I'm seeing more and more small high schools are cancelling their football seasons due to declining numbers of players. Port Edwards is one of the latest. It's been reported that six would be starters didn't come out. And Port Edwards is not alone. Westfield and North Fond du Lac also cancelled this week. Reasons? Injury and concussion risk? Other sports? Specialization in other sports? Probably all of those…but it would seem to me the injury risk is the biggest reason. And not only the long term possibility of CTE and concussion problems going forward. If you are a standout in another sport, why would you risk losing out on those seasons? You only have to look back to several players in our area who have lost their senior seasons of basketball, hockey, baseball etc because of a debilitating injury in football. Of course there are injury risks in all of those sports as well…and thousands of players around the country get through the seasons intact. But if you are a high school athlete it would seem you are weighing the risk and reward much more seriously these days. As the season begins next week, I'll be there for another year of broadcasting. Football is too much a part of our culture to ever go away completely. But its with the awareness that every big hit that we ooh and aah over could be doing permanent damage. It's a sobering thought and one that is driving more and more athletes to put away the pads.
A great run for the Wausau National Little League All-Stars as tgheir season comes to an end in Indianapolis. Kudos to the coaches and players. I hope I'm still coaching Legion ball in 4-5 years when these kids get to high school!
According to Legislative Fiscal Bureau analysis, the break-even point on the Foxconn incentives would be in 2042-43. Not to mention that environmental rules are being waived in the construction of the plant. Is it really as worth it as Scott Walker would have you believe?
Elections have consequences…as the country drifts to war we remain aware that Rex Tillerson has not nominated anyone to fill dozens of posts at the State Department. At a time that screams for more diplomacy not less, the Trump Administration would seem to rather navigate foreign policy by bombast and bluster using Twitter or his house organs “Trump TV” & Fox & Friends. I feel for the relatives and loved ones of those men and women serving in South Korea and other forward bases in the Pacific. The fates of your sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters are in the hands of inexperienced hacks who are making this up as they go along. This is going to end badly for everyone involved unless cooler heads can talk El Presidente down from his posturing.
Songs Of The Day
