What the Abilene Reporter-News liked, disliked: Hello, Sheryl!
LIKES
How's your bracket going? If you had a perfect NCAA men's bracket going into this weekend, you must: a) be a genius; b) own a real crystal ball; c) be back from the future; d) on a mind-altering substance when you filled out a bracket; e) let your pet pick the winners, or f) someone who should be our next president. How many fans knew there was a bona fide basketball college in Teaneck, New Jersey? You've gotta love March Madness.
Swoopes into town. Sheryl Swoopes certainly endeared herself to McMurry and others with her appearance for a women's luncheon here Thursday. She was made welcome, allowing her to be herself, which was both fun and enlightening. She said she doesn't play basketball anymore but does go to the gym to shoot. Wearing athletic shoes, she looked ready for a game of H-O-R-S-E against McMurry President Sandra Harper. Our money would be on Swoopes.
Imagination realized. An attaboy and attagirl to the group of Wylie East Junior High students known as Science Alliance for its role in creating Counselor's Care closets at each Wylie ISD campus. They raised $23,000 to stock those with school supplies and clothing for needy students. The team performed its Destination Imagination skit at an event Tuesday.
Clever. We liked the cleanup effort at Nelson Park being called "Marsh Madness." Instead of taking it to the hoop, those finding debris took it to the trash can.
DISLIKES
"Play ball!", not "Play Brawl!" Police were called about 9 p.m. Tuesday to the Cooper High School softball field, where fans were scuffling behind the Cooper dugout, according to our photographer. No arrests were made - hopefully, the tension abated. But what are student-athletes to gain from seeing adults failing to keep their composure and show sportsmanship? The players are putting enough pressure on themselves to be the best they can be without further pressure from those who should encourage them at a game, not disrupt it.
What's with all the wind? Maybe we've become so busy in our lives that the planet is spinning faster? One day the wind is blowing in at ballparks, a pitcher's best friend. Next game, it's blowing out and routine flyballs are out of there. It's the original March madness.
HMMM
Panic at Sonic. As businesses go, Sonic would seem to be one that did well during the pandemic, though the chain is facing supply issues like others. Last week, they were out of some popular sodas at some Abilene locations, and it has become a game to find a stall at which the order board works. Those often are blank, have an out-of-order sign attached or the card reader doesn't read cards. Last week, locations were out of cups and at one site, drinks were served in non-logo foam cups. It's driving even loyal Sonic fans crazy ...
Not that song again! Radio stations like to promote their "no-repeat workdays." Which is fine, until you hear the same songs the next day. How about a no-repeat workweek? There certainly are enough songs to do that.
We got the "Bad Beat." The big hoops news last weekend was not Gonzaga holding off TCU to gain the Sweet 16. Not even the casual post-game F-bomb dropped by Zags star and Richardson Pearce grad Drew Timme. TCU, down by six with under a second to play, rolled the ball upcourt and swished a long 3-pointer. The final 3-point margin meant Gonzaga spread bettors lost out on the meaningless shot. Anyone for frog legs?
Who's the boss? At McMurry's women's luncheon, First Financial Bank's Scott Dueser acknowledged the women in leadership roles today at FFN. One is Michelle Hickox, who became CFO in January. Dueser, however, called her the CEO, then, laughing, realized he had just given her his job. His successor may be a woman but for now, he's the boss.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: What the Abilene Reporter-News liked, disliked: Hello, Sheryl!
