Special Charity Musical Event This Sunday

Sunday July 24th
@Calvary Chapel Spring Valley 7175 W. Oquendo rd. Las Vegas NV 89113
From 6-8pm
Guest musician Scott Cunningham
The Whosoevers: Sonny from P.O.D., Head from Korn, and Ryan Ries coming to hang out and share at this event.
The Event is entitled Reaching This Generation
Our phone number is (702)362-9000.

Why the NFL Will Get A Deal Done, Soon

By Ron Futrell @RonFutrell

(NOTE--This column was written July 7th. Well before anything was settled by NFL players and owners, Ron had accurate sources in the NFL who gave him vital information to come to this conclusion well before anybody else)

The NFL lockout will end soon and regular season games will not be lost. Book it.

After all the talk about TV deals, cash for players, percentages for owners and how much to pay retired players is hashed out, the biggest issue could be timing.

The first Sunday of the regular season falls on the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

Do not underestimate the power of that date and how it relates to this issue.

Let’s take the negative side first. Imagine empty stadiums on the 10th anniversary of the most horrific attack on American soil by foreign terrorists. Now---I’m in no way comparing the two here, just setting the stage for what the mindset of the American people will be on that day. While we honor those who died in the attacks and the talk is about “never again,” the fact that selfish billionaire owners and millionaire players could not work out a contract will create more animosity towards the NFL than they could imagine. “What, we can’t rebuild the Twin Towers and we can’t work out a deal to play football, what’s wrong with this country?” This will be the mindset of the average fan, and they would be right.

Now, let’s take the positive side. Let’s imagine football stadiums filled on that Sunday and NFL teams market properly and plan their pre-game ceremonies to build a patriotic bond between the fans and the future on this day of remembrance. The league has already told its teams that they will be wearing special 9/11 patches on that opening Sunday to remember what happened. There is nothing wrong with the league taking advantage of the timing here and working to create an atmosphere of optimism for America and for the future. Sports does this very well, and this will be another opportunity for the American passion of football to do it in a way that only it can.

"We will use the national platform to remember and reflect upon those who lost their lives and honor families who lost loved ones," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said via e-mail. "We also will salute the American spirit, the early responders on 9/11 and everyday heroes.

"We designed the schedule in a manner that would enable us to help appropriately commemorate, on a national level, September 11th and what it represents to Americans."

Let’s think back for a moment on what happened nearly 10 years ago. September 11, 2001 was a Tuesday morning. It is etched forever in our memories. NFL games were postponed the Sunday following 9/11 but made up the first weekend in January. Because of the nature of the sport, it would’ve been difficult for teams to properly prepare for a Sunday game. But when the NFL returned to play they gave appropriate recognition to what had happened. Every player in the league had a patch on their jersey to honor those who died on 9/11. The Jets and Giants wore special patches on their uniforms to honor firefighters from New York City. This is the first time the league has ever done something like this, the 10th anniversary will be the second time.

The Loss of Armon Gilliam--A Great Rebel

By Ron Futrell follow: @RonFutrell

This came as a major shock to those who knew him.

One of the strongest players the Rebel basketball program has ever known collapses on the court of an apparent heart attack and dies while playing a pick-up game in his hometown near Pittsburgh, PA.

Armon Gilliam (or Armen after he began play in the NBA) was the kindest, nicest Rebel basketball player I ever knew. It's as simple as that. His play on the court was the exact opposite. While never a dirty player, but he was a fighter under the basket and it earned him the nickname "The Hammer."

Well deserved, but he was anything but "The Hammer" in his personal life.

While covering the Rebels in the late 80's we were in a hotel lobby in Salt Lake City. I heard an unusually beautiful melody coming from a piano across the room. I walked over and was surprised to see Armon there playing away like he owned the room. Quickly I asked our cameraman to grab his gear and shoot this amazing video. I had a feature story here that nobody else would have. The Hammer, hammering out a tune for the small crowd in the lobby.

Armon sheepishly stopped playing and then asked me kindly if I would not shoot any video of him playing the piano. I was a bit surprised by his reaction, but he wanted to keep his piano playing personal. I understood. I lost a feature story, but saw a side of the big man that made me respect him even more.

One day before practice I saw Armon drive up in an old station wagon, I believe a Buick. This was another shocker for me. In a time when Rebel basketball players were known for driving some pretty nice cars---Armon had his old station wagon that he may have driven himself from Pennsylvania to Las Vegas. It looked like he had---a few times. It made a statement about the man who led the Rebels to 3 NCAA appearances in his three seasons at UNLV and a Final Four in 1987. He was at UNLV to work, get the job done and wasn't much for the flash that the program relished---still he was a perfect fit.

On the court, nobody worked harder. Tim Grgurich was always there, tirelessly in his efforts to turn Armon from a state champion wrestler to the ultimate college power forward. Armon had the best teacher and as a student, he learned quickly.

That Final Four in New Orleans was a special treat. I recall talking Armon and Gary Graham, two northeast guys, to head with me for a live shot in front of the New Orleans Superdome. We had set up a special crawfish boil there and they were willing to enjoy it with us. They were not prepared for how spicy it was, but Armon was always the trooper and made it through the interview while his mouth was burning from the corn. He was always gracious and forever the gentleman.

Armon was the second player chosen in the 1988 draft by the Phoenix Suns and he spent 13 solid years in the NBA.

Armon Gilliam---47 years old and left an impact forever on those who knew him.