Twas The Night Of Christmas 2010

Since December of 1998 I have put a sports spin on Clemete Moore's classic "Twas The Night Before Christmas".  I call my version "Twas The Night Of Christmas".

It usually takes a few hours to write and days to edit but it's something I look forward to each year.
When it's time to begin writing I know Christmas is on the way.

There is a ton of video and story lines to work with...so, inevitably something is left out.  

It's a lot of fun to put together.... Hope you enjoy!

Merry Christmas!

Show Me Center Holiday Classic to return in 2011

The girls Holiday Classic ended Wednesday night with Notre Dame pulling off a come-from-behind victory over upset minded Meadow Heights.

The 5th seeded Panthers knocked off 4th seeded Cape Central then top seeded Farmington to advance to the Championship game.

There was a lot of concern this could be the final tournament because a title sponsor was not on board this year.

But I have good news to pass along....Tournament Director Mark Ruark tells me this year a record attendance was set for the three day event and he is talking with a few potential corporate sponsors for next season.


Ruark says he is confident a deal can be reached.

If a sponsor can not be signed the Show Me Center has agreed to bring the event back for 2011.

Sports photographer Amie Moschetto takes a look back at this year event...

Keep in mind...  she put this together when we thought the tournament was still in limbo for next year.

Enjoy.

2010 Missouri Soccer All-State

The 2010 Missouri boys All-State players and final team rankings:


Class 1

Class 2

Class 3

Everything can be found at www.mosoccercoach.com

Rich Payne resigns as Cape Central Football Coach

Surprising news out of Cape Central high school. Rich Payne is out as the tigers head football coach.
Coach Payne called the Heartland sports office earlier this afternoon to break the news but did not elaborate.

He did release a statement saying he will now be able to focus on his duties as director of the Cape Girardeau career and technology center.

"I have enjoyed working as the head coach for the past three years. I will miss the players, parents and staff of the Central High school football program.", Payne said. "At the end of the day we coach and teach for the kids; I truly have enjoyed my time with the kids and watching them grow and succeed."

After leading the Tigers to a 10-2 season, both losses coming to sikeston, a trip to the playoffs, payne was named SEMO North Conference coach of the year and recieived the Southeast Missouri sports writers coach of the year honer.

No word yet on his replacement.

Coach Payne's press release

3 and a half hours to kickoff

Just a quick update... 3 and a half hours before kickoff. It's going to be cold day for football (25 degrees at kickoff) but at least the sun is shinning.  The game begins at 1:00 pm local (3:00 pm Central).

For what it's worth (some pocket lint maybe) my prediction:
SEMO 17
EWU 24

Redhawks land on red turf for practice

[written Friday night but forgot to actually post]

Just got back from shooting some of the SEMO practice at Roos Field. Some of the players and coaches I talked with thought the field would be much brighter.  The team was loose for the brief work out, some of the guys channeled their inner child and jumped into the huge mounds of snow.

It was brutally cold. Official temperature at practice was 26 with a NE wind at 10 mph making it feel like 17 degrees.  Perfect football weather... If you are a polar bear.

Playing on a red field makes the uniform choice of each team a bit more relevant.  I was told the Redhawks will wear white on black with red helmets and Eastern Washington will probably go with red on red.

I don't envy SEMO QB Matt Scheilble who will have to try and spot the Eagles defenders as they blend into the field.

Blogging from snowy Cheney, WA

Roos Field

I arrived in Cheney, WA early Thursday afternoon (local time) and was a bit shocked at all the snow.  I haven't seen this much snow on the ground in years.

The snow should not affect Saturdays game between the Redhawks and Eagles (unless it snows again). Roos Field is spotless, not a flake to be found.  The streets and parking lots are a different story.  It's so bad the area is under a snow emergency, schools are closed and snow plows are running 24/7.

Roos Field currently holds just under 12,000 but when upgrades are complete will seat 20,000.

The field turf project is completely funded by private support.

I wonder if Michael Roos and his Titans teammate (former SEMO Redhawk) Eugene Amano are trash-talking one another.