Bob Wisener | Stories

Solo’s ‘U.N.C.L.E.’ pal fit neatly on ’60s TV American Napoleon Solo and Russian Illya Kuryakin went together like biscuits and gravy for us TV children of the 1960s, when "The Fugitive" aired three years in black and white and the netw... October 1, 2023

Enough talk about Aggies, Razorbacks Jerry Jones talked of the Southwest Classic, Arkansas vs. Texas A&M, possibly becoming a showpiece game of each football season like Texas vs. Oklahoma.Like his football team, the Dallas Cowboys, ... September 30, 2023

Orioles’ No. 5 graded high in all ways Brooks Robinson's passing Tuesday got the front-page key and sports-front profile in the state newspaper that it richly deserved.No less was expected of arguably the finest professional athlete th... September 28, 2023

Searching for Bobby next for UA With a variety of head-scratchers to choose from, which football development over the weekend left you especially perplexed? Repeating our top story, the Arkansas Razorbacks still have LSU problems as... September 27, 2023

Asmussen, Caroom, Cox win RP stakes Steve Asmussen, forever surprising us, wins the Oklahoma Derby at a price. For that, someone in the Great Oklahoma Land Rush might have jumped the gun. Read that sentence again carefully, lest the mes... September 26, 2023

Loss leaves UA fan base in foul mood Whether one yellow flag at a time or with toboggan-like velocity, the Razorbacks are letting the season get away from them, even if a fifth September game is among the team's eight remaining. Arkansas... September 26, 2023

In case you missed it … Garland County football teams battled in conference games during the week, and Oaklawn hired a new track announcer.TUESDAYOAKLAWN OFFERS TASTY DERBY PREPSOaklawn's first stop on the road to the 20... September 25, 2023

Football landscape changing across state Anyone emerging from a deep sleep who's interested in Arkansas high school football is certain to note change among the state's top teams.Like, what's a Class 5A team doing ranked number o... September 25, 2023

Baseball season creeps closer to postseason My interest in the 2023 Major League Baseball season wanes by the minute as September brings the final passages of a book that quit being a page-turner months ago.This happens when one stakes his live... September 24, 2023

Sunday specials set at Oklahoma track Take it from one who has been there, Remington Park puts on a good show on the day of its biggest race, be it slotted in football season or not.Saturday is for Oklahoma and Oklahoma State football, le... September 23, 2023

Patriot game too much for Trojans Little Rock Parkview is approaching the same level of football success that the school once enjoyed under coach Sam Goodwin, when John Barrow Road in the west end of town boasted players that made col... September 23, 2023

Hogs show shell shock, and haven’t been on road Another Sunday press conference at the University of Arkansas, another case of Razorback head football coach Sam Pittman reported "bristling" at the media.This is the same school that in 196... September 21, 2023

Fifty years since Big Red set standard Borne back ceaselessly into the past, like the Jay Gatsby character in Scott Fitzgerald's novel of unrequited love, the racing fan has a treasure trove of memories to choose from. This is the 50th ann... September 20, 2023

Oaklawn offers tasty Derby preps Oaklawn's first stop on the road to the 2024 Kentucky Derby again falls on the birthday of North American-bred horses. Twenty years after its namesake earned a $5 million bonus from the track for a th... September 19, 2023

Eight enough for select teams to keep football Excuse the pun, but Rose Bud, a White County community with no apparent connection to Orson Welles, had rough sledding on a local football visit Friday. With apologies in order to Welles and Herman J.... September 19, 2023

In case you missed it … Garland County teams played important contests in both football and volleyball, and the Razorbacks got a commit from Lakeside.TUESDAYSTANDOUT LAKESIDE GOLFER COMMITS TO ARKANSASWill Gordon no doubt ma... September 18, 2023

Moments of urgency for Pittman, UA Who dreamed that the Arkansas Razorbacks would be exposed to harsh light in their first night game, their last for a month in a home stadium?By the time it plays Mississippi State Oct. 21 in Fayettevi... September 18, 2023

Rare 3-0 log emboldens Troy season He has been out of the hot news on fall Friday nights for some time, at least his teams have, but seeing coach Daryl Patton's name in the newspaper again warmed this guy's heart.The Hot Spring... September 17, 2023

Smarty won us over like no one else Has it been 20 years since Smarty Jones stole our hearts at Oaklawn?Actually, it has been two decades since a Pennsylvania-bred horse with dreams launched his 2-year-old career in his native state for... September 16, 2023

Letter of law: BYU not team to overlook My blessed mom, though she never played fantasy football or explored social media, had a working knowledge of the perspiring arts from living under the same roof as my dad and I.For instance, she knew... September 14, 2023

Longhorns shake down the thunder Some Arkansas people see the University of Texas as a mortal enemy, one not to like for any reason. Such folks then might not feel the right amount of compassion for the Texas player, Freddie Steinmar... September 13, 2023

Some concern about 2-0 Hogs. but stay calm Coaching the Arkansas Razorbacks, Sam Pittman is likely to feel less collective pressure in one season than some of his Southeastern Conference brethren on a daily basis.The Arkansas media wields pape... September 12, 2023

In case you missed it … Exciting football games continued around the county, and the Professional Bowlers Association came to Hot Springs Village. TUESDAY TRAINER ORTIZ SCORES HIS 1ST G1 VICTORY Trainer John Ortiz' first Gra... September 11, 2023

Tie at top after quirky New York race meet A car with blue lights flashing and sirens screaming pulled over Chad Brown on closing day at Saratoga Race Course.Linda Rice, winning the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch Handicap on Monday, tied Brown with a ... September 11, 2023

Call Rams new and improved in early going When's the last time that anyone referred to a Lakeside-Malvern football game in terms of an instant classic with a word like "nailbiter" in the headline? A 35-34 Lakeside defeat Friday night told mor... September 10, 2023

Open proves must-see TV for tennis fans American tennis fans got spoiled when a John McEnroe, a Jimmy Connors, a Pete Sampras or an Andre Agassi showed up in a big tournament. One might not think Jim Courier, Andy Roddick or Michael Chang o... September 9, 2023

Dusting off golden oldie: Tide vs. Texas My viewing plans for this football Saturday are almost complete. First, I'll check in at Fayetteville to see whether Lou Holtz, a famous Kent State alum, coaches against Arkansas, one of his forme... September 7, 2023

For LSU, a night of lost opportunities Whenever they lost interest Sunday night, LSU fans could run the highlight reels of last year's Tiger baseball and women's basketball teams for comfort. Those teams won national championships, remembe... September 6, 2023

Brandt leaves lasting legacy with Cowboys Another link to the Dallas Cowboys when they were America's Team has been severed. Gil Brandt, whose computer wizardry helped the Cowboys steal a march on the National Football League, died Thursday a... September 5, 2023

Trainer Ortiz scores first G1 win Trainer John Ortiz' first Grade 1 victory came at Saratoga against a filly whose debut at the track made railbirds wonder if they had not seen another Songbird or Ruffian. An Aug. 6 Grade 3 winner in ... September 5, 2023

Jimmy Buffett, at 76, drops anchor at last With sadness, one contemplated life Saturday in a world without Jimmy Buffett.Hopefully, the entertainer located that lost shaker of salt he famously misplaced in one of his most famous tunes. And tha... September 5, 2023

In case you missed it ... the week in sports Garland County 8-man teams started their football seasons, and Lakeside and Hot Springs continued their great starts to the 2023 season.TUESDAYLADY RED DEVILS GROW WITH REBIRTH OF VOLLEYBALL PROGRAMMO... September 4, 2023

UA victory one team can benefit from The Arkansas State score against Oklahoma popped up from time to time Saturday, moving someone on social media to comment, "This is what I was expecting from the Razorbacks today." What may prove a de... September 4, 2023

September baseball with a few surprises For fans of the St. Louis Cardinals, no matter if Stan Musial then or Nolan Arenado now is the one whose autograph is most cherished, this is a baseball season of torment.A year after future Hall of F... September 3, 2023

Holiday brings out many treats in late summer Does anyone remember a Labor Day sports weekend more, well, delicious than this one?For the Arkansas Razorbacks, who rarely play any longer in the capital city, a Little Rock opener is something to sa... September 1, 2023

Heat is on in LR opener, though Hogs’ rout likely Add excessive heat as another factor likely to weigh on the outcome when the Arkansas Razorbacks launch the football season Saturday.Those sitting in the east-stand sauna of War Memorial Stadium shoul... August 31, 2023

In case you missed it … Football in Garland County officially started with Week Zero games, and all sports in the county dealt with extreme heat.TUESDAYGC 8-MAN COACHES EXAMINE THE BIGGEST QUESTIONS AHEAD OF SEASONDespite pu... August 28, 2023

New leader in 3YO crowd emulates sire Mike Repole expected a better Travers weekend than two champions in his barn delivered.The master of Repole Stable drew back a proverbial nub in two Grade 1 races at Saratoga, one outcome more surpris... August 28, 2023

Week Zero shocker goes to Lakeside Like something out of a George Orwell novel, clocks struck 13 all over Garland County as Friday night turned into Saturday and the sonic boom from a certain football stadium subsided.After a first wee... August 27, 2023

Belmont winner takes Travers Stakes The first woman to train a Triple Crown race winner has a potential champion in her barn.Eleven weeks after winning the Belmont Stakes, Arcangelo seized control of the male 3-year-old division Saturda... August 27, 2023

Forte owner eyes Travers slam dunk Juvenile champion Forte has a chance today to open daylight within the male 3-year-old division in the Saratoga race that traditionally defines stars.The Violence colt, whose last race stirred controv... August 26, 2023

Showstoppers come out in Saratoga G1 The guest list for the Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga Race Course could have been drafted by its unbeaten Hall of Fame honoree.Grade 1 winners Nest, Clairiere and Secret Oath head a six-horse fiel... August 24, 2023

Series worth saving: Rams vs. Wolves Lakeside need not beat Lake Hamilton Friday night to generate attention in that football series. Keeping the game close would be a good start, and the students on both sides surely can take it from th... August 23, 2023

Yanks skid, no longer ‘top’ of the heap After losing a three-game series in the Bronx to hated rival Boston, about as grim a prospect to a New Yorker as selling the island of Manhattan back to the Dutch, the Daily News greeted readers Monda... August 22, 2023

In case you missed it … Fishing became a hot topic around the county over the past week, and football teams made their final preparations for the first official games of the season.TUESDAYELLISON RETURNS FROM INJURY AT QB FO... August 21, 2023

Paint it Brown in Saratoga upset The man from Mechanicville, New York, feels right at home at Saratoga Race Course, especially within the winners' circle.Chad Brown, a former aide of Hall of Fame trainers Shug McGaughey and Bobby... August 20, 2023

Hogs return to WMS, their LR getaway home since 1948 Don't beat yourself up if the name F.C. Longman doesn't ring a bell in University of Arkansas football history. It's a shorter story than might have defied Ernest Hemingway to tell. The UA football me... August 20, 2023

Oaklawn star Wet Paint seeks Saratoga sweep If you were wondering, the Alabama Stakes at Saratoga Race Course is not named for the Southeastern Conference football team Nick Saban coaches. And, though contested in upstate New York, it has a con... August 19, 2023

Zenyatta co-owner Jerry Moss, 88, dies Thanks largely to the superstar thoroughbred he owned and raced, Jerry Moss became known as more than a famous man's partner.The record producer who with trumpeter Herb Alpert formed A&M Recor... August 18, 2023

Ex-UA star Collins, 28, dies in wreck This has been a tragic summer for recent ex-Razorback football players. No sooner than the news about Ryan Mallett could be processed than word came about Alex Collins. The second-leading rusher in pr... August 16, 2023

Stories by Bob Wisener

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