RICKAROO - The New Mexico Sports Place

I first became acquainted with In-N-Out hamburger restaurants in the mid-1950s.  We were visiting my maternal grandparents, who lived in La Puente, Calif. (though back then it was just Puente).  One evening, my grandmother suggested we jump in the car and go get burgers from a place called In-N-Out. Our destination might have been the company’s original location in Baldwin Park, or perhaps an early addition in Covina. The two cities were essentially equidistant from La Puente. Truly, the experience was a revelation. Calling our order into a squawk-box, pulling up to a window, paying and getting our food without even getting out of the car: wow, my 8- to 10-year-old self thought. This could catch on! As long ago as it was, I remember as well that my hamburger was really good. On Thursday, Albuquerque Journal business writer Marie Baca reported that, with In-N-Out planning to locate a warehouse in Colorado Springs,  the long-discussed possibility of the hamburger...

I’ve known Sandy Martinez-Pino for some 35 years. While covering boxing for the Albuquerque Journal, I came to rely on Sandy — a devoted steward of the sport on many different levels — for her knowledge, expertise and counsel. Sandy, suffering from heart problems, died on Sept. 28 at age 65. Her funeral service today (Oct. 10) at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church was attended by family, friends, Albuquerque Police Department co-workers and people from the boxing community. I talked with Sandy frequently over the years, exchanging information and opinions. Usually, we talked on the phone, or at events that she was working and I was covering. Occasionally, though, we’d meet for lunch. The last time we’d done lunch was about a year ago at a West Side Italian restaurant. That day, I arrived before her, and — as I got out of my car — realized I had no money. I’d left home without my money clip. “Sandy, I’m sorry,” I said when she arrived, “but I’m broke.” Of course, she said, “No probl...