Category: General
Posted by: dellascole
My parents have just moved into the 21st century. Aaron Johnston will be glad.
It wasn't easy for them -- it won't be easy for them -- and I probably will be spending quite a bit of time on the phone talking them through the whole ordeal.
After much deliberation, they now have a satellite dish. It's probably what they needed to do (for quite some time) -- and once they get used to it, they'll probably wonder why they didn't do it sooner.
They live in south central South Dakota - no access to cable TV, and on the very fringes of the commercial stations' coverage areas. They get a pretty good public TV signal, and that's about it.
They, like thousands of other Americans, received their government coupons for the analog-to-digital television converters. But they, like many others in their area, are struggling with the switchover.
So, my dad, in keeping with his "if at first you can't fix it, get a bigger hammer" philosophy -- grabbed a sledge (so to speak). He saw the ad in the newspaper, and after an hour on the phone with a satellite dish salesperson, took the plunge.
Mom broke the news. "Well," she said, "we've been struggling with this issue for quite a while, and just made the decision that something had to happen". Before I went into total panic over the latest family health malady, Mom made it clear they were making the major leap into telecommuncations technology. The dive would take place Tuesday, when the installer arrived.
My kids can click around a DVD or TV remote with the best of them. Me, I struggle for awhile before I get the hang of it. My parents...I saw a heck of a cell phone bill coming.
I figured I better check in Tuesday night to see how things were going. "Oh, we're getting it," Mom said. "The installer told us what were the local channels and I wrote them down. We're watching Andy Griffith now." So far, so good.
About 8:30, my phone rang. "You told us the South Dakota State women's game would be on at 8:30 and we can't find it. What's going on?" Mom sounded a little concerned.
"Don't worry - they haven't started the game feed to the South Dakota viewers yet. Stay with it - it''ll start in a minute or so". Sure enough, about 30 seconds later, Mom came back on the phone. "Oh, there it is. Okay, I'll let you go so you can watch the game".
More accurately, so they can watch the game.
They've always been big into listening to South Dakota State games on the radio. Now that they had the chance to see the Jackrabbit game with Baylor, they'll be SDSU women's basketball fans for life.
Not only did we pick up a dish - SDSU picked up a couple of bigger fans than what they had before.
It wasn't easy for them -- it won't be easy for them -- and I probably will be spending quite a bit of time on the phone talking them through the whole ordeal.
After much deliberation, they now have a satellite dish. It's probably what they needed to do (for quite some time) -- and once they get used to it, they'll probably wonder why they didn't do it sooner.
They live in south central South Dakota - no access to cable TV, and on the very fringes of the commercial stations' coverage areas. They get a pretty good public TV signal, and that's about it.
They, like thousands of other Americans, received their government coupons for the analog-to-digital television converters. But they, like many others in their area, are struggling with the switchover.
So, my dad, in keeping with his "if at first you can't fix it, get a bigger hammer" philosophy -- grabbed a sledge (so to speak). He saw the ad in the newspaper, and after an hour on the phone with a satellite dish salesperson, took the plunge.
Mom broke the news. "Well," she said, "we've been struggling with this issue for quite a while, and just made the decision that something had to happen". Before I went into total panic over the latest family health malady, Mom made it clear they were making the major leap into telecommuncations technology. The dive would take place Tuesday, when the installer arrived.
My kids can click around a DVD or TV remote with the best of them. Me, I struggle for awhile before I get the hang of it. My parents...I saw a heck of a cell phone bill coming.
I figured I better check in Tuesday night to see how things were going. "Oh, we're getting it," Mom said. "The installer told us what were the local channels and I wrote them down. We're watching Andy Griffith now." So far, so good.
About 8:30, my phone rang. "You told us the South Dakota State women's game would be on at 8:30 and we can't find it. What's going on?" Mom sounded a little concerned.
"Don't worry - they haven't started the game feed to the South Dakota viewers yet. Stay with it - it''ll start in a minute or so". Sure enough, about 30 seconds later, Mom came back on the phone. "Oh, there it is. Okay, I'll let you go so you can watch the game".
More accurately, so they can watch the game.
They've always been big into listening to South Dakota State games on the radio. Now that they had the chance to see the Jackrabbit game with Baylor, they'll be SDSU women's basketball fans for life.
Not only did we pick up a dish - SDSU picked up a couple of bigger fans than what they had before.
17/02: March Madness (in February)
Category: General
Posted by: dellascole
Hard to believe, but the high school winter sports schedule is winding down. The state gymnastics meet is this weekend, wrestling the next, and the girls' basketball teams move into district play next week.
With that in mind (for what it's worth), here's my take on the post-season:
Class "AA" gymnastics: Mitchell had the best team score in last Saturday's regional meets, and appears to be the team to beat. Watertown and Sioux Falls O'Gorman may be in the best position to challenge. Brookings most likely will fall in the fifth-to-eighth place range.
Class "A" gymnnastics: Madison's your favorite until someone can overtake them - remember, Britton-Hecla's qualifying score was only a point behind the Lady Bulldogs. But hats off to the Deuel Cardinals. Led by Sam Wiekamp, they've fashioned a tremendous season.
Class "A" wrestling: Rapid City Stevens and Rapid City Central finished one-two in the Dakota Duals in Brookings, and may well finish that way in the state tourney. I'm not sure ESD champ Aberdeen Central has the depth to stay with them.
Class "B" wrestling: I'm leaning toward Webster right now. Would love to be a mouse in the corner, to catch all the buzz about district tournaments going away.
Class "AA" Basketball: Girls - Even though they lost to Pierre, I still think Sioux Falls Washington is the team to beat. Brandon Valley, Pierre and Sioux Falls O'Gorman are teams to watch. Boys - I don't know if Huron has enough to take a run at Sioux Falls Lincoln. Brookings could be a dark horse.
After holding the Bobcats to 59, and Pierre in the 60's, look out for Yankton.
The Bucks may be coming on.
Class "A" basketball: Girls: Dell Rapids is the team to beat right now, but Pine Ridge and Parkston, in particular, bear watching. Whoever survives out of Clark/Willow Lake, Sioux Valley and Deuel could be a factor. Boys: Have to stick up for the hometown Platte-Geddes Black Panthers, but Madison, Sioux Falls Christian and Sioux Valley will challenge.
Class "B" basketball: Girls: Hanson's been number one the bulk of the year, but look out for Viborg. Elkton-Lake Benton is "sneaky good" - if they can get by Castlewood in the region, look out for the Elks. Boys: Wow - who to pick in this balanced class? Who has the depth to put together three straight days of consistent basketball? It could be interesting to watch Estelline, if they get out of the region.
Here you go - kick this around in your morning coffee groups, and let the games begin.
With that in mind (for what it's worth), here's my take on the post-season:
Class "AA" gymnastics: Mitchell had the best team score in last Saturday's regional meets, and appears to be the team to beat. Watertown and Sioux Falls O'Gorman may be in the best position to challenge. Brookings most likely will fall in the fifth-to-eighth place range.
Class "A" gymnnastics: Madison's your favorite until someone can overtake them - remember, Britton-Hecla's qualifying score was only a point behind the Lady Bulldogs. But hats off to the Deuel Cardinals. Led by Sam Wiekamp, they've fashioned a tremendous season.
Class "A" wrestling: Rapid City Stevens and Rapid City Central finished one-two in the Dakota Duals in Brookings, and may well finish that way in the state tourney. I'm not sure ESD champ Aberdeen Central has the depth to stay with them.
Class "B" wrestling: I'm leaning toward Webster right now. Would love to be a mouse in the corner, to catch all the buzz about district tournaments going away.
Class "AA" Basketball: Girls - Even though they lost to Pierre, I still think Sioux Falls Washington is the team to beat. Brandon Valley, Pierre and Sioux Falls O'Gorman are teams to watch. Boys - I don't know if Huron has enough to take a run at Sioux Falls Lincoln. Brookings could be a dark horse.
After holding the Bobcats to 59, and Pierre in the 60's, look out for Yankton.
The Bucks may be coming on.
Class "A" basketball: Girls: Dell Rapids is the team to beat right now, but Pine Ridge and Parkston, in particular, bear watching. Whoever survives out of Clark/Willow Lake, Sioux Valley and Deuel could be a factor. Boys: Have to stick up for the hometown Platte-Geddes Black Panthers, but Madison, Sioux Falls Christian and Sioux Valley will challenge.
Class "B" basketball: Girls: Hanson's been number one the bulk of the year, but look out for Viborg. Elkton-Lake Benton is "sneaky good" - if they can get by Castlewood in the region, look out for the Elks. Boys: Wow - who to pick in this balanced class? Who has the depth to put together three straight days of consistent basketball? It could be interesting to watch Estelline, if they get out of the region.
Here you go - kick this around in your morning coffee groups, and let the games begin.
29/10: In Memoriam to Gene
It feels like I should say I lost a mentor this week. In reality, I lost a lot more.
Eugene Platek died this week at age 90. Gene, with Bob Reimers and Jack DuBlon, put KBRK on the air in 1955. Jack relinquished his ownership stake along the way, leaving Gene and Bob to run KBRK-AM and FM until they made the decision to sell in 1986. In fact, Gene was one of the owners who gave me my first full-time job in commercial radio some 25 years ago.
I was one of several college students who came to the station looking for part-time work, and Gene and Bob saw fit to allow me to sign-off the station Saturday and Sunday nights, fill in a few weekday shifts, and other tasks as assigned (ie: mow the lawn, shovel the walk, etc.). But they gave me the chance to pursue my real on-air dream, play-by-play -- even lettimg me call an occasional high school game on the air.
Gene and Bob were very particular about what, and who, they allowed on their stations (I learned that the hard way when I messed up Gene's favorite - the Friday afternoon swing show), so the gamble they took in 1982 still leaves me a bit flabbergasted.
They were looking for a full-time sports announcer - eventually offering me the job. Knowing the care they took with their stations, I still don't fully know what they saw in me. They were probably wondering what kind of roller coaster ride they were in for, but I will always appreciate the choice they made - and hope things panned out for them.
Gene handled the bookkeeping for the company - and was always careful to see the station's money was spent wisely. If you could justify an expense, Gene had no qualms about the purchase - he'd come up to you, ask how the new equipment was working, and if everything was fine, the issue was settled. He also had a gruff exterior that not everyone who worked for his was able to get through. I somehow managed, and what I found was one of the most caring, kind, understanding people I've met in this business. And that only scratches the surface.
He didn't talk a lot about his family, but when he did, it was obvious he was extremely proud of his children, grandchildren, and all their accomplishments. I know that caring, kindness and understanding extended beyond his family, to all of his friends and others who knew him, including me.
I don't know if I ever told Gene this, but I will forever be in a devout Green Bay Packer-New York Yankees backers' debt for giving a Minnesota Vikings-Minnesota Twins fan the chance he did.
My Vikings won Sunday, Gene. And from the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything, and for being you.
Eugene Platek died this week at age 90. Gene, with Bob Reimers and Jack DuBlon, put KBRK on the air in 1955. Jack relinquished his ownership stake along the way, leaving Gene and Bob to run KBRK-AM and FM until they made the decision to sell in 1986. In fact, Gene was one of the owners who gave me my first full-time job in commercial radio some 25 years ago.
I was one of several college students who came to the station looking for part-time work, and Gene and Bob saw fit to allow me to sign-off the station Saturday and Sunday nights, fill in a few weekday shifts, and other tasks as assigned (ie: mow the lawn, shovel the walk, etc.). But they gave me the chance to pursue my real on-air dream, play-by-play -- even lettimg me call an occasional high school game on the air.
Gene and Bob were very particular about what, and who, they allowed on their stations (I learned that the hard way when I messed up Gene's favorite - the Friday afternoon swing show), so the gamble they took in 1982 still leaves me a bit flabbergasted.
They were looking for a full-time sports announcer - eventually offering me the job. Knowing the care they took with their stations, I still don't fully know what they saw in me. They were probably wondering what kind of roller coaster ride they were in for, but I will always appreciate the choice they made - and hope things panned out for them.
Gene handled the bookkeeping for the company - and was always careful to see the station's money was spent wisely. If you could justify an expense, Gene had no qualms about the purchase - he'd come up to you, ask how the new equipment was working, and if everything was fine, the issue was settled. He also had a gruff exterior that not everyone who worked for his was able to get through. I somehow managed, and what I found was one of the most caring, kind, understanding people I've met in this business. And that only scratches the surface.
He didn't talk a lot about his family, but when he did, it was obvious he was extremely proud of his children, grandchildren, and all their accomplishments. I know that caring, kindness and understanding extended beyond his family, to all of his friends and others who knew him, including me.
I don't know if I ever told Gene this, but I will forever be in a devout Green Bay Packer-New York Yankees backers' debt for giving a Minnesota Vikings-Minnesota Twins fan the chance he did.
My Vikings won Sunday, Gene. And from the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything, and for being you.