Contest winner, PIAA predictions, Jets/HBO, Lehigh spring ball etc., etc.

FROM KEITH GROLLER

Been a whirlwind few days for yours truly.

After Liberty's season ended in Holland (the Bucks County version) on Weds night, I spent Thursday in Hershey speaking at the state athletic directors convention. Enjoyed the experience and got a feel for what these guys are dealing with in their jobs, which includes -- like you and me -- battling a tightening budget, Title IX issues and many other issues the average fan wouldn't think about.

For the first time since the early 1990s I am not going to the state basketball finals, and I will miss it.

(Instead I will be playing in the Via Celebrity Shootout, Sunday at 1:30 at Freedom with some true celebritiies like Troy Hein, Jack McCallum and Darryl Dawkins against a team of Special Olympic All-Stars. The four-game All-Star Classic begins at 10:30 in the morning).

There are some terrific matchups at Penn State, especially that 4A boys game on Saturday night. And you'll note again how Dist. 12 (the Philadelphia Public and Catholic Leagues) continue to do well with representatives in four of the eight championship games:

Here are my predictions on the eight title games:

4A girls: Mt. Lebanon (Dist. 7) over Archbishop Ryan (Dist. 12)

3A girls: Indiana (Dist. 7) over Archbishop Wood (Dist. 12)

2A girls: Villa Maria Academy (Dist. 10) over York Catholic (Dist. 3).

A girls: Bishop Guilfoyle (Dist. 6) over Northern Cambria (Dist. 6).

(All sweep for the western girls).

4A boys: Penn Wood (Dist. 1) over Plymouth-Whitemarsh (Dist. 1)

3A boys: Chartiers Valley (Dist. 7) over Neumann-Goretti (Dist. 12)

2A boys: Strawberry Mansion (Dist. 12) over South Fayette (Dist. 7).

A boys: Reading CCHS (Dist. 3) over Sewickley Academy (Dist. 7)

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The winner of the Groller-Zambelli Basketball Challenge was Agnes Rawson of Easton.

We intend to get her on the "Calling All Sports" Radio show when I return next week (April 3).

Weekly winners included Terry Horn of Allentown, Marietta Zweifel of Schnecksville; John Deprill of Allentown, John Pavlacka of Emmaus, Marge Olson of Macungie, Irene Tutko of Allentown, Ken Isaac of Allentown and Steven Herschman of Northampton.

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And while, as a Rams fan, I wonder how Donovan McNabb might look with horns on his helmet, HBO has announced that it's "Hard Knocks" series will feature the New York Jets this August and September.

I love the "Hard Knocks" series, but I admit it's more interesting with interesting teams. The Bengals were a snoozefest, but the Cowboys were much interesting. The Jets, with Rex Ryan in charge, should be very entertaining.

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I will be at Lehigh's opening spring football practice today.

Here's the schedule for the Mountain Hawks, leading into the April 24 "Brown and White" Game.

2010 Lehigh Football Spring Practice Schedule
Friday, March 26 – 4:30 PM
Saturday, March 27 – 10:30 AM
Tuesday, March 30 – 4:30 PM
Friday, April 2 – 4:30 PM
Saturday, April 3 – 10:30 AM
Tuesday, April 6 – 7:30 PM
Friday, April 9 – 4:30 PM
Saturday, April 10 – 10:30 AM
Tuesday, April 13 – 4:30 PM
Thursday, April 15 – 4:30 PM
Saturday, April 17 – 10:30 AM
Monday, April 19 – 4:45 PM
Wednesday, April 21 – 4:30 PM
Thursday, April 22 OR Friday, April 23 4:30 PM
Saturday, April 24 – Brown and White Spring Game, 10:00 AM^

FROM KEITH GROLLER