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Camp Canine:
Central Texas' most famous training camp used to be the summer home of the Dallas Cowboys, but they've moved on just in time for the spotlight to go to the dogs. The Triple Crown Dog Academy, newly-opened on a 350-acre ranch 30 miles north of Austin (between Pflugerville and Hutto), is a $3.5 million dollar training and show complex complete with a climate-controlled event center, a lighted, pro football-sized sports field covered with golf course-quality turf, 135 indoor/outdoor kennel runs, and five swimming ponds. Owner Jerry Wolfe, a seasoned dog trainer and canine enthusiast, opened the 70,000 square foot facility with the hopes that in three years' time it will be booked every week for both national and international events; numerous events were booked even before the academy's opening. Eventually, working dogs such as Labradors, German shepherds and Border collies will be bred at the site as well. Of course dog people have never seen anything like it: Triple Crown boasts floors made from a non-skid material similar to the one used in the track and field venues of the 1996 Summer Olympics, a puppy nursery with five birthing rooms, numerous fenced playgrounds, and shower heads designed for therapeutic massage. It's such a big deal in dog town that Purina has secured exclusive rights to market its products there. The academy even has an extra care unit for dogs that need medical attention or become unruly, which will no doubt help to keep the rowdier ones from escaping the grounds and raising havoc at local watering holes. Then again, canines are probably better behaved than Cowboys anyway.
 The other NCAA Champion: It was all square in San Antonio last month when Kentucky walked away with the college basketball title, but if anyone is aware of what a little fair play can bring it's local cab driver Al Gutierrez, who did the right thing and ended up a winner outside the Alamodome. Gutierrez returned $10,000 cash and six Final Four tickets to a Florida ticket broker who left them in his taxi, and not only did the man reward the cabbie with $100 and tickets to the long sold-out game, but local Tejano radio station KXTN thought Gutierrez' straight up behavior should be made an example of, so they set up a scholarship fund for the Gutierrez children with $1000 to start. Other contributions and pledges have been made since, and the Floridian has vowed to contribute $100 a year himself for as long as the scholarship remains open. This is good news for Gutierrez, father of six, who along with his wife works two jobs (she drives a cab part-time herself) to support his family. On top of that, Gutierrez has become somewhat of a celebrity about town -- he was recognized on stage at an Emilio Navaira concert, strangers have been buying him drinks at restaurants, he's been garnering invites to social occasions and was even contacted to appear on Late Night with David Letterman. The best policy, indeed. Hollywood High: Texas high school football is on its way to the big screen. Varsity Blues, a feature film that will begin shooting in and around the Austin area on April 17, stars Midnight Cowboy Jon Voight as another of those Texas icons, the high school football coach in charge of leading his team to the all-important state championships. The script aims to illustrate the role football plays in local communities, and producer Mike Tollins and director Brian Robbins wanted the film to have a realistic Texas 'look.' They were impressed with the Austin area's wide selection of stadiums and the many distinct neighborhoods of the capital city. On a recent visit to scout locations, the two interviewed Hays coach Bob Shelton and San Marcos coach Bruce Bush, and they attended a playoff game between La Grange and Sealy in the Astrodome. Other cast members include James Van Der Beek (Dawson Leery on "Dawson's Creek" and Paul Walker (Meet the Deedles); Barry Switzer will also make a cameo appearance. Varsity Blues is due to be released in October, right in the middle of high school football season. (4/15/98) |
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