Four Corners Sports June 2015

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3Four Corners SPORTSJUNE 2015

content| 4 | Knothole Day 2015

In the fall of 2000 Piedra Vista moved into

District 1AAAA and was given the daunt-

ing task of having to compete with Class

AAAA powerhouse Farmington. The Farm-

ington tradition of Knothole Day now be-

came a battle between crosstown rivals

and, more than likely, a matchup for the

district championship and a top seed at

the state tournament.

| 6 | SASSY Tortoise and Hare RunThe 5th Annual SASSY Tortoise and Hare

Run raised $7,800 for Sexual Assault

Services of Northwest New Mexico.

More than 110 people turned out on April

24 for the 5k and 10k walk and run.

| 12 | Healthy and focusedThe high school tennis season has turned

the corner with the focus being on the

NMAA State Tennis Tournament in Albu-

querque. The season has once again been

dominated on both the boys and girls

sides by Farmington High School.

| 18 | Behind the scenesDuring a passing conversation with

Piedra Vista Athletic Director Frank

Whalen, Mr. Whalen casually mentioned

how difficult it is to keep activity crews at

the high schools.

| 8 | Summer at theracetrackIndy car, NASCAR, Nationwide – those

names usually trigger thoughts of big

tracks, big names and big money. And

while professional racecar drivers in

each category have achieved fame and

fortune, most of them spent many days

and nights honing their skills at dirt

tracks around the country.

| 22 | Senior athletesEvery year more than 150 senior athletes

gather to compete in the San Juan County

Senior Olympics. The competition is fierce

and the events aren’t for the weak of

heart.

| 26 | PV team dominatesThe longest season for any of the NMAA

Athletics is golf season. Spanning tourna-

ments in the fall and spring, the golf sea-

son is about to wind up for the local Four

Corners teams.

| 29 | Editorial Columnistby Rick Hoerner

| 16 | 10 Questionswith Brad Campbell and Richard Neely

| 31 | The First Teeby Tom Yost

| 33 | NASCAR Nellie

| 32 | Fishing Report

| 11 | Compete with Class

Don Vaughan

PuBlISHER

Cindy Cowan Thiele

EDITOR

Rick Hoerner

Tom Yost

Dorothy Nobis

CONTRIBuTING WRITERS

Josh Bishop

Curtis Ray Benally

CONTRIBuTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Suzanne Thurman

DESIGNER

Shelly Acosta

Clint Alexander

Aimee Velasquez

SAlES STAFF

lacey Waite

ADMINISTRATION

For advertising information

Call 505.516.1230

www.fourcornerssports.com

Four Corners Sports magazine is published once amonth by Majestic Media. Material herein may not bereprinted without expressed written consent of the pub-lisher. Opinions expressed by the contributing writersare not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or FourCorners Sports magazine. Every effort has been madeto ensure the accuracy of this publication. However thepublisher cannot assume responsibility for errors orommissions. © 2015 Four Corners Sports magazine.

Majestic Media

100 W. Apache Street

Farmington, NM 87401

505.516.1230

www.majesticmediausa.com

STORY IDEAS and PHOTOS

covercredit

Please send to

[email protected]

Photo by Josh Bishop

4 Four Corners SPORTS JUNE 2015

In the fall of 2000 Piedra Vista moved into

District 1AAAA and was given the daunting task

of having to compete with Class1AAAA power-

house Farmington. The Farmington tradition of

Knothole Day now became a battle between

crosstown rivals and, more than likely, a

matchup for the district championship and a

top seed at the state tournament.

This year the day belonged to the Piedra

Vista Panthers with a 12-1 win over the Farm-

ington Scorpions. The win gave PV the series

sweep over Farmington and the district cham-

pionship.

The district win also gave the defending

state champs the Class 5A No. 1 overall seed at

the state tournament. For Farmington, the loss

dropped them to the No. 11 seed and forced

the Scorpions to hit the road for the playoffs

for the first time in a long time, but gives them

a very winnable matchup against Española.

Tray Franks led the offensive attack for PV

with 6 RBIs, and Philip Archuleta shut down the

Scorpion offense after giving up the lone run in

the bottom of the first.

The Knothole Day tradition

On Knothole Day every ballplayer that suits

up for the summer gets a chance to have

their team introduced and to high-five all of

the Scorpions on one baseline and the Pan-

thers on the other. The players are then wel-

comed to an afternoon of lunch and a usually

beautiful day at the ballpark watching our

local pastime and dreaming of a time they

can take their place with the blue and silver

or the green and white. For the high schools,

they get a rare chance to play in front of a

full house in a “baseball town” before the

masses show up to watch strangers play in

August.

The origin of Knothole Day comes from a

man known for a far more socially significant

innovation of the game. While Dodger executive

Branch Rickey is known as the man that

Keeping the future of the game alive

Knothole Day2015

Story by Rick Hoerner | Photos by Josh Bishop

brought Jackie robinson to

the Majors to integrate pro-

fessional baseball, he was

also the man who popular-

ized the concept of Knothole

Day. Knothole Games or

Knothole Gangs were part of

baseball lore when ball-

parks were surrounded by

wooden fences, much like

ricketts park today. As the

inevitable knotholes would

fall out of the fences, kids

would gather at the fence to

get a glimpse of their dia-

mond heroes.

As early the 1880s base-

ball teams such as the New

orleans pelicans were offer-

ing Knothole Days to “youths

of sound behavior.” the St.

Louis Cardinals, under

rickey’s direction, began

their first Knothole Gang in

1938, a tradition he contin-

ued with the Brooklyn

Dodgers in the 1940s and ’50s. Under rickey’s

Knothole plan, the Brooklyn Dodgers gave away

more than two million knothole tickets to chil-

dren throughout the two decades.

the term “knothole” has been expanded

today to include baseball themed restaurants

such as the Knothole Club in Anaheim Stadium

and a Youth Baseball League in Cincinnati,

ohio.

In Farmington, Knothole Day is the official be-

ginning of youth baseball, a tradition that goes

back to the days of Lefty Fox as head coach at

Farmington High, continuing today. Initially Knot-

hole Day was the time for opening ceremonies

for the Farmington Amateur

Baseball Congress with the

Scorpions welcoming the

new baseball year. Each year

hundreds of kids and their

families come out for the

crosstown rivalry game be-

tween Farmington and piedra

Vista.

As it has been for well

over a decade, Knothole Day

is the expectation of a dis-

trict championship being

crowned as pV and Farming-

ton hit the field. While base-

ball has seen a steady

decline of youth participa-

tion, down 27 percent from

a high of 15 million amateur

players in 1987, it is alive

and well in Farmington.

Baseball fandom takes a

much larger knowledge

base of skills and patience

that pays off in short bursts

of time. If baseball is to survive as fans flock to

faster-paced and more action-packed sports, it

must keep traditions such as Knothole Day

alive in order to preserve the one tradition

that keeps it timeless – the tradition of pass-

ing down the game from generation to genera-

tion.

5Four Corners SportSJUNE 2015

6 Four Corners SportS JUNE 2015

Photos by Jill Bishop

7Four Corners SPoRTSJUNE 2015

The 5th Annual SASSY Tortoise and Hare Run

raised $7,800 for Sexual Assault Services of

Northwest New Mexico.

More than 110 people turned out on April 24

for the 5k and 10k walk and run.

The challenging course took participants

through Lions Wilderness Park and surround-

ing trails.

This year a timing company was hired to ac-

curately record the times of participants.

“While we’ve always had a successful race,

we’re hoping that the use of electronic timing

tags might draw more serious runners to our

race next year,” Eleana Butler, executive direc-

tor of Sexual Assault Services of New Mexico,

said.

“The race gives us the opportunity to reach

people that wouldn’t normally know about our

services and a chance to give to a really impor-

tant cause,” Butler said.

Proceeds will benefit programs for women

of all ages.

Located at 622 E. Maple St. in Farmington

the primary purpose of Sexual Assault Serv-

ices of Northwest New Mexico is to meet the

needs of the sexual assault survivor by provid-

ing free, immediate, compassionate, culturally

sensitive, and comprehensive services. These

include the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner

(SANE) program that provides medical/foren-

sic examinations, Rape Crisis Advocacy Serv-

ices, Legal Assistance, Counseling, a 24-hour

Crisis Hotline and Community Education and

Prevention.

They are working to decrease the incidence

of sexual assault and rape in our community

through education and prevention work with

students, local civic and chamber of commerce

groups, and other community agencies, as well

as, active involvement with the San Juan County

Child Abuse Multi-Disciplinary Team and Do-

mestic Violence/Sexual Assault Task Force.

Butler said it is a tradition that the SASSY

Tortoise and Hare Run is always held the last

week of April each year.

SASSY TORTOISE AND HARE RUNEvent raises funds Sexual Assault

Services of Northwest New Mexico

8 Four Corners SpoRTS JUNE 2015

Indy car, NASCAR, Nationwide – those names

usually trigger thoughts of big tracks, big names

and big money. And while professional racecar

drivers in each category have achieved fame and

fortune, most of them spent many days and

nights honing their skills at dirt tracks around

the country.

Fans of professional racecar races will pay

big money for tickets to those races and will face

thousands of vehicles getting to, into, and out of

the racing venues. But there is another legion of

fans of racing – fans of the dirt tracks.

Aztec Speedway, located south of Aztec at 420

Legion Road, draws fans and drivers from

throughout the Four Corners each year. The

track is a high banked three-eights of a mile clay

oval. General admission is $12 for adults, $10 for

seniors and members of the military, $7 for

youth ages 6 to14 and kids 5 years old and

younger are admitted free. A family pack, which

includes admission for two adults and up to

three youths, is available for $30.

Classes featured at Aztec Speedway include

IMCA Modified, IMCA Stock Car, IMCA Southern

SportMod, Hobby Stock, Sports Compacts, Flat

Karts and Quarter Midgets. Races start at 7 p.m.

and gates are open at 4 p.m. The International

Motor Contest Association (IMCA), according to

the Speedway’s Website, sanctions the track.

Mike and Kathy Farley, Tyrone Yazzie, Daniel

Hill and Regan Tafoya have been racing at Aztec

Speedway for years. They all travel extensively

throughout the country to race on dirt tracks.

“Aztec Speedway is a very modern, up-to-date

facility,” Tafoya said. “It’s a nice, clean facility.”

“There’s a more professional attitude at Aztec

Speedway,” Mike Farley said. “It’s organized and

Story by Dorothy Nobis | Photos by Curtis Ray Benally

Aztec Speedway going strong; new track nearing completion

Summer at the

racetrack


-it has set rules and a good technical staff.”

Drivers want good techs, good safety proce-

dures and good rules, Tafoya added. “It’s all

about safety (at Aztec Speedway), and that’s

something every driver looks for.”

The track is also family friendly, Kathy Farley

said. “It’s all about family and friends,” she said,

adding it’s a fun place to take kids and where

families can share a love of dirt track racing.

“They provide really good security,” she said,

which makes it a good place for families to enjoy

the races and the facilities.

Most dirt tracks aren’t fortunate to have the

financial resources Aztec Speedway does, the

group agreed. “And that it’s sanctioned is a big

part of it,” Kathy Farley said. “We follow the rules

and the rules don’t change.”

The 2015 racing season for Aztec Speedway

began in March and continues through October.

FCDRA track nearing completion

Another dirt track is nearing completion. Lo-

cated on the Smith Ranch on Sims Mesa Road

from Gobernador, the track has been the project

of the Four Corners Drag Racing Association. The

FCDRA members have volunteered their time and

their financial resources to create the track.

With a mission “to enhance public safety by

providing a safe, organized alternative to street

racing,” the members have been working on the

track for more than three years. They have

moved about 450,000 cubic yards of dirt, got a

generator set that will provide power for the fa-

cility, and have received donations of lighting

that will light the full length of the track. Gener-

ous donations of construction equipment, mate-

rial and cash have helped the organization work

toward making its mission a reality.

Paul James has been part of the association

since its beginning. “We have shared some

brats and elk on the grill with our landowner

and our regulars,” he said. “We held the first

side-by-side race on the track with two scrapers

(video on Facebook). But it's mostly been work

by four bullheaded old farts who won't let this

project die, and four wives who tolerate our time

and effort.”

The construction continues with a fence-build-

ing project that began May 2. “We have about 15

volunteer and are looking for more,” James said.

“We need welders, post hole diggers, concrete

mixers, dirt tampers and just general laborers.”Four Corners Drag Racing Association new track on the Smith Ranch on Sims Mesa Road from Gobernador. – Courtesy photo

10 Four Corners SPORtS JUNE 2015

Fund raising also continues. “We’ve been in contact with several local companies (about do-

nations), and we have more than $100,000 committed,” James added. “We also have several

smaller donors who have kept the construction fund viable to buy fuel and supplies. When

we’re working our equipment at the track, it isn’t unusual to use $300-$500 per day in fuel.”

In addition, FCDRa will host a public meeting in May, where members will provide informa-

tion on their “Buy a yard of Drag Strip” project. For more information, visit the organization’s

website at www.fcdra.org or email [email protected]

Kart Kanyon Speedway

In addition to aztec Speedway and FCDRa’s strip, Kart Kanyon Speedway offers dirt track

racing on a united States auto Club (uSaC) track. Operated and maintained by 4 Corners ama-

teur Racing, the 1/5 mile banked clay track offers racing for quarter midgets, flat karts and

mini sprints.

Kart Kanyon offers racing, along with instruction in safety, racing and a support system that

is especially helpful for young drivers. For more information, email [email protected]

or visit the website at www.kartkanyon.com.

schedule

May23 Ryan Bard Race – 7 P.M.

30 Demo Derby – Noon

JuNe6 Regular Race – 8 P.M.

13 Kart Race – 6 P.M.

20 Regular Race – 8 P.M.

26 & 27 Non Wing Sprint

Car Race – 7 P.M.

July4 Kart Race




auguSt1 Bike Rodeo – 1 P.M.

15 Regular Race



SePteMBeR12 Regular Race – 7 P.M.

18 & 19 Witten’s Warriors

Race – 7 P.M.


OCtOBeR3 Cancer Benefit Race

– 7 P.M.

11Four Corners sportsJUNE 2015

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the New mexico Activi-

ties Association is proud

to announce that the

Bosque Boys head Golf

Coach Anthony strippoli

has been recognized as

the Compete with Class

award recipient for the

month of April.

strippoli showed hon-

esty and integrity when he

identified an error on one of

his student-athletes’

scores.

“in today’s world of

‘win at any cost’ many

coaches would have ig-

nored the error. he, how-

ever, brought the error to the

official’s attention knowing

that his player would be dis-

qualified and his team

would be impacted,” Jim

robbins wrote in an email.

“he acted in a very re-

sponsible manner and his

actions reflect very well on

Bosque school,” robbins

said.

strippoli did what the game of

golf asks all participants to do,

which is to “protect the field.”

sportsmanship is defined by

the NmAA as the act of treating

others in a respectful manner,

taking personal accountability

for one’s actions, and respond-

ing with integrity while engaged in

competition.

the NmAA would like to thank and recog-

nize Coach strippoli for setting a great ex-

ample for the state of New mexico.

his act of sportsmanship exemplifies the

true ideals of the Compete with Class

sportsmanship initiative - respect, integrity,

and responsibility.

more information regarding the “Compete

with Class” sportsmanship initiative can be

found on the NmAA website at

www.nmact.org.

the NmAA will announce a monthly hon-

oree throughout the remainder of the 2014-

2015 school year.

Questions regarding this announcement

can be directed to Dusty Young, NmAA Asso-

ciate Director, at 505.977.5385.

April Compete with ClAss

NmAA selects Bosque Golf Coach Anthony strippoli

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12 Four Corners SPoRTS JUNE 2015

The high school tennis season has turned

the corner with the focus being on the nMaa

State Tennis Tournament in albuquerque. The

season has once again been dominated by

Farmington High School on both the boys and

girls sides .

The girls continue to dominate en route to

their sixth state championship in the past nine

years, facing stiff competition from perennial

powerhouse albuquerque academy. The girls

team is led by seniors: Sydney Schumacher

and Liza Briody-Pavlik; junior Riley Coleman;

freshmen arin Coleman and eighth graders:

Emily nguyen and Elise Ballard.

Head Coach Pat McGrath has concentrated

his efforts on keeping the team healthy and fo-

cused.

Story by Tom Yost | Photos by Josh Bishop

FHS boys and girls tennis teams ready for state

HEALTHY FOCUSED

and

13Four Corners sportsJune 2015

willHALL

lizaBRIODY-PAVLIK

cashCRAIG

mattWITHsydneySCHUMACHER

14 Four Corners SPOrTS JUNE 2015

“The obvious worries are keeping everyone

healthy,” said McGrath. “You hope they don’t

get sick or step on a ball and mess up an

ankle. Then you have the focus issues with

things like prom, finals, graduation, and col-

lege acceptance. It is important to keep

them focused during practice.”

According to McGrath, the girls team state

championship is a tossup that will come

down to the Lady Scorpions and Albuquerque

Academy.

“There are not a lot of strong schools this

year, so it is pretty much us and Academy,”

explained McGrath.

The season has been highlighted by wins

in the El Paso Tournament and at the Albu-

querque Academy Tournament.

“Winning the Academy tournament was im-

portant. To get a win there lets us know we

are right there with them. We are both very

close to each other, making it hard to know

what will happen at state.”

On the boys side, Albuquerque Academy is

the team to beat for the team state champi-

onship. The team consists of seniors: Matt

With, Will Hall and Cache Craig; juniors: Elijah

Larson and Andrew Moss; sophomore Ned

Merrion and freshmen Ethan Larson and

Nate Benson.

Farmington High School’s Head Boys

Coach, Larry Larson, is also focusing on

preparation for the state competition.

“The boys constantly have to consider Al-

buquerque Academy, the best team in the

state regardless of class,” said Larson. “This

time of year it is important to try to maintain

focus on the objectives ahead. This has been

a good team because they are all good com-

petitors up and down the lineup.”

The FHS boys and girls tennis dominance

in the Four Corners region and the state of

New Mexico is a mix of hard work, successful

young men and women, with a very large

dose of dedicated coaches. McGrath and Lar-

son spend a lot of time teaching younger kids

the game of tennis and make their instruc-

tion both meaningful and enjoyable.

“We have been successful because we

have very good kids,” said McGrath. “They are

always the top of their class and understand

that working hard is rewarding. People don’t

understand that like the rest of the state we

don’t have tennis clubs and pros to work

with these kids. Tournaments are more than

three hours away making them expensive to

do. These kids have to make the effort to get

out there and work at it. Larry and I will work

with any kid that wants to be out there. I

don’t think there are any other coaches that

spend the time we do with the kids.”

Larson concurs, only deflecting most of

the credit for the program’s successes over

to McGrath.

“Pat McGrath has been a big part of keep-

ing kids playing tennis in this community for

a long time. He is tireless in working with

anyone who wants to learn the game and is

an excellent teacher.”

The state tennis tournament runs from

May 6 through May 9 at the Albuquerque

Academy Tennis Complex.

15Four Corners SPOrTSJUNE 2015

Student athletes are very busy people, and right before district and

state tournaments they are, suffice it to say, under more than just a little

bit stress.

To relieve that stress, right before the district tournaments, Farmington

High School Girls Tennis Coach Pat McGrath divides his team into The Black

Team and The Green Team. The two teams then compete for bragging

rights and ownership of The Green and Black Championship Trophy.

“I started the game when I got here as

an icebreaker for the girls,” McGrath

said.

This isn’t your typical game.

“There are no rules. They can yell,

shake the net and do whatever to dis-

tract their opponents [in order] to win,”

he added.

McGrath said that over the years it

has become quite a production. The

teams have added water balloons, costumes – and created themes for

each year.

“Every year it’s different; we’ve had a lot of themes. One year it was The

Hunger Games. It’s a great way to break the tension and just play for fun,”

he said.

The captain of the winning team gets to keep the trophy each year.

This year the winner of the 22nd Annual Green and Black Championship

was The Green Team.

Icebreaker Green and Black stress reliever

i fully understand that selling reserved ticket packages is

essential for the Series, but how does the cMWS committee

deal with crowded general admission fans looking over at

the reserved section and seeing empty seats, especially

when the host team is not playing?

1 as a father of a teenage daughter, i have to

admit that i’m concerned about what seems

to be the free range that players visiting our

community have when it comes to soliciting

Farmington girls as they do at the parade. is

the committee addressing the player’s signs

in the parade or educating the players about

their interaction with the community?

4

Brad campbell is the connie Mack World Series chairman

richard Neely is the National aaBc president

i also have teenage daughters, three of them, so this is a

valid question. We do take the players behavior very seri-

ously and try our best to evaluate every complaint of a player

outside the playing field. as a committee we meet with every

team upon their arrival and the ground rules are laid out.

after this face-to-face meeting each coach must sign the be-

havior agreement. if a player breaks the rules they will be re-

moved from the host family's home and returned to their

coaches. as a former athlete i can tell you that the last thing

you want to do is end up in your coache’s hotel room. With

that said, the majority of the players are well behaved and

amenable to some "behavior modification" and suggestions.

i am not quite sure about the signs you are speaking of, but

can only imagine. i have seen them hand out baseballs with

their phone number or instagram account written on it. i

would like to say that i have been involved with this tourna-

ment for the last 10 years and it has been a rare situation in

which players were removed from the homes and sent back

to the supervision of the coach. Of the 30+ players i have had

the opportunity to host, every one of them have been well be-

haved and respectful. The majority of them would rather

hang out at the house and only want to leave for their own

games or practice. as far as the teenage girls are con-

cerned, always valid. i feel that hosting the players actually

provided me the cance to be a big brother to oversee and

protect them. at least that is how it went down at my house.

This has been an ongoing issue and very difficult to contend

with. For the last two years we have a program in place for

these reserved ticket holders to return tickets they know will

be unused back to us and we will sell them on a game-by-

game basis. We have looked into electronic tracking systems

so as to better track these empty seats. This proved to be a

large and more complicated and costly venture than we

imagined. however we hope to have this running for the 2016

series. if we find that specific seats continue to go unused,

we will generate a better way to make these seats available

to everyone.

please, if interested in volunteering, feel free to contact me

and i can then point you in the right direction. My contact

information can be found on the cMWS website.

To be honest it is going to be very difficult to top the experi-

ence of the previous 50th anniversary Series. as always, we

have the parade, the opening ceremonies, the different host

organizations hosting events for their individual teams, we

will have the return of both the coaches Fungo challenge

and the homerun derby. The greatest family experience is

being a host/foster family. This is a very fulfilling adventure

and you get to experience the World Series through the eyes

of the players– not to mention the lifelong relationships that

are formed. For complete details about being a host family

email them at [email protected]

Brad

CAMPBELLBrad CAMPBELL

richard

NEELY

16 Four Corners SpOrTS JUNE 2015

The Series runs with the time and service of many

volunteers each year. Where could someone new to the

community or just looking to get involved with the

Series be of use and whom would they contact?

2

Over the past decade or so the Series has worked very hard

to make the event more family friendly. What can the fans

look forward to this year to add to the World Series experi-

ence?

3


What is your favorite part of the World Series and what is

the one thing you would change about it?

5

how will the extra teams affect the bracketing and game

schedules of the World Series?

7

how has the addition of video streaming to

the local radio broadcast helped promote the

Series?

8

Video streaming has been a great addition to the cMWS, and

this year the Friday night games will be on MLB TV! You

heard it here!

With the continuing rise of “travel teams” tak-

ing over summertime baseball, how does the

aaBc keep young athletes involved who may

not be able to afford these select teams or

are late blooming athletically?

9

Over the years how has the continuing prac-

tice of the “pick up players” changed how

connie Mack teams are structured and what

does it do to help the Series?

10

Travel baseball is definitely impacting youth baseball, and

the aaBc has had to alter our tournaments and qualifiers to

meet the needs of travel expansion. League based baseball

has also had to adjust, and will continue to evaluate annu-

ally. i have noticed a slight decline in travel baseball and

many teams moving back to leagues, based on the economy.

Pick up players have always been part of connie Mack, and

with the increased competition it allows teams to pick up the

additional arms needed for the tournament. additionally, it

helps teams with injuries to make sure they stay competi-

tive.

The additional teams mean more day games. The tourna-

ment will still be from Friday to Friday.

The schedule will be

• Three games on the July 31,

• Three on the aug. 1

• Three on aug. 2,

• Three on aug. 3

• Four on aug. 4

• Three on aug. 5

• Two on aug. 6

• 1 or 2 on aug. 7

Since we expanded to 10 teams a few years ago, it provided

new winners and greater competition, and we expect an

even better tournament in 2015.

For years we have had pressure to add teams to this great

tournament. We are fortunate this year to add both the

champion from the aaBc don Mattingly World Series for high

School eligible players, and the continental qualifier from

charleston, S.c. This latest tournament fills a void the aaBc

had in that particular area of the country.

My favorite part would have to be divided up or spread

around, whichever seems more appropriate. i love how this

town comes together and supports the event. as previously

mentioned, it is staggering number of volunteers and spon-

sors it takes to put on this tournament and for it to be a suc-

cess for more than 50 years. i have been around baseball

and athletics in general for a long time, from my college

days, to my son (played in the cMWS twice and continues to

play at the collegiate level), to my daughters competing on

the National level in dance. i have experienced competitive

tournaments at nearly all levels and i have never seen any-

thing like this. Where else can you get 5,000 fans watching a

game between Ohio and Texas without a local player in-

volved? You get the local team playing and the atmosphere is

electric and unreal. The relationships my family and i have

built with the players, their families, and the coaches are un-

believable. it is actually strange how a one-week encounter

can turn into a lifelong relationship.

What to change?

i would like everyone to get the experience of the cMWS.

The connie Mack World Series added two additional tourna-

ment spots this year. What was the thinking in adding the

two spots through tournament championships?

6

RichaRd NEELY

10 Questions continued

18 Four Corners SPOrtS JUNE 2015

During a passing conversation with Piedra

Vista Athletic Director Frank Whalen, Mr.

Whalen casually mentioned how difficult it is to

keep activity crews at the high schools. While it

can be argued that there is no longer a great

position working in the public schools, the ac-

tivity crew at the local high school may be just

about the most thankless job in the whole

school system. In reality, however, it may be

the most important in our extracurricular sys-

tem.

Like many others who work behind the

scenes to make high school sports work, activ-

ity crews go mainly unnoticed. that is unless

something goes wrong, of course, then every-

one notices the lack of maintenance workers,

especially the crew is responsible for every-

thing from pre-game setup to post game

cleanup.

On any given weekend in the fall the activity

crew could be responsible for a home volley-

ball game, a pair of soccer games and the

Activity crews make sure events go off without a hitch

Story by Rick Hoerner | Photos by Josh Bishop

From left, Charles Sam, Neil Wolfgang and Cindy Manzanares at Piedra Vista

High School.

From left, Mike Lux and David Stephenson at Farmington High School.

SCENESBEHIND the

massive undertaking of a Friday night football game. this includes the

setup of bleachers and scoreboards and the cleaning of the gym, then

setting up portable bleachers, benches, water canisters and sideline

flags, and then it’s off to the Hutch to set up for a couple thousand fans

ready for a night of football.

In the winter sports season the crew may have to set up for four bas-

ketball games a week as well as getting the court ready every day for

practice. that doesn't even include wrestling meets, wrestling youth

tournaments, and cheer and dance teams. In the spring the crew gets

outside where the city of Farmington takes a bulk of the load away by

maintaining the local schools’ softball and baseball facilities as part of

the city’s joint use program.

the pay for our custodial crews at our schools is little more than that

of the young person who just asked you if you wanted that No. 4 medium

or large – because small just doesn’t exist anymore. According to the

district’s website, custodians in the district begin at $8.21 an hour, or

just over $17,000 a year. on the other hand, maintenance crews begin at

$10.36 an hour with a pay scale that increases with added licenses that

give the employee more flexibility.

It’s no wonder that activity crew custodial staffs have one of the high-

est turnover rates in the district. However, those who do stay usually

love it. Intern Superintendent phil Valdez, who has also worked as an as-

sistant coach, a head coach and an athletic director, understands the

importance of the athletic activity crews, “As a coach and director I

knew that they made the whole event go off without a hitch. they are re-

sponsible for preparing the facility for fans and athletes, then are up

and at it setting up for the next day.”

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Athletic secretaries ,such as PV’s Linda

Crabtree, work closely with the crews

and understand the high turnover. “High

turnover is usually due to hours spent

late at night then coming back to set up

tournaments. Then they also end up hav-

ing to move tables and set up other

things going on in the school, so there is

always a high turnover in crews,” Crab-

tree said.

With the turnover in the crew as high

as it is, there is one exception. David

Stephenson of Farmington High has been

on the athletic crew for more than 18

years now, but he too has seen his share

of work partners come and go. “The

worst part of the job is the turnover,”

Stephenson said. “We are shorthanded a

lot and people don’t realize that it’s not

just gym and games. We are expected to

set up for testing, work with mainte-

nance, and clean up afterwards.”

Stephenson has been a mainstay at

Farmington High and is just as recogniza-

ble to sports fans as are some of the

coaches and athletes. Stephenson truly

loves FHS, where he graduated. He “works

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in a great atmosphere with some tremendous

athletic directors.” He is even recognized by

former coaches and AD around he area.

Valdez sees how workers such as Stephen-

son become part of a school’s athletic experi-

ence, “A lot of workers want to be on the crew

to feel that they are part of the team and the

atmosphere around athletics – some to the

point where not only are they familiar to the

coaching staff, but familiar to the fans as well”

piedra Vista is still on the hunt for their

David Stephenson and hope they have found it

this February in Neil Wolfgang. Wolfgang

moved west to be with his significant other

after meeting her at an American Indian dance

festival. Wolfgang has a different background

than your typical custodial worker. He has a

master’s degree in social work, but was look-

ing for something different to do after seeing

the tougher side of his profession. Even though

he has only been around a couple of months,

he has been a welcome addition to piedra

Vista after countless crews have come and

gone

Even with all the difficulties an activity

crew goes through to get an event ready, the

worst part comes afterward. Not only is the

crew responsible for picking up the field

equipment for the event and cleaning up

after the athletes, but they are just as re-

sponsible for the fans who treat the sports

arena worse, I’m sure, than they treat their

own homes. the activity crew usually con-

sists only of a couple of people who end up

picking up after a couple thousand people

who can’t seem to find their way ten steps to

the local trash receptacle.

In a world where every job is paid by its

value, these workers behind the scenes should

be among the best paid employees for the

thankless job they do. they are noticed only

when something goes wrong or is not up to the

high standards the community expects from

its sporting events.

obviously the state and the school district

could help by making the activity crews a pri-

ority. Sporting venues are the public face of

our schools. Unfortunately, there will be thou-

sands more who walk through the gates for

sporting events than will attend parent

teacher conferences in any given year. Let’s at

least consider that those who put on the

school’s best public face get paid at least what

those do who turn on the swamp coolers.



Every year more than 150 senior athletes

gather to compete in the San Juan County Sen-

ior Olympics. The competition is fierce and the

events aren’t for the weak of heart. Archery,

air pistol, air rifle and bowling get the heart

pumping and the adrenaline flowing. The deter-

mination to win extends to basketball free

throwing, billiards, swimming, shuffleboard,

cycling, track and field, golf, horseshoes, cro-

quet, and tennis.

For those who wish to compete in less

strenuous events, bridge, canasta, dominoes

and table tennis are also available. Every event

has seniors eager to participate.

“There is such a wide variety of events that

there is something for everyone,” said Natalie

Spruell, who headed up this year’s Olympics.

“We have several (seniors) who participate in

most events, including Craig Lozier, Doyal and

Doris Humphries, James Thomason, Edna

Clark, and Leonard Dan.”

This year’s Senior Olympics began April 1

and ended May 1, Spruell explained. “There is

tremendous community support for Senior

Olympics,” she said. “Some events take a spe-

cific venue, such as bowling, archery, air pistol

and air rifle. There is such history with this

great event that community partners simply

pitch in to create a wonderful Olympics for San

Juan County.”

The air rifle and air pistol events are held at

the San Juan Wildlife Range, and the archery

event is held at the San Juan Archery Range.

Bowlero Lanes hosts the bowling portion of the

Olympics.

While larger events – shuffleboard horse-

shoes, the Kiwanis Park field day and bowling

– draw the most participants, Spruell said the

seniors attend most of the events, even if

they’re not participating. “It’s really more than

the actual events,” that brings the seniors

together, Spruell said. “It’s seeing friends each

year that you don’t see on a regular basis,

meeting new friends, enjoying great conversa-

tion and having loads of fun.”

Senior athletes

Wide variety of events for county OlympiansStory by Dorothy Nobis | Photos by Josh Bishop


24 Four Corners SpOrtS JUNE 2015

Edna Clark is a 35-year veteran of the Senior Olympics. Clark, who will be 90 years

old in October, competed in 13 different events this year, and while she enjoyed all of

them, shuffleboard was her favorite.

“It’s less strenuous, but it’s still fun,” Clark said, admitting she’s pretty competitive

and does like to win. “I try my best to get a blue ribbon, or at least a red one. I’ve been

competitive all my life.”

Because she and her husband, Frank, had a difficult winter this year, Clark said she

didn’t get to train for the Senior Olympics as she has in the past. “I usually run and

walk around the track and I keep track of my time with my stop watch,” she explained.

Frank Clark didn’t compete this year, the first time he hasn’t participated in 25

years. “He’s really not that interested in it,” Clark said of her husband. “He just goes

because he has to – I make him.”

Clark said taking part in the Senior Olympics is not only fun, it’s good for her. “I al-

ways encourage people to come out,” she said of the events. “It’s good for your health.

It means everything to me to be able to walk and run and play games. If you don’t keep

it (exercise) up, you’re going to go downhill.”

Clark has no intention of going downhill. “I’m going to compete as long as I can,”

she said.

Competition and sports are nothing new to Leonard Dan. As a high school and col-

lege student, Dan participated in football, basketball and golf and was on the varsity

golf team when he attended Westminster College in Salt Lake City after he graduated

from Ignacio (Colo.) High School in 1958.


Still competitive and active at the age of 77

and in his fourth year in the Senior Olympics,

Dan participated in air rifle, basketball free

throw, bowling, archery, golf, and horseshoes –

taking first place in his age group in every single

event.

“I kind of like to compete and see where I stand

(with the other participants),” Dan said. “I’m com-

petitive enough to be a Senior Olympian and I re-

ally enjoy it.”

Dan, like Clark, plans to compete as long as he

can. “There are some guys now who are in their

90s and they still compete,” he said. “They have a

lot of fun and I want to be like them – and still be

competing when I hit the century mark.”

The “kid” among the Olympians is Craig Lozier.

At 53 years of age, many would hardly consider

Lozier a “senior” anything. “I’m a second-year

rookie,” Lozier said with a laugh. “I compete for

fun and to make new friends. These ‘old people’

are really cool!”

Lozier took part in shuffleboard, archery, bil-

liards, golf, tennis, table tennis and free throw

basketball. Still working part time at A-Plus Well

Service, Lozier said the company understands

that when Senior Olympics rolls around, his work

schedule works around his events.

“They’re really good about it,” he said.

Those who are good about helping with the

Senior Olympics every year are numerous.

The Bloomfield Senior Center partners with

Farmington’s Bonnie Dallas Senior Center to pro-

vide venues for the Olympics – and Spruell said it

takes everyone to make it happen.

“It really does take an entire county to success-

fully pull off the Senior Olympics,” Spruell said.

Norm Tucker and Jessica Polatty with the city

of Bloomfield take on multiple events in Bloom-

field, and BP is a sponsor of the event each year.

With the retirement of longtime senior center

director Larry Bomberger last year, Spruell was

tasked with being the interim director, along with

her regular position as director of the Sycamore

Park Community Center. “The senior center staff

has been such a blessing,” Spruell said. “Each per-

son does their part to help. It takes quite the team

to make sure all registrations are processed, re-

sults are posted correctly, materials are ready for

each event, and coffee and treats are ready for

morning events. We also use many volunteers

who assist with scoring events throughout the

month.”

While the competition, the camaraderie, the fun

– and, of course, the ribbons – make every Senior

Olympics an event to remember, the participants

look forward to the awards picnic, held at the end

of the Olympics each year, as a highlight.

“The awards picnic is fun, too,” Edna Clark said.

“I get to visit with my friends – and I’ve made

some good friends.”

“The awards picnic is a lot of fun,” Leonard Dan

added. “I’ve made quite a few friends, and it’s fun

to talk (to each other) and tease each other. The

picnic also gives me the chance to interact with

other people.”

Some of the Olympians will go on to compete in

the state Senior Olympics June 3 through 6 in

Roswell. To those who go, their fellow Olympians

wish them luck. But for all of them, the memories

made, the ribbons won and the knowledge that –

no matter your age – there are still accomplish-

ments to be made and enjoyed are the reward

they all share.


The longest season for any of the

NMAA Athletics is golf season. Spanning

tournaments in the fall and spring, the

golf season is about to wind up for the

local Four Corners teams.

As it has for the past couple of sea-

sons, the Piedra Vista Panthers have

dominated the boys golf season.

Qualification for golf depends upon

teams and individual qualifications

scores are called “legs for state.” PVHS

has achieved five team legs for state and

had qualified with the minimum of three

before the spring season even began.

Head Coach Floyd Kurley is relying on

two cousins for consistency and low

scores. Riley Rahm and Dennis Rahm

have each qualified individually with

Riley setting the standard shooting

scores in the high 60s and low 70s. Den-

nis has stayed consistently in the middle

70s for his qualifying scores.

Kurley is not only excited for the state

tournament this season, but for years to

come, owing to the fact that his team is

extremely young.

“This year we set a new school record

of 301, an average of 75 strokes among

four players,” said Kurley. “We just came

back from Roswell where the 5A state

tournament will be played and finished

third overall. The only two teams that

beat us were from 6A schools.”

“I am excited for the future because

we are a young team with one senior,

two juniors, one sophomore and three

eighth graders. We will be good for the

next few years.”

PV TEAM DOMINATES

Individual players also headed to state from the Basin

GOLF SEASONStory by Tom Yost

Photos by Josh Bishop and Curtis Ray Benally

Dennis Rahm

27Four Corners SpoRtSJUNE 2015

PV TEAM DOMINATESGOLF SEASON

Riley Rahm

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Kurley is getting the team prepared by fo-

cusing on three areas.

“The team is practicing competition within

the team,” said Kurley. “All my practices are

competition based. We also went to Roswell to

become familiar with the state golf course and

have seen it now three times. Finally, I am

teaching the players what they can do to make

adjustments if something is not going well.

This is mental practice that I received drills

from division one college coaches.”

“This is the most prepared group of players

going to participate at state. I’m expecting and

hoping to win it all this year.”

No girls teams in the Four Corners have

qualified for the state tournament. Kyla Jones

from Kirtland Central High School and Linda

Peralta from Aztec High School are the only

two individual girls to be participating in the

state golf tournament. Taton Yazzie from Farm-

ington High School is another local individual

boy to qualify for state.

The 5A state golf tournament is at Spring

River Golf Course in Roswell May 11 and 12. The

6A state golf tournament is at Piñon Hills Golf

Course in Farmington on the same dates.

Linda Peralta Kyla Jones


You don’t have to be a half-century-old, like

yours truly, to understand that by today’s stan-

dards we should all be dead by now. We

walked or rode our bikes daily back and forth

to school and all over the neighborhood. We

played outside, sometimes by force. We wore

base paths in front yards. We played with cap

pistols and fireworks. And, most dangerously,

we never had car seats, so our seatbelt was

Mom throwing her arm across your chest as

she hit the brakes.

Never mind the idea that everyone over 40

should be dead by now. Consider that all of our

parents should be in jail. Look at what hap-

pened in Silver Springs, Maryland. Danielle and

Alexander Meitiv have had their children taken

away – not once, but twice – for allowing their

8- and 10-year-old children to walk back and

forth to a neighborhood park alone. Can you

imagine? ALONE! My parents would be incar-

cerated for life.

The expectation at my house and the homes

of many of my friends was that we were to be

outside – all day – alone or at a minimum with

other children. The thought of abductions or

kidnappings or any of the other mostly

trumped up fears of the 24-hour news cycle

were never in the picture. Not today – as the

Meitivs, who practice the ridiculously termed

“free range parenting,” found out when neigh-

bors, with no threat of danger, called the police

to report that their children were out alone.

The horror.

It’s an interesting dilemma: parents who

were given the time and freedom to become

the adults they are today are now the same

overbearing, over-scheduling parents who are

prevalent today. These parents, who once

played freely, are now always around, hover-

ing. Hence the new name: The Helicopter Par-

ent.

So you are probably asking yourselves:

“How does this apply to sports?”

The Helicopter Parent is prevalent in all are-

nas and is even encouraged by books such as

Tiger Mom, by Amy Chua, which essentially

puts the responsibility of successful children

not on the child, but on the parents. In per-

forming arts they can be called “Stage Moms.”

In sports, they used to keep their distance.

Now we lump all these into the new generic

term of Helicopter Parent.

This semi-new breed of parent is incredibly

visible at every school event.

Let’s first of all make it perfectly clear that

not all parents who take an interest in their

kids’ activities are Helicopter Parents. Thank-

fully, there are many who volunteer their time,

help raise money and provide transportation

to kids who need the help – and believe me,

they are deeply appreciated. However, there

also are those parents who just can’t let go

and let their kids participate in the joy of ath-

letics.

Outside of my dad coaching me in baseball

as a kid, I can’t recall my parents ever sitting

in on practice. I don’t mean hanging out until

it’s over to drive the athlete back and forth, but

actually sitting in and watching practice. They

sit in the stands during baseball practice. They

go to the upper deck of the gym to watch, they

sit on the soccer sidelines and they question

the coaches about playing time, strategy and

any other issue that affects their child – not

the team, just their own interest.

The reason this is happening today appears

to me to be quite simple. Youth sports have be-

come pay to play activities. Traveling

RICkHOERNEREditorial Columnist

RIDING THE HELICOPTERCut the cell phone cord; raise self-reliant kids again

It’s an interesting dilemma: parents who were given the time and

freedom to become the adults they are today are now the same

overbearing, over-scheduling parents who are prevalent today.

These parents, who once played freely, are now always around,

hovering. Hence the new name: The Helicopter Parent.


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baseball teams, select soccer teams, AAU basketball teams and count-

less other year-round programs have given the expectation to parents

that “Since I paid for my kid to be here, I want something.” More often

these parents believe they deserve something.

Here lies the problem with the Tiger Mom mentality. As the respon-

sibility for your child’s success in athletics moves from the child’s

wishes to the parents’ desires, these parents are willing to do what-

ever is necessary, because their kids’ success is now tied to their

own. Kid fails, Mom and Dad fail. Kid doesn’t play enough, Mom and

Dad have failed. Living vicariously through your child used to be that

one over-assertive baseball Dad, now it’s the norm.

It has gotten tougher and tougher not to fall into this trap. Parents

– especially those who are teachers – who once cried out against the

fairness of our new pay for play system are now entrenched in it – in-

cluding yours truly once upon a time.

My daughter’s experience in the world of select soccer was not

worth the investment. The weekly drive to Bernalillo took time away

from the rest of my family and essentially ruined my weekend. Car-

pooling was nearly out of the question since every other kid’s par-

ents, with one exception, went to every game every week. Out of all

the kids playing on her select soccer team at ages 9 and 10, less than

half were still playing in high school. For her softball team, the re-

sults were similar.

It has become increasingly obvious to me that we have over-struc-

tured our kids’ lives all in the name of their best interests. The re-

sults, I would argue, are questionable. In favor of the rise of a few, we

have alienated many. We have left too many behind who can neither

afford to pay to play or have not been given adequate time and oppor-

tunity to develop as athletes, performers or students.

The simple fact is we cannot protect our kids from inevitable fail-

ure. In fact, we should encourage it. With failure comes growth and

motivation. Just as in science, it’s a true learning experience. We can-

not let fear of failure control who we are as parents, just as we can-

not let fear of the unknown prevent giving our children the necessary

room to grow.

Parents like the Meitivs consider themselves new and improved

parents for letting their kids experience some sense of individuality.

Free Range parenting is just parenting.

Our folks did it for years. It’s an interesting question of whether the

fear we have of leaving our children alone is justified or just a conse-

quence of continual, ratings-driven media coverage.

Statistically, sexual assaults are more likely to happen from family

members or family friends than from strangers. Statistically, the

same is true for abductions.

So maybe it is time to cut the cord and set the cell phone – the

world’s longest umbilical cord – down and let the kids be.

There’s an interesting thing about helicopters that hover; they force a

lot of pressure down beneath them. Maybe the parents should think

about that image as they hover over every action of their child.


How many times do you start on a task only

to get sidetracked and end up shifting your

focus on many different things? There are nu-

merous times when I have a plan for the day

and quickly get diverted with small fires that

present themselves, knocking my plan off

course.

As often as this happens in our daily lives, it

happens even more when we are on the golf

course. The ability of a person to stay the

course and focus on the plan often dictates

how great a player they will become.

Focusing attention on the intention in golfing

terms means that a person needs to focus 100

percent of their energy on one task at a time.

Too often a player goes to the driving range

with a plan to work on a certain aspect of their

golf game, such as their grip.

What happens soon after is their attention

shifts from that focus – because they become

aware of where the golf ball is going and soon

become fixated on the result/outcome. Now

their attention has shifted 180 degrees in an-

other direction and the focus on the grip

change has now been diverted to fixing the di-

rection that their golf ball is going.

PRoCESS vs. oUTComE

Unfortunately, in golf, as in life,

too much of the focus is outcome

oriented. The process gets neg-

lected in favor of what the out-

come is going to be. As a society,

the outcome becomes the only

thing that is important, taking the

focus away from the specific de-

tails of the process – which would result in a

better outcome.

I am not saying that 100 percent of the focus

needs to be on the process, nor am I implying

that outcome oriented focus or goals are not

important – they are. What I am saying is that

you have to be able to distinguish between the

two and focus your attention on either the

process or the outcome at a given

moment – and not both at the

same time.

Going back to the driving range

example, the player who is work-

ing to change their grip is obvi-

ously going to see the golf ball go

in different directions at the start. If the player

is fully consumed with the process of changing

their grip and ignores where the golf ball is

going, the grip change will take less time and

the outcome will take care of itself.

I challenge each and every one of my read-

ers to look at each of their day’s tasks and cat-

egorize them as either process- or

outcome-oriented, and then focus their atten-

tion on the intention for each one. Giving each

task the required attention will maximize the

effort put forth and oftentimes the outcomes

will take care of themselves. It is the person

who focuses on both – process and outcome –

at the same time who often loses their way, ac-

complishing little if anything on both fronts.

If the golfing public kept their attention on

the intention, then their games very quickly-

would improve exponentially .

In life and in golfFocusing attention on intention decides the outcome

TomYOSTThe First Tee

Unfortunately, in golf, as in life, too much of the focus

is outcome oriented. The process gets neglected in favor

of what the outcome is going to be. As a society, the outcome

becomes the only thing that is important, taking the focus

away from the specific details of the process –

which would result in a better outcome.


Current flows on the San Juan

River below Navajo Lake are

650cfs. These flows are very likely

to change weekly.

Fishing in the Quality Waters

below Navajo Lake has been very

good. The best time of the day to

fish has been between 10 a.m. to 2

p.m. Here are a few hot

patterns to try:

Size 16 cream egg pattern

Size 12 natural colored rabbit hair leach

Size 22 black midge pupae

Size 22 gray Rs2

Size 22 gray Big Mac

Dry fly fishing has been best in the afternoon

hours. Look to see fish rising if clouds roll in and

the wind is down. Some of the best dries as of

late are:

Size 22 CDC midge

Size 22 Parachute Adams

Size 22 Griffiths Knat

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T.J. Massey

San Juan River Outfitters

www.sanjuanriveroutfitters.com

505.486.5347

Piedra Vista High School’s Sam Sandoval is headed to Colorado Mesa

University after graduation. Sandoval signed his letter of intent earlier

this month at PV High School. Pictures above is Sandoval, center, with

his family and PV Coach Michael Bejar. As a member of the PV wrestling

dynasty that won their 5th straight state title this year, Sandoval also

took home his second consecutive state championship. He will be going

to Grand Junction, Colo., to join the CMU Mavericks, a division II school

in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

Brianna Murphy made it official on May 1 when she signed her letter

of intent to play volleyball for Otero Junior College in LaJunta, Colo. The

OJC Rattlers are part of the Region IX Conference. Murphy was chosen

for 5A All-State first team this year and was one of the big reasons PV

went to state for the third year in a row. With her at the signing was, at

left, her father and at right her PV Vollyball Coach Ron Becker.

Murphy to play at Otero Junior College Sandoval headed to CMU


NASCAR Nellie’s weekends pretty much

revolve around NASCAR races. If the house-

work and laundry aren’t done when the

race starts, it isn’t getting done until after

the race. And if Dale Earnhardt Jr. doesn’t fin-

ish well, it might not get done at all. NN has a

tendency to wallow in Junior and self-pity

when the sport’s most favorite driver of eter-

nity doesn’t win or at least get a top 10. NN is

nothing but loyal to her favorite driver, just

so’s ya know.

NN is happy that Junior is having a better

season. NN also thinks that the pretty Amy is

partly responsible for that. The right woman

can make a huge difference in a man’s attitude

and career, NN believes.

NN is sad that Junior did not even – for one

teeny tiny microsecond – consider her as that

“right woman” but does understand that hav-

ing a lovely woman stand beside you who can’t

quite reach the window of the race car and

who fills out designer clothes, but prob’ly not

in the way the designer designed ’em for, could

create issues for the sport’s most popular

driver.

There have been some naysayers in NN’s life

who have said a stud muffin like Junior isn’t in-

terested in a woman who is old enough to be

his mother’s mother. Whatever.

So, when NASCAR races are on, NN paces

through the casita (paths that have worn to

the cement slab of the foundation of the casita

– which have been replaced by very cute DIY

carpet squares/rectangles/triangles of red,

yellow, green and black and white.

It’s not exactly Pit Road, but it does give a

certain attitude to the casita that, NN is sure,

will add to the value of the casita when the

Perfect Child decides it’s time to put his

mother into a “home.” Whatever.

There’s a lot of preparation required to pace

a NASCAR race, for those of you who – for

whatever heaven-forsaken reason don’t watch

NASCAR (you know who you are and you know

you love NASCAR and you just refuse to admit

it’s the world’s favorite sport – Steve Bortstein

et al) – don’t realize. NN spends most of Satur-

day prepping for the race.

Her favorite Junior shirt (which has been

hand washed and dried for, prob'ly, 10 years

and may be a tad tattered and stained

with nacho cheese and adult beverages)

has to be placed exactly so on a hanger in

the Shrine to The Sports Most Popular

Driver, the most important room in the ca-

sita. Snacks and wine must be at the ready,

and Mojito the Devil Kitten must have enough

kitty snacks to keep him happy during the

race.

It takes a LOT of snacks to keep the DK

happy and quiet during races, which prob’ly’s-

plains the fact that he can no longer get

through the catio doors unless they are com-

pletely open – all four feet of ’em. Whatever.

The cat’s prob’ly gonna have to stay with the

casita when the PC puts NN in the home and at-

tempts to sell the casita, unless the new own-

ers want to knock down a wall to get him out.

In all fairness to the DK, that hole in the wall

will also be necessary to get NN out. Whatever.

NN doesn’t take visitors, phone calls, text

messages or smoke signals during the race. It

is important that NN focus on the race, which

drivers are not playing nice with Junior, which

drivers are being nice to the 20 or so of NN’s

least favorite drivers (NN would list her least

favorite drivers, but the restraining orders are

pretty much clear that NN cannot “mention,

say, suggest or put in print” any of the names

of the 20 or so drivers who signed the order.

Whatever.), and where she put her glass of

Sweet Cherry Pie wine or her super-sized plate

of nachos.

And if Junior has trouble of any kind, NN has

been known to spit out a few not-nice words

and toss her fuzzy slippers at the television

and crawl under the coffee table with her

NASCAR comforter and whine and cry.

NN believes, as she always does, that Dale

Earnhardt Jr., the sport’s most popular driver,

will win the championship. Junior is the bomb,

NASCAR Nellie surveys local fans to find out

WHO WILL WIN THECHAMPIONSHIP?


the best, the onliest driver NN has ever loved

(well, except for her Sweet Baboo, Elliott

Sadler, who threw NN over for some cute

young thing; Terry Labonte, who would have

loved NN if he’da just watched that video in-

stead of turning it over to the “authorities”;

Ward Burton, who coulda won a champi-

onship and shoulda won a championship but

on accounta no one could understand his

South Boston drawl, no one knew for sure

what he was sayin’, which caused a few

probs on Pit Road; Dale Jarrett, who was the

first driver over five foot, five that got behind

the wheel of a race car; and Davey Allison,

who died in a helicopter crash and put NN

into mourning for, like, seven years).

NN liked Dale Earnhardt Sr., but he was

never her favorite driver – mostly because

he was married to Junior’s Wicked Step-

mother who was not nice to the sport’s most

popular driver. Just sayin’. . .

NN did a quick survey of seven people, who

were the only ones to respond to her survey

– go figure – to see who they thought would

take home the championship trophy, which is

not to be confused with the mirror ball tro-

phy, which is what the winner of Dancing

With the Stars receives, just so’s ya know.

The same rules/regs apply when NN is watch-

ing DWTS.

Angela Valdez, Paul James and Kathy Far-

ley – who just MAY put NN behind the wheel

of a race car in a coupla weeks at a local

race track – all think Kevin “Happy” Harvick

will repeat as the 2015 champion. One of my

best NASCAR buddies, Roger Sheak, said he

hopes his most favorite driver, Jeff Gordon,

takes the championship, ’specially since it’s

JG’s last year racing. NN doesn’t have a prob-

lem with JG winning, except JG isn’t DEJr.,

who MUST win. Sorry, Roger.

Hugs, kisses – love Gordon, but let’s face

it, he isn’t the sport’s most popular driver.

Julie Hank, who’s from Aztec but is cur-

rently saving lives as a nurse in Albuquerque,

is also a Junior fan and joins NN in saying

Junior will win the trophy this year. “I believe

he gets better and better with age. He is one

of the most consistent drivers in NASCAR and

he’s had to overcome the death of his leg-

endary father – which he has.”

Julie’s dad, John, who is a former dirt

track racer and is retired from El Paso Natu-

ral Gas, doesn’t agree with Julie and NN,

though.

Big John thinks Harvick will win, although

he admits to “kind of like ‘Little E’” and was a

big fan of “Big E.” Big John has been a

NASCAR fan for as long as he can remember

and was a big fan of The King, Richard Petty,

which is why he doesn’t want Jimmie John-

son to win. JJ, for those of you who don’t


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keep up, has broken almost every record

held by anyone/everyone and Big John

doesn’t want JJ breaking any more of The

King’s records. Just so’s ya know.

NN’s dear, sweet, long-time friend Johnnie

Walker was among the first to respond to the

unofficial survey. NN loves Johnnie and prays

for Johnnie, on accounta Johnnie doesn’t

keep up with the world’s most popular sport.

Johnnie thinks Peyton Manning will win the

NASCAR championship and Tony Romo

doesn’t have a chance.

Thanks, Johnnie, for your help and if Pey-

ton Manning (NN’s hero and who has his own

shrine in NN’s casita) ever decides to drive a

NASCAR race, there is no doubt he’ll win

every race – except the sport’s most popular

driver race, ’cuz that’s always gonna belong

to Junior. Johnnie is the bomb and she and

NN share a mutual love of Johnnie’s children,

who have participated in the San Juan

County Fair forever. Johnnie is well versed in

pigs, beef and other livestock stuff – NASCAR,

not so much. Gotta love her, but would have

loved her more if she’da at least mentioned

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

The races continue, the standings change

every week, and half of NN’s weight is caused

by the stress called NASCAR. NN is also very

happy that the Perfect Child is getting married

next month and, because he loves his mother,

he and his bride-to-be scheduled the wedding

so it does not conflict with a NASCAR race.

Thank goodness. NN would have hated to

miss the nuptials.

Documents

Four Corners Sports June 2015