Sports Commentary

What a great idea, hiking the Tonto Trail in the Grand Canyon from the South Bass Trail to the New Hance Trail.

The little things in life become more and more aware to you as you grow into the later years of life, the journey, the people, the carrots that spur you on when it would be so easy to say, “Why go to all that effort, time and expense for something that has a good chance of not going in your favor”?

Happy Valentine’s Day tomorrow! A gift such as a nice dinner, roses, candy, perfume, jewelry, vacuum cleaner (just kidding) – all are to show your love for another.

The news that Sunday’s Super Bowl could be Al Michael’s last with NBC has prompted reflection on the 77-year-old announcer’s career. Few memories, however, go back as far as the early 1960s, when Michaels was an Arizona State student.

We recently discussed what we might hear on a hike. That got me thinking about what I see on the trail these days. Hearing requires listening.

Balance, rhythm, tempo and timing are crucial to any golf swing. You cannot be taught these fundamentals, but you can learn them.

If you haven’t heard, or if you’d like to be updated, there’s a very exciting mega sports and recreation center (over 100,000 square feet) with a restaurant/sports bar that will be opening in early April called “Espire Sports.”

Whether it’s waking up Christmas morning in the Apache Creek Wilderness or a day hike on New Year’s Day around Trail 95 near Lynx Lake, holiday traditions naturally involve hiking.

Show me a golfer who doesn’t want to improve, and I’ll show you a golfer who is either dead or a golfer that has one foot in the grave and another foot on a banana peel. It is human nature to always strive to be better, whatever activity you are passionate about.

The statement, “Any press is good press,” might be true overall, but when it comes to the 2022 Australian Open this year and Novak Djokovic and his COVID problems with the government as the top tennis news story, I’m not so sure.

Hiking solo for 45 years involves very little talking, lots of listening. Hiking on Christmas Day, I began to wonder about the holiday tune, “Do you hear what I hear?” I heard some predictable greetings on Christmas Day, “Merry Christmas,” for example. When I responded with, “Merry Grinchmas,” I heard something else.

As our local tennis programs and play head forward, we are hoping and planning that 2022 will be a great year of junior, young adult, adult, senior and super senior play in all kinds of avenues of play and at a variety of sites in and around the Mile High City.

Here are some golf resolutions that we can easily keep all year round, making golf fun for everyone.

Christmas Authorities have issued an APB, warning hikers to keep an eye on their presents until December 25th. Why?

It looks like we are now facing some cold-weather challenges, especially if we love to live here and don’t want to travel to play golf in warmer temperatures (and higher greens fees).

As with other Circle Trails (e.g. Prescott Circle Trail, Cabin Loop Trail, etc.), you can begin where ever you like. You can piece it together or tackle it all at once. I’ve used both approaches on the Circle Trails aforementioned.

With Christmas fast approaching, and the challenges our commerce and transportation is facing, let’s discuss what you might consider for that golfer on your list.

A new movie that is now in the theaters across the country and on HBO called “King Richard”, is about how Richard Williams devised a 78-page written plan to make his two girls (Venus and Serena who weren’t even born yet) become the greatest tennis players of their era — and against all odds achieved that dream.

If you read the headline, you know where this is going. After 17-plus years and more than 850 columns, I’m “retiring.” To be more precise, I’m retiring this column.

King OF Arizona is the name given to a mine in what is now the KOFA National Wildlife Refuge.