The jouney to the James Krause interview

The single most exciting part of writing is the journey one takes to get to the story. I write because I enjoy transferring my thoughts from pen to paper, or in many cases, fingers to keyboard. Recently, I published an article on MMA fighter James Krause, and his passion for fighting, training, team and charity. I had never met James Krause prior to our sit down interview at the Grind House training facility. Our paths may have never crossed had it not been for a chance meeting at the local YMCA. Those chance instances are what make real life stories available for others to read and for yours truly to report.

While training at the YMCA, I ran in to a familiar face and acquaintance Joe Cairns. Joe knew nothing about me save for the fact that I frequent the gym four to five times a week. Joe and I always shared small talk and assisted one another on the occasional spot. On one particular day, I remember wanting to try a different workout, or find a workout partner to push me through my lackadaisical funk. Joe came trotting out of the locker room and as usual we shared our patent "brother how you doing" finger point at each other. Cheesy as it may seem we did this every time we saw each other at the gym. After some small talk, we decided to partner up for a chest routine and a solid workout did ensued if I do say so myself.

Nearly finished with our first routine I shared with Joe that I was a former pro wrestler turned writer. I could tell after that moment of confession, that our casual talks would grow in to a new friendship. I confided in Joe some of my personal up and downs as an entertainer, as well as my current standing as a writer. It was after our workout that Joe approached me about an idea for a story. The story that many of you read about, "Profiling James Krause" would have never come to be had it not been for a former acquaintance, turned training partner, turned friend.

So after exchanging text messages with Joe to attain contact information for James Krause, I contacted the MMA standout. We set a date and time to meet at his Grind House training center, and I brought reinforcements in my two sons Alejandro (14) and Jordan (12). The three of us arrived at quarter past one on a Sunday afternoon to a training center fully equip with cage, wrestling mats, fight gear and four Mixed Martial Artist going at it in an Octagon ring. After a few subtle moments of photo opportunities, we were greeted by the man himself, James "The" Krause.

Jandro and Jordan took hold of my camera and took action shot after action shot of several fighters training in the cage, while I headed off to interview James Krause. Krause led me to a small office just across from the Octagon cage, and I could still see my two elated and jubilant sons having a blast watching the fighters train. Krause and I sat across from each other, I placed my hand held voice recorder on a spare chair that stood between us, and fired the questions that would help me complete my journey. After our session was over Krause and his teammates were kind enough to pose for photos, and treated the three of us extremely well and were all very polite and welcoming.

Krause and I shook hands and exchanged appreciative farewells, as Jandro and Jordan did the same with the rest of the team. I remember later that day thinking to myself how well that afternoon interview session went, and how much fun my sons and I had visiting the world of MMA. As I began to put together the finishing touches on the James Krause's piece, I knew that I was on to something. I knew that something would be worth the journey, and that journey would lead to a finished product. I published that finished product, and hope that those who have read it enjoy its worth. These articles are why I write, and now you know what it’s like for me to get my story.

For more information on Grind House visit www.grindhousekc.com
For information on James Krause's charities and sponsorships visit www.posterboyclothing.com


By Ephraim Vega
Blog or Bust News

Rodman and Mullen to the hall

Dennis Rodman and Chris Mullen head the 2011 hall of fame class and are both well deserving of the honor. Rodman averaged 13.1 rebounds per game and was a two-time defensive player of the year. The former Detroit Pistons "bad boy", was known to make headlines off the court as much as he did on. His funky style of differing hair coloring and full body tattoos and piercings, made for an eccentric personality. His play on the court earned him a share of five NBA championships. Whether as a Piston, a San Antonio Spur or later as a member of the Chicago Bulls, Rodman brought ferocious defense and physical play that both earned the respect and ire of fellow players and teammates.

Chris Mullen's sharp shooting talents, took him from a hall of fame college career at St.Johns, to one now with the Golden State Warriors. Mullen, a five-time all star, was also recently enshrined to the hall as a member of the 1992 "Dream Team", which captured Olympic gold. Also joining Rodman and Mullen are Teresa Edwards, Artis Gilmore, Herb Magee, Arvydas Sabonis, Tom Sanders, Reece Tatum, Tara VanDerveer and Tex Winter.

On behalf of Blog or Bust News, congratulations on the honor, as it is well deserved for all!

High School Football players making a difference

This past season the Blue Springs High School Wildcats football team finished the year with a 9-3 record and as conference champions and Class 6 district champions. But it is their championship impact off the field that is making headlines throughout their communities. For the past three years players and coaches have gone to a local soup kitchen that serves the homeless community in Kansas City and helped raise the hopes of many struggling families. These annual life changing experiences have led coaches and players to discuss ways they can expand on their community efforts, and in doing so found a willing and motivated partner. The Child Reach Ministries is a community organization dedicated to providing hope to children living in desperate conditions on the margins of society. Child Reach is leading the way on the construction of Hannah's Hope orphanage in the town of Chilca, Peru (about an hour south of Lima) with its mission aimed toward finding homes for over 600,000 abandoned children. A year ago, the BSHS coaches and senior football players joined the cause and made the trip to Peru to help break ground and begin the process of building an orphanage, and the hopes of all the children there.

This year 13 Wildcat seniors will take the impactful trip to Peru which is scheduled for June 18th-26th accompanied by defensive backs coach Matt Marble. Seniors Kyle Brown, Deoindre Hall, Cole Jones, Marcus Brown, David Johnson, Tyler Ray, Chris White, Chance Walker, Kendall Sullivan, Corey Majors, Bret Myers, Shelby Foster and Jacob Clark look to continue the work started by their teammates. Joining Coach Marble on the leadership committee are Wendall Fuimaono (Assistant Principal at BSHS-former football coach), Brett Shamblin (former Pittsburg State football player), Marcus DeBoer (Kuyper University student and middle school basketball coach). The orphanage is expected to house anywhere between 48-60 children at one time, with a nursery to meet the needs of babies. With over 600,000 children still in need of food and homes, the work is still far from finished. The Child Reach ministries and the Blue Springs High School football family are well aware of the work that still lie ahead, and look to continue their partnership for years to come.

The amazing story does not end there. When the senior football players have time to spare, they spend it playing soccer and other fun filled games with the very children they are building the orphanage for. The coaches and players also document their daily activities and experiences in personal blogs they share with students, classmates and family back home. It is an awareness and life lesson they all share, that is filled with a selflessness that goes beyond any touchdown, any win on the field or any championship at the end of a long season. It is the gift of giving that bonds these young men and the fine leaders and coaches who help and act alongside them. The Blue Springs High School football program is setting the example for all to follow, and the children of Peru are undoubtedly grateful for their efforts.


By Ephraim Vega

The Evolution of High School Sports

When you think about how sports has evolved on a professional level, it's hard not to find a trickle down effect to today's younger audience. The modern athlete for instance, is generally viewed as a hot dog for self promotion. One can still separate the images of a humble Barry Sanders handing the football over to an official after a game breaking touchdown, against Chad Ochocinco's "dancing with the stars" rendition of attention grabbing after his trip to the end zone. To say that there is a difference in the generational gap of sports fans and athletes alike is quite simply an understatement. Even more understated could be the cause and effect of how college or even high school athletes are influenced to emulate today's stars.

Let us begin with what the root causes for today's athletes are as opposed to the heroes of yesteryear. Society as a whole was much more conservative twenty plus years ago. My father cheered for the humble, hard working and blue color athletes such as Joe DiMaggio and Roberto Clemente. My old man represented to me what the sports genre was attracted to, by whom the transcended stars were. Today the most popular star athletes are entertainers perhaps more so then they are winners. Great athletes of the 1920's through the 1980's were for all intent and purposes champions. Defined by how they performed in the most crucial and intense moments. That is not to say that all of today's athletes are not driven to be great, it's just that the overall picture is magnified as such. For instance take Tom Brady of the New England Patriots and Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees. Both multiple championship athletes who do nothing to draw attention to themselves, save for win.

When attending a local high school sporting event it is easy to see the effect or "me first" mentality at play. From watching a young senior baseball player stand and pose after a home run swing, Alla Barry Bonds, to watching a junior running back break a long run for a touchdown and celebrate by posing for imaginary pictures as did Lebron James when he was a Cleveland Cavaliers player (now with the Miami Heat). High school sports in general has the dubious advantage of better equipment, training methods and advancement of health education. Today's high school athlete is bigger and faster, and with that maybe more confident. The tricky aspect of it all is the fine line between confidence and cockiness.

In retrospect, today's professional athletes were at one time high school players of multiple sports. Their influences were the classical athletes of past times, legends of the game that they chose to veer away from in respect for the game. Today coaches have the opportunity to teach and influence high school athletes in the manner of respect for the games they play and the players that they compete against. And again, while not all of today's athletes are show boats or "me first" players, there are far to many that need back on that right path. That path which we as adults refer to as respectable, can only be earned through knowledge of how the athletes of yesteryear carried themselves. How they influenced our dads and moms and how they influenced our generation, and more importantly how these young men can and will influence those that come after them.