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
Friday, August 26, 2011
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)