International Falls Daily Journal - Story - Comments

The writer is correct, there

Thomas L. Johnson — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:43:28 -0500

The writer is correct, there was a short time when RRCC was just a little school drawing students and student athletes from the area. It was high school on steroids [even meeting in the HS] -- two years for hometowners to get enough credits and continue HS sports careers before they moved on to the next stage in their lives. Some of those graduates including a brother of mine earned doctorates, some played sports at division III or division II schools like Augsburg or Moorhead. And the graduation rates of athletes probably were similar to those of the general student population.

Then Division I and II schools began raising their entry standards with the hope of raising graduation percentages. At Division I schools, football and basketball players graduate at a higher rate than the student population. Fact. white athletes in football and basketball do graduate at higher levels than black athletes [65 to 48 in football; 48 to 42 in basket ball]. At a school like Notre Dame, however, 98% of all athletes, black or white, graduate.

So where do the athletes with poor ACT scores go for college? Community colleges all over the country. It is a part of the system of college sports and has nothing to do with some flaw at RRCC. When these high risk students graduate at much lower levels than the student population -- or drop out when sports don't work out -- it just reflects another aspect of the American achievement gap.
If every university in America had hockey and if over 70% of the hockey players were white people and if you needed a 22 ACT to get into a Division I program, RRCC would start up hockey again and be flooded with high-risk, low achievement players hoping for a miracle to allow them to go to UMD or Bemidji. And very few would graduate and even fewer would move on to 4 year programs.
My point is that the world of the 70's no longer exists in CC athletics -- and it actually never did. When I coached football at a Minnesota CC in the 70's , many of our "skill players" were inner city kids from Detroit. They were kids who couldn't even get into Eastern Michigan, but many graduated from the CC and have had successful careers. Others went back to the streets of Detroit with their dream of success now cloaked in failure. That's life in America. It has a little to do with race but even more to do with sports in America.

TLJ, What do you have to

roj2000 — Wed, 14 May 2008 09:19:01 -0500

TLJ,

What do you have to worry about? Your blogs are very insightful and based on factual information. I on the other hand had to walk with one eye forward and one facing to the rear, the whole time I was in the Falls last summer. As for the Doorsman and Blackbay, I have no idea who they are. Doorsman gave me a couple of hints, and based on them, he could either be an ex-relative of mine, or some other nemisis I have encountered. As for my Brother's existence, he had threatened my life if I acknowledged his presense in the Falls, and his relationship to me. Something about "having to live in this town", while his little brother spouted off. But, I'm glad he came out of the closet. I think he could still be classified as a "lurker", though!!

roj, There were plenty of

IFallsRon — Wed, 14 May 2008 08:38:17 -0500

roj,

There were plenty of athletes who graduated in the 70s when I was at RRCC. They were from the Falls and the Fort. They were from Orr, Ely, Baudette, Rainy River, Littlefork, Big Falls, Indus ... . When did RRCC lose track of being a community college? Where's your people like Lucy Galipeau now?

IFallsRon, Thanks for

roj2000 — Wed, 14 May 2008 08:07:32 -0500

IFallsRon,

Thanks for asking the question that I had been pondering, but could not since I would be labled a "racist" if I had!! But I would be curious to know if "ANY" football or B-ball players have EVER graduated from RRCC. Let's see if they offer up any statistics, or just rely on the old race card!! But the most important point is the above people who DID graduate! I congratulate them - WELL DONE!!!!

Did any men's basketball or

IFallsRon — Tue, 13 May 2008 08:17:53 -0500

Did any men's basketball or football players graduate?

Mango-take it up with the

notfullof it — Mon, 12 May 2008 10:51:05 -0500

Mango-take it up with the hotel and quit your crying. You'll get all the peace and quiet you want after may 22nd.

Life's great mysteries

Thomas L. Johnson — Mon, 12 May 2008 10:48:37 -0500

Life's great mysteries really do get to us. When you get to the age I am reaching in two weeks, you realize that the only people you know in International Falls are either very old or people you might randomly meet in public. I will spend my nine weeks up there starting in two weeks and will likely rub shoulders with Doorsman and Blackbay but will not know it. As for you,roj, it gets kind of easy when your brother introduces himself to my mother as your brother [even when you once denied the existence of said brother].
The major problem I have now is that there are a few people I haveknown who no longer acknowledge me when we meet in the narrow aisles of Super One; something written about businesses north of 11th Street on highway 53. Or the GOP of Big Business. They are matched by the people who perk up when I use my name. "Oh, you are the Thomas L. Johnson." Actually, I am Tom. Period. "And who are you on the DJ site?" Silence. Lurkers.

I spent the opening weekend of fishing season in Chicago and had the best rainbow trout I have ever eaten; it was at a Swedish restaurant called Tre Kronor on the North Side. I recommend.

Mongo like sound of silence.

Mongo — Mon, 12 May 2008 07:46:55 -0500

Mongo like sound of silence. No need to sneak up on Snipe with salt shaker when t'ings quiet as UFO.

Doorsman, Thanks for the

roj2000 — Sun, 11 May 2008 20:50:37 -0500

Doorsman,

Thanks for the bone you threw me!! Based on your clues, I'm wondering if "You" know who I am!! Been racking my little brain all weekend trying to figure out who I know that has a cabin in shallow water. One comes to mind, but they have a big rock by the end of the dock, that likes to try to eat my prop! Based on Anton's sometimes rants, you have some kind of influence in town (or did have). Anyway, have a good week!! Looking forward to updates on the progress of the VNP's USS Minnow!

I work in the Bio/Fish world

Anton1965 — Sun, 11 May 2008 17:59:32 -0500

I work in the Bio/Fish world also!! Shoot- em, trap em, spear-em and gut- em. All are eaten fried, smoked or pickled except for the furbearers which are used for bait. Beaver don't taste to bad though. Reckon I just got to try eating some of them Canadian Lynx sooner or later though!! Fish are biting in the river if you can rig for the current from shore. Will try below the grinder room sometime during the week as I think they are going to be biting good there also. Shinners would be good now but water to cold for them to spawn. I have not heard but expect Black Bay, Rat Root Lake and Cranberry were good if you got by the sleet and cold wind. Also, if you are a member of the Midiwiwin you are probably collecting or starting to collect various spring shoots for later medicinal use. Was just thinking that probably the First Nations people were the first great workers in the area, in the Bio/Fish department. Seems as if such a great job was done in the recent last several hundred years that we now have a laboratory in our back yards because of all the great work in the past. Of course a birch bark canoe or a 16 foot Aluma Craft with a 10 HP kicker don't draft much water but there are plenty of things to do and see in Black Bay thats for sure.

This editorial and the

six-shooter — Sat, 10 May 2008 17:16:08 -0500

This editorial and the pulling of the FMH forum is all about money. It's as plain as day. Many people in this area know what is going on but I guess they think we are as dumb as stumps. Not so. I guess integrity is one thing that is sold for the almighty dollar. Hope they can live with selling out.

Yes, saw him the other day

Doorsman 54 — Sat, 10 May 2008 13:21:44 -0500

Yes, saw him the other day but I did not talk to him so you can't call him and ask, sorry. I do not know if my known self will make or break our ability to chat even when we differ, hope not. Just think, if the Broncos would have gone and won state you would know by now but one day I will give you a hint that only you will know the true ID of DOORSMAN 54, besides, 65 knows, I do at this time compliment him for not outing me, as we disagree sometimes but again, you will get a hint that you can not miss and others will not understand. I'm reading this and I really wonder if anyone who is reading this jibberish cares? Probably not, go McCain though. It is too bad that people try and equate McCain and Bush, no comparison when it is all said and done. McCain can be a great president where Bush never will be. Oh, thanks VNP for the boat and other future things.

Doorsman, Brief

roj2000 — Sat, 10 May 2008 11:20:15 -0500

Doorsman,

Brief digression.... "apology" and "shallow water cabin", that narrows it down to about 25 people, "throw me a bone" will ya?? If TLJ can figure you out from that, he is the "great one"!! Also, Doorsman & Blackbay at the "estate"?? Hmmmm.... And back to the "water in suspension" theory...., I have been checking it out for the past 24 hrs, and still don't believe the VNP boat would pose that big of a danger to the "inside channel". Maybe Blackbay can enlighten me, pls!! 2nd digression . . . ., there has got to be more than you and I pulling for McCain!! You have got to remember McCain has to walk a "fine line" to win in Nov. If he reaches too far across the aisle, then he is called a centrist, but if he pulls his arm back some, then the Demonrats say "he is afraaaaaid to "reach acroooooooss"!! So, what to do, "reach, don't reach", "reach, don't reach"?? My Brother say's he saw a sign in the Falls that said, "McCain - another 8 years of Bush". I would have never thought that. LOL..... Enough of my straying off topic. Anybody know when the Park boat will be ready for it's maiden voyage?? Isn't it funny how they can use "special road money" to buy a boat?? I guess it's cheaper than building a road to Kettle Falls! By the way Doorsman, have you seen the Sheriff lately??

Save your breath, be

wkucera — Sat, 10 May 2008 11:11:01 -0500

Save your breath, be patient, eventually this guy will convince our leaders to give all the city’s assets away to corporations. Sooner than later he will talk his way out of job and a community. And the media that pedals his propaganda will become nothing more than company bulletins, if they are not already. Then all of us humble refugees can live or vacation in the still democratic community of Ranier,or on Rainy Lake just a couple miles east of the gated compound of Boise Falls. In addition, we can use the new Hwy 332 road to get to the new St. Mary’s Doctor’s Hospital. On the way home you can shop at the new Hwy 332 Business District. You wont have to be annoyed by all those drunken, pot smoking workers because they will be living in the Boise Falls man camp; they can fill all of those vacant houses in what we now call International Falls. If you have time, you might even be able to drive by the old FTZ Wildlife Park on your ATV. Sure this guy is changing International Falls for the worse, but look at the tourism and economic potential he is creating for Ranier and Rainy Lake.

I wonder who wrote this

Doorsman 54 — Sat, 10 May 2008 08:29:48 -0500

I wonder who wrote this thing called an editoral? Who ever wrote it was insired by some one else, because it sounds like the person who represented the county at the fiasco that some call a dispute hearing that dealt with 332 and the Burner road, and oh,oh, who was that who represented the county? Sure a commissioner was there and said a few words and a county enginneer babbled too, but someone else was there from a big company in town and he did most of the speaking and some of the wording of this editorial sounds like him, em em?