back back back

I had a great Thanksgiving.  We had a lot of family in town, some from Oregon, about 25 people total, all aunts and uncles and cousins and grandmothers.  Everyone was extremely civil, we had a delicious brine turkey along with some tofurkey that was surpringly awesome.  My brother flew in from New York and we had some disagreements, but it was nice to have a beer with him and talk to him about his girlfriend (and perhaps fiancee in a few months) and see him relax after hearing about some of the stress he has to deal with on a day-to-day basis.

Things have been rough for my family lately.  I won’t go into details, but it was great having everyone there, drinking beers, eating turkey and pie.  It put a few things in perspective for me.

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In the meantime, winter sports are starting and there’s a few cool things going on at CV, LC, St. Francis, FSHA and Prep. 

St. Francis soccer should have one of its best teams ever.  Eric Verso, a very talented sophomore, was called the most talented player Coach Appels has ever coached, by Appels himself.  That’s saying something (I think 3 or 4 ex-Knights are now playing professional soccer on some level, a couple in MLS).

Next week is a brief feature on La Canada girls’ water polo, whom a source told me will likely win CIF this year.  I’m looking forward to it, if only because Steve Silversparre is a pretty chill dude.

I’ve yet to get some coverage on CV basketball, I’m sure they’re going to have a fine season, though.  Shawn Zargarian is a fantastic coach, a little old-school, but a very smart man.

I just got back from covering LCHS boys’ soccer.  Coach Jordan Jones said some nice things, that this is the best team he’s coached in his tenure at La Canada and that his players, 1-18, are the most well-rounded bunch he has coached so far.  He thinks Ravi Sahar, his best forward last year, might have his production replaced by one of the younger forwards, and if so, they could be in for a great season.

I haven’t had a chance to catch up with Al Rivera, the Prep athletic director, but Prep will likely have a few good players in their sports.

Next week, I’m catching up with Silversparre, LCHS girls’ basketball coach Tamar Hill and LCHS boys’ basketball coach Tom Hofman (off the court, the man can be best described as introverted … don’t get me wrong, he’s a great coach, but I’ve had lots of difficulty in getting his attention outside of the gym).

Yes, that is all.  I swear to God those girls’ volleyball photos will be up soon.  Swear.