To watch Bill Whitehead and Troy Graefe at their best Friday night was like having a front-row seat for a chess match.

No, it wasn't boring.

It was strategy at its best.

Whitehead, forever a tactician, worked the officials and his Greeley West team to make all of the right moves in the Spartans' 53-41 victory over Graefe's Wildcats.

Methodically -- how else would Whitehead approach anything -- the West head coach never once let Graefe see him sweat as the Spartans established play in the paint early in the second period while Greeley Central found itself helpless without much of a perimeter game to respond -- thanks largely to an improved West defense.

In the Wildcats' one-point victory over West earlier this season, it was no secret that the Wildcats had one of their best defensive games of the season and were able to take advantage of some key outside shots to send West shaking its heads.

Prayer and healing

In some cases, the healing can be manifested in a physical sense.

Dennis Smith, 61, of rural Harrisburg severely injured his left calf in a work accident in 2005. The tissue healed, but he suffered from a constant itching sensation under the skin. The nerves were damaged, and no medication or cream relieved the feeling.

During the service he went to the altar and knelt before the minister.

"Pastor Barb anointed me with oil, laid hands on my head and shoulders and prayed for my relief."

He didn't get instant relief but noticed days later that the intensity of the feeling was easing.

Brian Roberts could put Cubs over the top

One of them is one of the all-time great liars.

Baseball spring training camps open this month and some big-name free agents are jobless and might have to swallow some pride to prolong their careers and sign for much less than they're accustomed to. They include Barry Bonds, Armando Benitez, Mike Piazza, Kenny Lofton, Shannon Stewart, Livan Hernandez, Sammy Sosa, Bartolo Colon, Shawn Green, Corey Patterson and Tony Clark.

If they can't find jobs, Bonds, Sosa, perhaps Clemens and Piazza all would be on the 2013 Hall of Fame ballot. It would be a very impressive group if they all were "clean."

But Piazza is the only one who hasn't been accused of using performance-enhancing drugs.

Billionaire Rochester sportsman Tom Golisano over the weekend reiterated that he's prepared to do what he can to keep the Buffalo Bills in western New York.

Region four wrestling results

David George (St. Xavier) d. Russ Whatley (Trinity).

.

Microsoft's Offer For Yahoo Contributes To Higher Close On Wall Street ...

2/1/2008 4:40:39 PM Stocks closed higher on Friday, adding to gains posted in the previous session. Investors weighed in on Microsoft's (MSFT) announcement regarding its offer to acquire Yahoo (YHOO) along with several mixed economic reports.

Before the opening bell, Microsoft announced an unsolicited takeover offer to acquire for Yahoo for $44.6 billion. Microsoft expects to complete the proposed transaction in the second half of calendar year 2008, but the Justice Department said that it is interested in reviewing associated antitrust issues.

The Labor Department also released its report on the employment situation for the month of January before the stat of trading. The report showed that non-farm payrolls decreased by 17,000 jobs in January following an upwardly revised increase of 82,000 jobs in December.

If you knew...

If you miss the live broadcast, the show will be made available in This is Hell's Archives.

If you knew is posted as an article on Fridays. There is an archive of over 400 blogs that were posted over the last two years. Any comments, suggestions, critiques or leads to articles, are welcomed.

Defiant Amy Winehouse wins big at Grammys

Tried to make me go to rehab, I won't go, go, go," she pledged in the former, even though rehab is exactly where she's been spending a lot of time, lately. "I told you, I was trouble," she sang, dolefully, on the latter. When "Rehab" was named Record of the Year, she seemed overwhelmed, covering her face and collapsing into the arms of her backing musicians. The crowd in London chanted "Amy, Amy." Recovering her composure, she gave a brief acceptance speech, thanking her parents, her business and music associates, and her incarcerated husband Blake Fielder-Civil. Winehouse had been nominated for six Grammys, and won five of them, including Record, Song (songwriting) and New Artist of the Year. Also, Mark Ronson was named Producer of the Year, largely for his work with her.

Coach guides Spartans to victory against city rivals

To watch Bill Whitehead and Troy Graefe at their best Friday night was like having a front-row seat for a chess match.

No, it wasn't boring.

It was strategy at its best.

Whitehead, forever a tactician, worked the officials and his Greeley West team to make all of the right moves in the Spartans' 53-41 victory over Graefe's Wildcats.

Methodically -- how else would Whitehead approach anything -- the West head coach never once let Graefe see him sweat as the Spartans established play in the paint early in the second period while Greeley Central found itself helpless without much of a perimeter game to respond -- thanks largely to an improved West defense.

In the Wildcats' one-point victory over West earlier this season, it was no secret that the Wildcats had one of their best defensive games of the season and were able to take advantage of some key outside shots to send West shaking its heads.

Prayer and healing

In some cases, the healing can be manifested in a physical sense.

Dennis Smith, 61, of rural Harrisburg severely injured his left calf in a work accident in 2005. The tissue healed, but he suffered from a constant itching sensation under the skin. The nerves were damaged, and no medication or cream relieved the feeling.

During the service he went to the altar and knelt before the minister.

"Pastor Barb anointed me with oil, laid hands on my head and shoulders and prayed for my relief."

He didn't get instant relief but noticed days later that the intensity of the feeling was easing.

Brian Roberts could put Cubs over the top

One of them is one of the all-time great liars.

Baseball spring training camps open this month and some big-name free agents are jobless and might have to swallow some pride to prolong their careers and sign for much less than they're accustomed to. They include Barry Bonds, Armando Benitez, Mike Piazza, Kenny Lofton, Shannon Stewart, Livan Hernandez, Sammy Sosa, Bartolo Colon, Shawn Green, Corey Patterson and Tony Clark.

If they can't find jobs, Bonds, Sosa, perhaps Clemens and Piazza all would be on the 2013 Hall of Fame ballot. It would be a very impressive group if they all were "clean."

But Piazza is the only one who hasn't been accused of using performance-enhancing drugs.

Billionaire Rochester sportsman Tom Golisano over the weekend reiterated that he's prepared to do what he can to keep the Buffalo Bills in western New York.

Region four wrestling results

David George (St. Xavier) d. Russ Whatley (Trinity).

.

Microsoft's Offer For Yahoo Contributes To Higher Close On Wall Street ...

2/1/2008 4:40:39 PM Stocks closed higher on Friday, adding to gains posted in the previous session. Investors weighed in on Microsoft's (MSFT) announcement regarding its offer to acquire Yahoo (YHOO) along with several mixed economic reports.

Before the opening bell, Microsoft announced an unsolicited takeover offer to acquire for Yahoo for $44.6 billion. Microsoft expects to complete the proposed transaction in the second half of calendar year 2008, but the Justice Department said that it is interested in reviewing associated antitrust issues.

The Labor Department also released its report on the employment situation for the month of January before the stat of trading. The report showed that non-farm payrolls decreased by 17,000 jobs in January following an upwardly revised increase of 82,000 jobs in December.

If you knew...

If you miss the live broadcast, the show will be made available in This is Hell's Archives.

If you knew is posted as an article on Fridays. There is an archive of over 400 blogs that were posted over the last two years. Any comments, suggestions, critiques or leads to articles, are welcomed.

Defiant Amy Winehouse wins big at Grammys

Tried to make me go to rehab, I won't go, go, go," she pledged in the former, even though rehab is exactly where she's been spending a lot of time, lately. "I told you, I was trouble," she sang, dolefully, on the latter. When "Rehab" was named Record of the Year, she seemed overwhelmed, covering her face and collapsing into the arms of her backing musicians. The crowd in London chanted "Amy, Amy." Recovering her composure, she gave a brief acceptance speech, thanking her parents, her business and music associates, and her incarcerated husband Blake Fielder-Civil. Winehouse had been nominated for six Grammys, and won five of them, including Record, Song (songwriting) and New Artist of the Year. Also, Mark Ronson was named Producer of the Year, largely for his work with her.