Yes, I know....

A theme on this blog that has been far too prevalent since its inception has been that I've not been updating it nearly enough. I'll use eliquence in my thoughtful, albeit quaint response, "My bad."

Sadly, I'll have to say that the biggest change in my life since posting last has probably been my subscribing to NetFlix. I guess that's good and bad. Nonetheless, nothing like getting caught up on as many movies as I can for a monthly, more than reasonable fee... Those of you interested should really check it out.

http://www.netflix.com

Now, after that commercial endorsement (as weak as it sounded), back to brass taxes. Baseball season went well. I improved my shooting of it quite a bit, as compared to the doo-doo I put on the air last year. OK, not that bad, but I did improve. Nonetheless, didn't have to do alot of traveling (or as much) this year for the baseball playoffs. Went to Shawnee for the Oklahoma state 3A state Semi-Finals. Sulphur ended up losing in the state title game after winning it all last year. This is the team that has won 2 of the last 3 state championships in football as well. That little town cranks out the athletes. None more impressive than their starting pitcher Tanner Chitwood. The kid is a junior, 6-2 lefty that can smoke it at 92mph. I've witnessed it. You'll hear his name again....

2 of our teams were in the Class A Okla. finals. Great theater. They're Southern Oklahoma rivals that already play a couple of times during the season. Silo vs. Rock Creek (in Bokchito, OK)... Silo wins, but Rock Creek's ace pitched just a couple of days after being released from the hospital for a collapsed lung (no kidding). He braved it, and made it, but Silo won, and good for the Rebs. You want to talk about baseball tradition, at thses smaller schools that don't have football in Oklahoma, they do baseball year round, and send a sizeable amount of players to JUCO and Small College baseball. Kudos to both programs...

In Texas, both Van Alstyne and Gunter made it to the Regional Semi's. Good teams, and strong programs. Pitching depth is so key in these rounds. Unlike Okla, in Texas, there's 3 game series. The 1st games of the series are usually the best, with the top starters going at eachother. You might notice higher run totals in the 2nd games. And then when (or if) they make it to a 3rd gamef, the starter go at it again, and the theater can be greatness....

Did a story on the Pilot Point Lady Bearcat softball team. Impressive group of girls. New coach at a school that's been scarred this year with unfortunate situations, chiefly, having to forfeit both the football season and basketball seasons for using an ineligible player, among other things. The girls said, "Whatever!", and made it down to Austin. They lost to West Columbia in the quarterfinals, but what an accomplishment, and such a rayf of light for an athletic department that truely needed it...

Played in the Reba Golf tournament in Denison last week. No thanks to me, our team finished 4th, and I contributed a total of 3 shots. Thank the good Lord we had people on the team that could flat out CRANK IT! We finished 1 place out of the $, and got MP3 players instead. RIO Forge to be exact. 128MB memory, and mine's already full. Only problem? I belong to iTunes, and had previously downloaded music (yes, paid for), and that format is "protected" from being loaded into the Forge. CROCK! I'll live (somehow)...

IRL coming to the TMS. Here comes Danika!!!! Hope she wins, because if/when she does, lookout for NASCAR. They'll promote some hack from the lower circuits who just happens to be a female and looks good. She'll get smoked, and the stunt will backfire(no pun intended). You heard it here first!

About ot be some down-time for me in that the high schools are out for the summer, and I'll be dying for stories. Any idea's out there? Gimme a shout... john.engleman@kxii.com...

It's late, and I think I might be playing golf at the Grayson course in the morning. If you're out that way, be sure to take cover, mmmmK?

-JE

It's been that long!?!?!?

Guilty as charged! Plenty to catch up on, however, I'll only whip you with the major highlights (or lowlights).

The day after Christmas, I went to San Antonio with my News Director to cover Oklahoam State in the Alamo Bowl versus Ohio St. (OSU vs. OSU, get it???). Now, I started feeling ill on Christmas day (maybe it was because it was the first Christmas day that I didn't have to work in severla years), and when we left for the Alamo City, I was well on my way to feeling like total crap.

Anyhoo, to save you all the gory details but one, I had a mother of a sinus infection/ear infection/eye infection upon return. My eardrum ruptured on the trip, and I lost my voice (not good in this business). There's nothing better than trying to pull off a live shot in front of the sold out AlamoDome with bus fumes, and loud people, giving the "rock on" sign, sticking out their tongues, and screaming at you from their cars, "I wanna be on TV!!!" Occupational hazards....

Anyhoo, I'm still stopped up a month later, but much better. The biggest probels is that the other member of the sports department was on Miami covering the Sooners, so I didn't have anyone to sub in for me....11 days of work straight while sick! I will say that I'm cashing in my last comp day tomorrow, whist enjoying the craps tables in Shreveport....

As for recently, I interviewed Kelviin Sampson, Kevin Bookout, and Lawrence McKenzie yesterday on the Sooners 10-0 run, and #13 ranking, and you can view it online at kxii.com/sports, and it will be on the lower right side of the page. Caution: Kelvin Sampson likes to take it one game at a time...*gag*...

OK...time for some fun....a Dear, sweet young lady that I used to work with in radio had this one here blog, and I thought, due to lack of creativity, why not steal her idea!?!?!?! Thanks Frogianna!!!!

It's So Hard.... To Say Goodbye...To Yesterday....(Our High School Class Song)

The year you graduated from highschool:

What year was it?1992

What were your three favorite bands?Whoa...At that point, Pearl Jam, Harry Connick, and Garth Brooks??? (I know, I know)

What was your favorite outfit?jeans, and my OU co-ed naked lacrosse t-shirt....I rock!

What was up with your hair? Parted on the side.... too much gel... and spiked up, baby!

Who were your best friends?Caddy, Stevie, David Goad, Ed Garcia, Johnny Seale, Drew Hamilton

What did you do after school? Usually had to practice football or baseball....

Where did you work? In the summers, and usually at restaurants...

Did you take the bus? Hell no....I had a pristine sun-faded yellow 1977 Mustang II!

Who did you have a crush on? Can't believe I'm admitting this in public, but that would have to have been Charlotte Haley....I played football with her older brother... Asked her out, she said yes, and then 2 day's later cancelled on me.... That's probably the biggest emotional swing I had that year...Too much for a measly high school senior....

Did you fight with your parents? Nah...

Who did you have a CELEBRITY crush on? Sharon Stone! I'm sure you can guess why...

Did you smoke cigarettes? No, dipping snuff, and chewing Red Man was WAY cooler!

Did you lug all of your books around in your backpack all day because you were too nervous to find your locker? Not nervous, just lazy...

Did you have a 'clique'? Not really. I didn't grow up with the kids at my high school, so I was more of an outsider. But I was mainly friends with everyone, not the exclusive type (unless there's a story involved).

Did you have "The Max" like Zach Kelly and Slater? Oh Hell yes! Olympic Pizza on Greenville and Meadow. It was right by the train tracks, where we'd throw rocks at the oncoming trains (lame). It's now a storage until place (I think).

Admit it, were you popular? Probably not. I had friends from every area, but I wasn't any sort of studen council-type. Was too busy playing sports (and choir).

Who did you want to be just like? At that point, I wanted to be Pudge Rodriguez...

What did you want to be when you grew up? At that point, it was either the next catcher for the Texas Rangers, or the next self-made billionaire.

Where did you think you'd be at the age you are now? Lessee... well on my way to the Hall of Fame???


mmmmmmmK... that was fun... Hope all is well out there with all of you. Shoot me an email, and let me know how you are!!!!

jlengleman@yahoo.com

Hello There My Old Friend...

I almost forgot this thing exhisted. Just kidding. I usually update this blog late Sunday night/Early Monday Morning, but the last 2-3 weeks, I've had to work EARLY Monday mornings in Dallas at my contract gig, so I've been getting home at decent hours.... Wonder if anyone still comes here???

Plenty to report, I just don't know what... Our Friday night high school football show ran it's course... No show this friday.... Good thing seeing as how we just have 1 local team playing Friday night, about 3 or 4 Saturday... With OU off, my show's might be high school football intensive.... We'll see...

The Sunday night show hit an All-time low tonight... Nothing steams me more than when you prepare all day for a 15 minute show, and then a few things that are completely out of your hands screw the whole thing up.... I've never raised my voice to co-workers that work on the show until tonight... I felt bad about it, but it caught them offguard enough to where I will dare say that next Sunday's show might be the best ever....

Still not dating anyone. Haven't really met anyone who's peaked my interest...Trust me, It's not that I'm picky, it's more like "the pickins is slim"....

We've (co-workers and I) been hanging out with the Sherman cops some....Great Group! Never felt safer in a bar in my life! Imagine that!?!?!? It's a fun group though, that likes to have some fun...

I officially turned 32 on the 14th... I can factually tell you that I didn't get any taller... Not one of the more eventful birthdays, but I will tell you that I really didn't want it to be eventful. Too busy, and don't need the distractions....

The ole car is running well.... But I'm still waiting for a rod to shoot through the hood....I'm beginning to think that I'm car-jinxed.... But so far,,, it's been fine since the engine was re-done...

I'm going to be in Dallas tomorrow (today)... Gonna hook up with some amigos, and maybe have a cerveca or 2...

Quick sports for you:

By the way, Sunday should be the last time we see Vinny Testaverde...(unless Henson gets hurt)...

Adrian Peterson should win the Heisman... I game with 59 yards rushing will hurt his chances, but every other candidate has at least 1 letdown game, and if you look at it, Peterson only played 1 half... I'll take 59 yards a half anyday...So, in truth, he hasn't had a letdown yet...

Most Underrated? Jason Campbell, QB, Auburn... He put that team on his capable shoulders Saturday, and got them the win. Bama stonewalled their potent running game, and Campbell made them pay through the air. Most impressive.

FYI- The Sooners need DeMarcus Granger... the DT from Dallas Kimball is very much like Peterson, in that he could make many NFL rosters out of high school. It's harder to imagine for DT's....

The Rangers are about to lose Drew Meyer in the Rule 5 draft.... He's had a bad Arizona Fall League, and they didn't add him to the 40 man roster... You may be asking yourself, "Who the hell cares?"... Meyer was the Rangers 2002 First round pick...

The Mavs may be in serious ka-ka... Add Dirk Nowitzki to the growing list of ankle casualties... He sprained it pretty bad last night in Denver coming down from a fade-away jumper, and landing on someone elses foot... They're calling it a sprain. If it's worse, they'll be calling it a season....

Interesting Stars note....uhhhh.....nevermind....

Question to ponder when the BCS poll comes out this week....Will we ever see a college football playoff system in our lifetimes???? And don't tell me "yes, they have one in division 2."...I know how you smartasses think....

Time for me to ride off into the Sun-up.....

-JE

Rivalry Week....

Before I get into my Crimson rant, I want to give HUGE congrats to Matt Linch.... Seems ole Linch-mob stepped up to the plate, and got engaged. Well, hell has officially frozen over as 1 of the 2 of us has grown up, and it certainly isn't me. He'll be getting married next year in Vegas!!! I've always said that if you're going to do it, do it right (I think), and Vegas most certainly qualifies. I haven't met his lovely Bride-to-be, but one thing's for sure; She's amongst the lucky ones (and probably strong as hell)....Congrats to both!!!!! See you soon!

From one Sooner love-story to another.... It is that time of year again, and hopefully, it will go like the last 4. I know that I'm supposed to be the un-biased broadcaster, but being a Sooner, it's an impossibility.... OU/texas week starts, and now we finally see if the horns evolve...

In Brian Davis's news and notes in today's(Mon.) Dallas Morning News (Link at Bottom of Blog), OU's Co-Defensive Coordinator Brent Venables offered this fluff-nugget:

"Texas leads the nation in rushing yards per game (353.5). Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Brent Venables said it's because the Longhorns' offensive line may be as good as it's been since 1998, when Ricky Williams won the Heisman. "

Unfortunately, the horns know better than to swill on such generosity. They know that they better lead the nation in rushing if their first 4 games are against North Texas, Arkansas, Rice and Baylor.

On a similar note, this week...Every Year... There's nothing better than the Dallas Morning News Sports section...It's wall-to-wall OU/tx, and whether you like it or not, this Saturday EVERY YEAR is the biggest sporting event in Dallas every year.... Now, when this event moves to Arlington in 2009 (and it will), an impending Super Bowl will be the only challenge (unless an Olympics comes to Dallas, and if that's the case I'll be dead, because that would mean that there's finally competence on the city council, something we know will never happen...and if it were there, the OU/tx game would stay in Dallas,,,but I digress)...

It will be a fun week. I'll miss the game, as always. Have to work. I'll miss the majority of the game, thanks to a noon Austin College football game against Louisiana College, and a 2pm Southeastern game vs. NEOSU... I'll be shooting those. I better go out and buy a walk-man, eh???

A quick prediction(s) on the game (no, not the Austin College game). Poise wins out in these every year, making it nice to have a 6th year quarterback with a Heisman on his mantle... However, this is the 1st year that Cedric Benson has my attention. Sure would be nice to have Dusty Dvoracek on the D-Line. Sooners will win by 30.... The cheap tent will fold in the 2nd half... OU will be up a field goal or touchdown at the half, but Texas will stop having success in their passing game, and try to run, run, run. Selvin Young won't be there to offer such a counter-balance to Benson.

It will be the 1st game that Superman (Adrian Peterson) rushes for under 100 yards. He's never seen the likes of a Derrick Johnson. Travis Wilson and Mark Clayton will prove to be too much for the UT secondary, and Bubba Moses has 2TD's thanks to their deep success. Outside of that....Benson will gain 100 yards, but you're supposed to when you carry the ball 60 times. Another OU rout, and all the cute little UT girls that I work with will have to wine me and dine me.... (Life is tough).

Today on http://www.kxii.com/sports , check any of the college games from the weekend, and the Mt. Pleasant @ Sherman links... I'll bore you to tears on all of them...

Believe it or not, that all I have. Really. Boomer.

-JE

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/redrivershootout/oklahoma/stories/100404dnsporrbriefs.c4082.html

Hello Again...Helloo....

Happy week to you all.. Been another busy one here. I think I'm tiring easier.... Hopefully it's just age...I need to start working out again, and eating right. hmmmm

Big ups to some friends....First of all...The Rylands in Bermuda... They just announced that they'll be having a baby, and I'm thrilled for them... 2 of my favorites...They've been married for about 5-6 years, and were dumb enough to have me in their wedding... They'll be in the Dallas area around Christmas, and I can't wait to see them!!!!

And props to another Good Friend.... I worked with this guy back during my rock radio days, and to this day, though we haven't seen eachother in a long time, I still consider him one of my best friends...Chris Snyder is getting married... Chris would tell you that he's the luckiest man on earth to be marrying this woman. I've not met her, but I'll bet she's a doll....However, I can tell you without any reservations that SHE'S the lucky one. She snagged one of the true good guys...Cheers!

Another football intensive weekend, but I'll tell you that it was fun to get to Southeastern in Durant to shoot some of the Homecoming game... One of the joys involved with that is being able to see these Freshman football players for them...These are kids that I interviewed in high school last year when they were stars of their teams, and now they're in the small fish/big pond atmosphere... Some are excelling, which is so great to see... Some take time (and are still too small), but will do fine....And they all still call me "Sir".... WTF????

The Car is still going well....Needs clutch work soon....maybe sooner than later....Speaking of the Sooners, off weekend for them... Then they get to stump the air-attack of Texas Tech... Sonny Cumbie threw 4 INT's against KU today.... And now you know why he wasn't recruited out of high school,, and walked-on a Tech...

More on the KXII web page... If you're bored to tears, and want to watch me step all over myself...Check out the Gunter/Whitewright game....the Southeastern link,,, and the Texas over Rice link....someone recently asked me as they were looking at our stuff if that was my photog that shot those games I was narrating.....In market 162, I WOULD BE MY PHOTOG....

I think that's going to do it for today... I haven't heard from some of you for a while... email me and let me know what you're up to! john.engleman@kxii.com

COWBOYS/REDSKINS Monday!!!!!

-JE

I know...I know....

It's been too long since I've been on here.... It's tough to post when I have to depend of rides, and worry about other peoples schedules......HOWEVER, I now have a CAR! So I'll be able to get on here more, as I'm not online at home....

Football season can be tough... Case in point...Today, I had to goto SOSU (Southeastern Ok. St. U) for a 7pm game to shoot...I get off the air at just after 6:35 or so.....It takes at least 35 minutes to get there... By the time I have enough highlights, and can get back, it's 8:30, and I have an hour and a half to get a show together....That usually takes me 2 hours....3 if I'm able to have time to really write well.... Luckily for me tonight, the FLA/TENN game ran very late on CBS, and we didn't go on until late...So I used every minute....

To add fire to that, I get this on my AP bulletin today:

Please tape your news, weather and sportscasts today: -- SATURDAY, September 18 -- to submit for the 2004-2005 Texas AP Broadcasters contest.

They only do this 5 times a year, and this is the 1st day that it's landed on a day I'm anchoring.... CRAP! Did I mention THANK GOD FOR THE FLORIDA/TENNESSEE GAME!!!!

Whoa... Never knew a Ford Explorer could go 90.... (from the SOSU game back to KXII)...

Anyhoo, I started Sports Overtime last Sunday....That's my 15 minute sunday night show....I ahve it again tomorrow night, and will be here at 11:00 AM to start on it... Cowboys could take a turn for the worse tomorrow if they don't stop Jeff Garcia from picking on the underachieving secondary...Than I'll be glad that I'm the one here that DOESN'T goto Valley Ranch....

Sooners continue to roll...Oregon gave OU their 1st TOUGH 1st half... The Ducks averaged over 4 yards per rush.....That needs to be fixed, but playing without your All-American DT can add quite a bit to that....

Great Friday Night Blitz this past weekend.....Goto www.kxii.com/sports to see the hi-lites of Van Alstyne/Whitewright....and to see me get attacked by a Whitewright Cheerleader.... She's a top softball pitcher in the area too....

That'll do it for now... Hope all is well to those that pass by here every now and again (like me!)... I'll be on more frequently now....That's a promise....Hope all is well....

-JE

I'm Baaaaaaack!

I know, I know.... Been too long. Hell, football's here! On the Texas side of the border, they started their games last Friday, you can check out the hi-lites online at www.kxii.com, and clicking on sports...they'll be on the column on the right....And if any of you can stomach an on-air performance by me...You can either click on the McKinney North-Denison game, or the Bob Brown Interview, and them spam me about how bad I am...

Last week, we aired the Pigskin Preview... It's where we preview "Your teams in your town!"....We went around and hit about 80% of the schools in our viewing area (which is why you haven't heard from me), and intreviewed coaches and players... That's done, and now we show previews throughout the the rest of this week before Oklahoma starts football, and then I'll be back to 8hrs a night of blissful, seldomly interrupted sleep....

In case any of you are wondering (and I know none of you are) I am actually dating right now, and her name is football....HA! GOTCHA!

Really nothing else to share... It's been all work, even on my off days...Hopefully you'll see me on the Fortune 500 list soon thanks to all of the hours I'm logging.... Will be doing the Gunter/Van Alstyne game this Friday.... It'll be online Friday night....I'll be starting "Sports Overtime" the first weekend of the NFL regular season (a show I host duing football on Sunday nights after the news).... I'm holding my collective breath....

By the way, Dad's doing much better!... Mom's teaching 3 days out of the week, and I think the Grandpuppy is getting more attention from Dad now....(I know you were all worried!)

Me and Crackhead are fine.....Time to go and fill out that timecard...How many hours are in day????

-JE