No place like home

May 13, 2014

Zach Mettenberger was born in Watkinsville, Ga., a mere 665 miles and 10-and-a-half hours from Steubenville.He played college football at the University of Georgia and LSU before being drafted by the Tennessee Titans last weekend. It'd be hard to believe a guy fully engrained in the deep south and SEC-country would ever set foot in the Ohio Valley and, what could be considered Big 10, Big 12 and ACC country.But he has. Multiple times.Mettenberger's father, Bernie, is a Steubenville native and attended Catholic Central High School."Zach has been to Steubenville many times," said Todd ...

Free to think it. Free to say it. Don’t hit send

May 19, 2014

I am no fan of politics.At all.Not a fan of political movies.But, one, "The American President" has been one of my favorites since it came out almost 20 years ago.Good writing, fun little story line and a great speech by President Andrew Shepherd toward the end of the movie."America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You gotta want it bad, cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime ...

Weirton tennis is a city effort

May 23, 2014

The spring season proved that the road to the West Virginia state tennis tournament ran through Weirton.There were 11 state qualifiers from the city, with four more coming from just north in New Manchester.However, without the help of the Weirton Parks and Recreation Department, the goal of making it to Charleston would just be a pipe dream from the homefront."Without them," said Weir High tennis coach Dave Thompson, "we'd be dead in the water."The department provides use of the Starvaggi courts, as well as Marland Heights Park, free of charge to the Red Riders and Madonna tennis ...

Polanco is coming, Polanco is coming…

June 5, 2014

Oscar Tavares and Jon Singleton burst on to the Major League Baseball scene in the past week.Tavares of the Cardinals and Singleton of the Astros each hit home runs in their first big league games. The 22-year-olds are likely to be key cogs for their respective teams' lineups for many years to come.The Pirates' future sparkplug is still taking hacks at the Triple-A level.But he won't be for much longer.Gregory Polanco, the Dominican Republic slugger, is also 22. He's knocking down the Pittsburgh door - even more than Tavares and Singleton.Polanco has dominated the minor leagues during ...

Track at its best

June 9, 2014

Track at its bestThere is nothing like watching a state track meet - the best of the best.The two days in Columbus show why sports are so important in our society.Covering the Ohio State Track and Field Championships at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium at Ohio State University is a study in every emotion the human body can endure, along with a threshold of pain that can be mesmerizing to watch.There is joy, exuberance and pain all in a span of five minutes.There is relief, disbelief and astonishment, along with surprise, disappointment and pleasure.The eight athletes who find themselves ...

Minor league baseball, major league motivation

June 15, 2014

With one deep breath, one grip of the threads, one wind up and one follow through, Sean Brady officially started his journey to the major leagues.His fastball on Friday in Jamestown, N.Y. hit the outside corner of the plate as Carl Anderson watched it go by for strike one."It's a big sigh of relief," said Brady, a new member of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers - the short season Class A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians - even before taking the mound on Opening Night. "That first pitch sets the tempo for the rest of the season. After that first ball is released, then it's time to settle in ...