The dog days of summer are here

TPR Director resigns after news investigation

June 20, 2018

Quarterbacks ready to soak in the knowledge from the Mannings

June 20, 2018

Man, man, man — the dog days of summer are here.

With school out and all local college sports finished, this Managing Editor is grasping at straws to try and find stories that cut the mustard.

But never fear. I’ve been through the summer lull many times. And I know that while significant games may not be on the schedule right now, you guys are looking ahead to the future.

So we opened up the mail bag this week and will seek to give answers to some of those things floating around in your minds.

Let’s go!

Q: You were tough on LSU baseball. I love it! Much deserved. But is there even a small chance of changes being made? (Asked by Jeff, Houma)

A: Changes in terms of what? I don’t think Paul Mainieri is on the hot seat, if that’s what you’re asking. Joe Alleva is on the hot seat far more than any LSU coach is right now and he wouldn’t fire a guy who has had success. But do I think fans are starting to latch onto our way of thinking and will apply a little more pressure on the team to perform at a consistently higher level? Sure, I do. I got 19 emails about that column and 17 were pro-column and just two were pro-LSU. Two Final Four bids in 12 years is not acceptable and I think when fans looked at the numbers objectively, they agreed.

Q: Who will win more games in 2018 — LSU or Nicholls? (Asked by Tom, Houma)

A: This is a good question and a tough one to answer. LSU will obviously have the better, more talented team, but they also will face the better, more talented schedule. In addition to the SEC West grind, LSU will face Miami, Georgia and Florida — just one of those games played at Tiger Stadium. Their schedule is being ranked as one of the most difficult in the country and one of the most difficult in the past decade within the SEC. A peak at Nicholls’ schedule shows a much more favorable ride. Nicholls’ money game is at Kansas and that’s actually a winnable matchup. They host their biggest conference nemesis, Sam Houston State, and have a huge group back from a playoff team. Nicholls plays one fewer game, which hurts, but I go with the Colonels nonetheless.

Q: Just how big of a biow will Andrew Robison transferring be to VCHS? (Asked by Mark, Houma)

A: It’s a huge blow. High school football isn’t like college football. Unless you’re John Curtis or Evangel, you don’t just stockpile three and four-star recruits at every, single position to have All-World depth. So when a player like that leaves a program, it’s a big hit. But Vandebilt is very well-coached and they have a lot of skill players back from last year’s playoff team. I think they’ll still be very, very competent next year, but I think the hopes of a deep playoff run may have just been flushed, unfortunately.

Q: Where will LeBron James land? (Asked by David, Lockport)

A: This is the $32,000 question, isn’t it? I believe that the Cleveland Cavaliers are out barring something drastic happening between now and July 1. Let’s start there. So if you look at the top teams chasing LeBron, we have the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers. I think the 76ers are not a real threat. Ben Simmons is useless without the ball, so adding LeBron doesn’t help him. Combine that with the general manager saga and I think they’re out. The Lakers are interesting, but there are a lot of what if’s that come with them. Can they add Paul George? Can they trade for Kawhi Leonard? Can they make themselves enough of an attractive destination to attract a man who is closer to his mid-30s than he is to age 30? That remains to be seen. The Rockets are the most title-ready fit, but there are reports that he’s not enamored with the city of Houston. My safe money is on the Lakers, but I think the Rockets may end up having the most appealing package. Time will tell.

Q: Why don’t more colleges look for local talent? This area is loaded, man. You know it is! (Asked by Dee, Houma)

A: OK, Dee, so here is what is about to happen. I am about to rant about something and I want you to know that even though it seems like I am barking at your question, I promise I am not. But the idea that local colleges “sleep” on kids from here is absolutely, positively insane. If you can play, they’re going to find you — especially in today’s day and age where everyone has a highlight reel on HUDL and there are video clips abundant all over the internet. The problem that no one wants to talk about is that for every D1 signee we have, there are 10 more who sign JUCO because their grades aren’t good enough to go D1. And for every 10 JUCO signees we have, there are 30 more who are good enough to play JUCO or D1, but who don’t even have the grades to go to the next level at all. Colleges are not discriminating against Houma. If you feel that a player you like isn’t getting enough attention, ask him/her about their GPA and ACT score. The answer likely lies there as to why there’s not more attention.

Q: Why doesn’t Terrebonne Parish have plans to get the turf like Lafourche? (Asked by Reed, Houma)

A: Honest answer: I have no clue, because they need it more than Lafourche does. South Terrebonne’s field is often in deplorable condition by the end of the season and there’s just nothing those guys can do to protect the grass against the workload the field faces each year. The price tag is expensive and I’m not trying to tell anyone how to spend their own money, but I think where there’s a will, there’s often a way. It’s time that school board gets more committed to player safety and less committed to smoothing over chatter about players transferring across-town, while still maintaining their immediate eligibility.

Q: How is Justin Williams doing? Any chance of an MLB call-up this summer? (Asked by Joe, Houma)

A: He’s doing fine, man. As of Saturday, Williams was hitting .243 with 7 home runs and 25 RBI for Triple A Durham Bulls — the last step before being in the Major Leagues. I think the Rays would like to see Williams get on base a little bit more and perhaps strikeout a little bit less. He has 53 K’s in his first 58 games, compared to just 16 walks. But if he can get that average up in the .270’s, there’s surely an outside shot that he gets the call-up to the bigs. I also wouldn’t rule out him being part of a deal at the trade deadline if the Rays decide to buy, though that’s not likely.