#StanziTime

I was born a Kansas City Chiefs fan.  It's in my genes, which kind of makes the Chiefs part of my family.  However the 2012 version of this team has pushed disappointment and frustration to new levels.  Not only do the Chiefs not win games, but they look like they don't know what they are doing in the process.  The blowouts keep piling up, and with no improvement in sight the tensions between angry fans and front office are about to lead to a full-scale civil war.  They are completely hapless on the field, and we fans, (family), are saddened by it all.  It's like watching a close family member get overtaken by alcohol, become addicted to meth or crack, or vote democrat.  It hurts us.  It hurts us because we can't do a thing to fix it, and we want them to be successful and happy.

Now I totally understand that the problems with the 2012 Chiefs are vast.  From the front office all the way down to the beer vendors, there are issues contributing to the epic fail we see on the field each week.  They are like a car with multiple mechanical problems, from a slipping transmission and leaky brake lines, to the cracked windshield and broken steering wheel, and pieces keep falling off along the way.  (However, the radio works. Gotta have tunes!)  But perhaps instead of replacing one broken piece with another broken piece, why not try the shiny new piece that's sitting in storage?  I know it's not a name brand, but maybe it could work if given a chance.  It might even be enough to get your jalopy to the shop for an overhaul.

As of this moment, Matt Cassel has only thrown 6 touchdown passes but has thrown 12 interceptions.  He currently has a rating of 66.7.  Brady Quinn has thrown 0 touchdowns and 3 interceptions and carries a rating of 52.9.  The Chiefs are -21 in turnover ratio.  -21!  And the vast majority of ALL the Chief's turnovers this season can be attributed to Matt Cassel, who leads the universe in turnovers this year.  And let's not forget last season's superstar Tyler Palko, who managed to get all the playing time while Cassel was injured.  It's no secret that the quarterback play has been less than stellar.  But the Chiefs continuing to alternate between a dumpster fire and a train wreck at the quarterback position make the coaching staff look stupid.  What is preventing them from trying the perfectly good "rookie" sitting on the sidelines?

Ricky Stanzi

I'm talking, of course, of Ricky Stanzi, who the Chiefs drafted in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL draft.  The former Hawkeye has never been flashy, or even thought of as an elite quarterback, even in college, but all he did was win games.  The improvement in his play from his junior year to his senior year was so dramatic, it had to play a  roll in the Chiefs' decision to take him in the draft.  No one expected him to be the franchise quarterback for the Chiefs,  but I was absolutely thrilled he was drafted by Kansas City,  but for whatever reason, he hasn't been
able to crack that number 2 spot on the depth chart and couldn't even get on the field last season even though Tyler Palko was serving up interceptions like deep fried Twinkies on a stick while filling in for Matt Cassel.

What I want to know is.....why?  There is no possible way, scientifically, mathematically, alphabetically, or numerically he could do ANY worse than the current one-two punch of Cassel and Quinn.  If he is not good enough to play in the NFL, why keep him on the roster?  Cut him and let him go play somewhere else.  By playing Stanzi, the worst that could happen would be........pretty much what has already been happening week after week.  Maybe it could light a spark.  Who knows?  He has great familiarity with Tony Moeaki, who was also drafted out of Iowa by the Chiefs, (and is also criminally underutilized in the offense.)  Big targets in Bowe and Baldwin.  (who are both injured right now) . And still a pretty good running attack with Jamal Charles and company.  He doesn't need to be John Elway.  He could be Steve Deberg and that could be enough to get the offense clicking.  Maybe they're afraid Stanzi could have a little success, which would also make the staff look stupid for keeping him on the bench all season. 

Look, I'm not a football genius.  And there is a fair amount of homerism in me wanting to see Stanzi get some playing time.  (Go Hawkeyes!)  But you haven't tried everything until you've actually tried everything and by not putting Stanzi in the game, you're spinning your wheels.  Maybe instead of flying the "Fire Pioli" signs at the games, fans should be waving the "#StanziTime" signs.  I like Matt Cassel and Brady Quinn.  I want them to do well.  But they aren't and haven't been for some time now.  Give Stanzi a shot with the number 1 offense and see if there is anything that can be salvaged from this season.  Then maybe you can temporarily appease some of the fans.........like me.

Oh, and Stanzi's favorite target in college, Marvin McNutt, is on the Eagles' practice squad.  Might want to check him out.

P.S.  PAY BOWE!!!!!

Team of the Week: Mid Iowa Rollers

The Iowa Pro Sports featured sports organization this week is the Mid Iowa Rollers!

About

Strength…. Strategy… Sweat. Sisterhood.
The Mid Iowa Rollers originated roller derby in the state of Iowa. And when it comes to sheer athleticism, determination and drive, MIR continues to blaze the way. A handful of enterprising women with a true passion for the sport  launched Mid Iowa Rollers in 2006. Since then, the team has grown exponentially – not only in fan and player numbers, but also in competitive performance, civic reputation and mentoring newer derby teams.

On and off the track, MIR is a blue-streak of positive force.
In 2010, MIR was physically unstoppable with an impressive 8-0 record – the state’s only undefeated derby team. With its acceptance as an apprentice league of the sport’s international governing body, WFTDA, and through its partnership with the Iowa Events Center, the Mid Iowa Rollers are always reaching for the next level… but they are focused on what they do best. And that’s playing women’s flat track roller derby.

In 2011, MIR went through a coaching change and began training under Hall of Fame Coach Mark Muse. Although the season started out slow, with the inception of new players and strategies, they finished stronger than ever! In the fall of 2011 MIR was accepted into the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) as a full Class B member of the South Central Region and have been working towards gaining momentum in the rankings ever since.

In 2012, MIR took on their inter-city rivals, the Des Moines Derby Dames in a much anticipated “Derby Supremacy” bout. Finally putting the speculations as to who was the better team to rest, MIR dominated the bout with a final score of 206-99.  MIR also won the rematch in September.  August 3rd, WFTDA released their Quarter 2 rankings and MIR debuted at an impressive #11, just a single step away from qualifying for Regionals. An honorable entrance for such a young team.

Keep up with the Mid Iowa Rollers at their website: http://www.midiowarollers.com/

On their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MidIowaRollers1?ref=ts

And on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MidIowaRollers1

Team of the Week: Dubuque Fighting Saints

This week's featured Iowa sports organization is the Dubuque Fighting Saints hockey team!

The Dubuque Fighting Saints are a Tier 1 junior ice hockey team that began play in the United States Hockey League (USHL) during the 2010 season. Home games are played at the Mystique Ice Center. The new team was named to honor the original Fighting Saints which played in the USHL from 1980 until 2001. Jim Montgomery serves as the team's head coach and general manager. Games are aired on KIYX, with Zack Fisch handling play-by-play. The Fighting Saints won the 2011 USHL Clark Cup after defeating the Green Bay Gamblers three games to one in the best-of-five finals.

Here's something fun!  They aren't call the Fighting Saints for nothing!  Here is their first trip to Des Moines to play the Des Moines Buccaneers back in 2010!   Welcome to the USHL!

You can learn more about the Fighting Saints at their website: http://www.dubuquefightingsaints.com/

Or follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fightingsaints

or Twitter: https://twitter.com/Fighting_Saints

Hawks 'n' Chiefs

If you're a fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Kansas City Chiefs like I am, your head is flat on one side from beating it on the wall every week and you're running towards downtown Des Moines, hoping for a fortuitous DART bus accident to put you out of your misery, but being the level-headed (pun intended) Hawk and Chief fan that I am I may have a solution to appease both fan bases.

Kirk Ferentz really is a good coach, despite the 2012 Iowa season.  More often than not, he is able to get the Hawkeyes to overachieve, but this season, the injuries, defections, and lack of overall talent is proving too much to overcome.  Fans seem more restless than usual and their patience has grown thin.  The calls to "fire Ferentz" are louder and more frequent this season than any other.  Perhaps it IS time for him to move on.  But to where?

Perhaps he would be a nice fit in Kansas City.  His style of play could make pretty much any team competitive, occasionally even the competition, which has been a large part of the criticism of the Ferentz-led Hawkeyes.  With the disparity of talent in college football, it drives most of fans crazy when Iowa beats a top-10 team by a touchdown and then squirts by an FCS team by a field goal or even a blocked field goal,.........or lose to them.  "Why not just crush the 'cream puffs' and play the good teams tough?"  It has been the definition of "playing down to your competition".  Either way, it has "worked" for the most part and over the years has resulted in wins by the Hawkeyes that were not expected but also some losses and close-calls that should not have been.

If you were to transplant this to the NFL, where there is much more parody and evenness of talent, add a stout defense, you could win a lot of games.  Winning games 7-6, 17-14, 24-21, or even 77-76 is perfectly acceptable in the NFL.  It's all about winning.  When the Hawkeyes eek out a win against a much inferior opponent, it feels like a loss to fans.  When the Chiefs eek out a win over anybody, even the no-good-stinkin'-lousy Raiders, it's a good day.

 The Chiefs are loaded with talent, but it does not seem that anyone on the coaching staff knows how to make it work.  Bad quarterback play, questionable to ridiculous play calling, plus a severe lack of discipline are all throwing gasoline on the dumpster fire that is the 2012 Kansas City Chiefs.  Kirk Ferentz's specialty is offensive line, which has been a weakness for the Chiefs for several years now.  His Iowa teams generally are well-disciplined, regardless of the opponent.  They historically don't turn the ball over very often and they don't get penalized a lot.  They're usually pretty solid in playing fundamental football and, more times than not, they win.   I am not on the "fire Ferentz" bandwagon yet, but if he had to go, I would like to see what he could do for the Chiefs.  I know a lot of fans are also calling for Pioli to be fired in KC, but maybe with the right coaching staff he could be salvaged.  The Chiefs defense has actually been pretty solid much of this season, but they need the offense to score points or at least hold on to the ball longer than a three and out.......or less.

Also, right now the Chiefs have more turnovers than touchdowns for the season and, at 1-7, are completely out of any chances to make the playoffs.  Why not give Stanzi a shot?  What could he possibly do that every other quarterback on the roster hasn't already done........except maybe win a game.  Tony Moeaki is already there.  Sign Marvin McNutt from the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad, (pay Bowe), start Stanzi.

It's practically a foregone conclusion that this Chiefs coaching staff will be history soon.  The Chiefs have become the laughing stock of all sports in this side of the Klingon Home World.  Might as well bring in a younger coach with some proven success and make two fan bases happy.....for a little while at least. 

Perhaps this whole blog can be summed up with a few hashtags for Twitter.  Just as long as we don't #Suck4Vandenberg

#FireFerentz #FireRomeo #HireFerentz #StanziTime #PayBowe

Team of the Week: Des Moines Blaze

Staying with the local champions theme I've kind of started the past couple of weeks, this week's Team of the Week is the Des Moines Blaze football club, 2011 and 2012 MFA champs!

The Des Moines Blaze is a founding member of the Midwest Football Alliance and is the 2-time winner of the MFA championship.  They also finished the 2012 season ranked #1 in the Semi-Pro BCS poll.

From desmoinesblaze.com:

The Des Moines Blaze was established to bring a permanent,  501(c)(4) non-profit, semi-professional adult men's football entity in the greater Des Moines area. Our focus is to create a stable, professionally maintained organization, positively interacting and affecting our community while putting a top notch, nationally recognized competitive team on the field.

We strive to give players a forum in which to develop, refine, and display their talents whether it be in hopes of advancement to the next level or simply to continue to pursue their passion for the game. We encourage our athletes to continue their personal development as well as pursuing their aspirations on the field, generating positive interpersonal relationships within the organization and the community.


Find out more about the Des Moines Blaze at www.desmoinesblaze.com

Follow them on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/DesMoinesBlaze

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/DesMoinesBlaze  

You can also check out video of the team in action on their Youtube channel:  Blaze Youtube

There is also an app to follow the MFA!  Check it out!
The official Midwest Football Alliance App is available

QUAD CITY RAIDERS HOST FIRST ANNUAL COMBINE

QUAD CITY RAIDERS HOST FIRST ANNUAL COMBINE

Rock Island, IL – October 23, 2011: The Quad City Raiders will host their first ever football combine from 3:00pm to 6:00pm on October 27th at the Rivers Edge sports complex in Davenport. This event is designed to mirror the NFL Scouting Combine that measures potential NFL players with six basic but critical workouts. Along with the professional staff from QC Barbell, the Raiders will measure athletes in the following workouts: 40 yard dash, 225 pound bench press, vertical jump, broad jump, 3 cone drill, and the shuttle run. Each of these workouts is specifically designed to measure strength, endurance, movement, speed and acceleration. For those that are looking to improve their combine results we will have staff from QC Barbell to discuss strength training, Apex Elite Fitness to discuss speed and cardiovascular training, and representatives from Take Shape For Life to discuss a weight loss solution.


Immediately following the combine, the Quad City Raiders will evaluate the athletes that are interested in joining the roster for the 2013 season. This will be an informal position review with new and returning players to see where they are with overall knowledge of their position as well as how they perform in a group setting.


The cost for new athletes is $45 at the event and $35 with preregistration at http://combine.qcraiders.com and $20.00 for returning players. Interested athletes can get more information at http://www.qcraiders.com or on our Facebook page.


The Quad City Raiders are a second year minor league football team that completed their first season by reaching the second round of the Midwest Football Alliance playoffs. Comprised of local players and coaches, the Raiders are member of the QCA community and participate in a schedule of events throughout the year.

Contact: James Tinney Tel: 563-940-0841
Website: Http://www.qcraiders.com
Email: jamestinney@qcraiders.com


If you'd like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with James Tinney, please e-mail at contact@qcraiders.com

Team of the Week: Your Mom Men's Roller Derby

This week's featured team is Your Mom Men's Roller Derby!

Many of you may be aware that there are several women's roller derby leagues around Iowa, but did you know there is also men's teams in Iowa?  Central Iowa's own Your Mom Men's Roller Derby is one of them!

Your Mom Men's Roller Derby recently won the MRDA - Gateway to the Best 2012 Championship!  You can read more about it here:   MRDA Championship: #1 Your Mom Edges #2 St. Louis, 136-135, for 2012 MRDA Title

Abput Your Mom:
YOUR MOM Men’s Roller Derby is an organization with a singular focus: Being the best and proving it. Please join us in 2012 as we embark on a journey to bring a Men’s Roller Derby Championship to Central Iowa! Our team includes skaters of all skill levels, from extremely dedicated beginners, to World Champion speed skaters. This year marks our second season as a member of the Men’s Roller Derby Association, the governing body for US Men’s Roller Derby.


 You can find out more about Your Mom Men's Roller Derby by visiting their website:  http://yourmommensderby.com/

And follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/YourMomMensRollerDerby

and Twitter at https://twitter.com/YourMomMRD

Congratulations to Your Mom on winning the 2012 MRDA championship!

Team of the Week: Des Moines Roosters

This week's featured organization is the Des Moines Roosters, Australian Football Club.

The Des Moines Roosters is Iowa's only Australian Football club! The team was formed in March of 2009, by 2 brothers and a native Australian who were not willing to let go of the sport they'd grown to love. As a relatively new team and sport to the area, the Roosters are always seeking new recruits, fans and volunteers to become a part of their community.

The Roosters have become more than just a team and are building the Australian Football culture here in Des Moines. The sport - difficult to compare to American sport, is governed by the USAFL - www.usafl.com and partners with its professional affiliate the AFL - www.afl.com.au. The Roosters compete against other midwest teams including the Minnesota Freeze, the Kansas City Power and the Milwaukee Bombers and will be competing in tournaments in Kansas City, and Madison.

Also, The Des Moines Roosters recently finished off their 2012 season by winning the USAFL Nationals Title Division IV with a tournament win-loss record  of 3-0!

Find out more about the Rooster and follow them at their website:  http://www.desmoinesroosters.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Des-Moines-Roosters/212343665459348

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DMRoosters

Team of the Week: Iowa Crush

This week's featured Iowa sports team is the Iowa Crush, women's football team!  Check them out!  Maybe YOU could be a member of the Iowa Crush organization!

The purpose of the Iowa Crush women's football team is to provide an opportunity for women to participate in predominantly male sport at a high level of competition nationally through the IWFL. Through sports, women are able to learn multiple life skills to not only apply on the field of play, but also in real life.  The Crush strive to give an example to our community as well as all Crush team members.

 In the 2013 season, the team will be looking to continue on their success in the 2012 season.  After a 4-4 regular season, the team lost in the first round of playoffs and look to improve on that in 2013. The team comes in with a strong group of veterans and a group of young, exciting rookies.

Also, the Iowa Crush are looking for more coaches for next season.  Contact them if you are interested in trying out for the team, or being part of the organization in any other capacity. 

Iowa Crush Looking for More Coaches


You can find out more about the Iowa Crush by visiting their website:  http://www.theiowacrush.com

Their Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/IowaCrushFootball

Or follow them on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/theiowacrush

American Gridiron Association Established

American Gridiron Association established

AGA League Staff - 10/3/2012

Football season:  a season that has some of the loudest and most boisterous followers.  Today, fans, participants, and local fanatics of the sport in the region should be excited to have football available to them on a near year round basis. Over the past few weeks, various entrepreneurs have met and discussed a venture to help perpetuate the excitement at the local level and have come up with what they feel is a real opportunity for communities across the Midwest to enjoy the sport outside of its traditional season. The solution is a new venture into the semi-pro level of football in the Midwest, and the creation of the American Gridiron Association.

The American Gridiron Association is a minor league football organization that provides its various members and individual franchises an opportunity for advancement and competition within their individual communities and the football world.  It is our ever striving goal to assist in the development of the franchise and player in accomplishing their own goals within the community as well the refinement of their own skills on the gridiron.  With several connections to various arena/indoor teams, agents, and other professional organizations, we believe this venture is a real opportunity for players to move from their small communities into the realm of professional football.

In the inaugural season of the AGA, it is the goal to have eight to twelve franchises throughout the state of Iowa and Nebraska with hopes of expanding throughout the Midwest into states such as Illinois, Minnesota, and Missouri. The Executive Committee of the AGA has been hard at work to incorporate a mixture of new and existing franchises for the first year, with intent of making it the most competitive minor league football league in the country. Several franchises have been voted in as the original charter members of the AGA, and all current and future members will announce their involvement on their own terms.

The AGA will follow the most current NFL rules and regulations as well as hold regular league meetings and continue oversight of the development of this venture. The first official meeting between owners and league executives will take place in mid-October with a mandatory owner’s meeting following soon after.
For any further information, check the AGA out online at www.americangridiron.org and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AmericanGridiron.

Team of the Week: North Iowa Bulls

Spotlight this week is on the North Iowa Bulls of the North American 3 Hockey League!

The North Iowa Bulls are a junior league hockey team based in Mason City, Iowa.  They just opened up their second season in the NA3HL in 2012.

From the Bulls' Facebook page:

The Bulls are a new member of the North Iowa Community. The Bulls plan to provide fans with good, wholesome family entertainment at affordable prices. Players are not paid and area host families are relied upon to provide a home for them while they are in town. In this way, the Bulls are truly a community team. The support we receive locally is vital to our existence, and we look forward to strengthening our partnership with community businesses, families and fans during the 2011-2012 season.

You can find out more about the Bulls at their website:  http://www.northiowabulls.com

Go and "like" their Facebook page! : https://www.facebook.com/northiowabulls

Follow them on Twitter!:  https://twitter.com/@NorthIowaBulls

Did the Refs make the right call on Monday Night Football? Perhaps

I don't have a dog in this hunt.

I know most people think the Packers were robbed of a win by the replacement refs, especially Packer fans, but I think it's possible that the officials made the correct call, and I'll tell you why.

For a little background, you may remember a little officiating controversy revolving around a "non-catch" that Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions made a couple of years ago.  Here it is:

To nearly everyone on the planet, this looked like a catch.  But according to NFL rules, Johnson did not "complete the process" of making the catch when he let go of the ball and ran out of bounds.  This became known as the "Calvin Johnson rule".  Apparently the guy who nick names rules was on vacation that week.

Flash forward to now.  Monday Night Football.  Seahawks vs. Packers.  Last play of the game.  Hail Mary! 

This was called simultaneous possession which is rewarded to the offense resulting in a game deciding touchdown for Seattle.  Oops?   Maybe not.  Let's look a little closer.

At this point, Jennings has his hands on the ball, but there can be no catch yet because he hasn't come down inbounds with both feet.  He's still up in the air.

Another view.

Only one foot down.  Still not a catch but both offensive and defensive players have hands on the ball.  You might even say Tate is the only one with possession at this point.

Another view.

Here you see both players with possession with the act of making the catch being complete.

Another view of both players on the ground with possession with the process of making a catch completed.

A lot of things can happen from the time the ball is first contacted to the time it is considered "caught".  I'm sure there is plenty of wrestling going on in the pile, but I cannot see anything that makes me think that the replacement referees made the wrong call on this play.  AND the NFL has come out in support of the call, mostly because of the inconclusive replay.  But at any rate, the game is official.  Seachickens win!

New Feature: Team of the Week!

Many of you may remember in the not so long ago that Iowa Pro Sports had a little talk show on the internet that was actually doing pretty well until a lack of funding forced the platform to reformat and after it came back, we were unable to continue.  On the show we would have a different guest each week, usually someone or a few someones from one of the local sports teams or organizations.

In that same spirit, Iowa Pro Sports is adding a new feature: Team of the Week.  We don't have the show anymore, but we still want to do what we set out to do and bring attention to the pro, semi-pro, and minor league sports scene that Iowa has to offer.  Each week we will pick a sports team, organization, athlete, whatever, and put the spotlight on them for the week, bringing you information, news, schedules, links, whatever.

So watch for it starting as early as next week!  Follow IowaProSports.com on the website, blog, Facebook, and Twitter!

As probably nobody knows, IowaProSports.com is a one-man operation.  I rely heavily on social media activity and rss feeds from the various sports teams, leagues, organizations to discover news and information daily, and even run across new teams, sports, leagues, and organizations once in a while in the process.  Never hesitate to post your stories, announcements, etc. to our Facebook page, and feel free to send me links to your websites and/or rss feeds.  You can even send your press releases directly to my inbox at iowaprosports@live.com .

Iowa Crush Looking for More Coaches

The Iowa Crush, Des Moines' original women's tackle football team, is looking for more coaches for the 2013 season.  If you or someone you know would like to be involved with this fantastic sports club as a coach or in any other capacity, please contact the Iowa Crush.  You can contact them via their website, http://www.theiowacrush.com/  .

Hawks vs Clones, T-Mac Wins, Coach Honored

It's that time again!  The biggest game in college football (around these parts anyway) is only days away.  Iowa vs. Iowa State!   Hawkeyes or Cylcones?  Who is it going to be? I will be cheering for the Hawkeyes, cause that's just how I roll, but my head is telling me that Iowa State will win this one.  My biggest fear is that it won't even be close. Judging from last weekend's games, the Hawkeyes, and their fans, look like they're in for a long season.  The Cyclones, however, managed to roll up some offense, albeit on lowly Tulsa.  But still, if Iowa's defense plays like they did last week and Iowa State's offense plays like they did last week, it could be ugly for the Hawkeyes.  But the team that both of these squads may need to look out for is the UNI Panthers, who took a big, bad Wisconsin Badger team to the final bell, only to fall less than a touchdown short of pulling off the huge upset.  Anyone who has the Panthers on their schedule will NOT be overlooking them now.

The 2012 Lucas Oil Cup Series Season Championships at Knoxville Raceway saw an amazingly close points battle but it was the track veteran Terry McCarl claiming is seventh track championship at his home track edging out Davey Heskin by a mere 11 points.  T-Mac is now just one track championship shy of the all-time record which is held by Danny "The Dude" Lasoski.  Oh, and by the way, McCarl also managed to win the track championship at Huset's Speedway over the weekend as well, beating out his own son, Austin, for the title.

Over the Labor Day weekend, I was able to attend a field dedication for my old baseball coach, Dave Jauron.  He retired years ago, but had been coaching at Essex High School in Essex, Iowa since 1962.  Not only did he coach baseball, but he also coached football, track, and basketball; pretty much every sport the school offered.  He was the only coach  to ever take teams to state in 4 sports.  He also coached the 1965 "Cubs" youth baseball team that won the state championship and was presented with a baseball bat signed by surviving members of that team who were in attendance.  The field, now known as Jauron Field, looked absolutely perfect that night, from the MLB-style backstop to the perfectly formed mound and bleach-white bases, to the green grass of the outfield and the newly-remodeled dugouts.  It really is one of the best ball fields in the state, due mainly to Coach Jauron and the 15+ hour days he would put in to make sure the field and the players were always ready to go.  During the dedication, the Coach hit a brief infield practice to some of the 1965 Cub players who were willing to do it. (FYI Coach Jauron is in his seventies and still looks like he could be coaching full time.)  After the dedication, they held a "home run derby" for alumni who had played for Coach Jauron.  I played for him from 1986-1988, so of course I had to give it a shot. (I actually hit pretty well).  I didn't win, but by all accounts from those in attendance......I was robbed.  ;)

If you're ever driving by Essex (which is about all most people do), located along highway 48 between Red Oak and Shenendoah, make sure you check out Jauron field, the Jewel of Southwest Iowa. 

Coach Jauron at the Jauron Field dedication

New Iowa Pro Sports!

Finally! After weeks and weeks and weeks and weeks of technical difficulties with domain transfers, Iowa Pro Sports.com is fully active in its new home!

There are many new features on this version of the website but we're still going to bring you as much news and information about the pro, semi-pro, minor league, junior league sports, teams, and athletes from around Iowa as we can dig up. As always it's a work in progress. I'll be adding new feeds and links whenever I find them.

Sign up for the message board, suggest articles, send me your press releases, even buy Iowa Pro Sports apparel from the new apparel store! And don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter! And if anyone is interested in sponsoring Iowa Pro Sports.com just shoot me an email or message me via social media.

Feel free to use Iowa Pro Sports as a vehicle to promote your sport or team!

New Website!

If you've been trying to check out iowaprosports.com lately, you have probably been having problems viewing it. The reason is that I'm undergoing a migration and it isn't running very smoothly. In fact, I have resorted to some drastic measures in order to get the site back up and running. The result is that iowaprosports.com will likely have a whole new look when it is available again. Actually, I think it looks a little better, but there are some limitations with the new host so I'll be playing with stuff for a while, even after it's live again. It shouldn't be too much longer now! Keep the faith!