I read this article this morning and thought, “man, that is embarrassing.”  I feel really sorry for Jack Cust. 

The article was written to inform the world of a new American League record.  The Oakland Athletics American League baseball team has designated Jack Cust as the record holder for strikeouts.  Cust struck out for the 187th time this season breaking Rob Deer’s 1987 record.  To make matters worse Cust could challenge Ryan Howard’s major league record of 199 strikeouts. 

Although this Oakland Athletic’s new record is not one to brag about, you have to look at the positive side.  Cust does have 29 home runs and 70 RBIs. 

A New York Jet?  I don’t know about that.  It will be hard to watch Favre play for any other team than Green Bay.  He is a great quarterback and will always be remembered as a Packer, not a Jet.  Although I will watch him play; I really think he should just retired, sit back  and relax.  Actually what I really think is that he should move out to California buy a nice place in the foothills of Madera County- Oakhurst, Bass Lake, Coarsegold, Fish Camp, Mariposa, Raymond, North Fork are all very nice places- and help by coaching some of our local sport teams.  Wouldn’t that be nice?  Well good luck to Brett as a Jet.

Brett Favre returning to Green Bay?!  I thought he retired!!!  As much as I enjoy watching Favre’s skills on the field- I had come to terms with him retiring.  Now he has had a change of mind and is back.  I can’t help but wonder if that is fair to the starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers and all the other teammates who have been preparing themselves for a season without Favre in the picture?  Don’t get me wrong, it is great to see Favre back but I would like to know how Green Bay Packers will be able to accept him as their leader once again.  I hope the team will be able to pick up where they left off with or without Favre behind the center.   The only thing I don’t want to see is Brett being traded.   I would die to see Brett go to the Minnesota Vikings.  Favre is a Packer and forever will be. 

If you have young hoopsters in your house, you might want to think about enrolling them in this year’s Basketball Camp for Boys and Girls. The camp will admit students in all grades and will take place at the Yosemite High school gyms. This is not all an all day, every day camp. Instead, program hours are from 8:30 a.m.-12 noon, Monday-Thursday.

The experience staff for this camp includes the coaches and players who have graduated from the championship Yosemite Girls Basketball program. At the camp, students will have an opportunity to get coaching on basketball basics, with a focus on shooting and on having a good time while playing the game.

The cost for the camp is $60. This money may be paid on ahead of time or it can be paid on the first day. To pay ahead of time, send monies to Gary Blate, P.O. Box 2253, Oakhurst, CA 93644.

Be sure to register early! The first 72 participants will get a little prize pack: customized Badger shorts, t-shirts and sling backpacks.

With nice weather comes the urge to get out the old nag (not your wife) and go for a ride. Horseback riding is a lot of fun. But like lots of fun things, there are dangers and risks as well as enjoyment when being around horses. To help minimize the danger and risk, there are a few rules I have found to observe. Around the Barn Always wear appropriate clothing. Open-toed shoes are a big no-no in the barn or on the horse. Protect your feet. They are almost as important as your horse’s hooves. Put away equipment. Make sure pitchforks, rakes, etc. are stored properly and not left out where human or animal can trip over them. Clean up. Always sweep after doing stalls, grooming, etc. Pay special attention after the farrier visits and make sure there are no nails left out where they could puncture someone’s foot. Watch out for flying hooves. Most horses will not kick someone on purpose. Usually they are startled or really going after a fly. Avoid walking behind a horse. If you must pass behind, walk close to the animal (so his feet cannot gain momentum) and talk to the animal so there are no surprises for either of you. While cleaning hooves be careful to hold the horse’s leg in a position that is comfortable for the animal and not to the side. Place the hoof down after cleaning rather than dropping it to avoid injury to the animal. Keep animals separate. Be aware of which animals get along and which ones do not like each other. Avoid bringing animals’ close together in confined spaces and respect their personal space. Lead them in. Do not allow horses to charge into the barn at meal times. It may take some extra time, but it is worth it to lead them in one by one and escort them personally to their stall. Use a lead rope. Leading a horse by just the halter is not wise. While 99% of the time this may not be a problem, it’s the other 1% when the horse becomes agitated over an imagined danger and ends up in the next county that can be a problem. Do not leave your horse in a pasture wearing a nylon halter. Nylon halters are actually too strong and if he gets caught on a branch, he could be trapped or worse. If you must have a halter on your horse, use a leather one. On the Horse Use an approved helmet! There are plenty of styles to choose from including safety helmets that look like cowboy hats. Your brain is worth protecting! A helmet can be the difference between brushing the dirt off your pants and jumping back on the horse and a trip to the hospital or worse. Wear sturdy shoes with a heel. Good shoes keep your feet safe in the stirrup especially at those times when balance may be hard to get. Wear long pants that fit. While they should not be loose enough to get caught on anything while riding, your clothes should also be comfortable and not too tight. Check your tack. Every time you ride check your saddle and bridle for problems with stitching or rot. Ideally you should clean your tack every time you ride and store it in a dry area to avoid conditions that may cause decay in the leather or stitching. Make sure your stirrup leather can easily slide out of the saddle and the keeper is down. If you do fall with your foot still in the stirrup, you do not want to be dragged. Make sure the bridle fits well and it has not been readjusted since you last rode. A poorly adjusted bridle can make for a horse with a poor attitude. Tighten the girth before getting on and check it again after riding a few minutes. Make sure it is snug but not over-tight. You should barely be able to slide your hand between the girth and the horse. Horses are a great way to reach responsibility and even great therapy for special needs kids. But kids under the age of eighteen should never ride unsupervised and even adults should not go off without a companion. After all equines are unpredictable animals and should be respected as such.

Fishing season is here and whatever your fishing choice, the Sierra National Forest provides numerous opportunities for stream and lake fishing. For information on fishing regulations make sure to check out the California Department of Fish and Game regulations.Fresh water stream fishing on the Sierra National Forest is open from the last weekend in April through November 15. All lakes are open year around, though access may be limited due to seasonal closure of roads due to snow. All lakes and reservoirs on the Forest are open year around for fishing except were seasonal closures apply, such as Mammoth Pool. Anglers, 16 years and older, who plan to fish in creeks, streams, rivers and lakes need to obtain a California fishing license. This year the fee for an annual license is around $32.00 and can be obtained at local stores. When you obtain a permit make sure to pick up a copy of the Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulation Book, as it provides information on fishing restrictions, the type of hooks and bait you can use, the amount of trout you can catch and possess, and how you must display your license.

Have fun, good fishing and following the CATCH & RELEASE practice is a good thing.

We wish you all a Very Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year!  We look forward to our 2008 Baseball Season and look forward to seeing you during sign ups in January!

 Happy Holiday’s

The Sierra Mountain Little League Board