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Flying Under The Radar


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A bunch of pussies is what they are. It is being played all over that Hasek only has a sore groin or something like that. A twisted ankle for CuJo, come on.

They are finished unless Manny Legace can become their saviour in goals. I see the Hawks hav won 3 out of their last 4 too. :o

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Hardy reaches summit

Trojan scores 34, becomes city's all-time scoring leader

By Greg Jones

High school sports editor

 

The record-breaking shot was almost as tough as the journey to get there. Almost.

 

With a fade-away three-pointer with a defender in his face midway through the first quarter, Elmhurst senior forward James Hardy became Fort Wayne's career scoring leader and exorcised two weeks of demons in the process Wednesday.

 

The shot with 3:57 left in the first pushed Hardy's career total to 1,624, a point ahead of ex-Concordia star Tom Baack. Hardy finished the game, won by Elmhurst 65-62 over Homestead, with 34 points to put him at 1,653 with two regular-season games and the postseason left.

 

"Now I am No. 1 guy, on top," Hardy said. "I am going to put some more on it before I leave.

 

"I thought it was an 'and one' (getting fouled), but he didn't call it. But it didn't matter, I got the record."

 

Hardy was mobbed by his teammates at mid-court with his cousin/guardian Roosevelt Norfleet holding a video camera recording every moment. After a hug from his mother and father and a few chants of "Hardy, Hardy" from the crowd, the game resumed.

 

"(Homestead) tried to stop me, and it really didn't happen," Hardy said. "I wanted to get the record out of the way early. It wouldn't have been possible without my teammates, and we knew we could celebrate after the game."

 

Two weeks ago, Hardy needed 34 points for the record at Blackhawk Christian on Feb. 5, and he got half of that with 17. Then came the next game, Feb. 7 at home against South Side when Hardy was ejected after getting two technicals and only 12 points.

 

Five points away from breaking the record, he sat out the next game at Concordia to set up this one.

 

"This is a big relief," Hardy said. "It is behind me now. (The last two weeks) have been very difficult, but I have good teammates and a good coaching staff, family and friends who stood by me and make sure I kept my head up."

 

It appeared the record would come easier when he went for 37 points, about 10 above his season average, in a win against Bishop Luers four days before the Blackhawk Christian game.

 

But the tough road might make Hardy appreciate it much more.

 

"It has been an up-and-down roller coaster from getting halfway there with 17 points to scoring 12 points, getting thrown out and then getting suspended for the next game at Concordia," Norfleet said. "But he got to set the record in front of all his fans. It has been emotional for him. I am sure it is going to be a lot better at home.

 

"It wasn't just the pressure on the court, there was also pressure off the court. He did a good job."

 

Unlike his 56-point record performance against Harding on Dec. 13 (100-97 loss), this time the Trojans (11-7) got the win, rallying from a late 60-56 deficit against Homestead.

 

"Like my dad said, don't let them take my glory," Hardy said. "Tonight was my night, and if we would have lost the game, it wouldn't felt as good."

 

The record-breaker seemed to ignite Hardy in the first half as he hit 8 of 12 from the field, including 4-of-7 three-pointers for 24 points by halftime with the two teams tied at 39.

 

At one point, he hit six straight shots.

 

After hitting his first shot of the third quarter, Hardy missed his next 12 shots before getting a key three-pointer and a dunk in the fourth quarter.

 

Hardy finished 11 of 27 from the field and only 5 of 11 from the free-throw line. He added 14 rebounds.

 

"The shots just weren't falling like they were in the first half, but I consider myself a big-time player, and big-time players step it up," Hardy said.

 

Homestead (10-8), behind Grant Leiendecker's 21 points, was right there with the Trojans for a majority of the game and even looked to take control with Hardy struggling in the second half.

 

The Spartans opened up a 47-43 lead early in the third quarter. But at the start of the fourth quarter, Elmhurst got a big boost on a three-point play from seldom-used Derrick Smith to cut the lead to 51-50.

 

"We were here to play," Homestead coach Chris Johnson said. "We knew he would break the record. You are not going to stop him from scoring four points.

 

"I thought we played a lot better defensively in the second half. I thought Hardy was tired, and that is what we wanted to do and run some guys at him."

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Mike Williams, walks through door opened by Clarett

 

By Len Pasquarelli

ESPN.com

 

INDIANAPOLIS -- Barring an unanticipated change of heart, Southern California wide receiver Mike Williams will become the first underclass prospect to enter the draft since the NFL was forced by the Maurice Clarett case to alter its eligibility rules.

 

Several sources here for the league's annual predraft combine workouts told ESPN.com that Williams, who would be regarded as one of the top receiver prospects, has decided to forego his remaining two seasons of college eligibility. He has not, however, filed the required paperwork yet with the NFL and will meet this weekend with his parents to discuss his decision.

 

In two college seasons, Williams has 176 catches for 2,570 yards and 30 touchdowns.

 

Williams, 20, is actually 2½ months younger than Clarett, who challenged the league's eligibility rules and was admitted to the draft when a U.S. District Court judge in New York ruled the NFL guidelines in violation of anti-trust laws.

 

 

The NFL is appealing that decision but, because of the ruling, the league re-opened its draft deadline and players now have until March 1 to petition for early entry into the 2004 lottery April 24-25.

 

Because he is not yet three years removed from his high school class graduation date, Williams would not have been eligible under the NFL's former rules. Williams said after the Clarett ruling that he had no intention of leaving the Trojans, the defending co-national champions. But several general managers and personnel directors surveyed here Friday said they were not surprised by the news that Williams would be a part of the '04 draft pool.

 

Since he is not yet included in the draft, team officials and coaches cannot discuss Williams and his NFL potential. On Thursday, league officials told ESPN.com that no college or high school players had yet applied for inclusion in the draft under the new guidelines.

 

Some team officials acknowledged they have been contacted by USC coach Pete Carroll, attempting to have them phone Williams and offer their assessments of where he might fit into this year's draft.

 

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.

 

Not only could this be the best recieving class ever. But just the guys named Williams would be arguably the beast recieving class. (Roy - Texas, Reggie Washington, Mike - USC)

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I thought a couple people would get a kick out of this...

I saw a commercial about something ESPN Classic is doing this Saturday. It starts out at 6 pm, and they're playing a game between Milan and Muncie Central at 7:30.

 

Classic Big Ticket: Milan Miracle

 

This show focuses on the 1954 game between Milan High and Muncie Central High for the Indiana state high school basketball championship. Classic Big Ticket: The Milan Miracle brings to life the game that inspired the movie Hoosiers. ESPN Classic will show the game in its entirety for the first time since it originally aired in March of 1954 and welcome in two special guests: Bobby Plump, the man who hit the game winning shot for the underdog Milan Indians, and Phil Raisor, who started at guard for the heavily favored Muncie Central Bearcats.

 

In addition to seeing the rare, half-century old game footage the Classic Big Ticket will reveal fresh insights about the game from both Plump and Raisor. Both men discussed the fervor associated with the state basketball tournament, the underdog status of Milan (who had an entire student body of 161 compared to 2,200 for Muncie Central), the drama and aftermath of the game, Plump's dramatic, game winning shot and the similarities between the real team and the group portrayed in the movie Hoosiers.

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I thought a couple people would get a kick out of this...

I saw a commercial about something ESPN Classic is doing this Saturday.  It starts out at 6 pm, and they're playing a game between Milan and Muncie Central at 7:30. 

This is must see TV. I have to find someone with classic to tape this for me.

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My inlaws taped it for me.  I can't wait to watch it.  Don't tell me who wins ;)

:lol:

 

I saw the score of the rematch..... :unsure: ....Muncie Central beat Milan 81-40 this time around.....I read an article on it. Though the game wasn't great, the atmosphere was like old times and it really seemed like the place to be. I can't wait to see who we end up playing in the sectionals. They announce the pairings tomorrow.

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Another QB trade?

 

The Dolphins, anticipating they will be able to complete a trade for quarterback A.J. Feeley and sign him to a new contract, have given starter Jay Fiedler permission to talk to other teams.

 

The move is regarded as the practical prelude to Fiedler being released next month, and to Feeley being elevated to the top perch on the depth chart, as the Dolphins attempt to upgrade production at quarterback.

 

 

Fiedler, 32, has been the team's No. 1 quarterback since 2000, with the eight-year veteran averaging 13 starts per season in that period. But the Dolphins have not qualified for the playoffs in consecutive years and the franchise made an overhaul of the quarterback spot its chief priority for this offseason.

 

 

There is interest in Fiedler, but his agent, Brian Levy, would not comment on where he will shop his client. Fiedler would be able to seek a trade only after Miami trades for and signs Feeley, who is a restricted free agent.

 

 

The Dolphins and Eagles agreed Saturday evening to the Feeley deal, which will become official March 3, when the league's current trade moratorium is lifted. In exchange for Feeley, the Eagles will receive a conditional second-round choice in the 2005 draft. A three-year veteran with five starts on his résumé, Feeley will sign a contract with Miami that can be for five years and $18 million and will include a $3 million signing bonus.

 

 

 

 

The door is being left open for Fiedler to return to Miami, albeit at a reduced salary. Fiedler is due a $2 million option bonus on April 5 that the Dolphins will not want to pay if they acquire Feeley. Fiedler also has a $3.7 million base salary for 2004.

 

 

The Cowboys, Buccaneers and Raiders are expected to make overtures to Fiedler. The Raiders' level of interest will depend on Rich Gannon's recovery from offseason shoulder surgery.

 

 

If Fiedler accepts a major pay cut, he would be able to compete against Feeley for Miami's starting job. However, knowing he might have a chance to move on to another team, Fiedler likely would refuse to take a cut.

 

 

Fiedler has started in 53 of his 66 regular-season appearances and has completed 899 of 1,514 passes, for 10,551 yards, 61 touchdowns, 58 interceptions and an efficiency rating of 78.1. Injuries limited him to 11 starts for Miami in 2003.

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I know DBAH0 is a Cowboys fan, but I'll post this here....

 

Dallas eyes Key

RICK STROUD

TAMPA - Keyshawn Johnson could be traded to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for Joey Galloway as part of a blockbuster deal that would swap the team's highly paid receivers.

 

When reached at his home in Los Angeles on Monday night, Johnson confirmed that Bucs general manager Bruce Allen has granted permission for his agent, Jerome Stanley, to talk to the Cowboys about a possible trade.

 

It likely would hinge on both players agreeing to restructure their $6-million per year contracts.

 

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones approached Allen about a possible Galloway-for-Johnson trade last week at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. It's not known whether draft picks are involved in the potential trade.

 

Both players pose salary-cap problems for their teams and likely would have been released in cost-cutting moves.

 

If the deal is completed, the Bucs would have a speed receiver in Galloway, who also returns kicks, and Johnson would be reunited with Cowboys coach Bill Parcells, whom he played for with the Jets.

 

Trades cannot be consummated until March 3.

 

The Bucs owe Johnson, who was deactivated for the final six games of the 2003 season, a $1-million roster bonus on April 1. Even if the trade is completed, the Bucs would absorb $7.15-million of so-called "dead money" in accelerated signing bonus on their salary cap.

 

Galloway, 32, has three seasons left on a seven-year, $42-million contract. The Cowboys are attempting to negotiate a reduced salary for Galloway to make him more attractive in a trade.

 

At 5-foot-11, Galloway is shorter than Bucs receivers Joe Jurevicius, Keenan McCardell and Charles Lee. But he would give Bucs coach Jon Gruden the downfield threat with speed he has been lacking.

 

Allen could not be reached for comment. Gruden did not want to speculate on Johnson's future at the combine Sunday.

 

"I'm not going to comment any further on his situation," Gruden said. "We'll see what happens."

 

If he becomes a free agent March 3, Johnson said he expects to draw interest from the Cowboys, Lions, Jaguars and Cardinals. But the only way for the Cowboys to make sure they get Johnson is to complete a trade for him.

 

Like Johnson and the Bucs, Galloway had reached a crossroads with the Cowboys.

 

After being traded from the Seahawks before the 2000 season for two first-round draft picks, Galloway tore an anterior cruciate ligament in the first game he played for the Cowboys.

 

Galloway's best season in Dallas came in 2002 when he caught 61 passes for 908 yards with six touchdowns. Last season, Galloway finished fifth on the team with 34 receptions for 672 yards (19.8-yard average) and two touchdowns. He also averaged 8.9 yards on 20 punt returns.

 

"What I will say is he is on our team and under contract," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Monday. "Now we've got some work to do on that contract."

 

Johnson, 31, has four years remaining on an eight-year, $56-million contract he signed with the Bucs in 2000 after Tampa Bay traded two first-round picks to the Jets for him.

 

Johnson caught 106 passes in 2001 and was named to his third Pro Bowl. In his first season under Gruden, he caught 76 passes for 1,088 yards and five TDs in helping the Bucs to a Super Bowl XXXVII victory over the Raiders.

 

But last season, he feuded with Gruden, who called him a "distraction," in the locker room. By then, Johnson had informed the Bucs that he did not intend to play in Tampa Bay in 2004. Johnson finished the season third on the team in receiving with 45 catches for 600 yards and three touchdowns.

 

In other Bucs news, Brian Levy, the agent for Dolphins quarterback Jay Fiedler, said Monday that he expects to talk with Tampa Bay officials this week. Fiedler was made expendable when the Dolphins agreed to trade for Eagles quarterback A.J. Feeley.

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I know DBAH0 is a Cowboys fan, but I'll post this here....

Keyshawn for Da Boys. Well we need a big possesion WR, so I'm happy with this, if Keyshawn is ridden by Parcells to bring out the best in himself.

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Got this from a SUPER-Reliable scorce on another board.

 

The Redskins have already huddled, ESPN.com has learned, with the agent for Chicago Bears defensive end Phillip Daniels, and expect a quick deal on him after the start of free agency. Former Bears defensive coordinator Greg Blache is now the defensive line coach in Washington and will push for the Daniels acquisition. There is no tampering involved in the session with Daniels' agent, Hadley Engelhard, because Bears general manager Jerry Angelo granted permission for the veteran defensive end (who is due a $1 million roster bonus Chicago has no intention of paying) to speak to other teams.

 

Looks like PD may not be cut, but traded for some sort of compentsation. Great move by JA if he can pull that one off.

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I know we've talked about this a couple times, but here's a great article on the changing tides and how it once was in Indiana HS B-Ball....

 

Hoosier Hysteria gone with class basketball

By Bob Kravitz

February 25, 2004

 

This time of year, they would talk about high school basketball. They would sit around the office of the IU student newspaper, most of them born-and-bred Hoosiers, and they would talk about the magic of the upcoming sectionals, the white-hot passions involved with playing the boys right down the road, the folklore of the old tournament, names remembered and games never forgotten.

 

It seemed a little odd to me, a non-Indiana native, back then in 1978-82. But Hoosier Hysteria cannot be fully understood unless you've grown up inside the culture.

 

I wonder now, though, do they still sit around the Daily Student -- or anyplace else in this state -- and speak of the upcoming tournament with the same abiding interest, the same deep intensity?

 

The answer, clearly and conclusively, is no.

 

"It's not what it was," said Herb Schwomeyer, author of "Hoosier Hysteria" and a long-time tournament historian. "I'm just very disappointed. We'll never have another state champion. What we had was a great tournament, the best in the country, and now it's gone."

 

Since class basketball ripped the guts out of this Hoosier institution, attendance is down, television ratings are down and passion is down. Worst, though, a big part of what made Indiana different, made Indiana's basketball tournament beautiful and unique, has been lost.

 

Good God, man, are we going to fight this battle again? It's been six years. Deal with it.

 

Sorry.

 

This year is the 50th anniversary of the Milan Miracle, the basketball moment that embodied everything that was right about this tournament, and if ever there was a time to revisit the battleground of class basketball, this is it.

 

With the girls semistates and the boys sectionals right around the corner, it's time, once again, to acknowledge that the multiclass system instituted in 1998 does . . . not . . . work.

 

"The saddest thing for me is to watch the state finals now and not see that many people there," said Waldron's first year coach, Jason Delaney. "I'm only 27, but I still remember what it was like when everybody was packing their gym. That was the greatest thing. The kids now, I don't even think they understand how it was."

 

The stated idea behind the change was to acknowledge the evolving scholastic landscape of the state, and give kids from the smaller schools a chance to enjoy their own piece of the pie.

 

The more virulent critics will insist it was nothing more than a bloody coup staged by small-school administrators hungry to fill their trophy cases.

 

Whatever.

 

It hasn't worked.

 

It's time to turn back the clock.

 

"They should," Schwomeyer said. "But I'm afraid they won't."

 

The multiclass proponents say more kids now get to go home with a shiny trophy.

 

Well, that's great.

 

But is that truly what they want?

 

My guess is, they'd prefer to be part of something legendary and precious and unique. My guess is, those small-school guys -- like, say, unbeaten Waldron -- would trade all their trophies for a chance to run the floor with Lawrence North and Pike.

 

"I know our guys would love to get a shot at it," Delaney said. "Honestly, I couldn't tell you who won the 2A championship three years ago. But you always remembered the champion (of the old tournament)."

 

With the 1954 anniversary at hand, we're inclined to lament the fact there can be no more Milan Miracles with multiclass basketball.

 

But the greatest victim in all of this has been the sectional.

 

When the sectionals commence all over the state next week, they will be a sickly ghost of what they used to be -- notably a backyard brawl brimming with old antagonisms.

 

Today, the matchups, which were revealed Monday, make no sense, consigning local rivalries to the dustbin of memory.

 

There was a time in this state when it was enough for the smaller schools to compete against their larger rivals from down the road. Beating them meant as much, if not more, than winning a 2A title.

 

And -- who knew? -- sometimes, those small schools ended up looking a lot like Milan. Since 1954, eight schools with an enrollment of fewer than 500 reached the final four.

 

They still talk about the Indiana high school basketball tournament this time of year. But they talk about it in the past tense, a late and lamented love, a cherished memory embraced and then lost.

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