We call this edition of Dust Plus the “Where are They Now?” report since that is the question columnists and beat writers get the most frequently during our pub and breakfast buffet crawls around town.
Like Notes on our Napkin, these reports come in faster than an NCAA scandal or a Lindsay Lohan rehab assignment. Be prepared for a head spinning tour of the out-basket.
The first name is that of Ex-Dirtbag pitcher Edgar Gomez was recently signed by the Tampa Bay Rays for their Minor League outfit the Aguilas de Mexicali baseball team during the Mexican winter baseball season.
The pitcher, who graduated from Indio High a few years ago and attended Long Beach State and Riverside City Community College, jumped to the bigs and has done okay in the early work (five games, with one victory and one defeat, five hits, received four runs in seven innings and given five strikeouts). His other club was the great named Indio Rajahs where Gomez had a record of 6-4, with five complete games and a 1.93 ERA in 58 innings.
Tall People Dept. Like looking up? Just go to UCI where their web wizard Crystal Cuevas is bragging about the basketball big boys who are supposed to drag the Eaters out of their perpetual hoop funk. “We got huge players 7’5, 7’1 and 7’0 and most of them are from overseas!!! So excited for our season to start!” Stay tuned those short but fast 49ers haven’t gone away.
Sticking with basket cases, the Long Beach State men’s basketball team will compete in the 2013 Puerto Rico Tip-Off November 21-24 where the lineup includes Charlotte, Florida State, Georgetown, KansasState, Michigan, Northeastern and VCU. Games will be played at Roberto Clemente Coliseo in San Juanand televised on ESPN. The Niner athletic dept. has a travel agency working on a plan to help fans stay in the team hotel between and amidst rum tastings (boosters not basketballers.).
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Back to our where are they list… on the topic du jour, Johnny Manziel, and the dreams of Texas A & M. This take from the always chippy Alabama fans, “He should have gone to ‘Bama. Then he would leave with a bunch of rings instead of a bunch of Chick-fil-A coupons.” And the solution to the autography cash grab? Maybe my alma mater Miami has an answer. The U has a new autograph policy for all student-athletes. All autographs must be personalized moving forward.
Looking for where Mauricio Ingrassia is these days. This next week he will be splitting time between the film room and the futball pitch. His new look Niners battled FIU to a 2-2 tie in an exhibition soccer game Friday in a morning “friendly” at George Allen Field. The 49ers officially open the 2013 campaign this coming Friday (Aug. 23) testing Northern Arizona under the lights in a 7PM showdown.
Against FIU LBSU dominated possession, outshooting the Panthers, 17-7, and holding a 7-to-1 advantage in corner kicks but gave up a 2-0 advantage to leave with a tie. Soph striker Elizabeth Lyonsled the way with three shots, one goal and one assist and Freshman Mimi Rangelalso found the back of the net once on three attempts. Senior Jessika “Tweety” Osegueraadded an assist. The Niners tested two goalies, Freshmen Ashton McKeown (57:24) and Cynthia Diaz (32:36).
Of course all the new kids confuse the fandom one of whom said he didn’t know the difference between Jimmy Buffett and Warren Buffett. “Is he the one with all the money? I get them mixed up.” That’s okay. They BOTH have A LOT of money.
Speaking of money men, a group of ex-Dirtbags are cashing checks this summer, Jared Hughes is with the Indianapolis Indians in the Cleveland org, RHP Shawn Stuart pitched around five hits for three scoreless frames for the short season farm in Lo-A Tri-City,
SS Matt Duffy had two hits , including his fourth HR for Hi-A San Jose (SF) recently, and another infielder of note, SS Jeff McNeil, and last week had two hits and an RBI for Rookie League Kingston (NYM). He’s hitting .320 in 35 games & .342 in his last 10.
Now the “Where Are They” task is tougher when you try to keep track of sports writers as opposed to sports stars. In the old days (say six to 12 months ago) the Press-Telegram had a great college writer Bob Keisser and a great Prep Editor Dave Werstine. As you sporting sleuths know the Orange County Register got healthy with new investors and have made sports a target. Old timer and former 49er campus editor Tim Burt is the sports editor of the Irvine World news who now is a 16-page every day section wrapped around the Register. Same format coming up for the Long Beach Register but with Bob Keisser now the sports editor of the LB edition. That cleared the way for the two Grunion prep writers to go to the PT swearing that they will put all the same stuff in both the Gazette weekly and the downtown PT daily. Meanwhile the Post continues on its upward movement in readers, design and content. There will be a mid-term exam on all this. (The PT sports editor is Gene Warnick not sure if Dave Werstine migrated over to the news desk, but he has loads of talent and local experience.) Film at 11. DR. DAN