Rod's Wednesday Take N Things

Pierre junior center Sam Willard of the Pacific basketball team began day 1 of the off season today after last night's loss to Missouri State in the CTI post season basketball tournament. The CTI tournament just finished it's second year. It is a tournament Mid Major teams that were not invited to the NCAA or NIT tournament. And it shared the post season basketball stage with a 4th post season tournament called the CBI or College Basketball Invitational. I have to say, with 4 post season tournaments a team had to be a pretty bad team to not make the field of a tournament. So while not one of the premier tournament's the face that Sam still played in a national tournament and played for that national tournament's championship is still pretty good for a Pierre kid playing at the Division 1 level of college basketball. I think last night's game showed however that the Missouri Valley Conference is probably still considered the premier Mid Major conference in the country. Pacific is in the Big West Conference which would probably have to be more closer to the level of the Summit League. Maybe just slightly above the Summit. It was a good brand of basketball from the games I got to watch during the season and Sam is one of the top players in that conference which says alot of great things for young Mr. Willard. He will have one more chance to appear in the big dance and that will be next year. But I think it is widely evident in the Big West Conference that if a team is going to make the NCAA, they will have to win their conference post season tournament. There won't be any at-large berths.

Andy Shoe's Scuttlebutts

The end of basketball season is sometimes a good thing as it gives those teams that had a tough season the opportunity to hope for a better next season. It also gives those teams that had a successful season a chance to reflect back on what was. For me it is time to start thinking about Twins Baseball. I am a fan of the game of baseball and I guess I have been for as long as I can remember. I loved to play the game and I still love to watch it played at almost every level. What's not to love? From T-Ball where the kids are there for the love of playing anything with their little friends to Major League Baseball where the game is a business but every once in a while you will see a childish love for playing the game and at that point you remember why it is so much fun to cheer on the guys who play. I am looking forward to the up-coming season of teener and legion baseball in the area. I hope that young athletes are ready for what could be the memory made that might last a life time. I know that the small rural towns are having trouble arranging a schedule because so many kids choose not to play baseball in the summer. I would hope that for the sake of your town, your friends, and the game you would at least try to come out for baseball. It will be a decision you won't regret. The game that at one time was the most popular is now the least popular and I don't understand it. In basketball only five players can be on the court at one time, on a baseball field you can stand on the field with eight other teammates so your chances of playing are better. In basketball the game is controlled by a clock in baseball no clock and a winner is decided at the end of regulation innings. So you get to play longer in many cases. I have nothing against basketball, it is a great sport, but I would like to see the kind of enthusiasm portrayed on the court, portrayed on the diamond. I hope to see all of you fans at the games and all of you student athletes this summer throwing and catching, hitting and running the base paths. You will have so much fun you will soon grow to love the game as I do.

Brian's Tuesday Town Hall

You may recall the promise that was made after I predicted (or had a sneaking suspicion) that Highmore-Harrold wouldn't fare too well at the State B Girls Basketball Tournament. Of course, the Lady Pirates took third place honors and quite possibly played better overall than any other team in that tournament. On Monday, the trip was made, and the debt was paid. Everyone seemed to have a great sense of humor, and the kool thing is, all the girls can call each other and wear the same things to school now. :o) But the moral of the story that shouldn't go unnoticed, is that whenever someone tells you that you can't or won't be able to do something, just put your mind to it and go out there and do it.

Unfortunately, maybe the Xavier women's team didn't get that message. While channel surfing, I caught the very end of their game with Stanford. True to March Madness form, the game was tied in the final seconds when, bless her heart, Xavier's #4 reminded Ron White fans of his description of the California Highway Patrol. She missed not one, but TWO gimme shots from POINT....BLANK....RANGE! Stanford gets a timeout, gets a few tenths of a second added to the clock after a video review, and gets a game-winning lay-up as time expires to go back to the Final Four. Have you ever noticed how things are so doggone easy, they become the hardest things in the world to do? Xavier #4 - meet Bill Buckner. :o(

And by the way, if your mens NCAA bracket is still in good shape to win your office pool, then you might be considered a basketball genius - not to mention, Rod would rather see you on ESPN than the yahoos that have been trying to tell us all what's what for the past three weeks. My first two rounds were great, but all these high seeds dropping out have left me wishing for a do-over. But here's my saving grace. I also hold an office drawing, in which 16 people draw 4 teams each - one team in each of four seeding ranges: 13-16, 9-12, 5-8, and 1-4. Some people get shafted in their draws, like if they draw Georgetown or Vanderbilt as their best team, and they end up losing to much lower seeds in the first round. Some people get lucky and get tournament wins out of those Cinderella teams. Some people stink at picking Elite Eight and Final Four teams, but they are lucky enough to draw both Duke and Butler in their office drawing pool. Cha-ching! Keep it going, Devils & Dawgs!!

Rod's Monday Take N Things

A sure sign of spring. Golf courses opening for the season. The Dunes in Ft. Pierre officially opens this afternoon at 3 p.m. for the season. As (if) we hear from the other courses in the area, like Hillsview, Spring Creek and the like, we will let you know. Now, I did not need Dick Vitale tell me that the only reason I am against Duke in the NCAA men's basketball tournament is a word that starts with the J and ends with a Y. I am not jealous of Duke winning all the time. I just prefer to see them not win. I thought I would kinda rate how I thought the weekend's games were and give them a label.
Most Sloppily Played: Duke vs. Baylor.
Most Spellbinding (if you left you missed something) Butler vs. Kansas State.
Most Well Played: Michigan St. vs. Tennessee.
Toughest to Watch but still Watched: West Virginia vs. Kentucky.
Team I felt sorry for because the lost: (tie) Baylor and Tennessee
Team I did not feel sorry for because they lost: Kentucky
Best Officiated Game: Michigan St. vs. Tennessee
Worst Officiated Game: Butler vs. Kansas State
Best Announcing Team on the Weekend: Vern Lindquist and Bill Raferty (Baylor-Tenn.)
Worst Announcing Team on the Weekend: Gus Johnson and Len Elmore (Butler-K State)
Most Boring Game of the Weekend: UConn vs. Iowa State Womens NCAA Regional Semifinal
Most Eye Opening Team: Kentucky Women vs. Nebraska NCAA Women's Regional Semifinal
Most Dissapointing High Seeded Team: Nebraska Women
I have also come to the conclusion once again that in today's men's and women's college basktball, the officials just can not keep up with the game. I realize you can't call everything but I just sit at home and shake my head at what they come up with at times for calls and why they don't call stuff. It is obvious to me that the advancement of the player and the game has outlived the rule book. They should have certain rules for the first part of the game, another set for the middle and a whole other set of rules for the final 6 to 8 minutes cause what is described as a foul in the rule book is called differently about 3 to 4 times in a game. And if you are aged 60 or older, get off the court. You can't keep up with a bunch of 20 year olds.

Rod's Sunday Take N Things

I will have the complete results of the Pierre Governors and Lady Governors first track and field meet of the season tomorrow on our sports reports and in our My Daily News but there were several very good first time out, outings. More on the boys side than the girls side at the Al Sahli Indoor meet in Aberdeen. Connor Berg won the high jump at 6’1”. Tyler Propst won the 3,000 meter run in a time of 10:02.7. Parker McKittrick clocked :7.8 to win the 55 meter hurdles. And Aaron Propst, Sean Snyder, Kris Monroe and Steven Cordon teamed to win the 4x800 meter relay in a time of 8:53.1. On the girls side, Gena Burley won the high jump at 4'10" beating out 2 other girls including teammate Anna Bondy who also cleared that mark. The Govs were second to Watertown and the girls were 3rd to Aberdeen and Watertown in the team standings.

After watching yesterday's basketball, Butler has a chance. Especially after all the ESPN experts (Definition: Ex is a has been. Spert is a drip under pressure) have all but given the NCAA title to Duke now that Kansas State and Kentucky are out. I gotta quit watching ESPN. Or at least when the basketball bozo's are on. And of course we are just going through the motions til we have the UConn Women's Basketball imortalized. I have news for some. John Wooden could coach men and women. Geno A. would probably not get out of the locker room in one piece coaching the guys. And now that they don't have that Geno vs. Pat Summit possible matchup anymore I am sure the producers are scrambling to come up with a story line. I will say the new Coke Zero commercials on cloning is funny as is the Bud Light House made out of Bud Light cans.

Rod's Saturday Take N Things

I just finished watching Baylor's upset of Tennessee in the women's NCAA basketball tournament and I have a thought. Do all good women's basketball coaches have a southern drawl when they speak? Kim Mulkey of Baylor. Pat Summit of Tennessee just to name a couple. Sherry Coale at Oklahoma is another one. Which leads me to this question? Why is Geno Auriema at UConn the most hated women's basketball coach in the nation? It can't be just because UConn is good year after year after year. I don't think he has alot of respect from some of his fellow coaches. Maybe that comes from beating them by 30 and 40 points every year. The men don't seem to have that one single coach you love to hate probably since Bob Knight retired. And now I think alot of people like him on TV. Face it, he is no phoney. What you see is what you get. My personal least favorite coach is Mike K (I could spell his last name but don't want to take the time to look it up) at Duke. Alot of people like him. I think he has alot of phoney aspects to him which is why I won't be spending $7 to run out to Rapid City and listen to him speak on April 29th. You've heard one motivational talk, you have heard them all. I don't have any real particular like or dislike for any other coach. I like Saul Philips at NDSU in a couple of times I have talked to him. Scott Nagy at SDSU, can be a hard guy to get to know. Aaron Johnston is kinda the same, but always makes himself available. Jim Boehiem at Syracuse, Tom Izzo at Michigan St., Jim Calhoun at UConn. I usually root against Syracuse the UConn because they are in the BIG EAST. I think one of the more overrated conference in the country based on what has happened in the NCAA tournament. Michigan St.? Depends on who they play. I pulled for Northern Iowa last night. I'll probably hope MSU wins tomorrow. Today I will pull for Butler and West Virginia. Butler cause they are the little guy left. West Virginia, cause they are playing Kentucky. John Calipari does not run a clean program and is a win at all cost and then get out kinda guy. Ask anyone involved with Memphis.

And play by play and announcing teams. I Don't mind Jim Nance. Clark Kellogg, I mind. Vern Lindquist, very good. Bill Raferty, Shut Up once in awhile and quit trying to be so cute. Dick Vitale is too rah rah of a guy. Jay Bilas knows more than we do, just ask him. He is a Coach K guy. Carolyn Peck is like that on the women's tournament. Just cause your a coach doesn't give you the right to be critical of what a certain coach is doing as far as x's and o's in the game. Kevin Harlan is good. Excitable when need be. Descriptive. My favorite was when he was the radio play by play guy for the Timberwolves. Tom Gugliotta is driving for a layup and just gets hammered. Harlan's description....." Gugliotta takes it to the basket without regard to life, liberty and the pursuit of his personal happiness." Might have had something to do with the part of the body where he got clobbered on the drive. And Gus Johnson needs to take a sedative before he begins a broadcast. Way to hyper. But that's me. I have favorite football and baseball and hockey announcers. I have tried to pattern my style after the late Lyle Bremser the legendary Cornhusker play by play guy for some 40 years or so. HiS decription of long exciting touchdown runs of "Man Woman and Child he's gone Touchdown" still bring goosebumps to me when I hear old tapes of Husker games. I have to say Harry Carray was a favorite for baseball. Sure he was partly if not mostly annebriated when he did games, but no body cared. He was a fan, you knew who he was working for and wanted to win. He probably would not have been a good national announcer like a say, Ray Scott or Curt Gowdy. No, I don't like the Cubs TV announcing team. Bob Brenley needs to think out what he is going to say before he says it sometimes. And Bert Blyleven with the Twins, I think he takes the same road to the ball park that Harry did. See you at Huberts before the game Bert. I might be wrong on that though. Vin Scully of the Dodgers is still velvet smooth and one of my all time favorites. I end this with the question, who are your favorite and not so favorite announcers, coaches, analist and the so forth? If you are not a normal responder to any of our post, here would be a nice way to get started and make some online friends or foes, depending on your mood. Have a good Saturday and again go Butler and WVU.

Rod's Friday Take N Things

Way to go Sammy!!!!! Another huge game from the Pierre former All Stater last night. 22 points and 10 rebounds as Pacific beat Appalachian St. 64-56 in the College Insider Dot Com post season basketball tournament. Yea, the CIT is probably 3rd in the line of post season tournaments behind the NCAA and the NIT but it might be better than the CBI (College Basketball Inviational) or at least even with it. But how many times to you get to play in a championship game of the national tournament. And the tourny organizers haven't made it easy on Sam and his teammates. All 3 of their previous games have been road games. They don't have the big money to play at neutral sites so they play at campus sites and usually the ones where they know they will get a good gate. So Sam and the Tigers have been on the road at Loyola Marymount in L.A. At Northern Colorado and last night at Boone, North Carolina. And Tuesday for the championship, at Springfield, Missouri and Missouri State who by the way is in the same football conference as South Dakota State. I think it is a big deal for Pierre and Riggs High basketball.

Speaking of the NCAA tournament, everybody likes the underdog. What if Butler plays Northern Iowa for the national championship? It would be an entertaining game. It won't happen of course but it would be fun if it did. Duke is the darling of college basketball and they were certainly given a huge gift by the NCAA tournament committee. 1 seed in the South, the weakest region of the 4. I would love to see a Northern Iowa and Duke national semi final game. Go UNI. Ah what the heck, Go Purdue tonight against Duke. No body gave Purdue a chance to win a game in the tournament when they top scorer went down with an injury. I am not a Big 10 fan of anything but when they play Duke, in basketball, Go Big 10. Now if it were football I would say, go Duke. And what is the deal with these late starts. Major League Baseball got run over the coals for their late start times to the world series and playoff games and young children could not stay up late to watch. So we have NCAA games starting after 10 p.m. Eastern Time? Last night's Cornell and Kentucky game was a 10:07 p.m. eastern time start. As for that, why did the east region games in Syracuse, New York start after the West Region games in Salt Lake City? Does CBS not care that young children who have to go to school the next day can't wait up til 10 p.m. eastern time for the start of their favorite team, be it Kentucky, Cornell or whoever? Or is it more important for kids to get to bed early in the fall than it is in the spring?