WISH LIST FOR IMPROVING THE ATMOSPHERE OF PREP SPORTS.Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Make me boss and I would: Build football stadiums at every Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, high school, not just some of them. Stadiums are an important way for schools to identify themselves, and, logistically, it's a major hassle to play ``home'' games at a rival school. Here we go spending millions of dollars on artificial turf Artificial turf, or synthetic turf, is a grass-like man-made surface manufactured from synthetic materials. It is most often used in arenas for sports that were originally or are normally played on grass, however, it is now being used on residential lawns and commercial but no seats? That's silly. Eliminate about half of the prep playoff divisions in the Southern Section, thereby adding much more significance to winning a title. The effect of such a change would be no more sub-.500 or fourth-place teams making the playoffs. Like the old days when I was in high school, football teams would need to go 8-2 or perhaps 7-3 to qualify for the postseason. Same deal for the other sports. You want to make the playoffs? You've really got to earn it. Provide cash bonuses to prep coaches who qualify for the playoffs and/or win section titles. If someone like Hart's Mike Herrington or Canyon's Harry Welch is willing to outwork other coaches, he deserves more money -- just like in real life. Take away the microphones from cheerleaders Notable cheerleaders
A human pyramid is a stunt, performed by circus artists — sometimes even doing other tricks such as juggling while up there — or less perfectly by amateurs (often for the fun of failing and general lift in spirit, but the amplified screaming and chanting isn't tolerable. While on the subject of cheerleaders, transportation needs to be provided for far-off away games, especially during the playoffs. It was ridiculous, for instance, that no cheerleaders made the trip for Hart's girls' basketball victory at San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. in the second round of the state playoffs last season. Allow food to be eaten inside the gymnasium at prep basketball games -- even if that means schools must dish out an extra $50 or $100 to for a cleanup crew afterward. It's the worst having to wolf down Verb 1. wolf down - eat hastily; "The teenager wolfed down the pizza" wolf eat - take in solid food; "She was eating a banana"; "What did you eat for dinner last night?" a hot dog and Coke in the lobby during a timeout or break between periods because we aren't allowed to bring in food or drinks purchased at the snack bar. Build an accessible bathroom near the baseball fields at Canyon, Valencia and Saugus. This is a no-brainer. Allow marching bands Noun 1. marching band - a band that marches (as in a parade) and plays music at the same time band - instrumentalists not including string players from both home and away schools to perform at prep football games, instead of just the home school's band. If such a thing isn't in the budget, then it needs to be from now on. Doesn't anyone understand the ``battle of the bands'' concept? Eliminate restrictions on the number of innings a prep baseball pitcher is allotted al·lot tr.v. al·lot·ted, al·lot·ting, al·lots 1. To parcel out; distribute or apportion: allotting land to homesteaders; allot blame. 2. per week. No one wants to see injuries, but coaches should be trusted to use their best judgment. No one would think of limiting the number of carries for a running back in football -- a much more dangerous sport -- so why make the rule in baseball? Mete out mete out Verb [meting, meted] to impose or deal out something, usually something unpleasant: the sentence meted out to him has proved controversial [Old English metan real punishments if a prep coach or administrator is at fault in eligibility issues that cost a team victories or a playoff spot. No one hesitates to punish a student for not living up to his responsibilities, so why shouldn't an adult be held to the same standard? Gerry Gittelson's column appears in the Daily News three times a week. gerry.gittelson(at)dailynews.com (661) 257-5218 |
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