Matarese spits out crawfish @ US OPEN!

"CRAWFISH?...you call this a SEAFOOD BLAST?"....that was ANTHONY MATARESE, JR.s' question after choking down the US OPEN in Jennings, Louisiana! It is pretty difficult put a shoot together that Antony Jr. finds challenging anymore....he has turned all of his shoots into caviar, this year. Our CONGRATS to you Anthony Jr....and no, he did not really say that, OK....

Anthony was gracious enough to put some time aside for the ANTHONY MATARESE, JR. SHOW, coming soon to your radio.

Ya know shooters, while I'm here, I want to point out to you a group of THE YOUNG GUNS that seem to be forming right under our front sight....they can be seen together riding the Competition trail and winning at all the big battles ----> ANTHONY MATARESE, JR.---> BRAD KIDD---> CORY KRUSE. If you see them ride in...check your gun closely, and be prepared for a GUN FIGHT!

MR. GARY GREENWAY asked, "who brought the milk?" America's MILKMAN, GARY GREENWAY, claimed the Vet Spot! Congrats Gary....   MR." FAST BOAT" himself..GREG TEDESCO, who was seen talking to the trappers asking," is this as fast as these things fly?" Congrats, Greg.

He brought down his Class trophy. Greg will be racing his Top Fuel dragster Race Boat in Texas later this month.

And..and ..and...let's see now...

Checking the FITASC scores, I see "EVERYONES BEST FRIEND".....MR. JON KRUGER took the HOA! and..and...MR. HUB JOHNSON took the JUNIOR spot! Congrats, guys...

Whoa, Nelly.....from the beginning.----> The trip from the radio station in CaLEFTornia to my ranch near Houston, TX was marked by the lack of fellow Coach drivers....in fact, one could say, a lack of traffic in general. Fuel costs began at $4.69 and rose and fell only a few cents. RV sites were bare, even entering the Memorial Week-end. As I calculated the cost to drive to Houston, a safe, round number came to-----> $1000.00. To fly, would have been significantly less. Draw your own conclusions...me, I just have tooo much equipment to fly commercial. At the price of "carry-on" luggage/renting a car, hotels...well I'm not sure I would have saved that much. There is a new expression surfing around CaLEFTornia ---->this year,it's not about "vacations", it's now called "STAY-CATIONS"...but don't listen to them!-----> you should have come!

My point is this...

There is no finer a host than LYNN MILLER and his family. Louisiana IS for sportsman in every way you can imagine...from the food, to the music. If you didn't come ---it's your turn to "Kick-The-Can", I'm hiding out in the bayou!! You missed it, pal!

I had a very warm and friendly "down south" interview with Lynn. He explained having the US OPEN was his dream from the day he bought the 500+ acres. ThanX for all your hard work Lynn, and the work you and your family put into getting the range ready. I would not have missed it!

I ran into this squad right after they had finished the 1st round of FITASC. MO DAAN, ZACH KIENBAUM, TRENT NUGIER, DR. PAULA BENBOW and the KING of THE OIL FIELD, MR. KORY MARTINEZ. A great group of Sporting Clays and Oil Field Ambassadors.

I had just returned from a tour of the shooting field when I ran into my old friend, JACK CONCANNON. He flew in...almost without a problem. I say that because JACK's opening comment was that he flew in late and did not have time to shoot the practice field. He drove directly to the FITASC event where he discovered his gun was shooting a FOOT high!

But, Jack is a self taught gunsmith....he quickly analyzed the problem and found the rib was somehow damaged in transit. A "quick fix", in Jacks' words, but also---->a warning to the traveling wise---> There may even be baggage handlers that identify a piece of luggage as a GUN CASE, and go out of their way to handle in badly! Another reason to get off the wings and into the pavement!

Jack agreed to a full one hour radio interview...don't miss it! If you're NOT on the FREE CD list, email me, and I will see you get a copy!

I had finally decided I could eat lunch....now almost 3 o'clock, so I headed to a cool spot in the main building. Found a quiet corner and went seeking a cup of hot, Louisiana "Community Coffee". Just as I was about to turn and head back to my Hiddy Hole, I saw GREG TEDESCO sitting by himself. We had just shot together in Las Vegas. He had mentioned his " FAST BOAT" background, but I was never able to sit down and get the inside scoop while we were at the famous DESERT LAKE SHOOTING CLUB. I grabbed Greg, and we had a good interview for the radio on his background in boat racing. Hey folks, GREG brought a winning profile to Sporting Clays...he has the formula down pat! ThanX Greg. HEAR IT ON THE RADIO!

Just as we finished, guess who comes up----> MR SHOTGUN JOURNAL himself, BRUCE SCOTT! It is always a pleasure to sit down with someone of BRUCE'S experience, one that has been in this business for many years. We swapped a few stories, that only media people could appreciate. BRUCE was waiting for his crew...they planned on filming the US OPEN for his TV SHOW! Don't miss the "SHOTGUN JOURNAL! " ThanX Bruce, good to see you and we will be watching for the new season's premiere....and the US OPEN!

DAY ONE PRELIM:

The squad was on time and in a mood to shoot...the Prelim course was "Fair & Balanced". We had a great time shooting together. OK, I stumbled on station 1 but I aced a few stations too...the refs were professional and I was really glad to see my old friend, IAN HERD. I have had the pleasure of shooting with him and I have met his family. I was excited to hear he had become one of BRUCE'S BOYS @ Southeastern Illinois College. What a great example he will set for all shooters as he moves through his career with the training he is receiving...if he survives Bruce..lol.lol..

I notice many different things about shooters as I drive around the country...and when I see a married couple like Percy & Eloise Newton shooting together, well, I just smile, knowing that they are squeezing the most out of every second of their marriage. What did surprise me was that, it was Eloise, that started Percy into the field of competitive shooting. You see, Eloise grew up in the country, so she was raised around guns and hunting....had we not been shooting in the US OPEN, we would have had more time to discuss the full story...next time! Meanwhile, Percy I hope we get to shoot together, again. Eloise can teach us both a thing or two....

The very next day, I was convinced, if I could get away by myself on the practice range I could, as my coach, DAN REEVES would say, "warm up and get my ears ringing" before the big show begins..... I can say without hesitation, the practice range was the hardest practice range I have ever shot! It left me more frustrated than I was after station 1 on the PRELIM....whew! I always thought a practice range was to build up your confidence...make you feel good and energize your bunny for the big event....well, NOT!

I couldn't even get 3 tree frogs to get interested in my shooting! But I must add that I did enjoy the LONG RANGE target system, and how simple it was to operate....Thank God for simple, easy stuff....because that was the last of the EASY, SIMPLE STUFF I saw the rest of the shoot.

Before the end of the day, all the main players had arrived....the US OPEN drew the best from the mountains to the sea. Perhaps the one thing everyone agrees upon in Sporting Clays is that, once you shoot your first major competition you will leave with 10-15 new friends...and after the next shoot, 20-30 and so on and so on....the youngest sub Juniors to the oldest Masters begin to recognize your face. As you move up in class these friends become part of a family of friends who then expect to see you at the every shoot. Miss a shoot and your missed. Have a bad shoot? Shake it off...everyone has one or two on the way to the top of their class. Need support? The family is ready to help. Very, very few sporting organizations can say -----> your closest competitor can be your closest friend...and administration/registration can be your worst enemy, if you do not have a professional staff looking after you. Those of us in Sporting Clays know how important Registration can be to your overall shooting experience. We want it easy and quick.   To do that, these are the faces of the crew you want to see when you come in the door. THANX!

But this is a shooting game, best served up on the range. As I scooted around in the cart, I found the top 10 shooters doing what they do best---> Shooting! If you're at the US OPEN, you will find the Best doing just that...Make-A-Break, 5-Stand and side games. The final edge of the blade is sharpened here, before the battle begins. Watch these men shoot and you will see why they are on the top of the Leader-board.

And when they are not here, they are signing up for the next shoot! I caught two of the Sports leaders discussing the upcoming ELK CREEK Boomer Essiason Shoot. Radio personality and TOP shooter, Mr. JON KRUGER is here, with SCOT ROBERTSON. Although the scene looks serious..the discussion was levitated by trying to agree on what time of day they would shoot  together. Gary Katherman was trying not to get in the middle of this high level negotiation, so he returned to his computer. When I asked what he was doing, he just smiled and held up a disc -----> THE AMERICAN TRIGGER SPORT RADIO SHOW!  HOORAY, GARY!! Now we know why your one of the best range managers in the country....smart, very smart! THANX Gary!

As I made my way around the tented area, I ran into the icons of our sport...the guys who make time in their life to come to shoots across the country, no matter what the cost of fuel, no matter what the economy, no matter what the weather...bottom line----> anyone can come up with a reason NOT to attend a shoot. But the REAL MEN JUST PACK THE GUNS...AND GO!

When the newness wears off..when the eyes go...when health and family change your pace, these men and women will be at the next shoot. You know, there are shooters out there that deserve a SPECIAL mention...these men rise above the mud slinging and "take a punch" without complaining or whining about it. Men that keep their focus, not only on their shooting, but on the future of SPORTING CLAYS.

But while I am on the STUMP....discussing career diplomats in our sport, I would like to just touch on a PERSONALITY PROFILE that most of us do not have the opportunity to meet...well, "TRIGGER SPORTS RADIO" learned a lot about a guy I have known for only about a year...but didn't know at all. One of the most repeated comments I hear, as I travel around the country, from other shooters is that-----> "you never know who you will be standing next to in a squad"....ain't it the truth! <---That's Cajun for "isn't it the truth"...

In future editions of the BLOG, I am going to include more profiles.....but let me begin the first profile with a man many of us see and have shot with....a Television Producer, a Range owner, a very successful Business Consultant, a Canadian Master class shooter and " A MAN WITH A PLAN"---->WELCOME, MR. RANDY TRAVALIA! Randy sat with me in JIMMY MONTGOMERY'S office, here at the US OPEN, and discussed his career. At first, I thought I was only going to get a "travel report" for the radio show and ended up discovering the MAN BEHIND THE MAN. The man who can take a 1.5 million dollar business to a 7.5 million dollar business...an man who produces " THE QUEST FOR THE ONE" on Versus TV...the man, while on camera,.... brought down a charging Elephant at 7 YARDS! Hey Randy, I forgot to ask what kind of gun you used on that Elephant...double or bolt action?

I met Randy at Nemicoln...one of Hardy's shoots. I was pretty frustrated with my shooting. I had a range of problems stemming from wet ammunition. Randy was shooting just behind me in the next squad. He noticed my difficulties but made no comments. He was just always standing there, watching when I turned from shooting. After a few "POOFS" resulting from the wet shells, I was loosing my cool. Before real anger set in, Randy stepped forward and said, "Hello". We began discussing his career as a Hockey player and relating to his temper tantrums, at that point in his life. Since no one else seemed to want to discuss my problem or offer encouragement to go on...Randy's conversation was a pleasant distraction and I was able to regain control of my temper. I never forgot that, and although I never told him, I always felt I owed him something for being a gentleman.

But, Randy is the ultimate thinker...listen to this---->"Decide on a goal and begin making tactical decisions to bring your goal into focus..."  OK maybe not a direct quote, but close. If you know Randy, you know he thinks this way...if you have seen his beautiful wife, you know his plan works...he got the pretty girl!

Remember in school  when you got together with your buddy's after class at the Pizza joint, or when you finished practice and went out for a few beers, hoping to pick up on a girl?..Randy is one of those guys you wanted to hang with... great sense of humor and all around honest nice guy. By the way----> THANX RANDY!

Hey shooters, you know there are some people who show up to almost every shoot...support their husband and rarely get the credit they deserve. If you did NOT meet Lori Fowler at the US OPEN.... go to Aruba! That's the news on the course. Soon after the US OPEN, Bobby & Lori, are stealing away to the island for a short vacation.  Bobby complained saying ," I got to get rid of this...." rolling up his shirt sleeve exposing the whiter than white skin just above his iron biceps. Have a good trip Bobby & Lori....just imagine Lori, a fitness trainer, wandering down the powder white beach, arm in arm with MR. Fitness. Sounds like a photo op for MUSCLE MAGAZINE!

Remember you can hear the entire US OPEN interview LIVE on the radio by sending me your mailing address!

I would also like to thank Mr. Joe Rankin....for NOT asking for that cigar I owe him. Good to see you, Joe. Last time we met, you and Michael Mohr took me aside and gave Me a real education, at Nationals, over a cigar and a cold beer.

Ya know, I do not usually comment on things that take place OUTSIDE Sporting Clays...but if you did not go to DI for dinner...you missed this pretty lady AND some great Cajun food. I had a dozen fresh oysters and 3lbs. of crawfish...and guess who my waitress was while her husband and son played music-->

I don't have any friends... maybe because of the deodorant I use or bad breath or my warped sense of humor..humm?----> an example of my humor? OK, try this one... JOHN & SHARON KOVACS were really the spirit of our squad and we wanted to see them succeed. Sharon is a warm, friendly person and John is just a "guys guy". So, when I returned to my cart after finishing my turn in the station, I found a gun. I recognized it as being John's gun. As we all began to move to our next station, I turned to John and asked if he was OK...he looked puzzled at my question, but nodded affirmatively. I said are you sure? He sort of ignored my question and drove off. So I just drove to the next station. Maybe the PRESS is suppose to preform gun bearing services to top shooters in his state ( NEW YORK)??

John hit the panic button somewhere on his way to the station and realized his gun was missing. Eventually, he and Sharon arrived at our station with a serious look on his face....then he noticed his gun was sitting in the gun rack...long silence. I confessed. We laughed and the incident became a running joke for the next 2 days, to help keep the pressure to a minimum. John is the original "Stanley Steamer" of shooting...he just keeps going down the track. Nothing bothers him, and he keeps getting better...

But, it was FRANKLIN ARENAS, the CHAMPION DUCK CALLER of 1998, that kept us on our toes. At the most difficult stations, FRANKLIN just eased his way into the station and blew those clay birds into dust! CORY TIEBOUT waited for the second day of the Main to really get started...but when he did, he set the bar pretty high for the rest of us. MATT SCHIEFFERLY was the studious one...the statistician, calculator and probably a card counter in a poker game. He weighed his options and fired consistent patterns.

But it was LOGAN SPANEL who we all looked at when he stepped into the box...an young  shooter with the future written all over him.---> (hey Logan I lost your address...email me!) and his Dad was there to support him. One of the few times where a father and son shot together and the father did not attempt to correct the shooting of his son during the tourney.

I was proud to shoot with all of you...see you next time!

There were many more interviews...many good laughs..I spilled a little coffee AND a little beer.... Lots of radio material for many weeks to come. I was ready to head home. But when I saw Mr. Chadwick, I decided I HAD to have his interview...his reply was simple..." Have you shot the BLUE course yet...if you have not, then we better do the interview NOW...you won't want to talk to me AFTER!"...lol...lol...

Well, the BLUE course was a challenge, but it was fun! Everything was "hit-able"...might be more difficult to read for guys like me...but I am going to make it a point to go to his club in New Hampshire....but Neil, why did some shooters call your course the-----> "BLACK AND BLUE COURSE"???

Lastly...my friend and coach MR. Bill McGuire turned to me as he was leaving for the PRELIM and said.." James remember, your not going to shoot 100 today...your going to shoot 100 individual targets..." ThanX Bill. I repeated that mantra to myself at each station...it worked! It was good to see you, Bill, and have a chance to break bread together, again.

Hey, for you TEXAS SHOOTERS....see you at the STATE SHOOT. For you Houston Shooters, see you at WESTSIDE SPORTING GROUNDS for the BOB BRISTER MEMORIAL and the DIAMOND CLASSIC later in the month!

I'm a working stiff, so ARUBA is not in my class...but, I will be in Galveston, surf fishing, if anyone is interested in ice cold beer and a Gulf breeze blowing under the hot sun ...>805-680-2841...C YA!