Kobe Russell’s game winner at the buzzer on Saturday in Ellsworth moves the Cardinals to within one game of conference leaders St. Croix Central and Osceola.  is also a game back in the conference standings. Just as Middle Border boys basketball prognosticators predicted, the aforementioned four teams will battle it out in what is expected to be an entertaining second half of the season. Incidentally, last week Osceola cracked the top 10 in the most recent state rankings and were subsequently upended by St. Croix Central 59-56. 

And another one leaves the profession. An area basketball colleague with over 300 wins and multiple conference and regional championships recently resigned. One of the primary reasons the successful head coach turned in his clipboard was meddling parents. In recent years we certainly have heard that song. Sadly, the days of long tenured skippers appear to be over. Today, coaching at the high school level has become a turnstile career thanks in large part to overbearing parents and adults. For years and years, it was the officials who were targets of berating adult fans, similar to what was on display at last Friday’s game between Amery and Prescott. However, today, the boorish commentary is commonly lobbed at the coach in person and on social media. Reports are that the successful veteran coach, after almost three decades of coaching, had just had enough. 

The 42nd Annual Northwest Wisconsin Baseball Clinic will be held at the Knowles Center on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls on Saturday, Feb. 7. Cost of the clinic is $60. Those interested in attending should contact head coach Steve Bartlein at  steven.bartlein@uwrf.edu

Despite the frigid temperatures I and a couple friends of mine attended the Annual Twins Fest Celebration at Target Field this past weekend. Minnesota and all Major League teams host similar events to give fans up close and personal interactions with players and to create excitement and anticipation for the fast-approaching 2026 season. It was a joy to watch young fans with face-splitting smiles catch glimpses, snap photos, or get autographs of their heroes. On the other hand, I couldn’t help but wonder if the middle-aged adult man standing in line next to the 6-year-old boy was doing so for the same reason or was he seeking an autograph for the sole purpose of selling it to make a buck? I wonder what the percentage is for adult autograph seekers doing that for that purpose. Guesses anyone? 

From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: The DNR is now hiring seasonal staff for Wisconsin's state parks, forests, trails and recreation areas. A wide range of position types are available that include opportunities in land management, outdoor recreation and education. Seasonal staff are responsible for outdoor maintenance, facility maintenance, groundskeeping work and customer service for property visitors. Seasonal work typically starts in the spring to early summer and extends through late summer to fall, with flexibility depending upon the candidate's availability and the property's needs. Available positions include park rangers, natural resources educators, campground attendants, and Groundskeepers. To apply, visit Wisc.Jobs and search "Parks."

Headshaker of the Week: While attending Twins Fest this past weekend, as expected, some of the lines were quite long. When it comes to patience one would expect a bit of whining from some of the kiddos. Mournful cries of “how long is it going to take?”, “Mom, I have to go to the bathroom,” or “Dad, I’m hungry” were common phrases uttered in the line by youngsters wearing adjustable hats that were way too big for them. But when similar phrases are articulated by bearded people with driver’s licenses, it leads to much more than eye rolls. Cries of “This is ridiculous!” “What’s taking so long!” and “I didn’t pay money to stand in #@$%$#^$ line!” My guess is that those same “adults” complain if they don’t have their quarter pound cheeseburger in hand one minute after their order. Adults complaining at an event primarily created for young fans? Now that’s a headshaker.