U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar hosted a conference call Friday with southwestern Minnesota mayors from Luverne, Marshall, Pipestone and Worthington.
During the informal phone conversation, Klobuchar offered updates on legislative developments in Washington, D.C., and asked the mayors to brief her on the current economic state of their communities.
“Joe Biden is committed to another (economic relief) package, and I want to hear what you think is most helpful and what’s needed in your communities,” she said.
In addition to Luverne Mayor Pat Baustian, the call included Pipestone Mayor Myron Koets, Worthington Mayor Mike Kuhle, Marshall Mayor Bob Byrnes and several members of local media.
They talked about ways to help local businesses suffering in the pandemic economy, especially on the borders of Iowa and South Dakota where bars and restaurants weren’t closed.
Klobuchar outlined the latest round of federal aid targeted to individuals and families, extension of unemployment benefits, targeted relief for businesses and help for people at risk of losing their homes.
The mayors talked about ways their cities are helping those who need it, but they all agreed the economy won’t turn around until COVID-19 is halted by the vaccine.
“We know the vaccine is out there, and I keep saying that the vaccine can’t be parachuted to the middle of Luverne,” Klobuchar said. “I keep using Luverne as an example with national media because I’m trying to make the point poignantly that it’s a lot different in rural America than it is in urban areas.”
She said that’s especially true of the Pfizer vaccine that needs to be transported in ultra cold storage, and not all rural areas have access to the right equipment that preserves the vaccine.
“The point is we have to make sure the vaccine gets to everyone, and I know that we just put a bunch of money into vaccine distribution. But we also have to make sure the economy is ready to rebound as soon as the vaccinations are done.”
The mayors also were in agreement that the vaccine rollout hasn’t gone well on a national level.
“I’m still looking for the parachute of vaccine,” Baustian said.
“Getting the vaccine out quicker has to happen. They’ve had plenty of time to do that. As a world power we’ve had plenty of time to devise a plan. It’s about logistics. Big companies do that every day, but I think they’re failing miserably.”
While front-line hospital workers and residents of some nursing homes in the region have received their first doses of COVID-19 vaccine, other vulnerable residents have yet to get theirs.
“The high-risk populations we’re looking at, the elderly and those in nursing homes and congregate care, most of the private populations haven’t received it,” Baustian said. “And that’s just not acceptable.”
During Friday’s call, Klobuchar briefly commented on the violence in Washington on Jan. 6, when a mob of protesters stormed into the Capitol.
“I was horrified by what happened,” she said, but added that senators later came together in support of the nation.
“It was one of those moments when people decided their country was bigger than their party. … If people didn’t cherish their democracy before, after all this they’ll never forget it.”

A brief stop at Schoneman Park netted more than a fish story for brothers Brody Kopp and Hunter Baker. It filled a freezer.
Late in the afternoon on Jan. 6 Kopp and Baker reeled in 37-inch and 38-inch northern pikes, respectively, from the man-made pond located south of Luverne.
“I knew they were out there, but I didn’t know we would get that lucky,” Baker said.
The brothers had a few hours available that late afternoon between school and evening church activities. Baker is a senior at Luverne Middle-High School and Kopp is a sixth-grader.
It was Kopp’s first ice fishing experience and Baker’s first time fishing at Schoneman Park.
Stopping at the south pond, Baker set up a windbreak and augered a hole into the ice. The two then sat down for a couple of hours of fishing and a memorable time together.
The experience became more memorable when Kopp felt a nibble on his line baited with a minnow.
“He thought it was a little perch at first,” Baker said.
All thoughts of perch left the boys’ minds when they saw the northern’s identifiable pointed mouth.
After a quick picture with Kopp holding his 37-inch fish, they settled back to fishing.
Shortly afterward it was Baker’s turn for excitement.
About 10 minutes later he slowly reeled in the 38-inch northern.
“I knew it was big but not that big,” he said.
With the sun setting, the brothers headed home to clean their catch.
Their mother, Teri Baker, received plenty of proof of her sons’ ice-fishing adventure.
“They were two excited boys — kept sending me pictures all evening long with smiles on their faces,” she said.
“It also makes me so happy that they enjoyed their time together, just the two boys doing what they love — memories that they will have forever.”
While the Kopp and Baker fish are large, they don’t break records, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website. The record for the largest northern pike caught in Minnesota is 45.25 inches.

Township meeting
Battle Plain Township Board will meet 9:30 a.m. Monday January 18 at the home of Eric Sas.  
 
Compassionate Friends meet Jan. 18
The Compassionate Friends Support Group will meet in person at 6:30 p.m. Mon, Jan. 18, in the Luverne Area Community Foundation office at 102 E. Main Street in Luverne.   
The meetings are for anyone in the area who has experienced the death of a child — a son or daughter, brother or sister or grandchild of any age and from any cause.  For information, email pat.saum@gmail.com. 
 
Free food Jan. 21
New Life Celebration Church will offer free food at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, at the Generations Building on East Lincoln Street in Luverne.
Vehicles should enter the west parking lot from Lincoln Street and drive to the double glass doors on the west side of the building where volunteers will load groceries into cars. Walkers should receive their pre-packaged groceries on the east side of the building. Call 507-283-4366 with questions.
 
Free food for seniors Jan. 21
Nutrition Assistance Program for Seniors 60 and older, sponsored by A.C.E. of SW MN will be from 2 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, with drive through distribution in parking lot at 319 E. Lincoln, Luverne.
 
Dental clinic in Luverne Jan. 28
The next dental clinic for adults and children of all ages will be Thursday, Jan. 28, at Rock County Health and Human Services. Call 612-746-1530 to schedule an appointment or stop by Rock County Health and Human Services for assistance in scheduling.
General exams and services will be provided. All forms of insurance accepted. The service is organized by #Luv1LuvAll's Rock County Oral Health Task Force.
 
School of Fish Feb. 6
School of Fish with Mike Frisch, TV show host and pro angler, will be Feb. 6 for students grades 3 through high school. Participants get a rod and reel, tackle box with tackle, gift card, snack pack and workbook. Each participant may bring an adult fishing buddy. Fee is $30. Dress for the weather.
The event takes place at The Lake. Participants will be ready to compete in Luverne’s Ice Fishing Derby on Feb. 20.
Call the Luverne Community Education office, 507-283-4724, for registration information.
 
Community Ed offers activities
Call the Luverne Community Education office, 507-283-4724, for registration information.
Defensive Driving 4-hour refresher classes are scheduled for Jan. 21 or Feb. 11.
Distance Learning with Clay – for all ages (1-101). Pick up a chunk of clay the week of Jan. 25 and in your own home, with instructions from Jerry Deuschle, build your creation. To then apply paint and for drying and firing, make appointment at the studio. Fee is $20.
Register for Student Driver Education. Luverne school students grade 8 and older may register for February or June session for $340, which includes 30 hours of classroom instruction and 6 hours of behind the wheel instruction.
The February option begins on Feb. 1 and will be virtual, so list your child’s school gmail address when you register.
How to play chess for students grades K-8 after school; three sessions Feb. 2, 9 and 16. Fee is $15.
For adults, 55 years and older, a 10-week health and wellness Aging Mastery Program developed by the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging. Class is virtual through Zoom on your computer or iPad. On Feb. 4 they will teach you how to use Zoom if you have not done it before! Class begins on Feb. 11. Fee is $5.
Register by Feb. 6 for the ACT Prep Class that will begin Feb. 22 virtually. Fee is $125 and includes taking a practice test and an individual conference with the teacher to review the test and tips for taking the actual test. Fee is $125.
 
‘Read with McKenzie’ by Zoom
A work-study student is available to help individual students with reading skills in 10-minute sessions on Wednesdays from 4 to 5 p.m. via Zoom. The literacy program is called “Read with McKenzie.”
Contact the Rock County Library, 507-449-5040. The Zoom link is on the library facebook page.
 
Input sought for digital readiness
A pilot program through Purdue University aims to increase civic digital engagement in Rock County and a community survey will help the group develop an engagement plan.
Paper copies of the survey are available at the Rock County Library, city offices and the Rock County Courthouse.
The 10-minute survey can also be completed online at https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/RockCountyDigitalSurvey. Surveys are accepted through Jan. 12.
 
Food Shelf cold weather procedures
The Rock County Food shelf has changed its curbside process for winter. Wait in line to park in one of the two parking spaces closest to the building.
One at a time, enter the building (masks and distancing required) to register and pick up vouchers. Be prepared for volunteers to put pre-boxed groceries in the car. As the parking spaces empty, the next cars can pull in.
The process will require patience. See the Rock County Food Shelf Facebook page for updates. Thanksgiving week schedule will be 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25.
 
Help write 9/11 history
The Minnesota Military Museum is seeking stories for a statewide initiative to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The goal of the project is to look at the impact of the horrific events of that day through a Minnesota lens, and researchers are inviting stories from Rock County.
For example: How did your county respond to the attacks immediately afterward? Have local residents served in the resulting Global War on Terror? What are their stories? Have there been events to remember 9-11 over the years since? Stories can be shared directly at www.mnmilitarymuseum.org. Click on “exhibits, test-gallery and share-your-story.”

A Luverne man credited with bringing a stable water supply to the city has died, leaving behind a legacy of leadership.
Lennis “Red” Arndt of Luverne was an original board member of Lewis & Clark when it was incorporated in January 1990.  He became vice-chairman in 1994 and then chairman in 2006. 
Troy Larson, Executive Director of the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System issued a statement following Arndt’s passing.
“Red has been a driving force in his relentless and tenacious support for bringing critically needed drinking water to the tri-state region.  “He was a visionary who understood this is a legacy-type project that will have a profound impact on the region for many generations to come. 
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar also issued a statement.
“Minnesota lost a friend and dedicated public servant,” she said.
“Red worked tirelessly to bring safe and reliable water to Lewis & Clark member communities. Red first heard about a proposal to bring water from the Missouri River in South Dakota to surrounding states when he was a public utilities director in Luverne in 1989, and though it was a major undertaking with more doubters than supporters, Red saw the project’s transformative potential.”
And he was right. Under his leadership, over $500 million in funding was directed to Lewis & Clark, and over 200 miles of pipeline have been laid that currently deliver much needed water to 15 member communities and rural water projects, reaching over 300,000 people across South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa.
“I feel fortunate to have worked with him to make this project a reality, but even more fortunate to have called him a friend,” Klobuchar said.
Larson said Arndt was a one-of-a-kind leader.
“To say that Red cut a wide path would be a vast understatement,” Larson said. “There will never be another Red.  More than a visionary and passionate leader, he was a dear friend and colleague to us all.  What a tremendous honor it was to have worked and laughed with him.”
 Red was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September 2018 and he died Thursday, Jan. 7.  He was 72. His obituary appears on page 7.

The first school extra curricular activities since mid-November got underway last week.
Luverne and Hills-Beaver Creek high schools competed in the first of five rounds of mock trial competition.
The law-related education program introduces students to the American legal system and is organized through the Minnesota Bar Association (MBA).
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the weekly competitions, including a potential state tournament, will be conducted virtually and won’t be open to spectators.
According to the MBA, virtual competitions are a national trend and state organizers worked with other state associations to ensure students could still have a meaningful season.
Normally mock trial competitions were hosted in person at area courtrooms in front of judges and scorers. This year, competitions are conducted via Zoom with participants staying in their offices, homes or schools.
With no travel involved, area schools will face opponents they have never competed against. Luverne and H-BC are now members of the 12-school Super Region 4-6.
Luverne posts first win,
H-BC’s three-point loss
Luverne posted its first win Jan. 7 of the 2021 season against an opponent team members never competed against — Rochester Century High school.
All students participated from home via Zoom.
“The trial lasted about three hours, which is a long-time for competing students and judging adults to be sitting at a computer,” said fourth-year adviser Jason Berghorst. “There were just a couple of times that WiFi issues interrupted things, but those incidents were pretty quickly resolved.”
Luverne’s defense team earned a 229-221 win.
Senior John Miller said, “I don’t like it as much as in person, but the Zoom trial went way better than I expected.”
H-BC competed as a team social distancing in a classroom and wore masks.
The first-time Zoom meet went well.
“We had to repeat things for clarity,” she said. “A student on the other team had to stop because his dog was barking.”
The H-BC defense team went against St. Peter High School. Judges gave the St. Peter team a three-point prosecution win.
 
Practices been innovative for students, adults
Luverne, six-time state tournament qualifiers, practiced in small student hybrid-learning pods when the season opened in October. When the school moved to distance learning in November, team members turned to Zoom for practices.
Virtual practices are “not ideal,” Berghorst said, but there are benefits from competing against schools not normally in the same region.
“The kids are making the most of it and are still working really hard to prepare,” he said.
“The opportunity to compete against larger schools, including two schools from our (athletic) conference (Waseca and Fairmont) is a benefit of the virtual competitions.
“The case is especially interesting and very relevant as restrictions on restaurants, etc., have returned while we prepare the case,” Berghorst said.
 
The case and the players
The case, “Payton Knox versus Nixon Lodge & Catering,” focuses on contract law.
Knox booked an elaborate July 4, 2020, wedding and reception at the Hibbing, Minnesota, business prior to the coronavirus pandemic restrictions went into effect in March 2020.
The planned 250 people in attendance was over the state’s executive orders, and when Knox could only have 75 people in attendance, plans for the wedding stopped.
Knox sued for the return of the deposit, which totaled over $69,000. The Lodge countersued for the additional contract payment of $18,300.
Plaintiff witnesses include:
•Payton Knox, one half of the wedding couple, who resided in New York and primarily corresponded via email with the lodge and catering service.
•Jordan Knox, Payton’s parent.
•Riley Swayne, a wedding planner hired by Knox.
Defense witnesses include:
•Kris Nixon, owner and chief sales manager for Nixon Lodge & Catering.
•Bobbie Stuart, catering manager for the Lodge.
•Tony Oliva, the Lodge’s lead venue planner.
 
Luverne team members and 2021 schedule
Luverne students on the defense team include seniors Kaitlyn Anderson and John Miller as returning defense attorneys. They are joined by sophomore Ross Bergman.
Defense witnesses include junior Luke Thorson portraying Payton Knox, sophomore Jadyn Hart as Jordan Knox, and Xavier Carbonneau as Riley Swayne.
The plaintiff team takes center stage during the second round on Jan. 14 against Owatonna High School.
Plaintiff attorneys include senior Lauren VerSteeg and juniors Griffen Jarchow and Chance Tunnissen.
Plaintiff witnesses include senior Solveig Tofteland portraying Lodge owner Kris Nixon, senior Ainslie Robinson as Bobbie Stuart, and sophomore Parker Carbonneau as Tony Olivia.
Rounding out the Luverne team are senior Simon Boyenga as an alternate lawyer and sophomores Ella Lanoue and Cedar Viessman as alternate witnesses.
Round 3 competition on Jan. 20 will have Luverne on defense against Waseca High School.
Round 4 will be Feb. 2 as plaintiffs against Fairmont High School White.
Round 5 features the top two teams in each section facing each other to compete at the state tournament.
Jeff Haubrich returns as the team’s attorney coach.
Luverne students will compete from home.
“This will allow them to not have masks on, use devices they are familiar with,” adviser Berghorst said.
The Zoom competition limits the number of participants seen on the screen to only the judge, student attorneys and one witness.
All other team members are on the Zoom call but keep their video off until it is their turn in front of the judge. Attorneys and witnesses are switched on screen as their time in front of the judge is completed.
A parent night via Zoom is planned for later this season.
 
Hills-Beaver Creek members, 2021 schedule
This year’s H-BC team consists of five seniors.
Allie LaRock, Jacob Sheppard and Abby Knobloch are attorneys.
Prosecution witnesses include ninth-graders Tahliya Kruger as Payton Knox, Kyler Hartz and Payton’s parent Jordan Knox, and senior Hannah Fick as wedding planner Riley Swayne.
Defense witnesses are senior Lauren Tatge as business owner Kris Nixon, ninth-grader Madison Gaugler as catering manager Bobbie Stuart, and sophomore Taylor Durst as Toni Olivia, the business’ lead venue planner.
H-BC’s other competitions include:
•Jan. 14, plaintiff, against Rochester Century High School.
•Jan. 19, defense, Fairmont High School White.
•Feb. 3, plaintiff, Northfield High School Gold.

A year after organizing, Game Plan 4 Hope is expanding and needs community help to reach its goal.
Donations of money, materials and construction expertise are sought to make “Team-E Fieldhouse of Hope” a reality.
Organizers kicked off the efforts on Jan 1, including Jeff and Missy Bass, and Aaron and Heather Erickson.
“We figured the start of the year would be good as people always look for what charities they want to support,” Missy said.
“We realize it’s probably too late to get the end-of-year donors, so we will start fresh with 2021.”
A goal of $135,000 will establish an office, workshop, meeting room, storage and public fitness center in the former New Vision Co-op on East Third Street.
The Fieldhouse is named after Ethan Erickson, 12, who lost an 18-month battle with Burkitt's Lymphoma/Leukemia on Oct. 13, 2019.
Supporters of 12-year-Erickson became known as “Team E” in the Hills area.
Ethan’s parents, Aaron and Heather Erickson, said they’re honored by the lasting tribute to their son.
“This is such an amazing way to remember Ethan and honor his fighting spirit, his selflessness and his willingness to help others,” Heather said.
“This building embodies all the characteristics that Ethan possessed, and we are so happy to remember him by making a difference in the lives of others.”
Interior demolition started over the Christmas and New Year holiday break when same Hills-Beaver Creek High School athletes started cleaning and removing walls.
Remodeling the former Hills co-op building is expected to take four months with a completion date of April 1 established.
Pledge cards for donations of money, materials and/or time are on the group’s website, Gameplan4hope.org.
The Bass and Erickson families said they organized the non-profit to return kindnesses they received shortly after the life-changing events and the information shared toward their journey to a new normal life.
Trenton Bass, son of Missy and Jeff Bass, played football for H-BC, and a defense tackle on Sept. 8, 2017, left the then H-BC senior a quadriplegic.
Trenton is currently a junior at South Dakota State University in Brookings, majoring in mechanical engineering.
He is also actively involved in Game Plan 4 Hope’s outreach to families.
“He talks to the injured patients that are in a similar situation as him, and that means a lot to them,” Missy said.
In its first season in 2019-20, Game Plan 4 Hope touched 27 families in five states. They delivered 21 bags of hope, gave out more than $16,000 in gift cards and equipment, and gifted 18 Christmas packages. The group was assisted by 22 volunteers.
The Team-E Fieldhouse of Hope will bring all aspects of the organization under one roof and expand service to families.
 
Fieldhouse includes community fitness center
The building for Team-E Fieldhouse of Hope is 60-by 125 feet with a 22-by-38-foot wheelchair-accessible fitness center.
“We thought the health of the community and tying it in with the sports theme we have for Game Plan 4 Hope would be a fun way to promote fitness and also honor Ethan’s memory by naming the building after him,” Missy said.
In addition to the fitness room, the Fieldhouse will include:
•a central place for the donated medical equipment, which has been stored in personal garages over the past three years.
•a display room and a fitting room for families seeking specialized equipment.
•a place for small group gatherings to accommodate speaking engagements and learning opportunities.
•an office for Game Plan 4 Hope.
•a garage for a handicap-accessible van for affected families.
•an area for volunteers to assemble packages.
“We are very excited about this new building and how it will enable our organization to better serve our ‘Game Plan’ families and give back to our community at the same time,” Heather said.

Rock County Commissioner Stan Williamson (right) accepts the gavel Tuesday, Jan. 5, from fellow commissioner and outgoing chairman of the board Gary Overgaard during the commissioners’ first meeting of 2021. Commissioner Jody Reisch is vice chairman for 2021.

The first of two Walleye Wind Farm public hearings took place Jan. 5 online and by conference call.
The hearing allowed verbal comments to be recorded for Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and their upcoming decision on whether a site permit and a certificate of need should be granted for the wind farm to be operational in Rock County.
Comment period is open until Jan. 26 through written means.
The Jan. 5 hearing for verbal comments was conducted by the state Department of Commerce Energy Environmental Review and Analysis unit which will prepare an environmental assessment for the project.
The EERA provides technical expertise and assistance to the PUC including the environmental impacts of energy facilities such as those of the Walleye Wind Farm.
Suzanne Steinhauer is the EERA environment review manager.
She said her unit is responsible for engaging the public to identify potential human and environmental impacts should be studied, are there alternatives systems better for the area than a wind farm, and if there are any unique characteristics within the project area that should be considered.
The EERA doesn’t handle the examination of the location of turbines or their transmission lines.
 
Hearing draws 120 to virtual hearing
Fifteen individuals spoke at the public hearing conducted virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Thirteen people indicated support for the project with two expressing concern. No one spoke directly against the project.
Two residents who live just across the state line in South Dakota recently heard about the project and questioned notification requirements for residents who live in another state.
Steinhauer said she was unsure of how or if neighbors bordering the state line were notified, but public notices were published about the project.
Walleye Wind Farm Project Manager Mike Weich said the company has been in verbal as well as written contact with landowners and residents within the wind farm’s footprint, including those within the turbine setback requirements.
Adverse noise and other negative health issues from wind turbines will be studied.
Steinhauer said various studies required with the submitted permit application, including noise, are examined as part of the environment assessment process.
The 13 other people who provided input at the public hearing included current union employees who have worked at previous projects and local residents who support the economic development the wind farm will bring to the area.
Timeline for environmental assessment completion is April followed by another public hearing in May through an administrative law judge.
The judge’s report is expected to be complete in July followed by the PUC decision in September.
When EERA Energy Facilities Planner Michael Kaluzniak closed the hearing, he stated that 120 individuals connected to the virtual hearing.
“That’s a pretty good turnout,” he said.
 
Written testimony accepted until Jan. 26
Additional comments to be included in the permanent record for the Walleye Wind Farm permitting process can be completed by:
•mail to Suzanne Steinhauer, Environmental Review Manager Minnesota Department of Commerce, 85 7th Place East, Suite 500, St. Paul, MN 55101.
•fax to 651-539-0109.
•online to https://mn.gov/commerce/energyfacilities/#comment.
Include docket numbers 20-269 or 20-384 in all communications.
 
What does the Walleye Wind Farm project entail?
NextEra Energy Inc., based in Juno Beach, Florida, proposes constructing a 109.2-megawatt wind farm in the Rock County townships of Beaver Creek and portions of Springwater, Luverne and Martin.
The wind farm would consist of 40 to 44 turbines.
Included in the plan is the decommissioning of seven wind turbines in Beaver Creek Township, purchased in 2019 from Renewable Energy Systems.
 
U of M economic impact study released
The $138 million Walleye Wind Farm is one of five wind farm projects NextEra Energy proposes to construct in Minnesota. The University of Minnesota Extension Economic Impact Analysis Program prepared a report released last month.
Key finding by preparer Brigid Tuck included an estimated $55.7 million in economic development during construction and $1.9 million in annual operations.
“The project will support an estimated 400 jobs during construction and 12 during ongoing annual operations. During the anticipated 30-year life of the project, it will generate $57 million of economic activity in the county,” she stated.
If all permits are approved, construction on the wind farm could begin this fall.
A full report on the project is available at the star-herald.com website.

Some of you know that one of life's joys that I take pride in is my athletic career long ago on the championship football and basketball teams in Luverne. 
These memories, if verbalized, honor the coaches who were men of active faith who cared deeply for those of us who played for them. They focused more on character building than on winning, and as a result were perennial champions as winners in more ways than in just the "win/loss" column. I count them as people who shaped our lives and decisions.  
So I share today an insightful column from the sports page of my local daily newspaper, the Washington Post, by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Sally Jenkins about how "real power" is illustrated and managed.  Her Jan. 8 column about the Jan. 6 mob attack on our great citadel, the Nation's Capitol, is an analysis of sportsmanship and how we manage ourselves in the arena of street politics. 
— Thomas Getman,
Washington, D.C.
 
Athletes know what rioters don’t: Real power is discipline, not unchecked rage
The difference between an athlete-champion activist and a mere street rioter is that one is an expert in real power and voluntary constraint of it, while the other is an aggrieved raver with an instinct to break down something because he is too weak to build up himself. What separates an activist from an arsonist is the difference between using a platform and lighting someone else’s on fire.
These raggedy snarlers miss the exercise of power entirely. The most powerful thing athletes do with their muscle is not run or rampage. The most powerful thing they do is stop. … when they reach that sideline, they stop. They reel in all of their uncoiled energy in an instant act of will to preserve not just themselves but their opponents. That, my friends, is real, honest-to-God power, and it’s a marvel to watch and admire.
When a football player hits someone out of bounds or attacks a ref, what happens? He is thrown out. And the reason is, sports really aren’t about violence but about real violence averted. Arenas and stadiums are circumscribed spaces — rotundas if you will — with miniature societal compacts, and when you lack self-management in that space, you get ejected. It’s a very useful tool, ejection.
But here’s the most interesting thing: Competitors abide by it. These mentally and physically strong men and women willingly accede to this ethos and recognize it as a higher authority. Otherwise, you aren’t a competitor; you’re just an uncontrolled hacker or jacker. When an umpire jerks a finger at the exit, the player leaves, voluntarily, no matter how aggrieved or unjustly wronged he may feel
… With that understanding, any American sports observer surely has been struck by what he or she has witnessed in the political arena over the past four years: the steady normalization of naked aggression and destruction of rules. The steady attempt to circumvent conventions, to redefine what people will accept, the continual fouls until officialdom is all but numb to offenses, the steady descent into uncontrolled brawl.
On Wednesday, the rioters were all about trashing the arena itself, stomping on every ordinance and protocol, crashing through gates and bashing in doors and windows. Richard “Bigo” Barnett of Gravette, Arkansas, pushed his way into the Capitol, broke into House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office, stole her mail, and left her a note that said, “Bigo was here, you b —,” and bragged that he had rubbed his crotch while he was at it. This was his idea of a power grab: a trespass, a brief foul boot across the boundaries of real strength.
How pathetic.
Our sports are not perfect, but one of their worthiest qualities is they still recognize and honor covenants. …  to limit behaviors for common good.
Take away the covenant, and there is no game. There is not even a floor or a field. Boxing can exist only if you agree not to hide a knife or a gun in your glove. Without the covenant … there is only an empty space of naked aggression, suspicion, instability, violence. Paranoia gaming.
And the only reason, you figure, that these people broke into the Capitol and broke the covenant is that they were interested less in competition than in destruction. If you are so comfortable yet utterly aggrieved that you have to wear a race-baiting slogan or flag over your paunch and storm the Capitol because you think you aren’t getting your due from crooked pervert politicians, well, nothing and no one can help you.
Bigo, he’s got nothing but a brag. He and his folks, they don’t trust themselves to excel inbounds, so they ignored the rules and, eventually, got themselves ejected. The arena still stands.
(This piece was edited for space. The full version can be read on the Washington Post website.)