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Press Box

with our sports staff

Most fans don't want Michael Vick back

Posted Aug30, 2007 at 04:44 PM

Michael Vick should not be allowed to play in the NFL again, most professional football fans, according to Gallup Poll released by The Associated Press. According to the survey, 58 percent said he should not be allowed to play in the NFL anymore. Only 22 percent said they would want the team they root for to try to acquire him should he return. In addition, 35 percent said they believe he should serve a long prison sentence, 51 percent said they favored a short one, and 12 percent said they believe he should not serve any time. The survey involved telephone interviews with 1,001 adults from Aug. 23 to 26. The overall margin of sampling error was plus or minus four percentage points.

College football the best regular season

Posted Aug30, 2007 at 04:42 PM

We are three days from the start of the best regular season in sports (I’m not counting the smattering of games on Thursday and Friday). And a playoff at the end of it wouldn’t ruin it. Making it to postseason play would be the same as getting into a BCS bowl, because that’s about as many teams as you really need. Even more games in November would have meaning, which would be a good thing. This would be a great year for a playoff for Virginia Tech. Losing at LSU seems just as likely as winning the other 11, plus the ACC title game. There are no guarantees of making the title game at 12-1, but making a playoff at even 11-2 with an ACC title would be automatic.

Joba the stud

Posted Aug30, 2007 at 03:52 PM

Here's what tips you off that Yankees phenom Joba Chamberlain is the real deal. It's not his numbers (0.00 ERA in 11 innings, 17 Ks and 3 walks) or his size (6-2, 230) or even the special regulations (the "Joba rules") New York has created to protect the 21-year-old pitcher. It's what Michael Kay of the YES Network said on Wednesday during yet another scoreless Joba inning, that Gary Smith of Sports Illustrated was in town writing a big piece on him. If Smith -- one of the most talented feature writers in the business -- profiles you, you've either killed yourself, killed someone else or killed your competition. With Joba, I'm guessing it's the latter.

You want mustard with that?

Posted Aug27, 2007 at 12:01 PM

The next time somebody tells you that you pay too much attention to silly old sports, tell them to consider the alternative. Here is an actual excerpt from an actual article from The Associated Press: "Megastars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were spotted Friday with kids Maddox, Zahara and Pax shopping at Lee's Art Shop in midtown Manhatten. Baby Shiloh was not there. According to the New York Post, the family then headed toward Times Square, where Pitt ordered five hot dogs from a street vendor, three with ketchup and mustard, two with just ketchup." And sports are silly?

It's all about the team

Posted Aug25, 2007 at 07:54 PM

Another high school sports season started this weekend, and I spent half of Saturday watching one of my daughters play volleyball. We all want our kids to excel, but it's important that we help instill in our kids the value of the team. Some coaches have difficulty keeping a team unified when players are hearing the opposite from their parents. Don't be a parent who complains about the coach and about your child's playing time. Support the authority of the coaches who have chosen to help educate our kids and surely know more about the sport and the team than we do. Undermine them and we undermine one of the foundations of our children's education -- the part where they learn a healthy respect for authority.

Yet another thought on Vick

Posted Aug24, 2007 at 07:40 PM

So Michael Vick filed a plea deal Friday admitting in court papers that he bankrolled gambling on dogfighting and helped kill some dogs who didn’t make the cut. Then he declared that he had not placed bets and never took any winnings. Anybody else having trouble swallowing that one? Vick previously said his name would be cleared, but now we know he lied to the Atlanta Falcons, the NFL, his fans and everybody else. A famous baseball player once said he never bet on baseball games. Wasn’t exactly the truth. And somebody else once said that he didn’t inhale. Do we all look that stupid?

Holy cow, Curacao

Posted Aug23, 2007 at 05:28 PM

There are a million things right about the Little League World Series. The one thing wrong: Adults. There are too many of them. Making acronym signs, acting crazy in the stands for the cameras -- stop it. Let the kids have the spotlight. Even coaches sometimes go overboard. The manager from Venezuela must have gone to the mound 36 times Thursday just to shout the same message: "Duro!" They get it, coach. They're trying. But that's why it was awesome to see Curacao hit a two-out, three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh Thursday to beat Venezuela. This proved once again that adults can do all the hollering they want, but the game still comes down to the kids.

The target of Twinkies at an Orioles game

Posted Aug23, 2007 at 05:08 PM

William “Wild Bill” Hagy’s death Monday rekindled memories of my wild days of the late ’70s. Unless you’re a Baltimore Orioles fan, you probably haven’t heard of Wild Bill. He was a bearded, beer-gutted middle-aged guy who led O’s’ fans in cheers in Section 34 of the upper deck at old Memorial Stadium. Well, I’ll never forget the Sunday afternoon when my beloved Yankees were about to complete a four-game series sweep. As Hagy cheered in right field, I got up in front of the fans in the upper deck in left. Wearing a NY helmet, I chanted, “One, two, three, four ... that’s it for Baltimore!” I proceeded to get pelted by thrown Twinkies. I never met Hagy, but always felt like I knew him.

New high school sports TimesCast launches

Posted Aug22, 2007 at 08:57 AM


The debut episode of the Sports TimesCast: High School edition launched Tuesday on roanoke.com.

Instead of Doug Doughty and Randy King, the HS sportscast features Aaron McFarling and Robert Anderson. Each Tuesday, Aaron and Robert will provide recaps and analysis of previous games while looking to the week ahead.

Hokies not alone in troubles

Posted Aug21, 2007 at 09:17 PM

Monday was a bad day for some college football players, who had to be glad it was the day Michael Vick announced plans to plead guilty to dogfighting charges. Two West Virginia players were charged with receiving and transferring a stolen computer. USC coach Pete Carroll kicked a wide receiver off his team. Two Iowa players were arrested for unauthorized use of a credit card. It’s easy to criticize a coach like Frank Beamer for recruiting players who run afoul of the law. But don’t just blame Beamer. No coach is immune to troublemakers. It will continue to happen no matter how carefully coaches screen recuits, whether it’s Blacksburg, Boston or Bozeman.

Beamer changes mind, opens scrimmage

Posted Aug20, 2007 at 03:20 PM

The final full scrimmage for the Virginia Tech football team will now be open to the public, after all.

Tech coach Frank Beamer encouraged fans to attend Friday's intrasquad scrimmage -- which was originally scheduled to be closed to the public -- at Lane Stadium

"With where we are as a football team, especially in the kicking game, this is the right thing for us," Beamer said in a news release. "I think we need people in the stands. This will be the closest we can get to that spring game we missed."

Projected starting kicker Jud Dunlevy went 0-for-4 on field goals in Saturday's second scrimmage, although two of them were from 52 yards out and one was blocked. The fifth-year senior will be a first-time starter, and Beamer has often said the only question mark about him is how he performs under pressure.

Fans can enter through gates 4 and 5 and beginning at 4 p.m. Fans can sit in the west side seats. No cameras or video cameras will be allowed in the stadium. Fans will not be permitted on the field at any time during or after the scrimmage.

Stretching and practice will begin at 4:15 with the scrimmage running from approximately 4:45-6:15 p.m.

The green No. 8 Chevrolet

Posted Aug20, 2007 at 02:24 PM

So here’s what Max Siegel of Dale Earnhardt Inc. said about the company not being able to work out a deal to let Junior have the No. 8 when he joins Hendrick Motorsports next year: “I don’t know what to say to fans. I certainly don’t expect them to understand.” Come on, Max. Give fans a little credit. Sure they get it. All they have to do is look at your job title – president of global operations – and realize what this is all about. It’s the same thing most of NASCAR, and all of pro sports for that matter, are about: Money.

Fun with Tech names

Posted Aug19, 2007 at 08:39 PM

You want maturity, head to the business pages. I’m using this space to tell you that it’s devastating that the college football season hasn’t started yet, and Virginia Tech already has an injured Wang. Get well soon, Ed. And I’m wondering what in the Worilds happened to Jason Adjepong’s former last name. And when it comes to great surnames, who doesn’t relish Dustin Pickle? Great young man, smart and well-spoken. And better yet, he’s lived in this area since when he was just a cucumber. See those numbers from Saturday’s scrimmage, though? Five carries, minus-18 yards. Jarring.

UVa will be the ACC sleeper team

Posted Aug18, 2007 at 04:25 PM

The words hot, seat, Al and Groh are bound to appear in the same sentence as the college football season is about to commence. Groh’s tenure at Virginia certainly hasn’t been what he promised, but this year might be his best. The Cavaliers are my sleeper pick in the ACC. Not saying they will do as much as Wake Forest did last year, but they will contend for the league title because of their defense and playmaking quarterback. Groh’s seat will cool this season, but don’t expect one good season to mean the Cavaliers have arrived. Contending for ACC titles every year at Virginia is unlikely. So the seat will get hot again, but not this year.

Million-dollar putt misses

Posted Aug10, 2007 at 09:54 AM

Randy King reports that Roanoke's Larry Gray came close, but missed his putt for $1 million Thursday night in Las Vegas. Randy will have more from Larry on this story in Saturday's paper.

One positive about last night...

Posted Aug08, 2007 at 09:00 AM

is that Jon Miller got to call Barry Bonds' record-breaking home run on the radio. Hard to find a better announcer anywhere than Miller, and he handled this controversial event the way he handles everything -- professionally, with the perfect blend of excitement and perspective. Even if he might have rehearsed the final line (doubtful, but the temptation would have surely been there), you would have never known it.

More on Tyrod Taylor

Posted Aug06, 2007 at 01:24 PM

If I had my way, we would begin each day by laughing. So be sure to check out this lawsuit apparently filed by Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis.

Nice, huh? Think I'll consider joining that and making it a class-action suit.

Onto Virginia Tech. Judging by the email feedback to Sunday's column (and thanks to all who wrote in), people are eager to learn as much as they can about freshman quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Here are some quotes that did not make the column:

MIKE O'CAIN, quarterbacks coach, on his first impressions of Taylor:
“My first impressions out on the field are that he’s very talented and he has all the tools that you want to see. He’s got a very good delivery, a live arm, very good footwork, he understands the game. We’ve thrown a lot at him and for the most part…I see a very mature young man.
"My first impression of him when I first met him was that I liked his temperament. He’s low-key. He’s not cocky. He spent a week with us this spring during his spring break and he was just kind of in the background. He wasn’t a guy that wanted all the attention. Obviously he generates a lot of attention just because of the way he’s played, but he’s not one that’s out on the forefront looking for that attention. And I like that about him.”

On whether or not to redshirt Taylor this season:
“I’ve been in coaching for 30 years. I played the quarterback position, and for most of those 30 years I’ve coached the quarterbacks. There’s no doubt in my mind that it’s best if you can redshirt a young man. He wasn’t able to come in in January and have that spring of experience. So if we can do that, that’ll be the best thing for Tyrod. That’ll be the best thing for the program in the future. At the same time, if the young man ahead of him – Sean [Glennon] and Ike [Whitaker] and Cory [Holt] – continue to progress, there’s no reason we shouldn’t be able to do that. Now, if they falter and aren’t getting the job done, then we have to make a decision. But it’s the best for us if we’re able to do that for him.”

SEAN GLENNON, first-string quarterback, on Taylor's potential:
"I don’t see any reason why he won’t be a successful quarterback at this level. He has the physical tools. He’s got the arm. Once he masters the offense and the mental aspect of college football, I think he’ll be a very special player.”

EDDIE ROYAL, wide receiver, on Taylor's work ethic
"He’s working hard out here. You’d think he wasn't a scout-team player by the way he works in the weight room, the way that he’s studying film. That’s going to be the key to him becoming one of the best players ever to come here, and I think he will be. You can just tell by his natural athletic ability and his work ethic.”

VICTOR "MACHO" HARRIS, defensive back, on Taylor
“Oh, he’s got the ‘it.’ He’s got it. Just a little bit of a tune-up, he’s going to be great.”
“This guy is good. He’s good. He’s still young. He’s still got a lot of learning to do. But from what he’s shown, he’s kind of legit.”
“He’s very humble. You can tell that he was brought up very well…A guy like that, I like him a lot because he reminds me of myself."

SAM WHEELER, tight end, on Taylor
“Every time I’ve been around him he’s been a humble guy. He’s got his head on his shoulders right. When he comes to practice, he’s focused and he’s ready. It seems his been here two or three years in the program the way he feels comfortable with the offense, the way he throws the ball, the way he looks at all his reads."

VINCE HALL, linebacker, on Taylor:
“How good’s Tyrod? From seeing him practice and from working out with him in the summertime and seeing his ball, he looks to me like a person that’s been there before. Like one of the Vicks. He might be a combination of both. Just the way he’s fluid with it. He’s not scared of anything. It’s just natural for him.”
“He’s down to earth. He’s real cool. Some people who are supposed to be ranked this high would come in and be cocky, I guess, but no. He’s real cool, down to earth, funny."

That's all for now. If you'll excuse me, there's a bacon double cheeseburger calling my name.

Hokies lose reserve RB Lewis to injury

Posted Aug03, 2007 at 04:22 PM

Virginia Tech reserve running back Elan Lewis reinjured his right knee during Thursday's practice and will require season-ending surgery, Hokies trainer Mike Goforth said.
Lewis, a redshirt sophomore from Hampton, was evaluated Friday afternoon by Dr. Marc Siegel, who determined that the tailback had an ACL injury. The injury was announced in a news release provided by Tech's sports information department.
Lewis appeared in eight games last year, rushing for 47 yards on 28 carries. He scored on a 1-yard run against Georgia Tech.

Bring on Tech football practice

Posted Aug02, 2007 at 11:50 AM

Virginia Tech football practice starts this afternoon, and if there's one thing the Hokies need to shore up, it's the kicking game.
Yes, really.
Coach Frank Beamer listed that as his No. 1 concern entering the fall now that placekicker Brandon Pace, punter Nic Schmitt and long snapper Nick Leeson have moved on. The final week of spring practice was supposed to be the best chance to check out the replacements in pressure situations, but the Hokies lost that opportunity in the wake of the April 16 shootings.
Beamer said placekicker Jud Dunlevy has the potential to be as good as Pace and former standout Shayne Graham, but he needs to show he can do it. He's also confident Brent Bowden can fill Schmitt's void in time. Bart McMillan is the front-runner to replace Leeson.
The Hokies will also work on their kick return and coverage teams extensively this fall, especially now that college football has introduced a change in the rules.
“Now that you’re kicking off from the 30-yard line, that kickoff return team becomes a critical deal," Beamer said. "You start every possession with that team whether you start at the 20, the 30, the 35. There’s some first downs involved there.”
Which brings us to the No. 2 concern in at Tech -- the offense. Beamer said he feels good about Sean Glennon at quarterback, Branden Ore at tailback and the strong receiving corps. The tight ends have a year of experience they didn't have last season. The biggest question, as usual, is on the offensive line, where Beamer hopes his players can become more consistent.
“I think it’ll be a better offense," Beamer said. "I think it all starts with the offensive line, and we’ll be better there.”
As for the prospects of hot-shot recruit Tyrod Taylor seeing any action this year...well, it doesn't look likely.
“I think we see where things are," Beamer said. "I think it’s tough for a freshman to come in. What you don’t want to do is you don’t want to put him in a situation before he’s ready to be in that situation. There’s just a lot of stuff going on by the time you get the play, call the play, get to the line with the 25 second clock running – there’s just a lot of stuff going on. So I think experience is a valuable thing.”
That would indicate that Cory Holt and Ike Whitaker probably would get a shot before Taylor should anything happen to Glennon.

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Quick thoughts

  • Most fans don't want Michael Vick back -

    Michael Vick should not be allowed to play in the NFL again, most professional football fans, according to Gallup Poll released by The Associated Press. According to the survey, 58 percent said he should not be allowed to play in the NFL anymore. Only 22 percent said they would want the team they root for to try to acquire him should he return. In addition, 35 percent said they believe he should serve a long prison sentence, 51 percent said they favored a short one, and 12 percent said they believe he should not serve any time. The survey involved telephone interviews with 1,001 adults from Aug. 23 to 26. The overall margin of sampling error was plus or minus four percentage points.

  • College football the best regular season -

    We are three days from the start of the best regular season in sports (I’m not counting the smattering of games on Thursday and Friday). And a playoff at the end of it wouldn’t ruin it. Making it to postseason play would be the same as getting into a BCS bowl, because that’s about as many teams as you really need. Even more games in November would have meaning, which would be a good thing. This would be a great year for a playoff for Virginia Tech. Losing at LSU seems just as likely as winning the other 11, plus the ACC title game. There are no guarantees of making the title game at 12-1, but making a playoff at even 11-2 with an ACC title would be automatic.

  • Joba the stud -

    Here's what tips you off that Yankees phenom Joba Chamberlain is the real deal. It's not his numbers (0.00 ERA in 11 innings, 17 Ks and 3 walks) or his size (6-2, 230) or even the special regulations (the "Joba rules") New York has created to protect the 21-year-old pitcher. It's what Michael Kay of the YES Network said on Wednesday during yet another scoreless Joba inning, that Gary Smith of Sports Illustrated was in town writing a big piece on him. If Smith -- one of the most talented feature writers in the business -- profiles you, you've either killed yourself, killed someone else or killed your competition. With Joba, I'm guessing it's the latter.

  • It's all about the team -

    Another high school sports season started this weekend, and I spent half of Saturday watching one of my daughters play volleyball. We all want our kids to excel, but it's important that we help instill in our kids the value of the team. Some coaches have difficulty keeping a team unified when players are hearing the opposite from their parents. Don't be a parent who complains about the coach and about your child's playing time. Support the authority of the coaches who have chosen to help educate our kids and surely know more about the sport and the team than we do. Undermine them and we undermine one of the foundations of our children's education -- the part where they learn a healthy respect for authority.

  • Yet another thought on Vick -

    So Michael Vick filed a plea deal Friday admitting in court papers that he bankrolled gambling on dogfighting and helped kill some dogs who didn’t make the cut. Then he declared that he had not placed bets and never took any winnings. Anybody else having trouble swallowing that one? Vick previously said his name would be cleared, but now we know he lied to the Atlanta Falcons, the NFL, his fans and everybody else. A famous baseball player once said he never bet on baseball games. Wasn’t exactly the truth. And somebody else once said that he didn’t inhale. Do we all look that stupid?

Recent comments

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  • Great job, continued success!more - Jim Souders
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The Press Box blog will post entries on a variety of sports at both the high school and collegiate levels in Southwest Virginia. Contributions come from staff writers of The Roanoke Times sports section.

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