Return to Jack Shack

I finished moving back few weeks ago. I notice Odessa Jackalopes home opener was over the weekend. It's been seven years since I last to a game at Jack Shack. Things have changed down there. No longer defunct CHL team its now a junior level NAHL hockey team. Team still going on as this is their 22nd season. Jacks took on Shreveport Mudbugs (former CHL team) on both days. I went to their home opener on Friday night during middle of high school football season. The east end entrance pictured.

South end entrance that along with oilmen statue

Hey look they got a team bus.

Be there tonight!

This used to be team shop. Now converted to bar and grill.

Jerseys of Dan Lavergne and Donnie Margettie hangs before the grill entrance. Both did alot for youth hockey around the area. Donnie is with the team as director of youth hockey.

Formerly a concession stand its now converted to team shop.

They added two extra boxes expanding to four. Used to be seats there. The retired numbers and banners from their years. The banners made mention of their moments in WPHL and CHL years. On the other side was banners of short-lived indoor football team (Roughnecks) which won a championship along undefeated record. 

Rock Girhiny is the first number to be retired. He's now coaching for St. Catherine Falcons. I was there when John Bossio played his final game and celebrated his career afterwards.

Donnie Margettie was always a fan favorite and face of entire franchise. He was always friendly when we chatted and joked around a bit. I still remember the advice he gave me as be who you are and do what you want to do. He helped out big in community with youth hockey and in charge as team's director of youth hockey. Scott Hillman took up coaching after his career ended. His latest stop is in Norway.

Sebby, as fans call him, is one of best players in CHL history. He packed 1-2 punch with Dominic Leveille from 2005 to 2011, Jacks final year in CHL. He went on play with Missouri Mavericks to the year til 2015 as team merged into ECHL. He holds team records in almost category as in games played, goals, assists, and points. Don McKee was franchise coach leading the team to multiple playoffs including Governor's Cup (CHL best regular season record) in 2001-02. I wasn't happy when he was unceremoniously fired despite a down year.

Don Thorn was a director of Ector County Coliseum for 30 years retiring in 2014. He provided much needed help on making hockey succeed in west Texas oil city. Mike Gorman manned the net for seven seasons, the longest for any Jackalopes player.

Glad these jerseys hang in the hallway along with past posters.

The scoreboard remain the same along the videotron

That's the radio broadcast booth still at its same place

They still have this seating section right near visiting team locker room. There were times I seen visiting team players getting ejected and the fans trash talk them on the way back. Good times

Jacks would score 16 seconds into the game

A little chippy there. Ref about to take a tumble as he gets skated into.

Mudbugs tied it up 1-1. Jackalopes scored making it 2-1. Kade Phipps stopped the shots as they held on to win.

Taking three stars of the game are Josh Fricks, Carl Skarstrom (scored first goal), Zach Heintz (scored the last goal).

Despite few changes I felt I never left "home" at all. I had fun time yelling at missed calls and doing the famous Jacks fans chant of, "He shoots! He scores! Hey goalie you suck!" every time Jacks scored. Can't wait get back there for remainder of the season.

Roman Reigns

I'm not a fan of Roman Reigns. I booed the living hell out of him even when he was good guy. I did the wave in person at two Wrestlemanias I attended and trying start bunch of random chants such as "We Want Cena!" and "This match sucks!" I pretty much loathe his main event existence because WWE gave me no reason cheer for him other than he's just the big dog and using hundreds of superman punches because its one of two moves he only got. All that change on Monday night of October 22. Something wasn't right when he came to the ring not dressed his gear. Then he addressed the crowd announcing after being 11 years in remission his leukemia came back. Wait did I just hear what he just said? He has leukemia? Is this real or some sick angle? He went up the ramp meeting with Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins giving him hugs. The look on Seth's face told the story as he was balling with tears. Dean being tough holding back his tears as best as he can. After the break I can hear tears in Corey Graves voice. The news is true as leukemia return back in Roman Reigns body. I was floored and so was every wrestling fan in the universe. The stunning announcement sent waves as news sites such as CBS Sports, Fox News, ESPN, and Yahoo Sports made mention within first hour of RAW. Whether we like or do not like a wrestler we do not wish anything horrible happen from medical to travel. Every wrestler like him risk their lives to entertain us the fans. They have families to feed and look after. It's not a glamorous life but they enjoy it and do it for us, the fans. The year been rocked with shocking wrestling moments with 90% of it been bad. Reigns leukemia announcement shocked the wrestling world because he's the top guy in WWE. The fact he kept on working during his remission showed he got his heart in the business.

It's best to say cancers of any form suck. It's a life threatening disease people fight hard to beat. Some will win the battle against cancer but some will lose. I have lost a friend to cancer. Another friend, Texas woman wrestler, Ruthless Lala battled it as well. There been medical advances but no cure. We hope there be cure for cancer in the future. Watching friends go through it is hard enough and not to mention skyrocketing medical bills to battle it.

Best of luck to Roman Reigns. He beaten leukemia before. He will beat it again in round 2. The fans will wait for his return.

Another note if you want donate to American Cancer Society for cancer research. Also donate bone marrow to see if you are match for leukemia patients.

That was depressing visit

Yesterday I drove up to panhandle Texas city with my mom on a day trip. While there I decide visit local card shop and all I can say it was depressing. They are filled with autograph jerseys, pictures, funko pops, single cards, and coins. What I usually go for are packs and so much for selection of it. I went gone through their selection of packs from early 90s to mid-90s of baseball, football, and basketball. Current stuff? Just only hobby packs of this year and last year's Topps, no jumbos. Bought myself handful of junk wax era because I'm still a sucker for those. Just can't help but feel how much depressing visit that is. Still its not bad as the one store around southwest of Pittsburgh few years back.

Welcome to Toyota Center

I knock arena off my bucket list few days ago. I went to Houston Rockets preseason game taking on Shanghai Sharks. Outside the arena they got statue of Hakeem Olajuwon jersey with his accomplishments.

The logo on display at the main entrance.

Rockets team motto for the season is "Run as One" as it splashed in front of the arena. Can they with James Harden, CP3, Melo, Gerald Green, and maybe James Enthis III?

The doors opened hour before the game. No program or even a roster sheet was given out. The rafters filled with retired jersey numbers of Rudy T, Calvin Murphy, Moses Malone, The Glide, The Dream, CD, and Yao. Also along where two champions they won in 94 and 95 and the defunct WNBA Houston Comets.

The upper level of arena featured encased lockers of former star Rockets which includes Elvin Hayes, Ralph Sampson, Steve Francis, T-Mac, and former owner Leslie Alexander. They still have the hardwood floor from The Summit (which is now Joel Osteen mega-church).

Since they didn't have roster sheets only way fans figure who's playing for the Sharks from the announcer. Two notable players on Sharks were former Rockets player Luis Scola and BYU star Jimmer Fredette. Scola got a welcome back video tribute during the game. Melo and Clint Capela didn't play.

Once tipoff happen it was no contest as Rockets blew through the team hitting 3s everywhere especially Harden along with JE3 and PJ Tucker. Zhou Qi of the Rockets left the game with sprain knee. Jimmer Fredette was a machine playing the entire game scoring almost half of Sharks points but was missing more his share. They were up so big that they gave Harden, CP3, and Enthis entire 4th quarter off and it was preseason garbage time for the Rockets. Meanwhile I moved down from upper level to lower level and ushers didn't mind due to amount of empty seats. Then again it was preseason game.

As usual Rockets defeat Sharks in dominating fashion. Nice to see international team even if its exhibition game.

It's a good arena to catch a game. Like to watch a regular season game there some day.