Four Corners Sports March 2016 by Majestic Media

content Don Vaughan

| 4 | Setting goals

PuBlISHER

Cindy Cowan Thiele EDITOR

With the Piedra Vista High School Swimming and Diving Teams in a state of flux, Kristi lucero was hired in late August of 2015 to coach the Panther program.

Rick Hoerner Dorothy Nobis Tom Yost CONTRIBuTING WRITERS

Josh Bishop Curtis Ray Benally CONTRIBuTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

| 8 | Ken Griffey Jr. “The Kid’s” career is complete. Ken Griffey Jr. has just been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, by the Baseball Writers Association of America.

Suzanne Thurman DESIGNER

Clint Alexander Tonya Daniell SAlES STAFF

lacey Waite ADMINISTRATION For advertising information Call 505.516.1230

www.fourcornerssports.com

| 24 | Editorial Columnist

| 12 | Fantasy Year The Fantasy Season has come to an end and it’s time to look back on another season of great pickups, bad picks and devastating injuries.

Please send to editor@tricitytribuneusa.com Majestic Media 100 W. Apache Street Farmington, NM 87401 505.516.1230 www.majesticmediausa.com Four Corners Sports magazine is published six times a year by Majestic Media. Material herein may not be reprinted without expressed written consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed by the contributing writers are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or Four Corners Sports magazine. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication. However the publisher cannot assume responsibility for errors or omissions. © 2016 Four Corners Sports magazine.

| 26 | Understanding the game

| 16 | The First Tee

It’s that time of year again where the Super Bowl ends and basketball takes over the sports landscape as high school state playoffs, NCAA conference tournaments and the beloved Final Four begin.

by Tom Yost

| 18 | Home School Athletes on the rise

STORY IDEAS and PHOTOS

by Rick Hoerner

Claudio lane sat on the sofa in his father’s law ofﬁce, obviously wishing the visitor would keep the visit short. Claudio, 13, and his brother, Evan, 9, had other things to do on this Friday morning and he was anxious to be on his way.

| 30 | Boys and Girls Club’s New Balance Sports in Farmington, especially when it comes to basketball, revolved around the Boys & Girls Club. Not so long ago there was the classic old building that from a distance looked like an ancient airplane hangar.

| 22 | Police Athletic League It’s not just about ﬁtness and a healthy, active lifestyle. It’s about sharing sports and outdoor activities that culminate in a shared respect and appreciation for each other.

| 32 | NASCAR Nellie

covercredit Dominique Tso. Photo by Curtis Ray Benally

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SETTING GOALS Coach Kristi Lucero building a solid swimming and diving team Story Tom Yost | Photos Curtis Ray Benally With the Piedra Vista High School Swimming and Diving Teams in a state of flux, Kristi Lucero was hired in late August of 2015 to coach the Panther program. Lucero has been coaching for the past three years with FCAT (the Four Corners Aquatic Team of Farmington) and is the assistant coach under Mike McCluhan at the club level. “My daughter Emilee has been swimming since she was 8 years old,” said Lucero. “We live in Bloomfield and started at the San Juan

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Swim Club. Over the past few years the San Juan Swim Club has combined with FCAT. I accepted the position at PV, which is why my daughter is now swimming as a freshman for Piedra Vista.”

“Most teams had already set their schedule and therefore we couldn’t get into certain meets we wanted to and we had to take what we could get based on what was left.”

Being a late hire for the swimming and diving coaching position, it was a bit of a struggle for Lucero in her first year.

The scheduling challenge aside, Lucero came in with a solid set of expectations for the swimmers and divers who were on the team.

“I came in so late that scheduling our meets was extremely tough,” said Lucero.

“At the start of the season, I told all of our swimmers and divers what was expected of

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shealaMOFFITT

benVANOTTESON

VISTA

PIEDRA

emileeLUCERO

them,” explained lucero. “i expected them to work hard and give their full effort at every practice. Most of our athletes have risen to the challenge that i presented to them at the beginning of the year. i believe that if kids understand what is expected of them, that they will be able to step up.” lucero has three solid divers all of whom have qualified for the state meet, and has pretty high expectations for a strong finish from all three of them at district and state. Ben Vanotteson and Bodee DeWeese offer the best chance for a high finish at state in February. Vanotteson is the top seed in district and also swims on a couple of relays for the panthers. “Ben and Bodee are each other’s biggest competitors,” said lucero. “i expect each of them to finish in the top three at both district and state.” eliana Christensen is lucero’s other state diving qualifier. Young Christensen has a lot of experience and is an extremely hard worker, which will serve her well finishing out the season and heading into the next.

elianaCHRISTENSEN

“on the girls’ side, i have a pretty key group of five girls that continue to compete and get better,” explained lucero. “Dominique tso is our senior leader and a captain who leads by example. She has qualified for state both individually and as the anchor for our relay teams. Sheala Moffitt has qualified for the 100 breast stroke and also swims on a qualified relay team. i also have Gabrielle Goodluck, who is an extremely hard worker and has a great attitude on the team. and finally i have my daughter emilee lucero and Morgan Miller as freshmen.” With the core group on the girls’ side, lucero thinks that her 200 Medley relay team and the 400 Freestyle relay team could finish in the top five teams at the state meet. “on the boys’ side we have a smaller team, but they are on the cusp of qualifying for the 200 and 400 Freestyle relays for state,” added lucero. With past experience as an assistant coach and the expectations for the team laying the foundation moving forward, lucero believes great things are ahead for both the piedra Vista High School Swimming and Diving team and for FCat at the club level. “We have some really talented freshmen on both the boys and girls side and some solid sophomores and juniors looking to the future,” said lucero. “Being able to coach with FCat and having the support of Mike McCluhan, we are trying to build the club with the younger swimmers that move up to the high school level from the club level. i have taken a lot of experiences from Mike at the club level and used it in my coaching. So i am very appreciative of Mike and all he has done for swimming in Farmington.” and once the season ends for panther swimmers and divers, the offseason plans for training and pool time will give opportunities for future participants to get better. “it all comes back to the expectations for the team,” proclaimed lucero. “We want to make sure our athletes are working hard and having fun. that is how the program is going to grow.

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Ken Griffey Jr. addresses the Farmington crowd after his induction into the Connie Mack World Series Hall of Fame in 2014.

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Pictured fr om left, Ke n Griffey J Steve Lien r. .

, Eric Lien

Class of 2016 electees Ken Griffey Jr. (left) and Mike Piazza re-create their classic 1994 Sports Illustrated cover at the MLB Network studios in Secaucus, N.J. (Jean Fruth / National Baseball Hall of Fame)

KEN GRIFFEY JR.

is one of the greats

From playing for Midland at the CMWS to being elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame Story Tom Yost | Courtesy photos “The Kid’s” career is complete. Ken Griffey Jr. has just been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, by the Baseball Writers Association of America. He received the highest vote tally in the history of any player ever to play the game. Griffey Jr. had a higher vote tally than the likes of Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and Jackie Robinson. When the votes were counted, Griffey Jr. had accumulated 437 votes out of a possible 440. Griffey Jr. grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, as his father played outﬁeld for the Cincinnati Reds

during the “Big Red Machine” era of the mid1970s. Griffey Jr. went on to have a proliﬁc high school baseball career at Archbishop Moeller High School, becoming the second player in Moeller’s baseball program to be voted to the Baseball Hall of Fame, following Barry Larkin in 2012. Griffey Jr. touched the lives of Farmington, New Mexico, residents Eric and Kim Lien in the late summer of 1986 when he played in the Con-

nie Mack World Series for Coach Joe Hayden. Playing center field for the two-time defending Connie Mack World Series Champions, Griffey Jr. was a not yet polished 16-year-old with a quiet demeanor and a love for Doritos. “That’s all he ate,” said Eric Lien. “He sure loved Doritos.” Midland was attempting to become the first club to win three straight Connie Mack World Series titles, but Griffey Jr. and the team lost to a team from Norwalk, California, in the finals.

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“We knew he was Ken Griffey’s son, but we didn’t know how good he really was,” said Lien. “He was just another Connie Mack ball player and he was just like all the other (Connie Mack) kids to us.” He was elected to the Connie Mack World Series Hall of Fame in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the baseball tournament in 2014. In his speech at the induction ceremony Griffey thanked the Lien family for their hospitality.

A bat Griffey Junior signed for Eric and Kim’s son Steve Lien.

with 22 years in the major league.

“I was a little nervous because of what my dad did. I can’t tell you how much the Lien family means to me. My host family was unbelievable,” he said. “the ﬁrst night I was scared to death and the Liens told me ‘It’s gonna be all right, you’re gonna do just ﬁne.’ In his speech “Enjoy this time, and parents, take a lot of pictures. It is arguably the greatest time I have had as an amateur athlete.” Griffey holds the record for the longest career of any Connie Mack World Series playing

# 10

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Griffey started to play for Midland again in the summer of 1987, but was selected first overall in the 1987 amateur draft by the Seattle Mariners. He signed immediately and started in their minor league farm system. He started his first major league game with the Mariners in 1989, enjoying the best years of his Hall of Fame career in Seattle. He was traded to his hometown Cincinnati reds in 2000 and spent nearly nine years battling injuries on the back half of his illustrious career. Griffey Jr. had finished his last three and a

!!! MARCH 2016

half years with the Chicago White Sox and the Seattle Mariners when he retired in 2010. He ﬁnished his career with 630 home runs (6th on the all-time list), was the American League MVp in 1997, was a 13-time All-Star and won 10 straight Golf Gloves as the best defensive outﬁelder in the American League from 1990-1999. His 22-year career ended with a .284 batting average and an on-base percentage of .370. “After the career he had, I expected him to get into the Hall of Fame,” said Lien. “I was a little surprised that he got the highest vote count ever.”

Junior named on 99.3 percent of ballots, breaking Tom Seaver's '92 record Few athletes burst into the spotlight of their sport the way Ken Griffey Jr. did as one of the most memorable young stars in Major Leagues history, displaying power and athletic style beyond his years, and a smile that lit up the grand old game. Griffey will make another debut soon, this time on the National Baseball Hall of Fame ballot atop the 2016 class of players under consideration. The 600-homer power of Griffey and the 600-save prowess of closer Trevor Hoffman will headline the ﬁrst-ballot hopefuls when members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America cast their votes at the end of the 2015 calendar year to determine inductees to Cooperstown for ’16. Others due to make their debut on the 2016 ballot include multiple All-Stars such as premier left-handed closer Billy Wagner, outﬁeld defensive wizard Jim Edmonds and stalwart catcher Jason Kendall.

Accomplishments Griffey racked up 10 Gold Glove Awards with his spectacular work in center ﬁeld and was selected to 13 All-Star Games in a 22-year career that saw him stand out as one of the game’s biggest stars for more than a decade. After debuting with the Mariners in 1989 at age 19, and playing alongside his father the

“Junior was one of the ﬁnest young men I’ve ever had the opportunity to manage. When we were in Seattle together, I believe he was the best player in baseball and it was truly an honor to be his manager.”

— Lou Piniella Seattle Mariners manager next two years, Griffey won Most Valuable Player honors at the 1992 All-Star Game at 22 – and Junior was on his way to big things. Griffey won the 1997 American League MVP Award with 56 homers and 147 RBIs, part of a run in which he had at least 40 homers in seven out of eight seasons.

Great moments He had several iconic moments along the way, from remarkable catches robbing home runs to diving headﬁrst into home plate and winding up at the bottom of a dog pile as the Mariners clinched their ﬁrst postseason series in 1995 – his beaming smile right there in the picture, every time.

* Junior 34

FANTASY YEAR IN REVIEW the Fantasy Season has come to an end and it’s time to look back on another season of great pickups, bad picks and devastating injuries. the addition of the daily fantasy leagues, such as Fanduel and draft kings, brought a new dimension to Fantasy Football and the lovely world of gambling. Here’s a look at those who made – or devastated – your year.

all-Star team cam newton QB carolina Panthers - Probably not even a top 10 QB choice in your league, newton had a monster year with 45 tds, including 10 rushing, with nearly 4,000 passing yards and another 635 rushing. devonta FReeman RB atlanta Falcons - will be on the all-waiver wire team as well. most saw tevin coleman as the Falcon starter, but even with a couple of games missed THE FANTASY GEEK Freeman was the highest rated RB in Fantasy this season.

camNEWTON carolina Panthers

RickHOERNER

adRian PeteRSen RB minnesota vikings - Petersen returned after a season-long suspension to lead the vikings to the playoffs. with over 1,700 total yards and 11 tds Petersen picked up right where he left off. antonio BRown wR Pittsburgh Steelers - once again the top wide receiver in the league, even with Roethlisberger out for a few games. with 136 catches, over 1,800 yards and 11 tds, Brown will likely be a ﬁrst round pick next year and is no. 1 on my preseason board. Julio JoneS wR atlanta Falcons - after an often injured 2014 season Jones was well worth the high draft pick. Jones ﬁnished just behind Brown, even with matt Ryan having an off season. Same number of catches as Brown, more yards, but fewer scores.

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devontaFREEMAN atlanta Falcons

rob GronkoWski te new england Patriots - Gronk was again a monster with 72 catches and 11 tDs. the single most dominant position player in the league, again to be a top pick at tight end. Denver bronCos Dst - the defense was the reason the broncos made it to the super bowl. the broncos’ no. 1 defense was opportunistic with 27 turnovers and 5 tDs to go, along with 52 sacks.

all-Wasted Pick team anDreW LuCk Qb indianapolis Colts - it was very likely that Luck was a top 5 Qb drafted right there with rodgers, brees, brady and the runner up wasted pick, Peyton Manning. even before the injuries, Luck wasn’t anywhere near performing to his draft status.

anDreWLUCK indianapolis Colts

DeMarCo Murray rb Philadelphia eagles - Last year’s top rusher didn’t even put up 750 yards this season and ended up splitting time with the always disappointing ryan Mathews. the downfall of Chip kelly is tied to Murray – and bradford, of course. CJ anDerson rb Denver broncos - While anderson finished strong at the end of the year, owners were hoping to get a lot out of anderson after the way he finished last year. only 720 yards and 5 scores after being projected as a top 10 back. eDDie LaCy rb Green bay Packers - Projected as a top 4 running back, Lacy was 90th at the end of the year. He was inconsistent all year, rarely putting up double digit points in consecutive weeks. even lost his starting job to James starks. not even a thousand yards total and only 5 tDs. ranDaLL Cobb Wr Green bay Packers - the preseason loss of Jordy nelson hurt aaron rodgers, but it killed randall Cobb. While it looked as though Cobb would become an even bigger factor in the offense, without the field-stretching, nelson Cobb struggled to get open.

tonyROMO Dallas Cowboys

torrey sMitH Wr san Francisco 49ers - smith’s speed looked to be a perfect ﬁt for Colin kaepernick, but the 49ers looked awful and smith’s free agency pickup did little to help. smith came down with just over 33 catches, barely 650 yards and only 4 tDs. JiMMy GraHaM te seattle seahawks - When Graham came over to the seahawks it looked to be the answer to the seahawks red Zone passing problems, but Graham never ﬁt in, and, even before his season-ending injury, was not performing as expected. MiaMi DoLPHins Dst - the Dolphin Dst was supposed to be an up and coming defense with the addition of ndamukong suh. the defensive line never became the force they hoped for, recording only 31 sacks and giving up over 6,000 yards.

all-injured team tony roMo Qb Dallas Cowboys - i suppose no big shocker here, but romo had his team playing well before the injuries that crashed a whole team around him.

kirkCOUSINS Washington redskins

Le’veon beLL rb Pittsburgh steelers - after missing a pair of games at the beginning of the year, all looked to be on track for the top rated rb in preseason. Had 700 yards in six games before falling for the season.

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Jamal CharleS rB Kansas City Chiefs - after ﬁve games Charles was on to another stellar season, and with the Chiefs schedule getting much easier it looked to get better for Charles. the injury ended his fantasy season, but the Chiefs rolled up 11 consecutive wins without him. Dez Bryant Wr Dallas Cowboys - Bryant’s injury, in conjunction with romo’s, doomed the Cowboy offense. even when Bryant returned, the backup situation was so bad in Dallas that Bryant never had a chance. Keenan allen Wr San Diego Chargers - through eight weeks, allen was a top tier wide receiver. his injury stiﬂed the Chargers passing attack and bottomed out the Chargers in the aFC West. late SeaSon tight enDS - the tight end position didn’t get hit hard until the end of the season; then came a rush of injuries causing owners to scramble to cover martellus Bennett, antonio gates, Charles Clay and Jimmy graham, among others.

all-Waiver Wire KirK CouSinS QB Washington redskins - in the aftermath of the experiment that was robert grifﬁn iii, Cousins led the redskins to a division championship by having an unexpected great season, throwing for over 4,100 yards and accounting for 34 tDs. Deangelo WilliamS rB pittsburgh Steelers - an afterthought when leaving the panthers, Williams put up exceptional numbers ﬁlling in for the suspended and then injured le’Veon Bell. 1,200 total yards and 11 tDs were well worth the gamble.

DaViD JohnSon rB arizona Cardinals - the rookie was listed on the depth chart behind andre ellington and Chris Johnson. But even while Chris Johnson was putting up good numbers, David was scoring tDs in the return and passing games. When he got his chance in the ﬁnal weeks he was one of the top backs in the league. Doug BalDWin Wr Seattle Seahawks - anyone holding on to Baldwin prior to the bye week should be investing on Wall Street. after the bye, and with Jimmy graham gone, Baldwin was a monster receiver with 20 points ppr in eight of the last ten weeks. allen hurnS Wr Jacksonville Jaguars - hurns came out of nowhere to put up a 1,000-yard season with 64 catches and 10 tDs. along with allen robinson and a rising Blake Bortles, the Jaguar passing game looks to be headed in the right direction. Delanie WalKer te tennessee titans - in my leagues Walker was picked up and dropped off rosters nearly on a weekly basis, but by the end of the year Walker was a must start and the favorite target of marcus mariotta. Walker was second to gronkowski in ppr scoring. KanSaS City ChieFS DSt - after ﬁve weeks most owners gave up on the Chiefs, including yours truly, but during the 11-game win streak the Chiefs DSt was top notch, earning them the second spot right behind the Broncos. another fantasy season has come and gone. now there are only seven months to prepare for the 2016 draft.

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BEFORE THE SNOW MELTS Golf questions prior to swinging into 2016 season it is tough to think about golf when you are cooped up inside and temperatures are barely peeking their heads above freezing. With snow and ice covering the lovely 18hole landscapes and the calendar reading February, hope springs eternal that the weather will break and we will be able to shake the dust off of the clubs and the rust off our swings. jordanSPIETH

TomYOST The First Tee

Looking forward to what lies ahead, i will offer some questions for the golf world heading into the thick of the 2016 season… 1. Will the new Big Three, err, i mean Big Four, dominate the professional golf landscape this year?

roryMCIIROY

it certainly appears that the PGa Tour is primed to have survived the post-Tiger Woods collapse with the meteoric rises of jordan spieth, rory mcilroy, jason day and ricky Fowler. sprinkle in a few others such as dustin johnson, Bubba Watson and Patrick reed, and we have ourselves a healthy look at professional golf for a long while. 2. speaking of the PGa Tour, will the United states put its demons to bed and FinaLLy win the ryder cup?

jasonDAY

color me skeptical, but the Europeans seem to have our number no matter who we throw out there. maybe the young guns will erase the last two decades of misery with a dominating performance at Hazeltine national in minnesota – where nmsU’s very own rich Beem won the PGa championship.

close to donning the green jacket that it is really up for grabs. Fowler has stated that it is his major goal for 2016. mcilroy needs it to cement his place among the greats and complete the fourth and final piece of his career grand slam. spieth is looking to go back-to-back. The drama will be intense, but before it even starts i would strongly suggest you tune in to the sunday morning drive, chip and Putt national championship from augusta national Golf course, watching young participants from around the country getting to compete in a skills competition at the home of The masters. and one of our very own, sebastian massey from Farmington, came within five spots of competing in this national event. it is worth every minute of your time. 4. Will you commit to improving by taking lessons from your local PGa Professional, or get fitted for custom clubs that suit you?

3. Who will win The masters? a tradition unlike any other is not too far away, and officially – in my opinion – kicks off the golf season. rickyFOWLER

Four Corners sPorTs

so many of the top players have been so

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it is time for the local avid golfer to start investing in game improvement lessons rather than game improvement equipment. Lessons are less expensive and will last a lot longer than that $400 driver that goes farther – into the native area! contact your

local PGA Golf Professional today – and get yourself better more quickly, and for less money. 5.

What is it going to take to get you out on the course this year?

With so many Get Golf Ready Programs for beginners, some of the best course layouts money can buy, and family golf opportunities around every corner, 2016 is the PERFECT time to give golf a try, or to come back and see what you have been missing.

Golf save the date events 1)May 9 and 10, 2016, will be the Class 5A State Golf Championships at Piñon Hills Golf Course. The top high school players from New Mexico will compete in our back yard. Attendance is free and volunteers will be needed to help out. If nothing else, come out and support the local 5A schools – Aztec, Farmington and Piedra Vista – which will be competing, as these student athletes have worked hard to reach their goals for the season. 2)May 12, 2016 will be The First Tee’s 2nd Annual Clubs For Kids Event at Piñon Hills Golf Course. This will be free to attend from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. for all families in the community. Every youth in attendance receives a free club to take home.

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Runner Claudio Lane participates in sports at Koogler Story Dorothy Nobis Photos Josh Bishop

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HOME SCHOOL ATHLETES ON THE RISE Claudio Lane sat on the sofa in his father’s law ofﬁce, obviously wishing the visitor would keep the visit short. Claudio, 13, and his brother, Evan, 9, had other things to do on this Friday morning and he was anxious to be on his way. Claudio and Evan are homeschooled. If they get their school work done for the week and have a good start on the lessons for the following week, they get to take Friday off and do something special. on this particular Friday, it was snowboarding. Claudio enjoys being homeschooled. His lessons include math, spelling, history, geography, science, writing, and Bible study. His least favorite subject is math, his favorite is science. “I get to learn about stuff and do experiments,” he explained of science. Claudio responded politely to questions about his schoolwork, but when asked about his other interests, his eyes sparkled and he was eager to share his love of sports. A cross country runner, Claudio participates in sports at Koogler Middle School in Aztec. “I like to run and it’s fun to do races,” he said. “And I like going outside and enjoying what God has made.”

Claudio’s father, ryan Lane, suggested cross country running to his energetic son, and Joe Kresl, a math teacher and cross country coach at Koogler, was happy to have Claudio on the school’s team. Kresl said there is no selection process for those who wish to participate in cross country running. “once a team has more than seven athletes, you can select where you want a (runner) to be – varsity or junior varsity,” Kresl explained. “that is very easy to determine, based on race results and times during weekly interval sessions.” the Koogler cross country team practices Monday through Friday after school. Being homeschooled was not a disadvantage for Claudio, who ﬁt in well with the Koogler runners. “I think it was an easy transition for Claudio,” Kresl said of Claudio’s participation with the team. “Most of the runners on our team don’t have any classes together. Claudio not only trained with runners his age, but he trained and traveled with boys and girls in both middle school and high school.” “We have had many runners that are homeschooled, as well as athletes who go to charter schools,” Kresl added. “I think, in running, it is common to have homeschoolers on teams.”

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While Claudio enjoys running – a love he shares with his father – it’s not the only sport he’s interested in. “I like baseball, snowboarding, football, basketball, and Ultimate Frisbee.,” he said, adding he recently received a set of golf clubs and will add golf to that list of favorite sports. “I’m very thankful that Claudio can participate in public school sports,” said Nicole Lane, Claudio’s mother – “especially now that he is getting older, the option for club sports is usually offered only through upper elementary, and then the option dissipates when children are in junior high. “participation helps Claudio by giving him an opportunity to exercise, allows him interaction with peers his age, and participation in sports helps him develop his character,” Nichole continued. “Claudio has been able to make friends with kids and learn from coaches who he wouldn’t have otherwise met. ryan and I both learned many lessons from playing sports growing up and I am glad Claudio will have the same opportunity.” Her older son loves sports, Nichole said, and isn’t one to be idle for long. “We, of course, encourage him to move as often as possible,” she explained. “to lead a healthy lifestyle, we educate our children to know the kinds of foods that are healthy for them and limit their intake of unhealthy foods. We are a family who enjoys exercise and we participate – as a family – often in physical activities.” Homeschooling was a decision that came relatively easy for the Lanes. “Nicole and I decided to homeschool because it is an opportunity to give individual education to our kids,” ryan Lane said. “Homeschooling isn’t for everyone. Fortunately, we have the resources and ability to do it, and we take advantage of that.”

Homeschooling their children has nothing to do with the quality of education public schools provide, however. “I’m a big proponent of Aztec’s public schools,” ryan added. “Homeschooling isn’t a statement or an indictment (of the Aztec school system).” In fact, ryan is a member of the Aztec School Board. recruited by a board member, who was moving, to take her seat on the board, ryan initially declined the invitation because of his busy schedule. However, when the board member called again several weeks later, he had a change of heart. “I told her I’d think about it and pray about it,” ryan said. “I talked to Nicole and we decided it was the best thing to do for our community.” A product of the Aztec school system himself, ryan said he enjoys serving on the school board, and his legal training is helpful to the board. the belief in the Aztec school system is also shared by Nicole, who is a substitute teacher at Aztec High School. “I love my job as a substitute for many reasons,” Nicole said. “Ultimately, I enjoy interacting with children and teens. I also enjoy teaching and learning. Any time I’m in a classroom, I learn a lot. Sometimes, it is book knowledge I learn and sometimes it’s learning about the issues our teens face in everyday life. Both are equally fascinating to me and I like to help in any way I can.”

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are also many opportunities for co-ops in the area. Having other families with whom to share concerns and joys is an important part of homeschooling.”

“I like to run and it’s fun to do races. And I like going outside and enjoying what God has made.”

Claudio will soon be of high school age. Ryan said he and Nicole haven’t yet decided to continue homeschooling for him or have him take advantage of online academics, which provides lectures and live Web cam discussion forums.

— Claudio Lane Using the Bible as an additional textbook in their homeschooling makes good sense to Nicole and Ryan. “You can better understand western civilization through an understanding of the scriptures,” Ryan said. “The arts are integrated throughout both our history and Bible curriculum,” Nichole added. “When we study different time periods, we often look at the art of the time. I completely agree with Ryan that our study of the Bible also helps us understand our creator and how he has used people in the past and how he can use us today to bring glory to his name.” The challenges and opportunities of homeschooling can be overwhelming for parents thinking about schooling their children at home.

When asked which he’d rather do, Claudio did not hesitate with his answer. “Homeschooling,” he said, “because I like it.”

“Families who are thinking about homeschooling should be encouraged (and know) that they are not alone,” Nicole said. “There are many families who are choosing to homeschool and most are more than happy to share resources and go on ﬁeld trips. There

For Nicole and Ryan Lane, homeschooling works for them and their sons. “It’s challenging,” Ryan admitted. “But the reward is, if we can raise men and women in the next generation that care about their community and want to serve their community, we’ll help save the world.” But for now, on this particular Friday, with school work done for the week and with a head start on the next week, their immediate challenge will be conquering the slopes on snowboards.

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Story Dorothy Nobis | Courtesy photos It’s not just about fitness and a healthy, active lifestyle. It’s about sharing sports and outdoor activities that culminate in a shared respect and appreciation for each other. The Bloomfield Police Department is an active participant in the Police Athletic League (PAL) and has used the program to interact and have a positive influence with the youth of Bloomfield and San Juan County. Teena McKinney has been an administrative supervisor with the Bloomfield Police Department for almost five years. After spending 13 years as a warrants officer and dispatcher with the San Juan County Communication Authority, and traveling with her husband for several years, McKinney decided to return to law enforcement.

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“I love what I do,” McKinney said. “I love working with our police ofﬁcers and working with the community.”

upon athletics and recreational activities to create and cement the bond between police ofﬁcers and the kids on the street.

Her return to law enforcement brought more than the camaraderie that unites police departments, however. In Bloomﬁeld, she discovered another aspect to her job – one that gives her the opportunity to work with children in the community.

The information sheet also states “The relationship between sports and juvenile delinquency has been the subject of much discussion. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, physical educators, educational sociologists, educational psychologists and penologists have contended that sports can serve as an effective and powerful antidote to delinquency. The idea that sports can serve as a deterrent to delinquency was ﬁrst espoused in the English public schools during the middle of the 19th century. Sports were then used as a substitute for the stealing, bullying and drinking that dominated the leisure hours of the English schoolboy.”

`The police department was part of PAL and while McKinney was familiar with the program, she admitted she didn’t know all it provides. According to information from the organization, PAL is a recreation-oriented juvenile crime prevention program that relies heavily

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In addition, the kids learn crime scene investigation, learn about the weapons used by police officers, see the San Juan County Sheriff’s office helicopter land and get to visit with the pilot, see the New Mexico State police Department’s boat which helps those visiting Navajo Lake, and understanding what law enforcement officers do. Zach Boehm, 11, attended the Junior police Academy in 2015. “I thought it was pretty fun and we did fun projects,” he said. “I would like to do it again.”

the Bloomfield police Department and its pAL program continues – in the 21st century – those same athletic and team building programs that give children and teens opportunities to steer them away from gangs, drugs and crime. McKinney started volunteering with pAL shortly after being hired by the department. “At first, I just wanted to help and volunteer for (special) events,” she explained. “then I became part of the local board of directors and served as the board’s treasurer and now, I’m the board secretary.” “We felt the police department needed to interact more with the community and with the kids,” she explained of the board’s mission. “We wanted kids to know that we’re people, too, and pAL is a good way for the officers to talk to kids and build good relationships.”

Donica Sharpe’s granddaughter, Sarah Sharpe, was part of the 2015 Junior police Academy. “She loved it,” Sharpe said of her granddaughter. “She loved everything about it. She was worried she wouldn’t be able to rappel off the building, but she did and she was proud of herself for doing it.” “this (the Junior police Academy) is the best program there is for kids,” Sharpe added. “It teaches them respect and courage and it’s great. It doesn’t cost the kids anything and it’s wonderful.” Sarah Sharpe admitted she was nervous that ﬁrst day of the Junior police Academy, but quickly discovered her nervousness was unwarranted. “We learned about the jail and what they work with and how they work with it,” she said. “We learned about dispatch, so if we ever have to call 9-11, we will be prepared and stay as calm as possible so we don’t make the situation worse. And I liked how the ofﬁcers made all the teams do teambuilding so we could get to know each other and make new friends.”

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Using sports, exercise and outdoor activities to attract young people to the pAL program has resulted in an ever-increasing number of participants in the many activities the police department and pAL provide. “We have a Bike and Scooter rodeo in April, we provide activities for kids during Bloomﬁeld Days, we offer the Junior police Academy in June, we have our outdoor Camp Adventure in July, and we have our Halloween carnival in october,” McKinney said. “the Halloween carnival helps raise money for our other events, so the kids don’t have to pay for anything,” McKinney said.

the Bike and Scooter rodeo is for children of all ages, although McKinney said kids as young as 5 years old and kids in junior high school make up most of the participants. “We help them learn how to ride bikes and how to ride safely on our streets,” McKinney said. “We have an obstacle course and our ofﬁcers teach them the rules of the road and safety tips.”

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Bloomfield Days – a community event sponsored by the Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce – gives kids the opportunity for water fights, and McKinney said they hope this year to have a climbing wall for kids to enjoy. the Junior police Academy in June is for young people ages 10 through 15. “the first year we had the week-long event, we had about 35 kids,” McKinney said. “Now we have almost 50 and they come from all over San Juan County.”

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the Junior police Academy not only teaches participants about law enforcement, it emphasizes the need for physical ﬁtness as a police ofﬁcer. “We keep them busy,” McKinney said with a smile. “they do a lot of walking and running, they play football and games. they rappel off the police department building, they enjoy paint ball at Wilderness park and they do calisthenics every morning.”

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THE LANGUAGE OF FANDOM A Rosetta Stone for the Casual Observer Language is an interesting thing. Punctuation, diction, and tone can mean all the difference between sarcasm and seriousness. For example, there is a distinct difference between “Let’s eat, Grandma” and Let’s eat Grandma.” Yes, punctuation matters. Context too is very important. it’s here where an interesting, and somewhat new, vocabulary has arisen; the vocabulary of the athlete’s parent. There is a unique contradiction for the parent of a child in team sports. The natural instinct is to urge your child to succeed and thrive. After all, it’s your child, and in today’s helicopter, competitive world of parenting, if you are not looking out for your child, apparently no one is. The proof is everywhere. Ask any teacher – who once held the status of trust when it comes to student-teacher relationships – who now has to prove their word against a child.

RiCkHOERNER Editorial Columnist simple dictionary to help you sort out what parents say at ball games and what they actually mean. “Shoot” – This appears simple. At a basketball, soccer or perhaps hockey game it would normally be the act of trying to score. This is

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“Pass the Ball” – This means “Pass the ball to my child.” Rarely heard when their child is actually holding the ball. On the basketball floor it can be heard echoing over any turnover that wasn’t their child’s fault. Not nearly uttered as much as the before mentioned “Shoot!” “That Coach has no idea what he is doing” – Rarely, this can be an accurate assessment, but most of the time it means either their team is not winning or the speaker’s child is not getting enough playing time or shots. Usually, coaches know what they are doing and it’s the players who are responsible for executing their plan. That can be incredibly hard to do when at the

Coaching is no different. The words parents use when speaking to a coach – or more likely the athletic director – matter. On the surface they can appear relatively innocent, but the context can change those simple words. So here is a

shouted quite often at basketball games, most frequently by the parent of the child that has the ball. Almost never shouted by a parent whose child does not have the ball. it directly means scoring is the most important aspect of the game, so your own self worth is based on how many points you score. A quick side note: The greatest fundraiser never done is requiring that each time someone yells, “Shoot!” – or any synonym of the word – they must pay a dollar to stay at the game. Easy, cost free, high yield fundraiser.

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players’ home they are being bombarded with how stupid their coach is. “It’s not about playing time” – It’s about playing time. It may start as another problem when a parent meets with a coach, athletic director or principal, but 15 minutes into a mundane conversation it will resort back to “My child is not playing enough.” the simple truth is the parent is concerned with one child, while the coach is concerned with one team. “Hustle” – For a good standard of parents this is directed at their own child, unlike “Shoot!” or “pass.” However, it can be interpreted as, “the rest of you need to hustle” – like my kid is doing. “Look up here” – Second cousin to “Listen to me.” this means: “Your coach doesn’t know as much as I do, so pay attention to what I’m saying in the stands, not to the person who is at practice with you every day.”

Finally, here’s one from the other side… “I don’t play favorites” – Yes, coaches do. Kids who do what they’re told and put in the work are the coaches’ favorites, while kids who complain and don’t show up on time, aren’t. that’s life. Bosses reward those who get results and the ones who do the job. It’s actually a good lesson. As UCLA legendary basketball coach John Wooden once said, “Sports don’t build character. they reveal it.” So how do we get this borderline profanity out of our games? First, tell your kid you enjoy watching them play, win or lose. Don’t relive every moment of the game. Second, accept that team sports take individual sacrifice, part of which is the understanding that the team comes first. You may want better and more for your child, but better and more for the team should be the emphasis. If the sacrifice of team sports is not for you, there is always golf and tennis. It’s all you win or lose.

“Who’s paying you?” Synonym to “Cheater” and the always popular “You Suck.” this means the calls are not going your way – not because they are inaccurate, but because nothing can be the fault of the perfection that is my team. this is perhaps the most popular of the crowd vocabulary and occasionally can be used by coaches as well. recently, it seems to have reached a new height among fans. this is ridiculous. As I have said many times, and have stated in the policy of every place I’ve ever coached, questioning a call is part of the game, but questioning the moral integrity of the ofﬁcial is completely out of line. In a “win at all cost” society, the referee is never right. one side is always looking to gain the advantage. So rarely is the crowd concerned with whether or not the call is correct. It’s only important that the call goes their way. Just remember, the ofﬁcials have families too and they live in your community. they matter. there is no game without them.

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Understanding the game 10 basketball rules you may think you know, but maybe don’t know as well as you think Rick Hoerner It’s that time of year again where the Super Bowl ends and basketball takes over the sports landscape as high school state playoffs, NCAA conference tournaments and the beloved Final Four begin. This also means its time that casual fans return to the gym. Inevitably, that brings about an even louder chorus of misinformation over the rules of basketball getting even louder. For most fans, retention of their knowledge of basketball rules usually comes from a couple of sources. There is the “That’s not the way they did it in my day” fan. They believe the rules are still the same as when they played, but actually rule changes happen all the time. Then there’s the “I saw it on TV” fan. These are the ones who assume every level of basketball

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is played under the same guidelines, so the knowledge of the game is based on what they saw on ESPN. Both of these are ﬁne. Fans come with different experiences and knowledge. However, that doesn’t mean they’re right as they loudly vocalize from the crowd. So here are 10 basketball rules you may think you know, but maybe don’t know as well as you think. 1. THE 3-SECoNd VIolATIoN The three seconds resets every time the ball is shot. So when teams keep getting offensive rebounds, the fans who begin screaming for three seconds are wrong. Also, if a player with the ball in the lane is making an offensive move, the three seconds is paused.

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Good ofﬁcials will tell you that 3 Seconds should almost never be called in a game. The ofﬁcial should try to coach them out. Inactive players rarely get a 3-seconds call. 2. THE BACkCourT VIolATIoN A backcourt violation is based on what is known as the 3 Points Component. In other words, all three points – the ball and both feet of the player possessing the ball – must be over the mid-court line before they change status from backcourt to frontcourt. once all three points have crossed the mid-court line, if any one goes back over, it’s a violation. usually if one goes back the crowd goes crazy. 3. CAllING A TImEouT This should be simple enough. Any player or the head coach asks for a time out – the clock stops. Not Exactly.

Timeouts must be granted by the official. So at the end of a close high school game when a timeout is called, it’s not the time on the clock when the basket was scored, or the time when it was called. It’s the time on the clock when the timeout was granted. This is why the NCAA and the NBA stop the clock right after made baskets during the end of games, but that’s not the case for high school. Remember Chris Webber? That shouldn’t have happened. The referee could have refused the timeout – no technical 4. RuleS of The BACkBoARd It’s only a technical foul if the player intentionally strikes the backboard, but if the board is hit during a valid attempt to block a shot, it’s not. It’s a judgment call by the official. If the ball is in the cylinder and the slap vibrates the rim, it could be considered goal tending. The top, bottom and sides of the backboard are in play. only the back of the backboard is out of bounds. So next time a shot hits the side or the top of the glass, remember – it is playable. 5. fIve SeCoNd vIolATIoNS In the ’80s the ball had to be touched inbounds by a player to end the five-second count on an inbounds play. That hasn’t been the case for some 30 years. The five-second count ends when the ball leaves the inbounder’s hand. on closely guarded counts, it only applies in the forecourt and there is no more timeline as in the old days. The five-second count applies to a player closely guarded, within six feet. once the head and shoulders of the defnder are passed, the count ends. once a player pulls back to more than six feet, the count ends. In actuality, players have 12 seconds with the ball when closely guarded – four holding, four dribbling and four more holding 6. ReAChINg foulS There is no such thing as a reaching foul. This is guaranteed not to be in the book anywhere. for a foul to occur there must be contact. No contact, no foul. Reaching in and of itself is nothing. Most the time a reach becomes a foul, but get the vernacular right. And by the way, the hand is part of the ball whether the ball is being held, dribbled or shot. The slapping sound makes no difference.

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7. over the back foulS actually there is no such thing as “over the back.” the correct call is a push, and displacement of the rebounder has to occur.

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because a player reaches over another or gets a rebound based on size, does not mean there was a foul. contact must occur and an advantage must be gained in order for a foul to be called. 8. traveling – Double Dribble You can catch your own air ball. it’s your own pass you cannot catch. now this is not true in the pros, but everywhere else it is, as long as the official determines that it is a shot and not a pass. totally a judgment call. and yes, you can lift your pivot foot after a step. it’s the act of putting that foot back down that is a violation, but i would bet you wouldn’t get away with that one. it is also not a double dribble or a carry just because the dribble is high. as long as the hand stays on top of the ball during contact the dribble is legal no matter how high the bounce. 9. traveling During a looSe ball Just because a player dives on a loose ball it is not automatically a travel. actually, the player can even slide on the floor without it being a violation. as long as the player doesn’t try to get up or roll over, sliding across the floor is not a travel when diving for a ball. the player has the space of their natural momentum to continue sliding across the floor. they can also sit up, if they were on the floor, without it being called traveling.

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10. The block charge and verTicaliTy call While you may hear cat calls of “he wasn’t set” during the next offensive foul call, remember that the block/charge call is the toughest in basketball. Factually, the defensive player does not have to be “set” to take a charge. The player only has to establish a legal guarding position. after that position has been established, any player taking a charge can move backward or sideways to keep a legal guarding position. in connection, the feet do not have to be set to draw an offensive foul. a defensive player who has established a legal position they may leave the ground as long as they rise vertically. Moving forward or back after leaving the ground constitutes a loss of that legal guarding position and results in a blocking foul. So remember that all of these factors have to be considered when deciding on a block/charge foul call – and in a split second. again, not easy. a simple way to look at this tough call is to think of where the player gets hit when drawing the charge. if a defensive player establishes position and gets hit in the

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torso, it’s likely a charge –a call that likely is not made enough.

ofﬁcial’s judgment on how they impact the game to a player’s advantage or disadvantage.

Just remember that before you vocalize your objection to a call or before you begin to question an ofﬁcial’s neutrality, ofﬁcials do not make calls that decide the outcome of games. it’s the players who commit fouls and violations, and the

ofﬁcials are the arbitrator of the rules and are the only unbiased eyes watching the game. They don’t care who wins or loses, but everyone else does, so the ofﬁcial is the only objective participant.

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BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB’S NEW BALANCE Teaching age appropriate sports skills while bringing back competitive spirit of sports Story Rick Hoerner | Photos Josh Bishop Sports in Farmington, especially when it comes to basketball, revolved around the Boys & Girls Club. Not so long ago there was the classic old building that from a distance looked like an ancient airplane hangar. UNM’s Rob Robbins got his start there as did Junior College All-American Jay Collins. Many others owe their athletic success to the beginning they received at the Farmington Boys & Girls Club. In 1997 a new and larger building replaced the old hangar, and while the new building offered more opportunities for the Club’s programs, it also drastically changed athletics. Gone were the competitive tournaments, and new leagues deemphasized competition for more developmental sports in the age of selfesteem and the participation award. Now the club is looking for a new balance of age appropriate developmental basketball while bringing a competitive nature to the club for those athletes and parents who are looking for more serious sport. New Executive Director Maria Rodman leads a team that is striving for that balance and how to use the athlete program at the Club to meet the needs of more and more young people. Rodman’s voyage to Farmington is unique. Her journey began as a Cuban refugee leaving Havana in 1969 and making her way to Florida with her family and Maria was chosen from a pool of 23 candidates to be the Executive Director for the Boys & Girls Club of Farmington and beginning in the summer of 2015. Although Rodman had not worked directly in the Boys &Girls Club Movement, she has

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New Boys and Girls Club Executive Director Maria Rodman having fun with kids at the club.

“Providing opportunity for all children to reach their full potential should be the mission of the Club –and every other organization that works with children.”

— Maria Rodman Executive Director worked with Clubs in a peripheral capacity as part of her previous occupations which included working as a national speaker and trainer on trauma-informed practice, youth development, community development and community collaborations. Her involvement and collaboration with

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Boys & Girls Clubs around the country is one factor that piqued her interest in applying for the job here in Farmington. The other was moving from the packed population of Massachusetts to the wide open spaces of the Southwest. Since the inception of the new building in1997 the Club has added after school programs, tutoring assistance, and a fine arts program, as well as making the facility available to programs like the Girls Scouts, Zumba programs and Jazzercise. During the past two months Unit Director Lindsay Morales and Latisha Joseph launched a new teen program. The program will emphasize career development and exploration. Graduate for Mas places an emphasis on high school graduation providing

classes on résume building, college and job application process and career days, beginning this summer with hands on training from local professionals on what their job entails.

mental sports for kindergartners through high school.

Moving forward, Rodman’s continuing goal for the Club is to create an fun learning environment for all of its members while building lifetime connections to caring adults. One of the programs the Club will be adding this summer is the STEM program – science, technology, engineering and mathematics. STEM gives children hands on experience with experts in their fields and will provide field Yearly barbecue in the old quonset hut. — courtesy photo trips and involvement with exploration and design within the STEM next phase of overall character development subjects. at the Club. Developing leadership and character development through the Club’s pro“Providing opportunity for all children to grams allows students to see what they can reach their full potential should be the miscontribute to the world as a whole. sion of the Club and every other organization that works with children,” Rodman said. On the athletic front, the Club will continue Aligning the opportunities that the Club proto provide options for grouth in football, basvides with the goals of parents, and adding ketball and volleyball skills offering developexperience with professionals would, be the

This spring the Club is offering flag football for kindergartners through eighth grade and volleyball for fourth graders through eleventh graders. The Club will also offer offseason tournaments in basketball and volleyball and is looking into an indoor soccer league in the winter and low rim leagues for six-foot and under players looking for the NBA feel of dunking in a game. The Club will remain open to all and will continue to develop programs that will grow to fit the needs of our community. They have taken on after school needs for families and given young children a safe place to spend their summers as more families balance the increasing load of work with the needs of their children. The Club’s mission – to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens has never been more in need.

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A NEW SEASON drivers, tight ﬁre suits and their WaGs tummy aches and gas. sometimes, ya just gotta love ole Karma. just sayin’. . . .

Nascar Nellie doesn’t get ﬂowers or cards or nice chocolates or expensive jewelry on Valentine’s day.

NN shares these painful memories of never getting ﬂowers or cards or nice chocolates or expensive jewelry for Vd because this year, NN wants, in addition to the aforementioned gifts, another daytona 500 win for dale earnhardt jr., the sports most popular driver for more years than anyone can count. The daytona 500 will be run on February 13 which, in spite of what ex-husbands will say, is the day before Valentine’s day.

and she had one husband (she can’t remember which one, on accounta NN has selective memory and her memory selects not to remember ex-husbands) who, every single year, accused her of changing the date Vd fell on and that’s why he never remembered to get her flowers or cards or nice chocolates or expensive jewelry. after NN left whichever husband that was on a boat that went nowhere, she got flowers and cards and nice chocolates and expensive jewelry on Vd – and sometimes on any day ending in “y.” Then Guido from Vegas discovered NN had “borrowed” one of the M&M Mafia’s Visa cards and put a hit out on her. NN called Guido’s girlfriend (at least NN thinks it was a girlfriend – it may have been caitlin jenner, NN’s not real sure) and said NN was on a boat that wasn’t going anywhere and if Guido got there soon enough, he could get the Visa back. NN watched the news and sure ’nuf, law enforcement people picked Guido up on a “failure to appear” and “dating caitlin jenner just for

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her/his Olympic medals.” Those nice le people also found a Visa credit card that had been maxed out a gazillion times and the Visa people were looking for said hardened criminal that maxed out their precious Visa and they suspected it was Guido. Guido is doing time in a jail somewhere in the Bahamas, where he is forced to clean up after tourists who drink too many adult beverages with little umbrellas in ’em and they get

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It’s more important this year than any other year that junior wins the daytona 500 on the day before Vd. For those of you who think Nascar is all about the cars, the engines, the crew chiefs and/or being a Keselowski hater, NN will tell you that you’re crazy. Nascar is as much about the drivers in those tight ﬁresuits and their WaGs (that’s Wives and Girlfriends for those of you who so don’t keep up for whatever nutso reason). and junior is engaged to that pretty amy reimann and says he’s happier than he’s ever been. NN takes exception to that, on accounta NN sent him countless messages about how she,

herownself, could make Junior happy, but Junior’s very own Guido sent NN a certified, signature required, email saying she better “cease and desist” on accounta NN could ruin Junior’s sports most popular driver record if she didn’t. NN is nothing but supportive of Junior and she didn’t want Junior Nation to declare war on her if she messed with the sports most popular driver, making him not quite so popular, so she ceased and desisted. NN is nothing if not loyal to her drivers, even if they scorn her. Just sayin’. . . . NN is happy that Junior is happy and she is making plans to be a wedding crasher as soon as the lovely couple announces when and where the nuptials will be held. They have to announce that information sometime, on accounta Junior Nation will take up a collection and buy a nice gift, NN is sure. Junior Nation is like that, ya know, and as soon as NN finds out where and when, she’ll get that nose job done and have a little more notox injected between her eyes and under her eyes and under that third chin and around her mouth and have the one long black hair removed from her left nostril. The Guidos who are doing security for the wedding won’t have any idea who NN is, on accounta she’ll look kinda like caitlin Jenner and they’ll be all excited that he/she’s there. Just sayin’. . . . michaelWALTRIP NN is certain this is Junior’s year to win the championship. NN predicts he will win eight races and be so far ahead in the “points” that NaScaR will eliminate the chase for the championship because no one will be able to catch Junior. except amy, who already did and isn’t likely to let go.

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it will be a good year for some ’nother drivers, too, although they won’t win the championship. NN believes that nice chase elliott will take Jeff Gordon’s 24 car to Victory lane a coupla times, and Ward Burton will come out of retirement for one race and will finish a respectable second, after Junior.

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NN also wishes Jeff Gordon good luck and best wishes on his new gig in the television booth. NN is pretty sure they’ll have to give Jeff a booster chair so he can see over the little table thingey they sit at and he’ll have to say nice things about all those drivers he threatened to beat up all those years, but NN is confident he can do that and be a good announcer person. he’ll be waaaay better than michael Waltrip, but then that wouldn’t take much. Just sayin’. . . .

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11 received 537 of 545 votes for 98.53 percent in his 2007 election.

Griffey moved on to his hometown Reds in a trade in 2000, and he battled health issues for several of his nine years in Cincinnati before being dealt to the White Sox in 2008. He finished his career back in Seattle, where it all began, in 2009-10. Through it all, Griffey stands sixth among all-time leaders in home runs, with 630, after leading the AL four times. In addition to his one MVP Award, he finished in the top five in voting four times.

Hall of Fame voting Ken Griffey Jr. was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame and broke Tom Seaver’s voting percentage record by receiving 99.32 percent of the vote.

Pitchers Randy Johnson (97.27 percent) and Greg Maddux (97.20 percent) have received the highest percentage of votes in the past ﬁve years. A total of 440 Hall of Fame ballots were ﬁled this year. Earlier this year the BBWAA eliminated legacy voters, meaning those members who have not actively covered baseball for 10 years. That reduced the voting body by fewer than 109 voters from 2015. Below are the full voting results from the BBWAA website:

Griffey Jr. received 437 of 440 votes. Seaver previously held the record by receiving 425 of 430 votes for a 98.84 percent ﬁnish. Cal Ripken Jr. previously held the record for highest percentage by a position player as he

Ken Griffey Jr. - 99.3 percent Mike Piazza - 83.0 percent Jeff Bagwell - 71.6 percent Tim Raines - 69.8 percent Trevor Hoffman - 67.3 percent Curt Schilling - 52.3 percent Roger Clemens - 45.2 percent Barry Bonds - 44.3 percent

Police Athletic League Sarah, who is 13, was enthusiastic about the Camp Adventure opportunity. With all of the participants traveling to the campground in the van, Sarah said they had the opportunity to get to know each other. “It was a long trip but we bonded a lot with the people in the van,” she said, adding that once they got to the campground, everybody helped getting the camp set up, “One day they taught us how to make a chair – using our own tools – that we made from sticks and branches,” Sarah said. “It was pretty cool. Another day, the officers taught us how to make a fire if all we had was little stuff, but no matches or a lighter. And we learned how to filter our own water from the lake.” The day before they left the campground, Sarah said they got to swim in the lake. “Let me tell you, it was so cold,” she said. “I made a lot of friends and I had a really good time.” Bloomfield Police Chief Randy Foster said the idea of the Outdoor Adventure Camp was the idea of Officer Josh Calder. “Josh wanted to expand the Junior Police Academy, so we took 11 graduates of the academy to a week-long camping trip north of Durango. We taught outdoor survival camping, outdoor hygiene, and building furniture

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– Courtesy Major League Baseball

using branches and other natural resources,” Foster explained. “The kids did some hiking, fishing and team building.” The Police Athletic League is instrumental in creating a sense of trust and appreciation between the police department and the youth in the community, Foster said. “Our children are our most precious commodity,” the chief said. “Police work is often reactive – after something bad happens. We need to work with our youth and promote those relationships. It gives us the opportunity to be proactive and help change things to be better in the future rather than being reactive to negativity after it’s already occurred.” The program has received great support from Bloomfield businesses, Teena McKinney said. “We couldn’t put on these events without donations from the community and help from volunteers,” she said. “It’s very rewarding to do something positive for our kids and it is so much fun seeing the kids having a good time and interacting with our officers.” Randon Matthews is the Operations Lieutenant with the Bloomfield Police Department. Matthews has been with the police department since 2006 and enjoys the relationship the department has

MARCH 2016

Edgar Martinez - 43.4 percent Mike Mussina - 43.0 percent Alan Trammell - 40.9 percent Lee Smith - 34.1 percent Fred McGriff - 20.9 percent Jeff Kent - 16.6 percent Larry Walker - 15.5 percent Mark McGwire - 12.3 percent Gary Shefﬁeld - 11.6 percent Billy Wagner - 10.5 percent Sammy Sosa - 7.0 percent Jim Edmonds - 2.5 percent Nomar Garciaparra - 1.8 percent Mike Sweeney - 0.7 percent David Eckstein - 0.5 percent Jason Kendall - 0.5 percent Garret Anderson - 0.2 percent Brad Ausmus - 0.0 percent Luis Castillo - 0.0 percent Troy Glaus - 0.0 percent Mark Grudzielanek - 0.0 percent Mike Hampton - 0.0 percent Mike Lowell - 0.0 percent Randy Winn - 0.0 percent

with the community. The department had 12 officers – most of them volunteering their time – who assisted with the Junior Police Academy in 2015. “It’s good for our department and our officers,” Matthews said of the academy. “We need to give back to the community and we need to help kids understand what we do.” “We couldn’t have a better reward than watching (the kids) graduate (from the academy). Their growth and progress in five days is amazing,” he added. While the academy is open to everyone, there are requirements for acceptance, Matthews said. “Kids have to have a 3.0 GPA (grade point average) and be able to do 25 pushups, 25 sit-ups and jog for 12 minutes as part of the agility assessment,” he said. “The kids love it,” Matthews added. “Even when they have to do pushups (for not listening or eating before everyone is served and before the prayer), they enjoy it.” For more information on the Junior Police Academy, Camp Adventure or the Police Athletic League, call Teena McKinney at 505.632.6375.