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Time’s up on the Lawrence people … and I thought you had my back. You drew first blood. Now here comes the venom

May 11th, 2009 by Hector Longo

Wait just one minute. I’ve given my “friends” at LHS ample time to come to my defense. Since none of you will step up, I will.
These ludicrous charges of my affinity for Central Catholic sports have got to end.
You people just don’t get it. I’m here for the kids, all the kids. Not just the Raiders, but all kids.
I brought up the Central-Lawrence game because it’s special.
It’s Central-Lawrence. In any sport, it’s special.
I said do it up for the kids, because they deserve it, not because Central deserves it.
I didn’t mention the Tewksbury game, because I didn’t want to push it.
Baby steps are nice. You want to make tonight’s game an event, I’m all for it. I’m looking for what’s best for the student-athlete. You guys want to make it special, fire up the grills.
But I’m guessing it won’t happen.
Make every game special. Trust me, it won’t happen.
Sorry Finny, I love and appreciate your work and passion, but you’re about to be caught in the crossfire here, but … I went to the Andover-Lawrence game, a 1-0 thriller. How did I know the score? I was lucky I guess, because the LHS folks chose not to fire up the new scoreboard. At a new field, and they don’t bother. Hmm. I have issues with that.
I guess maybe to some people there it doesn’t matter. Heck, it was on when the mayor and the superintendent showed up, that’s all that matters right?
So yeah, I tried to make something special Wednesday night.
Instead of embracing the idea, you paranoid folks in Lancer pinstripes were afraid that I was making something special out of Central.
It’s Central-Lawrence, folks. Ask Paul Neal or Mike Yameen what that means if you need an explanation.
You people make me chuckle.
I’m not that one that gave Central a home field for the Lowell game.
I’m not the one that shuffled the football schedule so the Raiders could have the prime Friday night spot and the Lancers are made second-class citizens in the city’s own stadium.
I’m the one who squawks when the giant Central Catholic track team overwhelms the lancers at practice, when the Perry-Kent track is Lawrence property.
I’m the one who seethed in print when Lawrence lost a track meet … having to forfeit the discus … when Central locked up the equipment and the Lancers couldn’t get to it.
I’m the one trying for the children of the city, and you people take the easy but laughable, “he’s a Central guy,” cheapshot.
You know what? Play the gameat 11 a.m. Don’t make it fan friendly. Let the athletes play before 30 people per usual.
Who cares about the kids? We’ll show the Raiders they’re no better than anyone else.
You guys will show them then boys.
As has become so typical everywhere, the adults, who simply are wrong, will err again at the expense of the athletes.
I’m utterly disgusted.

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  • Loyal Lancer

    Hector, please stop your bellyaching! I don't think anyone is questioning your loyalty to area athletes, just wondering why that game? Lawrence should run a concession stand every time, however, the school department didn't build one, I don't know if you noticed the plumbing and iron rods shooting out from behind the fence at home. Plus whose going to run it? Other communities have Boosters programs and plenty of parental volunteers not always the situation in Lawrence. Plus maybe the staff was unclear as to whose home game it was, Central usually has first dibs right? To get to the scoreboard if you had made it to more than one LHS home game you would know that was the ONLY game that the scoreboard wasn't working ALL other home games it's been on. Coaches are their to make players into better players, make them into better people and win games along the way. Their job isn't to worry about selling weiners and gatorade, and whether the scoreboard works. Again noone is questioning your loyalty and the Lawrence-Central rivalry is a great one, but noone cared last year when they played or the year before or the year before that. Lawrence, has faithful fans, and we do the best that we can with what we have.

  • Badcopier

    You nailed it Hector.
    Lawrence has its best pitching staff in this era.
    Lots of zeros in the opponent box score.
    Instead of beating the war drums, they beat on you!

    You can't win for trying but we love your passion.
    Just remember No Good Deed Goes Unpunished.

  • Tom Tuttle

    Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa….Poor you. A local sports columnist taking heat from the local yocals…..Whaaaaaaaaaaaa. Joe Murphy took the punches and rolled with them, you take it personal; a very bad mix for a man who has the power of the keyboard…You sound like a big baby, just as you did in the fall when “Certain” A.D.'s didn't send in there All-Stars or Honorable mentions…Whaaaaaaaaa. You mention Neal and Yameen to validate what is obvious to those of us who have played sports for either school…But, Whaaaaaaaaaa….

    Being King of your Valley, it was nice of you to give the locals ample time to defend you – only to have no one step up – That should be a sign of just how much WEIGHT you pull. To be honest, I find your self-loathing articles of yesteryear to more of a speed bump than the fast lane, but that's just me…I am sure your cronies, boosters and CC Alum love your rants and raves.

    Honestly, how many Lancer home games have you been to this year? I am counting so don't lie.

  • bighec711

    Tacoma kid,
    You have too much hatred.
    FYI, I was at the Andover game and the game at Haverhill, Monday's win over Tewks and last night's game.
    And that number is infinitessimaly larger than the great majority of staffers at LHS, who haven't been to 1. So don't bring a moronic charge like that to the table.
    By calling my artices of yesteryear “self-loathing” does that mean deep inside I truly am unhappy with myself?
    And don't bring up the Joe Merf thing. He wrote just as many columns ripping his detractors as I do.
    He just used bigger words than me, and you most likely didn't understand them.
    Finally, the veiled WEIGHT shot really hurts, about as much as it did in sixth grade. Now what junior high do you currently attend?
    Thanks for reading TT.

    HL

  • Tom Tuttle

    Poor Hector; I don't hate you, I don't even dislike you…It's more along the lines of Castor Oil – I take your drivel in small doses; I mean serioulsy, are you so desperate for attention that you have relegated yourself to manufacturing so kind of Lancer conspiracy? Have you reread what you wrote?

    Here, Here!!! You have been to 4 Lancer games? Wow, how many Central games? How many Tewksbury games? Do I have to point out, that it is your job to cover sports? It is not, although it would be nice…Required of LHS staff to go to games, especially when most of them are busy doing their job after hours, because there is not enough hours in a school day to correct papers and create lesson plans…So please, before you tell me not to bring “A moronic charge like that to the table” think about what it is you say/claim.

    You are the one who's feelings were hurt, because your “LHS Friends” didn't come to your rescue…You know Hector, the real irony of this is you referred to us as “paranoid folks in Lancer pinstripes”…Yet you claim we are all out to get you, mixed messages buddy, mixed messages.

    Haha, yup..Joe used big words…He even lashed out at some, but I can not and correct me if I am wrong…I can not recall a time in which he whined that everyone was out to get him and no one had his back, if you can…Please enlighten the masses.

  • kodiaksrevenge

    AMAZING!!! Have you really stooped so low as to deleting my replies to you? That's rich….Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

  • baseball

    Hector,

    I am a Andover High baseball alum and currently still play at the collegiate level. I personally think you do a hell of a job and I agree that big games should be done up. There was nothing better than the hill next to right field at Peter Aumais Park filled with people. The players love it and they feel like they are in the spotlight for the afternoon. And even though you probably attend more andover and central baseball games then other towns is because they get W's. Nobody wants to read about a sub par team making 6 errors and losing 10-1 every week. And you still write articles on all the lesser publicized teams. With all the hours you put in to keep season stats and write stories during the varsity and legion season, you don't deserve any crap especially when your request was for the players themselves. People don't go to the games to watch the scritinizing parents/residents that heckle you, they are there for the players! Keep doing what your doing, ill keep reading and I'm sure many other people will as well.

  • bighec711

    To quote Apollo Creed in Rocky III … “Let it go … let it go!”

  • kodiaksrevenge

    Befitting to a defeated man…I ask a few pointed questions and you throw in the towel, oh the humanity!!!

    Joe wouldn't have given up so easily, but then again, Joe was old school.

    Whatever…You are after all the one who created a “Greatest High School Basketball Team” from the MVC that included 3 Central boys.

    Comical…Although I do agree, Leo Parent was great.

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