The Duster Today

Media Credit: Texas Tech Photo Larry Hays announces his retirement from Texas Tech.

Media Credit: Google Images Flood waters continue to rise in Midwest.

• I have to admit that when watching Tiger Woods win the U.S. Open last weekend I really didn't think he was injured as badly as he was portraying to be … boy, do I owe him a huge apology … I always have thought he was a tremendous athlete (yes, even a golfer can be an athlete in my opinion), but what he did last weekend in San Diego was borderline "super-human" … he not only goes into every tournament with everybody in the world thinking he will win, but he usually delivers on that promise and to do so with basically one good leg is phenomenal.

• Losing NBC political analyst and "Meet the Press" host Tim Russert was a really sad change of events for me … now, I'm not the most "politically motivated" person around and don't really keep up with the country's politics too much, but anytime I happened to tune in to watch the tube and Mr. Russert was in charge of any type of panel or managing a forum of any kind I always found it interesting … his heart for and his love of politics were obvious, but after hearing a lengthy interview with his son, Luke, by Matt Lauer on "Today" I couldn't help but be impressed with the kind of role model, father, husband and son he must have been … with all the "ugly" that goes along with political races and what not, it's going to be very, very hard for someone to replace Mr. Russert with the same passion and class that he displayed to those of us who tuned in to see him on television … God Bless the Russert family in their time of sorrow!!!

• I'm not the biggest NBA fan in the world, but I personally was glad to see Boston defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals … the Celtics seem to have a remarkable "team" with a trio of superstars (Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett) surrounded by a solid group of role players … the Lakers seem to have Kobe Bryant and others that cater to his every whim … needless to say the old guard Celtic fans will be rejoicing for many days/weeks to come.

• I'm not endorsing either candidate, but to me John McCain seems to represent "Americana" and the way things used to be, while Barack Obama seems to represent the new wave of politics and a much more "open" environment by which to lead the country.

• When Texas Tech head baseball coach and Lubbock Christian University icon Larry Hays recently announced his retirement from coaching I, for one, was glad to hear it … no, I didn't think Larry had "lost his touch" nor do I think the last few years of futility by the Red Raiders warranted a change in the leadership of the program … no, I selfishly am glad to see Larry be in a position to enjoy his family, friends and life in general for the first time in, oh, say, 40-some-odd-years … not that he doesn't enjoy life as a baseball coach, but now he won't have to be worrying about recruiting, game-planning, travel and all of the other various and sundry duties that accompany his role at TTU … earlier in my professional career I spent 18-plus years working for Texas Tech Athletics and some of the fondest memories I have were spent on the road with Red Raider baseball and coach Hays … I roomed with him on the road and his 5:00 a.m. wake-up calls to go for a run were legendary as I can attest (didn't participate too many times, but did hear the door to the hotel room close as he left the building) … to this day I would tell anyone who asks that Larry Hays is a man that I have the utmost respect for and we all could learn a valuable life lesson from him on a daily basis … as I tell folks that I come in contact with when the subject of Larry comes up: I truly believe if we could all learn to prioritize our lives the way Larry does the world would most assuredly become a better, more loving place … God has always been number one and his family a very, very close second … there's a big gap, though, to number three and that is baseball … didn't matter if a game was won or lost (he hates to lose, don't get me wrong), but in the grand scheme of things it was, after all, "just baseball" … we'll all miss seeing Larry coaching baseball, but I, for one, will be glad to see him more often as he enjoys the "extra innings" of his life!!!

• Our prayers most definitely go out to all of those in the Midwest (Missouri, Iowa, Illinois) along the Mississippi River, who have been victimized by the recent floods … we certainly keep the families of all of those that have been adversely affected in our thoughts as they battle what has proven to be a costly (both with lives and financially) disaster.

• Is it just me or do you find yourself wondering what the world would be like today if the cell phone had never been invented??!!!

• Speaking of modern technology and all the gadgets that accompany that very fad … I'm still waiting for the "GPS" system that takes your information for a final destination and then you simply hit a button for "auto navigate," take your shoes off, hit the recline button, grab the closest "softie" pillow, set the tunes just where you like them and off you go to "naptime" until the voice on the car screams "WE'RE HERE, WAKE UP!!!"

• Final Thought: I miss American Idol already … but, not to worry … there's "America's Got Talent," "Last Comic Standing," and "Nashville Star" to tide us over until next year's new "Idol" group hits the airwaves!!!

Until next time, just remember … "Old age isn't so bad when you consider the alternative!"

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