The Drive Home Will Never Be the Same

I was returning home from announcing two football games at Ted Chitwood Stadium in Raytown. Cardinals and Blue Jays both won, by the way.
The Royals were batting in the top of the 9th with a 1 run lead. As their batters were thrown out 1, 2, 3, any hopes of insurance runs were dashed.
As I turned left onto 350 from Noland Road, my drive took me through Knob Town. For those reading this from outside the Kansas City area, I kid you not, Knob Town. I was now on a path I had driven many times while teaching for 26 years in Raytown.
Do you know how when you hear newsworthy events on the radio, you remember where you were? I had a feeling this trip home was going to be remembered with what may happen in the Giants half of this inning.
As I left Knob Town, Holland came to the mound. Posey at the plate and with the second pitch, he pops up to Gordon. One out.
As I navigated the windy curves that as teens, we used to race through,  Sandoval bloops a hopper to Holland who lobs it to first. Two outs.
The familiar Unity Tower is within sight as Pence comes to the plate. Kansas City is having fun making jokes about him and his confusion about our city, Is it in Missouri or Kansas? That doesn't make his bat any less threatening.
He faces as many pitches as his two teammates this inning and hits a ball that follows the path that Sandoval's followed.  Holland again lobs it to first, three outs as I make my exit at Colbern(95th).
Royals up 2-1 on a 3-2 win on the world stage.
Watching it later on my DVR, confirmed these events took place over a mear 3-4 minutes.
Regardless how this series ends, we will each have our favorite highlights of the Royals' 2014 postseason.
For me, it will be hard to top Greg Holland knocking out the meat of the Giants order with 8 pitches and in less time than a normal commercial break.
This route home will never be the same.

KU Football Deserves a Winner!

KU has fired their current head coach.

Those who know me know that I am really indifferent on KU. That said, I feel it is a crime against their loyal basketball fans to force them to make excuses for their football team each year.

The chorus of, "wait til basketball" is beginning to sound scripted, even from their most loyal supporters.

Am I off base?

Promoting your High School Teams on Twitter. Fall 2014 Update

I published this last winter with the start of basketball season. I have updated in regards to football, but the same guidelines can apply to other prep sports.

High school fall season has begun and several hundred schools around Missouri and several thousand across the US have started their quest of a state title.

I have enjoyed sending score updates for teams I follow. I also pass along or RT updates of high school sports that mention me, @westmosports.

Allow me to offer some suggestions for those who would like to have their score updates retweeted.

1. State both teams, their scores, the period/inning/match and time left in the period.

Examples:
After 1, Raytown South 21 Lee's Summit 14.

3:03 left in 2nd, Park Hills goes up 14 to 6 against Sullivan.

2. If you want to mention an individual player, make it brief.

Walters w a 24 yd run to take the lead for @staleyfootball over Oak Grove 28-21. 4 left in 3rd.

Abbreviate when you can. Use digits, cut  out punctuation, anything to conserve your 140 characters.

3. If you know the twitter handle of one of the teams, use it, but only if it can be clear to the reader who the team is.

@FortOFootball 14 @willardschools 7 after 1.

Sometimes it is a judgement call. Your local followers may know @shsballcoach represents Smithville MO High School, but to be RTed by a follower across country, specific is better. If you have conserved characters, you will have room to mention @shsballcoach.

4. Use hashtags. I like to get my plug in for #mopreps, #kspreps, etc. The 2 letter state abbreviation plus "preps."
#mogbb or #mogbb for Missouri boys basketball or Missouri Girls Basketball.
It also helps to make a hashtags for the teams to make them easily found.
Try not to get too clever with hashtags. Their point is to get your tweet found by others interested in your update.

5. If you wish to promote your team and be their cheerleader, that is quite all right. However,  you will be RTed more often if you use a neutral voice.

"Putnam County 54 Milan 12 with 1:01 left in game," gets the same message across as "Putnam County is running all over Milan 54-12 with the end near. You get the subtle difference.

Also by taking a neutral voice, you will gain followers who follow your opponent.

6. Some sports are better reported with just a final score or result, such as Cross Country and Golf. I don't get many tweets in regards to these so here is your chance to get your team noticed.

7. As I mention on my twitter profile, I will RT when you mention me on any preps update. 

Guy Newcomb, @scoreboardguy will RT Missouri high school scores. 

There are several others on twitter who will pass along scores. The key is that you need to mention them in your tweet.

Thank you for reading this and let me know if it has been helpful. If I get several new followers, I will know it has. 

If your favorite team is seldom mentioned, let me know and I will see what I can do. Perhaps you need to be their twitter rep. 

You are all #1 in State Today! #mopreps

Right now, the smallest 8 Man team has the same record as the strongest Class 6 team, no I won't give specific examples, I don't want to leave someone out.

Your boys have been practicing and preparing since the whistle blew the end of the last game at Edward D. Jones last November. 

Seniors are returning and preparing to play their last season in pads or gaining attention to continue playing next year.

Veteran coaches are preparing to face brand new coaches and upsets are in the making.

A boy is sitting in Algebra class right now and tomorrow morning his name will be on the lips of sportswriters across the state. (keep your focus on Algebra son, the game isn't unitl 8:00 tonight)

The bands are tuning up, they have marched the lines. The dance squads have practiced. Hot dogs and sodas are ready.

If you get as excited as I do about high school football, let's hear a shout out for your team.

Play hard and keep cool tonight folks!

Royce Boehm interviewed on High School Football America

Check out this interview of Royce Boehm, Lee's Summit West Head Coach, by host Jeff Fisher.
http://soundcloud.com/highschoolfootballamerica/high-school-football-america-august-14-2014