Bernie Fratto

Speaking
of
Sports 

by
Bernie 
Fratto

 
A Change
of Scenery

11/20/06

Novi HS has been a member of the Kensington Valley Conference since 1979. Having only been a Michigan resident since 1994, I can’t really speak to the history, memories, or rivalries that may have been formed, but I have always been baffled by the geography. And it’s ironic, when you consider MHSAA District playoffs are always assembled based on proximity.

With Northville HS right next door, the Walled Lake Schools just down the block, and the Livonia schools basically the next town over, it would seem to make more sense that Novi ‘re-locate’ to a new conference.

Now, it is my understanding there is nothing concrete on this subject, just a little speculation and conversation. In reality, Novi HS is a great school with a solid sports tradition, and they would fit nicely in the WLAA.

Of course, you would have to give up the long winding journeys to Pinckney, and the time consuming treks to Hartland, Howell and Brighton, but I bet people would get over it.

The WLAA has a tradition of schools that have made quite a name for themselves. Westland John Glenn was a finalist in the Dome at the 1993 Football Finals, and Walled Lake Western was State Champs in football just a few years later. How about Canton, they made it to the football finals last year, and had a great team this year.

Northville and Stevenson are powerhouses in soccer for both men and women, and the KVC and WLAA are comparable in basketball and baseball as well. But rather than list all the sports and make the determination based on handicapping a competitive playing field, it might be better to simply see things as they are.

On the face of it, it would seemingly save time and money, as well as wear and tear, by becoming a member of a conference that is already in the neighborhood.

There would still be room to schedule non-conference contests against former KVC schools as one sees fit, so you might even get the best of both worlds.

Change is inevitable, and usually, it’s a good thing.

(c) 2006 Novi Information Network
www.novi.org

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Bernie Fratto is a freelance writer, radio personality, and motivational speaker.  His passion for sports comes in part from his experience as a former Cincinnati Red farm- hand.  "Behind every sports story lies the hearts and minds of real human beings" said Fratto.  "These athletic endeavors often serve as a metaphor for the game we call life."

Bernie is also on the broadcast team at Live 97.1FM talk-radio, and is a frequent co-host on the popular "Parker & The Man Show," a nightly sportstalk show which airs Monday-Friday from 7-11pm.