Duerrisms Marches into March and preps for Prep Baseball.
Happy Leap Day everyone and welcome to Duerrisms, presented by the good people at ADVANCE Physical Therapy. I may have been born blue and weathered, but I still hope to burst just like a Supernova.
A Titanic Duerrisms thanks to Kenny Schuster and the Warsaw West Central/Niota Titancats (of Anaheim) because of whom this basketball season already goes into the books as an unqualified success. In all seriousness, our sincerest congratulations to the West Hancock basketball crew and the entire Hancock County community on representing this area on the floor (and in the stands) with such incredible aplomb. It was just a treat to watch. Congrats as well to Jay Baldwin's Holy Trinity Lady Crusaders, who came up just a little shy in their bid for state championship perfection. Lest we forget Joe Eilering's Routt Lady Rockets and their fourth place Class 1A Finish. These were three incredibly classy groups of young ladies and it has been our honor to cover them from start to finish of this season. Fingers crossed this week for the QND Lady Raiders to continue practicing a little Orne-athology and bring home a 3A Title of their own to add to the hardware haul, with the Missouri Schools soon to follow suit....
And we here at KHQA will continue to bust our tails to bring you every ounce of Postseason Coverage possible, while still possible. Tyler Fulghum pulled off the rare State Wrestling/State Basketball doubleheader last Saturday with a Moline-Bloomington back-to-back to celebrate Macomb's Elite Eight grappling appearance and West Hancock's State Championship. Yours truly made two separate trips to Bloomington to follow Routt, a blizzard riddled roadie to Des Moines with Holy Trinity, plus side stops in Carrollton, Jacksonville, Liberty, Camp Point, Fort Madison, Bushnell, White Hall and the Monmouth Supersectional. And if any of you out there have any pull with my boss, Carol Sowers, this might be a fine time to sweet talk her into "Copter Seven" for your friendly neighborhood Sports Guys. We are still standing and still loving our job. But I would be extraordinarily pleased if the IHSA were to schedule the Class 2A South 36th Street Supersectional next season. Laugh if you will, but if history is any indication, KHQA has a better chance of hosting a postseason tournament then our poor friends at Warsaw or Nauvoo, who keep getting passed over like Susan Lucci.
Sadly, I am still doing a really poor job right now returning phone messages and e-mails. It is crazy around here and I am generally in the office for only about 30 minutes every day before running out to playoff games. My continued apologies and I will do my best to get caught up with the Madness dies down....
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KHQA/ADVANCE Physical Therapy Student Athlete of the Week
(Application forms must be submitted through your local athletic director or principal. We can provide them with the proper forms if you contact us at crees@khqa.com)
Week Twenty One Winner: RENITA BUNTE, QND Basketball and Softball
Week Twenty Winner: JAMES HURT, Keokuk Football, Basketball and Soccer
Week Nineteen Winner: MISTIE RAE MILLER, North Shelby Softball
Week Eighteen Winner: GARRETT HOWLAND, Pittsfield Basketball/Baseball
Week Seventeen Winner: MATT SNYDER, Illini West Football/Basketball/Baseball
Week Sixteen Winner: SARA FEDLER, Holy Trinity Basketball/Volleyball
Week Fifteen Winner: DEVIN WOMBLES, Pleasant Hill Basketball/Volleyball
Week Fourteen Winner: KELSEY LITTLE, West Central Volleyball/Basketball
Week Thirteen Winner: RYAN HESSE, Van-Far Football/Basketball
Week Twelve Winner: ERIN EALY, Rushville/Industry Track and Field
Week Eleven Winner: JOE ZELLER, Jacksonville Routt Football/Basketball
Week Ten Winner: MARK BAKER, QND Cross Country
Week Nine Winner: JOE GILLIAM, Paris Football/Basketball
Week Eight Winner: SAMANTHA MURFIN, Highland Softball/Basketball
Week Seven Winner: ZACH RODEFFER, Hamilton Golf
Week Six Winner: TAYLOR JOEHL, Concord Triopia Football
Week Five Winner: ERIN MAYES, South Shelby Basketball, Softball
Week Four Winner: JAMES VANDENBERG, Keokuk Football, Basketball
Week Three Winner: LUKE GUTHRIE, Quincy High Golf
Week Two Winner: MATT BUREN, Macomb, Basetball/Basketball
Week One Winner: ASHLEY HINKAMPER, QND Tennis
Overall Past Scholarship Winners:
2006: MIKAL BENCOMO, Clopton (SEMO Basketball)
2007: KATELYN BASTERT, Carthage (Duke University Cross Country)
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BASKETBALL 2008
Random Thoughts from the Trenches:
1. My KHQA Girls Player of the Year vote is decided, and at the risk of letting the cat out of the bag, it goes to Chicago Marshall junior Pivot Adrienne Godbold. Okay, minor technicality, she is not really from the KHQA viewing area. Still, the Commandos Center of Gravity is far and away the best athletic talent I've seen in person this season and perhaps overall since Ogonna Nnamani. And that was fighting through foul trouble against QND. As our buddy Eric Ervin quipped during the state tournament on the radio, if she was playing for QND, the Raiders would still be alive. And I think he was talking about Scott Douglas' Raiders.
2. Speaking of QND, am I wrong to be absolutely amazed by the Tim Bearden Streak? It never dawned on me until this week that Bearden had played in every single game during his four year career or what an amazing show of endurance that required. Remember, how we all thought this season he would be a DNP/Scratch for the Quincy High game after tweaking his ankle the night before? That's Brett Farve type toughness and we salute you, Tim.
3. It's not his nature to deflect any attention from his girls, but I fear good guy and tremendous basketball skipper Jay Baldwin may have coached his final game at Holy Trinity this week during the Lady Crusaders' loss to eventual state champion Springville. He nearly called it quits last season, but his girls talked him out of it just so they could all make one more run at that elusive state title. Make no mistake, Baldwin is a phenomenal coach who always got max value out of his kids. For some reason, he just never seems to get the kind of ink that other skippers in our are command. Maybe it’s a function of bad timing. Baldwin's two best coaching efforts came in the shadows of Cardinal Stritch's Hey Day with Jennifer Goetz and this crazy year when West Hancock, QND, Routt, Canton, and South Shelby have all made powerhouse girls basketball the norm. More than that, Baldwin has always been what was right about coaching. A guy who sacrificed his own time not to inflate his own ego, but to truly help young people achieve more. That's a good guy who may be leaving our ranks and this will be a poorer basketball community for his absence.
4. I am really tired of banging this drum every season, but there is no coach in our area who does a better job every year, with less personal adulation, than Jeff Abell. We all love to tout the fact that Reno Pinkston and Sean Taylor can take teams with 10 win talent and milk 20 victories out of them, and its an easy sell because both have Championship Rings in glamour programs. Abell doesn't have a ring and West Central isn't among the 10 most regarded programs in our area, obviously, but I would argue that his ability to mask weakness in his team and move them forward from November to February ranks with ANYONE. He wins more than he should, with teams that are often flawed in their construction. Every time regionals roll around, Abell beats someone his team "shouldn't" If this guy isn't on your Top Ten area coaching list, I think you are seriously missing out.
5. He's not an "area" guy but I thought it was an incredibly classy move by Carrollton Coach Jeff Krumwiede to show up for his radio gig with WBBA for the North Greene Sectional wearing a Griggsville Perry shirt. Krumwiede would make an oustanding color man, if he ever gives up his day job. He has a real gift for conveying the science of basketball and distilling it down in a way that makes it applicable to both the casual fan and the devotee. He's a really sharp cat.
6. This is a stolen sentiment, but while all the focus this week during the Palmyra/South Shelby District Semifinal Showdown was on the glamour pairing of Jonathon Nutt and Matt Patterson, the guy who actually won the game for the Cardinals was Justin Wilt. Neither Nutt nor Patterson reached their scoring averages in that contest(credit that to the amazing job they actually did guarding one another) and I would argue that neither really had their best fastball offensively on this night. Wilt, on the other hand, was as good as we've seen him. He had a couple of huge baskets down the stretch, including the game breaker in overtime, did his usual solid job rebounding (with Bryce Johnston out for the season, that was even more important) and played outstanding defense. Look, there was a part of me that was ready to argue this off-season that Wilt deserves a great deal of Preseason Football Player of the Year consideration because he might just be the best tight end our area has produced since at least Triopia's Brandon Witte. Now, I am not certain the "unsung" argument doesn't apply to the hardwoods as well.
7. Unsung Heroes:The Blue Devils may be done, but Mitchel Rein was really special this week in the East Moline Regional, beyond just his terrific mid-range jump shooting. Bowling Green's Dustin Coleman continues to morph from afterthought to All Conference caliber performer in Steve Boeh's system. Can't remember a kid who has made bigger strides over a month long stint in recent memory. Outside of Sugar Shane Mosley in his prime, I am not sure I've seen a young man with faster hands and quicker reflexes than Highland's Josh Mims. Dakota Bainter and Nathan Meyers have Marion County putting District Title hardware into the Trophy Case. Brashear proved that the Mustang's Sectional Foe, LaPlata (28-1) isn't immortal on Friday during an overtime thriller. Maybe Ryan Wood's team is this year's Cinderella.
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BASEBALL 2008
KHQA Preseason Power Poll
1. BEARDSTOWN
When in doubt, bet on Robin Lewis, the best skipper in the business. The Tigers made their first ever Final Four appearance despite playing the entire season without expected co-ace Jonathon Blair. The silver lining to that dark cloud is that Beardstown was able to broaden its pitching staff beyond just Blair and our preseason player of the year, Tanner Howell (12-2, 1.55 ERA, 112 strikeouts in 74 innings) The emergence of crafty pitcher Trevor Courson (7-4, 3.55 ERA) gives Lewis three front line starters, plus the potential of using promising youngster Jeremy Deacon as a fourth weapon. Howell is the nastiest pitcher in the business, with a sizzling fastball and knee buckling curve, who spent the fall playing traveling baseball. Blair is a huge framed kid at 6'5" who has limitless potential, if he can stay healthy. Both are potential franchise number one starters. Both are left handed. You do the math from there. The question marks for Robin Lewis arise on offense. Howell is a proven stick in the middle of the line up after hitting .402 with 40 RBI and 4 HR. The Tigers have a promising speed merchant atop the lineup in Tyson Nordsiek, who hit .333 in the two hole. The rest of the batting order is in flux. The graduation losses of Kylor Bell, Evan Davidsmeier, and unsung Josh Lathrop create giant shoes to fill. Blair has some promise there, particularly if he does a better job protecting the strike zone. Don't be surprised to see youngsters Justice Rice, Sam Reller, and Chris Yost thrust into important roles early in their career. The Tigers won't need much in the way of scoring in support of this pitching staff, and few coaches manage their weaknesses better than Lewis.
2. MACOMB
Max Kreps will trot out the Tri State's most explosive and veteran batting order in 2008. For starters, the Bombers can flesh out their lineup around a pair of power hitting lefties in Curt Myers and Davis Hendrickson. A potential Division One prospect at catcher, Myers is blessed with freakish brute strength (see also his two year run as an undefeated state wrestling champion) and a proven ability to kill mistake pitches. He has enormous defensive promise as well behind the plate. Hendrickson's power, conversely, comes from one of the cleanest, most compact swings in the region. Davis is a phenomenal natural athlete and is just now starting to scratch the surface of his talents and he makes the art of hitting seem almost effortless. Matt Buren, who produced the Bombers highest batting average in 2007, is back to provide lineup protection behind the lefties in the five spot. Look for breakout talent Kendall Hocker, who can spray the ball around nicely, to enjoy an expanded role at the top of the line up this season. Derek "Sparky" Kreps gives Kreps the versatility to move Myers out from behind the plate (likely as his teams number one pitcher this season) and might be a really nice source of power production in the six hole. Boo Ackers leads the brigade of underclassmen who will be asked to fill out lineup. Minus ace Myers Hendrickson, the Bombers lack a proven pitcher. The Bombers also face a brutal schedule this season, which features a trip to Walt Disney World to face some of the best teams in the nation in a showcase tournament. The bottom line here is that Macomb needs to find a way to beat the team atop this list.
3. HANNIBAL
Clint Graham graduates All NCMC picks Jimmy Colborn and Aron Lee from a a Pirate squad that posted its first District win in eight years last season. So why in the world do I have this Hannibal squad ranked amongst far more pedigreed and traditionally successful programs? Unbelievable raw talent, that is why. The Pirates boast the best group of underclassmen anywhere in Tri State baseball, led by the North Central Missouri Conference's ace of aces, Neil Hugenberg. An honorable mention All State selection as a sophomore, Hugenberg is Northeast Missouri's answer to Tanner Howell. When he's got his good stuff, Hugenberg is perhaps the least hittable pitcher in the region. The real trick, however, is that Graham is developing a deep and promising staff beyond just his ahead-of-his years ace. Underclassmen Ian Hatton, Jake Stamp, Charlie Fohey and Colin Krigbaum have all flashed potential in various spot stints and starts last year. Hatton was particularly impressive in Legion Ball this summer. Not only does Hannibal have the potential of a very deep and talented pitching staff, the Pirates have the Tri State's next great catcher waiting in the wings to handle the staff in Zach Nichols. The kid is like a bigger, faster version of Kylor Bell behind the plate. Offensively, Graham has some holes to plug without the ever reliable Colborn and Lee around. That said, Nichols and Colin Krigbaum look like future all conference type hitters. Hugenberg is very solid with the bat. Brandon Mundle is a kid who could step up. Ian Hatton has great potential. Jay Mosley is a real sleeper. Granted, the young nucleus here is a little scary, but don't forget this group won a USSAA State Title as the River Rats back in 2004 (Jonathon Nutt and Matt Patterson were on that team as well) so these kids have a real hunger to be successful and I am banking they deliver well ahead of schedule.
4. QND
The graduation of Michael Weiman stings at the very top of the lineup, but the Raiders should still have substantial pop in the lineup. Brandon Miles is the center of gravity guy here, blessed with incredible potential both at the dish and behind it. In fact, the Raiders have ample strength up the spine with Miles at Catcher and Brendan Koren and Joe Wade manning second and short respectively. I think with the right spark, the QND offense can be plenty dangerous for Chris Martin. The Raiders hitting was a bit up and down at times last season, but these guys are all a year older and a year better. To my mind, QND has one of the most underrated pitching staffs in the region, and that intrigues me greatly. Blaise Haxel will come in as the expected ace and he can be an overpowering, number one time guy on the hill. Unsung Matt Welding might possess the single nastiest pitch in the Tri States, commanding what I believe might be the region's only screwball. Again, there are some holes to fill and depth to flesh out, but I think you will see a greatly improved Raider Baseball product in 2008.
5. ROUTT
The reigning WIVC Champions won't lack for pitching. Joe Zeller returns to helm Bobby Lonergan's staff after posting eight wins and a 1.65 ERA as junior. Devin Vaughn and Scott Lindsey, each with sub 3.20 Earnies, combined for eight wins as well. Offensively, both Zeller and Caleb Ruyle hit over .500 on the season and combined for 78 total RBI. Devin Vaughn hit .443 and had 45 RBI of his own. And I really like speedy youngster Ben Heineman as a top of the lineup catalyst who can make things happen. All in all, Routt might just be this year's best bet for a State Tournament appearance. It's not an overly deep squad, but these kids are all proven winners and I am banking that missed opportunities in football and basketball motivate these gentlemen to new heights on the Diamond.
6. ILLINI WEST
Todd Porter returns to helm a program that melds 2005 and 2006 IESA State Championship squads from Carthage and Illini West. Put simply, this is a ridiculous collection of players. Michael Lafferty, Ser Whitaker, Dylan Van Fleet, and Zane Schmudlach already have Elementary School State Tournament wins under their belts before they even stepped foot in this program. Factor in that Luke Burling has already proven himself a quality hurler at the Varsity level and you've got a Dream Team Rotation potentially at play. Former WCC All Conference pick Matt Snyder and Ross Hutson are the known commodities offensively, but keep an eye for Drake Schmudlach, who might end up being the best of the lot. Sleeper Jack Carlisle is a kid who might make a splash with the glove. Like Hannibal, you pause a bit surveying all this youth, but ultimately, this is a mix that could contend for the biggest prize in the state. And I would like this team better if Jacob Schmudlach weren't sitting this season out....
7. JACKSONVILLE
Graduation of Ben Wagner cuts the heart out of the offense, but if P.J. Moore can get Buddy Sexton to the plate with runners on base, methinks the Crimsons have more than enough pitching to run off some wins. Both Quinton Miller and Chaser Todd have the stuff to be ace material at the top of the rotation. Sparkplug J.T. Rowe is back to provide electricity to the mix. Not sure how deep the Crimsons may be, but I think JHS turned a corner last season and that positive momentum should serve them well.
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THE TEAMS WHO COULD OVERTURN THE APPLE CART
8. CANTON
9. KNOX COUNTY (tie)
9. PITTSFIELD (tie)
10. SOUTH SHELBY
11. QUINCY HIGH
12. NC/W (tie)
12. VIRGINIA/AC CENTRAL (tie)
13. WEST PRAIRIE
14. PALMYRA
15. CSE (tie)
15. MACON (tie)
16. MARK TWAIN
17. MONROE CITY
18. GRIGGSVILLE-PERRY
19. BOWLING GREEN
20. TRIOPIA
21. R/I (tie)
21. PAYSON SEYMOUR (tie)
22. BROWN COUNTY
23. HIGHLAND
24. PLEASANT HILL
25. WEST CENTRAL (tie)
25. WESTERN (tie)
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KHQA Preseason Individual Baseball Power Rankings
THE PROVEN SUPERSTARS
1. TANNER HOWELL, P, Beardstown
2. NEIL HUGENBERG, P, Hannibal
3. DANIEL MCMAHON, P, Knox County
4. DREW GREIWE, P, Macon
5. CURT MYERS, C, Macomb
6. ROSS PURCHATZKE, P, NC/W
7. NICK BURKE, P, West Prairie
8. JORDAN COOK, P/IF, Payson-Seymour
9. BRADLEY CRAIGMYLE, P, North Shelby
10. ETHAN BAKER, SS/DH, Canton
WATCH OUT FOR....
11. PERRY BONDS, Griggsville/Perry
12. DAVIS HENDRICKSON, Macomb
13. CHASER TODD, Jacksonville
14. BLAISE HAXEL, QND
15. WILLIAM RANSDELL, Paris
16. MATT BUREN, Macomb
17. LOGAN ANDERSON, Mark Twain
18. BRANDON MILES, QND
19. JOE ZELLER, Routt
20. JONATHON NUTT, Palmyra
SLEEPERS
21. HANK JOHNSON, Pittsfield
22. BRYCE JOHNSTON, South Shelby (injury question mark)
23. SCOTT SHIVELY, Monroe City
24. LUCAS UTTER, R/I
25. BEN HEINEMAN, Routt
26. NATHAN MOULTON, Quincy High
27. MARCUS VONHOLT, CSE
28. KYLE KENNISON, Monroe City
29. DRAKE SCHMUDLACH, Illini West
30. JOSH MCEWEN, North Shelby
31. CALEB RUYLE, Routt
32. ZACH NICHOLS, Hannibal
33. BUDDY SEXTON, Jacksonville
34. BLAKE HARPER, West Prairie
35. TREVOR COURSON, Beardstown
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RANDOM MUSINGS
Reigning KHQA Baseball Player of the Year Eric Jokisch made a spectacular collegiate debut for Northwestern, albeit gaining a no-decision in the process. The Wildcat True Freshman, and Virginia/AC Central alum, pitched six innings in NU's 3-2 win over Cal State Northridge as the starter, gave up no earned runs, 2 hits, and struck out six in the offing.
In my haste rushing around to get OVERTIME on the air Saturday night, I mistakenly omitted Beardstown's Griffyn Bennett from the list of Special Mention Basketball All Staters on the IBCA squad. It was an honor well deserved for the talented Lady Tiger pivot, who averaged a double-double this season despite her teams struggles. With so many really good young pivots in this region, Griff is sometimes the "invisible" superstar in this mix. In any other year, Miss Bennett would be the talk of the area among area centers.
Speaking of emergent talent, what a tremendous State Tournament run it was for Routt Sophomore Center Katie Lindsey, who posted a pair of double-doubles in both the State Semifinals and 1A Consolation game. Obviously, it Marley Hall's tour de force in Bloomington dominated the headlines, but the rough and tumble Lindsey should unbelievable grit battling through two of the most physical girls games I can remember seeing. Lindsey lacks the height and flashiness of some of the other great young posts in our area, but she is enormously productive and efficient around the basket. Volleyball fans know how powerful Katie is, but I was really impressed with her subtle touch around the rim, especially since she was being bludgeoned on nearly every play.
In a pleasantly unexpected surprise, Quincy Notre Dame's Chloe Barnes earned first team All State honors in Class 3A from both the Associated Press and Chicago Sun-Times. It's not that Chloe wasn't incredibly deserving, it's just that so often our little corner of Illinois, downstate if you will, gets overlooked. An because she plays on an ensemble cast, Chloe's stats are not overwhelming. It's nice to see that our media friends around the state are looking a little deeper than just the Chicago area in honoring big school talent.
South Shelby swept three of the four Clarence Cannon Conference's major basketball awards with player of the year nods for Matt Patterson and Erin Mayes, and a Girls Coach of the Year nod for Milly Rash. Highland's Clyde Rosencrans beat out Cody Leonard for the Boys COY.
The rest of the girls 1st Team CCC honorees look thusly: Jena Leathers, Macon, jr.; Abbie Gaus, Highland, sr.; Danielle Boulware, Palmyra, jr.; Laura Williams, Monroe City, jr.; Jenna Mueller, South Shelby, so.
The boys first team is comprised of Jonathan Nutt, Palmyra, jr.; Robert Freeman, Macon, sophomore; Josh Mims, Highland, jr.; and Kyler Moore, South Shelby, jr.
Bowling Green's Brandon McCann and Ben Hartung, as well as Anne Marie Hartung and Clopton's Deaven Omohundro were unanimous first team basketball selections for the EMO Honors squad.
The West Central Conference Girls Honor squad includes Griffin Bennett of Beardstown, Lindsey Buckert, Cassie Weigand, Emily Mast and Marley Hall of West Hancock, Alyssa Duffy of Mendon Unity, Randi Gronewold of Illini West, Tayler Onion of Rushville/Industry, Katelyn Moore and Ali Schwagmeyer of CSE, and Marla Willard of Pittsfield.
Camp Point Central Athletic Director Matt Long's off-season workload just doubled. Not only are the Panthers in search of a new Varsity Football coach, but now comes word this week that Brian Rea has resigned as the varsity boys basketball coach.
Based on the basketball I have seen in the last week, I have constructed the All Do or Die Team of Opponents I do not want our area teams to have to see again. On the boys side, I'll go Aaron Garriott (signed to SIUE) of Bloomington Central Catholic, Roscoe Robinson of Westran, Isaiah Hale of Springfield High, Wethersfield Point Guard Nathan Kohler, and Cornelius Chatt of Madison, who was eons better against Griggsville than when we saw him clank shot after shot at the KHQA/Subway Superfan Shootout. I want a refund. The kid should mow my lawn this summer to make up for such malfeasance.
No disrespect intended to WNC, but Kewanee Wethersfield might be the worst sectional opponent I've seen in some time. Outside of Kohler, the Flying Geese did not have a player who could have cracked Reno Pinkston's two deep. And you wonder why I hate four class basketball....
That said, I have to concede that one state tournament game per team, per day in Bloomington has been nice. The quality of play in the Third Place games has been infinitely better than I remember.
The Barry Creviston/Lanphier Football soap opera is mercifully over. The Routt football coach confirmed to KHQA on Monday that Lanphier had hired assistant coach Steve Buecker to replace failed applicant Gary Lee, calling it "a blessing in disguise" even though the position would have made logistical sense with his wife Val working in the Springfield region.Meanwhile, Virginia alum Chris Cox will take over for Frank Steele as the Redbirds head football coach.
Western Middle Hitter Britni Menke signed a letter of intent to join the Culver Stockton Volleyball program this week, reuniting her with one-time high school coach Rich Meyer. Coach O envisions Menke as a young lady who will bring both tremendous character, and a great deal of blocking ability on the right side, to his program. Culver is expected to signing 15 new players this Spring, as the Wildcats will field a Junior Varsity program as well.
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but on this front, I am not sure whether to be honored, offended, or contact my attorney: http://www.vidilife.com/videos_dewarisms.
Somebody better inform Tommy Dewars' heirs that my silence will come costly.....and that my attorney is Eight Time KHQA Fantasy Basketball Champion and legal savant Matthew J. Wiltanger, esquire.
I felt compelled to take in the Oscars on Sunday, so as to watch my boy Daniel Day Lewis pick up his second Best Actor paper weight for "There Will Be Blood." Truth be told, I found the entire ceremony, even Daniel Plainview's acceptance speech to be incredibly anti-climactic. (I was hoping he would look at George Clooney menacingly and say: "If you have an Oscar. And I have an Oscar. And I have a long straw, there it is. And my straw reaches across the Kodak Theatre and drinks your Oscar. I DRINK YOUR OSCAR" then bludgeon him with a bowling pin, but I digress...) That said, I did have one incredible moment of epiphany and it came, strangely enough, over the Best Make-Up award. It went to Didier Lavergne and Jan Archibald, for "La Vie En Rose" which is the story of French Singer Edith Piaf. It is a bio-pic, which also earned actress Marion Cotillard the best Actress nod, which I was led to believe she earned for the best lip-synching job since Milli Vanilli. Unlike say, "Walk the Line" you can't find a singer to approximate Piaf, ala Johnny Cash. Her's was a once in a lifetime voice. Having not seen the movie, I had no idea who Marion Cotillard was. They made her look very much like Edith Piaf, who to put it delicately, was not a classically attractive woman. So they cut to Cotillard and she is absolutely unbelievable to look at. I mean just breathtakingly beautiful:http://www.imdb.com/media/rm597792256/nm0182839. Rarely in my life have I ever cared about or even contemplated make-up, but if Didier Lavernge and Jan Archibald can make this woman look plain and unassuming, they stand on the shoulders of giants.
If you ever travel to Pella, Iowa (as I often do during my trips to Des Moines) please make it a point to stop at one of the two amazing bakeries in the downtown square. Pella is a "Dutch Village" with its own giant windmill and kind of a quaint little place to stop through. And in Dutch tradition, the town has these two unbelievable bakeries called Jarsmaa and Vanderplog. I actually discovered them by watching Sportscenter, when Mizzou grad and anchor John Anderson referenced the fact that much like Duke and North Carolina, these two culinary powerhouses (the two best bakeries in the world he called them) were right next door to each other. I actually prefer Vanderplog and highly recommend the Dutch Letters and the Blueberry Turnovers. Someday you will thank me for this nugget.
