Oh.  This will be fun.  In fact it's already been fun.  Getting to state is the big deal.  And the OHS boys basketball team has done it for the first time since 1991.  Being so close the last three years, but just missing, has been heart breaking.  But, as coach Williams said Friday night, he'd rather have been that close the last several years than not.  The experience of being in those big games has to help the players who experienced it and those that were sitting on the bench.  Now it's gravy / icing on the cake / 'happy to be there' time.  Owatonna will not be seeded.  They'll have a tough first round game.  But we know they'll play hard, and put that top notch defense to work.  OHS has the second best defense (in points allowed) in all of Class 4A!!  (Oddly enough they actually have the third best defense in the Big Nine - behind Winona and Mankato West.)

It was strange for me to be a spectator on Friday night.  With Brad Fischer on the play by play and Jason Iacavino doing the expert color commentary, by remarks would have been limited to "You're right," "Good observation," "Wow Brad, you're good," "You too Jason."  So I sat along side them.  And was hardly able to hear a word in the loud setting of a packed Taylor Arena at the Mayo Civic Center.  At least packed with Owatonna fans.  Hastings basketball teams don't play Rochester teams during the regular season and apparently their fans don't know how to find Rochester either. 

Even though I could have cheered and yelled (since I was watching as a fan as much as a broadcaster) I just watched and enjoyed.  (Plus you're not supposed the cheer at the press table, and I would hate to have been booted from the arena for breaking the 'rules.')  What a great scene watching and hearing the crowd and band as the Huskies first came out on to the floor.  And listening to the cheerleaders lead the O-W-A... chant even as the PA announcer was trying to get the game started.  What a great student section.  Standing, cheering, jumping up and down all night long.  And of course, the emotions of such a close game.  The 'oh no' feeling that tried to creep to the surface as Hastings rallied to briefly take the lead in the second half.  But then OHS responding with clutch free throw shooting and tough defense.  Then the end of the game.  I think I was watching Mitch Hawkins.  As time was running out and Hastings was taking a shot.  They missed.  Was the game over? Was there a whistle?  Hawk looking up at the clock.  Then at his teammates rushing the floor from the bench.  Then screaming in excitement.  Everybody screaming in excitement.  I'm sure Brad Fischer was screaming too.  But I couldn't hear him, even though he was three feet away from me. 

It was fun talking to the players afterward.  Mike Sebring seemed as cool as could be for the interview, although I imagine he was also screaming at the end of the game.  Thada, Matt Wagner, Vargason were other guys I spoke with.  All excited but still cool and calm.  Like the game.  Making plays.  Making shots.  Playing defense.  Now it's on to Target Center.

This will be fun. 

Thanks for visiting Koenig's Korner.  My coffee's cold.

Great Academy Awards show!

Three-and-a-half hours does not seem too long to me to regonize Hollywood's best over the last year.  Only a few winners seemed to ramble on and bring out the 'hook' music.  Several of the winners' speeches were very touching.  One guy saying his dad passed away a month ago.  The MN guy who won for "Up."  The guy who won for animated short saying it's not a waste of time to pursue a dream.  Letting Jeff Bridges and Sandra Bullock go long seems very appropriate.  I like how the nominees were introduced with a personal story.  Although I think Gabourey Sidibe would have given a very emotional speech and I was pulling for her to win Best Actress.

Good to hear "The winner is...."   in addition to the PC "The Oscar goes to...."

Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin were greatas hosts.  Funny, but they didn't dominate the show.  Opening segment was funny, "Paranormal Activity" spoof was hilarious, sitting in the Snuggies off stage was a riot.  Great closing line from Martin too  (that the telecast had gone so long that Avatar was now in the past)

The Hurt Locker is a great choice for Best Picture.  See it if you haven't.  Movies that I want to see after watching the show:  Up in the Air, Precious, Crazy Heart, The Messenger, The Lovely Bones, even some of the foreign language and documentary films look great.  In a couple of weeks the high school sports scene will take a break.  I think I'll have a few things to watch now.

Touching song from James Taylor to remember those who died since last Oscars.  Ryan Seacrest did a nice job on interviews on E! before ABC took over.  Great salute to horror genre.  (I had fun rattling off the names of the those movies.)  Awesome dance segment to introduce the music score award.

Thanks for stopping by Koenig's Korner.  I'll talk sports next time.

I'm sitting here listening to Dale and Larry cover the OHS wrestlers at state.  We are so lucky, as a station and community, to have these excellent announcers.  And  a Big Thanks to Bruce Fox for covering the team on the road this season for the radio station.

The beautiful weather means spring is in the air.  Playoff time has arrived.  But it goes quick.  This could be the year OHS boys basketball makes it to state and takes the Prep Sports March Madness Time to the end of the month.  The OHS girls buckets team opened the playoffs with a win Wednesday.  Close at half vs Hastings, but all Huskies in the second.  I am thrilled to have Jason on the announcing staff.  What a great job he does with basketball, football and baseball/softball.  Sometime I'll get him going on hockey and volleyball.  One More Home Game for Owatonna, Saturday night vs Farmington.  I think the Tigers will give the Huskies a tough battle.  The Huskies won at Farmington in early December, but it was the first game in their new palace (I mean gym) so there had to be some jitters.  Farmington lost their final six of the regular season, but five of those teams have great records, three are top ten ranked, and one is Northfield (the top seed in the section).  If a blog is supposed to be controversial then I'd pick Farmington to upset the Huskies.  Otherwise disregard that comment.

Speaking of One More Home game, the Owatonna Express wrap up their home schedule Friday night.  Fan Appreciation Night.  Team posters to the first 500 fans.  This is a great level of hockey.  Hopefully the team can get more fans to the rink next season to ensure the future of the team.  These guys and skilled, fast and dedicated.  I've gotten to know many of the players over the years.  And they are 'good guys' hoping to live the dream of playing college hockey.  We are lucky to have this team in Owatonna.  Let's support it!!

I love how Larry gets so excited about an official's call....then Dale brings him back down to earth with "It was a good call."

I can hardly wait for The State Tournament.  It starts Wednesday at the X.  (boys hockey)

This blog will be about more than just sports.  The Academy Awards are Sunday!  An occupational hazard of traveling with a junior hockey team is the choice of movies on the bus.  A few years ago I realized I had seen more of the Razzie Award movies, then the Best Picture movies.  So I've made an effort to watch as many of the Oscar nominated movies as I can.  The Best Picture Nominees don't always do well at the Box Office, but they are usually good movies!!  I like "The Hurt Locker" as a favorite.  "Avatar" was also a great movie.  Did anyone else find "District 9" to be comical at times?  I laughed, but I'm not sure I was supposed to.  "Up" is awesome, but animated shouldn't win Best Picture.  "A Serious Man" is typical Cohen Borthers.  "Inglorious Basterds" is great.  Anyone have comments about the other nominees?

Post a comment.  Love to hear from you.

Roy, sitting here with my coffee in Koenig's Korner