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| Caitlin Clark (britannica image) |
Those of us with friends in Iowa can feel real happy for them now. I sent an email to an old musician friend in Cedar Rapids a few days ago, Bruce.
Iowa has no major league sports. Iowa women's basketball has the characteristics of a big-winning pro team now. I mean, if you truly can rattle off the names of their top 5-6 players, that says it all. I can.
We can be surprised in America about just what is coming around the bend. Evidence of a free society, eh? Meritocracy? Tickets for the women's Final 4 going for double the men's? Eureka!
Let's apply art
Iowa ought to inspire fresh song, verse, poetry, wouldn't you say? Remember the song "All I Owe Ioway" from the 1945 "State Fair" movie? Maybe you don't. The song had potential to be a classic but it had an issue IMHO. The singer talks about wanting to move to other states like California with the last syllable pronounced "aye." Just like "Ioway." Cute, definitely.
The point was that if an Iowan moves away, he'd regret it. In fact you'd likely regret leaving your "native state" to use the language of the song.
"State Fair" is a classic musical. I wish the "Ioway" song had household recognition today. It appears to have fallen into obscurity.
In the wake of the Iowa women's basketball phenomenon, I personally have written not one but two songs. I share the lyrics online. Recording? Probably not, as it has become very hard to get attention for anything on YouTube. It has turned into a vast sea. Lots of good stuff, but it's nigh impossible to have impact. I am happy to share my lyrics online through blog sites. Like right here on "Morris of Course!" You might say it's just poetry in this form. Nice to be challenged to write good poetry. And it costs me nothing to post!
My first song was called "We Love the Hawkeyes." I posted lyrics recently on my primary "I Love Morris" site. Is "Morris of Course" really "secondary?" Not so sure any more. I originally set up two sites to handle periods where I plunged into lots of local sports. I'd have an alternate site handy. I'm still pleased to have two sites as I can showcase pictures featuring my father at the top of both. I thank you so much for being here and reading this.
So now I invite you to read my lyrics for my new song "Girl From West Des Moines." You can guess the girl is Caitlin Clark! But I mention other Hawkeyes in the song. I confess to a little bias toward Gabbie Marshall in the final paragraph. Now why would I do that? Ahem.
"Girl From West Des Moines"
by Brian Williams
Caitlin was a girl from West Des Moines
She liked playing basketball with boys
Time went by and she was turning heads
Could it be that she would be the best?
Iowa isn't known for being cool
What on Earth do people find to do?
Caitlin had a plan for lifting up
Making shots from so far out it's nuts
Pretty soon the media got psyched
They could see that Caitlin's worth the hype
Could a girl from Iowa make the grade?
Yes she could and so they said "hooray"
Hawkeyes were the team that she adorned
She showed us that Iowa's more than corn
Making sure the Midwest got its creds
In the Big 10 Iowa was the best
Time was running out one sweaty night
Indiana's prospects did look bright
No. 2 in nation, Hoosiers were
Seemed they were in line to win for sure
Carver mighty loud with all the fans
Time was short but surely they had faith
Who would throw the ball in? It was Kate
Caitlin jogged around and got a screen
Odds were mighty long but oh Lord please
Pass from Kate was where it had to be
Then the ball went flying for a '3'
It was good and Hawkeyes got the win
Indiana stood there so chagrined
Fans at Carver could not cheer enough
Caitlin was the best and that's not fluff
Fame would only grow as time went on
With the fans she had a faithful bond
With her teammates she just couldn't miss
Gabbie, Hannah, Sydney in the mix
Iowa landed in the title game
Hawkeyes and the Gamecocks came to play
Only one team could be No. 1
Gamecocks had the tools to get it done
Still we saw the Hawkeyes looking proud
No. 2 is really not a slouch
Caitlin's stock was elevated high
In demand for Saturday Night Live
She went on the show with Michael Che
Right at home as a celebrity
Now what comes? We have to speculate
Still we're left with memories just great
Caitlin was a girl from West Des Moines
Playing with a ball instead of toys
Destiny would have her at the top
Through it all she'd give it all she's got
Iowa is a state that might seem bland
Could one player make it in demand?
Caitlin got it done with "logo 3's"
She just made the nation's fans believe
Nothing in this song is news to you
There's consensus with this point of view
Still I will demur if you don't mind
Gabbie's eyes just get me mesmerized
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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