Baker has been a regular top-ten finisher in the Iditarod. Kotzebue in the past few years has become an Iditarod power, with Baker and Ed Iten in the top ten, Tollef Monson close to top ten, Louis Nelson named top rookie, and at least four new mushers from the area competing in 2008. Did Baker get a check from Oakley sunglasses for wearing their product? When I covered San Francisco Giants games the Oakley rep would be there making sure each ballplayer with an Oakley contract had spotless new specs in place.