East’s Heaton steps down

By Joe Miegoc | Published: March 11, 2012 | 1 Comment

This will be in Monday’s paper, but I figured I’d post it here as well.

By JOE MIEGOC
Record Sports Writer
While there were other factors, the financial troubles plaguing the Pocono Mountain School District forced Patrick Heaton’s hand.

Heaton, who just finished his fifth season as Pocono Mountain East’s boys basketball coach, informed PM East principal Todd Burns and athletic director Robert Bailey on Friday that he was resigning as the school’s basketball coach.

Heaton, who came to Pocono East from Mountain View in 2007, guided the Cardinals to the District 11 Class AAAA championship game and PIAA playoffs in 2009, and a Mountain Valley Conference title in 2010. Heaton finished his five-year stay with the Cardinals with a record of 87-42 and led them to the district playoffs every year and to the MVC playoffs every year since they started in the 2008-09 season.

Basketball didn’t have much to do with Heaton’s decision though.

When the PMSD released the latest version of its budget last week it included a proposal to cut nearly 300 employees for the 2012-13 school year. The school board approved the cuts, contingent on the closings of three district school buildings in May.

Couple the job uncertainly with the illness of his wife Tara, who has been hospitalized several times while battling a digestive disorder caused by a defect in her pancreas, and Heaton didn’t have much choice.

“It’s partly the impending job cuts, and as it looks like right now my position will probably be cut based on lack of seniority, and also the welfare of my family,” said Heaton, who teaches mathematics at East. “We won’t know the final cuts until later in the year, but my wife has been ill and I can’t go without insurance so I need to make sure I secure employment for next year.

“It’s unfair to the kids (in the basketball program) to think that I have the commitment to do both things at the same time.”

While frustrated with the situation, Heaton said he understood what the school district was facing.

“It’s frustrating, but I understand the economics of the situation,” said Heaton, who has two sons in the PMSD. “You have less money than you need to spend. I don’t know if anybody has any choice in the matter at this point.”

Heaton said he wasn’t sure what his future held, but his resume will be bolstered by his time at East.

The Cardinals had three 20-win seasons during Heaton’s tenure and played in the MVC title game three times, beating Pocono Mountain West in 2010. PM East also advanced to the district title game in 2009 for just the third time in school history.

“I’m proud of all the efforts of the kids,” Heaton said. “The parents, the administration, Bob Bailey, my AD, everyone has been so supportive.”

That support carried over to off the court where Heaton has focused much of his time caring for his wife and family.

“I got a lot of support from the community and the administration and everyone really,” Heaton said. “I’m very thankful for that.”

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The prospects of the Flyers, Sixers

By Joe Miegoc | Published: February 24, 2012 | 2 Comments

One team is underachieving, while the other is overachieving, but even as the Sixers entered the All-Star break losers of five straight and the Flyers continue to play uninspired hockey both teams are in line to be part of the postseason.

That’s not really a shock.

The Sixers, who made the playoffs last season, lead the Atlantic Division thanks mostly to the fact that the Knicks, despite Jeremy Lin being the newest darling of New York, are an average team and the Celitcs are an aging one. Suffocating defense that has allowed a league-low 87.5 points per game is another big reason why the Sixers lead the division, but the losing streak is mainly about lack of offense. Philly is scoring just 94 ppg, good for 18th in the league, and without a go-to scorer on the roster that doesn’t seem likely to change any time soon.

The Flyers had a huge turnover in the offseason, shipping Jeff Carter and Mike Richards to new teams, while finally getting a “big-time” goalie in Ilya Bryzgalov. The trades helped Claude Giroux takeover as the face of the franchise, but Bryzgalov has been underwhelming at best. Of course, playing without captain Chris Pronger, ruled out for the season and playoffs with concussion-like symptoms, on the back line hasn’t helped Bryzgalov. The Flyers average an NHL best 3.3 goals per game, but without Pronger are giving up 3 gpg, which is 27th best (or worst) in the league.

So what are the prospects of each team going forward?

The Sixers are not contenders. Anyone who thinks otherwise is foolish. They might be able to win a game in a seven-game series with the Miami Heat, maybe two against the Orlando Magic, but the Sixers cannot win four of seven against those teams. Why? It’s easy really. When it comes down to crunch time the Heat have LeBron James and Dwayne Wade, and the Magic have Dwight Howard. Who do the Sixers have? And don’t say Lou Williams, please don’t say Lou Williams. Until the Sixers get a guy who is capable of scoring 22-25 ppg on any given night, don’t expect them to challenge in the East let alone for a title.

The Flyers are a different story, though. Yes, Bryzgalov is spacey and frustrates the hell out of Philly fans every time he opens his mouth, but there’s denying the guy’s talent when hockey is the only thing on his mind. Some of the goals he gives up are super soft, like the last two against Pittsburgh last weekend before getting benched, but Bryzgalov has been around for a long time and has established himself as one of the better goalies around. That, of course, is given that he’s not pondering the wonders of the galaxy or talking about white tigers (if you didn’t watch HBO’s 24/7: Road to the Winter Classic, you probably have no clue what I’m talking about). The Flyers did try to beef up the defense by adding Nicklas Grossman and Pavel Kubina in the past week, but the Flyers’ fate rests on the shoulders of Bryzgalov finding his game and the offense continuing to flourish.

All that said, don’t expect any parades in Philadelphia to be generated by either team, but just think, the Phillies are working out in Clearwater, Fla., now. I’ll save that blog for another day, though.

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What now for the Eagles

By Joe Miegoc | Published: December 28, 2011 | 2 Comments

With one game left in an exceptionally disappointing season, the Eagles have little left to play for but pride. The funny thing is if they had any pride during the middle of the season Sunday’s home game against the Redskins game might actually mean something.

Still, I’ll give them credit (just a little) that they’ve seemed to figure a few things out defensively (I’m thinking Juan Castillo has probably gotten some input from his position coaches and actually put it to use) while making sure LeSean McCoy gets enough touches to be a difference maker. That said, even if they get to 8-8 with a victory Sunday it is far, far below what this team should have been.

So where does the blame lie?

Many will point to Castillo since it was his defense that continually coughed up leads through the first 12 games of the season. And while he shouldn’t have been the Eagles defensive coordinator (a given after not coaching defense since the late 1989 at a Texas high school), it’s not really Castillo’s fault that he was in far over his head.

But hang on, this isn’t another rant as to why Andy Reid should be fired. That would be a waste of time because even if the Eagles lose Sunday the team has saved Reid’s job for another season by winning three straight in dominating fashion. The true onus of the failures of this season falls directly on the players.

When is Michael Vick going to learn to slide instead of falling back, “sliding isn’t part of my game. That’s the way I play.” Pal, you’re barley 200 pounds playing in a league where 250-pound linebackers run almost as fast as you. Learning to slide or run out of bounds is the least you can do to ensure your teammates that you’ll actually play 16 games instead of collecting 16-game checks to play 12 times.

Hey, DeSean Jackson, stop crying about your contract. You don’t like it? Then don’t play. Simple as that. You want to get paid? Stop alligator-arming passes across the middle. Of all places, Philadelphia is not a place that will tolerate prima donnas. Now Eagles fans are starting to realize why Jackson slipped to the Eagles in the second round of the 2008 draft when he clearly had first-round talent.

Paging Nnamdi Asomugha, the guy who was a multiple first-team All-Pro player with the Oakland Raiders. You know, when teams didn’t dare throw the ball in his direction because of how good he supposedly was. Where is that guy? This season, I saw a guy getting beat by the likes of Victor Cruz and Brandon Marshall, good but not in the same league as Asomugha. Or so we thought.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not the entire team.

Brent Celek has had a Pro Bowl season and for him to not even be an alternate is a disgrace. Jason Babin has been the player the Eagles hoped for and then some with an 18-sack season. Alex Henery has bounced back nicely from two misses on short field goals that ultimately cost the Eagles a game against San Francisco to have a very good rookie season. And Jason Peters, despite your weekly false starts you are clearly one of the best lineman in all of football.

This isn’t a team that needs to be blown up. Not in the least. I might be in the minority, but seeing Jackson walk wouldn’t bother me one bit. I’d rather see someone out there trying hard all the time, not just after they get paid or when they feel like it. There are holes to fill (all three linebacker positions, especially MLB, one or maybe two starting safeties unless Nate Allen can rebound from a 2010 knee injury and a competent backup quarterback if Vick isn’t going to stop being stubborn about sliding and/or running out of bounds), but this is a team that is built to win for the next two or three seasons.

With a full offseason to continue working (at the top of the list has to be getting through to Vick how truly important he is to the team) and some tinkering here and there (I’m fine with Castillo returning as long as he’s open to playing to the strengths of his players and not just how he wants to play) this is a team with Super Bowl talent. Now I’m starting to sound like a member of the Eagles front office.

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All-MVC football

By Joe Miegoc | Published: November 25, 2011 | Leave a comment

To nobody’s surprise, Stroudsburg quarterback Robert Bennie was chosen as the Mountain Valley Conference MVP in a unanimous vote by the conference coaches.

Really, there is only one problem I have with the All-MVC team and it’s a big one. How East Stroudsburg North wide receiver Abdul Murphy didn’t make the first team is an ultimate mystery to me and a complete diservice to the kid. Yes, Eastburg North runs the Veer offense and throws the ball rarely, but Murphy was the second best receiver in the conference behind East Stroudsburg South’s Marquis Harp. Think about this – ES North completed 23 passes and Murphy caught 20 of them. He finished the season with 441 yards and seven touchdowns and was often the only receiver out in the pattern for North. You can bet Murphy will be on the All-Area first team that we’ll have out in the near future.

In years past I’ve had several problems with choices for the All-MVC football team so to only have one is a step forward, but the MVC coaches really messed up on the one.

Here’s the team:

All-Mountain Valley Conference football
First team
Offense
Tight end — Ron Savoia, Sr., Stroudsburg.
Wide receivers — Marquis Harp, Sr., ES South, Jacen Nalesnik, Jr., Lehighton, Dwayne Vines, Sr., PM West.
Tackles — Blaine Woodson, Jr., Stroudsburg, Sebastian Joseph, Jr., Stroudsburg.
Guards — Jon Passmore, Sr., Stroudsburg, Jacob Fritz, Sr., PM East.
Center — Steven Randazzo, Jr., PM East.
Quarterback — Robert Bennie, Sr., Stroudsburg, unanimous selection.
Running backs — Robert Getz, Sr., Pleasant Valley, Andrew Brome, Sr., Stroudsburg, Travon Pugh, Sr., PM West.
Fullback — Joe Clouse, Sr., ES North, unanimous selection.
Placekicker — Jordon Ellison, Jr., Stroudsburg.
Defense
Ends — Sebastian Joseph, Jr., Stroudsburg, Stan Acosta, Jr., ES South.
Interior linemen — Michael Balliet, Sr., Lehighton, Liam Hughes, Sr., Stroudsburg.
Linebackers — Dakota Everett, Jr., Pleasant Valley, Phil Stokes, Jr., Stroudsburg, Cade Milegar, Sr., Pocono Mt. East.
Defensive backs — Marquis Harp, Sr., ES South, Robert Bennie, Sr., Stroudsburg, Robert Getz, Sr., Pleasant Valley, Travon Pugh, Sr., PM West.
Punter — Joe Clouse, Sr., ES North, unanimous selection.
MVP — Robert Bennie, Sr., quarterback, defensive back, Stroudsburg.
Second team
Offense
Tight end — Dakota Everett, Jr., Pleasant Valley.
Receivers — Ryan Sickler, Sr., PM East, Ben Kloepping, Sr., Stroudsburg.
Offensive tackles — Glen Kleiber, Sr., PM West, Tom Rose, Jr., ES South.
Guards — Judson Kibagendi, Jr., ES North; Nick Roughan, Sr., ES North.
Center — Kyle Gill, Sr., ES South.
Quarterback — Jeff Krisiak, Jr., PM West.
Running backs — Devyn Papa, So., PM East; Caseem Johnson, Jr., ES North; Tariq Butler, Sr., ES South.’
Fullback — Cade Milegar, Sr., PM East.
Placekicker — Grant Belanger, Sr., PM East.
Defense
Defensive ends — Blaine Woodson, Jr., Stroudsburg; Joe Clouse, Sr., ES North.
Defensive linemen — Steven Randazzo, Jr., PM East; Frankie Gonzalez, Sr., Stroudsburg.
Linebackers — Daryle Koger, So., ES North; Terryl Littles, Sr., ES South; Rob Karstendiek, Jr., Stroudsburg.
Defensive backs — Kyle Harris, Jr., PM East; Dean Bumbulsky, Sr., Pleasant Valley; Anthony Farole, Sr., Lehighton; Darius Gonzalez, Sr., Stroudsburg; Abdul Murphy, Jr., ES North.
Punter — Grant Belanger, Sr., PM East.
Honorable mention
Offense
Tight end — Grant Belanger, Sr., PM East.
Tackle — Ryan Mayo, Jr., ES North.
Guards — Ricky Calvert, Sr., ES South; Eric Whiteman, Sr., Lehighton.
Quarterback — Josh Agosto, Sr., Lehighton.
Receivers — Sekou Jones, Jr., Pleasant Valley; Andrew Romeo, Jr., Pleasant Valley.
Defense
Defensive ends — Alex Storm, Sr., Lehighton; Dominick Ammirato, Jr., Pleasant Valley.
Defensive linemen — Jon Speaks, Sr., PM West; Devon Mirabal, Sr., ES North.
Linebackers — Jacen Nalesnik, Jr., Lehighton; Joe Vacca, Jr., PM West; Joe Oriel, Sr., Lehighton.
Defensive back — Jake DeJohn, Sr.,  PM East.
Punter — Jacen Nalesnik, Jr., Lehighton.

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How to fix the Eagles

By Joe Miegoc | Published: October 13, 2011 | Leave a comment

I debated whether or not I was qualified to write this, but if an offensive line coach who hadn’t coached any defensive football since 1989 at a Texas high school can become a defensive coordinator at the highest level of football more than 20 years later than it’s probably OK for me to give my two cents on how to right the Eagles’ ship.

First, forget the dream team. That was a sound bite out of a player’s mouth who had been an Eagle for about three minutes. If Vince Young has to play this season the Eagles’ season is over. Period. The guy has all the talent in the world, but the heart of a tin man. I find it humorous how many different ways Eagles haters can spin the dream team label. That they care enough to think of things like, ‘Dream Team … more like a nightmare, hehehe,’ makes me laugh and not with them. The Eagles are a team full of talented players with zero chemistry. Having no mini camps or OTAs is partly to blame, but so is a front office and coaching staff who thought they could pull this off with no hitches. I guess it’s better that reality set in early before the season really goes in the toilet.

OK, how to fix the Eagles.

The wide 9 defensive line front has to be scrapped, at least on early downs. To have a successful wide 9 technique, where the defensive ends lineup well outside the tackles’ outside shoulder, a team needs to have good linebackers and the Eagles simply don’t have that. Jim Washburn was able to use the wide 9 in Tennessee because he had guys like Keith Bullock and not Moise Fokou playing linebacker. I’m fine with playing the wide 9 on third-and-long when everyone in the stadium (even Juqua Parker) knows the other team is going to pass, but not on first down when opponents are salivating to attack the Eagles’ substandard second level.

Next up is get the ball out of Michael Vick’s hands quicker. For God sake, the man is going to be in 10 pieces by Week 10 if he keeps taking all those hits. The offensive line, especially up the middle where there are two rookies (center Jason Kelce and guard Danny Watkins) and a journeyman (Evan Mathis) playing, have no cohesion and the right tackle (Todd Herremans) is not a blindside tackle. Asking Vick to take five- or seven-step drops or to a throw double screen pass like the one called on his first interception in Buffalo last week just aren’t realistic. I know having Vick have the ball longer means he’s capable of ripping off some mesmerizing run, but it also means he’s likely setting himself up to take another big hit.

The best, and probably easiest, way to help out O-line coach turned defensive coordinator extraordinaire Juan Castillo is to turn rookie safety Jaiquawn Jarrett loose. The former Temple standout couldn’t be worse than Jarrad Page or Kurt Coleman. He may be a little lost mentally, but so what. The kid has the reputation of being a big hitter and that’s something the Eagles’ defense, especially the secondary, has sorely lacked all season. There are some rumors floating around cyberspace that the Eagles are interested in trading for former star Brian Dawkins, but come on. Dawk will go down as one of the best Eagles, and best safeties the game has ever seen, but he was well past his prime when he left after the 2008 season. Bringing him back now won’t help the team on the field much.

None of these are terribly hard concepts to grasp. No risky strategies or strategic changes. Three simple moves really that are practical and should make for some improvements. Firing Andy Reid or Castillo isn’t going to turn things around. Doing that means the team has given up and that’s not a trend you want players on one of the youngest teams in the league learning. When adversity rises a team must come together and fight through it, not tuck tail and run. We’ll see which team the Eagles are Sunday against the Redskins.

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Pocono Raceway review

By Joe Miegoc | Published: August 23, 2011 | Leave a comment

Got an e-mail from Paul Swaney shortly after Pocono Raceway hosted NASCAR’s big boys earlier this month.

Paul is the president and co-founder of www.stadiumjourney.com, a site that reviews sports venues from across the country. He gave his thoughts on everything Pocono from fans to access. It’s a pretty interesting read and there are some good photos and video as well.

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PV’s Sharpe off to Wilkes

By Joe Miegoc | Published: July 18, 2011 | Leave a comment

Pleasant Valley standout Michael Sharpe will continue his basketball career at Wilkes University.

Sharpe, who was an All-Mountain Valley Conference and Pocono Record All-Area first-team pick last winter, was a two-year starter for the Bears. The 6-foot-5 Sharpe averaged 13.3 points per game last winter, helping PV qualify for the District 11 Class AAAA playoffs for the first time in four years.

Here is a release from Wilkes:

WILKES-BARRE — Wilkes University head coach Jerry Rickrode has announced that Michael Sharpe has joined the men’s basketball recruiting class for the upcoming 2011-12 season.

Sharpe, a 6-5 forward who played at Pleasant Valley High School averaged 13 points and five rebounds per game as a senior this past season. He brought home multiple honors during his senior year, being named first team by the Mountain Valley Conference, Pocono Record and (Lehighton) Times News.

“Michael has a great upside and played extremely well down the stretch of his high school career,” Rickrode said. “He has the ability to score in the post as well as being able to step out and stretch the defense.”

The Colonels, who have made it to the conference postseason 16 times in the last 19 seasons, tip-off 2011-12 on Nov. 15 when they host Penn State Hazleton in the Marts Center.

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Where now?

By Joe Miegoc | Published: July 13, 2011 | Leave a comment

It’s hard to believe baseball’s second half is just a day away. And it’s even harder to believe that the Phillies are where they are.

With an inconsistent offense (and that’s putting it kindly) and a injury-ravaged bullpen, the Phillies have the best record in baseball and that’s nothing short of miraculous. Having three of the best pitchers in the game certainly helps, but even Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee need run support. Despite the lack of scoring (the Phillies’ 384 runs are good for 14th in baseball, but remember they scored 14 runs twice in the final week of the first half) and being on their fourth closer, the Phillies have managed to win 57 games. And like any team’s season there were games they should have won and didn’t and should have lost and didn’t so I won’t get into the argument if their record should be better or worse than it is.

The big question is can they keep up at this pace? If so, the offense has to start holding up its end of the bargain.

Offensively, the Phillies have been bit by the injury bug and that has to be taken into account. Chase Utley missed the first six weeks, Placido Polanco has a balky back, Jimmy Rollins has battled knee and shoulder soreness and Shane Victorino is on the disabled list for the second team, but it’s not like a key cog (and more importantly two or three at the same time) in the lineup has missed a huge chunk of games. Getting Victorino, who is having the best season of his career, back is key and figuring out if Polanco can play through the bulging disc he has in his back or if another option needs to be explored might be just as big as helping the bullpen (I’ll get there in a bit). I’ve learned to live with the swoons (and booms) that Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez will go through. Domonic Brown has played fairly well in my eyes, especially considering he was robbed of a half year of development last year by sitting on the Phillies’ bench through August, September and the playoffs instead of playing in the minors and then a winter league. Carlos Ruiz is a more than capable hitter deep in the lineup and comes up with big hits.

So what needs to change? Add a right-handed bat? I’m not sure how. The Phillies don’t have much money to spend without bringing the luxury tax into play and would anyone they get be better than John Mayberry Jr. or Ben Francisco? And what would they have to give up to get that bat? Personally, I wouldn’t mind seeing them get a left-hand power option off the bench since Ross Gload is playing through a hip injury. A Matt Stairs-type who can hit the ball out of the park at any time and someone who won’t cost more than a mid-level prospect. There really isn’t anyone in the minor league system who could help either. I think a move will be made to help the bench, but I don’t see an impact bat coming to Philly unless some payroll gets shed in the process.

The bullpen is the bigger concern for me. Jose Contreras had a setback – I’ve read in some places where it was a serious one – and who knows what Brad Lidge will provide when and if he returns. Ryan Madson will be rusty after missing several weeks and that’s a concern even though he’ll get some rehab work. What needs to be addressed is the workload of Antonio Bastardo and Michael Stutes. Both have been outstanding this season, especially Bastardo, but Stutes has already pitched 40 1-3 innings this year after throwing 76 1-3 innings last year between Reading and Lehigh Valley. Now, he was a starter early in his professional career, pitching 145 2-3 innings at Reading in 2009, so he is more stretched out then a typical reliever, but he has struggled mightily this season in back-to-back appearances. Bastardo has been nothing short of brilliant, but he has already pitched 9 2-3 innings more than he’s ever pitched in the big leagues and pitched just 20 1-3 innings last year and 54 innings in 2009. For a guy who has a history of arm problems, you have to wonder if Bastardo will hold up. That’s why I’d like to see a bullpen piece added more than a bat, but not at the cost of anything more than a mid-level prospect. Giving up Jarred Cosart for someone like Heath Bell would just be foolish.

Starting pitching isn’t even really worth talking about. That’s how good Halladay, Hamels and Lee have been. They’ve each pitched a lot of innings, but they’re three of the best conditioned players in the game so I’m not fretting about their workload. Losing Roy Oswalt hurts some, but he hasn’t really contributed much all season. If he comes back and adds anything positive it’s a bonus at this point. I’ll never be a Kyle Kendrick fan, but Vance Worley has opened my eyes. He competes, takes instruction well and doesn’t get hung up on baserunners or mistakes.

So can this team keep up the pace they set in the first half? I’m not sure the pitching will be quite as good, but the hitting should improve. There is too much history of performance in that lineup to think it won’t. If that happens a fifth straight NL East title will be the Phillies’ and another parade could make its way down Broad Street. Long way to go until then though.

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Gordon has plenty left

By Joe Miegoc | Published: June 12, 2011 | Leave a comment

I figured I’d do some blogging while I wait for 5-Hour ENERGY 500 winner Jeff Gordon to make his way to the media center.

It wasn’t too long ago that some wondered if Gordon’s time had passed. Not so fast.

By winning at Pocono Raceway on Sunday, his 84th career victory, Gordon showed he has plenty left in the tank. At 40 years old, Gordon isn’t the youngest driver on the circuit, but he is certainly still one of the most talented.

He piloted his No. 24 car to so much success early in his career, but hadn’t been up to that level in recent years. There was a 66-race winless streak before breaking through at Phoenix in February and now his second victory in 2011 showed he can drive his way back to where he’s used to being.

In no way is Gordon taking his position inside the top 10 for granted. He said as much in Victory Lane on Sunday. He’s been around too long to do something that foolish. There is simply too much time and too much talent in the series for him to do that.

But make no mistake, Jeff Gordon is still among the best of the best and he has himself in line to make this season a memorable one.

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Hello Pocono

By Joe Miegoc | Published: June 12, 2011 | Leave a comment

I arrived at Pocono Raceway a short time ago, hopefully to cover the 5-Hour ENERGY 500.

Right now it’s cool and foggy (normal Pocono weather in early June) with a slight chance of rain early in the afternoon and increasing as the day goes on. They’ll make every effort to get the race in, and remember all that has to be run is 100 laps for it to be official (Jeff Gordon won that way in 2008).

So far so good on the Pocono cronies alert, but it’s early. Did have a parking attendant tell me I couldn’t go back to my car. Just ignored him. Saw a pretty sweet mullet on another parking dude. Had me contemplating a hair style change.

I’ll be live blogging during the race (pre-race starts at 12:30 p.m. with cars expected to take the green flag shortly after 1 p.m.) so head over to www.poconorecord.com to follow along. Also follow me on Twitter (@JoeMiegoc) to catch my witty banter and updates on cronies.

As for the race, I like Carl Edwards. He was fastest in Friday’s first practice session and third fastest in Happy Hour. He’s won twice here and loves Pocono. Can’t forget about Denny Hamlin either. He could really use a breakthrough at a track he’s won at four times.

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