Blof's Blog

By Ted Blofsky, Jr.

Happy New Year!

By now, most of your new resolutions have been broken. You're sick and tired of the cold and fog. You're upset that football season, especially the National Football League, is just about over.

But, you are extremely happy you are not facing the trials and tribulations of a guy named Tiger Woods. I am among those who are stunned by his "transgressions." I am not naïve, but once you have been around or just in the vicinity of Tiger, you just don't get it. His singleness of mind for the game of golf and his rigid self discipline, or appearance of such, just don't coincide with actual events.

The game did not need this. But it will survive. Television ratings will suffer and sponsors of PGA events will drop along the wayside. That was going to happen anyway. You can't beat the economy, unless you are a highly-paid free agent. (Most pro sports have cut back, but only in the office personnel. Ever wonder how many administrative assistants you have to let go to pay for a multi-million dollar contract?)

Sports, including golf, will continue to be the playgrounds for those of us who live vicariously through athletes and their accomplishments. Hero worship is alive and well in the United States. Opportunities will be fewer because of cutbacks but they will still be there.

In the meantime, add another resolution or two. Get out there and watch the local high school, Butte College and Chico State athletes in action. I don't like admitting I have been extremely lax in that area. Since wife Jan and I have moved back to Chico full time that will change. We should never have opted for taking down Christmas decorations rather than watching the Wildcats beat Cal Poly Pomona in overtime. Hopefully, however, there won't be many more Sunday afternoon contests.

I have been warned by many of the Wildcat followers that parking is a disaster and can be extremely costly if you park in the wrong place. Even in earlier years parking was bad but those who talked to us have cut their attendance accordingly. That's especially true in bad weather.

It may not be spring or summer, but there are other ways to shake the winter blues. Make vacation plans soon and lock in the rates that are being offered. If you like to drive, take a jaunt up Interstate 5 and on into Canada. A group of Chicoans did that last July. Some flew but most did not. The golf courses in Victoria, B.C. were beautiful and in fantastic condition. There are numerous non-golfer activities, too.

San Diego, Phoenix/Scottsdale, Tucson, Monterey and Hawaii. Take your pick. You can drive to any of those except, of course, Hawaii. Even at new and current lower pricing, Monterey and Hawaii are pricey for golf unless you check around and find afternoon rates. If you are a senior golfer, that's even better.

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What was my favorite new course of the year? The Bear Mountain Course in Victoria was outstanding. It has a 19th hole, a short par-3, on the highest part of the mountain. It there's for wagering and overlooking Victoria and across the water to Seattle. Our group also played Bear Valley at that resort. It also is a fine course and extremely challenging, especially the rolling putting surfaces.

Best public complex? That has not changed. We-Ko-Pa in Fort McDowell just outside Phoenix and Scottsdale has two really good golf courses, a fine golf shop and bar and restaurant. It is well worth the 45-minute drive it could take from most area resorts.

Best arrival and or getaway course? Without a doubt, Karsten GC in Tempe is the Arizona State home links. It is not as tough as many of those in the desert, but in is fun and just a short ride to the Phoenix Airport.

Still No. 1? Without a doubt, my favorite is Spyglass Hill. It takes every shot in the bag to play this one and most of us don't have those shots left in our bag. That means little as you play and take in the trees, ocean, lakes undulating greens and doglegs. Don't give up the game until you've played here. And, while you are on the Peninsula, spend the money and go to Pebble Beach for golf, dining and shopping.

The courses mentioned above are public venues. There are many wonderful private links. Of course, C-y-p-r-e-s-s P-o-i-n-t has few challengers as best in the United States and maybe anywhere. I have never played Pine Valley, but it must be really good. A list of private clubs with two courses would have to contain Monterey Peninsula CC and Whisper Rock in Scottsdale.

This is just a small sampling. We'll get into different courses and resorts this some time this year. We're headed to Tucson and Western Washington for spring and summer outings.

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Off the cuff: My mentor of years past, the late Eddie Booth, told me, and anyone else who wanted to listen, not to bet with your heart but with your wallet. I remembered the advice but did not heed it while picking my players and teams for a fantasy football pool. Gone from the NFL playoffs are Green Bay and Chicoan Aaron Rodgers. Gone are San Diego and Philip Rivers. Six years in San Diego made me a Chargers fan. Eddie, you were right. Gone are my chances of victory in the fantasy league ... Does it bother anyone else that mandatory physical education and/or participation in athletics are not part of the education system like they were in the good old days. Now there are many taking potshots at funds used for athletics. Physical education is a dirty word in many schools. All coaches used to be on the teaching staff and not hired at large. The rate of obesity and subsequent ailments are too much a part of our culture. Bring back physical education. That's not the only answer, but it sure can't hurt ... The San Diego Open at Torrey Pines has found a sponsor. Farmers Insurance has filled the void for the Jan. 28-31 event ...

(Ted Blofsky can be e-mailed at grampsblof@aol.com)

By Ted Blosky, Jr.

Some really good things have happened in the professional golf world the past few weeks. It doesn't matter that they occurred on non-United States soil (fairways and greens are more apropos).

Each division of professional golf is faced with financial problems. The good old days are gone. No longer is the corporate world ready to dole out millions of dollars so a guy with a good putting stroke can make much better than a modest living. As contracts end the options, in many cases, are not being picked up. For instance, even the San Diego tourney stop still is looking for a title sponsor.

If Tiger Woods, who has always played well there and picked up a U.S. Open title in 2008, makes an appearance that could solve the problem. But, Buick has been the title sponsor in the past and also had Tiger on the dotted line. Buick will not be sponsoring many more events and Tiger's pact also has been dumped.

Tiger is one of the bright spots mentioned above. He won in Australia, albeit he didn't really have to win to make the junket profitable. He got $3 million just to show up.
Two weeks earlier Woods could not mount a late rally while Phil Mickelson was lighting it up in Hong Kong. Mickelson's late-season surge was punctuated by his victory. It also set up the prospect of a Woods-Mickelson duel or two in 2010. That will help make sponsors and fans dig deep into their thinly-lined pockets for a few dollars.

Many, including some of my closest friends, tire of the endless Tiger-talk and Tiger-viewing during television coverage. All of us would like to see more of other contestants but Tiger sells. Rating for golf soar whenever he is involved. If Mickelson and other hopefuls can challenge in 2010, the PGA officials will rest much easier.

The LPGA has an even tougher task. It already has reduced next year's schedule to 24 tournaments. Despite the fact the ladies play at such a high level, interest fades quickly. Enter, finally, Michelle Wie, in Mexico in a tournament named for the No. 1 player -- Lorena Ochoa

Wie won her first LPGA event in mid-November. It was a long-awaited win and one that will draw even the casual golf fan to the television. With Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel finishing in that order behind Wie, 2010 got a really big boost. Many of the LPGA challengers come from other countries and U.S. fans need a hero or two, or three.

It isn't just the professional ranks that have been decimated by current economic problems. Throughout the nation, country clubs are struggling to keep current members. Some have lost as much as 40 percent of their membership. The old remedy was to raise the dues. Try that now and even more of the members are gone, even if they have to give away their memberships.

Public golf courses are in the same quandary. It used to be golfers had to line up early at many of the first-class facilities so they could get a starting time. No more. Courses are offering special deals to get some bodies on the links.

Nothing has been able to save some of the courses. There comes a point when you throw in the towel rather than keep throwing money down the drain. In recent weeks I have traveled to Arizona and Hawaii. Both show the strain of weak cash flow. There are tell-tale signs of deferred course upkeep -- less water, patchy greens and fairways and, even more troubling, fewer golfers. It would not be fair to name these because they are still playable, just not at the quality many of us have come to expect.

Golf, despite efforts to show otherwise, always has been called an elitist sport. Baloney. That may have been true years ago but if someone wants to play golf these days it isn't any more costly than many other endeavors and you can do it longer. Golf doesn't just help itself. The PGA Tour donates more money to charity than all the other professional sports put together. College and high school sports programs hold golf tournament to raise money. Cancer, heart and other health issues support their foundations with golf tournaments. You want to raise money, put together a golf tournament. If you look closely, a majority of these charity events are held at country clubs. That gives the public player a chance to play that venue and help a cause in the process.

If you just want to help and don't know where to go, send contribution amount to the NCGA Foundation in Pebble Beach. I'm sure Adam Heieck, the main man for the NCGA Foundation, will be glad to take your offering.

Off the cuff: Anyone else tired from hearing, "Establish a Run Game." If any football team can pass better than it runs, throw the football! A classic example is the NFL San Diego Chargers. LaDainian Tomlinson is a great -- but getting older -- back but why waste 20 plays sending him into a quagmire at the line of scrimmage when you have Phillip Rivers at quarterback and a whole host of great receivers? I'm not just saying that because Rivers is my Fantasy League quarterback ... Does anyone else care that the Golden State Warriors have rid themselves of Stephen Jackson? I have never been a proponent of firing coaches, but let's face it, Don Nelson should go...to Hawaii. He does not teach defense. He is, in a sense, in a state of retirement. Nelson does not care if the Warriors win or lose, he still gets a check. Time to go, Nellie ... If you have pitching like the San Francisco Giants, don't you go get some other parts of the game to win a championship? Then you can bet the farm ... Has there ever been some many college athletes in trouble with the law? I don't like reading my sports pages (and, regretfully, internet sites) filled with arrests, dismissals and/or suspensions. There's simply too much pressure on coaches to win and character has lost out in the recruiting phase. Many of us would like to defend athletics but as my mentor Eddie Booth said it best: "I like to argue from a position of strength." ... Being on the road has negated my "Where Is She/He Now" segment. That will come next time.

I have no explanation why it took so long to return to the computer since my last entry. Just couldn't pull the trigger. Maybe I was having too much fun playing golf with my buddies and completing our move to Chico. Chico State University golf coach Travis Brown can shoulder much of the blame. He didn't take the Wildcats -- who are really good -- to Hawaii so all of us fans could go there so I could tell everyone about it.

It was so much easier for me when there were deadlines. No way I could go to an athletic event and not think about writing a story that would be ready for the next day. The NCGA (Northern California Golf Association) Golf magazine printed only four times a year but the pressure to get things done was just as demanding as the daily grind at the Enterprise-Record.

How many of those "What Did You Do Last Summer" essays did you have to write in your elementary and high school days? There were times I was tempted to copy the same one just to see if my teachers actually cared. Didn't do it. I was afraid one of them would catch on and I would be off to see the wood shop teacher at Henley High School (Oregon). You see, in the good (?) ol' days we went to see Mr. Peterson and his big wooden paddle for any misdeeds. It took only a couple of trips to make sure you really thought things out in the future.

It is, however, good to reflect what good things happened in the summer months. In 2009 there are been regrets but many highlights, too.

For the most part of 47 years (29 at the E-R and 18 at the NCGA) it was fun, fun, fun. I loved going to work. Even when I felt poorly, I could go to the E-R on 7th and Broadway and feel better in a matter of minutes. As one of my mentors, former editor Bill Lee says, it was a great time to be a newspaperman and a member of the media.

Eddie Booth, Ted Blofsky, Skip Reager, Mark Musolf, Lorri Jewett, Jayne LaGrande, Coco Crum and current E-R editor David Little (many others could be listed here) spent many hours keeping up with anything having to do with Mid-Valley Area sports. In the good old days, we worked quite a few evenings then but I don't think I could handle today's night shifts. After two weeks, I knew going to the Oregon Statesman in Salem in early 1961 was not worth the extra $5 a week. The Statesman was a morning paper and, putting it bluntly, that sucked. Working for a morning paper upside-down living. And, we had a brand new baby (Matt) who joined 4-year-old Mark! Fortunately, Eddie and wife Bobbie drove to Salem and told me to get my rear-end back to Chico. It was one of many prayers that have been answered.

With the problems now haunting the newspaper business, I think it might be better to return to an afternoon E-R. It would give employees a chance to breathe and not live under constant duress. Many of us, even the retirees, love to sit down in the evening and read the newspaper. That's just an opinion.

But, what did happen last summer?

First, the negatives. Because of scheduling conflicts wife Jan and I missed two important events. Pete and Peg Riehlman had a chance to get-together with many former Wildcat footballers in July. We also were unable to be a part of early CSU basketball get-togethers. While on the subject, like many I was saddened by the death of long-time friend Wes Walsvick. He was a Wildcat through and through. He was working with Tom Carter, Mike Gabriel, Steve Piluso, Steve Connolly and other former 'Cats to help the current program.

I had not talked to Wes in recent years but was planning to remedy that since returning to Chico full time. I was ready to rib him about a record that probably never will be broken.

Wes fouled out of every Mac Martin Chico Invitational Basketball Tournament game in which he played. He padded that record when the alumni were called on to fill in when one of the teams was unable to make it here. The alums stunned everyone by winning two big games and then giving CSU's varsity a tough game before bowing in the final. You guessed it. Wes fouled out of all three games in that CIBT. That did not detract from his ability. It just tells how hard he played.

One event we did not miss was the unveiling of the Willie Simmons Bench in front of Acker Gym. Don Carlsen, Mike Strand and Sam Simmons were the main cogs in getting the project under way and completed.

A big throng gathered that Saturday in early October. I lost a bet (just kidding) because I thought that Willie would never show. He's never been into accepting the spotlight for any reason. But, he did. Laudatory speeches by master of ceremonies Carlsen, Bill Wells, Jerome Circo, Bill Moule and Sam Simmons left few with dry eyes.

Following the hour-long ceremony most of the gathering moved to the Grad for lunch and to swap lies with old teammates and/or classmates. Among those were Joe Stetser, Larry Jackson, Keith and George Caulkins, twins Gerald and Jerome Circo, Gary Houser, Fred Obermiller, Daryl Talken, Lynn Sparks, Rich Miller, Manny Trevino and all-world cheerleader Wayne Tarr. That's a very short list of the attendees. I should have taken better notes.

The day was not over. That evening Obermiller, a standout basketball player and also a member of the aforementioned alumni team, was among those inducted into the Chico State Athletic Hall of Fame. Joining him in the 2009 class were Wendy Bates, basketball, 1986-88; Matt Dillon, football, 1984-87; Pete Franco, football, 1965-66; the late Richard "Dick" Kollenborn, football, 1937-40; Richard "Gary" Kollenborn, baseball, 1961-63; football, 1960-63; track and field, 1964; Kevin Miller, baseball, 1987-90; football, 1987- 89; Obermiller, basketball 1958-62; football, 1962; Debbie Peloyan Maderos, softball, 1970-74; swimming, 1970-74; Mike Porter, track and field, 1969-71; Darcy M. Power Pollak, basketball, 1987-89; field hockey, 1986-89; Bob Vickney, football, 1983-84; track and field, 1986-87; and the honorary selection, Gary Towne, CSU cross country coach.

I also have the privilege to be friends with many of the inductees, especially Debbie Peloyan Maderos. If she keeps taking my money of the golf course, it may no longer be a privilege. Although it was not her sport in college, she is one of the toughest competitors I have ever encountered on the links. Of course, husband George Maderos is still one of the two best golfers I have ever had the pleasure to play with and against. The other would be good friend Denny Lindo. (Carl Selkirk and Jim Sands were, and still are, so tough I don't like mentioning them.)

Sam Simmons orchestrated the introductions in his usual flawless manner. Chico State President Paul Zingg took time out of a hectic Parents Day schedule to make appearances at both the Simmons Bench and Hall of Fame ceremonies. Chico State athletic director Anita Barker and committee chairperson Elmeretta Brown handed out the awards.

Carlsen, who usually is spending his weekends on the road to officiate a National Football League game, received the Mac Martin CSU Hall of Fame committee's Outstanding Service Award.

It was a great day and brought back many memories. Too bad there wasn't more coverage by the local media.

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Footnotes: Next time I'll write a review of golf in Victoria, B. C. Eight Chico couples made a trip there in July and the golf courses were magnificent ... You'll notice I have not mentioned a plan to help return football to the Chico State athletic program. Anyone pushing that endeavor during the current economic situation would not be viewed as a realist. That doesn't mean we have completely given up hope ... I have never been a New York Yankees fan, but I do like the way their players are clean shaven and well groomed. Anyone else tired of athletes who look like they have not bathed in more than a week? Having the scruffy look has even invaded the PGA Tour ranks ... Included in the next blog will be pieces on Tucson and Hawaii golf and a Where Are they Now? piece.

(Ted Blofsky can be e-mailed at grampsblof@aol.com)

There's nothing like a great vacation to refresh the mind and body even if you are retired.
Let's face it, as golf buddie Gary Bright says, "The problem with retirement is you never
get a day off."

With that in mind, wife Jan and I scheduled a three-week excursion to our favorite place -- Hawaii. Planning was near-perfect. The first week would be spent watching the Chico State University golfers take part in the Dennis Rose Invitational on the Big Island. The men played at Mauna Lani North and the women at The Waikoloa Kings Course. We also would join the CSU golf boosters in a bit of fun golf and a luau.

The second week would be for more golf. Jan would kick back, read, enjoy the scenery and twiddle her thumbs until we were done. She hoped we had enough energy to do some other fun things in the afternoon. Kidding aside, we did take days off to drive around the island and 6o to the beach.

Youngest son Marty, who joined us for the first 12 days would go home prior to week No. 3. Jan and I would await the arrival of George and Debbie Maderos who were in Maui. There was supposed to be more golf, reliving past travels to the islands and a dinner or two.

The first week went basically as planned. I played golf with Skip and Cheryl Reager at the beautifully-maintained Mauna Lani North Course. Skip and I worked together at the Enterprise-Record for more than 25 years and have known each other for just about twice that.(I admit to being that old but I think Skip is much younger.) This was, however, the first time we had ever played a round of golf together.

I got in another round with the group at Hapuna and also teed it up at Makalei before the "fun" began.

CSUC coach Travis Brown had set up additional booster rounds at Waimea and the two courses at Kona Country Club. I already was a bit physically slowed by lingering problems brought on by radiation treatments for prostate cancer. Suffice it to say, I could not get too far from a restroom. Then, I suffered a "bout of gout" with my left foot. No more golf the first week.

I got back to the golf course for two more rounds after the foot problem went away. I was able to overcome slight injuries to my head, knee, forearm and shoulder suffered when I fell out of bed. (Give a guy a break, it was a much different mattress than we use at home.)

I barely remember the third week. I know Debbie sent an email saying it was doubtful she and George were going to make it to Kona. George was in the hospital and in isolation with an extremely poor white blood cell count. I was not in the hospital but my ears and throat were burning up. I was sick and learning about George's made me feel worse.

After a trip to urgent care and receiving antibiotics to fight my illness, Jan and I stayed inside and out of the VOG-impaired air of the big island. VOG is much like fog but is a lot more potent because of the sulfuric acid-laden smoke that comes from the volcano located on the island. I personally ruined the third week of our stay but it was a good thing I could not play any golf. A bad case of "jungle rot" (jock itch) on both thighs coincided with the other illness.

I'm not complaining about all these issues or the fact Jan got sick just before we came home. I'm not going to complain about the seats we had on the United Airlines red-eye flight returning home, even if canned sardines have more space. (When the person sitting in the seat in front of me reclined I nearly suffered a pair of broken knee caps.)

I'm not complaining because I did not have to spend any time in the hospital, as did George Maderos. I did not have to worry about test after test that my spouse was taking, as did Debbie Maderos.

George is a long-time friend but I think he may have thought I had gone a leg (or arm, or foot, or heart or lung) up on him in the medical files. George is not accustomed to being second to anyone in anything. I am conceding Chico State's all-time No. 1 athlete is the winner, even if a legion of doctors was never able to pin-point what was making him ill. I also hope neither of us will add to the lists in the future.

The good news? George and Debbie are back in Chico. Sitting in your own chair and sleeping in your own bed will go a long way to further recovery.

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It has been more than three weeks since we first arrived in Kona and time to forget the aforementioned problems.
Let's talk about college golf. I am still amazed by the quality of golf shown by the men and women of the teams that played in the Dennis Rose tournament.

The PGA Tour has its "These guys are good" motto. Those words best describe my feelings as I looked at the scoreboard following the first 36 holes for the guys. Mauna Lani North is not a pushover. The first score I noticed reflected a team with a lot of red numbers. Valdosta State from Georgia led the field with a team total of 19-UNDER-par 557. That's four of five individual scores and fabulous golf.

Chico State, which had won the Sonoma State event a week earlier, started poorly and never recovered. Coach Brown said it best. "You have to bring your top game every time." Despite a team score of 4-under the final day, CSUC finished ninth in its final fall outing. St. Edward's University from Texas rallied to tie Valdosta State at 21-under 843 and won a card-off for the team title.

Western Washington State's Jake Koppenberg won the individual title with a 70-68-64--202 performance. His 16-under figure won by three strokes. Eighteen players in the 90-man field broke par, including Chico State's Lucas Delgado (70-72-73--215) and Brandon Harkins (69-76-70--215). Delgado's final round was marred by a quadruple-bogey. Wildcat Kyle Souza opened with an 80 but came back with rounds of 69-68. Kevin Horan (78-80-73) and Greg Marskey (81-77-76) rounded out the CSUC contingent.

Kathy Dais' women finished third in the five-team field. Cal Baptist won with a 909 three-round total where three of four scores counted. Western Washington followed at 914 on the tough Waikoloa Kings Course. Chico State finished at 922.

Megan Chang shot 76-75-74--225 for third place individually. Erin Sears (72-79-76--227) tied for fourth. Sears' 72 was the third-best of the tournament. Only winner Malin Thorberg of Cal Baptist (when she shot 69 on her second 18 holes of the first day) and Western Washington's Kailin Parker (71 on the same round) had better efforts.

Shelby Hooper (73-78-80) and Sara Ansolabehere (82-86-84)also competed for Chico State.

Both CSUC teams do not resume action until February.

Director of Golf Ross Birch says the planting of a new grass -- seashore paspalum -- is one of the reasons the Mauna Lani courses are in such outstanding condition. The fairways and greens were pristine. In general, seashore paspalum requires up to 50 percent less water for irrigation than bermudagrass and up to 75 percent less nitrogen for fertilization. It also is tolerant of salt water.

Waikoloa Director of Golf Scott Head says his Kings and Beach courses will stay with bermudagrass. "We want to maintain the links feeling on the Kings," he said. "We promote running the ball onto the greens and want to keep it that way." I played both courses and they, too, were outstanding.

A final note: Those making a trip to Kona would do well to make sure they take in breakfast or lunch at the Kings Grill. The food and prices were the best we found the entire trip.

(Ted Blofsky can be emailed at grampsblof@aol.com)

I wore my Chico State Alumni and Chico State Granddad tee shirts with great pride on recent trips to Utah and Arizona. There was a problem for some of those who could not see the letters correctly and they identified with Ohio State.

Oh, no, I said. Chico State University in Northern California.

“Oh, the big party school,” some of the older people remarked. “We remember that. By the way, how good is your football team this year?”

Ouch! That really hurt. Visions of Keith and George Calkins, Craig Breschi, Mario Serafin, Joe Stetser, Randy Washington, Jewell McCullar, Chris Pane, Al Davenport, Pete Franco, Chauncey Turnbow, Bob Bonner, C.C. Carter and so many others danced through my mind. What wonderful days those were. Through years of various success, the teams of George Maderos, Pete Riehlman, Dick Trimmer and Mike Belotti (now at the University of Oregon) gave us Saturday afternoons and/or evenings so many plays to remember. Those nearly four-hour stints when Stetser loaded up his rocket launcher an average of 50 times a game were circus-like. Who will forget the Camellia Bowl team of Riehlman? Ah, those were really the days.

Finally, I came up with an answer to the aforementioned question.

Chico State will not lose a football game I told everyone who asked. Then, I quickly changed the subject.

Sometime next month, former CSU players will gather in Chico and swap memories and a few tall tales. They’re all much better now. I’ve been to a number of the reunions. Yes, the men are much older. Some of them, heaven forbid, have already retired. Strangely, there is no mention in the media about these get-togethers. Think how many feature stories are walking around. Many of these guys became school administrators, business executives and above all, good citizens. This is their Homecoming.

One of my goals when returning to Chico was to start a push to reinstate football at CSU. I know all the arguments.

No opponents. What about Southern Oregon, Oregon Tech, Humboldt State and a few of the smaller schools in Southern California? That’s a lame excuse.

No money. Unless the University itself and the student body pledge help, the no money pitch is a good one. In the current economic situation, trying to find cash will be like trying to sell stock in Enron.

Fortunately, it appears Butte College does not have that problem. Admittedly, I have not yet been to a Roadrunner game, but that will change soon. I would cringe, however, if I were a member of the CSU athletic department each time I open the Sunday E-R. Half the front sports page and half of page 3 were dedicated to Butte in a recent edition. You can’t buy advertising like that. Well, you could, but there goes money that can be used elsewhere.

It’s doubtful anything will change in the near future. But, maybe it is time to press the issue.

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One of my three major mentors at the E-R for nearly 29 years was Bill Lee (the others were the late Eddie Booth and Milan Murray). Bill still reminds me we lived in a wonderful time for newspapers. He is so right.

We worked countless hours to stay on top of anything local both on the news and sports side. Although we complained, really we had plenty of space to do our jobs. Time constraints were much easier because we were an afternoon newspaper. Many times we worked until 2 or 3 in the morning to get our sports ready for the next day. Current E-R Editor David Little can recall those hours. He worked for me in the sports department while attending CSU.

That’s not a luxury now. Morning newspapers have tough deadlines. Throughout the country, papers are getting smaller. They’re cutting back staff and trying to make up for lost revenue by getting into the internet game. I love the internet, but I have an extreme dislike for stories that end in “see xxxxx.com” for scoring details. Cutbacks have given all sports departments the attitude of getting it “out” quickly. The scoreboard page has become a huge dumping ground and saying “we don’t have space for that” a common excuse.

I was just a guilty as most sports editors and writers in that we have our special sports. Former CSU soccer coach and athletic director Don Batie will be the first to tell you soccer was not my favorite. He also will tell you I made sure the E-R did cover his fantastic teams.

I like baseball but not to the extent the way it dominates most of the year. The majors regular season alone is 162 games. Add to that extensive coverage of a local team and how much if left for all the others. Why not send some of those box scores, leaders and league statistics to “xxxxxx.com?”

It is no secret I like golf. However, I am satisfied with scores being in agate for most of the PGA and LPGA events. I am not satisfied waiting until Tuesday (sorry, Ed) for results in Chico City Golf Tournament qualifying or results. That’s local news with local people and the Chico City is one of the oldest tournaments in the state. It deserves better.
All it takes is a telephone call to get those scores.

Maybe it‘s time to return to the afternoon paper. Sunday morning would be OK. We would have papers boys and girls again. Upside down living for newspaper types would be minimized.

You’re right, Bill Lee. Those were the good old days.

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Ruben Canny, Tiger and Travel Tips

The orginal beginning of this blog comes later. Comments and observations on the U.S. Open take second place to something much more meaningful.

Wife Jan and I and the Chico community lost a friend at the end of June.

When we returned to Butte County a year ago and purchased our home at Northwood Commons, three neighborhood couples made our decision to “come home to sons and families” after a 20-year absence even more meaningful.

Ruben and Wendy Canny, Bob and Linda Kiehn and Ron and Jo Anne Stout joined us for glasses of wine, great food and great fun. There were many laughs as we rotated from home to home, sometimes without scheduling.
Ruben talked me into staying an extra day in Chico to play in the BCCC Senior Invitational last fall. We had a great time but never got a chance to play together again because Ruben was battling cancer. He reluctantly gave up his BCCC membership recently when he knew the future was bleak.
He continued the fight until the disease had its say. I’ll bet he gets a good starting time where he’s gone. We’ll tip a glass to him at future get-togethers. He was one of the good ones.
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It’s been a few weeks since Tiger Woods registered his remarkable victory at the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego and even with his injury and subsequent surgery few things really have changed.

You’re a Tiger fan. You’re not a Tiger fan.

I admit I was among the many pulling for Rocco Mediate to pull off the upset. Rocco’s everyone’s kind of guy. In my early days at the Northern California Golf Association it was hard to defend Poppy Hills as one of the sites for the annual AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. First, Poppy was taking the place of Cypress Point. That alone made everyone upset.

Old-time professionals verbally hammered away at the NCGA member course. Controversy-seeking golf writers jumped in and for years blasted its use in the rotation.
(Those same writers still broke their necks getting to media day to play Poppy in the Golf Writers Tournament that has all but disappeared since the NCGA dropped the free outing.) Even when it was Spyglass Hill that was not playable because of sloppy conditions, Poppy Hills got the blame on national television.

Rocco could not be pulled into negative territory. He said Poppy Hills was a good course and fun to play.

“Oh, that’s just Rocco,” said my pressroom buddies. “He likes everything.” Duh. What’s wrong with that? In recent years the issue has diminished. Fortunately, the younger pros just like to get out and play.

That’s why so many wanted Rocco to win. He was the unfortunate loser to a young man who, simply said, gets it done when he has to.

Although Torrey Pines is little more than 20 miles (as the crow flies) from our home in Rancho Bernardo I did not attend the event. It was simply easier to watch hour-after-hour while riding the exercise bike, walking on the treadmill or vegging in my recliner. Age seems to dampen the spirit when it comes driving 15 miles to catch a shuttle, being dropped off at some remote station and then doing it all over again.

I swear, however, that when Tiger made some of those shots, I could hear the roar from home. We’re probably lucky an earthquake didn’t hit. The sound is the same.

Tiger did it while hurting and that’s where the rub comes for many. They will not concede his agony. Even my friends dismissed the pain Tiger was feeling.

“He only showed it when he hit a bad shot,” they said. Not true. Tiger slumped after many key drives down the stretch.

“He didn’t show any pain when he was kneeling down to line up putts,” they continued.

I’ve had meniscus surgery and Kevin O’Connor (the former Chicoan now a main cog at the USGA) dragged me around (walking and carrying bag) for 18 holes at Montclair CC in New Jersey three weeks after the operation. Yes, it did hurt while taking a full swing. Yes, it did hurt when walking on uneven fairways. No, it did not hurt walking in a straight line. No, it did not hurt when lining up a putt.

My injury was not nearly as bad as Tiger’s. Everyone’s pain threshold is different. I believe his effort was amazing. Let’s give him that and hope that he gets back into the game soon, albeit with a little less profanity.

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Former Chico radio sports announcer Carl Thoreson and wife Donna worked the merchandise tent at Torrey Pines. Carl, the voice of the Wildcats from 1985-89, now lives in Martinez and works for a computer firm.

We were able to play a round of golf and enjoy lunch at the Rancho Bernardo Inn. Carl is the tournament director and member at Buchanan Fields GC. Oh yes, beware if he gets you on the links. The 20-plus index player shot an 86.

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Many who like to participate on golf trips are cutting back because of the dramatic hikes in gas prices, which also affect airfare.

San Diego may seem like a long trip but take the time to look at the golf course offerings at the many internet sites. There are numerous choices and they’re good ones at attractive prices. GolfSanDiego.com and JCResorts.com are two of the best souces.

If you don’t mind going a bit farther, there’s a great place in the little town of Midway, Utah, called Homestead Resort. That’s close to Heber City which is not too far away from Park City where winter skiing dominates the sports scene.

Homestead is a homey resort that caters to those who just want to relax. They can go to the on-property spa or play one of the five nearby golf courses. There’s an onsite course where son Mark and his Bushwood group played in late June. I also took my Casa Munras contingent there three years ago and plan to return with six other couples in late August.

Less than five minutes away are two courses – Wasatch Mountain and Wasatch Lake. Little more than 15 minutes away are two more – Soldier Hollow Gold and Soldier Hollow Silver. A word of caution. Play tees that fit your game. Even at the high altitude 7,000 yards is 7,000 yards.

In another blog I promised information on Hawaii courses. That will come later because I almost blacked out when pricing airfare for November.

Chico State golfers will be in Kona Oct. 27-28 for the Dennis Rose Intercollegiate Golf Tournament. Dennis was one of the gentlemen I had the pleasure of meeting while working at the NCGA. He died less than two years ago after a battle with cancer. He never mentioned his illness when we visited him at Mauna Lani the prior December.

I don’t have the particulars on those wanting to join the CSU, Chico group but a call to the athletic department should get results. I will be one of those making the call.

(Ted Blofsky can be e-mailed at grampsblof@aol.com)

Call it being lazy or call it writer’s block, but this piece was started nearly two months ago.

I prefer to call it “just too many other things to do and plan for.” Three more trips to and from Rancho Bernardo, mother-in-law Eleanor Fisher’s 90tj birthday party attended by 21 family members, CSU, Chico graduations of grandsons Shawn and Eric, an annual outing to Arizona with 19 fellow golfers, the Butte Creek Country Club Invitational, son Marty’s birthday, the 21st birthday of granddaughter Kayla and the PVHS graduation of granddaughter Morgan had much to do with the tardiness.

By the way, Kayla did invite this old man to join her for the celebration but common sense prevailed. Come Aug. 2, the merry-go-round continues when Eric and fiancée Sarah Dehaan tie the knot

There has been plenty of bad golf in this span of 2008. But, there are times when it’s OK to play bad golf. Most of us cringe when thoughts of a golf ball flying off the hosel run through our minds. Or, a three-putt. Maybe even a four-putt.

So why did I have such a good time when sons Mark and Matt (Marty has gone through four back surgeries and they have hampered his links efforts), along with Pat Clements, joined me in our annual outing to Phoenix and Scottsdale? It’s always good to travel anywhere with your offspring.

Our early March outing was blessed with golden sunshine, coming after what seemed to be a long, cold winter. Desert golf has always been a favorite and this year it was even more so. Because of the more than usual rain, the terrain was covered with flowers and green plants. For Pat and me, it also meant a few extra strokes as we tried to extricate our golf balls from less than desirable lies. Not even Mark and Matt got away clean, but they didn’t have half the fun. I accused Pat of “going into the tank” when we were partners. Actually, we both better be making reservations for lessons.

Friends from my days at the Northern California Golf Association, Mike Petty and Rob Myers from Communication Links, helped set up our three-day agenda. There was a single round at SunRidge Canyon, 36 holes at the private Whisper Rock courses, another 36 at We-Ko-Pa and then a closing 18 at ASU Karsten.

There are many, many fine courses in the Phoenix and Scottsdale area. Finding a place to stay and play in March can be difficult. It also will cost more. Major League spring training is big. We did not make it to any of the camps but thousands of others were there. If you can take the heat, and I mean hot, going into Arizona in late May, June, July and August will definitely be easier on the pocketbook. Fees can be as much as 50 percent less.

SunRidge Canyon is located in Fountain Hills. It is a must. The first hole, which barely measures 300 yards, sets the tone. You must hit the ball straight. From that starting point, the course gradually becomes tougher and more spectacular. The par-3s, including a 220-yarder, are fantastic. Each has its character. There is a long carry on the par-3 17th, where Mark almost made an ace. When you’ve finished that one, No. 18 might be one of the finest closing holes I have ever played. The second shot must carry a barranca to an elevated green. We also played this course with the larger group in early May and it beat down nearly everyone. Each hole gets tougher and tougher the more you get into the round.

If you can find a club member, try to get an invite to play the Upper and Lower Courses at Whisper Rock. This is pure golf with so many outstanding holes it is difficult to pick one. A large percentage of the members are single-digit players and there’s a reason for that. Hackers like me, beware. Director of Golf Trent Rathbun took time from his busy schedule to join us for the morning round.

Petty is a member there. He had a pair of sub-par rounds that made my 95s feel even worse. Playing conditions were excellent. My golf was no where near that description. Another plus for Whisper Rock members is Mike Marranzino. He’s the epitome of a guy in charge of the men’s locker room and grille manager. Thanks, Mike.
Don’t get confused when you play at We-Ko-Pa and then the Karsten Course. Derek Crawford is the Director of Sales and Marketing at We-Ko-Pa. Twin brother Daryl is the Director of Golf at ASU Karsten.
We-Ko-Pa is located on the Fort McDowell (Fountain Hills) and is part of the Yavapai Nation. The renowned Cholla Course now has a sibling. The Saguaro opened last year. Both are great tests of golf but are played under immaculate conditions. The fairways and greens were perfect in March and again in May.

The downside is having to remain on cart paths throughout the round. That’s OK if you are good enough to hit it path side all the time but not when you need to carry your bag or three or four clubs across a big fairway. We were told carts are allowed on the fairways once the temperature hits three digits. If you go now that should be the norm.

Karsten, the Arizona State University course in Tempe, is not a desert course. It may not rank in difficulty as some of the others mentioned here, but should not be skipped if you’re in the area.

Karsten is a great place to play the day you get to town or the day you leave. It certainly is cost-worthy and fun, fun, fun. The par-3 16th is as good a golf hole as any in the country. A tee shot must carry more than 200 yards over an imposing lake. Put a little wind in the face and, well, good luck. Water also is a huge factor on the ninth and 18th holes. Both are par-4s but settle for a five. Trying anything fancy will mean a few more strokes.

We’ve also had the pleasure to play the Raven at South Mountain, Raven at Verrado (a bit of a drive but well worth it), Grayhawk Raptor and Talon (fabulous course conditions and eating facilities), TPC of Scottsdale (a bit pricier but worth it), Eagle Mountain and Legend Trail on many occasions. These also are good venues. The Raptor Course at Grayhawk proved to be exceptionally tough for my team in May. Of the 180 holes (10x18), only E-R golf columnist Ed Anderson made a birdie.

Of course, there are numerous resorts in the area. Our groups have and still are extremely pleased with Resort Suites. It is a haven for golfers with just the right amenities – good rooms, swimming pools, a bar and restaurant.

If you can take the heat go now. Play early or play late. Just go play.

Next, let’s go play in Hawaii. Can we afford it? Getting there will be “more” than half the fun. There’ll also be more Chico athletics nostalgia in the future.

(Do you have a trip you’d like to tell me about – good or bad? Send an e-mail to grampsblof@aol.com)

The biggest Super Bowl upset ever? The most exciting Super Bowl ever?

Come on, guys. An upset? Yes. Exciting? Yes.

But, how can anyone with any sense say the New York Giants’ 17-14 upset over New England even comes close to the New York Jets’ 16-7 triumph over Baltimore in Super Bowl III? Without Joe Namath and his outrageous prediction of victory there may never have been the Super Bowl hype there is today.

The Jets were considered something less than a Pop Warner squad. The American Football League, in the minds of most, would never challenge for a world championship and the game most likely would go away. Namath and crew changed that in January of 1969.

Excitement is in the eyes of the beholder. We San Francisco 49er fans remember our five Super Bowl wins. All were exciting but the first, a 26-21 victory over Cincinnati in January of 1982 was unbelievable.

It was almost as exciting as the play that set up the trip to the Super Bowl. Do you remember “The Catch” by Dwight Clark in the playoff game against Dallas? Of course, you do. It was big for the Blofsky clan. Sons Mark, Matt and Marty were in attendance. It was not so very long ago wife Jan and I disposed of a piece of turf our sons had taken from Candlestick Park after the game. The divot gave up after more than 25 years in the freezer.

I smile when the pundits call Tom Brady the greatest quarterback ever. In our minds, Joe Montana was by far the greatest. Remember, he’s the one who threw the ball to Clark that great day and then guided the 49ers to the first four of five Super Bowl victories. In January of 1989 (Super Bowl XXIII), Montana completed eight of nine passes in the final minutes and San Francisco defeated Cincinnati 20-16. Talk about exciting!!!

It’s not that things have changed. In “olden days” we also thought everything was the best and the most exciting.

The fans in Denver will come back with John Elway. Green Bay counters with Brett Favre. Dallas not only had Troy Aikman but Roger Staubach. Terry Bradhaw was no slouch at Pittsburgh. What about Johnny Unitas in Baltimore. The list goes on and on. Today’s National Football League has unmatched popularity. Discussions (arguments) like those mentioned above contribute to the aura.

Most comparisons are subjectivel. Michael Jordan was a great basketball player and considered by many as the best ever. Jordan was fantastic but so were Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, etc., etc.

In his day, Rocky Marciano was considered to be the greatest heavyweight boxing champion who ever lived. He followed Joe Louis, Jack Dempsey and others. Now, Muhammad Ali is considered “best ever.”

When selecting the best baseball player ever who do you want? Willie Mays, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, Barry Bonds (sans the steroid issue), Jackie Robinson or Roberto Clemente? Who is the all-time starting pitcher? Walter Johnson, Nolan Ryan, CyYoung, Sandy Koufax? In their day the starters usually were also the finishers. Managers now hope to get at least five good innings. Do modern pitchers deserve to get the same accolades?

I have bowed to the masses when it comes to golf. Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan and Arnold Palmer made the game was it is today. I believed for a long time Jack Nicklaus was the greatest player ever. Fast forward to the present. Tiger Woods simply is the best. He does it all and has a knack of doing it when the pressure is on. Woods thrives on competition and only when he loses that quality will anyone else have a chance.

Posted for Ted Blofsky, Jr. by Ryan Olson.

Hopefully, the readers of this blog will have as much fun as I hope to have writing it. There will be diversity in material offered but primarily it will be about golf (local and national), golf travel and tips from local professionals. My wife and I had been gone from Chico for exactly 21 years before we purchased a home here and moved in on Aug. 1. We’ve always had deep roots here but do travel back and forth from San Diego – for the time being. I’m still a Giants and 49ers fan and admit it. That being said, let’s go back to the beginning and a piece written in October.

50 years ago, you‘ve got to be kidding

By Ted Blofsky, Jr.
Former Chico Enterprise-Record Sports Editor

Recently I was browsing through the E-R when I found a column noting news from 50, 25 and 10 years ago.

50 Years Ago!

That’s when the lightning bolt struck. I was a part of that era. It was just 50 years ago last month (September) that a star-struck 18-year-old from Klamath Falls, Ore., his wife (Jan) and infant son (Mark) moved to California where I would attend Chico State College. We had learned about CSC from high school friends Bob and Betty Rodgers

I transferred from Safeway but the working hours were limited. Jan, learned from a fellow employee at Bank of America that Sports Editor Eddie Booth was looking for help at the Chico Enterprise-Record.

It took courage to apply since I didn’t know how to use a typewriter. Oh, my knowledge of sports was there, but typing is an integral part of the newspaper business. It took even more courage for Eddie to take a chance. Those who remember the big guy know he never backed down from a challenge. He put me to work immediately. I became a three-fingered typist until two classes a CSC made things much easier. And, Jan did not have to wait up every night to type my hand-written diatribe.

In an effort to make my E-R existence more justified I was given the duty to compile “Chico’s Yesterdays,” a daily feature on the editorial page and write obituaries. Classes at Chico State made it difficult to be in the office every day so Eddie decided it would be better to stick with Chico’s Yesterdays but not obits. The everyday rigors of the sports department were enough. In those days Eddie believed that if there was a sports event in town, you should be there even if not assigned to cover it.

The old E-R at 700 Broadway had a catacomb – my description – in the back shop. That’s where all the old newspapers were placed once they were bound. Anyone venturing up the stairs needed a shower after getting through all the ink dust. Remember, this was before computers, etc.

I remember thinking: “Who cares about 50 years ago? Even 25? Maybe 10 but those who do care probably can’t read anymore.” Ah, sweet youth.

Now I’m there. Yes, I do care. Yes, I can still read even if it took cataract surgery to help. So can many of those involved in athletics at the time. And, yes, those were the good old days. There was far less acrimony in the sports world. We worked many late nights and got up early the next morning. The E-R was an afternoon newspaper and there was no Sunday edition. We never looked at the clock unless it was to check for deadlines.

I had great teachers and co-workers. Eddie Booth was one of a kind. He nurtured me like a younger brother, some times with tough love. He threw balls of paper (with my stories on them) at me and my desk if he didn’t think the story was satisfactory. Another retired sports editor, Skip Reager, can tell the same story. But, we went to events as a family. Eddie’s wife, Bobbie, who recently passed away, and Jan logged plenty of miles. We knew all the coaches. We knew most of the players and many of the parents.

The headmaster was Bill Lee. He was recognized as one of the best newspapermen in the country. He was the editor when I joined the team. The late Milan Murray was city editor. He was a man with a fantastic command of the English language. Milan also could teach and helped me in many ways. Even after his retirement, Milan continued the golf column I had started.

Cy Donaldson was the assistant editor. Joyce Barkley handled the society pages. Yes, society. It means the same thing as today’s LifeStyle, Scene, Etc. Now it is a 50-year-old term that fails to resonate with younger editors and writers. Jack Whelehan was the farm editor. Most readers have followed the writings and exploits of Nick Ellena, the world traveler who covered Butte County government and Oroville. Chal Green covered the Westside, Sylvia Cooke and Johnnie Spreen were in Paradise.

The reporters were among the best, too. Phil Robertson lived the police beat. Ray Kaltwasser could write on any issue and followed the school beat. Not only were these people co-workers, they were family friends. It was Phil’s wife, June, who told my wife about the sports department job opening.

The back shop had its share of heroes, too. Lauren Broyles, who could have posed for Esquire magazine, always wore a coat and tie and never seemed to get dirty. He also never missed a day’s work in more than 54 years on the job. Chet Hill logged thousands of miles with his many trips from the back shop to the editorial departments to collect copy. Remember, this was in the days of linotype machine. Jess Roach (whose son, Bob, also worked for the E-R and is a good friend), Claude Kettell, Russ Bowles and Blizman got things from our desks and into print. Glenn Coito was among those on the press and Jim Ruddy joined our group shortly after I did. So did Bob Pentzer who handled many assignments before joining the academic worlds of UC Davis and then CSU.

Garey Weibel, who later became publisher, was in charge of the classified ads department. Arch Nichols was the top dog in display advertising and Les and Hazel Earle handled the circulation group, Marion Weibel not only was in charge of the business office but was one of the nicest ladies I have ever known. Who can forget venerable photographer Lloyd “Max” Maxson. Always on call. Always bemoaning the effort but always getting the job done. There wasn’t a newspaper in the country that could have paid his overtime. OVERTIME? We didn’t even think about it. Basically, we were having too much fun doing the job until it was done.

When such a great team is assembled – and continues throughout the years – there has to be good leadership.

We were privately owned. A.W. Bramwell was The Patriarch. He could be tough but he was extremely fair. He always stood by his employees. When complaints came his way, he went to the reporter to get the full story. Then, any problem was resolved. Mr. Bramwell also made it possible for the Blofskys to purchase a home on Via Verona Drive when we need a bit more money for the down payment.

Yes, events from 50 years ago are important. Except for a pair of “sabbaticals” I spent the better part of 29 years at the E-R. Changes were dramatic in those years and continue to be a challenge that probably is impossible to overcome. Typewriters went “bye-bye.” More schools opened. Women’s athletics flourished. A Sunday paper was added. Editorial space and employee time constraints make it impossible to do the things Eddie, Skip and I promoted.

I left the E-R on the last day of July1986 and worked as editor/publisher of NCGA Golf Magazine and director of communications for the Northern California Golf Association at Pebble Beach, retiring on the last day of July 2004. I loved that job, but never a day went by that I did not miss the thrill of putting together a daily newspaper.

One of my biggest disappointments came after leaving the E-R. What happened to CSU football? The contributions to society and young people by those who were part of a non-scholarship era are immeasurable as I witnessed Saturday evening, Oct. 13, at the Chico State Athletic Hall of Fame banquet. Simultaneously, those basketball players who played for Jerry Waugh were gathered in his owner at the home of Steve Piluso. Piluso is the principal at Marsh School.

Earlier in the day, former CSU football coach George Maderos was the center of attention of a large group of players who competed on his teams. Many of them are or have been teachers, counselors and successful businessmen.

It is important to remember the past. It is even better when told by someone who was there. Hopefully, I have not forgotten too many of those who were there when I was the youngest member of the staff. Many of those mentioned are deceased but the memories will never be forgotten.

E-mail address is grampsblof@aol.com