Dear dimwit on the phone

Couple of weeks ago we got a message from someone letting us know Podunk Cal Ripken was playing for state title in 45 minutes in a town that was about an hour's drive away, if we could even go there. Uh, should we take the DeLorean or the corporate helicopter?

Today, a message on our Facebook page letting us know another Ripken team was opening regionals in the south part of the state. Left a message thanking them and asking if we could get an email with results at the department mailbox? I'm betting we won't get an email. Because, unless I missed an important day in J-school or high school biology, these results don't get here via symbiosis, or AP!

 

I know it's been said on here before - and probably in this thread - but I can't get over how many people think everyone is interested in how their little Timmy or Suzie does in a youth sports event. Probably 99.999 percent of the people who give a half-shit are there already.

When I was still in the business, my daughter was in some summer swim team district meet, and I took the day off to attend. My wife and I are there, and a then-friend of ours (and mother of another swimmer) asks if there's going to be a big writeup and photo in the paper, because "it's such a big deal for these kids, and they work so hard", etc.

I tell her no, the majority of our readership wouldn't pay attention to this swim meet if it was being held in their bathtub. She didn't like that and got a little pissy in return. Finally I said I haven't seen (her husband), and ask where he is. She said he was at work. So I give it back to her in return. "Doesn't he know it's such a big deal for these kids, and they work so hard?" She just turned on her heel and stomped away.

My wife was about ready to kill me, but man did that feel good.

 

While I was on vacation, somebody called in to report their 3-year-old scored a hole in one and wanted it in the paper. A hole in one at mini-golf. No word if it was the hole with the windmill.

 

That's rich!!!

 

If it was the 18th hole where you get a free round if you ace it then it's a huge fucking deal. Been trying to nail that hole for decades and can't.

 

"That's what HE said!"

 

Caller begins by saying he couldn't get through to the sports talk radio station, so of course he decides to call the newspaper just to vent his complaints about a radio announcer. He also felt some need to be validated by asking if other people have called us with the same complaint.

 

Took the family to a new indoor glow-in-the-dark mini golf place a few weeks back. They have 2 18-hole courses, and it was $8 per person, which includes playing both of the 18-hole courses, then you can pick your favorite 18-hole course and play it again. So 54 holes and 2 1/2 hours later, we get to the free game hole, and we're just ready to get out of there. Of course, out of 4 people, 3 of us smack the ball up there and nail the free game.

 

I hate when I go to one of my son's events and people there who know I'm a reporter assume I'm working.

When they ask if it will be in the paper, I'll say "Nope, just being a dad."

 

This is why I'm glad my sister, who was the starting goalie on the girls' soccer team at my alma mater, has graduated. Every time I'd go to a game of hers -- which wasn't often, because of work -- it never failed that 10 or so folks would ask me if I was there to cover the game and if photos would be in the paper the next day.

One parent, who I've known for several years, got mad at me when I went to one of their Saturday morning games and I told her the only thing the game would get is a brief writeup in our roundup for Sunday. Had another get mad at me when I went to her senior night game because I wasn't there to "take pictures" because senior night is a "big deal."

Never mind the fact that my sister was one of the seniors being honored. I apparently wasn't allowed to be there if I wasn't taking pictures, according to one of the parents.

 

Did this lead to a long venting about radio personalities in general? If not, you missed your chance.

 

Why bother shooting it in there for the free round anyways? Just pick up the ball and start at Hole No. 1 and play 17 holes again.