March 2013 - Challenge Magazine by Challenge Magazine

MARCH 2013

THE Art of Selection Creating the NCAA Tournament Field

SARA EVANS Stronger

Cheating in Sports A Time-Honored Tradition Swamp People Meet the Gator Hunters www.ptcchallenge.com

COVER PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE COLLECTIVE Photo: JIM YOUNG/REUTERS/Newscom

cover & features

contents march 2013 • volume 9 issue 3

The Art of Selection

Women in Racing

Before March Madness can officially begin, and before anyone can fill out their bracket, a group of 10 individuals are tasked with deciding what teams are in and what teams are out.

Danica Patrick is the face of women in racing but she would not be where she is today without earlier trailblazing drivers like Sara Christian and Janet Guthrie. We take a look back at some of the women in racing’s past.

Sara Evans

Cheating in Sports

She’s sold nearly 6 million records, has five No. 1 country hits and has even penned a few novels, but throughout her success Sara Evans always finds a way to stay grounded and keep her family first.

Lance Armstrong may be dominating the headlines for his recent cheating confession, but he’s not the first, nor will he be the last, to try to bamboozle his way toward athletic glory.

Swamp People

The Louisiana bayou is home to some of the deadliest animals on the planet, but that doesn’t stop the alligator hunters on the History Channel’s hit show “Swamp People” from making their catch.

RV Journey

Take a ride on the Gump Trip; visit the USS Midway floating museum; and Chad sees similarities between his RV and his wife. sponsored by:

Challenge Magazine’s QR Code

Download a free QR reader and scan this QR Code to get a direct link to our website where you’ll find a full electronic version of the magazine and links to our Facebook and Twitter pages.

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in every issue

march 2013 • volume 9 issue 3

TRUCKER TRAINER

gettin’ outdoors

around the track

driving thrU d.c.

CHEW ON THIS

Bob offers tips on protecting your back.

Brenda opines the benefits of ground blinds.

Claire talks with Travis Pastrana about his first full season on the Nationwide Series.

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Mike addresses the industry’s impact on climate change.

Charles claims he’s Irish … at least one day a year.

from the editor Congestion.

letters to the editor

Readers share their thoughts and opinions on industry issues and stories from Challenge Magazine.

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SHORT RUNS

Broadening the mind with the interesting and inane.

Truck Driver Challenge

Frankie Nester, winner of the 2005 TDC, shares his thoughts about working in racing and being a top transport driver.

The Unique U.S.

truckers’ corner

Check out this list of zoos that have at least one awesome feature (like kayak tours!) that makes them stand out.

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The creative side of truck drivers. sponsored by:

Games

garmin gallery

Sudoku, word search and crossword puzzles - a great way to pass the time and exercise the brain. Some clues for the puzzle come from this issue of Challenge Magazine. Pictures from the road. Send in your photos and see them published in Challenge Magazine and you may be a winner.

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sponsored by:

pilot flying j stars

Drivers recognize these STAR employees who make Pilot Flying J a place you can rely on.

what’s happening

PFJ at MATS and working out while on the

road.

pilot flying j directory

The comprehensive Pilot Flying J directory lists everything from location addresses to services available.

LOYALTY

Harley-Davidson sweepstakes winner. w w w. p t c c h a l l e n g e . c o m

march 2013 volume 9 issue 3

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SUBSCRIPTION RATES - $25 for one year in the United States. Subscriptions can be started or renewed by calling Challenge Magazine at (910) 695-0077 with your name, mailing address and credit card information; or write to Challenge Magazine: 655 SE Broad Street, Southern Pines, NC 28387, along with a check or credit card information. BACK ISSUES of Challenge Magazine can be purchased for $3 per issue to cover mailing and handling. Follow the same procedures as subscriptions to purchase a back issue of the magazine. Challenge Magazine is published monthly by Victory Publishing, Inc. Copyright © 2013, all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Challenge Magazine is a registered trademark of Victory Publishing, Inc. All advertisers for Challenge Magazine are accepted and published by Victory Publishing, Inc. on the representation that the advertiser and/or advertising agency as well as a supplier of editorial content are authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. The advertiser and/or advertising agency or supplier of editorial content will defend, indemnify and hold Victory Publishing, Inc. harmless from and against any loss, expenses or other liability resulting from any claims or suits for libel violations of right of privacy or publicity, plagiarism, copyright or trademark, infringement and any other claims or suits that may arise out of publication of such advertisement or editorial.

congestion by greg girard

he trucking industry has a long history of congressional gridlock and debate. From the tried and true arguments on regulations, funding and safety to newer concerns like infrastructure decay, climate change and manpower deficiencies, the industry is not without its controversies. Another issue that has an immense impact on the industry but tends to get swept under the welcome mat is traffic congestion. It’s hard to avoid, it frustrates millions of drivers every day, but we are failing miserably at fixing it. Which is why the recent report released by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) on congestion has relevancy that deserves discussion. TTI’s annual Urban Mobility Report, which was released in December, unveiled some alarming data. According to the report, in 2011, 5.5 billion hours were wasted in traffic. Individual commuters wasted, on average, 38 hours for the year (22 hours longer than in 1982), impacting the economy to the tune of $121 billion – of which $27 billion is in truck congestion costs. As you would imagine, the larger metropolitan areas (with populations of more than 3 million) showed the most dramatic congestion problems. And if you’re in the Washington, D.C., area, congratulations, you win the congestion nightmare prize. DC commuters waste the most time in the country, with a yearly average of 67 hours of yelling at cars in front of them, switching back and forth to imaginary faster lanes and planning their day around traffic patterns. Even smaller cities (with less than 500,000 people), like Columbia, S.C., are dealing with unreasonable congestion, with upward of 33 hours per year spent in congestion suspension. Along with the inevitable wear and tear on roads and bridges, and the delay in business operations that congestion causes, there is also the impact on the environment. According to the report, 56 billion pounds of additional carbon dioxide greenhouse gas is released into the atmosphere due to the country’s congestion problem. The report equates that to the liftoff weight of more than 12,400 space shuttles with full fuel tanks. In other words, it’s a whole lot of pollution. As we move down the road on transportation reform, it will be interesting to see whether congestion begins to creep up the priority list. Solutions seem pretty straightforward: new roads, additional lanes, dedicated freight lanes and better access to ports and distribution centers. But that, of course, all requires money and the cooperation of Congress to get it done. TTI estimates, at the current trend and without substantial improvements to roads and traffic management, that Americans will waste 8.4 billion hours in traffic by 2020 and the cost associated with that delay would reach $199 billion. It’s important, therefore, to keep the problem of congestion at the forefront of the transportation debate because a solution for congestion can provide solutions to infrastructure, climate change, productivity and even safety. Safe driving.

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pass a long-term funding plan. I think Mike is right, the states can’t keep waiting for federal direction when it is obvious no direction is coming anytime soon. The question is, after increasing the fuel tax, can we trust the states to put that funding solely toward infrastructure projects? Anyone who drives around this country knows our roads and bridges are in bad shape. We just need to find the money to fix them. Rhonda Kesler San Jose, Calif.

Barrett-Jackson Ice Fishing Went ice fishing the weekend before I picked up the February issue and read the ice fishing story. Could have used the advice. Froze my butt off and my foot fell through the ice. Abe Berg Columbus, Ohio

NASCAR Evolution Thank You I just wanted to say thank you, Challenge Magazine. I began reading your magazine when I met a truck driver at Pilot and started going on the road with him. And if you look at page 67 of the December Challenge the rest is history. You published my story and engagement that happened at the Marion, Ill., Pilot Travel Center. Keep up the great mixture of articles on trucks, music, life in general, sports and “What’s Happening.” It keeps the drivers informed and gives them something to do besides play on the Internet. Thanks again for an amazing article. Gayle Davis Via Facebook

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The article in your January issue on the evolution of NASCAR was great. It’s amazing how much the sport has grown over the years and comparing last season’s award blowout and the one 32 years ago was the perfect way to show how much has changed. Not sure how I feel about it all. I’ve grown up with the sport and while the popularity explosion has been awesome, as a certified good ole boy, I miss the smaller, family feel racing used to have. Great article. Jeremy Sheffield Louisville, Ky.

Fuel Tax I read with interest Mike Howe’s column on the fuel tax. It’s insane that the federal government can’t get their act together to

Can’t believe the Batmobile went for $4.6 million back in January. Kinda doubt it was worth THAT much, but what I wouldn’t give for just a ride in it. Maybe the guy who bought it could sell rides around the block for poor, sentimental schlubs like me. So much of my childhood revolved around that show, and what kid didn’t want to be Batman when he grew up? Thanks for the article. Really took me back. Alex Campana Edinburgh, Ind.

Correction In last month’s story “Papa’s House,” we incorrectly noted Pauline as Ernest Hemingway’s first wife. Pauline is Hemingway’s second wife.

SUBMIT A LETTER: Question, comment or criticism? Drop us a note or email us with your opinion. We want to hear from you. Note: Letters may be edited for clarity or space. Although we try to respond to all communications, emails get first priority. Written letters take more time to process and edit.

MAIL COMMENTS TO Challenge Magazine P.O. Box 2300 Southern Pines, NC 28388 EMAIL editor@ptcchallenge.com

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SHORT

RUNS Deaf Drivers Decision

Last month, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration waived the hearing standard for 40 deaf or hard-of-hearing drivers that filed for exemption last year – a huge milestone for deaf drivers. Challenge Magazine highlighted the plight of deaf drivers in our September 2012 issue. Most states allow deaf drivers to drive intrastate commerce, but federal laws prevented interstate commerce. Although no solid correlation has been found between an increase in accidents and drivers who are deaf or hard of hearing, the FMCSA had refused to allow deaf CDL holders to cross state lines until now. The waivers for those 40 deaf or hard-of-hearing drivers must be renewed every two years, the same as a driver with diabetes.

A Closer Look: The Iditarod The first weekend in March marks the start of the most famous of dog sledding races. Mushers from all over the world compete in this grueling event that separates the men from the boys, figuratively speaking of course. Let’s take a closer look at “the last great race.” The first Iditarod race started on March 3, 1973. The Iditarod Trail covers almost 1,000 miles from Anchorage to Nome. The Iditarod Trail has two routes. The northern route is used in even years, the southern in odd years. Rick Swenson is the only five-time winner, having won in 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1991. Dallas Seavey was the youngest musher, at 18 years old, to run the race, in 2005. The oldest musher was Col. Norman Vaughan, who completed the race four times, the last one when he was 88 years old. There are 27 checkpoints on the southern route; mushers are required to take one 24-hour stop and two eight-hour stops. Martin Buser holds the record for fastest time; he crossed the finish line in eight days, 22 hours, 46 minutes and 2 seconds. All dogs are subject to random drug testing. The race crosses two mountain ranges.

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Report: Majority of Crashes Caused by Car Drivers In support of something truck drivers deemed common knowledge for decades, the American Trucking Association released a report that shows, when comparing car drivers to truck drivers, 81 percent of the time cars drivers are the cause of roadway crashes. Using information from several studies, the report also notes that in crashes involving a car and a truck, the car driver was to blame in 89 percent of head on crashes, 88 percent of opposite-direction sideswipes and 80 percent of rear-end collisions. And car drivers were at fault 75 percent of the time in car-truck crashes that resulted in a fatality. Fatigue, vehicle failure and following too closely to respond to unexpected events were the most common causes attributed to crashes. w w w. p t c c h a l l e n g e . c o m

We Asked,

America’s Newest National Park Photo: NPS

You Answered! Q What one thing would you change in the trucking industry?

Many companies force dispatchers to treat drivers like slaves. No sleep, no eat breaks and I even got into trouble once for taking a 10-minute restroom break. It’s up to you to lie and fix your books. When you do complain to the company, you get the lower paying hauls, but nothing else changes. When you complain and show your proof to the DOT, both you and the company get a fine. A fine for telling about a company treating drivers this way! The fine is a big chunk out of your paycheck, but nothing compared to what the company makes, so they keep doing it. – Crystal L.

Too many new uncalled-for regulations. HOS is a joke now. – Bear Barry S.

There are too many problems, but the No. 1 problem I see is that we have absolutely no representation in Washington, D.C. Yet the politicians who are there keep making new rules every few months. There are no lawmakers with any recent real world experience in the industry. – Jason H.

Put drivers on pay per hour instead of miles and trucks would become instantly legal because the incentive to drive over the speed limit would be gone. – George Potter

In January, President Obama signed a law designating America’s newest national park. Pinnacles National Park in California is the nation’s 59th national park and encompasses 27,000 acres of land about 40 miles east of Monterey, Calif. The park is home to an ancient volcanic field, massive monoliths and canyons that have been slowly eroding for millions of years, numerous caves and the endangered California condor. President Theodore Roosevelt designated the area a national monument in 1908 but the new law will preserve the park’s several unique ecosystems and protect its cultural significance to Native Americans and early settlers for decades to come. w w w. p t c c h a l l e n g e . c o m

It is not fair when four-wheelers are the actual cause of half the accidents that drivers are involved in. I am not a driver, but I am married to one. From the very first time I went out over-the-road with him, I found that people have no respect for the big rigs. I guess they do not care whether or not they get their food, clothing and fuel. What is worse is the people that drive these four-wheelers are texting and driving. And yet they want to take cell phones away from truck drivers? Wow, is all I can say. The government needs to regulate the people that drive the four-wheelers more than they do the drivers of the big rig. It is plain dumb and outrageous. – Cherie Eppler

When deregulation took place is when trucking went downhill. – Danny Phipps

Why did you become a truck driver?

Post your answers on our Facebook page or send them to editor@ptcchallenge.com by March 29, 2013. All answers are subject to edits.

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By the Numbers: St. Patrick’s Day

March Tour Dates

On March 17, everybody is Irish thanks to Saint Patrick. Responsible for converting Ireland to Christianity in the fourth century, Saint Patrick is one of the most famous saints in the world. He used the shamrock in his teaching of the Holy Trinity, and has been associated with the symbol ever since. This year, we’ll raise a glass of green beer in honor of Irish immigrants that have given us one of the most joyful celebrations all year.

252 650,000

consecutive years New York has hosted the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. number of children named Patrick in the last century, roughly 0.1 percent.

4.14

amount spent, in billions, on St. Patrick’s Day.

2.3

pounds, in billions, of cabbage produced in 2009.

4 40

number of places in the U.S. named Shamrock. pounds of green dye used to turn the Chicago River green for the holiday. Sources: statisticbrain.com, census.gov, history.com

GET HEALTHY Anywhere, Anytime Exercises We know maintaining an exercise program while on the road is difficult. Joining a gym, one with locations across the country, is great, but you’re still dependent on locations. When you can’t reach one of those fitness centers, consider supplementing with some basic, accessory-free exercises. Of course, check with your doctor before starting any exercise program.

• Pushups • Jumping jacks • Squats

Date

City, State

Type Store

25-Mar Carnesville, GA PM Braselton, GA 26-Mar Temple, GA PM Temple, GA 27-Mar Tallapoosa, GA PM Lincoln, AL 28-Mar Birmingham, AL PM McCalla, AL 29-Mar Meridian, MS PM Pearl, MS

FJ P P FJ P P FJ FJ P FJ

628 66 417 634 312 497 602 601 388 678

Dates subject to change.

Check www.facebook.com/DriverAppreciationTour for changes and updates.

Sleep Apnea –

Not Just A Bad Night’s Sleep Truck drivers know that sleep apnea isn’t just a sleep disorder, it’s a serious medical condition that should be treated. The Mayo Clinic lays out various possible complications of untreated sleep apnea. • High blood pressure or heart problems, which can include atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure

• Lunges • Planks • Situps and crunches

Southern-Style Stroke A recent study by the University of Alabama in Birmingham shows that a Southern diet leads to a higher risk of stroke. Five diet styles were discovered and participants who followed a Southern-style diet – which consists of fried foods, processed meats like deli meat and jerky, red meat, eggs, sweet drinks like sweet tea and whole milk – were up to 41 percent more likely to suffer from a stroke. People who ate a plant-based style diet of fruits, vegetables, juice, cereal, fish, poultry, yogurt, nuts and whole-grain bread had a 29 percent lower stroke risk. With numbers like those, swapping out sweet tea for water just makes good heart sense.

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• Daytime fatigue • Complications with medications and surgery • Liver problems • Sleep-deprived partners • Memory problems • Morning headaches • Mood swings • Depression • Decreased libido Source: MayoClinic.com

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Photo: Arizona Athletics Photography

The Art of Selection by: greg girard

election Sunday is one of the most anticipated events in college sports. It’s when college basketball teams from around the country are glued to the TV nervously praying CBS’ Greg Gumbel will say their school’s name for that coveted “ticket to the Big Dance.” It’s when millions of fans get their first glimpse at the brackets and start sizing up their Sweet 16 picks. And it’s when businesses start preparing for an annual drop in productivity as employees plan “sick days” during the first round of games. It’s March Madness. But before the field is revealed to the country on March 17, a small, select group of individuals must watch and analyze thousands of games, debate over hundreds of teams and select only 68 for the tournament field. The NCAA Selection Committee is made up of 10 athletic directors and conference commissioners. Their task is to observe, analyze and dissect 334 teams over a fivemonth period in order to name the field that will compete in the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament. “It begins when the first ball is thrown up in preseason in November,” says Mike

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Bobinski, chairman of the committee. The evaluation process is straightforward enough. Each committee member, sans the chairman, is assigned a selection of primary conferences and secondary conferences to monitor. They’re never assigned their own conference and it’s their responsibility to report to the committee their observations and analyses of the teams. Thirty teams make it easy on the committee by receiving automatic bids as a conference champion (and the Ivy League, which places its regular season champion). This leaves 37 at-large slots to fill the field. Thorough analysis, therefore, is essential to the process. “We look to [members] to give [the committee] real depth and detail and knowledge on what the league is like – their relative strength and quality, key injuries, eligibility issues, whatever it might be that’s happening in the league,” explains Bobinski. “Their job is not to advocate for the league or promote them. It’s just to be a resource for the rest of the committee.” Not that a little lobbying by coaches and conference commissioners doesn’t happen now and then. Ask Scott Barnes, director of

athletics at Utah State University and selection committee member since 2011, whether lobbying goes on and he says, “Absolutely. A lot of times we’ll get text messages or calls from coaches. We deal with that appropriately.” Meaning the lobbying doesn’t have much chance to influence a member’s decision. “People will in some cases make their pitch to a committee member and state their case why they’re worthy,” adds Bobinski. “But we have so much data, so much information and so much time to analyze, it’s never influential at all. It’s really just one more piece of information that adds another layer of analysis.” As the season continues, and conference play begins in January, the committee meets in-person to report on the conferences and begin the process of whittling down the potential schools that are tournament worthy. Essentially, the committee is making the selection process more manageable by excluding a large portion of the 334 eligible teams. “We have to get it down to some number we can chew on,” says Bobinski, adding that it also begins to give committee members direction on watching teams that they don’t directly monitor but are deemed potential picks down the road. At this point, the analysis gets more intense. When asked how many games he watches during the season, Barnes answers, “I couldn’t tell you. Every chance I get I have [the TV] on and a lot of times I’m watching pieces of multiple games. And it’s constant – literally from the end of November to the week of selection.” By February the field of teams gets a bit more focused and the selection committee meets again, this time for a complete mock selection exercise. “Basically we drop the curtain on the season and say if the season ended today, let’s pick the field,” explains Bobinski. He is quick to point out, however, that “nothing that’s done on that day is binding. It’s just for purposes of running through the process so [the committee members] are familiar with it.” The reason has to do with the amount of information the committee must digest. The committee relies heavily on statistics to support their decisions. Strength of schedule, marquee wins, road records, ratings percentage index, injuries and a plethora of other data come into play when choosing the field. And then there’s the human factor – a committee member’s gut feeling, professional experience and personal observations. Barnes, as a former player, says he probably uses the “eyeball” test a bit more than some of the committee members but statistics also play a role in his decisionmaking process. “That’s the beauty of the w w w. p t c c h a l l e n g e . c o m

Photo: Xavier Athletics

Mike Bobinski Photo: Butler Athletics

While some still consider Butler a mid-major school - a strong team from a weaker conference - Mike Bobinski, chairman of the NCAA Selection Committee, says conference affiliation has no bearing on selection to the tournament. committee,” says Barnes. “Everybody approaches it a little different. We have literally hundreds of variables that can be used and tools at our disposal. We all approach it a little bit differently.” Some conspiracy theorists claim preju-

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dices inevitably creep into the process. From teams being given higher seeds than they deserve (ahem, Duke) to mid-major teams like Butler not getting enough respect to more consideration of teams in larger TV markets, the committee has heard it all.

“We never use labels. We never refer to conferences,” says Bobinski. “We look at every team as an independent. Every team stands on its own merits.” And that includes a program’s history with the tournament. “Who they are as a program has no bearing. You don’t get a head start on the field because of your history. Everyone starts in the starting block at the same place each year.” Come conference tournament time in March, the selection committee convenes in Indianapolis and the real process begins. In top-secret fashion, an entire floor of a hotel is reserved and armed state troopers are stationed around the clock at the entrance to the selection room. Only committee members and select staff are allowed in or out until the process is complete. While they’ve yet to resort to food testers, protecting the integrity of the selection process is paramount. “We’ll go off-site for dinner on the very first night,” says Bobinski. “Then after that, it’s submarine duty.” The selection room is a cramped environment with each committee member seated in front of several computer screens, one typically for voting and the others flashing information on teams and enough stats to give anyone a headache. For days, starting early in the morning and going late into the night,

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Photo: Courtesy of UM public and media relations

“You don’t get a head start on the field because of your history,” says Bobinski. “It’s purely did they do enough this year.” members pore over statistics, watch games, receive updates on injuries, and debate the merits of teams. And through it all they are “constantly voting” on private ballots. “You’ll vote multiple times on multiple teams as we move through the process,” says Barnes. Bobinski describes it as a layering approach that builds on itself over the course of the process. “We vote teams into the field and then we’ll seed. Then we’ll vote some more teams in the field and then seed some more. Then when we get a full field in, we’ll go back and do seeding on a line-by-line basis.” All while trying to keep their selections in a “does this make sense” perspective. Bobinski says that “30,000 foot perspective” is the most difficult to get to because often they are seeding teams literally minutes before the “Selection Show” airs live on CBS Sunday night. And the committee, particularly Bobinski as the chairman, needs to be ready for the larger debate to begin in the court of public opinion. The unavoidable “Jay Bilas moment.” Jay Bilas, an analyst and color commentator for ESPN, is one of many who provide their opinions on the selection committee’s efforts immediately following the announcement of the field. Last year, his reaction was less than approving when he learned the committee had included UAB and VCU over what Bilas thought were much more deserving teams. “I wonder if some people on the committee know whether the ball is round,” Bilas said on ESPN after the teams were announced. “That sounds harsh. But I’m wondering. These were bad decisions. They’re indefensible.” “It’s an inevitability and something that you know is going to happen every year because there’s always a next team or next teams that didn’t get in,” says Bobinski with a chuckle, after being asked if he is ready for the Jay Bilas moment. “Reasonable people can disagree on that, there’s no question. And I respect that.” He says that when they get down to choosing the last few teams they “all have some level of flaws or imperfections about them” so it comes down to making decisions that are “defensible in our perspective.” “There’ll always be somebody that says ‘I still think so and so should have gotten in,’” adds Bobinski. “I respect that and we can have a good debate and conversation about it.” But in the end, the field is set on Sunday evening and the committee leaves it up to the fans to figure out what team will come out on top.

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by: joan tupponce

t’s early in the day and country superstar Sara Evans is downright bubbly. Unlike some entertainers who seldom see the sun rise in the morning, Evans is up early at her home in Birmingham, Ala., preparing the morning meal of the day for her family. She takes her role as mother and wife very seriously. But that doesn’t mean she shrugs off her responsibilities as a chart-topping artist. Evans is in the studio recording her next album. Its release later this year follows on the heels of her 2011 album “Stronger,” which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. Being back in the studio is “great,” Evans says. “I have been putting a lot of pressure on myself because of the success with ‘Stronger.’ I like every album to be a little bit better. I am constantly writing and searching for songs.”

Photo: courtesy of The Collective

Evans came onto the music scene in the late 1990s. Since then she has sold nearly 6 million records and has had five No. 1 country singles. She has earned numerous Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music and Grammy nominations. In 2001 she won the CMA Video of the Year award for her No. 1 single “Born to Fly” and in 2004 she was voted Female Country Artist of the Year at the Billboard Music Awards. In 2006, she won Top Female Vocalist at the ACM awards. Evans’ American beauty looks and amiable personality caught the eye of People magazine, which named her one of its “50 Most Beautiful People” in 2005, along with Angelina Jolie, Alicia Keys and Julia Roberts. A native of New Franklin, Mo., Evans started performing at the age of 5, singing with her family’s band. By her teens she was singing at her

own shows. She began recording demos in Nashville in the mid1990s and it wasn’t long before she had a signed deal with RCA Nashville. She has been with the label ever since. Over the years, Evans has headlined a number of tours – the last in 2012 – and also toured with some of country’s top artists, including Kenny Chesney, George Strait, Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley and Martina McBride. Even though her touring schedule has been consistent over the years, Evans did take a sixyear break from the recording studio – time she used to fuel her creativity. She stepped back into the studio to make “Stronger,” which produced her certified platinum single “A Little Bit

Stronger,” a portrait of a survivor. Now that Evans lives in Birmingham – she moved from Nashville to Alabama when she married football-star-turned-sportscaster Jay Barker – making an album is more challenging. She has to fly back and forth to Nashville for her studio sessions. While it is tiring at times, Evans thrives in the studio. “It feels amazing,” she says, adding that

Rascal Flatts to Carrie Underwood. “Mark is incredible to work with. We have a song that I think will be the first single and it is absolutely amazing. It’s like a power ballad. I’m excited about it.” Evans has written about 30 songs for the new album, but only five or six will make the cut. “That’s typical for me,” she says. As a songwriter, Evans is known for pen-

passion. “Besides a live performance, this is the favorite part of my career,” she says. Another growing part of Evans’ career is her Web presence. She shares her life with her fans through weekly webisodes, a series of YouTube videos that capture behind-thescenes moments when she is working and also when she’s having a fun adventure. One of the first webisodes featured fan com-

I feel like I was born into the slot of attention getter. I was the third oldest in my family. I would always be the one to have drama and trauma. it’s like an old love or an old friend that you haven’t seen for a while. “This is my favorite thing. I love being in the studio.” She has already recorded about eight songs for the new album. “I’m in love with all of the songs,” she says, adding that she is working with record producer Mark Bright, who has also worked with everyone from

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ning songs that have an inspiring, empowering message. “I never set out to write powerful songs but they are the ones we choose to put on the record,” she says. One of her favorite parts of the creative process is collaborating with studio musicians that she affectionately calls “freaks of nature” because of their talent, skills and

ments after Evans posted a picture of herself without makeup on social media. “It exploded,” says Craig Dunn, who manages Evans’ career at The Collective – Nashville. “It was picked up by Us Weekly and People. The next week we did a webisode with fan comments. That resonated with people. It showed Sara as a real person.

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Since then people have taken notice. If we haven’t posted the webisode, they start asking for it.” Kaelin, or KK, Evans’ sister-in-law, appears in several of the webisodes. She and Evans are very close. “KK is the star of the show,” Evans says. “She has been on the road with me for 11 years.” Evans’ brother, Matt, who is married to KK, is one of Evans’ band members. “I don’t know what I would do without Matt,” Evans says. “He’s been onstage with me since I was 4. He’s a musical genius and he has the best heart. He’s a great bandleader and musical director. He also helps me write songs and make records. We have always been best friends.” Music is part of Evans’ family heritage and that heritage is continuing with the next generation. Evans says her three children – she and Barker have seven children between them – are all talented musically. Evans’ oldest child, son Avery, plays the drums and is a rapper. “He has natural talent,” Evans says, adding that he’s not

really into country music. “He also loves sports, as I do. My daughter Olivia is a fabulous singer.” Evans was pregnant with Avery when she scored her first No. 1 record with the song “Born to Fly” from her album of the same name. “That was the album that set her apart and made people take notice,” Dunn says. “It was a game changer.” The album blended Evans’ background in country music with her love of pop music. “It was the perfect fusion,” Dunn says. “It resonated with fans. It was an I-am-here-pay-attention type of album.” Over the years, Evans has perfected the art of juggling motherhood and career, even though it can be challenging at times. “I’ve gotten into a groove,” she says. “My first priority and goal is making sure I am here for the kids. My obsession is my calendar. I am constantly checking sports and school schedules and telling management to block certain days. My goal is to never miss any of their stuff.”

PHOTO: Courtesy of The Collective

In 2008, Evans was awarded the Crystal Cross by the American Red Cross for her work on behalf of the organization. w w w. p t c c h a l l e n g e . c o m

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She is never away from her family for more than three days at a time. Her children normally travel with her to weekend shows. “It’s a challenge but it’s a challenge worth taking,” she says. “The kids are used to my career. It’s a huge blessing to make it work.” When she travels to shows such as the ACM awards in Las Vegas, she finds it difficult to carry the kids with her. She will usually schedule a late flight out and an early flight home. “I try to cram everything in two really long days so I can get home as early as possible,” she says. Her deep devotion to family and her down-to-earth sensibility stem from her childhood in Missouri. Evans and her family lived on a farm and grew wheat, corn, soybeans and tobacco. Growing up, she and her siblings helped out with the farm and its animals – horses, cattle and hogs. “I am such a country girl. I am a homemaker,” she says. “On a farm there is never a time when there is nothing to do. There is always something to do.” She credits her strong work ethic to her mom. “She was a hard worker,” Evans says. “She always cooked three meals a day and Photo: Courtesy of The Collective I do the same for my family. I grew up oldfashioned. I have worked for every penny. I Evans has numerous award nominations, including six CMA and seven ACM nominations for female vocalist of the year and two Grammy nominations. She also take nothing for granted.” was named the 2004 female country artist of the year at the Billboard Music Awards. Evans has a true love affair with life. “She

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is the life of the party,” says Dunn. “She makes people laugh and feel at ease and comfortable. She is pretty much the same person on and offstage. I think fans can tell that. She’s always cracking jokes. She loves to laugh and sing.” She also loves to tackle new endeavors. Evans has authored three novels – “Love Lifted Me,” “Softly and Tenderly” and “The Sweet By and By” – with writer Rachel Hauck as part of a book deal with Thomas Nelson Publishers. “It’s something I never thought I would do,” she says of writing. “I was approached by Thomas Nelson Publishers with the idea. At first I was completely intimidated.” Before writing the first book, Evans and Hauck spent several days together talking and figuring out the direction of the plots. “We work together,” Evans says. “Rachel did the hard work. She is gifted in writing. The books are absolutely fabulous.” In 2006, Evans ventured into the world of dance by becoming a contestant on “Dancing with the Stars.” “It was one of the hardest but most fun things I have ever done,” she says, noting that she was an avid fan of the show. “I was totally out of my comfort zone.” Because of her live concerts, Evans didn’t feel nervous in front of the cameras or the crowd. “When I got in front of the audience that actually helped me,” she says. The show was a huge boost for Evans, adds Dunn. “America got to know her and they fell in love with her.” As part of her career, Evans devotes some time to charities, including the American Red Cross. She is an active member of the Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet. In 2008 she was presented with the national Crystal Cross award for her work with the organization. “It’s something that is near and dear to her heart,” Dunn says. “Several years ago her hometown was flooded and

T O U R

D A T E S

MARCH 12 Austin, Texas 14 Albuquerque, N.M. MAY 15 Charlottesville, Va. 18 Shippensburg, Va. JULY 28 Chandler, Ariz. AUGUST 03 Prairie Du Chien, Wis. w w w. p t c c h a l l e n g e . c o m

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PHOTO: STEVE MARCUS/REUTERS/Newscom

Evans is working on a new album, which she hopes to release this year, and you can see her on “Simply Sara” webisodes via her website, saraevans.com.

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lives were ruined. The Red Cross came in and was a huge help. Two years ago tornadoes came through north of Birmingham. Sara toured the location with Red Cross. That solidified her commitment to the organization.” Like everyone else, Evans has faced challenges in life. She went through a very high-profile divorce that caused her to exit “Dancing with the Stars” early. It all played out in the public eye but Evans doesn’t let that type of scrutiny bother her. “I don’t care that much what people think,” she says. “I care more what my family and friends think, what God thinks. I have learned you can try so hard to be liked by everyone and you are still going to get criticism from some people. You cannot ever please everybody and it’s ridiculous to try.” Evans feels comfortable in the spotlight, she says. “I feel like I was born into the slot of attention getter. I was the third oldest in my family. I would always be the one to have drama and trauma.” When Evans was 8 years old, she was hit by a car and almost died. “Everything has always sort of swirled around me,” she says. “I don’t think about it that much. When I go out in public I am aware that people are staring but I am so accustomed that it doesn’t faze me.” Evans’ husband is very supportive of his wife and her career. “When we were dating he would say ‘I am in love with Sara and not Sara Evans,’” she says. “He is very proud of me. He wants me to push myself as far as I want to go but if I were to quit tomorrow, he would be fine with it.” This June, the two will put on Rock the South, a two-day live music festival in Cullman, Ala., that will feature football, barbecue and country music. “They hope to make it an annual event,” says Dunn. Years from now, whenever Evans retires from show business, she would like to leave knowing that she was respected for her music and the way she connected to her fans. “I feel like right now I am in the best space possible with my art,” she says.

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over the entire 30 days.” Alligator hunting is more than just sport; it’s also a livelihood. According to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, there are almost 2 million wild alligators in the state and the hunting season is vital for keeping the population in check as well as boosting the state’s economy. The sale of alligator meat and hides contributes $50 million annually to the Creole State. Market prices fluctuate, but gator meat often sells for about $5 a pound and raw hides for almost $8 a foot. Gators can reach 13 feet in length and more than 400 pounds in weight, making for a potentially fat paycheck.

PHOTOS: HISTORY

by: amanda jakl

he Louisiana bayou is like no other place in the United States. It’s home to some of the deadliest animals on the globe and to some of the toughest, hardest working hunters around. It’s where the swamp is thick and the accents are thicker. And only on the History Channel can you see these “swamp people” in action. Now in its fourth season, “Swamp People” follows a group of bayou alligator hunters, offering viewers unique access to not only the thrill of the hunt but the personalities that go along with it. More than 4 million viewers tuned in for the third season, setting a ratings record for the channel. The show’s success, in a world of Kardashians and Real Housewives, is due in many ways to the authenticity that resonates with the “Swamp People” cast, which is rarely seen on reality TV.

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“We have uncovered a hidden world, and in many ways, the men and women who live on the Atchafalaya Swamp show us as viewers the lost art of doing things the right way and of the unyielding desire to preserve a dying way of life from the encroaching modern world,” says Vicky Kahn, History spokesperson. “And also very important, they are all such nice people, family people, who are hardworking and living in such a unique world.” This season, which began in mid-February, follows 10 teams of hunters throughout the marshes of southern Louisiana. While other reality shows are loosely scripted, the “Swamp People” production team tries to stay as neutral as possible. “We just follow along on boats next to them and are ‘flies on the wall,’” Kahn says. “We observe and try to capture everything we can as it happens

Always respect what you’re doing. Respect people, respect your surroundings, know your limitations, know what you can do, what’s not good to do. If you go out there and don’t respect it, you don’t even need to do it. – Liz Cavalier

Although the season is just 30 days long, some hunters can earn enough for the year by hunting alligators alone. But for the most part, cast members support themselves with other endeavors. Most are year-round hunters, going from one season to the next. Shrimp season, crab season, deer season, duck season – there’s even a rodent season. Alligator hunting in Louisiana dates back hundreds of years, with families passing on secret traditions and techniques from generation to generation. Many times on the show, hunters will show the bait they use but refuse to share their secret “marinade” they coat the bait with. Regardless of the ingredients, the marinades usually produce a rotten and fetid odor. It’s times like these w w w. p t c c h a l l e n g e . c o m

courtesy of History.com

• • • • • • • • • •

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The name alligator is derived from the Spanish word for lizard, el lagarto. The largest adult alligators can hold their breath for up to 45 minutes while remaining active. Alligators stop feeding when the temperature drops below 73 degrees F. Lifespan: 35-50 years in the wild American alligators reside in the freshwater rivers, lakes, swamps and marshes of the southeastern United States, from North Carolina to Texas. Largest male alligator on record was 19.2 feet and nearly 2,000 pounds and was caught in 1890. Alligators are not monogamous. A single male may mate with up to 10 females in his territory each year. Females lay 35-50 eggs, which are hardshelled, white and about 3 inches long. Hatchlings are 6 to 8 inches long with yellow and black stripes. 80% of young alligators are killed by predators such as birds, raccoons, otters, snakes, large bass and larger alligators.

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Liz Cavalier, who hunted with cast member Troy Landry in Season 2, broke out on her own for Season 3. This year she hunts with her 19-year-old daughter, Jessica.

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viewers can appreciate that Smell-O-Vision hasn’t been invented. In one episode, father-son team RJ and Jay Paul Molinere tried one of the old techniques. The Molineres are members of the United Houma Nations tribe, a branch of the Choctaw nation. “We use a smart stick to catch an alligator,” son Jay Paul explains. “We don’t use a hook, we use what our ancestors passed down through generations. We tie a stick with bait and use the stick to catch the alligator.” Liz Cavalier’s grandfather used a more hands-on approach. “My father’s father alligator hunted,” she explains. “They used to go in the holes, what we call the caveaux in French, and poke the alligator and make them come out and hit them in the head with a hatchet.” Needless to say, Cavalier isn’t keen on reviving old traditions like the Molineres. “I prefer to use my long rifle magnum,” she says matter-of-factly. “Keeps the distance between me and the alligator.” When a boat is the only thing that separates you from prey that can bite with a force of up to 2,125 pounds – the weight of a small pickup truck – alligator hunters have to have guts. “You can’t let fear get you because that alligator will feel that fear,” RJ Molinere explains. “They do feel you; you can’t be afraid of what you do. [But] when you do it as long as Jay Paul and I do it, it’s just a job to us.” Cavalier also shrugs off descriptions of her as fearless. “It’s different when you’re raised doing something.” This also explains her almost dismissive attitude about being a woman in the male-dominated hunting world. “I know I can hold my own – you know, my daddy taught me well.” Cavalier occasionally runs into hunters who have a problem with her. “A lot of the guys get intimidated because I’m a lady doing this,” she says, almost incredulously. “As far as my standpoint, I think it’s ridiculous because we’re all created equal. It doesn’t mat

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Alligator hunting season is a family affair RJ and Jay Paul Molinere are one of the six teams that partner with family members. ter whether you’re a man or a woman, anybody can do it.” This season she’s hunting with her 19-year-old daughter, Jessica. It’s a different dynamic, hunting with kin, she says. “She’s my blood,” she says. “The apple don’t fall far from the tree with her. She’s got a hard head like her mama.” But, Cavalier adds with a throaty chuckle, viewers should expect some tension this season. “She wanted to throw me outta the boat too several times. We butted heads a lot. You’re going to hear a lot of bleep, bleep, bleep, bleep.” When asked what wisdom she hopes to pass on to her daughter, she’s frank. “Always respect what you’re doing,” Cavalier says. “Respect people, respect your surroundings, know your limitations, know what you can do, what’s not good to do. If you go out there and don’t respect it, you don’t even need to do it.” RJ echoes the statement with an example. “We get asked, have you ever been bitten? Jay Paul says, well, I never put my hand in their mouths. You gotta focus, you gotta be serious because it’s not a game. You can stay out there in the swamp with that alligator if you don’t pay attention.” In the end, all the hunters are at the mercy of Mother Nature, and this season is no different. The effects of Hurricane Isaac cause the teams to lose five days of hunting, a serious dent in the already short season. To say that puts the pressure on the teams would be an understatement. “For the upcoming season, you better be prepared,” warns Jay Paul. “Don’t bring any popcorn ’cause it’s gonna be crazy. It won’t stay in the bowl.”

New episodes of “Swamp People” air Thursdays at 9 p.m. on the History Channel. 36 C H A L L E N G E M ARCH 2 0 1 3

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with NASCAR Productions in 1998, “I didn’t have any trouble with any of [the men]. Of course, they didn’t want me out there … but they couldn’t stop you then. You could go out there if you wanted to and had a car you wanted to drive. You didn’t have to go through all these rules and driving schools and all that.” McKim was a friend of Smith’s and enjoyed the stories she often told

“

Women were considered very bad luck and were not allowed in the pits for decades.

”

- Buz McKim NASCAR Hall of Fame Historian

women in racing by: ben white

tock car racing in America came into existence by farmers, mill workers and moonshiners who settled their wagers on dirt tracks cut from cow pastures or vacant fields. Men weren’t the only ones among the fastest and the bravest. Those fendergrinding battles included some of the most talented women drivers in the nation, who often finished ahead of the competition. NASCAR’s record book features notations where women wheeled the family sedan to the front and bested the established and respected NASCAR stars. And the men didn’t take too kindly to being outrun and out gunned by women. “Women were considered very bad luck and were not allowed in the pits for decades,” says Buz McKim, historian for the NASCAR Hall of Fame. “Women racers were taboo, along with the color green, peanuts and the number 13. It seems we finally got over it, however. Also, the macho

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earlier generations of drivers did not want to be shown up by the ‘fairer sex.’ They wanted to be worshiped by women, not compete against them.” In 1947, two years before NASCAR was formed, Louise Smith drove from her home in Greenville, S.C., to Daytona Beach, Fla., to see a race on the beach. She entered the event instead and flipped many times in spectacular fashion. The next day, the Greenville newspaper ran a photo of her smiling broadly, unhurt, but trapped in the wreckage. Her husband, Noah Smith, wasn’t happy when he showed her the local newspaper featuring their new Ford in shambles. Smith, a driver from 1945 until 1956, was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1999, having collected 38 wins in late models, modifieds, midgets and sportsman cars. She had 11 starts in NASCAR’s Strictly Stock division. Smith, who passed away in April of 2006, commented during an interview

about her career. She made a great impact on the sport as a driver and historian and was known as Darlington Raceway’s pageant grand patron until 1989. “I think Louise Smith carried a lot of credibility because she drove longer than any of the other ladies, stayed active in the sport longer and she lived longer, giving subsequent generations an eyewitness account of those days,” says McKim. “In Louise’s case, she had the blessing of Big Bill (France) because he knew she was a novelty who would attract spectators.” Sara Christian is credited as the first woman to drive in NASCAR competition during NASCAR’s inaugural Strictly Stock race in Charlotte, N.C., in 1949. Records are unclear as to how many of the race’s 200 laps she completed before her Ford’s engine overheated. What is known is she started 13th among 33 cars, finished 14th and collected $50. She completed the race ahead of future stars Lee Petty, Jim Paschal, Bob Flock and Frank Mundy, to name a few. In 1949 and 1950, Christian entered only seven NASCAR races and finished in the top five at Pittsburgh, Pa., in ’49 and sixth at the difficult circular Langhorne (Pa.) Speedway that same year. The average finish for her career was 13th. “Race officials were so impressed by Sara’s performance that they invited her to join Curtis Turner in victory lane ceremonies,” says Ken Martin, senior archive manager at NASCAR Media Group. “Sara placed 13th in the final point standings of NASCAR’s first season of premier series competition. It’s still the best championship finish for a woman to date. “Bill France Sr. (founder of NASCAR) w w w. p t c c h a l l e n g e . c o m

Photos: Janetguthrie.com

Janet guthrie was the first woman to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500. recognized the value of having women promote the sport and would use them to help grow NASCAR in its infancy. It has been proven that in order to be successful as a driver, consistent seat time is a must. While some may have considered some of the early women racers as a stunt, they took their role very seriously.” For many women, one start was enough. Ann Slaasted (1950), Ann Bunselmeyer (1950), Mopsie Pagan (1954), Goldie Parsons (1965), Lella Lombardi (1977) and Christine Beckers (1977) took only one green flag but still made their mark on the sport. Parsons, of Clemmons, N.C., tied

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Christian’s finish of 14th in her single start at Moyock, N.C., finishing ahead of 11 other drivers in the 25-car field. Eleven years later, another woman entered what was then known as NASCAR’s top Winston Cup division. Janet Guthrie, a pilot and aerospace engineer from Iowa City, Iowa, raced in 33 NASCAR events between 1976 and 1980. She failed to qualify for the 1976 Indianapolis 500 but the headlines garnered there helped open the door for her successful foray into NASCAR. Guthrie’s best year came in 1977, when she entered 19 Winston Cup events and

finished in the top 10 in four of them. Her best finishes were sixth and 11th at Bristol Motor Speedway that season. “Janet Guthrie is the only female driver in NASCAR history to have more than 10 Sprint Cup starts in a single season,” adds Martin. “In 2012, Danica Patrick entered the full Nationwide Series schedule and will become the first woman ever to attempt to qualify for the full 36-race Sprint Cup schedule.” Patrick, a former open-wheel driver, is credited with 10 Sprint Cup starts in 2012. As curious as the fans that attended races many decades ago, she helped introduce stock car racing to an entirely new audience. She is extremely popular, a fact made clear through a recent prestigious fan vote. Her best Nationwide Series finish was fourth at Las Vegas in March 2012. It ranks as a record best finish for women among all top series of NASCAR. “It was a big honor last year to be the most popular driver in the Nationwide Series, especially being my first full‑time year in NASCAR,” Patrick said. “It tells me that the fans are receiving me well, and that’s a nice compliment. I’m sure there will be plenty of opportunities to show some personality and some character this year, so we’ll just have to see if that’s enough to make it interesting.” As a team owner and fellow competitor, three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart feels Patrick has the mechanical depth need-

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NASCAR

FACT BOX

Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

• First Woman to Compete:

Sara Christian - June 19, 1949, in Charlotte, N.C.

• Oldest Woman to Compete:

Louise Smith - Age 40 during the 1956 Grand National season

• Most Successful Female Driver:

Sara Christian - One top-five and two top -10s in seven starts

• Women Who Have Competed in The Daytona 500:

Janet Guthrie (1977 and 1980) Shawna Robinson (2002) Danica Patrick (2012 and 2013)

• Best Finish by a Woman in The Daytona 500: Janet Guthrie - 11th place in 1980

• Best Average Finish by a Woman: Sara Christian - 13th

• Most Women to Compete in a Single Event: Christine Beckers, Janet Guthrie, Lella Lombardi - July 4, 1976, Daytona International Speedway Sara Christian, Ethel Mobley, Louise Smith July 10, 1949, Daytona Beach and Road Course

Sara Christian, Ethel Mobley, Louise Smith Sept. 11, 1949, Langhorne (Pa.) Speedway 40 C H A L L E N G E M ARCH 2 0 1 3

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Photo: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR

Johanna Long, Jennifer Jo Cobb and Michelle Theriault, NASCAR Camping World Truck drivers, at the O’Reilly Raceway in 2010. ed for building a successful Sprint Cup career. “Danica has done a lot in a very short amount of time in this series,” Stewart said during the Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour last year. “Her feedback from day one was incredible, and a lot better than mine was. She understands what the car is doing, she understands what she’s feeling, and that shows comfort. I think that’s a sign that she’s going to do really well.” Angela and Amber Cope made NASCAR history as the first twins to compete in one of the top three series in NASCAR. They raced together in the Camping World Truck Series in Martinsville, Va., in 2010, where Amber finished 26th and Angela 30th. The Cope sisters have entered a total of 17 races in the Nationwide, Camping World and ARCA series over the past five seasons. They continue to search for sponsorship in hopes of entering more races in 2013. “We’re still not running full time like we want to be because the funding is really tough to come by,” Angela says. “It’s getting harder and harder for a lot of teams. So right now that’s the biggest struggle and setback (we) face. With two of us, more funding is needed for us to run two cars.” Amber adds, “I think another big challenge is the fact we are competing against these amazing drivers that race week in and week out. But you have to make the best of every opportunity. Because it’s so tough, I think we want it more now than we ever have.” Dozens of women have competed in NASCAR competition as stock car racing reaches its 64th season in 2013. In her 2005 book “Janet Guthrie – A Life at Full Throttle,” Guthrie described how women have always been drawn to exciting ventures. “I believe that physically, mentally and emotionally, women are as wellequipped as men for the most challenging of sports. Many, many women w w w. p t c c h a l l e n g e . c o m

have been drawn to adventure in the past – from the women hot air balloonists of the 18th and 19th century, to the women who raced cars in floor-length skirts when motorsports first began. And women are drawn to adventure now: the astronauts, the women who fly fighter planes from aircraft carrier decks. Women’s nature has not changed; their opportunities have.”

Photo: Christian family/Georgia Automobile Racing Hall Of Fame Association, Inc.

Sara Christian was a pioneer for women in racing. She was posthumously inducted into the Georgia Automobile Racing Hall of Fame in 2004. M ARCH 2 0 1 3 C H A L L E N G E 41

PHOTO: FRANCK FIFE

cheating in sports

by: robert nason

heating. We all know it’s wrong. We’re all taught that from our parents, teachers and ministers. We’re taught that character counts in this world and cheating showcases a clear lack of character. But in the end, we do cheat. Some of us can’t help it – whether it’s that misguided drive to be the best at something regardless of the cost or just a broken ethical compass that makes us cheat on a test or a spouse – cheating or the temptation to cheat is part of human nature. Which is why cheating in sports tends to be such major news. As fans, we want to believe that great athletes haven’t wasted their God-given talent. We want to know that they mixed talent with hard work and drive to become the best at what they do. We want to live through their triumphs and agonizing

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defeats. But in the end, the higher the pedestal we have for athletes the more mesmerized we are by their fall. Over the past few years, stories on performance-enhancing drugs have saturated our collective sports consciousness. Baseball leads the pack and now that many of the players who are alleged or admitted users in the 1990s are up for Hall of Fame consideration, the story of PEDs won’t be going away anytime soon. But cheating comes in all forms and the list of cheating scandals in sports would fill this magazine and more, so we’ve narrowed the field down to some of the more blatant and unique examples through sports history.

Cycling

No cheating list, probably until the end of time, will omit Lance Armstrong. His story

will probably always eclipse all others not only because of the doping he did to win seven Tour de France titles but also for what he did off of the saddle. He was the valiant cancer fighter who overcame the odds and then inspired thousands with his performance on the bike and through his Livestrong Foundation. But no story with so much inspiration has ever been so irrevocably tarnished by his scorched earth policy toward anyone daring enough to speak the truth. A narcissist, an egomaniac or simply a bully – Armstrong destroyed reputations, careers and lives all to cover up his weaknesses and deficiencies as a person and an athlete. That will be his legacy. It would be unfair to Armstrong, however, to make him the poster boy of cheating in a sport that has battled charlatans since its inception. Doping, in particular, has had a consistent place in cycling’s history. The sheer number of examples could fill a book but a few stand out. In the inaugural years of the Tour de France (1903-1908), riders drank wine and sniffed ether while racing. During the 1920s, the Pélissier brothers (Henri and Francis) admitted to a reporter they were taking everything from cocaine to chloroform. “In short,” said Francis, “we run on dynamite.” Fausto Coppi, an Italian rider in the 1940s and ’50s, when asked if riders dope, said, “Yes, and those who claim otherwise, it’s not worth talking to them about cycling.” And Jacques Anquetil, the first fivetime Tour de France champion, who raced in the 1960s, once said, “Leave me in peace; everybody takes dope.” These were all champion cyclists who are now in the Cycling Hall of Fame. Maybe there’s still some hope for Armstrong after all. But cheating in cycling goes well beyond using drugs. In the early days, cyclists were suspended from races for antics such as spiking their competitors’ water, throwing nails on the road and dropping itch powder into their competitors’ shorts. Bike sabotage was also a favorite strategy and riders even had to watch out for their rivals’ fans, with incidents of roving mobs of masked men attacking riders on the road and intentionally felling trees in riders’ paths. One racer, Hippolyte Aucouturier, nicknamed “Le Terrible” by his fellow riders, attached his bike to a car with wire and hitched a ride through stages of the Tour, and several riders during the first years of the race were disqualified for catching a ride on a train. So while we can be disgusted with Armstrong’s behavior, in one respect he’s just one in a long line of cheaters in cycling. It certainly doesn’t make it right but it shouldn’t be as shocking when putting his cheating in context with the history of the sport. w w w. p t c c h a l l e n g e . c o m

Olympics

No sporting event in the world can eclipse the uniqueness of the Olympic Games – thousands of athletes competing in hundreds of events in everything from badminton and curling to marathons and swimming. But it’s precisely because of its uniqueness that the Olympic Games have been vulnerable to all different types and layers of cheating. Doping and the use of performance-enhancing drugs has been part of the Olympics for decades. Well before Canada’s Ben Johnson was stripped of his gold medal three days after breaking the world record in the 100 meters, and before U.S. sprinter Marion Jones was stripped of her five medals in 2007 for steroid use, there was the state-sponsored doping program of the East Germans during the Cold War. The East Germans implemented the most comprehensive doping program the world had ever seen. It included hundreds of their athletes – some knowingly and others unknowingly – that resulted in 90 medals (40 gold) at the 1976 Olympics; 126 medals in 1980; and 102 in 1988 (East Germany did not attend the 1984 Games in Los Angeles). Compare those tallies with the meager 25 medals the country won at the 1968 Games before they implemented the doping program and it’s clear East German athletes had a certain

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advantage. If East German athletes complained, they were either threatened or immediately removed from the national team and many of the women athletes were taking steroids derived from testosterone starting at age 12. This led to gender testing in the 1980s as some East German women had people looking for an Adam’s apple, they so physically resembled men in appearance and strength. Other forms of cheating have also played a role in the Games’ history. Who can forget Nancy Kerrigan’s screaming in pain after the boyfriend of rival Tonya Harding hired a man to take a crowbar to Kerrigan’s knee at the figure skating championship right before the 1994 Games? Then there’s Russian pentathlete Boris Onischenko, who in 1976 concealed an intricate wiring system underneath the handle of his epée, or sword, during the fencing event. Fencing uses a system where the epée is wired to register hits on a scoreboard when it touches the opponent. During his match with Britain’s Jim Fox, Onischenko’s epée was registering phantom hits. It turns out Onischenko Baseball has fallen under was hitting a button underneath the handle the cheating spotlight as that falsely registered the hit. So even without stars like Alex Rodriguez either touching Fox, Onischenko was racking up the admit past use of performancepoints. Fox cried foul and Onischenko’s electronic jerry-rigging was discovered, disquali- enhancing drugs or are embroiled in suspected PED controversies. fying him from the Games.

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Not to be left out, judges over the years have also been involved in Olympic scandals. In 1988 at the Seoul, Korea, Olympics, U.S.’s Roy Jones Jr. fought Korea’s Park SiHun in the light middleweight boxing division gold medal bout. Throughout the fight, Jones was soundly beating Park, landing 86 punches to Park’s 32. The referee even conducted two standing eight-counts on Park during the bout. But when it came time for the judges’ decisions, three of the five judges voted in favor of Park, giving Park the gold medal. A subsequent investigation revealed the three judges who voted for Park were pampered with food and entertainment by Korean officials before the fight, yet no evidence of direct bribes was discovered and Park kept his medal.

Marathons

Rosie Ruiz entered the Boston Marathon as a bit of a long shot. Admitting that she had only started running 18 months prior to the race, she stunned the racing world by crossing the finish line first, in record time, beating the previous record by more than three minutes. But as soon as they put the laurel on her head and handed her the medal, questions started to arise, namely that nobody remembered seeing her run until she crossed the w w w. p t c c h a l l e n g e . c o m

finish line. Other runners began questioning how she could look so fresh after such a grueling race and Jackie Gareau, the runner-up, was shocked to learn there was someone in front of her for the entire race. So many questions emerged that the race officials began an investigation. They found, well, nothing. There was not one photograph or video of Ruiz during the race until the end and no one at any of the checkpoints along the way remembered seeing her. Then two spectators came forward and said they saw her jump from the crowd and join the race less than a mile from the finish. Ruiz was defiant, however, and never admitted any shenanigans, even after she was disqualified. The 1904 Olympic marathon in St. Louis also resides in the pantheon of greatest sports scandals. The marathon was on a particularly hot August day that reached 90 degrees – so hot that less than half of the 31 runners would finish the race. One competitor, American Fred Lorz, was running steadily, but behind the lead pack, until the nine-mile mark, when he collapsed with cramps. Lorz was picked up by one of the officials (officials and coaches were allowed to follow the race by car then) but after riding in the car for several miles (legend has it at 11 miles), Lorz’s cramps subsided and he inexplicably decided to rejoin the race. When

questioned by another official, Lorz claimed the car he was riding in had broken down and he was just trying to get back to the stadium. The official disqualified him but Lorz decided to keep running, streaking past the real leader of the race, Thomas Hicks, to the cheers of the unsuspecting crowd. Nearing the stadium and finish line Lorz, supposedly on a whim and emboldened by the roaring spectators, decided to run into the stadium and finish the race as the winner. He was even greeted by President Theodore Roosevelt’s daughter as the champion. Lorz’s ruse was quickly discovered and he claimed he did it as a joke. Unfortunately, race officials showed they lacked a sense of humor and banned Lorz from amateur racing for life. Lorz successfully appealed the ban, however, and went on to win the Boston Marathon in 1905. As for Hicks, who officially won the 1904 Olympic marathon, it was later discovered that, suffering from dehydration and exhaustion, he was helped by race officials as well. Not only did they physically assist him along the route by keeping him from falling over but they also gave him strychnine as a stimulant, and fed him eggs and brandy to give him energy. They even gave him several full-body sponge baths. He lost eight pounds by the end of the race. M ARCH 2 0 1 3 C H A L L E N G E 45

The Fix Is In

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PHOTO: Lindner Imagery

A - The 1919 Chicago Black Sox. B - Nicknamed “Le Terrible” by his rivals, Hippolyte Aucouturier was known to hook his bike up to a car during the Tour de France. C - Marathoner Fred Lorz finished first in the 1904 Olympic marathon but rode in a car for 11 miles of the race to do it.

The 1919 World Series involving the Chicago White Sox is perhaps the most infamous game-fixing scandal in professional sports. Disgruntled by the miserly treatment of then owner Charles Comiskey, eight White Sox players conspired with organized crime to lose the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds for cash payouts. Even before the series started, rumors swirled about a possible fix. The Reds would go on to win the series 5-3. But it wasn’t until almost a year later that a grand jury was held to investigate the conspiracy claims. Two players, including “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, confessed (although both recanted their confessions later) and the conspiracy unraveled. The scandal prompted baseball to hire its first commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who wasted no time in banning all eight players for life. Then there’s Tim Donaghy, the former NBA referee who was implicated in a betting conspiracy that involved two of his high school friends. The scheme was based on Donaghy using his intimate insights as an NBA referee to bet on games while using his friends as middlemen to place the bets. For two seasons Donaghy made bets, earning from $2,000 to $5,000 per game, until the betting industry became suspicious and rumors spread that Donaghy was influencing game results. The FBI got involved and Donaghy was sentenced to 15 months in prison.

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On the road

Drive, Forrest, Drive By greg girard

inding out who came up with the “Gump Trip” depends on which of the Bergs you ask. Brenda Berg sees it as a trip derived from her desire – after working as a full-time executive for 10 years while having two children – to spend some quality time with her kids, Kelly, 10, and Anton, 7, before they get any older. But, Brenda says with a chuckle, “If you ask them, it was their idea.” Whichever one of the Bergs decided on the “Gump Trip,” named because the family admires the free spirit of the novel and movie character Forrest Gump and how he “‘Gumped’ his way into meeting extraordinary people and visited unique places,” they all see it as an adventure of a lifetime. And what better way to meet extraordinary people than on the road in an RV. “RVing came up because I’ve been in all 50 states, most of those in a camper,” Brenda explains. “And so it’s kind of in my DNA – the RV experience.” So after surprising the kids by buying an RV they named “Forrest,” Brenda gave Kelly and Anton a paper map and told them to circle all the places they’d like to visit in the U.S. And then Brenda started asking family and friends to recommend destinations. “I just started collecting names and places on my phone,” Brenda recalls, “and pretty soon I had well over 400 places.” As they began to pare down their options, a plan emerged: In seven and a half months, the Bergs plan to drive more than 20,000 miles, visiting 48 states and 87 destinations. Some destinations are a given – like the Grand Canyon and New Orleans – but other stops will dig deeper into the history of our nation, including the Fender Guitar factory

and the Ford Motor Co. factory. They’ve been on the road now for two months. “We just like seeing how things are made,” says Brenda. “So I thought [the factory stops] would be fun and also historical.” This isn’t just a family playing hooky from life. Brenda sees every day of the trip as a teaching moment for her kids. “I want them to see America – to understand our country, the natural history, the industrial history … and just meeting the people,” she says. So on their travels, Kelly and Anton are writing reports on the places they visit, blogging about their experiences and even Skyping their classmates back home in Raleigh, N.C., to share their adventures. The kids are also tasked with asking one person a specific question each day. “Kelly is asking, ‘What do you love about America and what’s the one thing you would change?’ and Anton is asking, ‘If you could live in one book, nonfiction or fiction, what would it be?’” Brenda explains. “So they’re getting a sense of how different people are going to answer the same question in different ways. When they’re done, we’ll hopefully have

Brenda loading the dolly

200 answers from across the country.” The Bergs are also incorporating a service project during their travels. They’ve partnered with First Book, a nonprofit organization helping bring books to impoverished schools around the country. According to First Book, in some low-income schools there is only one age-appropriate book for every 300 kids, compared with 13 books for every child in higher-income schools. “We’re very passionate about education and we wanted to partner with an organization that can really make a difference,” Brenda says. “And First Book has donated 100 million books to kids in need. That’s what they do and so they can help us find the places that really need [help].” Brenda’s goal is to raise $15,000 for First Book and deliver 1,000 books to six schools in need during their trip. As an added incentive, Golden Corral’s charitable foundation, ChildTrust, has pledged to match the $15,000 once the Bergs reach their goal. To follow the Bergs on their Gump Trip, including a destination map and where they’ve visited so far, and to help them reach their First Book goal, visit www.gumptrip.com. Kelly and Anton at the southernmost point in Key West, Fla.

Off the beaten path Photos: Courtesy of USS Midway Museum

USS Midway By Marion Kelly

trip to San Diego would be incomplete without a tour of one of the longest serving aircraft carriers in the U.S. Navy. After 47 years of active duty, the USS Midway was turned into a floating museum in 2004. The largest ship in the world until the mid-1950s, the Midway now features 60 exhibits and flight simulations for thousands of visitors each year. Military history buffs will get a kick out Midway’s climb-aboard aircraft

of the audio tours, included in the admission price, that are narrated by Midway veterans. The museum guides, stationed throughout the ship, will add to the experience with interesting facts, stories and statistics. Some are Midway veterans; almost a quarter million Americans served on the ship in its five decades of service. “Ninety-five percent of visitors never have a chance to go aboard an aircraft

carrier,” says Scott McGaugh, marketing director for the museum. “It’s a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity. And what better place than in Navy Town, USA, the original home of the real TOPGUN fighter school. Midway is uniquely San Diego.” Visitors can tour almost every area of this “city on the sea,” including where the crew slept and ate, the engine room, the ship’s brig, post office, machine shops and pilots’ ready rooms. For a bird’s eye view, guests can visit the primary flight control and the bridge in the middle of the ship, called the island, that overlooks the flight deck. Aspiring pilots will love the “air wing” of the museum. The four-acre flight deck holds 27 restored aircraft from World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam and Desert Storm. In its prime, the USS Midway could launch a massive aircraft about every minute. Some of these aircraft are on deck and have climb-aboard options, putting visitors literally in the cockpit. Less than 1 percent of our population serves in uniform,” McGaugh says. “Yet they are responsible for all the freedoms we enjoy. It’s a great opportunity to experience the courage, commitment and sacrifice that men and women in uniform make for all of us.” The museum is free to all active-duty military and reservists. Retired military, seniors and students receive a reduced rate. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the exceptions of Thanksgiving and Christmas. 910 North Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101 www.midway.org Marine reflects with son on midway

Everywhere, U.s.a.

ywher

Mar

Choosing an RV, Choosing a Spouse W

hen I started looking for the perfect RV, I’ll admit, it was rather confusing at times. Fellow owners are willing to share their likes and dislikes, but the chances of their preferences matching up with yours are slim. The Internet is useful for the initial research, but it doesn’t allow you the tirekicking we guys have to do when buying anything with a motor. RV shows are pretty good – at least at them you can kick a tire or two – but oftentimes the dealers are showing either the top of the line (read: mucho dinero) or their slow moving units, both of which are usually quickly nixed. So you leave with business cards, brochures and lots of ideas but no RV in tow. My answer to wading through all this

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U SA

Column

BY: CHAD BLAKE

information, or lack thereof, is to approach the purchase of an RV as you would the selection of a spouse. Bear with me; my point has merit. I swear. After a long, hard look at the RV I eventually chose, I realized the similarities between it and my wife of nearly 48 years, Cassie. The RV has a nice shape. I would describe it as very desirable and pleasing to the eye, much like my better half. It’s also well-balanced, which is essential for the long haul. My wife’s being well-balanced, both physically and mentally, has been the difference between a short affair and a long, healthy marriage. The RV has solid running gear, which, if taken care of properly, might last a lifetime. Another of Cassie’s attributes,

as it turns out. So far, so good. How about under the hood, you ask? Will maintenance be too costly? In a relationship, tune-ups are a necessity, but if you need to do an engine overhaul every year or so, that ends up being pricey. Having witnessed the effects of poor maintenance and reliability in some marriages, I concluded that the same could be said about the choice of an RV. For me, a high-maintenance vehicle was to be avoided at all costs. So while we were looking for our RV, I avoided the sleek, racy looking, high-powered vehicles. I was sure that over time, they were going to cost me a lot of money in upkeep. As the fancy paint jobs and jazzy decals began to fade and lose their attraction, I figured my fervor for such a high-end vehicle would fade also and I’d be longing for something more reliable. The same could be said for a relationship. Reliability might not sound sexy, but without it, you could be stranded, frustrated and facing huge repair costs. And if it’s missing from your relationship, therapy, divorce and alimony may be just steps away. My conclusion? If you have been successful in sharing a long and rewarding relationship with your spouse, odds are good you will choose a vehicle with similar satisfying results. It basically boils down to choosing well and choosing wisely.

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in workout recovery, decrease muscle soreness and ensure that your muscles and tendons are in good working order. The more conditioned your muscles and tendons are, the better they can handle the rigors of the job, reducing the likelihood of injury. Stretching doesn’t involve a huge time commitment, but it can end up giving you huge results. So to protect your shoulders, try this warm-up exercise designed to wake up and alert your rotator cuffs before putting them into action: Start by holding a bottle of water in one hand. Hold your arm at a 90-degree angle, keeping the elbow rested on your side at all times. Then slowly rotate your arm outward then back across your stomach. Repeat for 10 repetitions and then change arms. Enjoy the good weather and get started on some sort of cardio training today. The benefits not only support your physical health but your mental health as well. Roll strong!

Cardio Time by: bob perry Bob Perry is the chair of the American Trucking Association’s Safety Management Council’s Health & Wellness Working Group email: bob@rollingstrong.com • facebook.com/rollingstrong

ood weather is here, or just around the corner, depending on what part of the country you’re driving, which gives many of you the opportunity to take advantage of the most cost-effective exercise program available: walking, jogging or bike riding. We know two major factors that can take you out of service are high blood pressure and high sugar levels. But one of the best ways to control your weight and make sure your blood pressure and glucose levels are in their proper range is to engage in some type of cardio training. Just like you look at the gauges on your dashboard to make sure your engine is not running too hot, it’s important to check under your own “hood.” Watching your daily calorie con-

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sumption and walking at least 20 minutes, three times week, will make a big difference and get you moving in the right direction. A recent study of more than 2,800 drivers with injuries found that a large portion were shoulder injuries. And it makes sense. Just think about the number of times you are in and out of your truck daily. If you’re not using your legs to push yourself into the cab, you are placing a great deal of stress on your shoulders. So it’s important to incorporate stretching into your cardio program. Stretching is important for people of all ages and one of the greatest benefits of stretching is that it helps you increase your range of motion, which means your limbs and joints can move further before an injury occurs. Post-exercise stretching can also aid

Bonus stretch As part of your warm-up, it’s important you also stretch out your hamstrings to protect your sciatic nerve from flaring up. Many back issues are due to tight hamstrings, so let’s do some preventive maintenance. Bend your knees just slightly, bend over at the waist and bend down slowly, attempting to touch the floor. Don’t bounce; just go as far as you can, exhale and allow your body weight to lower you until you stop. Then take a breath and rise slowly while exhaling. Do 10 repetitions. M ARCH 2 0 1 3 C H A L L E N G E 51

column PHOTO: Brenda Potts

Hunting Eye to Eye by: brenda potts

emember as a kid when you were given the OK to pull some furniture together in the living room and cover it with blankets to make a tent or fort? Entering your own secret hideaway was such fun. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s funny how the simplest things can make lasting impressions. Today, whenever I slip through the door of my ground blind I momentarily revert to those childhood memories. Inside my own little fortress in the wilderness I have the perfect eye-to-eye vantage point, yet remain hidden and secretive. Ground blind hunting is an effective way to hunt several species if you put some thought into your setup. Here are a few tips to help you be more successful. More hunters have been using ground blinds in recent years and the market has

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taken notice. From hub-style pop-ups to permanent box blinds, the consumer has many choices. I prefer the hub-style pop-up blinds because they are lightweight, and easy to set up and move. They block the sun, wind and rain, making your hunt more pleasurable in that regard too. The hub systems bow out, pushing the fabric out tightly to prevent material flapping in the wind. Many blinds are big enough for two or three people to sit comfortably with all their gear close at hand. This is especially useful with young kids along for the hunt. They can take a nap or move around a bit and stay hidden. Hub-style pop-ups are relatively easy to blend into the terrain. Most are made with camouflage material but further concealment is needed, especially when hunting deer or

elk. Remove any leaves, sticks or vegetation that would interfere with movement inside the blind. Use vegetation from the area around the blind to â&#x20AC;&#x153;brush it in.â&#x20AC;? I prefer cedar branches if they are naturally available in the area. Cut a few of these and place them all around and on top of the blind. Choose blinds that have little loops of fabric strategically sewn into the fabric to hold branches in place when you poke them through the loops. Setting the blind on level terrain is important for your comfort as well. No one wants to sit slanted in his or her chair on the verge of tipping over. Another consideration is window placement. Window systems vary. Some enable you to see and shoot 360 degrees, while others give you set options that are more triangular in shape. Window configuration and placement is an important aspect of the shooting scenario so take this into consideration when using a gun, bow or crossbow. Spraying the blind with Scent Away or a similar product will help with scent control. But nothing is foolproof, so placing your blind downwind of anticipated animal movement is important. Take along a rangefinder to ensure you do not set up too far from game trails and are forced into longer than desired shooting distances. Try not to skyline your blind on a hilltop or ridge. Once inside the blind, dress in colors that blend with the interior. Do not open every window and skyline your upper torso. Instead, keep some of the windows closed and sit far enough back in the blind that you blend into the darkness. Practice shooting from inside the blind to ensure you have the proper chair height. And finally, move slowly. Always assume eyes are on you. Hunting eye-to-eye is fun, exhilarating and one of my favorite ways to hunt.

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PHOTO: Rainier Ehrhardt/Getty Images

Travis Pastrana

by: claire b. lang

e all have hopes and dreams. Maybe you have New Year’s resolutions that you are moving slowly on. You may follow your favorite professional athletes and think, “Man, those guys have the life,” and, with that in the back of your mind, you keep thinking about your goals as you roll on down the road in 2013. As I cover NASCAR and interview its elite athletes, I get to see the behind-thescenes work and discipline and sweat and persistence it takes to achieve the goals that lead to greatness. Believe me, it’s impressive. A perfect example is action sports and Nitro Circus star Travis Pastrana. He’s the winner of 11 X-Games gold medals and this season he’s racing a full Nationwide Series schedule in the No. 60 with Roush Fenway Racing. How much are we focused on our 2013 goals? Are we pushing ourselves to achieve what we want in life? Probably not as much as Pastrana is. “I passed out one time,” he told me. “I was running on my own. There was a hill and I wanted to beat my own time and I actually woke up literally right next to a pile of cow crap. I just laughed because it was actu-

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ally out in central California. Nobody was, like, within five miles of me. I’m by myself passed out on a hillside.” Passed out trying to beat his own time. Is that crazy? Well, hanging around Pastrana makes you believe that if you were determined to work hard enough and long enough on something, you could achieve anything you wanted. To figure out whether Pastrana can learn behind the wheel all that is required this season to make it in NASCAR, one only has to ask him how long it took him to learn his X-Games freestyle tricks. “People always go, ‘Oh, that trick was cool and it’s crazy,’” Pastrana says. “But the double back flip is something that I was working on three years before I tried it in a sand pile and then another year after that before I did it in competition.” So is there anything we couldn’t learn if we really tried? “Everything that’s done that looks simple – there is nothing simple about success.” Great point. Many think that Pastrana jumped right into Rally cars and was great at it from the word go. “I’m like, no, I dabbled in it the first year,” he says. “I crashed almost everything I drove the second year and yeah, we won

the championship the third year.” Pastrana talks about his 2013 RFR Nationwide effort with phrases like “You gotta be all in” and “We’re figuring out a way to do this” and “Let’s make it happen.” So can we “make it happen” for ourselves? How bad do you want it? “If it’s not everything that you dream of, everything that you think of, that you eat, sleep, everything – you’re never going to be the best at anything. I don’t care what it is,” Pastrana says. “You gotta want it that bad. “I don’t like doing things half-assed,” he also told me. “I want to be on a team that is capable of winning. I don’t want to dabble any more. I’ve been dabbling the last couple of years. I want to see what I’m made of.” So by now you may be thinking you did try something you wanted to achieve but it didn’t work. Pastrana understands that failure comes before success. “(RFR driver) Ricky Stenhouse hit the wall a lot the first bit before he won the championship,” Pastrana remarks. “I was talking with Jimmie Johnson and he told me his first year in Nationwide he went through 14 cars. It’s going to take time.” Last year, Pastrana asked Brad Keselowski how he learned to run along the top of the track, something Pastrana has a hard time feeling comfortable doing. Keselowski told him his tire was about to fall off one time and was vibrating really badly so he was forced to try the top. That way, if the tire blew off he wouldn’t hit the wall too hard. It’s about learning from those before you and figuring it out until it works. ”Bottom line is,” Pastrana told me about his 2013 RFR ride, “I’m a racer. I’m happy doing tricks, happy showing off, but I’m not really satisfied unless I’m putting in the time. My best moments of racing were the times when you’re running a heart rate of 200 and you can barely see and you’re cross-eyed and you’re two seconds down in the last lap and it’s for the championship. A bottom-ofthe-ninth situation. It’s really something that I live for.” So I ask you, as you roll on down the road, do you live for your dreams? Do you refuse to give up? Would you work almost four years to perfect something leading to your goals? Would you go up to the high side if it scared you to learn, and if you crashed trying something new? Whatever it is you want, really want, go out this year and work to make it happen.

Listen to Claire B. Lang’s radio show on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90. w w w. p t c c h a l l e n g e . c o m

Climate Change on the Agenda by: mike howe Follow Mike on Twitter: @TruckingDC • Like Mike on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TruckingPoliticsMore

limate change has long been an area of contention in the political, legislative and regulatory arenas. With the re-election of President Obama this issue is almost certain to become one of the primary areas of focus and contention in his second term. However, with the makeup of Congress not changing much from his first term, there will no doubt be many hurdles for him to overcome if he wants to have a meaningful impact on the climate change issues. It didn’t take long for more than 70 environmental organizations to co-sign a letter to Obama dated Jan. 7, 2013, reminding him of his promise to make climate change a priority. That letter, signed by leaders of groups such as Earthjustice, Environmental Defense Fund, Greenpeace, Native American Rights Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club and more, cited a Nov. 7, 2012, speech made by the president in which he said, “Climate change is not a hoax. More drought and floods and hurricanes and wildfires are not a joke. They’re a threat to our children’s future. And we can do something about it.” The environmental groups that signed the letter proposed three items of action. First, they called on the president to “raise his voice,” asking him to use the bully pulpit to make certain the issue of climate change stays front and center. Second, they called on him to bypass Congress and use his “executive authority” to make progress on the issue. And third, they called on him to “reject dirty fuels.” This one refers to the Keystone XL pipeline and other similar energy development projects. In his Jan. 21, 2013, inaugural address, the president again brought up the issue of climate change, elevating the issue as a top priority for his second term in office. He said, “We, the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves, but to all posterity. We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations. Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the

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devastating impact of raging fires and crippling drought and more powerful storms.” There is little doubt the president is taking climate change seriously. But does that mean he will have success in passing legislation and making meaningful changes? While the answer is more complex than just yes or no, it appears likely he’ll have some success in making small changes, but will find it difficult to get anything environmental groups consider meaningful through the current Congress. With other issues like gun control, the debt ceiling and the budget taking the stage early in his second term, there will be little time to get into any heated debates about climate change. Though there is a possibility the issue could make an appearance by late spring or early summer, all indications point to an uphill battle in Congress. Obama may have success through the regulatory changes and executive orders. We saw him do this in his first term. He ordered new fuel standards for some lightweight vehicles and coal-fired power plants (now known in the utility industry as the war on coal). He also offered incentives in the form of economic stimulus for clean energy and public transportation. It is possible, and quite likely, we will see additional measures like these. Perhaps fuel and emission standards will be expanded further, maybe even touching the trucking and transportation industries. Considering this administration’s track record, it seems like a logical step. What does this re-prioritization of climate change issues mean for the trucking industry? That really depends on changes made in legislation and regulations. Generally speaking, anytime there are changes to fuel standards and emission standards, costs tend to increase. While nobody I am aware of is arguing the environment is not important, there continues to be debate about how best to address climate change issues (at least those issues that are influenced by man). Like many issues, emotions run high on this one – which typically means the results will impact your rights, your pocketbook or both. Either way, this is an issue worth paying attention to. w w w. p t c c h a l l e n g e . c o m

Kiss Me, I’m Not Irish

pring is in the air. Birds are chirping, trees have leaves again; everything brown is turning green. And it’s not just nature that’s turning green. In the third week of March, everyone turns a little green on St. Patrick’s Day. I’m not Irish, but that’s never stopped me. I drink the green beer, wear the green T-shirt and generally use the holiday as an excuse to have a good time. The Irish are a welcoming bunch. They love to celebrate life and all its pleasures. If someone offers you a beer and a blessing, who can say no? The beer is great and the blessings are universal. “May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, may God

hold you in the palm of His hand.” Blessings like these are humble. They don’t ask for much; they’re about having just enough in life. It’s not about excess or grand gestures. It’s about finding satisfaction in the simple things, like the sun on your face and the wind at your back. How often are you satisfied with those things? Most people rarely are. They’re so concerned with getting everything bigger and better and more of it that they miss what they have right in front of them. I don’t think life is about having the best of everything; I think it’s about making the best of what you have. They say “May the luck of the Irish be with you all year long.” What makes the Irish so lucky? Seems they were just being ironic. History tells us theirs was mostly bad luck, with

by: charles pope

the potato famine in the 1800s and the horrible discrimination they faced when they came to the States. The Irish didn’t have anything but hard work to fall back on and isn’t that what luck is? Hard work and diligence are usually the keys to success. I heard this the other day: “Too many people are disappointed in the results they didn’t get for the work they didn’t do. “ I probably sound like some old codger, but I’m sick of people whining about how awful their life is yet not doing anything to change it. Let’s take a page from the Irish this month. If you want something to change, you’ve got to do something different. If you’re happy where you are, with what you’ve got, then make a toast, have a beer and take a moment to be grateful. Regardless of our family tree, we all can be a little Irish.

Do you have an industry issue you would like to gripe about? Send it to editor@ptcchallenge.com.

zoos

Photo by Sky Advertising for Brevard Zoo

by: marion kelly

hen it comes to zoos, bigger does not always mean better, although in the case of San Diego, it does. The San Diego Zoo covers an impressive 99 acres of amazing animal habitats that make it a mustsee for any zoo lover. We’ve compiled a list of zoos that have at least one awesome feature that makes them stand out. Some you might recognize, others might surprise you. Either way, these are all worth a visit.

Brevard Zoo – Melbourne, Fla.

Feed a giraffe, meet a rhino, and watch an alligator enjoy its lunch at this small zoo about an hour outside of Orlando. For just $6 a person, you can kayak through Expedition Africa, and for $9 more, you can paddleboat through the zoo’s restored wetlands in the Wild Florida exhibit. For the more adventurous, the Treetop Trek Aerial Adventures take you through a zipline and canopy course overlooking parts of

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the zoo that will let you see the animals like never before. www.brevardzoo.org

St. Louis Zoo – St. Louis, Mo.

If there was ever a penguin Mecca, the St. Louis Zoo would be it. Home to more than 75 penguins, the zoo offers these flightless birds a unique habitat in its Penguin and Puffin Coast exhibit. From the rocky shoreline in the Humboldt Haven housing the black, white and sometimes pink Humboldt penguin, to the chilly Penguin Cove where the gentoo, rockhopper and king penguins can be viewed above and below the always chilly 45 degree water, the only way to get a closer look at these waddling birds is to be a zookeeper. Admission to the zoo is free and who doesn’t like that price? www.stlzoo.org

The Oklahoma City Zoo – Oklahoma City, Okla.

According to the zoo website, the Great EscApe exhibit features two troops

of gorillas, one family of orangutans, and a community of chimpanzees, totaling 18 animals. We’d call that pretty great. The primates enjoy 3.5 acres of tropical forest that include waterfalls, pools, fallen trees, rocks to play on and lots of shady plants to keep the primates cool. www.okczoo.org

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Neb.

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo features the desert dome, which is the world’s largest indoor desert. After visiting some of the world’s most venomous snakes, lizards, bobcats, ocelots and even hummingbirds, head for the stairs to the Kingdoms of the Night exhibit where day and night are reversed so all the nocturnal animals come out to play. Visitors can see bats, naked moles, rare Japanese giant salamanders and blind cave fish all in a dark, cave-like setting. Sure to please fans of the creepy and crawly. www.omahazoo.com w w w. p t c c h a l l e n g e . c o m

Smithsonian National Zoological Park â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Washington, D.C.

The Smithsonian Zoo is a great place for families, but unlike most zoos it also offers something geared toward adults. The Snore & Roar adults-only program lets you tour the zoo during a late-night flashlight trek, while enjoying some wine and cheese. You can also camp out on the lion/tiger hill and then enjoy breakfast the next morning. How fun does that sound? No marshmallow roasting is allowed, but weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll overlook that. www.nationalzoo.si.edu. PHOTO: Smithsonian Photo by Sky Advertising for Brevard Zoo

Photo by Sky Advertising for Brevard Zoo

PHOTO: Smithsonian

w w w. p t c c h a l l e n g e . c o m

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