Today is Valentine’s Day. If you haven’t gotten a gift, well, you’re probably already too late. Good luck.
One thing you won’t be getting this year is Sweethearts. You know, those crunchy candy hearts that no one really like to eat but everybody likes to read.
For the first time in over a century – that is 100 years for those who don’t know – the Sweethearts are no longer being made.
That was big news. I heard it I don’t know how many times in the news, read it online, etc. Made me kind of sad. After all, we all grew up on Be Mine and Miss You and Love You.
But, you know what? Most people won’t even know.
You see, while ‘they’ were making a big deal of the fact Sweethearts is no longer in production (they will return next year) ‘they’ didn’t tell you Brach’s makes pretty much the exact same thing and calls them Tiny Conversation Hearts.
Yep.
You can still find those tart hearts that say Kiss Me, Be Cool, and Be True. Now they even say Text Me.
Fortunately, the media was there to tell us we were out of luck this year when shopping for Sweethearts. Otherwise, no one would have known the difference.
Next thing you know the media will be telling us the VHS and 8-track are gone.
Prep Thoughts
The prep scene is very hectic in the area. Very.
The Great Bend boys’ swimming team will head to Topeka this weekend for the 5-1A State event. The Panthers are fresh off a WAC meet that saw them finish second and Matt Huslig earning Co Swimmer of the Year in the WAC.
In basketball, the Central Plains girls are still on track to 107 straight wins with a sub state title and 108 and a new state record at the first round of the state tournament in Dodge City.
For the boys, Larned continues to be a team I can’t take my eyes off of. The Indians, with a win over Hesston Tuesday, have now won four straight and 6-of-7. Three of those were OT wins. Larned currently sits No. 1 in the Southwestern Heights Sub State.
The Hoisington boys are still battling for a home game to open the post season. The Cardinals are in a battle with Norton, Smoky Valley, and Russell for the final two home spots.
The Great Bend boys look destined to be part of a play-in game in 5A. With 36 teams now in 5A – 18 on each half of the bracket – seeds 15-18 will be involved in the play-in games. There is still a chance the Panthers could slide into the top 14.
As far as some other sports, Great Bend is No. 7 in 5A wrestling, which will hold sub state this weekend in Arkansas City. Six Panthers are ranked in the top six in their weight, not counting Drew Liles, who should be back this weekend from an injury that has kept him out a month. He was ranked No. 2 at 120 at the time.
Hoisington’s Wyatt Pedigo continues to be No. 1 ranked at 195 in 321A.
The GBHS bowlers will roll in the WAC tournament today with Regionals in one week at Salina All Star Lanes.
Former Barton Athlete/Coach update
The Fort Hays State women’s basketball team rebounded nicely from its only loss of the season back in mid-January by rolling off six straight wins since that time. Former Barton coach Tony Hobson had his team ranked No. 1 and 2 in the two polls at that the time of the loss at Emporia State.
The Tigers, now 21-1, have climbed back to No. 4 in one poll and No. 3 in the other. The Tigers have destroyed their last two opponents, including a 78-53 win at Pittsburg State a week ago. Fort Hays led 25-11 after one and rolled, winning in Pittsburg for the first time in nine years. Pitt State is18-5 and ranked seventh in the Central Region, so, yeah, there still pretty good even with the departure of another former Barton Coach Lane Lord.
Tonight, Ft Hays will host No. 25 ranked Lindenwood in the first of six remaining regular season games. Four of those games are at Gross Memorial, wrapping up with a March 2 date against Pitt State. Lindenwood and Pitt State are the only teams left with winning MIAA records.
And Finally
It’s nobody’s favorite holiday – Valentine’s Day. Okay, it might be some folks favorite. Probably no fellas, though.
One of those infamous greeting card holidays. But, we must play along. If you don’t, well, there could be trouble.
I did my shopping well in advance – Tuesday and Wednesday. I think Crystal will be surprised. I mean who else gives a stuffed animal, a heart-shaped box of chocolates, roses and a card? Huh? Aren’t I a keeper?
Sometimes I mix it. Sometimes I give her a heart-shaped box of chocolates, roses, a stuffed animal and a card. Sometimes it roses, a box of chocolates, a card and a heart-shaped box of chocolates. I’m just unpredictable that way.
What she doesn’t know yet, she got her other gifts this morning, is that I am also going to grill supper for her tonight. Weather permitting. If not, frozen pizza it is.
Fortunately, there is no KU basketball game to coincide with Valentine’s Day this year. That means after supper I can take a nap. Good deal.
It’s no wonder they call me Mr. Romantic himself. A modern day Cyrano de Bergerac. Maybe I should do a podcast or something about how to do up Valentine’s Day just right.
So Happy Valentine’s Day to all.
Mike Marzolf is a guest columnist for the Great Bend Tribune and his views don’t necessarily reflect those of the paper. He can be reached at MarzolfM@bartonccc.edu.
