Reunion

Roger Crawford and other members of the 1994 Arkansas National Championship basketball team were on hand to teach a skills camp at the Yvonne Richardson Community Center.

When I first came to Arkansas and the Times, it was at the beginning of the 1993-1994 season. I knew of two Arkansans: Bill Clinton and Nolan Richardson. As a basketball junkie, I was thrilled to be covering this team during its championship run and during the inaugural season of Bud Walton Arena. There are times in one's life that are unforgettable and this team, that time, is one of my most vivid.

Bulldogs wrap up conference

Fayetteville High's boys and girls beat Bentonville High to remain undefeated on the season on Senior Night.

I'll take the show on the road next week to Fort Smith and the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith arena for the first round of the Class 7A state tournament.

Bunch of scientific rockets

Kip Olmstead and his son, Toby, check out a science fair project during the Vandergriff Elementary Science Fair.

I would have loved to have participated in a science fair in elementary school, and some of the projects that the kids did were really impressive. The only science fair that I was ever a participant in was the compulsory one in high school. I did a project on how an airplane wing works. I did an intricate model, of which I was very proud, but I failed to bother to look up how it actually DOES work and was unable to answer any questions correctly when I was interviewed.

I wince and cringe when I think of that moment to this day.

Nearing the end

Barry Gebhart and Fayetteville High heads south to take on the Fort Smith Southside Rebels in their final regular-season road game. The girls game should be decidedly one-sided in favor of the nationally 12th-ranked Lady Bulldogs, but the boys will have to play hard to get a win.

I am thankful that the Southside trip falls on my days off and I do not have to go. Shooting in their gym is so very difficult given how they arrange their pom and cheer squads. As I am enjoying the UA baseball game today instead of fighting for room to sit in their gym, I will no doubt smile.

World Thinking Day

The local Girl Scouts held their observance of World Thinking Day, a day to raise awareness of global issues for Girl Scouts.

I looked and looked, but no cookies.

75th anniversary

The Bonds celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary this weekend at a reception at Carnall Hall on the UA campus.

Ironically, I found it tough to get a photo of the two of them together since they rarely stood together during the reception. A photographer who had been contracted to take photos of the event for the family tried to be helpful and tell them to stand together for me, and explaining why I cannot do this proved difficult. So it never got any better than this.

But it was interesting to be there and to think about being married for 75 years.

Woo hoo

Former Fayetteville High and Arkansas senior second baseman Ben Tschepikow played the hero in the Hogs' 4-2 win over Washington State in the first game of a season-opener double header.

I had such a good time today and am so happy that baseball is finally here.

Baseball!

Work continues to improve the University of Arkansas' baseball stadium, Baum Stadium, on the eve of Opening Day.

I am so happy that baseball season is here. And I'm a Cincinnati Reds fan, so I really have no reason to be happy. Normally, at this point, we're already talking about next year.

Bringing the Hook

Rogers, and more importantly Morgan Hook, invades Fayetteville High tonight to take on the undefeated Lady Bulldogs.

The girls were late to start practice today as they watched the movie "The Express" as motivation, I suppose. As I waited for them to come out of the locker room, I got to shoot basketball in a largely empty gym, a distinctly rare pleasure for me.

Finally gone

The Jan. 27 ice storm did major damage to the area golf courses, but most who play at Paradise Valley Athletic Club are thankful that the tree on No. 11 is down and finally out of the way. It might have been the most hated tree in Fayetteville.

On being a homer

Kentucky junior Jodie Meeks hangs 45 on Arkansas in the Hogs' 79-63 loss.

It's no secret to most who know me that I am a huge Kentucky basketball fan; growing up in Kentucky will do that for a person. So covering UK playing at Arkansas is always a little awkward for me. As a journalist, I am supposed to be unbiased as I cover events, teams and people. And for all but one game every two years, I do this without a hitch.

Valentine's Day

Watching floral designers arrange flowers for Valentine's Day was fun, but I'm glad I got to skip the flower-buying this year.

Fashion show

I shot some women getting ready for a fashion show, and as usual had more fun than shooting the actual show.

Rivalry game

Hailey Young and the Woodland Junior High Cowgirls beat their crosstown rivals, Ramay Junior High in what turned out to be a clean sweep for Woodland's boys and girls teams.

Finally, a pretty day

Today was absolutely beautiful and I had nothing that I felt good about running on the front page, so I set out to find people doing what I would have loved to be doing today.

Exciting stuff

This is as exciting as it got for me, the closure of Lake Wedington because of ice-storm damage, as I worked on a project for later in the week.

Streak is broken

The Lady Bulldogs won at perennial powerhouse Fort Smith Northside for the first time since 1998 and, along with the boys, remain unbeaten on the season.

On the road again

Fayetteville High heads down the mountain to take on Fort Smith Northside today to take on the Grizzlies and Lady Bears.

The Northside trip is one of my favorite of the year, if only for the fact that I get to sit at the foot of an enormous, red grizzly bear statue in the gymnasium as I shoot.

Getting through tough times

Fayetteville basketball coach Barry Gebhart spoke to his players, in the wake of the death of two student-athletes yesterday, about taking nothing for granted and enjoying the moment and the people in your life. The school is providing counseling for kids who need it.

Shared tragedy

Two Fayetteville High School students were killed in a fire early Sunday morning while sleeping over at a friend's house.

So many times we find ourselves covering a tragedy like this one and no matter how much journalistic distance I muster, I cannot help but have it affect me. And I hope that never changes.