Tag Archives: Shaun Rainey

Going Back to My Roots

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I am enjoying my vacation out west immensely but I would be lying if I said it doesn’t feel weird not writing five times a week. With a hectic schedule the past several days, I have not posted at the typical rate that many of my readers expect. Hopefully you can forgive me.

I did want to update you on a couple fun ventures I have embarked on over the last week. First of all, I completed my seventh year as a court monitor this past weekend for Spokane’s Hoopfest. While all the locals complained about the 100+ degree heat as they pretty much melted on the asphalt, I was doing my thing while saying “What’s the big deal?” The Southern humidity conditioned me well and I had no problem staying out in the extreme conditions for ten straight hours on Saturday and eight hours on Sunday.

As for my court, I must say from top to bottom it was the most talented bracket I had ever officiated. With the high talent level came high competitive juices. Two fights broke out under my watch throughout the weekend. At the end of the game that contained the second fight, the instigator, who was a huge bald man with a goatee stood on top of the curb and yelled at me. With his already intimidating presence magnified by the few extra inches given to him by where he stood, it was a nerve-wracking experience. Luckily the Hoopfest rapid response team was right there to keep me safe.

Me meeting with two of the teams in my bracket prior to the game.

Me meeting with two of the teams in my bracket prior to the game.

A couple personal memories from Hoopfest 2015 will be forever documented thanks to media coverage. KXLY, a local news station in Spokane, did a story about Sidney and I traveling so far to volunteer. To view Grace Ditzler’s report, click here. Also, a team in my bracket was composed completely of homeless gentlemen. KXLY was also on hand to tell that story. To view that report, click here. This past weekend was awesome and I owe a big thank you to Sidney, my mom, and my dad for all taking turns keeping score for me.

Just doing my job during Hoopfest 2015.

Just doing my job during Hoopfest 2015.

Yesterday, Sidney and I made the drive to Missoula, Montana. Driving over the two passes, it was Sidney’s first time ever seeing real mountains. Making the trip to Missoula was important to me because after 15 months since setting foot in the city, I wanted to go back to the place that gave me so much.

We arrived in Missoula at around 10:30 a.m. and went right to the University of Montana campus. Sidney and I walked straight to the Adams Center so I could say hi to all my former colleagues in the athletic department. It was nice chatting with these people who I worked so closely with over the span of five years. It was especially humbling that Kent Haslam, Montana’s athletic director, took time out of his day to talk with me for about 15 minutes.

After visiting with Grizzly Athletics, Sidney and I went outside and met Dan, one of my very best friends from my college years. We walked around the campus and then enjoyed lunch at the Press Box. From there we hit up the mall where we met another friend and then we ventured over to a bowling alley. Dan dominated Sidney and I over the course of three games in the outdated, empty building. Mad that he crushed us so bad, I dropped Dan off at his car and he made the trip back to Kalispell (thanks for making the day trip to see us, Dan).

We enjoyed walking around the beautiful University of Montana campus.

We enjoyed walking around the beautiful University of Montana campus.

After checking in at our hotel, we met up for drinks with my great friend Pete at a new place in Missoula called the Thomas Meagher Bar. After some great conversation, Sid and I went to one of my favorite places in the city, the Iron Horse, to meet Shaun Rainey, his wife Britt, and their new son Brandon for dinner. We had a delightful time catching up and sharing a few laughs. From there I took Sidney around downtown Missoula where we made a few stops at some of the city’s famous watering holes. We returned to Spokane early this morning.

Shaun and I in the photo on top, Pete and I in the photo in the bottom left corner, and a view of the scenery on the drive back.

Shaun and I in the photo on top, Pete and I in the photo in the bottom left corner, and a view of the scenery on the drive back.

I am excited for the next couple days. While I enjoyed the hectic-nature of the past week, I am looking forward to just relaxing around the house for the next 48 hours. I plan to use every minute to enjoy myself and re-charge. Come Friday we will be traveling again on what will be a very busy few days.

Hope the month of June was a great one for you. As always, it was awesome for me. In a blog post at the start of the month, I mentioned how June of 2015 was going to be a special one for me…you would say my prediction was spot on, right? Don’t Blink.

An Upgrade I Probably Need to Make

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I admit that I am a pretty easy target. It goes without saying that when you are as big of a nerd as I am, friends and family will joke freely at your expense. I get this and take it in stride, sometimes even considering the good-natured tough time I am given as flattery. With the help of social media, something that I own that my friends like to make fun of me for has gained some traction.

I own one television. While it is not a black and white rabbit ears set, it is not a 60 inch plasma TV either. The television I own is a 27 inch Sony Trinitron, a relic I bought in the dorms over seven years ago for $100. I purchased it from someone who lived on the same floor as me and at the time after the transaction I thought I had a movie theater screen in my room. I used the TV through my whole college career and continued to use it as I entered the professional workforce as well. It has traveled with me to each different place I have lived. With 2014 here, I still have it set up front and center in my living room.

Here is my famous Sony Trinitron television set I have owned for over seven years.

Here is my famous Sony Trinitron television set I have owned for over seven years.

I have come to grips with that fact that it is nearing the end. The picture has become increasingly grainy. Frequently I have to go behind the big box set (who needs a flat screen?) and fiddle with a cord to make it viewable. It is not accessible with many of the new appliances and systems out there. Compared to what has been out on the market for the past five years, it looks like an oversized antique.

But do I care? Not really.

The same can’t be said for my guests. When I have people over, they can’t get past the “ancient” box sitting in front of them. Looking at me with a confused and slightly agitated look they will exclaim something along the lines of “Are you serious?!” I usually will just tell them the standard response I have down by memory: You know, I don’t put a lot of weight on material possessions and I don’t watch that much TV to begin with except for sports.

Me in front of my scrutinized TV.

Me in front of my scrutinized TV.

That response only gets me so far though. My friends will then counter with the belief that the only way to watch sports on television is through a large high definition plasma screen. They will then twist the knife even more by saying that someone like me who works in athletics for a living and who only watches sports has absolutely no excuse to view the action through a TV that looks like it came out of a dumpster.

My friend Shaun Rainey called me out via Twitter on my TV when he came over to watch football.

My friend Shaun Rainey called me out via Twitter on my TV when he came over to watch football.

A year ago my response to my “But do I care?” question about my underwhelming television would be a big, fat “NO”. But as you see from my response above, it has changed to a “not really”. Because my TV is actually starting to malfunction a little bit and because of the pressure I have received from guests, I am going to start looking to upgrade. I think the time has come. In the end what it all comes down to is the comfort level for the people I invite over. Although I know I will love the new TV I end up purchasing, I honestly could live with the one I have for another ten years. But I want to keep my friends coming over to my place. I don’t want them to not enjoy hanging out at my apartment because my television falls well below their standards. When I am entertaining, I want to make the experience of my guests the best possible and if that means getting with the times by purchasing a new television, it will be worth it.

So, I ask you all: What type of new television should I go for? Where should I buy it from? Any special info you have on good deals? Any help would be much appreciated and if you do offer me some good tips, you can expect an invitation to enjoy a game with me on my nice, new TV. Don’t Blink.

Inspiration at the Missoula Marathon

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I like to think I am strong-willed, determined, and fitness driven on most days. However, the days where I attend a marathon to watch participants cross the finish line I feel like the biggest sloth in the world.

Yesterday morning, Paige and I drove to downtown Missoula and strolled over to the Higgins Street bridge where we watched as participants in the 2013 Missoula Marathon crossed the finish line, completing a task that many of us will never accomplish in our lives. For me, the first half of the battle is not even about getting physically in shape to do such an exercise, it is first wrapping my mind around the insanity of embarking on a race that is 26.5 miles long.

We camped out right at the finish line of the Missoula Marathon.

We camped out right at the finish line of the Missoula Marathon.

I envy marathon runners because they are in such excellent physical and mental shape. If I had to pick a group of athletes to go into battle with me I would make sure that after I picked some of the toughest wrestlers around I would choose a couple marathon athletes. A couple times yesterday the P.A. announcer at the finish line would announce to individuals completing the race that “You are now a marathon finisher.” I heard him say those words and I thought about how cool it would be if I ever got to have that distinction next to my name.

Under the beautiful sunny morning skies of Montana, Paige and I stood at the finish line and just soaked in one of Missoula’s premiere events. Runners from all over the country come to Missoula for the marathon (in 2009 it was named the best marathon in the nation) and in return the community really comes out to support them. I paid close attention to the reactions of people once they finished. Some, just like complete pros, finished through the line, stopped their watches, and casually walked through the staging area. Some cried. Some immediately looked for their friends and family who were waiting for them on the other side of the fence. Some grimaced in obvious anguish. All had the look of a champion.

I had a couple connections for this marathon. Our Associate Athletic Director, Greg Sundberg, was participating in the half marathon portion of the event to raise funds for a local charity (Jadyn Fred Foundation). I made a small contribution to the cause and received a sweet orange Team Sundberg t-shirt that I proudly sported on Sunday.

Proudly wearing my Team Sundberg shirt at the Missoula Marathon.

Proudly wearing my Team Sundberg shirt at the Missoula Marathon.

Additionally, my friend Shaun Rainey was participating in his first ever marathon. He pretty much started training for the race from scratch and came out a complete winner on Sunday when he finished in a little under four and a half hours. I got to see him cross the finish line and then subsequently give a television interview about two seconds later. Congrats to both Greg and Shaun.

Shaun crossing the Missoula Marathon finish line at a little under four and a half hours.

Shaun crossing the Missoula Marathon finish line at a little under four and a half hours.

I needed that reality check on Sunday to tell me that no matter how well I think I might be doing in the gym there are people out there doing much harder and much more remarkable physical tasks than me. I need to challenge myself a little more and get better. Thanks Missoula for the inspiration! Don’t Blink.