Reality check

So, yes, the updates on this blog have been (way too) far and (way too) few between each posts. For that I sincerely apologize. And I want to thank St. Michael's boys basketball assistant Rick Apodaca for the nice, swift kick in the butt for getting me to think about things. I used to be a bookmark on his Web page, but no longer with the lack of information emanating from this blog.
And I completely understand. It is hard to run a department, write and edit plus blog (live or otherwise). That shows in the few posts you have seen on here.
All I can do is try to be more diligent about that.
With that in mind, I'll add a link about breaking news on the prep basketball front. The Rivals site, run by Horseman grad Kyle Henderson, is breaking news that Piedra Vista has forfeited six wins from a 7-2 start for using an ineligible player.
Here is the link for that story.
Sorry to see that happen to the Panthers and their coach, Brian Shock. Much like his dad Pete at Cliff, he is one of the classiest coaches in the business and a straight shooter as well. Sorry to see this happen to him. Of course, they have two and a half months to make their mark, which they will. His team is one of the top five teams in Class AAAA this season.

Coach beaten by opposing players ..

I understand the passion play that is high school football, but sometimes, you read a story like this and wonder how things can go so horribly awry. God speed to the coach and hopefully they can prosecute those responsible.

For those wondering ... (Thursday night football)

The season started for a couple of area teams Thursday night - and they were all out of the city.
New Mexico School for the Deaf started its season with a trip to South Central New Mexico to play Hondo Valley, a team that reached the six-man division semifinals last year and the championship the year before.
It was not the start the Roadrunners were hoping for, falling behind 32-14 after 8 minutes and the Eagles waltzed to a 68-34 win. The loss muted an otherwise stellar evening for Michael Jendusa, who ran for 233 yards and recorded eight tackles to lead NMSD in both categories.
The Roadrunners outgained Hondo 481-367 on offense, but turnovers (two fumbles, two interceptions) prevented them from reaping the benefits of a strong offense.
Zachary Lee had a team-leading 122 receiving yards on eight catches and scored a touchdown.
Meanwhile, the Taos Tigers went to Los Lunas to play the Valencia Jaguars, who roughed them up for a 68-18 win.

You can read more about Taos' opener here:

This is what NOT to do for a team photo ...

The Bethany College men's golf team was taking a team photo ... Then took a TEAM photo that was not for public consumption. Unfortunately, as 20-somethings are wont to do, they made it so.
And here is the result.
For the faint at heart, do NOT look at the photo.

http://www.kansas.com/2011/08/22/1983841/bethany-suspends-golfers-after.html

Five months? My God ... I'm a little late

Well, for those who are wondering what the heck happened over the past four months, well so am I. A reporter is responsible for his work - or lack thereof - and that simply means I've been woefully irresponsible for this blog.
The only way to fix that is to ... blog! So I will try to update this block a few times a week, and try to keep you informed on the happenings in this state and across this country.

For starters, anyone who is a Little League baseball fan might have watch this afternoon's game between Albuquerque's Altamont Little League lost in the Southwest Regional semifinals to an all-star team from Lafayette, La., 14-6. Altamont led twice in the game - 2-0 in the second inning, and 6-4 in the fourth - but the home team Lafayette hammered away in the fourth and fifth with 10 runs combined.
So New Mexico's Little League World Series drought runs to 55 years. It was 1956 when Roswell won the World Series over Delaware Township, N.J. 3-1.
Here's to 2012.

Live blogging at the state basketball tournament

Just a heads up to everyone following this blog, we are live blogging this event on our Santa Fe New Mexican web site or look for us on coveritlive.com (it will be titled "state tournament live blog").
You can follow the action with myself, Will Webber and Geoff Grammer as we cover today's action. We will also get updates from the Class AA quarterfinal between No. 10 Pecos and No. 2 Penasco from our free lance reporter Todd Bailey.
I'll even try to update my blog here if I can.

Hope to see you during the week.

Unfortunate news regarding a Las Cruces Oñate football player

Las Cruces Oñate senior Jerry Zamarripa passes away earlier Saturday after being beaten at a party early Sunday morning in the Las Cruces area. The story has a few twists as well - including friends retaliating against the wrong person, and allegedly killing a 57-year-old Vietnam War veteran - but click the link here for more. Condolences to his family and friends