It's safe to say that Secaucus volleyball coach Maria Nolan believes that yours truly is one of the biggest jinxes in the history of mankind.

In 1997, the Secaucus volleyball team was featured in the sports pages of the Hudson Reporter, in an article about the Patriots' impressive winning streak of 60 matches. The same week that the article appeared, the Patriots saw the streak end, at the hands of North Arlington.

Two weeks ago, the Patriots were again featured in the pages of the Reporter, once again with an impressive winning streak, this one of 68 straight matches. The Patriots once again faced North Arlington. And once again, the streak came to an end.

Much like the Sports Illustrated cover has served as a jinx, so has being the spotlight feature in the Scoreboard. Sorry about that one. But the Patriots will bounce back and be fine, come time for the NJSIAA Group I state playoffs...

Congratulations to St. Anthony hoopster Jon Paul Kobryn, who gave a verbal commitment to attend Stony Brook University, a new NCAA Division I school, coached by former Fordham head coach Nick Macharchuk.

And while some other St. Anthony basketball products have had difficulty earning freshman eligibility due to meeting the Proposition 48 requirements, there is no fear about the 6-8 Kobryn being eligible to play right away. Kobryn has a 3.90 grade point average and a Scholastic Aptitude Test score of nearly 1,300. He's a sure thing in terms of being eligible...

The St. Louis Cardinals are facing the Mets in the National League Championship Series and that's not only good news for former St. Dominic Academy basketball coach Mike Perchun, but it is also good news for Guttenberg octogenarian Louis Inglese, who proudly proclaims that he has been a fan of the Cardinals since the 1930s and the days of Joe "Ducky" Medwick.

However, from the largest Mets fan this side of the Mississippi, I hope that both Perch and Louie are saddened next week, when the Mets take care of the Cards and head to the World Series. Can anyone say Subway Series?...

In closing, here are some get well wishes for my former Hudson Dispatch colleague and current Jersey Journal columnist Mike Spina, who was injured recently in a car accident. Spina, who is also a teacher at Horace Mann School in North Bergen, told friends that he will be back to normal as soon as possible. For the man with the Spider Webs, known as Behind the Mike, get well soon...