Andy Charest

Wounded Warrior softball team to face celeb squad in D.C.

By Andy Charest on April 2, 2012 Uncategorized

Baseball’s regular season starts in just a couple days, but the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team’s season just doesn’t end. The team travels the country bringing attention to the resilience of military service members by competing aginst able-bodied opponents. On April 3, they’ll face a team of celebrities in a charity game after the Washington Nationals-Boston Red Sox exhibition game at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. The celebrity team will feature local radio and TV personalities such as “Meet the Press” moderator David Gregory, sports legends such as Redskins Hall of Famer Darrell Green, and even “Top Chef” contestant Bryan…

Former coach: Tiger Woods wanted to be Navy SEAL

By Andy Charest on February 29, 2012 Golf, Iraq, Navy

A new book by Tiger Woods’ former swing coach says the golf megastar’s real passion was to be a Navy SEAL. In “The Big Miss,” due out March 27, Hank Haney details Woods’ ambition to become an elite special operator. According to Haney, over four days spent at a special operations training camp at Fort Bragg, N.C., Woods did “hand-to-hand combat exercises,” “four-mile runs wearing combat boots” and wind tunnel drills, and completed “two tandem parachute jumps.” Woods’ late father, Earl, was an Army Green Beret who did two tours in Vietnam. And Woods’ own AT&T National golf tournament is…

Jeff George to QB in game benefiting wounded warriors group

By Andy Charest on January 26, 2012 Football, nfl, Uncategorized

Gunslingin’ quarterback Jeff George is making a comeback — again. No, not with the Colts, Raiders or Redskins — but instead on a field where his talents can do the most good. George, an Indianapolis native, is set to play in a Feb. 1 flag football game pitting military amputees against former NFL players. The game will benefit Wounded Warrior Amputees (if you’re in the Indy area and want to check it out, tickets are $20 and can be purchased here). George has tight military connections, with his brother-in-law and father-in-law both Army officers. The quarterback played for several NFL…

Hoops rivalry doubleheader this Saturday

By Andy Charest on January 12, 2012 Army, Basketball, Navy, Uncategorized

What: Army vs. Navy men’s and women’s basketball When: Sat., Jan. 14; women’s game at noon; men’s game at 2:30 Where: Alumni Hall, Annapolis, Md. TV: CBS Sports Network The storied Army vs. Navy rivalry hits the hardwood Saturday in two nationally televised games at the Naval Academy’s Alumni Hall. While the basketball incarnation may lack the luster of the gridiron version, both the men’s and women’s teams are just a couple games into the meat of their Patriot League schedule, and the rivalry should prove a springboard for the rest of the season. The schools’ women’s teams will play…

From gridiron to battlefield

By Andy Charest on December 14, 2011 Uncategorized

The immediate memory of Sept. 11, 2001, served as a stark reminder to the players in the 2001 Army vs. Navy football game that more serious, consequential duties awaited them. The film “From Philadelphia to Fallujah” follows the stories of three players — Navy’s J.P. Blecksmith and Brian Stann, and Army’s Omari Thompson — documenting their move from the playing field to the front lines. Blecksmith was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the Marine Corps, and commanded a platoon that was the first to enter the city of Fallujah. He was hit by sniper fire on Nov. 11, 2004, and…

Former Air Force star gets second chance to fly — with Eagles

By Andy Charest on November 18, 2011 Uncategorized

An injury to Philadelphia Eagles starting wide receiver Jeremy Maclin has given Chad Hall another chance to make his mark in the NFL. Hall, a wide receiver who starred for the Air Force Academy from 2005 to 2007, will be in the mix to run back punts and kickoffs as the struggling Eagles take on the New York Giants Sunday night (8 p.m. EST, NBC). Hall had spent the first 10 weeks of the season on the Eagles practice squad. He spent four weeks on the practice squad last year, but was called up for eight games and totaled 144…

West Point legacy ties top two basketball coaches

By Andy Charest on November 15, 2011 Basketball

If Mike Krzyzewski’s Duke Blue Devils beat Michigan State tonight (ESPN, 7 p.m. EST), he’ll get his 903rd win and become college basketball’s all-time winningest coach. In doing that, he’ll pass his mentor — and his former Army head coach — Bob Knight. Krzyzewski was coached by Knight for all of his four seasons at West Point. Knight forced him to change his playing style, and Krzyzewski went from being a top scorer in high school to primarily a staunch defender and ball-handler for the Army team. He struggled to find his place — even getting booted off the team…

Carrier Classic teams have strong ties to military

By Andy Charest on November 9, 2011 Uncategorized

From the Raleigh (N.C.) News and Observer: North Carolina players and coaches talk about their connections to the military and what it means to be a part of the game: From the Lansing (Mich.) State Journal: Michigan State senior Austin Thornton’s brother, a second lieutenant based at Camp Pendleton, Calif., will watch his brother play at the Quicken Loans Carrier Classic.

2011 Academy Basketball Preview: Army

By Andy Charest on November 4, 2011 Uncategorized

Army’s first winning season since 1984-85 may be too lofty an expectation for Coach Zach Spiker’s squad. Last season: Overall 11-19; Patriot League 3-11 Coach: Zach Spiker (second season) Key player: F Ella Ellis (14.6 ppg., 5.3 reb.) What to watch:Much like the other academy teams, Army’s offensive strength is its perimeter play. The Black Knights were tops in the Patriot League last season with 8.8 made three-pointers a game. But they’re picked 8th in the Patriot League preseason poll for a reason: They’re undersized and are not physical inside. They’ll depend on junior forward Ella Ellis and senior guard…

2011 Academy Basketball Preview: Air Force

By Andy Charest on November 3, 2011 Air Force, Basketball, Uncategorized

The Falcons look to build on a seven-win improvement from 2010, but will need contributions from incoming freshmen to get over that hump. Last season: Overall 16-16; Mountain West 6-10 Coach: Jeff Reynolds (fourth season) Key player: G Michael Lyons (13.7 ppg., 3.5 reb.) What to watch: The Falcons’ solid defense will need to step up even more this year, with three of the team’s top scorers graduating last year. Third-team All-Mountain West selection Michael Lyons can score in a variety of ways, and hit the 20-point mark seven times last season. The Falcons’ offense is largely perimeter-oriented, but Coach…

Author Andy Charest