Leaning to glass half full thoughts this week
I know I can tend to lean towards the negative with most of views expressed in this column. I try not to be that way in my everyday live, but sadly I often fail in that regard as well.
So, in an effort to both improve my overall life view and in some small way honor the warm fuzzy emotions of Valentine’s Day, I am all about spreading love and positive feelings this week.
I hope I can make it through this.
There was plenty to celebrate at Waynesburg University this past Saturday as both basketball teams, as well as the Yellow Jacket wrestlers, produced some memorable individual and team efforts.
The Jacket mat men not only hosted the 2018 Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) championships, but successfully defended their 2017 team title. Leading the way was sophomore Ken Burrs, a Maryland native who turned two pins and a major decision into Outstanding Wrestler honors, as well as the 197-pound title.
Ron Headlee, who has guided the program to all six of its conference crowns during his 10 years at Waynesburg University, received his sixth PAC Coach of the Year award.
While the Orange and Black wrestlers were doing their thing at home, both Jacket basketball squads were on the road in Crestview Hills, Kentucky, taking on Thomas More, the top team in both the PAC men’s and women’s standings. Though Waynesburg was unable to upset either Saints squad, a pair of standout seniors cemented their legacies.
Jon Knab, a Beaver Falls native, became the 34th 1,000-point scorer for the Jackets and heading into this past Wednesday’s game at Washington & Jefferson, had 1,005 points for his collegiate career.
Addy Knetzer not only became the first Waynesburg woman with 1,000 collegiate rebounds, but she is also the program’s second-leading scorer with 1,553 points.
Both senior standouts will be honored on Saturday’s senior day celebrations prior to games against Geneva …
… The last two or three weeks have perfectly illustrated why I pay no attention to the regular season in the NHL, except for the unbelievable story of the Vegas Golden Nights. Having already referenced the expansion franchise that boasted the second-most points in the NHL as of Tuesday on multiple occasions, I won’t expound upon their accomplishments any further.
No, I am instead referencing the resurgence of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have flown — despite being, in fact, flightless birds — up the Eastern Division standings over the past month. It wasn’t that long ago that I was lamenting a franchise that looked listless, lacking in consistent even-strength scoring power and needing a serious boost in net.
Flash ahead to mid-February and the Pens are up to ninth in overall scoring and 20th in goals against average. They have also gone 12-4-1 in their last 17 games with victories over Vegas, St. Louis and Washington.
Going into an always chippy game against Ottawa this past Tuesday, Pittsburgh was nipping at the heels of Washington, which leads the Pens by just four points in the Metropolitan Division …
… Finally, with pitchers and catchers reporting to Bradenton following one of the most disappointing and, quite-frankly, maddening off-seasons in recent history, the Pittsburgh Pirates will embark on spring training. So, just how can this possibly fit in with my theme of positivity?
Well, heading into the NBA trade deadline, the Cleveland Cavaliers were struggling, despite boasting a roster of well-known, albeit aging, NBA stars. With the perennial powerhouse seemly crumbling in front of its fans eyes, the franchise brass (or probably just LeBron James), said enough was enough.
In a spectacular and seldom-seen purging of players, the Cavs practically remade its roster in less than a week, leaving only a handful of recognizable veterans in its wake. The result? Cleveland went out and decimated the Eastern Division-leading Boston Celtics 121-99 on Sunday.
I have to admit, this will either infuriate or encourage Pirate fans, who have had to watch the team ship off the two most recognizable faces of the team.
On one hand, it could mark the beginning of a rebirth for the team that will hopefully lead to a short turnaround period ending in a return to the playoffs. On the other, it could be a very long season.
Hey, I didn’t say EVERYTHING I was going to write would be positive, right?