Coffee County Lady Raider Volleyball Tryouts – May 26th, 27th and 28th
Tryouts for the 2020 Lady Raider Volleyball team
will be carried out in the following steps due to the COVID-19 outbreak. State
guidelines only allow 10 athletes to be in the gym at a time. If you have any
questions about tryouts contact:
Coffee County Lady Raider Basketball Tryouts – May 26th, 27th and 28th
Tryouts for the 2020 Lady Raider basketball team will be carried out in the following steps due to the COVID-19 outbreak. State guidelines only allow 10 athletes to be in the gym at a time. If you have any questions about tryouts contact:
Frequent testing would be an important part of any scenario the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association consider for resuming the season, which was paused March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly discussed that issue and others in two radio interviews Friday.
“We’re going to need to have access to testing, and we’re going to make it a point that we’re not accessing testing, even in a private way, if testing availability is an issue in the community,” Daly told 630 CHED in Edmonton. “We will not test asymptomatic players ahead of symptomatic people who are unable to get tested. It’s just something we will not do.”
Daly told TSN 1050 in Toronto the actual testing protocol has yet to be determined.
“There are number of potential solutions that are [pitched] to us and to the other sports leagues and to other organizations every day, and I’d say it’s an important part of the process in terms of making sure you thoroughly vet that and understand the testing solution you’re embracing,” Daly said.
Daly told TSN 1050 that a number of NHL cities and venues had approached the League about hosting games if the NHL decides to play in centralized locations, and confirmed to CHED that Edmonton is “definitely in the mix.”
Daly told TSN 1050 a community would need the capacity for a testing program along with a first-class arena, practice ice, hotel capacity and the ability to secure access.
“Not every community probably will be in the place where they can allow for discretionary testing of players,” Daly said.
“… Another box on the checklist that you have to check is, is it supported by kind of the local health authorities? Is this something that the community welcomes and thinks would be a positive in recovering from what we’re going through now?
“… We’re really just in the process of kind of vetting all those clubs, communities and all the venue issues that would be associated with that.”
The NHL and the NHLPA have formed a Return to Play Committee of executives and players. Daly told CHED the NHL has made clear to the players that it understands the issue of being separated from family if teams play in centralized locations.
“We don’t expect them to be isolated and away from their families for a four-month period of time or a three-month period of time or even a two-month period of time,” he said. “We understand the importance of kind of family interaction, and we’ll find a way to accommodate that.”
Daly told TSN 1050 that if the NHL were to play games without fans, it would open up possibilities to increase the use of technology via television and digital media.
“Obviously we’re looking to exploit that opportunity, and we’re going to try to maximize the fan experience,” the Deputy Commissioner said. “If you can’t be in-building, which is a second-to-none fan experience, I think, for live sports generally but in particular for our sport, I think you have to be creative in ways to utilize technology to, as I said, maximize the fan experience and bring them closer to the game, closer to the personalities than ever before.”
The NHL has floated the idea to the general managers of holding the 2020 NHL Draft in June before the end of the regular season. Daly told CHED the League thinks there are benefits. Teams are prepared. The NHL doesn’t want to shoehorn the 2020 NHL Draft Lottery and the draft into a tight window of time. Holding the draft in June would be an opportunity for fan engagement.
But there are complications, such as conditional draft picks determined by the regular season and the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
“Nothing’s going to be perfect,” Daly said. “We haven’t made a decision on that yet, but obviously we’ll have to make the decision in the near future.”
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman told NHL Network on Thursday the League would consider starting next season in November or December.
Asked how that would affect the schedule, Daly told TSN 1050, “That depends on a whole host of things, including building availabilities through the following summer, when we would want to complete our season the following summer, whether we’d have to condense the normal schedule in any meaningful way.
“But … in that type of scenario, my guess is we would be looking at ways to make … the day count as low as possible. You have to look to where in the schedule you might be able to create those type of opportunities, and we’ll do that at the appropriate time. But [the NHL All-Star Game] and five-day break and all those things would be kind of normal considerations that would have to be evaluated if we go down that path.”
The League and the players’ association reengaged in discussions regarding the NHL/NHLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement shortly before the season was paused, with the agreement expiring after the 2021-22 season. They have become focused on the coronavirus situation but could engage again.
“This situation certainly provides an opportunity to kind of ignite and expedite those talks, I would think, in certain ways,” Daly told TSN 1050. “While we’re not there substantively yet because we have a lot of other things we’re working on, I think there’s a willingness and an interest on both sides to pursue that.”
Corey Davis entered the NFL as a big-play threat, and he still has one season left to prove he can be one in Tennessee.
The Titans have declined to pick up the fifth-year option on Davis’ rookie contract, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported.
Selected fifth overall in the 2017 draft, Davis came from Western Michigan as the 2016 Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year and the all-time receiving yards leader in major college football. Davis packed with him the promise of stretching the field for a Titans team that desperately needed a receiver of that caliber.
He’s struggled to do so in his first three seasons. Davis’ best campaign came in his only full season of action (2018), in which he caught 65 passes for 891 yards and four touchdowns. His long reception of 51 yards offered a peek at what evaluators saw in him before the 2017 draft.
2019 saw Davis post his best yards-per-catch average (14) of his career, but he found himself in a receiving corps that included a new emergent star: A.J. Brown. The rookie finished with 52 receptions for 1,051 receiving yards and eight touchdowns and was a legitimate Pro Bowl candidate who didn’t end up making the team. He did, however, make the Pro Football Writers Association’s All-Rookie Team, a recognition Brown undoubtedly deserved.
Davis, meanwhile, posted a line of 43 receptions for 601 yards and two touchdowns in 15 games.
There’s room for both receivers on Tennessee’s roster, especially with slot receiver Adam Humphries helping balance out all levels of the field. But with a fifth-year option that would nearly double his 2020 cap hit of $8.17 million, Tennessee found it wiser to wait for Davis to prove his value on a potential free-agent market before locking themselves into a 2021 rate well into the mid-teens.
The Titans though did pick up the fifth-year option for cornerback Adoree’ Jackson, per Pelissero.
Major League Soccer announced that as of Wednesday, May 6, players may begin to use outdoor team training fields for individual workouts, in compliance with detailed health and safety protocols that were created in consultation with medical and infectious disease experts. All individual workouts are voluntary and may not be in conflict with local public health official or government policies.
By allowing players, on a voluntary basis, to utilize team-operated fields for individual workouts, MLS clubs will be able to provide a controlled environment that ensures adherence to safety protocols and social distancing measures for players and staff.
The individual player workout protocol
prohibits access to club facilities including but not limited to locker rooms,
team gyms, and team training rooms. Team gyms and training rooms may still only
be accessed by players receiving post-operative and rehabilitation treatment,
as directed by the club’s Chief Medical Officer.
Prior to initiating any individual
player workouts, every team must submit to MLS a club-specific plan that
outlines how the team will implement health and safety protocols, including:
Restricting training facility access to essential
staff only, with specific staff listed in the plan.
Sanitization and disinfection plans for all training
equipment and spaces, including disinfection of any equipment used by
players (balls, cones, goals) between every session.
Completion of a Standard Screening Assessment survey
by each player prior to every arrival at the training site, and
temperature checks upon arrival at the facility.
Staggered player and staff arrivals and departures,
with designated parking spaces to maintain maximum distance between
vehicles.
Player use of personal protective equipment from the
parking lot to the field, and again on return to the parking lot.
Staff use of the appropriate personal protective
equipment throughout training, while also maintaining a minimum distance
of 10 feet from players at all times.
Hand washing and disinfectant stations for required
use before and after individual workouts.
Clubs will have the use of the outdoor fields at
their training facility, divided into a maximum of four quadrants per
field. A maximum of one player per quadrant may participate per training
session with no equipment sharing or playing (passing, shooting) between
players.
An Emergency Action Plan for all COVID-19 related
issues.
All plans must be reviewed and
approved by the club’s medical staff and local infectious disease expert before
submitting to Major League Soccer. Every club will designate a member of the
staff to oversee adherence to MLS-recommended protocols and club-specific
implementation plan.
In addition, each club will also be
responsible for confirming communication of these protocols to players and team
staff.
The league-wide moratorium on small
group and full team training remains in place through, and including,
Friday, May 15.
Doug Roorda during an appearance on Thunder Radio’s Coffee Coaches Show
Word spread quickly on Wednesday of the death of Westwood Middle School science teacher and golf coach Doug Roorda. Roorda, who began his teaching career in August of 1988, coached football, basketball and golf during his 32 year career at Westwood Junior High/Westwood Middle School. Thunder Radio sports reached out to some of his present and former teachers and coaching counterparts for their thoughts about Coach Roorda and they are brought to you below. At press time, funeral arrangements for Coach Roorda had not been released.
“WMS is deeply saddened at the passing of Mr. Doug Roorda. Mr. Roorda was a teacher, coach, colleague, and friend. His love for science will always be remembered at WMS. He was dedicated to his students and their academic gains. He made learning fun and eventful by dressing up to fit the “mad scientist” part for an experiment or bringing in special activities that sparked curiosity in the eyes of his students. Mr. Roorda was always willing to help WMS in any way possible. He has volunteered numerous hours to different sports when they needed an extra hand. Golf was a love of his and he shared that love with the students by growing the WMS golf team. Doug Roorda will be missed greatly by teachers, staff, and students at WMS. WMS will keep his family in our thoughts and prayers during this time. This quote sums up Mr. Roorda in his classroom: “I wasn’t born to ‘just teach.’ I was born to inspire others, to change people and to never give up; even when aced with challenges that seem impossible.”– Julie Miller, principal – Westwood Middle School
“Doug Roorda was an integral part of Manchester City Schools and Westwood Middle School. He was respected and loved by his peers, his students, and the families of our school system. Coach Roorda was quick with a smile and impacted many young lives. He will be greatly missed.” – Dr. Joey Vaughn, Director of Schools – Manchester City School System
“He loved sports and science and he was always ready to talk to you about either one! I have had several of his former students call me and tell me how much they loved his class and loved him as a teacher. He left a lasting impression on several generations of students. Whenever I ‘m out and I tell them that I teach at Westwood they always ask about him.” – Jim Dobson, athletic director – Westwood Middle School
“As the principal at Westwood Junior High School, I was seeking to fill a vacancy for 8th grade Earth Science and boys basketball coach. It was late May of 1988 that I phoned several Tennessee colleges and universities and asked that they post my search. I received a few inquiries, one of which was from a young man named Doug Roorda. Doug has just received a Master’s Degree in Earth and Space Science from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Doug had received his Bachelor’s Degree in Geology from Purdue University. Doug’s allegiance was always to the Boilermakers of Purdue. I narrowed my interviews to three people based upon their qualifications. Academically, Doug was far and away the best candidate for the teaching position. Quite frankly, he was not the number one candidate for the coaching position. However, my allegiance was to the academic excellence of Westwood Junior High School students. Therefore, my recommendation to the Superintendent of Schools was for Doug to join the Rocket family. Doug was excited about joining our team, and became a Rocket for the remainder of his life. The eighth grade science curriculum, in those days, was taught from a textbook titled “Earth Science”. I always enjoyed dropping in on Doug’s classes. When I was in Doug’s classroom he was not only teaching his students, but he was teaching me as well. I remember us having brief conversations about what he had taught that day. You see, he had motivated me as well as his students. Doug was a highly qualified teacher and did a good job in the classroom. He was a dedicated coach who was committed to his players. I knew that he cared about his students and players, and would go the extra mile for them. I knew the players were safe with him, and he would never curse a player. I thank Doug for inspiring my confidence in him during that 1988-89 school year. I thank Doug for being my colleague and friend. I thank him for serving the students of Westwood. R.I.P. my friend.” – Pat Barton, former principal – Westwood Middle School
“I had the honor to know and work with Doug his entire career at Westwood Middle School. Doug was a quality teacher, coach and person. I was able to observe Doug personally in the classroom and on the basketball court. Doug was a Science teacher who was a master teacher of children. He was a coach who was a master at motivating and inspiring the best from his athletes. He was highly respected by his students, other coaches, and his peers. Doug was the embodiment of ROCKET PRIDE and will be sorely missed by me personally and by the entire Manchester City School Family.” – Gary Dyer, former coach/teacher – Westwood Middle School and administrator – Manchester City School System
“Doug was one of the most dedicated coach/teachers I ever worked with. We worked together for several years, and he became one of my best friends.” – Joel Vinson, former coach/teacher – Westwood Middle School
“Doug and I became friends when I started coaching golf twelve years ago. He took me under his wing and taught me everything I needed to know about coaching golf. With us having to share Willowbrook, we honestly became one team even though we coached separate ones. We quickly figured out we balanced each other well. He was great at giving the beginning speeches and I was good at collecting the scores. Every spring was like a reunion for us. We would ride in the golf cart together during matches talking about vacations, family, the school year, and of course golf. He introduced me to one of my favorite drinks, the Arnold Palmer (tea and lemonade) and every year at Riverbend we both would get one before heading out on the course. He was passionate about his family, teaching, and coaching golf. He was always willing to help all golfers on their game whether they were on his team or not. Every year at the first practice I could count on hearing a voice say “Hey there coach.” I will miss him terribly. Until I see you again one day, rest easy coach.” – Holly Rodriquez, golf coach/teacher – Coffee County Middle School
“I remember first meeting Coach Roorda in the Fall of 1988. I was a brand new 8th grader, and I believe he was a brand new teacher fresh out of Purdue University. Coach Roorda was my Science teacher, basketball, and football coach at WJHS for 2 seasons. We had some very memorable moments during those 2 years. To many to write them all down, but I would like to share one of those memories as I reflect on the time I shared with Coach Doug Roorda. It was the 89′-90′ basketball season. His 2nd year as coach. I was now in the 9th grade. We had lost to County (CCJHS) in every sport we had played them in for the past two seasons…three if you counted football. Not only lost but lost bad. Until December of 1989. We finally beat them on our home court. I remember Coach Roorda was so proud of his boys in blue that night and we were equally proud of him. We were proud to call him our coach…Weswood’s coach. At the end of the season we had our awards banquet. We presented Coach with the game ball from that night. Each of us had signed it. As Coach Roorda received the ball tears were rolling down his face and most of ours as well. We knew that he loved us and we loved him right back. It was an emotional time we all shared together. One that I will cherish more now than ever. Coach Roorda was a giver. Thanks to him countless numbers of students were given their own special memory. Memories they could pass on. Memories from a man who will never be forgotten.” – Chad Dyer, football coach/teacher – Westwood Middle School
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” -Benjamin Franklin “Not only did I have the privilege of working with Mr. Roorda, I was also fortunate enough to be his student many years ago. He was a great teacher and a friend. I will miss his lunch visits, he made it a point to venture down to the sixth grade hallway and chat with us. School wil never be the same. You will forever be in our hearts.” – Amanda Sullivan, teacher/coach – Westwood Middle School
“When I was transferred to Westwood Jr. High (it was a Jr. High at the time) Doug was one of the most helpful teachers. He always had the time to answer any questions I had and always with a smile on his face. One of my favorite memories is when Doug would show up to school with his homemade brownies. This would happen quite often and the joy he had in making his colleagues smile just shows what a huge heart he had. I’ll miss his dry sense of humor, his brilliant mind, his crazy costumes and his passion for teaching.” – Angela Houck, teacher/coach – Westwood Middle School
“Doug was an amazing teacher who had a positive impact on so many students, parents, friends, and peers. He really loved working with kids and trying to make a positive impact by making a connection with kids through science and sports. He was an exceptional coach in multiple sports and was a true Rocket to his core. His dedication to his school was second to none. He was a loyal assistant to me for 6 seasons. He had a diverse basketball mind and a love for the game. He was an explorer. Always up for a trip or an adventure. Ready to explore and experience. Someone who could enjoy a solo trip to Alaska or a group trip to Murfreesboro. I really don’t have the appropriate words…We were texting that day during a virtual faculty meeting just joking around as always. I will miss him. Westwood will miss him. Westwood will not be the same. I have never known Westwood without Doug. Sad …” – Will Pannell, teacher/coach – Westwood Middle School
“Coach Roorda was one of the most positive and outgoing people I’ve ever known. I can’t recall ever having a negative discussion with him. He seemed to enjoy life to the fullest, and I loved keeping up with all of his excursions.” – Matt Vinson, teacher/coach – Coffee County School System
“I was heartbroken to hear about my friend/co-worker Doug Roorda. I worked with him for 5 years and he was the best! He was an amazing teacher! He always knew what to do to keep the kids engaged! I wanted to be a student in his class. Sometimes during planning I would walk by and peak in his room just to see what they were doing. He got to work just before me in the mornings and played his music loud enough for us all to hear! Always laid back and smiling. Rest easy Roorda! You will be greatly missed!” – Heather Sulkowski, former teacher/coach – Westwood Middle School
“I had the privilege of working with Doug ten years. We coached and taught together. I have used many word to describe Doug including brilliant, talented, and caring. By far, the one that stands out right now is unflappable. He was a rock. He will be missed” – Kenny Lockhart, former teacher/coach – Westwood Middle School
“This quote is one that he listed on Facebook in the details about Doug section… “There are dreams of love, life, and adventure in all of us. But we are also sadly filled with reasons why we shouldn’t try. These reasons seem to protect us, but in truth they imprison us. They hold life at a distance. Life will be over sooner than we think. If we have bikes to ride and people to love, now is the time.” -Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Sadly I did not have a chance to work with him for very long. What time I did share with him, he was a great guy that wanted the best for his students. Was very quiet and laid back.” – Jonathan Shedd, teacher – Westwood Middle School
“Coach Roorda was a lifelong coach and educator, 30+ years, who influenced many young lives in Manchester. He will be missed both in and out of the classroom.” – David Vinson, teacher/coach – Coffee County School System
“I’ve known Doug for many years. I considered him a friend and fellow colleague. I know Doug was a teacher who cared for his students and was very serious about his teaching and coaching responsibilities. He will be missed by his friends, family, and the entire school community of Manchester and Coffee County! You will be missed!!!” – Stan Jarrell, former coach/teacher – Coffee County CHS
“Because of his email “roordad,” the kids all called him “Roordaddy.” I think that speaks volumes.” – Sharon Hansen, teacher – Westwood Middle School
When talking to a young coach at Westwood on Wednesday night, he told me the story about how he had asked Coach Roorda about me when I first started covering middle school sports for Thunder Radio in 2012. Coach Roorda told him that I was a Rocket supporter and he could trust me because I would do right by the players. That says a lot about who Doug Roorda really was. He was concerned about protecting and promoting the kids. It is my prayer that I always have and always will do right by “the kids.” Rest in Peace Doug, I will miss you in so many ways. – Dennis Weaver, Sports Director – Thunder Radio
The Titans have agreed to terms with veteran running back Senorise Perry.
Perry (6-0, 210), who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent of the Bears in 2014, has also played with the Dolphins and Bills. He’s been a solid special teams performer during his career.
Perry spent the 2019 season with the Bills, where he played in 11 games. Perry had just three carries for three yards with the Bills, and he also caught a pass for a one-yard gain.
In his career, Perry has 11 carries for 33 yards. In his first season with the Bears, Perry appeared in all 16 games, and he had a team-high 17 special teams tackles and two forced fumbles on special teams. He also played in all 16 games for the Dolphins in 2017 and 2018 after spending time in the practice squads of the Bears and Dolphins in 2016. Perry spent the 2015 season on injured reserve after suffering a foot injury.
Perry, who has played in 59 games in the NFL, has 32 career special teams tackles, and he’s returned 23 kickoffs for 456 yards.
Perry joins the competition behind running back Derrick Henry, the NFL’s leading rusher in 2019.
The Titans drafted former Appalachian State back Darrynton Evans in the third-round of the 2020 NFL Draft, and the team also has running backs Dalyn Dawkins and Shaun Wilson in the roster, in addition to fullback Khari Blasingame.
Perry played collegiately at Louisville, where he rushed for 1,409 yards on 289 carries with 18 touchdowns.
No one loves a good debate quite like baseball fans, and with that in mind, we asked each of our beat reporters to rank the top five players by position in the history of their franchise, based on their career while playing for that club. These rankings are for fun and debate purposes only … if you don’t agree with the order, participate in the Twitter poll to vote for your favorite at this position.
Here is Mark Bowman’s ranking of the top 5 left fielders in Braves history. Next week: Center fielders.
1. Rico Carty, 1963-72 Key fact: Ranks first among Braves left fielders infWAR(25.1) andbWAR(23.2)
How good was Carty offensively? The 147 WRC+ he produced from 1964-71 ranked second among MLB left fielders, trailing only Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski (147). The talented outfielder finished second in balloting for the ’64 National League Rookie of the Year Award and established himself as one of the game’s best hitters before missing all of 1968 because of tuberculosis.
Carty finished 13th in balloting for the 1969 NL MVP Award and 10th after winning a batting title with the .366 batting average he produced for the 1970 Braves. He earned a place in the NL’s starting lineup via write-in All-Star votes that year. But he missed ’71 with a fractured kneecap, and he was labeled by some to be a headache by the time the Braves traded him after the ’72 season.
Still, Carty proved healthy and productive enough to join Sid Gordon as the only left fielders in Braves history to produce a 3.0 bWAR or better over four seasons. Carty is also the only left fielder in franchise history to produce a 130 OPS+ or better over at least four seasons. He actually reached this mark on five different occasions.
Carty’s career-best 171 OPS+ from the 1970 season is the third-highest mark ever constructed by a Braves player over at least 130 games during the Atlanta era. Hank Aaron trumped this total four times in his career, including twice (’69 and ’71) after the club moved from Milwaukee.
2. Sid Gordon, 1950-53 Key fact: Ranks second among Braves left fielders in both bWAR (19.3) and fWAR (18.2)
If nothing else, while evaluating who was the best at each position over the past few weeks, I’ve been reminded Aaron, Eddie Mathews and Warren Spahn were far from the only great players in Milwaukee Braves history.
Though he played just four seasons for the Braves, Gordon stands with Carty as the only left fielders in franchise history to produce a 130 OPS+ or better at least three times. The .886 OPS Gordon constructed while with Milwaukee is tied with Ryan Klesko for the highest mark produced by a Braves left fielder over at least 300 games.
3.Ron Gant, 1987-93 Key fact: After recording consecutive 30-30 seasons in 1990 and ’91, Gant finished four steals shy of another in ’93
After debating whether to rank Lonnie Smith, Ryan Klesko or Gant third, I chose to go with the guy I’d want playing left field if given those three choices to fill a lineup.
Had Gant been playing left field when he produced the consecutive 30-30 seasons in 1990 and ’91, he might have ranked at the top of the list. But because he spent just two seasons (’92 and ’93) as Atlanta’s primary left fielder, Carty and Gordon received credit for their extended contributions.
After having a somewhat down year in 1992 (17 homers and a .736 OPS), Gant returned to form as he hit 36 homers and produced an .836 OPS in ’93. That season earned him what was then the biggest one-year contract ($5.5 million) in baseball history. But the dirt bike accident that fractured his right leg the following winter ended his days with the Braves.
4. Ryan Klesko, 1992-99 Key fact: His 16.89 at-bats-per-homer ratio ranks first among left fielders in franchise history
Klesko was not the slickest fielder and he frequently sat against left-handed pitchers. But there was no denying the power possessed by the slugger who was bat flipping long before it became a thing in the baseball world.
Carty is the only Braves left fielder to make more starts than Klesko in left field. Klesko’s 139 homers ranks first among left fielders in franchise history.
5.Lonnie Smith, 1988-92 Key fact: Smith ranked second among all MLB outfielders with the 8.1 fWAR produced in 1989
Smith’s unexpected career resurgence in Atlanta helped the Braves make the first two of their five trips to the World Series during the 1990s. The outfielder was embroiled in the cocaine scandal of the 1980s, but he found success after Bobby Cox brought him to Atlanta in ’88.
Smith finished 11th in NL MVP Award voting after producing a .948 OPS in 1988. He might not have been as elite over the next few years, but despite spending just a little more than three seasons as Atlanta’s primary left fielder he still ranks fourth at this position in franchise history with a 14.9 fWAR.
Honorable mention:Chipper Jones and Aaron will be ranked at their primary positions during this series and Ronald Acuña Jr.’s 147 career games as a left fielder were not enough to qualify him for consideration. Ralph Garr Jr. led the NL in hits (214) and triples (17) during the 1974 season. Justin Upton ranked fourth among MLB outfielders with the 7.2 fWAR produced during his two-year stint (2013-14) with Atlanta.
Mark Bowman has covered the Braves for MLB.com since 2001.
After six weeks of no live local sports in Manchester, Thunder Radio continues to broadcast encore editions of some our favorite sports broadcasts. Each Thursday night at 6 PM, we will bring you the repeat of a Hometown Sports Series broadcast of a middle school sports event featuring Westwood Middle School or Coffee County Middle School. Each Friday night at 6 PM, we will bring you the repeat of a Coffee County Central High School sports broadcast.
Coming up this week we turn back the time machine once again. On Thursday night at 6 PM, we will bring you an encore broadcast of the Coffee County Middle School Lady Raiders basketball win over Cannon County on January 2nd of this year. The 1st National Bank Hometown Sports Series traveled to Woodbury to bring you the Lady Raiders overtime win over Cannon County. The Lady Raiders grabbed an exciting 26 to 24 win as Josh Peterson was on the call.
On Friday night, we will rebroadcast a Coffee County Central High School football broadcast from all the way back in 2007. On September 14th, 2007 the Red Raiders hosted Tullahoma in the annual Coffee Pot Game. The Red Raiders rolled to a huge 42 to 21 win and Thunder Radio was there to bring you the call. Tune to listen to both contests at 107.9 FM, 106.7 FM or AM 1320 on your radio dial. You can also listen on your computer at WMSRradio.com. You can also get the broadcast on your cell phone or tablet by using the Manchester Go app.
In mid-March, MLB and the MLBPA had to hit pause on the 2020 season because of the growing coronavirus (COVID-19) threat. Opening Day has been pushed back indefinitely. In the meantime MLB and the union are exploring various plans to hold as long a season as possible.
Among them is a plan that would drop each team into one of three hubs (Arizona, Florida, Texas), as reported by our R.J. Anderson last week. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports such a plan would involve league-wide realignment, splitting teams into three 10-team divisions.
Here are the details:
MLB is considering a three-division, 10-team plan in which teams play only within their division – a concept gaining support among owners and executives. It would abolish the traditional American and National Leagues, and realign the divisions based on geography.
The divisions would keep many of the natural rivals together, while playing one another before an expanded playoff format.
Nightengale suggests the three divisions could be based on geography and result in an East Coast division (presumably in Florida), a West Coast division (Arizona), and a Central division (Texas). Obviously this plan would also require a revised postseason format.
Beyond keeping division and geographical rivalries intact, such a plan would also be beneficial for broadcasting. It’s unlikely fans will be allowed into the ballpark, so MLB and the MLBPA will have to make sure everyone can easily watch games on television or online. Keeping every team in its natural time zone only makes sense.
Earlier this month it was reported MLB and the MLBPA are discussing a plan that would split the league into the Cactus League and Grapefruit League, and host games at spring training sites. MLB would remain six five-team divisions under that plan, however, with the divisions based on geography in Arizona and Florida.
It’s important to note MLB is kicking around many ideas at the moment and they are not close to finalizing any plans to begin the 2020 season. These are all concepts and nothing more right now. Any plan will prioritize safety. Not only for the players, but their families as well as anyone else in the baseball world (grounds keepers, umpires, TV crews, etc.).
