Robservations: Skid ends against a favorite foe
Here’s a random dose of Robservations, as I sit basking in the glory of my first-ever “Best of the Best” award:
• Pioneer baseball fans breathed a big sigh of relief Wednesday night, as the hometown nine snapped a four-game district losing streak and clipped Cookeville, 3-2.
Maybe it’s just me, but there’s something extra special about a Pioneer win over the Cavs, in any sport.
Speaking of wins over Cookeville, the Pioneer soccer team finds itself at least sharing part of the driver’s seat in district play, thanks to a tough 3-1 win over the Cavs from Tuesday evening.
On a blustery day, with tons of pressure stemming from a matchup against their former coach, Warren County kept its position in the league standings intact with a hard-fought, physical victory — and now can do no worse than a second-seed in the upcoming 7-AAA tourney.
When it comes to soccer, I’m far from an expert. Like most of you, I’ve tried over the years to pick up what understanding of the game I could by standing on the sidelines and observing.
But when two players collide like a pair of locomotives, then jump in each other’s faces with choice words and gestures, shouldn’t both players earn some sort of foul?
Apparently not.
Clinging to a narrow 2-1 lead, the Pioneers suddenly had to deal with the loss of one of their players, while Cookeville’s kid didn’t even get a reprimand.
In the end, though, it didn’t matter. Warren County got the big win, and even posted a short-handed goal in the process. A nice effort, worthy of some congratulations.
• The PGA tour is hyping a new motion picture, based on the life of golfing legend Bobby Jones.
“Stroke of Genius” will hit theaters April 30, with Jim Caviezel in the lead role as the champion duffer.
Caviezel’s previous major part was, of course, in the title role of Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ.”
From the Savior to a good golfer — kind of a step down in roles, wouldn’t you think?
I guess that depends on how dedicated you are to the links.
• Professional jockeys won a court battle in Louisville recently, and will now be allowed to wear patches advertising various companies during the upcoming Kentucky Derby.
A district judge sided with the jockeys, who argued a state sanctioning agency’s regulations violated their First Amendment rights.
Some companies have reportedly offered to pay up to $30,000 for the ads.
If your jockey wins, that could mean some nice revenue for a lucky advertiser. But as for the last-place horse, let’s hope Alpo or Purina ponied up the dough for that jockey’s sponsorship.
• Is it just me, or are you beside yourself, in tears because the Yankees aren’t hitting?
Derek Jeter, through Wednesday night, was in an 0-for-32 slump, and the rest of the Bronx Bombers, with the exception of catcher Jorge Posada, aren’t exactly tearing the cover off the ball.
As of Thursday, the Yanks were batting a paltry .224, the 29th lowest average in the majors, higher only than the Expos’ .208.
Makes you think, doesn’t it?
Jason Giambi? $12.4 million. Derek Jeter? $18.6 million. Alex Rodriguez? $21.7 million.
New York’s team batting average 50 points lower than the Cubs’? Priceless.