Archive for category Hill Country Happenings Articles
‘Lotta Happenings — Turn Left!!
Posted by 'lottasports in Hill Country Happenings Articles, NASCAR on May 1, 2014
My May column which was in the May Hill Country Happenings.
My spring NASCAR experience this year came a month earlier than the race when Rick and I attended the unveiling of Big Hoss, the largest high-definition LED video board in the world. The Texas Motor Speedway infield area was filled with over eight thousand fans along with dignitaries, NASCAR driver Kyle Busch, Indy car driver Helio Castroneves and the stars of Duck Dynasty. While waiting on the event to start, I went wandering and discovered the TMS Great American Sweethearts autographing and posing for pictures. I felt it was my wifely duty to return with Rick. There was nothing more entertaining than watching him suck in his gut as he sneaked peeks at the obvious cleavage. I got my thrills too that night when I spotted myself on Big Hoss during an interview of a fan in front of us.
Before I knew it, race weekend was here. Thursday was the arrival of the Nationwide haulers. It was like seeing a little city develop as we peered through the wrought iron fences surrounding the garage area. Hauler drivers like my friend Eloy Trevino were busy setting up barbeque grills because many also serve as cooks for the teams. This activity was short-lived since it was soon time for my one-on-one with Nationwide driver Brendan Gaughan (see exclusive column) and then practice. Thank goodness everyone’s name was scribed over the driver’s window as there were so many changes from last year’s crop. On the way out, I signed the tunnel between the pit and the stands. My legacy joined thousands of others on the grooved wall and left me wondering if, on a return trip, I’d ever find where I had signed.
Friday turned into a long day …. according to our dogs who patiently waited at home. Our first stop was at OneMain Financial in Denton for an autograph/picture session with Elliott Sadler and his car. He laughed when I held out my lug nut from his race last year. I know …. It’s a lug nut fetish I can’t seem to control! While we were waiting in line, we found out from the couple behind us that Marcos Ambrose, my favorite road course driver, was signing at Wal-Mart in Roanoke. Meeting Marcos was fun and listening to his “down-under” accent was an added extra. That afternoon found us watching the Sprint Cup practice and Nationwide qualifying. We saw Brendan briefly and wished him good luck in the race. The rest of the pre-race found me talking to several pit crews and snapping photos of tires and gas containers. It’s the little things in life that make me happy. When we found our way to our seats for the Nationwide race, we were pleasantly surprised with their location — Turn 4 was to our left and the start-finish line to our right. The weather was ideal for night racing with only a lightweight jacket needed. It was an exciting race with the typical multi-car crashes because of so many novice drivers participating. Even more exciting was that a rookie, Chase Elliott, beat out a very experienced handful of Sprint Cup guys and won his first Nationwide race!
Saturday morning found me killing time before Sprint Cup qualifying with a visit to the tire change display. I was determined to better last year’s fifty-eight seconds combat with the lug nut installer. There I was in line with guys, some who worked at car shops for a living. There was a lot at stake –winning automotive gadgets as well as bragging rights. I was in it for the latter. My first attempt was over thirteen seconds as I had to coax my fingers into grasping the lug nut. Remember, I was still recovering from my accident in November. Back into the line I went and my second attempt was ten and fifty-two hundredths seconds. I even beat a couple of guys in line with me. Unlike the horse races, I quit while I was ahead. Later was Sprint Cup qualifying amid a light shower so I got to see the drivers substitute their helmets with umbrellas as the jet-dryers dehydrated the track. There wasn’t a race because of the Final Four in college basketball being that evening.
Severe storms woke us up in the wee hours with downpours all morning. We left for the track at the last minute and tromped through mud lots after parking. While weathering a four hour delay, our entertainment was watching Big Hoss which provided fan interviews in the stands, an episode of Duck Dynasty and promos about the concession stands. They finally postponed the race until the next morning. After a night of thawing and drying out, we were relieved to find sunny skies and pleasant temperatures for the race morning. Despite being a work/school day, there were about seventy-eight thousand fans there. During our pre-race visit in the pit, we met up with John Johnson, whose son is the “engine turner” for Matt Kenseth. He said to me, “Hey, I checked out your website last year after the November race and there was only older stuff.” When I explained about being out of commission for months after my accident walking the dog, he felt bad — for throwing my card away. I next met up with Chris Taylor, rear tire changer for Matt Kenseth. We follow each other on Twitter so it was fun meeting him in person. He had a beard similar to the ones that the Red Sox players had last year during their World Series run. Rick and I also watched the pit crews doing their limbering exercises. I think a prerequisite for the job is being tall, lanky and ambidextrous! As predicted when we headed to the stands, I couldn’t find my signature in the tunnel. It was an unusual start for the race with the cars under the caution flag for several laps as the jet dryers completed drying the track. Things immediately got contentious as wind from one jet dryer affected several cars including last year’s champion, Jimmie Johnson. Once they were racing full speed, fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. slipped into the grass and plowed across the track into wall. He caught on fire, but was able to escape before the car was engulfed in flames and black smoke. I could not believe I had my video running when the wreck occurred. What are the odds of that?!? Many Aggies were present as Jeff Gordon’s car was trimmed in maroon and white with Texas A&M logos. It became evident he was destined to win the race until there was a caution flag the last few laps. Gordon took two tires and said on the radio, “Please tell me the others didn’t take four.” Much to Jeff’s chagrin as well as John Phillips, a Gordon fan seated next to us, the other contenders took four. Gordon was engulfed in the restart and Joey Logano took the checkered flag. <sigh> Maybe in my next life I’ll be a stock car driver …. or better yet since I never exceed the speed limit, be on a pit crew.
‘Lotta Happenings — Hooked on Sochi
Posted by 'lottasports in Hill Country Happenings Articles, Olympics on April 1, 2014
My article below appeared in the April issue of Hill Country Happenings..
The 2014 Winter Olympics is now behind us. To add to the complexity of the viewing, Russia was six hours ahead of us and some of the venues started as early as 3 AM my time! As some of you know, I am a passionate sports fanatic. For the weeks of the Olympics, my routine was to start with live events on NBCSN in the morning, squeeze in lunch, General Hospital, Dr. Oz and then switch over to the regular NBC channel for the afternoon and evening.
One of my favorite events was the Ice Dancing. Meryl Davis and Charlie White were way ahead of the competition and I had not seen such greatness and precision on the ice since Torvill and Dean thirty years ago. It was hard to believe that Charlie had a girlfriend as when the duo skated they appeared so much in love. One thing that didn’t thrill me was Johnny Weir’s addition to the skating commentators. Johnny appeared in makeup styles any woman would envy along with a wardrobe a little girl playing dress-up would wear. Was it just me that thought his get-ups were distracting from the ice skating? Fortunately, Weir only covered the live daytime NBCSN coverage while my favorite, Scott Hamilton, replaced him in Primetime replays. As far as the men’s and women’s figure skating, I was disappointed that the skaters added way too many complicated jumps. The result was many of them falling during the routines and I almost wanted to rename the competition “figure crashing.” I would much rather have watched a smooth, flawless routine than gymnastics on ice. The much anticipated Hockey rematch of the 1980 Miracle on Ice found the Russians losing to the Men’s Team USA in a 3-2 overtime shootout in pre-medal competition. However, that was the end of the excitement as the US team was shut out 5-0 by Finland for the medal round. The Women’s Team USA made it to the Gold Medal round, however they wasted a 2-0 lead going well into the 3rd period and lost to the Canadians in overtime play. I haven’t seen that many tears since my soap was cancelled.
I used to ski and I could only imagine the frustrations the skiers faced on the majority of the courses. At times, the runs were so slushy, skis got caught in the snow and speeds were much slower in competition. It was definitely an advantage to be one of the first down the course as the run deteriorated with each skier. I was jubilant when one of my favorites, Bode Miller, captured the Bronze medal for the Men’s Super-G, but the celebration was short-lived. He reinjured his knee in the Giant Slalom and the realization hit that might have been his last Olympics. Also disappointing was the lackluster performance by Shaun White in the Snowboarding Halfpipe leaving me to wonder if all the pre-competition media hype served as a distraction to some of the participants.
This is not the way one wants their run to look!
Towards the end of the Olympics was the Bobsled competition or as the British-sounding announcer referred to it, as Bobsleigh. This year, we were excited as Rick’s cousin’s son-in-law (Dallas Robinson) was on the USA Bobsled team. As if I didn’t already have enough vested time in ice skating, skiing and hockey, here was one more event to squeeze into my viewing. It was fascinating to watch as the athletes ran pushing the sled, and then quickly crammed in. There was neither rhyme nor reason as to how they loaded. Some teams loaded in order of the seating in the sled and some with the middle ones last. The sport showed its dangerous side when the Canada 3 sled turned over and did some of the course on its top and side. Thankfully, the sled finished and the riders all walked away from the damaged vehicle. It was then I wondered about Dallas’s sanity in partaking in this perilous sport. Despite that, I was so hooked on the event, I found myself setting my alarm for 325AM to watch Heat 3 and the Medal run of the 4-Man Bobsled. I know…. The replay was on later that day, but there’s something about seeing it live … at least that’s what I tried to convince myself. When the alarm went off, it was just like my old flight attendant days with the crazy get-ups. As Rick and my oldest Boxer snored at the other end of the house, poor Rex was a trooper and kept me company. Actually it worked where I was able to watch both USA sleds and nap for an hour before the medal run. It was exciting to see the other US sled capture the Bronze medal in both the 2-Man and 4-Man. Dallas was disappointed that his sled placed just out of the top 10. The competition is always tough with so many talented teams, I feel just being chosen to represent the US is a huge accomplishment. Because of the plausible threats, numerous families and friends of the athletes opted to forego the trip to Russia, including Dallas’s. How sad that so many missed being there sharing the experience with the Olympians. Thankfully, there were no terrorist activities during the Games.
3:30 am just too early for “Rex”
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‘Lotta Happenings — February Fun in Sports
Posted by 'lottasports in Fantasy Football, Hill Country Happenings Articles, Olympics, Skiing on March 1, 2014
If you’re interested in getting an ad supporting my Hill Country Happenings articles or even sponsoring the cover, contact Monica at 830-377-8707. It’s a happening magazine celebrating a decade of publication!
Last month was a pretty good month for me. It was very welcomed after a challenging recovery period following my accident last November. February started with the Super Bowl and I found myself among the few not rooting for Peyton Manning and the Broncos. The disappointment was still too fresh from Denver uprooting my New England Patriots two weeks prior. In addition, I still harbored a grudge against Denver for beating my other team, the Steelers, in a 2012 Wild-Card playoff game with one overtime play by Tim Tebow. However, wounded pride was not only the reason to be a Seattle fan. In my Fantasy Football league, I had the Seahawks Quarterback, Russell Wilson, and I needed a good game from him to possibly win in my league. For you regular readers of this column, you may remember back to last year’s October column when I discussed starting the season already stinking out the house by losing every game, most by five points or less. Many might have given up, but I didn’t as my last cellar season was in 2010 when I ended up winning the post-season with Aaron Rodgers as my Quarterback. Talk about the planets being aligned!!! I was going into the Super Bowl with a lead in our league and providing Wilson had a good game and Marshawn Lynch not having a monster game, it looked promising for me to win. The phone rang a few hours before game time. I’m playing Spades on the computer and half watching the pre-game. The caller is the Commish of our league. “Hey, did you see Russell Wilson hit his head getting off the team bus? It’s really bad,” he claims. Well, he had me going for several minutes until I saw Russell safely in the locker room area. Seattle won, Wilson had a good game and I waited on pins and needles for a week until my league win was confirmed.
Did you notice the commercials for the Super Bowl this year? The most talked about ones seemed to have patriotic or animal themes. My personal favorites were the ones from Budweiser. The first one was the puppy in a stable bonding with a Clydesdale, then getting adopted and therefore separated from the horse. The duo was later reunited when the pup escaped from its owner and returned to the horse farm. All this in one minute — sure moved along a lot faster than my soap opera! The second one was the town welcoming home the soldier. One couldn’t help but get teary-eyed as the community thanked their hero returning from the war. I also cracked up at the Subaru commercial with the retriever family. Papa dog was caught by mama dog ogling a poodle crossing the street and done in front of a puppy in the backseat with his puppy-sibling in the infant-seat. Mama dog growls! Loved it….. Then came an even better one by United Airlines during the Olympics. It had the US teams bobsledding, skating and skiing through the airport, jetway and airplane. As the athletes got situated, the curling stone jammed in the Captain’s foot and a female skater did a three-sixty as she stowed her bag in the overhead compartment. I just loved the creativity put into making those commercials.
Speaking of the Olympics, as of deadline time for this column, they were still in full swing. We’re very excited as Rick’s cousin’s son-in-law, Dallas Robinson, is on the US Bobsled team. We’re so proud of Dallas as well as all the Olympians who have spent years of training and hard work to represent their respective countries. So far, it has been a media frenzy with several non-games sagas unfurling. Unless one was a bobsled groupie, few had heard of Johnny Quinn — that is until he got locked in his bathroom and stuck in an elevator.
US Olympic Bobsled Team
We also witnessed how nasty conjunctivitis can be as poor Bob Costas battled the disease as it spread to both eyes. Been there, done that. On a positive note, I loved his round spectacles. My heartstrings were tugged as I saw US slopestyle skier Gus Kenworthy trying to foster several puppies. Good thing I wasn’t over there. Those cuddly little fur balls are irresistible! While the hype built up over a rematch of USA and Russia in hockey, I fondly thought back to the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” at Lake Placid. I remembered it well, as I viewed it from my parents’ recliner with crutches at my side. I was recovering from a skiing accident. Here I was in 2014, again in rehabilitation of several body parts, watching the Olympics. The Olympics served as a catalyst for my determination to be fully functional again. So many of the participants had overcome surgeries and rehabilitations to be a part of the experience. My orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Lue, was happy with my progress rehabilitating my elbow, wrist, hand and shoulder. He was pleased that I was ahead of what he expected for that stage of my recovery. I was thrilled to see one of the skiers back racing after recovering from an accident less than a year ago. I commented that’s there’s hope for me after all! Rick was kind enough to point out that she is also forty-seven years younger than me. Minor details.
A “Lefty Handshake” as Dr. Lue works my left hand.
‘Lotta Happenings — Part 2 Accidental Happening
Posted by 'lottasports in Football, Hill Country Happenings Articles on February 1, 2014
It has always amazed me how football players who make lunging catches and scrape across the solid turf, get up like nothing happened. Unfortunately, some don’t. Instead they end up carted off the field in excruciating pain, loaded in an ambulance and within hours, are in surgery. Weeks or months later they return to the playing field, but what happens in between? I have lived it first-hand.
Not for the squeamish!
It was easy post-surgery with a catheter hooked up and food as well as pain medication coming in intravenously. I figured with my right arm in a sling and left arm in a full cast I would be in the hospital for a few days. Not so! They had me up and walking in the hall, flashing in my hospital gown with an aide, toting all the equipment I was hooked up to, behind me. I was released within an hour of that feat and sent to my first rehabilitation center. I found out quickly that those places are a combination rehab, long-term care facility and nursing home. Seeing the reality of “health care” was downright scary! The main contacts for my needs were the aides and they would determine if a nurse was warranted. The sad part was the aide-to-patient ratio was ludicrous so getting an aide to answer the call bell was the challenge. Now having been a flight attendant, I understood how some overuse the summoning device. However, in my case, I had no use of either arm or one hand so when I rang the bell, help was definitely needed. I hated counting on others and it really sapped the dignity out of me. Thanksgiving night proved to be a turning point when no one was answering my call light. It was either wet the bed or improvise. An hour later, a text of my accomplishment was heard ‘round the world! The recipients at midnight I’m sure thought I had been in someone else’s meds. I was free at last — to accomplish all the tasks involved in going to the bathroom by myself! Perhaps I could get my “walking papers!” Not so fast! The doctor and my hubby’s concerns were the dogs jumping on me and reinjuring something. As it was pointed out to me, one of those dogs was the cause of me to being in there. I was not pleased with the news of two more weeks of a rehab facility.
Ugh!
Fast forward to the second week of December and my next doctor’s visit. Dr. Lue was pleased with the healing of my left elbow and shoulder. Not only was I getting to go home, but I acquired a contraption for my elbow instead of the sling. Remembering my interest in football, Dr. Lue proudly communicated that it was the device football players wore when they returned to the playing field after elbow surgery. The next thing I knew I nestled in an almost two-foot mechanism which felt like about ten pounds on my arm. It was locked in ninety degrees forcing my elbow to stay in place. Do think there was a problem with the dogs jumping on me after I got home? Hardly! Rex wouldn’t even get within two rooms of me!
Rex says,”As long as I don’t make eye-contact with that thing on her arm, I am safe!”
Nothing is easy during rehabilitation.
In December one usually spends it on shopping and tree-trimming. Not me… I was busy tackling day to day activities like putting on deodorant by zooming my underarm over the container and experiencing several near misses. Half the time the vessel would end up on the floor spinning like a roulette wheel. There was also the “Guess How Many Additional Items Will Fall” game each time I was in the pantry retrieving with my grabber or putting on make-up. Rick had a better appreciation of the art of cosmetology as he tackled securing a ponytail. One of my personal favorites was the day I turned on the toothbrush just short of my mouth. I had toothpaste everywhere including my armpit which the deodorant had missed! There were also milestones like the day I held the hairdryer with my left arm and partially dried my hair. The hair was disheveled but I was happy just feeling normalcy.
Shall I style with my foot?
December was also for College Bowl watching, but even this sports fanatic got bored with the thirty-five games! Because bowls are named after their sponsorships now instead of the traditional Orange, Rose and Cotton, I got to know a lot of companies I had never heard of as well as some participating colleges. All the viewing was worth my dedication as one game I saw a player running off the field wearing my elbow apparatus! Not only did I see the miracle of someone out there playing football again after my same injury, but renewed hope that someday I would again function in the simple things in life.
‘Lotta Challenges — The Recovery Continues
Posted by 'lottasports in Football, Hill Country Happenings Articles on January 31, 2014
As many of you know, Lotta Sports is still recovering from her serious accident (shattered left elbow and broken right shoulder) walking one her dogs. Each day has presented challenges with adjusting to life with limitations. There are good days and bad days…. Some therapy days are great and pain-free while others are agonizing and never-ending.
There are the monumental days like the day I almost formed the TD stance. Getting there — baby steps…
Excerpt from my Hill Country Happenings column on the stands tomorrow. “It has always amazed me how football players who make lunging catches and scrape across the solid turf, get up like nothing happened. Unfortunately, some don’t. Instead they end up carted off the field in excruciating pain, loaded in an ambulance and within hours, are in surgery. Weeks or months later they return to the playing field, but what happens in between? I have lived it first-hand. “
‘Lotta Happenings — Accidental Happening
Posted by 'lottasports in Football, Hill Country Happenings Articles, NASCAR on January 1, 2014
It seemed ions ago that I had my accident. I’ll never forget the day. It was hours from the Super Bowl of NASCAR and my driver had a chance to pull the upset for “The Chase”. Poor Rex, my youngest Boxer, got so much bad press as being the cause of the accident. Since moving to the house, Rex had been apprehensive even going off the back porch. What happened on this beautiful day was, Roxie was out back with Rick and I decided to take Rex for a walk. I saw Shelley who works at my doctor’s office unloading a moving truck with her husband. I decided to go over and welcome them to the neighborhood. While I talked to them, Rex appeared fidgety. As I left, Rex walked faster then broke into a run. I couldn’t keep up. I finally let go of the leash and fell over the curb and into the street. I saw the back of Rex’s legs running away as I screamed, “Rex! Come back! Wait!” After I hit the street, I felt intense pain in my left arm and saw bulges below my elbow. I also felt pain in right arm. I smelled blood and found out later I had busted my chin open. Images of people standing above me and homes were faint and the horizon turned white. Shelley and her husband were trying to secure my neck with a box and keep me conscious. I just wanted them to find Rex. Shelley ran to our backyard, introduced herself and quickly updated Rick. Rex was found on our porch shaking. It seemed like forever for EMS to find the new street and get me loaded. I understood the definition of excruciating pain. It was another forever for the painful ride across the back roads to the hospital as we hit every pothole enroute.
Once at ER, details were sketchy as I drifted in and out of consciousness. I asked Rick to find The Chase on the TV. I remember a voice saying, “I need to cut off your shirt” and heard the snips as the scissors destroying my lucky black ‘Lotta Sports T-Shirt. I was wearing it that day since Matt Kenseth, my driver of choice, had won several races when I wore it. At one point Rick said, “Matt’s in second” and the announcers were talking about Jimmie Johnson much further back. There was hope for an upset! I was whisked away to X-ray. I am screaming in pain as X-ray technician positioned both arms. What part of broken did the radiologist not understand? Following this fiasco it was back to ER. A voice said they were starting morphine. I begged them not to as my mom died at that same hospital after having morphine administered. I drifted off and on. “We need to move you to another hospital in Plano. “ “That’s so far for Rick! Can’t I go to Grapevine or Southlake?” “It’s a sister facility.” I looked up at the TV and Jimmie is celebrating a sixth Chase Championship. More sleep until I was awakened by people repositioning me to a board and gurney. It was dark as they loaded me in an ambulance. Another long ride but this time, it was all highway. I missed Sunday Night Football. I awoke the next morning. A doctor was standing at my bedside and said that they were waiting on parts for my elbow. The surgery wouldn’t be until the next day. More sleep. I woke up and Rick updated me. They had located the elbow parts. The left elbow was shattered, the right shoulder was broken, I had stitches in my chin and three fractures in my jaw. Surgery was scheduled for three that afternoon.
Prior to surgery I was wheeled to the holding area where I met my orthopedic surgeon. I immediately liked Dr. Jeffery Lue as we shared the same goal — having surgery done by the start of Monday Night Football with New England and Carolina. Although we were for different teams, I agreed to root for Carolina since I had two fantasy football players with the Panthers. I rationalized that it made more sense to stay in Dr. Lue’s good graces. It turned out neither of us saw the majority of game. The elbow had two fractures and the bone split, now making four pieces. The second bone in the elbow was shattered and that was where the replacement part went. I regained consciousness five hours later to see Panthers quarterback Cam Newton throwing a 25-yard touchdown pass to Ted Ginn Jr. with less than a minute left to take a 24-20 lead. My easy-on-the eyes Tom Brady charged down the field and the game ended with a controversial interference call in the end zone. Carolina held off New England. Dr. Lue was a happy man.
For me, a tough road to recovery and rehabilitation was about to begin. I had no use of the upper limbs and simple things like going to the restroom as well as getting dressed, brushing my hair and eating required assistance. It would prove to be a challenging time finding new ways to survive with my disabilities. It would have been an opportune time to give up and just accept the hand dealt. However, I didn’t… I refused to let this sideline me without a fight. (to be continued)
‘Lotta Happenings — Showdown in Texas
Posted by 'lottasports in Hill Country Happenings Articles, NASCAR on December 1, 2013
Last month was the final month in the Chase Championship for NASCAR, and Texas Motor Speedway was host to the third from the last race. The two leaders, Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson, were tied and it was apparent that the stage was set for a showdown in Texas. A media center display of all the contenders titled DEADLOCKED with #20 and #48 barrels positioned to blow up conveyed the importance around the TMS race. Needless to say, this sportswriter was beyond “in her element” with one of her favorite drivers right in the mix!
DEADLOCKED
Day 1 — Unlike June when only the trucks and Indy cars were there for the two garage areas, the trucks and their humongous haulers took over the Infield Parking Paddock leaving media parking at slim pickins’. Because of a further walk to the Media Center, this necessitated my carrying everything I might need throughout the day. Due to anticipated temperature changes throughout the day, I looked like I needed my own hauler as I started the trek from my car with my “stuff.” Once settled in my work area and after perusing the schedule, I retraced my steps to the “garage” area and watched the process for NASCAR inspection of the trucks.
Truck Inspections
There were inspectors everywhere — some measuring the trucks and some under hoods inspecting parts. Parts were sealed and once qualified the truck was impounded until the race the next day. I paused at Brendan Gaughan’s truck as an inspector finished scrutinizing a large part. “Did his engine pass?” I inquired. The inspector grinned. “This here is the carburetor” and then went into a long explanation of what he was looking for. I heard a snicker and turned to find Brendan standing there. Wanting to overshadow my naivety of car parts and knowing my favorite truck driver had played basketball at Georgetown, I switched subjects to the hoops. I was defeated there also when Gaughan reminded me about former Hoya coach John Thompson and company taking the “slamma” out of my “jamma” Houston Cougars.
My favorite truck driver, Brendan Gaughan
Following inspections, there were two truck practices. We bailed during the second, as we needed to get home to give out the seven bags of candy to our six Trick or Treaters!
Day 2 — The morning started out sadly with the announcement of Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Marketing Director Marcy Scott’s battle with cancer ending in her passing. Not only had she interacted with several of my peers in the media, but at one time was Matt Kenseth’s PR person. The sharing of Marcy stories ended with the arrival of Sprint Cup driver Martin Truex, Jr. He was there to end weeks of speculation of whom he would be driving for next year — Furniture Row. The next arrival was Matt Kenseth. One of the questions asked was how he felt knowing that “some fans are rooting for you to win the championship because they’re rooting against Jimmie Johnson.” He smiled and explained that’s how sports are and went into how some fans root for a dynasty and some for the underdog. He looked across the room. The “dynasty” had just entered – Jimmie Johnson. Matt fielded some more questions, and as he left the room, the two shared a friendly handshake. Despite the demeanor some other drivers portrayed in competition, those two men had the upmost respect for each other, both on and off the track. As with Matt, the reporters’ hype with Johnson was around the “intense battle.” Jimmie assured all he and Matt were friends off the track and shared many of the same values including family, being laid back, and foremost, respect for each other when it came to racing. Following JJ was Kyle Busch. I wanted to ask him how it felt being booed during introductions but thought better of it. Instead, my fascination was on how he hoped to sweep all three races at Texas. The interviews ended just as Andy Hall, PR at ESPN, arrived to take Rick and me on a tour of the ESPN Production Complex located outside the race stands.
ESPN Production Booth
Our first stop was the area containing wardrobe for all the on-air personalities as well as the roving pit reporters for ESPN. Each garment bag was neatly labeled and contained different colored outfits for each day. I found out that roving reporter Dr. Jerry Punch was really a medical doctor who had saved driver Rusty Wallace’s life back in 1989. Now the two were working alongside each other at ESPN. Attached to the large tent was a hauler containing offices and a conference room. Adjacent were several haulers containing massive rolls of cables. We climbed the stairs to one of them and found ourselves inside the “brains” of the production. Lined on one wall were seventy-five monitors for HD cameras positioned for the races. These supported in-car cameras, manned cameras, handheld, robotic on-track, robotics in Pit Studio, Crewcams, pit overheads, Jib cameras, Grasscam, POV cameras including the announcing booth, race control, flag stand and Chopper Cam. Monitors were dedicated to the leaders as well as competing drivers, in-car and pit stalls. There were two rows of seats where the producer, director and staff monitored all the camera shots for their immediate use on live TV. Even though there was nothing going on while we were in there, I felt the still air of intensity in the room. Andy pointed out that the challenge in covering motorsports was that there were no breaks in the action like in baseball between innings and football with halftime. He explained that in addition to catching all the action, there had to be a balance when running ads. That is why you rarely see shots of people in the stands. Andy also explained how the sun can cause disruption with the satellites especially in the fall. From there, we headed back into the pit area to the production hauler for on-air personalities. We climbed up the stairs and entered into the actual set for Countdown to NASCAR and the race. I timidly asked if I could sit in Nicole Briscoe’s chair. Once settled in, I smiled at the three cameras positioned and felt right at home.
Nicole’s Chair
Andy and Rick chuckled when I offered to sit in for Nicole, who was going out on maternity leave. After the tour was a working lunch and more interviews with Darrell Wallace, Jr., Jeff Gordon, Danica Patrick and Nationwide Championship Leader, Austin Dillon. I felt the generation gap during Darrell’s interview when he shared that he didn’t even have a driver’s license when he started racing. He said the coolest thing he had experienced so far was being asked to appear on Arsenio Hall (and not knowing who he was) as well as being followed on Twitter by Tyler Bates. The rest of the afternoon was busy on the track with qualifying for the trucks, the Sprint Cup cars and final practice for Nationwide cars. Meanwhile pit row was sprouting up crew chief stands for the truck series that evening. In qualifying, the spring’s race winner, Jeb Burton, grabbed the pole for trucks. Later Carl Edwards won his first Sprint Cup pole at Texas.
Truck Race
A fall chill encompassed the air as the truck drivers took to the track for the WinStar World Casino race. Ty Dillon dominated the race leading all but seventeen laps. Brendan finished fourth.
Day 3 – The morning was spent roaming the Nationwide garage during inspection, watching those cars qualify and the Sprint cars practice twice. Easy on the eyes Travis Pastranais (and 17-time medal winner at the X Games) was being interviewed in the Nationwide garage area after qualifying 39th. “I really need a win” he told FOX Sports’ Herme Sadler. I am not the Einstein of racing, but I thought to myself, “He needs to quit being in the wrong place at the wrong time,” collecting six DNFs (Did not finish) this year.
Travis & Herme
Also, during my garage visit, I met the oldest active driver in NASCAR, Morgan Shepherd. The rough faced seventy-one year old looked discouraged as he climbed out of his #89. Unless there were a couple of wrecks during qualifying, he would not see action in the race. Back at the media center, there was a collective gasp while we were monitoring on TV the practice session as Jimmie Johnson’s car brushed the wall. I bolted out of my chair and back up to track to assess the damage. The champion had dodged a bullet.
JJ’s brush with disaster
Thank goodness the Nationwide race was in the afternoon, as I was already worn out trying to keep up with who was doing what and when. Several drivers were participating in both the race that day and the Sprint Cup the next day. Last year’s cup winner, Brad Keselowski ,a participant in all three Texas races, won the Nationwide race later that afternoon.
With Matt’s Nationwide car
Day 4 – Despite gaining an hour of sleep with the time-change, I didn’t get much rest since Rick had to be back at the track early for his pace-car ride with Landon Cassill, a driver for both car series. Claire B Lang of SiriusXM rode in the front seat interviewing Landon as they did laps around the track. Unfortunately, there were cables crossing the track for the pre-race ceremonies so they did not get up to the high speeds I experienced in the spring. I found a crew member setting up the crew chief stand for Matt Kenseth. I always wanted to sit in one. The next thing I knew I was climbing the vertical ladder with the guy pleading for me to be careful. All I can say is the view is much better from Jason Ratcliff’s chair!!
I wanna be a Crew Chief when I grow up!
Crew Chief Jason Ratcliff
We headed next to the Sprint Cup garage where inspections had started. Surprisingly, many of the crew chiefs and crews were approachable. I had my picture taken with Jason Ratcliff and several of the cars waiting for inspection. One thing I discovered was that the headlamps and taillights were actually decals instead of the real thing. Multitudes of fans were gathering in the garage area and NASCAR rep Laura Finley was caught in the middle of the crowd control. “Please, if you’re not with the team, stay behind the yellow line.” As I started to step back, she said, “You’re fine.” I thought to myself, “I love this job!” The next hour was spent back at the media center posting pictures and updates on Facebook and Twitter. It was then I found out that Claire had aired my post-race question to Brad the night before on SiriusXM. I was so glad that inquiring about changing shadows and the setting sun on the track wasn’t such a dumb question after all! It was soon race time so it was back out to the track for pre-race ceremonies. Rick positioned himself at the photographers’ well at Turn 1 while I wandered up and down the pit. During the race, I ventured up to the grandstands to look for Hill Country’s Denise LeMeilleur attending the race.
Hill Country’s Denise LeMeilleur & Me
Out of breath from the long climb to row sixty, I reached her row to find she was not there! On the return trip, I ran into Denise coming from her car carrying blankets. Yes, the cold front had arrived! Back in the warm media center, I watched the rest of the race. The media center crowd is supposed to remain unbiased during the race, but it was hard to miss the massive groan when contender Kenseth received a speeding penalty on pit row on Lap 175. This meant him repositioning to the end of the cars on the lead lap. This would come back to haunt him by race’s end. Despite his fast car, Matt could not make up the lost time the rest of the race. His fourth place finish saw him plunge to second place in the Chase, making strong finishes and preferably wins imperative at Phoenix and Homestead for the Chase title. Jimmie Johnson won the race.
Jimmie & Chad post-race
How does the story end? Brendan & I are now twittering back and forth about college basketball, Travis “retired” from his brief stint in NASCAR and Jimmie added another title to his racing resume, never looking back after leaving Texas. A disappointed Kenseth ended up the bridesmaid and left his fans thinking “What Ifs” around the Texas race. I am still eating Halloween candy. And Nicole’s vacated ESPN chair? <sigh> Mike Massaro sat there instead of me.
‘Lotta Happenings – Chatting with Fellow New Englander Tom Grieve
Posted by 'lottasports in Baseball, Exclusives, Hill Country Happenings Articles on November 1, 2013
‘Lotta Happenings — Chatting with Tom Grieve
Flying for Delta Air Lines provided me numerous opportunities to meet and interact with sports personalities throughout the years. One of my favorites was Tom Grieve, former baseball player as well as General Manager of the Texas Rangers and now TV Analyst for Fox Southwest Sports. Tom and I reconnected during the playoffs last month and chatted about the good ‘ole days.
Tom is from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, which is only twenty-one miles from my hometown, Williamstown. During one of our annual trips back there, Rick & I were watching the Texas Rangers on TV at a pub. I was telling one of my childhood friends, Mike Haddad, how I worked the Rangers charters. Mike was all excited. “You must know Tommy Grieve then!” he responded in that distinct Yankee accent. Rick and I snickered as we never heard Tom referred to as Tommy, but we quickly found that not only was he known as Tommy, but also thought of as a local hero! Tom’s father passed away at the age of ninety-five this year. My dad, a Vermonter, lived to the same age. I told Tom both men had those hardy New England genes. Tom’s mother, in her nineties, still resides in the same house that he grew up in. Our hometowns are almost the same distance to both New York City and Boston. Because of this, fans in the area are split between the Yankees and the Red Sox. Tom remembers at the age of five while “helping” paint the house, a man said to him, “I’ll bet you’re a Red Sox fan.” Being at that age of doing the opposite, Tom thought a moment and then said, “No, I’m not.” The only other team he knew of was the Yankees so he told the man he was a Yankees fan. His favorite player in baseball …. Mickey Mantle, of course.
What did Tommy want to be when he grew up? Not a doctor… not a fireman…not a policeman. He wanted to be a baseball player, just like his idol, Mickey Mantle. He was one of the kids gifted with the ability to hit the ball and was a star at Pittsfield High School. Upon graduation, he was drafted by the Washington Senators, the sixth pick of the first round. His parents were cautiously supportive of his career choice – his mother giving him sage advice “while it’s a nice dream to have, think of other things to do just in case things don’t work out. “ After playing a few years in the minor leagues, Tommy’s dream came true – the call to the majors – July 5th, 1970. When the franchise was moved to Arlington, Texas the following year and became the Texas Rangers, Grieve was the outfielder. The transition from Tommy to Tom occurred. He also picked up another nickname, TAG, his initials. Many ballplayers are known for their superstitions like stepping on one of the bases before running off the field at the end of an inning or spitting into one’s hand before picking up the bat. Tom limited his to if he had a great game, he would wear the same shirt the next outing. Off the field, he kept (and still does) his bills in descending order facing the same way. In 1976, he was Rangers Player of the Year thanks to an abundance of doubles, homers and RBIs. He was injury free except for getting hit by a pitch and being out with a broken wrist for one month in 1977. In addition to the Rangers, he played with the Mets one year followed by the Cardinals.
Charity Golf Tournament
Tom was lucky that his dream for a career in baseball continued with the Rangers even after his playing days ended. His stints included Group Ticket Sales and General Manager. It was in 1986 that I met Tom while working the Texas Rangers Charters. Our paths also crossed at several of the charity golf tournaments as well as at spring training at Port Charlotte, Florida. One spring I took my mom, in her early seventies, and she was so excited with our seats right off the first base line. As I was introducing mom to Tom, he diplomatically explained that the location of our seats was a pretty popular area for line drives and then relocated us to seats behind home plate. Sure enough, several hard hits were driven toward our previous seats. One year, three of my friends and I were scheduled with the charters taking the team to Milwaukee and bringing them back, so we stayed there at our own expense for that series. Tom let us sit with him in his box at the games. I was thrilled to be talking the mechanics of pitching with him while the other gals shivered in chilly fall temperatures. 
After Grieve’s stint as GM, he went on to become a TV analyst for the Rangers and has been in that capacity for nineteen years. He watched his boys also follow a path through baseball. Older son Tim pitched in AA ball and has been a scout for the Detroit Tigers several years and Ben was Rookie of the Year for the Oakland Athletics as well as spent nine seasons in the majors. What was his advice to his sons and others who yearn for a life in the “national pastime”? It’s very similar to what his mother gave him; “Pursue it with all your heart, cover the academic side and don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”
‘Lotta Happenings — Fun at the Draft
Posted by 'lottasports in Fantasy Football, Football, Hill Country Happenings Articles on October 1, 2013
There is nothing that makes watching NFL more interesting than having a Fantasy Team. I had friends who already played in paid leagues. Before I went that direction, I wanted to see if I could compete by playing on a website with strangers. It started out really easy with the computer doing all my drafting for me. The hardest part seemed to be guessing who to play each week. Despite my savvy on players, it was still hit- and-miss if a player had an off week. Also, it would have helped had I discovered the add/drop capability to get rid of players who were on extensive injury or just stunk. I was like a magnet for attracting both. The first year I played I finished a dismal next-to-last in my league, but I was still having fun!
Fast-forward to 2010. My friend Laura, who knew my passion for football, invited me to play on her league. I thrilled to be playing with someone I knew and besides that, the draft was to be an all-you-could-eat Saturday afternoon. When I arrived, Laura’s husband Alek was frying a turkey as Led Zeppelin blared from the radio. The kitchen was loaded with all kinds of food. It was evident none would starve at this draft. I knew their daughter Emily since my Boxer Roxie & I did Pet Therapy at her school. She hugged my knee and asked where Roxie was. She then, along with her younger brother Tyler, escorted me to my assigned seat at a card table adjacent to the main table. I laughed as it reminded me of my many years of sitting at the kids’ table at holiday time. I spread out my Fantasy Football magazines as well handwritten notes and a highlighter leaving just enough room for a small paper plate and my bottled water.
Several in the group were decked out in football jerseys. Although I was a known Steelers fan, I came decked out in a Tom “easy-on-the-eyes” Brady shirt. The first order of business was drafting two rookies. I was the last to pick since it was my first year in the league. On the board I wrote the name of a tight end that caught my eye during pre-season – Aaron Hernandez. My other rookie was Dexter McCluster. (He ended up injured early in the season. My luck with injure-prone players followed me!) Next we drew numbers for the regular draft. I was last to pick and got “5” so I was right in the middle of the choices which snaked up and down the board each round. The four guys in front of me chose the highest rated running backs and receivers. I decided to go against the grain and grab my quarterback. I wrote “Aaron Rodgers, GB QB” on the grease board. A gasp filled the room! Alek shouts, “Dang it woman! You’re wearing a Tom Brady shirt and you draft Aaron Rodgers!?!?!?” The number-one ranked quarterback was off the market! 
The regular season that year found me activating the wrong players and dealing with injuries. I was miserable in the cellar. However, come post-season, my luck changed. It began with downsizing my team for the playoffs. I was the only one who had all the positions covered for post-season play. I was solid with Rodgers, Pittsburgh’s Defense and Special Teams, speedster Mike Wallace and Rashad Mendenhall who was churning up yardage each week. All the other league members had to re-draft positions. It was the year Green Bay and Pittsburgh met in the Super Bowl. Talk about an internal conflict!!! With $150 on the line if Aaron Rodgers got points from passing and scoring touchdowns, I found myself quietly rooting against my favorite team! In addition to winning the Super Bowl pot for Fantasy Football that year, I also played the Super Bowl squares with some other friends. My numbers were “1” Green Bay and “5” Steelers — the final score — Packers 31, Steelers 25. It was a feat I have yet to accomplish again in either venue.
Our league still plays and members come and go. We also increased to twelve players instead of ten. I love my team this year with Russell Wilson at the helm and the 49ers Defense and Special Teams. The first week of league play I had the third highest score, but I was playing the top scorer so I lost the week. I lost in both my internet leagues too! Again I am off to a smashing start in the cellar!! I prefer to look at it as good sign — remember 2010!
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‘Lotta Happenings — Golf Stories
Posted by 'lottasports in Exclusives, Golf, Hill Country Happenings Articles on September 3, 2013
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My article below appeared in the September issue of Hill Country Happenings.
My first experience with golf was at age ten at a miniature golf course in Western Massachusetts. I remember standing behind a girl watching what she did as I was next. Apparently I was too close as the next thing I remembered was a clunk to my head. It was as painful as my playing turned out to be. My next exposure to golf was in college when I had psychology classes at the University of Houston with golfing great John Mahaffey. While the football team was just OK, the golf team, all tanned and preppy-dressed, was solid, winning twelve NCAA championships between 1956 and 1970. The athletic dorm, Baldwin House, was just across the street. Did I have any desire then to learn golf with so many talented students so close? No, I was too busy in the Cougar Den playing Spades with the hippies.
A few years later I was working a DC-9 Delta flight from Augusta to Atlanta. We always enjoyed flying in there as the earlier airport, Bush Field, was formerly an old flight school barracks. Between the terminal and tarmac was an area beautifully landscaped and tables where people sat sipping iced tea (and perhaps a mint julep) while waiting on flights. Locals referred to it as “The Country Club Airport.” This day in particular was special as our load consisted of an airplane full of golfers who had just played in the Masters Golf Tournament. I was immediately cognizant of the aura in the airplane. Again, all were tanned, but this time most were decked out in plaid pants and bright-color blazers. I spent the next thirty-five minutes conversing with the likes of Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Jack Nicklaus, Ray Floyd, Tom Watson and even a familiar face, U of H alum John Mahaffey. It was on that flight I learned about the celebrity of playing in the Masters.
Fast-forward to the late 80s when golf again crossed my path. It was when Rick and I were vacationing and we passed a miniature golf course. I got this brilliant idea to stop and play some holes. Considering I hadn’t held a golf club since I was ten, I thought I was doing pretty good — that is until we got to one hole where I hit the ball so hard, it soared to the next hole knocking the blade off of the windmill! Rick was speechless. There was no more miniature golfing (nor will there ever be).
For the next few years, I had the opportunity to work several charity golf tournaments. It was fun watching Texas Rangers favorites like Geno Petralli, Mike Stanley, Tom Grieve, Bobby Witt, Jeff Russell and Curtis Wilkerson knocking the ball around. We would joke with them not to quit their day jobs. My fondest memory was a tournament at a course west of Ft. Worth. Not only were Rangers players participating, but many other baseball greats. Rick was immediately envious when he heard that one of his childhood heroes, Bob Feller of the Cleveland Indians, was playing. When I saw the list, I focused in on one name — former Baltimore Orioles third baseman, Brooks Robinson. My girlfriend Nancy and I were assigned a hole where we had to sit and witness if anyone made a hole-in-one. Behind us was parked the prize, a pick-up truck. A few hours went by — still no Brooks. By now, I was in need to get rid of all the water I was drinking. Someone told us that Brooks was two holes away. Nancy assured me if I hurried, I could make it back before he got there. As I was running back from the port-a-potty, I spotted Brooks at our hole. Breathless upon arrival, I found Brooks grinning from ear to ear. Nancy had managed to stall him and of course, she just had to share what I was doing!
Carlotta meets Brooks Robinson
My favorite golfer of all time? He’s right here in the Texas Hill Country. Frank Boynton, now a financial guru, played on the PGA Tour in the late 50s and the 60s. A couple of years ago I was visiting his wife Betty. Frank was, as usual, watching golf on TV. He raised his hand and signaled for silence. We obliged. A shot came close to the hole on the 16th at Firestone, looked like it might go in for an eagle, but that was not to be. A groan went up from the spectators. Frank grinned; he was (and is) still the last golfer since 1966 to eagle the famous 16th also known as “The Monster” – 610 yards long with a lake in front. He explained that he and Bob Rosburg are the only pro golfers to ever eagle that hole! For a brief moment, I contemplated sharing my claim to the double-bogey at the windmill, but some things are better laid to rest.
‘Lotta’s Favorite Golfer – Frank Boynton
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