Four Corners Sports April 2015

3Four Corners SPORTSAPRIL 2015

content| 4 | Fun for the Whole Family

As sure as the sun rises, somewhere

there is a teenager complaining that

there is nothing to do in the metropolis

that is Farmington. And while

compared to cities the size of

Albuquerque or larger that might seem

true, Farmington does have some

activities to offer from golf to exceptional

movie theaters to great walking trails.

| 8 | Exercise and laughterWhen Sheri Rogers, Rick Palmer and

Bobby Hume started playing volleyball

together 30 years ago in a city volleyball

league, they each had a goal – to win.

While the wins and losses in that league

no longer matter, what Rogers, Palmer

and Hume have “won” are friendships

that have endured for more than 30

years.

| 12 | Winter Prep SportsOn Feb. 2nd Punxsutawney Phil saw his

shadow assuring that there are six more

weeks until the state basketball tourna-

ment.

| 14 | 3-Gun CompetitionShooting enthusiasts will have the opportu-

nity to compete for prizes and trophies at

the Second Annual San Juan County

Sheriff’s 3-Gun Charity Challenge match.

| 24 | Speed and adrenalineShaleen Brown admits she has a need – a

need for speed.

| 16 | Transcending theWinter WarriorIt’s the fifth annual Winter Warrior 10K

snowshoe race, founded by Steve Ilg,

Wholistic Fitness coach, and hosted by the

Durango Nordic Center.

| 28 | The Hidden (Valley) OpportunityHidden Valley Golf Course has been a

fixture in the Aztec community for many

years.

| 22 | Editorial Columnistby Rick Hoerner

| 30 | 10 Questionswith lisa Webb

| 34 | The First Teeby Tom Yost

| 32 | NASCAR Nellie| 20 | Successful SeasonThe swimming and diving teams from

Farmington High School and Piedra Vista

had an extremely successful seasons cul-

minating at the 2015 NMAA Swimming and

Diving State Championships at the Albu-

querque Academy Natatorium in Albu-

querque on Feb. 20 and 21.

Don Vaughan

PuBlISHER

Cindy Cowan Thiele

EDITOR

Rick Hoerner

Tom Yost

Dorothy Nobis

CONTRIBuTING WRITERS

Curtis Benally

Josh Bishop

CONTRIBuTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Suzanne Thurman

DESIGNER

Shelly Acosta

Clint Alexander

Aimee Velasquez

SAlES STAFF

For advertising information

Call 505.516.1230

www.fourcornerssports.com

Four Corners Sports magazine is published once amonth by Majestic Media. Material herein may not bereprinted without expressed written consent of the pub-lisher. Opinions expressed by the contributing writersare not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or FourCorners Sports magazine. Every effort has been madeto ensure the accuracy of this publication. However thepublisher cannot assume responsibility for errors orommissions. © 2015 Four Corners Sports magazine.

Majestic Media

100 W. Apache Street

Farmington, NM 87401

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STORY IDEAS and PHOTOS

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Shaleen BrownJosh Bishop

4 Four Corners SpORTS APRIL 2015

As sure as the sun rises, somewhere

there is a teenager complaining that

there is nothing to do in the metropolis

that is Farmington. And while in compar-

rison to cities the size of Albuquerque or

larger that might seem true, Farmington

does have some activities to offer, from

golf to exceptional movie theaters to

great walking trails. Then, of course,

there is the stalwart of all small town ac-

tivities; your local bowling alley.

Farmington is especially fortunate to

have Bowlero Lanes, a state of the art

bowling center that provides family en-

tertainment. First built in 1956, Bowlero

Lanes has stood the test of time. Current

owner Chad Franks, who took control of

the alley in 2001, is third in a family line

of owners to run the operation. In 1958

Chad’s grandfather, Charlie Reese, re-

opened an abandoned operation left for

dead six months earlier. The original

Bowlero Lanes was located on an iso-

lated field before Home Depot and Safe-

way built on the adjacent properties

back when Dizzyland Liquors was the

lone business on the same side of Main

Street.

Originally, Bowlero had 16 lanes, less

than half the size it is today. For those

who have been inside the structure, that

would be ending just where the snack

Story by Rick Hoerner | Photos by Josh Bishop

Chad Franks carries on the Bowlero Lanes family tradition

5Four Corners SpoRtSAPRIL 2015

bar is today. In the early ’70s the lanes

were updated to 24 lanes just before the

second generation, Rowdy Franks, took

over the lanes in 1976, adding a small

lounge to the building to go with the

eight new lanes.

Updating the technology, especially

when it comes to pin setting, has been

the continuing evolution of the bowling

alley. As Rowdy’s son Chad took over the

lanes at the turn of the century, changes

were inevitable. Since Chad Franks took

over ownership the bowling alley has ex-

panded and upgraded. Franks added 10

updated lanes that include laser light

shows with neon and black lights and a

digital jukebox, a full service pro shop,

and a full-service Crackers Sports Bar

with 100 seats and over 30 digital televi-

sion screens.

Franks also turned the old lounge into

a poolroom to complement other activi-

ties in the building.

For Franks, changes in technology is

essential to the survival of the sport. For

Bowlero, the bowling clientele is an ever-

changing evolution steadily moving from

declining league bowlers to an increase

in casual bowlers looking for family en-

tertainment. Updates such as automatic

scoring and gutter bumpers for young

and inexperienced bowlers have made

the lanes more family friendly.

Chad Franks, center back row, and Coach Kelly Evers, back row right, stands with the the state shanpionship bowling team at apractice session at Bowlero Lanes.

6 Four Corners SportS APRIL 2015

“Bumpers have been the most important technological advance,” Franks

said “After all, if all you are doing is throwing the ball in the gutter every time,

how likely are you to come back?” Automatic scoring also has made the game

more user friendly for families – not having to worry about scoring, or the

fear of knowing how to keep score, and focusing on time together.

Like the rest of the world technology has

been a mixed blessing for the bowling indus-

try. While it has made bowling more accessi-

ble to the masses, it also must now compete

with video games, 500 cable channels and the

smart phone, making bowling one of a grow-

ing number of options for an individual’s

spare time.

Still, as of 2011, bowling is still a $10 billion

industry and is still the number one participa-

tion sport in America with more 71 million

people who list bowling as something they do

for fun at least three times annually.

Just as in golf, technology has changed the

bowling industry. And also like golf, the ball

and the equipment have replaced the require-

ment of skill – in varying degrees. Also like

golf, the game has to evolve with a public look-

ing more for entertainment than for competitive skill.

For Bowlero that means looking at creative ways to keep the competition

of bowling while catering to a new base looking for a cost-effective night

out. So, Bowlero is looking at rotating leagues that would not have the com-

mitment of 36 weeks but rotating with others for perhaps a 24-week

7Four Corners SPorTSAPRIL 2015

schedule. They will also be looking at more

compact bowling seasons to keep the regular

league bowler an important part of the

changing landscape.

The future of Bowlero may be based on the

growth of high school bowling teams and

leagues. High school bowling, as an activity,

is one of the fastest growing sports on high

school and college campuses with over

50,000 high school and 35,000 college

athletes competing annually.

High school bowling was added to the New

Mexico Activities Association list of

sponsored activities in 2006 giving students

an activity not based on size or speed as

much as skill. The local high schools have

been especially strong in state competition

with Farmington finishing in the top for three

consecutive years including a state

runner-up this year.

Piedra Vista won the first bowling state

title in 2006 and has added three more titles

including the state title this year with the

assistance of the next generation of Franks

leading the way. High school bowling has

increased to the point where this past winter

Bowlero offered a high school league that

included 50 students.

The future of bowling will be adjusting to

constant change. While more than 100 million

people in 100 countries participate in

bowling, the participants and level of

participation is in constant flux.

The next Franks generation is already look-

ing toward continuing the family

tradition. Trey Franks, a senior at Piedra

Vista, dreamed of growing up in the bowling

alley.

He received work experience at a young

age, and having full access to the snack bar

didn’t hurt either. When asked if he could see

himself taking over some day, Trey said,

“Yeah, I could see myself sitting in that

chair,” pointing to his father.

Until then, Bowlero will look to add more

to the community bowling experience, adding

to birthday parties and anniversaries with

church group outings and new league

options. Summer league signups are coming

up soon and the air conditioning will be on

all summer for a family gathering.

9Four Corners SPoRTSAPRIL 2015

When Sheri Rogers, Rick Palmer and Bobby

Hume started playing volleyball together 30

years ago in a city volleyball league, they each

had a goal – to win. While the wins and losses

in that league no longer matter, what Rogers,

Palmer and Hume have “won” are friendships

that have endured for more than 30 years.

The three no longer play volleyball, but

wallyball – a sport similar to volleyball, but a

separate sport with separate rules. The most

obvious element that differs between the

sports is the fact that wallyball is played in a

racquetball court. The walls are a critical fac-

tor in wallyball and players can’t use more

than one wall.

During the course of those 30 years, six

more people have joined Rogers, Palmer and

Hume, and those friendships have been

strengthened and treasured by all.

“This team is so much fun,” Rogers said of

the “new” group. “We’ve been friends for so

long and it (playing wallyball) gives us a rea-

son to gather and have fun. We get in a little

exercise and it gives us an excuse to go to

grab an adult beverage afterwards.”

The team, which now includes Dean and

Tracy Pecotte, Lisa Poulson, Mari Garcia, and

Lori Proctor, play every Wednesday night at the

Farmington Recreation Center. There is a lot of

laughter, slapping of hands, friendly teasing

and a surprising amount of competition.

“We have a lot of fun together and we al-

ways have,” said Palmer. “Some things that

have happened on the court have been retold

for years, with good laughs every time we re-

member them. I really love these guys and all

the ones that have participated over the

years.”

Wednesday night Wallyball leads to years of lasting friendship

Story by Dorothy Nobis | Photos by Josh Bishop

ExErcisE laughterand

10 Four Corners SPORTS APRIL 2015

It is the friendships that all of the team

members emphasize as the best part of the

weekly games. “I believe the laughs, the exer-

cise and the overall camaraderie have kept me

engaged all this time,” said Mari Garcia, who

has been participating since 1998. “The group

of friends I’ve gained is invaluable and dear to

me.”

“I have had the pleasure of knowing and

having these people in my life for around 25

years,” said Lisa Poulson. “I think we have be-

come family more than friends.”

Palmer recently lost his father and said his

wallyball teammates and friends shared his

grief. “These people brought us food, sent us

cards and called and texted to express sympa-

thy and see if they could do anything for us,”

he said. “I think the friendship is far more im-

portant to me than the competition or exer-

cise.”

Playing for fun and exercise is a priority for

all of them, but it doesn’t take a visitor long to

see that the competition is fierce – but

friendly. When asked who is the most competi-

tive player, there was little hesitation. Rogers,

Poulson and Palmer are at the top of the list of

most competitive and the worst losers.

Rogers said it isn’t about the competition,

however. “For myself, I'm over with playing that

competitive. This is more fun with a little com-

petition thrown in, and we mix up the teams so

it's not ‘us against them.’ It's just fun.”

Palmer said he plays for “fun, but I like to

win, too.” Poulson admitted most of her team-

mates would say she’s the most competitive.

“Everyone will probably say it’s me,” she said

of her competitive spirit. “My husband always

tells me it’s not the Olympics. When I’m waiting

to go play, my husband always tells me I have

my ‘wallyball face’ on. I’ve mellowed quite a bit,

though, and I always remind (everyone) it’s

just a game!”

“It’s for fun,” agreed Tracy Pecotte, “but it’s

competitive enough to keep it challenging.”

It is Hume who is tagged as being the best

player and is the official scorekeeper. “Some-

times when Bobby isn't there – he’s the only

one who keeps us straight on the score -- we

don’t keep score as much. It's just fun to do

something clever and/or skilled to win the

point,” Rogers said.

Hume said he’s the unofficial scorekeeper

because, “I like to do it and everyone else likes

that they don’t have to.” In addition to being

the scorekeeper, Hume likely has the most ex-

perience playing wallyball.

“I’ve been playing about 45 years,” he said. “I

started in high school and I’ve always enjoyed

playing. I’m probably one of the more competi-

tive players, but it’s not a life or death situa-

tion.”

Hume said Rogers and Poulson are the most

competitive. “At times, we can get really com-

petitive,” he said with a laugh. “But we all re-

ally have lots of fun and we always have a good

time.”


The team plays from 7 to 8 p.m. and most

arrive a little early. The joking and teasing

begins immediately and one senses that

while the exercise and the competition are

important to all of them, it is the friendships

that are the reason they have played to-

gether for decades.

“We can cuss and discuss and call each

other names, like ‘nice shot,’ when referring

to Rick,” said Garcia. “It’s also funny when

Lisa and Lori get to giggling and snorting

when Tracy does her squeal, and Rick calls

Sheri names. The dirty looks and dirty plays

are also entertaining, to say the least.”

“For Dean and I, we keep coming back be-

cause we can laugh, have a great time and

still get some exercise,” said Pecotte.

“They’re a great group of people.”

Hume said the friendship the team enjoys

goes beyond the wallyball court. “We go to

Telluride for a week and go skiing and in the

summer, we’ll all go to the lake. It’s one of

those situations where we all get along. It’s a

good bunch of people.”

“We’re an unlikely, but strangely compati-

ble group,” added Garcia. “These have been

some of my dearest and closest friends over

the years and wallyball was our catalyst. A

love and respect that has grown from a sim-

ple invite to play a friendly game has kept us

together and will continue to do so.”

The Farmington Recreation Center has three

courts available for wallyball. Courts may be

saved after 7 p.m. on Thursdays for games the

following week. The cost for the courts is $2 per

person and courts are available from 6 a.m. to

10 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 8 a.m.

to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

12 Four Corners SPORtS APRIL 2015

On Feb. 2nd Punxsutawney Phil saw his

shadow assuring that there are six more

weeks until the state basketball tournament.

In the spring, San Juan County has been

nothing short of dominant, winning boys and

girls track, baseball and softball, and girls ten-

nis.

In the winter, it’s been all about wrestling

when it comes to state titles, Piedra Vista has

been on a half decade run and Bloomfield won

a title in 2014 and this season has been no dif-

ferent. Even with a change at the helm, the

Panthers moved on to their fifth consecutive

state championship.

Wrestling

It’s good to be Anthony Juckes. In five years

Juckes has won five individual and team state

championships. Juckes wrapped up title No. 5

with a pin at 145 pounds over Jerry Robinson

of Belen helping PV overcome a day one deficit

to the Eagles. Juckes won his first title as an

eighth grader at 106 pounds.

In 2012, Juckes moved up to 113 pounds

winning his second title followed by a third

title in 2013 at 132 pounds. In his junior cam-

paign Juckes moved up to 145 pounds winning

title No. 4. While only five other wrestlers have

ever accomplished what Juckes did individu-

ally in his career, he does have the distinction

of being the only wrestler with 5 individual and

5 team titles.

Juckes had plenty of teammates with which

to share the wealth for championship No. 5,

perhaps the most difficult, having to come

back from a first day deficit to Belen.

Story by Rick Hoerner | Photos by Curtis Ray Benally

Piedra Vista Wrestling team wins 5th consecutive title.

Anthony Juckes, Piedra Vista High School.

Winter prep sports PV Wrestling wins 5th straight title; rivalries in basketball, bowling


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Coach Michael Bejar’s squad met the chal-

lenge winning 5 individual championships in-

cluding a second consecutive state

championship from Philip Archuleta and Sam

Sandoval. Freshman Nick Rino and Wes Rayburn

rounded out the individual titles for the Pan-

thers. Wyatt Weaver placed second with Alberto

Martine and Tristan Dwinell finishing in third. PV

lost the services of defending state champion

Zach Ahlgrim to a mid-season injury.

Aztec’s Austin Littlefield placed third for the

Tigers. In Bloomfield the Bobcats finished fourth

led by Gage Krielick, Avery Scott and JD Robin-

son finished in second with Donny Trujillo and

Lorenzo LaMere finishing in 3rd. Kirtland Cen-

tral’s Aidan Cockrell was the only other San

Juan County individual champion at 132 pounds.

Bowling

On the lanes the state title came down to fa-

miliar cross-town rivals Piedra Vista and Farm-

ington who practice together weekly at Bowlero.

A state tournament preview had the title coming

down to three schools, the cross-town rivals

and Artesia. Farmington made its way to the

championship going undefeated while Piedra

Vista had to work its way back through the los-

ers bracket after losing its match with Artesia.

The Panthers went on to eliminate Española Val-

ley and Los Lunas before winning a rematch

with Artesia, leaving the Panthers with the diffi-

cult task of knocking off Farmington twice.

In the championship round Kelly Evers’ Pan-

thers worked their way to their fourth state title

adding trophies to their 2007, 2009 and 2013 ti-

tles. Individually Trey Franks led the Panthers

with high score and high series at the tourna-

ment as well as second high average statewide

over the season.

His sister Raegan, Kaitlin Joslin and Dallin

James joined Franks on the All-state team. For

Trey, it’s his third team championship in his five-

year career and the second for Raegan in three

years

For Farmington High, they have steadily

worked their way up to the podium. After finish-

ing 5th in 2012, the Scorpions finished in fourth

in 2013 and 2014 before reaching the champi-

onship round this year.

Basketball

When the announcement of the district

changes for the 2014-2015 prep season were an-

nounced, there was one sport that looked to

have drastic change – basketball. The district

traded one traditional power in Kirtland Central

for another in the Gallup Bengals.

While Miyamura seemed to have stepped back

after a strong showing last season, the Bengals

were what district opponents expected – a domi-

nant force on the floor. Gallup finished the dis-

trict season undefeated in both boys and girls.

Farmington finished a solid second in both divi-

sions losing only to Gallup. The Aztec girls fin-

ished in third along with the PV boys.

The Lady Scorpions under head coach Danny

Secrest continued to make giant strides this

year. Farmington finished 20-7, their best season

in a long time. Aztec also showed improvement,

finishing ahead of what should have been a

solid Piedra Vista squad. Farmington’s boys also

put up another solid season under Paul Corley

finishing 18-8. Piedra Vista finished third fol-

lowed by Aztec.

In the new District 1AAAA, as expected, Kirt-

land Central came in and took over the district

on the boys side. Despite winning only 10 games

total, the Broncos won eight of those in district

play to win the boys title. Devon Manning has

done a great job bringing Bloomfield back, fin-

ishing second at 7-3 followed by Shiprock at 6-4

in a district that may have the toughest road

schedule in the state.

On the girls side old rivalries were renewed

as Kirtland and Shiprock reacquainted them-

selves as district foes. Shiprock continued its

dominance of the district with the Lady Broncos

right behind. Bloomfield was the shocker of the

season coming in third at 15-12, their first solid

winning season in a while.

At Navajo Prep the Lady Eagles finished be-

hind Tohatchi, losing two close contests to the

Warriors. For the boys it’s been a difficult sea-

son finishing 5-21.

Now it is time for the weather to warm up,

the wind to pickup and spring sports to start

up.

Farmington Girls Basketball Coach Danny Secrest

Shooting enthusiasts will have the opportunity to compete for prizes and

trophies at the Second Annual San Juan County Sheriff’s 3-Gun Charity Chal-

lenge match, set for May 15 through 17 at the San Juan Wildlife Federation

range, 5652 U.S. Highway 64. the event begins at 7 a.m. each day.

Steve White, the event coordinator, said the match will include competi-

tors from throughout the Four Corners in a shooting match that involves

shooting a rifle, pistol and shotgun.

Categories include law enforcement, posse (civilians), females, juniors

(under 18 years of age), seniors (over 50 and less than 65 years old), Super

Seniors (those over 65) and military (active duty).

White said that this year the 3-Gun Organizing Committee met and de-

cided that they will reduce the number of shooting stages to 8 or 9 based on

the number of match staff available.

“there will probably be seven individual stages where competitors will

shoot a combination of tactical firearms (rifle, pistol and shotgun) at a vari-

ety of paper, steel and clay pigeon targets. the stages will represent situa-

tions that a law enforcement officer might encounter during a tactical

situation that may demand the use of firearms. One of the individual stages

will be a long range stage where the competitor will engage targets from 50

to 350 meters using primarily his rifle,” White said.

the other individual stages may use one or more of the tactical firearms

available to the competitor. the final stage is a team stage where a four-

man team engages a variety of targets ranging from 10 to 100 meters.

teams are predetermined at or before entering the match. Businesses that

are interested may sponsor a team or a stage for $480 and $500 respec-

tively, White added.

“the event is limited to 100 competitors and is open to public spectators.

ten stages – including scenarios engagement of various styles and types of

targets, nine individual stages and one team stage, (will be offered),” White

added. “the stages are scored using a combination of target hit scores,

penalties and time taken. the top three teams and top five individuals in

each of the categories will receive prizes and trophies.”

the match fee is $120 if participants register before May 1 and $124 after

that date. the U.S. practical Shooting Association’s 3-gun rules will apply.

For more information contact 3-Gun Coordinator Steve White at

505.320.3048 or visit www.sjcsofoundation.com/3GUN/

registration and a walkthrough of the course will begin at 7 a.m. with a

mandatory safety meeting at 7:30 a.m.

the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office Foundation is sponsoring the event

and proceeds with will benefit the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office Volun-

teers In partnership program and the San Juan Wildlife Federation.

the foundation’s president is Lisa Webb, a mortgage planner at Lisa L.

Webb, Guild Mortgage Co.; tommy Bolack, owner of B Square ranch is the

vice president; Cari Drake, business manager at Airstar, is the secretary;

and Steve White, retired from the U.S. Army, is the treasurer and guides the

foundation. Foundation directors include Alvin Klein of Bates Wells Advertis-

ing, and Kelly Eaves of Farmers Insurance.

15Four Corners SpOrtSAPRIL 2015

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Charity challenge will benefit San JuanCounty Sheriff’s Office Foundation

Story by Dorothy Nobis | Courtesy photos

16 Four Corners SPorTS APRIL 2015

It’s the fifth annual Winter Warrior 10K snow-

shoe race, founded by Steve Ilg, Wholistic Fitness

coach, and hosted by the Durango Nordic Center.

I am careening down a short 50-foot section of

hard packed snow and water ice, an overturned

turtle rocketing along on its polished shell. I slap

my feet down to the ground and beg the hobnails

in my running shoes to gain purchase, but it is

the aspen trees that finally stop my wild flight. I

quickly stand and look behind me to see if fourth

place runner, Mark Thurston of Flagstaff, Ariz.,

has passed me. No? Not yet?

“Hey! Nice slide,” Thurston calls out, quickly

passing behind me. I shake off the rush of my

tumble and do a quick system check– ankles?

Check. Shoulders? Yep, all good. Hip? Bruised

and a bit creaky. Perfect! Let’s get this thing

going again.

Transcending the Winter Warrior

Story and photos by Ben Brashear

Insight comes from stretching your limits into a new form

17Four Corners SportSAPRIL 2015

18 Four Corners SpOrTS APRIL 2015

Mud, grass, ice and snow

It’s a race like this that subverts all expec-

tations tearing at the thin veil of the perfunc-

tory like a wax strip yanked from yeti’s hairy

chest. It’s painful and there’s some shame in-

volved. The daytime high of 60-degrees nearly

took down a 30-year-old record, more than 30

percent of the course was mud and grass in-

terspersed with a creek crossing, water ice,

and hard packed snow. The difficult conditions

persisted despite hours of course mainte-

nance, rock hauling and clearing trees from

the course by Ilg in trying to keep the track

“snowshoe” friendly.

Most of the athletes arrived at the start line

with snowshoes in hand only to ditch them

later in favor of micro spikes. Only the most

dedicated athletes and those attempting to

qualify for snowshoe nationals, hosted in Eau

Claire, Wis., on Feb. 27, endured the excruciat-

ing challenge of the variable conditions, risk-

ing de-lamination of the top decking of their

snowshoes.

Often, though, it takes something out of the

ordinary, something as drastic as 60-degree

temperatures in the middle of February, to

wake us up from the comfort of our routine, to

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19Four Corners SpoRTSAPRIL 2015

rediscover the benefit of chaos and its ability

to redefine our perceptions. Chaos might be a

bit extreme, but it is unexpected change that

primes our mind and body to adapt and grow.

As of late I have been winding my way

through my morning jog and ski running half

asleep, and it continues on that way through-

out my workday. That is until four weeks prior,

when I found out that my mother had been en-

during incredible abdominal pain and might

have ovarian cancer. The doctors were “un-

sure of what” might be “benign or malignant,”

and so decided that there would have to be a

wholesale removal. Now that’s running face

first into oblivion. How do you take that on?

Rob Schultheis, local Telluride, Colo., author

and outdoorsman, argues that catharsis, ulti-

mate understanding, lay in what he has

dubbed “bone games.” A “game” in which the

modern athlete, through a challenging or even

a life-threatening experience, can obtain the

wisdom of a desert-wandering Moses or at-

tain the transcendence of a meditating sadhu

perched high up on the Lhotse Wall. Enduring,

struggling, pushing your physical limits is to

the athlete as pain is to the ritualistic shaman.

In doing so you can attain a super-fluid state

where the mind and body and environment

seem to work in conjunction producing hints

of revelation, of peace and understanding that

border on the religious.

Does the situation have to always be that

extreme to gain insight? I do not believe so. I

do believe that it simply takes pushing against

the elastic wall of your current limitations and

stretching them out into a new form. My op-

portunity to wrap my head around my

mother’s medical condition came when Steve

Ilg offered me the chance to run in his race. I

happily accepted his challenge, as it was a

chance, as Ilg would say in his coach’s voice,

“to train my weakness.”

Taking it all in stride

I stride out the stiffness in my hip from my

fall and cannot help but smile at how ridicu-

lous it must have looked to Thurston watching

the look on my face as I whipped my arms and

legs back and forth when I slid into the trees. I

am a few strides down the trail and I watch

Thurston flash through the pine trees as cur-

rent first place Drew Gunn, his salt and pep-

per fro, bounces over the hill with Lee

Rosenthal tight on his heels in second place

seeming only to taunt Gunn’s pace. I try to

match Thurston’s pace as I make my way to

the final 35-degree pitch of Last Gasp Hill.

The steepness of the climb slows my pace.

It forces me to drive each step with my hands

pressing hard into each quad. It feels as

though the fascia in my hip flexors is smolder-

ing as my lungs heave against my heart, which

beats like a broken-winged bird. I keep my

pace until I can taste the hint of metal on my

breath.

And it is here, perhaps at the mercy of my

endocrine system, in which the worries and

anxiety of life, of my mother and her ailment,

seem to become less daunting. Their mon-

strosity seems manageable.

My steps quicken into a sprint, hobnails

grip into the groomed track and I press to-

ward the final descent to the finish line. And

though, after crossing the line, I wasn’t shak-

ing the desert sand of Mount Sinai from my

shoes or dusting off the glacial ice from the

Lhotse Face, there was just enough challenge,

enough pain pressing into the wall of my limi-

tations that I swear I must have seen a burn-

ing bush out there somewhere along the

course.

20 Four Corners SPOrTS APRIL 2015

The swimming and diving teams from Farm-

ington High School and Piedra Vista wrapped

up an extremely successful seasons at the

2015 NMAA Swimming and Diving State Cham-

pionships at the Albuquerque Academy Natato-

rium in Albuquerque on Feb. 20 and 21.

With both squads being extremely young

and with bright futures in the not too distant

future, Coach Miguel Ortiz and Coach Karen

McCay were very pleased with the results for

the year.

“They blew my expectations out of the water,”

said Ortiz. “There was no way I could have been

prepared for this amount of time drop. It all

came together. This year was a winner.”

McCay was also extremely happy with her

team from Piedra Vista meeting the goals she

had set for the season.

“The team met my goals for the season ex-

actly,” said McCay. “This year, I wanted two

athletes to qualify for state based on time

standards. Two of my swimmers were able to

do that. We also maxed out our diving entries

for the boys, taking four divers to state. And

we were also able to qualify one relay team.”

To qualify for state, swimmers and divers

are able to qualify during the season based on

their times for the event or their scores in div-

ing. Both also are able to qualify during the dis-

trict meet the week prior to the state

championships by finishing either first or sec-

ond in their respective event.

Overall, the Farmington High School boys fin-

ished in 15th place out of 32 teams, while the

girls team finished 18th out of 23 teams com-

peting.

SUCCESSFUL SEASONPV, FHS swimming, diving squads have bright future

Story by Tom Yost


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Notable high finishers for Farmington High

School included as follows:

100 Breaststroke

Nathan Isaacson placed 7th - dropping 3.18 sec

off his best time

200 Medley Relay

Boys (Marshall Magnuson, Nathan Isaacson,

Trenton Grossheim, Jeb Pinckley) placed 8th -

dropping 3.09 sec off best time

Girls (Raimi Clark, Mishael Isaacson, Octavia

Homka, Kayla Farnsworth) placed 14th - dropping

2.47 sec off best time

100 Butterfly

Trenton Grossheim placed 11th - dropping 2.55

sec off best time

On the diving side of things for Farmington

High School, diving coach Ian Donald was also ex-

tremely happy with the results from the season.

“The state meet was a huge success for both

the FHS boys and girls teams,” said Donald. “We

have been a small and tight knit team throughout

the season. Being so close has helped the kids

push each other to the next level. In the 1 meter

diving championships Raimi Clark took 12th

place and Claire Madera took 18th place. After

seeing the overall improvement from last year to

this year, I know these girls will only get better

and better.”

For Piedra Vista, they qualified nine total ath-

letes for the state meet including a full comple-

ment of boys divers, along with two swimmers

and one relay team.

Ammon Seavey for the boys diving team fin-

ished in 5th place, while Benjamin Van Otteson

just barely missed qualifying for the finals.

McCay will be losing Seavey to graduation this

year, but is extremely excited for Bodee DeWees

to carry the torch for PV Diving.

“We had the only eighth grader that qualified

for state in diving this year and it was one of

those magic moments,” said McCay. “Ammon

Seavey was also a state qualifier as an eighth

grader, and acknowledged himself that Bodee ac-

tually had a harder diving list and is a more con-

trolled diver as an eighth grader than Ammon

was at the same age.”

“Sophomore Shayla Moffitt also performed ex-

tremely well at State,” added McCay. “She nearly

recorded a senior zone time for USA Swimming

in the breast stroke, missing by only .41 sec-

onds.”

Going forward, both teams are losing a few

seniors, but both FHS and PVHS have a ton of

young talent in the eighth grade and freshman

years to build quality programs in the future.

“We are losing leadership with Nathan Isaac-

son,” explained Ortiz. “But we are retaining a lot

of experience at the freshmen and eighth grade

levels. We also have an extremely deep girls

squad and are very excited for the future.”

McCay is in a similar position, losing a few sen-

iors but reloading with a crop of young talent at

the eighth and ninth grade levels.

“We met our goals for this year,” said McCay.

“So next year we will increase our expectations

for the team to get better, and as they get older

they will gain experience. We lose three veteran

seniors and five other seniors that were compet-

ing at the high school level for the first time. The

rest of our team consisted of sophomores, fresh-

men and eighth graders. We are an extremely

young team and very excited for what the future

holds.”

22 Four Corners SPORTS APRIL 2015

in the news the past month has been two

interesting stories on cheating. Both went

past the realm of sports to the opening of

news.

First there was the story now known as

“Deflategate,” it would be nice to find a new

term for scandals which doesn’t end in gate.

Then came the news that the chicago Jackie

Robinson All-Stars, that represented the

United States in the Little League World Se-

ries, used players that were not in their as-

signed district.

As a society the edict of “cheaters never

prosper” has been replaced with, “if you’re

not cheating, you’re not trying.” As a former

teacher i was once shocked at the amount of

cheating that went on in the schools where i

taught – by the end of my career, not so

much. cheating has gone main-

stream. it has become situa-

tional. it is even

encouraged as long as

the means brings

about the desired

result - winning.

Let’s play a

game that guaran-

tees a family fight on

game night, Scruples, and de-

cide which of these scenarios are cheating

and which are not.

First scenario: Runners on first and third

in the bottom of the ninth inning with a tie

game, one out with a ground ball toward sec-

ond. The second baseman picks it up and

tosses the ball toward the shortstop behind

second. The shortstop, nowhere near

second, makes the turn for two and the

round doesn’t score; extra innings.

Scenario Two: You are watching Game 5 of

NBA series. One that is remarkably 2-2 with

one team the predominate favorite with an

NBA superstar, and the other a bunch of

upstarts like the Atlanta Hawks. During a piv-

otal sequence a foul doesn’t get called on

one end but on the other the superstar

draws a foul and heads to the line. The color

commentator, a former player himself, be-

gins explaining that this is how it works. “Su-

perstars have earned that call,” he calmly

and matter-of-factly states.

Scenario Three: During the summer your

child’s local high school team is playing in a

summer league, pick the sport. You’re rela-

tively familiar with all the other local teams

and notice that one of the teams has a new

player, a “cousin” who is staying with the

family during the summer. Fast forward to

the season and there they are playing for the

same team.

The answers here are

quite simple. it depends

on which color uniform

you’re rooting for. if

your team missed the

bag or didn’t get called

for the penalty you’re not

complaining and likely are

telling the other side to stop whin-

ing. if your player didn’t get the call or

suddenly the odds are stacked against you,

more than likely you’re crying foul. in reality

we have accepted cheating if we get to the ul-

timate goal – the win.

We have totally accepted cheating as a fact

of life. in the classroom cheating can range

from the desperation of not wanting a failing

grade to “it’s just not that big of deal.” The

same can be said outside the classroom and

on to the field. To some degree cheating has

always been situational. it’s risk reward. Ath-

letes and coaches weigh that risk. So morals,

that seem so high on the list until they come

to success or failure, disappear quickly. Do i

cork the bat? Do i curve the hockey stick? Do

i use a little stick ’em? Do i take the PED? Do i

blur the boundaries? Do i alter the ball?

All these questions seem to be irrelevant

to the home team. While every other baseball

city in the country detests Barry Bonds, not

San Francisco. While all other fans are up in

arms over the pressure of footballs, not Pa-

triot fans. The Yankees are considering retir-

ing Andy Pettitte’s number despite admitting

steroid use.

Why?

He won games in the playoffs. As a sport-

ing society we have even cherished the

cheater. in 1991 baseball added Gaylord

Perry to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Perry was

an admitted cheater in his career using for-

eign substances on the ball while the Hall

keeps out the baseball’s all-time hits leader.

Everyone is looking for a competitive edge

and it’s interesting how society draws the

line from advantage to cheating. Baseball

has a code about the immoral sign stealer

from second base but no problem shorting

the bag on a double play.

While the pressure to win blurs the moral

line, it still comes down to what color of uni-

form you cheer for. consider that chicago

apologist and Pardon the interruption host

Michael Wilbon defended Jackie Robinson

West, stating that the children should pay for

the crimes of the adults as did the mayor of

chicago, Rahm Emanuel, who still plans on is-

suing championship rings to a team stripped

of their title. What is the lesson learned?

Just this past week in Tennessee two

teams tried to intentionally lose a game to

get a better matchup at the state tourna-

ment. Finally, one team’s administrator chas-

tised the coach and the team went on to win

by 26. But this says all you need to know

about win at all cost sports.

Where were the parents?

Did anyone question two coaches that im-

plied players should intentionally miss shots,

hand the ball over to the other team or even

attempt shots at the wrong baskets? Of

course not. in the long run making a mockery

of everything competitive sports is supposed

RickHOERNEREditorial columnist

CHEATERSThese days it is that you win, not how you play the game

23Four Corners SPortSAPRIL 2015

to be about on the chance of ad-

vancing one more round in the

state tournament has become the

norm.

I was once part of a game in

which my opponent was down 3

with under a minute to go and

stalled out to get a home game in

the district tournament by point

differential.

Maybe somewhere along the

way we lost our innocence when

we began teaching that the whole

story of George Washington chop-

ping down the cherry tree and re-

fusing to lie about it became a

myth replacing legend. Maybe it

has become our cynical nature to

not trust the other side is an hon-

est competitor. After all, everyone

is doing it. Perhaps it is just that

we’ve become a win at all cost so-

ciety whether it is in love, politics

or sport.

Apparently it is that you win, not

how you play the game.

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26 Four Corners SPoRTS APRIL 2015

Shaleen Brown admits she has a need – a

need for speed.

When Brown saw members of the Rio

Grande Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) rac-

ing against themselves and others at courses

set up in the parking lot at McGee Park, she de-

cided it was something she wanted to do. And

when she watched her neighbor, Scotty

Lasater, load up his car to head to those same

races, that need for speed went from an “I

want to do it” to an “I will do it.”

Brown shared her need with her husband,

Lonny, who began searching for a car for his

daredevil wife. While searching on Craig’s List

for something else, Lonny saw an ad for a race

car. “It was a really good price,” he said. Check-

ing with his friends who were more knowl-

edgeable about SCCA cars than he was, Lonny

discovered it was a good car and a good price

– and he bought it.

The 1972 Triumph Spitfire wasn’t a pretty

car, however. Spraypainted an ugly brown,

Shaleen wasn’t impressed with it when she

saw the photograph. “But I knew my husband

was really good at making things pretty,” she

said with a laugh.

It wasn’t just the ugly color of the car that

needed work. It was just about everything.

“There wasn’t any power steering and it was a

poor, ugly little car,” Lonny said. “We took it all

apart, did a lot of body work and painted it.”

With the help of his employees (Lonny owns

B&B Truck Parts), Lonny also had to replace

the engine – after Shaleen blew it up on a

practice round, and before her first scheduled

race.

Shaleen wasn’t sure she was prepared for

that first race, however. “It was a two-day run

at McGee Park, and I was getting ready,” she

remembered. “I said ‘maybe I should just go

watch (the race)’ and Lonny said no.”

SCCA racing satisfies

Shaleen Brown’s love of bothStory by Dorothy Nobis | Photos by Josh Bishop

“Shehadbustedthemotorandwehadworkedonitforweeks,get-

tingitreadyforhertodrive,”Lonnysaidwithalaugh.“therewasno

wayshewasnotgettinginthatcarandgoingoutthere.”

WhileneitheroftheBrownswerefamiliarwithSCCAracing,their

learningcurvewashandledaseasilyasShaleendoestheracecourses.

thecoursesarechangedaftereachrace,providingadditionalchal-

lengesforthedrivers.orangeconesdefinethecourse,whichincludes

sharpturns.Ifadriverhitsacone,it’satwo-pointpenalty.Driversare

allowedtowalkthecoursepriortoeachrace,butwalkingitisn’tthe

sameasdrivingit.

“thegoalistogetthroughthecourseasquicklyandcleanlyaspossi-

ble,”Shaleensaid,addingthatotherdriverstoldhertoclosehereyes

andseethecoursebeforeshegetsbehindthewheel.thedrivermust

focus.“Youhavetokeeplookingaheadandlookwayahead,”shesaid.“I

thinkit’smademeabetterdriverwithmyeverydaydriving,too.”

Shaleenhasbeendrivingforalmostayear.LastApril,sheattended

theBobBondurantDrivingSchoolinChandler,Ariz.Whiletheschool

doesn’temphasizethekindofracingShaleendoes,shesaidshelearned

alotaboutracecardriving.

“IdroveahighspeedtrackinanewCorvette,”shesaidwithahuge

smile.“Itwasfourdaysofanadrenalinerush.”

thatadrenalinerushissomethingShaleenenjoysinherownrace

car.Whileshe’sbeenknowntogetlostonacourseandshe’sspunout

onoccasion,herself-confidencehasincreased.“Youthinkyouknow

whereyou’reat(onthecourse)andallofasudden,theconesalllook

alike,”shesaid,adding,“butinthelastfewmonths,Idon’tfeellikethat

anymore.”

theSCCAseasonrunsfromMarchthroughNovember,withracesabout

everythreeweeks.ShaleenraceslocallyandinAlbuquerque.outoftown

racesareusuallyjustone-dayraces,whichisjustoneofthereasonsthe

BrownslovetheSCCA.Becausetheyhaveafamilyandjobs(Shaleenisa

clinicdirectoratSanJuanregionalMedicalCenter,whereshe’sbeenem-

ployedfor25years),racingSaturdaysgivesthemtheopportunitytoenjoy

thesport,whilestillhavingtimeforfamily.theapproximately30club

memberswhoracewithShaleenhavebecomegoodfriendsandthe

Brownsarequicktocreditclubmembersfortheirsupport.

“theclubpeoplehavebeensowelcomingandsoeagertosharetheir

knowledge,”Shaleensaid.theclub’sfirstFarmingtonracethisseason

isApril18-19atMcGeepark.thereisnochargetobeaspectator.

Aswithanysport,thereisanemphasisonsafety,Lonnysaid.“Acer-

tifiedSCCAtechnicalinspectorinspectseverycarforsafety.thereare

workersonthecoursewithfireextinguishers,redflagsandradios.If

someonegetsoffthecourseorspinsout,theythrowtheredflag(which

allowsracerstoknowthere’stroubleonthetrackandtheymuststop

wheretheyareonthecourse).”

27Four Corners SportSAPRIL 2015

* Shaleen Brown 31

28 Four Corners SpORTS APRIL 2015

Hidden Valley Golf Course has been a fix-

ture in the Aztec community for many years.

Once a 9-hole gem owned and operated by

the Armstrong Family, it was converted into

an 18-hole facility at the turn of the new mil-

lennium where it was privately owned and

operated by a partnership headed by David

Bacon.

In the fall of 2014, Hidden Valley closed its

doors and went on the market for sale. The

city of Aztec had not been without a golf

course for the better part of 50 years, and

now the future was uncertain.

That is when City Manager Josh Ray

stepped in. An avid golfer, himself, Ray saw

the facility as an asset that was worth look-

ing into by a municipality, set up through the

city’s enterprise fund.

“Hidden Valley is an awesome asset,” ex-

plained Ray. “Ever since I have been here, we

have known that this is an excellent asset for

our community. When you have it in your

community you need to be able to capitalize

on it.”

The asset to which Ray refers is an already

established 18-hole golf facility that seam-

lessly falls into the community lifestyle cher-

ished by many in the Four Corners.

“The course is already built and has been

here,” added Ray. “The city of Aztec is a

recreational hub for outdoor activities as

part of the Four Corners and the state of New

Mexico. For us, this is another recreational

outreach for our community. We already have

mountain biking, fishing, hiking, the Ruins,

off-roading, and now the golf course. All of

the hidden (Valley)

opportunityAztec changing 18-hole facility into ‘true’ municipal golf course

Story by Tom Yost

29Four Corners SpORTSAPRIL 2015

these activities get people outside and enjoy-

ing the beauty of New Mexico.”

The decision was not automatic for the

Aztec City Commissioners, who were ex-

tremely thorough in the analysis of the ac-

quisition.

“It was a very difficult decision for our city

commissioners,” said Ray. “But we felt that

this offer needed to be moved on.”

Ray is confident that the plans for the fa-

cility will allow for maximum volume, at-

tracting community members to experience

and enjoy the golf course.

“There is a major difference between how

we will operate the golf course, as opposed

to how it was operated in the past,” ex-

plained Ray. “We will operate it as a true mu-

nicipal golf course out of our enterprise

fund. It will have to be revenue positive for

us to stay in the business.”

An extremely difficult task in today’s mar-

ket, with the decline of golf being well docu-

mented nationally.

“Golf may be on the decline and this is a

huge risk – not a huge dollar risk, but as an

investment risk. Long term we want to figure

out how to market the Aztec Municipal Golf

Course at Hidden Valley as a major asset to

our community.”

How will the city of Aztec operate the

newly acquired golf course to make money

instead of losing it? The short and long term

plans have been laid out to operate on an ex-

tremely tight operating budget and solely to

stress the playing of the game.

“Our goal is to create a course with vol-

ume,” added Ray. “We want to sell member-

ships and have a lot of traffic. We are not in

the business to teach people how to play

golf; we are not looking to deter people from

other avenues. We want to offer a quality

golf course at a quality rate.”

“We will not have a full time golf profes-

sional on staff. We will have an admin assis-

tant to manage the day-to-day operations as

well as the parks and recreations depart-

ment. We will have a full time course super-

intendent to make sure the facility is in top

quality shape for our customers.”

Ray is also excited to announce an afford-

able rate structure that, for many golfers in

this community, is going to be hard to pass

up.

“We want to offer an annual golf member-

ship for $250 to all San Juan County govern-

ment employees and local school employees.

We will also charge those same employees

$250 for a yearly cart fee, if so desired. Our

goal is membership, volume and traffic,” ex-

claimed Ray.

Regular membership will be $500 for the

year and $500 for the cart, with daily green

fees at $20 and $5 for the cart. All prices will

have tax added.

And if the short-term goals are success-

ful, the long-term future of the Aztec Munici-

pal Golf Course at Hidden Valley will be in

great hands, backed by a tight-knit commu-

nity.

“We want to market something different

and unique for the community. We want the

golf course to be seen as an additional asset

that our citizens can truly benefit from.”

30 Four Corners sPORTs APRIL 2015

Why was the Foundation created? 1

What benefit is the Foundation to the sheriff's Office and the

people who work there?

2

What is the benefit to the citizens of san Juan County?3

Who do people contact if they want to be involved?4

What projects has the Foundation supported thus far? 5

are any of the members of the sheriff's Office

actively involved in the Foundation?

6

How are they involved?7

are there similar foundations in the area?8

How much money has the Foundation raised?9

Who may enter the 3-Gun Challenge and how

much participation do you expect?

10

Lisa Webb is president of the board for the san Juan sheriff’s Office Foundation

and is a mortgage planner at Lisa L. Webb, Guild Mortgage Company.

There are many members of the san Juan County sheriff’s

Office involved in the programs and events of the sOF. sheriff

Ken Christesen actively encourages members of the sO to be

involved in the community. Every sOF program has a

commander from within the sO as well as assistance from

interested deputies and civilian staff.

The Foundation is a labor of love for many in the community

and close to the heart of many in law enforcement as you

see at events like shop with Your Cop, which exceeded our

goal of 100 kids having a better Christmas in 2014. Each sOF

Event has a corresponding Foundation board member. alvin

Klein was instrumental in making sure the 2014 shop with

Your Cop was a great success, and Cari Drake made the

Breakfast with Your sheriff successful.

san Juan County sheriff’s Office Foundation raised almost

$45,000 to assist with programs.

The 3-Gun Charity Challenge can be entered by anyone who

fits into the two categories of civilian or law enforcement.

anyone interested in entering or sponsoring can reach the

event by calling sJCsOF Board Member and Event

Coordinator steve White at 505.320.3048 or online at

http://sjcsofoundation.com/3gun/

There are similar 501(c)(3)’s assisting some governmental

entities.

The Foundation sponsors many civic events/programs like

the Women against Crime Class, as well as funding

programs that enable accredited volunteers to make a

difference in the sheriff’s Office – from additional civilian

office staff to the Reserve Program that provides the

manpower necessary for emergencies.

The san Juan County sheriff’s Office Foundation was

created to expand the outreach into the community to

establish programs and secure additional funding for

broader assistance for the needs of san Juan County.

The benefit to the citizens of san Juan County is a safer

community with more help on the streets, more help within

the sheriff’s Office to assist with budget cuts, and a means

for great programs to reach kids in need with shop With

Your Cop. in addition, the program helps keep people safer

with programs such as the Reserve Deputy Program, County

Neighborhood Watch and Women against Crime class.

anyone interested in assisting with any sJCOsOF program

can call the sOF at 505.334.6108. There is a short application

to start, followed by a full background and interview with

Commanders. There are many areas of need for volunteers

and funding to meet anyone’s civic interest.

The sJCsOF supports programs and events to raise funds for

outreach into the community to make a positive difference.

We have supported the Reserve Deputy Program, Women

against Crime class (held twice a year at the sO) san Juan

County Neighborhood Watch, Victim services for victims of

domestic violence, Breakfast with the sheriff, Energy alliance

Golf Tournament, Court Watch to review repeat offenders

and their prosecution results and, of course, the 3-Gun

Charity Challenge with the san Juan Wildlife Federation.

LisaWEBB

31Four Corners SpoRTSAPRIL 2015

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All drivers are required to wear SNELL

certified helmets. Modified race cars are

equipped with safety harnesses, roll bars,

and kill switches for fuel on the outside of

the car, which allows race workers to stop

the flow of the fuel if needed.

And while Shaleen drives a race pre-

pared car, street cars are most often

driven for SCCA races. More than 50 per-

cent of the cars are every day drivers. It’s

not how much you spend; it is about bet-

tering yourself as a driver and having

fun,” Lonny said.

The Browns paid $5,500 for Shaleen’s

car and have invested about $20,000 in the

total race operation. The biggest expense

is fuel – $7 a gallon – and tires – $350 per

tire. They use about four sets of tires per

year. “The tires come from England on a

boat to California or the East Coast,”

Lonny said.

Shaleen has no desire – yet – to move

on to another race car division. “I like the

challenge of the turns,” she said, adding

her experience at the Bob Bondurant Driv-

ing School made her appreciate those who

drive on round tracks.

“Round track racing takes a lot of con-

centration,” she said, adding that if she

raced on round track racing, “my brain

would go ‘oh, look at that butterfly,’ be-

cause I don’t think I could concentrate for

that long of a period of time.”

While most professional drivers are

men, Shaleen said about 30 percent of

SCCA drivers are women, and encourages

women – and everyone else – to attend a

race. “They can ride with me,” she offered.

“It’s really a lot of fun.”

It is fun the Browns share. And while

Lonny supports his wife’s racing and

takes care of the car, there is one thing he

has yet to do with her.

“I haven’t ridden with her,” he admitted.

“I just take care of her car.”

Shaleen Brown continued from 27

It would have been a good movie. one

of those action packed, star studded

movies that rakes in a gazillion dollars

the weekend it opens and continues to

give the mega-millionaires a billion dollars

a day for the next seven days (none of which

they will donate to NN’s favorite charity of

which NN is the chairman of the board and the

beneficiary) and until the next big movie gets

underway the following week.

the 2015 Daytona 500 would be a movie

NASCAr Nellie would like to direct, produce,

choreograph, edit, do hair and makeup and

star in. NN could do all of those things. Maybe

not well, but NN has, in her varied “career,”

stayed at several Holiday Inns (under several

different names, to confuse her “fans,” aka law

enforcement personnel who remain convinced

she is some kind of curse they must bear on

accounta some of her “known associates”

aren’t the kind you’d bring home to momma

or your fourth grade teacher. Whatever), and

has done hair and makeup in a for

reals beauty salon (they now call ’em

beauty spas and the hair stylists – who

were known as “beauticians” when NN

was in the field – all look like movie stars

theirownselves) and she took tap dancing

lessons and helped choreograph the Big

recital.

NN’s tap dancing instructor got confused,

though, and gave NN the wrong address of

the Big recital, so NN didn’t get to show her

choreographing skills to the huge audience

NN heard the for reals Br had in the right ad-

dress. NN has also edited some in her profes-

sional career. She’s had to edit doctor’s

prescriptions, judge’s decisions and, occa-

sionally, a note from the mother of a con-

victed misdemeanor person. NN is nothing if

not able versatile. Just sayin’ . . . .


Nascar Nellie’s ready to put on her director/producer hat

Daytona 500 – Daytona 500 – the movie!the movie!

Daytona 500 – Daytona 500 – the movie!the movie!


For starters, this year is Jeff Gordon’s final

year. Ole Jeffey is retiring while he’s on top,

or almost on top, and while he is still one of

the BFFs of the sports most popular driver,

Dale Earnhardt Jr., who makes everyone want

to be his BFF. NN didn’t useta like Jeff Gordon.

When he first crashed the NASCAR party, most

of the drivers were rednecked dudes who en-

joyed getting under the car and mechanicking

as much as they did getting behind the wheel

and driving.

Jeff was a

young, pretty boy,

and Dale Earn-

hardt Sr. took

great pleasure in

making fun of

Jeff, who sported

a mustache back

then, thinking it

would make him

look older. It

didn’t really – in

fact, NN is pretty

sure he used eye-

brow pencil or a

black marker to

draw that mus-

tache on, but it

was kinda cute

and NN felt kinda

sorry for him.

After Junior,

the sport’s most

popular driver for

the eleventeenth time in a row, left his wicked

stepmother, who treated him like Cinderfella

and was sooo not nice to him, and went to

Hendrick and became a teammate of Gordon

and Jimmie Johnson (NN still has a hard time

shopping at Lowe’s on accounta she was

never a JJ fan and if NN isn’t a fan of a driver,

she never EVER supports the companies that

sponsor those drivers. Just so’s ya know), NN

felt an obligation not to hate, hate, hate and

to shake, shake, shake her intense dislike for

JG and JJ because it’s always all about Jun-

ior. Just sayin’. . . .

Anyway, Gordon’s final season will be tough

for him and the fans. NN is pretty sure Jeff’s

gonna get as tired of reporters asking him

what it’s like to know it’s the last time he’s

gonna race ??? track and how does he feel, as

the fans are. A former reporter herownself

(NN was an small time anchor on a small time

television station and had no staff, so she was

forced to make up a coupla stories or two or

three, thinking no one would ever know. In

retrospect, NN should have known that at

some point, people would question her sto-

ries about being abducted by aliens, who mis-

took her for one of the seven virgins and

when they found out she wasn’t what they

thought she was, they tossed her out of the

UFO and she landed in a volcano that was

about to erupt and Navy sailors rescued her

when they heard her screaming like a ban-

shee. Whatever), NN thinks those reporters

could come up with some better questions.

Like how’s it going to feel to be able to go

to the bathroom whenever you want on race

days, and will you be glad not to answer some

of the really dumb questions people ask you,

and how much money is in your 401(k) and

can you live on it or will you have to get a

part-time job like most people?

So Jeff’s last Daytona 500 was s’posed to

be the Big Story of the weekend. And while it

was and all of the drivers signed a windshield

for Jeffey, stating how much the admire him,

have been fans of his since they were 3 and

how much they’re gonna miss him (no one

said what they prob’ly really feel – that

they’re glad he’s finally leaving so they don’t

have to worry about racing him to the win or

for the spot or to the garage, where they can

finally go to the bathroom), Danica Patrick

and Denny Hamlin pretty much took over the

headlines when Danica got into Denny’s face

after he spun her out during practice. NN

watched the movie (she also offered to edit it,

putting Junior in there somewhere, maybe re-

ferring, on account he IS the sport’s most

popular driver, but that phone call/text mes-

sage/email never got returned. Whatever)

and was proud of Danica for calling Denny

out.

Denny tried to calm her down, saying it

wasn’t his fault, and put his hands on her

shoulders, trying to comfort her – or make

sure she couldn’t haul off and smack him

alongside of his

head, which is

prob’ly what she

really wanted to

do. That was a big

deal, and the

media had a hey-

day with it.

Then came the

Nationwide Series

(NN doesn’t al-

ways watch Na-

tionwide races on

accounta they’re

like the minor

league in baseball

or the world

league in football,

but she does sup-

port some of the

drivers there – no-

tably her former

Sweet Baboo,

Eliott Sadler, who

threw NN and her love and devotion under the

NASCAR trailer when some pretty young thing

came along – and he found out wasn’t one of

the seven virgins (he had seen the news that

one night when NN needed a story quick and

a better “clip” for her ever expanding re-

sumé), and that nice Kyle Larson, who is a

racing buddy of my grandsons from another

grandfamily, Bradley and Josh Huish). Kyle

Busch, who for years was known as Boo-hoo

Busch by NN on accounta he whined all the

time and blamed everybody else for his bad

attitude and his not-exactly-Jeff Gordon-looks,

crashed during the race, slamming a not-so-

safe barrier and broke his leg.

That took Kyle (who married that beautiful

Samantha, who evidently found something in

Boo-hoo that NN and a gazillion other fans

have missed over the years and who is carry-

ing Boo-hoo’s baby, who we can all hope and

* Nascar Nellie 35

34 Four Corners SporTS APRIL 2015

I always consider it cheating when winter

forgets it is winter and turns back into fall.

The month of February was unbelievably

gorgeous as many residents in our area took

advantage of the mild temperatures and

sunshine to get active outdoors. With so many

options at our disposal, the activities become

infinite in how our community wants to spend

our free time.

With all of the options being chosen, the

game of golf is suffering what many are

calling “a decline.” The experts are saying that

the game just doesn’t fit into the lifestyles of

Generation X and Y (millennials) as time

restraints and computer-generated entertain-

ment are dominating their attention and

expendable income. According to the “expert,”

golf is antiquated, too slow and isn’t very

much fun to most of those who are not playing

it.

With that being said, I am not naïve enough

to think that the game is for everybody.

Do I think the game is in trouble?

Yes and No.

It was in decline from the late 1990s and

early 2000s when the boom of golf exploded

with the interest caused by Tiger Woods. Then

I look at programs like The First Tee, compa-

nies like TopGolf and ideas like Foot Golf and

think that the game is going to be just fine

going forward.

I also believe that the mindset of con-

sumers is being dramatically altered by the

technological advancement that has been hap-

pening for the better part of 25 years. That is

not going away and neither is the “instant

gratification” of apps and games that are

dominating the lives of so many who are being

drawn to them like the songs of the Sirens did

to odysseus in Homer’s The odyssey.

Too many lives are being altered in a nega-

tive way for the tipping point from the com-

puter games to outdoor activities/real life

experiences not to occur – and I think that it

is coming sooner than you think.

The game of golf is the furthest thing from

instant gratification as there is on this earth.

It is a complete 180-degree change from the

reset button on a video game. The formula for

the game is passion and hard work, but noth-

ing is ever guaranteed – especially becoming

a great player.

Golf – if given a chance – offers so much

more than is often perceived. Those who be-

come involved in the game start describing it

in terms of a romantic relationship or as a

healthy addiction that keeps them coming

back. I believe that while golf might not be for

everybody, it is one of the few options that of-

fers something for everyone.

I feel that the masses are going to start

gravitating back to the outdoors, with their

families involved – and what better activity is

there for the generational gap than the game

of golf? The game spans generations where a

6-year-old can play with an 80-year-old and

both can beat a 25-year-old.

Golf is a social gathering where 40 minutes

of the four-hour rounds are spent concentrat-

ing on the game and the other 3-plus hours

are spent in the company of good friends,

family or strangers who share your passion.

The game offers an hour (or five) respite

from the grind that is computer screens, obli-

gations, deadlines and stress. And when all is

said and done, the stresses of life and work

and family are still there – but the memories

of spending a memorable two hours with your

daughter (son, dad, friend) playing golf will

last for the rest of your (and their) life.

Time, unfortunately, does not stand still –

but the less time younger generations experi-

ence and enjoy what life has to offer, the more

likely they are going to look back and regret

their time spent. Golf is a wonderful activity to

get outside, slow down and experience all of

the nuances that make the game so special to

so many. And with so many wonderful golfing

experiences in The Four Corners, I would en-

courage you to give it a try – or a second

chance.

The game of golf isn’t dying, it is just wait-

ing patiently for you to experience all it truly

has to offer.

TomYOSTThe First Tee

Golf has a lot to offer for all ages

The greaT ouTdoors


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pray has his mother’s good looks) out of the M&Ms car (NN invested

all of the Perfect Child’s inheritance in M&M collectibles when her

Sweet Baboo drove the M&M car and, as much as NN loves M&Ms, she

no longer buys them on accounta she is nothing if not loyal to her

drivers, even when they toss her aside like an old oil rag – NN does

still eat M&Ms, she just doesn’t buy ’em, which caused a huge layoff at

the M&M factory. NN didn’t get her fuller figure from eating carrots

and cauliflower, ya know) and put him in the hospital, where he

watched the Daytona 500 on one of those little televisions they put in

hospital rooms.

But it wasn’t just Boo-hoo who missed the Big Race. His Big Bro,

Kurt, also missed the big show and the first of Jeff Gordon’s last races

and, NN is guessing, the signing of the windshield, on accounta Kurt is

in big trouble with the law enforcement people who used to dog NN,

watching her every move and her every text/email/phone calls. No one

knows when/if the Busch Brothers will return to the track, but NN’s

putting her three cents on Boo-hoo. Just sayin’ . . . .

The Big Race and the Big Show were exciting and fun. NN loves the

pre-race festivities, especially when the announcers introduce Junior,

the sport’s most popular driver, and the fans go wild and you can ac-

tually feel the earth move and the angels sing, and when the jets do

the big fly-over and when someone you’ve never heard of sings the Na-

tional Anthem. NN always cries when she hears the National Anthem

on accounta she’s proud of her country and all it stands for. NN always

stands when they sing the NA, even when she’s in the ladies room tak-

ing care of business. Whatever.

NN loved the race. She loved it when Junior took the lead and the

fans roared and the ground shook and the angels sang, and she en-

joyed the several big wrecks, ’specially when no one is injured. NN

loved it that some of her not-so-favorite drivers – like Braggart Brad

Keselowski, who is the least most favorite driver in the sport – don’t

do well. NN raises her glass of Sweet Cherry Pie wine to toast the bad

luck of BBK each and every time he screws up.

NN is not a fan of Joey Logano, who went on to win the race, after a

“questionable” call by the NASCAR officials to end the race in a

green/white/checkered flag, which, in NN’s expert opinion, was done

so Junior, the sports most popular driver and who was running third

and would have caught Little Joey and won if half of the field didn’t

wreck in the final laps wouldn’t win on accounta NASCAR is trying to

get younger viewers. NN is happy Little Joey got married during the off

season and he has a cute little wife and they’ll prob’ly have cute little

Joeys and Samanthas and NN loves a good love story. NN can’t remem-

ber exactly why she doesn’t like Little Joey, but it musta been some-

thing big.

NN is glad the NASCAR season has returned. She loves her NASCAR

faves and really, really doesn’t like her NASCAR non-faves. NN drinks

Mountain Dew, has Nationwide Insurance, tried to enlist in the Na-

tional Guard (they cited NN’s age and her background check as rea-

sons – NN thinks the National Guard people are nice and lovely, but

don’t have much of a sense of humor, on accounta all of those things

in her background were “committed” with the good of the Nation in

mind. Whatever).

NN hopes Jeffey enjoys his last season, that Kyle Larson and Trevor

Bayne have good years, that Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus play

well together this year, that Tony Stewart (who refused to weigh in for

the Big Race and, after seeing him in his driver’s suit, NN understands

why) gets his groove back, loses a little weight and wins some races,

and that Junior, the sports most popular driver, wins a championship

and creates a celebration within Junior Nation that not only makes the

Earth move, but the whole entire universe. Just sayin’ . . . .

Nascar Nellie continued from 33

Four Corners Sports April 2015

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