Alone In My Home

The album "Lazaretto" released on June 10 by Jack White is easily one of the best solo rock albums I have heard in awhile.
The bluesy, almost countryness of it can clearly be traced to his new friend Neil Young. It is both catchy and cathartic, and is also a unique blend of songs. I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially "Alone In My Home."

In the past 10 days or so I covered some section golf, state track as well as a few news pieces. I had what will probably be my last big sports section until next fall. This week I have legion baseball from yesterday and anything else I can dig up in the next few days. I'm planning on writing my first column for the Times, but I'm not sure what it will be about yet.

I did my first fantasy football mock draft yesterday. I picked third in a 10-team league standard draft. I took Adrian Peterson third (yeah, I'm a homer, but this is also a great pick). In round two I shored up my backfield with Zac Stacy, who I think is going to burst with a huge year in St. Louis. After that I made sure I got a solid receiver, and took Pittsburgh's Antonio Brown, who I've had success with in the past. I hesitantly took Pierre Garcon in the fourth round, because he was the best option available for wideouts at the time. I know he's going to lose some balls because of DeSean Jackson, but they are different receivers, and maybe Jackson will take some pressure off of Garcon and RGIII.
I nabbed Rashad Jennings, who I believe could be a strong asset in the backfield for the New York Giants, with my fifth-round pick. I picked up the top remaining tight end in Jordan Cameron in the sixth. I had him last year, and he was solid, and had some really good weeks early in the season when the quarterback situation was less murky. I decided that I had waited long enough to take a quarterback and snatched up old reliable Tom Brady in the seventh round. Though he had a rough start, a healthy Shane Vereen and some strong wideouts should help him return to form this year. I went three receivers in a row after that as I was a bit wary of Garcon as my number two. I took a chance on Eric Decker panning out with the Jets, despite not having a quarterback.
I then took a reliable option in Marques Colston. He always puts up solid numbers when healthy. I then took some upside by snatching Mike Evans, the rookie from Texas A&M, who is now with Tampa Bay. I took Russell Wilson in the 11th as a backup to Brady, so I have two really solid quarterbacks, but I bet a lot of teams in the draft could say that. It's a passing league, and there are a lot of good QBs to go around. I then let the computer autodraft the rest of the picks, because, well, they matter about as much as Mario Chalmers matters to the HEAT--not at all.
To summarize, I think I did a fairly good job. In hind sight I kind of wish that I would have taken a higher end receiver in the second round, and then waited until round four or five to take my second back. Running backs spread out some this year, and I think that having a reliable option at wideout on the top-end, might be more valuable than taking some schmuck running back that scores nine points a week. Of course, it's also mid-June, and the real draft's don't happen for at least two more months, but I'm that excited, so I had to at least try my luck. Expect another mock draft summary from me in he near future.

Anyway, I have some pictures to share from last week's adventures. Enjoy.

Milaca senior Sarah Forker clears one of her first attempts at the state pole vault competition in the Hamline Field House last Saturday afternoon. 

Forker takes a run toward the pit. 

Forker again clears another height. 

Forker awaits her next attempt at 10-feet. 

Forker prepares for another run at the vault. She wound up taking seventh place.

All the medalists in the Class A girls pole vault including Forker (second from right). 

Milaca senior Olivia Wolbert watches after she hit a putt on June 2 at Blackberry Ridge in Sartell.

Cole Patten hits a chip from just off the green at the section meet at Blackberry Ridge on June 2.

Milaca's No. 6 golfer Brian Miler hits an approach shot from the fairway on the back nine.

Freshman Haley Hoskins watches her putt roll toward the hole.

Wolbert comes down hard on the ball on the eighth hole.

Senior Jared Gould follows through on a back-nine par three.