<p>"My mom, sister and I can't wait to get in line to go shopping tomorrow evening," said a family friend I'll call Susan (because that's her real name).</p>
<p>"I think you guys are crazy!" I told her.</p>
<p>"But it's a family tradition we look forward to," she carefully explained.</p>
<p>"Some traditions should be broken," I said.</p>
<p>"Well, what I think is crazy is to get up before daylight just to go stand in freezing water in some swamp duck hunting or to go sit in a tree like a nut!" she snapped back, obviously annoyed at my comment.</p>
<p>Frankly, I have never completely understood this whole Black Friday phenomenon. Why would otherwise rational people get up in the middle of the night just to wait in long lines outside retail stores hunting for a bargain? Adding to my confusion is the fact I have had good friends and co-workers (who I'll call Torrey and Eric, because that's their real names!) who took part in this annual ritual, and they are men for God's sake!</p>
<p>It seems as if this year many began taking their place before the tryptophan in the turkey even had a chance to work its magic. Some stores have pushed the boundaries of Black Friday well before the crack of dawn, opening their doors before the gravy has had a chance to cool. The holiday feast barely had time to settle before shoppers began turning their credit cards into small puddles of melted plastic, all for the sake of dirt cheap flat-screen TVs.</p>
<p>To me, this is simply wrong. Thanksgiving is about a short morning hunting trip then returning home and eating until you are sick. The evening is reserved for sharing the fellowship of family and friends while watching the brute violence of an NFL game. Instead, some people were rushing around big-box stores, throwing blocks just to get deals on everything from Barbie Dolls to Blu-Rays.</p>
<p>For the most part, I can't even think about Christmas shopping until the week (OK, day) before. I also have much better things to do before sunrise, like making my way to a tree stand or duck blind.</p>
<p>Sure, I am like most people and do appreciate a good bargain. But you have to put a price on your mental health, too, and throwing elbows with crazed elderly ladies in crowded aisle-ways seems like a pretty steep price to pay. </p>
<p>I have always been a "to each his own" type of guy. So if Black Friday is the name of your game, then I say dive in and have a blast. Then you can revel with your friends about the money you saved and the presents that are already bagged, tagged and ready for the Christmas tree.</p>
<p>To make matters even worse, it was just last week when I heard a subtle knock at my back door. It was Susan. In her hands she held three large shopping bags. They were filled with items she had purchased for her husband on her midnight Black Friday exploits. </p>
<p>"I wanted you to see some of the stuff I bought," she said, pushing her way into the kitchen. There were dozens of crank baits, spinner baits and a soft-sided tackle bag in one sack. The others contained a camouflaged jacket, hunting vest, several game calls and wool socks. </p>
<p>"That was nice of you to spend that kind of money on him," I said in envy.</p>
<p>"I didn't spend that much. All of this was marked 50 percent off," she added proudly.</p>
<p>"What!" I said in disbelief.</p>
<p>"Sure was," she added with a smug smile.</p>
<p>"I thought Black Friday was about toys and TVs," I questioned.</p>
<p>"Heavens no, they can't advertise everything that's on sale," she explained. "See, you can get good deals on many items, even outdoor equipment." </p>
<p>We then began putting everything back into the large plastic bags.</p>
<p>"Oh, by the way, I saw this and bought it just for you," she added. From her coat pocket she pulled out a soft, black, crow decoy.</p>
<p>"Tell me how it tastes!" she quipped, abruptly turning to leave.</p>
<p>"Ouch, in my face!" I couldn't help but thinking. Maybe this whole Black Friday business isn't what I had thought all along.</p>
<p>So next year, if you see some nut job in sporting goods, brandishing a fishing rod like a ninja sword, keeping everyone else at bay, it will more than likely be me! </p>
<p>Hunting Results</p>
<p>Here is this week's list of area sportsmen and women who have encountered success during the first week of the muzzleloading/late archery deer hunting seasons. This information was provided by Bryant's Outdoor Store, Simpson's Deer Processing and U.S. 31 Bait and Tackle.</p>
<p>Steve Nunnally Ñ 75-pound, button buck; Gary Hinkle Ñ 120-pound doe; Don Hinkle Ñ 100-pound button buck; Dennis Zimmerman Ñ 150-pound doe; Mike Osborne Ñ 50-pound doe; John Sears Ñ 70-pound button buck; Taylor Fletcher Ñ 90-pound doe; Jeff Vanover Ñ 110-pound doe; Cameron Hill Ñ 80-pound doe; Mike Vonderahe Ñ 120-pound doe; Travis Rose Ñ 145-pound doe; Brandon Vansickle Ñ 176-pound, six-point buck; Gary Miller Ñ 120-pound doe; Jerry Rose Ñ 150-pound doe; John Nantroup Ñ 155-pound, 12-point buck; Jeff Nester Ñ 130-pound, seven-point buck; Jeff Hall Ñ 120-pound doe; Brian Quackenbush Ñ 100-pound doe.</p>
<p> John Martino is the Tribune's outdoors columnist. He may be reached by email at jmartinooutdoors@att.net.</p>
Sports columns
Black Friday has its rewards
There's more to hunt than wild game.
- Sports columns
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Gas City I-69 Speedway has big show in store
Weather permitting, the local racing action will kick off this weekend as the Gas City I-69 Speedway will play host to the USAC Amsoil National Sprint Car Series on Friday night.
Last week’s scheduled opener for the bullring in Grant County fell victim to the heavy rains that besieged large portions of central Indiana. -
BOWMAN: Frederickson ready for his 20th year of racing
As hard as it is to believe, when Kokomo’s Jamie Frederickson rolls onto a race track in the coming days, it will mark his 20th year of toiling in a non-wing sprint car.
Entering this season, Frederickson has high hopes as a result of the previous 19 years honing his craft and bettering his equipment.
“This year is pretty much like I am every year,” said Frederickson. “My main goal is that I would really like to pick up a feature win at some time this year. I don’t care where it’s at and how I do it, I just want to win a feature before this year is over.” -
Indiana’s Crean simply fails to inspire confidence
Survive and advance?
More like, struggle and aggravate.
Such is the frustrating reality for Indiana University men’s basketball fans this season. Blessed with roster talent rivaled only by Hoosier teams of lore, coach Tom Crean stumbles his way through game plans, matchups and adjustments; the outcome is occasionally brilliant, but largely inconsistent and underachieving.
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GASKINS: Schultes' deaths hit hard
Like many others, I am walking around with a pit in my stomach following the senseless deaths of Dennis and Judy Schulte earlier this week in Seattle. The retired Kokomo couple was walking with their daughter-in-law, Karina Schulte, and her 10-day-old son when they were slammed into by a suspected drunk driver.
Dennis had deep roots in Western athletics. He was a longtime assistant coach in football and wrestling and later the head coach in wrestling. In addition, he was a rock-solid teacher in the math department. Judy worked in education at Northwestern. -
Hoban had zeal for Tigers
While Merrill Hoban put his signature on Howard County basketball during a 12-year reign as coach at Northwestern High School, it was his influence and lasting relationships with players, students, colleagues, friends and family that will be remembered most fondly. Hoban, 91, was a teacher at Northwestern for 31 years. He died Wednesday at St. Joseph Hospital.
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de la Bastide: Questions aplenty in IndyCar
The long-awaited start of the Izod IndyCar Series season kicks off this weekend on the street course at St. Petersburg with 25 cars entered for the event.
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de la Bastide: NASCAR’s Gen 6 car passes first test on 1.5-mile oval
In its first appearance on a 1.5-mile oval, tracks that dominate the Sprint Cup Series, the new Gen 6 car has to be given a passing grade.
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de la Bastide: Gen 6 car facing big test
Two races into the Sprint Cup season and the jury remains out on whether or not the new Gen 6 car is going to improve the racing in NASCAR’s top division.
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de la Bastide: Indiana should help IMS
For almost a century the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been the biggest draw in terms of tourism dollars in Indiana. Now it is requesting some public assistance to enhance that impact.
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MARTINO: Playing the zoo can mean more fish for you
I learned something that day I will always remember and it has paid off through the years. It was one of those typical midwinter afternoons. The mercury rested at the bottom of the thermometer and a thick layer of snow blanketed the landscape.
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