Just saw where the Powerball lotto is up around 150 million dollars. Not a bad little tax problem to have I must say for a dollar “investment”. I rarely play but for some reason it will occasionally grab my attention and dollars. I don’t even pretend it goes to public education any more. I just figure I’m buying a “dream” and paying a “stupid tax”.

Let’s say today though that you did hit the lotto and suddenly had the kind of millions to bestow on Texas Tech that many Red Raiders wish they had. I hear a lot saying that if Tech had a T. Boone Pickens the school would get a lot more out of it than Oklahoma State has so far. . .

So, what would you do with your cash? What would you fund at Texas Tech? Would it be sports-related? Would you do something for the school or college you got your major in? I’m interested to see how creative y’all can get with this today.

Don’t forget that if you live outside the Hubbaplex you can catch our show every day live via www.1340thefan.com where you can also download the smart phone app for SportsRadio 1340 The Fan. I also encourage all of you to give our podcast a FREE TRIAL right now. That’s the best way to never miss a segment, an interview or any discussions about your Red Raiders, Lubbock and West Texas news. Click on any podcast on the front page of our site and begin the journey.

Have a great Sunday and we’ll talk to you on the radio come Monday.

Ryan Hyatt

I had no idea growing up what Rodney Allison or Rick Bullock sounded like. I didn’t know that Jim Carlen had a southern drawl or that Gerald Myers voice could get high-pitched when he got fired up. I didn’t need to. I had Texas Tech play-by-play voice Jack Dale providing all the description I needed, giving life and color and personality to all those Tech greats and more. Jack was Texas Tech sports to me growing up, more than any player or coach ever could be. For over 50 years, Jack Dale was the common thread that ran through all Texas Tech fans, more than any player or single moment ever could. Jack was Texas Tech.

Jack passed away Friday night at age 79.  I still have a hard time typing it, let alone believing it.

Like nearly any Texas Tech fan over the past half-century I grew-up listening to Jack call Red Raider sports. I was already at Texas Tech as a student working at the campus station, KTXT, calling games and doing sports casts before I even realized that there was another way to do play-by-play on the radio. It is a good thing I heard some others around the country like Brad Sham or Frank Fallon because I had quickly realized that there was no way one could match Jack Dale in the play-by-play department. After calling a few games I was convinced I would have to get out of the business because I had no chance of doing it the way Jack did it, which was and is the gold standard.

Luckily folks around here were forgiving of the rest of us and realized there could only be one Jack.

For me, my earliest memories listening to Jack take me back to my bedroom as a kid growing up in Amarillo and Canyon. Somewhere along the way I found a little plastic basketball goal with a little ball. I taped the goal on the wall above my desk and I’d listen to Jack call Texas Tech games and I’d play along. When the Red Raiders would shoot, I’d shoot. I’d get frustrated when my shots didn’t go “up and in!” as often as the Red Raiders did.

It was there in my room, so many nights and afternoons that I heard Jack craft the perfect word-picture of Texas Tech sports. Whether it was Gerald Myers teams on the court or the Red Raiders on the turf of Jones Stadium, the real thing could hardly compare to what Jack brought to us over the airwaves. Somewhere along the way, I must have picked up enough of Jack’s love for Tech that I would not only go there, but also get into broadcasting myself.

I first met Jack when I was working as a student at KTXT. One of the perks of the job was that you could go cover the regular Monday morning presser at the Letterman’s Lounge at Jones Stadium featuring coaches and players. To the veteran reports of print, radio and TV, this was a dreaded “have to” assignment. For us kids it meant FREE Whataburger and the chance to rub elbows with folks that might actually give us a JOB someday.

I remember in the late 80′s sitting in awe each week that I got to do this. Each week you could count on Jack to be there as well. Jack was perfect during some of those rough times when either Gerald Myers would have a struggling squad ( all too often those days ) or Spike Dykes would be peeved about something Norval Pollard or Don Williams had written in the A-J. ( all too often in those days )

When things would get a little tense or down you could count on the elder statesmen in Jack to come through with a good question or a line that would help the coaches relax or give them something positive to say. It was a trait in Jack that I would just be beginning to see. Not just the great broadcaster, the man that so many looked up to for what he did on the air, but rather the human, compassionate, considerate and gentlemanly side of Jack that I’d come to appreciate so much more as the years would go by.

I could bore you with story after story of working with Jack, of launching SportsRadio 1340 The Fan as Lubbock’s first all-sports station in 1996 or simply of just being around the man, but we’d be here for a long time if I did that so I’ll try and focus on a few that illustrate the man.

Jack was kind enough in 1990 to give me a huge shot calling play-by-play on KFYO. At the time I’d been calling Lady Raider games on KTXT and KJAK-FM (thanks Woody!) but I was still pretty raw even if I was passionate about it. My toughest job was to try and not rip off Jack’s signature calls too much.

At the time the SWC still played double-headers with the women playing at 5 and the men at 7p.m. KFYO had the rights to the Lady Raider road games back then so Jack would announce the women’s game first then call the men’s game. Imagine that! That spring at the SWC Tournament the Lady Raiders would have a conflict in start times for their semi-final game against Texas while the men were in a “play-in” game with Texas A&M. Kermit Davis anyone?

So, that Monday before the tournament, Jack asked me after the Monday presser if I’d be interested in going to Dallas and calling the Lady Raider game on KFYO. Everything after that sorta became a blur. For a college kid, it was like getting called up to the Majors. I remember standing in the parking lot North of Jones Stadium and Jack saying that I’d need a little money to cover expenses and whatnot. At that point it hadn’t even dawned on me that I’d get paid! As I’m standing there, Jack proceeds to pull out his wallet and peel off about four 100 dollar bills.

I just stood there staring at them. I hadn’t seen a lot of 100 dollar bills growing up. I just kinda looked at him and stood there, not reaching to take them as they were offered. Finally, Jack cleared his throat a bit and nicely asked, “will that be enough?”.  I finally snapped out of my trance and said, “thank you, of course!”, and began to figure out whether my car could make it to Dallas or not. . .

Later that week I would call the Lady Raider’s first ever victory over the Texas Lady Longhorns.

The confidence that Jack Dale gave me that week would stay with me for a long time. The friendship he’d give me in the coming years will stay with me for a lifetime however.

Luckily, I got to know Jack the person as opposed to just Jack the broadcaster. As great as he was on the mic, you’d never know it from his eg0-less nature and his humble ways. I think he was uncomfortable as the years went on as he became icon-status. To Jack, I think it just meant that he’d been doing the games a long time, not that he meant so much to so many Texas Tech fans.

Above all else, Jack would be disappointed if I didn’t say that his greatest legacy was his Christian faith. Pure. Simple. Jack didn’t need to make a show of it, because he lived it. To his last days it is what will define him for me. Not the great calls, the landmark moments he captured for generations of Tech fans, not any of that. It will simply be that he didn’t allow any of that to affect him and his devotion to his Lord, his wife and his family.

As we worked together over the past two decades there a re numerous times I will remember when Jack would offer me great advice. Not about broadcasting but about life.

When he heard I was going to be a father he came to me with some great Scripture and gave me some words about being a Dad and a Husband that were perfect. When my grandmother was dying and he saw how it was affecting me, we prayed together one afternoon in our studio. When I saw him for the last time Friday morning he was more interested in my son’s karate classes than he was in talking about him. He was without ego, he was at ease with his departure from this life because he knew he was going to his just reward, his Eternal Peace.

My wish is for Texas Tech fans and others to know that all of us in this business were just like you all. We were in awe of Jack’s talents and we loved his passion for not just the Red Raiders, but for doing a high-quality job because the game, the players and the coaches deserved that effort.  We all appreciated the fact that Jack’s consideration from others made him the rare announcer that wasn’t combative or opinionated. He hated that aspect of the call-in show and the “modern media” I think. He had too much respect for people to be that way. Our business could use a lot more of that these days. I know I could still stand to learn from Jack on that aspect of “doing our job”.

We’ll lay Jack to rest Tuesday, but make no mistake; he’ll live on in all of the lives he touched, from his closest family members and friends, his co-workers and fellow broadcasters and even those fans that only heard his voice come crackling in over the airwaves for nearly 60 years. He’ll live on because he is Forever’s Voice of The Red Raiders.

As for me, thanks to Jack Dale, I can always be that little kid sitting in his room at his desk playing basketball right along with his heroes.  Thanks not just for the memories Jack, thank you for giving them meaning.

Ryan Hyatt

I’ve fought grass fires. I’ve seen the destruction they do to land and property.  I’ve even driven around on days when some folks were out partying just to make sure they weren’t setting stuff on fire that didn’t belong to them. I abhor the selfishness that some folks display on the July 4th holiday when it comes to fireworks and firecrackers.

For those reasons I’m am pleased that most of the State of Texas is under a No Fireworks edict. Don’t do it. Don’t let your friends do it. Report anyone you see doing it to the Police!

With that in mind, let’s play finish the sentence. The best answer gets a 50$ Gift Card to Rudy’s Country Store and BBQ!

Anyone who sets off fireworks in or around Lubbock this weekend is ______________?

Y’all have fun.

Be Safe.

Hyatt

McIlroy has all the makings of the young star golf needs right now. No matter what happens Sunday, he’ll be a big story.

That said, who are some of the other people in sports, athletes, coaches, announcers, owners, you name it; that you really find interesting? What is it about them that you find compelling?

Tell us here and we’ll use your best answers on the show come Monday.

In the meantime, enjoy your Saturday and stay out of the heat here in West Texas. Just brutal out there today!

Hyatt

Who are some of the other

5 THINGS WE KNOW ON A FRIDAY

1.  I don’t care what his ranking is or where he is on the leader board at the U.S. Open right now. The person I’d least like to play for cash would be Phil Mickelson. He’d end up driving my convertible away from the bar I’m afraid.

2.  While I’d still have no problem if Nolan Ryan replaced Ron Washington at any time, the biggest cog still missing from last year to this year for the Rangers is Clint Hurdle. I think he brought something to that clubhouse much more than just letting guys know there was something called the “opposite field”.

3.  It is great to have Texas Tech Basketball legend Bubba Jennings back in the fold after all these years, uh I mean months. . . er, days? No. Seriously, I think it is great that new coach Billy Gillispie didn’t feel like he had to reinvent the wheel at Tech the way so many coaches do when they come to a losing program. Sometimes you have to look around and realize you have some great people that may not be being utilized the best way or even in the right job spot. Business folks could take a less from that as well.

4. The Windy Man sculpture is back in Lubbock. Surely this means we’ll get no rain and be punished even harder right? Of course if it rains this weekend. . .

5.  Dale Earnhardt Jr. is gonna win at Michigan again. It just isn’t going to be this week. If he can get some Sunoco Fuel into that #16 Greg Biffle is going to Victory Lane this Sunday. If not, watch for Matt Kenseth to show up and blandly make everyone look like they have their learner’s permit.

Hyatt

Someone smarter than I am is going to have to explain this one to me. While I completely agree with the county-wide ban on fireworks this year and the canceling of the show downtown at Mackenzie Park, I can’t for the life of me understand why the organizers of the 4th On Broadway concert have canceled as well.

I didn’t realize that in order to celebrate America’s freedom and liberty with great local performers and bands that you had to have things blowing up in the sky? Right now the organziers can’t seem to get their stories straight. One says that the parade, fireworks and concert and all linked and if you take one out, the concert doesn’t work. Huh?

Another says it is just flat-out too dangerous to have that many people in a park when it is so dry.

Well, if that’s the case we should cancel the parade, street fair and close all city parks til it rains again. It’s for the kids ya know.

So, what do y’all think the real reason is there is no concert this year? This decision reeks of folks either not getting their way or having control of everything or it reeks of someone  thinking they’re not gonna make enough money off the project. You tell us.

Looking forward to your thoughts,

Hyatt

A lot of interesting things will come out of the Dallas Mavericks NBA Championship. Dirk is no longer “soft”, much like the Spurs of David Robinson in the mid to late 90′s. Jason Kidd is now the leader that so many thought and hoped he’d be that first go-round with the Mavs that seems so long ago now.

The biggest thing that may come out of this championship though is the way we look at owner Mark Cuban. Til now he was the official league blow-hard. The guy that made noise, but never delivered. Players loved him cause of all the cool stuff, the gadgets and the parties, but after a decade plus fans had a right to wonder if there was any there there. Turns out there is.

The way Cuban handled himself with the media during this Finals run was perfect. It was the Anti-Heat Hype that the NBA and some fans needed and wanted. It was out of character the way we’ve come to expect Cuban to be out front in his t-shirt, flapping his arms and begging the cameras to follow his every move at the arena. It was a new, maybe more mature, Cuban and I like it.

So for you, what’s the biggest impact and outgrowth you think you’ll see out of Dallas’ Championship. Post it here and we’ll talk about it on the show tonight!

Hyatt

That said, what a cool win by the Mavs tonight. Any minute now ABC and ESPN are going to have to admit that the Dallas has a good team and that their hype of the Not Ready For Prime Time Heat was a disservice to fans and viewers.

Ya. Right.

Talk to y’all tomorrow.

Hyatt