The perspective of past Morris residents, re. today?

"kiosk" at McDonald's

You may have seen the quality home movie, now transferred to video, of the 1947 Diamond Jubilee parade in Morris. I was expecting something rather crude-appearing. But it is very sharp and in color. Sort of blew my mind to watch it. Did you notice the unit in which everyone wore Indian headdresses? Would be considered not politically correct today. 

To watch this thing, you'd think everyone was just as content as people are today. Or, maybe more so. The thought crossed my mind that "men were men and women were women." As a flat-out fact this was true: gender roles were far more understood. Is that better? I am not suggesting it was better, just that it was different. 

The best example of what I cite: women were not offered any serious sports activities. If you're my age, think back to your age peers from when you were young: how many of the females could have been quite fine athletes? It would have been life-transforming for some. But the outlet did not exist. So, how did they fill all the time they could have devoted to sports? 

Consider those 1947 people and how they would react if they could time-travel to the present-day and look around. Gender roles are greatly diminished today. Wiped out? Perhaps that's not overstatement. I wrote not long ago about the lack of fashion-consciousness among people of today. "Utilitarian" would describe the approach. Throw on clothes that "work." Such as, a sweatshirt maybe one size too big. Men and women alike are dressed as such. Sweat pants also. 

Anything wrong with this? I am not suggesting there is. 

Maybe some of us older folks think fondly of the times when there were more gender contrasts with how people dressed. I was in high school when the "mini-skirt" phase took over among girls. Boys were presumably quite pleased. 

I rue the times when clothes, especially among the youth, were expected to be tight-fitting, form-fitting. This seemed quite essential for a period of time. I mean, to pull on a too-large sweatshirt would seem rather sloppy. We might forget those times, how, if you happened to be wearing loose-fitting clothes for some reason, you'd be teased. Pants were marketed as "slim-cut." 

It wasn't even practical: shirts that are form-fitting develop perspiration odor much faster than if they're looser. The difference is quite marked really. 

 

Are they "trousers?"

Boys could have a hard time buying pants: bluejeans were preferred by many of us but they were prohibited by many schools' "dress code." The CW on this is that biker-themed movies like with Marlon Brando made jeans seem like a symbol of rebellion. The older folks greatly feared rebellion by the youth, the latter targeting the Vietnam war. We can forget that it was risky to openly oppose the war up until a certain year when the war was quite advanced. The best movie to get background on this is "Born on the Fourth of July." 

For boys, the best way to "get around the dress code" was with "corduroys." How strange, how stupid: I mean, the purpose of pants is to just cover your legs. So why all the angst associated with choosing them? You wouldn't want to be caught in school hallways wearing "dress slacks" either: that was for "church." Again, you'd be teased. Is the word "trousers" preferable? I hate that word. Such a simple concept: just to cover your legs.

How would the Morris citizens of 1947 react to learning how hard it is for churches to find ministers now? We could never have foreseen this. In my own church of First Lutheran, we were advised recently that many churches are turning to "lay leadership." Yes, no minister at all! Will that work? 

At present I have bigger fish to fry with church involvement. The manner in which so many Christian churches have become filled with strident Trump supporters bothers me. The people have completely lost the ability to think critically. It's as if this very flawed human being named Donald Trump has become an extension of God to them. 

The young generation has definite issues with this. Mainly it's the older folks who pound the table and insist that the Trump Republicans have total power in the U.S., even if it means erasing democracy. Do you all really think this will make your lives better? 

You shouldn't even be worrying about politics, you should be worrying about the Federal Reserve, the central bank. The official rate of inflation now is 7.5 percent, at last check. Very strong arguments can be made that it's higher. And don't you notice, and aren't you concerned about, "phantom inflation," otherwise known as "shrinkflation." You pay the same but get less. 

 

People-less service of today

What would the people of 1947 think of the ATMs? Or the self-checkout at the grocery store? Or the ordering "kiosks" at McDonald's? You know what frays me recently? How when you go into the Morris McDonald's, there's a big hand-prepared sign at the counter: "kiosk only." I have had to walk out of there 3-4 times when I have seen this. I did this just last night, then went to the Willie's deli which is always a great backup. 

I tried the McDonald's kiosk once and got confused. 

A Willie's clerk assisted me once with self-checkout but I'd be hopeless doing it on my own. 

I still go into the bank, Riverwood, to get cash. Remember the days when a bank would pay you some interest on your savings? If you wonder why inflation is so bad, you should know it's connected almost 100 percent to near-zero percent interest. The low interest rates are intended to protect the masses of people who have elected to put their money in the stock market, as with 401Ks. Well congratulations, your "portfolio" might seem real sound. And you'll continue thinking that, until you notice that a loaf of bread at the store costs $30. Then maybe you'll realize how you've been "played" by the whole industry that pushes stock investing. 

I like banks because they can pay a little interest into your checking account every month. And that is money you can spend, which is the kind of money that I appreciate. Think of the days when you might get paid 4-5 percent interest with a passbook account. Is that so bad? At present, it looks like we are going to find out what would have happened if Paul Volcker had not come along in the early '80s. I think it's scary territory. 

Ah, the days when "men were men and women were women." Sounds corny. In an objective way it was not desirable or preferable at all. But it makes you think twice. Think about it as you "hover" with others around Caribou Coffee, waiting for your latte order, while looking down at your "phones." How the 20-somethings of today flock there. What would the Morris residents of 1947 think?

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com

UMM's relative autonomy may be compromised

Mary Holz Clause (Grand Forks Herald image)

Strange, or not so strange. U of M-Crookston is not averse at all to reporting its cooperative relationship with our UMM (or maybe it's UMN now). Crookston seems rather proud of the deal, being quite up-front about it all. Meanwhile many of us here back in Morris have seemed quite uninformed. 

All that yours truly had heard was a vague rumor. In the news reporting business we call this "background." I treated it with more or less a shrug. But hey, fast-forward to the past week and the reporting out of NDSU of Fargo. They'd been searching for a new president. An aspirant was the Crookston head, name of Mary Holz Clause. I have taken to thinking of her as "Mrs. Santa Claus." Consider that Crookston is quite far to the north. Limited humor with that. Clause put herself forward as chancellor of Morris in addition to Crookston. No humor there. 

I rather did a double-take. Was listening to KFGO Radio out of Fargo. The story was over the airwaves repeatedly. Clause did not get the NDSU job. But she and one other were reported as "the other finalists." Over and over this was reported, with everyone getting the impression that Crookston and Morris had a joint chancellor. 

I'm assuming this would be disconcerting for our local UMM advocates, of whom I am one. 

Did KFGO screw up? A member of the Morrison family, the most prominent private benefactor for our UMM campus, thought as much. So if she and I were both surprised, I think that reaction was shared. After exploring this topic for about three days now, I rather have a headache. What a tangled web we weave, when we get into academic bureaucracy titles and nuances. 

A UMM person contacted me and indicated, if I'm paraphrasing correctly, that the Crookston person was really just a backup to our Janet Ericksen, on limited matters where Clause might have more experience. I got the impression that maybe the title was ceremonial in connection to Clause. But then why bestow it? Was it misleading? I had to wonder. 

I now am veering in the other direction with my understanding. I really think Crookston might be in the driver's seat. And if true, I believe "The Silver Fox" Jack Imholte would be rolling over in his grave. But these current times are most different from anything that Imholte ever experienced when he was provost (the equivalent to chancellor then). 

Institutions seem to be facing distinct challenges. In UMM's case with liberal arts being the raison d'etre, more so.

Well, I'll personally say congrats to Ms. Clause (or Mrs. Santa Claus) if she is in fact setting the tone for UMM. She is "executive chancellor" while our Ericksen is "acting" here. 

Mary Holz Clause with U-Crookston mascot

I'm not familiar with Clause at all. Has she been introduced in UMM's "Profile" magazine? I think not. 

Yesterday I discovered a whole web page from the U-Crookston site that spells things out pretty clearly. UMM has not been inclined to edify with such enthusiasm. 

Any talk of a chancellor search committee here? I haven't heard it. The institution has let the once-famous Jazz Festival fade away. It has found money to support the highly dubious softball complex, and to hire Sue Dieter for "Relations." Meanwhile it seems cuts continue apace, "buyouts" and the like. The softball complex will not be serving UMM's specific interests at all. We had a long-established UMM softball field that was perfect for the UMM program and its fans. The new arrangement will be inferior.

 

Edifying from up north

My post of today concludes with an article from the U-Crookston site. It is by Michelle Christopherson. I'm happy to share this piece rather than to keep writing myself, 'cause my brain is getting strained. 

Christopherson quotes U of M President Joan Gabel who uses the word "synergy," and that scares me because that was the word used by Forum Communications when it came to Morris to acquire the newspaper. It was empty, throwaway language. 

Christopherson's article concludes with the assertion that the current relationship is "not a step toward merging the Morris and Crookston campuses." 

Well. . . Not sure I take that at face value. It's something the U is obligated to say at this point. The road to hell can be paved with "synergies."  

Forum Communications left Morris amid well-grounded claims that it was going to close the Morris paper. The Anfisons of Benson came here and rescued it. The Hancock paper was never revived. 

From U of M-Crookston:

CROOKSTON, Minn. (March 18, 2021) - Chancellor Mary Holz-Clause has agreed to assume the role of Acting Executive Chancellor for the University of Minnesota Crookston and Morris campuses for a two-year term to support Acting Chancellor Janet Ericksen of Morris starting this summer.

Morris Chancellor Michelle Behr recently announced her retirement--to begin this June--after four years of leadership on the Morris campus. 

“As you know, the headwinds in higher education are nothing short of historic. The pandemic, the economy, and enrollment challenges across Minnesota and nationwide are just a few of the challenges we face," said University of Minnesota President Joan Gabel. “We must, now more than ever, find ways to focus on our academic mission while seeking opportunities to streamline our administrative and ‘back-office’ functions.”  As a result, Gabel notes, the University will wait until spring 2022 before conducting a search for the Morris campus’ next leader.

To assist with the transition and to ensure continuity at the campus level, Crookston Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs John Hoffman will serve as Acting Senior Vice Chancellor during this two-year period. Both campuses have already collaborated closely, creating innovative synergies to further share administrative service models, which already include a shared registrar and admissions team announced last month. These efforts will continue under the leadership of Acting Chancellor Schrunk Ericksen and Acting Executive Chancellor Holz-Clause.

“Morris has a strong liberal arts tradition, while we focus on hands-on learning. This new sharing of leadership is a natural extension of the cohesive working collaboration between UMN Morris and UMN Crookston,” says Holz-Clause. 

According to Holz-Clause, efforts will continue while honoring the campuses’ unique contributions to the System and their respective communities. “At times, transitions  cause concern. Let me assure you, both of our campuses will remain strong and continue to serve our unique students. And we certainly are aware of our 'lean-ness' on the Crookston campus. We look forward to the coming days when we start investing on a greater level into hiring and bringing to campus some of those individuals who are already hired and will be starting soon.”

Gabel says Holz-Clause will provide behind-the-scenes support for Schrunk Ericksen and allow her to benefit from Mary’s experiences as a sitting chancellor. “Mary is an excellent leader who, while leading a very different campus, appreciates those differences and is committed to helping Janet steward the Morris campus through this transition.”

The transition is not a step toward merging the Morris and Crookston campuses, nor their missions. “Those missions are distinct,” Gabel said. “I expect that this collaboration will further the creative innovative synergies that Morris and Crookston have initiated already. Those administrative efforts will continue."

Crookston-based chancellor has authority here?

Mary Holz Clause

Several degrees below zero again this morning. We have been blasted by winds out of both the north and south this winter. The evidence is on both sides of the residences of Northridge Drive. We're across the field from Homestead. 

The nature of this winter has gotten yours truly to do more writing or journalism than I would normally prefer. I'd prefer these days to get out for a cotton-pickin' walk now and then. Here I sit at the breakfast table on this bleak Thursday morning, cold as hell, and without a doubt I do have something to write about. 

Are we just learning this? About the Morris and Crookston U campuses having a shared chancellor? That the "executive chancellor" is based at Crookston? And that our own chancellor is "interim" here? The "executive" term came at me yesterday from someone who asked that I not quote him. He said that he couldn't be completely sure of his information. 

My response to that is that UMM advocates should not be fumbling around sharing rumors. While the exact facts appear to be fodder for hearsay, there is a legitimate basis for wanting all this to be clarified. It's no secret now that "something is going on." UMM just happens to be very important to our overall welfare in our community of Morris. If we're sharing a chancellor with the Crookston campus, and if the Crookston person is "executive," well maybe this should be known in an official way. 

Yesterday it was all over North Dakota media that a finalist for the NDSU presidency was the Crookston-Morris person. It was reported quite clearly that way. And I sat here feeling puzzled. I couldn't just sit here, I had to get my journalistic instincts cranked up. So now it's Thursday morning with temperature outside sinking yet again, and I'm wondering if the collective morale of UMM advocates should be sinking also. 

Our institution is being run by a Crookston-based person? With "executive" (reportedly) in her title? Could Marshall of our local radio station get to work on this? He's our only hope IMHO from the local corporate media. The newspaper is too busy doing things like taking a picture of the local Girl Scouts promoting their cookie sale, for the front page of course. We need to read about all the local kids being above average all the time, as in Lake Wobegon. 

Reed Anfinson writes about how the newspaper should be a watchdog on government. He makes the argument in theory, but I don't see his Morris newspaper reflecting that in practice. The softball complex project has been begging for some hard questions to be asked. It's nothing personal re. anyone, it's just that the questions need to be asked. Reed should understand that more than anyone. He knows we shouldn't take personally the recent eye-popping AP article that focused on Benson, or how he knows where he has his gun handy. 

Morris and Crookston are separated by a pretty wide distance. Collaborative? It's always a nice thing to a point. But common sense should tell us that if Morris and Crookston are jointly overseen by an "executive" chancellor and that the Morris chancellor is merely "interim," well then maybe the specific Morris interests are not going to be served as well. I'm sure the Crookston person has given speeches about the importance of her institution (in Crookston) and of Crookston as a community. I hardly know anything about Crookston and its campus. A friend emailed me last night.

 

I googled Mary Holz Clause’s bio, she’s just listed as the chancellor at UMC, no mention of Morris. Peculiar mistake.

Academic people are normally very precise about these things. They are notably title-conscious. So what's up? Something is up, do not suggest to me otherwise, Grasshopper. 

I do not see how this can be encouraging for Morris. Already we have had apprehension built up over the last few years about how liberal arts is getting cut in places. The liberal arts have been our "raison d'etre." Remember to spell it "raison" and not "raisin." 

People come here and gush about how absolutely wonderful the liberal arts are, like we are so truly special. Obviously the liberal arts are a wonderful thing. The question is whether an institution can plant its stakes with that, get money for furthering it. To put it gently, wouldn't you think the task is daunting now? 

 

Radio airwaves

The whole Crookston/Morris thing was made known to me yesterday from KFGO Radio. From there I got further confirmation from websites and word of mouth (or email), the latter not bearing as much of an official imprimatur. Maye we could get some clarification from the Twin Cities campus, perhaps from Mr. Joan Gabel herself. 

If we're being run out of Crookston, it is relevant information for our lives here in Morris, a place that UMM likes to describe as "in the middle of somewhere." We all know what that really means. Ahem, we're really out where it's rather barren. If it's really "somewhere," we couldn't need a slogan. 

Speaking of Lake Wobegon, we have had Garrison Keillor out here more than once. I covered his visit once for the Morris newspaper, a visit in which the UMM choir performed my father's composition "UMM Hymn." My father's music helped lift up UMM's profile considerably in the heady early days of the institution. At present we're left wondering how much of a foundation remains, if we're being run out of Crookston. 

C'mon, Marshall at kmrs-kkok, get going with some revelatory reports. Don't leave it up to me. I was written off as washed-up 16 years ago. 

My late father Ralph's composition of "Alleluia" was put on YouTube just recently. I had nothing to do with this. The recording is of the 1971 Oregon All-State choir. From coast to coast, my father's music is shared with audiences to this day. A taste of immortality. 

Ralph E. Williams RIP. Here's the link for "Alleluia":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7vjqlgFe7Y 

 

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com

Tigers lose steam in second half, fall to Sauk Centre

Can the MACA boys just roll over everyone? No! We might have thought otherwise early in the season. Success can seem intoxicating. But it puts you in the crosshairs of other teams who scout the heck out of you. The MACA Tigers are still a most fine unit, as they seek to close out the regular season without the weather being a total impediment. 

The weather! I have had disagreements with a couple friends, as I maintain this is the worst winter I've seen. I get some pushback on that. Minnesotans can probe their memory for lots of anecdotes. The late '60s were a piece of work. Granted, but this winter has been so relentless with its miserable conditions, extreme cold and cold with wind. On and on it goes. 

The sun is getting higher in the sky in February. You have heard of the "January thaw." Odds are greater for such a thing in February. But look outside on this mid-February Tuesday. It is 2/22/22. But let's put that novelty aside. Our weather is a big ad for moving south, to just get the heck out of here. Why don't I just use the alternate word to "heck," the more incisive one? We are, after all, in the age of Trump and "let's go Brandon." 

Our U.S. culture has been turned upside down. What will all the ramifications be? Will those ramifications be existential? I think they could. There is nothing that I, as a single individual, can do about it. I would discourage even praying, as it is Christianity that led us here, to the four-year presidency of Donald Trump. It was the "evangelical Christians." Damn them. 

So let's look at the MACA boys basketball game of Saturday, re-scheduled from Friday. It was quite low-scoring. Not sure if the Tigers promoted that complexion of if the Sauk Centre Streeters did. But it was Sauk Centre coming out on top. MACA was dealt its second loss of the season. We did lead at halftime 19-18. But the Streeters picked up "mo" the rest of the way to defeat us 45-40. Action was at Sauk Centre. 

We made 16 of 41 field goal attempts for 39 percent. Jackson Loge held up our scoring, no surprise there. He scored 15 points on 5 of 11 shooting. The other individual point totals were awfully modest. Let's review them: Thomas Tiernan 7, Cole Wente 6, Brandon Jergenson 5, Toby Gonnerman 5 and Sam Kleinwolterink 2. 

Oh my, we struggled from 3-point range, just three makes in 22 tries, 14 percent. Jergenson, Tiernan and Loge each made one. As I have stated repeatedly, I hope fans do not chant "let's go Brandon." Wouldn't it be wonderful if fans could chant this for the right reasons? But we are in the age of Trump. 

Not many freethrow attempts: seven, of which we made five. Loge had four of the makes, Gonnerman the other. Loge collected ten rebounds to lead, of which two were offensive. Our team total was 19, four offensive. Tiernan and Loge each had three assists of our team total 12. Loge had two steals. Our turnover total was 14. Loge blocked two shots.

Girls: Sauk Centre 47, Tigers 39

Can't find many details on the girls hoops game of last Thursday, a 47-39 loss to Sauk Centre. We stay below .500 at 9-15. The Streeters came away with 18-6 numbers. So, this was a high-caliber foe that coach Dale Henrich's squad was playing, at Sauk Centre. 

Let's acknowledge some of our point-scorers: Sydney Dietz with 12, Maddy Grove with nine, and Meredith Carrington, Cate Kehoe and Kaylee Harstad each with six.

 

Wrestling: Tigers 39, United 26

"United" is one of those names that does not help us understand where they're from. It's like MACCRAY or BOLD. I wish sports teams would just go by the high school name that serves as the primary host. Presumably there is one that does. United had the No. 2 seed for the 3AA-North wrestling team tournament. The site: Hutchinson. 

One of the schools in the United partnership is Lac qui Parle. Some people might fumble even trying to pinpoint where that's located. It's Lac qui Parle "Valley." Is there a valley over there? 

United was seeded No. 2 and our MACA Tigers No. 3. That did not stop our Tigers from achieving victory! This was done with a 39-26 score over United. So, congrats Tigers. 

Tyce Anderson at 106 pounds won by a 14-2 major decision over Ben Gunlogson. Grayson Gibson at 113 pounds decisioned Kameron Sather 14-10. We came out on the short end at 120 where our Alex Sperr lost by fall in 5:46 to Daniel Gunlogson. Dallas Walton at 126 pounds was the 3-1 decision winner over Zander Clausen. 

Andrew Marty came on strong to win by decision over Ethan Moravetz 4-1. Then at 138 pounds, it was Ethan Lebrija pinning Isaac Moravetz in 3:54. At 145 pounds, Caden Rose won by tech fall over Tyler Schickedanz, 17-2. Davin Rose at 152 won by fall in 1:40 over Noah Meyer. 

Hunter Massner at 160 pounds dropped a 24-13 major decision at the hands of Dain Mortenson. Our Dain Schroeder dropped a 17-9 major decision to Avery Wittnebel. United made it three in a row as Holt Larson pinned our Noah Amundson in 4:52. 

195-pounder Hunter Gibson of the Tigers pinned Landon Olson in 2:41. Brock Marty vied at 220 pounds for the Tigers and he was pinned in :29 by Keaton Haas. 

Our big guy at 285 was Levi Kellenberger and he decisioned Zach DeBeer 2-0 in overtime.

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com

A hex in the second half? Whatever, MACA girls struggle

The away games on Friday and Monday were not kind to the MACA girls basketball team. The Tigers were dealt defeat by the Montevideo Thunder Hawks and the BOLD Warriors.

 

BOLD 74, Tigers 51

The score indicates it must have been a downbeat night for the MACA crew. In terms of the final score, it most definitely was. However, the Tigers executed quite well in first half play and owned a 33-31 lead at the halfway mark. 

I seem to recall the game versus Willmar going this way too. What happened after halftime? Was it a case of the opponent adjusting in certain ways? Whatever the explanation, the roof fell in. Versus BOLD we were outdone 43-18 in the second half. So the final horn sounded with the score 74-51. We came out of the game at 8-14, while BOLD sported 14-10 W/L numbers. 

The kmrs-kkok article talks about "a strong second half performance" by BOLD. But could MACA have kept its fortunes running at a higher level? 

Mari Ryberg was a major force for the host Warriors with her 21 points and four steals. The game was played at Olivia. Ryberg was joined by two of her mates in double figures: Lainey Braulick with 17 points and Abby Meyers with 13. This trio was followed by: Leslie Snow 8, Kenzie Visser 7, Lilly Dean 4, Anna Gardeen 2 and Caylee Webber 2. Braulick made two 3-pointers and Ryberg made one. 

Meyers and Visser topped rebounds with eight and five respectively. Dean and Braulick set the pace in assists with five and three respectively. Ryberg with her four steals was followed by Dean with two. Ryberg blocked a shot. 

Maddy Grove supplied lots of fuel for the erratic Tigers, scoring 21 points. We're erratic in terms of first half personality versus second. Unfortunate. Cate Kehoe fueled our attack further with 16 points. Four other Tigers put in points: Meredith Carrington 5, Sydney Dietz 4, Kaylee Harstad 3 and Brianna Marty 2. Three Tigers each made a 3-pointer: Carrington, Grove and Kehoe.

Montevideo 62, Tigers 49

The Tigers were up against state-ranked caliber on Friday. The challenge was to play the Thunder Hawks of Monte, ranked No. 10 in Minnesota AA. 

Wait a minute, can the following be true? The Tigers led at halftime 33-28. Oh my, there is more than a small pattern emerging here. C'mon Dale, get things figured out. Your team comes on strong for first half play and then something happens. A coach has got to get that figured out. I mean, the coach should get that figured out. It appears this is not an intermittent thing. Chronic? I guess so. 

So the T-Hawks took us to the woodshed in second half play. This was to the tune of 34-16. Must be very frustrating for the MACA fans to watch. I wouldn't want to be there in the second half. 

Are the opposing coaches just capable of making the second half adjustments? Is that it? Is conditioning a factor? That would be easy to solve, just have the coach be like Gene Hackman in "Hoosiers." Practice without scrimmaging? Remember that? 

With Monte we often see the "Koenen" name in a high-profile way. Avery did not disappoint Friday as she put in 25 points. There is more than one Epema on the roster. Tenley Epema scored 16 points while Teagan scored ten. Hailey Dirksen scored six points, Keely Foley three and Kassey Pauling two. Tenley found the range from 3-point land as she made four. Teagan made two as did Dirksen. 

On the MACA side of things, we saw Meredith Carrington lead the way with 16 points including a 3-pointer. Cate Kehoe was right behind with 15 and she also made a '3'. But it was Sydney Dietz making two 3's to lead in that department - her point total for the night was ten. 

Maddy Grove was quiet with her offense and scored six points, while Kaylee Harstad scored two.  

Well my goodness, the Tigers will have to go to work trying to stretch their good performances over two whole halves.

 

Boys: Tigers 84, Breckenridge 45

I caught a few seconds of the boys basketball game on YouTube last night (Monday). What a miracle to be able to watch these games as if they're "on TV!" I should pinch myself. 

I should also pinch myself regarding the outcome of the game. You see, when I was young, Breckenridge was a real nemesis for our Tigers. We had lots of uphill struggles vs. the green crew. We all learned to hate the color green. I recall a Breck coach with the last name of Lipp in those days. 

Today there's nothing uphill at all for our Tigers. We buried the Cowboys 84-45 at our home gym. 

Watching YouTube, it seemed the fan turnout was pretty low. Sometimes I think there are just too many games. The sports schedule gets so relentless, it's hard for all but the most ardent fans to follow. Seems too much really. I mean, when the band has a concert, it's an "event." It's nice but it's also a little too rare. Sports? We get saturated, it seems. 

So the Tigers blew the Cowboys right off the court on Monday. Another routine standout night for Jackson Loge: 25 points on 11 of 13 shooting. He collected seven rebounds. Cole Wente put in 14 points on six of eight shooting. Brandon Jergenson added 12 points and again, I hope the fans do not chant "let's go Brandon." Why do people do this? Thomas Tiernan had a point output of ten. 

We were 64 percent in our field goal shooting. My, the orange and black has 19-1 W/L numbers. Breck struggles with a 3-15 mark. If only success vs. Breck had been so routine in my young adult years. How long ago? Let's skip that.

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com

Now it's Maggie Haberman who seeks to shock us

(image from penguin/random house)

Maggie Haberman has won a Pulitzer Prize. She is thus an anointed member of the Beltway privileged class. These people look out for each other more than "the rest of us" realize. George Conway's wife Kellyanne is supposedly the polar opposite of him politically. Our common sense should tell us that this is impractical. 

But life goes on for all these folks who manage their behavior as members of a privileged class. All while pretending to clash sometimes, and presenting their published works as if they spring from the fountain of rapier-like analysis. 

The conflict exists up to a point. It gets obfuscated for the correspondents' dinner, an event that even the group members sometimes caution about. "Is this really appropriate?" Their real concern is "will the general public wise up to us?" Karl Rove dances around onstage while pretending to be a rap artist. Funny! The formally-dressed audience members join in their amusement.There have been very real consequences for all of America, of Rove's involvement with government. He pushes an agenda that may often not be in line with Americans' best interests. 

But in front of all the suits and ties at the correspondents' dinner, his frolicking is supposed to be cute. We see the video on top news/discussion shows. The hosts grin.

So now let's consider the Pulitzer-winning writer of the New York Times - the top imaginable resume in journalism - coming out with her book on Trump. I predicted long ago in one of my emails to John Ziegler, we'd see a parade of books once Trump left office. Not really such a bold prediction, of course. 

"Books" are tedious things that fewer people take the time to really read. I mean really read, to consume. You might "buy a book" and set it aside indefinitely, for a longer time than you'd want to admit. Like the books by Michael Wolff about the Trump presidency. I checked out one from the library. I admire Wolff more than many of the other denizens. But as a regular watcher of MSNBC news programs, I found as I turned the pages that I already knew everything he had in there. I withdrew about a third of the way in. Correction: it was probably earlier than that. 

Wolff is refreshing because he has no pretense about sourcing everything to death! If we can't enjoy a little gossip from the Beltway, what is life for?

If Trump says it?

An article this morning (Thursday) tells us that Haberman's new book is the "one that Trump fears most." Does he really? Is Trump embarrassed or humiliated by anything anymore? We have gotten virtual piles of absurd revelatory stuff about Trump up to now. 

The late Tony Snow was a spokesman for George W. Bush. He said of the series of books about Bush's war management, that they all had a certain "taste." He said it to put down the often-not-charitable books. Because back then, naturally, "conservatives" like Bush and Snow got their followers to be war-mongers. That was the meme in that crowd.

Trump has turned this upside-down, now to push the war skepticism stance.

Snow's point about a certain strain of books with their "taste" can be applied now to the very much-expected stream about the absolute disgrace and infamy of the Trump presidency. On and on it goes, this gravy train for Beltway journalists who churn out the eye-popping stuff. 

Eye-popping? What's new in terms of Haberman's book? Oh surely there is something new and beyond stupid. So we get that: Trump flushing wads of printed paper to clog a toilet. I'd say "you can't make this stuff up" but why bother coming up with cute little rejoinders anymore? We should be past that, past having to read books that are no longer revelatory. Such books should not lead to "Pulitzers." But they will be candidates. The writers are the anointed folks. 

Who is to say my own perspective is any less informative or revealing, than that of a Beltway inhabitant who attended an Ivy League school? I live in Flyoverland, as I remind Ziegler regularly. I attended a state college out here on the tundra. And yet when Jim Lehrer did his big sit-down interview with Bill Clinton when the Lewinsky thing broke, it was I who immediately noticed it was strange how Clinton chose words for one of his answers. "There is no inappropriate relationship," Clinton said.

To recall: I'm sitting here in Flyoverland, having had my cup of morning coffee at McDonald's probably, and I'm thinking "why did the president say 'is' ?" Oh my goodness, I didn't fall off a turnip truck, so I know what's going on: Bill is trying to weasel out with his answer, and Jim Lehrer, the big league, big shot Beltway-blessed journo, just sits there. Oh, Lehrer has a sort of earnest look on his face. "Look, I'm Jim Lehrer and I have the privilege of interviewing the president of the U.S." 

Yes, they are both Beltway creatures, Jim and Bill. They inhabit the same ecosystem. Unsaid: "You scratch my back, I scratch yours." 

Lehrer could have changed history perhaps, by pushing back and saying "Mr. President, with all due respect, you answered my question in the present tense, and I would like to know if you have ever had an inappropriate relationship with Ms. Lewinsky." 

Then of course, Bill could probably have played games with the definition of "inappropriate." Just like, if in a deposition he was asked "did you sleep with (a certain woman)," he'd say no, and explain later that his answer was based on how the two didn't sleep when they were together. 

I have wondered how Bill would have handled himself if Mr. Lehrer had been more, in my opinion, professional. But rather than be professional, Lehrer behaved like a Beltway creature. As I explained to Mr. Ziegler, Lehrer "wanted to be sure he'd be invited to the correspondents' dinner."

 

What comes of it all?

The Beltway creatures were at it again this morning for three hours on "Morning Joe" of MSNBC. They just went crazy talking about how Trump was so absolutely nuts with so much of what he did. They'll describe some of his actions as illegal, which becomes journalistically questionable if no charges are filed. They did that one morning in reporting about Mike Pompeo, when Trump was still in office. If it's a fact that Pompeo broke the law, there should be consequences. I was sitting alone in my house, because I live alone now of course, and I spoke up to the TV set: "Will he be arrested?" Well, I knew the answer. 

Maggie Haberman

Let's get to the essence here: Trump has been a total gold mine for people who try to make their living in news and commentary, or who write books of course. Would Haberman be in the spotlight now without Trump? Without the revelations of Trump clogging up toilets by trying to get rid of documents? We're talking about people in rarefied positions who inhabit this sacred place called the "Beltway." Who can win the Pulitzer Prize. While I'm settled out here in Flyoverland, just sipping coffee at McDonald's, and I'm left only with the satisfaction of recognizing all this bulls--t that is going on. 

Haberman's book is called "Confidence Man, the Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America." 

Whoa, has Trump really "broken America?" Just thought I'd ask. Seems kind of a scary point to be making. But if true, where are the legal consequences for Trump and his top lieutenants? The wacky Rudy Giuliani. The slick Mark Meadows. The oddball Michael Flynn. Steve Bannon who wants to burn the house down. 

Trump was able to pardon some of these dudes. They are all still basically just moseying around. While Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger are doing the absolutely heroic work, as they take serious brickbats from the Republican Party. We want these two to be heroes in the end. But we are far from knowing how the story will end.

Haberman's book is of no consequence now. We already know enough, or too much. She and the other Beltway creatures walk the treadmill, that's all. The state of mind of Merrick Garland is all that matters. This is what will determine the future course of America. 

Sometimes I wish we could go back to watching "The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson" and listen to Johnny's jokes about people having consumed too much alcohol. Escapism. Relax and just let good people run government.

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com

MACA girls defeat Benson and Paynesville

MACA girls basketball has picked up steam in recent action. The Tuesday story was a lopsided win over Benson. The Tigers cruised with a 62-26 triumph at Benson, home of the Braves, and how much longer will that school keep the nickname? The logo has feathers. As a journalist I have to keep referring to them with their official symbols. 

The Tigers showed a superior flair right from the start. So we led 40-11 at halftime. We applied finishing touches with a 22-15 second half advantage. Our success was with five 3-pointers. Cate Kehoe made two of these, while these teammates each had one: Meredith Carrington, Brianna Marty and Sydney Dietz. 

It was Carrington atop our scoring list with her 16 points. Maddy Grove and Kaylee Harstad each scored ten. The West Central Tribune coverage omits some first names. I'm fairly knowledgeable with the first names anyway, but I whiff on Koehl and Kindstock. I have not even seen the latter name before. Well, welcome to the varsity scoring picture! 

Kehoe's point total: 9. Dietz finished with eight points followed by Kindstock 4, Marty 3 and Koehl 2. The WC Tribune had "N/A" for other stat categories. 

None of the Benson players scored in double figures. Here's their list: Madi Wrobleski 9, Presley Nygaard 5, Kaylin Grube 4, Marley Rush 4, Kaida Helgenset 2 and Adysen Himley 2. Nygaard and Wrobleski each made a 3-pointer. The WC Trib has "N/A" for the other stat categories. The newspaper wants people to pay to consume this coverage.

 

Tigers 63, Paynesville 45

Fans at Tiger Center enjoyed the home team's win over Paynesville on Thursday, Feb. 3. The score was 63-45. Maddy Grove came to the fore in this contest with her 20 points. She also asserted herself to corral nine rebounds. Add to that, five assists and three steals. 

The Tigers shot with 46 percent success. In 3's we were pretty reliable with 7 of 15. Coach Dale Henrich had to be pleased with the ball-handling proficiency: just eight turnovers. Cate Kehoe and Sydney Dietz each put in 14 points. Dietz dished out seven assists. 

Meredith Carrington supplied six assists to complement her nine points scored. Kaylee Harstad was part of the winning mix with ten rebounds. All in all a pleasing night for fans of the orange and black. Paynesville is having a sub-.500 campaign. 

Sorry, yours truly should have posted on the Paynesville game earlier. Do you realize how "snowed" your mind can get when you seek to follow high school sports? Better late than never. I guess on Sunday I was eager to put up the boys basketball Saturday game vs. Osakis. It was a significant game as it brought our first loss of the season. The MACA boys do not have the world-beating look right now. Their previous game was a win but by just two points over Redwood Valley.

 

Boys hockey: Storm 6, Prairie Centre 1

The Storm climbed above .500 to 11-10-1 with their home win (on the Morris ice) over Prairie Centre. Brady DeHaan led the Storm's surging efforts with his hat trick. Action was on Thursday, Feb. 3. Prairie Centre is below-.500. 

Things began nicely for the Morris skaters with a 2-0 advantage in period No. 1. It was DeHaan who began the scoring with an assist from Kaleb Breuer. Tim Blume put us up 2-0 with an assist from Tyler Hadfield. DeHaan did the job unassisted-style to get our third goal which came in the second period. DeHaan did the job again for goal No. 4, this time with Ryan Tolifson's assist. 

Then it was Prairie Centre's Derrick Sorenson scoring unassisted at 12:44. Prairie Centre would not score again. 

The Storm's advantage in the third period was by 2-0. Cole Blume did the job at 3:21 on the power play. He got an assist from Tyler Hadfield. The night's final goal was by Sam Thompson, unassisted at 9:28. 

Our goalie was Christopher Danielson: 22 saves, 23 attempts. Prairie Centre had two individuals share the goalkeeping: Joe Nedoroscik (28/34) and Ben Millard (5/5).

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com