As Sam Sees It

Many readers of this column will share my disappointment that the controlled scrimmage between Winslow High School and Round Valley High School football teams held on Friday was moved from Winslow to Eagar. We were eager for our first glimpse of a Bulldog squad that figures to challenge for an Arizona State 3A Conference Championship.

The Bulldogs will be in action for real this Friday when they journey to Camp Verde to meet the 3A West Region Camp Verde Cowboys. Winslow and Camp Verde have been scrimmage partners for several years and met in the state play-offs in 2002.

Winslow will be without the services of senior receiver and defensive back Lucas Armenta and junior receiver and defensive back Josh Stago.

Armenta is out for approximately half a season. Stago’s status was unknown at press time.

Talented junior quarterback and defensive back Jordan Payne may also miss the Camp Verde game. He could see limited duty and is expected to return in time for the home opener against Snowflake.

The Bulldogs will be worth seeing this season and one of the team’s most formidable challenges will be in the home opener against Snowflake next Friday. This time, let’s hope that my invitation to join me at the game will not be issued in vain.

Those other games

The Olympic Games in Athens have been interesting, but one has to wonder about the abundance of empty seats at many of the events. Friends who have been fortunate enough to see Olympic events in person have highly recommended them as an enviable sporting adventure. One such friend described going to the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. She said that even in those well-attended events one could find people wishing to sell tickets for some of the less popular events at reasonable prices. She said that she often did not choose which events she would see until she took a walk along the beach and found out what tickets were available.

My favorite sports are softball and women’s gymnastics. I would speculate that women’s beach volleyball is very popular with many younger men. If you wonder why, take a look at the event if any more are to be televised.

Softball is quite likely the sport of the future. It has everything to offer that baseball does and it offers it at a much faster pace. Arizona is a softball hot bed at every level. The University of Arizona has one of the best programs in the nation. Arizona State is usually good enough to give the Lady Wildcats a run for their money. There have been junior college teams that were national champions.

High schools, club teams, even the Little League teams from Arizona have enjoyed considerable success.

We are fortunate enough to live in a state where the weather is pleasant more often than not.

My personal softball experience goes back to the days of watching Charlotte Armstrong and Dodie Nelson play for the professional A-One Queens and the remarkable semi-pro PBSW Ramblers.

My only regret is that men’s fast pitch softball died in Winslow while my body still thought itself capable of continuing to play.

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