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The buzz in New Plymouth
Argus Observer sports writer owns up to wager

By Scott Ford
Argus Observer
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 11:04 AM PDT

Scott Ford | Argus Observer Argus Observer sports writer Ray Rodriguez (middle) laughes along with the student body at New Plymouth High School during a special assembly to give Rodriguez a new look. Silas Gaskins (right), clears a path down the center of Rodriguez’ head, while members of the footabll team look on. All the senior Pilgrim fooball players took a turn at giving Rodriguez a trim.

New Plymouth—A simple wager from an Argus Observer sports writer fired up the town of New Plymouth this past week.

Argus sports writer Ray Rodriguez was at it again, putting his hair on the line for the sake of motivation.

This hair loss trend for Rodriguez began last football season when he called out the Vale Vikings, saying they could not beat the Grant Union Prospectors and if they did he would go to Vale High School, and in front of the student body he would let the football team shave his head bald. Well he los the bet and was soon bald.

On Sept. 13, Rodriguez rose to the challenge again. This time he called out the New Plymouth Pilgrims on the radio during the Carl’s Jr. Coaches Corner. He said New Plymouth was too small and too slow to beat the Payette Pirates, but once again Rodriguez was wrong. New Plymouth excited the crowd and crushed Rodriguez with a 74-yard, come-from-behind drive, and Monday the buzz of the clippers were being heard again.

Rodriguez arrived at the Pilgrim Pavilion to man up to his wager, and with the entire student body, faculty and a few parents on hand, Rodriguez suddenly was nowhere to be found.


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New Plymouth Principal Bicker Therien did not miss a beat and ordered the door to the gym be guarded by saying, “Lock the doors we have another Argus guy in here, and someone is getting a hair cut today.” Therien - referring to the photographer from the Argus, which happened to be the Argus sports editor.

Ray, however, did not disappoint and came strolling into the gym, making a grand entrance wearing shades and a Fruitland High School baseball cap.

The reaction, at first, was one of cheers, because the lamb came to its slaughter but quickly turned to boos when the Fruitland hat was recognized.

The amateur clipping of Rodriguez’ hair was painful to watch, as every Pilgrim senior football player took a few locks, followed by New Plymouth offensive coordinator Porter Lacy and Therion.

“Ray is a great guy. I am glad he stood up to his end of the deal,” Therion said. “He is a big man to be here and to live up to it.”

Lacy said the whole event made the week prior to the game against Payette a lot of fun in the hallways.

“It did elevate the level of excitement at school,” Lacy said. “But the team was motivated to win the game, and we wanted to win this game for other reasons. It was good publicity, and hopefully this will cause more people to come out and watch our games.”

Rodriguez took it all in stride as the Pilgrim football players buzzed off his locks and jeered him while doing so.

Senior lineman Silas Gaskin said when he heard about the wager Rodriguez placed, he felt sorry for him.

“This is the icing on the cake,” Gaskins said.

Senior running back Justin Peterson said right after the game he saw Rodriguez on the sideline and he got excited for what was to come.

When it was all said and done, Rodriguez had this to say: “It was a total display of savagery and degradation,” Rodriguez said. “Walking over to that chair, I felt like the convict being ushered to the gas chamber. But I am glad I could be apart of it. It is always good to inspire a team, and I am glad they kept a sense of humor about it. Who knows, last year after the Vale hair cut, the Vikings ran off 10 straight wins and made it to the state championship. Maybe the same will happen for New Plymouth.”

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Comment Blog - Note: All Comments Subject To Approval

Area Fan wrote on Sep 26, 2008 1:40 PM:

" The area we live in has some great kids and great teams all around. Fruitland, Ontario, Weiser, NP, Payette, Vale, etc...always has someone in the state playoffs/championship. Football, Baseball, Volleyball, Basketball, and even band, dang we have some GREAT teams in Idaho/Oregon that represent this area of our two states well. All this negative bloging between everyone needs to stop! The kids for the most part don't have the problems it's the has-been wish I was 18 again adults. Instead of complaining about it get out and support our kids. I think Ray did a good thing and it was fun for the "kids" which should be in everyones best interest. I challenge everyone reading this to go watch a high school game/match this week and see for yourself. You might even bring back some good memories of the days "we" played!!! Play HARD, RESPECT and most important have FUN!!!! "

Carl wrote on Sep 26, 2008 11:33 AM:

" That boy with the yellow ronald mcdonald hair needs to trim his hair a little. I reckon that children will make quite a sport of a feller with hair like that. A boy his age ought not have hair like that. "

good luck wrote on Sep 26, 2008 9:14 AM:

" have fun with conference after all it starts to count now! "

FAN wrote on Sep 24, 2008 8:56 PM:

" I don't have a problem with Ray or what he did at all. However, I am concerned with the direction that this blog is headed. Aren't we supposed to complain on every sports blog only about issues between Fruitland and Ontario? Geez, I'm getting sick of people sticking to the topic on this round of posting. We need to concentrate on the important issues, such as the Fruitland A.D., whether or not kids in Fruitland and Ontario play dirty, who has the better tradition and/or program, who has class and who doesn't, which kids and parents are problems, etc. I hope that side stories like this one don't distract from the fact that the main area of concern for everyone should be the relations between Fruitland and Ontario. "

to VHS wrote on Sep 24, 2008 8:19 PM:

" And your point is . . .? "

Nyssa Sport Parent wrote on Sep 24, 2008 1:27 PM:

" I read this article chuckling to myself. I thought "how funny, to be so bold as to wear another school's hat to stir things up and get everyone all riled up". I did NOT ONCE read this and think that this story was about Ray. It was about Ray keeping things fresh and relating to the kids who put their hearts and soul into each game. He comes to our games and takes the time to talk to the coaches, gets the information CORRECT and even if a team lost, he gives the coach the time of day to vent a bit. To "VHS" who said "he called the community lame" you are absolutely full of it! I have friends who kids played last year and NOT ONE TOLD US WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IN THIS BLOG! Grow up! To "Tom" and "Jack", I say as well, if you don't like the writer of an article, don't read it! If someone has the guts to do what Ray did (by wearing the hat) knowing how stirred up things are going to get and can still take his lumps when he loses the bet and can write a great story about the game and have his "lumps" written about him by another fellow writer, that is what more people need to be like. If you all think you can do better- apply for a job as a writer, then see how well you do or how much grief you get because your personality will shine through your crummy articles and people WILL complain about YOU. As for "Hugh"....shame on the Argus for allowing that name to be posted and for whoever "Hugh" is: you are not worth even talking about. I think pathetic is the PERFECT word describing you. "

VHS wrote on Sep 24, 2008 12:20 PM:

" I didn't seem like a joke. When he called the whole community low class. "

Hugh G. Rection wrote on Sep 24, 2008 9:21 AM:

" Pretty lame "

To Tom VHS wrote on Sep 24, 2008 8:42 AM:

" You guys are really not too bright if you can't understand a little light-hearted humor. Ray is not mad at Vale. He is still having fun with the student body. I was laughing my tail off reading that article. Tom, how has Ray shaving his head for a jubilant student body harmed you or your enjoyment of sports in any way? If it doesn't interest you, don't read it. I personally think that Ray is a breath of fresh air in a fairly poor reporting staff at the Argus. Ray supports and likes all of the kids at all of the schools. He likes to tease. People just need to be bright enough to "get" the joke. "

Jack Mayoffer wrote on Sep 24, 2008 7:44 AM:

" Tom hit the nail right on the head. This sports department is terrible. Report the news, don't become part of it. "

NP Parent wrote on Sep 24, 2008 7:10 AM:

" YEAH! LETS GO GRIMS! I think this is great of the reporter to inspire and challenge the teams. Its just what we need to get MOTIVATED to win again. Now come on PARENTS and TOWN lets get out and show some GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP and support for our schools. "

Football Fan wrote on Sep 23, 2008 5:30 PM:

" I don't much care who styles Ray Rodriguez' hair, but I'm excited to see some fire from that New Plymouth team. That's a pretty good coaching staff they've cobbled together over there, and it's time for the Pilgrims to rise and conquer. "

VHS wrote on Sep 23, 2008 2:25 PM:

" Becareful New Plymouth...He acts like he enjoys having fun with the kids then gets all buT hurt when the kids try and have fun with him. He is a BABY "

Tom wrote on Sep 23, 2008 1:49 PM:

" How long are the powers to be at the Argus going to let this guy become the news. He did this haircut with Vale, he makes himself the center of attention everywhere he goes (read his column from last week, about him wearing his Ontario hat to a Vale volleyball game and the Vale student section taking it from him). Now the sports department is issuing challenges to "capture their glory days." What happened to the days of the sports department reporting the sports news in the area. Maybe if they spent less time doing stupid things like this, and more time concentrating on actual reporting they could cut down on the number of errors that are routinely in the paper. "

way to go wrote on Sep 23, 2008 1:03 PM:

" good job ray rod!! you are a good guy and who knows maybe you did start something.
nice enterance as well. im sure that fired up the pilgrims!!! "

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