Fiesta Bowl outcome not what Arizona fans were looking for

Arizona Wildcats Football


It wasn't pretty.

Arizona falls to Boise State this afternoon 38-30 at the Vizio Fiesta Bowl in Glendale.

The Wildcats spot the Broncos 21 points in the first quarter and then claw their way back with a chance to tie the game in the final minute of regulation.

Their final attempt wasn't pretty, either, as quarterback Anu Solomon is tackled short of the goal line as time expires and the Wildcats end up losing their final two games of the year and finish with a 10-4 record, while Boise takes home the Fiesta Bowl hardware and heads home with a 12-2 record.

Instead of throwing the ball out of bounds as the precious seconds ticked away, Solomon moves to his right and is sacked at the 10-yard line by Boise's Kamalei Correa and the clock runs out, ending the Wildcats season on a sour note.

Solomon, a freshman, played like it at times, but still managed to throw for 335 yards and a touchdown. He was outplayed by his counterpart, Boise quarterback Grant Hedrick, who threw for 309 yards and a touchdown, but had the benefit of an assortment of offensive plays to keep his team in the driver's seat. On the other hand, Solomon scampered out of the pocket time after time after time, ran to his right and into nothing but trouble as the Bronco defense kept him on his heels.

Casey Skowron booted three field goals for the Wildcats. Nick Wilson rushed for 86 yards and a touchdown, but left the game with a possible concussion and was replaced by Tellis Jones-Grigsby, who rushed for 39 yards and hauled in four receptions for 40 yards.

There was plenty of blame to go around, but the game is over and another season awaits. Regroup and go get 'em, Wildcats!

TOTS' Ochoa saves the best for last

TOTS Senior Baseball Network

60-and-over baseball


New Year's Eve Game

Jesse Ochoa, 63, saved the best for last this morning at Udall Park when he went 5 for 5 and knocked in the winning run with a two-out single to left in the bottom of the seventh inning as Team Blue edged Team White 11-10 in a Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball game.

It was the final game of the 2014 season for the TOTS and as it turns out it was Ochoa who provides the game-winning hit on New Year's Eve, drilling a fastball from Bob Daliege over the head of left fielder Ron Carlson.

Billy Heiny, 85, went the distance for Team Blue to pick up the win and Daliege was saddled with the loss. Daliege held a 10-7 lead going into the sixth inning, but a couple of costly infield errors down the stretch by Team White led to the loss.

The TOTS begin their 48th season Friday, Jan. 2, at Udall Park. The 60-and-over baseball club was founded in 1968 and the members currently play year round --  three days a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday).

Happy New Year to all my readers

Happy New Year to all my readers.

Stay safe...and Go Wildcats!

Talent

37th Annual Kennedy Center Honors Ceremony


Talent. T-A-L-E-N-T!

Every year at this time, I realize I do not have ANY!

I found myself glued to the television set for two hours, watching in awe as the artists performed tonight (tape delayed) at the Kennedy Center Honors Ceremony, the extravaganza which is held every year at this time in Washington, D.C.

This year's honorees included ballerina Patricia McBride, actor Tom Hanks, comedienne Lily Tomlin and singers Al Green and Sting.

They were the five honorees sitting in the balcony alongside the President of the United States and  Mrs. Obama. The action was all on the stage and included performances from Lady Gaga, Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, Mavis Staples, Sam Moore and Bruno Mars.

Throw in some quick profiles of the honorees -- narrated admirably by such stars as Whoopi Goldberg,  Meryl Streep and Garrison Keillor, and I'm hooked!

So much talent. It takes your breath away -- especially when "The Boss" performed the Sting hit, "I Hung My Head." The song was written and released by Sting in 1996 and shows his fondness for TV Westerns and his interest in country music. Johnny Cash added the song to one of his albums in 2002.

The lyrics to I Hung My Head:

Early one morning with time to kill
I borrowed Jeb's rifle and sat on the hill
I saw a lone rider crossing the plain
I drew a bead on him to practice my aim
My brother's rifle went off in my hand
A shot rang out across the land
The horse he kept running, the rider was dead
I hung my head, I hung my head

I set off running to wake from the dream
My brother's rifle went into the stream
I kept on running into the salt lands
And that's where they found me, my head in my hands
The sheriff he asked me "Why had I run"
Then it came to me just what I had done
And all for no reason, just one piece of lead
I hung my head, I hung my head

Here in the courthouse, the whole town is there
I see the judge high up in his chair
"Explain to the courtroom what went through your mind
And we'll ask the jury what verdict they find"
I said "I felt the power of death over life
I orphaned his children I widowed his wife
I beg their forgiveness I wish I was dead"
I hung my head, I hung my head

Early one morning with time to kill
I see the gallows up on the hill
And out in the distance a trick of the brain
I see a lone rider crossing the plain
He's come to fetch me to see what they done
We'll ride together til Kingdom come
I pray for God's mercy for soon I'll be dead
I hung my head, I hung my head.

Pac-12 now 4-0 in bowl games

Stanford had an easy time of it at the Foster Farms Bowl tonight in Santa Clara.

Maryland was no match for the Cardinal as Stanford rolls to a 45-21 win over Maryland and the Pac-12 Conference improves to a perfect 4-0 in bowl games.

A perfect 4-0 start:

Las Vegas Bowl

Utah  45  Colorado State  10

Sun Bowl

Arizona State  36  Duke  31

Holiday Bowl

USC 45  Nebraska  42

Foster Farms Bowl

Stanford  45  Maryland  21

Up next: Arizona vs. Boise State at the Fiesta Bowl

Arizona drops to No. 8 in AP poll

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


The loss to UNLV in Las Vegas is worth five spots in latest AP College Basketball Poll.

Arizona falls to No. 8, one spot behind Gonzaga. Go figure!

The Wildcats, as in Kentucky, stay at No. 1

Team White edges Team Blue 7-4 in Ed Rife Memorial game

TOTS Senior Baseball Network

60-and-over baseball

Team White held on to beat Team Blue 7-4 today at Udall Park in the Ed Rife Memorial game.

Lloyd "Baby Bull" Barzell, 65, went the distance for Team White and out dueled Team Blue right -hander 69-year-old Danny "Pigpen" Price, thanks mainly to a three-run first inning and a three-run sixth. Five of the six runs were unearned and key hits included RBI singles from Dave "Money Rhoades, Pistol Pete Peters and Barzell. Lead-off batter Dennis Crowley added a couple opposite field hits to aid the Team White cause.

Barzell, who struck out one and walked three, kept Team Blue's power hitters -- Tim Tolson and George Staas -- off the bases. Barzell walked Tolson intentionally in the top of the sixth inning and then got out of a bases loaded jam on a ground out to end the inning and in the top of the seventh, with the tying run at the plate, he  coaxed the final Team Blue hitter into grounding out to third for the last out of the game.

Price walked three and and struck out the hard-hitting Peters  twice -- once on a called third strike in the second inning and on a swinging third strike in the sixth. Peters is in striking distance to become the second player this year to break the single-season hit record, set in 2005 by Chico Bigham (228 hits). Barzell broke the record last week when he hit safely twice for his 229th and 230th hit of the  year.

The game was played in honor of TOTS' teammate Ed Rife, who passed away last fall. Rife, who played 14 years with the organization, was a talented shortstop, known for a smooth release and his  accurate throws to first base. The first inning of today's game was played without a shortstop. Cones were set up between second and third base and any ball hit through the cones was an automatic out, honoring the TOTS' hall of fame shortstop.

A crowd of seventy -- including members of the Rife Family, were on hand during and following the game for a cookout as Ed's wife, Nancy, and members of Ed's family also took a moment before the start of the sixth inning to spread Ed's ashes along the third base line. Nancy summed up the ceremony by saying, "Ed is heading home."

Photo: Ed Rife

Play of the Day: Team White catcher Pete Peters picked the runner, Brian Reilly, off first base in the sixth inning to snuff out a Team Blue rally.

Photo: Pistol Pete Peters

Cardinals take on Carolina Jan. 3

NFL Playoffs

The Arizona Cardinals lost 20-17 to the 49ers in San Francisco on Sunday and finished the regular NFL season at 11-5. Next stop: The Panthers at Carolina. The Panthers, fresh off a 34-3 win over Atlanta in their season finale, are the only NFL team in the playoffs sporting a losing record at 7-8-1.

The Cardinals are down to a third-string quarterback and will be playing away from home. Not good.

Cam Newton and the Panthers may prevail in this one.

Pac 12 off to a good start in bowl games

The Pac 12 Conference is off to a good start in bowl games.

A perfect 3-0 start:

Las Vegas Bowl

Utah  45  Colorado State  10

Sun Bowl

Arizona State  36  Duke  31

Holiday Bowl

USC 45  Nebraska  42

A pretty good showing so far. The Pac 12 has five teams yet to see action -- UCLA, Washington, Stanford, Oregon and our Arizona Wildcats.

Arizona falls!

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


What happened in Las Vegas tonight?

An upset!

The Arizona Wildcats fall from the ranks of the unbeaten -- their non conference winning streak is gone as UNLV pulls off the upset, 71-67.

On paper, the Wildcats had five players score in double figures with T.J. McConnell leading the way with 14 points, seven assists and four rebounds, while freshman Stanley Johnson posted a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

That was the good news.

As for the bad news, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson fouled out midway through the second half and Kaleb Tarczewski, despite his 10 points and three rebounds, saw limited action -- forced to play the final minutes of the game with four fouls. The Wildcats were out rebounded 46-33 and maybe gave the game away at the free throw line, hitting just 16 of 27 from the charity stripe -- every miss proved costly tonight.

As for Johnson, just too many mistakes from the freshman phenom -- including getting the ball stolen  in the final seconds of the game.

There's never a good loss, but maybe tonight's loss in Las Vegas will help the Wildcats in the long run. Coach Sean Miller said at the half, "We stink."

Maybe it was one too many tough, non-conference road games in a row. Things were hard enough in El Paso and the trip to Las Vegas was an accident ready to happen.

The third-ranked Arizona Wildcats will have some time off to think about tonight's loss. Unfortunately, what happens in Las Vegas, usually leaks out eventually and the Wildcats will surely  take a dip in the rankings.

When the Wildcats return to action on Jan. 4, they'll be hungry for a WIN! They'll be ready for their next opponent: the Arizona State Sun Devils.

My top 5 NFL teams

The National Football League


Now that my fantasy football season is history, I can finally focus on the real thing.

My top 5 teams going into this week, one of which will win the Super Bowl:

Seattle
NewEngland
Green Bay
Denver
Dallas

Seattle is on a roll, Denver is on a downhill swing, New England and Green Bay are no surprise, but Dallas is.

Could Dallas and Tony Romo win it all? I doubt it. It'll be the Seattle Seahawks when all is said and done.

Team Priceless finishes 4th in fantasy league

UPC Hood Fantasy Football League

Team Priceless


My Team Priceless went into the playoffs in the UPC Hood Fantasy Football League as the top seed -- and then a complete collapse.

It all ended for Team Priceless last night thanks to Indy quarterback Andrew Luck. Dallas pounds Indy 42-7 and Luck spends more time on the bench and very little time on the field of play.

Luck posted a measly 2.36 in fantasy points and Team Priceless falls to Blitz in the third-place playoff game, while Clam Jamers, a sixth seed, rolls over Lazer  Katz for the 2014 UPC Hood Fantasy Football title.

Team Priceless finishes the season 10-4 and ties with Blitz for the most wins. Unfortunately, they go 0-2 in the playoffs and finish out of the money. Clam Jamers finishes 8-6, but wins it all. Go figure.

Maybe next year.

Wildcats improve to 12-0

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


Freshman Stanley Johnson scored 17 points and veteran T.J. McConnell scored nine points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out eight assists as the third-ranked Arizona Wildcats fought off a stubborn UTEP team in El Paso tonight and left town with a hard-earned 60-55 win.

Arizona becomes the first team in college basketball to reach 12 wins and improves to a perfect 12-0.

But it wasn't easy.

Arizona missed 12 free throws -- canning 15 of 27 and shot 45 percent from the field -- hitting 20 of 44 field goals. UTEP shot 40 percent (22 of 54) from the field.

Gabe York and Brandon Ashley scored in double figures for the Wildcats -- York with 13 and Ashley with 10. It was an off-night for Kaleb Tarczewski, who scored five points and fouled out late in the second half and for Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who finished with six points.

The two teams tied in rebounds with 34 apiece. Arizona turned the ball over 17 times, while the Miners were guilty of 18 turnovers.

Up next: UNLV in Las Vegas on Tuesday.

Wildcats reach century mark

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


The third-ranked Arizona Wildcats had an easy time of it at McKale Center tonight as they demolished Oakland 101-64.

Five players finished in double figures with Stanley Johnson leading the way with 18 points, five rebounds and three assists. Gabe York and Brandon Ashley canned 15 apiece, while Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Kaleb Tarczewski finished with 10 points apiece.

It didn't stop there as T. J. McConnell dished out a game-high 10 assists as Craig Victor tossed in nine points and Elliott Pitts added eight. Eleven players scored and 13 players saw action.

Arizona allowed Oakland to score just one field goal in the first 10 minutes of the game. The Wildcats relaxed a bit after that, but finished the night shooting 55 percent from the field, while limiting Oakland to 35 percent.

Arizona improves to 11-0.

Tucson Aces 5 Arizona Rattlers 1

Southwest Old Timers Baseball League

60-and-over baseball

Tucson Aces

Arnie White, 73, allowed seven hits and cruised to a 5-1 win today at Udall Park as the 60-and-over Tucson Aces beat the visiting Arizona Rattlers.

The Aces scored three runs in the top of the first inning on four hits. Dennis Crowley led off with an opposite-field single, Lloyd Barzell doubled to center and hard-hitting Tim Tolson walked to load the bases.

White helped his own cause with an RBI-double and Pete Peters followed with a two-run double. As it turned out, the three first-inning runs would be all White would need as he kept the Rattlers in check for all seven innings.

The Aces played error free ball, except for the fifth inning when two infield fly balls were dropped by White and Peters, while third-sacker Pigpen Price mishandled a shot down third. Still, White worked his way out of the inning and the Aces went on to their third straight win over the Rattlers.

Photo: Arnie White

Top seeds fall in fantasy league

UPC Hood Fantasy Football League

Team Priceless


After leading the UPC Hood Fantasy Football League for 10 of 14 weeks, my Team Priceless falls in the semifinals this week and will play for third place next week. Going into the first round of the playoffs as the No. 1 seed, Team Priceless runs out of luck -- as in quarterback Andrew Luck. The Indy quarterback collected just a shade over twenty fantasy points this week, while seven of my starters fail to amass double figures in fantasy points. The result: A devastating loss to the No. 6 seed Clam Jamers.

The second-seeded Blitz also went down, losing a close battle with the fourth-seeded Lazer Katz. An unlikely final next week will have the Lazer Katz against the Clam Jamers, while Blitz and Team Priceless battle for third place.

I will once again try my luck with MR. LUCK. My opponent has New England's Tom Brady or he could insert Seattle's Russell Wilson. My backup quarterback is Cincinnati's Andy Dalton. I'll stick with Luck.

Wildcats devour Wolverines

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


The third-ranked Arizona Wildcats crushed Michigan at McKale Center today 80-53.

Arizona finished the game with five players in double figures. Stanley Johnson led the way with 17 points, while Gabe York and Kaleb Tarczewski added 15 apiece. Brandon Ashley chipped in 10 points, as did Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. Arizona coach Sean Miller substituted freely with five minutes left in the game.

Arizona shot 58 percent (32 of 55) from the field and held the Wolverines to just 34 percent, hitting just 19 of 55 shots. The Wildcats out rebounded Michigan, 41-26, and dished out 19 assists to just 12 for the Wolverines.

Arizona improves to 10-0.

Cardinals arguably fifth best team in NFL

Arizona Cardinals


The Arizona Cardinals (11-3), with a 12-6 win on Thursday over the St. Louis Rams, became the first team to post 11 wins this season, but arguably they may be the fifth best team in the NFL, behind Green Bay(10-3), New England (10-3), Denver (10-3) and the Seattle Seahawks (9-4). The schedule on Sunday has Miami at New England, Green Bay at Buffalo, Denver at San Diego and San Francisco at Seattle.

The Patriots, the Packers, the Broncos and the Seahawks should all win and keep pace with the Cardinals. But, on any given Sunday upsets are possibly, especially in Week 15.

As for the Cardinals, they have Sunday off and a week to prepare for Seattle at home in Week 16. They are down to their third quarterback, Ryan Lindley. Somehow the Cardinals are hanging in there. The Cardinals will need some touchdowns against the visiting Seahawks, otherwise they'll no longer be in the conversation as arguably the fifth best team in the National Football League.

Go Cardinals!

Pigpen Price gets rare win

TOTS Senior Baseball Network

60-and-over baseball


Pigpen Price, 69, allowed six hits, struck out four and walked three en route to a 13-4 win for Team Blue today over Team White in a 65-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball game at Udall Park.

It was a rare win for Price, who has struggled on the mound this winter with a 1-4-1 record. "I had more control today and I didn't hit anybody which is a plus."

Price was helped out in the top of the first inning when his Team Blue teammates posted four runs on seven hits -- including a two-run single by Tim Tolson and a two-run double by newcomer George Staas. 68, from Dayton, Ohio. Staas, in his first official at-bat as a member of the 60-and-over club, drilled a shot to center field.

Pete Peters had two hits for Team White and drove in all four of their runs, while Lloyd Barzell contributed three hits and climbs to within two hits of setting the all-time single season hits record. The record was set in 2005 by Chico Bigham who banged out 228 hits. A couple more hit by Barzell and he'll own the record at 229. Barzell, who pitched all seven innings today in a losing cause, has eight games left in the season and plenty of at-bats to set the record.

Billy and Floyd -- ageless wonders

TOTS Senior Baseball Network

60-and-over baseball

Floyd Lance, 89, and Billy Heiny, 85, are the "Fathers of Time" on the Tucson Old Timers 60-and-over baseball team.

The dictionary describes the Father of Time as: the personification of time as an old man, usually in a white robe, having a white beard, and carrying a scythe.

At Udall Park on the east side of Tucson the senior baseball club plays three days a week and every game the TOTS' version of the "Fathers of Time" hustle to their respective positions. Lance, a first baseman, and Heiny, a right-handed pitcher,  do not sport long, white beards and carry a scythe, instead they come equipped each week with a baseball bat and a glove.

They both defy Mother Nature and the Father of Time, for they are baseball players -- ageless wonders who still play for the love of the game. Lance and Heiny not only take their positions on the  field but they contribute. Lance plays first base like he did seventy years ago with style and grace, while Heiny takes the mound from time to time and baffles the hitters with his slow delivery and even slower fastball.

Teammates look on in awe, while spectators stand in amazement. How can this be? How can they play and compete, even at this senior level, with athletes who are, in some cases, 25 years their senior? They hit, run, throw and field ground balls effortlessly and act like they could play the game of baseball for another 15 to 20 years.

These "Energizer Bunny's" do not have a clock. They don't need one. It's their time to shine and it's their time to defy the odds and continue to play the game of baseball.

Today was like any other day at the ballpark. Heiny pitched seven innings and held off his opponent with his assortment of "slow pitches" while Lance made a dozen putouts as TOTS Team White prevailed over TOTS Team Blue, 10-8.

Lance changes the number on his jersey every year (he's currently wearing the number 89), while Heiny continues to wear jersey number 70 because it was at the ripe old age of seventy (or close to it) when he took up baseball for the first time and started playing the game with the Tucson Old Timers.

Lance, a member of the TOTS since 1999, was born Sept. 6 , 1925 in Glen Gardner, New Jersey.

Heiny, a member of the TOTS since 1997, was born Aug. 5, 1929 in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Batting stats: (2013)  Lance, G 115  AB 293  R 40  H 93  BB 44 HP 3  SAC 14  RBI 59  AVG  .317

                                Heiny,  G 109  AB 290  R 44  H 43  BB 37  HP 1  SAC  5   RBI 30  AVG  .148

Photos: (top) Floyd Lance  (bottom) Billy Heiny

Arizona 87 Utah Valley 56

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


Arizona, ranked No. 3 in the country, had very little trouble dismantling visiting Utah Valley tonight at McKale Center.

Arizona wins it 87-56 with Stanley Johnson leading the way with 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists, while Dusan Ristic and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson came off the bench to score 13 and 12 points, respectively. Gabe York also finished in double figures with 11 points as coach Sean Miller cleared the bench in this one. Thirteen players saw action and ten scored -- including seldom used Craig Victor who tossed in six points, while reserve point-guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright tallied seven points and dished out three assists.

The Wildcats shot 59 percent from the field (31 of 52 shots), while Utah Valley was held to 36 percent shooting (17 of 47). Arizona had nine steals in the game and out rebounded the Wolverines, 40-25.

On a side note, you would never obtain any of the above information from Bill Walton, who was supposed to be one of the announcers during the game. If he said anything about the game, I must have missed it.

As with most blowouts, the announcers try to find something to talk about. In Walton's case that is never a problem. In reality, there was a basketball game going on tonight. I'm glad I watched it, but sorry I listened to it.

As for our Wildcats, they move to 9-0 on the season, but still remain behind Kentucky and now Duke in the latest AP poll. Up next: Michigan on Saturday.

Daliege hurls gem

TOTS Senior Baseball Network

60-and-over baseball

Bob Daliege, 66, hurled seven strong innings at Udall Park today as Team Blue beat Team White 7-2 in a Tucson Old-Timers (TOTS) 60-and-over baseball game.

Daliege allowed just six hits enroute to the victory as he kept Team White's potent hitting attack at bay -- including their top two hitters, Lloyd Barzell and Peter Peters, who both are battling to break the club's single-season hit record of 228 hits, set in 2005 by Chico Bigham.

Barzell entered today's game with 222 hits, while Peters is right behind him with 214 hits. Both players went hitless against Daliege, who retired the side in order in four of the seven innings.

The TOTS return to action on Wednesday.

Photo: Bob Daliege

Arizona Cardinals improve to 10-3

Arizona Cardinals Football


Arizona held on to beat Kansas City 17-14 today at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale to improve to 10-3 on the season and maintain their one-game lead in the NFC West over the Seattle Seahawks.

Seattle (9-4) kept pace with the Cardinals today with a 24-14 win in Philadelphia over the Eagles.

Cardinals note: Arizona won today thanks to three field goals from kicker Chandler Catanzaro and a third-quarter score on a 26-yard TD pass from Drew Stanton to Jaron Brown.

It's offical: Arizona Wildcats vs. Boise State in Fiesta Bowl

Arizona Wildcats Football


It's official. The 10th-ranked Arizona Wildcats (10-3) will take on 20th-ranked Boise State (11-2) on Dec. 31 at 2 p.m. in Glendale in the Vizio Fiesta Bowl.

The playoff committee ranked the Wildcats No. 10, while the Broncos will carry a No. 20 ranking into the Fiesta Bowl as the two teams have 24 days to prepare for the New Year's Eve tussle.

For the record:

Boise State...Mountain West Champs,  11 wins 2 losses...lost to Ole Miss and Air Force

Arizona...Runner-up Pac-12, 10 wins 3 losses...lost to USC, UCLA and Oregon

Can the Cardinals regroup?

Arizona Cardinals Football


It hasn't been a good week for Arizona football -- as in the Arizona Wildcats, a 51-13 loser Friday to the Oregon Ducks. Now it's time for Arizona's professional team to take the field as the Cardinals (9-3) try to snap a two-game losing streak at home this afternoon as they take on the Kansas City Chiefs (7-5).

The Cardinals are clinging to a one-game lead in the NFC West and they hope to return to the win column today with the return of wide-receiver Larry Fitzgerald. If the Cardinals can stop Kansas City's running back Jamaal Charles and if Fitz can get open and haul in a couple of TD passes from quarterback Drew Stanton then chances are Arizona will walk away with its 10th win of the season.

If Charles has his day and Fitzgerald doesn't, it could be a long afternoon for the Cardinals.

My prediction: Arizona 20 Kansas City 17.

But, what do I know? I predicted my Arizona Wildcats would beat Oregon, 45-42!

TOTS lose a loyal fan

TOTS Senior Baseball Network

60-and-over baseball


My blog is filled with stories of the old-time ball players who play three days a week at Udall Park as members of the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball club. As the club's historian, from time to time I summarize the results of the games, acknowledging great plays made and, in short, try to bring to print what it's like to be an old-timer and still play the game of baseball.

Sometimes I forget to acknowledge the ladies in the stands, the spouses who sit in the bleachers and support their husbands and the organization as a whole.

The organization lost a beautiful lady and its number-one cheerleader on the 22nd of November. Donna Tagg passed away at the age of eighty-one.  Her husband of 60 years is former TOT Larry Tagg.

Services will be held at Bring's Funeral Home on Friday, December 12 at 2:00 p.m.

The following is an excerpt from a previous post. It's just part of the story of the life and times of Donna and Larry Tagg.

Original post: April 15, 2013, just a year-and-half ago.

I admire all the TOTS, past and present. And now that I'm the club historian, I continue to sift through the archives, looking at pictures and faces of men who have come before me. Due to medical issues way beyond their control, a few of the honorary TOTS who are still alive and kicking,  show up and sit in the bleachers every week and cheer us on.

Take for instance, 82-year-old Larry Tagg. Larry sustained a brain injury a few years back and he was forced to retire from the active list, but he still makes the annual luncheon every year and attends  all the "dress out" games (every three months we play a game in our full uniform-- followed by a cookout -- all the honorary TOTS and former players are also invited and partake in our yearly Christmas party).

So, like a good historian, I checked up on Mr. Tagg. He was the TOT of the Year in 2000 and the team manager in 2001-02. In 2005, at the age of 74, he played in 63 games, collected 30 hits in 127 at-bats, knocked in 11 runs and batted .236. In 2006, his averaged slipped to .193, but he did step to the plate 166 times, had 32 hits, walked 25 times and was hit by a pitch four times.

As for his life before the TOTS, well that's a story in itself.

Larry was a service man...and I mean a military service man.

Tagg, who was born and grew up in Sioux City, Iowa, allowed his early "baseball playing" days to be interrupted, by enlisting in the Army in 1948. He returned home after his eight-year stint in the Army and played for some independent baseball teams, traveling around Western Iowa and Eastern Nebraska. It wasn't long before he ended up at a small college in Denver and met Donna Gensler. They married, he subsequently joined the Air Force and served as a chaplain for 20 years.

While on active duty, Tagg served in Alaska and Germany and close to home at Davis-Monthan AFB, just to name a few of the bases he was stationed at. He retired from the military in 1976 and eventually made his way to Tucson with his wife, Donna, and his two sons, Philip and Martyn.

And then along came the TOTS.

Special Note: Donna Tagg will be buried at the Fort Huachuca Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her name to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona or Adult Loss of Hearing Association.

Being an Arizona fan is exhausting!

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


Being an Arizona fan is exhausting!

But I love it.

Arizona edges Gonzaga 66-63 in overtime today at McKale Center.

The Wildcats improve to 8-0 as T.J. McConnell scores six points in the overtime period. Gonzaga, ranked ninth in the country, is saddled with its first loss and falls to 7-1.

Another team effort by the third-ranked Arizona Wildcats. Brandon Ashley led the way with 14 points (with some key buckets down the stretch in regulation), while McConnell finished with 12 points and three key steals. Freshman sensation Stanley Johnson contributed 11 points, six rebounds and two steals, while Kaleb Tarczewski powered his way underneath the basket for 11 points and a team-leading seven rebounds. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson came off the bench once again, scoring eight points to go along with six boards in 37 minutes of action.

Next up: Utah Valley on Tuesday at McKale.

The rush is over for Arizona football fans

Arizona Wildcats Football


It had been a banner year for the 2014 Arizona Wildcats.

And then came Game 13.

Number 13 is an unlucky number -- especially for the University of Arizona football team, at least it was tonight in Santa Clara, California as the Wildcats lost 51-13 to the No. 2 Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 Championship game and fall to 10-3 on the season.

A 10-3 season will not get you to the Rose Bowl, the Cotton Bowl or the Sugar Bowl, but a split with Oregon this season and 10 wins might get you a Fiesta Bowl invite.

We'll know the answer in a few days.

The answer to why the Arizona Wildcats played so badly at  Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara may take some additional time to dissect. One reason for sure is the play of Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota who ran and passed the Ducks to an easy win.

I love my Wildcats and wherever the Wildcats play Game 14, I'll be on the edge of my seat, watching -- as usual, but let's not sugarcoat it, the game in Santa Clara tonight was a disaster for the Arizona players and for every fan in every tavern in Tucson from 4th Avenue to the Tanque Verde Guest Ranch.

Just a week ago I was yelling and screaming my head off at a local Pub, along with a packed house full of Arizona fans, tonight I sat alone in the comfort of my own home and quietly shook my head as Oregon stunned, demolished and embarrassed my Arizona Wildcats.

Oh well, Game 14 awaits.

Happy Holidays to all my TOTS' teammates

TOTS Senior  Baseball Network

60-and-over baseball

Bookemdanosports is well over 2,000 posts. It's been quite a run and I hope to continue my postings for years to come.

I do want to take a moment and wish all my readers Merry Christmas and a happy holiday. There's a lot going on in the world of sports, especially for us local fans who are focused on Arizona football and basketball at the moment but I just want to say what a pleasure it's been to complete another season, another year, with my teammates on the Tucson Old Timers baseball club.

We are just weeks away from the start to the 48th season for the TOTS' organization, which fielded its first team back in 1968. We continue to march on with a roster of close to 60 players -- all of whom are 60 and over and still enjoy playing America's Pastime -- the game of baseball.

We lost one of our all-time greats this fall with the loss of Ed Rife, one of the most talented shortstops ever to don a Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) uniform. Our hearts go out to the Rife Family. Ed will always be with us as we take the field every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Udall Park.

It's been quite a year for the TOTS, who sent an all-TOTS 65-and-over team to the Men's Senior Baseball League (MSBL) World Series in Phoenix in October. It was an experience the players will never forget. With any luck, we'll all be back to compete in the senior World Series in 2015.

We also sent seven members of the club to compete in the 70-and-over division of the MSBL World Series, the team was called the Arizona Scorpions and was coached by Jerry Hamelin, who dedicated our participation in the prestigious senior World Series to our friend and teammate, Ed Rife.

We have had our share of injures and illnesses this year from hamstrings to knee operations to you name it, but somehow, someway the players bounce back and return to action.

The TOTS will be back in 2015, older, better and stronger. Once, again Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays from Danny "Pigpen" Price -- author of Bookemdanosports.

It's Friday Night Lights for the Arizona Wildcats

Arizona Wildcats Football

I'm up early this morning.

Why?

Because it's the day of the WILDCAT. My Arizona Wildcats will take the field in Santa Clara in 12 hours for arguably the most important football game in the school's history.

I know, that is quite a statement. Forgive me, but it's six o'clock in the morning and I'm already pumped -- awaiting "Friday Night Under the Lights" as the Wildcats are not only under the lights, but under the SPOTLIGHT as they take on Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship game.

The second-ranked team in the country, the Oregon Ducks, against the seventh-ranked Arizona Wildcats. My head is still buzzing. It was just a week ago when Arizona took down archival Arizona State in front of 56,000-plus at Arizona Stadium. It was just a week ago when the fans stormed the field celebrating a 42-35 Arizona victory, securing a spot in tonight's title game.

And now, it's the game of the century. My goodness, I'm getting carried away. So, let me take a deep breath and offer my prediction: Arizona 45, Oregon 42 in a thriller!

Scooby Wright will defend, Cayleb Jones will step forward and have his day, Nick Wilson will pound his way up the middle and SOLOMON will lead us to victory. PAUSE! I'm pouring myself a third cup of coffee.

Okay. Oregon will get their touchdowns as expected, but they will fall short on this day and the committee handling the college football playoff rankings will be left scratching their heads. What do we do with those Wildcats from the Old Pueblo?

What if Missouri upsets No.1 Alabama, Georgia Tech takes down No. 4 Florida State, No. 3 TCU falls to Iowa State (that may be carrying things a little too far) and my prediction holds up as Arizona shocks Oregon, where does the committee go from there when the clock strikes midnight and Sunday morning rolls around?

Win or lose, the fact that my Arizona Wildcats are in the discussion is just plain remarkable. An upset win over Oregon tonight and the Wildcats would be 11-2, the Pac-12 Champions, and OWN two wins over arguably the second-best team in the country. And to to top it off, they would own three wins in as many meetings over Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, who will end up as the Heisman Trophy winner this year.

To say I'm excited, is an understatement. I think I'll finish another cup of coffee, go back to bed and take a WILD cat nap.

When I wake up. I'll rethink all of my above comments.

One thing is for sure, I'll be cheering on my Wildcats just after sundown in the Old Pueblo.

TOTS' single-season hits record in jeopardy

TOTS Senior Baseball Network

60-and-over baseball


The 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers baseball team has been around since 1968 and the organization continues to play at Udall Park three days a week from January to December.

No spring or winter breaks for this ball club. No way!

This year two of the youngest members, 64-year-old Lloyd "Baby Bull" Barzell and 65-year-old Pistol Pete Peters are on the verge of setting the individual record for hits in a season and it looks like it is a race to the wire for the two players with just over three weeks left in the month of December.

Barzell was the top hitter for the month of November with 21 hits in 36 trips to the plate, a .583 average, while Peters went 16 for 27 for a .593 average. If you add those November totals to their total output for the season, it looks like the record of 228 hits, set by Chico Bigham in 2005, is going down.

Barzell, after 11 months of action, is at 218 hits, while Peters is not far behind with 211 hits. Both players have a shot at the record with 12 games still scheduled for the month of December.

Other top hitting performances for the month of November include Tim Tolson (18 fo 30, a .533 average) and Brian Reilly (16 for 36, a .467 average). In the all-important category of runs-batted-in, it was Doc Thompson and Tolson with 16 RBI.

Oregon No. 2, Arizona No. 7 in College Football Playoff Rankings

Arizona Wildcats Football

The latest College Football Playoff Rankings show the Oregon Ducks at No. 2 and our Arizona Wildcats at No. 7.

Wow! Can't wait until Friday night in Santa Clara!

Rankings | Bowl Projections

1. Alabama	6. Baylor
2. Oregon	7. Arizona
3. TCU	8. Michigan State
4. Florida State	9. Kansas State
5. Ohio State	10. Mississippi State

Wildcats improve to 7-0

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


Eleven Wildcats score, four players finish in double figures and Arizona rolls to a 91-65 win tonight  at McKale Center over visiting Gardner-Webb. Gabe York and Stanley Johnson finish with 18 points apiece, while Kaleb Tarczewski pumps in 10 and Rondae Hollis Jefferson lights up the scoreboard with 11 points, six rebounds and four assists. Brandon Ashley and Johnson tie for rebound honors with eight apiece, while T.J. McConnell dishes out eight assists, scores five points and grabs three rebounds.

Arizona, ranked third in the nation, improves to 7-0 on the season and take on Gonzaga at McKale on Saturday. Tip-off 3:15 p.m.

Team Priceless powers its way into first place in fantasy league

UPC Hood Fantasy Football League

Team Priceless


My Team Priceless scored a season-high 131.30 in fantasy points this week to knock off Ray Ray and Mookie (131.30 - 104.60) to vault back into first place in the UPC Hood Fantasy Football League and in the process gain the top seed and a first round bye in the playoffs.

Once again, Team Priceless rode the arm of Indy quarterback Andrew Luck, who tossed five touchdown passes and amassed 43.80 worth of fantasy points as the Colts beat Washington, 49-27.

And once again, Pittsburgh's wide receiver Antonio Brown scores two touchdowns and garners 23.70 in fantasy points. As an added bonus, Tennessee wide receiver Kendall Wright chipped in 19.20 fantasy points with 132 receiving yards and a touchdown, during the Titans' 45-21 loss to Houston.

Also, my two running backs Steve Jackson from Atlanta and Chris Johnson from the New York Jets ran wild. Jackson rushed for 101 yards in the Falcons' 29-18 win over Arizona, while Johnson amassed 105 yards on the ground as the Jets fell to Miami, 16-13.

Team Priceless moves to 10-3 on the season -- the only team in the 14-team league with 10 wins.

Arizona Wildcats reach No. 8 in AP Poll

Arizona Wildcats Football


The Arizona Wildcats, fresh off a victory in the Territorial Cup over rival Arizona State, move up in the Associated Press football poll to No. 8 in the country.

This week's AP poll has Oregon at No. 3, UCLA at No. 16, Arizona State at No. 17 and Utah is ranked No. 24.