Time after time Willmar refers to us as "Morris/Chokio-Alberta." It's probably their opinion that this ought to be the term. Why do we need the word "area" if the name also includes Chokio-Alberta? By including Chokio-Alberta, there is the clear suggestion that we cover an "area." Logic, yes, but a formal name ought still be recognized. Newspaper people ought to know that.
MACA does not get as much attention in the Willmar paper as it once did. The overall fortunes of the Forum-owned Willmar paper have been rapidly fading. So is its relevance, certainly compared to a few years ago.
The MAHS pep band will not be performing for tonight's (Friday) state game, I'm told. Yours truly has been mighty curious about how MAHS is balancing its basketball commitment with the music program's spring trip south. There's an amazing little resolution to it all. Maybe I should not be surprised, due to the well-known resilience of youth. Would you believe the pep band will perform at the Saturday game (championship or third place) and then leave from the Twin Cities en route to Texas, no stop back here?
Even the basketball players who are in music can join in. Sounds like a very hectic plan. I have known for a couple weeks that the music departure day is Saturday. I have assumed - never safe to assume naturally - that the music party would be leaving in the morning, maybe quite early. But no! No, no no! That wasn't the plan. The departure time was actually going to be later in the day. I scratch my head: wouldn't the group want to cover as much ground as possible on the first day, before spending the first overnight? You'd be wrong thinking that.
So now, amazingly I'm told the group will head south from the Twin Cities ahead of the original timetable. Amazing, amazing. I still think the whole rapid transition from basketball to music is going to be stressful. But maybe I should not assume anything at all. I think I can assume that Sam Kleinwolterink of the Tigers is in choir?!
If the kids are up for all this, then I really congratulate them.
I had been wondering if the Chokio-Alberta band could serve as the MACA pep band. My enthusiasm about this idea grew when I learned that Chokio-Alberta won a "superior" rating in the recent "large group" contest. Hey, congratulations to the Spartans! In getting superior, C-A out-performed Hancock and West Central Area.
Keep in mind: Hancock is a school that still has its own full-fledged varsity athletics. We're certainly aware of that, with Hancock's girls winning No. 1 in state. We might suggest that the Hancock girls have stolen some of the thunder from Morris. Between the two teams, it seems we've almost been O.D.ing on all this stuff. I have argued previously that it gets out of proportion.
I think it would be fun to see C-A take over with pep band. C-A has no stand-alone varsity sports any more. Yet its band out-performed Hancock and West Central Area. I think that's neat, rather an underdog story. A "superior" rating clearly means the C-A pap band could handle it. Aren't ready with the school song or National Anthem? One intensive rehearsal would take care of that.
MACA will end up playing three games in state. Based on what I hear about price inflation that the fans will face, I really wonder if people are going to be up for all this. Prices only go up. At a certain point, people simply have to start changing their behavior, don't you think?
So tonight (Friday) the Tigers will play Minneapolis North. It's a big city team which might seem intimidating, but remember they're Class AA. Many fans were skeptical about how the Tigers would do against Minnehaha. The Tigers were undaunted and won. So, a repeat tonight? I wouldn't want to hazard a prediction.
I will predict that the music group will have a fantastic trip to San Antonio. I hope they aren't too tired or distracted by the sports goings-on. I think maybe they will be, though they won't admit it. Band director Wanda Dagen is called upon to do yeoman's work now. Didn't the C-A director used to be involved in Morris music? What happened there?
Attention Morris businesses
It is 9 a.m. Friday and there is no coverage of the Minnehaha game on the Morris newspaper website. We ought to feel a little flabbergasted by this. I remember a Morris school administrator who'd have a cow if we didn't have a Tuesday night game thoroughly and perfectly covered in Thursday's paper. And those were just regular season games.
So now we're in the state semis and I see nothing on the paper's website. The paper edition only comes out on Tuesday. The Tigers will have played two more games by then.
So, what would the paper say if you complained? I'll make a prediction: The paper will say "we have a special section coming out after the state tournament." They'll make it sound so peachy keen. Special section means this: the paper will hit up all the local businesses to buy advertising, spend money, on the section. But, why couldn't the paper just cover the state games in their regular issue that comes out? Surely they'd have room, because winter sports is over and spring hasn't started.
So beware, local business owners. There's another fleecing coming your way.
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| (image from twitter) |
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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