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Gender: male Member Since: March 14, 2006 Last Signed In: November 21, 2009 Profile Views: 8715 Blog Views: 39782 About the Boy: Week 10 Laughter: The best medicine And now, introducing my "Little".. About the Boy: Week 8 A little of the "Poet" side of Motopoet Slow down..It's REALLY easy! My Pie! She scores! About the Boy: Week 7 About the Boy: Addendum About the Boy: Week 6 June 06 July 06 August 06 September 06 October 06 November 06 December 06 January 07 February 07 March 07 April 07 May 07 June 07 July 07 August 07 September 07 October 07 November 07 December 07 January 08 February 08 March 08 April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 August 08 September 08 October 08 November 08 December 08 January 09 February 09 March 09 April 09 May 09 June 09 July 09 August 09 September 09 October 09 November 09 
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Watching Ryan
Everytime I talk about my grandson, Ryan, everytime I am watching a game in a public place and say "That's my grandson", people look at me like I have two heads, and I find myself explaining the technical aspect of our kinship.
Ryan is my ex-wife's grandson. She is a little older than me(and a very sexy gramma, I might add!), and when I started dating her, Ryan was nine. His father and grandfather were not a significant part of his life and we took to each other right away. I have been "Pa" to him, his brother, Dante, His cousin, William, and his Mom, Trish, ever since. As far as I am concerned, they are my blood, and I treat them as such. Back to the point. Watching Ryan play football is one of the highlights of my life. I have been watching him since his days on the Tomahawks of the Tehachapi youth league. He was a standout then, just as he is now. His talent is more refined today, but was just as evident in its raw form when he was a little kid. One of the most supremely satisfying years of my life was his senior year at West High in Bakersfield. Ryan scored me a coaches shirt so I could go on the field at all the games and take photos. It was a stellar year for him on the field. His stats were absolutely sick. Watching him from field level, listening to the coaches(Rich Cornford, Mike Lewis) plans and then watching them come together(Rich would walk by and tell me where to point the camera for a big or trick play) was so cool. When Ryan would come out of the game, I became the messenger for his Mom, who wanted to know just what the hell was going on! I watched him lead the nation in rushing and scoring that year. It was awesome. Sometimes I was moved almost to tears of pride in his absolute domination of the defenders. Ryan simply took the snaps out of the shotgun and made things happen. Every player on every team they played knew exactly who was getting the ball and Ryan STILL punsihed them! Then came college. Ryan had many offers, but he wanted to stay as close to home as possible. Pat Hill at Fresno State recruited him heavily. Ryan was thinking USC or UCLA, but they kept dragging their heels and Ryan took Fresno's offer. USC came calling soon after, but Ryan is a man of integrity, and stuck by Coach Hill. He has never looked back, and Fresno State is much the better for it! I still tend to think of Ryan as a kid when I watch him play. With his helmet on and him way down on the field, it's easy for me to put the 12 year old with the bleached blonde hair or the curly black mop he had at 15 under that helmet. But the reality is that Ryan is a man now. He turned 22 last Saturday. He is as tall as me and is 220 pounds of solid muscle(I'm not!). He's a bit more serious now. A lot more focused. MUCH more well known. He doesn't have the time to pop out of his schedule whenever I am in Fresno, but we do get together when he can manage it, and that's good enough for me. He still hugs me, calls me "Pa" and we always say "I Love You" when we say "See Ya", whether in person, on the phone, texting, IM's or e-mails. I will miss his home game on the 31st, the first home game I will have missed since he started college(except for two last year in which he did not play). I always sit with his Mom and my ex, and there isn't a person within hollering distance that doesn't know we are his family! I still get those watery, proud grampa eyes and that swollen chest every time he breaks a big one. Those are generally to the house, just to be clear. Right now, Ryan leads the nation in rushing yards and yards per game in the NCAA. He is the real deal, and don't think I don't tell all my friends, and quite a few strangers about that! If an opening about football doesn't come in the course of a conversation, you can bet I'll make one! I've been accused of riding his coattails. I've been told I'm not really a part of his picture anymore because his Gramma and I are no longer together. I've been told that were he not a football star, I would have nothing to do with him(that guy almost got knocked the fudge out)Whatever. He will be my beloved son no matter where life takes him and he and I know that and that is good enough for me. It's not everyone who has someone like Ryan in their life. I'm talking about Ryan, my grandson. The quiet, reserved(unless his homies are around)young man. The Mama's boy..The gramma's boy. The young man who lies around with his pit bulls(no..they're not mean)and just chills. The one who cares more about his teammates issues than his own. The one who builds up his teammates. The kid who made his Mom give a teammate at West a new pair of high end shoes because the other kid couldnt afford nice shoes. That kid..or that young man. Yeah..It's cool to have such an inspiring young man as a grandson. But being able to point him out on TV, in the paper and in person and brag like the strutting grampa I am ain't bad either! 22 comments from 12 users
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posted by
grammyt
on Oct 12, 2009 at 03:11 PM
WOW....I truly enjoyed reading this. How very lucky for Ryan to have your lifetime commitment of support and love for his entire family. Thank you for sharing!!! posted by
jfrancais
on Oct 12, 2009 at 04:24 PM
Moto, you're an awesome grandpa (and person). Just brush the haters off and continue to do what you're doing. I thinks its awesome that you are playing a positive role in a young man's life. I'll be cheering on your grandson in a few weeks when they make it down to Las Cruces tp play NMSU. That's not far from my house (about 30 minutes or so). If you guys come down you are welcome to join my tailgate party. I'm proud to see a KC athlete do great things. I remember a blog a few years back when senor PF reared his ugly head and nothing but bad things to say. It's good to see him prove his detractors wrong. Now he has the whole nation on notice!! posted by
ALICEN
on Oct 12, 2009 at 06:35 PM
THERE's the poet in "motopoet!" Almost every time I read these blogs there's one that gets me to squalling. Tonight this was it. Thanks! (I needed that.) posted by
ApolloDawn
on Oct 12, 2009 at 07:18 PM
Dawnie appreciates it, too. :) Mark, you are one of the handful of people who write their own compositions, beginning to end, and share them with us. I avoid the political ones, but let it be known that I appreciate reading one's own thoughts when they come from the heart. Yours always do. posted by
motopoet
on Oct 12, 2009 at 08:32 PM
Thanx all..I believe I am done with the political bickering here as well(if my last post didn't get me banned). I have better things to do. Like share the good things in life! posted by
ApolloDawn
on Oct 12, 2009 at 08:40 PM
"Like share the good things in life!" That's the language, hon. :) posted by
adampayne
on Oct 12, 2009 at 08:44 PM
Your grandson is one awesome football player. As an alum of West High I follow his exploits every week. I really hope he stays injury free for his career. Football is a really brutal game these days. Glad to read he has so much support. He will always be the richer person for it. posted by
VirgilAnderson
on Oct 12, 2009 at 08:45 PM
"... Like share the good things in life!" Yeah, well, just make sure that when you recreate, you recreate self-consciously enough to create the smallest carbon footprint possible. --virgil posted by
dreamifucan
on Oct 13, 2009 at 12:14 AM
Watching his games this season has been such a treat for me. But it still amazes me every time he takes off his helmet and I see the man you're speaking of. He'll always be that quiet kid at "Nana's" house to me. They showed a shot of him from behind Saturday night and I said "Dang! Ryan done got BIG" Amazing And Moto ~ you know you've always been my hero. But the way you are with Ryan makes me truly proud to be your sister. And as for the anyone who accuses you of your pride in Ryan being anything other than your love for that boy (oops! I mean man!) ~ send 'em to me and I'll tell 'em how you had to miss my daughter's wedding because it was the same day as Ryans high school graduation. Pooie on them! posted by
mrsearnhardt88
on Oct 13, 2009 at 11:02 AM
You are a great person Mark to feel the way you feel for Ryan and his "blood" family. You have EVERY right to be proud! So many of these young people can't keep a decent head on their shoulders as they accomplish great things and their lives take a drastic turn. They don't have the love and support that all of you have shown Ryan. Tragic for them. I am sure that Ryan is very proud to call you "Pa"! Who cares what other people may think? Do they really matter? I feel like I know you even though we have only met once. I have to admit at first I thought "how does this work?" when you talked about Ryan, but the story behind it doesn't matter. The bond you have does! I am having fun watching my friends' grandson's career build and evolve! He will do great things in life and always be "your boy"! Enjoy! posted by
NancyII
on Oct 13, 2009 at 05:46 PM
For those who would like to see Ryan get the Heisman Trophy go here to vote for him http://espn.go.com/sportsna... Spread the word. posted by
witterpitters
on Oct 13, 2009 at 05:59 PM
posted by
mrsearnhardt88
on Oct 13, 2009 at 07:28 PM
Me too Witters!!!!!!!!!! posted by
NancyII
on Oct 13, 2009 at 07:34 PM
Me three! posted by
dreamifucan
on Oct 13, 2009 at 07:55 PM
Me four :-)
posted by
jfrancais
on Oct 13, 2009 at 07:58 PM
I'm waiting for the illinois game. He's going to put people on notice that game (if they aren't already). posted by
Rettchr
on Oct 14, 2009 at 08:56 AM
Thanks, Mark, for sharing your story about Ryan. From what we've seen this year, he certainly is an outstanding player and well-worthy of any recognition he gets. You, also, have earned the right to be his "Pa" -- don't ever let anyone negate the positive influence you've been in Ryan's life. My hope for him is that he finishes college and gets his degree before he turns pro.
posted by
jfrancais
on Oct 14, 2009 at 09:05 AM
I thinks it's noble to get a degree. Using pro sports as a window of opportunity is noble, too. NCAA does their thing to make millions so I have no qualms with an athlete going out to get his. The student-athlete ideology is antiquated way of looking at collegiate athletics in America when you look at the rigid rules and the economic imbalance. posted by
motopoet
on Oct 14, 2009 at 05:29 PM
Ryan will be the first to admit that his education is not his #1 goal. He wants the degree, but he wants to be a star, too. He wants to turn his talent into money and he has earned the right to do it. He has been working his tail off for fourteen years to get where he is. I think many people lose sight of the fact that many of these athletes have already had a rough row to hoe by the time they get to college, indeed, college is the halfway point, not the beginning of a career for many athletes. Fresno State has a program aimed specifically at athletes so they do not become the type who have a degree won on the field, rather than earned in the classroom. Coach Hill told Ryan in his freshman year, "When you leave here you will have a college degree and all the tools Fresno State can give you to succeed. What you do with it is up to you". I think that's about all a kid can ask for and all a college can offer. posted by
jfrancais
on Oct 15, 2009 at 08:49 AM
Well, I'm pretty sure he will get drafted. It's just a question of what round at this point (stock value). College is always there if it is something he wants or decides he wants in the future. It's good to have options. When it comes to academics I think it makes more sense to go make your millions and go back to colege when it's right for you. You no longer have to worry about NCAA compliance (hypocrisies). You don't have to struggle like the average student and some athletes do. And you can go at your own pace. The NCAA should at least let athletes make money off their own likeness or even do endorsements (liek Olympic athletes do). It's a multimillion dollar hypocrisy. Kids on scholarship in the Army ROTC program have bigger stipends (up to $2300/mo) than the athletes on the football team. I tried to sway a few walk-ons and bit players to do ROTC if they had no future prospects. posted by
NancyII
on Oct 15, 2009 at 09:12 AM
Apologies for the mixup. I moved the Fresno Bee article about Ryan to a more appropriate place. Mark keeps a running commentary "About the boy" and it fits better there. http://people.bakersfield.c... posted by
jfrancais
on Oct 15, 2009 at 09:21 AM
When it's all said and done, Mathews will have been under utilized in Fresno State's offense. He's been there best back when he has been healthy. I understand playing behond Clifton Smith as a freshman to learn the blocking schemes on pass plays. I don't understand sharing time with Lonyae Miller, who is okay (occassionally fumbles), or Harding, who is consistent but doesn't have the speed that Mathew does. Will another future star running back of his caliber want to come play for Fresno?
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