Author: admin

South Dakota

Great trip to the Black Hills in South Dakota, home of Mt. Rushmore. The Black Hills were awesome, saw deer and buffalo at Custer State Park. Drove on the Needles Hwy, saw the Corn Palace and Wall Drugs. Mt Rushmore was worth the trip alone. I have always made fun of South Dakota, my wife is from there, but the Black Hills and Mt. Rushmore should be on your bucket list.

Recently I took a trip with my oldest daughter and two of my grand kids along with my wife to the Black Hills of South Dakota. Before I tell you about the trip I need to explain a little history with me and South Dakota. First my wife was born and raised in Sioux Falls SD, I spent one summer, while we were in college, working there. I have always given her a hard time about SD and to some up the humor and the hard time I gave her, we were watch a movie, comedy, and one lines in the movie was “if you don’t start doing your job we are going to ship you to South Dakota”. From that point on I have always joked about her home state.
On our recent trip we went to Mt. Rushmore, Custer State Park, drove on the Needles Highway, panned for gold and toured the gold mine. On our way to Sioux Falls we stopped at the famous Wall Drugs and then on to Mitchell to visit the famous Corn Palace. Of course my wife and I had done and seen all of this before, but my oldest daughter, now 40, and my grandson and grand daughter had not. To my surprise my daughter was more excited about seeing the free ranging buffalo than anything else. Of course Mt. Rushmore was impressive, but having the buffalo walk in front and in back of our vehicle was pretty impressive. I have hunted my entire life and I have seen a lot of wildlife, bears, elk, moose, deer, antelope, Big Horn Sheep, Mountain Lion and etc… but I must admit seeing free ranging buffalo was pretty impressive, especially some of the herd bulls. It is hard to imagine how big they truly are until you are within close proximity of one, which we were. And to think what the Native Americans used, for a long time, bows and arrows, to take down these massive animals. They did not have the compound bows like we have today or the carbon arrows with razor sharp broad heads. No, they used bows and arrows made of wood and broad heads made of chiseled stone as well as spears. As a professional hunter, primarily a bow hunter, I can’t tell you how impressed and amazed I am.
But, back to the story. If you haven’t made the trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota you must make it part of your bucket list of things to do and see, it is impressive not to mention historical. There is something for the entire family.
Enjoy the adventure.

The Outdoor Quaterback

NFL Mini Camps

NFL training camps are just around the corner. Take a day and visit the NFL training camp nearest you. It is a great experience for NFL fans of all ages.

NFL mini camps are over, which means that the start of the 2017 NFL season is just around the corner, it also means that fantasy football drafts are not far behind.  The NFL Mini Camps give the die hard fantasy team owners a early look at this year crop of NFL rookies, some who may come up big on your fantasy teams.  I know, unless he gets hurt in preseason, Christian MaCaffrey is going to be on my teams. The teams Mini Camps are a great resource for evaluating rookies. There will be several rookies who will add value to your fantasy rosters, so go online and see what the teams are saying about their rookies, what they showed in Mini Camp and what role they may play during the 2017 NFL Season.  Get a head start on your competition.

The Outdoor Quarterback

2017 NFL Draft

Well it has come and gone, the 2017 NFL Draft. Were you happy with what your team did, where you surprised, like I was, with what your team did. I thought the Chiefs had a very good draft, the surprise was them moving up from 27 to 10 and then drafting a quarterback. I know this organization loves Alex Smith and as a former quarterback, I can’t think of any quarterback who could have stepped in to the Chiefs situation and have performed any better or more efficient than Alex did or has done. What is obvious to the Chiefs is that Patrick Mahomes III has the skills and capabilities they have identified and believe will translate in to a starting quarterback for the Chiefs at some point in time. In Patrick’s case, he is going to learn from two great sources, Alex Smith and Andy Reed. Having the luxury of not being thrown in to the fire right off the get go and being able to learn the differences of the NFL game, is invaluable. Several of our other selections were in areas we needed help, WR, DE, LB and you can never have too many good running backs. Good job Chiefs I am looking forward to meeting all the new draft choices and free agents at the rookie dinner.

The Outdoor Quarterback

Today’s Officiating

College basketball officiating today is a JOKE. There is so much talent at the collegiate level these days, the athletes that is, until the whistle blows and the ball is tossed, then it rapidly goes in the toilet. If you watched the NCAA Tournament opening week and then watched the Sweet Sixteen, so far, someone ordered the officials to slack off on calling fouls. I saw charging where nothing was called, come on guys it has to be charging or blocking, one or the other! You’ve got a 50 50 chance of getting it right.  I thought for a moment I was watching the NBA, because of all the traveling that wasn’t called. The one play that irritates me the most in college basketball is when they allow a player to back himself into the key while the defender has position when the offensive player just keeps backing in until he secures a shooting position in the key, BTW, for well over 3 seconds, and there is a no call, IT’S CHARGING BOYS!  Oh yea, I had to look online to see if 3 seconds in the key was still a rule violation.  Twice in a Sweet Sixteen game, I took a stopwatch and played back a couple of plays where an offensive player was in the key, with the ball, for 7 seconds on one play and 8 seconds for another. I watched the official under the basket and never once did I see him look at the offensive player in the key for any length of time or start a 3 second count. Embarrassing is the only word that can accurately describe the officiating. This just wasn’t in one particular game, it was consistent in all four games played. Which leads me to the obvious conclusion, someone gave the officials orders to cut back on calling fouls or rule violations. These young athletes are extremely talented, but the talent can’t fully be put on displayed when the officiating is so unprofessional and inconsistent. Now for my last example of the butchery in college basketball officiating. Would someone please define carrying or palming the ball, because from what I have seen, no one, most of all the officials, have a clue. I saw two calls in games played this weekend of palming the ball, then looked at ten different plays in the same games of exactly the same dribble with no calls. How is anyone, particularly the players, suppose to have any idea of what palming the ball is!

I have learned the new slogan for College Basketball Officials, “I am going to do what I am ordered to do not not what is written in the official rules of basketball!”

The Outdoor Quarterback!

At Least Investigate!

What a great college football game between Clemson and Alabama, one of the best college game I have ever seen.
Not having a dog in the hunt or I should say not cheering for any team particularly, I hope this blog will at least promote an investigation into the officials of the game. They were equally as bad for both teams, but early on during the first possession for Alabama, the defensive end for Clemson was off sides so bad on three plays that even a visually impaired person could have seen it and the officials only called it once. Even the broadcasters mentioned it and kept saying something about the player being off sides.
Playing 10 years of professional football myself, I can recognize when a player is clearly lined up past the line of scrimmage, the officials couldn’t! What about the way the officials handled the clock just before half time, embarrassing not to mention that it cost Clemson a time out at a critical moment in the game.
You cannot convince me that the possibility of foul play and or corruption exists, there can be no other explanation of the ineptitude of the entire crew, they just couldn’t have been that bad, POP WARNER OFFICIATING comes to mind.
If the NCAA does not take a look into this than maybe the investigation should be directed towards them and whoever selected this crew.
My wife’s quote, “they are God awful”.

The Outdoor Quarterback.

How Lucky We Are

Every year I believe many of us forget how lucky we are. The last two years, over the Christmas Holidays, I have spent my time recovering from bilateral total knee replacement, both knees at the same time, and this year, ankle surgery, to repair torn ligaments and a fractured fibula! I am not complaining, too much, but one was elective, the knees, tho other was not.
Yes, they were and are a inconvenience, particularly during the holidays. But it really made me stop and think about those who are disabled 365 days a year and for the rest of their lives. I bring this up because for the past two years I have had the privilege of taking a friend of mine deer hunting who is now a paraplegic, confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. I can’t even imagine what that would be like. I know how frustrating it was and is just dealing with my two surgeries. What I do know and have come to realize is that it takes a special person of tremendous courage and will power to endure the challenges of everyday life, I mean the simplest task’s many of us take for granted.
I honestly think, in this case, the love for the outdoors, his passion to do what he loved before his accident, has allowed my friend to move forward with his life in as normal of a way as possible. I believe it motivates him each and every day and I am certain that if it were not for the passion he has for fishing, hunting, 4 wheeling, snowmobiling and etc… he would have had a very difficult time.
For all of you who are like my friend, you are my heroes and you inspire people like me to overcome the minor challenges we face.
I am thankful too that I have a similar passion for the outdoors and all that it offers. I do know how lucky we are.
The Outdoor Quaterback

Spring Turkey 2015

Not sure about the rest of the country but here in Kansas and Missouri, the turkeys just haven’t acted normal. In past years pre rut, when the gobblers are still bachelor groups, you can call them and they will respond. That part has been fairly normal, but shortly after they started breaking, as well as the hens, they just haven’t been responding like they should. In past years as the hens start going to nest and you see a lot of single hens, gobblers become pretty vocal clear through the mid morning. For some strange reason we have found that once they hit the ground they have pretty much have gone mute. This is very frustrating to the hunters. It has been very difficult to get any responses in the afternoons, which has been, in previous years, some of the best hunting, not this year. I have spoken to many hunters around the Midwest and they are experiencing similar frustrations. This years weather is that much different from previous years so I am ruling that out. In our are there is an abundance of birds, so ruling that out. My calling methods haven’t changed, so ruling that out. Right now it is the Mystery of 2015! There is still time left in our season for them to start acting normal but I am not confident that will happen. No doubt this has been a new experience and we have had to change our tactics. You learn something new all the time. If you are not willing to change, you may find that your freezer will be empty.

Good luck the rest of your season!

The Outdoor Quarterback

NFL Draft 2015

So, how did your team do in this years NFL Draft? I think the Chiefs did well, at least on paper they did. I will get a chance to meet all of our draftees and free agents on May 15th at the Rookie/Free Agent dinner hosted by the Chiefs and attended by the Chiefs Ambassadors, who are made up of Chiefs former players. We get a chance to talk abut the history of the Chiefs and why they should be proud to part the Chiefs organization.

Our first selection is a gifted athlete and ball hog as a corner back. He had some issues in college and was dismissed from the team. Hopefully he is beyond that and new life in football is going to begin for him. Time will tell. Our second pick was a offensive lineman from the Univ. of Missouri. A young man who can play all the positions on the offensive line, he will be a great asset for the Chiefs. The Chiefs added some additions to the receiver core, defensive line and to the linebacker group. So in my opinion they did very good job filling needs. Hats of the Chiefs staff and scouts.

Let me hear from you on how your team did. Hats off to Chicago for an awesome draft experience.

The Outdoor Quarterback

The Best #Weather, Islikely!

#Islikely offers the very best and most #accurate weather for an app which is now available in the Apple Store and the Google Play Store, just search Islikely Weather. It allows you to set your ideal parameters for your idea weather conditions to participate in your favorite outdoor activities, #trails, #Watching wildlife, #fishing, #camping, #snow sports, #hunting, #paddle sports and #cycling. Once you have set your personal parameters you will get a text that tells you that today is a good for your activity. The color code tells you immediately that you are good to go, green, so so, orange or just stay in bed, red!

If you have been reading my blog you know I am an avid outdoors man and #weather is critical for all the outdoor activities I enjoy, which are all of the above. All of the other sports are influenced by the weather, look how much attention is being paid to the potential weather for the Super Bowl. If it doesn’t snow or if the wind doesn’t blow Denver will be favored, if it snows and the wind blows, Seattle will win big, my guess is the team with the most points will win, no matter the weather, but what you wear, either as a player or spectator will be and is dictated by the #weather. And Islilely has been designed to give you every bit of the information you need to enjoy the activity or event you are participating in or attending.

Download #Islikely #Weather and give me your feedback. Remember there is much more coming. The web site is there for those of you who don’t use apple or android devices. Not to far down the road we will be able to provide access to the Islikely app on any mobile device.

Will the weather influence the outcome of the Super Bowl, I am going to say yes, because I do believe if the wind is less than 10 mph, Denver and Manning have the advantage, not to mention, which no one has, the punter and kicker for Denver are two of the very best and will turn the game one way or the other.

My pick is Denver!

The Outdoor Quarterback

“IsLikely” is Now Live

For all you outdoor recreational enthusiasts, including all you football fans, I have just launched the ultimate weather app and website. The website is islikely.com. The app is available in the Apple and Google stores. Search Islikely Weather to locate the app. What is unique about our weather app and website is that you set your own parameters for your ideal weather conditions to go partake in your favorite outdoor activity. It will let you know in several ways, but the obvious is the color coding. Green is good to go, yellow is marginal and red, stay in bed! I invite you to download Islikely Weather and give me your feedback. The more 5 star ratings we get the higher we show up. You all have been great followers and supporters of the Outdoor Quarterback, I hope you will lend your support with “Islikely”.

Now to the playoffs! Oh about those Chiefs! Nobody feels worse than the Chiefs players for loosing that huge lead to the Colts, except the Chiefs Nation and the Chiefs fans who have been waiting for them to return to the playoffs. Don’t get me wrong it was a great year, the greatest turnaround in NFL History. For a lot of that playoff game they played outstanding football, then the bottom fell out. Alex Smith played the best playoff game in the history of the Chiefs organizations. After Charles got hurt in the opening drive, the entire pressure of the offense fell directly on the shoulders of Alex, and he stepped up with flying colors, very proud of him and his performance. But when you loose four starters, three pro-bowlers in one game, it is tough to recover.

Overall it was a great season and turnaround and already looking forward to next year.

My picks for the “Super Bowl” are Denver and San Francisco. I feel Manning is too hot and the 49ers defense and their 49ers receivers are on a roll just at the right time. I like Seattle but as Leroy Jethrow Gibbs would say, “I have a gut feeling”.

Thanks, and visit Islikely.com and go download the mobile apps.

The Outdoors Quarterback