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| 4 | Knothole Day 2015
PuBlISHER
Cindy Cowan Thiele EDITOR
Rick Hoerner Tom Yost Dorothy Nobis
In the fall of 2000 Piedra Vista moved into District 1AAAA and was given the daunting task of having to compete with Class AAAA powerhouse Farmington. The Farmington tradition of Knothole Day now became a battle between crosstown rivals and, more than likely, a matchup for the district championship and a top seed at the state tournament.
CONTRIBuTING WRITERS
Josh Bishop Curtis Ray Benally CONTRIBuTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Suzanne Thurman DESIGNER
| 6 | SASSY Tortoise and Hare Run The 5th Annual SASSY Tortoise and Hare Run raised $7,800 for Sexual Assault Services of Northwest New Mexico. More than 110 people turned out on April 24 for the 5k and 10k walk and run.
Shelly Acosta Clint Alexander Aimee Velasquez SAlES STAFF
lacey Waite ADMINISTRATION For advertising information Call 505.516.1230
www.fourcornerssports.com
STORY IDEAS and PHOTOS 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 once a month 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 ommissions. © 2015 Four Corners Sports magazine.
| 8 | Summer at the
| 22 | Senior athletes
racetrack Indy car, NASCAR, Nationwide – those names usually trigger thoughts of big tracks, big names and big money. And while professional racecar drivers in each category have achieved fame and fortune, most of them spent many days and nights honing their skills at dirt tracks around the country.
Every year more than 150 senior athletes gather to compete in the San Juan County Senior Olympics. The competition is fierce and the events aren’t for the weak of heart.
| 26 | PV team dominates The longest season for any of the NMAA Athletics is golf season. Spanning tournaments in the fall and spring, the golf season is about to wind up for the local Four Corners teams.
| 11 | Compete with Class | 12 | Healthy and focused The high school tennis season has turned the corner with the focus being on the NMAA State Tennis Tournament in Albuquerque. The season has once again been dominated on both the boys and girls sides by Farmington High School.
| 29 | Editorial Columnist by Rick Hoerner
| 31 | The First Tee by Tom Yost
| 16 | 10 Questions with Brad Campbell and Richard Neely
| 32 | Fishing Report
| 18 | Behind the scenes | 33 | NASCAR Nellie During a passing conversation with Piedra Vista Athletic Director Frank Whalen, Mr. Whalen casually mentioned how difficult it is to keep activity crews at the high schools.
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covercredit Photo by Josh Bishop
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Knothole Day
Keeping the future of the game alive Story by Rick Hoerner | Photos by Josh Bishop
2015
In the fall of 2000 Piedra Vista moved into District 1AAAA and was given the daunting task of having to compete with Class1AAAA powerhouse Farmington. The Farmington tradition of Knothole Day now became a battle between crosstown rivals and, more than likely, a matchup for the district championship and a top seed at the state tournament. This year the day belonged to the Piedra Vista Panthers with a 12-1 win over the Farmington Scorpions. The win gave PV the series sweep over Farmington and the district championship. The district win also gave the defending state champs the Class 5A No. 1 overall seed at the state tournament. For Farmington, the loss dropped them to the No. 11 seed and forced the Scorpions to hit the road for the playoffs for the first time in a long time, but gives them a very winnable matchup against Española. Tray Franks led the offensive attack for PV with 6 RBIs, and Philip Archuleta shut down the Scorpion offense after giving up the lone run in the bottom of the first.
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The Knothole Day tradition On Knothole Day every ballplayer that suits up for the summer gets a chance to have their team introduced and to high-five all of the Scorpions on one baseline and the Panthers on the other. The players are then welcomed to an afternoon of lunch and a usually beautiful day at the ballpark watching our local pastime and dreaming of a time they can take their place with the blue and silver
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or the green and white. For the high schools, they get a rare chance to play in front of a full house in a “baseball town” before the masses show up to watch strangers play in August. The origin of Knothole Day comes from a man known for a far more socially significant innovation of the game. While Dodger executive Branch Rickey is known as the man that
brought Jackie robinson to the Majors to integrate professional baseball, he was also the man who popularized the concept of Knothole Day. Knothole Games or Knothole Gangs were part of baseball lore when ballparks were surrounded by wooden fences, much like ricketts park today. As the inevitable knotholes would fall out of the fences, kids would gather at the fence to get a glimpse of their diamond heroes. As early the 1880s baseball teams such as the New orleans pelicans were offering Knothole Days to “youths of sound behavior.” the St. Louis Cardinals, under rickey’s direction, began their first Knothole Gang in 1938, a tradition he continued with the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1940s and ’50s. Under rickey’s Knothole plan, the Brooklyn Dodgers gave away more than two million knothole tickets to children throughout the two decades. the term “knothole” has been expanded today to include baseball themed restaurants such as the Knothole Club in Anaheim Stadium
for the Farmington Amateur Baseball Congress with the Scorpions welcoming the new baseball year. Each year hundreds of kids and their families come out for the crosstown rivalry game between Farmington and piedra Vista. As it has been for well over a decade, Knothole Day is the expectation of a district championship being crowned as pV and Farmington hit the field. While baseball has seen a steady decline of youth participation, down 27 percent from a high of 15 million amateur players in 1987, it is alive and well in Farmington.
and a Youth Baseball League in Cincinnati, ohio. In Farmington, Knothole Day is the official beginning of youth baseball, a tradition that goes back to the days of Lefty Fox as head coach at Farmington High, continuing today. Initially Knothole Day was the time for opening ceremonies
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Baseball fandom takes a much larger knowledge base of skills and patience that pays off in short bursts of time. If baseball is to survive as fans flock to faster-paced and more action-packed sports, it must keep traditions such as Knothole Day alive in order to preserve the one tradition that keeps it timeless – the tradition of passing down the game from generation to generation.
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Photos by Jill Bishop 6
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SASSY TORTOISE AND HARE RUN Event raises funds Sexual Assault Services of Northwest New Mexico The 5th Annual SASSY Tortoise and Hare Run raised $7,800 for Sexual Assault Services of Northwest New Mexico. More than 110 people turned out on April 24 for the 5k and 10k walk and run. The challenging course took participants through Lions Wilderness Park and surrounding trails. This year a timing company was hired to accurately record the times of participants. “While we’ve always had a successful race, we’re hoping that the use of electronic timing tags might draw more serious runners to our race next year,” Eleana Butler, executive direc-
tor of Sexual Assault Services of New Mexico, said. “The race gives us the opportunity to reach people that wouldn’t normally know about our services and a chance to give to a really important cause,” Butler said. Proceeds will benefit programs for women of all ages. Located at 622 E. Maple St. in Farmington the primary purpose of Sexual Assault Services of Northwest New Mexico is to meet the needs of the sexual assault survivor by providing free, immediate, compassionate, culturally sensitive, and comprehensive services. These include the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
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(SANE) program that provides medical/forensic examinations, Rape Crisis Advocacy Services, Legal Assistance, Counseling, a 24-hour Crisis Hotline and Community Education and Prevention. They are working to decrease the incidence of sexual assault and rape in our community through education and prevention work with students, local civic and chamber of commerce groups, and other community agencies, as well as, active involvement with the San Juan County Child Abuse Multi-Disciplinary Team and Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Task Force. Butler said it is a tradition that the SASSY Tortoise and Hare Run is always held the last week of April each year.
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Summer at the
racetrack
Aztec Speedway going strong; new track nearing completion Story by Dorothy Nobis | Photos by Curtis Ray Benally Indy car, NASCAR, Nationwide – those names usually trigger thoughts of big tracks, big names and big money. And while professional racecar drivers in each category have achieved fame and fortune, most of them spent many days and nights honing their skills at dirt tracks around the country.
Fans of professional racecar races will pay big money for tickets to those races and will face thousands of vehicles getting to, into, and out of the racing venues. But there is another legion of fans of racing – fans of the dirt tracks. Aztec Speedway, located south of Aztec at 420
Legion Road, draws fans and drivers from throughout the Four Corners each year. The track is a high banked three-eights of a mile clay oval. General admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and members of the military, $7 for youth ages 6 to14 and kids 5 years old and younger are admitted free. A family pack, which includes admission for two adults and up to three youths, is available for $30. Classes featured at Aztec Speedway include IMCA Modified, IMCA Stock Car, IMCA Southern SportMod, Hobby Stock, Sports Compacts, Flat Karts and Quarter Midgets. Races start at 7 p.m. and gates are open at 4 p.m. The International Motor Contest Association (IMCA), according to the Speedway’s Website, sanctions the track. Mike and Kathy Farley, Tyrone Yazzie, Daniel Hill and Regan Tafoya have been racing at Aztec Speedway for years. They all travel extensively throughout the country to race on dirt tracks. “Aztec Speedway is a very modern, up-to-date facility,” Tafoya said. “It’s a nice, clean facility.” “There’s a more professional attitude at Aztec Speedway,” Mike Farley said. “It’s organized and
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-it has set rules and a good technical staff.” Drivers want good techs, good safety procedures and good rules, Tafoya added. “It’s all about safety (at Aztec Speedway), and that’s something every driver looks for.” The track is also family friendly, Kathy Farley said. “It’s all about family and friends,” she said, adding it’s a fun place to take kids and where families can share a love of dirt track racing. “They provide really good security,” she said, which makes it a good place for families to enjoy the races and the facilities. Most dirt tracks aren’t fortunate to have the financial resources Aztec Speedway does, the group agreed. “And that it’s sanctioned is a big part of it,” Kathy Farley said. “We follow the rules and the rules don’t change.” The 2015 racing season for Aztec Speedway began in March and continues through October.
FCDRA track nearing completion Another dirt track is nearing completion. Located on the Smith Ranch on Sims Mesa Road from Gobernador, the track has been the project of the Four Corners Drag Racing Association. The FCDRA members have volunteered their time and their financial resources to create the track. With a mission “to enhance public safety by providing a safe, organized alternative to street racing,” the members have been working on the track for more than three years. They have moved about 450,000 cubic yards of dirt, got a generator set that will provide power for the facility, and have received donations of lighting that will light the full length of the track. Generous donations of construction equipment, material and cash have helped the organization work toward making its mission a reality. Paul James has been part of the association since its beginning. “We have shared some brats and elk on the grill with our landowner and our regulars,” he said. “We held the first side-by-side race on the track with two scrapers (video on Facebook). But it's mostly been work by four bullheaded old farts who won't let this project die, and four wives who tolerate our time and effort.”
Four Corners Drag Racing Association new track on the Smith Ranch on Sims Mesa Road from Gobernador. – Courtesy photo
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The construction continues with a fence-building project that began May 2. “We have about 15 volunteer and are looking for more,” James said. “We need welders, post hole diggers, concrete mixers, dirt tampers and just general laborers.”
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Fund raising also continues. “We’ve been in contact with several local companies (about donations), and we have more than $100,000 committed,” James added. “We also have several smaller donors who have kept the construction fund viable to buy fuel and supplies. When we’re working our equipment at the track, it isn’t unusual to use $300-$500 per day in fuel.” In addition, FCDRa will host a public meeting in May, where members will provide information on their “Buy a yard of Drag Strip” project. For more information, visit the organization’s website at www.fcdra.org or email fcdra@yahoo.com
Kart Kanyon Speedway In addition to aztec Speedway and FCDRa’s strip, Kart Kanyon Speedway offers dirt track racing on a united States auto Club (uSaC) track. Operated and maintained by 4 Corners amateur Racing, the 1/5 mile banked clay track offers racing for quarter midgets, flat karts and mini sprints. Kart Kanyon offers racing, along with instruction in safety, racing and a support system that is especially helpful for young drivers. For more information, email facebook@kartkanyon.com or visit the website at www.kartkanyon.com.
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schedule
May
23 Ryan Bard Race – 7 P.M. 30 Demo Derby – Noon
JuNe 6 Regular Race – 8 P.M. 13 Kart Race – 6 P.M. 20 Regular Race – 8 P.M. 26 & 27 Non Wing Sprint Car Race – 7 P.M.
July 4 Kart Race 11 Regular Race – 8 P.M. 18 Kart Race – 6 P.M. 25 Regular Race – 8 P.M.
auguSt
1 Bike Rodeo – 1 P.M. 15 Regular Race 22 Kart Race – 6 P.M. 29 Regular Race – 8 P.M.
SePteMBeR 12 Regular Race – 7 P.M. 18 & 19 Witten’s Warriors Race – 7 P.M. 26 Kart Race – 2 P.M.
OCtOBeR 3 Cancer Benefit Race – 7 P.M.
April Compete with ClAss
NmAA selects Bosque Golf Coach Anthony strippoli official’s attention knowing that his player would be disqualified and his team would be impacted,” Jim robbins wrote in an email.
the New mexico Activities Association is proud to announce that the Bosque Boys head Golf Coach Anthony strippoli has been recognized as the Compete with Class award recipient for the month of April.
“he acted in a very responsible manner and his actions reflect very well on Bosque school,” robbins said.
strippoli showed honesty and integrity when he identified an error on one of his student-athletes’ scores.
strippoli did what the game of golf asks all participants to do, which is to “protect the field.” sportsmanship is defined by the NmAA as the act of treating others in a respectful manner, taking personal accountability for one’s actions, and responding with integrity while engaged in
“in today’s world of ‘win at any cost’ many coaches would have ignored the error. he, however, brought the error to the
"
competition. the NmAA would like to thank and recognize Coach strippoli for setting a great example for the state of New mexico. his act of sportsmanship exemplifies the true ideals of the Compete with Class sportsmanship initiative - respect, integrity, and responsibility. more information regarding the “Compete with Class” sportsmanship initiative can be found on the NmAA website at www.nmact.org. the NmAA will announce a monthly honoree throughout the remainder of the 20142015 school year. Questions regarding this announcement can be directed to Dusty Young, NmAA Associate Director, at 505.977.5385.
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HEALTHY and FOCUSED FHS boys and girls tennis teams ready for state Story by Tom Yost | Photos by Josh Bishop The high school tennis season has turned the corner with the focus being on the nMaa State Tennis Tournament in albuquerque. The season has once again been dominated by Farmington High School on both the boys and girls sides .
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The girls continue to dominate en route to their sixth state championship in the past nine years, facing stiff competition from perennial powerhouse albuquerque academy. The girls team is led by seniors: Sydney Schumacher and Liza Briody-Pavlik; junior Riley Coleman;
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freshmen arin Coleman and eighth graders: Emily nguyen and Elise Ballard. Head Coach Pat McGrath has concentrated his efforts on keeping the team healthy and focused.
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“The obvious worries are keeping everyone healthy,” said McGrath. “You hope they don’t get sick or step on a ball and mess up an ankle. Then you have the focus issues with things like prom, finals, graduation, and college acceptance. It is important to keep them focused during practice.” According to McGrath, the girls team state championship is a tossup that will come down to the Lady Scorpions and Albuquerque Academy. “There are not a lot of strong schools this year, so it is pretty much us and Academy,” explained McGrath. The season has been highlighted by wins in the El Paso Tournament and at the Albuquerque Academy Tournament. “Winning the Academy tournament was important. To get a win there lets us know we are right there with them. We are both very close to each other, making it hard to know what will happen at state.”
the team to beat for the team state championship. The team consists of seniors: Matt With, Will Hall and Cache Craig; juniors: Elijah Larson and Andrew Moss; sophomore Ned Merrion and freshmen Ethan Larson and Nate Benson. Farmington High School’s Head Boys Coach, Larry Larson, is also focusing on preparation for the state competition. “The boys constantly have to consider Albuquerque Academy, the best team in the state regardless of class,” said Larson. “This time of year it is important to try to maintain focus on the objectives ahead. This has been a good team because they are all good competitors up and down the lineup.” The FHS boys and girls tennis dominance in the Four Corners region and the state of New Mexico is a mix of hard work, successful young men and women, with a very large dose of dedicated coaches. McGrath and Larson spend a lot of time teaching younger kids the game of tennis and make their instruction both meaningful and enjoyable.
On the boys side, Albuquerque Academy is
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“We have been successful because we have very good kids,” said McGrath. “They are always the top of their class and understand that working hard is rewarding. People don’t understand that like the rest of the state we don’t have tennis clubs and pros to work with these kids. Tournaments are more than three hours away making them expensive to do. These kids have to make the effort to get out there and work at it. Larry and I will work with any kid that wants to be out there. I don’t think there are any other coaches that spend the time we do with the kids.” Larson concurs, only deflecting most of the credit for the program’s successes over to McGrath. “Pat McGrath has been a big part of keeping kids playing tennis in this community for a long time. He is tireless in working with anyone who wants to learn the game and is an excellent teacher.” The state tennis tournament runs from May 6 through May 9 at the Albuquerque Academy Tennis Complex.
Icebreaker
Green and Black stress reliever
Student athletes are very busy people, and right before district and state tournaments they are, suffice it to say, under more than just a little bit stress.
To relieve that stress, right before the district tournaments, Farmington High School Girls Tennis Coach Pat McGrath divides his team into The Black Team and The Green Team. The two teams then compete for bragging rights and ownership of The Green and Black Championship Trophy. “I started the game when I got here as an icebreaker for the girls,” McGrath said. This isn’t your typical game. “There are no rules. They can yell, shake the net and do whatever to distract their opponents [in order] to win,” he added. McGrath said that over the years it has become quite a production. The teams have added water balloons, costumes – and created themes for each year. “Every year it’s different; we’ve had a lot of themes. One year it was The Hunger Games. It’s a great way to break the tension and just play for fun,” he said. The captain of the winning team gets to keep the trophy each year. This year the winner of the 22nd Annual Green and Black Championship was The Green Team.
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Brad
Brad campbell is the connie Mack World Series chairman richard Neely is the National aaBc president
CAMPBELL
Brad CAMPBELL 1
i fully understand that selling reserved ticket packages is essential for the Series, but how does the cMWS committee deal with crowded general admission fans looking over at the reserved section and seeing empty seats, especially when the host team is not playing? This has been an ongoing issue and very difficult to contend with. For the last two years we have a program in place for these reserved ticket holders to return tickets they know will be unused back to us and we will sell them on a game-bygame basis. We have looked into electronic tracking systems so as to better track these empty seats. This proved to be a large and more complicated and costly venture than we imagined. however we hope to have this running for the 2016 series. if we find that specific seats continue to go unused, we will generate a better way to make these seats available to everyone.
2
The Series runs with the time and service of many volunteers each year. Where could someone new to the community or just looking to get involved with the Series be of use and whom would they contact? please, if interested in volunteering, feel free to contact me and i can then point you in the right direction. My contact information can be found on the cMWS website.
3
Over the past decade or so the Series has worked very hard to make the event more family friendly. What can the fans look forward to this year to add to the World Series experience? To be honest it is going to be very difficult to top the experience of the previous 50th anniversary Series. as always, we have the parade, the opening ceremonies, the different host organizations hosting events for their individual teams, we will have the return of both the coaches Fungo challenge and the homerun derby. The greatest family experience is being a host/foster family. This is a very fulfilling adventure and you get to experience the World Series through the eyes of the players– not to mention the lifelong relationships that are formed. For complete details about being a host family email them at conniemackfamilies@live.com
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4
richard NEELY
as a father of a teenage daughter, i have to admit that i’m concerned about what seems to be the free range that players visiting our community have when it comes to soliciting Farmington girls as they do at the parade. is the committee addressing the player’s signs in the parade or educating the players about their interaction with the community?
i also have teenage daughters, three of them, so this is a valid question. We do take the players behavior very seriously and try our best to evaluate every complaint of a player outside the playing field. as a committee we meet with every team upon their arrival and the ground rules are laid out. after this face-to-face meeting each coach must sign the behavior agreement. if a player breaks the rules they will be removed from the host family's home and returned to their coaches. as a former athlete i can tell you that the last thing you want to do is end up in your coache’s hotel room. With that said, the majority of the players are well behaved and amenable to some "behavior modification" and suggestions. i am not quite sure about the signs you are speaking of, but can only imagine. i have seen them hand out baseballs with their phone number or instagram account written on it. i would like to say that i have been involved with this tournament for the last 10 years and it has been a rare situation in which players were removed from the homes and sent back to the supervision of the coach. Of the 30+ players i have had the opportunity to host, every one of them have been well behaved and respectful. The majority of them would rather hang out at the house and only want to leave for their own games or practice. as far as the teenage girls are concerned, always valid. i feel that hosting the players actually provided me the cance to be a big brother to oversee and protect them. at least that is how it went down at my house.
10 Questions 5
continued
What is your favorite part of the World Series and what is the one thing you would change about it? My favorite part would have to be divided up or spread around, whichever seems more appropriate. i love how this town comes together and supports the event. as previously mentioned, it is staggering number of volunteers and sponsors it takes to put on this tournament and for it to be a success for more than 50 years. i have been around baseball and athletics in general for a long time, from my college days, to my son (played in the cMWS twice and continues to play at the collegiate level), to my daughters competing on the National level in dance. i have experienced competitive tournaments at nearly all levels and i have never seen anything like this. Where else can you get 5,000 fans watching a game between Ohio and Texas without a local player involved? You get the local team playing and the atmosphere is electric and unreal. The relationships my family and i have built with the players, their families, and the coaches are unbelievable. it is actually strange how a one-week encounter can turn into a lifelong relationship. What to change? i would like everyone to get the experience of the cMWS.
8
Video streaming has been a great addition to the cMWS, and this year the Friday night games will be on MLB TV! You heard it here!
9
The connie Mack World Series added two additional tournament spots this year. What was the thinking in adding the two spots through tournament championships? For years we have had pressure to add teams to this great tournament. We are fortunate this year to add both the champion from the aaBc don Mattingly World Series for high School eligible players, and the continental qualifier from charleston, S.c. This latest tournament fills a void the aaBc had in that particular area of the country.
7
With the continuing rise of “travel teams” taking over summertime baseball, how does the aaBc keep young athletes involved who may not be able to afford these select teams or are late blooming athletically?
Travel baseball is definitely impacting youth baseball, and the aaBc has had to alter our tournaments and qualifiers to meet the needs of travel expansion. League based baseball has also had to adjust, and will continue to evaluate annually. i have noticed a slight decline in travel baseball and many teams moving back to leagues, based on the economy.
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RichaRd NEELY 6
how has the addition of video streaming to the local radio broadcast helped promote the Series?
Over the years how has the continuing practice of the “pick up players” changed how connie Mack teams are structured and what does it do to help the Series?
Pick up players have always been part of connie Mack, and with the increased competition it allows teams to pick up the additional arms needed for the tournament. additionally, it helps teams with injuries to make sure they stay competitive.
how will the extra teams affect the bracketing and game schedules of the World Series? The additional teams mean more day games. The tournament will still be from Friday to Friday. The schedule will be • Three games on the July 31, • Three on the aug. 1 • Three on aug. 2, • Three on aug. 3 • Four on aug. 4 • Three on aug. 5 • Two on aug. 6 • 1 or 2 on aug. 7 Since we expanded to 10 teams a few years ago, it provided new winners and greater competition, and we expect an even better tournament in 2015.
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From left, Mike Lux and David Stephenson at Farmington High School. From left, Charles Sam, Neil Wolfgang and Cindy Manzanares at Piedra Vista High School.
BEHIND the SCENES Activity crews make sure events go off without a hitch Story by Rick Hoerner | Photos by Josh Bishop During a passing conversation with Piedra Vista Athletic Director Frank Whalen, Mr. Whalen casually mentioned how difďŹ cult it is to keep activity crews at the high schools. While it can be argued that there is no longer a great position working in the public schools, the activity crew at the local high school may be just about the most thankless job in the whole
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school system. In reality, however, it may be the most important in our extracurricular system. Like many others who work behind the scenes to make high school sports work, activity crews go mainly unnoticed. that is unless something goes wrong, of course, then every-
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one notices the lack of maintenance workers, especially the crew is responsible for everything from pre-game setup to post game cleanup. On any given weekend in the fall the activity crew could be responsible for a home volleyball game, a pair of soccer games and the
massive undertaking of a Friday night football game. this includes the setup of bleachers and scoreboards and the cleaning of the gym, then setting up portable bleachers, benches, water canisters and sideline flags, and then it’s off to the Hutch to set up for a couple thousand fans ready for a night of football. In the winter sports season the crew may have to set up for four basketball games a week as well as getting the court ready every day for practice. that doesn't even include wrestling meets, wrestling youth tournaments, and cheer and dance teams. In the spring the crew gets outside where the city of Farmington takes a bulk of the load away by maintaining the local schools’ softball and baseball facilities as part of the city’s joint use program. the pay for our custodial crews at our schools is little more than that of the young person who just asked you if you wanted that No. 4 medium or large – because small just doesn’t exist anymore. According to the district’s website, custodians in the district begin at $8.21 an hour, or just over $17,000 a year. on the other hand, maintenance crews begin at $10.36 an hour with a pay scale that increases with added licenses that give the employee more flexibility. It’s no wonder that activity crew custodial staffs have one of the highest turnover rates in the district. However, those who do stay usually love it. Intern Superintendent phil Valdez, who has also worked as an assistant coach, a head coach and an athletic director, understands the importance of the athletic activity crews, “As a coach and director I knew that they made the whole event go off without a hitch. they are responsible for preparing the facility for fans and athletes, then are up and at it setting up for the next day.”
#OneCall Connects
505-325-9600 Located at 111 N. Behrend Farmington, NM 87401
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Athletic secretaries ,such as PV’s Linda Crabtree, work closely with the crews and understand the high turnover. “High turnover is usually due to hours spent late at night then coming back to set up tournaments. Then they also end up having to move tables and set up other things going on in the school, so there is always a high turnover in crews,” Crabtree said. With the turnover in the crew as high as it is, there is one exception. David Stephenson of Farmington High has been on the athletic crew for more than 18 years now, but he too has seen his share of work partners come and go. “The worst part of the job is the turnover,” Stephenson said. “We are shorthanded a lot and people don’t realize that it’s not just gym and games. We are expected to set up for testing, work with maintenance, and clean up afterwards.” Stephenson has been a mainstay at Farmington High and is just as recognizable to sports fans as are some of the coaches and athletes. Stephenson truly loves FHS, where he graduated. He “works
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in a great atmosphere with some tremendous athletic directors.” He is even recognized by former coaches and AD around he area. Valdez sees how workers such as Stephenson become part of a school’s athletic experience, “A lot of workers want to be on the crew to feel that they are part of the team and the atmosphere around athletics – some to the point where not only are they familiar to the coaching staff, but familiar to the fans as well” piedra Vista is still on the hunt for their David Stephenson and hope they have found it this February in Neil Wolfgang. Wolfgang moved west to be with his significant other after meeting her at an American Indian dance festival. Wolfgang has a different background than your typical custodial worker. He has a master’s degree in social work, but was looking for something different to do after seeing the tougher side of his profession. Even though he has only been around a couple of months, he has been a welcome addition to piedra Vista after countless crews have come and gone Even with all the difficulties an activity crew goes through to get an event ready, the
worst part comes afterward. Not only is the crew responsible for picking up the field equipment for the event and cleaning up after the athletes, but they are just as responsible for the fans who treat the sports arena worse, I’m sure, than they treat their own homes. the activity crew usually consists only of a couple of people who end up picking up after a couple thousand people who can’t seem to find their way ten steps to the local trash receptacle. In a world where every job is paid by its value, these workers behind the scenes should be among the best paid employees for the
thankless job they do. they are noticed only when something goes wrong or is not up to the high standards the community expects from its sporting events. obviously the state and the school district could help by making the activity crews a priority. Sporting venues are the public face of our schools. Unfortunately, there will be thousands more who walk through the gates for sporting events than will attend parent teacher conferences in any given year. Let’s at least consider that those who put on the school’s best public face get paid at least what those do who turn on the swamp coolers.
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Senior
athletes
Wide variety of events for county Olympians Story by Dorothy Nobis | Photos by Josh Bishop Every year more than 150 senior athletes gather to compete in the San Juan County Senior Olympics. The competition is fierce and the events aren’t for the weak of heart. Archery, air pistol, air rifle and bowling get the heart pumping and the adrenaline flowing. The determination to win extends to basketball free throwing, billiards, swimming, shuffleboard, cycling, track and field, golf, horseshoes, croquet, and tennis. For those who wish to compete in less strenuous events, bridge, canasta, dominoes and table tennis are also available. Every event has seniors eager to participate. “There is such a wide variety of events that
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there is something for everyone,” said Natalie Spruell, who headed up this year’s Olympics. “We have several (seniors) who participate in most events, including Craig Lozier, Doyal and Doris Humphries, James Thomason, Edna Clark, and Leonard Dan.” This year’s Senior Olympics began April 1 and ended May 1, Spruell explained. “There is tremendous community support for Senior Olympics,” she said. “Some events take a specific venue, such as bowling, archery, air pistol and air rifle. There is such history with this great event that community partners simply pitch in to create a wonderful Olympics for San Juan County.”
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The air rifle and air pistol events are held at the San Juan Wildlife Range, and the archery event is held at the San Juan Archery Range. Bowlero Lanes hosts the bowling portion of the Olympics. While larger events – shuffleboard horseshoes, the Kiwanis Park field day and bowling – draw the most participants, Spruell said the seniors attend most of the events, even if they’re not participating. “It’s really more than the actual events,” that brings the seniors together, Spruell said. “It’s seeing friends each year that you don’t see on a regular basis, meeting new friends, enjoying great conversation and having loads of fun.”
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Edna Clark is a 35-year veteran of the Senior Olympics. Clark, who will be 90 years old in October, competed in 13 different events this year, and while she enjoyed all of them, shuffleboard was her favorite. “It’s less strenuous, but it’s still fun,” Clark said, admitting she’s pretty competitive and does like to win. “I try my best to get a blue ribbon, or at least a red one. I’ve been competitive all my life.” Because she and her husband, Frank, had a difficult winter this year, Clark said she didn’t get to train for the Senior Olympics as she has in the past. “I usually run and walk around the track and I keep track of my time with my stop watch,” she explained. Frank Clark didn’t compete this year, the first time he hasn’t participated in 25 years. “He’s really not that interested in it,” Clark said of her husband. “He just goes because he has to – I make him.” Clark said taking part in the Senior Olympics is not only fun, it’s good for her. “I always encourage people to come out,” she said of the events. “It’s good for your health. It means everything to me to be able to walk and run and play games. If you don’t keep it (exercise) up, you’re going to go downhill.” Clark has no intention of going downhill. “I’m going to compete as long as I can,” she said. Competition and sports are nothing new to Leonard Dan. As a high school and college student, Dan participated in football, basketball and golf and was on the varsity golf team when he attended Westminster College in Salt Lake City after he graduated from Ignacio (Colo.) High School in 1958.
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Still competitive and active at the age of 77 and in his fourth year in the Senior Olympics, Dan participated in air rifle, basketball free throw, bowling, archery, golf, and horseshoes – taking first place in his age group in every single event. “I kind of like to compete and see where I stand (with the other participants),” Dan said. “I’m competitive enough to be a Senior Olympian and I really enjoy it.” Dan, like Clark, plans to compete as long as he can. “There are some guys now who are in their 90s and they still compete,” he said. “They have a lot of fun and I want to be like them – and still be competing when I hit the century mark.” The “kid” among the Olympians is Craig Lozier. At 53 years of age, many would hardly consider Lozier a “senior” anything. “I’m a second-year rookie,” Lozier said with a laugh. “I compete for fun and to make new friends. These ‘old people’ are really cool!” Lozier took part in shuffleboard, archery, billiards, golf, tennis, table tennis and free throw basketball. Still working part time at A-Plus Well Service, Lozier said the company understands
that when Senior Olympics rolls around, his work schedule works around his events. “They’re really good about it,” he said. Those who are good about helping with the Senior Olympics every year are numerous. The Bloomfield Senior Center partners with Farmington’s Bonnie Dallas Senior Center to provide venues for the Olympics – and Spruell said it takes everyone to make it happen. “It really does take an entire county to successfully pull off the Senior Olympics,” Spruell said. Norm Tucker and Jessica Polatty with the city of Bloomfield take on multiple events in Bloomfield, and BP is a sponsor of the event each year. With the retirement of longtime senior center director Larry Bomberger last year, Spruell was tasked with being the interim director, along with her regular position as director of the Sycamore Park Community Center. “The senior center staff has been such a blessing,” Spruell said. “Each person does their part to help. It takes quite the team to make sure all registrations are processed, results are posted correctly, materials are ready for
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each event, and coffee and treats are ready for morning events. We also use many volunteers who assist with scoring events throughout the month.” While the competition, the camaraderie, the fun – and, of course, the ribbons – make every Senior Olympics an event to remember, the participants look forward to the awards picnic, held at the end of the Olympics each year, as a highlight. “The awards picnic is fun, too,” Edna Clark said. “I get to visit with my friends – and I’ve made some good friends.” “The awards picnic is a lot of fun,” Leonard Dan added. “I’ve made quite a few friends, and it’s fun to talk (to each other) and tease each other. The picnic also gives me the chance to interact with other people.” Some of the Olympians will go on to compete in the state Senior Olympics June 3 through 6 in Roswell. To those who go, their fellow Olympians wish them luck. But for all of them, the memories made, the ribbons won and the knowledge that – no matter your age – there are still accomplishments to be made and enjoyed are the reward they all share.
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PV TEAM
DOMINATES GOLF SEASON
Individual players also headed to state from the Basin Story by Tom Yost Photos by Josh Bishop and Curtis Ray Benally
The longest season for any of the NMAA Athletics is golf season. Spanning tournaments in the fall and spring, the golf season is about to wind up for the local Four Corners teams. As it has for the past couple of seasons, the Piedra Vista Panthers have dominated the boys golf season.
scores in the high 60s and low 70s. Dennis has stayed consistently in the middle 70s for his qualifying scores. Kurley is not only excited for the state tournament this season, but for years to come, owing to the fact that his team is extremely young.
Qualification for golf depends upon teams and individual qualifications scores are called “legs for state.” PVHS has achieved five team legs for state and had qualified with the minimum of three before the spring season even began.
“This year we set a new school record of 301, an average of 75 strokes among four players,” said Kurley. “We just came back from Roswell where the 5A state tournament will be played and finished third overall. The only two teams that beat us were from 6A schools.”
Head Coach Floyd Kurley is relying on two cousins for consistency and low scores. Riley Rahm and Dennis Rahm have each qualified individually with Riley setting the standard shooting
“I am excited for the future because we are a young team with one senior, two juniors, one sophomore and three eighth graders. We will be good for the next few years.”
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Dennis Rahm
Riley Rahm
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Kyla Jones
Linda Peralta
Kurley is getting the team prepared by focusing on three areas.
This is mental practice that I received drills from division one college coaches.”
“The team is practicing competition within the team,” said Kurley. “All my practices are competition based. We also went to Roswell to become familiar with the state golf course and have seen it now three times. Finally, I am teaching the players what they can do to make adjustments if something is not going well.
“This is the most prepared group of players going to participate at state. I’m expecting and hoping to win it all this year.”
Peralta from Aztec High School are the only two individual girls to be participating in the state golf tournament. Taton Yazzie from Farmington High School is another local individual boy to qualify for state. The 5A state golf tournament is at Spring River Golf Course in Roswell May 11 and 12. The 6A state golf tournament is at Piñon Hills Golf Course in Farmington on the same dates.
No girls teams in the Four Corners have qualified for the state tournament. Kyla Jones from Kirtland Central High School and Linda
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RIDING THE HELICOPTER Cut the cell phone cord; raise self-reliant kids again RICkHOERNER Editorial Columnist You don’t have to be a half-century-old, like yours truly, to understand that by today’s standards we should all be dead by now. We walked or rode our bikes daily back and forth to school and all over the neighborhood. We played outside, sometimes by force. We wore base paths in front yards. We played with cap pistols and fireworks. And, most dangerously, we never had car seats, so our seatbelt was Mom throwing her arm across your chest as she hit the brakes. Never mind the idea that everyone over 40 should be dead by now. Consider that all of our parents should be in jail. Look at what happened in Silver Springs, Maryland. Danielle and Alexander Meitiv have had their children taken away – not once, but twice – for allowing their 8- and 10-year-old children to walk back and forth to a neighborhood park alone. Can you imagine? ALONE! My parents would be incarcerated for life. The expectation at my house and the homes of many of my friends was that we were to be outside – all day – alone or at a minimum with other children. The thought of abductions or kidnappings or any of the other mostly trumped up fears of the 24-hour news cycle were never in the picture. Not today – as the Meitivs, who practice the ridiculously termed “free range parenting,” found out when neighbors, with no threat of danger, called the police to report that their children were out alone. The horror. It’s an interesting dilemma: parents who were given the time and freedom to become the adults they are today are now the same overbearing, over-scheduling parents who are prevalent today. These parents, who once played freely, are now always around, hovering. Hence the new name: The Helicopter Parent.
It’s an interesting dilemma: parents who were given the time and freedom to become the adults they are today are now the same overbearing, over-scheduling parents who are prevalent today. These parents, who once played freely, are now always around, hovering. Hence the new name: The Helicopter Parent. So you are probably asking yourselves: “How does this apply to sports?” The Helicopter Parent is prevalent in all arenas and is even encouraged by books such as Tiger Mom, by Amy Chua, which essentially puts the responsibility of successful children not on the child, but on the parents. In performing arts they can be called “Stage Moms.” In sports, they used to keep their distance. Now we lump all these into the new generic term of Helicopter Parent. This semi-new breed of parent is incredibly visible at every school event. Let’s first of all make it perfectly clear that not all parents who take an interest in their kids’ activities are Helicopter Parents. Thankfully, there are many who volunteer their time, help raise money and provide transportation
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to kids who need the help – and believe me, they are deeply appreciated. However, there also are those parents who just can’t let go and let their kids participate in the joy of athletics. Outside of my dad coaching me in baseball as a kid, I can’t recall my parents ever sitting in on practice. I don’t mean hanging out until it’s over to drive the athlete back and forth, but actually sitting in and watching practice. They sit in the stands during baseball practice. They go to the upper deck of the gym to watch, they sit on the soccer sidelines and they question the coaches about playing time, strategy and any other issue that affects their child – not the team, just their own interest. The reason this is happening today appears to me to be quite simple. Youth sports have become pay to play activities. Traveling
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baseball teams, select soccer teams, AAU basketball teams and countless other year-round programs have given the expectation to parents that “Since I paid for my kid to be here, I want something.” More often these parents believe they deserve something. Here lies the problem with the Tiger Mom mentality. As the responsibility for your child’s success in athletics moves from the child’s wishes to the parents’ desires, these parents are willing to do whatever is necessary, because their kids’ success is now tied to their own. Kid fails, Mom and Dad fail. Kid doesn’t play enough, Mom and Dad have failed. Living vicariously through your child used to be that one over-assertive baseball Dad, now it’s the norm. It has gotten tougher and tougher not to fall into this trap. Parents – especially those who are teachers – who once cried out against the fairness of our new pay for play system are now entrenched in it – including yours truly once upon a time. My daughter’s experience in the world of select soccer was not worth the investment. The weekly drive to Bernalillo took time away from the rest of my family and essentially ruined my weekend. Carpooling was nearly out of the question since every other kid’s parents, with one exception, went to every game every week. Out of all the kids playing on her select soccer team at ages 9 and 10, less than half were still playing in high school. For her softball team, the results were similar. It has become increasingly obvious to me that we have over-structured our kids’ lives all in the name of their best interests. The results, I would argue, are questionable. In favor of the rise of a few, we have alienated many. We have left too many behind who can neither afford to pay to play or have not been given adequate time and opportunity to develop as athletes, performers or students. The simple fact is we cannot protect our kids from inevitable failure. In fact, we should encourage it. With failure comes growth and motivation. Just as in science, it’s a true learning experience. We cannot let fear of failure control who we are as parents, just as we cannot let fear of the unknown prevent giving our children the necessary room to grow.
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Parents like the Meitivs consider themselves new and improved parents for letting their kids experience some sense of individuality. Free Range parenting is just parenting.
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Our folks did it for years. It’s an interesting question of whether the fear we have of leaving our children alone is justified or just a consequence of continual, ratings-driven media coverage.
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Statistically, sexual assaults are more likely to happen from family members or family friends than from strangers. Statistically, the same is true for abductions.
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So maybe it is time to cut the cord and set the cell phone – the world’s longest umbilical cord – down and let the kids be.
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There’s an interesting thing about helicopters that hover; they force a lot of pressure down beneath them. Maybe the parents should think about that image as they hover over every action of their child.
In life and in golf Focusing attention on intention decides the outcome TomYOST The First Tee
How many times do you start on a task only to get sidetracked and end up shifting your focus on many different things? There are numerous times when I have a plan for the day and quickly get diverted with small fires that present themselves, knocking my plan off course.
Unfortunately, in golf, as in life, too much of the focus is outcome oriented. The process gets neglected in favor of what the outcome is going to be. As a society, the outcome becomes the only thing that is important, taking the focus away from the specific details of the process – which would result in a better outcome.
As often as this happens in our daily lives, it happens even more when we are on the golf course. The ability of a person to stay the course and focus on the plan often dictates how great a player they will become. Focusing attention on the intention in golfing terms means that a person needs to focus 100 percent of their energy on one task at a time. Too often a player goes to the driving range with a plan to work on a certain aspect of their golf game, such as their grip. What happens soon after is their attention shifts from that focus – because they become aware of where the golf ball is going and soon become fixated on the result/outcome. Now their attention has shifted 180 degrees in another direction and the focus on the grip change has now been diverted to fixing the direction that their golf ball is going. PRoCESS vs. oUTComE Unfortunately, in golf, as in life, too much of the focus is outcome oriented. The process gets neglected in favor of what the outcome is going to be. As a society, the outcome becomes the only thing that is important, taking the focus away from the specific details of the process – which would result in a better outcome. I am not saying that 100 percent of the focus
needs to be on the process, nor am I implying that outcome oriented focus or goals are not important – they are. What I am saying is that you have to be able to distinguish between the two and focus your attention on either the process or the outcome at a given moment – and not both at the same time. Going back to the driving range example, the player who is working to change their grip is obviously going to see the golf ball go in different directions at the start. If the player is fully consumed with the process of changing their grip and ignores where the golf ball is going, the grip change will take less time and
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the outcome will take care of itself. I challenge each and every one of my readers to look at each of their day’s tasks and categorize them as either process- or outcome-oriented, and then focus their attention on the intention for each one. Giving each task the required attention will maximize the effort put forth and oftentimes the outcomes will take care of themselves. It is the person who focuses on both – process and outcome – at the same time who often loses their way, accomplishing little if anything on both fronts. If the golfing public kept their attention on the intention, then their games very quicklywould improve exponentially .
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Murphy to play at Otero Junior College
Sandoval headed to CMU
Brianna Murphy made it official on May 1 when she signed her letter of intent to play volleyball for Otero Junior College in LaJunta, Colo. The OJC Rattlers are part of the Region IX Conference. Murphy was chosen for 5A All-State first team this year and was one of the big reasons PV went to state for the third year in a row. With her at the signing was, at left, her father and at right her PV Vollyball Coach Ron Becker.
Piedra Vista High School’s Sam Sandoval is headed to Colorado Mesa University after graduation. Sandoval signed his letter of intent earlier this month at PV High School. Pictures above is Sandoval, center, with his family and PV Coach Michael Bejar. As a member of the PV wrestling dynasty that won their 5th straight state title this year, Sandoval also took home his second consecutive state championship. He will be going to Grand Junction, Colo., to join the CMU Mavericks, a division II school in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
Fishing REPORT Current flows on the San Juan River below Navajo Lake are 650cfs. These flows are very likely to change weekly.
Size 12 natural colored rabbit hair leach Size 22 black midge pupae Size 22 gray Rs2 Size 22 gray Big Mac Dry fly fishing has been best in the afternoon hours. Look to see fish rising if clouds roll in and the wind is down. Some of the best dries as of late are: Size 22 CDC midge Size 22 Parachute Adams Size 22 Griffiths Knat
Fishing in the Quality Waters below Navajo Lake has been very good. The best time of the day to fish has been between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Here are a few hot patterns to try:
Fishing below the Quality Waters has been good using night crawlers and red salmon eggs. T.J. Massey San Juan River Outfitters www.sanjuanriveroutfitters.com 505.486.5347
Size 16 cream egg pattern
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WHO WILL WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP? NASCAR Nellie surveys local fans to find out NASCAR Nellie’s weekends pretty much revolve around NASCAR races. If the housework and laundry aren’t done when the race starts, it isn’t getting done until after the race. And if Dale Earnhardt Jr. doesn’t finish well, it might not get done at all. NN has a tendency to wallow in Junior and self-pity when the sport’s most favorite driver of eternity doesn’t win or at least get a top 10. NN is nothing but loyal to her favorite driver, just so’s ya know. NN is happy that Junior is having a better season. NN also thinks that the pretty Amy is partly responsible for that. The right woman can make a huge difference in a man’s attitude and career, NN believes. NN is sad that Junior did not even – for one teeny tiny microsecond – consider her as that “right woman” but does understand that having a lovely woman stand beside you who can’t quite reach the window of the race car and who fills out designer clothes, but prob’ly not in the way the designer designed ’em for, could create issues for the sport’s most popular driver.
and may be a tad tattered and stained with nacho cheese and adult beverages) has to be placed exactly so on a hanger in the Shrine to The Sports Most Popular Driver, the most important room in the casita. Snacks and wine must be at the ready, and Mojito the Devil Kitten must have enough kitty snacks to keep him happy during the race. It takes a LOT of snacks to keep the DK happy and quiet during races, which prob’ly’splains the fact that he can no longer get through the catio doors unless they are completely open – all four feet of ’em. Whatever. There have been some naysayers in NN’s life who have said a stud muffin like Junior isn’t interested in a woman who is old enough to be his mother’s mother. Whatever. So, when NASCAR races are on, NN paces through the casita (paths that have worn to the cement slab of the foundation of the casita – which have been replaced by very cute DIY carpet squares/rectangles/triangles of red, yellow, green and black and white. It’s not exactly Pit Road, but it does give a certain attitude to the casita that, NN is sure, will add to the value of the casita when the Perfect Child decides it’s time to put his mother into a “home.” Whatever. There’s a lot of preparation required to pace a NASCAR race, for those of you who – for whatever heaven-forsaken reason don’t watch NASCAR (you know who you are and you know you love NASCAR and you just refuse to admit it’s the world’s favorite sport – Steve Bortstein et al) – don’t realize. NN spends most of Saturday prepping for the race. Her favorite Junior shirt (which has been hand washed and dried for, prob'ly, 10 years
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The cat’s prob’ly gonna have to stay with the casita when the PC puts NN in the home and attempts to sell the casita, unless the new owners want to knock down a wall to get him out. In all fairness to the DK, that hole in the wall will also be necessary to get NN out. Whatever. NN doesn’t take visitors, phone calls, text messages or smoke signals during the race. It is important that NN focus on the race, which drivers are not playing nice with Junior, which drivers are being nice to the 20 or so of NN’s least favorite drivers (NN would list her least favorite drivers, but the restraining orders are pretty much clear that NN cannot “mention, say, suggest or put in print” any of the names of the 20 or so drivers who signed the order. Whatever.), and where she put her glass of Sweet Cherry Pie wine or her super-sized plate of nachos. And if Junior has trouble of any kind, NN has been known to spit out a few not-nice words and toss her fuzzy slippers at the television and crawl under the coffee table with her NASCAR comforter and whine and cry. NN believes, as she always does, that Dale Earnhardt Jr., the sport’s most popular driver, will win the championship. Junior is the bomb,
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the best, the onliest driver NN has ever loved (well, except for her Sweet Baboo, Elliott Sadler, who threw NN over for some cute young thing; Terry Labonte, who would have loved NN if he’da just watched that video instead of turning it over to the “authorities”; Ward Burton, who coulda won a championship and shoulda won a championship but on accounta no one could understand his South Boston drawl, no one knew for sure what he was sayin’, which caused a few probs on Pit Road; Dale Jarrett, who was the first driver over five foot, five that got behind the wheel of a race car; and Davey Allison, who died in a helicopter crash and put NN into mourning for, like, seven years). NN liked Dale Earnhardt Sr., but he was never her favorite driver – mostly because he was married to Junior’s Wicked Stepmother who was not nice to the sport’s most popular driver. Just sayin’. . . NN did a quick survey of seven people, who were the only ones to respond to her survey – go figure – to see who they thought would take home the championship trophy, which is not to be confused with the mirror ball tro-
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JG’s last year racing. NN doesn’t have a problem with JG winning, except JG isn’t DEJr., who MUST win. Sorry, Roger. Hugs, kisses – love Gordon, but let’s face it, he isn’t the sport’s most popular driver. Julie Hank, who’s from Aztec but is currently saving lives as a nurse in Albuquerque, is also a Junior fan and joins NN in saying Junior will win the trophy this year. “I believe he gets better and better with age. He is one of the most consistent drivers in NASCAR and he’s had to overcome the death of his legendary father – which he has.” phy, which is what the winner of Dancing With the Stars receives, just so’s ya know. The same rules/regs apply when NN is watching DWTS. Angela Valdez, Paul James and Kathy Farley – who just MAY put NN behind the wheel of a race car in a coupla weeks at a local race track – all think Kevin “Happy” Harvick will repeat as the 2015 champion. One of my best NASCAR buddies, Roger Sheak, said he hopes his most favorite driver, Jeff Gordon, takes the championship, ’specially since it’s
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Julie’s dad, John, who is a former dirt track racer and is retired from El Paso Natural Gas, doesn’t agree with Julie and NN, though. Big John thinks Harvick will win, although he admits to “kind of like ‘Little E’” and was a big fan of “Big E.” Big John has been a NASCAR fan for as long as he can remember and was a big fan of The King, Richard Petty, which is why he doesn’t want Jimmie Johnson to win. JJ, for those of you who don’t
keep up, has broken almost every record held by anyone/everyone and Big John doesn’t want JJ breaking any more of The King’s records. Just so’s ya know. NN’s dear, sweet, long-time friend Johnnie Walker was among the first to respond to the unofficial survey. NN loves Johnnie and prays for Johnnie, on accounta Johnnie doesn’t keep up with the world’s most popular sport. Johnnie thinks Peyton Manning will win the NASCAR championship and Tony Romo doesn’t have a chance. Thanks, Johnnie, for your help and if Peyton Manning (NN’s hero and who has his own shrine in NN’s casita) ever decides to drive a NASCAR race, there is no doubt he’ll win every race – except the sport’s most popular driver race, ’cuz that’s always gonna belong to Junior. Johnnie is the bomb and she and NN share a mutual love of Johnnie’s children, who have participated in the San Juan County Fair forever. Johnnie is well versed in pigs, beef and other livestock stuff – NASCAR, not so much. Gotta love her, but would have loved her more if she’da at least mentioned Dale Earnhardt Jr.
The races continue, the standings change every week, and half of NN’s weight is caused by the stress called NASCAR. NN is also very happy that the Perfect Child is getting married next month and, because he loves his mother,
he and his bride-to-be scheduled the wedding so it does not conflict with a NASCAR race. Thank goodness. NN would have hated to miss the nuptials.
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