Titletown: Hernando?

The latest ESPN gimmick is to examine which American community is actually Titletown.

If recent history serves us Beantown, aka Boston, has to be in consideration.

Look at what the Bruins (OK, forget them), the Patriots, Celtics and Red Sox have done lately.

Last time I checked, the Chowder Heads are hanging banners again (much to the chagrin of The Bronx faithful).

And don't forget about BC. You remember, Doug Flutie's alma mater - Boston College. Suddenly, that tiny private Catholic university is competing not just in ice hockey - but Division I football.

And wasn't it less than five years ago when it seemed that the name Buckner was synonymous with what ailed the Sox?

And what about the constant Babe Ruth curses? One lousy deal will do that.

Yet New Englanders have been rejoicing lately. Mostly because they utilize public transportation and don't have to fill their SUVs like the rest of us.

You see, the bad karma that shrouded Beantown dissipates each time Big Papi shows off his two Series championship rings from the last four years. Or was it when Kevin Garnett hammed it up on the recent Sports Illustrated cover with Bill Russell?

NY, NY

Wait a second, what about the Greatest City in the World?

Yeah, New York, New York, where locals greet you with simply, 'How u doin?'

OK, so the NY Giants' amazing 2007 post-season run rekindled some of the fans' passions in Gotham. But have you seen the Knicks, lately?

As the locals there would say, 'Fuggetaboutit!'

And the City of Angels on the Left Coast, dude?

Like the glory days of the Rams-Raiders-Al Davis regime hasn't left an odor?

The country's No. 2 television market still can't fill the seats of the 90,000-plus Coliseum without Southern Cal punched on its tickets.

And yes, the Kobe-led Lakers made the NBA Finals, but wasn't it really an aberration? There are at least four other teams in the Western Conference that could reach the NBA summit in 2009.

Yet, ESPN's discussion rightfully led off with Green Bay, Wis.

Everywhere you go in Cheese Head Land the reference is as bold as cheddar: Welcome To Titletown USA.

Vince Lombardi, et al, had plenty to do with erecting that legacy. Fittingly, the Super Bowl trophy bares his name. That's the way it should be.

Yet, the biggest news item emanating from Dairy Land is whether the local golf course suits Brett Favre, again.

Look, Favre belongs in Canton, Ohio. He'll ultimately land there. But once-and-for-all either meander back into the good graces of the Pack locker room or say, head to Tampa.

Heck, Coach Gruden plays musical chairs with his signal callers. What's one more?

Back-to-back titles

But no matter who ESPN wants to shove down our collective throats, there are plenty of local heroes.

How about this past week, when in back-to-back nights in rainy Marion County, Hernando County athletes returned home with not one, but two state championships.

The Hernando Debs (ages 16-18) softball players blitzed through three opponents at the Belleview Sports Complex by a combined 54-0 count. No misprint.

Either Head Coach Paul Sinwelski's troops are a mini Team USA on the diamond, or they faced minimal opposition.

Regardless of who they faced Sunday night, the opposition will be much tougher in Louisiana in three weeks during the Dixie World Series.

This squad composed of prep players from Hernando High, HCA, Central and Springstead hope to return this summer with the tallest trophy.

Last year, Hernando placed second.

And what about the Spring Hill Belles (ages 13-15)?

Head Coach Louie Caiazzo's team, which captured the District 4 Championship two weeks ago in soggy New Port Richey, went 4-1 in Belleview for the county's second state title late Monday night.

Like Sinwelski's troops, Caiazzo's club now also advances to Louisiana for the Aug. 2 Dixie World Series in its age group. Though the team has not hit to Caiazzo's expectations, like all terrific teams it has managed to win 7-of-9 post-season games behind stout pitching, exceptional defense and a sprinkling of timely hits, en route to two trophies.

On Wednesday night, Dixie Youth League's AAA Minors (ages 9-10) Baseball All-Stars completed its post-season run finishing tied for third in the demanding 12-team State Championship Tournament in East Lakeland.

OK, so Head Coach Al Sorrentino's team will not advance to the Aug. 4 Dixie World Series in LaGrange, Ga. But how can you label them 'losers' after capturing 9-of-12 games - that's 75 percent - across a demanding three-week period?

To me, ESPN can award any community its Titletown moniker.

But home is where the heart is and I'll take our champions.