At the Mike

At the Mike Weekly column that runs in the local newspaper and extras revolving around sports in the Great Bend

08/10/2024

At the Mike - August 10, 2024

A Party in the Park, more Olympics and going back to school in the 1980s

As the summer winds down, once again Great Bend can look to Party in the Park as the final hurrah of the summer.

That will take place today at Vet’s Park here in town. Once again the Wet/Dry Parade will kick things off at 9:30 in the morning. There is the Anything that Floats Race, GB Police Dunk Tank, Kids Zone, and Car Show as well.

New this year will be the Midwest Elite Wrestling Demo, starting at Noon on the north side of the lake. The Cup Competition and a co****le tournament as well as vendors (including the best shaved ice around) will all be there for one final party this summer. Mud Volleyball will still take place this year, just not at the park, which, well, it is what it is.

As far as the weather goes, temps will be nice in the 70s but there is a chance for rain. Hopefully it holds off until Sunday, although rain is always good.

So get out for one final summer fling.

The Olympics

It’s been a pretty good Olympics as far as I’m concerned. Paris has done a great job of putting it on and the events themselves have been fun to watch.

How about the men’s 100m. It was crazy close. Man. Not just who won but the top eight were a total of .12 seconds apart. From 9.79 to 9.91. Think about that. The battle for the win was the elephant in the room. Some folks are still debating whether or not Noah Lyles won (he did). But when you watch it again look at where the 8th place finisher is. It is ridiculous.

Lyles is coached by former Barton coach Lance Brauman. He didn’t get the double, trying to be the first American since Carl Lewis to do it. The Covid hit between the 100m and 200m. Tough break. He was the favorite and I think had a great shot to do it.

One event that caught my eye was the wall climbing event. Wow, that was crazy. I thought I was watching Spider Man do his thing. I watch the women’s quarters, semis and finals. Up a nearly 15 foot wall in a matter of less than seven seconds. The men’s winner in less than five seconds. Ridiculous.

Then there is Snoop Dog. He has pretty much transformed himself from Gangster Rapper to America’s Grandpa during his public life. Like him or not, he is the biggest USA cheerleader at the Olympics. I have enjoyed watching him. Still not a fan of his music though.

The Olympics will come to an end this weekend. It’s been an entertaining fortnight.

And Finally

As the start of school quickly approaches and conversations about social media and use of cell phones banter about, I can’t help but think back to school in ‘my day’, as they say.

Let’s jump in the wayback machine to 1984 - 40 years ago. I am preparing to enter my senior year at Waconda East High School.

I’m definitely not enrolling online. There is no texting with friends and no scrolling through Facebook, TikTok or Snapchat.

First off, we didn’t start school until the Tuesday after Labor Day. ‘Sweet’, you might say. Until you consider the number of 2-a-day football practices leading up to that start. There was no limit on contact and non contact, nor how often you can have two practices a day. The only limit was no pads until day three. Almost every day was 6 am and 6 pm.

Let’s see what I can reconstruct from a normal day during my senior year of high school at good ol Waconda East High.

I’d climb into my 1974 Red Nova hatchback and go pick up my buddy and then head to school. Probably pull out the AC/DC Back in Black cassette tape. Maybe some Van Halen. I’d turn on the equalizer and all the fancy lights and make the 6-mile trek from Glen Elder to Cawker City.

I recall band was my first hour class (we had six hours and homeroom). If I was a bit late, it would not be uncommon for me to write a note something like this… “Please forgive Mike for being late. He had to stop and give CPR to a dying racoon. Signed, Mike’s Mom.’

Fortunately, Mr. Fitzgerald, my band teacher, had a pretty good sense of humor and didn’t count me late. From there I think I went to advanced PE class then to Government class and Mr. Clover just before lunch. I remember every Friday was Current Events Quiz day. Boys against girls.

It was a quiz he would get every week. I will never forget the time he gave the girls all the answers and we didn’t know it. They knew every question. Not that we were competitive or anything, but we were getting quite frustrated - and in awe of what they knew.

The afternoon schedule started with English IV/Journalism and Mrs. M. One of my favorite teachers. We had a school newspaper at the time. It included a word search. Did we try to hide some words in it? Maybe.

Fifth hour was a tough one - Counselor’s Aide. This took me by the teacher’s lounge which often had a cloud of smoke rolling into the hallway. The counselor was my football and basketball coach. I’d often file and bit then go watch TV in the library. In the spring Chicago Cubs home games would be on during this time. I may have watched a few of those games.

The last full hour of the day was French Class. I think that was probably the only year French was offered at Waconda East ever. I know during my time. We may or may not have convinced the French teacher to teach us a curse word or two. And we may or may not have broken our football huddle my senior year saying those words.

The day ended with homeroom. I had the Home Ec teacher. We butted heads a bit, which was odd for me because I got along with all my other teachers quite well.

That lasted about a month before she pointed her crooked finger at me and told me to go stand in the corner. I said I will just go to the principal’s office. The rest of the year I designed and painted the big steel, triangle banners for our new league that year that hung in the gym.

After football, basketball or track practice, it was back in the car, which was most likely parked by a pickup with a gun rack and guns in the back window, and headed home for supper.

Ah, yes, school in the mid 80’s. Fun stuff. Fun stuff, indeed.

08/03/2024

At the Mike - August 3. 2024

Finally some noise in the sky, more Olympics and putting a bow on summer

There were strange noises. Flashes of light in the sky. This wet stuff was falling. Ah, a good ol’ fashion thunderstorm. Man, have I missed you.

Eight days over 100. Nearly half the days of more than 20 mph wind. A total of just more than one inch of rain. That was the month of July in Great Bend.

Until Wednesday night that is. Finally, a break. Man.

Almost, or more than depending on where you are in Great Bend, two inches of rain fell. Yes, two inches of rain. It just kept forming over us. And raining. There was no ‘Great Bend split’ to the storm. It was nice.

Shoot, I opened my door to the back deck, threw a towel down on the tile and let it get a little wet on the entrance area. I wanted to hear the rain and feel the rain. It was pretty dadgum nice.

Hopefully, there will be a break to the heat wave. Hopefully we get more of these rare thunderstorm occurrences.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

The Olympics

I enjoy the Olympics a lot. I have liked watching swimming since Mark Spitz won seven gold medals and set seven world records in 1972. I have been amazed at women’s gymnastics since Nadia Comeneci scored the first perfect 10 back in 1976 in Montreal. Shoot, beach volleyball (the Eiffel Tower in the background is cool), diving (especially this synchronized stuff), rowing (it amazes me where they find these long, calm, wide stretches of water) and even equestrian (always loved horses) are enjoyable.

Men’s basketball, for me, goes all the way back to 1972 when the United States gold medal was stolen by poor rule interpreting (or rule making) in the gold medal game against the USSR. Extra 3 seconds my foot. Make that my feet since it happened twice. Grrr. If you young ‘uns aren’t familiar with it, Google it. The United States was 63-0 in Olympic play until that, well, I don’t like cussing. We will leave it at that. I’m shaking my head now. I was only 5 at the time but remember it quite well. Crazy since I don’t remember what I did last week.

But track and field and the summer Olympics, that is where it is at. Finally, a week into the Paris Olympics, track and field is underway. As I mentioned previously, it became even more ‘the thing’ with all the Barton athletes I knew competing on TV.

Jesse Owens driving Adolph Hi**er insane. No, I don’t actually remember this but it had to be a great moment. Veronica Campbell winning that first 200m gold in 2004 I will never forget. What Usain Bolt has done in recent years is amazing. Carl Lewis and his matching the four golds of Owens in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

I also remember when Zola Budd tripped Mary Decker in those same 84 Olympics in the 800m. Bruce Jenner and the 1976 decathlon as well as the Blade Runner and his aftermath

But for me the most memorable race is the 1988 Seoul 100m men’s final. Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis head to head. Steroids. Who did, who didn’t? The 30 for 30 ESPN did on it was fantastic.

So anyways, track and field is here. This year three Barton athletes will be competing. Johnny Renteria will run in the men’s 100m for Colombia, Joveinny Mota will run the women’s 100m hurdles for Venezuela and Ana Da Silva will throw for Brazil in the women’s shot. Renteria will run today, Mota will hurdle next Wednesday and Silva will compete Thursday of next week.

And Finally

Where in the world did the month of July go? Seriously, I swear June just ended. As the saying goes ‘nothing goes faster than the month of July for a teacher.’

Man is that ever true. Woosh. Vroom. Whatever that sound Speed Buggy made.

It went fast for sure but as I look back, it was an eventful month to wind up the summer of 2024.

First and foremost, I had a granddaughter added to the family. My wonderful daughter Katelyn and her husband Robert brought Willow Grace into the world. All, as well as brother Wade, are pretty awesome people.

This included a trip to Olathe to see Willow and Tonganoxie to hang out with my wife Crystal’s brother Shawn. Tonganoxie is a pretty cool little town. Well, not-so-little anymore as it just keeps growing and growing.

July included a visit to God’s Country where I was able to spend time with my mother at the Hilltop Nursing Home. I was also able to spend some good time with my sister Rhonda. I will say her husband Curt owning the Backyard Lodge makes for some cheap stays in Beloit. Check it out if you are that way. North Central Kansas will always be one of my favorite places on earth.

The month included another crazy, loud, wild 4th of July in Great Bend. This holiday in this town never ceases to amaze me. Every. Single. Year.

My wife and I made a trek to Smith County and the geographical center of the United States in Lebanon. We spent a couple days up there as I gave her a tour of my old football and basketball memories at schools that no longer exist - Lebanon, Esbon, and Burr Oak.

We also spent time with Crystal’s mom Sharon at her home in Pratt for a couple of days. It is always nice to spend some time with the most awesome mother-in-law around (see how I did that?). Some conversations between the two of us often include a lot of ‘what did you say?’ and ‘huh?’. Fun times.

So, yeah, July was busy and fun. But man did it go fast. Roadrunner/Wile E. Coyote fast. Speedy Gonzales fast. Even faster than that little boy from the Incredibles - Dash I think his name was.

Next week it starts back for me at Chase High School. You know, the work days and the inservice days. The following week is Meet the Teacher/Parents and finally, school is back in session at Chase High on Wednesday, Aug. 14. That is a full five days before the first fall sports practice. That just doesn’t seem right.

Anyway, August is here. Summer is winding to a close. School is knock, knock, knocking on the door.

07/26/2024

At the Mike - July 27, 2024

Meteor showers, fall sports and welcome to the world Willow Grace

Rural Kansas gives you some great views of the sky. I enjoy looking at the sky. I like watching thunderstorms form. I like watching the cloud actually grow upwards as the cumulus cloud turns into a nimbus cloud. Yeah, I took a meteorology class in college. I even went to that class regularly. Pretty sure I got an A.

I also like stars. Every other year at Glen Elder Grade School we would venture up to the Hastings Museum in Nebraska. And while some of the vintage things in the museum were cool, the highlight of the couple hour trip for me was the full-dome planetarium.

From a young age I have liked the sky. As I said, when you grow up in rural Kansas you get great views of the sky. I even have an app on my phone that tells me what is what in the sky.

So, yeah, I am a bit excited about this meteor shower thing. It has already started and runs until the first of September. But I haven’t seen much yet. The peak days are set for early to mid August.

The Wetlands Education Center northeast of town is having a ‘Watch Party’ Aug. 9. That Friday will consist of a free family oriented event from 8:30-10:30 pm. It will include some activities for the kids as well as watching the meteor shower.

Curtis Wolf does a great job running the place. A little FYI – Curtis and played basketball together here in Great Bend against the Harlem Wizards I think they were called. So make some plans to grab your lawn chairs or a blanket and head to the Wetlands for some fun.

Prep Sports

August 19. Tick, tick, tick. We are edging ever closer to the first day of fall sports practices for area prep teams.

Summer stuff is over for the most part. There are still some small group things KSHSAA allows but team activities have come to a close.

Speaking of KSHSAA, they mailed out the officiating packets just recently to remind us that the date is fast approaching as well. Subtly letting us know to do some stuff to get in shape.

For those that might not know an area youngster, well I say he is a youngster, is in charge of officials for KSHSAA. Scott Goodheart, a Bison native, took over last year. He is doing a great job there.

If you are a referee, the first target date is the jamborees on Aug. 30. Of course, there is the needed gathering of our crew to go over the packet, the test and what not. Food and beverages are required at these gatherings.

So 24 days and counting for prep athletes to the first day of fall sports practice. Just more than a month for officials.

And Finally

It’s been a pretty dadgum good week for me. You see, I became a grandparent for the second time and for the first time I have a granddaughter.

Welcome to this crazy world Willow Grace Wilcox. Tuesday, July 23 at 7:48 am. Weighing in at 7 lbs 11 oz and measuring 19 3/4 inches.

I know I may be just a tad bit biased here, but that little girl is perfect. My wife and I made the trip to see her in Olathe on Thursday. Ironically, I had an appointment Thursday before we left at Clara Barton in town and by the time I left the building at least five employees had seen her picture.

Yeah, I’m not shy. The young lady that checked me in was informed. The nurse that took me back and did my vitals was informed. Dr PJ Stiles and the young fella with him were both informed and finally the nurse that came in to schedule stuff with me afterwards was also informed.

The night before at the Pratt Dillion’s the check-out lady and bagging girl were also both informed. Yeah, Kajagoogoo's song from the 80s is not about me. For those young ‘uns out there the song was called ‘Too Shy’. For those from that time period, that song will now be in your head for a bit. Sorry for that. Not all music from the ‘80s was good.

I will say this for those I gave no choice but to look at the cuteness of Willow, all at least acted interested and mentioned how cute she was. And none, I repeat none, mentioned that she has more hair than me. Which she does. I thank you for that as well.

My wife Crystal and I got out of town mid Thursday morning and made the journey to the Olathe Medical Center. Man, that thing is big. It is part of the University of Kansas Health System just like Great Bend Regional here in town, which was pretty cool I thought. I’m talking about a lot of buildings and what not. Big buildings over a very large area.

We drove the entire circumference of the place and on the last building in that oval-ish venture we saw, in big blue letters, ‘The Birth Place’. I figured this must be the place.

My daughter Katelyn’s husband Robert met us and took us up to the room. Of course, Crystal basically shoved me out of the way, hockey-checking me off the wall and making me fall to the ground so she could get to Willow first.

Okay, maybe I exaggerated a bit on that. I patiently waited and allowed her to go first. When I did get to hold her, I informed her of a few things she should know then hummed some AC/DC songs to her - Back in Black, For Those About to Rock and Dirty Deeds to name a few. You know, all the lullabies a newborn should learn.

Friday her big brother Wade and I had a little talk. He just turned one last month so mostly I talked and he listened intently. I informed him that he now has a little sister to look out for. And that it is okay to beat up boys that bother her.

So, yeah, it’s been a pretty dadgum good week for me. I now have a granddaughter to go with a grandson. Katelyn is doing really well and Robert is a little more laid back this time around. More ‘chill’ as he would say. The two of them are fantastic parents. Absolutely fantastic.

So if you see me floating around town, don’t be alarmed. I will come back to earth soon.

Welcome to the world Willow Grace Wilcox. You are absolutely adorable.

07/24/2024

At the Mike - July 20, 2024

Blazing heat avoided so far this summer and the Olympics are knocking on the door

July in central Kansas. July and/or August tend to be the hottest months of the year here in the Golden Belt.

But you know what, it hasn’t been an extremely hot summer. And, no, I am not complaining.

Sure, there have been some 100 degree days this month. Four straight days about a week ago. But also days in the 80s. In fact, more than half of July (10 of 19) have had highs in the 80s. Nice.

The next week looks like more days in the 80s. We will see I guess.

At least if it gets hot the splash pad at Vets is back up and running. It went back into operation Thursday after the city had to install a new pump.

I know first hand my junior high girls summer league basketball team from Chase had some fun at the splash pad when we had times between games one week this year. It has been a hit so far.

So while temps in the 80s can seem warm, it is not triple digits. And remember, the ‘80s were a fun time. Oh, that is a completely different topic.

Enjoy the remainder of July.

Around the Town

Great Bend learned recently that the KCAC will no longer be coming to Great Bend for its conference baseball and softball tournaments.

I hate to see this as it was a good event for the Great Bend since the league started coming to Great Bend in 2014.

The reason for this looks like it is in large part due to new leadership within the KCAC. The stated reasons were to have it more centrally located among the league schools as well as new strategic goals.

All 14 schools are east of Great Bend with the closest being in Sterling and McPherson. The league now stretches into Nebraska, Oklahoma and Missouri.

And Finally

Ah, the Olympics. Summer Olympics to be precise. During my days as the Sports Information Director at Barton, these were some crazy times.

Barton has had its share of Olympics athletes for many years. But during my time as SID was the apex for those athletes at the Olympics.

In fact, 20 years ago, Barton had medals coming from several directions during the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

In all, Barton tracksters won nine medals in track and field that year. Yes, 9 total medals from a junior college in the middle of Kansas.

Crazy.

In all 15 different athletes from Barton - past and present at the time - made the Olympics in track and field.

There were four gold medal winners in three different events. Veronica Campbell won a pair of golds, capturing the 200m for Jamaica as well as running on the winning 4x100m relay. In fact, that winning 4x100m women’s Jamaica had three former Cougars running on it. Aleen Bailey and Beverly McDonald joined Campbell winning the gold. Campbell (now Campbell-Brown after marrying another former Cougar Omar Brown, also from Jamaica) took a bronze in the open 100m.

Derrick Brew won a gold medal in the 4x400m relay team for the United States. He also won a bronze medal in the open 400m.

A pair of silver medals were won for the United States as well. Bernard Williams captured silver in the men’s 200m and John Moffitt took second in the men’s long jump.

The following Olympics were nearly as crazy in Beijing in 2008.

Campbell-Brown defended her 200m title, becoming the first to win back-to-back women’s 200m. The Jamaican 4x100m women’s relay team was the favorite to win gold, posting the best time into the finals. Jamaica was leading into the second exchange in the finals, where the handoff was botched. All Campbell-Brown could do as the anchor on the relay was watch as the baton never got to her. That would have been a gold medal for sure.

Taking a silver medal that year for the United States in the heptathlon was Hyleas Fountain. Fountain, who tallied 6619 points, just missed gold by about 100 points.

Another former Cougar earning a medal during those Olympics was Leevan Sands. Nicknamed Superman, Sands took bronze in the triple jump for the Bahamas. Sands is now the jumps coach at Florida State, where one of his jumpers, Jeremiah Davis, won the US trials in long jump and will be headed to the Olympics himself.

The former athlete count once again hit double figures for Barton in the 2008 Olympics.

Sands was back in 2012, where he blew out an ACL out at the Olympics in Paris but did recover to earn a spot on the 2016 Bahamian team in Rio. Those four Olympic appearances in the triple jump tied for the most ever for an athlete in that Olympic event. His effort to stand alone at five Olympics came up short in 2020.

The 2004 and 2008 Olympics were peak years for the Cougars. There were some before and have been some since. The number in 2012 dropped just below 10 and has been lower since. Campbell-Brown took 3rd in the 100m and was part of the silver medal winning 4x100m team. She finished 4th in the 200m.

But for those back-to-back Olympics in ‘04 and ‘08, folks at the Olympics knew about Barton.

The Olympics have definitely changed over the years since going away from strictly amateurs. But for the track and field world, it has always been a place where the elite of the elite compete. It is a fun watch every four years.

But it is different for me than it used to be. I will never forget watching Veronica win that 200m in 2004. I knew an Olympic gold medal winner. And that is pretty dad gum cool.

07/07/2024

At the Mike - July 6, 2024

Great Bend celebrates the 4th like no other, summer basketball and teaching some VBS science

We all know that Great Bend is complete chaos on the Fourth of July. I’ve been here for close to 25 years now. While I have spent time up in God’s Country around Waconda Lake many, if not most, of those 20-plus Fourths have been spent here.

But I have to tell you, in all those years, this year’s edition may be the most insane. My wife Crystal and I pretty much spent the evening to ourselves. Barbequed a bit, enjoyed the nice weather on the deck and shot off a few daytime fireworks.

Then came the night. We went outside about 9 pm. We had a few nighttime fireworks ourselves. That is when the insanity began. We shot ours as the entire neighborhood south of Great Bend Middle School appeared to be in a war zone.

It started about 9 pm, picked up pace about 9:30 and for the next couple hours it was non-stop fireworks. We slid our chairs out by the street and enjoyed the show. My head got a workout as it turned from the north to the east to the west and then the south.

I’m pretty sure I saw a drone fly over. That would be some cool footage, let me Twice the ground shook and the hair on my legs felt it. I’m not completely unsure if a pipe bomb might have been set off.

Then there are those Chinese lantern things. I think that is what they are called. They kept flying over. They do capture your attention. Almost entrancing.

We finally slipped in the house sometime after 11 pm. While things had slowed down, the banging didn’t stop for at least another hour. Crazy.

Happy Birthday America, Great Bend celebrated big time for you.

The Coaching Box

Another season of summer basketball is in the books. With low numbers and over activities, I was not able to put together a high school team to compete in Barton’s summer league for the first time in four years.

But for the third year in a row, I coached a junior high team. This year’s group had some fun and some success. We were a group of seven strong (from entering 6th grade to 8th grade graduates). The kids won a few games and got beat on a buzzer beating once as well.

I did have to work with God for the first three weeks. Church camp took a pair of girls entering 6th grade next year the first week. The second week took two girls who will be 8th grade and the third week two of my girls who just finished 8th grade.

Only in the final week did we have our full squad. The kids had fun and won a few games. One week, with a couple hours between games, we made our way to the new splash pad at Vets. You are never too old to have fun at a splash pad.

Summer basketball was a success for these kids.

And Finally

Time to add another item to the resume. Vacation Bible School science teacher.

Yep, science. I’m sure my high school science teacher Henry Armknecht is shaking his head. He knows the kind of science student I was.

But not to worry. I think. At least I hope.

During service at the First United Methodist a month or so ago, Bible School guru Larissa Graham mentioned they were one teacher. Science teacher.

I chatted with her after the service and the next thing I know, I was set to teach science at VBS. A sports writing, English and history teaching fella taking on the world of science.

So starting tomorrow evening and running through Thursday, I will spend my evenings learning the kids about science. Yep, learning them about science. Proper English and everything.

Fortunately, it comes with a book and projects to follow. They follow a theme for all the other classes but it is pretty much just cool projects that blow up things. Okay, maybe they don’t blow up things, but there is chemistry at work.

So from high school history to grade school science. Different ages and different subjects. Before you call the fire department (which might not be a bad idea) I will have helpers. Hopefully they can keep me from blowing up or burning down the church. I do not think God would like that very much, evening though we did work together so well for summer basketball.

I am very much looking forward to the next new adventure. Fun stuff.

06/22/2024

At the Mike - June 22. 2024

Some Barton County Fair, a little football referee talk and staying healthy

Don’t look now, but the Barton County Fair is next week. Yep. It’s closing in quickly. It kicks off Wednesday. Blue Jeans and Big Dreams is this year’s theme.

And once again there will be a carnival. It was a struggle after The Covid thing, but fairs are getting back to more carnivals. I believe it just returned to Barton County fair last year for the first time since 2019.

The county fair has always been a fun time. From my childhood at the Mitchell County Fair every year, which culminated with the demolition derby on Saturday night. Fun stuff.

The Barton County Fair became a staple while Katelyn was growing up. She entered several art and craft projects and won several awards in the open category. My wife Crystal has won awards as well for her paintings.

I know I’ve told the story before but one of the more memorable fairs was a year the temps were hovering around 105. We started, as usual, by going through the buildings. In the first building Katelyn won a fish. I can’t remember how now, maybe throwing a ping pong ball or something. It was a local business.

At that point, around age 6 or 7 or so, she was done. She wanted to take her fish and go home. With the temps at 105, I was not going to argue.

I did warn her the goldfish would probably not live long. Afterall, it was a fair fish. It was won in over 100 degree heat. That dadgum fish lived for years.

Anyway, the fair is a fun time. Get out and enjoy. And if it is hot, may your child win a goldfish early.

The Referee House

The first signs of football officiating are here.

It’s the time of the year you get that notice from KSHSAA that registration is now open. This year they made it a bit more confusing, but that might be because we, as a crew, are getting older. Pretty much everything is consolidated now with KSHSAA and a site called Arbiter, which is set up for officials.

I do know the head of the officials for KSHSAA is good at what he does. Scott Goodheart took over the role a couple of years ago. He is an area kid, coming from Bison, as in Otis-Bison. Scott has tried to bring all things officiating up to date. It can be tough at times working with old people like us, but, hey, we are fairly tech savvy, right?

Anyways, It is about time for our crew to gather for a midsummer collaboration. A get-together to ‘catch up’ on things and discuss football or other football related things. A cruise in Jon Shaver’s Mystery Machine to get the juices flowing for the upcoming season.

Yep, year 24, I can see you. We will talk soon.

And Finally

So I guess I’m in pretty good health. You see I am not a doctor fella. My personal doctor is the Rock N Roll Doctor. Anytime I can get an Ozzy Osbourne reference in At the Mike it’s a good day.

Anyway, I would say I haven’t been to the doctor more than a dozen or so times over the past 30 some years. The Covid and throat surgery *twice) covered over half those. I’m the guy who believes the body can heal itself. For the most part.

But I am married. And my wife suggests things. She has been suggesting I get blood work done and what not since it’s been a while. When I was working at the college, I had it done every year on campus. But it has been about a handful of years since I’ve had it done.

The results were pretty good. My triglycerides did come back a bit high. I am not sure what those things are but I am going to have to take some meds for it. I made it 57 years before having to take meds. Not bad.

He also suggested I be more careful with my diet and exercise more for some sort of cholesterol. I didn’t realize there are like 15 categories of cholesterol. I think he just looked at me and said to himself ‘I better recommend exercise for something.’

So there you have it, I am still young and healthy. I really think the only reason I’ve gained weight as I’ve gotten older is because my brain weighs more.

So I can now ignore it when I notice a bruise on myself and don’t know where it came from. I can not worry about the fact that more things on my body hurt than work.

I shouldn’t worry that it takes two tries to get up from the couch. If I’m sitting on the floor, forget about it.

I don’t need to think twice when I hear snap, crackle and pop at breakfast even though I’m just standing up, not eating cereal. I’m not going to mull over the fact it takes longer to rest than it did to make me tired.

Should I worry that Happy Hour for me is now taking a nap? Nah.

But I will get after this exercising thing. However, I think it is fair to consider standing up as weight lifting, right?

So there you have it. Doc all but told me I have another 40 or 50 years in me. I’m sure high school football coaches can put up with me for that much longer.

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