Sunday, January 01, 2006

OUR NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS ARE LIKE MIKE’S CAR, HEAV METAL ROLLING IN FORMATION

It’s time for the first dusting of 2006 and I'm not sure of whether it’s better to look back, look forward or just look around. So of course (in less than 700 words), I’ll try and do all three.

For the look ahead your local state college luminaries likely made some new year’s resolutions. For the gentlemen basketeers more wins than losses and even that may not be enough to impress the new campus royalty, President King Alexander. Coach Hegarty resolves to erase from her season palette the primary colors of blue and gold as worn by UC Santa Barbara. The Beach once dominated the little sisters of Goleta but not for the past hundred years or so. They get that chance Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Pyramid, the same hour that Larry Reynolds’s open the men’s side the Big West wars at UCSB in the mano-y-mano version. More hoops on Monday night as the twin Beach entries face Cal Poly, ladies hosting and men traveling.

Next resolution comes from the training room where maestro Dan Bailey hopes to get his spring teams to stay healthy on the court, diamond, in the pool, and the classroom. Whoops, classrooms belong to other folks around the campus but avoiding physical and academic casualties will have a lot to say about the Niners ambitious run to the BWC Commissioner's Cup. LB is in first after the fall with Santa Barbara in second and expecting to finish high in both hoops and get some points from baseball. Cal State Fullerton rests in third place and while their women hoops are woeful, they do play excellent baseball and good men’s basketball. The winning edge for the Beach may well come from tennis where the Niner star continues to rise.

Another resolve is comes out of the other end of the Mid where Alan Knipe will field a strong men’s v-ball entry, flushed with accolades for having the best incoming recruits in the nation. The Niners start 2006 on Friday in the UCSB Tournament, playing at 1 pm vs. USC and continuing against the field in the two day tourney. On Sunday the boosters get their own floor burns with the New Year’s Classic Indoor Volleyball Tournament. Games will go on Sunday all over campus with the entire tournament proceeds go to support the team.

Next in the “I will be better this year” report is this web quote from one of my insiders who really hates the inter-net chat rooms. “The First Amendment only guarantees you freedom of speech. You don’t get credibility and respect because you have a username and password.” Amen.

Back to the bases, a lot of locals hope that bonus baby Dirtbag Jered Weaver will pitch his way through the Big League camp and if Angel mainstays Jarrod Washburn and Paul Byrd have contract issues then the younger Weaver could be in the bigs in his second year.

Another local connection is Mr. Misty May, Marlin catcher Matt Treanor, who will get a serious look at the starting job. Ironically also in camp will be ex ‘Bag Brad Davis. Which reminds us to remind you to get your baseball season tickets and watch a couple of pre-season all-Americas in there along with 23 new players and the toughest schedule in the nation. The Weathermen start at No. 16 in Collegiate Baseball's pre-season poll, open with No. 21-ranked USC, and also play four teams in the top-15, including No. 1 Texas, No. 5 Rice, No. 9 CS Fullerton and No. 13 Pepperdine plus five other blue chippers, No. 23 Baylor, No. 26 Wichita State, No. 29 Oklahoma and No. 36 San Diego.

And our closing quote from Leadoff Dinner speaker and Houston Astro bullpen star Mike Gallo, “I’ve got a nice ride now but back then my car was a bunch of bolts and metal rolling in formation.” 654 words, resolution #1 in the books.--DR. DAN

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