NCAA BASEBALL REGIONAL

Oklahoma State University is hosting an NCAA baseball regional for the first time in several years. Other teams at the regional are Western Kentucky, Texas Christian University and Wichita State University. I was often at the Indy 500 when OSU hosted regionals, but I got to go to a couple of them in the late 80's. Here are some photos of Allie P. Reynolds Stadium on the OSU campus in Stillwater.

WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY

Photos of Wichita State University's Cessna Stadium, Charles Koch Arena and Eck Stadium-Home of Tyler Field.

AMERICA3 - WICHITA KS

In 1992, the America3 ("America Cubed") racing syndicate, operated by Bill Koch of Wichita KS and Buddy Melges, won the America's Cup, defeating Italian challenger Il Moro di Venezia. One of the America3 team's four boats (the "Jayhawk USA-9") is on display outside the Wichita Boathouse.



Link to 1992 America's Cup:
http://www.americascup.com/en/acclopaedia/boatdestiny/index.php?idIndex=0&idContent=5212

LAWRENCE-DUMONT STADIUM - WICHITA KS

This past weekend, we went to Wichita KS to meet my son, his girlfriend and a friend/teammate for lunch at Old Town. After lunch, we visited several sports venues, including Lawrence-Dumont Stadium which was built in 1934.

When we were at the stadium, there was a Kansas state high school playoff game. The stadium currently is the home of the independent Wichita Wingnuts and also the National Baseball Congress World Series. The stadium formerly was the home of the Wichita Wranglers, which were a AA affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and, at one time, the Wichita State University Shockers until WSU built a stadium on campus.

The stadium is known for the combination of a natural grass outfield with an artificial turf infield. But probably the greatest landmark is the green scoreboard in left field. There is a big dent in the scoreboard where Joe Carter (of Millwood HS in OKC, Wichita State University and the Toronto Blue Jays) hit a home run off my brother, who was pitching for Oklahoma City University. I hope he enjoys the photos!

INDIANAPOLIS 500

Congratulations to Indy 500 winner Scott Dixon. I, along with various family and friends, have been to Indy several times in the "old days." The last time I went to Indy in 1992, Al Unser Jr. won his first of two races.

This year was the 25th anniversary of Tom Sneva's only win in 1983. Here are scans of two postcards: the start of the '83 race and Sneva and his car.

THE PREAKNESS

Today is the Preakness race at Pimlico Race Track in Baltimore MD. These are three old postcards of Pimlico which are included in my "Sports Postcards" collection.

HUTCHINSON AZZURRI U-11 SOCCER

More photos of the Hutchinson Kansas U-11 Club Azzurri Hurricanes boys soccer team, who played in the Enid Sport Fest tournament on May 9-10.
Link to Club Azzurri: http://www.clubazzurrishootout.com/

MOTHER'S DAY SOCCER TOURNAMENT

This weekend, my son is coaching the Under-11 Hutchinson (KS) Azzurri Hurricanes boys soccer team in the 19th annual Enid Sports Festival Mother's Day Soccer Tournament. On Saturday, Hutch beat a team from Yukon OK and lost to a team from Enid OK.

Today is Mother's Day. Ryan is going to have a little ceremony before today's first game where his boys each give their mother a rose we bought yesterday at the mall in Enid. All athletes, whether youth soccer players in Enid or professionals in the big leagues, should realize and respect that they can't have gotten whereever they are without the love and dedication of a mother that drove them to practice, washed their uniforms, rearranged dinners and vacations and cheered them at their games.

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers and especially mine, who provided me the opportunity to play baseball through high school and later coach my son's soccer team while she often took care of my daughter. Thank you!

KENTUCKY DERBY

Big Brown has just won the 2008 Kentucky Derby. Here are some postcards of Churchill Downs, in Louisville KY, from my sports postcard collection.