Friday, May 11, 2012
40 til 40 May 10, 2012 "Stand up"
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Thursday, May 10, 2012
40 til 40 May 9, 2012 "Elementary my dear watson"
"Elementary, my dear Watson."
Its a little weird thinking about memories that are at a minimum 28 years old.
I spent all 7 elementary years at Thomas Jefferson Elementary in Newton. I was an eagle.
Before elementary, I did a summer at Emerson Hough under the tutelage of Mrs. Anderson. After Kindergarten roundup, they thought I had some maturing to do. I remember only a couple things about summer school. One, we had to climb up a small tower. I Private Private Pyle'd that sob. It was miserable. Second, on the last day, Elvis died. It was on the news and I asked my Dad who it was. He said,"Mommy's boyfriend." That didn't compute.
I really enjoyed elementary. Whats not to enjoy? Recess, little smokies, PE class, and small chairs.
Kindergarten I had Miss DeHaai as a teacher. She is now Mrs. duffus. Its cool that she has taught my friends' kids, too. I was just half days.
1st grade was Mrs. Baldwin. I lunch was having dinner with a friend of Mine Mort Gaines froim Fairfield. He is about 20 years my senior, and was talking about his first grade teacher, Mrs. Baldwin. I said, "Bonnie?" Yep. Its a small world. She is down in Burlington still, where she moved after my class.
Second Grade, Mrs. Thieleman. OLD SCHOOL. I do not know if she has died, but I do know she would be like 117 if she is. After my junior year of high school she sent me a graduation card and 5 bucks. I sent her a thank you card, but told her I was a year off. . . and kept the cash. She sent me another card a year later and 5 more bucks. SCORE!
3rd grade was pretty cool because it seemed like we were always watching movies. The worst part is that I had Mrs. Bedell. The other 3rd grade class has Mr. perrenoud. They got to go to Floppy. Mrs. Bedell was cool, she did dress as fonzie one year for halloween, but her class, not as fun. Rest in Peace, Mrs. bedell. She passed away two years later.
Oh and shoutouts to PE teacher Mrs. Boeyink, Music teacher Mrs. Fudge and art teacher Mrs. Neff. I pretty much ruled PE and sucked at art and music.
4th grade -- Wow I feel old. We got to do a lot of fun stuff in that class. Mrs. Von Seggern. I remember her asking once ,"what happened in Georgetown?" (uprising) all we knew was, they just lost to North Carolina in the championship game.
5th grade-- Mrs. Stephens. Probably my least favorite year. I hated Mrs. Stephens. She was always lecturing our class on behaving. Who cares? we are kids. If I wanted Effing lectures I could get that home.
6th Grade. 4th and 6th grade were also cool for the fact we got to do an overnighter at springbrook state park. Fun times. 3rd grade was all movies. 6th grade was all field trips. mariposa, the library, etc. etc. Mrs. Walker was our teacher. She was tough but fair. Graduating elementary was bittersweet in 1984. no more recess in Junior High, but more responsibility and feeling like a big boy.
Elementary is like work anymore. a couple breaks. lunch hour. every now and then there is a meeting or recognition (art class).
The thing is, I would go back and do that all over again in a heartbeat.
Its a little weird thinking about memories that are at a minimum 28 years old.
I spent all 7 elementary years at Thomas Jefferson Elementary in Newton. I was an eagle.
Before elementary, I did a summer at Emerson Hough under the tutelage of Mrs. Anderson. After Kindergarten roundup, they thought I had some maturing to do. I remember only a couple things about summer school. One, we had to climb up a small tower. I Private Private Pyle'd that sob. It was miserable. Second, on the last day, Elvis died. It was on the news and I asked my Dad who it was. He said,"Mommy's boyfriend." That didn't compute.
I really enjoyed elementary. Whats not to enjoy? Recess, little smokies, PE class, and small chairs.
Kindergarten I had Miss DeHaai as a teacher. She is now Mrs. duffus. Its cool that she has taught my friends' kids, too. I was just half days.
1st grade was Mrs. Baldwin. I lunch was having dinner with a friend of Mine Mort Gaines froim Fairfield. He is about 20 years my senior, and was talking about his first grade teacher, Mrs. Baldwin. I said, "Bonnie?" Yep. Its a small world. She is down in Burlington still, where she moved after my class.
Second Grade, Mrs. Thieleman. OLD SCHOOL. I do not know if she has died, but I do know she would be like 117 if she is. After my junior year of high school she sent me a graduation card and 5 bucks. I sent her a thank you card, but told her I was a year off. . . and kept the cash. She sent me another card a year later and 5 more bucks. SCORE!
3rd grade was pretty cool because it seemed like we were always watching movies. The worst part is that I had Mrs. Bedell. The other 3rd grade class has Mr. perrenoud. They got to go to Floppy. Mrs. Bedell was cool, she did dress as fonzie one year for halloween, but her class, not as fun. Rest in Peace, Mrs. bedell. She passed away two years later.
Oh and shoutouts to PE teacher Mrs. Boeyink, Music teacher Mrs. Fudge and art teacher Mrs. Neff. I pretty much ruled PE and sucked at art and music.
4th grade -- Wow I feel old. We got to do a lot of fun stuff in that class. Mrs. Von Seggern. I remember her asking once ,"what happened in Georgetown?" (uprising) all we knew was, they just lost to North Carolina in the championship game.
5th grade-- Mrs. Stephens. Probably my least favorite year. I hated Mrs. Stephens. She was always lecturing our class on behaving. Who cares? we are kids. If I wanted Effing lectures I could get that home.
6th Grade. 4th and 6th grade were also cool for the fact we got to do an overnighter at springbrook state park. Fun times. 3rd grade was all movies. 6th grade was all field trips. mariposa, the library, etc. etc. Mrs. Walker was our teacher. She was tough but fair. Graduating elementary was bittersweet in 1984. no more recess in Junior High, but more responsibility and feeling like a big boy.
Elementary is like work anymore. a couple breaks. lunch hour. every now and then there is a meeting or recognition (art class).
The thing is, I would go back and do that all over again in a heartbeat.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
40 til 40 May 8, 2012 "Favorite Movies, Part 1"
"Favorite Movies, Part 1"
Geez this was tough. I probably could've done a blog each day for 40 days on favorite movies and music. Well each will get a couple days in the next month. For movies, I was going to break it up by genre, but thats too tough. Then I thought of doing a bracket, but gosh I couldn't seed movies fairly.
I've decided to break up favorite movies two ways. Those made up til Rocky and Star Wars, and those made after. Just gonna be easier.
So today lets talk old movies. For starters it has to be Wizard of Oz. I love those monkeys. back before cable and even Beta and VHS it was a big deal when it was Wizard of Oz night on CBS at the Utech house. Wizard of Oz is a great movie for a few reasons. Who doesn't love monkeys? If evil could always be conquered by just throwing water on it, how great would that be? Toto is an awesome dog.
Sticking with Musicals, my favorite is Singing in the Rain. Yes, before an announcing gig I run through "Moses Supposes" in my head to keep my tongue untied. Gene Kelly is great and although there are now stories out that he was not always the best guy to work with, I really enjoy his interactions with Donald O'Connor. "Make 'em Laugh" is a great song and a great credo to live by. Kudos also to Jean Hagen, who was superb as Lina LaMont. She was lost way too soon. In the old days, there really weren't sequels, and this is one I would have liked to see more with these characters.
Some of my adoration for musicals is due to my Mom. She was passionate about them and had all of the soundtracks. The next musical on my list is The music man. Great songs, great acting and little Ronnie Howard. If one ever has time, and is in Mason City, stop by the Music man museum. Its worth it. The movie itself is timeless. Oh there's gonna be trouble!
NEXT!
North by Northwest. Cary Grant hanging from Mount Rushmore. Classic. spoiler alert-- Right before Cary Grant gets shot watch for the little kid by him to cover his ears. Anticipation! My favorite parts-- When the plane chases Cary, "That plane is dusting crops where there ain't no crops" and the art auction, "$2,000 for that chromo?" There just aren't actors like that anymore.
American Graffitti. Another Ron Howard Film, but also with Richard Dreyfuss, Harrison Ford and Cindy Williams. Wolfman Jack, too. With all the oldies in the background its like a musical. This is one where they shouldn't have done a sequel. The first one though was awesome. Great job George Lucas.
Star Wars. Great job out of George Lucas again deciding to hire Harrison Ford. . .again. I enjoy the old trilogy, just never got into the new trilogy. Might have been that darned jar Jar Binks. I don't know. Of the first trilogy I like them in that order, Star Wars, Empire, then Jedi. Not sure of those Ewoks, although the fight scene with Jabba is classic.
The last movie on this list. . . Rocky. Rocky was probably the first movie I remember seeing at a theatre. Sly Stallone, good job out of you pal. Now not on my next list is the last Rocky "Rocky Balboa" but I enjoyed all of the movies a lot. I thought 6 did a great job of tying them all together. and they even brought back Little Marie, although its a different actress. Little Marie was actually in Rocky V at the end in the brawl. They were going to show what happens when you don't listen to Rocky, but it didn't get any play.
So there it is. . . Old movies round one. I probably forgot some-- and I didn't do sports movies-- that will probably be separate too.
Geez this was tough. I probably could've done a blog each day for 40 days on favorite movies and music. Well each will get a couple days in the next month. For movies, I was going to break it up by genre, but thats too tough. Then I thought of doing a bracket, but gosh I couldn't seed movies fairly.
I've decided to break up favorite movies two ways. Those made up til Rocky and Star Wars, and those made after. Just gonna be easier.
So today lets talk old movies. For starters it has to be Wizard of Oz. I love those monkeys. back before cable and even Beta and VHS it was a big deal when it was Wizard of Oz night on CBS at the Utech house. Wizard of Oz is a great movie for a few reasons. Who doesn't love monkeys? If evil could always be conquered by just throwing water on it, how great would that be? Toto is an awesome dog.
Sticking with Musicals, my favorite is Singing in the Rain. Yes, before an announcing gig I run through "Moses Supposes" in my head to keep my tongue untied. Gene Kelly is great and although there are now stories out that he was not always the best guy to work with, I really enjoy his interactions with Donald O'Connor. "Make 'em Laugh" is a great song and a great credo to live by. Kudos also to Jean Hagen, who was superb as Lina LaMont. She was lost way too soon. In the old days, there really weren't sequels, and this is one I would have liked to see more with these characters.
Some of my adoration for musicals is due to my Mom. She was passionate about them and had all of the soundtracks. The next musical on my list is The music man. Great songs, great acting and little Ronnie Howard. If one ever has time, and is in Mason City, stop by the Music man museum. Its worth it. The movie itself is timeless. Oh there's gonna be trouble!
NEXT!
North by Northwest. Cary Grant hanging from Mount Rushmore. Classic. spoiler alert-- Right before Cary Grant gets shot watch for the little kid by him to cover his ears. Anticipation! My favorite parts-- When the plane chases Cary, "That plane is dusting crops where there ain't no crops" and the art auction, "$2,000 for that chromo?" There just aren't actors like that anymore.
American Graffitti. Another Ron Howard Film, but also with Richard Dreyfuss, Harrison Ford and Cindy Williams. Wolfman Jack, too. With all the oldies in the background its like a musical. This is one where they shouldn't have done a sequel. The first one though was awesome. Great job George Lucas.
Star Wars. Great job out of George Lucas again deciding to hire Harrison Ford. . .again. I enjoy the old trilogy, just never got into the new trilogy. Might have been that darned jar Jar Binks. I don't know. Of the first trilogy I like them in that order, Star Wars, Empire, then Jedi. Not sure of those Ewoks, although the fight scene with Jabba is classic.
The last movie on this list. . . Rocky. Rocky was probably the first movie I remember seeing at a theatre. Sly Stallone, good job out of you pal. Now not on my next list is the last Rocky "Rocky Balboa" but I enjoyed all of the movies a lot. I thought 6 did a great job of tying them all together. and they even brought back Little Marie, although its a different actress. Little Marie was actually in Rocky V at the end in the brawl. They were going to show what happens when you don't listen to Rocky, but it didn't get any play.
So there it is. . . Old movies round one. I probably forgot some-- and I didn't do sports movies-- that will probably be separate too.
40 til 40 May 7, 2012 "Steve Karsten"
"Steve Karsten"
I have been blessed to call so many people my friend. Sometimes that becomes a catch-22 when those people pass. It is inevitable. . . We are all going to die. I have lost a number of friends for one reason or another, and none of those have been easy to accept. The majority of those though have been by way of suicide. I do not condone suicide. Life is too short.
I miss the friends that took their own life. I wonder what might have been or what demons could've been so bad. In the end, though they had a choice. It was theirs, and I think they made the wrong one.
I have lost a couple other friends through no fault of their own. In each of their lives, they have helped save mine. Next week we will talk about the other, but today is Steve Karsten day.
I got to know Steve when I was a sophomore in high school. He was friends with Chris Crawford who called him "BA", short for Bubba. Over the years we had disagreements. He was a Michigan man. he liked all detroit sports when it came to Pros. He was an Iowa fan though so we were able to find common ground. To know Ba, was to love him. Whether it was going fishing, or watching a game or shooting pool. . . he did it with a smile and a sarcastic sense of humor and with Muscular Dystrophy.
Steve didn't choose to let it take him, He fought through. He outlived Doctors estimates and still had tons of fun along the way. I have a hard time summoning all the words to describe this guy. I will just say that I live daily for his memory. Not a day goes by when I do not think of him. I know there is a bunch of us who are the same way. He may physically gone, but he is looking over us.
Gone too soon. I wish those people who are about to pull a trigger, would take one more breath and think of Steve, who I know would love to be back shooting pool, playing poker, or sharing a 12er during a Hawkeye game.
I have been blessed to call so many people my friend. Sometimes that becomes a catch-22 when those people pass. It is inevitable. . . We are all going to die. I have lost a number of friends for one reason or another, and none of those have been easy to accept. The majority of those though have been by way of suicide. I do not condone suicide. Life is too short.
I miss the friends that took their own life. I wonder what might have been or what demons could've been so bad. In the end, though they had a choice. It was theirs, and I think they made the wrong one.
I have lost a couple other friends through no fault of their own. In each of their lives, they have helped save mine. Next week we will talk about the other, but today is Steve Karsten day.
I got to know Steve when I was a sophomore in high school. He was friends with Chris Crawford who called him "BA", short for Bubba. Over the years we had disagreements. He was a Michigan man. he liked all detroit sports when it came to Pros. He was an Iowa fan though so we were able to find common ground. To know Ba, was to love him. Whether it was going fishing, or watching a game or shooting pool. . . he did it with a smile and a sarcastic sense of humor and with Muscular Dystrophy.
Steve didn't choose to let it take him, He fought through. He outlived Doctors estimates and still had tons of fun along the way. I have a hard time summoning all the words to describe this guy. I will just say that I live daily for his memory. Not a day goes by when I do not think of him. I know there is a bunch of us who are the same way. He may physically gone, but he is looking over us.
Gone too soon. I wish those people who are about to pull a trigger, would take one more breath and think of Steve, who I know would love to be back shooting pool, playing poker, or sharing a 12er during a Hawkeye game.
Monday, May 7, 2012
40 til 40 May 06, 2012 "Go Pack Go!"
"Go Pack Go!"
It may not be breaking any new ground to reveal I love sports. I think that is pretty evident. Nor is my love for the Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Bulls, and Chicago Cubs. Well we will be talking about those teams later on. Its Sunday and I am feeling kind of Sunday. In four months, football is BACK!
Spoiler alert. . . I am a Green Bay Packer fan. A big fan. All of my favorite teams were settled pretty much by the age of 2 or 3. I am asked often how a guy whose parents were from the south side of Chicagoland can like all Chicago teams except in football. Short answer, I was born into it.
On my Dad's side of the family-- Great Grandfather Utech settled the family into the states up in Wisconsin. My Grandfather went to Wisconsin Whitewater in the late 30s and became a Packer fan. My Dad was born into it. He went to College at St. Norbert's in DePere, Wi, a suburb of Green Bay. He was a Peanut vendor for The Packers on Sundays while going to college. My Great Uncle was the clock operator for the Pack at that time. So, I was born into being a Packer fan.
The 70s were not a great time to be a Packer fan. All of the guys in elementary were mainly Cowboy fans since they were always on tv, or Steeler fans since they were racking up super bowls. Green Bay was racking up losses. They did have a playoff season in '72 but otherwise nothing. 1978 I was pretty pumped, but a second half of the season collapse was climaxed by a damn tie to Fran Tarkenton and the Vikings. I was TICKED. no play-offs as the Vikings won the tiebreaker going 8-7-1. As a kid I really rode the highs and lows. mainly lows. Any glimpse of success, like the big trade for John Jefferson made me excited. I would play football int he backyard and try to emulate John Jefferson, James Lofton or my all-time favorite Packer, #24 Johnnie Gray.
In 1980, a story I have told before, but one of my favs was the Chester Marcol game. Packers-Bears wasn't on Tv, so we had to try to tune in WTMJ. . . a tough task in Newton Iowa. We listened to a staticy broadcast and in between crackles, the game went to Overtime and the packers were setting up for a field goal. I was practically groping the speaker in the living room trying to hear the outcome. That groping became a full on dry hump as it turned out that Alan Page had blocked the kick, but Chester got the rebound and raced to a game winning touchdown.
Funny how I cherish Packer Bear moments but in 1989 Majik Man to Sterling Sharpe in the instant replay game was great. The Packers went 10-6 that year but they lost a couple games they shouldve won and missed the play-offs.
Things were pretty bleak until Mike Holmgren and Ron Wolf started running things, and pieces such as Reggie White and Brett Favre came into the fold.
Winning that Super Bowl in 1996 was sweet. It marked years of waiting and the first time outside of the Bulls one of my teams actually won anything. It also is a metaphor for enjoying things when they occur. One never knows when that is gonna happen again. Damn Mike Prior and then John Elway ruined a repeat. Steve Young sent the Holmgren era and then it was a slow descent back to the middle. I never have and never will play a snap for Green Bay but I sure have cheered them all,
My one and only Packer game at Lambeau was in 2005. They lost to the Steelers, but seeing Brett Favre and having a moment walking out to the seats like rudy's dad in "rudy" was priceless. The Packer HOF is awesome and I recommend that to any fan of football. They got one touchdown (thanks Samkon Gado) and getting to hear Todd Rundgren was super.
When Suzy and I got together, she couldve chosen to be a fan of any team but admittedly, I am glad she chose the green and gold and her favorite player of Clay Matthews. A big selling point in getting Suzy to go to Hawaii with me to the Pro Bowl was to see Clay in person. Of course, as fate would have it, Green Bay made the super bowl and those players didn't travel to Oahu. Oh well we still proudly supported the Pack. Suzy got to see them in person for the first time this year against KC ( I can really pick em). But we had a blast.
The Packers have nabbed a couple trophies in my lifetime. I hope they have a couple more in them, but football is changing. Its becoming more like Arena football and the CFL. I hope Packer management rolls with it.
I hope everyone has a passion in their life that they can attach to. For me its sports. I will ride those waves of emotion and continue to cheer loud. Go Pack Go!
It may not be breaking any new ground to reveal I love sports. I think that is pretty evident. Nor is my love for the Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Bulls, and Chicago Cubs. Well we will be talking about those teams later on. Its Sunday and I am feeling kind of Sunday. In four months, football is BACK!
Spoiler alert. . . I am a Green Bay Packer fan. A big fan. All of my favorite teams were settled pretty much by the age of 2 or 3. I am asked often how a guy whose parents were from the south side of Chicagoland can like all Chicago teams except in football. Short answer, I was born into it.
On my Dad's side of the family-- Great Grandfather Utech settled the family into the states up in Wisconsin. My Grandfather went to Wisconsin Whitewater in the late 30s and became a Packer fan. My Dad was born into it. He went to College at St. Norbert's in DePere, Wi, a suburb of Green Bay. He was a Peanut vendor for The Packers on Sundays while going to college. My Great Uncle was the clock operator for the Pack at that time. So, I was born into being a Packer fan.
The 70s were not a great time to be a Packer fan. All of the guys in elementary were mainly Cowboy fans since they were always on tv, or Steeler fans since they were racking up super bowls. Green Bay was racking up losses. They did have a playoff season in '72 but otherwise nothing. 1978 I was pretty pumped, but a second half of the season collapse was climaxed by a damn tie to Fran Tarkenton and the Vikings. I was TICKED. no play-offs as the Vikings won the tiebreaker going 8-7-1. As a kid I really rode the highs and lows. mainly lows. Any glimpse of success, like the big trade for John Jefferson made me excited. I would play football int he backyard and try to emulate John Jefferson, James Lofton or my all-time favorite Packer, #24 Johnnie Gray.
In 1980, a story I have told before, but one of my favs was the Chester Marcol game. Packers-Bears wasn't on Tv, so we had to try to tune in WTMJ. . . a tough task in Newton Iowa. We listened to a staticy broadcast and in between crackles, the game went to Overtime and the packers were setting up for a field goal. I was practically groping the speaker in the living room trying to hear the outcome. That groping became a full on dry hump as it turned out that Alan Page had blocked the kick, but Chester got the rebound and raced to a game winning touchdown.
Funny how I cherish Packer Bear moments but in 1989 Majik Man to Sterling Sharpe in the instant replay game was great. The Packers went 10-6 that year but they lost a couple games they shouldve won and missed the play-offs.
Things were pretty bleak until Mike Holmgren and Ron Wolf started running things, and pieces such as Reggie White and Brett Favre came into the fold.
My one and only Packer game at Lambeau was in 2005. They lost to the Steelers, but seeing Brett Favre and having a moment walking out to the seats like rudy's dad in "rudy" was priceless. The Packer HOF is awesome and I recommend that to any fan of football. They got one touchdown (thanks Samkon Gado) and getting to hear Todd Rundgren was super.
When Suzy and I got together, she couldve chosen to be a fan of any team but admittedly, I am glad she chose the green and gold and her favorite player of Clay Matthews. A big selling point in getting Suzy to go to Hawaii with me to the Pro Bowl was to see Clay in person. Of course, as fate would have it, Green Bay made the super bowl and those players didn't travel to Oahu. Oh well we still proudly supported the Pack. Suzy got to see them in person for the first time this year against KC ( I can really pick em). But we had a blast.
The Packers have nabbed a couple trophies in my lifetime. I hope they have a couple more in them, but football is changing. Its becoming more like Arena football and the CFL. I hope Packer management rolls with it.
I hope everyone has a passion in their life that they can attach to. For me its sports. I will ride those waves of emotion and continue to cheer loud. Go Pack Go!
Saturday, May 5, 2012
40 til 40 May 05, 2012 "WHO'S READY FOR ROLLER DERBYYYYYYYYY?"
"WHO'S READY FOR ROLLER DERBYYYYYYYYY?"
As a youth, I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. Play 1st Base for the Chicago Cubs. I had a backup job. If I couldn't be a player, I figured it would be time to take Harry Caray's job and I could announce for the Cubs. I have always had a knack for stats and although I didn't try things like "Joe Orsulak's name backwards is Skalusro," I felt I would be a great announcer.
My folks were quite supportive of my announcing aspirations. There were times during Iowa Basketball games when they would turn down the sound and let me announce. It was pretty fun calling out fouls on Uwe Blab. I had toys as a youngster, matchbox cars, star wars figures and what we called people. I took all of the people from my sisters houses and play sets and I would call games with them as the athletes.
Fast forward 25 years and I was the guy that for fun would pull up to the outdoor Brenton Skating Plaza in the winter and announce the pickup broomball games.
So, Back in the mid-2000s, I got a call from Michelle Reinier, or for those in the derby world, Jewels of Denile. She said she was into this cool roller derby stuff up in Wisconsin and it was all real. She said it was fast paced and that one minute you could be watching great roller derby action and another you could have a derby girl in your lap sharing your nachos. So Paxton Bennett and I ventured up there and we were hooked. The tailgating was great at Fast Forward. The afterparty was awesome but the bouts were simply amazing. Great times. We kept making the trip from Central Iowa up to Madison. I got to meet Bob Noxious and watch him announce this great "new" sport. Jewels also got me to start collecting wigs for bouts. First it was the Elvis wig, now I have 8 in the collection for any occasion.
Well we kept making trips, but roller derby was expanding. It wasn't just us who were fans. Teams were popping up everywhere. One of the guys that was in my Fantasy Baseball league, Kevin Rich, was in a play about roller derby. It was on reality TV. And then the best news as peanut butter and chocolate were about to meet. . . Roller derby is coming to Central Iowa and they need an announcer!
It has been a HUGE honor to have been affiliated with the First ladies of Iowa Roller Derby, the Mid-Iowa Rollers since the beginning. It also is a huge honor to be part of such a great sport and I am humbled by all the wonderful people I meet along the way. yes there are some weeds. but it makes me appreciate all the flowers that comprise Derby.
This is not RollerJam Roller Derby nor is it the derby from the 70s. This is the real thing and its played at an All-Star level throughout the country.
Bob Noxious is as amicable now as he was all those years ago and now as my mentor who has helped me become the first Association of Flat Track Derby Announcers (AFTDA) certified announcer in Iowa. He is just one of the legions of people I can now call my friend.
But this blog isn't all about me and derby, although derby has allowed me to be the announcer I have always wanted to be and do it at a very high level. It has allowed me to travel all over and continue to meet great people. Saturday I am in Cedar Rapids to call a bout; Next Saturday Ottumwa followed a week later by Omaha. As I approach announcing 100 bouts in my career, it is important to point out Roller derby isn't about me. Nor is it about the refs. To me it comes down to two things and its why I love Roller Derby and continue to do what I do, Its about the gals (and now more than ever guys in the Mens leagues) who sacrifice for the sport and its about the fan who is there for the first time. It is my job to give them a clear picture of the sport and give them my all.
For those of you who haven't gone to a derby bout, check it out in whatever city you are in. Support all of the volunteers, skaters, refs and have a great time. Cheer for the lead jammer and buy some merch. Heck, maybe you will be hooked and want to volunteer on a team. But just don't take my word on it. Ask your local Derby gal.
As a youth, I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. Play 1st Base for the Chicago Cubs. I had a backup job. If I couldn't be a player, I figured it would be time to take Harry Caray's job and I could announce for the Cubs. I have always had a knack for stats and although I didn't try things like "Joe Orsulak's name backwards is Skalusro," I felt I would be a great announcer.
My folks were quite supportive of my announcing aspirations. There were times during Iowa Basketball games when they would turn down the sound and let me announce. It was pretty fun calling out fouls on Uwe Blab. I had toys as a youngster, matchbox cars, star wars figures and what we called people. I took all of the people from my sisters houses and play sets and I would call games with them as the athletes.
Fast forward 25 years and I was the guy that for fun would pull up to the outdoor Brenton Skating Plaza in the winter and announce the pickup broomball games.
So, Back in the mid-2000s, I got a call from Michelle Reinier, or for those in the derby world, Jewels of Denile. She said she was into this cool roller derby stuff up in Wisconsin and it was all real. She said it was fast paced and that one minute you could be watching great roller derby action and another you could have a derby girl in your lap sharing your nachos. So Paxton Bennett and I ventured up there and we were hooked. The tailgating was great at Fast Forward. The afterparty was awesome but the bouts were simply amazing. Great times. We kept making the trip from Central Iowa up to Madison. I got to meet Bob Noxious and watch him announce this great "new" sport. Jewels also got me to start collecting wigs for bouts. First it was the Elvis wig, now I have 8 in the collection for any occasion.
Well we kept making trips, but roller derby was expanding. It wasn't just us who were fans. Teams were popping up everywhere. One of the guys that was in my Fantasy Baseball league, Kevin Rich, was in a play about roller derby. It was on reality TV. And then the best news as peanut butter and chocolate were about to meet. . . Roller derby is coming to Central Iowa and they need an announcer!
It has been a HUGE honor to have been affiliated with the First ladies of Iowa Roller Derby, the Mid-Iowa Rollers since the beginning. It also is a huge honor to be part of such a great sport and I am humbled by all the wonderful people I meet along the way. yes there are some weeds. but it makes me appreciate all the flowers that comprise Derby.
This is not RollerJam Roller Derby nor is it the derby from the 70s. This is the real thing and its played at an All-Star level throughout the country.
Bob Noxious is as amicable now as he was all those years ago and now as my mentor who has helped me become the first Association of Flat Track Derby Announcers (AFTDA) certified announcer in Iowa. He is just one of the legions of people I can now call my friend.
But this blog isn't all about me and derby, although derby has allowed me to be the announcer I have always wanted to be and do it at a very high level. It has allowed me to travel all over and continue to meet great people. Saturday I am in Cedar Rapids to call a bout; Next Saturday Ottumwa followed a week later by Omaha. As I approach announcing 100 bouts in my career, it is important to point out Roller derby isn't about me. Nor is it about the refs. To me it comes down to two things and its why I love Roller Derby and continue to do what I do, Its about the gals (and now more than ever guys in the Mens leagues) who sacrifice for the sport and its about the fan who is there for the first time. It is my job to give them a clear picture of the sport and give them my all.
For those of you who haven't gone to a derby bout, check it out in whatever city you are in. Support all of the volunteers, skaters, refs and have a great time. Cheer for the lead jammer and buy some merch. Heck, maybe you will be hooked and want to volunteer on a team. But just don't take my word on it. Ask your local Derby gal.
40 til 40 May 04, 2012 "1983-84 Tigers"
"1983-84 Tigers"
The next three Fridays will be double blog Fridays. Each upcoming Saturday I will be out of town for roller derby so I will be doing those blogs on Friday. Friday nights a great night for blogging!
First, 2 post scripts from yesterday. One, Suzy's parents will be celebrating their 40th anniversary on June 17, 2012. That is the party date anyways. As far as I know they are not planning on blogging about their 40 years of experiences. Two, Suzy and I's wedding day was quite special for a myriad of reason, but two of them are no longer with us. Shirle Huth, our pianist and our close family friend Cindy Hendrickson have since passed. They rearranged plans and treatments and their life to be in ours and it means the world.
Ok, so on to today's subject. No, not the same '84 Tigers that won the world series. We are going to talk about the Newton Little League Tigers. As a kid going growing up, I played all sports. I would even put my baseball glove on a baseball bat and play lacrosse against myself. But as sports go, the main ones I played as a kid was baseball, football and basketball. Of those the one I had the most skill in was baseball. I could field ok, couldn't run a lick and I could hit real well. When I say I couldn't run, I mean it. My Dad would yell, "Uncouple the coal car." I had a net in the back yard that I would toss a ball at which aided my fielding. Coach Stoffers baseball camps helped that, too. I still use those techniques when playing softball.
Hitting, Well I had a keen eye due to spending hours in the backyard throwing up a ball and hitting it to various places in the yard. I was pretty self sufficient as a youth. A bat, a ball and a yard. I was set. Sometimes I would be lucky and there would be a game going at Callison Park, Sandlot style. Bo Hollar ran that field.
In Newton in the 80's, Little League baseball was pretty big. Maybe not like sports as they are portrayed in movies, but pretty big. When one was ready, they could be drafted into the "majors" little league which was for 5 years or through the age of 12. I did a year of tee ball and 2 years of "minors" before hitting the majors. I was drafted onto the Tigers.
We were pretty good, as guys like Doug Sorenson, Ron Wylie, Chris Froah, George Selbher, Gary Etter, Scott Carpenter, Chad Burton, and Eric Brown were on the team. We managed to stay around .500 all year.
I had 2 events that are things I still think about. I through a no-hitter, which 6 innings against little leaguers, hey I will take it. Doug's older brother kept our stats and even tried to make sure no one mentioned it so I didn't get jinxed. On the other end of the spectrum, I gave up the only home run in my days of organized baseball. Jay Birchard took me deeeeeeep at Sunset Park which was all of about 100 feet. Still a legit dinger. For years I had wished I had never given up that blast over a tuft of grass that was to look like a fence. Anymore, its like, Hey, There are greater tragedies dude. Who cares.
So that was 1983. The Most fun night was after the Sunset Park games because that meant a grillout at the Sorensons.
Now, 1984 was a different story. We did lose Doug and Ron and Chris, but pretty much everyone else returned and added some new blood like Rob King and Greg Waggoner and Brian Cool. The Tigers were a force. We won the City title that year going 12-3. On top of that, we cherry picked Rod Mitchell and Lloyd Pickett and travelled to tournaments in Melcher-Dallas and Chariton and won those. The Melcher-Dallas one was especially cool as we got our first exposure to Chris Street. I am pretty sure he was 6 feet tall then and played for Mormon Trail. This was definitely before he was moved to Indianola.
It was great times, and I don't care how young we were, but winning championships at any age is a good thing. Some people say it shouldn't be about winning. Well, we played the game hard and with sportsmanship and hey we won. I had been on plenty of other sports teams (mainly basketball) that lost. I will always remember that team and those guys. It was a special summer.
The next three Fridays will be double blog Fridays. Each upcoming Saturday I will be out of town for roller derby so I will be doing those blogs on Friday. Friday nights a great night for blogging!
First, 2 post scripts from yesterday. One, Suzy's parents will be celebrating their 40th anniversary on June 17, 2012. That is the party date anyways. As far as I know they are not planning on blogging about their 40 years of experiences. Two, Suzy and I's wedding day was quite special for a myriad of reason, but two of them are no longer with us. Shirle Huth, our pianist and our close family friend Cindy Hendrickson have since passed. They rearranged plans and treatments and their life to be in ours and it means the world.
Ok, so on to today's subject. No, not the same '84 Tigers that won the world series. We are going to talk about the Newton Little League Tigers. As a kid going growing up, I played all sports. I would even put my baseball glove on a baseball bat and play lacrosse against myself. But as sports go, the main ones I played as a kid was baseball, football and basketball. Of those the one I had the most skill in was baseball. I could field ok, couldn't run a lick and I could hit real well. When I say I couldn't run, I mean it. My Dad would yell, "Uncouple the coal car." I had a net in the back yard that I would toss a ball at which aided my fielding. Coach Stoffers baseball camps helped that, too. I still use those techniques when playing softball.
Hitting, Well I had a keen eye due to spending hours in the backyard throwing up a ball and hitting it to various places in the yard. I was pretty self sufficient as a youth. A bat, a ball and a yard. I was set. Sometimes I would be lucky and there would be a game going at Callison Park, Sandlot style. Bo Hollar ran that field.
In Newton in the 80's, Little League baseball was pretty big. Maybe not like sports as they are portrayed in movies, but pretty big. When one was ready, they could be drafted into the "majors" little league which was for 5 years or through the age of 12. I did a year of tee ball and 2 years of "minors" before hitting the majors. I was drafted onto the Tigers.
We were pretty good, as guys like Doug Sorenson, Ron Wylie, Chris Froah, George Selbher, Gary Etter, Scott Carpenter, Chad Burton, and Eric Brown were on the team. We managed to stay around .500 all year.
I had 2 events that are things I still think about. I through a no-hitter, which 6 innings against little leaguers, hey I will take it. Doug's older brother kept our stats and even tried to make sure no one mentioned it so I didn't get jinxed. On the other end of the spectrum, I gave up the only home run in my days of organized baseball. Jay Birchard took me deeeeeeep at Sunset Park which was all of about 100 feet. Still a legit dinger. For years I had wished I had never given up that blast over a tuft of grass that was to look like a fence. Anymore, its like, Hey, There are greater tragedies dude. Who cares.
So that was 1983. The Most fun night was after the Sunset Park games because that meant a grillout at the Sorensons.
Now, 1984 was a different story. We did lose Doug and Ron and Chris, but pretty much everyone else returned and added some new blood like Rob King and Greg Waggoner and Brian Cool. The Tigers were a force. We won the City title that year going 12-3. On top of that, we cherry picked Rod Mitchell and Lloyd Pickett and travelled to tournaments in Melcher-Dallas and Chariton and won those. The Melcher-Dallas one was especially cool as we got our first exposure to Chris Street. I am pretty sure he was 6 feet tall then and played for Mormon Trail. This was definitely before he was moved to Indianola.
It was great times, and I don't care how young we were, but winning championships at any age is a good thing. Some people say it shouldn't be about winning. Well, we played the game hard and with sportsmanship and hey we won. I had been on plenty of other sports teams (mainly basketball) that lost. I will always remember that team and those guys. It was a special summer.
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