Smile

Gary Blooer, 57, Iowa City, Iowa, Burge Marketplace employee.

“Gary Blooer? I’m not sure who you’re talking about,” Rita Hart, Wheatland, Iowa.

“Ummm no that doesn’t ring a bell,” Steve Thiltgen, DeWitt, Iowa.

“Nope, don’t think I’ve ever met someone by that name,” Erin Goettsch, Calamus, Iowa.

Smiley, air brush caps, high school sports enthusiast, photo button collector.

“(little chuckle) Oh Smiley, yeah he’s been around forever,” Rita Hart.

“Oh that’s who you meant. Smiley is a legend,” Steve Thiltgen.

“Do I know Smiley? Everyone knows Smiley. My mom gave him one of my softball buttons.” Erin Goettsch.

After receiving his GED from Delwood High School near Maquoketa, Iowa, Smiley moved to Iowa City to work at The University’s Oakdale campus as a janitor. A career placement test told Smiley’s family that there were few jobs that would allow him to make a living, but a position where he was able to be social while executing task oriented assignments would be a possibility.

Born with the now rare condition known as blue baby syndrome, Smiley’s heart didn’t allow his red blood cells to be oxygenated. This problem is now something that can be corrected in the prenatal phase, but for Smiley there was no way to fix the heart defect. As a result, he suffers from unawareness of social norms, a speech impediment, and a low level of mental retardation.

“I’m really not sure if he knows that he’s different,” Smiley’s sister Jean said, “I think it would hurt him if he thought that there was something wrong with him.”

After a few years at Oakdale, a position at Burge Marketplace opened up. Smiley jumped at the chance to be around students everyday. He is responsible for cleaning tables and letting chefs know when food needs to be replenished. Almost 38 years after his first day of work at the Oakdale campus, Smiley has become a fixture at the University of Iowa. He lives by himself in an apartment on Market Street.

“When I was a freshman we would always see him at Burge. Sometimes he would just sit and talk to us. Then we would see him downtown, then at the mall. He was always around.” said Theresa Sherwood, a UI Senior.

Kirk Ferentz, Dan Gable and Shonn Greene are all pretty popular residents of Iowa City. Gary Blooer, better known as Smiley, is definitely up there too. But unlike the aforementioned individuals, Smiley is known for his involvement in sports as a fan rather than as a participant.

For the past four decades Smiley has been a huge supporter of high school athletics in Eastern Iowa. His favorite sport to watch is high school softball. With three Iowa City High Schools, it’s easy to find games and tournaments to attend during the summer.

“I like it (high school athletic events) because when I cheer for them they can hear me,” Smiley said. “And I get to talk to their parents too.”

If there was ever a game that Smiley wanted to attend that a city bus route couldn’t get him to, he would hitchhike.

“Our mom hated it when he hitchhiked. He says he doesn’t do it anymore, but he couldn’t drive and there was no other way for him to get there,” Jean said.

Jean lives in DeWitt, Iowa with her husband David. Too far to assist Smiley with his daily needs, but close enough to help if there’s ever a problem.

“Luckily, over the years people have gotten to know him so well. When I take him shopping it’s hard to get anything done because he knows so many people,” Jean said. “When our mother died I couldn’t get there right away so I called to police and asked them to go get Gary for me. They don’t usually do that sort of thing, but all I had to do was say it was Smiley.”

As Smiley’s favorite softball players graduated from high school, their daughters and nieces would appear on the scene. Rita Hart first met Smiley when she coached girls’ basketball at Bennett High School in the early 1980s. Her husband’s sister Maureen, 46, is one of Smiley’s favorite players. When Rita’s daughters started playing softball in 2000, Smiley recognized the name.

Karen Hart graduated from the same high school as her aunt in 2006.

“At first we were a little freaked out. This random guy would talk to us from the dugout and he knew who my aunts were. I think I just ignored him the first time,” Karen said. “After the game I saw him talking to mom and I was so confused.”

“We definitely had to explain who Smiley was to the girls. Back when I met him, no one worried about the things that they do today. But we know that he’s just a great person and a great fan of our family,” Rita said.

“After that first meeting, I always talked to Smiley. He knew so many players from my town and he really cared if we won or lost,” Karen said, “Then there were his buttons.”

If Smiley finds a particular player that he really likes, he will ask her mom for a picture button which he will wear proudly to her games. If he likes her enough, Smiley will make a t-shirt or hat with her named airbrushed on it. He takes bags and bags of buttons and hats with him to softball tournaments, never knowing which player might show up. If more than one is playing, he’ll wear multiple buttons. If it’s a long day with lots of games and lots of favorite players, he will wear them all at once.

Erin Goettsch’s team, Calamus-Wheatland, played in the Iowa City Regina tournament every summer.

“It almost got to be a competition. You knew were a good player if Smiley was wearing one of your buttons. But even if you didn’t play at all he always told you ‘good game’ when it was over,” Erin said.

Every team and every player has a little different relationship with Smiley. Some are mere acquaintances and exchange warm hellos with Smiley in passing. Then there’s Clear Creek Amana. Every summer on July 7, the team has a birthday party for Smiley.

“If it wasn’t for those players and coaches at Clear Creek I don’t know if anyone other than me and my husband would know it was his birthday,” Jean said. “He probably wouldn’t get very many ‘Happy Birthdays’ if it wasn’t for them.”

In 2006 when Clear Creek made it to the State Tournament in Fort Dodge, the parents offered to give Smiley a ride to the game. Jean paid for him to get a hotel room near the softball complex so he could watch his favorite team play in the most important games of their season.

“It was a lot of fun,” Smiley said. “I was cheering so loud that I think the people from Harlan were getting mad at me. But I didn’t care,” Smiley said.

Athletes and coaches get enjoyment from winning games and breaking records, but imagine getting enjoyment just from watching.

“That’s what fulfills Gary’s life,” said Jean. “That’s what he lives for. He just gets so much enjoyment from being a part of something like that.”

The Other Side of the Story

Lanna Schurr wasn’t the leading server or the leading digger or the leading hitter for her high school volleyball team. She was never quoted in newspapers, coaches never focused on blocking her, and even her own teammates and coaches sometimes winced at her unorthodox mechanics. But that’s what made that night four years ago so special for her.

It was the biggest volleyball match of their lives. They had played together for 8 years, and now as seniors, it was time to prove that they belonged among the ranks of the undefeated. They hadn’t lost a single game in the post-season, going 9-0 to this point.

New London would be their biggest test to date. They were taller, better known, ranked much higher, and the match would take place only 10 minutes from their high school.

“I think that’s what made us even more excited. Everyone expected us to fall on our faces. Our coach read us this newspaper article. It was a preview for the match. They had us picked to loose in 3 games, said we weren’t explosive enough,” Schurr said.

Lanna was kind of an implant into this senior class. She had been with the team for six years and had very close friendships among the group, but those two years of club volleyball before Lanna’s family moved to Calamus in the 7th grade had always made her feel like an outsider.

“It was hard sometimes. It was like they just knew where each other would be on the court, or how high they needed their sets, or how to seal blocks together perfectly,” Schurr said.

As the team graduated from middle school and joined the ranks of the Varsity, Lanna continued to develop as a player. Soon she had won her position as the second outside hitter. The biggest start of her life came in the Regional Championship against New London.

“I remember before the match started we were doing hitting lines and I was swinging really hard,” Schurr said. “My coach came up to me and told me that I had to swing that hard in the game. I was so afraid to make mistakes though.”

The Warriors won the toss and elected to serve first, sending their schools all time ace leader to the line. Mason racked up a few early points before New London was able to return the serve. After a long rally Lanna got a quick set outside and swung like she had in warm ups.

“I was going for the cross court angle shot, but I was being too aggressive. I was sure the ball had sailed long, “Schurr said.

The line judge lowered her arms and pointed her hands down signaling in.

“That first hit was what gave me the confidence I needed that night. I did like my coach had said. I was the most aggressive I had ever been, and it really paid off,” Schurr said.

Lanna would go on to be aggressive the entire night. She had a career high 9 kills for the match. But more importantly she took the focus off of the Warriors All-State middle blocker, Megan Jacobi. New London was forced to double block Jacobi in the middle, instead of the dreaded triple block.

They never knew when a quick set might go outside to #3.

The warriors would go on to win the match in straight sets, continuing their unbeaten streak. Lanna Schurr was asked for an interview by a local sports reporter.

“It was so weird. They never wanted to talk to me. More than anything I felt like I had finally contributed,” Schurr said.

Four years later, Lanna remembers this match and this night as the best sporting memory of her life. But it wasn’t about the newspaper article, or swinging hard, or even winning the match. After all, the Warriors would lose the next match, stopping their journey for a state tournament birth, one game short.

“For me, I think that night was a little different. Even though we only played one more match together. I finally had my own identity on the team. “

Should Michael Jordan Coach the Bulls?

Nothing seems more enticing to me than Michael Jordan suiting up as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls. Jeez...how amazing would it be if he could bring a championship back to Chicago as a Coach this time. I would just love it if my kids had the opportunity to see Jordan in action like I had the honor to. Even if it doesn't happen for another 10 years or so, this would just be magical. On the other hand, a disappointing outcome would tarnish Jordan's legacy. Here is my question.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE JORDAN AS THE HEAD COACH OF THE CHICAGO BULLS?

IS THE OUTCOME OF NOT BEING SUCCESSFUL TOO MUCH TO RISK FOR THE JORDAN LEGACY OR WOULD THE OUTCOME OF A CHAMPIONSHIP BE ENOUGH OF AN INCENTIVE TO TAKE THE RISK?

Somebody Get that Giant Boulder Off Romo's Shoulders

Sunday's 14-10 Cowboys victory over divisional rival, Washington showed some new revelations about this Dallas squad. I have to admit I was extremely nervous before, during and after the game. Nervous before, because I wasn't sure Romo would look like himself. Nervous during, because Romo wasn't looking like himself. And nervous after, because Romo completed only one pass in the final series of the game and didn't look like himself.

Give him one more week and I think he will look like himself, but in the meantime it seems like another hero has taken this team on his back. Not only did Marion Barber look like a beast in the fourth quarter, rushing for 63 yards and totally over 100 yards for only the third time this season, he supplied the "heart and soul" that this team had been looking for all season.

Barber has carried the ball 196 times this season, ranking him 5th in total carries in the NFL. I would guess that this standing might go up quite a bit in the final 6 games of the season. Barber has emerged as the dependable, reliable, consistent back that the Cowboys needed him to be. And more importantly his success last night allowed a rusty Tony Romo to ease back into the game.

With Romo back and Barber finally being given the opportunity to carry this team down the stretch, anything is possible. Throw in a healthy Terence Newman and a recovered Jason Witten, and the possibilities for this team are endless. This rather large hiccup in their season might be just when they needed to find themselves.

Somebody

7 Game Season Ahead

Today marks the beginning of preparation week for the Dallas Cowboy's second season. Every game from here on out is due or die for Dallas, and this week's practice will set the tone for the remainder of the season.

With all of the bye weeks out of the way for NFC East teams, the standings should begin to take shape. Although they are currently sitting in last place in the conference, they have the same record as the third place team and are only one game behind the second place team which happens to be the Washington Redskins.

The Cowboys will play the Redskins next week in Washington. With the opportunity to jump to 6-4 (the same record that the Redskins would then have).

I am not saying that Dallas will make the playoffs, but I do believe that they have s shot. It sounds cliche, but they are truly in control of their own destiny. With the return of key players on both sides of the ball next week, Dallas will have the opportunity to play like the team everyone originally thought they would be.

Let's take it week by week, but these last 7 games will each be a determining factor the ending result of the Cowboys' ultimate fate this season. The most important factor will not be how many touchdown catches T.O has, how many yards Romo will throw for, or the impact that the return of Terence Newman will have on the defense.

The deciding factor will be emergence of a member of this team that doesn't show up on stat sheets. I'm not sure where it's hiding, but Jerry Jones should put out an APB for the "heart and soul" of the Dallas Cowboys.

Glog: Steelers vs. Colts

9:20 on the clock in the 1st quarter: Mewelde Moore just scored the first points of the game on a 2 yard run. The Steelers moved the ball at will against the Colts.

Sorry about the late start on this Glog. I can't stop watching highlight reels form last nights 24-23 win over #3 Penn State. Wow that was fun! I have especially enjoyed ESPN blogger Adam Rittenberg's last dozen or so posts, all about the Hawkeyes big win.

Payton just took the field for the first time and threw an incompletion. I just can't help but feeling a little less excited when Panning drops back in the pocket. He just hasn't been the same this year. I'm not sure if his leg injury is still bothering him or not. Heck, maybe he's just having a bad season (bad compared to "Manning" standards),

Reggie Wayne just helped him out big time though. Manning under threw a long pass that the defender tipped in to Wayne's arms, then he made a great move to get past another defender to jog into the end zone.

The game is now all tied at 7-7.
The commentators are discussing the Steelers great defense this season and suggest that Troy Polamalu might take home defensive player of the year awards. A picture of him appeared, and I must say his beard is getting a little out of control. Kinda starting to look like the dead wizard from Lord of the Rings. Creepy!

Game back. Melwelde Moore continues to get the ball for the Steelers. He now has 6 rushes and 17 yards in only their second possession. Big Ben was just brought down on 3rd and long, and nearly fumbled. The ball will go back to that unpredictalbe Colt's offense.

As the refs. meet to discuss a holding penalty on the return team, I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep concern that I have just found a maroon "Temple" stocking cap in my bed. I did not stay at my apartment last night, but apparently some dirty boy did enjoy my fabullous pillow top. This very serious allegation will be taken up with my roomates at a later date.

6 minutes left on the clock in the 1st now. Joseph Adai lost a yard and Peyton pass incomplete to Dalass Clark. I wonder if he had a chance to watch the big Iowa game last night. As he hauls in the first down pass this time, I wonder if he and Bob Sanders have considered donating a couple mil. to the football complex project here at Iowa. We still ned $11 million folks. Checks can be made payable to Gary Barta.

Manning has just been sacked for the first time in 119 drop backs. What a stat!
I would also like to metnion that the Colt's are my second favorite team in the NFL, after the Cowboys of course. I just love what Dallas Clark and Bob Sanders have done for the Iowa football program. Commercial break now...