This week the Lone Grove High football team played Tishimingo on the road.  The family loaded up (Karen, Marisa, Emily and myself) for the scenic drive from Lone(some) Grove to Tishimingo.  Small town, small crowd..  Lone Grove ran the first play from scrimmage in for a touchdown.  Would they win big like the previous week’s 38-12 smasher?  Uh, no.  Lone Grove trailed 46-14 in the third quarter when we packed it up and made the trek home.  Tishimingo players looked like a collection of Oklahoma University starters and NFL candidates.  As my buddy Mike Shustek would say, "we’ll get ’em next time."

Susan and I will be in Las Vegas this week for several events.  First up, we’ll host a Wine Tasting for clients and friends at Stephen Crysal’s VOX Wine Lounge.  On Saturday we have a table for Jeans to Jewels, the wonderful charity event supporting Opportunity Village.  "Mom" is flying in, so Sunday we’ll have some fun at the Cher show at Caesar’s Palace.  We’ll finish the trip with a Technology Mixer at the Stirling Club that is SOLD OUT.

In October I’ll host an event at the House of Blues West Hollywood.  I’m in town with my buddy Sean Gerson for Breeders Cup.  In November, the event at Barona Valley Ranch Resort in San Diego is "on".  We have the Private VIP Gaming Parlor.  Nice!  Mike Shustek’s birthday party is that weekend inDel Mar.  I think I need an energy drink (no alcohol please).

Susan has her hands full with contractors and vendors.  Locksmith?  Check.  Air conditioning guy?  Check.  It’s been a parade of contractors at our Lone Grove, Oklahoma property, but I believe we are getting towards the end.  For those with an interest, the two and three pound bass we stocked in the pond are getting huge.  When Susan goes out there to feed the deer and fish, it’s a stampede of bass and bluegill to the dock area.

I’m Chairman of the upcoming Big Brothers Big Sisters Gala at Wynn Las Vegas.  This is a wonderful organization doing wonderful work.  If you have interest in sponsorship, tickets or donating a silent auction item, I can be reached at mwayman@godfatherl.com.  May the Lord bless you richly for your generosity!

If it’s September, then it must be football season in Lone Grove, Oklahoma.  And down here in Oklahoma and Texas, football is religion!  We take our football very seriously, especially at the high school and college level.  Friday September 5 was the first game of the reason for Lone Grove High as they took on Bethel at home.

Around 6:30 PM, I headed out from the ranch for an evening of football. Being an amateur, I managed to park on the "visitor" side of the field, then hiked over to the entrance gate.  The rest of my family was already there – my sister Karen, my niece Marisa and her husband Jimmy…and the kids – Fern, Emily and Jared.  Fern is actually on the Lone Grove Drill Team and was performing on the field.  Admission?  $4.  Concessions?  A dollar for a Coke and two dollars for Nachos.  For the last month I was at Del Mar where it was $5 for a Coke and $10 for a sandwich.

Karen had staked out seats on the 50 yard line.  There are only 2,000 people in Lone Grove and about half of them turn out for the football games.  Karen and Marisa are the most connected people in Lone Grove – they know everybody!  My last game was 30 years ago at Villa Park High where I was in the broadcast booth and took stats.  Incredibly, nothing has really changed in 30 years.  It’s the same excitement, cheerleaders, Drill Team, football game, concession stand and marching band.  The best $4 you will ever spend.

Lone Grove was up 12-6 at the half, apparently a much different outcome then last year’s home opener.  During the second half, LG ran away and hid for a 38-12 win.  Who cares?  Glorious weather in the 70s, an entire town in the grandstand, and the opportunity to spend a night out with friends and family.  Lone Grove is my kind of town.

Events – Wine Tasting Event at VOX with my friends and clients, followed by a Technology Mixer at the Stirling Club.  Then we are off to West Hollywood in October and contemplating an event at the Barona in November.

Horse Racing – Siegel Sez and Princess Susan M are up north, Launch the Bull runs September 21 at Golden Gate, Set Play runs September 20 in Kentucky and doubles back in the Raven Run at Keeneland, and Backbackbackgone is entered October 18 at Santa Anita.  Sean Gerson, Steve Teske and I are attending the Breeders Cup October 24/25 at Santa Anita.