The Reload With Reagan Campaign

...is in full swing - getting national coverage on With Leather this week...

Reagan's YouTube video is piling up the views as people all over the country now wonder "why is he simulating masturbation on the steps of what looks like the public library?"




Check out Reagan's campaign headquarters...and you might want to turn your speakers because the Corps Band is in full effect at his site...

The College Baseball Hall of Fame

What I'm listening to:and the pride of Aledo, Texas...



Folks, that's Dan Hunter - he's just released his full-length "Texas" LP...and it's incredible...go to iTunes and make the kid rich!

On to Tech stuff...but first a little bit of a story to set up DT!s first "e-mail intervew."

While I was a student at Tech I made many, many friends, but I'm pretty sure nobody was as legendary on campus as a guy I had the pleasure of getting to know fairly well, Chis Snead.

Chris was a student at Tech for a little longer than 8 years (maybe longer). Never before had I met a guy that was as in love with his school - and sports in general - as Chris. (If you get to meet him, ask him how many hats he's up to.)

He invited me to come sit with him at what would be my first Texas Tech Baseball game at Dan Law...and what an experience that was. For the uninitiated, Chris was the ringleader of a group of fans known as the "Tech Hecklers." They created an enviable environment and a distinct homefield advantage. They raised the level of heckling at the baseball diamond to an absolute art...it was something to see...if you want to lean more about the Hecklers and read more about their storied history - click the LINK and have a cup of your favorite beverage ready...

Dr. Mike Gustafson on the left and "Sneader" on the right

Chris, fittingly, went to work for Texas Tech after he finally did graduate - and he continues to be an ambassador for Texas Tech and Lubbock.

While we were at Tech together (something only about 100,000 Red Raiders can claim) we shared many beers and many trips to Ruidoso so it was fun to re-kindle an old friendship...

One day not too long ago I had the occasion to call Chris as we had some no kidding business to discuss - and while on the phone I asked him about the current project that has garnered national attention - the College Baseball Hall of Fame.

Before we get started, you might want to check out these links...

College Baseball Hall of Fame/College Baseball Foundation

Here goes nothin'...

DT!: So Chris, give our readers an idea about what you were drinking (and who you were drinking with) when you got the crazy idea to start the College Baseball Hall of Fame…

"Sneader": Actually, we were having lunch at a local barbecue joint, the we being Mike Gustafson, Brad Walker, Ryan Hyatt and another person. For several years, Mike Gustafson and Brad Walker had talked about creating an award for middle infielders in college baseball since there was already an award for player of the year, pitchers and catchers of the year. Well, we came to find that the Smith Award, a national player of the year award given in Houston, was no longer being given in favor of the new Roger Clemens Award for pitchers. So we decided to create our own Player of the Year Award. A few meetings later, an opportunity feel into our laps when we were informed that there were plans for a West Texas Sports HOF to be built in the proposed Minor League Stadium that was to be built in Wolfforth, just west of Lubbock. In subsequent meetings, there was an agreement between that group and the College Baseball Foundation, the umbrella organization for the HOF and Wallace Award, that would have placed the College Baseball Hall of Fame out at the site but the plans fell through with the construction. So we got from a simple little middle infielder award to a College Baseball Hall of Fame in a really short time.



DT!: How has the Hall of Fame and the College Baseball Foundation being received by the players?

"Sneader": The response has been overwhelming! We hear stuff like “Thank goodness you guys are doing this” and “it’s about time!” We are inducting our third class this summer and everyone of the inductees has been in town for the inductions or had a family member accept for them if they were deceased. I think that these guys appreciate what it is that we are doing which is telling the story of college baseball.



DT!: Some folks are just stunned that Lubbock would be the home of this facility. How do you deal with that controversy?

"Sneader": That is a natural reaction for a person to say “Lubbock?!?” But that is okay. What we do is open the doors of our fine city and show off the hospitality of the great people of west Texas and by the time that people leave, we have created a new convert. 2007 Inductee “Bobo” Brayton said in his induction speech “The world needs more Texans,” referring to the kind way he and his wife were treated in Lubbock during his stay.

We don’t feel we have to apologize for where we are. Lubbock is a great place for this. Why Cooperstown, NY? Why Springfield, Mass? Why Canton, Ohio? The truth of the matter is that Lubbock is the place that we live and it is a terrific baseball town, not to mention, it is where we all live!



DT!: What are the future plans for the actual site of the facility and what kind of support are you lobbying for?

"Sneader": The city of Lubbock is about to kick off a large downtown revitalization project and the CBHOF is a large part of the plan. We have the support of the city and will be able to make some fairly large announcements regarding partnerships with the city in a few months. Additionally, we have hired the same person that put together the feasibility study for the George W. Bush Presidential Library to do one for the College Baseball Foundation and we will be kicking off a large capital campaign following this summer’s events.



DT!: When did you decide…”Hey, I need to graduate already?”

"Sneader": When my parents told me they were going to quit paying for school when my younger sister graduated from Tech.



DT!: Has the tradition of the Tech Hecklers continued? Have you considered a Heckling Academy?

"Sneader": The Tech Hecklers has become more of a booster organization, continuing to raise money for the baseball and softball programs, however, on occasion, we put on a little rag session. But nothing the way that so many remember us back in the day. I actually have been approached a couple of times and will be going over to the University of New Mexico to put on a Heckling Clinic for the Lobos at the request of their new head coach, Ray Birmingham. I also do a session on Sportsmanship every year at the student organizational academy put on by the Center for Campus Life.



So that wraps up this evening's post - I hope you guys enjoyed it...

Keep an eye out for the College Baseball Hall of Fame and make sure when you're asked to support it that you give what you can.

Lastly, Sneader, from the folks at DiscoTech! we thank you for your time and your awesome support of our favorite school...If we can ever help you out in any way you be sure and give us a buzz...

Wreck 'em!

Guns Up Erin Andrews

My favorite part is her left foot, playfully out of her heeled shoe...that and her incredible....guns.



Thanks to Barstool Sports

Danny Amendola - NFL Draft

The comparisons to Wes Welker will be in every. single. report.

Wes Welker and Danny Amendola happen to be short, slowish, white guys who run good routes and work hard. Wait a minute. Isn't that how short, slowish, white guys make the field for their college teams as well?

Let's let Draftguys.tv tell us their side of the story...

Thanks to the fellas at draftguys for stopping by Raiderpower and letting us in on their work...

Aggie Editing at Its Finest

Aggie Editors are no stranger to overlooking major details in their publications. Just look at the "Classless Clown" fiasco in their 2002 Football Media Guide. However, this latest mistake has got to take the cake. Who else but Aggies would have an advertisement lauding their work, only to place an individual wearing the logo of a rival school squarely in the most predominant frame? Heck, if it didn't say "Texas A&M," I would mistake it for a Texas Tech ad!

HT to ttuhog on RaiderPower.com for this find.

Texas Tech - a gift - from above

Click on the pic to zoom in.

Another debt of thanks to Scotty at TV TanLine who sends his best to DT! readers with the above gift...

While I can't be exactly sure when the photo was taken, it appears that it was after the United Spirit Arena was built, but before the Garage Mahal.

I can almost exactly make out where I ran from the "rape van" after it caught me taking pictures in front of the Seal at University and Broadway. Why do I say that I was "caught?" Well.... I, along with three of my dorm mates, was wearing only a well placed gym sock in a bit of a Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute. Which is funny because they were doing a tribute of sorts of another famous band...

If you know the name of said album - or what I'm talking about of all - you're gaining a better idea of the years that I attended Tech...

Great pic - thanks again to Scotty...

DT! I had a great conversation with an old friend of mine today, Chris "Sneader" Snead. He may not have quite believed that I am Bond J Bond, so I wanted to give him a "shout out" so he knows I wasn't trying to pull his leg.

I think I also convinced him to give DT! readers what they want - an interview with him so he can fill us in on the progress with the College Baseball Hall of Fame.

Some new sites to link up

Absolutely Obknoxious

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that if anyone knows Bill Knox - he's writing a lot about Tech baseball - give him a read...



Saturday Soundoffs

I know absolutely nothing about this site - but they've linked up DT! so I'm returning the favor...



Helmet Head

This guy is amazing - he reconditions game-worn college football helmets and sells them...and he does a great job. I spent some of my Christmas money with this guy - and I was extremely happy with the work. From the main link HERE click NCAA Game-used/Reconditioned in the left-hand column - select the conference you prefer - and then your favorite team...

Also of note, he has NCAA Vintage helmets (there aren't any TTU helmets btw) and some of those are just amazing.

Maybe a game used Houston Gamblers helmet is more your style - check out his USFL helmets - seriously, I could spend more than a few paychecks at this guy's online store...

In case you've been keeping up with Zebbie's run through the Helmet Project posts - you may get the itch to actually own one of those helmets - and you CAN!

Okay, Okay, Okay....

An e-mail from Scotty at TVTanLine makes about the 5th e-mail in as many days that I have received that range along the lines of:

"What the hell is going on over there?"
"Where are you?"
"We miss you!"
"I want to have your baby."

Well, at least 3 of those are true.

So here's the parts of the story I'm willing to share...

I have a daughter with Autism. In addition to that she has some other health concerns that make a routine day - well - less than routine. Of late, there have been some tough decisions to make around here and like I was telling Scotty, things that I do for free - and in my free time - have simply dropped off the radar screen.

Added to all of that is the fact that I'm just not as big a college basketball fan as I used to be, and by comparison where 10 is my interest in Tech Football - interest in Tech Basketball is probably a 4. Oh I'm sure that if we were fielding a competitive team in conference I may find time to blog about it a little - but our .500 record sure hasn't made me even the tiniest bit more motivated.

The blog is certainly not dead - I would continue to post pictures here of hawt Tech co-eds if anyone were to e-mail them to me - and I hope one day to be more proficient.

Hang in there - and be blessed by your healthy children - and pray for those kids who aren't so healthy - especially for their parents.

I appreciate all those who have e-mailed - some of you have caught me on bad days - and I'm sure you know who you are - and some have caught me on better days - I do appreciate that folks even care about our little corner of the web...