Olympic trials will teach life lessons to our kids
Athletes of all ages should spend their evenings watching the Olympic trials. You will see outstanding performances, mediocre performances, brilliant victories, heartbreaking defeats and everything between. You will see athletes who are not guaranteed anything. You will see the best in the world, Michael Phelps, have to finish in the top two — just like everybody else — to make it to Beijing. Tyson Gay ran the fastest on Sunday any human has — 9.68 — in the 100 to punch his ticket to Beijing. His run was sick. Even though it will not count as a world record because it was wind-aided, no one has ever run that fast. Phelps and Katie Hoff, who had a meltdown at the Olympic four years ago as a 15-year-old, set world records in their respective 400 IM swims. Dwight Phillips, the reigning Olympic long jump champion, finished fourth in the event at the trials in Eugene, Ore. by less than an inch and will not get a chance to defend his gold medal. Phillips is also a two-time world cha
» Full StorySSAC overhauls basketball tourney
The high school basketball tournament in West Virginia has been overhauled. The questions is, will it be overhauled again in a year? It was no secret the way the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission state event was antiquated and ne
» Full StoryPlayoff showed how game is to be played
I sure hope a lot of junior golfers watched the 18-hole playoff on Monday for the 108th U.S. Open Championship between Rocco Mediate and Tiger Woods.
They saw a gentleman play 19 holes wondering if he would ever get that chance again.
» Full Story
Adults, please keep youth sports in perspective
With tons of youth activities going on, I have talked to many people about what is going on in their leagues.
Unfortunately, one theme keeps being talked about — referees — or the lack thereof.
While the men and women, young m
When a homer matters most
It is every woman’s right to brag about her children. We mothers earn that privilege through 40-pound weight gains, hours of labor pains and 3 a.m. diaper changes.
This mother is no exception. I love my two little boys dearly and have re
Athletes left it all on the track
By MIKE MATHISON, sports editor
With the high school track and field season officially over in Ohio and West Virginia, one theme kept coming out of Columbus and Charleston.
Athletes and coaches talked about doing


