(Little Rock)- I had a terrific evening in Little Rock. There's a new minor league baseball stadium here, and it's just fabulous. It has the feel of a small version of the Ballpark in Arlington. It's situated so that it opens to a great skyline view.
(Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock)
I had dinner at a relatively nice restaurant which is in the stadium and overlooks the concourse as well as the field. It's situated along the third-base line. The steak was great and my old friend Irv had Italian food, which he prononced fit.
A distant thunderstorm backlit the skyline and produced a comforting breeze for the double-header between the Arkansas Travelers and the Tulsa Drillers. All together, a wonderful way to spend a springtime Friday: Good friend, good food, good weather, good baseball. What more could you ask for?
All that being said, it made me yearn for what might have been back home. We lost our Texas League team several years ago and now we have independent baseball. We are told it's about the same caliber of play, but it's just not the same. Our ball park is more than 20 years old now. While the seats are comfortabe and the sight lines are good, the amenities just haven't kept up with the times. The location has become a problem, as well.
I found myself imagining what it would be like to have a new ball park across the river from downtown Shreveport, just north of the Louisiana Boardwalk. We could try to lure the Texas League back to town. We could do what Little Rock has done. 
For now, though, I choose to celebrate the experience I had tonight. Good baseball can make you happy. (More shaky cell-phone photos)
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Bonus Baseball
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Random Thoughts on Mexican Food
We eat a lot of Mexican food. Purists would correct me, preferring to say that I eat a lot of Tex-Mex. Okay, whatever. Over the near half-century I've chomped on chili peppers, I've formed some pretty strong opinions. Papasito's, for instance, is highly overrated. I miss Don Carlos hard. I've spent thousands of dollars at El Chico. I completely support the ownership and management of Cantina Laredo and wish them well. I will eat there many times still. Trejo's is fine. Margarita Cafe is a nice change of pace and it has its devotees. Superior Bar and Grill has a flavor and purpose of its own, and it's strong.
When it comes right down to it, for me, if I had to choose one place to have a Mexican meal, there is a clear winner:
Nicky's by a mile. Nicky's has been so important to me for so long that I can't even put it into words. Twenty years ago, May 1987, I got married. The wedding was at 2:00 in the afternoon. I had lunch that day with all the groomsmen and ushers. At Nicky's.
(You kids, don't be afraid of the '80's eyewear)
I ate there tonight, twenty years later, with my beautiful bride. In the middle of the meal, I just said, "I love Nicky's." I do. There it is. It just needed to be said.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Sports Struggle for Acceptance
You have to hand it to the Shreveport Sports. They’re hanging around. The baseball team occupying Fair Grounds Field has begun its fifth season, which is more than double the amount of time we endured the Swamp Dragons. The problem is, not too many people have noticed. Second-year general manager Terri Sipes says her biggest challenge is “letting people know we have a professional baseball team here in town.”
Sipes know a little about operating in near anonymity. She worked in the Captains’ organization in its fading years, when muggy nights at the ball park lost their Shreveport élan and were replaced by the cool cacophony of riverboat casinos. She believes baseball has a place here, that people just need to be reminded. She has augmented her sales force, which is hearing with some consistency that people simply don’t know about the Sports. So, they’re reaching out. “We haven’t had enough people out promoting the Sports,” Sipes admits. “That’s what we’re changing this year. We have a larger staff with five new people on board targeting groups and communities in the outlying area in Shreveport and Bossier. We’re targeting charitable organizations and presenting them with fundraising packages,” Sipes say hopefully, believing all the while that if people will just come to the ball park they will want to come back and bring their friends. The front office has a hometown feel. Another former Captains executive, Michael Beasley, has joined the fold as Vice President of Business Development. Dave Nitz, a broadcaster familiar to thousands of area fans as the voice of Louisiana Tech and the Captains, returns to call Sports games. They’re doing everything they can think of to make this feel familiar.
The stadium itself has become an issue. When LSU and Centenary played there earlier this year, the facility was in embarrassingly bad condition. Maintenance had been neglected by city crews and the scoreboard had fallen into disrepair to the point that it was illegible. Sipes insists those problems have been addressed, that the scoreboard is repaired and the stadium is “spruced up.” There was a lot of excitement when FGF opened, but believe it or not that was more than two decades ago. “It’s now in its 21st year of existence,” Sipes says as she ruefully does the math. “When it was built it was state of the art. We were about a year too early building this structure compared to what baseball owners are building now,” meaning that today’s minor league parks have more amenities and are like miniature big league facilities. The strengths Fair Ground Field boasted in the mid-80’s are still there, though. There’s not a bad seat in the house and fans can sit close enough to converse with the players.
The product on the field seems to have had little impact on attendance. The team wins consistently and Sipes compares the caliber of play favorably to that of the Captains and the Swamp Dragons, saying “We’ve had several players who have played double-A ball. The caliber of play is pretty much equal.” Eleven players return from last year’s team, including star outfielder Chad Gambill and pitcher Bert Snow, who double as player-coaches. Manager Bob Flori is back for the third consecutive season. All of this is plays into the hope that familiarity will foster fan loyalty.
The season runs through August and everybody knows it will be hot. Sipes and her team hope that describes demand for tickets as well as the weather.
Prom '77 Rears Its Head
Only confirming that Prom is highly overrated, I offer evidence sent in by vigilant Daddy D reader Elizabeth Pryor. Here is indisputable evidence that I was with Elizabeth (top center) and many others at a prom in April of 1977. I remember almost every person in this photo, and I'm still in contact with two of them. That's me, young and with a lot of hair, top-right. It looks like I just stuck my head into the frame. Who was my date that night? I couldn't tell you. Maybe Elizabeth remembers. I remember the people, but I don't remember the night.
Don't think for a second that I was there without a date. That was another school's prom, which means I had to be invited by someone.
One of my closest friends from junior high and high school is in this picture. Regrettably, we haven't spoken in years, decades maybe. Another guy moved away for thirty years and just moved back to town late last year. Another moved from L.A. to New York in the early '90's and is raising a family in the Big Apple. One of the girls in the photo is the younger sister of a guy who went on to start at quarterback in a Super Bowl. Another guy ultimately married one of my wife's closest childhood friends, but they're divorced now and the ladies have lost touch with one another. The other guy, I haven't seen since high school. Two of the girls, I couldn't tell you who they are. Another girl I've lost touch with, but I see her brother about once a week. I'll have to ask how she's doing.
High school seems so important, and I'm sure it is. I have two kids going through it now. They're making memories, no question. You just wonder how long they will last.
As for Prom '77, I think we all look pretty good. Hey, we were wearing ruffles, but at least there's no powder blue vest! I say that while trembling in fear that someone will dig up the photos from Prom '78. I remember the girl (Heck, I'll never forget her) and I absolutely remember what I was wearing. There was a whole lot of blue involved.
Monday, May 07, 2007
The Happy Couple Went to Prom
Is it just me, or is the Prom overrated? Prom night has some kind of legendary mystique to it, but does it ever really live up to the hype? I remember what my high school girlfriend wore to the prom, mainly becaue I looked at the photos for so long. I don't remember where the prom was, what we did afterward, who we had dinner with, or any other detail. It was an excuse to stay out late and go out to a fancy dinner, but that's about it.
Fast forward thirty years, and my son goes with his lovely long-standing girlfriend to the prom. They looked nice. They took some pictures. They stayed out essentially all night. I'm not sure what they did, and I guess that's what prom's all about, some kind of expression of freedom: damn the curfew, full speed ahead.
We took no phone calls from alarmed parents and no one was arrested or killed, so I suppose my son's prom was a success. He seemed underwhelemed by the whole thing. The Happy Couple keeps a low profile around us, anyway. I don't like that very much; but hey, they're 17. Who wants to hang around with the parents?
So, prom has come and gone with little fanfare. They're juniors, so they can do it again next year. Maybe they'll remember Prom '07 when Prom '08 rolls around. I suspect when Prom '37 gets here and they're paying for the tux rental, they won't recall a thing except maybe that baby-blue vest.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Wings Win Again, Improve to 5-0
(Corpus Christi, TX) – The Bossier – Shreveport Battlewings exploded for 40 second half points to cement a 62-27 win over the Corpus Christi Sharks. With the win, the Battlewings improve to 5-0. The five wins to start the season account for the longest winning streak in franchise history.
The Battlewings opened the scoring when Quincy Carter passed six yards to Marc Bacote for a 6-0 lead with 3:22 remaining in the first quarter, and they never trailed. Carter touchdown tosses to Manwell Talbert and PJ Winston, combined with a 23 yard Brian Hazelwood field goal made the score 22-0 before the Sharks were able to find the end zone. It was 22-7 at the half.
The Sharks closed to within eight points, 22-14, at the start of the second half. But Carter responded with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Talbert to create a little cushion at 28-14. A Jason Schule touchdown run made it 35-14. The, The Battlewings’ Ken Williams scampered 35 yards with a fumble recovery for a touchdown and the Wings had a 42-14 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Schule ran for another score and Jamaal Perry caught two fourth quarter touchdown passes to round out the scoring. Carter completed 15 of 25 pass attempts for 235 yards and six touchdowns. Perry, who was named offensive player of the game, caught five passes for 66 yards and two touchdowns.
Bossier-Shreveport sack specialist Elex Reed had one sack in the game and applied consistent pressure to Sharks quarterbacks and earned defensive player of the game honors.
PJ Winston, who caught four passes for 74 yards and a touchdown, also played defensive back after “Boss” Walker was injured in the third quarter. For his efforts, Winston was named Ironman of the game.
The Battlewings will play the Arkansas Twisters in North Little Rock next Saturday and will be at home the following Friday against the Manchester Wolves.
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
Bos-Shv Battlwings 13 9 20 40 62 Record: (5-0)
RGV Dorados 0 7 7 13 27 Record: (0-5)
Offensive player of the game: Jamaal Perry
Defensive Player of the game: Elex Reed
Ironman of the game: PJ Winston
Catch of the game: Steve Smith (CCS)
Attendance: 2801
Unexpected Beach Adventure
(Corpus Christi, TX) - Corpus Christi's got it going on. It's apparently the Whataburger captial of the Universe. I'm sure there's a legitimate, easily explained reason for this; but I haven't bothered to research it. There are Whataburger restaurants everywhere. The baseball park, home of the Corpus Christi Hooks (reigning Texas League champions, Astros' double-A, owned by Nolan Ryan)is named Whataburger Field. If you like a Whataburger, this is the place to be.
"Corpus," as it is known affectionately by those in the region, is a much bigger city than I thought. It has everything your average American middle-sized city needs, plus beaches. I woke up early this morning and drove to the end of the world, Texas style, and found myself in a national park on an undeveloped beach. It was great! The wind was howling at about about thirty miles per hour, surf was pounding and there were no tall buildings, almost no litter, and very few people. I felt like I had gone back in time.
Later, yearning for civilization, I made my way to Port Aransas, a typical beach town with juust about everything you'd expect. There, I spent more conventional beach time surrounded by people with kites, umbrellas and all the usual beach stuff.
(Daddy D cell phone self-portraits) The waves were coming in at about six feet, so not many people were venturing into the water. Still, I never expected to spend a Saturday at the beach. So, bonus beach time for me. I even took the opportunity to have lunch on a deck near a marina. The shrimp were fresh, the beer was cold and the breeze was brisk.
I don't think this would be a bad place to live. For a sports fan there's the excellent minor league baseball, an Arena Football team, another indoor team, minor league hockey and a Division I university that sent its basketball team to the NCAA tournament this year. If you need big city stuff, San Antonio and Houston are nearby. All that and beaches! And don't forget the Whataburgers.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
My Daughter the Thespian
One of the disembodied heads in this photo scanned in from the local newspaper belongs to my daughter. She is heavily active in the Academy of Children's Theater, and they're getting a lot of advance publicity for their production of "Thoroughly Modern Mille," which opens this weekend in a downtown Shreveport theater. These kids have been putting in preposterous hours in rehearsal. Last night they were at the theater until well after 10:00pm. They were required to be back at 4:45 this morning to perform live on KTBS's morning show. The kids, high school and middle school age, have been working their little tails off and it's really paying off.
I have seen a lot of high school productions in my day. In fact, I was a drama club officer in high school. I've been around some amateur and community theater and 
I'm here to say this is the best I've ever seen. They've put in so much time as they prepare for final exams in school that some of them are feeling ill. If they can get past that, this will be one of the finest musical productions our little city has seen. 
It's that good. My daughter played "Pepper" in the fall production of "Annie" and is "Ruth" in the current production. Both are speaking parts, but not starring roles. So, I can maintain a reasonable level of observational objectivity.
In the fall, ACT's "Annie" played to critical and popular acclaim. "Millie" blows Annie away.
People are noticing. This news broke on opening night:
Due to strong ticket sales, the Academy of Children’s Theatre has added a matinee performance to its production of “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” The new show is at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Other scheduled performances are 7 p.m. tonight, Friday and Saturday and 7 p.m. May 10-12.
Tickets are $20 and $15. For reservations, call (318) 429-6885.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
I Won A Tee Shirt From Teddy
There's a lot of useless knowledge stuck in my brain, no doubt a product of wasted time. I was using my time productively and checked out the blog being maintained by Teddy Allen From the Newspaper. There, Teddy challenges his readers to explain the origin of a reference to Giraffes being selfish. This was obvious to me. Everyone who loves the Andy Griffith Show knows that Giraffes are selfish. Teddy was offering a free tee shirt to anyone who could properly explain how this came to be known.
I wrote to Teddy and explained that there was an episode where Opie had to let some stray dogs go on a farm. As I recall, there were storms coming, and he was worried about how they would do. Barney explained that dogs are too low to the ground to get struck by lightning, then said something like "Now, if there were giraffes out there, we'd be in trouble." Barney goes on about how the dogs will help each other, but not giraffes. "Boy, giraffes are selfish, just run around looking out for number one, getting hit by lightning...."
Then, thunder claps and Barney leaves the courthouse to go save the dogs.... 
When my wife was pregnant with our daughter, we visited the National Zoo in Washington, DC. While we were there, a baby giraffe was born. We have photos of it, and all. So, in the gift shop, we bought a stuffed-toy giraffe for Future Baby.
Fast forward about four years: my mother-in-law takes our daughter to the Acadiana Zoo where she hand feeds a full-grown giraffe. The photo is so cool that we have it blown up to poster size.
All that being said, I have to admit that giraffes ARE selfish, always
running around looking out for themselves, getting struck by lightning. They're not at all like dogs, which are well insulated by fur and low tothe ground, but still watch out for each other.
Teddy wrote back, promising to send that tee shirt to me because, as he said, "Unlike giraffes, I try never to be selfish."
It is a proud, proud day.
Further evidence that giraffes are, indeed, selfish: Two more photos of my daughter visiting the same giraffe on different occasions. As you can see, the giraffe, selfishly, is always demanding food.
Wings Win Again, Improve to 4-0
(Bossier City, LA) – The Bossier –Shreveport Battlewings overcame a sluggish start and rode their opportunistic defense to a 64-45 win over the Laredo Lobos.
The Battlewings, ranked #3 in the af2 coaches’ poll, improved to 4-0 while the Lobos remained winless in four tries.
The outcome remained in doubt until the closing seconds when Wings’ wide receiver PJ Winston, playing at defensive back in place of the injured Kenneth Williams, picked off a Daniel Forrest pass and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown.
The Lobos opened the scoring with a 31-yard Jonathan Scifres 1st-quarter field goal, but the Battlewings found the end zone first when quarterback Quincy Carter connected with Winston for a 27-yard touchdown pass. It was the first of three touchdown catches for Winston, in addition to his interception return for a score. For his efforts, Winston was named the Schutt offensive player of the game.
“Boss” Walker worked his magic once again for the Wings, intercepting two passes. He also returned a Laredo kick-off 54 yards for a second quarter touchdown that gave the Battlewings 17-16 lead. Walker earned U.S. Army Ironman honors as well as being named ADT defensive player of the game. Carter connected on touchdown passes to Winston and Jamaal Perry in the second quarter, lifting Bossier-Shreveport to a 30-16 lead. Laredo responded with a 21-yard pass from Forrest to Mike McCullum to trim the lead to 30-23 at halftime.
With 2:03 remaining in the third quarter, Laredo grabbed a 37-33 lead with a four-play 37-yard drive punctuated by a 34 yard scoring pass from Forrest to Shaun Rochon.
Carter responded by leading the Battlewings to a score on a 17-yard pass to Manwell Talbert to regain the lead, which they would not relinquish.
Carter attempted 26 passes, completing 17 for 260 yards and 6 touchdowns. He threw two first-half interceptions. Jamaal Perry led the Battlewings with nine catches for 112 yards and two touchdowns.
The Battlewings will play on the road the next two weekends at Corpus Christi and Arkansas before returning for a Friday night encounter with the Manchester Wolves.
*Photos borrowed from Greg Pearson of The Times
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
Laredo Lobos 3 20 14 8 45 Record: (0-4)
Bos-Shv BattleWings 10 20 10 24 64 Record: (4-0)
LEADERS:
PASSING: Daniel Forrest (LAL) 46-26-3-320 4 td’s;
Quincy Carter (BSB) 26-17-2-260 6 TD’S
RECEIVING: Mike McCullum (LAL) 10-104-2; Jamaal Perry (BOS) 9-112-2
Attendance: 4252
Schutt Offensive Player of the Game: PJ Winston
U.S. Army Ironman: Kendrick Walker
ADT Defensive Player of the Game: Kendrick Walker
Cutters Catch of the Game: Jamal Perry
Scoring Summary:
1st quarter
11:40 Scifres 32 yd FG BSB 0 LAL 3
8:48 Carter to Winston 37 yd pass BSB 7 LAL 3
2:25 Hazelwood 20 yd FG BSB 10 LAL 3
2nd quarter
14:37 Forrest to McCullum 22 yd pass BSB 10 LAL 9 missed extra point
12:10 Forrest hand-off to Oliver 4 yd run BSB 10 LAL 16
11:13 Walker 54 yd kick-off return BSB 17 LAL 16
2:30 Carter to Perry 33 yd pass BSB 24 LAL 16
0:20 Carter to Winston 32 yd pass BSB 30 LAL 16
0:04 Forrest to McCullum 21 yd pass BSB 30 LAL 23
3rd quarter
8:10 Forrest to Rochon 32 yd pass BSB 30 LAL 30
4:58 Hazelwood 40 yd FG BSB 33 LAL 30
1:59 Forrest to Roshon 34 yd pass BSB 33 LAL 37
0:15 Carter to Talbert 17 yd pass BSB 40 LAL 37
4th quarter
10:41 Carter to Perry 8 yd pass BSB 47 LAL 37
7:35 Carter to Winston 13 yd pass BSB 54 LAL 37
2:02 Forrest to Roshon 13 yd pass BSB 54 LAL 45 2 pt conversion good
0:41 Hazelwood 41 yd FG BSB 57 LAL 45
0:12 Winston 44 yd interception return BSB 64 LAL 45
Friday, April 27, 2007
A Brand New Car!
A crushed and humiliated car has been dragged away to the salvage yard. My son, who was minding his own business and turning toward school one recent morning, was blasted from the rear by a lady driver who didn't bother to apply her brakes.
Thus began an unanticipated and joyless search for a replacement vehicle. We exhumed the old debates about whether to get a car that could last through college or get a junker that he can abuse.
Happily for him and unfortunately for the family's monthly cash flow, he actually got something new, something bigger and something more expensive. I can't explain why. I know a lot of people will question our judgment, but the car he wanted has massive cool points. More importantly to his mother, it features more air bags than you've ever seen in any car, ever. So, out there on the mean streets of Shreveport is a 17-year-old boy in a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer.
Aside from the financial piece, I'm a little uneasy about the fact that this is the first non-American car I've ever bought. My wife is an import person, not by design but by happenstance. She's had a Honda, a Mazda and an Infiniti since I've known her. Now, happily, she's driving a Chrysler. But there, in my garage, is a Japanese car.
The good news is that my teenager has caved into pressure and is employed. 
He wants to buy a stereo for the car and he's feeling pressure to do nicer things for his girlfriend, now that they are approaching their one-year anniversary. I congratulated him on getting the job, which involved three separate interviews with two managers. He said, " I don't feel like celebrating. I feel like having a funeral." I asked why. He said, " To mourn the death of my free time." This is the dude I live with.
I don't blame him for being a little despondent, though. He lost his first car through no fault of his own and now he's bearing an adult-like responsibility. Growing up can be tough, espcially when no one is willing to slam on the brakes for you.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Wings Win Again - What a Thrill
Bossier – Shreveport 52 Rio Grande Valley 48
(Hidalgo, TX) – The Bossier Shreveport Battlewings scored with three seconds showing on the clock to remain undefeated on the young af2 season with a thrilling 52-48 win over the Rio Grande Valley Dorados.
The match-up of unbeaten af2 Southwest division teams was a rock and roll thrill ride, with teams swapping scores until the final seconds. On the Battlewings’ final offensive play, Quincy Carter hit PJ Winston in the end zone from 24 yards away to provide the margin of victory. It was the third touchdown catch of the night for Winston, who caught ten passes for 177 yards. Carter completed 27 of 42 attempts for 344 yards and seven touchdowns and was named the offensive player of the game for the third time in three games.
The Battlewings surrendered the ball on downs on their opening possession and quickly fell behind. Dorados quarterback Josh Kellett connected with Coco Blalock for a score and a 7-0 advantage. The Bossier-Shreveport offense was sluggish in the first quarter of their first road game of the season, managing just a 30-yard field goal from Brian Hazelwood.
In the second quarter, the Wings would claim their first lead. Carter hit Jamaal Perry from 16 yards out, capping a five play, 40-yard drive. Hazelwood’s Point After made the score 10-7.
The lead would change hands four times before the half. Carter’s 38-yard scoring pass to PJ Winston at 5:34 o the 2nd quarter made it 17-14. The Battlewings led 24-21 at the half following an eight-play 45 yard drive that culminated in a Carter to Perry scoring pass with five seconds showing on the clock.
The Dorados quickly regained the lead with the first possession of the second half when Josh Kellett and George Williams connected on a six-yard scoring play, which put a punctuation mark on an 8-play, 45 yard drive.
The Wings had a dramatic response: Carter to Manwell Talbert on the very next play. The 37-yard pitch and catch made the score 31-28 Battlewings.
The Battlewings appeared to be in trouble when, with less than four minutes remaining in the game, Carter fumbled the snap from center at his own 5 yard line. Keenan Williams of the Dorados picked up the loose ball and scampered into the end zone for a score that would give RGV a 41-38 advantage.
But Carter and Talbert comined for another one-play dandy, a 24-yard scoring toss on the next play. When the Dorados scored with less than a minute to go to take a 48-52 lead, the stage was set for Carter and Winston’s dramatic finish, a pass into the back right corner of the end zone which Winston hauled in with ease, bringing a boisterous Rio Grande Valley crowed to an eerie hush.
The Battlewings improve to 3-0. They will host the Laredo Lobos Friday night in Bossier City.
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
Bos-Shv Battlwings 3 21 14 14 52 Record: (0-2)
RGV Dorados 7 14 13 14 48 Record: (2-0)
Offensive player of the game: Quincy Carter
Defensive Player of the game: Kenneth Williams (BSB)
Ironman of the game: Chris Canty (RGV)
Catch of the game: PJ Winston (BSB)
LEADERS:
PASSING: Quincy Carter (BSB) 42-27-0 7TD’s
Josh Kellett (RGV) 43-24-2 6 td’s
RECEIVING: PJ Winston (BSB) 10-177 3td’s; George Williams (RGV) 8-56 4 td’s
Thank God for iPod: The Long Way to Texas
The long day's journey into night began at 6:15am this morning in Shreveport, took me to Houston, back to Shreveport, back to Houston, then to McAllen, TX and ultimately to the fine little village of Hidalgo.
by me. God Bless my wife, who surprised me a couple of weeks ago with some Bose noise-cancelling headphones. Today, as frustrations mounted, I was Easy Like Sunday Morning, baby. Sweet music, my own world, no interruptions. People left me alone. I think they did, at least. The noise was cancelled. I couldn't hear a thing I didn't want to hear.
were sent away because of dense fog. By the time we got back to Shreveport and took off again, more than a dozen planes were stacked up at Shreveport Regional. Glancing through our windows into those of our neighboring planes, we all seemed to have that glazed-over "what the heck?" look. Finally, the fog lifted and off we went again, Deja-vu style.Wednesday, April 18, 2007
A Kick in the Jockstrap
In Shreveport and Bossier city, we know what we are. When vistors arrive, we usually treat them with hospitality and kindness, but the favor isn't always returned. Over the years, we have endured our share of potshots and criticism from Independence Bowl travelers and others who have been compelled to come here. Sure, it stings a little because we would like people to think nice things about us. I remember well when columnist Woody Paige of the Denver Post wrote that Shreveport is a "dingy, dismal southern city." That may have been the most unkind description I've read from an outside media person. Until now.
A writer from the weekly tabloid "The Dallas Observer" came to town to craft something about Battle Wings quarterback Quincy Carter, who used to play for the Cowboys. The things he wrote about Carter's fall from grace speak for themselves, but this passage made me see red:
Since getting dismissed by the Cowboys in the summer of 2004, Lavonya Quintelle Carter's life has gone to shit. And, arguably worse, Shreveport.
Dude's name is Richie Whitt and don't ask me what we ever did to him. He took his share of unfair shots in his piece, including making the ridiculous comparison of our nice little arena on the river to the stadium being built for the Cowboys:
Fittingly, on an Easter Eve sprinkled with snow, Carter looks ridiculously out of place in the quaint building about the size of a concession stand in the Cowboys' new $1 billion baby. The joint is sponsored by Shoney's, has all the ambience of a nursing home knitting hour and boasts a grainy black-and-white scoreboard video screen not unlike the set your old man used to watch The Honeymooners. The game is 8 on 8, the 50-yard field is surrounded by padded walls and the referee constantly stops play to yell "Please turn down the music!"
I was sitting two seats away from this man, and I can tell you that his demeanor the entire evening should have been a barometer for the turd storm he was about to unleash on us. I'll give him this: the video screens do need work, and the referee that night did announce twice that music was being played improperly. Making two announcements is a long way from "constantly" stopping play.
The story Whitt wrote actually has some facts in it and had the potential to be a legitimate piece of reporting. To allude to some of his own language, it turned out instead to be a piece of something else. The biggest problem, from our perspective, is that some of his stink lingers and is now associated with us.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
La. Tech's Bold Move
The Tech campus is one of the kindest patches of Earth around and that has been reflected in the hiring processes. Head coaching vacancies often have been filled from within. Oakes has
gone against the grain by hiring Derek Dooley to lead the football team and Kerry Rupp to coach men’s basketball. Oakes is their biggest cheerleader, “Derek Dooley and Kerry Rupp are intelligent, committed to building strong leadership programs, and perfect fits for our school.” he said.The fit is made more comfortable by the fact that the hires have the blessing of Tech’s two most successful athletic alumni, Terry Bradshaw and Karl Malone. Bradshaw, and NFL Hall of Famer with four Super Bowl rings, recently visited the campus and said he likes what he sees from Coach Dooley. Malone, one of the greatest NBA players ever, steered Rupp toward Ruston and is expected to become heavily involved in the basketball program. The mere mention of their names can give Tech a recruiting advantage.
Dooley, who was on Nick Saban’s staff at LSU and with the Miami Dolphins, replaces Jack Bicknell III, an extraordinarily likeable man who was popular among the Tech faithful. Removing Bicknell was hard on Oakes, who says “change is a constant in college athletics like most other pursuits. We want to push the envelope - be innovators with all of our sports. That is why change is sometimes inevitable.” Rupp takes the place of Keith Richard, who ruffled a few Ruston feathers on the way to 150 wins and 117 losses over nine seasons. Rupp comes to Louisiana Tech with impressive credentials after serving as the associate head coach under Mike Davis at Indiana and then at Alabama-Birmingham. Notably, he also was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Rick Majerus at Utah and as interim coach in 2004, led the Utes to a conference title.
Getting fans to attend games in significant numbers continues to be a challenge. Oakes knows winning consistently will help, and he hopes the new hires have people’s attention. “We have quality coaches in place. This has created a real buzz among Tech fans,” Oakes asserts with his legendary optimism.
No doubt he will preach patience while people buzz about, because rebuilding takes time. It also takes money in the form of donations and ticket sales. Tech will continue to compete in the geographically challenging Western Athletic Conference. Oakes is attempting to rally the troops, saying “Now we must generate more support from our fan and alumni base in order to compete fairly with conference partners with much larger budgets. Simply put, we must invest for success and all indications are that Tech folks are ready to do just that.”An investment in success is clearly indicated by the resumes of the two new coaches. The next step is for Oakes and the rest to find a way to convince the rest of north Louisiana to emotionally invest in Tech athletics. Change is constant, says Oakes. He says change is inevitable. Maybe he’s right. Maybe people will change their attitude about the Bulldogs and start paying attention.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Greatest Line Spoken by a Waiter
My wife and I went to lunch at a nice, locally-owned Italian restaurant. An elderly couple was seated next to us. We can infer from overhearing their conversation that there had been some discussion about where they would eat, and the gentleman got his way. The lady was not pleased.
She didn't like the way they were preparing the veal or the eggplant. She whined and went round and round. They chirped at each other for a while about what to order and whether to leave. The man, God bless him, kept his patience, even as his companion grilled the beleaguered server. She said to the waiter, "When we eat at Olive Garden, they bread the eggplant and fry it."
He replied, "Well, I can call over there and get it to go for you."
It was so great that when he came to our table I shook his hand. Later, I threw an extra buck in for his tip.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Wings Win in Record-Setting Fashion
(Bossier City, LA) - Record-setting defensive dominance led the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings to a 52-0 whitewashing of the Texas Copperheads. Battle Wings defensive end Elex Reed (#91) laid siege to Copperheads quarterback Tony Eckert. Reed was credited with 5.5 sacks, an af2 record as he led his unit to only the second shutout in af2 history.
Wings’ quarterback Quincy Carter, the former Dallas Cowboys star, spread the ball around, throwing touchdown passes to four different receivers on his way to a 18-30 night. Carter amassed 222 passing yards, throwing two scoring tosses to P.J. Winston and one each to Jamaal Perry, Anthony Chambers and Marc Bacote.
The Copperheads rarely threatened to score, and the Battle Wings defense consistently rose to any challenge. The Copperheads were still competitive in the second quarter, trailing 21-0 and in position to score, when Wings’ defensive back Phillip Geiggar (#22) intercepted an Eckert pass in the
end zone and returned it 51 yards for a touchdown. The Battle Wings led at halftime, 31-0 following a 22-yard field goal from Brian Hazelwood.
Battle Wings fullback Jason Schule added to his league-leading rushing total by carrying the ball four times for 24 yards and a third-quarter touchdown..
For the second week in a row, Carter earned Schutt offensive Player of the game honors. Reed’s 
record-setting evening earned him the distinction of ADT defensive player of the game for the second week in a row. Kendrick “Boss” Walker, who bottled up Copperheads receivers and was effective on kick returns, was named the U.S. Army Ironman of the game.
The Battle Wings, at 2-0 for the first time in franchise history, will play on the road for the first time in 2007 next week when they travel to Hidalgo, Texas to take on division rival Rio Grande Valley.
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
Texas Copperheads 0 0 0 0 0 Record: (0-2)
Bos-Shv BattleWings 14 17 14 7 52 Record: (2-0)
PASSING: Tony Ekert (TEX) 22-11-2-104 0 td’s;
Quincy Carter (BSB) 30-18-0-222 5 TD’S; Gary Cooper (Bos) 2-2-0-18
RECEIVING: Jason Deml (TEX) 8-72-0; Jamaal Perry (BOS) 9-109-1
Attendance: 4108
Schutt Offensive Player of the Game: Quincy Carter
U.S. Army Ironman: Kendrick Walker
ADT Defensive Player of the Game: Elex Reed
Cutters Catch of the Game: Jamal Perry
Scoring Summary:
1st quarter
10:55 Carter to Bacote 6yd pass BC 7 Tx 0
6:05 Carter to Winston 25yd pass BC 14 Tx 0
2nd quarter
8:56 Carter to Perry 9yd pass BC 21 Tx 0
7:05 Geiggar interception and 51yd run BC 28 Tx 0
0:50 Hazelwood 22yd FG BC 31 Tx 0
3rd quarter
3:33 Schule 2yd run BC 38 Tx 0
0:10 Carter to Winston 5yd pass BC 45 Tx 0
4th quarter
7:12 Carter to Chambers 6yd pass BC 52 Tx 0 Sphere: Related Content
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Time for a New Car!
Three Caddo Magnet High School students were taken to a local hospital this morning following a three-car accident on Youree Drive at East Herndon.
How many times have we read a lead sentence like that? It takes on a different feeling when one of those students is your son. What a way to start the day, with a phone call that my 17-year-old's car has been crushed from the rear, and that he was pushed into another car.
He will be okay, but tomorrow he probably will feel worse than he does today. He was stopped behind other cars, preparing to turn left about two blocks away from school when he got blasted. 
There were no squeals and no skid marks, which tells us that the 65-year-old driver whose car collided with his did not apply her brakes. She told police she doesn't know what happened or why she didn't see the cars stopped in the road.
My son's passenger needed a few stitches, but both boys are alright thanks to their seatbelts. Believe it or not, my son is a seatbelt militant. Today, his insistence really paid off. He has a bruise from the shoulder harness, but he didn't hit the steering wheel or the windshield, and that's a tremendous break. The girl driving the third car was treated and released.
The car is done. The body shop guy took one look at it and told me what I already knew: "It's totaled." I had to explain that concept to my son, that it would cost more to repair it than it's worth. He said he will be okay as long as he can get his stereo out. Maybe we'll get him a new stereo in his new car. Maybe he can get excited about getting a new car. Maybe I can get past the financial shock of shelling out the difference between what we buy and what the insurance company pays us.
That's another process I'm dreading. The adjuster at Kemper, the company which insures the lady who caused the accident, has been proactive about helping us. She's being friendly, but I'm cynical enough to think that's part of her training. If she's nice to us, maybe we won't get bent out of shape a threaten a lawsuit. I'm not inclined to call any of those TV lawyers, anyway. I'll be interested to see if anyone in the legal profession tries to contact us. That's not our way, but I am expecting Kemper to treat us fairly. How do you define that? We will see how the kids feel in a few days.
It's good to dwell on the positive. Nobody's life has been in danger. There are some bumps bruises, cuts and some significantly sore muscles, but everyone will be okay. For that, we all are grateful.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
The Peeps Show
True confessions time. I played a dirty little trick on my son on Easter Sunday. His mother got him some Easter candy, and he seemed to enjoy it. I noticed, however, an alarming absence of Peeps in the Easter basket.
This is an clear oversight which demanded correction. So, I went to my closet and pulled out the secret stash of Peeps. He eagerly opened them and ate many of them. I have to say I had a few, too.
Here's the thing. They were leftover Peeps from Easter '06! My wife just sat there and laughed, her son none the wiser. The Peeps went so quickly that she bought more the day after Easter, from the discount shopping cart at Brookshire's.
Peeps apparently have the shelf life of military MRE's as long as you don't break open the cellophane. These ridiculous little sugar-coated marshmallow candies have become a cultural phenomenon. I can remember, a decade ago, participating in an extended newsroom conversation about the nuances of enjoying Peeps.
This year, the revered Washington Post invited readers to participate in a Peeps Diorama Contest. They received more than 350 entries from around the world! You can see a photo gallery here.
The Post reported: There were copious dioramas with antiwar or patriotic themes ("Give Peeps a Chance" and "George Washingpeep Crossing the Delaware," for example). Several chronicled Britney Spears's meltdown in front of the "Peeparazzi." Two dioramas adapted a classic Charlton Heston movie line: "Soylent Green is Peeps!"
The entry pictured above, in a photo borrowed from Renee Comet Photography, has the theme "Peeps are a girl's best friend." A woman I know would agree with that. She likes to leave her Peeps out for a couple of days and eat them stale. She could enter next year's contest, because the first tip offered by the paper for a successful Peeps diorama is to let them harden for a day or two before construction. "Girl's Best Friend," by the way, was the winner of the paper's contest.
The Post has even arranged for a showing, starting this Friday at a regional art facility.
There, one will be able to see in person "Peeping Peeps," among other creations. Many are elaborate and obviously took hours, even days to create.
There is an undertone of alarm in the Post story, simply because they think this event will really take off. They are already planning for next year. At least they have a foundation for a nice art collection. I mean that. Based on our own experience, Peeps can hang around for a long time. I'll poke around in my closet and see what I can find.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Watch the Birdies!
After suffering through the Masters over the weekend, I was relieved finally to see some birdies on TV Monday night. Close observers may have noticed I have cultivated a little interest in Arena football. So, I actually was watching the Monday night version on ESPN2. I wasn't grinding it, or anything. I just had it on. The Philadelphia Soul was hosting the Georgia Force.
Bon Jovi said he obviously didn't realize he was being shown on TV when his gesture flew the coop. "I apologize for the middle-finger thing," he said. "I didn't understand the rule. It's simple as that. We will be back next week."* The Soul siffered its first loss of the season.
Life at the Beach
My crew went to the beach without me, which probably is a good thing. The girls who spend every weekend at my house took a spring break roadie to the Redneck Riviera with my wife in tow. By all acocunts, they had a wonderful time. Certainly, the looked fabulous. They arrived home safe and sun-splashed, relaxed and ready to return to school for the Last Push Before Summer.
A strange thing happened while they were gone. I got cranky. People probably got sick of hearing it, but that was the longest I had ever gone without seeing my wife's face. My son and I operated quite nicely at home without the ladies, but something was just missing. He may grouse about having the girls around, but there's a certain level of stimulation as they antagonize him. It didn't help that his girlfriend was out of town with her family much of the time, too. We sat and watched two seasons of "Entourage" on DVD and ate dinner out of a box most of the time. It was kind of pitiful, to tell you the truth. 
Women and girls rule our lives. Even our dog and cat are female. They can be as demanding as the rest of them. It came down to this, though: we literally did not know what to do without them. They have become such a part of our day-to-day existence that we just kind of came to a halt. It was very restful, but disconcerting nonetheless.
It's good to have everybody home. I hope they know how much we missed them.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Quincy Carter Creates a Buzz
Carter might have gone big-time on his new teammates, but he hasn't done it. The overwhelming majority of the time, he has treated the people he has encountered around town with patience and kindness. After Saturday's game, Carter and the rest of the players came back onto the field to mingle with fans and sign autographs. One fan got Carter's attention. He was wearing a Dallas Cowboys #17 jersey, a Quincy Carter replica. When carter saw this fan, who is confined to a wheelchair, he stopped everything he was doing, worked his way through the crowd and engaged the fan. He signed autographs and posed for photos with him. Saturday, April 07, 2007
Battle Wings Win '07 Opener
The Jon Norris-Quincy Carter era started with a bang in Bossier City. Carter, the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, made his af2 debut and led the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings to 67-52 win over the Ft. Wayne Fusion. Carter completed 20 of 29 attempts for 237 yards and six touchdowns. He threw one interception. He was overshadowed, though, by the spectacular debut of Wings’ defensive back Kendrick Walker. The 3rd-year pro from Abilene Christian intercepted three passes and returned a missed field goal for a touchdown. Late in the game, as Walker came off the field, Carter bowed to him as if to say “We are not worthy.” It was a moment of levity and a nice gesture by Carter, who by all accounts has ingratiated himself to his new teammates.
Jamaal Perry led all Battle Wings receivers with 8 catches for 177 yards and three touchdowns. Anthony Chambers, one of the few players to return from the 2006 Battle Wings squad, caught t
wo fourth quarter touchdown passes. Another returning player, fullback Jason Schule, rushed for two scores and caught a touchdown pass. Schule’s third touchdown of the evening came on the final play of the game as he scampered 45 yards with a simple hand-off around the right side.Cody Hodges attempted 40 passes for the Fusion, completing 24 with six touchdowns. But, he also threw three interceptions, all of them to Kendrick Walker.
The Battle Wings scored first and never trailed. Their largest lead was 22 points, 42-20 following a Marcus Harris fourth quarter touchdown run.
The game ended with a furious flurry. Ten touchdowns, five by each team, were scored in the fourth quarter.
Defensive lineman Elex Reed, who recorded the
Wings’ only sack of the evening, was named the defensive player of the game. Quincy Carter earned offensive honors. In the no-brainer decision of the decade, Kendrick Walker was named Ironman of the game.The Battle Wings will be at home next Saturday to face the expansion Texas Copperheads.
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
Ft. Wayne Fusion 6 14 0 32 52 Record: (1-1)
Bos-Shv BattleWings 14 14 7 32 67 Record: (1-0)
LEADERS:
PASSING: Cody Hodges (FTW) 40-24-3-300 6 td’S;
Quincy Carter (Bos) 29-20-1-237 6 TD’S; Gary Cooper (Bos) 00-00-0-000
RECEIVING: Jermaine Jackson (FTW) 11-132-1; Jamaal Perry (BOS) 8-117-3
Attendance: 3893
Schutt Offensive Player of the Game: Quincy Carter
U.S. Army Ironman: Kendrick Walker
ADT Defensive Player of the Game: Elex Reed
Cutters Catch of the Game: Anthony Chambers
Scoring Summary:
1st quarter
11:01 Carter to Perry 35 yd pass BC 7 FW 0
8:30 Hodges to Walker 33 yd pass BC 7 FW 6
4:00 Carter to Schule 18 yd pass BC 14 FW 6
2nd quarter
13:06 Carter to Perry 33 yd pass BC 21 FW 6
11:48 Hodges to Walker 2 yd pass BC 21 FW 13
7:30 Carter hand-off to Schule 1 yd run BC 28 FW 13
3:38 Hodges 1 yd run BC 28 FW 20
3rd quarter
7:13 Walker fields missed FG with 51 yd run BC 35 FW 20
4th quarter
13:51 Carter to Harris for 2 yd run BC 42 FW 20
10:00 Hodges 6 yd run BC 42 FW 28 2 pt conversion Hodges to Walker to Jackson
7:28 Carter to Perry 14 yd pass BC 49 FW 28
4:54 Hodges to Walker 12 yd pass BC 49 FW 34 2 pt conversion fails
3:30 Carter to Chambers 15 yd pass BC 55 FW 34 Hazelwood missed
0:52 Hodges to Jackson 30 yd pass BC 55 FW 40 2 pt conversion fails
0:41 Carter to Chambers 14 yd pass BC 61 FW 40 Hazelwood missed
0:31 Hodges to Manning 19 yd pass BC 61 FW 46 2 pt conversion fails
0:02 Hodges to Harvey 9 yd pass BC 61 FW 52 2 pt conversion fails
0:01 Carter hand-off to Schule 45 yd run BC 67 FW 52 no kick – time out
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Rest in Peace, Coach Rob
Eddie Robinson has died and it is sad to realize how many young people won't understand the impact he had on their lives. The legendary Grambling football coach stayed in one place, Grambling Louisiana, all of his adult life. For more than fifty years, he had one job: head football coach at Grambling. Along the way he became the first college football coach to win more than 400 games. He sent more than 200 players to the National Football League. At the time he retired, he was the winningest college football coach in history. 
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Ralph Bellamy is William Shatner's Father?
We love to watch "Boston Legal." We actually watched the show from which it spun off, "The Practice." While the original show was a straight, often dark, legal drama; BL has a significant comedic element to it. James Spader is the star, but William Shatner consistently steals the show with his portrayal of Denny Crane. Shatner's character is a lawyer who is suffering form dementia, not to mention a viper's nest of prejudice and judgmentalism. We are to believe that Crane was once an imposing, invincible litigator who now wins cases in spite of himself based largely on his reputation.
The actor in the black and white flashbacks looks remarkably like Shatner. That's because it is Shatner, about ten years before he became a star as Captain James T. Kirk on "Star Trek."Sphere: Related Content
Is God a Baseball Fan?
KNOE television in Monroe, LA did a story on March 21st about the West Ouachita High School baseball team. The coach has pratice on Wednesdays and the junior varsity team has five Wednesday night games. Why is this worth a news story? Because a youth minister at a local Baptist church is worked up about it. In a story reported by KNOE's Mike McDaniel, Clark Springs Baptist Church youth minster Mike Israel complains, "It's very easy to fall off and quit coming to church or get out of the habit and I think that a conflict like this would easily take a kid out of the habit. I just don't feel like they ought to have to compete with baseball."
Sunday, April 01, 2007
My Hero, Ari Gold
I am stoked about the season premiere of "Entourage" on HBO. Why? Because I hate Ari and I love him at the same time. I know how Ari feels. Sadly, I bascially have been Ari, although on a much smaller scale. The intensity, the uncontrollable drive, the irresistable need to compel people to do what you want them to do RIGHT NOW! That was me not so long ago.
Thankfully, I'm not wound quite so tightly these days. I don't ever want to go back, and again I offer a blanket apology to anyone who was burned by my scorched earth policy. Ari is cathartic for me. Ari shows me where I don't want to go.
Daddy D's first YouTube embed offers you the high points of Ari. Caution, this video is definitely R-rated.
