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Re: SDSU on Nebraska's schedule 2010
From the Yankton Press & Dakotan the other day.
http://www.yankton.net/articles/2010...7038780511.txt
Point Of View: South Dakota A Hard State To ‘Smack’
Published: Thursday, August 26, 2010 1:16 AM CDT
Recently, a columnist for the Omaha World Herald took a potshot at South Dakota, prompting the editors at South Dakota Magazine in Yankton to respond to the commentary, which was printed in the Aug. 20 edition of the World Herald. The magazine’s response follows:
———
When South Dakota State University fielded a Division 1-A football team, it was only a matter of time until our pristine state’s good name would be dragged through the mud of big-time college football. The worst of it thus far came in the Aug. 16 Omaha World Herald, a paper with writers who have some experience at “smack talk.”
Urban Dictionary describes “smack talk” as the art of telling another person off, belittling them or calling their momma fat, while in the heat of competition. South Dakotans will not be good at this particular American football art form.
Our SDSU Jackrabbits, of course, are scheduled to play the mighty Nebraska Cornhuskers Sept. 25 at the Midwestern football shrine known as Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. Once our biggest university landed on the Cornhusker schedule, we became a “smack talk” target. No other reason.
We can’t think of another time when a World Herald writer has assailed South Dakota. Here’s what World Herald columnist Robert Nelson wrote about our good state: “South Dakota State: Paucity of population. Cold. Lack of any distinguishable character. One giant biker bar. Prevalence of kitsch tourist traps such as the Wall Drug Store. Possible comment [that might be used to taunt visiting fans]: ‘Any chance you’re going to finish that Crazy Horse sculpture this century?’”
Where do we start?
First of all, Mr. Nelson mistakenly listed our virtues as negatives. Paucity of population? How about Room to Breathe Fresh Air.
Cold? Not as cold as the Cornhuskers whenever they play in Texas.
Wall Drug is a trap we were just at a few weeks ago. Both of the third-generation owners stopped by our table to ask if everything was satisfactory. We were surrounded by happy travelers eating chocolate and maple frosting donuts, as their chins dropped while admiring the world-class art collection that hangs on the restaurant walls.
The unfinished Crazy Horse? We are a patient people. Good things take time. We probably won’t beat you in football next month, but we will beat you before Crazy Horse is finished.
Mr. Nelson should have “smacked us” for the size of our mosquitoes, the way we scam everybody else in the world on credit card fees, and for licensing serial killer Dr. Michael Swango (aka Dr. Death) to practice medicine here. But beyond that, there just isn’t much to criticize in South Dakota, so I imagine that’s why he tried to make up some goofy stuff about Wall Drug and Crazy Horse. South Dakota is a hard state to smack.
According to sports journalism etiquette, I think we are supposed to retaliate with some “smack downs” of Nebraska. We can’t really think of anything bad to say. Life is just too pleasant in South Dakota and Nebraska to expend time that way.
From the Yankton Press & Dakotan the other day.
http://www.yankton.net/articles/2010...7038780511.txt
Point Of View: South Dakota A Hard State To ‘Smack’
Published: Thursday, August 26, 2010 1:16 AM CDT
Recently, a columnist for the Omaha World Herald took a potshot at South Dakota, prompting the editors at South Dakota Magazine in Yankton to respond to the commentary, which was printed in the Aug. 20 edition of the World Herald. The magazine’s response follows:
———
When South Dakota State University fielded a Division 1-A football team, it was only a matter of time until our pristine state’s good name would be dragged through the mud of big-time college football. The worst of it thus far came in the Aug. 16 Omaha World Herald, a paper with writers who have some experience at “smack talk.”
Urban Dictionary describes “smack talk” as the art of telling another person off, belittling them or calling their momma fat, while in the heat of competition. South Dakotans will not be good at this particular American football art form.
Our SDSU Jackrabbits, of course, are scheduled to play the mighty Nebraska Cornhuskers Sept. 25 at the Midwestern football shrine known as Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. Once our biggest university landed on the Cornhusker schedule, we became a “smack talk” target. No other reason.
We can’t think of another time when a World Herald writer has assailed South Dakota. Here’s what World Herald columnist Robert Nelson wrote about our good state: “South Dakota State: Paucity of population. Cold. Lack of any distinguishable character. One giant biker bar. Prevalence of kitsch tourist traps such as the Wall Drug Store. Possible comment [that might be used to taunt visiting fans]: ‘Any chance you’re going to finish that Crazy Horse sculpture this century?’”
Where do we start?
First of all, Mr. Nelson mistakenly listed our virtues as negatives. Paucity of population? How about Room to Breathe Fresh Air.
Cold? Not as cold as the Cornhuskers whenever they play in Texas.
Wall Drug is a trap we were just at a few weeks ago. Both of the third-generation owners stopped by our table to ask if everything was satisfactory. We were surrounded by happy travelers eating chocolate and maple frosting donuts, as their chins dropped while admiring the world-class art collection that hangs on the restaurant walls.
The unfinished Crazy Horse? We are a patient people. Good things take time. We probably won’t beat you in football next month, but we will beat you before Crazy Horse is finished.
Mr. Nelson should have “smacked us” for the size of our mosquitoes, the way we scam everybody else in the world on credit card fees, and for licensing serial killer Dr. Michael Swango (aka Dr. Death) to practice medicine here. But beyond that, there just isn’t much to criticize in South Dakota, so I imagine that’s why he tried to make up some goofy stuff about Wall Drug and Crazy Horse. South Dakota is a hard state to smack.
According to sports journalism etiquette, I think we are supposed to retaliate with some “smack downs” of Nebraska. We can’t really think of anything bad to say. Life is just too pleasant in South Dakota and Nebraska to expend time that way.
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