ADVENTURE SPORTS BY WINA STURGEON 7/23
Is the Salt Lake Tribune sexist?
That's what many are wondering, after the Trib published a big story on the "25 Most Powerful Utahns In Sports."
Of course, Larry Miller was the top powerful dog, which he probably would be even if he didn't pay thousands of bucks a week to buy ads in the newspaper. But of the top 25, only two were women, and both of them were athletes. Not business owners like Gordon Morton, XanGo founder, #24 because he "sponsors major events," or Matthew Godfrey, mayor of Ogden, # 10 because he is "Instrumental in raising city's profile." The two women chosen were Ute gymnast Ashley Postell, #25, and ski racer Julia Mancuso, #20, who is not even a Utahn.
Surely the Trib could have found another woman or two who is just as important in sports as, say, # 23's Craig Thompson, MWC commissioner (two bucks to the first person who can tell me what MWC is).
NASCAR MOVES IN AND OUT OF UTAH
Maybe it was the weather: 104 degrees. Maybe it was the field, 21 lower level drivers most NASCAR fans never heard of. But since the NASCAR Grand National West 150 race was held at Miller Motorsports Park a week and a half ago, nothing's been heard of the event or the drivers.
However, there was a "Celebrity Race," as there usually is before a big event at a race track. This race was won by celebrity Jim Cooksey, a radio show host. Two athletes who are real celebrities came in third and fourth: bobsledders Mike Kohn and Shauna Rohbock. Mike is now coaching, 2006 Olympic medalist Shauna is still competing. Props to Miller Motorsports Park for at least bringing a whiff of NASCAR to Utah.
MAN WHO KNOWS MITT WON'T TALK
Remember Tom Welch? He was the guy who got hosed out of the top job in the 2002 Olympics. (It always happens to the first top guy in every Olympic Committee. Coincidence? I think not!)
Tom knows Mitt Romney, and knows quite a bit about Mitt. But he's not talking. When a reporter called to talk to Tom, he was very friendly and accommodating until the reporter asked him about Romney. CLICK! Welsh hung up, and would not answer the phone for the reporter again. In fact, MUM could be Welch's middle name.
BIBLE OF THE SPORT MOVES TO SALT LAKE
The magazine Ski Racing has been nicknamed "the Bible of the sport" because it has so much inside info and latest news about snow sports. The publication has moved to Salt Lake from it's previous Colorado home.
"It's a better location for us," says editor Sam Flickinger. Of course, he must be talking about the fact that governing body U. S. Ski and Snowboard Association is here, right? He couldn't possibly mean that the move has anything to do with the fact that Utah has the best snow in the world, and the mountains are only about 40 minutes away rather than the hour and a half to two hour drive they are in Colorado.
See ya on the slopes, Sam!
OLYMPIC CHAMP WORKS AT OLYMPIC PARK
Tristan Gale was called the "sweetheart of the Games" back in 2002, when she won the gold medal in skeleton. Now she's back at the place of her glory.
Tristan is working the athlete's desk at the Utah Olympic Park in Park City. It's a full time job. She is also studying art at the University of Utah---full time.
"I don't have a life at all," Tristan says with a half smile. But she is also one of the attractions at UOP; if you're up there, stop in and say hi.
NON-SPORTING THOUGHT
When you buy gas, do it in the morning and get more for your money.
Gas expands in heat. That means the same amount of gas will have more volume in the afternoon and evening, especially from the hell-like temps we've been having for the past few months. Since the heat cools off a little overnight, the gas will shrink back down, and you will get a larger amount of the expensive liquid for the same amount of money if you fill your tank in the morning.