SPORTS
MyEagleNews.com
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
A9
SHOOTING THE BREEZE
Bend’s Tommy Ford is headed
What kind of hunter are you, anyway?
to his third Winter Olympics
By MARK MORICAL
The Bulletin
BEND — A little more than a
year after suff ering a devastating
knee injury and being airlifted from
a Swiss mountainside, Bend skier
Tommy Ford is writing the ultimate
comeback story: He’s headed to his
third Winter Olympics.
Ford, 32 and a lifelong Bend res-
ident, was included among the six
men named to the U.S. Olympic
Alpine Team by U.S. Ski & Snow-
board on Friday, Jan. 21. The Beijing
Games are set for Feb. 4-20, and the
men’s giant slalom, Ford’s specialty,
is scheduled for Feb. 13.
Ford has reached the Olympics
again after enduring four surgeries
and a concussion he is still recover-
ing from.
“This is such a cool opportunity!”
Ford was quoted in a Friday press
release from U.S. Ski and Snow-
board. “I’m stoked to be a part of the
team. It is freeing to be able to do
what I know how to do with the sup-
port of those who believe in it.”
Ford’s nomination to the team
comes as somewhat of a surprise
because he has not raced at all on the
World Cup this season. In fact, he has
not raced a World Cup since Jan. 9,
2021, when he had a horrifi c crash in
Adelboden, Switzerland, in the midst
of a banner year. He was knocked
unconscious and suff ered signifi cant
injuries to his knee, wrist and head.
The past year has been a painful,
often emotional challenge for Ford,
who has dealt with bouts of depres-
sion while simultaneously rehabil-
itating his knee so he can return to
racing.
Before the crash, Ford had posted
four World Cup top-10 results in
giant slalom in the 2020-21 season,
including a podium fi nish. He was on
his way to one of the best seasons of
his long career.
Ford said he tore two ligaments in
his right knee, broke his tibial plateau
and tore his meniscus. After his sur-
geries, he spent most of the off season
home in Bend recovering.
“I’m feeling more and more nor-
mal,” Ford said in an interview with
The Bulletin one month ago. “I’m
able to ski in a comfortable way, and
I’m just trying to push back into some
training and run some gates. The
knee’s been feeling really good and
responding really well to training.”
Ford was fi rst able to get back on
snow in mid-November at the U.S.
Ski Team training camp in Copper,
Colorado.
I
like to do some backpack hunt-
ing, but a friend was telling
me about a great deer hunt we
should do. We only
needed to hike
in 10 miles. That
was an immediate
“Nope!”
I’m going to
leave that type of
hunt up to the guys
Rod
I like to call “Navy
Carpenter
Seal hunters.” I’m
just not that crazy.
And, to be honest, I don’t think you
need to be in order to have a good
hunt. Now, if that is your jam, if
you thrive on that kind of punish-
ment, then by all means, carry on.
However, the hunting world
needs all kinds of hunters. We don’t
all need to be putting on 12 miles
a day, skipping from peak to peak,
for seven days in a row.
When I was young, I gave that
a try, but today I prefer to use more
brains and less legs. It cuts down on
my Advil consumption.
One of my hunting buddies puts
up a comfortable wall tent camp
complete with stove and shower.
For him, the camping is as much a
part of the trip as the hunting.
Another friend loves his horses.
Contributed Photo
The author, having fun.
Hunting is an excuse to be out
packing in the mountains. I’m
not sure he even cares if he kills
anything.
There is nothing wrong with
being a weekend warrior, either.
Maybe you’re not into hunting days
on end. A day here or a day there is
all you need. Maybe even just some
mornings or afternoons. Nothing
wrong with that as long as you’re
having fun.
These days it seems like all the
O utlook
SENI
R
Welcome to
the frontier!
That’s what the
governmental
deciders have
Rose Coombs
designated us
now. We are
no longer rural. We are more than that! We are
frontier! Why? Who knows… But don’t you feel
special? You have been noticed! Which recalls the
statement, “Space. The Final Frontier.” Hmmm.
Well, we do have space – between houses, between
towns, between people. It’s called ‘elbow room.’
And I love it!
Okay, back to business. The sponsor of the meal
was Joel Coombs General Contractor. And we
had sauerkraut and franks, potato salad, pears, and
apple crisp for dessert. And the sponsor was even
here to get a meal! Thanks to cook Pam for these
great meals. Which brings up the question: what’s
the difference between franks, wieners, and hot
dogs? Only answer I got was the size. Okay. Now I
know and so do you.
Our volunteers included Tom, Pam, Pam, Ginger,
Mary, Carlos, Gwynne, and Del. We really had a
‘Pam’ demic today with 3 Pams in the building!
Thanks to all our volunteers.
We had our monthly board meeting also and that’s
where we found out that we were on the frontier.
There are grants for such as we to help in our
endeavors to provide a place for senior meals. Now
if the government regulators would let us have in-
Prairie City
Seniors
Looks like the
first month of
the year 2022 is
coming to a close
already! Wow,
Soo Yukawa
time is just flying
by. I don’t know
everything that is going on in the world. Since I
don’t have TV, I don’t always hear the depressing
news of what is going on. I think it is a good thing.
Mostly, I try and keep my eyes focused on the Lord.
As I put my trust in Him, I have nothing to fear.
Our cooks were Carrie Jewell and Rebecca Grassl.
They made us a hearty meal of spaghetti, garlic
bread, fresh green salad, and sugar cookies for
our dessert. You know I just had to get a second
serving. It was a good meal and we thank our
cooks. We appreciate them so much.
Our greeters at the table were Kristi Guimont
and Linda Blakeslee. Kristi and Linda checked in
all the guests, counted up the money, filled out the
paperwork. Kristi made the announcements and
yours truly prayed the blessing over the meal.
We had 23 guests dining in and 24 takeouts.
Bingo will be held the last Saturday of the month
at 6 p.m. There will be a potluck in between the
games. Hope you can join in on the fun.
I want to give a shout-out of thanks to Mr.
Peter Jorgensen of Eugene for his donation to the
Monument Senior Center of $75. We appreciate
your interest and support of our community center.
The snow outside is either really slushy or very
crunchy and slippery. I’ve almost lost my footing a
few times, but luckily, I did not fall on my butt yet.
Ha. I just thank the Lord for the snow. We will take
Monument
Seniors
house dining – like the restaurants can do. Enough
said.
Got a letter from The New Yorker magazine.
Yeah, yeah. I get letters all the time from all kinds
of entities. But this one is different. They do
want me to subscribe, but I get – hold on to your
hat – a professional discount! Of 88%! Boy do I
feel special. After all, the magazine costs $450 a
year. (Cough, cough.) But I can get 26 weeks for
only $26. There was a note that said: “In order to
guarantee that we reach the audience we are meant
to serve, the Publisher has authorized us to offer
THE NEW YORKER to selected professionals
at a special rate.” Did you get that? ‘Selected
Professionals’ – out here on the frontier. And
‘audience we are meant to serve.’ Gives one pause
doesn’t it? Just what kind of ‘audience’ would that
be? Can they even find me on a map? So they made
my day. I can now call myself a ‘Professional’ …
something. Did all the columnists of the BME get
such a letter? Should I put this in my scrapbook?
Started a new book about Yogi Berra, the man
of unusual statements. Here are a couple: “Be
careful if you don’t know where you’re going in life,
because you might not get there.” “If the world was
perfect, it wouldn’t be.” Now those are words from
a professional!
Luke 21:15 “For I will give you words and wisdom
that none… will be able to resist or contradict.”
Luke 21:33 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but
My words will never pass away.”
it! I pray that it melts slowly into the ground and
then we get another snowfall. That is just what we
need out here.
It looks like Scotty knows that he gets to eat his
grain outside the pen and Belle eats hers in the pen.
He comes right out and knows where to go for
his grain. I guess the little stinker is smart. Here I
thought he had such dull, innocent eyes!
Ha. He sure fooled me. He is a greedy little piggy,
though. He would hog up all the grain for himself
if I let him.
The other day, after Scotty had finished his grain
and he and Belle were following me around, I saw
Scotty’s big, round, fat tummy. So, I bent over and
patted his sides, saying, “Oh, my goodness, look
at your big fat tummy!” Well, I guess I squeezed a
little too hard because the next thing I know, little
pellets came out of his back end! Ha. Well, I don’t
think he is starving at all. I really like that both
Belle and Scotty follow me around and come when
I call them.
Acts 2: 17-21 And it shall come to pass in the last
days, saith the Lord, I will pour out My Spirit upon
all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and
your old men shall dream dreams: and on My servants
and on My handmaidens I will pour out in those
days of My Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will
show wonders in heaven above, and signs on the earth
beneath, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. The
sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into
blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord
come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall
call on the Name of the Lord, shall be saved.
hype and advertising suggests that
if you’re not an archery hunter or
able to nail a gnat at 700 yards,
then by golly, you’re just not much
of a hunter. If you settle for a buck
less than 200 inches or a 350 bull,
then you just don’t have what it
takes.
What a load of bull dust.
Hunting is supposed to be recre-
ation, not a contest. It is supposed
to be fun. You want to take a forky
with grandpa’s .32 special? Carry
on. You really want to exert your-
self and hold down a camp chair
and keep the fi re going for the
crew? Be my guest.
There is room for all types of
(law-abiding) folks in the hunting
community.
That guy nursing the fi re isn’t
being lazy, and that guy that was on
Strawberry this morning and is now
on Aldrich isn’t crazy. They are just
having fun.
Don’t let some YouTube expert
or ad executive dictate what kind of
hunter you are. Do whatever trips
your trigger.
What kind of hunting do you
like to do? Let us know at shoo-
tingthebreezebme@gmail.com.
Rod Carpenter is a husband,
father and huntin’ fool.
BIOSMILE
Family, Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry
165 NW 1st St., John Day
541-575-0363
Open
Monday-Thursday
DrJ@BiosmileDental.com
We offer a wide range of primary
care and medical treatment.
Zachary Bailey, MD • David Hall, MD • Raffaella Betza, MD
Zachary Bailey, MD • Janessa Sickler, DO • Emily Lieuallen, DO
• Janessa
DO • Emily
DO
James Cook,
FNP • Sickler,
Erika Adams,
FNP-C Lieuallen,
• Caitlin MacCoun,
MD
• Nora Jennings,
Healey, FNP
Clark, DNP
Brian
MD • Shawna
Robyn Jennings,
MD
Available Monday - Friday
180 Ford Road, John Day • 541-575-0404
Huffman’s
SELECT
MARKETS
Quality Healthcare ...close to home.
170 Ford Road
John Day
541-575-1311
112 E. 5th
Prairie City
541-820-3341
422 W. Main, 1st floor • John Day
If you have any questions or think you
know of someone who might benefit,
call: 541 575.1648
241 S. Canyon Blvd. John Day • 541-575-0529
T roy Hanson - Funeral Director
S278794-1