Before I even begin, let me first say something.
This post is NOT, I REPEAT, NOT about Twin Lakes football or athletics.
*sigh*
Okay. Glad to get that off my chest.
I DO, however, need to talk about an EPIC basketball game last night.
And if you weren't at the Berry Bowl, you missed a hum-dinger of an NCC showdown.
Logansport. Anderson.
Two teams who have had their share of amazing matchups in the past.
Two teams who wanted to get off to a 1-0 start in the uber-competitive NCC.
It was no-holds-barred, drag-out, physical, and competitive to the end last night.
Unfortunately, somebody had to win, and somebody had to lose.
Thankfully for Berry faithful, Logan pulled out a 74-73 victory on the home floor.
It was grind-it-out from start to finish.
Logan seemed to have the upper hand early on, making good plays and showing that defense to shut down Anderson's talented players.
Logan led by 3 after one quarter and expanded the lead to 5 at the half, 32-27.
Logan's amazing sophomore, Antonio Penny, already had 14 points at the break.
That alone shows you how impressive of a player he is, and what a contributor he is to the offense.
But then Logan seemed to ONCE AGAIN have that one bad quarter that always plagues them. Anderson tightened up the defense and forced the Berries into some bad mistakes, as the Indians outscored Logan 18-9 in the third to take a 45-41 lead heading into the final stanza.
The Indians seemed to have grabbed control of the game and looked to send the Berry faithful in a disappointing drive home.
But Mr. Penny would refuse to let that happen.
With Logan trailing 60-57 in the final seconds, Penny was all alone behind the three-point line and drilled the triple with 7 seconds to go. Anderson drove the length of the floor and got into the lane, but two Berries were there to meet the attempt and the shot was blocked, sending the game into the first overtime.
The Berries won the opening tip and seemed to grab momentum back, making steals and big plays, especially when Penny drove to the hole and scored plus a foul, giving Logan a 68-64 lead. The fans began to hope that it was all but over.
However, Penny has struggled from the foul line lately, and he missed the shot, keeping the Indians' hopes alive.
Then, Logan fans became more worried when Penny fouled out of the game late in the first overtime.
The Berries would have to step up without their star, who scored a career-high 34 points.
Anderson would tie the game at 68-68, but the Berries had one final chance to win, even after a critical turnover that led to the tie. Bo Bullard went the length of the floor and let fly a 30-foot jumper, but like Gordon Hayward's shot against Duke in the title game last year, it rattled out and we needed a second overtime to decide this barnburner.
Neither team really grabbed momentum in the second stanza, but Anderson was slowly gaining momentum. The Indians took a 73-72 lead after two free throws, and forced Logansport to call a timeout with 12 seconds to play.
After the timeout, Anderson's defense did another amazing job of cutting off any attempt for senior Austen Hildebrand to get into the lane, but Hildebrand found a cutting Cameron Biggs wide open beside the basket.
Bounce pass. Layup. Buzzer.
BERRIES WIN!!!!
It was an amazing ending to an amazing basketball game.
Now, Logansport stands at 4-2, 1-0 in the NCC, and heads to Lafayette tonight for a showdown with the McCutcheon Mavericks.
***MCCUTCHEON SCOUTING REPORT***
Don't be fooled by McCutcheon's 2-4 record.
The Mavs have been competitive in all four of their losses, losing by 2 to West Lafayette, 1 to Frankfort, and 9 to Lafayette Jeff and Harrison.
The Mavs finished 7th in the J&C Hoops Classic, after beating Benton Central 51-38 in the 7th place game and the other win came easily, 51-28, against North Montgomery.
Rick Peckinpaugh has always done an amazing job as Mavs head coach. He's been there now for 26 years and 32 overall, and his teams are always competitive.
Bottom line, his teams always come ready to play, especially at home.
What does concern me the most is the fatigue factor for Logansport, having to play one night after Anderson gave them everything they could handle.
But the thing about McCutcheon that the Berries could exploit is that McCutcheon mostly can't score (they only average 51 points per game and have scored 51 in their two wins), and they haven't won any close, grind-it-out games. McCutcheon isn't used to that style; they are used to winning easily.
If McCutcheon can completely shut down Penny and the offense and catch Logan napping after a tough game, this one may get ugly quickly. But if the Berries come ready and refreshed and can put up points in bunches, McCutcheon may (or may not) struggle to keep up and they'll be out of it.
PREDICTION: All Logansport has to do is hold McCutcheon under 51 points and they'll be in good shape. Considering the way Logan's O has looked lately and the D is playing well in strides, I think Logan can do JUST ENOUGH to earn another victory. The Berries are 1-2 on the road this season. They need a big road win for another confidence booster, and this would certainly continue those steps in the right direction. LOGANSPORT 56, MCCUTCHEON 49
Twin Lakes travels to North White tonight and Pioneer hosts Argos. Good luck to all, enjoy the games, and see you next weekend!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
Mired in Mediocrity: How Long Do You Give A Coach?
I know, I know.
The football season is over.
I should just move on to basketball and see if that gets any better than last season.
I shouldn't spew any more about Twin Lakes football.
But...
*BUZZER*
Sorry, I have to.
So, if you came to this blog thinking I was going to write a light-hearted story on the basketball outlook, or Logansport basketball, or shoot even Purdue basketball and how good it's looking without Robbie Hummel...yeah those can wait til later.
THIS IS IMPORTANT.
How long, Twin Lakes?
How long are you going to give a coach who is clearly putting the football program back into mediocrity?
At least during my time as a student, Twin Lakes was relevant in Class 3A. Twin Lakes was a team that Hoosier conference opponents and other schools actually FEARED. Whenever a team like West Lafayette or Rensselaer came into the Reservation, they were expecting a knock-down, drag-out, beat-you-into-the-grass type of game.
But now it's like Twin Lakes has turned into styrofoam.
What was once a dragon is now a goldfish. It's something you want to flush down the toilet after a couple of weeks.
No one, I repeat, NO ONE is intimidated by Twin Lakes football anymore.
Especially not the last four years, when Brad Urban has failed to develop talent and left each season with a losing record and a first-round sectional defeat.
The only exceptions being his first season in 2006 (I really don't count that though; he did go 7-3 but that was mostly with Coach Hay's previous class) and then the following year which still had a losing regular season but the team somehow won 2 sectional games only to lose in the final to Western.
Of course they lost to Western!
Western is always good!
Know why?
They probably have a coach that can develop STINKING FOOTBALL TALENT!
With apologies to Bill Nye, consider the following:
*Urban is 21-31 in five years with the Indians. Do the math; that's below 50 percent.
*Records the last four years: 5-7, 2-8, 4-6, 3-7. That equates to 14-28 over the past 4 seasons...do the math, 33 percent winning percentage.
*The Indians have not won a sectional game since the 2007 season. The scores of the last 3 opening losses: 50-20, 32-7, 38-7. Do the math and that's a combined beatdown of 120-34.
*The Indians have not won a Hoosier Conference title under Urban's direction (obviously). The last came in 2005.
*The Indians are 0-4 against Logansport under Urban's direction. Why do they play the Berries again?
*Quick, name who else Urban has never beaten from the Hoosier Conference over the past four seasons.
*Give up? The answers: Rensselaer and West Lafayette. Where did they finish in the conference this year?
*Yep, 1st and 2nd. Surprised? I'm not.
*Urban's longest winning streak over the last four seasons? Three games. THREE.
*Urban's longest losing streak over the last four seasons? SEVEN GAMES. SEVEN!
So let me explain all of this and piece it together.
No winning seasons the last four years.
A losing streak longer than a winning streak.
Three consecutive sectional opening round losses by huge margins.
Going from a 3A, Hoosier Conference powerhouse that everyone fears to a pushover.
All because of a coach that fails to develop talent and makes play calls that make Danny Hope and the Purdue offense look pleasing to watch.
What happened to "next man up", Brad Urban?
Don't give me the excuse that Dylan McKay wasn't available for most of this season. I already wrote a whole sphiel on how Twin Lakes messed THAT one up.
You have to have every player ready for every play, no matter what.
You have to have a gameplan for every opponent, and one that you know will work.
You cannot second guess ANYTHING.
I don't know if I can pinpoint the mediocrity to one thing, many things, or Urban himself.
But he's the coach. And coaches are ultimately held responsible.
It's like the Dallas Cowboys. They no longer wanted to be mediocre with a 1-7 record, so they fired Wade Phillips mid-season. And he really hadn't been great in seasons past.
It's like Minnesota this year. They no longer wanted to be mediocre with a 1-9 record, so they fired Tim Brewster this season. Brewster had done NOTHING for the program since he took over. Not even a winning record. 6-6 was his best year, and they lost the bowl games he took part in. Sorry, Tim, but Minnesota is no Central Catholic.
It's like EVERY OTHER situation with a professional or college franchise. They want fans in the seats every night, because they want them to come out and see a competitive team with a chance to at least put up a winning record and 100% effort every night.
But with Twin Lakes football, this is not happening.
Period.
So I know we're about ready to dive into basketball season - and who knows - this year's Indians team might surprise and actually be better than the past couple seasons, which have also been difficult.
But I ask you Twin Lakes fans, alumnus, boosters, parents, and especially the players - are you willing to be mired in mediocrity? Or is somebody going to pull the trigger and say enough is enough?
Until that day comes, I'll keep ranting, raving, and simply laughing while Twin Lakes football is trying to pull its feet from the muck and continues to slowly sink in its own quicksand.
How long will you give him, Twin Lakes?
How long?
The football season is over.
I should just move on to basketball and see if that gets any better than last season.
I shouldn't spew any more about Twin Lakes football.
But...
*BUZZER*
Sorry, I have to.
So, if you came to this blog thinking I was going to write a light-hearted story on the basketball outlook, or Logansport basketball, or shoot even Purdue basketball and how good it's looking without Robbie Hummel...yeah those can wait til later.
THIS IS IMPORTANT.
How long, Twin Lakes?
How long are you going to give a coach who is clearly putting the football program back into mediocrity?
At least during my time as a student, Twin Lakes was relevant in Class 3A. Twin Lakes was a team that Hoosier conference opponents and other schools actually FEARED. Whenever a team like West Lafayette or Rensselaer came into the Reservation, they were expecting a knock-down, drag-out, beat-you-into-the-grass type of game.
But now it's like Twin Lakes has turned into styrofoam.
What was once a dragon is now a goldfish. It's something you want to flush down the toilet after a couple of weeks.
No one, I repeat, NO ONE is intimidated by Twin Lakes football anymore.
Especially not the last four years, when Brad Urban has failed to develop talent and left each season with a losing record and a first-round sectional defeat.
The only exceptions being his first season in 2006 (I really don't count that though; he did go 7-3 but that was mostly with Coach Hay's previous class) and then the following year which still had a losing regular season but the team somehow won 2 sectional games only to lose in the final to Western.
Of course they lost to Western!
Western is always good!
Know why?
They probably have a coach that can develop STINKING FOOTBALL TALENT!
With apologies to Bill Nye, consider the following:
*Urban is 21-31 in five years with the Indians. Do the math; that's below 50 percent.
*Records the last four years: 5-7, 2-8, 4-6, 3-7. That equates to 14-28 over the past 4 seasons...do the math, 33 percent winning percentage.
*The Indians have not won a sectional game since the 2007 season. The scores of the last 3 opening losses: 50-20, 32-7, 38-7. Do the math and that's a combined beatdown of 120-34.
*The Indians have not won a Hoosier Conference title under Urban's direction (obviously). The last came in 2005.
*The Indians are 0-4 against Logansport under Urban's direction. Why do they play the Berries again?
*Quick, name who else Urban has never beaten from the Hoosier Conference over the past four seasons.
*Give up? The answers: Rensselaer and West Lafayette. Where did they finish in the conference this year?
*Yep, 1st and 2nd. Surprised? I'm not.
*Urban's longest winning streak over the last four seasons? Three games. THREE.
*Urban's longest losing streak over the last four seasons? SEVEN GAMES. SEVEN!
So let me explain all of this and piece it together.
No winning seasons the last four years.
A losing streak longer than a winning streak.
Three consecutive sectional opening round losses by huge margins.
Going from a 3A, Hoosier Conference powerhouse that everyone fears to a pushover.
All because of a coach that fails to develop talent and makes play calls that make Danny Hope and the Purdue offense look pleasing to watch.
What happened to "next man up", Brad Urban?
Don't give me the excuse that Dylan McKay wasn't available for most of this season. I already wrote a whole sphiel on how Twin Lakes messed THAT one up.
You have to have every player ready for every play, no matter what.
You have to have a gameplan for every opponent, and one that you know will work.
You cannot second guess ANYTHING.
I don't know if I can pinpoint the mediocrity to one thing, many things, or Urban himself.
But he's the coach. And coaches are ultimately held responsible.
It's like the Dallas Cowboys. They no longer wanted to be mediocre with a 1-7 record, so they fired Wade Phillips mid-season. And he really hadn't been great in seasons past.
It's like Minnesota this year. They no longer wanted to be mediocre with a 1-9 record, so they fired Tim Brewster this season. Brewster had done NOTHING for the program since he took over. Not even a winning record. 6-6 was his best year, and they lost the bowl games he took part in. Sorry, Tim, but Minnesota is no Central Catholic.
It's like EVERY OTHER situation with a professional or college franchise. They want fans in the seats every night, because they want them to come out and see a competitive team with a chance to at least put up a winning record and 100% effort every night.
But with Twin Lakes football, this is not happening.
Period.
So I know we're about ready to dive into basketball season - and who knows - this year's Indians team might surprise and actually be better than the past couple seasons, which have also been difficult.
But I ask you Twin Lakes fans, alumnus, boosters, parents, and especially the players - are you willing to be mired in mediocrity? Or is somebody going to pull the trigger and say enough is enough?
Until that day comes, I'll keep ranting, raving, and simply laughing while Twin Lakes football is trying to pull its feet from the muck and continues to slowly sink in its own quicksand.
How long will you give him, Twin Lakes?
How long?
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Well, I'm giving in, but I BETTER see a win
I know I said in my prior post that I will NEVER attend another Twin Lakes home game until Brad Urban is no longer the Indians' head coach.
Well, my best friend wants to go to this week's clash with Delphi.
And really, how can I say no to him?
Besides, Delphi is honestly one of two winnable games on the Indians' schedule (besides pitiful Benton Central).
But I BETTER see a win.
If the Indians don't beat the Oracles and lose to them for an unfathomable second straight season, the dark cloud that already hangs over this season is just going to get considerably larger.
With more lightning and thunder included.
What is now a light shower may turn into a full-blown hurricane.
Hurricane Pitiful, that's what it would be.
And it wouldn't be just the remnants either, but the full storm over land.
Scary, I know.
But that's how it's been in Indians nation for the past several seasons. They've weathered difficult storms, but this year - this storm - could be the one that bursts open the flood gates and actually has the athletic director calling the National Guard and terminating the man in charge.
Unless you beat Delphi.
Unless you spring some upsets down the road, such as Rensselaer and West Lafayette.
Because the Twin Lakes Dam is on the verge of seriously bursting.
And no ounce of sandbagging would save it if this team starts 0-4.
Believe me.
*NOTE: I was actually somewhat impressed by TL's one-point defeat to 9th ranked Sheridan on the road, but again, I disagree with a terrible call at the end of the game to go for two instead of kicking the extra point and playing an overtime. What, was Urban THAT SCARED of playing one more period with the Blackhawks for one final time? Did he really think he had better odds in that situation? Well, the ending then was predictable - a stuffed run. This is the Indians' final matchup EVER with the Blackhawks, since Sheridan will join the Hoosier Heartland conference next season while Central Catholic joins the Hoosier Conference. So, really, it only gets worse doesn't it? But thank you, Sheridan, for all the memories. We certainly won't miss you, and we can only hope (and pray) that CC doesn't destroy EVERYBODY.*
Well, my best friend wants to go to this week's clash with Delphi.
And really, how can I say no to him?
Besides, Delphi is honestly one of two winnable games on the Indians' schedule (besides pitiful Benton Central).
But I BETTER see a win.
If the Indians don't beat the Oracles and lose to them for an unfathomable second straight season, the dark cloud that already hangs over this season is just going to get considerably larger.
With more lightning and thunder included.
What is now a light shower may turn into a full-blown hurricane.
Hurricane Pitiful, that's what it would be.
And it wouldn't be just the remnants either, but the full storm over land.
Scary, I know.
But that's how it's been in Indians nation for the past several seasons. They've weathered difficult storms, but this year - this storm - could be the one that bursts open the flood gates and actually has the athletic director calling the National Guard and terminating the man in charge.
Unless you beat Delphi.
Unless you spring some upsets down the road, such as Rensselaer and West Lafayette.
Because the Twin Lakes Dam is on the verge of seriously bursting.
And no ounce of sandbagging would save it if this team starts 0-4.
Believe me.
*NOTE: I was actually somewhat impressed by TL's one-point defeat to 9th ranked Sheridan on the road, but again, I disagree with a terrible call at the end of the game to go for two instead of kicking the extra point and playing an overtime. What, was Urban THAT SCARED of playing one more period with the Blackhawks for one final time? Did he really think he had better odds in that situation? Well, the ending then was predictable - a stuffed run. This is the Indians' final matchup EVER with the Blackhawks, since Sheridan will join the Hoosier Heartland conference next season while Central Catholic joins the Hoosier Conference. So, really, it only gets worse doesn't it? But thank you, Sheridan, for all the memories. We certainly won't miss you, and we can only hope (and pray) that CC doesn't destroy EVERYBODY.*
Saturday, August 28, 2010
August 28: Brad Urban gives us more ridiculous comments
After another non-surprising Twin Lakes loss, 34-13, to the Frankfort Hot Dogs last night, coach Brad Urban gave me more ridiculous comments to talk about this morning.
Let's quickly review WHY Twin Lakes lost last night.
The offense committed four turnovers, most of those being turned into Frankfort points because the defense lets trains, trucks, and the kitchen sink run through it.
Okay? Let's see what the BRILLIANT coach had to say.
"It's not that the kids aren't giving the effort. We don't focus on one player, we rotate four or five guys on the offense-"
STOP.
Um, there's ONE problem.
WHERE'S THE STAR?
There is none in your offense. Oh, wait, I forgot, he's NOWHERE TO BE FOUND right now because you still refuse to tell anybody why.
Um, CONTINUITY is the name of the game here, coach. Shuffling only confuses the offense even more unless they truly know the position they are playing.
And it doesn't exactly confuse the defense because everyone runs the same formation. That goes back to your horrendous play calling, too.
BUT WAIT! HERE'S THE GEM that REALLY set me off!
"We're 2 games through the non-conference, but those two losses don't matter. We play at Sheridan next week, and the conference games start to matter."
I TURNED THE RADIO OFF.
Um, EXCUSE ME?
What did coach Herm Edwards famously say?
"YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME. And when you start telling me, it doesn't matter, then retire. GET OUT!"
When you start telling fans and alumni that wins and losses don't matter, maybe you should follow Herm's advice, Coach, and get out before this season possibly gets any worse.
This is a downward spiral that I just can't see the Indians getting out of anytime soon. And I refuse to attend another Indians game until this 'coach' is gone and the program actually starts taking steps to not only win games again, but actually be competitive.
What gold will you bring us next week after the Sheridan loss? Only time will tell!
Let's quickly review WHY Twin Lakes lost last night.
The offense committed four turnovers, most of those being turned into Frankfort points because the defense lets trains, trucks, and the kitchen sink run through it.
Okay? Let's see what the BRILLIANT coach had to say.
"It's not that the kids aren't giving the effort. We don't focus on one player, we rotate four or five guys on the offense-"
STOP.
Um, there's ONE problem.
WHERE'S THE STAR?
There is none in your offense. Oh, wait, I forgot, he's NOWHERE TO BE FOUND right now because you still refuse to tell anybody why.
Um, CONTINUITY is the name of the game here, coach. Shuffling only confuses the offense even more unless they truly know the position they are playing.
And it doesn't exactly confuse the defense because everyone runs the same formation. That goes back to your horrendous play calling, too.
BUT WAIT! HERE'S THE GEM that REALLY set me off!
"We're 2 games through the non-conference, but those two losses don't matter. We play at Sheridan next week, and the conference games start to matter."
I TURNED THE RADIO OFF.
Um, EXCUSE ME?
What did coach Herm Edwards famously say?
"YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME. And when you start telling me, it doesn't matter, then retire. GET OUT!"
When you start telling fans and alumni that wins and losses don't matter, maybe you should follow Herm's advice, Coach, and get out before this season possibly gets any worse.
This is a downward spiral that I just can't see the Indians getting out of anytime soon. And I refuse to attend another Indians game until this 'coach' is gone and the program actually starts taking steps to not only win games again, but actually be competitive.
What gold will you bring us next week after the Sheridan loss? Only time will tell!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Twin Lakes is doing the wrong thing on McKay situation
I understand that Twin Lakes hasn't exactly been a winning football team the past few years.
It's been tough being a fan and an alumnus when it comes to the gridiron.
And I try to put an optimistic spin on things each game.
But after Week 1 of the 2010 season, I can no longer do that.
Because coach Brad Urban has shoved the last straw into this camel's back.
5-7, 2-8, 4-6 the last three seasons. That was bad enough.
A 26-7 season opening loss to Logansport, the 4th straight time the team has lost to the Berries. Sure, tough to stomach.
A fumble on the 1-yard line and two bad snaps. Eh, forgivable.
But it was something Urban told the Journal and Courier after the game that has me giving up on Twin Lakes football.
Last year's leading running back, Dylan McKay, didn't even make an appearance against Logansport. The running game combined for 36 yards on 15 carries without him.
Why, you ask?
Urban said he couldn't elaborate on the reason.
BOOM. The final straw.
I immediately knew he was trying to protect the player, and it's not an injury. It has to be an off-the-field concern that's something REALLY severe, because he also said McKay was out indefinitely.
But the way Urban - and Twin Lakes - is treating this situation is wrong.
Tell the fans and the alumni SOMETHING. Don't leave the fans in the dark and have us fear the worst for a nice kid and a player that has potential, who is also your best talent.
Lie to us.
Give us something to chew on.
But no - nothing said in the media whatsoever, and not even elaborating like it's some big secret or some 8th Wonder of the World.
Whatever.
If Brad Urban's job is to simply sabotage Twin Lakes football and actually get fired, he's doing a wonderful job of that.
Because without McKay, the Twin Lakes running game is nonexistent. Call NORAD, you're not going to find running on this team's radar. It's now a one-dimensional system. That, and the defense is so porous that at this moment, they have nothing to stop Frankfort, Sheridan, Rensselaer, West Lafayette, Tipton, North Judson, or even Central Catholic, who won't play them til 2011.
So, I guarantee this. Without McKay, Twin Lakes goes 1-9 or 2-8, counting another early sectional loss.
Do the math. You can't be an optimist anymore if you're an Indians fan, because when it comes to football, Brad Urban and his system are doing everything WRONG when it comes to on and off the field.
It's been tough being a fan and an alumnus when it comes to the gridiron.
And I try to put an optimistic spin on things each game.
But after Week 1 of the 2010 season, I can no longer do that.
Because coach Brad Urban has shoved the last straw into this camel's back.
5-7, 2-8, 4-6 the last three seasons. That was bad enough.
A 26-7 season opening loss to Logansport, the 4th straight time the team has lost to the Berries. Sure, tough to stomach.
A fumble on the 1-yard line and two bad snaps. Eh, forgivable.
But it was something Urban told the Journal and Courier after the game that has me giving up on Twin Lakes football.
Last year's leading running back, Dylan McKay, didn't even make an appearance against Logansport. The running game combined for 36 yards on 15 carries without him.
Why, you ask?
Urban said he couldn't elaborate on the reason.
BOOM. The final straw.
I immediately knew he was trying to protect the player, and it's not an injury. It has to be an off-the-field concern that's something REALLY severe, because he also said McKay was out indefinitely.
But the way Urban - and Twin Lakes - is treating this situation is wrong.
Tell the fans and the alumni SOMETHING. Don't leave the fans in the dark and have us fear the worst for a nice kid and a player that has potential, who is also your best talent.
Lie to us.
Give us something to chew on.
But no - nothing said in the media whatsoever, and not even elaborating like it's some big secret or some 8th Wonder of the World.
Whatever.
If Brad Urban's job is to simply sabotage Twin Lakes football and actually get fired, he's doing a wonderful job of that.
Because without McKay, the Twin Lakes running game is nonexistent. Call NORAD, you're not going to find running on this team's radar. It's now a one-dimensional system. That, and the defense is so porous that at this moment, they have nothing to stop Frankfort, Sheridan, Rensselaer, West Lafayette, Tipton, North Judson, or even Central Catholic, who won't play them til 2011.
So, I guarantee this. Without McKay, Twin Lakes goes 1-9 or 2-8, counting another early sectional loss.
Do the math. You can't be an optimist anymore if you're an Indians fan, because when it comes to football, Brad Urban and his system are doing everything WRONG when it comes to on and off the field.
Monday, March 22, 2010
PokerStars Recap 3/22/2010
I'm a big-time Texas Hold 'Em Poker player. My best friend and I have been playing hold-em matches for five years. We've played online and played in one live tournament. We always talk about the WSOP and watch as many events as we can to learn new strategies.
Tonight, I jumped on PokerStars for the first time in a LONG time (seriously), and actually, I had a pretty good night.
I started with 5,231 in chips. I've been higher before, but I have had two slumps during the summer on both this one and Full Tilt. I have a higher total on Full Tilt. I'll probably play it next when I'm in the mood.
I came to the first table and only put 500 in to start. I wasn't hitting anything and it quickly evaporated, so I was down to 4,731. I wasn't feeling too good about already being in the red.
I switched rooms and things quickly improved. I was nailing showdowns left and right, winning 2 hands in a row with pretty good pots (and hands), including a flopped full house and some strong two-pairs. When the crowd dwindled, I ended up leaving that room up 4,155, bringing my total count to 8,886. I was confident I could end the night with over 10,000 in chips.
The swagger continued as I switched to Mars VII. I started strong, winning a few pots here and there to pass the 10,000 total mark. But then I fell into another slump and gave up a little too much. I went all-in with King-Ace and nothing helped. I was back down to 7,886, but still ahead in total.
I laid down another 1,000 as I switched to Veritas VIII, and things looked good early as I won the first hand I played with a two-pair over a measly 7-A that didn't even hit the board. I was quickly up to 8,906 and things looked good. Then again, I had good cards at the start but nothing was hitting or I was getting beat by better hands. I left the room after losing to a full house. I ended up losing 137 in that room, and decided to call it a night after two disappointing performances.
In the end, my total now stands at 7,749, so I was +2,518 for the night. I was fairly pleased, but I felt like I was starting to get too confident and felt like I could win hands that could be beatable. At first, I was reading players like a book; eventually the more I got, the ability wore away and I started kicking myself for dumb plays.
But the stats tell a pretty good story. I played 36 of 54 hands, a solid 66%. This is about average for most players. I played 7 of 8 from the big blind, 9 of 12 from the small blind, and 20 of 34 in other positions. I started strong in the showdowns winning my first 6, but ended up only 8 for 14 (57 percent).
The way I see it, it could have been a heckuva lot better. But anytime I end up in the green, I feel like the night went pretty well. I did leave a lot on the table though. I'm just glad I gained more than I lost in the end. At least I know when to get out of the table's way. :-)
As I said, I'll probably be playing Full Tilt next time I'm in the mood. I've had my share of good runs and bad runs on that one...who knows what the next time's going to bring. But that's why I love the game, and at this point in my life, I can't imagine giving it up.
Tonight, I jumped on PokerStars for the first time in a LONG time (seriously), and actually, I had a pretty good night.
I started with 5,231 in chips. I've been higher before, but I have had two slumps during the summer on both this one and Full Tilt. I have a higher total on Full Tilt. I'll probably play it next when I'm in the mood.
I came to the first table and only put 500 in to start. I wasn't hitting anything and it quickly evaporated, so I was down to 4,731. I wasn't feeling too good about already being in the red.
I switched rooms and things quickly improved. I was nailing showdowns left and right, winning 2 hands in a row with pretty good pots (and hands), including a flopped full house and some strong two-pairs. When the crowd dwindled, I ended up leaving that room up 4,155, bringing my total count to 8,886. I was confident I could end the night with over 10,000 in chips.
The swagger continued as I switched to Mars VII. I started strong, winning a few pots here and there to pass the 10,000 total mark. But then I fell into another slump and gave up a little too much. I went all-in with King-Ace and nothing helped. I was back down to 7,886, but still ahead in total.
I laid down another 1,000 as I switched to Veritas VIII, and things looked good early as I won the first hand I played with a two-pair over a measly 7-A that didn't even hit the board. I was quickly up to 8,906 and things looked good. Then again, I had good cards at the start but nothing was hitting or I was getting beat by better hands. I left the room after losing to a full house. I ended up losing 137 in that room, and decided to call it a night after two disappointing performances.
In the end, my total now stands at 7,749, so I was +2,518 for the night. I was fairly pleased, but I felt like I was starting to get too confident and felt like I could win hands that could be beatable. At first, I was reading players like a book; eventually the more I got, the ability wore away and I started kicking myself for dumb plays.
But the stats tell a pretty good story. I played 36 of 54 hands, a solid 66%. This is about average for most players. I played 7 of 8 from the big blind, 9 of 12 from the small blind, and 20 of 34 in other positions. I started strong in the showdowns winning my first 6, but ended up only 8 for 14 (57 percent).
The way I see it, it could have been a heckuva lot better. But anytime I end up in the green, I feel like the night went pretty well. I did leave a lot on the table though. I'm just glad I gained more than I lost in the end. At least I know when to get out of the table's way. :-)
As I said, I'll probably be playing Full Tilt next time I'm in the mood. I've had my share of good runs and bad runs on that one...who knows what the next time's going to bring. But that's why I love the game, and at this point in my life, I can't imagine giving it up.
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