I am trying very hard not to hold a grudge against the players and coaches of the Anderson University baseball and softball teams.
You see, they are going to Florida this weekend to play some games in 80 degree weather while I am staying here in Indiana where I can hold my breath longer than the temperature can remain over 50 degrees.
It was always my goal to make one of those trips with one of those teams. Now it seems that will only happen after I retire. Those junkets used to take place around the first week of the boys high school basketball sectionals, so coverage was out of the question. Now it still is on the schedule before the winter sports have completely finished, so I will remain rooted here.
But when both teams open their home seasons on March 29, hopefully the weather will be warmer here and fans will venture out to see the Ravens. Both will be worth the trip.
The baseball team has a lot of new faces with much promise. AU will be enjoyable to watch as it develops over the course of the season.
The softball team is deep with proven veterans from a group that had an unbeaten Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference season a year ago.
Both teams also have a couple of players with local connections. I encourage softball and baseball fans to make the trip to see these two teams soon after the Florida trip is completed and don’t hold their tans against them.
u u u
Since I am stuck here, I may as well watch the Big Ten men’s basketball tournament, which opens today with Purdue playing the early evening game against Nebraska and Indiana waiting until Friday to get into action.
The Boilermakers should be able to advance through that game as the No. 7 seed against the No. 10 Huskers. But at tournament time, you never know.
Indiana will face the winner of today’s first game, Illinois vs. Minnesota. Even though both teams defeated the Hoosiers this season, a repeat of that is highly unlikely.
There are those who are still after IU coach Tom Crean for his heated exchange with Michigan assistant coach Jeff Meyer, pointing out that Meyer has integrity and class. But it still is true that he was part of the IU program under Kelvin Sampson and you do get known by the company you keep.
Perhaps Crean could have picked a better time to vent at Meyer for the hole he had a hand in putting the Hoosiers in, but I enjoy Crean’s ownership of the program to even take offense to things that happened before he arrived in Bloomington.
Certainly it isn’t hard to understand why Crean would hold hard feelings against those involved in the dismantling of the Indiana program.
Cream has an exuberant personality which is easy to see during the games. Apparently it isn’t easy to turn it off quickly. So be it.
Sports Editor Rick Teverbaugh’s columns appear twice weekly.
Sports
Related Photos
-
Rick Teverbaugh
Discussion
Rick Teverbaugh: Jealous of AU's trip to warmth
- Sports
-
-
McKnight dominates Supermods at Anderson Speedway
Once Dave McKnight took the lead in the Must See Racing SuperModified feature, the outcome of the race was decided at Anderson Speedway on Monday.
-
George Bremer: All the news that fits
There is something for everybody this week on the central Indiana sports scene, and we’re going to try to stuff as much of the action into this sports section as possible over the next few days.
But there are only so many bodies to send out into the field and so much space to publish the stories they produce. Some stories, inevitably, are going to fall between the cracks.
Consider this my attempt at a pre-emptive strike to squeeze in a few possibilities. -
Bosh aiming to be impactful against Pacers
This is the matchup Chris Bosh wanted in the Eastern Conference finals.
No, he might not necessarily enjoy going head-to-head with 7-foot-2 Roy Hibbert when the Miami Heat open this series against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night, especially since the Pacers’ biggest man is arguably enjoying the best postseason run of his career to date. And it’s not because he thinks Miami will waltz past the Pacers, either. -
Area high school slate about to heat up
If, as many have stated, the spring high school sports season is indeed a sprint, get ready to jump into overdrive.
Over the next four days — weather permitting — sectional champions will be crowned in softball, girls tennis and boys and girls track will enter regional competition, and baseball will begin sectional play. -
Pacers, Heat start bracing to square off again
A year ago when Miami and Indiana faced off in the postseason, there were blood-drawing hits, flagrant fouls, technical fouls, choke signs being directed toward LeBron James and more than a few sharp-tongued comments.
Here they possibly go again, at least on the comment front. -
Mike Lopresti: Heat just might be unbeatable, but ...
Gee, and the Indiana Pacers thought the last round was tough. That was just the appetizer. Now comes the main course; LeBron James au jus.
-
Newgarden fastest on bump day
After being bumped from the starting field while sitting on the qualifying line on pole day, Josef Newgarden turned the fastest time on bump day assuring himself a spot in the Indianapolis 500.
The field of 33 cars get one final opportunity to practice on Friday before next Sunday’s 97th running of the “500.” -
Johnson wins again and shrugs off the haters
It’s only fitting that Jimmie Johnson’s latest romp through the record books was shrouded in postrace controversy.
What’s a Johnson win, after all, without a good conspiracy theory? -
Pacers knock out Knicks with 106-99 win in Game 6
Lance Stephenson scored a playoff career-high 25 points and led a late 11-2 run Saturday night, leading the Indiana Pacers past the New York Knicks, 106-99 and into the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2004.
-
Allman gets late model win at Anderson Speedway
Rob Allman scored his initial feature win of the season in the McGunegill Engine Performance late models Saturday at Anderson Speedway.
Allman took the lead from the start after the front row of Billy VanMeter and Greg VanAlst were sent to the tail for several false starts. - More Sports Headlines
-
MLB Hoping for Large Replay Expansion in 2014
America's Cup Officials Say Race Will Continue
LeBron James Wins NBA MVP for Fourth Time
African American Jockey Aims for Derby History
Horse Saved From Slaughter, Goes on to Win Big
Obama: 'Couldn't Be Prouder' of Jason Collins
Sacramento Mayor Lauds NBA Vote on Kings
NBA Star's Aunt: I Am Very Proud of Him
Tebow Time in New York Over After Jets Cut QB
White House Commends Jason Collins on Coming Out
NBA Veteran Jason Collins Comes Out As Gay
Raw: Alligator on Fairway at Zurich Classic
Backpacks Banned From Kentucky Derby
Ex Ravens LB Ayanbadejo Talks Equality
