The high school sports season wrapped up in strong fashon for local teams at the state track and field meet.

Congratulations to the Stevens boys and the Central and St. Thomas More girls. It was impressive showings by all the athletes. Rapid City Stevens had its girls streak of titles snapped at 13, but taking just a second to think about it, that is just an amazing accomplishment.

The Raider boys showed their depth and strength in the relays, the Central girls proved to be too much for the rest of the field and More overwhelmed the rest of Class A.

Jeff

OK, I’ll say it: Rockies manager Clint Hurdle did not deserve to be fired. I’m not even a Rockies fan.

It has been less than two years since the Rockies made that incredible run and had an appearance in the World Series. Did anyone really expect Hurdle to go this soon?

Way to support your guy, general manager Dan O’Dowd. Here’s a fun O’Dowd quote: “Clint is someone who’s been a part of everything we’ve done here. He deserved the benefit of the doubt until it got to the point where we realized we needed to do something.”

Did he really get the benefit of the doubt?

Maybe we should look at why the Rockies are losing. Troy Tulowitzki, now with a big contract, has stunk it up. The team’s best player, Matt Holliday, was traded to the Athletics - and he must have been a good player since the A’s almost never sign big-name players. And, the team’s ace, Jeff Francis, has been on the shelf all season since shoulder surgery.

I know Hurdle is a no-excuse kind of guy, but those are some pretty good ones why Colorado had an 18-28 record heading into today. Before 2007, wasn’t that a pretty good start for this team?

These are the penny-pinching Rockies, now I can tell they are not the most intelligent franchise either.

But as my good coworker Lenn would say, ‘you can’t fire a team.’

- Russo

The Rapid City Central girls long jumpers had a great opening to the state track and field tournament going 1-2 in the event. Super junior Jasmyne King and SDSU recruit Anna Gagliano swept the top two spots.

It is a good start for the Cobblers.

Just how big of a weekend will this be for Rapid City schools? Let us know what you think.

Jeff

That could be another version of the acronym WNBA, which of course is supposed to stand for Women’s National Basketball Association.
Lately, I’ve heard a lot of national sports radio hosts and local scribes at a newspaper near you diss the WNBA, mostly saying in effect they’d rather pound their left foot flat with a sledgehammer than watch a women’s pro basketball game.
Most of that is outright sexism, but the other issue is that it’s a winter sports league attempting to be played in the summer. This time of year I have a real problem holding interest in the NBA and NHL playoffs that spill into June. The WNBA is in preseason mode as we speak, but this is baseball, softball, motorsports, golf and fishing season, now and running through the entire five-month run of the WNBA.
Why not run the WNBA and NBA concurrently? Start the women’s league in January and crown the champion in May. Cities that have both an NBA and WNBA team could offer double-headers and the WNBA could benefit from the extra exposure coupled with the NBA.
I’m sure the women would think they’re being relegated to “junior-varsity” status, but the WNBA isn’t exactly setting the sports world on fire the way things are now.
Men’s and women’s hoops seem to compliment each other at the college level. Both have their ardent followers throughout the winter season. Why should the NBA and WNBA be any different?

What say you?

–Jim Holland–

The Journal is publishing its Best of the West girls golf team in Thursday’s paper. Just three girls on the top two teams are seniors, so it looks like there should be plenty to build on for area teams over the next couple of years.

Let us know what you think of the team.

Jeff

St. Thomas More should be congratulated for winning the state title yesterday in Freeman - and in Yankton.

In only the second year of the team’s existence, the Cavaliers won two games yesterday. Even more remarkable: The Cavaliers had to switch towns and fields in the fifth inning of the championship game because of the rain. This was during a run in which Nolan Johnson, Tyler Richardson and Spencer Braun each had RBI hits.

It seems that in a season that was already shortened quite a bit by weather, that weather would have a part in the final game.

The Cavaliers had a remarkable run to end the season. To earn a trip to the state tournament, St. Thomas More won Region 4B by defeating the three teams that handed them defeats in the regular season. And, they did so while earned double-digit hits in each game, and by good pitching from Braun, Jeremy Kudrna and a talented bullpen.

- Russo

So, I was looking over NBA Draft stuff and I scoffed at some of the predicitions … making me decide to do my own mock draft. I figured nobody reads this blog anyway, so I could just post it here.

- padraic

1. Los Angeles Clippers – Blake Griffin, PF, Oklahoma: Obviously the No. 1 choice (by as wide a margin as Tim Duncan’s draft year, probably). The Oklahoma City-product is in the LeBron James and Dwight Howard class of physical specimens. He combines size and strength with agility, footwork and leaping ability unlike any PF since Chris Webber. Rumors are that his listed height of 6-10 may be a bit of a stretch and suffering a concussion that held him out of a couple of games from being hit with an open hand make me a little skittish, but he’s a lock. Will be an all-star for sure, just may not ever be the cold-blooded type that coaches want.

2. Memphis Grizzlies – Hasheem Thabeet, C, UConn: Popular wisdom and some strangely quixotic scouting on Spanish sensation Ricky Rubio have many saying that the Grizzlies will take the 18-year-old wunderkind here. I don’t believe the hype. Rubio’s a 6-3 marginal athlete with no outside shot, long arms and wonderful court vision. He’s the type of player that would have been drafted in the second round 10 years ago and is going to struggle against the uber-athleticism of NBA guards. Thabeet fits well with the floor-bound, workmanlike game of Marc Gasol on both ends of the floor. He’s got to be the pick.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder – Jordan Hill, PF, Arizona: The Sonics (I’ll never let that go) are devastated when Thabeet goes to Memphis, as his defensive presence would have immediately made them a better team. With the 7-3 center off the board they’ll think about Arizona PF Jordan Hill, who they hope can develop into a consistent rebounding and shot-blocking threat.

4. Sacramento Kings – Brandon Jennings, PG, Compton: The Kings need somebody to come in and put a charge back into Arco Arena. Sac-town has seen a cocky, slightly troubled PG come through town once before in Jason Williams, and Jennings, who played one year in Italy after graduating from high school, fits the same bill. Cat-quick and creative, Jennings would immediately make the Kings more fun to watch (which is always nice when you know you aren’t going to be winning a ton of games) and could fit well with Kevin Martin, Jason Thompson and Spencer Hawes.

5. Washington Wizards – James Harden, SG, Arizona State: Harden’s an NBA-ready scorer who would complement Gilbert Arenas well if Agent Zero is healthy, but could also be called upon to shoulder a little more of the load if Arenas’ knee continues to hamper him.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves – Tyreke Evans, SG, Memphis: I think the Wolves would look at Rubio here, but I imagine the Spaniard’s handlers don’t particularly want him playing in Minneapolis. Considering he’s got an $8 million buyout on his European contract, the Wolves go safe and draft Tyreke Evans to add a desperately needed penetrator/creator.

7. Golden State Warriors – Ricky Rubio, PG, Spain: Rubio would be a nice fit with Monta Ellis in Don Nelson’s up-tempo style. The Warriors would be a little undersized and lacking in outside shooting, but they’d be fast and fun to watch – just what Nelly likes.

8. New York Knicks – DeMar DeRozan, SG, Southern Cal: The Knicks need help all over the place, but DeRozan seems like he might be the best available player to plug into Mike D’Antoni’s system. He’s got a chance to be a 20 points per game guy for a long time – especially playing for D’Antoni.

9. Toronto Raptors – DeJuan Blair, PF, Pittsburgh: The Raptors have a couple of skilled, lengthy big men in Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani who need an enforcer to make their lives easier. This may be a little high to take Blair, an undersized power forward in terms of height, but his toughness and offensive rebounding would immediately make the Raptors better.

10. Milwaukee Bucks – Stephen Curry, PG, Davidson: A nice fit for Curry, an undersized shooting wiz who is going to need to be on a team where he’s the third scoring option. The Bucks fit the bill, with SG Michael Redd and SF Richard Jefferson doing the heavy lifting on offense and hopefully creating some good looks for Curry.

11. New Jersey Nets – Earl Clark, PF, Louisville: It’s hard to say just what the Nets will do here, but Clark is the kind of long athlete with good hands that somebody is going to snatch up. He could fit well with Devin Harris and Brook Lopez in a rebuilding effort in Jersey.

12. Charlotte Bobcats – Terrence Williams, SG, Louisville: The Bobcats need a two and Williams is the most intriguing guy on the board. A gifted all-around player, he was frequently nagged by questions about why his production didn’t always match his skills. Williams could be the type of player to become a better pro than amateur.

13. Indiana Pacers –Ty Lawson, PG, North Carolina: Indiana needs a point guard and Lawson is the best available. He can’t drive left, but when you’re the quickest guy on the floor with superior strength for a PG, you don’t seem to have to.

14. Phoenix Suns – Jonny Flynn, PG, Syracuse: Steve Nash will not play forever and there isn’t a replacement on the Suns roster. Flynn’s a little small, but he makes up for it with elite athleticism, savvy and competitiveness. Could be a steal.

15. Detroit Pistons: James Johnson, SF, Wake Forest. Versatile player who I thought would be playing in the NBA when I first saw him as a senior out of Cheyenne, Wyo. Big (6-8, 245) and skilled, he’s the type of player who makes good things happen. Johnson needs to work on his understanding of the game a bit, but he’s an NBA talent who will help any team in multiple areas.

16. Chicago Bulls – B.J. Mullens, C, Ohio State: Chicago has needed a post-up option for a long time. Mullens isn’t it (yet) but the athletic big man could get there some day. He’s probably worth a shot now while the Bulls can still get a year out of Brad Miller.

17. Philadelphia 76ers – Eric Maynor, PG, Virginia Commonwealth: PG Andre Miller is a free agent so the 76ers need to figure something out. Maynor plays with a chip on his shoulder that should be well-received in Philly.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves – Austin Daye, SF, Gonzaga: Some feel the Wolves will go with a backcourt player here, but the promise of Daye, a tantalizing combination of length (6-11) and skill is too good to pass up. He may be a couple of seasons away from being a real contributor, but he’s got the potential and basketball IQ to make the Wolves pull the trigger.

19. Atlanta Hawks – Jeff Teague, PG, Wake Forest: Teague is a deadly penetrator and scorer who would fit well with SG Joe Johnson.

20. Utah Jazz–: Sam Young, SF, Pittsburgh: Young is a mentally and physically tough senior coming out of the best conference in the country. Matt Harpring isn’t getting any younger and Young seems to be cut from a similar cloth. Head coach Jerry Sloan loves that kind of player.

21. New Orleans Hornets – Gerald Henderson, SG, Duke: The Hornets desperately need a shooting guard who can take some of the pressure off of Chris Paul in the backcourt. Henderson could go as early as No. 12 to the Bobcats and the Hornets would be ecstatic if he fell to them here.

22. Dallas Mavericks – Jrue Holiday, G, UCLA: The Mavs take a shot on one of the players considered to be one of the best freshmen in the country last season. Holiday struggled at UCLA a bit, but his talent is undeniable. Dallas hopes he can learn from Jason Kidd and develop into a long-term solution as a playmaker in the backcourt.

23. Sacramento Kings – Tyler Hansbrough, PF, North Carolina: The Kings take a shot on the ACC’s all-time leading scorer. Not considered a true NBA athlete, Hansbrough brings intangibles and attitude that the Kings hope will rub off on some of their young players. 

24. Portland Trail Blazers – Patrick Mills, PG, St. Mary’s: The Blazers are young and loaded at virtually every position. They could use some PG help and look to Mills to provide a change of pace from Steve Blake.

25. Oklahoma City Thunder – Gani Lawal, PF, Georgia Tech: The Thunder could use the energy of Lawal. A reportedly high-character energy player who rebounds and blocks shots, Lawal probably won’t ever be a premier scorer, but on a team that has Kevin Durant, he doesn’t need to be.

26. Chicago Bulls – Chase Budinger, SF, Arizona: The Bulls probably don’t need another scoring threat on the perimeter, but Budinger’s talent is hard to ignore here. The explosive volleyball player isn’t the toughest player around, but he’s smart and can score the ball.

27. Memphis Grizzlies – Marcus Thornton, SG, Louisiana State: Grizzlies take best available. Sure, he plays the same position as O.J. Mayo, but when you’re as bad as Memphis you take what you can.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves – DaJuan Summers, SF, Georgetown: Summers is a versatile, smart player who could fill a variety of roles for the Wolves.

29. Los Angeles Lakers – Wayne Ellington, SG, North Carolina: Say goodbye to the NBA, Sasha Vujacic.

30. Cleveland Cavaliers – Taj Gibson, PF, USC: Not what anyone would call an overachiever in college, Gibson would add some needed offensive skill to Cleveland’s front line.

If you’re a true motorsports fan, your television, TiVo, VCR, DVR or radio got a workout yesterday, with the most glamorous, richest and longest auto races in the planet.
The day started early-early with the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix from Monte Carlo, then switched back home again in Indiana for the Indy 500. Rain on the East Coast prevented completion of the trifecta, the afternoon-evening NASCAR Coke 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C.
Briton Jensen Button continued his amazing streak with the win at Monaco as the Brawn-Mercedes team extended its surprising dominance of F1. Button has won all but one race this year with a team that didn’t even exist until the first part of ‘09.
Indy had its own storybook ending with Helio Castroneves, less than six weeks removed from acquittal on federal tax evasion charges, taking his third win at the Brickyard.
We’ll have to wait until Monday to see how the Coke 600 at LMS turns out.
It’s a great weekend for local sports too, with the Fat Tire Festival and the state baseball tournament happening in Rapid City.
All of this is played out, of course, with the backdrop of Memorial Day. Make sure to remember those who made it all possible for all of us to enjoy all the games of summer, and the rest of the year.

And sincere condolences to Lenn Davis and family on the loss of his mother.

–Jim Holland–

The high school state track meet is coming to Rapid City this week.  I had a chance to get a look at the early setup and it looks like it is going to be a great setting to watch some great competition.

This should be a fun time for Rapid City schools with both the Stevens and Central boys and girls having good chances of winning team titles on their home turf. The St. Thomas More girls will be in the thick of the A race and there promises to be plenty of good performances all around.

One of the biggest problems with the state tournament for fans is the parking situation, but there is a new wrinkle that has been added this year and it will help that issue a lot. Look to the Journal later in the week to find out what it is.

Jeff

Saturday, May 23 the Minnesota Twins lost their biggest fan. I lost my best friend, my hero, my Mom — Alice Anne Davis Snyder.

Losing my Dad at such a young age helped forge a bond between my Mother and me. A bond about a baseball team we called our very own for over 40 years, our beloved Twinkies.

Some say it is just a game, but whose Mom would call in the middle of the game to say “Did you see that?” or “I can’t believe they are putting him in to pitch”?  Those quick exchanges were our way of telling each other everything else was going to be okay; we had a baseball game to win.

You were  the best judge of character and talent, better than anybody working as a major league scout. You would pick out your favorite players and stick with them through thick and thin all season long, just like a Mom would do.

I am sure Eddie “Every Day” Guardado, Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel knew how hard you were rooting for them over the years. I know how hard you rooted for me.

It will never be the same again turning the corner to your house without hearing the Twins game from a couple of blocks away. Thank goodness Rich and Tracy loved baseball like you did.

I will never forget the joy of 1987 and 1991. Wasn’t it a rush to have them call our team, World Champions!

I truly believe the Twins new ball park next year, has no roof on it so my Mom can watch her beloved Twins from the best seat in the house.

All of our trips growing up were planned around a baseball game just for me. Getting to see the Baseball Hall of Fame, along with the Football and Basketball ones, all in one summer along with the All-Star Game in Yankee Stadium, still count as one of my favorite things we did.  

Thanks for always taking the time to play wiffle ball with me in the backyard. As busy as you were, you always had time to throw me the ball.

Thanks for being the best Mom a guy could have. For teaching me right from wrong,  for instilling passion and loyalty in me, the joy of competing and for your love of sports. 

I will cherish every Twins win like it is their last, until the next one, with your granddaughter and Hillary who somehow became  Twins fan too. I wonder why.

WIN TWINS

Your loving and grateful son,

Lenn