SportsHoncho

2 Quick Notes about the NBA Draft

Alright!!! The Jazz picked up someone they needed.  Morris Almond seems like exactly what they needed, a shooting 2 that can post up and create.

Second, I laughed when I read Bill Simmons's "Draft Diary XI," specifically "... I could write this column while trapped underneath Big Baby Davis."  I actually have experience with this. 

I took an early morning flight from SLC to Dallas the day after LSU played Utah, in December '03.  It just so happened that the LSU team was returning to Baton Rouge on the same flight.  While I was checking in, I saw an open aisle seat and cleverly changed my window seat to it.  It was a small plane, 2 seats on each side of the row, with about 20 rows.  With an aisle seat and a small carry-on, I was pretty laxed, so was one of the last to board.  I walked down the aisle and found my seat, or at least the half that was unoccupied.  There was Big Baby, in the window seat and half of my seat.  He was embarrassed and gracious the entire flight, he kept apologizing about crowding me.  Let me tell you, that is one large man. 

I had to apologize to him for my attire, Utah shirt and hat, since Utah beat them.  We talked briefly about the game and he said that he couldn't believe how strong Bogut was.  That shocked me, I couldn't imagine anyone moving this guy around on the court.

The only thing I was able to do while trapped underneath Big Baby Davis, was read a book.

Strangely excited for the NBA Draft....

.... because I am not the biggest NBA fan. 

I have lived my entire life in Utah and have never really been a Jazz fan, even during the Stockton/Malone years.  I have always watched a few games during the season and then watched the playoffs, no matter who was playing, because thats when the NBA gets interesting.  I would rather watch any level college basketball game over an NBA game, because they are so much more exciting and passionate (except for the last couple of years at Utah, which is another story, another time, but I am excited to have you here, Boylen!)

However, I am becoming a Jazz fan (I even bought a Jazz hat this year) and it started when they got Deron Williams.  As I have said before I went to the 2005 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game between UNC and Illinois, and after that game I told my brother-in-law, who is a big Jazz fan, that "the Jazz need to get Deron Williams, he is going to be awesome."  (Yes, he will verify and admit to my visionary statement!)  The Jazz had the 6th pick in that draft and made a trade to get the 3rd and took Deron Williams. 

The Jazz have been a fun, entertaining and successful team the past two seasons ever since, including the Western Conference Finals this year.  I have watched more Jazz games the past two seasons than the previous 20 seasons, combined.

I am excited to see if the Jazz can get someone to fill their needs, a 2 guard or shooting 3, or someone they can leverage in a trade to fill that position.  I am also excited to see who goes where in this LOADED draft.

101 Sporting Events to experience

I came across this article by Jim Caple, discussing the 101 sporting events a true sports fan should experience.  Following are the events I have attended from his list (I was hoping my list would be a little more impressive, but at least I got 2 from the top 5):

3. Winter Olympics.  Fortunately it came to Salt Lake City in 2002, unfortunately, both me and my wife had just graduated from school, bought a house and Holly was 6 months pregnant,so we only got to an awards ceremony.  The Bare Naked Ladies performed and it was an intense 3 hour celebration.  The atmosphere around Salt Lake was incredible the entire Olympics.

5. NCAA subregional. The University of Utah hosts Round 1 & 2, every 3 years.  I can not remember the last time that I did no go to these games, at least 10 years ago.  The first time I went with my Dad when I was about 12 or 13.  The best game was the Arizona/Gonzaga double overtime game in 2003, where the entire stadium, packed, stood from the middle of the second half until the end of the game.  He talks about the championship game usually being a letdown, but the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship game/Final Four Weekend is huge and an amazing event.  I was able to attend the 2005 Championship game between North Carolina and Illinois. 

(12.) I haven't attended THE Rose Bowl, but did go to the Rose Bowl stadium, to watch the University of Utah play there last fall.  We got beat pretty badly, but it is an awesome venue, set in a beautiful area.  I will take liberty and extend this to include any BCS Bowl Game.  Me and 8 family members went to the 2005 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Game, where the University of Utah played against... I can't remember what pathetic team the BCS put in our way.

(13.) Again not THE Finals, but did attend the final, game 5 of the Utah Jazz vs. Golden State Warriors series this year.  I have never enjoyed an NBA game more than that one.  As soon as the tickets were available, we purchased six and Me, Holly and 4 guys from my work went and had a blast. 

Here are some other sporting events that I really would like to attend:

• NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament - Any and all games, anywhere in the country (every year, if possible).  This is the pinnacle of sporting events in my opinion.
• BCS Championship Game
• Big college rivalries, any sport
• Super Bowl
• Premier League match in England (ManU vs. Arsenal)
• World Cup

I would love to attend every event from this list, but so much to do, so little time (and there is that work thing) I will just tick them off as I get the opportunity.

Big Saturday in June

I had a Great Sporting day on Saturday (6/23/07)!

It started with the AMA Superbike & Supermoto races and ended with the Real Salt Lake vs. DC United soccer game.

The AMA races were at the Miller Motorsports Park near Tooele, UT, west of Salt Lake City.  This was a couple of firsts for me: my first visit to Miller Motorsports Park (MMP) and my first Motorcycle race, ever.  I work with several motorcycle enthusiasts and now they may have converted me. I admit it, it made me want a motorcycle.  (Last year, a then non-motorcycle owning co-worker went to the same races, and now owns and follows the motorcycle racing circuit).

It is amazing at what speeds these guys fly around a track, and without seatbelts!  We watched most of the Superbike races at the end of the first straight-away near the first turn.  These guys would barely slow down to dip into the corner.  You could tell the better drivers, since they go into the turns without slowing down as much.  Spies and Mladin (teammates) controlled the race from start to finish and you could see how they approached the corners much more aggressively.  (You can see bikes in the first corner above my right arm, below.)

                                 

The Supermoto (half road, half dirt) was also very entertaining.  The local racer, Cassidy  Anderson was able to show his knowledge of the track and won easily in the early afternoon qualifying races.  (He didn't fair so well in the finale, which I did not see, since it was at night, during the Real soccer game.)

Along with the main events I was able to see some aerial motocross stunts and a road bike stunt team, which made me wish I had brought my boys with me.  I think next time I go out to MMP, it will include the family.

I left the MMP at 5:30pm to get home, get the family, have dinner and make it to the Real game by 7:30pm.  It didn't happen like clockwork, so we accomplished one of my pet-peeves: Being late to a sporting event.  (This just barely edges out another peeve of mine: Leaving early from a sporting event).  Actually we busted our butts and walked into the stadium 9 minutes into the game.

You may or may not be aware of the tough times Real Salt Lake has been having this year (0-5-6, before Sat.), but they needed to win a game.  They made a trade this week and it quickly paid off, BIG TIME.  The new-comer Robbie Findley scored both goals for Real's win.  Even with his incredible play, I think our player of the game was goalie Nick Rimado.  He had 3-4 significant tough saves and the only goal allowed could be blamed on bad timing and luck (interpret as "a defensive back") not on Nick.

Although it was a very hot and long day, it was still a Great Sporting day.  Real's win just topped it off right!

The Beginning

“The Sports Honcho? Who does he think he is?”

I am a huge Sports Fan and the Founder of www.ZipCodeSports.com (A website that will launch in the middle of July 2007, which contains all the sports schedules across the nation).

In the process of developing ZipCodeSports.com I have compiled information for over 1000 Professional Teams and just under 2000 Colleges and Universities from across the United States and Canada.  ZipCodeSports.com will provide information for over 150 leagues and will publish
over 15,000 Sporting Events.

I attend as many sporting events as I can and I watch as much SportsCenter as possible.  I am married, with 2 awesome boys and yes, we are still happy.  Only reason being, is that my wife likes and attends most of the sporting events with me.

In fact, I was reviewing my 2007 sports "record" and here is the results (Pro and College games since 1/1/07):

Utah Jazz -  1, Game 5 between Utah and the GS Warriors, (Awesome!!)
Utah Spring Football Game - 1
Utah Basketball - 7
Utah Gymnastics - 1
New York Yankees Game - 1
Salt Lake Bees - 1
Real Salt Lake - 7
MotorCycle Racing - 1

That is 20 games in the first 25 weeks of the year.  If I include my sons baseball and soccer games, it would be much higher, but since he is only 5, I don't really consider those spectacular spectator events.

These are some of the reasons I call myself the Sports Honcho.

Actually, I gave myself the title and thats what makes me

the SPORTS HONCHO.