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Wednesday,
March 5, 2008
Random Thoughts
by Marlo Benning
I'm clapping for the coaches
You just can't see me. Please just help me out and visualize
it in your head...... The reason for my clapping hands? Out
of pure appreciation!
The sports section of the newspaper fluctuates throughout the
year depending on which sports seasons are underway. Right now,
the winter sports are winding down and play-off time is upon
us. Actually as I write this, individual state wrestling is
in its final hours.
In the wintertime, when boys and girls basketball and wrestling
are in full swing, our staff is kept on their (our) toes snapping
pictures at home events.
You may notice that the bylines of the articles are very seldom
that of our staff, but rather will read "by Coach Finck"
or "by Coach Lancaster", for a few examples. Not everyone
may be aware that the coaches write the weekly articles for the
newspaper, but we certainly are and appreciate every word that
they contribute.
Since before my husband and I became the newspaper owners in
2000, this is how the sports writing has been accomplished.
It is at times difficult for us to schedule attending one game/match
per school a week to snap photos. It would be a big stretch
to have to write about each one as well. We certainly wouldn't
have the time to write each week, so we feel that this provides
better coverage overall.
I'd like to extend a great big THANK YOU to all the coaches
that have taken their precious time to communicate the details
of their team's progress throughout their season to our readers
both currently and in the past. We couldn't do it without you!
On a more humorous note, the following joke is dedicated to
all of the coaches that have to not only be dedicated to their
sport, but have to try to make everyone happy along the way....
The Coach's Answering Machine
The outgoing message, "Hello! You have reached the automated
answering service of The Coach. In order to assist you, please
listen to all the options before making a selection.
* To lie about why your child missed practice, press one.
* To make excuses for why your child shouldn't have to follow
team rules, press two.
* To complain about what we do without actually talking with
someone in person, press three.
* To swear at me, press four.
* To ask why you didn't get information that was already enclosed
in your newsletter and several flyers mailed to you and discussed
at booster meetings, press five.
* If you want to reach out and touch, slap or hit someone,
press six.
* To request another coach for the third time this year, press
seven.
* To complain that I'm too hard on the kids, press eight.
* To complain that I'm not hard enough on the kids, press nine.
* To complain about me being inaccessible, just speak up, call
me at work or at home, come up after a game, send an e-mail,
send a postcard, a text message or even come by my office.
* If you realize this is the real world and your child must
be accountable and responsible for his/her own behavior, performance,
attitude and that it's not the coach's fault for your child's
lack of effort, hang up and have a nice day!
~Joke written by Terry J. Eiter of Detroit Lakes
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