By VPJ Staff
Long ago, in a galaxy far away, I was the part-time Sports Editor for the Leesville Daily Leader. I had a full-time job at KVVP-FM, so this was just for giggles. It certainly wasn’t for the pay!
My early years in West Central Louisiana were consumed by sports. We had three high school football teams to cover, great boys’ and girls’ basketball, and all manner of great athletes in spring sports. It was a fun time for this sports nut! The editors let me write a sports column: Ramblings by Rick. I could draw a bead on any topic and let loose. Former Leesville High basketball coach Mike Mallett got upset with me once when I criticized his star player, Nikita “Honeybun” Wilson, for showboating at the end of a blowout win. All I could see was Wilson hurting himself on a dumb play. Injuries can happen when you are playing or clowning!
I got to thinking this week, it’s a great time to “ramble” about sports. Sports fans love this time of the year with the NBA playoffs, the College World Series in baseball/softball, MLB about a third into the season, and the NFL getting ready to get sweaty at camps. Oh, yeah; they are playing hockey for Lord Stanley’s Cup. Kind of hard to relate to in the south where ice is used to cool down beverages.
The Boston Celtics will represent the Eastern conference in the NBA finals. Dallas is ahead of Minnesota in the Western conference 3 games to 1 and should end it soon; maybe did last night! If Minnesota can come back from their deficit against Dallas, they can thank former LSU center Naz Reid. The fourth-year player is averaging 16 ppg. and 6 rebounds off the bench against Dallas.
The basketball world was saddened recently by the passing of Big Bill Walton. Quirky was a word invented to describe him. He was one hell of a player, but maybe even a better person, by all accounts. When Shreveport’s Robert Parrish was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame, Walton was his presenter. They bonded over a simple act of kindness Walton showed Parrish in 1986 when he was traded to the Celtics. Walton is in a tie-dyed t-shirt jamming with the Grateful Dead somewhere in the clouds.
Louisiana collegiate baseball was great to watch this year. Just look at all the teams that made the super regionals: LSU, Tulane, LA Tech, Grambling, Louisiana/Lafayette, and Nicholls. That speaks volumes about the baseball talent in this state. Local talent will be on display in Lake Charles as the Gumbeaux Gators begin playing semi-pro baseball this week. The roster is littered with names from SWLA high schools and colleges.
In MLB, my Pittsburgh Pirates boast great starting pitching, but a shaky bullpen and lack of another good hitter may cause them to falter down the stretch. Their farm system is loaded with talented players, and we are already seeing how good some are with early call-ups. Still a work in progress! Former LSU hurler Paul Skenes has generated a buzz in Steeltown with some eye-popping numbers early. In the National League, the Phillies, Braves, Brewers, and Dodgers are strong. The American League is led by the Yankees, Orioles, Guardians, and Royals. The AL West is weak with only one team over .500.
NFL training camps are readying to sweat to the oldies. Here are three questions: Is David Carr the QB for the Saints? Will Aaron Rogers lead the NY Jets to the Promised Land? Will Jayden Daniels ever overcome playing for the Washington Commanders? Carr may be the least of New Orleans’ problems. They are getting “long in the tooth” defensively and the running game is suspect.
I have never been a fan of QB Russell Wilson. Now he will most likely be the QB for my beloved Steelers. Is that Karma or just dumb irony? Will I ever learn to “like” him?
A month ago, we did a feature in the Vernon Parish Journal on Leesville High athlete Lina Mills-Zacapa. She competed at the highest levels in tennis, track, cross country, and swimming at Leesville. Her peers recently named her Miss LHS because she was so much more than an athlete. Mills-Zacapa will attend college in North Carolina on a track scholarship. Congratulations!!
Enjoy the summer; root for your favorite teams; stay safe!