Facebook App
As I have written, I don't have a vote in the Sun-Times Player of the Year or All-Chicago Area selections, only recommendations of what I have observed by covering games during the season. But it is abundantly clear that the POY for 2009 will be either Matt Perez of Maine South or John Whitelaw of Hinsdale Central.
But what about Christian Lombard of Fremd and Jimmy Garoppolo of Rolling Meadows? Or Providence's Peter Houlihan, the Catholic League Blue's top-rated player?
Recruiting analyst Tom Lemming argues that Lombard, a 6-6, 295-pound offensive lineman who is committed to Notre Dame, should be the choice.
"He is having a dominating year," Lemming said. " He is playing as well or better than any offensive lineman in the country."
But there's a hitch. Offensive linemen receiver POY awards as frequently as the sun stops shining. The Heisman Trophy has never been awarded to an offensive lineman since its inception in 1935. And the Daily News/Sun-Times Player of the Year award hasn't been given to an offensive lineman since 1954.
"Lombard should be POY but it probably won't happen," Lemming said. "The problem is offensive linemen don't have statistics, like quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers. Most coaches don't keep statistics for offensive linemen. There is no way to gauge how good they are. It is the only position on the field with no statistics."
Ironically, Lemming rates offensive lineman Seantrel Henderson of St. Paul, Minn., as the No. 1 player in the country this season. It is the first time he has picked an offensive lineman since Bill Fralic in 1980.
"Most people don't think about offensive linemen when it comes to those kind of awards," Lemming said. "Anthony Munoz is considered the greatest offensive tackle of all time, college and NFL, but he never won any MVP honors."
Lemming also thinks Garoppolo has been overlooked by the media and college recruiters. He received some attention last week when he completed 28 of 42 passes for 339 yards and one touchdown in a 46-38 victory over previously unbeaten Prospect for the Mid-Suburban East championship. He also rushed 22 times for 92 yards and two touchdowns while outplaying more publicized Miles Osei of Prospect.
"I saw him against Fremd and he dominated. He was the reason they stayed in the game so long," Lemming said of Garoppolo. "He is among the best quarterbacks in the area. He doesn't have a great supporting cast that other quarterbacks have. I think colleges are missing the boat on him. He has great potential, like Whitelaw and Osei. All of them are qualified to play at a big school."
Cell Phone Alerts
How about Trace Wanless of Glenbard South! If he went down, South would have big problems winning a game!! His stats compare to anyone. He is clearly a dominent player. I think we should consider how these teams fair without the player. That should be the question for an MVP!
What about Mark Weisman? He is THE reason that Stevenson is as good as it is this year. But he doesn't get much respect, just like the entire Stevenson team.
Mr. Bell and Mr. Lemming-
THANK YOU.
I agree that Perez and Lombard are the top two choices for Player of the Year. But having QB Jim Garoppolo in the conversation is very impressive as I see that you both recognize his special abilities at the QB position and simply as a football prospect. Good work, go Mustangs.
Mr.Bell: I have great respect for you, but I believe that any conversation regarding Sun Times POY should at least include St.Rita's Juwan Akui. Twenty five T.D.'s and over fourteen hundred yards in six and a half games merits his name at least being mentioned. I agree that Matt Perez is very deserving of consideration. The fact that he plays offense,defense and special teams for a great team may even put him over the top. Though I would argue that Akui is a better running back.
What about jamel martin of bolingbrook? Of course Matt Perez is a good runningback handsdown one of the best iv'e seen. But Maine South plays in a weak confrence. They have on solid win this year while bolingbrook has many. Lincoln way east and central, downers grove south, sandburg. Why isnt he getting any recognition.Toughest confrence in the state
This Glenbard South kid? (Trace Wanless) is the REAL DEAL. I saw him play and he is a incredible athlete. He will be a diamond in the rough for whoever picks him up. He has been unstoppable on the field. There are no other words for this kid except "Amazing". I have never seen anyone run & throw like this at his age. He has a rocket. Keep a eye on this one.
While I have seen Perez and agree with many that he is the POY, I find it difficult to believe that not once has the record breaking back from Leyden, Angel Maldonado been thrown into the conversation. One look at his stats and what he has meant to the Eagles this season should be enough to garner this fine back some well deserved recognition that has been bestowed upon the above mentioned players this year, all the while playing for an unranked squad that just may surprise some people in the weeks ahead.
I agree Angel Maldonado has been over looked for far to long. This kid plays with the heart of a true team player. He gives his all in every game. It's a shame a kid with that much talent is not getting the recgonition he deserves! I have never seen such talent and heart as I have seen in this kid. His stats speak for their selves!
If anyone knows a former sports writer named Curtis K Jackson, please contact me. I read a chapter of his book at a "read". In Utah and it was a serious piece of work about corruption, and cheating, recruiting connection networks to shoe companies , etc. That goes on in Chicago and has been for years. Please give him my email address: plprepblogger@gmail.com and tell him I would like to talk to him at no expense to him. I'll foot the dime and trav el either way.
I have to agree with the Trace Wanless plugs stated by these other people. I saw him play and the only thing to say is "WOW" He is a true leader and spark of Glendard South. He is a solid MVP choice.
if you mention garopollo, you should also mention the qb from naperville central, NICK LINNE. over 1,800 yds passing 20 td's over 500 yds rushing, 5 more td's. took a decent team to 7 and 2 all with a lousy defense. he should be a contender.
Trace Wanless is a great player and the heart and soul of the next 5A champions!
p.s. I just gave his name to a recruiter who will be calling.
Matt Perez, end of discussion!
Angel Maldonado
I want to say thank you to the Chicago Sun-Times and also Kenny Anderson (former Georgia Tech star), for helping me get in touch with former Chicago Sun-Times High School Sports Writer, Curtis K. Jackson (now Sr.).
I lucked-up, and got a 2-for-1... being able speak with Anderson (probably the best pure point guard to ever come out of New York City), and; then finally talking with Jackson was great.
In some respects, its painful to hear about the directions his life took over the past 20-plus years. I never would have guessed. However, it was also apparent; that he is in the know with many of "the" premier basketball writers and gurus across the America.
I had a chance to talk in length about the current state of high school and college basketball, as well as; the influence of people like John "Sonny" Vaccaro and Phil Knight have had on the game via inner-city marketing plans that have sucked the life out of the talent in many major U.S. cities. So, I started with a quote he provided for Eastern Basketball Magazine back in May 1995: "Many college coaches and agents thought I was crazy when I stated that Micheal Jordan's efforts to financially empower NBA veterans in the league, while at the same time fighting to limit the money rookies could make in their first few years would create a "underclassmen invasion" by way of the influence of sidewalk executives and a development of downward slide of the quality of play in the NBA to follow... I wonder what those same people think now?"
Q: What made you say that?
A: If your gonna tell a kid, that he is not going to make a lot of money in his first two, three or four years; but; that he will be able to make his fair value in the following years. Well, why develop your talent in three or four years in college, going to classes you don't wanna take, and and risking a career-ending injury for a ten for a scholarship... When, you could do most of those very same very things while playing in the pros and getting paid for it, now!
There is more, I asked him what he thought about the influence of summer basketball, the AAU circuit and guys like Mac Irvin, who has been unofficially named the "Godfather of Chicago Youth Basketball"?
First he laughs...
"I think the state of youth basketball accross the country, not just in Chicago, has been treated and consummed by the 'French Connection' types of the grassroot basketball scene. Its very simple; people like Vaccaro are only as strong as their workers. Mac Irvin is the Nicky Barnes (Harlem, NY Drug Kingpin in the 60's and 70's); Sonny Vaccaro is the "connect" and Nike, Adidas or Reebok were the Italian Maffia. Now, I am not saying that any of the previously mentioned men are drug dealers or drug users, however; their affect on the game from a grassroots level has been the equivilant to that of crack cocaine and heroine trade upon Harlem. They have contributed to a slow death of the game at the youth level."
I asked Jackson about his book and screenplay... and, lets just say you could see a flicker in eyes instantly...
"I am no angel, but; nor am I the devil. I have made some grave mistatkes that have caused harm to myself, my family and others in very personal ways. However, the sun will shine again for me, and... I feel what I have to say on paper and in a film will be an wake-up call to all of the parents, Ymca volunteer coaches, and playground mentors who have maybe sold themselves and the kids they were intrusted to guide, protect and direct for the illusion of being a part of something that gives them power... a chance to rewind, and start over. When I saw the movie "He Got Game", my heart was broken. I say this because Spike Lee had a chance to tell a great story via a great actor in Denzel Washington... however, what we got was a two-hour Nike commercial, the same tired facts and quotes stated in many stories before, and a depiction of a black man trying to exploit his own kid for self serving purposes. No, I beleive what I have to say, will proved to be not only blessed by the likes of Kenny Anderson, Pearl Washington, Jamie Brandon, Lloyd Daniels, Marcus Liberty, and many others like them... What I have to say will be basketball life changing for whats really needed to re-focus our youth from being used by the game and the players off the court, to using the game for its true purpose... as a tool to teach, reach and direct our youth meaningfully."
As a blogger... I rarely get a chance to talk to guys who "get it". I beleive Curtis K. Jackson Sr. gets it. I believe he is going to tell it like it is, and; I can't wait to read the book and see the film, many times over.
Thank you
Curtis K. Jackson was a teammate of mine with the real "Chicago AAU"; personally... I am glad to see that he is okay. I always felt, as I did back in '83; that he knew more about the game within and outside the gcourt than either myself, or any of the other more glorified teammates of ours back then.
Good luck, and give me a call, you know how to reach me.
Lenny
Taylor Bell, I heard that Curtis K Jackson was in a power struggle with Sonny Vaccaro, because he did not want to work with Mac Irvin back in the '90's. So, is it true that Sonny used his contacts at Converse to set him up?
I'm curious, is this the same Len Bertolini that was the Chicago Sun Times Player Of The Year from 1983?
A Fenwick Fan,
Jimmy
I remember Curtis K. Jackson, he ran that Open tournament at the South Side YMCA back in 1992 or 1993. It seem to really help some kids. It was not really for the top players in the city, I think it was set up to help those kids that did not get a lot of attention, if my memory serves me correctly. Is he he still doing this tournament? If he is, can someone share the info, please.
Carl
Curtis K.Jackson, now there is name I even know.
I played some pretty good all-state level ball many years ago, and I don't do the blog thing. But; a friend of mine told me Curtis Jackson was back on the bricks.
I did not know Curtis real well, other than through Mike Robinson (played for Hirsch and Michigan).
Mike told me a story about Curtis going up to the Rucker League in New York City in '82 and playing toe to toe, basket for basket with this cat named Dwayne "Pearl" Washington so good that the crowd started calling him "The Chicago Pearl".
I don't know whatever happened to him, I know he had to raise himself up from some things that went down real bogus and it hurt him pretty bad. So, when my friend told me that he was coming up on Taylor Bell's website blog, that kinda struck me as real strange. Since it was Taylor who wrote something about him not doing something right with some coaches that kind of hurt him real bad, without a real investigation being done. Everybody on the streets knew that was not cool.
Especially, if you remember how Taylor went after King and Efrem Winters back in the day.
But anyway, if your listening, Curtis. I say you should get back into the game, forget about Mac, Forrest, Ruben, Albritton and all those guys, they were out for themselves, you did work from the heart and out of your own pocket, I always respected that.
Put something together for all these kids that get overlooked by the papers, the AAU teams and shoe companies and stuff. You got a lot of people out here that got love for you, but; you got to reach out to us, and we'll show up for you.
You always seem to be about helping out the "little guy", and we got more little guys than big names on these streets. If you do, you know you can always find me at the "Lincoln", playing ball on the weekends with the fellas like always.
Peace to my man: "The Chicago Pearl"
Bernard "Highlight" Jackson
To: Bernard Jackson:
I appreciate the kind words of encouragement, however; your comments as they concern Mr. Bell need addressing.
First, if your refering to the incident I had with a few Public League coaches regarding my involvement with Converse in 1994-95. You can not, or; I request that you do not point blame at Mr.Bell.
Now, your right... He did not have all the facts, and I could have put up a fight. But, my Dad has the same name as I, and; he was a CPS teacher at the time, and this incident caused him great pain, it really hurt him. To let it just die off was my error, I should have fought the report, and I am absolutely sure Mr. Bell would have given me a chance to just that. So... that's on me, not him.
You should also know, that it was Mr. Bell, back in 1985; who gave me a shot-on blind faith- as a 19 year old to actually do some reporting on Public League. So, my respect for him runs deep, and unwavered.
But, your willingness to reach out to me is appreciated, and I am hopeful that this is the same Bernard Jackson who established himself as a high school legend on record as player with PhiLlips via the prestigous Proviso West Holiday tournament in '81 and '82.
If it is, I'll see you some day soon at the "Linc" on 39th and Cottage Grove. By thw way, how is Carl Golston, St. Anthony Robertson and Paul Lawson doing?
Curtis K. Jackson Sr.