Jamychal Green, At the Next Level

Wow...It's been awhile since I've had time to sit down and right on my blog, actually I don't have much time, I'm on my sixth straight day of work and had some downtime between shows.

While I was sitting at my desk, scrolling across the sports scores, I happened to come across a name that was very familiar to me.

The headline- "Jamychal Green scores 22 points for the Tide in their 79-76 win over Baylor."

Jamychal Green, he is a sophomore forward on Alabama's basketball team, but I first met this superstar (and he will be in the NBA) when he was just a Junior at St. Jude high school, in Montgomery, AL.

First of all, Bama is not a state that pays much attention to basketball, football is what they worship, but this little school was all about the hoops, especially with Jamychal being their star player.

I remember my first time shooting a game at St. Jude, the highlights, all Jamychal, all dunks.

The kid, who's about 6"9 was unbelievable and he was only 17 years old, I knew from that moment he was going to do big things with his basketball career.

It wasn't until his senior year that I actully got to sit down with Jamychal to talk with him one on one.

I expected him to maybe be a little cocky...oh but that wasn't the case at all.

This big kid with all this amazing talent was quiet and very humble, and to this day I will remember that interview, that story on Jamychal Green, an upcoming basketball star...watch out for him!

Cliff Lee Can Deal!

Ok, so I wasn't that excited about this year's World Series.

You ask why?

Well for the simple fact that they're both East Coast teams.

I'm from the West Coast, and I would've liked having the Angels or Dodgers in it to mix things up a little.

However, if you ask me to pick a team to root for in the World Series, I don't even have to think about it, definitely the Phillies.

I strongly dislike the Yankees, Alex Rodriguez, and the whole Steinbrenner family.

I've never been a fan of a team who thinks they can buy championships, sorry call me old fashion, but I think it's more exciting to see a team that has to work their tail off to get to the top.

So getting to Game 1, and the remarkable showing of Cliff Lee on the mound, if you didn't see the game, Lee shook up the Yankees at the plate with a spiked curveball, deceptive changeup and his nasty fastball, pitching a six-hitter while striking out 10 without a walk.

Lee is the first starting pitcher in the World Series to have 10 K's, no walks, and no earned.

He struck out the red hot A-Rod three times, and led the Phillies to a 6-1 win over the pesky Yankees.

I have to give some props to Chase Utley too (my husband's favorite player), as he helped the offense out with two home runs.

Yankees you better watch out because if the Phils are this comfortable beating you in your billion dollar stadium they're going to be feelin' real good at home.

I pick the Phillies in Six.

Caught In The Middle

It's been great so far covering the Montana Grizzlies here in Missoula, MT.

They're the talk of the town, and even after covering SEC football in the South for two years, I have to admit, I'm impressed with this program.

So far there hasn't been a question of who I should cheer for on Saturday's in the state of Montana, with the obvious choice being the Griz.

But now six weeks into the season, I run into one small little problem...Do I want Montana or Eastern Washington to win?

You're probably thinking, duh, pick the team you cover now, I mean gosh you report on them, shouldn't you want them to win?

Ya, of course, but there's still a part of me that wants the Eags to win because I did cover them while I was in Spokane, I'm from that area, and of course my brother goes to school there.

But more than anything, I think it's the plain fact that they're the underdog in this match up and after wanting to win SO bad last year, they got stomped on their own home turf (sad day).

After that whole pity party, I have to keep it real.

So to my brother and dad, there will defiantly be a little part of me that will cheer on those Eagles come Saturday, but sorry I'm in Montana now, and you'd have to be crazy not to root for the Griz!

Giving Credit to the Cincinnati Bengals

As big of a sports fan as I am, it wasn't until a couple years ago that I really started to enjoy following the NFL.

Maybe it was because I was still too young to feel connected with pro sports or maybe the NFL was just too hyped up for me at the time.

But it's a different story today, although I've not yet worked in a city yet with an NFL team (that will come soon), I have become a big fan of several players that I covered in college and their teams.

However there is one team that I have no connection with, but yet I find myself cheering for them on Sundays.

No, I don't even have one Cincinnati player on my fantasy league team (Child Please), but after watching the HBO series "Hard Knocks" this past summer, I have a new found respect for Coach Marvin Lewis, Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson and the whole Bengals squad.

If you have never seen this show, I highly recommend you watch it next season.

To give you a brief description of the show; camera crews basically follow one NFL team during the preseason as they gear up for regular season play.

They take you behind the scenes and show you a candid look at the real life of players and coaches in the NFL.

This was my first time watching it this season (HBO is new for me) and it instantly became my favorite show on televison.

What made it really special was the story of the struggling Bengals.

I have always been a big cheerleader for the underdogs in sports, and this was a perfect team to fit that profile.

It wasn't until this show that I actually liked Chad Johnson, but after seeing how hard of a worker he is and how much he gives back to the community, I now am a big fan of #85!

We're now five weeks into the season, and the story to me is the recent success of the Bengals.

Yesterday they never gave up in a fight against the Baltimore Ravens, and maybe it was because they were fighting to win for their Defensive Coach Mike Zimmer (lost his wife suddenly this week), but whatever it was I couldn't help but feeling good for a team that has worked their tails off to get to where they are right now.

I know I can't say I'm a TRUE fan, but I defiantly give the Bengals respect and wish them the best of luck this season.

Snow Already!

OK, so I was spoiled for a couple years when I lived down South.

And no it wasn't because of all the friendly people, good BBQ, or SEC football, it was because there was no such thing as covering football in the snow!

I'm not saying that the South didn't have its share of unbearable weather because come summertime in Alabama it would be 90+ degrees...all humidity, and with a big camera on shoulder, that isn't always fun!

But as crazy as I am, I'd rather be it that type of weather than in the freezing dang cold.

I realized when I woke up this morning in Missoula, MT (with snow on the ground) that I was going to have to do a lot more layering this evening when I go out to shoot high school football.

The last time I really remember covering football in the snow was at my first job in Bend, OR and dang did it get cold there!

I don't know if it was because it was my first job and I hadn't gotten a reality check quite yet, but I can remember one night wearing little busniess shoes with no socks while shooting a game in the snow, and I think it took me two days to get my feet warm again.

Since then I've improved my cold weather wardrobe which includes the necessities:

-long johns (under armour preferably)
-stocking cap
-North Face Shell
-North Face Jacket
-Big Ole' Socks (No wool, it's ichy)
-Gloves (not too bulky, still have to be able to shoot video)
-Hand warmers (to put in the pockets)
-Uggs (none of this jeans tucked into them business)
-A lot of warm stuff to drink (I perfer hot chocolate)

And I guess as long as I have everything on that list, it's not HORRIBLE covering football in the snow, as it can sometimes make for a fun atmosphere...I just didn't think it would be this early on in the season!

Cheers here's to being a Montana now!

Two Great Games in Minnesota...Don't Ya Know

If you're not a sports fan, you won't understand this blog at all, especially because it has to do with sports in the state of Minnesota (no offence to any of my friends or relatives there).

But for real, if you aren't a fan of any of the teams there, usually people on the east and west coasts aren't too interested in the Twins, The Wild, the Gophers, and not until recently, the Vikings (thanks in part to the already twice or third retired Brett Farve).

Oh, but if you're any type of sports fan you can't help but pay attention to the all hype in the past two days!

It all started on Monday night, where if it wasn't THE MOST watched Monday Night Football game, it was pretty dang close; the Vikings and Brett Farve hosted the Green Bay Packers.

As much as I'm sick of Brett Farve, this game still was very appealing to me.

Maybe because I wanted the underdog QB Aaron Rogers to prevail, and embarrass Farve and the Vikings, but that didn't happen at all.

Instead, Frave impressed everyone on national TV again, and now I have to now admit to myself that he still might have some fight left in him at the age of 40 (note: I will never admit that again).

Moving on then to Tuesday night, where the Minnesota Twins were fighting Detroit for the AL Central title.

Although I was mad because I couldn't watch it, I stayed updated between ESPN and the MLB Network.

Talk about a way to win the AL title for the Twins, and talk about a crappy way to lose it for the Tigers, as Alexi Casilla singled home the winning run with one out in the 12th inning lifting the Twins to the 6-5 victory.

But as glorious of a win it was, reality soon hit the Twins, as they had to pack up and head for New York in the same night, to play the most annoying team in baseball the Yankees.

As much as I want the Twins to beat the Yankees, I have a feeling it could get plain ugly.

But no matter what happens Minnesota fans, just remember this great week of sports, as it may not happen again for awhile (:

Congrats to the Vandals, Especially Coach Akey

I remember my freshman year at WSU, the only year I actully got to sit in the stands and watch a Coug football game (I worked for athletics the rest of my time there).

There was a group of us Pi Phis who would sit in the first row right behind defensive coach Rob Akey.

No matter what was happening on the field, I really didn't care, I just got a kick out of watching Coach Akey fire up his defense on the sideline.

He would jump up and down...yell at the top of his lungs (in a good way), and it worked because our defense was freakin' awesome!

As we all know, WSU lost Akey to our friends down in Idaho, where Akey has been, and is still the head coach of the Vandals.

Now talk about a program that looked as if they had little to no hope!

But after covering them last year and talking with Coach Akey every week and after every game, I could just see how much this team meant to him, and I truly believed that he would get them back on track.

This year the Vandals are off to a 4-1 start after beating Colorado State 31-29 last night in the Kibbie Dome.

Today at work, I came across the celebration video from last night, and I have never seen the Dome so packed, with so many happy fans.

Congrats to you Coach Akey, you are a coach that truly loves his players, and I wish Idaho the best of luck the rest of the season!

Brees=A Fantasy Win

If you're a fantasy football junkie, I'm sure you understand how serious NFL Sundays can be.

Of course, my team "Child Please" was on a roll, we were 2-0 just tearing up the competition, and then leave it up to a kicker, Adam Vinatieri , to leave us two points short of winning last Sunday.

Oh how a missed field goal in the third quarter can wreck a fantasy win.

OK, I'm over it, back to the point of this whole blog.

I couldn't be happier with our first pick, QB Drew Brees.

And although he had a slow game against the Bills last Sunday, he's been the man racking up all the points for me.

Yes, this Sunday will be a test for Brees as he faces the New York Jets defense, but the Saints are at home and there is a touchdown record to be broken.

All I know is we need to bounce back from that lame loss last week, and Brees you're my man.

To my opponent this afternoon, "kiss the baby!"

Tuel, Nice Change for WSU

Ok Cougs...so I know that we're playing a team that cares more about showing their pimped out jerseys in a New York Fashion Show, than playing a game of football, but personally I think our traditional style is so much better.

Anyway, enough with the fashion talk, lets talk about today's game, and the new found hope for Coug fans.

Jeff Tuel will become the first true freshman to start at quarterback for Washington State since Drew Bledsoe in 1990.

This was something that needed to happen, no offence to Kevin Lopina (very nice young man) or Lobbestael, but we needed a fresh face at the QB position.

Tuel, who is out of Fresno, CA Tuel, started only his senior year in high school, throwing for 1,714 yards and 12 touchdowns.

When I got home from work last weekend, and saw Tuel playing QB, my jaw dropped but in a good way, as he lead the Cougs down the field to eventually score.

And I'm not joking when I saw those kids celebrating on the sideline, I got a little emotional.

The kids want to win more than anything, it's not their fault that the coaching is not all the way there!

I give Paul Wulff props for one thing, starting Jeff Tuel this week...Go Cougs!

LaGarrette Blount‎ Quick Comeback?

Oh Oregon, you always have to keep yourselves in the media, now don't you.

If it's not the blinding neon colored Jerseys, or the overrated pre-season rankings, it's always something.

Here's the deal, LaGarrette Blount is crazy, he obviously has major anger management issues (that's apparent, when you not only hit the opponent, but you hit your own teammate, along with almost causing riot in the stands).

But with all that being said, I think when Oregon suspended him for the whole year, that was a little much, I mean suspend him for four games, make him go to anger classes and see if he improves.

Now after all that media hype, Chip Kelly and his flock are thinking about reinstating Blount.

Why didn't you just make the right decision the first time Oregon?

The Perk of Moving

First of all, I'm a Coug, and will always be a Coug, however it's definitely been tough being a fan the past three years considering their program has gone down the potty.

I was lucky to have been going to school during their "good" years, that included everything from Mike Price (great coach no matter what happened down South), Jason Gesser, Marcus Trufant, Eric Coleman, and you can't forget Coach Rob Akey!

Football at that time was exciting to watch...defense won games and you can't forget the time you picked up the paper and your team was ranked #3 in the country.

OK, but that was the past and this is the present, and all I'm saying now is as bad as it sucks to move around all the time when you're in the broadcasting field, there are also some perks when it comes to following sports teams.

The only thing that has kept me from being a non-grieving Coug fan is the fact that I've found an interest in the teams I've covered along my journey as a sports reporter.

Most of it started when I was in Montgomery, AL, where there is no messing around with picking a team... you're either Auburn or Alabama.

Of course, I ended up covering Coach Tommy Tuberville and the Tigers more and found that this would be "my team," at least down South.

Aside from the fact that I ended up marrying an Auburn Alum, I still follow former players on Sunday, whether that be Ben Obomanu, Will Herring, Courntney Taylor, or Gerrard Powers.

And I still enjoy cheering for Auburn on Saturdays, even with their new coach Gene Chizik (he's slowly growing on me, but not sold yet).

Football isn't the only sport I covered in the South, baseball was also big considering we had the Montgomery Biscuits (AA for Tampa Bay).

Covering these guys during their back-to-back Southern League Championships, also made up for my struggling team back home...The Mariners.

Although I balanced a camera on my shoulders for nine innings, it was worth the sore back now that I get to see Evan Longoria tear things up in the MLB! (And yes I do like the Tampa Bay Rays and Mariners).

So two years later I get the gig up in Spokane (my hometown), this is when I realized it was time to face reality because I finally had to cover a losing team.

Although it was great to be back down at WSU again, it was not easy covering my Cougs.

Injury after injury, no steady QB, and a coaching staff that doesn't really fit.

But I held it together and separated being a fan from a sports reporter.

I don't know if it was a blessing in disguise or what but after a painful hernia surgery and being laid off from KXLY, I was back to covering teams that won.

Next stop, Missoula, MT...Home of the Griz!

After a heart-breaking loss last year in the championship game, the Griz are back with all their weapons, and I've once again adopted a team.

As for the Cougs, no matter how bad you might be, I will always be a fan no matter what!

But I'm not going to lie it's been fun adopting teams along the way...that's the real perk of moving!