MBneACP

Thank you all SO much! I feel like if I completely lay off preseason shooting (and physical) training, it's gonna come back to haunt me, but it hurts bad enough to wake me up in the middle of the night. Will jack up glucosamine and Vitamin-A For Advil and seriously warm it up. I tried the Flex 454, which worked, but within 3 or 4 minutes my girlfriend eyes were swelling, tears running down her face, etc. Serious allergic reaction to it. Again, thanks, and I think this does need an FAQ. When I did the thing down at the Olympic Center, of the 10 top action shooters down there, 8 had had major elbow problems... Mb

I think Todd Jarrett, as well as Don Golembieski, Bruce Piatt and Bruce Gray are pretty serious about an Olympic future. Last year, when Todd won Production and Open championsips and finished 2nd in the world, he also just missed the U.S. rapid fire team (he was in the running and had a gun malfunction...those rapid fire guns are junk in a box). I think that probably qualifies as one of the most spectacular feats of sport shooting ever accomplished, considering that it involved training with three very different guns (his Open Para, a stock Para .40 and the rapid fire gun) over the same period of time. The U.S. Olympic pistol coach told me Todd's performance was nothing short of amazing, and that he'd'a made the team if the gun hadn't crapped out. John Bickar has emerged as one of the finest American Olympic pistol shooters in recent memory (partially thanks to Todd J.'s "little feetsteps behind you" pushing). Last year he simply dominated men's pistol shooting, with a whole bunch of new records. You'll get to see him at Bianchi this year, thanks to that deal we worked with Kimber. I'm really honored that Project Rapid-Action did so much to revitalize Olympic pistol competition...god, you gotta love it when an off-the-wall plan comes together! I still believe that the Olympics is the centerpiece of pistol competition, and our guys WILL represent the United States and stand on a podium! mb

Any new thoughts on getting rid of it? Any secret remedies? Physical therapy you've tried that works? Weird Chinese smelly stuff to spread on said elbow? The dry firing was no big deal, but hanging sheet rock in the [very cold] basement AND dry firing lit up my right elbow, which has always been a weak spot when I'm shooting a lot. Five or ten draws, and it feels like someone is pounding the damn thing with big sticks. That cortizone shot is starting to look mighty good, despite my philosophical objection to stuff like that. Am open to suggestions, group! mb

I'm thinking that maybe this whole hat thing comes from that movie, FEAR OF A BLACK HAT. That is, of course, assuming I'm thinking at all! mb

If you don't have big hands (I don't), the CZ-Standard is like holding a brick bat. The impressed frontstap checkering is pretty worthless (isn't it always?), and the mag well is way too deep for the standard 10-round mags unless you jury-rig (or can find from Europe) some humongous base pads. The trigger is great out of the box, but TEST IT for sear engagement during rough treatment! Yours Truly got sent home from the Nationals a couple of years ago for a downrange AD (it hit the target, I think). I assumed I'd bumped the light trigger and touched it off, but whe I got home, I found I could get the gun to fire by bouncing it around. Tony Kidd down in Texas can pretty much fix/fabricate anything for a CZ. I went back to a 1911, BTW. mb

I'm not sure what number we're on, but... 105. Never forget what is important in your life, because that is what defines your work and your play. I got back from the SHOT Show with all this gun stuff swirling around my head, trying to ramp up for the new competition season, hammering a gunsmith to get my new blaster to me in time, blah blah. I walked right into a cancer scare with my girlfriend. Everything worked out great, but it has been a long week. I was reminded that our lives hang by a thread, outside of our longest reach. I hope that when I step to the line again, regardless of the outcome, I will remember that this is a game I play, and the greatest gift I can give my fellow competitors is to play it with humility and some semblence of grace. mb

Ikytx; Yeah, yeah, but I'm already a Past Master Vermillion. When I take the next test, I'll be a Blue Master Baiter...no wait...wrong list! mb

DogmaDog; To quote from the great gurus of the Matrix "THERE IS NO SPLEEN." mb

Patrick; I think I still have bruises from my "Old School" Korean teacher. I know I saw Jesus at least twice while on the way to the floor. Didn't Southwest Pistol League have some sort of byzantine system for determining "Combat Master" back in the dawn of time? Brian E., I think it's appropriate for you to add the initials O.G. after your name; Original Gangsta, of course. You be made. mb

Jim...I was using the "Old World" spelling of your name...sorry. I wish I knew the whole story behind Russ Stott's leaving the NRA. He was at SHOT and, I'm told, looked pretty good, in addition to coming away with some good contracts. I do know that NSSF made an informal inquiry about taking over administration of the match, but NRA competiions wasn't interested. mb

Eric; True words, which is what we'll be doing. As a journalist, however, I do not demand exclusives. I just do a better job than anyone else! BTW, Bianchi/NRA signed the contract with Scoutin. Bianchi is in desperate straits, with Russ Stott gone from the NRA. MB

All true, and sorry to be venting (but, hey, isn't that what HATE is all about?). In any case, no USPSA decision one way or the other has anything to do with the television show, which is *still* going to be rock and roll! We're looking at good coverage of the Challenge, the IDPA Nationals, GSSF, ICORE, some cowboy, some the bigger practical matches (like the Infinity) and, of course, AMERICAN HANDGUNNER's match. All the various aspects of competition! Also expect to see some serious tech stuff (maybe following a block of steel through the process of becoming a gun), our weird *swap* with one of the top paintball magazines (three of their champions for three of our champions...and a chance to get us in front of the huge paintball demographic), some handgun hunting, some celebrities, the occasional humor...lots of ideas. But everything is going to be by enthusiasts for enthusiasts--names you know. Our goal is a nationally televised practical pistol championship in 2005. We've already talked to a major facility about building a television-friendly range exclusively for the match, which would be designed by Dave Arnold, Chris Edwards and myself, with input from a bunch of other people. All reactive targets and simple scoring, etc. *Real* prizes. Again, my apologies for venting. And, as always, I'm open to suggestions. What would *you* like to see??? MB

Okey-dokey... So I spend all this time working with USPSA, both formally (for money) and informally (for, lacking a better word) love. You all know what I do (and what I've done). Then I get this incredible opportunity to create a television show for handgunners on The Outdoor Channel. I hook up AMERICAN HANDGUNNER, and me and Roy Huntington are set to do something no one else has ever done before. I mean, we are going to rock! I insist that the centerpiece of this plan is USPSA, because I actually *believe* in the sport. Blah blah blah. So USPSA gets a contract from Jim Scoutin for his new show that *GUARANTEES EXCLUSIVITY* on the Nationals coverage. Gosh, I have listened to endless bitching about AMERICAN SHOOTER...but here's this contract. And USPSA has to decide in *24 HOURS* whether to sign or not. Gee, 24 hours a week before SHOT...I wonder why anyone would do that? So we chitty-chat. I say pretty honestly that I have a horse in this race, so I have a certain bias. However, I also note that it is a horserace, and, in general, it's a bad idea to bet the farm on a nag before you even get a chance to see 'em trot out onto the field. I also give them my word that they will be heavily involved in the AH show. So my *friends* meet and decide, in short, that my word is no good; that USPSA will sign an exclusive coverage contract with Jim Scoutin, but that I can cover the Factory Nationals if I'm a good little puppy and don't piss all over the rug. Maybe they'll give me a f*%&*$%g biscuit, too! Boy, do I ever feel like *A COMPLETE JACKASS!* Didn't even see that one coming! To quote one of the greatest songs of the 1970s: "Your enemies won't do you no harm Cause you know where they're coming from Don't let the handshake and the smile fool you Take my advice, I'm only tryin' to school ya..." Sadly, words to live by. IDPA, the Steel Challenge, GSSF and USA Shooting passed on the *exclusive* deal, BTW. Michael B

SKIERS = MOBILE PYLONS IN TYROLEAN HATS shred to live; live to shred... mb PS: JUST JOKING! JUST JOKING!

There's a company out of Seattle that sells "tactical kilts." Honest to god. Lots of pockets. No plaid. Sort of like Royal Robbins on bad acid. I seriously considered buying one to wear to an IDPA match, but my pal Dave Arnold wouldn't let me. Said I'd only humiliate myself even more than usual. mb