Morrow's Musings
- By Jeff Morrow
509-582-1507
Posted Oct. 27, 2000
Mid-Columbia shows in national horse race
Eltopia's Cliff Schellinger reports that there is a tremendous local connection for Saturday's American Quarter Horse Association MBNA America Challenge Championship races in Grand Prairie, Texas.
Kennewick trainer Bill Hoburg qualified three horses for the races, including Your So Awesome, who's won several races at Sun Downs; Sign So Fine, owned by Shannon McKay of Othello; and Gone Clear.
Kennewick trainer Lin Melton qualified two horses for the races: Dat Valley Girl, owned by Schellinger; and Onwego Ashley, owned and bred by Kennewick's Patricia Bigham.
Another qualified horse, Chick's Special Heart, used to be trained by Melton before it was claimed at a Portland race earlier this year.
Taken All The Cash, a horse trained by Hickman Farms of Kennewick, also has qualified for the races.
Finally, jockeys Cammie Papineau and Berkley Packer, both standout riders at Sun Downs, will be riding in the Texas races.
* * *
In attending Game 4 of the American League Championship Series in Seattle a few weekends ago, sitting way down the third-base line with our family, my dad noticed something interesting through his binoculars.
For about a 10-minute period before the game started, Seattle shortstop Alex Rodriguez was having a conversation with Microsoft founder Bill Gates, whose seats were in the front row right next to the M's dugout.
Perhaps Gates was talking to A-Rod about what it would take to keep the shortstop in Seattle.
Maybe Gates will help pony up. If A-Rod leaves Seattle, it won't be because he wasn't offered enough cash.
But even if he does leave Seattle, I'll feel better the way he'll leave than the way Ken Griffey Jr. or Randy Johnson left.
* * *
Pasco's Anthony Davis isn't starting for the Baltimore Ravens this season, but the backup linebacker is still making contributions for one of the toughest defenses in the NFL.
Davis has three tackles on defense and another five on special teams.
* * *
Kennewick's Rowdy Barry just missed making a return appearance to the National Finals Rodeo this December in Las Vegas as a bullfighter.
He will, however, go as an alternate - which means if one of the performing bullfighters goes down with an injury, Barry will be ready to go.
"It means I'll get to eat all the good food in the media room," Barry joked.
After years of competing as a bullfighter, Barry was selected by the cowboys to compete at the prestigious NFR in 1999 for his first trip ever.
Broken ribs this season caused him to miss most of July and August. Yet when it came time to vote, Barry missed a return trip by just one vote.
So he will be an alternate.
The Mid-Columbia should be well-represented at the NFR again.
It looks like Grandview's Sean Culver and former Kennewick cowboy Clint Corey - both bareback riders - will qualify.
Team ropers Jason Stewart of Royal City (header) and Bucky Campbell of Benton City (heeler) look to have qualified, as does barrel racer Jamie Richards, a former Kennewick resident who lists her home as Bastrop, Texas.
* * *
Just saw Kennewick High's winter sports schedules and noticed that girls basketball coach Debbie Roueche won't be starting out with any pushovers.
The defending state 4A champions who went unbeaten will open the season Dec. 1 at home against Prairie, the team the Lions beat in overtime in the state title game last March. The next night, the Lions will play host to 3A state power Meadowdale.
* * *
Richland's Clint Jensen finished 16th on the Golden Bear Tour's money list this season. He finished with $38,428 on the golf tour that competes mainly in the Southeast.
* * *
The Yakima Sun Kings open the Continental Basketball Association season Dec. 15 at home against the Idaho Stampede. The season is opening one month later than normal, and consequently finishes one month later than normal, on April 21. . . . Speaking of Yakima, promoter Dick Suess is talking with SunDome officials in trying to put an American Indoor Football League franchise into the facility. The fledgling AIFL would begin play in April. Suess tried to get a team into the Tri-Cities Coliseum last month, but dates and financial numbers couldn't be agreed upon. In fact, there is no certainty that the AIFL will get going in time for April's openers. If not, Suess may plan on trying to put a team in the Tri-Cities for the 2002 season.
- Jeff Morrow can be reached at 582-1507 or via e-mail at jmorrow@tri-cityherald.com
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