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The Fumbler: Shaq vs. a "real" local star -- The Fumbler
Friday, October 23, 2009

You might want to tune into ABC-TV next week for the newest episode of Shaquille O'Neal's reality show "Shaq Vs."

You know how O'Neal, a basketball megastar, went against Ben Roethlisberger in a staged football game this summer for Shaq Vs. Next week it will be Shaq Vs. ... The Fumbler.

Yes, while O'Neal was in town earlier this week for the Cleveland Cavaliers' NBA preseason game, the show's producers filmed a segment of Shaq Vs., where Shaq and The Fumbler sat in a Post-Gazette conference room and made predictions for high school games all over Western Pennsylvania.

Shaq was well-informed on some of the talent in the area and offered an opinion that star Hopewell running back Rushel Shell should change his name to Shaq Shell. "Would be nice alliteration," Shaq said.

Shaq and The Fumbler picked every game in the WPIAL and also other districts outside Western Pennsylvania. After perusing the list of games, Shaq wondered where the Turkeyfoot game was. The Fumbler informed him that Turkeyfoot Valley dropped its football program a few years ago.

"Oh," Shaq said. "Where is Turkeyfoot, anyway?"

"At the end of a turkey's leg," The Fumbler replied.

Check your TV listings. The Fumbler checked his picks last week and saw he had a 51-13 week (.797 percentage). That made his season mark 370-84 (.809 pct.).

By the way, thanks to all those who offered suggestions for The Fumbler's pregame meal last week in Monroeville. He picked the Gateway Grill, and the tremendous wood-fired ribs had him licking his fingers before he started typing.

Here are his thoughts on this weekend's top games:

Sto-Rox (6-1 overall, 6-1 in conference) at Keystone Oaks (6-1, 6-1), 7 p.m. today -- Sto-Rox likes to pass with Paul Jones. Keystone Oaks likes to run with Jordan Maddox and Matt McCann. The Fumbler checked the weather for tonight and saw that rain is possible. That's not good for passing. Winner: Keystone Oaks.

Shaler (6-1, 2-1) at North Hills (4-3, 2-1), 7:30 p.m. today -- The Fumbler will be attending this game and eating his pregame dinner at Bella Ria's, which sits atop North Hills' Martorelli Stadium, although he likes their breakfasts best. As for the game, take away last week's 37 points against winless Butler, and North Hills had averaged only 16 points in its four previous games. A lack of offense is why The Fumbler believes Shaler clinches second place in the Northern Six Conference. Winner: Shaler.

Hampton (4-3, 2-1) at Franklin Regional (5-2, 2-1), 7:30 p.m. today -- Someone needs to break up the logjam atop the Greater Allegheny Conference, where four teams are tied for first place. This contest will help clear the picture some. Winner: Franklin Regional.

Jeannette (5-2, 5-2) at Mount Pleasant (7-0, 7-0), 7:30 p.m. today -- Jeannette not in the WPIAL playoffs? That would be strange. But it could happen, especially after Mount Pleasant takes another step toward a perfect regular season. Winner: Mount Pleasant.

Center (6-1, 5-1) at Beaver Falls (7-0, 6-0) 7:30 p.m. today -- Center had its hands full last week for a while with Ellwood City, a team that has lost 31 games in a row. What will Center do against a team that has won seven in a row? Winner: Beaver Falls.

Oliver (5-1, 5-1) vs. Brashear (6-1, 6-1) at Cupples Stadium, tomorrow at noon -- Brashear averages 31 points a game, but Oliver has allowed only 44 all season. Offense wins this time. Winner: Brashear.

And now the rest (home teams in capital letters):

This afternoon

CITY LEAGUE -- Schenley over Allderdice (Cupples Stadium).

Tonight

CITY LEAGUE -- Peabody over Westinghouse (Cupples Stadium).

WPIAL CLASS AAAA -- (Big East Conference) CENTRAL CATHOLIC over Kiski Area (Duquesne University); Woodland Hills over PLUM. (Foothills) GATEWAY over Connellsville; NORWIN over Latrobe; McKeesport over HEMPFIELD; ERIE MCDOWELL over Penn-Trafford. (Great Southern) Bethel Park over CANON-MCMILLAN; Mt. Lebanon over BALDWIN; UPPER ST. CLAIR over Peters Township. (Northern Six) North Allegheny over BUTLER; PINE-RICHLAND over Seneca Valley.

WPIAL CLASS AAA -- (Big Seven) THOMAS JEFFERSON over Belle Vernon; Chartiers Valley over ELIZABETH FORWARD; West Mifflin over RINGGOLD. (Greater Allegheny) MARS over Indiana; Knoch over HIGHLANDS. (Keystone) DERRY over Albert Gallatin; Greensburg Salem over LAUREL HIGHLANDS; Uniontown over SOUTHMORELAND. (Parkway) Blackhawk over MOON; Hopewell over MONTOUR; New Castle over AMBRIDGE.

WPIAL CLASS AA -- (Allegheny) FREEPORT over Deer Lakes; BURRELL over Ford City; Valley over APOLLO-RIDGE; SHADY SIDE ACADEMY over West Shamokin. (Century) Bishop Canevin over CORNELL; Quaker Valley over NORTHGATE; Seton-LaSalle over SOUTH PARK; South Fayette over STEEL VALLEY. (Interstate) EAST ALLEGHENY over Brownsville; WASHINGTON over Charleroi; MCGUFFEY over Waynesburg. (Midwestern) BEAVER over Mohawk; ELLWOOD CITY over New Brighton; ALIQUIPPA over Riverside.

WPIAL CLASS A -- (Big Seven) MONACA over Neshannock; Shenango over UNION; LAUREL over Western Beaver. (Black Hills) FORT CHERRY over Burgettstown; Chartiers-Houston over BENTWORTH; Clairton over AVELLA; SERRA over Frazier. (Eastern) Brentwood over LEECHBURG; North Catholic over CARLYNTON; AVONWORTH over Riverview; SPRINGDALE over Wilkinsburg. (Tri-County South) Geibel over MAPLETOWN; CALIFORNIA over Jefferson-Morgan; Monessen over CARMICHAELS; BETH-CENTER over West Greene.

NON-CONFERENCE -- WEST ALLEGHENY over Freedom; TRINITY over Yough.

Tomorrow afternoon

WPIAL CLASS AA -- (Allegheny) Kittanning over SUMMIT ACADEMY. (Interstate) GREENSBURG CENTRAL CATHOLIC over South Allegheny.

WPIAL CLASS A -- (Big Seven) Rochester over SOUTH SIDE BEAVER.

NON-CONFERENCE -- Perry over DuBois (Cupples Stadium).

Mike White's "High School Sports Edition" videos are featured exclusively on PG+, a members-only web site from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.
First published on October 23, 2009 at 12:00 am