Tag: Sports

Cordial Competition: Friendly Rivalry Encompasses Jockey Brothers

Jordan and Jake Olesiak don’t like to jockey for position.

When it comes to racing at the North Dakota Horse Park, the Olesiak brothers prefer to keep their competition clean, with a hint of family rivalry.

“We just play around,” Jake said. “It’s fun when you’re racing together.”

The jockeys, from Cloquet, Minn., have become familiar faces this summer at the North Dakota Horse Park.

Jake, 18, is in first place on the NDHP’s jockey money leaders list, while 22-year-old Jordan has the most first-place finishes.

Jordan took over the top spot on the wins list this past weekend when his brother left for two days to compete in races at the Carlton County (Minn.) Fair – the place both brothers began their jockey careers.

Did Jake mind that heading into the weekend that his older brother and mentor would take over his spot?

“It doesn’t bother me at all,” he said with a smile.

After all, bitter rivalry isn’t the nature of the Olesiak family.

“They always try and they’ve always got their head on straight,” horse owner Bud Partridge said. “They ride with nerve.”

Laurie Olesiak usually drives her boys to and from the NDHP and Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn.

“I probably wouldn’t be here today if my mom wouldn’t drive us around,” Jordan said. “She drives, we sleep.”

Racing is in the Olesiak’s blood. The brothers began horseback riding on their great-grandfather Wilson House’s farm as soon as they could walk. As soon as they were ready, they wanted to race.

“It was totally their choice,” Laurie said. “It’s all they ever talked about.”

According to their mother, Jake was on his first horse when he was one-and-a-half years old. He took to it like a natural, resting his legs in an upward position associated with many jockeys.

“He automatically did it,” Laurie said. “He was ready to go.”

Now, Jake is a full-time jockey and Jordan splits time between riding and training horses. There’s also two Olesiak brothers who stick to the training aspect of the sport.

Justin Olesiak, 20, trains horses at Canterbury Park and the NDHP but is taking time off after breaking his arm during a training accident.

The eldest Olesiak son, 24-year-old Jesse, is an assistant trainer under longtime Canterbury Park trainer Dave VanWinkel.

“It makes me happy,” Laurie said. “They’re all doing something they like to do.”

With the help of his brothers, Jake is competing with some of the best jockeys in the Midwest.

This summer, the Cromwell (Minn.) High School senior has already won more than $30,000 at NDHP and more than $62,000 at Canterbury Park.

“I’ve had it good,” Jake said. “My brother has taught me everything I know.”

Jordan, who measures 5-foot-8 and 124 pounds, is too heavy to jockey at Canterbury Park. However, he can still compete at the NDHP.

Jordan said he’d like to drop a couple of pounds so he can compete at Canterbury again.

“I’ll get it down,” he said.
Jake is about 5-foot-5 and has kept his weight steady at 113. He isn’t too worried about his size.

“He said he’s not going to abuse his body that way,” Laurie said.

Regardless of how they’re jockey careers turn out, both said they’d like to stay involved with horse racing their entire lives.

“If you love what you do it makes it pretty easy,” Jordan said. “I’ll do it forever.”

Signs of the times: Advertising just one way American Legion programs making ends meet

Eighty-year-old Joe Parmer remembers when watching an American Legion baseball game at Fargo’s Jack Williams Stadium wasn’t similar to scrolling through the Yellow Pages.

However, an outfield fence full of advertisements pays the bills. And Fargo Post 2 Legion members know that’s the first priority to ensure a stable summer baseball program.

“We don’t want to be in the position where we have to cut our program,” said Parmer, a longtime Post 2 board member.

Several Legion clubs in North Dakota and Minnesota are searching for ways to generate income or cut costs.

With state tournaments starting today and Thursday in North Dakota and Minnesota, many clubs have noticed the following trend:

National American Legion baseball coordinator Jim Quinlan said, despite steady player interest in Legion baseball, funding for the sport has decreased nationwide, forcing thousands of clubs to look for outside income.

“There’s a lot of demand on those Legion posts,” Quinlan said. “If they (teams) don’t get some sponsors, it really makes it difficult.” Post 2 isn’t the only Legion club that relies on advertising. The Moorhead Blues and West Fargo Patriots have sold advertising on their outfield walls at Matson Field and Veteran’s Memorial Field the past few years. “The signs are the big moneymaker for us right now,” Patriots coach Brett Peterson said.

Despite some baseball purists thinking the appearance of ads covering nearly half of the outfield fence at Jack Williams is gaudy, it generates about $16,000 a year.

It’s Post 2’s most lucrative source of income in its nearly $80,000 yearly baseball budget, surpassing traditional sources such as charitable gaming, Legion member donations and season ticket sales.

Post 2 finance director Hank Deyle said the team began this summer season $9,000 short and wonders if next season will be the same.

“We’re scratching all the time to get enough money,” Deyle said. “When the gaming was lucrative, we had no problem.”

Post 2 currently has 30 advertising signs lining the left and right field walls and with a hope of better funding, they’re expecting to add more in center and right field before next season.

“Hopefully, we’ll get the other half done next spring,” Parmer said. “We hope to do the entire outfield. We haven’t completed it yet.”

Post 2 coach Bill Ibach said he’s witnessed a change since his playing days in the early 1980s. “Our program never had to (use advertising) because the Legion had so much money,” Ibach said. “That was a source of pride.”

But the rising cost of field care, travel and equipment has left teams searching for ways to cope.

Smaller Legion clubs believe advertising is necessary in order to survive.

“Some people don’t like it,” Hope-Finley baseball coach Mark Frost said. “But that’s been the life-blood for Legion baseball.”

The Hope, N.D., and Finley, N.D., Legion and Sons of the American Legion clubs sold signs on the outfield fences to help support a team budget of around $8,200. Nearly half that budget goes toward umpire and coaches salaries.

Like many small-town teams, Frost said his team made cost-cutting moves to help maintain the quality of the program. The biggest was sharing equipment, including parts of uniforms, with Hope-Page High School. “We are kind of unique,” Frost said. “We split the cost on things that are used in both.” Legion clubs used to rarely rely on outside funding to run baseball teams. Charitable gaming, ticket sales and fundraisers seemed to take care of any money issues. However, club officials said they have taken hits to their gaming funds for various reasons. “We used to live entirely off gambling. It’s getting less and less,” said Fargo Post 2 board member Jim McLaughlin.

Some Legion officials believe local casinos have taken away business. Others blame dwindling interest in pull tabs and bingo.

Moorhead Blues business manager Joe Baker said the club still receives gaming money, but it’s a touch-and-go situation.

“As long as our bingo and our pull tabs sales stay up, then we’re OK,” Baker said. “If they fall off, naturally, the program’s going to fall off a little bit, too.”

Some teams implemented player fees to take care of travel, equipment and insurance expenses.

According to Minot (N.D.) Vistas coach Todd Larson, each of his players must pay $450 a season in order to participate.

However, they’re offered several chances to work off the fee by volunteering at Legion fundraisers and team events throughout the year.

“We’re self-supportive,” Larson said. “We haven’t had any money from our Legion for a number of years.”

New York Mills, Minn., has nearly new facilities at Russ Jacobson Field and strong community support. Yet, Legion coach Mike Weller said the team’s numbers are still declining.

“We had three starters that didn’t come out this summer. They just wanted to work,” Weller said. “When I played ball, I couldn’t wait to get to the field. I knew I could work when I was done playing ball.”

North Dakota East Region chairman Ron Frydenlund believes adults in small communities need to improve the way they contribute to their programs.

“Younger adults don’t join the veteran’s organizations,” Frydenlund said. “They don’t do anything until they got a kid up there playing.”

Post 2 parents and alumni created a booster club this year as a way to raise money for the 2009 Legion World Series, which is sponsored by Post 2 and will be held at Newman Outdoor Field.

“We are kind of wearing out,” McLaughlin said of Legion members. “We’ve got a lot of parents to get really active.”

Even though Post 2’s hopes are high for the next few years, it, and many clubs like it, will keep raising money any way they can.

McLaughlin, 80, sets up a small stand at every Post 2 home game, selling team apparel and Roger Maris collectables. It’s just another small way to keep the team in business.

“We are proud we’ve kept it strictly Legion sponsored,” McLaughlin said. “We’d like to keep it that way, but it’s getting tougher all the time.”

Female Driver Looks up to Stars

Natalie Sather knows she’s not Danica Patrick.

Yet, the spunky, first-year World of Outlaws driver doesn’t mind looking up to the Indy Racing League’s female star.

“What girls are doing today is awesome,” said Sather, a Dilwor th-Glyndon-Felton High School graduate. “It might prove some people wrong.”

Sather, 20, is the only female running with the Outlaws this weekend during the Duel in the Dakotas at Red Valley Speedway.

Erin Crocker ran in last year’s Duel, but is currently attempting to work her way into NASCAR’s Busch Series.

“What she did in sprint cars is phenomenal,” Sather said. “I hope I can do what she did.”

Sather has struggled adjusting to the faster motors of the 410 sprints, which she began running this year while still competing in the 360 sprints.

Sather spun out during the warmup laps of her Outlaws heat and tipped on her left side during the second lap of the 360 feature. She was uninjured.

Sather ranks 33rd in the World of Outlaws point standings with a season-best finish of 21st at the Batesville (Ark.) Speedway.

“I’m learning,” Sather said.

Despite toiling in the back of the pack most nights, Sather still holds her head high. She expects returning to her home area this weekend might help.

“I’m so glad to come home,” Sather said.

Sather said she’ll be racing with a purpose this weekend. Ashley Leabo, Sather’s cousin and one of her biggest supporters, died in a car accident early Thursday morning in Grand Forks, N.D.

“It’s been a tough week for my family,” Sather said. “She was telling everyone I was going to win.”

 

Lasorda Plays His Usual, Affable Self at Maris Gala

Tommy Lasorda seemed more interested in entertaining 19-month-old Kiana Amundson than speaking with autograph hounds and reporters during Monday’s Roger Maris Celebrity Golf Tournament at Rose Creek Golf Course.

The 77-year-old baseball Hall of Famer put on his nicest, grandfather face and appealed for the shy, blonde-haired girl to give him a hug. Kaira’s body language spelled out an obvious “No.”

“How about a high-five?” Lasorda asked. Again the Barnesville, Minn., toddler refused.

Eventually Kiana smiled, but not without more playful urging from a man considered one of the most engaging personalities in baseball.

Lasorda, who won three World Series titles in 22 years managing the Los Angeles Dodgers, said he attends many events such as the Maris golf tourney, which raises money for various charities.

“To do something to help like this, it’s good for myself,” Lasorda said.

Even though he doesn’t golf, Lasorda said he has been trying to come to the tournament for five years after meeting Roger’s widow Pat Maris. Yet, things never fell into place at the right time.

“When I saw Pat, I promised her I’d come,” Lasorda said. “I’m fulfilling a promise.”

Lasorda, one of baseball’s biggest names opposing the use of steroids, also spoke out against illegal drugs in sports.

“I think it’s a disgrace,” Lasorda said. “If I’m pitching against a guy taking steroids, that’s not an even playing field.”

Blake, Sinner team up

What do you get when you put a professional hockey player and the former governor of North Dakota together?

One of the craziest teams in the tournament.

New York Islanders right wing Jason Blake hit the links with former North Dakota governor George A. Sinner early Monday morning.

“He hits it the furthest and I hit it the least,” Sinner said. “We’ve got some good golfers and then they’ve got me.”

Blake, a Moorhead High School graduate, said he was thrilled to be paired up with Sinner, who wasn’t listed as a celebrity.

The six-year National Hockey League veteran said he’s been playing a lot of golf and spending more time with his two children since the NHL lockout began.

However, he believes the league and the players’ association will come to an agreement within weeks.

“I think we’re close to a getting a deal done,” Blake said. “I’m thankful I signed my deal last year.”

Brown finally makes it

Dale Brown said he loves coming back to North Dakota, especially when the weather is nice and he gets to be outdoors.

“North Dakota and the people in this area are unique,” Brown said. “Being in North Dakota, you may not see all the positive things.”

The retired Louisiana State University men’s basketball coach and native of Minot, N.D., was in Fargo as one of the tournament’s celebrity guests.

Brown had been invited to the tournament nearly every year since its inception. But there was always something that got in his way.

“I felt almost guilty,” Brown said.

Brown made the decision to attend the tournament after receiving a call from Vic Gelking, an old high school friend.

“I rearranged my whole schedule to come and I’m glad I did,” Brown said.

Brown is well-known as the coach who inadvertently discovered a 13-year-old Shaquille O’Neal. He met O’Neal while speaking to United States military forces in Germany during the Cold War.

When the 6-foot-8 man-child asked Brown for tips on his game, Olson asked O’Neal for his military rank.

“He said ‘I’m only 13,’ ” Brown said.

Brown eventually recruited O’Neal to LSU, where he was an All-American.

Brown, a 1953 graduate of Minot St. Leo’s High School, now Minot Ryan, said he remembers playing high school athletics the same time as Maris and longtime Arizona men’s basketball coach Lute Olsen, who grew up in Mayville, N.D., and attended high school in Grand Forks, N.D.

“Football was by far Roger’s best sport,” Brown said.

Notes

• Former Minnesota Vikings defensive back Joey Browner and teammates won the team title, finishing with a score of 43.25. Other team members were Dan Skinner, Kevin Bucholz, Nick Gludt, Hugh Veit and Kent Ritterman.

• It was the first year the tournament was held at Rose Creek since 1997. Flooding at Edgewood Golf Course, the usual tournament site prompted the move. “It’s been a great honor to host something like this,” Rose Creek golf professional Matt Cook said.

• Two maintenance men from Newman Outdoor Field brought a door from one of the stadium’s suites for celebrities to sign.

• The PA & Dubay show on KFAN sports radio in Minneapolis broadcasted live outside of the clubhouse.

Widow Mulls Maris’ Legacy: Some Believe Steroid Cloud Bolsters Former HR King’s Name

Plenty has been done to preserve Roger Maris’ legacy.

Twenty years after his death, respect continues to be paid to the former single-season home run record holder and his family.

A museum at Fargo’s West Acres shopping center pays homage to Maris. The movie “61*” about his 1961 pursuit of Babe Ruth’s home run record sparked interest in a new generation of fans. The Roger Maris Celebrity Benefit Golf Tournament and Auction today and Monday will raise thousands of dollars to fight cancer.

Yet one question about his legacy still lingers: Do steroid allegations facing baseball’s biggest stars strengthen Maris’ spot in baseball history.

“It (the steroid accusations) probably made what he did look better,” said Pat Maris, Roger’s widow. “To hold a record for 37 years, and then boom, boom, boom … it was a different situation.”

Maris, five of her six children and eight grandchildren are in Fargo to attend the charity events.

Some feel Major League Baseball owes it to the Maris family to clean up the game as a tribute to achievements made by Roger and players in his time.

“Major League Baseball owes it to them,” said state Sen. Joel Heitkamp, D-Hankinson. “I don’t think Pat Maris needs to even deal with the problem.”

Heitkamp and the North Dakota Senate passed a resolution asking MLB to restore Maris’ old record – 61 home runs set in 1961 – as the true record if the steroid accusations were found to be true.

“The home run record, to me, is Roger Maris’,” Heitkamp said. “The people that took it from him, quite clearly – and I have no proof to back this up – were on steroids. If that’s the case, the record is Roger’s.”

The senate’s resolution came after congressional hearings on steroid use in baseball and allegations against home run king Barry Bonds, past record holder Mark McGwire and sluggers Sammy Sosa, Jason Giambi, Rafael Palmeiro and Jose Canseco.

McGwire, who broke Maris’ home run record in 1998, didn’t admit to doing steroids. However, his unwillingness to answer many of Congress’ biggest questions led to public disgust.

“I hope things will turn around for baseball,” Pat Maris said.

Kevin Maris, Roger and Pat’s youngest son, said the family hasn’t spoken to McGwire recently but still considers him a friend.

McGwire annually gives over $6,000 to benefit the Roger Maris Cancer Center in Fargo.

Some members of the Maris family agree that the steroid accusations helped shed a positive light on what Roger accomplished.

Yet, they still think his chances of gaining a Hall of Fame nomination are slim, no matter how hard his supporters fight.

“It might happen one day. If it comes, it comes,” Pat Maris said. “It would be a wonderful honor, but he’s had a lot of honors.”

Friends of the family, such as benefit committee member Jim Deutsch, are willing to stand up for the local hero.

“He (Roger) was doing things before anyone knew what a steroid was,” said Deutsch, a longtime supporter of the Fargo Shanley High School graduate. “What’s gone on just proves what an incredible athlete Roger was back in 1961.”

North Dakota lawmakers passed another resolution earlier this year, urging the 85-member Hall of Fame veterans’ committee to vote for Maris based on his contributions to baseball.

Hall of Fame pitcher and veterans’ committee member Phil Niekro said Maris’ time may come. And it may be sooner than most think.

“There’s too much talk about it,” Niekro said. “His name will never leave the game of baseball.”

Niekro, who attended last year’s benefit, said it wasn’t his place to speak about the steroid issue, although he said he holds a great deal of respect for what kind of a player Maris was.

“There was nothing really flashy about him,” Niekro said. “He was major league all the way.”

If Maris does have a chance at joining the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., his clean, old-school image may be the ticket.

“It’s a nice legacy to have,” Pat Maris said.