The Downfall Of Sports In America

Remember that you read it here. Maybe someone else has written it. I haven't bothered to look. But I am convinced that the Wii is going to be the downfall of sports in America.

Don't get me wrong. It's neat. It's fun. I've been having a great time playing with the kids... and Shannon... even when she beats the tar out of me in boxing. It's really fun watching the four year old play. And I get it, it's much more of an active thing than traditional video games.

But the bad habits and over simplification it breeds in the sports games is frightening.

For example, my son's playing baseball. When he swings... heck when I swing... feet aren't planted, we're all over the place... swinging at pretty much everything. And then, the way it's set up, they don't even show the runner running until after the ball is fielded. Can't you see it now. A whole generation of kids getting hits, then standing at home plate? I see a lot of the same problems with golf. And I'm a much better bowler on the Wii then I could ever dream of being at an alley. I swear my kids are starting to think it's just that easy.

I'm not saying don't buy it or don't play it. I am saying if enough kids are playing a lot of it, there's going to be an impact.

Happy Birthday Dave

Today would have been my father in law's birthday.

I miss him a lot.

Shannon and I both have good days and bad days.

His stuff is still in the trunk of my car. But I think I'm ready to take it to his house.

It hits me in those moments when you don't expect... like when I have a question and my first thought is to call him... and I can't.

I forget for a moment, when I'm watching the Illini that I don't have to call him to get him to the right channel.

I half expect to see him at my son's basketball game, but I know I won't.

I was so lucky to have known him, but boy do I feel the void.

WEEK And WHOI - UPDATED 1/22

Steve Tarter's column talks about the potential changes involving WEEK and WHOI.

I've heard that everyone will find out this Friday, but I know people from both stations had expected word last Thursday. I think the not knowing is the worst part. At least when you know, you can start figuring out a plan.

On Friday, I had dinner with a friend who is at a station in St. Louis now. And the trouble is it's not much better in many of the big markets and many of the same things, like ownership issues/consolidation, are happening there too. Some big markets stations have moved towards one man bands so unlike when I was coming up and there was the explosion in growth with FOX affiliates... there are fewer and fewer jobs.

It's tough all over. Just hoping the people affected land on their feet.

UPDATE: Sounds like management is pulling back from saying anything tomorrow. Lots of signs at WEEK... desks set aside in the newsroom... changes in sales... a set that was being constructed, then put away, then brought back. My thoughts are with the people caught in all this at both stations. Can't be easy. It's too bad they can't just lay it out for everyone.

Coaching Convention

Spent the past four days in St. Louis at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's annual convention. I've been to conventions before. When I worked in TV, I went to a couple of RTNDAs. When I worked in risk management, I went to a risk conference. But this I can say is the first convention I truly enjoyed.

Learning from some of the top soccer minds in the country was inspiring. And it wasn't just the advanced stuff although I was totally sucked into presentations by JIll Ellis (UCLA) and Ray Reid (UConn). It was the presentations that centered on teaching younger kids that really opened my eyes.

Next year's event is in in Philly, so I probably won't be able to make the trip. But I am so glad I took the time this year and I think both the teams I have will benefit from a newly inspired coach.

Thinking About Some Good People

This is a tough week for the people at WHOI. Lots of uncertainty about the future, but it looks as though WEEK will either own or manage WHOI very soon. Though I've been out of TV for almost eight years, I've gotten to know many of their staffers through other friends, at stories, at big events, on Facebook, hiring some of them for freelance work and during Dave's hospital stay.

While last in the ratings through no fault of their own, this newsroom has done a great job in recent years. It wasn't the overly sensational and at times embarassing HOI that was in place when I first moved here. Under Amanda then Jolie, it tried to differentiate itself with class and carve out its own niche. And some of their photographers are among the best in the market with the potential to work in big ones.

No it wasn't perfect. No newsroom is.

And despite all that is looming they were able to pull off a wonderful show last night. I hope all of you find jobs in other markets or in other industries if it's time. I wish you all the best of luck in the future and hope you always have fond memories of this market.

Losing A Friend

Jody Miller was the assistant girls soccer coach at PCHS when I started volunteering in 2001. We worked together... mostly with the JV team for three years.

When the head coach left, I assumed she would move up and I thought it would be my chance to be an assistant. But she didn't want the head job and instead wanted to be my assistant. During my first two years as head coach we had a blast and took a program that had averaged three wins a year and guided our girls to seventeen wins. She was a mother figure to the girls and helped me navigate all the school rules and issues I had no idea about. She was a true friend and great supporter of what I was doing, even after she was no longer coaching.

I saw her a couple of weeks ago and we chatted like we always do after I'd forget to check my mail for a month (she was most recently the assistant to the athletic director). She expressed her concern for Dave and we talked about how excited we were for the upcoming season.

Jody died on Sunday.

I can't believe she's gone. Please say a prayer for Jody and her family

Cleaning And Coping

We're in full out cleaning mode today. Between Dave's extended hospital stay, the funeral and the holidays, everything has been pretty much in disarray. But today we started the overhaul. There's still a lot to go, but to be honest it's a struggle to get things back to the way they were because one thing definitely won't be back the way it was.

I've had all of Dave's belongings from the hospital in bags since the day he died. For most of the past three weeks they've sat in the back seat of my car untouched. If you know me now, you know I don't like to have anything in my car. Anything. Drives me nuts. But there his stuff sat. And I understood. By cleaning it up and taking it back to his house, I was accepting that he was gone. I got it. I could express this in words in a very matter of fact manner. But I just couldn't bring myself to touch any of it.

The other day, I cleaned out my car... but I still couldn't bring myself to go through those bags... take em back to his house. So there it sits in my trunk. Just not there yet. Baby steps.

Isn't It Bad Enough

That if you watch News 25 Weekend that you're getting your weather, recorded by someone in Indiana... but tonight, there is a sub. And his nickname was "Buck." Insert eye roll here.

For those of you who don't know... when Jenny Li joined me in the corporate world several months ago, WEEK decided to move Jeff Muniz over one seat and not replace Jenny. The regular weekend weather guy is now Jason Meyers whose primary job is for WPTA in Fort Wayne.

And no offense to Buck who did well enough, but this whole concept irks me. There are times we have severe weather in this area... there should be someone local looking out for us. Just a viewer talkin...

I noticed at the end Jeff warning us about the dense fog tonight... thanks buddy! I'm sure Buck had no idea.

Where Does The Time Go?

My youngest turned four today. People say you'll blink and years will go by... and it's not like I didn't believe them, but it's still hard to shake that time slipping away feeling. Our older two will turn six and eight in the coming weeks. When did they get so old and when did I get old/responsible enough to have kids this old. I feel like moving to Peoria and starting at WMBD wasn't all that long ago, but it's been twelve years next month. Crazy.

I'm actually looking forward to getting back to work and having them back in school. Between the stress of Dave's death and being cooped up so much, I think we're all starting to drive each other a little nuts.

I Miss My Father In Law

It's not a resolution, but I'm going to try and start this blog back up again.

It's been a difficult two months starting with my father-in-law's heart attack, hospitalization and subsequent death.

I miss him. To be honest it feels like he's just on one of his fishing trips, but with each passing day I feel less and less like he's going to walk into my house whistling a tune.

I still remember the day he and I met. I was assigned to pick up a story on a TIF district in Pekin that another reporter had started. I called him up to see when he could do an interview, but he was booked all afternoon. But instead of telling me I was out of luck, he invited me to his house and said we could do it there before he and his family would have dinner. I didn't yet know he had a daughter about
my age.

Dave understood the value of a great relationship with the media and embraced them. He started media time at Pekin City Council meetings before executive session so reporters didn’t have to wait to ask questions. He gave them his home number and later his cell phone in case they ever needed anything answered. One of the few things that would get him upset is when someone would write/say he couldn’t be reached for comment. He developed genuine relationships with many of them and this is why so many members of the media current and former were so affected by his death on a personal level.

But that was just one side of him. I'm going to miss the man who didn't treat me like a son in law... he treated me like a son.

I don't think he had ever been to a soccer game before my sister in law, Tiffany, started playing, but he became the biggest supporter of the Pekin High girls soccer program. He re-started our booster club and without a concession stand, made due with the back of his van. And he was at almost every game, including the road games. I would always look over my shoulder and feel so good when I'd see him leaning over the fence, cheering the girls on. It's going to be a tough season for me come spring.

I will miss going to college football and basketball games... and I will miss the moments of excitement that my children would have when he would pop in. I'm still sad and know it'll be a while, but I feel so blessed that I had the time with him that I did.