OPINION —
I remember when I was growing up, and first playing sports, my dad always told me: “Cheaters never win.”
Well, obviously that was before athletes started using steroids and other performance enhancing drugs. In baseball, those kind of cheaters won a lot of games as pitchers or won a lot of games with home runs as hitters.
But the alleged cheating finally caught up with some when it comes to getting votes for the Baseball Hall of Fame. When Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa came up for the first time on ballots this year, they were rejected by big margins.
And with the biggies getting the boot, nobody received the required votes for the regular induction.
Unless there is a big shift in the minds of the voters about putting in cheaters, they have no hope. And that’s as it should be.
But how many players actually used PEDs? I’m sure we’ll never know for certain. And down the road, there actually could be some dopers sneak in.
Still, for now, my faith in sports ethics was restored. And when it comes to the Hall of Fame, I can only hope that cheaters never win!
ä I am actually pleased with the Browns hiring their new coach — Rob Chudzinski. I’m especially pleased that he goes by the nickname of ‘Chud’ because that’s easier to fit in a headline.
While he’s not a “big-name” guy, he has great experience as an assistant coach in the NFL. And I like him better than taking a chance on some college coach like Chip Kelly out of Oregon, who most media thought would be the next guy to head the Browns.
Of course, Kelly decided to stay in college coaching at least for another year.
However, that was two straight years that Kelly acted like he wanted to take an NFL job and then went the other way. If I were an NFL owner I would never consider him again.
And I’d like to see if Chud can work with Brandon Weeden and make him a better quarterback.
Weeden just did not fit the Browns offensive system last year, but Chud should be able to adapt the offense to make Weeden more effective.
If Weeden learns how to find open receivers and trust his judgment, he can be exceptional because he has a gun for an arm. And he is throwing to a group of young, developing receivers who have potential.
Once they get rid of that West Coast offense and fire the ball down the field, that will open up more running lanes for Trent Richardson.
The Browns actually are the on the edge of becoming a very good team. And we’ve seen teams take huge jumps in just one year because of the league’s salary cap.
If Chud does what I think he can do, the Browns could make the playoffs next year and look to be one of the better teams in the league for the next several years.
Sports
SPORTVIEW: Baseball biggies go thud; Browns go with 'Chud'
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5 area teams qualify for D-10 baseball playoffs
Five area baseball teams have qualified for the District 10 playoffs — Grove City, Kennedy Catholic, Sharpsville, West Middlesex and Wilmington.
In the Class A semifinals, Kennedy Catholic faces Cochranton at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Northwestern High School. Rocky Grove faces Eisenhower in the other semifinal game. -
Hickory, WM boys to collide at D-10 AA Track & Field Championships
For the 2nd time this week, a District 10 track & field team title could be decided by a pair of Mercer County contingents.
Just as Hickory and Grove City girls contested the Class AAA crown Wednesday night, so, too, are the Hickory and West Middlesex boys anticipating vying for Saturday’s AA title. -
Roundup: Reynolds baseball tops GC; Sharpsville, Wilmington softball teams win
ä Reynolds 4, Grove City 1 — At Transfer, Neal Engstrom fired a complete-game 3-hitter with 8 strikeouts and 3 walks in lifting the Raiders (9-8) past the Eagles (14-6).
Ryan Grace was tagged with the loss for Grove City. He struck out 6 batters, issued no walks and gave up 7 hits in going the distance. -
GC girls 3-peat at District 10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships
HARBORCREEK— Some athletes seeded 1st in four events would feel pressure. For Grove City High senior Daniel Jaskowak, it’s an opportunity for name recognition.
“I kind’ve like it. It’s cool, because people know who you are,” related Jaskowak, who won 3 events during Wednesday’s District 10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships. -
Hickory, GC girls collide at D-10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships
If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. Cliché though that is, it will be borne out today at the annual District 10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships.
Hickory High girls — the defending PIAA Class AA titlists — will test the best from the biggest. And the Lady Hornets hope to give as good as they get from the 6-county competition. -
Local tune up for districts at Mercer County Invite
There’s a difference between a warm-up and a warning.
If Saturday’s annual track & field invitational is any indication, Mercer County’s contingent issued a warning for the remainder of District 10: This could be a big year in area annals. -
Roundup: Grace, GC beat Sharon, 4-0, in 5 innings
With an impending storm blowing in above Johnny Pepe Field time was limited, so Ryan Grace greedily gobbled up putouts.
Grove City High’s Grace gave up only 3 base hits, and the visiting Eagles eased to an abbreviated 4-0, 5-inning win over Sharon Friday afternoon. -
HIGH SCHOOL SPRING SPORTS ROUNDUP: County track meet set Saturday at Hickory
The annual Mercer County Track & Field Invitational will be held at Hickory High’s Hornet Stadium Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m.
Competing are all Mercer County teams, Class AAA and AA, as well as Slippery Rock. The meet serves as a warm-up to the District 10 championships set next week at Harbor Creek High. -
Roundup: Sharon baseball squad edges Sharpsville, 5-4
It was a tense Tuesday in Tiger-town.
Twenty-four hours removed from a 1-run Region 2-AA loss at New Wilmington, Sharon High’s baseball team could not afford another setback, otherwise its postseason aspirations were alleviated.
Conversely, region pacesetting Sharpsville could have secured the crown with a win, and the Blue Devils dashed to an early 3-0 lead. -
Roundup: WM sweeps Oil Country Track & Field Invite
West Middlesex swept the team titles on Saturday at the Oil Country Invitational at Oil City High School on Saturday.
Coach Bob Morris’ Ms. Reds accumulated 113 points to grab the crown, followed by Lakeview (107.5), Franklin (84), Meadville (74) and Corry (69.5). - More Sports Headlines
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5 area teams qualify for D-10 baseball playoffs
