Why Are We Doing This Again?

Why are we doing this again?

The United Baseball League is bringing another test series to the Big Country to see if there is a market for minor league baseball.

This is the 3rd time a league has tried to bring minor league baseball back to the Key City and the Big Country since the Abilene Prairie Dogs of the Texas-Louisiana League folded. The previous tries at Driggers Field and in Sweetwater were failures. Why are we doing it again? Why are people going to come to ACU's Scott Field to watch 2 teams they don't have anything invested in?

Simply, they aren't going to come and watch the games. That may be an over simplification. Some people will come watch baseball no matter who's playing. The organizers, 1 of which is former Prairie Dogs general manager Byron Pearce, are hoping for at least 1500 people per game. If that happens, Pearce has said that he might start the process of bringing a team back to Abilene. Let me say the United Baseball League and Pearce the trouble, 1500 people will not come to Scott Field to watch the games.

I think it's great that people want to bring professional baseball back to the Big Country, but until we get someone to bring an affiliated minor league baseball team with a new baseball stadium, minor league baseball is not going to work in Abilene.

May 21, 1988: "THE DAY"

As nice as it would be to remember every detail of every day, there are certain days in your lifethat stick out more that others. That's just a fact of life. Athletes have championships. Historians have July 4th. Teachers have the last day of school. Accountants have April 15th.

I call them, "1 of those days." They are the days that I will always remember.

-September 8th, 1994 and March 14th, 1996 are 2 of "those days" because they are the days my daughters were born.

-Texas A&M beat Texas in 1985, 42 to 10 for the Southwest Conference championship. I was at Kyle Field. That was "1 of those days".

-ACU beat West Texas State in 1987 for the Lone Star Conference basketball championship. I was in the 2nd row of Section F of Moody Coliseum. That was "1 of those days".

-I got to cover Abilene High's victory over Katy for the State Championship in 2009. That was "1 of those days".

-On September 4th 1988, I met Conni Birdwell for the 1st time. That was "1 of those days" that led to THE day.

All of those are great, but the most important day of my life was May 21st, 1988. That is the day my wife, Conni, and I tied the knot. That day was "THE DAY" for so many reasons. That day shaped how my life was going to go.

"THE DAY" helped motivate me to complete my college education and get a job.

I am working at KTAB now because I got married to Conni on "THE DAY." When I was in college I wasn't the most motivated person in the world. I would hear about jobs and not pursue them because I was lazy. After we got married, I heard about a job doing stats for David Bacon during high school and college football games. 2 years later, David got me a job at KTAB, and the rest is history.

I am sure I am a better person because I married Conni on "THE DAY". She has a heart of gold, and I am driven to be like her as far as her compassion for others, her passion for life, and her drive to live a life that would please God.

Conni helped me get through the death of our oldest daughter, Hillary. As you can imagine, our world was rocked when she died shortly after birth because of a heart defect, but Conni and I had each other to help us get through it.

My marriage to Conni on "THE DAY" helps me be a good father to our daughter, Allison. Conni has a tender touch as a mother, and I try to emulate that touch in my approach. I am driven to be a good dad because I want our daughter to grow to be a Christian and a good person who will be a leader for her generation, and I want to please my wife.

Everyone's life is changed the day they got married, so I don't want to say mine was changed more that anyone else. I'm just saying, not everyone is as keenly aware of how important their wedding day was for them, as I am.

May 21, 1988 was "THE DAY". The most important day of my life, and I am so fortunate that God put Conni in my life.

Happy Anniversary, Bun.

Mock Draft For 2010

The NFL Draft is coming up, so I decided to take a shot at who will pick who in the 1st round. Remember, I am guessing just like everyone else, so cut me some slack.

2010 NFL Draft

1. St. Louis: Sam Bradford, QB, OU

2.Detroit: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

3.Tampa Bay: Gerald McCoy, DT, OU

4.Washington: Russell Okung, OT, OK State

5.Kansas City: Trent Williams, OT, OU

6.Seattle: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

7.Cleveland: Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland

8.Oakland: Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa

9.Buffalo: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame

10.Jacksonville: Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama

11.Denver: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech

12.Miami: C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson

13.San Francisco: Dez Bryant, WR, Ok. State

14.Seattle: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida

15. N.Y. Giants: Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee

16.Tennessee:Joe Haden, CB, Florida

17.San Francisco: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers

18.Pittsburgh: Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame

19.Atlanta: Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise St.

20.Houston: Earl Thomas, S, Texas

21.Cincinnati: Taylor Mays, S, USC

22.New England: Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan

23.Green Bay: Sergio Kindle, DE/OLB, Texas

24. Philadelphia: Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri

25. Baltimore: Jermaine Gresham, TE, OU

26.Arizona: Brian Price, DT, UCLA

27.Dallas: Charles Brown, T, USC

28.San Diego: Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno St.

29.N.Y. Jets: Markuis Pouncey, C/G, Florida

30.Minnesota: Matthew Cody, DT, Alabama

31. Indianapolis: Mike Iupati, G, Idaho

32. New Orleans: Everson Griffen, DE, USC

Also:

-I think the Browns will take Texas quarterback Colt McCoy in the 2nd round.

-Former ACU Wildcat lineman Tony Washington will be taken by the Cowboys in the 3rd round.

-Look for Tim Tebow to be selected somewhere in the 2nd or 3rd round.

Tiger says, "I am sorry."

An apology, no questions, and he's gone. I have a statement, an apology, another statement and I'm gone.

Tigers apology:

Tiger Woods finally spoke to the world today. He didn't say much about the affairs that he had on his wife, but he did acknowledge that he had affairs. He let people know that he is sorry for the pain he caused his wife and children. He went on to say that his wife and his children were the most important things in his life.

Tiger went further in apologizing to fans, co-workers, and the students in his foundation for his "irresponsible" behavior.

My statement:

It sounds like he has turned a corner. We will see. A tiger doesn't change his strips easily, and we will see if Tiger is the exception to the rule.

I have a real problem with Tiger not letting people ask his questions. He says most of this issue is a private matter, but I am not buying it. He is a public figure. He put himself on the world stage. He made his "private life" public in the profession he chose.

You want to control the story anyway you can, and Tiger is the ultimate control freak. I get it, it is the smart thing to do. However, it would have shown me more if he had spent the morning in front of camera's and reporters for 2 hours answering questions.

My apology:

I am sorry that Tiger apparently didn't know that fooling around on his wife was wrong. I am sorry that Tiger was amoral for most of his adult life. I am sorry that his friends did not see that his arrogance was going to get him in trouble.

Another statement:

I am a Tiger Woods golf fan. I will watch this guy play golf as long as he plays golf. My dad had Jack Nicklaus, and I have Tiger Woods. However, I will not look at him the same. I made the mistake of putting him on a pedestal. I tell my daughter not to do that in relation to celebrities. I should have listened. I am a fan of his golf. I hope to be a fan of his life one day.

UIL Realignment

I am glad that Cooper and Abilene High are back in the same district. The last 2 years have been fun with CHS in Class 4A and AHS in a different Class 5A district, but it going to be fun to go back to the future.

The Cougars and the Eagles are headed west to play the teams from the Little Southwest Conference. For you young'uns, the Little Southwest Conference is Abilene High, Cooper, Midland High, Midland Lee, Odessa High, and Odessa Permian.

Abilene High dominated the old district with 3 district championships in 4 years, and their State Championship in 2009 means they will probably be the favorite to win the District 3-5A championship.

The Cougars are vastly improved from their last season in Class 5A, but don't forget, the Cougars went to the playoffs after the 2007 season, which was their last in Class 5A.

Based on what happened the last few years, Abilene High and Cooper will be among the favorites to go to the playoffs in 2010. The Cougars return a good number of their skill position and defensive players. Abilene High has 1st team All-American Herschel Sims back in the backfield with his cousin, Ronnell Sims, at quarterback to lead the Eagles into the defense of their State crown.

When you think about West Texas football, you think about Abilene, Midland, and Odessa.

You think about the Little Southwest Conference.

It's GOOD to have the old district back together, again.

My Football Weekend Pt. 3

Just so you guys will know. This weekend isn't just about football. This is a time for me to hang with my dad and do what we used to do when I was young. Football has always been an important part of our relationship. I didn't play, but we watched football together. We still watch football together, and it's one of the things I look forward to most in the year.

Usually, we make our way into a press box when we go on this trip, so we don't have to sit in the cold. No such luck for the 3rd and final game of the trip.

Dad and I were out in the cold, and I do mean cold for the Class 4A game between Waxahachie and Longview. The winner will face Guyer in the quarterfinals.

Dad and I were all bundled up in 5 layers and ready to watch some football, and we saw a game that we will not forget for a long time. We saw a 20 point lead get blown. We saw hard hits. We saw the longest pass play in high school football history. We saw a team get dominated down the stretch.

Longview was not ready to go when the game started. Waxahachie jumped out to a 20-0 lead 7 minutes into the 1st quarter, and we thought we were going to freeze for nothing.

Wait just a minute. That's when Longview woke up from their winter nap. The Lobos scored 21 points before halftime to take the lead for the 1st time.

The 2nd half is when it go really interesting. Both teams were pounding on each other and delivering hard hits in the 3rd and 4th quarters.

3rd quarter, Longview pins Hachie at their half yard line, and that's when we saw the longest pass play in Texas high school history. How about a 99-yard touchdown pass for the Indians that put them back in front by 5, 26-21. Beautiful pass and run. It was probably a tie for the longest pass play, but the longest none the less.

Then Longview took over. They ran the ball over, through, and around the Waxahachie defense to the tune of 29 unanswered points.

Longview wins 50-26 after trailing to start the game, 20 to nothing. What a turnaround. Dad and I almost forgot we were cold. WOW!

So the football part of the trip was over, or so we thought. We got in the car to head to the hotel, and heard the final play of the Big 12 Championship game. Bonus football on this weekend from heaven! Texas wins on a last second field goal and they are headed to the BCS National Championship game.

What a day! What a weekend! Now it's over, but it's just 364 days until it starts, again.

My Football Weekend Pt.2

I Forgot to explain how this all started. My friend Jason, who didn’t get to come this year, is the guy that introduced me to the thrills of the 1st weekend in December. We saw a tripleheader at Texas Stadium in 1996, I decided right then and there that I loved watching high school football.

Before he had kids, Jason traveled all over West Texas to find football games during the playoffs. Now, I make sure the 1st weekend in December is open so I can go watch football.
Originally, the trip was a day trip, but the older we got, the more we liked the idea of not driving back to Abilene in the middle of the night. So, now the wives, kids and my parents come on Friday. The guys go watch football, and the ladies go shopping.

The 1st game on Saturday features 2 of the best 4A schools in the state with 2 of the best quarterbacks in the state.. Denton Guyer and Denton Ryan met at C.H. Collins Stadium in Denton. These 2 teams are both ranked in the top 10 in the Harris Ratings, and they finished 1 and 2 in district play.

Guyer quarterback J.W. Walsh is a cherished recruit for every team in the state, and Ryan quarterback Scotty Young is headed to play at Texas Tech.

The 1st half was sloppy. Guyer fumbled 4 times, and Young threw 2 interceptions for Ryan. Guyer returned the interception 72 yards for a score. The Wildcat led, 14 to 6 at the half.
As sloppy as the 1st half was, the 2nd half was even worse. Young threw 3 more interceptions.

Guyer ran out of bounds with the lead and kicked an ill-advised onside kick in the 4th quarter that kept Ryan in it. Not a great game, but still fun to watch.

Denton Guyer stays alive with a 28-25 victory over rival Denton Ryan.

Dad and I are off to the next game between Waxahachie and Longview.