Son of Swami predicts the winners for Week 6
There they were, the inimitable Mike (No Show) Dempsey and his consigliere, the Son of Swami, when SOS feared for his life.
The two were sitting outside at the Glass Onion, SOS’s favorite breakfast-lunch spot in Michigan — not just Allen Park — discussing possible new members of the Dirty Tricks Committee.
The Glass Onion, whose carryout service enabled SOS to survive the early months of the pandemic, has a pretty neat motif with album covers on the walls, although SOS is waiting for The Boss’ “Born to Run” cover to earn a spot of honor.
Suddenly, a car swerves into the middle lane, stops, the driver’s door swings open and what appears to be a madman emerges and sprints toward Dempsey and the All-Knowing One, wrapping his arms around the two.
SOS thought it could be a jealous husband or a disgusted coach, both solid possibilities, with a kidnapping imminent.
Instead, it was Loren Ristovski, the athletic director at Taylor. He was hugging SOS and Dempsey, but as SOS learned from watching his grandsons play, every hug ends in a headlock.
It was Ristovski’s eldest daughter, Madison, who provided SOS with the earliest “Got My Lede” moment ever when, as a seventh grader, she told SOS: ‘I’m going to be Miss Basketball someday.”
SOS replied: “That’s nice. What state are you moving to? Montana?”
Madison responded: “Nope. I’m staying in Michigan.”
Five years later when she indeed was named Miss Basketball, SOS used that anecdote to begin his story.
The Green Onion waitress had just taken SOS’s credit card when Ristovski ran back to his car for his wallet, yanked SOS’s credit card and the check from the waitresses’ hand and pulled out gobs of cash to pay the bill, leaving a
hefty tip.
Then he ran back to his car, still sitting in the center lane, and raced off . . . with SOS’s credit card.
Ristovski will soon be inducted into the Dirty Tricks Committee, just after SOS presents his predictions of this week’s best games.
Portland (5-0) at Lansing Catholic Central (5-0), 7, Friday. This one matches the Division 5 No. 4 team (Portland) against the Division 6 No. 1 team(Lansing CC). You remember Portland?The team that handed DeWitt its first loss since the 2019 state semifinals. The Red Raiders are still winning with Drew Miller and Reis
Phillips gaining yards like crazy and Haden Getchell completing enough passes to get by. CC must find a way to control the ball against Portland, which has beaten CC eight of the last nine times. Joey Baker can throw the ball effectively, but CC will also need Brandon Lewis and Alex Watters to help control the clock with the running game. Port Land 28, Dantonio Catholic 26.
Clarkston (5-0) at West Bloomfield (4-1), 7, Friday. Dillon Tatum has filled in nicely as the main back for the Lakers, but if West Bloomfield, the defending D-1 state champ, is going to win this matchup it needs the best defensive effort of the season. Clarkston quarterback Mike DePillo is having a fine season, which was expected. And now running back Ethan Clark is having a huge season, and SOS never saw that one coming. Last Train to Clarksville 32, Seidel High 26.
Chippewa Valley (4-1) at Sterling Heights Stevenson (4-1), 7, Friday. Stevenson will need standout defensive performances from linebackers Jordan Kwiatkowski and Biagio Madonna to control CV phenom running back Cephus Harris, who is having a sensational season. If Stevenson controls him, they will still have to contend with quarterback Ryan Schuster, one of the most efficient passers around. CV’s defense will have its hands full containing the running of Kwiatkowski and Jordan Ramsey as well as Madonna, who does whatever is required at quarterback. Chippewa Hotel 24, Sterling Stevie Wonder 21, OT.
Novi Detroit Catholic Central (4-1) vs. Warren De La Salle (4-0) at Wayne State, 7, Friday. This is for the lead in the Central Division. Behind quarterback Declan Byle, the Shamrocks have their best passing attack in years. Kameron Davenport and Owen Semp are two of several reliable CC receivers. De La Salle also has a varied offense. Brady Drogosh is one of the state’s top junior quarterbacks and sophomore Rhett Roeser is a bulldog running between the tackles and has deceiving speed when he turns the corner. The Vatican 17, De La Slappy 14.
Howell (5-0) at Hartland (4-1). Both defenses have three shutouts — so far. Howell’s Danny Honkala and Tyler Christensen will make it difficult for Hartland QB Brad Sollum to pass and RB Joey Mattord won’t have many open holes. Conversely, Harland’s Aiden Martino and Chase Kern lead a defense that will present big problems for Howell QB Nolan Petry and RB Cole Quattlander. This should be a defensive classic. Thurston Howell IV 15, Heartless 14.
Mick McCabe (err, Son of Swami) is a former longtime columnist for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at mick.mccabe11@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @mickmccabe1. Save $10 on his new book, “Mick McCabe’s Golden Yearbook: 50 Great Years of Michigan’s Best High School Players, Teams & Memories,” by ordering right now at McCabe.PictorialBook.com