Toms River North and Brick Memorial are among the shore’s top football programs. With exceptions both schools contend annually for division titles
and spots in the state playoffs. North is 38-17 over the last five-plus seasons while Memorial is 40-19 over that same span. The two American Division rivals meet tonight in Brick and it’s a crossroads game for both for different reasons. The Mustangs of Memorial are 3-1 with their lone loss a non-conference heartbreaker to Sayreville in the opening weekend of the season. They are a perfect 3-0 in the division with wins over Southern, Freehold Township and Jackson Memorial and a victory tonight would set the stage for a showdown with undefeated Howell in two weeks for the Shore American title.

The visiting Mariners were picked by some in the pre-season as the #1 team at the shore and they opened the season with easy wins over Toms River South and Manalapan with a bye in between. Last Saturday night they held explosive Howell to just 7 points but managed only a field goal of their own and lost to the Rebels, who are now the top-ranked team in Ocean and Monmouth counties. Because they’re in the highly competitive South Jersey Group 4 playoff bracket North might have to run the table to earn a post-season spot which means tonight is almost a “win or else” even though its only their fourth game of the season.

Tonight’s confrontation features some outstanding senior performers….Vinnie Sabba, Bill Miller and Glenn McGinnis from Memorial and North’s Steve Barroso, Drew Kollman and Rob Cassidy just to name a few. It should be fun and it’s our game of the week on the Shore Sports Network, including 105.7 The Hawk and 1160 WOBM AM. If you are planning to attend the game then be sure and bring at least two non-perishable food items because it will get you free admission. Brick Memorial is running a food drive in conjunction with The Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Congratulations to Monsignor Donovan High School Tennis coach Tom Connerton on collecting his 300th career victory as the Griffins beat Bishop Ahr in the NJSIAA Girls Tournament Thursday. Connerton is a former Donovan player and in his 12th season coaching the tennis team.

Not That Anyone Has Asked Me But...

Monmouth University will host a debate tonight among the three candidates for the newly created position of Lt. Governor in New Jersey. I would guess about 1% of us (and I’m not among them) could name all the candidates which is probably about the same number that will watch, listen or care about the debate. The debate can be heard on our sister station New Jersey 101.5.

I’ve never had a flu shot because I always felt there was just as good a chance I’d get sick from the shot then the flu itself. However Monday I’m going to get one at the Senior Health and Lifestyle Expo we are hosting at the Ritacco Center. Another admission that I’m not as young as I used to be.

I’ve never had less interest in baseball’s post-season then I do this year.
Maybe it’s the fear of a Yankees-Phillies World Series which for me is like choosing whether you’d rather freeze or burn to death.

By the way Mets officials should take a close look at the Minnesota Twins who manage to be competitive year in and year out despite a small payroll and the fact most of their good players leave for bigger paychecks. It’s not always how much money you spend but where you spend it.

“The Good Wife” staring Julianna Margulies is the best of the new TV dramas and I also like “Mercy” and “Flash Forward.” As for comedy relief well “Modern Family” is a laugh out riot.

I don’t care who David Letterman sleeps with and neither should you.

Public schools should be a positive reflection of their community so it does not say much for those towns that have run down schools. Let me be clear….old and run down are often two different things.

Seeing and hearing about young children who are very sick hits me in the gut more than anything else….it just does not seem fair. It’s also a reminder that if your children are healthy then you’ve been blessed.

Football & Food

Without question the most significant high school football game going into this weekend finds Toms River North visiting Brick Memorial on Friday night. However it’s not just a big game for the reasons you might expect. Sure both teams are ranked in the top ten at the shore and yes it’s very important as far as the American Division standings are concerned and even the state playoffs. What makes this meeting between these rivals so special is the impact it might have on those who might not know a first down from a field goal. Actually what will take place Friday are two games…one between the Mustangs and the Mariners and the other matches Memorial versus Hunger.

Brick Memorial is using this game to conduct a food drive in conjunction with The Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties and there is something in it for everyone who participates. Officials are asking that everyone coming to the game bring two non-perishable food items because if you do then you’ll get free admission to the game. It doesn’t matter if you’re an adult or student, Memorial or North fan. Bring at least the two items and you’ll watch 48 minutes of high school football on the house.

More importantly you’ll have made a difference. By the way we’re broadcasting this game on our Shore Sports Network so I’m looking forward to seeing the results of the food drive in person. And yes I’ll bring my non-perishable items even though I get in for free.

Award-winning CBS Sportscaster Jim Nantz received the Monmouth University Award for Communication Excellence last night in a ceremony at the new Multipurpose Activity Center. Nantz, a graduate of Marlboro High School, personifies class and dignity on the air and having met him before I can tell you he is the same way in person.

Obviously if you’re a regular listener to the morning show then you know Shawn & Sue are devoting a lot of their time and attention to the battle against breast cancer this month. My wife Jane was a guest on their show earlier this week for two reasons. She is a breast cancer survivor and once again will captain a team in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on October 18th in Point Pleasant Beach. If you would like to support her efforts then please visit wobm.com and simply click on the Ocean County Breakfast Show page. There you will find a quick and easy way to donate on line to Team Booberang, which will be about 75 strong this year. They walk so our daughters don’t have to one day. You can also click here

Biggest Loser

If it’s true that misery loves company then there will probably be a lot of miserable people around the office the next few weeks. At the same time there will be a lot of support going around as we start the 3rd almost annual edition of Millennium Radio’s “Biggest Loser” contest. A total of 14 of us have taken the vow of weight loss and will weigh in today and compete for weekly and grand prizes until November 17th…six weeks from today.

While this is an individual competition we added a little twist and teamwork.
We randomly divided the 14 participants into two teams and each Tuesday when you hit the scales you must pay $10. However the team that losses the least each week (based on percentage of body weight, not pounds)
will be penalized and each of their members will have to pony up an extra $5 per person.

As for the 14 who are taking the challenge I have broken them down into three categories….contenders, pretenders and I’m not sure:

Contenders
Me I lost the inaugural contest by what turned out to be a couple of pounds. I want payback and payout.
Jason Allentoff (News) Getting married in March, highly motivated.
Regina Carr (Sales) A factor in previous contests, wants the money for
shoe purposes.
Annie Smith (Sales) Will use supplements and anything else to win.
Heather & Steve Miller (Sales) Husband/wife team has big advantage when it comes to cooking and preparation. Heather did very well in the first contest.
Brian Bonder (Sales) Has asked a lot of questions so I think he’s a threat.

Pretenders
Sue Moll (Morning Show co-host) Poor history when it comes to this…could be just along for some laughs.
Ashly Emerson (Promotions Director) Very close with Sue which spells trouble. They could be closet eaters.
JoAnne Cruise (Midday Personality) Nobody can figure out why she is even in the contest except to have material to talk about. I don’t think she has enough weight to lose.

I don’t know what to make of them
Marianne Levy (Co-host Bob & Marianne in the Morning) She has already dropped a lot of weight over the last year and I don’t know how motivated she will be to continue.
Michele Degnan-Spang (Sales) She only started working here last week so she is an unknown. The fact that she’s a runner scares me.
Lani Torres (Sales Assistant) I am clueless but she is young which is an asset and really wanted to be in the contest.
Mike Mangan (Sales) He is a young newlywed who has sort of been flying under the radar. I would not be surprised if he quickly becomes a contender.

Let the games begin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Weekend Recap

Undefeated Howell staked its claim as the shore’s top team with a victory at Toms River North in a key American Division contest. The Mariners need to quickly recover as they have a tough test Friday night when they visit Brick Memorial, who outlasted Jackson Memorial in overtime. Toms River East took a giant step towards a Constitution Division title with a rout of Brick. Jackson Liberty scored in the final minute to edge Barnegat and in a game played yesterday, Central crushed Lakewood 52-19 for its first win of the season as Kalyph Hardy and Sam Pepe combined for nearly 500 yards rushing and each scored four touchdowns.

As a Mets fan my baseball season ended around the middle of July and frankly I have not paid all that much attention to what used to be America’s National pastime. Thankfully the season ended yesterday for the Mets and most of the other major league teams but for the Yankees, Phillies and others it’s really just beginning. The Yankees will host either Minnesota or Detroit beginning Wednesday as the American League Central champs will be decided in a one-game playoff Tuesday. Meanwhile the reigning World Series champs from Philadelphia will face Colorado in a best-of-five series that starts Wednesday at Citizens Bank Park.

There is no better golf outing than the one run by Klee’s Bar & Grill for the benefit of Ocean of Love and the 18th annual is set for Wednesday at Gambler’s Ridge in Cream Ridge. There will be shotgun starts at 7am and 12:30 so it’s a full day for Glenn McCarthy, Joe Carey and the entire crew at Klee’s, who along with the owners volunteer their time and much more. Last year’s event raised more than $40,000 for Ocean of Love.

Raise your hand if you knew the hockey season actually started last week?
I see a few of you out there. The NHL would be so much better off if they started after the World Series.

While you’re raising your hand. How many of you can’t wait for Election Day so we don’t have to see the faces of Corzine and Christie any longer
in those non-stop TV ads. Wow…I can’t count that high.

Another Week Of Football

As September turns into October the high school football schedule gives us a weekend of big matchups and when it’s over the picture will be much clearer in several of the divisional races.

Toms River East comes into Brick tonight in a battle of the only teams to win their first two Constitution Division games. The Raiders have averaged 30 points a game and there are many who feel Brick is the last team that will pose a threat to them in the division. With its upcoming schedule East could even be on their way to an undefeated record before the State Playoffs begin
but first they must get past a Green Dragons team that has been offensively-challenged but found ways to win.

Also tonight will be a huge contest in the Federal Division as Middletown South hosts Freehold in a game we’ll broadcast on the Shore Sports Network, including 105.7 The Hawk and 1160 WOBM AM. In starting the season 3-0 Middletown South has allowed just six points and they’ll try and exact some revenge on a Colonials team that has beaten them three straight times, including a state final showdown at Rutgers last December.

As expected Manasquan is the favorite to win the Shore National but face an interesting trip south this evening when they head to Pinelands Regional where the Wildcats are off to a 2-0 start with the help of junior running back Matt McLain. The fans will be out in Tuckerton looking for an upset.

The most talked about game this weekend will be played Saturday night as Toms River North hosts Howell. Not only are they, along with Brick Memorial considered the upper tier of the American Division but the winner could stake a claim as the top team in the shore. Jimmy Ryan leads Howell’s spread offense which averages nearly 30 passes per game and features a stable of talented receivers. However they will face a defense that’s already returned three interceptions for touchdowns and is led by safety Drew Kollman and linebacker Steve Barosso.

Other interesting matchups tonight include Brick Memorial at Jackson Memorial, Jackson Liberty visits Barnegat, Point Boro seeks its first win at home against Raritan and in a battle of winless teams, Southern heads to Freehold Township.

A Gridiron Lesson

For the most part sports comes down to the fact that 50% of the time there is a winner and 50% of the time there is a loser. Despite that intellectual statement much more attention is paid to winners then losers and it’s just a fact of life as unfair as it may seem to be. Regardless if you play high school, college or pro sports the headlines, air time, adulation and hype all surround success…not failure.

I say this having gone through it many years ago. When I was a junior our football team at Central Regional High School was something really special.
A perfect season with only a couple of games that were even close and comparisons with some of the great teams to ever come out of the shore. Students and fans were three deep at home games, it was the talk of school throughout the fall and just to be a part of it was somewhat magical. Practices were often light and loose and Saturday afternoons always ended with smiles, cheers, pats on the back and that feeling which comes with being a winner. Sunday you got to read all about it in the newspaper.

However a year later that was all a distant memory. Graduation had stripped us of all but a couple of top players and from the beginning we knew things would be difficult. Not only that but our legendary head coach had died suddenly and an all-new staff was put in place. Opponents, who we had humbled the year before, circled like sharks in the water and feasted on the opportunity to get their revenge. Losses mounted, the crowds went away, students and teachers found other things to talk about in the hallways and the headlines found us on the wrong end. Those last weeks of the season especially for the seniors were not easy but helped provide a life lesson. That is you play the game because you like the game and if success comes well that makes it all that much better but one person usually cannot determine the outcome….however each can determine their effort. You will also learn a lot more about yourself from sticking with a losing team than riding high with one that wins.