SUPER MONDAY

A motivational and informational morning message from Superintendent Willis

Week 16 ~ November 27th, 2023

Super Monday Message

On June 7, 1934 the Chicago Cubs faced off with the St. Louis Cardinals. After 8 innings of play the score was tied at 0-0. Despite a lack of scoring the radio broadcasters were trying to make the game exciting for listeners across the nation. One radio broadcaster for this particular game was a young President Ronald Raegan. Ron was broadcasting the game from Des Moines, Iowa. A telegraph operator was at the game in St. Louis sending the play-by-play morse code messages to Ron’s station. An assistant would translate the morse code and pass small papers to Ron that said things like “6-3” (meaning the batter grounded out to the shortstop). Ron had to use his imagination for anything the notes didn’t tell him.

In the top of the 9th the shortstop Billy Jurges was at bat. Ron described for listeners at home the way Dizzy Dean was winding up for the pitch. He then looked to his assistant for the result of the pitch, but the assistant mouthed that line was dead. Not wanting anyone to switch to another radio station Ron quickly said Jurges had fouled the ball off. He described children fighting over the foul ball and the enthusiasm of the crowd. As the assistant continued to sign that he had no signal, Ron was forced to exercise all of his imagination.

To avoid dead air time Ron said Jurges fouled off another pitch, then another. He tried telling listeners the pitcher was really taking his time on the next pitch, holding the ball and shaking off signs for different pitches. As the drought of new information continued Ron had Jurges foul off another pitch, but told listeners this one was just inches from the foul pole. He described the anxiety of the crowd as the foul ball was nearly a home run. For 12 painful minutes Ron made up a wild story of foul balls and pitcher signals. Ron discussed the record for the most foul balls in a single at bat. 

When his assistant finally started writing again Ron looked at the note, “Jurges flies out on first pitch.” Several friends asked Ron later if it was a record for the most foul balls. He never told them he wasn’t actually at the game and that the foul balls were completely fiction. President Raegen had a fondness for baseball and called his last Cubs game as the President in 1988. 

It’s important to keep your imagination active and to find joy in simple things. With all of the technology and tools we have today, it can be easy to neglect using our own creativity. Being creative allows us to solve problems in more innovative ways and helps us see issues from different perspectives. It’s also just fun and we all need some fun. Have a great week 16.

Super High Fives

Just a couple of the awesome recent accomplishments that need a big thank you. 

• A super high five to Piute County for a great turnout in the election. Piute County is making a habit of leading the state in voter participation. We’ve appreciated all the love and support expressed for our two little elementary schools these last few months. With the elementary consolidation question now settled we can move on to the next question.
• A super high five to a great fan base for the first home men’s basketball game. There are 21 home sports events from November to February, we hope to have a great crowd for each event.

Other Super Information

• Winter Sports Schedule

Super Weekly Schedule