Overheard in the press box

I worked with a columnist who would regularly take the quotes that were the answers to the questions that I asked. That pissed me off.

 

Wow. Does anyone know to take correct volleyball stats? The girl who is 5-foot-2 did not get one block, so don't try to pass off the she had five blocks.

 

I hate to bag on 15-year-old girls, but why are high-school bookkeepers always 15-year-old girls who seemingly don't even like the sport they're not watching?

I remember one high-school game I covered where the stat girl asked lowly assistant coach No. 7 after each play what happened. The coach might as well have taken the stats himself.

 

The IHSA has a 40-point mercy rule. Clock runs in the second half -- except after scores and timeouts -- once the margin reaches 40. It's amazing how much bullshit it saves.

 

They don't know anything about any sport, except their boyfriend plays it.

 

Earliest running clock I've ever seen was tonite - 8:30 mark of the second quarter of a football game. Home team just went up, 42-0, en route to a 52-7 win.

 

In Michigan, no matter how bad the beatdown, running clock can't start until after half.

 

If you were covering a game on this side of the river, the clock operator/official/whoever got it wrong. The running clock doesn't start until it's a 45-point lead, and only after halftime.

 

It should start at 42 no matter when that occurs.

Last night, I was at a first-round girls state soccer game. It was 0-0 at the half, real exciting I'm telling you. The announcer, one of the girl's dads said the concession stand had valium half off. That gave me a chuckle. I guess I cover some humorless people.

 

As far as I know, the KHSAA hasn't changed the rule recently. The last "update" to it came in 2002, when now-commish Tackett sent out a state-wide e-mail to all member schools.

 

Not my story but pretty funny. Rural Ga. high school, guy from the local weekly (in his first weeks on the job) sets up shop in the press box, only to get screamed at by the school's AD because "THE PRESS BOX ISN'T FOR THE PRESS!"

 

That's funny, but not uncommon. I've been told there is no room for reporters in numerous high school press boxes. Between the PA guy and spotter, radio guy, and coaches, they don't have any more room.