No ESPY for Lance
- 2008 Best Outdoor Athlete Goes to Scott Smiley, mountain
climber - Scott Smiley was Blinded by a suicide
blast in Mosul, Iraq, in April 2005, he hasn't let his
injuries stop him from remaining in the Army, pursuing
a master's in business administration at Duke University
in North Carolina or climbing Mount Rainier in Washington
state in July 2007. The 14,410-foot climb, which only
half of about 10,000 annual climbers actually complete,
according to the "Seattle Post-Intelligencer,"
earned Smiley a nomination as "Best Outdoor Athlete,"
for the 2008 ESPY awards.
While Lance didn't grab the Best Outdoor Athlete of the
year he said it was a complete honor to be nominated and
mingle with such great athletes. The 2008 ESPY's, hosted
by Justin Timberlake was taped Wednesday night for rebroadcast
Sunday night at 9:00PM ET. on ESPN.
The folllowing
is a list of the winners in their respective categories:
Male Athlete: Tiger
Woods, golf. Female
Athlete: Candace Parker, Tennessee and Los Angeles SparksTeam:
Boston Celtics Coach-Manager:
Pat Summitt, Tennessee women's basketball Comeback:
Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers Breakthrough
Athlete: Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings Game:
New York Giants defeat New England Patriots, Super BowlRecord-breaking
Performance: Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers
Championship Performance: Tiger Woods, U.S. Open Play:
New York Giants QB Eli Manning's pass to David Tyree,
Super Bowl Moment:
Central Washington's Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace,
Western Oregon's Sara Tucholsky for sportsmanship Finish:
Western Kentucky's Ty Rogers hitting buzzer beater to
defeat Drake in first round of NCAA men's basketball
tournament Upset:
New York Giants defeat New England Patriots, Super Bow
lSports Movie: "Semi-Pro"Male
College Athlete: Tim Tebow, Florida football
Female College Athlete: Candace Parker, Tennessee basketball
Women's Collegiate Team: Tennessee basketballMale
Action Sport Athlete: Shaun White, skateboarding/snowboarding
Female Action Sport
Athlete: Gretchen Bleiler, snowboarding Male
Athlete With A Disability: Ryan Kocer, wrestlingFemale
Athlete With a Disability: Shay Oberg, softball
Male International Athlete: Rafael Nadal, tennis Female
International Athlete: Lorena Ochoa, golf Baseball
Player: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees
NBA Player: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers WNBA
Player: Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm
NFL Player: Tom Brady, New England Patriots NHL
Player: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins Bowler:
Norm Duke Driver:
Jimmie Johnson Fighter:
Floyd Mayweather, boxingGolfer:
Tiger Woods Jockey:
Kent Desormeaux
MLS Player: David Beckham, Los Angeles Galaxy Male
Tennis Player: Roger Federer Female
Tennis Player: Maria SharapovaTrack
and Field Athlete: Tyson Gay Outdoor
Athlete: Scott Smiley, mountain climber Arthur
Ashe Courage Award: John Carlos and Tommie Smith, 1968
Olympic medalists Jimmy
V ESPY for Perseverance: Kevin Everett, former Buffalo
Bills tight endLike
Nothing Else Award: George Martin walks across America
Lance is nominated for a 2008 ESPY
- We are thrilled to announce that Lance Mackey
has been selected as an ESPY nominee for the second
year in a row in the category of "Best Outdoors
Athlete". The ESPY Awards are the one night each
year where athletes from all sports join together to
celebrate the best moments of the year. The ESPY Awards
take place on July 20th at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood,
CA. The show is hosted by Justin Timberlake and promises
to be extraordinary. Fans will have the chance to select
the winners by voting online at Online voting continues
through July 12 at 11:59 p.m. ET at either ESPYS.tv
, or on mobile phones. All proceeds from the ESPY Awards
and related events benefit the V Foundation for Cancer
Research in memory of the late Jim Valvano.
The ESPY Awards is an
annual sports awards event created and broadcast by
American cable television network ESPN. Begun in 1993,
the event confers eponymous awards, fully styled as
Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards, for
individual and team athletic achievement and other sports-related
performance during the calendar year preceding a given
ceremony.
From their inception until
2004, the awards were chosen variously through voting
by fans; sportswriters, broadcasters, sports executives,
and sportspersons, collectively experts; or ESPN personalities.
Award winners have been selected thereafter exclusively
through online fan balloting conducted from amongst
candidates selected the ESPY Select Nominating Committee.
Lance
autographs a patch for the "Larry"
appreciation club
designed by Sarida
Steed-Bradley
|
68 Mushers head
for
Iditarod HQ for Sign Up
As of Saturday June 28th,
68 mushers had signed up with a 100 musher limit. Mushers
that do not make the cut off will go on a waiting list.
Arriving in style,
Lance, Tonya and son Cain pulled up at Iditarod Headquarters
in the Dodge Super Bee he won in last years Iditarod
from Anchorage Chrysler Dodge.
Lance, along with many other mushers lined up to pay
the $4,000 dollar entry fee for the 2009 Iditarod. "It's
definetly a big chunk of change to put up when you have
increasing prices in dog food, fuel and just everyday
living expenses." says Lance "But, Iditarod
is feeling the pinch as well. The money has to come
from somewhere".
Lance spent the day talking
to volunteers and fans and signing autographs.
Lance
& wife Tonya
|
THANK
YOU
FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Mackey's
Comeback Kennel would like to give a very special "Thank
You" for your support with this years racing season.
Without your support our kennel, would not be as successful
as it is today. We have had another incrediable record
year. It didn't come easy or without a lot of hard work
and support from many of you behind the scenes. We can't
thank you enough.
As
with all sports and competitors, we are already thinking
of how to improve our training and racing for next year.
One way is to be at the top of the sign-up list in every
race, which bring us to The Iditarod. The first day for
the 2009 Iditarod sign-up is the 28th of June 2008. lt
is important to sign-up early for many reasons. This years
entry is $4000.00. This is a BIG expense for any kennel.
The first
day of the Iditarod sign-up includes a huge picnic for
volunteers, you get to meet the mushers, eat a BBQ catered,
win lot's of door prizes. I hope to see some of you
there so I can thank you personally for your support.
By the way, for all of you visiting Fairbanks, I will
be at the Alpine Lodge every Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday
evening from 8 pm -10 pm, signing autographs and sharing
trail stories through June & some of July. Call
the Alpine Lodge before you drop by for any schedule
changes at 907-328-6300. It's a great place to stay
if you need lodging as well. Tell them Lance Mackey
sent you.
Thank
you, Lance & Tonya Mackey
Lance
& new pups
|
Early Father's Day
for Zorro!!!
June 4th
2008
Zorro has
had enough of the foo-foo treatment and has opted for
returning to his old dog house deep within the 90 plus
sled dogs in the Mackey dog lot.
The fur has grown back over the cracked ribs. There
is only a hint of where the accident occurred in Zorro's
hips, where he occasionally sits to rest them.
Zorro has something new to brag about as he returns
to his team mates in the dog lot. The Mackey's announced
that Zorro is the proud pappa of 9 healthy puppies.
Retirement is grand!
...and how is Zorro? 05/11/08
Zorro is doing well. He continues
to insist that outdoors is better than in.
He has a nice spot in the sun, just outside the familes
front door where he
overlooks the entire Mackey kennel. A spot where Lance
can closely watch his progress.
ZORRO UPDATE: APRIL
30th 2008
Zorro improves daily, sunning
on the Mackey's home porch. He continues to choose the
outdoors over the comfort of a couch. Lance says "he
has the mind of a 2 year old, he still wants to run and
play, but his body reminds him that it is not possible
yet." Each
day he gains strength in his back and hips. He has the
will power to heal and resume being the dog he once was.

Lance
Mackey & Ron Udd
|
Anchorage Chysler
Dodge Presents Lance
with Key
Lance was all grins today. Like a teenager with his very
first car. Lance received his 2008 Iditarod Dodge key,
part of his winnings in this years Iditarod Sled Dog Race.
He surprised everyone by
choosing a beautiful Dodge Charger instead of the traditional
truck.
"It was a tough decision,"
Lance said with a twist of the head "but when I saw
that pretty blue Doge Charger in the showroom, it was
screaming at me" he smiled. "I have trucks for
mushing, they just need some work, transmissons replaced
or some cosmetic touches. This will be a better family
car and better on gas".
"Ron Udd, owner of the
Anchorage Chysler Dodge dealership,
is an amazing guy for his continued sponsorship with Iditarod
year after year". Lance says with pride, "He's
my hero. The man just gives and gives".
The Big Mackey
!!!!!
Stand Aside MacDonalds. Alaska now has the "Lance
Burger". Served at Mia's Cafe (22.5 Mile Chena
Hot Springs Road - near Fairbanks ) and consists of
12 ounces of plain or garlic-seasoned beef - cooked
rare, medium or well-done. It's topped with lettuce,
tomatoes, fried onions, cheese, bacon, mushrooms and
jalapenos on a sesame seed bun. The owner of Mia's cafe,
Elliot Lowe says "Lance is a WINNER and we think
his hamburger is too !!" $1 from the sale of every
Lance burger will be donated to this exceptional musher.
Zorro Continues to Mend
-
APRIL 17, 2008
With lot's of
loving and fussing from the Mackey family, Zorro is
doing amazing. "He still has his limits" says
Lance " little baby steps each day. He's like me
in this healing process. He does'nt want to sit around.
He'd go crazy. So everyday he does what he can. He's
standing for periods of time. When he gets tired he
sits. I know it's frustrating for him. He's nine years
old now, it's tough to bounce back from an injury when
your older". explains Lance.
In Alaska's mid
morning sun, Zorro enjoys sitting on the porch for a
half hour over looking the dog lot where he once ruled.
Then it's back to his cozy kennel indoors.
"It will be a slow transition to the house for
Zorro. I think eventually he will take a liking to the
couch life. We are thankful we still have him around,
hopefully for many years to come. It's a real blessing."
Lance says with a sigh of relief.

"Zorro" photo
by Jan DeNapoli
|
Zorro Update -
April 8th 2008
Although weak
and confined to a kennel, Zorro is happy to be back
home amongst his kennel mates. Lance explains "his
brain says I want to be back outdoors playing with the
rest of the sled dogs, but his physical body says, not
yet'.
"Zorro has been wagging his tail and tilting
his head to the sky recognizing familar smells and
sounds. We are all glad to see him home. The doctors
say he must stay calm, no running, jumping or breeding
for this stud for at least 4 months" says Lance.
Sincere
thanks
for all your support!
There has been a tremendous response to helping with
Zorro's medical bills and travel expenses. "People
just helped us with open arms". Lance says with
a heart felt sigh "We are so grateful to all
the folks in Seattle and Tacoma, and all of those
who sent us donations. Wonderful get well cards have
been arriving in the mail every day with doggie cookies
and blankets just for Zorro" wife Tonya adds."It's
incrediable".
"We are at awe at the support and thank all of
you for your help, it was one less worry on our minds
as the days went by. We will never forget
the kindness from so many". Lance and Tonya both
said.
Mackey Makes
the Top 25 List of Toughest Athletes
Lance Mackey is named on the top 25 list on Sports Illustrated
CNN.com, taking #2
Read
more....
Update:Back Home
- April 6th, 2008
Zorro has returned home and is wagging his tail. he is
glad to be back in recognizable surroundings with his
family and team mates.
Iditarod champ
dog heads home to begin retired life
By Bryan Johnson - 3/5/08
KOMO TV
The lead dog for Iditarod winner Lance Mackey is heading
back home after receiving treatment at a Tacoma emergency
hospital for what were described as potentially life-threatening
injuries.
Read
more...watch video clip.
Update on
"Zorro" - April
2, 2008:
Zorro is in Seattle with Lance and Tonya. The
best news is, vets have completed an MRI and Zorro will
NOT need back surgery at this time. He has a minor concussion,
some bruising on the lung, 3
broken ribs, swelling, bruising & bleeding on the
spine with one injured disc.
Zorro is responding to things around him. They expect,
with time, he will get feeling in his back legs and be
able to stand and walk. Zorro will be released friday
evening from the Seattle vet clinic to come home and begin
his long road to recovery with veterinarians in Fairbanks.
Zorro will need
6-8 months of care and therapy. Doctors are optimistic
for his recovery.
March
31, 2008:
Many of you are aware that Lance Mackey's dog "Zorro"
was injured during the 2008 All Alaska Sweepstakes when
a snow machine collided with his team. Zorro was in
the sled bag when the machine struck his sled. Zorro
sustained 3 broken ribs, some internal bleeding, and
spinal injuries. He is not able to stand or use his
back legs. Doctors are considering flying Zorro to Seattle
for spinal surgery. We will know more when an MRI is
done on Zorro this afternoon.
A lot of you have been asking about helping with expenses
associated with Zorro's vet bills. They already are
$3,700 and the cost will certainly climb if he needs
to be flown to Seattle for surgery.
Final race results of the
All Alaska Sweepstakes March 26th, 2008
Nome
to Candle & back
HE'S
DONE IT AGAIN!!!!
The Fox from Fox, Alaska is the 2008 Iditarod Champion
photo by Donna Quante
|
UPDATE
ON "HOBO"
For all of you asking..."Hobo", one of Lance's
key lead dogs, is doing just fine. He was on antibiotics
for a few days from a dog bite to his leg (a puncture).
Nothing serious. He has healed wonderfully!
He
is getting plently of TLC. Shorts walks in the late
afternoon, extra helpings of Red Paw dog food and
many nose kisses. He'll be ready for All Alaska
Sweepstakes if called upon.
UPDATE
ON "LARRY"
Sweet
and wild "Larry" is all good. No worries.
The cut on his foot (the pad) was minor, just an
abrasion. It is healing quickly and he, as always,
is jumping and screaming to go.
OUR
2008 DOG BOOTIE SPONSORS
Patricia E Hanson, Cindy Cronin, Susan
Underhill, Virginia McGirk, Bill & Joy Klein,
Ken & Karen Fletcher, Frederick Borchert,
Donna Schumacher, Iris Cantlon, SledDoggin.com,
Marks Marks pack; Inky, Mimi, Gus, Gracie & Noel,
Helen Hegener, June Price, Barbara and Jerry Lake
- Hampton, TN,, Marlene
Phillips, Linda
Parlee, Cynthia E Wyatt, Donna
Quante, Tommy &
Denise Thomas Lakeland,FL, Romayne Kelly - Peterborough,
Cambridgeshire, UK, Lyndy Nothstine, Jane Leschallas -
Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire U.K., Carol Shaw - Princeton,
La USA, Quilted Faces Seattle, Wa USA, Jan Beckstrand,
Frank Hauze, Anne Lalone, George & Emilia Felty, Candace
Jahelka, Nicole Rasely, Dianne Toebe, Michelle Cogburn,
Robert Bibber, Barbara Chekroun, Opal Krout, Marc Sidell,
The Rosemann Family, JoAnne Woolever, Lorna Harland, Bird
Goodwin, Kevin Adams, Laura Boykin, Lela
& Marvin Criswell, Fort Collins, CO, Janet
and Bob Valenta, Pandu ( the newfoundland) and Iris (the
Valley Mutt) who dream of running the iditarod & Richard
Walsh Family, Kerry Pride DVM, Molly Brown, Lyndy Nothtstine,
Ann Marie Garritano, MushingPros Inc., Susan McCracken,
PATRICIA TODARO, Jeanne Horvath, Joann Flora, Kath Christensen,
Imogene Schaeffer, Dana Baldwin, Randy & Alice Brunk,
Kathleen Stouder, Sandra Taylor, Joan and Ron Short Big
Stone Gap, VA, Joyce Cullen
Thank
you so much for your help!
... Lance
Lance
Mackey is the
2008 Iditarod Champion
The crowd cheered as Lance made his way down front
street. People lined the streets of Nome for the second
year in a row to welcome Lance Mackey into town. Cheers
and chants "Mackey, Mackey, Mackey" echoed
in the night as Lance ran down chute with his champion
dog team, shaking hands and thanking spectators for
coming out to see him finish.
He arrived March 12,
2008 at 02:46:48. His total was time 9 Days 11 Hours
46 Minutes 48 Seconds with "Hansom" &
"Larry" in lead.
Lance has now proven that it can be done...running 2
thousand mile races back to back. It's more than luck.
He's got the dogs, the training schedule and more importantly
he clicks with his dogs. He's proven it 2 years in a
row. Running the Yukon Quest & the Iditarod and
winning them both. A champion that can "Run with
dogs"
and you can bet he did RUN with them this year.
Lance Mackey, the 2008 Grand Iditarod Champion with
lead dogs "Larry" & Hansom"
photo
by Dean L. Sanders
Lance
tends to his team in the 2008 Quest
photo by Tonga Mackey
|
Lance gratefully
accepts Yukon Quest Banquet Awards
Lance Mackey accepted his $40,000 first place prize, the
Dawson Award, 4 ounces of gold, the Golden Harness awards
went to his 2 new up and coming sled dogs, "Rev"
and Hansom". “These
are the real athletes and superstars,” Mackey said
before the pair donned gold harnesses and wolfed down
a steak on stage. “They were the go-to guys when
I needed them the most. ... Hansom’s the brains
and Rev’s the speed.”
More importantly, Lance
was awarded the "Veterinarian’s Choice
Award". Lance was visibly choked up. To
Lance, this is winning, really winning. An award chosen
by the Yukon Quest’s team of 14 veterinarians
for his superb dog care on the trail, the man they call
“invincible”. Lance finished with 11 dogs,
more happy healthy dogs than anyone else. Eleven dogs
who came into checkpoints with wagging tails and eager
to continue on to the next check point. “This
means more to me than winning this damn race,”
Mackey said, his voice breaking. “Thank-you very
much.”
2008 Copper Basin 300 - Lance
Mackey takes 2nd place in the 2008 Copper Basin 300, nicknamed
"The Little Iditarod" by many mushers for it's
diverse terrain and mix of what Iditarod might throw at
you. Lance pulled into Glennallen with only 6 dogs pulling
his sled. Arriving at the finish line at 14:52. You just
can't say "can't" to that Mackey team. He said
" I had 2 new leaders I am trying out and those two
girls are in heat. I could have moved "Larry' my seasoned
leader up in lead, but then what are these new leaders gonna
learn from that?" he said throwing his head back"
You just work with what ya got. Back at Sourdough checkpoint,
I dropped four dogs because of a flu like virus going through
them. They don't need to run when they don't feel good.
That left me with six dogs to work with. I don't have to
tell you, I worked my butt off to help them, we are a team.
I ran behind that sled all the way to the finish line".
Lance says with closed eyes, no doubt re-living some of
the effort it took to get to the finish line.
Click
here for complete race updates
Lance tends to his
dogs on one of two 6 hour layovers
|
Lance
wins Gin Gin 200 -
Dec 31, 2007
Lance agreed that the Gin Gin 200 is an up and coming favorite
sled dog race. Running from Paxson Lodge to Maclaren Lodge
with a 110 mile loop added in and then back to Paxson Lodge
.Lance said "you can almost always count on good snow
in the Denali area" and another musher added "the
trail was great for gearing up for long distance races".
In this race mushers had to carry their gear throughout
the race. There were no food drops in the Gin Gin 200. This
made mushers plan carefully what they needed in their sleds
and left no room for unneeded items.
The race opened its doors
to a men's division this year for the first time and extended
the trail from 120 miles to 200, making it a Yukon Quest
and an Iditarod qualifier.
Temperatures were ideal
for the dogs, at a crisp -20 for most of the race. The
front runners encountered 65 mph winds as they passed
through the last few miles of the Denali Highway near
the finish line. One musher said she hunkered down and
wrapped her arms around her handle bars to keep from getting
blown off her sled. By the time the middle of the pack
past through that area the winds had died down considerably,
the only sign was multiple mounds of snow drifts dotting
the trail. Two mushers had to scratch due to some dog
issues, but remained on the trail to complete the 200
mile race route, driving their teams into Paxson late
Sunday evening to a small cheering of spectators.
Lance was the fisrt to cross
the finish line in the men's divison with a time of 33:44.
Complete 2007 Gin Gin 200 Race results:
Men's Division
(1) Lance Mackey - 33:44 (2) Bill Steyer - 36:41 (3) Sonny
Linder - 37:32 (4) Ed Hopkins - 38:11 (5) Sebastian Schnuelle
- 38:24 (6) Mike Ellis - 39:09 (7) Mike Mayer - 39:20
(8) Danny Seavy - 39:30 (9) Sam Dietour - 39:44 (10) Andrew
Davies - 41:01 (11) Rich Corcoran - 41:31 (12) Braxton
Peterson - 41:32 (13) Jacob Dries - 42:09 (14) Rick Holt
- 42:48 (15) Jeremy Matrishon -44:05 (16) Andreas Moser
- 44:10 (17) Dave Treasure - 44:30 (18) Mike Barnett -
48:04 (19) Dale Curry - 50:59
Women's Division
(1) Jodi Bailey - 33:24; (2) Zoya DeNure - 33:46 ; (3)
Judy Currier - 34:50 ; (4) Molly Yazwinski - 35:48; (5)
Michelle Phillips - 36:16 ; (6) Kelley Griffin - 38:29
; (7) Casie Stockdale - 38:34; (8) Iris Wood - 41:37 ;
(9) Julie Estey - 49:38 (10) Alyssa Quaile - 55:46; (11)
Laura Davis - 55:46; (12) Carol Blevins - 57:08 ;
Scratched: Heidi Sutter
& Rebecca Savadis
The
annual Mackey fundraiser was a success!
The 4th annual Mackey fundraiser
held at the Alpine Lodge in Fairbanks, Alaska was a booming
success. We would like to thank everyone that attended,
all those that generously donated items to auction and all
the volunteers that helped pull it all together. We simply
could not have done it without you. Thank you for your support
and friendship
- Lance
& Tonga Mackey
4th
Annual Mackey Fundraiser
Yukon Quest/Iditarod Racing Team
WHEN:
October 27th
2007
WHERE: Alpine
Lodge Fairbanks, Alaska
TIME: 5 pm till 9pm
TICKETS: $12.95 Adults/ $10.95
Children 12 & under. This includes a catered buffet
dinner.
LODGING: If you are coming in
from out of town,
the Alpine
Lodge is offering a special on rooms for $59.00 per
night.
Enjoy a wonderful dinner at the Alpine
Lodge with Idita-Quest Champion Lance Mackey. There
will be door prizes and 3 fundraiser auctions - silent,
Chinese & out cry.. Prepare to have fun and bid, bid,
bid.
WANT
TO DONATE? If you would like to help our fundraiser
auction with auction items E-mail
Tonya Mackey.
A gift
from the heart
It was by chance that these two people met at a Cantwell
Cafe.
Clem is a proud Northern Cheyenne Indian, who at the time,
operated the “Time to Eat Café” in Cantwell,
Alaska. She loved mixing it up with folks that came into
the café. One customer in particular was a dog musher
named Lance Mackey. Clem was so intrigued by Lance’s
life that she wanted to know more and more. Each time he
dropped into the café for a meal they would talk.
They quickly became friends. As a former rodeo competitor,
Clem was impressed by the similarities between sleddogs
and horses.
One day Clem was showing
off a beautiful traditional native vest, hand beaded with
custom buttons that she had made. Lance grinned at Clem
with his glacier blue eyes “that’s a cool
vest Clem, how does a guy like me get one of those?”.
Clem replied quickly and rather sharply “Well my
dear Lance, I tell you what, if you win the Iditarod,
I will make you one”.
Several months later Lance
Mackey did just that, he won the Iditarod, becoming the
first musher to EVER win both long distance races, the
Quest and the Iditarod in the same year. Clem was good
on her word, Lance was like family to her by now. She
asked a friend to tan her up an exceptional piece of elk
hide and she began crafting Lance his very own Cheynne
vest. A gift given for the most accomplished feats, a
gift given with true and deep meaning and usually reserved
for tribe members. Lance’s race record qualified.
It wasn't easy sewing through that tough hide but she
did. She even added some details that would be meaningful
to Lance. Under each little leather flap was artwork depicting
a winning race that Lance had acquired, the Cantwell Classic,
the Sheep Mountain 150, the Yukon Quest and of course
the Iditarod. When it was done she called Lance up “I
have a gift for you next time you are in Cantwell”.
Saying it casually so as not to spoil the surprise “I’ll
be through that way next week” Lance responded.
“What do you have?” he said with some interest.
“something just for you, I think you will like it”
and she quickly got off the phone.
When Lance walked into the
café the following week Clem quietly handed him
the vest. Cut from the hide of an elk, all hand sewn and
hand beaded. It was beautiful and detailed with such care.
Everyone in the café had their eyes on Lance as
he slipped the vest over his shoulders. “wow’
Clem, I can’t believe it, I love it” Lance
said with immense gratitude. Clem whispered to him “
this is a gift from the heart”.
Lance
& wife Tonya at the
ESPY awards in Hollywood
|
No ESPY in the cards
for Mackey this year
Although Lance
Mackey is not coming home with the EPSY award "Best
Outdoor Athlete" that he was so honored to be nominated
for, he is still proud to have been considered and thrilled
to have been invited to Holloywood where he has been mingling
with champs in all sports. " It's just a pleasure to
be among them" Lance smiles " In my wildest dreams
I would not have guessed I'd be here. It's not just about
the award, we have raised a good some of money for the V
Foundation for Cancer Research, and that is ten fold more
important to me". Alaskans already know he's a champ
and an incrediable athlete. The ESPY award would have been
icing on the cake.
Watch the entire awards coverage on ESPN Sunday July 15th
at 9pm ET

Lance
stops to chat with Govener Sarah Palin
photo courtesy of June Price
|
2008 Iditarod
Cloudly, rainy weather did not slow down festivities for
the annual volunteer picnic and official first day to
sign up for the 2008 Iditarod.
Lance along with 71 other
mushers took advantage of the first day of sign up at
Iditarod headquarters for the 2008 Last Great Race, even
with the tremendous increase in entry fees. The cost roughly
doubled this year to $3,000. A shock to manys mushers
budget. Lance was
11th to sign up and younger brother Jason signed up 53rd
for the 2008 Iditarod.
Lance is nominated
for an ESPY - We are thrilled to announce that
Lance Mackey has been selected as an ESPY nominee in the
category of "Best Outdoors Athlete". The ESPY
Awards are the one night each year where athletes from all
sports join together to celebrate the best moments of the
year. The ESPY Awards take place on Wednesday, July 11th
at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, CA. The show is hosted
by Jimmy Kimmel and LeBron James and promises to be extraordinary.
Fans will have the chance to select the winners by voting
online at http://www.espn.com,
keyword ESPY from June 25 through July 7 at midnight ET.
All proceeds from the ESPY Awards and related events benefit
the V Foundation for Cancer Research in memory of the late
Jim Valvano.
The ESPY Awards is an annual
sports awards event created and broadcast by American
cable television network ESPN. Begun in 1993, the event
confers eponymous awards, fully styled as Excellence in
Sports Performance Yearly Awards, for individual and team
athletic achievement and other sports-related performance
during the calendar year preceding a given ceremony.
From their inception until
2004, the awards were chosen variously through voting
by fans; sportswriters, broadcasters, sports executives,
and sportspersons, collectively experts; or ESPN personalities.
Award winners have been selected thereafter exclusively
through online fan balloting conducted from amongst candidates
selected the ESPY Select Nominating Committee.
Lance
hits a line ball past 2nd base
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Play
Ball
What should have been a night
of well known Alaskan athletes and celebrities enjoying
an invite to a Glacier Pilots game at Mulchahy Stadium
in Anchorage, Alaska, turned into a game of celebrity
baseball.
It was Alaskan athelete appreciation night and the Glacier
Pilots had a game lined up, only the opposing team had
a conflict game and was unable to show. What to do? The
organizers scambled to solve the problem. Asking the atheletes
if they would consider playing a fun game with the Glacier
Pilots. They agreed and the crowd cheered. Lance threw
out the first ball and the game roared on. Govenener Sarah
Palin, a good sport, played coach, cheering on her team
mates as they slammed balls across the field. She even
took her turn a bat.
Like a neighborhood evening ball game, friends playing
friends. All smiles and playful jabs at opponets. No ones
seems to remember the final score or for that matter who
won. We do know that everyone had a good time.
More
photos click here
Pet
appreciation with Home Depot
June 23, 2007 - The Wasilla, Alaska Home Depot hosted a
Pet Appreciation event with the local pet adoption agencies
and special guests; author Mike Dillingham and Iditarod/Yukon
Quest champion Lance Mackey. A steady flow of visitors came
through to see the puppies, dogs and celebrities.
In addition to the success
of the celebrity visit, several pets found new permanent
homes which made everyone happy. Home Depot manager Keith
Blaha seen here with Lance Mackey was the man who organized
the event. Thanks Keith!
Glacier Pilots-Alaskan Athelete Night
Join
Lance along with several other Alaskan athletes at Muchahy
Stadium with the Glacier Pilots for Alaskan Athelete Night,
Saturday June 23rd, Anchorage, Alaska. Lance will be available
for autographs and chat during the game. Bring your favorite
photo or T-shirt for Lance to sign.
Directions to Mulcahy Stadium: When on A Street heading
towards downtown, take a right at 16th Avenue where you
will see a sign just like the one in the middle of this
page. If you are coming off Gambell, as you cross 15th Avenue
be sure that you watch for our sign on your right - it comes
up real fast - the park is just seconds away.
Home
Depot joins the "Mackey Team"
Lance has been out of the state for a week or more attending
a conference and having some fun. He will be returning to
Alaska just in time to attend a couple of great event this
weekend. This Saturday, June 23rd, Lance will be appearing
at two events in the Anchorage, AK area. Come out and enjoy
the festivities...and don't miss your chance to catch up
with the Iditarod/Yukon Quest champion! Pet
Appreciation Day at Home Depot Wasilla, Alaska
12 noon- 3pm. Mike
Dillingham will be there with Rivers (book
about Rivers), there will be a dog obedience demonstration,
police K-9 dogs, dogs available for adoption and...Lance
Mackey will be there for photos and autographs. Special
thanks to Keith at Home
Depot Wasilla and Donna Quante for inviting Lance to
this event.
Lance
receives Team & Trail " Musher of the
Year Award"
June 2007
Reno, Nevada
The 2007 annual ISDRA meeting and banquet was held on June
15th - 17th in Reno, Nevada. Mushers gathered to hear a
variety of speakers, talk with vendors and chat with other
mushers. Lance was invited to the two day event as the guest
speaker. He shared his training ideas, racing skills as
well as answered questions to a crowd of over 85 people.
At the banquet he was honored with the Team & Trail
"Musher of the year" award.
Lance
& Will Peterson chat at the KAKM
studio in Anchorage, Alaska
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Lance
& Zorro supporting
public television
Lance Mackey appeared live on KAKM (Anchorage, AK) tonight
during the premiere broadcast of the newly released Iditarod
video "As Tough As They Come".
Along with Lance, "Zorro"
made a special appearance live in the KAKM studio. For
those fans that have been worried about "Zorro's"
health after he was dropped from this years Iditarod,
rest assured "Zorro" is happy & healthy
as a horse. He even left a nice deposit (#2) in the studio
and marked darn near every tree behind the studio. Zorro
is Lance's primary stud and has contributed greatly to
the team. Zorro was lively, alert and a bit nervous with
all the lights and indoor spaces - but was a great addition
to the show.

Lance
and his famous lead dog "Zorro" |
Special thanks to Will Peterson
(interim General Manager of KAKM) for inviting Lance to
host the show.
During the live broadcast,
Will received a call from the Iditarod Trail Committee
who was proud to announce their Emmy award for their 2006
video "Mother Nature's Turn to Dance".
Congratulations!
The
2007 Bib # 1 with Lance's autograph was
auctioned off with a winning bid of $750.00
|
Lance
helps with Wasilla fundraiser
Lance and Martin Buser teamed up with the Mat-Su
community to help benefit the proposed $5 million upgrade
of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough animal shelter. "As
Tough As They Come" aired for the first time before
a Mat-Su crowd Friday evening at the Machetanz Theatre.
Lance received a standing
ovation at the end of the showing.
A second playing will
be Saturday at 2 pm. Tickets are $10 each.
Tickets can be purchased at the following locations;
Valley Performing Arts, Cottonwood Public Safety Building,
Mat-Su Animal Care Shelter, Mat-Su Borough Building,
Palmer, Wasilla Chamber of Commerce, The Machetanz Theatre
is located in Wasilla Alaska at 251 W. Swanson Ave.
Call (907) 373-8800 for more information. Map
Lance to host Iditarod
video Edit - KAKM June Specials Include 2007 Iditarod
Trail Sled Dog Race Documentary Anchorage, AK (May 29) -
Public television station KAKM Channel 7 plans to air several
special programs in June during its summer membership drive,
including the 2007 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race documentary,
AS TOUGH AS THEY COME, produced by the Iditarod Trail Committee.
Lance Mackey, winner of the 2007 race, will host the documentary's
premiere live from the KAKM studios on Saturday, June 2
from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The program will repeat on Wednesday,
June 6 at 8:30 p.m. The first Iditarod documentary produced
by the committee, IDITAROD 2006: MOTHER NATURE'S TURN TO
DANCE, was nominated for an Emmy Award by the Northwest
Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
and has aired on KAKM. The 2007 race has been characterized
"as tough as they come." According to producers
of the documentary, "Lucky number 13 will forever be
the brand associated with Lance Mackey's 2007 victory. His
team's unbelievable win shattered myths and raised the bar
at a level that will definitely stand out as one of the
most historic years in sled dog race history." Other
programs airing during this special on-air fundraising period
for public television include the KAKM production of FOURTH
AVENUE: THE STREET THAT WAS THE WHOLE TOWN and KLONDIKE
ALASKA: A RAIL HISTORY produced by Fairbanks public television
station KUAC. New musicals are also planned, including THE
BEACH BOYS ENDLESS HARMONY, THE BEST 25 YEARS OF POP, and
SAM COOK: LEGEND. Visit www.kakm.org for schedule details.
KAKM will use funds from the $100,000 Conoco-Phillips Challenge
Grant provided earlier in the year to encourage viewers
to become financial supporters of the station. Approximately
75 percent of KAKM's operating funds come from local viewers
and program sponsors, yet less than 10 percent of viewers
are actual supporters. For More Information Contact:Ronnie
Dent at (907) 550-8400
MACKEY'S GO TO RENO
Lance will be speaking at DOGPOWER
2007 June 15-17 1st Western
Regional Dog Powered Sports Conference & 2007 ISDRA
MeetingPeppermill Hotel and Casino Reno, NVFor more information
go to fourteenangelsfoundation.com
or call 530-846-4444Thanks so much!!
photo
by K.Kastner
|
Lance Mackey meets
fans at Anchorage mall
Lance was in Anchorage, Alaska Tuesday, 22 May 2007, for
an official luncheon with Iditarod sponsors. He visited
the Iditarod Store inside the 5th Avenue Mall in downtown
Anchorage to meet fans, sign autographs and visit with the
public.
Fans of all ages and locations
were on sight to meet the first ever same-year Iditarod
and Yukon Quest champion. Lance was very gracious and
autographed T-shirts, jackets, calendars and even a bundle
of more than 25 cards and notes from an elementary school
in Washington State.
Lance
runs into musher Zack Steer & his family
at the Palmer State Forest Service open house
|
Mackey & Smokey
the Bear Team Up
Lance was invited to the annual Palmer State Forest Service
open house. He spent the day teaming up with Smokey the
Bear, getting the word out about fire safety and prevention.
Iditarod fans congratulated Lance on his 2007 race season
and took the opportunity to get autographs and photos with
Smokey and the famous musher. While there, the crowd got
to see the forest service in action, when a call came in
that a brush fire at Lake Creek was endangering structures.
The crew jumped into full swing, piling needed fire fighting
gear into an awaiting helicopter and headed for the Skwentna
airport so they could set up a base camp. The fire was under
control within 4 hours using a helicopter with bucket drops
and a dozen ground crew firefighters. Approximately 10 acres
had burnt. Mop up was expected to take a few days.
A
Champion and his leaders
Video
by Scott Slone
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