FORT WORTH, TX - TCU football fans are expecting big things from their football team this season and so apparently is the press. The Horned Frogs are ranked seventh in the preseason coaches poll behind Alabama, Ohio State, Florida, Texas, Boise State and Virginia Tech.
Their only loss in a 12-1 season last year was to Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl in Arizona. Another indicator is the number of preseason All-American honors. Seven TCU players have received preseason All-American honors with six players appearing on watch lists for national awards.
After last season, TCU head coach Gary Patterson cleaned up by taking home virtually all of the national coach of the year awards. The final total was nine.
"I'm very apperciative, I'm very humbled by it, and I also understand that this year, it doesn't mean anything," Patterson said at the time. Now it's the players turn to pick up some recognition.
Below is an updated TCU preseason honor roll, as of Aug. 12. The list was complied by Mark Cohen, director of Media Relations at TCU:
Gary Patterson, Head Coach
*Preseason Coach of the Year, Playboy
Marcus Cannon, OT
*Outland Trophy Watch List
*Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List
*Preseason All-American, Playboy
*Preseason Second-Team All-American, Rivals.com/Yahoo! Sports
*Preseason Third-Team All-American, Phil Steele's College Football Preview
*Preseason Honorable-Mention All-American, NationalChamps.net
*Preseason All-Mountain West Conference
*Best Offensive Lineman in Texas, Dave Campbell's Texas Football
*Preseason First-Team All-Texas College, Dave Campbell's Texas Football
*All-Texas Team, Sporting News
*Ranked third among offensive tackles for the 2011 NFL Draft, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.
*Ranked fifth in the nation among offensive tackles, Lindy's
Tank Carder, LB
*Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List
*Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
*Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List
*Preseason Third-Team All-American, Sporting News
*Preseason Fourth-Team All-American, Phil Steele's College Football Preview
*Preseason Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year
*Preseason All-Mountain West Conference
*Best Linebacker in Texas, Dave Campbell's Texas Football
*Preseason First-Team All-Texas College, Dave Campbell's Texas Football
*All-Texas Team, Sporting News
*Ranked 10th in the nation among inside linebackers, Lindy's
*One of 12 "New stars you must know" in 2010, CollegeFootballNews.com
Andy Dalton, QB
*Davey O'Brien Award Watch List
*Manning Award Watch List
*Johnny Unitas Award Watch List
*Maxwell Award Watch List
*One of 30 "Players to Watch" for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award
*Preseason Honorable-Mention All-American, NationalChamps.net
*Preseason Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year
*Preseason All-Mountain West Conference
*Ranked 12th in the nation among quarterbacks, Lindy's
*One of 10 "Players who will take their game to the next level" in 2010, CollegeFootballNews.com
Wayne Daniels, DE
*Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List
*Preseason All-Mountain West Conference
*Preseason Second-Team All-Texas College, Dave Campbell's Texas Football
*One of 10 "Fresh new faces" in 2010, CBSSports.com
Ross Evans, PK
*Preseason Honorable-Mention All-American, NationalChamps.net
*Preseason All-Mountain West Conference
*Preseason First-Team All-Texas College, Dave Campbell's Texas Football
*All-Texas Team, Sporting News
Cory Grant, DT
*Preseason All-Mountain West Conference
*All-Texas Team, Sporting News
Kelly Griffin, NT
*Preseason Second-Team All-Texas College, Dave Campbell's Texas Football
Tejay Johnson, S
*Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
*Lott Trophy Watch List
*Thorpe Award Watch List
*Preseason Second-Team All-American, Rivals.com/Yahoo! Sports
*Preseason Third-Team All-American, Phil Steele's College Football Preview
*Preseason Second-Team All-Texas College, Dave Campbell's Texas Football
*Ranked 10th in the nation among safeties, Lindy's
*Nominee for Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
*Nominee for Lowe's Senior CLASS Award
Jeremy Kerley, PR
*Preseason First-Team All-American, Phil Steele's College Football Preview
*Preseason First-Team All-American, Rivals.com/Yahoo! Sports
*Preseason First-Team All-American, NationalChamps.net
*Preseason Second-Team All-American, Sporting News
*Preseason Third-Team All-American, Athlon
*Preseason Mountain West Conference Special Teams Player of the Year
*Preseason All-Mountain West Conference, Return Specialist
*Preseason First-Team All-Texas College, Dave Campbell's Texas Football
*All-Texas Team, Sporting News
Jake Kirkpatrick, C
*Outland Trophy Watch List
*Rimington Trophy Watch List
*Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List
*Preseason First-Team All-American, Sports Illustrated
*Preseason First-Team All-American, Sporting News
*Preseason First-Team All-American, Rivals.com/Yahoo! Sports
*Preseason Second-Team All-American, NationalChamps.net
*Preseason All-Mountain West Conference
*Preseason First-Team All-Texas College, Dave Campbell's 2010 Texas Football
*Ranked third in the nation among centers, Lindy's
Jason Teague, CB
*Named an "Under-the-radar difference-maker to watch" in 2010, Rivals.com
TCU Offensive Backfield
*Ranked fifth in the nation, Lindy's
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
16 Year Old Golfer Shoots Career Best 63
FARMERS BRANCH, TX - Like so many youngsters, 16 year old Talia Campbell is spending a lot of her time this summer playing golf. Last week at the Dallas City Junior Championship, Campbell may have surprised herself after she shot a 9-under par 63.
"Oh wow, it's how golf should be played," says Talia. "It was easy. Just hit the fairway, hit the green, get a two putt or a one putt, it was really enjoyable."
Campbell won the City of Dallas open division, ages 16 through 18. Her three day performance included rounds of 63, 72 and a 69.
"At first i thought, that's like a birdie and par every other hole, and then I realized it was my lowest round by at least five strokes," she said. "It was actually my first time to break 70 in a tournament.
That's not bad for someone who switched from soccer to golf in seventh grade just four years ago. "I think i was just burned out of soccer so that window was open," says Talia.
"Talia is definitely a future super star in the making," says Mike Kiesling, director of golf at Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch. "You have a young golfer, especially a female, and if you want to see how it's done, come watch Talia play."
Campbell will be a junior at Ursuline Academy of Dallas where she helped her golf team win back to back TAPPS State Championships. She also won individual medalist honors this year. Her short game has been her biggest improvement.
"It has," she says. "I've really been putting in a lot more time effort this past year, just because that's what I was lacking the most last summer and it's really been coming around as my scores show."
"From a junior golf perspective, there's not a lot of kids with the work ethic that I see in Talia," says Kiesling. "She's here rain or shine or snow. You name it, Talia is out here practicing.
Campbell has won numerous tournaments including an AJGA tournament in Michigan where she will defend her title next week. She just missed qualifying for the US Women's Amateur by two strokes in Houston this week, but considering she's only 16, her opportunities are just beginning.
"Oh wow, it's how golf should be played," says Talia. "It was easy. Just hit the fairway, hit the green, get a two putt or a one putt, it was really enjoyable."
Campbell won the City of Dallas open division, ages 16 through 18. Her three day performance included rounds of 63, 72 and a 69.
"At first i thought, that's like a birdie and par every other hole, and then I realized it was my lowest round by at least five strokes," she said. "It was actually my first time to break 70 in a tournament.
That's not bad for someone who switched from soccer to golf in seventh grade just four years ago. "I think i was just burned out of soccer so that window was open," says Talia.
"Talia is definitely a future super star in the making," says Mike Kiesling, director of golf at Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch. "You have a young golfer, especially a female, and if you want to see how it's done, come watch Talia play."
Campbell will be a junior at Ursuline Academy of Dallas where she helped her golf team win back to back TAPPS State Championships. She also won individual medalist honors this year. Her short game has been her biggest improvement.
"It has," she says. "I've really been putting in a lot more time effort this past year, just because that's what I was lacking the most last summer and it's really been coming around as my scores show."
"From a junior golf perspective, there's not a lot of kids with the work ethic that I see in Talia," says Kiesling. "She's here rain or shine or snow. You name it, Talia is out here practicing.
Campbell has won numerous tournaments including an AJGA tournament in Michigan where she will defend her title next week. She just missed qualifying for the US Women's Amateur by two strokes in Houston this week, but considering she's only 16, her opportunities are just beginning.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
TCU's Gary Patterson needs more room for his trophies
FORT WORTH, TX - A quick stop by TCU Head Coach Gary Patterson's office these days reveals a corner filled with trophies. The thing that's really neat to me is when you go back and you find out what all these different awards stand for, says Patterson. For me it's a we thing. Head coaches get far too much credit.
During the off season, Patterson biggest job could easily have been trying to figure out what to do with all of his trophies. Not the Conference Championship trophy which sits in the lobby, but the awards he received for coach of the year. At last count, that number stood at nine.
All of them represent something different in what they were looking for, Patterson says. Again I think you have to have a little luck, it kind of has to be a perfect storm. II think you have to do a lot of things right. It's hard to keep all that group we just talked about in the same year. It was a lot of fum. I'm very apperciative. I'm very humbled by it and I also understand that this year, it doesn't mean anything.
Patterson says he doesn't like to brag about his awards, but when you receive all the major college coach of the year awards, its hard to overlook.
Another windfall were the checks that came with those awards.
The Liberty Mutual award included $50,000. He donated that to the Presbyterian Night Shelter plus another 20-thousand to the TCU Alumni Accosiation.
The Bobby Dodd trophy included $10,000 so he donated that to the Tarrant Area Food Banks.
Its neat that you can do some things that a lot of other people benefit from, so, those are things that showed up and were kind of surprise that it all happened.
Last week Patterson got yet another award when Playboy Magazines pick him as their choice for preseason coach of the year. It's just another honor in a string of recognitions.
In 2009, TCU posted just the second 12 win season in the schools history, matched only by the 1935 National Championship team which also went 12-1. The Frogs had their first undefeated regular season since their 1938 National Championship season.
Here is a list of the trophies that Patterson received:
(1) National Coach of the Year by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
(2) Associated Press Coach of the Year
(3) American Football Coaches Association
(4) Sporting News Coach of the Year Award
(5) Bobby Dodd Award
(6) Eddie Robinson Award
(7) Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award
(8) George Munger Award
(9) Woody Hayes Award
During the off season, Patterson biggest job could easily have been trying to figure out what to do with all of his trophies. Not the Conference Championship trophy which sits in the lobby, but the awards he received for coach of the year. At last count, that number stood at nine.
All of them represent something different in what they were looking for, Patterson says. Again I think you have to have a little luck, it kind of has to be a perfect storm. II think you have to do a lot of things right. It's hard to keep all that group we just talked about in the same year. It was a lot of fum. I'm very apperciative. I'm very humbled by it and I also understand that this year, it doesn't mean anything.
Patterson says he doesn't like to brag about his awards, but when you receive all the major college coach of the year awards, its hard to overlook.
Another windfall were the checks that came with those awards.
The Liberty Mutual award included $50,000. He donated that to the Presbyterian Night Shelter plus another 20-thousand to the TCU Alumni Accosiation.
The Bobby Dodd trophy included $10,000 so he donated that to the Tarrant Area Food Banks.
Its neat that you can do some things that a lot of other people benefit from, so, those are things that showed up and were kind of surprise that it all happened.
Last week Patterson got yet another award when Playboy Magazines pick him as their choice for preseason coach of the year. It's just another honor in a string of recognitions.
In 2009, TCU posted just the second 12 win season in the schools history, matched only by the 1935 National Championship team which also went 12-1. The Frogs had their first undefeated regular season since their 1938 National Championship season.
Here is a list of the trophies that Patterson received:
(1) National Coach of the Year by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
(2) Associated Press Coach of the Year
(3) American Football Coaches Association
(4) Sporting News Coach of the Year Award
(5) Bobby Dodd Award
(6) Eddie Robinson Award
(7) Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award
(8) George Munger Award
(9) Woody Hayes Award
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Marathon runner lucky to be alive
HEATH, TX - Sam Killian is a typical eight year old. He's adventurous and outgoing with one exception.
Sam has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a rare disorder that strickens one in every 35 thousand births. It's because of Sam that his father John, became a fund raiser for Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy to help find a cure.
"Sam's muscles when he's running around, he lacks the protein to repair those muscles," says John Killian. "So instead of regenrating muscle tissue when he exercises or does things, his muscles form scar tissue. Eventually, that eventually overcomes the muscles. Boys are usally in a wheelchair by the age of 10 to 14, and eventually effects all the muscles in the body."
Sam's degenerative disease is what lead his father to become a marathon runner. He raises money for the charity by organizing groups of runners to participate in marathons.
Four weeks ago while driving from his Rockwall County to home to White Rock Lake in Dallas for a training run, Killian was involved in wrong way crash on interstate 30, east of downtown.
"I've been driving interstate 30 for 15 years now and every morning i hear something going on at the Ferguson curve," John says. "I finally found out why that morning. Your really driving around that corner blind, and literally, I think the other car was on the highway gonig the wrong direction from downtown out to Ferguson. 5:20 everybody was able to miss her until we met coming around that corner. We really couldn't see anything but I did see it right before the impact, i remember seeing headlights and thinking that's really bad. I don't remember the impact, but I remember the aftermath, the airbag, and was conscious throughout the whole thing."
The Crash killed a passenger in the oncoming car. Killian survived and suffered severe injuries, including a compound fracture of his right leg. To this day, he keeps asking why.
"It's tough to deal with, and there's a lot more emotions than i would expected, that come from that," John says. "I hope the aftermath of this, the only thing that I could hope something positive could come from this is that she turns her life around, the driver of the other car, and I hope somebody along the way sees this or hears about it and says i'm not going to have that drink and go drive."
The crash happened on fathers day morning, the same day that he and his wife were celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary.
"I got the call about 6:15 in the morning, I was asleep and I got a call from Baylor meidal center, and I answered it and it was John," says his wie Stefanie. "My first response was, why are you calling me from a hospital. 27:56 it was pretty scary, but he was calm, he was pretty calm, but it dawned on me later that it was our 18th wedding anniversary. I think that I got the best anniversary because I got John.
Because of the accident, Killian won't be running at all this year. He hopes that part of his life will return sometime in 2011.
"They said expect a year to sort of get everything recovered," says John. "I asked very specifically, will I run again, they said as well as your willing to tolerate the pain, he thinks i'll be able to out and do it again."
"For years, our family and friends have been calling John marathon man because he runs so many marathons, and is so dedicated to his marathons," Stefanie says. "Training and fund rasing is which is actually why he runs marathons, but now they're calling him miracle man instead because he survived this really bad wreck."
While Killian's injuries are expected to heal, the future for his son Sam remains much more uncertain. For John, the fund raising for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy continues.
Sam has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a rare disorder that strickens one in every 35 thousand births. It's because of Sam that his father John, became a fund raiser for Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy to help find a cure.
"Sam's muscles when he's running around, he lacks the protein to repair those muscles," says John Killian. "So instead of regenrating muscle tissue when he exercises or does things, his muscles form scar tissue. Eventually, that eventually overcomes the muscles. Boys are usally in a wheelchair by the age of 10 to 14, and eventually effects all the muscles in the body."
Sam's degenerative disease is what lead his father to become a marathon runner. He raises money for the charity by organizing groups of runners to participate in marathons.
Four weeks ago while driving from his Rockwall County to home to White Rock Lake in Dallas for a training run, Killian was involved in wrong way crash on interstate 30, east of downtown.
"I've been driving interstate 30 for 15 years now and every morning i hear something going on at the Ferguson curve," John says. "I finally found out why that morning. Your really driving around that corner blind, and literally, I think the other car was on the highway gonig the wrong direction from downtown out to Ferguson. 5:20 everybody was able to miss her until we met coming around that corner. We really couldn't see anything but I did see it right before the impact, i remember seeing headlights and thinking that's really bad. I don't remember the impact, but I remember the aftermath, the airbag, and was conscious throughout the whole thing."
The Crash killed a passenger in the oncoming car. Killian survived and suffered severe injuries, including a compound fracture of his right leg. To this day, he keeps asking why.
"It's tough to deal with, and there's a lot more emotions than i would expected, that come from that," John says. "I hope the aftermath of this, the only thing that I could hope something positive could come from this is that she turns her life around, the driver of the other car, and I hope somebody along the way sees this or hears about it and says i'm not going to have that drink and go drive."
The crash happened on fathers day morning, the same day that he and his wife were celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary.
"I got the call about 6:15 in the morning, I was asleep and I got a call from Baylor meidal center, and I answered it and it was John," says his wie Stefanie. "My first response was, why are you calling me from a hospital. 27:56 it was pretty scary, but he was calm, he was pretty calm, but it dawned on me later that it was our 18th wedding anniversary. I think that I got the best anniversary because I got John.
Because of the accident, Killian won't be running at all this year. He hopes that part of his life will return sometime in 2011.
"They said expect a year to sort of get everything recovered," says John. "I asked very specifically, will I run again, they said as well as your willing to tolerate the pain, he thinks i'll be able to out and do it again."
"For years, our family and friends have been calling John marathon man because he runs so many marathons, and is so dedicated to his marathons," Stefanie says. "Training and fund rasing is which is actually why he runs marathons, but now they're calling him miracle man instead because he survived this really bad wreck."
While Killian's injuries are expected to heal, the future for his son Sam remains much more uncertain. For John, the fund raising for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy continues.
Monday, June 28, 2010
TCU's Bryan Holaday's college career ends
FORT WORTH, TX - When TCU was eliminated from the College World Series Saturday, it meant the end of a great college career for Bryan Holaday.
"I'm probably going to remember just the guys," Holaday says. "I mean it's unbelieveable how great of job coach Jim Schlossnagle has done bringing in just quality people. It just seems every year, i'm surrounded by my best friends."
Holiday returned to Fort Worth with his teammates on Sunday after leading the school to it's first ever trip to the college world series. Holiday addressed the huge crowd.
"Thank you all so much for being here," he said. "It means so much to all of us and like coach Schlossnagle said, the community around here is what's best about TCU. So, thank you very much. We couldn't have done it without your support."
Some analysts dubbed Holaday as the best catcher in the nation of his senior class. He was a 6th round draft pick of the Detroit Tigers in this year's amateur draft and the first player chosen from TCU.
"It's going to be a great experience for me," he says. "It's going to be a challenge. It's going to be a grind and i'm really looking forward to all those things and everything that pro baseball is."
After Holaday left W.T.White High School in Dallas, he went to Gainsville, Texas to play for North Central Texas College as a third baseman. They moved him behind the plate as a catcher and the rest as they say is history.
"I think he's one of the greatest athletes to ever to be at TCU," Schlossnagle says. "I think his number should be retired with Sammy Baugh and Davey O'Brien for what he brought to our university."
Holiday's first stop will be Wichita, Kansas where he is one of the three finalists for the Johnny Bench award, given annually to the best catcher in division one.
"I've come a long way, from being the guy that was missing balls all the time to being one of the top three in the nation," Holaday says. "You know it's just great coaching. I was really lucky to come here and have the opportunity to start. I worked really hard and had great coaches that pushed me."
Schlossnagle says he'll be surprised if Holaday doesn't win the Johnny Bench award. "There is heavy competition," Schlossnagle says, "For everything you need a catcher to do, offensively and defensively, he does it at the highest level."
"I'm probably going to remember just the guys," Holaday says. "I mean it's unbelieveable how great of job coach Jim Schlossnagle has done bringing in just quality people. It just seems every year, i'm surrounded by my best friends."
Holiday returned to Fort Worth with his teammates on Sunday after leading the school to it's first ever trip to the college world series. Holiday addressed the huge crowd.
"Thank you all so much for being here," he said. "It means so much to all of us and like coach Schlossnagle said, the community around here is what's best about TCU. So, thank you very much. We couldn't have done it without your support."
Some analysts dubbed Holaday as the best catcher in the nation of his senior class. He was a 6th round draft pick of the Detroit Tigers in this year's amateur draft and the first player chosen from TCU.
"It's going to be a great experience for me," he says. "It's going to be a challenge. It's going to be a grind and i'm really looking forward to all those things and everything that pro baseball is."
After Holaday left W.T.White High School in Dallas, he went to Gainsville, Texas to play for North Central Texas College as a third baseman. They moved him behind the plate as a catcher and the rest as they say is history.
"I think he's one of the greatest athletes to ever to be at TCU," Schlossnagle says. "I think his number should be retired with Sammy Baugh and Davey O'Brien for what he brought to our university."
Holiday's first stop will be Wichita, Kansas where he is one of the three finalists for the Johnny Bench award, given annually to the best catcher in division one.
"I've come a long way, from being the guy that was missing balls all the time to being one of the top three in the nation," Holaday says. "You know it's just great coaching. I was really lucky to come here and have the opportunity to start. I worked really hard and had great coaches that pushed me."
Schlossnagle says he'll be surprised if Holaday doesn't win the Johnny Bench award. "There is heavy competition," Schlossnagle says, "For everything you need a catcher to do, offensively and defensively, he does it at the highest level."
Friday, February 26, 2010
Three Flower Mound Marcus Sophomores become team leaders
By most standards, the boy’s basketball team at Flower Mound Marcus is considered a young team.
"We start three sophomores a majority of the time," says head coach Danny Henderson.
Henderson is used to winning. After all he became just the 19th high school coaching Texas to win 600 games.
He took four teams to the state tournament and won two state championships at Peaster High School near Weatherford but not with three sophomores. His team this year has already won 33 games while losing only two.
"I can't say that these three sophomores have played like sophomores," Henderson says. "They played like veterans from the beginning of the season."
"We get a lot of respect from the seniors which you don't see often for the younger kids," says sophomore forward Marcus Smart. "But at the same time, we give that respect back to them."
Senior Tom Netsch, a forward likes the combination. "We have a ton of players that could be playing division one. I'm just happy to go on the ride with them," he says.
It's not often that you find a high school team where the leaders of the team are all sophomores, but that’s the case at Flower Mound Marcus and the players have names that you won't soon forget.
"They're blessed with sports center names, I guess as a group, Smart Lucky and Forte," says Henderson.
Marcus Smart is the unequaled leader at Forward. Henderson says he can play ever position on the floor. His no look passes are a site to behold and speaks volumes for his future in the sports. Phil Forte is a shooting guard who has hit 96-three pointers and A.J. Luckey is more than just a lucky guard.
"Forte is lucky to be smart," says guard A.J. Luckey as he strings the names together. "So that's what we go by sometimes."
Forte lines the names up this way. "Forte is being smart and lucky!"
"I don't know what that's about," says senior post Cory Needs with a big smile. "Obviously it's got some meaning because we're doing pretty well."
So of the three sophomores, who's considered the best looking?
"I'm going to have to go with that one," says Luckey raising his hands. Of course Smart and Forte disagree with that statement, but maybe Luckey is just a lucky guy.
With Luckey, Forte and Smart, Flower Mound Marcus has a great chance to reach the state tournament in Austin. Their next big test comes Friday night at Birdville Coliseum against Duncanville.
"We start three sophomores a majority of the time," says head coach Danny Henderson.
Henderson is used to winning. After all he became just the 19th high school coaching Texas to win 600 games.
He took four teams to the state tournament and won two state championships at Peaster High School near Weatherford but not with three sophomores. His team this year has already won 33 games while losing only two.
"I can't say that these three sophomores have played like sophomores," Henderson says. "They played like veterans from the beginning of the season."
"We get a lot of respect from the seniors which you don't see often for the younger kids," says sophomore forward Marcus Smart. "But at the same time, we give that respect back to them."
Senior Tom Netsch, a forward likes the combination. "We have a ton of players that could be playing division one. I'm just happy to go on the ride with them," he says.
It's not often that you find a high school team where the leaders of the team are all sophomores, but that’s the case at Flower Mound Marcus and the players have names that you won't soon forget.
"They're blessed with sports center names, I guess as a group, Smart Lucky and Forte," says Henderson.
Marcus Smart is the unequaled leader at Forward. Henderson says he can play ever position on the floor. His no look passes are a site to behold and speaks volumes for his future in the sports. Phil Forte is a shooting guard who has hit 96-three pointers and A.J. Luckey is more than just a lucky guard.
"Forte is lucky to be smart," says guard A.J. Luckey as he strings the names together. "So that's what we go by sometimes."
Forte lines the names up this way. "Forte is being smart and lucky!"
"I don't know what that's about," says senior post Cory Needs with a big smile. "Obviously it's got some meaning because we're doing pretty well."
So of the three sophomores, who's considered the best looking?
"I'm going to have to go with that one," says Luckey raising his hands. Of course Smart and Forte disagree with that statement, but maybe Luckey is just a lucky guy.
With Luckey, Forte and Smart, Flower Mound Marcus has a great chance to reach the state tournament in Austin. Their next big test comes Friday night at Birdville Coliseum against Duncanville.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Nine Straight Isn't enough for Highland Park Swim Team
The girls swimming and diving team at Highland Park High School has been on a roll since 2001. They won a state championship that year and have successfully defended their title ever since.
"We're a school with tradition and once we get a tradition started, no one wants to break it," says head coach Jess Cole. "I think that's really what makes it happen. They always have a good attitude and always trying to to the best and they're always talking about how can I get better."
When it comes to high school teams of the decade, it's hard not to put the highland swimming and diving team at the top. Afterall, they've won a state record nine straight state championships. This weekend, they're going for ten in a row.
"Its a tradition that you want to hold on to as you can and even though, our tradition is of excellence," says Katie Streepey. "It's not necessarily about being the best all the time, but it's about giving the best."
"It's always about we have to win we have to do this because we've done it for so long, why stop now," says Allison Arnold.
Arnold was recruited by as many as 30 division I colleges before deciding on Stanford. She holds the state records in both the 200 and 500 meter free style. In her four years, she has never lost a race in district, regional or state competition.
Says Arnold, "The girl who had the 500 record before me, she was on the team my freshman year and I look up to her so much and now I have her records, it's kind of weird because now i'm kind of that figure to the younger swimmers out there and I just, these four years have gone by so fast."
And so has the decade which has belonged to this program. "It is one for the decades if we can go ten, nine was great to set the UIL record but ten would be a nice round number," says Cole.
"We're a school with tradition and once we get a tradition started, no one wants to break it," says head coach Jess Cole. "I think that's really what makes it happen. They always have a good attitude and always trying to to the best and they're always talking about how can I get better."
When it comes to high school teams of the decade, it's hard not to put the highland swimming and diving team at the top. Afterall, they've won a state record nine straight state championships. This weekend, they're going for ten in a row.
"Its a tradition that you want to hold on to as you can and even though, our tradition is of excellence," says Katie Streepey. "It's not necessarily about being the best all the time, but it's about giving the best."
"It's always about we have to win we have to do this because we've done it for so long, why stop now," says Allison Arnold.
Arnold was recruited by as many as 30 division I colleges before deciding on Stanford. She holds the state records in both the 200 and 500 meter free style. In her four years, she has never lost a race in district, regional or state competition.
Says Arnold, "The girl who had the 500 record before me, she was on the team my freshman year and I look up to her so much and now I have her records, it's kind of weird because now i'm kind of that figure to the younger swimmers out there and I just, these four years have gone by so fast."
And so has the decade which has belonged to this program. "It is one for the decades if we can go ten, nine was great to set the UIL record but ten would be a nice round number," says Cole.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Dallas Gets Ready to Host NBA All-Star game
The huge billboards going up in downtown Dallas is starting to make Dallas look more like a city about to host the NBA All-Star game. Mavericks players are starting to get more and more excited as well about having the event come to their home town.
"First of all, if you see this shirt I'm holding, I am the official Jam Session spokesperson so I’ll be very involved," says Mavericks guard Jason Terry. "There are community events going around like the NBA Cares program to help improve our community, I'll be involved in the rookie sophomore game Friday night, and then I've gotten a suite for my family for Saturday and Sunday, so I’m very involved. The topper for me is a special party at Love Field with Dirk Nowitzki, Mary J. Blige and the rapper Common. That's big. It's open to the public."
Dirk Nowitzki will be the only Mavericks player to actually play in the game, so that leaves a lot of players around to just enjoy the event. A majority of the players in the NBA never get a chance participate in the All-Star game; much less even see the game. So naturally, when it comes to their home town, they want to see what the week is all about.
"I'm going to stay here. It's my first one. I have to see that, yeah. I will be there," says Mavericks guard Rodrigue Beaubois.
"Oh it’s perfect!" says guard J.J.Barea. "I stay in my house, stay in my town and I know where to go. I don't need anyone to take me around. It's going to be awesome,"
Cities that have hosted the NBA All star game rarely see their team win an NBA championship that same year. In the last 60-years, only four teams have been that lucky. The Lakers were the last team to do it 38 years ago in 1972. The Boston Celtics did it in 1964.
The St Louis Hawks did it in 1958 before moving to Atlanta. The first team to do it was Boston in 1957.
"Well, I guess that's a new challenge for us," forward Eduardo Najera says laughingly. But we don't worry about any of that stuff. Right now, we've got bigger problems."
"That's flawed negative thinking that only a television reporter would come up for a question," says head coach Rick Carlisle.
Good point, but it is a rare fact and the Mavericks are the only team with a chance to change that this year.
"First of all, if you see this shirt I'm holding, I am the official Jam Session spokesperson so I’ll be very involved," says Mavericks guard Jason Terry. "There are community events going around like the NBA Cares program to help improve our community, I'll be involved in the rookie sophomore game Friday night, and then I've gotten a suite for my family for Saturday and Sunday, so I’m very involved. The topper for me is a special party at Love Field with Dirk Nowitzki, Mary J. Blige and the rapper Common. That's big. It's open to the public."
Dirk Nowitzki will be the only Mavericks player to actually play in the game, so that leaves a lot of players around to just enjoy the event. A majority of the players in the NBA never get a chance participate in the All-Star game; much less even see the game. So naturally, when it comes to their home town, they want to see what the week is all about.
"I'm going to stay here. It's my first one. I have to see that, yeah. I will be there," says Mavericks guard Rodrigue Beaubois.
"Oh it’s perfect!" says guard J.J.Barea. "I stay in my house, stay in my town and I know where to go. I don't need anyone to take me around. It's going to be awesome,"
Cities that have hosted the NBA All star game rarely see their team win an NBA championship that same year. In the last 60-years, only four teams have been that lucky. The Lakers were the last team to do it 38 years ago in 1972. The Boston Celtics did it in 1964.
The St Louis Hawks did it in 1958 before moving to Atlanta. The first team to do it was Boston in 1957.
"Well, I guess that's a new challenge for us," forward Eduardo Najera says laughingly. But we don't worry about any of that stuff. Right now, we've got bigger problems."
"That's flawed negative thinking that only a television reporter would come up for a question," says head coach Rick Carlisle.
Good point, but it is a rare fact and the Mavericks are the only team with a chance to change that this year.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Jerry Jones called greatest promoter in sports
It had all the pizzazz of Vegas fight as Cowboys owner Jerry Jones took on a new challenge and host a championship fight at his new stadium. His introduction of "Mr. Jerrrrrrrrrrry Jones" echoed throughout the stadium as he took the stage.
"We will make it the fight to be remembered in this new stadium," Jones said to a small crowd attending the announcement.
On March 13th, Manny Pacquiao will face Joshua Clottey in a world welterweight championship fight. Their goal is sell 45-thousand seats, but more can't be opened up. The stadium will use a similar configuration that was used to host the first basketball game in the stadium back in December when Texas played North Carolina. It was considered a trial run for the final four.
"You got the greatest promoter in the world in Jerry Jones," says Lester Bedford of the Bedford Agency. "I know all these boxing promoters. I know Don King, I know Bob Arum, I know Oscar De La Hoya, and I've done work for all of them. None of them can match Jerry Jones. I'm telling you. He is the best promoter in the history of sport in this country. I never met PT Barnum, but jerry is a good one."
There are a lot of places where this fight could have been held, but it ended up in Arlington. Hall of fame promoter Bob Arum, who has been called the most powerful man in boxing, says Cowboys stadium will help sell this fight.
"It just blows you away," Arum says. "Forget the fact that Jerry is a wonderful showman, which he is, but this facility is incredible. Just incredible."
Arum should know since he promoted the Ali Norton fight at Yankee stadium in 1976. So far, Cowboys stadium has already had its share of concerts, Cowboys games, high school playoff games, college football games, a college basketball game, even soccer. Up next is the NBA All-Star game and boxing.
"I think it will sell, no matter what because I think you have enough boxing fans as the crowd here showed," says fight referee Lawrence Cole. "But I really think it's a spring board and it's right up Jerry's alley."
"Thank you Jerry Jones for giving us the opportunity to fight here," Pacquiao told Jones.
So what's next for Cowboys Stadium? "Well we're very excited about our bull riding competition," Jones says.
In case you're wondering, that's coming in February.
"We will make it the fight to be remembered in this new stadium," Jones said to a small crowd attending the announcement.
On March 13th, Manny Pacquiao will face Joshua Clottey in a world welterweight championship fight. Their goal is sell 45-thousand seats, but more can't be opened up. The stadium will use a similar configuration that was used to host the first basketball game in the stadium back in December when Texas played North Carolina. It was considered a trial run for the final four.
"You got the greatest promoter in the world in Jerry Jones," says Lester Bedford of the Bedford Agency. "I know all these boxing promoters. I know Don King, I know Bob Arum, I know Oscar De La Hoya, and I've done work for all of them. None of them can match Jerry Jones. I'm telling you. He is the best promoter in the history of sport in this country. I never met PT Barnum, but jerry is a good one."
There are a lot of places where this fight could have been held, but it ended up in Arlington. Hall of fame promoter Bob Arum, who has been called the most powerful man in boxing, says Cowboys stadium will help sell this fight.
"It just blows you away," Arum says. "Forget the fact that Jerry is a wonderful showman, which he is, but this facility is incredible. Just incredible."
Arum should know since he promoted the Ali Norton fight at Yankee stadium in 1976. So far, Cowboys stadium has already had its share of concerts, Cowboys games, high school playoff games, college football games, a college basketball game, even soccer. Up next is the NBA All-Star game and boxing.
"I think it will sell, no matter what because I think you have enough boxing fans as the crowd here showed," says fight referee Lawrence Cole. "But I really think it's a spring board and it's right up Jerry's alley."
"Thank you Jerry Jones for giving us the opportunity to fight here," Pacquiao told Jones.
So what's next for Cowboys Stadium? "Well we're very excited about our bull riding competition," Jones says.
In case you're wondering, that's coming in February.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Dirk Nowitzki about reach major scoring milestone
In his 11th season, Mavericks Forward Dirk Nowitzki is about to reach a major scoring milestone. He's just 16-points away from 20,000 points and that puts him in elite NBA company.
"It's an unbelievable milestone," Nowitzki says. "I mean, looking back, eleven years ago, I don't think none of you guys thought I could score 1,000."
That is true especially when you consider his first game in Seattle on Feb 5, 1999 when Nowitzki had 5 assists, no field goals and 2 free throws.
It's also hard to forget his first trip to Dallas in June of 1998 when then Mavericks Head Coach, Don Nelson was showing him the future site of the American Airlines Center. Nowitzki was a tall skinny kid with long blonde hair.
"It's hard to recall back then but that floppy headed blonde German kid coming over here," says Donn Nelson, President of Basketball Operations for the Mavericks. "I thought he was going to be good, but we'd be lying if we thought he was going to be this good. A drink of water and the all of sudden he blossoms into this, it's really a cool thing for our fans to be a part of."
Nowitzki met his hero, then Seattle Forward Detlef Schrempf before his first NBA game. Today in German, Nowitzki is bigger than Schrempf and just as popular as Tennis legend Boris Becker and Formula one driver Michael Schumacher.
"He has tremendous respect in our country, because of his character, his work ethic and obviously his accomplishments," says German National Coach Dirk Bauermann.
By reaching 20,000 points, Nowitzki will do something players like John Stockton with 19,711 points, Isiah Thomas with 18,822 points, Rick Berry with 18,395 and Magic Johnson with 17,707 were never able to reach for one reason or another.
Meanwhile, Nowitzki says the record is fine but he still dreams of winning an NBA Championship. "It doesn't mean that much to me as of right now," Nowitzki says. "I'm stills trying to chase my dream and that's win a championship and like I said, all that other stuff is great once my career is over."
Only 33 players in NBA history have ever topped the 20,000 point mark. It's a virtual guarantee that when his playing days are over, Nowitzki will end up in the basketball hall of fame.
The all time leading scorer in NBA history is former Lakers Center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He finished his career with 38,387 points.
"It's an unbelievable milestone," Nowitzki says. "I mean, looking back, eleven years ago, I don't think none of you guys thought I could score 1,000."
That is true especially when you consider his first game in Seattle on Feb 5, 1999 when Nowitzki had 5 assists, no field goals and 2 free throws.
It's also hard to forget his first trip to Dallas in June of 1998 when then Mavericks Head Coach, Don Nelson was showing him the future site of the American Airlines Center. Nowitzki was a tall skinny kid with long blonde hair.
"It's hard to recall back then but that floppy headed blonde German kid coming over here," says Donn Nelson, President of Basketball Operations for the Mavericks. "I thought he was going to be good, but we'd be lying if we thought he was going to be this good. A drink of water and the all of sudden he blossoms into this, it's really a cool thing for our fans to be a part of."
Nowitzki met his hero, then Seattle Forward Detlef Schrempf before his first NBA game. Today in German, Nowitzki is bigger than Schrempf and just as popular as Tennis legend Boris Becker and Formula one driver Michael Schumacher.
"He has tremendous respect in our country, because of his character, his work ethic and obviously his accomplishments," says German National Coach Dirk Bauermann.
By reaching 20,000 points, Nowitzki will do something players like John Stockton with 19,711 points, Isiah Thomas with 18,822 points, Rick Berry with 18,395 and Magic Johnson with 17,707 were never able to reach for one reason or another.
Meanwhile, Nowitzki says the record is fine but he still dreams of winning an NBA Championship. "It doesn't mean that much to me as of right now," Nowitzki says. "I'm stills trying to chase my dream and that's win a championship and like I said, all that other stuff is great once my career is over."
Only 33 players in NBA history have ever topped the 20,000 point mark. It's a virtual guarantee that when his playing days are over, Nowitzki will end up in the basketball hall of fame.
The all time leading scorer in NBA history is former Lakers Center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He finished his career with 38,387 points.
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