Allow me to catch up on a few open letters. …
Dear Soccer,
You and I rarely see eye to eye. You do things with your game that drive me crazy. You think I am just dense and will never appreciate your nuances.
We have a respect for one another, but we also agree that it usually is best to just stay away from each other.
But then, every time I think we have an understanding, you pull me in a little closer. First, the World Cup, men’s and women’s, is fun to watch. And high school playoff soccer is, indeed, compelling.
(Guess I am just a sucker for playoffs, tournaments, championships.)
And then, to top it off, you give Clark County two girls teams in the state semifinals for the second year in a row. Last year, Columbia River and Camas each advanced to the Class 3A semifinals, and then Columbia River won it all.
This year, we have a Class 4A team — Skyview — and a Class 3A team — Prairie — in the semis. For both programs, this is new territory.
I was lucky enough to draw the Skyview assignments for the Storm’s first two playoff matches. Prairie was on the road its first two matches, then Paul Danzer, our soccer expert, got to see the Falcons win in the quarterfinals.
Danzer will be working double-duty later this week with the semifinals on Friday and the finals on Saturday. Trust me, you are better off with him, anyway. I respect you. He loves you.
Still, the schedule makes me wish your semifinals were on a Monday, with the finals on a Thursday. That way the athletes would get rest in between matches — back-to-back in soccer must be tough — and the matches would not conflict with football.
You see, Soccer, I can respect what you are doing in this nation, but football still rules here in the sports landscape.
Dear DAR fans,
That would be Day After Report fans. I started the DAR a few years ago because there is always so much more to a football game than can fit in a game report, on deadline.
At first, it was just extra notes from games I attended. Then other reporters helped out with notes from their games.
The last couple of years, I would, from time to time, call a coach on Saturday to get more insight for the DAR, which goes online weekly at The Columbian’s high school sports blog.
Well, now that we are down to one football team in the playoffs, the DAR will be a bit shorter. (Hopefully it will last a few more weeks, though.)
But it got me thinking about what I could do for winter sports. In football, the DAR is easier because teams play just one game a week. In basketball, there could be two or three games a week, and each league plays on different days.
So I’m not sure what I will produce this year, or the frequency of the reports, but I think we can make something happen. I’ll be asking coaches to help out with any noteworthy tidbits. Same with players and fans. E-mail them to me.
The DAR has become popular reading for the football fans. Soon, it will be basketball season. And I would love input from basketball fans.
Dear football bands,
You guys, well, you guys Rock!
There is a difference between great bands in general and great football bands. Some schools, I’m sure, have both. My occupation brings me to football stadiums every week in the fall. And I must say that I love you football bands that understand that football is the reason the stadiums are filled. It is bands like you that make the stadium experience that much better.
And while there are others I could celebrate, today I want to give a shout-out to the only football band still playing this season.
The Camas band not only is “into” the game, the band also creates a college-like atmosphere in pre-game. These musicians make the game even more special.
Camas’ tradition of marching to the visitor’s bleachers and playing the opponent’s fight song is classy. The Juanita fans appreciated the gesture Saturday night.
And in closing, thanks for being you, sports fans.
Paul Valencia covers high school sports for The Columbian. He can be reached at 360-735-4557 or e-mail at paul.valencia@columbian.com
