A Dallas debacle

It’s been hard to ignore the story of the Texas high school girls basketball game that saw one school beat another 100-0.

The most recent development was the news that the winning team, Covenant School, had fired its head coach Micah Grimes.

While it’s unfortunate to see anyone lose their job, especially in this economy, Grimes’ firing seems warranted — especially after the coach reportedly refused to fully apologize for the blowout win.

He never should have been forced to apologize, because he never should have put himself in that position in the first place.

Where was Grimes’ focus during the game?

Was it on the court, where his team reportedly pressed on defense and hoisted 3-pointers until late in the fourth quarter?

Or was it on the sidelines and stands, where fans and even an assistant coach allegedly cheered the team on as it nudged closer and closer to the century mark?

Up almost 60 points at halftime, don’t you call off the dogs?

I’m no coach, but how about substituting in your bench, dropping into a zone on defense and simply running out the clock on offense by passing the ball around.

I don’t blame the Covenant players for reportedly being excited about getting to 100 points on the scoreboard, but high school athletes — teenagers — can’t always be expected to be cognizant of the big picture — that’s where a coach should have stepped in.

Scoring 100 points and holding your opponent to zero is impressive — that Covenant team must be pretty good. Most local girls teams rarely break 60 points over the course of an entire game, much less come close to it in one half.

Which leads to my final thought, and hopefully something the league that governs the pair of schools could look into if they're not already — why are these two teams playing each other in the first place?

I’m not saying the losing squad should be barred from competing — but aren’t there more competitive games out there that they can insert into its schedule?

Again, I’m no expert, but once in a while I do have flashes of common sense. It’s too bad some of the adults at that game apparently didn’t.

Teaching and encouraging sportsmanship, especially in high school sports, should be equally, if not more, important than racking up wins and points.

If this had happened in the pros or competitive collegiate ranks it'd be one thing, but the majority of high school athletes play sports to have fun, and that shouldn't come at the expense of another player or team.

Among royalty

Hopefully those in the real wrestling community will allow me a quick foray into the world of make believe.

I was able to attend he WWE's Royal Rumble Jan. 25 at Joe Louis Arena, and there might be no spectacle that brings the same type of entertainment as professional "wrestling."

It's not just how huge the mountains of humanity they call "superstars" are in real life, it's more the way in which these Yetis interact with the crowds. The way the WWE faithful are part of the show with their signs and chants is something you have to see to believe. Their addition to the festivities is just as much a fixture as folding chairs and exposed turnbuckles in a no disqualification match.

A couple of my personal highlights were the way John Cena and Rob Van Dam of Battle Creek galvanized the crowd.

With simultaneous chants for and against the WWE Champion, Cena is a one-man European soccer match. And when RVD came down the ramp to join the Rumble, the local boy's ovation was as great, if not greater, than any superstar this side of the Undertaker.

So while moonsaults from atop ladders through tables may not require quite the same technical expertise as a cradle into a pin, can there really be that much wrong with anything that can bring as much excitement and joy to a city like Detroit as did the WWE.

Just can't stay away

Few things have made me feel as old as when I walked into De La Salle's gym and saw 2008 Warren Woods Tower grad Kyle Lowry working as a coach with the Pilots.

Then I walked into St. Clair Shores Lakeview Jan. 21 and coach Steve Nicholl told me he had two new assistants, Mike Hissong and Jake Fisher.

It took me a minute to remember why the name Jake Fisher was familiar, but soon enough I realized Jake Fisher was Jacob Fisher, the Huskies' 2005-06 Division 2 145-pound state runner-up that I had covered.

Aside from high school athletes that I covered that are now coaches making me feel every one of my 29 years, they show one of the main reasons I enjoy covering wrestling — commitment.

Unlike any other sport, wrestling brings people together who must be of a like, and sometimes skewed, mind.

These folks enjoy literally taking beatings and call it practice. As the Warren Mott team Web site boasts, "Does your sport have blood time?"

Aside from all the perceived oddities that those outside the wrestling world see, those in it see something bigger than themselves and greater then the tough times that come with losing and the rigors of things like cutting weight.

As Warren Woods Tower coach Greg Mayer said of grapplers like Lowry, "Those guys eat, breath and sleep wrestling, and it's why Fisher admitted that even if he wasn't a paid assistant on the Huskies' staff, he would have been in the practice room anyway.

Guys like Lowry and Fisher returned to the sport so soon after their graduation because it means so much to them, and even though it makes me feel old, I'm glad they're doing it and helping to introduce a new generation to a sport they just can't stay away from.

Creuse-ing with Cruz

In my short time as a high school sports reporter, I’ve come into contact with few more personable student-athletes than Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse senior Willie Cruz. Maybe the only people who don’t like him are the players assigned to guard him on the basketball court.

Cruz’s skill set on the court make him one of the most dangerous players around. And off it, his charisma could perhaps even captivate the player he just dropped 30 points on.
That’s why Eastern Kentucky University got lucky when Cruz signed his official National Letter of Intent back in the fall to attend the Richmond, Ky., based Division 1 Ohio Valley Conference school.

I recently caught up with Cruz, and even on crutches following a recent injury, he couldn’t hold back from smiling as he talked about continuing his playing career at the next level.

“To play Division 1 basketball has been my dream since I was young,” Cruz said. “And to get the opportunity to play at a school like Eastern Kentucky and have four years paid for, it’s great.”

Cruz drew the Colonels’ attention, along with plenty of other colleges, with his solid all-around play on the AAU circuit.

He said he was drawn to EKU because of their coaching staff and playing style. Cruz said the team utilizes a balanced offense, where all the players are looked on to score and play interchangeable parts. The guards are asked to play dual roles as ballhandlers and scorers —which suits a combo player such as Cruz.

“The way they play fits me perfect,” he said. “It’s up and down. There’s a lot of 3’s being shot, a lot of passing and unselfish play.”

Local hoops fans should try and catch Cruz in action once he returns from his injury (expected to be late January) and before he’s off to EKU. You don’t want to miss out on one of the premier talents, and people, in the Macomb Area Conference ... unless, of course, you have to guard him.

Menacing matchups

Lately, much of my time has been spent on balconies, in auxilary gyms and even in local training centers.

That's where many of the gymnastics teams have to set up shop to get their practicing in.

Though they were sometimes tough to find, I've had the opportunity to get a glimpse into the lives of those who are fighting each day to keep their sport alive and well.

Because I've been shuffling across mats and climbing over various apparatuses to get to these athletes, I've had to take a little break from covering Macomb Area Conference girls basketball.

But there are a couple of games rivalry games that fans in Warren and Grosse Pointe, especially, shouldn't miss.

Defending Class A state champion Grosse Pointe North takes on rival Grosse Pointe South at 7 p.m. Jan. 28 at home. Although the Norsemen got off to a slow start in non-league games, they've jumped to 3-0 in the MAC Red.

The Blue Devils, meanwhile, are also undefeated in league play, posting 3-0 in the MAC Blue. This matchup between crosstown rivals is always intense and fun for the community.

Just a short drive down 12 Mile Road separates Warren Cousino and Warren Mott. At 7 p.m. Jan. 28, their basketball teams will tangle in a crossover game.

Cousino's squad has proved to be a threat in the MAC Blue, splitting their first two league games and posting a 4-4 overall record. In the Bronze, Mott is competiting for the top spot at 2-0, tied with Clintondale.

Don't run from the cold, avoid it!

It’s not often I feel compelled to use this blog to give advice. Frankly, I don’t know if I ever have. But as an arctic cold sweeps across southeast Michigan this week , and as my own stupidity came front and center, I really can't help myself.

There’s an old saying “no pain, no gain,” which we have all heard and at some point probably lived through. There’s another saying I’ve heard and recently lived through, “stupid is as stupid does.”

Part of life is making mistakes and learning from said mistakes. So with that in mind, I’ve decided to highlight my own mistake in an effort to educate others – and probably get a few people to ask, “What was he thinking?”

I’m not sure when it started, probably in college when my football career came to an end and the requirement of conditioning ended with it. Since then, though, I’ve found myself running roughly three miles or so  four to five times a week.

Now don’t get me confused with one of those “runners.” You know, the people who can do two marathons a year, are up at 4:30 a.m. in the summer, have the short shorts, the stop watch and the gel packs. Running isn’t my favorite thing to do, by any means, but in an attempt to keep myself in shape, it’s one of the best things for the body.

Unless, of course, the temperature is in the single digits, as it was a week or so ago when I ventured out for my three-mile journey.

Bundled up with long socks, Under Armor, winter gloves, a head band and a couple more shirts, I made my way into the evening night. The first half of the run, with the wind at my back, was, well, a breeze. But as I reached my halfway point and turned  into the howling wind, I quickly felt the pain.

It didn’t take long before my legs started feeling numb, and my face was as cold and frozen as the ground my feet were pounding on. “I can tough it out,” raced through my mind. But before long, the cold had simply consumed me. Returning home, finally, I felt dazed, upset with myself and even concerned for my well-being.

First, it was a shower of cool/warm water to allow my body to thaw out. Then it was a quick call to an old friend who coaches cross country in Albion, who reminded me about the dangers of extreme cold and frostbite, and how quickly it can set in.

"You might as well just hit the treadmill,” he said. 

If you’re anything like me, the treadmill might as well be called the dreadmill (clever huh?). What's more ridiculous than essentially running in place for as long as desired? Yet, after that fateful night of shivering and shortness of breath, it’s the go-to option when the weather is like this.

So my advice, after all that, is to be smart this winter. Whether you're training for the spring sports season, maintaining your shape for the current winter season or preparing for those two marathons you have to run this summer, only do so when the weather  allows and educate yourself about the dangers of extreme cold. 

Believe it or not, spring is right around the corner, and that 4:30 a.m. alarm will be ringing before you know it.

Now that's early

Last week, I met with Rochester High senior wrestler Nick Kaczanowski and coach Frank Lafferty after school to do a story on Nick’s amazing season.

He was 22-0 at the time, had already won the Oakland County Tournament and has a great chance of winning the state title 160 pounds. Last season, he finished second in the state at 152.

On top of that, Rochester was 4-0 in the Oakland Activities Association Red Division.

But those amazing statistics weren’t what stuck out to me. It was the mere mention by Lafferty that the whole team had already practiced that day — at 5 a.m.

When he saw the stunned look on my face, he repeated it "5 a.m."

By all accounts, that’s early.

Now, I know teams all across the state, from gymnastics to swimming, utilize the mornings for practice. Heck, the wrestling team probably wasn't the only Rochester squad there on that frigid morning putting in extra time.

But for me, I’m not even certain 5 a.m. exists.

Yet that morning, the Falcons rolled out of their beds way before many of their classmates and went to school.

They didn’t open their books. Instead, they shot, sprawled and pinned each other.

Their unwavering dedication is probably one of the reasons the Falcons have a potential state champion and are making a run at the Red title.

It’s just not my idea of breakfast.

New kids on the mat

Local wrestling teams would be well served to take notice of a brewing storm on Common Road in Warren.

The Warren De La Salle wrestling team, in its fourth season of existence after coach Dennis Parks started the team in 2005-06, has all the makings of what could be a major player in Macomb County.

Much like Pilots football coach Paul Verska changed the face of metro Detroit prep football when he turned the De La Salle gridiron program around, Parks seems poised to make a splash in the wrestling world.

He only has one grappler, junior 130-pounder Adam Masakowski, on his roster that had mat experience before stepping into the Pilots' wrestling room, but his team has already taken home the 2008-09 Warren City Championships and placed second in two other tournaments this year.

Because Parks pulled his team out of the county meet Dec. 20 because of a conflict with De La Salle's final exams schedule, no one will know how the Pilots measure up to the top teams in Macomb County until the Michigan High School Athletic Association team and individual district tournaments Feb. 18 and Feb. 21, respectively, but if the way wrestlers like senior 215-pounder Padriac Berlin attacks opponents is any indication, the Pilots could pull off a number of perceived upsets in districts and possibly regional tournaments.

Parks has enlisted the help of recent Warren Woods Tower grad Kyle Lowry as an assistant coach, a move that could be very shrewd.

As the Pilots fight to prove themselves in a crowded wrestling county, they could be very comparable to the Tower teams on which Lowry, his twin brother, Kenny, and current Old Dominion grappler and two-time state runner-up Brennan Brumley starred.

After all, just as coach Greg Mayer and former coach Pat Threet built the Titans from also-rans to regional champs, Parks has already built the Pilots from never-weres to city champions.

From Warren to the World

Brian Maisonneuve never dreamt soccer would take him around the world, much less out of the Midwest.

When the Warren native returned home recently for the holidays and to co-host a two-day soccer camp, I couldn’t pass up the short trip to speak with one of the community’s best-traveled athletes.

Maisonneuve, who was named Mr. Soccer after his senior season at Warren De La Salle, said that when he left his home to attend Indiana University, he didn’t expect a career in soccer.

“I remember when I picked Indiana – it was one of those where 'this could be the end,' because Major League Soccer wasn’t in existence,” Maisonneuve said. “The U.S. National Team was about the only thing — but everybody dreams about playing for the national team. You dream of it, but you’re never quite sure.”

The MLS was formed during Maisonneuve’s junior year at Indiana — and he would later join the Columbus Crew once he closed out his illustrious career as a Hoosier. Maisonneuve won many accolades at Indiana, capped off by the Herman Trophy (awarded to the top college soccer player) his senior year after leading the Hoosiers to the national championship game.

His dreams of playing for his country came to fruition as well, as Maisonneuve represented the United States during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and the 1998 World Cup in France.

He talked about some of his favorite highlights – winning the Class A 1990 state crown with De La Salle and consecutive trips to NCAA soccer’s final four — the College Cup.

More memories came from his national and international experiences, including playing against Argentina — arguably the best team in the world then — at Legion Field following the opening ceremonies during the first game of the 1994 Olympics.

“To walk out and to have 85,000 people chanting ‘USA’ was pretty special,” he said.

A highlight from the World Cup, in which he played in all three of the United State’s games, also includes a pre-game memory.

Warming up before a match against Germany, Maisonneuve looked up and spotted legendary players Jurgen Klinnsman and Lothar Mattheus getting ready across the way.

“Those were guys that I grew up watching play, it’s just like, you had to pinch yourself,” he said. “Once the whistle blows, I mean it’s a game. But warming up, I remember I was in awe.”

Maisonneuve, who describes himself as “athletically average,” said one message he wanted to relay to the kids at his camp was that if he can do it, anyone can — with the right attitude.

“It’s just a lot of hard work and dedication to the sport,” he said.

Looking back on his career, Maisonneuve said he was lucky to play for coaches like Thaier Mukhtar (the De La Salle coach he was co-hosting the camp with), Indiana’s Jerry Yeagley and national team coaches Bruce Arena and Steve Sampson.

“To have it work out the way it did, I was pretty fortunate,” he said. “And a lot of the coaches that I’ve had – I was pretty fortunate to achieve some of the stuff that brought me all over the world.”

He said all of his coaches inspired him to coach — as he does now as an assistant with the University of Louisville’s men’s team while also helping out the national youth teams.

“I was very fortunate to have great coaches,” Maisonneuve said. “I mean, you look at coach Mukhtar – the best coach ever in the state of Michigan — and you look at coach Yeagley, who’s arguably the best college coach ever in the country ... to have those guys as mentors is pretty amazing.”

Maisonneuve said he began seeing himself as a coach during his playing career, when mounting injuries started to make him think about retiring.

“I always wanted to stick with the game,” he said. “Once I got coaching, it really took over my passion for playing, now it becomes a passion for coaching – and it’s a pretty even substitute.

“I loved playing, but now I love coaching just as much – and sometimes I get more out of it,” Maisonneuve continued. “It’s amazing when you’re teaching kids how to play, and they actually pull it off on the field. To see their excitement, it translates into your excitement. It’s pretty special, and I really enjoy coaching. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”