Outside the Lines

The sports week
The loss by the basketball girls to Goodhue put the sub-section pairings into a bit of a muddle.  BP had the inside track for the number one spot until the Goodhue defeat, but now any one of four teams may wind up in the top position.  I am sure the locals would like another chance at the Wildcats, as the Blossoms had their second-poorest shooting night of the season against the visitors.  It would probably be another defensive game when and if that ever happens, but it certainly would be competitive.
It was a little bit of a relief to see the team come back from that tough defeat to take care of business against WEM.  The team still did not shoot very well in that game, but I thought the defense played a very scrappy game, despite being rebounded badly by the visitors. The Bucs have a lot of size, and they used it effectively, especially on their offensive end.
Most fans are aware that almost every team goes through a little down stretch of games, and this may be that time for the Blossoms.  I am confident that the shooting touch will come back, and the team will be prepared for the playoff season.
The basketball boys played one of their better games in defeating WEM at Waterville last Friday, Jan. 23.  The Bucs defeated BP in the first game at Blooming on a spate of three-pointers, but a tough Blossoms defense in the return game triggered a rare win at Waterville.    If the locals could just somehow translate that performance into their game every time, that would be very good.  
Finally, wrestler Zach Nirk neared a milestone last week, when he came within two wins of joining a pretty elite crowd of 100-win careers.  Undoubtedly, he will pick up that special accompishment this week, if he didn’t already do it at last Saturday’s Lake City Invitational. 
Snow week coming
One of the events that students always look forward to in this long stretch after Christmas is Snow Week and the accompanying activities.  This year the week’s royalty will be introduced on Monday, Feb. 2, and excitement for that is already beginning to build.  Senior classmates have chosen the candidates, and they include Princess Taylor Hagen, Nicole Inwards, Erin Naatz, Molly Walsh and Daysha Zilm; Prince Jacob Carlson, Jake Decker, Zach Nirk, Jackson Schewe and Collin Wobschall. 
 All of these candidates are excellent representatives of the BP students, and I wish all of them the best of luck, as the coronation kicks off an entertaining week of activities leading up to the snow dance at the end of the week. It should be a fun time for students and a welcome break from the period after Christmas that needs some interruption for other things. 
A hero passes
Chicago sports fans, as well as fans around the country, were saddened at the death of Chicago Cubs former player Ernie Banks.  The originator of the saying, “It’s a good day for baseball, let’s play two”, Banks was one of those players who commanded respect from fans and players alike for his love of baseball and his devotion to the Cubs.  
He was to the Cubs, like Kirby Puckett, Harmon Killebrew, and Kent Hrbek are to the Minnesota Twins fans. Banks played exclusively with the Cubs for 19 years, participated in 14 All-Star games, hit 512 home runs, yet never participated in a playoff game. He was inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1977.    He married three times and adopted a girl in his last marriage.  Banks was one week away from his 84th birthday when he died in Chicago last week.
Gala nears
I don’t mind acknowledging that I am one f the biggest boosters of the local Boys & Girls Club, because I think its services to children are so necessary and so valuable. That is a big reason that I will encourage residents to support the club’s activities by attending the annual Gala, now just a week and a half away, on Feb.7.
The event at the BP Servicemen’s club will offer two auctions, a short program by club members, and a great chance to socialize with neighbors and friends.  Food can be ordered off the regular Foxhole menu, and the only charge for the evening will be a $5 fee to purchase bidding numbers for the silent and live auctions. Some valuable items will be up for auction, and bidding is expected to be brisk.  I hope to see you there.
Let’s close this week with a couple of supposedly wise sayings:  Why is it that fat chance and slim chance both mean the same thing? Ecumenism is getting to know the opposite sects; and finally, an egotist is always me-deep in conversation.  Not earthshaking, but interesting, don’t you think. We’ll talk again.