I’m still recovering after grappling for a parking space in Fayetteville, where the state high school finals and graduation ceremonies were held.
That’s my excuse for drifting aimlessly today instead of staying focused on a single topic.
TWO TEAMS, ONE TOWN
It is unfortunate two softball teams from Bentonville had to decide the Class 7A state championship far from home, but the scenario is not without precedent.
The “Battle of Rogers Avenue” in Fort Smith was settled in consecutive years on West Markham Street in Little Rock, where War Memorial Stadium is located. Fort Smith Northside defeated Fort Smith Southside 27-7 in 1987 after losing 23-8 to Southside during the regular season. The teams met again to decide the championship in 1988, and Southside won 7-6 after losing 30-3 to Northside during the regular season.
The outcome was more predictable last weekend when Bentonville High and Bentonville West met in Benton instead of Bogle Field in Fayetteville. The teams played for the seventh time in two years and Bentonville won its third consecutive state champion with a 5-1 victory over West.
Fort Smith Northside and Fort Smith Southside decided state championships in girls basketball in 2011 and 2013 and in boys basketball in 1968. The Jonesboro area is a hotbed for volleyball, which was on display in 1987 when Jonesboro High defeated Nettleton for a championship. Paragould held the spotlight in 1993 and 1994 when Ridgecrest and Greene County Tech faced off for championships in girls basketball.
Little Rock teams, of course, decided state championships for many years but those were largely before the playoff era that began in 1968.
REFUSE TO LOSE
Skylurr Patrick basically predicted a state championship for her team when I spoke with the Rogers High soccer standout following a semifinal win over Fort Smith Southside.
“Seems like it’s always Bentonville or Fayetteville winning, but this is Rogers’ year,” she said after scoring both goals in a 2-1 win over Southside.
Patrick made sure of her prediction by scoring three goals to give Rogers a 3-2 victory over Bryant in the championship game at Razorback Field. Patrick scored the winning goal in overtime then sprinted to the stands, where she was mobbed by her teammates and fans of the Lady Mounties.
It was quite a moment for Patrick and Rogers High, which placed both its boys and girls soccer teams in the state finals.
TIDE TURNER
Have you ever been set to attend a special event like the prom, only to have your date dump you for someone else at the last minute?
Me neither, but I hear those things happen.
Quarterback Layne Hatcher appeared headed to Arkansas State until Nick Saban cast his eyes upon him, and now Hatcher will enroll instead at Alabama. The former Pulaski Academy standout will join the quarterback competition that already includes Tua Tagovailoa, Jalen Hurts and Mac Jones.
Hatcher appears to be a backup plan in case one or more of the Alabama quarterbacks decide to transfer before the season. Whatever the reason, we wish Hatcher well in his academic and athletic pursuits at Alabama.
Two things are for certain, though. Verbal commitments mean nothing and athletes love to play for a winner, which the Crimson Tide do with stunning frequency under Saban.
LATE, LATE SHOW
Hey, kids, are you interested in an exciting career covering sports as a newspaper reporter or TV broadcaster?
OK, great. But be aware of situations like at the SEC Tournament where our man, Tom Murphy, had to wait for the fourth game of the day on Wednesday until the Razorbacks finally took the field shortly before 10 p.m.
I covered an NCAA Tournament game in Tempe, Ariz., in 2010 that went 12 innings and didn’t end until after 2 a.m. Central Standard Time. The pressure was on, especially when I was told by my editor earlier in the day the presses wouldn’t start until I filed.
That’s a lot of people standing around waiting for you to finish your job.
Covering sports can be a fun career and the games are often exciting. But the No. 1 requirement for all reporters is to beat deadline, no matter how late or unreasonable it seems.
NO TO KNEELING
A columnist from USA Today said on TV the controversy involving the NFL and the national anthem would continue all summer and into the fall.
Not for me and many others, it won’t. I am no longer interested in the bickering between billionaires (NFL owners) and millionaires (NFL players) over something that should take about two minutes before each game.
For old time’s sake, is it too much to ask to be left alone to enjoy sports for a few hours without the complexities of the outside world crashing the party?
Probably.
Rick Fires can be reached at rfires@ nwadg.com or on Twitter @NWARick.
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