Zavala Goes to Wilson

Long time area defensive coordinator and assistant coach Brian Zavala has officially been named head football coach at Hacienda Heights Wilson High School.

The news confirms the buzz of the last ten days about Zavala getting the Wildcats coaching job.

“Every district has a different protocol they follow, but I’m glad its all done now, said Zavala the school’s third head football coach in as many years. “I’ve aspired to be a head coach for some years now. I knew my day would come, I just needed to be patient, and I’m glad I waited for the right fit.”
(Read the rest of this story at www.midvalleynewsonline.com)

Escamilla Makes Final Call at South

(South El Monte)- After twelve seasons leading the South El Monte football program Erick Escamilla has decided to step down.

(Read the rest of this story at www.midvalleynewsonline.com)

The second head coach in school history, following Bill Thompson, made it official Tuesday afternoon.

“I said I’d give you the call if the time came,” Escamilla said by phone. “And the time has come. Time to spend some more time with the family. I can say it’s really bittersweet.”

After initial success his first two seasons Escamilla survived a six-year playoff drought before leading the Eagles back to CIF and the semifinals in 2005. He ends his run with a 63-65-1 overall record, 33-27 in Mission Valley League play, and a 4-5 postseason record.

Got Some Scoop!!!

I got some scoop coming down in a couple of hours stay tuned.

Click here and at www.midvalleynewsonline.com

Fanview 1/27/09

By Joe Torosian

“My God I see not what you see. My God what do you see in me?”
--- Supertones

Pardon me while I slip on my caveman head gear…
(Never feel sorry for anyone, never feel sorry for anyone)
But I have always enjoyed games ending 100 to 0, very clarifying.
On the winning side a coach can forget about the points scored and be happy the team kept focus in not allowing a single point.
(Never feel sorry for anyone, never feel sorry for anyone)
On the losing side the coach is practically given a mandate to do and say anything he or she wants.
The team didn’t play offense, the team didn’t play defense, the coach of the losing team has more pull than a new president with a 59-41 edge in the Senate, and a bad economy.
(Never feel sorry for anyone, never feel sorry for anyone)
I’ve never been part of a team that won a 100 to 0, but I have been on the losing end as a player and coach.
A 48 to 0 loss to Cortada in the fifth grade, I was the quarterback.
(Never feel sorry for anyone, never feel sorry for anyone)
The 1975 NFC championship game when the Cowboys beat the Rams 37-7, I was in the stands but felt like an immense loser during the bus ride home.
(Never feel sorry for anyone, never feel sorry for anyone)
I coached a church team of high school guys to an 85-20 disaster against an inner city team in 1985.
Three years later I coached a church team of high school girls to a 53-6 defeat against the Bulgarian National Womens team. These were tough looking ladies, all were moms, all had given birth sideways.
(Never feel sorry for anyone, never feel sorry for anyone)
I took all of these losses maturely, like any reasonable person would under similar circumstances.
First I wanted to die or at the very least have Calgon take me away.
Second I worked through it convincing myself it was the players fault, my teammates fault, Chuck Knox’s fault, the refs fault, and Zola Budd’s fault.
(Never feel sorry for anyone, never feel sorry for anyone)
Third, and finally, I realized it was my fault. I wasn’t part of the Rams defense that gave up 37-points, but I bought the ticket. I bear some responsibility. If I had been at home instead of the Coliseum I could have changed the channel, but I chose to be there. It was a self inflicted wound.
(Never feel sorry for anyone, never feel sorry for anyone)
In the other cases I should have been better prepared as a player and a coach. I should have worked harder to make sure it never happened at all.
What I did not do was go back to the teams that beat me, or write a letter to the Dallas Cowboys to beg them to call off the dogs and be a little NICER next time.
(Never feel sorry for anyone, never feel sorry for anyone)
Instead all I thought about was getting even, settling the score. There is something to that line in “The Untouchables” where Capone says; “If you steal from me, I’m gonna say; ‘you stole.’ Not talk to you about spitting on the sidewalk.”
The team scoring zero, or hasn’t won a game in four years, shouldn’t fire there coach because of the loss (As Scanlan preaches wins and losses are meaningless) or losses but because of cowardice, the inability to accept responsibility and teach life.
(Never feel sorry for anyone, never feel sorry for anyone)
A good coach instills character, especially at the prep level, it’s about not quitting, it’s about not looking for a bailout, but handling the business of your life, about learning and going forward. Maturity.
One thing I understand, clearly, through sports, is the world doesn’t feel sorry for anyone…And if it says it does its usually selling something.

Joe can be blogged here or reached at joet13b@yahoo.com

Crutchfield Fired by Duarte

After five successful seasons Wardell Crutchfield has been informed that his services are no longer required and has been let go as football coach at Duarte High School.

(read the article at www.midvalleynewsonline.com)

The dreaded "we want to go in a different direction" seems to have reared its head again.

Fair? Just? Long overdue? Ridiculous?

Let us know...

Great Matt Koffler Quote

Friday night as Rosemead was finishing up a 57-44 victory over Arroyo at home, I slipped under the rope to take a picture and Matt Koffler was talking with Lady Knights basketball coach Mike Gorball.

Hellos, what's ups, ensued.

One of them asked who was up for the Temple City job and I said I didn't know. Then Koffler uncorked this beauty (and for the prep swearing police currently big brothering all football coaches, Koffler did pastel over the expletives---for the really smart---he used the word: "blank")

"Man, I don't get it. Mooney and Backus leave Temple City and everybody is sorry, they want them back, and they are great guys...The minute I left for Artesia it was all; 'Koffler you mother blanking...He's a no good blanking...You're a son of a..."

I thought about it for a moment and then a whole lot more on the way home and realized how true it was (And split a gut laughing). Have you noticed besides lining Koffler up for every job from UCLA OC to Obama's VP, the message boards always seem to light up with this guy: 'He can't coach' or 'He doesn't know what he's doing' or (fill in which Sumler brother) "Sumler is going to split because of Koffler..."

In fact Koffler is to message board gossip what Sarah Palin was to Tina Fey's career in 2008

Some Kind of War

I've been critical of area basketball for a long time but I enjoyed myself last night at Rosemead watching the Knights and Panthers go at it.

Some of the best moments over the last eight years at the Mid Valley has been covering the Lady Knights and Panthers.

Arroyo and Rosemead have dominated Mission Valley League basketball since in the mid-90's.

Jay Gauthier (Rosemead) and Mike Gorball (Arroyo) have been coaching against each other seemingly since the Pilgrims crossed the Atlantic on the Mayflower.

Arroyo has had a 33-game winning streak, Rosemead a 44-game winning streak.

And the stars have been plenty from Liezle Sarte to Leanne Pettinato, Cindy Poon to Teressa Nguyen...

Share some of your best memories.

All Mid-Valley Division Team

Mid Valley News
All Mid-Valley Division Team
Player of the Year: Tra Sumler
Most Valuable Player: Tra Sumler
How would you like us to sum up this Sumler? He handled the pressure of having two really good football players in own family in Desean and Deon. He lived up to expectation, might have been a better defensive player with his instincts than an offense talent, yet cleared over two thousand yards as a tailback.
With help from his offensive line, and Angel Alejandre’s ability to keep teams off balance in the air, Sumler dominated games running through, over, and around opponents.
Easily the most valuable and easily the player of the year

QB: Angel Alejandre, Rosemead: Tough call, but right call. Took his team to the finals…come on.

RB: Tra Sumler, Rosemead: We all should have a season like Sumler had.

RB: Marquise Williams, Monrovia: Carried his team to the semis

RB: Daniel Joseph, San Dimas: 80-yards in a heartbeat.

WR: Manny Acosta, South El Monte: Great senior season, capped great career.

WR: Rauley Zaragoza, Azusa: Outstanding player in a resurgent Aztec program.

OL: Matt Calver, Monrovia: Who was opening the holes for Marquise?
OL: Chris Flores, Rosemead: Keystone of a special Panther offensive line.

OL: Tim Starr, Duarte: Blocking helped jump start two great backs in Harris and Canada.

OL: Josh Ouellette, Temple City: Physical and spiritual leader of TC O-line.

OL: Ryan Doll, San Dimas: Salm was great, Doll we thought was better.

K: Bobby Maldonado, Rosemead: What a boot!

Defense
DL: Marty Legaspe, Northview: Did the linebackers make him better or did he make the linebackers better?

DL: Edward Vasquez, Rosemead: Another dominant Panther.

DL: Luis Diaz, Rosemead: See Above…and this one is only a junior.

LB: Andrew Rodriguez, Northview: A joy to watch on the field.

LB: Gilbert De La Rosa, Rosemead: Tenacious defender kept coming all year.

LB: Lionel Acosta, Northview: We’re not picking against a Northview linebacker.

LB: Christian Vargas, Northview: See above.

DB: Alex Chang, Rosemead: Hands, coverage, playmaker, hitter. Stud.

DB: Cawatas Brown, San Dimas: The cover guy no one seems to know about.

DB: Cesar Chavez, Rosemead: Mead version of Andrew Rodriguez. Great great player.

DB: Anthony Farmer, Northview: Another Viking playmaker.

P: Andrew Tinsley, Temple City: Huh? Yeah we took Tinsley for one play. Ball snapped over his head in semifinal, he completely turns his back to the line of scrimmage, chases it down and then pivots to get the kick away. Best play by a punter all year.

How far can LC go this season?

The La Canada Lady Spartans are currently 15-4 aand 3-1 in the Rio Hondo, plus Coach Tamar Hill has reaped the reward of sports karma by appearing live in studio on "The Mid Valley Sports Show" Tuesday with a win on Wednesday.

So the question begs will LC wrap up the Rio and can they advance in the post-season?

Read Tim Peterson's story about LC's victory over TC Wednesday night at www.midvalleynewsonline.com

Kent: Headache or Hero?

What was Jeff Kent (Set to retire tomorrow at Dodger Stadium see story at http://www.midvalleynewsonline.com/) and how will he be remembered in Dodger lore?

Hard-nosed? Yes

Pain in the neck? Yes

I think everyone would have loved to hear stories about this guy and the other veterans getting along with the Dodger rookies, but it didn't happen.

Kent will always strike me as a player who was who he was. I appreciated his outspoken attitude toward performance enhancers, but to me he won't really be remembered as anything special because he bounced around so much. With the exception of Toronto he produced at every stop, but what will we remember him as?

Met? Giant? Astro? Dodger? The guy who didn't get along with Barry Bonds? The guy who spent too much time on his motorcycle?

I'll even try this one to get Scanlan going; is he Hall of Fame worthy?

Read the best sports columnists around at http://www.midvalleynewsonline.com/

Andy Villanueva provides excellent insight to the Doo Dah Parade

John Scanlan is the tireless prophet of the MoneyBall movement

George Hernandez...well George is cool because he can put me in a sleeper hold so fast the next thing I know I'm ordering breakfast.

No sports team has anything like them...

Fanview 1/20/09

“See dogs like us aren’t such dogs as we think we are.”
--- Marty Pilletti

Outside of raising taxes, money for bankrupt states, national healthcare, abortion, court mandated gay marriage, surrender in killing bad guys, pandering to unions, employing poets at inaugurals, and drinking the kool aid when it comes to global warming…
…I pray everything good thing for our new president.
I’m not saying I like him or expect to have him over for dinner any time soon, but I wish him the best.
Republican or not, he is my president. Conservative or not, he is my president.
I reserve the right to disagree, vehemently on some issues, but I wish and pray only the best for him and his family.
If you call yourself a conservative, or a real American, or a believer in this country, or a passionate lover of the freedom we enjoy then you need to pray for the president.
If it is not your thing to pray, then every good wish.
I do hope we have heard the last of Elizabeth Alexander…her poem was as excruciating as an evening with an insurance salesman.
As the profound orator Forrest Gump once said; “…and that’s all I’ve got to say about that.”
Hey the Lakers beat the Cavs…I didn’t think that was possible.
Yes they can!
How would you rate Donovan McNabb’s performance in the NFC title game Sunday?
Plainly put he was no Kurt Warner. At best you could say he was inconsistent.
Temple City football fans should know about this…when you are in enemy territory you need touchdowns not field goals.
So now the talk of Warner being Hall of Fame worthy is being discussed. I’m good with that, but when will we start talking about Jim Plunkett getting to Canton?
I’m going with the upset; Arizona beats Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl.
If I think it is okay to disagree with the president, it is okay to disagree with each other, and it’s more than okay for football players and coaches to disagree with each other.
However, with a trip to a Super Bowl on the line what was Cardinal receiver Anquan Boldin thinking when he was arguing with offensive coordinator Todd Haley during the game winning drive?
Word was Boldin was upset about not being in the game. So he let his coach know, with the clock ticking down, his team a point down, and hopes belonging to the eyes of thousands watching.
This is called selfish.
…I think it might have cost him some money, because the era of pandering to the ego driven wide receiver is coming to an end.
Speaking of wide receivers, I am concerned that Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward might be winding down. This is a pros pro. If you coach kids in football and want them to play the game right, from receiving to blocking, this is a Hall of Famer all the way.
While Obama might be inheriting a tough economy, the good news is he didn’t inherit the Detroit Lions.
Jim Schwartz, currently seeking a bailout or presidential pardon for the past sin that has landed him in the Motor City, is in current need of the following: a quarterback, running back, invocation, defensive back, offensive tackle, and a benediction.
Hopefully the currently unemployed Jon Gruden will recognize his fanatical ways, mellow out, and return to coaching.
I think he will, and in a short time, after Charlie Weiss is put out to pasture by the Fighting Irish, look for Gruden to be the next head coach at Notre Dame.
Tampa Bay made the right call in giving Gruden the boot, but made a bad call in his replacement.
Just in his mannerisms at the press conference and interviews since, new Buccaneers coach Raheem Morris is too young for this job.
I give him a year, a year and a half.
Then again, what do I know, I voted for the other guy.
Contact Joe at Joet13b@yahoo.com

History of Quarterbacks in the First Round

Did Mark Sanchez make the right call? The stats lean towards what Pete Carroll was saying. Sanchez may not turn out to be Peyton Manning and I don't think he'll self destruct like Ryan Leaf...but you know people say Tim Couch and Heath Schuler were really nice guys.

Read the rest of this story at http://www.midvalleynewsonline.com/

Sports Today 1/16/09

Jon Gruden won a Super Bowl with Tony Dungy's team but did little else since. Too caught up in his own system, in his own way, and can never make up his mind on a quarterback. Yes, he did win a title...but somebody else put the pieces together.

I called this Andruw Jones deal a disaster the moment he signed. Yet Scanlan will still deride my ability to make a sound call regarding baseball. Jones is currently auditioning for an open spot with the band "Bow Wow Wow"

If all our kids and people we work with could be like Dwight Howard. Howard's attitude and work ethic makes the an unbearable NBA bearable.

(Note: If Howard should get caught with ten keys of grass in the backseat of his car in the near future, please disregard this post.)

Does Temple City Basketball miss former coach Rich Hollinger?

The TC Boys are off to an 11-5 start this season and playing well under new coach Eric Chen, but Hollinger not being head coach is just part of a sea of change taking place at Temple City.

Some were incumbents on staff, some just contributors to the program but in the last few years the Home of the Camellias has had a major face lift.

Since 2007: (Prin.) Ray Plutko, Mike Mooney, Sam Bustillos, Doc Martin, Rich Hollinger have left the sidelines. And with the recent exiling of Randy Backus expect a large portion of the football program to be gone as well.

Sports Today 1/14/09

Manny Ramirez could be staying for 72 million over three years with a huge signing bonus

Mark Sanchez says he’s going, Pete Carroll says he should stay

LaDainian Tomlinson might be going, but should have gone last year

Manny had no place left to go, this is an easy one to call...

Pete Carroll was taking heat on local radio for being selfish in regards to saying he thought Mark Sanchez needed to stay.

Note to Critics: Pete Carroll is the head coach at USC, he can and will easily replace Mark Sanchez

Note to Critics Two: To those who are saying Matt Cassell didn't even need to start a game at USC to be ready for the NFL, and that Carroll shouldn't be saying that Sanchez has a lack of experience. Does anyone remember how long Matt Cassell has sat behind Tom Brady and matured to get ready for just this moment?

Ladianian Tomlinson needed to be traded a year ago, or allowed to walk, or whatever. If the Chargers had kept Michael Turner and paired him up with Darren Sproles how awesome would they be right now?

...Then again Norv Turner is still the head coach...

What you think?

Wheeler Resigns at La Canada

Long time La Canada football coach Rich Wheeler has resigned.

Wheeler’s twelve years with Spartan program are marked with a pair Rio Hondo League titles in 2000 and 2004. His overall record was 67-61-5. His last great season was in 2005 when La Canada finished 9-3 overall and reached the second round of the playoffs.

“You always knew when playing when playing La Canada it was going to be a long hard nosed ball game,” said former Temple City head coach Randy Backus. “And that never say quit attitude was a reflection of Rich Wheeler.”
Read the rest of this story at www.midvalleynewsonline.com

Do you think Wheeler was a success at LC?

Mid Valley News
All Southeastern Team
Player of the Year: Chris Allen
Most Valuable: Dominique Barnes

Offense
QB: Chris Allen, Charter Oak: The complete package for a high school quarterback and displayed even better leadership.

RB: Dominique Barnes, Burroughs: Had the best season of any running back in the Southeastern Division. He was the man for the Indians.

RB: Ricky Johnson, West Covina: Starred in the post-season for the WC.

RB: Brandon Stansell, Rowland: One of the keys to Rowland’s great season.

WR: B.J. Oyefeso, Rowland: You defend him in the red zone.

WR: Derrick Price, Bonita: Not a defensive guy, he’s all offense. Just put the ball in his hands.

WR: Brandon Taylor, Diamond Ranch: Another Panther playmaker.

OL: Mike Saenz, La Serna: Stud lineman also made all CIF.

OL: Albert Cid, West Covina: Johnson didn’t get all those yards on his own.

OL: Jordon Lawrence, Burroughs: Think Barnes, see above.

OL: Matt Chan, Charter Oak: All CIF, All Miramonte…Champion.

OL: Graham Vickers, Diamond Ranch: A special part of DR’s special season.

K: Eric Stern, California: Could, could, be kicking on Sundays in another four years.

Defense
LB: Kyle Lengyel, Diamond Ranch: Great linebacker.

LB: Louie Lozano, La Serna: Resident Mid Valley Bad Dude.

LB: Nikolai Crouch, Santa Fe: A mad man.

LB: Bryan Bonilla, Diamond Ranch: Had season worth of hitting in final against CO.

DL: Xavier Molina Williams, Diamond Ranch: Another hitter.

DL: Alex Barrios South Hills: Best of the Husky linemen.

DL: Tyler Perri, Charter Oak: Is it fair to say overlooked.

DB: A.J. Powell. Charter Oak: Can’t say enough, one of the best players around.

DB: Jabril Pearson, West Covina: Great cover skills.

DB: Brandon Sermons, Diamond Ranch: Heading to UCLA, enough said.

DB: Rueben Thomas, Muir: Leads Mustangs, not enough of them on team.

P: Michael Scott (South Hills): Bogan always has a boot.

Scanning Sports: 1/14/09

By John Scanlan

The Baseball Hall of Fame officially means nothing. Well, it’s as official as my mere utterance can be...

Henderson was elected to the Hall of Fame on Monday, but the vote wasn’t unanimous.

Who didn’t vote for Henderson? 70 year-old Corky Simpson of the Green Valley News and Sun in Arizona. First of all, if a writer for the Green Valley News and Sun gets a vote for the Baseball Hall of Fame, why doesn’t John Scanlan of the Mid-Valley News? Do we need to change our name to the Mid-Valley News and Sun? Get on it Torosian!...

For John Scanlan's complete column go to http://www.midvalleynewsonline.com/ and go to "Scanning"

Fanview 1/13/09

By Joe Torosian

“This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.”
--- T.S. Eliot

There’s dumb, and then there’s off the charts dumb.
Educators, academics, people of letters, quote-unquote: The Smart People.
The Smart People scream about money for education and spend it on free lunches for children who don’t need them.
The Smart People scream about money and then promote their own, who’ve reached the top of the pyramid, to an administrative position where they receive six figures to decide the placement of trashcans in the school district.
So what do The Smart People in Temple City do?
(Now remember they are saying the altercation between Randy Backus and a student had nothing to do with his removal as head football coach)
The Smart People in Temple City remove a coach who maintained a quality staff, when they were too brain dead to keep their Golden Son Mike Mooney and the mass exodus that took place to San Marino with his departure.
The Smart People in Temple City removed a coach who financially had his program in the black both years.
The Smart People in Temple City removed a coach (remember the altercation had nothing to do with it) that kept 105 of a 110 players in the program academically eligible.
The Smart People in Temple City removed a coach who had 21 of his 36 players carrying a 3.0 grade point average, or higher.
The Smart People in Temple City removed the coach who led the team in 2007 to its first road playoff victory in over a decade.
The Smart People in Temple City removed a coach, that even after he was suspended did all he could, kept his staff together, and game prepped (this would rate as classy) to see his squad reach the school’s first semifinals since 1998.
The Smart People in Temple City removed as coach the only person on campus capable of coaching its football team.
The Smart People of Temple City didn’t like the language and maybe the forceful energy Coach Backus used.
But I’m sure The Smart People of Temple City have always enjoyed the revenue the football program has produced over the years.
Note to The Smart People of Temple City: You can most likely kiss it all goodbye.
While you have pontificated on goodness and virtue, and wanting something better…you threw Randy Backus under the bus.
You Smart People of Temple City kept him under said bus while rumors circulated about the incident/altercation as it was reported in the local paper.
You did nothing to clarify or relieve the talk.
You have angered loyalists and parents by keeping them in the dark as a good man got rumored apart.
So unless you have Tony Dungy waiting in the wings you are in serious trouble.
Note to The Smart People: Temple City football was special before you got here, I wish I could say it will be special after you are gone.
Then again, is it not the pattern of Smart People?
Smart People idealize, theorize…and then blame others when things go to hell in a hand basket.
What a sad ending...No what a heartbreaking ending.
I didn’t go to Rosemead, but oh, those people are so prideful about Rosemead football. You sense that at Arcadia, it is alive at Arroyo, and it has always been there, since my earliest days as a kid growing up in El Monte we would talk of Temple City football as being extraordinary.
Smart People come in and what do they do? In what they say is fairness, decency, equality (how French), they always seek and result in turning the extraordinary into ordinary.
The clichés are true; When everyone is beautiful, no one is. When everyone is special, no one is special.
This is what The Smart People have done in regards to Randy Backus; They amputated the special.