April 2009 Archives
Sometimes the smallest of life's twists can be the most frustrating.
I finally cleaned out the inside of my car and took it through the car wash Wednesday. When I went to pick up my laundry a few hours later, a bird with a significant case of indigestion decided the driver's side back window was the perfect place to deposit his product. That sums up my weekend. Bummer!
Luckily, the weekend is just ahead for most of you.
I did run a 13:02 two-mile Wednesday in my so-far pathetic attempt to get back in shape.
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Horse sense: Speaking of racing, the Kentucky Derby's on Saturday. Now I'm not one of those grammar freaks, but if I see one more misspelled horse's name I'm going to chuck the banana peel sitting next to me against the wall.
Seriously, did the sport's founders get together and collectively decide to require that a certain percentage of names must be spelled incorrectly?
Calling me a good speller is like calling Alex Rodriguez forthcoming. (In case you missed it, A-Rod has now been accused of taking steroids as far back as high school and continuing to juicing when he came to the Yankees in 2004. He's changed his story several times already, and his latest response: "I'm not going there.")
But if I'm sinking $290,000 into an animal, I'm taking the liberty to put spaces between the words in its name. But Pioneerof the Nile is one of the favorites to win Saturday's Derby. When local handicapper and radio host Steve Bortstein sent me a column a few weeks ago with the horse mentioned prominently, I incorrectly changed all of them to "Pioneer of the Nile," and he wrote a calm preface to his next column to say 'all the names are spelled correctly, thank you very much.'
Apparently, utilizing any sort of punctuation is a major transgression. Just check out the horses listed in today's race schedule for SunRay Park here in Farmington: 'Cupids Trick,' 'Robins Fortune,' 'Hooteys Margarita,' 'Rockets Glare.' The list continues. Possessive names are common, but no apostrophes.
For misspellings, catch 'Fast Kash,' 'Tyger in Your Tank,' 'Officr Neufner' and 'booger Boo.' If you fancy runons, enter 'I'mspeedytoo,' 'Tellmeiwasdreaming' and 'Lalumbredelospateres.' I don't know what that last one says. Maybe I should just string together letters and name my horse 'Hetwenstenkrams'.
Or you can combine two mistakes, like this one did: 'Thatsnolie.'
Then there's classy: 'He's My Dessert,' 'Touch My Abs,' 'Dont Gimme No Bs,' and 'Yes Yes No No.' If we care so much about animals (see: Michael Vick, or the local cockfighting raid), would we insert sexual innuendos or curse words into their names? Would anyone name one of their kids 'Booty Kaal'?
Gambling on horses already has enough of a stigma. Horse racing fans don't need you owners inciting any more haters. If you're going to spend thousands of dollars on an animal, maybe spend five minutes to think of something creative or check your spelling.
I think owners just eavesdrop on a middle of the night conversation downtown, and the first thing they hear becomes the horse's name. Which they write down on a napkin from the local establishment after a few shots of Jack Daniel's, accounting for the spellings.
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Stafford's money: While I'm ranting, how the heck is it fair that 2009 No. 1 NFL draft pick and quarterback Matthew Stafford is getting paid more than Albert Haynesworth? Stafford got the most guaranteed money in NFL history -- NFL history! -- $41.7 million regardless if he ever takes a snap for the Detroit Lions.
I got a first-hand glimpse of Haynesworth during my internship with the Tennessee Titans this past year, and I think he's the best defensive player in football. The Washington Redskins agreed, giving him $41 million guaranteed.
Here's a great column by Gary Myers of the New York Daily News on the outlandish rookie pay scale, by far the most outlandish aspect of the burgeoning NFL.
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Baseball Top 10: Piedra Vista is still ranked No. 2 in the 4A coaches poll, ahead of Farmington. This still doesn't make sense to me. Here's sports editor Darren Vaughan's article on the latest poll, with comments from both PV coach Dick Laughlin and FHS coach Don Lorett.
It will be interesting to see the matchups when the seeds are revealed Sunday. Could we be headed for a third game between the rivals, this time in the state semifinals?
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Track Top 10: No track meet this weekend as area teams prepare for next weekend's district championships. Here's the latest coaches poll, released April 22:
*Note: I am aware that the point totals at the bottom of the 3A boys poll don't make sense. I'm just the messenger.
4A Boys
T1. Albuquerque Academy (7), 106 points
T1. Los Alamos (5), 106
T3. Aztec, 66
T3. Artesia, 66
5. Farmington, 58
6. Belen, 47
7. St. Pius, 42
8. Piedra Vista, 39
9. Moriarty, 31
10. Volcano Vista, 23
Others: Kirtland Central 13, Roswell 13, Goddard 10, Grants 9, Capital 8, Silver 6, Del Norte 2, Bernalillo 1, Valencia 1.
4A Girls
1. Albuquerque Academy (4), 109
2. Los Alamos (7), 107
3. St. Pius (1), 87
4. Kirtland Central, 59
5. Piedra Vista, 55
6. Belen, 52
7. Aztec, 37
8. Artesia, 29
9. Goddard, 26
10. Roswell, 22
Others: Grants 16, Volcano Vista 13, Moriarty 12, Farmington 9, Valencia 6, Santa Teresa 5, Del Norte 5, Taos 2.
3A Boys
1. Hope Christian (6), 77
2. St. Michaels (1), 76
3. Lovington (2), 71
4. Ruidoso, 45
5. Bloomfield, 44
6. Portales (1), 37
7. Socorro, 26
8. Robertson, 32
9. West Las Vegas, 26
10. Cobre, 21
Others: Sandia Prep 19, Pojoaque 19, Hot Springs 15, Dexter 10, Raton 6, Hatch 6, NMMI 3, Santa Fe Indian 2, Cuba 2, Laguna Acoma 2, Zuni 1.
3A Girls
1. Hope Christian (1), 61
2. Robertson (2), 58
3. St. Michaels (2), 56
4. Ruidoso (3), 53
5. Lovington (1), 35
6. Sandia Prep, 30
7. Pojoaque, 29
8. Portales, 27
9. West Las Vegas, 25
10. Bloomfield, 24
Others: Cobre 15, Zuni 10, Santa Fe Indian 6, Laguna Acoma 6, NMMI 5, Dexter 4, Hot Springs 4, Hatch 3, Cuba 3, Miyamura 1, Tohatchi 1.
Navajo Prep isn't included in either 2A poll, but the boys did get six points, good enough for seventh on the "others" list.
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Sports links: Great article by New York Times reporter Alan Schwarz on Arthur Giddon, honorary bat boy on his 100th birthday. Giddon held the position for the Boston Red Sox during Babe Ruth's playing days.
* Not usually a fan of ESPN columnist Rick Reilly, but his column on the trivia texting service ChaCha was terrific. I'm considering working for them to scrape together a few dimes during my off days.
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Bizarre links: Weird week in Colorado, both involving vehicle-pedestrian collisions. First, a Denver man who pushed three people out of the way of a moving pickup truck as they crossed the street, and got hit by the truck himself, got rewarded with a jaywalking ticket.
* Next -- and you couldn't make this up -- a pregnant woman in Colorado Springs got hit by a car while "fleeing from an adult black bear." The next time I'm pregnant and getting chased by a bear, I'm going to try to avoid running in front of a car, but really, at that point, it may be tough to think straight.
* Finally, a Michigan millionaire is taking applications from women -- for marriage. No, this isn't a reality show. The man paid a matchmaking service whose fees start at $50,000 to help sort through the mess. Described as "self-made" and "very tall," I feel bad for him. I mean, surely if he's a multimillionaire that's decently attractive and not a complete recluse he can get a date or two. Gold diggers, here's your buffet. Let the onslaught begin.
Stay true and keep pounding,
Christopher
One of the Kirtland Central's best hitters, Holiday also excelled on the football field, earning first-team All-District honors for his work along KC's offensive line.
Holiday had interest in playing football in college before a shoulder injury this season scrapped those plans and forced him to first base on the diamond.
I asked him if his shoulder feels any better. His answer? "Not really."
It's tough not to wish Holiday well. His father often works the KC press box during baseball games and is a staunch supporter of the Broncos as well as a good baseball mind.
And Holiday shares his father's honesty and the ability to maintain his patience. Instead of complaining about his shoulder or dwelling on his team's 6-17 record, he takes difficult questions in stride and manages to still love playing baseball.
Athletes and coaches are infamous for guarded, cliched statements, afraid to give away information or put themselves in a bad light, but Bryce always answered my questions fairly and told it just like it was -- without fretting or an air of distrust.
So here's to you, Bryce, and thanks for giving the Four Corners something to be proud of.
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Heres a few extra quotes from Monday's game, which Farmington won 12-0:
FHS coach Don Lorett
On the team's confidence level
"Winning the last game against PV and being in control most of the game, we felt very good about that performance. It's something that we've done several times throughout the year. We've played well against good teams. Going down the stretch, I think that gives you the mental confidence that you've got to have this time of year instead of just hoping we can do well. We have some belief right now in what we're doing in every aspect. The pitchers are throwing strikes. It was a great performance by Justin Murray again, a (two)-hitter against a quality club. Outstanding performance from him on the mound and then come out and get the help defensively and swing the bats, it just adds to the confidence level at this time of year."
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FHS right fielder Kevin Domrzalski
On the same topic
"It's fun to go out there and have confidence and know that you're going to do well. The phrase of the week that we have is 'finish strong,' so we're trying to wrap up district and go into state at the top of our peak."
On the six extra-base hits against KC
"It's a great sign. That's one thing we haven't done well as a team is hit real consistently at the same time."
On whether or not it's difficult to stay focused right now
"It actually is because school is getting close to out and a lot of people are thinking different things. You really have to focus on, 'This is our job,' and get it done."
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KC first baseman Bryce Holiday
On the team's two total hits off FHS starter Justin Murray
"We were hitting them pretty hard in some spots but they were just set up perfectly. Hit it too high on one, hit it too much down the line on some."
I'm headed for my usual Wednesday/Thursday weekend, but I'll be posting the Thursday grab bag, so look for that. But until then...
Stay true and keep pounding,
Christopher
My boxing story from last night's fight at Sky Ute Casino is the definition of hackneyed.
Just read the lead: "experienced veteran"? Really?
In sports terms, I didn't have my best fastball yesterday.
Evan Bekes disappeared from the Bloomfield Invitational track meet before I could interview him about his big showdown with 3A distance runners Ryan and Eric Fenton. When I left for the Bloomfield softball game at 1 p.m., the field was empty. Finally, last night's main event ended close to deadline, and Elco Garcia fulfilled every autograph and picture request after the fight, delaying my interview. It was the right thing for him to do, but I sure stunk up the joint.
My first time covering boxing proved an interesting experience.
As I stood in line waiting to waltz through the metal detector with my laptop and press credential, the guy in front of me noticed.
"Hey, you with the paper? Who's favored in the main event?"
"Garcia's favored over Joe Gomez in NewMexicoBoxing.com's online poll," I said. "I'm not really sure, to be honest. But there's a definite contrast in the two fighter's styles, the cagey older puncher and the smooth younger guy. They started talking some trash over the past day, so it should be a good fight."
He broke into a toothy grin, revealing a desperate need for a dentist.
"That's what I came here for," he said, referring to the combative nature of the prefight buildup and the violent nature of the sport.
And that's what he got. Sitting ringside, at times close enough to touch a fighter's ankle without standing up, I had prime real estate.
Blood: Abel Perry (10-3, 3 KO) of Colorado Springs, Colo., blooded Rio Rancho's Lucas Galle during unanimous decision on the undercard.
Between one of the rounds, I glanced down at my laptop as the radio announcer next to me chuckled. A quarter-sized splotch of blood had splattered onto my touchpad.
"What, they didn't warn you?" he said.
I smiled and used some computer paper to dab it off. Daily Times photographer Lindsay Pierce told me "a clump of blood" landed in her hair.
Skirmish: Fans in attendance got into some sort of fight during the break before the main event.
According to one person who saw it, a few bodies were flying around and several security officers rushed into the lobby. That's as close as I got to figuring out what happened. I asked two security guards in the lobby, wearing bright red suits, and both of them said they didn't see anything.
One of Sky Ute's marketing/event guys Ben Fernandez also didn't know what happened, saying it probably wasn't a big deal.
Worst fight: Dustin Hendrick of Kearney, Neb., had no business standing in the ring with Bloomfield's Victor Filerio. It was nice to see a fighter with pasty skin and hair on his chest after all the handsome, chiseled olive skin that I could never have, but that was about all Hendrick brought to Saturday's fight in Ignacio.
Filerio knocked him out 1:59 into the first round.
Hit immediately, Hendrick gestured to his corner that it didn't bother him. As the referee separated the fighters, Hendrick tapped his own chin to mimic Filerio's punches and smiled, as if to say, 'I can't feel it.'
Moments later, a body shot stunned Hendrick, and Filerio pounded his face until referee Stephen Blea stopped the fight.
WWE: During a break, a boxer entered the ring and took the microphone. His message?
He lost in a recent fight, and he wanted a rematch.
"If you're out there, let's do this again. One more time! Give me my chance!" he called out to his opponent, barely stirring the crowd. It felt a little like professional wrestling, only the crowd didn't seem to care.
Someone nearby told me that he's a bad fighter that rarely wins, secretly responding to his request, "No! Nobody wants to see that ... no!"
Stay true,
Christopher
The race represented the first time Bekes and the Fenton brothers (Ryan and Eric) have competed during the outdoor season. The three are favorites to win the distance races at the Class 3A state meet.
They pulled away from the field immediately, looking smooth and fast through 600 meters. After the long jumper interrupted the race, Ryan Fenton ran away from the other two, winning the race in 4:38 unofficially. Bekes faded to fourth.
They'll all get another chance in the 3,200, going on as I type this. Check tomorrow's paper for more on the two races.
I apologize that the article doesn't have any quotes from Bekes -- I grabbed him after the race and asked him to see me once he finished cooling down, but he left the meet for a while and wasn't back before I had to leave.
Ryan Fenton said he felt more confident about the 3,200, feeling like he'll gap both his brother and Bekes. The Fentons just started speedwork three weeks ago, and only once a week. Ryan Fenton said he expects his mile time to drop significantly over the next few weeks, but really wanted to hammer the 3,200 today.
More later -- I'm heading to Ignacio, Colo., to cover my first fight at the Sky Ute Casino.
Farmington's Joe Gomez will box Ignacio's Elco Garcia in the main event.
Piedra Vista graduate Charly Martin is getting serious consideration from NFL teams ahead of this weekend's draft.
I had an opportunity to talk to Martin today. I hear his sister was an anchor here locally before continuing her career in Colorado Springs, Colo., where Martin will await Sunday's later rounds of the draft.
Martin earned his bachelor's degree in mass communications/broadcasting in May 2007. If football doesn't work out, there's no doubt he could follow in his sister's footsteps. I'm not sure if he would consider it, I didn't ask him, but he's articulate, insightful and he's got a strong voice.
Martin's well-versed in the NFL, paying particular attention to this year's draft coverage. He plans on studying every pick Sunday -- matching the team's actual decisions with pre-draft coverage will give him a good idea of where he could end up.
"People see mock drafts, and what the general public doesn't understand is that from the first pick to the third round, all those picks determine where people fall," Martin said.
The receiver didn't scoff at the real possibility he'll be an undrafted free agent. He'd likely get swooped up immediately -- each team signs six priority free agents as soon as the draft ends.
Plus, free agency would allow him to evaluate several potential teams and cherry pick which system and personnel give him the best opportunity to latch on to an NFL team, a decided advantage for a marginal prospect like Martin.
"If I do fall into free agency, I'll know what some of the teams have done. We're expecting a pretty big run in free agency and then it's up to me to make the right decision to put myself in the right position."
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I asked Martin to sell his case, and explain what he can offer an NFL team coming out of Division II school West Texas A&M, and this is what he said:
"I think I'm a natural at the game of football. I think my hands are my number one strength, and then my route running and knowledge of the game. My mental approach and that side football-wise is what will get me there, but I think by far the reason why I'm in the position today and what will get me on an active roster in the NFL will be my work ethic. I'm going to put a team in a situation where they're like, 'We've got to keep this guy.'"
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I ran track at Samford with Cortland Finnegan, a seventh-round pick that became an All-Pro this year with the Tennessee Titans. I spent parts of this season interning for the Titans, and I've been able to follow Finnegan's career closely.
Three things have stood out:
1. Willingness to play special teams
You'd be surprised how many undrafted or late-round guys scoff at the notion of becoming a career special teams player, but for many it's the only shot at playing in the NFL.
Martin's high school coach, PV's Jared Howell doesn't think that will be an issue.
"If they want him to be a kicker, if they want him to be the water boy, he's going to do whatever it takes to fulfill that dream, even if it means special teams."
Said WTAMU coach Don Carthel: "He was a great special teams player for us for all four years, even as a senior captain and All-American. You've got to drag him off the field."
Verdict: Money
2. Little man syndrome
Finnegan is perhaps the most feisty player in the NFL. Even after signing a new contract this past year that placed him among the highest-paid cornerbacks in the league and he got selected to the Pro Bowl, he has trouble shaking the "no one believes in me" mentality.
Martin didn't express this, but Howell said he believes that underdog mentality exists beneath the surface. Motivation goes a long way with marginal players, and it will help Martin if he learns to channel this.
Verdict: Inconclusive
3. Obnoxious athleticism
Finnegan's small, but he ran one of the fastest 40-yard dashes in combine history, and his vertical leap rivals the best in the NBA.
This is where Martin doesn't measure up to Finnegan's lengthy shadow. Granted, he worked his tail off to run a 4.51, much of the final hundredths coming after he bulked up in the weight room, but if anything is going to hold Martin back from making an NFL active roster, it's his athleticism.
More specifically, it's his athleticism related to his size. Listed as 6-2, 215 at WTAMU, that means Martin's probably 6-1, 205. That's small for an NFL wideout, especially one that doesn't have Percy Harvin's speed. Freakish athleticism could help make up the difference. It doesn't break the bank if Martin can't run a 4.39 or jump 42 inches, but it does make the margin for error that much smaller.
Martin did say he felt like he tested exceptionally at everything else other than the 40 during his pro day, which he was pleased with as well.
Verdict: Probably not
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That being said, Martin has the intelligence, the likeability and the team-first attitude that serve as prerequisites for late-round picks.
Carthel expects him to make it:
"It wouldn't be a great surprise to anybody in Canyon, Texas, because we all expect him to make it someday. Whether or not he gets drafted is irrelevant. He'll make it if they'll just keep him in camp. We're going to miss his leadership and his big playmaking ability here at West Texas, but we'll look forward to watching his career."
Some links:
- Ascent Sports Management clients (The company that serves as Martin's agent. Charly's halfway down the page on the left. Also check out the Hall-of-Fame link, which includes former Bronco Rod Smith.)
- 1965 NFL Draft (Farmington's only other two players selected in the history of the NFL Draft. Offensive tackles Bob Breitenstein and Ralph Neely both went in the second round. I'd have to say the 1961 FHS offensive line was beastly.)
One last tidbit. Ever wonder what happened to Ryan Leaf, the most infamous bust in NFL history? Martin played under him for a while. He coached quarterbacks and the men's golf team at WTAMU until resigning this past season after asking a player for a pain pill.
Stay tuned Sunday to find out if Martin is drafted or which team signs him.
Stay true,
Christopher
Despite the 9-5 loss to Farmington on Tuesday, the Piedra Vista baseball team is ranked No. 2 in this week's coaches poll.
The Scorpions are tied for third with Albuquerque Academy, and Artesia retained the No. 1 spot. The Panthers received two first-place votes, Artesia seven and Academy one. FHS didn't get any, having lost to Artesia twice this year.
High school rankings are still subjective and inaccurate. Without widespread broadcasts on TV, the voters likely haven't seen every team in the top 10 play. Plus, 10 voters is a tiny sample for a poll.
Still, there's no excuses for this one. The coaches get an error. FHS should be ranked ahead of PV at this point. They won the most recent contest between the rivals, and won by a larger margin. It's tough to make the argument that PV's played better against the other district teams -- both schools have thrashed the rest of District 1-4A.
Both won more than they lost predistrict and put on similar performances at the spring break tournament in Phoenix. PV's lineup has more pop to it, but the FHS pitching staff is deeper.
PV's expected winning percentage is higher in a one-game scenario than in a three-game series. Yet, FHS built a 9-1 lead Tuesday before holding off a resilient PV team, virtually locking up their ninth consecutive district title. They have to be ranked higher at this point.
Even minimal homework should've solved this problem. If that doesn't happen, there shouldn't be a weekly poll.
In softball, PV and FHS are ranked first and second, respectively. Aztec (No. 7) and Kirtland Central (No. 9) are also ranked.
Bloomfield's softball team is the No. 1 3A school, while its baseball team is ranked No. 2.
Baseball
Class 4A
Team Pvs Pts
1. Artesia (7) 1 97
2. Piedra Vista (2) 2 88
3. Farmington 3 77
(tie) Alb. Academy (1) 3 77
5. St. Pius 5 55
6. Belen 7 40
7. Moriarty 8 35
8. Goddard 6 32
9. Bernalillo 9 27
10. Volcano Vista 10 13
Others: Deming 11, Los Alamos 6, Aztec 2, and Grants 1.
Class 3A
Team Pvs Pts
1. Cobre (12) 1 120
2. Bloomfield 2 98
3. Sandia Prep 3 82
4. Socorro 4 74
5. Portales 5 73
6. St. Michaels 9 55
7. Ruidoso 8 51
8. Pojoaque 6 35
9. Hope Christian 6 26
10. Raton 10 12
Others: Lovington 8, Laguna Acoma 8, Cuba 4, Robertson 4, Dexter 2, and Hatch 1.
Softball
Class 4A
1. Piedra Vista (12) 1 129
2. Farmington (1) 2 103
3. Silver 3 91
4. Artesia 4 82
5. Roswell 5 66
6. Volcano Vista 7 63
7. Aztec 6 50
8. Moriarty nr 38
9. Kirtland 8 26
10. Del Norte 9 22
Others: Goddard 13, St Pius 10, Espanola 5, Los Alamos 5, Belen 5, Shiprock 3, Deming 3, Deming 3, Atrisco Heritage 3, and Bernalillo 1.
Class 3A
1. Bloomfield (14) 1 140
2. St. Michaels 2 121
3. Cobre 4 103
4. Raton 5 93
5. Hope Christian 3 92
6. Santa Fe Indian 6 52
7. Portales 7 48
8. Ruidoso 8 41
9. Miyamura 9 25
10. Socorro nr 10
Others: Newcomb 10, Robertson 9, Sandia Prep 7, Hatch 5, Laguna Acoma 5, Lovington 5, Pojoaque 2, and West Las Vegas 1.
Trouble in Kirtland: In case you missed it, a Kirtland 16-year-old was arrested Monday for allegedly pretending to rape another boy on the bus after a JV baseball game.
Apparently the 'rape game' has existed within the school's athletic program for quite some time. One boy will position himself behind another and make a sexual motion simulating rape, probably to get a rise out of his teammates or embarrass the boy. Basically, an out-of-hand, unchecked version of male teenage horseplay.
It has not been a banner year for the Broncos' baseball program. The varsity (6-16, 2-4 District 1-4A) edged out bottom-dweller Shiprock twice for its only district wins and has dealt with infighting, presumably brought about by frustration.
KC coach James Belveal said this about his players after a 17-0 loss to PV: "They've got to become glue and don't separate. You see some separations coming and you try to get them to bond back together. If they don't bond, you never really recover. A lot of it's in their hands. We just try to facilitate the directions they need to go. You can't force them to overcome it."
He was talking about their attitudes relating to losing, but he might as well be discussing the 'rape game.' The KC coaches can talk about acting mature until they're out of breath, but can they really stop a 16-year-old from a casual act of immaturity? I doubt he thought much about the potential consequences before he did it, and likely didn't view it as a big deal.
I'm sure the coaches will come under criticism from some, and it's probably not justified. If this game has gone on unchecked for years, and it's widespread as the initial investigation hints, then it's hard to believe someone in the administration never caught wind of it. In this particular case, it seems like they're making the kid an example and following through with discipline.
The coaches can't force their players to act like adults, but they can punish them for stupidity. If they knew about this behavior in the past, they deserve blame, but in this case they couldn't have done anything differently.
Hawk on the loose: On to a lighter subject. Wednesday's playoff game between Atlanta and Miami included a hawk delay.
That's right: An actual hawk flew across the court during regulation.
"Spirit" flies from the rafters during the pregame in reference to Atlanta's mascot, the Hawks. It decided to stay around for the game Wednesday, landing on TNT's cameras mounted on the backboards and getting several minutes of live closeups. The bird finally flew to its handler after a brief delay.
"You see Al Horford duck and run, I was like, 'Let me run for cover as well,'" Dwayne Wade told the Associated Press. "It was kind of weird having the hawk fly around. It's hard to play with your back to that hawk on the backboard."
Hilarity ensued during TNT's halftime show. The producers dropped a cardboard cutout hawk from the ceiling, playing a loud sound affect that caused Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith to look like Macaulay Culkin the first time he saw the would-be robbers in Home Alone.
It was the second-most scared I've seen a current or former professional athlete, and over a piece of paper no less. The most scared: A few of the Denver Broncos' offensive lineman on the team plane two seasons ago during some moderate turbulence.
Someone needs to upload the video of Sir Charles freaking out on the set pronto. I'm disappointed it's not already there, and thus I can't share it with you.
Usain Bolt vs. Michael Johnson: Social networking has become a drug. I'm not an addict. I'm more like a recreational uer -- I admit I'll hit up Facebook regularly. The newest application, "Pick Your Five," has me enamored. You pick your top five of anything: fast food joints, people you want to punch in the face, favorite baseball players, etc.
One of my former Samford track teammates posted her top five sprinters of all time this week. She got me thinking: Who's ranked higher at this point? Michael Johnson or Usain Bolt? Both have to be in everyone's top five.
Bolt broke the 100 and 200-meter dash world records at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Bolt's 10.69 in the 100 came despite the fact that he slowed to celebrate 15 meters from the finish, leading to this hilarious parody.
In the 200, he sprinted the entire race and started to lock up near the finish line, breaking Johnson's 12-year-old record by .02 seconds, running 19.30.
When Johnson broke Pietro Mennea's 17-year-old record in the event, he smashed it by .4 seconds. (He ran a 19.66 at the Olympic trials, breaking Mennea's 19.72, before running his 19.32 at the Olympics.) Johnson became the only man to win gold medals in the 200 and 400 at the same Games, setting an Olympic record in the longer event in 1996.
Bolt set two world records, but the 100 WR has been broken nine times since the 1996 Olympics. It isn't as prestigious historically, even if it's the sexier race, so to speak.
As sprinters have gotten progressively faster, Bolt did turn in the most impressive 100 ever. He's been a 200/400 guy most of his career because of his tall stature, which makes it more difficult for him to come out of the starting blocks. Yet Bolt's maximum effort barely eclipsed Johnson's 200 time over a decade later.
Furthermore, Johnson's 400-meter WR of 43.18, set in 1999, still stands. Try to watch that race without getting chills. That's still the most dominant world-class sprint in our lifetime. He won by over a second, beating a guy that set the Mexican national record by 20 meters. In track lingo, Michael Johnson is The Truth. The strength of his final 100 causes me to drool with jealousy.
And then there's the always-entertaining call from the foreign announcer: "Just have a look at him. No dropping of the arms. The cadence of the arms, which dictate the speed of the legs, absolutely, unfailingly accurate."
Bolt may pass Johnson as the greatest sprinter of all time, but in my mind, Johnson and his gold spikes still hold that crown.
Lions logo: The Detroit Lions unveiled a new, "fiercer" logo this week.
Yes, it does look meaner. The teeth are sharper and the pose is more aggressive. But after an 0-16 NFL season, all you're doing is giving talk shows ammo. You're the butt end of every joke, and you just made it easier. Perhaps not the best season to switch logos.
New team president Tom Lewand said the rebranding of the Lions franchise is "about changing a culture within our organization and within our community that says, 'We are going to do this the right way and we are going to start from the ground floor and we're going to build a championship football team that year-in and year-out the people of the city of Detroit can be proud of.'"
Sorry, but a different-looking helmet paint job isn't exactly going to keep Ray Lewis or Brian Urlacher from leveling quarterback Dante Culpepper, and there are bigger, more relevant issues that Detroit needs to fix. Like maybe fixing your 30th-ranked offense. Or your 32nd-ranked defense.
Quote of the Week: Speaking to ESPN about former MLB star Lenny Dykstra's financial disarray for an investigative piece, Nigerian-born gastric bypass specialist Dr. Festus Dada said:
"He thought he could keep my $500,000 and nobody would have the resources to go after him. But in this case, I am going after him. General surgeons are not intimidated by professional athletes.
"Like I told him, if I can cut somebody from the neck all the way down to the pubis with a scalpel, then I cannot be intimidated."
Link of the Week: Dikembe Mutombo's NBA career may be over after he suffered a knee injury in a playoff game against Portland. Here's a compliation of links about one of the most likeable, entertaining characters in sports. The video at the top is particularly compelling as Mutombo's teammates try to impersonate his gravelly voice.
That's all for today's grab bag.
Stay true,
Christopher
The Scorps have three district games left, but barring an upset by Aztec, Kirtland Central or Shiprock, FHS will win their ninth consecutive district title May 1.
FHS needed to beat PV by three or more runs to put themselves in this position, and they won 9-5. But what if Morgan McCasland hit a single with the bases loaded in the first, or Shilo McCall doubled home two runs in the seventh?
It's a silly game to play, I know, because any number of things can happen during a sporting event that can change the outcome for either side. The bottom line is, the Scorps handled business.
But for informational purposes, suppose FHS won 9-7 instead. The head-to-head run differential is the first tiebreaker, and it would've been even (PV beat FHS 6-4 on April 4). According to Farmington athletics director Rocky Moore, the second tiebreaker involves run differential with the third-place district team.
In other words, if PV had lost by two runs, the team with the better combined score against Aztec would be the district champion. The Tigers are the likely third-place team in District 1-4A.
That would've made the final weeks of the season compelling. Farmington beat Aztec 11-1 on Feb. 28, but that game wouldn't count since it wasn't a district contest. Here's the district schedule between the teams:
Apr. 7: Piedra Vista 17, Aztec 5
Apr. 14: Farmington 16, Aztec 4
Saturday: 11 a.m. -- Aztec at Piedra Vista
May 1: 7 p.m. -- Aztec at Farmington
The run differential in those final two games would've determined the district winner. Would anyone else have felt bad for the Tigers?
Scorps hit McCasland: PV pitcher Jake McCasland gave up nine runs to the Scorps on Tuesday in his worst outing of the year.
Granted, the Panthers committed five errors and left eight runners stranded, but PV will have a tough time advancing deep into the state tournament with that output from its stud.
It came down to McCasland's fastball: his velocity may have tailed off a bit and the Scorps hit it hard.
In case you missed it in my gamer, here's what McCasland had to say:
"They did well hitting me. I didn't have my best stuff, but I've got to learn from it. You can't pitch well every time."
McCasland was understandably upset after the game and was the last PV player to leave the field at Ricketts Park. He went on to say, "Nothing's really going to cheer me up right now. Pretty rough game."
Lorett said he was disappointed with his team's hitting in the 6-4 loss to PV earlier in the season. He went on to say that the team's faced tough pitching this year, particularly in the Phoenix tournament, and felt confident "in the back of (their) minds" they could hit a guy that throws as hard as McCasland, but this proved it to them.
"We just didn't quite hit the ball on the button (in the earlier loss)," Lorett said. "We were real patient and we swung at strikes, we just didn't have a big inning at all."
This is pure speculation on my part, but I wonder if McCasland's fastball has been dominant to the point that he relies on it too often. I've seen him strike out the side on nine pitches twice this year, basically raring back and daring the batters to catch up to it. He has a changeup and a curve, which is also a plus pitch for him. If his fastball isn't as effective, he needs to mix in those pitches more often, but he hasn't had to do that much this season. Perhaps that played a factor in Tuesday's game.
But there's little doubt the fastball sets up everything for McCasland and serves as a central hub for his outings.
The guy has been close to a superhero for the Panthers, including a one-hit shutout over KC in his last start. I'd expect him to bounce back fine.
One last take on McCasland from Farmington's Nick Clayton:
"We've already seen him once, so we knew what would happen. We tried to jump on the fastball, because that's really his pitch. If he can blow it by you, he's got two other pitches that are really good, too."
The two lines for the pitchers:
McCasland -- 3 2-3 innings, 9 runs, 5 Ks, 3 BB, 8 hits, 100 pitches
Clayton -- 6 1-3 innings, 5 runs, 7 Ks, 4 BB, 2 HBP, 7 hits, 120 pitches
Again, both pitchers gave up some unearned runs.
Tidbits: PV loaded the bases twice with less than two outs and didn't score a run ... FHS turned three inning-ending double plays ... FHS would claim its 33rd district championship in school history with three wins to close the season .... Eli Freese and Niles Taylor pitched a combined three scoreless innings in relief for the two teams ... Over 800 young baseball players paraded across the field before the game, part of their season-opening ceremony.
Quotes from PV coach Dick Laughlin: "The tone of the game got set right there in the first inning. When they got their runners in scoring position they got them in. They took care of business more than we did." -- on PV's missed opportunities
"We didn't give up. We fought right up to the end and I'm proud of our boys for that. This group of kids, they do not give up. I had hope right up to the last out." -- on PV's near seventh-inning rally
"(The program) is going in the right direction. We've got a good young club right now, and we're not done yet by any means this year." -- on any positives he can find through the disappointment
It was a gorgeous day at Ricketts Park. Makes me wish I could've been outside.
That's all for tonight. What were your thoughts on the game?
Mike Malone, an employee for San Juan Regional Medical Center in Farmington, headlined the group, finishing the 26.2 miles in 3 hours, 19 minutes and 34 seconds.
Malone, 39, finished 14th out of 36 men from New Mexico.
Jeffrey Fultz (Shiprock), Teresa Ledwitch (Aztec) and Fred Huffman (Kirtland) also finished the race.
You can find searchable results for the marathon here.
Mark Scherbarth, 33, of Albuquerque, led all state finishers with a time of 2:47:49, good enough for 368th overall.
Malone finished less than two minutes ahead of the state's fastest female, averaging 7:37 per mile.
Our neighboring states made us look bad. Fifty-eight New Mexicans (22 women) finished the race compared to 235 Arizonans and 238 from Utah. Four hundred thirty-one Coloradoans finished the race.
More embarrassing, Alaska claimed more finishers than New Mexico with 67. Still, better than South Dakota, which had 18 runners complete the course.
Shoutout to my former Samford teammate Bryan Baddorf, who finished 173rd overall in a time of 2:39.44, or 6:06 per mile.
I'd expect a pitching rematch between PV's Jake McCasland and Farmington's Nick Clayton.
Both pitched last Tuesday. McCasland threw a one-hit shutout in a 17-0 win over Kirtland Central. Clayton allowed four runs -- three earned -- in a 16-4 win over Aztec. Both coaches were pleased with their performances.
Clayton and McCasland allowed all the runs in PV's 6-4 win over the Scorpions on April 4.
The Weather Channel is forecasting a beautiful day, with clear skies, less wind than we've had recently and a first-pitch temperature of 75 degrees.
PV (17-4, 5-0) will clench their first district baseball title in school history with a win.
The Panthers' bats regressed a bit Saturday against Shiprock after they plated eight runs in the first inning. Coach Dick Laughlin said his players watched too many good pitches, a problem that's contributed to a bit of a slump for McCasland at the plate.
FHS (14-4-1, 3-1) needs to win to keep their streak of district championships alive. I assume they need to win by at least three runs to vault past PV in the standings, although the NMAA isn't kind enough to provide easy, accessible information on the tiebreakers on their Web site.
The Panthers' defense has steadily improved, and their offense has more power from top to bottom than Farmington's. McCasland's pitching provides PV a marked advantage in a single game. His fastball tops out in the upper 80s and he's been efficient too, striking out the side on nine pitches in at least two games this year.
I predict PV will win this game 5-4. I haven't seen anything from Farmington that shows me their offense can outslug PV's, and until I do, I have to consider the Panthers a slightly better team.
What's your prediction?
Piedra Vista baseball coach Dick Laughlin said the Panthers took too many good pitches Saturday in a five-inning, 11-0 win over Shiprock.
There might not be a team in the district that can contain PV's lineup. Opposing teams may have to hope the Panthers don't swing.
PV scored 17 runs against Aztec and Kirtland Central in their previous two district games. Led by Brennon Shay's two-run home run, PV stormed to an 8-0 lead during the first inning against the Chieftains.
Like a Lamborghini Gallardo doing 150 mph on Highway 64, PV had too much muscle for Shiprock -- until the Lamborghini blew a transmission. The Panthers scored three runs in their next three times at bat (four times if Shiprock was the home team -- both district games were played at Ricketts Park).
"We didn't swing the bat very aggressively," Laughlin said. "We took too many strikes."
I thought Jake McCasland took too many hittable pitches against Kirtland Central, and PV should've scored more than 11 against Shiprock. The Chieftains allowed Aztec to score 22 runs April 11.
PV (17-4, 5-0 District 1-4A) now plays Farmington (14-4-1, 4-1) on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Still, PV has no need for concern.
McCasland, the district's best player as a junior, will pitch against the Scorpions, and the Panthers have a handful of players with a handful of home runs. This isn't a baseball team that's getting shut out within the district this year.
Laughlin did compliment Shiprock, paralleling what Farmington coach Don Lorett said after the Scorpions' 10-0 win on April 7.
"They're greatly improved from the last time we played them," Laughlin said.
Kerr hasn't played softball in high school until this year, but KC coach Roy Johnson said the two have known each other since Kerr was a baby.
Kerr sat out the first game of Friday's doubleheader against Farmington, then got KC's first hit off Courtney Brummell during the bottom of the third inning.
She was one of KC's most improved players on the basketball court this year, earning Honorable-Mention All-District status and helping the Broncos to the state semifinals.
An accomplished runner, she didn't join the track team this year until April. She won the 800-meter dash April 5 in her first race back, clocking a 2:28.60 at the Bloomfield Invite -- nearly qualifying for the state meet and winning the event by 15 seconds.
"She used to play (softball), so we've worked out a deal where she plays for me on Friday and then she runs track on Saturday," Johnson said. "She's never played (in high school) until this year, but she's a good athlete as you can see."
Farmington won 16-6 and 10-0 as both games ended after five innings.
Other notes that didn't make it in my gamer:
KC's Kim McKnight had an outstanding game in the opener, hitting 3-for-3 with a leadoff home run in the top of the second.
KC's last game: a 12-7 win over Del Norte on March 28. That's a 20-day layoff -- rough, especially considering they had to play Farmington, the No. 2 team in 4A, their first day back.
Farmington's Robin Randall also hit a towering shot that cleared both fences at the Ricketts Park softball complex, joining her teammate Megan Kremp.
Kremp's hitting line for the two games: 4-for-5, 2 HRs, 2B, 10 RBI. She reached base in seven of her eight plate appearances and scored four runs.
I just drove back to my apartment from the laundromat here in Aztec and I think I saw a few snow flurries. I'm confused. It's April 16, and the temperature's in the 40s. Maybe I'm hallucinating.
Anyway, welcome to the first edition of my weekly grab bag. The purpose here is to entertain, so if you want hard news, skip this entry every week. If you have a short attention span (think "Arrested Development") and crave sports entertainment value with a local flavor, this is for you. If anything happens locally or nationally that sparks a random thought, I'll include it here.
Rodeo: I attended my second-ever rodeo last Saturday, the Ty Waybourn Memorial at McGee Park. You can find my story here.
As a newbie, there are a few things I don't understand. I suppose the sport originated out of practicality. I can see events like calf roping being a significant part of life in the West.
However, I have a tough time picturing cowboys-by-trade wearing flannel shirts tucked deep into the waistband of their jeans as they wrestle steer to the ground. I can believe they wore the distinct hats -- although I have no basis of evidence -- but I doubt they wore "wrist-length sleeves with collar and cuffs, a western belt, western jeans and boots," with the shirt tucked in 24/7, as specified by the National High School Rodeo Association Handbook (page four).
It also specifies that "athletic shoes designed to look like western boots are not western attire and are not allowed." With rodeo's inclusion under the NMAA's umbrella a few years ago, the competitors must consider rodeo to be a sport. And they aren't allowed to wear athletic shoes.
It seems silly to me that practicality gets disallowed. Can you picture a cowboy tying off a goat on the ranch, only to be chastised by a neighbor when part of his shirttail hangs out and his boots are a bit too much like tennis shoes? "Sorry Cowboy Tim, you're gonna have to untie that there animal. I can't let you get away with that looking all sloppy and unwestern." But then, tradition has a way of creating silly rules.
I did enjoy my interview with Travis Briscoe, of the PBA, on Saturday. He knew the late Ty Waybourne and competed with him. Besides being a fellow redhead, Briscoe was personable and well-spoken. I could tell he's done quite a few interviews.
Darrah: Speaking of interviews, last week's prep newsmaker Darrah Blackwater was terrific. One of the best I've encountered since I moved here. She wins the award for "most entertaining" with her responses to the "10 Questions" portion of the feature. She even turned it around and asked the interviewer (me) some questions.
Media and The Masters: It's easy to criticize the media. I suppose I should refrain, being a member, but the CBS Masters coverage Sunday grated on my nerves.
They were too blasé with their armchair psychology. I typically enjoy that type of discussion, but their logical fallacies were too blatant. I'm rusty, but I think this would be a non sequitur: Phil Mickelson hit a ball into the water on the back nine Sunday, therefore he's "trembling under the pressure."
Please. Mickelson shot a 30 on the front nine, tying a Masters record. He's been in good position at majors before and self-destructed, but this was not one of those times. He started the day too far back.
It seemed like the announcers dubbed every shot "gritty" or "choke job." A guy that gave back a stroke was "trembling under the pressure." Angel Cabrera "showed courage" by winning the playoff. They overdramatized it more than a British soccer player soliciting a red card after an ankle glances against his shin. Anybody that's played golf knows that sometimes you hit bad shots. That doesn't mean you chunked your nine-iron into the bunker because you were folding under pressure. Did Tiger "choke" because he didn't win?
Also, what was up with the Comcast? Did anyone else lose CBS for an extended period of time Sunday afternoon?
Paulus: Duke point guard Greg Paulus is creating ripples after getting a tryout with the Green Bay Packers.
A decorated high school football player -- he threw for over 11,000 yards -- Paulus has one year of college eligibility left because he didn't redshirt for the Blue Devils. He may wind up as the starting quarterback at Michigan. What's Rich Rodriguez thinking?
First, Paulus looks more like a gym rat than an NFL or major college quarterback. Listed at 6-1, 185, he's more like 175. Basically my size. He'd have to put on 30-40 pounds and start right away, because he only has one season of eligibility. Oh yeah, he wasn't at spring practice because he was busy leading Duke to another disappointing NCAA tournament run, which ended with a 23-point beatdown by Villanova in the Sweet Sixteen.
If you're Tate Forcier, the touted true freshman that took most of the snaps during the spring, how are you feeling? Your coach is asking a skinny point guard who hasn't played football in four years to come to your field and compete for your job at one of the proudest football schools in America.
****
That's all for now. One last item on the agenda: I need a quality signoff. I'm a big fan of those. Anchorman showcased Will Ferrell's "You stay classy San Diego," Los Angeles-based entertainer Adam Carolla signs off with "mahalo" every show, and Andrew Mason, whom I know from his time as editor of DenverBroncos.com, goes with "Vaya con Dios."
All classic, all professional, and all creative. But I need my own. Suggestions?
Welcome to Topher's Tidbits!
You may or may not have noticed a goofy-looking, fair-skinned redhead from Alabama appearing at sporting events across the Four Corners area. That's me. And let me just say, Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore. (Thank goodness. Not a fan of the state. Have you ever driven across it?)
After living in Denver, Birmingham, Washington, D.C., and Nashville in the past 15 months, I've made a couple observations about living here:
1) Reliable sunshine
It's rained or snowed a handful of times since I moved here Jan. 13. That being said, the wind sure does blow this time of the year, doesn't it? It seems like every game, there's a discussion in the press box about whether headwinds or tailwinds affect fastballs, or how the gusts help junk pitchers.
2) My car is perpetually dirty
Not that I care -- I'm a 22-year-old single guy -- but is this normal? Or has it just been that long since I ran it through the wash?
3) Chili goes on everything
I'm a proponent of adopting as much of the local culture as possible, and being an avid eater, the first thing that I want to do is sample the local cuisine. I understand the most identifiable New Mexican food staple is chili: green or red? I enjoy cooking in my apartment, but rest assured I've tried a Lotaburger with chili. I went with green. I still don't understand which is more spicy. Apparently it depends?
Also, when a JV game ran long at Kirtland Central's basketball gym and I was killing time, I tried some frybread and loved it. My next quest is to try a Navajo taco, and I want to learn to cook both.
4) Hometown courtesy
Us southern folks tend to think we're the friendliest and most well-mannered bunch, but I've experienced my fair share of that here.
The woman at the Aztec post office offered her number in case I ever have car trouble. A coworker bought me a drink from Sonic when I didn't have the spare cash. As a city boy, frankly I'm enjoying the "everybody knows everybody" stereotype about smaller towns that seems to exist.
But this area's certainly not as intimate as the student apartments at Samford University where I recently lived. I love meeting folks in the area and getting to know your stories, so please don't hesitate to introduce yourself. There can't be too many redheads around, so I should be easy to spot.
I've been blessed with some amazing experiences already, having covered a full compliment of sports for a full compliment of publications. Of local interest, I interned for DenverBroncos.com during the 2007 season, even traveling on the team plane and staying in the team hotel for road games. I spent time this past summer at the Washington Post, although I'm certainly not of the caliber of the journalists that work there. I've also spent plenty of time covering high school and college sports.
I feel like I've gotten a bit lucky to be employed, especially in an industry that's doing its best Titanic impression. Writing is my passion, and I'm here to illuminate the athletes and schools that make Four Corners sports so exciting. That being said, I need all the help I can get from you guys to tip me off on the best stories that you think deserve coverage. I'm all for feedback, criticisms, comments, ad hominems, and so forth. The beauty of working for a smaller paper is getting to interact with you, the reader, and I cherish that opportunity, so please help me take advantage of it. You can reach me at csmith@daily-times.com.
Sportswise, I must admit I love basketball. No one in Alabama can believe the 3,000-plus people that attended the girls' Kirtland Central-Shiprock game at Bronco Arena. High school football is king where I come from, and my high school's team had their own MTV show ("Two-A-Days"). We never get crowds like this for basketball, and 300 would be spectacular in most instances for girl's basketball. I applaud you for recognizing the abilities of female athletes. Also, the support of the Shiprock fans at the KC-Shiprock boys game was fun to see. I couldn't believe you guys were so vocal and energetic, especially as visitors to another school's gym.
My first obligation is to ensure I'm doing my best to help sports editor Darren Vaughan produce a quality sports section from a design and a reporting standpoint, but I'm no stranger to hard work. I'm going to update this blog as much as possible with some things that don't make it into the paper, opinions, and as the title suggests, tidbits. If you've got any questions or a subject matter you'd like me to give an opinion about, please let me know.
A little about me: I'm competitive, and I dream big. For most of my life, I've channeled that into athletics, competing in just about anything that kept score. I'm athletic -- I can dunk a basketball when I'm in shape -- but my hand-eye coordination isn't good. So eventually I settled on track. I ran for Samford University, Division I in every sport but football, more well-known for helping launch the coaching careers of Bobby and Terry Bowden, Chan Gailey, Jimbo Fisher, and currently Pat Sullivan, who won the Heisman Trophy for Auburn in 1971 and recruited LaDainian Tomlinson to TCU as head coach there.
So I ran the 800 mostly, and ran on the 4×400 relay for the Bulldogs. My new venture is attempting to summit all the Colorado 14ers (mountains over 14,000 feet in elevation), and eventually make an attempt at Everest. Most of my significant accomplishments involve eating, driving long distances or other bizarre physical acts.
My greatest assets are my willpower and desire, which I need, since I'm one of the dumbest smart people I know. Example: I misspelled five words when I wrote this. Thank goodness for spell check. I'd never make it in this business without it.
But this blog is about you, the reader, more than anything else. The discussion forum is good and all, but this gives you another opportunity for you to discuss sports with less clutter. I'm toying with the idea of concluding most entries with a question, so here's the first: What makes Four Corners sports unique?
