorthWood game did, but it should. If you are a basketball fan, or a Warsaw fan, you need to plop down your money for the latest installment of this century-old rivalry. WHME-TV figured it out, and they bailed on their previously scheduled game to pick up the Tigers and Pilgrims for their “Channel 46 Game of the Week.”
Meanwhile the Warsaw girls season ended in the sectional final with a loss to No. 4 4 Penn. The 0-9 start (6 of those against teams that were or are ranked) was way too much to overcome. Still, they finished 11-14 overall and 6-1 in the conference. There’s a lot to work on for next year, obviously. But the biggest thing they need to find is a ‘voice.’ There were so many times where things started to go sideways and they just looked at each other, not really knowing what to say or do next.
Sometime between now and when Huntington North comes to the Tiger Den in November, someone will have to step forward to be the one who pulls the team together on the floor when it starts coming unraveled.
Tippecanoe Valley’s girls are back in the regional and facing a familiar foe, Fort Wayne Concordia. The Cadets have been a thorn in the side of a lot of good teams from our area at the regional level. Valley must remain focused in the day session. If they do, they could be faced with a big-time showdown against No. 2 Heritage Christian in the regional final for a trip to the final four. Heritage Christian is new to 3A after their success in 2A forced them up a class. And everyone in 3A has a renewed sense of optimism now that No. 1 Princeton and Notre Dame recruit Jackie Young have been dismissed, losing 34-33 to Southridge in the sectional semifinals.
And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the great crowd in the Tiger Den Monday night for the Warsaw Elementary Basketball Championships. I hope people realize this doesn’t happen too many places in Indiana. Let me also say the future of the boys and girls programs in Warsaw is bright based on what the fans saw Monday. The play was high-quality and it was enjoyable to watch. I hope those kids stay with it, work hard at it, and block out all the voices telling them how good they are.
My schedule is starting to thin out, but unfortunately so has the ice on our area lakes. I was talking to a guy who went out last weekend in sweats and a hoodie. I asked him how thick the ice was, and he said “oh, about an inch-and-a-half or two.” Holy Cow! I wouldn’t mind a good cold spell to thicken that up to about six inches. I’d like to find a few crappies through the ice to put in my freezer.
This year’s Chicago Bulls team is a great example of “be careful what you wish for.” Bulls players and front office people had quietly (and not-so quietly) expressed that they had grown tired of Tom Thibodeau’s act and were looking for a change. Well they got the change they wanted alright, and it hasn’t worked out at all. “Thibs” was not the problem. The change that was needed is an internal mission statement that starts with “When Derrick Rose gets healthy and back into form…” Nevermind, that day is NEVER coming! The Bulls need to cut ties with the former league MVP and start building around proven commodities like Pau Gasol and Jimmy Butler.
I love Super Bowl parties … the guests go home but the leftovers last all week.[[In-content Ad]]
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Today’s thoughts are kind of like that.
The Super Bowl finished the way I wanted, but not the way I predicted. I was quite afraid that Carolina would blow the doors off Peyton Manning in what should be his final game as a player in the National Football League. But that Denver defense was so much more ready for the task than I thought they ever could be. They were, dare I say, “1985 Bear-like!”
Manning should take his two rings, 200 wins and his place in our hearts and minds and turnover his badge for good. The only way that ending could have been any better would have been if he had led them on the game-winning drive in the final minute.
Manning needs to call Colts owner Jim Irsay about a one-day contract so No. 18 can retire here, with us.
And we can all learn a lot from Cam Newton’s season, Super Bowl and postgame reaction. When you spend your life, on the field and off, demanding that we stop to watch you dance and pose in your moments of glory it rings very hollow when you act the way he did after the game.
We all get that he was disappointed that he lost the biggest game of his life to-date, but getting up and leaving your press conference to mope because you lost shows poor judgement and a lack of self-control. If you are going to grab the spotlight and hold it on yourself in celebration, it has to stay on you when things go wrong. He was the MVP and had a magnificent season, but he has a lot to learn about real leadership. And if he works as hard at improving in that area as he did on his game he’ll get there.
Four teams stand between Warsaw and the school’s first-ever unbeaten regular season in boys basketball. Plymouth has one conference loss, and a win at the Tiger Den Friday would likely leave us with a three-way tie in the NLC this season.
This game doesn’t have the month of anticipation that the NorthWood game did, but it should. If you are a basketball fan, or a Warsaw fan, you need to plop down your money for the latest installment of this century-old rivalry. WHME-TV figured it out, and they bailed on their previously scheduled game to pick up the Tigers and Pilgrims for their “Channel 46 Game of the Week.”
Meanwhile the Warsaw girls season ended in the sectional final with a loss to No. 4 4 Penn. The 0-9 start (6 of those against teams that were or are ranked) was way too much to overcome. Still, they finished 11-14 overall and 6-1 in the conference. There’s a lot to work on for next year, obviously. But the biggest thing they need to find is a ‘voice.’ There were so many times where things started to go sideways and they just looked at each other, not really knowing what to say or do next.
Sometime between now and when Huntington North comes to the Tiger Den in November, someone will have to step forward to be the one who pulls the team together on the floor when it starts coming unraveled.
Tippecanoe Valley’s girls are back in the regional and facing a familiar foe, Fort Wayne Concordia. The Cadets have been a thorn in the side of a lot of good teams from our area at the regional level. Valley must remain focused in the day session. If they do, they could be faced with a big-time showdown against No. 2 Heritage Christian in the regional final for a trip to the final four. Heritage Christian is new to 3A after their success in 2A forced them up a class. And everyone in 3A has a renewed sense of optimism now that No. 1 Princeton and Notre Dame recruit Jackie Young have been dismissed, losing 34-33 to Southridge in the sectional semifinals.
And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the great crowd in the Tiger Den Monday night for the Warsaw Elementary Basketball Championships. I hope people realize this doesn’t happen too many places in Indiana. Let me also say the future of the boys and girls programs in Warsaw is bright based on what the fans saw Monday. The play was high-quality and it was enjoyable to watch. I hope those kids stay with it, work hard at it, and block out all the voices telling them how good they are.
My schedule is starting to thin out, but unfortunately so has the ice on our area lakes. I was talking to a guy who went out last weekend in sweats and a hoodie. I asked him how thick the ice was, and he said “oh, about an inch-and-a-half or two.” Holy Cow! I wouldn’t mind a good cold spell to thicken that up to about six inches. I’d like to find a few crappies through the ice to put in my freezer.
This year’s Chicago Bulls team is a great example of “be careful what you wish for.” Bulls players and front office people had quietly (and not-so quietly) expressed that they had grown tired of Tom Thibodeau’s act and were looking for a change. Well they got the change they wanted alright, and it hasn’t worked out at all. “Thibs” was not the problem. The change that was needed is an internal mission statement that starts with “When Derrick Rose gets healthy and back into form…” Nevermind, that day is NEVER coming! The Bulls need to cut ties with the former league MVP and start building around proven commodities like Pau Gasol and Jimmy Butler.
I love Super Bowl parties … the guests go home but the leftovers last all week.[[In-content Ad]]
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