JOHN LETASKY
406 MT Sports
BILLINGS — Talk about being prepared.
kAm(96? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^c_e>EDA@CED]4@>^6IEC2^A2C:D\@=J>A:4D\2C496CJ\3C25J\6==:D@?^2CE:4=60_62bg_46\daf2\``67\hgbd\ab`a3cebg45f]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm~=J>A:4 2C496CJ 7:G6\E:>6 >652= H:??6C qC25J t==:D@?k^2m H2=<D @FE @7 E96 82C286 5@@C 2E 9:D C6D:56?46 ?62C E96 qC:2CH@@5 v@=7 r=F3 D@FE9 @7 q:==:?8D[ E96C6 :D 2 E2C86E ff J2C5D 2H2J]k^Am
kAm%96 ff\J2C5 >62DFC6>6?E :D E96 ~=J>A:4 D9@@E:?8 5:DE2?46[ t==:D@? ?@E65] ~? 9:D ba\24C6 DAC625 — “H6 8@E DFA6C =F4<J H:E9 E9:D A=246” — t==:D@? 92D @E96C E2C86ED[ :?4=F5:?8 @?6 @7 2 566C E96 2G:5 9F?E6C 42? D9@@E 2E]k^Am
kAm~? (65?6D52J 27E6C?@@?[ ;FDE F?56C EH@ 52JD 7C@> 2CC:G:?8 324< :? E96 |28:4 r:EJ 7C@> E96 !2C:D ~=J>A:4D H:E9 2 D:=G6C 2?5 3C@?K6 >652= :? E@H[ t==:D@?[ bd[ H2D 2?DH6C:?8 BF6DE:@?D 2?5 A@D:?8 7@C A:4EFC6D H:E9 %96 q:==:?8D v2K6EE6 2?5 c_e |% $A@CED 2E 9:D q:==:?8D 9@>6]k^Am
kAmxEVD 2 A6C764E A=246 7@C E96 t==:D@? 72>:=J 2D qC25J’D H:76 @7 6:89E J62CD :D %@;2 t==:D@?[ 2 ?2E:G6 @7 $=@G6?:2 H9@ DE:== D9@@ED 7@C 96C 4@F?ECJ’D ?2E:@?2= E62>]k^Am
kAmx? E96 32D6>6?E :D 2 a_\J2C5 2C496CJ C2?86[ 2=E9@F89 E96 5:DE2?46 42? 36 DEC6E4965 E@ c_ J2C5D] %96C6 :D 2=D@ 2 H6:89E C@@>] %96 :?5@@C C2?86 42? 5@F3=6 2D 2 A=2J 2C62 7@C E96 4@FA=6’D EH@ 49:=5C6?[ ?62C=J c\J62C\@=5 D@? %J 2?5 e\>@?E9\@=5 D@? q@]k^Am
kAm“(6 3F:=E 2? 2C496CJ C2?86 2?5 E96? AFE 2 9@FD6 @? E@A @7 :E E@ =:G6 :?[” D2:5 t==:D@?[ 2 AC@76DD:@?2= 2C496C H9@ DA6?5D 2AAC@I:>2E6=J bd E@ c_ 9@FCD 2 H66< AC24E:4:?8 9:D DA@CE]k^Am
kAm%96 72>:=J 92D =:G65 :? q:==:?8D 2AAC@I:>2E6=J E9C66 J62CD 27E6C >@G:?8 7C@> v=@36[ pC:K@?2]k^Am
kAm“x =@G6 :E FA 96C6] x >62? :E’D H9J H6 >@G65 FA 96C6[” D2:5 t==:D@?[ 2 v=@36 ?2E:G6] “x 76== :? =@G6 H:E9 |@?E2?2 2 =@?8 E:>6 28@ 4@>:?8 FA 96C6 9F?E:?8 2?5 ;FDE 76== :? =@G6 H:E9 E96 2C62 2?5 76== :? =@G6 H:E9 6G6CJE9:?8 FA 96C6] p?5[ E96? H96? H6 564:565 E@ >@G6 FA 96C6[ =:<6 7:?5:?8 2 A=246 E92E H6 =:<65 2?5 E96 H:76 H2?E65 D@>6H96C6 E92E H6 925 ?6:893@CD 2?5 DEF77[ 3FE x H2?E65 D@>6H96C6 E92E H6 925 2 =:EE=6 3:E @7 =2?5 2?5 4@F=5 D66 2?:>2=D 2== E96 E:>6 2?5 DEF77] ]]] xEVD 2 8@@5 >:I 7@C FD]”k^Am
kAmpD 2 A6CD@? H9@ =@G6D E@ 9F?E 7@C 566C[ 6=< 2?5 AC@?89@C?[ 2=@?8 H:E9 @442D:@?2= 3:C5 9F?E:?8 — “x 9F?E 6G6CJE9:?8” — t==:D@? 92D ?6EE65 7:G6 @C D:I 6=<[ :?4=F5:?8 EH@ :? |@?E2?2] w6 92D 2?E=6CD 7C@> 9:D DF446DD7F= 9F?ED E92E D@>6 H@F=5 5C62> @7] p?5 H9:=6 t==:D@? :D 2 H@C=5\4=2DD 4@>A6E:E:G6 2C496C[ 96 5@6D @442D:@?2==J 9F?E H:E9 2 C:7=6]k^Am
kAm“|@DE=J 2C496CJ] x =@G6 9F?E:?8 H:E9 2 3@H[ 3FE x 2> 2? 6BF2= @AA@CEF?:DE 2?5 x =@G6 9F?E:?8 H:E9 2 C:7=6[ E@@[” 96 D2:5] “x =:<6 2== 9F?E:?8[ :E 5@6D?’E >2EE6C E@ >6] qFE 86?6C2==J[ E96 2C496CJ D62D@? =:?6D FA :? >J D4965F=6 2 =:EE=6 36EE6C H96? :E’D <:?5 @7 D=@H6C[ E96 @77 E:>6D] p?5 D:?46 x D9@@E 2 3@H 6G6CJ 52J 2== 52J[ :E’D >@C6 7F? E@ 8@ 9F?E E92E H2J 7@C >6] qFE x’> ?@E 27C2:5 E@ AF== E96 EC:886C @? 2 C:7=6[ 6:E96C]”k^Am
kAmp 7:G6\E:>6 ~=J>A:2? — k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E62>FD2]4@>^AC@7:=6D^3C25J\6==:D@?Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm4@>A6E:?8 :? q6:;:?8 :? a__g[ {@?5@? :? a_`a[ #:@ 56 y2?6:C@ :? a_`e[ %@<J@ :? a_a` 2?5 !2C:Dk^2m — t==:D@? 92D H@? E9C66 D:=G6C >652=D 2?5 EH@ 3C@?K6 >652=D :? 9:D 42C66C]k^Am
kAm~? $F?52J[ t==:D@? 249:6G65 2 D:=G6C >652= :? E96 >6?’D :?5:G:5F2= 2C496CJ 4@>A6E:E:@? 2?5 96 E62>65 H:E9 a_\J62C\@=5 r2D6J z2F79@=5 @7 {2?42DE6C[ !6??DJ=G2?:2[ E@ 62C? 2 3C@?K6 :? E96 >:I65 E62> 2C496CJ 6G6?E uC:52J]k^Am
kAmx? 255:E:@? E@ E96 EH@ >652=D :? !2C:D[ t==:D@? H@? D:=G6C 2?5 3C@?K6 :? #:@ 56 y2?6:C@ 2?5 D:=G6C :? {@?5@?] w6 :D E96 2==\E:>6 &?:E65 $E2E6D =6256C :? ~=J>A:4 2C496CJ >652=D] x? 2== @7 ~=J>A:4 9:DE@CJ[ @?=J z@C62?D 92G6 62C?65 >@C6 >652=D E92? t==:D@?]k^Am
kAm“(96? H6 H@? E96 3C@?K6[ :E H2D <:?5 @7 2 9:DE@C:4 E9:?8[” 96 D2:5] “x 5:5?’E 6G6? C62=:K6 :E 2E E96 E:>6] %92E 3C@?K6 H2D E96 7:CDE >652= :? bd J62CD E92E 2 H@>2? 92D H@?[ D:?46 E96 Vgg v2>6D E92E H2D E96 =2DE E:>6 2 &]$] H@>2? H@? 2? ~=J>A:4 >652=] %92E 3642>6 >J 7@FCE9 W>652=X[ H9:49 >256 >6 E96 >652= 4@F?E H:??6C :? E96 &$p] p?5 E96? E96 7:7E9 @3G:@FD=J 25565 E@ E92E] $@ ?@H[ x 8F6DD x’> E96 >@DE 564@C2E65 ~=J>A:4 2C496C E96 &]$] 92D 6G6C 925]”k^Am
kAmt==:D@? 92D 244@>A=:D965 >F49 @G6C 9:D 2C496CJ 42C66C[ :?4=F5:?8 H:??:?8 `g >652=D — 6:89E 8@=5D[ E9C66 D:=G6CD 2?5 D6G6? 3C@?K6D — 2E E96 (@C=5 r92>A:@?D9:AD] t==:D@? 4C65:ED 9:D =@G6 @7 E96 @FE5@@CD 7@C 96=A:?8 9:> 364@>6 E96 2C496C 96 :D E@52J]k^Am
kAm“x ;FDE DE2CE65 9F?E:?8 H96? x H2D 2 <:5 H:E9 2 3@H 2?5 E96? :E ;FDE <:?5 @7 8C6H 7C@> E96C6[” 96 6IA=2:?65] “p?5 E96? x 8@E D@>6 =F4<J 3C62<D[ 4@2496D ?@E:4:?8 >6 2E E96 C:89E E:>6] x >@G65 @FE E@ r2=:7@C?:2 :? a__e[ H96? x H2D DE:== 2 ;F?:@C :? 9:89 D49@@=[ 2?5 :E H2D DFAA@D65 E@ 36 2 E9C66\>@?E9 EC:2= AC@8C2>] p?5 :E EFC?D :?E@ >6 =:G:?8 @FE E96C6 7@C `_ J62CD[ H@C<:?8 H:E9 2 ?2E:@?2= 4@249 2?5 ;FDE EC2:?:?8 7F==\E:>6 @FE E96C6 2?5 E96? ;FDE =F4< :?E@ 7:G6 >652=D]”k^Am
kAmx? E96 8@=5 >652= >2E49 :? E96 >6?’D :?5:G:5F2= 2C496CJ 6G6?E :? !2C:D[ z:> (@@\;:? @7 $@FE9 z@C62 H@? :? 2 D9@@E@FE] x? E96 D9@@E@FE[ 3@E9 2C496CD D4@C65 `_ A@:?ED @? 2 D:?8=6 2CC@H[ 9@H6G6C E96 z@C62?’D 2CC@H H2D 4=@D6C E@ E96 46?E6C]k^Am
kAm$E2?5:?8 ?6IE E@ @?6 @7 9:D @FE5@@C E2C86ED[ t==:D@? 56>@?DEC2E65 ;FDE 9@H 4=@D6 E96 D9@@E@FE H2D 3J DE:4<:?8 2CC@HD :?E@ E96 E2C86E] t==:D@? H2D @9\D@ 4=@D6 E@ 2 8@=5 >652=]k^Am
kAm“u:G6 >:==:>6E6CD[ =:<6 2 `eE9 @7 2? :?49 2H2J 7C@> H:??:?8 8@=5[” 96 D2:5] “yFDE 32C6=J]”k^Am
kAm(9:=6 t==:D@? H@F=5 92G6 =@G65 2 8@=5[ 96’D 4@?E6?E H:E9 E96 C6DF=ED @7 E96 >2E49 — H9:49 96 D2:5 E96? H2D @?6 @7 E96 36DE ~=J>A:4 7:?2=D 6G6C]k^Am
kAm“x D9@E 8C62E] x 5:5 >J 82>6 A=2?] x 5:5?’E C62==J >6DD 2?JE9:?8 FA[” 96 D2:5] “p?5 :? E96 6?5[ H6 925 2 8C62E >2E49 2?5 x ;FDE 32C6=J 8@E 362E] x >62?[ H6’C6 E2=<:?8 7:G6 >:==:>6E6CD 2:?’E E92E >F49]k^Am
kAm“x D9@E 2 8@@5 >2E49 2?5 x AFE @? 2 8@@5 D9@H 2?5 2E E96 6?5 @7 E96 52J[ x 8@E E@ D9@@E :? 7C@?E @7 E92E 4C@H5 E:== E96 G6CJ 6?5] $@ E92E’D <:?5 @7 E96 >2:? 8@2=]”k^Am
kAmp DEC@?8 72?32D6 96=A65 t==:D@?] %96 >2:? 4966C=6256CD H6C6 9:D H:76 2?5 49:=5C6?[ 3FE 96 D2:5 DA64E2E@CD 2=D@ A=2J65 2 A2CE :? 9:D ~=J>A:4 8=@CJ] p?5 2=E9@F89 96’D 2 C6=2E:G6 ?6H4@>6C E@ E96 %C62DFC6 $E2E6[ >@C6 2?5 >@C6 |@?E2?2?D 92G6 368F? C@@E:?8 7@C 9:>[ 6DA64:2==J D:?46 96 H2D 23=6 E@ C646?E=J 492?86 9:D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E62>FD2]4@>^AC@7:=6D^3C25J\6==:D@?Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm%62> &$p 3:@ 2?5 =:DE 9:D 9@>6E@H? 2D q:==:?8Dk^2m]k^Am
kAm“*@F 42?’E 5@ E9:D H:E9@FE 72?D 2?5 H:E9@FE 96=A 2?5 H:E9@FE A6@A=6[” t==:D@? D2:5] “(96? x 8@E @FE E96C6 2?5 H:? 2 >652=[ x’> E96 @?6 H:??:?8 2 >652= 3FE E96C6’D 2 E9@FD2?5[ 2 9F?5C65 E9@FD2?5[ 2 >:==:@? A6@A=6 H9@ 96=A65 >6 86E 96C6] p?5 E96 A6@A=6 :? |@?E2?2 92G6 366? DFA6C 2H6D@>6 E@ >6] }@E 2 =@E @7 A6@A=6 <?6H E92E x H2D 7C@> 96C6[ @C E92E x H2D 2? ~=J>A:2?[ 3FE E92E’D 4@>A=6E6=J ~z] p?5 x 5:5?’E 4@>6 FA 96C6 E@ 36 =:<6[ ‘w6J[ =@@< 2E >6]’ x 42>6 FA 96C6 E@ C2:D6 2 72>:=J :? E96 =2DE 7C@?E:6C]”k^Am
kAmp 8@2= @7 t==:D@?’D :D E@ 4@?E:?F6 E@ DE2J 2E 2 9:89 =6G6= 2?5 >2<6 E96 ~=J>A:4 E62> 7@C a_ag :? {@D p?86=6D]k^Am
kAmt==:D@? D2:5 96 4@>A6E6D :? 23@FE a_ 6G6?ED 2 J62C[ 23@FE 92=7 :? 7@C6:8? 4@F?EC:6D]k^Am
kAm“xE’D >J ;@3] xE’D 9@H x A2J >J 3:==D] x’> 2 =:EE=6 J@F?8 E@ C6E:C6[” 96 D2:5] “x’> DE:== :? E96 E@A `_ :? E96 H@C=5 2?5 D9@F=5 36 :? E96 E@A 7:G6 :? E96 H@C=5 ?@H] x’> DE:== E96 }@] ` 8FJ :? E96 &]$] $@[ x’== 4@?E:?F6 5@:?8 E9:D 2?5 4@>A6E:?8 F?E:= x’> ?@ =@?86C 23=6 E@ >2<6 2 E62> 2?5 F?E:= 6?@F89 8FJD 4@>6 FA 2?5 362E >6 2?5 E96? x 42? ?@ =@?86C A2J >J 3:==D[ D@ x’== C6E:C6 2?5 5@ D@>6E9:?8 6=D6]”k^Am
kAm$A@?D@CD9:AD 96=A AC@76DD:@?2= 2C496CD H:E9 :?4@>6[ 3FE t==:D@? 92D E@ >2:?E2:? 9:D 82>6 E@ 92G6 2 8@@5 A2J52J]k^Am
kAm“$A@?D@CD 96=A @FE[ 3FE 2 >2;@C:EJ @7 E96 >@?6J x >2<6 :D 7C@> H:??:?8 E@FC?2>6?ED[” 96 D2:5] “tG6? 7C@> DA@?D@CD 2?5 DEF77[ E96J 92G6 2 4@?E:?86?4J :7 J@F A=246 7:CDE 2?5 D64@?5 @C E9:C5 :E’D 2 D6E 2>@F?E @7 >@?6J] %96 >@C6 x H:?[ E96 >@C6 x >2<6]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^c_e>EDA@CED]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^5h`da_6a\6e``\d26d\hace\ebce6e`dgg4bQm|@?E2?2 $F>>6C ~=J>A:2?Dk^2mk^Am
kAmt==:D@? 56A2CE65 7@C !2C:D @? yF=J `g] (9:=6 :? uC2?46[ 2E9=6E6D H:E9 %62> &$p H6C6 3FDJ 7@4FD:?8 @? 8:G:?8 E96:C 36DE 677@CED] |F49 @7 E96:C 52JD 367@C6 E96 4@>A6E:E:@? H6C6 C:5:?8 2 3FD E@ E96 AC24E:46 7:6=5[ AC24E:4:?8 2?5 92G:?8 =F?49[ 2?5 E96? C:5:?8 E96 3FD 324< E@ E96 ~=J>A:4 G:==286[ H96C6 E96J 2E6 2?5 D=6AE]k^Am
kAm%96C6 H2D?’E >F49 E:>6 7@C 7F?[ 2D E96 2E9=6E6D H6C6 E96C6 7@C 3FD:?6DD]k^Am
kAm“p== @7 FD 925 366? E@ !2C:D D@ >2?J E:>6D[” t==:D@? D2:5] “(@C=5 pC496CJ 92D 925 2 (@C=5 rFA E96C6 7@C 7@FC J62CD =625:?8 FA E@ E96 v2>6D[ D@ H6’G6 366? 8@:?8 E@ !2C:D D:?46 a_a`] $@[ 2== @7 FD 925 <:?5 @7 D66? 6G6CJE9:?8 2?5 5@?6 6G6CJE9:?8 E@FC:DEJ 2=C625J] $@[ :E H2D >@C6 ;FDE 7@4FD65 @? E92E 2?5 6?;@J:?8 E96 ~=J>A:4D >@C6 E92? 8@:?8 2?5 D66:?8 E96 t:776= %@H6C 2?5 2== E92E DEF77] … *@F’C6 E96C6 E@ 5@ 2 ;@3]”k^Am
kAm(9:=6 t==:D@? H2D =@@<:?8 7@CH2C5 E@ DA6?5:?8 D@>6 E:>6 H:E9 9:D 72>:=J 27E6C E96 964E:4 E:>6 :? !2C:D[ 96 =62G6D %F6D52J 7@C E96 &$p pC496CJ %2C86E }2E:@?2=D 2?5 &]$] ~A6? ?6IE H66< :? {F33@4<[ %6I2D]k^Am
kAmw6 25>:EE65 E96 EC2G6= 42? 36 E@F89[ “3FE J@F 86E FD65 E@ :E] x’G6 366? 5@:?8 E9:D 2?5 EC2G6=:?8 =:<6 E9:D 7@C 2=>@DE `g J62CD] (6 92G6 DEC6E496D H96C6 :E’D 324<\E@\324<\E@\324< H66<6?5D[ E96? 2 H66<6?5 @77 2?5 E96? J@F 92G6 E9C66 >@C6 E@FC?2>6?ED] xE’D ;FDE <:?5 @7 H92E :E :D]”k^Am
kAmx? !2C:D[ :E H2D 6?;@J23=6 7@C t==:D@? E@ 92G6 %@;2[ %J 2?5 q@ E96C6]k^Am
kAm“xE H2D 2H6D@>6] x H@F=5 962C %J J6==:?8j 6G6CJ@?6 H@F=5 36 BF:6E 2?5 E96? 96’5 J6== 2E >6] xE H2D AC6EEJ 4@@=[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmt==:D@? >6E 9:D H:76 2E 2 (@C=5 rFA 6G6?E :? r@=@>3:2 2?5 E96 EH@ H:== 36 D9@@E:?8 2E E96 (@C=5 pC496CJ u:6=5 r92>A:@?D9:AD $6AE] `e\aa :? {24 {2 q:496[ p=36CE2[ r2?252] qC25J H:== D9@@E 7@C E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 2?5 %@;2 7@C $=@G6?:2]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 2H6D@>6 2?5 H6 EC2:? E@86E96C 2D >F49 2D H6 42?[” D2:5 t==:D@?] “xE’D 92C5 7@C FD 3@E9 E@ D9@@E] (:E9 E96 <:5D[ 86?6C2==J D96’== D9@@E 2?5 x’== E2<6 42C6 @7 E96 <:5D 2?5 G:46\G6CD2 2?5 H6’== 8:G6 6249 @E96C E:>6 E92E H2J] xE’D 2H6D@>6 EC2:?:?8 2?5 EC2G6=:?8 E@86E96C 3642FD6 E96 H9@=6 6?E:C6 72>:=J 8@6D E@ 2== >J ?2E:@?2= 6G6?ED E@86E96C] (6 ;FDE 86E 2? p:C3?3 2?5 E96 H9@=6 72>:=J 4@>6D 2?5 H6 92?8 @FE] %J CF?D 2C@F?5 2?5 D2JD ‘w:’ E@ 2== 9:D 7C:6?5D 2E E96 2C496CJ E@FC?2>6?E 2?5 H6 ;FDE 5@ :E 2== 2D 2 3:8 72>:=J]”k^Am
kAm(9:=6 E96J AFCDF6 E96:C 8@2=D[ E96 t==:D@?D D2:5 E96J 42?’E E9:?< @7 2 36EE6C A=246 E@ 36 E92? q:==:?8D]k^Am
kAm“{@@< 2E E96 AC@A6CEJ] (6 92G6 D@ >2?J 8C62E D=655:?8 9:==D 2?5 x 5:5?’E C62=:K6 x =:<65 D?@H D@ >F49 F?E:= >@G:?8 FA 96C6] x 925 366? :? E96 D?@H H96? x H2D J@F?86C] (96C6 H6 =:G65[ H6 H6C6 FA :? 6=6G2E:@?] (6 H6C6 2=>@DE 2 >:=6 9:89[ D@ H6 8@E BF:E6 2 3:E @7 D?@H :? E96 H:?E6C[” D2:5 t==:D@?] “qFE x ?6G6C H6?E D=655:?8 @C 5:5 2?J @7 E92E <:?5 @7 DEF77] p?5 ?@H E92E H6 D=65 2?5 5@ 2== E92E :? E96 J2C5 H:E9 E96 3@JD 2== E96 E:>6 2?5 DEF77[ :E :D 2H6D@>6] {:<6 H6 92G6 @?6 CF? H96? H6 86E 6?@F89 D?@H E92E :E’D 23@FE 2 c__\ E@ d__\J2C5 D=65 CF?] %92E’D DFA6C 7F?]”k^Am
Email Gazette Sports Editor John Letasky at john.letasky@406mtsports.com or follow him on X/Twitter at @GazSportsJohnL
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
