Last month we attended Ani-Me Con in Fresno and it was a blast. The person responsible for putting that Con on was Rick Thor Phoeung, who is also the CEO of TVN Sports & Collectibles, which opened in 1996. Recently we chatted with Rick about the store and Ani-Me Con.
On the heels of a 2022 Division 1/Central Section boys soccer championship, Reedley High School opened up their doors to the public and media to show off an array of additions and improvements to athletic facilities. While many districts reeled from and scrambled to keep up with the myriad of problems that a pandemic caused over the last two years, Kings Canyon Unified kept its cool, addressed the needs of all students throughout a very stressful period, and decided to capitalize on the opportunities that some aspects of pandemic life presented.
Sports drinks are becoming increasingly popular. There are actually several different drinks that are generally grouped together as sports drinks. The key factor in defining a sports drink is that it is high in carbohydrates, effectively allowing it to provide an energy boost while helping to keep you hydrated.
The Fresno State Bulldogs football team beat Nevada 34-32 on October 23. The game featured the two-highest scoring teams in the conference. The teams combined for 984 yards of total offense. The Bulldogs (6-2 overall, 3-1 Mountain West) snapped a two-game losing streak to the Wolf Pack (5-2, 2-1) and lead the all-time series 30-22-1. Quarterback Jake Haener completed 26 of 38 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns. Jordan Mims filled in for starter Ronnie Rivers who didn’t play in the second half due to an injury.
If you love the settings of movies like The Horse Whisperer or A River Runs Through It, you have likely dreamt of living in the wilds of one of the most beautiful states in the U.S.A.: Big Sky Country—Montana. At least during the summer months, it seems like an idyllic place to live, be a kid, and experience rural life to the fullest. No one would argue that growing up in suburban towns, urban centers, and even the mega metropolis of a place like New York City don’t give folks these unique opportunities and perspectives.
People in the Central Valley are odd when it comes to their perceptions about the Valley. This is an area where the youth beg to leave to experience life whether it be going to college, traveling, finding a career, and the list goes on. They have good reasons to depart, and no one really enjoys the heat much. But yet, at the same time, no matter how long people are a way from the area, people always find a way to come back. Whether to visit or move back. The famous line is true, “There’s no place like home.” And for Demetrius Porter, he would agree.
The majority of us have dreams of traveling the world. There’s so much out there we want to see. So many different cultures, customs, beliefs, ways of life, food, the list goes on. Those dreams are usually dashed by the aesthetic that is “so little time” to do all the things we want to do and see. For adults, more often than not, it’s our obligations—mostly our jobs and careers—and the time we dedicate to those commitments that don’t make room to travel. Another fantasy to add to that list is playing professional sports.
For most coaches, the difference between good and great will be based on their understanding of what it takes to fulfill the role. In order to be a great sports coach, which of course is someone who truly improves those who they are coaching, a fine balance of abilities needs to be struck.
The year 2020 has undoubtedly been a rough one for everybody. I don’t need to make a list of what has transpired during the last few months that hasn’t already been talked about, and thrown in our faces every day. It’s been quite an adjustment for all the people who have had to cope with just existing in this first year of the new decade. Some have found a way to thrive; some, unfortunately, have had a tough time. There are those who are just taking it day by day, and taking the good with the bad. For Valley resident and Olympic BMX rider, Brooke Crain, this year has been one heck of a ride.
The Covid-19 lockdown has been one heck of a roller coaster ride for most Americans. The ones who are most definitely feeling the effects of this quarantine are the mentally ill. Mental health issues are rising among adults during the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. The facts are disheartening. From June 24 to 30, the CDC reports that U.S. adults reported mental health conditions in higher numbers due to COVID-19; out of more than 5,000 respondents who were contacted in late June, 25.5% of adults between the ages of 18-24 reported having “seriously considered suicide” due to the pandemic.
