Week 5...Loading

We're going to do this somewhat quickly because today was a lot at the day job.

First, you gotta love this play from Cam Beal last weekend.

Steve Craig has a great story on the use of Guardian Caps in Maine.

‘I like my brain cells’: More high school football players in Maine wearing protective ‘Guardian Caps’ — but not in games

The use of the caps, which are now allowed in NFL games, has increased significantly in Maine for practices in the last 2 years but has not carried over to games.

Press HeraldSteve CraigPress Herald

In keeping with the last couple of weeks, I did another Overreaction podcast, only with an opening segment going over the new top 10 in the football rankings.

I'm trying out different ideas on how to use the podcast. I really enjoy the conversations. It's just a question of how to best utilize it.

The last couple of overreaction podcasts had been southern Maine focused. I wanted to make sure to get a perspective from someone north of Augusta, so I enlisted Marc Calnan of Eastern Maine Sports--an essential resource--especially if you're looking for coverage in that part of the state.

We cover the surprises of week 4, including Stearns' huge win over Orono, Dexter's blowout of football Valley, a couple of athletes that have impressed Marc so far, and a bunch more.

Check it out!

Of course, you can also listen at the usual podcast places.

And subscribe! Leave a review! All that dumb stuff that feeds the algorithms.

As for the full rankings, they're updated for Football...

Football Rankings

The Model takes on the gridiron.

Maine Basketball RankingsLucas McNelly

And for Soccer and Field Hockey...

Fall Sports Rankings

GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL

Maine Basketball RankingsLucas McNelly

And, of course, the Heal Points.

A lot of stuff is updated, is the point.

If you don't already know, legendary receiver Randy Moss' son plays for UMaine. And last week, he pulled off something very cool.

There's a lot of Cooper Flagg stuff that's surreal, but Bill Simmons making a joke about a NFL team playing like they're tanking for a kid who a couple of years ago was playing his home games in Newport is way up there.

He's already committed to Princeton, but Landon Clark (formerly of Bangor and Maine United) has been upgraded to a 4 star prospect by ESPN.

It's easy to think of the Flagg twins as a generational one-off (two-off?), but I think Maine basketball talent is having a moment. I can't think of a time where there was more Maine talent, both boys and girls.

Speaking of which, Mackenzie Holmes was on a college football pregame show. No big deal.

The MPA is looking to expand on Unified Basketball (as they should).

Unified Basketball Continues to Grow in Maine

AROOSTOOK COUNTY, Maine (WAGM) - The Maine Principals Association continues to expand the Unified Basketball program in Maine.

WAGMRene Cloukey

Finally, RIP to one of the greats.

‘He is truly invaluable’: Dikembe Mutombo is still the NBA’s greatest ambassador for Africa

DAKAR, Senegal — There was a thunderous beat of the drums as the trumpets enthusiastically blared. Men proudly dressed as lions posed, growled and intimidated. …

AndscapeMarc J. Spears

If you were watching the NBA in the 90's and early 2000's, you couldn't help but love Mutombo. Sorry, Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo (as they loved to tell us during broadcasts. The finger wag was stuff of legend.

I still say the finger wag shouldn't be a technical--out of respect.

Generally, a Stax Index of 80 is enough to get you Game of the Day during basketball season.

We have 10 games this weekend that meet that criteria. So there's probably a pretty good game near-ish you.

Anyway, the Model's picks for all of this weekend's games are after the jump.