February 4, 2012
The Tenzone
I'm a little late on this entry, but please forgive me. It's taken some time for all this to settle in.
Last Thursday, I awoke to the pitter patter of rain on my roof. It actually looked like a dreary summer day. The news I was about to receive, however, would make it that much drearier. About a month ago, I received the thrilling news that a childhood dream would be coming true, and I would be flying with the Blue Angels. As you may recall, it's all I've been able to blog about the last few weeks. Now brace yourself, because here's the biting reality: I don't get to go. You see, the coordinator from the Air Force Base made a slight error and following is an excerpt from a devastating email I received: "I was given the wrong information initially, so I apologize for that. One of the four of you (2 candidates from KFBB, 2 from KRTV) will be selected as the primary and one as the alternate for that single flight on Wednesday. Their hope is that you will film one of the flights prior to yours to further advertise the upcoming shows on 30-31 July. Whomever is chosen will be selected by their flight surgeon based on the information you provided on those forms, so I have no idea who the two will be but will be sure to let you know as soon as I do." My flight with the Blue Angels went from a sure thing, to a 25% chance thing in the matter of seconds. My hopes were dashed, I'm not an optimist, I'm a realist. And reality hit last Thursday, when my esteemed colleague, Charlie Keegan, who was originally thought to be my alternate at KFBB, received the news that he was chosen by the flight surgeon to go high in the sky with the Blue Angels... Yes, I was devastated, perhaps a few tears were even shed. But at the end of the day, at least there is the hope that my dream of flying with the Blue Angels is not dead. I hope to be in this business for a very long time, so perhaps the opportunity will present itself again. ...and at least I can always go back and ride the Ferris Wheel again ( See previous blog entry. It's always good for a little thrill :) Happy Summer days...they're winding down. LT 
THINGS I COULD BE DOING RIGHT NOW INSTEAD OF WATCHING NFL PLAYERS DRESSED IN SUITS ON ESPN:
- Knitting a sweater.. - Reading a book.. - Watching a movie.. - Cooking dinner.. - Working out… of a jam in a baseball video game. - Catching up with old friends.. - Enjoying life.. - NOT screaming into pillows.. - Writing a blog… K, gonna run with it. C’mon man!! C’mon!! I’m a big optimist. But this lockout business is turning me into Captain Cynical, skipper of the boat SHUT UP, LEAVE ME ALONE, GO AWAY. This stuff is actually starting to get to me. Today was supposed to be the day, but nada. So now TOMORROW is supposed to be the day, but I won’t hold my breath. If my respect levels could be quantified, the NFL (not just players or owners, but THE ENITRE NFL) would be firmly in the red. I won’t pretend to understand the finer points of collective bargaining. I tried to follow at first, but became so jaded after listening to the drivel. I just don’t care. Make a decision. “It’s not that simple, Tom!” “There’s lots of moving pieces, Tom!” “The players/owners are trying to make compromises but the players/owners won’t budge, TOM!!!” Shut it! Don’t care… just end the lockout. The NFL has already announced that the preseason Hall of Fame game will be cancelled. And I swear… if they shelve any more action this season, I will spit in disgust or join an underground resistance movement ala Les Miserables. And the NBA? Grrrrrrr… I’m seething with hatred. Basketball is by far my favorite sport. And pessimism just oozes from my side here. The two sides are even further apart than the NFL. But when RASHARD LEWIS is the highest paid NBA player in the league, the system is broken. Needs fixing. Just do it fast or I’ll run out of spit. Thanks for reading. TW
We’ve had a rash of incidents lately where a young amateur athlete gets into a spot of trouble. And as sports media professionals, we HAVE to cover it because it affects our livelihood - and fans of the teams and players in question want details.
But man, I hate watching these guys go through the grinder. When Montana quarterback Nate Montana was charged with DUI, it was truly tough to watch. He showed up in court the next day, with cameras shoved in his face… ours included. The entire state and then some saw him at his most vulnerable and exposed. For one day only, KFBB Sports borrowed a page from the TMZ school of journalism. We were paparazzi... We’ve followed the recent transgressions of the Thomas brothers of Kalispell, which are detailed here and here. I know that these guys have to answer for their mistakes, but they’re just that.. mistakes. I don’t condone the illegal actions of anyone; I merely sympathize with their plight. We’ve all been in trouble before to varying degrees - did something we regret. But most of us have the blanket of anonymity to fall into. Talented athletes don’t have that luxury. We read about them in the paper and marvel at their physical prowess – so when they make a misstep, it’s news. In addition to fines and sentences, our sports heroes risk public embarrassment. So they have a lot less wiggle room than the rest of us. They’re expected to walk the path of the straight and narrow, when in reality they’re just regular folks like you and me who happen to possess exceptional skill on the field/court. So for those who are quick to condemn when an athlete misbehaves, I’d ask you to reserve judgment. Take your shoes off for a minute and try on theirs. Have respect for what they’re going through and see how they respond after their wake-up call. That's their true measure. Thanks for reading. TW 
It’s a weekend like this past one that makes me extremely thankful to be covering sports as my "job".
First and foremost, I am not a New York Yankees fan… as far from it as possible actually. But I would still like to congratulate Derek Jeter for becoming the first Yankee ever to reach 3,000 hits. But I have to say… the most impressive part of the 3,000th hit homerun, was Christian Lopez, the 23-year-old fan who caught the ball, and unselfishly gave it back to Jeter, when that ball alone could have easily been worth a six-figure paycheck. Can there be anymore of a fan? Someone who realizes how big of a moment it is for the player and the game, and is just happy to be a part of history. Would you do the same? I couldn’t give you an immediate answer, because I’d probably at least want to consider my options. Lopez, on the other hand, said the thought of selling the ball never crossed his mind. That’s unreal. Hats off to a fan that loves the game in its purest of forms. That was just the first half of the weekend. I’m hoping most of you didn’t hit the snooze on your alarm clocks too many times on Sunday morning, as the progression of American soccer on an international stage made an IMMENSE jump. If you did happen to watch the Women’s World Cup quarterfinal matchup between USA and Brazil, you now realize (if you haven’t before) why the sport of soccer is called "the beautiful game". In a script that you would think could have only been written in Hollywood, the USA women overcame insurmountable odds (too many to list) to score in the actual last seconds of extra time to keep themselves alive. Not only that, but then the team had to get the job done in penalty kicks, which at times, can seem more like a crap shoot to decide the ultimate winners and losers. ESPN’s Bob Ley said, "It’s a game that can enthrall you, frustrate you, and simply amaze you… all of those feelings were felt to the extreme in the (USA-Brazil) game." If you aren’t watching the Women’s World Cup, for whatever reason, it is time to start. Hopefully, you’ll have two more opportunities to see Team USA play with an incredible passion for their country. Whew! What a weekend! From a fan simply enjoying a baseball game with his father, sitting in the stands at Yankee Stadium… to some of our nation’s best athletes playing on one of the world’s biggest stages. It’s hard to get two better stories to tell, spanning almost every emotion you can hope for as a sports fan… all within two days. It just makes you wish for the weekend that much more. -Zac Glover
I know what you're thinking. The title implies that this is going to be my boring reflections on what it's like to shoot games and interviews. It's a good 80% of job anyway, even though the thrill of being an on-air performer is why I got into this business. But no, this blog entry is not about that.
After a big game that I shoot, it's common practice to grab a player or coach from the winning side afterward for a post-game interview. Our business is very time-sensitive, so often times we don't have a chance to include post-game interviews in our sportscast. But when it comes to afternoon games during the playoff stretch, we like to squeeze those in there. And that's what I want to be -- the guy who gets interviewed because I won something. That delirious dream will never go away for the young sportscaster. You hear those stories all the time -- the wanna-be athlete realizes he'll never cut it at the professional level, so he settles for sports journalism because, after all, you still get to be part of the action (if only on the periphery) without actually having athletic talent. Ergo, look at me now. But there's one sport I've tricked myself into believing I'm decent at in my scrambled brain. I've always been a golfer on the verge of breaking through to the territory of scratch play (in my mind). I've somehow convinced myself that just with a little fine-tuning, I could actually be a competitive player in amateur circles (in my mind). For now, I'm a hacker who shoots consistently in the high 70s but occasionally can't break 80 (in reality). So, as it goes for the pseudo-athlete with unrealistic dreams of actually doing something that only poses as accomplishment in the large scheme of things, I have a chance later this summer. It's the Bozeman City Championship, a two-day, 36-hole event that determines the champion golfer in Bozeman. Since I moved to Montana, competitive opportunities in golf for me have basically disappeared. There were many outlets to compete in the Golf Association of Philadelphia back home, at the junior and regular levels. But combining a shorter schedule of events here with the fact that I work five days a week, those opportunities just don't exist anymore. But I'll be able to play in the City Championship in early August. I've already joked with the other sports guys in town, that in my delirious head I'll shoot 68-68 and win and they'll have to interview me as the champion, finally fulfilling the dream of breaking through as an athletic icon in the Treasure State. Look, you never lose that competitive drive, and you always believe you can get better. I've been out on the range all summer, pounding out buckets of balls, searching for the secret that will elevate my game from the high 70s to the low 70s. It's only a difference of about 6-8 shots per round, but that's a lot in golf. And putting is a whole other animal that I've yet to conquer -- to go into detail would require many more paragraphs of rambling that you probably don't want to read. The reality of the situation dictates that I'll play, but probably shoot closer to 78-79 and be a good 20+ shots off the winner. That doesn't mean I won't try to break through by early August when the tournament is. Doesn't mean I'll keep thinking that I'm just one or two tweaks away from catching fire for those 36 holes and actually competing for the title. And it doesn't mean I won't stop dreaming of being the guy that's getting interviewed after the game, and not the one asking questions behind the camera. When you do it for a living and you're around it all the time, it's okay to daydream a little bit of what life's like on the other side. A.J. Donatoni ajdonatoni@maxmontana.com 
Here's a moment of truth: I'm not a daredevil, I don't even ride roller coasters, and the one time I did, my eyes were closed when we went upside down.
I'm scheduled to take off with the Blue Angels at the end of the month, an event I'm by no means scared of, just anxious-excited for. But, let's be real. I closed my eyes when going upside down on a roller coaster and my favorite ride at Disney Land still is "Small World." So, this month I've decided to start prepping for the big ride, starting this past weekend on a little vacation to Los Angeles when I spotted the perfect opportunity: the Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel. Yep, a Ferris Wheel is my first step to preparing to fly with the Blue Angels. Now I know what you're thinking, "This girl has got to be kidding us," but, this isn't just a normal Ferris Wheel, it really makes you feel like you are flying over the Pacific Ocean, mind you it's at about 5 mph, but flying nonetheless AND over water. (I'm not even flying over water in Montana, so it's like an added risk factor that I won't even have to worry about). After a self evaluation upon disembarking the great Santa Monica Ferris Wheel, three things were discovered... 1) It was a bit of a rush (only had one little heart flutter when we really started going around and around), 2) I'm a wimp, 3) If I put my mind over matter, I should be just fine in an F-18. I'm out of ideas on any "extreme" adventures to try out in Montana to prep for the big flight, although commercial flights in and out of Great Falls might be a good start, the wind really has provided some great turbulence every time I fly in and out....but until I build up some more frequent flyer miles, I'll be at the Peak lifting some weights to prepare for all the "G" forces... Flight preparation ideas? Tweet me @LindseyThiry or you can find me on Facebook.com/Lindsey.Thiry -Lindsey
I love sports stats. Especially in baseball.
Every year before the season starts, I lock myself in a padded room and go over page after page of stats and projections for my fantasy baseball team. Why? Because nothing else in the sport shows a team or player's strengths and weaknesses in such a obvious way like stats. And after 15 games of the Pioneer League season, we can start to see the Missoula Osprey's year take shape. The O's have a season record of 7-8, and only trail Billings and Helena by one game. Not bad. And here's some other stats for you. The team Earned Run Average is just that: Average. Standing at 4.99; middle of the pack. They have struck out 161 batters which is tops in the league. Yet they have allowed 20 home runs, second most, and only trail the Casper Ghosts, who have allowed 21 and are the cellar dweller of the league at 6-9. Offensively, the Birds are solid, sporting a .285 batting average, and an on-base percentage of .349; fourth and third in the league respectively. They've scored 91 runs thus far this season and hit 14 homers; middle of the pack. With 52 walks on the year, the O's are getting on base, yet they've struck out 159 times which is the second most of any team in the league. The stat that sticks out the most is the O's inability to close out games from a pitching standpoint. After 15 games, the O's staff allowed 24 runs from the eighth inning on, with an ERA of 5.83. In games where the score is within 2 runs or less after 7 innings, the Osprey are 2-7 and have been outscored 17-7 in those games. What can we deduce from looking at these stats? The Osprey are right where they should be; sitting in the middle of the pack, only one game out of the North Division lead. The team is loaded with talent, balanced by both rookies out of college and guys that have been in the system and are just a few bad innings from not only leading the North, but running away with it to this point. The pitching staff will settle down as the season goes along, which should translate into some big wins down the stretch and the offensive production should continue to pump out run support as long as the boys keep the K's to a minimum. All in all, after 15 games, the birds are on pace to play some meaningful games come September. 
I absolutely love tennis. Somewhere between the French Open and Wimbledon... I always get the itch to play. In fact, I get the itch so much that I try to play at least once a week throughout the summer months.
Just my opinion, but the game of tennis is the best mix between physical and mental strength. While games like football and hockey could easily be considered more physical, you have teammates that can help eliminate your mistakes. On the tennis court, it's just YOU running back and forth on the baseline, or rushing toward the net trying to get to a wicked drop shot. And while there are stoppages of play between each point... those 30-hit rallies will wear anyone out (not that I've played in many of those haha) en route to a three-hour match. Golf is probably what I'd consider the most mental game, and there is certainly the need to be physically fit on the links (you know John Daly appreciates this comment)... but in similar fashion, I've seen Novak Djokovic absolutely lose his mind and then lose the match in this year's French Open semifinals because of the way he was playing... and this was after winning close to 50 matches in a row. And it's that combination of being able to make the plays, but also keeping your mind right while doing so that makes tennis one of my favorite sports. To quote some of the best musicians I've ever heard (Cream) - "Anyone for tennis, wouldn't that be nice?" -Zac Glover
So I've been golfing for the past eight years or so and I have come to realize that the best golf I play every year happens to be the first few rounds of the season.
I know it's because of not hitting at all during the winter so I lose all of the bad muscle memory I had at the end of the previous year. You know how the old saying goes, "If it's not broke, don't fix it," Well, for some reason about halfway through the season, I try to be the hero and try things that I'll never be good enough to be able to do constantly, I.E. put enough backspin on the ball to be able to control where the ball lands and rolls, hooking and fading intentionally, you know, stuff like that. And it screws up the whole rest of the year for me. Why do I annually try these things? Because I'm an idiot, plain and simple. I should just leave things well enough alone and be happy with being a 14-20 handicap. Or maybe I should just stick to playing in 4 man scrambles or "best ball" tournaments. I'm good for a couple of good shots or putts every round. Brad 
Every adult has a six year old somewhere deep inside them. Really, it's in there, it's just a matter of something making it come out.
Thursday afternoon, my esteemed co-worker Charlie Keegan walked into my office and held out paperwork, and said "Lindsey, we just got papers saying a reporter gets to fly with the Blue Angels when they come to town." This one sentence alone made me happier than the 200 times I went on "It's a Small World" at DisneyLand when I was six. Impulsive screams were followed by hyperventilating, then it was all capped off with tears. One might think, geez what's this lady on? Co-workers literally came from every corner of the building to make sure I hadn't fallen off my rocker, literally. Now, figuratively speaking, I was catapulted to the other side of the room. Growing up and living in Seattle my entire life, the Blue Angels have been a part of my summer since I can remember. Their thunderous roar through the sky is unlike any other and for years upon years I've strained my neck and squinted my eyes to watch their awe-inspiring maneuvers in the skies. Now, come the end of July, (pending my health stays in tact, no colds - please!) I will be lucky enough to fulfill a childhood pipe dream, one I never imagined in my wildest dreams would ever come true and will take to the sky in an F-18 Hornet. This is a real treat for Great Falls that the Blue Angels will be here to perform their airshow, I can't wait to watch it and can't wait to share my experience in the cockpit with you!! Lindsey |
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