Tyler Mayforth

Official Website of Tyler Mayforth | Delaware Born | NOLA Living

Category: Texas

On Texas State Baseball Beating Texas And Why I Still Care

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On May 17, 2016

In Sports, Texas

The streak is over.

Don’t worry, Shocked Undertaker Guy: I don’t want to give you flashbacks. After all, I was in the Superdome with you on that fateful day in 2014 when The Undertaker was pinned in the center of the ring by Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 30. I’d say I was shocked, but not nearly as flabbergasted (Good word, right?) as you were.

The streak to which I am referring is this one…

You read that right. It had been 11 years since Texas State beat Texas in baseball.

I lived in San Marcos, Texas for a little more than six years (December 2007 until July 2014) and never saw the Bobcats upend the Longhorns. It was borderline maniacal how many times Texas State got within centimeters of beating Texas, just to watch a game slip away in the final innings.

https://twitter.com/tylermayforth/status/732759699683057664

Both of those games were one-run losses.

The first was a 6-5 loss in the Horns’ first trip to San Marcos in the history of the series and that was arguably the best team the Bobcats ever fielded with the top of the lineup consisting of Texas State greats Tyler Sibley, Bret Atwood and Paul Goldschmidt. That loss stung Bobcat fans since a few calls by the umpires swung momentum of the game, yet Ty Harrington’s team still had chances to win.

The second came the next year in Austin where first-year pitcher Carson Smith (who is now a member of the Boston Red Sox) started one of his first games in a Texas State uniform. Smith, who admitted after the game to not knowing about the Bobcats’ past struggles against the Longhorns, twirled a gem. The pitcher with a three-quarters delivery struck out eight and held Texas without a run for 6 1/3 innings. The floodgates unfortunately opened when Smith tired and the bullpen couldn’t stem the tide. The Longhorns scored one run in the seventh to make it 2-1 and answered Texas State’s solo run in the eighth with three of their own to make the final score 4-3 and to add another one-run loss to the Bobcats’ tally.

Now some of you are probably wondering why I just typed 340 words about a team I haven’t covered since 2014. That’s ages ago in the sports-writing world and even longer in my career arc (I have since moved twice — from Texas to Athens, Georgia and then again from Georgia to New Orleans, Louisiana where I am currently working for the USTFCCCA).

I guess I can’t get Texas State completely out of my system. When you spend nearly seven years of your life in one location covering one program, you get attached in a way you never thought you would. Not only to the people, but the town. That’s why I had to collect myself as I drove away from San Marcos on Highway 80.

Well done, Bobcats. Enjoy this one. Don’t riot too much on The Square.

Can’t Believe I’m Living In…

By

On April 15, 2016

In Georgia, Life Stuff, New Orleans, Texas

Sometimes it hits me at the strangest times.

Like last week as I drove back from the grocery store.

I just crossed the intersection of Bienville Street and Galvez Street and caught a very brief glimpse of the skyline through a clearing in the trees.

“I’m living in New Orleans.”

I honestly said it out loud as The Weeknd’s “Low Life” played on the radio.

It’s not the first time — and definitely not the last — that those words left my mouth.

I said the same thing at some time about every other location I’ve lived since I started my communications/journalism career nine years ago.

Lebanon, New Hampshire? Can’t remember when, but probably.

Bar Harbor, Maine? Yup. When I sat on the side of Cadillac Mountain after a hike.

San Marcos, Texas? You bet. Hanging out on my ex-girlfriend’s porch in Austin, of all places. I remarked how wild it was to be living in Texas.

Athens, Georgia? For sure. Walking around UGA’s campus.

New Orleans, Louisiana? See above.

My career and pursuit of whatever else is out there for me has taken me places I never thought I’d live. If you asked me right after I graduated if I thought I’d ever be living in New Orleans by the time I was 30, I’d laugh.

Life is all about the road, not the destination.

Nothing more American than the Wimberley VFW Rodeo

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On July 6, 2015

In Journalism, Texas

Nearly one year has passed since I moved to Georgia and in that time, I began to reflect on what I covered while in Texas and how it shaped me during that time.

With the Fourth of July recently skipping by, I found it tough not to think back to the past five years when I spent that day — or weekend before then, depending on when it fell — covering the Wimberley Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Rodeo.

At first I balked at the assignment, just because it was the rodeo. Then I learned the first night of the rodeo featured a regional stop for the Professional Bull Riders and I had watched enough of that on TV over the years to pique my interest a bit more.

The best stories I found on those Friday nights belonged to the rodeo protection athletes — or clowns, as many like to call them. I wish I could locate my first feature from the Wimberley VFW Rodeo, because I loved it. Turns out those RPAs don’t get paid unless they work, so if they break a bone, tough luck — they get back out there. Tough way to live, for sure, but those guys love what they do and keep riders safe.

Mutton Bustin’ always made for a good laugh and an award-winning photo. That photo was by Gerald Castillo, but I honed my photo skills over the years (at top).

When it comes down to it, I have this to say about the Wimberley VFW Rodeo: Nothing — and I mean, nothing — is more American than covering, watching it.

Fireworks, patriotic music and rodeo: Can anything top that display of Murica?

I mean, you could strap George Washington to a bald eagle and have him wave the 50 stars and 13 stripes, but you’d just be getting greedy. Plus, that would be crazy.

Anyway, happy belated Fourth of July to you all and happy belated birthday, USA!

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