Last? Saturday I pretended to be a football? player for a day, trying out for kicker for the Dallas Desperados, an? arena football team owned by the Dallas Cowboys.?

The tryout was at Texas Stadium. It was worth it to be there just to walk down the tunnel and workout on the field. I was suprised to see around 40 other guys trying out for kicker. There were actually two other guys from Amarillo. One I played high school soccer with, the other was a kicker for WT.

After waiting around in the stadium for an hour we finally got to do some warmups with the strength and conditioning coach. Then we only had time for two practice kicks across the field. After that, we had to kick 6 field goals–two from 35 yards out, two from 45 yards, and two from 55 yards. I? made 3/6, bouncing one of the post and leaving the two? 55 yarders? short. Next, we got to take two kickoffs and we were done. The special teams coach then gave us his spiel saying they currently already have a great kicker but he likes to keep a list of local guys in case something happens. I was walking? off the field? with my high school friend when he suddenly heard his name called. He was the only one that got called back and got to meet the head coach. They told him they were interested in him and that their kicker might be going to the NFL. We walked back to our cars together, he hopeful, and me? hopeful for him.

I was far from the best out there, but I still had a lot of fun. It was totally worth the tryout fee to get to kick field goals in Texas Stadium. Plus I got a 2XXL(!) t-shirt and two tickets to a Desperados game.? And now I can cross professional football kicker off my list of possible careers.

? –Mitch

This past weekend I drove up? to Memphis with a college buddy, Chris, for the purpose of catching a game and? hanging out? with some other college friends. We woke up at 8:00? AM? Saturday to tailgate for? the early Tennessee-Memphis football game. There was more orange than blue in the ghetto, at-some-point-in-time-futuristic Memphis stadium. The game was enjoyable, though lopsided. Final score: Tennessee 41, Memphis 7. Actually, the most? exciting? aspect of the game was the Memphis punter, who pinned it inside the 1 yard line? three times, including two 70 yarders.

After the game we played a long 9 holes of golf, rested a little, and then headed downtown for Rendezvous, the most famous barbeque in Memphis. The main entrance to Rendezvous is in the middle of a dark alley near Beale street. It seemed? hidden, but that didn’t keep the crowds away. Once we were seated, we all? ordered ribs because that’s what you get at Rendezvous. Charcoal smoked with a dry rub,? they were darn good!? In case you want to experience the ribs yourself, check out the Rendezvous website. You can? have a 2 Slab shipped to your door for only 89.99! ; )?

? –Mitch