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FREE PRESS Page 8 Colby Free Press Wednesday, June 29, 2011 SSPORTSPORTS Sports documentaries open a door to the past In 2009, ESPN launched a documentary series called “30 for 30,” which features 30 fi lms that cel- ebrate 30 years of sports, from 1979 to 2009. If you Kayla Cornett have never heard of this, I insist you look it up right now. On the I have only seen 12 of these fi lms so far, but from • this sample, I have become engrossed by these sto- Sidelines ries and now I’m determined to see all of them. I have always loved watching documentaries, but this series has combined my love of documentaries with ball Association draft due to a cocaine overdose. I my love of sports. In short, the people who came up was shocked when I watched this fi lm, mainly be- with this idea are brilliant. cause of this sad event, but also because I had never Each fi lm was directed by a different person or even heard of Len Bias before this fi lm came out. production company, such as Major League Base- How does no one in the sports world talk about such ball Productions and National Basketball Associa- a talented player, who could have been outstanding tion Entertainment, so they aren’t all told in the same if he had not accidentally died – especially since his format. For example, “June 17th, 1994,” directed by death spurred the war on drugs? Either way, Bias’ Brett Morgen, is told through media coverage alone; story was not well-known to me and probably still there are no interviews and there is no narrator. isn’t to others around my age, so this fi lm is a great The fi lm focuses mainly on the O.J. Simpson way to get his story out there to a new generation. trial and car chase, but also shows all of the sport- “30 for 30” has also expanded my sports knowl- ing events on that day, which were quite important edge immensely, including the story of the Southern events on their own. Arnold Palmer played his last Methodist University’s football program, which I round at a U.S. Open, after 40 years of playing golf; used as an example in my previous column. Had it the World Cup soccer championship kicked off in not been for “Pony Excess” by Thaddeus D. Matula, Chicago; the Rangers celebrated their Stanley Cup I would have not known what happened at SMU in victory in a parade in New York City; the New York the 1980s and why it received the death penalty for Knicks pursued a championship against the Houston the fi rst and only time in the history of its football Rockets in Madison Square Garden; and the Major program. I believe this documentary series is making League Baseball lockout negotiations heated up, an important contribution to the sports community, which soon led to a strike. JJJ PHOTO and these fi lms will be important in preserving sports I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the screen dur- history. A bull rider made the eight second buzzer at the 2010 Kansas’ Biggest Rodeo in Phillipsburg. This ing this documentary. Maybe it’s because I was too year’s event is Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 4 to 6. So if you’re a die-hard sports fan or even a history young when this day happened, but I didn’t know all buff, this series should be on your must-watch list, as of the details of the O.J. Simpson case, and watch- it has become essential on mine. ing this fi lm was like watching the event unfold in Only 18 fi lms to go…. real time. It was fascinating and sad at the same time The Colby Free Press is looking for sports columns Rodeo arrives in August, because I felt like I was watching Simpson’s life fall from fans, coaches and players. Send your column apart, but I think that makes for a successful fi lm. If to [email protected] or by mail to 155 the director can make me feel like I was there, then W. Fifth St. Include your name, address and phone he has done a good job. number. Columns should be less than 600 words. tickets go on sale this week Another fi lm I had this feeling about was “With- Kayla Cornett is the sports reporter for the Colby out Bias” by Kirk Fraser. This documentary told the Free Press. She has been interested in sports her en- Tickets go on sale Friday for the annual Kansas’ Belgian horses. story of Len Bias, who died two days after being tire life and has been writing about sports since high Biggest Rodeo in Phillipsburg. The rodeo will be The rodeo was named one of Kansas Tourism’s drafted second overall in the 1986 National Basket- school. She is native Coloradoan. from Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 4 to 6, at the “34 Faces and Places” for 2011. rodeo grounds north of town. The rodeo isn’t the only activity in town that week; It will feature several hundred cowboys and cow- the Phillips County Fair also takes place. Both events Drag racers raise money for tornado victims girls competing for over $100,000. The rodeo is the “encompass a lot of people,” Felts said. destination for about 15,000 fans over the three-day Heritage Insurance Group, the former Tri-County TOPEKA – Race fans from all dence Drags V,” held at Heartland rated with decals designed to rep- event, and it’s been going on since 1929. Insurance, is the ticket outlet for the rodeo. Its doors over the world joined CarSafe Park in Topeka. resent the ongoing effort to see the “It’s maintained its popularity,” said Tad Felts, open at 8 a.m. and tickets go on sale Friday. Tickets Motorsports and the Red Cross Race car driver Richie Stevens two communities rebuild. long-time radio favorite on KKAN-KQMA and Phil- can be purchased in person or by calling Heritage to raise more than $6,000 at races Jr. and world champion superbike CarSafe and CarSafe Motor- lipsburg resident, in a press release. “A lot of things Insurance at (785) 543-2448. All major credit cards June 17 and 18 for Joplin, Mo., racer Kim Morrell were on hand sports are working with the Red wane through the years, but the rodeo in Phillipsburg are accepted. and Reading tornado victims. to take pictures alongside Car- Cross to form an ongoing partner- continues to grow.” Reserved tickets for adults are $14 and for kids People traveled by air, car and Safe Motorsports’ new “Racing to ship on the American Drag Racing This year’s rodeo features two specialty acts: “the ages 3 to 12 are $10. General admission tickets for recreational vehicle to enjoy the Help” car. League’s 2011 Tour. Wild Child” Troy Lerwill, and Big Horse Produc- adults are $12 and for kids are $9. Children ages American Drag Racing League’s The CarSafe Motorsports race CarSafe was to present a check tions. Lerwill is a barrelman and rodeo clown who 2 and under are free. For information, visit www. “Kansas National Guard Indepen- car has been temporarily redeco- to the Red Cross today in Topeka. jumps a truck and trailer with his motorbike. Big kansasbiggestrodeo.com, call (785) 543-2448, or Horse Productions has 15 members that do a variety visit the rodeo’s Facebook page. of trick riding, vaulting and Roman riding on eight Colby/Thomas County Rockies win in extra innings and Chamber of Commerce DENVER (AP) – Ty Wigginton scratch it out.” games this season. didn’t exactly clobber the ball. He Lillibridge said he had a long “That was the worst game we Welcome: got enough of it to produce the run to the ball and couldn’t get played all year long, to me,” man- The Sports Shoppe • 2080 S. Franklin, The Sports game-winning hit, though. there in time. ager Ozzie Guillen said. “We don’t Wigginton blooped a single “We’re playing no doubles at take opportunities over and over Suite 2, Colby, KS • 785-462-8342 Shoppe with two outs in the 13th inning to one of the biggest ballparks in and over and over. When you do score Troy Tulowitzki all the way this league,” he said. “To see he that, the baseball gods get you.” from fi rst base and lift the Colo- bloops it right in there behind sec- Colorado came close to break- rado Rockies over the Chicago ond base – the fi rst thing I’m do- ing the deadlock in the bottom White Sox 3-2 on Tuesday night. ing is sprinting in there but I can’t of the 12th. Charlie Blackmon “You’d never guess that it would go on a barehand sprint and miss blooped a single off Jesse Crain end with a blooper and a guy on the ball, so I made sure to get it. It to start the inning and was sacri- fi rst base, but that’s a tribute to was a good call by the third base fi ced to second by Chris Iannetta. Tulo running hard and playing coach, because he knew I had to Ohman relieved Crain to face the game the right way, and (third break down and get the ball. He pinch-hitter Jason Giambi, who base coach) Richie Dauer having knew where we were playing. grounded out to fi rst, with Black- the guts to send him there,” Wig- “It’s just a weird, weird play mon taking third.

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