Who’s The Best? Let em Settle it on the field!

Surviving those summer football practices in triple-digit temperatures, the Trojans football team at Dallas Madison High School is off to a good start after beating Cleburne 62-9 on the road. By the time this story publishes they will be getting set to kick off Thursday against Kimball High School at Sprague Stadium.

And before their faithful fans get set for the annual South Dallas super bowl against Lincoln at Kincaide Stadium in two weeks, what a privilege head coach Ronald Johnson and the Trojans will have to play in a classic event that will put them in a national spotlight at the Florida vs. Texas high school football showcase at Eagle Stadium in Desoto, Texas.

It’s the first of its kind and presented by C and B National Sports Marketing Group, on Friday and Saturday nights, September 10-11. Madison will be among four teams (others are Denison, Abilene and Desoto) to represent the Lone Star State. Each will play four highly ranked Florida teams; one game on Friday night and three on Saturday.

Madison will face Florida’s seventh ranked Miami Central High School on Saturday. Definitely out of their comfort zone of Dallas-Forth Worth and district 12 3-A play, but coach Johnson and his team are not the ones to shy away from a challenge. He said at a press conference during the summer announcing the showcase and all eight participating teams that his Trojans “were so excited when they got the news.” It’s a game that can really put the Trojans on the map, thus much deserved media coverage that’s actually past due.

By time all four games are played on the gridiron, one state will have the right to brag in 2010, putting the debate of “Who’s the best” in high school football to bed. Students, faculty, family, friends and the Dallas community, are being called on to show up and support Madison as that 12th man in the stands and help prove that high school football is also bigger and better in Texas.

Madison and Miami Central game kicks off at 3p.m. You can buy your tickets for this game only at The Dallas Weekly for $11 each. Stop by the office or call 214-428-8958 for more information.

© Copyright 2010 The Sports Diva

Make sure you check out my women’s sports blog for more on the book I reviewed, written by actress, philanthropist and wife Holly Robinson Peete here.

For more information visit C and B National Sports Marketing Group

It was straight laced (live and direct) and straight talk with no commercial breaks. It’s work being that long winded! Check out my ‘delayed broadcast’ here

It’s Straight Laced Radio with The Sports Diva, and to you, my wonderful followers, log on and listen live (or later) from my show’s page at www.blogtalkradio.com/thesportsdivalive

*sports
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And just like any other show, you can call in. Now Let’s get ready for some football!

The ultimate destination for the weekend of August 6-9 was Canton to do media coverage for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Weekend to witness Emmitt Smith, Jerry Rice, John Randle, Dick LeBeau, Russ Grimm, Rickey Jackson and Floyd Little be enshrined. What a time people had partaking in all those festivities that went on for a week. Even more what a time Dallas Cowboys fans had taking over the city-yes, an oasis full of Blue and White jerseys-watching and standing the entire time as Smith, last of  ‘the triplets’, spoke and was inducted into the Hall.The Blue koolaid spilled over to Sunday afternoon in downtown Canton, for the GameDay roundtable featuring all the inductees, and to the Cowboys vs. Cincinatti Bengals Hall of Fame Game Sunday evening.

Before Canton, though, I flew into Columbus. Made my flight a heck of a lot cheaper.  Well worth the 1hr-45 minute scenic drive via 77 North to Canton. But for more reasons than the money I’m glad I did it.

Never considered it a tourist type of town. So it was good to have a few hours to get a feel of what it’s about. There’s plenty of culture/art. And of course if you’re a sports diva or dude like me, you’d know there’s also plenty of Ohio State Buckeyes fever goin around!

I’d have enough sports and entertainment for the weekend so wanted to enjoy 30 minutes of something different; with help from the public relations contact, I arranged a private tour of the Thurber House, once home to famous humorist/cartoonist and Columbus native, James Thurber. It has been visited by writers like Nikki Giovanni and Toni Morrison. Very educational and I could sense the volunteer’s passion about the Thurber House’s purpose today.

But being an avid traveler with a fascination for hotels, I really enjoyed my stay at The Westin Hotel-Columbus. Funny thing is that I typed a list of hotels to stay while there and the day before my departure I treated the list like a globe on a desk. My finger landed on The Westin so I called them. Talk about good luck. It’s a 112 year old hotel on the corner of High Street and Main in downtown Columbus you’ll love from the time you walk into the lobby.

Other than the turkey-bacon club sandwich at Thurber’s Bar (yes, named after the man himself), I enjoyed the Corner King Suite which is about a 600 square feet one-room located on the corner of the hotel. Seating area and dining table included. Just like it is on the picture. It was heavenly.

If you are ever in the city, be it for business, family, or even to see those Buckeyes play at the horseshoe, enjoy a night at The Westin-Columbus.

I’m looking forward to a second tour of travel duty myself.

One of Emmitt Smith's runs to greatness

The National Football League’s most anticipated summer event is the Pro Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend, and festivities leading up to the main event on Saturday- the induction ceremony- are already underway in Canton, Ohio.

Pretty excited about the chance to make my way to Canton as it will be a first for me. A privilege, honestly, to be there in the flesh as a member of the media but also as a fan of the game to witness some of the greatest former NFL players be inducted into the Hall.

Here’s the list of seven who will don the gold jackets, be introduced by someone of their choosing and forever enshrined into football immortality Saturday evening:

Russ Grimm. A three-time super bowl champ he played 11 seasons with the Washington Redskins, who weren’t so watered down back in the 80’s. With Grimm (along with Joe Jacoby) that offensive line  became known as ’The Hogs’.

Rickey Jackson. Lord knows the Saints were nothing to write home about for so many years; not even the great Archie Manning could save ’em. But Rickey Jackson was. If you just watch the players play, you must remember that Jackson was a great linebacker for the Saints. 

Dick LeBeau. The current defensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers will be enshrined Saturday as a player. LeBeau played cornerback for the Detroit Lions during the years of less whining, less pads but more hits. Can’t say enough about his field vision, but maybe 12 straight seasons with three or more interceptions can.

Floyd Little. The little engine that did with the Denver Broncos for nine seasons. He amassed more than 12,000 all-purpose yards and 54 TDs and at the time of his retirement in 1975, Little was the 7th ranked rusher of all-time.

John Randle.  Straight out of Hearne, Texas  he was the man who wore the black-face paint every Sunday, hopping around to get pumped up for the games each week. Randle was a bad man at the defensive tackle position for 12 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and his last two with Seattle. I think 137.5 sacks says so.

Jerry Rice- there’s not enough time for me to lay out what he’s done at wide receiver for 20 seasons. So let’s cut to the chase- he was mmm good! Spending most of his time as a 49er, Rice owns almost every receiver record, won three super bowls and broke a few  hearts of Cowboys fans during his playing days with Joe Montana and Steve Young.

Emmitt Smith. He was one- third of ‘The Triplets, three-time super bowl champ (two-time super bowl MVP), the RB who recorded record 11 straight seasons with 1,000 yards rushing and the NFL’s current all-time rushing leader. And after declaring his rookie season he can make it to the Hall of Fame, 18,355 yards and a 164 touchdowns rushing Smith will be going on Saturday (and will be introduced by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones). And maybe I’m just a little biased when it comes to Emmitt, but other than Walter Payton, he is the best running back I’ve seen (that probably has to do with the fact that I was spoon-fed blue kool-aid and ‘Sweetness’ since before my pre-teen years!).  

And although it was 1993, 1994 and 1996, I’d like to take this time to thank Emmitt for giving me a reason to party like it was 1999!

Check out the Hall of Fame induction ceremony live on NFL Network, on Saturday at 6pm central and the Hall of Fame Game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Cincinnat Bengals on Sunday at 7pm central on NBC.

Still got juice?

Aside from all the big moves in NBA free agency this offseason, things are getting a bit more interesting in Boston as David Aldridge reports the Celtics and Shaquille O’Neal are “close” to a deal.

*CRICKETS*

Ok. So the Celtics will be without Kendrick Perkins until mid-season due to a torn ACL, but they recently signed free agent Jermaine O’Neal at center for two years. Now, adding Shaq to the equation will keep them size large in the frontcourt, but how in the world will this all play out once Perkins returns to the lineup?

Obviously let’s start by agreeing Shaq will have a reserve role and be a starter at center as he has his entire career.

But surprising things have happened in this league lately for the sake of chasing a ring. Power players are simply putting their egos aside to play with more than enough stars on one team. Matter of fact, Boston built the model for it when they got Kevin Garnett to agree to team with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce.

And we know what happened after that.

BLING 2008!

Boston will still be a contender in the East, so Shaq, no matter how much of a hot mess you think he at 38, would like another shot at a fifth title (to match Kobe, perhaps?) before retiring. That’s probably the only thing that’ll motivate the big fella to maintain the juice to give double-digit scoring and rebounding.

But will there be enough balls to go around? Well if Shaq does ball in Beantown next season…

He and his possible new team have an opening day date (game) with the Miami Heat.

After Monday morning’s practice at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Bryant was supposed fall in line to the normal hazing rituals for rookies during training camp. And with the Cowboys, once the whistle blows signaling the end of practice he was to follow orders- like tote the shoulder pads for veteran receivers such as Roy Williams, Patrick Crayton and Miles Austin when they handed them over to him.

But instead he pretty much told Williams to get ’em himself.

“I’m not doing it,” Byrant said. Oh really, and why not?

“I’m here to try to help win a championship, not carry another man’s pads.”

Hmm, ok.

Well no one can make Bryant do what he wasn’t feeling. It’s an adopted tradition, which I, for one, think he should have allowed himself to have fun with. Many touchdowns later Dez will be laughing out loud about it anyway. The greatest players to ever play have humbly-carried equipment. They have bought food. Even worse some have been duck-taped up to goal post and splashed with buckets of water. And remember some of the most jacked up haircuts?  But it was all good. These rookies lived laughed about it later, and as vets or retired players they tell the stories to any of us who will listen.

But as a league the NFL doesn’t swear by it. Coach Wade Phillips reminded us when he said Bryant doesn’t have to do it if he’s uncomfortable. And, well, Jerry Jones made it top priority to get Bryant signed to a sweet rookie contract making certain his first pick of the 2010 draft was on the bus to San Antonio last Friday, so we can all assume his job isn’t on the line for insubordination.

So what could have been so bad if Bryant had just played personal assistant by carrying some ol musty shoulder pads that weren’t his?

Pride perhaps. All those fans booing Williams every time he looks like he’d drop a pass, while chanting “Dez” since he hit the field for camp, will suddenly start laughing at his expense if he loaded down with equipment. They know what’s up.

Williams may be right in saying Dez is “ornery.” And even if this incident is no big deal to them he and any other receiver who tries may have his hands full dealing with Bryant.

They’ll definitely be carrying their own shoulder pads.

© 2010 The Sports Diva