Rodeo entertains, stays dry
July 11, 2018
Colonels have momentum heading into the offseason
July 11, 2018
People are thirsty for sports — as thirsty as I’ve ever seen here in the Houma-Thibodaux area.
I went to the Golden Meadow-Fourchon Tarpon Rodeo this past weekend and I was swarmed by folks in every which direction — each who had a question about a topic.
Some wanted to know about LSU. Others wanted me to discuss Nicholls.
A few more wanted me to talk about high school sports or national sports.
So I gathered ‘em all up, combined them with the questions I’ve been compiling in my e-mail inbox and decided it was time for a mailbag.
Mid-July is right around the corner, which means the dog-days of summer are here.
So let us now answer some questions to cure that lingering itch.
Q: Your thoughts on Boogie going to the Warriors? (Asked by Pete, Houma)
A: My first thought was “I told you so!” to every, single Kool-Aid sipping Pelicans fan who has been critical of my opinions of this team and its front office in the past. I said the day the Pelicans traded for Boogie Cousins that it wasn’t going to work out — because the guy is bad in the locker room, which would cause him to burn his bridges fast enough for him to leave the team when his contract ended. Lo and behold, flash forward to the present and here we are. Cousins is off to another team and everyone sees that they were blinded by the false hope of Cousins’ potential — a potential which will never be recognized because he’s a cancer to every locker room he enters. Boogie will sit out until January and come back hungry for money — so hungry that he will shoot himself out of the Warriors’ rotation. As for what it means for the Pelicans — it means the team is one season closer to losing Anthony Davis, which will drop the team back to the lottery where they will eventually draft a star to develop, then lose to another team in the distant future.
Q: What position will Jakhi Douglas play at the next level? (Asked by Mark, Houma)
A: Anything he wants to play, as far as skill positions go. Douglas isn’t big, but he’s shifty, quick and lightning fast in the open field. I think there’s a good chance that he will be something similar to what LSU wanted Russell Shepard to be under Les Miles — a hybrid player who does a little bit of everything in the offense. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Douglas get 4-5 carries, 3-4 catches and return 2-3 kicks per game — as early as his true freshman season.
Q: Who would win this Tiger/Phil $10 million showdown (Asked by Karl, Houma)
A: Golf is so unpredictable. Just this year alone, we’ve seen Tiger Woods look amazing one day, then like an amateur the next. And vice-versa with Phil. But if you’re putting a gun to my head and asking me to make a pick, I’d go with Tiger because if I had to guess, they’re going to pick an arcade-style course to play on, which will mean lots and lots of birdies. If Tiger’s wild driver is negated by short rough, he is still an elite player.
Q: Which local prep football team wins the most games in 2018 (Asked by Hawk, Raceland)
A: There are a lot of moving parts to this question. The best team is Terrebonne, without question, but the Tigers play in District 7-5A, which is one of the most difficult districts in Louisiana, which could make them susceptible to lose out in this race. If Terrebonne gets tripped up, you have to look at our area’s private schools — Vandebilt, E.D. White, Houma Christian and CCA — as having the best chances to go through the gauntlet unscathed with a bunch of wins. But my money is on Terrebonne. Too many guys on that squad are going to the next level.
Q: Any chance Roddy Peters makes the Pelicans’ 2018 roster? (Asked by Rich, Thibodaux)
A: I doubt it. Peters was one of the last picks for New Orleans’ summer league team. He had to earn his way onto the roster through a special try-out, which he used to punch his ticket onto the team. New Orleans has most of its roster spots spoken for and I just don’t see Peters being able to do enough in his limited opportunities to get on the roster. But, all is not lost. I think there’s a great chance for him to either a) work himself onto the Pelicans’ G-League team or B) showcase his talents well enough to earn a sizable contract to play overseas basketball. Either of those two options would be great for his future.
Q: I see you’re a big Braves fan. Can we win it this year? (Asked by Jarred, Houma)
A: Win what? The World Series? No, I doubt it. There are too many holes and not enough of a veteran presence in the clubhouse to do that, I fear. But can this team make the playoffs? I don’t think there’s any question about that. The Braves have an explosive offense, quality starting pitching and assets to blow. What I mean by that is the team has a farm system chalked full with talent. They can give up 2-3 prospects to get better at the trade deadline — all without hurting their future. I think the Braves look to add two arms and maybe a bat at the deadline. If they get all three things, look out.
Q: Give us a sleeper local football team for 2018. (Asked by Ross, Galliano)
A: South Terrebonne is the pick for me. They were young last year, which means they have a lot back this year — a luxury that not many teams will enjoy in the upcoming year. I think they’re one team to look out for, but I also think the Thibodaux Tigers may surprise some folks and get back to that 6-7-win mark after slipping off the perch a little bit last year.
Q: Who is going to win The Open next week and will Tiger finish in the Top 20? (Asked by Sam, Houma)
A: This feels like a Henrik Stenson week, so I will go with him as the winner. Yes, I think Tiger finishes in the Top 20. I actually think he has a good chance to win. I just didn’t have the stones to pick it, myself.
Q: What is the most important game for Nicholls this football season? (Asked by Tim, Lockport)
A: It has to be Sam Houston State, right? Of all the nuts to crack in the Southland Conference, they remain the one team that the Colonels haven’t had any luck against under coach Tim Rebowe. I think the week they come to Thibodaux could be special.
Football vs Abilene Christian 2017 (Misty Leigh McElroy/Nicholls State University) 10/14/17
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