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Writing for this blog post over the last month has taught me many things that I thought I would never do, or even want to learn. I can remember almost a decade ago barely hearing the term blog, and blogger and just thinking to myself, why would anyone do that, or want to do that? This experience has shown me all the different topics and mediums people are writing and sharing online. Since this site was only set up for class, I really didn’t utilize more of my personal social media accounts to promote my blog, which I’m sure would’ve received more views or comments. I feel WordPress is a good blogging site from what I’ve experienced in its user friendliness.

Since I am a novice blogger, I felt WordPress had everything I needed, and I don’t have any tweaking recommendations at this time. I feel going forward in my career, this experience has help mold me into a more solid opinion writer. I can only see myself getting better as I continue to push myself as a journalist and a writer, and now that I can see different mediums to utilize, it can only get better. My most popular week has been the last one from June 22 through June 28. I had 17 views and 10 visitors.

My most popular post was about the NBA Finals, I had 10 views and 5 visitors. I think it was the most popular because The NBA Finals was going on at the time and they were only a few games in. In all the stats, I was more surprised I didn’t have more views or visitors, but I feel I can attribute that to a low Twitter following, and I did not promote more on my personal social media accounts where I have more traffic. I did have two Twitter referrers according to the stats page. I am grateful for this experience and loved being able to utilize this site.

Most all major sports have some sort of halftime or break. You can usually go to the restroom, make a phone call or in most cases grab a bite to eat. That last part is one of my favorites! A lot of stadiums have some great concessions that we are all pretty familiar with. Whether it be hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos, funnel cake, pretty much anything fried and let’s not forget pizza, it draws all of us in.

Let’s face it, we all got to games for the ambiance, root for our favorite team, and getting some of that stadium food is a plus too. My little halftime getaway is at a lovely vineyard and famous barbeque joint just outside of Austin in Driftwood, called The Salt Lick. This particular spot was recently built over the last few years to incorporate their wine cellars. They even stepped outside the box of barbeque to build their very own brick oven. Only through the spring, summer and fall months do they operate the pizza and brick oven section.

The winery though, for all you wine lovers, is open year-round. We are currently in the peak months for baseball and soccer, you know that lull in the year where we are all missing football and basketball. Baseball though is America’s favorite pastime as they say. Getting a hamburger, hot dog, or pizza while you watch the game is a must. So for all of my readers out there, the next time you go to a game, make sure you take the time to savor all the different foods that help make the games we love to watch just that much better.

After a 20-year career, Texas State’s head baseball coach, Ty Harrington has decided to retire. He had 16 winning seasons with Texas State, and a career record of 657 wins, making him the all-time winningest coach in program history. I have not had the opportunity to cross paths with coach Harrington in my brief time here at Texas State, but you can tell he was a well admired man. Before Texas State he was an assistant and player under Texas Longhorn legend, coach Cliff Gustafson. Harrington was known for his compassion for the game and for his players.

Despite the personal challenges he faced the last 20 years, with the death of both of his parents in a tragic car accident, and battling and beating cancer, coach Harrington persevered. His drive and his focus were always geared toward his players individually, and each team he formed every year. It is those lasting relationships he says he will always treasure, and he hopes those sentiments are the same for each one of those players he has coached. Harrington felt now was the time to try something new. He has been coaching all of his adult life and is ready for a change.

Not many people in the sports world can decide when they get to retire. It’s an up and down business that most of the time leads to one getting fired and not stepping down when you want to. Although I have not gotten to know you personally coach, I can tell what a great mentor and human being you are. Thank you for all that you have done for Texas State, and the cancer fighting community. Good luck with your next chapter, as we all know you will be successful there too.

Some of us graduate school, find a job, start your adult life, and pretty much focus on the future path you are taking. Baker Mayfield on the other hand just can’t let the past go. The former OU quarterback has been in the news as of late for returning back to his hometown of Austin, Texas, to teach a quarterback camp for youths at his high school alma mater Lake Travis. The teaching camp part seems to be a norm for most NFL star athletes, but it’s the “Horns down” gesture he’s been teaching these young kids that has stirred controversy once again. Sure, most true longhorn fans could care less, but the former Oklahoma Sooner quarterback has held some bitterness considering The Texas Longhorns had no interest in him after high school.

Wednesday morning though, he took to a local sports radio station in Norman, Oklahoma, to trash talk the longhorns current QB Sam Ehlinger. It’s nothing new that these two have a history since Ehlinger played for rival high school Westlake. Mayfield doesn’t seem to like everyone saying, “Texas is back,” and ready to contend for a National Title after last season’s success, winning 10 games and a Sugar Bowl against the second-best SEC team in Georgia. Mayfield said, “Westlake is a great program, but the two best quarterbacks to come out of there are Drew Brees and Nick Foles. Sam can stay down there in Texas.” Can we say cry baby much?

Don’t get me wrong, I love the trash talking, especially between Texas and OU. It will only fuel the season for both teams. To me though, there comes a point when you just need to grow up and focus on your career in the NFL. I think Mayfield is a great QB and I wish him the best. But even R. Kelly trolled high school girls at McDonald’s when he left and that’s just down-right creepy. I’m not one for trash talking, but I can expect Ehlinger to show Mayfield there will be three great QB’s to come out of Westlake High School now.

Texas longhorn legend Kevin Durant ruptured his Achilles during game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals Monday. Say what you may about KD, but he knew the odds of injuring himself after only sitting out 9 games suffering a calf injury earlier in the playoffs. He’s been wanting to play so bad, he felt it was worth risking whatever he could give to help his struggling teammates. Most comments I saw were trying to clown him, even saying he was going to be the next Derrick Rose. I see a different picture.

Durant has always been a team player. From his time at The University of Texas at Austin, to his short run with the Seattle Supersonics, who then moved to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder, KD has always played with heart. He wasn’t even labeled a villain until he wanted out of OKC and joined the rival Western Conference champs, the Golden State Warriors. The team, most said he joined because he couldn’t beat them. Say what you will, but the NBA is a business strategy.

One can stay faithful to a team that never will succeed, but what does that mean for someone who wants something more from their legacy. NBA players don’t have control over who gets drafted, who the general manager, or head coaches will be, but they can control their destiny to some degree when it comes to leaving and joining teams. KD knew the talent Golden State had already, and he knew they were shaping into becoming a dynasty. He wanted to be a part of that and lament his own fingerprint to be another special piece for them. Everyone already knew there was tension with Russell Westbrook in OKC.

Although Westbrook does play both sides of the ball very well at times, for me, he can be seen as an extreme ball hog, which shows in some of his games when he’s averaging 50 attempts. KD gave his all at OKC for many years, and wanted nothing more than to be a part of something special. Heck, Lebron started this trend as we all know. So, I want to wish him well and speedy recovery, though he may be wearing yet another jersey in the near future..

Tonight at 8 p.m. on ABC we have Game 4 of the NBA Finals. The Toronto Raptors have a 2-1 series lead going into tonight. If you watched Game 3 you saw the scratching and clawing of the Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry doing all he could to keep his team afloat. Curry had a career and finals high 47 points in the game, but despite his efforts, injuries by fellow stars Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant made Curry’s valiant efforts in vain. The Raptors had 6 players in double figures on the night carrying Toronto to a 123-109 victory to pull ahead in the series.

If the game wasn’t drama enough, Raptors star Kyle Lowry was pushed by a fan sitting floor side after he flew into the stands on a play. Lowry, who did not even land on the disgruntled fan was then pushed and a verbal altercation ensued. Lowry kept his cool, and security escorted the fan out of the game. It turns out that fan was is Golden State Warrior Investor Mark Stevens. On Thursday, the NBA and team announced a year long ban for Stevens, along with a $500,000 dollar fine.

Yikes, That’s a lot of money! The Raptors have their own floor fan drama with rap star Drake in usual attendance for Raptor home games usually giving his verbal displeasures to opposing teams during games. Despite the dramatics, Game 3 proved to be a good one regardless. With Klay Thompson back and Kevin Durant still ruled out for tonight’s Game 4, can the Raptors keep shooting the way they did in Game 3 to keep their championship hopes alive? I guess only time will tell.

Hello everyone! My name is Robert Bodine Jr. I am an Austin, Texas, native who grew up a Texas Longhorn fan. I am currently attending Texas State for my undergraduate degree in electronic media and mass communications. I have a concentration in sports media, and am creating this blog about big sports news and local sports surrounding the Texas area.

I also served four and a half years in the Marine Corps from 2000-2004 specializing in communications. My experiences overseas have expanded my views about the richness of other cultures and diversity alike. I have always had a passion for sports, and am excited to be able to be a part of the sports media industry some day. This blog is being created to help mold my personality and finesse with sports news and topics of conversation. I hope to build my writing skills and techniques in regards to reporting sports news topics, and give you the readers another avenue to get your sports news.

My audience would be anyone who loves all sports and Texas teams. I will include links to other websites such as ESPN, and Bleacher Report, as well as my personal Twitter feed. Please feel free to like or comment my posts. I am open to discussions or feedback as I tailor and hone my skills. Thank you for reading, I hope ya’ll enjoy.