Too Busy To Be Sad

Tee ball master.

Weekdays are one thing during the Yeager Boys Home Alone adventures.

Weekends are a whole different story.

Saturday was fully scheduled to keep us moving, groovin’ and worn down.

Noah had his last Tee ball game of the season. I was his coach for his second season of organized ball.

This year the Reds got better every week. They hit the ball, improved their fielding and most importantly, appeared to have fun. We only have one instance of tears on our team this year. A couple of bonked heads brought on a few tears and sobs. That’s a good thing.

Everyone loves a parade.

Then it was the Johnston Green Days parade with Cousin Morgan. Everyone loves a parade, right? I mean it may not be certain college radio station invading a rival’s homecoming parade, but it is still fun. Click on the link to find a fun time with everyone’s favorite radio station, KWAR.

Back to candy for the kids…  my boys love when a parade brings free candy to their feet. That is a pretty good deal, right?

By the way, the JGD parade goes down Pioneer Parkway. What a great place to view the cavalcade of dance studios, churches and fire trucks. The boulevard provides a wonderful place to sit. Plus many trees provide shade for the family.

Aunt Alane fed us, bonus, and let the boys play with some of Morgan’s toys. They don’t get to play with dolls too often at home, so it is fun to experience some dollhouses from time to time.

A little shuteye for two boys — the youngest and oldest — helped pass the afternoon.

The grocery store was an adventure. Lots of screaming from the beginning, middle and end. My apologies for anyone in Fareway at the time of our arrival. Thanks to Bob in the Meat Department. His simple gift of a cheese slice brought order to a chaotic scene. Hey, Craig (manager of the meat department), give that guy a raise!

A little kickball fun.

The screaming continued for a few moments at a birthday party. Because why would not scream when you can? I apologize for anyone who was annoyed by it. Not Aunt Kris or Julie, they thought it was funny. I was laughing, too.

The boys calmed down enough to play a kickball game in the street. Levi got into the game, but the screaming started up again when it was time to go home.

I am the worst father ever for taking the boys away from fun!

**BTW, if you’re looking for the news about Molly Nelson leaving KCCI-TV8, all I know is she’s headed to DMACC to head into the world of Public Relations. Molly was a fan favorite of the PPM Hat Parties held when we used to get snow here in Iowa. No more 4AM wake up calls for the sister-in-law of Perry Peterson. Anytime you can get a Wartburg reference in for the former Drake basketball player, I try to do so.

A few more things

Grandpa Fish with Levi and Noah following inspection of the tractors.

I have to make a second post in 2012 that says I’ve been busy.

What happened in May?

I was elected president of the Iowa Broadcast News Association.

Started coaching Noah’s tee-ball team for the second time. The Reds are playing good ball.

Went to a few Iowa Cubs game.

Planted a garden after cutting out a bunch of sod.

Had a Go-Pro camera run over twice on Uncle Gordon’s farm.

Checked out the Lego’s in a Reiman Gardens.

Continued work on the Call Committee.

Didn’t have a chance to tell you that Brooke Bouma and Megan Salois are pregnant.

Watched Noah “graduate” from Kindergarten.

Went north to the great town of Elgin.

Spent time on the farm.

And to start June, a friend and colleague Mark Pearson passed away. I hope June gets better.

Nice work, Gus

The Wartburg College Communication Arts Department added a national Emmy to the walls of history tonight.

Scott is the shorter one in the photo not named Emmy.

ESPN producer Scott Harves ’97 won his first national sports Emmy to his resume Monday night. The ceremony has been a lot like the daytime Emmy’s for Susan Lucci. The “All My Children” star was always nominated, but only won once. Scott had been nominated double-digit times before. This is his first statuette.

The Mother Ship’s Outside the Lines took home most of the hardware.

ESPN won four Sports Emmys for its excellence in journalism. The network’s acclaimed investigative series Outside the Lines won three Sports Emmys across three categories – Long Feature: The Man Behind the Red Bandana; Short Feature: Time Out of Mind; Editing:Joplin, City of Hope. Additionally, the prime-time news magazine show, E:60, was cited in theShort Feature category for “Together.” This is the 11^th consecutive year ESPN has received a Sports Emmy in at least one of the two categories for Features.

Scott was the producer on the Joplin, City of Hope. He spent time in Joplin after the football team after  the deadly tornadoes as they prepared to begin a new season in a changed town.

He was nominated in 4 categories Monday night at the New York City ceremony.

Nice picture with Scott Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal. Prior to this win, one of the biggest highlights he had at the ceremony was sitting next to Kelly Rippa’s husband.

Here is a trailer for Scott’s piece.

The Godfather departs

John Walters official WOI photo.

One of the good guys is departing local TV.

But don’t tear up yet for John Walters. Just because WOI’s sports director is leaving in June, he’ll still be doing the job he’s gained the most recent fame from as the voice of the Iowa State Cyclones football and men’s basketball.

The Godfather will work full-time for the ISU Athletics in a move he’s been hoping to land for quite some time.

Walters is a graduate of Drake University. He spent time at KCCI and has been sports director at WOI since 1996.

Here's a photo of Iowa State Football Radio network team taken the day ISU beat Nebraska in Lincoln. L to R - Eric Heft (color), Ben Bruns (sideline), some old man found sleeping in the press box, John Walters (pbp). "Wally" is holding up 9 fingers for the 9 points that were all it took to win. (Bob Foster photo and caption copy writer.)

Here’s a photo of John and the rest of the ISU Football Radio network crew. The picture was taken after the Cyclones beat Nebraska in Lincoln on October 24, 2009. That was the same day Iowa beat Michigan State in East Lansing on the Marvin McNutt slant route and Michael and Jen Graham were married….(Mike still doesn’t care about what happened in the Cyclone game.)

Sorry, back to the photo… my first play-by-play teacher Bob Foster, provided the picture. He’s the between Ben Bruns and John. Eric Heft is on the far left of the picture. The nine fingers represent the points ISU scored en route to 9-7 victory.

Some of John’s Cyclone calls were heard around the world. This video is from the great plays in the Oklahoma State Football game when the Cyclones shocked the world.

Another big game in the era of Paul Rhoades was this Cyclone win at Texas.

One of my favorite John Walters memories comes from his early days at Channel 5. He was anchoring and the tape wasn’t ready. So John had to stretch. A lot. He finally resorted to “We now go to the Dean Smith four-corner stall…” all while smiling on camera, waiting for the tape to play. I’m pretty sure the tape still hasn’t rolled….

Best to John as he leaves the grind of TV news for a life in academics, errr, athletics.

The WOI press release is below. The full story can be found here.

WEST DES MOINES, IA — ABC5 News announced today ABC5 Sports Director John Walters will be leaving ABC5 News in June to take a full-time position with the Iowa State University Athletics Department. John has served as Sports Director for ABC5 since June, 1996. In addition to his daily duties with the station, John also anchored a wide variety of sports series and specials, including an 11 year run with “Friday Night Blitz”. John, a 1984 graduate of Drake University, has been part of the local sports broadcasting landscape for nearly thirty years. First, as a sports reporter for KCCI-TV, under the mentorship of Pete Taylor, and then serving as Sports Director for the last 16 years for ABC5. John has been honored as “Iowa Sportscaster of the Year” three times since 2005. In 2001, John and the ABC5 News Sports team were recognized by the Iowa High School Athletic Association for their coverage of high school sports, including their half-hour high school football show “The Friday Night Blitz.” In 2003, John began his role as the radio play-by-play announcer of the Iowa State Cyclones. He also hosts the “Paul Rhoads Show” and the “Fred Hoiberg Show” on ABC5. John and his wife, Joni, have three daughters, Kate, Annie and Kelli. John is making this move with mixed emotions, “I am very excited about this new opportunity with Iowa State, but at the same time I will greatly miss all my colleagues whom I have enjoyed working with here at ABC5. I know the sports department is in great hands with Dave Zawilinski, there is no doubt in my mind he is ready for the challenge.

Iowa State University will announce details of John’s new position on Friday.

At ABC5, Dave Zawilinski will assume the responsibilities as ABC5 Sports Director after John’s departure in mid-June. Dave, a 2005 graduate of Drake University has been with ABC5 for ten years. In 2005, Dave joined ABC5 full-time as a Sports Reporter, and has served as Weekend Sports Anchor since 2010. Zawilinski says, “Over the last 10 years I have had the privilege and pleasure of working with one of the best sportscasters in the business – the things I have learned from John have prepared me for this opportunity. I have some pretty big shoes to fill, but I am looking forward to the challenge. I wish John nothing but the best in his endeavors at Iowa State.”

ABC5 News Director Scott Frederick says, “John Walters will be missed. To be sure, it will be difficult to replace someone of John’s caliber, but Dave Zawilinski is just the guy to do it.”

 Best to John. Maybe we’ll see him around the neighborhood more often.

What has happened? Part 2

Dan Wardell hosts Cameron McCoy in the IPTV Kids Clubhouse during Festival 2012.

Apparently, I left out a few things from the month of March in my last post.

There was the rushing of the bishop, the conversation with a son-of-a-bishop and the texts with the bishop’s assistant. We also drove past the site of the last Bishop’s in the QC where the legendary voice of Ed Lewis asked, “How do you say goodbye to chocolate pie?” on the last day of restaurant in Duck Creek Mall. Ed was interviewing customers on that last day at the place with the great dessert. And table lamps.

I love lamp.

Seriously, I liked the movie “Anchorman”, but what will they do in “Anchorman 2″ to make it funny? Murph and Andy on KXNO/WHO-HD are correct, how many comedy sequels are funny? How many of them turn into the Baby Ruth in the pool?

I did work the month of March at IPTV. That month is kind of a big deal for us. It is Festival. I don’t have direct responsibilities those days, but Market To Market keeps churning out the hits like oil, gas, commodities … squirrel!

The POET ethanol facility in Emmetsburg, Iowa.

This story was last week’s adventure from my boss, John Nichols.

Fellow producer Dave Miller and I took a road trip to Emmetsburg for a groundbreaking of a new ethanol facility in northwest Iowa. It was weird to see no snow that far north in mid-March.

I took Murder’s Row to Waverly for a meeting. Thanks to Jesse Gavin for the name.

We saw a touching tribute about former Wartburg All-American wrestler Aaron Wernimont as done by a Wartburg TV student.

I discovered Gotye. You can see him on Saturday Night Live later this month.

And this old commercial from Ameritrade.

I found that one night while on the treadmill. I’ve been reviewing all my VHS tapes to pare down the stacks of stuff I have everywhere.

That sounds like something I should have done in the month of March while being snowed in my house.

Rolling out the Red Carpet

It was quite the week in Iowa. Never has so much been done to welcome foreign dignitaries.

The 747 of Vice President Xi Jinping sits on the runway at the Des Moines Airport.

Sure, we’ve seen foreign journalists come to Iowa to cover the Iowa Caucuses. But the world-wide coverage of the sitting vice president of the largest country in the world, was impressive.

This week, VP Xi Jinping came back to Iowa for the first time since 1985.

I’ve covered presidential visits, governors, senators but never have I been on assignment for someone who is that high up the State Department food chain.

I was assigned to the Des Moines arrival of Xi. IPTV was the pool crew for his arrival. Steve Carns and I were with the entire media until the VP’s plane came to a stop at the Iowa National Guard’s hanger. Then we were tapped and allowed to get extremely close to the soon-to-be leader of China. Steve put his news shoes back on, elbowing his way through 3 other TV cameras from China, a few still photographers and plenty of security.

Xi was greeted by several of Iowa’s top elected officials along a red carpet.

Then, Xi was ushered into a limo, the red and blue lights were activated on the police cars and the motorcade sprinted away from the airplane in a scene perfectly placed inside a West Wing episode.

Just like that, our moment was done. Xi was on his way to the state capital.

You can see a story on Xi’s entire visit to the United States on this week’s Market To Market. Andrew Batt is the producer on the piece.

By the time the story airs in Iowa, I’ll be knee-deep in directions from Craig Ihnen. Craig is the executive director of the Iowa High School Speech Association. I’ve again been selected to serve as a guest critic for the Large Group All-State Festival. I’ll be the TV and Radio news critic. I really love being asked to give feedback to Iowa high school kids giving their absolute best in the field I love. This will be my third time in the large group setting and fifth overall.

This event is a blast. Craig will be revving up the crowd at CY Stephens (thanks Steve) Saturday morning and that is before 8 AM. If you’re in Ames on Saturday, stop in our room and say hello.

Just because they may be thin, doesn’t mean the hats aren’t mighty

Nikki Newbrough, KWWL - TV Waterloo.

Thank goodness winter is here. We needed the snow to help bring out the hats.

We had one crop already this season. This would be the second round of lids.

We begin with Wartburg grad and now KWWL reporter Nikki Newbrough. She is the morning reporter for the NBC affiliate. Translation: She can be silly when needed.

Nikki's live shot on earth.

Earlier in the day, Nikki was at the University of Northern Iowa campus asking students about the cold and snow. Her interview almost stole the show. He was in a NASA-type space suit.

Earth to UNI dude, nice hat.

You can see in this picture, Nikki put the space helmet on her head for this still frame.

Brian Boesen, KWQC - HD, live on Brady Street Hill in Davenport.

Brian Boesen is reporting on Brady Street Hill in Davenport. I’ve done that shot a few times in my career.

The KWQC reporter and I met backstage at the Girl Scouts Night on Broadway a couple of months back.

I also met the clubhouse leader for hats in 2012, Megan Ottier that night in Bettendorf. More on her in a moment.

Back to Brian… I did ask him if he was related to the Des Moines Boesen’s. Specifically, former Dowling Catholic TE Ben Boesen who is now playing football at Iowa State. No relation between the two. Yes, I was that guy who asked.

Angie Hunt, KCCI - TV Des Moines.

Back to Central Iowa and an ‘ole favorite for hats here at PP&M and that would be Angie Hunt.

The Ames bureau reporter has been captured with many great lids on her head the last few years. She gets the plum assignments in all corners of the viewing area, many northern points, so wearing a good head topper is vital to her good health.

Thank you to Angie.

Krystle Kacner , WHO - HD Des Moines

Newly hired reporter Krystle Kacner of WHO-HD is now getting into the hat game. She’s new to the area and to the station.

But her hat is one of veteran caliber.

As she settles in, we’ll get her to tweet a couple of pictures of herself wearing a hat.

Chris Earl, KCRG Cedar Rapids

And back to eastern Iowa and KCRG reporter/anchor Chris Earl.

Mr. Earl deserves special attention for this furry wonder on his head.

Would you call that Cousin Eddy’s hat from Christmas Vacation? Or is that more Daniel Boone?

Now back to the hat that I received the most in my inbox.

Morgan Ottier of KWQC opens the competition with a home run.

Megan’s hat is spectacular. But some question if the hat is for show or if she’s serious about wearing the hat. Better yet, is she serious while wearing that hat?

I know many reporters were looking forward to getting out in the elements this weekend to talk about the ice and snow, but it looks like those pictures will have to wait, as the next winter death storm is staying to the west.

So Lauren Squires, bring us your hats from the Omaha market.

If you know of a hat to share, send the pic to IPTVPaul@gmail.com .

New Hats for the New Year of 2012

Morgan Ottier of KWQC opens the competition with a home run.

Welcome to 2012 and the return of TV reporters/photographers/producers wearing hats on the job.

You’ve all seen a reporter “braving the elements so you don’t have to.”

Sometimes they bring a hat to the liveshot to mix things up a bit.

This year we begin the look around the state and beyond with wonderful hats of winter. The winter that took forever to arrive.

We begin with Morgan Ottier of KWQC. The morning reporter hit a home run outside the Davenport studios this morning. I got to meet Morgan during my recent trip to the Quad Cities for the QC Media Night on Broadway Holiday Winter Spectacular Extravaganza.

Thanks to Joanne Phillips and Alan Campbell for pointing me in the direction of this hat. I know a couple of people are loyal readers of the blog, so thanks for the help. If you’ve seen a hat on your TV and get a screen grab, send it to me at IPTVPaul@Gmail.com.

Jill Kasparie, KCRG TV out in the snow.

Another entry comes from the best friend a guy can ever have in Michael Graham. Chef Mike sent this shot of KCRG reporter Jill Kasparie.

Jill has a twin in Iowa TV. Sister Kelly is a producer at WHO-TV.

I know that can’t be the only two hats out there today. Please consider your sisters and brothers outside your TV market who want to see the best in hats in 2012.

Again, send any pics to IPTVPaul@gmail.com
I can leave your name out of credit if you choose.

Caucus day 2012

Quite a day for the state of Iowa. It is caucus day.

I’ve been to several place today. First it was a Gov. Rick Perry event at Principal Financial.

Then Rick Santorum at Des Moines Christian school.

A road trip to Colfax for an actual caucus location.

Now I’m hanging at the Mitt Romney at the Hotel Ft Des Moines with a few hundred friends in the media.

IPTV producer, long-time voice of many things Iowa, passes

Mike Newell - IPTV Photo.

This time the death hit too close  to home.

Fellow IPTV producer Mike Newell died Thursday night in a Des Moines hospital following a heart attack the day after Thanksgiving. He was 66.

Newell was someone I grew up listening to either on the radio and watching on TV. When I came to Iowa Public Television, I was working next to him. We shared a wall for a few years. I heard many great lines come from his office as he set up guests for Iowa Press. His rhythmic tempo on the typewriter set a tone for Newell’s work. He said a typewriter was the only place he could construct a script. Then he’s transfer his work to the computer.

The Des Moines Register published this story Friday afternoon. The best quote came from a 1994 story.

Newell had a number of health problems over the years, including a mild heart attack at the age of 49, which prompted Hansen’s 1994 column in which Newell described his pre-attack schedule as being up at 3:40 a.m. and to the office by 5.

“I’d have three cups of coffee and three cigarettes before I put my underwear on,” Newell told Hansen.

Mike was full of great lines like that. You can them one-liners or clichés, we called them Newell-isms.

I loved prompting Mike into a story about the Iowa Cornettes, the former women’s professional basketball team, his time with the Iowa Oaks or Iowa Cubs when he called them for IPBN or a former co-worker we had in common.

He’d talk about the first days of the original “Sound Off” when it was a radio show only.

Mike did work for the Louisville Redbirds, Iowa High School Shrine Bowl, state tournaments, any racing at the Iowa State Fair or feature.

IPTV used to broadcast Iowa Hawkeye football games. Here’s a YouTube video of former running back Nick Bell‘s greatest hits. I saw this video awhile back and was listening to the commentators and said I knew that voice. I sent the link to Mike for him to hear. Now you can hear.

Mike’s current job was gathering broadcast professionals into a conference room to set a game plan for that week’s Iowa Press guest. It was only fitting that the show included a video tribute. You can see it here or watch it this weekend on the show.

Radio Iowa’s Kay Henderson is a friend to everyone on this side of her microphone. She’s a regular on Iowa Press and posted this wonderful story today featuring this quote.

To a “Sound Off” caller who was complaining about Hawkeye coach Hayden Fry’s play-calling — after a victory, mind you — Newell put it this way: “That guy would complain about the chip dip at an orgy.”

Mike had flair on the air.  He did play-by-play of the University of Iowa women’s basketball team and, when a referee’s call seemed to be out-of-bounds, so to speak, Newell would sometimes quip: “Give me a drag of what he’s been smoking.”

I loved having conversations with Mike. Work would call and put us back to reality, but it was a history lesson and exchanges of how we each heard the story was some of my best work moments.

Several friends and colleagues posted tributes to Mike:

• “I’m saddened today to hear about Mike Newell’s passing. He was my mentor and helped me get started in sports broadcasting. Thanks Mike.” Geoff Conn
• “I know I can speak for Ryan Schlader and Andy Roethler in saying that working Iowa women’s basketball games during our time at KRUI while being near Mike Newell was an honor and privilege and hearing about Mike’s passing will be a great void to us. Thanks Mike for being a part of our lives, you will be missed by many!” Bob Fisher
• “Terribly saddened about the death of Iowa broadcaster Mike Newell. I would frequently direct shows he hosted on WHO Radio. And when I began my career as a newscaster, it would be a huge thrill to hear Mike say “Brian Allen has the news next on WHO Des Moines”. Mike always encouraged me. RIP to a good man and a good broadcaster.” Brian Allen
•  ”RIP Mike Newell. A dear friend and one of the funniest guys I’ve ever met.” Joey Donia 

Mike Newell during his interview for IPTV's documentary "More Than a Game," on six-on-six girls basketball.

I talked to Iowa Athletic Department officials today to tell them of Mike’s passing and heard from one that said the news hit them “right between the eyes.” Another said “one of my all-time favorite people.”

I agree and so do others.

Mike went to high school with the Murray brothers.

Yes. Those Murray brothers. I talked to Mike one day about an article I read discussing an anniversary recounting the filming of Caddyshack. He the filled me in on background stories about Bill and Brian Doyle Murray.

He had connections to many corners of the world. And had played many of those corners as well.

Again, here’s the link to the video tribute as narrated by Dean Borg. The two worked on Iowa Press together for more than 20 years.

Mike, I’ll never look at a bicycle seat the same way again.