Rained out... sorta

I had the privilege of participating in the Bossier Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament last Friday. Although the weather did not cooperate, I thought the staff handled things extremely well.

We got in three holes before a close lightning strike put the brakes on the event, sending us all into the clubhouse for shelter.

Once inside, the decision was made to cancel the remainder of the tournament and hand out prizes based on a random drawing. Considering the combined handicaps of our team was somewhere in the triple digits, this greatly improved our chances of coming home with a prize.

Also, StoneBridge was more than accommodating, giving each golfer a voucher for a free round to make up for the lost day.

While Mother Nature stifled the original plans for the golf tournament. The way everyone handled the situation was top notch.

I look forward to next year.

May the Blog Be With You.

They don't know and they don't care

For the past 20+ years, I have read (and written) editorials about voter turnout. Some try to play on the patriotism of the voter, reminding reader how men and women died for their right (and obligation) to vote.

Other editorials try to use hyperbole or strong-armed persuasion to hopefully entice a non-voting voter into one who heads to the polls.

More times than not, these efforts are in vain. Each time the editorial is published, less than 50 percent of registered voters bother to go to the polls. In some cases, the percentage is in the single digits.

One politician pointed out that his colleague was barely elected by a majority from a 9 percent turnout. In other words, less than 5 percent of registered voters put him into office.

However, it isn't just at the polls. Citizens fail to take an active role to be informed about important issues.

When warranted, public entities hold public meetings to provide information and take questions. Unfortunately, members of the press often outnumber members of the public at such meetings.

As someone in "the Fourth Estate," this lack of participation is disheartening. We in the press are charged with the mantle to be the watchdog over government, but if no one bothers to show up... what's the point?

We have grown so use to voter apathy, that we get excited when voter turnout climbs above 40 percent. On the other end of the scale, public servants are often miffed when a private citizen dares ask a pointed question. At one time, this was commonplace at town hall meetings. Pointed questions were the rule, not the exception.

I was taught when opining that I should always offer a solution, not just point out a problem. To be honest, I can't do that with this problem.

How do we make people care again? How do we make them participate in the process of government?

If you have the answer (short of enduring a period of tyranny) please let me know.

"Do you think it is ignorance or apathy that keeps voters from going to the polls?"

"I don't know and  I don't care."

My Kim Mulkey Rant

I watched the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters when women's basketball wasn't a prime-time sport. I saw the likes of Kim Mulkey lead her team from the point guard position to a National Championship, back when Sondra Hogg and Leon Barmore were calling the plays from the bench.

I watched as Barmore's retirement opened the door for then-assistant at Tech, Mulkey to ascend to her rightful place — but it didn't happen. For reasons that baffle me to this day, Louisiana Tech did not seem to make it a priority to hire Mulkey. She would eventually go to Baylor.

I loosely followed Baylor as Mulkey led her team to its first national championship — the first for the school in any sport. And now she's hoisted the trophy for a second time, with arguably the best women's team to play the college game.

I'm sure there are those in Ruston who kick themselves with every Baylor win. They had their chance, and right now, it looks like Mulkey is comfortable with the Lady Bears.

She helped a mediocre team ascend to greatness, as her Alma Mater faded into mediocrity. Now Louisiana's “flagship “school has stolen the mantle of women's basketball from Tech, although still never quite reaching the heights of those early Lady Techster teams.

Mulkey showed a tremendous amount of class as her Lady Bears defeated the Matriarch of women's basketball, Pat Summit and the Lady Volunteers. The moment was the passing of the torch in many ways.

Unfortunately for those of us in northwest Louisiana, that torch will reside in Waco, Texas, not Ruston.

May the Blog Be With You.