I got this text from Teresa early Thanksgiving morning before I came down to Denver for the day.
I'm not sure how many people she sent it to, but it was a mass text, so I have a feeling it was quite a few. Teresa is still on schedule for her discharge from Colorado Acute Long Term Hospital in Denver on Dec. 13. If that happens, she will be three days shy of her admittance to this facility. She has been in various hospitals since October 2010.
Here's her text:
"Happy Thanksgiving! Well I will be home in less than three weeks. Can't believe I've spent one year of my life here. In dog years that is 7 years and I have 8 more years to live if I was a cat. Needless to say I won't be eating dog or cat chow on this fine day of thanks.
"Over the past year here I have been extremely thankful for many things. First of all I'm thankful to my Lord who didn't take me when I had a fever of 104.2 and delirious. I thank him for my daughter, Cassie, who sat in the corner and watched her mother cry out that she wanted to die. My mom for listening to her daughter curse like a sailor and hold my hand through the delirium. Most of all my husband, Rich, who stuck through all of this wondering why my wife doesn't recognize me and listened to me bitch and moan. To Beth who started my fundraiser and texts me everyday ... and to the rest of my family and friends, thank you for all of the prayers, calls and texts.
"Thank you again for all things good and bad. Remember the glass is half full and ENJOY LIFE BECAUSE YOU CAN!
"Teresa"
I'm not sure I could have said it better. Without all of the above (along with her care here at the hospital) and her determination to beat this, I'm not sure that Teresa would be here to give thanks. We also can't be more thankful to all of the prayers said by friends, family and even on Facebook from people Teresa has never met. We won't name names any further just so we don't leave anybody out. Hopefully, you know who you are and God bless you.
Teresa asked me what I wanted for Christmas the other day and I said, "I just want you to be home." Teresa didn't really buy that answer, but it is true. I finally said that we're going to concentrate on a few things for the kitchen ... new stove and dishwasher and eventually a new refrigerator; things that we've been needing for a long time but will also help her in her recovery.
What am I thankful for? The chance to get this text on Thanksgiving morning.
One more thing. Teresa got several replies on her text later in the day. Her reply to those replies: "Thank you for your thanks on Thanksgiving Day."
I told her she was a poet and didn't even know it.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Preparing to come home
Every day presents a new challenge for Teresa and her recovery. Under no circumstances do we take anything for granted these days.
With that said, everything is a go for her discharge from the Colorado Acute Long Term Hospital on Dec. 13. Teresa is still a paraplegic, but she has shown good improvement and we're hoping and praying that in this next month she will continue to do so.
The plan is for her to come home. If that happens, it will be the first time she has set foot in our house in 14 months. If she is home for Christmas, it will be the first time she will be able to celebrate at home with family in three years. Two years ago she had complications from her back fusion and they had to go back in for surgery two days before Christmas. Last year she was just beginning her stay at Colorado Acute. Just a week after Christmas, she had her bowel diverticulum surgery that really sent her in a health tailspin.
As could be expected, Teresa will be coming home to a different house that she left or has lived in for about 18 years. This house was obviously not built (late 1950s) for the disabled. The doorways are small and the bathroom is not much more than the size of a big closet.
She'll be in a wheelchair. The hope is that she graduates to a walker and then be able to walk on her own. It's like a doctor told me one day, "Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst." If Teresa never gets on her feet on her own, we have to deal with it.
Because of that, there's a ton of work to be done to get her ready to come home. The idea is to make it as comfortable as possible so she can begin a new life. She deserves it.
In all that, we have decided to make some other changes as well. I have been working as a news copy editor at the Wyoming Tribune Eagle since March 2010. I gave my notice last week and will finish out my job there on Sunday.
I had decided a while back that once Teresa was able to come home, I would too, in a sense. Although I never left Laramie, it often seemed like it commuting to Cheyenne every day (and coming home after midnight) and then spending my days off in Denver. Under no circumstances would I continue to do that with Teresa home. Although I will work, I need to be at just 5 minutes away instead of 45 minutes (or more in bad weather or stranded in Cheyenne). I couldn't handle it.
It's a scary situation quiting a job with benefits before getting another one, especially these days. I have some possible opportunities in the works, but nothing concrete in comparison financially.
The other night I had talked to Teresa on the telephone and a few minutes later she texted me back asking me if something was bothering me. She said I sounded depressed.
I admitted that I had been thinking about things (life) and I had guessed that I was just anxious. Of course, I didn't have to explain anxious to my wife. I would imagine that every minute of her life now is that way for her.
But she asked me anyway why I was anxious.
Let's see, I said. "There's money (getting another job), getting the house ready in time (physically and financially) and of course, you coming home and your health. That should probably do it for a while."
As could be expected, Teresa was able to knock some sense back into me like she always does.
"Quit worrying," she texted. "We will be able to eat. We will not lose our house. No one will sleep on the floor except Sam (our dog). Now comes the fun part. We will be a family again and have Xmas together. I get to take care of you. No worries. Have an Ativan."
No Ativan for me. My wife makes me feel better. And sleep. I can't wait for both to come home.
With that said, everything is a go for her discharge from the Colorado Acute Long Term Hospital on Dec. 13. Teresa is still a paraplegic, but she has shown good improvement and we're hoping and praying that in this next month she will continue to do so.
The plan is for her to come home. If that happens, it will be the first time she has set foot in our house in 14 months. If she is home for Christmas, it will be the first time she will be able to celebrate at home with family in three years. Two years ago she had complications from her back fusion and they had to go back in for surgery two days before Christmas. Last year she was just beginning her stay at Colorado Acute. Just a week after Christmas, she had her bowel diverticulum surgery that really sent her in a health tailspin.
As could be expected, Teresa will be coming home to a different house that she left or has lived in for about 18 years. This house was obviously not built (late 1950s) for the disabled. The doorways are small and the bathroom is not much more than the size of a big closet.
She'll be in a wheelchair. The hope is that she graduates to a walker and then be able to walk on her own. It's like a doctor told me one day, "Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst." If Teresa never gets on her feet on her own, we have to deal with it.
Because of that, there's a ton of work to be done to get her ready to come home. The idea is to make it as comfortable as possible so she can begin a new life. She deserves it.
In all that, we have decided to make some other changes as well. I have been working as a news copy editor at the Wyoming Tribune Eagle since March 2010. I gave my notice last week and will finish out my job there on Sunday.
I had decided a while back that once Teresa was able to come home, I would too, in a sense. Although I never left Laramie, it often seemed like it commuting to Cheyenne every day (and coming home after midnight) and then spending my days off in Denver. Under no circumstances would I continue to do that with Teresa home. Although I will work, I need to be at just 5 minutes away instead of 45 minutes (or more in bad weather or stranded in Cheyenne). I couldn't handle it.
It's a scary situation quiting a job with benefits before getting another one, especially these days. I have some possible opportunities in the works, but nothing concrete in comparison financially.
The other night I had talked to Teresa on the telephone and a few minutes later she texted me back asking me if something was bothering me. She said I sounded depressed.
I admitted that I had been thinking about things (life) and I had guessed that I was just anxious. Of course, I didn't have to explain anxious to my wife. I would imagine that every minute of her life now is that way for her.
But she asked me anyway why I was anxious.
Let's see, I said. "There's money (getting another job), getting the house ready in time (physically and financially) and of course, you coming home and your health. That should probably do it for a while."
As could be expected, Teresa was able to knock some sense back into me like she always does.
"Quit worrying," she texted. "We will be able to eat. We will not lose our house. No one will sleep on the floor except Sam (our dog). Now comes the fun part. We will be a family again and have Xmas together. I get to take care of you. No worries. Have an Ativan."
No Ativan for me. My wife makes me feel better. And sleep. I can't wait for both to come home.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Ghost kids in Teresa's hospital
In Teresa's hospital in Denver there is talk about the facility being a little haunted. Haunted in the sense that there have been sightings of ghost children, particularly of a little girl on the sixth floor.
The sixth floor is currently being renovated into a short-term nursing home. At one time, it was a pediatric ward.
The rumor is a little girl died in the elevator. Evidently, she still hangs around, constantly roaming the halls.
At some point somebody got a picture of her, which resembled mostly a shadow. But several people have verified that they have seen her.
Teresa, meanwhile, believes she has seen a shadow figure of a little boy playing at the foot of her bed. She's even talked to him, asking what his name is and what he is doing. The boy has never answered, but he has apparently shut the bathroom door, the main door and shaken the blinds on the window when the window was closed. Teresa said she is going to call him Bobby the next time he appears.
At other times, he has apparently scared some of the nurses to the point where they are afraid to go in certain rooms. There have also been various reports of doors slamming and elevator doors opening with no one there.
About three weeks ago, Teresa was puttering around in her electric wheelchair and by mistake she went up to the sixth floor. It was in the elevator where she had an accident and the door smashed her leg, cutting it and actually breaking her fibula bone.
Teresa believes the ghost girl tried to help her by getting a construction worker's attention and he helped get Teresa back down to the fourth floor for some help.
Although one could also suggest that the girl ghost was trying to hurt Teresa by shutting the door on her, she thinks that the girl is a friendly ghost.
With it being Halloween, the ghost kids might do a little trick-or-treating tonight. It's a good thing we have plenty of candy.
The sixth floor is currently being renovated into a short-term nursing home. At one time, it was a pediatric ward.
The rumor is a little girl died in the elevator. Evidently, she still hangs around, constantly roaming the halls.
At some point somebody got a picture of her, which resembled mostly a shadow. But several people have verified that they have seen her.
Teresa, meanwhile, believes she has seen a shadow figure of a little boy playing at the foot of her bed. She's even talked to him, asking what his name is and what he is doing. The boy has never answered, but he has apparently shut the bathroom door, the main door and shaken the blinds on the window when the window was closed. Teresa said she is going to call him Bobby the next time he appears.
At other times, he has apparently scared some of the nurses to the point where they are afraid to go in certain rooms. There have also been various reports of doors slamming and elevator doors opening with no one there.
About three weeks ago, Teresa was puttering around in her electric wheelchair and by mistake she went up to the sixth floor. It was in the elevator where she had an accident and the door smashed her leg, cutting it and actually breaking her fibula bone.
Teresa believes the ghost girl tried to help her by getting a construction worker's attention and he helped get Teresa back down to the fourth floor for some help.
Although one could also suggest that the girl ghost was trying to hurt Teresa by shutting the door on her, she thinks that the girl is a friendly ghost.
With it being Halloween, the ghost kids might do a little trick-or-treating tonight. It's a good thing we have plenty of candy.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Nichole Rider, an inspiration
My wife Teresa and I had the pleasure of meeting and visiting with former Cowgirl basketball player Nichole Rider Tuesday in Teresa's hospital room in Denver.
Nichole is truly an inspiration. During her senior year with the Cowgirls in the mid 1990s, Nichole was in an automobile accident that left her partially paralyzed. She went from a 50 percent chance of not making it through the night to where she is today. Again, truly an inspiration.
Although they had never met each other until Tuesday, Teresa and Nichole have a lot in common. Both played for the Cowgirls and both have gone through life and death medical issues that no one can really understand unless you go through it.
As it turned out, we visited for 5 1/2 hours and if not for the lateness, I think we could have talked all night. We both enjoyed her visit tremendously and I know Teresa benefited from it emotionally as well.
In early August Nichole was featured on the UW athletics website on their "Where Are They Now? segment.
Nichole Rider, Where Are They Now?
You can also read about Nichole's sailing adventures, with this link on her sailing from the site cleverpig.
Nichole is truly an inspiration. During her senior year with the Cowgirls in the mid 1990s, Nichole was in an automobile accident that left her partially paralyzed. She went from a 50 percent chance of not making it through the night to where she is today. Again, truly an inspiration.
Although they had never met each other until Tuesday, Teresa and Nichole have a lot in common. Both played for the Cowgirls and both have gone through life and death medical issues that no one can really understand unless you go through it.
As it turned out, we visited for 5 1/2 hours and if not for the lateness, I think we could have talked all night. We both enjoyed her visit tremendously and I know Teresa benefited from it emotionally as well.
In early August Nichole was featured on the UW athletics website on their "Where Are They Now? segment.
Nichole Rider, Where Are They Now?
You can also read about Nichole's sailing adventures, with this link on her sailing from the site cleverpig.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Tebow, Tebow, Tebow, Tebow ...
The signs say it all on I-25 & 58th. Maybe they should also put up signs saying, "John Fox, get a running game." Or how about, "John Fox, shore up your defense."
More than likely, John Fox doesn't even drive by 1-25 & 58th. It's too far north of the Broncos' facility or even the former Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium. Maybe somebody should have thought of that a little earlier.
I'm wondering if this just isn't sports talk radio conspiracy. The talking heads say they don't want Tebow as the starting quarterback and it is annoying when the Tebow zombies call up demanding that he become their starting quarterback.
But they continue to yammer on the subject 24-7. Do they hate it? Again, Garth says .... not!!!
TTBC ... Tebow to be continued.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Life is one day at a time
There's a sports cliché that coaches and athletes love.
One day at a time.
"We're just going to take it one day at a time," the coach says about the rest of the season.
Throughout the years, most sportscasters or sportswriters just kind of roll their eyes when they hear it. Sometimes you get that coach or player who says it so much you can basically count on it at some point during each interview.
Sometimes I wonder if the fact that Teresa is a former Division I athlete, and I've been a sportswriter for over half of my life, that the term "one day at a time" really fits us.
When talking about Teresa's health, despite some very positive improvements in the last couple of months, we still live one day at a time. Basically, each day we really don't know what will happen.
A couple of months ago, Teresa hit a bad spell where her temperatures rose to an alarming 104 degrees and doctors told me to prepare for the worst. For the most part, it has appeared that the doctors have gotten a handle of it.
Then early Tuesday her temperature spiked to 102 again. It appears that her prednisone steroid was dropped too much. Doctors have been weening her down from 80 milligrams a day to currently about 18 (9 in the morning and 9 at night). At times it has been too much of a drop for her body to handle and she has gone into an adrenal crisis. Recently, it mistakenly went from 9 to 7 and it happened again.
That mistake could have been more serious but Teresa had the mindset and determination that she would not let it get worse, and it didn't. She's doing better now but that scare is always there.
Her kidney specialists now are worried that the years of steroids might have fried her adrenal glands, which could hurt her kidney function.
Now the infectious disease doctors are saying that she has at least three more months on the antibiotic before they can evaluate her status. A couple of weeks ago, we were thinking it could be late October or in November. So much for handing out candy at Halloween or having Thanksgiving dinner at home. The goal now is to be home for Christmas.
One day at a time.
I often get asked, "So, how are you doing?" in reference to how I am handling things. Often, I just shrug my shoulders and say "OK, I guess"
What am I supposed to say?
There are times when I feel the walls crashing down on me. I watch a television show and laugh and then feel guilty about it.
But all I can do is keep going. I have to.
I have to be strong, both physically and mentally for Teresa's sake. I have to drive every day the 45 miles to work in Cheyenne, then drive home at 1 a.m. When it's my day off, I drive to Denver. That last part isn't a have to; it's a want to.
I told Teresa the other day that I think I know what to tell people when they ask me how I am doing.
I'll just say,"I'm tired."
Simple as that.
But I can't be tired. When she comes home, I have to be here. I have to get the house ready. It needs a lot of work and remodeling just for her to come home and get around. I have to be here to help her physically. I can't if I'm not in good shape. I need to lose weight. My back is killing me. I have to take care of it. I have to get stronger.
I have to and I will. Actually, we will together.
One day at a time.
One day at a time.
"We're just going to take it one day at a time," the coach says about the rest of the season.
Throughout the years, most sportscasters or sportswriters just kind of roll their eyes when they hear it. Sometimes you get that coach or player who says it so much you can basically count on it at some point during each interview.
Sometimes I wonder if the fact that Teresa is a former Division I athlete, and I've been a sportswriter for over half of my life, that the term "one day at a time" really fits us.
When talking about Teresa's health, despite some very positive improvements in the last couple of months, we still live one day at a time. Basically, each day we really don't know what will happen.
A couple of months ago, Teresa hit a bad spell where her temperatures rose to an alarming 104 degrees and doctors told me to prepare for the worst. For the most part, it has appeared that the doctors have gotten a handle of it.
Then early Tuesday her temperature spiked to 102 again. It appears that her prednisone steroid was dropped too much. Doctors have been weening her down from 80 milligrams a day to currently about 18 (9 in the morning and 9 at night). At times it has been too much of a drop for her body to handle and she has gone into an adrenal crisis. Recently, it mistakenly went from 9 to 7 and it happened again.
That mistake could have been more serious but Teresa had the mindset and determination that she would not let it get worse, and it didn't. She's doing better now but that scare is always there.
Her kidney specialists now are worried that the years of steroids might have fried her adrenal glands, which could hurt her kidney function.
Now the infectious disease doctors are saying that she has at least three more months on the antibiotic before they can evaluate her status. A couple of weeks ago, we were thinking it could be late October or in November. So much for handing out candy at Halloween or having Thanksgiving dinner at home. The goal now is to be home for Christmas.
One day at a time.
I often get asked, "So, how are you doing?" in reference to how I am handling things. Often, I just shrug my shoulders and say "OK, I guess"
What am I supposed to say?
There are times when I feel the walls crashing down on me. I watch a television show and laugh and then feel guilty about it.
But all I can do is keep going. I have to.
I have to be strong, both physically and mentally for Teresa's sake. I have to drive every day the 45 miles to work in Cheyenne, then drive home at 1 a.m. When it's my day off, I drive to Denver. That last part isn't a have to; it's a want to.
I told Teresa the other day that I think I know what to tell people when they ask me how I am doing.
I'll just say,"I'm tired."
Simple as that.
But I can't be tired. When she comes home, I have to be here. I have to get the house ready. It needs a lot of work and remodeling just for her to come home and get around. I have to be here to help her physically. I can't if I'm not in good shape. I need to lose weight. My back is killing me. I have to take care of it. I have to get stronger.
I have to and I will. Actually, we will together.
One day at a time.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Put Tebow in. Yeah, that's it
The fascination with Tim Tebow in Denver is mind numbing.
So I'll just make something up.
Tebow has arguably shown in practice and in games that he is not starting quarterback material in the NFL. At least that's what the experts tell us.
To them, he is just a marketing joke. Check his jersey sales.
To his fans, he is the savior, no pun intended or disrespect to his strong religious beliefs.
If you read the letters to the editor, listen to the sports talk shows, see all of the No. 15 jerseys around town and hear the jeers in the stands at the former Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium, his not starting at quarterback is the only solution.
Kyle Orton is no good. Brady Quinn is no good. Tim Tebow is good.
The argument is that he is a winner, that the Broncos are going no where, so why not give him a chance? He couldn't do any worse, right?
The problem is, the Tebow fanatics refuse to believe what most NFL coaches and experts say about his passing skills, or lack of them.
Those experts constantly talk about the flaws in his delivery, that his style doesn't compute in the NFL game.
They're probably right. After all, they are the experts and if it's on the Internet, it has to be right.
They're probably right. After all, they are the experts and if it's on the Internet, it has to be right.
When the Broncos opened the season with a 23-20 loss to the hated Raiders in front of a Monday Night Football national audience, the thousands and thousands of Tebow-wearing-jersey-fans stated their case in ways that would make a sailor just back from a couple of months at sea blush. Monday night's game was not a Denver Chamber of Commerce moment.
Tebow followers must have been right. There's no way that the Broncos are a bad team because they can't stop the run on defense, that they have no running game and that they make way too many silly mental mistakes.
It's got to be that they lost because Tim Tebow wasn't playing.
For most fans, winning is what matters. Obviously, the Broncos haven't done a lot of that lately. I'm wondering, though, if that really matters to some.
Fans are flooding the phone lines, writing their poison pen letters, demanding that John Fox and John Elway make the change now.
Maybe they should.
Why not just trade Orton to, say, the Seahawks, get a couple of high draft picks for next year and put Wonder Boy in the lineup? That will solve everything.
Or it won't.
Maybe they should just realize that it is only the first game of the season.
Naw, Orton sucks. Tebow! Tebow! Tebow!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
I need my college football in person fix
I feel like a fish out of water. Flop, flop, flop, gasp, sigh ....
Two Wyoming home football games missed and no chance of seeing the Nebraska game in two weeks.
But hey, I will get to put the obituary page together at the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. I guess that evens things out a bit.
Garth and Wayne say not!!!!
Oh well, that's life I guess. A job is a job and I need the job.
But bare with me. It's like a heroin junkie going cold turkey. Actually, it's been somewhat like my wife being weened off of her prednisone steroids that she has taken for about 18 years because of her rheumatoid arthritis. She has gone down from 80mg a day to 18. There were some complications with adrenal crisis, but they have since remedied the problem and she is doing better.
I need an extra shot of college football to get me by until the time comes when I can call myself a sportswriter again. Evidently patience is not my virtue.
Regardless, the radio has been somewhat of a quick fix for me, at least for now. I'm no longer cold, the shaking has stopped and the color is returning to my skin.
The Cowboys are 2-0. Granted its two wins against FCS teams. But Saturday's romp over Texas State was what the doctor ordered for the team that just squeaked by Weber State the previous week. The Cowboys were supposed to beat these teams and they have.
But the easy part is over as Wyoming goes to Bowling Green next Saturday and hosts Nebraska in two weeks. Then, the Mountain West portion of the schedule begins and we'll soon see if what the Cowboys are made of this season.
Of course, that will be the focus this week from the state media as more than one time it will be mentioned that these two wins were just against FCS teams. You can bank on that. What the Cowboys do from this point is the obvious focus, as it should be.
Meanwhile, flop, flop, flop, gasp, sigh ...
Two Wyoming home football games missed and no chance of seeing the Nebraska game in two weeks.
But hey, I will get to put the obituary page together at the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. I guess that evens things out a bit.
Garth and Wayne say not!!!!
Oh well, that's life I guess. A job is a job and I need the job.
But bare with me. It's like a heroin junkie going cold turkey. Actually, it's been somewhat like my wife being weened off of her prednisone steroids that she has taken for about 18 years because of her rheumatoid arthritis. She has gone down from 80mg a day to 18. There were some complications with adrenal crisis, but they have since remedied the problem and she is doing better.
I need an extra shot of college football to get me by until the time comes when I can call myself a sportswriter again. Evidently patience is not my virtue.
Regardless, the radio has been somewhat of a quick fix for me, at least for now. I'm no longer cold, the shaking has stopped and the color is returning to my skin.
The Cowboys are 2-0. Granted its two wins against FCS teams. But Saturday's romp over Texas State was what the doctor ordered for the team that just squeaked by Weber State the previous week. The Cowboys were supposed to beat these teams and they have.
But the easy part is over as Wyoming goes to Bowling Green next Saturday and hosts Nebraska in two weeks. Then, the Mountain West portion of the schedule begins and we'll soon see if what the Cowboys are made of this season.
Of course, that will be the focus this week from the state media as more than one time it will be mentioned that these two wins were just against FCS teams. You can bank on that. What the Cowboys do from this point is the obvious focus, as it should be.
Meanwhile, flop, flop, flop, gasp, sigh ...
Thursday, September 8, 2011
I know that picture
Speaking of the Packers ...
Well, I guess I wasn't speaking of the Packers just yet.
The defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers (man that sounds good) will open the 2011 season tonight when they host the New Orleans Saints.
Ok, now ... speaking of the Packers, in today's WyoSports section (Cheyenne and Laramie), you'll notice a story on Cowgirls volleyball player Camille Coffman. The story talks about Coffman's athletic heritage as her father played in the NFL and her three brothers are or were talented football players. And their names are .... The story doesn't say.
So I will.
Coffman's father, Paul Coffman, was a three-time Pro Bowl tight end for the Packers (hence, the speaking of the Packers) from 1977-1985 and a member of the Packers Hall of Fame. Chase Coffman was the John Mackey Award winner a couple of years ago as the best tight end in the country at Missouri. He is currently on the practice squad for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Another brother, Carson Coffman, was the former starting quarterback for Kansas State (2009-2010). Yet another Coffman, Cameron, recently graduated high school and is now a junior college quarterback at Arizona Western. Paul and Carson are currently volunteer coaches for Raymore-Peculiar High School in Missouri.
As I was proofreading the WyoSports story Wednesday night at work (at the Wyoming Tribune Eagle), I suddenly drew a blank on Camille's father's name, which made me a little irritated as a longtime Packers' fan. I was also spacing on her oldest brother, who was one of the top college players just a couple of years ago.
Not good.
As is normally the case, when I cannot remember things, Google comes to the rescue. I type in Camille Coffman and I see her picture at the volleyball net in a Wyoming uniform. I'm thinking, "That sure looks familiar." It should. I click on the picture and realize that I took the photo in 2009 for my sports website Wyomingsports.org.
Click here see the photo.
Eventually, I Google Paul Coffman and refresh my memory as a Packers fanatic. All is well.
Oh yeah, speaking of the Packers, they open the season tonight against the Saints.
Well, I guess I wasn't speaking of the Packers just yet.
The defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers (man that sounds good) will open the 2011 season tonight when they host the New Orleans Saints.
Ok, now ... speaking of the Packers, in today's WyoSports section (Cheyenne and Laramie), you'll notice a story on Cowgirls volleyball player Camille Coffman. The story talks about Coffman's athletic heritage as her father played in the NFL and her three brothers are or were talented football players. And their names are .... The story doesn't say.
So I will.
Coffman's father, Paul Coffman, was a three-time Pro Bowl tight end for the Packers (hence, the speaking of the Packers) from 1977-1985 and a member of the Packers Hall of Fame. Chase Coffman was the John Mackey Award winner a couple of years ago as the best tight end in the country at Missouri. He is currently on the practice squad for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Another brother, Carson Coffman, was the former starting quarterback for Kansas State (2009-2010). Yet another Coffman, Cameron, recently graduated high school and is now a junior college quarterback at Arizona Western. Paul and Carson are currently volunteer coaches for Raymore-Peculiar High School in Missouri.
As I was proofreading the WyoSports story Wednesday night at work (at the Wyoming Tribune Eagle), I suddenly drew a blank on Camille's father's name, which made me a little irritated as a longtime Packers' fan. I was also spacing on her oldest brother, who was one of the top college players just a couple of years ago.
Not good.
As is normally the case, when I cannot remember things, Google comes to the rescue. I type in Camille Coffman and I see her picture at the volleyball net in a Wyoming uniform. I'm thinking, "That sure looks familiar." It should. I click on the picture and realize that I took the photo in 2009 for my sports website Wyomingsports.org.
Click here see the photo.
Eventually, I Google Paul Coffman and refresh my memory as a Packers fanatic. All is well.
Oh yeah, speaking of the Packers, they open the season tonight against the Saints.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Why the fundraiser site?
Maybe I have some 'splanin' to do. You might have noticed on Facebook and Twitter that I put a medical fundraising site up.
First of all, it was hard for me to do it and I feel weird about doing it. But it is what it is.
To put it bluntly, even after Teresa's Medicaid insurance, her bills are out of hand. I would guess that when she gets out of the hospital in Denver -- and she will get out -- between her medical bills, what it costs for me to go down and visit for a couple of days each week and our constant car repairs in doing so, we'll probably hit the six figure amount in debt. We're not there yet, but I see it in the horizon.
The problem with Wyoming Medicaid is it is Wyoming Medicaid and the hospital is in Denver. Her bed is covered and the medication, but nothing else. Every time a doctor -- she's probably had over a dozen docs see her this year -- comes into her room, it's around $150.
Counting just prior to her admittance in Denver last December, we have 19 medical bills of some sort directly connected to the past year or so.
Also, we'll need to do some major remodeling at the house for when she comes home to make it disability-ready.
I've made a short story long, so I'll conclude it by saying, yeah, times are tough.
As I said, I hate doing it, asking for help. My wife, on the other hand, has no problem in doing so. She even asks the doctors and nurses themselves that we are trying to raise some money to offset all of the bills and would they like to contribute to the fundraising.
Surprisingly, many of them say yes, even though we might owe them thousands of dollars.
I'm beginning to think that Teresa has bigger .... uh, you know what I mean, than me. She's not shy, to say the least. I originally had a problem with her asking people for help, but now I just let her go. I couldn't stop her if I really tried. Besides, I'm not so sure that if I was in her place, I might have given up by now. By her doing this, it just proves to me more how much she wants to get better.
Somebody did tell me to set up a website account, so I have. It's also a good way for people to see what is going on with Teresa. I put down a goal of $30,000 just because I needed a number. I told Teresa today that if all we raise is $3, that's OK. The $30,000 would just be gravy. Or is it groovy? One of the two.
Anyway, Teresa has seven weeks left on the powerful antibiotics she takes for the mycobacterium and then the docs will evaluate her from there. She plans on working her tail off and getting stronger so she can come home then, rather than go to another physical therapy facility.
That, would be the big payoff for all of us.
The link for the site is http://www.giveforward.com/teresacliftmedicalexpensesfund
First of all, it was hard for me to do it and I feel weird about doing it. But it is what it is.
To put it bluntly, even after Teresa's Medicaid insurance, her bills are out of hand. I would guess that when she gets out of the hospital in Denver -- and she will get out -- between her medical bills, what it costs for me to go down and visit for a couple of days each week and our constant car repairs in doing so, we'll probably hit the six figure amount in debt. We're not there yet, but I see it in the horizon.
The problem with Wyoming Medicaid is it is Wyoming Medicaid and the hospital is in Denver. Her bed is covered and the medication, but nothing else. Every time a doctor -- she's probably had over a dozen docs see her this year -- comes into her room, it's around $150.
Counting just prior to her admittance in Denver last December, we have 19 medical bills of some sort directly connected to the past year or so.
Also, we'll need to do some major remodeling at the house for when she comes home to make it disability-ready.
I've made a short story long, so I'll conclude it by saying, yeah, times are tough.
As I said, I hate doing it, asking for help. My wife, on the other hand, has no problem in doing so. She even asks the doctors and nurses themselves that we are trying to raise some money to offset all of the bills and would they like to contribute to the fundraising.
Surprisingly, many of them say yes, even though we might owe them thousands of dollars.
I'm beginning to think that Teresa has bigger .... uh, you know what I mean, than me. She's not shy, to say the least. I originally had a problem with her asking people for help, but now I just let her go. I couldn't stop her if I really tried. Besides, I'm not so sure that if I was in her place, I might have given up by now. By her doing this, it just proves to me more how much she wants to get better.
Somebody did tell me to set up a website account, so I have. It's also a good way for people to see what is going on with Teresa. I put down a goal of $30,000 just because I needed a number. I told Teresa today that if all we raise is $3, that's OK. The $30,000 would just be gravy. Or is it groovy? One of the two.
Anyway, Teresa has seven weeks left on the powerful antibiotics she takes for the mycobacterium and then the docs will evaluate her from there. She plans on working her tail off and getting stronger so she can come home then, rather than go to another physical therapy facility.
That, would be the big payoff for all of us.
The link for the site is http://www.giveforward.com/teresacliftmedicalexpensesfund
Friday, August 26, 2011
UW football news for breakfast
You know, I was just thinking, "what's going on with UW football these days?" Not so much the Xs and Os as the Cowboys get ready for their season opener Sept. 3 at home against Weber State, but other football news.
So I opened the email today and bam! Not one, not two, but three press releases in a matter of minutes on UW football. Unfortunately, none of them had to do with football practice being open to the media.
Instead, the first email that I opened was to announce that Wyoming games will be heard in the Denver radio market on KDSP 102.3 “The Ticket." The station will carry all 12 UW football games and a minimum of 12 men’s basketball games during the 2011-12 season.
That's good for the Denver market. I consider myself an unfortunate part-time Denver resident with my wife in the hospital there since last December. And yes, I listen to "The Ticket" at times when I am there.
And this might be one of the best promotional quotes I've seen in a long time.
"We are very excited to again be the home for Wyoming football in the Denver metro market,” said Sean Brennan, Sports Marketing Director for Front Range Sports Networks. “Wyoming football is a regional institution and an extremely important part of the sports landscape in Colorado. We look forward to helping build the Wyoming football brand and helping promote the outstanding educational institution that is the University of Wyoming. Go Pokes!”
Love the Go Pokes at the end, the fact that he mentioned Wyoming football three times in the quote and that they will be promoting the outstanding educational institution that is the University of Wyoming. Awesome.
Two minutes before that release was sent out, I also received a press release about the Wyoming Football Kickoff Luncheon, which will be Monday at 11:45 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn Grand Ballroom in Laramie. Of course, it will be presented by Wyoming State Bank.
Head coach Dave Christensen and the “Voice of the Cowboys,” Dave Walsh, will preview the upcoming season. Wyoming players will be in attendance as well as the coaching staff.
Last but not least, two minutes before that release, came the reminder that the first episode of this year’s Dave Christensen Radio Show will premiere on Monday on Cowboy Sports Network affiliate stations, beginning at 6 p.m. Of course, American National Bank will serve as the title sponsor of the show and it will be hosted by, who else, Dave Walsh, the “Voice of the Cowboys.”
The show will also feature an assistant coach each week and two players. Fans are also encouraged to attend the show live at Altitude Chophouse and Brewery located at 320 South Second Street in historic downtown Laramie.
So there you go. All this before 9 a.m. My day is already complete.
Actually, now my day is complete with the release of the new Cowboys football fight song on http://www.coachchristensen.com/.
I'm a 52-year-old classic rocker and I couldn't name three rappers the kids listen to these days but I think this is OK. I know the old fuddy duddys will not like it, but to them I borrow a line from the Bill Murray movie, Stripes: "Lighten up Francis."
Here's the new Cowboy football rap: newcowboyfbrapsong
So I opened the email today and bam! Not one, not two, but three press releases in a matter of minutes on UW football. Unfortunately, none of them had to do with football practice being open to the media.
Instead, the first email that I opened was to announce that Wyoming games will be heard in the Denver radio market on KDSP 102.3 “The Ticket." The station will carry all 12 UW football games and a minimum of 12 men’s basketball games during the 2011-12 season.
That's good for the Denver market. I consider myself an unfortunate part-time Denver resident with my wife in the hospital there since last December. And yes, I listen to "The Ticket" at times when I am there.
And this might be one of the best promotional quotes I've seen in a long time.
"We are very excited to again be the home for Wyoming football in the Denver metro market,” said Sean Brennan, Sports Marketing Director for Front Range Sports Networks. “Wyoming football is a regional institution and an extremely important part of the sports landscape in Colorado. We look forward to helping build the Wyoming football brand and helping promote the outstanding educational institution that is the University of Wyoming. Go Pokes!”
Love the Go Pokes at the end, the fact that he mentioned Wyoming football three times in the quote and that they will be promoting the outstanding educational institution that is the University of Wyoming. Awesome.
Two minutes before that release was sent out, I also received a press release about the Wyoming Football Kickoff Luncheon, which will be Monday at 11:45 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn Grand Ballroom in Laramie. Of course, it will be presented by Wyoming State Bank.
Head coach Dave Christensen and the “Voice of the Cowboys,” Dave Walsh, will preview the upcoming season. Wyoming players will be in attendance as well as the coaching staff.
Last but not least, two minutes before that release, came the reminder that the first episode of this year’s Dave Christensen Radio Show will premiere on Monday on Cowboy Sports Network affiliate stations, beginning at 6 p.m. Of course, American National Bank will serve as the title sponsor of the show and it will be hosted by, who else, Dave Walsh, the “Voice of the Cowboys.”
The show will also feature an assistant coach each week and two players. Fans are also encouraged to attend the show live at Altitude Chophouse and Brewery located at 320 South Second Street in historic downtown Laramie.
So there you go. All this before 9 a.m. My day is already complete.
Actually, now my day is complete with the release of the new Cowboys football fight song on http://www.coachchristensen.com/.
I'm a 52-year-old classic rocker and I couldn't name three rappers the kids listen to these days but I think this is OK. I know the old fuddy duddys will not like it, but to them I borrow a line from the Bill Murray movie, Stripes: "Lighten up Francis."
Here's the new Cowboy football rap: newcowboyfbrapsong
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Counting the days
Wednesday, Aug. 24
I often say to people, "Can you imagine lying in bed day after day for several months, not hardly able to move and not being able to see very well?"
That's been Teresa's life for the last 8-10 months at the Colorado Acute Long Term Hospital in Denver.
Add to that not having friends or family for much of the time to at least visit with. I'm in Denver on my days off from work, but that is the best that I can do at this time.
The other night Teresa called me at work. She was crying. She's done a great job with her physical therapy and for the most the part, the news has been positive for the last couple of weeks.
I was at first a little puzzled. I ask, "Why are you crying?"
"I'm just so lonely. I don't have anybody to talk to," she said.
All I can do is talk to her and remind her that it will be OK. I try to come up with things for her to do to keep her mind off of things; watch TV, watch a movie. Easy for me to say, especially when your eyes are so bad you can hardly see the television.
So we just talk some more.
As I said before, things are beginning to look up for her physically. Today, she got on the tilt table to build strength in her legs. She handled it pretty well. The doctors have hinted that if things go well, they could cut her loose in say, 2-4 months.
A little while ago, Teresa started counting on her fingers ... September, October, November, December ... and she said, "I'm going to be home for Christmas. No, I'm going to be home for Thanksgiving. Wait, I'm going to be home to hand out candy (for Halloween)."
I answered, "Darn right you are."
Under no circumstance was I going to say anything else.
I know my wife, but I also know how things have gone for us this last year. I know she has the determination to get better and I know she wants to just be home more than anything in the world.
In the back of my mind, though, I want to temper that enthusiasm ... not for Teresa, but for me. I'm afraid. I'm afraid that if she has another setback, that determination will dwindle.
A while back when Teresa was really sick with a 104 degree temperature, the doctor told me to "hope for the best, but prepare for the worst."
Of course, the only thing I took from that was "prepare for the worst." Naturally, I didn't handle it well.
Later on, though, I began to think about what the doctor had said. From a medical standpoint, it made sense. Teresa had two more bad temperature days after that and I heard much of the same thing from the doctors.
She battled and battled through it and we think we have a handle on the high temperatures. But we never know for sure.
I told Teresa after her last episode that we're no longer going to dwell on what could happen, but live and enjoy each day to the fullest. But how do you enjoy each day when you're lying alone in a hospital bed 150 miles from your family? I still don't have an answer to that.
All I can do is come down here on my days off and try to make her laugh. When she calls me at work crying, there will be nothing more important than just talking to her.
Teresa told the kidney doctor today that she was going to walk again by the time she goes home.
If that happens by Halloween, we're going to need a lot of candy. And Christmas is going to be the best ever.
I often say to people, "Can you imagine lying in bed day after day for several months, not hardly able to move and not being able to see very well?"
That's been Teresa's life for the last 8-10 months at the Colorado Acute Long Term Hospital in Denver.
Add to that not having friends or family for much of the time to at least visit with. I'm in Denver on my days off from work, but that is the best that I can do at this time.
The other night Teresa called me at work. She was crying. She's done a great job with her physical therapy and for the most the part, the news has been positive for the last couple of weeks.
I was at first a little puzzled. I ask, "Why are you crying?"
"I'm just so lonely. I don't have anybody to talk to," she said.
All I can do is talk to her and remind her that it will be OK. I try to come up with things for her to do to keep her mind off of things; watch TV, watch a movie. Easy for me to say, especially when your eyes are so bad you can hardly see the television.
So we just talk some more.
As I said before, things are beginning to look up for her physically. Today, she got on the tilt table to build strength in her legs. She handled it pretty well. The doctors have hinted that if things go well, they could cut her loose in say, 2-4 months.
A little while ago, Teresa started counting on her fingers ... September, October, November, December ... and she said, "I'm going to be home for Christmas. No, I'm going to be home for Thanksgiving. Wait, I'm going to be home to hand out candy (for Halloween)."
I answered, "Darn right you are."
Under no circumstance was I going to say anything else.
I know my wife, but I also know how things have gone for us this last year. I know she has the determination to get better and I know she wants to just be home more than anything in the world.
In the back of my mind, though, I want to temper that enthusiasm ... not for Teresa, but for me. I'm afraid. I'm afraid that if she has another setback, that determination will dwindle.
A while back when Teresa was really sick with a 104 degree temperature, the doctor told me to "hope for the best, but prepare for the worst."
Of course, the only thing I took from that was "prepare for the worst." Naturally, I didn't handle it well.
Later on, though, I began to think about what the doctor had said. From a medical standpoint, it made sense. Teresa had two more bad temperature days after that and I heard much of the same thing from the doctors.
She battled and battled through it and we think we have a handle on the high temperatures. But we never know for sure.
I told Teresa after her last episode that we're no longer going to dwell on what could happen, but live and enjoy each day to the fullest. But how do you enjoy each day when you're lying alone in a hospital bed 150 miles from your family? I still don't have an answer to that.
All I can do is come down here on my days off and try to make her laugh. When she calls me at work crying, there will be nothing more important than just talking to her.
Teresa told the kidney doctor today that she was going to walk again by the time she goes home.
If that happens by Halloween, we're going to need a lot of candy. And Christmas is going to be the best ever.
Friday, August 19, 2011
When a scrimmage is not a scrimmage
When a coach announces the cancellation of a scrimmage, one thought normally comes to mind: "We're too banged up to scrimmage."
That's not the case for the Wyoming Cowboys and head coach Dave Christensen. The Cowboys do have some injuries -- senior H-back Bryson Studnicka, senior linebacker Oliver Schober and sophomore running back Nehemie Kankolongo are all lost for the season due to injury and sophomore tight end Spencer Bruce will be out for at least two months. But that's football.
No, Christensen called off Saturday's fourth and final scheduled scrimmage because things are going well.
Are the Cowboys practicing too well?
Are they saying, "We don't need no stinking scrimmage."
No, I just wanted to write something that was similar to, "We don't need no stinking badges."
Back to the Cowboys. Christensen just feels that he has been able to accomplish some good things this preseason and now it's just a matter of fine tuning.
Besides, although he hasn't officially named freshman Brett Smith the starting quarterback, you'd have to be living under a rock to not know that barring injury between now and the season opener on Sept. 3, he'll take the opening snap against Weber State.
What Christensen actually said in a release was that he is pleased with where the team is at and where they’re at from a health standpoint.
"We put a lot of physical work into our early practices. That physical work included more live tackling than we had incorporated into either fall camp our first two years," he said. "Our kids have given great effort every practice, and because of that we’ve been able to accomplish a lot in each of our first 17 practices.
With players getting 125-150 live snaps each to this point, Christensen said they feel that they have a good handle on which players are going to be able to help them this year.
Basically, what it amounts to is the Cowboys are not too banged up and Christensen wants to keep it that way and avoiding one last scrimmage should help. What they will focus on, rather than scrimmaging, is to fine tune their gameday procedures.
"We want to rehearse what happens in an actual game -- substituting, signaling in plays -- we will try to simulate a gameday setting," he said. “I feel like we are where we need to be as we enter next week when we will start to focus on preparation for our first game versus Weber State.”
Ok, so instead of calling it a scrimmage, let's just call it is a rehearsal.
***
In other UW football notes, the Cowboys will name game captains each week this season rather than naming season-long captains. The first game’s captains will be released the week leading up to the Weber State game.
Christensen will also announce an updated depth chart on Aug. 29 at his first weekly press conference of the season.
In that press conference, Christensen will also announce the opening-day uniforms the Cowboys will wear versus Weber State. The opening-day uniforms will be determined by the vote of Wyoming fans, who have been voting throughout the month of August at http://www.wyomingathletics.com/. Voting for the opening-day uniforms will close on Aug. 25.
***
Because Saturday's scrimmage will just be a practice, this practice, which begins at 10 a.m., will be open to the public and the media. But don't get used to it. UW also released its media practice and interview polices for the season. It's the same as it has been ... media can watch the first 30 minutes and then go take a siesta until practice is over.
Hopefully, I remember to go.
***
I'll be interested in seeing how the Laramie High School football team looks tonight during its tune up for next week's season opener at home against Rock Springs. The Plainsmen will scrimmage at 7 p.m. Friday at Deti Stadium.
Unfortunately, I won't get to see as I have to work in Cheyenne. But if I could, I would. The Plainsmen are looking to battle back from last season's 1-8 record under head coach Bob Knapton. Starting quarterback Billy Hysong and starting running back Tanner Ibarra return for LHS.
Last fall was the first time in over 30 years that I didn't cover high school football, whether it was in Belle Fource, S.D., while in college, in Hot Springs, S.D., just after college or as a full time sportswriter at newspapers in Worland, Mount Vernon, Wash., or Laramie (followed by my website Wyomingsports.org in 2008-2009).
To put it bluntly, not covering high school football last year sucked. It still does.
That's not the case for the Wyoming Cowboys and head coach Dave Christensen. The Cowboys do have some injuries -- senior H-back Bryson Studnicka, senior linebacker Oliver Schober and sophomore running back Nehemie Kankolongo are all lost for the season due to injury and sophomore tight end Spencer Bruce will be out for at least two months. But that's football.
No, Christensen called off Saturday's fourth and final scheduled scrimmage because things are going well.
Are the Cowboys practicing too well?
Are they saying, "We don't need no stinking scrimmage."
No, I just wanted to write something that was similar to, "We don't need no stinking badges."
Back to the Cowboys. Christensen just feels that he has been able to accomplish some good things this preseason and now it's just a matter of fine tuning.
Besides, although he hasn't officially named freshman Brett Smith the starting quarterback, you'd have to be living under a rock to not know that barring injury between now and the season opener on Sept. 3, he'll take the opening snap against Weber State.
What Christensen actually said in a release was that he is pleased with where the team is at and where they’re at from a health standpoint.
"We put a lot of physical work into our early practices. That physical work included more live tackling than we had incorporated into either fall camp our first two years," he said. "Our kids have given great effort every practice, and because of that we’ve been able to accomplish a lot in each of our first 17 practices.
With players getting 125-150 live snaps each to this point, Christensen said they feel that they have a good handle on which players are going to be able to help them this year.
Basically, what it amounts to is the Cowboys are not too banged up and Christensen wants to keep it that way and avoiding one last scrimmage should help. What they will focus on, rather than scrimmaging, is to fine tune their gameday procedures.
"We want to rehearse what happens in an actual game -- substituting, signaling in plays -- we will try to simulate a gameday setting," he said. “I feel like we are where we need to be as we enter next week when we will start to focus on preparation for our first game versus Weber State.”
Ok, so instead of calling it a scrimmage, let's just call it is a rehearsal.
***
In other UW football notes, the Cowboys will name game captains each week this season rather than naming season-long captains. The first game’s captains will be released the week leading up to the Weber State game.
Christensen will also announce an updated depth chart on Aug. 29 at his first weekly press conference of the season.
In that press conference, Christensen will also announce the opening-day uniforms the Cowboys will wear versus Weber State. The opening-day uniforms will be determined by the vote of Wyoming fans, who have been voting throughout the month of August at http://www.wyomingathletics.com/. Voting for the opening-day uniforms will close on Aug. 25.
***
Because Saturday's scrimmage will just be a practice, this practice, which begins at 10 a.m., will be open to the public and the media. But don't get used to it. UW also released its media practice and interview polices for the season. It's the same as it has been ... media can watch the first 30 minutes and then go take a siesta until practice is over.
Hopefully, I remember to go.
***
I'll be interested in seeing how the Laramie High School football team looks tonight during its tune up for next week's season opener at home against Rock Springs. The Plainsmen will scrimmage at 7 p.m. Friday at Deti Stadium.
Unfortunately, I won't get to see as I have to work in Cheyenne. But if I could, I would. The Plainsmen are looking to battle back from last season's 1-8 record under head coach Bob Knapton. Starting quarterback Billy Hysong and starting running back Tanner Ibarra return for LHS.
Last fall was the first time in over 30 years that I didn't cover high school football, whether it was in Belle Fource, S.D., while in college, in Hot Springs, S.D., just after college or as a full time sportswriter at newspapers in Worland, Mount Vernon, Wash., or Laramie (followed by my website Wyomingsports.org in 2008-2009).
To put it bluntly, not covering high school football last year sucked. It still does.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Monday's less than mind-boggling musings
Round three of the Wyoming preseason will be bright and early Tuesday morning (approximately 9:20 a.m.) as the Cowboys conduct the third of four scrimmages before preparing for the season opener Sept. 3 against Weber State. The final scrimmage will be Saturday morning.
While the first two scrimmages were around 130-140 plays each, Tuesday’s scrimmage will be in the neighborhood of 70 plays.
“There will still be competition at all positions throughout this week,” said head coach Dave Christensen in a release “But we’re getting closer to determining which players we think can help us this season. Each of the four scrimmages help us narrow down the depth chart, but we won’t limit the competition until we get through all four scrimmages and get four good evaluations of all our players in game-like situations.”
For the most part, the first two scrimmages have been pretty solid for the Cowboys. Although it's still too early to tell one way or the other what kind of season is in store, just like the NFL preseason, I'd rather see a team play well than play poorly.
There have been plenty of scrimmages throughout the years when sub-par efforts offensively and defensively have caused concern, even on what proved to be pretty good UW teams. So far, so good for Christensen, who enters his third season.
There's also no doubt that true freshman Brett Smith has established himself as the starter at quarterback. It's now his job to lose, as they say. In two scrimmages, Smith is 39 of 51 for 483 yards, 4 touchdowns and 1 interception against mostly the second-team defense.
What is promising offensively, is what appears to be depth and improvement at both the running back and wide receiver positions. Injuries, of course, can change that in a flash. The improvement of the offensive line too will decide the direction of the offense this season as well.
The Cowboys defense has been solid in the early going as expected. That should continue.
For a complete look at Tuesday's scrimmage, see UW press release.
***
It certainly is encouraging to see that Wyoming senior guard Francisco Cruz is playing well this summer for his homeland Mexico team during the World University Games in Shenzhen, China.
Cruz is averaging 11.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game in three games as Mexico stands 2-1 to date. In his first season at UW, Cruz played in all 31 games and averaged 10.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists a game. He is the leading returning scorer for the Pokes this season.
Mexico opened preliminary play with a 108-67 loss to the U.S. on Saturday, in which Cruz contributed 11 points, four rebounds and two assists in a 5-of-13 effort from the field. The team rebounded with a 107-96 victory over South Korea on Sunday. Cruz led the squad with six assists in the game to go with seven points and four rebounds. In its latest action, Mexico topped Israel on Monday, 77-72, thanks in part to 15 points, eight rebounds and four steals from Cruz. He has been Mexico’s second leading scorer in two of its three games.
Mexico continues Group D play against Hungary on Wednesday, before wrapping up the preliminary round versus Finland on Thursday. The next round on Aug. 20-21 features a game based on each team’s standing after group play, with the final placing round on Aug. 22.
***
Just noticed a Kenny Sailors website, called Kenny Sailors Jump Shot (click on link) on the UW athletics website. To be honest, I'm not sure who created it or how long it has been in existence, but its brand new to me. The effort to get Sailors, 90 years young, into the College Basketball Hall of Fame continues. His induction is long overdue.
The website is a look at Sailors illustrious career. There are six links to the site that include his inventing the jump shot, his play with the Cowboys, his stint as a U.S. Marine, his professional career, ranching in Wyoming, his stay in Alaska, his return to Laramie and miscellaneous stories. The link to his days at Wyoming is especially interesting as it includes 60 posts of stories of the Cowboys NCAA title run during the 1942-43 season.
If you have a couple of hours, go to the site. It's a great read.
***
The Mountain West launced a podcast last week and now can be found on its website. You can take a listen at MWC podcast.
While the first two scrimmages were around 130-140 plays each, Tuesday’s scrimmage will be in the neighborhood of 70 plays.
“There will still be competition at all positions throughout this week,” said head coach Dave Christensen in a release “But we’re getting closer to determining which players we think can help us this season. Each of the four scrimmages help us narrow down the depth chart, but we won’t limit the competition until we get through all four scrimmages and get four good evaluations of all our players in game-like situations.”
For the most part, the first two scrimmages have been pretty solid for the Cowboys. Although it's still too early to tell one way or the other what kind of season is in store, just like the NFL preseason, I'd rather see a team play well than play poorly.
There have been plenty of scrimmages throughout the years when sub-par efforts offensively and defensively have caused concern, even on what proved to be pretty good UW teams. So far, so good for Christensen, who enters his third season.
There's also no doubt that true freshman Brett Smith has established himself as the starter at quarterback. It's now his job to lose, as they say. In two scrimmages, Smith is 39 of 51 for 483 yards, 4 touchdowns and 1 interception against mostly the second-team defense.
What is promising offensively, is what appears to be depth and improvement at both the running back and wide receiver positions. Injuries, of course, can change that in a flash. The improvement of the offensive line too will decide the direction of the offense this season as well.
The Cowboys defense has been solid in the early going as expected. That should continue.
For a complete look at Tuesday's scrimmage, see UW press release.
***
It certainly is encouraging to see that Wyoming senior guard Francisco Cruz is playing well this summer for his homeland Mexico team during the World University Games in Shenzhen, China.
Cruz is averaging 11.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game in three games as Mexico stands 2-1 to date. In his first season at UW, Cruz played in all 31 games and averaged 10.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists a game. He is the leading returning scorer for the Pokes this season.
Mexico opened preliminary play with a 108-67 loss to the U.S. on Saturday, in which Cruz contributed 11 points, four rebounds and two assists in a 5-of-13 effort from the field. The team rebounded with a 107-96 victory over South Korea on Sunday. Cruz led the squad with six assists in the game to go with seven points and four rebounds. In its latest action, Mexico topped Israel on Monday, 77-72, thanks in part to 15 points, eight rebounds and four steals from Cruz. He has been Mexico’s second leading scorer in two of its three games.
Mexico continues Group D play against Hungary on Wednesday, before wrapping up the preliminary round versus Finland on Thursday. The next round on Aug. 20-21 features a game based on each team’s standing after group play, with the final placing round on Aug. 22.
***
Just noticed a Kenny Sailors website, called Kenny Sailors Jump Shot (click on link) on the UW athletics website. To be honest, I'm not sure who created it or how long it has been in existence, but its brand new to me. The effort to get Sailors, 90 years young, into the College Basketball Hall of Fame continues. His induction is long overdue.
The website is a look at Sailors illustrious career. There are six links to the site that include his inventing the jump shot, his play with the Cowboys, his stint as a U.S. Marine, his professional career, ranching in Wyoming, his stay in Alaska, his return to Laramie and miscellaneous stories. The link to his days at Wyoming is especially interesting as it includes 60 posts of stories of the Cowboys NCAA title run during the 1942-43 season.
If you have a couple of hours, go to the site. It's a great read.
***
The Mountain West launced a podcast last week and now can be found on its website. You can take a listen at MWC podcast.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Monday mumblings
It's official. I'm ready for football.
Or is it this: It's official, I'm done with baseball.
It's one of the two and it's both. Both of my teams -- the Twins and Rockies -- have been unofficially eliminated from their respective playoff races, so my attention is shifting to football, particularly the Wyoming Cowboys and Green Bay Packers.
At this time of the year I'm usually juggling my team interests, so I guess this makes it a little less complicated. Of course, that's not to say that if the Twins or Rockies or both went on this miraculous run and got back in the race, I'll jump back on the bandwagon. Realistically, though, it won't likely happen.
That's not to say that I won't continue to be a fan of either team despite the tough times. That will never change. I've gone through many seasons of down times with the Twins from the time I was a youngster to now. Just not lately.
Part of being a true fan is to stick with your team through thick and thin. I'll still do that. But it won;t quite be the same, so I'll concentrate my efforts on football. Not only has the NFL and college kicked things in gear, but the high school season will soon be under way and that will suck me in as well.
***
If I could find something positive about my car is breaking down again, it would be this: I have to take it into the shop Tuesday at 8 a.m. Normally, I'm still in dreamland at that time, but it needs to be done, so the sooner the better. Because I'll be up, there will be no excuses to not head over to War Memorial Stadium for the first Cowboys' scrimmage at 8:45 a.m.
It will be a good chance to check out the quarterback battle, especially with the fact that I have not been able to see them perform as of yet (I missed the spring game so I didn't get to see Brett Smith then either).
Who knows, maybe I'll even get my sportswriter blood flowing ... at least for a couple of hours.
***
Just a little note on my wife, Teresa. Her physical therapy is coming along and today she was able to sit in a wheelchair for two hours, following up a one-hour sit the other day. Nothing is guaranteed in the future, but she continues to work hard. We're optimistic that this will lead to her coming home one of these days.
***
One more thing. Does anybody have a Droid Pro cell phone from Verizon? I'm trying to save a picture from a text and I can't figure it out. It's of Teresa sitting in her chair today and I want to post it on Facebook. If you have any ideas, drop me a line or give me a call.
Thanks,
Your's truly, technology illiterate Rich
Or is it this: It's official, I'm done with baseball.
It's one of the two and it's both. Both of my teams -- the Twins and Rockies -- have been unofficially eliminated from their respective playoff races, so my attention is shifting to football, particularly the Wyoming Cowboys and Green Bay Packers.
At this time of the year I'm usually juggling my team interests, so I guess this makes it a little less complicated. Of course, that's not to say that if the Twins or Rockies or both went on this miraculous run and got back in the race, I'll jump back on the bandwagon. Realistically, though, it won't likely happen.
That's not to say that I won't continue to be a fan of either team despite the tough times. That will never change. I've gone through many seasons of down times with the Twins from the time I was a youngster to now. Just not lately.
Part of being a true fan is to stick with your team through thick and thin. I'll still do that. But it won;t quite be the same, so I'll concentrate my efforts on football. Not only has the NFL and college kicked things in gear, but the high school season will soon be under way and that will suck me in as well.
***
If I could find something positive about my car is breaking down again, it would be this: I have to take it into the shop Tuesday at 8 a.m. Normally, I'm still in dreamland at that time, but it needs to be done, so the sooner the better. Because I'll be up, there will be no excuses to not head over to War Memorial Stadium for the first Cowboys' scrimmage at 8:45 a.m.
It will be a good chance to check out the quarterback battle, especially with the fact that I have not been able to see them perform as of yet (I missed the spring game so I didn't get to see Brett Smith then either).
Who knows, maybe I'll even get my sportswriter blood flowing ... at least for a couple of hours.
***
Just a little note on my wife, Teresa. Her physical therapy is coming along and today she was able to sit in a wheelchair for two hours, following up a one-hour sit the other day. Nothing is guaranteed in the future, but she continues to work hard. We're optimistic that this will lead to her coming home one of these days.
***
One more thing. Does anybody have a Droid Pro cell phone from Verizon? I'm trying to save a picture from a text and I can't figure it out. It's of Teresa sitting in her chair today and I want to post it on Facebook. If you have any ideas, drop me a line or give me a call.
Thanks,
Your's truly, technology illiterate Rich
Friday, August 5, 2011
For the latest on UW football practice ...
Wyoming media: "Knock knock."
UW fooball coach Dave Christensen: "Who's there?
Wyoming media: "The media."
UW football coach Dave Christensen: "The media who?"
Wyoming media: "The media who want to watch a whole practice and talk to your freshmen quarterbacks."
Somehow, I thought there was going to be a better punch line.
Or how about this: "I think I'll go drive by the Wyoming football practice today."
I know what you're thinking, don't quit your day job just yet.
For many, Christensen's lockout of the media for a majority of the Cowboys' practices is no joke. There's only so much you can report on during stretching exercises and warming up.
In this modern sports reporting world, Twitter reports of every good play and every injury in practice are going to have to wait at UW football practice. Therein lies the problem for the modern sports reporter; if there's not 30 Twitter posts a day, the reporter is not doing his/her job. Damn you Twitter, anyway.
The media can come back after the practice to talk to Christensen, his coaches and most of his players (other than the freshmen quarterbacks).
That was the case about halfway through last season, during spring ball and late Thursday afternoon for the Cowboys first official practice of this season. Just what did the media learn from the first practice that they couldn't see?
"I think our athleticism really showed up today," said Christensen. "We obviously have a long way to go, but I was pleased with the tempo we practiced at today. I got a chance to see a lot of the young guys for the first time, and there is a lot of promise there.
"Our veterans have had a tremendous off season, and I think their leadership showed in their practice habits today. We are a relative young team, I think we have 60 or so kids who are sophomores or younger, so we have a number of young players -- not just freshmen -- who we need to have good camps.
"My first impressions for the first day, were positive, but it's certainly easier to see where players are at when you start putting on pads. We will be able to tell a lot more after Monday."
And what about the two freshmen QB's -- Adam Pittser and Brett Smith? We'll get to find out at the first scrimmage on Tuesday, which is completely open to the public and the media. Well, mostly.
For many in the media and of those in the new media such as bloggers and fan message boards writers (pretend media), not having full access to watching a full practice is difficult. Members of the media don't like restrictions on how to do their job. Nobody really does. That is understandable. There's also some arrogance on our part as well.
Let's face it, we in the media like to pat ourselves on the back now and then. I think it might have something to do with the lack of monetary compensation. Or maybe we're just arrogant.
Regardless, as the saying goes, it is what it is. Christensen has his reasons for the closed practices and such and he is entitled to them. It was apparent when he was hired to take over for the jovial Joe Glenn, that he was not Joe Glenn. He'll do it his way and there is nothing wrong with that, despite the grumbling from the media and some fans.
So, the Wyoming media and fans will just have to be patient. We'll watch the first 20-30 minutes of practice, go take a nap or whatever, and (the media) will come back to talk to whomever we can talk to. We'll watch the scrimmages, report on what happened and move on to the actual game competition.
If the Cowboys start showing more wins than losses, can eventually contend for the title and go to bowl games, the discomfort and complaining of not being able to watch every play in practice will be eased just a bit.
Or not.
To borrow a line from Joe Walsh's song "Life's Been Good," "I can't complain but sometimes I still do ..." I think we can all relate.
And besides, I've got more jokes. Did you hear about the duck who went into the bar? ...
UW fooball coach Dave Christensen: "Who's there?
Wyoming media: "The media."
UW football coach Dave Christensen: "The media who?"
Wyoming media: "The media who want to watch a whole practice and talk to your freshmen quarterbacks."
Somehow, I thought there was going to be a better punch line.
Or how about this: "I think I'll go drive by the Wyoming football practice today."
I know what you're thinking, don't quit your day job just yet.
For many, Christensen's lockout of the media for a majority of the Cowboys' practices is no joke. There's only so much you can report on during stretching exercises and warming up.
In this modern sports reporting world, Twitter reports of every good play and every injury in practice are going to have to wait at UW football practice. Therein lies the problem for the modern sports reporter; if there's not 30 Twitter posts a day, the reporter is not doing his/her job. Damn you Twitter, anyway.
The media can come back after the practice to talk to Christensen, his coaches and most of his players (other than the freshmen quarterbacks).
That was the case about halfway through last season, during spring ball and late Thursday afternoon for the Cowboys first official practice of this season. Just what did the media learn from the first practice that they couldn't see?
"I think our athleticism really showed up today," said Christensen. "We obviously have a long way to go, but I was pleased with the tempo we practiced at today. I got a chance to see a lot of the young guys for the first time, and there is a lot of promise there.
"Our veterans have had a tremendous off season, and I think their leadership showed in their practice habits today. We are a relative young team, I think we have 60 or so kids who are sophomores or younger, so we have a number of young players -- not just freshmen -- who we need to have good camps.
"My first impressions for the first day, were positive, but it's certainly easier to see where players are at when you start putting on pads. We will be able to tell a lot more after Monday."
And what about the two freshmen QB's -- Adam Pittser and Brett Smith? We'll get to find out at the first scrimmage on Tuesday, which is completely open to the public and the media. Well, mostly.
For many in the media and of those in the new media such as bloggers and fan message boards writers (pretend media), not having full access to watching a full practice is difficult. Members of the media don't like restrictions on how to do their job. Nobody really does. That is understandable. There's also some arrogance on our part as well.
Let's face it, we in the media like to pat ourselves on the back now and then. I think it might have something to do with the lack of monetary compensation. Or maybe we're just arrogant.
Regardless, as the saying goes, it is what it is. Christensen has his reasons for the closed practices and such and he is entitled to them. It was apparent when he was hired to take over for the jovial Joe Glenn, that he was not Joe Glenn. He'll do it his way and there is nothing wrong with that, despite the grumbling from the media and some fans.
So, the Wyoming media and fans will just have to be patient. We'll watch the first 20-30 minutes of practice, go take a nap or whatever, and (the media) will come back to talk to whomever we can talk to. We'll watch the scrimmages, report on what happened and move on to the actual game competition.
If the Cowboys start showing more wins than losses, can eventually contend for the title and go to bowl games, the discomfort and complaining of not being able to watch every play in practice will be eased just a bit.
Or not.
To borrow a line from Joe Walsh's song "Life's Been Good," "I can't complain but sometimes I still do ..." I think we can all relate.
And besides, I've got more jokes. Did you hear about the duck who went into the bar? ...
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Sports talk takes a back seat
Just as I was getting ready to rant about the Denver sports radio talk on the Kyle Orton-Tim Tebow controversy on Wednesday, I got a little sidetracked.
As is the case every night that I am visiting my wife, Teresa, in the Colorado Acute Long Term Hospital in Denver, I make a food run (after she has eaten her hospital food). I think you know why. Besides, I have to eat.
Driving to Burger King up Sheridan Ave. to try out the BK Minis, a little dog is hit by a car at a very busy rush-hour intersection.
Just a minute before the accident, while stopped at the stoplight, I saw the dog, which is some sort of Terrier/Poodle mix, cross the street on the crosswalk. My first thought was that the dog itself pushed the button and waited for the walk sign to go on. The dog walked across the street with ease.
Getting out of my car in the Burger King parking lot, I hear a dog yelp and a person scream. I knew right then what had happened. The dog backtracked and tried to cross the busy intersection again. This time it wasn't so lucky.
I went to the intersection looking for the dog, just as two other men had, along with the distraught man and wife who accidentally hit the dog. I was expecting the worst.
The little dog was still alive but scared and limping badly, hiding in a bush by the BK parking lot. As we got closer, it moved to hide under a car. We couldn't get it to come out and it ran through the parking lot and up a sidewalk to some apartments.
It now appeared to be running normal, which was a relief. Yet, I know there's always a chance of internal injuries when an animal is hit by a car, so myself and another man went to look for it. The man and wife who hit the dog said they lived about five minutes away and would call the police and animal control. The poor lady was in tears; her husband said she is an animal lover. You can only imagine how she felt..
Just then about 10 kids and a lady came around the corner asking if we had lost a dog. Still scared, it ran into a yard and right into an apartment through an open front door. While they could speak English, the man in the apartment could not. They were able to translate to him what I was telling them, that the dog was hit by a car and the police had been called.
I went back to Burger King and got my food, with one eye on the parking lot, waiting for the police to arrive. They did about 10 minutes later and I was able to get an officer, who stood about 6-foot-5, burly and bald, to the house.
“Hola,” the man said as we approached his door. “Hola,” the officer responded. The man pointed to the dog who was obviously still scared but content to hide in the corner, although no one there had seen the dog before.
I left as the officer went to get the dog, barely stopping myself from following him into the apartment when I realized it was not my place to go in.
I'm guessing and hoping that the dog is OK. Hopefully, the dog is identified and it's owner is notified. There's no worse feeling for a pet owner when their pet disappears. Believe me, I know.
My 14-year-old Rat Terrier, Barney, went for a late-night walk about eight years ago and never came home. The Laramie Police Department dispatcher told me the next day that a small black and white dog was hit about two blocks from my apartment. I knew it was Barney. The person who hit him said he staggered to his feet after the impact and wandered into an open field. Barney had heart trouble, so I know he just went away to die. But never knowing for sure has bothered me to this day.
I'm also hoping that the man and woman who accidentally hit the dog knows that it will be OK and it wasn't their fault.
About a year ago when our Pug, Otis, had died, I took his body to the veterinarian. It was the Fourth of July and the office was closed. They opened for me and when I arrived two more cars pulled in with another dog that was critically injured when it chased a car and was hit when the driver didn't see it. The anguish on the man's face who hit the dog is something I will never forget. Even though the dog's owners were understanding and forgiving, it was little consolation to that man.
By now I'm thinking that Teresa is probably worried about me, as a 15-minute run for some burgers has taken about an hour. I turn up the radio and the sports talk is still about Orton and Tebow.
I turn the radio off.
Who starts at quarterback for the Broncos, at least for the time being, is the furthest from my mind.
As is the case every night that I am visiting my wife, Teresa, in the Colorado Acute Long Term Hospital in Denver, I make a food run (after she has eaten her hospital food). I think you know why. Besides, I have to eat.
Driving to Burger King up Sheridan Ave. to try out the BK Minis, a little dog is hit by a car at a very busy rush-hour intersection.
Just a minute before the accident, while stopped at the stoplight, I saw the dog, which is some sort of Terrier/Poodle mix, cross the street on the crosswalk. My first thought was that the dog itself pushed the button and waited for the walk sign to go on. The dog walked across the street with ease.
Getting out of my car in the Burger King parking lot, I hear a dog yelp and a person scream. I knew right then what had happened. The dog backtracked and tried to cross the busy intersection again. This time it wasn't so lucky.
I went to the intersection looking for the dog, just as two other men had, along with the distraught man and wife who accidentally hit the dog. I was expecting the worst.
The little dog was still alive but scared and limping badly, hiding in a bush by the BK parking lot. As we got closer, it moved to hide under a car. We couldn't get it to come out and it ran through the parking lot and up a sidewalk to some apartments.
It now appeared to be running normal, which was a relief. Yet, I know there's always a chance of internal injuries when an animal is hit by a car, so myself and another man went to look for it. The man and wife who hit the dog said they lived about five minutes away and would call the police and animal control. The poor lady was in tears; her husband said she is an animal lover. You can only imagine how she felt..
Just then about 10 kids and a lady came around the corner asking if we had lost a dog. Still scared, it ran into a yard and right into an apartment through an open front door. While they could speak English, the man in the apartment could not. They were able to translate to him what I was telling them, that the dog was hit by a car and the police had been called.
I went back to Burger King and got my food, with one eye on the parking lot, waiting for the police to arrive. They did about 10 minutes later and I was able to get an officer, who stood about 6-foot-5, burly and bald, to the house.
“Hola,” the man said as we approached his door. “Hola,” the officer responded. The man pointed to the dog who was obviously still scared but content to hide in the corner, although no one there had seen the dog before.
I left as the officer went to get the dog, barely stopping myself from following him into the apartment when I realized it was not my place to go in.
I'm guessing and hoping that the dog is OK. Hopefully, the dog is identified and it's owner is notified. There's no worse feeling for a pet owner when their pet disappears. Believe me, I know.
My 14-year-old Rat Terrier, Barney, went for a late-night walk about eight years ago and never came home. The Laramie Police Department dispatcher told me the next day that a small black and white dog was hit about two blocks from my apartment. I knew it was Barney. The person who hit him said he staggered to his feet after the impact and wandered into an open field. Barney had heart trouble, so I know he just went away to die. But never knowing for sure has bothered me to this day.
I'm also hoping that the man and woman who accidentally hit the dog knows that it will be OK and it wasn't their fault.
About a year ago when our Pug, Otis, had died, I took his body to the veterinarian. It was the Fourth of July and the office was closed. They opened for me and when I arrived two more cars pulled in with another dog that was critically injured when it chased a car and was hit when the driver didn't see it. The anguish on the man's face who hit the dog is something I will never forget. Even though the dog's owners were understanding and forgiving, it was little consolation to that man.
By now I'm thinking that Teresa is probably worried about me, as a 15-minute run for some burgers has taken about an hour. I turn up the radio and the sports talk is still about Orton and Tebow.
I turn the radio off.
Who starts at quarterback for the Broncos, at least for the time being, is the furthest from my mind.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Saturday's disjointed ramblings
Getting my hair cut today, the hair stylist asked me what my favorite sport was. My answer was pretty simple: "All of them."
OK, I stretched the truth and I'm not sure why.
As a longtime sportswriter, I have always said, "My favorite depends on the sports season." Otherwise, in the fall, it is football. In the winter, it's basketball and in the summer, it's baseball."
I think I'm going to amend that a bit.
I admit it, it's football. Of course, it is just about football season -- high school, college and professional. I could change my mind in a few months when the basketball hits the hardwood again.
But let's face it. Maybe I should base my love of sports entirely on my t-shirt collection. If that's the case, then it is football hands down. It also didn't hurt that the Packers are the defending Super Bowl champions.
Yeah, in your face Vikings' and Bears' fans.
I'd say I have a fair share of Packers t-shirts now. I can thank my wife, who although held hostage in a hospital bed, can still order my wardrobe via telephone, and of course, I can't pass up a good looking Packers' t-shirt when I walk by one.
The nurses and physical therapists at Teresa's hospital have hardly seen me in anything else but a Packers' t-shirt. Of course, the first words out of their mouths are, "Packers fan, huh?" I feel like the old Mad Magazine bit, "Stupid Answers For Stupid Questions." I really want to say," No, I hate the team. Just like the t-shirts."
I don't say that, though. It's more like, "Uh, yeah."
Of course, as I write this, I am wearing a Rockies t-shirt. It must be about time for laundry.
---
As you can (or can't) see, I've put a couple of gadgets on this blog for monetary reasons. One is to help defray medical expenses for Teresa's illness. Without getting into actual numbers, that aspect of things has been pretty devastating as well. Another is to see if I could get some actual advertising as I go to bed at night dreaming of doing this for a living again. Of course, I can't make a living off of a couple of small ads, but every little bit helps.
---
In another week, the Wyoming Cowboys will hit the practice fields again. Where has the summer gone? It will be interesting to see the new-look Cowboys as they prepare for the new-look Mountain West this season that includes Boise State and not Utah and BYU.
More on Wyoming football upcoming.
---
I think I need a swear jar when talking about the Mountain West. I can't help but still call it the Mountain West Conference. Every time I do so, I need to put a dollar in the jar. At least I will know where all of my money goes, as the funds should build up. Heck, sometimes I still let it slip by calling the MWC the WAC.
Maybe I just need to be slapped.
OK, I stretched the truth and I'm not sure why.
As a longtime sportswriter, I have always said, "My favorite depends on the sports season." Otherwise, in the fall, it is football. In the winter, it's basketball and in the summer, it's baseball."
I think I'm going to amend that a bit.
I admit it, it's football. Of course, it is just about football season -- high school, college and professional. I could change my mind in a few months when the basketball hits the hardwood again.
But let's face it. Maybe I should base my love of sports entirely on my t-shirt collection. If that's the case, then it is football hands down. It also didn't hurt that the Packers are the defending Super Bowl champions.
Yeah, in your face Vikings' and Bears' fans.
I'd say I have a fair share of Packers t-shirts now. I can thank my wife, who although held hostage in a hospital bed, can still order my wardrobe via telephone, and of course, I can't pass up a good looking Packers' t-shirt when I walk by one.
The nurses and physical therapists at Teresa's hospital have hardly seen me in anything else but a Packers' t-shirt. Of course, the first words out of their mouths are, "Packers fan, huh?" I feel like the old Mad Magazine bit, "Stupid Answers For Stupid Questions." I really want to say," No, I hate the team. Just like the t-shirts."
I don't say that, though. It's more like, "Uh, yeah."
Of course, as I write this, I am wearing a Rockies t-shirt. It must be about time for laundry.
---
As you can (or can't) see, I've put a couple of gadgets on this blog for monetary reasons. One is to help defray medical expenses for Teresa's illness. Without getting into actual numbers, that aspect of things has been pretty devastating as well. Another is to see if I could get some actual advertising as I go to bed at night dreaming of doing this for a living again. Of course, I can't make a living off of a couple of small ads, but every little bit helps.
---
In another week, the Wyoming Cowboys will hit the practice fields again. Where has the summer gone? It will be interesting to see the new-look Cowboys as they prepare for the new-look Mountain West this season that includes Boise State and not Utah and BYU.
More on Wyoming football upcoming.
---
I think I need a swear jar when talking about the Mountain West. I can't help but still call it the Mountain West Conference. Every time I do so, I need to put a dollar in the jar. At least I will know where all of my money goes, as the funds should build up. Heck, sometimes I still let it slip by calling the MWC the WAC.
Maybe I just need to be slapped.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
UW sets football season tickets record
When someone says get your tickets now, they usually mean it. That's been the case for the University of Wyoming football program. Despite last year's disappointing season, enthusiasm appears to be at an all-time high, especially if you count ticket sales.
When the season tickets went on sale this past February, the UW athletics department set a goal of selling 10,000 season tickets for the 2011 season. That goal was reached this week, as 10,035 season tickets were sold as of July 14. The previous UW record was 8,336 season tickets in 2009.
Less than 500 available season tickets remained for sale as of Thursday.
Cowboy fans were informed in February that the only way to guarantee themselves a ticket to the Wyoming-Nebraska game was to purchase a season ticket for the 2011 season. Season tickets were made available for purchase by the general public beginning Feb. 28, and renewals were also mailed to 2010 UW season-ticket holders on Feb. 28.
“The response from our fans has been tremendous,” said University of Wyoming Director of Athletics Tom Burman said in a release. “We knew the demand for tickets this season was going to be great. We weren’t absolutely positive we could reach the 10,000 season-ticket mark, but the outpouring of support from our fans has been outstanding.
“When we put tickets on sale last February, we wanted to make sure that all of our fans had enough advance notice to be able to purchase a season ticket, allowing them an opportunity to see this historic game versus Nebraska. Now, almost five months later, Cowboy fans have taken advantage of this opportunity to see what has become the most anticipated event in our athletic history.”
With a general positive response to the release of the new cowboy football uniform combinations, football season apparently could not get here any quicker.
When the season tickets went on sale this past February, the UW athletics department set a goal of selling 10,000 season tickets for the 2011 season. That goal was reached this week, as 10,035 season tickets were sold as of July 14. The previous UW record was 8,336 season tickets in 2009.
Less than 500 available season tickets remained for sale as of Thursday.
Cowboy fans were informed in February that the only way to guarantee themselves a ticket to the Wyoming-Nebraska game was to purchase a season ticket for the 2011 season. Season tickets were made available for purchase by the general public beginning Feb. 28, and renewals were also mailed to 2010 UW season-ticket holders on Feb. 28.
“The response from our fans has been tremendous,” said University of Wyoming Director of Athletics Tom Burman said in a release. “We knew the demand for tickets this season was going to be great. We weren’t absolutely positive we could reach the 10,000 season-ticket mark, but the outpouring of support from our fans has been outstanding.
“When we put tickets on sale last February, we wanted to make sure that all of our fans had enough advance notice to be able to purchase a season ticket, allowing them an opportunity to see this historic game versus Nebraska. Now, almost five months later, Cowboy fans have taken advantage of this opportunity to see what has become the most anticipated event in our athletic history.”
With a general positive response to the release of the new cowboy football uniform combinations, football season apparently could not get here any quicker.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Tuesday's disjointed ramblings
The Wyoming football team will have a much different look on the field this season and I'm not just talking about the depth chart. The UW athletic department released a look at the “new-look” Cowboys this season with nine variations of uniforms from Nike this season.
You've got white tops, yellow pants, yellow tops, white pants, brown tops, brown pants, a white helmet with the bucking horse logo, a brown helmet with the outline of the bucking horse logo, Wyoming on the chest and WYO on the chest. Although the Cowboys won't have as many uniform matches as Oregon, they'll have a closet full of different outfits to wear to the dance.
"We've developed an outstanding relationship with Nike during our time here at Wyoming," said Cowboy head coach Dave Christensen in a news release. "Nike provides us the highest quality game and practice gear available, and they have worked with our equipment staff to develop a variety of uniform options for our team. Our goal is to build a first class program, and that means playing first class, acting first class and looking first class. Nike helps us look first class, and that also carries over to how recruits perceive our program. We couldn't be happier with the look of our new uniforms."
Here's a photo gallery from wyomingathletics.com. http://www.wyomingathletics.com/view.gal?id=97045
It will be interesting to see what fans like and what they don't like. Of course, winning in a certain uniform might go a long way in the team wearing the combination more than once.
From a distance, I like the new looks. We'll see how they look on the field.
***
BYU's arrogance was obviously on display Tuesday with theindependent Cougars, who left the "inferior" Mountain West Conference, hosting football media day. The Mountain West football media day isn't for a couple of weeks and the Wyoming media day is a week later. For the most part, that is the norm for most schools.
But BYU isn't the norm, at least in their eyes. It prides itself on being better than most, so it really wasn't much of a surprise to hear about they early gala that saw them bring in the likes of Steve Young and Ty Detmer among others, to add to their dog and pony show. I'm guessing that Jim McMahon wasn't invited to the "We are the Champions" love fest.
Naturally, there was one last mention or two (with love, of course) about Laramie and Wyoming.
“Laramie, Wyoming, is one of the Top 5 hardest places to play. They have a hatred for BYU that’s unrivaled!” Young said at the media day which was televised by BYUTV.
I wonder if they truly can't figure out why Cowboys fans hate them? Actually, we all know the answer to that question.
***
I'm not sure what to think about this year's MLB All-Star Game. For as long as I can remember, it has easily been my favorite all-star game. I never got into the Pro Bowl even though I'm a huge NFL fan. The same for the NBA All-Star Game, although I can't call myself much of a NBA fan these days. Ditto for the NHL All-Star Game.
The MLB All-Star Game, however, has always been special to me. As a young Twins fan, I couldn't wait until Rod Carew got to bat and later as a younger adult, with Kirby Puckett at the plate. I never missed a game. As a kid, I voted as much as I could for every Twins player that was on the ballot.
I'm just not sure what to make of my lack of interest in this year's game. Maybe it's the fact that the best players have chosen not to participate, either by injury or by the lack of interest and basically a lack of respect for the game.
Unfortunately, I think it's likely more of the latter.
Willie Mays was named to 24 All-Star Games. He played in 24 All-Star Games. Derek Jeter had to rest after his recent successful chase for 3,000 hits and didn't even travel to Phoenix for the All-Star Game. He was just too exhausted.
That just might explain the difference between old school and new school. I'll take old school every time.
***
With not being a sportswriter for over a year ‑‑ after being one for about 30 years ‑‑ if there is one thing that I have learned in recent months, is to stick with what you love to do. I'm certainly not the best sportswriter around ‑‑ I have never claimed to be or bragged on my awards ‑‑ but it's what I love to do.
This past couple of years have certainly been tough on my wife with her health and tough on me and my stepdaughter, Cassie. But it's just like Teresa to think about others before herself. If I had a dollar for every time she has encouraged me to get back into writing, I'd be a rich man.
Well, maybe not rich, but much better off. Hopefully, I can get back on the saddle again soon.
You've got white tops, yellow pants, yellow tops, white pants, brown tops, brown pants, a white helmet with the bucking horse logo, a brown helmet with the outline of the bucking horse logo, Wyoming on the chest and WYO on the chest. Although the Cowboys won't have as many uniform matches as Oregon, they'll have a closet full of different outfits to wear to the dance.
"We've developed an outstanding relationship with Nike during our time here at Wyoming," said Cowboy head coach Dave Christensen in a news release. "Nike provides us the highest quality game and practice gear available, and they have worked with our equipment staff to develop a variety of uniform options for our team. Our goal is to build a first class program, and that means playing first class, acting first class and looking first class. Nike helps us look first class, and that also carries over to how recruits perceive our program. We couldn't be happier with the look of our new uniforms."
Here's a photo gallery from wyomingathletics.com. http://www.wyomingathletics.com/view.gal?id=97045
It will be interesting to see what fans like and what they don't like. Of course, winning in a certain uniform might go a long way in the team wearing the combination more than once.
From a distance, I like the new looks. We'll see how they look on the field.
***
BYU's arrogance was obviously on display Tuesday with theindependent Cougars, who left the "inferior" Mountain West Conference, hosting football media day. The Mountain West football media day isn't for a couple of weeks and the Wyoming media day is a week later. For the most part, that is the norm for most schools.
But BYU isn't the norm, at least in their eyes. It prides itself on being better than most, so it really wasn't much of a surprise to hear about they early gala that saw them bring in the likes of Steve Young and Ty Detmer among others, to add to their dog and pony show. I'm guessing that Jim McMahon wasn't invited to the "We are the Champions" love fest.
Naturally, there was one last mention or two (with love, of course) about Laramie and Wyoming.
“Laramie, Wyoming, is one of the Top 5 hardest places to play. They have a hatred for BYU that’s unrivaled!” Young said at the media day which was televised by BYUTV.
I wonder if they truly can't figure out why Cowboys fans hate them? Actually, we all know the answer to that question.
***
I'm not sure what to think about this year's MLB All-Star Game. For as long as I can remember, it has easily been my favorite all-star game. I never got into the Pro Bowl even though I'm a huge NFL fan. The same for the NBA All-Star Game, although I can't call myself much of a NBA fan these days. Ditto for the NHL All-Star Game.
The MLB All-Star Game, however, has always been special to me. As a young Twins fan, I couldn't wait until Rod Carew got to bat and later as a younger adult, with Kirby Puckett at the plate. I never missed a game. As a kid, I voted as much as I could for every Twins player that was on the ballot.
I'm just not sure what to make of my lack of interest in this year's game. Maybe it's the fact that the best players have chosen not to participate, either by injury or by the lack of interest and basically a lack of respect for the game.
Unfortunately, I think it's likely more of the latter.
Willie Mays was named to 24 All-Star Games. He played in 24 All-Star Games. Derek Jeter had to rest after his recent successful chase for 3,000 hits and didn't even travel to Phoenix for the All-Star Game. He was just too exhausted.
That just might explain the difference between old school and new school. I'll take old school every time.
***
With not being a sportswriter for over a year ‑‑ after being one for about 30 years ‑‑ if there is one thing that I have learned in recent months, is to stick with what you love to do. I'm certainly not the best sportswriter around ‑‑ I have never claimed to be or bragged on my awards ‑‑ but it's what I love to do.
This past couple of years have certainly been tough on my wife with her health and tough on me and my stepdaughter, Cassie. But it's just like Teresa to think about others before herself. If I had a dollar for every time she has encouraged me to get back into writing, I'd be a rich man.
Well, maybe not rich, but much better off. Hopefully, I can get back on the saddle again soon.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Optimistic but realistic
I don't know if there is any real significance to the words, "optimistic but realistic."
Optimistic but realistic, however, is how my wife, Teresa, and I go into each day. Many of you know that Teresa is battling serious health issues that have basically left her a paraplegic. You can read further posts in this blog to get the details if you are unaware of her plight.
When I say optimistic but realistic, I mean exactly that. We're optimistic that Teresa will get better. At the same time, we're realistic knowing that the best that she could do is just get around in a wheelchair. Reality could likely keep her in a paraplegic state the rest of the her life. Her health issues are that serious.
With that said, lately Teresa has tried to stay optimistic even though she has had days that have set her back, both physically and mentally.
I guess you could say that Monday was one of those days. A rheumatoid arthritis specialist came in to see her at the hospital in Denver, and after a complete examination, he basically told her that she probably won't walk again.
Talk about a hard dose of reality that feels like a punch to the jaw. While we have known for a long time that that is a possibility, it is still hard to hear those words spoken from another, especially a doctor.
It didn't help that I was at work in Cheyenne. From what I could tell, Teresa took the news about how you would expect. She was upset, sad and probably a little mad.
Yet, she is still optimistic that she will get better, even if she is a realist knowing that she may never walk again. She is preparing physically and mentally for both situations, at least as much as a person can prepare.
Later on Monday, Teresa texted me and said she was watching a cooking show, Master Chef (over the Bachelorette ), to try to lift her spirits. I texted back, "good choice."
When Teresa was home, she watched The Food Network like I watched ESPN. Believe me, I never complained about her cooking experimentation from watching various shows.
As it turned out, the show got her fired up. "I can't wait to cook for you again," she texted.
"I can't wait either," I answered.
Will our lives ever be the same? Probably not. That doesn't mean we can't live them to our fullest and that is why Teresa is optimistic but realistic for her future. We're both excited and scared at the same time.
Teresa may never walk again and we know it. Tuesday could be a good day or it could be a bad day. We know that too. We take it one-day-at-a time; that's all we can do.
If she doesn't walk again, however, it won't be from a lack of effort. It may be realistic, but Teresa is why I am optimistic.
Optimistic but realistic, however, is how my wife, Teresa, and I go into each day. Many of you know that Teresa is battling serious health issues that have basically left her a paraplegic. You can read further posts in this blog to get the details if you are unaware of her plight.
When I say optimistic but realistic, I mean exactly that. We're optimistic that Teresa will get better. At the same time, we're realistic knowing that the best that she could do is just get around in a wheelchair. Reality could likely keep her in a paraplegic state the rest of the her life. Her health issues are that serious.
With that said, lately Teresa has tried to stay optimistic even though she has had days that have set her back, both physically and mentally.
I guess you could say that Monday was one of those days. A rheumatoid arthritis specialist came in to see her at the hospital in Denver, and after a complete examination, he basically told her that she probably won't walk again.
Talk about a hard dose of reality that feels like a punch to the jaw. While we have known for a long time that that is a possibility, it is still hard to hear those words spoken from another, especially a doctor.
It didn't help that I was at work in Cheyenne. From what I could tell, Teresa took the news about how you would expect. She was upset, sad and probably a little mad.
Yet, she is still optimistic that she will get better, even if she is a realist knowing that she may never walk again. She is preparing physically and mentally for both situations, at least as much as a person can prepare.
Later on Monday, Teresa texted me and said she was watching a cooking show, Master Chef (over the Bachelorette ), to try to lift her spirits. I texted back, "good choice."
When Teresa was home, she watched The Food Network like I watched ESPN. Believe me, I never complained about her cooking experimentation from watching various shows.
As it turned out, the show got her fired up. "I can't wait to cook for you again," she texted.
"I can't wait either," I answered.
Will our lives ever be the same? Probably not. That doesn't mean we can't live them to our fullest and that is why Teresa is optimistic but realistic for her future. We're both excited and scared at the same time.
Teresa may never walk again and we know it. Tuesday could be a good day or it could be a bad day. We know that too. We take it one-day-at-a time; that's all we can do.
If she doesn't walk again, however, it won't be from a lack of effort. It may be realistic, but Teresa is why I am optimistic.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Bold, feisty and highly competitive
Officially, the Mountain West Conference calls it the new brand direction and conference identity.It looks to me like it is just a silly logo.
I do get it. The conference is changing. Out with BYU and Utah this year and out with TCU next year. In with Boise State in less than a month (July 1) and in with Fresno State and Nevada, along with Hawaii (football only) in a couple of years.
So yes, there are changes to the conference. I'm just not sure why the logo had to be changed. Bear with me. There apparentlty is perfect logic to this madness.
First, lets start with the new logo. The logo is nicknamed "The Rock" and a new tagline is "This is our time."I'm wondering, though, how the new logo came about. According to a news release, the conference "solicited the opinions of more than 8,000 constituents including members of the Mountain West Board of Directors, athletic administrators, coaches, fans and members of the media."
And this is what they came up with from 8,000 constituents.
"This initiative is emblematic of the evolution of our league," MWC commissioner Craig Thompson said in a news conference televised by The Mtn. Monday from La Jolla, Calif. "The overwhelming majority of the people we spoke to said the Mountain West is bold, feisty and highly competitive, and we strongly believe these qualities are reflected in our new brand identity and our new logo."
I'm still looking at the new logo. Bold, feisty and highly competitive he says. Then again, I'm not sure how you turn a logo into highly competitive. There must be a way.
The conference, however, is not just about that bold, feisty and highly competitive new logo and tagline. Of course it's not. According to the news release, the changes in the Mountain West extend "far beyond the logo that will adorn uniforms and playing surfaces throughout the league."
Beginning in July, an expanding fan base will also be able to experience new digital initiatives, including more original content on a re-designed Mountain West web site (www.TheMWC.com) and on social media platforms. The league has also tapped Loma Media, a nationwide creative services entity, to upgrade its advertising and outreach strategies. Loma Media will employ an NFL Films-style look and feel to the Conference's television, radio and print campaigns and will produce motion media content for all platforms on a monthly basis.
Ok, I can dig that. Keep going.
The unique logo itself is a strong symbol of a league on the rise, invoking comparisons to stately campus buildings and the Rock of Gibraltar. It is unlike any other conference mark. Reflecting the expanded membership from the mountains to the ocean and addressing the previous prevalence of mountain imagery and word marks, the letters representing 'Mountain' and 'West' are given equal weight and dimension.
"Our fans were right in noting that our evolving membership and geography reflect both 'Mountain' and 'West' equally," Thompson said. "The logo is bold, strong and balanced just like our league. We like the fact that it's instantly recognizable to fans on either side of the playing field."
I think that says it all. It's the recipe of new success in the Mountain West Conference.
Just the right amount of mountain and just the right amount of west.
I think that says it all. It's the recipe of new success in the Mountain West Conference.
Just the right amount of mountain and just the right amount of west.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Local sports guy not contacted about Jim Tressel
In what has been billed as an obvious oversight, several national media outlets, including ESPN, Fox Sports and Sports Illustrated, have failed to contact former Laramie, Wyo., sportswriter and current part-time blogger Richard Anderson on the Ohio State scandal and resignation of ex coach Jim Tressel.
Anderson, who is currently a news copy editor for the Wyoming Tribune Eagle in Cheyenne, Wyo., has remained relatively quiet on the scandal, but has been overheard talking about the situation in the newsroom of the Tribune Eagle and to the physical therapist for his wife, Teresa, who is currently in the hospital in Denver.
Anderson admits he is a little perplexed about not being contacted by national media on the situation, but understands that almost every expert in the sports field has to give his/her opinion nationally before they get to him.
"I understand how the game is played," Anderson said in a news release on Sunday. "I've heard my exact opinion several times on the radio, on television and in the print media. It does bother me a little that no one has contacted me about Jim Tressel, but Laramie isn't Columbus (Ohio), so it is understandable."
When asked about his views on Tressel, Anderson only shrugged his shoulders and said he has to prepare for work and putting together the obituary page for the Tribune Eagle.
Anderson indicated that he would comment no further on the situation ... "unless Scott Van Pelt calls me about it."
Saturday, May 28, 2011
One tough lady
As I sit here breaking another sweat from my day of on again, off again feeling like crap that started from a cold to inflammation in my lungs, I started scanning my old blog on Wyomingsports.org.
I came across a blog that I wrote on Nov. 12, 2009, a couple of days after my wife Teresa's car accident that set up a chain of bad luck and health problems for her. Since then, Teresa has spent probably all but 3-4 months in various hospitals, rehab centers and nursing homes in Wyoming and Colorado.
She is currently in a long-term acute facility in Denver with the hope of someday coming home.
As I mentioned, a cold has moved into my lungs and I'm down for a couple of days while an antibiotic and steroid tries to do its job.
When I got home from work Friday night, I mentioned on the phone that I was a little out of breath and my ribs hurt. The caregiver that Teresa is, she demanded that I go to Urgent Care in Laramie on Saturday to have it checked out. Normally, I would have just ignored things and gone to work the next day and likely been miserable.
But I listen to my wife ... most of the time. I did then and I'm glad I did. She knew something was not right and even from her hospital bed in Denver, she knew what to do.
Here's a little repeat of that blog from 2009. I think it tells a lot about my wife, the strongest person I know.
From Rich's Disjointed Ramblings (Wyomingsports.org) on Nov. 12, 2009
It's been an eventful time in the Anderson household in the last couple of weeks, but not a time we want to go through again anytime soon.
It has especially been a tough last couple of weeks for my better half, Teresa. Last week she went through a pretty serious surgery. On Tuesday, she was involved a very serious automobile accident.
She had to be taken by ambulance to the Medical Center of the Rockies trauma ward in Loveland, Colo.
For those who know my wife, you know what she has been going through health-wise the last few years. Teresa is a fighter and battles each and every day with pain I can't even begin to describe, nor would anybody truly understand.
A long-time nurse herself, Teresa has spent much of her adult life trying to make others feel better. She's also spent a lot of time in the hospital this year as a patient at Ivinson Memorial, Poudre Valley Hospital and now at the Medical Center of the Rockies. Nurses share a common bond, which has been the case in each of these facilities.
The emergency room nurses who helped with the transition at MCR Tuesday night did a great job of making sure Teresa was as comfortable as possible. They also visited with her, with the talk centering around Teresa and her work at the Cathedral Home for Children, what she has had to deal with with her chronic illness and her recent surgery and accident.
Wednesday afternoon, one of those nurses came up to her ICU room to see how she was doing. They had a nice, brief conversation as the hustle and bustle of the hospital didn't allow them a lengthy talk.
The MCR nurse ended the visit by squeezing Teresa's hand and telling her: "I can't tell you enough how much I admire you."
Teresa was a bit stunned, as was I. We both began to tear up a bit.
As I was driving back to Laramie later that day, I began to think about that conversation. My initial thought went back to that nurse, whose name I don't even know, nor do I think Teresa remembers. I admit, it struck me initially as a little odd that a basic stranger would say what she said.
Then I realized something that I already knew. It was not odd at all; my wife has a way of leaving those impressions on people.
How can you not admire Teresa? Even though her body is physically breaking down, I only wish I was half as strong as she is.
She is truly my better half.
Back to present, nothing has changed. I believe that more and more every day
I came across a blog that I wrote on Nov. 12, 2009, a couple of days after my wife Teresa's car accident that set up a chain of bad luck and health problems for her. Since then, Teresa has spent probably all but 3-4 months in various hospitals, rehab centers and nursing homes in Wyoming and Colorado.
She is currently in a long-term acute facility in Denver with the hope of someday coming home.
As I mentioned, a cold has moved into my lungs and I'm down for a couple of days while an antibiotic and steroid tries to do its job.
When I got home from work Friday night, I mentioned on the phone that I was a little out of breath and my ribs hurt. The caregiver that Teresa is, she demanded that I go to Urgent Care in Laramie on Saturday to have it checked out. Normally, I would have just ignored things and gone to work the next day and likely been miserable.
But I listen to my wife ... most of the time. I did then and I'm glad I did. She knew something was not right and even from her hospital bed in Denver, she knew what to do.
Here's a little repeat of that blog from 2009. I think it tells a lot about my wife, the strongest person I know.
From Rich's Disjointed Ramblings (Wyomingsports.org) on Nov. 12, 2009
It's been an eventful time in the Anderson household in the last couple of weeks, but not a time we want to go through again anytime soon.
It has especially been a tough last couple of weeks for my better half, Teresa. Last week she went through a pretty serious surgery. On Tuesday, she was involved a very serious automobile accident.
She had to be taken by ambulance to the Medical Center of the Rockies trauma ward in Loveland, Colo.
For those who know my wife, you know what she has been going through health-wise the last few years. Teresa is a fighter and battles each and every day with pain I can't even begin to describe, nor would anybody truly understand.
A long-time nurse herself, Teresa has spent much of her adult life trying to make others feel better. She's also spent a lot of time in the hospital this year as a patient at Ivinson Memorial, Poudre Valley Hospital and now at the Medical Center of the Rockies. Nurses share a common bond, which has been the case in each of these facilities.
The emergency room nurses who helped with the transition at MCR Tuesday night did a great job of making sure Teresa was as comfortable as possible. They also visited with her, with the talk centering around Teresa and her work at the Cathedral Home for Children, what she has had to deal with with her chronic illness and her recent surgery and accident.
Wednesday afternoon, one of those nurses came up to her ICU room to see how she was doing. They had a nice, brief conversation as the hustle and bustle of the hospital didn't allow them a lengthy talk.
The MCR nurse ended the visit by squeezing Teresa's hand and telling her: "I can't tell you enough how much I admire you."
Teresa was a bit stunned, as was I. We both began to tear up a bit.
As I was driving back to Laramie later that day, I began to think about that conversation. My initial thought went back to that nurse, whose name I don't even know, nor do I think Teresa remembers. I admit, it struck me initially as a little odd that a basic stranger would say what she said.
Then I realized something that I already knew. It was not odd at all; my wife has a way of leaving those impressions on people.
How can you not admire Teresa? Even though her body is physically breaking down, I only wish I was half as strong as she is.
She is truly my better half.
Back to present, nothing has changed. I believe that more and more every day
Monday, May 16, 2011
Let's ask the question again
A couple of weeks ago I was listening to sports radio on my late-night drive back home from work from Cheyenne to Laramie.
The ESPN host got on the topic of the Los Angeles Lakers being eliminated from the NBA playoffs in the second round.
His theory was that it was bad for the game for a stalwart team like the Lakers to lose this early in the whole process.
Like all good sports talk show hosts, he then went to the phone lines and asked each caller his opinion. Actually, he wanted all of the callers to agree with him. When they didn't -- Lakers haters were thrilled -- he was thrown off guard.
Don't get wrong, I like the host. He has a good voice and for the most part I agree with his views. That night, though, all I could do was chuckle every time a caller came on and didn’t have his viewpoint. He wasn't mean, he didn't yell at them, but you can tell he was getting a little frustrated.
That reminds of me of times I have interviewed a player or coach, either after a game or for a preview, and that same scenario occurred. I have an idea of what I want the player or coach to say to go along with the theme of my story. When that player or coach doesn't say what I want him/her to say, it throws wrench in the story.
It's also funny to listen to a reporter after an end-of-game news conference go through the same thing. The reporter will find different ways to ask the same question, mainly because this is what he wants to write about and he needs those quotes.
You can hear the frustration in the reporter's voice and sometimes equally the frustration in the coach or athlete's answers.
By the time I got home and turned off the radio, I don't think the host ever got anybody to agree with him.
Now with the Celtics out of the playoffs, that same host has to be pulling his hair out. He should call me. As a longtime Celtics hater, I'm thrilled.
The ESPN host got on the topic of the Los Angeles Lakers being eliminated from the NBA playoffs in the second round.
His theory was that it was bad for the game for a stalwart team like the Lakers to lose this early in the whole process.
Like all good sports talk show hosts, he then went to the phone lines and asked each caller his opinion. Actually, he wanted all of the callers to agree with him. When they didn't -- Lakers haters were thrilled -- he was thrown off guard.
Don't get wrong, I like the host. He has a good voice and for the most part I agree with his views. That night, though, all I could do was chuckle every time a caller came on and didn’t have his viewpoint. He wasn't mean, he didn't yell at them, but you can tell he was getting a little frustrated.
That reminds of me of times I have interviewed a player or coach, either after a game or for a preview, and that same scenario occurred. I have an idea of what I want the player or coach to say to go along with the theme of my story. When that player or coach doesn't say what I want him/her to say, it throws wrench in the story.
It's also funny to listen to a reporter after an end-of-game news conference go through the same thing. The reporter will find different ways to ask the same question, mainly because this is what he wants to write about and he needs those quotes.
You can hear the frustration in the reporter's voice and sometimes equally the frustration in the coach or athlete's answers.
By the time I got home and turned off the radio, I don't think the host ever got anybody to agree with him.
Now with the Celtics out of the playoffs, that same host has to be pulling his hair out. He should call me. As a longtime Celtics hater, I'm thrilled.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Remembering the "Killer"
You get to a certain age when it is probably a little creepy to have sports heroes. I'd like to think that I am at that point where I don't idolize a sports figure who is half of my age.
That's not to say I didn't grow up with plenty of sports idols along the way.
As a Packers fan, I have to start with Bart Starr, Ray Nitschke, Boyd Dowler ... actually just about any Packer from the 1960s.
As a Lakers fan, I often thought I was Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain or Elgin Baylor out on the court.
As a Twins fan, my early idols were Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew and Tony Oliva.
While I now try to stay away from idolizing athletes younger than me, it's not to say that I'm not a fan. Kirby Puckett, Kent Hrbek, Reggie White and Brett Favre (as a Packer) come to mind a few years ago. Now there's Aaron Rodgers, Charles Woodson, Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau. Sorry, I can't say that I am a fan of anybody in the NBA, but that's a different story.
With the recent news that Harmon Killebrew was dying of cancer and that he was going into hospice care, my first thought was of sadness. Then I remembered why he was a sports idol of mine when I was a kid.
To me, there was no better player than Harmon Killebrew. It wasn't just because he was my favorite baseball player. To me, there was no better player to idolize. For a man nicknamed "killer," he was the exact opposite. He was the type of player, as a person, that you wanted to idolize. He still is.
I'll never forget my first game at the old Met Stadium, as the Twins played the Yankees and my family and stopped on our way to Wisconsin. Killebrew didn't hit any homers in that game, but I'll never forget it, even though it was a long time ago. In my mind, he was actually 0-for-4, but he backed Yankees outfielder Roy White to the wall each time, and unfortunately, White caught all four near home runs.
What struck me the most was I was just a few rows up in the stands, and I thought I was going to have a shot at all four baseballs.
I'm not sure if that story is actually true, although it is one that I have told for about 40 years. But as far as I am concerned, that's actually what happened.
I've never been one to wear replica jerseys. I do have a Packers' Favre jersey, but I have only worn it twice. I go by the theory that kids and women can wear jerseys, but adult men should not. Don't ask me why, it just doesn't look right, going back to the idolizing an athlete younger than yourself.
I'm going to throw that theory out the door, I think. No, the Favre jersey stays in the closet. I'm getting a Killebrew No. 3 jersey.
Godspeed, Harmon.
That's not to say I didn't grow up with plenty of sports idols along the way.
As a Packers fan, I have to start with Bart Starr, Ray Nitschke, Boyd Dowler ... actually just about any Packer from the 1960s.
As a Lakers fan, I often thought I was Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain or Elgin Baylor out on the court.
As a Twins fan, my early idols were Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew and Tony Oliva.
While I now try to stay away from idolizing athletes younger than me, it's not to say that I'm not a fan. Kirby Puckett, Kent Hrbek, Reggie White and Brett Favre (as a Packer) come to mind a few years ago. Now there's Aaron Rodgers, Charles Woodson, Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau. Sorry, I can't say that I am a fan of anybody in the NBA, but that's a different story.
With the recent news that Harmon Killebrew was dying of cancer and that he was going into hospice care, my first thought was of sadness. Then I remembered why he was a sports idol of mine when I was a kid.
To me, there was no better player than Harmon Killebrew. It wasn't just because he was my favorite baseball player. To me, there was no better player to idolize. For a man nicknamed "killer," he was the exact opposite. He was the type of player, as a person, that you wanted to idolize. He still is.
I'll never forget my first game at the old Met Stadium, as the Twins played the Yankees and my family and stopped on our way to Wisconsin. Killebrew didn't hit any homers in that game, but I'll never forget it, even though it was a long time ago. In my mind, he was actually 0-for-4, but he backed Yankees outfielder Roy White to the wall each time, and unfortunately, White caught all four near home runs.
What struck me the most was I was just a few rows up in the stands, and I thought I was going to have a shot at all four baseballs.
I'm not sure if that story is actually true, although it is one that I have told for about 40 years. But as far as I am concerned, that's actually what happened.
I've never been one to wear replica jerseys. I do have a Packers' Favre jersey, but I have only worn it twice. I go by the theory that kids and women can wear jerseys, but adult men should not. Don't ask me why, it just doesn't look right, going back to the idolizing an athlete younger than yourself.
I'm going to throw that theory out the door, I think. No, the Favre jersey stays in the closet. I'm getting a Killebrew No. 3 jersey.
Godspeed, Harmon.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Thinking about the Boys of Summer
I guess I need to thank David Settle for remanding me how old I am as he mentioned on his noon sports broadcast on KOWB radio on Friday that it had been 25 years since the Laramie Rangers had last won an American Legion baseball title.
Of course, the young pup Settle is, he wasn't around here when that happened.
I was ... kind of.
Actually, I was in my final days as sports editor of the Northern Wyoming Daily News in Worland and the Rangers had won the state tournament, which was being played in Worland. I was helping out Bob Hammond and the Laramie Boomerang with box scores of the tournament at the time and covering the event for the Worland paper.
Back then, the Worland Indians had a pretty decent Legion program and competed with the likes of Laramie, Casper and Cheyenne.
Under the guidance of manager Dennis Diehl and assistant coach Jon Johnson, the Rangers won the 1986 championship. Despite a pretty consistent program since then, Laramie has yet to enjoy that championship feeling, although it finished second a couple of times in the mid 1990s under then manager Monty Schuman, losing both times to Casper. Laramie finished second again a few years ago, losing to Cheyenne.
After the tournament, Hammond offered me a chance to come to Laramie and work for the Boomerang, something I did for 18 years before my disappointing departure in the fall of 2007.
I remember vividly that first season (1987) covering the Rangers under Diehl and having the bejesus scared out of me in that first game with his his aggressive behavior. Diehl was a good coach and good to work with, but it took a little while to get used to his abrasive style, especially for a young sportswriter.
Throughout the years, covering American Legion baseball was often one of the highlights of my years in the business. To me, there's nothing better than breaking out the scorebook, grabbing a cold beverage in the hot sun (and then moving to shade) and watching baseball; I don't care what level it is.
I haven't done it in a couple of years, so once again there will be something missing for me this summer. Hopefully that fun will return down the road.
The Rangers, under new manager Zac Baker, will open the season this weekend at Douglas. Yet another year of hope and base hits in the gap.
Yes, Mr. Settle reminded me of my advancing years, but he also brought back a lot of fond memories, as it got me thinking about all of those seasons at Cowboy Field.
Of course, the young pup Settle is, he wasn't around here when that happened.
I was ... kind of.
Actually, I was in my final days as sports editor of the Northern Wyoming Daily News in Worland and the Rangers had won the state tournament, which was being played in Worland. I was helping out Bob Hammond and the Laramie Boomerang with box scores of the tournament at the time and covering the event for the Worland paper.
Back then, the Worland Indians had a pretty decent Legion program and competed with the likes of Laramie, Casper and Cheyenne.
Under the guidance of manager Dennis Diehl and assistant coach Jon Johnson, the Rangers won the 1986 championship. Despite a pretty consistent program since then, Laramie has yet to enjoy that championship feeling, although it finished second a couple of times in the mid 1990s under then manager Monty Schuman, losing both times to Casper. Laramie finished second again a few years ago, losing to Cheyenne.
After the tournament, Hammond offered me a chance to come to Laramie and work for the Boomerang, something I did for 18 years before my disappointing departure in the fall of 2007.
I remember vividly that first season (1987) covering the Rangers under Diehl and having the bejesus scared out of me in that first game with his his aggressive behavior. Diehl was a good coach and good to work with, but it took a little while to get used to his abrasive style, especially for a young sportswriter.
Throughout the years, covering American Legion baseball was often one of the highlights of my years in the business. To me, there's nothing better than breaking out the scorebook, grabbing a cold beverage in the hot sun (and then moving to shade) and watching baseball; I don't care what level it is.
I haven't done it in a couple of years, so once again there will be something missing for me this summer. Hopefully that fun will return down the road.
The Rangers, under new manager Zac Baker, will open the season this weekend at Douglas. Yet another year of hope and base hits in the gap.
Yes, Mr. Settle reminded me of my advancing years, but he also brought back a lot of fond memories, as it got me thinking about all of those seasons at Cowboy Field.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Chris Pro to go pro; drafted by Jaguars
Former University of Wyoming Cowboy Chris Prosinski was selected in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft on Saturday by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Prosinski was the 24th pick in the fourth round and was the 121st overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft. He becomes the highest Wyoming Cowboy drafted since 1997 when UW offensive tackle Steve Scifres was drafted in the third round (83rd overall pick, 23rd pick in the third round) by the Dallas Cowboys. Prosinski also becomes the first Cowboy, and the first native of the state of Wyoming who played at UW, to be drafted since John Wendling (Rock Springs) was selected in 2007 in the siixth round (184th overall pick, 10th pick in the sixth round) by the Buffalo Bills.
Prosinski concluded his college football career at Wyoming ranked No. 4 in career tackles in school history with 373. His senior year he was credited with 108 total tackles, marking the second consecutive year in which he had over 100 tackles in a single season (he had 140 tackles as a junior) and the second consecutive season that he led the Cowboys in tackles. He ranked No. 3 in the Mountain West Conference in tackles (9.0 per game) and ranked No. 37 in the nation for all players at all positions.
For the second year in a row in 2010, Prosinski was named Second Team All-MWC by conference head coaches and media. At the team’s annual awards banquet, Prosinski was named recipient of the Coach Paul Roach Team MVP Award. The award is named after former UW head football coach and athletics director Paul Roach, who was part of six of Wyoming’s seven Western Athletic Conference Championships, and contributed to six of UW’s 12 bowl appearances.
Prosinski was also one of only two Wyoming senior football players to be honored by the Wyoming Chapter of the National Football Foundation as its UW Scholar-Athletes for the 2010 season.
On a national level, Prosinski was one of 121 semifinalists for the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) 2010 William V. Campbell Trophy, which honors college football’s top scholar-athlete each year from all levels of college football -- NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. Of the 121 semifinalists, Prosinski was one of only 47 student-athletes selected from NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision schools across the nation. The William V. Campbell Trophy was previously named the Draddy Trophy, and is commonly referred to as the “Academic Heisman”.
An outstanding leader, he was voted a team captain by his teammates in the spring of 2010. He started the last 37 consecutive games at free safety for the Cowboys. His best individual performances of 2010 included: two 12-tackle games versus No. 3 ranked Boise State and No. 10 ranked Utah; and two 11-tackle performances at No. 4 ranked Texas and at New Mexico. Prosinski graduated in May of 2010 with a degree in business administration.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Ajayi, Gilmore sign to play for Cowboys.
New Wyoming men's head basketball coach Larry Shyatt announced Thursday the addition of two new players to the roster, with the signing of post Lekan Ajayi and point guard Derrious Gilmore to national letter of intent to play for the Cowboys beginning in the fall of 2011.
“Lekan (Ajayi) was a player we had an opportunity to recruit during this past year at the University of Florida,” Shyatt said. “As soon as I came to Wyoming and knew Lekan was still available, I felt he was someone who could make a major impact for our program for years to come. I’ve always been impressed with his motor, his ability to run the floor and his rebounding ability. We couldn’t be more delighted to have him become a part of our Wyoming family.
“He’s a young man who is committed to becoming a very good basketball player. He is also committed to continue being the best he can be in the classroom.
“In terms of his skills, he is a work in progress offensively, but he will be an instant presence as a defender, rebounder and shot blocker. He fits our style of play, because I feel he is a far better player in an uptempo game. Lekan provides us the inside presence we need for the future.”
ESPN’s Scouts Grade on Ajayi, 6-feet, 11 inches, 235 pounds, was 89 points out of a possible 100 points. ESPN also rated him a three-star recruit and ranked him as the No. 24 center in the country. He also took recruiting visits to Auburn, Wake Forest, Tennessee and Seton Hall.
A native of Lagos, Nigeria, he played his prep basketball at Quality Education Academy in Winston-Salem, N.C. His head coach was Isaac Pitts.
As a senior this past season, Ajayi averaged 9.5 points, 15.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. He helped lead Quality Education Academy to a 26-4 overall record and to the Division I National Christian Schools Athletic Association National Championship. Ajayi pulled down 24 rebounds in the national championship game. Quality Education Academy was the 25th ranked team in the country by MaxPreps.com this past season.
Gilmore, 5-9 and 165, comes to Wyoming from Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, Miss.
Gilmore was named Second Team All-MACJC (Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges). He averaged 12.3 points, 6.2 assists and 1.8 steals a game. He ranked No. 26 in the nation in assists among all division I junior college players. He was also a threat to score from three-point range, as he knocked down 44.7 percent (46-of-103) of his threes. The Jones Bobcats finished 15-10 in 2010-11 and earned a berth in the Region 23 Tournament.
“We are very pleased to have Derrious travel across the country from his home in Baltimore to join the Wyoming basketball family,” Shyatt said. “Derrious came highly recommended from our good friends at the University of West Virginia. He has most recently played for coach Don Skelton, who I have known for a long time and have a great deal of respect for. In fact, Don coached Jamar McKnight who was an All-ACC player for us at Clemson.
“Derrious has a tough edge about him on both ends of the floor. He is capable of playing either guard position, as he can shoot the ball at a high percentage and compliments that with his tremendous ball handling.”
A native of Baltimore, Md., Gilmore attended Lake Clifton High School. Following high school, he spent his freshman season at Pensacola Junior College in Florida, but transferred to Jones County after a coaching change at Pensacola.
Gilmore will have two years of eligibility remaining and will be a junior for the Cowboys next season.
Akai and Gilmore join Tyrone Marshall, a 6-8, 220-pound senior forward at George Washington High School in Denver, who signed with the Cowboys on April 18.
Marshall averaged 15 points, nine rebounds and six blocked shots per game his senior season at George Washington High School. He was named Honorable Mention All-State Class 5A by The Denver Post his senior season, and was named First Team All-Conference in the Denver Prep League. Marshall helped lead G.W. to an 18-7 overall record, a 6-2 conference mark and the Sweet 16 of the state playoffs this past season.
Another Colorado product, 6-1 guard Riley Grabau of Boulder, has told the Boulder Daily Camera that he will sign with Wyoming. Grabau averaged 20.8 points, 4.4 assists and 2.8 rebounds last year for Boulder High School.
“Lekan (Ajayi) was a player we had an opportunity to recruit during this past year at the University of Florida,” Shyatt said. “As soon as I came to Wyoming and knew Lekan was still available, I felt he was someone who could make a major impact for our program for years to come. I’ve always been impressed with his motor, his ability to run the floor and his rebounding ability. We couldn’t be more delighted to have him become a part of our Wyoming family.
“He’s a young man who is committed to becoming a very good basketball player. He is also committed to continue being the best he can be in the classroom.
“In terms of his skills, he is a work in progress offensively, but he will be an instant presence as a defender, rebounder and shot blocker. He fits our style of play, because I feel he is a far better player in an uptempo game. Lekan provides us the inside presence we need for the future.”
ESPN’s Scouts Grade on Ajayi, 6-feet, 11 inches, 235 pounds, was 89 points out of a possible 100 points. ESPN also rated him a three-star recruit and ranked him as the No. 24 center in the country. He also took recruiting visits to Auburn, Wake Forest, Tennessee and Seton Hall.
A native of Lagos, Nigeria, he played his prep basketball at Quality Education Academy in Winston-Salem, N.C. His head coach was Isaac Pitts.
As a senior this past season, Ajayi averaged 9.5 points, 15.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. He helped lead Quality Education Academy to a 26-4 overall record and to the Division I National Christian Schools Athletic Association National Championship. Ajayi pulled down 24 rebounds in the national championship game. Quality Education Academy was the 25th ranked team in the country by MaxPreps.com this past season.
Gilmore, 5-9 and 165, comes to Wyoming from Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, Miss.
Gilmore was named Second Team All-MACJC (Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges). He averaged 12.3 points, 6.2 assists and 1.8 steals a game. He ranked No. 26 in the nation in assists among all division I junior college players. He was also a threat to score from three-point range, as he knocked down 44.7 percent (46-of-103) of his threes. The Jones Bobcats finished 15-10 in 2010-11 and earned a berth in the Region 23 Tournament.
“We are very pleased to have Derrious travel across the country from his home in Baltimore to join the Wyoming basketball family,” Shyatt said. “Derrious came highly recommended from our good friends at the University of West Virginia. He has most recently played for coach Don Skelton, who I have known for a long time and have a great deal of respect for. In fact, Don coached Jamar McKnight who was an All-ACC player for us at Clemson.
“Derrious has a tough edge about him on both ends of the floor. He is capable of playing either guard position, as he can shoot the ball at a high percentage and compliments that with his tremendous ball handling.”
A native of Baltimore, Md., Gilmore attended Lake Clifton High School. Following high school, he spent his freshman season at Pensacola Junior College in Florida, but transferred to Jones County after a coaching change at Pensacola.
Gilmore will have two years of eligibility remaining and will be a junior for the Cowboys next season.
Akai and Gilmore join Tyrone Marshall, a 6-8, 220-pound senior forward at George Washington High School in Denver, who signed with the Cowboys on April 18.
Marshall averaged 15 points, nine rebounds and six blocked shots per game his senior season at George Washington High School. He was named Honorable Mention All-State Class 5A by The Denver Post his senior season, and was named First Team All-Conference in the Denver Prep League. Marshall helped lead G.W. to an 18-7 overall record, a 6-2 conference mark and the Sweet 16 of the state playoffs this past season.
Another Colorado product, 6-1 guard Riley Grabau of Boulder, has told the Boulder Daily Camera that he will sign with Wyoming. Grabau averaged 20.8 points, 4.4 assists and 2.8 rebounds last year for Boulder High School.
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