January 24, 2007

On Saturday, 12 teams will descend on Warren Central’s gym for the latest installation of the Red Carpet Basketball Classic. It doesn’t carry the luster, or the crowds, of the football version and the thought of sitting on wooden bleachers for seven hours is as appealing as four-month-old milk.

However, some good basketball players will be on display. Vicksburg’s Jonathan Phelps and Warren Central Lady Vike Sha’Kayla Caples are two of the best in their respective classes and divisions.

Word is that the University of Connecticut was on hand Tuesday night for the Provine-Warren Central boys game to look at a couple Provine prospects. They had to notice Caples, who had an “off” night and only scored 27 points. The Connecticut Huskies women’s team is ranked No. 1 in America now. Could it be long for their coaches to get word of Caples’ abilities?

Vicksburg’s Mychal Ammons is one of the highest-rated freshman in America and the $6 entry fee will be worth it enough to see him play.

Tipoff for the annual event is scheduled for 10 a.m. with St. Aloysius’ boys playing Mount Olive. The tournament ends with a 5:30 tipoff for Warren Central’s girls game against highly regarded Forest Hill.

Still makes me wonder why the powers that be cannot organize a Red Carpet Baseball Classic. Each spring break Vicksburg and Warren Central are forced to travel to Monroe, La., for a big tournament in and around that city. With diesel as expensive as it is and support for high school baseball in this county sky-high, wouldn’t it be prudent to host a Red Carpet Spring Break Tournament? We have the facilities and the teams to compete with anyone.

Something or someone must be standing in the way of such a fine idea, and I don’t think it is the Red Carpet Committee.

You must root for Eli Manning

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning is treated in this state as the second coming of George Washington, Winston Churchill, Johnny Unitas and Ghandi wrapped into one. Columnists from around the state bow to the feet of the Manning family and churn out more fluff than a cotton candy machine.

I guess that is required now. No one is allowed to dislike the Mannings. It may hurt the family’s feelings.

Saints hire Coach ‘O’-my

Remember the disastrous play call the Saints made against Tampa Bay late in the season? A ridiculous double-reverse that ended up costing the team a victory and a playoff spot? Well, coach Sean Payton took the blame, but he won’t have to anymore.

The hiring of former Ole Miss bust Ed Orgeron, fired for calling a similarly idiotic play against Mississippi State, was hired to coach the Saints’ defensive line. Now whenever the Saints make a bonehead play call, they just have to blame Orgeron, the king of the bonehead calls.

*

Sean P. Murphy is sports editor of The Vicksburg Post. E-mail him at

smurphy@vicksburgpost.com