Need more good guys

October 28, 2018

One thing never lacking here in the Mid-Ohio Valley, for the most part, are good people. Working in the sports department through the years, I’ve had a plethora of opportunities to form relationships with countless coaches and folks who are always there to help our area youth. Two people who definitely fit the mold as “good guys” happen to be former grapplers — one from each side of the Little Kanawha River — in Mike Litton and Gary Porter. The duo, which has spent countless hours during the past two-plus decades making local wrestlers the best they can be, will join seven ...

Patriots go for grand finale

October 25, 2018

PARKERSBURG — Forward Charley Taylor and the Parkersburg South girls’ soccer team hope the third time is the charm to advance to the state semifinals in their Class AAA Region IV final match at 5 p.m. today at Ripley High School. Cabell Midland ended the Patriots’ season each of the ...

Bengals’ Lewis has to go

October 24, 2018

A television camera picked up a telling look on the face of Cincinnati head coach Marvin Lewis during his Bengals’ 45-10 Sunday night primetime blowout loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Lewis was visibly dumbfounded as Chiefs’ free safety Ron Parker picked off quarterback Andy Dalton for a 33-yard pick-six which increased the lead to 31 points four minutes into the third quarter. One could understand if a cry for help soon followed his expression. His team was being picked apart by a second-year quarterback at the height of his powers; the interception being a cherry on top of the KC ...

WVU slowly regains focus?

October 8, 2018

Virtually every college football team has moments during a season where it lacks focus and plays far from its best. The only hope is you are good enough to win with less than your best level of play, and your opponent isn’t good enough to take advantage. A scenario unfolding for West Virginia last Saturday against Kansas. Carrying over from the second half at Texas Tech the previous week, the Mountaineer offense became feast or famine and again lacked consistency. On its final six first half possessions WVU piled up 342 yards of total offense, yet penetrations to the Kansas 13, 2 and ...

Don’t count out the ‘Jackets

October 5, 2018

Wheeling Central’s dominant 31-14 win over Linsly Saturday set the Maroon Knights apart from the rest of the Class A field. Mike Young’s team handled a Keydets’ squad, which pushed Class AAA’s Morgantown to the limit in a 31-28 overtime loss, with relative ease. It was the type of win my colleague Shawn Rine, at the Wheeling Intelligencer, wrote effectively ended any championship debate in the Mountain State’s smallest division. Huh? Really Shawn? The wrapping paper and bow already adorn the trophy ready to be presented to the Knights at the end of the season? One team in ...

ALBRIGHT: Is Tiger finally back? 

September 25, 2018

ESPN and others’ talking heads alike delighted in asking the question with every Tiger Woods’ comeback attempt: Is Tiger truly back? “He is healthy this time,” they said or “His swing looks great.” The golf world eager for the return to full strength of the most dominant player of his generation. All spectators ready for Tiger to resume his chase of Jack Nicklaus’ 18 major tournament victories. Alas poor Eldrick. Injuries wracked Tiger’s body at every turn. His back unable to handle the demands of his violent play style leading to four different surgeries in three ...