NHL Chris' JOUR 418 Blog

“THE DEVIL”

Upon first reference, this sounds like a bad card to represent. But as I read into its deeper meaning, it actually reflects a lot of my personality that I exhibited throughout my thirty-seven years of age.
Apparently, the Devil is not Satan but is more like Dionysus or Pan, gods that stand for pleasure, abandon, wild behavior and unbridled desires. Also, a powerful man who is hard to resist, one who has lack of control and excess and who has a fair amount of obsessions.
I think about Rebecca Naugher, a realtor I dated in Lake Tahoe who split with me after four months because she said I was too intense for her. Funny coming from the same girl who told me early in the relationship “don’t ever change!” Hurt a bit at first, but eventually I kind of took a reference to my intense nature as a compliment.
I think about the time I was in “Blackwitch Messiah”, the band in Oklahoma. At ages 18 and 19, we all experimented with alcohol and narcotics in forms like Beer Bongs and Cannonball’s.
We played the 1991 Stillwater High School Graduation party at Greg Montgomerey’s house and had the cops knocking at our door halfway through the set because of neighbor noise complaints. We kept playing of course, so naturally, they pulled the plug on us.
I remember playing some trailer park clubhouse, hearing some heckler who didn’t like our heavy style, yelling for the infamous Lynryd Skynyrd song “Freebird” after every track. Without warning, our bassist Greg Gibbs, grabbed the microphone and flipped off the patron in one motion screaming “I’ll give you your free bird!” Then the guy goes into the bathroom and rips out one of the sinks during our closing song. Wild behavior indeed.
On Halloween in 1994, I remember Boulder, Colorado’s infamous “Pearl Street Mall Crawl.” Me and my buddies were getting drunk on Boulder Amber, climbing trees and yelling at the top of our lungs. Defiant to the police, we screamed “no” when they told us to get out of the trees. So, of course, we fell out after the cops shook us out of the trees.
Wild behavior for sure, eh?

WONDKA

He’s the kind of a friend that makes you say “I want to party with that guy.” He lives every day of his life to the fullest. The phrase “half ass” is not in his vocabulary bank.

You’d never believe that he’s 52 years old. With his youngish face and sandy blond hair, he doesn’t look or act even close to his age.

He’s “Mudder” Mike Wondka, and he’s not only an extraordinarily successful realtor in the Lake Tahoe basin, but he’s well known one of the sharpest race and sports betting handicappers around.

In the summer, if there’s a concert at Harvey’s Outdoor Amphitheater, crane your head back and look up at the 17^th floor balcony. If the light’s on, it likely signals another  infamous “Mudder Mike” South Shore suite party.

HIGHTON

He takes a lot of flak from certain students. He’s said that some of his end of the semester reviews plead for him to retire. He’s been called unfair, a hard grader and has been quoted as someone who “won’t hesitate to bust your chops.”

He’s adamant and passionate about his teaching, and  if you’re interested in the many facets of the First Amendment of the Constitution, you’ve got to take Professor Jake Highton’s capstone JOUR 401 class at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Expect a lot of work, but come away with the fact that you will be learning some important lessons that should serve you throughout your life.

BENDER

He is 6 foot 8 inches tall and weighs 325 pounds. If you’re in a dark alley you’ll want him on your side.

He’s John Bender, a hulking offensive lineman on the University of Nevada, Reno football team.

He’s an integral part of the glue that made UNR the first college football team in NCAA history to have three 1,000 yard rushers in one season.

He’s also one of the most soft spoken, likeable young men you’ll ever meet and is the only player who hails from the dominion of Canada.