Rivalries revisited in new league

GRANT GORDON

"It's like a new pair of underwear. At first it's constrictive, but

after a while it becomes a part of you."

-- Garth Algar

Most people are reluctant to change.

But, it's inevitable in most cases and in most cases, it usually

works.

Nobody thought Det. Bobby Simone and the crotchety Andy Sipowitz

would see eye-to-eye after John Kelly left, but those were the best

years of "NYPD Blue."

Sure, people in Brooklyn are still going through withdrawals to

this day, but we love our Dodgers here in Los Angeles.

Speaking of Tinseltown, we're having a bit of a rough go-round

with the Lakers right now, but think of all the memories we wouldn't

have if the purple and gold would've stayed in Minnesota -- where the

name actually made sense.

Of course, not all change works out.

Bring up Shaquille O'Neal to Lakers fans, for instance and did

anybody really give a hoot about "Saved by the Bell: The New Class?"

But I've moved on, and so too should the Pacific League, along

with its two new brethren: Burbank and Burroughs.

For most of this school year, it's been a water-cooler topic.

With those two new schools in the Santa Clarita Valley, what

happens to the two Burbank schools?

One league's gonna have eight teams, nobody wants that.

And so on and so forth.

Two weeks ago it became official, however, that both Burbank and

Burroughs will say so long to the Foothill League and the long bus

rides that more often than not led to sorrow.

The upside is the geographical rivalries that are now back in

effect, particularly with Glendale and Hoover.

Granted, certain Glendale-Burbank or Hoover-Burroughs match-ups

are far from dream matches -- more like nightmares -- but the

potential for spirited rivalries is there. The potential is also

there for some magnificent shake-ups in the Pacific League.

Here's some rather vague, sarcastic and mean predictions in no

particular order on how the Pacific League sports scene will change

in 2006-07.

FOOTBALL

The grand-daddy of 'em all when it comes to prep sports will

likely incur the largest change.

Nonleague schedules will moreorless become nonexistent and both

Burbank and Burroughs emerge from quite possibly the toughest league

in Southern California -- either Hart or Valencia or both has made it

to the last seven CIF title games while both Canyon and Saugus have

gone as far as the semifinals on occasion -- to become contenders for

a Pacific League spiraling downward as of late.

That's right, Burbank Coach Greg Sobiech and Burroughs Coach Keith