Archive By Section - Sports Columns
Fantasy football rookie goes for the touchdown
Since I was little, I remember Sundays being the designated football day. I would get out my cheese head, my Green Bay Packer blanket and put on my favorite Bret Favre jersey that was way too big for me. It was bonding time with my family and, of course, I was the dedicated cheerleader for the Packers. Whenever my dad cheered, I did too.
My first hockey experience
There were plenty of justifiable reasons why we should have left the HP Pavilion in our rearview mirror and go on about our night.
A few degrees makes all the difference
I have a 75 gallon fish tank at home where I have about six tropical fish. When I purchased my fish I tried to get them in pairs. Coincidentally, two of my pairs ended up spawning several times over the summer. Once the cooler weather hit, I noticed several changes occur in the tank. The first change I noticed was the once radiant colors of my fish went pale and their movement became very sluggish. ...
When coaches behave badly
I've written about my former coaches before and the impact they made on my life. For the most part, they've been good memories. And even the bad ones, which included them yelling in my face, were beneficial because I know it was for my own good.
A much needed ‘fore!’
I was standing about 50 yards from the tee of the second hole and imagining, just for a second, what it'd feel like to get smacked by a speeding golf ball. It wasn't a wish. It was just a thought.
Junior high reunion spurs introspection
This was my eighth-grade boys basketball tryout: Our coach, a slender man with a monotone voice, instructed us to make five straight free throws. He didn't care who took the shot, but every time a ball refused to go in, we'd run sprints up and down the court.
A lesson in lingo
Recently I was asked to explain the differences between a reaction bait and a rip bait. I realized then, that for those just getting into the sport or who've been out of it for a while can easily be confused with the ever changing fisherman's language.
Honoring the great MJ
It's time to honor Michael Jordan. The greatest basketball player ever will be enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday. Even Jordan himself couldn't tarnish his own legacy as an old man with bad knees in a game that had evolved since he last laced one of his popular Air Jordans.
The best inspiration comes from strangers
I had just pounded out the opening mile of my first 5K run when a serious dilemma popped in front of my face. Maybe the thought also crossed the minds of the other runners. Well, probably except for those superhumans - also known as the Cal State Stanislaus runners - who do this kind of stuff as warm-up.
A remarkable week in sports
A guilty pleasure of mine is watching VH1's "Best Week Ever." It's an addicting show that offers commentary from no-name comedians and minor celebrities on the week's biggest pop culture news.
Tracy racing family earn top spots in Stockton
The Philpott's, Tracy's leading racing family, continued their season long domination of the Western Late Model ranks at the New Stockton 99 Speedway with a clean sweep of last Saturday night's twin 50-lap features.
Brandstater is just enjoying the ride
Tom Brandstater, a Turlock High graduate, wants to be the Super Bowl MVP, the one who lifts his index finger in the air to show that he's No. 1 and the one who looks into a camera and tells the world where he wants to go on vacation next.
Better late than never
If you played sports in high school, you have relieved, recounted and regretted what happen years ago.
Format change changes little at Madera
In a bold effort to build up car count and increase the championship drama down the homestretch of the season, Madera Speedway President Kenny Shepherd made a surprise announcement last week that the 2009 Western Late Model championship at the 1/3 mile oval would be determined by the last four races with only the top 10 drivers in the points being eligible.
Sports junkies lose great sport in AFL
The Arena Football League is dead. At least for the most part. That's what a number of reports are saying about perhaps one of the most high-energy sporting spectacles ever, which can best be described as an indoor version of the NFL but with players who have a lot more to prove and not much to lose. The league is suspended indefinitely, officials announced earlier this week. It could also face a Chapter 7 bankruptcy ...
Articles by Section - Sports Columns
New chapter in Journal sports
Turlock has been my home practically my entire life. I've watched this town grow and expand as fields turned into shopping malls and housing developments. I grew up on Turlock sports, my childhood consisted of wrestling in the winter and football in the fall. I spent six with the Turlock Youth Wrestling Program and played five years with the Turlock 49ers. When I wasn't on the mat or the field I was at home ...
Goodbye, Turlock
Though I grew up in the Central Valley, I knew very little about Turlock. I knew it had a college, a couple high schools, good places to eat and shop … and that was about it. Call me naïve back then. After three years at the Journal, I will never look at Turlock the same again. I started as an education reporter in September 2008, but a few months later I segued ...
A victory for Byrd, finally
After notching 10 top-five finishes this season veteran driver Dave Byrd, of Seaside, finally picked up his first victory of 2011 in last Saturday's "Race and Ride for Autism 100" Western Late Model feature at Stockton 99 Speedway.
Exciting race gives Gomes third victory of season
Manteca's Jacob Gomes picked up his third victory of the season and reclaimed the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series championship lead Saturday night in the "Century Boatland 115" in front of a capacity crowd at Rocky Mountain Raceways just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah.
Wendt brothers score big at Stockton
A nice crowd of nearly 2,000 was on hand at Stockton's 99 Speedway for last Saturday's NASCAR Whelen All American Racing Series program and tribute to Manteca racing legend Johnny Brazil.
The power of never giving up
It was a stunning realization to see the U.S. team finalize an epic comeback against Brazil to win its quarterfinal match in the FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany last weekend. The win told many stories, and not just about the fact that the Americans are now just one win from the championship game.
Say it ain’t so, NBA
Life without the NBA is an inconceivable thought.
Don’t fish blind
Recently, while camping with my family at Lake Pardee, my son and I decided to take a walk. We ended up near the boat ramp where there were a lot of people fishing. They had just released a truck load of trout into the lake earlier that morning, so there were people catching fish all around us.
Will Jimmer save the Kings?
Like most Central Valley residents, I grew up a Sacramento Kings fan.
It isn’t over until it’s over
I did not see the majority of the Dallas Mavericks' late-game comeback against the Miami Heat on Thursday night in the second game of the NBA Finals. Like most spectators, I thought the Mavs were done after being down by 15 points with 7:15 minutes left, so I went away from the TV for a few minutes.
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