Over 600 teachers will be at LQPV high school on Monday Jan. 15th, and Assistant Director of MRVED Brandon Raymo tells us all about it.
RAYMO’S RAMBLINGS – FIRST TIME AT US BANK STADIUM
FIRST TIME AT US BANK STADIUM
Saturday was my very first visit to the newest NFL stadium. It was way bigger and better than it looks on TV. All I can say is, absolutely amazing!! The Minneota Viking football team played in the state semifinals vs Mayer Lutheran. The Vikings dominated and won 54 to 21. I had the pleasure of broadcasting from the press box, where the public is not allowed. The press box area is a lot bigger than the Metrodome’s press area.
However, from a broadcaster’s standpoint the press area is located on one end of the stadium and difficult to see when play on the field is on the other end. It is much like the football press area at SMSU in Marshall which is located on the goal line! TCF Bank stadium press area, where the Gophers play is located above the 50-yard line and you have an excellent view to broadcast from, however at TCF Bank you are on the top level and way to far from the field to see well.
At US Bank I was impressed with how the press box in laid out, very spacious and kind of a two level area. Bottom level for radio broadcasters, second level for newspaper and online writers. Behind the broadcast area is a full kitchen/lunch area with many tables to sit. Another thing that really caught my attention is the art/photo work on the walls. So much fun to look at with the history of the Vikings being displayed. Also so many television monitors all over the place, I would like to know how many monitors the whole stadium has, it has to be in the thousands. I sneaked into a luxury suite and was blown away at how large and luxurious it was.
When I have driven by the stadium in the past, I always thought it kind of looks ugly. I didn’t care about the look from the outside. But I have changed my mind after walking around the whole stadium from the outside on Saturday. On the sidewalk and you look up and it is massive and does look very much like a Viking ship, which is cool.
I remember well my first time in the Metrodome and was awed! I know a lot of people hated the Metrodome, but I really liked the stadium. Not a bad seat, I watched the Twins, Vikings, Gophers and yes, the Timberwolves. I always liked going to the Metrodome. I also remember my first time going to TCF Bank stadium, it was the Gophers vs Air Force. We sat on the very end and faced the giant jumbo tron. I was really impressed with the Gophers stadium. I have broadcasted high school games from all three stadiums and all three of them have unique characteristics. But US Bank stadium is a notch above the other two.
US Bank Stadium is very impressive for sure, and the world will see how impressive it is when the the stadium hosts the Super Bowl . And guess what? I get to go back to US Bank stadium this Saturday for more Minneota Viking football…..state championship game 10am!!
RAYMO’S RAMBLINGS -LAUGHING IS GOOD MEDICINE
LAUGHING IS GOOD MEDICINE
Our family golf outing is in the books, another Raymo Cup completed. As usual it was a fun three days of golf, food, drinks, bean bags, music and laughs with the best guys to hang out with. My son Brandon hosted us in Montevideo this year. There were nine of us to compete for the coveted Rosemary K Raymo trophy and the Carrell Coat named after my mom and dad in their memory.
We started off golfing nine at the Madison Country Club on Friday afternoon. Then nine at Hawk Creek in Raymond Saturday morning, and ended with 18 holes at Eagle Creek in Willmar Saturday afternoon. Sunday morning, we finished 18 at The Crossings in Montevideo. We all enjoy the game of golf, and some of us play more than others and some are very good golfers.
But you know the three days of the Raymo Cup is way more than the game of golf, it’s about family and spending time together. It’s the young guys, (under 40 years old) teasing and razzing the old guys (50 and older) about everything under the sun. And the old guys giving it right back for three days!
Since I am the oldest, it seems everyone is always asking me if I am ok, especially in the heat. Are you drinking enough water? Make sure you’re in the shade! 54 holes of golf is a lot of golf in three days, in the heat of summer. This past Saturday the dew point was a 72 on my phone, which is considered tropical, or oppressive. And we did a lot of sweating Saturday. But this old guy did very well, a little sore today, but I can keep up with the young bucks.
It is amazing with Facebook, Snap Chat, and the other social media sites, how many the rest of our family, wives, sisters, cousins, aunts and others always look forward to all of our posts to see what’s going on and who’s leading and waiting to hear the funny stories when we all get home. I just spent the last hour telling my wife all of the funny stuff that went on the last three days.
I guess that is what makes the Raymo Cup so much fun, all the laughing that goes on. Someone is always laughing at something. Always something funny going on, someone is always saying something funny, someone is always doing something funny. And we all laugh, sometimes with tears in our eyes from laughing so hard, and if you know the Raymo guys, we have some good belly laughs!!
I could write about some of the funny stuff, but its better if I tell you face to face, so ask me sometime about all the funny stories, because I have many of them to tell. Laughing for three days straight is good medicine for all of us, and that is what makes the Raymo Cup so special. Love all those guys! Can’t wait till next year.
RAYMO’S RAMBLINGS -GUYS WEEKEND! YAHOO!
GUYS WEEKEND! YAHOO!
This weekend is a guy’s weekend, we Raymo guys gather every year about this time. It’s called The Raymo Cup! A major family get together that was started in 2003, it’s all about golf, food, fun and maybe a beverage or two. It started out just me, my brother Greg and his son Nicholas and my son Josh at Pebble Creek in Becker back in 2003. I was just a beginning golfer then, you can tell that by looking at the group picture of us four back in 2003, my golf attire needed an upgrade badly.
Over the years my brother Jim and his stepson and nephew, brother in laws, my nephews and future son in laws and my other sons Brandon and Jeremy have joined in the now three-day tournament! With a trophy given to the winner, the trophy is named after my mom, it’s the Rosemary K Raymo trophy. The winner also has to wear an ugly green jacket at Christmas, the green jacket is called The Carrell Coat after my dad, the green jacket is copied from the jacket given at The Masters in Augusta Georgia. We give other trophies like the worst shot of the tournament and a bowling trophy at our bowling tournament on Friday night. So a lot is happening in three days!
We take turns every year hosting the Raymo Cup, it is a good way to golf other courses around the state of Minnesota and even Iowa. This year Brandon is hosting and he lives in Montevideo, so we will be golfing courses around the Montevideo area this weekend. We golf Friday, Saturday and Sunday. My son Josh, has always organized the tournament; he matches us up with a playoff format. He makes it so we have different partners after every six holes, we play two-person best ball, then the last day we play individual play. It’s complicated at times, but it all works out. Josh is a math teacher, so he has it all figured out on how to keep score to make it fair.
We have lots of fun, but we are all very competitive and it can get serious at times. Josh has also created a nice web site to keep tabs on past Raymo Cups. I’ve attached the link for you to check it out. Ignore that 2003 picture of me and my golf socks
The best part of the Raymo Cup is just being together, the golf is just a small part of the weekend. Greg always gets us some nice golf shirts to wear, I have a golf shirt from most every Raymo Cup. Hanging out at the hosts house in the evening, grilling steaks and having some drinks, playing cards, or bean bags. We have created so many memories over the years, that they get rehashed and told over and over again each year around the campfire. Some so funny it brings tears to our eyes from laughing so hard. And no doubt there will be more memories made this weekend. You can count on Sundays blog to be about this year’s Raymo’s Cup with some good stories I’m sure and maybe a few pictures.
Check out the Raymo Cup website