Even though he just recently finished his sophomore season at the University of Wisconsin, Traevon Jackson comes across just like his game- confident, smooth and mature.

For being just 20 years old, he’s so calm and composed, you can’t help but think about where you were in life at 20….and then sheepishly quit punishing yourself.

Some of that confidence undoubtedly comes from his famous genetics and being the son of NBA star player Jim Jackson, but the greater part of it comes from his faith and approach to life, off the court.

After getting limited minutes in the beginning of the year, Jackson became a starter and was a key contributor during the Badgers’ NCAA Tournament run, being named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team and hitting multiple game winning shots. Jackson was 15th in the Big Ten in assists as a true sophomore, also leading the team in both steals and finishing second in free throw shooting.

You get the feeling that it isn’t about what Jackson has accomplished thus far, but what he is going to accomplish. And that gets Badger fans excited.

Bullz-Eye- What was your experience like playing in the NCAA Tournament?
Traevon Jackson- “Obviously, it didn’t end the way we wanted it to.  Just the fact of me playing in the tournament was great because it’s the attitude of “loser goes home” and unfortunately we had to go home. But it really puts into perspective what you need to do to prepare for it going forward. And learning from that this year helps us next year.”

You just finished your sophomore year you were a big part of the rotation. What helped your development the most between freshman and sophomore year?
“Mainly going home and working with Anthony Rhodman (Who also trained National Player of the Year Trey Burke). This was my first full summer going back home and doing all the skill work that I needed to work on. Coming back in this year I was way more confident and better overall. It took a little while, had to go thru adversity. I didn’t achieve all the goals I wanted to, but the little bit of success I had is like a glimpse of the future.”

What is one area you’ve improved the most on the court and the most off of it?
“It goes for both- just my faith on and off the court. I’ve always been somewhat of a faithful guy but Ant really opened my heart to the lord and it really took hold of everything I do in life, I do it for the Lord. It’s a bigger purpose now. It really took hold for me on and off the court, doing it for the right reasons, bringing glory to god’s name, when it used to be “I want be the best just for me.” But now it’s not just for me but it’s for, Him, the Lord as well.”

What’s the experience been like at Wisconsin since you committed, versus what you thought it would be?
“Coming out of high school, just like any other freshman I’m sure, I thought I’d come in, play major minutes and be the man. And that wasn’t the case at all. Rarely played in my freshman year, and coming into my sophomore year I wasn’t expected to play either. But some injuries happened and I still didn’t start in the beginning of the year, but as season went on I became starter. That’s the biggest thing I’ve learned in my two years- overcoming adversity. And if you just stay in the fight because anything can happen if you put in the work.”

What’s the most annoying or creative heckling you have heard in any Big Ten arena?
“A lot of stuff about my dad, but I’ve heard that forever so it’s rare I hear anything new. Honestly, I don’t know. There was this one lady at Indiana after we beat them. It was after the game and I was walking off the court and she was just sitting there on the sidelines. I was walking off the court and apparently I was smiling and she said, “There’s nothing to be smiling at!” It caught me off guard and I thought, “Why are you so mad?” That’s one thing that comes to mind. Fans always say “Jimmy’s better!’ (laughing) but I’m so focused on the game I don’t even pay attention except at maybe at a dead ball.”

Is there added pressure based on who your dad is to succeed? What’s the dynamic of that like?
“Growing up, I felt it more than I do now, but now I don’t even think about it at all, actually. The pressure that I feel now the most is pleasing the Lord. That may sound cliché, but that’s an everyday type of task and the biggest thing for me. As long as I continue to grow in that aspect, there is no other question.”

Who would win a game of one on one right now?
“Oh, me of course (laughing). Easily. He can beat me in golf and all the other, cards, all that stuff, but he’s not beating me on the court.”

How did him moving, playing for 12 different NBA teams, impact you as you were growing up?
“It was great. I got to go to a lot of different cities and see a lot of places I wouldn’t have probably otherwise seen. But, just from watching him, I got to really go thru and experience his career. He started out as a top guy in the league and eventually became a productive role player. Just seeing how he handled it was awesome.  It taught me no matter what, and I think about it now when I go through adversity, I never saw him put his head down, he always found a way, just like my mom- keep working hard and good things will come.”

Contact Traevon on Twitter @T_Jacks12

The track was sloppy, so we can only imagine how messy things got as people partied in the infield. The Kentucky Derby is an event that everyone should experience at least once.

Orb emerged victorious coming from behind with a hard charge down the stretch. Now we can all root for the first Triple Crown winner since 1978, as Orb seems to have what it takes to at least compete. This win wasn’t a fluke.

Orb Jockey Joel Rosario discusses the race in the video above. We’re hoping they can keep this up for the Preakness.

It wasn’t that long ago that the Ultimate Fighting Championship announced its network deal with FOX. The deal was reached in August of 2011, and since that time, the UFC has held six live events on the national network, with the seventh event taking place this Saturday.

The man behind all the action this weekend is UFC President Dana White, who took some time out of his busy schedule to talk with us about Saturday’s card, the UFC’s partnership with FOX, and the buzz around the new women’s bantamweight division. White, a Boston native, also gives his thoughts on the tragic Boston Marathon attack on Monday afternoon.

BULLZ-EYE: Thanks for your time Dana. Can you give everybody a little rundown of the UFC on FOX 7 event that is taking place this Saturday night in San Jose?

DANA WHITE: One of the things I was really excited about with this deal with FOX was being able to bring big fights back to free television. That has always been my goal since we bought this company. Coming off “The Ultimate Fighter” finale last weekend, every fight was sick, it was an amazing finale. We pulled 1.7 million viewers. We were the highest-rated thing on network and cable television with males 18-34. This fight on FOX is going to be a big one. Ben Henderson is defending his lightweight title again, this time against Gilbert Melendez, who is probably the toughest guy at 155 pounds that has never had a shot in the UFC. Everybody thinks this guy might be the best in the world, so we are going to find out on Saturday.

BE: When Ben Henderson came into the UFC from the WEC, what were your initial thoughts on where he fit in at 155, and have you been impressed with what he has done thus far in the octagon?

DANA WHITE: Absolutely. You never really know about a fight or a fighter until the fight happens, but Ben has been phenomenal. If you look at the guys that he has beaten since he has been here, he’s been outstanding.

BE: You have a lot of former Strikeforce fighters competing and being featured on this card. How have you assessed the Strikeforce fighters and their performance in the UFC thus far?

DANA WHITE: I have been thrilled with the Strikeforce fighters. A lot of bad stuff happened at Strikeforce. A lot of guys didn’t get paid for a while and these guys are hungry. First of all, they are happy to be back fighting and getting paid to do it. These guys want to prove to the world that they can fight and become the best in the world. The UFC is the place to do that. These guys have been fighting like maniacs, and I love it.

BE: There can be a lot of added emotion and pressure when you fight for the first time in the UFC. We saw that with Cat Zingano last Saturday as she was fighting back tears just walking out to the octagon. How do you think fighters like Melendez and Daniel Cormier will handle fighting in the UFC for the first time?

DANA WHITE: I think they are going to be fine. They have had big fights on TV before. I think it is tough if it is your first time on TV and you are making your UFC debut, but these guys have had big fights before. Cormier fought Josh Barnett — that’s a big fight. I think they are going to do fine.

BW: Can you talk about the exposure that these fighters get by being in the main event of a nationally televised broadcast like the one on Saturday on FOX?

DANA WHITE: That’s why Ben Henderson is a guy that came over from the WEC, and we’ve been getting him nothing but exposure on FOX. I think in beating Gilbert Melendez, if he wins this fight, he is going to finally start getting the credit he deserves. If Gilbert Melendez wins this fight, he is going to really get noticed. Melendez has been around forever, and a lot of people have been considering him the best 155-pounder in the world. Beating Ben Henderson on national television would definitely be great for him and do big things for his career.

BE: What do you feel are the keys to the Henderson vs. Melendez fight? They both seem very similar in styles and are well-rounded fighters.

DANA WHITE: I agree with you 100 percent. They both are well-rounded and have very similar styles. When you get down to a fight like that, you really just find out who is the more talented guy. Is one guy more talented than the other? When two fighters are so evenly matched it usually comes down to little details, or it just comes down to who wants it more.

BE: Frank Mir is coming into Saturday fighting a guy like Cormier that has a lot of hype coming into his UFC debut. Mir has been around for a while and is coming off a loss. How big is this fight for Frank?

DANA WHITE: It’s a huge fight for Frank. He has fought so many huge guys in the UFC already. Now he is fighting Cormier, who just beat Josh Barnett, and is a guy that is highly regarded, not only at heavyweight, but light heavyweight as well. It is a really big fight for Frank. It would be a very important win for him. It’s a really important win for both guys, obviously.

BE: You have Nate Diaz facing Josh Thomson on the FOX card as well in a lightweight bout. Just talk about putting those two on this card knowing how exciting their fights have been in the past.

DANA WHITE: Both these guys go a million miles an hour. Nate Diaz is never involved in boring fights. That kid gives it everything he’s got. Same goes for Thomson. We know this isn’t going to be a boring fight.

BE: The UFC has been with FOX now for well over a year. How do you feel things are progressing with the network, and do you feel you are getting everything you hoped for out of the deal?

DANA WHITE: Things could not be better. The relationship could not be better. Everything that these guys said they would do, they have done. We continue to progress and do better and better every time we air an event on FOX or their other networks.

BE: FOX has announced that the UFC will be a big part of FOX Sports 1 when it comes out later this year, and “The Ultimate Fighter” will be moving from FX to FOX Sports 1. What are your thoughts on being a focal point for this new channel?

DANA WHITE: I am excited about it. I always thought that that is where we belong, on a sports network. These guys don’t do anything half-assed. They really go at it. I love how young and aggressive this company is — they really fit well with us. I am pumped and proud to be part of it.

BE: The UFC has really expanded over the last 10 years and now you have a much bigger international presence. Where do you see the direction of the company going right now and what role will FOX play in that?

DANA WHITE: As we continue to go into other countries… right now we are in 175 different countries, 20 different languages and over a billion homes worldwide. What we are really focused on is building the market here in the United States and increasing the fanbase and creating more fighters. FOX is a very big part of all that.

BE: Last Saturday’s card featured an amazing women’s bantamweight fight between Cat Zingano and Miesha Tate. This was coming off an exciting fight between Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche at UFC 157. Have you been surprised by how exciting these fights have been and how the fans have really seemed to embrace the women’s division?

DANA WHITE: I am very impressed, very impressed. You mentioned the success we had with Ronda’s pay-per-view, and when you look at last week’s card, it was stacked top to bottom with amazing fights. Cat and Miesha went out there and had the fight of the night. That was a tremendous fight.

BE: I was really impressed by the constant action that they were able to sustain for nearly 15 minutes and they certainly weren’t afraid to dish out the punishment. They really left it in the octagon.

DANA WHITE: These women have been amazing, and they have fought just as hard as anyone else, if not harder. It’s like everyone in the women’s division has a giant chip on their shoulder. They all feel like they have something to prove, and so far they have gone out and performed and put on amazing fights.

BE: Before I let you go, I just wanted to get your thoughts on the tragic situation in Boston on Monday. I know you have a lot of history with that city. What were your initial thoughts when you heard what happened, and how do you think the city will bounce back?

DANA WHITE: It really bummed me out because when the city that you lived in gets attacked like that…you know, you think about when I lived there, we used to watch the race all the time, we would walk up and down Newbury Street. It was just a disgustingly, cowardly act. It makes me sick. To attack a race like that, where people have trained to run this thing from all over the world and their friends and family are waiting at the finish line for them, it’s just so (expletive) cowardly that it makes me sick. The one thing about the city of Boston and the United States as a whole, it’s one of those things where people will all come together, just like 9/11, and the city will bounce back. It’s just unfortunate that…not to mention that it’s the most popular marathon in the world and the oldest marathon in this country, to just do something like that is just… ugh. I can’t even put it into words without going crazy and sounding like an absolute psycho.

BE: I appreciate you sharing your thoughts on that and wish you the best of luck with this weekend’s card.

DANA WHITE: Thank you, it was my pleasure.

The UFC on FOX weekend will get started on Friday with the weigh-ins taking place at 7 pm ET. Those will air live on FUEL TV. Once Saturday’s fights on FOX have completed, fans can turn the channel to FUEL TV, where they can catch the UFC Postfight Show hosted by FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer, UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and UFC middleweight Brian Stann.

The UFC will return to FOX on July 27 from the Key Arena in Seattle, Washington with a card that has yet to be announced.

There hasn’t been an NFL player as versatile as Brad Smith since “Slash,” former Pittsburgh Steeler and 11-year NFL veteran Kordell Stewart. Like Stewart, Smith does it all, and even contributes more via special teams.

During his eight-year career, Smith has scored touchdowns via passing, rushing, receiving, on kick returns and a blocked punt. Plus, he is a beast on special teams, recording 60 special teams tackles in 75 games with the New York Jets.

Recently, I spoke with him about his first season in Buffalo, his preferred position, and his recent stint as an intern/backstage interviewer at Men’s Health magazine.

Bullz-Eye: How did the internship at Men’s Health come about?

Brad Smith: It was cool. Eddie my publicist hooked me up with the fashion and style department. I got to meet the fashion editor, get to know him, what he does and kind of how the whole staff works.

BE: Do you have any interest in fashion beyond football?

Brad Smith: I do have an appreciation for fashion, like most guys I prefer to look nice and dress debonair. However, I wanted to go behind the scenes understand the true essence behind fashion, the clothes, the designers, the concepts, the shoes and everything that encompasses it to what is seen during fashion week. Most importantly, I wanted to see how designers and companies put the shows together, how different media companies help shape the image of certain companies to what we see on stage for that brief period of time.

BE: Did you get any tips for your own personal wardrobe?

Brad Smith: Yeah man. Just watching and listening to all the people that eat, sleep and drink fashion and drink style, you pick up some great knowledge to take home. You got some people who are extreme and willing to take huge fashion risks because some people would think that their wearing crazy stuff. But on another extreme there are those who are fashion savvy pushing the boundaries and starting trends. Me personally, I prefer to be right in the middle.

BE: Since you’ve been in the league, we’ve seen an evolution where a QB who can run, like a Russell Wilson type, has become really valuable. Why do you think that’s happened now and what started the shift since you got into the league?

Brad Smith: I think there’s always been this type of player in the league, it’s not new- you’ve always had guys like Fran Tarkenton, Steve Young, Randall Cunningham and other guys like that who have had a lot of success. Players like that are hard to find and I think that’s a big part of it where colleges are going to the zone read- that’s not all that these guys can do. You can be multi-dimensional and people start saying, “hey they have to defend this, and then this.” Then, their running back gets more yards in the hole because they’re worried about this.  It’s all about scheme, man.

BE: In your pro career, you’ve been used in a myriad of ways — wide receiver, quarterback, kick return, running back, special teams — is there a way that you visualize yourself as a player?

Brad Smith: It’s been crazy experience going on eight years now- because it’s always something new. First, I come in, work at receiver for a few plays, then I go to running back, coach calls a few plays, did that. Then go to quarterback and work on those plays. Then I will hear the coach say, “Hey can you return kicks?” So, I tried that. Then its special teams tackling and blocking. So I just got an appreciation for the entire game but just want to make sure I help the team. There’s no play that doesn’t matter- every play matters. I don’t know how to look at it any other way than that I’m just a football player who wants to win and get a Super Bowl championship.

BE: One thing I don’t like as a fan are the new kick return rules; it’s taken a lot of fun out of kick returns. How do you feel about that?

Brad Smith: I feel the same way. It’s definitely added a drag to the game. About half the time now the ball is going out of the end zone and if it doesn’t most teams don’t bring it out deep. You’ve got a lot of teams that do bring it out. You’re going to see more and more teams just taking a chance and bringing it out.

BE: Does that enter your mind when you’re fielding a kick? “Okay, I’m seven yards deep,” Or do you look at the blocking in front of you and how successful it is?

Brad Smith: The way we do it in Buffalo, he (special teams coach) gives us certain yards where we have to, “if it’s deeper than this you stay in. But if it’s not, you can bring it out.” It was tough at times because you want to make a play and bring it out every time. But coach didn’t want you to do it, so you just put the team first.

BE: With the Jets, you had a 108-yard kickoff return for a TD, the longest in franchise history. What do you get more exhilaration out of: that or a 32-yard scamper for a TD?

Brad Smith: It doesn’t matter to me .(laughs) If it’s running, blocking a kick, it doesn’t matter. What matters to me is, did I do something to help my team win?

BE: Do you want to play QB more?

Brad Smith: I’m always a quarterback first — it’s what I’ve done my whole life. And I have fun doing it, but I’ve done all kinds of stuff. Whatever they ask me to do is what I’m going to do. That’s how I look at it man. Whatever I can do to help the team win is what I will do.

BE: With the Jets you were there from the transition between Eric Mangini to Rex Ryan. What was that like?

Brad Smith: It was a good transition. The support group they have there is unbelievable, from the training staff to the strength staff at the time, they all made it a smooth transition. Coach Mangini, I learned stuff I still use to prepare for games to this day from coach Mangini. He was one of the most detail-oriented coaches I’ve ever been around. Rex gets you to play and let it loose 100%, so you don’t have to think — I picked that up from Rex. We’ll see how it goes with coach Marrone.

Brad started a charity for boys and girls in his hometown of Youngstown, Ohio called The Brad Smith True Foundation. Check out the website here (http://truefoundation16.org/). and give him a “Like” on Facebook and Twitter.

Last week we were invited by Toyota to Breckenridge, Colorado to test drive their 4-wheel drive vehicles over snow and ice covered trails, and to spend some time on the slopes with US Olympic snowboarder, X-Games sliver medalist and Team Toyota competitor, Elena Hight.

Sure she was the first woman to land a 900 in competition (doing it at a ridiculously young 13 years old) and is the first snowboarder ever, male or female, to land a double backside alley-oop rodeo in Superpipe competition, but the 23-year-old is also a hottie. So besides learning how to shred the mountain, we wanted to know what it takes to date an Olympian.

Here’s what Elena had to say about being manly, whether her success intimidates guys, and the worst line she ever heard:

1. What qualities do you look for in a guy? And be specific. If you like a guy who can deal with being second place to boarding, who has enough self-confidence to be okay with that, or an Alpha guy who will take control, or a guy who will treat you like a queen, say so.

Elena Hight: I don’t necessarily have a “type” of guy that I look for. I think that the most important qualities are a good sense of humor, intelligence, a passion for life, and someone who is comfortable and confident in their own skin.

2. How important is it to you that a guy be into snowboarding or skiing? Or surfing. Or is it better that he be into something totally different that he can introduce you to? And how important is it that he be fit and active?

EH: I definitely look for a guy who is active and into sports. I love to play outdoors, so anyone who is into some type of athletic sport is good for me. They don’t necessarily have to be the best snowboarder, but they have to be able to at least hang!

3. Do you find that guys are intimidated by your success? Does it make it harder or easier to meet guys when you’re an Olympic athlete? Does the constant travel help or hurt?

EH: Traveling is great to meet new guys or people in general, however not great to keep in contact with those people. But it is really fun to be able to hang out and get to know all sorts of different guys with different backgrounds, which is nice because it’s easy to get stuck just knowing the same guys in the snowboard industry.

I am not sure that guys are necessarily intimidated by my success, but if they are, then they probably aren’t the guy for me.

4. What do you think makes a guy “manly”? Is it having no fear facing the toughest mountain runs? Knowing how to fix a car or build a deck? Protecting you from harm? Not being afraid to cry?

EH: Because I grew up in the mountains, I was constantly surrounded by manly mountain men. To me, being manly is being able to take care of others. Whether it is fixing a car or bike or snowmobile, building a fire, shoveling the driveway, or building a tent, taking charge of a situation is manly.

5. What’s the worst line any guy has ever tried to use? The absolute dumbest thing a guy ever said or did? What was your reaction?

EH: Maybe, “Can I have your phone number because I lost mine?” That is just so lame!

And what was the sweetest/funniest/best line or thing a guy ever did to try to meet you? And did it work?

EH: Flowers are the way to a girl’s heart, and it will work every time.

Eric Rogell is the author of The Art of War for Dating and the is founder of The Casanova Code, a program where he teaches sales teams, corporate executives, and marketers how to achieve unrivaled business success by using the wickedly effective secrets of seduction. You can follow him on Twitter @ericrogell.

Travis Rice is a name that has been tattooed onto the timeline of snowboarding, and not with the shaky haste surrounding that ungodly shoulder portrait of your ex-girlfriend, but rather a progressive focus that continues to grab the sport by the horns and steer down previously uncharted terrain.

Rice’s incredible talent has not gone under the radar, and over the years, he has won countless accolades, from Snowboarder of the Year, to X Games gold, to even #13 on Snowboarder Magazine’s list of most influential riders of all time. This sort of notoriety is something that a budding athlete in any sport could only dream of, but it is what Rice has done beyond his fame to shape the sport that is uniquely compelling and powerful.

After successfully competing against the highest echelon of snowboarding’s elite, Travis Rice took his massively inventive style and spearheaded filmmaking, starring in and creating some of the most widely acclaimed, bestselling videos in the sport’s history. Positive feedback surged around films such as 2008’s “That’s It, That’s All” and 2011’s “The Art of Flight,” yet he continued to expand in ambition, eventually setting his sights on creating a new kind of competition – one that would wholly enlist his vision of what competitive snowboarding has been progressing towards all along.

Following a one-off appetizer with Quicksilver called Natural Selection, Rice’s competitive concept was eventually adopted by the bright minds at Red Bull, and in their traditional spirit of working with athletes and making big ideas a reality, Supernatural was born in 2012 as part of their signature series.

Round Two?

This weekend marks the dawning of another killer installment in the Red Bull Signature Series: the Ultra Natural, bigger and better than anything previously seen, and broadcasting across the country, Saturday, March 30th at 1:30 PM ET on NBC.

The event is not only another one of Rice’s trademark creations, which blesses it with inherently mesmerizing watchability, but unique in the fact that it stands apart from conventional snowboarding contests.

In your mind’s eye, try to conjure up a few images regarding televised snowboard competition. Dew Tour? X-Games? Surely, this mental picture wouldn’t be complete without snippets of footage involving highly pre-meditated, rehearsed insanity, all bursting forth from the legendary superpipe, slopestyle and big air events that viewers have grown accustomed to since snowboarding hit the TV screen.

To get an idea of what NBC is broadcasting this weekend, you may want to wipe the aforementioned slate clean and transplant in a heavily powdered, 50-degree slope, peppered tirelessly with countless features that allow for an infinite number of line, trick and style variations. The concept of a singular path with rehearsed action points is out the window, and in its place steps the looming beast that is Bald Face, British Columbia. This is the arena that Rice handpicked to host this year’s Red Bull Ultra Natural, and on Saturday, you owe it to yourself to watch 16 of the world’s best snowboarders showcase their extreme talent and battle for gold.

The Interview

BE: What is life like as a competitive snowboarder as opposed to making movies and pushing new contests?

TRAVIS RICE: You know, it’s been a nice change of pace. I don’t really consider myself done or retired from competitive snowboarding, but I always used to balance filming in the backcountry, then rushing out to park contests. A couple years ago, I dedicated two years to just going out and filming. The last film we did was “The Art of Flight,” and after that, I kinda got on the tangent of the contest we did last year, the Red Bull Supernatural. So I think it’s been a nice change of pace. I still do competitions, but definitely have not been doing the big grind.

BE: So I’m assuming the competitive circuit is pretty demanding, with constant travel and pressure?

TRAVIS RICE: Yeah, it’s heavy, especially the level of competition these days. It’s nuts, for me. To do well, and be in the top tier of those events, you basically have to spend the majority of your season riding park and training. Which, and for me, it comes down to the fact that the majority of my season is spent in the woods. And exploring, you know, which basically makes it impossible for me to do both at this point.

BE: With the competitions usually being geared towards things that you may not be focused on, such as backcountry?

TRAVIS RICE: Yeah, and it’s kind of one of the beautiful things about snowboarding, right? There are so many avenues you can pursue. You know, for years, I just tried to do it all, and in recent times I just got a little more realistic – where it’s like, pick a subject and really fall completely into, and stick with it – so the last few years it’s been filming, then spending the majority of my time trying to create this new type of contest, which, this year, was the Red Bull Ultra Natural.

BE: Definitely. During your rise to notoriety, was there any issue you had, if any, with the entire snowboarding culture and the direction it was going that prompted you to go out and push things in this new direction?

TRAVIS RICE: You know, I think it was kind of just a natural progression, really. For me, I love it all, kinda the variety, being able to do so many different types of riding that keeps it super interesting because I don’t care what you do, if you do something day in, day out, if you don’t change it up a bit, it’s probably going to get a bit old. And for me, that’s kind of what I was doing. Let’s be honest, I’m 30 years old, and I’m watching these incredibly talented 18-year-old kids stomp time and time again. It’s incredible, but doesn’t interest me anymore.

BE: Was there a single recognition or award that you hold above the rest?

TRAVIS RICE: I think awards that are peer-based, boding in from other people who are like-minded individuals, are definitely special to me, but ultimately being able to at least attempt to give a little back to snowboarding, because it’s given me so much, and that’s why during the last two years I’ve been trying to do these contests. Last year was the Supernatural and this year was the Red Bull Ultra Natural.

BE: What about Natural Selection? Was it sort of the beginning to all of this?

TRAVIS RICE: Yeah, that was the spark. I spent a couple of years just wanting to do a different type of event. And Quicksilver was awesome enough to want to back that up in Jackson Hole, basically giving us a key to the mountain for about a month, and we got the whole shred world out to this amazing event. Jackson is my home mountain, and it snowed harder than I think I have ever seen it snow in my life, right here, for that event, and you know it really was like the beta version of what we are doing now up in Canada.

BE: What would you tell people who are seeing this competition for the first time? How does it differ from conventional snowboarding contests and what does it bring to the table?

TRAVIS RICE In my humble opinion, I think that this is by far the most dynamic, purest form of snowboarding. I mean, I come from a park and pipe background, I have nothing but respect for those types of events, but I really feel that this is the type of event that is the next step for the career of a snowboarder. Doing tricks, and linking together a line in natural conditions, is incredibly challenging. You don’t get to practice.

BE: It does seem like the Red Bull Ultra Natural is a big change from what most people are used to, in a competing sense, so were there any riders who shied away and weren’t sure, or was everyone eager to hop on board and show their skills in this more freestyle environment?

TRAVIS RICE: I think people were pretty eager, given the fact that it was one week, with a legendary cast of characters going up Bald Face. You know, the whole week is much more than the event itself. The event is the reason we get to go up there and do this, so I think guys that weren’t totally ready for it, completely embraced it and came up and made the most of it.

BE: The Ultra Natural seems to have a heightened physical aspect to it, as opposed to conventional contests. Do you feel that there is a need to come out and be more physically well-drilled in order to be successful in it?

TRAVIS RICE: I mean, it’s different. I think that out of all the events, you gotta be in good shape to ride a halfpipe, but even riding halfpipe, your typical run lasts maybe 20 seconds, and the average run down the Ultra Natural course is about two and a half minutes. So if you can equate that, it is really demanding.

BE: I imagine you had a thorough vision regarding the entire Ultra Natural. Did you have to concede on any ideas or were you able to make everything happen?

TRAVIS RICE: It was pretty close to that. I owe that to Red Bull, and I think we are just going to get the course closer and closer every year we run the event.

BE: You have had a history of mapping and riding entirely new terrain. Taking that into account, do you feel that you have a unique planning skill that allows you to be successful in this avenue?

TRAVIS RICE: Yeah, I do. I just don’t think that it is completely unique. That’s sort of the reason, the root of why we do this event, is cause when it comes down to freeriding, it’s based upon the principles of creative expression. So the goal of this contest is to give enough options to let the riders’ true expression come out. That is what it is all about – picking a line – and to loop it back to your question, I see it the way that I’ve done it and there are definitely a handful of people out there who see it differently, but who see it just as clear, if not more. Take a look at the top couple guys out there who placed at this event. Those guys interpret the mountain in ways that I don’t – I think it’s just the idea of time and energy put in. I’ve been doing this for the better part of my life, and so have a lot of the other guys. With that much time placed into something, you learn a few things.

BE: You speak of other riders with equal talent, yet how did you manage to maintain your enthusiasm for driving attention to the sport and taking a bigger command on changing the future of the sport, as opposed to just being a talent who goes and wins contests?

TRAVIS RICE: That’s a good question, and if anything, for a bunch of years I was just riding and filming, and that got a little old and I wanted to try my hand at putting a little of my own spin on things, and that goes for the films we do as well. I think we would all be a little burnt out if we were all still trying to make the same movie we did ten years ago, like, film a part, put it to music, now this. Same goes for this event, it almost came out of necessity. Like, I wished I had something like Red Bull’s Ultra Natural. I try to go to some of these big scene contests and conditions usually suck. Sometimes they can be really good, but the format is not set up to have the best possible conditions period, or the best possible terrain period. For me, I feel like it was something that was missing.

BE: You have stated before that you look up to the CEO of Virgin, Richard Branson, and in the spirit of entrepreneurship, it seems like you have made a lot of smart, persistent moves. Is it safe to say that snowboarding is much more than a physical outlet, but is all-encompassing within your life?

TRAVIS RICE: There is totally a connection, and I don’t think that I ever really set out to do something personally unless it was something that I was completely interested in or passionate about, or that it wasn’t going to be symbiotic for all parties involved. I think that is something that I have tried to keep consistent. I don’t know if you know anything about Asymbol Gallery, our photo art company out of Jackson, but I’ve been working with Asymbol for the last four years, and it basically came from so many talented people – artists, photographers – and I felt that there was no bridge from creator to creator, so I set up a platform to showcase the works of incredibly talented people within board sports. That has been an amazing project for me, and it goes along with the same principles I’ve applied to doing films, contest series… to projects I’ve done with my sponsors, from creating gear, to working with non-profits. I like to enter into things that are not just self-serving and can help all parties involved.

BE: Red Bull’s Ultra Natural is obviously just a stepping stone along a timeline of your influence within the sport. Where do you plan on taking your legacy next?

TRAVIS RICE: That’s a good question. In the short term, I absolutely have goals about taking the Ultra Natural formula global. I never wanted it to be a one-off event and I really wanted to make a tour of it. It’s gonna take a lot of time and some great partners, but it’s totally something I am committed to. We’ve been throwing out the idea of possibly doing another film. It’s not gonna be for a few years, but between those two and continuing to work every day at Asymbol, there should be plenty to do.

BE: How is it being back in your hometown?

TRAVIS RICE: It’s good, man. It’s a community, you know, and there is something to be said about bumping into your first grade teacher at the supermarket. It’s good, though, man. It’s healthy, it’s fun.

BE: You seem to be squeezing every last drop of enjoyment out of snowboarding. What advice would you give those who are looking to start snowboarding, or already partaking, in order to maximize the experience?

TRAVIS RICE: A lot of it is an attitude. Every day is what you make it. I find that with a lot of people, and even in my mind too, will come up with reasons not to try something, like, “I may suck or look like a fool,” but you just gotta take that leap. I mean, everyone has looked like a fool and sucked. Take a good spring day or if you are lucky enough to have a powder day to try it, and the learning curve with it is actually really sharp. Within seven days, you will probably be able to go around most of the mountain.

BE: Lastly, every athlete has a schedule surrounding competition or to ensure skills are at their peak. When would you say you perform best?

TRAVIS RICE: I tend to sense that I do best when I am having a good time – it’s that simple. Some days you train for weeks on end and get burnt out and then take a few days off and come back to it and you surprise yourself. I think the best competitive season I ever had… usually I snowboard for six weeks and train with strength training… but instead, I went sailing for a couple of weeks, then a came back a couple of days before the contests started and I won every event. I think it was just because I was so excited and pumped to be riding. I think it s really just have fun with it, don’t take it too seriously.

Did I really end the interview on such a non-sequitur question? Perhaps, but I’ll blame my unconventionality on the freethinking theme that parallels much of what Travis Rice has accomplished.

Now that you have had the chance to hear it from the mastermind behind the event, don’t forget to catch Red Bull’s Ultra Natural this Saturday at 1:30 pm ET on NBC.

You might be the type of person who roots for the underdog. Every year the NCAA Tournament comes along and you are looking for a team to root for with a decent chance to pull off a few upsets making some of the ‘Madness’ happen.

This year that team should be the Saint Louis Billikens. Let me explain to you why.

About six years ago the legendary coach Rick Majerus agreed to become the head coach of the Billikens basketball team. This decision was made largely in part because it allowed Majerus to be closer to his ailing mother in Milwaukee.

Majerus quickly became the most well known figure on the campus of the Jesuit-school. He was universally liked by the community, even after a somewhat controversial start.

The coach implemented his defense-oriented, slow down the game strategy, but his system could hardly make up for the minimal talent he inherited. But Majerus held true to his system and his recruiting. He was confident that in four or five seasons he would have a winner.
The Billikens faced adversary in their first four years under Majerus, but as time went on they improved. And last season, with a roster full of Majerus’ recruits (none of which made much of a buzz coming out of high school) the Billikens won 26 games and made it to the third round of the NCAA Tournament and pushed number one seeded Michigan State to the brink before falling short to the Spartans.

The post-game press conference was emotional. Rick Majerus is known to crack jokes. He’s known to be a tough guy that isn’t afraid to say anything. He wasn’t known for crying. But that’s what happened after that Michigan State loss. Majerus told the world just how much these players meant to him and how proud he was. It was a beautiful tribute and it was a great press conference to cap off a great accomplishment.
It turned out to be the last press conference Majerus was ever a part of. He died on December 1st of 2012.

Majerus had always battled weight issues, which led to heart issues. Just prior to the season, he stepped down as coach (at the time temporarily) and handed the reigns to Jim Crews.

Majerus would never coach again.

The current SLU players were the pallbearers at his funeral. After his death, the Billikens (who were having an average season), followed his death with nine straight wins. They eventually garnered a top 16 ranking in the nation and won the Atlantic 10 conference.

Every single member of the team and coaching staff is there because of Rick Majerus. They were all hired or recruited by him.
Just as he predicted he built a legitimately dangerous team in five years. And dangerous they are. The Billikens play stifling defense and control the tempo against all their opponents.

They are poised to make a run with their late coach as inspiration. Everyone has a team they root for in the NCAA Tournament. But no one should be rooting against the Saint Louis University Billikens.

I remember about five years ago, one of the horses in the Kentucky Derby caught my attention because of its name. The horse was a 50-1 underdog, so I thought it would be fun to place a bet. Of course I never got around to it, and then I was pretty bummed to see the horse pull out a stunning upset.

A couple of year’s later, I got to attend the race and another long shot pulled off the upset, but this time I of course bet but picked the wrong horse.

Despite these losses, I still look forward to the Kentucky Derby every year. The urge to bet on Kentucky Derby winners is always there, but there’s so much more to the whole experience. I always loved watching it on TV, and I still love watching highlights of iconic horses like Secretariat and Seattle Slew winning the Derby. I remember as a kid when Affirmed beat Alydar, and I’ve been waiting for years for another Triple Crown winner. I was at the Belmont Stakes in 1989 when Sunday Silence was denied the Triple Crown by Easy Goer. Of course, I let my emotions get the better of me as I bet on history happening. Given the very long drought, it’s become an annual tradition as each Kentucky Derby winner is evaluated for the potential of winning the Triple Crown.

But after attending the event, I appreciate the Kentucky Derby mystique even more. You can see above how celebrities love the Derby as well, as lovely ladies like Marisa Miller pick out a sexy hat for the occasion as you can see in the video above. It’s amazing how many beautiful women come out in force over Derby weekend, so there are plenty of ways to enjoy this weekend. You’ll have to try a Mint Julep of course, but frankly I thought the drink was a bit overrated.

If you’re thinking of attending, make sure to book well in advance as this is an annual holiday in Kentucky. The place will be packed, but it’s a very appropriate addition to anyone’s Bucket List.

Image Credit: Rob Dolecki/DigBMX.com

When Mountain Dew gave me the opportunity to head down to Orlando, Florida for two days to learn how to ride bikes with professional BMX riders Chad DeGroot and Mark Mulville, I couldn’t shirk off the responsibilities of fatherhood, home ownership and general employment fast enough.

Kickstart by Mountain Dew is a sparkling juice beverage made to kick-start your day and get your rear into gear. With just 80 calories per 16 oz serving and 92 milligrams of caffeine (roughly as much as one cup of coffee), Kickstart gets you moving without the bloated, heavy feeling supplied by most “energy drinks” on the market. Don’t think of this as an energy drink — think of it as Mountain Dew for breakfast! Didn’t we all go to school with someone who drank Mountain Dew for breakfast, anyway? My buddy Eric Hoffman drank so much in the ’90s he pisses Yellow #5 to this day, exclusively.

Loaded with Vitamins B and C, plus 5% fruit juice, it’s a morning drink (not an energy drink) that gets your body and your mind higher than BMX pro/stunt cock Mark Mulville off a 10-foot wall at Orlando Skate Park!

Speaking of OSP, (which is what you call it, Brojam), getting there at roughly 7 AM was a serious thing of beauty. The sun had just began to rise, which gave everything a cherubic, surreal glow, and was accompanied by an endless chorus of early morning bird chirping action. It was like a bird mixtape that you made to impress a chick (when you used to do shit like that), except this was played against the backdrop of crisp morning air and the excitement of doing something you had never done before: riding a BMX bike.

When I first attempted to straddle the BMX, my first concern was for my nutsac. I’m all vasectomied up, so I wasn’t worried about reproductive function being compromised (spray and pray, baby); I was literally worried about crushing my nutsac on the pointy plastic seat. When I asked pro rider Chad DeGroot about the protruding seat, which could tear anal membrane or ball sac-age with equal ease, he said, “Well, you really don’t have to worry because you’re usually standing when you’re on the bike, anyway.”

And with that, I mounted the bike from behind, and rode it, in a rather wobbly way for about 10-15 feet. The bike was really small, my legs felt super long, and the safety of my ballsac was still floating through my mind. Maybe it’s because when I was 13 and playing little league I watched a kid in the on-deck circle take a well hit, yet foul, line drive directly to the nuts which resulted in one of his balls deflating, right there on the field. What a sound!

For years, Coors Light has been telling us when our beer is cold enough to drink with their cold-activated bottles and cans. Now, they’ve taken the concept to the slopes with cold-activated skis and snowboards, in partnership with ski and snowboard manufacturer K2. World class K2 athletes Andy Mahre, Zach Crist, Shaun McKay, Ryan Schmies, Dan Ray and Tim Eddy — AKA, the Coors Light Six Pack — embark on a four-part documentary to see what it’s really like to live for the cold. Check out the trailer above to get a look at these awesome skis and snowboards!