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I agree with the first part. We get spoiled by the success and some expect it every year. Things are on a down turn but we will be back on top like many times before. As for your second statement, get your facts straight. Andy wasnt fired. From things Ive read it appears he has no desire to go somewhere else to coach in the near future. More towards spending time with family and having a normal life. Anywhere a head coach is, even consitantly losing schools, takes alot out of you and alot of time away from family.

I didn’t read anyone say that. You coaching 7th or 8th feeder basketball this year?

You are right... Our leaders in the statehouse created this type of competition among schools. It was a political power move to centralize power in Indianapolis under the guise of eliminating property taxes. Nobody likes taxes... so people bought it hook, line, and sinker. Instead... small communities lost that little chunk of money that gave them power over the state. Schools fought this new era as long as they could. Once smaller schools started to be eliminated, everybody started to realize that education is now operated as a business in a Capitalist market. We see it in bulletin board and newspaper ads to attend a neighboring school. Schools send buses into neighboring school districts. Every school has to market themselves to their customers. That is academically... it is about opportunities... and that even brings athletics into the picture. So take Linton's situation... There are things that are out of their control. Parents who move into their school district. Some of those so called "recruits"... live in Linton's school district. If we are to police that... when do we start? T-Ball Baseball? After 5th grade basketball? Middle School? Linton also had nothing to do with Dugger closing their doors. If you remember back, a handful of schools could have benefited from that. Many Dugger folks headed to Sullivan first since it was within the county, but for various reasons... many left. I always got the impression that one or two bad experiences turned a lot of those Dugger folks against the Arrows. Once one family moved... it seemed to be an exodus in a short amount of time. Where would they go? Shakamak didn't have football, but some went that direction. For most people North Knox was a little too far (although they had at least a few). Linton wasn't always the first choice, but as those parents were looking for the best situation for their kids... the Miners rose to the top. Did a basketball coach with ties to Dugger help... sure. Did a school and community willing to bring those kids into the "family" help? Probably more than anything. Personally, I am proud of the way most people handled that delicate situation. Linton folks could have been jealous and petty (a few were... still might be). Instead they embraced these kids and families. Another thing that schools can't control is the way kids communicate today. Some think they are Dwyane Wade looking to get their buddies to come to South Beach. I've heard of lots of kids recruiting each other. Now that is just kids talking, but if an opportunity is there... parents may consider it. Especially, if they aren't worried about that transition of being the new kid. Lastly, success will always be an attractive option for those wanting to win.

Terry Jones, one of the initial Pythons, passed away a couple of days ago. I often thought of Jones as the "glue" of Monty Python ... not necessarily first and foremost, but held everything together and enmeshed throughout. Most folks, especially Americans, could name the likes of Idle, Cleese, Chapman, and Palin when naming the members of the troupe, but somehow Jones, and perhaps animator and mainly behind-the-scene guy, Gilliam, were the ones named last or perhaps forgotten all-together. All the same, his influence on Python, from a writing and directing perspective, was monumental ... especially for Python's stroll in the cinematic realm where he co-directed Holy Grail and directed Life of Brian and Meaning of Life. Palin, in recently speaking of Jones, referred to him as "the spirit of Monty Python." As a junior high kid, discovering Python late-night Saturdays after the latest episode of SNL had finished, I admit that I was drawn to the "flashier" and quirkier Idle, Chapman, Cleese, and Palin, but in my high school and college years, I developed a deep appreciation and understanding of the writing side of comedy and found an appreciation and admiration for Jones's work. I've provided a few articles that detail a bit more about him behind the scenes as well as a couple of classics from him and Palin's tribute to his friend. https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/monty-python-star-terry-jones-death-comedic-legacy-timeless-troupe-ncna1121436 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/22/arts/television/terry-jones-dead.html https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2020/01/terry-jones-brought-many-gifts-including-spam-to-the-monty-python-lunacy-machine.html

I never said I would personally miss him. Please learn reading comprehension, especially in a written medium like an internet message forum where concise statements matter. The only fraud around here is you, Night Hawk.