Welcome to Wally Like It Is!
From the time I was 11 years old (the same year Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record), I knew I wanted to be a newspaper
man.
I used to go to the old Boys Club at 8th and Scott and drink water from the fountain instead of buying milk to wash down my sandwich. I’d use the milk money to buy the St. Louis newspapers.
My mom and dad were so impressed that I knew what I wanted to do they helped me get a job delivering newspapers when I was 12. After the first week I knew my future was not in circulation.
Several things happened in my life, though, that always brought me back to journalism.
When I was in the ninth grade I got a blood clot in my left foot after a bad slide into second base (I had long ago determined I would not make my living as an athlete, but could be part of the sports world as a writer) and missed the last six weeks of classes. I had to take English in summer school, and the teacher (Julia McGee) told me she would give me an A if I promised to take journalism in high school.
I was the sports editor/columnist for The Tiger at Central High. I attended UCA for a year, enrolled at UALR the second year and went to work for Orville Henry at the Arkansas Gazette, but then I won the lottery — the military lottery of 1969. I spent the next 3 years, 7 months, 17 days, 2 hours and 20 minutes in the Air Force as an air traffic controller. After an honorable discharge I started school at UALR. I was also a real estate agent, but the second indication that I was destined for journalism was on its way.
My broker convinced me to sell a broken down piece of junk mobile home (with no toilet) to a guy for $5,000 and the broker would carry the note. The day before closing I helped the guy move his family out, and the next morning walked into the broker’s office and quit about three seconds before he could fire me.
I had already started working Friday and Saturday nights at the old Arkansas Democrat. I asked for more hours and set out to work myself from an editing job to reporter.
As an afternoon paper we reported to work at 4 a.m., but in the evenings I’d go out and cover games on my own time to learn. My first boss was John Brummett, a taskmaster who taught me a lot. I covered a lot of preps and then was assigned sidebar duty for the Razorbacks, and in the winter of 1974 I got a job offer from United Press International in New York. I took it, but the city just wouldn’t change to fit me and I quit at 1:30 in the morning after a third mugging attempt.
I came back to the Democrat, left again, then came back again in 1979 as an investigative reporter. Three months later, the sports columnist job came open and four of us applied.
Managing Editor John Robert Starr said he wanted me to move to the Capitol bureau and that if I would he’d give me a raise. If I took the sports columnist job, I would not get a raise.
He meant it, and I didn’t get a raise for a year.
Now, here I am 31 years later, and what you are normally going to find in this space is what happened behind the scenes and between the lines.
wally, we have missed seeing you and hope that before you are completely overwhelmed with fall ball we can get together for a drink and dinner. always enjoy your writings and musings. i have a 2 year old filly entered to run for the first time thursday at delaware park. “my comrade” a dixie union colt out of a northern dancer mare has me really excited just to see how she will get around in her debut.. this is my most significant purchase to date and hence named her for my comrade and best friend, jane. take care, bill
When did Arkansas first play the Georgia Dogs and what network carried the game?
Thanks
Jack
What year did Arkansas first play the Georgia Bulldogs and what network carried the game?
Wally,
As a long-time fan of yours and a former Central classmate I wanted to ask if you might be able to help me lead the bandwagon for a “Mallett for Heisman” campaign.
I have tried contacting the Heisman Trust and Deloitte-Touche (the Ballot Administrator) but so far have recieved no response. I know the public can vote and I would like to have a sign-up tent at the next home game in Fayetteville.
Sure could use your help old friend!
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Phillip Grable – Class of ’67
phil.grable@yahoo.com
Hi Wally
Just a note to say thank you for mentioning the Razorback Marching Band recently. Our students work hard to prepare pregame and halftime performances, but are equally interested in doing everything possible to engage the students, alumni and fans with fight songs, traditions and new music. Thank you for noticing what we’ve been doing and for the positive feedback. Go Hogs!
Chris Knighten
Director of the Razorback Marching Band
University of Arkansas
Hi Wally – Been reading you since the 70′s it seems. Didn’t always like your stuff because you never wrote much about the National Pastime , and for me, spent too much time on horse racing, But you’ve always been interesting, and you always know your college hoops. Good luck, go hogs, beat bama!
Wally,
I went to my first Razorback game in 1958 at the age of 6. Needless to say,I’ve have been disappointed many times. I have heard so much from so many that Ryan Mallet lost this game.As someone who has played football and understand the complexities of the game,EVERY play affects the outcome of the game.Like when someone missed a block on an earlier drive,a penalty that stops a drive, a dropped pass(of which we had many), a blown coverage in the secondary, missed tackles, a dropped interception that could have been returned for a TD(Madison), and yes interceptions.I could go on and on.
We have improved on defense but we are not there yet.The interception that Crim made was a clear TD had their QB made a good throw.
I don’t want to talk negative about anyone but being a former running back and watching Michael Smith last year,I must say that Green doesn’t need to be in there.He seems to tiptoe to the hole and he doesn’t punish anyone when they try to tackle him.I watched the game again, and there were times when Davis would have made at least 4 or 5 yards when he made nothing. I am not trying to be the coach, because there must be a reason that Green is starting and Davis isn’t. He just doesn’t run very hard.I would have loved to have that kind of body when I was playing. It is a waste of physical advantage.I have never seen him break a tackle,although I’m sure he has.Too many defenders tackle him one on one in the open field.My high school football coach told me when I was a sophomore that I ran like a commode.I feel this way about Green.
We have to regroup and take one game at a time,because I know by watching them that Auburn and South Carolina are going to be very tough games,more so than last year.
Thanks,
Rocky Franks
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I have loved reading your column in the paper since I was a high school athlete growing up in White Hall, AR. Every chance I get, I still read it! I have loved your passion for the Razorbacks and other topics, but also the straight forward approach to how you covered stories. When I blog or write something now, I often think of you and your column. I write to inform, but also to entertain a little too, and I believe I learned that from you. Thanks!
Hello Wally,
What razorback’s score win and loose?
Lois Hancock
Hey Wally, I just read your article on Jermaine Taylor & had a question. You referenced a Morongo Casino being located 90 miles due west of Tinsel Town. Is “Tinsel Town” a reference to Hollywood, California? If so, I do know what is 90 miles due west of Hollywood, and it isn’t a casino. It’s called the Pacific Ocean. I hope there’s another Tinsel Town.
I think you meant to say 90 miles due east.
Wow! Your column on Michael Dyer’s transfer to Arkansas Baptist is a masterpiece. Thank you for highlighting the good decisions of Michael Dyer and Terrell Owens, recognizing the powerful influence of Dr. Fitz Hill, and giving credit to Andre Dyer for standing with his troubled nephew.
You’ve replaced my exasperation with Michael Dyer’s self destructive behavior with lots of hope for good. Imagine the positive outcomes for Michael and his fans when he takes advantage of the opportunities offered by Arkansas Baptist, Dr. Fitz Hill, and Uncle Andre Dyer.
I am a long time Sooner fan and Season Ticket holder that lives in Arkansas and one thing I have never understood about hog fans and sports writers is their hate for OU. The two very rarely play and have no history of playing each other. Your article about Stoops being a cry baby because he does not bow down to the mighty sec is just ignorant. What was he supposed to say, how big and bad the sec is and that every player out of HS should not even bother trying to play in another conference?
Why would any coach outside of the sec sing their praises? Say Stoops goes to a recruit and the recruit says, but Coach, you said the sec was the almighty everything! Why should I come to OU when you yourself said every sec team is a powerhouse and they all play in the mightiest conference in all the land. Anyway I think you should worry more about beating the Louisiana Monroe’s of the world and stop bashing someone because they do not drink your koolaid. Everyone knows the sec has won 7 straight NC’s. Those were by the top 4 programs in the sec, not by every team in the sec. They do not hand out NC Rings to every sec school when ONE team wins it. When was the last time Arkansas won one? And by the way, good luck with that Big name Coach you guys landed.