Some recent news items in sports worthy of comment while wondering why the Pirate scores aren't regularly announced at Blair County Ballpark:
ITEM: Lambeau eyes Big Ten title game.
At first blush, you might think the Green Bay Packers' proposal to host the first Big Ten championship game in 2011 is ridiculous.
Who wants to go to Lambeau Field in mid-December?
On the other hand, this is one of the most hallowed venues in sports history - right there with old Yankee Stadium, Wrigley Field, Fenway Park, Soldier Field and the Boston Garden.
Rather than go to a carpeted, cookie-cutter indoor stadium similar to where the SEC and Big 12 contest their title games, the Big Ten could show its old-school appreciation by selecting Green Bay.
There's nothing quite like turning on a football game and watching the weather be a factor. Or attending a game while it's snowing.
Besides, the new-age athlete of today likes old school, right?
Hotel space in Green Bay is probably questionable, given that most of the people going to games at Lambeau on a weekly basis don't need rooms. Of course, there's always the Tundra Lodge and Resort.
The Big Ten may settle on Indianapolis or it could move its title game around to Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland or the new Meadowlands Stadium. Either way: Green Bay is worth considering.
In the meantime, I'll picture JoePa roaming the sidelines like Vince Lombardi, minus the hat. I'll picture steam coming from the players' helmets, and I'll picture Kevin Newsome or Matt McGloin or Paul Jones executing a quarterback sneak, ala Bart Starr following Jerry Kramer, to beat Wisconsin for the 2011 Big Ten title.
ITEM: Local NABF regional off.
News of the cancellation of the local NABF Regional is truly a shame in that Altoona's roots with the National Amateur Baseball Federation run deep.
But it's also a sign of the times in that events that were once fixtures, such as the Tour de 'Toona and the PSFCA All-Star game, appear to have run their course here, too.
None of those, however, have the 50-year history of the Kelley Federation hosting its annual regional tourney at Vets Field so let's hope it can return next year.
And if not, let's credit Tom Stout and his committee, including Danny Wilson and the boys, for keeping it going this long.
ITEM: LeBron signs with Heat.
My money's still on the Lakers.
Rudel can be reached at 946-7527 or nrudel@altoonamirror.com.
