It's hard to get in step with how area high school sports is re-forming now. There has been a pull to get things back to closer to normal. There won't really be a hibernation, I guess. But "normal?" Doesn't seem like it.
I assume that by now, the West Central Tribune of Willmar has two print editions a week, like they said they were going to do. Hard for yours truly to keep up with the print media. The Morris Public Library has not been available for this. Normally I love checking out their newspapers. Yes I'm a cheapskate but this is a service the library normally provides. Forum Communications is happy to sell the library a subscription so freeloaders like me can read their product.
The Morris library is a no-fun place now. Last I checked, they weren't cancelling their newspaper subscriptions, yet we cannot see the papers there (last I checked). I was able to check out copies of The New Yorker Magazine. Suppose I shouldn't be spotted with such a magazine, could be branded a snob. Sometimes I can't help showing I have an education - sorry you Trump supporters.
The resumption of high school sports, even in their altered state, makes us think of the West Central Tribune again. Historically it has done a lot with youth sports. It covers a wider area than might seem reasonable. This has been an identifying feature of the paper. But now the paper has a quite different presence from its old self. Only two print issues a week? So it's impossible to rely on the product for timely coverage of sports.
Used to be, if the MACA volleyball team played Thursday night, you'd most often see a decent review Friday. You could check it out at our library. Willmar's first step at retrenchment was to eliminate its Monday edition. They said that move was due to the Trump tariffs. So, that was a bump in the road but then a much bigger announcement was made: twice-weekly, and of course they always emphasize how the website can make up for any evident shortcomings.
It's not that simple. I checked out the online product on Sunday. So I go to sports. You have to search a little to find a link that might direct you to the MACA sports review you're seeking. Of course I registered (free) as a reader. You might get some unsolicited emails after that (spam) but I found the "unsubscribe" feature. No spam since, and I'm still a registered reader, but that status has sharp limitations.
A good clue for finding the right link is "area roundup." So I found what appeared to be the right link to check out the most recent MACA volleyball match. I clicked. And I got one of those "subscribe" panels. And I'm not going to do this, pay to see the summary. The school itself could coordinate putting this information online, free for any and all fans to come and see, to stay informed. The school could sell some sponsorships.
The school already has a track record for this: it sells advertising for the school calendar.
The price might seem low for the "privilege" of seeing sports news on the West Central Tribune website. But in the past we could just go to the library. I confess I occasionally bought a newsstand copy at a place like Casey's, if I was in a hurry to peruse some stuff. I like blogging about MACA sports. But buying an occasional copy does not commit you over a period of time or make you a "mark" for advertising/marketing efforts. It's a different proposition.
Sports info for parents and fans should be available with no barriers at all. The money that changes hands should be from the advertisers, not the parents/fans. Advertising money could go to the school and its programs, whereas historically it's the private media businesses that make the money. It was that way in the past because it had to be. We of course have been through a staggering change with the development of online.
I'm thinking of the time and trouble for coaches to call in their info, sometimes pretty extensive, to the West Central Tribune. The coaches are essentially working for those private media companies. The companies are in retreat if you look at the obvious retrenchment by the WC Tribune. I'm sure the coaches sometimes feel "put upon" to make these calls, late at night and with the pressure of getting everything right, because you know how parents can complain otherwise.
So I'm wondering if school sports programs would welcome a restructuring where they'd set their own terms with how they share with the public.
I found yesterday that I could access the MACA football information by just being a "registered" reader. I could not access the volleyball summary - I get the "subscribe" panel and the only way to kill was to click on "go back to home page." Sorry, you're out of luck.
The WC Tribune is barely hanging on, I feel, with keeping the confidence of coaches who have always called in. The older coaches probably assume this is "just the way it has to be," calling the WC Trib. But younger ones? I'm wondering if they are puzzled by this obligation to call the "dead tree" media products.
In Morris historically, it would have made more sense to see our coverage in the Alexandria paper rather than Willmar. Morris is much more attuned to Alex than Willmar. But Willmar long ago was the paper that decided to stretch out. I wonder if they can justify continuing to have such an ambitious and presumably costly sports staff. Stay tuned.
Oh, you wonder how much things can change? Newspaper writers once took complete responsibility for putting together obituaries. Sometimes we got "spoon fed" pretty well but often we did not, and we'd make phone calls to clarify certain things. Today? The funeral homes take 100 percent responsibility - no kidding - and the newspapers aren't even allowed to change anything!
Well, Friday went pretty well for the MACA football team in its jump-started fall football season. The opponent here at Big Cat Stadium was Minnewaska from not far away. And the outcome was one-sided, the Tigers with 42 points, the Lakers with six.
Perfect for Homecoming 2020.
One wonders if the season could have started on schedule. How did the distancing go? Is everyone optimistic about having a smooth rest of the season? Good luck, I guess, although the thrust of that ought to be with our health.
Zach Bruns showed no signs of rustiness as the Tigers' QB. Bruns put together 229 passing yards and covered 64 more on the ground. He was right on target with his arm as he completed eight of nine pass attempts. Two of his aerials netted TDs. He also crossed the end zone stripe on a run, one of ten total carries he had.
The Tigers held Minnewaska scoreless until the fourth quarter. Neither team scored in the opening quarter. The complexion of the game sure changed in the second as the orange and black totally took over. My, we outscored the Lakers 28-0! Bruns completed a nine-yard TD pass to Kenny Soderberg. Bruns kicked the PAT. Bruns was off to the races on a 44-yard scoring run for TD No. 2, and again he added the PAT.
A big play pass of 77 yards from Bruns to Soderberg netted our TD No. 3. MACA wrapped up its first half scoring as Durgin Decker ran for four yards and the score. MACA tried for two on the conversion and it worked: Bruns passed to Flynn McNally.
On to the second half: We wrapped up our scoring with two TDs in the third quarter. Bruns passed to Soderberg for 45 yards and a score. Bruns added the PAT. The defense then made an exciting statement as Toby Gonnerman made an INT and return for six. Bruns' toe was true on the conversion.
Minnewaska got on the board with a Tyson Meyer 34-yard run.
The orange and black had 16 first downs on the night. Bruns' 64 rushing yards put him atop that list. Decker had 48 yards on 12 carries. Also contributing were Lewis Nohl (5-18), Brandon Jergenson (2-15), Tristan Raths (3-9) and Will Breuer (1-1). So Bruns was 8-9 in throwing the pigskin for 229 yards and he had no INTs - a superlative night. Soderberg was a monster receiver with his 209 yards on just six catches - wow! Jackson Loge and Decker each had one catch.
On defense, Ethan Lebrija and Gonnerman each made an interception.
It's great to use my Tiger logo again! It has been so long.
Addendum: Did you see the Morris newspaper photo of U.S. Senator Tina Smith elbow-bumping Del Sarlette? People react like they were charmed, but what if I had taken it? I would have been ripped and been accused of insensitivity for presenting this photo that only showed the back of Smith's head, her hair, and none of her face. How disrespectful! I would be insulted within the four walls of the Morris newspaper building. Management would look for an alternative photo.
My podcast for October 12
So it's Columbus Day. I would hardly be aware. In some places it's now called "Indigenous People Appreciation Day." Good move. Click on permalink here for my seasonal thoughts from Northridge Drive, Morris MN:
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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