"Keep your feet pointed, Your toes tapping, And your hips moving!"

Hey sportsfans!

No rest for the weary. Winding down the school term and sports seasons, while getting ready for the future fun. This week Emmy tried out for the 7th-8th grade volleyball team, and both girls were busy all week getting ready for the spring dance recital.

On Wednesday afternoon, the girls and I took advantage of some awesome weather to watch some exciting high school baseball. The Hueytown Gophers hosted Briarwood Christian School in the second round of the 5A state baseball playoffs. Hueytown is one of the areas most affected by the recent storms. Their story was recently featured nationally by ESPN on its website. Here is the touching article written by Rick Reilly: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=6470969,



The Gophers reached the semifinals of the Class 6A playoffs last year and returned most of its talent while dropping down to 5A. In a heartbreaker, the Gophers gave up two longballs late in an 8-4 loss. Despite finishing with a 33-9 record, Coach Patterson told his team this week that 2011 would be a disappointment if they did not make it as far as they did last season. I bet they will be even better next year.





While the lax regular season is over, this weekend the Spartans played in the Roswell (Ga.) Invitational. While Em was in town kicking her heals in dance, the Green and Gold found their resolve and took two wins on Saturday - over the Longhorns of Sewanee and Oak Mountain (yes, I said, Oak Mountain). On Sunday, the team split two games on their way to a silver medal.
Ahh, the annual spring dance recital. iDance, the recital. 10th year. (9th for our girls) The girls danced in several numbers on the main stage at Shades Valley High School auditorium. Thanks to all the friends and family who came out to support the girls.










Having a great week: Sid and Em, for may, many reasons.

Not having a great week: This offseason the NY Yankees signed longtime shortstop and future Hall of Famer Derek Jeter to a three-year, $51 million contract in the offseason with an $8 million player option for 2014, which includes a $3 million buyout. However, this season has not been kind to him. The 36-year-old Jeter, a .313 career hitter, currently is batting just .250 this season. Former Phillies and Mets centerfielder Lenny Dykstra was recently indicted on thirteen counts of bankruptcy fraud. This fellow is in a world of hurt. Speaking of hurting, the LA Lakers were terrible in the four game sweep by the Dallas Mavericks. The two time defending champs looked old, slow and outplayed.

Here is a photo of one of the crazier Kentucky Derby hats spotted yesterday for the 137th annual running.


It's been a great school term and sports year. Signing off for a few months to soak in the summer. Thank you to everyone who have come out to root on the girls, driven carpool or helped in any way. We really appreciate all the love and support. Next season looks to be even better.

Have a great summer!
The Sports Guy

Playoffs. Mr. Irrelevant. Mullet Toss.

Hey sportsfans,

Playoffs week! The hot, hot, hot Spartans continued their winning ways Tuesday night as they defeated Vestavia the opening round of the playoffs. In the 13-9 win, the Spartans showed much better passing, team defense and communication executing plays. Em was particularly boisterous as she directed traffic on several offensive charges down the field. Although she did not score, Em did contribute three assists.

Unfortunately, with the highs, must also come the lows. The short lived jubilation came to a crashing halt Thursday night in Shelby County. The Spartans took on Oak Mountain Eagles in the semi-finals. (I will not grumble too much about the 1.25 hour, 12.35 miles drive from downtown during rush hour down, your friend, but not mine, 280.) Breaking news: Hold on just a minute. #29 for OM just scored her seventy-third goal of the game. In an 8-1 hammering, the cold, cold, cold Spartans looked flat and had no answer for their ace scorer. Much like the most recent Kimbo Slice street fight, this one was over quick. Mercifully, the home team Eagles struck with precision early and often to put the Spartans out of their misery by the half time break.

The loss brought the season to a close. With a final record of 4 up and 7 down, the team showed great improvement over the season. Kudos to Coach Meghan for teaching this group of mostly newbies the finer points of an exciting sport.





6th-8th grades Mountain Brook Spartans girls lacrosse team.

Weekly battle for the Emily J. Cleveland Cup. Advantage, UD. TSG has not been much competition lately and it has been costly. Need to improve!


We all know about Cam Newton, Julio Jones, Marcel Dareus and the other very talented players selected this week in the annual NFL Draft. Ever heard of Cheta Ozougwu? How about Kelvin Kirk, Cam Quayle, Daron Alcorn, Ronnie McAda, Sam Manuel or Marty Moore? Not surprising if their names do not ring a bell. They are all past "winners" of being selected Mr. Irrelevant. Just who is Mr. Irrelevant? Well, if you must know, he's the player chosen as the final pick of the NFL draft. Who cares? Lots of folks. Mr. Irrelevant is a celebrity. Sort of. Go figure.

During the summer after each annual draft, the new Mr. Irrelevant and his family are invited to spend a week in Newport, California, where they enjoy a golf tournament, a regatta, a roast giving advice to the new draftee, and a ceremony awarding him the Lowsman Trophy. The trophy (below) mimics the Heisman, but depicts a player fumbling a football. The first Mr. Irrelevant was Kelvin Kirk, picked number 487 of the 1976 draft. The current Mr. Irrelevant is defensive end Cheta Ozougwu of the Rice University Owls, who was selected by the Houston Texans in the 2011 draft.


The Lowsman Trophy.

Friends of yours? Actually, these fellows are the Green Men known as Force & Sully. They are superfans of the Vancouver Canucks hockey team. This dynamic duo secure seats near the opposing team's penalty box for most of the Canucks' home games. They are crowd favorites and usually disrupt the others teams' players. Nice gig.


Did you know ???
Dave Winfield is the only athlete ever drafted by four leagues — the NFL, NBA, ABA and Major League Baseball. Drafted fourth overall by the San Diego Padres, Winfield chose wisely and is in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Did you know, part two ??? The 27th-annual Interstate Mullet Toss kicked off Friday at Flora-Bama Lounge & Package in Perdido Beach, AL. The event, perhaps without much exaggeration, as the "Gulf Coast's Greatest Beach Party," will crown a champion mullet tosser later today. As the name indicates, the core attraction is an event in which folks fling smallish dead fish across the state line. Competitors stand in a 10-foot circle in Alabama and hurl mullet into Florida, vying for the distance record in a variety of gender and age divisions. Thousands of people turn out every year to participate or observe, and to enjoy a slate of other attractions including live music, adult beverages, food and a bikini contest. It all sounds silly enough, but according to organizers, the event raises more than $20,000 each year for area charities, particularly youth organizations.

Having a great week: Ah, pressure, shmessure,” said Memphis Grizzlies vet Shane Battier.“We’re playing with house money." The 8th seeded underdog Grizzlies knocked off the one seed San Antonio Spurs in the NBA playoffs. Los Angeles outfielder Andre Ethier has now had at least one hit in 27 of the Dodgers' 28 games this season, extending his Major League record for the longest hitting streak in the month of April. Anaheim Angels pitcher Jered Weaver is the first pitcher in MLB history to win six games in the month of April. The Cleveland Indians are off to the best start in 111 year franchise history. Eighteen wins set a franchise record, as they are now 4.5 games ahead in their division.

Not having a great week: As you all know, the storms from this past week have forever changes thousands of lives throughout the south. Hundreds of lives have been lost. Cities have been destroyed. Businesses ruined. If you are compelled, please consider donating your time and/or money toward those charities you feel are most in need. Please keep these folks, their families and loved ones in your daily thoughts and prayers.

On Sunday we were treated to Lilly's dance recital at the famed Alabama Theatre. Lil was just super as she danced her heart out on the big stage.


Sid and Em's dance recital is next weekend. My left hammy is already tightening up.
SEC baseball tourney is right around the corner.
Have a great week everyone!
The Sports Guy