Plymouth parent Tim Daigneault wonders how many voters in the football Power Poll have seen the Bobcats play. Well, here’s your chance. He’s rolling out the red carpet and inviting anyone from the Union Leader, WGAM or WMUR to his game-day barbecue. This applies for the postseason, too. His letter:
“Hope all is well. Number 1 on your list had to compare to 8 on Marc’s. Anyway the blog creates good conversation for the most part - in some sense animosity for some, hell they’re only kids having /enjoying their passions. Beyond all that I see everyone wants Marc to visit Plymouth and enjoy the leaves. The foliage will be gone but, with only two more definite home games to go and possible 3rd 
— 11 a.m. with the pregame. Love to have him — and any other voters — join us in this open, honest friendly environment.”
There’s another NHIAA football power poll in the state that can be found at NHSportspage.com, a site created by former Gilford hoop star Dave Haley. For a look at his page and rankings, click here. Bishop Guertin is No. 1 and Plymouth No. 2.
The Union Leader/WGAM/WMUR High School Football Power Poll has been a hot topic this week, and I have been criticized for picking Plymouth with my No. 1 vote. Some people can’t comprehend the thought of a Division IV team atop the poll.
Just for kicks, tonight I asked Union Leader HS football guru John Habib to give me his top-10 list. Now, keep in mind, Habib does not vote in the weekly poll (we only get two voters), but I put a lot of value into his opinion. The Habib list:
1. Pinkerton
2. Plymouth
3. BG
4. Exeter
5. South
6. Central
7. Timberlane
8. Souhegan
9. Londonderry
10. Portsmouth
This has not been confirmed, but you can expect Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley to be attending the Granite State Baseball Dinner in Manchester on Nov. 22. That’s a pretty good addition to the guest list. Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter will again be returning. Toronto’s Jesse Litsch and David Purcey will be the other big leaguers at the head table. For tickets, call the Fisher Cats at 641-2005.
The Union Leader/WGAM/WMUR High School Football Power Poll has been great for the game, and I take my vote very seriously. Here is how I picked this week and why.
1. Plymouth — 40 straight wins. Size and speed. The Bobcats can play with anyone. Let’s not beat to death the whole Division IV argument. Yes, it would be nice if they played some tougher opponents, but this is the division they’re supposed to be playing in. I can’t penalize a team for playing in its proper division. Has anyone seen Laconia? That team has serious talent, and Plymouth took a 27-0 lead within about 15 minutes on the clock. When Plymouth played in Division III, it was the same story: 44 straight wins, etc. Why do we have a poll if we can’t reward teams like this?
I’m already taking serious heat for this, but bring it on. My own colleague threw me under the bus, saying it’s “absurdity at its best” on his blog.
2. Pinkerton — Awesome team but Astros don’t get my No. 1 vote this week. Can’t vote for a team that has lost two games or 29 percent of its schedule. Yes, Pinkerton played a nice game at Brockton, Mass. — and lost. That’s why there’s a W column and L column.
3. BG — The Southern New Hampshire/Northern Mass. All-Stars lost at Billerica, Mass., and have trouble throwing the ball.
4. Souhegan — I’m quite comfortable with this pick. This powerhouse team will run the table in Div. III.
5. Central — Getting better every week. Should’ve beaten Nashua South on the road but penalties really hurt the Little Green that night.
6. Nashua South — Bumped to the middle of the pack from losses to Exeter and Lowell, Mass.
7. Timberlane — Huge win over Exeter. First-year coach Kevin Fitzgerald is doing a great job.
8. Exeter — Plunged from No. 4 to No. 8 on my ballot.
9. Londonderry — Solid running game. Saw the Lancers light it up against Memorial but the defense allowed 35 points.
10. Portsmouth — Only loss was a tight game with Souhegan.
I love this stuff. One of the first papers I checked this morning was the Tampa Tribune, and this blog appeared last night in the sixth inning:
“BOSTON - Somewhere in the bowels of Fenway Park, champagne is chilling. The Rays are closing in on what was once unthinkable: an American League championship and World Series berth.”
Facebook buddies have noticed a picture of me talking with Yao Ming from Saturday night. The best part of the Celtics-Rockets in Manchester was sitting with Brent Barry at press row. Matt Bonner’s good buddy didn’t dress for the game and grabbed a seat next to me. We were right next to the Rockets bench, which is an important part of this story.
Brent stayed locked into the game and vocally supported the Rockets, his new team. He’d chat with Rafer “Skip” Alston following a timeout and talk strategy. At one point, he picked up the nearby press phone, motioned to Yao Ming, and said the big fella had a call.
“Tell them I don’t speak English,” the 7-foot-6 Ming said.
Eventually a man from security approached us and asked, “Are you guys with the newspapers?” I said yes.
Security guy: “You’re not supposed to be talking with the players.”
Me: “I’m not.”
Security guy, pointing to Barry, who’s dressed in jeans and a brown sweater: “Well, he is.”
Barry: “Let me ask you a question. Can I talk with the players if I’m on the team?”
Security guy: “What! You’re on the team? Really? Why aren’t you sitting over there (at the bench).”
Barry: “Because I don’t have a (dress) jacket. You see Shane Battier sitting there wearing that hideous red jacket? You can only sit on the bench if you’re wearing a jacket, and I’ll be fined if I sit over there.”
Security guy: “OK.”
Boston won the game, 90-89, in the most intense preseason NBA game in history. Maybe. Ron Artest, Tracy McGrady, Paul Pierce, Eddie House and others were involved in tough physical contact and benches nearly cleared at one point.
As McGrady exited the locker room, I said to him, “That was pretty intense for a preseason game. You guys just love the competition or what?”
T-Mac: “We didn’t want anyone here to be bored.”
More guests have been added to the Granite State Baseball Dinner, held Nov. 22 at the Manchester National Guard Armory. Blue Jays lefty David Purcey, who pitched eight scoreless innings against the Rays last month, is the latest addition to the event. Braves farmhand Jeff Locke, a second-round pick from Kennett of Conway, will be returning.
Other guests will include: Blue Jays righty Jesse Litsch, minor leaguers Jeremy and Josh Papelbon, former Red Sox players Lou Merloni, Johnny Pesky and Rich Gedman, Fisher Cats manager Gary Cathcart and hitting coach Ken Joyce, who’ll move to Triple-A Las Vegas next season, Fisher Cats pitching coach Tom Signore and former big-leaguer Bob Tewksbury.
Tickets cost $75 and benefit three charities. More names will be announced as the dinner approaches.
Congrats to the NH Fisher Cats for winning a bunch of awards from the Eastern League:
Rick Brenner, Executive of the Year; Danielle “The Diva” Matteau, Woman Executive of the Year; Eric Blanton, Turf Manager of the Year.
The team also won the Larry MacPhail Promotional Trophy for outstanding promotional effort, community involvement and overall operation.
And a quick note regarding Matteau: I was attending the Celtics-Rockets game in Manchester on Saturday night when one of those “Will you marry me?” proposals popped up on the video board. It was for The Diva! She said yes to Matt Sullivan of Manchester and is now sporting the engagement ring. We were sitting at the press table near the court, and Brent Barry of the Rockets enjoyed the proposal immensely.
Here’s hoping I scoop Team Lavigne with this news …
– Fisher Cats manager Gary Cathcart will return in 2009. Toronto plans to announce this later today. New Hampshire posted an ugly 61-81 record this season but succeeded in sending Travis Snider and Scott Richmond to the big leagues. More in tomorrow’s print edition.
Mike Basso, the first manager in Fisher Cats history, will lead Toronto’Triple-A club next year. Basso has been named skipper of the new affiliate in Sin City, and Ken Joyce will serve as hitting coach and Dave LaRoche pitching coach.
As a player, Basso took advantage of some 99-cent buffets in Vegas. He played in parts of four seasons for the Las Vegas Stars (1988, 1990, ’92-93), who were affiliated with the Padres back then. The past two years, Basso served as coordinator of instruction for the club’s minor league system. In 2004, he guided the Fisher Cats to 90 wins and the Eastern League championship.
Cathcart owns a 179-169 record as a professional manager.
“The Blue Jays are excited to have Gary Cathcart back as the manager of the Fisher Cats,” said Toronto Blue Jays Director of Player Development Dick Scott. “Gary does a great job in preparing our players for the major leagues.”
Check out the following comment just posted by Joyce …
