Got Chocolate Milk?

I've always loved chocolate milk. I would rather drink chocolate milk than regular milk. Actually, I would rather drink chocolate milk than water. I know that's not practical, but it's the truth. Now, I have an excuse to drink chocolate milk. A study published in the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism recently, says chocolate milk is an effective recovery aid after a strenuous workout. In fact, the study said drinking chocolate milk helped athletes perform nearly twice as well in subsequent workouts than a carbohydrate replacement drink, and just as effective as Gatorade. I love Gatorade, but not as much as I love chocolate milk! Now, I have an excuse to drink both of them. I'll drink Gatorade during the workout, to replenish the fluids and electrolytes I lose while working out, then drink chocolate milk after the workout to help my muscles recover. Now, all I have to do is start working out...

Billy Cundiff's Shoe Donated To His High School

Former Cowboys kicker Billy Cundiff has one shoe in the hall of fame, and another in his high school trophy case. The plant shoe he wore when he kicked a record-tying 7 field goals against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football back in 2003, has been donated to the high school where his playing career began. There's a good article in the Harlan Tribune about it.

Parcellisms: The Highlight Of Cowboys Camp

There are a lot of people excited about the Dallas Cowboys getting underway at training camp in Oxnard, California. Most of the focus has been on new wide receiver Terrell Owens. But, my favorite part of camp, year in and year out, is Bill Parcells' press conferences. Seriously.

Most coaches and players are busy refining their "coach speak." You know what I'm talking about. Here are some examples:

"We're taking it one game at at time, giving it 110%..."

"You have to play all four quarters..."

"We're firing on all cylinders..."

Parcells has his own form of coach speak. He talks in what we like to call, Parcellisms. They are statements not necessarily unique, but not usually associated with sports.

Here's what I'm talking about. This is from today's camp opening press conference.

On answering a question about all the talent this years squad has, and what he told his players:

"I told them, I don't care how may lemons you got, or what the quality of the lemons are. You still got to make the lemonade."

And, responding to questions about defensive back Keith Davis, claiming to be an innocent victim of a shooting, for the second time:

"My father used to have an expression for things like that, you know. He used to say, hey Parcells, it's never your fault but you're always there."

That's classic! Those are the kinds of answers I like to hear.

So, buckle the chin strap, because we've got our back against the wall, and it's do-or-die time. We're ready to give it all we've got. It's a team game and we're ready to play.

Eric Williams On NFL Training Camp

Check out KLTV NFL analyst Eric Williams' Full Contact article this week on NFL training camps. It's timely, as the Cowboys and the rest of the NFL open their camps this week.

Here's an excerpt:

I think the old Redskin offensive lineman, captain of the Hogs, Jeff Bostic, said it best to me as we lay there stretching on the first morning of training camp. "Eric, you know, right now, this will be the best we will feel for the next 6 months." I laid there in that summer heat, with sweat dripping off my brow, thinking, what a profound statement he made, especially since it came from an offensive lineman.

Eric played defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins in the 80's and 90's. He won a Super Bowl with the Redskins in 1992.

Gander Mountain Tip: Blade Basics

Gander Mountain has a team of experts in hunting, fishing, camping, marine and outdoor life that are dying to share their knowledge with local folks. As a result, their "Pro Staff" has agreed to provide me with tips and tricks on various outdoor experiences throughout the year.

Here's a fishing tip from Joe Bucher on blade basics:

The raw shape and physics of a blade have everything to do with its performance. This is the key thing to learn and recognize about spinners in general. Here are a few general guidelines to follow when looking at various spinner blades. Big round blades make a bait run shallow. Smaller, thinner blades do just the opposite. This, in itself, will help you determine which spinner lure to choose for a specific task. The more you know about blade dynamics and spinner function, the better it will all serve you on the water. Once you know the true physical function of these various blades, it will make all these choices much easier. Essentially, large rounded blades produce a lot of "lift," resulting in a lure that quickly rises up towards the surface as retrieve speed is increased. The faster you retrieve a big bladed bucktail, the shallower it will run. Consequently, if you're fishing high weeds, typical by late summer (August & September), you can't go wrong with a big-bladed spinner.

Joe Bucher, Gander Mountain Pro Staff
From: "Fishing with Joe Bucher" on the Sportsman's Channel

East Texans To Play In All-Star Game-But Should They?

I've never understood why college football programs allow their recruits to play in all-star games. Yes, it's a great honor, but it's also a great way to get your top player hurt before he ever walks onto campus. I've heard the argument... Whether a kid blows a knee in an all-star game, or fall practice on campus, he was going to blow his knee anyway. But, how do you know if those coaches are truly looking out for your recruit, or training him the way you would have trained him?

All I have to say is Tony VanZant. Never heard of him? Exactly! VanZant was considered the savior for the University of Missouri football program. The running back from Hazelwood Central high school in St. Louis was named the Parade Magazine national player of the year in 1985 (Emmitt Smith earned the same honor the following year). He could have gone anywhere, but he decided to stay in state and play for new Tigers head coach Woody Widenhofer. The summer before his freshman year at Missouri, VanZant decided to play in an all-star game. He blew out his knee in that game and never made it to Columbia that year. He would eventually play for Missouri, but was never the same after the injury. He's now a high school coach in Michigan.

Kevin Simon of Concord (Calif.) De La Salle, a Tennessee recruit, blew his knee in the 2000 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He was forced to redshirt at Tennessee that year, and struggled with ankle and knee injuries the rest of his career. His story is a little more promising than VanZant's, though. The Redskins took a chance and drafted him in the 7th round this year. We'll see how those knees hold up in the NFL. Ironically, several De La Salle players have declined all-star game invitations ever since the incident with Simon.

High School all-star football games should be honorary. If a game would be played, these players would be included. If I'm Mack Brown, I wouldn't let Longview's Vondrell McGee anywhere near the THSCA All-Star game next Tuesday, especially following the announcement that Ramonce Taylor is leaving school. Chances are he won't get hurt, but why take that chance?

East Texans scheduled to play in the THSCA All-Star game Tuesday, August 1, 2006 at UT Memorial Stadium at 7:30 PM:

North All-Stars

E. J. Shankle - WR - Lufkin (Texas A&M)
Vondrell McGee - RB - Longview (Texas)
Tyler Jones - LB - Emory Rains (SMU)
Jason Teague - DB - Carthage (LSU)
Kerry Maddox - DB - John Tyler (Washington St. )
Daylon McCoy - LB - Tatum (LA Lafeyette)
Dustin Earnest - LB - Texas High (Texas)

South All-Stars

Deroderick Strickland - QB/WR - Big Sandy (Reedley College)
Justin Smart - LB - Marshall (SMU)
Jessie Harrison - LB - Paul Pewitt (Arkansas Tech)
Jared Lindsey - DT - Alto (Houston)
Britt Mitchell - TE - Kilgore (Texas)

Top 10: Greatest QB's Of All Time

I realize this is a subjective list. No one can truly rank the best NFL quarterbacks based on pure statistics, otherwise we'd have to include the likes of Vinny Testaverde, Dave Krieg or Boomer Esiason. No offense to those guys, but there's more to being a great quarterback then just stats. You have to consider many factors, including leadership, performance under pressure, and of course, Super Bowls. Spencer, our sports producer, and I sat down to hash out our top 10 list. We first added the no-brainers to the list, then "nominated" a large group of potential candidates. We then considered stats, eras, wins and impact on the team and league. It wasn't easy, but here is what we came up with.

1. John Elway -- Elway was a no-brainer. He probably would have made the list even without his final two seasons, but adding two Super Bowl wins to his resume made him a shoo-in. The Denver Broncos legend leads the NFL All-time in wins, winning percentage, most Pro Bowl selections for a QB (9), most game winning or game-tying 4th quarter scoring drives (47), Super Bowl appearances as a starting QB (5), and most rushing touchdowns by a QB in the Super Bowl (4). Even when the Broncos were bad, he made them good. He could nearly single-handedly win ball games. And, when you can say "The Drive" and everyone automatically knows you're talking about Elway beating the Cleveland Browns in the 1987 AFC Championship game, you deserve to be here. I know there will be argument as to whether or not he's number one, but his sheer athleticism is scary. How soon we forget, Elway hit .318 with 4 home runs, 25 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 42 games for Oneonta of the New York-Penn League in '82, and would probably have been Lou Piniella's replacement in right for the New York Yankees! That sucker was going to be successful no matter what sport he played. (He played 16 years)

2. Joe Montana -- While Elway is known for "The Drive", Montana is known for being a part of "The Catch". As Cowboys fans are painfully aware, it was Montana who lofted that now famous six yard pass just out of the reach of Everson Walls to Dwight Clark in the back corner of the endzone with less than 90 seconds to play to help the San Francisco 49er's beat Dallas in the 1981 NFC Championship game. Nicknamed "Joe Cool", Montana is top 10 all-time in pass completions, passing yards, and passing touchdowns. But, it was the postseason where Montana really made his mark. He holds post-season records for most career TD passes (45), and passing yards (5772). He holds Super Bowl records for highest career passing rating (127.8), most career completions (83 in 4 games), most consecutive completions in a game(13), most career yards gained (1,142), and most career TD passes (11). He was the winning QB in four Super Bowls, and is the only player to win the Super Bowl MVP three times. He's also the only quarterback to play in four Super Bowls without throwing an interception! (He played 15 years)

3. Dan Marino -- OK, there's no doubt the Miami Dolphins great deserves to be on this list, but some will argue this is too high, while others will say he's the greatest of all time. Here are the facts: He's the only quarterback on the list without a Super Bowl win. He took the Dolphins to the playoffs 10 of his 17 seasons, led them to three AFC Championship game and one Super Bowl, losing to Montana and the 49er's in Super Bowl XIX. But this is where statistics plays a huge role. Marino holds or held nearly every quarterback record in the game. Currently, his name sits atop 26 NFL records, including 61,361 career passing yards, a total that may never be caught. A Super Bowl win probably would have solidified him as the best ever. (He played 17 years)

4. Bart Starr -- I know I'm too young to truly grasp the impact the QB's of eras gone by had, but I'm a student of the game, and I know dominance when I see it. Starr was the best player on the best team of his era. He led the Green Bay Packers to six NFL Championship games, winning 5 of them. He also led the Packers to wins in the first two Super Bowls in 1966 and 1967 and was named the MVP of both of them. He made one of most famous plays in one of most famous games, again, Cowboys fans will well remember, the 1967 "Ice Bowl" in which Starr scored on a QB sneak to win it and send the packers to Super Bowl II. (He played 16 years)

5. Brett Favre -- Some will say this is too high for Favre. There are many QB's below him with more Super Bowl wins. But few if any QB's below him played such a large role in his team's success. Take Favre off the Green Bay Packers, and they don't win anything. I know that's a very subjective statement and probably not entirely accurate, but I see the type of talent he has/had around him and I'm amazed at what he's been able to accomplish. Favre led the Packers to three straight NFC Championships game, and two straight Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl XXXI and losing Super Bowl XXXII. The three-time NFL MVP holds 10 NFL records, including most consecutive starts by a QB, currently standing at 221 (241 if you include the playoffs). He's also second in five other records, including career passing yards (53,615) and career passing TD's (396, which is just 24 behind Marino). (He has played 15 years)

6. Johnny Unitas -- There are many old-timers out there who I know are ringing their fists at me, no doubt saying the Baltimore Colts legend should be higher on this list. He was one of the most dominant players of his era. He was the first QB to throw for 40,000 yards, at a time when QB's just didn't throw the ball that much. His career passing yards (40,239), and career passing TD's (290) still rank in the top 10 all-time, and his 47 consecutive games with a TD pass still stands. He's a three-time league MVP, and was on three NFL Championship teams, two Super Bowl teams and one Super Bowl winner. Notice I didn't say he "led" the Colts to those titles. That's why he's not higher on this list. He was hurt most of the 1968 season and only played in Super Bowl III as a last ditch effort to rally the Colts, who ended up losing to the Jets. And, in Super Bowl V, despite throwing a 75-yard TD pass, he wasn't around at the end of the game to see his team win. So in essence, he's only responsible for the back-to-back NFL Championships in '58 and '59. I know this is another one of those players who was before my time, but I just don't see him as a better QB then the five men in front of him. (He played 18 years)

7. Terry Bradshaw -- Some will say, the Pittsburgh Steelers QB is only on this list because of the Super Bowls. I will argue, that is exactly correct! His career numbers are nowhere near the top of the list in any category. Yet you can't deny his knack for winning. The 1978 NFL MVP led the Steelers to 8 AFC Central Division titles, 6 AFC Championship games, and 4 Super Bowl Championships, including two over the Cowboys. He was part of what is arguably the most famous play in NFL history, the "Immaculate Reception", in which Franco Harris plucked a deflected pass just inches from the ground and ran it in for the game-winning TD against the Oakland Raiders in 1972. I'm not going to hold his acting career against him. (He played 14 years)

8. Troy Aikman -- This is one of those players that could go either way. I can hear the argument, "the only reason he won was because he had the best supporting cast in football." That is correct, the Dallas Cowboys had one of the best teams in football. Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson assembled an all-star cast. But, you still have to perform when it counts. Aikman never won a league MVP, but he did win a Super Bowl MVP. And the fact he led the Cowboys to three Super Bowl wins in four years secures him a spot on this list. He was an efficient and accurate quarterback who could keep his cool and win ball games. He holds the Super Bowl record for highest career completion percentage (70%). Sadly, concussions forced Aikman to retire after just 12 seasons. It makes you wonder how much more he could have accomplished. (He played 12 years)

9. Tom Brady -- Some say Brady is too young to be on a list like this. I say hogwash! Look at what he has accomplished in six years with the New England Patriots! When you win three Super Bowls in four years, you deserve to make the list. He holds the Super Bowl record for most passes completed in a game (32). He also has two Super Bowl MVP awards. Brady reminds me a lot of Aikman. He has a coolness under pressure, he's accurate and he wins. (He has played 6 years)

10. Roger Staubach -- Led the Cowboys to their first Super Bowl victory in franchise history, while being named MVP of Super Bowl VI. In all, he led the Cowboys to four Super Bowls, winning two of them(Staubach was a backup to Craig Morton for Super Bowl V). "Captain Comeback" as he was nicknamed, had a knack for fourth quarter heroics, leading the Cowboys to 23 come-from-behind fourth quarter wins. Like Aikman, you wonder what he would have been able to accomplish with a longer career. Staubach only played 11 seasons, because, as a member of the United States Naval Academy, he served five years in the Navy following his graduation from college. He was 27 when he started playing for the Cowboys! (He played 11 years)

I can hear the screaming already. How is Fran Tarkenton not on this list? What about Steve Young, or Sony Jurgenson, or Bob Griese, or Warren Moon, or Jim Kelly or Y.A. Tittle? They are all great quarterbacks who received serious consideration. In fact, Spence and I found it very hard not to include Tarkenton. The 1975 league MVP held nearly every passing record at the time of his retirement. But, he never won the big game, losing in the Super Bowl three times. If Young would have been the starter longer in San Francisco, his numbers may have been astronomical. But, Joe Montana (he was Montana's backup for 5 years!) and a concussion (ended his career) put a damper on that. When you include all of Moon's stats from the Canadian Football League and NFL, his numbers are better than anyone who has ever played the game. But, the CFL is considered lesser talent, and he never played in a Super Bowl, much less won one. Again, assembling this list did not entail the use of rocket science, but it was sure fun doing it.

Great Advice For Teaching Kids Golf

I've been running a segment this summer on Tuesday nights called "Lessons From A Pro", in which PGA golf teaching professionals from around East Texas offer their insight into different aspects of the game. We've had some really good tips that I know have helped my game. But, this past week, Darrell Chase, who is the head golf pro at Peach Tree/Oak Hurst Golf Club just South of Tyler, gave wonderful ideas on how to teach your kids the game of golf. I can't wait to put the ideas into practice with my 7-year-old son.

Darrell has actually published an article on this subject, and gave me a copy of it. I'm including it here. I think you'll get a lot out of his ideas.

Coaching Your Children
By Darrell Chase

Playing golf with your children can be one of the most positive things that a family can do together. Learning the game of golf, not how to play, but the game, will teach children about honesty, integrity, and accountability; all attributes that will make them better citizens in the future.

Introducing golf to your child is easily done just by exposing them to the game. Go ahead and pay for the extra seat in a cart and take them with you. Most children relish the idea of "hanging out" with their parents and their parent's friends. It makes them feel older and accepted. When they tell you that they would like to try it, then you have the opportunity to hook them, but just like an elusive fish, you have to be patient.

Teaching the golf swing to children is easy. Kids have no pre-conceived ideas of how the swing works. The adults that we teach have to be deprogrammed and reprogrammed in order for them to improve. With children, all we have to do is show them. Kids learn by watching. Keep it simple. Don't get too technical until they are older and they have been playing for a while. To teach a beginning child to hit a golf ball, let them know that there are only three things that they need to do. First, they have to make a full shoulder turn. Have them turn their back to the target or turn their lead shoulder to the ball. Second, they have to set their hands at the top of the swing. Have them get a 90 degree angle between the shaft and their forearm. If they are too young to understand what a 90 degree angle is, tell them to make the capital letter "L" with their golf club and their forearm. Third and finally, have them turn through into a balanced follow-through position (one foot, one toe, belt buckle and chest at the target, club over their lead shoulder). Teaching balance is the most important thing you can do for your child's golfing career. I ask my juniors to hold their balanced follow-through until the ball stops moving. I also ask them to pay attention to how long the Pros on TV watch their shots in the balanced follow-through position. Let them tee up balls at first, lowering the teeing height as they get the hang of it. As they improve, keep lowering the teeing height until they can be weaned of the tee and they can hit the ball off of the grass.

Bad news: The full swing is the easy part. Short game and putting are where success (lower scores and self-satisfaction) is found. The short game is a great opportunity to teach kids that golf is not about how far, but how close. [Dads, please reread the last sentence]. Young children will not be able to hit the ball as far as their parents do until they get bigger and stronger, but let them know that there is no reason that with practice, they can chip, pitch, and putt as well or better than you can. It takes touch, not strength, for the short game. Teach them the low, bump and run, chip shot. This is the most accurate and most forgiving of all short game shots. Teach them that the high, pitch shot is necessary only when the ball has to travel farther in the air than on the ground, such as over a bunker or a creek. Stress to them that this is the most difficult and unforgiving shot in golf. Don't let them make this their favorite shot. Emotionally, this is the most satisfying shot in the world, pulled off successfully, but if you live by the sword, you die by the sword. The low shot is much more accurate and forgiving.

Start all children off with a putter. Teach them that the object of the game is to get the ball into the hole with the fewest strokes possible. Putting may be the most difficult sill for a beginner to grasp and distance control seems to be the hardest part. Spend time with them on the putting green putting a ball to you, trying to get it close enough that you don't have to take a step to retrieve the ball. Vary the distance of the putts and soon enough they will get the hang of it. Have your children make lots of two and three foot putts. Hearing the ball rattle in the cup breeds confidence and success. Putt-Putt is another good place to emphasize how important putting is. Most kids would prefer to spend their practice time on the driving range banging balls, but it's an improved short game that will lower their scores. Do your best to have them spend as much time chipping and putting as they do on the full swing.

When your children enter the twilight zone (teenage years), chances are your advice is not well taken. This is where you pass them on to your local PGA or LPGA teaching professional. It's not worth the frustration to either side of this battle.

I have many parents tell me that they wished that their child had devoted their time to golf instead of baseball or basketball or some other sport. I disagree with them. Sports like that are for youngsters and this is the only time in their life that they can do it. I ask the parents to keep their kids exposed to golf so that they will still have all of the good fundamentals intact when they start playing again. They will have the rest of their life to play golf.

Take your children to the course with you, teach them about the rules and etiquette of the game, be patient with them, and finally, practice what you preach. The time you invest with your children will be rewarded many times over.

Darrell Chase is the head Golf Professional at Peach Tree/Oak Hurst Golf Club, a 36 hole public facility in Tyler. Darrell has been awarded the 2000 Junior Golf Leader of the Northern Texas PGA. He hosts a couple of free summer golf camps in the area, Camp Darrell at Peach Tree/Oak Hurst, and the City of Tyler golf camp with the Tyler Parks & Recreation Department.

No Lance, No Problem

Yes, we miss Lance Armstrong. The inspirational Texan blew the doors off the cycling world, winning a record 7 straight Tour De France titles. What makes his accomplishments even greater is the fact he did so after overcoming testicular cancer. He gave American, non-cycling fans a reason to be fans of cycling. In his absence, it seems there's no reason to watch the Tour De France this year, right?

Think again.

Meet Floyd Landis. The American is in constant pain due to an injured hip he says will need to be replaced after the Tour. Nevertheless, he's currently in second place!

Let me say that again. He needs a new HIP!

Daniel Coyle of The New York Times wrote a great article on Landis, entitled What Floyd Landis Has Been Pedaling.

He talks about how Landis fractured the hip in a crash in 2003. As a result, Landis suffers from a degenerative condition caused by a lack of blood supply. Other patients who suffer from this situation describe the pain as "grinding your bare feet into hot broken glass and jagged shards of metal." Are you kidding me?

OUCH!

I laughed out loud when he said "Landis possesses a high pain tolerance." You think?!

This guy shouldn't be standing, much less competing in the Tour De France. Yet here he is, just one minute behind leader Serhiy Honchar of the Ukraine after 8 stages.

Let's rally behind one of Armstrong's former teammates, and embrace Floyd Landis as our reason to watch Le Tour!

American Woman: Ghost of Tennis Past

American women have OWNED professional tennis. But now, that dominance is slowly slipping from our grasp. America's tennis stars continue a downward spiral in the world rankings after sup-par showings at Wimbledon. Venus Williams, who was the defending ladies' champion, tumbles from 12th to 23rd after being upset in the third round by Jelena
Jankovic. Lindsay Davenport is the only American now ranked in the top 20, falling to number 10 from number 7. There are just 12 Americans ranked in the top 100!

What's going on? Of the 15 women who have held the number one ranking on the tour since the rankings began in 1975, 8 of those athletes have done so wrapped in the American flag.

Between 200 and 2002, American women won 10 of the 12 majors. That is dominance. Since then, American women have won just 5 of 14 majors. That is not dominance. In fact, American women have won just 9 of the last 86 WTA events.

Age is a factor. Lindsay Davenport and Jennifer Capriati are both 30 and suffering from various injuries. Serena and Venus are 24 and 26 respectively, but in women's tennis, that is old.

The problem seems to be, there aren't any hotshot young American women ready to burst onto the world stage. Just two American teens are ranked in the top 100.

It seems I'm picking on the women, when the men have won just 6 of the 26 grand slam titles since 2000. The point is, we don't expect the men to win. We do expect the women to win. It's not fair, but it should be flattering for the women. We are proud of their accomplishments and hope to see it continue. Let's go Williams sisters. Please carry the flag until the next generation is ready!

Best Dunk Ever?

I have to confess. I like watching a good dunk. I know, basketball purists, like legendary UCLA coach John Wooden, claim the dunk is to blame for the decline in fundamentals by American basketball players. But, anything that I can't do, no matter how hard I try, like give birth, fly, or dunk a basketball, holds a special place in my heart. The artistry of a Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins or Vince Carter is beautiful to watch. Having said that, I thought I had seen it all on the basketball court, until I saw the video of Taurian Fontenette, otherwise known as "The Air Up There", pull off a 720 degree dunk. That's two complete 360 degree revolutions! It was the most amazing thing I've ever seen. Fontenette performed the dunk as part of the And 1 basketball tour.

You HAVE to see the video of his 720 degree dunk at the And 1 website.

East Texas Swimmer Continues To Make Waves

We did a story in May about swimmer Jennifer Steele, a 13-year-old Chapel Hill 8th grader who the only girl from North Texas invited to the elite USA Swimming Zone Select Camp in Tennessee.

Her mother, Kittie sent me this update today:

Just wanted to keep you abreast of what is going on with my little fish. She went to a meet last weekend and swam the 1500 freestyle faster than any girl of any age on the Metro/Tyler Swim Team has ever swam it. This will probably place her in the top eight in the state when we go to the Woodlands in July for Texas Age Group Championships. She is in Mexico right now doing altitude training and will return and go the the "A" Champs meet in Southlake next weekend. We will be trying to get a time cut to put her in the top eight for the 800 freestyle - she sits at #10 right now.

Keep an eye on this gal. Jennifer's ultimate goal is qualifying for the 2012 Olympics.

Holyfield: Let Him Fight

He's too old. He's only going to get hurt. Trying to make a comeback in his 40's is an embarrassment to boxing and himself.

Does anyone remember hearing those statements said about Marshall native George Foreman back in the 1990's, BEFORE he captured the world heavyweight title?

So, if we were so wrong then, why can't we give Evander Holyfield the benefit of the doubt now? Holyfield has announced he plans to make a comeback to boxing at the age of 43. Foreman was 42. Here's a couple of reasons why I think this could be successful. His contract with promoter Don King just ran out, which means he's free of his influences. Holyfield has also given his shoulders proper time to heal. He has had several surgeries over the years and always seemed to rush back before they were ready.

Quick, name three active boxers vying for the heavyweight title? Heck, name one! You can't. That's why boxing needs Holyfield back and needs him winning. He can do as much for the sport now as Foreman did 10 years ago.

His comeback begins August 18 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas against journeyman Jeremy Bates.

He doesn't need the money. Holyfield wants to see if he can become the first person in history to win the heavyweight title five times. Here's one fan who hopes he does it.

The Need For Speed

Tim Powers made a name for himself with his Texas SAQ (Speed, Agility, Quickness) programs. He's now one of the top trainers in the world based in Hawaii. It's not hard to figure out, that speed, agility and quickness are essential components of being a good athlete. Strength is also important.

UT-Tyler is set to host a summer camp that focuses on these atributes. Here is their press release:

The University of Texas at Tyler Louise Herrington Patriot Center will offer its Patriot Speed and Strength Summer Camp 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. July 17 – 22 and July 24 – 28, Bob Hepler, UT Tyler director of recreational facilities, announced.

The camp is open to all levels of athletes 12 years and older. Camp fee is $50 for HPC members and $75 for non-members. To attend both sessions, the camp fee is $80 for HPC members and $125 for non-members. The camp will focus on speed, strength, plyometrics, agility, flexibility, explosive training, core strength, balance, resistance training and nutrition.

“Every sport requires some level of speed or strength,” said Wes Davis, UT Tyler recreation program assistant. “This camp will help all levels of athletes, even adults, become stronger and faster, and reach the next level in that sport.”

For more information or to sign-up, call 903-565-5602.

How Others See Us

I'm back! My family and I vacationed out of state this past week and gained an interesting perspective on Texas and sports. I watched the NBA Finals with various groups of fans who had no allegiance to either team. Yet, I found a majority of them were rooting for the Miami Heat. There were several reasons why these fans were rooting against the Mavericks.

1. They think Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is a "crazy eccentric"

2. They hate the Cowboys
3. They have allegiances to teams of various sports who are big rivals with Texas teams
4. I was rooting FOR the Mavericks (that's an entirely different story)
5. They like Shaquille O'Neal or Dwayne Wade
6. There isn't a player on the Mavericks they could rally around
7. They don't like Texans

I had a hard time understanding the dislike of Cuban. The guy is a passionate supporter of his team who will do anything in his power to help them win. How is that negative? Yes, his behavior can be a bit out of the norm for an NBA owner (i.e. running onto the court, venting on a blog, or Heaven for bid spending money!). But, apply that behavior to a fan. Fans rush the court, vent on a blog and spend an awful lot of money to go to the games. Wouldn't you do that if you somehow came into a billion dollars and became owner of your favorite team? I know I would.

Hating the Mavericks because they hated the Cowboys was a little easier to understand. Being "America's Team" doesn't always mean everyone in America loves you. It means everyone in America has an opinion about you. The Cowboys have established such a presence, that allegiances for or against them have spilled over to include other teams in the same city and state as the Cowboys.

Shaq is no surprise. He is larger than life. His popularity rivals that of the top athletes in any sport. Wade is a rising star who has benefited from Shaq's presence.

For whatever reason, Dirk Nowitzki isn't getting the exposure or support he deserves. Granted, he didn't step up in the NBA Finals, but he is one of the best in the game. I know he doesn't offer as much entertainment value as Shaq when it comes to interviews, but why should that be held against him? Does he need to call himself the OTHER, other son of Jor-El (Superman's father)?

There are a lot of people who don't get the Texas pride. They don't understand the Alamo or Lone Star stuff. They view Texans as arrogant. I usually get the same answer when I ask those people, "Have you ever BEEN to Texas?" The answer is almost always NO.

I think it's a combination of jealousy and ignorance. Their team usually doesn't win, their owner usually doesn't spend money, and their state doesn't have a strong identity.

And, if you've never been here, then "Don't Mess with Texas!"

Oh yeah, and "Remember the Alamo!"

Hawaiian Teeanger In US Open Field After All

There are few people in the world more happy to shoot an 11-over par 81 today than 15-year-old Tadd Fujikawa of Hawaii. Fujikawa shot the 81 in the opening round of the US Open. Yes, THE US Open. We made such a big deal about 16-year-old Michelle Wie of Hawaii ALMOST qualifying for the US Open that we failed to see another Hawaiian teenager slip into the field. Ironically, Fujikawa finished two strokes behind Wie in a local qualifier in Hawaii (Fujikawa had to sink a 65-foot birdie putt in a playoff to advance). Fujikawa didn't have to face Wie in the regional qualifier because Wie decided to try to qualify in New Jersey to be closer to the LPGA Championship, which she played in that same week in Maryland. As a result, Wie came up short in New Jersey, and Fujikawa captured the one qualifying spot available back in Hawaii, becoming the youngest golfer to qualify for the US Open in 65 years.

If the story ended there, it would be a great one. But Fujikawa's goes much deeper. You see, he's just happy to be alive. Doctors gave him just a 50/50 chance of survival after he was born three and-a-half months premature. He weighed just 1 pound, 15 ounces! He weighs 135 pounds now, standing a whopping 5'1", yet he can still drive his tee shots over 285 yards!

He's also a former national junior Judo Champion who just completed his freshman year of high school.

Pardon me while I go run some laps or something. I feel like such a slacker!

All I Want For Christmas Is A Healthy Quarterback

As a St. Louis native, I went eight seasons without an NFL team. So, you can imagine how ecstatic I was, when the Rams, in their first season in St. Louis in 1995, won their first four games behind the outstanding play of quarterback Chris Miller. But Miller was knocked silly in the Bears game and was never the same again. The Rams would go on to win just three of their final 12 games that season to finish 7-9. It would prove to be Miller's last season with the Rams. St. Louis wouldn't produce another standout quarterback until former stockboy Kurt Warner emerged during the 1999 season, but that's a different story.

The point being, I was devastated when Miller got hurt. The collective hearts of St. Louisans broke, even though we knew it wasn't Miller's fault. He got hurt playing in a game, for us. I couldn't imagine how irate I would have been if Miller's injury would have come off the field as the result of a motorcycle accident.

I won't even begin to understand Pittsburgh Steelers Ben Roethlisberger's thought process. He just signed a 6-year, $40 Million contract in 2004. His health on the field could spell the difference between a Super Bowl Season, and a 6-10 season. What a selfish act to put the hopes of the entire city of Pittsburgh, as well as Millions of dollars of someone else's money on the line, just because it makes you "more free" to not wear a protective helmet while riding one of the most dangerous machines on the road. Of the 323 people in Texas who died in motorcycle crashes, 207 were not wearing a helmet. That's nearly 65%!

The motorcycle Roethlisberger was driving was a 2005 Suzuki Hayabusa, which has a top speed in excess of 200 miles per hour! Why it's legal to ride a motorcycle without a helmet in the first place is beyond me. But, CHOOSING to not wear a helmet while riding on something that moves faster then a Nextel Cup stock car, is just stupid. Dale Earnhardt, may he rest in peace, died while moving at 200 miles per hour, and he was not only wearing a helmet, but he was strapped into a roll cage designed specifically to save his life!

Miraculously, Roethlisberger's doctors say he will not only survive his injuries, but he will most likely play professional football again this fall. Here's one person who believes that if he even THINKS about riding on a motorcycle again until his career is over, then he should have to give back every penny he makes on the football field. We'll see how many motorcycles he can afford then...

East Texas Is King In Dave Campbell's Texas Football

It's one of the most anticipated magazines every year. I'm talking about Dave Campbell's Texas Football Magazine. It features coverage of 1,300 high schools from across the state of Texas. And, of the five athletes featured on the cover, three of them are from East Texas. The most obvious East Texan on the cover is the Tyler Rose himself, Earl Campbell. What is surprising, is that this is the first time Campbell has EVER been featured on the cover! Also on the cover are four blue chip quarterbacks, including Texas High's Ryan Mallett and Gilmer's G.J. Kinne.

There are 22 East Texas teams in the five, Top-25 classification rankings. Four of the five number one ranked teams are from East Texas. Lufkin is number one in 5A, Texas High is number one in 4A, Gilmer is number one in 3A (Liberty-Eylau is #3), Tatum is number one in 2A (Jefferson is #2), and Alto is number two in 1A.

The magazine hits newstands around the state on Tuesday, June 13.

You Can Vote For Texas Sports Hall of Fame

Does Cowboys owner Jerry Jones deserve to be in the Texas Sports Hall of Fame? What about Hooks native Billy Sims?

For the first time in the 55-year history of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, YOU will be able to help the selection committee pick the Class of 2006.

You can go to the museum's website to sign up for the Official Voting Member Program (OVM). The deadline to vote for the upcoming class is July 15.

2006 PRIMARY BALLOT NOMINEES

SHAWN ANDAYA - Softball – Texas A&M
LETA ANDREWS - Basketball Coach - Granbury High School girls
BILL BRADLEY - Football – University of Texas
CYNTHIA COOPER – Basketball – Houston Comets
DELOSS DODDS - Athletic Director – University of Texas
SPIKE DYKES. Football Coach – Texas Tech
MIA HAMM – Soccer – Wichita Falls
JERRY JONES – Owner – Dallas Cowboys
LOUIE KELCHER - Football – SMU
TOMMY KRAMER – Football - Rice
ROOSEVELT LEAKS – Football – University of Texas
ABE LEMONS – Basketball Coach – University of Texas
BRUCE LIETZKE – Golf - University of Houston
DONNA LOPIANO – Women’s Athletic Director – University of Texas
DAVE MARR - Golf – Houston native
JACK MILDREN – Football – Abilene native
WARREN MOON – Football – Houston Oilers
BILLY SIMS – Football – Hooks native
TAL SMITH – Baseball – Houston Astros
CLARISSA DAVIS-WRIGHTSIL. – Basketball – University of Texas


2006 VETERAN BALLOT NOMINEES

GOOSE GONSOULIN – Football - Port Arthur native
ABNER HAYNES – Football – Dallas Texans
RAFER JOHNSON – Track & Field – Hillsboro native
SHORTY LAWSON – Football Official – Abilene native
JACK LUMMUS (dec.) – Football – Ennis native
BIZ MACKEY (dec.) – Baseball, Negro Leagues – Eagle Pass native
WALLY MOON – Baseball – Texas A&M
DON PERKINS – Football – Dallas Cowboys
JOHNNY ROLAND – Football – Corpus Christi native
JIM RAY SMITH – Football – Baylor
MARILYNN SMITH – Golf – Richardson resident
WILLIE WELLS (dec.) – Baseball, Negro Leagues – Austin native

Top 5 For Wie

How does 16-year-old golfer Michelle Wie react to failing to qualify at the men's US Open? She went out this past weekend and almost won an LPGA major! Wie was within one shot of the lead with two holes to play, but missed out because of an erratic putter.

Her comment afterwards was classic!

"I feel like I'm getting closer and closer," Wie said. "It shows a lot that I played my 'B' game and I'm still in the top five."

That's scary!