No ESPY for Lance -
2008 Best Outdoor Athlete Goes to Scott Smiley, mountain
climber - Scott Smiley was Blinded by a suicide
blast in Mosul, Iraq, in April 2005, he hasn't let his injuries
stop him from remaining in the Army, pursuing a master's
in business administration at Duke University in North Carolina
or climbing Mount Rainier in Washington state in July 2007.
The 14,410-foot climb, which only half of about 10,000 annual
climbers actually complete, according to the "Seattle
Post-Intelligencer," earned Smiley a nomination as
"Best Outdoor Athlete," for the 2008 ESPY awards.
While Lance didn't grab the Best Outdoor Athlete of the
year he said it was a complete honor to be nominated and
mingle with such great athletes. The 2008 ESPY's, hosted
by Justin Timberlake was taped Wednesday night for rebroadcast
Sunday night at 9:00PM ET. on ESPN.
The folllowing is
a list of the winners in their respective categories:
Male Athlete: Tiger
Woods, golf. Female
Athlete: Candace Parker, Tennessee and Los Angeles SparksTeam:
Boston Celtics Coach-Manager:
Pat Summitt, Tennessee women's basketball Comeback:
Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers Breakthrough
Athlete: Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings Game:
New York Giants defeat New England Patriots, Super BowlRecord-breaking
Performance: Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers
Championship Performance: Tiger Woods, U.S. Open Play:
New York Giants QB Eli Manning's pass to David Tyree,
Super Bowl Moment:
Central Washington's Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace,
Western Oregon's Sara Tucholsky for sportsmanship Finish:
Western Kentucky's Ty Rogers hitting buzzer beater to
defeat Drake in first round of NCAA men's basketball tournament
Upset: New York Giants defeat New England Patriots, Super
Bow lSports Movie:
"Semi-Pro"Male
College Athlete: Tim Tebow, Florida football
Female College Athlete: Candace Parker, Tennessee basketball
Women's Collegiate Team: Tennessee basketballMale
Action Sport Athlete: Shaun White, skateboarding/snowboarding
Female Action Sport
Athlete: Gretchen Bleiler, snowboarding Male
Athlete With A Disability: Ryan Kocer, wrestlingFemale
Athlete With a Disability: Shay Oberg, softball
Male International Athlete: Rafael Nadal, tennis Female
International Athlete: Lorena Ochoa, golf Baseball
Player: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees
NBA Player: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers WNBA
Player: Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm
NFL Player: Tom Brady, New England Patriots NHL
Player: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins Bowler:
Norm Duke Driver:
Jimmie Johnson Fighter:
Floyd Mayweather, boxingGolfer:
Tiger Woods Jockey:
Kent Desormeaux MLS
Player: David Beckham, Los Angeles Galaxy Male
Tennis Player: Roger Federer Female
Tennis Player: Maria SharapovaTrack
and Field Athlete: Tyson Gay Outdoor
Athlete: Scott Smiley, mountain climber Arthur
Ashe Courage Award: John Carlos and Tommie Smith, 1968
Olympic medalists Jimmy
V ESPY for Perseverance: Kevin Everett, former Buffalo
Bills tight endLike
Nothing Else Award: George Martin walks across America
Lance is nominated for a 2008 ESPY
- We are thrilled to announce that Lance Mackey
has been selected as an ESPY nominee for the second year
in a row in the category of "Best Outdoors Athlete".
The ESPY Awards are the one night each year where athletes
from all sports join together to celebrate the best moments
of the year. The ESPY Awards take place on July 20th at
the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, CA. The show is hosted
by Justin Timberlake and promises to be extraordinary.
Fans will have the chance to select the winners by voting
online at Online voting continues through July 12 at 11:59
p.m. ET at either ESPYS.tv
, or on mobile phones. All proceeds from the ESPY Awards
and related events benefit the V Foundation for Cancer
Research in memory of the late Jim Valvano.
The ESPY Awards is an annual
sports awards event created and broadcast by American
cable television network ESPN. Begun in 1993, the event
confers eponymous awards, fully styled as Excellence in
Sports Performance Yearly Awards, for individual and team
athletic achievement and other sports-related performance
during the calendar year preceding a given ceremony.
From their inception until
2004, the awards were chosen variously through voting
by fans; sportswriters, broadcasters, sports executives,
and sportspersons, collectively experts; or ESPN personalities.
Award winners have been selected thereafter exclusively
through online fan balloting conducted from amongst candidates
selected the ESPY Select Nominating Committee.
Lance
autographs a patch for the "Larry" appreciation
club
designed by Sarida
Steed-Bradley
|
68 Mushers head for
Iditarod HQ for Sign Up
As of Saturday June 28th,
68 mushers had signed up with a 100 musher limit. Mushers
that do not make the cut off will go on a waiting list.
Arriving in style,
Lance, Tonya and son Cain pulled up at Iditarod Headquarters
in the Dodge Super Bee he won in last years Iditarod from
Anchorage Chrysler Dodge.
Lance, along with many other mushers lined up to pay the
$4,000 dollar entry fee for the 2009 Iditarod. "It's
definetly a big chunk of change to put up when you have
increasing prices in dog food, fuel and just everyday
living expenses." says Lance "But, Iditarod
is feeling the pinch as well. The money has to come from
somewhere".
Lance spent the day talking
to volunteers and fans and signing autographs.
Limited number
prints now availble!
"Zorro" is the main
dog that makes up the Mackey kennel. He has been the main
stud since he was a yearling. The team Lance has right now
is based around him. He is the backbone to the success of
Lance's champion races.
This beautiful pencil sketch of "Zorro" is a collectors
catch for any fan. He was a memebr of the 2008 Iditarod
team. Limited and numbered. Prints are signed by both artist
and musher. Sketch by
Fairbanks artist, Art Cross. Art teamed up with Lance to
raise money for the 2008/2009 race season.
Black and white prints available in 8"x10" or
5"x7" unmatted printed on fine art paper.
8x10 "Zorro"
Print $60.00
plus $7.00 shipping
& handling
5x7 "Zorro"
Print $30.00
plus $7.00 shipping & handling
"Dred", who can resist that handsome
face. A pure gentleman of a sleddog. Memebr of the 2008
Iditarod team.
Limited and numbered. Prints are signed by both
artist and musher. Sketch
by Fairbanks artist, Art Cross. Art teamed up with Lance
to raise money for the 2008/2009 race season.
Black and white prints available in 8"x10" or
5"x7" unmatted printed on fine art paper.
8 x10 "Dred" Print $60.00
plus $7.00 shipping & handling
5x7 "Dred"
Print $30.00
plus $7.00 shipping & handling
Coming soon ...more portraits of the 2008 Iditarod
team. Collect them all!
5th
Annual Mackey Fundraiser Planned:
We are starting to plan our 2008 fundraiser. Lance &
the good folks at the Alpine Lodge have plans in the works
for a fundraiser Saturday, October 11th.
Do
you have auction donations? Any items or services
you would like to donate are greatly appreciated. Contact
Tonya Mackey e-mail
or drop items off at either Movie Gallery office in Fairbanks.
In the Anchorage area and want to donate? No problem...
we have a drop off contact there as well. Just let us
know. Or you can mail USPS items to:
Lance Mackey - Mackey's Come Back Kennel PO Box 10262
Fairbanks, Alaska 99710 or Shipping UPS or FedX
- Movie Gallery 3677 College Road # 13 Fairbanks, Alaska
99709.
The fundraiser
will be in Fairbanks, Alaska at the Alpine Lodge. There
will be a spagetti feed as well as wonderful items to
bid on, join the fun and help the Mackey Kennel continue
it's racing success. More details will be posted soon.
Lance
& wife Tonya |
THANK
YOU
FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Mackey's Comeback
Kennel would like to give a very special "Thank You"
for your support with this years racing season. Without
your support our kennel, would not be as successful as it
is today. We have had another incrediable record year. It
didn't come easy or without a lot of hard work and support
from many of you behind the scenes. We can't thank you enough.
As
with all sports and competitors, we are already thinking
of how to improve our training and racing for next year.
One way is to be at the top of the sign-up list in every
race, which bring us to The Iditarod. The first day for
the 2009 Iditarod sign-up is the 28th of June 2008. lt is
important to sign-up early for many reasons. This years
entry is $4000.00. This is a BIG expense for any kennel.
The first
day of the Iditarod sign-up includes a huge picnic for
volunteers, you get to meet the mushers, eat a BBQ catered,
win lot's of door prizes. I hope to see some of you there
so I can thank you personally for your support.
By the way, for all of you visiting Fairbanks, I will
be at the Alpine Lodge every Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday
evening from 8 pm -10 pm, signing autographs and sharing
trail stories through June & some of July. Call the
Alpine Lodge before you drop by for any schedule changes
at 907-328-6300. It's a great place to stay if you need
lodging as well. Tell them Lance Mackey sent you.
Thank
you, Lance & Tonya Mackey
Lance Invited to Mancelona, Michigan
Lance Mackey will be speaking about his 2007/2008 racing
season. there will be an open question and answers session
as well. September 14, 2008 from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. in
Mancelona, MI, USA. Organized by the Last Chance Kennel
at Russ-Stick Acres. Admission $40 Admission Fee (No charge
for children under 16 years of age.)
For more information contact Sherry & Russ Sutherby
Phone (231) 881-2688 or Email sleddogs_mancelona@yahoo.com
Speakers
include:
- Lance Mackey, World's
First and Only 2-Time IditaQuest Champion: speaking
on Mushing 101 and Kennel Management
- "Dr. Tim" Hunt,
sled dog vet/dog food producer
- Tim Riley, Wildlife
Biologist with USDA/APHIS, musher, and 2009 Iditarod
rookie speaking on Iditarod history and training for
his first Iditarod.
Activities:
Covered wagon shuttle service. Event t-shirts will be
on sale at site. Lance's "Appetite & Attitude"
DVD will be available for sale. Numerous "door prize"
items.
Lance Mackey to Speak at the 2008 Ontario
OFSS Fall Symposium
Lance has been invited to speak at the 2008 Ontario OFSS
Fall Symposium, September 20, 2008. The event will be held
at North Bay, Ontario, Canada by the Ontario Federation
of Sleddog Sports. You can contact Ray & Janice Erker
for more details. Phone 705-776-7020
Email paws-e-trax@hotmail.com
Visit their web site at www.ofss.ca/symposium.htm
Early registration is advised as there is a limit
of 150 people. Check web site often for any updates.
Lance
& new pups |
Early Father's Day
for Zorro!!!
June
4th 2008
Zorro
has had enough of the foo-foo treatment and has opted
for returning to his old dog house deep within the 90
plus sled dogs in the Mackey dog lot.
The fur has grown back over the cracked ribs. There is
only a hint of where the accident occurred in Zorro's
hips, where he occasionally sits to rest them.
Zorro has something new to brag about as he returns to
his team mates in the dog lot. The Mackey's announced
that Zorro is the proud pappa of 9 healthy puppies.
Retirement is grand!
...and how is Zorro? 05/11/08
Zorro is doing well. He continues
to insist that outdoors is better than in.
He has a nice spot in the sun, just outside the familes
front door where he
overlooks the entire Mackey kennel. A spot where Lance
can closely watch his progress.
ZORRO UPDATE: APRIL
30th 2008
Zorro improves daily, sunning on
the Mackey's home porch. He continues to choose the outdoors
over the comfort of a couch. Lance says "he has the
mind of a 2 year old, he still wants to run and play, but
his body reminds him that it is not possible yet."
Each day he gains strength in his
back and hips. He has the will power to heal and resume
being the dog he once was.
Lance
Mackey & Ron Udd |
Anchorage Chysler Dodge
Presents Lance
with Key
Lance was all grins today. Like a teenager with his very
first car. Lance received his 2008 Iditarod Dodge key, part
of his winnings in this years Iditarod Sled Dog Race.
He surprised everyone
by choosing a beautiful Dodge Charger instead of the traditional
truck.
"It
was a tough decision," Lance said with a twist of the
head "but when I saw that pretty blue Doge Charger
in the showroom, it was screaming at me" he smiled.
"I have trucks for mushing, they just need some work,
transmissons replaced or some cosmetic touches. This will
be a better family car and better on gas".
"Ron Udd, owner of
the
Anchorage Chysler Dodge dealership,
is an amazing guy for his continued sponsorship with Iditarod
year after year". Lance says with pride, "He's
my hero. The man just gives and gives".
The Big Mackey !!!!!
Stand Aside MacDonalds. Alaska now has the "Lance
Burger". Served at Mia's Cafe (22.5 Mile Chena Hot
Springs Road - near Fairbanks ) and consists of 12 ounces
of plain or garlic-seasoned beef - cooked rare, medium
or well-done. It's topped with lettuce, tomatoes, fried
onions, cheese, bacon, mushrooms and jalapenos on a sesame
seed bun. The owner of Mia's cafe, Elliot Lowe says "Lance
is a WINNER and we think his hamburger is too !!"
$1 from the sale of every Lance burger will be donated
to this exceptional musher.
Zorro Continues to Mend
- APRIL 17, 2008
With lot's of loving
and fussing from the Mackey family, Zorro is doing amazing.
"He still has his limits" says Lance "
little baby steps each day. He's like me in this healing
process. He does'nt want to sit around. He'd go crazy.
So everyday he does what he can. He's standing for periods
of time. When he gets tired he sits. I know it's frustrating
for him. He's nine years old now, it's tough to bounce
back from an injury when your older". explains Lance.
In Alaska's mid
morning sun, Zorro enjoys sitting on the porch for a half
hour over looking the dog lot where he once ruled. Then
it's back to his cozy kennel indoors.
"It will be a slow transition to the house for Zorro.
I think eventually he will take a liking to the couch
life. We are thankful we still have him around, hopefully
for many years to come. It's a real blessing." Lance
says with a sigh of relief.
"Zorro" photo
by Jan DeNapoli |
Zorro
Update -
April 8th 2008
Although weak and
confined to a kennel, Zorro is happy to be back home amongst
his kennel mates. Lance explains "his brain says
I want to be back outdoors playing with the rest of the
sled dogs, but his physical body says, not yet'.
"Zorro has been wagging his tail and tilting his
head to the sky recognizing familar smells and sounds.
We are all glad to see him home. The doctors say he
must stay calm, no running, jumping or breeding for
this stud for at least 4 months" says Lance.
Sincere
thanks
for all your support!
There has been a tremendous response to helping with
Zorro's medical bills and travel expenses. "People
just helped us with open arms". Lance says with
a heart felt sigh "We are so grateful to all the
folks in Seattle and Tacoma, and all of those who sent
us donations. Wonderful get well cards have been arriving
in the mail every day with doggie cookies and blankets
just for Zorro" wife Tonya adds."It's
incrediable".
"We are at awe at the support and thank all of
you for your help, it was one less worry on our minds
as the days went by. We will never forget
the kindness from so many". Lance and Tonya both
said.
Mackey Makes the
Top 25 List of Toughest Athletes
Lance Mackey is named on the top 25 list on Sports Illustrated
CNN.com, taking #2
Read
more....
Update:Back
Home - April 6th, 2008
Zorro has returned home and is wagging his tail. he is glad
to be back in recognizable surroundings with his family
and team mates.
Iditarod
champ dog heads home to begin retired life
By Bryan Johnson - 3/5/08
KOMO TV
The lead dog for Iditarod winner Lance Mackey is heading
back home after receiving treatment at a Tacoma emergency
hospital for what were described as potentially life-threatening
injuries.
Read
more...watch video clip.
Update on "Zorro" - April
2, 2008:
Zorro is in Seattle with Lance and Tonya. The best
news is, vets have completed an MRI and Zorro will NOT need
back surgery at this time. He has a minor concussion, some
bruising on the lung, 3 broken
ribs, swelling, bruising & bleeding on the spine with
one injured disc.
Zorro is responding to things around him. They expect, with
time, he will get feeling in his back legs and be able to
stand and walk. Zorro will be released friday evening from
the Seattle vet clinic to come home and begin his long road
to recovery with veterinarians in Fairbanks.
Zorro will need 6-8
months of care and therapy. Doctors are optimistic for his
recovery.
March
31, 2008:
Many of you are aware that Lance Mackey's dog "Zorro"
was injured during the 2008 All Alaska Sweepstakes when
a snow machine collided with his team. Zorro was in the
sled bag when the machine struck his sled. Zorro sustained
3 broken ribs, some internal bleeding, and spinal injuries.
He is not able to stand or use his back legs. Doctors
are considering flying Zorro to Seattle for spinal surgery.
We will know more when an MRI is done on Zorro this afternoon.
A lot of you have been asking about helping with expenses
associated with Zorro's vet bills. They already are $3,700
and the cost will certainly climb if he needs to be flown
to Seattle for surgery.
Final race results of the
All Alaska Sweepstakes March 26th, 2008
Nome
to Candle & back
HE'S
DONE IT AGAIN!!!!
The Fox from Fox, Alaska is the 2008 Iditarod Champion
photo by Donna Quante |
UPDATE
ON "HOBO"
For all of you asking..."Hobo", one of Lance's
key lead dogs, is doing just fine. He was on antibiotics
for a few days from a dog bite to his leg (a puncture).
Nothing serious. He has healed wonderfully!
He is
getting plently of TLC. Shorts walks in the late afternoon,
extra helpings of Red Paw dog food and many nose kisses.
He'll be ready for All Alaska Sweepstakes if called
upon.
UPDATE ON
"LARRY"
Sweet
and wild "Larry" is all good. No worries.
The cut on his foot (the pad) was minor, just an abrasion.
It is healing quickly and he, as always, is jumping
and screaming to go.
Want to read more about Lance Mackey
&
the Come Back Kennel? click
here
|
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