A TIGER-LESS PLAYBOOK FOR THE BEACH BOYS AND GIRLS
This late in the fall, coaches like to switch things up to keep their team sharp. Of course, Diamond Dust follows suit opening with a closing quote. It comes from a Mr. Buffett, Warren not Jimmy. “You don’t know who is swimming naked until the tide goes out.”
That seems to be a fitting sentiment, as we have a good-news flavored report on the Life’s a Beach crowd at LBSU. So far we like the look of things, but the tide is still coming in.
Last weekend, I was in my old stomping grounds at the University of Miami to take in a gritty women’s basketball road victory. LBSU and posse, (I counted seven fans wearing the company colors) won 68-64 over Rice in the Hurricane Thanksgiving tourney. LB head coach Jody Wynn put it in perspective, “It was a very important win; Rice is a big team, from a great conference, well coached and we just needed it.” The small but quick Niners, (3-3) are back home tonight (Thursday) to challenge Jody’s alma mater and most recent employer, Southern Cal (3-3) at 7 p.m. in their mini Pac 10 tour. Oregon is visited on Sunday.
Back on campus, Dan Monson’s not so maniacal 49ers, returned to class this week before climbing their next mountain, the U of Texas in Austin. At least the team is still smiling after they schooled UCLA in a 79-68 win in the 76 Classic. The win, arguably the most impressive since the 49ers beat Texas A&M 83-76 in December 2000, broke an 11-game losing streak to the Bruins.
Staying inside, and back in their 23rd consecutive NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament, Brian Gimillaro Niners (22-8) drew eighth-seeded UCLA (23-8) at Pauley Pavilion tomorrow (Friday. Georgia Tech (21-9) plays Baylor (22-9) in the "JV" match, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Both the Bruins and the Beach are better since their Sept. 19 meeting, when Naomi Washington and the LB Sweethearts of Spike swept UCLA 25-19, 25-16, 25-14.
Great Stats — Ex-Dirtbag Danny Espinosa scored 90 runs for the Potomac Nationals, tops in the Carolina League, and among the leaders in fielding percentage, homers, walks, on-base percentage and extra-base hits. Espy also had remembrances on his new and very rich teammate, Stephen Strasburg, who went from a pudgy reliever buried in the Aztec bullpen to the highest-paid draft pick in baseball history. "He really worked hard to get where he is." Amen bro.
Scattered Dust — The winningest Trojan team in America, checking in at 9-3, is Troy (Ala.) University, which lost only to Florida, Bowling Green and Arkansas. The USC version, 8-3, has Arizona coming this weekend and then it’s bowling for both Trojan teams.
Great Dinner Deal — On Dec. 14, the Beach women’s volleyball team, back-to-back Big West champions, has a stimulus package for their fans with an open-to-all free banquet, passing on the chance to make it a VIP fundraiser. The evening begins with a multi-media program in the Pyramid and then some pasta bending at Spaghettini Italian Grill. RSVP to (562) 985-8739.
Great Dividend — Dirtbag pitching legend Troy Buckley picked up a 2011 early signee, Ryan Strufing, whose recruiting trip included sitting next to Buck during a scrimmage.
Ryan told his hometown paper he’s never met someone with “such a high baseball IQ. He’s the smartest baseball coach I’ve ever met,” Strufing said. “Some people have it and some don’t.” Strufing, the proverbial crafty lefty, was 5-2 with 67 strikeouts in 34 innings for Niwot, Colo. last season.
Real Closing Quote — From volleyball’s Tracy Lee, who saved a rally with her face — literally — as the 49ers won a pivotal point over UC Irvine. “I dropped my hands because I did not want to do anything to lose any points. So, I blocked it with my face,” the whimsical Ms. Lee said. “I told the coaches I’m going to practice that and just block with my face now.” DR. DAN
That seems to be a fitting sentiment, as we have a good-news flavored report on the Life’s a Beach crowd at LBSU. So far we like the look of things, but the tide is still coming in.
Last weekend, I was in my old stomping grounds at the University of Miami to take in a gritty women’s basketball road victory. LBSU and posse, (I counted seven fans wearing the company colors) won 68-64 over Rice in the Hurricane Thanksgiving tourney. LB head coach Jody Wynn put it in perspective, “It was a very important win; Rice is a big team, from a great conference, well coached and we just needed it.” The small but quick Niners, (3-3) are back home tonight (Thursday) to challenge Jody’s alma mater and most recent employer, Southern Cal (3-3) at 7 p.m. in their mini Pac 10 tour. Oregon is visited on Sunday.
Back on campus, Dan Monson’s not so maniacal 49ers, returned to class this week before climbing their next mountain, the U of Texas in Austin. At least the team is still smiling after they schooled UCLA in a 79-68 win in the 76 Classic. The win, arguably the most impressive since the 49ers beat Texas A&M 83-76 in December 2000, broke an 11-game losing streak to the Bruins.
Staying inside, and back in their 23rd consecutive NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament, Brian Gimillaro Niners (22-8) drew eighth-seeded UCLA (23-8) at Pauley Pavilion tomorrow (Friday. Georgia Tech (21-9) plays Baylor (22-9) in the "JV" match, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Both the Bruins and the Beach are better since their Sept. 19 meeting, when Naomi Washington and the LB Sweethearts of Spike swept UCLA 25-19, 25-16, 25-14.
Great Stats — Ex-Dirtbag Danny Espinosa scored 90 runs for the Potomac Nationals, tops in the Carolina League, and among the leaders in fielding percentage, homers, walks, on-base percentage and extra-base hits. Espy also had remembrances on his new and very rich teammate, Stephen Strasburg, who went from a pudgy reliever buried in the Aztec bullpen to the highest-paid draft pick in baseball history. "He really worked hard to get where he is." Amen bro.
Scattered Dust — The winningest Trojan team in America, checking in at 9-3, is Troy (Ala.) University, which lost only to Florida, Bowling Green and Arkansas. The USC version, 8-3, has Arizona coming this weekend and then it’s bowling for both Trojan teams.
Great Dinner Deal — On Dec. 14, the Beach women’s volleyball team, back-to-back Big West champions, has a stimulus package for their fans with an open-to-all free banquet, passing on the chance to make it a VIP fundraiser. The evening begins with a multi-media program in the Pyramid and then some pasta bending at Spaghettini Italian Grill. RSVP to (562) 985-8739.
Great Dividend — Dirtbag pitching legend Troy Buckley picked up a 2011 early signee, Ryan Strufing, whose recruiting trip included sitting next to Buck during a scrimmage.
Ryan told his hometown paper he’s never met someone with “such a high baseball IQ. He’s the smartest baseball coach I’ve ever met,” Strufing said. “Some people have it and some don’t.” Strufing, the proverbial crafty lefty, was 5-2 with 67 strikeouts in 34 innings for Niwot, Colo. last season.
Real Closing Quote — From volleyball’s Tracy Lee, who saved a rally with her face — literally — as the 49ers won a pivotal point over UC Irvine. “I dropped my hands because I did not want to do anything to lose any points. So, I blocked it with my face,” the whimsical Ms. Lee said. “I told the coaches I’m going to practice that and just block with my face now.” DR. DAN
