Metering is ON

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Pat Disabato

coachs corner

Pat Disabato, a lifelong resident of the (Blue) Island, has been a sports writer for more than 20 years, beginning his career in 1990 with …

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Disabato: One crusader to honor the Crazies

Shaun Jacob attended the Brother Rice-Marist basketball game nine days ago — no different than many supportive alumni from the respective schools — and stood amazed at the atmosphere. Yes, the game itself was memorable, with Marist taking down Brother Rice 75-69. But the action …

Disabato: Hillcrest among the elite again

There are few certainties in life, beyond death and taxes. And, oh, of course, Hillcrest producing a boys basketball team that ranks among the best in the Chicagoland area. Don’t believe me? The Hawks are embarking on their 24th straight conference championship. And accompanying most …

Disabato: Koziol ruling sends wrong message

I would give Ed Koziol more credit and, ultimately, more respect if he would have revealed the truth surrounding his son Ryan’s transfer from Brother Rice to Providence. You know, instead of feeding us a baloney sandwich loaded with horseradish. I don’t like baloney. Apparently, …

Disabato: Stagg football needs to make a bold move

After enduring a four-year slide of 8-28 and being outscored 970-391 in the process, it’s imperative Stagg hits a home run when naming a successor to football coach Brian Buglio, who resigned in November. In a perfect world, the Palos Hills school would folIlow the …

Disabato: More than the ‘Ws’ to these coaches

When a fresh-faced Mike Flaherty graduated from Lewis University, his alma mater, St. Rita High School, just so happened to be in the market for an assistant varsity basketball coach. The position was vacant after an equally fresh-faced young man by the name of Tom …

Disabato: Oak Forest’s Coleman chooses Indiana

By the time Tevin Coleman’s college football career is over, it’s possible the 2011 SouthtownStar Player of the Year may have to shift his allegiance from offense to defense and develop into a cornerback. He’s cool with that. But all Coleman has desired through an …

Disabato: A look at the midway point in boys basketball

The boys basketball regular season has reached the midway point. A number of teams have exceeded expectations, while others have yet to meet them. Let’s discuss. For the second consecutive season, Homewood-Flossmoor earned top billing in our Preseason Top 10. The Vikings finished 23-6 last …

Disabato: There are reasons Bloom is top team in area

Defense wins championships. It’s a theme that’s been drilled into the heads of athletes — no matter the sport — since their first day of organized competition. I get it. Scoring is fun and glorified. Defense, at least of the above-average variety, takes hard work …

Disabato: Goodrich free, but never loses sight of past

Dwayne Goodrich sits across from me at a table in a local restaurant, looking a few pounds heavier than his playing weight. He looks like a man who’s lived a pretty good life, not one who’s served hard time. But the truth is, Goodrich, a …

Disabato: Moore, Ulis showcase point guard skills

The look of disappointment on Tyler Ulis’ face Tuesday night resembled that of a heartbreaking McDipper championship loss, not a second-round McDipper defeat. But that type of emotional destruction occurs when you’re on the wrong end of a Marian Catholic-Bloom encounter. Not just in boys …

Disabato: Sandburg showing signs of life

Will the real Sandburg please stand up? To say the start of the season has been a challenging one for Todd Allen’s boys basketball team would be an understatement. This publication bestowed a No. 9 pre-season ranking on the Eagles. Hopes were high that Sandburg, …

Disabato: Thornwood grad Eddy Curry receives a second chance

Like an aging left-handed pitcher or a strong-armed but erratic quarterback, 7-foot centers seemingly always find their way onto an NBA roster. Hence, the Miami Heat signing Eddy Curry, the 2001 Thornwood graduate and former first-round pick of the hometown Chicago Bulls, on Saturday. The …

Disabato: Marist, St. Rita rank among elite

When the final horn sounded, signifying an end to a thrill-a-minute basketball contest Tuesday night between Marist and St. Rita, it was evident why these two teams rank among the area’s elite. The Mustangs are No. 4, the RedHawks No. 5 in the SouthtownStar hoops …

Disabato: H-F’s Williams will play hoops in college

He will be remembered as one of the most skilled and productive two-sport athletes in Homewood-Flossmoor High School’s rich history. He is the rare athlete who could alter the outcome of a game on the football field and basketball court. However, Tim Williams knew he …

Disabato: Coaches need to tone it down

There was more than turkey and dressing distributed during the week of Thanksgiving. For a number of local high school boys basketball coaches, technical fouls and ejections were being served along with the side fixins. Maybe it was the excitement to the start of the …

Disabato: Andrew hoops up to challenge

Mike O’Halloran said the turkey was a little juicier, the sweet potatoes a little sweeter, the cranberry sauce a little tastier on Thanksgiving Day. Starting the season 3-0, including a tournament championship, can have that type of positive effect on one’s life. “Well, it always …

Disabato: Never underestimate your opponent

The look on Tim Williams’ face said it all. Equal parts disbelief, embarrassment, while still producing a thousand-watt grin. “I’m going to get teased pretty bad at school,” he conceded. Williams, a 6-foot-7, 205-pound forward at Homewood-Flossmoor, accepted an invitation by yours truly to play …

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