It occurs to me that I've now been in the games 13+ years and recently was at a games referring to someone's throw as similar form to Carl Braun - the thrower looked at me with a "who's that?" look. 

Looking through videos from 10 years ago, I see Harry MacDonald, George Chiappa, Harvey Barkauskas, Karl Dodge, Ken Starnes, Larry Satchwell, Carl Braun, Steve Jeck, Ben Plucknett, Jim McGoldrick, a very young Kurt Pauli, Phil Martin, Jeff Bain, Bert Budge, Al Myers, Matt Sandford, Alistair, both the Aitkens, Gordon Martin, and others that many of today's throwers just don't know...

What's funny is the very first memory of several pro's... I'm curious as to what everyone elses first memories, or specifically 'words' were said from a Pro to you.

To me... from Harry MacDonald it was "man..your boots stink" in 1993 at Texas.  One of my favorites was Bruce Aitken who said "I think he's going to eat me" to Vierra at the Fergus games... not understanding the scottish accent, I just smiled and nodded to Bruce.  First thing I heard Phil Martin say was at Loch Norman in 1994 when a girl passed by with a cupcake... off he went with a "hey, that looks good" (I think he actually got a bite too).

Dave 

awesome post dave b.  Here are some of my memories...

In the tent at Alexandria for the AM. champs and sitting down next to my hero the big chief..."hey, Mr.. Mcgoldrick,how ya throwin' today?"...he looks over at me rolls his eyes and walks away... It was awesome! and he is still my hero.

Paul Ferencey, Steve and Rich Costello riding into Ligonier in a dump truck bed....they looked like giant mountain men.

watching Plucknett throw 17'6" in the wfh...standing of course.

Peter Gundmonson Braemar throwing the Sarnia Stone over 50'...no one had ever spun or glided that thing 45'

Ferencey and Harvey coming into Ohio games in a stolen golf cart waving at the crowd like they were in the parade.

meeting Dan Marchovic last year at Uxbridge.

watching Jud Logan throw 98' in the heavy hammer with no boots

and yes Braun was awesome...and to throw that far with a mullett and cankles too!

getting to see Ken Fisher throw...RIP bra'

I remember mine....

Was 2003 at the New Hampshire Highland Games. I had just thrown what I thought was the new Am WOB WR at 17'-7" (stand bitches!). Matt Sandford came over to me with my head still down recouping... and said "Hey, nice throw. Cangrats." I looked up and was speachless...

The same comp HBIII came was sitting near me and asked "Why the hell did you go in at 12'?!! Fukin' amateur!!!"

What a day!

Braemar 2002 My wife and I were on our honeymoon. I had seen Ali and Francis before but had not really Talked with them. Francis had been in a car accident a week or 2 before and wasn't looking so good. At one point we had sat by each other and struck up a conversation, I had asked him who get's to meet the Queen the reply was the winner of the caber. I asked if he had ever met her, his reply was yes, I asked what did she say to you, his reply, was come up to the castle for tea sometime.Then he looked at me and smiled.

 A funny one was with Matt Sandford when he was talking about Tasmania and what happens to you when the devils get you, and he proceeded to make these knawing sounds and his hands were moving around like they were the jaws of the devil.

 Ali G was on the 5th floor of the Hilton in Pleasanton the elevator door Opens up and out steps Phil Martin and Bryant Harris both sporting freshly shaved heads and Ali says look its phil and mini me. I about wet my pants when I saw Bryant's face just about crumble.

In the Spring of 1978 while training shot and discus with Brian Oldfield, the subject of Highland Games came up.  O promised to bring some HG weights out to the track the next day.  He had several years of HG experience, but I had never tried any of the events.

We putt some stones, threw some wfd, and did a 56 over the bar.  Seemed pretty fun, although Big O beat me in everything that day.

Brian then tells me about a HG in Long Beach, CA next Saturday.  He says we can fly down from San Jose that morning, throw heavy stuff all day, and at the end of the day, some guy will give us some money.  (Sounded pretty good to me.  And it was.)

Chief 

Mine wasn't so pleasant. Was before I became an athlete and was the Alma highland games. and I ask one pro a question No Names.. but he had a smart ass rude comment.

But, I went out to eat with Doug steiger and Kearney Smith before the Ligioner PA game.

anyways, Kearney smith ask the waitess for a pile of beer coasters. once he got them... He made a nice little coaster fort. It would of been funnier if he made some crane or bulldozer noises.. but that never happened.

I have been fortunate to meet Bill Anderson on several occasions, He is a real Gentlemen. It was the Dinner for the MWC in 2002 at a place call Morrisons in Woodland top notch place. I was sitting across the table from Mr. Anderson and he had just finished a story about wrestling a Sumo wrestler in a visit to Japan. So I asked him if he wanted a whiskey, he said that would be fine so I went up a bought 3 shots of whiskey one for him, Mike North and myself. Got back to the table and made a toast, and bottems up. Boy you should have seen his face when he realized he just got a shot of ballitines Bourbon. He started waving his hands (umpire gesturing he's safe) saying no good no good. $9 a shot. He looked at me and smiled and waved his finger at me. Meaning he owes me one. So if you guys go over to Scotland buy him a shot of Bourbon.

Wow some pretty impressive lists and memories. I haven't been throwing that long so my most memorable moments have to be limited to the past five years or so. 

First one was meeting Harry MacDonald in Alma (8 time Canadian Champ).  Great guy gave me some good pointers and a real nice guy to talk too.  Harvey Barkaukus the same day with invaluable pointers in the hamer and WFH.

The second was going to Enumclaw and having the opportunity to watch a full pro class throw and see RV for the first time.  Having RV get his picture taken with our mascot Alberta Angus.

And finally being able to spend a weekend in Calgary with Doug MacDonald (4 time Canadian Champ).  I had the opportunity to practice with him, get to the gym for some lifting tips and compete with him in which he spent the day giving all the up and comers valuable tips and pointers to help improve our throwing.  A truely class act and an amazing gentleman.  Wish he was still competing.

So that sums it up for me.  One of the things that stands out the most is how everyone I've met is absolutely amazing.  From the novice guy right up to the top pro, guys are always nice and fun to be around except that Ken L.  The majority of them are willing to help and give some advices.  I think that is one of the big draws and keeps me in the sport besides the beer and hot babes of course.

Jim Garrick

At my first competition (Texas Scottish Festival in 2004) I was taking some video of the Pros after competing as a Novice. Ken Lowther walks up to me and says "It's a dollar a throw".  I say that I'll pay it and he laughs.  He then proceeds to provide color commentary on the other throwers in WFD.  After the games Greg Hadley was kind enough to give me some general training ideas.

Now as far as my favorite Dave Brown memory, which I told Dave about at this year's Texas Scottish Festival, it comes from last year's TSF.  Dave walks up and asks me how it's going.  I tell him that I won the heavy hammer and finished second in the light hammer.  Dave walks over and picks up the scoresheet.  He turns to me and says "Wow, you lost the light hammer by 4 inches that has to really hurt".  My response was "Yeah but I won the heavy hammer by 2 feet". Dave responds, "So that means you were obviously better in that event, but 4 inches means it could have gone either way."  Can you guess what words went through my head every time that I trained hammer since then????

My earliest memories of the games was my senior or junior year in college.  I was coached in discus by the "Legendary Paul F." and I tagged along with him to the Celtic Classic.  I was sitting on the sideline watching F. Brebner, Ali. Gunn, K. Dodge, R.V., G. Martin, H. MacDonald, Big Chief, C. Braun, and a few other superstars all on one field.  I was hooked and I hadn't even picked up a weight yet. 

99.9999% of the pro's are awesome and willing to give some tips-just let them throw there event first(i learned this early on)highlights

1)meeting Ryan Vierra at loon Mtn-getting my picture with him& asking him some training advice& giving him a 911 NYPD pin for his kilt

2)Doug macDonald-putting his hand on my shoulder as I was the last USA team memeber to get 14 feet in 56wob at Usa vs Canada-man the way he talked-so calmly-get me so into the zone.nailed it

3)drinking with the pro's on saturday nite at the Worlds In New Hampshire-not understanding a thing Bruce Aitken said,laughing at Woult-getting my picture with all the pro's and realizing I look like there little brother-who would have thought 6-1 240 was tiny

4) going to breakfast with dave Barron @ Alexandria when he invited Rusher and a eurpoean athlete who ddin't speak english(samuelson)to join us-I thought Samuelson & Rusher were going to eat me

5) going to a brazilian steak house in Alexandria with Jumbo McClelland,Craig Smith,Kearney Smith, watching in horror as they motioned for more beef-the waiter had fear in his eye

6)picking Don "Hollywood's mind for hours as he devours sandwich after sandwich-when I suddenly realize he;s eaten my wife and kids-hero's-oops I'm in trouble 

anytime there is a pro at a game i usually try and talk to him and without being a pest-pick his mind for training/practice ideas-they are ambassadors of the sport and I enjoy talking to them finding out new ideas

I would have to say that my first encounter with a pro was a pretty cool one as well.

It was my second throw ever (and being from a state that had never had any highland games, at that time, and doesn't put a lot of time in field events) the year was 1998, the place Estes.  I was trying to get video of the pros from behind the hammer cage.  Someone walked in front of the camera and stayed there (I believe that it was Carl Braun).  Well, I wasn't going to say anything, afterall it was there event.  But Ryan Vierra leaned over and grabbed is kilt and said: "move, he is trying to get video".  I was very impressed.  Thanks Ryan.

Since then there have been several great tips and tricks from various pros.  You all are great people, but then again, I believe that we have the best buch of people in this sport anyway.

I'll never throw a weight again without hearing Mike Zolkiewicz scream "rookie" in my head thanks Mike!

Snider wrote: I was at the Wisconsin Highland game and was going though some very difficult times in my life. Chris Rusher walked up to me and told me to hang up my Cell phone. I was talking with my soon to be ex-wife and I was very upset. He gave me the scottish athlete hug.. It was all good from then on. Great MAN and even help me though my divorce with long phone conversation.

Agreed on Rush, Total class act

Wow…let’s go back to 1994 at my first Pro games in Fresno, Ca.  I just came off of a major win by winning the amateur championships in Pleasanton.  I started off by winning the first two events (the stones) then from that point on without me knowing Carl Braun decided to do some commentary during my throws into my camera….he was saying “That was an amateur throw” on about every throw.  I ended up placing 2^nd that day to Harry Macdonald and felt good about my performance.  I get home to review and study my throws and with a surprise, I hear Carl uttering those words “That was an amateur throw”.     

At first I was pissed, but then it turned into motivation…to the point where it was obsessive.  I was training twice a day for 6 day a week with little to no time off…my wife thought I was going nuts...I watched that video nearly everyday that winter just waiting to prove myself the next year.  I started the season off with huge PR’s and a major overall win in Florida…I felt relieved, and then it turned into gratification.   

After a while I looked at that and laughed…I sometimes think about that and wonder…what would’ve happen if Carl didn’t say those exact words…would I be a different thrower today…that’s how much one person (a Pro) can affect another…and in this case it affected me in a good way, so thanks Carl!              

I also wanted to post a quick note of thanks to those of you who included me in your memories.  I have often talked with other Athletes that the great legacy we can leave is that others would consider us as important enough to chat about when reminiscing about great Highland Times. 

Also, for those wondering where I am, I had reconstructive elbow surgery in Dec. 05 (I have not had full mobility in the elbow for 8 years, and I do now) and it will take some time to recover enough to train very heavily.  It is progressing well and it is my hope to return to competition in 07.

1991 or 2 i was only one year removed as yhe am. world armwrest. champ so i'm still sporting 19\20" guns and of course i've got my sleeves rolled up for all to see.

the big chief[whom i had only known for a few games,thanks phil] walks by me before the first event and says ,if you got em' show em' off. so the sleeves go up another couple of rolls.

at the end of the day where i had finished no better than 5th in any event and took next to last in the overall here comes the big chief puts his arm around me and says but there not going to help you out here!!!!!!!!! dont roll em' up no more thanks chief you've been a mentor and i'm proud to say good friend .

I was giving this post a lot of thought since Dave posted it and even talked to my Dad about it a few days ago.  I think my perspective on it may be different from most because of how I was brought into all this.  Kurt's may be the same sinc we're brothers and came into it the same way.  The only ones that I can think of that may have a view like mine may be a few of the Scots.

I've been involved in the Heavy Events for 29 years now.  That's longer than a lot of guys involved have even been alive.  Little Jim Pauli went to Ligonier in '76 thinking it was a track meet and ran into some track buddies.  He ended up hanging out and tried throwing their crazy stuff and the rest, as the saying goes, "is history."

My earliest memories of the games are running around with Kurt trying to find ways to entertain ourselves.  I remember thinking those tin whistles were the coolest and bought a ton but never learned to play it.  When we got old enough we might shag weights and help until we got too lazy.  Then we started traveling with Dad to keep him company and have some time with him.  I remember driving to Fair Hill with him and we stayed at Ed McComas' house.  That's when I first saw Byron Lamont throw the weight over the bar by... well I don't want this thread to get hijacked!

What strikes me about this thread is how guys looked up to the greats.  I can't blame them.  For me it was different.  The greats were friends of my Mom and Dad and thus friends of mine.  Ed McComas, Mike Reid, Fred Vaughn, Ron Short, Keith Tice, Dan Markovic, Harvey Barkaskaus, Ken Fisher, Pete Hoyt, Tom Carmichael, Larry Satchwell, George McAulay, Allardice, Ken Starnes and on and on.  They were all great throwers but since I wasn't a heavy they were my friends because they were my parents' friends.  Today the two guys I've always regretted having never thrown with are Alistair and Francis.  Sure I'd have loved to seen them in action.  But I wish I could have gotten to hang out with them because my Mom and Dad always talk about how cool they are.

I think that stuck with me.  Even now I love seeing guys throw but I enjoy talking with them even more.  Now that I'm on the other side and helping run events, I still like going because I get to see my friends.

~Jason

I was reading Milo and on the Back cover there was a small advert about the highland games. With Ryan's Number on it, not knowing it was a home number I called it. His wife answered the phone and said she would go get him(most likely he was training). He got on the phone and I introduced myself and we must have talked about a good half hour and gave me a list of contacts to call to get started. I don't know if I would have pursued the games had I not made that contact. I would not have met my wife and got married or had become a father to my 8month old boy. Funny how something as simple as a phone call can make such a big difference in your life. Thanks Dave for providing me an avenue to properly thank Ryan and Dr. Strossen. Who knows what an where I would be, my memories surely would not be as important to me as they are now, nor would I have the friendships that I have either.

Jason wrote: "Today the two guys I've always regretted having never thrown with are Alistair and Francis.  Sure I'd have loved to seen them in action.  But I wish I could have gotten to hang out with them because my Mom and Dad always talk about how cool they are."

Hey Jason...I have thrown with Alistair...he ain't that cool!

Steve,

I'm sowwy I huwt your wittle feewings...

You're the COOLEST!

~Jason

Steve is such a sensitive little man isn't he?  I agree with you Jason.  Just relax Stevie!

Barron is gay!