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Following a two-year stint out of print and away from the computer keyboard, RPC – Ramblings, Points & Comments is pleased to resume bringing readers and sports junkies of the Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger the intimate news and names of sports that don’t make the dailies or sports pages. We’re looking forward to conveying our stories and tidbits with passion and a personal way that will once again make readers feel a part of the sporting scene. RPC is primed and ready to go.
Because the Putnam Town Crier is primarily a newspaper circulated in the greater Putnam area, the focus of stories will center on Putnam personalities. We’ll venture out with items about former Putnamites who may be out of the area and with little-read stories of interest that otherwise are scratched by sports editors who don’t find them worthy of appearing in ink.
RPC will open every week with a popular feature that was once scratched by a sports editor despite favorable reviews from readers. The column will open with a weekly greeting to individuals who enjoy sports but aren’t necessarily participants or seldom make the sports pages.
The column will conclude with another reader favorite, RPC’s Closing Thought for the Day. We’ll attempt to provide thought provoking adages or some that convey humor, such as, “What would we read in the bathroom if it wasn’t for sports?” Get the idea?
On occasion we’ll regal readers with some stories or tidbits from our very close friend Doc Cody, who has also suffered for the past two years away from Sports Street. Another close friend and former contributor to the Putnam Town Crier, Joe West, may also appear as a fill-in.
Of course, continuing in our former style we’ll welcome any items that readers or friends think should make the column. Whether you run into us on the streets of our safe and friendly community, in a restaurant or watering hole, in the supermarket or at a game, feel free to pass on items on events or people who should be on the sports pages. Those who are inclined to use the more formal route, we can be reached by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The telephone, which some feel is an outmoded communication vehicle, also works. You can find us in the local telephone directory.
Needless to say, we’re happy to be back, especially in Putnam’s best little newspaper. It’s been a tough two years but during that time we’ve been able to recoup the passion that we displayed for people we covered and documented during the previous 25 years of writing a weekly column. A column that appeared in print without ever skipping a week.
Here’s hoping you enjoy reading the column as much as we enjoy writing it.
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The week between Christmas and New Year was filled with basketballs in the Putnam High School gymnasium. The event was the 11th Annual Citizens National Bank Clipper Classic, featuring hosts Putnam boys’ and girls’ hoop teams and six other local teams.
The afternoon sessions included Killingly, Tourtellotte and Parish Hill in the two-day event. The evening action witnessed Killingly, Tourtellotte and Ellis Tech on the court. In the end both Putnam teams reached the championship contest but succumbed in hard-fought, down-to-the-wire games.
The Killingly Redgals, under the direction of new coach Mark Lowell and the outstanding play of Classic Most Outstanding Player Devin Hill, were crowned 2011 champions. Coach Tony Falzarano’s Tourtellotte Tigers and MOP Eddie Kopacz eked out a 54-53 title game victory over the Clippers.
Joining Hill on the all-tournament team were teammates Alicia Giambattista and Jamie LeDuc, Clippers Ashley Espinosa and Christie Austin and Ashley Thibodeau of Parish Hill. Members of the all-academic team were Killingly’s Giambattista, Putnam’s Megan Heaney, the Lady Tigers’ Elizabeth McKinley and the Pirates’ Delaney Stearns.
The boys’ all-tournament team included Kopacz and teammates Kaewon Safford and Nick Authier, Putnam Clippers Chase Lessard and Dino Porcic and Killingly’s Jeff Clang. Kopacz, who stars in the classroom as well as he does on the court, headed the all-academic team. He was joined by Putnam’s Gunnar Anderson, the Redmen’s Kevin Ravenelle and Tech’s Corey Barry.
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While surfing through the channels on New Year’s Day eve searching for SNY for the UConn and St. John’s game, we came across the Quinnipiac and Boston University game on NESN. The latter contest created more interest for two reasons. The Huskies, sans coach Jim Calhoun, were having an easy time with the Johnnies and secondly the game between the Bobcats of coach Tom Moore, and the BU Terriers featured three former Marianapolis Golden Knight standouts.
Quinnipiac featured Ike Azotam and Ousmane Drame, while BU had Zach Chionuma. Quinnipiac won the hard fought contest thanks to a yeoman’s effort by Drame who finished with 10 points, 13 rebounds and six blocked shots. Two of the blocks came in the final two minutes of the contest to seal the victory.
Azotam, who is seventh in the nation in double-double performances, despite the many accolades he received from the broadcast crew, had a subpar performance by his standards. He finished with four points and six rebounds before fouling out late in the game.
Chionuma, who is a freshman for the Terriers, saw considerable action off the bench.
Marianapolis Prep was mentioned prominently throughout the broadcast. As a follower of the Golden Knight’s hoop fortunes, it was nice to hear a local prep school touted on television. Hopefully former coach Dave Vitale, the man responsible for the resurgence of basketball on Thompson Hill, was watching the action and feeling very satisfied.
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Spotted out for dinner on New Year’s Eve was a large group of former Putnam High School athletes. Despite the years from graduation this group has maintained a camaraderie that was nurtured when they played for the Clippers.
The contingent included Killingly football coach Chad Neal, Woodstock Academy Athletic Director Chris Coderre, and Lance, Derek and Dave Coderre and Sean Martel. They were joined by Killingly grads Aaron Vargas, golf coach at Adelphi University, Charlie Lee, president of the Eastern Board of Basketball Officials, and St. Bernard grad Ron Vargas. Oldtimer Ken Lussier stopped by to share season’s greetings with the group.
RPC’s Closing Thought for the Day: Enjoy a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. May 2012 be good to all our readers.