The Southwest Voice

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Was it Joe Torre’s managerial skills or the on-field talent provided to him by management that drove the New York Yankees to success during Joe’s tenure? His acumen was vividly apparent during Yankee post-season play for many years. But he had the horses to ride back then! His swing to the West Coast is refreshing not only for Torre, but also for the Los Angeles Dodgers and their faithful. Their team is chock-full of young talent, with a nice sprinkling of veteran leadership to boot. The key for the team will be Torre’s attention to detail as he continues to familiarize himself with the Dodgers’ players. His skills will be put to the test as he battles two loaded teams in the National League West Division, as the Colorado Rockies and the Arizona Diamondbacks both made playoff appearances last year. If Torre melds his mix of vets and young guns, the Dodgers could challenge for supremacy in their division.

Do you ever feel stuck on the couch or confined to your residence? Well, here is a thought avenue you may want to travel down — play tennis! It’s a great sport for the young, the middle-aged and the old. The pluses are many: great exercise, honing of hand-eye coordination, flow the competitive juices (at whatever level is comfortable for you), a nice outdoor activity, a family activity if you choose, social interaction and more. There are numerous public tennis courts available, or a person may opt to join one of the local clubs. The Kern Community Tennis Association (KCTA) puts on various tournaments throughout the year that are well run and a kick to play in. Try it, you’ll like it!

Stockdale High grad Sean Barker could play outfield for any number of Major League baseball teams! The plethora of excellent outfielders in the Colorado Rockies organization makes it tough for Sean to make “The Show” at this time. With his talent, there will come a time when he is a regular member of a Major League team. Rock on, Sean!

Today’s quote: “I don’t want to make the wrong mistake.”