Friday, June 27, 2008.

In 40 years of four-year football, Boise State has had nine head football coaches. Gary Craner has served under every one of 'em. And, for that matter, every coach in every sport at BSU since 1972. But today is Craner's final official day as the Broncos' head athletic trainer after 36 years on the job. Craner says a list of his favorite moments over that time could fill the Steuckle Sky Club, but they range from the Fiesta Bowl through every championship BSU has won, and the two NCAA Track & Field Championships hosted in Bronco Stadium. He is a member of a number of halls of fame, including the National Athletic Trainers Association and BSU Athletics.

But just as important to Craner were all the students he mentored in his athletic training program, and all the athletes he helped on and off the field, from treatment to unofficial life counseling. And the sidebar stories--like the basketball road trips to Montana, where the Broncos would have to deal with the rowdy Grizzlies student section. In the 70's, the students would roll potatoes across the floor when BSU entered the court. Former Bronco coach Bus Connor would autograph 'em and hand 'em back.

Will it be so hot tomorrow that fans have a hankering to go indoors to watch arena football? Maybe that will turn around the Boise Burn attendance number that's taken a sudden dive. The Burn, who play Tri-Cities in Qwest Arena tomorrow night, sold out their first three home dates with 5,000-plus. Then they settled into the 4,500 area for the next two games before plunging to an announced 3,640 two weeks ago. It's easier to draw in the spring than in the summer, but perhaps the heat will help. Momentum from the Burn's improbable last-minute two-touchdown victory rally last week could, too.

Mike Taylor made history last night for the D-League and the Idaho Stampede. Then he made the "Transactions" column. Taylor was selected in the second round by the Portland Trailblazers in the NBA Draft, then was traded by the Blazers to the L.A. Clippers. It may be awhile before another D-League player is drafted--it'll be rare to see an NBADL guy who hasn't gone through draft eligibility. Meanwhile, Nevada center JaVale McGee was selected No. 18 overall, going to the Washington Wizards. No action on Boise State's Reggie Larry.

Ryan Flaherty looked the part of a first round draft pick last night, leading the Boise Hawks to a 10-1 route of Everett. The shortstop out of Vanderbilt went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, including his second home run of the season. On the mound, Hawks hurlers continue to surge, as Casey Coleman, Mike Perconte and Jake Muyco combined on a two-hitter. Muyco, the one-time Hawks catcher being converted to pitcher this year, still has not allowed an earned run. The Hawks return home tonight to open a three-game series against Yakima.

There's a distinct local spotlight on two athletes competing on Day One as the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials open in Eugene. Both are familiar names if you follow the sport at all. Bishop Kelly grad Nick Symmonds has high hopes of making the USA squad that goes to Beijing as he runs in the quarterfinals of the 800 meters tonight. Symmonds comes in with the fastest automatic qualifying time. And Russ Winger, the now-former University of Idaho great, competes in the prelims of the discus a short time later. Winger is ranked fifth in the U.S. in that event--if he can improve that standing by two places this weekend, he's off to China in August.

Janell Howland said on Idaho SportsTalk Wednesday her first round goal at the U.S. Women's Open was "hit the fairway and hit the green." The fun-loving Meridian High grad and former Lamar University golfer missed a little on both counts yesterday, carding a five-over-78 in Edina, MN. Howland muddled through five bogies and a double-bogey before birdying two of the final three holes. She's in obvious danger of missing the cut today.

This Day In Sports...June 27, 1992:

After a six-month Reebok campaign called "Dan and Dave", featuring Olympic decathlon hopefuls Dan O'Brien and Dave Johnson, O'Brien fails in the pole vault and is eliminated at the U.S. Olympics Trials. It was a shock for the former Idaho Vandal star, who had won the world decathlon championship in 1991. He would be world champ again in 1993 and 1995, and would fully redeem himself by winning the gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

(Tom Scott hosts the Scott Slant segment Sunday nights at 10:30PM on KTVB's Sunday Sports Extra and anchors five sports segments each weekday on 1350 KTIK/The Ticket. He also handles color commentary on KTVB's telecasts of Boise State football.)

---