Basketball Team Camp Begins

El Dorado's girls basketball team camp began on Monday. The event, which features 13 schools, looks to be a hit. Hopefully, it will become an annual event.
For a sports writer, it's tricky covering these types of events. The teams are competing but the coaches are also experimenting. The games don't count, so why not?
How do you report on a game when there's nothing at stake?
You don't.
I'll talk to the coaches during the week and at the conclusion to get their thoughts on how the camp went for their respective team. As for individual game scores, they don't count so I won't be covering any games.
Of course, don't tell the players the games don't count. Just ask El Dorado and Smackover, who tied up in a doozy of a tussle Monday afternoon.
The teams have some hard feelings toward each other after some student transfers. When I saw the game on the schedule, I waited patiently, even though the camp was an hour behind schedule.
Sure enough, it was on the verge of getting out of hand. I like competitive intensity and I got to see some of it.
Fairview coach Ronald Rogers and I joked with the referee at halftime that he'd better start blowing that whistle or fights would break out. He said, "I thought this was a friendly rivalry."
Uh, no.
For some players, there was no postgame handshake as the teams went their separate ways at the conclusion. El Dorado coach Corey Smith regretted playing the game.
I'm glad they did. It's summer. These games don't count.
And, while good sportsmanship should always be shown, when the intensity gets to a certain level, sometimes you have to overlook some things.
Did I mention this was the first day of the camp?

What a pitcher!

I was watching the NCAA softball tournament. As Tennessee pitcher Monica Abbott was twirling a no hitter, someone commented, “she ain’t no Jennie Finch.”
The tone of his voice told me he wasn’t comparing the ladies’ pitching styles. Unfortunately, every female athlete can’t be a gorgeous 6-foot blonde.
At times like these, it must really suck to be a female.
What’s it like to be the most dominant pitcher in college softball, lead your team to the NCAA championship game and in the middle of your finest moment, have some goober talk about how unattractive you are?
If Abbott needed advice on how to handle this situation, she could call the women’s basketball team at Rutgers.
This is the reason Paris Hilton is a household name. This is the reason Britney Spears is a more famous singer than Charlotte Church.
For women, it’s all about the looks.That’s okay if you’re a model. But, it shouldn’t be that way for athletes.