Another Arkansas Idol?

It looks like there's another Arkansan heading to Hollywood this season on American Idol and it's an adorable 16-year-old from Baptist High School right here in Little Rock named Charity Vance. I don't know how far she'll get on the show, but the judges seem to like her quite a bit. It's good to have someone from local to root for I think. I hope she has a great run.

Arkansans In the NFL Draft

How huge has the NFL draft gotten? It's a 3day long event, 2 in prime time, now with coverage out the wazoo on multiple channels. NFL off-season is bigger than some sports league's regular season (I'm looking at you NHL... strike on this). I've sat and watched it quite a bit myself just to see who the Steelers get and where the Arkansas boys go. Several Arkies got drafted and I figure a few will get signed as free agents this week, but and here's a quick look at guys in the first 7 rounds:

Alex Carrington - DE - 6'5 - 284
Connection: Played college ball at Arkansas St.
Round 3 - 8th pick (72nd overall) by the Buffalo Bills
National Football Post: An explosive interior pass rusher who has the ability to slip blocks and make his way up the field. However, Carrington can be overpowered vs. the run and struggles when asked to be stout in a phone booth.

Damian Williams - WR - 6'1 - 190
Connection: Transferred to USC after 1 year at University of Arkansas, played high school football in Springdale, AR
Round 3 - 13th pick (77th overall) by the Tennessee Titans
National Football Post: A smooth, coordinated wideout who lacks a great burst in and out of his breaks. Williams catches the ball well and has a real polish to his game, but he doesn't look explosive or physical enough to play on the outside in the NFL.

Larry Hart - DE - 6'1 - 248
Connection: Played college football at University of Central Arkansas
Round 5 - 12th pick (143rd overall) to the Jacksonville Jaguars
National Football Post: Hart is a small-school defensive end who will make the move to OLB. He possesses a good first step and adds some versatility to the Jags' front seven.

Mitch Petrus - G - 6'4 - 315
Connection: Played at the University of Arkansas
Round 5 - 16th pick (147th overall) by the New York Giants
National Football Post: An athletic guard who does a great job getting out to the second level and chopping down defenders in space. However, he struggles when asked to slide his feet and anchor vs. the pass.

So 1 from UA, 1 former UA, 1 from UCA and 1 from ASU... not a big year for the state. We'll rebound next year I think, led by top 10 pick (hell, maybe #1 overall pick) QB Ryan Mallett.

Speaking of QBs, real nice move going pro early Jevan Snead [/sarcasm]. He didn't even get drafted, but did at least get signed by Tampa Bay as a free agent. The kid could definitely use another year in school and if he returned to the form he had 2 years ago, could have been an easy first rounder. Hard for me to blame him much though, I hated going to college too.

A Day At The Races

I promised some pics from my day at the Oaklawn horse track in Hot Springs this past weekend so here are some misc ones. I did OK really that day, mainly because I bet on a horse whose name I really liked, Stout Hope. I thought, well I love stouts (beer) so there is hope I might win one. Anyway it did win and paid me back 3 to 1 so I got another Shiner Bock and corned beef sandwich and went back to trying to pick winners based on real evaluations. I should have stayed with just reading their names. Between the slots, blackjack and ponies I really didn't come out too bad though.

I've said it many times but I'll say it again... Oaklawn is a real jewel for this state. I've been to other horse tracks (2) and neither was anywhere near as nice and classy as Oaklawn. It's a great place to people watch, enjoy some races, gamble, have some beers and good food and when the weather is warm enough it's just a good place to enjoy that too.

Ride The Pony

It's a beautiful day to go to the horse races at Oaklawn Park. Not just the nice weather but since they had a lot postponed last weekend, today is now a massive day at the track.

The 9th race is the $60,000 Spring Fever, the tenth race will be the $250,000 Southwest Stakes and the CLASSIX carryover pool stands at $5,384.

What does all that mean? Well, it means I'll be eating the world's greatest corned beef sandwiches, drinking beer, playing Blackjack and betting on horses all day today. It's my first Oaklawn trip of the year too. I'll post some pics from the world's best horse track tomorrow.

Re-Scheduled Southwest, Spring Fever Stakes Highlight Saturday at Oaklawn:: Oaklawn Jockey Club - Horse Racing in Hot Springs, Arkansas

Here's a video to set the mood... ride it, my pony... OK, well it has nothing to do with horse races but it does talk about riding a pony. Sort of.

Arkansas Beer News

There's a great story in today's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette about craft brew sales and more specifically the state of them in Arkansas. Lot's of good stuff on a couple of my favorite local beer companies... Vinos and Diamond Bear. Thought I'd share it...

Beer sales ail, but craft brews hop
Small brewers tap in to demand as giants find recession more bitter
By ALISON SIDER

LITTLE ROCK — It might be expected that sales of beer in general would be, well, flat in a recession. And they were in the past year.

But sales of craft beers made in small breweries increased in Arkansas and nationwide.

There are four craft breweries in Arkansas. One is Diamond Bear Brewing Co. in Little Rock, the state’s only production brewery. The others are brew pubs attached to restaurants, including Bosco’s, part of a Memphis-based chain.

Craft beers are still dwarfed in sales by giants such as Molson Coors and Anheuser-Busch InBev, making up only about 6 percent of the total market for beer by dollars, according to data from the Nielsen Co.

But craft sales increased by 12.4 percent in value and by nearly 9 percent in terms of case sales during the 12-month period ended Feb. 6, while total cases of beer sold fell by 1 percent.

Craft beers have expanded beyond their traditional strongholds in California, Colorado and the Pacific Northwest, popping up in unexpected places nationwide, said Paul Gatza, the director of the Brewers Association, a Boulder, Colo.-based tradegroup. Sales are growing fastest in the South and Middle Atlantic States, he said.

“The whole country is pretty much on board,” he said.

Russ Melton, owner of Diamond Bear, said the company’s 2009 sales volume increased 24 percent, to about 36,000 cases. And he expects bigger things. He is selecting a larger location for the brewery, in Little Rock or North Little Rock, one that will allow it to expand to at least 275,000 barrels. It opened in 2000 and is still at its original location on Cross Street in downtown Little Rock.

“We’re busting at the seams now,” Melton said.

Melton said the move is part of a long-term strategy to become a regional brewery. Diamond Bear signed on with Glazer’s Distributors,one of the largest alcoholicbeverages distributors in the country, this year and is now in stores across the state.

Distribution of Diamond Bear expanded into Mississippi this year and has plans to begin sales in Alabama once it is able to increase production in the new location.

Chris New, general manager of Vino’s Pizza Pub and Brewery at 7th and Chester streets in Little Rock, said tastes have gotten more sophisticated.

“We had the very first Guinness tap in the state of Arkansas. That’s everywhere now. But with that cultivation, you’ve turned people on to things like Englishstyle pale ales, and imperial IPAs,” he said, referring to a type of India Pale Ale.

New said Vino’s increased production of its beers byabout 10 percent in 2009.

“We do a holiday beer that’s got like seven spiced ingredients; those aren’t things people are used to. That’s where you cultivate a following. You’re getting people away from Budweiser, you’re getting them away from Miller Light.”

Last year, Vino’s sold beeron Friday nights at Arkansas Travelers home games. This year the restaurant will sell beer at all home games, but New said there are no plans for further expansion.

Kari Larson, an owner of the Hog Haus in Fayetteville, said that while she sells noncraft beers, the microbrews she makes account for about90 percent of beer sales.

“On the craft-brew side of things, [sales] have been fantastic,” she said. Larson opened the Hog Haus in 2004, in what was formerly the Ozark Brewing Co.

“I think it might be a little bit of a trendy thing right now. It’s forced us to be more creative and make some beers that we haven’t made before,” she said.

Legal changes in the past decade have made it easier to operate a craft brewery in Arkansas, Melton said. Laws that allow “native brewers” to sell beer and give tours on Sundays, as well as permit and tax regulation changes, have made Arkansas one of the most progressive states for small brewers, he said.

“Our craft brewers are Arkansas businesses, obviously, and the most we can do to help make them viable we try to do,” said Michael Langley, the director of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.

This article was published 03/13/2010 at 6:22 a.m.
All rights to Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Jermain Taylor Out of the Super Six World Boxing Classic

Looks like The Pride of Arkansas Jermain "Bad Intentions" Taylor is out of the Super Six tourney.

click the link for the story:

411mania.com: Boxing - Jermain Taylor Out of the Super Six World Boxing Classic

"I'm going to take some time off from the sport of boxing and take myself out of Showtime Sports World Boxing Classic tournament. It's important that I give my body and mind some much needed rest, because I have been boxing for nearly 20 years," said Taylor. "I plan on keeping myself in shape and making a return to the sport sometime in the future. This was not an easy decision for me, having discuss it with my family, trainer, friends and my adviser Al Haymon, because I'm a very competitive person-but I know this is the smart road for me to take. I want to thank Showtime Sports for everything and I wish the best for my 5 counterparts who will continue on in the Super Six tournament. Most of all, I want to thank the many fans for their continued support."

"My Course" Reopens

My home course, since it's about 1/2 mile from my house, has finally reopened and I'm pretty excited. I've been jogging on the cart trails for a few years and before that it was a private course, so I've actually never gotten to play it. That should change when I'm off a week here soon. It sounds like a great golf course.



"The North Hills Country Club in Sherwood featured a golf course designed by Robert "Trent" Jones Sr. 84 years ago. Now after sitting unattended for several years, the course has reopened."

Travs Let The Dogs Out

Well, this is perhaps the worst idea I've ever seen... and also the greatest. I'm a season ticket holder for the Arkansas Travelers and they've announced a promotion that is going to be "interesting". I'm definitely going to be there but there is no way I'll take Shakes. Oh he's a great dog and minds well, very well actually, it's just that I want to watch some baseball and not watch him attempt to pee on every single thing within the range of his whizz-cannon for 3 hours. Also, there's no way that his first concert would be the Baha Men. I just wouldn't do that to my best friend. Cruel and unusual indeed. But hey, should be a helluva fun night. I love the idea and maybe I'll bring him home a buddy from the Humane Society... who knows?

So read on, and bring your pooper scoopers:

See full article here

The Arkansas Travelers invite all dogs and humans to the first Bark In The Park Night on April 29 at Dickey-Stephens Park. Grammy winning recording group The Baha Men will perform all of their hit songs including "Who Let The Dogs Out" following the Travs game to kick off their 2010 Summer Tour.

Plans for the first Bark In The Park at Dickey-Stephens Park include an on-field doggie parade before the game and an owner/dog look-a-like contest. The Humane Society will be on-hand with dogs available for adoption, and a host of other canine-related activities are being planned.

Following the game fans are invited to enjoy a free post-game concert starring The Baha Men, winners of the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording for their world-renowed song "Who Let The Dogs Out."

Tickets for Bark In The Park go on sale on March 6. Dogs are admitted free with their owners but must be on a leash. Admission to the post-game concert is included with the purchase of a ticket to the game.

The Baha Men show is made possible by the Crain Automotive Team and Crain Media.

Yes Virginia, There Is a Toe Suck Fairy

Arkansas town searching for toe-sucking assailant

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (Reuters) - There's nothing illegal about a foot fetish but police in Conway, Arkansas, are looking for a toe-sucking man they said has crossed the line into assault.

Police have received two complaints in the past week about a man who seems desperate to suck women's toes -- whether they want him to or not.

"We want him off the streets," said Conway police spokeswoman LaTresha Woodruff.

Last Saturday, Ruth Harris, 83, told police she was sitting in a chair in front of her apartment when a man approached and said he liked her feet. According to a police report, the man took off one of her shoes and began sucking on her toe.

"The man then asked if he could kiss her and she had told him no and told him he was crazy," the report stated.

The man left quickly after people walked into the apartment complex's courtyard.

On Tuesday, police received another call from a woman who said that on Saturday she was shopping when she noticed a man staring at her.

The man then told the woman that he had a foot fetish and that "her toes are so long and succulent" and he wanted to suck them. When the woman's cell phone rang, the man retreated.

She told police the man had "messed up toes."

It is not the first time that Conway has dealt with this sort of complaint. In the 1990s, a man who was known as the "Toe Suck Fairy" kept Arkansans captivated with his foot fondling antics in Conway and Little Rock.

That assailant, Michael Robert Wyatt, pretended to be a podiatrist in order to fondle and suck a Conway woman's toes at a clothing store. He received probation, a fine and court-ordered therapy but his probation was revoked after he was arrested in another town on similar charges.
In 1991, he was convicted of making threats for telling a convenience store clerk that he wanted to cut off her feet and suck her toes while she bled to death.

Wyatt was sentenced to four years in state prison. He served just more than one year in prison, according to Conway police.

Some two decades later, police have not ruled out the possibility that the current toe-sucker could be the same man.

(Edited by Karen Brooks, Greg McCune and Bill Trott)

Some Love For Hillbilly Horror

There are many things I love, but 2 of the things I do really, really love, Arkansas and horror movies, have come together as in a new film coming out that gives me the best of both worlds. It's called Madison County (nothing to do with "the bridges of" I assume) and it's been picking up steam lately with a lot of coverage so I thought it was time I finally gave it some love myself. I've been following it since I first heard about it. And hey, let's face it, there's not a lot of films PERIOD that are shot in Arkansas. I'll give you Slingblade, The Legend of Boggy Creek, Burt Reynold's White Lightning and Brian Bosworth's legendary Stone Cold but it's not like we're Hollywood east here or something. We do have our share of crazed backwoods killers though, so there's that.

Anyway, it's written and directed by Eric England, who is from Russellville, Arkansas, and it was shot in same area of Arkansas.

Here's your quick primer and links, poster and trailer... and expect more to come until this gets a release date.

Official Madison County Website

Official Facebook

A great Q&A with the producers from Dread Central

Dread Central interview with Eric England

Bloody Disgusting's set visit report

Some coverage from Fangoria


Synopsis: A group of college kids travel to a small, mountain town called Madison County to interview the author of a tell-all book on the accounts of several grisly murders that happened there. But when the kids get to Madison County, the author is no where to be found and the towns people act like they haven't seen him in years. They also say that the killer never existed and the murders never happened. However, when the kids start digging around to get their own answers, they find out that the stories maybe more real than the townspeople are letting on!







So you're up to date! Now let's all hold hands and wait on the release. Perhaps I'll break out my copy of The Legend of Boggy Creek to pass the time?

This Bear's For You

There's a great story over at the Arkansas Times website and also in their printed issue about Arkansas' own Diamond Bear brewery. Here's a teaser and link to the full story at the bottom:

Crafting Suds
Diamond Bear grows along with tastes for real beer.
by Sam Eifling

It's the end of a long day for Russ Melton, tire salesman. He enters his brewery, Diamond Bear, at Fourth and Cross streets still wearing his Michelin button-down and apologizing for being late — "spent 45 minutes with a guy on some silly tire questions" — but happy to talk beer, his hobby and obsession. This fall will mark a decade of brewing in this one-time car dealership where Melton, his wife, Sue, and three employees have built up Diamond Bear, Arkansas's largest stand-alone brewery, into a regional distributor and maker of award-winning craft beers.

Read the full article here