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Yes I am a parent to one of the starters on Gilbert Christian and I am clearly biased (as are you coach). How can there be any question who the coach of the year is? When was the last time that a coach tied the all time most wins (32) in a season and took the state title.
In your write up on our season you seem bent on featuring a young man in tucson that plays for St. Gregs. We pray for a full recovery for Frank so that next year all this nonsense about a guard that has no left or a jump shot will be laid to rest.

We hope that your "reporting" will begin covering what is current and what is coming, our boys start training today for next year, just one day after winning the state title.

I would look forward to giving you a personal tour of our new facility (high School) and speak with you about the future of this program.

Thanks for all you do for the Kids

doug fougnies

Hello,

I have continued to support and report on Gilbert Christian this entire
season. I have also covered their games.

You must remember that as a sports reporter it is also my job to talk about
the issues that would have made some awesome stories.

St. Gregs vs Gilbert Christian WITH FRANK is a huge story because that is the match-up
that all of us were looking forward to and because of the injury was not able to happen.

It is good news to think about the what if...and in no way does it take away from what
GC did this season.

It is like if in the past when the Celtics and Lakers had their rivalry and suddenly
Magic Johnson was not able to play vs Larry Bird of the Celtics. Yes a victory would
happen but discussion would always be about what if...

I can also remember when Detroit and Isaiah won their title and Magic Johnson got injured in
their series and in the end the discussion was what if.....

No matter what people may think of Frank and what he has or does not have per ability wise,
the fact remains he led his team to 2 state titles in a row and for any coach, fan or
player to think he would not have made a difference in those games at state are biased.

I am not biased at all. If you have kept up with my show and rankings and previews it has
been all dead on. I have touted the North teams and they did a great job. I touted GC and
you guys won the title.

GC won and deserved the title and the what if.... is only good for talk shows and prep notes to
get people thinking. I am sure that GC would rather have beaten GC with Frank rather than
without Frank because in the end they are winners and they want to beat the best.

It is like if Corey hawkins goes down for EFH. If a team then beats them or wins the title because
he is out people would be saying what if...

This season they did not beat the best St. Gregs had to offer and it is good to still think
how that game would have went as a basketball fan.

I also would have loved to have seen Silversmith from St. Mikes vs Frank. Or Currior vs Frank,
and so on.

Please do not take offense when as a fan of the game and coach of 25+ years I think of those
games that could have been. Nothing like this takes away from what GC did this season.

AS for your facilities I am very glad at what GC is building and think it is awesome and glad that
as you grow you are willing to step up to the competition at higher levels because the talent there
is at the higher levels.

Once again I have not dishonored what GC has done in the least. I respect them and their fans and
enjoyed chatting and watching them play.

It is like EFH. I post how I have the secret formula and will sell to the highest bidder. Do any of the
fans not understand that is me joking because there is no formula? I would hope by now that the fans
understand our site is a bit of serious and humorous notes.

Coach P

Coach P,

I respectfully have to comment on your reply to Doug. Just read your final 4 preview a week ago to see if you "support GCS". You said that "the teams from the north" would give Gilbert (and Valley) all they could handle. And that GCS has never really been tested. Really? They invoked the "run the clock rule" for the 4th quarter on the Joe City vs GCS game. And Valley beat St Mikes by 20. I am confident you know way more than I do about basketball (I am just a very proud Dad), but for you to say your reporting isn't biased is just disingenuous. Today is really the first time I remember reading positive comments from you about Gilbert Christian all year. Maybe if you met these fine young men you might have a different opinion.
The cool part is regardless of what you or I say, my son and his teammates are 1A State Champions at 32-0 and they are outstanding young man and I consider it a privilege to have been a part of it.

-Robby's Dad

Hello,

I think you are reading into the posts and not seeing it for what it meant.

You said I stated:

"would give Gilbert (and Valley) all they could handle. And that GCS has never really been tested."

First of all the comment I made was a compliment to GC as I stated they had not been tested. What does that mean to you? Since I wrote it I will tell you what I meant. It is straight forward. It means that GC has not been tested which means they are a very talented team. I never stated they did not play any tough teams. That was not present in my words.

Now as far as the North teams playing tough that was my personal opinion and if you remember both those teams did in fact make the final four which says a lot because no others had thought it could happen.

The St. Mikes game may have ended with 20 but that game was close. Yes the JC game was not close but the Orme game was and I mentioned that as well.

Once again did you listen to my broadcast of the game vs St. Gregs? Did you see what I wrote about your team after that game? Did you see what I wrote about Polancia and how he took over the St. Gregs game? It was all complimentary. Nothing has been said otherwise.

You may want me to just say nobody can beat them but that is never true for any team and I do not do it for 2A SCA, or even EFH who is dominating 3A. My job is to evaluate all teams across the state and not just a GC team who is beating everybody. I do not root for one team or another.

Our motto is "It is all about the players". If you notice I wrote some very good articles before in my editorials. The editorial I wrote concerning you and St. Gregs waiting for that game until state was a very good story and I was very complimentary to your team.

Now do you want to hear my end of the season statement on how the season went I can tell you.

It was my viewpoint after watching St. Gregs play GC without Frank that the game would have been very close. The team without Frank that night stayed close. It is my evaluation and opinion without caring who would win that if your 2 teams met at full strength that it would go down to the wire and that any of those 2 teams would lose. That is nothing against you guys but it is a fact to as dominant as St. Gregs had been this year as well.

I know you may want me to say that you would have dominated that team but I cannot honestly tell you that and I will not. What I will end with is that you guys won the state championship this season and deserved the title.

However, because of the Frank injury I think there are many out there that believe St. Gregs would have won and many think GC would have won. That is the great thing about basketball is we can debate this and it is fun. But in the end you have the title and St. Gregs has the 2 before you.

As a fan I was sad to see Frank get injured because I think that injury left doubt in many minds which team would have won. There is nothing wrong with that at all.

Here is the portion of the story I wrote about GC and St. Gregs!


http://www.azsportsnetwork.com/azsportsnetworkblog/index.php/2010/01/07/please-cancel-these-games?blog=12

1A BBB: Jan. 29th: #1 Gilbert Christian @ #2 St. Gregs:Broadcast Live @ AzSportsnetwork

Please do not get me wrong here, I love the fact I will cover this game live on our GameDay Live Webcast, but if St. Gregs gets by Valley Union this Friday and again on Jan 23rd, this will be a huge preview to a possible state championship game where 2 teams will not have lost to any other 1A teams. In the North there are some other teams who can win state as well but with #1 and #2 playing this close to the playoffs I ask you, "What is the purpose" of playing this game. Once again I love it as a webcaster, but other than that please rethink this game! Both of these teams have an Aura of Invincibility surrounding them and this game is destined to be playoff worthy only!

To the GC and St.Gregs Admin: Do you not see that the gas prices are still very high. Please cancel this game because with this poor economy is it wise to waste all that money on one game that can wait until the playoffs? Seriously I am only thinking of your well being with money being the issue. Allow us to wait for this game in the playoffs where the excitement in the air will be as thick as the smog as you approach the LA area!



Now tell me how 'Aura of Invincibility surrounding them" is not as high a compliment I can give to your team??? Just because I spoke the same of St. Gregs does not take away from my seeing GC as a great team.



Coach Pichotta

Someone once wrote, "Don't argue with people who buy ink by the gallon", so I won't. Someone also wrote "I think thou doest protesteth too much".

Just one correction, it's "Palacio, Brandon Palacio"; not Palancio.

Don't forget, GCS has two state titles in 4 years as well.

-Russ

Hi,

I apologize for the incorrect spelling. I was not in an area where I could check the correct spelling.

By the way I do not argue. I just give the facts for what they are and that is it.

Yes I do know you have 2 titles in 4 years. I do remember those talented group with the 2 foreign exchange kids, I think) who could light it up for sure. Good team for sure as with this one.

oops almost forgot. I think I did prove I have been supportive of the GC team.

Coach P - I agree with you 100%. Unfortunately, you have not achieved the level of atonement that GC people have. They truly believe their excrement does not smell!! I've seen it for years. Yes, they have a great basketball team and great kids. I also really like Coach Currier, even if he has NEVER liked a call that went against him. It's now baseball season, and VL is very much looking forward to a 10am game March 5th vs. the chosen ones GC!! All of this is just my humble opinion!

ALRIGHT, YOU ASKED FOR IT. I DECLARE A MORATORIUM ON FURTHER COMMENTS!!!!

Wheew, sorry, I just had to spit that out.

Let me start by saying:
Misters Fougnies and Ripley, I had the pleasure of watching your sons' team on the court this year. And Mr. Wolkos, I also greatly enjoyed watching your son QB the Flame's football team. Both Gilbert Christian and Valley Lutheran have fine athletic programs with great fans. Let's not create any bad blood.

Whether or not you think Gilbert Christian received enough props or respect, one fact stands clear as day: they are the only ones in the state who can claim an undefeated season. And, like you said, Mr. Ripley, nothing can change that. The two-time defending state champs, St. Greg's, may have been able to shake things up in the finals. But at this point, it's just a "what if". GC is the state champion. Hopefully, we can see a GC-SG match-up next year to settle this once and for all!

There's no need to start trading jabs. Even if Coach Currier doesn't receive COY honors from AZ Sports Network, it does nothing to take away from the impressive achievement he (and the young men on his team) accomplished.

I hope I'm not stepping out of my place...if so, I profusely apologize.

Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now...

Good morning,

I looked at my post again from Monday and I am still not sure what got people upset that I was not supportive of GC. I guess when I mentioned Frank and St. Gregs that must be a sore subject I imagine.

Here are parts of that post and I think I was not only supportive but gave great kudos to the GC team, staff and school.

Praise #1:
Formerly known as Surrey Garden, this team did something most teams only think about and that is to go though the entire season undefeated!

Praise #2:
Not only did they do this but they did so in dominating fashion!

Praise #3:
No team came close

Praise #4:
In the playoffs Orme stayed with them a bit but in the end they dominated

Praise #5:
and will be a force in the future.

Praise #6:
Based on info they are building some great facilities

Praise #7:
This will allow for much more competition.

BTW we use a committee for COY and our All-State teams so that is never done by just me. Plus we never stated GC coach who did a tremendous job would not get it.


Coach P

Coach, the GC fans/parents apparently aren’t satisfied with just winning the state championship. They are looking for people to blast who they felt didn’t believe in them or show them the respect they deserved. They couldn’t be more wrong about you. How sad. There is no doubt that a St. Gregory team with Frank Mgbolu would have made a huge difference in any games they played down the stretch and in the state tournament. The GC fans can believe it or not, but a fact is a fact. Having said that, I still believe GC would have won the state championship even if Mgbolu were healthy for St. Gregs. Like you, I would have loved to see that matchup. But it didn’t happen. You know, I have a lot of respect for Coach Currier and what he’s accomplished at GC. I also have met several of their players and find them to be fine young men. Too bad the parents can’t act the same way.

All is good for sure. This is what these prep notes are for and as long as people keep it civil then I am ok with those who disagree. The only area I will for sure argue back and forth is about us being biased. I do speak the truth and and blunt but I am here for the players period.

I am bummed we missed out but in the end GC are the champs and they deserve it. I talked with coach after the game vs St. Gregs and he is a good guy and we had some good discussions and he was very thankful as were many parents who saw we were impressed with some quality young men.

Let me begin by saying I am just a very proud dad of an outstanding young man who has been privileged to be a part of Gilbert Christian Schools and the Basketball (and Baseball) programs. And if any of my comments have reflected negatively on GCS, I apologize and ask you not to attribute them to anyone but me.

My only point (which I obviously did not communicate well) was a "feeling" that Coach P had not been as unbiased toward GCS as with other programs. Coach P articulated his position exceptionally well and I thought that would be it.

I did not think it would generate the negative responses to GCS it has and for that I regret I even broached the subject. The coaches and staff and students at GCS are some of the best people I know and I certainly never intended for my comments to reflect negatively on them.

Finally, thank you Coach P for your continued commitment to all of the students of Arizona.

-Russ

As I stated before no problem and I understand.

To add a little more grist to Coach of the Year mill –

Let’s consider Bob Koehne, Head Varsity Coach at Valley Lutheran. This is Bob’s first year at Valley Lutheran, having come from Walther Lutheran High School in Melrose Park, IL., where he coached some very talented teams during his tenure at that school. While Bob inherited a talented team at Valley, that in and of itself was no guarantee of an appearance in the Championship Game this season. And yet that very thing happened.

Stepping into a new situation is a challenge for any coach regardless of the success one may have had in a previous situation. You have to get to know the players (which, as Principal of Valley Lutheran, Bob was able to do on a daily basis), the players have to get to know you. To be able to get a bunch of talented players to buy into your coaching philosophy and be able to take that team to the Championship Game for a state title – in your first year - is no small feat.

In no way do I take anything away from Gilbert Christian. Steve Currier is blessed with a very talented team and perhaps equally deserving of Coach of the Year honors. However, a 32-0 record does not entitle any team or its coaching staff to assume a State Championship is a guarantee. Nor should a 32-0 record and a Championship trophy guarantee Coach of the Year honors to any coach. In deciding Coach of the Year, you need to look at the totality of each coaching situation. New coach/tenured coach, perfect record/less than perfect record, build from the ground up/existing talent, and on and on.

Congratulations to both Gilbert Christian and Valley Lutheran for successful seasons. And congratulations to whoever receives Coach of the Year honors.