"There is a syndrome in sports called paralysis by analysis." Arthur Ashe

It doesn’t matter what game or activity that is being watched, observed and/or criticized, there is always an expert that knows the best case scenario. In football terms, they would be known as armchair quarterbacks. Softball, Volleyball, Basketball and many other sports they are known as obnoxious fans, that just blurt out irrelevant rants and raves.

Even though many of the rants gain attention and might garner a laugh or two, but there is a very good chance that the person that is being criticized won’t change their mind or alter their game, just because somebody in the crowd said something, even if they are the most knowledgeable sports genius ever. All athletes should give their coaches their utmost attention. There should be no undercutting of a coaches impact on an athlete while in competition, in most instances the coaches are trying to place the athlete in a situation where they have a chance to be successful. If the athlete chooses to second guess the coaches opinion or advice, there is a good chance that the benefit will be minimal.

First off, fans of athletics, learn the rules of the game. There are some rules that rear their ugly head every blue moon and are remembered by the officials but that isn’t enough, as the officials are all dumb, blind, and favor one team over the other throughout the contest, and according to the fans in the stands that is the truth.

I continue to wish the best to each and every area team and individual competing this fall season, no matter what people say the officials are non-biased at the beginning of a contest, and coaches have the athletes best interest at heart when calling plays and making coaching decisions.

"To be the best, you have to beat the best. That is all there is to it." Adam Vinatieri

It was not an upset, it was a great college football team, the Boise State Broncos flying across America to take on a challenger. The Virginia Tech Hokies stepped to the plate and went head-to-head with one of the hottest teams in NCAA football over the past eight years. I wouldn't have to step too far out onto the limb to guess that there was a great number of people that watched Monday nights showdown between two-highly ranked teams in our Nations Capital.

I would also venture to guess that a high percentage of the fans and patrons that were watching the prime time football game were pulling for the Hokies , because nobody wants the 'little school' to have a chance at elite status.

Not so fast, who is the actual 'little guy' in this NCAA football game? I beg to differ that it isn't the Boise State Broncos, they have posted a record of 84-8 overall since 2002, which includes two undefeated seasons. If you still have doubts in the Broncos as an elite team, you find a team that has been more successful in the last decade.

I know there will be backlash that will involve small talk about Boise State playing a weak conference, or playing against sub-par teams week in and week out. All the doubters of the Broncos should check with their respective favorite teams, and see how many of them have perennial bottom dwellers or NCAA FCS teams on their future schedules for the future seasons instead of elite teams. I am guessing that Boise State isn't listed on their future seasons schedules.

Sooner or later, the 'big guns' in the NCAA BCS system are going to be forced to look up at the Broncos that continue to prosper and are found near the top of the heap, each and every season. Boise State recruits just like any other team, except maybe USC during the Pete Carroll regime; and practices the maximum amount of hours allowed, just like any other team, than maybe Michigan. The Wolverines must tell time differently.

I don't care if a team is a mid-major and/or an BCS conference member or even a lower tier team of the NCAA, each and every contest, the athletes get prepared in a locker room by putting their pants or shorts on one leg at a time and one shoe at a time. The minority athletes don't participate in the games to hopefully finish second, everybody plays to win.

There is no place in the United States for contests to be played on paper. There are even tic-tac-toe video games now, so the paper can be used to wipe away the garbage written about the BCS and Major conference schools reigning as king of the NCAA. Every school, big or small has a voice. Do we hear your favorite colleges voice?

"Thats just the tip of the Iceberg." Dr. Matthew Cartter

The countdown is over and it is full steam ahead until at least June, the high school seasons are here. The first week of High School football games has concluded with nobodies hopes of a state championship dashed yet. The softball programs are all nearly full-swing into a fast-paced season on the diamonds.

This week the march towards elite status and team hardware starts for the volleyball, cross country and tennis teams in the state of Nebraska. The blood, sweat and tears that the athletes have put in throughout the past year and their careers deserves to be applauded. I wish each and every one of you the best of luck. I can’t wait to see all the teams perform at their best.

During the season there are some athletes that will be forced to deal with injuries, bumps and/or bruises from their competitions, which is just part of the game. Just think athletes, for everytime you have doubt in battling back into action there is an athlete or former athlete in their adult years, that is chomping at the bit to be given, just one more opportunity. Some people’s athletic careers end abruptly without warning and others are like the Energizer bunny, aka Brett Farve. Every person will bounce back from adversity, it is just how you bounce back that will make the difference.

Listed below are a small preview of my thoughts and in-depth view of TRIBUNE-area gridiron matchups.

Gothenburg vs. Minden

Both teams enter the contest with week zero wins. The ground game will be king in this contest. Gothenburg used great speed and athleticism to gain some much needed game speed experience. The Whippets used a potent rushing attack also. It could be a race until the final whistle, who has the most team speed?

Gothenburg 21 Minden 13

Lexington vs. Northwest

It has been two years since the Vikings and Minutemen battled on the turf. Lexington and Northwest were both dealt defeats at the hands of very good teams during week zero. This is a friends turned foe, when the ball is kicked off as the coaches of the teams, Kevin Stein and Phil Truax are very close friends. The secrets of these two teams are not so hush-hush, this contest will come down to guts, and gumption. Who has more?

Lexington 17 Northwest 14

Cozad vs. Centura

Both teams are coming of defeats at the hands of very good teams. I feel that if Cozad can gain some confidence in their running game in the early going, they can grind out a win against the Centurions. Defensively, the Haymakers grew-up a ton in their second half bout with Ogallala. The coaching prowess and expertise of Ron Bubak and company will be the difference in this contest.

Cozad 14 Centura 6

Page Deuce:

Eustis/Farnam over Elwood

Adams Central over Hastings

Alliance over Gordon/Rushville

Amherst over Pleasanton

DC Aquinas over Columbus Scotus

Litchfield over SEM

Aurora over McCook

Battle Creek over Boone Central

Beatrice over Norris

Creighton Prep over Bellevue West

Elkhorn over Blair

Brady over Maxwell

Broken Bow over Ord

Cambridge over Oberlin

Central City over Wood River

North Platte over Columbus

Brownell-Talbot over Conestoga

Crete over Omaha Skutt

Doniphan-Trumbull over Twin River

Perkins County over Dundy County/Stratton

Elm Creek over Axtell

Winside over Emerson-Hubbard

Grand Island CC over St. Paul

Hampton over Giltner

Hastings SC over Kearney Catholic

Bridgeport over Hershey

Nebraska over Western Kentucky

UNO over UNK

Howells over West Point CC

Pitt State over Chadron State

Missouri over Illinois

UCLA over Kansas State

Pittsburgh over Utah

Texas over Rice

Idaho over North Dakota

Michigan over Connecticut

"Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, its much more serious than that."

Can you feel it? The time has come when the pressures and stresses of practices are coming to a point where the tension is so thick, it could span a bridge and allow the teams to travel across the bridge to compete on the gridiron against an opponent that is declared the enemy for a short time on a Friday night.

The emotions that are flooded out by the fans, bands, families and athlete’s are priceless. The moments that will be forgotten, might be remembered by a teammate or opponent, it is one of the greatest times of the year. The sport of football is controlled chaos and violence that is legal in all 50 states of the United States of America. Is there anything better?

In my opinion, Football is one of the greatest games on the face of the planet. The stories and memories that stick in a person’s mind for a year or upwards of 50 years is astounding; considering the amount of time lapse, the amount of detail that is remembered is amazing. I am just a little biased, considering football has always been a big time love for me, I am not sure but my heart might be shaped like a football, and the love of the game just pumps throughout my arteries and veins.

I have recently received an email that has an extended music video for Kenny Chesney’s new single, entitled, “The Boys of Fall,” if that doesn’t get a football fan and/or player’s blood pumping and emotions forced to the forefront, I am not sure anything would liven up you from your comatose state.

For all the football experts in the TRIBUNE-area, I am challenging each and everyone of you to predict more winners in the Football Fever contest than I can predict. If I got the Football Fever and it running rampant all over America, if you don’t already have it, you better catch it.

Listed below are my in-depth selections followed by my list of expert picks from all over the state of Nebraska and surrounding area.

Gothenburg vs. Ord

This contest should be a hard fought battle within seven points, for the whole first half. In the second half the ground and pound along with the blazing speed and quickness of the Swedes will reign.

Gothenburg 34 Ord 13

Lexington vs. Gering

The two teams dueled twice last season. Gering was the victor in both contests. Lexington will still utilize the spread offense and be running and gunning throughout the contest, whereas the pass first offense of the Bulldogs is being put on the shelf to showcase their stellar running game, in an option style attack. Not all of the bugs will be worked out of the running attack of the Dawgs and they will fall at home, in a close one.

Lexington 17 Gering 14

Cozad vs. Ogallala

A good ole fashioned SWC gridiron battle. Ogallala drops down from the Class B ranks, but doesn't have a drop off in talent. Cozad returns multiple starters that have been in Haymaker threads through the good times, and hopefully those elite times return during the 2010 season. Against the Indians, in the opener, the Haymakers use a potent ground attack and attempt to grind out the clock but don't quite have enough to outdistance the Class B 'big boys' that have dropped down.

Ogallala 21 Cozad 14

Remaining picks from throughout the state:

Chadron over Alliance

Arapahoe over Axtell

David City Aquinas over Weeping Water

Fremont Bergan over Homer

Auburn over Nebraska City

Bellevue West over Bellevue East

Bennington over Elkhorn South

Omaha Skutt over Blair

Broken Bow over St. Paul

Sutherland over Chase County

Kearney over Columbus

Millard North over Creighton Prep

Burwell over Elm Creek

Lawrence/Nelson over Exeter/Milligan

Fairbury over Minden

Grand Island over Norfolk

UNK over Wayne State

Lincoln North Star over Lincoln East

Lincoln NE over Fremont

Lincoln Pius X over Omaha Gross

Lincoln SE over Lincoln SW

PLV South over Papillion LaVista

Pawnee City over Johnson-Brock

Wahoo Neumann over Platteview

South Sioux City over Plattsmouth

Wallace over Potter-Dix

Milford over Raymond Central

Hampton over Red Cloud

Silver Lake over Dorchester

Schuyler over Hastings

Aurora over Seward

Adams Central over Sidney

North Platte over Lincoln High

Millard South over Omaha Westside

Millard West over Omaha North

"Loyalty means nothing unless it has at its heart the absolute principle of self-sacrifice" Woodrow T. Wilson

In the National Basketball League (NBA), the days of waiting are over. July 1st has come and gone, and the hopes and dreams of many teams to land one of the three coveted free agent giants, have diminished for all but one team, the Miami Heat. The Heat have plenty of things to lure all-stars, the beach, a recent World Championship trophy, and an administration that has the formula for success. I have no issues with the Miami ballers, as they seek the future dynasty of NBA hoops. In the upcoming season, LeBron James and Chris Bosh will join Dwyane Wade in Miami, which also brings high expectations to South Beach.

When speaking of loyalty, the old-school Dwyane Wade is the only one of the trio that currently accessorizes with a NBA Championship ring from 2006.

Chris Bosh, the former face of the NBA franchise, Toronto Raptors; is the Raptors all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocks, double-doubles, free throws made and attempted and minutes played. Bosh played his high school hoops in Dallas, Texas before a short one-year career at Georgia Tech. Bosh was drafted fourth overall in the 2003 NBA Draft. Bosh has led the Raptors to a Playoffs berth, and Toronto’s first ever division title, but it was either the cold weather or the lack of help in winning efforts that persuaded him to shop around for his new team for the upcoming season. Bosh doesn’t get a reprieve from me, he hoped on the bandwagon, and traveled south to Florida. Maybe he couldn't tolerate the cold weather any longer?

The bandwagon’s and faithful behind Ohio’s homegrown talent, Former Cavalier LeBron ‘King’ James, are devastated. In 2007, just three short years ago, the Cleveland Cavaliers were in the NBA Finals, led by the charges of James. James was Ohio’s golden boy, he was cherished from border to border in the buckeye state, until now.

In a televised announcement, where LeBron James announced his free agent intentions, that should have taken five minutes or less, was an hour long. Are you kidding me, he looked as comfortable as a fat guy in a little coat, for the 10 minutes that I watched the circus. Within the short time that I viewed the program, the word loyalty came up numerous times. Loyalty; I think not, Mr. James you abandon your team, and state for money and the chance to win a championship somewhere else because you don’t think Cleveland can win a title. I am sure that I personally, would pay more than a penny for your thoughts, Mr. James, if Cleveland would finish in the money from the longshot position in the near future. If you are truly the ‘King’, why can’t you get the Free Agents to come to Cleveland and play with you, You are nothing but a joker or butler or any other understudy of royalty, following the orders of a higher power.

Throughout the Summer months, there have been plenty of NBA stars trying to stir up interest for the upcoming 2011 season, but no matter how many jersey’s are burnt, how many superstars go to South Beach, there is only one championship trophy and to get that hardware, the road goes through Los Angeles.

“Statistics are to baseball, what flaky crust is to Mom’s apple pie.” Harry Reasoner

What is more American than apple pie? In sports the answer would be baseball, so it is only relevant that the two items are mentioned together. Everybody’s mother has a special recipe to cook the masterful, delicious apple pie, but there is always that, “special ingredient” that is a secret and makes each and every pie, unique. In the sport of baseball, there are numerous occurrences and feats that have happened unusually through out the history of major league baseball, to make each and every accomplishment unique. There have been players that hit more than one grand slam in the same inning, pitchers have been taken out without recording an out, giving them an ERA of ballooned proportions, and other pitchers that are credited with a win without ever throwing a pitch.

Throughout the history of baseball, America’s game, there are seven significant feats that can separate themselves from others as being great individual efforts that involve pitching, hitting, defense and base running.

--Stealing home: Stealing home plate has the potential to be one of the most exciting baserunning plays in baseball. It all happens, when a pesky, daring base runner will break towards the plate when the pitcher starts his hurling effort towards the plate. Do you happen to know who holds the record for career steals of home, and how many times he has stolen home plate?

--Inside-the-park Homerun: In the days of going deep, hitting tape measure shots over the fence, the inside-the-park homerun have gone to the way side. It takes several ducks to all be in a row, for it to happen. The batter must have great speed, have great placement of the hit to make it happen. Currently about one out of every 160 homeruns is an inside-the park homerun. MLB hall of famer, Roberto Clemente is the only person ever, to hit a walkoff inside-the-park grand slam.

--The Ultimate Grand Slam: In our dreams, in our backyard, anybody that even likes baseball has acted out the scene. There are two outs, bases are loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, trailing by three runs and if you the batter, hit a grand slam homer, the game is over and you are the hero. Did you know, that in the history of the major leagues, the feat has only been achieved 22 times, and only one of the twenty-two occurred with a full count. Chris Hoiles of the Baltimore Orioles was the hero.

--Golden Sombrero: To achieve the golden sombrero, a single player would strikeout four times in one game. The term is derived from the sport of hockey’s ‘hat-trick’. If a hat-trick is three goals, why not add one, which then means a bigger hat, thus the sombrero. Phillies hall of fame infielder, Mike Schmidt, arguably has the most significant ‘golden sombrero’, striking out four times on a total of just 12 pitches.

--The Natural Cycle: A player that shows his versatility with a combination of speed and power, by hitting a single, followed by a double, triple and homerun; all in order, in a single game has achieved the feat of hitting for a ‘natural cycle’. In the history of major league baseball, only 14 men have completed the feat.

--A Perfect Game: It has been labeled the pinnacle of any pitchers career, when a pitcher retires all 27 batters that were faced. Prior to this season of MLB baseball, there had only been 18 men, who had thrown a perfect game. This 2010 season alone there has been a pair of pitchers, Roy Halladay and Dallas Braden that had added their name to the elite list.

--A No-Hitter: Is a game where a pitching staff or individual pitcher keeps the opposing team hitless, which allows walks, hit-by-pitches and errors. It is still possible for a pitcher to throw a no-hitter and lose, it has happened only once ever. There have been over 260 non-hitters thrown in the history of the game, every MLB has had a no-hitter thrown against them.

It doesn’t matter what level of play of baseball/softball that is being enjoyed by youngsters or adults this summer, all of the above mentioned occurrences can be set as goals. There are numerous chances for athletes to have fun playing backyard stick and ball games, all the way to a competitive leagues in baseball/softball. All it takes is a sniff of baseball/or softball and you just might, ‘Catch the Fever’.

Don't forget to vote in the latest poll, in guessing: How many years before the Cornhuskers Football team wins a Big 10 Championship?

“Baseball is like church, many attend but few understand.” Wes Westrum

I have been to my fair share of baseball and softball games and have thoroughly enjoyed the diamond action, even when I wasn’t participating. I have taken in college, professional and even novice baseball and softball action, and give my utmost respect to the athletes that are staying active and participating.

The participants on the diamond, all dream of playing in front of thousands of people, but that isn’t always the case, I think there are more followers and fans at Legion baseball games, than there were in the final years of the Montreal Expos, but then again the Expos didn’t play in a stick-and-ball hotbed either. It doesn’t matter if a fan is attending a baseball game at Fenway Park, the new Yankee Stadium or any of the local high school baseball and softball fields; the people in attendance, that respect the game, aren’t bigger than the game and support the game, I totally whole-heartedly respect. There is always a spoiler in attendance though, some times more than one ignorant fan. With the assistance of a few onlookers at diamond matchups, I have compiled a checklist of potential spoilers, that could be coming to a stadium or ballfield near you. (This list could apply to any sporting event.)

If you are in the presence of more than one of the below mentioned ‘superfans’, consider yourself privledged, to now feel just a little more intelligent, that you aren’t that superfan.

--Text addict: The person who spends more time involved with his phone and social life, than actually watching the game. What is wrong with a small lapse from the soap opera life; and enjoying the feel and excitement of watching athletic competition live, in full-color?

--Jersey fan: It is awesome to support your team by wearing the team colors in replica or authenic threads, but to put your own name on the jersey? I am not sure that I am believing that the Frazier that wore number 15 for the Huskers, is now a white guy that is bald and Five-foot nothing, 100 pounds, and his jersey is small enough, it wouldn’t have fit the kicker. In baseball, and in fact any sport, if you have the name johnson or smith on the back of your jersey, you could be a sports superstar and look the part, but that is usually not the case with the individuals spotted wearing the professional threads.

--Know it all, Ex-Jock: This fan is usually the person that knows the least, but knows it the loudest. In fact, in most situations the insertion of a couple big, awkward words into his speech, is a dead giveaway in the lack of knowledge of the individual. The person might only be a high school or college kid, but they remember exactly like it was yesterday, the last time the beloved Chicago Cubs won the World Series, and that is virtually impossible. The person was probably in attendance at the game, or maybe they are recalling that time in Little League, when they threw the no-hitter, and lets everybody know of his life changing accomplishments of youth athletics.

--Ball-Strike fan: It doesn’t matter what level of competition, there will always be the fan in the stands or voice in the crowd that doesn’t approve of the umpires calls. Its never the guy, right behind the plate in the front row, its the fan that is so far from the action, whether it be in the nosebleed section, or the person sitting in their car watching the action outside the fence, but they can clearly see the pitch through their binoculars, better than the umpire, supposedly.

--Shirtless guy or Bikini girl: There are always going to be people that enjoy to flaunt their muscles, or attention grabbing physiques, but lets keep it away from the games. The excuses of, “I just left the gym or Its just to hot to wear a shirt,” isn’t a viable excuse in my book. If you want to wear swimming attire, go to a swimming pool. You aren’t going to see me shirtless, I would very soon look like a lobster, and I don’t quite have the physique to be struting around in public.

--Glove fan: It doesn't matter what level of play, there is always a fan in the stands with a glove; maybe hoping to be put into the game to play defense; or be subbed into the diamond action a person has to always be prepared. For some fans, that attend professional games, they may bring a glove in hopes of catching a foul ball or a homerun ball; and don't want to embarrass themselves by dropping the ball. I have caught a homerun ball, without a glove, and caught it one handed, as if I had a glove on. Leave your glove at home and go to enjoy the game.

Throughout the summer months, you can use this checklist to see how right or wrong I am about the fans in the stands.

SPORTS THINKING OUTLOUD TRIVIA: What number was Mickey Mantle wearing when he hit his first major league homerun? Who was the individual that was currently wearing the #7 that forced Mantle to don a different number, where was he from?

“When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Joseph P. Kennedy

Throughout the spring and summer months, there are numerous instances, that the going gets tough. It can happen on the greens, on the dirt oval, on the pond and even in the deep end of a swimming pool. Somehow, we must all push through the early going, no matter what Mother Nature decides to give us, all the way to and through the ‘Dog Days’ of Summer.

During the warm months, the greens and fairway will become second nature to many people, that have been hitting the rough or living in the sand. There are many courses in the Nebraska that can challenge all levels of linksters, and hackers. There are island greens that rival the PGA Championship courses, that cause hackers like me to carry a ball retriever. Some people say that I spend more time in the sand and water than the lifeguard crew from, "Baywatch", while attempt to play the game known as golf. For us less than scratch golfers, there are still courses in Nebraska, that have sand greens, that build my short-game confidence in the direction of a PGA pro. Novice or experienced, the relaxed atmosphere on the elegant green grass of a country club, is a welcome site for everybody involved in golf.

If you are a golfer who spends too much time in the rough,and want to see people having fun in the rough, especially on the dirt, there are many other options to be active. There currently are numerous individuals that are prefecting their ability to ‘go fast, turn left’. At times, the adversity, such as yellow, red, and/or black flags can put a cramp in a drivers plans for winning, but the real competitors continue to push forward and never give up, there are too many alternatives that can fall in your direction, that very soon there after, a trip back to a top five finishing position can just fall into ones lap. A little luck, is always helpful.

Speaking of being lucky, luck is always a good thing, out on the water. Fishing, boating and/or skiing, etc., is a popular activity for many of the generation X population. Many people are just amateurs, but there is always a chance that amateurs are flung into the limelight as ‘Master Anglers’, it only takes one snag, catch to earn the label of being an elitist fisherman. In boating and skiing, snag is not a good term to hear, I don’t know about you, but i would prefer of everything going smoothly, no tumbles, no bruises and/no paddling, that isn’t too much to ask for is it?

The paddling is hopefully at a minimum, especially when you are at a swimming pool. I, myself am very proficient in the different swimming strokes, and have always enjoyed trips to the pool. On those very hot days of summer, it is a relaxing experience, to ease into the water and enjoy the mild temperature. It shouldn’t matter if you are an advanced swimmer or a beginner, there are chances for all participants to battle past the tough going, and face your fears of water and the swimming suit blues.

Everybody has the chance to prosper in activities and athletics this summer. There are many activities that involve being active, all people need to venture out of their comfort zones, and ignore the rough and tough patches and keep your eye on the prize at the end.

Self Satisfaction and Achievement

“You have to wonder at times what you’re doing out there. Over the years, I’ve given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement.”

Steve Prefontaine

Here in the very near future, the school year and spring sports season will have been completed, and there has been many personal achievements and goals reached by the competitors in Soccer, Tennis, Golf and Track and Field, and you the athlete and the faithful supporters should step back for a second and remember the moments, that will be cherished for a lifetime.

It doesn’t matter if you scored a hat trick, hit a hole-in-one, and/or cleared 7’0” in the high jump, your personal achievements deserve recognition, just as much as the athlete that scored their first goal, hit for par or elevated over opening height. The personal goals and praise should be shared, by the successful competitor, it is healthy and part of being self-satisfied, considering each and everyone of our biggest critics, is yourself. Accept the praise given to you; most positive praise is from credible, legit sources.

The next time you attend a soccer game on the pitch, catch some net action and/or take in a track and field meet, applaud all the competitors for their successes, no matter if they break the tape, all the way to the last finisher. A prime example of the loyalty of athletics, are the former athletes that return to watch the sports action of their former teams and are proud to wear the specific colors of the school or team.

It doesn’t matter if you have family members competing or not, find time to support your former coaches that have made you the wonderful person that you are today, whether they affected you in the classroom or in the athletic spectrum.

At the State Track and Field meet in Omaha, there is a conglomerate of former Bearcat athletes cheering on the current Kearney High participants, each and every year. They take pride in their accomplishments and the schools current feats.

The Pride of your school can be demonstrated in multiple ways, and recently ‘Suhperman’ Nadamkong Suh made a large financial contribution to the Nebraska Cornhusker athletic program, to thank the University for the chance to achieve his personal goals and as a result of his successes and the donation, Suh should be self satisfied, totally.

In a totally different aspect, but just as valuable situation, NFL Super Bowl winning lineman Carl Nicks recently returned to the Nebraska-Lincoln campus and apologized to coach Bo Pelini and AD Tom Osborne for bad behavior when he was a Husker. There was no financial exchange, but the self-satisfaction and respect gained by the mentioned individuals, is priceless.

Which begs me to ask the question, if you are self-satisfied and proud of your school; is your school proud of you?

The Beginning of Twenty Questions

I have recently been approached about many different questions involving sports on the local scene, but also the mainstream athletic spectrum's that are viewed on the television sports channels. I am going to express my opinions, which are my correct answers, I don’t need to poll the audience, go half and half or even phone a friend, my response is my final answer, and that is a no-doubter, Regis.

What do you think of the implementation of the new NCAA football rules, on taunting, wedge blocking and eye black messages?

First off, the taunting rules will be abused until they are enforced by each and every officiating crew. I totally agree with the taunting penalty being implemented if the actions are displayed during the scoring play or big defensive play, but in dead ball situations, the rule hasn’t really changed. Showboats will still be showboats, the look at me crowd will never die. Speaking of showboats, what started out as a religious or personal devotion on the eye black patches has become just another way to get your point across, instead of Tim Tebow’s ‘John 3:16’ or Reggie Bush’s ‘619’ offerings, but Buckeye Terrelle Pryor’s ‘Mike Vick’ was just out of left field and uncalled for. My only thought on the outlawing of wedge blocking is, when during fall two-a-days camp are they going to hand out the flags and velcro belts?

How many volunteers does it take to run a successful track and field meet?

Throughout the years of my athletic career, which hasn’t spanned nearly as long as many track and field enthusiasts that are still finding a place leaning on the fence to watch high school athletes perform to the best of their abilities. I have seen examples that have been very successful throughout the years; where townspeople, students, teachers, and/or visiting school officials are scheduled to assist in the running of the meet. The amount of workers all depends on the number of participants competing, but to run off a meet smoothly, there are always volunteers needed, that step in when help is needed with no questions asked, they just notice the need for help. A prime example would be at the recent Dawson County Track meet in Lexington a current coach and a former Activities Director, now coaching; stepping in and providing needed help without evening asking if they could help, this is just one of the reason that these individuals have been a success as a parent, coach, activities director and mentor to young athletes in the TRIBUNE-area.

Thank you to all the volunteers that allow athletic events to happen, and go off smoothly for all participants.

“I need privacy. I would think that because what I do makes a lot of people happy that I might deserve a little bit of respect in return. Instead, people try to drag me off my pedestal.” Jim Carrey

How many people think that they have lived a perfect life have never, ever done anything wrong? The people that thought they were undefeated and always right, just had a defeat,; at some time in all of our lives, we have done something incorrectly and it has made us stronger, thus the phrase, “Live and learn.” We make mistakes and maybe a couple hundred people are informed of our misfortunes, but how about sports stars and heroes that make mistakes, millions, and billions of people find out about their brain cramps or defeats, whether it is in competition or in their private lives. In each and everyone of our private lives, we have secrets that are never shared, but that is not possible for sports stars, the skeletons in their closets glow in the dark.

Sports stars tend to be placed under a microscope, no matter if they are in season, out of season, at home or in competition. The lifestyle that Mr. Eldrick “Tiger Woods” had been living was not up to par with many ethical and morally correct critics. According to the statistics, above 50 percent of people in this world will have affairs during their marriage. Wait a minute, does that mean that there are many people that have similar private lives as Tiger, but haven’t gotten the press for their infidelity efforts? Tiger is such a glory hog.

Infidelity reports have been linked to many sports stars, almost too many to name, they come from all walks of life. The constant variable in each sports stars extramarital actions are the partner in crime, in most instances they aren’t labeled as model citizens. Who is the individual that gets the bulk of the criticism, remember, "It takes Two to Tango." Professional sports leagues warn about the reactions and effects of actions, but then again you can lead a horse to water, but the horse has to drink on its own.

The ways of the ancient world have gone ballistic, not many one-on-one conversations occur in sports. The computer age has taken over with Twitter, Facebook and/or Blogging and the use of cell phones, etc. There have been instances that coaches and athletes discuss via text messaging or email about issues that would be much better solved in person. The toughness of people destroying the privacy of athletes, whether amateur or professional is happening at a rapid pace, it is quite easy for people to hide behind their keyboards and express hatred towards other people via email, text and/or instant message, this all happens on athletes personal, supposedly private phone numbers, accounts, etc. The madness that ensues with the playing of the NCAA basketball tournament each and every year isn’t just with the upsets, but with the people that become irate because, “one-player” didn’t play well and cost the individual the shot to win their office pool and the displeasure is expressed via a cyberspace attack on the athlete. Cry me a river, because your feelings and displeasure will subside. The athlete will, “Live and learn,” if you let them, live their own private life.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: In track and field, what is the shortest race not run in lanes?

Winning and Losing

“If you can react the same way to winning and losing, that's a big accomplishment. This quality is important because it stays with you the rest of your life. ”

Chris Evert Lloyd

Winning and losing, finishing first or last can all result in lessons being learned by the athletes, and spectators. Losing needs to be done with class, and a person can show some emotion, but remember act like you have won something before, because not too far away from you, is somebody that is devastated inside due to the loss. I personally believe it is important that as humans, we experience the highs and lows of athletics and competition, just so a person can step back and evaluate their progress. Not everybody is going to experience the euphoria of winning a championships, but when given the chance, each individual needs to celebrate the feat with class.

Not everybody and every team is going to be satisfied with the opinions of the masses. A prime example would the be approval rating of the Kansas Jayhawks basketball squad after their season halting defeat at the hands of Northern Iowa. The Jayhawks were the favorite of many people to win the NCAA mens basketball tournament. The Panthers of Northern Iowa made sure that their showdown with Kansas wasn’t played on paper, even though many people had Kansas winning on their sheet of brackets. Northern Iowa played a great game and deserves all the accolades they are receiving, but what I don’t approve of is all the garbage talk towards the Jayhawks for causing you the fan, no hope in your local NCAA bracket contest. Are you serious, you are a true fan of college athletics but would rather throw a team under the bus, because they were defeated and cost you bragging rights or pocket change? Not just the athletes but student-athletes and fans of competition should be proud of the victors and the people that respect the game, enough to be pouring their hearts out to put on a display of great athleticism for the world to watch.

Sooner or later, each and every person will have their chance in the limelight, you can’t force the issue or try to eliminate the competition, because if you exterminate the competition, is it really a great feat, when you accomplish greatness by exerting no effort?

Question of the Week: In honor of Major League Baseball season starting up soon, can you name the pitcher that has recorded the most wins in a season and how many wins he recorded?

“We want the referees to be a team and they should all be able to speak and write a common language.”

Urs Linsi

In almost all sports there are rules and officials to enforce the rules. Whether a person likes the calls and/or justifications, is a whole different story. I have recently observed numerous instances that have involved officials or referees acting in correct and also questionable fashion.

Before digging my own grave with my thoughts, I do want to inform you that yes, I have worn the stripes and have my own theories and justifications to making calls that have influenced the outcome of the game. Being in position and making a correct call takes, time and effort, and more people should attempt the art and complexity of officiating, it isn’t as easy as it looks.

In a soccer game, I have seen a player use his hand and punched in a goal, which he thought was legal, not so fast though as I saw the handball and made the call that pulled the goal off the board, what would a person fell like it I hadn’t made that call? I would have to live with it for the rest of my life, there is only one time to make that call, and that was at the time of the occurrence.

With the tension and excitement at a high level here lately, especially on the hardwood as teams seasons weigh in the balance of win or go home, I have seen many exhibitions of less than stellar judgement.

I can say personally as a former coach, there is no way in this lifetime, that I would let the player stay in the game, if the player got called for a technical for arguing with the official about the original foul call, at the very least sit the athlete down for a bit to cool his temper, but lo and behold the athlete remains in the game, with minimal action being put forth by the coach towards the players actions. Are you kidding me?

I have observed a timeout called during a jump ball, a football drive block used as a screen on the hardwood, a player with five fouls remain in the game, and a non rooted player draw a charge call on defense. Should hoopsters really have to deal with bad bruises and bloody noses on the hardwood either?

Officials have a thankless job, and usually don’t get the credit that is due to them. This could be a justifiable reason that we have less than stellar officials, nobody wants to do a thankless job. Give praise to your officials from the opening tip to the completion of the contest, not just till the clock reads 0:00.1, and just maybe the theory of, “Treat others like you would like to be treated,” will result in good officials making good calls.

Good Ol' Boys Club NFL addition

After the latest news out, that Bill Callahan was recognized as the best assistant coach in the NFL, it most likely made most people in the state of Nebraska throw up in their mouth a little bit. Bill was once in the NFL as an assistant coach and then got into a power struggle with his players as a head coach and was fired, but just like bad habits he came back with a vengeance and is paying dividends for the New York Jets, in their run to a playoff berth.

With Callahan not working as a head coach for the Raiders, but then again, who can work for Al Davis in the blackhole of California NFL football? We look forward towards some former NFL assistant coaches who stepped outside the box and attempted to be head coaches, for example Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weiss. Crennel has been involved in talks to return to a defensive coordinator position with many NFL teams, after his unsuccessful stint as a head coach for the Cleveland Browns and Weiss not being able to satisfy Touchdown Jesus in South Bend, as the ringmaster for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish? How do they get the label as, "fighting", I have seen them play and wouldn't say they were fighting to hard to win, but that is for another rant and rave blog to be released at a later date. Weiss has been connected with taking over playcalling and offensive coordinator duties for the Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL.

Those are just a few of the coaches that have stepped off the edge and were freefalling basically to be caught by a net at the bottom of the cliff that was being held by former NFL coaches. Have you ever checked and been surprised if not shocked at the number of former NFL head coaches that get fired, and become assistant coaches for other teams, it is not so much a coaching carousel, but a coaching merry-go-round, that sometimes throws a coach off onto the bumper cars, but just like any kid at a carnival, they soon return to the merry-go-round.

Its like the coaches of the NFL have a Union, speaking of do you think NCAA championship winning coach Nick Saban or fellow NFL-Benedict Arnold, Bobby Petrino have payed their Union membership dues?

Stump the followers: Among former and current NFL assistant coaches, who was the assistant coach that was tenured for the most consecutive years and how long did he coach? What NFL team did he led to rush for over 30,000 yards during his stint as the running backs coach?

hint:This coach has been on the sidelines for 742 of the franchise’s NFL games.