Saturday Night Fever - Centro To Attempt Record Run In The Mile

Will the 14 year-old American Record Fall tonight?

 By Harry Cummins

     Shortly after 9:00 pm Pacific time tonight, reigning 1500 meter Olympic champion Matthew Centrowitz will step onto a local high school track in Portland, Oregon in search of the one thing that has alluded him over the course of an illustrious career.

     The 31 year old Centrowitz, just days before he is set to defend his 1500 meter title in Tokyo, will attempt to break Alan Webb's 3:46.91 American mile record set in 2007 in a small meet in Brasschaat, Belgium.

     Centrowitz will have help in his pursuit from fellow Bowerman Track Club members Amos Bartelsmeyer and Josh Thompson, who will serve as rabbits in the record attempt.  Centrowitz's fastest mile ever came over 7 years ago when he clocked a 3:50.53 in the 2014 Prefontaine Classic, a race in which Ayanleh Souleiman ran the fastest mile ever on U.S. soil. (3:47.32)

     As improbable as tonight's attempt may seem, one must assume the fitness level is there for Centrowitz.  One of the designated rabbits, Thompson, is coming off a troubled trip in the 1500 meter race at the recent U.S. Olympic Trials. Despite tripping over the rail and being boxed in for much of the race, Thompson was in contention to make the U.S. team entering the final straight. He finished 6th in a race decided by a final sprint by Cole Hocker and Centrowitz.

     If Centrowitz can add an American record to his glittering resume, he should be considered the greatest miler in U.S. history.  If not, the hastily-assembled crowd gathered at Jesuit High School in near 90 degree temperatures, should still experience a sizzling way to spend a Saturday night. 

hcummins@aol.com

     

Passion As A Pathway

Billy Mills - Lifelong advocate for social and racial justice

By Harry Cummins

 "The biggest lesson that running has taught me is to find your passion.  At some point in time, the  competitive running is behind you...so use running as a catalyst to seek higher ground."

  -Billy Mills

Billy Mills won the Gold Medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games in the 10,000 meter run.  To this day, on the eve of another Olympics set to begin in Tokyo, Mills remains the only United States Olympian to ever bring home gold in the 10K event.  

By a life well-lived, Mills has shown us that there is also a prize beyond all podiums.  

Guard and grow your passions well!!!

 

Multnomah Hoops Eying Herculean Turnaround

 

By Harry Cummins

     For most college basketball teams reeling from a just concluded 1-24 won-lost campaign, this would be a woebegone summer of surrender.

     Instead, the pliable Multnomah Lions of the NAIA's powerful Cascade Collegiate Conference, are mere months away from unveiling the pieces of an entertaining jig-saw puzzle that if contoured correctly will represent one of the most enthralling comeback stories in small college basketball circles.

     Hope has replaced despair almost overnight at this small university situated on the outskirts of Portland, Oregon. Michael Anderson starts his second season as Multnomah's athletic director, willing to absorb the blows from a covid-riddled first season in exchange for laying down the building blocks for future success.

     Off the court, a nation-wide recruiting effort has yielded dividends in the form of a Texas/California harvest of  high school seniors and transfer athletes.  The new arrivals are highlighted by freshman guard Derrien Carter-Hollinger of San Diego's Foothills Christian High School, a 6'4 rim-slasher and disruptive defender.  Height has also been added to a traditionally undersized front court with the addition of 6'7 Terin Johnson and 6'8 Tyrese Taylor.

     In a corresponding development, 6'3 leaper Jaeden Ingram has transferred back to Multnomah for his sophomore season, after his breakout freshman season two years ago.  This impressive influx of new talent will pair with the nation's leading returning scorer in the form of Zach Richardson, who finished runner- up in the scoring race last year to graduating senior and NAIA Player Of -The-Year Kyle Mangas of Indiana Wesleyan.  Richardson has already posted career high games of 49 and 50 points as he enters his junior year of eligibility.

     The most fascinating piece of this puzzle will emanate from the coaching ranks, where two- time NAIA scoring champion Justin Martin returns to his alma-mater to accept the position of Lead Assistant Coach under veteran Head Coach Curt Bickley.  Martin, who once scored a record 74 points in a single game and 71 in another, will be charged with injecting some of that on-court excitement into his players. Martin is expected to also be handed an expanded role in play-calling and player conditioning.

     Coach Bickley is nearing two decades of coaching experience and is instrumental in putting Multnomah on the basketball map with their long-range shooting heroics that once netted an NAIA record 38 made 3's in a single game.  Bickley finally has the on-court personnel to shift some of the emphasis away from the 3 point shot, but always expect some new wrinkles from this innovative coach.

     Indicative of the sea-change afloat at Multnomah, the freshman basketball program has been jettisoned in favor of  a new Player Development League, designed to work as a permanent feeding network for the varsity basketball program.  It will be headed by Assistant Coach Jason Patterson, a  key builder of player relationships for years at the NAIA school.

     Also joining the staff at Multnomah this coming season will be 4-year former player Quinn Curry, who will oversee housing, academics, travel, community outreach and NAIA eligibility issues.

     Like any formidable jigsaw puzzzle, the best way to begin is by grouping similar pieces together, perhaps assembling the borders first, even if you're not sure how they all will eventually fit.  Multnomah University basketball has done just that. They now await shapes and colors to come together in forming a cohesive future.

     The 2021-22 season is set to begin in Pocatello, Idaho on October 30, as the Lions travel to meet NCAA Division 1 Idaho State University in an exhibition game.

Zach Richardson is the NAIA's leading returning scorer

     

     hcummins@aol.com

     

     

Well We or Won’t We

 By Gregory Crawford @wchoops

One big question for sports fans as we approach fall sports will we see fans in the stands or will we see empty stands or will we see how full stands.

Everyone who loves sports wants us to get back into seeing games Live. Decisions on the above will come soon from everyone, standby.

Joey Gallo Belongs in Discussion of Game's Best

 

By Harry Cummins

     A studied analysis of the individual skill sets required in determining the best baseball player on the planet seldom linger on the physical attributes of 27 year-old Texas Rangers outfielder Joey Gallo.

     Perhaps that is all about to change.

     Gallo has sent 11 baseballs into orbit in his last 12 games.  He is hitting .378 over that span. He leads major league baseball in walks with 72.  He is set to participate in the Home Run Derby in Colorado is just a few days.  At 6'5", he has the foot speed to play center field and steal bases.(A perfect 6 for 6 this season)   You do not want to run on his outfield throwing arm, considered by many to be the strongest in MLB.  He won a Golden Glove in 2020.

      Are there others out there who can see past those frequent whiffs in order to take a closer look at one of the game's very best?  

     Let the overdue conversations begin! 

       

hcummins@aol.com

Craw’s Corner, Saturday July 10th

 By Gregory Crawford @wchoops @crawssportsbiz

Canadian Football League—- The CFL is back in operation this past week after missing all of last year cause of pandemic. Ending their first week of practice, there was some real sadness when it comes to injuries. In Montreal on Friday two players suffered Achilles Tendon injuries. Equally as bad, in Saskatchewan, 4 players suffered Achilles injuries within a 6 minute span. The CFL players’ union is calling for a complete investigation.

Golf— Last year and half has brought a huge resurgence in people playing the game. In many areas of country private courses which have struggled for years to get members are now having to create waiting lists. Public golf, which accounts for 90 percent of golf rounds is seeing full tee sheets on most days. The big question is, will this sustain?

Heat—- We are heading towards the hottest year on record. We can’t in many ways stop that instantly, but be prepared. If you have never had air conditioning, if affordable get it. All of us should also check on our neighbors, especially the elderly. It is easy and one of greatest things you can do.

Craw’s Corner has content 5 days per week. We rest on Tuesday and Friday. 

Vantage Point

 

" You want to be on the edge because that's where the vantage point is. That's where you can see."

  -Ruth Ozeki

Thursday's truth from Craw's Corner.