The 2008 Rich J. Wutz Up Now? Awards (The Academy's don't hold a flame)

By RJ Walters / Daily News Sports Editor

An exclusive Walters 'n Words blog

Alright, to be frank I really needed something worthwhile to do while my Wifey was watching the Oscars because A.) The so-called “reporting” at the red-carpet, a.k.a. the stripping of one’s dignity so they can slobber all over Diane Von Furstenberg’s and Vera Wang’s (these are dress brands men, it’s okay to go “metro” once in a while) is sickening B.) I don’t know two-thirds of the jokes because while half the world is watching E! to catch up on their Hollywood Insider stuff I am busy following unscripted, yet still extremely cinematic events also known as sports and C.) the Pistons game I’m watching on the 13-inch next to the Oscars can’t even hold a flame to the Hillsdale Academy-Waldron girls hoops bout (which is fitting because some of those girls wanted to throw down) last night

So without giving you further explanations of why I completely understand why you’d be better off reading this than do anything else, here’s what’s going down — it’s not groundbreaking, but you don’t want to miss it.

These are the first (and probably only) ever Rich J. Wutz Up Now? Awards, awarding extraordinary achievement in Hillsdale County High School sports during the 2008 calendar year. Considering I am currently the only employed media member in the county whose job is to focus only on sports, sorry Bob Flynn, these HAVE to have some validity or at least I can force to you to pretend they do because there’s no one to compare me to.

Remember these are up for debate, but all voting parties sided with me. Enjoy.

Best picture:
The Reading Ranger football team’s run to the state semifinals
There was no happy ending here, but what local team actually made the playoffs and won its final game during 2008? That would be none.
The Rangers gallop toward history was a fun one because they ran for nearly 1,000 yards every two games, they were led by the little “engine that could and did” Trent Morris, who led the conference in rushing TDs and interceptions and of course because the entire town wanted a say in how the story came together. Or should I say the whole town wanted to make sure everyone at the HDN knew the story should be the most important local event from early October to mid-Novemeber.
Runner-up: Hillsdale Academy girl’s basketball team

Best director:
Marc Lemerand, Hillsdale football
This is probably the hardest category to select, just because I have a lot of respect for so many of the county’s coaches and am constantly impressed at how much love and time they sacrifice for the betterment of area high schoolers.
The reason Lemerand is the winner is because he took a first-year quarterback, first-year running back and a few new transfers and guided his boys to yet another conference title, another playoff appearance and within a few completions of a postseason win over highly heralded Lumen Christi.
Plus, I haven’t found another coach in the area who has more players consistently say how essential a coach has been in their overall transition to being a man. A lot of the men and women roaming the sidelines in the county are committed to making a difference beyond just winning, but by my estimation Lemerand could be doing what he does at the college level for a whole lot more money and attention. But neither matter much to him.
Runner-up: Mickey Rowe, Jonesville wrestling

Best actor:

Mitchell Gabriele, Hillsdale


Question: Who’s the top athlete at the top high school in the county and who has had there picture in the HDN more times in the last year than anyone else? Answer: Gabriele.

He impressed me with his ability to stay calm in his first year as quarterback and he led the area and the SMAA in every major passing category while also rushing for a boatload of yards and touchdowns.
Now he’s leading the entire Jackson-area in scoring on the hardwood and beginning to consistently dish out 6-9 assists a night.
Considering baseball is his third sport and yet he’s still a better than average hitter and easily the best defensive catcher around, there’s little argument on this one.
He’s a fun one to watch (and write about) because you never know when he’s going to blow up or just flat out go off — and if you watch him much, you know I’m talking about both his game and his behavior.
Runner-up: Trent Morris, Reading

Best supporting actor:
Scott Lantis, Hillsdale
He’s the perfect opposite to Gabriele out on the playing field, usually staying out of the spotlight and in control. He’s the kind of teammate you always hope you will have and he can either make the big play or just set it up for someone else.
Plus, he’s a flat out stud on a baseball diamond. Hillsdale College is lucky that the Lantis family is a Charger family because plenty of other school’s could have used his services.
And he’s not called “Mr. Big Shot” in high school hoops for nothing.
Also, his name is in the Hornet record book for receiving so much the school might as well plaster his picture on the back of all wideouts jerseys for the next 10 years.
Plus, setting complete objectivity aside, he’s one of my favorite people to work with in the county.
He knows what really matters in this life and he knows how to own up when he makes a mistake.
Runner-up: Ethan Smith, Hillsdale Academy

Best Original Screenplay:
“The offensive lineman who looks like Reggie Miller”
No, seriously, if you haven’t seen Pittsford senior Clark Pelham play basketball, you need to rearrange your schedule because he has just five regular season games left in his career. He doubles as an all-league lineman for one of the county’s best football programs and looks nothing like an “en fuego, money from any spot beyond 18 feet” shooting guard / shooting forward for lack of a better term, exactly what he is.
When you see him warming up you figure he’s probably a very undersized big guy who is used mainly for extra fouls and an occasional jumper or two, but then he goes off for 22 points and hits 5-of-7 threes and you wonder if maybe in fact fundamentals and a pure stroke still have a place in modern day basketball.
It is certainly a thing of beauty to watch, because Pelham uses the gifts God gave him to do things that seem “original” to anyone who has ever thought of what the usual role for an offensive lineman is on the hardwood and I applaud his confidence and how easy he makes sinking 25-footers look.

Best makeup:
Nick Kelley, Hillsdale
“Makeup” is a loose term in this case and I don’t spend my time checking out high school athletes up close anyways….eww, gross.
What makes Kelley the run-away victor in this category is his super long, white snake-like thing that completely engulfs his left arm every basketball game.
It is like Allen Iverson without the dreads — and sick crossover — sorry, Kelley, and it always makes me smile.
Refs do double-takes and then Kelley has to go explain himself before almost every contest.
I still contest that the elastic white sleeve must provide Kelley with an extra set of eyes because he makes some terrific passes for a big man. Either that, or it has a thin layer of a white Airhead on it, which the ball sticks to, which explains his 4-5 steal games, which are a quite normal occurrence.
All things considered I think Kelley uses it for some sort of medical reason and not to intimidate anyone, but for the ’Dale it’s pretty darn gangsta.
Props to Slick Nick.
Runner-up: Nothing can touch the huge white snake Kelley wears

Ok, it's been an hour now and I need to quit staring at computer screen because I already do that for 16 hours a day. Did I just out myself on how enslaved I am to my job? Crap.

And I appologize that I didn't get to the Best Actoress or Best Supporting Actres, but a big bowl of Chocolate Fudge Brownie Chunk ice cream and my Xbox 360, and oh yeah my wife, all kept calling my name.

Thanks for reading, let me know where I err'ed and I shall return.