Cowboys Select Leighton Vander Esch in First Round of 2018 NFL Draft

Randy Eastburg is the owner of Valley Ridge Roofing and Construction in Flower Mound, Texas, which has generated more than $7 million in sales since the company’s founding in 2010. An avid sports fan, Randy Eastburg counts the Dallas Cowboys as his favorite NFL team.

The 2018 NFL Draft was held in April, and the Cowboys used their first-round pick to select 6-foot-4, 240-pound linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, who spent the past three seasons at Boise State and recorded a combined 188 tackles, five quarterback sacks, four forced fumbles, and three interceptions. While one ESPN insider claimed Vander Esch has the potential to be one of the best zone linebackers in the draft, Sports Illustrated was less kind in its analysis of the pick, as writer Andy Benoit gave it a grade of “C." Acknowledging that Vander Esch could be a perfect replacement for the aging Sean Lee, Benoit felt the Cowboys could have used the first-round pick to improve the team’s wide receiver depth. 

Dallas had eight other picks in the seven-round draft and did use two picks on wide receivers. The team selected Michael Gallup from Colorado State as its 17th pick in the third round and Cedrick Wilson, Vander Esch's teammate at Boise State, as its 34th pick in the sixth round.

The Lampredotto Panino - A Staple Tuscan Street Food for Centuries

A respected Flower Mound, Texas entrepreneur, Randy Eastburg guides Valley Ridge Roofing and Construction where he meets the needs of residential and commercial property owners. Passionate about travel and international cuisine, Randy Eastburg particularly enjoys trips to Italy and had the opportunity to visit his son there, who studied at a college in Tuscany.

One of the most popular local dishes in the agriculture rich region of central Italy is the lampredotto panino, which has been savored by generations of Florentines as the “king” of street foods. Lampredotto utilizes the cow’s fourth stomach, the abomasum, which is boiled in a broth of tomatoes and herbs before being cut into strips and served in a semelle bun. As a finishing touch, olive oil and salsa verde are added on top and half of the sandwich is dipped in the beef broth.

The history of lampredotto in Florence extends to the 15th century, when leftover cuts were put to creative use to feed a growing population. By the 19th century, panino sellers in wooden carts were firmly ensconced in the city, with the carts being joined with bicycles at the dawn of the 20th century.

The Village of Bolgheri in Tuscany

Randy Eastburg is the owner of Valley Ridge Roofing and Construction in Flower Mound, Texas. Away from his professional responsibilities, Randy Eastburg enjoys travel and has spent time in Tuscany.

A region in central Italy, Tuscany has a rich history stretching back to ancient times. Famous for its art, wine, and olive groves, Tuscany is the birthplace of the Renaissance movement, the revival of the classical influence in art. Tourists flock to the Tuscany region throughout the summer months to tour architectural landmarks, experience the Tuscan countryside, and sample local wines.

The small village of Bolgheri, located approximately six miles from the sea, is a charming example of Tuscan life, culture, and cuisine. The village’s only entrance is lined with ancient cypresses that inspired a famous poem by Carducci, entitled In Front of San Guido. 

At the end of Cypress Avenue, visitors find themselves in front of the Castle of Bolgheri, a fortification that has been owned by the Gherardesca family since the year 1200. One of the country’s most respected wine zones, the Bolgheri area is home to numerous estates that produce noteworthy wines.

Rangers Sign Cuban Prospect Juan Pablo Martinez

Randy Eastburg has presided over Valley Ridge Roofing and Construction since 2010, during which time he has helped the Texas-based company grow from 20 to 60 residential and commercial roofing contracts per month. An avid sports fan, Randy Eastburg counts the Texas Rangers as his favorite Major League Baseball (MLB) team. 

The Rangers had a relatively quiet offseason after missing out on the Shohei Otani sweepstakes, but the team recently made a splash by signing 21-year-old Cuban outfielder Juan Pablo Martinez to a contract that included a $2.8 million signing bonus. A recent defector from his native country, Martinez established residency in the United States in November and was granted free agency status by MLB on February 20. The New York Yankees and Miami Marlins were rumored to be in contention for his services, but the Rangers were favorites given it had more money available in its international bonus pool. 

Martinez recorded a .333 batting average to go along with 25 walks and 30 strikeouts in 264 plate appearances during his final season in Cuba. He also stole 24 bases on 29 attempts. Since being signed by the Rangers, he has been ranked as the team's third-best prospect as well as the 60th best on Baseball America's league-wide top-100 rankings.

Stars 2017 First-Round Pick Represents Finland in Olympics

Drawing on more than 20 years of business ownership experience, Randy Eastburg oversees day-to-day operations at Valley Ridge Roofing and Construction and has helped the company generate more than $7 million in revenue in the past year. When he isn't working, Randy Eastburg enjoys following his favorite National Hockey League (NHL) team, the Dallas Stars.

The Stars already have an impressive defense core consisting of John Klingberg, Esa Lindell, and Dan Hamhuis, among others, but it also has a highly-regarded prospect who could significantly improve the club in the near future. Dallas drafted defenseman Miro Heiskanen with the third overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, and the 18 year old has had an inspiring season with HIFK of Liiga, the top Finnish professional league. He leads the team's defensemen in scoring with 22 points, despite playing 17 fewer games than the team's next highest-scoring blueliner, Ryan O'Connor.

One of the reasons he missed so many games was because he played for Finland at the 2018 Olympics. Despite the team losing 1-0 to Canada in the quarterfinals, Heiskanen scored one goal in five games and registered an even plus-minus rating. Moreover, he represented Finland in the Under-20 World Junior Championships, where he served as alternate captain and had two assists in five games.

The Highest Rated Golf Courses in Texas

Experienced business leader Randy Eastburg has spent nearly a decade as the owner of Valley Ridge Roofing and Construction in Flower Mound, Texas. Randy Eastburg enjoys leading an active lifestyle. A few of his favorite activities include cycling, coaching youth sports, and playing golf.

According to Golf Digest, Whispering Pines Golf Club was rated the top golf course in the state for the 2017-2018 season. Up one spot from the 2016-2017 Golf Digest survey and ranked No. 55 in the United States, Whispering Pines is a 7,473-yard, par-72 course developed by Chet Williams and Corey Robertson in 2000. On the initial holes of this unique course, traditional bunkers and greens push through the scenic rough of Texas piney woods before opening out along Caney Creek and Lake Livingston for the course’s final six holes. In 2013, the course debuted on the Golf Digest list of the top 100 courses in the country at No. 75 and has steadily risen since.

Whispering Pines has overtaken Dallas National Golf Club as the state’s most popular course. Other highly ranked courses in Texas include Bluejack National in Montgomery, Dallas’s Preston Trail Golf Club, and Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth.

Texas Rangers Take a Chance on Former Blue Jays All-Star

Randy Eastburg has owned Valley Ridge Roofing and Construction in Flower Mound, Texas, since 2010 and, during that time, has grown the company’s book of business from 20 to 60 residential roofing contracts per month. Outside of his professional endeavors, Randy Eastburg is a passionate fan of Major League Baseball's Texas Rangers.

The Rangers added to its pitching depth in early January by signing veteran right-handed reliever Steve Delabar to a minor league contract. While he isn't guaranteed a roster spot with the Rangers, he's more than deserving of an audition in spring training and will, at the very least, provide depth to the team's minor league team. However, if he can come close to replicating the performance and the numbers he put up during the 2013 season, when he captured a spot on the American League All Star team, he could become a valuable asset for the Rangers.

Delabar was named to the All-Star team that season as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays. Through 58 and two-third innings, the Kentucky native allowed 50 hits and struck out 82 batters, while recording a 3.22 earned-run average (ERA). He last played in the major leagues in 2016 with the Cincinnati Reds and posted a 6.75 ERA through eight innings pitched.