A Good Question

**Unchained** · December 21st, 2005, 09:20 PM

Not trying to start an argument, just looking for some answers here.
Now, it would seem that I have hurt some feelings with a rather honest assesment. Let me go on the record as saying that I have ZERO doubt that the young men who are playing basketball in the LPD are working their butts off and giving their all. I can respect that. I know TJ is working his kids hard (BTW at no time did I attack JJK, as these folks seem to think. I said it was bad period across the league). Stop and read a little.
My question is : Why does the league have two recent state girls champions (JJK and Appy) as well as GC and Clintwood which field solid clubs and, have made trips to regions as well as state? Where is the difference between the Ladies and the Gents? Is it that the ladies get more involved with AAU ball than the guys? If so, why aren't the guys doing the same? Not being a smart arse at all-just looking for the reasons why we have went 32 years without a boys state title in basketball. Do we simply not have the athletes (as I have said before)?

**greencrest1272** · December 21st, 2005, 09:24 PM

Girls dont play football, plain and simple. For girls athletics around here, basketball is it. For boys on the other hand football is the main attraction. I think that is why we seem to be so successful at football and girls basketball and not so much at boys basketball, baseball, softball (with the exception of GC).

**Unchained** · December 21st, 2005, 09:29 PM

I disagree. Boys do not play volleyball, nor softball. Also, more times than not at least half of the boy's basketballers didn't play football. I know at JJK Hopkins, Mitic, Bolling, Reza at least didn't.

**greencrest1272** · December 21st, 2005, 09:31 PM

I meant that is why we are not that successful in girls softball and volleyball and with the exception of GC we are not. I realize that there is no boys softball or volleyball...geesh.

Just a theory of mine, what do I know. Just seems like the interest around here is football and girls basketball, nothing else seems to really thrive.

**Unchained** · December 21st, 2005, 09:34 PM

J.J. Kelly Volleyball= State appearance this year
J.J. Kelly Softball=State appearance this year
BTW: the football excuse seems to be the more common one we hear. I was just saying that the gals carry a full load as well.

**greencrest1272** · December 21st, 2005, 09:36 PM

And this is the first time since...???

**Unchained** · December 21st, 2005, 09:44 PM

Volleyball and softball haven't been around for too long in Wise and some other schools as well. Pretty good progress IMO.

**greencrest1272** · December 21st, 2005, 10:00 PM

Football is not an excuse, it is a fact. More interest and money is generated towards football in this area in all sports. I dont follow girls sports that closely, Ill admit that, but what I have seen, basketball seems to be our bread and butter. GC and Kelly however usually have exceptional female athletes for this area. I guess you might could say that GC's main female sport is volleyball, but I dont think you could say that about any of the other teams. Kelly has a great tradition for girls basketball, Id say you could ask 10 female athletes in JJ Kelly high school if they would rather play basketball or volleyball/softball and 8 out of the 10 would say basketball.

**Unchained** · December 21st, 2005, 10:07 PM

I would wager that GC's very successful softball athletes would disagree with that statement, not to mention the Lady Devil tennis squad.

December 21st, 2005, 10:22 PM

Boys- Football main sport in LPD, other than Wise then I believe baseball is looked as being the main sport. Fact is none of them are thinking dang I wish Football season would hurry up and be done so b-ball will start.
Girls- It depends on the school what sport is thought to be of greatest importance, Pv's girl sport would probably be softball, some schools are more leaning toward b-ball, some toward volleyball for girls.