Grady Gallagher | Blogger

BeaverNation,

What’s good? A quick shout out to all my dudes on the 9 Slimes and Grady intramural softball team. We are the champions! (Take that, Paul!) Hey, they only give us two games to play all year, so what?

Whew, where has the year gone?! Seems like yesterday the M5 crew was just settling into our new home and preparing for Johnny Holm. Geez, scary to think at this point next year I’ll be student teaching at a school near you….. Whoa. Three years have never gone so fast. Waking up next to Bjorkgren is afresh in my mind, yet so distant. Ok, that’s weird. I’m done.

With the school year wrapping up, it can only mean one thing: Time for my ANNUAL TOP 5 PLAYS FROM BEAVERLAND 2k14 edition. What am I talking about? The top five sports plays made by student-athletes from Buena Vista University this past school year, duh. Let me give a short preface, I am biased towards men’s basketball as I happen to be a member. We cool? K, great. Let’s get it!

5. Haters hate, Winners win- What you talking about, G? I’m talking about the biggest mistake I’ve ever made as a human being. What is it, G? It was me, doubting Jessica Stocker in Game 1 of this year’s conference softball tourney. I believe the bases were loaded and we were watching the game stream on the internet machine. Stocker came up with the ball game on the line. I’m ashamed to say it because I know and like Stocker but I had my doubts about the next play. I remember saying to Cole, (Who was also intently watching the game for some reason…….) “Stocker ain’t clutch”. I’ve never eaten my words that tasted more like dung in my life. Two pitches later, Stocker nearly cleared the fence with her shot that emptied the bases and won the game for BV. It was like watching David Freese in the World Series, just an absolute fire cracker. I sincerely apologize, Stocker. I will never again doubt your clutch rating on NCAA D3 Softball ’14.

4. Melo time- There were a lot of great moments this past basketball season including Nick Clark’s game winner against Alma, Nick Wuebker’s dunk over Coe’s #32, and Cole Darrow’s dunk over that Wartburg kid. Those were all awesome moments, but one, to me stands alone. We were playing Central at Central. We owed them. Earlier that morning, Tyler had woken me at 4:28 AM and simply stated, “Don’t believe me, just watch.” I tried to respond back to him, but before I called back to the top bunk, he had already let out a snore. I thought about the statement all day, but its meaning wouldn’t come to me until night fall. In the game, T-Kast dropped 6 threes, Ethan Wragge style. My favorite moment was after his 3rd one in a row. He dripped it, turned, looked down to the ground, put up the “3” symbol with his hand and started pounding it against his temple on his head. I don’t know why but my whole body was filled with goosebumps and I was on my feet yelling, “DAT’S WHAT I’M TALKIN’ ‘BOUT!!!!” I was so jacked. Normally that’s a Carmelo Anthony ritual after hitting a three, but that night, it belonged to T-Kast. After that game, Tyler was informed his father was not in good condition and had cancer in his brain. For him to put on that performance (for his city) and then be given that terrible news afterwards, that’s the definition of toughness. That kid’s tough. T-Kast hitting himself in the head with his “3” sign: the toughest thing I’ve ever seen. I will forever teach my children to continuously pound their temple with the “3” sign after every three-pointer they hit, in his honor. No matter if they’re up 40 or down 20. Every. Single. One. No excuses. They will also be taught to always pick the red-headed kid when choosing their squad for playground basketball. Maybe that’s a stretch, but they will know this: Gingers are people too.

3. Sid the kid from DownnnnnnnnTownnnnnnn- With the score tied, 70-70 in OT in Waverly, Malarie Giley swatted a shot and the Beavers broke the other way with time winding down. Point Guard, Lacey Vokt drove right (surprisingly) and kicked to an open Sidney Beckman in the right corner. An ounce of daylight is all she needed while she shot without hesitation. As the clock expired, the ball went through. Nothing but net. Buckets. Clutch gene. Weight room. Boom goes the dynamite. We (the men’s team) were watching from the opposite baseline and just exploded. No bigger supporters of the women’s team than the men’s team. Nice hit, Sid. I remember I didn’t pick her in Fantasy Basketball that game, but from then on, she was always my reserve pick. #Clutch

2. Hometown Bobby Brown- A real quick shout out to Simpson’s clock keeper this past fall for leaving :01 on the clock to give the Beavers one final play in the Big House in Indianola. One play is all they needed. Just four yards stood between the Bobby Brown and the Path to Freedom (Endzone) as the Beavers trialed the Storm with only a single second left after an incomplete pass the play before. Asking Bob about the play later he gave me the quote, “I’ve seen the Longest Yard. It’s probably in my top 10 favorite movies all-time. Paul Crewe (Adam Sandler) is the single reason I kept that ball on the last play. I did it for him. I did it for all the convicts that got their second chance. That one’s for you boys.” So what actually happened? Bob’s pre-snap read was Cover 2 and the Sam backer was coming in hot. As he dropped back he looked toward Gronk (Adam Cave) who had 3 guys draped all over him. He then glanced at Jalen Henningsen, who had, by that time, ran 47 yards straight past the endzone. That left one more option, Rad Dog. With a quick glace toward the sideline, Bob located suitemate Schuyler Radke, big #58 on the sideline. Radke, a senior had traditionally watched each offensive play while sitting Indian style in the coaches area on the sideline. This time was different. Rad Dog was propped up, piggy back style on assistant coach, Lane Kiffin (Bo Darrow). Rad Dog saw Bob’s glance and immediately moved his right index finger in just below his mouth and just below his nose. The mustache signal. Bobby knew it was his time and scampered for the game winning score. A truly legendary moment added to the ever going urban legend that is, “Rad Dog.”
Honorable Mention: The golden boot of Tyler Stolen. The dude had some clutch kicks this year. #KickersArePeopleToo

1. Beards, Bros, and Baldy- No, I’m not talking about NHL playoffs, this spot clearly goes to the season of the Buena Vista Baseball team. Conference outright champions, Conference tournament champs, some of the coolest guys on campus, and team wide display of great pitching, hitting, and fielding. If you can do those three things on a baseball field, you’ll probably have some success. Maybe. As I’m writing this, the Beavers are playing in the National Tournament in Illinois. That’s big time. I really think they got a shot to bring it home. Just as I say that I must point out something. As much credit as Coach Eddie deserves, this table I’m sitting at could’ve won with the team he’s got this year. Alright, that’s not true. It was awesome to be announcing his 300th career victory. I even played his 2nd favorite song, “Happy” from Despicable Me 2 after they won (He wanted me to play his favorite song, “I’m on a Boat” by The Lonely Island, but with young children around and Steven Phelps watching my every move, I just couldn’t). (Grandma, do not look up that song.) How can you not like a guy whose honest-to-God favorite NBA basketball team is the Washington Wizards? I will say this, he’s done a fantastic job this year of discouraging proper hygiene in his players. Seriously, I don’t think Wessels has showered since they lost, which was like two weeks ago. Somebody needs to tell this team it’s 80% looks and 20% skill that makes a good ball player. Regardless, they’ve had a season of dominance in 2014 and a deep run for the Natty seems as the only fitting final chapter. #Natty2k14

Well, that’s it folks. Thanks to everyone who read this year and thanks for reading today! Hopefully everyone has a great summer and we’ll see you again next year! Courtney, please let me do this again next year.

GG