1. What was your favorite Montana sports story from the 2023-24 school year (high school or college)?
John Letasky: Billings West’s Keyan Hernandez was a doctor on the mat his entire career. Watching him become the first Golden Bear to win four state wrestling titles and helping his team repeat the state title was a highlight.
Jake Iverson: What if the Grizzlies finally beat NDSU in the semifinals? We don’t need to talk about what happened next.
Chris Peterson: The Helena Capital girls softball team played at Mike Miller Field for the state tournament and won four straight games to retire as state champions.
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Jeff Welsch: Watching the longtime Box Elder band of brothers led by Tracen Jilot win the Class C boys basketball title “for the (Chippewa-Cree) people” was inspiring.
Briar Napier: Driving five hours to a rowdy Medicine Lake for the 6-man title game and talking to the friendliest people you’ll ever meet on both sides. Truly the best of the best of Montana and humanity.
2. How impressive is Bozeman’s Nathan Neil’s feat of almost breaking the four-minute mile as a high school student?
John Letasky: Sign him up for Montana Mile.
Jake Iverson: I don’t know if I could drive a mile in four minutes.
Chris Peterson: It’s amazing. It’s a machine.
Jeff Welsch: As someone who logs 4-minute miles on my road bike, I’m amazed.
Briar Napier: I ran 8:20 miles the other day, a moment to be really proud of as a fan. Nathan Neil could run over two miles in that time at his top speed. Scandalous things.
3. Can the underdog Dallas Mavericks defeat the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals?
John Letasky: I hope not. Even though I don’t watch much basketball anymore, the Celtics are still my team.
Jake Iverson: Every great team needs a guy that, if he gets the ball late, you’re 95% confident will score. Dallas has two. It’s hard to bet against that.
Chris Peterson: It can happen, but it ultimately looks like Boston’s year.
Jeff Welsch: Sure, but can we have Dirk Nowitzki take on Larry Bird one-on-one at halftime just to make it a little more interesting?
Briar Napier: This Celtics team is a stunner, and since Luka has to go through a Western Conference gauntlet every year (Nuggets, Thunder, T-Wolves, etc.), this might be his best (only?) chance.
4. What city needs a Big 4 sports team?
John Letasky: I like Jeff’s answer. I’m not sure it would work, but if Montana supported it, it would be exciting.
Jake Iverson: Honor Marty Robbins, one of our greatest musician-athletes (he competed regularly in NASCAR while racking up Grammy Awards), and give me El Paso Ballads. Any sport, as long as it has a purple and yellow color combination.
Chris Peterson: Omaha, Nebraska, seems big enough for one. However, I think a team in Montana would do better than expected.
Jeff Welsch: I say we revive the idea of an NFL team in Billings the way a national writer floated it a few years ago.
Briar Napier: Austin is the easiest (and most likely) answer, but why not an NBA team in basketball-crazed Louisville? NFL on the blue grass of Boise? Rough hockey around the cornfields of Des Moin…yeah, nevermind.
5. Summer is ice cream season, so what flavor do you order when you buy a bowl, cone, or shake?
John Letasky: Probably a chocolate and vanilla Twist cone or just plain old chocolate soft serve.
Jake Iverson: This is a kid’s opinion, but I can’t resist cookie dough. If you’re going to treat yourself, do it all.
Chris Peterson: Cookie Dough. Always.
Jeff Welsch: Don’t take away my man card, but…gum.
Briar Napier: The default for me is mint chocolate chip, but the yellow cake shake from Big Dipper in downtown Billings holds a special place in my heart.
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