This past weekend the National American University rodeo team hosted its two-day Maverick Rodeo.The whole episode of the elimination of athletics at NAU is a shame and the merits of the move could be debated back and forth. But this past weekend’s rodeo gave those highly-skilled athletes the opportunity to shine in their home arena. By all accounts, the rodeo was highly successful and was a great sendoff for a rodeo program that always competed at a high level.It’s truly a shame it was the last ride for the Maverick rodeo program.Andrew 

For years, players who have appeared on the cover of the Madden football video game have suffered through a bad season the following year. Try as they may, the curse has had a strong hold whether it is Vince Young, LaDaninian Tomlinson or Michael Vick.So this year the football cover boy will be Brett Favre — who is now retired. I am not sure what will happen to Brett if he doesn’t put on the pads and helmet this season, but if I were him I wouldn’t walk under any latters and stay away from black cats.What I am sure of is this can’t be good news for Aaron Rodgers. Every thing Favre does these days seems to be an attack on him. Jeff

In a women’s college softball game between Western Oregon and Central Washington recently something rare happened. There was no fight on the field, or in the stands, no arguing with an umpire even, or talk about steriods, just an act of sportsmanship that will hardly get a mention in this day and age.

Western Oregon senior Sara Tucholsky had never hit a home run in her career. Central Washington senior Mallory Holtman was already her school’s career leader in them.
But when a twist of fate and a torn knee ligament brought them face to face with each other they combined on a home run trot that celebrated the collective human spirit far more than individual athletic achievement.

The diminitive Tucholsky, she stands only 5-foot-2 inches, hit a ball over center field fence, with two runners on. As she rounded the first base bag she fell in a heap suffering possibly a torn cartilage in her knee.

After conferring the umpires ruled that the only option available was to replace Tucholsky at first base with a pinch runner and have the hit recorded as a two-run single instead of a three-run home run.

At that point Holtman, a four-year starter for Central Washington asked if Tucholsky could be carried around the bases.

Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace then lifted Tucholsky off the ground and supported her weight between them as they began a slow trip around the bases.

Accompanied by a standing ovation from the fans, they finally reached home plate and then Holtman and Wallace returned to their positions.

When asked why she did it afterwards, Holtman said, “because it was the right thing to do.”

My hat’s off to you Mallory Holtman, you will be a winner long after you’ve played your last game.

Lenn

NEW YORK — Calgary’s Jarome Iginla, Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin and Washington’s left wing Alex Ovechkin have been nominated for the Hart Trophy, the NHL’s most valuable player award.

The league announced the finalists, chosen by a vote of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association at the end of the regular season on Tuesday. The winner will be announced June 12 during the 2008 NHL awards show in Toronto.

I do not see how this award would not go to Ovechkin, even though he is out of the playoffs. He is the league’s points and goal-scoring leader with 112 points on 65 goals and 47 assists, led the Capitals in a late rush to the Southeast Division title and a place in the Stanley Cup playoffs. He set the single-season NHL record for goals by a left wing and scored the most goals in a season since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96.

Was there a better hockey player during the regular season?

Josh

Monday’s court decision allowing former Black Hills Speedway operators Floyd and Patty Weisz to regain control of the beleaguered speedplant in time to apparently salvage part of the 2008 racing season would seem to be good news for racers and race fans alike.
But is this a path to returning BHS to its former glory days or just a temporary stay of execution?
It doesn’t seem all that long ago that more than 120 race cars filled the pits and upwards of 3,000 spectators filled the grandstands at BHS on a typical Friday night during the summer.
Truth is, numbers in both categories have been in decline for more than a decade. Why that is happening when other speedways in less populated areas seem to be surviving if not thriving? Well, that depends on who you ask. Rising gasoline prices, a struggling economy and competition from a plethora of other leisure time actitivities available in the Hills all seem to have taken their toll on the numbers of people wanting to plunk down hard-earned dollars to go racing or even just to sit in the stands and enjoy a night of competition.
One thing seems certain, however, the days of Black Hills Speedway in its present location would seem to be numbered.
Even with thousands of dollars of badly needed upkeep and improvements, the speedway that was three miles from town when it was first built is now surrounded by commercial and residential development that will eventually render the property more valuable as something other than a racetrack.
This is nothing new. Population growth and urban sprawl across the country has swallowed many a speedway, drive-in movie theater, or amusement park.
Finding a new place to race can be done–Gillette’s Thunder Speedway being a prime example–but it’s not easy.
There are some signs of a new track under construction north of town, but there has been no indication of any plans to open in the near future.
So, is the future of racing in western South Dakota bright or bleak as we want to make it?

Jim

Chadron State’s Danny Woodhead signed a free agent contract with the New York Jets almost immediately after the conclusion of the NFL Draft on Sunday. That means that I’m a Jets fan (at least for a little while).

The odds against Woodhead even making the team are long — the number of undrafted rookie free agents that latch on to a team are probably similar to the number of sub-6-footers in the NBA — and the odds of him getting onto the field next season are, quite honestly, terrible. But I will be cheering for Woodhead in spite of those odds.

I hear plenty of people denigrate Woodhead’s abilities because he played against D-II schools and it drives me nuts. He may not be big enough to play in the NFL, but I have a hard time believing he’s not good enough. Anybody that’s seen him play knows he’s a gifted football player. Undersized, yes – but gifted nonetheless. More importantly, anybody that’s talked to him, or even watched him interact with fans, knows he’s a standout off the field, too. He’s simply as nice and humble as any athlete I’ve ever seen.

If you can’t get behind this guy, you’re missing something (like a heart). Go ahead and doubt his ability to make it in America’s No. 1 pro sports league, but you’ve gotta root for him. Really, you do.

Good luck, Danny. Eat up the Big Apple.

- Padraic 

Kerwin Danley, a big league umpire since 1998, was leveled by a Brad Penny a 96 mph fastball to the right side of his jaw on Saturday during the Dodgers’ 11-3 win over Colorado.
Danley briefly lost consciousness when the pitch from the Los Angeles right-hander slammed into his face mask.
Danley was struck by Penny’s first pitch of the fourth inning, which Gold Glove catcher Russell Martin completely missed because of a botched sign. The game was delayed for 18 minutes, with Danley lying nearly motionless behind home plate before being put on a stretcher and loaded into the ambulance.
Fortunately, Danley was released early Sunday morning after a five-hour hospital stay.
This incident, in my opinion, was among the worst hit by baseball incident I could recall. Anyone else remember any others?
Andrew

Solid is not sexy.

That is the feeling I get from the NFL draft this year. The fact that an offensive lineman, Jake Long, was the top pick and not a skill position player seems to remove some buzz.

It doesn’t remove dollar signs as Long gets $30 million in guaranteed money, but it is one of the more flat drafts there has been in years. There were lots of trades, but there was not a single player that a lot of teams seemed determined to go up and get.

The draft is a great TV event, ESPN makes sure of that with months of build up, but I think this season fell a little flat.

 My favorite pick so far - Jerry Jones drafting Felix Jones in the first round — THE FIRST ROUND — and calling him a great backup.

Jeff

The NBA playoffs are well underway so I’ve been glued to the TV set, cheering on my favorite team and trying to catch as many games as I can. With the current playoff format and having to wait until summer to crown a champion, some may think the playoffs drag on way too long. Even my four-year-old son thinks so. He came up to me one evening and asked me, why am I always watching basketball? Of course, he would rather be watching cartoons. I told him I watch games because they interest me and they’re entertaining.

So what will keep me interested in the playoffs for the next two months? Following my favorite team, which happens to be the Los Angeles Lakers. Now I haven’t jumped on the bandwagon since they won three straight titles a few years ago. I’ve been a Lakers fan since the 80’s. Watching greats like Magic, James Worthy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Cooper was so exciting to me. What about those classic match-ups between the Lakers and the Celtics? They were awesome! I’ve stuck with them even through some rough times.

For now, my son will have to put up with me watching games, and yes he will continue to complain about it. But wouldn’t it be great to see an NBA Finals between the Lakers and Celtics once again? Instead of Magic vs. Larry, it could be Kobe vs. Kevin. Really, I’m serious. It’s been 21 years since these two teams last met in the finals, and I truly believe we’re going to see it again.  Don’t you think? When the finals roll around in June, we’ll see if my prediction comes true. In the meantime, I’ll just sit back and watch teams continue their quest for a title.

Don’t get me wrong, I am all about the little guy making some moolah, but what in name of George Steinbrenner is going on.

Tony Stewart, you must be blowing smoke, you’ve made $67 million in race earnings and who knows how much in endorsements and you want out of your contract with a year left.

Jared Allen, who has never made a tackle for the Purple People, is now the richest defender in the NFL, super for you, just don’t have a adult beverage and get behind the wheel or else you’ll be starring in Longest Yard III.

What about the Gabe Kapler’s of the world?
Here is a guy only 33, who was coaching in the Class A (low minors) last year and now he is the fourth outfielder for the Milwaukee Brewers and at last check was hitting a solid .333.
Chastised for juicing for almost his whole career, the natural one, is getting paid $800,000 this season after a career high of $3.4 million with the Rockies in 2003.
Yes it’s still a pile of cash to play a game, but at least he’s earning his cabbage and happy to be in the show again.

My solution is to pay all professional athletes on a performance basis.
Still give them a base salary (to help keep the Bentley serviced and all that) but don’t shell out the national deficit cubed until all the results are in after the season is over.

Same thing goes for signing bonuses as well. Maybe all those draft busts would still be busting thier tails off instead of sitting on their a$$ets doing nothing.

Just think how great the competition would be then!

Lenn