State Fair admission going up

LEARNED THE FREE PARKING AT THIS YEAR S STATE FAIR -- MAY NOT BE THAT SWEET OF A DEAL AFTER ALL WE TOLD YOU LAST NIGHT THE FAIR IS DOING AWAY WITH THE 7 DOLLAR PARKING FEE BUT TONIGHT WE VE LEARNED ---THEY RE GOING TO CHARGE YOU MORE TO GET IN ERIC KAHNERT LOOKED INTO WHETHER THE TWO WILL CANCEL EACH OTHER OUT ERIC TODAY THE FAIR SPOKESMAN TOLD ME ONE OF THE REASONS THEY RE INCREASING THE FEE TO GET IN HERE IS TO OFFSET THE FREE PARKING SO WILL THAT SAVE YOU ANY MONEY WELL IT DEPENDS ON THE SIZE OF YOUR FAMILY RYAN SEABROOK AND HIS FAMILY LIVE RIGHT NEXT TO THE STATE FAIR GROUNDS TODAY HE FOUND OUT SHOES AND SHIRTS AREN T THE ONLY ITEMS REQUIRED TO GET INTO THE FAIR THIS YEAR -- HE LL NEED EXTRA CASH FOR ADMISSION 5 32 I got two kids of my own when you re paying for a whole family to get in there that adds up you know -4 FAIR-GOERS 13 AND UP PAID 7 DOLLARS LAST YEAR THIS YEAR THEY LL HAVE TO PAY NINE BUCKS PRICES FOR KIDS 12 AND UNDER WON T CHANGE 5 53 the tickets are expensive out there anyway the attractions are an expense so the extra 2 dollars i don t understand the reasoning behind it -8 2 12 we ve done a lot of studying on this -2 PART OF THE REASON FAIR OFFICIALS SAY IS TO OFF-SET THE FREE PARKING LAST NIGHT WE TOLD YOU ABOUT THE FAIR S PLAN TO GET RID OF THE 7- DOLLAR PARKING FEE BUT FAIR OFFICIALS NEVER TOLD US ABOUT THE ADMISSION INCREASE SO WE LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS THE FAIR TOLD US THEY D LOSE OUT ON A HALF MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE WAIVED PARKING FEES LAST YEAR 741 THOUSAND PEOPLE VISITED THE FAIR IF A THIRD OF THOSE WERE ADULTS AND RETURNED THIS YEAR THE FAIR WOULD MAKE AN EXTRA -- YOU GOT IT -- HALF MILLION BUCKS 7 39 it s sneaky to me -1 BECAUSE SEABROOK AND HIS FAMILY WALK TO THE FAIR AND WON T SAVE ON THE WAIVED PARKING FEE HIS FAMILY WILL HAVE TO FORK OVER AN EXTRA FOUR BUCKS 8 19 everyone can use the extra money these days -2 A FAMILY OF FOUR WHO DRIVES TO THE FAIR WITH TWO KIDS UNDER 13 WILL END UP SAVING 3 DOLLARS BUT A CAR CARRYING FOUR ADULTS LET S SAY -- WILL END UP LOSING A BUCK THE FAIR SAYS YOU MAY HAVE TO PAY A FEW MORE DOLLARS BUT YOU LL NO LONGER HAVE TO WAIT IN LONG LINES TO PARK -- BECAUSE NO ONE WILL BE STOPPING YOUR CAR TO COLLECT MONEY REPORTING LIVE FROM THE FAIRGROUNDS EKEYWN4 WITH THE NEAR RECORD BREAKING RAIN WE VE HAD THIS JULY YOU VE GOT TO WONDER HOW A- P-S SCHOOLS ARE HOLDING UP IN FEBRUARY WE SHOWED YOU HOW ROOF DAMAGE CAUSED BY A WINTER STORM IN 2006 WAS STILL HAUNTING HOOVER MIDDLE SCHOOL -- CREATING SOME DOWNRIGHT NASTY CONDITIONS FOR KIDS IN THE CLASSROOM WE WENT BACK OUT THERE TODAY TO SEE HOW THINGS ARE JEFF MAHER IS LIVE WITH A LOOK THE ENTIRE ROOF AT HOOVER MIDDLE SCHOOL STILL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BUT WORKERS HAVE FOUND A WAY TO KEEP THE RAIN OUT AND AS FAR AS THAT NASTY MESS THAT WAS INSIDE THINGS LOOK AT LOT DIFFERENT it will be better and like I say - there s no new damage to Hoover and we ve worked to keep the roof dry so it will be much better THIS PAST FEBRUARY - WE SHOWED YOU JUST HOW DISGUSTING THINGS WERE INSIDE HOOVER MIDDLE SCHOOL BUT WHAT WAS ONCE A YELLOW STAINED WALL - - IS NOW CLEANED UP ALL OF THOSE UGLY - LEAKING CEILING TILES - - HAVE BEEN REPLACED THE MESSY TEACHERS LOUNGE - - IS BACK TO NORMAL AND THE HOME-EC CLASS THAT ONCE HAD BUCKETS COLLECTING BROWN TAR WATER - - NOW LOOKS LIKE A HOME- EC CLASS WORKERS HAVE SPENT THEIR SUMMER MAKING HOOVER LOOK LIKE A SCHOOL AGAIN JUST IN TIME FOR THE KIDS FIRST DAY OF CLASS AUGUST 12TH I think the school is going to be a lot cleaner I think a lot of the damage is already going to be removed and repaired and they ll be able to watch the process as it happens KIDS WILL ALSO BE COMING BACK TO NEW FLOOR TILES A-P-S OFFICIALS SAY THEIR AGGRESSIVE MAINTENANCE WHICH INCLUDES A LOT OF PATCHWORK AT SCHOOLS UNTIL ROOFS CAN BE REPLACED - - IS SAVING THE DISTRICT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS - IF NOT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS LAST NIGHT S HEAVY RAINFALL ONLY AFFECTED TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS - - AND THEY JUST HAD SOME MINOR LEAKS - - NO DAMAGE we can assure you that we are really working hard a lot of accountability to make sure the rooms are clean and safe and not leaking and where we do find them we re taking care of those leaks immediately A-P-S SAYS THEY RE VERY CLOSE TO GETTING STARTED WITH REPLACING THE ROOF HERE AT HOOVER BUT MAINTENANCE OFFICIALS SAY DISTRICT-WIDE THEY VE STILL GOT ABOUT TWO TO THREE YEARS OF REPAIRS LEFT BEFORE ALL THE DAMAGE IS FIXED FROM THE SNOWSTORMS LIVE IN NORTHEAST ALBUQUERQUE JEFF MAHER EYEWITNESS NEWS FOUR THE CITY IS TRYING TO PLAN AHEAD -- SO THAT THAT NEXT TIME IT RAINS MUD WON T COVER THE INTERSECTION OF RIO BRAVO AND UNIVERSITY CREWS WERE OUT SHOVELING THAT AREA EARLIER TODAY SOME CARS GOT CAUGHT IN THE MUD -- BEFORE THE INTERSECTION WAS CLOSED DOWN LAST NIGHT THE CITY WILL PLANT MORE VEGETATION ON THE ADJACENT HILLSIDE TO KEEP SOME OF THE MUD FROM FLOWING OUT INTO THE ROAD WHEN A STRONG STORM MOVES THROUGH A FEW SHOWERS ARE LINGERING OUT THERE TONIGHT BUT IT S NOTHING LIKE LAST NIGHT METEOROLOGIST TY SHESKY IS MONITORING IT ALL FROM THE PINPOINT FOUR STORM CENTER HIGH WINDS AND TORRENTIAL RAINS TODAY HURRICANE DOLLY SLAMMED TORRENTIAL RAINS TODAY HURRICANE DOLLY SLAMMED INTO THE SOUTHWESTERN TEXAS COAST WITH MORE FURY AND POWER THAN EXPECTED LEAVING HUNDREDS OF TOURISTS AND RESIDENTS RUNNING FOR COVER NBC S JAY GRAY HAS THE LATEST FROM SOUTH PADRE ISLAND TEXAS WHERE DOLLY MADE LANDFALL SOUTH PADRE ISLAND TOOK A DIRECT HIT A TROPICAL STORM JUST 24-HOURS EARLIER DOLLY WAS A VIOLENT CATEGORY 2 HURRICANE AS IT MADE LANDFALL WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON We wanna give you an idea of the intensity of a category 2 storm This is the height of the wind we have seen from Dolly to this point SUSTAINED WINDS OF 100 MILES AN HOUR GUSTS UP TO 115 THAT FOR MORE THAN 2 HOURS JUST WOULDN T STOP UTILITY POLES WERE SPLINTERED THERE IS NO POWER ON THE ISLAND THE SHEER FORCE OF DOLLY TWISTED AND TORE AWAY SIGNS AND SIDING THE STORM FORCING ITSELF ON THIS TINY COMMUNITY PUSHING THROUGH DOORS SHATTERING GLASS AND FORCING DOZENS OF FRANTIC TOURISTS TO EVACUATE AND RE- EVALUATE THEIR DECISION TO RIDE OUT THE STORM The next time they say a hurricane is coming category zero to whatever I am leaving unanimously we all say we should have gone home at least to higher ground outta the way of this storm BUT FINDING GROUND HIGH ENOUGH WOULD BE TOUGH THE DRIVING RAIN CONTINUED FOR HOURS AT TIMES CREATING NEAR WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS FLOOD WATERS QUICKLY RISING CREEPING INTO CARS AND BUSINESSES AS DOLLY CONTINUED TO POUND THE TEXAS GULF COAST JAY GRAY NBC NEWS SOUTH PADRE ISLAND TEXAS WE RE LEARNING MORE TONIGHT ABOUT WHAT INVESTIGATORS ARE CALLING THE LARGEST C-D PIRATING CASE IN NEW MEXICO HISTORY WE OBTAINED COURT DOCUMENTS TODAY THAT SHOW INVESTIGATORS WARNED THE OWNER OF KRAZY KAT MUSIC STORE ABOUT SELLING PIRATED CDS AT LEAST THREE TIMES ONCE IN 2001 AND THEN AGAIN IN 2005 AND 2006 SPECIAL AGENTS RAIDED THE STORE YESTERDAY AND FOUND 74-HUNDRED ILLEGALLY REPRODUCED C-DS SEVERAL COMPUTERS AS WELL AS THE MACHINES TO PIRATE THE CDS THE OWNER HAS NOT YET BEEN CHARGED ANOTHER ONE OF SUSPECTED DEPUTY KILLER MICHAEL ASTORGA S MURDER TRIALS HAS BEEN DELAYED NEXT MONDAY ASTORGA WAS SUPPOSED TO GO ON TRIAL FOR THE 2005 MURDER OF 27- YEAR-OLD CANDIDO MARTINEZ ASTORGA WAS ON THE RUN WHEN INVESTIGATORS SAY DEPUTY JAMES MCGRANE PULLED ASTORGA OVER IN TIJERAS BACK IN MARCH 2006 ASTORGA IS ACCUSED OF KILLING MCGRANE AND THEN FLEEING TO MEXICO THE TRIAL FOR MCGRANE S MURDER HAS BEEN DELAYED UNTIL THE STATE SUPREME COURT RULES WHETHER THE DEATH PENALTY IN NEW MEXICO IS CONSTITUTIONAL ASTORGA S ATTORNEY SAYS DEATH PENALTY TRIALS ARE UNFAIR BECAUSE THE JURY IS MORE LIKELY TO CONVICT TWO PRISON INMATES ARE ACCUSED OF USING MAKESHIFT WEAPONS TO ATTACK ANOTHER PRISONER AT THE STATE PEN IN SANTA FE TODAY IT HAPPENED IN THE MAXIMUM SECURITY UNIT INVESTIGATORS SAY ROBERT YOUNG AND FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ASSAULTED ANDREW ESQUIBEL AT THE STATE PEN IN SANTA FE TODAY ESQUIBEL IS EXPECTED TO BE OKAY ROBERT YOUNG IS SERVING TIME FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER AND HE S AWAITING TRIAL FOR MURDERING A PRISON GUARD DURING THE SANTA ROSA PRISON RIOT IN 1999 FRANCISCO MARTINEZ IS SERVING A LIFE SENTENCE FOR MURDER AND RAPE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 35 YEARS OFFICIALS IN COLORADO SHOOT AND KILL TWO MOUNTAIN LIONS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF DURANGO THE COUGARS WERE SPOTTED ROAMING AROUND THE DOWNTOWN AREA A COUPLE WEEKS AGO ONE WAS SEEN EATING A STRAY CAT WILDLIFE OFFICIALS CHASED IT ACROSS THE ANIMAS RIVER BEFORE SHOOTING THEN A FEW DAYS LATER OFFICIALS SPOTTED A SECOND MOUNTAIN LION NEAR THE COURTHOUSE AND SHOT IT JL these two happen to be siblings and they were kicked out to make it on their own by their mother OFFICIALS SAY THE MOUNTAIN LIONS WERE ACTING STRANGELY AND THAT S WHY THEY HAD TO KILL THEM THEY DO POINT OUT IT IS VERY RARE FOR MOUNTAIN LIONS TO ATTACK PEOPLE THEY JUST DIDN T WANT TO TAKE ANY CHANCES GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON ANNOUNCES SOME BIG PLANS TO HELP GET NEW MEXICO S AIR FORCE BASES TO GO GREEN SOLAR POWER PLANTS WOULD BE BUILT TO SERVE KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE IN ALBUQUERQUE AND HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE IN ALAMOGORDO IN CLOVIS CANNON AIR FORCE BASE WOULD GET SOME OF ITS ENERGY FROM A NEW WIND FARM AND FROM A BIOMASS PLANT -- WHICH WOULD CONVERT MANURE INTO ELECTRICITY 51 YEARS IS A LONG TIME THAT S WHY SOME FORMER VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE TRYING TO RESTORE A GIANT PAINTING OF THE SCHOOL S MASCOT THE VIKING IN 1956 -- TWO YEARS AFTER VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL OPENED -- AN ART TEACHER WANTED THE STUDENTS WHO CHOSE THE VIKING AS THEIR MASCOT -- TO PAINT ONE FOR THE SCHOOL THE CLASS OF 57 CAME UP WITH A GIANT 14 BY 20 FOOT CANVASS PAINTING THAT S STILL HANGING IN THE GYM TODAY NEEDLESS TO SAY IT DOESN T LOOK LIKE IT USED TO I m sad that this wasn t initiated 20 or 30 years sooner rather than let it get in such bad shape that someone didn t jump in and keep a good restoration on it FIRST THE FORMER STUDENTS WILL HAVE TO GET THE GIANT CANVASS DOWN FROM THE WALL -- THEN FIND A PLACE TO WORK ON IT A CONTRACTOR -- A VALLEY HIGH GRADUATE -- HAS OFFERED TO HELP OUT NO WORD YET ON WHEN THE WORK WILL START HIGH FOOD AND GAS PRICES ARE TAKING A TOLL ON A LOT OF NEW MEXICANS BUT THAT S ACTUALLY WORKING TO THE ADVANTAGE OF SOME BUSINESSES WE LL TAKE A LOOK NEXT AT TEN AND SEE WHY MEXICAN OFFICIALS ARE POINTING THE FINGER AT THE U-S FOR ALL THE FLOODING PROBLEMS IN A TOWN SOUTH OF THE BORDER THE STRUGGLING ECONOMY HAS ACTUALLY BEEN GOOD NEWS FOR SOME NEW MEXICO BUSINESSES UNFORTUNATELY SOME OF YOUR LOSSES ARE THEIR GAINS JOE VIGIL IS LIVE TO TELL US WHAT INDUSTRY IS REALLY BOOMING RIGHT NOW MANY NEW MEXICANS HAVE LOST THEIR HOMES---THEIR JOBS---AND ARE GETTING HAMMERED AT THE GAS PUMP IT S A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS FOR SOME CAR REPO BUSINESSES THE LIVELIHOOD OF NEW MEXICANS--- AND A BIT OF THEIR DIGNITY--- SITS IN THIS CAR REPO PARKING LOT TRUCKS CARS A HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE THIS TRACTOR AND A HUMMER WHAT YOU RE SEEING CAME IN TODAY AND THIS IS JUST ON PART OF THE LOT---WE FOUND MORE REPOSSESSED VEHICLES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE---INCLUDING A COUPLE BIG R-VS It s rough taking these cars from people because they re just average people you know it s not really their fault they re doing everything they can just the way fuel prices are these people can t afford it CHARLIE HALE HAS BEEN REPOSSESSING CARS FOR A COUPLE YEARS HE SAYS OUR CURRENT ECONOMY IS REALLY TAKING ITS TOLL I ve been seeing it from rich folks poor folks everybody HALE BELIEVES ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES ARE PARTLY TO BLAME FOR THE BOOMING BUSINESS At least 50 of the people I repo that s why they re losing their vehicles they can t afford to pay the house and the car at the same time THE OWNER OF THIS LOT SAYS HE S TAKING IN BETWEEN 75 AND A HUNDRED VEHICLES A MONTH A COUPLE YEARS AGO IT WAS MORE LIKE 30 OR 40 ANOTHER REPO BUSINESS TOLD US IT S TAKING IN BETWEEN 175 AND 200 CARS A MONTH While we were here a man came in to gather his belongs from his car which was repossessed He didn t want to talk on camera but says he lost his job at Intel He hasn t been able to find another job and simply couldn t make the payments HIS CAR AND MANY OTHERS WILL NOW GO TO AUCTION IF YOU RE BEHIND ON PAYMENTS--AND WANT TO KEEP YOUR CAR--- THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS IGNORE THOSE COLLECTION LETTERS AND PHONE CALLS SOME BANKS ARE WILLING TO NEGOTIATE PAYMENTS--BUT YOU HAVE TO TALK WITH THEM FIRST LATER THIS WEEK PRESIDENT BUSH COULD SIGN A BILL THAT WOULD HELP STRUGGLING HOMEOWNERS TRAPPED IN MORTGAGES THEY CAN T AFFORD -- AVOID FORECLOSURE THE HOUSE PASSED A MEASURE THIS AFTERNOON THAT WOULD HELP 400-THOUSAND HOMEOWNERS REFINANCE INTO MORE AFFORDABLE FIXED-RATE LOANS THE BILL NOW HEADS TO THE SENATE WHERE IT S EXPECTED TO PASS THE PRESIDENT WAS ORIGINALLY AGAINST THE BILL BUT SAYS THIS IS NO TIME FOR A VETO FIGHT THE PRICE OF OIL--DOWN AGAIN TODAY CRUDE DROPPED NEARLY 4 BUCKS A BARREL A BIG REASON----THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT REPORTED A LARGER THAN EXPECTED INCREASE IN GASOLINE SUPPLIES IT S ANOTHER SIGN AMERICANS ARE CUTTING BACK ON CONSUMPTION A LOCAL PIZZA PLACE CHIPS IN TO HELP A LOCAL FAMILY GET TO BEIJING TO WATCH THEIR LOVED ONE COMPETE IN THE OLYMPICS RED BRICK PIZZA---ON SAN PEDRO NEAR PASEO---DONATED A PORTION OF SALES TODAY TO THE PARENTS AND SISTER OF LOCAL GYMNAST JOEY HAGERTY THE RIO RANCHO NATIVE AND LA CUEVA GRAD GOT SELECTED TO THE TEAM---BUT HIS FAMILY DOESN T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO GO OVER THEMSELVES BESDIES PIZZA---THEY ALSO SOLD A LOT OF T- SHIRTS AS PART OF THE FUNDRASIER SOMETHING UNUSUAL IS BEING BLAMED FOR HEAVY FLOODING IN A MEXICAN BORDER CITY WATER HAS DEVASTATED PARTS OF NOGALES MEXICAN OFFICIALS SAY SOMEONE BUILT A DAM -- OR SOME TYPE OF CONCRETE WALL -- BLOCKING PART OF A DRAINAGE TUNNEL THAT CONNECTS MEXICO WITH THE U-S THE STRUCTURE FORCED THE WATER BACK INTO NOGALES MEXICAN OFFICIALS ARE POINTING THE FINGER AT THE U-S BORDER PATROL BORDER PATROL OFFICIALS AREN T COMMENTING THE ISOTOPES SCORED OVER 21 SCORE 21 RUNS IN ONE DAY AND SOME ALBUQUERQUE BASEBALL LEGENDS RETURN TO THE DUKE CITY FOR A BIG HONOR BUT FIRST HERE IS A LOOK AT YOUR POWERBALL AND NEW MEXICO LOTTERY NUMBERS IT WAS RETRO NIGHT AT ISOTOPES PARK TONIGHT A TIME FOR THE NEW TO HONOR THE OLD IN BETWEEN THE TWO ISOTOPES GAMES TONIGHT THE ALBUQUERQUE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME INDUCTED THE 2008 CLASS INCLUDED IN THE MIX ARE FORMER DUKES MANAGER DEL CRANDALL FORMER G-M PAT MCKERNAN DUKES TRIPLE- CROWN OUTFIELDER MIKE MARSHALL FORMER MANAGER AND OUTFIELDER HERSHEL MARTIN EXECUTIVES TOM BOLACK AND JOHN MCMULLEN ALONG WITH FORMER NEWSPAPER WRITER J-D KAILER AND THE ENTIRE 81 DUKES TEAM THE ISOTOPES PLAYED TWO GAMES TONIGHT GAME ONE WAS A CONTINUATION FROM TUESDAY NIGHT S RAINOUT DALLAS MCPHERSON HIT HIS LEAGUE LEADING 33RD HOME RUN IN THE THIRD INNING TOPES TAKE GAME ONE 16-13 HOPE THEY HAD SOME ENERGY LEFT FOR GAME TWO GAME TWO UNDER THE LIGHTS TOPES DOWN 2-NOTHING BUT START A RALLY IN THE THIRD TOMMY MURPHY WITH A FLY BALL TO RIGHT IT DROPS AND CHASE LAMBIN SCORE THE TOPES GOT THREE IN THE INNING THE WORLD CHAMPION RED SOX ARE STILL TRYING TO CATCH TAMPA BAY IN THE STANDINGS BOSTON NEEDED EXTRA INNINGS IN SEATTLE TODAY TOP 12 MIKE LOWELL WITH A TWO-RUN SINGLE BOSTON TAKES IT 6-3 THEY RE STILL A HALF GAME BEHIND THE RAYS IN THE A-L EAST NEW MEXICO STATE IS LOOKING UP AT MOST OF THE OTHER WAC FOOTBALL TEAMS IN THE PRE- SEASON POLL 25 OF THE 45 MEDIA MEMBERS PICKED BOISE STATE TO FINISH FIRST AND NEW MEXICO STATE TO FINISH SEVENTH THE AGGIES WERE 1-AND-7 IN CONFERENCE LAST SEASON THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MEDIA AND COACHES POLLS IS THE COACHES PICKED FRESNO STATE TO WIN THE WAC THE AGGIES OPEN THE SEASON AT HOME AGAINST NICHOLLS STATE ON THURSDAY SEPTEMBER FOURTH REMEMBER HOW MANY PEOPLE GOT ALL RILED UP ABOUT THE FACT UNM WAS PLAYING IN THE NEW MEXICO BOWL FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR WELL IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE COMMISSIONER CRAIG THOMPSON SAYS THEY ARE WORKING ON THE LANGUAGE OF THE BOWL CONTRACTS SO A BOWL CAN PICK A LOCAL TEAM MORE THAN ONCE IN A THREE-OR-FOUR YEAR CYCLE HE HOPES TO HAVE THE ISSUE RESOLVED BY NEXT MONTH I JUST GOT BACK FROM THE MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE FOOTBALL MEETINGS LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE KOB-DOT-COM-SLASH SPORTS AND CLICK ON THE LINK TO MY BLOG TO FIND OUT MORE NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE COACHES AND PLAYERS PLUS YOU CAN READ ABOUT THE ONE THING EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU SHOULD DO BEFORE THE WEEK IS UP DENVER BRONCOS RECEIVER ROD SMITH HAS A PRESS CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW SEVERAL DENVER REPORTS SAY SMITH WILL ANNOUNCE HIS RETIREMENT THE 38-YEAR OLD IS THE TEAM S CAREER LEADER IN EVERY MAJOR receiving CATEGORY THE RIDERS HAD A ROUGH UPHILL CLIMB AT THE TOUR DE FRANCE TODAY SPAIN S CARLOS SASTRE WON THE 17th STAGE HE S ALSO THE OVERALL LEADER WHICH MEANS HE GETS TO WEAR THE STYLISH YELLOW JERSEY THE WNBA IS REVIEWING THIS FIGHT TAPE FROM TUESDAY NIGHT BETWEEN THE L-A SPARKS AND THE DETROIT SHOCK THERE WERE FOUR EJECTIONS INCLUDING L-A S CANDANCE PARKER AND DETROIT ASSISTANT RICK MAHORN WHO SHOVED LISA LESLIE TO THE GROUND FINES AND SUSPENSIONS ARE EXPECTED WE LL BE BACK WITH A LAST LOOK AT WEATHER IN BETWEEN THE TWO ISOTOPES GAMES TONIGHT THE ALBUQUERQUE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME INDUCTED THE 2008 CLASS INCLUDED IN THE MIX ARE FORMER DUKES MANAGER DEL CRANDALL FORMER G-M PAT MCKERNAN DUKES TRIPLE- CROWN OUTFIELDER MIKE MARSHALL FORMER MANAGER AND OUTFIELDER HERSHEL MARTIN EXECUTIVES TOM BOLACK AND JOHN MCMULLEN ALONG WITH FORMER NEWSPAPER WRITER J-D KAILER AND THE ENTIRE 81 DUKES TEAM THE ISOTOPES PLAYED TWO GAMES TONIGHT GAME ONE WAS A CONTINUATION FROM TUESDAY NIGHT S RAINOUT DALLAS MCPHERSON HIT HIS LEAGUE LEADING 33RD HOME RUN IN THE THIRD INNING TOPES TAKE GAME ONE 16-13 HOPE THEY HAD SOME ENERGY LEFT FOR GAME TWO GAME TWO UNDER THE LIGHTS TOPES DOWN 2-NOTHING BUT START A RALLY IN THE THIRD TOMMY MURPHY WITH A FLY BALL TO RIGHT IT DROPS AND CHASE LAMBIN SCORE THE TOPES GOT THREE IN THE INNING NEW MEXICO STATE IS LOOKING UP AT MOST OF THE OTHER WAC FOOTBALL TEAMS IN THE PRE- SEASON POLL 25 OF THE 45 MEDIA MEMBERS PICKED BOISE STATE TO FINISH FIRST AND NEW MEXICO STATE TO FINISH SEVENTH THE AGGIES WERE 1-AND-7 IN CONFERENCE LAST SEASON THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MEDIA AND COACHES POLLS IS THE COACHES PICKED FRESNO STATE TO WIN THE WAC THE AGGIES OPEN THE SEASON AT HOME AGAINST NICHOLLS STATE ON THURSDAY SEPTEMBER FOURTH REMEMBER HOW