Trojan Nation updates

Rather than send out emails for every site update, especially since there
will be many more this year, I've instituted an "Updates" page. If you
click on the homepage the link is there, but it can be directly reached
from this URL:

http://www.trojannation.net/id164.html

Thanks and I hope you all are looking forward to this season half as much
as we are at the Trojan Nation!

--
Doug Keklak
Information Director, Writer
Trojan Nation
www.trojannation.net
412-860-6146

Monday Morning Ramblings 2005, Issue XXXII

This is it... ...Make no mistake where you are...

OK, with apologies to Kenny Loggins! This isn't exactly it for good, just for now. With the high school football season approaching (most if not all teams in PA are in camp right now) energy will be taken away from this blog and put towards the Trojan Nation and the SW PA Sports Blog. Right now I am compiling information for a LHAC preview. It will be posted at both sites.

This year is going to be an exciting year as we are covering not only JHS but following grads at the next level with LaRod entering his frosh season at Pitt and Geroy starting another CFL campaign in British Columbia strong.

Monday Morning Ramblings will move back to its original home on the Trojan Nation website and will be geared toward the Trojans and other happenings in prep football.

I will still make use of this blog though, to post audio clips as well updated URLs for the Trojan Nation site throughout the year.

I really don't want to rant on much this final time before '06 other than to say although the outcome was sad, I'd like to congratulate the Johnstown Grays for a great AAABA. They went 4-2. I'd also like to thank my friends back in J-town that kept me abreast of what was going on, especially Don Petree who text messaged me not only from the Johnstown games, but from all the games he attended during the week. Thanks Don, it was really like I was there. And man I wish I could have been, I was so jealous! Props go out to Mike Tomachek and Jason Subich as well for keeping me informed with text messages and phone calls as well. Hopefully I'll be able to take in some action next year.

So now, I'll take you out, with the Trojan Fight Song, a fitting transition to the upcoming season!!!

Trojan power, firm and strong, out in front where we belong
push for victory, bring success, we're the finest, we're the best
so fight on Trojans, win this game, bring us fortune, bring us fame
our men of Troy will meet the test, Johnstown High School is the best.

Monday Morning Ramblings 2005, Issue XXXI

Just so ya know, next week (aka Issue XXXII) will be the final offseason MMR as I will be gearing up for the 2005 football season. Football camps will be opening and I'll be busy compiling LHAC and 6-AAA previews as well as covering the AAABA Tournament for the SW PA Blog. As we speak I'm getting 1-3 responses back a day from the many football coaches I've sent surveys to. This information will not only be used in my previews but help me compile my preseason District 5-6 rankings.

The WPIAL camps opened today! That's just too damn early but they got the OK from the PIAA last year to start their season a week early to preserve Championship Saturday. Yes, it's a great event but at what cost. I'm sure we'll cover that on the new Point/Counterpoint feature on Trojan Nation this year.

Tony Stewart got his win at Indy, but in stock cars at yesterday's Brickyard 400. Oh well, good for him I guess. The rest of motorsports that I care about (F1, ChampCar, IndyCar, NHRA, MotoGP) all took the weekend off.

Domestic soccer leagues are starting up in Europe. France 2 weeks ago, defending champ Lyon is off to a 2-0 start. The German Bundesliga started this past weekend. Defending champ Bayern Munich started their title defense with a 3-0 victory Friday Night at the first game at the new Alliance Arena. This coming weekend the granddaddy of them all, the EPL, gets underway. Look for the return of Fox Football Friday on Fox Soccer Channel.

Big ups to the local connection: trainer/driver Roger Hammer of Bedford won the biggest race in Harness Racing, the Hambletonian, Sunday aboard Vivid Photo. Congrads.

I'm off to Mountaineer Park this weekend for some slots and horses and one last mini vacation before my weekends are spoken for! Wish me luck.

Monday Morning Ramblings 2005, Issue XXX

ain't we lucky we got 'em....

Yes, you could say I'm happy that Good Times is now on TV Land nightly at 10. That is one show that although some of the material is dated, it is still funny. There is so much crap on TV these days, I like watching the old stuff. So now Sanford and Son rolls in to Good Times which rolls in to All in the Family which rolls in to Three's Company. That's some good sitcom action.

temporary layoffs...

Formula One had a pretty boring event in Hungary. Kimi continues to be the fastest driver and finally didn't suffer any hard luck. MotoGP was a good one, won on the last lap by who else? Valentino Rossi who took advantage of Sete Giberouneau's critical mistake going way wide in turn one on the final lap. American Nicky Hayden finished the podium at third.

easy credit ripoffs...

Bad, bad series for the Pirates in Hot-lanta ends today. Does anyone else think those red Braves Sunday unis are awful?

scratchin' and survivin'...

Domestic soccer campaigns are getting underway across Europe as Scotland and France opened this past weekend. Germany will start next weekend and England the week after.

hangin' in a chow line...

Yes, 'nuff respect to Chappelle for letting me know what this line was. Because before his skit I was under the impression that the line was "huckin' and a-jivin'"!

Steelers report to training camp sans Hines Ward. Kevin Colbert says they will not negiotate. Could be messy, I say he should get paid.