The following is a press release regarding free football and basketball camps in Essex County:

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. and Academics in Motion invite boys and girls entering third to eighth grades to participate in the Third Annual Fundamentals & Life Skills Sports Camp. The sports camp is being offered free of charge and will combine football and basketball practice with team building and life skills instruction.
“The Fundamentals & Life Skills Sports Camp is a great opportunity to provide a productive and enjoyable summer activity for our children. Combining football and basketball skills and life training is an effective way to reach our young children and help them succeed,” DiVincenzo said. “Recreation and athletic facilities in all our County parks are being upgraded so we can provide our children with safe and modern places to play. This is an excellent opportunity for our students to experience our historic Essex County Park System and participate in a fun-filled summertime activity.”
The sports camp is being organized by Gerhard Sanchez, Coordinator of the Academics in Motion Program in New Jersey and Irvington High School Athletic Director.
“As coaches, we want to teach our young players the fundamentals that will help them compete, but we also want to build their character, improve their decision making skills and teach responsibility. Our program will combine our players’ love of sports with a unique learning experience that will benefit them throughout their lives,” Sanchez said.
Two week-long sessions of the Fundamentals & Life Skills Sports Camp will be offered. The camp has been expanded this year to offer both football and basketball instruction at three locations in Essex County. Students can participate in one or both weeks. The camp sessions will be held Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Session 1 - Football will be held  July 13-16 in Essex County West Side Park, located at the intersection of 18th Avenue and South 13th Street in Newark. Football drills and practice will be staffed by the West Side High School head football coach Brian Logan and players from the West Side High School football team.
Session 1 - Basketball will be held July 13-16 in Essex County Irvington Park, located at the intersection of Grove Street & Lyons Avenue in Irvington. Basketball drills and practice will be staffed by Irvington High School head basketball coach Eugene Robinson and players from the Irvington High School basketball team.
Session 2 - Football will be held  July 20-23 in Essex County Irvington Park at the intersection of Lyons Avenue and Grove Street. Football drills and practice will be staffed by Irvington High School head football coach Darnell Grant and players from the Irvington High School football team.
Session 2 - Basketball will be held July 20-23 in Essex County Watsessing Park at the intersection of Glenwood Avenue and Dodd Street in East Orange. Basketball drills and practice will be staffed by East Orange Campus High School head girls’ basketball coach Derrick Johnson and players from the East Orange Campus High School girls’ basketball team.
The football and basketball programs include stretching and agility workouts, offensive and defensive training with high school coaches, and a simulated game. Life skills instruction will include discussions about time management, gang prevention, study skills, character development and etiquette. Guest speakers will visit the camp to talk with and give encouragement to the players. Daily and weekly awards will be presented to players who work hard and show the most improvement. Equipment and uniforms, and a free boxed lunch, will be provided to each player.
“This is a great opportunity for the County’s youth,” said Lee Fisher, Director of the Essex County Youth Services Commission, which provided grant funding to support the camp. “Children can benefit greatly from sports and the lessons it teaches about team and confidence building. We are proud that the County Executive is promoting activities to benefit all children.”
The Fundamentals & Life Skills Football Camp is sponsored by Essex County, Academics in Motion, MAN Inc. and the Essex County Youth Services Commission. Space is limited to 80 campers for football sessions and 50 campers for basketball sessions. For more information about the Fundamentals & Life Skills Football Camp, or to obtain a registration form, please call Gerhard Sanchez at 908-803-1496. The registration form may also be obtained from the County’s web site at http://www.essexcountynj.org/.

In the past few days, I read about high school football and basketball athletes committing to colleges.

But these athletes aren't seniors who just got their diplomas.

No. These kids just finished their junior years. In one case, a 13-year-old football player already committed to the University of Tennessee, which is downright ridiculous.

So think about this: You just finished your junior year and already you got "accepted" by a college. So what does that mean? Does it mean you don't have to worry about your senior year?

Every other kid entering their senior years are sweating about the college process. They are worried about getting a good enough SAT score, good grades, etc. Yes, senior year is very nerve-racking. They are afraid of getting rejected on their college applications.

But these stud athletes don't have to worry about that, at all. All they have to worry about is: Don't screw up. Just get a passing grade in your classes. No problem. Then you can party with your friends and fool around as much as you like.

This just shows that the competition for the best athletes is fierce. Colleges don't want to lose the players they covet to other colleges, so they offer a scholarship even before their senior year. Of course, this system sends the wrong message.

These colleges should not be allowed to offer scholarships this early. Let these stud athletes sweat it out like the other seniors.

It appears Belleville High School is moving forward to installing Fieldturf at Municipal Stadium. This is a long time coming and will do wonders for the football and baseball teams.

Roman, our Belleville reporter, recently wrote an article on the matter. Click below to read his story:

http://www.localsource.com/articles/2009/06/23/belleville/news/local_news/doc4a392aeff0aa2993634201.txt

Well, the school year is about done. And once again, I had the privilege of covering some great teams, fantastic individual achievements and  indelible moments. 

The one thing that sticks in my mind when it comes to this school year was Joshua Evans. He is perhaps one of the best athletes I have ever covered. This is a kid from Irvington High who dominated in football and track and field. As a quarterback/safety, he was simply electric. In fact, the football team didn't lose a regular-season game in his two years as a starter. Then in track and field, he won the hurdles events at BOTH indoor and outdoor state Meet of Champions.

Did I mention he will play football on scholarship at the University of Florida, the defending national champions?

But all the athletic achievements aside, he is a downright nice kid. I have no doubts he will do well at Florida. I won't be surprised if he competes in the Olympics or play in the NFL.

Another great athlete was Nick DePhillips. In football as a running back/linebacker, he put up incredible numbers and led the team to its first playoff appearance in 25 years. As a wrestler, the 189-pounder took an undefeated record to Atlantic City, site of the state tournament, and wound up finishing seventh overall. Then in lacrosse, he helped the team to the county tournament final, where they lost in OT to West Essex. The team finished 16-4.

Of all the sports, his best is lacrosse. He signed a lacrosse scholarship with Ohio State.

Columbia had a great sports year. They have always been known to dominate in boys soccer, girls basketball, track and fencing, and this year was no exception.  The girls hoops team won its second straight sectional title and went to the state final, losing to Colts Neck.  Girls track dominated, too, on the league, county and state levels. Boys hoops also had a strong year, with head coach Jerry Hill, who is a great coach.

The West Orange girls soccer and wrestling teams also advanced to their respective sectional finals, as did the Orange boys hoops team for the second straight year. The West Orange boys track won the county spring title.

Bloomfield boys spring track won its state sectional title. Then Stefon Williams went on to win the boys long jump at the MOC, which was nice to see.

The Glen Ridge girls lacrosse team was state sectional runner-up.

The Nutley baseball team was Greater Newark Tournament runner-up.

There were just so many great teams that we had this year.

I wish to extend my congratulations to all of these special teams.

Glen Ridge High School head boys' lacrosse coach Carl Houser was named the Waterman Division Coach of the Year.

The Ridgers had a memorable season with a 16-4 record, including being Essex County Tournament runner-up.

Congrats to coach Houser and for a terrific season. 

Twenty-year-old pitcher Rick Porcello is having a fine rookie year with the Detroit Tigers.

The Tigers were intrigued enough to draft Rick's brother, Jake Porcello, today, June 11, in the MLB Amateur Draft.

Jake, like Rick, is a pitcher from Seton Hall Prep and was drafted in the 48th round.

Two years ago, Rick was a first-round selection by the Tigers out of SHP. He made the Tigers roster out of spring training this year. As of today, Rick is 6-4 with a 3.98 ERA.

Rick and Jake in the same rotation? That would be something.

A memorial ceremony will be held on Thursday, June 11, in honor of Rick Morrison, who passed away last year of cancer. Mr. Morrison was a big part of the Columbia High School baseball family and was the father of Danny, a former CHS pitcher who graduated in 2008.

Here is a letter I received from a parent: