Wellington had an undefeated season. Earned the No. 1 seed in 4A girls. A small community bonded over this team. Lose today by 40 to Miege. Was down 14-0 before attempting its first shot. That's not right. Not fair.
My last thought on this, and thanks for your indulgence. I'm not sure where all of the girls on the Miege basketball team live. I'm guessing all across the KC metro area. The Wellington girls live in Wellington, population 7,425, and inside the school district.
The Commissioner’s Office and the 30 Clubs have committed funding towards the costs of replacing our Jackie Robinson statue and providing other means of support of League 42.
Five years ago, Gottlieb said VanVleet was a nice guard in the Valley but didn’t stack up well nationally. Seems to be stacking up pretty well in the NATIONAL Basketball Association.
How about this? Amazing, huh?
During this emotional week, we are proud to report some great news.
@MLB
, which has been in touch with
@League42ICT
from the moment this tragedy became public, has formalized their support for our youth.
Lindsey Graham tells young women that, “There’s a place for you in America — if you are pro-life — if you embrace your religion and you follow traditional family structure".
What a bad guy...
Wichita photographer Christopher Clark took this photo of the new Jackie Robinson statue as the sun was setting Tuesday night. It is, obviously, gorgeous. Thanks to Christopher for this amazing photo.
I am losing interest in college sports. And I cannot make a strong case that athletes should not have the freedom they’re finally being given. But that freedom is resulting in a complete betrayal of any sense of loyalty or commitment.
A letter I received from someone you might know a few years ago. He was a Republican. I'm a Democrat. It really didn't use to matter all that much. We are all Americans.
This isn't a happy day for Wichita State basketball. But the one most responsible for this mess is Gregg Marshall. Not Shaq, Lindsted, Goodman, Moore, O'Neil, other players, the perceived softness of today's athletes or anyone else.
It's been disappointing to see all of the personal shots taken at the Shockers tonight. This team gave its fans more than they ever could have expected. Rough game tonight, for sure. But the reaction by many was unwarranted.
You do not get better by playing a sport year-round. You do get exhausted of that sport, often. Play different sports. Step up to tell youth coaches that you don't do football in March or baseball in November. One sport at a time is plenty. It's up to parents.
Count me among those who believe high school sports coverage is essential to a community. The Wichita Eagle, for years, was a top Kansas source for everything about prep sports. Game stories, features, stats, insight. It was a big deal as recently as three years ago. Now? Poof.
Got a feeling we’re going to face a real teacher’s crisis and shortage if we aren’t already. And what a shame. Teachers are the lifeblood of society IMO.
Bishop Carroll clinched its first-ever City League boys basketball title last night, beating rival Kapaun. Pretty big deal. No coverage by the Eagle. I'm gonna continue to say that high school sports coverage is a part of being engaged with a community, not a perk.
I haven’t spent a night in hospital in my charmed life. That changes tonight. Had a couple on heart stents and will be charming the nurses tonight at the Kansas Heart Hospital. My streak of 2,869 days is over. It was quite a run.
Lon Kruger is one of the finest gentlemen to ever coach. Didn't berate players, but pulled the best from them. Knew the game, taught the game, commanded respect. One of the best to ever do it.
I work with a high number of kids who attend
@WichitaUSD259
. They deserve better that what happened at the school board meeting last night. Advocate for these kids, leave your politics in the lobby. Want to change policy? Subject it to a vote. And grow up.
There’s not an organization I know of that needs a jolt of creativity and adventure more than
@kshsaa
. Their postseasons haven’t changed one iota in decades. They’re stuck in a box.
Our community is heartbroken today by the death of Pastor Michael O’Donnell. We know him as Pastor Mike. He was a friend, a sometimes confidante and the best damn caller The Drive has or will ever have. This on the day he had been waiting 50 years for.
Really happy for
@Coach_IBrown
. Imagine how much this man's life has changed in just less than four months. Kudos to
@WichitaStateAD
for this decision.
Our Jackie Robinson statue spent last night in Colby on its trip to Wichita after a stay at a Loveland, Colo., foundry. Jackie will be permanently displayed in a Pavillion at League 42 facilities at historic McAdams Park. There will be an unveiling sometime in the spring.
@FredVanVleet
played in a Final Four. He was a mainstay of a
@GoShockersMBB
that won its first 35 games. He put Doug Gottlieb in his place. Now he’s an NBA All-Star. I think he’s the most impactful athlete in Shocker history.
We really need to think about all the demands and restrictions we’re putting on teachers. They’re not doing this for money. Take away the creativity and we’re gonna be in trouble.
I am heartbroken today to learn of the passing of the one and only Dennis. He has called our sports talk radio show and numerous others for many years and I've learned he passed away on June 25. This is very sad and I hope everyone who knows of Dennis takes a moment to remember.
A newspaper, print or digital, is not doing its job for its community if it is not providing daily coverage of the hundreds or thousands of people involved in high school sports.
The Wichita State football plane crash, 50 years ago, touched this community like no other event in my lifetime. This is a day to remember and to respect. I was a sophomore in high school and that day, a beautiful fall day like today, is indelible.
Can America please get serious again? Our politicians, our leaders. But most of all, our people. We should be embarrassed and angered by the President’s behavior and rhetoric. And I know many of us are. The enablers must see the light. It’s shining directly in their faces.
Those dummies in Marion probably should have let the local paper go ahead and dig into their misdeeds. Now the Eagle and Star are taking shovels to the scene. And they dig deep.
We're a sick, depraved society. We see it every day. We whistle past the sickness and depravity as if things are normal. We hate with ease. We condemn without remorse. And we kill without cause. I'm so fucking sick of this.
A very emotional and difficult today. We Americans have to figure this out. We cannot be enemies. We cannot have leaders who fan the flames of division. I hope out of this terrible day comes something better and lasting.
Out there somewhere tonight is a
@GoShockersMBB
"fan" who screamed out today, at a quiet point during a humbling loss to Memphis, for the return of Gregg Marshall. The disrespect of that comment is shameful. I hope that "fan" is doing some self-examination. IB deserves better.
I take it for granted that teachers want to teach (and they aren’t paid enough to do so, by the way.) I also believe a vast majority of teachers would have chosen to follow Gov. Kelly’s plan. So we have a state BOE that is anti-teachers.
I mostly stay inside my house. When I’m out, and around people, I wear a mask. It’s the right way to go about your life until we get this mess figured out. Not following simple guidelines just prolongs the agony of this virus. How can people not get that?
And I’m not a mask warrior. I’m OK with lifting the mandate on March 10. I think that’s reasonable, given all the circumstances. I’m simply against the three new board members who have made this their singular focus. I don’t trust them as far as I can throw them.
I'm thankful to
@MLB
for its $100,000 contribution to
@League42ICT
to help us replace the Jackie Robinson statue and make other improvements to the Jackie pavilion at historic McAdams Park. Baseball and kids (dogs, too) are my passion and MLB has stepped up in a big, big way.
Somebody start a Wichita-area sports website with comprehensive high school, small college and junior college coverage, as well as other things that currently fly under the radar. I'll deliver your first 25 subscribers. Do it right, do it well, and it'll work. Won't it?
Basketball needs a shot clock, first and foremost. Then we need fewer classes. Tighten things up. Make it more palatable. Make it a bigger deal. Look around at your crowds this weekend. I was at Koch Arena yesterday, no atmosphere. This can't be OK for you.
@KSHSAA
Teachers didn’t sign on thinking they would potentially be risking their lives. They signed on to make the world a better place. They signed on because they have a passion to help kids. It helps no one to be back in school until it’s unequivocally safe. Why is this hard?
The teachers I know (and yes, I know this doesn’t apply to all), very much believe in kids. They want kids to learn. They want them to learn across the board. They want them introduced to viewpoints and facts that challenge them. They want an education smorgasbord. They love kids
If you’re running for school board with some political agenda, no thanks. If you’re running for school board to help see that teachers make more money, I’m with you all the way.
I enjoyed every conversation I had with
@Shaq_Morris
over the past five years. Not to mention how much fun it was to watch him grow as a player. Best of luck to this young man, whose future is bright.
I am more passionate about high school sports coverage -- which is disappearing across the country -- than I am anything else regarding a newspaper's sports coverage. I think it's vital. It definitely appears I'm in the minority.
And yes, this is my annual state basketball tournament rant. It falls on deaf ears, for the most part. I do think a lot of people agree that private schools, in many cases, have an unfair advantage, but nobody wants to really rock that boat.
After our interview with
@KSHSAA
executive director
@BFaflick
today on Bob and Jeff, I'm hoping for some changes in the public/private situation in Kansas. But change is methodical in our state, to say the least. He recognizes the issue, which is a good thing.
Someone in Wichita cut an ear off of a puppy and put the puppy in a dumpster. There is a $500 reward for the person who identifies this scum. I’ll kick in $100 if someone can tell me how. I want this asshole found.