The Genz

It is an old cliché, I know, but in South Dakota prep boys basketball, “the more things change, the more they remain the same.” Boys basketball will again feature numerous programs battling for state championships, some for their first title ever, in three different classes. A year ago, we witnessed Pierre Riggs’ “Green Power” in full force as they won the Class AA Championship after some struggles earlier in the year. The Class A crown went to a balanced and talented Madison team when favorite Clark-Willow Lake fell in the opening round to Platte-Geddes, which has moved to Class B in 2013-14. And in Class B, White River won a second straight title and their fourth in six years. Head Coach Eldon Marshall's Tigers have made eight straight final fours at the Class B Tourney. The die is cast - will any of these three teams repeat? Madison (Class A) looks like the favorite while both Pierre (Class AA) and White River (Class B) were hit hard by graduation. Now, the light t...

( Editor's note - The SD Boys Basketball Preview will come out tomorrow - Tuesday, Dec. 10). Surprises always seem to find their way onto the basketball floor.   Every time it appears something is so, it turns out it may not be. In sports, we often find that what appeared to be impossible is sometimes possible and may be just a game, a quarter or a play away. It only takes confidence and trust in one's self and team for the improbable to become probable.  So, as I break down the prep scene in South Dakota girls basketball, please note that a surprise or two or three will be coming down the hoop pipeline. Every time it appears something is so, it turns out it is not. In sport, we find that overcoming the impossible is sometimes only a game, a quarter or even a play away. So, as I break down the prep scene in South Dakota girls basketball, please note that a surprise or two or three are coming down the hoop pipeline.   A year ago, the South Dakota girls bask...

Editor's Note - Here is a story I wrote a little over a year ago for RedEye Sports on retiring USD head men's basketball coach Dave Boots. He announced he was leaving the USD program today. Good luck coach Boots, the Coyote Nation thanks you for 25 years of commitment and dedication. You're a Hall of Famer. In this blog post, I have updated some of the numbers relating to his wins and losses and time at USD. The charismatic baseball pitcher Satchel Paige once said “don’t look back, something might be gaining on you.” It is a perspective, perhaps, of which University of South Dakota head men’s basketball coach Dave Boots can relate. During his 25-year coaching tenure, Boots has never looked back. Since the day he was named the USD’s 15 th head basketball coach 25 years ago, Boots has moved forward. He hasn’t been concerned about leaving a legacy, despite putting together an incredible streak of 23 consecutive winning seasons which ended two years ago. In developing th...

I heard a new one this morning. MLB writer  Peter Gammons reported that umpire Angel Hernandez may have refused to overturn a decision in the Cleveland-Oakland baseball game (remember the HR by Adam Rosales that wasn't) because he doesn't believe instant replay has a place in baseball. It seems to me that instead of protesting about the way things should be, Hernandez should pay attention to what is. Whether it is Angel Hernandez in baseball, Joey Crawford in basketball, Ed Hochuli in the NFL or any of the hundreds involved in professional sports, officials have a difficult assignment. Often it is said that if officials are not part of the conversation in a game's broadcast then they are doing their jobs. A little harsh but true. I have talked often with former official and supervisor of officials Colin Kapitan and visited with official Brad Coleman at the Summit League Basketball Championships. The commitment that men and women make to do this important s...

The 2012 prep football season is well behind us and the 2013 campaign still months away, yet discussion on prep football has started to unwind with the hiring of new coaches, like Chad Stadem at Sioux Falls Washington High School and others. In addition, dialogue continues on the new controversial seven class system that goes into effect when the season begins in August. As other prep football storylines begin to unfold, one that is front and center is the 36-game winning streak by the 9A Canistota Hawks. Can they win a fourth straight 9-man title? It is a program that suffered heavy graduation losses. Yet, Canistota has overcome the loss of talented players in each of the past three seasons, although probably not to the degree of this past season. Will Canistota Do It Again? Canistota head football coach Lenny Schroeder preaches defense, execution and leadership. Over a three-year period, his Hawks players have listened and carried out the plan at the highest level in...

When a batter charges the mound in a game between last place teams, does anyone really notice? Is it a little like a tree falling in a forest; does anyone really hear it? Is that situation, most often it serves as fodder for ESPN coverage, and probably a snide remark or two from one of the anchors. Baseball jumps in and throws a 5-game suspension or maybe 8-game suspension to players involved and then it is over. So, when a baseball brawl involves a team, predicted to be a World Series contender (not by me), and a $147 million free agent signee and former Cy Young Award winner who gets hurt, does that change things? To some, I believe it does. For me, situations are situations and should be treated with balance. Injury or no injury, the determination of a penalty should be made based on what happened and not according to whose name, team or player, is on the jersey. All day, I have heard the storyline involving the actions of Carlos Quentin (.253 BA, 137 HRs) of San Dieg...

Tears filled my eyes on Wednesday. When I heard that a dear friend, Howard "Hod" Nielsen, had died, it struck me pretty hard. I had not seen Hod in awhile which further exasperated my feelings. As I read memorials this week about Hod, his story and who he was poured out in newspaper columns, and social media circles. Each of these tributes, including Randy Dockendorf of the Yankton Press and Dakotan, Mick Garry of the Argus Leader, Kelly Hertz of the Yankton Press and Dakotan and James Cimburek of the Yankton Press and Dakotan brought out different stories and perspectives. All of them showcased the respect, honor and integrity ingrained in one of Yankton's favorite sons. I never met Hod until he was about 58 years old - 35 years ago. From that day forward, we were friends, pure and simple. My first meeting with Hod occurred in 1988 while I was USD's media relations director. As such, I sometimes ventured over to visit another friend and SID at the time - Mike...