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Browns wish list: January football

CLEVELAND — Upon further review..... Calling them the ‘real deal’ still doesn’t feel quite right. But calling them legitimate playoff contenders is certainly within the realm. And why not? There’s a short list of AFC teams on the postseason fast track and considerably more who will qualify almost by default. Romeo Crennel’s Browns are included on the latter list...and for good reason. The Browns, at 7-4 following Sunday’s workmanlike 27-17 victory against Houston, have five remaining regular season games versus opponents whose composite record is 19-36. This includes ...

WAHA gaining popularity in Ohio Valley

Hockey is on the rise in Wheeling. No, I’m not talking about the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers. No, I’m not talking about the high school teams at Wheeling Park, Wheeling Central, Linsly or John Marshall. What I am talking about is the Wheeling Amateur Hockey Association. The growing organization has over 500 youth participating this year. There are 90 kids involved in the Mini Mites Division (ages 4-6), another 70 in the Mites Division (6-8), some 65 in the Squirts Division (8-10) and approximately 50 in the Pee Wee Division (10-12). There are also two in-house girls teams ...

Old warrior Prince Joe still shines in AA

Greyhounds like Kay V Prince Joe are few and far between. With nearly 170 starts on his resume at the Wheeling Island racetrack, Prince Joe is an absolute warrior. Even more impressive is the fact Prince Joe is still competing against the track’s top sprinters. Since Prince Joe turned 4 years old in October, he has discovered a Fountain of Youth. In his last six Grade AA trips, Prince Joe has 3 wins, 2 seconds and 1 fourth. “Joe seemed to be slowing down a little in the summer so we gave him a break. At that time and with the number of starts he had, I didn’t know how long ...

Old Hickory: A good act for OSU to follow

OHIO STATE head football coach Jim Tressel isn’t in the same line of work as Andrew Jackson, but both have been aware of the need to plan for a battle in New Orleans. Of course, it’s been more than 190 years since Old Hickory won the famous battle by defeating the British (even though the War of 1812 had ended officially and the news hadn’t reached New Orleans). Jackson’s battle occurred Jan. 8, 1815, while the battle being faced by Tressel and the Buckeyes is scheduled Jan. 7, 2008. Tressel’s strategy for the upcoming battle in the Superdome in New Orleans is well under ...

Finding a females’ place on the mat

I was approached this past weekend at a junior high wrestling tournament about why you don’t see more girls wrestle. My response was simple, they are not made for the sport. Generally, wrestling has been for the elite athletes among all sports. Ones that are willing to go through more than most other athletes. In youth wrestling, girls at lower weights are seen on the mat more, but as they get older they seem to dwindle away. Why is this people ask? Parents and especially mothers need to understand, it’s brutal on a wrestling mat. When I tell a kid its live. I don’t mean go ...

Early speed fuels Keeper at Wheeling

Expectations were high in the Charter Kennel camp when Switzler Keeper was purchased at the 2006 National Greyhound Association Fall Meet in Kansas. Keeper was a standout at the meet, easily winning both of his rounds and dipping under the 30-second mark in each race. He looked like a perfect match for Wheeling’s high speed track. A year later, however, Keeper remains a rung or two below the track’s top echelon of sprinters but the early speed merchant has been a consistent in-the-money finisher. In 66 career starts, Keeper has 12 wins, 17 seconds, 9 thirds and 15 fourths — an ...