RallyNorth.net: High School Sports - Merrimack Valley and Southern NH

Just the opportunity to showcase the wonderful, new baseball facility at the new High School to citizens from around the valley should be signal enough for our esteemed,local newspaper to trumpet loudly the opportunity for folks to see some great baseball by some great kids.
It would probably serve the Tribune well in these most perilous times for print media to give the people who might buy and read that paper some positive news about the hub of our community. Circulation is down for a reason....folks just get tired of hearing how inept they are in the very news source that is supposed to be serving the community. Then again, even before you guys moved to the top of the hill in North Andover, the attitude that Lawrence needs to be slammed always prevailed. Give it a try...it might be good for business!

Wo, wo, wo, wo ....
Nobody, but nobody, trumpets louder about the great baseball by some great kids than I do, here and in The Eagle-Tribune.
The Kids!!!!!
Sorry JF, you're out of bounds here.
These are perilous times for print media, the world knows it. If you read the paper, you see positive sports stories, day after day. Go back on this blog, it's a fountain of positivity.
But you can't hide facts in this job either.
This blog prides itself on being an advocate for those great kids. If well-compensated adults don't do their absolute best for those great kids, that's when this blog sounds off.
That is my only agenda here: Speak for the athletes when issues arise, and highlight their exploits to the masses. Your blanket assessment that we foster this "Lawrence needs to be slammed" attitude is so off base.
When this $115 million high school was built and things like basketball hoops were set at 10-foot 3 on the main court, this blog brought it up.
If that bashing the inept? Maybe, but it's not to kick someone in the shins. It's for the kids to get the best chance, all kids.
Nobody is bashing, just to bash. That's not how i roll.
Again, I don't spend my free time tracking, chasing and printing statistics for 20 high school teams for no reason.
I care. You and Kodiak and all the Lancer faithful may not agree with me and this blog is set up to air your gripes. Everyone's gripes air here, as long as they are kept classy and they don't go after kids.
Keep griping. Griping is good.
But you either don't read me, don't know me or have been seriously misinformed about me when you make these statements.
Remember all these coaches and educators are public employees, meaning there is an accountability factor.
When the excuse that the South lawrence East field couldn't handle an 8-team tournament but a field that's 200 yards to the south and looks pretty similar can, and that's why we've had a 6-team tournament but that's suddenly going to change ... I have to chirp, just a little.
Again, thanks for the input.

HL

Wo, Wo Wo, Wo....

Just the other day you announced the "WHOLE" NH HS Baseball season was meaningless...Sure you made it clear you hated the playoff system, but in doing so you essentially disqualified everything the kids and coaches do on a daily basis by saying their dedication was for nil.

"Well compensated adults"...Most coaching jobs are year round jobs. Average a coaches pay out over 52 weeks or 12 months or however you want to, it amounts to just about nothing in the long run...I'll give you a Mulligan on that one.

You bring up 115 million dollars...Which is a lot of money, but consider this - the old high school was over 100 years old...We got our money's worth on that one, so really, what's the point in bringing up the cost? Were you using it to validate your story on the "HOOPS" being mounted too high? Did you single handedly prevent a conspiracy against the "Kids"? No! What you did was feed into the frenzy of the cost to the tax payers.

You are having a rough couple of weeks in the creativity department Hector, I was taugh to write my thoughts on paper, set them aside - give it some time and then reread them before submitting; give it a try.

You still have issues.
The Wayne Knight shot was as below the belt as it gets. That guy gives me the creeps.

One falsehood at a time.
I never wrote the "whole NH season was meaningless."
I did write for a team like Timberlane, the final week doesn't matter because they're safely in the playoffs and have nothing to play for.
The regular season has little meaning. It means less than the NHL regular season.
NH coaches agree with me. You couldn't be more mistaken.
Stick to what you know. You're a lawrence guy. Stay there.
As for this "frenzy" on the cost to the tax payers. Nobody was a bigger proponent of the new LHS.
Of course, a new HS was needed. Did I grouse when the administration chose the penny-wise, pound foolish way on design ... a tiny weight room, a sprint track that runs into glass doors, fieldturf on the football field but not on the baseball field ... yeah, i said something.
But nobody was happier to see the new LHS. Overall, it was money well-spent, very well-spent, great return on the tax dollar.
You don't think I'm fighting every day for my hometown to do the right thing by its kids and build a new Haverhill High?
As for the coaches working 12 months thing, the last time i looked most coaches everywhere, 90 percent of them, are in education.
September-June, with four weeks of vacation during the school year.
Use facts, big fella, your: Worthless ... you suck ... you don't care .... you can't write ... the Tribune stinks ... entries have become tiresome. If you don't like me, too bad.
My entries aren't attacks, they are facts.
The tournament has been 6 teams for too long.
And this SLE could only handle six teams, but the Devlin can handle 8 is a cop-out. Funny, the old Devlin field could handle eight teams and the new one can, but SLE can't???
You're talking 1 extra game a day.
The hoops were not set at the right height.
The Devlin Field, which took much too long to finish, has flaws ... like a vicious dip in front of the plate and a scoreboard in center field.
Facts. Try one or two, instead of generalities and makeshift accusations.
HL

Hey now...

You really do not have to read too far into your May 17th blog.

"I love the Class L tournament. I blanket it, and I’m peaved that the quarters aren’t at a neutral site like they should be.

But the regular season in NH means nothing."

Does that clear up your calling the NH season meaningless? Really, I can't wait to see how you spin this one.

I really do not see the point in cutting up your other "accuracies"...You have not made a good arguement to believe any of it.

Hey kodiak get a life! Do all you do is write on these blogs? You research every thing the the big fella has ever written. H. I would lock my doors looks like there is a stalker out there. I have an idea get a job or volunteer your time. Quoting articles or posts from past dates? Loser...

Hahaha...

Hector is that you? Lawrence born and bred is obviusly a CC Alum/cronie coming to the defense of one of his own.

For the record LBB, when Hector makes a statement and is then called out on it and then he goes on to deny it and I prove his lies by backing it up with his own words through some basic research...It's called setting the record straight.

H. has done some bashing in the last couple of weeks, to which I say he's opened the doors to this "Stalking" as you like to call it.

Brendan called Hector out on his "Facts", even offered to have a sit down or phone conversation to set the record straight...Has Hector done that yet? Nope, why would he? It would just prove he has created the news, instead of reporting on it.

Hector is more than likely waiting for the tourney to talk to Brendan, in which he'll play it all down as some type of over-hype and go on to tell Brendan the tourney really is great with six teams.

I'm not the one taking anonymous shots.
Issues.
Great tactic, though, pounce one comment, take it out of context, and ignore the other ones proclaiming the the "arguement" (sic) not worthy.
I will approach Brendan the same way I've done the last whatever amount of years I've seen him there. I'll say what's up with the six team thing. He'll say other teams are interested, maybe Lowell or Chelmsford or Malden, and then I'll drop it.
Six teams will stink again next year. (My only point in this whole matter by the way)
And then I'll bring it up again next year when there are six teams again, and you'll probably blame me for attacking him or Central Catholic or my friends or whoever.
Like MKA in the fall, your "arguements" (sic) have grown tiresome.
I know it, I stink, this stuff is worthless you've made your point. Move on. The rest of us have. Surely, Brendan has.
Why can't you?
Issues.
HL

Firstly, I took nothing out of context...You said what I posted, not sure how you can spin it any other way.

Secondly, when you do try to talk to Neilon, take note of his body language...Chances are he'd rather take B.P. in barrel.

Lastly, Brendan more than likely replied to your blog because you offended his staff, family and players...If it was just he who you offended, he wouldn't have given you the time of day.

Classic, you tell me to move on JUST after you said you'll bring it up this year and probably next year...Oh the irony.

Okay, i'll move on, as you have made it clear that you are not interested in reporting on the "Real Facts", instead you'd rather stew on the "Hector Half-Truths".

I have grown to not expect much from the local papers.If that's how you want to roll, it's all good...

At the very least, please buy Neilon's kids an ice cream at the tourney...It's only fair, as you did insult them.

Peace

You're welcome to comment again next year if/when I bring it up again. We can dance this dance one more time.
Now please, we're all begging, change the record.

HL

Haha...No doubt it ill be rehashed.

Nice job reminding those of us who plan on enjoying this weekend...Life can be short and painful in an instant.

May God be with Rebecca and her famaily.

You know what makes this whole blog worthless?

You end it with:
"Six teams is six teams"

Thanks Captain Obvious...And thanks for not taking "A SHOT"...Also, I don't believe you asked Brendan about 7-8 teams 15 times...I know Brendan as well as anyone and I can asure you that he would lose patience with a stiff like you after the 3rd time - Sounds like you are trying to create the news, instead of reporting on it...Maybe you are starting to smell the writing on the hallowed walls of the "Lawrence Eagle Tribune".

Trust me Big Hec...Joe Murphy you are not. Don't try and stir the same crap you created.

hector i think it was unrealistic to expect the coaches of lhs to expand the tourney when they had no home field for 3 years and the tournament was moved to methuen high and then for the last 3 years at the south lawrence east field. now that they new devlin is finally ready i am sure the push is on to go to 8 teams. by the way north andover and whoever their cape ann league rival is has always wanted to play 3 games is because that first game they play is a league game for them and you know this.

I do know it, but does that make the tournament any more fair when the other teams play two?

Big Hec,

You know I wasn't "going at you". I can visualize it now. You sitting in the press box behind home plate at the old Devlin. Her showing up with that beautiful white bag from the Italian Kitchen. You looking her in the eye and saying " You had me at Anchovy Crispelli". I trying to figure out if Brad Pitt or George Clooney will play you in the movie adaptation.

You are the best in the area by far for our high school kids and we coaches love you for it. I can't wait to read your stories of the Tourney in the paper this week and it better be nothin' but love in it for Brendan and the Lancers.

Jay,

The "Rudy" (not the Swingers) version of Jon Favreau if I can keep the weight off, and George Wendt if I can't.

HL

Have you considered Wayne Knight?

You're right . OB is OB. The sports section is not a place the paper showcases a bias against the city...I apologize if you took my comment personally. I have read the paper from stem to stern for a very long time, however, and i will stick to my guns about a paper that has always seized an opportunity to let us all know when a local fouls up. Once in a while, we just need a break from hearing about idiots and the local tourney is just that news vacation.

I enjoy giving and taking a good shot as much as the next guy but the 'fuzzybear' vs 'heck' thing has run its course and its distracting the focus from whats really interesting which is some pretty good baseball being played. Wiesman (NA) has been a real horse all year and Masco hit maybe 2 balls hard all night including foul balls.
Hec; really appreaciate your passion for HS sports, you make a solid effort to cover a lot of games and seem to play it pretty straight down the line. For the record Hec and the Lawrence coach sat at the table behind home plate all night and althought I dont claim to be a professional the body language seemed fine.
There should be 8 teams in the tournament so everbody has a chance to throw their best pitching against the best, there's got to be 2 more decent teams out there who want to play.
Play on both fields at the same time if you need to in the early rounds.
The field behind the HS looks great, there was a nice crowd last night, do yourselves a favor and go see some baseball this weekend.
BTW; the Wayne Knight comment was pretty funny.