Last Rites - LastRites's Blog - Bakersfield.com

It's official Tour of California to make stop in Bakersfield

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:47:17 PDT

Didn't need a 10 a.m. press conference to announce the cities and dates for the 2010 Amgen Tour of California. Just had to open my e-mail this morning. Here's a few excerpts from the press release sent over by Nicole Okoneski with Golin Harris, one of the marketing firms with the Tour.

Beginning with a road stage, a first for the race, the 2010 Amgen Tour of California will visit 16 host cities for official stage starts and finishes, while other cities along the route also will have the opportunity to witness the excitement of elite professional cycling. Stages for the 2010 Amgen Tour of California include:

Stage 1: Sunday, May 16 – Nevada City to Sacramento
Stage 2: Monday, May 17 – Davis to Santa Rosa
Stage 3: Tuesday, May 18 – San Francisco to Santa Cruz
Stage 4: Wednesday, May 19 – San Jose to Modesto
Stage 5: Thursday, May 20 – Visalia to Bakersfield
Stage 6: Friday, May 21 – Pasadena to Big Bear Lake
Stage 7: Saturday, May 22 – Los Angeles (individual time trial)
Stage 8: Sunday, May 23 – Thousand Oaks/Westlake Village/Agoura Hills

For further information on the 2010 Amgen Tour of California, visit amgentourofcalifornia.com.

I'm still going to the press conference. Will know more in a few minutes.

Add another name to the list of Condors fans

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:24:54 PDT

Who woulda thunk a kid from central Indiana, where basketball gets first billing for 364 days of the year -- the Indianapolis 500 has its one day -- would become a hockey fan. From working as public relations gopher with the Peoria Rivermen for a season, to covering numerous Charlotte Checker games to marrying a girl from Roseau, Minn.; hockey has grown on me. It's gotten to the point where my oldest son thinks we're going to a hockey game anytime we drive downtown.

But these past 2 weeks of talking with Condors beat guy Mike Griffith and listening to Condors media guru Kevin Bartl describe the talent on this year's team has me primed for the season to start tonight.

I'm excited about the Condors season, and I think the community should too.

For the first time since joining the ECHL, the Condors will have a roster full of NHL-caliber players. Sure they've had guys like Yutaka Fukufuji and Connor James earn a spot in the NHL. And Alexandre Bolduc has had a swig of Molson in the NHL but those were just one standout on rosters of "just keeping the dream alive" Double-A talent.

This year's roster is like a freshman sorority girl at an off-campus party -- LOADED.

Winger Shawn Weller, defensemen John de Gray and Eric Regan, along with goaltender Justin Pogge are proven commodities at the AHL level. Stu Bickell, MacGregor Sharp and newest Condor Dan Sexton excelled at the collegiate level. And we can't forget Pogge has seven games in net with the Toronto Maple Leafs. And then you have the Ducks' 2007 first-round pick Logan Macmillan, third-rounder Maxine Macenauer and goalie Timo Pielmeier joining the Ducks' organization after successful stints in juniors.

In a year, you might see a two or three former Condors playing with the big boys in Anaheim.

Better hop on the bandwagon while there's still room. I just grabbed four spots for myself and my family.

No sponsor, no ride for Mears in 2010

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:32:00 PDT

Bakersfield's No. 2 Sprint Cup driver appears on his way out of Richard Childress Racing.

Casey Mears, a Stockdale High graduate and nephew of IndyCar legend Rick Mears, signed a one-year contract with RCR, with a an option for a second in 2008, but without a sponsor RCR will likely have to trim a car from its four-car stable, according to ESPN's David Newton.

His one-year stint with Bakersfield's Kevin Harvick, dubbed this season by The Californian as The Boys of Bakersfield could be canceled after just one season.

Funding has been suppressed by General Motors' misfortunes, and with the loss of longtime sponsor Jack Daniel's, Mears is likely the odd-man out, despite being 19th in the points standings and having nine Top-15 finishes, including a sixth-place finish at Michigan in August.

Actually I think the most telling quote in this story is Childress' second one. Considering Childress won't rule out replacing Mears because a sponsor doesn't believe Mears' is an ideal candidate.

"It all depends on sponsorship," Childress said. "Casey has done a good job. It's just unfortunate circumstances around Jack Daniel's to have to leave the sport."

Effing Favre to Simply Favrelous

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:06:08 PDT

For almost the entire second half of the Minnesota-San Francisco game, I heard Brett Favre called every name my wife could conjure up. Her Scandinavian heritage really came out Sunday. There was a point, I think she was looking for a Ulfberht sword so she could gash our TV. It was comical, yet scary.

"I can't believe people are rooting for this guy. They're cheering for the anti-Christ." was one of the more memorable of her remarks. Well of the ones, that are fit to print.

With every throw in the field turf, behind his intended receiver or even 5 yards out of bounds; I even started to believe her wild conspiracy theory.

Just what if in Week 8 or 9, Favre rips off his Vikings jersey to reveal a No. 4 Packers jersey and says, "The joke's on you! Long live Green Bay." Then proceed to walk out of the conference, escorted by his security detail, a society of Packers fans that have been living underground in Minnesota for years.

After failing to lead the Vikings to a touchdown winning drive in the game's final 4 minutes, my wife was convinced the fix was in. While I wasn't convinced about the fix, I was sure the game was over.

But it didn't take long for my wife (a loyal Vikings fan since birth) to go from effing Favre to Simply Favrelous. It was under 5 seconds or however it took for journeyman receiver Greg Lewis to secure Favre's touchdown pass and drag his right foot in the back of the end zone.

Favre Being Favre is exactly what Vikings fans can expect of their 40-year-old quarterback. Now, if I can just get my wife to understand.

NASCAR rumors: Boys of Bakersfield could be cancelled?

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:52:58 PDT

With just 9 races left in the season, the rumors of potential free-agent moves for 2010 are circulating in the NASCAR community. While Bakersfield's Casey Mears' name isn't on the top of the list, his ride is.

Bobby Labonte and Elliot Sadler have surfaced as candidates to replace Mears in the No. 07 car in 2010.

Mears joined fellow Bakersfield driver Kevin Harvick when he signed a 3-year contract with Richard Childress Racing last season. Mears currently sits 20th in the points standings with 3 top 10 finishes for the season and 3 top 15 finishes in the last 6 races, which is a good sign that the Stockdale High graduate and new crew chief Todd Berrier are working well together.

But for the first time since the start of the 10-race playoff, RCR was shut out of the Chase. To make matters worse, RCR has already lost financial support from General Motors, and now primary sponsor Jack Daniels' announced today that it will not extend its sponsorship with RCR's No. 07 team. Shell/Pennzoil has also been rumored to be leaving the NASCAR circuit. The losses of primary sponsors, along with GM's support, has internet and NASCAR folks wondering if RCR can support a four-car stable.

Only a few of Harvick's and Mears' closest confidants know the true relationship between the two Bakersfield boys but after swapping crew chiefs seven races into the season both drivers have produced better finishes in the second half. Childress has said more changes are in store if the swap didn't work.

Pulling the plug on Mears would seem strange given his late surge but then again so is NASCAR.

Colts prefer Playboy model's husband rather than former BC standout

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:30:16 PDT

It appears the Indianapolis Colts are signing Hank Baskett, husband of Playboy model and former Girls Next Door celebrity Kendra Wilkinson, to fill the void left by the injury to slot receiver Anthony Gonzalez. While the move would add at least one attractive female to the players' wifes and girlfriends seating section, it's not good news for a former Bakersfield College standout.

Receiver Taj Smith, who briefly was Bakersfield College's all-time and single-season receptions leader, was an early favorite to be activated. He'll likely maintain his spot on the Colts' practice squad but for guy trying to make it in the NFL getting passed over by a guy off the street has to be a humbling experience.

In case you missed the brief in Thursday's sports, Bakersfield High graduate Rodney Wright was released from the Kansas CIty Chiefs practice squad on Wednesday. Wright has an ArenaBowl Championship ring with the San Jose SaberCats, and was hoping to land a spot with the Chiefs as a kick returner/receiver.

Sorry folks, I'm not linking to any Kendra Wilkinson photos. But it's not like they're hard to find on any search engine.

Casual fans could be priced out for Jam

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:49:03 PDT

The Bakersfield Jam waited a little longer than three days to rise from the dead but the scale-downed business model appears to be winner in theory. Will Bakersfield's fickle market be a true test to whether other D-League teams dip their toes in the proverbial stormy sea? D-League commissioner Dan Reed believes this is the right time and right city.

Moving from cavernous Rabobank Arena to its $2 million practice facility for home games will cut costs and create a "in-your-face" atmosphere but it will come at a cost for casual fans.

Limited seating should drive the price up for seats, and the Jam ownership group is attempting to court 'business associates' with courtside seats, executive suites and luxury lofts.

So what do you think?

Manny's blunder great news for Yankees

Thu, 07 May 2009 10:35:13 PDT

That thud you heard this morning was either one of two things:

A) Dodgers fan hitting the floor after hearing or reading, whatever your median of choice is nowadays, that Manny Ramirez will be suspended 50 games for violating MLB's drug policy.

B) Yankees fans hitting the floor after hearing or reading, whatever your median of choice is nowadays, that Manny Ramirez will be suspended 50 games for violating MLB's drug policy.

I think we can all understand the Dodgers' thud but why the Yankees? That was from jumping in jubilation. Alex Rodriguez can now focus on baseball for a change rather than dismiss every other question in a postgame interview.

This has become a pattern for all past and present major leaguers that have been involved, directly or indirectly, with PEDs (performance-enhancing drugs).

Barry Bonds slipped out the back door and away from media scrutiny once Roger Clemens' former personal trainer took the stand and exposed Roger's drug use last year. Then, it was Miguel Tejada's little run-in with lying under oath to Congress at the start of spring training that had everyone forgetting about Clemens. Then Tejada was a thing of the past, once the latest revelation of Alex Rodriguez's drug use was released in hardbound form 'A-ROD.'

Now, Man-Ram's saga will take media resources off A-Rod for a few weeks, months, well at least 50 games.

That's great news for the Yankees, who will have to climb out of a small hole in the AL East in hopes of making a run at the postseason.

Blitz, Jam, Blaze ... minor league sports flop in Bakersfield

Sun, 03 May 2009 21:40:37 PDT

We had some suspicion that the Jam were folding a number of weeks back but nothing concrete. The lagging attendance was obviously the first clue, but grumblings about the high costs that went along with the D-League franchise (for starters the franchise fee, which will remain a secret with owner Stan Ellis because of contractual obligations) were trickling out of the front office with each game.

The Jam is the second minor-league franchise to close its doors to Bakersfield in less than 3 years. Remember, the af2 Blitz? I don't but that's because I was still unpacking boxes from my move to the city.

If indications and inclinations are proven correct, the Blaze will departing Sam Lynn Ball Park for greener pastures at the end of this season. Or maybe the Blaze will just go out to pasture.

So when the Blaze bolt, that would be the third minor-league team to leave the No. 126 media market (Nielsen market rankings) in the U.S.

What's the explanation? I've had discussions with all the principalsinvolved -- Ellis and Blaze owner D.G. Elmore. Even talked with Condors president Matthew Riley, who has built and successly maintained the lone exception to the recent rash of departures.

Now, I'd like to hear from you.

Can Bakersfield support minor league sports? You might be surprised to know that Ellis and Elmore said, YES to this question last week.

Maybe the better question is why should/shouldn't Bakersfield support minor league sports?

Is your bracket busted?

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:10:32 PDT

If you read the newspaper, you might remember I had a short little column in last Monday's sports section, "10 simple rules for filling out your NCAA bracket."

I'm out of the running for the $1 million in our March Madness contest but I'm holding my own in some other bracket contests.

I wanted to do a little experiment this season, so I filled out two brackets. The first one, I just looked over the brackets and filled in without rhyme or reason. The second, I followed my own advice.

Believe it or not, I'm doing better when I've followed the 10 rules. I have 13 teams in the Sweet 16, with just one team knocked out of the Elite 8 (Florida State).

My Final Four is the same in both brackets (UNC, Memphis, Louisville and Duke) but bracket No. 1 has Memphis defeating UNC in the finals. Bracket No. 2 has top seed UNC defeating second seed Memphis.

If you have an office pool or you're playing in one of the national contests, how are you doing?

So I now have a reason to watch women's basketball

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 22:59:50 PDT

I wore my Ball State Alumni sweatshirt Sunday for two reasons.

No. 1: Because I wanted to show THE MAN that I wasn't afraid of his hate-spewing e-mail (Given my last blog entry, I won't name names but he knows).

No. 2: The simple fact it was chilly outside.

Little did I know, I'd be celebrating the biggest upset in school history since the Cardinals knocked off No. 5 seed Oregon State 54-53, and followed with a 62-60 win over No. 4 seeded Louisville in the 1990 NCAA men's tournament. Ball State lost to eventual champion UNLV by 2 points in the Sweet 16 but that's the closest any team came to beating the Runnin' Rebels that season.

Asfor the latest upset, the 12th-seeded Cardinals absolutely annihilated defending national champion Tennessee 71-55 on Sunday. I knew the Vols were down but didn't expect that outcome.

Congrats to my Ball State Cardinals. I might just end up watching a women's basketball game this season after all.

College women's basketball doesn't deserve it

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:10:09 PDT

I'm not afraid to say it: Watching college women's basketball is boring. I wouldn't pay to watch my unborn daughter play. If and when my wife and I have a daughter, I will steer her as far away from basketball as I can. Give me softball, track and field, volleyball, field hockey, lacrosse, water polo, figure skating, ... anything but girls' basketball.

Fundamental basic basketball is fun to watch if it's at the junior high level. But there is nothing sexy about women playing fundamental defense and running a motion offense at the college level. Let's stop kidding ourselves. I had an open invite to watch CSUB women's basketball this year. That seat was empty the whole season. Don't be too offended, I didn't watch the men either.

Yes. There are bright spots in women's basketball Candace Parker, Sheryl Swoopes are two I can think of. I had the pleasure of watching Candace's older brother play at Bradley University. I know she has a great bloodline. I've played basketball against a three-time Missouri Valley Conference all-defensive team member and she was good, unfortunately watching her and the rest of the team was about as exciting as having your nostril hairs waxed and plucked.

I've never really had a problem with college women's basketball until this most recent and absolutely ridiculous phone call from one Jane Hasten. She has a 760 area code, so I'll leave it at that.

Ms. Hasten decided to call the newsroom today and asked to speak with the sports editor. Fortunately for our sports editor, I was in the office to answer this poignant and bothersome question: "Are you married?"

Yes, I am.

"Do you treat your wife the way you treat women's basketball? Two pages for a men's tournament bracket, and you can't even read the women's."

Before I could even answer that question, the phone clicked.

Well here's my answer, Ms. Hasten. It comes down to money. It comes down to viewership. It comes down to readership.

Men's basketball generated an estimated $643.2 million last year in advertising revenue on the NCAA tournament alone. According to the NCAA, total attendance was 763,607 for the men's tournament. The smallest crowd was the second day of the first-round games in Birmingham, Ala., with a minute crowd of 14,315.

Last year’s attendance for the women’s tournament was 236,464. The NCAA didn’t have site-by-site attendance figures. Please keep in mind that the NCAA switched to top-seeded schools becoming host sites, so they could draw more. Those sites still aren't selling out.

Now on a local level, we had at least 10 advertisers come forward and want to be a part for a men's basketball bracket. We had ZERO come forward for a women's bracket.

No one is passing a women's bracket around the office today, and asking for a $5 donation. I was in the top 99.8 percentile in a women's basketball bracket in 2001 when I had all 4 teams in an ESPN pool, but who really cares.

The daily newspaper doesn't follow Title IX. If you want fairness Ms. Hasten, call me when the women's tournament can draw the same numbers (attendance and ad revenue) as the men.

There's your answer. Next time you ask a question, please stick around for an answer.

HELL WEEK in sports

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 12:20:49 PST

One of my duties at The Californian is to schedule our staff's workweek. I try to plan two weeks in advance and make decisions on our coverage with input from our staff writers. Usually this takes 5 minutes. It's taken a month to prepare for the week of March 2-8. And we're still trying to tie down the loose ends.

If this was a fraternity, March 2-8 would be HELL WEEK. With March Meet, the CIF wrestling championships, Bakersfield Speedway opening, and the Central Section championship games for boys and girls basketball, all falling on the same weekend, there aren't enough writers or Advil to help me cope with this monstrosity.

Usually we have a weeklong buffer between March Meet and the CIF wrestling championships. March Meet, the drag racing festival at Auto Club Famoso Raceway, is usually run on the second weekend in March. The CIF wrestling championship at Rabobank Arena is usually the first weekend of March. But because of the calendar, March 1 falling on a Sunday, we're left with Bakersfield becoming a pit stop for grease monkeys and grapplers March 6-8.

But our sports schedule follows the weather proverb about the month of March: In like a lion, out like a lamb. We'll be twiddling our thumbs begging for stories at the end of the month.

It's time to either 'pay-to-play' or eliminate sports

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:14:10 PST

I knew from the moment, I researched the subject of "pay-to-play" I was in for fight. Two years ago, I had this conversation with my dad on eliminating sports from high schools entirely, and I fought against his argument. Now, I agree with his stance. Maybe it's time to make students and parents "pay-to-play" sports or just eliminate them.

Times are tough, and taxpayers can't even support students' rights to a basic education. Now, taxpayers are suppose to pay for an education that's been maimed (cutting industrial arts, shop class, home economics, band, drama is ridiculous) but also pay for high school football teams traveling to Sacramento, baseball teams trips to Santa Barbara and volleyball teams trips to Las Vegas.

Seems my recent column, "It's time for KHSD students to 'pay-to-play'" struck a nerve with folks in Bakersfield. Good. That's what I wanted.

We'll have a story on how school districts in other states are utilizing the system in coming weeks. Don't worry, we'll get it done before the state passes a budget.

Cardinals have resemblence to 2006 Colts

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:44:35 PST

Local resident Roy Contreras has heard me say it, a good friend has heard me say and my wife has heard me say. Now, I'm officially telling the public -- The Arizona Cardinals will win the Super Bowl.

Actually, I sheepishly predicted the Cards to advance to the Super Bowl before they played Carolina. Roy can attest to that. He called the office because he's one of the unfortunate folks that have DISH Network and couldn't watch the football games. I told him my prediction but I prefaced that by saying, "I wanted the Colts to win but since they're done ..."

Well, these Arizona Cardinals remind me of the 2006 Indianapolis Colts. And here's how:

In 2006, the Colts had the league's worst run defense and their run offense was grounded near the end of the regular season. Indy won its first nine games of the season, only to lose three out four, including a 44-17 blowout loss to Jacksonville. The Colts allowed 375 rushing yards in that game. Once the playoffs started it was another story. The rush defense held Kansas City to just 44 yards in the first half and didn't allow a first down until the end of the third quarter in their 23-8 win. The next week, Adam Vinatieri had 5 field goals in their 15-6 win over Baltimore.

In the AFC Championships game, Indianapolis rallied from an 18-point deficit in the second half as Joseph Addai scored the game winner with under a minute left. Marlin Jackson sealed the 38-34 win with an interception.

Sound familiar. It should because it's a similar recipe the Cardinals have used. Arizona lost 3 of its last 5 games, including blowout losses to Minnesota (35-14), New England (41-7) and Philadelphia (48-20), and the national media had they losing in the wild-card round.

But once the playoffs started, Arizona was "in the zona." The Cardinals passing attack struck for two long TDs in a 30-24 win vs. Atlanta before its rushing attack and defense dominated Carolina. Arizona forced five interceptions in the win.

While they didn't have to stage quite the rally Indianapolis did two years early, Arizona needed a fourth-quarter touchdown to take the lead and its defense forced Donovan McNabb to turn the ball over on downs to seal the 32-25 win over Philadelphia.

So now, the Cardinals play the vaunted Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl. A defense-driven, ball controlled team, sort of like the Chicago Bears.

I think Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm, two former Steelers assistant coaches, have a pretty good idea how to disrupt Ben Roethlisberger.

Should make for a great football game, and the first Super Bowl title in Arizona.

Bakersfield's Mount Rushmore of Sports

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 18:42:45 PST

On Sunday, ESPN will unveil its latest gimmick to kill the time between the Super Bowl and start of spring training. The all-sports network is asking readers/viewers to nominate, then vote for, each state's own Mount Rushmore of Sports.

ESPN's definition is vague but from what I've gathered it's the four greatest sports icons that were either born or made a name for themselves in that state.

Columnists Rick Reilly, along with PTI's Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser and one Associated Press writer from each state will debate the merits of each of the nominees.

After a 30-minute discussion between staffers Zach Ewing, Todd Camps, Tony Lacava, Mike Griffith and I, we decided that picking just four would be an injustice for California's rich sports tradition.

So, I decided to take it a step further and bring the list closer to home. What about Bakersfield's Mount Rushmore of Sports? The two names that come to mind that would be no-brainers are: Pro Football Hall of Famer Frank Gifford and four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rick Mears. Don't even try to argue that those two don't belong. You can't do it.

Now here's the hard part. Who are the other two?

Here are few names that were mentioned as possibilities:

Johnny Callison, baseball, Philadelphia Phillies, 3-time NL All-Star, 1964 All-Star Game MVP

Joey Porter, football, 4-time All-Pro linebacker, 4-time AFC Pro Bowler

Dennis Ralston, tennis, 1960 Wimbledon doubles champion, two-time NCAA singles championship

Dawn Dumble, track and field, four-time NCAA champion (2 indoor shot, 1 outdoor shot, discus), 7-time Pac-10 champ

Lisa Kiggins, women's golf, 1990 World Junior champion, 1991 Pac-10 champion, NCAA All-American first team, LPGA Rookie of the Year, 1 LPGA tour event victory

Kevin Harvick, auto racing, 2007 Daytona 500 winner, two-time Busch Series champion

Jeff Siemon, Minnesota Vikings lineman, inducted into 2006 College Football Hall of Fame

Larsen Jensen, swimmer, 2004 and 2008 Olympic swimmer

Louis Wright, football, Denver Broncos defensive back, member of NFL 1970's all-decade team

Ballpark talk is cheap, actual building won't be

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:15:38 PST

Bakersfield Blaze owner D.G. Elmore has heard it all before.

When Elmore bought the Blaze in 2005, the city had plans to build a new ballpark in the near future.

Four years later, the Blaze will play another season at rickety Sam Lynn Ball Park. But this is likely the dilapidated ballpark’s last as the home for the Blaze, unless the city can intervene.

Elmore, along with Minor League Baseball president Pat O’Conner, needs something more concrete than “hope.” Preferably some freshly poured concrete.

“We need to see that there will be funding,” Elmore said.

According to estimates from City Manager Alan Tandy, a new ballpark could cost between $18 to $35 million. Tandy will release those figures at tonight's City Council meeting.

Is this just more lip service in hopes of keeping the Blaze here or will the City Council actually consider making a push toward a new stadium?

Even responsible hunters should pay for someone else's sins

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 13:55:31 PST

I know it’s been a few days since our outdoors columnist Steve Merlo wrote his latest column, “More gun control not a viable option.”

And, I typically try to stay under the strafe when it comes to the topic of the Great Outdoors because if it doesn’t involve a ball or a stick, it’s not in my sights.

I didn’t grow up in a family of outdoors men. I learned how to safely load, fire and clean a gun in Boy Scouts. My dad, a former Marine, taught me how to pick off old soda cans with a .22 in our backyard but shooting sports weren’t for me.

So please don’t assume I’m a complete “left-wing, anti-gun liberal” moron that’s never picked up a gun when I ask this question:

How would "ammo-coding" hurt your Second Amendment rights?

Your right to keep and bear Arms will not have been infringed if such a bill passes. Sorry, but to claim your Second Amendment right is being taken away because ammo might cost you a few cents more is preposterous.

I’d not going to go through all 12 of Merlo’s hypothesis on what might happen if “Ammunition Accountability” has it’s way and the bill passes, but at least seven of the 12 boil down to MONEY.

Merlo doesn't argue against the possibility that crimes could be solved with this ammo coding. Instead, he points out the fact that it's going to cost responsible hunters money to buy this new ammunition and that manufacturers would need to buy new technology to code the bullets.

Ammo-coding unfortunately will hurt the bottom line of responsible hunters but it could help our police solve crimes. And until the police come forward and say “ammo-coding” won’t help, I’m for such a piece of legislation.

Ammo is already tracked by the manufacturing using bar codes on the boxes. Coding the projectile and the casing would help track bullet to buyer, and potentially victim to shooter.

Merlo is right when he states: The innocent might be targeted? But wouldn't their INNOCENCE SET THEM FREE.

Here’s the real question I have for responsible outdoors men: When is the bottom line more important than safety?

Don’t worry I have the answer: When it involves YOUR bottom line.

I'd call the modest 25 cents a bullet or $2.50 a box you might pay (that price varies, I read a hunter's blog saying it would be more like $1 a box) a SIN TAX.

True, it's not a sin to own a gun or a collection of guns if you do it responsibly, like Steve and numerous other hunters like my father-in-law and both brother-in-laws. But it's also not a sin to drink alcohol, if you're responsible.

Unfortunately, when I buy a 12-pack of Coors (or in my younger and less responsible days a bottle of Jagermeister), I have to pay a SIN TAX for all those idiots out there.

So if and when the bill passes, I’ll welcome hunters with open arms to our exclusive club.

We're all paying a little extra for someone else's sins.

College football confessional

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 22:24:20 PST

O Heavenly Father. Forgive me for I have sinned.

I didn’t watch a single college football bowl game until the Rose Bowl. That’s right, I missed 30 games of basically anticlimactic football.
I apparently have an obligation, as a sports writer, to spend the bowl season plastered to my couch with a family-size bag of Cool Ranch Doritos and a case of Mountain Dew at my side. Just so I can spout useless knowledge of college football lore to clueless readers that decide to call the sports department and quiz me on the bowl games.
Sorry folks, I can’t help you.
Maybe I should pay closer attention but I can’t do it. I’m not a fan. I love the NFL but I’ve never been a fan of college football.
Chalk it to living in central Indiana and attending two universities that lacked a football tradition.
Bradley University (Peoria, Ill.) didn’t have a football program but somehow produced a NFL player. (Former Indianapolis Colts tight end Marcus Pollard)
And Ball State was in the midst of the nation’s longest losing streak during my senior year.
I know my wife doesn’t mind, and I know my sons are enjoying the time with daddy.
So please Lord, I hope you’ll forgive me for this sin.

Kern County gets first look at A-11

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 01:02:02 PST

After three weeks of speculation, the highly controversial A-11 offense made its debut Friday night in Kern County by not one, but two teams.

What was thought to be a chance to see offensive fireworks, turned out to be a complete dud for both East High and Bakersfield High. In the four offensive series, the teams combined to pick up 24 yards and just one first down.

The formation is a cross between a spread formation and a backyard free-for-all with any of the team’s 11 players could become eligible to catch a pass. A pair of coaches from tiny Piedmont High School in Northern California devised the offense using a loophole found in the National Federation of State High School Assocations. The NFSHSA ruled the A-11 legal because it uses a scrimmage-kick formation.

The offense has already been outlawed in Texas, draws a penalty in North Carolina and Louisiana, and if Bakersfield High coach Paul Golla has his way, it would be outlawed by the Central Section.

"I think the Central Section should ban it," he said. "... It takes away from the big guys. There aren't too many sports that they can play and the A-11 takes away a chance for them to play."

But Golla then followed with "we looked scary running it (in practice)," which leads me to believe it won't be the last time the Drillers spread out the offense regardless of his beliefs.

East High was the first to use the "Joker" package after its pro-style offense failed to move the ball on its first three possessions, but Bakersfield quickly switched in a defensive unit with linebackers and secondary players to counteract the A-11.

The Drillers ran the A-11 on one series but BHS couldn’t overcome two false start penalties.

“We had to put it in in order to learn to defend it,” Golla said after the Drillers’ 41-7 victory.

I talked with East High coach Jerald Pierucci before the season started about the A-11 offense. In his first year at the school, Pierucci was sharing his thoughts on the innovation and even said he might consider using it at some point in the season.

“It would be a great way to get a team to burn up a timeout early in the game,” Pierucci said. “Who knows what we’ll do with it?”

Now we know and despite it’s underwhelming debut, I don’t think it’ll be the last time we see it.