Gridiron action kicks off this Saturday with Meet the Bulldogs

Football fans have been waiting for months now for the start of the new season and their wait is nearly over – this Saturday night you will get the chance to get your first look at the boys in blue who will take the field this season with the Meet the Bulldogs, tailgate style.

The team, cheerleaders and band will all be showcasing their talents in the event that gets underway at 6:00 p.m. at Bulldog Field. Only $5 at the gate includes the meal – your choice of grilled hamburger or two hotdogs, chips and a drink (desserts will be separate).

The fun-filled night will end with a bonfire that should get fans fired up for the August 22 opener at Pickett County (7:00 p.m.) On another football note, CCHS Athletic Director Mike Beard has informed us that the Trimble County matchup slated for Friday, August 29, has been changed to a home game at Bulldog Field – again with a 7:00 p.m. kickoff.

Big, big showcase event for Kentucky

Like several golf players/fans from this area, I spent some time in Louisville this past week attending what was Kentucky’s premier sporting event of the summer – the final major tournament on the PGA tour this season, the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club.

I’ve been to my share of sporting events, including two previous pro tournaments at Valhalla down through the years (yes, and even one NASCAR race because I wanted to give even that “sport” a fair chance), but I really can’t remember when I’ve ever attended an event that was so well organized from start to finish for the day.

Everything was just as the event organizers said it would be, from the complimentary parking at Papa John’s Stadium, the 30 minute bus ride to the course, a short – really short – walk from the bus exit to the main gate, and then of course the experience on the course itself.

We – myself and two sons, Brett and Joe – lucked out in having tickets to Thursday’s opening round of play as it turned out. We were able to view the entire field before the cut was made prior to Saturday’s round, and the weather for watching golf, or playing for that matter, was absolutely perfect.

Overcast and breezy, with a few moments of sunshine breaking through, not too hot and not too humid.

Fans attending on Friday were in for a different story, however, as they suffered through rainy conditions that left the course – and the fan viewing area, a mess.

Of course those attending Sunday’s final round suffered through even more horrid conditions after an early downpour left the course an even worse mess.

But our experience on Thursday watching the best of the best battle it out for one of the top 70 cut spots was top notch.

Funny thing about golf – watching a good basketball game really doesn’t make me want to lace up the old Chuck Taylors and hit the court, and if I have to endure a few laps of NASCAR, I really don’t want to drive fast and turn left or at least drive any faster than I normally do.

But attending a PGA event like last week’s championship always makes me want to grab the clubs and head out to the course – something I haven’t had the chance yet to do since returning from Louisville. I’m betting that after the conclusion of last week’s Valhalla event, golf round numbers will be on the rise in the Bluegrass state for the next few weeks.

I don’t expect the scores to improve much, at least not in my case, but I do expect the number of rounds played to take a big jump.

Seeing the best of the best play the game and getting to view one of the very best manicured facilities in the world was definitely a fun and special event. Experiencing a chance brush with Tiger when he was where he shouldn’t have been was pretty neat as well.

All of that said – the real highlight of the entire trip was being one-third of a group of family golfers – dad and two sons – taking it all in together.

Fore!