Nets: Years later, ABA still pays off handsomely for two Sunday, June 01, 2003BY DAVE D'ALESSANDRO Star-Ledger Staff SAN ANTONIO -- Dan and Ozzie Silna are two guys from Jersey who are paidmillions of dollars each year by the Nets, and they are not employed by theteam in any way.
Actually, they make millions of dollars each year off the Spurs, too, but theyown no interest in any franchise, have no affiliation with the NBA whatsoever,and haven't even been in the basketball business since 1976. But the Silnas have something that most NBA owners lack: astonishing foresight.
And that has led to a $100 million windfall that dates back to the year theNets, Spurs and two other teams were absorbed by the NBA. The Silnas were the owners of the Spirits of St. Louis, the legendary group ofmismatched miscreants that helped give the American Basketball Association itsrenegade reputation. When the league folded in 1976, the NBA had room for onlyfour of the six ABA teams.
The owners of the Nets, Spurs, Pacers and Nuggetspersuaded Kentucky Colonels owner John Brown and the Silnas to fold their teamsin exchange for compensation. Brown accepted a single $3.3 million payment from his fellow owners. The Silnasheld out for more. They signed a deal that paid $2.2 million -- plusone-seventh of the combined annual television revenue from the four teams.
The fine print? The deal had no expiration date, so the Silnas are entitled tothat TV money in perpetuity. In other words, they'll continue to be paid ...forever. "These were two very smart guys, terrific owners, and they were very involvedwith the team," said Nets president Rod Thorn, who was the Spirits' last coachin 1975-76. "The deal they made speaks for itself: I don't think anyone knewwhat the NBA would become as a TV entity.
So I don't think anyone thought muchabout what kind of money that would amount to over time." Roy Boe, the Nets owner at the time, still refers to it as "one of the mostincredible deals in the history of the business world -- rivaling any deal thathas taken place in Wall Street in the past 25 years. These guys collect thatkind of money from the NBA, and all they have to do is sit there."
The Silnas are often criticized for refusing to accept a lump-sum buyout --would anyone? -- but it is hard to question their business acumen. Born in NewJersey, the brothers took over their father's successful embroidery company andwent into the basketball business in 1974, when they purchased the CarolinaCougars for $1 million and moved the franchise to St. Louis. They invested in players such as Marvin Barnes, Don Chaney and an 18-year-oldMoses Malone, with the hopes of being absorbed by the NBA.
The two years were "a disaster, business-wise," said Ozzie Silna, still in theembroidery business and a civic leader in Malibu, Calif. "The St. Louis Bluesowner promised us 5,000 season tickets, and we only had 600 people sign up." With one of the highest payrolls in the league, the Spirits went 67-101 in twoyears. By the middle the 1975-76 season, the league was down to seven teams,and the Silnas just tried to hang on -- if not to live out their dream ofowning an NBA team, then to receive compensation from the others, as mandatedby ABA bylaws. After an all-night meeting in Hyannis, Mass., a deal was struck on the morningof June 17, 1976. It took a while to grasp its magnitude. The Silnas would make "only" $8 million throughout the 1980s, but as the NBAgrew and broadcast rights fees exploded, so did their bank accounts.
Theyreceived checks annually totaling approximately $4.6 million between 1990 and1994. It climbed to $5.6 million per year until 1998. The deal with NBC andTurner of 1998-2002 was worth $2.6 billion, which netted the Silnas $12.4million annually. And in the current $4.6 billion deal with ABC /ESPN and AOL Time Warner, theystand to make an estimated $24 million every season over the six years of thecontract. In other words, the Silna brothers will make more money than the vast majorityof NBA teams every year -- without expenses, overhead or headaches.
Of course,had they kept their franchise, it probably would have appreciated to more thanthe $100 million they have made since 1976. "I love basketball, and I wish we could have been involved in the merger," saidDan Silna, an industrialist who still lives in Saddle River, up in BergenCounty. "But I don't regret our deal
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Thursday, December 18, 2003
Scotch Plains Boys Basketball 2003-4
Published in the Courier News on December 18, 2003
Derrick Caracter -- all 6 feet, 9 inches and 275 pounds of him -- raised hisright hand high above the crowd to receive the inbounds pass. He got the ball,and within the blink of an eye flicked it to 6-foot-7 teammate Lance Thomas,who threw down an uncontested dunk with two hands.
Two hundred spectators cheered, and no fewer than five video cameras preservedthe moment. This was the scene at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School's boys basketballscrimmage against St. Mary of Elizabeth on Tuesday. Get your tickets now, because it's going to be an awful lot of fun to watch theRaiders and their two towers this winter. And these guys are just sophomores.
"It's cool, having a big man just as good as me," said Caracter, whotransferred to his hometown school after spending his freshman year at St.Patrick. "It's somebody to pass to, somebody who can finish around the basket."It's cool -- and much more. Caracter's much-heralded return home, coupled withThomas' vast improvement, has made Scotch Plains-Fanwood the talk of NewJersey's seen-it-all hoops establishment. Suddenly, a team that finished 6-16last year is playing in three showcase tournaments and getting "swing by"visits from Michigan, Georgetown and Wake Forest college basketball recruiters.
"It's more than I even thought," head coach Dan Doherty said. The whirlwind began in the May, when Caracter decided to stay at ScotchPlains-Fanwood after transferring from St. Patrick in March. There were toomany distractions at the Union County catholic school, and his grades sufferedas a result. "I have my family close by and my friends," said Caracter, who has been ratedthe No. 1 sophomore in the country. "Everybody's not so gassed up here. Theytreat me like a normal person."
His arrival boosted an up-and-coming team to the top of everyone's rankings.Thomas opened many eyes after averaging 15 points as a freshman. Junior pointguard Lakiem Lockery and senior forward Mike Walker are solid contributors.Throw in St. Anthony's transfer Michael Johnson, a fleet-footed guard, and youhave the most talented lineup anyone has seen around these parts sinceBridgewater-Raritan West featured Eric Murdock and Lance Miller in the 1980s.
Still, there were chemistry concerns at the beginning. Caracter and Thomas hadgone to different middle schools. They had played together on traveling teamsbut, as Doherty says, "there might have been a little of `who's the big guy onthe block?'‚" That thought melted away when Doherty told Thomas who was coming to dinner. "I wanted to see his initial reaction, his face," Doherty recalled. "He kind ofnodded with a big grin and said, `We're going to be really good.'‚" That's Thomas for you.
The kid has the maturity of a 35-year-old, as Dohertywill tell you. His main goal amid all this hysteria: to earn the program'sfirst sectional title since 1960. Can't beat that for perspective. Thomas' game is mature as well. Hounding defenders of all sizes, handling theball like a guard and crashing the boards like a big man, he is a first-ratematchup nightmare. "He runs the court nonstop like an Energizer bunny," Caracter said. Mack Truck might be the more apt emblem for Caracter.
He swats away defenderslike flies. And his superior footwork allows him to avoid silly offensivefouls. Perhaps most impressive is his passing touch. He throws the balldowncourt to start the break with a quarterback's accuracy. Good luck guarding them, as St. Mary found out in its 79-58 loss. "That'd be real tough," Thomas said.
"Double team, that's going to leave one ofus open. A man would probably be the best thing to do. You just have to belucky and have somebody who's 6-10." Two guys, actually. Added Caracter: "Try to flop as much as possible
Derrick Caracter -- all 6 feet, 9 inches and 275 pounds of him -- raised hisright hand high above the crowd to receive the inbounds pass. He got the ball,and within the blink of an eye flicked it to 6-foot-7 teammate Lance Thomas,who threw down an uncontested dunk with two hands.
Two hundred spectators cheered, and no fewer than five video cameras preservedthe moment. This was the scene at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School's boys basketballscrimmage against St. Mary of Elizabeth on Tuesday. Get your tickets now, because it's going to be an awful lot of fun to watch theRaiders and their two towers this winter. And these guys are just sophomores.
"It's cool, having a big man just as good as me," said Caracter, whotransferred to his hometown school after spending his freshman year at St.Patrick. "It's somebody to pass to, somebody who can finish around the basket."It's cool -- and much more. Caracter's much-heralded return home, coupled withThomas' vast improvement, has made Scotch Plains-Fanwood the talk of NewJersey's seen-it-all hoops establishment. Suddenly, a team that finished 6-16last year is playing in three showcase tournaments and getting "swing by"visits from Michigan, Georgetown and Wake Forest college basketball recruiters.
"It's more than I even thought," head coach Dan Doherty said. The whirlwind began in the May, when Caracter decided to stay at ScotchPlains-Fanwood after transferring from St. Patrick in March. There were toomany distractions at the Union County catholic school, and his grades sufferedas a result. "I have my family close by and my friends," said Caracter, who has been ratedthe No. 1 sophomore in the country. "Everybody's not so gassed up here. Theytreat me like a normal person."
His arrival boosted an up-and-coming team to the top of everyone's rankings.Thomas opened many eyes after averaging 15 points as a freshman. Junior pointguard Lakiem Lockery and senior forward Mike Walker are solid contributors.Throw in St. Anthony's transfer Michael Johnson, a fleet-footed guard, and youhave the most talented lineup anyone has seen around these parts sinceBridgewater-Raritan West featured Eric Murdock and Lance Miller in the 1980s.
Still, there were chemistry concerns at the beginning. Caracter and Thomas hadgone to different middle schools. They had played together on traveling teamsbut, as Doherty says, "there might have been a little of `who's the big guy onthe block?'‚" That thought melted away when Doherty told Thomas who was coming to dinner. "I wanted to see his initial reaction, his face," Doherty recalled. "He kind ofnodded with a big grin and said, `We're going to be really good.'‚" That's Thomas for you.
The kid has the maturity of a 35-year-old, as Dohertywill tell you. His main goal amid all this hysteria: to earn the program'sfirst sectional title since 1960. Can't beat that for perspective. Thomas' game is mature as well. Hounding defenders of all sizes, handling theball like a guard and crashing the boards like a big man, he is a first-ratematchup nightmare. "He runs the court nonstop like an Energizer bunny," Caracter said. Mack Truck might be the more apt emblem for Caracter.
He swats away defenderslike flies. And his superior footwork allows him to avoid silly offensivefouls. Perhaps most impressive is his passing touch. He throws the balldowncourt to start the break with a quarterback's accuracy. Good luck guarding them, as St. Mary found out in its 79-58 loss. "That'd be real tough," Thomas said.
"Double team, that's going to leave one ofus open. A man would probably be the best thing to do. You just have to belucky and have somebody who's 6-10." Two guys, actually. Added Caracter: "Try to flop as much as possible
Wednesday, December 17, 2003
Scotch Plains Girls Basketball 2003-4
Published in the Courier News on December 17, 2003
Stockton and Malone. Kobe and Shaq. Jordan and Pippen. Burke and Klimowicz?
Is it a stretch to compare Jenny Burke and Hillary Klimowicz of the ScotchPlains-Fanwood High School girls basketball team to some of the NBA's mostfamed tandems? Sure. But it's not far-fetched to say Klimowicz and Burke are the foundation of theCourier News' No. 1 team.
They were catalysts to last season's 23-3 team andcarry the expectations of another banner season. As they go, the Raiders go. "We've been practicing really hard," Klimowicz said. "We've been practicingreally well, working a lot better as team. It's everyone. The whole team."
Klimowicz and Burke are the perfect complements. In Klimowicz, Burke has a consistent inside target who averaged nearly 20points per game, to go along with eight rebounds and nearly four blocks. InBurke, Klimowicz has a heady pass-first floor general who can deliver passes tothe post and break down opposing defenses. With gritty forward Jenn Russell and sharp-shooting guard Maura Gillooly addedto the mix, they have a supporting cast that not only make ScotchPlains-Fanwood arguably Union County's elite, but also one of the state's bestsquads.
They all return from a team that last year pummeled opponents by an average of31 points. But for all the blowouts, the Raiders went home empty-handed. They twice fell to Tournament of Champions victor Shabazz, including asectional final defeat, and fell to Union Catholic in the Union CountyTournament semifinals. Scotch Plains-Fanwood once again will be lumped into a competitive sectionalbracket that should include Shabazz, Voorhees -- the Courier News' No. 3 team-- and No. 10 Ridge.
"It's a curse," coach Brian Homm said, referring to the North Jersey, Section2, Group III bracket. "Especially with the teams that were added in this year(from realignment)." "We do concentrate on winning the big ones," Burke said, "but we've kind of hada problem with that. If we don't win Union County, there's definitely somethingwrong with us."
Stockton and Malone. Kobe and Shaq. Jordan and Pippen. Burke and Klimowicz?
Is it a stretch to compare Jenny Burke and Hillary Klimowicz of the ScotchPlains-Fanwood High School girls basketball team to some of the NBA's mostfamed tandems? Sure. But it's not far-fetched to say Klimowicz and Burke are the foundation of theCourier News' No. 1 team.
They were catalysts to last season's 23-3 team andcarry the expectations of another banner season. As they go, the Raiders go. "We've been practicing really hard," Klimowicz said. "We've been practicingreally well, working a lot better as team. It's everyone. The whole team."
Klimowicz and Burke are the perfect complements. In Klimowicz, Burke has a consistent inside target who averaged nearly 20points per game, to go along with eight rebounds and nearly four blocks. InBurke, Klimowicz has a heady pass-first floor general who can deliver passes tothe post and break down opposing defenses. With gritty forward Jenn Russell and sharp-shooting guard Maura Gillooly addedto the mix, they have a supporting cast that not only make ScotchPlains-Fanwood arguably Union County's elite, but also one of the state's bestsquads.
They all return from a team that last year pummeled opponents by an average of31 points. But for all the blowouts, the Raiders went home empty-handed. They twice fell to Tournament of Champions victor Shabazz, including asectional final defeat, and fell to Union Catholic in the Union CountyTournament semifinals. Scotch Plains-Fanwood once again will be lumped into a competitive sectionalbracket that should include Shabazz, Voorhees -- the Courier News' No. 3 team-- and No. 10 Ridge.
"It's a curse," coach Brian Homm said, referring to the North Jersey, Section2, Group III bracket. "Especially with the teams that were added in this year(from realignment)." "We do concentrate on winning the big ones," Burke said, "but we've kind of hada problem with that. If we don't win Union County, there's definitely somethingwrong with us."
Friday, December 12, 2003
Yankees Collapse Column by Vaccaro
By MIKE VACCARO
YOU don't have to plumb the depths of your imagination to see the ominous windsblowing around the Yankees. Just take a look around. Shades of 1965 areeverywhere. Shades of 1982 abound. Signs of Great Collapse III are all around you. Anyone with eyes can see that. Well, anyone with eyes who isn't holed up in hisbunker in Tampa, releasing more defiant pearls of wisdom like this one:
"Weknow the fans may be disappointed, but if you're counting us out for next year,don't bet the house." George Steinbrenner should know better, of course. He wasn't here for GreatCollapse I, in '65, when a Yankees dynasty that had won 29 pennants and 20World Series (news - web sites) in the previous 44 seasons crumbled to dust,thanks to years of farm-system decay, years of neglecting African-Americanprospects, and, in Whitey Ford's famous words, the fact that "everyone got oldat the same time." But Steinbrenner most certainly was present in '82, for Great Collapse II, whenfive first-place finishes and two world titles in six years evaporatedovernight. He engineered it, in fact masterminded it, put in place all the squeaky wheelsand slippery slopes that kept the Yankees postseason-free for the next 14years, despite a checkbook that was just as accessible in those years as inthese years, despite the presence of plenty of talented players, despite theyearly belief the Yankees were a player or two away from glory. "What I remember most about the way our team fell apart is how shocking itwas," Graig Nettles said during the summer of 2001. "It was like being in abathtub, and you jack the temperature up bit by bit, a few degrees at a time,and before you know it you've scalded yourself to death." That's precisely where the Yankees find themselves now. One night, you go tobed and you have a clubhouse that is the envy of every baseball fan ever born,a mixture of talent and character, a gentle blend of grit, guile and guts, ateam even the most ardent Yankees-hater has difficulty truly loathing. The next morning, you wake up, and Tino Martinez has become Jason Giambi; DavidCone and Orlando Hernandez have become Javier Vazquez and Jose Contreras; PaulO'Neill has become either Gary Sheffield or Vladimir Guerrero; Scott Brosiushas become Aaron Boone; and Andy Pettitte has become Kevin Brown. Instead of having a beautifully crafted jigsaw puzzle where all the pieces fitsnugly and comfortably, you have lots of scattered jagged pieces lacking bothplan and pattern. Good enough to win plenty of games, perhaps. But good luck to Joe Torre andwhoever succeeds him on the Yankee Stadium throne, trying to coax that hideoushybrid team deep into October. "The thing about the Yankees all these years," a baseball executive saidyesterday, "is that you always knew the good guys outnumbered the bad, so thegood guys were going to make sure the bad guys found religion before too long.I don't see that being a given any more. The balance there has shifted, maybefor good." Pettitte's departure is one more nudge into the long winter that's been comingfor these Yankees for so long, the balloon payment for all the good times.Steinbrenner is back where he used to be, collecting expensive toys and seeingif they can play nice together. All the while, the core of his team becomes a corpse, lying at the bottom ofthat bathtub, scalded beyond recognition, right in front of our eyes. Winter hasn't felt this cold around here for a long, long while
YOU don't have to plumb the depths of your imagination to see the ominous windsblowing around the Yankees. Just take a look around. Shades of 1965 areeverywhere. Shades of 1982 abound. Signs of Great Collapse III are all around you. Anyone with eyes can see that. Well, anyone with eyes who isn't holed up in hisbunker in Tampa, releasing more defiant pearls of wisdom like this one:
"Weknow the fans may be disappointed, but if you're counting us out for next year,don't bet the house." George Steinbrenner should know better, of course. He wasn't here for GreatCollapse I, in '65, when a Yankees dynasty that had won 29 pennants and 20World Series (news - web sites) in the previous 44 seasons crumbled to dust,thanks to years of farm-system decay, years of neglecting African-Americanprospects, and, in Whitey Ford's famous words, the fact that "everyone got oldat the same time." But Steinbrenner most certainly was present in '82, for Great Collapse II, whenfive first-place finishes and two world titles in six years evaporatedovernight. He engineered it, in fact masterminded it, put in place all the squeaky wheelsand slippery slopes that kept the Yankees postseason-free for the next 14years, despite a checkbook that was just as accessible in those years as inthese years, despite the presence of plenty of talented players, despite theyearly belief the Yankees were a player or two away from glory. "What I remember most about the way our team fell apart is how shocking itwas," Graig Nettles said during the summer of 2001. "It was like being in abathtub, and you jack the temperature up bit by bit, a few degrees at a time,and before you know it you've scalded yourself to death." That's precisely where the Yankees find themselves now. One night, you go tobed and you have a clubhouse that is the envy of every baseball fan ever born,a mixture of talent and character, a gentle blend of grit, guile and guts, ateam even the most ardent Yankees-hater has difficulty truly loathing. The next morning, you wake up, and Tino Martinez has become Jason Giambi; DavidCone and Orlando Hernandez have become Javier Vazquez and Jose Contreras; PaulO'Neill has become either Gary Sheffield or Vladimir Guerrero; Scott Brosiushas become Aaron Boone; and Andy Pettitte has become Kevin Brown. Instead of having a beautifully crafted jigsaw puzzle where all the pieces fitsnugly and comfortably, you have lots of scattered jagged pieces lacking bothplan and pattern. Good enough to win plenty of games, perhaps. But good luck to Joe Torre andwhoever succeeds him on the Yankee Stadium throne, trying to coax that hideoushybrid team deep into October. "The thing about the Yankees all these years," a baseball executive saidyesterday, "is that you always knew the good guys outnumbered the bad, so thegood guys were going to make sure the bad guys found religion before too long.I don't see that being a given any more. The balance there has shifted, maybefor good." Pettitte's departure is one more nudge into the long winter that's been comingfor these Yankees for so long, the balloon payment for all the good times.Steinbrenner is back where he used to be, collecting expensive toys and seeingif they can play nice together. All the while, the core of his team becomes a corpse, lying at the bottom ofthat bathtub, scalded beyond recognition, right in front of our eyes. Winter hasn't felt this cold around here for a long, long while
Monday, November 3, 2003
Locke
BY RICH BEVENSEE AND JIM LAMBERT Star-Ledger Staff NEW YORK --
Wendy Locke was stunned to find out she was the first New Jerseywoman to finish the 34th New York City Marathon yesterday. Locke, 42, a wife and mother from Rockaway Township, finished in 3 hours, 4minutes and 21 seconds in her seventh New York City Marathon and 15th marathonoverall.
She placed 18th among American women, 45th among women overall and554th in the race. Jobfair Information "I am very surprised to be the top New Jersey woman," Locke said. "It'sprobably one of the highest placings I've ever had. I hoped to come in underthree hours, but I'm happy with it. Considering how I placed, it definitelymakes it wonderful news."
Locke's personal best in New York is 3:01:59, which she ran in 2001, the sameyear she won the women's title at the Jersey Shore Marathon. She also loggedher personal best that year, running 2:52:57 at the Steamtown Marathon inScranton, Pa. Locke said she used last weekend's Safe Dating 5K, which she won in 19:35 inConvent Station, as a tuneup.
Wendy Locke was stunned to find out she was the first New Jerseywoman to finish the 34th New York City Marathon yesterday. Locke, 42, a wife and mother from Rockaway Township, finished in 3 hours, 4minutes and 21 seconds in her seventh New York City Marathon and 15th marathonoverall.
She placed 18th among American women, 45th among women overall and554th in the race. Jobfair Information "I am very surprised to be the top New Jersey woman," Locke said. "It'sprobably one of the highest placings I've ever had. I hoped to come in underthree hours, but I'm happy with it. Considering how I placed, it definitelymakes it wonderful news."
Locke's personal best in New York is 3:01:59, which she ran in 2001, the sameyear she won the women's title at the Jersey Shore Marathon. She also loggedher personal best that year, running 2:52:57 at the Steamtown Marathon inScranton, Pa. Locke said she used last weekend's Safe Dating 5K, which she won in 19:35 inConvent Station, as a tuneup.
Monday, October 13, 2003
Unedited SPF Goalies
Take two high school programs from the same town-one the benchmark for successin Central Jersey, the other trying to make its reputation. Add two coaches,one a legend nearing 500 wins, the other in his second season. Combine thatwith the specter of each team losing a multi year starter at goalie tograduation last year and you have the formula for the almost unfathomablereality of both Scotch Plains Fanwood high school soccer teams startingfreshman goalies this fall.
And if the early results are any harbinger, the coaches Tom Breznitsky(Boys)and Kevin Ewing(girls) should feel vindicated about their confidence and gutsto start previously untested newcomers in the most high profile and pressurefilled soccer position. Through five games Bryan Meredith had been unscoredupon including whitewashes of local rivals Westfield, Cranford andPlainfield. Girls keeper Lauren Mains was no less impressive, helping theRaiders to historic triumphs over previous nemesis Westfield and Cranford whilealso leaving the goal to score against Newark East Side.Breznitsky, nearing a quarter century as Raiders’ coach has won an impressive467 games but none of those wins had come with a freshman starting as goalie.
“We have had some freshmen get time in the goal but none was an actual starter.Bryan has done an excellent job thus far this season. He plays well beyond hisyears, “ said Breznitsky.Ewing’s team has reversed their inauspicious 0-4 start to his initial season in2002 by winning their first four games due in no small part to four freshmenstarters led by Mains.
“Lauren is a great athlete,“ said Ewing.“She doesn’t play or act like a freshman. “While their talent was evident from an early age where both joined travelingteams as early as allowable, they have recently taken different paths tosuccess. Mains is an all around athlete excelling in softball, basketball andfootball at Park Middle School where she held her own with the boys. Soccer isnot necessarily her favorite sport.“I don't have a favorite sport, I like to play all of them,” said Mains, whoadmitted a soft spot for football.“I do miss football. Sometimes at water breaks I would sneak a look at thempracticing, but I couldn't be happier playing soccer with this team.” Meredith, on the other hand, has eschewed other sports to be a year roundplayer, starring for the two time defending state club champions PlayersDevelopment Academy (PDA) Socrates of Zarepath, NJ. “I don't play any other sport because I prefer to focus on Soccer. Manyof my teammates on the Varsity team and at Socrates play baseball, andbasketball and other sports at a competitive level, I just love soccer,” saidMeredith. Among his PDA teammates are two other town residents Robert Cunningham andBrian Hessemer, whose older brother Mike is a three year starter for theRaiders.“Playing with Brian on Socrates and Michael on the Varsity team is greatbecause it is one less new name to remember. They are both great players andteammates”, said Meredith who appreciates how easy his teammates have acceptedhim.“ Michael and Ryan(Breznitsky)made me feel welcome right away during tryouts “,said Meredith.“We had seem him play enough at PDA to know how talented he was “, said theyounger Breznitsky. “ He has a tremendous amount of poise and confidence for afreshman.”.“PDA has prepared me very well because we have played in many high leveltournaments with great competition. As a Goalie they also provide megoalkeeping training. Mr. Blogett is my trainer he works us very hard tomake us better,” said Meredith.There is little rest for Meredith who continues to play on weekends for his PDAclub which is a veritable who’s who of outstanding young New Jersey soccertalent who attend schools like Delbarton, Pingry and St. Benedicts.. Thisweekend Meredith hopes to contribute to a third straight state title for PDA.“So far there has not been a problem I have told Bryan our expectations ofhim and have working together with his club coaches to work out anypotential conflicts,” said Tom Breznitsky.The girls’ co-captain Chelsea Mintz is just as impressed with Mains. “She hasthe strongest hands I’ve ever seen on a goalie, “ said Mintz.. “When she getsto the ball nobody is going to take it from her.”For Mains the toughest adjustment to high school play has been taking charge ona field with older players. “Before this year I never really said things, likeman on, or you mark # 7. I learned that as a goalie you have to talk to yourteam, because you can see the whole field,” said Mains. The two freshman have become friends and mutual admiration societies.“Lauren is in some of my classes and we are friends so I am veryaware of the great start to the girls season as well as our own,” saidMeredith.“I have never thought about trading tips with him, but I like that idea. I knowhim pretty well, we are in the same Spanish class,” said Mains. Lauren andBryan the Spanish word for great goalkeeper is Gran encargado de la meta
And if the early results are any harbinger, the coaches Tom Breznitsky(Boys)and Kevin Ewing(girls) should feel vindicated about their confidence and gutsto start previously untested newcomers in the most high profile and pressurefilled soccer position. Through five games Bryan Meredith had been unscoredupon including whitewashes of local rivals Westfield, Cranford andPlainfield. Girls keeper Lauren Mains was no less impressive, helping theRaiders to historic triumphs over previous nemesis Westfield and Cranford whilealso leaving the goal to score against Newark East Side.Breznitsky, nearing a quarter century as Raiders’ coach has won an impressive467 games but none of those wins had come with a freshman starting as goalie.
“We have had some freshmen get time in the goal but none was an actual starter.Bryan has done an excellent job thus far this season. He plays well beyond hisyears, “ said Breznitsky.Ewing’s team has reversed their inauspicious 0-4 start to his initial season in2002 by winning their first four games due in no small part to four freshmenstarters led by Mains.
“Lauren is a great athlete,“ said Ewing.“She doesn’t play or act like a freshman. “While their talent was evident from an early age where both joined travelingteams as early as allowable, they have recently taken different paths tosuccess. Mains is an all around athlete excelling in softball, basketball andfootball at Park Middle School where she held her own with the boys. Soccer isnot necessarily her favorite sport.“I don't have a favorite sport, I like to play all of them,” said Mains, whoadmitted a soft spot for football.“I do miss football. Sometimes at water breaks I would sneak a look at thempracticing, but I couldn't be happier playing soccer with this team.” Meredith, on the other hand, has eschewed other sports to be a year roundplayer, starring for the two time defending state club champions PlayersDevelopment Academy (PDA) Socrates of Zarepath, NJ. “I don't play any other sport because I prefer to focus on Soccer. Manyof my teammates on the Varsity team and at Socrates play baseball, andbasketball and other sports at a competitive level, I just love soccer,” saidMeredith. Among his PDA teammates are two other town residents Robert Cunningham andBrian Hessemer, whose older brother Mike is a three year starter for theRaiders.“Playing with Brian on Socrates and Michael on the Varsity team is greatbecause it is one less new name to remember. They are both great players andteammates”, said Meredith who appreciates how easy his teammates have acceptedhim.“ Michael and Ryan(Breznitsky)made me feel welcome right away during tryouts “,said Meredith.“We had seem him play enough at PDA to know how talented he was “, said theyounger Breznitsky. “ He has a tremendous amount of poise and confidence for afreshman.”.“PDA has prepared me very well because we have played in many high leveltournaments with great competition. As a Goalie they also provide megoalkeeping training. Mr. Blogett is my trainer he works us very hard tomake us better,” said Meredith.There is little rest for Meredith who continues to play on weekends for his PDAclub which is a veritable who’s who of outstanding young New Jersey soccertalent who attend schools like Delbarton, Pingry and St. Benedicts.. Thisweekend Meredith hopes to contribute to a third straight state title for PDA.“So far there has not been a problem I have told Bryan our expectations ofhim and have working together with his club coaches to work out anypotential conflicts,” said Tom Breznitsky.The girls’ co-captain Chelsea Mintz is just as impressed with Mains. “She hasthe strongest hands I’ve ever seen on a goalie, “ said Mintz.. “When she getsto the ball nobody is going to take it from her.”For Mains the toughest adjustment to high school play has been taking charge ona field with older players. “Before this year I never really said things, likeman on, or you mark # 7. I learned that as a goalie you have to talk to yourteam, because you can see the whole field,” said Mains. The two freshman have become friends and mutual admiration societies.“Lauren is in some of my classes and we are friends so I am veryaware of the great start to the girls season as well as our own,” saidMeredith.“I have never thought about trading tips with him, but I like that idea. I knowhim pretty well, we are in the same Spanish class,” said Mains. Lauren andBryan the Spanish word for great goalkeeper is Gran encargado de la meta
Friday, September 12, 2003
Keep awake at Meetings
Do you fall asleep in meetings and seminars?What about those long boring conference calls?Here's a way to change all that:1. Before (or during) your next meeting, seminar, or conference call,prepare for the meeting by drawing a square.
A good size is 5" x 5".2. Divide the square into columns, five across and five down. That will giveyou 25 one-inch blocks.3. In each block, write one of the following words/phrases:
synergy
strategic fit
core competencies
best practice
bottom line
revisit
take that off-line
24/7
out of the loop
benchmark
value added
proactive
win-win
think outside the box
fast track
result-driven
empower(ment)
knowledge base
at the end of the day
touch base
mindset
client focus(ed)
ballpark game plan
leverage
4. Whenever you hear one of those words/phrases during the meeting, checkoff the appropriate block.5. When you get five blocks horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, standup and shout "BULLSHIT!
"These are testimonials from satisfied "Bullshit Bingo" players:"I had been in the meeting for only five minutes when I won." --Jack W.,Boston."My attention span at meetings has improved drastically." --David D., Miami"What a gas! Meetings will never be the same for me after my first time." --Sue S., NYC
A good size is 5" x 5".2. Divide the square into columns, five across and five down. That will giveyou 25 one-inch blocks.3. In each block, write one of the following words/phrases:
synergy
strategic fit
core competencies
best practice
bottom line
revisit
take that off-line
24/7
out of the loop
benchmark
value added
proactive
win-win
think outside the box
fast track
result-driven
empower(ment)
knowledge base
at the end of the day
touch base
mindset
client focus(ed)
ballpark game plan
leverage
4. Whenever you hear one of those words/phrases during the meeting, checkoff the appropriate block.5. When you get five blocks horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, standup and shout "BULLSHIT!
"These are testimonials from satisfied "Bullshit Bingo" players:"I had been in the meeting for only five minutes when I won." --Jack W.,Boston."My attention span at meetings has improved drastically." --David D., Miami"What a gas! Meetings will never be the same for me after my first time." --Sue S., NYC
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