It's Phillies Time!

Baseball gets almost completely forgotten about in the month of September with the majority of teams being out of contention and the pro and college football seasons starting up. But come October, the sport is back in full swing. Eight teams, one goal. And I couldn't be more excited because through the forgotten month of September, my Philadelphia Phillies were the hottest team.

It's also nice to see some different teams in the playoffs this year with Texas and Cincinnati. The Rangers are the only team in MLB to never win a playoff series, while the Reds haven't been in the playoffs since 1995! Here are my predictions for the first round of the playoffs:

Rays vs. Rangers
Rays in 4

Twins vs. Yankees
Yankees in 4

Phillies vs. Reds
Phillies in 4

Giants vs. Braves
Giants in 5

I'll be wearing my Phillies shirts all week and hopefully all month!

Seventeen Years

Seventeen years ago I had not started kindergarten, this spring I will graduate from college. Seventeen years ago the internet was a novelty, now its rare to go more than a few hours without being online in some form. And until last night, seventeen years ago was the last time the Utah State Aggies had beat the BYU Cougars!

Last night was a great experience, maybe even better than beating BYU in basketball last December. Right now America is a football country and when you beat your rival that you haven't beat in almost two decades on national TV, it is kinda big deal! So yea, both the teams were 1-3 going into the game, but the Aggies aren't the team that is now 1-4 and that sure does feel good!

Aggie pride is everywhere right now. The restaurants were packed until the wee hours of the morning last night and the internet is abuzzing. Here is a little sampling of the mood in Logan and the rest of the west from some of my friends Facebook status's:

"And today was the day that the Aggies beat the YBU's in a little game we call football :)"

"BELIEVED. We did it. Finally. GO AGGIES!"

"AMAZING game...17 years in the making and we finally beat BYU. That's right...WE WON!!! Go Aggies!"

My buddy at the U, "PS, Utah State better storm the field!" oh we did!

"... I believe that WE JUST WON!!!!"

From a Boise State fan "Go Utah St. way to hand it to those cougars!!!!!"

"It seems like every frustration I have had in the last 6 months went away when I watched Utah State smash the Cougars, GO AGGIES!"

A friend at the Y, "I think my roommate and I cursed BYU Football with our non-LDS sins."

"YEAH!! GO AGGIES!! Put BYU in their place tonight!! :D"

From my anti-football sister who goes to Gonzaga: "AGGGIEEEESSS! heck yes. Go UTAH STATE FOOTBALL!!!!"

and finally one that sums it all up,

"It's a good day to be an Aggie :)"

The Headwaters at Teton Springs

The last week in August, my summer golf league took a trip up to the Headwaters at Teton Springs, just outside Driggs, ID. We played 36 holes, a four ball match and an individual match play. It was an absolute blast! Such a beautiful and challenging course. If you are ever up that way, this is course you must check out. It was a great way to finish off the summer. Here are some pics from the day!

Also I just wanted to give a big thanks to Billy Satterfield for putting the trip and the whole league together. If you are a golf enthusiast in the Pocatello area, you definitly need to get in touch with Billy. Check out his awesome website, golfcoursegurus.com!

I'm Back!!

Wow, it has been a long time since I've blogged! A lot has been happening lately, school is in session, moved into a new place with my best buds, and I started a new job at the golf course. The course is located about 15 minutes outside of Logan, in the canyon on your way to Salt Lake. It is absolutely place, I'll be getting some pictures up soon. Overall, life is good.

Even though I haven't blogged for a bit, the world of sports hasn't slowed down a bit.

• The Phillies are back in first place and looking strong as they move towards the MLB Playoffs.
  
• Football season is full swing, the Aggies have a great chance to win one a big game as they take on Fresno State this Saturday in Logan.
  
• Oh Boise State! They beat Virginia Tech but then Virginia Tech lost to a FCS school. I wonder how much the BCS payed Virginia to lose that game and hurt Boises chances of playing in the National Championship game. Even though I hate Boise State, I want to see them do well until Dec. 4 when the Aggies roll onto the blue turf and take them out. I'm already dreaming of it.
  
• Another reason to hate BYU, Utah State was offered a spot in the Mountain West Conference but didn't take it because they believed the Y would join the WAC for everything but football, it didn't happen and now the WAC looks to be going defunct.
  
• Reggie Bush forfeited his Heisman. I don't think he should have. Sure what he did off the field was shady, but on the field he was simply amazing. The best college player I have ever watched.
  
• And then there is flag football, I'm already frustrated with a first week loss! It's typical though, my all time record in intramural sports is now 7-37.

Well that's all for now, hopefully I'll keep more up to date from now on!

State of WAC

States of the former WAC

I woke up yesterday morning and like usual turned on ESPN while eating breakfast. Low and behold, some of the best sports news I had seen all summer, BYU was to join the Western Athletic Conference for all sports but football. The Cougars would have to come to Logan every year and play basketball against the Aggies in the Spectrum. It seemed as if this summers conference shake-up was going to be a good thing for everyone including, a Boise State-less, Western Athletic Conference.

That was until the Mountain West poached Fresno State and Nevada, two of the premier WAC football teams, yesterday afternoon! Leaving the WAC with the following six schools, Utah State, Idaho, San Jose State, Hawaii, Louisiana Tech, and New Mexico State. Six teams spread across six states, with no natural rivalries and limited historic rivalries. This is a very bad situation. Only two of the state are even neighbors!

I was opposed to the idea of super conferences (Texas & Oklahoma going to the PAC-10) this summer because of the ruining of rivalries and the large geographic distances that would separate the institutions, but in reality those conferences could survive that. The WAC with six teams, can not. And I am not willing to pay another increase in student fees so that Utah State's athletic teams can travel to Ruston, LA and Honolulu, HI because ESPN and its TV money do not want to support a conference with just six teams.

Honestly, I don't know what can be done and I have absolutely no power to do anything about it. So in theory, this blog is more of a rant than a solution, but if I were in charge of the WAC, this is what I would try and do; entice Montana to move up from the Big Sky and Wyoming to move back from the Mountain West, all the while still getting BYU's sports for everything besides football.

Montana could be looking to make the jump from the FCS Division and into the Bowl Divison. They have done just about everything in the FCS and they could see this move as their chance to make it on the national scene. Boise State made the jump less than 20 years ago and look where they are now! The WAC is a depleted conference football wise and the Grizzlies could quite possibly have a winning record in their first season. They would restore a rivalry with University of Idaho by doing this too. Wyoming would make the move for similar reasons; a chance to play in an easier conference, keep its long standing ties with BYU for all other sports, and create new rivalries with schools such as Montana and Utah State.

It will be interesting to see what happens to the WAC, the 6th oldest conference in the Bowl Division, hopefully it will still be around by the year 2011.

Red Numbers

I'm not really into tooting my own horn but yesterday I had a pretty good day, no, a really good day on the golf course.

I've been playing golf seriously since I was 13 and had had some pretty good days out on the course. I probably was probably the most talented the summer after my senior year of high school. There are so many shots and rounds from that summer that I will always remember, a four-under-par 30 on the back nine at Twin Falls Muni, a 155 yard 7-iron over trees and within feet for a win at the Pressbox. But for as much skill as I thought I had, my mental game was not quite good enough to allow me to do what I did yesterday.

Yesterday, for the first time in my life I shot under par on 18 holes. It was a one-under 71 at my home course with nothing more than a few dollars and pride was on the line. Playing with a guy I had always looked up to on the golf course as he was an elite high school player and I lowly freshman, Mike, my best friend, Derek, and one of Pocatello's new up and coming high school golfers, Ryker, it was the perfect afternoon.

I had shot 74 a couple times this summer but it had been a couple weeks since I had played golf well. Now I can't wait to get back on the course! I have one more golf goal this summer and that is to shoot in the 60's. I think I'm close...

p.s. One of my best friends, Benji Bosen, a kid that has always had the upper hand on me on the golf course gets home from his mission in less than a week! Can't wait to play a round with this kid, its been over two years!

Watch Your Words Boise State

Boise State is preparing to play its last season in the WAC and though the football season doesn't start for another month their is already controversy as the Broncos don't seem to be ones who like to maintain in-state rivalries.

"Why would we (go to Moscow)?" Broncos Coach Chris Petersen. "I don't think our fans even like to go up there. Most of Idaho's fans are in Boise anyway."

Boise State President Bob Kustra added, "I frankly don't care whether we ever play 'em (Idaho) again as long it goes. I don't see any reason to do it in Boise, but if somebody sees a reason to do it in Boise, fine.”

"It’s a culture that is nasty, inebriated and civilly doesn’t give our fans the respect that any fan should expect when visiting an away game," Kustra continued.

Really?! Have you ever been to one of your own football games? Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of good friends, who are good people and Boise State fans, but the two times Boise State has come to Logan to play my Aggies, Bronco Nation has been the "nasty, inebriated" culture that doesn't give even the home teams fans respect. If the people up in Moscow are as bad as Kustra says, it must be hell on earth and I highly doubt that. Florida and Florida State, Texas and Oklahoma, USC and UCLA, play each other every year and I am sure those fans are a lot worse to each other than some farm boys in Idaho are to each other. If you have read my blog before you know I am all for rivalries and tradition which makes me all against not playing this game! Yes, Boise State has won 11 straight games but Idaho is an up and coming team winning eight games last year. Overall BSU only holds a slight advantage at 21-17-1. Idaho continued to play BSU when the series was 17-10. So stop making excuses.

This whole ordeal is nothing out of the ordinary for the Broncos. In 1994 Boise State University made plans to move out of Division 1-AA's (now FCS) Big Sky Conference and into Division 1-A's (FBS) Big West Conference beginning in 1996. The team was off to a hot 6-0 start before coming into Holt Arena of Idaho State University. Two years earlier in 1992 the Bengals unvieled a play called the "Globe of Death," which led Idaho State only its 5th victory over the Broncos, and still had Bronco Nation upset. The game was dubbed by BSU officials as the "last visit to Pocatello."

Well as it stands, it was also the Broncos last lost in Pocatello. The Bengals had ended the Broncos perfect season in a 32-31 victory. Luckily for Boise State their run at a National Championship because of the playoff system in Division 1-AA. The loss to the Bengals was their only loss besides in the 1-AA National Championship.

So let it be that on November 12 in Moscow, ID if Boise State loses this time, the hopes of a national championship are out the door. Maybe Coach Pete and Pres. Kustra need to be a little more cautious before running their mouths or history just may be relived.

Motocrossed

My uncle owns the motocross track in Pocatello and though I am not huge into the sport, tonight was the seasons big race so my sister and I went out to help with it. It was a a blast! The riders are fearless. Here are some pics from the races. My sister is in the pink and my little cousin, Colter, is the racer in the bottom two pictures.

New Jazzmen

The Jazz made some big moves this last week with the acquisitions of Al Jefferson and former Jazzman Raja Bell. I was a little worried that the Jazz were not going to do anything this off-season and just watch key players head off to the Chicago Bulls.

Jefferson is a 6'11" Forward/Center who was originally played for the Boston Celtics but was shipped off to Minnesota for Kevin Garnett. Jefferson averages 17 points and 10 rebounds per game. "Big Al" is two years younger and a million dollar a year cheaper than keeping Carlos Boozer.

Bell previously played for the Jazz from 2003-2005. He brings a 41 percent shooting percentage from beyond the arc and "good perimeter defender." Bell will replace rookie sensation Wes Matthews who signed a very good deal with the Portland Trailblazers.

It will be interesting to see how the team takes shape this fall. Draft pick Gordon Hayward was announced as the best rookie at the Orlando Summer League and could make a big splash on the team. I doubt there will be anymore big free agent signings and it is still unclear if Memo will be healed in time for the start of the season. That being said I believe this team is slightly better than last years but still will only get the fourth seed in next years playoffs. Here is my expected starting line-up for the 2010-2011 campaign.

C- Al Jefferson

F- Paul Milsap

F-Gordon Hayward

G- Raja Bell

G- Deron Williams

I think Kirilenko and Okur will come off the bench with C.J. Miles and Ronnie Price to add veteran support to the younger players.

AT&T Park

AT&T Park
Home of the San Francisco Giants San Francisco, CA
Date Opened: April 11, 2000- Los Angeles Dodgers 6, San Francisco Giants 5
Capacity: 41,915
Games Attended: June 14, 2010 Giants vs. Baltimore Orioles 10-4

Location & Accessibility (0-5): 5
Just going to throw this right out there, I love AT&T Park. Located in downtown San Fran, we hopped on a bus at our hotel and were dropped off just a block away from the park. The park is right on the bay, simply beautiful.

Historic Value (0-5): 3
Barry Bonds hit his record breaking 756th Home-run and many other significant jacks here. The park hosted games three through five of the 2002 World Series when the Giants faced the Angels in the Fall Classic. AT&T Park played host to the All-Star Game in 2007. Originality (0-5): 5 As I mentioned the park is right on the bay. Its the only place that a player can hit a home-run into a natural body of water. The Giants have hit 52 balls into the awaiting kayakers in McCovey Cove, while opponents have added another 20.

Fans (0-5): 4
Always cold when I go to baseball games but the difference in San Fransisco is that the fans are used to it. There was a large crowd out on a Monday night when the team was playing a poor team. The fans are very supportive of their team. They have the coolest hats with ear muffs that look like panda bears in support of third baseman Pablo "Panda" Sandoval. The outfield fans are very rowdy and lead cheers throughout the game.

Fun Factor (0-5): 4
A huge coke bottle with slides in the outfield along with many other games for the kids. The park also has A Build-a-Bear workshop where you can build mascot Lou Seal. The night we attended a game was "Halloween in June." A female fan was an exact look-a-like of "The Freak," Tim Lincecum.

Concessions & Restaurants (0-5): 3
I didn't find any unique restaurants at the park and the general concessions were a little over-priced. However, the smell of garlic coming off the the Gilroy Garlic Fries was irresistible and they tasted as good as the smelled.

My own Subjectivity (0-5): 5
This was a great place to take in a game. The atmosphere is amazing, the people are fun and the team is good. Dress warm and be ready for a great night at the ballpark.

Total Score (0-35)= 29

Criteria for "The Ballpark Series" can be found here.

And here is why I love baseball stadiums!

"King" putting on a Jesters Show

I hate the Los Angeles Lakers. I hate how they always win. I hate Kobe and his cocky attitude. And I hate Laker fans. Besides the New York Yankees there is no professional franchise I hate more.

That was until this last week, when LeBron James signed with the Miami Heat. I understand that LeBron needed to leave Cleveland because he didn't want to be "31 with bad knees and no championships." I just hate how he did it. A one-hour TV special to announce his decision, literally bringing many Cleveland fans to tears. Then to top it all off, a huge coming out party for the "Three Kings " in Miami. I would like a party like this next time I sign up for classes, before I ever receive an A, take a test, or even step foot in the classroom. Get what I am saying? At this moment the Heat don't have enough players signed to play a game much less win a championship. What else would we expect from a man who proclaims himself "King" with no rings though?

So if it comes down to it this next June and James and the Heat find themselves playing Bryant and the Lakers, it will be the only time I won't be chanting Beat LA.