Who killed Dual State?

Is Dual State dead? If it is, who or what killed it?
After doing a lot of research on the internet, we concluded the Dual State Tournament is the longest running regular-season boys and girls high school basketball tournament in the country. At 78 years, Chris Yarbrough couldn't find another tournament with that kind of longevity.
Unfortunately, the old tourney looks to be on its last legs. This year, the tournament features a paltry five teams in the boys and girls brackets.
I never thought it would get this bad.
The folks in Junction City are trying to revive the old girl but, personally, I don't know if that will happen.
I believe it's the end of an era. I don't think the tournament will recover. I'm not a doctor but I'm pronouncing the Dual State Tournament, while not officially dead, is on life support. Junction City might not be ready to pull the plug, but the tournament will never be the same again.
Now that we know Dual State is dead, who or what killed it?
Some might say the tournament simply died of old age. It's hard to keep anything going for 78 years in a row. At some point, everything has to come to an end.
You could also point to school consolidation as a suspect. The tournament has been built on small school participation. A lot of the small schools that made up the field no longer exist.
I've heard people mention unruly crowds. I never thought that was a problem until last year's event was called off due to the crowd behavior. I won't list that as a primary cause of death. But, let's say it was a small contributing factor.
Okay, how about the home cooking? Junction City is tough to beat at Dual State, just ask Emerson and Hamburg - two teams that left the gym in a huff after controversial calls decided games against them. All I'll say to that, every team that hosts a tournament has an advantage. But, Emerson stayed away for several years after a controversial loss and Hamburg vowed never to come back after losing to the Dragons last year.
My biggest complaint with the event over the years has been the brackets. I understand wanting the local team to get a good draw but when the local team isn't very good, it really screws things up to give them an automatic win. The Lady Dragons have been down for awhile, yet always play deep into the tournament. Unfortunately, this makes for lopsided matchups in the semifinals and quarterfinals, when the tournament should be at its best.
Look at this year's girls bracket. Junction City, winner of one whole girls game, was seeded into the semifinals and will play in Saturday's third place game. How do you screw up a five-team bracket?
That's how.
Despite all these factors, the tournament was still going strong until last year's debacle. In addition to the horrific ending, the tournament had about three different brackets. School officials gave the News-Times a bracket that was put in the paper, then changed it before the tournament started. The new bracket had dates and times changed after the tournament tipped off. It was a complete, disorganized mess, which prompted schools like Parkers Chapel and Nevada County to call it quits.
I thought Joe Paul Hammett did a good job with the tournament. I had some bracket issues, as did other people, but, overall, his tournaments had more talent than the end of season state tournaments. Every year he'd come up with a Louisiana team that was hot to trot. He nearly knocked me out of my chair when he brought top-ranked Palestine-Wheatley to Dual State several years ago.
Unfortunately, Hammett is no longer involved in putting Dual State together. If you really want to know what killed the tournament, there's your answer.
Hammett cared about Dual State. He put in the research and work to make it a great event every year in both boys and girls. If you're going to do the tournament, you have to care about it.
Unless Junction City finds somebody who truly gives a damn about the event, Dual State is as good as dead. I'm going to miss it.

I love you, man

Two years ago, my father's birthday was approaching and for the first time, he was planning to celebrate. He got together with our church and planned a huge fish fry and hamburger cookout. He invited all of his friends and we had family members coming from out of state.
My father's health had been failing him for a couple of years but, planning this event seemed to revitalize him. He had me pricing fish in the stores. We bought a huge cast iron pot and had a bunch of hamburger buns and canned soft drinks at the ready.
Unfortunately, when his birthday arrived, my dad was in the hospital, rushed to the emergency room after collapsing in his home. In all the excitement, my dad did what the doctors told him not to do, he over-exerted himself.
We circled around his hospital bed and sang him Happy Birthday. Considering all the family members who came in for him, it did turn out to be a decent day. I saw cousins for the first time in years.
My dad, however, was broken hearted. As he lay in the hospital bed, he looked up and apologized.
"I sure messed this up, didn't I?" he said.
That's my dad. I love the dude.
Last night, he passed away in his sleep. His health kept getting worse and worse. He was at the point where he could barely get around.
For a man who was fiercely independent his entire life, this was miserable for him. My dad loved to hunt and fish and spent his life working and playing in the woods. When his health wouldn't allow him to do that anymore, he had a hard time dealing with it.
We actually had to sell his tractor because he wouldn't stop getting on it.
A couple days before he died, my dad told his wife Pearlie, "I can't do nothing. I don't want to live like this."
When he couldn't do what he loved to do, couldn't live his life the way he wanted to live it, he decided it was time to go.
He's probably looking down at me right now, talking to my mom saying, "I sure messed this up, didn't I?"
That's my dad. I miss the dude.
By the way dad, you didn't mess anything up. I love you man.

He's not a god

Did you watch the BCS title game last night? Florida quarterback Tim Tebow led the Gators to the national championship, won the MVP award and immediately after the game, ESPN reported he cured cancer.
OH MY GOD!
What is with all of this hero worship in sports? From Brett Favre to Michael Phelps to Tim Tebow, the national sports talking heads have lost their freakin' minds.
I'm not a Hater. I cheered for Tebow last night. I admired the way he played. He deserved the MVP award and might've deserved another Heisman.
Off the field, he appears to be a young man of character, traveling around the world doing charity work and missions. His eye black had a Biblical verse. He ends every press conference with "God Bless."
I think he's a great role model.
But, until a series of medical tests prove otherwise, I'm going to also think he's a human being with human flaws and shortcomings.
I'm sorry Fox. I'm sorry ESPN. Tim Tebow is not a god.
STOP WORSHIPING HIM!
The announcer last night said, "if you spend five minutes with this young man, you'll be a better person for it."
WHAT?
What's he going to do, heal my credit rating?
I almost feel sorry for the kid. It's not his fault. But, how can anyone live up to the lofty praise he gets?
In the middle of leading the Gators to the title, right after he found a cure for AIDS and just before he drew up a peace settlement in the Middle East, the almighty Tebow, who walked on water in the pregame, was flagged for a taunting unsportsmanlike penalty.
Did Ghandi ever get flagged for doing the Gator chomp in an opponent's face?

Slatton ranked fifth

Former El Dorado coach Brad Slatton is enjoying success coaching the girls at Fort Elliott in Briscoe, Texas. Slatton's team is 12-1 on the season and ranked fifth in Texas Class 1A Division II, the smallest school division.
Slatton's junior high team is currently 6-0.
Fort Elliott has won two tournaments, including the Tomahawk Classic in Miami, Texas.
Slatton isn't sure his team is really the fifth best team in the state but he's happy with the way his girls are competing.
"We're finding a way to win, which is pretty good," he said.
***
Switching gears, I saw an obituary of a man I never met but who helped me out tremendously.
Here's the news release:
Claiborne Pell, the quirky blueblood who represented blue-collar Rhode Island in the U.S. Senate for 36 years and was the force behind a grant program that has helped tens of millions of Americans attend college, died Thursday after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. He was 90.
Pell, a Democrat, died at his Newport home just after midnight, according to his former assistant, Jan Demers.
Pell was first elected to the Senate in 1960. The skinny son of a New York congressman, Pell spoke with an aristocratic tone but was an unabashed liberal who spent his political career championing causes to help the less fortunate.
The U.S. Army paid for a lot of my college education. What the Army didn't take care of, I was fortunate enough to get a Pell Grant to cover the rest. Until I saw this obit, I never knew who came up with the idea for the Pell Grant.
Not only me, but a lot of people owe this gentleman a thumbs up. Senator Pell, I never knew you but thanks a lot. If I could positively impact half as many lives as you did, I will have led a wonderful life.