National powerhouse Chandler high school opens its football season on the coast this Friday against Cathedral Catholic, the number one school in San Diego. It’s the first time the Wolves have played a game in that part of the country.
“We have no layups, but that’s the way it’s supposed to be,” head coach Rick Garretson told me recently. No, they don’t, but the Wolves are the hunted, ranked 8th in the Max Preps national rankings. Cathedral has already played two games; Chandler will be at a disadvantage for the opening kickoff.
San Diego is near and dear to Garretson. He was a wide receiver in college at San Diego State, catching 55 balls during his college days, “a big part of my life.” Fortunately, the schedule makers of high school and college were looking down on him. Friday night as a coach, Saturday afternoon watching the University of Arizona meet his college alma mater. “it’s kinda cool that weekend, that San Diego State opens up their new stadium. My son Darell, is an analyst at UofA, and so it has all kinds of ties.”
San Diego Union-Tribune prep columnist John Maffei worked in the sports information department at San Diego State during Garretsons’ years as an Aztec. He sent a few lines over via text. “He was a really good possession-type receiver, who was very cerebral. Always thought he would make a good coach”.
This Friday and Saturday will be a good twenty-four hours for the Chandler head coach. “It will be exciting. I’m looking forward to it”.
This and that…
Arizona State Sun Devil LaDarius Henderson is going to have many options for employment after he’s done with football. Friday, he stole the show at the Kickoff Luncheon with several belly laughs and one-liners…
Now that it’s opening week, gotta lay out the fearless predictions. Arizona will win 4, Arizona State 6. Herm Edwards won’t be the head coach to open 2023. Jedd Fisch will have a few schools come to kick the tires on him to leave Tucson…
Both Ray and Herm doubled down on the “block out the noise” narrative at Friday’s Kickoff Luncheon. It’s as though we’re just supposed to say,”keep walking; nothing happened here.” Root for the kids all you want…
How much did you learn about the Arizona Cardinals in pre-season? Just a reminder, August is a wasteland on the sports calendar. No other month comes close…
Thank goodness for Kevin Durant, or the poor talk radio guys wouldn’t have had much of anything to work with other than backup left guard discussion…’
Paul Rudd apparently getting murdered to end “Murders in the Building”!!
If Artie Moreno is considering selling the Angles for 2.2-billion, Ken Kendrick shouldn’t be far behind in line to see a teller…
Paul Goldschmidt going for the triple crown! Once again, let’s revisit that trade. On second thought…
Scott Frost calling the onside kick. All Nebraska fans scream in unison, “What the #$&^ are you doing”!!??
The Suns can say whatever they want, but nothing matters until mid-April 2023. This will be a “win a title or bust up the roster” season. They aren’t the best team in the Western Conference today…
Tuesday, the AIA should lift their postseason ban on Hamilton football, but I’m fearful for the players that won’t be the case…
Not many better reads this week than the one in Saturday’s Washington Post on former Hamilton wide receiver Drew Terrell . https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/08/26/commanders-drew-terrell-receivers-coach/
Easy to forget in times like the present that Hamilton is one of the top academic schools in our state. There have been many terrific student athletes that have come out of the Husky program. Terrell’s story is well-worth the click…
So we had a sponsor change for the arena in Glendale and a naming rights deal for the hockey facility in Tempe this past week. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to hear of three more name changes on the Valley sports facility front soon…
The Coyotes playing at “The Mullett” works…
Sure feels like the PGA and LIV Tours are heading to an AFL vs. NFL future. There will be a stopover in court before then. Love the thinking of Tiger and Rory having a Monday Night made-for-TV golf event series. Tiger is the needle that moves…
Congrats to Jordan Simone! The former Sun Devil football player became a proud papa this past week. Carley Lane Simone…
Former Wildcat Scooby Wright and Sun Devil DJ Foster have been hired by Cox Sports here in the Valley as sideline announcers for the upcoming high school football season…
Going into year 12 of our platforms!! Thanks for your support..
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Brad Cesmat
Media personality Brad Cesmat first rose to fame in Southern California with the launching of "The Mighty 690" all-sports radio station in the late 1980's and early 90's. Brad came to Arizona in 1993 to begin a 10-year run at KTAR Radio followed by nine years at KTVK-TV in Phoenix. Brad is the Founder/ CEO of Sports360AZ.com. His vision of multi platform content marketing through sports began in September of 2011. Cesmat has served on the Advisory Board for the Salvation Army for the last 18 years. He and his wife Chris have four children.