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Mike White's high school sports chat: 03.29.22
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Mike White
10:54
Well, basketball is over. But that doesn't mean we can't talk one last time. The public vs. private school debate has really heated up the past few days, hasn't it? So, for one last time ... let's talk. Now open for questions.
The Truth
10:54
As a high school sports fan, I was really upset at Dr. Lombardi's comments regarding the coaching tactics of the WPIAL coaches at the state championship.  I'd be fine if he just said, "The Philly schools are following the rules."  Its a big slap in the face to great coaches in Ralph Blundo and Mike Mastroianni to make a reckless comment like that though.  Have you heard from anyone with the WPIAL or other coaches who have felt that way as well?
Mike White
10:57
Yes, the comments from Bob Lombardi were certainly surprising when he made them to me. But he really must feel that way. He made pretty much the same comments in another interview with another reporter. And yes, some people aren't happy. I have received numerous emails, text messages, phone calls from coaches and even ADs. I know Ralph Blundo talked to Bob Lombardi on the phone yesterday about the whole issue and the comments. But that's what Bob Lombardi felt, rightly or wrongly.
QuakerGuy
10:57
The PIAA selling games as 4 different tickets was not the best of ideas.  If they are going to do that, fine, but they need to put more time in between games.  Many parents didn't even get to see their kids warm up for their last games because the PIAA didn't open the doors until 15-20 minutes before tipoff.
Mike White
10:59
This is the first time games were not played in doubleheaders. Arena was cleared after every game. I know many people who weren't happy. But that's what the PIAA chose to do. I don't know exactly their rationale behind the decision. But it doesn't seem to have gone over very well with fans.
TW
10:59
Does Philly enforce any transfer rules.  Seems that WPIAL aggressive but usually overturned by PIAA…..
Mike White
11:01
Yes, Philly does enforce transfer rules. I've seen some rulings. But over the years, it seems they haven't been exactly strong in their convictions. But hey, the WPIAL has made some transfer rulings that will make you scratch your head, too. But it's not so much the transfers themselves that bother people, it's that private/Catholic/charter schools get kids from anywhere. Heck, there are kids playing for state championships that don't even live in Pennsylvania. Go figure that. That can't happen at public schools.
Colt Country
11:01
I saw Dan Knause of Chartiers Valley resigned yesterday.  Is he taking another coaching job at a different school?
Mike White
11:02
Trinity, possibly????
Colt Country
11:02
It's the elephant in the room....the PCL and Philly schools have been called out for recruiting, but OLSH and Bishop Canevin are just as guilty here in Pittsburgh.  North Catholic does it too but just weren't as successful this year.  Interesting nobody ever calls them on the carpet.  The teams are good yes, but we all know not all of those players are paying full (if any) tuition.
Mike White
11:04
OLSH and Canevin and North Catholic are often called out by fans and now even ADs. A group of athletic directors in the WPIAL at smaller schools are trying to get something done. They are saying they don't want to play non-boundary schools in regular season. I was in on a Zoom meeting with a number of those ADs and they flat out accused Canevin of "recruiting" athletes. So, I don't by that OLSH and Canevin and North Catholic aren't being criticized. There just aren't as many schools around here like that as there are in Philadelphia.
Anon
11:04
Baseball coaches really liked the back to back section game setup last year. It would be great to see Wpial baseball championships go to a best of 3 series. Any chance of that happening. Just makes pitching depth and the overall best team have a shot instead of just a stud pitcher, which makes the baseball playoffs more like softball. Thoughts?
Mike White
11:06
Well, Anon, NA AD Bob Bozzuto is chairman of WPIAL baseball committee and he has talked about three-game series in maybe semis and championships of WPIAL playoffs. It would be interesting, at least in championships. They have made schedules in recent years where you can't pitch the same pitcher in quarterfinals, semifinals and championship. It wasn't always that way.
Dunks
11:06
So who do you think would win if the 2 wpial boys state champs played. Canevin vs OLSH
Mike White
11:07
Would be excellent game. I think it would be close. DiMichele would be best player on floor and I like OLSH's inside players. But Canevin's inside players are pretty good, too, with Gales. Tough pick, but if I had to choose, I think I'd take OLSH.
Buckets
11:07
In you’re opinion if you put the 6 boys basketball state champs in a tournament who would win?
Mike White
11:07
Imhotep.
LeboKid
11:07
Good morning, Mike. It was incredibly disappointing to hear the PIAA Executive Director, in response to WPIAL coaches' and administrators' legitimate complaints about Catholic/private/charter schools recruiting forays, say of their views: "It sounds like sour grapes." Given the inherent advantages these schools have over traditional, neighborhood-based schools, Lombardi's comments were stunningly tone deaf. Your thoughts?
Mike White
11:09
I discussed this up above. Something to think about. Ralph Blundo is an assistant principal. Mike Mastroianni is an AD.  They aren't rockheads. They are administrators. Many, many other administrators have complained also. When so many are complaining - and some are administrators - maybe you should examine things.
Hmmmm
11:09
PIAA needs to use the same formula to determine classification of non boundary schools that it uses for 2-3 very small districts who decide to do a co-op for say football. Combine the enrollments of both schools and play in that class. Private schools could just combine enrollments of all public school districts that contribute students to their school enrollment.
Mike White
11:12
Basically you're saying all private and Catholic and charter schools should play in large classification. I don't know if I buy that. Some small Catholic schools aren't very good. They'll get destroyed. You can come up with this scenario and that scenario. Bottom line is this. Only way to really appease public schools is to separate for playoffs. But I still don't see it ever happening unless most of the people on the PIAA board of directors want the change. Or if a large group of public schools get together and just say they aren't playing those teams. But I don't see that happening, either.
Chad
11:13
Mike - how does Bob Lombardi not get why people are fed up with the PIAA bowing to Philadelphia schools.    A kid from Tennessee or Missouri can transfer to a Philly school and be perfectly eligible but a kid can’t transfer from one WPIAL school to another without sitting out the playoffs.   Not one of those recently transferred  “Catholic” school kids playing in the championship games in Hershey last weekend could recite the Act of Contrition or the Apostles Creed.  Bob Lombardi blames the sour grapes and bad coaching.   I blame Bob Lombardi!  We all need to call our State Reps and State Senators and demand they change the law.
Mike White
11:14
Many debate the intent on the law from the 1970s. And I don't think when that law was made, anyone saw what is going on now. Some take the law as saying you only have to include the private/Catholic/charter schools in the PIAA. But they claim you can still have a separate championship for them.
Hooper Fan
11:14
Lot of controversy over the public vs private debate. I feel like you can maybe do separate district champs if you really want, but there aren’t even some teams in districts. Plus if you hear the term “State Champ” it should be every team in the state, doesn’t sound right to hear private state championship and public state champ.
Mike White
11:16
Don't buy your premise. Teams call themselves "state champs" now. 1A schools didn't play 6A schools and the 1A schools say they are "state champs." It's a term. Before the Philly schools joined the PIAA, teams would still call themselves "state champs" if they won PIAA. Other states have separate championships. They are all called "state champs."
Coach O
11:16
Here’s my solution at least for Catholic teams PIAA situation, adjust qualification rules for them that since they all play in one league in regular season, and can take transfers from anywhere, enrollment size shouldn’t be used to place them in a classification for playoffs. They all(13 of them)get placed in 6A for playoffs. Why would Neumann Goretti care they are placed with Roman or Wood? They won the PCL playoffs this year. Devon Prep was 7-6 in regular season, lost to Wood and Roman by 10 each, very competitive. Plus PCL championship means more than PIAA to those teams anyway. Whaddya think?
Mike White
11:18
I touched on this above. People have said put all private/Catholic/charter schools in largest classification. I don't see that ever happening. Plus, that still doesn't address the schools that are in largest classification and can draw students from everywhere. And that's still the mai issue.
Colt Country
11:18
How does one gain access to the floor/media area at the Giant Center during the PIAA Championships.  I saw several photos of former Kennedy Catholic coach Rick Mancino on the floor hobnobbing with college coaches and PIAA personnel all weekend, not just during the Kennedy Catholic girls' game, but all 3 days of the championships.  Note, he no longer even works at the school.  Just wondering how these credentials get issued.
Mike White
11:20
I have no idea about Rick Mancino or how PIAA issues passes to people who aren't in media. And I really don't give a hoot. All I know is, media have to apply for credentials to the PIAA.
Bozo the Clown
11:20
Mike, did you seek Bob Lombardi out for comment regarding this weekend's games or did he approach you to give them?  His comments left me never wanted to attend a PIAA Championship event in the future.
Mike White
11:22
I talked to Bob Lombardi near the end of the last game and just asked if he had a response to the coaches who were airing complaints over the weekend. Also talked to him about attendance. Of course, he did not seek me out. As a reporter, I wanted to ask him a few questions about it and he was gracious enough to give his opinion, whether you liked it or not.
Public Paul
11:22
Why don't the public schools just refuse to play the non-public/catholic schools especially in the WPIAL and PIAA playoffs. It just may take some forfeits to effect change at the state level.
Mike White
11:24
There are a group of ADs right now in the WPIAL who are proposing such a thing. But they are proposing not to play these schools in the regular season. I understand that premise a little bit. But in my opinion, I think they have it backwards. The biggest complaint is about playoffs.
Hooper Fan
11:24
Lot of great players, but who’s your fab five
Mike White
11:24
Fab 5s will come out within next two weeks. You'll have to wait until then.
Hooper Knowledge
11:24
When are the roundball games
Mike White
11:25
Roundball director Allen Deep just released girls Roundball dates yesterday of May 19, 20, 21. He said boys dates haven't been decided.
Bozo the Clown
11:26
Being at the state championships, you see high school sports writers from all over the state.  Are there other districts as frustrated with the PCL "wild west" recruiting as the WPIAL.  I didn't know if District 2 or 10 or even 1 were as frustrated as WPIAL schools in this manner
Mike White
11:26
I think some districts are frustrated, but some don't seem to care that much.
Hooper Knowledge
11:26
Want to hear your take on kids from jersey coming to Philly schools. Honestly with how close it is I understand it. Like kids from Washington area go to Wheeling Central Catholic, and how about Kennedy Catholic are any kids from Ohio go there. Schools close to the border are hard to make a stand on.
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