CAPTAIN'S LOG: The Captain has been leading the changes that have taken place at the Ponderosa. Her final week of summer vacation ended with a bang.

The Captain and first mate had the old rental house on their property taken down. It's unbelievable what you have to go through to get a house from your own property destroyed.

The first mate would have given up on the process long ago and struck a match, but the patient Captain followed all the proper steps and that project is completed.

We will be constructing a small utility shed in its place, and the Captain has spearheaded that move as well. The hole is filled, the materials are delivered so construction should start shortly.

The barn will be a much larger project but that can wait for another year.

The Captain also tackled the back fence line that has become overcome with vines and trees. On a 90-degree, 75 percent humidity day, the Captain put on a flannel shirt (due to the sighting of poison ivy), grabbed her gloves and tools and headed to work.

When she returned, the Captain's face was brighter red than the walls of our home, but she made great progress. The first mate is saved from that job because of an extreme reaction to any contact with poison ivy.

Next week the Captain will return to the classroom; a much calmer life style.

SULTAN SELECTS: The Sheik completed his baseball work with a 4-1 week and a 26-11 overall record. He is headed south to the golf courses until next spring.

The Swami has returned for another year of football prognostications. He is rested and raring to go for the football openers this week.

FB-Waseca vs. Albert Lea (Thursday): The Swami says, Waseca 14, AL 6: The Jays are coming off a state tournament year, but have lots of question marks this fall, especially in the offensive line. A three-year veteran at quarterback is a plus, but the loss of all-purpose Brandon Pederson will hurt. Albert Lea takes big lumps in the Big Nine Conference so really approaches this game as one it needs to win.

FB-NRHEG vs. Blooming Prairie  (Friday): The Swami says, BP 21, NRHEG 7: These two schools have developed a strong rivalry on the football field, with NRHEG having won the last two years. But, the Blossoms are loaded with returnees, including their quarterback, and the Panthers are inexperienced and green, including at QB. NRHEG will hit hard and give a gutsy effort but the Blossoms have too many weapons on offense.

FB-WEM vs. Jordan  (Friday): The Swami says, WEM 27, Jordan 12: The Bucs are the defending state champs and everyone will be giving their best effort to try to knock them off. WEM is used to that; a lot of schools are shooting at them every year. The Bucs will be playing a larger school with some good athletes so need to be ready to go. WEM is loaded at most positions, but does not have the backup depth that it has had in past years.

FB-JWP vs. Hills-Beaver Creek (Thursday): The Swami says JWP 20, HBC 14: These are two teams who were 4-4 in the Southern Confederacy Conference a year ago, and both looking to move up into the first division this year. As always with smaller schools, depth is a problem and injuries need to be avoided. The big strength for JWP is quarterback Connor Morton. Having a 6'3", 220-pound QB running the show is a plus at any school.

FB-Gophers vs. Middle Tennessee State (Thursday). The Swami says, Gophers 24, MTS 17: Coach Tim Brewster says Minnesota is going to be better than everyone thinks but Golden Gopher fans have been hearing that for years. Will this year's team be the real deal? Having a fifth year senior at quarterback is a plus but will he have enough surrounding him? The offensive line is the biggest question mark. The suspension of the MTS quarterback is a big plus in Minnesota's favor. 

SECOND SCOOP: This is the week that all sports fans have been waiting for since school let out last spring. Friday nights lights, or in this case Thursday night lights as well.

It is the start of the high school and college football season. Area fans can take in season-opening games on Thursday, Friday and Saturday without having to travel very far to do so.

Waseca and JWP get the jump on most high school teams by playing Thursday night.

The Jays, coming off their first state tournament ever and an 8-4 overall campaign, hit the road for a game at Albert Lea. Waseca has lots of question marks in the offensive line, but this is a game they expect to win. Albert Lea has been at or near the bottom of the Big Nine Conference for years and that doesn't look to change.

Waseca will be without its best all-purpose player Brandon Pederson, but quarterback Brad McIntosh and running back Brock Kolander appear to be healthy following knee surgeries.

JWP will be led by three-year starter Connor Morton at quarterback. At 6'3" and 220-pounds, Morton can do plenty of damage to cornerbacks when he rolls out.

The Bulldogs were 4-5 a year ago and would like to move up to the upper division of the Southern Confederacy Conference.

Depth is always a question in the nine-man game and coach Merle Sveen's squad must avoid injuries.

WEM and NRHEG get their seasons on the road with Friday night games.

Defending state champ WEM will have a bull's eye on its back as everyone wants to knock off a defending state champ. The Bucs may just have the personnel to overcome that. WEM returns 25 letterwinners with seven starters on each side of the ball.

The no huddle, four wide out set with three year veteran Conrad Masberg running the show will put points on the board. And the 3-5 defense proved extremely tough to score on last season. Another 13-1 season and state title is not out of reach.

NRHEG has lots of question marks from last year's 5-4 team. A new quarterback and new lines must come of age quickly for the Panthers to be competitive again.

NRHEG may be throwing the ball a little more this season but it will still feature the same hard-hitting, fast defense to cause teams plenty of problems.

If you prefer the college game, MSU-Mankato opens its season at home Thursday night and the Mavericks were listed in the pre-season rankings.
WEM grad Bryce Kinniry will be one of the Maverick key defensive players.

The Gophers also get underway Thursday and the Vikes close out their preseason schedule the same night.

There is plenty of football for even the best gridiron fans.

DIAMOND GEMS:
* Mankato's Tony Kornicek had two of the Twins' six hits but Kato was eliminated from the Class B State by a 3-2 loss to Rochester.
* Brandon Rolloff of Dundas had two of his team's five hits, stroked a double and scored the lone run in a 2-1 loss to Savage.
* Rochester's Josh Conley hurled a complete game six-hitter, walked one and struck out three as the Royals eliminated the Mankato Twins.

* Tyler Jones went 3-4 with two doubles, two runs and two RBI as Dundas bounced the Rochester Royals 10-3.

* Aaron Wendt smacked a double and a home run but Blue Earth was eliminated from the Class C State Tourney with a 4-2 loss to Raymond.

SHOTS FROM THE PAST:
* 1909 - The Philadelphia Phillies were rained out for a major league record 10^th consecutive day.
* 1921 - Detroit's Ty Cobb recorded his 3,000-career hit.
* 1952 - The New York Giants board of directors voted to move the team to San Francisco next year.
* 1962 - Homero Blanco shot a 55 at the Premier Invite Golf Tourney in Longview (Tx.), the lowest score in U.S. competitive golf history.
* 1996 - Minnesota's Paul Molitor tied legendary Lou Gehrig by stroking his 534^th career double.

SCOOP QUIZ: It has been over 20 years since the Gopher basketball team has had an All-American selection. Can you name the last one?

Last week: Who holds the Waseca American Legion record for most wins in a summer?