Our Texas Sports Nation team -- Bob Ballou, Courtney Timmons, Adam Winkler and sports producer Anthony Geronimo -- is never at a loss for words. Read their blogs to learn their perspective on sports.
Courtney's Blog: 5 Top Sporting Events on Bucket List
02/06/12
I thought it was an appropriate blog because of the Super Bowl (hint, hint). So far, between being a fan and a sports reporter some of my favorite events have been the College World Series, Texas/OU, and the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Here are 5 more I hope to make it to someday:
5. Boston Marathon
Either running or as a fan, way more likely as a fan. Ive run a couple halfs and have considered training for a full. I doubt that I would ever reach the level to be able to run in the Boston Marathon though since you have to qualify, but hey this is a blog I can dream. Even so, getting to be part of the experience would be fun and Ive always wanted to visit Boston.
4. BCS National Championship
This years not included. College Football is my favorite sport so getting to see the top 2 teams in the country would be pretty cool, especially if it was the Longhorns.
3. Tour de France
I started watching about 10 years ago when I got into running. It was in the middle of a hot Austin summer and it would help me convince myself, if these guys can ride hundreds of miles in all kinds of weather conditions I could go run a few in the 90 degree heat.
The more I watched the Tour the more I learned and appreciated the way it worked, plus the scenery is beautiful so it wouldnt be a bad place to visit.
2. Kentucky Derby
My grandparents owned race horses on and off growing up so we would go to Lone Star Park out in Grand Prairie when they raced. It was always such a fun family experience (especially when one of the horses actually won). I loved learning about it and talking to the trainers and reading the racing guide so to go to the biggest horse race of them all would be awesome.
1. Super Bowl
Id prefer to go to a game that doesnt involve two teams I dont like, like this year, but theres not much that compares with it. NFL football was the first sport I really watched growing up and I remember the excitement surrounding the Super Bowl then. Its basically a national and what better way to celebrate it.
Adam's Blog: Dropping Knowledge
02/03/12
I don't read books to make me smarter. I listen. No, I don't listen to books on tape, I listen to humans. Humans that are much smarter than me. I know, I know, it's not exactly "difficult" to be smarter than the sports guy. Hush. That's not the point here. Carry on.
It can be a one way conversation (and it usually is), but just being within earshot of great Americans like Augie Garrido, Brad Stevens, Colin Powell, Jim Nantz, Mike Krzyzewski raises my IQ. At least that's what I tell myself.
Mack Brown often times has the same effect on me. Yesterday, during his 2012 National Signing Day press conference, was one of those instances. Since there's no "i" in team, I'm not going to keep my new-found knowledge to myself. Here's a few nuggets (via Mack-tastic) I learned about the Longhorns' 2012 recruiting class.
- Bryson Echols, an All-American defensive back, was the kicker for his high school team. Mack confirmed Echols will NOT tee it up for the Longhorns.
- Kennedy Estelle's high school (Pearland Dawson H.S.) head coach served as Fozzy Whittaker's offensive line coach at Pearland High School.
- When phenom running back Johnathan Gray committed to play for UT, he weighed 195 pounds. Gray is already up to 204 pounds, and he won't enroll at Texas until June.
- Peter Jinkens and Shiro Davis were the final two commitments to fax in their signed letters of intent on signing day.
- Daje Johnson's father was a college teammate of UT wide receivers coach Darrell Wyatt. The two played together at Kansas State in the late 80's.
- Despite lacking a scholarship offer from the Longhorns and committing to TCU, Daje Johnson attended every UT home game during the 2011 season.
- The parents of Nick Jordan, the only kicker Texas signed in 2012, both attended Texas A&M. Ouch. Justin Tucker sends his regards.
Okay, that's all I've got. You're welcome.
Anthony's Blog: The Rocket Comes Back To Austin
01/31/12
This past weekend the Texas Longhorn Baseball Team kicked off their 2012 campaign with their annual alumni game. The game featured the current Longhorns against former alums currently in either the major or minor league systems. Highlighting this year's game was the return of the Rocket Roger Clemens. The Rocket showed up at the Disch Saturday and re-launched the arm that made him famous for 24 big league seasons.
The Rocket hadnt been at an alumni game since 2003. I should know because I was there. It was actually the first time I had ever met Clemens. There he stood in his Yankee uniform and at the height of his career. This time the seven-time Cy Young Award winner graced the hallowed grounds of the Disch to adoring fans who were clamoring for his autograph and gave him a standing ovation. What made the day even more special was seeing the current Horns in awe of this professional goliath. It was also a special day for the alums who can say they were teammates with Roger Clemens for one day. Yes, the Rocket still draws that buzz and glory.
The Rocket is still worshiped and idolized by so many. Its understandable for a man who is just one of four pitchers in Major League Baseball history to collect 300 career wins and strikeout over 4,000 batters. But Clemens career stats have taken a back seat recently after being marred in the ever continuing steroid scandal. Clemens is just one of many baseball players whose brilliant career has been tarnished for allegedly taking steroids. Clemens has denied that he ever used performance enhancing drugs. Clemens faced a federal grand jury but on the second day of testimony the judge in the case declared a mistrial over prosecutorial misconduct after they showed the jury evidence they had been instructed not to show. Its not clear whether he will be tried a second time.
Now the 49-year-old will be up for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013. I asked several Longhorn alums if they believe Clemens should be a first ballot hall of famer. All of them said yes, but Im not so sure. The sting of the steroid controversy will be a dark cloud over his head for quite awhile. For his part, Clemens told me he could care less about going into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot. He said it was an honor just to have his name up there and it wouldnt change him as a person. I believe that eventually the Rocket will land in Cooperstown. It may take five years or longer, but hell get there and I believe he deserves it.
I remember Clemens as a young Boston Red Sox player and becoming the first pitcher to strike out 20 batters in a nine-inning game. I remember that same year he recorded 24 wins en route to being named the American League MVP. I dont think the Rocket was fueling his body with steroids. What Im saying is that the Rocket has accomplished and done so much prior to the steroid era that deserves recognition. My perception of the Rocket hasnt changed with the controversy. He has always been a tough, gritty, and competitive person. Personally, he has never turned me down for an interview. He has always been gracious to me and answered everyone questioned Ive asked. He is one of the greatest pitchers I have ever seen. I never saw Gibson, Koufax, Spahn, Grove, Mathewson, or Alexander. But I did see Ryan, Clemens, Johnson, and Verlander. I would vote Clemens into the Hall of Famehe deserves to be in Cooperstown.
Adam's Blog: Southwestern University Coaching Search Nears End
01/27/12
In his latest blog, Adam Winkler provides an update on the groundbreaking coaching search at Southwestern University.
Here in Texas, we've got a lot going for us. Unfortunately, experiencing "The Four Seasons" is not one of our luxuries. Usually, there's only two seasons here in the Lone Star State. Football season and spring football season.
So the fact that the oldest university in the state has been without a football team for the past 60 years is more mind-boggling than trying to breakdown the BCS. But that will all change in the fall of 2013. (Unfortunately, probably not the BCS part. If we could only be so lucky...)
In 20 months, thanks to generous gifts from two former student-athletes, Southwestern University will reinstate its football program. However, you can't field a football team without a coach. KEYE TV Sports has learned that Southwestern is on the verge of hiring the man who will lead the Pirates into this exciting new era.
Upon being posted on the University's website in early November, the job listing attracted more than 200 applicants. Sources confirm to KEYE TV that SU's head football coaching search has been narrowed down to five finalists.
KEYE TV Sports has learned that the pool of five finalists consists of two current head coaches and three current assistant coaches. All five candidates are coaches at the college level. None of the finalists currently work in Texas, however at least one candidate has ties to the Lone Star State.
A highly-placed source speaking on the condition of anonymity confirmed that all five finalists received (or will receive) on-campus interviews between January 18th and February 2nd.
So after going more than a half century without a team to call their own, members of the Southwestern University community are just weeks away from knowing who their new football coach will be. Unfortunately, the Pirates first game is still more than a year and a half away. SU's new head coach will likely use that window to hire assistants and draw-up a playbook. At least we know he won't be wasting any time watching last season's game-film.
Courtney's Blog: Cougars Offensive? Really!?!
01/24/12
This story came out last week, but that doesnt make it any less hilarious.
Draper Corner Canyon High in Utah recently announced its new mascot and colors. They chose a blue and white color scheme and they will be called the Chargers. Nothing funny about that until you find out why they went with Chargers.
The schools future student body was given the opportunity to select its own future mascot. They didnt choose the Chargers. Twenty three percent of the student body voted for Cougars, beating out all of the other options including Chargers. So why not go with the popular choice? Because the term Cougar is offensive. Really? Merriam-Webster defines a cougar as a large powerful tawny-brown cat (Felis concolor) formerly widespread in the Americas but now reduced in number or extinct in many areas. Nothing offensive about that, however the slang term is used for a middle-aged woman seeking a romantic relationship with a younger man. Funny? Maybe. Offensive? No way.
I slangly define myself as a borderline Cougar or, on days Im feeling a little younger, a Cougar-in-training. Adam Winkler calls me a Wildcat or a Lynx. Whatever feline label I use on a given day its all in good fun and most people I talk to use it the same way. Hey, if you choose to proudly define yourself as a Cougar then good for you. Youre probably more offended that the school didnt want to use the name.
Read the story on the sandy.fox13now.com website.
Adam's Blog: A Saturday Away
01/20/12
In his latest blog, Adam Winkler writes about why he won't be at the Erwin Center for Saturday's showdown between Texas and Kansas.
Saturday, when Texas and seventh ranked Kansas square off at the Erwin Center, it will be a rematch of last year's Big 12 championship game. The Longhorns will be trying to beat KU at home for the fourth time in five tries. The Jayhawks will be trying to stay unbeaten in conference play. It's the first time CBS has been in town for a men's hoops broadcast in several seasons. Needless to say, there's a lot on the line.
I won't be courtside to see it though.
The profession I chose, and the one I'm blessed to still be involved with, does to weekend plans what Drew Brees does to a defense: it destroys them. I'm not complaining. I repeat (especially if anyone who signs my checks is reading this): this is NOT me complaining.
Sports happens on weekends. High school football is played on Fridays. College football is Saturday. NFL games are Sunday. Baseball series run Friday through Sunday. If you work in sports and you're adverse to working weekends, you'll miss nearly every major event.
I knew what I was getting into when i "signed up" for this. Now nearly eight full years after breaking into TV, I wouldn't change a thing.
I've missed more weddings than LeBron has missed 4th quarter jump shots. I can't tell you the last time I was able to make it to a bachelor party. I've only been to five graduations in my entire life. Two of them were my own.
Because I'm rarely able to attend weddings, graduations, or other major celebrations, when I do I feel like I appreciate those events much more than the average guest. I truly value time spent with family and close friends on special occasions because unfortunately, those happenings are few and far between.
This weekend in Slidell, Louisiana, just across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans, there's an event I wouldn't miss for the world. January 20th is my grandmother's birthday. Saturday, we will celebrate Bette Winkler's 80 glorious years on this earth.
Last summer when my grandfather turned 80, my family hosted a similar celebration. Due to commitments here at work (I believe Texas was in the College World Series at that time), I was unable to make it to Louisiana for the party. In the past ten months, Grampee has been in and out of the hospital, undergone multiple surgeries, survived a heart attack, and is in the process of beating cancer.
It tore me apart that I couldn't be with him last June for his birthday. If not for his incredible determination, a couple of outstanding doctors, and the power of prayer, there's a chance Grampee wouldn't be around today.
It's not often that you receive second chances. But this weekend, I've been given another opportunity to celebrate one of only three living grandparents I have. I wasn't going to let this chance get away.
Saturday, every Winkler grandchild will be under the same roof for the first time since May 2007. Sure we'll be there to celebrate Grammee, but tomorrow is about much more than that. I expect to see more flashbulbs than when Khloe Kardashian made her first courtside appearance in Dallas. Who knows when we'll all be together again?
I would take a lot for me to miss the first Texas/Kansas game played in Austin in 711 days. But compared to what's ahead Saturday in Slidell, it's no contest.
Anthony’s Blog: Horns To Hit High
01/18/12
Basketball season is moving faster than a Tony Stewart car at Daytona. It hasnt been one of the most memorable seasons so far for the Texas men's basketball. But the key words there are "so far". Its a long season and its early January. As of now the Horns are 12-5 and 2-2 in the Big 12. Although it hasnt been the most glamorous of starts for a Rick Barnes team, I believe this team can turn things around and make a run in March.
Its well documented that this year's squad is young. Coach Barnes has said he will never use youth and inexperience as an excuse. I agree. After 15-20 games, these players arent freshman anymore. They are currently going through the rigors and grind of the Big 12. The non-conference has prepared this team to face the best. But yet, this team has yet to play their best. A hallmark of Barnes' teams has been defense. This years players have admitted that didnt know what defense meant before arriving on the 40 acres. Now they do! You can continue to expect this team to play stymie defense and play with tenacious hustle and aggressiveness. The part this team has to figure out is limiting turnovers and scoring. I think the shots will start to fall, but they have to learn to not make mistakes. The company I work for has a value and the number one value that we strive is, "Dont do STUPID THINGS"! I know its easier said than done for a bunch of 18 and 19 year olds, but it happens. I just hope that they have big enough erasers to correct all the mistakes they have made.
I give this team credit for not folding during the losses at Iowa State and Missouri. When J'Covan Brown went down in Ames other players stepped up, including Clint Chapman who had a career night. At hostile Mizzou, the Tigers roared out to a huge lead, but in the 2nd half the Horns rallied and cut the lead down to where victory was in their grasp. This time it was J'Covan Brown who led the comeback with 34 points before Mizzou eventually won by 11. I think the lesson learned in both losses is that you cant quit and give up no matter when you think all hope is lost. I think these guys are truly a team and get along great. They handled the adversity well and proved they can step up for one another when another player goes down or struggling.
The Horns have a tough road ahead, but I believe the only roadblocks that could make them stumble are themselves. Many question that this team can get to 20 wins and a NCAA tournament berth. I believe they will pull off three stunners this year. I think they will beat Kansas at home, Baylor in Waco, and Mizzou at home! They will finish the regular season 20-11 and win one game in the Big 12 tournament. Texas will be a 10th seed in the West region!
Courtney's Blog: Advantage for Early Enrollees
01/16/12
Six players that will be new to next years football roster have already arrived on campus and have enrolled in classes at UT this spring. After the Holiday Bowl, Mack Brown said We should have great competition at all positions. So heading into next season the 6 that will go through spring practice will already have a leg up on the competition.
Enrolling early can be a huge help to those guys come fall and Im surprised more athletes dont do it. Its hard enough to make the transition from high school to college academically but add in being a student-athlete and it could be overwhelming to some. Im sure its not like this everywhere, but after my fall semester in high school my grades and tests were already submitted so there wasnt much left for me to do in the spring (which is why I didnt make it to many classes that semester).
Last year, QB David Ash, DB Quandre Diggs, LB Chet Moss and TE M.J. McFarland enrolled early. McFarland redshirted, Moss dealt with injuries and position changes, but for the other two, Diggs especially, you could make the argument that the spring workouts helped out.
Part of the transitional process from high school football to the college game is making mistakes. No one expects the freshman to come in and be perfect from the get-go. Spring ball is the perfect time to work out the kinks. Get the mistakes out of the way. Make some of the adjustments to studying habits and living away from family under control. That way, come fall its just about competition.
Heres a list of the early enrollees:
- QB Connor Brewer / Scottsdale, Ariz. (Chaparral HS)
- LB Alex De La Torre / Denton, Texas (Ryan HS)
- OL Camrhon Hughes / Harker Heights, Texas (Harker Heights HS)
- DB Orlando Thomas / Killeen, Texas (Copperas Cove HS)
Junior College transfers:
- OL Donald Hawkins / Tunica, Miss. (Northwest [Miss.] CC/Rosa Fort HS)
- DT Brandon Moore / Montgomery, Ala. (East Mississippi CC/Alabama/Carver HS)
One downside: If Connor Brewer picks things up too quickly, we may not know who the starting quarterback is until the week before the first game. And we all remember how much fun that was dont we?
Adam's Blog: Perspective in the Pool
01/14/12
Even Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries think Brendan Hanson's retirement was brief.
The Texas Ex hung up his goggles after the 2008 Olympics. However, less than three years after his final race (the 400 medley relay in which Michael Phelps won his 8th gold medal), Hansen was back in the pool. But he dove back in with an entirely different attitude.
Burned out and dismayed following a disappointing Beijing, the former world record holder in the 100m and 200m breaststroke had no desire to ever swim competitively again. He was just 27 years old.
Hansen left the sport with a sour taste in his mouth. Expected to dominate on the world's biggest stage, the former Longhorn never achieved his goal of an individual gold medal at the Olympics. His two gold medals came in relays. He's won silver and bronze in the breaststroke. Never a gold.
Less than a year into his "retirement" Hansen tried his hand at triathlons. He says the culture in that sport was refreshing. It was a positive environment. The focus wasn't on how fast you finished a race, just the fact that you finished. Hansen said crossing the finish line in his first triathlon and hearing the cheers from complete strangers was a feeling on-par with breaking a world record in the pool.
He was hooked. The Texas Ex became serious about triathlons, and as he did, his competitive juices resurfaced. In his words, he "fell in love" with competition again.
But competition was nothing new to Hansen. As a world-class swimmer, he was competing everyday. With himself (to lower his times) and with others (for a spot on the medal stand). Why was triathlon competition more enjoyable?
There were no expectations.
In the pool, Hansen was expected to succeed. No matter how hard he worked, or how solid of a performance he turned it, he was ultimately judged on whether or not he took home the gold. We won't even get into the pressure that goes along with six-figure sponsorship deals, either.
In the triathlon scene, there was nothing hanging over Hansen's head. If he put in the time and effort, he would see the results, and that would be good enough. Not just good enough for him, but good enough for those strangers cheering at the finish line.
Following a lunch meeting with his long-time swimming coach Eddie Reese, Hansen took that pressure-free mentality back to the pool. Every day of his training, he steps on the blocks with zero expectations. He refuses to get caught up in fast times or medal counts. He's not busting his hump for anyone else. He's competing for Brendan Hansen.
And it's working.
Not even a full year into his comeback, Hansen is back in the top five of the world in all of his events. The four-time Olympic medalist won both the 100m and 200m breaststroke at the U.S. Winter Nationals late in 2011. He repeated that feat at December's Duel in the Pool.
Hansen will again be favored to medal in London at the 2012 summer Olympics. It's almost as if he never left. But spending some time with Hansen and it's apparent that his retirement was rewarding. Sure, his hiatus was short, but the new outlook he gained may very well pay long-term dividends.
Courtney's Blog: My grumpy old man blog
01/08/12
I know I sound like a grumpy old man, but touchdown celebrations drive me crazy. Not the group kind when everyone's jumping up and down and congratulating each other,but the individual kind. The kind that focuses on the individual and not on the team. Usually from the time kids start playing organized sports, the phrase"there's no "I" in team" is taught (or at least it's on a poster somewhere to be seen). Yes, it is simple and overused but it's something that most successful teams abide by. Somewhere along the way from Pop Warner to the NFL certain players start to put the individual before team.
Scoring a touchdown in the NFL is a huge accomplishment. I get that. And it deserves to be celebrated, collectively with teammates. The same teammates that helped get you into the end zone.
I'm obviously not the only one who believes this, because the league, and even the NCAA, has put in measures, like penalties and fines, to prevent excessive celebration. On New Year's Day, Buffalo Bills receiver Stevie Johnson was benched after his touchdown celebration drew an unsportsmanlike penalty. Johnson celebrated a touchdown catch by lifting his jersey to reveal an undershirt that said, "Happy New Year!" Many disagreed with Gailey's decision to bench his WR but I thought he did the right thing. Coach Chan Gailey had previously said that anyone drawing a penalty for excessive celebration would be benched. Because Johnson felt the need to draw attention to himself, he cost his team 15 yards. Nice teamwork. The Bills by the way, as a team, went on to lose that game 49-21.
Penalty or not, individual excessive touchdown celebrations are simply selfish. They bring extra attention to individual players efforts and take away from the collective effort. Half the time players start celebrating when they're still losing which I really don't understand. If you want to be able to take all the credit for yourself go play tennis, run track,hit a golf ball. Football is not an individual sport and it's never a single player that is responsible for scoring a touchdown. There may be no "I" in team but there is one in "selfish."
Bob's Blog: Just Another Flawed National Champion
01/11/12
The t-shirt reads "We won the game the game that counted."
While incredibly obnoxious it also proves one more time that we are forced to live with a flawed system, with no immediate answer in sight.
The defenders of the BCS always claim the reason it works is that every regular season game matters.
Every regular season game didn't matter.
11/5/11: 9-6 LSU in OT didn't mean jack squat.
In the end the team that got hosed the worst is LSU. LSU beat "National Champion" Alabama. LSU beat Rose Bowl champion Oregon. LSU beat Orange Bowl champion West Virginia. LSU beat Cotton Bowl champion Arkansas.
You'll notice I'm not naming off weak bowl champions like the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl winner Mississippi State, though the Tigers did beat the Bulldogs too.
Had LSU won the title game, BCS defenders would've made the case that the system worked again (though I'm guessing T Boone Pickens and the Pokes would've had something to say about that).
Now? It's just a bunch of people, sans Alabama, frustrated that we've gone through another year without really knowing who the national champion is.
A recap:
2010 - Auburn wins the national title, but TCU is undefeated too.
2009 - Alabama wins the national title, but Boise State is undefeated too.
2008 - Florida wins the national title, but Utah is undefeated too.
2007 - 6 teams finish with 2 losses, but 2-loss LSU wins the title.
2006 - 1-loss Florida wins the national title by beating undefeated Ohio State, but Boise State is undefeated and Louisville and Wisconsin each have one loss (and, of course, LSU and USC finished 3 and 4 with 2 losses each)
Oddly enough the last team to go undefeated and leave no doubt that they were the national champions - Texas in 2005.
I'm not saying the TCU's, Boise State's and Utah's of the world would've won against the eventual champ.
But wouldn't it be better we know that for sure?
The hat reads: Done. The "D" in black, the "one" in white.
While incredibly obnoxious it also proves one more time that we are forced to live with a flawed system, with no immediate answer in sight.
