COMMENTARY

Silver and Black are moving away from old habits that have gotten them nowhere

Gary Montgomery, BVN Staff –

True to their legendary Moniker, the Raiders are usually unpredictable and very secretive. Nearly two weeks after hiring former Bronco’s Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen as their 18th head coach, the team finally held a press conference to introduce him to the local media.

Raiders new General Manager, Reggie McKenzie started his coaching search as soon as he knew that he would be the Raider’s new General Manager. It didn’t take long for him to settle on Allen as his number one man.

Allen, 39, comes to the Raiders with an impressive track record and glowing reviews from nearly everyone he has worked with. As the Broncos defensive coordinator, Allen presided over a defense that was responsible for launching Tebowmania. Denver’s defense was so good that the team was able to start a second year quarterback-in-training and win games.

Allen is the teams seventh head coach since 2003. He is taking over a team that has not had a winning season or a playoff appearance since 2002. Allen is also the first coach to be hired by Mark Davis who took over team operations after the death of his legendary father in October.

The new coach replaces Hue Jackson who was let go after only one year. The Raiders were 8-8 under Jackson with their biggest win coming on the road in Houston one day after Al Davis’ death.

Sadly, a decade of despair has left the Raiders in a tough way. Hiring a defensive coach is really a no-brainer considering that the team finished 29th in total defense this season.

If that wasn’t enough, the Raiders are also the most penalized team in the league nearly every year. Although some are legacy penalties bestowed on them simply because they are the Raiders. Even so, they had 163 penalties last season that cost them a little over 1300-yards.

“The only way that you can create habits is through consistency, doing the same thing over and over. Well if you are committing penalties that might become a habit. We have got to develop the proper habits so that we’re not creating those penalties on a daily basis,” said Allen. “We are going to put a team out there that is going to play with passion, a team that is going to play with emotion, a team that is going to play with discipline,” said Allen.

Allen could be the future but his first decisions already concerns me. His immediate decision to go with Palmer as the starter is interesting for a number of reasons.

First, there is a long standing and sometimes respected tradition in sports that says a player should never lose his job to an injury. When starter Jason Campbell went down with a broken collarbone, he likely expected to at least compete for his job after he recovered.

Second, the Raiders have had success with recycled quarterbacks in the past. Rich Gannon being the most recent example. But Gannon was acquired from Kansas City after beginning his career as a Viking, Gannon took over Gruden’s offense and become league MVP. I can’t see that level of success with Palmer, a pure pocket passing quarterback.

And finally, everyone in the Raiders’ organization that had anything to do with the Palmer deal was sent packing. Which makes me wonder how popular that decision really was?

G. Montgomery can be reached at sports@blackvoicenews.com.

Mark Wilson wins the Humana Challenge But Former President Clinton’s foundation Makes it happen

By Gary Montgomery, BVN Staff –

La Quinta – Already recognized as one of the great presidents of our time, Bill Clinton continues to impact lives in a multitude of ways.

His philanthropic body of work is unparalleled. Now, he can be credited with saving the 52-year-old Palm Springs (Bob Hope) Golf tournament and Keeping the PGA Tour in the Inland area all while promoting healthy living tips along the way.

The William J. Clinton Foundation, teaming with Louisville, Kentucky based health insurance provider Humana, added their names to the ailing Bob Hope Golf tournament this year and by all measures have rescued the event and restored a successful venture back to health, so to speak.

The event began in 1960 as the Palms Springs Desert Golf Classic. In 1965 Bob Hope signed on, lending his name and star power to the event. Over the years, the tournament grew based on the appeal and entertainment prowess of the legendary entertainer.

Since Hope’s death in 2003, the tournament’s fortunes have steadily waned with fewer and fewer top named touring professionals willing to sign up each year for the grueling and very unusual 5 day 90 hole format.

The PGA has been picking up the tab for several years with an agreement to continue for a couple more years before bailing out and allowing the tournament to fade into extinction. But apparently, the former President had developed a fondness for the event dating as far back as 1995, while in office; he and former presidents Gerald Ford, George H.W. Bush and Bob Hope played a round together in what is believed to be the only time three presidents have played together in the same round.

“We are really glad to see him here. It (the tournament) was getting pretty sad,” said Steve Dectonin a business owner from San Juan Capistrano and a PGA West homeowner. “The last few years, it was hardly worth attending.”

The event has been struggling with sponsorship for years and the level off competition had fallen to near Nationwide Tour levels.

The former president’s participation has paid immediate dividends. There were twice as many sponsors and exhibits as in past years. The opening day field of 144 touring professionals included Phil Mickelson, Greg Norman, Zach Johnson, Ryan Moore, David Toms, Ben Crane, Camilo Villegas, defending champion Jhonattan Vegas and a host of top 100 players. The most recognizable field in years.

The 144 participants in the celebrity field included Smokey Robinson, Alice Cooper, Julius Erving, Craig T. Nelson, Don Cheadale, Michael Bolton, Morgan Freeman and a host of other lesser know celebrities, executives, and really good amateur golfers.

President Clinton walked the fairways all week meeting and mingling with the golfers and fans, and generally being a gracious host.

The excitement really got started on Saturday’s morning when Clinton teed off with his partner Greg Norman, Scott McCarron and Humana Healthcare CEO Mike McCallister. Clinton’s galley quickly swelled to several hundred people following the former president during his round.

Clinton warned during his impromptu press conference on Friday that his golf might be rusty. The former president said that his heart surgery a few years ago changed his game. His best golf was back in 2001, shortly after leaving office. Since then, health problems and his busy schedule have hampered his game.

He was right. The former president started to tire after seven holes and put one on a roof top and another in the lake but he maintained his sense of humor and continued to entertain the huge crowd following him.

After every hole, Clinton worked the ropes, shaking hands and repeating “I’m glad to see ya” as if he was talking to old friends.

The celebrity round was shortened after gale force winds erupted knocking over everything in sight, halting play and ending the celebrity round. But, I doubt the former president was disappointed that he didn’t have to play 18 holes.

Final round play continued on Sunday morning under near perfect conditions. Third round leader Mark Wilson continued his assault on the field, fighting off Johnson Wagner, John Mallinger and Robert Garrigus by 2 strokes with a 24 under 264 to walk away with the 1.08 million purse.

Winning the Humana Challenge gave Wilson his fifth career PGA win and the 500 FedExCup points earned catapulted him to number 2 in the FedExCup point’s standings.

Wilson and the entire Inland region owe the former president a debt of gratitude. He says he plans to “put the tournament back on its feet and promote health and wellness. He plans to be here every year. “I signed on. First, I’m having a good time. And second, it’s my responsibility. Said the former president.

Changes like shorting the format from the old 5 day 90 hole format to the more traditional 72 hole format has already improved the field.

Bill Clinton has quickly become the face of the event and saved it from extinction. His star power has given it life and a new direction.

The former president has committed his foundation to 8 years participation and support for the event. And thankfully there are no politics involved.

G. Montgomery can be reached at sports@blackvoicenews.com

By Jon D. Gaede, BVN Staff –

SAN FRANCISCO - Just a month ago, the New York Giants were an aging 6-6 football team. Today, they are NFC Champions and headed back to the Superbowl.

The old, but iconic Candlestick Park had served the 49ers well this season, as the club posted an impressive 13-3 record against the league.

Under coach Jim Harbaugh, these 49ers have established a defensive reputation, worthy of respect. During the regular season, they held their opponents to a mere 14.3 points per game, second in the NFL.

It is safe to say that a solid defense may be a requirement to reach a Superbowl, however, don’t forget that some teams get healthy, gain momentum and peak in January. Unfortunately for San Francisco, that team is the New York Giants.

The stage at Candlestick was everything the 49ers would want. Windy, cold and wet. The 70,000 home team faithful had not hosted a playoff game since 2002. Quite a dry spell for one of the NFL’s storied franchises.

The roar of the crowd was constant, as fans waved white towels that read, “Rock the Stick”. They didn’t need to wait very long to cheer, as their phenomenal tight end, Vernon Davis caught an Alex Smith pass for 73-yards, at the seven minute mark for the games’ initial touchdown.

The Giants answered early into the 2nd quarter toss from Eli Manning to Bear Pascoe for a 7-7 tie. Ten minute later, after stalled 49er drives, the Giants’ Lawrence Tynes kicked the first of two 31 yard field goals, this one to put New York ahead 10-7 at the half.

The San Francisco defensive line found a way to hurry and eventually sack Eli Manning in the second half. At the 5:16 mark of the third quarter, a scrambling Alex Smith, once again found his go to tight end, Vernon Davis for 28 yards and a go ahead score, 14-10.

As the rain continued to fall and blow sideways over the gridiron, so did the 49ers. Punt returner Kyle Williams had two miscues on the day.

Influence by miserable weather, nevertheless, the mistakes put the Giants into scoring positions and they cashed in.

The national television audience was watching an NFL classic. Manning then hit Mario Manningham for a 16 yard score, putting the Giants ahead 17-14.

San Francisco running back Frank Gore was able to carve a few mud runs and helped set up 49er kicker David Akers for a 25 yard field goal that put the game into overtime 17-17.

After stopping the Giants and forcing them to punt, the NFC championship game would turn on one play. Filling in for the injured Ted Ginn Jr., 49er punt returner. Kyle Williams was stripped of the ball and recovered by New York.

Five plays later, a sure footed Lawrence Tynes, put the ball through the uprights and into the Superbowl. The resurgent 49ers have a long time to ponder what could have been. For New York, they crush San Francisco hearts and earn a rematch against Tom Brady’s New England Patriots.

The Lady Huskies have turned their fortune around in only one year

By Gary Montgomery, BVN Staff –

Riverside – Basketball and Hip Hop are forever linked at every level no matter how much the older generation dislikes the connection.

Whether in the heart of the ‘Hood’ or in the most exclusive suburbs, high school gymnasiums throughout America all blast the latest rap tunes during their team’s warm-ups and intermissions.

J.W. North is no different, with what sounds like thirty fast food drive-thru speakers blasting from its ceiling, the Lady Huskies used the latest Hip Hop tunes to fire themselves up for battle. I would respectfully suggest that they break from the new-school tradition at least once before each game and have the DJ throw on the old Diana Washington ballad “What a difference a day Makes” with one minor deviation.

In North’s case the words would be “What a difference a year Makes”.

Last season on February 12, the Lady Huskies record was 4-12 and they would go on to finish the season with those same 4 wins and end up last in the Big VIII behind lowly Corona, something that had not happened to the Ladies program in nearly 20 years.

J.W. North Ladies basketball program was at its lowest point since the early days of its existence. The program had gone through three coaching changes since the 2007 season and the days of ruling the league had long since faded. North’s 4 win season was nearly unbearable but the final and ultimate humiliation came with a loss to neighborhood arch rival Riverside Poly, a program not known for its basketball prowess since the days of Cheryl Miller.

It has been 11 years since the Lady Huskies won their one and only CIF Title in 2000. That team’s roster included 5 division I prospects and a coach, John Reinhold with a take no prisoners attitude. The Huskies rolled over Fullerton Troy to secure their first and only CIF Title reaching the apex of success for the program.

Yet, a single CIF banner fails to tell the story of the Lady Huskies dominance over the past decade. During the latter half of the nineties leading up to their championship year, the Lady Huskies owned the now defunct Ivy League posting 8 consecutive league championships.

Rienholds, retired after winning his CIF title but the aftermath of his success would yield good teams for several years afterward.

Although competitive and highly respected, none of North’s later teams could duplicate the 2000 team’s level of success. And the evitable began to take its toll, the talent began to wane and they began a slow decent toward mediocrity.

First, it went from league champions to league runner up in the old Ivy League. Then, dropping from annual seeded playoff participants to wildcard entrants and then to non-participation. And lastly, throw in a league re-alignment in 2009 pitting North against larger schools, some with nearly 1000 more students. Add it all up and a slow decent became a rocket to the bottom.

Then, in comes Leonard De Coud, hired as the fourth head coach in six seasons and as they say the rest is becoming history. In a single season, De Coud has taken a last place team that was 1-13 in league play and 4-20 overall and turned it completely around.

The Lady Huskies are currently 15–3 with one overtime loss to defending league champion Corona Santiago. De Coud says his formula is simple and deflects most of the credit for the incredible turnaround. “These girls are motivated and dedicated to the task at hand. We work hard, what we do in practice is what we do during the game. Our goal is to win this league and a CIF Title and these girls are focused on that,” said head coach Leonard De Coud.

The Huskies are certainly an energized group. They took on league opponents Roosevelt, Santiago and King last week emerging with two wins and an overtime loss to Santiago the defending League champions. After going down by 10 late in the fourth quarter, the Lady Huskies fought back to tie the game, eventually losing to the much bigger Sharks team and setting up the final league rematch on February 3rd at Santiago.

Much of the Huskies strength comes from senior Forward Brittany Crain. “I try to be a leader out there. I try and talk to the girls to keep them in the game especially when we’re down, to get our flow back,” said Crain. Brittany is averaging a league leading 19.1 points per game and along with guard Simone De Coud who is averaging 11.6 points per game sets the tone and winning attitude for the team.

The Huskies turnaround from a 4-20 last season is already miraculous on its own but if coach De Coud can dial up a formula for his team to take down Santiago in their final meeting and take a share of the league title, he will easily be collecting ‘coach of the year’ honors too.

G. Montgomery can be reached at sports@blackvoicenews.com.