Texas Stadium in Irving has been the home of the Dallas Cowboys since October of 1971. Come Saturday night – 37 years and two months later – the Cowboys play their final regular season game in the stadium with a hole in the roof.
The Cowboys host the Baltimore Ravens on the NFL Network – Channel 212 if you have Direct TV. There is a possibility the Cowboys could play another game in January IF they make the playoffs as the 5th seed and are lucky enough to play the 6th seed for the NFC Championship and the right to go to the Super Bowl.
But don’t count on it.
For me it’s sad to see Texas Stadium eventually demolished. I have a lot of fond memories of attending either Cowboys games, college games and high school games, mainly high school games. As a sports writer for 35 years I’ve been blessed to cover 34 high school playoff games and although I may not remember exactly what happened in the game I do remember most of the scores and the teams who played in them.
My very first experience at Texas Stadium was not even to watch or cover a game. That summer before the Cowboys began playing in it, the stadium was used for a Billy Graham crusade. I went with my next door neighbor, Virgil Barnes, and his family and we sat on the front row of what would be about the 10-yard line on the Cowboys’ side.
The stage was in the south end zone. The only reason I went was to see Texas Stadium. Virgil’s dad was a preacher for a small church in Grand Prairie and he had free tickets. I thought at the time – I was 14 – what an awesome stadium Texas Stadium was.
Not only was it a football stadium but it had two outdoor movie screens on the east side where the Cowboys’ pro shop is now. Drive in movies at a football stadium – wow.
Now when I was in high school in the mid 1970s only a handful of high school playoff games had been played at Texas Stadium. I remember Tommy Kramer, a former NFL quarterback, playing one of the first high school games in 1971 when San Antonio Lee, Kramer’s alma mater, played Wichita Falls in the state championship game.
Five years later was my first chance to cover a high school game – South Grand Prairie vs. Highland Park – in a bi-district game. November of 1976 to be exact, just months after graduating from Grand Prairie High School. I was the sports editor for a small newspaper – The Grand Prairie Urbanite.
Oh my gosh I thought, I’m going to Texas Stadium to cover a game! That Saturday I was all giddy and was still giddy walking in Gate 1 to receive my press pass at the will call window. Then sitting in the press box, which at the time was between the first and second levels on the Cowboys’ side, I had a hard time keeping stats and keeping play-by-play.
I kept looking around and thinking, wow! I’m 18 years old and I’m sitting in the press box at Texas Stadium. I’ve made the big time!
And to top it off, I was able to go down on the field after the game and now I was really on Cloud 9!Even though South Grand Prairie lost that night, 41-13, I knew it was something I would always cherish.
Not in my wildest dreams did I think it was the beginning of covering 34 playoff games at the home of the Cowboys. To this day I cherish EVERY game I’ve covered. Even my last game to cover there – the 2006 SGP-Colleyville Heritage area round game on Thanksgiving Friday night – I was as giddy then as I was 32 years ago.
Part II of my Texas Stadium memories will be a list of games I covered with most of the final scores as well as a little summary on some. All of these memories are not written down on a note pad, either.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Razorbacks...carnival?
As you all know I’m a diehard Razorback fan. I love the Arkansas Razorbacks even if times are tough this season on the gridiron.
For all of you who do not know what gridiron is it is a football field. It’s a sports term.
This weekend I had the opportunity to witness the Hogs against their former coach Houston Nutt and the Ole Miss Rebels. Again for those of you who don’t know Ole Miss is the University of Mississippi.
My nephew Jeffrey invited me to travel with his wife Kristy, and two children, Tyler and Madison, to Fayetteville and stay at Kristy’s parent’s home. I would have left Friday after work and come back Sunday morning.
Jeffrey has become a Razorback fan in the last 10 years after attending Harding in Searcy, Ar., and marrying Kristy, whose dad is probably a bigger Razorback fan than me. Jeffrey has season tickets to the home games and travels back and forth to Fayetteville every couple of weeks.
I was excited to be invited with them this weekend. I’ve only been to Razorback Stadium a few times the last being in August of ’04 when Rhonda and I were on our way home from Branson, Mo., and stopped in Fayetteville. Rhonda and I actually walked out onto the playing field, took pictures, and left before we got in trouble.
All week I was picturing going and sitting among 72,000 other Hog fans doing the Hog Call – Whooooooooooooooooo Pig Soooooooie! But I was also picturing leaving Rhonda alone and having to help run the annual Crayon Campus fall carnival.
For years I’ve been the cook. I cook the hot dogs and sausages on a stick. No one else but me works the grill.
I couldn’t go off and leave Rhonda to work it without me. She needed me more than the Razorbacks did. And I love cooking all the dogs and sausages and didn’t want to miss it.
I admit it took me three days to make it official but I knew all along I wasn’t going to the game. Besides I didn’t want to see them lose again. I had never seen them lose in person until last Jan. 1 when Missouri ripped them in the Cotton Bowl, 38-7. Up until then I was something like 12 or 13-0 when going to a Razorback game.
So I thanked Jeffrey for the invite, earned big time brownie points with Rhonda and made the best hot dogs and sausages on the stick one more time. It was well worth it.
By the way I didn’t miss the game – I watched a lot of it on ESPN360 via the internet. And they lost, 23-21, to the Rebels after making a valiant comeback in the final minute.
For all of you who do not know what gridiron is it is a football field. It’s a sports term.
This weekend I had the opportunity to witness the Hogs against their former coach Houston Nutt and the Ole Miss Rebels. Again for those of you who don’t know Ole Miss is the University of Mississippi.
My nephew Jeffrey invited me to travel with his wife Kristy, and two children, Tyler and Madison, to Fayetteville and stay at Kristy’s parent’s home. I would have left Friday after work and come back Sunday morning.
Jeffrey has become a Razorback fan in the last 10 years after attending Harding in Searcy, Ar., and marrying Kristy, whose dad is probably a bigger Razorback fan than me. Jeffrey has season tickets to the home games and travels back and forth to Fayetteville every couple of weeks.
I was excited to be invited with them this weekend. I’ve only been to Razorback Stadium a few times the last being in August of ’04 when Rhonda and I were on our way home from Branson, Mo., and stopped in Fayetteville. Rhonda and I actually walked out onto the playing field, took pictures, and left before we got in trouble.
All week I was picturing going and sitting among 72,000 other Hog fans doing the Hog Call – Whooooooooooooooooo Pig Soooooooie! But I was also picturing leaving Rhonda alone and having to help run the annual Crayon Campus fall carnival.
For years I’ve been the cook. I cook the hot dogs and sausages on a stick. No one else but me works the grill.
I couldn’t go off and leave Rhonda to work it without me. She needed me more than the Razorbacks did. And I love cooking all the dogs and sausages and didn’t want to miss it.
I admit it took me three days to make it official but I knew all along I wasn’t going to the game. Besides I didn’t want to see them lose again. I had never seen them lose in person until last Jan. 1 when Missouri ripped them in the Cotton Bowl, 38-7. Up until then I was something like 12 or 13-0 when going to a Razorback game.
So I thanked Jeffrey for the invite, earned big time brownie points with Rhonda and made the best hot dogs and sausages on the stick one more time. It was well worth it.
By the way I didn’t miss the game – I watched a lot of it on ESPN360 via the internet. And they lost, 23-21, to the Rebels after making a valiant comeback in the final minute.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
No heart
Have the Dallas Cowboys lost it? Where's the spunk? The fire? The desire?
It ain't there. Is it time for Wade Phillips to go? Phillips needs to start dropping some F bombs, kicking over tables and throwing clipboards instead of being this easy going "oh well we played our best" type coaches.
Even Romo before he hurt his finger had lost it. Always sitting on the sidelines pouting. And Jason Witten has been hanging around TO too long because he is starting to drop passes he normally doesn't drop. And Barber has fumbled what, three times now in the last three games?
So much for Super Bowl contenders. They are definitely pretenders and quite frankly I don't see it getting any better.
Demarcus Ware played with a little spunk today against the Rams and continued his sack streak. There's just no heart or desire right now. Something better happen now! Or you'll be seeing the team everyone picked to win the Super Bowl sitting at home in January.
I'm still a Cowboys fan and always will be. Win, lose or stink. Today was big time stink. I will still set aside three hours every Sunday to watch them. Well maybe not the entire three hours - today I turned it off in the third quarter after the Rams made it 31-7 and mowed the yard.
By the way I NEVER picked them to win the Super Bowl or even be in the Super Bowl. You can't in August. I don't make bold predictions like that because I know it will come back and bite me in the butt.
It ain't there. Is it time for Wade Phillips to go? Phillips needs to start dropping some F bombs, kicking over tables and throwing clipboards instead of being this easy going "oh well we played our best" type coaches.
Even Romo before he hurt his finger had lost it. Always sitting on the sidelines pouting. And Jason Witten has been hanging around TO too long because he is starting to drop passes he normally doesn't drop. And Barber has fumbled what, three times now in the last three games?
So much for Super Bowl contenders. They are definitely pretenders and quite frankly I don't see it getting any better.
Demarcus Ware played with a little spunk today against the Rams and continued his sack streak. There's just no heart or desire right now. Something better happen now! Or you'll be seeing the team everyone picked to win the Super Bowl sitting at home in January.
I'm still a Cowboys fan and always will be. Win, lose or stink. Today was big time stink. I will still set aside three hours every Sunday to watch them. Well maybe not the entire three hours - today I turned it off in the third quarter after the Rams made it 31-7 and mowed the yard.
By the way I NEVER picked them to win the Super Bowl or even be in the Super Bowl. You can't in August. I don't make bold predictions like that because I know it will come back and bite me in the butt.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
So much for walking a couple of miles
For years Rhonda and I get up on Saturday mornings and walk. Sometimes we walk a couple of miles, sometimes three or four, depending on how we feel.
This morning was technically a short one – 2 miles maybe. I didn’t want to over do it with my knee and Rhonda just wanted to stay close in the neighborhood.
We also look for money when we walk. Pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters – whatever loose change we can find along the curb or in the street and parking lots. It’s been a hobby of ours for six or seven years and I would venture to say we have found well over $1,000.
We have even found the green stuff – $1 bills but mainly the small stuff. We found 66 cents this morning in a little over an hour which is a pretty good morning.
But the money has nothing to do with this posting this morning. It has to do what we did afterwards. And it wasn’t good, either.
I blame my youngest daughter Hailey. It’s her fault.
Along our walk this morning Rhonda and I stopped a garage sale in the neighborhood. Rhonda found a couple of things they could use at the daycare so she asked if she could put something in layaway.
Since we were just a couple of blocks away and had no money – we did have 66 cents worth of worn out pennies and a couple of quarters that had been ran over 100 times – we said we’d be back shortly to pay.
We hopped in Rhonda’s car and headed back to the garage sale. Rhonda called Hailey, whose home from school for the weekend and asked if she was hungry. Hailey said she’s not a big breakfast person unless it’s donuts.
You get an idea where this is headed?
Rhonda asked if I wanted donuts and I said sure why not. I said so much for our walk this morning huh and we both laughed.
Needless to say, we bought donuts. And the rest is history.
This morning was technically a short one – 2 miles maybe. I didn’t want to over do it with my knee and Rhonda just wanted to stay close in the neighborhood.
We also look for money when we walk. Pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters – whatever loose change we can find along the curb or in the street and parking lots. It’s been a hobby of ours for six or seven years and I would venture to say we have found well over $1,000.
We have even found the green stuff – $1 bills but mainly the small stuff. We found 66 cents this morning in a little over an hour which is a pretty good morning.
But the money has nothing to do with this posting this morning. It has to do what we did afterwards. And it wasn’t good, either.
I blame my youngest daughter Hailey. It’s her fault.
Along our walk this morning Rhonda and I stopped a garage sale in the neighborhood. Rhonda found a couple of things they could use at the daycare so she asked if she could put something in layaway.
Since we were just a couple of blocks away and had no money – we did have 66 cents worth of worn out pennies and a couple of quarters that had been ran over 100 times – we said we’d be back shortly to pay.
We hopped in Rhonda’s car and headed back to the garage sale. Rhonda called Hailey, whose home from school for the weekend and asked if she was hungry. Hailey said she’s not a big breakfast person unless it’s donuts.
You get an idea where this is headed?
Rhonda asked if I wanted donuts and I said sure why not. I said so much for our walk this morning huh and we both laughed.
Needless to say, we bought donuts. And the rest is history.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Oooooh No! The GOUT!
I haven't blogged in a week. The gout attack in my right hand has kept me from doing a lot, including typing. But the hand is feeling better although my index finger is still a little stiff and throbs from time to time.
The gout normally attacks my right toes. The last bout was in May in my big toe. Amanda, my oldest, says in a very serious voice "Ooooooooooooh nooooooooo... the GOUT".
What is the gout? According to Websters:
1 : a metabolic disease marked by a painful inflammation of the joints, deposits of urates in and around the joints, and usually an excessive amount of uric acid in the blood 2 : a mass or aggregate especially of something fluid often gushing or bursting forth.
All I know it frick'n hurts! Gout is very painful - so painful it has me in tears at time. I'm on medication to get rid of the uric acids but I was told the older I get the harder the attacks will be. Amen to that - we're going on two weeks with my hand. And I went almost six weeks in my right toe.
So why so much uric acid build up? Well it's mainly because of my diet. I won't go into full detail but bottom line is I've got to start eating better. I need to lose the 12 pounds I've gained back after losing 25 in the spring.
The gout is very uncomfortable and makes my life miserable. Just the slightest movement and I want to say bad words. Words that my mom would wash my mouth out with soap!
And now that I have to eventually have knee replacement surgery things have become more complicated. My right knee, the one I had ACL reconstructive surgery on back in 1987 just weeks after Zach was born, locked, popped and gave out on me recently causing me to fall at work.
So after visiting Dr. James Pollifrone, the South Grand Prairie High School team doctor and orthopedic surgeon, it has been determined I will need in the 10 years, knee replacement surgery. I will definitely have to have it scoped here in the next few months to ease some of the discomfort but as Pollifrone said “your knee is shot to …..”.
I’ll be nice and not say the last word Pollifrone said but I’ll give you a little hint: it’s where the Devil lives. I have serious arthritis which the doctor who performed my surgery 21 years ago said I would eventually have and several bone spurs and no telling what else wrong.
So along with the gout and a jacked up knee, my life lately has been one painful saga. I know my wife is tired of me being hurt or suffering from the gout because I have not been able to do a lot of things.
It will get better – always does. Hmm, I wonder if Pollifrone can give me a knee similar to what the Six Million Dollar Man had….then when I jump or run fast you can hear this noise -- smbion.mp3
The gout normally attacks my right toes. The last bout was in May in my big toe. Amanda, my oldest, says in a very serious voice "Ooooooooooooh nooooooooo... the GOUT".
What is the gout? According to Websters:
1 : a metabolic disease marked by a painful inflammation of the joints, deposits of urates in and around the joints, and usually an excessive amount of uric acid in the blood 2 : a mass or aggregate especially of something fluid often gushing or bursting forth.
All I know it frick'n hurts! Gout is very painful - so painful it has me in tears at time. I'm on medication to get rid of the uric acids but I was told the older I get the harder the attacks will be. Amen to that - we're going on two weeks with my hand. And I went almost six weeks in my right toe.
So why so much uric acid build up? Well it's mainly because of my diet. I won't go into full detail but bottom line is I've got to start eating better. I need to lose the 12 pounds I've gained back after losing 25 in the spring.
The gout is very uncomfortable and makes my life miserable. Just the slightest movement and I want to say bad words. Words that my mom would wash my mouth out with soap!
And now that I have to eventually have knee replacement surgery things have become more complicated. My right knee, the one I had ACL reconstructive surgery on back in 1987 just weeks after Zach was born, locked, popped and gave out on me recently causing me to fall at work.
So after visiting Dr. James Pollifrone, the South Grand Prairie High School team doctor and orthopedic surgeon, it has been determined I will need in the 10 years, knee replacement surgery. I will definitely have to have it scoped here in the next few months to ease some of the discomfort but as Pollifrone said “your knee is shot to …..”.
I’ll be nice and not say the last word Pollifrone said but I’ll give you a little hint: it’s where the Devil lives. I have serious arthritis which the doctor who performed my surgery 21 years ago said I would eventually have and several bone spurs and no telling what else wrong.
So along with the gout and a jacked up knee, my life lately has been one painful saga. I know my wife is tired of me being hurt or suffering from the gout because I have not been able to do a lot of things.
It will get better – always does. Hmm, I wonder if Pollifrone can give me a knee similar to what the Six Million Dollar Man had….then when I jump or run fast you can hear this noise -- smbion.mp3
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
I got your Howdy Folks!
Even though nothing really changes at the State Fair of Texas it is still a blast to go. This past Saturday me, Rhonda, Mike & Amanda (Mike was able to attend after all), Zach, Hailey and Hailey’s boyfriend, Joseph, all made the annual trek over to Fair Park in Dallas for a day of fun and, well, mostly eating.
Seems that’s all we do at the Fair is eat, eat and eat some more. It is tradition and this year was no exception. Rhonda – and Amanda – have long had this eating itinerary for years.
First it’s the Fletcher’s famous corn dog although I can honestly say it wasn’t that great this time because my wiener was cold. Did I say my wiener *giggle* I meant my corn dog wiener!
We always get a corn dog from the same stand every year near Big Tex. I got your Howdy Folks! Then it’s on to the Grand Place Building for fudge. Rhonda HAS to have fudge from this one fudge place every year. She says it’s her favorite, but everything is her favorite.
Just outside are all the food stands in front of the main entrance to the Cotton Bowl. And that’s where Amanda and Hailey get fried pickles. Now since I can’t stand fudge I dive into the fried pickles and Ranch dressing. Fried pickles are on a scale of 1 to 10 a solid 8.
After I eat my share of fried pickles – all seven of us shared – and after I pass a little gas from the corn dog and pickles it’s back to Fair Park Coliseum where the old Dallas Blackhawks used to play hockey. Psst, I’ve been to that arena many times in my younger days and had a few $1 beers.
There I received an electrical shock treatment for my gout that had my right hand swollen the size of what seemed like a watermelon. It was huge! Anyway this dude was trying to sell these little electric shock thingies for a cheap price of $300.
Zach had a 15-minute treatment first for his back. He said it was worth it and Rhonda suggested I try it for my hand. I gave her that whatever look and before I knew this little dude was hook’n me up.
The guy cranked it up and my arm went a twitch’n. It was the coolest thing ever. My “shooting finger” was going crazy and Amanda was snapping photos of it and videoing it. Amanda’s kind of weird like that.
After 15 to 20 minutes of my arm, fingers and shoulders moving uncontrollably and hearing this guy say I needed to eat cucumbers to make the gout go away, he unplugged me. Picture your arm falling asleep and when you move it all the blood starts flowing again. Know those little tingles? That’s how my arm felt.
Everyone swears the swelling in my hand went down and I admit for about 6 hours my gout felt better.
After that it was time to I think eat again. Yeah it was, this time, chicken fried bacon, one of the newest features this year. I was too busy trying to buy a coke I didn’t get any but Zach shared his with me. Not bad!
Funny thing was the food stand was across from where the baby pigs were! And Zach was like “hey little piggy I’m eating your mom!” It was funny you had to have been there.
A little while later we were eating yet again! After that we went to the games where Rhonda won two stuffed animals. Well one she selected a stupid looking chicken hat for one of her prizes. See Amanda’s blog and photo.
After that it was time to eat lunch. Yes I said lunch and on to the food pavilion. Wasn’t really lunch for me because I had a cinnamon roll. Joseph, absorbing what the entire Fair has to offer because his fair in Tennessee is not like ours, finally found him something to eat, a big plate of nachos.
While eating his nachos Hailey grabs a chip, dips as much cheese on it and hands it to Amanda, whose eyes were bigger than the fair because she wanted some! We all had a good laugh and it was time to leave.
After a while we headed to the Texas Lotto stand and Rhonda purchased a bunch of scratch offs. We all scratched off our tickets and actually won back the $20 Rhonda originally paid plus a few extra dollars.
Then it was time for me to get my annual turkey leg from my friend, Stanley Hill. Stanley and I worked together for years at Cardinal – Stanley is still there – and he spends his vacation every year to work with a group of friends at the Fair.
Stanley was kind enough to give me a free leg but to try and even things out I bought a coke. We headed towards the truck, me limping cause of my bad knee and in severe pain because my hand was hurting again.
We all headed back to the house, about five pounds heavier but well worth it. Joseph was in awe because of how big the fair grounds were. We still didn’t do as much as we would’ve liked but had a blast.
Maybe next year Rhonda and I will be healthy – Rhonda’s still recovering even though she won’t admit it from hernia surgery a few weeks ago – and maybe I will have a stronger knee, or new one, and not the gout.
I hate the gout! But the day was a fun. I wouldn’t mind going back out there again this year.
Seems that’s all we do at the Fair is eat, eat and eat some more. It is tradition and this year was no exception. Rhonda – and Amanda – have long had this eating itinerary for years.
First it’s the Fletcher’s famous corn dog although I can honestly say it wasn’t that great this time because my wiener was cold. Did I say my wiener *giggle* I meant my corn dog wiener!
We always get a corn dog from the same stand every year near Big Tex. I got your Howdy Folks! Then it’s on to the Grand Place Building for fudge. Rhonda HAS to have fudge from this one fudge place every year. She says it’s her favorite, but everything is her favorite.
Just outside are all the food stands in front of the main entrance to the Cotton Bowl. And that’s where Amanda and Hailey get fried pickles. Now since I can’t stand fudge I dive into the fried pickles and Ranch dressing. Fried pickles are on a scale of 1 to 10 a solid 8.
After I eat my share of fried pickles – all seven of us shared – and after I pass a little gas from the corn dog and pickles it’s back to Fair Park Coliseum where the old Dallas Blackhawks used to play hockey. Psst, I’ve been to that arena many times in my younger days and had a few $1 beers.
There I received an electrical shock treatment for my gout that had my right hand swollen the size of what seemed like a watermelon. It was huge! Anyway this dude was trying to sell these little electric shock thingies for a cheap price of $300.
Zach had a 15-minute treatment first for his back. He said it was worth it and Rhonda suggested I try it for my hand. I gave her that whatever look and before I knew this little dude was hook’n me up.
The guy cranked it up and my arm went a twitch’n. It was the coolest thing ever. My “shooting finger” was going crazy and Amanda was snapping photos of it and videoing it. Amanda’s kind of weird like that.
After 15 to 20 minutes of my arm, fingers and shoulders moving uncontrollably and hearing this guy say I needed to eat cucumbers to make the gout go away, he unplugged me. Picture your arm falling asleep and when you move it all the blood starts flowing again. Know those little tingles? That’s how my arm felt.
Everyone swears the swelling in my hand went down and I admit for about 6 hours my gout felt better.
After that it was time to I think eat again. Yeah it was, this time, chicken fried bacon, one of the newest features this year. I was too busy trying to buy a coke I didn’t get any but Zach shared his with me. Not bad!
Funny thing was the food stand was across from where the baby pigs were! And Zach was like “hey little piggy I’m eating your mom!” It was funny you had to have been there.
A little while later we were eating yet again! After that we went to the games where Rhonda won two stuffed animals. Well one she selected a stupid looking chicken hat for one of her prizes. See Amanda’s blog and photo.
After that it was time to eat lunch. Yes I said lunch and on to the food pavilion. Wasn’t really lunch for me because I had a cinnamon roll. Joseph, absorbing what the entire Fair has to offer because his fair in Tennessee is not like ours, finally found him something to eat, a big plate of nachos.
While eating his nachos Hailey grabs a chip, dips as much cheese on it and hands it to Amanda, whose eyes were bigger than the fair because she wanted some! We all had a good laugh and it was time to leave.
After a while we headed to the Texas Lotto stand and Rhonda purchased a bunch of scratch offs. We all scratched off our tickets and actually won back the $20 Rhonda originally paid plus a few extra dollars.
Then it was time for me to get my annual turkey leg from my friend, Stanley Hill. Stanley and I worked together for years at Cardinal – Stanley is still there – and he spends his vacation every year to work with a group of friends at the Fair.
Stanley was kind enough to give me a free leg but to try and even things out I bought a coke. We headed towards the truck, me limping cause of my bad knee and in severe pain because my hand was hurting again.
We all headed back to the house, about five pounds heavier but well worth it. Joseph was in awe because of how big the fair grounds were. We still didn’t do as much as we would’ve liked but had a blast.
Maybe next year Rhonda and I will be healthy – Rhonda’s still recovering even though she won’t admit it from hernia surgery a few weeks ago – and maybe I will have a stronger knee, or new one, and not the gout.
I hate the gout! But the day was a fun. I wouldn’t mind going back out there again this year.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Goffinet Fair Day
Zach and Hailey, along with Hailey’s boyfriend, Joseph, are headed home for the weekend. That means a 5 ½ to 6-hour drive from Searcy, Ar., to Grand Prairie. Searcy is located 45 miles northeast of Little Rock.
Zach is bringing his beat up old Mustang while Hailey and Joseph will be in Hailey’s little yellow Chevy Cavalier. Oh yeah, the dog is coming home, too – Captain Fin.
They are coming home – Zach’s first visit home in almost six months – to go to the Texas State Fair. The annual Goffinet Fair Day is tomorrow which means me, Rhonda, Amanda, Zach, Hailey and Joseph will all be cramming into my truck and heading to Fair Park about 9:30 a.m.
Amanda’s husband, Mike, will not be able to attend this year’s Goffinet Fair Day. That’s just more junk to eat for us. It will be interesting to see how long Rhonda lasts – or me.
With Rhonda just having hernia surgery two weeks ago and with my knee the way it is – I had a hard fall at work last week when my knee locked, popped and buckled up causing me to fall – we both may eventually need wheel chairs.
Plus tomorrow is the annual Grambling-Prairie View football game in the Cotton Bowl. Grambling-Prairie View is not as big as Texas-OU weekend but it’s big enough. I’ve been told since it is a 7:30 kickoff the fair will not start to become crowded until about 4ish.
Normally by then we’re on the back stretch of our Goffinet Fair Day and planning to end the day. And the last several years we’ve ended our day by buying a lot of scratch-offs and a few quick picks from the Texas Lotto booth.
Can’t wait to see my kids. Even though it’s nice being an empty nester, you still miss your kids.
Zach is bringing his beat up old Mustang while Hailey and Joseph will be in Hailey’s little yellow Chevy Cavalier. Oh yeah, the dog is coming home, too – Captain Fin.
They are coming home – Zach’s first visit home in almost six months – to go to the Texas State Fair. The annual Goffinet Fair Day is tomorrow which means me, Rhonda, Amanda, Zach, Hailey and Joseph will all be cramming into my truck and heading to Fair Park about 9:30 a.m.
Amanda’s husband, Mike, will not be able to attend this year’s Goffinet Fair Day. That’s just more junk to eat for us. It will be interesting to see how long Rhonda lasts – or me.
With Rhonda just having hernia surgery two weeks ago and with my knee the way it is – I had a hard fall at work last week when my knee locked, popped and buckled up causing me to fall – we both may eventually need wheel chairs.
Plus tomorrow is the annual Grambling-Prairie View football game in the Cotton Bowl. Grambling-Prairie View is not as big as Texas-OU weekend but it’s big enough. I’ve been told since it is a 7:30 kickoff the fair will not start to become crowded until about 4ish.
Normally by then we’re on the back stretch of our Goffinet Fair Day and planning to end the day. And the last several years we’ve ended our day by buying a lot of scratch-offs and a few quick picks from the Texas Lotto booth.
Can’t wait to see my kids. Even though it’s nice being an empty nester, you still miss your kids.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Must be October
Today is October 1. The month of Halloween and all that other Fall season stuff. I knew it had to be that time of year when I arrived home from work on Tuesday, the last day of September.
When I arrived home I immediately noticed pumpkins on the front porch. Open the front door and paper pumpkins are hanging from the entry way into our dining room. Entering the kitchen you walk through black and orange strings hanging from that entry way.
On Rhonda’s desk is a Halloween ghost and when you push a little button it starts dancing and singing “I love candy.” Next to it is another little Halloween thingy and push its button and it plays the Adams Family tune. My wife, not fully recovered from her second hernia surgery, still manages enough energy to decorate the house Halloween.
And then there is candy and already my wife is putting the things that rot your teeth in the dish near the front door. I’m sure once one of our close neighbors finds out; she’ll be hanging out more at the Goffinet’s.
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October also means football is in full swing. Every weekend, high schools, colleges and pros battle for what they hope will be that prestigious prize – a championship.
One of my favorite teams, the Arkansas Razorbacks, will not win anything this year. After their gutless, no fight non-competitive game at Texas last Saturday they will be lucky to win another game this season. Florida visits on Saturday and the Gators ain't happy losing to lowly Ole .Miss the other day
Arkansas did lose two of the best running backs in Darren McFadden and Felix Jones this year to the NFL. Jones is just up Loop 12 from here at Texas Stadium playing for the Cowboys and has already made a huge impact.
McFadden is off to a decent start with the Oakland Raiders. Never have cared much for the Raiders but I’m pulling for ‘em this season only because of DMac.
Give the Razorbacks another year and once we put a real quarterback in there, mainly Ryan Mallett, the QB who transferred from Michigan but has to sit out a year, then we'll be okay. Once DMac and Jones declared for the NFL draft and Petrino came in as coach, everyone knew 2008 would be a long season.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, are Super Bowl contenders although after their performance against the Redskins last Sunday, maybe Super Bowl pretenders. But then it’s still way too early to be thinking about the playoffs anyway. Let’s just concentrate on beating the winless Bengals this Sunday.
And Tee O, shut up! You seriously whined – and maybe cried – about not getting the ball thrown to you enough against the ‘Skins? Are you serious? I understand you had like 19 out of the 40 something designed for you. Hey TO do the math, that’s almost HALF of the plays to you. Learn how to catch the dang ball first!
I can’t stand Tee O and I kick myself every time he DOES catch a pass and it goes for six because I’m celebrating a Cowboys touchdown but disliking the person who scored it. Now when Felix scores a touch, I’m bringing the house down!
My high school alma mater, the same as my oldest daughter Amanda’s, is struggling on the gridiron again. The Gophers are winless and things don’t look any brighter this week. They play Duncanville for homecoming.
Now on the other side of town, South Grand Prairie is doing okay after a very embarrassing season opening loss to Berkner, 38-0. The Warriors have won four straight and are 1-0 in district but face a new perennial power Friday at Cedar Hill. They should be playing in Texas Stadium in six weeks in the playoffs.
_____________________________________________________
What else happens in October? Oh yeah, the Texas State Fair. We plan on going to the Fair on Saturday. Every year the Goffinet’s hop in the car and venture to Fair Park to eat everything we can possibly get our hands on. First it will be the famous corn dogs, then my wife and daughters will have to get fudge – I can’t stand fudge – then it will be fried pickles and then who knows what else.
On our way out we stop a buddy of mine who helps operate a concession stand and I will get my patented turkey leg. And we’ll stop at the Texas Lotto booth, buy a few scratch offs and quick picks and say “nothing on this one!” It’s a great family outing although our son-in-law will not be able to attend this year.
But Hailey’s boyfriend is coming for his first visit to the Fair and he will really be overwhelmed.
_____________________________________________________
October ends with Halloween. It is on a Friday this year which leaves me kind of in a dilemma. Do I stay home and help pass out candy to all the little runts, err, kiddos or do I spend Halloween in the Gopher-Warrior Bowl press box? Stay tuned later for that.
And will I dress up at work like I used to when I worked at Cardinal? Again stay tuned.
That’s it for October. The Saturday after Halloween you can bet my wife will have all the Halloween decorations down and packed away and the Thanksgiving junk out. I’m sorry, I don’t mean junk, decorations.
Good night I’m tired! Was a looooooong day at work today.
When I arrived home I immediately noticed pumpkins on the front porch. Open the front door and paper pumpkins are hanging from the entry way into our dining room. Entering the kitchen you walk through black and orange strings hanging from that entry way.
On Rhonda’s desk is a Halloween ghost and when you push a little button it starts dancing and singing “I love candy.” Next to it is another little Halloween thingy and push its button and it plays the Adams Family tune. My wife, not fully recovered from her second hernia surgery, still manages enough energy to decorate the house Halloween.
And then there is candy and already my wife is putting the things that rot your teeth in the dish near the front door. I’m sure once one of our close neighbors finds out; she’ll be hanging out more at the Goffinet’s.
_____________________________________________________
October also means football is in full swing. Every weekend, high schools, colleges and pros battle for what they hope will be that prestigious prize – a championship.
One of my favorite teams, the Arkansas Razorbacks, will not win anything this year. After their gutless, no fight non-competitive game at Texas last Saturday they will be lucky to win another game this season. Florida visits on Saturday and the Gators ain't happy losing to lowly Ole .Miss the other day
Arkansas did lose two of the best running backs in Darren McFadden and Felix Jones this year to the NFL. Jones is just up Loop 12 from here at Texas Stadium playing for the Cowboys and has already made a huge impact.
McFadden is off to a decent start with the Oakland Raiders. Never have cared much for the Raiders but I’m pulling for ‘em this season only because of DMac.
Give the Razorbacks another year and once we put a real quarterback in there, mainly Ryan Mallett, the QB who transferred from Michigan but has to sit out a year, then we'll be okay. Once DMac and Jones declared for the NFL draft and Petrino came in as coach, everyone knew 2008 would be a long season.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, are Super Bowl contenders although after their performance against the Redskins last Sunday, maybe Super Bowl pretenders. But then it’s still way too early to be thinking about the playoffs anyway. Let’s just concentrate on beating the winless Bengals this Sunday.
And Tee O, shut up! You seriously whined – and maybe cried – about not getting the ball thrown to you enough against the ‘Skins? Are you serious? I understand you had like 19 out of the 40 something designed for you. Hey TO do the math, that’s almost HALF of the plays to you. Learn how to catch the dang ball first!
I can’t stand Tee O and I kick myself every time he DOES catch a pass and it goes for six because I’m celebrating a Cowboys touchdown but disliking the person who scored it. Now when Felix scores a touch, I’m bringing the house down!
My high school alma mater, the same as my oldest daughter Amanda’s, is struggling on the gridiron again. The Gophers are winless and things don’t look any brighter this week. They play Duncanville for homecoming.
Now on the other side of town, South Grand Prairie is doing okay after a very embarrassing season opening loss to Berkner, 38-0. The Warriors have won four straight and are 1-0 in district but face a new perennial power Friday at Cedar Hill. They should be playing in Texas Stadium in six weeks in the playoffs.
_____________________________________________________
What else happens in October? Oh yeah, the Texas State Fair. We plan on going to the Fair on Saturday. Every year the Goffinet’s hop in the car and venture to Fair Park to eat everything we can possibly get our hands on. First it will be the famous corn dogs, then my wife and daughters will have to get fudge – I can’t stand fudge – then it will be fried pickles and then who knows what else.
On our way out we stop a buddy of mine who helps operate a concession stand and I will get my patented turkey leg. And we’ll stop at the Texas Lotto booth, buy a few scratch offs and quick picks and say “nothing on this one!” It’s a great family outing although our son-in-law will not be able to attend this year.
But Hailey’s boyfriend is coming for his first visit to the Fair and he will really be overwhelmed.
_____________________________________________________
October ends with Halloween. It is on a Friday this year which leaves me kind of in a dilemma. Do I stay home and help pass out candy to all the little runts, err, kiddos or do I spend Halloween in the Gopher-Warrior Bowl press box? Stay tuned later for that.
And will I dress up at work like I used to when I worked at Cardinal? Again stay tuned.
That’s it for October. The Saturday after Halloween you can bet my wife will have all the Halloween decorations down and packed away and the Thanksgiving junk out. I’m sorry, I don’t mean junk, decorations.
Good night I’m tired! Was a looooooong day at work today.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
I'm officially a "blogger"
Hello? anyone out there? hmmmm...how do I start this blogg'n thing?
Do I tell a little bit about myself? Who I am? What I do? These are all very tough questions! Or do I just start rambling on?
Well here goes…
First my name is Greg Goffinet and I live in Grand Prairie, Tx. I’m halfway to 100 years old with another birthday rapidly approaching – three months from today to be exact.
I have been married to a wonderful woman, Rhonda, for 23 years and we have three children, Amanda, Zachry and Hailey. Oh yeah, I have a son-in-law, Mike McDonough, who married Amanda
Amanda's a pretty good kid, notice I said pretty good, who married a wonderful human being and man of God. Amanda is a librarian for an elementary school way the heck up near Oklahoma state line. Actually, Mike and Amanda live in Frisco, only 48 miles from our house in south Grand Prairie. To Rhonda, that's 48 miles too far!
Seriously Amanda is a fine Christian who always seems to make the right decisions, except for the time while at Baylor she ran over a brown sack in the road thinking it was probably food but instead realized it was glass bottles from adult beverages and ended up with a flat tire. Or the time she..well nevermind, I'm very proud of her and the life she has chosen. She turned out okay.
Hey Amanda, remember that time ya went to get ice cream but you forgot to order yours?
Amanda and Mike – it’s actually Amanda’s – have a blog called http://themclife.blogspot.com/. Amanda is very creative and has a lot of imagination. She did not get that from me.
Amanda, love you love you more! I win! *as usual*
Zachry, well, he’s my son and quite frankly, very similar to me. Need I say more? Seriously I’m proud of Zach, too. He’s got a big heart but he’s not sure yet what he wants out of life. He attended Harding University, a fine Christian school in Searcy, Ar., and is still living in the Ozarks and taking courses at Arkansas State-Beebe. See http://lovemesomegee.blogspot.com/.
Then there's Hailey. She's the baby of the group. She, too, is in Searcy and attending Harding. She's a sophomore and has a boyfriend, Joseph, who is from outside Nashville, Tn. Joseph also attends Harding and I give him five stars for putting up with Hailey! Just kidding sweetie. MORE!
Hailey is a nursing student. You can read about Hailey and her fainting goats on http://opplesandbanonos.blogspot.com/. Opples & what? Some times I wonder about her.
I'm very proud of all three of my kids. And my son-in-law. Even though he didn't take me to the Rangers' spring training in Arizona a couple of years ago!
Last but not least, my lovely wife Rhonda. I had better mention her or else sleep on the couch. And our coach is only comfortable for say, umm, five minutes.
Where do I start about Rhonda. She's the love of my life and well, I can't say enough about her. I have this saying: With her I'm somebody, without her I'm nobody. She has stood by my side in thick and thin and sweetie, I would not be the person I am today without you. There is no telling where I'd be if I had not asked you out on a date on August 4, 1984.
Oh, what? What about me you ask? Well okay.
Just a little bit about me. I was born and raised in Grand Prairie and have lived here all my life. There was those two years in Ft. Smith, Ar., however. When I was 4 my dad, may he rest in peace, accepted a job in Arkansas. He also worked for a company that had access to Razorback football games. I went once and was converted into Razorbackism. Whooooooooo Pig Soooey!
Love the Hogs. Half of my wardrobe is Razorbacks. I am a die-hard Hog, which explains why "hog" is in my blog title.
I am also a sports writer and have been one for 35 years. I won't go into full detail why I became a sports writer but it all started back in the ninth grade at then Adams Junior High. I got my first freelance gig my sophomore year in high school and did a lot of freelance work throughout high school for the Grand Prairie Daily News.
I went to work as the sports editor for the Grand Prairie Urbanite right out of high school and worked for the Mid-Cities Daily News in Hurst, the Grand Prairie Daily News as well as numerous freelance gigs for the Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Arlington Morning News, Waco Tribune, Cleburne Times Review and even Houston Chronicle.
I currently string for the Grand Prairie Today and just closed down my website, http://www.grandprairiesports.com/ because it was taking way too much of my time and not allowing me to spend time with Rhonda. That's why I'm starting a blog so I can still write yet spend more time with my wife and family.
I must mention my regular job. I got out of sports writing full time almost 20 years ago. I got caught up in Belo's first major RIF and have worked for GTE Directories Distribution, Genicom, Cardinal Health and now MPI Label System of Texas here in Grand Prairie. Sports writing is a side gig.
And from 1974-1991 I worked for the Rangers at old Arlington Stadium. I started off as a ticket taker and eventually became the head gate supervisor. My job: supervise 40+ ticket takers, 10 gate supervisors and make sure the crowds got into the stadium as smooth as possible.
That's it, my first official blog. Stay tuned cause there will be more!
Do I tell a little bit about myself? Who I am? What I do? These are all very tough questions! Or do I just start rambling on?
Well here goes…
First my name is Greg Goffinet and I live in Grand Prairie, Tx. I’m halfway to 100 years old with another birthday rapidly approaching – three months from today to be exact.
I have been married to a wonderful woman, Rhonda, for 23 years and we have three children, Amanda, Zachry and Hailey. Oh yeah, I have a son-in-law, Mike McDonough, who married Amanda
Amanda's a pretty good kid, notice I said pretty good, who married a wonderful human being and man of God. Amanda is a librarian for an elementary school way the heck up near Oklahoma state line. Actually, Mike and Amanda live in Frisco, only 48 miles from our house in south Grand Prairie. To Rhonda, that's 48 miles too far!
Seriously Amanda is a fine Christian who always seems to make the right decisions, except for the time while at Baylor she ran over a brown sack in the road thinking it was probably food but instead realized it was glass bottles from adult beverages and ended up with a flat tire. Or the time she..well nevermind, I'm very proud of her and the life she has chosen. She turned out okay.
Hey Amanda, remember that time ya went to get ice cream but you forgot to order yours?
Amanda and Mike – it’s actually Amanda’s – have a blog called http://themclife.blogspot.com/. Amanda is very creative and has a lot of imagination. She did not get that from me.
Amanda, love you love you more! I win! *as usual*
Zachry, well, he’s my son and quite frankly, very similar to me. Need I say more? Seriously I’m proud of Zach, too. He’s got a big heart but he’s not sure yet what he wants out of life. He attended Harding University, a fine Christian school in Searcy, Ar., and is still living in the Ozarks and taking courses at Arkansas State-Beebe. See http://lovemesomegee.blogspot.com/.
Then there's Hailey. She's the baby of the group. She, too, is in Searcy and attending Harding. She's a sophomore and has a boyfriend, Joseph, who is from outside Nashville, Tn. Joseph also attends Harding and I give him five stars for putting up with Hailey! Just kidding sweetie. MORE!
Hailey is a nursing student. You can read about Hailey and her fainting goats on http://opplesandbanonos.blogspot.com/. Opples & what? Some times I wonder about her.
I'm very proud of all three of my kids. And my son-in-law. Even though he didn't take me to the Rangers' spring training in Arizona a couple of years ago!
Last but not least, my lovely wife Rhonda. I had better mention her or else sleep on the couch. And our coach is only comfortable for say, umm, five minutes.
Where do I start about Rhonda. She's the love of my life and well, I can't say enough about her. I have this saying: With her I'm somebody, without her I'm nobody. She has stood by my side in thick and thin and sweetie, I would not be the person I am today without you. There is no telling where I'd be if I had not asked you out on a date on August 4, 1984.
Oh, what? What about me you ask? Well okay.
Just a little bit about me. I was born and raised in Grand Prairie and have lived here all my life. There was those two years in Ft. Smith, Ar., however. When I was 4 my dad, may he rest in peace, accepted a job in Arkansas. He also worked for a company that had access to Razorback football games. I went once and was converted into Razorbackism. Whooooooooo Pig Soooey!
Love the Hogs. Half of my wardrobe is Razorbacks. I am a die-hard Hog, which explains why "hog" is in my blog title.
I am also a sports writer and have been one for 35 years. I won't go into full detail why I became a sports writer but it all started back in the ninth grade at then Adams Junior High. I got my first freelance gig my sophomore year in high school and did a lot of freelance work throughout high school for the Grand Prairie Daily News.
I went to work as the sports editor for the Grand Prairie Urbanite right out of high school and worked for the Mid-Cities Daily News in Hurst, the Grand Prairie Daily News as well as numerous freelance gigs for the Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Arlington Morning News, Waco Tribune, Cleburne Times Review and even Houston Chronicle.
I currently string for the Grand Prairie Today and just closed down my website, http://www.grandprairiesports.com/ because it was taking way too much of my time and not allowing me to spend time with Rhonda. That's why I'm starting a blog so I can still write yet spend more time with my wife and family.
I must mention my regular job. I got out of sports writing full time almost 20 years ago. I got caught up in Belo's first major RIF and have worked for GTE Directories Distribution, Genicom, Cardinal Health and now MPI Label System of Texas here in Grand Prairie. Sports writing is a side gig.
And from 1974-1991 I worked for the Rangers at old Arlington Stadium. I started off as a ticket taker and eventually became the head gate supervisor. My job: supervise 40+ ticket takers, 10 gate supervisors and make sure the crowds got into the stadium as smooth as possible.
That's it, my first official blog. Stay tuned cause there will be more!
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