Great piece on Jimmer. Besides his BB talents, he was and is an exceptional person. He followed his faith when he chose BYU over lots of big brand schools. He stayed true to his small town roots and still does. How do you think Jimmer would have dealt with today’s million $ college transfer portals? I think he would have stayed with BYU and honored his commitment. What do you say?
What a passionate piece about Jimmer, Ken. Perhaps there is a new book in the making for you. Those amazing memories should be in print. Our youth need inspiration, and Jimmer's story seems to be the right one to do it. You could interview people in Utah and more. Great write-up.
Will Santos be pardoned by you know who? Interesting to watch and why did he get three months to settle his affairs? Most defendants bring their toothbrush to sentencing.
Hey Ken, the job that is advertised at the Post-Star is to replace for one year the news editor, Andrew Valenza, a guardsman who is going on deployment for a year starting in late May. That ad has been running since last fall when I created it for the company. When I was let go in December, and the ad had been running since at least October maybe September (my boss wanted to make sure the line for it stayed on the shrinking budget and October starts the new fiscal year), we had gotten exactly zero decent applicants. By now, they may have gotten one or two.
I had been talking to local journos, asking them to apply, and just two wanted to apply, both friends of mine who would apply only because I'd be their boss and because they wanted to fill a year before making another job/life switch. Neither will apply now.
I'm guessing that Lisa Reider's name is not on the masthead because Lee Enterprises is terrible at onboarding people from outside the company, so bad that they cannot even do the obvious, easy thing and put her name on the masthead for her--it would take her boss about one minute to get the job done for her.
I went weeks without my name there as I did not have time to figure out who I needed to contact for that change to be made permanently. I was lucky that Mike Goot handled the daily correction for me. At the same time, Reider is an out-of-town editor working from her current home as she seeks to find one up here and she probably is just buried and doesn't have time herself to figure out who she needs to contact to make that change--or if she is smart, she's looking for another job. --Steve Thurston, the most recent Last American Editor of the Post-Star.
Santos is rightfully kicked out of the House, yet we have a convicted felon in the White House and an assortment of other despicable characters running this country. Thankfully we can look to Jimmer Fredette and others among us who give us hope.
“Taking us along on the ride”. I will second that. Even from afar in DC, tho I am a GF native. I met him in Delaware when he was playing in the minors late in his career before his stint with the Knicks, and he could not have been friendlier. Even after a loss. But what I will remember most was the frenzied 2010 “Hometown Classic” game between BYU and Vermont. A GFHS classmate, the late Jerry Cashion, had told me about the game and so I went up. Boy, Was it worth it: no one in the standing room only crowd of 6,500 seemed to care about the game itself here . We were all there to join a Jimmer lovefest.
Every time he touched the ball, the crowd went crazy and he delivered with 25 plus points. For me,the memories rank right up there with the Lake Placid Olympics or the few World Series games I have attended.
Do you remember the fastbreak in the second half where Jimmer fire a behind-the-back pass. Wow!!!! My column about that game is my book and you are absolutely write, this was a Jimmer love fest. I was always impressed that BYU gave up a home game - the revenue that goes with it - so Jimmer could play one more game at home. I suggested Syracuse do that for Joe Girard, but you knew that would not happen.
Btw, I just noticed a comment by former Post Star editor Steve Thurston. Forgive me for posting another comment, but, without getting into hiring and firing issues, I wanted to give him a shout out for the highly professional work he did with me when I contributed 4 fairly long articles last year to the paper. I was impressed with his skill and energy level as an editor.
I just have to comment as a non sports fan, that Jimmer and Joe are the players that stick in my mind because of your stories here, Ken. Really do not care about any commercial sports but hearing of hometown kids (guys and gals) who do well? Thats important.
Thanks, Thanks Ken. Thanks Al and his Mom. Thanks Brother, BYU, Not Sacramento unfortunately. I'll always remember his Player of the Game that short time he was a Knick. We had so many Jimmer watch parties. Mostly, I thank Jimmer himself for being one heck of a basketball legend. For being a bright spot in many dark days. For being a great role model and father and husband and one of the hardest working guys I've seen. I loved almost every minute as did my daughter, son and many friends. He played the hand he was dealt the only way he new how. With everything he had. Hope to see some exciting retirement things cuz we know they gotta be coming!!!
I read her words about what she hoped to do as an editor. The last two weeks, since she took power, the paper got more and more interesting and informative, moved well between the local and the international, had good information about farms and climate change and foods,,,I am hoping she is still here, still editor, and it was just a mistake in timing. I actually asked friends who had stopped their subscription to resubscribe because it is important to have a good local newspaper. Many have been unable to sustain themselves or were bought by conglomerates and got out of touch with the community. When local newspapers go there is an increase in undisclosed corruption and a decrease in community connections...
It is important to support the local newspaper no matter who is in charge. Steve Thurston reports that she is still working remotely but is still on the job. Correction coming in Wednesday's Front Page.
Having just read other letters, I also wanted to thank StephenThurston for his work for the Post Star...and to thank some of our local reporters--Goot and Alex Portal --and for some good choices for opinion pieces....And to affirm that it is important to have local papers, local farmers' markets, local shops--and that we should support them.
I just read her column about being excited to be here and moving her family here. What happened?
Great piece on Jimmer. Besides his BB talents, he was and is an exceptional person. He followed his faith when he chose BYU over lots of big brand schools. He stayed true to his small town roots and still does. How do you think Jimmer would have dealt with today’s million $ college transfer portals? I think he would have stayed with BYU and honored his commitment. What do you say?
I think he would have stayed too.
What a passionate piece about Jimmer, Ken. Perhaps there is a new book in the making for you. Those amazing memories should be in print. Our youth need inspiration, and Jimmer's story seems to be the right one to do it. You could interview people in Utah and more. Great write-up.
I believe there already is a book called “The Contract.” I would have loved a shot at that project.
Will Santos be pardoned by you know who? Interesting to watch and why did he get three months to settle his affairs? Most defendants bring their toothbrush to sentencing.
I don’t think Santos has anything to offer Trump in return.
Hey Ken, the job that is advertised at the Post-Star is to replace for one year the news editor, Andrew Valenza, a guardsman who is going on deployment for a year starting in late May. That ad has been running since last fall when I created it for the company. When I was let go in December, and the ad had been running since at least October maybe September (my boss wanted to make sure the line for it stayed on the shrinking budget and October starts the new fiscal year), we had gotten exactly zero decent applicants. By now, they may have gotten one or two.
I had been talking to local journos, asking them to apply, and just two wanted to apply, both friends of mine who would apply only because I'd be their boss and because they wanted to fill a year before making another job/life switch. Neither will apply now.
I'm guessing that Lisa Reider's name is not on the masthead because Lee Enterprises is terrible at onboarding people from outside the company, so bad that they cannot even do the obvious, easy thing and put her name on the masthead for her--it would take her boss about one minute to get the job done for her.
I went weeks without my name there as I did not have time to figure out who I needed to contact for that change to be made permanently. I was lucky that Mike Goot handled the daily correction for me. At the same time, Reider is an out-of-town editor working from her current home as she seeks to find one up here and she probably is just buried and doesn't have time herself to figure out who she needs to contact to make that change--or if she is smart, she's looking for another job. --Steve Thurston, the most recent Last American Editor of the Post-Star.
Thanks for clarifying Steve.
Santos is rightfully kicked out of the House, yet we have a convicted felon in the White House and an assortment of other despicable characters running this country. Thankfully we can look to Jimmer Fredette and others among us who give us hope.
“Taking us along for the ride”
“Taking us along on the ride”. I will second that. Even from afar in DC, tho I am a GF native. I met him in Delaware when he was playing in the minors late in his career before his stint with the Knicks, and he could not have been friendlier. Even after a loss. But what I will remember most was the frenzied 2010 “Hometown Classic” game between BYU and Vermont. A GFHS classmate, the late Jerry Cashion, had told me about the game and so I went up. Boy, Was it worth it: no one in the standing room only crowd of 6,500 seemed to care about the game itself here . We were all there to join a Jimmer lovefest.
Every time he touched the ball, the crowd went crazy and he delivered with 25 plus points. For me,the memories rank right up there with the Lake Placid Olympics or the few World Series games I have attended.
Do you remember the fastbreak in the second half where Jimmer fire a behind-the-back pass. Wow!!!! My column about that game is my book and you are absolutely write, this was a Jimmer love fest. I was always impressed that BYU gave up a home game - the revenue that goes with it - so Jimmer could play one more game at home. I suggested Syracuse do that for Joe Girard, but you knew that would not happen.
Btw, I just noticed a comment by former Post Star editor Steve Thurston. Forgive me for posting another comment, but, without getting into hiring and firing issues, I wanted to give him a shout out for the highly professional work he did with me when I contributed 4 fairly long articles last year to the paper. I was impressed with his skill and energy level as an editor.
Well, the newspaper was certainly better when Steve was there.
Thanks to you both.
All well said and so well deserved!
I just have to comment as a non sports fan, that Jimmer and Joe are the players that stick in my mind because of your stories here, Ken. Really do not care about any commercial sports but hearing of hometown kids (guys and gals) who do well? Thats important.
Thanks, Thanks Ken. Thanks Al and his Mom. Thanks Brother, BYU, Not Sacramento unfortunately. I'll always remember his Player of the Game that short time he was a Knick. We had so many Jimmer watch parties. Mostly, I thank Jimmer himself for being one heck of a basketball legend. For being a bright spot in many dark days. For being a great role model and father and husband and one of the hardest working guys I've seen. I loved almost every minute as did my daughter, son and many friends. He played the hand he was dealt the only way he new how. With everything he had. Hope to see some exciting retirement things cuz we know they gotta be coming!!!
I read her words about what she hoped to do as an editor. The last two weeks, since she took power, the paper got more and more interesting and informative, moved well between the local and the international, had good information about farms and climate change and foods,,,I am hoping she is still here, still editor, and it was just a mistake in timing. I actually asked friends who had stopped their subscription to resubscribe because it is important to have a good local newspaper. Many have been unable to sustain themselves or were bought by conglomerates and got out of touch with the community. When local newspapers go there is an increase in undisclosed corruption and a decrease in community connections...
It is important to support the local newspaper no matter who is in charge. Steve Thurston reports that she is still working remotely but is still on the job. Correction coming in Wednesday's Front Page.
Having just read other letters, I also wanted to thank StephenThurston for his work for the Post Star...and to thank some of our local reporters--Goot and Alex Portal --and for some good choices for opinion pieces....And to affirm that it is important to have local papers, local farmers' markets, local shops--and that we should support them.