Armchair Quarterback

 By: Steve Tressler                                                            Tresdawg@hotmail.com

As a  return to the Bluegrass state draws closer, mere days now,  no more delayed broadcasts for viewing! 

I ponder my future and the happier times that lay ahead in HD at home, as a sports observer, from the stands and yes, the comforts of my armchair in the living room.

 I was just thinking about a few things before I return to Kentucky, and with apologies to Dick Gabriel, but on behalf of Larry Glover and Reds backers everywhere I say this; For the love of Pete (Rose) will somebody, anybody, please beat the Cardinals! A 3-game sweep would be nice! The Reds, with the exception of the Cardinals, have the best record in baseball and are in 2nd in their division. Unfair.

Cincinnati struggles to hang on to secong place in their division despite having one of the best records in baseball this year.

Is anyone really surprised that Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun are still using? I know it’s not proven, but come on people.

When will this ongoing performance-enhancing drug scandal ever end for baseball? Does anyone really care?

Should I be worried that Bobby Petrino’s Hilltoppers return some outstanding players this year and open their season vs Kentucky at 7 p.m. ET on Aug. 31 in Nashville at LP Stadium?
The Wildcats won the 2011 opener against Western Kentucky, albeit unconvincingly in Nashville 14-3, before dropping last year’s game 32-31 in overtime. Will the Cats fall prey to the toppers again? It’ll be close, am I wrong?

Sept 15, 2012; Lexington, KY, USA; Western Kentucky Hilltoppers running back Antonio Andrews (5) runs for a touchdown against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium. Credit: Mark Zerof-US PRESSWIRE

Will Mark Stoops’ first game as Kentucky’s new head coach unfold as a new ‘Bill curry’ type era? Or a mid-Rich Brooks era and a trip to a bowl game?

Will James Harrison joining the Cincinnati Bengal pass-rush provide them with some much needed intensity to get after the QB’s in the AFC?

Cincinnati Bengals DE James Harrison

Terrance Gore the sensational Legends’ leftfielder, from what I’ve read and heard from others, to include ‘Mykraphone Mike,’ won’t be a Lexington Legend very long. And yes, he’s worth the price of admission. I’m looking forward to seeing him play.

Man, will it feel good to be home!

Story by Steve Tressler                                        stephen.tressler@us.army.mil

CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti –Remember the guy (or gal) who didn’t demand to be put in charge, but just was, because no one else could see the big picture as well?

Remember how that guy also didn’t like to be singled out for his own personal success, and would answer the ‘how did you accomplish that?’ questions by starting with ‘we’?

You know the type. If not, then here you go.

2-138th Field Artillery and Task Force Longrifles Commander Lt. Col Rob Larkin, a native of Maysville, Ky., said that his Soldiers have made a significant contribution to everything they have been a part of during their deployment here in Africa. Photo by Alexa Becerra.

Even as we begin the interview he wants to know why he’s being interviewed for a story. Well, besides being a UK basketball fan, I felt that being the commander of the first 500-plus member Kentucky National Guard task force to ever be deployed to Africa, he’s also a 25-year veteran of the armed forces with 5 mobilizations, 4 deployments, 3 overseas deployments, and 2 combat tours (Iraq and Afghanistan) under his belt and let’s not forget he was also awarded the Bronze Star qualified him.

His job here as the task force commander has been challenging at times but he smiles proudly when the subject of his Soldiers comes up. “We’ve improved security, we’ve strengthened the US relationships here with the French, Japanese and Djiboutians, and our Kentucky National Guard Soldiers have volunteered over 10,000 hours to the base and community” said Larkin, “and we still have a few months left.”  Volunteering wasn’t just something Larkin ordered others to do either, he’s always said it was the right thing to do as well. Larkin and about 100 of his task force Soldiers volunteered several hundred hours to help create the Beira Antelope Preserve (pictured below).

Volunteering wasn’t just something Larkin ordered others to do, he said it was the right thing to do. Here Larkin is with several members of his task force in Africa volunteering their time to help create the Beira Antelope Preserve. Photo by Steve Tressler.

Throughout his 21 years as a full-time civilian firefighter he’s also managed to raise two children (Cecily, a 20-year-old college student and Aidan his 7-year-old son) and is grateful to be married to the love of his life, his wife Tracy.

Rob Larkin letting his son have a chance to sit in a real fire engine truck in 2011! Photo by Tracy Larkin.

The deployment he’s most proud of was in 2005, when he went to assist the victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans .  “I was so happy to be doing anything there, we are Americans and we were able to help Americans, that’s what it’s all about. That is the Guard, Americans helping Americans,”says Larkin “plus LSU is in the SEC (chuckling).”

Larkin is living proof of what it is to serve. Two decades as a firefighter and paramedic, and going on three decades as a Soldier. “It’s all about your faith, your family and your country,” he says.

Seeing the big picture for this Wildcat has never been so easy.

PS- Dad says Happy Birthday to his own favorite lil’ Wildcat Aidan! (Larkin’s son Aidan turns 7-years-old today.)

Story by: Steve Tressler

(Currently deployed overseas.)

Let me begin by saying that I prayed for Kevin Ware after seeing him injured last night while watching the game live here in Africa. I saw the horrified looks on the faces of the players, the fans, and the coaches.

Today on Facebook I saw post-after-post to pray for Kevin Ware. I thought the outpouring of love to, and for, that kid was awesome. 

If you can, and I hate to do this, picture that injury in your mind one more time. The way his leg just seemed to fall limp below the knee and yet the bone stayed rigid. Remember how bad that made you feel? Remember how sick you were when you saw that? Remember how you wanted him to be OK and you knew, if you could, you would do whatever you could to help him?

Louisville players celebrate and hold up injured Kevin Ware’s jersey. They will return to the Final Four for the second year in a row.

Now imagine you’re a Soldier or Marine and you see injuries just like that and even worse every single day for a year, and they happen to your closest friends. This is what a deployment was like for many of our service men and women who served not just in Iraq or Afghanistan, but in every war before it.

This is why we salute our veterans.

This is why veterans deserve the benefits they have earned.

I know we’re Soldiers. We are also human. We feel shock. We feel pain. We love our country.

 So if you ever see that ‘Kevin Ware’ type-of-injury happen again, go ahead and picture it, because I want you to remember that as US servicemembers who volunteer to protect you, and all the freedoms you are entitled to as Americans, we do so knowing that we could be injured just like Kevin or even die doing it.

PS – All the guys watching the game said a prayer for you Kevin, hang tough!

By Steve Tressler – Stephen.tressler@us.army.mil

Dear Ryan Harrow,

As Soldiers, and that goes for all US servicemembers, we know what sacrifice is. We know what pain feels like. We know what loss is. We also know what loyalty is.

Because of this, as Kentucky Guard Soldiers, and for the most part here in Africa, Kentucky Wildcat fans, we will support you and the Cats in the NIT.

Funny, I saw the interview of you after the loss to Vanderbilt and watched as you blamed yourself for the defeat.

What you should be told, and probably have been told, is that no one person can be blamed for the loss in a team sport.

This isn’t bowling Ryan. And if you’ve been told it is YOUR fault, then the person telling you that is wrong.  Got that? Wrong.

The Soldiers here in Africa enjoyed watching the Cats all year long and we’ll tune in to the game against Robert Morris as well.

But know this Ryan, you did your best, just like the Soldiers and servicemembers and their families do everyday, and for that reason alone, you are not the reason the team lost. We got your back #12!

On a separate note, it’s just basketball.  Be the good MAN that your mom and dad want you to be in life, that’s what truly matters.

Signed,

The Kentucky National Guard Soldiers here in Africa (that are Big Wildcat Fans)

By Steve Tressler – Stephen.tressler@us.army.mil

Kentucky football’s 2013 recruiting class,  and new head coach Mark Stoops’ first as a Kentucky Wildcat, was without a doubt a big success. Especially with what little time he and his new staff had to recruit. I’m not just a writer/blogger/radio host, I’m also a fan, so here’s hoping Coach Stoops can win here, and win BIG!

The Cats signed 22 players and ESPN, as well as  many others, rank it among the best in school history.

The waves this recruiting class made in Lexington were big enough to reach us, all the way here in Africa, where for a brief moment in time, Kentucky football trumped the talk about Kentucky basketball. Which is completely unheard of…..in February.

Of course on paper it looks fantastic, no argument here. I’m excited as everyone else when I see the names. Starting with all-world defensive end Jason Hatcher from Trinity to RB Jojo Kemp of DeLand, Fla., to Jaleel Hytchye out of Cincinnati and safety Marcus McWilson out of Youngstown, Ohio, to superstar Ryan Timmons. Players that normally wouldn’t be included on the Wildcat roster.

But for all of the attention and hype this new class has garnered, it’s still the 36th best college football recruiting class in ESPN’s class rankings, which is to say it’s still considered by Recruiting Nation as the 11th best in the SEC, near the bottom. And sadly, that’s par for the course, for the gridiron Cats.

Let’s hope for UK fans its new roster on paper translates to wins on the field as well.

For now, I’ll have to cheer from 7000 miles away.

Like our Kentucky National Guard Soldiers here in Africa on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TaskForceLongrifles?ref=hl

Here is a list of Kentucky’s signees:

 Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown (HS)

 Jeff Badet  WR 6-0 170 Orlando, Fla. (Freedom HS)

 Alvonte Bell  DE 6-5 255 Miramar, Fla. (Everglades)

 Javess Blue  WR 6-0 190 Babson Park, Fla. (Lake Wales/Butler CC)

 Steven Borden  TE 6-3 250 Waxahachie, Texas (Waxahachie/Kilgore College)

 Justin Day  OT 6-8 305 Aiken, S.C. (South Aiken)

 Jason Hatcher  DE 6-3 250 Louisville, Ky. (Trinity)

Nick Haynes  OL 6-3 305 Niceville, Fla. (Niceville HS)

 Jacob Hyde  DL 6-2 330 Manchester, Ky. (Clay County)

 Jaleel Hytchye CB 5-10 175 Cincinnati, Ohio (La Salle)

Jojo Kemp Highlights RB 5-10 190 DeLand, Fla. (DeLand)

 Austin MacGinnis  K 5-10 175 Prattville, Ala. (Prattville)

Blake McClain DB 5-11 190 Winter Park, Fla. (Winter Park)

 Marcus McWilson S 6-0 210 Youngstown, Ohio (Cardinal Mooney)

Kyle Meadows  OL 6-5 270 West Chester, Ohio (Lakota West)

 Regie Meant  DL 6-4 275 Cape Coral, Fla. (Baker)

 Ramsey Meyers OL 6-4 290 Orange Park, Fla. (Ridgeview)

 Alex Montgomery  WR 6-2 210 Weston, Fla. (Cypress Bay)

Reese Phillips  QB 6-2 225 Signal Mountain, Tenn. (Signal Mountain)

 Za’Darius Smith DE 6-6 250 Greenville, Ala. (Greenville/East Mississippi CC)

 Khalid Thomas  RB 5-10 170 Tallahassee, Fla. (Godby)

Ryan Timmons ATH 5-10 185 Frankfort, Ky. (Franklin County)

 Nate Willis  DB 6-0 180 Pahokee, Fla. (Pahokee/Arizona Western College)

Story and photos by: Steve Tressler

          The unranked Kentucky Wildcats went into the game last night with the #16 ranked Ole Miss Rebels having won 3 out of their last 4.  For the season though, they had yet to beat a team in the Coaches Poll or AP top 25.

 To make things even more frustrating for Kentucky fans/Soldiers here in Africa with the Kentucky National Guard’s Task Force Longrifles, is the fact that we don’t get to voice our strong opinions loud enough to be heard in the states, unless Coach Cal Skype’s with us of course, which to his credit he has done already this year.

So the jury was out. The decision (read ‘mind-set’) for many of the fans here was clear.

 We (over here in Africa) felt a win over a ranked opponent on the road, combined with a loss column that stayed in the single digits for the season, and a strong showing in the SEC tournament would  keep the dream alive for this year.

Kentucky National Guard Soldiers here in Africa awoke at 4am and walked about a half-mile just to watch the Cats upset #16 ranked Ole Miss last night.

 Yes, I am talking of a national championship. 

 Crazy? Maybe.

Impossible? Not hardly.

First things first; a win over a ranked opponent on the road. This called for reinforcements!

Enter the Adjutant General of Kentucky, Maj. Gen. Edward Tonini and send the artillery as well, so this meant 138^th Fires Brigade Commander Brian Wertzler.

Tonini, according to African legend, has never seen the Cats lose, ever, when watching the game anywhere overseas with our Kentucky Guard Soldiers.

On 590 WVLK’s Larry Glover Live post-game show, immediately following the game this note prompted former UK basketball great Kenny Walker to ask the general if he could stay overseas permanently. While Larry said maybe just for football season. Both comments, no doubt, generated knowing laughs with listeners, and with the Soldiers here as well.

Kentucky National Guard 138th Fires Brigade Commander Col. Brian Wertzler, with 1st Lt. Sean Jones, and the adjutant general of Kentucky Maj. Gen. Edward Tonini lead the “Wildcat faithful” in a C-A-T-S cheer here in Africa during the Cats upset win of #16 ranked Ole Miss.

No, they were not here just to watch the game. However, adding their motivational voices to what was already being yelled to “our Cats” from 7000 miles away provided the proverbial, dare I say, “YOPP!” (See ‘Horton Hears A Who!’)

Whatever happened last night after the half, worked!

With the 87-74 victory Kentucky improves to 14-6 overall and 5-2 in the SEC.  Ole Miss gets their first loss in SEC play, and after 113 games versus the Wildcats in basketball the Ole Miss record is now 13 wins and 100 losses.

And although the win was much needed for the Cats, it was also a breath of fresh air for the Kentucky Guard Soldiers here in Africa, who are a part of a combined joint task force that is ‘nation-building’ here and strengthening our state and national ties in the global community.

Congratulations go out to Nerlens Noel who set a new single-game school record with 12 blocked shots.

Like our National Guard Soldiers here in Africa on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TaskForceLongrifles?ref=hl

Story and Photos by: Steve Tressler

It can be said that the indifference of good men is why slavery continued for as long as it did. Only when good men and women, leaving behind their indifference, finally spoke up and acted for change, did racial inequalities transform into equality for all.

Never before in history did race mean so little, and yet so much, to one person. The late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., according to friends and family was known to welcome anyone into his home, white or black, with a smile, their race did not matter. Yet it was along racial lines that King’s legacy will forever be known.

Sadly, to a lot of people around the world, even in the United States, the most some people can tell you about the late Martin Luther King, Jr., is that “he’s the ‘I have a dream’ speech guy.”

No, he was much more.

Here in Djibouti, Africa, Kentucky National Guard Soldiers of Task Force Longrifles were reminded of that on the 30^th anniversary of the establishment of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Observance. The Camp Lemonnier program remembering King was called, “Enduring Legacy…Keeping the Dream Alive!” Its message focused not only on Dr. King as a civil rights leader, but on his vision of one day having a stronger, lasting world community.

Kentucky National Guard Soldier, 1st Sgt. Robert Burns, a Radcliff Ky. native, sings with the Enduring Freedom Chapel Choir, as part of a Martin Luther King Jr., tribute here in Djibouti, Africa, January 21, 2013. Photo by Steve Tressler

Headquarters Battery 1^st Sgt. Robert Burns, was a part of the ceremony as a member of the chorus. He also had this to say, “People sometimes forget that Dr. King’s passion for change in America wasn’t just for black people, it was for all people. The conditions for black people in America would only change if all people in America embraced the idea of change as a positive, and I think we’re getting there.”

The Senior Enlisted Command Leader for CJTF-HOA (Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa), Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Gary Smith brought the room to its feet when he delivered his powerful message of “Yards after Contact.” Smith said ‘it is when you don’t get what you want and are stopped, like Emmitt Smith running with the football, that you don’t fall, you need to keep charging forward. Don’t let anyone stand in the way of your dream. Keep running towards it.’

This begs the question, what if Martin Luther King Jr., hadn’t become the man we remember? What if he took his college degree, found a job, and never spoke up?  What if he settled for indifference as many of his generation did? And how amazing is it that he was named for a man, who also spoke up about the wrong’s of the status quo, in spite of the threat of serious repercussions as well?

One thing is certain, in the US, and even here in Africa where people of all races work together everyday, his dream has prospered.

Please click here and like our page!  http://www.facebook.com/TaskForceLongrifles?ref=hl

Story and Photos by: Steve Tressler

When Kentucky Soldiers, who are also big Kentucky Wildcat fans, are deployed, sometimes they can get a little bored when they can’t watch their beloved Wildcats!  

Most servicemembers, stationed here in Djibouti, don’t have a television in their room (CLU) and some don’t even have internet. They scramble, scrape, and beg to get word of the Cats!  So any time a new event comes up that can distract them from missing the games, a lot of them jump at the chance to go.

‘Djibouti Poetry Night and the Spoken Word’ is more commonly known as ‘grown-folk time’ to its patrons.
The dream for the event began with Navy Chief Petty Officer Alonzo D. Baker, a Chicago native, who not only writes and performs his own poetry, but is a fan of the ‘spoken word’ as well. He goes by the stage name ‘Real talk’ and serves as the MC for the evening.

On this night however, Real Talk left the MC duties to J-Spot and White Chocolate. Both of which did their best to dazzle the crowd with poetry and keep them laughing with wild humor and crazy comments that they bounced off of one another. They were not Real Talk, but served well as his replacements.
The soundtrack for the evening was brought to you by DJ Disc Jockey (his name) and Disc Jockey ‘Shorter than me.’ It was comprised of smooth R&B, Jazz, and a little 70’s, 80’s and 90’s R&B. No Rap.

The nights performances ranged widely from poetry, to dance, to a country music singer (who does a great Johnny Cash), to many other open-mic performers, with an array of talent as eclectic as the night itself.
The performer’s names were as cool as the poems they read; Queen Tye, J-Spot, Tresdawg aka ‘White Chocolate,’ the ‘Voice,’ Glover, and ‘Foxy’ Roxy, just to name a few.

Task Force Longrifles HHB 1st Sgt. Robert Burns sang a beautiful song for his wife. To listen to it click the link here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igc3QEt3bX4&feature=youtu.be

Michael Franklin, the ‘Voice,’ wowed the patrons with an original song and Davey T had the crowd smiling with his soft guitar rendition of Michael Jackson’s song ‘Human Nature.’

Many Task Force Longrifles Soldiers enjoyed the nice, quiet atmosphere. “It was so much fun, I had a blast! We’ve got some really talented people here, wow!” said Sgt. Michelle Buford, a Philadelphia native, who serves with Task Force Longrifles in the S1.

The nights fun ended with everyone in attendance forming the old ’Soul Train’ line and dancing through!

Although the ancient Greeks at one time had poetry as part of the Olympics, the modern day spoken word poetry became popular in the underground African-American community in the 1960s, via the ‘Last Poets.’
Now it would be fair to say the spoken word, thousands of miles from its roots, continues on here in Djibouti…..at least until these ‘Wildcats’ are back in the Bluegrass State!

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By: Steve Tressler

DJIBOUTI – Everyone knows that with military deployments come hardships to service members and their families. No one truly knows how tough it can be unless they’ve been there themselves. Sometimes, just the absence of the routine with a parent gone for a year, can be especially hard on the children.

Never mind the fact that ‘deployment’, at least for reservists, more than likely means….war.

What you don’t hear though is that sometimes deployments bring you face-to-face with people you wouldn’t normally have an audience with.

The view for Coach John Calipari (L) and the Adjutant General of Kentucky MG Edward W. Tonini (R) of the Kentucky National Guard’s Task Force Longrifles members deployed to Africa.
Photo by Capt. Stephen Martin KYNGPAO

For example, in 1993 the former President of the United States George H.W. Bush, sat and ate lunch from me a few seats away aboard the USS Tripoli in the Indian Ocean.  I shook hands with the Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps at that time, Harold G. Overstreet from my fighting hole outside Mogadishu on Christmas eve (lucky me). I was featured on the NBC today show from Somalia with one of the best reporters I have ever seen, the late David Bloom.

While deployed last time, to Iraq in 2007, I was able to meet country music star Kellie Pickler, UFC Champion  fighter Tito Ortiz, and even made it on an episode of the Fox network’s ‘Geraldo At Large’ after meeting Geraldo Rivera in the chow hall in Baghdad, the day after my beautiful daughter Kenadee was born.

I don’t say this to impress you, but to impress upon you that you never know who supports the troops until, well, they support the troops!

Such is the case for several members of the Kentucky National Guard’s Task Force Longrifles, who recently found themselves ‘Skyping’ with none other than University of Kentucky Head Men’s Basketball Coach, John Calipari.

The Kentucky National Guard’s Task Force Longrifles Soldiers, here in Djibouti, keep their eyes focused on the laptop while they ‘skype’ with Kentucky Head Men’s Basketball Coach John Calipari yesterday January 8, 2013.
Photo by: Steve Tressler

 Among the many things asked of Coach Cal was; how good can this year’s team be? Are you hiding the fact that the class of 2013 is really good? Are you enjoying the process of recruiting and coaching at UK?

The Coach was promised he would be sent a ‘platoon shirt’ by one Soldier and Task Force Commander Rob Larkin also thought a battalion ‘coin’ was in order for his efforts. Everyone agreed that would be great.

Coach Calipari, flanked by the Adjutant General of Kentucky Edward W. Tonini, answered all the questions with his usual confidence and cool.

He went on to say that ‘what you guys (Servicemembers) do for this country every day, to me, is incomprehensible. I am so grateful for you guys, thank you.’

He then made a promise of his own, ‘I’ll be sending you guys something special as well’ and then Coach Calipari held up a huge poster of Doron Lamb’s last shot versus Louisville in last year’s Final Four matchup that sent Louisville packing and Kentucky tracking their 8^th national title.

The poster is icing on the cake,  because for these blue-blooded Kentucky Soldiers, just talking with Coach Cal was more than enough.

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