A 1960’s advertising slogan for Virginia Slims cigarettes, “You’ve come a long way, baby,” was intended to target women consumers. Although the product is still on the market, that slogan may be a more apropos description of the NCAA’s women’s national basketball tournament, which concluded the sport’s most successful season this past Sunday. Due to
READ MOREAs the NCAA’s annual hoop frenzy enters its Sweet Sixteen round of play this weekend, many fans’ brackets have already been busted, while fans of the remaining teams in the field are giddy with excitement over what could be. Oh yes, March Madness, a term first coined by Henry Porter, an Illinois high school official,
READ MOREThe welcome mat is out! Officially, spring begins this week. To be sure, it is a welcome sight, but in the transitioning world of sports, the changing of the athletic seasons defines the passing of time a bit more succinctly than do the pages of the calendar on the wall. ‘Athletic spring’ actually began a
READ MOREThere has never been a time when one’s faith has been more important. There has also never been a time when one’s faith is being tested by fear and division. We witnessed this on many levels this past week. As we have now sprung ahead into daylight savings time, let’s talk about what is most
READ MORECollege basketball fans have it made each March. Come March, scores of college hoops fans anxiously anticipate the tipoff to March Madness, which is a widely used nickname for the wildly popular NCAA Tournament, a single-elimination battle featuring 68 teams competing over seven rounds. Each team aspires to win the championship, but only one can
READ MOREAs I watch what’s being spun on TV, I can’t believe the hosts of an ABC morning show want me to believe that they’re knowledgeable and will help educate the American people on what’s really going on in the world. They might as well follow that up with if they don’t, David Muir will on
READ MOREI would like to give a little love to Iowa’s Caitlin Clark. She is fantastic to watch — incredible player. Unbelievable scoring guard. I will go out of my way to tune in. She is that good. Caitlin became the ALL-TIME LEADING scorer in Women’s NCAA history here recently. Clark is only 99 points shy
READ MORENineteenth-century French journalist Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Kerr is credited with saying, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Apparently, Lycoming College has bought in. The school has announced plans to recognize 1974 graduate and longtime football coach Steve Wiser for reaching the career milestone of 50 years coaching Warrior football by naming the
READ MOREThe Crosscutters Hot Stove League Banquet, held on January 17th, was considered a success by attendees and organizers. The banquet was highlighted by the presence of former standout Pirate relief pitcher Kent Tekulve, ESPN sportscaster Tim Kirkjian, newest Bowman Field Hall of Fame inductee Chris Carlin, and newest Williamsport Sports Walk inductee Denise Day. Regrettably,
READ MORENo doubt many of you have served on some sort of committee over the years. Professional, social, or recreational committees are charged with a decision-making purpose for the organization they represent. They are intended to bring together a representative group to arrive at a meaningful outcome. While they are commonplace, it has often been stated
READ MOREWith the utmost respect for Thomas Jefferson and his fellow Declaration of Independence signees, as the month-long college bowl season is about to commence — we hold these truths to be self-evident: Ohio State can’t beat Michigan, Penn State can’t beat either one, and some college boosters and administrations are shelling out millions of dollars
READ MOREThanksgiving is the time of year when families gather far and near It’s been a tradition since 1620 that includes a feast of plenty, There’re many hugs for those we hold dear and football teams for which to cheer, Pause and reflect those memories great, enjoy the day, and celebrate! If your family’s Thanksgiving is
READ MOREThe calendar has flipped; it’s now dark at 5:00 p.m., and the PIAA state playoffs for fall sports are nearing its conclusion. But for players, coaches, and spectators, the winter sports season gets underway as this Friday marks the first official practice day for local hoopsters and grapplers. While the first games of the high
READ MOREIt was a bit early for Halloween, but as I flicked by the channels, remote in hand, I thought my eyes must have been deceiving me. Amid a Sunday full of NFL football, soccer, motor cross, drag racing, tennis, cornhole, pickle ball, and even a rodeo available on the TV screen, the Big Ten channel
READ MOREI am extremely thankful for ALL of my part-time gigs. It gives me an opportunity to come in contact with so many great kids. Whether it’s coaching, broadcasting, or scribing a note — I have made many friends. This week’s column features a young man that I have watched grow. I am close to his
READ MOREWilliamsport’s Brandon Park has hosted many baseball games throughout its long history. Driving by the venerable location these days, if one looks closely, it might be possible to spot the immortal bird Phoenix, which is said to obtain new life by rising from the ashes of its predecessor. From the park’s northeast corner, a transformation
READ MOREAs stadium monikers go Lycoming College’s Robert L. Shangraw Athletic Complex, Person Field, Coach Frank Girardi Stadium is quite a mouthful. But the latest name to be honored at its Union Avenue address was added before the beloved coach’s family, friends, and a few hundred of his former players during pre-game ceremonies at the Warriors’
READ MORECoach Frank Girardi is a legend. My man changed the landscape. There aren’t enough words to describe him. The honors and praises keep coming. Lycoming College will honor Girardi once again this weekend. They will officially rename the stadium after the Hall of Fame coach during the football team’s home opener on Saturday, September 9th.
READ MOREJimmy has headed down the shore for a little vacation, so I’m taking up the helm this week. No worries, he’ll be back next week! In his absence, it only seems fitting that we should talk about all things sports. I’m not usually a sportswriter, but I think I can handle it. Maybe. We’ll see.
READ MOREWhenever the accomplishments of local basketball talent are discussed, Kelly Mazzante’s name is at the forefront of the conversation. Such was again the case with the recent announcement that Mazzante had left Bucknell University to accept an assistant coaching position at Georgetown University. The former Montoursville High School and Penn State University standout enjoyed a
READ MOREI first met William on the practice green at White Deer Golf Course. I just closed up, and I was stroking some putts. I couldn’t buy a five-footer, and I was struggling. All of a sudden, a nine-year-old kid appeared from the shadows. HEY MISTER. YOU SHOULD TRY MOVING YOUR EYES OVER THE BALL. YOUR
READ MOREPhoebe Wagner, Ph.D., Lycoming College assistant professor of English, is releasing her debut novella. Titled “When We Hold Each Other Up: A Solarpunk Novella,” the book mixes the sci-fi, fantasy, and solarpunk genres. It is being published by Android Press, and comes out on Tuesday, April 18. The Publishers Weekly review describes the book as
READ MOREThe college basketball season has officially ended, but not in the manner many people thought it might. Last week’s national championship victories by the LSU women and the University of Connecticut men clearly showed they were the better teams in downing Iowa and San Diego State, respectively. Winning the titles as #3 and #5 seeds
READ MOREFor several months leading up to the NCAA’s March 12 Selection Sunday announcement of which teams would receive invitations to the “Big Dance,” many of the potential invitees were as nervous as teenagers eagerly anticipating their inclusion in a big high school social. The saying “been there, done that” is commonplace in our vernacular, and
READ MOREFor area high school athletes participating in baseball, softball, tennis, and track & field, the dawning of March 6 was anticipated by all. The date marked ‘the official’ beginning of practice permitted by the PIAA for spring sports. South Williamsport softball coach Tom O’Malley spent hours before his squad’s afternoon practice time riding a tractor
READ MOREI love this time of year. Oh, it brings back so many memories. As a player. A broadcaster. A coach. And now as a fan. There are tons of ups and downs. Fantastic atmospheres. Tremendous student sections. The sounds. I still get nervous for my friends. High school basketball is at its best in March.
READ MOREThis week, your Webb movie-guy continues to focus on under-the-radar films; so here are a few lesser-known titles honoring Black History Month: “Belle” (2013) – Unbelievable real-life story of England’s Dido Elizabeth Belle. Illegitimate daughter of an African slave and an 18th-century admiral, Dido was raised a free gentlewoman in the upper-class household of her
READ MOREMatt Ilodigwe has already graduated from Lycoming College. The four-year starting guard was one of our favorites. Matt has a great smile and an incredible demeanor. He was a sniper from the outside and helped the Warriors win a few titles. Ilodigwe led the MAC in many shooting categories. He finished his career with 758
READ MOREAlthough the calendar read January 29, for Lycoming College baseball coach Rick Oliveri and his inaugural Warrior team, it felt like Christmas morning. After a 52-year hiatus, baseball was back on the Lycoming campus under the tutelage of Oliveri as the blue & gold began practice for the 2023 season. After a national search, Oliveri
READ MOREThe four-day football feast served up by the Thanksgiving weekend provided some savory treats to snack upon. There were upsets; Michigan over Ohio State, South Carolina surprising Clemson, and Texas A&M sending Brian Kelley’s LSU troops back to the Bayou with a 38-23 loss that ended the team’s chances of an NCAA Final Four appearance.
READ MOREGreatness attracts attention. For longtime Lycoming College football coach Frank Girardi, invitations from two college presidents 50 years removed both began and immortalized the man whose accomplishments will live in perpetuity by the recent announcement that effective September 9, 2023, the Lycoming College football stadium will officially be called Girardi Stadium. Last month Girardi was
READ MOREI am very thankful for all of my part-time gigs. It gives me the opportunity to come in contact with so many great kids. Whether it’s coaching, broadcasting, or writing a note — I have made several new friends. This week’s column features a young man I have known for quite some time. I went
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