The latest from Press Pros readers, on PAC 12 teams in the Big 10, more on seven divisions of high school basketball, a tribute to Greg Hoard, and, “Isn’t the OHSAA supposed to be a non-profit?”
With appreciation for their time, we share some of the best of our latest correspondence with (in particular) some first-time writers to the website…..
And one from central Ohio who remembers an encounter with our colleague, the late Greg Hoard, during his years writing Ohio State baseball for Press Pros.
“Sirs, first-time writer to your website, but was saddened to read about the passing of your colleague, Greg Hoard. Hoard was the one who introduced me to Press Pros several years ago as I remembered him from previously covering the Reds for the Enquirer and worked on TV for WXIX. I lived in Cincinnati at the time.
Greg Hoard wrote Buckeyes baseball from 2014 through 2020…at Bill Davis Stadium, May, 2016
Sometime around 2016 I was visiting family in Columbus and we attended a Saturday Buckeyes game at Bill Davis Stadium. It was a warm day and I spotted Hoard sitting outside, watching the game from behind home plate. I introduced myself and mentioned that I remembered him from covering the Reds and he invited me to sit with him for a while as he worked. He was great, sharing Reds stories – The Big Red Machine Days. Surprising, he said he believed covering college baseball (Ohio State) was the most fun he’d ever had as a journalist. He was very humble, funny, and after the game he actually gave me his notes from the game. When I discovered that he wrote regularly on Press Pros I enjoyed all those stories about the great players he’d met. But most of all, I remember his kindness. Thank you for letting me share.” … Murray George
(Ed. Note: Murray, there have been many who’ve written to let us know their own experiences with Greg and they’re all like yours. He was a funny, funny man beside being a brilliant writer. And yes, he told people regularly that covering the Buckeyes was the most fun he’d ever had writing about baseball…because he believed players and coaches appreciated at least some recognition. He was that kind of a guy, and we all miss him, especially this baseball season.)
“What do you think [Greg] Hoard would have written about this year’s Ohio State baseball team? Really enjoyed reading his work?” … Jas. Kuykendall
(Ed. Note: I know exactly what he would have said. He would have written the truth, and then he would have dropped one of his subtle Hoard reminders, like, “This would never happen in football.”)
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From a reader who recently wrote to question…don’t schools from the West Coast have a competitive climate advantage in baseball?
“Retired from the Buckeye State, I now live in the Phoenix area and saw Ohio State play Arizona State in February here in Phoenix. Since then I’ve become a reader of your site’s coverage and wondered your opinion about the expansion of the PAC 12 teams into the Big Ten, having the competitive advantage of playing in warm weather all year long. Coincidentally, I notice that Oregon is at the top of the Big Ten Standings. Or is it coincidence? Your thoughts, please.” … Robt. Trepanier
(Ed. Note: Your point is a good one as those teams obviously have better weather at the start of the baseball season in February and March. And I guarantee you that no one thought about baseball advantage when the four teams were absorbed because the respective parties were greedy for expanded football markets. The PAC 12 teams were desperate for money and the Big Ten is always desperate for more money. And no, I doubt that it’s coincidence that Oregon and UCLA both have 19-5 records (at this writing). However, they are both tied with Iowa for first place (7-2) in conference play.)
“Sonny, are people kidding themselves to believe that Big Ten baseball will compete with Oregon, UCLA, and USC in baseball when the West Coast teams obviously play outside all year and have the recruiting advantage of facilities and climate?” … Doug Blankenship
(Ed. Note: One would have to believe, Doug. However UCLA and Oregon are currently tied with Iowa for the lead in conference play. But some believe that if it gets to that point the PAC 12 teams might force the hand for change in the future – later start for the season and playing later into spring and summer. Of bigger concern is the travel expense for conference sports other than football. Imagine flying from Rutgers to Los Angeles to play a volleyball match.)
It’s like that Cornerstone and Quinn Kwasniak (38 pts in D-VII title game with Russia) would have been at the tournament, even with four divisions. They’d been there before!
Of course recent correspondence has been dominated by your remarks about the OHSAA state tournaments in basketball:
“Isn’t the OHSAA supposed to be a 501 (c3) non-profit organization, charging $16 for a ticket to a high school basketball game?” … Denny Williams
(Ed. Note: That’s what it says in Wikipedia. Of course, there’s always a loophole.)
“No one covers the state basketball tournament better than Press Pros, and thanks for what you do.” … Craig Pope (Orlando, FL)
“Compliments for the work of Sonny, Jeff Gilbert, Alan Brads and Steve Blackledge on the best work anywhere covering the state tournament last week. It’s amazing what you guys do.” … Jeff Courtney
(Ed. Note: You left out Julie Wright, Brian Bayless, and one of your own, Jarrod Ulrey, from there in central Ohio. And thanks for the kind words)
“Do you think the additional divisions made the state tournaments for girls and boys any better?” …. James Alison
(Ed. Note: The general consensus from those we asked (not ours) was that seven divisions provided more basketball, but not better basketball. Personally, we believed that many of the teams at this year’s tournament would have been there in the past with four divisions.)
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