Archive By Section - Sports Columns
A shameless plug for beloved 49th state
I've had a few more than a ton of people ask me about taking trips to Alaska. I don't mind providing input, because a trip to the 49th state usually results not only a personal revelation for the visitor, but also an explanation for others as to why I see certain things the way I do. It isn't written, but island living clearly states that a person shall not be judged by their lawn, nor ...
They are what they eat
Corn-fed was a prison guard. In all my life I have never seen a better convergence of a person, a name and an occupation. Corn-fed was built very much like a steer that stood on two legs; he was huge. In his occupation as a prison guard his size was a great asset. The inmates did what he told them to do and didn't give him any trouble. It was as if he was made for the job.
Visit to old fishing spot brings back memories
This past weekend while attending a friend's wedding, I was taken back to the neighborhood where I grew up.
No bad blood, just bad golf
There was a time when simply kicking rocks into puddles could turn into a vicious competition ending in an altercation, but since my brother Mark has spent the better half of the last decade with the Navy we have proven our parents correct with regards to all that "one day you will appreciate each other" type stuff.
Iron kettle
Oftentimes when you're out afield, you happen across things that may have no bearing upon hunting or fishing but which enhance the overall outdoor experience. The iron kettle is a perfect example. For decades my Dad and I fished a particular stretch of stream that had great fishing largely because it was difficult to get to. We walked down a trail that followed the main river for 2 miles and then fished up a tributary ...
Cast from the past: Old lures may do the trick
As a beginning fisherman I only had one or two lures I was confident in and used them regardless of the weather or time of year.
Philpott wins final race at 99, but Belletto is season champ
The Stockton 99 Speedway closed out the regular season for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series last Saturday night.
The importance of staying dry
It's always a good idea to check the weather before a trip to the mountains this time of year, so I did.
Blue sky classrooms
It seems as though the public schools get a lot of criticism these days, but then I'd be willing to bet that people have been complaining about schools as long as schools have existed. Certainly, some of the criticism of schools is warranted and schools could use improvement. There is, however, a good argument to be made that that we are asking our schools and their administrators and teachers to teach things that we, as ...
Traditional nets still reliable despite drawbacks
Over the years, I have seen several different fishing nets being marketed to fishermen. One challenge that comes with netting fish has always been keeping the hooks from snagging themselves within the netting material. At the request of anglers, rubber nets were made, and for a while they were the wave of the future when it came to nets.
Contemplating the ‘net’ gain
My buddy Danny said I should start a website. This was sometime in the late spring. I could post columns, fishing tips, things like that, and people could visit and read about my most frequent mishaps, or maybe even get some insight. During a fishing trip on the Upper Sacramento River a few weeks ago Danny again pitched the idea, this time with a focus on gear reviews. He was using fresh-from-the-box chest waders that ...
Bamboo bonanza
Over the past couple of decades, I have collected antique bamboo fly rods. Contrary to popular belief, not all bamboo rods are valuable. Prior to World War 2, almost all rods were made of split bamboo. Some were excellent and costly, some were good medium priced rods, and some were cheap junk. South Bend, Heddon, and Montague were all rods that were comparable to Fords or Chevrolets. They were good serviceable rods manufactured and priced ...
Just another day on the water?
When I was an 8th grader, standardized testing said I scored in the 98th percentile nationally in science.
Wild food
These days it seems that lots of folks are concentrating on eating healthier foods. It seems like everywhere you look there are ads for organic beef, milk and vegetables. Heck, I'm gonna start looking for organic bourbon. You can't be too careful. Seriously, though, there are undoubtedly significant benefits to eating healthier foods. One source of healthy, organic food is wild food. Remember Ewell Gibbons? He was the author of a best seller entitled 'Stalking ...
Making it up as you go
Saturday I was invited to be the seventh wheel on a trip to Yosemite National Park. I had the most experience of the troop so I felt inclined to provide historical background during the excursion.
Articles by Section - Sports Columns
Old PE teacher reminds Ballardo about fly fishing
There are many ways to catch a fish. Yesterday while doing some grocery shopping I ran into my high school physical education teacher, coach Gebhart. He reminded me of a way of catching fish that I've never really gotten into. Coach Gebhart likes to fly fish just as much as he likes to golf. I have a fly rod, which is 27 years old and has sat collecting dust for the past 20 years. I ...
Tales of the over-ripe athlete
The ball was over-inflated and under-used, but that wasn't the real issue.
Anticipation of summer spurs fond memory
It's been a long time since I was a student in school waiting with anticipation for the start of summer.
Filling free time with a life
At some point after, during, or instead of college, you embark on a career.
Predicting bite as tricky as predicting weather
When I was a kid I used to think about being a weather man.
Life goes on, thankfully
After your mom has the 7-millimeter aneurysm in her right middle cranial artery fixed, you've watched a You Tube clip of the same procedure on a different brain and your mom starts telling people she'll be home in a week (the doctors smile and say it will probably be a few days longer), your depth of observation increases.
Archeology & the outdoor enthusiast
Last week, I discussed antiques that the outdoor enthusiast might find incidentally while hunting, angling, or exploring old ghost towns.
Gomes, Holmes among entries in G-Oil 150 event at Stockton 99
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West returns to Stockton's 99 Speedway this Saturday for G-Oil 150, one of the biggest events on the 2013 schedule.
Display mounts cost pretty penny
I have this empty space on my living room wall that would be the perfect place for a mounted bass. It's right above my fish tank and would look perfect.
My world is an ICU
I've never really seen my Mom sick. She's had colds before, but she has epitomized both strength and stubbornness. That's probably why she rarely had health issues - they were intimidated.
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