Pirates pass first half test, but there is work still ahead

July 18, 2014

During any given school year between first grade and senior year of high school, I stressed out at least four times every 10 weeks.When the end of the grading period was approaching I had my calculator out trying to figure out my average grade in each class for that term."Oh, sweet. That 94-percent on the biology pop quiz will really boost my grade. Oh, no. That 55-percent on the the biology exam will totally bring my grade down."It went something like that - four times a year - for 12 years.Thankfully, those years are behind me. Kids, sorry if you're still stuck in that phase. But be ...

We were made to thrive

July 21, 2014

Casting Crowns has a new song out that hits a lot of really good notes - and it has nothing to do with lead singer Mark Hall."We Were Made to Thrive" is poignant in a lot of ways.Great words.Great message.Whether it is Charlotte Brown or Rory McIlroy, Andrew McCutchen or Harli White, as the song goes:We know we were made for so much moreThan ordinary lives,It's time for us to more than just surviveWe were made to thriveMcIlroy just won his third major in professional golf before the age of 26, the third-youngest to ever do so, behind Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.McCutchen is the ...

Nothing unique as OVAC All-Stars

July 31, 2014

WHEELING - The players in Sunday's Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Rudy Mumley All-Star Game may not possess the talent of those NFL stars selected for the Pro Bowl, but the youngsters do have a leg up on the professional athletes.The young adults of the Ohio Valley garner more interest and attention than the grossly overpaid and infamously flamboyant NFL players.I've been covering high school sports for a little over five years and have never experienced the excitement for a high school all-star game than what I came across for the annual game at Wheeling Island Stadium.There were some ...

Life in the sports world

August 18, 2014

According to the U.S. Department of Education: Out of every 100 ninth-graders, 68 will graduate from high school, 40 will enter college directly, 27 are still enrolled in college in their second year, and 18 will graduate from college.These numbers include all students who are entered in college. One in approximately 16,000 high school athletes will have a career in professional sports. 98 out of 100 high school athletes never play collegiate sports of any kind at any level. Less than one out of every 100 high school athletes receive a scholarship of any kind to a Division I school. ...

Bucs fighting through adversity

August 20, 2014

The Pittsburgh Pirates really aren't playing all that poorly right now.Yes, you read that correctly.I know that the Pirates lost 11-3 to the Braves on Tuesday night.I know that the Pirates have just dropped their seventh game in a row.I know that the Pirates keep slipping in the standings and could very well be out of the playoff race.But they really aren't playing all that badly right now, all things considered.Pittsburgh has had to deal with lingering injuries to position players Neil Walker, Andrew McCutchen, Jordy Mercer and Clint Barmes - household names for the past few seasons ...

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is freezin’ for a reason

August 22, 2014

Talking with a friend a few weeks ago, the Ice Bucket Challenge was quickly brought up as a topic of conversation."Yeah, I was nominated to do it," he said to me. "But don't worry, I didn't challenge you."I know you won't do it."Not long after, it was brought up with my girlfriend."There's no way you would do that," she said to me, somewhat abruptly. "You're a little wimp."Challenge accepted.I didn't do the Ice Bucket Challenge out of spite. I was eventually nominated by a high school friend, who was a college pitcher at Youngstown State, and a college friend, who was previously an ...