CLARK PREDICTIONS: Sutton, G-D get the nod

Luckily, we just made a ton of money selling pictures of Michael Phelps jay-walking on eBay. Now we’re going to triple it by correctly predicting the winners of the Clark Tournament.

This year, probably more than ever, the debate between parity and just a good, old-fashioned down year for super-talented teams rages on. That’s why if you’re basing your Clark picks on the “this team beat that team and that team is better than the other team” theory you’ll have no shot. Just like SATs and selecting a wife, go with your first gut instinct.

Here’s ours:

SMALL SCHOOLS Round 1:

Maynard over BMR – But barely. No offense to our readers who are over 6-foot-11, but this is a tourney usually controlled by guards and Maynard’s Fowler might be about to pull off some back-in-the-day Jarreau DeLeon-type stuff. Showing our age and our ample supply of useless knowledge…

Clinton over Grafton – Pay no attention to where the CMass magazine is produced. We’re illegal aliens in Clinton, not born and bred. There’s just always an upset here and if – huge if – Clinton handles any pressure the Indians may throw, we like their chances.

WB over Lunenburg – Toughest one to call. It’s a push talent-wise, so we’re leaning toward the team that’s been there (and won the head-to-head match earlier). Lunenburg is a team that will be heard from this postseason, though. Just sayin’.

Sutton over Millbury – The Sammies have proven, maybe not beaten, but proven they can play with anyone. That’s going to come in handy later.

Round 2:

Maynard over Clinton
Sutton over WB

Final:

Sutton over Maynard


LARGE SCHOOL Round 1

Southbridge over Oakmont – As one of “those morons who don’t know anything about basketball” who votes in Jim Wilson’s weekly media polls, we’ve had a front-row seat on the Southbridge bandwagon all year. Not getting off now.

Northbridge over Shepherd Hill – Northbridge is playing as well as any D2 team not located in Fitchburg right now.

Groton-Dunstable over Hudson – This is the annual Clark game that you think could be a 95-90 game and will probably end up being a pitcher’s duel. In the end, though, the Hawks’ lack of height might be a problem.

Quabbin over David Prouty – Not many teams play the kind of defense the Quabs are capable of playing.

Round 2:

Northbridge over Southbridge
G-D over Quabbin

Final:

G-D over Northbridge

WB hoop game moved to University of Maine (and other news)

This article was going to be what they in the business call an “editorial.” But, an editorial usually involves taking a stance on a controversial or divisive issue and making a case as to why your opinion is right and the other side is wrong. The editorial idea has been put on hold because this particular argument is just too easy. We’re talking Shaq versus Ozzy in a game of one-on-one easy. There’s no sense in debating the newest football realignment. All you need to know is that the top two teams in each division – at least in terms of records – will not play with one of the 75 championships on the line. Booooooo! Next subject.

If you thought the AHL All-Star game got area sports fans fired up, wait until you head over to Clark U in the next couple weeks. Simply the best athletic event the area can call its own is the Clark Tourney and it’s here. We’ll offer some thoughts on it later in the week, but there has already been a major bit of news to report. Should West Boylston advance to the championship game in its bracket, the MIAA has already decided to move the game from the Kneller Athletic Center to the University of Maine.

Anyone who watched ESPN Wednesday knew it was national signing day for the nation’s top high school football prospects. It was great for the kids who received their choice of four free years of education or two free years to steal things, treat classmates like garbage and smoke weed before heading to the NFL, but everything else about it was gross. Having signees announce their choice of football factory live on ESPN is just going a little overboard. In fact, the only circus we’d like to see live on ESPN is when Stu Scott and Jim Rome get attacked and eaten by pterodactyls. (Terra dak tulz).

There’s plenty more to complain about and basketball to discuss, so check back often and often.